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Ve'ki had newly arrived in Avendere, exhausted from his travels since the summoning his brother had sent, but he felt a sense of purpose that drove him day and night. He HAD to find Serenity and guard her with his life for his brother's sake. Her and the kids, that was. Knowing that Txopu had spent most of last days at the castle, he figured that would be the best place to search for her as well.

He'd known from what his brother had stated that Serenity was Bonded to a noble, so he'd skipped searching the poorer sections of the city and had concentrated on the older noble families. After several inquiries, he'd managed to locate where she'd once been, but no one had claimed to see her, least not recently. One little filly claimed she'd seen a mare in the King's stables who was pink and had a big tummy. Figuring it was the best shot possible, he made his way to the top of the hill and stood in the doorway to the stables for a minute as he adjusted to the slightly darker interior.

"Serenity? Are you in here?" he called, not really expecting a responce, as he stepped hoof inside and began to look around. Sticking his head into one stall, he wondered which one his brother had used, and for a time, was lost in that sad thought.

For all intents and purposes, Ve'ki was Txopu's twin from nose to tail. Little distguished them physically or vocally, minus the war paint used to decorate their bodies. Txopu had always favored brighter colors - red and white - as if taunting his enemy to come after him. Ve'ki preferred slightly muted colors echoing his preference to be in the background versus his brother's headstrong nature. He was as much a warrior as Txopu was, in fact it could be said Ve'ki was the only one that'd ever bested Txopu since they were young, but his heart was in watching and serving others, not in fighting. Still, he fought when need called for it, and did it with no remorse. His father had been responsible for that, teaching him that fear had no place when doing the right thing called for one to lay down their life, if need be, in battle.

Ve'ki raised his head, startled out of his own reverie about his brother, at the answer to his question that he'd nearly forgot asking. He knew how she must be grieving, he felt his own pain at the loss as well. Being a twin, they'd been very close since the day they were born, and he felt the loss as keenly as Serenity must.

Trudging forward, he was a bit reluctant, knowing he'd do little but to remind her of the loss, but he had promised his brother's dying wish to protect her and the children. He vowed, as he felt Txopu's spirit slipping away, the link closing forever, that he would give his life for her. His only responce had been a fleeting feeling of love and gratitude before the link had severed forever.

Tears now in his own eyes, approached the stall the voice had come from quietly, head lowered. Seeing her, his heart broke even further, a feat he did not think was possible. "I play no trick, milady," he said in a near whisper. His eyes strayed to the mare's middle, noting she was near time. A week at most was his guess, though she looked to be near days away. She was thin, much thinner than she should be. "I am Ve'ki Kawtu, proud brother of Txopu Kawtu. Txopu spent his dying breath to tell me to find you, to protect you and the children. He has told me much about you since you first met. He loved you dearly, Serenity, and in honor of his wishes, I have come."

For a moment, all Ve'ki did was watch her silently in reply, never moving a muscle. He was thinking how heart broken Txo would be to see her like this, though he felt much the same as she deep inside. Still, his brother had been honorable, and his memory was not served by neglecting himself or the ones his brother loved.

Stepping back, he nosed the door open and stretched his neck to unhook the feed bucket that was hanging nearby. Setting it on the ground, he gently nosed it towards her. "You need to eat. The little ones, not just the ones you carry though they are the most important at this moment, depend on you for strength even in this sadness. You must be strong. For them at least. My brother said to remind you of your promise, though he didn't tell me what that was."