"Zeph?" Nina called. An austere young man stepped around a tree several paces away and began trudging through the thick foliage toward the women. His face was hard and his dark eyebrows paired with near coal black eyes made him look like he was contemplating how best to gut you and be rid of the body so he could make it back in time for tea. He walked directly up to Nina, coming to a stand so his body was slightly turned in front of the younger woman, like he was ready to stand between her and incoming danger. He stopped and glanced at Mia with hands held slightly out and upward to show her he was unarmed.