A fragile dream in the making

Oath felt the warmth of Fairytale's head against his neck, her gentle touch filling him with a strange sense of comfort. There was something about her openness, her willingness to trust him even with her vulnerabilities, that stirred a deep respect in him. When she spoke about her vision problems and her past, it was with a quiet strength that he admired. She didn’t need to hide who she was, and that only made him want to protect her more.

“As long as I’m around, no one will look down on you,” Oath promised, his voice firm but laced with warmth. “Atreyu’s nothing like that. She’s kind, and she’ll understand. You won’t have to face this alone. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Her request that he join her made him smile. He had no plans of leaving her side, not now, and certainly not while she was still figuring out her place in this strange new land. “Of course, I’ll come with you,” he reassured, the playful tone returning to his voice. “I’m not going anywhere.”

When she rose to her feet, slow but steady, Oath watched her with a mixture of pride and concern. She was still recovering from the hunt, but she had the heart of a fighter. His gaze softened as she approached the deer, her small frame moving with a quiet determination.

“Let’s get you fed,” he said with a gentle nudge to her cheek. “You’ve earned this meal. And after we’ve both had our fill, we’ll go see Atreyu. Together.”

He joined her beside the deer, ready to share the spoils of their hard-earned victory, but more than that, ready to help her on whatever journey came next. This day, or any day after that.