Esti and Titania played in the water until the two men came back, carrying their kill. Everyone seemed excited to Esti for a bit, but then Winter limped onto the scene. Something was wrong with his leg. Titania went out of the water slowly, but Esti just stayed in the water and stared. Why had Winter gotten hurt? It was because he was hunting for the kingdom- the kingdom Esti had made up. This was Esti's fault, but no one knew. Everyone believed Esti's lies. What if Titania couldn't help him? What if he died? What if he died because Dusk recruited him for this kingdom? Then it was Dusk's fault... kind of.
Water dripped off of Esti as she stood in the pond- lake, whatever- staring at Winter and Titania as she treated his injury. Finally, she looked at Dusk. Finally, she started moving. The fact that Winter was hurt wasn't a huge deal. The fact that it was mostly her fault wasn't a big deal. It was a big deal because she cared. She just met this wolf and she already cared for him. Why was this happening? She was a benevolent princess, sure, and she cared fr all her followers, sure, but at a distance, right? That's how it had always been, but those followers were imaginary. These followers were real.
Esti stood by Dusk, for once not feeling like eating. She watched Titania stow away into the willows and come back with some herbs. She wanted to ask if Winter would be okay, but Titania said they needed to move him, "We need to get him- Dusk, lift him onto my back." Esti rushed over to Winter and ducked down, "I can carry him no problem, Dusk, Titania, just help him to balance and to get him on and off my back." She eyed Winter daring him to object. If the other two helped, putting Winter in a den would be easy, and he would be okay. Right? "Speech"
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