Legend of the Lost Star

Chapter 4~

The Encounter

Estelle didn't waste a second once the clock stroked seven. Spreading her silver wings, she flew all the way towards the countryside. She had already informed her mother on where she was going long beforehand. Luciana complied with her daughter's wishes.

As much as Estelle loved the urban city, she was just as drawn to the vast countryside, if not more so. Her boots pressed upon the soft blades of grass. Stripes leaped from her shoulder and landed on his paws. Thanks to the magic of the farmers, the land was always lush and new. Rows of freshly grown vegetables went on for what seemed like miles. The surface of the tomatoes shinned like a precious ruby. Stripes attempted to take a bite but immediately stopped when Estelle told him 'no'.

It was already nightfall, so the farmers had all long retread to their homes, cozying up with their respected partners by the fire place to either talk, read a good book or watch some television. The lights of the houses were still on, so nobody had gotten to sleep yet, save for a few.

Estelle and Stripes walked along the brown road up a small hill. On her left stood a lone cottage with a rounded fence made entirely out of rocks circled around it. The half broken metal gate hung loosely from the left side. The old cottage was made entirely out of wood, save for the rusty metal roof. The windows were partly open, allowing for the cool nighttime breeze to enter the house. The old and worn curtains billowed.

While the grass was well trimmed, large bushes with small blossoming flowers grew near it. Vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the pillars sustaining the roof. A lawn mower was parked right outside the nearby tool shed, which by the looks of it had seen better days.

The front porch had a single rocking chair and a few pillows had been spread out, where small little creatures slept soundly. These were the animals the hunters had managed to rescue and brought to Somorrah. Many of them had breaded, creating new generations of these said creatures. The majority lived in the fields while others became house pets, like Stripes was to Estelle. Though, she didn't really consider him a pet so much as a companion.

The creatures came in several sizes. One small furry creature had ears so large they served as wings. Its nose was tinny and pink, which twitched on occasion, and a pair of long slender legs with tiny talons. Its tail was long, slender and pink in color. Several animals were a tad larger, their backs reaching up to Estelle's waist, with necks that reached all the way to her head. They had long, slender legs with antlers on their heads and decorative floral-like markings on their backs.

Another variety was harrier, yellow with brown spots, and smaller horns on their heads. They were very sweet, but had the terrible habit of spitting in one's direction. Several of the creatures rested on the rusty old roof. Creatures with either four or six legs, with long bushy tails with white, gray and black stripes across. Large transparent membrane-covered wings were attached to their arms, allowing them the ability to glide.

The largest of the creatures, ironically, was the laziest and the friendliest. Many wondered how it was able to survive in the outside world. It probably didn't considering he was the only one of his kind whom they had managed to find. A creature completely covered in brown fur which was colored green over his back, making him appear like a poll of grass. It had cloven hooves, a large wet nose which frequently made snorting sounds. A pair of large curved horns stuck out from its head, which had resulted in many mistaking him for a threat. But, given how his naturally passive nature they decided he was worth saving. The poor thing probably no longer had a heard of its own.

The beast sniffed Estelle, its large brown hairs partly covering its warm eyes. The princess gently pushed him back, politely asking him to not lick her again this time. The last time he did she smelled like saliva for an entire week.

The young princess knocked on the door, awaiting patiently for the owner to reply. Stripes played with a few of the colorful creatures of various shapes, sizes and colors. Some were furry, others were scaly. Some a mixture of both. One winged animal with purple plumage landed on Estelle's shoulder. The creature let out an adorable "hoot" sound from its tiny beak. Light colored feathers formed over its eyes, resembling strange winged eyebrows. Its eyes were black, but shimmered like stars. It nuzzled its face against Estelle's cheek.

The door opened and the hooting animal flew from Estelle's shoulder over to the owner of the cottage. An elderly looking man with slender eyes and a warm smile. He wore a plain gray shirt, old and faded with a few stains here and there. Over his shoulders he wore a black jacket and a pair of dark pants, rolled up halfway above the ankles and a pair of flip flops on his feet. His hair had become whiter over the years, his beard had grown longer and bristly. He still wore his signature spectacles over the bridge of his nose.

"Happy Birthday, Howl." Estelle said, holding his gift behind her back.

"Estelle, my bell! I didn't think you'd remember."

The princess laughed, "Howl, you say that every year."

"And it never gets old."

"Eh, it kind of does." Estelle replied with a shrug.

Howl tilted his head back in laughter, stepping aside so the young woman could enter. Estelle made sure to keep her gift hidden. Stripes walked inside, the scent of steaming hot potato soup entered his nostrils. The little nyx panted excitedly, his tail wagging and ran towards the kitchen.

"Stripes, no! Where are your manners?" Estelle said, her voice soft yet stern. Stripes lowered his ears and whimpered sadly, apologizing for his impulsive reaction.

"It's okay. There's plenty for everyone." Howl said, approaching the kitchen. The cottage itself was small, with a simple kitchen only three steps away from the living room. A few stools and a couple of old cushion chairs were set around a small coffee table, which was where Howl ate his meals. Bowls were placed either inside or outside the shack.

The place was adorned with paintings that either hung on the walls, or were placed near the floor. Every time Estelle came to visit she saw a brand new painting, yet they were all of the exact same thing, all done in an eye catching nouveau style.

Estelle took a seat, placing Howl's gift beside her, while the old man poured the hot boiling soup into the bowls. He had one special one for Stripes. He stuck his tongue into the liquid, only to immediately jerk back due to the hot temperature. Estelle giggled under her breath while the poor little creature fanned on his tongue with his paw. He blew on the soup before tasting it again. He purred with delight.

"Would you like some too, Princess?"

"Yes, thank you."

Howl poured the soup into another bowl and offered it to Estelle, spoon and all. He sat opposite her direction on another chair, crossing his legs, blowing on his soup before eating. The soft potato pieces melted in Estelle's mouth. She never complained about the food in the castle, it was always made perfectly by their gourmet chef. But, there was just something oddly charming about having a meal that wasn't so overly decorated or complex. It was just heated liquid with sliced potatoes with a pinch of salt. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Mmm, still so good!" Estelle said, savoring the taste.

"Glad to hear it. So, how's life in the big city?" he asked, sparking the conversation.

"Pretty good. Same old same old."

"How are those friends of yours, um…" he squinted his eyes in an attempt to remember, "Daisy and Chloe?"

Estelle laughed, "Dahlia and Cecelia. They're fine, Dahlia is already planning her dress for graduation and Cecelia is…well, she's still her sweet self."

"Still gets her brain fried whenever there's a handsome young man within two feet?" Howl asked.

Estelle compressed her lips to try and keep herself from laughing hard, considering she still had some soup in her mouth. She swallowed before answering. "Okay, that's just mean!" she said, unable to suppress her giggles.

Howl rose his hand in surrender, "Hey, you're the one who hangs out with them."

Estelle chuckled, "Come on, they mean well."

"What about the next generation? How many of em have you sent to the infirmary week?"

Estelle rolled her eyes, "Ha, ha, hilarious. You can rest and easy, nobody got on my bad side so I allowed them to live." she joked.

"Lucky sacks. Of course, I can't say the same for those punks you pummeled earlier today."

Estelle nearly chocked on her soup. She cleared her throat before speaking. "You heard of that?"

"I may be a hermit but I do still have a radio." he said with a knowing grin. "I take it your mother didn't react very positively."

Estelle bit her bottom lip, stirring her soup. "You could say that."

"Well, to be fair, I was pretty worried too." he said. Estelle looked up at him with a look of regret. The old man smiled, "After all, this was the same girl who gave a senior a nose bleed and a black eye during her freshman year. Those scumbags don't got a dime of a chance!" Estelle and the elderly man shared a laugh. "That fact your mother was more worried about you rather than those poor souls is surprising to me."

"Oh, speaking of surprises." she pulled the present from her side and handed it to Howl.

The old man's green eyes brightened once he held the gift in his hand. "Aww, little one. You didn't have to get me anything." he said. Once he unwrapped the gift, the former hunter reached out to Estelle, giving her a warm hug.

"Aww, aren't you the sweetest thing." Howl said, graciously accepting his gift.

"I noticed you were running out of paint, and this way you won't have to go into town to deal with those jerks at the store."

"Good thing, too. I'm working on a new one. Wanna see it?"

"Of course!" Estelle replied without hesitation. Howl stood up from his chair, feeling his legs fail him for a moment. Estelle sprung from her chair and rushed to his aid. "Howl, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he assured her as he slowly straightened his back while Estelle held his hand and supported his arm. Stripes scurried over, his large ears perking in curiosity. Howl gave a low wheezily chuckle once he had fully straightened himself. He patted Estelle's hand in gratitude and led her to his room and switched on the light. The bedroom was old and rustic, but partly well kept. It needed to be in order for him to keep his large collection of paintings. Small ones hung on the walls, while bigger ones were stacked into perfectly placed rows with a white blanket over them.

Beside his bed was the painting he was working on. He always painted while sitting on the side of his bed. The jaws of paint and used brushes were placed on a small stool right beside it. Estelle studied the image while Howl placed his gift on his nightstand.

The princess's eyes sparkled in curiosity and stepped closer towards the painting. Howl sat on the corner of his bed, allowing his guest to take in the details of his work. The drawing had yet to be fully painted, and was just a fully done sketch, depicting a creature running across the fields. Sketches of leafs, some painted green, flew all around him. Sketch lines that resembled grass had been drawn around it, as well as a few trees in the background.

The creature appeared as if it would leap right out of the page at any given moment. The hair on its head as well as it long elegant tail billowed in the none existing wind like an elegant ball gown when twirling. Estelle tried to resist the urge to reach out and stroke those majestic locks that extended all the way to the back of its long strong looking neck. Its body was wide with rippling muscles, its pointed ears pricked forward and its legs appeared as if they were touching the very air that separated it from the grass. It was an animal that moved freely, without restraint, both physically and, from Estelle's perspective, spiritually. As if by magic itself, she could see the creature frolic across the fields. The wind caught in its hair and tail while its body thrusted forward with no signs of stopping, making surrounding mountains look blurry in its wake.

This wasn't the first time one of Howl's paintings had this kind of impact on her. Every single one of his paintings depicted a creature of incredible strength, majestic beauty and unyielding freedom radiating in its eyes. Every creature came in a variety of colors, some even had wings and a curved horn coming from its forehead, resembling a wand. These had long slender tails with cuffs of hair at the end. The same cuffs came from their ankles. Several paintings depicted only the creature's head. Some had beaks and talons on the side of their hooves and blue feathered wings. This specific creature was the exact same one Howl refused to kill all those years ago.

Nobody had ever witnessed a creature such as this before, and Estelle had always secretly hoped they would find it and bring it to Somorrah. For how could a creature as wild and breathtaking as this could ever be evil? Allas, such a specimen was never found.

Estelle reluctantly snapped herself awake from her hallucination of seeing the creature move before her eyes. Howl noticed her crestfallen expression and patted the side of the bed, inviting her to sit beside him. Estelle sighed sadly.

"Anybody else would probably ask why you never get tired of painting the exact same thing over and over again. But I think I know why." Estelle said, giving him a warm smile.

"Do you?" Howl asked, curiously raising a brow.

"Yes." Estelle nodded her head, "They're not just drawings on a piece of paper they're…" she paused for a moment to try and think of the right words to say. "They're alive, in a way. I can actually see them running across the landscape and I can feel the adrenaline. The same adrenaline I feel when I battle or cast spells. The same adrenaline you must have felt during your days as a hunter."

Howl sighed, turning his gaze away from the princess. When he didn't speak, Estelle became concerned. "Howl? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. "

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, kid, nothing 'wrong'. You just said what the art makes you see and feel."

"I just wish they weren't stuck in here all the time. If people saw your work they'd love them just as much as I do."

"Kid, I doubt anybody would want to see anything from a wash-out hunter."

"You're not a wash out!" Estelle said defensively, "Everyone still remembers you as the greatest hunter ever. My professors use your exploits as an example to motivate the other students. Plus, your work is amazing!"

"These paintings weren't meant to be in a museum to show off."

"What's wrong with people seeing them? What's wrong with others realizing how talented you are?"

Howl stood up, struggling to keep his balance, placing his hand on the wall for support. His fingers traced the corner of one of his portraits. His bright green eyes reflected the light coming from the lamp. "I've worked my backside for years killing monsters. Getting awards and parties in my honor. And yet, after all these years, people are still out there risking their lives, killing every dangerous man-eating monster they come across. Sometimes, it's not even the monster that gets his or her head chopped off. While the names and the weapons may change, the pattern repeats itself over and over."

Howl hung his head, his hand still pressed to the wall. Estelle reached out her hand, comforting her old friend. "I know you're scared. But, I'll be alright. I believe in the Arions and they will protect me. Besides, I'm aware of the risk. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help my people. To ensure a better future."

"Will it make you happy?"

"Of course it will. I'm going to contribute to my role to the city. It's what I've always wanted."

Howl stroked his beard tentatively, turning around to face her. "You sure that's really the reason you want to go out there again?" Howl asked, giving her a knowing smile. "Because, as I recall, you didn't always show an interest in becoming queen."

"I was just a little kid."

"Yes, you were."

Estelle opened her mouth to reply, but she was genuinely stuck. Her mother had trained her for years to become the ideal queen, as was top of her class. Everyone knew she was talented, and she knew it as well. She had grown up knowing her desire to become a hunter so she could defend her city from monsters. However, there was another reason why she wished to go outside the gate. She never said it out loud due to fear of sounding selfish.

Howl walked around the room, admiring his work. Estelle observed and listened. "I remember the first time we met. You were this lively little thing, asking questions that made a grown man gasp." the princess giggled at the memory. "The way you lit up when I told you the story of the creature."

"The one you spared." Estelle said.

"Yes. Since then, hunters have stopped killing every single creature in sight, and instead took the time to rescue those who were innocent. Like your friend Stripes here." Howl gestured to the little creature, who had crawled up to Estelle's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek with his wet nose.

Estelle looked at the painting beside Howl. Her mind pondered at his words. As if by lightning, the answer came to her. "That's why you really paint them, isn't it?"

"Now you're getting it!" Howl said with an enthusiastic snap of his fingers, "I spared one life long ago, and that in turn spared so many others. Because you listened." he paused for dramatic effect. "My trophies have rusted. My image in magazines have been replaced by newer, younger faces, but that one moment left a grater impact on my life than anything else I have accomplished. Something so small in comparison to everything else that's big and loud, it's more eternal than anything. Real change can only start once you've learned to listen."

A light buzzing sound caught Estelle almost off guard. Pulling out her phone she witnessed that it was already eight thirty four. "I'm sorry, I have to go. My mom wants me home before nine."

"That's alright. Thanks for visiting." Howl gave the princess a warm hugh before parting ways.

"Happy Birthday. You're coming to my coronation, right?" Estelle asked hopefully.

Howl did not answer right away. Instead, he patted the top of her head and ruffled her abnormally blue colored hair. Estelle natural reaction was to laugh at the gesture.

"Don't you worry about that, kid. I'll be there. Promise."

Estelle gave him one last hug before calling to Stripes. She opened her arms and her loyal companion leaped into them, his furry face nuzzling her cheek. She spread her silver wings open and flew out into the sky. Howl waved farewell from down bellow, his animal companions gathering around him.

"Alright, alright, I've got plenty of soup leftover. No pushing."

*(~)*

The sounds of honking cars was heard from down bellow as Estelle flew across the nighttime sky. Stripes was securely fastened in her arms. Estelle looked the time on her phone, seeing it was eight fifty two. She was supposed to be home by nine. Two to five minutes late at the most. Thankfully, Estelle was not only top of her class, but also the fastest flyer in Somorrah. Sometimes, while she would have a casual fly around town, some of the boys would request for a race. It was mostly to try and impress her, but Estelle hardly ever declined. Any chance to showcase the boys she was not so easily attainable. That, and she enjoyed any excuse to taste the intoxicating adrenaline rush that came with it.

Her silver wings flapped harder to facilitate the process. Stripes held on tighter, his claws grasping the edged of Estelle's jacket. The sound of car horns suddenly flared and multiplied, followed by a collection of screams and gasps from down bellow. Estelle noticed various pedestrians suddenly stop in their tracks. Apartment lights turned on and windows flung open, the residents poking their heads out in curiosity. Estelle slowed her flying, looking down with concern puzzlement. She pulled her attention away from the people down bellow once Stripes let out a terrified shriek.

Estelle gasped upon seeing a strange, large creature flying right towards her. Estelle stopped in midair, only for whatever it was to collide with her. The princess screamed in terror as the weight of the mysterious object started to force her down. The stars blurred with the city lights as she fell. Estelle grunted as she rolled onto the top of a building.

Stripes had fallen from her hands, but was thankfully unharmed. He had fallen right beside her, shaking his furry body as he stood. Estelle heard a strange animal-like sound a few feet away from her. Estelle gasped and recoiled in terror once she witnessed the creature slowly rose up on its four legs.

The creature was bigger than Estelle, with a slender yet muscular body, a long almost reptilian-like neck and massive wings stretching from its back. A long slender tail wiped as it moved. As it struggled to stand back up, Estelle got a much more detailed look on the mysterious beast. Its body was entirely covered in red scales, which changed to a green color around the front of its hind legs. Its legs were long, slender but powerful looking. Her front legs were covered in a pinkish fur, and traces of hair came out from the ankles. It stomped opts cloven hooves as it rose. The underbelly was pale yellow, which blended with the city lights. The beast wobbled once she stood, visibly disorientated. It shook its head, the long pale pink locks, streaked with purple and dark pink/red streaks moved like satin silk being billowed in the wind. Its ears were long and pointed. Estelle caught a glimpse of two small golden hoops attached to them. The creature's lower half of its face was yellow like its belly, while the bridge of its nose began with green scales, changing to red around its forehead. Speaking of its forehead, a long curved horn rose from its head, its messy pink bangs bounced off of its head as it moved. Two more horns grew from the left and right side of its head, and the same colored spikes cascaded downwards from its back, all the way down to its long slender tail, with a cuff of hair at the end, the same color as its mane.

But, perhaps its most distinguishing, and intimidating feature, were its wings. Massive, red scaly wings with green membrane. When they opened, Estelle felt a million times smaller in comparison. Stripes stepped in front of the princess, growling and hissing at the beast as it regained its composure. Around its neck, Estelle noticed what appeared to be a satchel of some kind. The beast locked eyes with the princess, who froze in place. Its big almond shaped eyes were a striking shade of green. Vibrant and radiating with a sense of warmth and empathy. They reminded her a bit of Howl's eyes, only, if possibly, brighter.

The anatomy of the creature also triggered something in Estelle's memory. Its powerful yet slim build, the long, finely handled mane and large expressive eyes reminded her of the wild, mystically enchanting creatures from Howl's paintings. Its nostrils flared, making a snorting sound. Its ears flickered back and forth in a curious manner. The beast suddenly growled when Stripes snapped his jaws at it in an effort to protect Estelle.

The princess petted his head to calm him down and Estelle stood back up. Stripes stared in bewilderment as Estelle stood still. The creature didn't move either. It made no attempts to attack Estelle. Its wings were tucked in, its tail moving softly and gracefully above the cold building's surface. The words from Howl's story seven years ago seeped into Estelle's mind as she took a tentative step forward. The creature didn't flinch, nor react. Instead, the princess caught what appeared to be a soft smile forming across the creature's mouth. A small smile began to form on Estelle's face as well.

"It was…strange to say the least….I didn't know what came over me, but I suddenly found myself walking closer."

Stripes kept a close eye on Estelle, making sure his mistress would keep an approvable save distance from the creature if it attempted anything. Both human and creature kept their eyes locked, feeling as if an invisible cord were pulling them towards the other. The distance between them minimized and Estelle's palm hovered over the creature's nose. Her eyes sparkled with such emotion unlike anything Estelle had ever seen. For a moment, she had forgotten this was even an animal at all. Standing beside her felt as natural as if she were standing next to a human.

The sound of a gunshot caused the creature's pupils to morph into cat-like slits. Its ears presiding back on its head as it let out a powerful whining sound, seamlessly merged with infuriated growling noises. Its mouth opened wide, revealing its razor sharp teeth. Its front legs rose and kicked the invisible air, and its massive wings spread out. Stripes hid behind Estelle's leg and she looked up, seeing several police officers flying above her, each one wielding a gun, shooting at the beast.

The creature galloped and trotted in place, snarling at the winged humans. Its chest puffed up before opening its mouth. Estelle's eyes widened in both terror and shock. Intense, powerful flames came shooting from the creature's mouth, directly at the police officers. They hardly avoided the incoming blasts, several loosing momentum and fell on the building. Estelle knew of only one animal who could create fire from its mouth. But how was that possible? There was no denying the creature indeed resembled the mighty, terrible lizard of lore, but she had never heard of one with three horns, hair or hooves. There was no mistaking the homogeneous anatomy. Still, if this creature could breath fire yet wasn't entirely a dragon, then what exactly was it?

One officer quickly hurried to Estelle, shielding her with his body, while pointing a gun at the beast. "Wait, no!" Estelle cried, but the officer had already pulled the trigger. The bullet came flying at top speed the poor beast hardly saw it pierce right through her wing. The creature roared in agony as blood began to spill from the cut, and another bullet hit its leg. Estelle quickly knocked out the officer by jabbing on his shoulder, paralyzing his body and rushed towards the creature, now whimpering and groaning at its injury. Droplets of blood fell upon the ground, tearing a hole into Estelle's heart. Memories of the traces of blood that came from the severed heads of the beasts the hunters had slayed when she was seven years old came flooding back. Years and years of overcoming such an experience had faded as quickly as pulling away a bandage.

A indescribably urge seeped into Estelle and she stood right in front of the beast, using her body as a shield to protect it from the gun wielding officers. "Don't you dare shoot!" she ordered.

One of the officers told his companion to hold his fire, to which he complied. Estelle rushed to the creature's side. Pulling out her wand, Estelle attempted to use a healing spell on the beast. But, the moment it saw her wand, it growled in terror, trying desperately to get away.

"Shush, it's okay. I won't hurt you." Estelle tried to sooth the creature, but it continued to squirm, crying out in pain. Its head bobbing up and down before finally stopping due to exhaustion and pain. Small snowflake-like particles emitted from the tip of her wand, landing on the bloody wound on both the creature's leg and wing. The wound on her leg had closed almost instantly, but the hole on her wing still remained. The blood ceased spilling out, but the poor beast was still in a state of shock and recovering from the treatment. While healing spells could indeed fit any injury in a matter of second, the aftermath of the injury would still linger. The beast would need bed rest and plenty of fluids.

Estelle reached out her hand for the creature's face, gently feeling the soft texture of the scales, and even a few traces of fur that brushed against her skin. How odd, a creature with scales and hair at the same time? It was impossible. Was it?

The officers landed beside her, seeing the creature completely defenseless, wheezing in pain. The officer who Estelle had knocked out eventually came to, one of his fellow law enforcers assisting him back to his feet. From down bellow, Estelle could hear the distant sounds of people cheering in victory at the supposedly dead animal. The princess payed very little mind and she softly patted the creature's head. Its breathing leveled, its large green eyes became warm and innocent every time it looked at Estelle. It looked so fragile and scared. Estelle felt as if tears would roll from her eyes. A monsoon of questions and emotions wrestled inside of her. She could't explain why she felt such a strong sense of protection for the beast. It wasn't the same as when she first found Stripes. This felt different, almost as if she were seeing a family member laying injured on the cold floor.

One of the officers finally dared to speak, "Uh, Colonel."

"Yes, sir!" the said officer replied with a salute, though there too was uncertainty in his tone.

"Contact Headquarters. Tell them we…found something and--"

"Casualty." Estelle answered. Her eyes still on the creature.

"Your highness?"

"Tell them we have a casualty." Estelle replied, finally turning her head to face the officers. "Better yet, get an ambulance."

"Princess, this is just a…it's an animal. A beast. What do you suggest we do with it? Perhaps we should contact your mother before--"

"No need." Estelle said, standing up to face the officer, standing firmly. "I will inform my mother." she pointed a finger at the officer's chest. "You and your men see to it this animal is taken to the palace. I will decide what becomes of her."

"Her? How do you know it's--"

"Is there a problem, Officer?"

The man straightened his posture. "No, none at all, Princess. I will get right on it."

Estelle nodded her head and the officer quickly got on the task. Meanwhile, she sat back down beside the creature, trying to calm her down. "Don't worry." she whispered in a kind, soothing tone, which seemed to have a positive effect on the creature. "You're going to be alright. I promise. Nobody will hurt you."

Stripes finally amped up the courage to approach the creature. He sniffed her head, to which she snorted. The air blown from her nostrils ruffled his fur. He quickly adjusted it with his paw and wagged his tail. The creature gave a soft smile, and a growling sound that resembled a chuckle. Estelle smiled at the two only to revert her attention back to the satchel around the creature's neck. Gently, Estelle adjusted the bag so as to not bother the creature as she laid her body. She didn't flinch and allowed the princess to pull the bag over her stomach. It was leather made, almost as if it were made y human hands. A golden button kept the bag closed. Upon feeling the bag, Estelle felt something hard inside. Taking a small peek she saw a hard cover and white pages, yellow and stained due to age.

Estelle looked curiously at the creature, who slightly rose her head and whinnied, almost as if warning her. Estelle had never seen anything like this. Who had ever heard of a creature carrying a book? Could an animal even read?

More and more questions popped into her mind, one overlapping the other over and over. Would her mother try to lock the creature up? Would she allow Estelle to keep her just as she did with Stripes? Could she really be one of the creatures Howl had said to have witnessed all those years ago? Could there be more out there?

The poor creature's painful groan helped Estelle conclude that she would those bridges once she got to them. Right now, the important thing to do was to make sure the creature was somewhere safe. As she dialed the number on her phone, Estelle prayed to the Arions that her mother wouldn't kill her once she got home.

*(~)*