Days and Thoughts

Ashlyn opened her eyes. The sun was hitting straight to her face. She rolled over to the other side of her bed, grunting. She looked at the window. Cloudy day. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Finally she managed to stand up and dress up for the day. She put her favourite navy blue jeans and brown boots on and walked to the house corridor, not before grabbing her scarlet jacket.

The breakfast was over quickly. She ate in silence as her parents were chit-chatting. Her brother was excited over some friends coming over.

She washed the dishes and met the family's horse, galloping to the city. There, she left her family's horse in one of the nearest stables to her favourite inn, and after paying the required amount, she headed to the place.

She greeted the inskeeper with a cheerful smile.

"Hello Mario! Is the stage free tonight?"

"Good afternoon Ash! The clients today definitely need some entertainment. Been hearing some rumours about the prince lately".

She left her waist bag in a table next to the stage. "Oh my, is something wrong? Wasn't he banished or something?"

"He was, but seems people saw him recently looking for trouble. Just to tell you, be careful out there".

She nodded. "I will".

A young girl of around her age approached Ashlyn.

"May I know your order, miss?

Before going to sort out some things with two men in the entrance, Mario turned to the girls.

"Almost forgot! New recruitment for this house. Meet Yui, sweetest girl I've met. Yui, this is Ashlyn. Great singer and dancer. Always keeps my customers happy. Yui adjusted her light pink coloured hijab, slightly blushing.

The girls greeted each other.

"Sooo are you from here?"

"No, I actually came here to work after moving out from my parents."

Ashlyn smiled. "Aww, that's great! Happy for you".

"Thank you so much!". Her smile was so sweet and warm. After the a call from the inskeeper, the girls promised to keep in touch and Yui quickly turned back to her duties.

Ashlyn stared at the cup of water she had in front of her. Suddenly, she saw the reflection of Armand, standing behind her.

She turned around to see.

Nothing.

"Oh great. Now I'm going nuts seeing him everywhere."

She turned back around to the glass of water, frowning. The girl sighed, finishing the cup and the rest of her meal, and after a quick "bye" to Mario and Yui, she left.

She decided to distract herself from all the city noise and headed to the forest.

It was one of the places her parents didn't really allow her to go, although as they were busy enough with their work, the less they knew, the better. At least, that was what Ashlyn thought.

It was turning dark and a bit windy but she didn't really care. The girl found a cozy spot to sit near an old oak.

Mental images of the previous days started to replay in her mind. Something must have happened in her family. Her parents said they had way too much on their plates. Work. Every day life. It was hard to bring enough so they could enjoy a day outside at the end of the month. Ashlyn was doing the best she could, repaying her private mentoring's debt while she was starting to earn by herself. She never really liked serving someone else's dream anyway... And it was hurtful enough that her mother sometimes blamed her brother and her because of stupid arguments with her husband.

But it was weird. It was strange, as if a nightmare, that heated arguments started to be more common in the household, even if everyone pretended it was a nice, peaceful and harmonious family to the external world.

It was hard to grasp. The girl tried to get some of the vague memories of her childhood, when her family had a big social circle. She felt loved and happy.

But now... It was slowly fading away. And she was trying to desperately keep attached to the bread crumbs of what her family is. Or was...

Lost in thought, she didn't notice the warm tears falling from her eyes. She raised her head, leaning closer to the tree, while closing her eyes in a deep sigh.

*******

After spending most part of the day in a pub drowning his pain in beer, Lewis decided it was time to get outside. Enough was enough. At least for today. Stefan wasn't available to hang out either.

The forest was a nice place to go. There were many myths in relation to it, one of them telling how you could die kidnapped by bandits - which was basic common sense in all places, but the worst part wasn't this. People actually thought you could even kidnapped by the banished Prince, and that he was an insaciable beast, always greedy for blood. Human blood.

"They will never stop mocking me, will they" Lewis was tired of all this nonsense. Yes, one of the perks of being part of the Sacred Royal Feline's bloodline was that the people being born in this lineage were hybrids, mix between felines and humans. Yet, this didn't mean they were cannibals. Meat was consumed as any other member of society. Farming and agriculture were quite popular in the Empire in fact, and livestock was often exchanged and sold to other Empires.

He was so caught up in his head, he almost bumped into a tree. His quick reflexes helped him to dodge it quickly. Suddenly he heard a soft cry. The distance wasn't short from where he was standing, based on what his instincts told him, but he didn't mind walking for a bit longer. He followed the noise as quickly and quietly as possible.

Some meters in front of the crying, his nose picked up a familiar scent. He couldn't see the person leaning on the tree, but he was 100% that it was Ashlyn.

His pride told him to walk away as fast as he came. She luckily was soon to be engaged to that prick he was at the masquerade. Married, even.

But a part of him rebelled against these words. Married? How did he know that? Meeting suitors was a common thing between all people attending masquerade balls. Especially for women. It wasn't something new. Yet, she wasn't his. How could he be so sure that he wouldn't be interested in other men? He was the banished Prince after all... The name inflicted both terror and hate in every person now, no matter who were they. The atrocity he did back then at the castle. Was unforgivable.

Lewis shook his head and took a deep breath. To hell with these thoughts. He didn't want to see her in pain. The only thought, now reality, of seeing her in pain, made him mad in anger. He wanted to protect her. To do something. Anything.

But he was ashamed of himself. The prince morphed into his lion form, and approached her carefully.

*******

Ashlyn couldn't hold it anymore. It was getting dark, her parents would probably scold her by the time she would arrive home. So what? She didn't care anymore.

She was seeing what seemed to be a happy family, slowly falling apart.

Tears were falling down her face more frequently. She was alone in the forest, right? To hell with what others thought. She was alone. Nobody would ever see her crying.

She heard a tread. She raised her head from her knees, seeing her lion friend in front of her.

"Oh! Erin!" She crawled to him, hugging his blonde mane and head.

"How are you? I didn't see you often! Was starting to miss you, my little adorable lion" She stroked his long mane, smiling through the tears and scrunching her nose.

"She's so beautiful, even crying. I want to hug her so bad. You fucking PRIDE, idiot"

The lion licked her face. Ashlyn giggled.

"Ow ow you cute, big baby! I missed you so much"

She leaned on him as he sat comfortably beside her.

"I should get back home but I don't have the strength to do so. Nor wishes, to be honest. That's so lame, isn't it?"

"Oh my god, should I run to her home? I could quickly bring her back to her parents." The lion puffed.

"Yeah yeah, I'm a bad daughter, whatever. It's just, it's so chaotic in there.. I don't want to.."

Tears started rolling again. "Shit I'm sorry I know I shouldn't"

"Who in the fucking world told you that you don't have to cry, beautiful princess doesn't deserve this!"

Lewis licked her face again in attempts to bring some comfort. Ashlyn smiled, giggling. "Alright alright, I know you love me, I love you too, kitty cat! Thank you for the support".

He was torn. He didn't want to see her crying anymore, but she told him the situation at home. He didn't finished listening to what she was venting about as he was busy trying to find a solution. When he turned his head slowly, he saw her eyes closed, her body calmly resting on his lion's body.

"Well shit. What am I supposed to be doing now?"

And this is when an idea popped in his head.

He lost track of time, so he had to take action as quickly as possible.

Careful enough to not wake her up, he moved away from her, turning back to his human form and taking the black leather bag he carried everywhere. He quickly put his clothes on and picked her up, walking back to the city. His strong sense of smell told him it wouldn't be hard to find Stefan.