The Runaway Princess

Epilouge

-5 years later -

"Mom!" Called out a young girl, whose name was Fara. She had light blue skin and dark green curls framing her narrow face and her ochre eyes. She was wearing a copper toned flowing dress with a pair of twine sandals, all fitting nicely on her seven year old body.

The sun shone on her face as she ran across the deck of a gleaming wooden ship towards a figure in a light yellow shirt and brown canvas pants with a strange creature on her shoulder.

Ester turned around to look at her daughter, her smile lighting up her face. She caught Fara in her arms and they spun together for a moment before she set her down.

"What is it my dear?" She asked kindly, her eyes crinkling on the side in happiness.

"Mama says we are almost at shore and to prepare to unload!" Fara exclaimed while rocking on the balls of her feet.

"Is that so?" Ester replied. "Well it will certainly be good to see some people again today. It's been 5 years since I've seen some of these people. Aren't you excited to meet mom's friends?"

"Aren't Mama and the others your friends? And what about me, aren't I your friend?" Fara asked.

"Of course you are!" Ester replies, ruffling Fara's hair as another person approaches.

"Yeah, aren't I your friend too?" Thala said with an easy grin. The years have been good to her and she was now well known for her talents at mischief making with Embeth.

Changes had started quickly after the wedding five years ago. Odette and Hortensia left to form an orphanage in Idi, where they shortly found Fara and adopted her to Ester and Storm. Baylen left around that time to teach the Katul the common language and two of Katul joined us at that point. A small trip to Lengeli found Trailer on the run after cheating some people out of some money, so she joined us.

Currently the ship was en route to Piscor for their annual blue moon festival, for everyone to reunite.

Throughout the night, Storm and Ester together met with all their past friends to reconnect with many rounds of laughter. Thala talked about their adventure in Bori and Ester explained that her pet was a Tantur and that she kept this one after loving Zephyr's monkey, Ivy. Amare introduced everyone to her fiancé, an extremely sweet Katul that doted on her and let her take charge in the relationship, a part that hadn't been in any of her past relationships. Storm and Ester let everyone meet Fara, and she was an instant favorite. She reconnected with Hortensia and Odette and told them all about the adventures she'd been on.

At one point in the night they spotted Cypren, but he flushed and hurried away before they could speak to him.

The groups feasted on baked goods and breadsticks, in Thalia's case, and had warm apple juice to wash it down. Ester and Storm danced for what feels like the thousandth time for them.

"Are you still happy with me?" Storm asked with a knowing smile. She began working on her communication after getting married but struggled with self doubt for some time, asking that question but in a much more serious tone. After adopting Fara, Storm was fully convinced that Ester was happy with her, and stopped taking the question seriously.

A long time had passed and the emotions were high when the crew eventually had to depart. Embeth was sprung from the night cell she was placed in earlier that night and they used the rowboats to sail across to the ship.

Once on the ship, members started heading to bed. Storm and Ester come back to the deck after putting Fara to bed.

"That was a night," Storm said softly. Ester smiled in response and stroked the fur of her Tantur. "I still can't believe you kept that thing."

"I thought you loved him?"

"Love is such a strong word!"

They started laughing together.

"I love you Ester Quatun."

"And I love you Storm Bardow."