Me, You And The Raccoon

2

The raccoon perches on the window sill in front of its cauldron to watch the show. In the mixture's steam, the image shimmers to life. This should be good, yes. Very good.

The two girls hack their way through the brambled path, the pauper clearing the way for the princess who follows behind. The raccoon wonders if they have any idea what awaits them. All it has told them is that their love will be tested. And tested, it will be. The raccoon cackles.

They are an odd match, it thinks. The princess, so poised and beautiful, a delicate woman with eyes like precious jewels and a body like a fragile glass bottle. And the girl she has fallen for -- unkempt red hair, dull hazel eyes and worker's hands: calloused and rough. An odd match indeed, but perhaps the truest. The raccoon sniffs around for something to eat. It is nervous. It wants, more than anything, for these two to succeed.

Pausing, the peasant turns to her lover. "Are you tired?" She asks. The princess shakes her head, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. They continue.

The raccoon takes this as a good sign. The commoner is concerned, and the princess is determined. A good pair of emotions, yes. Having found no food, the raccoon returns to its steam screen.

They are close. The girl hacks through a low hanging arch of branches, and stops short. She is looking at the cave entrance, the raccoon knows this although it cannot see it yet. It's quite a sight, gaping and endless. The princess peers over the peasant's shoulder, looking politely impressed.

"Do we go in?" The girl asks.

The princess tilts her head up, reassuming her regal posture. "Yes," she says, stepping past the other one. She does not look back before stepping into the cave.

Scarlett gives the cave a weary glance and then follows.

The raccoon dips its finger in the cauldron to dissolve the image. It looks up. It has a visitor.