The Hardest Hello, The Easiest Goodbye

6)) Kat

     Once the food came I was hesitiant, it didn't smell like raw meat or the fruit I was used to. The scents were rich and were of different variety. A uniformed man placed a metal platter infront of me. It had a semi circular lid over top, which the man lifted and took with him. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach at the sight of every food tray and platter. I heard the king chuckle next to me and I was taken back to the reality that I wasn't alone.

     I looked down at the stuff infront of me, a circular dish with food on it; a knife and other metal things sat to the side. I stared with a puzzled expression, earning another faint chuckle from him. I raised my head and focused on the king. He was cutting a chunk of meat with one the knife and used another metal object to put it into his mouth. I tilted my head and tried to follow his movements. I grabbed the knife and the small pitchfork looking thing and cut the meat.

     I shoved the small peice meat into my mouth, chewing quickly. I looked back up at the king, a soft expression on his face.
     "Tano. Where were you raised? Do you remember?" He asked and drank his wine. I took a second to think, there were multiple places I remembered from my younger years. There was a witch's house in the woods and the wolf dens. I couldn't remember farther back.

     Tahlisa and Kano had always been my parents. I never understood why I was different from the other pups. I just assumed I was made special.

     "I grew up with wolves. I've lived in the same woods all my life." I responded. It was painful to try to think back to before Kano found me. It was blurry and there were loud male voices yelling at me. King James' eyes lit up.

     "Then it is a possibility that you're Illya's daughter after all." King James smiled warmly at me. I managed a small giggle and I continued to eat.

---

     After dinner was finished, I was lead back to my room. My fur clothing hung outside the closet. All the blood stains and odor had been washed out of it. I quickly changed back into my pelts and threw my other clothes onto the floor. Falisha scooped them up and put them into a bin, leaving the room. I was alone.

     My curiosity ate at me as I looked over to the glass doors that guarded the connected upstairs room. I gently opened one of the doors and climbed up the stairs one by one. I made it up to the room and dashed for the crib, picking up the paper and opening it. It read:

     Hey baby girl. It's mommy, waiting for you still. I may not get to see you again but I know this letter will get to you someday.
I'm so sorry I didn't watch you and little Four. I promised I would look after you the day you girls were born.
     I miss your soft auburn hair and your sweet brown eyes. Your father would too. I'm married to your step father, King James Holstein. You're a real princess now! How lovely.
    I'm sorry but I have an illness Katherine, one day it will kill me. I had my friend paint you to show me what you would look like every year. Until you come home.

With love from your mother, Illya Greene (Holstein)

     I put down the letter and looked around the room for paintings. Next to the crib were frames facing towards the wall. I turned each of them around. They were all of a girl with red hair and brown eyes. In the corner it said the age. The most recent one looked alot like me, she had my signature gap in the middle of my front teeth. I felt a hand on my shoulder, it was gentle but rough. I turned my head and King James stood over me.

     "Welcome home, Katherine Greene. The paintings are really accurate aren't they? Your mother had her friend, Agatha Mist paint them." King James explained.

    "So I'm..The princess?"

    "Yes, Katherine. You are." I'd have to get used to my real name now. Tano lives with the wolves but Katherine is a princess. I was hesitant, I thought briefly about sharing my animalistic features with him. I decided now or never.

    "D-Dad? I have somthing to share with you." I stared into his eyes as I turned into my wolf form. He just stared. I turned back and showed him my tail and ears. He took a moment and wore an unreadable expression. I frowned and slumped my shoulders. I thought he would be different from everyone else. He wrapped his arms around me, I stood still in his embrace. Hot tears ran down my face and I smiled. Finally accepted by another human.

     "It's a beautiful talent Katherine. Be careful of those whom you show this to. Not many people will be as understanding or accepting as I." The king said, a stern look on his face. His eyes were full of light, drowning out the corrupting dullness of grief. I nodded, burying my face into his abdomen. He was a tall man about six foot three while I stood at five foot something. A soft knock sounded behind me and I stepped back, looking over to the door.

     Key stood there, a soft expression set onto her porcelain face. Falisha stood next to her, hands over her eyes, trying not to cry. Falisha sniffled and Key patted her back.

     "Sir. May we begin preparations for the Princess' welcome home celebration? Lots of different classes and kingdoms shall attend. Also potential suitors~" Key wiggled her eyebrows at me in a mischievously playful mannor and Falisha winked at me.

    "Yes Key. Start the preparations, I would like everything done by the near the end of the week. You may go. Thank you." King James responded with a gentle but confident voice. He turned back towards me and was about to say something but paused as if to reword it properly.

     "Katherine, when your presence here is announced you will have to use manners, and proper etiquette when interacting around others. Whether they are nobles, middle class or low class, it would leave a good impression as you will be the future queen after my time has come. Also, Jasper will be your personal guard from this day forward. He is captain of our guard." I raised one of my eyebrows at him in confusion of the last part.

     "Jasper? The red eyed boy?" I asked, tilting my head. King James nodded at me.

      "Yes. Jasper Alyn. You will have time to know him tomorrow. It's getting late and you must get some rest." He said, ushering me down the stairs and over to a brunette haired maid who was holding some sort of long, thin dress before waltzing out the door.

Word Count: 1189
~written by ImaweirdKat~