1 week later…
The teenage boy stood behind the same tree, watching the forest glade, Marlo sitting beside him.
"A week," He uttered, looking down at Marlo, "It's been a week and I haven't seen her come back. Why hasn't she come?"
He pressed his back against the tree, feeling his chest tightening, "What if she never comes back… I should've spoken to her when I had the chance. I didn't even get a chance to learn her name," He sighed.
Shhhh-Shhhh, crunch, crunch
His eyes widened as he peaked his head from behind the tree, seeing her walking over to her easel, a blank canvas in hand.
She looked at the empty easel, looking around her.
"It's gone," She whispered, scanning the area, "My painting is gone and there's no remnants of it anywhere around here."
She placed the blank canvas on the easel, sitting down at the chair in front of it.
"Hmmm, what I shall paint today," She wondered, staring at the canvas, "Nothing's inspiring me at the moment."
Back behind the tree, the teenage boy stood, his legs trembling.
He looked down at Marlo, taking a big gulp of air.
"Go greet her," He whispered, watching as Marlo ran over to her.
Shhh-shhh ruff
She looked over, seeing Marlo running out of the forest towards her.
"Marlo," She greeted, standing to her feet, "You've come back to visit me again."
She kneeled down, petting Marlo, "I've missed you so much," She cooed, scratching his neck, "Awe Marlo, I needed a visit from you."
She stood to her feet and turned around, walking back over to her easel as Marlo followed behind her.
"Did you see, my old painting has disappeared. Did you take it," She chuckled, looking down at him, "No, it had to have been pirates who came here from Peacock Island, set on finding precious treasures… Or maybe it was adventurers who needed my painting to make an exact map of the area so they'd be able to find the pearl that gives the power to control sand, they need that power to find hidden desert temples in order to gain unlimited riches… No, better yet, a prince, not just any prince, The Forest Prince. He controls all the forests in this area, with his animal companion. He liked my painting so much that he took it and is hanging it in his magical castle where the most beautiful floral vines grow."
She looked at Marlo, seeing him staring at her.
"Don't look at me like that, it's the most reasonable explanation and if you have a better one then give it right now," She challenged, crossing her arms, waiting for a response, "Nothing to say this time. So I must be correct."
Back behind the tree, the teenage boy covered his mouth, trying to control his laughter.
'Her imagination is endless I see.'
He peaked back, continuing to watch her.
"You know you just gave me some inspiration. I'll paint a picture of the mysterious forest prince," She chirped, picking up her painting pallet and brush that sat beside the chair.
She pulled out some paints from inside her pocket, squeezing some out on the pallet and started to paint.
"Oh Your Highness, I hope this painting pleases you so," She announced, stroking some paint onto the canvas, "I'll make sure it's my greatest work."
She brushed her hair behind her ear, revealing light bruising in the shape on a hand print on the side of her face.
She looked at Marlo, her smile dying down.
"It's okay," She uttered softly, turning back to her painting, "I didn't come home on time so this time I have to make sure to start heading back before the sun starts setting."
The teenage boy felt his heart sink, lingering on to each word she spoke, his determination rose.
'I'll get you out of there,' He vowed.
The hours rolled past and he continued to watch her, admiring every movement she made.
She took the canvas off the easel showing Marlo a painting of the shoulders and hood of a forest green cloak. The face of the cloak was painted black and the edge of the cloak had swirled golden details.
"What do you think," She inquired, smiling from ear to ear.
She looked at Marlo, setting the painting back down on the easel.
"Listen I can't paint his face when I don't know what it looks like so for now The Forest Prince is faceless hints why I just painted the hood and shoulders of his cloak but when we meet one day, I'll paint an extravagant painting of what he really looks like," She vowed, giving a huff.
She stood to her feet, lifting her arms in the air, stretching out her back.
"I have to get back home soon Marlo," She sighed, patting his head, "If I could I would stay here all day to finish the painting."
She turned her face to the sky, closing her eyes, the sun rays glistened down on her. She took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out.
"The things I would be able to capture if I just had the time," She breathed, opening her eyes, "The possibilities, the things I would be able to come up with. If I had the time I would never run out of ideas."
She looked over at her painting, feeling her heart sink.
"I wish I had time to complete you, but sadly my time has run out," She sighed.
She turned away from her painting, looking around her.
"Oh Forest Prince if you wait patiently and leave my painting I promise to finish it tomorrow," She announced her promise.
She crouched down Marlo, petting him.
"I hope to see you here again tomorrow, you keep great company," She smiled, standing to her feet.
"Evangeline," A man shouted, cutting through the silence of the forest.
She looked towards the thickest part of the forest, her legs going weak.
She looked down at Marlo, his whimpers catching her attention.
"It's okay," She comforted, patting his head, "He's just calling me, there's nothing to worry about… But for now I must take leave. I'll see you here tomorrow."
She headed towards the man, hiding the fear that consumed her. She sighed, shutting her eyes tightly, calming herself down. She looked back at Marlo, waving him goodbye, and left.
A moment passed and the teenage boy came from behind the tree, walking over to the painting.
He stared at it, admiring its beauty.
'So your name is Evangeline? Such an angelic name is very fitting for you,' He thought, his cheeks warming red.
Ruff, ruff
He looked down at Marlo, "Well, she wants the Forest Prince to leave the painting for the night, so we have to respect her wishes, but tomorrow when she's done we'll take it back with us so it doesn't get destroyed."
"What are you doing all the way out here," A man barked, catching Marlo and the teenage boy's attention.
He looked towards the direction Evangeline walked, his heart sinking.
"Let's go check it out," He whispered, heading towards the shouting, Marlo following behind him.
"Father, I'm sorry, I just wanted to go for a walk," She muttered.
"A walk this far, do you want to get yourself killed," The man lashed, spit spewing out his mouth.
They made their way over to Evangeline and her father, watching on in the distance.
He watched on examining the father's clothing.
'Long gray suit coat, olive green vest, white shirt, striped pants, black shoes, perfect bow tie, perfect comb over hair style… He's very well kept for someone who's daughter dresses in such tattered clothing… From what he's wearing there's no doubt about it, he has to be of some noble status, but who is he,' The teenage boy pondered, watching the man closely.
"If you had more sense you would have more freedom, instead you waste time out here doing nothing when you should be home attending to your duties," The man lashed, getting in her face.
"I'm sorry," She cried, looking down, "I just wanted to get some alone time for a moment. I meant no harm."
"Meant no harm," He jeered, looking away from her, giving the teenage boy a clear view of his face.
'Sir Dutton Rowe… He's a baron, he holds a minor fortune… Why is he doing such things to his own daughter…' The teenage boy wondered, his anger arising.
"So then tell me, what could possibly be so wonderful about this forest that you have to come here everyday," Dutton grilled.
"I-I just like it," She stammered, "It's quiet and peaceful and I can daydream all I would like. The forest is full of inspiration."
"Inspiration," Dutton inquired, examining her clothing.
He noticed paint smeared on the front of her dress and gritted his teeth.
"You mean painting," He growled, reaching down into her dress pocket as she tried to fight him off.
He pulled out a paint brush and some paints, looking at them with disgust, he looked back at her, fire filling his eyes.
"So you come out here to paint, do you," Dutton seethed, "I told you to stop that stupid little hobby of your's."
"Daddy please," She begged, grabbing onto his arm, "Please give them back."
He held his hand up high, pushing her to the ground.
"I told you to stop," He shouted, snapping the paint brush in half, "Painting is a waste of time. You have better things to do, than to waste all your moments painting meaningless things."
He dropped the paint and paint brush to the ground, stomping on them as she begged for him to stop.
Grrrrrr
In the bushes Marlo growled, showing his teeth.
Dutton and Evangeline looked towards the forest, hearing the roaring growls of Marlo, growing more and more intense.
"What is the meaning of…"
BARK, BARK, RUFF
Marlo jumped out of the bushes lunging forward towards Dutton.
AH, CHOMP
Marlo bit Dutton's leg, causing him to fall back onto the ground.
Dutton grabbed his lower leg, recoiling in pain. He looked up at Marlo, seeing him standing in front of Evangeline growling and showing his teeth as drool dripped out of his mouth.
Evangeline looked down at Dutton, seeing him glaring at Marlo.
She kneeled down beside Marlo, holding onto his neck.
"It's okay, please calm down," She comforted, calming him down.
Dutton stumbled to his feet, raging in his mind.
"You know this dog," He grumbled, coldly staring at Evangeline.
She looked up at Dutton, realization jolting her body.
"Y-Yes," She stammered, standing to her feet, "I've seen him wandering around these parts."
"So he's a stray? Good! I shall teach him a lesson," Dutton jeered, getting ready to strike.
"You can't," Evangeline interrupted, stopping Dutton, "He's not from Sectar, I've seen his collar and I know he belongs to a noble household from the Brightly Kingdom. It wouldn't be wise to hurt an animal from a different kingdom, especially when that animal belongs to a noble household. They'll take all the money you have left… So I would just leave him."
"Fine," Dutton grumbled, pointing his finger at Marlo, "You got lucky, stray. Pull something like this again and I'll make sure you'll have no teeth left to threaten anyone."
Dutton turned away, stumbling into the forest.
"Let's go Evangeline," He barked, continuing to walk.
Marlo nudged her leg, catching her attention.
She crouched down, hugging his neck.
"Thank you Marlo," She whispered, "I know it looks scary but I'll be alright."
"Evangeline," Dutton shouted, calling out for her.
She stood to her feet, her legs trembling.
"I have to go," She muttered, walking towards Dutton, "I don't know when I'll be back, but I will see you again."
She ran away, following Dutton, disappearing into the forest.
The teenage boy came from behind the tree, walking up to Marlo, he kneeled down next to him, and patted his head.
"Good boy," He praised.
The teenage boy looked over at the paintbrush broken into the ground.
"We'll have to get her some new ones that can't be broken," He sighed, looking back at Marlo, "Don't worry Marlo… I'll make sure she has everything she ever needed, everything she's ever wanted… And then, when the day comes, I'll take her away from her household and give her a better life."