And while the search teams combed the forest in silence, a number of guards heard a faint sound among the grass.
One of them bent down, then said as he carefully picked up something small:
“This squirrel…
I think I saw Princess Aria carrying it this morning.”
Another guard looked at him, and the moment his gaze fell on the animal he said quickly:
“Yes…
it’s her pet.”
The moment those words reached Rosie’s ears…
she dashed toward them at her utmost speed.
She shoved the nearest guard away forcefully, and he fell to the ground before he realized what had happened.
“Move!”
She immediately knelt on her knees, and extended her trembling hands toward the little squirrel.
“Nuts…!”
The squirrel was trembling weakly, panting with broken breaths, while around its neck was its small decorated red collar that she knew well.
There was no doubt…
it was Aria’s squirrel.
Rosie placed her palms around its small body with extreme care, then examined it quickly.
One of its feet was bleeding, and small scratches and wounds had spread over the rest of its body, as if it had run through thorns or barely survived an attack.
She lowered her head until her forehead touched its small head, and closed her eyes.
“…It’s breathing.”
The words came out of her as a whisper mixed with relief and fear at the same time.
The guards’ gazes rose to her, while Adrian approached with quick steps.
He fixed his gaze on the squirrel for a moment, then began sweeping the surrounding area with his sharp eyes.
If the squirrel had made it here…
that meant Aria had been near this place.
Rosie embraced the little squirrel gently between her hands, her fingers beginning to tremble without her noticing.
She stared into its small face, then whispered in a voice choked with fear:
“Please…”
Her lips trembled as she brought it closer to her chest.
“Wake up…”
A small tear rolled down her cheek, and fell onto its brown fur.
“You’re the only one who knows…
where Aria went.”
Silence fell.
Nothing answered her but the squirrel’s weak breaths, rising and falling with difficulty.
Rosie pressed her lips together tightly, as if refusing to accept the worst possibilities, while she kept staring at it pleadingly, waiting for any movement…
any sign that it would wake up and lead them to her sister.
He examined its injuries quickly, then said in a calm but firm voice:
“Rosie…
it’s injured.”
Rosie didn’t raise her head, and kept holding the squirrel to her chest, as if afraid someone would snatch it from her.
Adrian continued in a gentler tone:
“We should take it to the palace first for treatment.”
He paused for a moment, then added as he looked at the wounds on its leg:
“If it’s left in this condition…
it might not survive long.”
Rosie tightened her grip slightly, her eyes still fixed on the squirrel.
“But…”
Her words stopped, for she knew Adrian was right.
If the squirrel died…
they would lose the only witness that might lead them to Aria.
Adrian looked at her steadily, then said:
“We’ll continue the search.”
And while Adrian and Rosie were preparing to move, the sounds of footsteps and horses began approaching from among the trees.
Only moments passed before another search team appeared, led by a number of guards, accompanied by some of Adrian and Rosie’s siblings who had participated in combing different areas of the forest.
Signs of exhaustion showed on everyone; tired faces, dirtied clothes, and broken breaths after long hours of searching.
One of the guards stepped forward, then bowed slightly and said:
“Your Highness…
we’ve completely searched the eastern area.”
He took a deep breath, then continued regretfully:
“And we found nothing worth mentioning.”
One of the guards standing behind him added:
“Us as well…
we found no trace of Princess Aria.”
Silence fell.
Adrian lowered his head slightly, then turned to Rosie.
She was still embracing the injured squirrel, her eyes fixed on it as if refusing to believe what she was hearing.
Adrian raised his gaze slowly, and cast a long look at the forest stretching before him.
He sighed bitterly, then said in a calm voice weighted with disappointment:
“…It seems Aria isn’t in this forest.”
Silence fell again, and no one objected.
For they had spent long hours searching every corner, every path, and every tree, without finding any clue except the injured squirrel.
Adrian closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again, the commander’s calm having returned to him.
“We’ll return to the palace.”
He looked at the guards spread around him, then said with firmness mixed with appreciation:
“Everyone has given all they can.”
“The guards are exhausted from the search, and there’s no benefit in continuing in this state.”
Then he turned his gaze to Rosie and said gently:
“We need to treat the squirrel first…
then reconsider our next steps.”
Rosie didn’t answer.
She only lowered her head, while her grip tightened around the little squirrel, as if clinging to the last thread connecting her to her missing sister.
Silence fell for a few moments.
Rosie rose slowly, embracing the little squirrel to her chest carefully, then turned toward Adrian.
Her steps were calm…
calm in a frightening way.
She stopped directly before him, and raised her head to look into his eyes.
Adrian didn’t utter a word.
And suddenly…
Slap!
The sound of the slap rang throughout the forest.
Adrian’s face turned slightly under the force of the strike, and some strands of his red hair scattered before his eyes.
The guards’ eyes widened, and everyone froze in their places.
Rosie stared at him with eyes filled with anger and pain, then said in a trembling voice:
“Well done…”
She took a deep breath, then continued bitterly:
“You truly kept your promise.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
He remained standing in his place, his head slightly turned, while the marks of the slap were still visible on his cheek.
A number of guards moved quickly.
“Your Highness!”
“Stop!”
But before they could approach her…
Adrian calmly raised his hand, stopping them.
“No need…”
The guards stopped immediately, and looked at him in astonishment.
Adrian returned his face to its normal position, then said in a low voice:
“Leave her.”
His voice carried no anger…
not even objection.
He knew her words hadn’t come from hatred, but from fear and despair.
As for Rosie…
she didn’t look at him again.
She held the little squirrel tenderly between her arms, then turned silently, and began walking away from everyone with slow steps, while the rays of the sunset filtered through the trees, casting her long shadow behind her.