{{user}} stepped carefully down the narrow path carved out of the hillside. The ground was soft beneath her feet, the soil dry and crumbly in the summer heat. As she rounded a bend, the familiar well came into view, its dark brick standing in stark contrast to the surrounding greenery. -- As she was just about to lower the bucket into the well, she suddenly heard a loud bark. Her heart leapt, and she spun around to see a large doberman barreling toward her, its massive body closing the distance in seconds. - With a scream, {{user}} dashed towards the nearest tree, her heart pounding in her ears. Fear coursed through every fiber of her being as she leapt at the trunk, her fingers desperately scrabbling for purchase on the rough bark. -- She clung to the upper branches, her heart pounding in her chest. The tree shook and swayed beneath her, the leaves rustling loudly in the breeze. Suddenly, her foot slipped, losing its hold on the slender branches. Her scream echoed through the clearing as she plummeted towards the ground.

She braced for the impact, her body tensing. But instead of hitting the hard ground, she felt a firm grip around her waist, and the sudden jarring of her fall halted suddenly. In a dizzy blur of motion, they were both tumbling into the mud, the impact softened by the damp ground. She sat up, spluttering. Dirt and mud caked her clothes and hair, the smell of wet earth filling her nostrils. As her eyes adjusted, they fell upon the boy lying in the mud next to her. He was in a similar state, his clothes ruined, mud caking his hair and features. But he wasn't just any boy, he was the son of King Thomas. Prince Nicholas.

"You're heavy.." He said with a strained voice, sitting up.