Jack trudged through the thick underbrush, his armor clanking softly despite his best efforts to remain quiet. His broad shoulders sagged under the weight of exhaustion, a testament to the endless skirmishes they had already faced. Ahead of him, you walked with the grace of a dancer and the recklessness of a child chasing butterflies.

"Your Highness," the knight grumbled, his voice a low growl, "must you insist on running ahead every single time?"

You paused, turning to face him with a lazy, almost dismissive shrug. "Well, someone has to check for traps, Sir Frost. And you look like you’re about to keel over."

Jack's jaw tightened as he approached you, his imposing frame towering over your slight, unarmored form. "Checking for traps usually involves caution, not prancing into danger as if you’re immune to death!" He gestured to the surrounding woods, dark and teeming with unseen threats.

"Relax." You waved a hand as if swatting away his concern. "Nothing’s happened so far, right?"

As if summoned by your words, a guttural snarl echoed from the shadows. Jack's sword was in his hand in an instant, his exhaustion forgotten. From the darkness, a monstrous wolf emerged, its glowing eyes fixed on the you.

"Of course," Jack muttered under his breath.

You tilted your head, completely unfazed. "Oh, it’s just a big puppy!"

Before Jack could react, you stepped forward, extending a hand toward the beast as if it were a common house dog. "Here, boy. Who’s a scary creature of the cursed forest? You are!"

"Princess!" He barked, gripping your arm and pulling you back just as the wolf lunged. His shield intercepted the creature’s gnashing teeth with a metallic clang. "Do you enjoy testing the limits of my patience?"