Sanguine smiled in the direction of Juli’s voice, listening as she described the clear starry night sky. She went on to reminisce about her humble upbringing, San kipped up to his feet, tucking his feet swiftly under his torso and rising slowly. It was good to hear Juli talk about her past, he could relate to the sort of hardship she had endured early in life. None of the others in the castle knew hardship, not the way San and Juli did. San felt confident that Henrik knew pain, deep, lasting and life-altering pain- but not hardship.<br/><br/>Now Princess Juli, only weeks after being acknowledged by her father who could have spared her that hardship, was tasked with mourning his passing. A new dark chapter in her life.<br/><br/>Rather abruptly, perhaps, San held out his arms and gently embraced Princess Juli in a warm hug. Gestures like this were few and far between within the upper-class, but low-born peasants like San knew just how much value a well timed hug could contain.<br/><br/>“I’m truly sorry for your hardships, and pray only that you might some day forgive mine.” San muttered softly into Juli’s silken hair.<br/><br/>Just then, San heard Eyes’ barking. It was her warning bark, the pitch and volume telling him that she was trying to warn him of danger. It was tough to tell, through the barking, but in that moment San thought he also heard the sound of Lenally crying out. Though it didn’t at all sound like a cry for help.<br/><br/>“Excuse me for a moment, Princess Juli. It seems my wolf has gotten herself spooked.” San muttered, pulling away from the embrace. “It’s probably just a snake or something, but she won’t stop unless I go find her.”<br/><br/>San jogged across the garden toward the sound of Eyes’ bark, he was surprised by the bushes, but found his way through them to reach Eyes. He clipped her harness back on and stroked her coat, calming her. From this vantage, San could smell the plant that had spooked her.<br/><br/>Slipping his cravat from around his neck, San used the length of fabric to grasp a bundle of the berries and tug them from the plant.<br/><br/>“What have we here?” San muttered to himself, leading Eyes out of the bushes.