You are a part of this family now.

Apolline felt her heart sink, though a part of her wanted it to lift with hope.

And they will welcome you warmly.

She missed having a family. She missed having father and mother and her siblings, as frustratingly annoying as they’d been. But she was the reason they, and others, were gone. Apolline had never stopped to wonder if the curse followed her as she fled her home, but she had to imagine it did.

As she stood near the warm pools, letting the air soak into her coat and warm her from their swim, the young roan perked her ears and glanced back at King Björn. “Thank you,” she managed the words, though they were a bit meek and she felt shy, knowing they would bring his eyes to her. “You’re a very kind king.”

Too kind, she lamented, but a piece of her appreciated it. The scared, young thing she’d been, running and alone for the first time in her life, was happy to be with someone who made her feel safe and cared for. Anxiety had haunted her for months now. It was still there and she knew she was going to have to face it someday, but as she closed her eyes and dropped her head, relaxing in the warmth, she decided she’d think about it another day.

Her eyelids opened and she slowly lifted her head, glancing at the king and then away just as quickly. “Why do you live here if it’s harsh?” She asked him curiously, though even as she said the words she couldn’t stop seeing the beauty that surrounded them.

apolline
along with the sunshine
there's gotta be a little rain some time