Fritz smiled at Esme as he carried her to her room. They had spent the whole day at the lake, and she had enjoyed it so much. Her face still shone with joy, she looked younger, more innocent than ever. Her eyes were closed against the piercing blue, he almost wished she would wake up so he could see her beautiful eyes again. But he didn’t want to wake her up, not after such a long day. They had talked over a picnic for most of the time discussing when they should leave for the search for Terrilain. Esme had stiffened whenever he asked about her old “Group” and when he asked her why she hadn’t told him. Stubborn as she could be he loved her, more than anyone. She began to move, moaning slightly. “Don’t.” she mumbled. “Please, don’t hurt me.” His brow furrowed. She had sleep talked on their journey slightly, but it was all nonsense, this seemed different. Her face was screwed up in pain as he laid her lightly on her bed. “Stop!” she yelled again and she began to toss around. “Hey. It's okay.” He soothed, though he was growing concerned. She didn’t seem to hear him and she started to sob unexpectedly. “I know!” she practically screamed, “I know I’m ugly, I know! Stop, just stop.” He rushed back to her and began to shake her awake as she let out a blood curtling scream. “Esme!” he shouted. “Esme! Wake up!” he pleaded. She sat up abruptly with a shout, and seeing him she burst into scared sobs. “I’m so sorry.” she said, hugging herself as he wrapped his arms around her protectively, embracing her. “Whats wrong?” he asked. She shook her head, taking deep breaths, trying to stop crying. “No! Stop that!” he said, cupping her face in his hands. “Tell me what's wrong or I’m leaving.” Of course he wouldn’t leave. Not really but that seemed to make her more willing to share. “Kent.” She sobbed, clinging to him. “And- the dates- and- and- but- then he said I was ugly and I want you- to- lo-love me!” she wailed. Fritz’s eyes were wide with anger. “What did he do to you that would make you think that?” he asked, shaking. “I just- and you won’t love me- and because I’m ugly- and then he hit when- when I did something wrong- I don’t want you to go!” she said, gripping him so tight he couldn’t breathe. “Oh, don't worry, I’m not leaving.I just wanted you to tell me." he promised, pulling her closer still. He had never seen her so hysterical. “I’m sorry.” she whispered after a moment. “No.” Fritz interrupted, “No. I’m sorry that you can’t see how beautiful you are. You are the most amazing doe I know. You need to be weak sometimes. I’ll be weak with you, and out of that weakness we can become stronger than ever. I won’t lie to you, he wasn’t ever good enough for you if he said those things. You deserve the world. I know I can treat you better than he can, and any doe like you deserves the best! You shouldn't worry about him. Okay?”

She nodded, but didn’t speak. “Tell me what you're thinking.” he whispered to her. She cursed under her breath and he laughed slightly, and coldly. “If he were alive, if he is, I will make sure he feels the pain you did. You don’t deserve that.”

She nodded. “Okay.” she whispered back. “Goodnight.” he said, laying her down. He kissed her forehead and waited until she had fallen asleep, quiet snores filling the room. He left as quietly as he could, steaming with anger at this “Kent”.

He decided to start packing his things to leave for Terrilain, wanting to be ready in the morning. He threw his things in his bag angrily and zipped it shut with such force it broke. He sat on his bed with a sigh of frustration, letting all the emotions flood his brain. He shoved them all back and stood again. He needed to pack. Esme had said she wanted to leave as soon as they could, so they were leaving tomorrow. He rushed down to the kitchen. Gort was still making food and he smiled as Fritz entered. “Hello!” he exclaimed, rushing over and shaking Fritz’s hand. “Hows dear Esme?” Fritz smiled, Esme and Gort had gotten on very well, and he was easily one of her best friends. On the days when they weren't together she would have long talks with Gort while helping him in the kitchen before disappearing for long periods of time. That made him wonder…

“Oh, she's fine. But I need two favors.”

“Anything dear boy!”

“Okay. First, me and Esme are leaving tomorrow and we will need food.”

Gort’s face fell but Fritz continued. “Second, I want to know where she goes when she disappears.”

Gort looked at him in shock before nodding solemnly. “I’ll get the food my boy, you, well you need to go look in the garden in the middle of the hedges.”

Fritz nodded, deciding not to ask any more questions. He exited quickly, letting the cold night air fill his nose and the snow to crunch beneath his feet as he tromped to the hedges. He entered the garden within a matter of seconds but didn’t see anything special about it. He wandered around for a while before wanting to sit a moment. A small bench was surrounded by tall plants and he strutted over. What he saw next to the bench made his mouth fall open in awe. A beautiful mural of a daisy was over half painted on a small cement block. It looked as though one side was turning to ashes and floating away while the other thrived. Small cans of paint were hidden poorly under the bench. Esme had done it. There was no doubt about it, because at the bottom, in a thin line of black was the word “Strong.”