Chapter Twelve: No One's Definition

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.

-Harvey Fierstein

xxXxx

Baron pressed his body against Bearskin's neck, clearly grateful for the shelter he was getting from the gentle snow fall. The trapper in turn tugged on her hood to be sure that both of them were covered.

"This is practically summer, where I'm from," she informed him with her man voice, since they were nearing another village. "I think I can only remember it getting this warm only twice up in the Northern Lands."

Baron gave a polite meow, but snuggled against her neck even tighter. It was clear that he wasn't as used to the cold as she was.

Bearskin didn't have as much game as she usually did, but that was mostly due to how much she had given Yuki to be sure that she would be warm for the winter. But the trapper wasn't worried since she had gold aplenty when the hunting was scarce.

Two village children looked up at seeing her, one of them gasping. "Bearskin! Look, it's really Bearskin!"

"Hello to you, too," the cursed woman replied, nodding her head politely as she passed. "Stay warm, small one."

"Okay!" the little girl giggled, running into her house for some inexplicable reason.

"Hey, wait for me!" her companion called, his short legs moving much slower than the girl's had.

Bearskin had to fight back a giggle. 'Ah, to be an innocent child. It never lasts long enough.' Her black eyes carefully looked over the buildings, trying to guess which one was a trading post. The one a block away looked promising, but it was hard to tell from this far away.

"Bearskin?" a voice cried out, making her turn around in surprise.

It was a young man, perhaps her own age, with vibrant red hair peaking from under his thick woolen hat.

"Bearskin? Thank heaven, it really is you!" the young man exclaimed excitedly as he ran up to her. "Are you open for a quick job?"

"I usually am. What seems to be the trouble?"

"It's… well, I can't really say out in public," he said after hesitating. He looked around the square nervously and rubbed one arm. "Would you mind coming to my home? My father has more details than I do and you'll need to know everything possible."

"Lead the way," she encouraged gruffly, adjusting the hold on her bag a bit as Baron shifted around on her shoulders.

"Thank you. Um… aren't all animals supposed to fear you?" he asked curiously while staring at the tawny cat.

"Usually yes, but this one's decided I'm not so bad," Bearskin answered truthfully, although she wasn't really sure what more there was to say.

Baron obligingly purred and rubbed his face against one pale cheek.

The young man gave her a strange look, but gestured for the cursed trapper to follow him. "Strange, that he isn't white like you."

Bearskin bit back a laugh. "That happens to my clothes and such, not to living creatures. If it did, I assure you I wouldn't be the only one this white."

He laughed nervously, still keeping an eye on the cat. "I bet you wouldn't be. Home is just this way."

The cursed woman followed him, wondering what kind of help he needed. What could be bad enough for him to not want to mention it in public? Most people couldn't seem to wait to tell anyone and everyone that they had gotten help from her.

It had to be serious. Oh well, this town didn't look like it was close to a capital. The problem couldn't be another political knot, she hated those. It was too hard to figure out who was right or wrong or even both.

The young man led her just outside of town, to a small but cozy-looking cottage close to the woods. He eagerly opened the door to let the trapper in. "Father! Father, you won't have to die after all!"

"What are you blithering about, Jacques?" a female voice asked waspishly from another room.

"Bearskin's here, he can help us!" Jacques answered, grinning like a child as he urged the trapper to follow him into the main room.

Knowing that the hood was a bit intimidating, Bearskin pulled it down as Baron stretched thankfully.

An old man was sitting next to a fireplace, one daughter at his feet and changing out bandages on one leg. It was clear that the man had narrowly escaped a dangerous encounter with… wolves, Bearskin was almost certain as Baron made a slight retching sound. He looked up tiredly and gasped in shock as his daughter did the same.

The trapper stepped closer and pulled a jar of healing ointment out of her satchel. "Try rubbing this into the wounds. It lessens the pain as well as prevents infection," she grunted in her man voice.

The daughter nodded numbly as she accepted the jar. "Thank you, Bearskin. I… have to confess, I thought you were a myth."

"Clearly I am not. Now, what seems to be the trouble other than your leg, sir?" she asked politely while rubbing Baron's back with one hand.

The man was still staring at the trapper, completely speechless as he studied her.

"Father, tell him what happened last week," Jacques begged as he knelt next to the chair. "I bet he could kill him."

Bearskin tensed defensively as Baron seemed to do the same around her neck. "I don't kill unless I have to," she said flatly. "You'd best talk fast if you want to say your piece." One heel turned to hint at a speedy departure.

"No… stay, please," the father begged, finally breaking free from his silent spell. "Take a seat, Bearskin. It's a bit of a long story… ahh, that feels wonderful," he couldn't keep from sighing as his daughter started rubbing the green stuff into his leg.

The trapper gently scooted a chair closer to the fire before sitting on it, setting her bag to the side. Her cat immediately abandoned her shoulders for her lap, sitting up straight like a gentleman. She ran her gloved hands over the fur as she kept her gaze on the old man.

"I used to be a prosperous merchant," he began as his eyes seemed to fade from memories. "Everything was as close to perfect as you could possibly imagine. My ships were the finest in the dock, success poured in wherever I stepped. I was also blessed with three of the most wonderful children an old man could ask for." He took a second to gaze at his son and daughter fondly.

"I assume the third one is about?" Bearskin asked politely.

"Oh no, Belle is at work at one of the taverns," the daughter responded as she started wrapping her father's leg in a fresh bandage. "We've been switching off staying home with Father since he came back."

"But that is getting ahead of the story," her father reminded her as melancholy took over. "About a year ago, I invested heavily in a voyage that never made it back to port. We heard later that pirates had ravaged the ones that managed to escape cyclones. It took almost my entire fortune to pay back my debtors, since I was convinced that the voyage would double our wealth. As you can tell, I have since left being a merchant behind and moved out here with my family with the little money we had left. It hasn't been easy on any of us, but we have managed to make do."

"Being angry and sullen got boring quickly," the daughter added with a small smile. "Besides, at least the men around here are more honest than in the capital."

"Not that it took much," Jacques muttered under his breath.

The father laughed as Bearskin felt a brief flinch of guilt. "That they are. Well, about three months ago, I received a letter from one of my old colleagues. It said one of my ships made it back after all and I could start rebuilding what we once had. But by then we preferred living here, so I only hoped to wrap up some loose ends and put a bit of money aside for my daughters' dowries."

The girl at his feet blushed, but only a little bit before looking haunted. "Before we lost everything, it was a tradition for Father to bring us back a gift when he left on a trip. It was meant as a reward for behaving ourselves while he's gone."

"Adele here asked for some cloth for a new dress, and I asked for new boots since my old ones were wearing out." Jacques briefly held up a foot for the trapper's inspection. "Belle asked for a rose or even some seeds, so that we could have some roses of our own."

The old man glared up at the mantle, making Bearskin follow his gaze. A beautiful red rose was sitting in a simple ceramic mug over the fire.

"The cloth and boots were easy enough, but we had all forgotten that it was the wrong season for roses. I looked everywhere, I truly did, but none were to be had anywhere."

Bearskin quirked an eyebrow at him, a bit confused to be seeing a flower when there was so much snow outside. "Or so you thought."

"Or so I thought," the man sighed regretfully. "After a while, I had to start home, but I was so guilty over having something for Jacques and Adele, but nothing for Belle. I knew she wouldn't care, but it mattered to me. Oh, how I wish I had left it at that and gotten her something else!"

"What is so terrible about the rose?" Bearskin pressed as Baron leaned in slightly to share her body heat with himself.

"I'm getting to that. As you can probably tell from my leg, I got attacked by a pack of wolves while in the forest just outside our home. I know I should have stayed with the regular road, but I was eager to be with my family again. I blacked out after one of them gnawed on my leg, so I'm not quite sure what happened after that. But when I eventually woke up, I was in a beautiful room, unlike any I had ever seen before."

Baron mewed in incredulous confusion.

"I'm with my cat on this one. Where would you find a room like that around here?"

The old man shuddered in guilt. "The reason everyone avoids the forest is because it's cursed. Strange things happen to one who wanders in. I should have paid more heed. But when I woke up, my leg was bandaged up quite well and a crutch had been left next to the bed so that I could still move around. Whoever it was had even left enough food on a breakfast tray for me for breakfast and an easy lunch on the road." He shook his head in disbelief. "After I managed to limp out of the castle, I found a new steed with my bags slung over him, so it was obvious that he was meant for me. The castle was enormous, Bearskin, but I hadn't seen a soul I could express my gratitude to. I left a note in the main hall, since it seemed like the best thing to do. But in order to leave the place, I had to walk through the gardens."

Bearskin's ears twitched. "It's the beginning of winter."

He nodded wearily. "Believe me, I know. It was the strangest thing; outside of the gates, you could clearly see snow falling, but within the gates, it was as warm as summer. It was almost like being in another world."

'Magic.' Bearskin suppressed a shudder.

He looked down in shame. "It's such a little thing, a rose. The gardens literally had thousands, if not millions of them. I thought no one would notice the difference if one went missing."

The trapper's blood ran cold. "It is dangerous to make assumptions like that. Who caught you?"

"… He said to call him Beast," the man said after closing his eyes in pain. "No name could suit him better."

Bearskin crossed her arms to glare at him. "Is he the one you wish me to kill?"

"Please, you don't know all," Adele pleaded with her. "He's not human; he's ten feet tall and uglier than a wolf. Father says he's twice as hairy as a wolf, too."

The trapper cocked an eyebrow at the man. "You are trying to say that the one you want me to kill is a large beast that's in charge of an even larger castle in the woods and can speak a human tongue?"

"That's right. In return for the stolen rose, Father must return to him within two weeks of coming home and there are only two days left. He means to kill him," Jacques finished, getting down on his knees in a begging position. "Please. We can't lose our father."

Bearskin stared at the small family, her own emotions strongly conflicted. "What would you have me do?" she asked formally. "Kill one who comes to the aid of others? He could have saved himself a lot of trouble by ignoring your father."

"But… but he means to kill!" Adele protested.

"Yet he still allowed him to return home to say goodbye. That was a gesture of mercy, confidence, perhaps even both, but he didn't have to do that. He could have just killed him then and be done with it."

"… You're not going to help, are you?" the father asked sickly.

"What would you have me do?" Bearskin repeated, although her heart was turning sick. 'I want to help, but what can I do without bending my principals?'

None of the three could answer her. Even Baron was being unusually silent, but she wasn't looking at him right now.

Bearskin stood up, now holding Baron in one arm as she grabbed her bag. "If I were you, I'd offer to become his servant instead. Even if he doesn't need one, he sounds like the type to negotiate, if he was willing to let you see your family once more."

"…Servant? To a monster?" Jacques demanded angrily. "Is that the best you can think of?"

"If he's such a monster, he would have killed your father before now. Offer to be his servant for the rest of your days and he may reconsider completely."

The old man's jaw stiffened angrily. "Thank you for your time, Bearskin. But I think you should leave."

"Agreed," she replied, taking the time to give them a slight bow before following Jacques out of the room and to the front door.

"I'm really disappointed. I didn't think you were this cowardly," the young man snarled, holding the door open for the trapper.

Bearskin looked at him coolly and put down her bag to unhook one of her daggers from a pant leg. Baron meowed worriedly, but she rocked him gently to keep him calm.

"Now, now wait," he said while nervously backing away, but then she offered the blade to him.

"You have a choice as well, Jacques. If you want him dead that much, do it yourself. But I will not raise my hand against someone who repeatedly shows mercy to the weak."

He wouldn't come closer, but he flinched at her words as if they were rocks.

She cast the dagger at his feet, grabbed her bag and closed the door after herself.

ooOoo

Baron was still silent hours later, once she was done bargaining with the owner of the trade post. She looked down at him as her feet led her down the street, but he wasn't looking at her. Even his body wasn't pressed as hard around her neck as it had been earlier.

The trapper sighed tiredly. "What did you want me to do, Baron?" she whispered to him, still using her man voice. "Technically, he has every right to at least punish him for thievery, no matter what he looks like."

Baron meowed in a low tone, one that sounded strangely like a counter-argument.

"Okay, maybe he was being a bit extreme, but still! I've met lords who kill on the spot for offenses smaller than stealing a flower. I still think he was showing mercy to the man."

Baron emitted a low growl and butted his nose against her neck.

She reached up and ran her gloved fingers over his back. "Baron… I hate being at odds with you. But there's nothing I can do in a situation like that."

He growled again, but it sounded a bit more depressed than usual.

"… You know, I'm not all that interested in cooking today. Does that tavern look promising?" She tilted her head at one loud building as the horses outside whinnied in terror at her approach.

He looked at the tavern and gave a half-hearted meow that seemed to be more like a sigh.

"I know. I'm not hungry either. But I know better than to skip on dinner and I bet you'd like something other than soup for once," she reasoned while stepping closer to the tavern.

The horses trembled and strained against their ropes, but Bearskin ignored them as she let herself in.

An older man behind the desk looked up and gasped at her approach. "Unbelievable!"

"Greetings, innkeeper," she replied politely, since she was used to people reacting like that. "Would there happen to be room at your tables for two weary travelers?"

"O-Of course, Bearskin. Where is the other traveler?"

She merely gestured at Baron, still draped around her neck. "We wish for a warm meal and we'll be on our way."

He stared at her and then at her cat. "… We have room for you, and I'd make room if we didn't, but… I'm afraid we don't allow pets inside the dining hall," the tavern keeper said hesitantly while giving Baron a disdainful look.

Her cat stiffened before giving a sad meow.

Bearskin's blood began boiling. "That's perfectly fine," she decided to say instead, keeping her tone pleasant. "Would you then be kind enough to tell me which tavern will allow my cat to eat with me?"

He gaped at her. "Excuse me?"

"If this dining hall is too good for my cat, then it is obviously too good for me as well. Another tavern, good sir?" she asked again, her tone firm.

"I-It's not that, good Bearskin," the man tried to reason. "It's simply that pets cause trouble and no one wants to eat off a plate after an animal does."

She tilted her head at him with a small veiled smile. "Is that all? My cat happens to have manners that put a lord's to shame and I'm willing to buy whatever dishes he uses. I forgot to get him his own plate at the trading post anyway."

The innkeeper stared at her. "This is most irregular."

"Can't you say the same for having a cursed trapper stop by?" she reasoned gruffly, starting to lose her patience. "Baron's manners are better than mine; you have my word on it."

He mewed indignantly and began rubbing one cheek against hers.

The man looked between them again and sighed as he eased from behind the counter. "I'll show you to your table then. But I hope you're not exaggerating about your cat."

"I never exaggerate." 'Lie, yes. Mislead, absolutely. But I don't exaggerate.'

"I assume that you would prefer a quiet meal with little distraction?" he asked over one shoulder.

"We would appreciate that, yes," Bearskin confessed as he led her past the main hall and around a corner. A simple table was waiting, although it was a bit bigger than the ones in the main hall.

"This area's usually for traveling companies, but you'll be left alone back here. May I suggest the bouillinade?"

"What's that?" she asked as Baron meowed enthusiastically.

"It's a traditional recipe made from fish and potatoes."

"Oh. We'll take two plates of that, along with a glass and bowl of milk. How much would that be if I bought a plate and the bowl?" the trapper asked while setting down her large bag.

"A silver piece should cover it. Are you certain you won't wish for a room for the night?"

"Certain enough, but thank you for asking," she replied while handing him the money.

He pocketed it while walking around the corner again. "Your food should come in a few minutes."

"Sounds nice," Bearskin sighed, easing Baron off of her neck and setting him on one of the chairs. "Sorry about that, my friend. That really is a silly rule."

He looked up at her, his eyes warm and almost liquid.

Bearskin took the seat right next to him, neatly tucking in her cloak. "I've seen tons of humans that eat sloppier than you, but I bet they would have been allowed to eat here without a fuss."

Baron gave her a warm look and stood on his hind feet to balance on one of her arms. He rubbed one cheek against hers and licked her face affectionately.

"What was that for?" she asked curiously, but he only purred at her as he resumed his seat.

A few minutes ticked by. The murmuring from the main room continued like a current, but Bearskin wasn't listening to them. Instead, she had taken off a glove to gently scratch Baron's ears and back. He purred happily from the attention, even abandoning his seat in favor of her lap.

A small smile tugged on the sides of her mouth, but she had to fight against it in order to remain in character. 'Why can't everyone accept me the way you do, Baron? I'd have been cured years ago if they were like you.'

Someone stepped into the closed off space, but then stopped cold at the entryway. Both trapper and cat looked up to see who it was. A very beautiful tavern wench was staring at her, her lavender eyes wide and timid. In her hands was the food the trapper had ordered.

"Would that be for us?" the cursed woman asked gruffly as Baron hopped back into his seat. She didn't want to give the girl a reason to flirt with her.

The young woman shook herself guiltily. "H-Here is your order, Mr. Bearskin," she said while setting the platter on the table. "I'm sorry, I thought Pierre was joking about you being here."

"It would appear not." Bearskin thanked her with a nod and set one of the wooden plates in front of Baron, as well as a bowl of milk. She pulled on her glove to start eating.

Her cat mewed in gratitude and began delicately eating. But the angle of his body wasn't good enough to get at everything on the plate, let alone the bowl of milk. He eventually hopped onto the table, but kept to himself as he enjoyed his supper.

"Well! His manners really are like a lord's," the girl said numbly, holding the platter against her chest.

"I wouldn't have said they were if they weren't," Bearskin replied politely, although her skin was starting to crawl under her thick cloak as she sipped her milk. 'Please go. I'm not in the mood to deal with tavern wenches.'

"Um… Bearskin," the girl said nervously. "Do you have time for a really short trip? I don't have a lot, but I'm willing to pay."

The trapper looked at her wearily and set down her fork for now. "What did you have in mind, young lady?"

"Well… it's a strange story, I can't really say out in public," the girl admitted, looking at the entryway nervously. "My father got into a bit of trouble, and-"

Bearskin's head snapped upward as her cat's did the same.

The girl looked slightly similar to Adele.

"Are you Belle?" she asked flat out.

She gaped at her. "Did my father already hire you?"

The pale woman grunted in disgust. "He tried to, but I didn't care for the ethics. Even a… someone like him deserves courtesy, especially after what he did for your father."

"I agree completely, sir." Belle took in a deep breath for courage. "It was my fault Father stole from him. I was the one foolish enough to ask for a rose so close to winter. I tried talking him into letting me take his place in two days, but no one in my family was willing to listen."

Bearskin cocked her head at her, although her blood was running cold. "You sound like you want me to take you to him."

"I do. I mean, I was planning on going without Father's consent anyway, but I'm scared of the forest. I have twenty brass pieces to pay you for your trouble." The girl's tone was nearly begging.

Bearskin laced her gloved fingers together, and held them to her chin as she studied the girl. "You are aware that he could decide to kill you instead of your father?"

Belle nodded firmly. Her lavender eyes were scared, but determined. "It was my fault. I should be punished."

"This is your punishment, human," Ukima's voice hissed in her ear, making the trapper suppress a shudder.

"Continue in your duties, Belle. When it's time to return home, tell your family you love them. I'll come after midnight for you and we'll go to him."

The young woman sighed deeply with relief and curtsied deeply before leaving. "Thank you."

Baron meowed in shock after the girl left.

"Well, at least she came up with a solution!" Bearskin defended in a low tone as she returned to her supper.

He kept meowing at her in distress, even abandoning his food to place his paws against one arm in a pleading position.

Bearskin set her fork down and cupped his face in one gloved hand. "What would you have me do?" she whispered, still using her man voice. "I will not kill him and I doubt her father would have accepted an offer for me to escort him instead. I want to help and this is the only way I can."

Baron closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then he started meowing again, very slowly as if speaking to a child with a slow attention span.

The trapper sighed in agony. "You know, if I had just one wish, I'd wish to understand you before asking for a cure."

The tawny cat gave out a groan that was almost certainly an agreement.

ooOoo

Belle had been hearing rumors all day that the famed Bearskin had come to town. But even if she hadn't been so distracted with her father's predicament, she probably wouldn't have clamored with the other girls she worked with for the chance to personally serve the legendary trapper, since he apparently wished to be left alone.

Pierre had chosen her because she was possibly the most sensible girl who worked there. Unlike most of the other girls, Belle never threw herself at the patrons, although she sometimes had trouble with beating them away.

That was one of the reasons dear Jacques always insisted on walking his sister home. Although he wasn't much of a fighter, he looked like one and that was often enough to keep her safe on the roads at night.

Belle pulled an unladylike face that had gotten her scolded more than once in her life back at the city. What was so great about being beautiful, anyway? All she had ever gotten out of it was unwanted attention in varying degrees and a bunch of friends that turned their back on her as soon as her father lost his fortune at sea. If one could even call them friends.

She tightened her hood a bit to keep her long red locks under control. About the only ones back in the city that wanted anything to do with her after things went sour were various rich men more than twice her age. If she were plain, she wouldn't have even have had that. Just what made beauty so important, anyway?

"Belle?" Jacques asked as he walked through the door of the tavern. "Are you ready, Belle?"

Her head snapped up, making her laugh a little sheepishly. "I'm over here, brother."

He attempted a smile for her and numbly offered one arm. He usually did it in a joking manner, but he hadn't been in a humorous mood since Father came home.

Belle linked her arm in his and held it close as they walked out of the tavern and down the familiar road. 'This is the last time Jacques will walk me home.' "I hear Bearskin was in town," she said hesitantly.

Jacques grunted, but was otherwise silent.

"Did you get to see him? I've been in the tavern all day."

"… Yeah. I saw him."

"What did he look like?" she asked, making sure that he wouldn't suspect what she was planning.

"White. What else would he look like?" he asked sarcastically.

"Oh come now, there must be more than that-"

"Belle!" he snapped. "I don't want to talk about Bearskin! People talk too much about him."

"With good reason. What do you have against Bearskin? Did you talk to him at all?"

Jacques' mouth stiffened. "… Yes. He gave me some advice on how to deal with Father's… well, him."

"What did he say?" she asked worriedly, but he shook his head.

"Nothing for you to worry over, Belle. Father will be safe, one way or another."

Rarely had her big brother ever taken that serious tone.

"Jacques?" she asked worriedly.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," he insisted again, his grip on her arm turning fierce from nerves.

ooOoo

Dear Father, Jacques, and Adele.

By the time you read this, I will be long gone. I love you all so very much, but this is how it should have been from the beginning. It was my foolish request that started this mess, so it is my responsibility to clean it up.

Please think kindly of me and remember the good times.

Love,

Belle

She couldn't think of anything else to say, so she used the melting wax from her candle to seal the paper shut.

Belle considered putting it on her pillow immediately, but decided against it. Her sister barged in all the time and she didn't want her plan to fail before it was set in motion.

The slim beauty instead set the letter under her bed to allow for the wax to cool and checked over her room one more time.

It was neater than it had been in a while. Adele was always getting on her to clean her room, but who could think of more work after a long and exhausting day avoiding advances at the tavern?

At least Bearskin didn't ask for 'additional services'. It was a refreshing change, even though she knew the trapper never pursued women.

It was still another hour until midnight. A drink of water would help at least pass the time.

She slipped out of her small room and started walking down the hallway as silently as possible.

Adele's door flew open, making the girl jump back in shock and choke back a scream.

"Just where do you think you're going?" her big sister demanded.

"K-Kitchen," Belle gasped. "Thirsty." 'Not caught! This doesn't count as caught!'

Adele gave her a suspicious look, but walked out of her room. "Then I'm thirsty too. Come along."

Belle nodded, but made a sour face at her sister's back. 'This is no good. How am I supposed to sneak out to meet Bearskin if she's staying up too?'

Adele kept a close eye on her as they both sipped water from wooden cups and walked back to the stairs.

"I believe your room is right here," Belle noted with a stiff smile as her sister continued to follow her.

"I just want to make sure you're not trying to sneak off to meet some boy, or worse," she hissed in a hard tone as they approached Belle's door.

'How about doing both?' "You worry too much, Adele. Even if you know I'm right about Father's-"

"You are not! Besides, Jacques… well, he's going to take care of it."

"What is he going to do?" Belle begged again. "It's not fair to keep me in the dark like a child."

Adele smirked sadly. "Life isn't fair, either. Sweet dreams."

Taking the chance she knew would never come again, Belle stole one more hug from her big sister. "Sweet dreams, you paranoid person. I love you."

"I love you too, you stubborn little troublemaker," Adele laughed, kissing her hair like Mother used to do. "Remember not to get ideas. Father will be listening for you tomorrow night."

'I rather doubt that.' "Meanie," Belle retorted while sticking out her tongue and slipping through her door.

She didn't want Adele to see that she had been cleaning her room. That would have been a major red flag that she was planning an escape.

Then again… Adele wouldn't have caught her if she didn't already suspect something. How was she going to get out and meet Bearskin if her big sister was ready and waiting to interfere?

She wrapped her long purple cloak over her back and clasped it tight before placing her letter on the pillow, now that it was obvious that she would be left alone if she stayed in her room.

Belle kneeled in front of her window and prayed that Bearskin would find a way around this.