Nalora laughed as she watched the mice run past her. She reached out and grabbed one of them by the tail. It was a deep black mouse with white spots on its back. Nalora smiled as she turned to her servent.
"Tivelfa, hand me the rope," Nalora said.
"Yes, your highness," Tivelfa said, tossing her a small noose.
"Don't struggle little one," Nalora said softly, looping the rope around the mouse's middle. "You'll be Gisa. All right, everyone. Back to the Shelter."
The servents nodded as they each leaped onto the backs of mice. Their mice were all the same color, dull brown. As they approached the shelter - a large hollowed tree - the servents dismounted their mice and bowed slowly.
Nalora blushed softly as she looked around, "I wish you all wouldn't do that," She said. "I may be the princess, but I hate being treated like one."
The servents nodded and smiled at Nalora. They stopped bowing at she nodded thankfully to them as she walked into the Shelter. Her father greeted her at the entrance, smiling broadly.
"So, you've captured your sted?" He asked, smiling at the struggling mouse.
"Yes, father," Nalora sighed. "He's a spirited one. Hopefully, he'll make a good sted once trained."
Her father nodded, "I'll take her out to Nokau. You go and met with your other sisters."
Nalora groaned slightly, but did as she was told. Nalora rushed into a small room where several other girls sat, staring at her. One of them scoffed softly.
"Well, there's daddy's favorite," one of them said.
"Daddy's little angel," another growled.
"All of you shut-up," Nalora growled as she took her seat. "Daddy doesn't have favorites. He loves all of us the same."
"Yeah, right," Another of them sighed softly.
Nalora growled softly as she started at her sister, tiny hands ready to wrap around the other girl's throat, but her mother walked in before she had the chance. The woman glanced about at her daughters before laying her gaze on Nalora.
"Ah, Nalora, you're suppose to be at lessons," Her mother said. "The rest of you girls are to go to the dance instructor's studio. Now, off with you all."
Nalora nodded slowly, getting a few nasty looks from her sisters as she rushed out of the room and down the small hallway. The lessons room was at the end of one of the winding hallways in the Shelter. As Nalora slipped into the door, her tutor, Eirfa, turned and smiled at her.
"You're late," Eirfa said simply, turning back to her work.
Nalora nodded slowly, "I know, Ma'dam. My sisters again."
Eirfa sighed softly as she stood to write something on one of the many pieces of chalkboard in the small room.
