“I hear you’re interested in cougars?” she asked. “I’m so very glad to hear the prince of our country is a man of such culture.” 

The way she said that rubbed me the wrong way. Why do all these animal experts seem like such characters? 

I forced a smile and adjusted my legs, putting one over the other. “Yes, well… I met one in the forest and it just caught my interest. I had a few questions about them.” 

“Of course, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about them!” 

She went on to tell me more than I needed to know about them. I kept in mind what I thought was important like their habits and diet. I let the rest go in one ear and out the other with a polite smile on my face. I’m glad the animal doctor didn’t go on for this long. His colleagues seem useful but I’m not sure if I want to interact with any of them again. Hopefully I won’t have to. 

When the woman’s spiel was finally over and she was leaving, she called out to me as she was escorted out. “Let me know if you ever want to learn about other big cats as well! I’ll come running over as fast as a cheetah!” 

I only smiled and waved. The thought of her running as fast as a cheetah towards me made a shiver go down my spine. 

After she left, I went to the kitchen to inquire about getting fresh meat for the cougar. 

“The best time to get deer meat will be at the next hunt,” the chef said. “You could join them like you used to if you like, your highness.” 

Like when my father always dragged me along on hunts? It’s definitely not one of my favorite memories… But it does feel nostalgic. I think he wanted me to be a hunter like him, but I never wanted to be the one to kill the animals. 

“When do they set out?” I asked. 

“In about a week. I have some other meat too if you’d like to try that. But if you really only want deer meat, you’ll have to wait a bit.” 

I asked for deer meat since the expert said that’s what cougars like the most. Maybe I’ll take some other meat for now though and see if it likes it. 

I accepted her handout and went back to my room. The rabbit was chewing on grass in his cage. I kneeled down with the wrapped up meat close to my chest. 

“Do you want to come with me to find the cougar? I understand if you don’t want to though.” I heard from the expert that cougars eat rabbits and birds sometimes. Maybe I should just leave the rabbit at home. 

The rabbit finished the grass he had in his mouth and moved towards the cage gate like he wanted to be let out. I opened it with a smile and picked him up. 

“I won’t let the cougar hurt you,” I said. “I just want us all to get along.” 

The rabbit only twitched his nose in response. 

I headed out to the forest. I didn’t see the cougar at the treeline like when I had left it. I decided to go to my father’s grave first and see if the crow was around. I sat down on the base for a moment and soon after I heard a caw. 

The crow swooped down next to me. He pecked at the wrapped meat, curious. 

“It’s for the cougar,” I explained. “I was thinking that if it doesn’t want to attack and eat me, then maybe we could be friends. Is that too far-fetched?” 

The crow twitched his head and cawed. Then he took flight upwards and away. It didn’t look like he wanted me to follow. Maybe…he was going to look for the cougar?