Zanon’s laugh as she hugged his leg tightly made her sweet smile all the wider. Essa was too young to understand why the curve of Evras’s stomach could be a concern, or truly to even notice the difference. All she knew was that her newest cousin looked more beautiful than anything she had ever seen on her wedding day. She released the fabric quickly though as she felt Zanon’s arms wrap around her, a giggle bubbling forth from her lips. He pressed a kiss to her temple and she wrapped her little arms around his neck in a warm hug.

His promise that she would not only be a pretty princess, but the prettiest of them made the little girl squeal in delight. She certainly didn’t understand all the politics or arrangements that such an elevation would entail. At this age, she just wanted to believe she could be as pretty someday when she was all grown up, with a crown and a prince of her own. So simple and yet so far away all at once.

She pouted up at him as he set her down on the ground far too quickly. “Zan Zan,” she whined softly, but then she saw her aunt approach and quickly her disappointment was gone. “Auntie!” she said brightly, hands clapping together in joy. Her mother’s hand moved over her head, smoothing back her dark hair in a way that stilled the young girl into contentment at the small gesture, shifting closer to her mother. Instead, she was nudged in her sister’s direction as her mother and aunt both walked off in another direction. Essa’s face crumpled slightly. She didn’t want to nap when there was so much prettiness around to look at.

Essa perked up considerably though as Imeeya confirmed that she could be a princess someday, and there was an excited bounce to her step as she toddled behind her longer legged sister, hand held tightly in the older girl’s. As they walked, Essa’s eyes were everywhere but looking ahead of her steps. How could she focus on that when the snow made everything look so much more magical? A blur of white rushed past the sisters and immediately captivated the younger girl. Imeeya’s hand released hers and for a moment Essa simply stood still as her sister crept off towards another of their cousins.

Her hazel eyes moved over the scene in front of her before growing wide. The other kids were throwing the snow at each other! And laughing, there was so much laughing. Well, the little girl just wanted to have fun too. She leaned down, scooping some snow between her cupped hands and tossing it, frowning as it simply fell. Looking back towards the other kids, she quickly figured out that wasn’t quite right. She reached out with a single hand, gripping the snow tightly. This time, it went further when she threw it, but it was so little she couldn’t see where it went. Her pout grew as she watched the other children, wondering how they were having such fun and when it seemed so... disappointing.

She turned and began to toddle off. Her gaze flitted around, looking at everything around her, not seeming to notice or mind that her steps took her farther and farther away from her sister. She saw something moving in the distance between the woods at the party’s edge. What was it? The little girl moved closer, into the treeline, trying to see just what it was. She could see a hint of fur, but it was getting so far away. Essa tried to make her little legs move faster, but especially with the snow as deep as it was... it wasn’t long before she tripped and fell face first into the snow. Sputtering, she sat up, looking around to see there was no furred creature in sight.

The little girl rubbed at her face which still stung a little from the cold wet of the snow. It was then that she realized she wasn’t sure where she was. The trees around her all looked the same and she hadn’t been paying attention. She sniffled - though whether from cold or fear she wasn’t sure - looking around with uncertainty? What could she do? Her nose wrinkled up and tears started to fall down her cheeks even as she tried to stay brave like her mama always told her sister. Drakos ladies were supposed to be brave and strong. That meant no crying.

How long it took for her to calm down was hard to say, but the next time she looked around, her eyes lit up. Her footprints were in the snow! She could follow them back. Wait until she told Imeeya all about her adventure! The walk back to the clearing felt so much longer than she remembered. Maybe it was because she was moving slower, or because she was cold and wet. Or maybe it really was just that she was long overdue for a nap and with the excitement over it was beginning to catch up with her.

When she made it back to the clearing, she was rubbing her eyes and yawning and she didn’t see her mama or sister or uncle anywhere nearby. The little girl huffed in frustration. She was cold and tired and getting grumpier by the minute. She started to walk in one direction when something caught her eye. A small pile of discarded furs - probably from the very children still playing in the snow. Essa was shivering terribly so the choice seemed obvious. She made a little bed of the furs, keeping the snow away from herself with one and covering herself almost entirely with the others as she curled up. She just wanted to get warm... it would only be a couple minutes... but her eyes seemed so heavy...

How long she was there, sleeping bundled up underneath the furs, Essa couldn’t guess at. Certainly long enough to miss everyone calling her name. But as the sound of trumpets sounded through the area, the loud noise stirred the young child. Feeling groggy and confused, she sat up, glancing around with bleary eyes. Everyone seemed to be leaving. Should she be too? She groaned a little. She was still so sleepy though. Maybe just a little while longer...

But just as she started to snuggle back into the all too enticingly warm furs, she saw her mother and sister walking through the snow, opposite of the few remaining stragglers. She saw her sister pointing this way and that. Her mama seemed... upset? No, that wasn’t right. Then one of her other cousins approached, and all Essa could think is that she must be missing something. Tugging one of the furs tighter around her, she stood up, wobbling slightly. She began to walk towards her family, the far too large fur dragging behind her in the snow.

Their backs were to her, so it seemed no one noticed her approaching until she was tugging at her mother’s cloak.

“Mama? What’s happening?”