She nodded. “I’m alright. This is wonderful.” She loved Alice’s warm voice, the sound of swaying trees and birds in the air, the little bounce Cyrus had as he walked. Much better than the dark, dull manor and her stepfamily’s harsh voices.
Alice smiled before bringing her attention back to the path in front of her "okay let me know if you want to stop somewhere and look around."
Dove nodded again, and opened her eyes. “It’s pretty out here…” she looked around. “I don’t know. Let’s keep going a little further.”
Alice nodded in response as they both looked around she had never been through this part of the forest, and dove was right this place was really pretty
Golden sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows over them as they continued. Dove almost closed her eyes again, but then she blinked and straightened. “Do you hear water, Your Highness? Do you want to investigate?”
She smiled as she watched their surroundings and brought her attention to dove "Water…Actually yeah I do hear it do you which way it's coming from?"
Dove briefly let go of the princess to cup her ears with her hands. There it was, the sound of rushing water, perhaps a river or a stream. “It sounds like it’s straight ahead, to the left a little. It should not be far.”
She nodded as she steered Cyrus in the direction of the sound he trotted down the path happily looking around
Dove wrapped her arms around Alice again, nodding in satisfaction when she realized the sound was getting closer.
Soon they emerged into a small clearing, a cliff face blocking one side of it. From the cliff flowed a waterfall, splashing into a rocky pool and flowing into a river below.
Dove gasped softly. “Oh, a waterfall. It’s beautiful, would we like to stop here?”
Alice stared in amazement at the sight she couldn't believe this was out here " I'd like to look around here if you would." She said smiling,
“Yes!” Dove nodded eagerly. “Let’s.” Though she hesitated a moment, she was able to slip off the saddle and onto the ground. Offering her hand to help the princess down, she said politely, “Your Highness.”
She laughed a little at doves excitement and she looked over her shoulder but dove had already slid off the horse she moved her gaze to her on the ground with her hand out "oh thank you, you beat me to it." She said with a chuckle as she took doves hand sliding off cyrus
“Of course.” She smiled. “It’s nothing.” After Alice was on the ground, Dove let go of her hand and looked back to the waterfall. “Do you need to keep Cyrus somewhere or take him with us…?”
She smiled at her when she was on the ground and stepped forward looking around "oh not he'll be fine he likes to graze and I'm worried about the water spooking him. "
“Alright.” Dove stroked Cyrus’s neck for a moment before joining Alice’s side. “I think I’ll just follow you…”
"Alright did you want to go down a little closer? "
“Sure,” Dove nodded, straightening her cap on her head. “We could sit by the river or go near the waterfall…” her eyes focused on said waterfall, and they squinted. The waterfall looked strange, but she couldn’t put her finger on how.
(OH CRAP I'M SORRY)
"I'd like to go investigate that waterfall if you don't mind its really pretty and I've never see one this close. " she smiled a bit as she started walking watching dove waiting for her opinion
(LOL ITS OKAY tbh I was about to bump this-)
(I'm so sorry I hit a wall with this lol but I'm back and ready to go!)
(No you’re good!)
Dove nodded and smiled. “Sure, I’m interested in the waterfall too.” She followed Alice, picking up her skirts as she walked.
"Okay good just wanted to make sure. " she smiled as she brought her attention to the water
The water’s edge was rocky, with pebbles lining the shore and stones sitting for the waterfall to crash into. As they drew nearer, Dove looked closely. A thought came to her mind, and she briefly touched Alice’s arm. “Wait…”
She stepped out on the rocks, being slow and careful so that she wouldn’t slip, and went behind the waterfall and disappeared. A moment later, she reappeared.
“Princess, come look,” she said excitedly, gesturing with her arm.