Soft knocking perked rounded ears. "I have it!" called a small voice. The bear rushed for the door, ambling along with the energy only youth had. "Who is--" She pulled open the door and her eyes went wide. "Wow!"
Sheba smiled down at the little bear cub. "What an adorable little cub you are. May I know your name?"
"D-dad!" she squeaked, her eyes locked on Sheba. "There's a pretty cat asking my name..."
"You should answer her," came the more sedate tones of her father, Slow Step trundling in from the back at a sedate pace. "She will not bite you."
"Oh, um... alright..." She worried her fingers together nervously at first. "Hello... I'm Coddie. You are...?"
"Sheba... That is not a local name, is it?"
Coddie shook her head rapidly, ears flopping a bit before popping back up. "No! Ma'am! Um... we're both from far away... Wow... you... You look like her! Are you a warrior cat?"
Sheba smiled, sharp fangs on display. "Oh, yes. I take great pride in my fighting."
"I knew it!" Coddie brought her paws together in a loud clap. "And you go on wild adventures too I bet! You smash bad guys!"
"I have done both of these things." Sheba sank down into a crouch. "But today, I am here to meet a very special little girl. Mmm, she looks clever. Are you a clever little girl?"
"Um... yes ma'am... My father gets sore sometimes because I talk too fast." She glanced back at her slower father who was just catching up with them. "He's a little slow but I like being faster than that... He said I'll slow down when I get older but I don't believe him at all." She stuck out her tongue a little and stepped forward, looking Sheba over intensely.
Sheba sank down, actually sitting on the floor. With a swat of her tail, she knocked the door shut behind her. "Do you plan to live long enough to slow down? I hope at times to never live that long, to die doing something grand and worth remembering."
"Are you sad?" The little bear cub reached up, brushing a fresh tear from Sheba's face. "Did something happen?"
It was barely a tear, a few drops at most. Sheba gently warded the child away at first, but her smirk returned. "You are a sharp little cub. Your father's paws must be so full trying to handle you."
"I love her very much," assured Slow Step as he sank onto a seat in the living room. "I don't want her any different."
"That's a lie," she whispered loudly to Sheba. "He wants me to grow up big and tall and learn everything." She clapped her small paws together. "I want to learn about you! Sheba, warrior cat!" She was bouncing in place with a happy smile. "Where did you learn how to fight? Tell me about it!"
"Since you asked..." She drew Coddie in to perch in her lap as she began a tale that was at least mostly true, of how she became a warrior.
Silver was on a bed. He was not sharing it with a wife, for they were an ocean away. Instead there were servants perched on it. They had brushed his fur to a shining gloss. They had massaged away the tensions of the day. They had said nice things while petting and stroking him.
They had been nothing but nice, but he felt awkward about it. Who was he to casually assume dominance over the creatures he felt were deserving of freedom?
He felt something jostle against the bed, then approach in a rapid scampering. He opened an eye to see his mouse servant coming up towards him. She wore little but a small bra to cover her small chest. "You are awake... may we talk?"
Silver lifted an ear towards her. "How can I help?"
"I heard..." She clasped her hands together silently. "He asked for me, specifically me... I... wanted... You should go. You should take everyone else and run." Other eyes turned towards her. "What? I would be a... selfish fool if I asked him to sacrifice all of your safety just for me." She smiled awkwardly, shrinking back. "I at least knew you for a little while."
Silver reached a hoof to her face, covering most of it. "Shh. No."
"No?"
"No," he repeated firmly. "I already lost one woman on this trip, that's my cap. I'm taking you with me."
She smiled nervously, shuffling. "But if you anger him, he could take... everyone back and leave you with nothing. Don't do that!"
He sat up slowly. "I will admit something. You are small, and adorable, and so... vulnerable looking. If I am honest with myself, I can't stand to know that I let such a thing come to harm even slightly because of what I did or did not do."
Her ears pinned down. "Sir... that is... thoughtful, but so insulting I don't even really have polite words for it."
"Then use impolite words," he gently advised. "Curse at me."
"You really are a stupidly nice prince." She wrinkled her nose softly. "You're also a chauvinistic asshole! I'm not a child! I can take care of myself and knowing someone wants to risk everything because they assume I can't handle myself is beyond infuriating! I've dealt with the sultan's temper tantrums before, and I'll do it again, until I fail to do so. Either way, it's my life, and I'd rather lose that than be the person who risked every other person here's happiness."
"Which just makes me want to save you more, I admit." He lifted an ear at her. "If everyone can be happy, isn't that the best ending?"
"You don't always get the best answer... and if I can get everyone else a good one, why would that be bad?"
He touched noses with her gently. "I am looking forward to being your friend."
Her cheeks warmed a brief moment. "You are too kind..."