Ari walked her way down the dusty sand bank towards the Nile river. Being a wolf hybrid had its perks as it was midnight, she was still able to see as if it were day. Her long sleek wolf tail swished nervously from side to side. She ran a hand through her long brunette hair nervously. The long white gown she wore signaling her princess stature in society. She glanced around nervous that someone would discover her here so late in the evening. She sighed, knowing that the dark black dirt she now stood in would stain the end of her dress and she’d have to either dispose of it or come up with a plausible excuse as to why it was so dirty.

There was a sudden disturbance among the quiet river. Large ripples of water making their way towards her at a fast pace. Ari took a step back bracing herself to run, when she saw a familiar mop of blue hair rising out of the water. She smiled as an otter face rose out. The otter boy smirked at her the water glistening off his dark brown fur. She waited patiently for him to make his way up the shore to where she stood. As soon as his feet touched the shore Aria launched herself into his arms.

“I’ve missed you so much Issac!” she said as she wrapped her arms around him in a tighter hug.

“I’ve missed you just as much my princess” Issac mumbled into her hair. He kissed her lightly on the top of her head before pulling her back slightly to look at her.

 Ari blushed slightly, no matter how many times they met she was always a little shy around him. If anyone were to discover them together it would mean an instant war between upper and lower Egypt. Ari knew if Issac’s father were to find out that he was meeting with the princess of Upper Egypt he would have his prince title revoked and would be exiled. Ari snuggled into Issac’s embrace, the thought of losing him greatly upset her.

Issac sensed her sudden change. “What’s wrong my princess?” he inquired.

“Just cold is all my prince” she mumbled into his chest.

They sat down on the bank watching the water flowing by their hands clasped together. They talked about palace life and how they both wished they never had to return.

“I hate when I’m away from you” Ari whispered as the moon shone bright above them, “I pray every night to Hathor,that our love will overcome our parents hatred for each other.” Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks.

Issac brushed his thumb lightly against her cheek wiping away her tears. “I pray for the same thing my love.” He whispered to her.

Ari smiled and gazed into his emerald green eyes. They held each others gaze for what seemed like an eternity. No longer able to contain his urges Issac cupped Ari’s face and titled her head back ever so slightly. He leaned in brushing his lips against hers. Ari shivered in anticipation of his kiss. Issac giggled slightly at Ari’s reaction. He loved that she was so sensitive and always seemed just a little shy around him.

He kissed her.

 When their lips met it was like a white hot burst that reached to their very cores.It made her knees weak. Ari pulled Issac in closer, deepening the kiss. He met her eagerness with his own. Time seemed to stand still. Ari, reluctantly, broke away from Issac. He looked at her confused.

“I’m sorry, I have to get going. The guards are going to wonder where I’ve gotten off to.”

Issac sighed, knowing that he faced the same inquiries when he returned home. He hugged Ari wishing he could convey all of his feelings into that single act of compassion.

Ari hugged back, wishing she never had to let go. She let go of Issac and watched him disappear back into the Nile. No longer seeing ripples of his movement she turned her back, walking back up the bank. 

As soon as Ari reached the palace doors she was instantly swarmed by guards. They began shuffling her towards her room, or as she frequently referred to it, her prison. Once she was safely tucked away in her room her servants silently shuffled in. She handed them her ruined dress and they did not question why the bottom was soiled. Ari sighed,glancing at herself in her mirror. Blue eyes staring back at her, surrounded by the dark black circles in her fur. Proof that she carried traits from both of her parents.

Her father, a wolf, was Pharaoh over Upper Egypt and worshiped by the people who lived in his domain. Her mother, a panda, helped to stable out her father and keep him a true and fair pharaoh to their people. She always felt a little alone in her kingdom, seeing as she was the only hybrid. She wondered if the gods were choosing to punish her parents by making her the only one of her kind.

She loved that Issac never thought her weird or strange. He loved her for her uniqueness. And she in turn loved him for that. Ari turned away from her mirror as her mother walked into the room.

“Where have you been?” her mother demanded.

“I got sick of being stuck in here so I went out to the river for some air.” Ari met her mother’s gaze unflinching.

“You came close to giving me a heart attack. Foolish girl I don’t care where you went just please inform myself or one of the servants next time. Your father was ready to tear apart the castle looking for you.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I had caused such a panic over my absence. I’ll be more considerate next time.” Ari hung her head. She always hated arguing with her mother.

“It’s alright dear,” her mother hugged her and turned to leave. “You need to rest now, tomorrow we begin looking at suitors for you to marry.”

Ari groaned, throwing herself back onto her bed. Tomorrow would be horrible. There was no man they could trot out in front of her that would make her even consider the possibility of saying yes. She had her heart set on one suitor only. And she knew that her parents would never allow their union.

*********************************

Morning broke over the horizon. Ari grimaced shutting her eyes tighter and yanking her blanket over her head. She groaned already dreading the events that would take place today. The door clicked open and she heard sounds of feet shuffling around her bed. Slowly peeking her eyes over the top of her covers Ari watched the servants bustling to and fro. She had two women that tended to her. One was in the washroom preparing her bath water. The other was bustling about preparing her attire for the day.

‘Might as well get this over with’ Ari thought and threw the blanket off of her. She sleepily stumbled her way into the washroom. She bathed quickly wanting to dry her fur. She hated when it was wet. She walked back into her room, her dress laid out on her bed. It was a white dress it was close fitting around the torso and hugged her body giving her curves. A shoulder strap for either side that were lined with a gold filament. The top and end lining of her dress was covered in an ocean blue color. One of her servants came up to her smiling.

“You look gorgeous princess. No man will be able to resist you.”

Ari blushed “Thank you Serena.”

Serena brought forth a large ornate necklace. Large bands of alternating blue and gold with a scarab at the end. Next were the arm bands. She wore one on her right forearm that was a silver snake winding its body around her arm. She was ready to meet the men.

Servants leading the way Ari was one step behind them. She stopped suddenly, turning around and quickly making her way back to her bed. She reached under the pillow, bringing out a small gold bracelet. To anyone else it was simply a plain gold bracelet, nothing special about it. But to Ari it meant a great deal. It was a gift from Issac. She slipped it on smiling to herself. No one else would know the significance wearing it out to meet her suitors meant. She was spoken for. 

Even if she was the only one that knew it.

Ari lounged back in her throne. Below her stood a large crowd of men. She glanced warily at her mother.

“Are all of these men suitors?” she asked incredulously.

“They are indeed.” A gruff voice responded.

Ducking her head Ari quickly sat more lady like in her chair now that her father had walked in to the room. He smiled gently at her before taking his seat.

“Today is the day I offer my daughter’s hand in marriage. Men, you may approach.”

Ari spent the next hour mingling with the men. She had just managed to pull herself into a corner for a minutes rest. She watched as other wealth citizens mingled with the bachelors that were here to supposedly sweep her off her feet. Serena spied Ari avoiding the crowd. Serena didn’t say a word to anyone, allowing Ari to have a moments peace.

Thinking of Issac, Ari absently twirled the bracelet around her wrist. She felt a tap on her shoulder. She grimaced at the thought of talking to yet another man and slowly turned around. 

Standing before her was Issac. She felt her heart speed up as she stared at her one true love. 

“W-What are you doing here?” she whispered.

Ari nervously glanced around, worried that the guards would descend upon them at any minute.

“I’m here for you.” Issac whispered to her. Brushing his hand lightly against her cheek.

Ari blushed lightly at his touch. 

“Now, why don’t you introduce me to your father?” Issac said.

 Taking Ari’s hand, and laughing at her shocked expression, made his way back into the throng of people milling about. He felt a jolt of jealousy at each male he passed knowing that they were here to goggle at his princess. Pressing on he easily moved past them Ari still in tow. They came to stop in front of the throne. Her father gazed down at them, his expression forming the question he was getting ready to ask.

“Pharaoh I mean no disrespect but I have come to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.” Issac stood tall as the pharaoh descended from his throne. 

“What can you offer my daughter?” Pharaoh asked. He stared at the otter prince while he waited for an answer. The boy looked of royalty and he had a determined look in his eye.

Issac cast a sideways glance at Ari. Her eyes held fear and longing. He saw that she was wearing the bracelet. His bracelet. Inhaling deeply he spoke to her father.

“I can offer her a lifetime of happiness. I can offer her a shoulder to cry on when she is sad. A hand to hold for eternity. I can offer her true love and I can offer her everything.”

Ari smiled at him, grasping his hand tighter. Looking up at her father she wondered what his answer would be.

The pharaoh looked back and forth between the couple. The clasped hands did not go unnoticed. He could see the way they stared at each other that they truly loved one another. He knew exactly who this otter was, and who is father was. But as he looked at his daughter he knew deep down that her happiness was the most important thing to him.

“My boy, I know who you are. I know who your father is. The fact that you would intrude upon my palace and a party thrown for my daughter shows how deep your love is for her. My answer is yes, you may marry my daughter.” He said with a smile.

The king walked down to the couple and hugged them both tightly. Grabbing their joined hands with his own he raised them high.

“I give my blessing to this couple! May the god’s rejoice for their union!” He bellowed over the crowd. 

All went silent. Cheers erupted from all around and everyone began dancing in merriment.

Ari met Issac’s eyes and she cried in happiness. She threw her arms around him and he returned her hug.

“Our prayers finally worked!” she cried.

Issac did not respond back, her merely grabbed her and kissed her, glad that they no longer had to hide their love. They disappeared into the crowd before them, dancing in happiness for the rest of the day.

They looked forward to what the future would bring.