A Little Hunt

        The forest, still even this early in summer, had snow on the ground. The canvas of green and white stretched out before the two mighty destriers and a reindeer as they carried their riders through the wood, their hooves clomping through the crusty snow and earth.

        The queen's courser was a large golden animal, its brown hued mane pulled into tight bulbs along its neck. The princess’ own horse was a little smaller and white, its mane cut short to look like ramparts dyed white and black. Both horses moved at a dignified trot, the queens’ more assuredly then the other. The reindeer on the other hand, while keeping pace, was clearly more interested in the scenery then actually watching where it was going.

        “Sven!” the Ice Master was nearly thrown over the beasts head as it jerked to a stop, nearly missing a fallen log and a twisted ankle, “Buddy, you’re kind of half of this team.” The reindeer grunted shakings it’s head, “Okay yeah I know you’ve been cooped up for a while but do you really want a busted leg?” Another few more grunts, tinged with remorse this time, “Yeah, that’s true, but come on buddy.” The man patted the animal’s neck.

        The pair looked up as giggles sounded ahead of them. The royal sisters had stopped waiting and laughing. Kristoff shook his head and, with Sven carefully watching his feet they moved on, the Ice Master taking up a space on the far end of the two, next to his fiancée.

        Branches rustled, sending a woody song through the air around them. Already some greenery was starting to sprout from some of the bare trees scattered throughout the evergreens. Anna felt good about this, looking from her soon to be husband to her sister. The three of them hadn’t been out like this in ages! They all needed some time out of the castle, time away from all the little duties they all had to attend to. Time to get to know each other again.

        A flash caught the young woman’s attention, a little blur of red off in the distance, dashing from snow covered green to snow covered green. It was gone as fast as it came and Anna stared past the group, waiting for it to appear again.

        “Anna?” Elsa called.

        “hmm..”

        “Anna!”

        “Ah! What!?” Anna looked around to find that her sister and Kristoff had both gone ahead without her.

        “What are you doing?” Kristoff asked.

        “Uh… nothing. Nothing at all, just ah… Nothing” her horse trotted forward hurrying to her friends. The princess looked back into the wood before speaking up again “Hey, Elsa. Do you think we could, you know, have a hunt?”

        Sven’s’ ears perked up and the reindeer practically glared at her, “Shh, don’t listen buddy,” Kristoff said, putting a hand on the animal’s ears.

        “I didn’t think you’d enjoy something like that, Anna,” Elsa said, surprised.

“Oh no no no no. I don’t mean a real one,” She turned to the reindeer, “Not a real one Sven, I mean just like for fun, not really hunting anything.”

“So just, what, running around the forest with some dogs?” Kristoff asked.

        “Yeah! It’d be fun!”

        Both of them looked at the princess with varying levels of bemusement.

        “Well if nothing’s actually going to get hurt… I guess me and Sven could join. What do ya think buddy? A day of just running around, fast as you can?” Sven bucked and danced in his own little way, joyous little grunts resounding as he did. Anna beamed and Elsa laughed at the display, “I guess we’re in” Kristoff said once Sven had settled down.

        “I suppose we could have a talk with the kennel master. We’ve not done anything like it before, I’m sure he’d enjoy his dogs getting out for anything at this point.”

        “You’ve never had a hunt? Not even your parents?” Kristoff asked.

Elsa shook her head, “Never, not that I know of.”

        “I always thought you guys did that stuff all the time… What kind of royals are you?”

        “The kind that-“   

        “There he is again!” Anna yelled over her sister, pointing off to the side.

        “What?”

        “Come on!” Anna’s horse surged forward, jumping around Kristoff and Sven and dashing into the underbrush, leaving the queen and the Ice Master alone.

        “We should uh, probably follow her, huh?” Kristoff said, looking out into the woods.

        “Anna can take care of herself,” Elsa said. She thought for a moment, looking out into the greenery, “Most of the time,” she added. The pair set off after the younger sister.

        Anna was nowhere to be seen, but off the trail here the brush was thick and the queen and ice master’s journey was slow going. Sven was careful in his foot falls, while Elsa’s courser seemed to effortlessly navigate the brush. Elsa sighed as they made their way and Kristoff glanced over at her. Her hair wasn’t in its usual loose braid or spun into a bun, instead it was pulled up into a loose loop like pony tail that softly bobbed as she rode along.

        Elsa glanced at him and Kristoff looked away, hoping she hadn’t noticed. He thought he could hear her giggle.

        “I didn’t know you could ride a horse, Elsa.” He said after a moment.

        “Well, what kind of a royal would I be if I didn’t?” an unseen grin stabbed the joke at him.

        “Ah haha…” he said, “Still, you’re pretty good, I expected you to ride you know, on the side.”

        “Like this?” Elsa stood up in her stirrups and raised her leg turning her body towards Kristoff and sitting back down, both legs hanging over the same side of the saddle. She smirked at her own prowess.

        “Ah yes, the perfect sister eh?”

Elsa looked away for a moment, mumbling something, it almost sounded like ‘I’m not perfect’

        Kristoff looked around as the air become uncomfortable around them. He’d meant it as a compliment but maybe he should have picked his words better. He scratched as his neck as the fur trimming on his coat tickled him. He looked down at Sven, the path had gotten a little easier and the reindeer was starting to glance around again.

        He glanced back over at Elsa, eyes still downcast as she watched the path ahead of their mounts. Sven coughed, and when Elsa looked over said, “You’re looking very pretty today, your highness.”

        Elsa laughed and smiled at Kristoff before looking towards Sven, hearing his ‘voice’ he’d looked up and back at the pair, “Why thank you Sven,” She glanced at Kristoff again, “You’re looking very handsome today yourself.” She patted the animal’s neck.

        The pair smiled at each other. They hadn’t talked much at all since the winter. It felt nice to see each other again. Kristoff’s mouth opened, ready to say something else when a scream blasted through the forest.

        “Elsa! Kristoff! Quick!”

Their smiles faded and Kristoff and the queen raced forward, towards the sound of the princess’ voice. Branches, brambles and bushes brushed beside the pair as the horse and reindeer dashed around fallen logs, upturned roots and around trees. The forest cleared out and ahead they spied Anna, bouncing by herself, her horse standing aside grazing on some grasses poking thorough shadowed snow.

        “What is it? What’s wrong?” Kristoff asked, jumping off of Sven. Elsa easily slipped down from her own horse and both ran up to the girl.

        “What happened, Anna? Are you hurt?”

        “Shh! Shhhh! Come on!” Anna scurried over to the bushes at the edge of the clearing.

        “What?”

        “Come on! Quick!” she waved them both over and they reluctantly followed.

They had to crawl along the forest floor, a place Kristoff felt rather at home, but Elsa couldn’t help her heart going out to the maids of the castle who’d have to deal with the dirt and grass stains on her and Anna’s clothes. Still she struggled on through the bushes.

        “It’s just up ahead, come on!” Anna called to them, her voice hushed.

        “Anna where are we going?” Elsa asked, Anna shushed her.

        “It’s a surprise, come on!”

        After a quarter minute that felt like three to Elsa they caught up with Anna who’d stopped at a little break in the bushes. She was stock still looking out of them.

        “Okay, what’s this all about?” Kristoff asked as he and the queen came closer.

        “Look! Oh my gosh you have to see this,” Anna said, excitedly, barely keeping her voice down.

Both Elsa and the Ice Master crowded near the princess, looking out through the prickly bush. It was a small clearing, and nearby under an upturned tree and its overgrown roots was a large red fox. It was beautifully lounging in the shade of the roots and beside it were a small writhing mass that Elsa soon realized was a litter of cubs.

        “Oh my goodness, Anna!” Elsa practically squealed.

        This close to the family of foxes the three of them could easily make out their little vulpine faces, bright eyes looking out at the world and even at them before burying themselves against the fur of their mother.

        “Wow…” Kristoff said voice more than a little filled with wonder.

        “See? I knew you’d like it. Look at their little faces!”

        “Anna they’re so cute! How’d you find them?”   

Anna smiled sheepishly, “I uh, kind of chased the mom to here.”

        Kristoff shook his head, “I don’t think you need to bother your dog man, Elsa. You’ve got a natural fox hound right here.” Anna slapped his chest and he kissed her cheek.

        Elsa smiled at the pair and looked back to the little family. Two of the cubs broke off from the group and started tumbling about each other, half growling and yelping as they played. They chased each other and when one caught the other they both barked out. Elsa and Anna couldn’t help but giggle at the antics.

        All too soon all the fox faces glanced up, ears perked and pointing towards them.

        “What?” the three asked just before they heard the rustling behind them, they turned with a start just as Sven’s massive head poked out from the bushes.

        “Sven?”

They turned back to the clearing, the animals were gone.

        “Sven!”