Pretty Perfect Princess

Snow was thrilled to discover that the Draenei spell worked just as well in reverse. She'd never learned another language before, and it was just a delightful experience. Unfortunately, that was practically the only wonderful thing she encountered.

So many people were hurt, and the ones who could both walk and work were all so tired and upset. Snow knew how easy it was to become overwhelmed and distressed when something bad happened, and she gathered that nearly everyone present was grieving one or more friends. She didn't begrudge them that, but in her experience nothing got better while you were crying. Once she'd distributed all the food and tea she had, she helped them in the only way she knew how. She sang, letting the words she hardly knew tumble from her mouth.

"When the stars fell from the sky, oh what a sight,

And the spaceship tumbled down in the middle of the night,

We'll be there to help them, no matter what it takes,

With a smile on our faces, and a heart that never breaks."

The mourning Draenei stared at her, shocked at her tone deaf decision to start singing such an upbeat song on the worst day of their lives. Those who were a bit more aware of the situation were also flabbergasted that she'd somehow managed to improvise a song in their language within an hour of learning it.

"Oh, whistle while we work, and we'll make it right,

Helping out the heroes who've landed in the night,

With our hands and our hearts, we'll be strong and true,

Whistle while we work, we've got so much to do!"

As she sang, the local birds began to sing along, and within a minute or so squirrels burst from the underbrush. They dragged small peacebloom flowers, useful for rudimentary salves, in their mouths. One of the hunters, a woman by the name of Keilnei, realized before long that the birds were congregating above the fallen bodies of her comrades. The birds didn't know the difference between a living Draenei or a dead one, but their song served as a beacon either way.

"We'll clear away the wreckage and mend the broken parts,

Guide the space explorers with our caring hearts,

There's a way to fix it all, with a little bit of cheer,

We'll build a new home safe, with nothing left to fear!"

The Draenei began to join in with her song as she reached the next chorus, and those that did found their hearts lifted. The situation hadn't meaningfully improved, but they were not alone. They had been welcomed by a local, as far as they knew, and even the local wildlife had rushed to their aid.

Snow sung until her throat was sore, and when she faltered one of the priests took up a song, improvising another verse in the same style. The song lost its power over the animals, but the mourning Draenei were able to pull themselves forward. Lost friends were found, dead or alive, because their comrades refused to give in to despair. Come nightfall the Draenei were nearly all exhausted, but the largest section of their ship had been converted into a shelter. Their supply stores, though meager, were shared out equitably.

Keilnei settled next to Snow, wanting to thank her personally. She had been running around the forest for hours, long enough that she dreaded finding more people; more often than not they were dead, by this point. Her leg muscles were burning, and she desperately needed to check her hooves for damage.

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"Thank you, Lady White." She said formally, flopping onto a fallen tree and smelling the stew that Snow was cooking. She'd had several slabs of dried out pork, which were serving as a base for the meal that would be shared by all the survivors in the area. "You have saved more than one life this day."

"Oh, I'm happy to have helped. You were all in such a frightful state when we arrived." Snow spoke casually, but on the inside she was thinking. "You're one of the huntsmen of your people, yes? I've known a few huntsmen. One named Humbert saved my life, depending on how you look at it. They know all sorts of useful things."

Snow had been listening when Gil talked about Rose's trip to Brockton. She hadn't understood everything, but she knew enough. Rose could ask people to become like Snow, Ireena, or Rose, and it didn't seem to be an ability unique to Rose. To do it, all she needed to do was ask. Gil seemed so excited when he found out, too.

"Miss Keilnei, I'm sure that Master Gilbert would do everything in his power to help your people if you did something in return." She offered; all she needed to do was ask, supposedly.

"Oh?" The huntress asked. "If you're anything to go by, he would indeed be a welcome friend in these trying times."

"I'm no one special." Snow laughed, and she really meant it. Both the words and the carefree laugh, "Just a maid. There's just this one thing you need to give Master Gil, and I'm sure he'll treat your people just like family whenever he's here."

"What's that?" Keilnei asked, cocking her head.

"You just have to agree to give him your soul." Snow said guillessly.

Keilnei wavered for a moment, reeling from the sudden surge of information. On the one hand, placing her life in the hands of a stranger was terrifying. On the other hand, Gil had already done more for their people than they had come to expect from outsiders. He had strange, unknown powers, and in the end her only point of reference was Snow. Snow seemed both deeply kind and happy in service to Gil.

"Yes, yes I think I could do that." Keilnei said with a nod.

In the moment she knew that the agreement was the entire transaction, but by the time a few minutes passed it had become theoretical in her mind. She didn't quite realize that her soul already belonged to Gil, with or without strings attached.