Chimera Fields apollonius

Among the crags of clay and dust stood the red girl from Ursus, but the boy did not see her. He was too busy being transfixed by the deer's shape.

It had faded from view while he stared; he kept looking for it among the distant shadows of the neverwood, as if he could will it back in time, will it closer, or kill it with his mind. Imagining the flesh tearing and the warmth of its meat in his belly did not ease his suffering — instead his belly groaned and gurgled, demanding satiation that the boy could not provide for it.

When he finally gave in to the loss, he turned to resume his sulking among the debris. That was when he spotted her; at first mistakenly as another possible meal, then as something wholly other. He knew that shape, that shade, those eyes — and immediately cowered.

Considering that he thought Ursus was just around the corner it came as no surprise that the princess would be here; but the fact that she was made him shrink down and grovel.