An action is not always what is expected.

" —How much farther must we walk, my Queen?" Milenio inquires.

—The sun is setting, and we must find water now.

—Silence, impertinent child! They've seen us —Cristal responds angrily.

With great eagerness, Milenio follows.

—My Queen, what was that? —Milenio asks.

Upon seeing the queen run, Milenio and Cristal begin to do the same.

—But what are we chasing?

—Run, Milenio, catch it! —Queen Isabel shouts.

—Yes, my lady! But, who should I pursue?

Cristal looks at him and says: —Ugh! Listen to the Queen.

—That's what I'm doing, but whom am I chasing? —Milenio insists.

—Wait! He's behind this cedar. —Isabel shouts.

They think the Queen is hallucinating.

—Look, it's a little creature with long ears and big blue eyes...

Their friends stare attentively when suddenly, with a leap, he is in front of them. Startled, they scream, but Queen Isabel, without thinking, asks:

—Who are you?

—Allow me to introduce myself: I am Kindness, the mouse of the cedars.

—And that name? Please! —says the seahorse, Milenio.

The strange being releases a loud and peculiar laugh.

—Milenio? What kind of name is that?

The boy responds: —So you know, sir, it's what gives continuity.

—My respects, Milenio —Kindness exclaims, making a respectful gesture and adds: —Are you the Queen with leprosy?

—Well, yes...

—But how beautiful she is! We've heard about you. We were waiting for you, your excellency. Follow me!

As they walk, Milenio notices something unusual and asks: —What is this you leave on the path?

—They are blue little balls... —Kindness responds.

—Hmm! —Milenio responds with a gesture while covering his nose. —How embarrassing!

—I couldn't help it... My mom makes the most delicious cakes with blue flowers, and I couldn't resist eating them.

—How rude! —Cristal says aloud.

Isabel looks at Cristal and signals her to be quiet, then asks their host: —Do you know my parents?

As they continue on their way, he looks at them, twitches his nose, stops, and issues a warning: —Don't make noise; otherwise, you'll wake up Pisaditas.

—Sounds like something small and cute, —Cristal adds.

—I assure you, it's not cute at all, —Kindness responds.

They walk slowly, and everything is silent; not a sound is heard. They walk a few more meters.

—Phew! Finally, we passed. —Kindness comments.

—But why do you fear her so much? —Milenio asks with curiosity.

—You don't know what she's capable of; I'll tell you: she eats every creature that crosses her territory, especially when she sleeps. It's terrifying; let's continue. —Kindness responds with a trembling voice.

—Is it far to go? It's getting dark, and we must find a source of water. —Isabel says with concern.

—There's one up ahead. —Kindness responds with relief.

They walk hastily, and upon finding water, she submerges; her snow-white color shines in the moonlight, and her friends follow suit. Kindness watches them sitting on a rock, takes out a piece of cake, while they gather strength.

—Your Excellency, why did you leave your parents? —he asks with respect.

She looks at him sadly. —It wasn't my choice; I had to do it. Did something happen to my parents? —she asks anxiously.

Kindness lowers his head and responds: —My queen, you will see for yourself; it's not my place to say. —he says with sorrow.

—I understand, Kindness. —she says resignedly.

—But what I can assure you is that I'll be with you.

—Thank you, but now I'm very hungry. —Isabel says with a slight smile.

—Look, I brought some bread with this jelly my mother makes. —Kindness says, offering it to them.

They all sit down to eat. Half an hour later...

—What a beautiful night! Isn't it, Cristal? —she says, admiring the sky.

—Yes, my Queen. —Cristal nods.

And Cristal gently combs her hair, while Milenio takes out a notebook and notes down everything that has happened, catching Kindness's attention.

—What are you doing? —Kindness asks with interest.

—It's a journal where I write the most important things about our journey. I want them to know about the adventures we experience. —he says with enthusiasm.

—You're very talented, Milenio. —Kindness compliments.

—Thank you, Kindness. —the boy says with a smile.

It's a warm night, the sound of animals is marvelous, all of them looking at her with such reverence. What awaited them? Isabel wondered, would everything be so different? She was strong and would do whatever it took to find her parents. For now, they rested to rise early.

Humans think fish don't sleep, but that's not true.

In the morning, Isabel stands by the pond. This brings to mind that place she had in her Kingdom, but more so, her father the goldfish; she knows of his love and that he wouldn't let them go, as it is all he has: two great loves, two parents, two kings. This responsibility was not easy for her, and she would set a precedent. She knew her people didn't know her; they only called her the Leper Queen. She never had direct contact with them, even though what she had was not contagious, unlike what happened in her true home. There, she was known as the most beautiful young woman, but her true desire was to be with her human parents. It wasn't obstinacy; the Leper Queen just wanted to be with them.

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