"One!" Iridessa covers her eyes and counts to ten. "I'm going to find you." 

Giggles are heard across the breeze and Iridessa shakes her head. 

The only reason Iridessa is outside playing is that the Queens from Summer-land and Evergreen are here. Unfortunately for her, they brought their daughters along too. 

Iridessa loathes other children. She hates them. Especially little princesses.

Heading off along the rocky side of the beach where numerous tidepools are, the Princess of Crosland stomps after the tiny footprints in the sand. 

"Are you kidding me?" She stares at a rock where a set of shoes are poking out from. 

Iridessa slinks along the back, "Ah hah!" Her triumphant smiles instantly fades when she only finds a pair of red shoes placed expertly to appear as if someone was near. 

"Where?" Iridessa turns in a circle, searching for the tiny girls. "Where did they go?" 

"Boo!" A heavyweight jumps onto her back while another barrels into her legs. 

She tumbles to the ground, face-first into the sand. Iridessa flails her arms out to catch herself but is kicked in the face by a small tan foot. 

"Nice!" A high-pitched voice squeals. "We fou-found you." 

Iridessa sits up after the weight rolls off her back into the furry mass licking her face. 

"You did it wrong." She glares at the two Princesses. "You were supposed to hide while I looked for you." 

Princess Hope giggles while Princess Everest shifts back into a human. 

"It's no fun that way," Everest says, naked as the day she was born. 

Hope nods her head, "Eve is right." She points at Everest. "This is fun." 

"Her name is Everest." Iridessa stares at them. "Can you not pronounce it?" 

Princess Hope shakes her no. 

"Ugh, this is what happens when you play with children." Iridessa facepalms. 

Princess Everest frowns, "I'm a wolf, no child." 

Hope is sticking her toes in the sand while chewing on her hair. "I'm a wolf too!" 

"How old are you again?" Iridessa takes off her sheer scarf and wraps it around Everest's bottom as a makeshift diaper. 

Both girls hold up number three on their fingers. "This many!" They say together. 

"You're toddlers." Iridessa glances around. "Do you know why you're here?" 

Princess Everest raises her hand first, "Mommy said to visit your mommy." 

"I see, and you Princess Hope?" 

Hope stops chewing her hair long enough to stare blankly at Iridessa. "Huh?"

Iridessa sighs, "Why are you here?" 

"Oh, mommy and Hope come to the sea." She waves her arms around at the water. "Mom-mommy said that Queen Dia is sick. Mommy said we need to..." Hope trails off in thought, "To a...ad, yes to ad." 

"Do you mean 'aid?'" Iridessa leans forward. 

Hope smiles, "Yes! Nice, Iri!" 

The older of the three inhales to stop herself from throwing the annoying child into the water. "It is Princess Iridessa." 

"Yes, I said that." Hope stands and reaches for Everest. "Let's play tag." 

Iridessa throws her hands in the air. "No you called me, 'Iri' and my name is Iridessa you brat." 

Princess Everest gasps, "Ooooo, bad word!" She points at Iridessa. "Bad word. Bad word. Bad word." 

Hope's eyes go wide, "I'm telling Mommy on you." 

She watches as the two girls race to the palace. Her shoulders deflate, "Nothing is worth watching those meddlesome brats." 

When Princess Iridessa enters the palace she is directed to the courtyard. Her Mother Queen Dia is sat at a table sipping tea with Queen Lily and Queen Margaret. Both their little heathens are sound asleep in their mother's laps. 

"Iridessa, darling, come here please." Queen Dia smiles serenely at her daughter. 

A chair is brought for Iridessa next to her mother. Her teacup is filled and a new platter of cakes, pies, and cookies is brought to the table. 

"Iridessa, the Princesses had a lot to say about you." Queen Dia sips primly from her cup, her blonde hair falls in loose curls that frame her gentle face. 

Her cheeks flush, "Oh..." Iridessa stares at the other Queens smiling faces. "They did?"

Queen Margret beams, "Yes! My little Hope here has never gotten along with any of the other noble's daughters in Summerland." She smooths a hand down Princess Hope's hair. "She said you're very fun to play with and treat her well." 

Queen Lily clears her throat, "Everest said you let her shift into her wolf and that she chased you." The pregnant Queen smiles softly. "Not many humans would let a wolf chase them." 

At this time, Iridessa realizes that Everest and Hope must have seen what happened earlier differently. Did they not see how much she despised them? 

"I thought that would be a good idea, don't you Iridessa?" Her Mother says and brings Iridessa back to the present. 

"Pardon, I was thinking." Iridessa grabs a tart and adds it to her plate. 

Queen Margret chuckles, "Oh nothing, just that the girls will be staying here in Crosland for the Summer." 

Iridessa chokes on her bite of tart. Her mother offers her tea to calm her coughing fit. "Excuse me? They're going to stay here?" 

Queen Dia pats her back, "Yes dear. Since the girls seem to enjoy your company and you have nothing to do. It will be fun." Her mother sets down her tea and stands up. "I think it will do you some good to be around them, you might smile more." 

The Queen of Crosland kisses Iridessa on the head and then waves the servants over. "Take the Princesses back to their chambers for their afternoon nap." She glances at Iridessa, "You might want to take one yourself, you look pale." 

Queen Lily stands and caresses Iridessa's cheek. "Oh sweet one, I bet the girls tuckered you out." 

Everest and Hope are handed off to their servants while Iridessa is led after them. She leaves to the laughs and titters of the Queens. 

"The whole Summer?" Princess Iridessa looks down at the sleeping faces of the small Princesses that lay in their shared bed. She pokes Everest's chubby cheek and tugs on Hope's long hair. "I don't think so."