Dallas

Lore

Dallas knew Frostspring’s lower streets before anybody thought to put a royal sign above them. The sign is newer than he is. He tries not to embarrass it.

White paws carry his black-and-white coat down old steps and through narrow alleys. His chin is black. His warrior’s headband has seen better weather. He checks the corners where a stray might sleep because he remembers needing those corners himself.

Once, a gateway began to collapse while small creatures hurried beneath it. Dallas held it until the last one passed. Later, someone called him a prince. The title did not fix the gateway, so he stayed to help with that too.

His cousin Bimba sends news from Auraterra. Lady brings company on the longer patrols. At night, Dallas looks up between the roofs. The same distant light falls on palace steps and stray paws. He has always considered that a sensible arrangement. Before going inside, he checks one more corner.