(in which they all run from Frollo's dogs)
──── ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫.
Esmeralda could hear their barking behind them as they tore through the streets, trained to hunt down what Frollo called les vermines.
Vermin. She had known that word since she was a child.
Her feet burned with every step. The soles were already bleeding, and the children running beside her were just as exhausted. Even Djali was bleating frantically as she raced ahead, as if she could somehow scare off the pack of hunting dogs. They, like their owners, seemed unimpressed though. Esmeralda pushed herself forward. One more step. Then another. Then her legs finally gave out. She stumbled and nearly fell.
"I can't do this anymore..." she gasped. For a moment she stood there, bent over and trembling, trying to catch her breath. She looked back at the approaching hounds, and for the first time, fear showed plainly on her face. Not concern. Not determination.