-"Graaahhhh!"
Caspian looked at the Umbrathrax, which was having trouble standing. He frowned slightly.
'It was the leg with the soulstone,' he said to himself, feeling worried.
He now understood why the creature was limping. The soulstone absorber had made the Umbrathrax drained.
This was making it hard for the Umbrathrax to move and protect itself.
Besides the cuts Caspian had made with his sword, this was another reason it was struggling.
Knowing this made the situation even more complicated.
Caspian thought to himself, 'How much time has it been there?'
He tried his best to figure it out in his head. He remembered that the soulstone absorber needed a while to start working completely.
'Did it happen before our fight? Or even before it came here? Is that why it came to the Whispering Groves? Who could have done this?' he asked himself, looking grim and thinking hard.
"Graaahhhh!"
"He's trapped with that thing," the young woman's voice cut into Caspian's thinking.
She moved closer to the Umbrathrax, sounding caring and looking right at the creature.
"Wait, milady. It's still dangerous," Caspian said strongly, stepping ahead.
He put his hand out to stop the young woman from going to the Umbrathrax.
But the young woman didn't give up. She was determined. Her voice showed that she understood.
"I know what it's like to be trapped," she said with confidence, her eyes on the hurt Umbrathrax.
Her gaze was strong, like she had been through tough times too.
"It's like having walls around you that get closer, making it hard to breathe," she said, her words full of strong feelings.
She started breathing faster as she spoke. "You act like you're strong, but inside, you feel tied up."
Caspian's calm face changed a bit. 'Did she just see past my cover? Is she talking about the Umbrathrax? Or me?' he wondered, quickly pulling his cloak over his face.
His eyes got narrower. He looked surprised and a bit unsure, which was different from how he usually looked.
Caspian knew the Whispering Groves well. He often went there to relax and get away from his duties as king.
'Is she seeing through my pretend self? Can she understand how heavy my responsibilities are? The things that tie me down?' he thought.
'Did someone sent her to sway me?' His eyes darted to the trees around them.
"Let's help him, my lord," the young woman begged. She kept looking right at the hurt Umbrathrax without wavering.
Caspian moved his head a little under his cloak, but his face stayed serious. 'She doesn't know,' he thought quietly.
Caspian watched the young woman closely. 'Then she is talking about her own experiences.'
He drew in a deep breath. 'I wonder what happened to her.'
She even wanted to help a creature that others might be scared of.
"I'm impressed by your kindness, milady" Caspian whispered, a bit admiringly. He felt a little bit of respect.
But then his admiration faded as he remembered something important.
"But the Umbrathrax isn't harmless, milady. If we get close, it could be dangerous for us," Caspian explained.
The young woman's determined eyes met Caspian's, showing that she wouldn't give up.
"But maybe, if it's free, milord, it might not hurt anyone," she argued. "Sometimes, mean people act that way because they're hurting."
She stopped talking for a bit, like she was thinking deeply about what she had said.
Caspian thought about what she said, using his usual careful thinking.
The thing stuck to the Umbrathrax's leg, the soulstone absorber, was something unknown. Having it there could make things more complicated.
"You're a kind person, milady," Caspian said, sounding impressed. "But we can't forget how dangerous it might be."
The young woman stayed strong, showing her belief that things could get better.
"I know it's risky, milord," she said with determination. "But if there's a way to be kind and stop the cycle of violence, shouldn't we try it?"
Caspian weighed her words carefully, his eyes softening momentarily.
The young woman's strong beliefs made Caspian think about his own life. And how it's not always easy to balance your responsibilities with being kind.
"We need to be careful," he said firmly. "If we can help without making things dangerous for us or the kingdom, I'll think about it."
The young woman understood the compromise. But she still wanted to do what she felt was right.
"Let's learn more about it first, milord," she asked. "Maybe the Umbrathrax isn't exactly how it seems."
Caspian agreed with a nod, feeling a little bit unsure because she was challenging him.
'If it was put there before our fight, then it could also be the reason it was lost in the groves and is aggressive towards us. It wouldn't be fair if I kill it now.'
"Okay," he agreed, "we'll be careful, and you have to promise to stay safe, milady."
The young woman smiled, her strong spirit not changing. "Deal," she agreed, looking determined.
Caspian looked at the Umbrathrax, feeling mixed emotions inside.
"It seems weaker now," Caspian thought quietly. He watched to see if the creature might do anything.
His hand was ready on his sword, which was hidden.
He did feel sorry for the Umbrathrax.
But he was the king, and he knew the creature could be dangerous.
"I have to stay careful," he told himself seriously. He was tense, and he looked strong, showing how serious he was.
Meanwhile, the young woman spoke gently as she got closer to the weak Umbrathrax.
"Take it easy," she said softly, sounding like she understood. "We won't hurt you."