[h2]Esme Stirling[/h2]

Esme slept peacefully, even with Cason popping in and Sarah growling at him and him griping at her. At Sarah’s growling at Cason, she had unconsciously curled up into herself and into Sarah’s side. When Sarah curled her head more around her, she had sighed softly in her sleep, unaware of anything going on in the room. She slept peacefully the rest of the night with Sarah at her side, keeping watch over her. When it was clear that Cason wouldn’t be coming back again that night, Sarah relaxed and placed her head on the pillow above Esme’s head, but still kept herself pressed up against the woman she was told to protect. 

During the night, Sarah noticed Esme looked cold and pulled some of the blanket over Esme to keep her warm. It wasn’t a simple task to do while trying not to wake her and move too much, but she got the job done and laid back down. 

[h2][u]Next day[/u][/h2]

The sun rose and shone through a crack in the curtains, hitting Sarah in the face. She huffed and lifted her head, looking down at Esme, who was still sleeping. She lowered her hand closer to Esme’s, listening to see if she was still breathing. She was, but seemed, very soft, as if she was in a deep sleep still. Sarah lifted her head and tilted it to the side, a bit confused on why she was still asleep. Lowering her head back to the pillows, she decided to let Esme sleep a little longer even if she felt she should be awake. Some time passed, and the sun came through the curtains now shown on the back of Esme’s head, but she still hadn’t stirred from her sleep. 

Sarah lifted her head again from the pillows and looked down at Esme, her head tilting to the side again as she watched her sleep. She should definitely be awake by now, or that’s what Sarah thought. Sarah put her nose on Esme’s cheek and gave it a gentle nudge, but nothing happened. With a whine, she tried it again. Nothing happened. Getting up and jumping off the bed, she walked over and hit the light switch with her nose and then pulled the curtains open a bit more, thinking the light would wake Esme. It didn’t. Walking back to the bed, she barked at Esme. Nothing, not even a flinch. Sarah growled a little, then nosed Esme in the ribs. Still nothing. She then jumped back on the bed and laid down next to Esme with a huff.