I simply adore this, it shows the tender relationship between beauty and her father. Do I sense some foreshadowing in the last panel? "if something unexpected happens", so beauty unexpectedly goes away... oh I do love a bit of drama!
I'm still here too, just lurking mostly. Also I've noticed something about Beauty's Mother - During the dream that Beauty has about her mother's death I've noticed that her mother had clothes similar to a Swan, not to mention the Swan you drew on the BatB poster quite some time ago. Is that a nod to the story of the Swan Princes and Princesses by any chance?
I'm still here; sometimes I wait for a few pages before reading. (And sometimes I have nothing clever or important to say. Alas.)
I love Beauty's father's face---he looks careworn and strong and tender, which is just as I've always imagined he'd look. And Beauty's love for her father comes across especially well in this page. That fourth panel...so sweet.
(Looks at comments.) You know, I thought about mentioning the swan princes and princesses, but I never got around to it. I do wonder if this story will be mixing some fairy tales, with "Beauty and the Beast" being the main one being told. On another note, Beauty looks especially pretty in that second panel. Her father just looks...so sad and tired, but still affectionate. It's a shame this happened to you, you guys. Also, the bird nicknames continue.
Papa does seem to know something's up--something more than just a young child being a little homesick. I'm sure he regrets not being able to do more for his family. And then Beauty goes and takes his place years later. How will he cope with that knowledge?