Runaway in Hyrule Chapter Sixteen - Shelter By The River

Instructions

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Chapter 16 - Shelter By The River °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ We arrive at the stable, and I’m immediately hit with the familiar smell of hay and horses—warm and earthy, just like the first stable I visited after meeting Kael. The sound of hooves shifting in stalls and quiet voices drifting through the air makes the place feel alive. The group begins to break apart. Some people head a little farther from the stable to set up small tents or roll out their cots beneath nearby trees. Others go inside, eager to pay for a bed and finally put their things down. “I’m gonna go snag us both a bed,” Kael says. “Okay,” I agree, following him inside the stable. The interior is bustling but calm. Travelers sit at small wooden tables, chatting softly or sipping drinks. Someone laughs nearby, and a pair of merchants quietly debate prices in the corner. I shift my bag on my shoulder, already aching to take it off. We wait in line, listening to the background chatter. “Where to next after this?” Kael asks, glancing at me. “Well… how about that Zora’s Domain the others were talking about?” I reply. “Zora’s Domain it is,” he says with a smile. “How about a resting day before we head there?” I think about it for a second. A break sounds perfect. “That would be great,” I say. The line moves forward as the person in front of us finishes up. “Thanks again, Ember!” the man says cheerfully. “See ya later, mate!” replies the tall man behind the counter. He has brown hair and wears a huge, strange blue hat that almost looks too big for him. He looks up and grins. “Hey there, Kael! Long time no see. Now what can I do for you two?” “Hey, Ember,” Kael says. “You got two beds available?” “Why, of course I do!” Ember replies. “Awesome,” Kael says, pulling out a small bag that jingles loudly as he opens it, revealing plenty of rupees. “For how long?” Ember asks, already writing Kael’s name and two beds down on a parchment filled with other names. “Uh… about two nights,” Kael answers. “Alright, that’ll be twenty rupees for two beds, two nights.” Only twenty? Kael really must get good discounts from helping them out. “Alright,” Kael says, counting them out. “Twenty rupees.” Ember slides the parchment toward Kael and drops the rupees into a drawer beside him. I watch as Kael signs quickly, his handwriting fast and cursive. “All set,” Ember says with a nod. “Thank you,” I say to Kael softly. He nods back, and I walk off to claim a bed. I set my bag down beside it and sit for a moment, letting the weight lift from my shoulders. Around me, the stable hums with quiet life—people settling in, horses shifting, the promise of rest finally within reach.