Runaway in Hyrule Chapter Seventeen - Warmth in the Rain

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°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Chapter 17 - Warmth in the Rain °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ I sit there for a moment longer, stretching slowly. My muscles ache in that dull, tired way that only comes after a long walk. I reach up and wring some of the water from my hair. It’s frizzy now, cold against my fingers. I run my hands through it a few times before standing, my eyes drifting toward the open side of the stable. Rain falls steadily outside, blurring the world into soft streaks of gray. By now, my whole body feels cold from my damp clothes. A stable worker walks through the space, handing out long, thick cloths to people who are still wet from the rain. She notices me lingering near my bed and smiles warmly as she approaches. “You must be freezing! Here you go, dear,” she says, holding one out to me. “Thank you so much,” I reply softly as she moves on. I wrap the cloth around myself. It’s heavy and warm, the kind that instantly makes you feel safer. A moment later, Kael walks over, draping his own cloth around his shoulders. “I took a look at the clouds,” he says, rubbing his hair dry with one corner. “I think it’s gonna rain all night.” “No fresh dishes and music tonight, I’m guessing,” I say, letting out a small laugh. “Prob’ly not,” he replies easily, his accent more noticeable now. “But we’ll get plenty of that in the future.” I glance at him, realizing I’d never really noticed it before. The way he speaks—soft but confident. I like that about him. “You’re probably right,” I say, looking down with a small smile. Kael moves to sit against the back wall, settling himself between our beds. A moment later, he looks up at me with a grin. “You—feet buggin’ you yet?” “Honestly? Yeah,” I admit, laughing as I join him on the floor. “You’ll get used to it,” he says. “Eventually.” We both laugh quietly. Around us, the stable is more crowded than usual, which makes sense with the weather. People sit close together, talking in low voices. Someone near the far wall is telling a story about a flooded path, while another group shares bread and dried fruit. The sound of rain on the roof blends with murmured conversations and the occasional laugh. Despite the shelter, there are still people outside. I spot three kids running through the rain, chasing each other and shrieking with laughter. Their feet splash through shallow puddles, water rippling outward with every step. I watch the rain for a while, mesmerized. “Celestial, dear!” The sound of a familiar voice pulls me away. “Not yet, Mommy!” I call back, laughing as I spin through the rain. Water soaks my sleeves as I jump over puddles, my feet kicking up splashes that sparkle in the light. “A few more minutes,” she says from the balcony, smiling. “You’ll catch a cold if you stay out there too long.” She’s laughing as she watches me, arms folded, warmth in her eyes. I miss her. Suddenly, I’m pulled away from the memory by the sound of Kael’s voice—louder than usual, full of surprise. “Heyy—Beetle!” A familiar, high-pitched voice answers immediately. “Kael! My favourite customer!!” I look over to see a man with very curly brown hair bouncing slightly as he walks, his bright eyes—an amber-brown that almost glows—scanning the room like he’s always searching for his next deal. “How long since we’ve crossed paths?” Kael asks, laughing as he stands. “Too many weeks to count, man!” Beetle replies, throwing his arms wide. “I’ll catch up with you later—got a good crowd here!” He gives Kael an enthusiastic wave before darting off toward a group of travelers clustered around his packs. I turn my head toward Kael, curious. “Customer?” “Yeah,” he says easily, dropping back down beside me. “He sells materials and supplies he picks up on his travels. Real rare stuff sometimes.” There’s a warmth in his voice when he talks about it, like he genuinely respects the man. “Wow, that’s cool,” I say. Kael lets out a soft chuckle. “Cool’s one way to put it. He’s got this… obsession with beetles. Swears each one’s got a purpose.” “Beetles?” I repeat, amused. “Oh, absolutely,” he says, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Anytime I see him, he’s goin’ on about how this one shines better at dawn, or how that one fetches a better price near the coast. You can tell he loves what he does.” I glance over at Beetle again. He’s animated, talking with his hands, clearly in his element as he shows off his wares. “It’s kinda nice,” I say quietly. “Seeing people so passionate.” Kael nods, eyes following the scene for a moment before flicking back to me. “Aye. Makes the road feel a bit less lonely, doesn’t it?” The rain continues to patter softly against the stable roof, the space filled with voices, warmth, and the steady comfort of being somewhere safe—at least for now.