Runaway in Hyrule Chapter Eighteen - The Space Between Us

Instructions

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*Chapter 18- The Space Between Us°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ We sit and chat for a while longer, the rain still tapping against the stable roof above us. Kael tells me a short story about a broken wagon wheel he once fixed with nothing but rope and stubbornness, and I laugh quietly at the way he tells it. Then my stomach growls. I freeze for half a second before laughing softly. “Guess I didn’t eat enough earlier.” Kael chuckles with me and reaches for his large bag, digging through it with practiced ease. He pulls out two small bundles wrapped in cloth. When he opens them, one reveals bread, still soft, and the other dried wildberries, deep red and slightly wrinkled. “Here,” he says, offering them. “Comes in handy.” “Thanks,” I laugh, reaching for a berry. I pop it into my mouth—sweet, with just a hint of tartness. “Oh, that’s really good.” “I always keep some on me for situations like this,” he says, taking one himself. “Picked ’em up from all over. Not as good as some of the meals the others make, though.” “No,” I say, grabbing another berry. “It’s perfect.” As we eat, we shift a little closer, shoulder to shoulder now, sharing warmth as the chill lingers in the air. I turn my face toward him. “What will it be like in Zora’s Domain?” “Well,” he says, shifting slightly, “I won’t spoil too much for you.” He turns fully toward me now. Close. Close enough that I notice the faint warmth of him, the way the lantern light softens his features. His skin looks smooth, his lips relaxed as he speaks. “It’s… really wet,” he continues. “Been rainin’ there for years.” I focus on his voice, though my eyes linger for just a second too long. “Ever since Ganon rose up and took control of Divine Beast Vah Ruta,” he adds. The way his mouth moves with the words pulls my attention, and I blink, remembering the lessons my mother once taught me—about the Divine Beasts, about balance, about danger. “Oh…” I manage. “Don’t worry, though,” he says gently, his tone easing. “It’s still a really nice place. Loads to see.” He pauses for half a breath, eyes steady on mine. “And the locals—real kind folk.” I swallow softly. “Can’t wait.” Before we can say anything else, a sudden shrieking laugh erupts nearby. I whip my head toward the sound to see a woman doubled over, clutching her stomach as she laughs uncontrollably. Whatever someone just said clearly hit its mark. Kael and I look at each other—both startled— Then we burst out laughing too. It feels easy. Natural. I glance toward the open side of the stable and notice it’s grown darker outside. The rain hasn’t stopped, and the sky is now a deep, muted gray. I yawn, trying—and failing—to hide it. “Long day,” Kael says softly. “Yeah,” I admit. “But a good one.” We keep talking anyway. About nothing and everything—favorite roads, strange travelers we’ve met, places we still want to see. Kael tells me about a quiet lake he once slept beside, and I tell him about the small garden my mother used to keep. Eventually, my eyes start to feel heavy. I lean my head back against the wall, still listening, still replying when I can. At some point, without really noticing, I lean closer. Closer still. My head settles gently against his shoulder. My words trail off as my eyes close. The rain continues its steady rhythm. And before I know it, I fall asleep.