Seabound-SKZ

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Thankfully, the rain faded out quickly. The huddled group on the beach was still close together, breath mixing as the quiet sobs finally stopped, Chan, resting his head against someone, who? Frankly, he didn't know, eyes blurry and red. 

"Sorry," He finally managed, "It's been a tough few days," he glanced around quickly, the Mers shaking their heads at him, reassuring him that it was okay and that he didn't need to apologize, the ex-prince gave a shaky smile at his partners, relaxing into the wet sand. 

The day came and went disappointingly fast, Jeongin uttering a complaint when Minho finally suggested that the Mers should head home, although he knew the older was right, the goodbyes were slow, none of the boys wanting to leave, but all of them knowing that they had to go. 

"I'll keep moving, you'll find me, right?" Chan asked carefully, not wanting to cry again, trying to draw himself up straight and strong, and the Mers tripped over themselves to promise they would, "We would never leave you behind." the firm statement from Felix gave Chan butterflies as he leaned in to press a kiss to the youngers lips. 

Chan had, by now, accepted how much time he would be spending alone in the near future, and as he watched the Merfolk roll ungracefully down the beach, he smiled softly. Knowing he was safe and loved for a few short hours that day was enough, and as he turned back to Squall, he bounced softly on his heels, almost letting out a small sound of happiness. 

The human swung himself over his mount, by now it was nearly nightfall, which gave him a decent amount of time to move in the dark, concealed from his mother's eyes. 

He kept riding for hours until the night fell to daytime, the sun painting a magnificent masterpiece across the sky, and his body ached as the days he had spent riding caught up to him, thinking of his companions, he urged Squall on, searching as best he could for a town, somewhere to stay, but, alas, he never found one, as he continued to ride forward as the sun slowly rose and beat down on him.

The moment he caught a whiff of salty air, he thought he could cry with relief, and as he continued riding and started seeing townhouses, and hearing the hustle and bustle of a busy town he finally dismounted, taking a few shaky steps before regaining the ability to walk. 

As he drew nearer he could see the boardwalks and taverns, the docks that stretched far into the water with massive boats docked on them, and he realize he had finally reached what he had been looking for all this time, a place that he could get on a boat and sail far away, never to be near his mother again. 

The townsfolk seemed friendly enough, perhaps they were far enough from the castle that they didn't recognize the ex-prince, and he smiled as a young girl ran to pat Squall's neck, her mother apologizing profusely as the little girl giggled and brushed through his mane. 

"No, no, it's okay!!" Chan smiled at the girl, "His name is Squall, he's very friendly," the little girl warmed up to him quickly, introducing herself as Lila, and her mother as Wanda. 

"Can I feed him? please?" The little girl dragged out the 'please', and with Chan's approval, she produced a few sugar cubes from her pocket and allowed the horse to munch them out of her hand. 

"I don't recognize you, are you from around here?" Wanda asked, watching her daughter carefully, "No, I'm from the other side of the kingdom-my name is Chris," He shook her hand, and she nodded with a warm smile, "Well then, welcome to Deimantų Uola." 

She quickly explained that the name of the town meant 'Diamond Rock' and she pointed out to sea, where a massive blue stone stood in the water, "A gift from the Merfolk," she added as she watched Chris's marvelment, he smiled at that statement, the Mers would love it. 

As he kept walking, Lila and Wanda decided to stick around and show him the town, the little girl motioning excitedly to little piles of gifts lining the shoreline, "For the Mers!" she bounced around happily, "We leave 'em gifts 'n stuff! to tell 'em we're grateful for 'em 'n-uh," she looked to her mom, who smiled and finished the sentence for her, "To let them know that they always have allies with us." 

Chris soon decided that he loved this place, the Mers were so respected here, how had he never heard of this place before? maybe his mother didn't want him to know of it, but now that he had found it, it may prove difficult to board a ship and leave this beautiful place, so full of joy and life, and Chris could see himself living here someday.