New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 24 - In Kakariko

The horses were more than happy to see us, and we were more than happy to see them. After so much time away, it seems they certainly had missed us - which was fine, considering we had missed them, too.

Since Link and I were still raring to go, and the horses needed some well-earned exercise and excitement after being so patient for so long, and so well-behaved on their own, we had a light dinner then readied them for a ride.

Through the canyon we progressed, and though I lamented growing ever closer to Kakariko, it felt good to finally make some progress. Of course, if we could have gone on more detours, I'd have been happier, but after so long idle, it felt good to work our way to our destination.

We traveled well through the evening, and only when the moon was high in the sky did we pause for rest. We'd kept the horses at easy canters, their paces quick but their strides smooth, and they were more than content to maintain that pace throughout the ride.

It was a rhythmic and peaceful ride, one in which Link and I took silently. Only the sounds of the horses' hooves against the rock met our ears, and the far-off sounds of Keese rising for their nightly flights.

There were no monsters, no other travelers, and nothing else of the sort to distract us. We rode on under the light of the moon, taking solace in the peace, and taking comfort in the company.

When at last we did stop, it was late into the night. The horses got to rest, and so did we - and after such an eventful day for the two of us, I was grateful for it. I made for us a light snack of dried berries and fruits, and as we ate them together on a small rocky outcrop just a few precious feet from where the horses now slumbered, we looked up at the night sky.

"We're close to Kakariko," Link began, the first words we'd spoken since starting our night's ride.

I had been reaching for a handful of berries at that moment, and my movements slowed inadvertently. I resumed them right away, taking the berries in hand and holding them close. I sifted through them with my other hand, but it was less to find one to eat first and more to offer my hands something to do while I thought of how to respond.

"No more detours to take?"

"No," Link answered, not without a hint of amusement. As a matter of fact, he almost seemed disappointed by his own answer. "Not unless there are any you can think of."

"Very funny," I said, rolling my eyes as he chuckled. Of course I didn't know any detours to take - I'd never traveled before. I got over it quickly, and returned my eyes to the sky. "So, no other way to stall, huh?"

"It wasn't stalling, exactly," Link tried, but when I glanced his way, he was smiling.

"Right," I said, unconvinced. I wondered if perhaps he might want me to stay as his traveling partner. I certainly wanted to remain with him. Er, as his. As his traveling partner. That's what I meant to say.

I was having such a wonderful time, how could I possibly give it all up so soon? We had the trip back to Hateno sure, but if I knew anything about life, it was that it made reaching what you were dreading terribly quick. And I was dreading the end of this journey, which meant going home.

I was content with that before. I was content to travel with him to Kakariko and then back. I had agreed to it. Perhaps it was only because it was my only option, or that it was the only one I could see, but I wasn't satisfied with that anymore.

How could I be, when I had seen so much and yet so little? I'd only seen what few things there were on the admittedly short road between Hateno and Kakariko, and surely not much would change by the time we meandered our way back to Hateno.