Forest Origin

Chapter 23

Red frantically searched outside for Wolf. But much to his dismay, he was only greeted with an empty garden. The same went for the training area. At this point there was only one other place where he thought she would be. He began to run there.

As Red ran through the castle halls all he could do was hope that he could get to Wolf before anyone else in Nirin did.

He still couldn't believe that they pulled the stunt they did, then lashed out at poor Wolf when their plan didn't work out. Now all the cold shoulders that he and his brothers received from everyone here made a little more sense.

No one here really had the intention of getting to know Wolf how she was now. They just wanted to reverse everything that happened in any way they could.

These guys may not be villains, but they weren't exactly good guys either.

Red soon arrived at the door of the room where Wolf and Ghost stayed. He hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

"Wolfie? Are you in there?"

Moments later, he heard Wolf's voice from the other side. Though muffled and hoarse.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Red."

At first there was silence. Did she not want to talk to anyone right now? He supposed after what just happened, he should've considered that. Just as he was about to step away, he heard a small click. The door opened and there Wolf stood, staring down at her feet.

Red stepped into the room, closed the door behind him, and pulled Wolf into a hug. "I'm so sorry that happened to you."

The only response he got was a sniffle and a tight grip as Wolf laid her head on his chest. She seemed to have settled down. But only a little.

Wolf couldn't explain why Red's heartbeat seemed like the only soothing thing in this room but right now, anything was better than even having to think about dealing with Nirin right now.

Maybe she just needed some sort of comfort only the knight holding her could give.

Red laid his chin on top of Wolf's head as he continued to hold her close. "Whenever you're ready, we can go back home."

"Is it really okay for me to go back to Hyrule?" Wolf asked, mumbling into his chest.

"Of course it is."

"But right now I doubt it." Wolf glanced up at the boy. "Even if I do leave, who's to say Nirin won't try and drag me back. I think we all know by now that no one here cares about my opinion."

"I'm here." Red reminded her. "So is Ghost, Green, Blue, Vio, and Shadow."

"But what if something happens to any of you because of... all this?"

"Wolf..." Red pulled away in order to hold her face in his hands, making her look up at him. "Home isn't where you're born. It's where you feel safe, comfortable, and happy. Surrounded by people who care about you."

"I know that." Wolf whimpered. "You and everyone else in Hyrule feel like home to me and I don't want something else trying to separate me from that."

"Then we'll fight together." Red told her. "You're part of my home too now. If you don't wanna be away from Hyrule then I won't let that happen. Neither would anyone else. I mean, you've seen how Ghost and Blue have been acting since Queen Rose showed up. They've been more than ready to fight Nirin."

Wolf stared at him with wide eyes. "I'm... part of your home?" she echoed in question.

"Yeah. You've been one of us since you started your apprenticeship with Green." Red explained. "I mean sure you've spent most of the time with him since he's been teaching you how to fight but I still enjoy you being around. Watching you get better at swordsmanship, getting to know everyone in Hyrule... and when we traveled to Miniel together." he rambled on. "Telling you about my adventures on the boat and when we danced together at the port town. I just... really like having you around."

Wolf slowly brought her hand up to place over Red's. "I... really like having you around too." she admitted before heat rose to her face. "N-not to discount anyone else but... ya know... if you don't mind, I'd like to have more moments with you. Like that time we danced. But it doesn't have to be dancing next time. It could be like when we just laid around and you told me your story. I'd..." she blushed more avoiding his gaze for a moment. "... just like to be around you a bit more."

She dared herself to look back up at the boy. Red stared at her in shock, his face turning pink. But the shocked expression turned into a smile as he brushed away the stray tears from Wolf's face.

Wolf couldn't bring herself to look away. The soft crimson eyes were just as comforting as the warm calloused hands caressing her cheek. She pressed her forehead against Red's as he took a step closer.

This was fine. More than fine actually. Perhaps the confession gave both of them the courage and reassurance that there was nothing wrong with this.

Wolf felt any remnants of tension melt away as she felt Red's lips press against hers. The kiss was short but easily the best thing that's happened tonight.

Wolf was almost certain that her face was now matching Red's tunic by this point. But that didn't stop the bashful smile from forming once they had pulled away. Though her hold on him kept him close.

Red smiled pressing their foreheads together once more. "Let's go home okay?"

Wolf smiled back and nodded. "Okay."

It didn't take long for them to pack all their belongings. As soon as they stepped outside, everyone else was there waiting for them.

Green let out a sigh of relief. "Oh good you found her. Everyone ready to go?"

Wolf nodded. "I want to go home now."