The Typhoon ~Vash x OC AU~

Chapter 4: Coarse

Leilani

Sweat clung to the nape of my neck as I weaved my fingers through the silky coarseness of the tomas's feathers. A dry breeze blew, skipping thin lines of sand along the ground, and the two suns hung low, just starting their ascent. Flying worms buzzed above. I shivered.

Heavy footfalls dug into the sand, and I turned, watching as Jonas and the old man, Pete made their way from Haddie and Pete's house. They each carried a sizable sack that they secured on the tomas's saddle.

"That should be the last of it," Pete said. His tone was strained and tired. He ran the back of his hand along his brow, wiping away sweat. In the brassy light, his tanned skin looked ancient, the veins and wrinkles pronounced. "Need help tying it down?"

Jonas shook his head, tightening the straps. "No, I got it." He finished and turned, facing the old man. I could see the way his eyes softened as he looked at Pete. "Are you sure there's no way I can convince you and Haddie to leave?"

A crooked smile quirked Pete's lips as he shook his head. "Sorry, but no. We've made our choice."

Jonas swallowed, "There's so much more out there, Pete. Way more than what's left here."

"We're content," another voice replied.

We all turned, watching as Haddie made her way toward us. The heels of her shoes dug into the sand as the loose strands of her frizzy hair whisked in the breeze. She carried a small bag, passing it to Jonas.

"Here," she said. "If you plan on reaching Sunken Falls (a random name I came up with) by nightfall, then you'll need some food for the road." She glimpsed at me and back at Jonas. "And don't forget to change her bandages every night and morning. She might be almost back to a hundred already, but that doesn't mean you slack now."

"I know. Thank you, Hads."

Another gust of dry air blew, skipping the sand as it ruffled our hair. I looked up at Jonas, not understanding why he was trying so hard to get Haddie and Pete to leave. They didn't want to. They wanted to stay there. Couldn't he see that?

Yet, he glanced between the two, and I saw the gentleness in his eyes. It reflected with the light, tugging the corners of his lips down. "I know you both have made your choices, but I still don't like the idea of just leaving you two. It doesn't feel right – it feels wrong."

Haddie and Pete wrapped their arms around each other, holding one another close as Haddies smiled, "Don't harbor that, Jonas. We're both just fine with the choice we made."

"So, just let it go," Pete added. There was a softness to him that I hadn't seen before. One that was in his voice and eyes. He glimpsed at his wife, smiling, "We're not gonna change our minds. We're stayin' here 'til the end."

"The very end," Haddie agreed.

They pecked lips and my four-year-old self shuddered on the inside, then turned back to the tomas. I didn't want to see old people kiss.

"I know," Jonas sighed. I could hear the defeat in his voice. A veil of silence fell over all of us when he added, "But thank you for everything. Thank you for opening your home to us, and thank you for helping her. Kanyon, come here, please."

I turned, pulling away from the tomas, and made my way to the trio. Both Haddie and Pete smiled down at me as Jonas rested a strong hand on my shoulder. He squeezed gently.

"Kanyon, what do you say?" he asked, looking down at me as he cocked a brow.

I blinked up at him before turning to the older couple. They still held each other, each smiling down at me. I knew Pete and Haddie. Pete often played games with me, and Haddie made candy for me.