The Animator (Larry Stylinson)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - THE DARK VALLEY

Back in the caravan Harry found himself sat on the floor of it playing with Ferdinand to keep him away from the door and the horse. It seemed he'd taken to trying to take leaps off the moving caravan to get to the horse, however he wasn't the best jumper which meant he'd toppled into the street a couple of times.

Louis was driving the caravan now while Niall tried to make them up some food on the caravans stove, but with the through wind from the open door it seemed it was a loosing battle.

Harry watched on grinning as Niall out another annoyed huff, his sixth in the last minute alone. It seemed Niall was determined however because he wasn't giving up, he'd taken to become a wind breaker between the door and the fire. Louis had made it quite clear he did not want the door closed because he felt secluded.

"Can't you just go sit out with him and keep him company?" Niall asked at last.

"There's not enough room for the both of us with the door closed," Harry said getting Ferdinand to run in circles in front of him chasing at a little cut off of rope. "You know what my balance is like, I'd fall off and get run over."

Niall sighed loudly at this and looked back at the flickering flame and the kettle which wasn't even close to boiling.

"At least make your huge body useful and stand in the doorway, may make less wind in here." Niall sighed. Harry decided to humour him, he'd been trying to boil the water for a good half an hour now and Harry smiled and stood up with Ferdinand in his arms and he moved to stand in the doorway looking out upon the fields they were driving past.

"How long until we get to the dark valley?" Harry asked Louis who looked up at him, his face breaking into a fond sort of smile.

"It's through those mountains in the distance." Louis said, "We may want to take up camp before we get into them and start again through them tomorrow morning."

"Can't wait." Harry muttered and Louis smacked his arm gently with a grin before he focused on the road again. Harry spent a few minutes admiring the view, which was both Louis' profile as he looked out at where he was going and the mountains in the distance very slowly getting closer.

He then focused on Niall who's fire was only just going a little better. Harry gave him credit because he'd have given up already. And as he watched Niall light one last match the fire took before Niall closed the stove front and it continued burning behind it.

"Finally!" Niall said falling back onto the floor with a sigh and Harry smiled as he put the now struggling Ferdinand down and he watched him run to Niall and settle onto Niall's chest happily, Niall stroking the warm metal unconsciously as he looked at the ceiling.

When the fire was hot enough they made tea and gave it to Louis before making themselves drinks too and they sat back at the table, Ferdinand now back on Harrys lap playing with a button on his shirt.

"I bought board games," Niall said, "They were in Louis' spare room and I thought it would be fun."

A moment later Harry was beating Niall spectacularly in snakes and ladders until Harry decided to take over from Louis and give him a chance to beat Niall.

Although as they swapped they stopped off to make a late lunch and give the horse a rest and some apples. He got back up front to drive as they got back on the road, Ferdinand sat beside him watching the horse, behaving himself for now.

He watched the mountains getting closer while listening to Niall's and Louis' competitive game until Niall went to nap and Louis went back to reading his book, but he'd moved to the seat closest to Harry and occasionally reached out to run his fingers through Harrys hair.