Hyrule and Wild have priorities
Time had said no when Wild and Hyrule had looked a little too longingly at the mountain they were camped at the foot of over dinner. Naturally, that just meant they waited for the others to fall asleep to explore.
The moon had nearly reached it’s zenith in the sky by the time the chance came. Warriors had left to the treeline to relieve himself and Wild peeked open an eye to see Hyrule’s excited grin looking back at him.
They jumped out of their bedrolls, only needing to pull on boots since they hadn’t taken off their clothes for sleep, and Wild filled the insides with wood to make an approximation of two sleeping boys, grinning and giving the other a silent high five before they let their feet and wandering eyes take the lead.
The incline began gently, with soft grass underfoot and the smell of cold air around. With just the two of them there was no need to stay to a path, and they let cool rocks, funny trees, and glowing bugs guide their way (and if that way happened to have a few missing plants and bugs, that was between Wild and his slate)
Then the ground became more dry, bigger and sharper rocks coming out of the ground and forcing them to be more careful of where they placed their feet. It was exhilarating! The crickets and calls of night birds were a music that Wild had missed getting to drink in, and glancing at Hyrule’s entranced gaze and soft smile, he felt glad to know there was one other hero who got it.
They found an apple tree and stopped to pick some, finally bringing Wild’s inventory on that particular item above 200, relieving the almost unnoticed anxiety that he might run out. Moving on there was a small stream, near glowing in the bright moonlight that they took turns hopping across on stones that wobbled and wiggled under their weights, laughing and grinning as they got to the other side, completely dry!
After the third climb up a nearly sheer cliff face Wild began looking for some semblance of a path, he knew he could keep going like this as long as enough ledges to rest on where around, but Hyrule was panting and Wild didn’t want to wear him out before breakfast!
They found what looked like a small game trail, zigging and zagging up in a meandering sort of way, cleared only by the years and frequency of things that stepped through, leaving bare dirt and dust to be seen.
They were getting close to the top now! And looking at Hyrule, Wild knew they had the same thought without needing to raise a hand or open his mouth. They both shot off at the same time, each trying to pull ahead! Hyrule was faster in pure speed, but Wild was climbing and jumping obstacles without a thought to keep up. It was neck and neck until
Oof
Wild tripped over a stone and tasted dirt. He brought his head up and spat out a clod of dirt, feeling the familiar grit between his teeth and doing a mental check to make sure nothing was broken. He saw Hyrule skid to a stop and glance behind, concern painted all over his features in the soft moonlight. Wild felt his heart warm at the way Hyrule cared far more about him than winning the race, too bad that meant he’d stopped.
The only warning he gave was a grin filled with dirt before he shot up and past Hyrule, who yelped and turned around too late, Wild having crested the top and raised his fists in victory!
Hyrule punched him.
“You scared me, you mangy Moblin!”
Wild grinned, unapologetic, then grimaced at the grit of the dirt and the sting in his palms. He pulled out his water skin and swished some in his mouth before spitting to get out the taste, then washed his hands while Hyrule sat and leaned against him, content that there wasn’t anything serious enough to warrant a deeper check.
They drank in the roll of the land before them, draped in the soft glow of the waning moon above, treetops swaying in the light breeze, beautiful and melancholy in one. The slight shift of the treetops being hypnotic and soothing.
They heard a familiar howl peirce the night and sent each other matching looks of panic, scrambling to get up and get back to camp before Wolfie dragged them back.
