Aurarius trots delicately across the puddled pavements. Laurel gently closes the door of the stable and braces himself for the storm.
Rain patters relentlessly on the surface of the Grand Canal as they canter alongside. Laurel will often flick his head from side to side to spy any stalkers. Alas, Anther's streets are abandoned and empty on this dismal evening. Under the cover of cloud, they advance towards the city gates and beyond the city walls.
The river roars fearsomely beneath the bridge as they cross into the wilderness. Despite their apparent solitude, he cannot shake the feeling they are being followed. He turns his head back to the city, but his visibility is robbed by the sheet of rain that surrounds them.
Are you sure about this, Laurel? Aurarius consults his master. It seems awfully shady to abandon the mission and flee without your fellows' knowledge…
"It's cowardly, I know." Laurel admits. "Alas, it's a necessity. We cannot fester for any longer in that place."
As they near the fog-cloaked forest, their path is suddenly obstructed by a hooded highwayman in a billowing black cape. Laurel unsheathes his sword, ready for battle. The highwayman throws back his hood to embrace the storm.
"…Ningan." Laurel recognises him instantly. He sheathes his weapon and instead prepares himself for an explanation.
"You're incredibly unskilled at stealth." the ninja smirks as he approaches the snarling steed.
"I guess I should leave it to the expert." the knight responds coolly.
"Rule one: cover your face." Ningan counts with his fingers. "Rule two: cover your tracks. Rule three: cover your plan of action. Where exactly did you think you'd be heading to at this time of night?"
"Hyrule." Laurel answers assertively.
The Sheikah snorts. "How would you survive out there with no shelter? With what supplies?"
The soldier stumbles on. "I have money."
"And just how did you suppose you'd get there? You're planning to venture out into the wilderness without your navigator?"
"I thought you no longer wanted anything to do with me." Laurel answers. "I could no longer bear the discomfort between us."
Ningan rolls his eyes despairingly. "Don't be so dramatic. Now turn around; that poor horse must be frozen."
He guides the knight and his steed along the bridge towards Anther's gate. They return to the stable soaked with rain. The stench of horse manure and wet hay crumples Ningan's nose as Laurel brushes Aurarius's drenched coat with a brush. They leave him to rest in the hospitality of the other horses and escape the overwhelming equine odour.
In the comfort of their hotel room, they remove their dripping clothes and deposit them on their empty bunks.
"How did you find me?" Laurel asks as he unlaces his boots.
"I went looking for you at the stable and noticed that Aurarius wasn't there." Ningan confesses as he wrings out his bandanna onto the floorboards. "I followed your trail all the way to the bridge."
Laurel laughs as he unbuttons his tunic. "I'm not cut out for a getaway."
"There's nothing to run from." Ningan undoes his jumpsuit and steps out of his saturated clothes. They stand face-to-face, bare-chested, with just a few inches between them. Ningan rests his hand softly on the soldier's cheek. "I promised I would never force you into a place of discomfort. I stand by that."
Laurel places his hand over his. "And I stand by you."
The Sheikah strokes his fingers across the soldier's stubbled cheek. Their chests press together, hearts beating rapidly against their ribcages as they lock lips. The heat of passion sparks something deep inside of them. Laurel runs his fingers through the ninja's hair as he drives him into the wall. An unstoppable inferno courses through their veins, spreading like uncontrollable wildfire through their bodies that rips through their remaining garments.
The moon streams through the open window, but her cool glow cannot extinguish the burning desires of men. Instead, she can only observe the animalistic course of nature.