The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
They spent a couple days in Larchwood, if not to recuperate from their injuries.
It really was a nice little village. It seems like most of the villages they stopped at since they been here, everyone appeared to be rather friendly.
When Galen and Noelle weren't spending their time in the hut, relaxing and healing, they were out and about in the village.
The pair liked exploring each new place that they hit. It's helping them get to know the area better too while here. Talking to some of the villagers helps too, because they give them a lot of useful information about the surrounding areas.
They also remembered to ask anyone there if there have been any other travelers that came to town as of late besides them.
A part of them was hoping by any chance, if Alan and Pete came through at some point, looking for them. Unfortunately, each person they asked, all said the same thing. That they have been the only travelers to come here so far within the last two and a half weeks or so.
Galen and Noelle also went by the clinic a couple times to see the healer that tended to them.
Cali had checked their injuries a couple times and informed them that they were on the mend. Also, that Galen's head wound was healing nicely, and he'll be able to take the bandages off of his head very soon.
Something Galen was relieved to hear, because the bandages were getting a little annoying and on top of that, his head wound was getting itchy.
Every time he went to scratch it, Noelle was there to bat his hand away.
"C'mon, Noelle. It's itching like crazy." He whined, as they walked down one of the village streets.
"I know, but you heard what Cali said. Don't touch it." She told him.
Galen groaned, then he got an idea.
"Noelle, look. Does that fruit stand over there carry any apples?" He asks, pointing it out to her.
She looked at him for a moment, then shifted her gaze to see where he was pointing.
As soon as she looked that way, Galen quickly reached up with his other hand and started to itch the covered wound. It seemed to work, until Noelle caught the movement out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned her attention back to Galen.
He wasn't quick enough though, and she knew what he just did when she saw him quickly move his hand back down.
"Really, Galen?" She said, leveling him with a look.
The chimp just grinned, "Worth it. Feels much better now."
"Fine, keep itching it then. And then when you break the scab back open, don't come crying to me." Noelle stated.
His grin just widened, "So, you mean to say, you won't kiss it better either?"
She arched an eyebrow at him, then smirk.
"Well, we are about to pass one of the gorilla guards. You can always ask him to kiss it better for you." Noelle teased.
Galen grimaced a little at that.
"Can't say he would appeal to me. Not when there is a beautiful female walking right beside me that can take the opportunity to do so." He said.
Though he quickly shut his mouth when he realized he just admitted out loud that he thought Noelle was beautiful. It made his cheeks go red when he did so.
Galen gave her a sideways glance and saw Noelle smirking at him.
"Oh, you think I'm beautiful now, do you? So sweet of you to notice." She said, as she reached over to pinch his cheek.
He quickly pulled away from her hand though when she pinched his cheek a little.
"What? Am I not allowed to give compliments?" Galen blurted out, feeling a little awkward.
"Didn't say that, Handsome. Feel free to do so whenever you want." Noelle teased, her smirk widening when she saw he was becoming a little more awkward by the minute.
Until he heard what she just said.
"Oh, so you think I'm handsome then?" Galen replied, with a small smirk.
"Did I say, handsome? I meant cute as a little puppy." Noelle added, with a teasing smile.
He huffed, "Thanks a lot. Referring to me as a cute and cuddly little canine now."
She chuckled a little when she saw the look on his face and he got all huffy.
"What? Nothing wrong with being cute in comparison to them. At least I didn't call you a big, furry bear. Or a sasquatch." Noelle joked.
Galen recalls her telling him once what a 'sasquatch' was. He doesn't know whether to feel insulted or relieved that she could've referred him to that gigantic, hairy ape-like creature.
"Why thank you. But I think I've had enough compliments from you for today." He retorted.
Noelle patted his shoulder.
"C'mon, Galen. I was only kidding." She assured him.
His smirk returned, "Hopefully, not about the handsome part."
He then tilted his head up a little and puffed out his chest.
This display just made Noelle laugh a little. It was just another stark reminder of how much of a ham he can be at times. It didn't help when he started smoothing out the fur that surrounded his face.
"Yeah, ok, hot stuff, you made your point. Now, enough of the primping before everyone here stares at you and wonders why it looks like you're petting yourself." She said, with some laughter in her voice.
"Hmph, I was not. Had I passed by any female apes, and they saw me doing that, they would know what it means." He told her.
"That you're full of yourself and a Primadonna? Good idea, let them all know so they can run away while they can." Noelle teased.
"Or maybe you're hoping they run away, so you don't get jealous that they would be giving me attention." Galen teased back.
She snorted, "Yeah, ok, you caught me. I'm so jealous every time any female ape even looks your way, that it's driving me crazy."
"And the truth comes out." He says, with a teasing grin.
"What truth? That I'm about to vomit from the sheer rank smell of the bullshit spewing from your mouth? Yeah, you got that right." She countered.
Galen chuckled at her smartass response. She really was a spitfire and never backed down, that's for sure. It's really one of the things that draws him to her.
"Alright, you witty little spitfire. Where to now?" He says.
Noelle went to open her mouth, when she saw a gorilla trooper just enter the town several meters ahead in front of them.
She then noted it was the Lieutenant.
"Galen." She said, then gestured ahead of them.
He shifted his gaze from her to ahead and saw the Lieutenant walking his horse into the village.
Both of them can only wonder why it is he came here. Or that it seems like he was looking around for something or someone while he sat atop his horse.
After a few moments, his gaze landed on Galen and Noelle several meters down the dirt path on his left.
He started to walk his horse over to them.
For some reason, Galen and Noelle froze and didn't move from their spot. They can only imagine why it is that he would be heading over to them.
"I'm glad I found you again. Is there somewhere private we can talk?" Lieutenant Kaleb asks them.
The pair was silent for a moment, before answering.
"There's the hut we are staying in. We can talk there." Galen replied.
Kaleb nodded, then he hopped down from his horse and gestured for them to lead the way.
No one said a word afterwards during the five-minute walk back to the hut they were currently staying in. It made the pair rather nervous about what it was he wishes to speak to them about.
Once they got there, the Lieutenant hitched his horse to the post next to their horse.
Galen opened the door for them as they headed inside. Then the three of them went to the one small round table on the left side of the room. There were only two chairs at the table, the Lieutenant motioned for them to take the seats, while he stood.
"The reason I'm here is, because I heard some interesting news just this morning. Apparently, Chief Urko is currently within these parts with some of his troops.
While some of my men were out helping resolve an issue in one of the villages that involved a problem with a nearby dam in the river, they told me they came across two of Urko's men.
These men told my troopers that they were looking for some fugitives that had manage to cross one of the old bridges over Cairn River. They said the fugitives consist of three humans and an ape. Two men, one woman, and a chimpanzee.
They also told me, while the two human men made it across the bridge, the woman and chimpanzee fell into the water and were swept downstream.
While it was likely they could've drowned, they still didn't want to dismiss it in case they managed to pull themselves ashore. Either way, Urko is still looking for all four of them." Lieutenant Kaleb explained.
Galen and Noelle paled at hearing the news. They almost didn't know what to say. Did the Lieutenant suspect that they were the missing pair that fell into the river? Will he turn them in?
"While this is rather interesting news. Why did you come here and decide to share it with us? We don't know anything about these fugitives or Urko's interest in them." Galen said, trying to downplay it all.
The Lieutenant was silent as he observed the pair. It just didn't seem like a coincidence that he stumbled upon this odd pair, not long before he was informed that Urko was here in this district looking for fugitives. Two of which fit the description.
"Look, I don't care much for Urko. He's a narrow-minded fool with crazy ideas. Always has been since we were children. Hence why I never got along with him. Just my luck that we are related because his father and mine are brothers.
But if you are in fact the woman and chimpanzee he is looking for, I suggest you head out soon. The village his men came into contact with my men at, is really not all that far from here." Lieutenant Kaleb told them.
Galen and Noelle didn't know what to be more shocked about. The fact that the Lieutenant here is related to Urko or the fact that he was telling them to leave, rather than arrest them and turn them in.
"We don't understand. Even if by chance we were these fugitives he is looking for, why would you tell us to leave, rather than...take us in?" Noelle hesitantly asks.
"As I said, he's a narrow-minded fool and personally, I think it was a bad decision on the council's part to make him chief of security. His ideals are too radical and dangerous and could cause more destruction for society rather than good. Unfortunately, they just didn't see it that way, or at least not yet.
And while this district is rather removed from some of the others, we are still well aware of these 'astronauts' and the renegade ape with them. Word spreads fast and all over when it comes to something like that.
Some of us are also aware of the impact they have left behind on some of the villages they visited. From what it sounds like, it is nothing but good things.
While Urko and the council are afraid of these changes, the rest of us see it as a good thing. Because it sounds like they have helped a lot of people, both ape and human.
Most of us who are educated and open minded, see these changes can in fact benefit everyone and could make some more positive changes to society. Which is what we need.
So, I ask, are you the woman and renegade ape they are looking for?" The Lieutenant asks.
Galen and Noelle exchanged a small look.
"Yes." Galen admitted, quietly.
"What now?" Noelle asks.
"As I said, I strongly suggest you move out and cover your tracks before any of Urko's men make their way here." Lieutenant Kaleb suggested.
His gaze went back and forth to the odd pair.
"I like to think I'm a good judge of character. And what my instincts are telling me, is that you are good people. That you're not bad or dangerous.
If you truly were, I doubt either of you would help us out like you have. Instead of running to save your own skin when she was captured, you risked everything to find her and get her back.
While she risked her own life to save a group of women while destroying the traffickers' outpost and in turn, it led us straight to them and the missing girls.
No fugitive would put their neck out to save others like you both have. And as you done good and made an impact in those other villages in the other district, you did a lot of good here. By taking down those traffickers.
Dangerous fugitives we have been searching for and trying to stop for several months now but have been unable to come close in doing so. It's because of you two, we now have them all in custody and our district is safe again.
It's because of all this, I refuse to have you both arrested and I came here to tell you to run once I heard they were here looking for you and these other two friends of yours." Kaleb added.
"How much...of a head start do you think we'll have? If we leave here now?" Galen inquires.
"I'd say, you have another six hours, before they possibly come here, if they do decide to come here. The sooner you leave, the better chance you have.
I don't know how many villages they have hit yet or informed them to keep an eye out for you. But I think it wise, not to extend your stay long at any other village you come across in this part of the district." The Lieutenant warned them.
"Fair enough. We thank you, for letting us know and allowing us to go." Noelle said.
Lieutenant Kaleb nodded, "You're welcome. Just be careful. I maybe Lieutenant around these parts, but Urko still has the higher authority over us. So, if by chance you are caught, I may not be able to help you.
The best advice I can give you, is try your best to stay at least three steps ahead of Urko. He may not be the brightest one in the family, but he makes up for it with persistence."
Galen tried not to chuckle at the fact about Urko not being all that bright. He knew firsthand that the brutish chief of security was no original thinker of this time.
Looks like this gorilla here, got the brains in the family. While Urko drew short straw.
"Thank you, we'll take your word for it." Galen said.
"Do you need a map to help you navigate the area? One can be provided for you." The Lieutenant offered.
"Thanks, but we actually picked one up back in Ansel." Noelle replied.
"Oh, so you've already been to Ansel. I was going to say, it could be one of the few places here you could be safe. I know Prefect Namor doesn't like outside troopers sticking their noses in his village nor does he or many others there think highly of Urko." Lieutenant Kaleb stated.
"Yes, we've became pretty friendly with some of the locals there that have hinted to us they are not his biggest fans either." Noelle retorted.
"Yes, I have a lot of friends there that never thought highly of him either. I'd suggest you go back to Ansel. But I worry you could be caught on the road by his troops trying to go back. If anything, I suggest you head as far north or northwest as you can. The terrain out that way is a little harder for troopers to navigate. Some paths are even too narrow and steep for horses to get through." Lieutenant Kaleb added.
"Thanks for the advice." Galen said.
They only chatted for a few more minutes. Before the Lieutenant said he needed to go back to the garrison for outpost inspections.
On the way out, he wished them good luck and thanked them once more for helping him catch the traffickers. Afterwards, he left the hut.
Galen and Noelle started packing up the few things they had out. Luckily, they restock some of their food supplies yesterday. They even picked up a couple new waterskins since Noelle dropped the ones she had by the stream when those gorillas grabbed her those couple nights before.
Within five minutes, they had everything they needed, packed and ready to go.
"You ready to go?" Galen asks her.
"Yeah, ready when you are." She replied.
The pair then left the hut and went to unhitch their horse from the wooden post not far from the hut. They placed their packs on the side of the horse's saddle before mounting.
Galen hopped up first, then he helped Noelle get on behind him.
Afterwards, he flicked the reins and walked Lola through the village. He knew which road to take out of town to head northwest. He studied most of the map the last couple nights, memorizing it.
They made it to the road he wanted to take that would lead them out of the village that was going northwest. Once they cleared the village he sped up and soon, he had the horse galloping the rest of the way.
"When I was rechecking the map last night, I noticed that according to it, Bellows Falls is not too far from here. If we keep riding at this pace, we could make it there by nightfall." Galen told Noelle.
"Really? I thought it was much further." She said.
"Originally, where we started it was. Now, we are much closer. We didn't realize it with everything that has happened the last couple days, but we actually traveled further northwest then we thought." He explained.
"Sounds like a plan. It may be better to do so at this time than hit another village. Especially, if Urko and his men are here looking for us. I can only hope Alan and Pete don't encounter them." Noelle says.
"Alan and Pete have been at this for so long, they have become quite good at staying undetected. We can still only hope to either encounter them on the road or in one of the villages here. Though it may be a little harder to do so since we can't really stay longer than a couple days at any of these villages now.
Staying longer in one area, would've increased our odds of running into Alan and Pete because if we stay in one place long enough, they could happen upon us. But unfortunately, it has become a little more challenging to do just that now that we know Urko is here.
He must've taken the long route and followed Cairn River down to the end and crossed it at its most shallow and weakest point. Something that would've taken him a few days to do. But we have been here for a couple weeks now, so, he had the time to do so." Galen explained.
"Lucky us." She sarcastically quipped.
"Yes, though I guess that's what happens when you've been number one on his hit list for so long." Galen replied.
It was late morning when they left Larchwood.
They only maybe stopped once to eat a quick lunch and a couple times to relieve themselves. But kept the horse running otherwise. They were determined to get somewhere that would be safer for them.
Especially, now. Because they were travelling on a wide-open road where it is easy to spot them.
Hopefully, this area they were looking to get to had a lot of cover. The more cover, the better it was for them to stay hidden from danger. It probably helps that Urko, and his men are very unfamiliar with the area and most likely don't know about these other places like the waterfalls, the lakes, and caves.
It was around dusk now, when Galen came to a stop at the bend. Then he took out the map again and checked it.
He studied the map and saw that after rounding this bend, they had to travel another few miles and make a left to this other smaller, wooded path that would take them further out into the woods to Bellows Falls.
"We should be there quite soon. Just a few more miles after we round this bend." Galen told her.
"That's good. Really can't wait to just sit on solid ground again after being on a running horse for most of the day." Noelle replied.
"I want to say, probably another hour or two before we get there. So, not much longer. Why? Is your bottom getting sore again?" He teased.
"Watch it, or you're going to have a sore head by the end of this ride." She promised.
"Because you already don't give me headaches as it is." Galen joked.
"The feeling's mutual." Noelle retorted.
He chuckled, then with a flick of the reins, they were off again.
They rode for the next couple hours. By then, the sun had gone down completely, and it was already dark. Though there was a beautiful full moon lighting up the early night sky.
It was also quite large and a reddish orange color, kind of like a harvest moon.
Galen found that narrow wooded path that led off the main road they were on. He slowed the horse down just enough to turn onto it. The path itself was just wide enough for a single horse to go through.
He had Lola trot the rest of the way, since it was more narrow as well as uneven and bumpy with a few small rocks here and there.
It ended up taking another half hour before they could hear and see signs of a waterfall. When they did clear the path to another clearing, they were both in awe of the sight before them.
The waterfall was huge! Both tall and wide. The grassy area around it was surrounded by a cluster of weeping willow trees. There were also many wildflowers that dotted the ground around the trees and the rocks that made up the border around the waterfall.
They both dismounted the horse and started to look around.
What made it looked even more enchanting were the lightning bugs that occasionally lit up the area.
To Noelle, it looked like a place out of some fairy tale book. She can clearly see why it was a place that some would come to see or visit. It was quite out of the way in the middle of the woods where it was quiet and peaceful. All that can be heard is the soft roaring sounds of the waterfall itself.
"This place is beautiful." She says, barely above a whisper.
When she looked up, she saw the large harvest moon peaking just above the tops of the weeping willow trees.
"It certainly is, and we'll be safe here." Galen said, as he continued looking around.
They looked for a good spot to set up camp.
The pair found a spot under one large weeping willow right next to the waterfall. So, they walked over with the horse and found a low hanging sturdy branch to hitch her up to.
Afterwards they pulled off their packs and started pulling some of their things out.
They first pulled out some food and water and started eating some dinner, since they never stopped to have dinner earlier, because they were determined to get to their destination first.
"So, you happy to finally be sitting on solid ground again?" He asks, as they eat.
"Yep, I'm happier now. Plus, seeing this place, it was kind of worth it." Noelle replied.
"Yes, now I can sit back and relax and not get a headache from you complaining how sore you were during the ride here." Galen teased.
She snorted, "I wasn't complaining. I only maybe mentioned it twice at the most."
"Really? Because I could've swore, I counted seven times." He insisted.
"Bullshit, it was not nearly that many times. Stop exaggerating." She said.
"If you say so." Galen replied.
"I know so." Noelle countered.
They chatted on and off as they ate.
After they finished eating, they still continued chatting about other topics. Until Galen thought of something. Now, would probably be the right time for it, now that they were settled.
He had put it off for the last couple days because so much had been going on between Noelle getting kidnapped, saving her and the other girls, then going to Larchwood to be treated for minor injuries and recuperating from them.
As Noelle took a swig from her waterskin, Galen reached into his pack that was sitting next to him. He found the little side pocket in there where he knew it was. Then he slowly pulled the item out.
He suddenly became a little nervous, for unknown reasons. The nervousness giving him lingering doubts to if she will like it or not.
Galen brushed aside his nerves though and made the plunge.
"Noelle." He said, getting her attention.
She shifted her gaze from ahead and turned her attention to Galen.
Noelle noticed he had something in his outstretched hand and was holding it out to her. She reached up and took the offered item. A small smile slowly crept up onto her face as she held it up and inspected it.
It was a necklace. A blue gem of sorts that resembled turquoise. It was in the shape of a butterfly and was dangling off of a thin, brown leather cord.
"Galen, it's beautiful." She says.
He smiled, "I'm glad you like it. I saw it at one of the stands back in one of the previous towns we were in. Thought it would be perfect seeing as you like butterflies. And the blue color of the stone reminded me of your eyes."
Noelle thought it was a very thoughtful gift and she really did love it. It was a very sweet gesture on his part.
It also made her remember something as well. She went into her pack and fished around for an object she was looking for. She eventually found it and pulled it out.
Galen watched as she pulled out a small book with black leather binding. She then turned and gave it to him.
"Got this for you at the book stand. Figured you maybe like it." Noelle said as she handed it to him.
He took the offered book and read the cover.
It was a book on quotes and philosophies. Galen thought it to be an interesting topic as he lightly skimmed the pages. Then he shifted his gaze back to Noelle with a small smile.
"Thank you. It looks like a very interesting book." He told her.
"You're welcome." She replied, relieved and happy that he liked it.
They continued gazing at one another in silence for a few moments. Neither of them knew what else to say at the moment. Though Galen eventually broke that silence by asking a question.
"You...want me to help you put it on? The necklace?" He asks.
She gave him a soft smile and nodded.
Noelle gave him the necklace, leaned forward slightly and lifted her hair. He unraveled the cord and draped it around her neck. Then he knotted the ends of the cord together behind her neck.
When he pulled back, the charm hanged down to right above her chest.
She looked down at it and thought it looked perfect. Then she turned back to face him.
"Thank you." Noelle said.
"You're welcome." Galen replied.
There was another few moments of silence before either of them talked. They don't know why it suddenly got a little awkward or why they became a little anxious all of a sudden.
"You want me to play some music?" She asks.
"Sure." He says.
Noelle fished out her iPhone and went to her favorites playlist and hit shuffle.
Soon after, tunes started filtering around the area. They sat back and relaxed, just listening to the songs.
"Question, how come some of the songs are rather fast paced and some of them are very slow?" Galen inquires.
"Musicians do it for variety to be different. That way, not everything sounds the same. A lot of people dance to some of these songs. Some of the fast ones are for dancing fast while some of the slow ones are for slow dancing." Noelle explained.
He tilted his head and wrinkled his nose.
"While I understand the concept of dancing, even if it is something most apes don't partake in quite often, this slow dancing concept eludes me a little." Galen replied.
She was silent for a moment, debating whther or not to ask her next question.
"Would you...like me to show you how? Slow dancing, I mean. It's actually very simple. Anyone can do it." Noelle informs him.
He thought about it for a moment, and he supposed it wouldn't hurt to try. Especially, if she claims it's very simple.
"Alright." Galen said.
Noelle reaches for her iPhone, which was on the grass between them.
She scrolls down the playlist and picks one of her personal favs and thought it would be perfect. Noelle turns up the volume more. But before she taps on the song, she wants to show him how to start first.
Noelle had Galen stand up. Then she instructed him on what to do.
"It requires two people. You stand in front of each other, like what we are doing now. You need to get a little closer though." She instructed and gestured for him to take a step towards her.
Galen did just that.
"Good, now lift up your right-hand palm up, not in front of you, but a little to your side, like this." She shows him.
He copied the movement and did just that.
"Then I place my hand over top of yours, like this." She placed her left hand in his right hand.
Now comes the part that may get a little awkward for him.
"Now, with your other hand, it goes around your partners waist and comes to rest on the small of their back." She instructed.
Noelle reaches out with her right hand to grasp his left one. She then brings it around her side and lightly presses it to the small of her back.
If the lighting were a little better, she'd probably see that his cheeks were now a little pink. They turned a little darker shade when she then placed her left hand on his shoulder.
"Then all you really do is shift from side to side on your feet. I'll shift to my left; you shift to your right. From there, all we do, is mirror each other's movements. Does this make sense?" She asks.
"Ye...yes." He stuttered a little.
Noelle found his awkwardness rather cute.
"Ok, we'll practice it a little. Then I'll play the song. Want to make sure you got the foot movements right, first. I'm going to shift to my left now. You shift to your right." She says.
When Noelle did just that, he shifted with her.
"Good, now, I'll shift to my right, and you shift to your left." She instructed.
They shifted on their feet to their opposite sides, continuing to mirror each other's movements.
The pair went back and forth shifting about. He only stumbled a couple times, but otherwise, he wasn't bad at it.
"This is it? It certainly seems simple enough." Galen says.
"Yeah, this is it. You ready to try it with music?" Noelle asks.
Galen nodded, "Alright."
She released her grip from him and stepped back. Then she knelt down and tapped onto the song on the list she wanted to play.
The soft tune of a piano started to play. Not long after did they assume position and started to slow dance once more. Not a few moments later, the lyrics started to play.
Time only haunts you once
Haunts, and then it will restart
It's a pain I've been holding for years
And now that my moment's come
All disappear inside
It's the truth I've been holding for years
And this is my requiem to the old world
Fading, you're fading
You don't have to be who you are anymore
It's enough
~Instrumental Break~
As they danced to the slow and mesmerizing tune, they found themselves getting lost in each other's gaze as they danced close to one another.
They say that you're always there
Underneath the fear
I can hurt you; I know I will too
Now that I'm gone
Falling like stars on the ride
I am alone, oh (sounds like trust)
They found themselves slowly closing the gap, their faces inching closer and closer.
This is my requiem to the old world
Fading, you're fading
You don't have to be who you are anymore
This is my requiem to the old world
Fading, you're fading
You don't have to be who you are anymore
By the time the last words of the lyrics echoed and faded out, their lips touched, and they found themselves sharing a kiss.
It started out slow. Their hearts started to thunder in their chest as they continued locking lips. Noelle dragged her one hand that was resting on his shoulder up to cup his cheek.
Galen pulled her in closer until their fronts pressed together. Then he too dragged his other hand up to caress her cheek as they continued the kiss.
At one point his lips parted and Noelle slipped her tongue in to caress his. It sent a jolt of electricity down his spine. He can't recall ever feeling like this with anyone or felt this alive.
Noelle felt the same, the feelings intensified when the kiss became deeper and more passionate.
Their tongues danced with each other as they continued locking lips, and started to make their bodies heat up. They kept a firm hold on one another, staying as close together as possible.
After a few more seconds that felt more like minutes to them, they pulled away for air.
Both were huffing and puffing, with warm, red cheeks, and slightly swollen lips. Galen knelt back down and pressed his forehead to Noelle's. They stood there like that, while catching their breath.
It was an amazing feeling and experience they shared and something they believed could never be shared with anyone else.
That bond that they had, seems to have intensified and gone beyond what they could've imagined. While in the beginning, it was a strange notion feeling the way they did for each other because they were not of the same species, now seemed to just fade away.
It was easy to recognize that the other was special. Someone they just couldn't let go of.
"Damn, had that lasted any longer, I don't know how much longer, I'd be able to stand without getting too lightheaded." Noelle slightly teased with a small smile.
Galen chuckled at her reply.
"Glad I'm not the only one that thinks so." He said.
They met each other's gaze again, both of them sporting soft smiles.
Galen lightly brushed the pad of his thumb over her soft cheek. Noelle slightly tilted the side of her face into his hand, enjoying the soft caress. While she continued to lightly cup his cheek.
The pair must've stayed like that in each other's embrace for quite some time. Neither of them was willing to pull away just yet.
But they can only stay together like that for so long, before reluctantly pulling away. Still, when they went to sit back down, Noelle leaned into Galen's side. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close as they sat leaning back against the moss-covered rock behind them.
It seems like so much has happened during this short journey in this district.
While most of it started out good, they can't forget their most turbulent and terrifying times either. But what Galen and Noelle did know, is that they will always stick by each other's side as the journey continues to progress and knew they could always count on being there for each other, when things continue to get rough.
Another couple hours went by and they started to turn in for the night.
They pulled out their blankets and settled in close with one another. Noelle curled into Galen's front as he wrapped his arms around her. While her forehead was pressed into his chest, he tilted his head down, resting the side of his muzzle against the side of the top of her head.
The pair fell asleep that night, feeling like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders when they were finally able to show each other how they truly felt.
I don't own the lyrics to the song in this chapter. The song is called 'Requiem' by Shey Baba. If anyone finds the time, go ahead and listen to it. You can find it on YouTube. It's a very deep and emotional song. One of my personal favorites.
I think it really sets the mood here and kind of symbolizes Galen and Noelle as a pair.
Looks like they finally stopped tapdancing around how they felt and can only go forward from here. Hopefully, they can continue to keep each other safe as they navigate this unfamiliar district, they are currently in, all while hopefully finding and reuniting with Alan and Pete.
Until Next Time ;)