Gale felt the world shift again, but this time it wasn’t the ground beneath him—it was her. The sudden, gentle pull on his arm caught him off guard as she tugged him downward, her force not pushing him but guiding him, and before he could fully process it, he found himself kneeling in the grass beside her.It took a moment for his mind to catch up with what had just happened, but as his knees settled into the soft earth, he felt the distance between them shrink in a way that was unexpected but not unwelcome. He looked up at her, his gaze meeting hers, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t feel like he needed to hide behind the walls he’d built. Her touch, her presence—there was something real about it. She was real. And the ground beneath him felt real, too, solid and steady, even as she pulled him closer to her world, to her rhythm, her warmth.She was steady. Even if she didn’t realize it, even if her own heart was racing as much as his, there was something in the way she guided him—like she was teaching him how to stand firm on shifting ground, how to trust, how to be.Before he could fully grasp it, she pushed him gently, but firmly, onto his back, and the suddenness of it had him lying there in the grass, blinking up at her, his chest rising and falling with a breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding. The movement was so fluid, so sure of itself, that he didn’t even question it. It was like she had taken control of the moment, and he wasn’t resisting—not even a little bit.His heartbeat thudded louder now, and his eyes followed every little shift she made. She leaned over him, letting her copper hair fall loose, the soft waves cascading over her shoulder like a fiery waterfall. It was a beautiful sight, but it wasn’t just her hair—it was her. The way she hovered above him, her face soft, but her eyes full of something that both unsettled him and made him want to pull her closer.

Where would you like to go from here?

Her voice was quiet but so full of meaning. She wasn’t asking about a destination, not really. She was asking about them, about this moment. And in that moment, Gale realized—he had no idea where to go from here. He didn’t know what came next, or if he was even ready for it, but there was no going back now. She had already pulled him deeper into this. Into her.He swallowed, the words slipping past his lips before he could stop them. “I don’t know where to go from here...” His voice was rough, vulnerable, and even more raw than usual. He almost laughed at the uncertainty, but the laugh didn’t come. Instead, his eyes found hers again, and the sincerity in her gaze made him want to believe in this moment. Whatever this moment was. “You make me feel like I’m standing on solid ground for once,” he said, his voice softer now, almost a whisper. “Like... like I’m not drowning anymore. Like maybe I don’t have to keep swimming alone.” He reached up, his hand brushing her loose hair back from her face, his fingers grazing lightly over the curve of her cheek, the warmth of her skin grounding him even further. It was like she was a lifeline, pulling him back to shore, even though they were both on unsteady ground. “I guess, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure where to go from here,” he said again, his gaze drifting toward the sky for a moment, the open expanse above them feeling both intimidating and comforting. “But I know I don’t want to go anywhere without you.” He let his hand rest lightly on her shoulder for a moment, his thumb tracing small circles on the bare skin of her arm. It was like he was trying to keep her close, trying to anchor himself to her in a way he’d never done before. There was something different here—something worth holding onto. He wasn’t sure how to define it, or how to move forward, but that feeling of her near him, so steady and sure, made him want to try. “Maybe I don’t have all the answers,” he said, his voice steady now, “but for the first time, I don’t feel like I need them.” He took in a slow breath, his chest rising and falling as he let the moment stretch between them, feeling every pulse of her presence, every movement of her hair, every brush of her fingertips. The space was electric with something unsaid, something that neither of them had fully embraced yet—but they were both standing on the edge of it now.“So, wherever this goes,” he said with a soft smile, his eyes never leaving hers, “I’m with you. Wherever that might be.”And with that, he slowly lifted his other hand, his fingers lightly brushing the side of her neck, drawing her closer just a fraction of an inch. It wasn’t a demand. It wasn’t a pull. It was just a quiet, simple invitation. And in that moment, it felt like enough.

Gale lifted one of his legs,slipping it inbetween hers.

He didn’t know what came next, but he was starting to believe it didn’t matter. Because for the first time in a long while, he wasn’t alone.

Gale awoke to her gone,slightly sad she had left already.He sighed,pulling himself up.Gale started re-lighting the fire,hoping to cook some of the last nights hare.

~~~~

A guard walked next to him,them both holding guns and scouting the area.They both had the same outfit on,black armor with two spears on their backs.A flash of skin caught her eye,her head automatically looking that way.She prowled forward,seeing more,a human,with,many scars along his back.He turned his head,even by his side profile,Gale Hummendeaus was all she thought.They both backed up and looked at eachother with stunned faces.She took off quietly running back,the other guard following.Once they reached the kings room,they stopped,panting. "Gale Hummendeaus is'nt dead!Get the king!We know where he is!"

"He won't see you now.He has more important things to discuss.You can report later.For now,stay here.The servants will fetch you both water." A king-consort said,them drinking down the water.

The servent walked back to the kitchens,spreading the rumor. "Hummendeaus is'nt dead." It spread,kitchens to dungeons,and even,the closest part of town.

"They know i'm alive?" He asks, "Adeline,I-I can't stay here then." Gale stuttered,gathering all his things. "They would'nt've been able to see me anywhere else.I've only been here." He walked up to her,buttoning on his cloa and pulling on the hood. "Adeline,you know I must go.I'm sorry." He dashed forward and kissed her,stepping back,heopened his jaw to say something,snapping it shut before turning and sprinting off into the thicket,world not making sense anymore.Gale once was a young man with the world,now he was a man against the world.