Chapter Text
His feet pounded against the ground, a steady thrum matching that of his heart. His chest ached, a burning numbness tightening and stealing the breaths from his throat as he ran. He took in ragged breaths, lungs screaming as the air was torn from them too quickly, but that didn’t matter.
Branches grabbed at his clothes, scratched at his face, leaving red lines behind in their wake, but he didn’t have time to assess the damage. Rivulets trailed down his cheek, although he wasn’t sure if they were blood or sweat.
Behind him, rapid footfalls approached, a low snarl piercing his ears through the rush of blood filling them. It shot arrows of terror into his heart, stabbing pains tearing through the numb aching and nearly causing him to lose his footing as he stumbled at the sensation, raising a hand momentarily to clutch at the fabric of his tunic over his heart.
Almost there! If he could make it to the cliff side, he would be safe. He couldn’t lose like this, not after so many adventures, after so much experience.
It would be downright shameful.
He twisted his body, turning abruptly to avoid a boulder and hoping to lose his pursuer, but the creature on spun on its heels, shortening the distance between them with ease, snapping its jaws as though to mock him.
He cursed under his breath, urging his boots to push him even faster, to fulfil their sole purpose, dang it!
They couldn’t go any faster, he knew. He had breached both their limit and his own several times already—his burning thighs could attest to that, begging that he give up and stop already, please.
He refused to, refused to lose when he could smell the salt-tinged air of the sea dancing upon the breeze as the wind rushed by him. In the distance, seagulls cawed and waves crashed against rocks, signalling the end of this game.
So close. He was almost safe.
The tree gave one final attempt at holding him in their embrace before he burst free of their clutches, rolling hills filling his vision. A beauty he didn’t have time to appreciate. Not yet.
There! He could see the tell-tale signs of bright blue and golden blond upon the valley, too unnatural to be part of the landscape.
“Guys!” He called out too early, his voice snatched away by the breeze before it could hope to touch them.
Taking in a deep breath, he urged his whimpering legs to move faster when claws dig into his back, sending him crashing to the ground. He curled up, tucking his head into his chest as he rolled, coming to a halt too far away from the group, spread-eagled on his back.
Legend groaned, his entire body encased in an aching fire as though he had decided to take a bath in Death Mountain’s volcano. A wet huff sent shivers down his spine, the pants of his assailant causing him to freeze.
He hadn’t made it; he had lost.
His eyes trailed down to the dark, beady ones watching him, narrowed in thought. The look vanished, replaced by brilliant blues filled with mirth as Wolfie leapt forward, licking at his face and drenching his upper half in slobber.
“Wolfie, no!” He cried out, raising his arms too late to try and protect himself from the slobbery onslaught. The tongue tickled at his cheeks and he was left laughing breathlessly in its wake before Wolfie finally relented, leaning back with bright eyes.
Wolfie let out a wet huff, spraying him with more spit as he stepped back. His tongue stuck out as he panted, lips pulled back in a wide, toothy grin that looked so stupid on the mutt.
Legend would have told him so, if it weren’t for the fact that he was already spitting out slobber and didn’t need to add to the mess upon his face.
“You’re disgusting,” he moaned, narrowing his eyes at the wolf.
Wolfie winked at him and Legend could hardly hold back the grin tugging at his lips, rubbing his face to hide it. The wolf’s eyes glittered before he blinked slowly, stepping back a few feet as obsidian diamonds encompassed him. Legend scoffed, wiping at his face harshly with his sleeve as Twilight changed back, wishing he could access his bag so he could drench himself in water and clean his skin.
He dreaded the process of washing his tunic.
“I win,” Twilight said, a triumphant smirk playing upon his lips as he stared down at Legend, hands over his hips. “Again.”
Legend scowled, standing up and wincing as his muscles screamed in protest. “You’re revolting is what you are.”
“Whatever you say. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so much, Vet.”
Legend crossed his arms, looking away with a huff as he forced that damned smile off of his face. “Whatever. I almost won, this time.”
Twilight hummed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to steer them over towards the rest of the group. “Maybe next time you won’t be so slow.”
“It’s not easy when you only have two legs.”
Twilight grinned slyly and Legend regretted having spoken at all. “Well, I’ve heard rabbits can make quite the quick escape.”
“You promised to never mention that again!”
Twilight laughed, the sound light as the stress of the past few weeks escaped from his lips. Legend smiled despite himself, turning away before Twilight could notice and make fun of him once more.
“I’ll win next time, just you wait.”
“I’ve been waiting months.”
“Fuck off, wolf boy.”