Work Text:
Little seven year old Ethari sobbed quietly to himself as he sat huddled under a large tree, away from all the other children.
The Harvest Moon, also known as the Blood Moon was getting closer and as excitement grew, so did fear.
After all, the Blood Moon meant the Bloodmoon Huntress might come.
He heard all the older children talking about her, saying she would snatch little elflings and tear them to pieces to drink their blood.
He didn't want her to get him! He was scared!
Hot tears ran down his face as his sobbing grew louder.
"Ethari?" a voice suddenly called his name, along with something touching his shoulder and being a scared little boy Ethari did the only reasonable thing he could do.
He shut his eyes tight and screamed. Loud.
"Owww..." the voice muttered and realising it wasn't the Huntress Ethari opened his eyes, blinking through his blurry vision to find Runaan standing next to him.
"R-Runaan?" he blinked up at the other elf boy, wondering why he was there.
They were in the same class at school but barely ever talked since Ethari was too shy and Runaan was just very quiet.
"You're really loud." Runaan just pouted at him, rubbing at one of his ears.
"Oops... Sorry." Ethari apologised timidly, looking down at his knees.
"I'm okay but are you? I heard you crying." Runaan asked and Ethari felt his face burn in embarrassment.
"I-I'm okay too." he lied but Runaan just shook his head.
"No, you're not! I just saw you cry too! You know, I can't help you if you won't tell me!" Runaan scolded him.
This made Ethari look up in surprise.
"Help me?" he repeated, stunned.
"Well, yeah." Runaan shrugged awkwardly before crossing his arms, "I don't like it when others cry so I want to help you."
"Do you... Do you promise you won't laugh?" Ethari asked after some careful consideration.
"I promise." Runaan nodded, sitting down next to Ethari so they were at the same height.
"I'm... I'm afraid." Ethari confessed.
"Afraid of what?" Runaan asked, looking around as if trying to find whatever was scaring Ethari. And maybe he was.
"The Bloodmoon Huntress."
"Wait. What?" Runaan asked, looking so confused.
"You heard me." Ethari huffed, looking away.
"But she's just a scary story, right?" Runaan pointed out.
"But what if she's real?!" Ethari blurted, frustrated tears forming in his eyes again.
"Everyone is saying how she's gonna drag us away into the woods and hurt us all and that scares me! What if she's not just a scary story?!" he ranted.
"I can protect you."
"Huh?" he looked back at Runaan.
"I can protect you. My dad is really strong, like strong enough that he gets to boss others around and he taught me how to punch real hard." Runaan told him, proudly holding up a fist.
"Would you really do that for me?" Ethari asked, leaning closer to the other.
"Of course! I'll protect you from scary stories and more!" Runaan declared as he jumped to his feet, his eyes shining with determination.
Ethari looked up at the other in awe, admiring his bravery as well as how the light wind playing with his hair and the light shining on him made him look so heroic.
And pretty.
It gave him a funny feeling in his tummy.
"Thank you!" he said and without thinking got up to hug the other.
Runaan yelped in surprise before slowly hugging back.
"It's okay. Do you want me to walk home with you?" he asked.
Ethari whimpered as he looked at the dark shadowy pathway that led to his house and nodded.
"Yes, please." he squeaked.
"Don't worry. I'm gonna keep you save no matter what." Runaan promised before taking his hand and pulling him along.
The funny feeling in Ethari's tummy got worse, or not really worse but it did increase.
It felt like he was being tickled from the inside and he found he kinda liked it.
He wondered if it was because Runaan was with him, because he felt relieved that someone wanted to protect him or maybe both.
It didn't matter anyway.
He was just glad at what could be the start of a great friendship.
Feeling satistied withg just that for the moment he smiled as they walked off.
The End