Echo fell asleep in his aunt's arms shorty after eating. His breathing was the only sound Celeste could hear in the vast empty hall. She was thankful for it because she knows she would of felt alone without the sound present. Echo's breathing served Celeste a reminder that she still had family alive.
"Miss?" A small voice echoed the hall from the far side of the room.
Celeste looked towards the source of the voice, recognizing the sound as someone she knows.
A small ridgerunner, no taller than a child, stood peeking in the large doors of the hall. He fixed the little round specs on his face by wrinkling his noise as he looked towards the tall human in the middle of the room.
"Zarabean!" Celeste suddenly exclaimed excitedly before covering her mouth, hoping she didn't wake Echo.
Echo slept soundly despite his aunt's sudden and loud shout.
"May I come near...?" The ridgerunner asked, wary of entering such a large open space.
"Yes, come here, Zarabean." Celeste said beaming.
The ridgerunner, whose name was Zarabean, skittered over to Celeste.
This particular ridgerunner had been following Celeste around on her travels for many years. It was an unlikely friendship that most Annerians would consider strange and even suspicious. Everyone who had ever read 'Pembrick's Creaturepedia' knew it was risky business to trust the little rascals. It was most definitely frowned upon to let one of these little creatures near because of their wavering loyalty over a little bout of fruit. However, Zarabean was a whole different breed. Not in literal terms but rather in that Zarabean was not like other ridgerunners. Yes, the fruit obsession was all the same but Zarabean made sure to value other things more than fruit... Or could it be that Lore Wain Celeste smelled like fruit most of the time due to her love for it as well? Or that Celeste always fed Zarabean as long as he asked? Whatever the case, Zarabean was actually fond of Celeste.
"What are you doing here? I asked you to wait on the ship." Celeste asked, though not angry to see her little friend.
"Zarabean thought... He could... He's hungry." The ridgerunner stuttered out, clearly not there only for company but embarrassed to ask for food.
Celeste tilted her head, "Are you asking for food?"
Zarabean nodded sheepishly.
"And you traveled all the way here to ask me for some?" Celeste asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Zarabean thought there might be... Is there... Better fruit here in the palace?" He asked with a small hint of greediness. Somethings don't change for a ridgerunner, even the kindest ones.
Celeste understood it was Zarabean's nature to crave the best fruit and she couldn't blame him for it. "Maybe. Are you asking for some?"
Zarabean nodded, "If you please..."
"Then come with me. I'll let you choose some from our kitchen." Celeste smiled at her friend before walking out of the hall.
Normally, Zarabean would perch himself on Celeste's shoulder like a bird but he saw Echo being carried and chose against hopping on Celeste. He knew it wouldn't look good for her reputation and that it would also look bad for his so Zarabean trailed behind Celeste patiently.
When they arrived in the kitchen, the royal cook gasped to see a ridgerunner in her kitchen.
"My Lore Wain! Why have you brought that creature into my kitchen?? This doesn't appear right, my lady." The royal cook stated anxiously.
Celeste looked at the cook with a sigh, "He's friend of mine and he's hungry."
"Ridgerunners are always hungry, my lady. He could eat all our fruit!" The cook exclaimed nervously eyeing Zarabean, whom is peeking out from behind Celeste's leg.
Celeste gestured the cook to calm down, "I'll see to it he only takes a few. He doesn't eat like an average ridgerunner."
"... I suppose I cannot stop you... Please see to it he doesn't eat anything he shouldn't." The royal cook replied, going back to preparing dinner for the night.
Celeste guided Zarabean over to where they kept the fruit from the royal gardens and imports.
Zarabean's eyes lit up to see so much fruit but he restrained himself, looking up at Celeste to see what he had permission to eat.
"Pick yourself three fruits, any three you'd like. We have a variety." Celeste told her friend with a hand on the back of her sleeping nephew.
Once given permission, Zarabean quickly grabbed his three fruit. It was no surprise to see he chose fruit from the Hollows. Despite grabbing his three rather quickly, he didn't eat them right away... He refused to be rude. Zarabean looked up at Celeste with a big smile, "Thank you." He thanked her with sincerity in his words.
"You're welcome, Bean. Now, let's head back to the hall. As much as I love having you with me again, I worry others won't be as gracious as Mrs. Laywig." Celeste said with a smile to the royal cook, who couldn't help but return a smile upon being called gracious.
"Yes, the main hall..." Zarabean repeated Celeste as he followed her out of the kitchen.
As they were walking back down the hall, a loud gasp could be heard as they past another corridor.
Celeste paused to see who gasped. Her eyes widen as she saw Ramger, who was on his way back to the hall as well.
His jaw hung open as he saw Zarabean trailing behind Celeste with some of the royal fruit. Unfortunately for Celeste and her ridgerunner friend, Ramger despised ridgerunners more than any other creature in Anneria.
MMMM! FRUIT!