To Trust Again- A RATLD FanFiction

Out on our own

(A/N: Palindrome chapter title! (If you look at the first letters of each word, and take away the rest) Weird opening, I know, but I just thought I'd open with it anyway! Enjoy. 😉)

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(Namaari's POV)

"I have an idea!!" Sisu comes charging in, multiple slips of paper in hand.

We both look up at her.

"Bestie campout. Us three. Starting tomorrow."

"Bestie?" The word feels new, strange on my tounge.

"Yeah, means best friend!"

"Okayyy."

"So you guys in?"

"Well..." Raya twirls a strand of her hair around her finger. "It would be nice to, you know, get outta town, have a break from all this stuff thats been going on."

"Great! Namaari?"

I have to think for a second. If I go, what if the warriors need me? What if something goes wrong and I have to drop everything and rush home? I've let Raya down so many times, too many times, and I can't again. No, she'll understand, I'm sure she will. Then again, our days of being divided are over, so maybe they won't need me...

"I'll, I'll ask my mother."

"Really? Howcome?" Sisu's eyes narrow.

"In-in case Fangs army needs me. They probably won't, but you never know, eh?"

Raya's eyes also narrow. "Namaari, what is really going on?"

"Nothing, nothing." Oh God, that makes me look as guilty as Hell. "Got to go... Sorry."

The knot in my chest loosens as I mount Serlot, and I can finally breathe better.

(*time skip*)

"Mother?"

"Yes, Morning Mist?"

"So, uh, Sisu and Raya, uh, invited me to go on a camping trip, and I- I just wanted to ask if the army needed me at any time."

"Oh Namaari, you don't need to ask me! You're eighteen, old enough to think for yourself. And if they do need you, at any point, I will notify you as soon as possible."

"Thank you. I would've asked the army myself, but they're all busy with family and stuff since, you know..." Even talking about it is enough to bring back floods of bad memories that I can't block out. 

"I know, I know. Now go. Be with your friends."

If only she knew.

(*time skip*)

(Raya's POV)

"Okay, sorry for rushing out like that-"

"No need for apologies. It's all good."

"So, Mother's given me the all clear. Lets go and camp!"

"Yesss!" Sisu dances around the room, hands in the air with no rhythm or grace whatsoever. "I'll bring bell-tents!"

"I can start a campfire."

"Sounds good to me!"

"Hang on, I'll just leave Ba a note...."

She scribbles something down on a piece of paper, and puts it on the table.

Gone camping with Sisu + Namaari. Be back soon. Xx, Raya. (Oh, and in case you guys are wondering (which you probably aren't) where Cheif Benja is, he's busy helping the other parts of Kumundra recover. Seems kinda unimportant I know, but I just wanted to clear it up!)

"Okay, lets get ready!"

"Wait wait wait! Where should we meet up?"

"Lets, uh, the part of Heart where it slowly fades into the woods. There's bound to be lots of spots to set up camp."

"Sure, umm, see you guys in a bit?"

"See you!"

"Oh and one more thing. I think it'd be best if we carried everything ourselves, instead of relying on Serlot or Tuk Tuk."

"Fair enough. They deserve a break."

(*time skip, so I don't bore the hell outta you guys*)

(Raya's POV)

Namaari's actually the first one here this time, lying on the grass and watching the clouds, camp  bag by her feet.

"RAH!"

"AH! Raya what the heck?!"

"Pinned ya!"

"Oh come on, let me up."

"Try me dep'la."

She shoves me off, I shove her back. We aren't really fighting, just playfighting like two kids.

"Hey guys, hows it goi- Oh my god."

We both freeze while pretend slapping each other. "Uh, hi Sisu."

"Sorry. Sorry if I disturbed whatever this is, and it happened to be crucial thing, um, yeah."

"Oh, no no, no it's okay, we were just play fighting, right Namaari?"

"Yeah, right... And I was aboutta kick your ass!" She dives on me, so I'm on the ground and she's mock wrestling my hair.

"Oh yeah, wrestle!" Sisu throws down her pack, and joins in on the action, tickling and pulling as gently as she can at Namaari's hair. We end up in a wheezing heap, clutching our ribs.

"Damn you know how to wrestle Namaari."

"I know she does, all too well."

I regret those words the second they escape my lips. We fall into an awkward silence, remembering the showdown in Spine, that almost cost me my life, and Sisu first revealed herself to Namaari, the Fang warriors and my friends.

That was in the past, this is now. Let it go Raya, we're okay.

"Uh guys, is it just me or are those some pretty dark clouds?"

"No, no, you're right, those clouds are pretty dark..."

Without any further warning, it begins to pour down with rain.

"YIKES!"

"Great, now there's rain."

"Run for it!"

We flee to the forest, setting up camp as fast as we can.

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(A/N: And here you are, another chapter. Yes, the RayaxNamaari bits are coming up, I promise! (You'll see some of them next chapter actually!) Btw, thanks so so much for voting! Ly guys 🙃)