"Hey, get over here!" I ran up to Commander Darius who yelled to me. I've been under his command for 3 months now and he still doesn't hate me any less. "What are you doing over there, Williams!?" "Moving supplies like you asked me to." "You are supposed to be on your way to Whispers! And where is that "Sir"?" I sighed "Sorry, Sir. I'll head over there now." "You'd better. Get a grip Williams or you won't be able to survive this war." "I will, Sir." "Good. Run along now." I left Darius and his cold demeanor behind me as I started walking to Raine's classroom.
We're at base camp right now, the head of the rebellion's operations. Almost all of the unit commanders are here, all but one or two. It makes you wonder what's about to happen. On quiet days like these I usually end up moving and stocking supplies or helping out Raine. Darius sends me over to help Raine out a lot and I don't know if it's because he genuinely likes Raine or if it's because he wants me to be stuck with all the kids. Either way, I'm fine with helping out Raine. They are a really nice person and they take good care of everyone here. Raine isn't a part of the fighting very much, mostly they just teach skills and watch over the kids of anyone in the rebellion that isn't old enough to fight. Raine's wife on the other hand, now that's a different story.
As I made it to the door of Raine's classroom I knocked on it for what felt like the 5th time that week (and actually was). As always Raine opened the door with their normal kind and casual manor. "Hey, Caleb! Darius send you over to me again?" "Yeah, you need any help?" "Actually, yes! I was about to make everyone some lunch, would you mind hanging out with everyone? The only person they've really seen in a while is me." "Raine, you know I don't want to talk to the kids. Why else would I stay in the back rooms to help you?" Raine sighed. I know he is trying to get me out there to make some friends but I really don't want to. "Why won't you just talk to them for a few minutes? They are all very nice." "I just," Raine sat their hand on my shoulder earning a flinch from me. "I know about the scars, Caleb. I know most of them haven't been from this war. But, some day, you'll have to take a chance on someone." I frowned hearing Raine talk about my scars again. I wasn't more then a month in to joining this rebellion when Raine saw them. They'd walked in on me while I was taking a break and saw the scars littering my un-gloved hands. Raine threw up after that. "I already have taken a chance on someone, you." I walked in past Raine to start helping them prep lunch.
"Alright, Raine! I've just about finished!" "Um, yeah. Thanks!" I raised my eyebrow wondering why Raine responded like that. Before I could check Raine ran in the room and began whispering to me. Hey, um.. so, the kids could hear you and now they want to know who you are.." "what!?" I whisper yelled, "Just lie to them or something!" "My kids can read me like a book, Caleb!" A random voice yelled from outside, "Who is Caleb!?" Raine and I both looked at each other terrified. "Shit." I whispered. Raine hit my arm lightly, "Don't curse, they might be able to hear you." The same voice from before yelled, "We totally can!" "What do you want to do about this? I can block you while you run out?" "No, it's fine. I'll go out there." I slowly walked out to find a bunch of young teens are my offenders.
A girl with short hair and dark skin stood in front of me arms crossed and suspicious look on her face. "Who are you, "Caleb"?" "I'm a member of the rebellion." "Then how come we've never seen you before?" "I tend to stay with my team." "Yeah, well- that's actually a good point.." the girl stood back and scratched her head. "I guess I'm not that great with full frontal assaults.." she frowned. A girl with round glasses and green and black colored hair hugged the dark toned girl. "Awe, you did great Luzy! Keep it up and you'll be a full fledged rebellion member one day!" Raine walked up to the girls putting a hand on my shoulder as they passed by me. "Don't you think her parents should have a say in that?" The green haired girl gave a small smile. "Right, sorry Raine." "That's okay, Willow." Raine smiled back at the girl I now know as Willow.
"Anyway, guys this is Caleb Williams. He's one of the newer members of our rebellion." "That's so awesome!" The girl I know as Luz yelled. "Who's team are you in!?" "Commander Darius'." A short dark skinned boy looked a little nervous but laughed. "That must be tiring. He kinda scares me sometimes." A girl with purple and brown hair stepped forward looking ready to accuse me of murder. "You don't look that much older than us, how are you allowed to fight!?" Raine chose that moment to separate me from the young teens he watches over, unknowingly saving my skin. "Calm down everyone. Caleb is 19. Caleb, this is Amity. The shorter boy is Gus, the girl with the glasses is Willow, and the girl up front is my daughter Luzy. And my other two should be coming back soon."
I had heard about Raine having kids but I never really thought about it. It's kind of strange to see a small girl Raine with orange in her hair. "Well, it's uh, nice to meet you guys." Raine's daughter, Luzy cocked her head to the side. "Where'd you get that scar?" I quickly covered the prominent scar on my cheak with my gloved hand. "Um.." "Okay! Let's get some food." Raine shouted. All of the kids left Raine and me alone.
"Hey," Raine spoke softly putting his hand to mine still hovering my facial scar. "Don't think about it. She didn't know. You look wonderful, especially with your scars." Raine wiped an escape tear off my cheek and stood up straight. (Hehehe, straight? definitely not.) "Let's get some food." I nodded, "Sounds good."
Raine and I sat down at the wooden table with everyone else. Usually I'd have to eat with Darius and my team members but if I'm with Raine around this time I'd eat in the teens hall kitchen. Sadly, today I was finally caught so I have to eat at the table with Raine's group. Raine's daughter looked down at her plate before speaking. "Hey, sorry for asking about your scar. I didn't think it would upset you." "That's okay." It wasn't.
After everyone had eaten two kids burst in. One was short, he probably wasn't all that old. He had orange hair in the back and a bright blue green in the front. The boy had one green and one yellow eye with caramel skin. The other was a girl, she looked to be the same age as Luzy. She had light skin and bright minty hair like Raine's with a few streaks of orange and she had bright yellow eyes.
The boy yelled, "Papa! Papa! Mom's back!" Raine smiled and pushed back the table as Luzy took off running after the boy and girl. Raine grabbed my hand, "Come on. Let's make sure these kids don't get too rowdy." All of the rest of the group followed the three kids to the front of camp where they had opened up security as a team was coming back.
It was Eda's.
Eda's team is known to be the most powerful and rambunctious team out of all of us. It's the team people either want to be a part of or want to stay as far away from as possible. I'm part of the first half, but Darius is part of the second.
Raine let go of my hand and split the crowed as he ran over to Eda and kissed her lips. Yep, Eda is Raine's wife. And I assume the two kids who burst in are Raine's other kids, Kingden and Vienna.
The purple haired girl, I think her name was Amity. Was approached by two taller looking kids a girl and a boy, no doubt twins, who trapped her in a hug. Strange though, they don't look old enough to be fighting. The same happened to Willow, the girl with green and black hair and glasses. But she was hugged by a man looking similar to her, probably her father. It seems most of the kids Raine looks after have family in Eda's group.
"Caleb!" Raine called. I went over to them and their three kids along with their terrifying mother I've heard whispers of being called the owl beast, probably for good reason too. "This is my wife, Eda. Eda, this is Caleb. He's in Darius' team. Helps me with the kiddos." "Well then," she said having me petrified. "It's nice to meet ya kid! Names Eda Clawthorn-Whispers." She held out a hand that I hesitantly shook. "Caleb Williams." "Never heard of a Williams.. is it human?" I shamefully nodded looking at the ground. "My dad was human. My mom was a witch." Witches and humans both look down on halflings we don't belong in human or witch society. "Well, that's okay!" She said surprising me. "I love humans! It's been a while since I met a halfling though. How you guys holding up?" "Not sure," I admitted. "I've never met one. Only witches." Mrs. Eda looked confused, "Well what about your dad?" I simply shrugged. "Died before I could meet him." Before I got any looks of half felt pitty I looked to Raine. "Sorry, but Commander Darius probably needs me by now. I'll come by to help you with lunch again tomorrow." Then I simply left.
I didn't know then that there wouldn't be any time for Raine and me to make lunch together for a long time after that.
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Feelings?
Words 1,734
Finished 2/7/23
