Bracken x reader (Fablehaven)

Chapter 4

I awoke to a bright light emanating from the pond surrounding the shrine. Blinking, I looked at Bracken as he shrugged with a knowing smirk, a flash made me close my eyes and when I opened them again Raxtus was standing in front of us.

"Raxtus" I cried rushing forward to throw my arms around him. He smiled as much as a dragon could anyway and greeted us," hi kendra. Bracken long time no see." he said bowing as he referred to Bracken, he turned to see warren, "your the guy with the punctured lung, small world huh.". Raxtus finished blushing.

"This is our reinforcements?" Warren asked concerned,"Think of me as your transportation and you will feel less disappointed.". Raxtus replied, embarrassed. " We are honored to have your help Raxtus." bracken said, astonished. Raxtus looked the other way and said "i've been here before this is the sealed shrine, is that little door the only way out?"he said, sighing.

"I'm afraid so." Bracken said, "You're small for a dragon but not that small." Warren said, his body is about the size of a large horse. " don't worry, I'm used to humiliation." Raxtus said, sighing" what are you talking about?" I asked confused.

"Take your pick on this occasion, however I'm talking about my avatar."

"Your avatar is a unique wonder!" bracken said affronted, "my avatar is a wimpy little fairy boy" Raxtus replied changing the subject," anyway what's the plan where do you guys need to get to.". "We need to get to shipbreaker ford, one of the eternals resides there we need to help protect them." I said fidgeting with my bracelet. " i can't believe its come down to this." Raxrus said in a hushed whisper, tears stung my eyes until I blinked them away.

" i guess its time for me to change, do you guys mind looking away? '' he said as the three of us turned around. A bright flash came from behind my back and I felt Bracken's fingers lace between mine, I squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.

"You can turn around now." Raxtus said his voice at a higher pitch. Swiveling I saw a small boy, impishly handsome, Though he had wings he was a little too tall to be a fairy.In all honestly he was adorable until he saw me and Brackens hands still intertwined. He smirked and said "Shiara owes me 15 gold coins." joyfully. Bracken and I looked at him in shock," did you bet on us getting together." I asked incredulously. "Maybe" Raxtus said sheepishly.

Bracken was shaking with silent laughter, "we should get going" he said as Raxtus flew out of the hatch and the three of us followed. Once outside another flash resounded through the valley and in the place of the fairy boy Raxtus's dragon was back once more. He took flight and swooped the three of us into his claws, me and bracken in one and warren in the other. The pressure on my sides made me grit my teeth and clench my eyes shut.

Bracken looked at me worried, Raxtus are you doing ok.". "I'm fine you guys are lighter than I expected," he replied. " Is there a way you could loosen your grip slightly, Kendra is injured.". " what? Why didn't you say anything?" he said worriedly as the pressure on my sides decreased. " It's fine, I'm fine." I said glaring at Bracken." you can't go through everything yourself Kendra you have to let people help you." he said gently. " I know, thank you." I replied with a weak smile.

Raxtus continued gaining altitude in silence until a shrieking cry pierced the air, " the roc has spotted us." Raxtus said and he started putting more power into his wing strokes. " flip over so she can see me." Bracken said as Raxtus rolled to show his underbelly to the sky. With a magnified shout he said " Mighty simurgh like you i am numbered among the children of the dawn, lend us your skies windkeeper for our need is dire.". With a final roar the Roc veered away and went to presumably hunt other prey.

"She is well fed a simurgh would only eat a Unicorn in times of great famine." Bracken said with a sigh of relief, " don't get too comfortable, it seems the Roc gathered the attention of our enemies." I said as I spotted 3 harpies flying towards us. "How far to the edge of the preserve?". Warren asked. " Too far there is no way we'll make it if we're being pursued." Raxtus said as labored breaths racked his body. The desert kept distancing beneath us," you're going to drop me in about 3..2..1!." Warren said as Raxtus let him fall.

Raxtsu dived as the air pummeled our bodies, Warren was fighting a harpy in midair and cut off a wing causing the harpy to spiral to the ground. Raxtus rushed to the ground and snatched Warren from his free fall and pulled out into a level plane, we skimmed the ground and Raxfus dropped us as he pulled back up into the air and vanished from sight.

The harpies landed in front of us and I drew my scimitars, one in each hand. Warren drew his sword and Bracken the knife the fairies had found for him. I launched towards the nearest harpy with a quick slash of my right hand. I hacked off one of her wings and jumped backwards out of reach of her swing. Moving back in to engage, I ducked under her reach and slashed her opposite hand off. Each movement tore at the barely closed wounds at my sides, the harpy spun around disoriented and I leaped behind her and used both my swords to cleave her head from her shoulders.

I looked to the others to see how they had fared, Warren was clutching his shoulder while Bracken and Raxtus worked to heal him," did you get slashed?" i asked ," yea, you" he replied with labored breaths," no i'm fine" i said ignoring the twinge of pain at my sides. Warren breathed a sigh of relief as Bracken and Raxtus drew away. A sheen of sweat crested across Bracken's forehead.

He reached to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear when the world started to spin and I felt my knees buckle, "Kendra?" he cried, his voice filled with worry as I collapsed into his arms. The last thing I felt before I was lost to the conscious world completely was his arms swooping under me to cradle me close to his body.