DISCONTINUED - Promise // Ray X Reader

15 | Caves

"Guys! Let's take a break. We should eat breakfast." Emma said, cheers exploding from the children. It was our first morning of freedom, and it was nothing like I could have imagined. The trees were nothing compared to the ones back at Glory Bell and Grace Field, they were huge. The children had enough trouble climbing over roots, and they were exhausted. I could admit I was starting to slow down as well,

"Emma, (Y/N), aren't you guys eating with us?" A boy named Chris ran to us, as we patrolled the tree they were eating by. The tree at the bottom had separated into a path down along the middle, inside the children huddled under like a little cover from anything above.

"Nope We're going to keep an eye out right here. So go on and eat in peace with everyone else." Emma patted his head, and I nodded along, ushering him back. I stretched my back, cracking my knuckles as I looked around at our new surroundings. When you're in a new environment like this, not knowing what to expect, you don't know how to act. There's no pretty small leaves blowing around, or trees you could easily climb up. As I was lost in thought, someone came behind me and Emma and hit my head with something of glass and liquid inside.

"Yoooooow-" Ray said, as I ducked after and rubbed my head, I knew a bump would be forming later.

"Yow? What the hell does that mean?" I asked, turning around and flipping him off, which made Emma grab my hand and clasp it tightly. It seemed like her parental instincts were on overdrive, and I stuck out my tongue and laughed.

"This isn't the territory of a savage beast or anything. I don't see any footprints, claw marks or droppings of that sort. Usually there are traces you can spot. Just like when we play tag. You two are too eager. I'll keep watch. You guys need rest too." He looked around, handing glasses of water to us, and we thanked him.

"Sorry." He said, just as we were going to the group of children, that made us stop. Him? Sorry? It surprised me, but for what?

"If I had been cooperative from the beginning maybe you guys wouldn't have lost a good chunk of your ear, or for Emma; hurt her hand." He said, as a hand went up to my ear, I felt the cloth covering the wound. I did cut off more than I would have liked, that left a big hole that wasn't so pleasant to wash. Anna had to stuff gauze in that hole before putting more bandages, and right by my ear hearing all of that happen, it made me feel a little faint.

"Don't worry about it. As long as you're alive and smiling, that's all I need." Emma smiled, I watched as I took a long drink of water, then coughing after. The ashes hadn't seemed to leave my lungs yet, and I was holding in this cough for a while. It seemed like I would never stop, Emma coming over to pat my back. Once I was done, Ray still stayed silent, not waving us goodbye or telling us to leave.

"I also apologized to Anna earlier. You know what she said? She pushed it aside, and they all sung me happy birthday. Even though I was about to leave them behind. They still care about me. When I don't deserve it." He admitted, turning around at us, his ears tinted a little pink. Embarrassment or tears ready to flow out? I watched carefully, I didn't know how to react from this sudden change of his mind.

"I'll live. I'll live and protect this family. Everyone in this family, even you." He looked over at me, as I closed the lid to the jug securely, and I gave him a smug look.

"This time, for sure, I vow. No matter what happens, I'll never abandon them again. So you guys don't have to bear this burden all on your own. We'll create it together, a world where we can live as a family. All of us." He said, Gilda waving me and Emma over, two children at her side holding bread for us.

"Okay." Emma tearfully said, then us waving to Ray to go eat breakfast. We grabbed our rolls gratefully, but then headed back to Ray, taking our time to savor the slightly stale bread. Though it wasn't as good as it was back at the orphanage, it tasted even better now knowing we wouldn't have to be stuck in that slaughter house ever again.