Legend of Parocaav: The Quest for Redemption (First Draft)

Chapter XXXI: The Inn

The small room at the inn is silent for the night. Roku is sleeping in the bed, all snug and warm. Drayk cannot sleep though. He finds himself sitting on a small wooden chair with a green cushion. Skimming through pages of an 'Oro City History' book, he lets out a yawn. Finally he is starting to get tired. His eyes wander to Roku. She looks so cute to him when she sleeps. A map of the world can be seen above the desk and Drayk looks up at to study it.

"Wind Country is here, south of Earth, and east of the Sea of Souls.... Fire Country is way on the other side of the planet," Drayk whispers to himself, "With having to cross the least amount of water as possible.... ah there. We'll travel further east through Ice Country."

"You still awake?" Roku asks softly, still half asleep.

"Yeah. I was just checking out the map," Drayk says back to her, keeping his voice down.

"Come to bed."

These words send a warmth to Drayk's face and butterflies in his stomach. Blowing out the candle, he climbs into bed next to Roku, laying on his back. She reaches over him and lays her head on his chest. His heart started racing, hoping she didn't notice. Roku smiles to the sound of his heartbeat in her ear, slowly falling back to sleep.

Later on~

Light shines into the room, illuminating it with daylight. Drayk opens his eyes to see Roku still sleeping on his chest. Letting out a yawn, he gently rubs Roku's back. He tries to whisper in her ear but she isn't waking up. A few more moments laying together couldn't hurt anyone. A smile breaks across his face at the sight of her sleeping on him. He has never felt closer to anyone, not even his last girlfriend before he joined the Resistance. Worrying that she was lusting, he didn't want to say anything about how he feels with her.

She had never been with anyone before. Growing up on a mountain peak with Crito, Roku hasn't had much chance to know anyone until recent events. The thought of someone as outgoing and friendly as Roku being trapped on a mountain rattles Drayk's mind. Something like that would be torture. He had thought being lost at sea by himself for a few weeks was bad enough. That memory gave him chills.

The sound of a big yawn comes from Roku. Opening her eyes, she realizes where she is laying. Her face instantly burns red. She pulls the covers over her face as she rolls away from Drayk.

"Good morning!" She says rather loudly from under the blanket.

"Mornin' Roku," Drayk laughs.

"I've got dibs on the bathroom!" Roku shouts as she springs out of bed, "Gotta pee!"

The bathroom door slams shut. Drayk stands up and stretches all of his muscles. After a moment, the sound of running water squeaks from the other side of the door. Drayk sighs knowing he will now have to wait till she is done with her shower. Since he has time, he figures he should check out that map again. The Ice Country will be a rough and intense climate change compared to what they have been in. Winter is the only season there since Kraag was chased away from his throne. Another stop will have to be made before the venture off. Proper clothing and supplies will be needed if they are to cross the frozen desert.

Using a quill, Drayk marks their route on the map. This route is the most direct and involves the least amount of fighting bodies of water. Almost all of the Ice Clan has deserted their lands since the war began, and even more when they had lost their King.

Drayk can hear the water shut off, so he gathers up what he needs for his turn in the bathroom. When Roku opens the door, steam pours into the room. Roku is wrapped in a towel and is drying her hair with Wind Magic.

"Took long enough!" Drayk teases as he dashes into the bathroom.

Roku removes the towel once she hears water run. She quickly gets dressed, trying not to get walked in on. In the top drawer of the dresser was the gift from Joseff he had told her about in private. A small and flat white box with red ribbons tied around it sits in the drawer. Roku removes it and sits on the chair at the desk and pulls the ribbon off. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath before opening the box. Inside was a one piece baby outfit. The crest of Ice on the front of it. A name on the tag inside the neckline catches her attention. 'Riinah' is written on the tag. This was hers when she was a baby.

A picture sits inside the box, under where the clothing was. It was a picture of Kraag with her mother. She was in her mother's arms and smiling up at Kraag. Writing was on the back, but it was written in the ancient writing of the Ice Clan. Tears filled her eyes at sight she had only dreamed she'd ever see. Roku places the baby clothes back on top of the picture and closes the box. As she does, she notices the route drawn onto the map. Their path will take them straight through the Ice Capital. Drayk didn't plan this right?

Before she could give it another moment's thought, Drayk walked into the room. He only had a towel on around his wast. Roku kind of blushes and turns around to give him privacy. Drayk quickly gets dressed and sits in the bed to tie his shoes.

"Did you purposefully choose a path that would lead through Froz?" Roku asks, still facing away.

"It was the best route to choose," Drayk says softly, "Besides, even in ruins.... Froz is your hometown. You should at least see it."

"That's really sweet of you Drayk."

"You're not upset?"

Without answering, she twists her body to look at Drayk. Her eyes sparkle looking up at him. She looks into his eyes for a moment and then leans closer to him. Her face just now inches away from Drayk's. A feeling overtakes him. His mind goes blank and he gently kisses her lips.