time- after zym was hatched
(in this I twisted it so that rayla's binding didn't come off right after zym hatched because he needs to learn to trust her as well as them finding a cave to stay in instead of staying with the illusionist first, other than that same plot)
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Everyone was tired from the days work and travel it was cold and windy, the trio found shelter in a small cave ledge quickly after hatching zym, "Do you think there is any trees around for a fire?" Callum asked as the three put their little belongings down. Ezran gave a shrug and continued to coo lightly to zym, Rayla gave a quick glance to the mouth of the cave as the bright silvery moon lit up the entrance and gave a small shrug before looking back to the princes "No harm in checking I'll be back in a bit." she said walking down the small mountain they had climbed earlier and soon came across a small forest she reached for one of her blades glistening in the light and she climbed a tree cutting dry branches that would be fit for fire-wood using mainly her good hand only using her bound one if needed, but with every nick of her hand she winced and held it to her chest often dropping the wood. Nonetheless, she continued until she got to the base of the mountain and started her short climb.
"Hey I'm back," she said walking into the dimly lit cave he steps echoing a bit. "Oh good wood I was getting pretty cold so were zym and bait." Ezran said looking up from the creatures. Callum was quiet trying to draw with the little light he had. Rayla laid the wood down in a small tepee shape and grabbed the flint they had brought along to build a fire, a spark eventually formed and burst into a larger flame with every breath Rayla fed it. She stood up and brushed her hands on her pants "That should do." she said with a sigh. Callum looked up at her "Oh hey Rayla when did you get back?" he asked confused.
"Ummmm a while ago you're pretty invested into that drawing aren't cha?"
"Yea sorry."
"What'cha drawing anyways?" she asked curiously looking over the top of the leather bound sketchbook. She sat down next to him looking over his shoulder at his drawing "....the primal stone?" she asked. Callum gave a small nod "Yeah it was really pretty and the lightning was so intricate it was just memorizing." he said in a small daze as he looked into the fire then quickly back to his book. Rayla gave a small nod and a smile content just watching him draw she loved to watch him draw when she was younger she tried to draw a couple times but it never turned out right along with her intense training she never really found the time or real motivation to sit and work on a piece. The three sat in the cave telling stories and other things to pass the time. Ezran let out a small yawn "Hey I think zym and bait are tired I might make sure they go to sleep night guys." Callum looked over to his brother "Alright whatever you say Ez." he said with a light-hearted smile. "Sleep well," Rayla said giving him a small wave as he walked to the other side of the cave to lie down on his makeshift bed near the fire. About an hour or two passed, Callum let out a weak yawn. "I'm gonna go check the perimeter," Rayla said standing up with a stretch. Callum let another small yawn escape "Yea I'm gonna go to bed ya know better for traveling." he said.
"Okay sure," Rayla said walking to the mouth of the cave, checking the perimeter cleared her mind as she ran quickly through the trees and sides of the mountain, she could feel the silver light of the moon race through her as she ran. "Nothing fun," she muttered walking back to the cave, with every few steps and moving of her hand she would wince it wasn't getting better it was now a dark violet the binding squeezing her hand, a snake going in for a kill squeezing the breath and life force out of the prey it had wrapped itself around. Rayla's eyes started to grow heavy and headed back to the cave once again ignoring the excruciating pain in her hand which had grown to her upper arm. She thought of Runnan how he had been bound on the bicep her father figure probably in as much pain 'weak, selfish brat, you're just like your parents, a coward running' a voice hissed in her head she wanted to cry and tell the voice it was wrong. But was it? Rayla walked into the small cave and slumped silently against the wall in a small corner she felt she was growing smaller and smaller it felt with every growing moment of the pain. Tears started to form in the corner of her eyes 'crying of course what a disappointment' the voice hissed louder than before she bit the inside of her cheek and held in small whimpers of pain 'you're the reason Callum lost his stone, you almost killed the dragon prince, you let fear get in the way of the journey, why do you think they would trust you ? hesitate, coward!' it was now screaming at her ears ringing binding feeling as tight as before her fingers starting to look mangled. She held her wrist but it hurt just as bad she let everything go choked tears rolling down her cheeks she couldn't hear anything she felt like she was deaf. "I'm not a coward.....I-I'm their friend." she whimpered to herself 'you think they would actually want you there?' it spat with a laugh 'probably just scared you're going to kill them if they try to leave' it snapped. Rayla had nothing more to say just chocked out quiet sobs while clutching her hand.
Callum was restless not to mention the small amount of noise he heard he looked over to Ezran was sleeping peacefully Zym and Bait under his arm like a stuffed toy. The noise continued he couldn't tell what it was....it was muffled and coming from inside of the cave he hadn't heard Rayla come back he stood up and looked around. The fire was low now just embers jumping around the wood like fleas, he looked around waiting for his eyes to adjust to the low lighting. He saw a small hunched figure in the corner the noise stopped as he looked at it. He had only a guess to who it could be but didn't want to believe in his guess Rayla is one of the strongest people he knew she laughs in the face of danger and fear. To see her like that it hurt it was so....not Rayla. He walked closer to the figure still hoping she was still out checking the perimeter.
'See what you've done now he's gonna see that you're weak, that you're worthless, that you can't do anything right, that you can't be trusted!' it howled madly. Rayla tried to hide more into the shadows hoping he would think it was just a shadow and go away but to her dismay he did not, she knew he was too smart to think that. He came closer sitting on his toes. He looked at her trying to see her face she just looked down more eyes puffy and red from tears. "Thought you were tired," she said with a smile still refusing to meet his eyes. 'What a coward won't even look him in the eyes typical.' it said with a scoff. Rayla bit down hard on her cheek a ball forming in her throat. "Rayla, what happened?" he asked softly, she didn't answer. He came a bit closer now on his knees a hand on her shoulder "What happened....it can't be that bad I bet I've done worse whatever it is." a smile started to grow on his lips as he spoke. Rayla shook her head she couldn't say anything the pain was just about unbearable, Callum came closer "Rayla what's going on?" worry laced his voice as he spoke. Rayla opened her mouth the speak a quiet feeble pained scream came out of her mouth as she shifted she wanted to tell him what it was but couldn't bring herself to do so. Callum looked to where her hand was, clutching the other one he looked at her in surprise finally able to see her tear stained face. More tears fell, he drew closer wrapping his arms around her she was tense as he hugged her rubbing circles into her back. Rayla became less tense within a couple of minutes still crying softly, her face now nuzzled into his shoulder, trembling. Callum spoke softly to Rayla as they sat not moving, she had stopped crying after a bit still clutching her hand "Why do you trust me?" she asked him words muffled from his scarf that was currently in her face. "why wouldn't I?" he asked.
"Because I almost killed you, almost got the dragon prince killed, and was a total jerk a lot of the time."
"Well I'm glad you didn't kill me, the only reason you dropped the egg was because we didn't trust you and that binding, and I was a jerk too we all are sometimes."
Callum's voice was calming and soothed Rayla. It was warm and inviting like honey. Rayla's eyes were the weight of lead along with Callums' warmth and voice it was a recipe for disaster she soon fell asleep nudging closer to him.
Callum didn't know what he was doing when he hugged Rayla he thought she would push him away if anything, but she didn't she was vulnerable he had never seen her like that it hurt him to see such a strong person so diminished. He felt her breathing start to steady as he continued rubbing circles into her back she looked peaceful despite the pain he knew she was in. Callum moved a bit hopping he wouldn't wake Rayla slumping down a bit becoming more comfortable. He pulled her closer up onto his chest and felt Rayla's heart pound a familiar rhythm on his chest. Callum nuzzled his face into Rayla's hair avoiding the small horns poking out from her snowy hair. "we'll fix this I promise." he said a fond smile growing across his face as he fell asleep.
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Hi wow first thing that's nice
should I do their reactions in the morning? Will Rayla's hand fall off?
spoiler alert
probably not :)
