The Aftermath

Chapter 3: Arrival

The group was walking along the mud-filled path with relative haste as the day was nearing its climax. Callum and Rayla were exchanging stories about the adventures that had already passed. But also, in their minds, they seemed to be building new ones that might flourish with time.

Callum walked along with Rayla by his side as he slowly leaned onto her and bumped into her to throw her off balance. But Rayla, being the trained warrior that she is, wasn't only not thrown off balance but counterattacked with a shoulder shove of her own which made Callum fall into a small pool of mud, this sent Rayla into a fit of laughter. Trying to hold the laughter in but being helpless against it she looked away as Callum frowned for a second then slowly a sly smile appeared on his face. He loved seeing her like that, laughing, having the time of her life.

That's what at the end made her Rayla. Made her the Elven woman he loved so much. And that's why he had to throw some mud at that perfect pale face. SPLAT! The mud ball landed square on her face. Now it was Callum's turn to have a laughing fit. He laughed and rolled around in the mud laughing whole-heartily.

Then out of nowhere, Rayla threw herself at him, wrestling with him as they both rolled in the mud together. Laughing and giggling. They finally stopped rolling and found themselves one on top of the other, it was a cliché but nevertheless a romantic moment. Rayla pinning Callum to the ground being within a few centimeters away from his face, they both shared the same air for a bit, felt the heat of each other's skin, their eyes fixated into one another. Rayla's heart all over the place and Callum's face being 3 different tones of red. Rayla smiled and slowly inched towards Callum's face her eyes slowly closing with Callum mirroring what she was doing. He puckered his lips up to feel hers, but the feeling never came. After a bit, he opened his eyes only to see the treetops and some sun rays coming through, along with the worried faces of the guards that were accompanying them. He quickly stood up and cleaned himself up.

"Uhm, Prince Callum are you okay? Did she do this you?" One of the guards said looking over at Rayla, that was walking down the path.

Callum looked at her smiling as if she had won a chess match that he didn't even know they were playing. "Nope, I did it to myself... I'll need to be a bit more careful..."

After a while of walking, they all reached the Banther Lodge's clearing. Callum dismissed the Guards even though they insisted in escorting them to the building itself. The Guards insisted again but with another annoyed looked from Callum, they all started to head back. He finally let out a relieved sigh and picked up a couple of bags for them, food, some special supplies, and enough water to last them a bit longer than 5 days. He walked back to where Rayla was, staring up at the cabin in which she had hidden in all those weeks ago.

"Having a nice callback?" Callum said as he pulled their stuff into the cabin. Rayla chuckled.

"Yes, you dummy of course I am thinking about those times where your aunt almost slit meh throat," She said with a sarcastic tone. "Oh, lemme help you out!" Callum pulled the back closer and carried it inside.

"No, no, I got it," He said a sweating a bit. Rayla raised an eyebrow. He opened the doors to the cabin and looked around. "All this space for the two of us!" He said out loud as he put their things to the side.

"For the two of us only, huh?" Rayla said putting her hands together and looking at them intently. "No Ezran... no Zym..." she continued looking down with Callum beside her.

"Don't forget Bait!" He said quickly.

"Ah yes Bait! How could I uh... forget" Rayla remarked.

Callum nodded while also rubbing his arm. There was a bit of awkward silence between the two as they thought of the possibilities of them both being alone. Their young teenage minds both revolving into the many things they could do. Rayla was the first to break the silence.

"I'll go uhm... check the perimeter! See if there are any rebel groups around that your Aunt told us about!"

"Uhm you know she technically doesn't sp-"

"Oh yeah, yeah, but like how she uhm... JUST STAY HERE!" She ran off with a slight blush running across her face. Callum was left alone with his thoughts and a bag full of special supplies. Which both were perfect for what he had prepared for tonight. He went for the handles of the big doors and closed them in front of him.