The Dark Crystal : The Dark Order

The Confession

Rian
His eyelids fluttered open. As the first beams of sun slipped through the tree leaves, he smiled. Deet shifted in her sleep. He grinned at her, she was still cuddled in between his arms.
"Good morning," She said. Rian looked down at her.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked. Deet leaned back against him again.
"Better than ever, Rian." She replied. "Just a little bit nervous." Rian kissed her forehead softly.
"Don't be. You'll be fine." She looked up at him, serious now.
"Do you mind if we... um..." Rian shook his head.
"If you want to keep this private, it's alright." Deet smiled at him.
"Thank you," She whispered. Gurjin stirred beside them. Deet cast an apologetic glance at Rian and shuffled to her own tree.
Kylin sat down beside him. Rian turned to him.
"You didn't, uh-"
"I won't tell anyone, I promise." Kylin said.
"Thanks." Rian replied. "How much further do we have to go?"
"We'll be stopping for one more sleep, unless we set off very soon." Rian looked over at the slumbering Naia.
"Have fun waking up Naia!" Rian jeered, dashing into the distance.

They set off one last time. Rian walked in front of Deet protectively.
"Rian, can we talk?" A voice asked. He spun around and narrowed his eyes at the Vapra Traitor.
Rian glanced back at Deet. She nodded reassuringly.
"Oh, yes, of course!" He said. Brea took his hand and led him away. He felt repulsed at her touch, knowing it was the same hand that had torn Deet's wing.
"What is it?" Rian asked once they were as far as Brea saw fit.
"Rian, do you remember when we reunited in Stone in the Wood?" She asked.
"Yes, I do." He replied, shuffling his feet.
"I was going to tell you what I am now." She took a deep breath. "I-" A scream echoed through the air.
"Deet!" Rian, without a second glance at Brea, sprinted back to his friends. Gurjin, Kylin, and Naia were stood, swords drawn.
In front of them was one of the most horric creatures Rian has ever seen. It had two long, scaled arms with gruesome pinchers connected to a wrinkled body. A dirty black shell was hiding its spine.
It turned to Deet with glowing purple eyes, letting out a fearsome growl.
"No!" Rian leapt in front of her, brandishing his sword. He had left the Dual Glave back in his hut, worried he might not return and the Glave would be lost or robbed from his body.
The creature hissed and clicked its claws at him. Kylin and Gurjin appeared beside him and stabbed at the monster.
"Get me up!" Rian commanded. Kylin bent down onto his knees, exposing his back. Rian placed a foot just aside of his spine and boosted himself into the air, slipping through the creature's claws and landing on its shell. He clung to it by his fingertips, shouting undetectable words. Rian clumsily reached for his sword and brought it to the creature's neck. As he finally balanced the blade the scaly neck, he felt a searing pain in his right hand.
"Rian!" Deet cried from the ground. Rian pulled himself free from the horrible pincher and forced his sword through the thick neck. The creature wobbled as the head fell away. Gurjin grabbed Rian's shirt and tugged him from the shell. He fell back on the ground, feeling the pain from his hand ripple through his arm right to his toes.
"Rian, are you alright?" Deet was shaking his shoulders.
"Deet, don't shake him so, you'll make him dizzy!" Brea shoved her aside.
"No!" Rian cried out, slightly delusional. "Deet!" At her name, she appeared back at his side.
"It's alright, Rian." She soothed. "I'm here. I'll always be here." She kissed his forehead. "He needs to rest. We cannot rush him." Naia nodded. Rian snuggled into Deet, oblivious to Brea's furious look.
"What was that thing?" Gurjin said, in the distance.
"I'm not sure, but for all we know, those claws could be poisonous."
"Sleep, Rian." Deet told him. "You'll feel better once you're rested."
"Sing." He said simply. Deet smiled at him and sung a lullaby. Rian could not make out the words, but her voice comforted him all the same. He closed his eyes, clutched Deet's hand and gave into sleep.

Rian awoke almost three days later, in a makeshift tent, crafted from sticks and leaves. Deet was sat beside him, stroking his hair absentmindedly.
"Deet," He murmured. She let out a cry of happiness and kissed him on the lips boldly.
"Oh, you're finally awake!" She cried, hugging him tightly. He sat up and stared at her.
"What did Brea do?" He asked her quietly. She shook her head.
"It doesn't matter, Rian. You're awake now, she won't come for me anymore." He grabbed her hand, and studied the side of her dress. There were three small rips, stained on the side with thick blue liquid.
"What's all this blue stuff?" He asked her.
"I, uh-"
"It's blood, isn't it?" He said flatly. She nodded slowly. Rian jumped to his feet and drew his blade.
"Rian, stop it!" Deet cried. He stared through the leaves.
"I'll kill her. I swear to Thra, she'll be dead by morning." Deet grabbed his hand.
"Stop it!" She begged him. "You're not a murderer, Rian!" He looked back at her.
"God, what's wrong with me?" He dropped back down on the grass.
"Nothing's wrong with you!" She assured him. Rian grinned at her.
"I guess people do crazy things when they're in love." He said, and kissed her. They sat together, Deet cuddled into his chest, until Gurjin tumbled into the tent. Deet sat back abruptly.
"You're awake!" He said, choosing to ignore Deet's suspicious actions. "When did you wake up?"
"About an hour ago," Rian told him. Gurjin nodded.
"What's bothering you, Gurjin?" Deet asked, her brow furrowing.
"The shard of the resistance... it's missing."