Chapter Text
“Hello, ma’am? Are you awake?”
Rayla heard faint voices all around her. She wasn’t sure who the voices were, and frankly they weren’t even familiar. All she knows was that it was a voice of a woman, and that it had a thick accent.
“Ma’am?”
She felt cold water splashed in her forehead and she jolted awake.
“Wha… What? Who are you?”
An earthblood elf was holding a cold and wet towel, which was apparently being put into her forehead and neck. The earthblood woman looked relieved, “you’re finally awake! You’ve been asleep for 3 days. I’m glad”
Rayla put her palm to her forehead. She was lightheaded and nauseous, probably from sitting up a bit too fast. She breathed in and looked around. A hut. I am in the earthblood village.
All she remembers was running, leaping, almost flying back to Xadia to track down Viren again. After Callum announced that he was having an affair, her rage boiled to the point of wanting to kill. Everyone was at danger with her, so she proceeded to flee.
For days she had been running, tracking Viren again from her latest lead, barely stopping for food or drink. She didn’t care anymore. It was her promise to Callum that made her eat and drink, that made her want to stay alive – but now, Callum doesn’t love her, he cheated on her, he made love to another woman not her. Tears didn’t come. She had no more tears to spare. All she wanted was to kill.
Kill the man responsible for it all.
Viren.
Somehow, in the middle of her rage-filled hunt, she passed out for days… probably more than three.
“I was really worried ‘bout you. You’ve been having high fever and dehydration since Terry found you. We almost though you’d never make it.”
Rayla stood up, “thank you for your hospitality but I must go now” she said sternly, and walked to the door.
“No, wait. Please, stay. You still need to rest, you’re in a real bad shape.” the earthblood woman pleaded, she even sounded desperate.
“I appreciate your kindness, but I’m afraid I must really go-“ Rayla stopped when the earthblood woman held her hand, almost begging. “I know you’re a hero, we’ve all heard the stories about you. But this isn’t about you anymore.”
Rayla sounded confused, she looked back to the woman and was touched by the tenderness she received despite… well, everything. Her legs felt jiggly as if she’s going to fall down any time soon, and she did.
The earthblood woman caught her and assisted her to bed. Rayla didn’t feel right accepting this stranger’s help. She strived to stand up again, but her legs failed her. The woman helped her lay down.
“Ma’am, please… take it easy. I’ve already sent word to you father. He will be coming to fetch you anytime.”
“Fetch me? Why?” Rayla was struggling to keep her eyes open, they were heavy, hot, and weak. But she wanted to take a look at this woman, her healer. “Who are you?”
“I’m Pandi, I am an earthblood healer. You are in my hut.” Pandi replied, seeming to calm down.
“What was so urgent that you even decided to send word to my father without my permission?” Rayla asked sternly. Even if they did it with kindness, privacy was privacy. Moonshadow culture upheld that firmly and of course it was obvious that she was a moonshadow elf. She felt violated.
“We are really sorry, but like I said… this isn’t about you anymore…”
Rayla felt her heart beat even faster… What does that even mean?
“You’re pregnant”