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Rayla was sitting on the steps leading into the nest of the Dragon Queen, under the large archway. The dragon prince, Azymondias, next to her. She sat there waiting for something to happen. Watching the entrance of the room with an unrelenting, focused gaze. Viren was coming, and he was bringing an army of monsters, all for the prince. All for a war.
She had only learned yesterday that her parents were the only two in the dragonguard to stay, and to fight to protect Zym. Except for her, now. And that was food for thought. But there was so much more to think about. This could be her very last battle, her very last day. And she was going over a million memories. It was scary. She was terrified. She could tell Zym was, too.
She looked at the sunlight drifting into the room. She stared at the open blue sky just outside, white, fluffy clouds dotting it. She noticed the ornate carvings in the stone. She was just taking everything in until there was nothing else to take note of, every beautiful scrap of her surroundings familiarized. It was important to do so, to prepare for any combat. And so oddly calming.
All she could do now was watch, and think.
And that's when her mind took her back to another memory.
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Rayla was five years old, and her parents were about to leave Silvergrove. Almost everybody was gathered around, wishing safe travels and giving farewells. To them, it was a grand occasion- two elves going off to protect the dragon king. But to Rayla, it was her parents leaving and she couldn't fully understand why. She was hugging her parents. "Why do you gotsta go?" She asked quietly.
Tiadrin tucked some stray hairs on Rayla's head back behind her ear. "We have to go protect the king." She answered.
Lain crouched down next to Rayla. "Don't fret, RayRay, you'll get to stay with Runaan and Ethari." He said, looking over at his two bestfriends standing in the crowd.
Rayla crossed her arms. "I don wanna go with Wunaan and Ethawi! I wanna go with you!" she protested.
Tiadrin frowned. "I know. But it's not a job for a wee one like you."
Lain had a guilty expression on his face. "We'll visit so often you'll be sick of us." He said, doing his best to comfort her.
That made her feel a little bit better. But she still didn't want them to go. Why couldn't the dragon king protect himself?
Tiadrin peered at Rayla, and raised an eyebrow. "Momma?" Rayla said, curious.
Her mother looked at her ear. "Hmm, have you got somethin behind your ear?" She asked. Rayla was fairly certain she didn't but watched, confused, as Tiadrin reached behind her pointed ear. And then her confusion turned to shocked joy as her mother's hand came back with a bright yellow Adoraburr.
"Momma how?!" She asked, eyes wide.
Lain chuckled as Tiadrin handed the Adoraburr to Rayla, and proceeded to do little jazz hands. "Maaaagic!" That was explanation enough for her, and she gave the adoraburr a little pat. Her parents wrapped her up in a big hug. "Goodbye. We'll visit soon." Lain assured her. Then, the two got up, and held hands as they walked into the forest and out of sight. Rayla watched as they left, holding the adoraburr in her hands. Her momentary excitability turning into realization.
Ethari walked over to her, with a small smile and a sympathetic look in his eyes. "How about we go over to my house? I made some sweets earlier." He said, offering his hand out to Rayla. She held the adoraburr in one hand, and reached up and took his hand with the other. He guided her back to the house, and Runaan followed behind them.
Rayla was unusually quiet for the duration of the walk. When they arrived, Ethari opened up the door.
The house was a familiar sight- the big, beautiful silver colored entranceway. The pillars that held up a portion of roof going over the entrance. The walls that went into the tree itself. Large branches overhead providing shade, and risen roots of the tree. Rayla stopped outside, letting go of Ethari's hand. "Im gonna go on da twee." She said, pointing over to the tree that the house was built into.
Ethari and Runaan looked at eachother, exchanging glances. "I'll ah, just go and set the table." Ethari said, going inside.
Runaan leaned against the doorway, looking out at the rest of Silvergrove, and keeping Rayla in his view.
She walked over to the tree itself, climbing up onto one of the risen roots. It took a little bit of work, but after a couple minutes she got to the top and sat down, her back facing the trunk. She curled her legs close to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs. The Adoraburr sat on her knee, letting out a concerned 'coo'. She was missing her parents already. After a short while, she started to cry, sniffling softly. So many emotions, that were so difficult for her to process.
Runaan looked over at her, hearing the child cry. He moved from where he was standing and walked over to the oversized root that Rayla was sitting on. He easily climbed up, and slowly crouched down infront of Rayla. She looked up at him.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay, wee fella." He said softly, his tone gentle and soothing. Rayla looked down at the woodbark. Runaan was silent for a moment. "How about we go eat those sweets Ethari made? And then after, go into the grasslands and play with more adoraburrs?" He suggested. Rayla nodded, picked up the adoraburr that she had at present, and reached her arms out to Runaan. He picked her up, and then carefully slid off the root with her in his arms. And carried her over back to the house.
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She snapped out of it, a small, sad smile playing at her lips. She felt those past emotions, and that bittersweet feeling from looking back on it all. She looked over to her left, at Zym. He was only a little baby, faced with such an awful situation. She felt sad for him, and all that he was experiencing. Regretful that all of this had happened and yet so glad it had. If it hadn't, she would never have met Callum and Ezran. She supposed that was selfish.
She looked on as he paced around the bottom of the staircase, with the occasional nervous squeak. She got to her feet, and walked down the staircase. Her footsteps against the stonework echoed through the large room. She went next to Zym, and kneeled down next to him. Her eyes showed all of her worry- and yet, there was a comforting, gentle tone, too.
"Hey... it's gonna be okay, wee fella."