Chapter Text
The sun was beginning to set as Scar was sat beneath a tree, humming a quiet tune to himself. He enjoyed sunset. It always brought the most beautiful oranges he's ever laid his eyes upon. The view beneath the tree just made it all just so much more gorgeous.
He sighed happily, looking down to the sleeping cat in his lap. He should return back home soon, but another hour or so wouldn't hurt. They already know where he is. They know he'll be safe, after all, not many would dare to venture that far into the wood.
Maybe that was the benefit of being an elf prince.
As soon as the sun began touching the horizon, he heard a branch snap and his head immediately turned towards the noise. He scrunched his eyes a little, trying to see if he could see anything, but there was nothing. He looked down to see his cat was gone and looked around before realizing she had cowered beneath his skirt.
"Hey. It's all safe now, Jellie." He cooed quietly, holding out his hand "The danger has passed" Jellie, his cat, tilted her head and sniffed his fingers before rubbing against them. She crawled back onto his lap and he sighed.
He was sure it was a deer who accidentally stepped on a branch. It happens a lot. Deers often enjoyed hanging around him. He wasn't going to complain, though.
Out the corner of his eye, he could see the movement and his blood ran cold when he realized that it wasn't a deer. It could be another person..
He looked at the mysterious figure and immediately saw it duck away. Huh.. Strange... "Hello..?" Scar asked, cautious. He kept his eye on where the creature could've gone, but he lost track of it almost as fast as he spotted it the first time.
When there was no response, Scar figured that maybe it was just his imagination. There's a reason why it's legended the wood is said to be haunted. It makes someone see something that isn't there.
He relaxed once again, but couldn't fight the feeling that he was being watched. He was rarely ever felt this paranoid unless someone truly was there. He's starting to think it's something more than his imagination.
"I know you're there" He glared into the trees surrounding, pulling his sword close to him "I'm not scared of you" He very much was scared of whatever was out there. He could fight, yes, but he was just so tired and he rather scared easily.
He saw a purple veiled figure walk out from the trees and Scar's eyes widened, recognizing the emblem on the other's clothes. This was someone of Watchers. A slight fear flooded through his bones, but also a strange.. Warmth.
Hm..
Scar opened his mouth to say something before the figure collasped onto the ground. Scar quickly stood up, scaring Jellie off his lap, as he dropped his sword and ran over to the other. He got on his knees, pulling the figure into his lap as he inspected for any wounds.
He cringed a little when he saw a nasty gash on the other's side and he carefully carried the Prince over to his belongings, setting him down in his lap once more. Scar pulled out his first aid and doing his best on cleaning up and wrapping the wound, being wary not to make the Prince too uncomfortable - even if he was out like a light.
Once Scar had finished, he laid the Prince beneath the tree before he walked laps around the small clearing. He was trying to figure out what the Prince was doing all the way out here. The kingdom he belonged to was at least a couple days travel by foot, but then again he had wings. Scar wasn't sure how long it would take for flying.
But still, what was he doing all the way out here? The Watchers held a reputation of being secretive, rarely ever leaving their own borders if they had no reason to. They enjoyed keeping to themselves, not willing to accept outside help because they think they're better than others.
Well.. That's what Scar's mother always told him.
He heard movement and saw the Prince had regained consciousness. He moved over to him and asked, his voice kind "How are you feeling..?"
The Prince screamed at the sudden new person and winced at his side. "Who are you? Where am I..?" The Prince demanded, glaring at the elf. Scar's eyes flicked away before he bowed slightly "I am Prince Scar of the Elven Kingdom. You are within the borders of the Elven Kingdom, specifically the forests that surround it"
The Prince looked at him silently, processing the information. He nodded slowly before saying "I see."
Silence filled the air. Scar wasn't sure if the Prince was going to introduce himself and he couldn't even think of what the Prince might want him to say.
"How are you feeling?" Scar asked, breaking the silence because voids the silence was hurting him. "I'm fine." The Prince responded back and the silence hit again. Scar didn't think someone could be this dry until he met this Prince.
"That's great!" Scar nodded before remembering that the Watcher Prince was still within the Elven Borders "What business do you have being here?" He asked.
"I have no business. I hadn't even realize I had flown into Elven Borders." The Prince explained calmly and Scar realized what happened. He nodded as he said "I see. That's why you we're injured, the guards had shot you down."
"I suppose that's what's happened" The Prince hummed, going to stand, but he immediately collapsed once again. Scar went to catch him, making sure he didn't hurt himself as he fell. He let the prince down slowly to the ground and murmured "Careful. Don't want you to get even more hurt"
The Prince glared at him, but stayed quiet. Scar let go of him as soon as he saw he was down on the ground and asked "Does your family know you're all the way out here?"
The Prince didn't answer the question, instead questioning him "Why are you helping me?" Scar blinked, not expecting that being an answer. He tilted his head before saying "Because it's a nice thing to do..? You might be an outsider and had come into Elven Borders without permission, it doesn't mean I should allow you to bleed out - especially now that I know you to be a Royal"
"How do you know I'm a royal?" The other seemed almost.. Panicked. Scar explained "You're dressed in clothes with the Watcher kingdom's emblem. It's not that hard to assume you're not old like the current ruler and you seem over dressed to be any servant working."
The Prince stared at him with what Scar would assume was surprise. Scar knew he could come off as an idiot, but he didn't think someone could assume he's that dumb. "So. Does your family know you're all the way out here..? I.. Would rather my mom doesn't have a case of kidnapping under her name"
The Prince shook his head and Scar was semi panicked "Okay... Do they even know you're out..?" The Prince was still for a moment before he hesitantly shook his head again. Scar gasped excitedly "Did you run away?" He grinned excitedly, to which the prince shouted "No! I just.. Like flying out on my own to clear my mind."
Scar slowly frowned "Oh. That's less fun" The Prince slightly scoffed and Scar said "Do you know your way back home?" The Prince paused in thought before shaking his head no. Scar nodded in response "Okay. Sounds great. I think there's a map back at the castle to the path leading to your kingdom"
"I'm not going to your castle." The Prince seemed... Terrified at the thought. "Well... You kinda have to. It's getting dark out here and you would not be able to survive that long - especially in your state. There's creatures in the dark that lurk and aren't afraid to feast on you" Scar said casually, looking to the skyline.
The sun was barely visible now. Crap. He sucked in a breath and said "If we'd like to live, I really have to get you back to the castle.."
The Prince shook his head "Absolutely not. I'm not. I'll be fine sleeping in a tree. I should be able to find my way back home by morning" Scar furrowed his brows "Wouldn't that just be uncomfortable?" "No." The Prince huffed.
"It wouldn't be fair of me to just leave you stuck in this forest"
"I'll be fine."
"I don't trust you when you say that"
"Trust me - don't trust me - I know I'll be fine"
"It'll live on my consciousness if you die tonight"
"Oh well"
Scar gave him puppy dog eyes "Just let me take you back? I'm not going to stop begging" The Prince huffed and crossed his arms "Fine. Only because we're wasting time and I'm sure the apparent 'creatures of the night' are going to start appearing"
Scar grinned carefully picked him up. "Keep your hands and your feet inside the vehicle. The journey to the castle now begins" He announced, throwing his own bag over a shoulder as he carried the Prince bridal style.
He saw the Prince roll his eyes and Scar began walking. It was only a 20 minute walk, Scar's got this. He was so glad today was a low pain day...