#pining rayla

Callum: “So you’re telling me N’than that Earthblood Elves say trees to meet you?!” Points to Rayla “Ha! I knew it! I was correct the whole time!”

Rayla not listening: Mmm scarf boy…

Shuffles to Unconditionally by Katy Perry:

“You have to tell him!”

“No Ezran!” This back and forth argument had gone on for what felt like hours. Zym and Bait moving their heads back and forth with the conversation. Both looking a little more than a little exasperated. Zym hanging his head and Bait growling louder every time Rayla and Ezran repeated themselves.

“But you have to!”

“No Ezran I can't tell him!”

“Why because there's a possibility he could help?!” Ezran argued back, teeth grinding together in annoyance.

“Because I'm in love with him!” Rayla's voice bellowed along the smooth walls of the cave. She quickly covered her mouth, tears uncontrollably slipping down her cheeks with an unstoppable fiery.

Her breath caught as she slipped down onto her knees four fingers splayed over the cave ground. Zym no longer hung his head, eyes now filled with concern for the young elf girl. Even Bait looked up in utter shock. Ezran came closer taking a knee by Rayla's shaking form. Her lip trembled and her hair flew messily over her shoulders and back. Shivering with her overflowing emotions.

Ezran’s small hands came up around the back of Rayla's neck, pulling her head down into his shoulder and coaxing her down with soft cooing words. “Rayla.. Its ok if you're scared-”

Rayla shook her head wildly. She forced herself up, trying to yank away from Ezran’s comforting arms when her body jerked forward. Once, Twice, Three times. It scrapped against the inside of her throat. Cutting at the already aching walls. Zym had come closer but the second the rose petals came fluttering out of Rayla's mouth, he backed away with a light whimper.

It was more than last time. More then there had been since she'd first known about the disease. Runaan had taught her about Hanahaki Disease when she was about 9 almost 10 years old. The painful lesson equipped with awful imagery that made the already very squeamish young girl cry in dismay. He'd told her it was a lot less likely for elves to get. The disease already being extremely rare anyways, but it'd been almost a month since she'd choked up the first petal of a lily.

Right now her brain was banging in her skull as she continued to cough and spit up more and more rose petals. Her eyes unfocused, throat numb and aching from the avalanche of what was probably a dozen roses now.

“Rayla!” Ezran cried, arms grasping Rayla's shoulders as she puked up into his lap. “Rayla please!” He whined, “How much longer do you think you can hide this?! Callum's gonna find out! You'll die!”

Not too long ago Callum had confessed to Claudia. She'd made up some excuse about why she had to head back home and how it broke her heart. But she left the next morning after giving Callum a quick peck on the lips. A gesture Rayla couldn't even fathom on why it made her so angry. Was it that Claudia clearly didn't have any real interest in being Callum's girlfriend? Was it the fact that Callum could do better? Maybe it was just how much Callum enjoyed it. Regardless that night she couldn't sleep because she was up all night coughing.

Rayla had vowed that she wouldn't tell anyone. Not Ezran and especially not Callum but unfortunately the young king had mistakenly caught her choking up blue roses. The last stage of Hanahaki disease. And the second to last flower before she was sure of her own demise.

“Rayla! Rayla please! Stay with me!” The young elf didn't need to be completely well to see the spots of red mixed in with the delicate petals sprinkled on the cold rock. Maybe it was spots over her eyes, she wasn't quite sure. She didn't even need to look up to know Ezran was beginning to cry as he shook her quickly fading form.

Callum had left to go get more supplies and food a while back, almost too long ago. Leaving a very concerned Ezran behind with the infected Elf. Zym was yipping and barking much louder than normal, and Bait was growling a deep groan from his small stomach.

“D-don't tell Callum… P-please…” Rayla whined, with her last bit of strength. She'd rather die with this disease then have Callum fussing over her like he probably would. The young prince being very likely to ask her why she didn't tell him, and she refused to explain how long and just how in love she'd begun to fall for him.

Her breaths stalled and her body weight fell completely dependent on Ezran. His voice was almost completely droned out but she knew he was still trying to call her. Still trying any and everything just to keep her awake and alive. Rayla could take a lot as an assassin but losing Callum because of her love wasn't one.

Her body finally quit on her and she fell unconscious, darkness seeping over her eyes. But not before a loud, “Callum!...” Erupted in her ears.

Ooo this has pureness written all over it. Thank you for this!

Excited Callum had to be Rayla's favorite thing to this day. Maybe because it was happening right before her eyes. The green eyed human boy whom she'd been in company with for weeks was excitedly drawing the stream where they'd had stopped for much needed rest.

“Geez Callum you've been scribbling away in that thing ever since we got here.” Rayla laughed warmly. “What are you even drawing?”

Rayla was currently hanging upside down in a tree, she couldn't quite see over Callum's shoulder but she could clearly see Callum doodling away, his pencil making quick light strokes on the paper.

“Everything here is so beautiful.” Callum turned, eyes filled with soft admiration. “The trees and the flowers, the pools of water. It's all perfect!”

Zym laid still on the ground, fast asleep against the root of the tree. Body curled up in a ball.

Rayla giggles a little, flipping herself out of the tree. And moving to sit next to Callum. “Slow down a little we have all day you don't have to rush.”

“This place is so amazing though! I just feel like I have to draw everything to fully take it in.”

Wow were all humans like this when they went somewhere new?

Rayla smiled leaning over Callum's shoulder, eyes tracing the smooth lines and over shades of what he was currently drawing. There was something seriously elegant about Callum's drawings. He got everything down so nicely. All the details he could fit on one paper. Including the tiny ripples of the water.

It was all amazingly cute. Like watching the child pop from Callum's body.

“Can I see?” Rayla asked after Callum had finished his current drawing. Callum nodded allowing Rayla to hold the small book in her lap.

She delicately flipped the page marveling at the rocky hills drawn so beautifully she could touch them. Another much smaller stream etched against smooth white paper and even a couple drawings of the market they'd past to get here. How he'd managed to draw it so fast Rayla had no clue.

Maybe it was the overly excited human nerves edging him along.

Rayla's smile had never wavered as she looked through Callum's extensive work. All of it was the best she'd ever seen. Though she didn't have anything to compare it to. She was about to flip again when she felt the highly unsettling feeling of her heart dropping. Blood growing hot.

A different kind of drawing from everything else she'd seen caught her eye. This one was of her. Slumped against a tree with Zym resting against her chest. Her hands were trapped under his wings and her eyes were shut. Hair slumping over her eye.

She'd probably be embarrassed if she wasn't kinda flattered. The lighting and the shading both making her look weirdly good..

“I'm sorry.” Callum started voice playful like he was brushing away some fear over how Rayla would react. “It's just… you looked peaceful and I… probably should've asked..”

Rayla was barely listening. Callum tried to reach for his sketchbook but Rayla swatted him away. Her heartbeat was caught in her throat and her mouth became dry as she took in more details.

The tree behind her, the way Zym had one wing spread against her chest and the way her lips parted. She could practically see herself sleeping.

She wanted to clutch the book to her chest, wanted to squeal and breath normally but none of that was happening right now. Callum had drawn her. And all this time she'd thought he'd only been interested in the sights of Xadia and Claudia.

Her brain stumbled, fumbling over what he might of looked like when he'd been watching her. Was he as excited about her as he was about everything else in Xadia. What if his smile had been as wide drawing her as it had been when he'd seen that rocky cliff shaped like a dragon head earlier.

“At least tell me if you like it..” Callum's voice snapped, Rayla from her thoughts. Her head flipped over to look at the clearly troubled look Callum was now sporting.

As much as she really wanted to keep this picture, she knew Callum probably wasn't gonna wanna rip the page out for her. “I love It.” She settled on hoping she didn't sound as breathy as she thought she did.

Thankfully Callum didn't seem to notice. Taking the sketchbook from Rayla and continuing to add detail to the drawing he'd been working on minutes ago. That same drive flying back onto his face.

And fuck was it cute.

Why is he like this?

Rayla moved so that Callum could no longer see her. Her head pressed up against the same tree Zym was still sleeping under. Lazy winds drove the branches back and sifted through Callum's soft brown hair. The hair Rayla desperately wanted to run her fingers through.

It wasn't them finally making it to Xadia that made Rayla fall for Callum. No.. There had been so many factors before then that caused her heart to skyrocket and brain to fumble over words around him.

How had she fallen for a human prince of all things? She may never know.

Her body slumped down hard on the grass as she watched Callum continue to sketch away without a care in the world. So cute.. Her four fingers came up to clutch at her chest. What had he done to her?