Dragons

The three of them walked around setting up everything we would need for tonight.

One was setting up the tents, one was dealing with the fire and the other was making sure we had all the ressources we would need like food and water.

I sat there watching them move. They move with gracefulness and with dominance. Like they know that nothing in these woods would dare come near them.

As odd as it sounds, that made me feel safe.

The thought of helping crossed my mind multiple times but I will not help the ones who have captured me.

During the time they have taken to set up everything, I've managed to learn their names.

The one with shaggy hair is named Finn.

The emotionless one is named Derek.

The one and only is named Kaine.

They have yet to learn my name and I don't plan on giving it anytime soon. They may call me what they want but never will they use the name that only my gramps used.

Lost in my thoughts, I don't notice that the camp is set up.

The fire is blazing high and the tents are properly set giving us a safe place to sleep tonight.

Now out of my thoughts I notice that there are only two tents. Does that mean I am to share a tent with one of them?

Oh dear, lord save me.

We all sat there in silence for what seemed like ages until the silence was broken by Finn.

I cant help but notice that he is the careless one of the group. While he has is serious moments, they are only when absolutely needed. He is fun, crazy and always energetic.

Derek has yet to speak. He keeps to himself.

Kaine, is a whole other subject.

The entire time they were setting up the camp he kept looking at me. Giving me looks of pity, sadness yet they never lasted long. As if he only wanted to check up on me. See if I had run off.

I don't know what would give him the idea that I had run off since I have still not moved from my ball since the moment I was set down.

"We should tell spooky stories!"

Finn was a child at heart. Has we not been in this situation I would have gladly become friends with him. Sadly, we are in this situation.

"Finn. We are with a young girl who knows nothing of our world." Spoke Derek.

His voice was deep.

Deeper than Kiane's and it hold more seriousness than Finn's.

"Awh come on! Please Derek! She's going to learn about it eventually!" Finn begged Derek.

I had no problem with scary stories. I actually enjoyed them. They helped me think about what I would do if I ever encountered that creature or monster.

"No." Kaine answered Finn.

He gave no reasoning to his answer but the other two didn't ask for one.

"We should head of to sleep. Derek and Finn you take the tent to the left, she and I will take the other one."

Oh.. I'm bunking with Kaine. Okay, not problem. I will just ignore him.

I would be lying if I said the thought of sharing a tent with him didn't make my heart skip a beat.

My mind dragged me through all the possibilities on why he would share one with me. I even thought that maybe he wanted to. That thought quickly diminished when I realized he was probably afraid I would run.

Had I not been sharing a tent with him, I probably would have tried.

Seeing everyone get up, I get us as well. My legs sore from all the running and sitting down for so long, it took me a while to fully stand up.

Kaine waits for me while I slowly get up. Once I do, I follow him towards our tent.

"Left or right?" He asked me.

I didn't have a preference. I have not slept in a luxurious bed my entire life. These were just regular sleeping bags but does not change the fact that I have never been given a choice.

Not knowing what to answer, I just opened and close my mouth like a fish.

I bet i look stupid. Idiotic.

I look between both sleeping bags and look back up at him.

He's taller than me. The top of my head barely reaches his shoulders.

He smirks at me. Like seeing me struggle is entertaining to him.

I glare at him hoping he get the imaginary cuss words I'm sending his way.

I've never been the type to cuss. It's improper. Still, in some moments, I let a small one slip out.

"Since you clearly don't know how to make decisions, I'll take the one of the right."

I nod my head and place myself into the bag.

I don't plan on getting much sleep tonight but I might as well try and get comfortable.

"I never got your name." He stares out of the blue.

I look over at him only to find him already looking back. We stare into each other's eyes for what seems to be the one hundredth time today.

"Raven." I whisper.

I laid there shocked.

I used my mother's name. I havent spoken her name in years. Yet, when Kaine asked me for my name, it rolled of my tongue.

"Raven.." He repeated it.

The way he said it made me shiver. The things this man does to me. Why?

"It suits you. Well, goodnight Raven." He whispered to me.

He proceeded to turn onto his side so his back was facing me.

I was on my back, facing the ceiling. Or rather the top of the tent.

It didn't take long until I heard his breath go steady telling me that he was asleep.

I thought about my gramps. I wonder if he asked the civilians for help. If anyone said yes. Did he eat tonight? Is he hungry? Is he warm enough?

The list never ends. Im continuously thinking about him. To the point where I'm asking myself if he's alive or not.

It's too much.

Tears start slowly streaming down my cheeks. One after the other until I'm quietly sobbing as to not wake up Kaine.

Even if he has kidnapped me, taken me away from my gramps and my home, he has been nothing but kind to me ever since.

My body shakes as more and more tears flow.

I sit up and quietly exit the tent.

I sit down against a tree right beside our tent.

I cry a little louder now. They won't hear me from inside the tents. Not with the sounds of life in the forest.

I stare up at the sky and look and the stars.

Why god? Why have you done this to me?

My crying still hasn't ceased. It's as if I have an endless supply of tears inside of me that have been waiting to be released.

I curl back up into my ball and place my head on my knees. My body shaking with every quiet sob I let out.

"I'm sorry."

My head snaps up towards Kaine.

My eyes are for sure red and puffy, the tears that are on my cheeks. I don't bother to wipe them off. I just look back at him and let him see how much he broke me.

He doesn't deserve my forgiveness.

He looks at me with sadness in his eyes. This time it's different. This time he keeps my eyes in his glance. He lets me see how much guilt he's feeling, and I let him see how much pain I am feeling.

"It will all be explained in due time but I can not give you the answers you seek now." He says.

I look away from him and look back up at the sky. My head leaning against the tree.

I have nothing to say to him. Nothing that would change what happened.

He says nothing but he does sit next to me.

We sat there in silence for a long time until he finally speaks up.

"I wish I didn't have to take you away, hurt you, but I have no choice."

I look at him and start crying again.

I wish I didn't start crying but once I started I could not stop. He moves closer to me and brings me into a hug.

I freeze up. I have never had this kind of male attention. I've only had the father type and those a two completely different things.

My head told me to back away but my heart told me different.

Following my heart, I leaned further into his embraces and placed my head against his chest.

I started crying hold his shirt tightly in my hands. He holds my back with one hand and strokes my hair with the other.

When my crying has finally ceased, it was finally my turn to break the silence.

"You should go sleep, I know you're tired. I'm sorry if I woke you up."

I felt terrible. No matter how much he has hurt me, it was against my nature to hurt someone. I could never hurt him the way he hurt me.

"It's okay. I'm happy I woke up, and yes, I am tired but you should also sleep. Come, let's go to bed." He replies leaving me with no room to deny.

He stands up with ease and offers me a hand.

I grab it and give him a small smile to show my appreciation.

Not letting go of my hand, he walks me back towards our tent and only lets go to settle back into his sleeping bag.

Mimicking his actions, I get myself comfortable. Exhausted from all the crying, my body welcomes the sleep. Mumbling a couple last words before falling into the darkness, I say

"Thank you... Goodnight."

I hear him reply with a goodnight and with that, I let sleep consume my body.

I wake up the next morning to find the tent empty.

Last nights events replay through my head and I feel a blush creep up my cheeks.

I shake the thoughts out of my head and exit the tent.

I find all three of them working on packing everything up.

I feel bad that I'm not contributing. Did I sleep in?

Kaine looks towards me and gives me a small smile. It's small, but it's the first smile he's given me since we've met.

Derek's and Finn's eyes trace to where Kaine's looking and see that I'm awake.

"YAY! Raven's awake!" Finn shouts.

I give him a smile and look at Derek who's eyes return to his task.

"Good. You're awake. I hope you had a good rest because we are heading out soon. We need to make way back to our base."

Base?

Why wouldn't they say village?

I nod my head and return to the tent. I roll up my sleeping bag and carry it out to the boys.

I hand it to Kaine and as he grabbed it I felt our fingers brush against each other.

A wave of tingles shot up my arm as I quickly retracted my hand.

I don't look at him, I don't say anything. I just return to the tent and start packing everything else.

Once the camp was completely packed away and we were reading to head to.. oh wait. Where are we going?

"Hey, where are we going?" I asked shyly.

I felt dumb for asking but what can they expect? They kidnapped me and haven't told me a single thing.

We started walking and I followed the boys. Kaine was the one to answer me.

"Were headed to Malvolion. Our home. Home to our kind."

That left so many questions in my head.

"What do you mean our kind?"

He looked back at me. He was clearly debating if he should tell me or not. Hoping he would, I waited for him to answer. When he did, his words left me in shock.

"We are dragons."