#gee i wonder what ancient greek myth im referencing. a MYSTERY

[raayllum]

Chapter length: 8k Summary: Callum and Rayla finally talk. Ezran interrogates Viren, part one. a/n: tw for mental health related stuff in regards to rayla (implied depression, self loathing, and stuff that may veer into emotional self harm / passive suicidal ideation territory). i don't think any of it is super intense but i also don't know your circumstances, so please keep that in mind as you go forward. that said, it is discussed in a very hurt/comfort kind of way.

CHAPTER 7: At The End of the Tunnel

Callum led the way up and out of the tunnel, holding her wrist with one hand and his staff in front as a light source with the other. His hand was warm against Rayla’s skin, his gait steady over the rocky, uneven ground. 

There was so much she wanted to stay —about Claudia, and her potential plans—and even more she was curious about—had Callum eaten? Had he slept? And why had the Earthblood elf boy saved them, truly?—but she was so tired. 

Rayla hadn’t realized just how much adrenaline she’d been carrying in her body between worrying about Callum and constantly keeping her guard up around Claudia, with no sleep or food or hardly any water the past two days. But it hadn’t been for nothing, her free hand drifting to the hard lump in her pouch, five sun rubies in total crammed in next to the coins. All safe.

She squinted as a shaft of light appeared maybe ten feet ahead, the ground sloping upwards as they followed the phases of the moon back toward the surface. Relief washed over her in waves as the light grew brighter, bigger, haloing Callum’s silhouette of a windswept-haired head and broadened shoulders.

He picked up the pace, not looking back, as her muscles became mush. But they were almost there. She could keep going. Just a few more steps to the surface, and then—

Rayla’s foot caught on a rock. She stumbled. She slipped, both hands scraping against the ground.

Callum glanced back immediately, turning round and dropping to the ground in front of her, grasping at her arms, eyebrows knit with worry. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she croaked, holding still while he inspected the number of tiny scratches on her hands. The light of his staff illuminated the faint traces of blood.