This land felt familiar and foreign, it was a feeling that try as he might Rahl could not shake that this was where they were meant to be, but also a place they needed to escape. With the dangers of the land seeming to ebb and flow with each passing day, the giant man tried to plan out their days to be as effective as possible. Which, in this case meant going back to the waters to get some beasts to harvest much needed resources.
Double checking his kit, to make sure he had everything he needed, Rahl waited for Ve by the door. “Are you sure you want to come?” trying to be aware of her last scare in the water and their constant worry about the baby and the lack of movement thus far. A fact that neither wanted to fully admit worried them as much as it did. “I am sure I can manage alone with one of your whales,” dreading that idea but willing to do so, knowing it would be the safest bet for Ve and their child.
---
There was a bit of a routine that they seemed to fall into the longer they were together. Once she got acquainted with the layout of the home he’d been building for them, and once she got comfortable with the lay of the land, she’d join him on jaunts for materials or to help him find a certain beast.
But in the back of her mind, she was wondering if something was already wrong with the baby. Why hadn’t they felt it move? She should have. It had been months, and nothing. Maybe that time she was under had done something to the baby without her being aware. Or maybe she was overreacting, and expecting movement faster than it would normally have begun to move, abnormally large size aside.
So when he said he wanted to go back into the water, there was some trepidation as she didn’t want to make anything worse. Despite that, she wanted to push through, to be the backup he needed just in case. “I’ll be alright,” assuring him with a smile. “Besides, who is going to help you navigate the water if not me? My whales know the way back to my shack but they don’t know everything you’re looking for.”
----
There was only the slightest frown before he quickly replaced it with a small smile and nod, “Alright. But, we be careful and you stay on your whale unless I am in dire need. Deal?” trying to lay down some ground rules now because once they were out there that would be the end of it.
----
“What you consider dire and what I consider dire are two different things…” she pointed out as her smile turned more into a grin. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
----
Rolling his eyes, “Come on. I know better than to argue with you about it.” Holding the door open for her while he shouldered his bag, “You have enough food?”
----
“I have enough food, yes,” nodding as her stomach growled, going back into the kitchen to grab an extra sandwich. “What is it that you’re wanting to look for down under?”
----
“There are some beasts that have large thick heads? They can gather resources underwater, have you seen them?” walking with her away from the house to start the teleporting process via that small metal...machine that liked to talk to him. Flash of light and they were at her small ocean home.
------
Even with her hang-ups on the water, there was nothing quite like the smell of the ocean. Letting out a calming breath before taking a bite of her food, she started to check her armor, wanting it snug so nothing rubbed while they swam. “I’ve seen some, yes. I actually tried to get one that had a brilliant blue color while we were apart because it reminded me of you, but he evaded me. They’re not far from my home, actually. We should only have to go...over the right side of this shelf to find some.”
----
“I am sorry that it took me so long to find you,” still feeling a pang of guilt that his mind had allowed him to be so distracted in a goal that was pointless if he never found her. “Let me check your armor to make sure it is working properly,” not even waiting to discuss or have her say anything while he started to work. Valves twisted and turned, gauges read and checked to make sure all was functioning for her.
“Looking good,” smiling down at her stomach. “I will have to make it a bit larger though,” resisting the urge to rest his hands on her, worried it might cause their unspoken worry to become a reality.
-----
As he was checking her armor, she chewed on her lip nervously, watching him as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. “...I know that you’d said you were sure I was fine...that I hadn’t done anything to hurt the baby, but...shouldn’t we have felt them move by now?”
----
There it was, the question on both of their minds. Smiling he placed his hands on her stomach now, knowing he needed to be strong for her even if he had some doubts himself. “I think the size of the baby is throwing off what would have happened by now,” he said, wanting to reassure her. “You continue to have an appetite and there has been no blood or pain, right?” waiting for her to nod before kissing her forehead. “I think we are just anxious because we are new parents and well, being part giant does not help us either. In the next couple of weeks we should feel something,” confidence he did not completely feel was in his voice which is what mattered.
-----
When he said it like that, it sounded okay. It sounded plausible to her so she tried to quell her fears even though she knew he wasn’t as confident as he sounded. Hands resting atop his, she slowly nodded, “and you have nothing to apologize for…you found me, that’s what matters. I’m just sorry I was careless so we even have to wonder if something was wrong or not…”
But before she could become overly emotional, she took a swig off of her canteen. “Now, let's get you one of those hard headed fish. There are several down deep by the cube.”
——
This pair was made for one another in more ways than they could count and it was rather endearing, if not for the guilt of having possibly caused the death of their unborn child. Bringing the tank of air so that he could breathe while underwater, Rahl waited for her to get the whales ready. How the beasts reacted to seeing her warmed his heart and the man found himself watching for a moment before descending the last few steps into the water and getting familiar with the one she had bred for him.
As she left the pen, he followed close behind her even though true to her word the trip was short and they arrived in mere moments. Setting up the trap and baiting the beast proved to be easy enough and as a bonus some of the fish that gathered the pearls decided to come around as well. So, all there was after that was waiting, which made him nervous. Ve appeared confident enough in her surroundings handling the beasts that dared to get too close, but Rahl could not help but be worried that she could get hurt while they were out.
-----
She was oblivious to him watching her, more focused on greeting her whales for what felt like the first time in a bit. After going from using them all day for everything from exploring, to searching for Rahl, to gathering food, living in the snow felt like an entirely new world. Each whale doing their happy little call when they saw her, giving them each a rub and handfeeding them some fish as an apology.
In no time, they were off, diving down into the depths to coax some of the hardheaded fish to a safer place to tame them. Leaving that to Rahl as she stayed on her whale, keeping the rays at bay so he could work without interruption.
“How did you manage to get them down? Every attempt I’d made, they just swam away from me and never seemed to get tired,” swimming in close when the aggressive fish around them had been handled.
——
“You can’t shoot their heads,” he explained. “It protects them from the arrows, making it harder for it to penetrate deep enough,” then taking out his crossbow. “This, I have modified so it shoots with more force than normal, making it deliver more of a potent dose.”
Leaving to go and check on the whale he found the small fish done, so he gathered them up into balls while waiting for the hardhead to be done. When it was all said and done, he returned to the surface holding up the glowing balls that contained their newly acquired beasts.
“Do you know where there are large clams?”
-----
She didn’t think she’d shot them in the head, but perhaps the arrows she was using were too weak and the one she was trying to get too strong to succumb to the urge to sleep. Whatever it was, she’d keep it in mind for next time and attempt to use his stronger doses of narcotics if she needed to try and get one to follow her next time.
When they resurfaced, Ve took a bite of one of her sandwiches feeling famished despite the limited activity on her part.
“The large clams are on a lot of the underlying walls of the cliffs. Most of the concentrated supplies are further away from this island, but we can get to them fairly easily, going north.” Managing between mouthfuls as she felt a sort of discomfort but didn’t think much of it. “How much are you needing?”
----
“Not much,” thinking it over. “The fish can gather the pearls and store them in their cheeks in exchange for the clam meat of course,” he smirked. “Are you supposed to eat before swimming? I thought that was bad?” Teasing her a bit.
——
“I’m not swimming, though! I’m just along for the ride while my long whale does all the work,” grinning as she took another bite. “It’s a relatively short ride, and we can either skim the surface or we can swim down and just watch for whirlpools.”
——
“Let’s just skim the top,” letting her take point and following along until they got to the place. Tossing out the large fish he slipped into the water and started harvesting. Fortunately it was calm and soon they were back at her little ocean retreat.
“Is it weird that it was nice today?”
——
As it had been such an easy run for pearls, she was able to just enjoy the water and the feeling of weightlessness. Her swollen ankles and feet were thanking her, as was her back, once again eating the moment they got back to the surface.
“That what was nice today?” she asked, not following.
——
“The ocean,” sitting on the side with her just leaving his feet in the water. “Like we had just a nice time and it was almost relaxing for me.”
——
“Perhaps I’m rubbing off on you?” teasing him lightly as her hand went to reach for his. “But I like that you found the water nice. It’s clearer here, and it’s calmer than the waters back home.”
Feeling that weird sensation again, she wrinkled her nose and put her food down. “Could you help me take my armor off? It’s feeling tight.”
——
“Of course,” moving to help her. “Everything alright?” Concerned whenever there seemed to be something wrong with her. “Can you breathe alright?”
—-
“Yeah, it’s not a...it’s not a bad feeling just…” She couldn’t put her finger on it as she started shifting, trying to get the weird pressure to stop. But when the armor fell away and the sensation happened again without the armor to block it, her eyes widened as she looked down. Heart racing, breath shortening, she grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach.
“Am I...am I crazy? Am I actually feeling that?” Ve asked, hopeful now that she could place what the sensation was.
----
Not really following until it happened again and his eyes lit up, “The baby…” saying it softly then feeling another kick he grinned. “Our baby! Feel how strong their kicking!” Wanting to jump for joy but at the same time not wanting to remove his hand and miss another kick.
—-
The moment he said the words, she was nodding, tears welling up in her eyes as she held his hand tightly to her stomach. “I didn’t know what it was! I felt something while we were out but I had no idea or I’d have told you sooner!”
Relief flooded her as the tears fell freely, the realization she’d not killed their baby hitting her like a ton of bricks. “I love you, so much!”
----
“I love you too!” kissing her the best he could manage as he refused to remove his hand from her stomach. “They are so strong! Must take after you,” he joked, relief washing over him too. Knowing had something happened, she likely would not have forgiven herself and he was not sure how that would have affected her moving forward. “And you feel alright?” still wanting to make sure Ve was still feeling good.
-----
He may not have removed his hand, but she was quick to pull him in for a tight hug, smiling from ear to ear as she cried into his shoulder. So relieved, overwhelmed by the knowledge that she hadn’t killed them, that her recklessness hadn’t ruined what could have been their one chance to have children and a family of their own.
“I’m still feeling okay,” managing between shuddering breaths, trying to quell the sobs as all the emotion she’d been carrying for what felt like a lifetime subsided. “More than okay. I’m perfect because they’re okay…”
----
Holding her as tightly as he dared, trying to comfort her knowing she needed this more than him. Even if something had happened to the baby, Rahl would have been more worried about Ve. Having a child with her would be amazing, but losing her would be worse to him, far worse. The loss of their child would have devastated Ve and he could only hope that together they would have overcome it.
Rahl was not above saying he was more than relieved that would not be the case now and they would have the family they both wanted.
“We should get home so that we can start really focusing on getting our home ready for them,” kissing her shoulder. “With how they are kicking I would think they are ready to come sooner than later.”
------
“I don’t know if I want to move just yet, just in case,” almost afraid that this was a dream and they’d be right back to wondering if the baby was okay. But, with how closely he held her, that started to calm her down more and she knew somewhere, deep down, this was real. They finally knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, their baby really was okay.
“...Do you think they’ll come so soon? We still have months to go…” Now concerned about a new wrinkle. What if the baby came too soon? What if they weren’t ready and they were too weak to survive?
----
“We do have months,” assuring her. “But, building takes time and I would not want to rush anything later,” kissing her again. “We can just sit here though,” shifting so his arm draped over her shoulder letting her nestle against him while they stared out at the water. “I wonder if they will be able to swim like you? Can teach them here? In this little pen, right?”
----
Appreciative of him giving her more time to let the realization settle in and to get a grip on her emotions. “I would want to maybe build an area that’s shallower for them, as I don’t find the water deep, but a child would. But I could make a smaller area for them within this pen so it’s still safe and then hopefully they’ll be comfortable swimming like I am and, like hopefully, you will be by the time they’re born.”
----
“You are still going to teach me?” smirking. “I think my little bit that I have been doing is working just fine,” nodding to himself. His free hand resting on her stomach, smiling when he felt them kick again. “They are going to be just as amazing as their mother.”
------
“You may be swimming a little bit more on your own, but I’d be more comfortable and more confident if you’d be more confident in your strokes outside the bedroom,” teasing him just a bit. “And if they’re half as amazing and kind as you...I’ll know we raised them right.”
----
Blushing a bit about the bedroom compliment, “This will be a first for both of us. Could not ask for a better partner.”
When they finally headed back home, the moment their feet touched down in snow Rahl realized his mistake. “Oh no…” looking through his backpack. “I forgot to bring Tyson with me…”
-----
When they were dry and they were back in the snow with the cliffs looming over head, she was already pulling out Amaranth when Rahl’s words hit her. Mildly surprised, she lifted her brows at him, “You don’t have him? Where did you have him stored? I could run up and get him for you? Or you could take Amaranth up and I’ll wait here?”
----
“No no,” shaking his head. “We aren’t far from home. I can just walk, you can go on ahead and get warm, I will catch up with you.” Starting off in the direction that he thought home was.
-----
Shaking her head, she got on her thyla and followed beside him. “For starters you’re going the wrong way…” Slowly corralling him toward the appropriate cliff, “I can go up and get your thyla so that you can come up when we get there? Or I can climb up and then have Amaranth jump down to you?”
----
“No,” he said, going the other way. “The house is this way,” pointing, “I am sure it is this way.”
------
Shaking her head again as she stopped in the middle of the trail, “I’m certain it’s this way. Which of us has the better sense of direction?”
----
“On sea, you but on land me,” deciding for some reason to be stubborn about this. “I can make my way home and you can go on ahead to get warm.”
-----
Though it took everything in her not to roll her eyes, she shrugged and nodded. “Alright, lead the way, Rahl.”
But the time ticked by, and no home was in sight. Riding alongside him, grateful that she had her thyla as it provided some warmth which was a good tradeoff for the pain of remaining in the saddle. Even still, her hair had frozen solid and she was beginning to shiver, the patience she had for humoring Rahl’s stubbornness waning.
“...Are you ready to admit that we aren’t going the right way?”
----
This made no sense, none at all. Home was supposed to be this way, it had to be this way. Sighing, when she spoke up he noted her state and removed his coat draping it over her shoulders.
“Fine...which way…”
-----
Pulling his coat on, she nodded her head back in the opposite direction. “We need to go back the way we came. Home was close to where we popped up anyway, we just...overshot it.” By a long way.
----
“Alright,” walking with her and back toward the way they had been until sure enough he could spot their home on top of the cliff. Another sigh, “If you want...I can just climb up on my own since I made you stay out in the cold for so long….”
----
She wasn’t going to gloat about it, just grateful that they’d be home finally. What she did do was give him his coat back, getting her thyla ready to jump up the cliff’s side. “Where do you have Tyson?”
----
“In the bookcase in the house,” refusing the coat. “Keep it until I can get you warmed up,” hardly feeling the cold as is.
-----
Nodding, she disappeared up the side for a few moments before coming back down with Tyson’s ball. Handing it over with a smile, “Now...race you to the top?”
----
Taking the ball with a small smile, releasing the large beast who was happy to see his mate again before Rahl mounted and waited for Ve to signal the race. She won in the end, which was fitting and he waited until they were inside and had her sit down so that he could remove her boots and rub her feet to start warming them up.
“I am sorry…” saying softly. “I am not sure what came over me...I just...felt like I had to prove I knew the way home…”
-----
She would’ve let him win, but since he didn’t seem as gungho for it, she ended it as swiftly as possible, ready to get in the house and start warming up. Taking his coat off and wrapping up in a blanket, she didn’t fight him on helping her, just wanting to get warm as fast as possible.
“You really don’t have to apologize…” Trying to catch his eye, “I didn’t mind. We just took the scenic route.”
----
“Scenic? What if you get sick? I was foolishly prideful,” getting up and going to get the fireplace in their bedroom, going to help warm things up. Returning he resumed rubbing her feet, “I could have done something to the baby…”
-----
“Hey…” This time catching his hands to still them, waiting for him to meet her gaze, “You did nothing to the baby… You said yourself they’re strong. They’ve survived my injuries, my being submerged for...who knows how long...my poor sleep without you and constant stress… A little extra time outside isn’t going to hurt me or the baby. Alright? You were the one to keep me calm when I worried...now let me do the same for you. I’m fine. We’re fine.”
----
Nodding, bringing her hands to his lips he kissed them softly and then rested his own on her stomach. “Did they move much while we were out in the snow?”
----
“They were pretty active… If you need a new energy source, I’m almost certain they’d rival the wired...generator...thing you helped me set up.”
----
Smiling and feeling the baby kick, “I hope they don’t keep you up, you need your sleep.”
-----
“I’m sure they won’t...they might have woken up now and decided to be active, but I’ll still be able to sleep just fine. Worst case scenario, I’ll try to make that tea you were giving me before I knew I was pregnant,” smiling as her hands rested atop his. Enjoying the sensation of them moving even if it was an odd one, just happy to know they were doing well. “If nothing else, there are other ways to tire me out, I’m sure.”
----
Arching his brow, looking up to catch her gaze, “I am sure...I could figure out a way or two…” leaning in to kiss her.
Over the next few days, they continued to work on their homes and try their best to get everything ready for the baby. Almost like their energy was renewed knowing the baby was alive and well. With a home coming together, however, Rahl worried about their protection which prompted him to suggest they go get some more of the large tooth beasts from the hot area. “So, this should be easy, I hope anyway,” again checking over his gear while talking to her. “I will not be gone for long.”
----
Even when she felt tired or felt a little more uncomfortable, nothing seemed to pull her mood down now that the weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She was able to keep going and working on getting the house ready, getting whatever resources they needed when he didn’t leave her behind to sleep.
But today was not going to be a day where he left her, nor when he said he was going to the hot area.
“Rahl, I’ve been there once. It’s too dangerous to go alone with everything there,” insisting as she went to get her own gear on. “And it’ll go faster if we’re both there.”
——
Frowning, “But it’s dangerous and that’s why I want to go alone.” Watching her get her gear together, “I will be fine. I’ve been there before on my own more than once while looking for you.”
——
“But when looking for me, you weren’t trying to tame beasts in a dangerous area. You’ll need another set of eyes,” pulling the armor pieces onto her legs before trying to get her chest piece on. “Why would I let you go alone when I could easily go with you?”
——
Moving to help her, “Because I have no reason honestly but I suppose I’ll just help you with your armor and we can go together.”
—-
“I won’t get in the way and will just be another set of eyes for you while we’re out,” assuring him. “I won’t do anything needlessly dangerous, alright?”
——
“Alright,” continuing to help with her armor. “You don’t get in the way,” correcting her. “You are the best partner I’ve ever had.”
——
“But I also don’t want to make you worry more than necessary while we’re out, so I’ll stay toward the back,” explaining. “…I am pretty great, though, I know.”
——
Rolling his eyes and kissing her, “You are amazing…” whispering and kissing her again. “If I say run, please consider it at least?”
-----
His kiss drew a soft sigh from her lips, eyes finding his once they’d both ended as she considered his words. “...I will, if I deem it dangerous for the baby…” relenting to that as she adjusted the armor he’d finished strapping her into. “Now, what do you need me to bring?”
----
“Lots of bullets,” this time making sure to bring more than enough of what he needed.
When the pair arrived they started off and right away, Rahl became frustrated. “Why is it that when I wish to seek out a large tooth, all I am seeing are their weak and feeble?”
-----
Their journey wasn’t off to a great start as the beasts they sought all seemed to be weak, feeble, easily killed by creatures much smaller or not worth their effort needed to break their will. His frustration was adding to her own, but she was able to remain somewhat positive given her optimistic attitude the last few days.
“Perhaps we have not gone far enough in? The strongest ones likely have to stay in the harshest conditions, closer to the monstrous volcano.”
----
“That is true,” though he remembered finding some last time along the outer edges. “Are you comfortable? It is not too hot here?” checking on her while carefully guiding her deeper into the hostile area.
----
“The armor you’ve made me keeps me fairly temperate here. I’d probably be hotter than I am right now if it weren’t for that, but as it is, I mostly feel as though I’m in the desert without a breeze,” putting it fairly mildly. Her feet were exposed so they burned but she’d grown used to it since their arrival. “I’ll let you know when the heat becomes unbearable.”
----
“Alright,” urging Tyson forward they continued though their progress was halted more than once by Ve’s sudden obsession with the small lizards. Stopping by what he thought to be maybe the third or fourth one, he protected it with his thyla while she hopped down to feed it. “So, we have to save all of them that we see?”
-----
Rahl may not have been finding exactly what he was after, but she carried the little flowers her little ones in the event they needed saving. And, in this place, they needed saving. Each time she saw one, worried for its safety in such a harsh environment, she’d hop down to feed them and coax them to her regardless of if Rahl was ready for her to or not.
“Of course, we have to save them all! Even if they aren’t being attacked, a land strewn with lava is no place for such peaceful and small creatures. They deserve to be in a field of flowers gorging themselves to their heart’s content, and if not there, then safe around our home with a trough full of them.”
----
“That is a very good point,” he chuckled. “Though I would appreciate it if you waited just a bit before hopping down? So, that I can make sure the area is safe for you.”
-----
“I’m sorry, I’ll try to wait more with the next ones we see, but the moment I see them, I have this urge to dismount and save them so that I can spoil them with berries and flowers,” she sighed with a smile, getting the little thing into one of the balls so she could get back on her Thyla.
----
“You are going to spoil our child, aren’t you?” waiting for her to be properly seated and comfortable before starting back off again.
-----
“Of course I’m going to spoil our child. The fruits of my labors over the years should be passed on to someone in the event of our deaths, and it’s just going to sit there otherwise...once we get back, anyway. Until then, I’ll spoil with foods, playtime, and toys.”
----
“How much do you have squirreled away?” genuinely curious about how much she had amassed back home. Though before an answer could be made a viscous ball of poison splashed down beside them. Knowing it was the large snake even before he tracked it, “Run!” shouting and putting himself between Ve and the beast to make sure she had enough time to get away.
-----
The poison overwhelmed her, caught off-guard by the snake who’d seemed to come up from nowhere to attack them. Unable to see clearly as she tried to find her way out of the cloud, she felt pain. Her whole body burning as she urged Amaranth to run in any direction, away from the hissing, pulling her gun out to try and shoot at it as Rahl kept urging her back. Realizing they weren’t going to fight but simply run, she ran, constantly looking back to make sure Rahl was with her.
----
Once she started to run he followed suit, continuing to urge her ahead of him until they could climb up to a place and rest. Out of his saddle before Tyson could fully stop he was going over to her, “Let me see…” trying to look her over and get her down from the saddle at the same time, ignoring the burning in his own leg from where it had hit him.
------
When they had reached a safe area, or as safe an area as they could manage in such a place, she was quick to start drinking water. Whole body feeling as though she were burning, be it the heat or the poison they’d been assaulted by.
“I’m fine…” Her right arm had taken the brunt of the attack, stopping what seemed like a gaseous bubble breaking on her face. “What about you? You lingered in it far longer than I...and I did not bring anything for healing with me…” Frowning as she dismounted to check him for wounds.
----
“No no,” stopping her. “Here…” going to Tyson’s saddle bags he brought out a red brew. “Drink this, please?” the concern was as clear in his voice as it was etched on his face. “When you are mending I will take care of myself, alright?”
-----
“If I drink some, will you drink the rest?” asking as the very same concern was on her own features. “I’m nothing without you if something happens, or any wounds become infected.”
----
“I have more for me,” pulling out his bottle to show her. “I just need to see how much it heals you before I drink this one.”
------
“Promise me you’ll drink that one regardless,” still trying to bargain, despite the feeling of her arm burning and blistering. Despite the feeling of her lungs that still felt like she’d inhaled glass.
----
“I promise,” nodding to her bottle. “Please, my love you have to think about the baby too…” trying to urge her to drink while he cleaned and dressed her wound.
-----
As much as she wanted to wait for him, to make sure that he was going to tend to himself, she nodded and drank deeply the healing elixir. For his sake and for the baby’s. It didn’t taste good, but she’d had worse, drinking it quickly until nothing remained and the bottle was stuffed in a bag. “Now you, please? For me?”
----
Doing as she asked, considering only drinking half but knowing she would not approve. When it was done he went back to cleaning her wound, “I promise you that it will take more than their spit to take me away from you,” starting to bandage her up. “We should just head home, I don’t need those beasts as much as I need you.”
——
“Rahl, I’m fine, really,” she assured him with a small smile. “Just as it will take more than that to take you away, it will take much more to take me. I’m too stubborn and wouldn’t give whatever powers that be the chance to claim whatever soul I have left. So please…we can continue. We need to try to find some toothy beasts for our protection and I still have many little lizards to save.”
——
Still not sure, he looked over her arm and saw that the armor had saved her from anything but a bad burn so once she was suited up again they should be fine. “Alright, but the next incident we are heading home, agreed?”
Many more small lizards, followed by the continuing assault of those hidden devils. Rahl was fine with them stunning him, though his headache and ears rang. But, when Ve was caught and he had to quickly deal with them he was more than ready to leave at that point. “That is enough,” lamenting his canteen being empty while they took a break. “This place is cursed and I just want to get you home now.”
-----
It felt like it was one thing after another once they’d been there for a bit. The ground badgers were attacking them, flying out of the ground to take them off their mounts and bite at their armor. And a few more snakes that came to attack them. Gas that seemed to come up from the ground.
By the end, she was just tired. The next attack had her ready to go home, her own ears ringing and head aching. “I’ll admit today has been…harder. If you are ready to go, I will go without complaint so that I can take care of you.”
——
“Take care of me?” smirking and wiping a bit of dirt from her cheek. “Why would I let my pregnant wife take care of me?” shaking his head and helping her back into the saddle of the thyla, about to say something when he spotted one of the burning beasts disappear into a cave. “Hmmm...I wonder if they have a nest?”
-----
“Why wouldn’t you let your pregnant wife take care of you? It’s practice for caring for our child as they grow,” she answered without missing a beat. But his redirected attention pulled her focus, too, watching after it. “We can go look before we leave? We’ll just be extra cautious and watch for the ground demons?”
——
“You wish to go into their nest?” It sounded crazy especially with all they had experienced so far. Yet, if he could get one of their eggs, they might be worth having and using for protection. Or...something.
------
Ve shrugged, “I’ve taken a worse beating than what we’ve experienced here. If having their eggs could help and provide us more protection of some kind, why not try?”
——
Frowning a bit, but finally agreeing. “We stay together and you have to promise me that when I tell you to run you have to run. Alright? I am not going to budge on that one.”
------
“You know I’m not just going to run away from someplace like that,” she replied with a frown.
----
“If it comes down to saving you and the baby,” he looking at her for a moment. “I want you and the baby to make it. I might take a while, but I do promise to fight my way out.”
-----
Her features pulled into a deep frown, holding his gaze as she felt her eyes begin to sting, but she finally broke eye contact and nodded. “Alright.”
Not wanting to say anything else about it because talking wasn’t going to make anything feel any better, she pet Amaranth’s head, “Lead the way.”
----
Leading the way, knowing this could be bad for the both of them, he started them in and immediately they had to deal with waves and waves of insects. But, together, they worked their way through and finally came to a spot where he could peer down and see them. Molten beasts, walking about in the lava like it was nothing and scattered about were nests.
“There...but there are so many of them…” frowning a bit. “I think I can manage to get down there to get an egg but I will need you to cover me with your rifle, can you do that?”
-----
Bugs were not her favorite thing in the world, but at least these were smaller than the spiders he raised at their home. These ones Amaranth could handle and she could manage without too much of an issue, save for the webbing and the spew the long ones would spit at them.
But they fought through it and managed to get to a place that overlooked the molten beasts. “I can get down…” Though even as the words left her lips and her voice tapered off, she knew Rahl wouldn’t allow it so she nodded and got her rifle out. “Yes, I can manage.”
——
“The moment the baby is born, I promise you will get to do all the dangerous things again,” tossing out his spider that looked about nervously before he had it grab him.
“You just shoot the ones around me and I will try to get an egg. Then we will leave,” when she nods in understanding he waits for her to be in position he jumps down with the spider.
——
Merely nodding, she got her gun out and went to the edge, kneeling down and getting into position. The feeling of being so high while being forced to look down wasn’t a great one, but for him, she’d do it without complaint.
——
Falling down toward the heat there was a brief moment of panic as the spider balked at the idea of going near something so hot. Let alone the beasts that instantly mobbed toward them, one in particular looming dangerously close.
Head rearing back, mouth filling with flames murderous intent burning in its eyes. Only for that light to fade in the tandem of a shot that echoed off the stone walls.
Without hesitation, Rahl snatched the egg and returned to Ve. Feeling the heat starting to rise, “Let’s get out of here!”
——
She was tense, following his movement via the sight in her rifle, finger on the trigger for the first sign of danger. The spider was enough to keep her anxious, but then the beasts below with their fire breath added more of a danger. Even more still, the sheer heat of the lava he moved above.
But then she saw it, the one who finally made a move to attack Rahl and she didn’t hesitate. Shooting it through the head and watching its body crumbling as he grabbed the egg and flung himself back up to her. Not waiting or questioning as the heat was beginning to hurt her bare feet, she mounted up and urged Amaranth to run for the cave’s mouth.
——
Once outside, they didn’t stop, running from that place thinking them like the flying dragons from before. At a safe distance, they finally head back to the snow and once there Rahl practically threw himself in the snow.
“Haha! We did it!”
——
There was a rush of adrenaline Ve felt as they made a break for it, the volcanic cave filling soon after they left it. The heat had become unbearable and their need to escape dire, but they managed, getting back to the snow and getting off of her thyla to bury her feet in the snow.
“I’m okay with not going back there for a while, but it went smoother than I thought it would in there!”
——
“Because we were together!” Laughing happily while laying down in the snow and sighing. “You were right, we are better together.”
——
Sitting down in the snow beside him, she smiled happily. “Of course, we’re better to-“
In a flurry of feathers, there was a flash of movement and then she felt the thing hit her in the face and dazed her. Vaguely, she was aware of Amaranth growling and jumping over her to get it as she sat there, blinking as her nose smarted before the devil bird went for Rahl.
——
It was almost a perfect ending, as a flock of the beasts assaulted them and Rahl was left with a bloody nose and some scratches before their thylas managed to chase them off.
“Are you alright?” Asking her while he held a bit of cloth to his nose.
——
Her own nose had started to bleed, but she wiped it away with the back of her hand, standing up and orienting herself. “Maybe we should…celebrate at home. Those things don’t give us a moment’s peace.”
——
“Agreed.”
Finally, home. The couple bundled up in furs and sat by the fire. Relaxing after a day filled with more adventure than they wanted. “How many of those little lizards did you get?”
——
Nestled under the furs and curled up in his side, she winced nervously. “Would you believe me if I said…around twenty-five?”
——
“I would,” he chuckled. “We will need to expand to make sure they have enough space to live happily and comfortably. Right?”
——
“Where we already needed to expand anyway for the baby so…what’s a little more space for some of the little lizards?” smiling coyly over at him after his laugh, happy he didn’t regret her overzealousness.
——
“Exactly,” relaxing back and closing his eyes.
——
“I love you…” shifting to lay her head on his lap as she relaxed, eventually nodding off peacefully.
——
“I love you too…”