The first night in Xadia, after being in awe at the new scenery, when all was dark and they settled in for bed Callum noticed the silence immediately. The whole country felt different than home, the sun, the air he breathed in was different, not wrong…but…different. It made him feel as if he didn't just cross the border, but instead entered a whole new world.

A new world without his brother. Without Bait.

Without anything familiar, anything from home. Instead, with the Prince of Dragons and a Moonshadow elf.

Who were great company, don't get Callum wrong, Zym was adorable and sweet and Rayla was bright and insightful.

But there was a gaping hole that Ez had left that Callum hadn't expected and it left Callum feeling abruptly…lonely. Even in the presence of others.

When they laid down to sleep that night he found himself beginning to say goodnight to Ez and catching himself. Ez wasn't gone gone, he knew that, but the new young King was heading into danger of his own and Callum wasn't there to help him, to keep him safe. They were both going into uncharted territory and it also happened to be the first time since Ez was born that they had ever been truly separated.

It left him terrified and worried and he couldn't close his eyes with his thoughts racing about. He stared up at the ceiling for what felt like hours. Shifting uncomfortably on the hard ground.

"Are ya gonna sleep soon or are ya just tryin' to wear the rock down into powder first?" Rayla piped up from the entrance of the cave, taking first watch. "I mean, if you don't gonna sleep then maybe you'd like first watch?" She joked.

He sat up and gave her a miserable look.

"What's wrong, Callum?" Her face softened there and Callum almost spilled his guts. Almost.

But there was no point in it, it wasn't like they had a choice in the matter. Ezran was the new King and he had been right, Ez needed to go back and help from the inside. Rayla and him needed to help from the outside. Complaining about how things were was a pointless endeavour. It was childish and it was time to grow up.

Callum rubbed his face.

"Sorry, it's fine. Just missing a real bed I guess. I'll go to sleep now. Wake me when it's my turn." He muttered, flopping back down with a sigh. Zym was curled up near the fire, poor thing was probably missing Ez too .

He missed the concerned look Rayla threw him, she knew him better than that already but decided not to push it. When he was ready he'd speak up about whatever was bugging him.

Hopefully.

She'd give him a couple days.

_

Callum could feel the apprehensive looks Rayla was shooting him all day from the corner of her eye and it was irritating him to no end.

Though most of that irritation could be stemming from the absolute lack of sleep he got last night. What a wimp, can't even handle sleeping alone. It's not like him and Ez slept in the same room back home. Perhaps it was the uncertain future that was pumping Callum full of anxiety but still. With all the walking and fights they get into on a regular basis you'd think that he'd be so tired he'd go right to sleep right?

Apparently not.

Thankfully Rayla didn't say anything yet. Callum was still hoping that it was something that would pass with time and he'd be fine. He'd catch up on his sleep and all would be well. They'd deliver the baby dragon and be on their way home and Callum could protect his brother again...somehow. Callum wasn't that strong but he'd try. He'd learn some more spells and…who would teach him spells? An elf? He was a human, they'd want to kill him.

He rubbed a hand down his face again, maybe this wasn't helping his anxiety. Zym chirped and clambered up to flop onto Callum's head.

That's right, they had a job to do. He should focus on that.

_

The next night yielded the same results. Another night wasted staring up at the ceiling of yet another cave. He could literally feel the bags forming under his eyes. Zym had curled up on his chest this time and Callum gathered any comfort he gave, petting the small dragon's head.

Though, for whatever reason Zym wasn't warm. He wasn't cold but maybe because he was a storm dragon he lacked that natural alive warmth that other living things gave off. It was okay, a little off-putting at first, but it wasn't the same as a warm hug, or cuddling with a little brother.

It would have to do though.

The next day was uneventful. Rayla explained that they didn't often build any towns or cities near the border for fear of the human's invading.

It made sense. They were trying to get Zym back without being noticed so it was probably a good thing.

Plus, Callum was too tired to put up much of a fight in his current state. That wasn't good, if they got ambushed…

He needed to get his shit together.

_

Thinking he needed to get his shit together was a lot different than actually being able to get it together.

Another night sleepless and his eyes burned.

_

That day they walked into an ambush.

Callum was unsure, even to this day, why he did what he did. He tries to blame it on the lack of sleep but even he doesn't know exactly. But when Rayla stopped abruptly, removing her swords with her guard up he knew they were in trouble. Gently he put down the backpack holding Zym.

The arrow that flew from between the trees, Rayla probably could've deflected with her swords. Yet here was Callum, pushing her out of the way and being too slow himself to move out of the path of danger.

Maybe it was adrenaline, or maybe the complete sleep deprivation but when Rayla fell out of harm's way Callum felt time slow. He saw her look of…what was that exactly? It was alarm but it was mixed with a whole lot of anger and fear when she met his eyes. That was probably when he realized that his actions may have been a mistake. Maybe…maybe. Yeah.

They were.

But what if she hadn't reacted in time? What if? He doesn't like 'what ifs'.

Even without being exhausted he would have probably have reacted the same way. He would regret nothing.

The arrow pierced his right shoulder, just below his collarbone. In fact he was pretty sure that it scraped his collarbone on the way in-maybe he wouldn't include all the gory details.

All he really felt was the dull thud of impact, his feet stumbling, and the harsh collision with the ground. The shock was dizzying and he felt his chest heaving for the breathe that was knocked out of him

His vision filled with white and purple, Rayla's livid face glaring down at him yelling something directly into his face. All he could hear was a ringing in his ears though, so he just blinked up at her, one of his hands moving to touch the arrow sticking out of him, whoa.

A hand forced his back to the ground and he could read her next words.

"Don't move."

Okay, he could do that. That was a lack of action that he could deal with.

Her head whipped around to face who Callum assumed was the one who shot the arrow.

He shifted his gaze. Correction, there was at least four of them looking down at them in disgust. Lovely.

They were elves, that much Callum could tell by their trademark pointy ears but they didn't quite share the same complexion as Rayla, there was something different about their horns too.

Rayla would later explain that they were a 'lower tier elf', her words not his, some kind of woodland elf that usually kept to themselves.

Well, they weren't keeping to themselves right now.

Rayla stood up, every fibre of her being radiating anger. This was assassin Rayla, this was the form of Rayla that still kinda scared Callum. Not much, but enough to make him try his very best to never be on the receiving end of that again. Being chased once through the castle was enough for him, thank you very much.

"…weren't doin' nothin'! We have an important quest and you shoot first and ask questions later?"

Oh, looks like his ears were working again, neat.

"He's a human, are you crazy? Have they corrupted you?" Another voice, female, joined in, Callum didn't recognize it.

"Ya he's a human, big deal. He's also the only human that can restore peace and you just SHOT HIM."

"Peace? A human?"

"Yea, peace, a human." Rayla mocked.

And Zym just so happened to choose this part to pop out of the backpack with a little squawk. Wandering out and plopping beside Callum with a concerned lick to his cheek. It sparked with electricity.

"Is that-?"

"Yeah, the Dragon Prince lives. So get the heck out of our way!"

"We cannot leave the Dragon Prince in the care of a human and a corrupted elf."

"Well, your gonna have to try to take him from me then."

Oh great, another fight.