This has been a milestone week. There has been 50,000 views! Holy S#*T! I am totally dumb struck by the support and love you all have shown this little ramble I started. THANK YOU! From the bottom of this Reylo fangirl's heart!

I am ramping up here...some of the little hints are going to be coming out very shortly, so hang on! And to all who have spared a moment to review...love, love, LOVE it! It pushes me to write the best possible chapters I can!

As usual, Disney owns this...I just dable for the story that should have been...all rights to them.

Chapter 26

Ben just kept walking. He didn't even pay attention to where he was going until he found himself striding up the steps into the temple. He paused for only a few moments to look at the pool in the large cavern before heading out to the stone slab overlooking the churning waters around the island. He ran his hand over the rough surface, feeling the coolness of the stone against his warm fingers, moving around the edge of it to stand at the edge of the point.

He just stood at the edge, letting the wind whip his hair around as the waves crashed far below, closing his eyes. He felt Rey's gentle brush of thoughts before she backed away to give him space and his frown deepen.

He didn't deserve what he currently had with her. He shouldn't have the love he felt, the gift of the bond, or the life of freedom on the island after everything he had done in his life and it was like he could smell the ash and smoke again in the air. The heat from the flames burned against his skin while the accusatory stares of his, once, friends touch his mind with the memory. As the shame and anger flowed over him, the sun ducked behind the horizon, shrouding the peak in shadows.

Ben opened his eyes, brow furrowing further, Fitting, he thought to himself and he moved to sit on the rock, the darkness inside stirring and coiling around him like a protective cloak that had a palpable weight to it. He sighed with resignation as his memories seemed to filter through his mind again unchecked.

His darkness rolled and curled so close to the surface as soon as he had seen the damage to Jek's young back. While a part of the first order, they had deep ties to many dark planets. He knew that a lot of their soldiers had been either taken or bought from people just like those who had laid such rough hands on the small boy. He had always chosen to tell himself that by coming to the First Order as a soldier were getting a better life, but in truth, they were just creating a trade for a commodity.

And now on top of it, he had another force temple, with more coming to learn and find safety and he could very well be responsible for whether or not they lived or died. They would be used as a shield so that he and Rey could possibly live and survive.

It wasn't fair. He didn't deserve to have these lives in his hands when they were already stained with so much blood. The dark roared and reared up, breaking his tight restrains that he kept around it and he had no choice but to stand and pace like a caged animal while searching for any kind of release.

He felt strangled again by this fate, the noose tightening with every passing day when he had thought he had finally gotten free. Free of the manipulation, free of the mental torture and anguish he had gone through for such a long time while being twisted and warped by Palpatine.

His anger and injustice rose up like a burning fire and he stood on the edge of the cliff and yelled, the ground under his feet shaking with the rage, stones raising and cracking around, reflecting his fury. The release left him spent and he dropped to his knees, hot tears burning his eyes as the darkness descended further.

Rey felt the reverberating pain echo through to her very soul as she sat at the fire, lost in thought. Her mind was buffeted by the anguish and anger flowing from Ben and tears sprung, flowing freely down her cheeks, there bond snapping tight.

She was on the precipice of the temple outcrop, and Ben was right at the edge, head bent forward, on his knees, wind whipping around him. She just stood and watched, knowing he could feel her presence as soon as she had been pulled to him.

It was like the force seemed to know what would balm his pain, sooth his anger and he felt her there, quiet behind him, just waiting. There was no judgement as she waited for him, just concern for the pain he felt and a desire to help however he wanted.

I don't want to be responsible for more deaths. Ben finally said, not moving as he kept his eyes closed, breathing slowly, pulling back on his darkness inch by inch, reigning it in.

Rey moved forward a little and sat on the edge of the stone slab, getting the sense that he wasn't ready yet for anything more. I know. Was all she had to say. There was nothing that she could do to make this better, and if she was honest, she had felt the weight of what they were needing to do as well.

I don't know if I can train with anyone again. There's too much pain there. He said, finally lifting his head to look out over the dark sea. The sun had completely set now and the only thing that was visible was the white breaking caps near the edge of the island.

Rey had always wondered about his time training with Luke, but they never talked about it, other than what happened at the very end. Ben, come home. We can talk, or not, but it's getting late. She said softly, the concern lacing through her voice. It made her nervous having him on the edge in so many ways, and selfishly, she wanted him back in their hut with her, safe.

He felt her thoughts and worry as he looked down to see how his knees were just hanging over the edge and he moved himself back a little before getting up to stand.

I didn't mean to worry you. He said seeing her face as he turned. I just needed some space. He said weakly, crossing the few steps to where she sat.

I know. And I want you to be able to have the space you need. She said looking up to meet his eyes in the dark. They were almost black, standing out against his pale skin and black hair, drawing her in as they had so many times.

I appreciate that. He said, trying to offer her a small smile. I will be home soon. He said, the word striking him as it made him realize what she had said to begin with, and he paused before walking past her, keeping his eyes on the ground. You are my home too, you know.

With that Rey was back in the hut, a hitching breath catching on his words as they hung in the air around her and she smiled, warmth spreading out in her chest.

The walk back took much longer than he wanted, without the aid of a torch or light source and the path was rocky, causing him to stumble awkwardly on more than one occasion before finally making it to the flat stretch that lead back to all of the huts, the lights like a beacon in more than one way.

He stopped by the wash hut first and cleaned up before he made his way back to the hut. Coming through the door, he saw that Rey had laid out some food and the kettle was on a happily crackling fire. The cloak of his darkness seemed to melt away as his skin warmed in the light of Rey and the peace she was to him, making him stop and just breath it in with his eyes closed for a moment while she had her back to him.

The filter of his thoughts wasn't working as well with everything he had been feeling and the words just seemed to come out, "For someone who's never had family, you seem to know how to make someone feel loved." He said quietly as she turned.

Ben's eyes flew open at his words, his face filling with regret immediately realizing he had spoken aloud. Rey regarded him, eyes filling with tears at his words.

"Rey, I'm sorry, I wasn't…." Ben started, seeing her brimming tears and mentally kicking himself for being so thoughtless as she cut him off.

"No! It's okay. That was actually very nice to say. I was just…really worried you wouldn't come back." she said weakly, her voice faltering on the last of her words as she blinked back more tears.

Ben balked, completely confused until it dawned on him. He had stormed off angry, leaving her alone, and his mouth dropped open with a small, oh, of understanding. He crossed the distance in two short strides and enveloped Rey in his arms. He had been so focused on his pain, on his past, that he hadn't given any thought to how she was feeling.

Rey felt his iron grip wrap around her and the damn broke. In her mind she knew that he wouldn't leave, that he would come back, but the nagging fear as she sat alone in their hut for the first time was to much. She hadn't even realized how scared she had been until he had actually walked through the door, and then she could stop how it had overflowed in her.

Her stress, fear, relief, weight of their task, and everything they had been through flooded inside of her, coming out in soul rendering sobs against Ben's chest. She cried for his pain, for her fear of loosing him, for the pain Jek had gone through, and for the stress of the world ending task they were responsible for and he let her.

All he could do was hold her, at a loss for how to handle the shattering of her in his arms. She was always so strong with everything she had come across. It just seemed to push her further, bringing out more of her strength, but it seemed she had reached her breaking point.

He scooped her up in his arms and strode over to the bed, settling down with her cradled in his lap as the sobs began to ease up to short gasping breaths, her body no longer wracked with the intensity of it all.

"Shhhhhh, I won't leave you. I promise." He said lamely, at a loss for anything else to say that would help.

"I….kn….know." The last of her hiccupping breaths chopping her words while she reached up and swiped at her face.

"Okay." Ben said more to himself, he understood the difference between knowing what was, and actually feeling it, "If you need me to just keep telling you, I can do that."

Rey's lips twitched up in a smile and she shifted to be able to see his face, "I wouldn't mind that." She replied softly, her face turning thoughtful for a moment, "Can I ask you something?"

"Hmmm." He relied cautiously, not being able to sense where her thoughts were at the moment.

She hesitated, not sure if her timing was right, but desperate to know, "Did you have the same experiences as Jek? Is that why you got so mad?" He was slowly letting her in on his mysterious past, but yet there was so much she had no idea about.

Ben was still, his mind debating on her question for a few minutes before he ducked his head down and kisses to top of her head lightly, "The meal you made is getting cold. Why don't I tell you after we eat." He suggested, hoping to buy himself a little more time to decide how much he wanted to get into.

Rey felt the lingering hesitation in him so she let it go, her question being asked and between them, "Alright." She murmured, sliding off his lap and going to get plates.

Dishing up and settling themselves, the fire crackling away, filling the hut was a comforting warmth, they ate in a familiar silence of their thoughts. Rey served the tea and sat, waiting for Ben to tell her what he was thinking about.

"To answer your question, no. I was never hurt like Jek. But I am directly responsible for his abuse, and the abuse of many just like him." He said with finality, as if he owned his part in it.

Her initial response was to insist he could never have done something like that, but as her mind seemed to let the words sink in, she understood his meaning to be that his involvement had to be related to the First Orders dealings with the outer rim planets.

"I only dealt with the training of the soldiers once they were older, and I had servants that were indentured on the ships doing menial jobs. I knew….I knew where they came from, and how they came to us, but I had a deep rooted belief that we were providing them with a better life." Ben went on to explain the thoughts that had surfaced while in the temple.

Rey remained quite, letting him talk, almost afraid that if she moved or made any comments that he would close off again to her.

"It never even occurred to me when I became Supreme Leader, to make any changes to the way we did things. More and more, I am starting to feel just how far the reaches that the darkness had in the universe and my role in it." He stared into his tea mug, pensive. "On top of everything, I am just trying to figure out that guilt."

This was a monumental moment for Rey to be a part of. Not only had Ben articulated his thoughts and feelings, but he had willingly done so with her, and she didn't let that significance go unnoticed.

"I watched children just like Jek on Jakku." Rey said quietly after processing all that Ben had said. "I think there was always a part of me that wondered why I was spared that fate. I was left there when I was so young, not to mention being a female." She muttered under her breath, feeling Ben automatically bristle at the insinuation.

"I stepped in once for this boy who had been caught stealing some rations and the vendor got three lashes in on me before he was stopped. I thought it was luck, but there must have been some kind of lasting payment from Palpatine." She added, and leaned forward, her elbows on her knees as she watched the flames.

The door creaked and slowly opened, causing Ben and Rey to jump up, both calling their sabers to there hands from there they lay across the room, holding on igniting them as they saw the small body inch it's way into the room around the door before it closed.

Jek's eyes were wide with astonishment and fear as he regarded the pair, light sabers in hand at the ready and Rey was the first one to recover, setting hers down on the table and approaching Jek, kneeling to eye level with the boy.

"What are you doing in here?" Rey said softly, yet with an edge of firmness to convey her mild displeasure with his appearance.

Jek's eyes flashed with fear and flicked towards Ben, settling on the saber in his hand before they lit with curiosity.

Ben raised his eyebrow at him, sensing his thoughts clearly, "This is not for your hands. You will not touch them." His direction firm and final as the boys face fell a little but he nodded.

He set his saber on the table next to Rey's and moved to tower over them, "Rey asked you why you are here." He stated, his voice surprisingly gentle, considering his imposing stance.

Jake hung his head a little repentant, "Tsaro nice," he started, his mouth saying her name slowly as if it was hard for him to pronounce and he had been practicing. His shoulders twitched up in a shrug, "she makes noise in her sleep. Really loud." His brow furrowed with his words.

Rey reached up and covered her mouth trying very hard not to laugh as she looked up at Ben, his eyes the only reflection of the humor he felt.

Ben placed his hand on Jek's shoulder lightly, drawing his gaze up, "I know it's hard to sleep, but you can't just leave Tsaro's in the middle of the night. I will walk you back."

Jek's lips thinned with frustration and he looked over at Rey, "I stay here?" He asked softly, with hope lacing through his thoughts.

Rey's head tilted at his obvious attempt to divide and conquer her eyes meeting Ben's again, "No, Jek. You can't stay here." She said firmly although her heart was tugged by his request, "Go with Ben and we will see you in the morning. I promise."

Jek relented and quickly grasped Ben's hand, to his chagrin, and they exited, Rey finally being able to give in to her humor.

Ben let Jek lead as he wasn't quite sure which hut was Tsaro's, but as they neared he could hear the sound that Jek had been talking about. They paused at the door as he thought for a moment, and knelt down beside the deflated boy.

"First lesson," he said, causing Jek's head to snap up, excitement lighting his eyes. "I want you to lay in your bed, eyes closed and concentrate. Concentrate hard, on taking slow, deep breaths, the feel of the air in your chest, the beating of your heart." He instructed, placing his mammoth hand over his tiny chest.

"Let that be your all." He finished with a raise of his eyebrows and nod of his head in question to Jek's understanding.

The boy nodded emphatically and Ben could sense his understanding rolling in his mind. "Good. No more sneaking out. Alright?" He insisted for good measure.

A small amount of Jek's excitement left his face and he nodded again adding, "Ah-right." He turned, silently opening the door, letting the full sound of Tsaro's snoring out into the night air for a brief moment before the door closed again.

Ben cringed at the sound, his lips twitching in humor to the situation and he waited till he felt Jek slip into a steady state of meditation before his mind eased into the familiar lull of a sleep pattern. Turning on his heal, he strode back to the hut.

As he rounded the corned back to the path for his hut, a presence edged on the far reaches of his mind, freezing him in his tracks. His eyes narrowed in the dark as he scanned all the huts, searching for the, now, non existent feeling. He let his mind touch each of the new minds briefly, finding all asleep and his brow furrowed deeply as he concentrated further.

The sensation was no where to be found and his breathing resumed to normal as his eyes searched one more time in his confusion, while he thought about what he felt. It seemed, familiar, for the briefest of moments, but was gone as soon as he registered that it was there.

He continued moving, rolling it in his mind and having it slip away from reach like the memory of a dream when you wake. He entered the hut to find Rey already in bed, reviewing some of the Jedi manuals.

Rey looked up from the book, and registered the look on Ben's face immediately, causing her to sit up, "What's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her tone.

Ben shook his head, still trying to figure out what he sensed and he opened his mind to her, letting her see what he felt. "I don't know. It's gone now. Maybe it was someone briefly waking. We don't know how much power each person has." He said trying to ease his mind.

Rey slowly nodded in agreement, not quite convinced either, "We will keep it in our minds." She stated as a plan for possible alertness.

Ben nodded, and headed to the bed, shucking his shirt, as he was now in the habit of doing for the night, and crawled in over her to settle beside her. Rey set the manual aside and snuggled down against his radiant heat, letting him tuck his arm around her protectively as the light from the fire started to dim, casting long shadows.

Ben let her flip through his memory of Tsaro's snoring and how he instructed Jek on the beginnings of meditation, causing her to chuckle against his chest.

"He's going to be a handful." Rey said, deep affection already coloring her tone as she did.

Ben could feel her smiling against his chest and he nodded in agreement, his eyes starting to drift closed, "He will listen though. He's eager to please us." Ben mumbled, sleep starting to wash over him as he focused on Rey's warmth beside him.

Rey just listened to his breathing even out, as his heart slowed with his relaxation, letting the soft pattern of his mind in sleep weave through hers, relaxing her into sleep as well.

The first week of training left everyone exhausted but encouraged. Damia and Raan were rarely seen apart, with Raan usually figuring out a task first, then showing her shy friend. By the end of the week, Damia was starting to come put of her shell a little and was keeping up with the group easily.

Chewie had seen the girls bound and cowering in a corner of a gaming bar. Their owner had lost a substantial amount of money leaving him only with their lives to bet. He had bought into the game with the contents of the hold on the Falcon, saying he needed the help on his ship. It had taken most of the night, but he had cleaned out most of the people at the table winning the girls in the process before meeting back up with Finn, who had the others.

There were three that had initially shown up at the docking bay, all fleeing a life of servitude on the slave planet. Nelo Gil had deep golden skin, a lithe figure that allowed him to do the physical tasks easily. He was overly analytical and very calm which lead to him being a complete natural in anything that required him to connect with the force. Within the first day he naturally seemed to take Jek under his wing, directing him and helping him in an easy and patient manner, to the relief of both Ben and Rey.

Rey had discovered that he had been the personal man servant to one of the most prominent slavers on the planet. Nelo had a posh life compared to the others, but had no opportunity to do anything of significance that would allow him to get his face tattoos. He would always, still, be in indentured servitude. He had over heard Finn in the market when he was running errands for his master and chose to show up at the Falcon, with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Sordi Kinis was the other male in the group and had deep blue skin, large horns extending down on either side of his face from the top of his head. He was Iktotchi, which had the others in the group extremely skeptical of him, and not just because of his impressive size. His precognition and telepathy were present, but inconsistent, and he struggled with any kind of manipulation of the force.

He had been chained in the docking bay and was responsible for repairs and work on any ships that came in. Finn and Chewie had taken almost a full hour to get the metal collar off his throat without burning, or hurting him. He had refused Rey's offer to heal the large sores the collar had left on the back of his neck, saying it would serve as a reminder of where he came from.

The final female was Ann'Kairn, a Twi'lek who had picked the lock in her cell in a sex shop and stole away in the middle of the night. She had been the last to arrive, sprinting to the ship just before Chewie had raised the ramp. As they had taken off, the shops guards who had been chasing her, had opened fire on the ship in an attempt to stop them.

Ann was the most outgoing of the group, speaking her opinion now that the was able to without threat of beatings. It had proved difficult in some of the sessions, and Rey could tell that out of all of them, her attitude grated on Ben's nerves the most. She didn't mind that, as it seemed nearly impossible for the Lanai to have her dress in more than the bands of clothing she came in or severely modified clothes they had given her.

She had been a dancer, so she with athletic and agile, and prone to showing it off when given the chance. Her focus was minimal though, which had her being a constant interruption when they were having lessons about meditation and use of the force that required quiet internal reflection.

All in all, the group was coming along at a steady rate of improvement that was creating hope for Ben and Rey. They had worked on their own abilities when the Lanai were instructing the new sensitive and whether it was the work with the group, or the hope it brought, they managed to make strides in figuring out how to draw on each others powers while maintaining control.

They had just finished a session, and had been stuck inside most of the day due to a rainstorm that had started during the night. Both were slightly stir crazy when Rey noticed the downpour had slowed to a light misting and she suggested that they go to the outcrop for a much needed sparing session.

Ben had shortened his strides to keep along side Rey as they headed down the hill, sabers in hand to their spot, both chucking their outer layers on opposite sides of the flat area, taking immediate defensive positions.

Rey's face was a mask of focus and determination while Ben seemed to always slide into the cool reserve that was closest to his Kylo Ren side. They circled each other to start in slow side steps, watching, anticipating the slightest shifts in posture.

Ben's patience won out as Rey lunged in attack, her saber igniting with a buzz as she thrust forward at his waist line. He shifted his foot back a bit, twisting his hips and bringing his saber to cross his body, igniting it to parry her thrust, letting her momentum push her body passed him as he spun to face her the opposite way they started.

Rey's eyes narrowed at him as his eyebrow raised in mocking arrogance at her actions and began to stalk her in a slow circle. She felt the force gather around him in these moments, strong, formidable, like the front of a storm and she focused her energy to match him.

The strikes began quickly, a flurry of motion and movement, the sabers sparking and humming as if they were alive, feeding on the rhythm of movements. They danced and spun, equally matched, blow for blow, the force pulling and flowing from the island itself, the grey and the very air they huff and panted into their lungs. The pull of the force was so intense that it wasn't long before they had an audience of sensitives and Lanai watching them on the hill.

Jek oo'd and ah'd with the display, clapping his hands with excitement as his eyes watched Ben and Rey with rapt attention, while the others were more reserved, but still awed by the fantastic demonstration. The force between the two building, surrounding them, rocks starting to lift and the ground shaking with the intensity of it.

Tsaro approached the cluster at the top of the hill drawn by the pull of power while she had been in her garden. She took one look at the duelling dyad and rushed to get the others to move, "Every one BACK!" she yelled, grabbing all of their attention and startling Jek into action and he rushed behind her and the others moved away from the top of the hill.

"Back, all must move back. You see in second." She said waving them back further.

Sordi's eyes glazed over and his mouth opened as he gleaned what was coming, "Tsaro is right, get back!" He said urgently, and everyone took heed, moving a safe distance as the sound of the sabers meeting reached a fever pitch.

Rey's energy met Ben's at every turn until they merged, in a deadlock grip, each pushing with their sabers while blocking the other when it happened. The power between them snapped tight and lightening, white hot surrounded them both in a bubble, collapsing on them for a split second before bursting away in all directions like a shockwave.

The force of it causing both to drop to their knees, sabers extinguishing as the panted against the release and Rey looked around, noticing they were kneeling in a small crater.

"Stars, Ben." She panted, hands moving to his chest and his head lifting, sweat matted hair, clinging to his forehead, eyes concerned as he took in her face before looking around.

"Jek, the others!" He stated, voice filled with panic as he got up, legs wobbling slightly, energy gone.

Rey stood quickly with him, leaning on him for support as they made their way up the hill, looking to the ridge, relief sweeping over them as Jek's head popped into view, followed shortly by Tsaro.

"You make magic!" He said excitedly and bound up to Ben. He grabbed his large hand in both of his small ones and jerked on it in his jubilation.

Rey coughed a laugh in her relief, "Not really." She muttered, legs feeling like lead by the time they reached the top of the hill.

"It really pretty!" He continued and started making exploding sounds with his mouth, splaying his hands and wiggling his fingers as if he could do it too.

Ann's eyes studied them closely, "You ain't telling us evrythin. I's heard da stories of da ol'jedi. You'ave a power!" she stated in her warm lilting voice.

"That's an understatement." Nelo muttered in annoyance he tried to push lightly against Ben and Rey's mind to discover the truth.

Ben immediately shot him a withering look as they sat against the low wall in front of the group. We will have to tell them some time. Rey's voice stated softly in his head and he shifted his arm around her, protectively, giving her a nod.

Jek sensed a story coming so he settled at Rey's feet and leaned his head against her knee as he had taken to doing after particularly long sessions. Rey's hand found his hair without thinking and started to stroke it lightly, in an absent minded way.

"You all know the we were looking for you, and others like you. And you have all learned that we have discovered that true balance is needed to find peace in the force. Both dark and light, as one. But there is a reason to why we are training now." Ben began, his tone smooth and confident, as if he were giving a speech to his troops.

He went on to tell them of the darkness that was temporarily trapped, and what it could do if it got out. He told them of the past, and, with Rey's urging, of the holocron and the plan to stop it.

The sun was starting to set as he finished, the group all staring in stunned silence as they processed the reason for them being there.

"So, you brau't us 'ear to die, den." Ann stated bluntly and Ben's face darkened.

Rey spoke up, placing a hand on his leg to silence the retort she felt on the tip of his tongue, "No, we brought you here for help. We will teach you in the ways of both, dark and light, and hope….that you will choose to stay and help. You always will have the choice to leave." She said firmly to the disbelieving faces staring at her.

"You freed me and because of that, I owe you." Came a soft voice surprising them all. It had been Damia who had spoken up, her chin lifted in determination as she stepped forward, Raan, clinging to her hand, frightened, but just as set.

Ben's lips thinned as he regarded the girls and he gave them a deep nod of thanks for her words before shifting his eyes to the rest of the group, finally settling his gaze on Ann.

"Rey is telling the truth. You are free to leave when the Falcon gets back." He words directed and sharp.

Nelo stepped forward, his skin glowing in the sunset, "I left to find a deed that would be worthy of marks. This is worthy." He said, and joined beside Raan and Damia as a unified trio.

Sordi huffed and strode over to the three, a grim smile on his face, "My chains are broken. I make this choice so I can do the same for others." And he nodded at Ben and Rey.

Ann opened her mouth to speak as Jek popped up beside Rey and bounded over to Nelo with a grin, "I train, I listen. I have bed and food." He said firmly, eyes dancing with a child's innocence.

"You train and listen well so far." Nelo said warmly, as he ruffled Jek's white hair while the child beamed up at him affectionately.

"Well ain't dis just great." Ann grumped, "I's finally away's from da 'orrid place, an I's run inta a mess." She sighed, shaking her head in disbelief, her lekku sweeping back and forth with the movement.

"You boat offa me a betta life. Dis….force in me, like a missin' piece, it'as been. I stand ta keep it." She said, walking to the group and shooting Ben a self satisfied look.

Rey and Ben rose, stiffness starting to set in for both of them, "Thank you. All of you." Rey said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"We will do everything we can to make sure you are all safe." Ben said firmly.

They all nodded just as Jek yawned a huge gaping yawn, smacking his mouth together. Tsaro chuckled, "Come little sprout, food for belly, pillow for head." She said, beckoning the child over to her.

He trotted after the caretaker, eyes already heavy with fatigue, and paused only for a second to wave back at the group before he rounded the corner to Tsaro's hut.

"It's late, you all should have suppers ready for you in your huts by now. Get some rest. We will forgo training in the morning and meet up after lunch." Rey said decisively as Ben shot her a side look.

Damia and Raan giggled and took off to their hut chattering about sleeping in as the others slowly dispersed as well, shuffling away in low conversations.

Ben wrapped his arm around Rey's waist and bore her effortlessly, regardless of the fatigue she felt in him. "That went well." She said in a low tone, earning a humorless huff from Ben as they made their way into their hut.