Chapter 5: struggling and hangry

Night time forest

Rigran woke up to the snap of a twig, Rayla who was on watch also turned to look, "you hear that?" Rigran asked, "yes I'll go check it out" Rayla said drawing her swords and setting out at the direction of the sound.

Rigran then decided to wake the others as it was almost sunrise and a bit of light was seen over the horizon, "Callum" Rigran said, shaking Callum awake.

"Gah what time is it?" Callum asked, "Doesn't matter, wake up Callum." Rigran said as he shook Ezran and Bait awake.

Even though the boy was only half-awake, he heard the urgency in the padawan's voice. Blinking a few more times, he looked around, eyes going wide as he failed to find Rayla. He used Witcher senses to see her footprints going deeper into the forest.

The younger prince turned around, shaking his brother. "Callum. I think we're alone." He said, "finally" Callum said, "I've wanted this for a long time".

The two conscious boys looked at each other then back at the slumbering teen, "Callum?"

"Mmm. Your breath still smells like peanut butter," Callum groaned, "Wake up!" Rigran shouted, slapping Callum's face sharply, "ow" Callum groaned now fully awake.

"Wake up, Rayla's missing," Ezran informed. Callum immediately shot up, nearly hitting his head on a low root. "Did she take it?" He asked, "no she went to check on something but it's taking longer than expected" Rigran informed.

"Ok, good. But that doesn't mean we can trust her." Callum said, Rigran gave him a stern glare, "what? I'm just saying" Callum protested.

"I like her" Ezran said hotly, "I know, but it's just she's…" Callum began, "An elf?!" Ezran exploded. "It seems maybe everything we've ever heard about elves is wrong!".

Rigran remained silent, "No, no, no!" Callum exclaimed, waving his hands and shaking his head. "That's not what I meant. It's just…she's not telling us everything. I can feel it.", "maybe, maybe not but we need to get to Xadia" Rigran said, sick to the stomach about lying through his teeth.

At that moment, Rayla leapt out from the trees, sprinting towards them. She had just returned from fighting a man by the name of Corvus who was hunting the elf and to retrieve the princes and set Rigran free from whatever spell he believed the Witcher was under and Rayla explained that they were on the same side

Then it came to the kings assassination and Corvus discovered that the princes didn't know "once they find out the truth they will hate you" he had said before Rayla had flung him in a Ditch by using his own chain.

"Go! Go! Go!" she called, racing over and picking up her supplies in order to get away from the area as fast as she could.

"Where were you?" Callum demanded. "That doesn't matter, we need to go!" Rayla replied hurriedly, "We should eat first," Ezran said, "Look at how grumpy Bait is."

The elf groaned loudly. "There's no time!" she exclaimed. "What was it?" Rigran asked drawing one short sword and his tomahawk, questioning crossing his arms. "Yeah you should at least explain—" Callum began

"I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO YOU!" she snarled, picking up the elder brother's bag and shoving it into Callum's arms. "Let's go!".


Back at the castle of Katolis, Soren ran up the stairs to the battlements where his father was overlooking the kingdom, "I love having Meetings up here" he said doing some squats, "I get a nice leg workout going up all those stairs.".

However someone was watching their meeting from above, he was hooded but he had a sword on his back, with two scythe on his sides as he watched the two spoke.

"This evening," Viren began, getting straight to business and ignoring his son's antics, "you and your sister depart on a mission…"

"Searching for the princes," the knight grunted as he began to stretch., "The outcome of your mission is critical to the future of this kingdom," Viren continued.

The young man chuckled lightly, "We've got this. We'll find them.", "but they are being held by a moonshadow elder and I have reason to believe that Rigran may be under a spell" Viren said, "the elf will be easy" Soren said, "but I see your point about Rigran".

"Glad you see my point, There's still a bit more nuance to the situation than you understand, Soren," Viren scolded.

"No idea what that means." Soren said

The High Mage sighed, stepping forwards and putting a hand on his son's shoulder, "Listen closely. You are to return with the terrible news that the princes have perished." Was what Viren said.

"Uh sorry what?" Soren asked wondering if he heard right and sat up straight, "can you repeat cause I think I had a bit of blood rushing to my head". And so Viren did and Soren gave a look that said, 'what?'.


Back with the group they were now climbing mountains with relative ease on a very easy path, Rayla was not comfortable with it, "Wait," Rayla spoke up as the small group strode along a mountain path, "this path is too easy."

"No it's not," Callum argued. "It's exactly the right amount of easy."

The elvish girl rolled her eyes, "No. it's well worn, it's flat, it's soft. Sooner or later we're going to run into somebody."

"Somebody? Is someone chasing us?" Rigran said, Rayla paled, "Um that's not the point, the point is this is risky" she said moving to another overgrown path and pointing up, "We need to go that way. Tougher terrain is safer for us. The tougher the better."

"Well that sounds terrible," Callum muttered, "Exactly!" Rayla said, "and less chance of someone following us" Rigran said, "okay so someone's after us I don't know who or why" Rayla said and Rigran gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"This is already tough enough," Ezran whined. "Do you know how heavy this egg is?"

"Uh no, I don't. Cause you won't trust me to carry it!" Rayla replied, "Well should we trust you?" Callum questioned. "Have you told us the truth about everything?" Rigran folded his arms waiting for a response.

she scoffed, "Fine, keep carrying the extremely heavy egg. But quit crying about it. We're going this way." She said feed to the teeth.


Kaja and Walter were studying the corpse of a large fish creature, "been a while since I've seen you ain't it big black eye" Walter said, "finally ate something you shouldn't have".

"You know this thing?" Kaja asked as she pulled out an arrow from one of its eyes, "first yes I tried fishing for this bastard myself once or twice and second that's Rigran's arrow, which means he killed it" Walter responded.

"Good that means we are on the right track" Kaja said, "this way" Walter said bending down to study some tracks, "we keep up this pace we should find them within a day or two" Walter said.

"Then let's double time and beat that record" Kaja said.


Back at the castle Soren was asking questions, "if we return with the news that the princes have died, won't that mean we failed?" He asked still confused, he was slow but not stupid and he had a bad feeling where this was leading him.

"The coming war will determine the fate of humanity, history has come to a tipping point. a very crucial tipping point" Viren explained, "like a see-saw? Things could go either way" Soren said, "precisely" Viren said.

"If we are strong enough to make the right decisions, humans may finally return to Xadia and take back the land of which we were denied" Viren said, "but a child king will make weak decisions and history will tip the wrong way and the forces of Xadia will wipe us out, one by one every one of the five kingdoms".

"So I say the princes are dead but what if they are alive" Soren asked, "then I need you to make the 'right' decision" Viren said, "the right decision?" Soren asked suddenly, very aware about what that might imply, "I don't know if I can though".

"We'll have accidents in the wild. It is very tragic but it happens," Viren pressed, then he cupped his son's cheek. "It won't be easy but you are strong. But we can't have anyone knowing about this, not even Claudia".

He then turned around with a deep breath, "it's a burden to take the throne but someday that throne will also belong to you".

Unfortunately that was a bit late for that as the figure on the roof had heard it all with his shaped hearing and piercing blue eyes, and he knew what he had to do for his master.

Let's see how much coin can weasel out of Viren in order to get the job done.


Back on the mountain the group had stopped for a snack but Rayla was glaring at Bait as now most of their food was gone Even Rayla's vial had been emptied of moon berry juice.

Bait was glowing a Color no one had seen him glow before, "did that little frog monster?" Rayla asked as Bait hiccuped, "Bait wouldn't do that" Ezran said with conviction, "well look at how he's glowing" Rayla snapped, "gee I always wonder why he's called a glow toad" Rigran said sarcastically.

"He does glow in different ways depending on his mood" Ezran said, "like when he's hungry or angry or hangry".

"So what does that Color mean?" Rayla asked, "actually this is the first time we've seen him glow this Color" Callum admitted, "well it's a reddish purplish berry Color" Ezran observed and then Bait burped in their faces.

"Alright he did it" Ezran said head down in defeat, Rayla stormed off, "I think she's hangry" Callum observed, "I'm absolutely Hurrius" Rayla shot back. The boys looked at each other and shrugged.


Meanwhile at the bottom of the mountain a fire was lit by Kaja and the two had a bit of rabbit for lunch, "well they certainly are going the right way about having a hard time" Walter said.

"Maybe there's an easier way to go?" Kaja suggested, "maybe and maybe not" Walter said, Kaja began studying one of the knives she had on her person.

"So what do you think is going on?" Walter asked, "the Prince's with an Elf Dravaan missing talks of war I fear it might be what Dravaan was said would be the end of days".

"That's horseshit I'm just worried about Rigran" Kaja said lying down on the grass as she fiddled with her knife. Up above on a ledge with a cluster of rocks and rabbit sniffed the rocks and moved a small rock.

The rocks began to shift and grind against each other until one rock popped out of its position, and the rocks began rolling and fell off the ledge down towards Walter and Kaja.

Both saw it but there was nothing they could do, Kaja raised her hand over her face to protect and there was a crash from the rocks.

Kaja didn't feel dead and in theory she shouldn't be feeling anything if she was, instead she felt a warm heat around her.

She opened her eyes to see the rocks shattered around her, Walter and the campsite with a flaming dome shield around them, "what the devil?" Walter asked looking at Kaja, a Kaja then looked at her Fire primal stone.

It was glowing slightly and seemed to be vibrating a little, she clenched her fist and the flaming shield disappeared around them, "what?" Kaja asked herself as she looked at her primal stone.


Claudia gazed at a mirror brought back from Xadia with a frown, she turned away walking to the desk and grabbing several magic items. Picking up the bowl with her mixture, she walked back to the mirror. "Speak you true nature to me," she spoke starting to incant her spell. A green blast erupted from her fingertips, harmlessly swirling around the mirror before dissipating. "Nothing?" She cursed

"What's nothing?" Asked a voice behind her and she saw a tall figure in the mirror, Yelping, Claudia turned around, freezing as her gaze landed on the figure who was in the room.

"Ha-who are you?" She said gettinger her breath back, the figure had a hood over his head but his face wearing a red and black suit with some metal spikes on his gauntlets with a serpent symbol on one sleeve and a serpent medallion on his neck.

"I am someone who wants to speak with your father, the high mage in private, I wish to give my skill in his service" said the figure, "um okay I'll see if I can get you an appointment" Claudia suggested.

However the figure turned his piercing blue eyes to the mirror, "What is it you're working on?"

"Uh…it's just this mirror that my father brought back from Xadia." Claudia said, unsure of the new figure. "Hmm…interesting," he mulled stepping past her to look over the mirror. "And what is the importance of this mirror?"

"We, uh, we aren't sure," she answered. "That spell I did was to try to get it to reveal its secrets. But, as you saw, it didn't work.".

"How fascinating" the figure said after a moment, "so where did you find it?", "Well, it was found in the lair of the Dragon King and Queen themselves," Claudia remembered. "So it has to be powerful. A dragon wouldn't even be able to see their reflection in a mirror this small.".

"Hmmm" the figure hummed, "well nice talking to you miss…?" "Claudia" Claudia introduced bowing, but when she looked up the figure was gone with a window open and a note on the floor, she picked it up and read it.

"Get your father to meet me down outside the west side of the castle" she read, she turned back to the mirror and became very frustrated after a while of staring at it.

"This is one stubborn magic mirror." She said "You think I haven't tried that?" Viren spoke up, causing his daughter to turn to him. "I've cast over eight different reveal spells, they all failed. At the end, I see nothing but my own frustrated face staring back at me."

"Maybe it really is just a mirror," Claudia shrugged, sharing a glance, "I don't think so," Viren said with conviction, "Of all the treasures, artifacts, and relics in the lair of the Dragon King and Queen. This was the closest to their bed. It must be important."

"Anyway someone was here" Claudia said, "he wanted to talk to you he left this note saying that he wanted to meet you alone outside the west end of the castle".

Viren took the note and took a quick read of it, With a scowl, Viren tossed the tarp back over the infernal relic, before turning to his daughter. "I'll meet him seeon but We have something to discuss, your mission."

"To rescue the princes." Claudia guessed

"Yes, but you will have a secret mission that's far more important," Viren spoke. "Claudia," he placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, "you must recover the dragon egg."

"They have it with them, so it shouldn't be a problem," she shrugged.

"But the elf and most likely Rigran will be."

"I can handle her. I've got room for a third mission if you need anything else while we're out," she chuckled.

"The egg can't fall into the wrong hands. It's too powerful, too dangerous," Viren said. "Whatever happens, whatever accidents or tragedies may occur, above all else, you must return with that egg."

"One question," she prodded, "Say we're attacked by giant bumble-scorps and they're all buzzing around like bzzz and flailing their scorps at us like bzz bzz bzz bzz and I'm forced to choose between saving the egg and saving Soren. What should I do?"

Viren Raised an annoyed eyebrow at his daughter's antics "It seems to me that your brother can handle himself just fine. I recommend getting the wea—the egg." He growled

"True, but what if he really needs my help?" Claudia reiterated. Seeing her father frown, she rolled her eyes, "Geez, tough crowd. It's a joke. Relax, it'll be fine."

"The egg," Viren answered as his daughter began to walk away. "If you have to choose, choose the egg."

Claudia frowned slightly, looking down as she left the room, and with it, but a certain black figure outside the window had been eavesdropping and he held his scowl.


"Rayla, can you slow down? It's getting a little tricky," Ezran requested as he trudged through the snow that rose up to his knees.

"Rayla, come on!" Callum whined as he helped pull his little brother up. You're the one who made us take this crazy route, at least let us keep up with you."

"I just need to sit down, catch my breath," Ezran panted, flopping down in the snow.

"You know there is a solution," Rayla grumbled hopping up onto a ledge, "you can let me carry the egg. You realize I could just take it right? I could just take it from you any time I wanted."

Rigran was fed to the teeth with this and so clipped her on the pointed ear which was more painful to Elves than humans, "ow! what was that for?" She demanded, "bitching about" Rigran said through gritted teeth.

"Besides, threatening us isn't the best way to encourage us to trust you." Callum pointed out, "But I don't! That's the point!" Rayla said

"Oh, congratulations! You haven't threatened us and forced us to give you the egg?! You deserve a medal! You're a hero!" Callum snapped.

"I could take it! I could return it to Xadoa on my own! And as a matter of fact—" Rayla was cut off as a palm slapped over her mouth. Rigran clamped both his hands over the mouths of Callum and Rayla, as he watched the slopes warily.

It was only then she could hear the slight cracking in the packed snow and ice up above. Seeing the trails of cracks slowly grind to a stop Rigran gave them sharp flares of worry and removed his hands from their mouths.

"Another word of argument and you're going to piss me off more and start an avalanche so shut up from now on get it unless it's in whispers. Got it?" Rigran said in a low whisper.

"Yep." Callum said scared of his cousin. "Not a peep." Rayla squeaked fearfully, Rigran then helped Ezran to his feet, "let's get moving" he said, then Bait belched loud and long.

It would have been very funny if the situation wasn't so serious, "oh damn run!" Rigran said as they all began running down the hill away from the Avalanche. Ezran tripped on the way down, causing Rayla to skid to a stop and grab his hand to help the boy up, making her yelp as pain shot up her arm. "What happened to your hand?" Ezran gasped seeing the purple fingers.

"Don't worry about it! Just run!" she exclaimed, leading him down the trail. Glancing behind her every now and then. "We're not going to make it! It's like a snownami!"

Callum then brought out his primal stone and skidded to a stop, "the hell Callum!?" Rigran said stopping dead as well. "Get behind me!" he said and everyone clustered behind him. Getting the idea, he drew the symbol in mid-air with his finger, "Aspiro" Callum said.

Callum blew hard and managed to blow at the avalanche and held it back, he held it back for a good long while when his breath blew out but he had slowed it down enough to only cover them gently.

"Who's not dead?! Sound off!" Callum called popping out of the snow, "here" Rigran called out climbing to himself, "WHERE'S THAT HICCUPING JUICE-THIEF FROG?!" Rayla exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

"He's right there!" Ezran pointed up the slope. "And he's ok! We all made it!" He held up Bait who croaked in confirmation.

"I'll go get the egg!" Ezran called, and all heads turned towards the boy as he slowly got to his feet, scooching towards the egg and picking it up.

Everyone's hearts dropped to their stomachs when they heard the distinct sound of ice cracking. "Ez, don't move, we're coming to get you," Callum called as the three slowly slid out onto the ice.

"Everyone get on your stomachs that'll disperse your wait and make it easier to move around on without cracking," Rigran said.

"But it's already cracking!" Ezran pointed out

"Here," Callum said, crouching down and crawling over. "Hand it to me," taking the egg from his brother, Callum stood up and the ice began to crack. "What now?" Rayla asked.

"I'll get Ezran" Rigran said as he drew his tomahawk in case he did fall in as he slid towards the younger prince. "Uh…still cracking whenever I move," the boy whimpered.

"Just stay calm" Rigran said and used another Witcher sign known as Axii in order to make Ezran calmer than he looked. "Alright now we're going to slide to the bank," Rigran said.

"I'm sorry I was such a jerk before Rayla, we're lucky to have you as a friend," Callum said, holding the egg out to the elven girl. "I do trust you."

To their surprise, she took a few steps back, "No. Wait. I don't deserve your trust. Not yet. I need to tell you the truth. This morning, I was attacked by someone, a human. I fought him off but it was hard, because of this," she said and held up her hand showing the darkening skin and the silver bracelet.

"You don't need to do this right now Rayla," Callum spoke up. "Yes I do" Rayla retorted, "This isn't exactly a good time right now!" Callum said nervously looking around at the ice

"This is an assassin's binding;" Rayla began ignoring him "a Moonshadow Elf ritual. Before I met you, I swore an oath, I bind myself…to end Prince Ezran's life. And this binding will never come off while he's alive. It'll just get tighter and tighter till I lose my hand! But I'm ready to pay that price."

"Thank you, for telling us," Callum nodded, "but we need to focus on the situation." "There's one more thing." Rayla said "The night I met you, something bad happened…"

"Rayla, there's no time!" Callum said, "Callum, I need to tell you. The King—" Rayla tried to say, "JUST TAKE IT!" Callum exclaimed, shoving the egg into her hands. Only to forget about her injured one.

Rayla gave a sharp cry of pain, the egg slipping from her hands and falling to the ice, breaking through and sinking down into the cold waters below.

"Crap" Rigran cursed, than Ezran ran forward like a lunatic and dived into the water, "EZ!" They all exclaimed, "I'm going after him," Callum said but Rigran grabbed him.

"We don't need heroics" Rigran said as he bent down at the hole, searching with his sharp eyes, he then shot his hand down into the water bending down lower and gritting his teeth as he retrieved his arm with Ezran in hand and holding the egg of the dragon Prince.

"Ez!" Callum exclaimed as he bent down to his shivering brother and the others gathered around, Rayla placed the egg to the side of them and focused on the prince.

"F-f-fine" Ezran sniffed stuttering from cold, he was most likely going to have a cold, "T-the e-eg-gg, h-ow-w i-is i-it?" They all looked and examined the egg which was glowing dimly, "not good" Rayla said gravely.


Not too far away Kaja and Walter were studying the fire stone, "it almost seemed like Dravaan or Rigran's magic" Kaja observed, "well is there anything else you have done like that before or is that and teleporting, the first time you've done it?" Walter asked.

"First time for me I mostly just use my magic for blacksmith work" Kaja admitted, "well try something else maybe teleport again or summon another shield or something" Walter urged.

Kaja nodded and focused on the shield. She focused hard, put her hand on a position like she was catching something and her Firestone began to glow and a smaller dome fire shield formed around her.

"We'll done Kaja" Walter said, "I'm not sure how you did it but I'm glad, it's better than any dark magic I've seen".

"I think I'm just drawing power of the primal stone and then…I don't know how to explain it" Kaja said in amazement as she put down the shield and summoned a bit of fire in hand changing its Color experimentally from purple to green to white to blue.

"Well you know what they say practice makes perfect" Walter said, "and I'm sure you're going to master this in no time". "Oh I will I can tell you that" Kaja said giving a smile as she looked at the multi coloured fire in her hand.