Shiro stood on the bridge of the Castle. His dark, steel gaze did not stray from the snow-tipped peaks on the planet below. "Coran, scan again. There is a stack of smoke rising from the south-eastern range." His voice was ice that cut through the anxiety permeating the bridge.
The Paladins of Voltron had been orbiting the planet since Allura and Prince Lotor had taken Blue down to the surface. Last night, they had received a short, pre-recorded note from the Princess that all was well and that only one more rotation should be sufficient to gain enough intel to merit leaving. Morning had long sprung and the planet was nearing its noontide: still no word from Allura.
He narrowed his eyes as Coran replied tersely, "There is a large mass moving with the smoke. It is reading just south of the plume." The seasoned warrior's voice was thick with apprehension. Not being able to contact the princess was putting him though more unease.
"What is it?" Lance asked, his voice going up an octave. Shiro could practically see the sweat beading up on the young man's forehead.
"I don't know yet," Pidge replied, not looking up from her screen. "It is massive, moving slowly. I think…" She trailed off before picking back up. "It's a living creature!"
Shiro half turned to meet the young woman. Certainty shone in her jade eyes. It was all the affirmation he needed. "In that case, get to your lions," he ordered.
Lance was immediately up. Pidge and Hunk wavered for only a moment before darting off the bridge. As the three left, Coran shared a glance with the human man. "What are you planning?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
Shiro looked down at the planet's surface once more. "If Pidge's theory is correct, we should be able to distract it or kill it. Keep attempting to gain Allura's location," he ordered. "That monster is heading straight towards her and takes priority. If all else fails, one of us will go to her Lion and find her manually."
Coran nodded. "Aye, I understand. I'll keep you updated."
Shiro tightened his jaw, giving a curt nod of his own before turning on his heel to ready his lion.
The breath was knocked from his lungs as Allura's small, but heavy form knocked him face forward. Lotor instinctively through his arms up to protect his head. There was no heat like he expected from an explosion. A loud crushing sound shook and disoriented his senses. Gravel and dust invaded his nostrils, making it more difficult to suck in a breath. His cheek smashed painfully into the hard ground. He half twisted feeling Allura's form colliding limply with his back. His arm was able to hook hers keeping her semi-stable as the two of them began a hard tumble down the steeply angled tunnel. He came to a crushing halt when his back slammed into a wall of fallen rock. They had not rolled all the way back down to the cavern, but it had been a lengthy trip.
As the rumbling began to subside and Lotor was able to start catching his breath, two thoughts burst through his racing mind. The first one surprised him. Is she okay?! What happened?
He hastily pulled his other arm out from under him. A deep pain ran through the limb, but nothing felt broken. Still clutching her to his body, he used the other to feel for her neck. A sickening feeling was coursing through him. He frantically found her pulse and let out a quiet breath. It was fast, but strong. His broad shoulders slumped, and his racing mind was able to slow down somewhat. His calculating mind immediately went into a practiced mode of taking stock of the situation.
Allura was unconscious, hopefully soon to awaken. A throbbing pain was working its way up his right leg, breathing was laborious, and his body tremored. The tunnel was collapsed. There was no going back the way they came and possibly no way of moving forward. Something had caused the cave-in, but it had certainly not been an explosion. He felt nor smelled no sign of any explosives. Lotor was now positioned laying half on his side, leaning sorely against jagged rock. The steep angle of the floor did much to keep Allura's bodyweight pressed against the half-galran prince.
Lotor cautiously attempted to sit up. A sharp pain manifested in his right leg, as he attempted to push his legs under him. Finally, he was sitting with the princess propped against his shoulder. For a second, he relaxed. However, breathing became more difficult when a hacking cough racked his body.
The noise and movement must have woken Allura from her slumber. Lotor was still trying to clear his throat from the blanket of dust, when she whimpered and sat up, rubbing her temple with her hand.
"Lotor?" She shook her head from side to side. In the utter blackness he could only sense the movement.
He felt her body tense and forced his cough down. "Here," he choked out.
"What happened?" She asked, pain was in her voice now, but the princess still attempted to shift her weight.
He hissed when her hand gipped his thigh in the darkness. "I don't know," Lotor groaned before finding his voice again. "The cave collapsed," he stated. Lotor was now fairly sure his leg was wounded somehow as her touch felt like burning ice. His lungs still ached for oxygen. "Are you alright?"
Allura shifted once again, throwing Lotor through agony. She was sitting beside him now, her legs no longer tangled with his own. He drove the thoughts of the previous intimacy away from his mind.
"I think I am fine," she said a bit too calmly. "My head is pounding, and my arm feels like it was twisted." He could feel her stretching slowly.
Lotor bit his lip. That is your fault. The self-accusation was a flagrant stab at his own feelings, but he pushed the distraction away. "Good," was the only reply he was able to conjure.
"How are you?" Allura asked. A shiver of anxiety marred her voice.
He quickly gave her reassurance. "A little battered but I will live." It was a lie. His breath was coming so painfully. It threatened to thrust him into unconsciousness.
There was a small silence before Allura spoke up again, command laced her words now acutely at odds with her weak voice. "We must attempt to contact the Paladins. Where is my pack?"
Lotor nodded despite the situation. He mentally prepared himself to stand. "It may have come off on our descent," Lotor muttered. Before he was able to shift himself into a position that would not put all of his weight on a searing leg, Allura pushed herself to her own feet. "What are you doing?" He asked flatly.
"I am going to find my pack," she said, as she slowly made her way forward a few steps.
Lotor's nose scrunched. He could almost imagine the defiance in her face. Unconsciously, he reached out to catch her. "I was" –
He was cut off by a tremor rolling through the stone. Several small rocks fell from the ceiling before the sensation passed.
She continued where he left off, unknowing of his outstretched hand. Her tone was sharp but there was something more than rebellion in her tone. It made his heart yearn when she said his name that way. "Lotor, you are hurt. I felt you tense when I touched you. You're in pain."
His jaw dropped, and his palm fell similarly. It wasn't only pain. He was suddenly glad she couldn't see his face. A tidal wave of something deeply set, shameful, and painful was flooding him. It was met with fiery defences. "I am fine," he reiterated firmly. The half-breed attempted to push himself up, grimacing over the throbbing heat shooting up his left leg.
Allura was brave enough to grip his shoulders. She pushed him down with a force Lotor marvelled at. "No. Stay. I doubt I will be far. I can also see if the tunnel is completely collapsed or only partially collapsed."
A frantic buzz was beginning to hover just on the edge of Lotor's conscious decision. He masked it well behind a begrudging tone. "Fine."
The princess lifted her hands. "Please, don't hurt yourself further," she pleaded lastly before attempting to lighten the mood. "I won't try to carry you, if you do."
Lotor leant his head back instead of replying. He reminded himself she would not be far. Indeed, he would marvel if the section they were trapped under was more than a few meters. Waiting was not what he was designed to do.