O~o~O

When the sky turns gray
And everything is screaming
I will reach inside
Just to find my heart is beating

O~o~O

For such a large creature, Kylo moved swiftly and deftly. Rey followed him as he turned and started down a rocky pathway. By the time she reached him, he had already gathered skins and a blanket for her use. He nodded his gigantic head toward a six foot opening where he could not physically fit. She set foot into a small, hollow chamber that she assumed would likely serve as her room.

"I cannot enter this place, so you need not fear for your safety." His voice rumbled deeply.

She felt something twinge in her chest. No one had ever wanted her to feel safe before. She stepped out of the room and placed a hand on the side of Kylo's jaw, feeling it warm to the touch. He closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh through his nostrils.

"Thank you, Kylo. You are most kind though I am not in fear of your presence."

An unnamed emotion flitted across the dragon's expression before he nudged Rey into the room.

"Get some rest, girl. I can take you exploring on the morrow."

She obediently stepped into the room and laid out the coverings to get comfortable. She mulled over the turn of events and wondered if this was all a dream that she would awake from tomorrow, only to find herself back in the village that cared nothing for her. She shook her head at the morbid thought and settled in for a peaceful sleep.

O~o~O

When Rey awoke the next morning, Kylo brought her some fruit to eat and showed her where she could freshen up. The pair began their day by traversing a few of the many pathways as he showed her around his home.

"How long have you been here?" she asked as they turned the corner of a particularly winding tunnel.

"A while," he replied mirthlessly.

"How long is a while? Is that what those scratch marks are in the big cavern? Were you counting the days?" Even as the barrage of words left her lips, Rey wondered if her questions would annoy the large beast, but her curiosity was too strong to rein in.

Kylo nodded jerkily. "It was futile—keeping track of the days—so I gave up eventually. Time had no meaning for me after a while. Time for a dragon moves differently than it did when I was human."

Rey's footsteps faltered momentarily. "What? You were human? How is such a thing possible?" she asked incredulously.

"Magic."

Rey scoffed. "Magic doesn't exist."

The side of Kylo's mouth turned up slightly. "So you believe in dragons but not in magic?"

She began to stutter, causing the dragon to let out a low, growling laugh. The sound fascinated her, and she made a mental note to try to illicit that response from him again in the future.

Rey looked off into the distance and contemplated her response. "I don't really know what I believe in any more."

Kylo nodded solemnly in sympathy, having experienced how his own perceptions changed over the years.

"A witch," he murmured, so softly that she almost didn't hear him. "A witch cursed me for being an arrogant fool with a foul temper."

Rey's brow furrowed in thought. "Is there a chance of breaking the curse?"

Kylo's large shoulders somewhat shrugged. "If there is, it's unknown to me. I've been here so many years alone, guardian of this mountain. There is a magic that flows deep within its core which connects my spirit to the surrounding forest. I could feel your flight through my woods, feel your fear. I made sure you found that path to safety."

He paused in his movement to reach out and place one of his claws against the wall of the passage.

"Magic runs through every inch of this mountain. Legend tells of the Forever Fountain, which is supposedly at its heart—the source of it all."

A warmth fluttered around like butterflies in Rey's stomach. "Is it true?" she asked in awe.

Kylo glanced at her sideways and gave her what was supposed to be a smile, showing a good portion of his sharp teeth that would more than likely frighten any other normal person.

"I thought you didn't believe in magic, girl."

She rolled her eyes and playfully huffed away.

"What was your life like before?" she inquired a bit later as they continued their exploration.

Kylo pondered her question before answering. "I was a prince. I was loved by my parents and spoiled rotten, to be honest. I spent too much time blaming them for everything that went wrong and not appreciating their love and concern. I suppose that's part of what I was to be atoning for over the years."

Rey stayed silent, hoping that her new friend would continue his tale.

"I was unnecessarily cruel to anyone I encountered, be they a villager, servant, or lord. When I was hunting in the forest one day, I came across an older woman who was in need of assistance. I turned away from her, then shoved her aside when she reached for my cloak."

A heavy weight settled over Rey's chest as she wondered if that was how Kylo would have treated her if they'd have met while he was still human. The thought made her sad.

"She turned out to be a sorceress who'd had her eye on me. Needless to say, I failed her test, and she cursed me to this life."

His voice sounded void of emotion as he finished his tale.

"I would say I'm sorry, but then I would have never met you," she replied in an attempt to lighten the mood with humor.

Kylo gazed into her eyes and there was something deep and unfathomable that she couldn't read. "I can't find it in me to disagree with you, Rey."

Warmth filled her belly. His words brought not only elation but sadness. Her heart ached for the pain and loneliness that he must've endured over the years. Yet, she also felt selfish for feeling happy that she finally felt like she'd found a home with him.

"Let's keep moving," he rumbled. "No more talk of sad things."

Rey nodded and the pair continued on.