O~o~O
When the hour is nigh
And hopelessness is sinking in
And the wolves all cry
To feel they're not worth hollering
O~o~O
One day, Rey came across a series of narrow pathways along one of her daily walks. Curious, she followed the twisting path until it ended at a beautiful fountain. The water was clear and shimmering as it flowed peacefully. She wondered silently why Kylo had never mentioned it before.
"Because the dragon has never set foot in here before," a soft voice whispered.
Rey looked quickly around the room, trying to find whomever had spoken.
'Who are you?" she asked when she could see no person in the room.
A bell-like laugh tinkled across the rocky walls. "I am everything, and nothing. I am the whisper in the wind, the babble in the brook. I am the magic that flows through this mountain and the void. I am forever."
Rey knelt down next to the fountain and bowed her head. The musical voice laughed again.
"No need to bow, child. I know who you are, Rey of Jakku."
Rey sighed mournfully. "At least one of us does."
She felt a breeze caress her cheek. "The belonging you seek is not behind but ahead of you, young one. Your future is bright, my child."
"What of Kylo?" Rey had grown attached to her friend and couldn't imagine her life without him now.
"Ah, Benjamin's future is less clear—he is clouded by the dark magic of his curse."
"Benjamin?"
"Before he became Kylo, he was Prince Benjamin of the nearby kingdom of Alderaan."
"Do you know of any way to remove his curse? I will do anything to help."
The breeze lifted her hair and surrounded her. "Ah, you would, wouldn't you?" the voice replied in a murmur. "Kylo has been a loyal protector and guardian. I truly wish nothing but happiness for him, but I fear your paths will part soon."
Rey felt her heart squeeze in her chest. She couldn't—wouldn't—leave Kylo behind. Over the many moons she'd spent by his side, she'd fallen in love with the kindness and intelligence of the great dragon. She would happily spend the rest of her life as his companion.
The breeze rustled through her hair again in what Rey found to be a comforting gesture.
"I'm sorry to bring sad thoughts upon you, young one, but I led you here for a reason. Your time upon my mountain indeed grows short. Drink from my fountain, Rey. Let it quench your thirst and bring you peace."
Rey sighed and made the decision to humor the kind voice even if she truly didn't believe its warning. She sat down at the edge of the fountain and gazed into it's crystal clear depths. Her reflection stared back at her with bright hazel eyes, and Rey smiled. No longer was her face gaunt with hunger nor her eyes lined with dark circles of exhaustion or her chestnut hair limp and ragged. She was healthy and vibrant, thanks to the new home and friendship she'd found in Kylo.
She leaned forward and dipped her hands into the cold water and brought some to her lips. There was a sweetness to the liquid, and she drank greedily. The last thing she recalled was a tinkling laughter as she found herself standing in the middle of a corridor, staring at a solid wall. Surprised to find herself alone with no fountain in sight, Rey had no idea if she had imagined it, but she decided against telling Kylo, for it would mean she would have to tell him everything about the water and what it told her. She didn't wish to bring him any sadness with that knowledge.
O~o~O
A few weeks later, Rey found herself at the beginning of yet another new pathway. Kylo had been out along the perimeter of the forest for a few hours when Rey grew restless. This new path was rockier than most of the others, and she could feel that it sloped slightly downward at an odd angle. After a long while of walking, she came across an exit covered in a thick moss blanket. She pushed the curtain-like greenery away and stepped out into the sunshine.
She found herself at the top of a verdant hill overlooking a bustling village. It looked vibrant and vital. Rey felt an excitement begin to fill her chest at the thought of exploring some place new. With no thought of consequences or letting Kylo know what she was up to, Rey started to journey through the forest and down towards the village. Not halfway to her destination, Rey began to feel uneasy.
A noise from close by drew her attention, and she crouched down in a defensive position.
Two men appeared from the trees and looked at her with startled expressions. The larger of the pair narrowed his eyes and licked his lips.
"Well, what do we have here, Hux?" he asked a sinister voice.
The smaller man shook his head, his red hair glinting in the light that scattered through the leaves.
"I've never seen this one before, my friend. Maybe she's from the junk heap on the other side of the mountain."
The larger man nodded. "Ah, a Jakku rat. I like my women feisty."
Rey swallowed and bolted through the trees heading back toward the mountain. The men faltered for a moment before taking up the chase. She pushed her muscles as hard as she could, but her time lounging about all day peacefully had made her sluggish.
Praying that Kylo would hear her plea for help, Rey screamed out his name as she sought to evade her pursuers.
"KYLO! KYLO, HELP!"
Her chest was burning and her breath was ragged, but she felt hope glimmer in her chest when she caught sight of the rocky wall in the distance. Out of nowhere, her foot caught on a fallen branch, and Rey went sprawling across the hard ground. She felt a hand grip her hair and painfully drag her to her feet.
The red-haired man's voice was shaking in anger. "You stupid bitch. We're going to—"
A loud roar filled the air, and Rey felt her body sag with relief. Kylo had come. Everything would be fine.
Both men froze in their tracks at the sight of the great dragon tearing through the trees. Kylo's golden eyes were ablaze with rage. He let out a menacing growl as he locked his gaze on the man who had Rey in his grasp. As if sensing the girl was the reason for the beast's distress,
Hux let go of her hair and twisted her arm behind her back instead. At the gasp of pain that Rey released, Kylo bared his teeth with a snarl.
"Alright then, big guy. You want the girl? You can have her. I'll let her go and we'll leave, okay?"
Even though his rage was boiling, Kylo's first and foremost thought was to get Rey to safety, so he nodded quietly. The redhead shoved Rey in the dragon's direction, and both men took off running through the forest.
Kylo was by her side in an instant and carefully scooped her up into his arms and took off into the air. Rey turned her tear-stained face into his chest and rested her cheek against his warm scales until they were safely inside the mountain. He set her down gently in the main cavern and fought to control his thundering heartbeat.
"Are you- Are you all right? What were you doing on that side of the mountain?" His voice was loud and desperate yet not unkind.
Rey let out a relieved sigh and sunk to her knees. "Yes, I'm fine—exhausted and a little sore, but I'll live."
She looked up to see her dragon gazing at her with a worried look.
"I'm sorry, Kylo. I found a new tunnel, and it took me to a place I'd never seen before, so I decided to explore. Then those two men came out of nowhere and threatened me, so I ran."
"I'm glad you're safe, girl. I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to you."
Rey reached out and stroked her hand over the claw that was resting closest to her. "I'm fine; it's fine. Those men are gone, and I will be extra careful going forward. I promise."
Kylo nodded and the pair fell into a companionable silence, neither one wanting to give voice to the growing unease in both of their minds.