My Secrets and Horrors

Chapter 25 – Ironic Flowers

Previously

The figure stood in the trees watching the group from afar, again taking notes of anything and everything they saw or thought would be useful. The binoculars hung from their neck, as they dropped them, with a small sigh she stood and looked around before jumping from the tree and heading back to her master with any information she had on the group, just hoping that it was enough, or it was there head.

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Layla was the first to awake, she opened and closed her eyes several times to shake away any sleep dust, she felt an arm tighten around her waist, pulling her further back into a bare strong chest. A smile crept across her face as she leaned back into Nabu's waist, "Morning baby" Nabu whispered into her hair.

"Good morning Nabu, did you sleep well?"

"I did very well, thanks how about you Honey"

"I did" Layla turned over and snuggled into Nabu's chest, her head resting comfortably, Nabu wrapped his arms around her body holding her close.

The sun was rising slowly above the horizon, shining over the tent lightly it up lightly. The two figures led there under the covers, Nabu softly stroking Layla's hair away from her face, in a soft way as he trailed patterns around the tattoo on his chest. No-one else know about the tattoo apart from Layla, as it was rarely the specialist went out topless around other people, but Layla was different and knew every side of him.

The specialist had got the tattoo about four months ago and had a symbol from his home realm tattooed on to his chest on the left side. The symbol was full of soft swirls, and smaller shapes, all together the symbol meant peace and love. Layla's fingers traced the black swirls of the pattern causing Nabu to sigh pleasantly. "You are such a tease Layla" he mumbled

"I'm sorry" Layla replied as she removed her hand.

"I didn't say stop" Nabu laughed as he sat up bringing Layla up with him. "We better get up, the sooner we find that flower the quicker you and me can get home and have some fun, I'm thinking of the beach with nice waves and a surf board."

"That sounds amazing, we better get dressed."

The two of them got out of boss and quickly dressed before they got too cold from the night air. Once they were dressed they left the tent and with a quick spell Layla had packed the tent back up, sleeping bags and all. When they got outside they saw the rest of the gang sat around a little campfire heating up some breakfast, "Morning everyone, did you sleep well?" Nabu asked as he sat in a spare spot near the fire, Layla sitting next to him.

"I slept great thanks" Bloom replied with a smile, quietly Stella huffed

"I would have preferred a bed, but it's for Flora" the sun fairy spoke under her breathe trying to convince herself, not knowing that the rest of the group had heard her and were smiling at her words.

The next hour went by in almost silence as they tidied up the tents and packed them into their rucksacks along with rations of food, after all they didn't know how long they will be in the Melody's wildness before they found the flower they desired. "Right are we ready to go?" Sky asked as he secured his bag to his back, the heavy food cans resting in the bottom.

"As ready as I will ever be" Tecna mumbled in response sounding very much like Stella.

"Well let's go then." the blond specialist spoke as he started to walk towards the forest choosing the brightest lit path.

Hours had passed and the group continued to walk, Musa and Riven was both out in front, leading the trek. Riven looked at Musa a smile on his face replacing his usual smirk. He looked down at her hands which were swaying at her side, he took one within his own causing her to look at him with a smile on his face. "Are you okay Muse?" He asked softly, in a voice only she knew existed, a voice full of love.

Musa sighed, "Yer I'm alright I guess, I'm just a little worried, what if we don't find the flower in time…"

"Musa that is what it is, a what if. We will find the flower and Flora will be fine. Flora is on an antibiotic which is fighting the position and Riller is there protecting her. Now what really is the matter?" Riven asked softly, causing Musa to sign again.

"What if I'm not good enough?"

"Good enough for what baby?"

Musa let go of Riven's hand and wrapped her arms around her chest, as if crawling into a foetal position. Instantly concern grew on Riven's face. "Not good enough for what baby?"

"What if I'm not good enough for anything, not good at being a girlfriend, not good at being a fairy, not good at being a mother." Musa's eyes opened in shock at her last comment, and Riven's did as well. The specialist took hold of Musa's hand causing her to stop walking.

The girls and specialists stopped when Musa and Riven did, "Hey are you two okay?" Tecna asked,

"Yes we are fine, you can continue without us, we will catch up in a minute." Riven spoke softly. The girls looked between Musa and Riven before deciding to continue without them. Riven waited until they were out of site before speaking. "Musa what do you mean not good as a mother?"

Musa stared at the floor avoiding Riven's gaze, seeing Musa in such a depressed state caused Riven's mood to lower as well. Gently he took hold of Musa's hand in his own causing her to look up into his glowing eyes. "Musa, what's wrong?"

"I had a nightmare last night, it, I mean I …" Musa stared but very quickly tears began to fall from her eyes, quickly falling down her cheeks to the ground.

Without a second thought Riven moved forward and wrapped his arms around her waist holding her close into his chest allowing her to let it all out. Minutes passed before Musa even started to calm down. Riven glanced around and noticed a rock big enough for the two of them to sit on and without mentioning it he pulled Musa over to it before sitting her down. "Muse, what happened in your nightmare?"

"I was stood up on a stage, singing when the audience slowly started to get younger until they were all teenagers, then they started to laugh at me. Then all of a sudden my mother started to walk through the crowd towards me, an evil smirk on her face. She started to tell me how she was ashamed, of me and how I would never be as good as her. She said it would be better to stay alone that way I wouldn't be able to ruin my children's life's like I did my own."

Riven sighed and held Musa close, for once in his life he just simply didn't know what to say. "Riven am I a bad person?"

"What? How can you even think that Musa, you are not a bad person, you are far from it. You have a pure heart, the purest I know of. Musa you need to believe me."

Musa stared at the specialist her tears slowly disappearing, "You think so Riven?"

"No, I know so" Riven replied smiling down at her. Musa grabbed hold of Riven pulling him into a hug. Riven stood there simply holding his girl, he knew the nightmares haunted Musa but she had never told him before what they were about or why they affected her so badly but now he knew, and he was going to do everything for her.

With a gently tap on her shoulder Riven gestured for Musa to start walking, the two of them made their way along the path soon catching up with the others. Musa's eyes were now dry once more and a small smile was on her face. Stella was the first to notice the two, "Hey are you too alright?"

"Yes we are fine thank you" Riven replied

"Yer, Riven's made it all better" Musa spoke softly as she took hold of her man's hand. The girls could help but smile at the scene.

An hour later and the group still hadn't found any sign of the flower and tiredness was starting to get to them. "I think it's time we call it a break and set up camp for the night." Timmy spoke "This is a good spot, sheltered, access to clean water, we can continue the rest of the journey tomorrow."

"I think that is a good idea Timmy" Nabu spoke as he dropped the bag he was carrying to the floor, stretching his back as he did.

"Well I agree, come on girls lets go find some firewood while the guys put up the tents, don't worry we won't go far." Layla replied stopping her boyfriend's worry before it started.

The girls turned and started to walk into the outside of the forest picking up logs and sticks to start a fire with. "So Musa, is everything alright between you and Riven?" Bloom asked concerned for her friend.

"Yes everything is fine between me and Riven, we just spoke about a dream I had, no big."

"Well it looked big?" Tecna spoke softly.

"It's really nothing, he made it all better"

The girls smiled and dropped the subject before moving onto the next topic, "So Bloom, how are things going between you and Sky?" Layla asked in an attempt to take the attention away from Musa.

"It's going great thanks, we have been together for over three years and we haven't had a serious fight yet." Bloom answered with a smile.

"That is good going then Bloom, it's good that you haven't had any arguments." Tecna spoke up as she bent down and picked up a branch for the fire.

Half an hour later the girls had collected enough fire wood and made their way back to the camp where the boys had finished putting up the tents. It was Brandon who noticed them first, as soon as he saw his girl he went over and took the few logs from her hands. "Here let me help"

"Why thank you Brandon, such a gentleman." Seeing what Brandon had done the rest of the boys went to help their respective girlfriends.

The rest of the girls allowed the boys to take the wood apart from Layla, who seemed to be carrying the biggest pile of wood. "Layla let me help" Nabu asked softly as he walked beside her.

"I'm okay Nabu, it's just a bit of wood."

"But the pile looks really big…"

"Nabu I'm okay, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm weak." Layla snapped.

"I know but…"

"No Buts Nabu, I'm fine."

Seeing that Layla was alright Nabu went to sit back down but kept a very close eye on Layla just in case she needed any help. She wasn't like any other girl he had met before, she was strong liked to stand on her own two feet, and he liked that about her.

Layla smiled as she placed the logs down onto the pile, where the rest of the guys had placed there's, before she turned and made her way over to Nabu's side with everyone else. "How long do you think it will take before we find the flower?" Stella asked timidly.

"I don't know Stella, it could be days." Musa responded in an emotionless tone.

"But what if Flora doesn't have days?" Stella continued.

"She is strong Stella she will be fine." Brandon spoke, this whole situation was taking a toll on everyone especially the girls.

Stella sighed, she knew Flora was strong but everyone had their limits and they just didn't know how close Flora was to hers. She just hoped and prayed that they could get the flower to save her life. Ironic it was of how the only thing that could save the nature fairy was nature itself.