Running away while still nursing a broken ankle may have not been the smartest move I've ever made but also having my heart broken for the...well I'm not sure how many times it had happened and frankly it wasn't worth dwelling on. So as Quiksilva raced along at a consiarble pace I sobbed, holding as tightely onto his neck as I could without unintentionally chocking him. Eventually the pain in my ankle became too much for me to bear and hearing my whimpers of pain Quiksilva slowed his pace, knowing I needed help even if I didn't want to admit it. Unable to wipe my eyes since I would have fallen I didn't notice Quiksilva leading me towards a very familiar spot until as he walked through the gate and when he stopped walking I managed to wipe my watery eyes before I looked around at my surrondings. When I grimaced he sighed and looked right back at me, letting out a slow growl.
"Why here of all places?" I asked as I climbed down only to stumble as the pain in my leg became even worse and he leant against my side, keeping me upright. "I just...fine I need to rest anyway." I finally sighed knowing that Quiksilva wouldn't let up until I agreed so I stayed silent and let him lead me towards the stables. But I didn't get there as I began to feel really dizzy and as he gave a concerned snort I gasped as everything went back. Thankfully Quiksilva managed to catch me with his head but he realized he couldn't move without me falling and as he stood perfectly still he heard someone's footsteps. Once they saw me Quiksilva growled a warning but the rider just pointed out that I needed somewhere better than a stable to rest and he reluctantly agreed. As my mystery rescuer carried me in their arms I groaned and they smiled down at me before I was carried further into the compound, towards a door in the back.
Sometime later I heard footsteps and as my eyes slowly opened I groaned instantly closing them as the light hit me. With a chuckle I heard a voice and as I made a second attempt to wake my vision was a little blurry for a few seconds. When I discovered who it was I groaned again though not from pain this time.
"Why...are you here, Paynn?" I growled as he moved closer to me and giving him a raised eyebrow he gave me a grin.
"I'm the leader of the Dragon Eyes and this is the compound of the same crew. Take a wild guess." He replied and I narrowed my eyes even though he was right. "How's the ankle?"
"Huh like you care...Shadow Booster." I growled and he rolled his eyes at me getting another glare in return. "Huh...is this a bedroom?" I asked suddenly as I finally noticed the bed I was lying in and he chuckled as he sat on the edge and I moved back until I was leaning against the headrest.
"Yeah its mine. And before you get mad at me you collapsed and if I hadn't followed you you would have gotten hurt. Again." He explained and after staring at him for a few seconds I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding in.
"I...think I believe you." I muttered though I still couldn't meet his eyes and he actually sighed as I looked down at the blanket. "Not sure I trust you anymore." I whispered and he stood up and as I watched he walked out of the room without a word. Confused I stared at the closed door for a few seconds and when he didn't return I shrugged before I lay back and pretty much fell asleep right away. When I woke sometime later I found myself alone and thinking I'd been left in peace I sat up a small smile appearing on my face until someone walked in and I frown as Moordryd stepped into the room.
"Before you get angry this is my room and I could just kick you out." He told me and I shut my mouth knowing he was right. "I'm letting you stay in here until you're room's ready so behave." He added and I raised an eyebrow at the mention of having my own room.
"Are you...serious?" I asked as he walked over and once he was standing beside the bed he grinned giving me a slight nod. "Drac...oh wait I'm really mad at you right now. You lied to me about being the Shadow Booster and played with my feelings." I muttered as I turned my head suddenly finding the wall a lot more interesting.
"That again? You really hold a grudge don't you." Moordryd complained and I snorted refusing to look at him. "Whatever. As soon as you've healed you're out of here." He added and when I turned my head my eyes wide he chuckled. "Knew that would get your attention. And to make up for that..." He said as he handed something to me and I brightened when I saw my medallion and gauntlet now sitting in my hands.
"Oh yeah. I did leave this behind." I muttered as I slipped the gauntlet over my arm and as I looked down at the medallion I sighed thinking how childish I'd been to leave something so priceless behind. "Man I'm pretty stupid. What would the original Light Booster think if she knew?" I muttered and that's when Moordryd set his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't let it get to you." Moordryd told me as I looked at him. "We all do things we're not proud of."
"Like lie to your friend and keep secrets from her? Pretend to like her when you think she's annoying?" I replied and he stared at me for the longest time then he sighed.
"Look I'm sorry I lied to you but I did it because..." He trailed off as he stared at the ceiling trying to think of an answer and when he looked back at me and stayed quiet I narrowed my eyes at him. "For dragon's sake this isn't easy okay? I didn't mean to hurt you but it just happened."
"Yeah like I believe that. You didn't think I could keep your secret and you pretended to be my friend. And maybe something more...than that." I replied feeling my cheeks growing hot. "Look just forget about it. As soon as my ankle's healed I'll leave and you can go back to fighting the Dragon Booster and stealing dragons for your dad." I sighed looking towards the wall to my left and as I was so focused on being angry with Moordryd I didn't see him move closer until I felt him lean against me. Startled I stared at him and as my eyes went wide he gave me a grin before his mouth closed over mine. By the time we came up for air, I managed to glare at him. Which really didn't achieve much since I had two very red cheeks and Moordryd just snorted at the face I pulled. Crossing my arms against my chest I mentally scolded myself for letting him, once again, kiss me.
"You know you never complain about me kissing you. Well not until afterwards anyway. Why?" Moordryd asked sitting beside me and I rubbed the bridge of my nose not sure how to explain anything.
"You constantly annoy me, kiss me then act like it was nothing. But it means something to me and I want to know where I stand. Do you actually care about me or are you just using me to get another booster on your side? Or are you working for your dad this whole time and I'm just part of his dragon-human war? If so I don't want any part of it." I told him and it took him a few minutes to understand just what I'd said.
"I can prove to you that I'm telling you the truth and I'm not helping my father capture you. He's planning on turning you into a wraith." Moordryd spoke and my eyes went wide as I remembered all those poor dragons that attacked me and Quiksilva. "Then he could use you against the Dragon Booster." He added not looking me directly in the face and suddenly it became clear. Wordlessly I moved towards the edge of the bed and as I stood on two shaky feet I gasped as my ankle throbbed and as the pain spread to the rest of my leg I lost my balance.
Quick as a flash of lightning Moordryd caught me in his arms and gently set me down the edge of the bed and as I took several deep breaths to calm myself he raised an eyebrow. "For dragon's sake would you stay put? That ankle's never going to heal right if you keep trying to walk on it." He grumbled and I rolled my eyes as I sat there shaking a little from the pain he stood and as he walked away I wondered if I'd angered him. But a few minutes later he returned holding a bowl in his hands and I sighed realizing that he was bringing me something to eat and I felt terrible knowing how badly I'd misjudged him. As I ate he kept quiet and by the time I'd finished and he took the empty bowl from me I saw a slight grin on his face. "You know despite being really annoying most of the time you can be very smart and...I suppose caring. Can't believe I just said that out loud." He grumbled but I smiled touched that he could actually be nice when he felt like it and as he set the bowl down on the table beside the bed he gave me a grin in response. "Anyway I have a race to get ready for. And a stable brat to beat." He added and I rolled my eyes but the grin remained on my face until he left and once he was gone from the room I lay back wondering where Quiksilva was. Unable to contact him while I was confined to this room, at least for the time being, I toyed with the idea of putting on my gauntlet only to stop myself in time as I realized that only Moordryd of the Dragon Eyes and the Penn Crew knew that I was the Light Booster.
"Well there goes that idea. Wonder if 'silva's..." Before I got the next word out I heard a commotion outside and somehow I knew it was Quiksilva causing all the noise. For a few seconds there was silence and as I sighed thinking it was all over I heard a crash and someone who sounded suspiciously like Moordryd yelling.
"Quiksilva you can't go in there! You won't fit and besides its my room!" He yelled and I burst out laughing as I realized my dragon was trying to squeeze through a human sized door. Eventually I heard a frustrated growl before Moordryd walked into the room with a sour look on his face and dirt on one of his cheeks. "Rayne control your dragon." He grumbled and I shrugged before I pointed to my bandaged leg and he rolled his eyes as he sat heavily on the edge of the bed. "Fine. As soon as you're well again you teach him that dragons won't fit through human doorways. Before he makes the roof cave in."
"Yeah sorry about that. He gets like that whenever I'm not within eyeshot." I told him as I moved over and gave him some more room. "He's just protective of me. Thanks for letting me keep him, Moordryd. That was a really sweet thing to do for me." I said and he turned his head slightly snorting and with a shrug he muttered something about my room being ready. "Then I'll head there now." I answered as I went to stand and toppled over, landing with a yelp on my rear end. Rolling his pale eyes at me, basically telling me I was an idiot, Moordryd still knelt beside me and offered me his hand. Carefully he helped me to my feet and wrapping an arm around my shoulders he led me towards the door. A few minutes later I was sitting on the bed resting at the back of the room and as I looked around he stood in the doorway leaning against it with his arms crossed as he grinned at me. "Wow so this is really all mine?" I asked and he chuckled as he walked over and I shifted slightly, giving the bed a pat. But he didn't sit and I raised an eyebrow as he shrugged.
"Sorry I can't stay here but I have work to do. And yes this is your room since you're a member of our crew now. Now rest." Moordryd said and judging from the tone of his voice it was an order which I didn't mind since I was feeling pretty tired from everything. As I lay down and made myself comfortable and I began to yawn he walked over to the door. As my eyes slowly began to close just for a moment a smile appeared on his face before the door closed and by then I was already asleep.
Just outside the building Quiksilva looked up, resting on the ground, and once he saw Moordryd he stood and hurried over letting out a snort. "Before you start panicking Rayne's fine just resting. She'll come and get you when her ankle's healed." He told the dragon who eyed him for a few seconds then he gave the Dragon Eyes leader a slow nod and satisfied the silver and black dragon wandered back to the stables as Moordryd watched with an amused grin. "Like rider, like dragon." He muttered before he went looking for Decepshun.