Having no idea how to help me, Moordryd just held me in his arms as I sobbed and when my sobs quieted he felt me push away from him.
"I don't know what to do." I muttered, brushing at my eyes and Quiksilva nuzzled me, trying his best to comfort me. As I rubbed his snout I wondered just where I could go now. "I have no home, no family and...scales." As fresh tears welled in my eyes I wiped them away and took a shuddering breath.
"Let's go back to the compound and work on a plan." Moordryd suggested and I sighed, knowing that I had no other options. After Quiksilva magged me I held onto his neck as he followed Decepshun and Moordryd, letting out a slight growl as he stared up at me.
"Yeah I'll be okay." I told him though I was really lying as my mind kept flshing back to the choice I had made. Along the way Moordryd kept glancing over at me and seeing me staring at the ground in front of me, he frowned wondering how he was going to help me. And once we reached the compound Quiksilva magged me to the ground, instantly following as I headed for the stables and right then I heard voices.
"I still can't believe that Moordryd chose her." The first voice said and I growled, knowing that it was Blarre and she was talking about me.
"Yeah and she still can't even race? What good is she?" Swayy added and just as they rounded the corner they saw me glaring at them. "Uh oh." She muttered as both riders finally noticed me.
Seeing the anger in my face, Moordryd moved foward intending to stop me but it was too late as I stood in front of the girls.
"How dare you say that about me!" I shouted as Moordryd looked on, cringing a little. "I came here to try and fit in and you just..." That's when I felt tears welling and I grimaced, trying my best not to cry in front of Swayy and Blarre. "Forget it." I muttered and ignoring everyone I stormed towards my room, leaving everyone to stare as I wiped at my eyes.
"Perfect, just perfect." Moordryd muttered as he followed me, trying not to look like he was actually concerned. Of course by the time he reached my room I refused to let him in and that caused Moordryd to stay just outside. Until he realized that it was his compound and he pushed the door open, finding me lying on my bed staring up at the ceiling.
"I just said that...never mind." I muttered and turned over, now focusing my attention on the wall. Of course Moordryd being, well Moordryd, meant he was more stubborn then me and a few seconds later he sat on my bed. "You really don't understand 'leave me alone' do you?" I sighed as I rolled over and he shrugged.
"I know Blarre and Swayy said some things that...weren't really helpful." Moordryd began and I snorted at the 'helpful' part. "Look just let it go and move on. Otherwise they'll keep messing with you."
"So I just let them keep picking on me? Huh, not gonna happen." I replied and he frowned as he stared down at me. After a moment of silence passed he lay back and now lying beside me I blinked as he sighed again.
"Look I know its not easy being alone..." Moordryd began and I sniffed suddenly, instantly making him regret those words. "I didn't mean it like that! I meant that you might not have your family here but...you have Quiksilva and the Dragon Eyes. And...me...I guess." He finished, trying his best not to blush and when I didn't respond he wondered if I was even listening.
"Thanks for letting me stay here. I really have nowhere to go and...I appreciate it." I said and he grinned at me, a little impressed at me and himself. For a while we lay side by side in silnce and pretty soon I felt Moordryd move a little closer. Usually I'd blush if a guy got this close to me but right then I didn't mind and after a moment or two passed he drapped one arm around my shoulder.
"Umm...I have a question." Moordryd said and I tilted my head as he looked at me. "Would it be...drac if I...kissed you?"
"Yeah...it would be drac." I smiled and when he moved even closer I did as well, our lips brushing before we kissed. The kiss was pretty brief but very drac and when we broke apart I sighed, resting my head in the crook of his shoulder. "That...was very drac." I whispered and Moordryd chuckled. Before long I started to doze off, feeling safe with Moordryd which surprised me but I trusted him and eventually I was fast asleep.
As he lay beside me Moordryd sighed, looking at my sleeping face and wondering just what he was thinking.
"I shouldn't be getting this close to you. Being kind is a weakness and I was taught not to show any. But...I like you...a lot." He whispered as I shifted onto my side and he grinned for a moment. Content to lie next to me for the next few minutes, Moordryd's good mood instantly shattered when his Vidd-comm rang and I shifted on the bed. Worried that the noise would wake me he quickly hurried into the hallway, giving me a glance before he answered it.
"Moordryd, come to my citadel. I have a plan..." Word told him and Moordryd resisted the sudden urge to cut off the call, knowing he'd just get another lecture. Pretending to actually listen Moordryd instead looked around the corner, watching as I sighed in my sleep.
"I'll be right there." Moordryd told him as soon as Word finished speaking and as he went to leave he checked up on me but I hadn't even moved, now fast asleep. Grinning he closed the door behind him, making sure to do so as quietly as possible before he headed outside to find Decepshun. I never even noticed that he'd left and it wasn't until I heard a knock at the door that I opened my eyes.
"Hmm...Moordryd? Is that you?" I mumbled as I sat up, rubbing my eyes and as the door slowly opened to reveal Cain I managed a sleepy grin. "Hey Cain."
"Hey. Thought you might like something to eat." Cain said as he wandered in, carrying a plate of cookies and my eyes instantly lit up, making him grin. "I'll take that as a yes." He added, setting the tray down on the desk.
"Thanks. Sorry I'll been a bit of a hindurance lately." I told him as I reached for a cookie, only to grimace. Instanty Cain's eyes went wide and I sighed, gingerly rubbing my stomach. "I guess I'm not fully healed yet. But thanks for helping me."
"Huh no problem. Moordryd asked me to keep an eye on you. So Armeggaddon did that to you with a mag-blast?" Cain asked as I nibbled on a cookie. "Impressive."
"Yeah and it really, really hurt. But I'm still here, despite that warrior trying to do me in." I answered as I ate and Cain blinked. "I hope I can race soon." I sighed as I reached for my second cookie.
"Or at all." Cain joked and I paused in mid-bite, giving him a raised eyebrow and he chuckled. "I suppose I can help if you stay here and behavor. Moordryd's orders not mine so don't give me that look."
"Huh what look?" I asked, acting innocent as I gave him the puppy dog eyes. "Oh yeah."
"Anyway that only works on Moordryd...oops. I shouldn't have said that." Cain muttered and I grinned back at him.
"Don't worry, I won't mention it." I told him and he grinned, not realizing that I made sure to file that piece of info away. After eating a third cookie I yawned and Cain chuckled, offering to leave me to get some rest and as I lay back, he left behind half a dozen cookies. Just in case I woke hungry again and as he carefully closed the door, he wondered when Moordryd would get back.
Right now Moordryd stood inside his father's citadel, trying not to roll his eyes and fake a yawn as his father paced.
"I need to find the Light Booster and you do nothing." Word growled as he paused and glared at his son, standing with his arms behind his back. "Explain yourself."
"I have been doing something, unlike what you seem to think. I know a friend of the Light Booster." Moordryd said and his father raised his eyebrow, curious.
"Then bring her here and maybe I'll let you assist me. You may go." Word said and as he turned Moordryd frowned at his father's back, annoyed that his father thought so little of his own son. After he left the citadel Moordryd began to wonder how he was going to convince me to speak to his father again, since we didn't exactly hit it off last time.
Once he arrived back he went straight to my bedroom and opened the door, only to find the room empty and he frowned thinking the worst. Then he had an idea and as he walked towards the stables he heard a familar growl. Stepping through the doorway he grinned as he found me sitting on the ground, leaning against Quiksilva who had his head resting on my lap. Hearing footsteps Quiksilva's eyes opened and he went to growl only to see Moordryd and he snorted, clearly not impressed that my so called 'mate' (as Decepshun called me) had failed to protect me.
"Yeah I know. But even the Shadow Booster can't be everywhere at once. Neither can the Light Booster, no matter how powerful she is." Moordryd told my dragon and he snorted, nudging me slightly. "Yeah like that's going to wake her. Let me try." Ignoring Quiksilva's eyeroll Moordryd walked over and knelt beside me. Before my dragon's eyes he gave my forehead a gentle kiss and I sighed, slowly opening my eyes.
"Can't a girl...oh hey guys." I mumbled as I sat up, rubbing my eyes with the palm of my hand and Moordryd grinned at me.
"Why are you sleeping in here? You do have a bed you know." Moordryd pointed out as I shook my head and turned just as Quiksilva gave me a lick on the face, grossing me out just a little. "Heh that's a good look." He chuckled as my hair stood on end, making me look like I'd had a fright.
"Hah very funny guys." I muttered as I combed my hair with my fingers, trying to push it back into place and get the dragon slobber out of it at the same time. "Where'd you go before? To see your dad again?"
"Yes and he wants to talk to you." Moordryd explained and getting a blank stare he sighed. "I don't really want to bring you to him but..."
"I'll go with you." I said, shaking a little and I wasn't so sure that it was due to my injuries and nothing else. "Before I change my mind." Climbing to my feet I waited as Quiksilva stood, gently nuzzling me as he tried to calm me down. It helped a little and after he magged me I waited for Moordryd and Decepshun. Impressed but not showing it Moordryd whistled for Decepshun and as soon as she appeared she magged him. Then we headed for Word Paynn's citadel and I tried not to shake too badly at the prospect of meeting him again.
By the time we arrived I was shaking pretty badly and Moordryd took me aside, wondering how he could help me. Then he sighed, not knowing how to keep me from bolting.
"I'll be alright. I just need to stop myself from telling him what I really think." I said and Moordryd raised an eyebrow, curious.
"And what would you say to my father?" Moordryd asked and I managed a grin.
"That he's very lucky to have you as his son." I answered before I started to head inside and Moordryd followed after staring at my back.
Of course when I did see Word, hunched over his keyboard, I stopped and Moordryd reached over and gave my hand a brief squeeze. For reasons that are lost to me it calmed me enough not to turn and flee, instead giving me the courage to stand still.
"I asked you to bring her here immediately, not whenever you felt like it." Word growled as he stood straighter and I frowned as he walked over, towering over me. Sure he was trying to intimaidate me I stood firm, trying my best not to cower and he frowned at me for a few seconds. "So this is the friend of the Light Booster? Who is the booster who you gave my medallion to? We had a deal if you recall."
"The deal was to find the gauntlet. Which I couldn't and anyway the Light Booster stole the medallion from me. That doesn't really count if I..." I told him and Word glared at me, instantly making me stop talking.
"So you did nothing? Pathetic. And you brought this girl in the Dragon Eyes, Moordryd?" Word asked as he turned to his son, almost forgetting about me and I silent fummed.
"Is that a problem, father?" Moodryd asked, getting tired of listening to his dad bad mouthing me. "She left the stablebrats to side with my crew."
"You speak like that's a good thing. If you can't bring me the Light Booster then what good are you? Maybe I was wrong to think that you could ever lead the Dragon Eyes and help me to start my dragon-human war. Get out of my sight, you disgust me." Word growled and that's when I exploded, having heard just about enough.
"Get over yourself!" I yelled suddenly and that shocked both Paynns into silence. "You talk about this war like its a good thing, that it doesn't matter if innocent riders and dragons get hurt! What about your son and his friends? If something happened to him I'd been desvastated. But apparently he means more to me than his own father."
"How dare you speak to me that way, girl!" Word roared now towering over me and even scared I refused to back down. "Who do you think you are?"
"How dare you! You should be ashamed at treating Moordryd like that! Oh and by the way my name's Rayne, not 'girl'!" I shouted and as they watched I spun on my heel and stormed away.