(This takes place in the middle of The Midnight Desert and Ghost. Basically the situation is Rayla has a crush on Callum and my innocent boi has no idea XD)

Rayla sighed. It had been at least 2 and a half weeks of travelling with this loveable dork. Callum wasn't anything she had ever imagined humans were. He was pretty brave, kind, noble, and cared about others. She was glad he didn't see elves as 'bloodthirsty monsters' or, 'Terrifying creatures.' She was pretty sure he saw them more as 'Our rivals' and nothing else. She looked back at him, and smiled slightly. "Keep up!" She called back to him, stopping and watching him clamber up the small ledge beside her. "It's kinda- hard." He panted, wiping off sweat. "You- have those blade- thingies to- to help you- climb." Rayla rolled her eyes. He's such a- Her thoughts broke off, and she scolded herself silently. "You can borrow one. You just need to ask." She handed him one, and he took it gratefully. Zym chirped from Callum's shoulder, yawning. He shook his little body and took to the sky, flapping around the two. Rayla smiled and kept walking, spinning her blade in her hand. I wonder if Zym knows we are taking him home... or if he just thinks it's a fun adventure. Callum caught up to her, panting. "Zym seems happy to be home in Xadia." He remarked, watching the little dragon zoom around. Rayla shrugged. "I suppose he does. Let's keep moving. I'm aiming to get to that mountain before sundown. I see a few clouds we should probably avoid in the east." She pointed towards the dark clouds forming. Callum widened his eyes at her. "And I thought i was being observant." He grumbled, adjusting his scarf as it blew in the wind. Rayla kept walking, not wanting to talk. He can't know that I like him. It's not a good time for epic forbidden romance right now. We need to get Zym back to his mom, and stop this war. She looked back at him one more time and couldn't help affection leak into her voice; "Can you go any slower? C'mon! We're on a tight schedule." Callum groaned, walking slow and tiredly. "Try and go a bit slower, Rayla. I'm exhausted." She felt a tiny shiver of happiness as he heard him say her name, but shook it off. RAYLA!! Concentrate ON THE MISSION! "Unless you want to be walking in a thunderstorm, I'd advise you keep up." She said, but slowed down for him to catch up. He stopped beside her, and Zym landed back on his shoulder, chirping. Rayla hesitated, then held her hand out. "I'll help you get up the mountain." She offered. Callum looked hesitant, and he looked away with a small blush. "Uhh... okay, t-thanks." He said, taking her hand awkwardly. Rayla helped him climb the mountain, watching the clouds get closer and closer. Thunder suddenly cracked, and Zym yelped, snuggling into Callum. He patted the little prince reassuringly, and Rayla watched him. He's caring of not just other humans, but animals as well... At last they reached Rayla's destination. A small cave on the top of the mountain. Zym looked up from hiding his face in Callum's scarf and squeaked, lifting his wings out and letting the wind blow them. It had started to rain very slowly, and Callum took Zym and held him in his arms. Rayla let go of Callum's hand and took her blade from him, looking around the cave for danger. "It's safe!" She called to him, and Zym flew in quickly. The rain started coming down a bit harder, and Rayla sat down in the corner with a sigh. Callum hesitated, then sat down beside her. "Sooo..." he said awkwardly. "You seem...." She looked at him, trying to put on a cold face. "I seem what?" "Stressed." He mumbled. Rayla shrugged. "I'm fine." Callum took out his sketchbook and opened it to a blank page. He started sketching the outline of a dragon, and Rayla noticed after a while that it was Zym. "That's... pretty good." She said hesitantly, and Callum blushed slightly. "Not... n-not uhh... not really." He said, scratching his neck nervously. "I guess it's just normal for me." Zym flapped over to them and looked at Callum's drawing, chirped, and looked up at Callum sideways. Rayla laughed, and Callum scratched the little dragons chin affectionately. Rayla leant against the rock wall, sighing. Callum seemed to inch slightly closer to her, and she let him, too tried to care. I should just rest for a little. I'm quite tired... And then she was out, blackness swallowing her up.

~Callum's POV~

Callum sat silently. "And I thought i was tired." He grumbled, watching Rayla sleep. Zym cuddled close to Callum, snoring quietly. Rayla tensed in her sleep and he watched her carefully. She seems afraid... is she okay...? He hesitated, then let his shoulder touch hers. It didn't seem to do anything, so he left her, letting her sort out whatever was going on in her dreams. Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder sounded from outside the cave, and Rayla woke with a start. Zym stayed asleep, used to the sound of thunder. Callum moved away quickly, and Rayla shook her head. "Ack.. did I fall asleep?" She asked him tiredly. He nodded. "It's good that you got some sleep though." He reassured her. "We have a long journey ahead of us." As she got up, he watched her, and felt a small wave of something strange wash over him. Do... do I have a crush on an elf?