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Rachel’s sixteen birthday had finally come and she would be getting a week off for winter break from school. They’d already had her big party with her friends, John had refrained from giving her her real present opting to just giving her a car and letting her believe that was the big gift. Which really that was the gift. What he had planned wasn’t a gift, it was something she’d have to earn and prove she deserved. He’d talked to Sarael for years in regards to the trial he wanted their eldest to face, there had been hesitation especially when it was apparent Rachel had not inherited his mutant abilities so passing the trials would be a great deal harder for her than it had been for himself and his nieces Raziel and Kirra. But John maintained his faith that she would succeed mutation or not she was still a Howlett. And perhaps it was that she was the only human born Howlett of her generation that made John believe without a doubt this was a trail she needed to face. Both he and Sarael did agree that as Rachel would be a human fully engulfed in the mutant world she would need some additional protection and a dragon certainly seemed to fit that role. John didn’t tell Rachel what her training was leading up to. He just let her believe all the years of intense training was for just the benefit that she would always be able to defend herself. And that was true. But the other part was he wanted her ready when it came time to embark on the dragon’s quest.
He didn’t give her really any warning before hand just constantly made it clear she wasn’t going to be spending her winter break taking the train into Manhattan to see Landon as college. Finally the morning came John knocked on his daughter’s bedroom door. “Rachel? Need you to get up and dressed we leave in twenty.”, John said with authority. Rachel was one of probably few people that could be considered a morning person so being woken up before dawn by her father didn’t get the same groggy angry reaction that say her brother Jimmy would have given. Instead her Howlett blue eyes shot open in confusion of what he meant by leaving in twenty. “Um...alright daddy.”, Rachel said hesitantly getting out of bed. “Dress warmly and for hiking and climbing.”, John said simply before walking away from her door and down the stairs. He sighed a little as he walked to the kitchen. “I hope she’s ready..”, he muttered pouring a cup of coffee. He felt the faint movement of Bubbles, his own dragon, across his skin as Bubbles made his way up his arm and to his neck. ‘She is ready. She will pass.’, Bubbles assured telepathically. John nodded there was some assurance to be found in Bubbles’ confidence in Rachel. Bubbles knew the trials he said they were never the same and were based on the person set on the quest. He’d told John that her trial would be different from the one he himself had faced when he was twenty-four and had literally walked through a waterfall of fire as the final test which only his healing had saved him from certain death. John looked to the back door where two packs sat some clothes in each and the otherwise climbing gear, rations, weapons, and medical supplies for both him and Rachel. Climbing Peleaga was not going to be easy.
Rachel did as her father asked and came downstairs dressed in her winter hiking clothes as in previous years they’d sometimes go to the estate in Alberta during winter or to her cousin Cero’s tribe in Alaska for mountain climbing. “So...daddy what’s going on?”, Rachel asked looking and seeing the two packs by the door. “We are going to Romania for the week. This is what I’ve been training you all these years for Rachel.”, John said standing up. Rachel looked at him a little confused. “You’ve been training me to go to Romania?”, she questioned brow furrowed in her confusion. John laughed a little the expression was her mother’s. In fact beyond having his shade of blue eyes she was the spitting image of her mother and the original Rachel for whom she was named. “It’s not about Romania persay. We will be climbing Peleaga and seeking out the dragons who rest under the mountain.”, John explained. Rachel blinked and she looked from her father to the dragon upon his neck. Bubbles seemed to smile and perhaps it was a wink it was hard to tell when he was on her father's flesh. “The dragons’ lair? But…”, she said shaking her head. “But what? You’re sixteen which is as old as Kirra and Raziel were when they came upon the dragons’ lair. Bubbles and I both feel you are ready to face the trials.”, John said picking up his pack. “But..I’m not like Kirra and Raziel. Shouldn’t...shouldn’t this be something Rose does or Jimmy…”,Rachel said still not seeing how she was expected to face the trials that her father and two cousins whom carried the Howlett mutation passed. “Your father and I agreed years ago that you were the one that should be allowed the chance.”, Sarael said softly having come into the kitchen wanting to say goodbye to her husband and daughter. Rachel turned and looked at her mother. “Years? You both decided years ago I would...but I can’t pass their trial. I’m human. I’m not like dad.”, Rachel protested.
‘Tell her we dragons see all as mortals...all as humans. Tell her that her trial will be unique to her we would never set forth a test that we were certain would kill the combatant.’ Bubbles thought to John. John nodded with a sigh. “Bubbles wants me to tell you that to dragons we are all humans for we are all mortals compared to them. And that your trial will not be the same as mine or your cousins. The trials are chosen based on the combatant and never with the direct intent of the combatant dying from them.”, John said delivering the message. Rachel looked worriedly from her mother and then to her father and lastly to Bubbles. “He thinks I can pass? That I am strong enough to be like you… to have a dragon bond?”, she questioned. Bubbles head moved slightly as he nodded and pulled from John’s skin and let his wings open as he glided no bigger than a bearded dragon to her shoulder and nudged her cheek with his head. “That is a yes Rachel.”, John said. Rachel gulped a little and nodded. It was a lot to live up to. She’d never had something to live up to. She was human born to the Howlett line, so she was not expected to live up to the heroic deeds that her father and uncle had done. She wasn’t held to that standard like her cousins and younger brother were. But now she was being held to this standard, to being strong enough to be bonded for life with a dragon.
“So are you all packed?”, Sarael asked. John nodded. “Yup we are packed. We will be back by end of the week.”, John said hugging his wife and giving her a long deep kiss. In their marriage he’d not spend more than a couple days separated from her. “Just both of you come back safe.”, Sarael said lightly touching the side of John’s face. He hadn’t aged noticeably in the years she’d known him, but she knew that after Rachel’s graduation he intended to put on an inducer that would allow him to age with her. “We will.”, John assured. Sarael turned to Rachel and hugged her tight and Bubbles glided back over to John rejoining with John’s skin. “Be careful Rachel. I know you can do this you are such a strong young woman.”, Sarael said. “Thanks mom. I’ll be careful. I love you.”, Rachel said hugging her mother tightly. “I love you too.”, Sarael said letting go at last. “I love you, we will call when we land and then when we come back down the mountain.”, John said kissing Sarael on more time. Sarael sighed returned the kiss briefly. “I love you too.”, she replied watching as they picked up their packs and headed out the door. The house felt empty without them. For the first time since she met John she was alone. Sarael considered asking Jimmy to come home for break but she knew he was busy with training lessons up at the Institute.
Rachel had so many questions she wanted to ask, but she knew that her father wouldn’t have answers to what the test would be. He’d told her the test was different for each so knowing what happened in his test or her cousins’ wouldn’t help her. She just had to be ready for anything. She wished she’d had time to call Landon to say she’d be gone, though she figured he might already know as he’d made no mention of wanting to make plans for her winter break. Her dad had assured her she’d been trained for this, just hoped she could prove herself worthy like he had to earn Bubbles. Her whole life she’d been fascinated by Bubbles and his kind. She always wondered what made a dragon choose to bond with a person. And since her only references were her father and two of her cousins to her it’d been their mutation that perhaps drew the dragons to choose them. But with how her father and Bubbles had talked in the kitchen it wasn’t about the mutant powers but something more. Something inside them, she just hoped she had that same characteristic that the dragons looked for. Bubbles seemed certain that she could pass this test. The flight was long but basically a straight path as they weren’t flying commercial. Once they’d arrived in Romania her father had a rental car that they drove to get close to the mountain they needed to climb.
Climbing the mountain was the easy part she was sure. They parked the car and got out their packs and specifically their climbing gear her father tying a rope between them to ensure that they stayed together. He after all knew where the crevice in the mountain that would take them to the dragons was. As so the first part of her journey began as they trecked up the mountain side. It was obvious that some areas of the mountain where climbed often, but that wasn’t the way they were going. No her father was leading her to a side of the mountain that was very steep with not many places to easily hold on to. More than once during the climb she was glad that not only was she tied to her father but that she’d been trained to climb such treacherous mountains. It was a long climb and there was no where to make camp as the sun began to set. “Dad...what are we doing in regards to sleep?”, Rachel asked as they climbed. “We need to keep climbing, we aren’t too far from the mouth of the layer. Just another hour and then we can rest before we propel down into their lair and you face the dragons.”, John said glancing down from where he was to his daughter. She looked so much like her mother and her ancestor Rachel except the eyes. The last time he’d climbed this peak he’d ended up here by chance having run from Egypt and potential happiness with the original Rachel out of fear of people finding out what he was. He'd felt that his Rachel had been with him when he made his original climb, the engagement ring he never gave her having felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. Rachel nodded to her dad. “Alright I think I can make another hour.”, she sighed continuing to follow him up the mountain.
True to his word it was about an hour more before John helped pull her up into the mouth of a crevice in the mountain side. “This is it?”, she asked as he helped her into the darkness. John nodded reaching into his pack pulling out a glow stick to provide light. “There’s a spot we can set up to camp just below us.”, John instructed dropping the glow stick down to show what he mean. It wasn’t a large space maybe eight by eight feet and then it was a straight drop. John slipped down the side which wasn’t far and offered a hand helping Rachel down the distance. “So we have tents or something for fire?”, Rachel asked taking off her pack. “Yeah. There should be a sleeping bag in your pack and I’ve got some kindling and a fire starting kit in mine not to mention I grabbed that large stick you questioned me getting at the base of the mountain.”, John said getting into his pack and starting to get the kindling ready. Bubbles pulled off from John’s skin and grew in size to easily bite through the large branch to make it into more manageable pieces while Rachel unrolled her sleeping bag and her father’s before getting out their food ration tins. She raised an eyebrow looking at the rations. John laughed a little at the expression on her face. “They look...well they look about as good as they taste. But they take up less room and keep better.”, John said reaching taking on of the rations and unwrapping it biting into it. “Trust me I’ve eaten worse in my life.”, John said patting Bubbles on the neck as the dragon curled up beside him. Rachel laughed a little and shrugged unwrapping hers and taking a bite. “Oh...it’s like...eating at Blaire’s house when her mom cooks.”, Rachel said making a face. John laughed. “Told you I’ve had worse.”, John chuckled taking out two bottles of waters from his pack and giving her one. Rachel quickly rinsed the taste out of her mouth.
While the two rested on the ledge Bubbles stayed awake to keep an eye on their fire not wanting it to go out while they slept. During the night Rachel didn’t sleep well nor did John. For John he vaguely remembered these dreams. He could hear the dragons below them stirring at their presence and it was them that came to his dream. It was different from last time. They remembered him in his dreams, they asked him why he had come back, why he had brought an outsider to their lair. He tried to explain in the dream that she was no outsider but his daughter. He told them that she may not have the healing and animal sense like him but she was strong of spirit and heart. He didn’t know that Rachel was also being visited in her dreams by the dragons. They were trying to intimidate her to scare her away before she could even reach the lair. However Rachel wasn’t easily scared. Even in her dreams she held her ground. “Why are you here!?”, a deep booming voice called from the darkness in her dream. “I am here to take the test of the dragons. I am here to prove myself worthy.”, Rachel called into the darkness. Multiple sets of various colored eyes opened simultaneously and peered at her from the dark. “Who are you mortal? What makes you think you are worthy?”, a slightly different and more sinister sounding voice demanded. “I am Rachel Farah Howlett daughter to Sarael Hikarua Howlett and John Howlett Junior. I have trained for this day my whole life from my father. He and his dragon both say I am ready and worthy.”, Rachel answered. “These trials are not for the weak child.”, another voice spoke out. “It’s a good thing I’m not weak then.”, Rachel answered getting indigent. She'd been called weak a large part of her life being the human born into a mutant family. “You should turn back before you get yourself hurt. You do not possess the skills of your family name.”, the sinister sounding voice spoke again. “I will not turn back. I am a Howlett, we do not back down and we do not accept no. I don’t need the mutant powers of my family to pass your test. I have their strength of mind and spirit.”, Rachel said definitely. “Let her be. We shall see in the morrow how deep her courage runs. I take interest in seeing what this youngling can do.”, a gentle but authoritative voice roared at the others. And then the voices were gone and the eyes closed.
Rachel sat up in her sleeping bag and looked around. Bubbles was sleeping between her and her father the fire still burning low. She looked to her father who was also sitting up. He looked at her face and nodded. “They came to you too.”, John said. “The dragons you mean?”, Rachel asked. “Yes. They did that to me, I told you the story when you were very young. But when I slept here that first time one hundred twenty-seven years ago they came to me in my dreams. They tried to make me turn back, to scare me away from their lair. At the time of course I had not even a clue that I was in a dragons lair. So of course being the stubborn Howlett I am I refused to leave and ventured further into the darkness.”, John said reaching into their packs getting out rations and water for breakfast. Rachel begrudgingly at the ration washing its taste with the water. “That’s what they tried with me. They wanted to know my name,why I am here, why I felt worthy. They tried to call me weak and use that I don’t have your powers as a reason I am weak. But Howletts are apparently stubborn even as humans. I don’t want to turn back I refuse to give up. If you and especially Bubbles say I am ready for this. If he thinks I’m worthy of one of his kind then that’s the only encouragement I need.”, Rachel said getting out of the sleeping bag and starting to roll it up. John smiled. “You are indeed a Howlett my daughter. You will do well in the trials and I am certain you will impress a dragon.”, John said patting her shoulder as he put out the fire and started getting out their gear to make the descent into the darkness that was the dragon’s lair.
Rachel sperlunked along with her father a small fire in her stomach. She didn't like being called weak and now she was even more determined to prove herself. They finally reached the bottom of the cave and the only light was the lights they had on their headbands. "So now what dad?", Rachel whispered. Her answer didn't come from her dad as eyes suddenly opened in the darkness all around them. 'John Howlett you have returned after one hundred twenty-four years. We have watched your progress over the years. You and Bubbles have done very well as partners. And now you feel that your eldest is not only ready for our test but worthy of a dragon.' A booming authoritative voice spoke. 'She is a human and weak.' Another voice spoke out. Rachel glared trying to figure out which set of eyes the voice belonged to. Bubbles pulled away from John's neck and grew in size to stand in front of Rachel. 'How dare you speak Toa. You do not dare speak of Rachel as you do not know the depths of her strengths. She is here because I say she is worthy of one of us. This young human has shown me in sixteen years that she can overcome any obstacle put in her way. She will take the trials and I have no doubt in her ability.', Bubbles bellowed looking at a set of red eyes. John smiled not surprised that Bubbles jumped to Rachel's defense. Rachel blinked as Bubbles literally jumped to defend her. "It's alright Bubbles. I am grateful that both you and dad feel I'm ready and worthy for this honor. However I know that I must prove myself. And that is exactly what I'm going to do. I'm here so let's start this.", Rachel said resting a hand on Bubbles. Bubbles glared at the set of eyes he'd addressed as Toa. 'John you understand that at no point will you be able to help your daughter.' The authoritative voice spoke. John nodded. "Yes I understand.", John agreed. 'Then let the trial begin.', the authoritative voice spoke.
Rachel went to ask what was about to happen when she felt the ground below her give way and she fell eight feet landing badly having been caught off guard. She felt her leg and could feel a possible break. She wasn't sure where she was so she got into her bag and using some of the sticks they had left from the fire and the bandage wrap in the first aid kit in her pack to splint her leg. She managed to get to her feet walking carefully and pushing through the pain. She took out a glow stick from her pack as the fall had taken out the light on her headband. As the glow from the stick started to give light she realized she wasn't alone in the space. All around here were eurasian brown bears, some were asleep but she could see others gnawing at bones of something. Rachel took a breath and kept her light low carefully trying to make her way in the direction of the sunlight she saw creeping into the cave which indicated to her that was the way out. She reached into her pack as she carefully walked and pulled out one of the knives her father had packed, just in case. She kept her breathing low and was very careful of where she stepped not just for the sake of her injured leg but also not wanting to make a sound that would bring attention to her. She was getting closer to the door when she realized that the way out was blocked for a decent size brown bear who at the moment was sleeping. Rachel sighed on the inside trying to figure out how to best approach this situation that wouldn't get her killed. To get past the bear she had to do the only thing she could think of, which was kill the bear. She just hoped that she could hit the right spot with the right force to kill it cleanly. She took her shot stabbing the blade given to her into the animal’s neck. It roared and lashed out clawing her side as it died.
Rachel pulled the blade out wincing as she held her side and carefully climbed over the lifeless corpse. She made out out into the light to find herself in a mist filled courtyard of what maybe was once a temple. She found a place to sit down and carefully lifted her shift to look at the claw mark. “Christ that hurts…”, she winced pressing against the wound. She reached back into her pack and pulled out more bandages wrapping her side the best she could given the circumstances. As she looked around she noticed engravings in the stone. It was a language she didn’t understand. She did however recognize the images of the dragons. “This is...amazing…”, she reached into her pack finding some paper and a pencil she’d brought as distraction on the plane and did a quick rubbing. She paused during the rubbing hearing footsteps. She quickly tucked the notebook back and got out the knife. Rachel stayed low and hidden to see how was coming. She saw two large men dressed in rather primitive clothes and dragon helmets carrying spears. They spoke to each other but it was a language she did not understand, but by their movements they were looking for something...or more likely someone. She could only assume these two men were to be her next part of the trial. She moved as carefully as she could with her broken leg and injured side.
As she moved to try and flank her would be attackers she had no idea that just above her watching through what she thought was the sky the dragons prying eyes and the eyes of her father and Bubbles were watching her. John’s hands were clenched at his sides his claws partially popped as he tried to contain his parental instinct to jump down the same hole they’d sent his daughter and protect her. “She can do this. She will survive it. She is strong.”, John continued to repeat over and over to himself. He knew she could do this. He’d trained her, James had trained her. She was ready. The guards separated from each other to look for her. She moved to try and get a higher ground advantage because with their height and her injuries she wasn’t going to be taking the pair on at the same time like she had trained with Logan and Landon. She had to be smart in her attacks. She found a way up onto one of the statues using the rubble of other structures and waited for her moment. Finally her moment came as one came close enough blade at the ready she jumped down the blade landing in the left shoulder blade the warrior screamed in pain and threw her over his shoulder to the ground as he turned to blue smoke. Rachel groaned in pain as she landed. The yell of the first warrior alerted the second who came charging at her spear at the ready.
Rachel rolled just in time to only be grazed by the spear tip across her right bicep. She clenched her teeth in pain and scrambled to her feet which she was unsteady on but the adrenaline was pushing her through the pain. The warrior pulled his spear from the ground where it’s gotten stuck slightly and took a stance ready to battle the intruder. It was clear by the look on his face he thought he had an easy victory. She was injured he could see it. John clenched his jaw watching the warrior taking his stance to try and take down his daughter. Bubbles was pacing as he watched. “Adya bhavatii mRiyate.”, the warrior cried as he rushed at her. Rachel didn’t know what he said it being a language she didn’t understand, John however knew what the warrior said. “My daughter will not die…”, John growled his claws popping slightly. He knew that the trial was never built to kill a competitor, however with how some of the dragons had been behaving especially Toa he didn’t like the risk that perhaps this time someone would rig the challenge. Rachel adjusted her grip on the blade to use it to block the attack the tip of the spear inches from her she used her other arm to try and apply more pressure to force the spear away. She had limited movement with her feet with the broken leg but the adrenaline was pumping and she didn’t even think when she kicked out with her broken leg her foot landing in the gut of her attacker getting him to stumble back a little.
He adjusted and changed his grip on the spear moving in to attack again, and again Rachel did what she could to block the attack. She needed to get closer or at least get a really good shot if she was going to have to throw the knife at the warrior. Above them the dragons and her father watched. Some of the dragons were getting anxious as she continued to fight on and even started to strike against their warrior cutting him but not deep enough to destroy him as she had with the first. Bubbles kept glancing in the direction of the red eyes of Toa who he didn’t trust. And with good reason. Toa never thought anyone was worthy to bond with a dragon. He’d tried to kill John during his trials, but John’s mutation and general skills had saved his life that day and impressed Bubbles enough to choose him. Rachel was getting worn down trying to fend off the warrior, but he was starting to weaken as well. Bubbles looked down trying to will the young Howlett into victory. ‘Strike...strike him child.’, Bubbles said but of course she couldn’t hear him. Rachel was holding her own despite her injuries and Toa didn’t like this, his red eyes disappearing from the darkness and at that same moment the warrior's eyes turned red. “TOA! He can’t do that! He can’t interfere! You have rules!”, John growled his claws popping out fully. “I trained my daughter to face your trial not to face one of you!”, He glared at the eyes around him. ‘I will allow it...for now. Toa will receive punishment but let us see how this plays out.’, the authoritative voice. “You can’t be serious!? If he hurts my daughter...it is my wraith he will face and I will destroy him.”, John said trying to control his anger. But when it came to his children, to his family he would kill anyone to protect them.
The warriors attacks became for ferocious and Rachel not only saw that but that the eyes of the warrior were now red. They resembled that of the dragon Bubbles had addressed as Toa, the one who didn’t want her to take the trial and apparently didn’t want her to pass. “Oh it’s like that? Did I scare you Toa? Did a mere human passing your test scare you? So you have to interfere with my trial to try and get the result you want? Now I’m feeling even more confident if I scared a dragon.”, Rachel said trying to use the terrain to her benefit with her injured leg. The warrior growled but didn’t speak as he moved to attack her. Toa had never thought any mortal was worthy of a dragon and now a true mortal a human with no special gifts had been brought before them and one of his own kind felt this child was worthy to bond with a dragon. The thought sickened him. Rachel had one shot she held the blade of her knife carefully as she ducked behind a statue peeking around the corner to the warrior now possessed by a dragon. He saw her and moved in to attack raising his spear but it was the opportunity Rachel needed. She focused on her target and as he moved to lunge at her she threw the knife it piercing through the warrior's exposed chest. The warrior faded with a blue smoke leaving behind a red dragon about the size of her father in height. Toa moved to snap Rachel up with his jaws no longer limited by the from of the warrior but as he went to attack he disappeared. A white dragon with cool blue eyes appeared in his place.
‘Come forward Rachel Howlett.’, the dragon spoke. Rachel was cautious her eyes shifting from the dragon to the knife on the ground as she moved out from behind the statue. Despite her physical condition she kept her back straight, shoulders back and head held high. “And you are? Another dragon who’d like to see the human dead? Because I am not really in the mood at the moment to deal with yet more treachery in a trial that I was told held honor.”, Rachel said her tone rather cold but at this moment it was the only thing she could do to contain her outrage at Toa interfering with her trial. ‘I am known as Nazir. And no I am not here for the same reasons Toa was. I am here because you have completed your trial. My elder brother, Bubbles, was right about you. You show the same strength of spirit that your father did when he faced his trial. And for that I have chosen you.’, Nazir answered. Rachel blinked his voice sounded slightly familiar, from the dream. “You...You are Bubbles’ brother? What do you mean chosen me?”, Rachel asked. “We are all brothers and sisters here. You have passed your test. I am the one of my kind who has chosen to bond with you. Upon making my decision I sent Toa to face his punishment for interfering with your trial. Please hold out your right arm.’, Nazir explained. Rachel blinked, letting out a breath of relief. She’d passed the trial even with Toa’s interference. She nodded silently and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt and held her right arm out as requested.
Nazir shrunk down in size to be no more than six inches and hovered over her forearm before landing upon her arm. Nazir and Rachel both winced as he bonded with her skin and became more a tattoo in appearance. The process of bonding was painful for Nazir physically and mentally. His flesh had to become one with his new human companion and their minds had to meld and given she was injured when he bonded with her he felt every bit of pain that she was in. For Rachel it was also painful her skin felt like it was on fire as he was absorbed and it was truly a weird sensation to suddenly in a blink of an eye feel all Nazir’s emotions and hear all his thoughts and memories. Rachel took a few deep breaths closing her eyes as she and Nazir both adjusted to this new bond. Before she could open her eyes she felt arms around her hugging her. “I am so proud of you Rachel.”, her father whispered kissing her forehead. Rachel opened her eyes and realized she was no longer in the ruins of the temple. “Dad?”, she questioned. John smiled Bubbles sitting on his shoulder they were back on the ledge where they’d camped the night before.
“You did it Rachel. I knew you could.”, he sighed a bit relieved that the trial was over. Rachel smiled looking up at her father and Bubbles. She was proud of herself too and she looked to her forearm seeing Nazir still there moving slightly as he was still adjusting to her. “Don’t worry it take some time for the bond to be as seamless and Bubbles and I have. It took us nearly five years to fully bond. And ever since we have been on the same mind rarely needing words between us. You and Nazir will have that over time.”, John said looking at Nazir on his daughter’s arm. “What about Toa?”, Rachel asked looking over her shoulder to the darkness below them. “The oldest of the dragons has said he would be punished. I will trust him to do so. Come on we will take Bubbles down the mountain. Your bond with Nazir is too fresh to try and ride him and you are too injured for me to carry down the mountain or ask you to climb.”, John explained picking his daughter up carefully. Without a word Bubbles grew in size and grabbed John in his talons lifting him with Rachel up and out of the crevice setting them down carefully before growing to a large enough size for them to ride. It had been since the night they’d gone to the Cage all those years ago to try and rescue James from Wanda’s clutches that Bubbles was last at this size and John upon his back. John helped Rachel onto Bubbles and held her as they felt down making sure to stay out of possible sight .
Once on the ground Bubbles returned to John’s skin and John got Rachel to the var they’d driven then drove to the closest hospital to have her wounds attended. They at least had a true story to tell of how she came by her injuries. They had been rock climbing and she’d fallen into a bear cave which broke her leg and disturbed the bear that clawed her side. It was actually the first time that Rachel had ever been inside a hospital having grown up going to Mikali and Kisa for any injuries. They ended up having to stitch the claw marks as they were that deep and then her left leg was placed into a cast and she was prescribed pain medicine. John called home but only said they were coming home. He didn’t want to say that Rachel had completed the trial. That was for Rachel to tell others. It was her accomplishment. Sarael had spent since the minute they walked out the door worried about Rachel. She knew her daughter had a strong spirit but she didn’t know what would happen during this test. John had told her about his test and it sounded terrifying and if not for his healing deadly. But knowing they were coming home gave her some relief so she information the rest of the family and Landon that they were returning. So the day their plane was due to arrive Logan, Aurelia, Jacob, Solangel, Isis, Kurt, Stephan, Jimmy, and Landon had all come to the house to wait for Rachel and John’s arrival.
Logan sat on the sofa next to his wife waiting with the others but he kept looking to his sister-in-law and Landon. Both looked tired like they hadn’t slept in a while. Which was true. Sarael had trouble sleeping not just because Rachel was potentially in danger but also she’d grown so accustomed to having John at her side she tossed and turned without him. Landon hadn’t really slept more than a few hours a night since he got the call that their plane had left. He had always been Rachel’s biggest supporter, never in his life had he doubted that she was a skilled fighter. He’d trained with her and knew first hand how fierce she was in combat. He’d also recorded and encouraged her when she took down Talia in a fight. But training in the danger room with him and Logan, or training with her father even fighting any of the Academy students was different. Going to take the dragon’s test was different. He’d only been told vague details about the test but from what he understood it was unpredictable. And that’s what scared him, that’s what worried him the unknown. Yes Landon knew her father wouldn’t let harm really come to her but he also didn’t think John was allowed to interfere in the test. Logan reached over and patted Landon’s knee. “She’s a Howlett kid relax.”, Logan assured. Landon gave a half smile at the encouragement of his sensei. “Yes sensei.”, Landon nodded.
All eyes looked to the door hearing a car pulling into the driveway. Jimmy rushed to the window and peered out seeing his father get out of the car and walked around to help his sister out of the car. Jimmy blinked seeing the crutches and cast on his sister’s left leg. He’d seen a cast before at school one of the human students had one. He watched intently as his father and sister walked carefully up the steps then the door opened. Rachel entered first as John held the door. The room was silent as Rachel made her way to the living room and stopped in surprise seeing every family member she had in Bayville sitting in her living room. As she looked around the room her eyes stopped seeing a rather worried Landon looking at her. She smiled softly, he’d known she was going to be taking the test that’s why he never tried to make plans with her for the break. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “Um Hello everyone.”, Rachel greeted. Sarael didn’t wait or speak she just got up from her seat and hugged her daughter and kissed her on the forehead. “I was so worried..”, Sarael whispered. “I'm alright mom. I did it, I passed.”, she smiled. John set their packs down and looked around the room with a smile and pride reflecting in his eyes.
Landon felt a bit of relief whens he said she passed and as soon as Sarael let Rachel go to hug her husband Landon got off the sofa and hugged her. “You know normal sixteen years are only worried about passing a driver’s exam.”, he said shaking his head not letting her go. Rachel laughed a little and kissed his cheek. “One I’m a Howlett I’m not sure we know how to do normal. And two you shouldn’t talk you were worried about a lot more than passing tests when you were sixteen.”, she countered. Landon smiled a little and not really thinking or at least not caring that her father was right behind her kissed her lips softly. “Just try not to make me worry like this in the near future.”, Landon requested pulling back. John narrowed his eyes a little at the display of affection but pas Landon he saw his brother James shaking his head at him. “You’re one to talk. How many times did you scare the crap out of me and cause me to worry about you?”, Rachel retorted. Landon shrugged. “Yeah I guess. But I haven’t done anything life threatening in the last two years. Unless you count dating you as life threatening.”, Landon teased glancing to John momentarily before looking back at Rachel. Rachel laughed a little looking over her shoulder seeing her dad.
“So let’s see your dragon.”, Jimmy demanded walking up. Rachel laughed and adjusted her crutches to expose her right forearm where Nazir was still. Jimmy leaned a little closer looking at the dragon. Nazir blinked looking back at Jimmy. “Whoa cool. So what is his name?”, Jimmy asked as others got up to come and meet the new dragon. “Nazir. At least that’s what he told me his name is.”, Rachel answered. “Nazir, luminously or beautiful observer.”, Logan commented which got a few looks. “What? Why are you looking at me like that. I know things.”, Logan defended which got some laughter. “You gotta tell us all about the test.”, Jimmy requested looking at his sister. “How about you all let Rachel take a seat first.”, John suggest. The group parted a little and Landon helped her over to the sofa taking the crutches for her before sitting down next to her. Jimmy took a seat on the floor next to their cousin Stephan, who had tucked his wings close to his body as he sat eager to hear his cousin’s story, and looked at his sister waiting for the story. “Um wow. Looks like for once I’m the one with the story to tell.”, she chuckled. “Well get used to having to tell it. Because you know the others at my place will want to hear it, then Blaire and the gang in town will want to be told, and don’t forget Rose and the guys in Cambridge too.”, Landon smiled putting an arm around her waiting to hear her tale.
Rachel smiled a little nervous not often the center of attention like this. “Alright. Well first daddy and I had to climb the Peleaga mountain which was probably the steepest mountain I’ve ever had to climb with very few places to grip or put my feet. And then we were climbing kind of at an angle as Dad led the way to the crevice along the side of the mountain that would take us to the dragons’ lair. It was an exhausting experience, and I would climb that mountain again just maybe not in that same direction. We made it to the crevice and camped on a ledge just inside for the night. Dad brought rations for us to eat. Which are the second most disgusting thing I’ve eaten. The first being when I’ve had dinner at Blaire’s and her mom cooked.”, Rachel started her tale. The comment about the rations tasting better than Alison’s cooking got a laugh. “During the night the dragons talked to me while I slept, I couldn’t see them just their eyes. They were trying to scare me, to convince me to not try. Even going as far as calling me weak.”, Rachel explained. Landon laughed a little. “Well that was their mistake. You tend to get...well pissed when people imply that.”, he smiled. Rachel nodded. “Yeah I do I suppose. So when morning came I was determined I wasn’t going to back down. We spelunked the rest of the way down into their lair to be greeted by just eyes in the darkness looking at us. They spoke telepathically and greeted dad first before addressing me. One tried to call me out as being unworthy, Bubbles called him Toa. Bubbles I don’t think likes Toa as he left dad to grow in size and stand in front of me feeling a need to protect me from this Toa. Then without really much warning the ground opened under me and I fell eight feet.”, she explained pointing to her cast.
“I didn’t really land well and thus broke my leg. I had my first aid kit and some twigs we’d not used for our fire the night before and did a simple splint remembering what dad taught me about field medic stuff. I used a glow stick to try and see where I was to find I’d fallen into a cave filled with bears. I had to very carefully make my way through them with my broken leg in the direction of the light to get out. However one large brown bear was sleeping in front of the opening to the cave. I ended up using the knife dad packed me to stab the beast in it’s neck. It of course didn’t like this which got me this..”, Rachel said carefully pulling the side of her shirt up and pulling back the large bandage that covered her stitches of the four deep marks left by the claws of the bear. Sarael paled a little seeing the sight. “The doctor in Romania said they should heal fine and at most leave a faint scar. So getting past the bear I found myself in the ruins of a temple. I’m going to assume it was a temple to the dragons because there were status and carved into the stone were words in a language I’ve never seen.”,, she continued putting her bandage back and her shirt down. Landon raised an eyebrow looking away from the wound to her face when she said a language she’d never seen. “And I knew you’d get that look sweetheart so..”, she said reaching for her pack that her father had sat by the end of the couch. She pulled out the notebook and showed him the rubbings. “Nice…even during a trial like that you still think of my curiosity.”, Landon took the notebook and kissed her cheek. “I’ll look at them later. Finish your story babe.”, he said putting the notebook on his lap.
Rachel nodded. “So I get out there and two warriors wearing rather primitive clothes and headdresses that make them look a bit like dragons show up carrying spears and are looking for something. I figured it was part of the test and therefore they were looking for me. I had to be careful with my hurt side and broken leg. I was kind of limited on my movements. I knew I couldn’t take them both on at the same time like I’d trained for with Uncle James and Landon. So I managed to get onto one of the statues and using the difference in elevation take one out bringing the blade into his shoulders. He screamed and threw me over his shoulder so i landed hard on my back. But when I looked to be ready for him to attack he disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke like when Kurt teleports. His yell alerted the other and he came rushing at me. He tried to stab me with the spears and I managed to roll away but he did graze my bicep but that wasn’t very deep and it won't even scar. I had only the knife to defend myself and had to get to my feet. I’m pretty sure the only thing that got me through it was the adrenaline. I kept countering and he kept just hitting me but I was cutting him back too. Then after I managed to kick him away with my injured leg something changed. His eyes became red and I realized it wasn’t that warrior anymore. I remembered the red eyes from before the trial began in the dragons’ lair. Toa had red eyes. Toa had interfered with my test taking control of the warrior.”, she continued.
Logan raised an eyebrow and looked to his brother who shook his head at his brother as if knowing his question. “I had to get to cover when Toa entered the fight. And I waited for my opportunity and as he went to strike me with the spear he thought he was getting the advantage but he was actually just exposing his chest to weakness. So I threw the knife and it landed into the warrior’s chest. The warrior disappeared in the blue smoke leaving behind just a red dragon, Toa. I didn’t have a weapon left to defend myself, and honestly wasn't sure I could defend myself against a dragon especially when he was the size of dad. He went to attack me and suddenly he was gone and Nazir was there instead. He told me to come forward and that I had completed my trial. Then told me he had chosen to bond with me and assured me that Toa would be punished for interfering with the trial.”, she concluded. “What..what did it feel like when he bonded with you?”, Stephan perked up. “It was weird, extremely weird. My arm felt like it was on fire when he joined with my skin, it hurt worse than my leg did. Then when our minds had to bond was the most painful. It was worse than a psychic attack from Emma. I was suddenly hit with all his emotions and memories and he was hit with mine. I’m still kind of recovering from that. I can hear him in my head and feel his emotions.”, Rachel explained. Stephan and Jimmy blinked. “Cool…”, Jimmy said. Rachel laughed a little shaking her head. “So that’s it. that’s the story. After we bonded I opened my eyes and I was on the ledge we’d camped at the other night with dad hugging me. Because of my injures Bubbles actually flew us down from the mountain. Which that was really cool. But over all I’m just really tired.”, Rachel said looking around.
“Come on then. You need to rest.”, Landon said standing up putting the notebook on the sofa. “I think getting up those stairs is going to be a hassle.”, Rachel sighed looking to the stairs. “Who says you’re walking up them?”, Landon smirked. Rachel raised an eyebrow as did her father. Her uncle however shook his head. Landon scooped her up off the couch. “What are you…”, Rachel went to protest. John moved and Sarael put a hand up to stop her husband. “It’s fine John. He’s just taking her to her room. Not like he plans to do anything.”, Sarael said softly. Jimmy and Stephan rolled their eyes a little at the slightly romantic gesture as Landon carried Rachel upstairs. Jimmy made a slight gagging noise which Stephan laughed at. “Find that funny or just gross Jimmy?”, Logan asked his nephew. “Both Uncle James.”, Jimmy answered. “So it’s funny that Landon would be nice enough to help your injured sister upstairs so she could rest? And it’s gross because what they are dating?”, Aurelia questioned. “Um well yes Aunt Aurelia.”, Jimmy answered. Jacob sighed and reached over ruffling his cousin’s hair. “Cousin you have a lot to learn about things. I suppose you are a little young to be interested in girls yet. But generally speaking opportunity to literally sweep a girl off her feet you take it.”, Jacob explained leaning back putting an arm around Solangel. “Oh Jimmy’s old enough to like girls Uncle Jacob.”, Stephan interjected. Which got a few raised eyebrows. “Oh is that so Stephan?”, Solangel asked. Jimmy elbowed his cousin. “Shut up Stephan…”, Jimmy growled a little. Stephan moved a bit further away from his cousin. “Yeah. He’s got a crush on Lauren Kearney.”, Stephan said with a smile. “Oooo…”, was the general sound of the adults of the room all trying to not laugh at Jimmy. Jimmy just glared at his younger cousin. “When you start noticing girls, Stephan pay back will be mine.”, Jimmy declared.
Upstairs Landon had carefully gotten Rachel into her room and onto her bed and under her covers. “Get some rest beautiful.”, he said leaning over giving her a light kiss. “You look like you could use some rest too. Were you really that worried about me?”, she asked. Landon nodded. “Of course I was. I know you are a strong fighter. But training with me and your uncle or with your dad even fighting academy students like Talia is different than this. When you went to take this test I wasn’t sure what you were up against. So of course i worried, even if I knew your dad would bring you back safe.”, Landon sighed running a hand over her hair. “I should go and let you rest.”, he sighed leaning giving her another kiss. Rachel pulled him down a little wrapping her arms around his neck. “Stay.”, she said. Landon laughed. “I’m pretty sure that would get me killed.”, Landon smirked. “We are both clothed and the door is open. Just lay here with me.”, Rachel insisted. Landon sighed and looked at the open door and then at her. “You are lucky I love you enough to risk death.”, Landon said taking off his sneakers. He got onto the bed next to her, staying on top of the blankets so if anyone looked in it wasn’t improper, and wrapped his arms around her to cuddle her close. Rachel sighed a little snuggling into him being careful of her cast and smiled a little falling asleep cozy in his arms. Landon tried to stay awake and even went to creep out of the bed after she’d fallen asleep but she tightened her arms on his so he stayed and gave up falling asleep too.

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Rachel’s sixteen birthday had finally come and she would be getting a week off for winter break from school. They’d already had her big party with her friends, John had refrained from giving her her real present opting to just giving her a car and letting her believe that was the big gift. Which really that was the gift. What he had planned wasn’t a gift, it was something she’d have to earn and prove she deserved. He’d talked to Sarael for years in regards to the trial he wanted their eldest to face, there had been hesitation especially when it was apparent Rachel had not inherited his mutant abilities so passing the trials would be a great deal harder for her than it had been for himself and his nieces Raziel and Kirra. But John maintained his faith that she would succeed mutation or not she was still a Howlett. And perhaps it was that she was the only human born Howlett of her generation that made John believe without a doubt this was a trail she needed to face. Both he and Sarael did agree that as Rachel would be a human fully engulfed in the mutant world she would need some additional protection and a dragon certainly seemed to fit that role. John didn’t tell Rachel what her training was leading up to. He just let her believe all the years of intense training was for just the benefit that she would always be able to defend herself. And that was true. But the other part was he wanted her ready when it came time to embark on the dragon’s quest.
He didn’t give her really any warning before hand just constantly made it clear she wasn’t going to be spending her winter break taking the train into Manhattan to see Landon as college. Finally the morning came John knocked on his daughter’s bedroom door. “Rachel? Need you to get up and dressed we leave in twenty.”, John said with authority. Rachel was one of probably few people that could be considered a morning person so being woken up before dawn by her father didn’t get the same groggy angry reaction that say her brother Jimmy would have given. Instead her Howlett blue eyes shot open in confusion of what he meant by leaving in twenty. “Um...alright daddy.”, Rachel said hesitantly getting out of bed. “Dress warmly and for hiking and climbing.”, John said simply before walking away from her door and down the stairs. He sighed a little as he walked to the kitchen. “I hope she’s ready..”, he muttered pouring a cup of coffee. He felt the faint movement of Bubbles, his own dragon, across his skin as Bubbles made his way up his arm and to his neck. ‘She is ready. She will pass.’, Bubbles assured telepathically. John nodded there was some assurance to be found in Bubbles’ confidence in Rachel. Bubbles knew the trials he said they were never the same and were based on the person set on the quest. He’d told John that her trial would be different from the one he himself had faced when he was twenty-four and had literally walked through a waterfall of fire as the final test which only his healing had saved him from certain death. John looked to the back door where two packs sat some clothes in each and the otherwise climbing gear, rations, weapons, and medical supplies for both him and Rachel. Climbing Peleaga was not going to be easy.
Rachel did as her father asked and came downstairs dressed in her winter hiking clothes as in previous years they’d sometimes go to the estate in Alberta during winter or to her cousin Cero’s tribe in Alaska for mountain climbing. “So...daddy what’s going on?”, Rachel asked looking and seeing the two packs by the door. “We are going to Romania for the week. This is what I’ve been training you all these years for Rachel.”, John said standing up. Rachel looked at him a little confused. “You’ve been training me to go to Romania?”, she questioned brow furrowed in her confusion. John laughed a little the expression was her mother’s. In fact beyond having his shade of blue eyes she was the spitting image of her mother and the original Rachel for whom she was named. “It’s not about Romania persay. We will be climbing Peleaga and seeking out the dragons who rest under the mountain.”, John explained. Rachel blinked and she looked from her father to the dragon upon his neck. Bubbles seemed to smile and perhaps it was a wink it was hard to tell when he was on her father's flesh. “The dragons’ lair? But…”, she said shaking her head. “But what? You’re sixteen which is as old as Kirra and Raziel were when they came upon the dragons’ lair. Bubbles and I both feel you are ready to face the trials.”, John said picking up his pack. “But..I’m not like Kirra and Raziel. Shouldn’t...shouldn’t this be something Rose does or Jimmy…”,Rachel said still not seeing how she was expected to face the trials that her father and two cousins whom carried the Howlett mutation passed. “Your father and I agreed years ago that you were the one that should be allowed the chance.”, Sarael said softly having come into the kitchen wanting to say goodbye to her husband and daughter. Rachel turned and looked at her mother. “Years? You both decided years ago I would...but I can’t pass their trial. I’m human. I’m not like dad.”, Rachel protested.
‘Tell her we dragons see all as mortals...all as humans. Tell her that her trial will be unique to her we would never set forth a test that we were certain would kill the combatant.’ Bubbles thought to John. John nodded with a sigh. “Bubbles wants me to tell you that to dragons we are all humans for we are all mortals compared to them. And that your trial will not be the same as mine or your cousins. The trials are chosen based on the combatant and never with the direct intent of the combatant dying from them.”, John said delivering the message. Rachel looked worriedly from her mother and then to her father and lastly to Bubbles. “He thinks I can pass? That I am strong enough to be like you… to have a dragon bond?”, she questioned. Bubbles head moved slightly as he nodded and pulled from John’s skin and let his wings open as he glided no bigger than a bearded dragon to her shoulder and nudged her cheek with his head. “That is a yes Rachel.”, John said. Rachel gulped a little and nodded. It was a lot to live up to. She’d never had something to live up to. She was human born to the Howlett line, so she was not expected to live up to the heroic deeds that her father and uncle had done. She wasn’t held to that standard like her cousins and younger brother were. But now she was being held to this standard, to being strong enough to be bonded for life with a dragon.
“So are you all packed?”, Sarael asked. John nodded. “Yup we are packed. We will be back by end of the week.”, John said hugging his wife and giving her a long deep kiss. In their marriage he’d not spend more than a couple days separated from her. “Just both of you come back safe.”, Sarael said lightly touching the side of John’s face. He hadn’t aged noticeably in the years she’d known him, but she knew that after Rachel’s graduation he intended to put on an inducer that would allow him to age with her. “We will.”, John assured. Sarael turned to Rachel and hugged her tight and Bubbles glided back over to John rejoining with John’s skin. “Be careful Rachel. I know you can do this you are such a strong young woman.”, Sarael said. “Thanks mom. I’ll be careful. I love you.”, Rachel said hugging her mother tightly. “I love you too.”, Sarael said letting go at last. “I love you, we will call when we land and then when we come back down the mountain.”, John said kissing Sarael on more time. Sarael sighed returned the kiss briefly. “I love you too.”, she replied watching as they picked up their packs and headed out the door. The house felt empty without them. For the first time since she met John she was alone. Sarael considered asking Jimmy to come home for break but she knew he was busy with training lessons up at the Institute.
Rachel had so many questions she wanted to ask, but she knew that her father wouldn’t have answers to what the test would be. He’d told her the test was different for each so knowing what happened in his test or her cousins’ wouldn’t help her. She just had to be ready for anything. She wished she’d had time to call Landon to say she’d be gone, though she figured he might already know as he’d made no mention of wanting to make plans for her winter break. Her dad had assured her she’d been trained for this, just hoped she could prove herself worthy like he had to earn Bubbles. Her whole life she’d been fascinated by Bubbles and his kind. She always wondered what made a dragon choose to bond with a person. And since her only references were her father and two of her cousins to her it’d been their mutation that perhaps drew the dragons to choose them. But with how her father and Bubbles had talked in the kitchen it wasn’t about the mutant powers but something more. Something inside them, she just hoped she had that same characteristic that the dragons looked for. Bubbles seemed certain that she could pass this test. The flight was long but basically a straight path as they weren’t flying commercial. Once they’d arrived in Romania her father had a rental car that they drove to get close to the mountain they needed to climb.
Climbing the mountain was the easy part she was sure. They parked the car and got out their packs and specifically their climbing gear her father tying a rope between them to ensure that they stayed together. He after all knew where the crevice in the mountain that would take them to the dragons was. As so the first part of her journey began as they trecked up the mountain side. It was obvious that some areas of the mountain where climbed often, but that wasn’t the way they were going. No her father was leading her to a side of the mountain that was very steep with not many places to easily hold on to. More than once during the climb she was glad that not only was she tied to her father but that she’d been trained to climb such treacherous mountains. It was a long climb and there was no where to make camp as the sun began to set. “Dad...what are we doing in regards to sleep?”, Rachel asked as they climbed. “We need to keep climbing, we aren’t too far from the mouth of the layer. Just another hour and then we can rest before we propel down into their lair and you face the dragons.”, John said glancing down from where he was to his daughter. She looked so much like her mother and her ancestor Rachel except the eyes. The last time he’d climbed this peak he’d ended up here by chance having run from Egypt and potential happiness with the original Rachel out of fear of people finding out what he was. He'd felt that his Rachel had been with him when he made his original climb, the engagement ring he never gave her having felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. Rachel nodded to her dad. “Alright I think I can make another hour.”, she sighed continuing to follow him up the mountain.
True to his word it was about an hour more before John helped pull her up into the mouth of a crevice in the mountain side. “This is it?”, she asked as he helped her into the darkness. John nodded reaching into his pack pulling out a glow stick to provide light. “There’s a spot we can set up to camp just below us.”, John instructed dropping the glow stick down to show what he mean. It wasn’t a large space maybe eight by eight feet and then it was a straight drop. John slipped down the side which wasn’t far and offered a hand helping Rachel down the distance. “So we have tents or something for fire?”, Rachel asked taking off her pack. “Yeah. There should be a sleeping bag in your pack and I’ve got some kindling and a fire starting kit in mine not to mention I grabbed that large stick you questioned me getting at the base of the mountain.”, John said getting into his pack and starting to get the kindling ready. Bubbles pulled off from John’s skin and grew in size to easily bite through the large branch to make it into more manageable pieces while Rachel unrolled her sleeping bag and her father’s before getting out their food ration tins. She raised an eyebrow looking at the rations. John laughed a little at the expression on her face. “They look...well they look about as good as they taste. But they take up less room and keep better.”, John said reaching taking on of the rations and unwrapping it biting into it. “Trust me I’ve eaten worse in my life.”, John said patting Bubbles on the neck as the dragon curled up beside him. Rachel laughed a little and shrugged unwrapping hers and taking a bite. “Oh...it’s like...eating at Blaire’s house when her mom cooks.”, Rachel said making a face. John laughed. “Told you I’ve had worse.”, John chuckled taking out two bottles of waters from his pack and giving her one. Rachel quickly rinsed the taste out of her mouth.
While the two rested on the ledge Bubbles stayed awake to keep an eye on their fire not wanting it to go out while they slept. During the night Rachel didn’t sleep well nor did John. For John he vaguely remembered these dreams. He could hear the dragons below them stirring at their presence and it was them that came to his dream. It was different from last time. They remembered him in his dreams, they asked him why he had come back, why he had brought an outsider to their lair. He tried to explain in the dream that she was no outsider but his daughter. He told them that she may not have the healing and animal sense like him but she was strong of spirit and heart. He didn’t know that Rachel was also being visited in her dreams by the dragons. They were trying to intimidate her to scare her away before she could even reach the lair. However Rachel wasn’t easily scared. Even in her dreams she held her ground. “Why are you here!?”, a deep booming voice called from the darkness in her dream. “I am here to take the test of the dragons. I am here to prove myself worthy.”, Rachel called into the darkness. Multiple sets of various colored eyes opened simultaneously and peered at her from the dark. “Who are you mortal? What makes you think you are worthy?”, a slightly different and more sinister sounding voice demanded. “I am Rachel Farah Howlett daughter to Sarael Hikarua Howlett and John Howlett Junior. I have trained for this day my whole life from my father. He and his dragon both say I am ready and worthy.”, Rachel answered. “These trials are not for the weak child.”, another voice spoke out. “It’s a good thing I’m not weak then.”, Rachel answered getting indigent. She'd been called weak a large part of her life being the human born into a mutant family. “You should turn back before you get yourself hurt. You do not possess the skills of your family name.”, the sinister sounding voice spoke again. “I will not turn back. I am a Howlett, we do not back down and we do not accept no. I don’t need the mutant powers of my family to pass your test. I have their strength of mind and spirit.”, Rachel said definitely. “Let her be. We shall see in the morrow how deep her courage runs. I take interest in seeing what this youngling can do.”, a gentle but authoritative voice roared at the others. And then the voices were gone and the eyes closed.
Rachel sat up in her sleeping bag and looked around. Bubbles was sleeping between her and her father the fire still burning low. She looked to her father who was also sitting up. He looked at her face and nodded. “They came to you too.”, John said. “The dragons you mean?”, Rachel asked. “Yes. They did that to me, I told you the story when you were very young. But when I slept here that first time one hundred twenty-seven years ago they came to me in my dreams. They tried to make me turn back, to scare me away from their lair. At the time of course I had not even a clue that I was in a dragons lair. So of course being the stubborn Howlett I am I refused to leave and ventured further into the darkness.”, John said reaching into their packs getting out rations and water for breakfast. Rachel begrudgingly at the ration washing its taste with the water. “That’s what they tried with me. They wanted to know my name,why I am here, why I felt worthy. They tried to call me weak and use that I don’t have your powers as a reason I am weak. But Howletts are apparently stubborn even as humans. I don’t want to turn back I refuse to give up. If you and especially Bubbles say I am ready for this. If he thinks I’m worthy of one of his kind then that’s the only encouragement I need.”, Rachel said getting out of the sleeping bag and starting to roll it up. John smiled. “You are indeed a Howlett my daughter. You will do well in the trials and I am certain you will impress a dragon.”, John said patting her shoulder as he put out the fire and started getting out their gear to make the descent into the darkness that was the dragon’s lair.
Rachel sperlunked along with her father a small fire in her stomach. She didn't like being called weak and now she was even more determined to prove herself. They finally reached the bottom of the cave and the only light was the lights they had on their headbands. "So now what dad?", Rachel whispered. Her answer didn't come from her dad as eyes suddenly opened in the darkness all around them. 'John Howlett you have returned after one hundred twenty-four years. We have watched your progress over the years. You and Bubbles have done very well as partners. And now you feel that your eldest is not only ready for our test but worthy of a dragon.' A booming authoritative voice spoke. 'She is a human and weak.' Another voice spoke out. Rachel glared trying to figure out which set of eyes the voice belonged to. Bubbles pulled away from John's neck and grew in size to stand in front of Rachel. 'How dare you speak Toa. You do not dare speak of Rachel as you do not know the depths of her strengths. She is here because I say she is worthy of one of us. This young human has shown me in sixteen years that she can overcome any obstacle put in her way. She will take the trials and I have no doubt in her ability.', Bubbles bellowed looking at a set of red eyes. John smiled not surprised that Bubbles jumped to Rachel's defense. Rachel blinked as Bubbles literally jumped to defend her. "It's alright Bubbles. I am grateful that both you and dad feel I'm ready and worthy for this honor. However I know that I must prove myself. And that is exactly what I'm going to do. I'm here so let's start this.", Rachel said resting a hand on Bubbles. Bubbles glared at the set of eyes he'd addressed as Toa. 'John you understand that at no point will you be able to help your daughter.' The authoritative voice spoke. John nodded. "Yes I understand.", John agreed. 'Then let the trial begin.', the authoritative voice spoke.
Rachel went to ask what was about to happen when she felt the ground below her give way and she fell eight feet landing badly having been caught off guard. She felt her leg and could feel a possible break. She wasn't sure where she was so she got into her bag and using some of the sticks they had left from the fire and the bandage wrap in the first aid kit in her pack to splint her leg. She managed to get to her feet walking carefully and pushing through the pain. She took out a glow stick from her pack as the fall had taken out the light on her headband. As the glow from the stick started to give light she realized she wasn't alone in the space. All around here were eurasian brown bears, some were asleep but she could see others gnawing at bones of something. Rachel took a breath and kept her light low carefully trying to make her way in the direction of the sunlight she saw creeping into the cave which indicated to her that was the way out. She reached into her pack as she carefully walked and pulled out one of the knives her father had packed, just in case. She kept her breathing low and was very careful of where she stepped not just for the sake of her injured leg but also not wanting to make a sound that would bring attention to her. She was getting closer to the door when she realized that the way out was blocked for a decent size brown bear who at the moment was sleeping. Rachel sighed on the inside trying to figure out how to best approach this situation that wouldn't get her killed. To get past the bear she had to do the only thing she could think of, which was kill the bear. She just hoped that she could hit the right spot with the right force to kill it cleanly. She took her shot stabbing the blade given to her into the animal’s neck. It roared and lashed out clawing her side as it died.
Rachel pulled the blade out wincing as she held her side and carefully climbed over the lifeless corpse. She made out out into the light to find herself in a mist filled courtyard of what maybe was once a temple. She found a place to sit down and carefully lifted her shift to look at the claw mark. “Christ that hurts…”, she winced pressing against the wound. She reached back into her pack and pulled out more bandages wrapping her side the best she could given the circumstances. As she looked around she noticed engravings in the stone. It was a language she didn’t understand. She did however recognize the images of the dragons. “This is...amazing…”, she reached into her pack finding some paper and a pencil she’d brought as distraction on the plane and did a quick rubbing. She paused during the rubbing hearing footsteps. She quickly tucked the notebook back and got out the knife. Rachel stayed low and hidden to see how was coming. She saw two large men dressed in rather primitive clothes and dragon helmets carrying spears. They spoke to each other but it was a language she did not understand, but by their movements they were looking for something...or more likely someone. She could only assume these two men were to be her next part of the trial. She moved as carefully as she could with her broken leg and injured side.
As she moved to try and flank her would be attackers she had no idea that just above her watching through what she thought was the sky the dragons prying eyes and the eyes of her father and Bubbles were watching her. John’s hands were clenched at his sides his claws partially popped as he tried to contain his parental instinct to jump down the same hole they’d sent his daughter and protect her. “She can do this. She will survive it. She is strong.”, John continued to repeat over and over to himself. He knew she could do this. He’d trained her, James had trained her. She was ready. The guards separated from each other to look for her. She moved to try and get a higher ground advantage because with their height and her injuries she wasn’t going to be taking the pair on at the same time like she had trained with Logan and Landon. She had to be smart in her attacks. She found a way up onto one of the statues using the rubble of other structures and waited for her moment. Finally her moment came as one came close enough blade at the ready she jumped down the blade landing in the left shoulder blade the warrior screamed in pain and threw her over his shoulder to the ground as he turned to blue smoke. Rachel groaned in pain as she landed. The yell of the first warrior alerted the second who came charging at her spear at the ready.
Rachel rolled just in time to only be grazed by the spear tip across her right bicep. She clenched her teeth in pain and scrambled to her feet which she was unsteady on but the adrenaline was pushing her through the pain. The warrior pulled his spear from the ground where it’s gotten stuck slightly and took a stance ready to battle the intruder. It was clear by the look on his face he thought he had an easy victory. She was injured he could see it. John clenched his jaw watching the warrior taking his stance to try and take down his daughter. Bubbles was pacing as he watched. “Adya bhavatii mRiyate.”, the warrior cried as he rushed at her. Rachel didn’t know what he said it being a language she didn’t understand, John however knew what the warrior said. “My daughter will not die…”, John growled his claws popping slightly. He knew that the trial was never built to kill a competitor, however with how some of the dragons had been behaving especially Toa he didn’t like the risk that perhaps this time someone would rig the challenge. Rachel adjusted her grip on the blade to use it to block the attack the tip of the spear inches from her she used her other arm to try and apply more pressure to force the spear away. She had limited movement with her feet with the broken leg but the adrenaline was pumping and she didn’t even think when she kicked out with her broken leg her foot landing in the gut of her attacker getting him to stumble back a little.
He adjusted and changed his grip on the spear moving in to attack again, and again Rachel did what she could to block the attack. She needed to get closer or at least get a really good shot if she was going to have to throw the knife at the warrior. Above them the dragons and her father watched. Some of the dragons were getting anxious as she continued to fight on and even started to strike against their warrior cutting him but not deep enough to destroy him as she had with the first. Bubbles kept glancing in the direction of the red eyes of Toa who he didn’t trust. And with good reason. Toa never thought anyone was worthy to bond with a dragon. He’d tried to kill John during his trials, but John’s mutation and general skills had saved his life that day and impressed Bubbles enough to choose him. Rachel was getting worn down trying to fend off the warrior, but he was starting to weaken as well. Bubbles looked down trying to will the young Howlett into victory. ‘Strike...strike him child.’, Bubbles said but of course she couldn’t hear him. Rachel was holding her own despite her injuries and Toa didn’t like this, his red eyes disappearing from the darkness and at that same moment the warrior's eyes turned red. “TOA! He can’t do that! He can’t interfere! You have rules!”, John growled his claws popping out fully. “I trained my daughter to face your trial not to face one of you!”, He glared at the eyes around him. ‘I will allow it...for now. Toa will receive punishment but let us see how this plays out.’, the authoritative voice. “You can’t be serious!? If he hurts my daughter...it is my wraith he will face and I will destroy him.”, John said trying to control his anger. But when it came to his children, to his family he would kill anyone to protect them.
The warriors attacks became for ferocious and Rachel not only saw that but that the eyes of the warrior were now red. They resembled that of the dragon Bubbles had addressed as Toa, the one who didn’t want her to take the trial and apparently didn’t want her to pass. “Oh it’s like that? Did I scare you Toa? Did a mere human passing your test scare you? So you have to interfere with my trial to try and get the result you want? Now I’m feeling even more confident if I scared a dragon.”, Rachel said trying to use the terrain to her benefit with her injured leg. The warrior growled but didn’t speak as he moved to attack her. Toa had never thought any mortal was worthy of a dragon and now a true mortal a human with no special gifts had been brought before them and one of his own kind felt this child was worthy to bond with a dragon. The thought sickened him. Rachel had one shot she held the blade of her knife carefully as she ducked behind a statue peeking around the corner to the warrior now possessed by a dragon. He saw her and moved in to attack raising his spear but it was the opportunity Rachel needed. She focused on her target and as he moved to lunge at her she threw the knife it piercing through the warrior's exposed chest. The warrior faded with a blue smoke leaving behind a red dragon about the size of her father in height. Toa moved to snap Rachel up with his jaws no longer limited by the from of the warrior but as he went to attack he disappeared. A white dragon with cool blue eyes appeared in his place.
‘Come forward Rachel Howlett.’, the dragon spoke. Rachel was cautious her eyes shifting from the dragon to the knife on the ground as she moved out from behind the statue. Despite her physical condition she kept her back straight, shoulders back and head held high. “And you are? Another dragon who’d like to see the human dead? Because I am not really in the mood at the moment to deal with yet more treachery in a trial that I was told held honor.”, Rachel said her tone rather cold but at this moment it was the only thing she could do to contain her outrage at Toa interfering with her trial. ‘I am known as Nazir. And no I am not here for the same reasons Toa was. I am here because you have completed your trial. My elder brother, Bubbles, was right about you. You show the same strength of spirit that your father did when he faced his trial. And for that I have chosen you.’, Nazir answered. Rachel blinked his voice sounded slightly familiar, from the dream. “You...You are Bubbles’ brother? What do you mean chosen me?”, Rachel asked. “We are all brothers and sisters here. You have passed your test. I am the one of my kind who has chosen to bond with you. Upon making my decision I sent Toa to face his punishment for interfering with your trial. Please hold out your right arm.’, Nazir explained. Rachel blinked, letting out a breath of relief. She’d passed the trial even with Toa’s interference. She nodded silently and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt and held her right arm out as requested.
Nazir shrunk down in size to be no more than six inches and hovered over her forearm before landing upon her arm. Nazir and Rachel both winced as he bonded with her skin and became more a tattoo in appearance. The process of bonding was painful for Nazir physically and mentally. His flesh had to become one with his new human companion and their minds had to meld and given she was injured when he bonded with her he felt every bit of pain that she was in. For Rachel it was also painful her skin felt like it was on fire as he was absorbed and it was truly a weird sensation to suddenly in a blink of an eye feel all Nazir’s emotions and hear all his thoughts and memories. Rachel took a few deep breaths closing her eyes as she and Nazir both adjusted to this new bond. Before she could open her eyes she felt arms around her hugging her. “I am so proud of you Rachel.”, her father whispered kissing her forehead. Rachel opened her eyes and realized she was no longer in the ruins of the temple. “Dad?”, she questioned. John smiled Bubbles sitting on his shoulder they were back on the ledge where they’d camped the night before.
“You did it Rachel. I knew you could.”, he sighed a bit relieved that the trial was over. Rachel smiled looking up at her father and Bubbles. She was proud of herself too and she looked to her forearm seeing Nazir still there moving slightly as he was still adjusting to her. “Don’t worry it take some time for the bond to be as seamless and Bubbles and I have. It took us nearly five years to fully bond. And ever since we have been on the same mind rarely needing words between us. You and Nazir will have that over time.”, John said looking at Nazir on his daughter’s arm. “What about Toa?”, Rachel asked looking over her shoulder to the darkness below them. “The oldest of the dragons has said he would be punished. I will trust him to do so. Come on we will take Bubbles down the mountain. Your bond with Nazir is too fresh to try and ride him and you are too injured for me to carry down the mountain or ask you to climb.”, John explained picking his daughter up carefully. Without a word Bubbles grew in size and grabbed John in his talons lifting him with Rachel up and out of the crevice setting them down carefully before growing to a large enough size for them to ride. It had been since the night they’d gone to the Cage all those years ago to try and rescue James from Wanda’s clutches that Bubbles was last at this size and John upon his back. John helped Rachel onto Bubbles and held her as they felt down making sure to stay out of possible sight .
Once on the ground Bubbles returned to John’s skin and John got Rachel to the var they’d driven then drove to the closest hospital to have her wounds attended. They at least had a true story to tell of how she came by her injuries. They had been rock climbing and she’d fallen into a bear cave which broke her leg and disturbed the bear that clawed her side. It was actually the first time that Rachel had ever been inside a hospital having grown up going to Mikali and Kisa for any injuries. They ended up having to stitch the claw marks as they were that deep and then her left leg was placed into a cast and she was prescribed pain medicine. John called home but only said they were coming home. He didn’t want to say that Rachel had completed the trial. That was for Rachel to tell others. It was her accomplishment. Sarael had spent since the minute they walked out the door worried about Rachel. She knew her daughter had a strong spirit but she didn’t know what would happen during this test. John had told her about his test and it sounded terrifying and if not for his healing deadly. But knowing they were coming home gave her some relief so she information the rest of the family and Landon that they were returning. So the day their plane was due to arrive Logan, Aurelia, Jacob, Solangel, Isis, Kurt, Stephan, Jimmy, and Landon had all come to the house to wait for Rachel and John’s arrival.
Logan sat on the sofa next to his wife waiting with the others but he kept looking to his sister-in-law and Landon. Both looked tired like they hadn’t slept in a while. Which was true. Sarael had trouble sleeping not just because Rachel was potentially in danger but also she’d grown so accustomed to having John at her side she tossed and turned without him. Landon hadn’t really slept more than a few hours a night since he got the call that their plane had left. He had always been Rachel’s biggest supporter, never in his life had he doubted that she was a skilled fighter. He’d trained with her and knew first hand how fierce she was in combat. He’d also recorded and encouraged her when she took down Talia in a fight. But training in the danger room with him and Logan, or training with her father even fighting any of the Academy students was different. Going to take the dragon’s test was different. He’d only been told vague details about the test but from what he understood it was unpredictable. And that’s what scared him, that’s what worried him the unknown. Yes Landon knew her father wouldn’t let harm really come to her but he also didn’t think John was allowed to interfere in the test. Logan reached over and patted Landon’s knee. “She’s a Howlett kid relax.”, Logan assured. Landon gave a half smile at the encouragement of his sensei. “Yes sensei.”, Landon nodded.
All eyes looked to the door hearing a car pulling into the driveway. Jimmy rushed to the window and peered out seeing his father get out of the car and walked around to help his sister out of the car. Jimmy blinked seeing the crutches and cast on his sister’s left leg. He’d seen a cast before at school one of the human students had one. He watched intently as his father and sister walked carefully up the steps then the door opened. Rachel entered first as John held the door. The room was silent as Rachel made her way to the living room and stopped in surprise seeing every family member she had in Bayville sitting in her living room. As she looked around the room her eyes stopped seeing a rather worried Landon looking at her. She smiled softly, he’d known she was going to be taking the test that’s why he never tried to make plans with her for the break. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “Um Hello everyone.”, Rachel greeted. Sarael didn’t wait or speak she just got up from her seat and hugged her daughter and kissed her on the forehead. “I was so worried..”, Sarael whispered. “I'm alright mom. I did it, I passed.”, she smiled. John set their packs down and looked around the room with a smile and pride reflecting in his eyes.
Landon felt a bit of relief whens he said she passed and as soon as Sarael let Rachel go to hug her husband Landon got off the sofa and hugged her. “You know normal sixteen years are only worried about passing a driver’s exam.”, he said shaking his head not letting her go. Rachel laughed a little and kissed his cheek. “One I’m a Howlett I’m not sure we know how to do normal. And two you shouldn’t talk you were worried about a lot more than passing tests when you were sixteen.”, she countered. Landon smiled a little and not really thinking or at least not caring that her father was right behind her kissed her lips softly. “Just try not to make me worry like this in the near future.”, Landon requested pulling back. John narrowed his eyes a little at the display of affection but pas Landon he saw his brother James shaking his head at him. “You’re one to talk. How many times did you scare the crap out of me and cause me to worry about you?”, Rachel retorted. Landon shrugged. “Yeah I guess. But I haven’t done anything life threatening in the last two years. Unless you count dating you as life threatening.”, Landon teased glancing to John momentarily before looking back at Rachel. Rachel laughed a little looking over her shoulder seeing her dad.
“So let’s see your dragon.”, Jimmy demanded walking up. Rachel laughed and adjusted her crutches to expose her right forearm where Nazir was still. Jimmy leaned a little closer looking at the dragon. Nazir blinked looking back at Jimmy. “Whoa cool. So what is his name?”, Jimmy asked as others got up to come and meet the new dragon. “Nazir. At least that’s what he told me his name is.”, Rachel answered. “Nazir, luminously or beautiful observer.”, Logan commented which got a few looks. “What? Why are you looking at me like that. I know things.”, Logan defended which got some laughter. “You gotta tell us all about the test.”, Jimmy requested looking at his sister. “How about you all let Rachel take a seat first.”, John suggest. The group parted a little and Landon helped her over to the sofa taking the crutches for her before sitting down next to her. Jimmy took a seat on the floor next to their cousin Stephan, who had tucked his wings close to his body as he sat eager to hear his cousin’s story, and looked at his sister waiting for the story. “Um wow. Looks like for once I’m the one with the story to tell.”, she chuckled. “Well get used to having to tell it. Because you know the others at my place will want to hear it, then Blaire and the gang in town will want to be told, and don’t forget Rose and the guys in Cambridge too.”, Landon smiled putting an arm around her waiting to hear her tale.
Rachel smiled a little nervous not often the center of attention like this. “Alright. Well first daddy and I had to climb the Peleaga mountain which was probably the steepest mountain I’ve ever had to climb with very few places to grip or put my feet. And then we were climbing kind of at an angle as Dad led the way to the crevice along the side of the mountain that would take us to the dragons’ lair. It was an exhausting experience, and I would climb that mountain again just maybe not in that same direction. We made it to the crevice and camped on a ledge just inside for the night. Dad brought rations for us to eat. Which are the second most disgusting thing I’ve eaten. The first being when I’ve had dinner at Blaire’s and her mom cooked.”, Rachel started her tale. The comment about the rations tasting better than Alison’s cooking got a laugh. “During the night the dragons talked to me while I slept, I couldn’t see them just their eyes. They were trying to scare me, to convince me to not try. Even going as far as calling me weak.”, Rachel explained. Landon laughed a little. “Well that was their mistake. You tend to get...well pissed when people imply that.”, he smiled. Rachel nodded. “Yeah I do I suppose. So when morning came I was determined I wasn’t going to back down. We spelunked the rest of the way down into their lair to be greeted by just eyes in the darkness looking at us. They spoke telepathically and greeted dad first before addressing me. One tried to call me out as being unworthy, Bubbles called him Toa. Bubbles I don’t think likes Toa as he left dad to grow in size and stand in front of me feeling a need to protect me from this Toa. Then without really much warning the ground opened under me and I fell eight feet.”, she explained pointing to her cast.
“I didn’t really land well and thus broke my leg. I had my first aid kit and some twigs we’d not used for our fire the night before and did a simple splint remembering what dad taught me about field medic stuff. I used a glow stick to try and see where I was to find I’d fallen into a cave filled with bears. I had to very carefully make my way through them with my broken leg in the direction of the light to get out. However one large brown bear was sleeping in front of the opening to the cave. I ended up using the knife dad packed me to stab the beast in it’s neck. It of course didn’t like this which got me this..”, Rachel said carefully pulling the side of her shirt up and pulling back the large bandage that covered her stitches of the four deep marks left by the claws of the bear. Sarael paled a little seeing the sight. “The doctor in Romania said they should heal fine and at most leave a faint scar. So getting past the bear I found myself in the ruins of a temple. I’m going to assume it was a temple to the dragons because there were status and carved into the stone were words in a language I’ve never seen.”,, she continued putting her bandage back and her shirt down. Landon raised an eyebrow looking away from the wound to her face when she said a language she’d never seen. “And I knew you’d get that look sweetheart so..”, she said reaching for her pack that her father had sat by the end of the couch. She pulled out the notebook and showed him the rubbings. “Nice…even during a trial like that you still think of my curiosity.”, Landon took the notebook and kissed her cheek. “I’ll look at them later. Finish your story babe.”, he said putting the notebook on his lap.
Rachel nodded. “So I get out there and two warriors wearing rather primitive clothes and headdresses that make them look a bit like dragons show up carrying spears and are looking for something. I figured it was part of the test and therefore they were looking for me. I had to be careful with my hurt side and broken leg. I was kind of limited on my movements. I knew I couldn’t take them both on at the same time like I’d trained for with Uncle James and Landon. So I managed to get onto one of the statues and using the difference in elevation take one out bringing the blade into his shoulders. He screamed and threw me over his shoulder so i landed hard on my back. But when I looked to be ready for him to attack he disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke like when Kurt teleports. His yell alerted the other and he came rushing at me. He tried to stab me with the spears and I managed to roll away but he did graze my bicep but that wasn’t very deep and it won't even scar. I had only the knife to defend myself and had to get to my feet. I’m pretty sure the only thing that got me through it was the adrenaline. I kept countering and he kept just hitting me but I was cutting him back too. Then after I managed to kick him away with my injured leg something changed. His eyes became red and I realized it wasn’t that warrior anymore. I remembered the red eyes from before the trial began in the dragons’ lair. Toa had red eyes. Toa had interfered with my test taking control of the warrior.”, she continued.
Logan raised an eyebrow and looked to his brother who shook his head at his brother as if knowing his question. “I had to get to cover when Toa entered the fight. And I waited for my opportunity and as he went to strike me with the spear he thought he was getting the advantage but he was actually just exposing his chest to weakness. So I threw the knife and it landed into the warrior’s chest. The warrior disappeared in the blue smoke leaving behind just a red dragon, Toa. I didn’t have a weapon left to defend myself, and honestly wasn't sure I could defend myself against a dragon especially when he was the size of dad. He went to attack me and suddenly he was gone and Nazir was there instead. He told me to come forward and that I had completed my trial. Then told me he had chosen to bond with me and assured me that Toa would be punished for interfering with the trial.”, she concluded. “What..what did it feel like when he bonded with you?”, Stephan perked up. “It was weird, extremely weird. My arm felt like it was on fire when he joined with my skin, it hurt worse than my leg did. Then when our minds had to bond was the most painful. It was worse than a psychic attack from Emma. I was suddenly hit with all his emotions and memories and he was hit with mine. I’m still kind of recovering from that. I can hear him in my head and feel his emotions.”, Rachel explained. Stephan and Jimmy blinked. “Cool…”, Jimmy said. Rachel laughed a little shaking her head. “So that’s it. that’s the story. After we bonded I opened my eyes and I was on the ledge we’d camped at the other night with dad hugging me. Because of my injures Bubbles actually flew us down from the mountain. Which that was really cool. But over all I’m just really tired.”, Rachel said looking around.
“Come on then. You need to rest.”, Landon said standing up putting the notebook on the sofa. “I think getting up those stairs is going to be a hassle.”, Rachel sighed looking to the stairs. “Who says you’re walking up them?”, Landon smirked. Rachel raised an eyebrow as did her father. Her uncle however shook his head. Landon scooped her up off the couch. “What are you…”, Rachel went to protest. John moved and Sarael put a hand up to stop her husband. “It’s fine John. He’s just taking her to her room. Not like he plans to do anything.”, Sarael said softly. Jimmy and Stephan rolled their eyes a little at the slightly romantic gesture as Landon carried Rachel upstairs. Jimmy made a slight gagging noise which Stephan laughed at. “Find that funny or just gross Jimmy?”, Logan asked his nephew. “Both Uncle James.”, Jimmy answered. “So it’s funny that Landon would be nice enough to help your injured sister upstairs so she could rest? And it’s gross because what they are dating?”, Aurelia questioned. “Um well yes Aunt Aurelia.”, Jimmy answered. Jacob sighed and reached over ruffling his cousin’s hair. “Cousin you have a lot to learn about things. I suppose you are a little young to be interested in girls yet. But generally speaking opportunity to literally sweep a girl off her feet you take it.”, Jacob explained leaning back putting an arm around Solangel. “Oh Jimmy’s old enough to like girls Uncle Jacob.”, Stephan interjected. Which got a few raised eyebrows. “Oh is that so Stephan?”, Solangel asked. Jimmy elbowed his cousin. “Shut up Stephan…”, Jimmy growled a little. Stephan moved a bit further away from his cousin. “Yeah. He’s got a crush on Lauren Kearney.”, Stephan said with a smile. “Oooo…”, was the general sound of the adults of the room all trying to not laugh at Jimmy. Jimmy just glared at his younger cousin. “When you start noticing girls, Stephan pay back will be mine.”, Jimmy declared.
Upstairs Landon had carefully gotten Rachel into her room and onto her bed and under her covers. “Get some rest beautiful.”, he said leaning over giving her a light kiss. “You look like you could use some rest too. Were you really that worried about me?”, she asked. Landon nodded. “Of course I was. I know you are a strong fighter. But training with me and your uncle or with your dad even fighting academy students like Talia is different than this. When you went to take this test I wasn’t sure what you were up against. So of course i worried, even if I knew your dad would bring you back safe.”, Landon sighed running a hand over her hair. “I should go and let you rest.”, he sighed leaning giving her another kiss. Rachel pulled him down a little wrapping her arms around his neck. “Stay.”, she said. Landon laughed. “I’m pretty sure that would get me killed.”, Landon smirked. “We are both clothed and the door is open. Just lay here with me.”, Rachel insisted. Landon sighed and looked at the open door and then at her. “You are lucky I love you enough to risk death.”, Landon said taking off his sneakers. He got onto the bed next to her, staying on top of the blankets so if anyone looked in it wasn’t improper, and wrapped his arms around her to cuddle her close. Rachel sighed a little snuggling into him being careful of her cast and smiled a little falling asleep cozy in his arms. Landon tried to stay awake and even went to creep out of the bed after she’d fallen asleep but she tightened her arms on his so he stayed and gave up falling asleep too.