#the legionnaire cub has two parts but part 2 won't come out until late

[illustrator-dani]

The Legionnaires Cub

On ao3 soon!!! But on tumblr now :)

"Is Elliot feeling alright, Primus Runaan? Callum and I have noticed that he hasn't been reporting to training lessons this week." Legionnaire Rayla Stormpaw said after saluting her uncle and former primus, Runaan Moonshadow. Her mate and fellow member of the Storm Warband, Callum Stormclaw salutes as well beside her. "He hasn't even responded to our letters we've sent him in weeks either."

Runaan nods in understanding. He bows his head after he takes a long sigh. That only worried the two parents more. "Elliot has been vanishing to the fields north of here. Close to the midnight desert. We have sent a scout to observe but they haven't returned yet. Elliot has been growing distant from his warband and to me, his primus, as well."

Rayla looks over at Callum and the two nod in unison. Whatever happened to their cub, rather for the good or the bad, they need to find out what.

For Callum, he knew checking in with Runaan was the best call and would do anything for his mate.

But for Rayla, this was a punch to the gut. If she hadn't left Elliot as an infant for Runaan to take care of- if she hadn't gone on that mission that took her away from the life she made. This would've been avoided or at least prevented from getting out of claw like this.

"We'll find him and the scout, Primus. We'll leave as soon as we can." Rayla salutes her uncle and goes to leave but a claw on her shoulder stops her.

"Just be careful, Rayla. There are dangers rising every day around the midnight desert. Dangers that you and Callum won't be able to face alone." warns her uncle as he steps away from them and heads up towards his office.

Callum doesn't speak about the warning until after they are safely back in the barracks and packing up for their adventure.

"Are we bringing the rest of the warband with us? You heard what Runaan said about the dangers-" he shuts his mouth abruptly when his mate turns to glare at him.

"I know about the dangers. We faced them head on before, just the two of us, and we never failed our mission. But this mission, Callum, is personal. It involves our cub." she says, sighing as she sits on his bed and rubbing her eyes with her paws. "It also involves a scout. I can see why you mentioned the warband, but it's still personal."

Callum goes to sit next to her and puts an arm around her while giving her a little smile. "I understand, love. Claudia, Soren, and Nyx have seen you with Elliot before. They're worried about him too and they're worried for you as well. Hell, I am more worried for the two of you than anyone else combined." He says, putting his head on top of hers while listening to her hum in agreement. He continues softly, gently, "I know you don't like mixing our warband into our personal lives, but they're our family too. They will understand and Soren will keep his mouth shut. Otherwise, I'll grant Nyx and Claudia permission to beat him up if he hits a nerve."

That made Rayla snort and she squeezes his paw that rests on her shoulder. The guardian had a way with words. She wouldn't lie but she found him using his charm on her super attractive. She knows that she's being stubborn. This mission is personal but she knows her bandmates won't object to rescue a cub they all helped raise.

Storm Warband is and forever will be a family.

Even the future generations will be storm warband bound.

Forever.

Rayla tilts her head up towards Callum's and he rests his head against hers. They haven't had time to just be with each other. Alone. Intimate. The only other time was… when they had Eliot. That was years ago. It felt like forever since they were allowed to be in the same barracks. Sometimes in the same bed when the other had nightmares or couldn't sleep.

I really need to ask for time off so Callum and I can visit Ezran in Katolis. Maybe visit my parents stationed at the Storm Spire. Thought Rayla as she pulls away from a flustered Callum who wasn't expecting a kiss at all. They haven't kissed in a while or even hugged. It was almost like the world was keeping them separated until now.

"What are you thinking?" He asks, looking at her with those emeralds that trapped her even as a cub. He still feels warm when she puts her paws on his cheek which he leans into subconsciously. As if his body missed her more than he did.

"About how we're going to explain to the others that we're horrible parents? C'mon, soldier, let's go reunite with the Storm Warband." she says, leaving him on the bed and packing the rest of their supplies in her bag. She stops when she feels a pair of paws wrap around her waist.

"We're not horrible parents, love. Our cub just has a mind of his own right now. He's a teenager. It's what they do."

"Yeah, I know. I just miss the little cub he used to be."

"We all do. Let's go make sure we find our cub and make amends with him then." Callum says kissing his mate's ear and letting her go to get into his armor as well. Once he was in full armor, the staff he held was brighter and had made Rayla's fur glow like a halo. He finds himself slowly falling in love with her once again.

"Why are you giving me that look?" Ever the observant one in the warband and the guardian shrugs. "Let's move out."

"Yes, sir." Callum follows the thief out of their barracks and couldn't help but smirk at the back of her head. He sees the blush on her ears. He gets her every time.

And it never gets old.