Chapter Text
Laval still feels how cold his bedsheet is next to him. No matter how hard, no matter much he believes. His mother is gone.
Some nights, when his father was too tuckered out from his kingly duties, his mother used to tell him stories of legendary beasts and wars. Definitely not the best stories to tell your kid, but Laval didn’t mind back then.
He would beg his mother to stay with for the coldest and loudest nights. He told himself that he was strong, and wasn’t afraid of silly things like lighting. But in the presence of his mother all of that went down hill.
He hugged her tightly, which felt like nothing to her. She would comb his head, telling him he would have a big mane when he’s older, but in order for that to happen he must sleep. His body relaxed as she continued scratching his head, humming a soft tune until the hums become gentle snores.
But that was in the past. A few weeks ago to exact, and his father acts like nothing has happened. Not to her, or his only child.
Laval never had a close relationship with his dad. He only hung out with his mother and ladies in waiting, even a few guards or maids who would entertain him. Never his father. Always too busy with his duties as king of the richest kingdom.
“Not now.”
“Too busy.”
“Maybe later?”
He’s heard it all. No matter how hard he waved his arms around he never seemed to catch his attention for long enough. He’s had an enough of this, he was going to get his father’s attention one way or another.
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Laval has never been outside the temple for long enough, but today that was going to change. He’s planned this out for weeks, remembering guard layouts, and how swiftly and silently escape.
Luckily, him being small and fast, it gave him a better advantage.
He set off. With a rope in and sandwich in hand, in case he gets hungry. The cub managed to buy past the guards, who were sound asleep from a hard day of work. This was easier than he thought! Perhaps he can do this again?
The lion cub made it to a window in one of the towers, he tied the long rope to a sturdy pillar and dropped it. He had to be quick, the guards may be there any minute now.
Carefully, he held on to the rope tightly and slid down. Despite the burning he felt in his paws he fully made it down. He looks at his paws to see a bit of scaring, it wasn’t deep he thinks it will for sure quickly heal.
He giggled, it seemed like this plan was actually going to work! He thought to himself as he ran down the stairs to the outside, taking in the view of the night sky.
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Laval is tired. His mind is telling him to keep adventuring across the lands, but his small body wants to lay down.
He finds a nearby lake, shining in the moonlight. He sits by a rock, not the most comfortable place but it will make do.
He sighs, this is boring than he thought. He thought that running away, even for a bit would be a whole lot fun then whatever this is. Maybe it’s because he’s alone, but who else does he have? He has no kids his age to even to talk, his father made sure of that.
Snap!
Laval got out of daze to turn around and see a crocodile holding a spear. Not just any crocodile though, but Cragger. He stands up, waiting for what he will do.
“Dang it…I thought you were a catch. Sorry, uhh..”
Cragger seems confused, which I guess makes sense since why would Laval be here? Although it didn’t answer why he was here though.
“Oh! It’s Laval. You’re Cragger right? I’ve seen you at some parties before!”
Laval gets right up in his space and takes his hand. Maybe they can play out here! His dad or mom never talked, or really wanted to be in the same space as the crocodiles before. He always wondered why.
“Uhh, yeah I’ve seen you too.”
He says, as Laval violently shakes his hand. Cragger quickly pulls his away.
“Hey sooo…what are you doing here late at night?” Laval asks. Cragger raises his brow.
“I should be asking YOU the same question. But if you must know, I’m here on a test!”
Lavels a little disappointed with that answer. A test? He hates tests! Also what kind of test brings you outside at night?
“Really? What for?” Laval barely got his question out before Cragger started talking again.
“My dad, you king you know. Wants me to get stronger! In order to do that I have to hunt! Then he’ll see I’m worthy for the throne!” Craggers eyes gleamed when he talked about his dad. Laval thought it was a little silly.
Then he thought about it more realized he sorta related to it. Wanting to prove himself to his dad is what he’s been wanting to do for a long time. But not anymore.
“Your turn. Why are you here?” Cragger pointed his spear to his chest.
“Oh! Uhh…” Laval hesitances to tell, but who else can he tell? Besides it’s fair to tell his potential new friend the truth as he did.
“I’m…UGH I’m here because my dad’s the worst!”
That seemed to fully grab Craggers attention. The best sit down comfortably to talk.
“He-he always ignores me! But when I do something wrong he’s always on my case! Like I’m nothing but trouble for him. It wasn’t this bad when my mom was alive! What’s the difference now! Why is he treating worse?”
Laval can feel tears forming in his eyes. He’s never voiced his thoughts like this before, maybe it’s because he never truly had someone as something of a friend, or it’s because no one asked nor listened before.
Cragger fidgets with his hands, unsure on what to do in this situation as Laval rambles on.
“Uhh, I-I get it! My sister can be so annoying too!”
Laval sniffles, wiping the tears out of his eyes and looks at directly at Cragger.
“Really?”
“Yeah! Always so demanding and trying to get me in trouble!”
Cragger face turns red. Just talking about his sister makes him angry.
“Sure, she’s my twin and all and I love her, but she can be so irritating at times!” He yells.
Laval thoughts about his dad disappear as Cragger keeps talking about his sister. At least he’s not the only one with a frustrating family member.
He smiles to himself, thinking about how his scales shine in the moonlight. Even at parties his eyes always caught on of how they look near candles.
Cragger stops rambling about his sister to actually breathe, and stands up with his spear that he hasn’t let go of this whole conversation.
“It’s getting late. I should-“
“Where are you going!” Laval quickly stands up and Cragger looks at him weird.
“Uhh, back to my test. I told you I have to pass this!”
Lavals heart jumps. He can’t lose Cragger, what if he doesn’t come back here? He doesn’t want to lose his only friend. Laval grabs onto his arm. Shocking Cragger as he’s being pulled back.
“Well that can wait right? The suns not even close to being up!” Laval yells, desperate for him to stay.
Cragger seems to take this the wrong way because he snaps his hand away from Laval and slashes his spear at him. Luckily he dodges but falls to the ground doing so. Cragger points his spear to his chest and Leval flinches away.
“You want me to stay huh? Fine, get up.”
Although, being young has its downs sides. They are tired from not getting their nights sleep. Not to mention how untrained they are. Laval mostly just dodged Craggers weapon while Craggers just kept randomly slashes and stabs. Luckily none of them are hurt but they are breathing heavy.
“How…how a-about a tie?” Cragger says heavily.
“Y-yeah.” Lavel says, basically heaving from all that dodging. Cragger seems to be way much more trained than him, in his mind Craggers the coolest kid he’s ever met.
They sit down by the lake scooping up some water for them to drink. Until Cragger spits out his water.
“I FORGOT! I still have to do my test!” He yells with worry in his voice. Without thinking Laval asks,
“I can help with your test.”
Cragger looks at him in disbelief and laughs hysterically.
“Are you kidding? My dad would never agree to that!”
“Pfft, your dad doesn’t need to know silly.”
Cragger stops laughing as he realizes. Which almost makes Laval laugh.
“I don’t think you need to prove yourself to your dad either, I saw you with that spear, amazing work!”
Laval could’ve sworn he saw Cragger blush before he turned around and crossed his arms.
“But-but my dad needs to know I can do this! Not you so…just let me do this on my own!” Laval humphs and points to the sky.
“Come on! You haven’t even found a single catch and the sun might rising soon! Wouldn’t you want to bring a catch quick to your dad?” Laval persists.
Craggers silent for a moment, thinking. Until he groans and turns around to grab Lavels hand. Laval gives himself an imaginary pat on the back.
“Fine! But don’t get in my way, don’t touch me, and most importantly don’t talk to me! I want you to just be a ghost ok!”
Laval doesn’t want to agree to the talking rule, but he wants to hang out with Cragger more so he agrees.
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They’ve been walking for what felt like hours, and they haven’t had a single catch. It’s not the fact that no prey has shown up, but a few have been spotted only to be yelled and chased at the one and only Cragger.
Laval finally figures out why he hasn’t been getting any game yet. He’s been chasing all of them away. Laval finally has enough of this and decides to speak up about it.
“Hey, how about you stop chasing every catch you meet and actually kill it huh?”
That sounded way much more angrier than he anticipated. He couldn’t help it, it’s been so long and he didn’t pack enough nor water.
“Listen l..”
Craggers words sound much sadder than it did before. His voice used to be filled anger and determination but now it’s fragile and begging to be broken out.
Cragger stops and Laval steps closer to him before a hand slashes him away.
“Back away! I don’t need your pity or…whatever!”
Lavel sees tears forming in his eyes, begging to be let out. It came out of nowhere, Craggers outburst. It seems like he’s been thinking to himself for quite awhile.
Laval wants to hug him, hugging always helped him when he cries, but he doesn’t want to disrespect Craggers rules. He wants to talk to him, but before he could do that he gets caught off by Craggers mumbles.
“I do need help…dad’s right I’m strong enough..”
He heard it loud and clear.
“Hey you are strong! Strongest kid I’ve ever met!”
Which wasn’t saying a lot, but Cragger didn’t need to know that.
Cragger turned around, wiping the tears off his face quickly before looking at him in disbelief. Laval takes a big breath before talking.
“You came out here in woods, at night, unafraid, and determined on what to do! I think that’s enough to say you’re the strongest person out there! And-and it’s ok to ask for help sometimes, it’s not like it’s going to be the end of the world!”
A little lesson his mama taught him.
Cragger looks at him for a moment, and before Lavel could get embarrassed he grabs his hand.
“Maybe you are right. Thank you.” Cragger smiles at him, enough to make Lavals heart skip faster. He doesn’t pay it any mind and he smiles back at him.
“Alright so how do we do this?” Cragger asks.
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“Alright, and could you get me a larger stick?” Laval asks. Cragger nods as he looks around.
“Seems like I’m just grabbing you stuff. When am I going to do something?” Cragger puts his hands on his hip and pouts.
“Trust me you will! Just get stick alright?” Laval reassures him. Cragger tosses him a large stick and Laval stomps on it to get it inside the ground.
“What are we making again?” Cragger asks, raising his brow.
“I told you we’re making a snare. It’s usually by a borrow but I can’t any so right here will have to do. It’s something that my mom taught me before…never mind uhh can you tie this?”
Cragger doesn’t press any further and ties the rope around the sticks. Lavals crouches down next to Cragger.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask. Have you ran away before?” He says as he ties the knot.
“Huh? Never! This is my first time.”
“And last time?”
“Hm, maybe who knows! You finished?”
They step away a good distance from the snare and get behind a nearby bush and wait quietly for an animal to show up.
“How long does this take?” Cragger sighs.
“Depends, we probably won’t wait too long trust me! There seems to be a lot of animals roaming about this night.”
“…”
“…”
“Ok so how long-“
“SHUSH”
Laval turns to him to put a claw towards his snout to shush him. Cragger shuts up, for a bit because they heard a snap coming from where the snare was. There it was, a white bunny rabbit tied around the snare. Cragger chugs its spear at it, making Laval grimace.
“You don’t need to stab it it’s basically already died sicko!”
“You’re the sicko for making this trap in the first place!”
They both laugh and walk back towards the lake with their catch. Cragger loudly sighs and lays down on the rock.
“It’s been a fun night Laval.” He relaxes his hands behind his head and closes his eyes. Laval agrees and turns to look at him.
“You know we still haven’t settled our fight.” Laval says.
“Oh yeah! Eh, let’s call it a tie how about that?”
Laval nods and brings out his claws to scratch the rock behind them.
“What are you doing?”
“Tallying our scores, one for me and one for you.”
“Sooo, are you saying that there going to be more tally’s in the future? There has to be winner you know.” Cragger asks.
“Huh, I guess so! Only if you’re up to it though.”
“I am! Besides there a lot that I need to teach you.” Cragger teases.
“Hey I’m not that bad!” Laval says playfully, shoving him gently. They both laugh before they realize the sun peaking through the sky, they need to get home.
“I need to get going. How about I see you tomorrow same time?” Cragger stands up and grabs his spear with the rabbit still attached to it and looks back for an answer.
“Oh-uh, yeah! Tomorrow same time!” Laval quickly says before Cragger disappears.
Laval can’t stop smiling. He made his first ever friend! The happiness is short lived though, he heard yelling in the distance. There were people calling his name. He supposes it’s time to go back home now, it’s been a long night.
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Despite the earful he got from his dad, he couldn’t help but still feel happy. He barely payed attention to it other than the fact they found out that he ran away because of the rope he left tied to the pillar. He’ll just be smarter next time. His first friend, he couldn’t stop thinking about him!
He doesn’t know why his dad dislikes the crocodiles so much. It’s probably a dumb reason anyway. Craggers so cool and fun! Maybe someday introduce him Cragger, but not any time soon.
He was told to head back to his room to get some sleep, and that he’s grounded blah, blah, blah, the windows are gonna be closed, blah, blah.
He’ll always figure out a new way to get back to his friend. Always.