runaway || din djarin

chapter two

adeline's pov

"Are we there yet?" I grumbled, trudging slowly behind the Mandalorian and Ugnaught. We had been walking for almost two hours now and I was ready to just lay down and pass out.

The Mandalorian turns his head towards me, not uttering a word but keeping his helmet facing me. I began to grow uncomfortable under his gaze. Cowering slightly, I turn my head towards the dirt beneath my feet as I continue to walk. I keep my head down for a while until I bump into something metal and sturdy. Snapping my gaze up, I take a step back. The Mandalorian had stopped walking, causing me to bump into him. I look around to notice that we have arrived to a moisture farm. The Ugnaught hops off of the blurgg and walks into a hut with the Mandalorian and I following behind him. 

"Many have passed through. They seek the same one as you," the Ugnaught speaks up as the Mandalorian and I take a seat.

"Did you help them?" the Mandalorian replies.

"Yes. They died."

I can't stop myself from speaking up, "So you've helped others look for whatever it is Mando is looking for and they have all died? Not sure if you're the best help then..."

"I can show the two of you to the encampment," the Ugnaught replies, shifting his gaze from me back to the Mandalorian.

"What's your cut?" Mando asks. I scoff as I stand up from the ground and cross my arms. He's seriously thinking of taking this guy's help?

"Half."

I feel my eyes widen as the Mandalorian replies, "Half the bounty to guide? Seems steep."

"No. Half of the blurgg you helped capture."

"The blurgg? You can keep them both."

"No, the two of you will need one. To ride. The way is impossible to pass without a blurgg mount."

"There is no way I am riding one of those things," I interrupt, glaring at the two.

"Fine. You can stay here," Mando doesn't even look at me and continues speaking with the Ugnaught, "I don't know how to ride blurgg."

"I have spoken," the Ugnaught states matter-of-fact.

The Mandalorian sighs and stands up. He walks over to me and grabs onto my arm, dragging me out of the hut, "Can I speak with you for a second?"

I snatch my arm from him, "Doesn't seem like I really have a choice."

Once we are outside, Mando turns to face me, hands on his hips.

"You're not leaving me here. I'm coming with you," I start, crossing my arms over my chest again.

"You're the one who said they didn't want to ride a blurgg. Can you shoot a blaster?" the Mandalorian stares at me intently, awaiting my answer. I look down at my shoes, not answering. "Can you use any kind of weapon? Defend yourself somehow?"

I shake my head, "I've never had to. I've always had a team of guards to protect me."

"Obviously they weren't good at their job if you somehow ended up here with me. You're staying here, I can't risk bringing you with me."

I drop my arms and take a step closer to him, dropping the tough facade, "Please don't leave me here, Mando. What if they come for me?"

The Mandalorian stares at me for a long time before sighing deeply, "Fine."

~

The Mandalorian falls to the ground with a loud groan. For what seems to be the hundredth time, he was thrown to the ground by the blurgg.

"Perhaps if you removed your helmet," the Ugnaught suggested.

Mando looks over at the two of us, "Perhaps he remembers I tried to roast him."

"That's a female. The males are all eaten during mating," I call back to Mando. He stares at me, confused on how I know this. "What? I have a lot of time on my hands being a princess."

He shakes his head before grunting and standing up. The blurgg growls at his movements, staring intently at the man in front of her. Mando mounts the blurgg and instantly the creature lets out a roar, trying to the throw the Mandalorian off of her back. Mando holds on for dear life but his efforts are soon pushed aside as he is thrown to the ground once again. 

He is quick to get up from the ground before strutting towards the Ugnaught and I, "I don't have time for this. Do you have a Landspeeder or Speeder bike that I could hire?"

"Stop being such a drama queen," I roll my eyes at him.

He snaps his head towards me, "I won't hesitate to leave you on this planet."

"You are Mandalorian! Your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur," the Ugnaught interrupted our argument, "Surely you can ride this young foal."

The Mandalorian looks over at the blurgg. I sigh before slipping through the fencing to stand next to the Mandalorian, "Come on," I reach my hand out to him. He looks at it and when he doesn't take it, I drop it and walk towards the blurgg, Mando following closely behind me.

"What are you doing? Be careful," I hear Mando whisper behind me.

I stop a couple yards from the blurgg and turn to face the Mandalorian, "That tone you just used? Use it on her. Be gentle with her. Show her that you mean no harm. She is scared of you and you just need to show her that you can be trusted." I take his wrist in my hand and force him to hold his hand up, "Try it." 

I step behind Mando and watch as he slowly approaches the creature. Finally, he speaks up with a quiet and gentle tone, "Easy. Easy. Now, all right. Settle down." The blurgg quietly growls at Mando as he gets closer. She snaps her head up slightly, frightening the Mandalorian, "Whoa! Settle. Settle. That's good. That's good." The Mandalorian gently places his hand on the blurgg as she quietly pants. She's still nervous but she's accepting his touch, so that's one step closer.

"Alright," Mando mumbles before grunting and mounting the blurgg. This time, the creature doesn't buck him off. I stand there, staring at the sight as a small smile spreads across my lips. 

The Mandalorian rides the blurgg over to me and holds out his hand, offering to help me up, "Ready to go, Princess."

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a/n

no thoughts, just Pedro. I'm trying to write a few chapters today because next weekend I have to work on my research project proposal for my capstone. so here is a little treat while I work on the next few chapters.

mads xx