xii. too far for nothing

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chapter twelve - act two
TOO FAR FOR NOTHING

chapter twelve - act twoTOO FAR FOR NOTHING

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They'd come to far for nothing.

Those few words played like a broken record within Eden's mind, their chants echoing as some disoriented symphony as she and Din had willingly stepped forth into the lion's den; lured knowingly by the enemy into the vast nothingness of the sea. They'd breached the threshold of no return, all for a meagre chance of finding another of Din's kind. However, it had been their only choice.

The hairs upon Eden's nape stand at high alert, the unwelcome gazes of the strangers swarmed around them searing her flesh. Shoulder-to-shoulder, she and Din linger at the boat's side, with the child laid leisurely in its pod beside them; blissful to the imminent danger lurking in the shadows. A silence hangs upon them as they gaze absentmindedly upon the seemingly endless waters surrounding them, yet their focus remains set upon anything but what may otherwise be a peaceful view.

The unsubdued echo of approaching footfall catches within Eden's ears. Swiftly pivoting on her heel, she turns her gaze upon the Quarren now standing before them, carefully observing their every movement. "You ever see a Mamacore eat? Quite a sight. Child might take an interest." The Quarran begins, mirroring the same cautiousness radiating from the hunter's before him. His attention momentarily shifting upon the child, the Quarren gestures to the grinning creature, continuing, "You should take a look. Come on over here. Get a good view. Let the kid see."

Her weight shifting absentmindedly from one foot to the other, Eden's eyes fleetingly glance toward the large, metal rod clasped tightly within the Quarren's hand; an item that, no doubt, could be utilised as a weapon against them. Subduing her suspicion from flashing across her features, Eden shares a side-glance of consideration with the Mandalorian, before curtly nodding in response.

A hesitance within Eden's step, she follows the Quarren as he guides them across the boat, Din and the child only a few steps behind her. He leads them to the boat's middle, where a pit of water lies, covered by a gate conjured by thick metal bars. As they approach the pit, the child peeks from the safety of his pod and upon another Quarren, his eyes wide with curiosity and hunger as they connect a bucket of fish to a rope, preparing to lower it into the water. Eagerly, his pod attempts to float closer to the pit's edge, but his journey is quickly halted as Din holds out an arm in front of the pod. "All right, close enough."

An unpleasant grinding noise rippling through the air, the gates covering the pit slide ungracefully open. While one of the many Quarren grunts as he struggles with the rope, another tugs down upon a lever, causing the bucket of fish to split in twine; the fish quickly spilling into the watery pit below. An unsettling twinge of anticipation haunting the air, all act as bystanders as the water grows disturbed; bubbles emerging from its depths.

ÂME MORTELLE, din djarin Where stories live. Discover now