She Isn't a Saint -- The Mandalorian

8. The Raiders

◌ ◌ ◌

The next morning was an early one. Cara came to greet Koyi and Mando as they were finishing their own preparations. Koyi greeted the other woman with a smile as she lifted the Child from his crib. The green creature cooed at the adults in greeting. Koyi headed out the door. The plan was simple. She would drop the Child off with Omera and Winta. Cara and Mando would wait for her at the edge of the village, after they had asked a few of the farmers a bit more about their attack.

It didn't take Koyi long to find Omera. The woman was starting her day at the krill ponds, Winta sitting beside her. As the human woman worked a basket out of the pond, Koyi set down the Child. He happily ran ahead before Koyi called out. "Good morning!"

"Oh, good morning!" Omera smiled, turning away from her work. Winta was giggling as the Child hugged her leg. The little girl looked up at the hybrid.

"Can I play with him?" Winta was now standing, the Child beside her. Koyi nodded, and with that, the two ran off. Omera finished unloading her basket before sitting back on her legs.

"We're heading out," Koyi informed her. "It shouldn't take too long, keep safe." Omera nodded in response. Koyi turned away and headed towards the forest. As they had planned, Mando and Cara were waiting for her. The human woman handed her a ration bar, a quick and simple breakfast then. She was happy just to have something to eat so Koyi took it without complaints. She finished quickly, stuffing the wrappings into her holster bag.

They followed a more well-worn path for a while. The Mandalorian reached up towards the side of his helmet, walking ahead of the women. HUD. Koyi nearly scoffed when she realized that they shouldn't have been walking around blind. Of course, his visor would be suited with tracked technology, not only would it make sense for the culture but also his bounty-hunting work. "About fifteen or twenty of them came through here on foot." He pointed ahead of them. Koyi crouched down and touched her hand to the dirt. The prints were covered by churned dirt, so of course, she couldn't see it. But she felt it. Ever so deeply rooted was the presence of someone else, a large group of people who felt victorious after their raiding. She stood back up as he pointed up to the trees. "Look, the trees. Something big sheared off those branches."

The women followed behind the Mandalorian. He led them over the hidden prints before he stopped once more. Koyi stopped beside him looking down. "Oh," Koyi breathed as she rubbed her face. They crouched down one by one beside the large indent in the ground. "Fuck."

"AT-ST." Cara looked between Koyi and Mando.

"Imperial walker. What's it doing here?" The Mandalorian asked the question. No answer was needed. They didn't need to know how it got there, they just needed to know what to do now.

"I don't know." The three stood up in sync. Koyi shook her head, turning away from the machine print. She didn't have the mental energy to say anything. It was no wonder the villagers had to look outside their home for help. They should have mentioned the small walker of doom when they came for Mando.

"This is more than I signed up for," Cara muttered to no one in particular.

"Let's head back, figure out something to tell them," Mando concluded. Koyi rubbed the back of her neck. The walk was silent, they had some idea of what they were up against and well, they weren't going to fight it. Koyi had seen an AT-ST in battle before. They were notoriously difficult to destroy and full battalions couldn't take them down. She bit her lip as her eyes glazed over. She had built several before. Piloted one even. And she regretted that day greatly.

As soon as they were back the villagers gathered. Cara was not helpful as they were led to a central building to stand up higher than the others. Their faces were so hopeful. They were prepared to hear news of any kind. Koyi shut off the piece of herself that could feel all the people. Worried that she would soon become overwhelmed once Mando would start. She stood beside Mando looking over the crowded villagers, her face lacking emotion as she didn't want them to be too alarmed. Of course, that worked little when the Mandalorian decided to speak.