A Star Among Planets (Star Wars Rebels Fanfiction)

Chapter 11: It Can't Be

    Bine strode from a small building on Naboo, her head bowed in defeat. Halftail darted over to her with bright eyes wide in concern. "What are you doing in there? Kanan said he saw you leave, but he wasn't sure why."

    "Come with me," meowed Bine as she whisked her tail under his jaw. Halftail bounded forward and brushed against Bine's flank. Bine wanted to push him away, but she couldn't bring herself to try.

    They walked all the way to a beach as the sun scorched the sand and warmed Bine's pelt. They strode to the water's edge where Bine laid down as exhaustion pulsed through her.

    "Are you okay," inquired Halftail as he eyed Bine's swollen underbelly. He saw her face fall and worry clawed at his underbelly. "What's wrong?"

    Bine bit her tongue as she lifted her gaze to meet Halftail's. Her eyes were bright in grief as she tried to speak. "I'm sick, Halftail. There's something wrong with my blood and they're not quite sure what. All they know is that I don't have long, maybe a few weeks."

    Tears began to well in Halftail's eyes. His throat felt suddenly dry and he couldn't speak.

    Slowly, Halftail collapsed. He fell into the water, the tide lapping at his fur and clogging it with sand. The cold sliced into his skin and Halftail couldn't stand the feel of water. However, he was too numb to feel it.

    He looked away from Bine so that she couldn't see the grief that was now consuming him. Once he could finally speak, he turned back to Bine and saw that she was rather calm. She wanted him not to be sad and grieve, but that wasn't going to happen.

    "Was that what you were doing in there? Did you seek medication attention," inquired Halftail as he struggled to keep his composure as he spoke.

    Bine nodded slowly. "Yes. I thought that I'd have him check out the kits, but he ran a check on me too. I'm so sorry, Halftail," she apologized.

    Halftail shook his head madly. "I should be apologizing to you! I'm not going to lose you," he rasped as more tears showed in the corners of his eyes.

    Bine hung her head a bit before she grasped Halftail's paw with her own and pressed it against her stomach. "You may lose me, but you'll have them."

    Halftail would rather have Bine than the kits! "Did they say why this happened," he pressed. "What's wrong with your blood?

    Bine looked away, not wanting to speak about this anymore. "N-Nothing," she stammered into her thick chest fur, hoping that Halftail would let it go yet knowing that he wouldn't.

    Halftail's heart skipped a beat as he realized why she wouldn't tell him. "It's about me, isn't he?" He leaned forward and he looked into her eyes. He gasped as he leaped back. "You have what I have. I gave it to you!"

    Bine sook her head madly. "It's not your fault," she argued. "We should have known."

    "This is all my fault," cried out Halftail as he went cold. "Can you just take what I do?"

    Bine shook her head again. "I asked that. Once it's passed on, it's a death sentence. It's okay, Halftail. I'm okay with it," she assured with tears shinning in her eyes.

    Halftail couldn't believe this. He took a step forward and he pressed his nose against her shoulder, allowing his tears to wet Bine's shoulder. Bine cried as well and they stood there for a while, lost in each other's presence.

    Once they were finished, Halftail intertwined his tail with hers. They walked away from the beach in complete silence. Halftail knew that he didn't have long with her, but he was going to make the most the time that he had left.