A Star Among Planets (Star Wars Rebels Fanfiction)

Chapter 12: Dreams Instead Of Nightmares

    Halftail sat on the edge of his and Kanan's bed, his paw hanging over. He imagined that he was over a stream and there were fish swimming under him. He had gone fishing with his Master numerous times. It had been his favorite recreational activity. He had said that it taught him speed, agility, strategy, and patience all in one. Halftail had never been a great fisher, but whatever he caught he got to eat and most of the time it was the only thing that he was allowed to eat. If he didn't catch anything, he didn't eat.

    "Hey, you okay?"

    Halftail lifted his head as he saw Kanan walking in hesitantly.

    Halftail curled his lip as his claws jutted out of his paw. "What do you think," he reported.

    Kanan lifted his hands in a surrendering motion and strode over to him before he sat down on the floor, his back to the bed.. "No, I think that you're grieving her before she's even gone."

    Halftail bit his tongue at the mention of Bine. He looked away so that he wouldn't cry. He had cried too many times and he wasn't about to let Kanan think that he was soft. "She's dying, Kanan, and it's all my fault," he managed to croak out. When he spoke it felt like needles stabbing him in the throat and another sob seemed to rise in him, but he had to suppress it.

    Kanan sighed heavily. "Your grief is making you think this, but it's not all your fault. You and Bine should have made sure having kits was alright."

    Halftail lashed his tail and snarled. "I don't need you to tell me what I should have done! It's in the past and I can't change it," he roared as his haunches lifted.

    Kanan was a bit surprised to see this rage out of Halftaill. "I know you can't change it, but you can make the most of it now."

    Halftail lifted his head, knowing that Kanan could see the pain in his eyes. "I can't be a father, Kanan. Not without Bine," he confessed.

    Kanan smiled timidly. "I know that you're going to be a great father. Besides, you have all of us to help. You won't be alone," assured Kanan as he tried to look into Halftail's eyes. Once he did, he shook his head. "But you can't give up on yourself. That's all I'm going to say."

Halftail leaped from his bed and turned to look over his shoulder at a dusty bag. He allowed a growl to roll in his throat before he strode toward the bag. He opened the bag and grasped a pill bottle with his paw before he twisted the cap and opened it. He took out two small pills and popped them into his mouth, struggling to swallow them dry.

Once he swallowed, he turned and stomped toward the door. He looked over his shoulder once more and saw Kanan smiling at him. He rolled his eyes before he started forward and strode into the hallway. He bounded toward Hera's room and opened the room quietly.

He spied Bine laying curled on the floor with her tail tucked over her nose. "Bine. Pst, Bine!"

Bine lifted her head and her eyes hazed over a bit. "Halftail? What are you doing here," she whispered as she rose to her paws and tilted her head.

Halftail looked at his paws sheepishly. "Come out here. I'll talk to you out here where there's not a possibility of us waking up Hera," he hissed.

Bine nodded and padded forward, her ears plastered against her sides. She came outside and when the door closed she looked over to Halftail. "What are you doing here at this time of night? Chopper's flying the ship."

Halftail shuffled his paws. "I know. I just wanted to see you."

Bine seemed a bit surprised. "Me? Well, why me," she wondered in a soft and light tone that just made Halftail want to purr as loud as he could.