A Star Among Planets (Star Wars Rebels Fanfiction)

Chapter 19: Terrible Things

    "Can you show me some more street moves," begged Swifttail as he waltzed around Adler, blinking his eyes.

    Adler rolled her eyes, knowing that Swifttail could be quite a flirt when he wanted to be. Even though he was now training under Birch, he was still interesting in fighting and hunting.

    Adler shook her head. "Sorry, I'm helping Sabine and Sorrel move some supplies," she meowed as she touched her nose to Swifttail's ear. "See you later!"

    She surged forward and he sighed as he watched her leave. Birch came up and looked at Swifttail. "Do you want to do something with me? We could play a game."

    Swifttail shook his head. "No thanks. I really wanted to do something with Adler."

Halftail was sitting a few paces away from his son, speaking to Kanan. Once he heard his son say this, flashbacks surged through Halftail's mind as he thought about him and Bine.

He rose to his paws and strode toward his son. "Swifttail, may I speak with you?"

Swifttail tilted his head. "Sure, what about? Do we need to go somewhere private," he wondered as he looked around.

Halftail did the same thing, but he shook his head. "Kanan is the only one here. I don't think that he's going to say anything to anyone else."

"What do you want to tell me," asked Swifttail with his usual bright and energetic eyes.

Halftail bit his lip. "A terrible thing."

By the time I was your age, I'd give anything
To fall in love truly, was all I could think
That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams
The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen

She said, "Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I can't help but notice, you're staring at me.
I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe,
I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me."

Now, son, I'm only telling you this
Because life can do terrible things.

Now, most of the time we'd have too much to drink
And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything
Too young to notice, and too dumb to care
Love was a story that couldn't compare.

I said, "Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I made you a present with paper and string.
Open with care now, I'm asking you, please.
You know that I love you, will you marry me?"

Now, son, I'm only telling you this
Because life can do terrible things
You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray,
That God shows you differently.

She said, "Boy can I tell you a terrible thing?
It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks.
Please, don't be sad now, I really believe,
You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

Slow, so slow I fell to the ground on my knees.

So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose
If you're given the choice, then I beg you to choose
To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you.
I can't bear to see the same happen to you.

Now, son, I'm only telling you this
Because life can do terrible things

Swifttail looked up to his father in surprise with now round eyes. He had heard next to nothing about his mother and how she died. Halftail had never wanted to talk about it so Swifttail didn't press. Now, though, everything was in the open.

"I don't understand," whimpered Swifttail as he struggled to speak. "How come mother only had weeks? What was wrong with her? When did she die?"

Halftail didn't want to speak, but there was enough unspoken things between him and Swifttail. He had to know.

"She died after she gave birth," Halftail answered as he looked back to Kanan, wishing to back him up.

"It was my fault," breathed Swifttail in shock as he looked up at to his father as he took a step back, his head shaking as grief wafted through him.

Halftail drew back in shock. "No! It was not your fault. Don't think that for a minute," he scolded as his head shaking. "It was not your fault!"

"Then who's fault was it," pressed Swifttail as a tear fell down his face.

Halftail struggled to answer, but he looked back to look at Kanan and he nodded. He gulped and struggled not to vomit. "I-It was my fault," he answered painfully.

"You killed mother," cried Swifttail so that the whole ship could hear.

"It wasn't like that," argued Kanan as he stepped forward, but Swifttail wasn't listening anymore.

He turned his head madly and he saw that the Ghost's hanger door was open. Before Halftail could say anything Swifttail darted from the ship and toward the snowy terrain of Hoth.

Halftail darted forward and watched his son romp through the snow. Since he was a snow leopard, not only did he blend in, but he was able to leap and charge through the snow much better than anyone else. It wasn't long before Halftail couldn't see the bob of his son's head or the flashes of black from the splotches on Swifttail's fur.

He readied himself to follow, but Kanan stopped him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going after him," answered Halftail as he puffed out his fur against the harsh wind that blew toward him. "I can't just let him freeze to death out there. Besides, it's my fault."

"Hey," Kanan snapped as he kneeled down, his eyes narrowed. "It is not your fault. He took what you said too far and you know it. Don't blame yourself."

Halftail bit his tongue. "I can't leave him out there, Kanan," he argued as he pushed out his muzzle and fierce wind blew against his pelt.

Kanan sighed before he looked around. "Okay. Go, but be quick! I hear that a storm is coming and we don't want to be caught in this. However, Hoth is the only place for-"

"I know," muttered Halftail as he looked around. "I'll be quick, I promise." He looked at his paws and a thought rang in his ears. I have to be!