The Dark is Patient [a.s]

Old Friends Not Forgotten

  Her skin was warm and dusted with sand, heated by the suns as she walked for what felt like hours. She had nearly cried from joy when she came upon a cluster of large rocks that provided a bit of shade, giving her an opportunity to rest and she supposed she might as well set up camp.

Ahsoka didn't have much on her besides water, a few meal rations, and two wadded up blankets. She did have a metal staff on her speeder for some protection but it broke when it spun out on her earlier. She flexed her hands and sighed as she sat down, leaning against the rock and watched as the suns began to set on the planet. Watching as a pink and hazy hue dust over the sky and it truly was beautiful.

She wondered if Anakin, despite his dislike for the planet, had liked the suns setting. She wondered if despite a hellish day he found some refuge in the beautiful sky and dreamed of exploring it one day. Shaking her head, she dug out a meal ration and had an early dinner while she still had light. Not wanting to risk being seen once night fell and other beings decided to go sniffing around for a hunt.

Keeping her eyes on the horizon, Ahsoka would every so often circle the rocks as well. Feeling anxious and alert, as if she were to blink too much danger would appear in front of her. It was quiet though, which should have been comforting but with the presence of the star destroyer looming over her all it did was send her nerves into a frenzy and it slowly got darker and a chill crept into the air.

Anakin's voice kept calling out to her, mere mumbles now though he had never sounded more clear. Muttering her name over and over again, and Ahsoka curled up against herself as she sat under the rocks ledge. Resting her chin on top of her knees, she gnawed at her lip and tried to reach out to the Force again but it only felt like a whisper against her skin. As if it were scared to startle a wounded animal, yanking back when it got too close.

What would Anakin think when he found out? The thought brought on an overwhelming sense of dread at the notion of disappointing him. Would he judge her for losing her connection? Would she think she was weak? Would he not want her anymore, as a Padawan or a friend? He had never abandoned her before, so even entertaining the idea was heartbreaking. Though would she be able to blame him? She had walked away from Anakin more than once, maybe it was in his right to.

She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed them to her knees, dots appearing in her vision as her head swam. The crumpled up speeder flashing in her mind and seeing what her anger had done. She should've been frightened, power through rage is a path best not to be followed but... she hadn't been able to use the Force in months and then without a thought she had been able to do that. It was nearly intoxicating and she could imagine the disappointed look of Yoda clear as day. But she could also see the pleased expression of Anakin and that easily won her over.

Move.

Her body rolled over quickly as if someone had tied a rope around her midsection and yanked. Ahsoka looked up, stunned by the sight of a Tusken Raider pulling its Gaffi Stick out from where it was embedded in the rock. Right where her head had been.

-

  His mind raced as he sped through the desert, not being able to get the sight of the mangled speeder out of his head.

When he had seen it he came to such an abrupt stop he almost went flying forward and the handles had dug painfully into his ribs, knocking the wind out of him. He didn't care. Ignoring the pain as he jumped off his speeder and ran to the wreckage.

When he closed his eyes and rested a hand on the machine, all he could hear was Ahsoka's scream and it felt as if a beast was trying to claw its way into his chest and rip his heart right from his body. Who could've done this? It looked unnatural and not done by hand. The only solace he had was that there had been no blood or a body and he hoped Ahsoka was alright.