A Star Among Planets (Star Wars Rebels Fanfiction)

Chapter 58: Lightsabers

    Swifttail stalked forward through the tunnel that he'd chosen. He couldn't see, smell, or scent anything. "How am I supposed to relax when I can't control anything," he muttered darkly.

    "Don't worry, Swifttail," meowed a voice at the end of the tunnel.

    Swifttail stood rigid, puffing out his fur in alarm. "Who's there," he snarled as he tried to make himself seem larger and stronger than he was. However, inside he was quaking in fear.

    There was a soft purr at the side of the tunnel as well. It was a lot softer than the first voice. "It's okay, Swifttail. Just come to the other side of the tunnel and all will be clear."

    Swifttail reluctantly stalked forward with his head lowered into his shoulders. He suddenly emerged into another tunnel as sun shone on his fur. His eyes managed to focus in front of him on a she-cat and a tom. The she-cat was beautifully white with black splotches while the tom was brown almost like Halftail.

    "W-Who are you," stammered Swifttail as fear glowed in his eyes.

    The she-cat tilted her head. "You don't remember us, Swifttail?"

    Swifttail shook his head madly. "No! Should I? Also how do you two know my name," he inquired as he extended his claws to curl them in front of him.

    The brown tom lifted his tail and narrowed his eyes. "You should know us very well. I'm Wildspirit and this is Sweetsong," he meowed.

    Swifttail's eyes widened in surprise. "My littermates," he exclaimed as he darted forward and touched his nose to Wildspirit's and Sweetsong's nose in turn. "It's been so long! Why are you here?"

    "We're here to show you something," answered Sweetsong as she pressed against Swifttail and pushed her head against his chest. "It's been a long time since I've been able to see you."

    Swifttail purred as he felt his sister and brother beside him. He hadn't had a chance to grow up with them and that had always made him pray that when he had kits they would have littermates to grow up with them. "I know it's been forever! But what do you mean that you have something to show me?"

    Wildspirit kinked his tail over his back. "You'll see. Now drink from this pool and all will be clear, or at least mostly clear," he meowed as he lowered down and pointed his muzzle to a glittering and sparkling pool in the middle of a large cave.

    Swifttail surged forward and stopped at the edge. He lowered down and lapped at the surface of the water. It tasted cool and refreshing, not like the water that he had been forced to drink on the Ghost. No, this was actually good. "This is delicious," he purred as he looked up to his brother and sister. "Don't you want some?"

    Sweetsong and Wildspirit exchanged a glance. "We have our own water supply in Starbound," answered Wildspirit respectfully. "But you go ahead."

    Swifttail shrugged as he began to lap some more, some water even falling from his tongue in the process. He then sat upright as some water dripped down his chin and onto his chest. His head began to feel like it had been stuffed with leaves. He shook his head to clear it before he turned his attention back to Sweetsong and Wildspirit.

    "Look over there," ordered Sweetsong as she pointed her claw over to a shaded place at the back of the cave.

    Swifttail turned to look at the shaded place. He then saw a beautiful Snow Leopard standing next to his father. She pressed her head against his chest and tears showed in Halftail's eyes. "Oh my love, I'm sorry that I have to leave you. I know that you're going to be an amazing father."

    Swifttail gasped as he stumbled into the water, throwing his head sideways. Once he did he saw Halftail leap in front of vicious cats with Bine standing wide eyed behind him. Once he was finished he nudged a wing of some sort of prey toward her. "Here, you deserve this more than they do," he breathed.