Afterglow II | The Clone Wars

Healing

She found herself on her knees.

A damp, rocky surface pushed up against her from beneath. She gasped, her mind alert and aware of the fact that she was still inside of the tunnel system. One single beam of approaching light reflected on the wall next to her, and bounced around in her periphery as it grew bright. She whipped her head around.

"Dakota, are you alright?" he called out worriedly, turning the corner with his headlamp glowing.

Her face crumbled as she scrambled to her feet.

"Rex?" she called, running disorderedly and throwing herself into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying herself into the crook of his neck. He had managed to toss his helmet to the side before bringing her in as close as humanly possible.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." she whispered, her hand holding the back of his neck. "For everything. For me. For hurting you."

Rex soaked in her words, surprised by the outburst of affection that had evaded him for quite some time.

"Don't apologize for anything. You could never hurt me." he hugged her securely, rubbing her back. "I don't need an explanation, I'm just glad you're alright."

"At the end of the war, let's go somewhere, anywhere." she pulled back just enough to see him.

"Where do?" He cupped her cheek, thumb brushing beneath her eye.

"Anywhere you want."

He leaned forward as time came to a stand still. Their lips connected, a moment filled with sweetness and warmth, a silent declaration of the love that didn't know time or strings. In that fleeting moment, the world outside the tunnel faded away, leaving only the two of them.

💫

Dakota and Rex ventured deeper into the cavernous depths, the oppressive darkness baring heavier upon them with each step. The echoes of their footfalls reverberated off the walls, a haunting reminder of the isolation that encompassed them. The air grew colder, biting at their skin with icy tendrils that seemed to seep into their very bones.

Rex matched her step for step, her inhale was his exhale. He watched her back and she kept the lookout on his front. With the clone Captain by her side, the cold was unworthy adversary. Anywhere that he was, was where she wanted to be too, never mind that it was a labyrinth that could result in their souls becoming lost within the earth. Just so long as they were together.

Dakota lead the way with her lightsaber sheathed in her hand, her senses attuned to the faint whispers of the Force that oozed from the very walls. An invisible trail of footprints guided her steps, and there was no doubt in her mind that some semblance of the force lead her even then. They descended deeper into the labyrinthine caves.

Finally, after hours of searching, they came across the missing squad of clones, their shivering forms huddled together in a desperate attempt to stave off the biting cold. The flickering glow of their fading headlamps illuminated their weary frames, etched with exhaustion and despair. Some clung to each other for warmth, their trembling hands grasping onto the thin hope of survival, while others lay motionless, their bodies already succumbing to the ravages of hypothermia.

Dakota and Rex dropped down into the dreary place and rushed to their side, their eyes taking in the pitiful scene before them.