Family and Flame [The Mandalorian]

The Foundlings: Pt 2

Eventually the creature slowed, a giant nest came into view. It layed on a pillar of rock.

Suddenly world spins around, as the creature drops us, and we plummet through the air. The wind whips past, drowning out the boy's panicked cries. In that split second before impact, I reach out to grab him tightly, bracing for the fall.

With a bone-jarring thud, we crash onto the surface of the nest. Pain shoots through my body, but there's no time to dwell on it. I scramble to my feet, my eyes scanning our surroundings.

As the creature's jaws snapped dangerously close, instinct take over. Without hesitation, I grab the young boy and dive into the small opening in the nest's wall, just narrowly evading the creature's grasp.

Inside the cramped space, darkness surrounded us, and the echoes of the creature's frustrated cries filled the air. The boy trembled in my arms, his fear palpable.

"We're safe for now." I assured him, trying to keep voice steady despite the adrenaline and fear coursing through my veins.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the nest, a sense of unease settled over us.With each passing moment, the darkness seemed to deepen, and our hope flickered like a dying flame.

The boy clung to me, his grip tightening with each distant roar of the creature outside. He reminded me so much of Grogu when I first met him.

We huddled together in the confined space, our only solace the warmth of each other's presence. As the hours dragged on, exhaustion weighed heavily upon us, and the waiting became agonizing.

I decided to try and calm the boy. Getting his mind of the danger that lurked just outside.

"So what's your name anyway?"

"Ragnar." His voice was quiet.

"It's nice to meet you Rangnar, my name is Mara." I kept my voice soft.

"C-can I ask a question?" He asked.

"Sure."

"Why don't you and your brother look alike?"

"Oh!" I chuckled. "He's not my biological brother, more like adopted."

He seemed to brighten slightly."So like Jay and me?"

"Jay? Who's Jay?"

"My brother, he's the one with the red armor, Father took him in when he found him alone on Navarro."

"Oh. Well then I guess yeah. Like him."

~🌒~

As we sat in the quiet of the nest. Morning light filtered through. But then suddenly someone started shouting.

"Ragnar! Ragnar! Ragnar!"

Then screeches.

I peeked out to see Mandalorians standing in front of three baby creatures.

"They came!" Ragnar bolted out.

"Ragnar, wait!" I chased after the boy.

"Father!" He yelled but just then the mother creature came back.

She reached out her claw to grab him. I picked up my pace and shoved the boy out of the way and she grabbed me instead.

I screamed as the creature took off flying again, me in her claw.

"Mara!" I heard Mando call out as he and the other Mandalorians chased after.

"Take my hand!" I looked up to see Bo-Katan holding out her hand for me.

I reached out my hand but it did no good. "I can't reach!" I yelled back.

The creature slapped Bo away with its wing. The other Mandalorians flew around the creature, trying to distract it. Shooting out wires and nets.

Mando surged forward and stabbed the creature in the claw that held me. It let go causing me to drop. Mando tried to grab me but missed.

"Dad!" I screamed as I plummeted, wind whipping around me.

Suddenly I was caught by a blur of Rusty-red armor. I clung to him like a life line. My eyes closed as I tucked my head under his chin.

We landed on a cliff just as his jet pack gave out. Mando landed next to us.

"Are you okay?" Mando pulled me into his arms.

"I'm okay." I nodded, hiding my face into his chest.

~🌕~

The ride back to the covert was quiet. Ragnar sat with his dad and brother. Mando was up in the cockpit with Bo-Katan. The baby creatures screeched from the hull.

I sighed and looked at my lap, fidgeting with my necklace. I looked up when someone sat next to me.

It was Rusty-red.

"You keep my brother safe." He spoke. "Thank you."

"Yeah, no problem." I said awkwardly.

Then there was silence again.

He cleared his throat. "Mara, right?"

"Yea, Ragnar said your name was Jay?"

"Well technically it's Jaibuck." He chuckled slightly. "But I prefer people just call me Jay."

"Well, Jay, it's nice to meet you." I smiled and held out my hand.

His helmet gaze stared at me a moment before he shook my hand. "You too, Mara."

"Oh by the way." He grabbed something from his belt. "I think this is yours."

I looked down at his gloved hand. Sitting there was the hilt of my saber.

"You dropped it on the beach after the creature took you and Ragnar."

I grabbed the saber from him and hooked it back onto my belt. "Thank you."

"What is it anyway?" He tilted his helmet.

"Oh uhm, just a....sword?"

"Never seen a sword like that before. You'll have to show me how it works sometime."

"Yeah." I nodded. "Sure."

Then silence returned to the ship but I didn't feel as uncomfortable anymore.

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AN: So I'm nice. I hope you enjoyed it! Because I won't be from here on out. Hehehe
Wc: 893
Thank you for reading!
K out!