Revenge Leads to Pain

Frozen Hearts

Kanan leaned against the bars of the cage he was in. Cages lined the floor of the shuttle. Ezra was in another cage nearby, eyes closed and breathing rapidly. He hadn't done well since they had been captured.

The Trandoshans had swiftly escorted the rebels on board their shuttles. Sabine, Zeb, and Hera were all taken somewhere else, leaving Ezra and Kanan in their current situation. The Trandoshans had taken their lightsabers and other weapons before locking them in the cages for easy transportation.

"It's going to be ok, Ezra," Kanan said. Ezra couldn't reply. Kanan wondered briefly if he was hyperventilating. He could tell that Ezra was muttering under his breath.

"The island. They're taking me back to the island. I'm going to die," Ezra was saying quietly. It broke Kanan's heart to see his padawan like this.

"Hey, snap out of it," Kanan called loudly, hitting the bars with his palm. Ezra's eyes snapped open and he glanced up.

"If they take us to and island, we'll be fine," Kanan said. "You won't be alone this time. And we can both use the force. Besides, you've been there before. You know some tricks to surviving."

"Kanan, I'm scared," Ezra admitted.

"I know," Kanan replied. "But you have to keep your head."

"You should be scared," a Trandoshan said, walking towards the cages. "Gekrish has plans for you. A special hunt has been prepared. He's promised honors and money to whoever can capture you."

"I would have figured he'd want us dead," Kanan said dryly.

"Oh, he does. But he wants to capture you first. Then he will torture you, and then you will die," the Trandoshan said. He walked away, laughing to himself. Kanan glanced back at Ezra. He had his eyes closed and was whispering to himself again.

"The force will guide us," Kanan told himself.

Some time later, Kanan felt the ship shudder beneath him. He opened his eyes. He had been meditating. Ezra had long since fallen asleep, curled up on the floor of his cage, but now he woke up with a start.

"I believe we're here," Kanan said. Ezra sat up and inched towards the back of the cage.

"The floor will fall out from beneath us," Ezra recalled. "We'll land on a beach next to a forest. We'll have to run or else they'll shoot us."

"Be ready to run then," Kanan said. Ezra nodded and knelt on the hard metal. Kanan crouched. The cage was too small for him to be able to stand fully.

The ship shuddered a second time, and Kanan felt a surge of fear. Something wasn't right.

"Ezra-" Kanan began. The bottom of the cages fell away, and Ezra and Kanan both fell out into freezing open air. A short distance below them was a blanket of dull gray and white. Kanan landed lightly, using the force to slow his fall at the last moment. Cold wetness bit into his hands and knees. The ice below him cracked, but didn't shatter.

Ezra wasn't so lucky. He wasn't as experienced with the force. He hit the ice hard, shattering it and sending up a spray of freezing water. He vanished below the surface.

"Enjoy your stay, because we'll be back," called a laughing Trandoshan from the ship. It turned and flew away into the cloudy grayness of the sky.

Kanan inched forward on his belly until he reached the hole Ezra had vanished in. Moments later Ezra's head reappeared above the surface. He thrashed desperately, struggling to pull himself out of the freezing water.

"I can't swim!" Ezra chocked out, vanishing beneath the surface again. Kanan reached into the water and felt his hand close on Ezra's jacket. He pulled upwards, bringing Ezra's head above the surface once again. Ezra gasped and chocked, grabbing Kanan's arms. Kanan leaned forward and pulled him completely out of the water. Padawan and master lay together, gasping on the frozen surface of the lake. Kanan took the chance to glance around.

They had been dropped onto a frozen lake. A thin forest surrounded the lake, covered with a thick layer of snow. Fog prevented him from seeing anything farther.

Ezra had started shivering violently. Kanan stood up and pulled Ezra to his feet as well.

"We need to get moving and find some shelter," Kanan said. "Step only where I step."

Testing the ice before putting his full weight on it, Kanan led the way towards the shore. As they traveled, his mind raced. Without fire or some other form of warmth, both he and Ezra would freeze to death. And what would happen to the rest of the crew of Kanan couldn't rescue them?

Ezra was still in shock from the freezing water and being captured. He wouldn't be able to help much in their quest for survival. That meant it was up to Kanan to keep them alive.