The Sands of Jakku

The Cave of Wonders Part 1

Rey pulled her hood up, shivering in the dark of the desert. Without the sun, it seemed like there was no warmth left in the unforgiving sand.

She found the "Cave of Wonders" easily enough, if the bright light and panther-shaped cave was any indication. She went there with a mission. Finn was by her side as always. He didn't like the idea of her going into a situation like this at all. It wasn't like her to get caught up in someone else's power struggle. But here she was, seeking out a lamp in some sort of "sacred" cave.

Finn voiced his displeasure every chance he got, despite his earlier insistence that they should go, but eventually the cave got to him and he fell silent. Around them were riches and treasure of which they had only dreamed. Gold and precious gems were scattered everywhere. Finn lost his attitude and became distracted by the treasures around them.

Rey still had a singular interest in her mission.

"Don't touch anything," she warned Finn, when she saw him staring at the treasure. He nodded halfheartedly and she rolled her eyes.

The lamp she was looking for was high up, lost in the treasure that surrounded them. She climbed over pile after pile of gold, trying her best to ignore the treasure and focus on the lamp, the only thing worth getting in this godforsaken cave. She could hear her stomach growling at the thought of finally having enough to eat. She was sure Finn felt much the same way.

The closer she got to the lamp, the farther away it seemed. She knew it was the only thing worth having in this cave, despite the appearance of the treasure all around them. This lamp, as Luke had told her, was the key to her future. The key to what lay ahead for her.

She would stop at nothing to acquire it. She didn't remember why she had been so opposed to completing this mission in the first place.

She was so close to her prize when she noticed someone else in the cave with them.

He moved like shadows, but she still saw him out of the corner of her eye. He was male, well-built, hooded, and definitely moving towards the same object she desired.

"Finn," she hissed in his direction. She turned to him over her shoulder, his head already turned in the direction of the other intruder. She should have known he would've already noticed. The two of them continued their ascent, clawing and grappling at the mountains of gold and treasure in order to reach the lamp, high above the other artifacts.

Rey was an expert at this sort of thing, climbing and scaling in order to get to an object she desired. Most of the time that object was a large machine, something she could scavenge in order to survive. She had mouths to feed, after all.

This sort of thing was right up her alley. So it was a personal affront on her character when the hooded man started gaining on her.

He had noticed them by now, the two of them heading towards the same object. His body was tense.

*

The lamp dropped and clattered to the floor. Rey screamed in frustration, letting herself fall from the heap of treasure and onto the floor.

The lamp lay on the floor between them. Rey stood on one side and the mysterious hooded man on the other.

"Who are you?" she asked, her form rigid, muscles poised to attack. Her hand reached for the staff she carried on her back.

The hooded stranger didn't answer. His face was shadowed, hands twitching at his sides as he stood opposite Rey.

"Who sent you?" she asked, pulling her staff from where it was held on her back.