Of Love and War Book 3: In The Thick of Battle

Chapter 24: Season 3 (Altar of Mortis)

Anakin gave Zelina a heart attack whenever he suddenly sat bolt upright in the cot across from her with a gasp. She'd sensed—with Mortis still heightening her Force sensitivity to him through the deep rooted bond the Father had shed light on—that Anakin had been distressed and was most likely having a nightmare. Still, the sudden movement startled her.

Anakin had laid down for a nap not too long ago and had obviously been exhausted considering how quickly he had fallen asleep; that was why Zelina hadn't said much about her dream yet. She figured it could wait until he was a little better rested.. Obi-Wan was piloting the ship, and Zelina had been reclined in the cot across from Anakin for some well-deserved rest. Ahsoka had just walked into the section of the ship that Zelina and Anakin were staying in, in fact, when Anakin had suddenly woken. Both girls turned to look at Anakin with raised eyebrows and eye tattoos.

"Were you having a nightmare?" Ahsoka asked, approaching Anakin as he swung to the side of the cot with a grunt. He was still breathing rather heavily from whatever he'd seen.

"Yes," Zelina answered for her, getting off of her own cot to approach Anakin as well. "He was."

"Something like that..." Anakin grumbled, already moving to stand up. Their conversation was cut short when there was a sudden strange grinding noise and the ship lurched, throwing them all off balance.

"If you're done napping, I could use a little help here," Obi-Wan said, his voice tense.

"I'm coming," Anakin called back tiredly as Anakin and Zelina took a step forward. A gasp behind the two of them had Anakin and Zelina whipping around the next instant, and Zelina was sure both of them felt their blood run cold at the sight that greeted them.

Ahsoka struggled in the arms of the Son, who had just appeared out of nowhere inside of their ship. The door slid shut behind them as Anakin and Zelina both turned away from the cockpit, tense and at the ready for...well...Zelina wasn't quite sure. She knew lightsabers were useless, and only Anakin stood a chance against the Son, but he wasn't doing anything at the moment.

"Leaving so soon?" the Son asked in a mockingly innocent tone. He grasped Ahsoka by the throat, swinging her around to face him while he held her like a ragdoll. "Not without this you won't."

The floor beneath them opened up with a wave of the Son's hand, and Son jumped out of the ship with Ahsoka letting loose a scream on the way down. Anakin lurched forward instinctively with his hand outstretched while Zelina grasped his other arm to keep him from jumping after them.

"Ahsoka!" he cried out, but it was too late. Son had already turned into his beast form and flown away with her. Anakin whipped back around to the door, slamming his hand down on the open button with a raging fire of determination in his eyes.

"What's going on?" Obi-Wan asked as the two of them rushed into the cockpit. Anakin immediately took the copilot seat, his hands flying to press a wide range of buttons before he even got to sit down. Zelina slipped into Ahsoka's usual spot, her hand and eyes flying over the readings.

"The Son took Ahsoka!" Anakin forced out, his hands a blur.

"What in the blazes are you talking about?" Obi-Wan asked somewhat sharply, caught off guard.

"Exactly what he just said," Zelina said, trying to keep annoyance from leaking into her tone.

"Move, let me fly!" Anakin barked, grabbing the wheel somewhat violently while Obi-Wan let go of his own so that Anakin would have complete control. It didn't take long for him to turn the ship around—in fact he did it so instantaneously that Zelina was sure they left her stomach behind in the air. Anakin angled the ship down sharply, chasing after the large, winged beast that was Son around the rock formations surrounded with mist with an ease that only Anakin could master in flying. Now that Obi-Wan could see Ahsoka dangling from Son's claws, the seriousness of the situation seemed to fall over him and he offered no protest at Anakin's reckless flying.