𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖔𝖓𝖊, 𝔡𝔦𝔫 𝔡𝔧𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔫

𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

THE CART ROLLED over the uneven terrain of the forest floor, bouncing them up and down with each cycle of the wheel. Squinting through the shadows, Sevara scanned the dark horizon before her; tall trees that stretched to the stars, jade leaves that drifted down soundlessly, and the deep ebony of twilight that left only a small lantern and the twin moons of Sorgan to illuminate their closest surroundings. Cara, who Mando had recruited to help them ward off the Raiders, tilted her head at Sevara, quipping, "I don't think there's anything out there."

"I. . . I know," she replied, shifting her focus back to former Rebel, whose tattoo was visible beneath the warm glow of the lantern that swung back and forth on it's post, adding, "I just haven't been in a forest like this for a long time."

Cara hummed, nodding as she looked to Mando and asked, "So, we're basically running of a band of Raiders for lunch money?"

"They're quartering us in the middle of nowhere," he said. "Last I checked, that's a pretty square deal for somebody in your position. Worst case scenario, you tune up your blaster. Best case, we're a deterrent." Mando glanced to Sevara, then back to Cara as he said, "I can't imagine anything living in these trees that an ex-shock trooper couldn't handle."

Cara raised her brows, but remained silent. Beside Sevara, Mando leant back against the edge of the cart, stretching out his arms behind them both. A faint flush coated her cheeks as she became intently aware of their close proximity, with Mando's forearm softly brushing against her shoulders. Sevara looked to him, saying, "Thank you for helping these people, it seems they really need someone like you."

He gazed back at her, gently squeezing her shoulder as he brought her closer to his side, saying, "It's alright. Besides, it'll be good for the kid to get away from everything and just. . ."

As Mando's voice trailed off, Sevara looked to the child who lay nestled between the two of them, offering, "Be a kid?"

"Yeah," he muttered softly.

Leaning her head against his shoulder plate, the beskar cool against her temple, Sevara's eyelids began to grow heavy as she gazed at the star-speckled sky above. Within the next half-hour, the steady rhythm of the cart lulled her sleep, pulling her into a dream of a time far from where they were. Of rolling fields embellished with a technicolour of flora, paired with a quaint, cosy home atop a shallow hill and the sweet sounds of joyful laughter as a trio of figures basked in the warm glow of the afternoon.

In the intimacy of the night, with the three of them adorned by the silver moonlight, it was a time that Sevara quietly hoped she would be able to see. . . one day.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

HER EYES FLUTTERED open as the bright light of morning cast a harsh glow across her vision. She rose from where she had been resting against Mando, a faint pink glazing her cheeks as Sevara pushed the reverie from her mind, instead shifting her gaze towards the wave of children approaching their cart with quick strides. The jubilant chatter that emanated from them as they lay their eyes upon the child, who appeared to be just as intrigued as he leant over the edge with wide eyes, brought a soft smile to Sevara's face.

"Well," said Mando, "looks like they're happy to see us."

Cara turned to him, nodding, "Looks like."

With the assistance of the villagers, they began to unload their belongings from the cart. Mando jumped down from the vehicle, offering Sevara a hand of assistance as she made the small leap, with the fabric of his glove rough against her palm. Her heart hammered as she glanced down at their joint hands, biting back a smile as she took a half-step back from Mando, pulling her touch from his. Looking to him briefly, she teased, "I'm not helping you bring down that crate from last night, you know? My arms still ache from it."

He huffed a laugh, replying, "Alright, I see how it is."

Moving to the cart, Mando hauled out the yellow crate with ease, beckoning for Sevara and the child to follow suit as they were directed to their place of lodging. Taking a brief pause, Sevara gazed around the village, marvelling at the sight. Small, wooden huts were scattered about the green land, with tall grass surrounding the perimeter of the lakes that were distributed around the huts. Golden rays from the sun streamed down across the village, radiating a soft beauty that Sevara could only be in awe of, as her gaze travelled across the land.

Soon, they arrived before one of the huts, this one slightly smaller than the rest, but Sevara didn't mind, for she was grateful to have someplace that would provide them refuge for a little while. Stepping inside, her gaze fell upon a woman donning a deep blue gown and a patchwork apron, with long dark hair that fell soft waves down her back. She glanced back as the three of them entered, pausing in pulling open the shutters as she said, "Please, come in." Following Mando inside, Sevara looked back to the child as he wandered through behind them, his gait uneasy as he stepped foot onto the wooden planks. "I hope this is comfortable for you," said the woman, adding, "Sorry that all we have is the barn."

"This will do fine," Mando replied as he placed down the crate atop a small table.

"I stacked some blankets over here," the woman said, to which Sevara glanced back at her with a grateful smile.

"Thank you," said Mando. "That's very kind."

The creak of a floorboard alerted them, with Mando whipping around with his blaster in hand as Sevara scooped up the child in her arms, her heart pounding. The woman's eyes narrowed as she stepped from the barn and escorted a young girl inside who clung to woman with a frightened gaze. Blowing out a sigh of relief, Sevara reached out and lay a hand on Mando's wrist, lowering his blaster.

"This is my daughter, Winta," the woman explained, running a hand over the young girl's hair. "We don't get a lot of visitors around here. She's not used to strangers." Looking to her daughter, the woman said, "These nice people are going to help protect us from the bad ones."

Winta looked to them, quietly saying, "Thank you."

Sevara nodded, "Of course."

"Come on, Winta," the woman said, lacing her fingers with the young girl's as she guided her from the barn. "Let's give our guests some room."

As the woman left, Sevara's gaze remained fixed on the doorway, her thoughts lingering on the mother and daughter. Though she tried to push it from her mind, the familiar notion detailing her circumstances for if she had avoided the mines somehow had set it, and the idea that she could've had a child of her own to care for, had she not been in captivity. Shaking her head, Sevara knew it was too late to dwell on the past and instead looked to the future. . . one that was hopefully reminiscent of what she had dreamt.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

hi!

i'm sorry if this chapter seems a bit rushed, i wanted to get it out before i left to go and watch rise of skywalker (which is like so soon, i'm going to the midnight screening so i'm really excited!!)

anyway, thank you for reading! <3