Wolfsbane · Kylo Ren

VII

Mara

Mara heard Skywalker coming before she saw him, but he entered her line of sight quickly.

He was hurrying towards Rey's hut, head ducked under his hood to hide from the pouring rain.

Mara stood, wary of the situation.
If he saw Ren, this would not end well.

Skywalker opened the wooden door, and quickly yelled-

"Stop!"

She had to shuffle to avoid flying debri, as a huge ripple through the force caused the walls of the hut to fly outwards.

She yelped as a few rocks pelted her, one slamming into the side of her head.

She was vaguely aware she was on the ground, the world spun, pain blurred her vision.

Rey and Kylo's figures flickered in the fire, their fingertips barely touching, proving they could make contact through the force phenomena.

Mara swallowed a growl, shocked by the strange emotions rolling over her.
It must've been the tension coming from the others.

She attempted to shake her head to clear her vision, standing was impossible with the vertigo overtaking her.

Ren had disappeared.

Rey was standing.

"It is true? Did you try to murder him?!"

"Leave this island now!"

Her head started to clear, she saw the glow of Anakin Skywalkers lightsaber, and all at once she was witnessing a memory, from Skywalkers point of view.

"I saw darkness. I'd sensed it building in him. I'd see it at moments during his training. But then I looked inside... and it was beyond what I ever imagined. Snoke had already turned his heart. He would bring destruction, and pain,and death... and the end of everything I love because of what he will become. And for the briefest moment of pure instinct... I thought I could stop it. It passed like a fleeting shadow. And I was left with shame... and with consequence. And the last thing I saw... were the eyes of a frightened boy whose master had failed him. Ben, no!"

Every second of this war could've been spared, if Luke Skywalker had simply trusted his nephew.
He was a proud, bitter, old man, but he wasn't without his redeeming moments.

Mara stood, and hobbled over to the pair of Jedi.

Rey still stood over Skywalker, but no longer in a threatening way.
It seemed to show that she'd evolved past where Skywalker ever did, by refusing to let the horrors she'd experienced take her hope, or compassion.

"You failed him by thinking his choice was made. It wasn't . There is still conflict in him, if he turned from the dark side, that could shift the tide. This could be how we win."

Mara wanted to believe Rey, but doubt nibbled away at the hope in her mind.

"This is not going to go the way you think."

Skywalker promised, pessimistic to his grave.

"It is. Just now, when we touched hands... I saw his future. As solid as I'm seeing you. If I go to him, Ben Solo will turn."

"Rey... don't do this."

Skywalker pleaded.

Rey offered her hand to Skywalker again, staring expectantly.

He glanced at Mara, pain in his eyes.

He gave Rey no answer, and she straightened, withdrawing her hand.

"Then he is our last hope."

She told him coldly.

She tucked Anakin Skywalkers saber into her satchel, and hastened towards her ship.

Mara dipped her head respectfully towards Skywalker, and followed.

•••

Mara grew more and more skeptical of the girl Rey's plan, the more she described it.

Take an escape pod, drop into an enemy hanger, and improvise from there.

Her whole plan revolved around Ren (who she'd taken to calling Ben Solo), choosing her over every plan he'd ever had for himself.

It made Mara's mind flare with strange emotions, to think the scavenger girl really believed she had such a hold on him.

She shook her head, convincing herself the feelings raging in her head were worry for the girls safety.

She'd tested the language barrier between herself and the wookie, finding she could get basic concepts across, she had him translate a single phrase to Rey.

I'm going with you.

Rey had argued, but it had proved difficult to convince a stubborn, 300 pound, wolf to change her mind.

Mara slipped into the second pod, so as Rey gave rendezvous Chewie instructions.

The pod was designed for a humanoid, so she'd had to use the force to lower herself into it, curling herself into a semi-comfortable position.

Chewie let out an unsure groan, keying the hanger bays homing number into the pod system.

We'll be alright Chewie.

Mara promised him.

At least, she hoped they would be.

A short chapter today, hope you like it 😁.