Forever Drawn to You-A Reylo Story

Chapter 5- Young and Brave

Rey had to practically crawl on her belly for several hundred yards in the hot sand to reach the hidden entrance. There were mean looking guards and warriors everywhere below the hill.  From her vantage point she could see the outpost on fire and people running aimlessly.

She witnessed one villager fall with an arrow in their neck. Young Rey gasped and realized she couldn't stay out in the open much longer. She glanced for just a moment to see if she could see any sign of her parents. She did not see them, so she continued towards the cave entrance as her father instructed.

Rey had tears in her eyes as she heard her friend scream from far away. She thought to herself. "OH NO, Finn, Please be okay." She still heard him screaming as she hesitated a moment more.  She realized if she went to help Finn now her father may not find her. She really wished Finn and his mother were with her now, they would all be safer. Except she knew Finn's mother could only go so far in the passages and Finn would want to stay with her putting them both in danger if the invaders went in. Rey really did not know what to do in that moment, except survive. She had to be brave and focus on the plans her father put in place. She managed to reach the safety of the cave. No one except Finn and her father knew it existed. Her father could only get so far inside himself, the same spot where the path narrows. He would whistle to her once he reached it. 

She quickly found the area of the cave that the two children turned into their play area. It was next to a small pool of cool clear water and near several large glowing crystal formations. The blue crystals let out just enough light to not be pitch black and her eyes would need a few moments more to adjust. She took a big sigh and had faith her father would find her soon. She hopes her mother was okay, she also hopes Finn and his family will be safe too. Though Rey has a gut feeling none of them are.

This brave little girl hangs her head and starts to cry. All she can do now is wait for her father or Finn to come and find her.

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As the sun hovered low in the late afternoon sky, Finn hangs his head into his knees and sobs quietly. A shocked Finn is on board the cart cage of screaming and crying children heading away from the only home they had ever known. He just witnessed his mother's murder and has no idea if his father is alive or dead.

He worries about Rey and her parents now. He somehow feels Rey is safe at this moment, but worries her parents also suffered the same fate as his mother.

From what he witnessed from caged cart, the invaders murdered all the parents in the village they could find. He also watched them gather up all kinds of goods, food, and supplies from the sand homes and marketplace. He also noticed no one went near Plutt's home to remove anything at all, but thought nothing of it in that moment while in still his traumatic haze.  

Finn heard the troopers yelling to each other. "Are you sure we have the girl?" The lead trooper shouts back "We swept the houses three times there are no bodies left alive anywhere in this village. We must have her; we need to get moving before night fall." "It will be a long journey back to Mustafar." "Did you pay Plutt for the information?" The other trooper responds in huffed laugh; "Yah, we paid the bastard." 

Finn thinks to himself "Mustafar?" "Why are they bringing children to the land of volcanos, and who was this girl they wanted?" Just then a small child maybe 4 years of age crawls next to Finn and hangs on to him for dear life. Finn instinctively puts his arm around the scared child and holds her. He continues to think. "What did they pay Plutt for?" "Where is Plutt?" "What is this about?" Finn is confused and now he is looking for a way off this cart so he can go find Rey. If what they say is true, then his father may have perished with the other parents. This deeply saddens him, as he has just lost everyone he loves except Rey. 

He looks around and doesn't see any way of escape. There are armed guards surrounding the cart caravan on all sides as they roll down the main trade route to the east. He takes a deep sigh and bows his head in defeat. Tears now fill his eyes with mourning for his parents and his own fate. As the sorrow racks him, he will never forget Rey or his parents no matter what. He vows to find her as soon as he is old enough and strong enough to look for her on his own. Wherever he is going he will try to survive for Rey. Finn being one of the older children abducted will also have to look after the younger ones now. They are all orphans together and they will grow to look up to him for leadership and support. A strong sense of numbness overcomes him in the next moment. The day finally taking a toll on his young mind. He settles his head against the cage wall and stares blankly out onto the long road ahead. 

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