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*:･ﾟ✧
Gaia's heart is in her throat, arms securely hugging The Child who leans into her warding touch. It's been a while since Mando left. He's gone to investigate the fired shot, and after a lot of surveying in and outside of the village, no one seemed hurt. Either the shooter missed or it wasn't directed towards the village at all. Gaia doubts it, though. Although a blaster bolt is undeniably loud, the noise was too close for this to not have been targeted at someone in the village. The question is, who? Could the bounty hunters have found them? Gaia hopes that's not the case. She can't lie and say she's not tired, because she is. Running and hiding, having to look over her shoulder every day — it's taxing.
However, it's all for The Child, and Gaia will never stop when it's for him. He deserves to be safe and happy, as much as she does. . .
Mando, as well.
Gaia's attention strays toward Thero. A small smile breaks free as she observes him laugh quietly at something Omera had said earlier, merriment crinkling in the corners of his very bright eyes. Gaia has seen that look before. It's the same one her father used to wear when he was by Drosera, her mother. It's unmistakable, and looking at the way Omera responds to him in kind — putting her hand on his bicep and sneaking shy glances up at him — Gaia would say she's feeling the same.
With The Child cooing suddenly, Gaia turns in the direction of the woods. Her gaze lands on the emerging figures of Mando and Cara. They're making a straight beeline for her, seemingly occupied with something specific.
Gaia shifts. "What. . ."
An abrupt silence takes a hold of Gaia, and she stills. The rhythmic beeping of the tracking fob in Mando's grip is like a blaring tune, everlasting, and hauntingly familiar. A cold sweat lingers on her skin, her grasp on The Child tightening. Mando comes to stand in front of them, his focus wandering from the fob to Gaia. A sad gleam shines within her sloped eyes, same as him. "They found him."
Cara draws a breath in. "That's not all."
"We found two fobs on the body," Mando informs hesitantly, a tint of anxiousness in his tergiversate voice. "Gaia, I need to be sure. . ."
Gaia staggers, already catching onto his implication and extending her arms so that The Child is further away from her. Mando steers the tracking fob toward The Child who is unknowing, and the rhythm of the device slows a fraction. Discomfort clinging to him, Mando points the fob at Gaia;the pattern changes drastically. Her breathing quivers in horror as she notes Mando and Cara sighing.
"Why is there a bounty on me?" Gaia asks, her limbs trembling. The Child whines and she keeps him close once more, as a means of comfort. "We both ran. We both went against the Code, so why is it only me they're after?"
