Chapter 1: Jungle (Almost 2 months after "Sick")
"I knew I shouldn't have gone exploring. Kanan warned me about this place, but I didn't listen. Now I'm lost. Good job Ezra!" Ezra berated himself aloud as he wandered around the jungle-like forest. He was hot, tired, and hungry. It had been dark out when he snuck off. Now, the sun shone brightly overhead and it was humid. He had stashed his gloves away as it was too hot to wear them, but he didn't dare roll up his sleeves or pant legs, as there were bugs everywhere. He could feel the sweat trickling down his forehead. He felt like dying, but he pressed on, determined to return to the Ghost, though he was pretty sure he was walking in circles. He suddenly tripped on a root, falling and striking the muddy ground. He lay there for a moment, as the cool mud was a comforting feeling compared to the humidity in the air. He eventually pushed himself back up and continued on.
Kanan had woken up late, but immediately noticed the absence of his young Padawan when he didn't show up for training. He sought out Sabine, as he usually did when he couldn't find his wayward student. She was painting in her room.
"Hey Sabine. You seen Ezra anywhere?" he asked her.
"No, I haven't." she replied. She turned away from her art and looked at Kanan with a concerned expression. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him all morning." she said.
"Hmm…" the older man wondered.
Ezra was thoroughly exhausted. His legs were trembling weakly and he could barely walk. He finally collapsed against a tree, sliding slowly to the ground. He felt tears mingle with sweat as he began to cry silently.
"Please, help." he thought desperately.
He was thirsty and starved, despite the humidity, as he had not been able to find a source of freshwater all day. He had run out of food hours ago, though it seemed like years. Just when he thought his luck couldn't get any worse, he heard a low growl coming from the shrubbery around him. A pair of yellow eyes peeked out from the bushes, followed by another, then another. He climbed up into the branches of the tree as four wolf-like creatures emerged from the foliage.
"Please, help." Kanan's head snapped up at the desperate, quietly spoken words. He was able to feel a wave of emotions. Fear, desperation, weakness… and they were all coming from his Padawan.
"Where are you Ezra?" he wondered aloud. He gave a slight jolt when he was answered.
"I'm lost in the jungle. Please, save me master." Ezra's voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't worry, we're comin'." he promised.
Ezra drove off the creatures and hopped down from the tree. With newfound strength, he pushed on, following his heart. He was no longer scared. His family would find him.
END CHAPTER 1
