Chapter 39 - The Lagoon

Light filtered in through Fayra's eyelashes. She blinked herself awake, hearing the falls roaring down against the lagoon. She peeked out from under the blanket covering her. It took her a moment to realize the blanket was Mando's cloak. He sat leaning against the tree, legs extended out, next to her. It looked as though he hadn't moved.

She sat up looking around and wiping the sleep from her eyes. Blue was by the water, chasing around the small creatures he had before. Fayra turned to Mando, she could see his subtle breathing. She scooted closer looking intently into that dark visor. Was he asleep, she wondered. She scooted a little closer, squinting.

"Sleep well?" He asked, turning his head toward her. Fayra jumped back in surprise at his sudden movement.

"Yes, thank you." She pulled his cloak off and gave it back to him. Blue beeped to life.

"What did you think?" He motioned to the massive waterfall adjacent to them.

She turned toward it, remembering the emotions it brought out of her, the raw power and beauty it displayed was overwhelming. "It's beyond anything I've ever experienced. So powerful, so beautiful." She smiled.

Blue began howling by the water's edge, just where the small lagoon ended and the river flowing back toward the Razor Crest began. Mando and Fayra stood and headed to investigate. As they approached Fayra saw a heap of mud, weeds, leather and flesh.

Fayra stayed behind Mando letting him block her view. She was not too eager to see the mangled mess. Mando knelt down, grabbed the body and turned it over. She had to turn away. It was Pac. His flesh was swollen, pale with purple, gashes scattered throughout. The river and rocks at the base of the falls beat him badly. His mouth was agape and full of mud, his eyes were frozen open and wide. He stared directly at her. She had never taken a life in such a way before, guilt rose in her stomach, but she pushed it down. If she hadn't she might be looking the same as he did now.

Mando's beautiful knife was still lodged in his chest. Mando grabbed the hilt and pulled. As it released from the body it made a sickening slurping sound.

"This him?" Mando asked, though knowing the answer already. But still Fayra nodded silently. "The body must have washed downstream." He stuck the knife inside his boot.

"He took your blaster and money too."

Mando peered up at her, Fayra shrugged, a bit ashamed of stealing from him. He searched the body and found the rest of his things, he pushed it back to its original position. Mando stood turning to her.

"We probably shouldn't leave him like this?" She suggested.

"The animals will take care of it." Mando replied. Fayra's stomach turned at the thought. Then a reflection from the sun pulled her eyes down to Mando's hand. He was holding a key.

She gasped and bounced in excitement, realizing it was the key to her cuffs. She held them out. Mando rolled the key in his hand. Fayra looked up to him then down at his hand, wondering why he was taking so long to uncuff her.

"Manny?" She jangled the cuffs at him, ignoring the pain from the bruises they caused. "Are you going to unlock them?"

"Not sure if that's a good idea."

"Manny."

Was he joking? She asked herself. She'd never known him to joke around before. Something told her he wasn't, he was seriously thinking about keeping her cuffed. She huffed at him. He grabbed her wrists and locked them. The cuffs fell to the ground. Fayra rubbed her sore wrists.

"I would like to show you something." She said as they walked to the water's edge. "Give me your hand." She demanded

Mando leaned his helmet to the side, questioning her motives.

"Oh come on… please." She repeated.

Hesitantly he sat his hand in her hands. She inspected it a moment, then looked up at him. She slowly tugged on the leathered glove, but ceased when Mando growled.

"Not here." .

"I can't show you unless I can feel your skin." She explained.

A moment of a small stare down between them and he slipped the glove off. She smiled and closed her eyes as he placed his hand in hers. Fayra stretched her mind, reaching down into the earth beneath her bare feet. She followed the vibration on the water crashing into the rocks.

Mando watched as Fayra's body went taunt. He began feeling a small vibration. It started at the contact he had with Fayra's hand, then began traveling up his arm, infiltrating his chest, stomach, and legs. Then suddenly a bright light beamed from the water, illuminating it.

The sunrays bent and curved around the rocks, making them look like sparkling diamonds. The falling water slowed to the point Mando could follow the path of a single droplet. Instead of the regular forest sounds, Mando could hear it singing, it was humming some kind of language. It sounded old, nothing he's never heard before. It was like Mando was experiencing a different planet, like he entered an unknown layer no one had access to.

He looked back toward Fayra. She too, was illuminated, her hair swirled around her slowly. The dirt and grass stretched from beneath her, wrapping itself around her. The sun bending around her, much like it did near the rocks.

Fayra's eyes opened, then Mando was jerked back into the reality he knew and lived in. His surroundings returned to their normal state. He retracted his hand from hers, watching her intently. Her eyes found him and she smiled gently.

"That's how I experienced it the first time I saw it. The earth surrounding the waterfall is strong."

Mando didn't say anything, he couldn't. The only word he could think to describe it was magical.

"Is it safe," she asked, bringing him from his trance.

"The water, is it safe to go in?" She repeated when he didn't answer.

Mando took a moment to examine the lagoon, she scanned it and their surroundings.. "Yes, it's safe." He replied.

Fayra wondered what he was seeing in that visor of his.

Mando watched as Fayra untied her shirt and dropped it on the ground, then slid off her pants. Her body still had a shimmer from the sunlight, the mist rose and stretched toward her, it swirled around whipping her hair. Mando took a seat on a large rock next to the water, he propped his Pulse Rifle against his knee.

For a while, with Blue at his feet, Mando watched as Fayra played and swam in the water, but as the sun rose overhead Mando grabbed his cloak and walked to the water's edge. Fayra swam over, looking up at him.

"It's time to go." He said, stretching out his cloak for her. She stood, the water flowed down her body hesitantly. She stepped into his cloak so Mando could wrap it around her shoulders. He lowered his hands and grabbed her tattooed wrist. He took the scarf from his belt and wrapped it around covering the mark.

"It's beautiful."

"It's yours. I saw it in the market."

"Hm, I thought you were just accessorizing." She teased.

She examined the small fabric. She wondered if he had purchased it for her as an apology. If he did, she thought, he'd never admit it.

"Thank you."

She dried off and put on the extra outfit she brought. It was her favorite, the one she first wore on Sorgan with the long flowing skirt and the loose crop top.

As she finished dressing she peered over at Mando. He stood at the path leading back to the Razor Crest, waiting for her. He was turned from her, but not so much so that he lost sight of her. Fayra smiled putting the satchel across her torso. She turned back to the lagoon to say one last goodbye to the beautiful waterfall and was met with a flowing stream of water hovering at eye level.

The hovering water extended from the lagoon and flowed up through the air to meet Fayra's gaze like a river. Her heart sank and fear rose like bile and burned the back of her throat. It called her name. And though she was curious about it she could never control it like she could the other powers. She slowly took a step away, but the water flinched and then followed. She tried stepping back, then the other way. Fayra yelped at its ability to mimic her. Her eyes jerked to the right as she heard footsteps slowly approaching.

"Fayra." Mando said, keeping his voice steady and quiet.

"What do I do?" she belted out in fear.

Mando looked a bit surprised. "This isn't your doing?"

"No, I can't control water." Suddenly the water lunged toward her. She stepped back in response, tripping over a rock. She fell to the ground, and the water came hurtling toward her. She threw her hands up defensively and screamed, squeezing her eyes shut. It stopped inches from her nose.

"You need to try to control it."

"I can't!"

"Fayra, open your eyes and look at it."

"I don't want to, you look at it!"

"I am." Mando said, Fayra opened her eyes. Gasping at the water hovering so close.

"Now control your fear and tell it what to do." He demanded in that tone she has come to know very well.

Suddenly the hovering stream of water flew back into the lagoon, splashing water as it went. She sat there unmoving and shocked.

"Fayra."

She reached for him, as he pulled her away Fayra turned back, mystified as to why it happened.

The Razor Crest lit up as they boarded. Mando shut the cargo bay doors and headed for the flight deck.

"Where we off to?" Fayra asked following him, breaking the silence between them that had lasted since they left the waterfall.

"No, thank you" he replied, flicking various controls and switches. Suddenly the Razor Crest rumbled. Loud banding came from outside the side startling her. Suddenly thick metal shutters began falling and covering the windows. There was no light seeping through, anywhere.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Ground security." Then he stood. Out of surprise at his movements, Fayra stood as well.

She was unsure what was happening. Why the Razor Crest had gone dark and why hadn't he said anything to her. She wished he would talk off his helmet, so she could see what he was thinking. Then it occurred to her it probably wouldn't help. He was so well trained, he'd never portray any kind of emotion. Especially if he was purposefully hiding it.

Doubts and fears began entering her mind. Did the incident at the waterfalls change something? Perhaps, she shouldn't have shown him how she feels and sees things when she was connected to the world around her. She didn't really know why she'd done it.

Mando approached her, she retreated slightly. He was still extremely intimidating, but she forced herself to hold as much ground as she could. Was he actually angry with her? Fayra looked at her feet, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, avoiding eye contact. No, she scolded herself, look him in the eyes. She could be just as angry with him, she thought.

But it was too late. She drew in a quick breath as Mando pulled her chin up so her gazed would meet his. Fayra's eyes searched him before settling on his visor. His hand shifted, his fingers followed her jawline. She closed her eyes as he softy glided his thumb across her lips. They parted slightly at the sensation of his bare skin on hers. When did he take his gloves off, she wondered. Suddenly his touch was gone.

Fayra opened her eyes to see the door to the flight deck close as he walked away. Blue beeped silently at her heels.