Chapter 45: A Familiar Place
Fayra's eyes popped open and she shot up. Light's flickered as Mando came into her line of sight. He sat in his chair at his desk, his gloveless hands displayed open to show her there was no cause for alarm. Her entire body was sore and stiff. Mando moved to the edge of the bed and sat. She reached her hand up and rubbed her neck.
"Let me see." He took her chin and tilted her head from left to right, then scanned her vitals.
"What happened?" She asked, looking into his visor.
"What do you remember?" He pressed his thumb against her lips and caressed them gently, leaving her breathless at the feel of him.
She searched her foggy mind for a moment. "Eating, you and Cara talking."
He released her. "A man came up behind you, drugged you and took you."
"Why?" She asked, her heart suddenly pounding.
"Malice, greed, credence. Take your pick." He reached for his gloves. "It doesn't matter, they won't bother you again."
"The Mandalorian ever victorious." She smiled at him. His visor fell to the floor.
"The IG unit saved you. Rest. Your lessons continue tomorrow."
Fayra showered and dressed in a blue fitted shirt, and leather pants with open seams running down the length of each leg. She buzzed with excitement of seeing her friends, she was glowing. The sunlight filled the room as the cargo bay doors touched down. The village looked exactly the same. The farmers were gathering their harvests. Smoke rose from the huts' chimney's. And the children running around playing their games. Their laughter filled Fayra's ears. To the left of the village she spotted Kuiil feeding his Blurrgs, IG was helping him. Cara was fighting Caben and Stoke. Clearly enjoying herself at their expense. With Mando behind her, she made her way down the path.
"Look, it's Fayra!" A villager said, dropping his net into the water, waving. Others looked up.
"Fayra!" More exclaimed, waving.
She returned their welcome with smiles and waves. Several villagers came with hugs and questions about her travels.
"Fayra! Fayra!" A familiar voice shouted. Winta came running, wrapping her arms around Fayra's neck.
"Oh, my! You've grown." She squeezed Winta and held on for a few seconds. Omera's image appeared in the distance, her warm smile lighting up her face.
"Fayra." She said, giving a hug over top Winta.
"She's grown so much since I saw her last."
"I know, I tried to stop her, but she has none of it." She laughed.
"Mom!" Winta protested.
"Come, I've made the barn up for you and Mando. Just like before."
It took a while before everyone settled down their excitement, but eventually, to Mando's satisfaction, Fayra was able to get to her training. There wasn't much light left of the day, but he intended to use every bit of it.
The next morning after her shower, Fayra inspected her body. Thanks to Cara she had fresh bruises everywhere. Mando practically had every minute planned out for her. First, she'd warm up with Cara. Second, work on her wind and fire skills with Kuiil. After that, more fighting with Mando. Later in the day he made her work with Kuiil again using her earth skills. He wanted her to practice with water, but she argued with him. She was still terrified to even try.
She couldn't explain to him how it made her feel, what it did to her. How the water seemed to take over, caress her mind. She couldn't even explain it to herself. In the end, surprisingly, Mando yielded. By the time dinner rolled around she was exhausted.
The villagers didn't mind it. They were genuinely excited to have them back. Fortunately, they continued to live in peace after the battle with the raiders. Most were busy getting ready for the Harvest Moon celebration. Winta explained to the group the village held it once a year. It excited Fayra, she had never been a part of a celebration. The villagers explained the reason behind it, but all Fayra could hear was the part about the food and dancing. She couldn't wait.
A fireball exploded in front of her. "Ouch!" Fayra rubbed her forehead, checking to make sure her skin hadn't melted.
Stoke and Caben laughed as they sat leaning against a tree to her right. Fayra pressed her lips together, flicked her fingers and sent a fireball hurling toward them. They ducked as it hit the tree behind them, forcing them to scramble. Fayra snickered and heard Cara join her.
"Focus!" barked Kuiil.
"Sorry." She snapped her neck back to attention. From her peripheral vision Mando still sat at the tree line, watching. Sometimes she teased him of sleeping on the job.
Kuiil sat down in front of her. Fayra still found it odd she had to look down at him. She was so used to being the shortest. However, in a seated position they were almost at eye level with each other.
Fayra drew in a deep breath, ready to tempted it again.
"Stop." Kuiil commanded.
Fayra opened her eyes in confusion.
"Mando tells me, you don't want to work with water."
Fayra sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Why are you frightened of it?"
"It's difficult to explain."
"I have a confession." Kuiil whispered. Fayra's brows pulled together. "You and the others know I've been researching everything I can find on Elementals."
Fayra nodded.
"If I think something is important I let you know as well as the Mandalorian."
Fayra nodded again.
"There's something I realized and haven't told you." He lowered his head. Fayra sat up, a bit more intrigued. "I'm not sure anyone should know, so I've kept it to myself. But I feel I should tell you."
"Kuiil," Fayra whispered. "What is it?"
He kept his voice low. "I haven't heard or read anything about an Elemental having the ability to control all four elements."
Fayra looked at him, she wasn't sure what to think or say.
"Elementals usually possess the ability to control one, maybe two."
Fayra's heart jumped. She felt blindsided. What does that mean, she wondered. Terrified, she realized there was still one ability Kuiil didn't know about. No one knew, except Mando. She could heal. With that and the possibility of controlling all four elements was something unknown to anyone. She had never known what she was or why she could do the things she could. For the most part she just accepted it.
"I think it would be important for you to try with water." Kuiil said
Fayra shook her head.
"There must be a reason why it's so difficult for you."
Fayra stood and began walking away. Mando must have put him up to this. Kuiil stepped into her path.
"Water is powerful! Probably the strongest force in this galaxy."
She tried to side step him, but he cut her off again.
"It cuts through rock, tears down mountains, yet we can pass through it without a single scrape."
"No! Manny put you up to this, didn't he?" Her voice no longer a whisper.
"No. I spoke with him. He said you are unwilling. I think it would be important to-"
"No." Fayra turned to walk the other way, but she was met with Beskar steel. Startled, she took a step back.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
Fayra went around him. "No, it's not. I'm done for the day."
Mando caught her by the arm. "Fayra."
"No, let go."
Mando recognized the look in her eyes. Push her too far and things could get out of control. He released her and she stalked off to the barn.
Fayra lay on her cot pondering when she heard the door creak open. Thinking it was Mando and having no desire to talk with him she turned over.
"Hey, it's just me. Can we talk?" Cara's asked.
"Did he send you in here?"
"Well, yes. But I was coming anyway." She shrugged, "I just let him think it was his idea."
Fayra turned to face Cara and sat up, pursing her lips. Cara pulled the old wicker chair over next to the cot and sat. She stretched out her legs and crossed them at her ankles, relaxing.
"He thinks perhaps I can talk you into it."
Fayra shook her head. "Can you?"
She shrugged. "Look, I get it. Doing something you don't feel right about… that's your choice."
"You're doing great so far, keep going." Fayra teased.
Cara smiled, "Okay, how about a story then?"
"I guess."
"When I first signed up with the Rebel Alliance I had to go through training. A lot of it wasn't fun. It sucked. There were some things I …" She paused looking down to the floor. "... I struggled with it."
Fayra saw the shame in her eyes and wondered what happened to Cara.
"My platoon leader would order me to do questionable things. I didn't want to do them, but I knew if I didn't the person behind me, my troop, would pay the price. So I did it to protect them."
She looked back up at Fayra. "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"I think I do, yes."
"The choice is yours, but the people you care about might suffer because you were too scared."
IG entered the barn holding a tray of food and drinks. Fayra stood from her cot to help him. "I thought you would be hungry after your training." He said.
"Thank you, IG."
Cara stood and smiled. "Think about it, I'll see ya later."
IG followed Cara, "IG wait!"
He turned, "yes."
"I just wanted to say thank you, for saving me the other night."
"Your gratitude is not required. I am programmed to protect."
"Well, in anycase, thank you."
Mando entered the room and immediately stepped between the two. "Leave."
IG complied. Mando crossed the room and opened one of his weapon's storage units.
"He didn't do anything." Fayra stated.
"Not yet."
She huffed at him and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"Oh, I thought I'd go find IG and we'd play with knives."
Mando turned and glared at her.
"I'm going to find Omera." She turned and left.
Mando sighed, strapped his pulse rifle to his back and followed.
The morning's fresh air swirled Fayra's hair lightly as she sat with Kuiil, meditating. Which they did, before the start of each lesson. Well, Kuiil sat meditating anyway. Fayra just sat patiently waiting for him to finish. Every few seconds she'd open one eye to see if he was ready.
"Okay," She blurted. "I'll try."
Kuiil opened his eyes and puffed out a breath of relief.
"But, I'm not promising to keep it up."
He nodded in agreement.
An hour later Fayra sat at the edge of one of the krill ponds staring into the water.
"You're not concentrating." Kuiil suggested.
It was true she wasn't concentrating, Fayra admitted. There wasn't much time left in today's lesson., so she wasn't even trying to concentrate. However, she could feel the connection to the water, it's every movement infiltrated her senses. It's waves slowed, whispering and elongating the sound of each letter in her name.
She also couldn't get Cara's story out of her head. It was very distracting. Fayra couldn't imagine someone dying because she had the ability to help, couldn't. She tried to make a connection like she did with the fire. Nothing. Then tried pulling it to her like she could with wind. Nothing. She put her hand on the ground, weaving her fingers through the grass. Still nothing.
She huffed and looked up at Kuiil, who was watching her intently.
"That's enough for today." Mando said from behind her.
Fayra was grateful he was ending the day while there was still daylight left, she knew he had reasons behind his decisions, it was possible he had an ulterior motive. At this point she didn't care what they were. She had time to hunt down Omera and Winta. Perhaps she could help with any last minute preparations for the celebration. It was only a week away. He extended his hand offering to help her up. She accepted the offer, she buzzed at his touch. Before she turned and left she looked into his visor. "Thank you."
"I need more time." Kuiil said.
"I know." Mando replied. "But it's a start."