Chapter 12: The Wolf Night

It was nearly dawn when they arrived at Sabine's place on Lothal. Sabine was awaiting them as Razor Crest landed, considerably closer to her home this time.

The two men who disembarked were almost staggering. During the last couple of legs the soreness in Mando's beaten up body had increased to new heights and he almost moaned as he rose from the pilot's chair. Rex didn't fare much better. He had taken a couple of blows too, but also volunteered for piloting the first part of their journey.

His phrasing 'son' back in Razor Crest had made Mando think. In reality they had to be of approximately same age, but due to the clone's accelerated ageing as a child he appeared much older. They might as well have been father and son from the appearance of it. Somehow it felt reassuring having the old-timer on his team.

"You don't look too good," Sabine stated drily. "And that goes for both of you."

Rex arched his brow: "You wouldn't have either if you'd been on the receiving end of a darktrooper's fist. Whatever you do, don't go into hand combat with any of those."

Mando just nodded. Carefully.

"What do we do next?"

Sabine sighed: "We, or rather you, have some maintenance to do. To yourselves. Right now you look dead on your feet and I'm so not going out there with two living corpses like you on my tail. I have prepared food for you and then it will be 12 hours sleep for you guys."

Mando sighed.

"I'd rather start now. They're getting farther away as we speak."

"You don't know that. Food and sleep it is."

"And then?"

Deep within he had to admit she was right. Neither he nor Rex were in such a condition that they could meet any 'complications' right now and whatever they were going to do it would need a minimum of strength.

"I concede. Rest first, but then?"

Sabine's brisk demeanour flattened a bit: "I'm not sure actually. I think we'll have to go out to meet Dume and I think we should do that at the old Jedi Temple."

"What?" Rex exclaimed, "are you out of your wits? Going out there with the loth wolves and no Jedi to communicate with them, or to protect us."

Mando felt confused. Why would they need protection? They were all three armoured and any wolf that wanted to take a bit of them would likely be in huge need for a dentist afterwards. It would surely be unpleasant but he was quite sure they would survive a wolf pack. He'd seen worse. Far worse.

Somehow Rex must have read his posture, and done it right.

"Oh, no. I can see what you're thinking, but those wolves are something else."

"Dume won't hurt us," Sabine said, "at least I don't think he will. I have no idea what he wants or how to communicate but hey, we'll figure it out as we go."

Rex sighed and shook his head.

At dusk they rose and Mando noticed he was feeling slightly better. Food, a shower and then sleep had certainly helped. Some of the aching had diminished and the thought of doing something had lifted his spirits a bit. He was ready for whatever would appear.

Sabine and Rex looked like that too. They both appeared ready for whatever might come, fully armed with blasters and with their helmets under their arms, ready to be put on if needed.

"We'll use my speeder," Sabine decided.

They could all hear the distant howls from the wolves now.

"They're getting closer," Sabine said softly, "let's get out of here and see what happens."

Mando felt a chill down his spine, that didn't sound too reassuring.

They entered Sabine's little speeder - which was a bit tight over the shoulders for the armoured men. Rex sat down beside Sabine while Mando curled up in the back seat.

"Squeeze yourselves together," Sabine admonished. "It will do just fine, I've done some modifications over the years so it's more powerful than it seems."

Rex huffed in response.

They set out following the howls from the wolf pack. Every once in a while Sabine stopped the engine so they could listen.

"Yep, they're leading us towards the old Temple," she said.

"Is that good or bad?" Mando asked.

"We'll see."

The answer didn't reassure him the least.

They saw them at the next stop. Three wolves running side by side could be seen in silhouette towards the horizon.

"They never do that," Sabine whispered. "They always run in a straight line. They want us to see them."

Mando nodded. He knew the tactics from the tuskens at Tatooine or on other worlds. Hiding their numbers was crucial for anyone who lived in the wilderness. But something was amiss.

"They're still far away," he said, "and still they seem so big."

"That's the point," Sabine agreed, "they don't have the size of regular wolves. The loth wolves here are huge. And yet you haven't seen Dume."

"Bigger?"

"A lot."

Where the megaliths had once stood there was no nothing but open landscape. Sabine stopped her speeder outside what had previously been the perimetry of the old temple.

"I think we should walk from here."

The two men nodded. It was something about this place…

The trio crawled out from their cramped space and stretched out. Sabine and Rex resolutely put their helmets in place. Better safe than sorry.

A new howl from multiple voices made them shudder. This time it was loud, really loud and it seemed to come from all sides.

"Let's proceed to where the main megalith used to be," Sabine decided. "Stick together."

The rising moon cast a bluish light over the plains as they tread forward.

And the first wolf came. It just stood there looking silently at them.

Then another, and one more. Finally they were forming a circle around the humans. The howling had stopped now and only the panting from the huge animals could be heard in the silence of the night.

Rex looked around: "I don't like this."

"Hush. Dume isn't here yet."

The wolves began running, forming a perfect circle around the humans.

"I don't think we should try to break the circle," Sabine said drily.

Mando couldn't have agreed more. Up close these animals were larger than any canines he'd seen before. They didn't seem hostile per se but he had a distinct feeling that they were the ones setting up the show for the evening. The humans could just obey.

Then it appeared. The largest wolf he'd ever seen crossed passed through the circle, its silvery fur almost reflecting the moonlight and with piercing green eyes fixed on Mando. It reached him to the shoulders as it stopped in front of them, clearly letting its glance pass from one human to the next.

It was judging them.

Now I understand what Sabine and Rex meant. Those aren't regular wolves. Those are something else, or at least the leader is. This must be the one she calls 'Dume'. But what do they want. It seems like it…he…wants to communicate something, but what? Is it just me, or is it actually focusing on me? I'm not sure I'm ready to become a snack for that one tonight, but on the other hand I guess I shouldn't draw the blaster until it becomes clearly threatening.

The wolf bared its teeth in a sneer. Not good. Then it stepped forward. If Mando hadn't been wearing the helmet he would have felt its breath to his face. Then it seemed to make a decision and with a movement of its head it urged him to step forward.

As Sabine and Rex tried to follow, two wolves broke out from the circle and stepped up in front of them. The message was clear: Stay.

"It seems he wants to communicate with you," Sabine whispered. "I don't think he will harm you, he's likely looking for a way to communicate."

That was…reassuring. If only 'communicate' had involved less teeth and muscles he'd been good with it.

The wolf turned and took some steps away. Mando followed. They didn't walk far before the wolf turned around and looked at him expectantly.

What now? He had no idea. Surely it was expecting him to do something, but what? He didn't have a clue.

The answer came quickly. In two rapid steps the animal had closed in on him and the huge snout was put under the edge of his helmet pushing it upwards.

"No!"

The word was out before he could control it.

A deep growl was the answer, - and a new push. More gently this time.

The Armorers words: Have you ever taken it off in the presence of others?

No

Has it been removed by others?

No

This is the way.

I can't. I really can't. It has been a part of me for so many years, I can't remove it now. But the wolf is not a human being, not really and it won't tell anyone how I look like? But I swore the creed and if I'm ever going to get the kid back I may need it. In fact I may need all the help I can get. Rex was right, taking on ex-empire alone is too much for one man. I don't know what its intentions are, but if it might help rescue the kid, its worth it.

"Turn around, don't look," he addressed Sabine and Rex over his shoulder. "This is something you shall not see."

The shuffling of feet told him that they'd probably followed his instructions. A warmth spread inside him as he realised that they trusted him enough to follow his wish. Slowly he released the helmet and lifted it off.

The sensation was odd. It wasn't like he never took it off, but he'd never removed it in front of anything before, nor had he done so outdoors. He'd almost forgotten how it felt to have the breeze striking his cheek and ruffling his hair. Silently he lifted his face and looked into the green eyes of the animal in front of him. Its stare met his own, unwavering as if it was searching for his very soul. He felt the snout closing in on him and for a moment he felt the urge of putting the helmet back - fast. The canine teeth were far too close to his throat for his likings. Nothing happened. The wolf took a couple of sniffs, and drew back. Whatever it was searching for, it seemed to have come to a conclusion. A gentle push to the helmet sent the message through: "You can put it back on."

His relief was almost palpable as the lock of the helmet snapped in place.

The wolf stepped back a couple of steps and stopped again. Staring at the ground.

What now?

It lowered its head.

Sit!

It was more a feeling than any spoken or unspoken phrasing, but the meaning was suddenly clear. Mando stepped forward and sat down. He could see the backs of his two companions still turned towards him.

"You can turn again now."

He sat down, the wolf almost looming over him as it sat down behind him.

Nothing happened. The wolves were still circling. He could hear the soft breathing of the animal behind him, and he saw Sabine and Rex sit down as well. This would be a long night indeed.

It lasted forever, and then some more. Only the wind whispering over the vaste grasslands could be heard, combined with the hushed sounds of multiple paws towards the ground. At one point he tried to get up, but a huge paw on his shoulder clearly signalised that it wouldn't be a good idea, so he kept sitting not knowing what, if anything, would happen next. Dawn came, and with that daylight. The wolves stopped pacing and sat down, but kept the guardian circle unbroken.

Sabine's patience was worn thin: "What's happening? When can we get up?"

An admonishing growl came from the wolf next to her so she stayed. As did Rex.

The change came in the form of a sleek ship almost touching the sloped hill behind them and went in for landing less than a klick away. The sitting wolves started circling again. Mando wanted to get up to be ready for whatever or whomever was on board that ship, but as soon as he tried he felt the paw on his shoulder again.

Not yet.

"OK, I get it."

A tall hooded being jumped out from the ship and approached the group. Mando could see a slight change in Rex' and Sabine's posture as they exchanged a glance, and as on a given signal they both rose and approached the newcomer.

"Commander!"

"Fulcrum."

Mando cast an inquisitive glance at Dume and the huge wolf bowed its head lightly.

You can go.

So he did. He had no idea whom the hooded figure was, but as both Sabine and Rex seemed to not only know him but be glad to see him he followed his friends just as the figure pulled the hood back and revealed her face. She had a strong face with an orange skin colour and white face markings. A couple of blue eyes stared directly at him.

"Who are you?"

The question was as direct as it was hard to answer. Who was he? Really? What would make sense to this being? So he stuck to the simple version.

"They call me 'Mando'," he said, "I'm a bounty hunter, for the moment without any paid assignments."

It would have to do for now.

Her eyes narrowed a bit, before she surprisingly enough turned and hugged Rex and gave Sabine a friendly nod.

"Where have you been?"

"What happened to you?"

She held up a hand and turned towards Mando: "My pleasure, Mando. I think. I am Ahsoka Tano, former intel officer in the rebellion."

Ahsoka? Ahsoka! His brain clicked in gear and he remembered Bail Organa's words: "…and I don't know where Ahsoka Tano is either."

"The Jedi?"

She gave a low chuckle: "I was once one, yes. Not anymore. What is going on here? I felt this…anomaly…in the Force and it was quite insistent so I decided to have a look."

The wolves had stopped circling and a trail of paws as if only one wolf had ever been present lead away from the open place. Only Dume was left. Calmly she walked towards him and put her hand to his face. For a moment it was like a silent conversation took place and then she withdrew her hand.

"Thanks for helping, I'll take it from here."

The large wolf rose and followed his pack.

"He called out for me," she said, "that was what I felt from him. But he couldn't tell me why. Can you?"

"It's…complicated," Sabine sighed. "Would you mind coming with us to my place - where Ezra used to live? It may take some time to explain."