On The Wings Of A Hawk

Chapter 2: Second Meetings


A/n: Hope ya'll enjoy this. I've just finished clone wars and I love it. It might get a little AU.

Shadow Fox


Rex looked over at the plans the General was going over. He felt a tingle run down his neck. Trying to ignore it and focus on what was being said. Then a soft voice whispered his name softly. The necklace under his armor seemed to be radiating a heat like it hadn't before.

"You okay Rex?" Anakin asked his friend.

"Yeah just thought I'd heard something."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Cody was looking at him too. He had to fight down the feeling of embarrassment on this. They'd probably start thinking he was crazy or something but considering the company sometimes weird was okay.

"Yes, I'm fine."

They broke from the war room and he took a step outside feeling irritated. He couldn't explain why he felt the irritation.

"Are you really sure you're alright?" Ahsoka asked as she followed her Master out of the war room and stood next to him.

"Yeah kid I'm okay."

She looked at him oddly for a moment before nodding and following her Master. Rex shook his head. He wondered what was going on. Shaking it off he had to be ready for the battle ahead.

Rex jumped behind a rock barely able to avoid the blaster shots ricocheting around him. A loud rumbling noise echoed around the battlefield almost like everything stopped to take a breath between fighting. Then it was almost like time sped up as a dark cloaked figure leapt between the clones and the advancing droids. They drew two artic blue sabers. They turned their head enough that he could see glowing electric blue eyes. He got the feeling they were directing the gaze right at him. Something blue stuck out on the hood of the cloak but he didn't get a good look at it. They turned back to engage the enemy in front of them. That spurred him to follow the figure into the fight. He thought it was one of the Jedi he hadn't gotten around to meeting yet. Though there was a nagging feeling that he had met this person before. The black cloaked person seemed to keep close to his side without being obvious, but he noticed. Halfway through the battle the cloak flew up revealed wings underneath some kind of blue, white, and black striped wing.

The battle seemed almost one sided as the Clones, Jedi and the other person flattened the onslaught of battle droids. Once the droids were pushed back the black cloaked person stood a good distance away from them observing the line ahead. Rex watched them curiously. The setting sun bathed them in its light but he couldn't get a look at their face. Some of the other Clones were whispering about the person, but keeping an eye on them encase they turned into a -Wan came up beside him. The General seemed deep in thought about something staring at the figure in front of them.

"Sir?" he asked.

"Let me go talk to her. I'll probably understand I'm a bit rusty on their language."

"Her?" Rex asked in confusion.

"Yes, I think I know who this is."

"Is she a Jedi?"

"No, an assassin. Which makes me curious to what she's doing here."

Rex started at Obi-Wan's casual declaration. He patted him on the shoulder before walking forward to stand next to her. Something shifted uneasily through him seeing them standing there talking in hushed tones. He didn't understand the language that was being spoken. Obi-Wan shook his head at her before turning around and moving towards Rex. Obi-Wan stopped beside Rex.

"She's here to help."

"You know her?"

"I know of her. I know her sister, Kali."

"Did she tell you her name?"

"I'm surprised you don't remember her name Rex. She said you've met before."

"We have?"

"That's what she said."

Then his mind flashed back to that moment on the balcony on Kamino. The woman that gave him the charm that was around his neck that felt like it had a heartbeat of its own.

"Moira. Her name is Moira."

Obi-Wan nodded his head.

"Good luck."

He patted Rex on the shoulder and then went back to the table with the holomap laid out on it. Rex stalked forward as she pushed away the hood of the cloak and looked over her shoulder at him. She dipped her head and looked forward. Now he could see her face clearly.

"Didn't think I'd see you again," he offered.

"I told you I'd find you again."

"No you said you hoped we'd meet again."

She smiled softly at him before looking forward."You keep looking forward. What do you see out there?"

"I'm just watching and listening Rex."

He looked out into the gathering darkness not seeing anything moving. Though, there was a sense of unease wash through him.

"What do you hear?" he murmured.

She had her eyes closed but she tilted her head listening to whatever it was she was listening to. She tensed up and shoved Rex away from her sending him stumbling backwards and barely managed to catch himself as he hit the dirt. She drew her dual sabers and blocked the oncoming attack shoving the other person away from them. She managed to get the person back far enough away from him so he couldn't see who'd attacked him. She leapt backwards and stood in front of him in a defensive manor. A rumbling growl echoed through the area. It took him a minute to realize the growling was coming from her. The others came rushing forward and started helping Rex to his feet.

"What is it Moira?" Obi-Wan called.

She growled softly. Her eyes drifted to Rex. They were glowing brightly. Then her gaze drifted forward. Then she shot forward into the darkness. There were loud crashing and blaster shots and battle droids crying out in surprise. It took only minutes before the area seeped into silence again. He wanted to go see where Moira was but a huge wolf like creature stalked outta the foliage. Everyone brought their guns up ready to defeat this perceived threat. Blood was dripping from several cuts across its body. It laid down slowly mindful of the blood weeping from the open cuts. It had blue, white, and black feathers forming a crest in the middle of its forehead and traveled back over its neck. On its cheeks were light blue slashes just underneath its eyes. Its wings mirrored the head feathers but in the pattern of a blue jay. What caught them off guard was the phoenix tails thrashing a bit throwing off false -Wan moved forward.

"Easy gentlemen it's okay. She's a friend."

The wolf growled softly at him. They looked at Obi-Wan like he'd lost his forward he stood in front of her as she rose to sit. She towered over Obi-Wan by a least a foot sitting there. Her gaze was directly on Rex. "Was that really necessary Moira?"

She snarled at him.

"I understand your feelings about this Moira but honestly you should be elsewhere. Your Clan has no business here unless you've picked a side."

Her eyes started darkening as she stood up completely. She bared her fangs at him. The others were hesitating not knowing what to do. "All of you stay back we'll be alright. She won't hurt anyone."

"Someone tell that to the droids she just took out."

There was nervous laughing in the group. Rex didn't know what possessed him but he holstered his weapons and moved forward. Her eyes started lightening up as he approached her. Hesitantly he reached up and touched her forehead. Her eyes slid shut at his touch. Her entire body relaxed. Her eyes came open and she pulled back from his touch and looked at Obi-Wan. She shook her head before her gaze drew back to Obi-Wan. A soft rumble escaped her as she stepped back and shifted before their eyes.

"Who was that?"

"A traitor to our Clan," she murmured. "It's best that you don't know his name Rex. He won't be coming back now."

"Did you kill him?"

"No, but I should have as Clan law dictates."

"That strict of a Clan?"

"When it comes to those under our protection it is."

"Do you have many people under your protection?"

"Just you and her. For the time being."

She pointed towards Ahsoka.

"Why Ahsoka?"

"You'll understand one day."

"Being secretive aren't you?"

"I'm choosing what to reveal right now. This is the first time we've gotten to talk for more than a minute."

"I thought I was cross wired or something that night."

"No you're not cross wired as you put it. I called to you."

"Earlier today too?"

"Yes."

"It's kind of creepy that you do that."

"I can do worse."

"How so?"

"Just know if I have to resort to worse it won't be pretty. Though, I will not hurt you Rex."

"Because I am under your protection?"

"In its simplest form yes."

"There's a more complicated reason?"

The look she shot him had his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Yes but not complicated enough to worry about it now."

"Not being very helpful are you?"

"This is a battlefield Rex don't think it's time for a heart to heart."

She winked at him and fanned her wings out a bit before tucking them again. One of the short feathers fluttered to the ground. Rex went down to pick it up. He held it out for her and a blush dusted her cheeks for a second before she turned her head away.

"Keep it. It'll bring luck to you."

"Is that a thing?"

"We'll see wont we?"

Rex looked at her with narrowed eyes. She laughed softly.

"You better get back to your friends Rex before they get worried I'd killed you."

"I doubt that."

She tilted her head to the side to look him up and down. A smirk that spelled danger crossed her features as she looked at him.

"I'll leave that challenge for another day. Get some rest Rex you've earned it."

She leapt skyward and vanished into the darkness. He tucked the feather in his gun belt and shook his head. Ahsoka approached Rex's side quietly and stared off into the darkness.

"Intense isn't she?"

"You know her?"

"We've met once or twice."

"What did you talk about?"

"Not much really. It happened fast and I was young at the Temple. I'd tripped and she helped me to my feet. Her eyes were what caught me. She smiled at me and asked me if I was alright and then gave me this."

She reached into her hip pouch and showed him the small black medallion. It had the same feather tipped in the metallic blue but it said something different.

"I have one too."

"She told me to keep it close."

A curt nod was his response. "We should get some rest while we can."

Ahsoka strolled away. Rex shook his head and returned to the others. Kenobi was staring into the dark thoughtfully.

"Something on your mind sir?" Rex asked Kenobi.

"Be careful of their kind Rex. They're like ghosts. Here one moment and gone the next."

"Are they a threat?"

"To you? No, Moira is no threat."

"How do you know about her Clan?"

Obi-Wan smiled softly and reached into his hip pouch and pulled out a medallion like Rex's but the tip of the feather was burgundy with highlights of orange.

"Kali gave me this many years ago."

"Moira's sister?"

"Yes. From what I could gather from Kali is these medallions show her other clan members that we aren't to be harmed and there are penalties if they're caught harming one who is protected."

Rex looked at the other man thoughtfully. "I wouldn't think too much on it Rex you'll just drive yourself crazy. She'll be back eventually and let you ask questions of her."

"Why is she here? Why did she give this to me?"

"That she will tell you in her own time."

Rex huffed softly at the answers that were really vague. "Get some rest Rex this war is far from over."

"Yes sir."

Rex moved and sat down and leaned back and stared up at the stars and closed his eyes and drifted asleep of winged people in the skies.