On the wings of a hawk 9


Rex looked through the wreckage of General Grievous's ship. He approached General Kenobi to tell him that crew compartments were completely destroyed in the wreckage.

"Rex take Jesse, Hardcase and Kix and search those wetlands."

"Yes, sir."

"And, Rex if you get a visual on Grievous, contact us before you engage."

A curt nod was his only answer to that as he put his helmet on and moved towards the speeder bike with his small team. They raced across the wetlands looking for any sign of Grievous. Something slammed into his chest knocking him from his speeder and everything went dark.


Moira felt the backlash of pain wash through her at Rex's hurt. A sharp pain across her face drew her attention back to the fight at hand. Blood was trickling down her jaw from the cut on her lip. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Her target was smirking at her thinking he had the upper hand. Her eyes started shifting to red. Leaping forward she slammed her fist hard against their chest. The sound of the cracking sternum echoed in her ears. That stole their breath which allowed her to get behind them. She wanted to finish this quickly so she could get to Rex. Reaching forward she grabbed their head and with a sharp snap the body sagged and fell to the ground. Snorting she looked at the crumpled body. Her hands were shaking a bit from the backlash she'd gotten from Rex. She was trying to steady her breath so her clansmen wouldn't suspect something was wrong. Outside her siblings her parents and her three friends she didn't trust many with her weaknesses.

"That was a great…"

Moira looked at her clan member over her shoulder. Her red eyes stopped him from continuing on. "Moira…"

"Take the kill back and claim the reward."

"Don't you want…"

"I have more pressing matters to attend to."

"I don't see what you see in him," he started. "That Clone…"

Before he could say more her fist connected with his cheek sending him into a tree. He stood up and shook the hit off. "He's not worthy of someone of your standing."

"Who are you to judge the worth of others?"

Moira looked at her Clan Member with anger flashing in her eyes. Shaking it off she had to get to him so her mind was far from the bounty she could claim. Rex was more important to her than any bounty or any petty dispute a clan member could bring before her.

"Why waste your time on a Clone? They're far inferior to us. Mindlessly following the orders of the Jedi and the Chancellor."

She fought the urge to growl lowly at him, but she kept herself in check.

"Who are you to judge the worth of someone outside of the clan? Because the last time I checked a flea like you could never understand what it means to be the One of another person."

"You? The One to a Clone?"

Her eyes narrowed at his words. She had the reputation as a loaner that never formed attachments. She didn't openly broadcast that she was waiting for Rex. As far as she was concerned they didn't need to know about him. Very few people knew her One's name and that was how she wanted it. "You the loaner and the stuck up snob from the Aras Clan?"

Snarling she leapt forward only to be stopped by a wall of black. A familiar face stood between her and the other clan member. Another form dropped down beside of him. Where the one went the sister followed but she was grateful for their friendship and having her back when it was needed.

"Halvard," she growled darkly. "Get out of my way."

"He's not worth the effort Moira," Shamira told her.

"Stay out of this the two of you!" Moira snapped.

"She's right Moira," Halvard murmured. "He's not worth the effort and he needs you."

Moira let out a low dangerous growl at their words. Though, they were right on this matter Rex needed her more.

"We'll take the bounty back to the buyers."

"Let the brat have him," Moira growled. "And make note who really dispatched the bounty. Because if he goes after my One for this I will destroy him too."

"Dually noted Moira, but you shouldn't make enemies…"

"There are very few I will trust with my One's name."

"He needs you now Moira so go before you do something stupid which will land you in a place where you won't be able to get to him."

She snorted at his words. They couldn't keep her from Rex though there were ways that she didn't want to think of. Knowing they were right was hard on her darker side. This clan member might become a threat to Rex and it was baying to take him out. Shaking the dark thoughts off she turned her back on them.

"You have my thanks," she murmured.

The two gave a curt nod before turning their attention to her kill and the other clansmen. Moira focused herself enough to get to the planet where her One was injured. Where she landed was somewhere near her One. She could feel his heartbeat and his pain reverberate through her since she was closer to him. She was trying to take as much of the pain he was in as she could. Fighting the burning pain in her chest from the backlash she tried to focus on his location. The pain was making her struggle to focus clearly. Shaking her head she tried to get her attention together. Changing into her wolf form she stuck her head up and started scenting the air.


Rex came to in a rush with pain reverberating through his form.

"What… what happened?

"Commando droids took a potshot. That would've gone straight through your heart had it been two inches to the left."

"I can't move my arm."

"You have some nerve damage."

"Understood. Now patch me up and let's get on with it."

"Sir you're in no condition. It will heal, but it will take time."

"We're getting underway, Kix. That's an order."

"Sir as the team medic, when it comes to the health of the men, including you I outrank everyone. So I respectfully order you, sir to get some…"

Suu came into the barn with food. Rex watched the exchange. Kix laid a blaster on the table beside him.

"Resume the search without me. Jesse, you're in command. I'll be fine."

With a soft grunt he laid back and closed his eyes. Sleep was calling to him.


Her ears started flicking back and forth. Closing her eyes she tried to focus on Rex. She could smell Kix and the other couple members of her One's inner core unit. She started following the trail but something was amiss Rex's scent wasn't with them. In moments familiar forms appeared from the tree line. Kix stopped seeing her. Moving forward she skidded to a stop in front of Kix. The other Clones had their blasters up.

"Where?" she managed to get out.

"Easy boys," Kix told them. "Back the way we came. He's hurt…"

"I know," she snapped. "I felt it."

"Easy Moira. He's in the barn on a farm back the way we came."

"Sir…" one of the other Clones protested.

Moira turned her crimson eyes on the Clone and he shrunk back a little.

"Make sure he takes care of himself Moira while we're gone."

She gave a curt nod and back tracked to the farm that Kix had told her about. As she got closer to the farm Rex's scent was drifting towards her, plus a strange scent that was almost like the Clones but different. Then the smell of the farm directed her.

Knowing her stealth was her ally she snuck towards the barn. Rex was laying there without his shirt on and a bandage across his chest. A whimper escaped her at the sight of him like this. There was a blaster next to him on the table. Shifting back she snuck through the open window. Carefully she approached her One. His wounds were bandaged up. Seeing him hurt made something inside of her twist, even though she knew he was a soldier, and she a warrior just like him would get hurt from time to time and one day would take a final breath but seeing it right now made her hurt. The creatures in the barn moved forward as if to get close to Rex but a soft warning growl sent them to the other side of the barn.

Moving forward she reached out and brushed her thumb over his forehead. His brows furrowed at her soft touch. She smiled inwardly at this small thing and would remember it for later.

"Rex?" she murmured softly trying rouse her One.

"Moira?"

"Hey," she breathed softly.

He fought the tiredness that engulfed him and opened his eyes a little. Something about the way she looked sent concern rushing through him. That and the dried blood on her face.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No it's not bad. A target got lucky and got a punch in. I'm sorry I couldn't have gotten here sooner."

"It's okay Moira I'm still alive."

"I felt your pain like it had been me that had been hurt."

"I'm okay," he assured her softly. "Are you always going to feel that?"

She hummed in agreement. He sighed softly. Moria reached forward and stroked his cheek. Drawing his attention back to her.

"What did Kix say?"

"That I need to stay here and rest until they can find General Kenobi and I can heal a bit. Don't worry Moira I'll shake this off."

Her nose started twitching. It made Rex tense seeing her doing that and what followed was never good. Whatever she was smelling it was making her go into protective apex predator mode. "Moira what is it?"

"It smells like you but different."

The sound of soft footfall made her tense. A soft rumbling growl echoed in her chest. He went for his blaster. Her warning growl got louder as the door opened and the figure stepped closer. As the man approached she shot forward and knocked the weapon from his hand sending into the wall. Her hands wrapped around his throat as she slammed him against the wall.

"Moira stop!" Rex called to her.

She looked over her shoulder at her One before looking the man over and snorting. Letting him go she backed up enough to keep herself between Rex and this Clone.

"You're a clone," Rex snapped.

"My name is Lawquane. Cut Lawquane, and I'm just a simple farmer."

"You're a deserter."

Moira watched on as Rex and Cut and had to fight the urge to stop the bickering between them. Then his family came in. They seemed surprised to see her standing there. Her wings flexed softly.

"I told him he could just stay for the night," the woman said.

"Course he can. We never turn away those in need, do we?"

"No, we always help anyone we can," the little boy said.

"Umm… You look hungry Rex."

"No I'll stay out here."

The boy pleaded with him to go in and eat with them. Rex looked at Moira. Her eyes lowered before looking at Rex.

"I need to hunt," he looked at her at her commentary. "Go eat with them."

A curt nod was his answer as Cut helped Rex stand up. "Go with them Rex."

She walked out the front door and shot skyward vanishing into the darkness. Though with Rex injured she wouldn't go far. She sat on the roof of the house. The children screaming drew her to her feet in a rush. With grace and ease she landed in front of the house her wings fanned out.

"Moira don't!" Rex called to her.

"I got this Rex."

She turned around and stalked towards him. Grabbing a fist full of his shirt she pulled him forward so she could kiss him.

"Go inside Captain. I have this."

They locked the door. Snarling her eyes melted to crimson. She shot forward and managed to take down a few Commando Droids. Before she was sent skidding into a rock. Closing her eyes she hoped that Rex and Cut managed to get the rest. Once the battle seemed to stop she rose unsteadily. Thankfully her wings hadn't been broken in the hit. She moved to the house as Rex walked through the broken door. Moira stood strong as she waited for Rex to approach her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked her.

"I'll be okay," she promised softly. "Are you going to be alright?"

"So long as those Commando droids don't come back."

She nodded her head.

"I need to get back to the clan," she told him. "I have some unfinished business with a Clan member."

"That you couldn't finish because I got hurt."

"Rex," she admonished gently. "I killed my target right after I felt the aftershocks. I just need to clean up the mess from the confrontation with my Clansmen after that."

"Take care of yourself Moira."

"I will."

Moira looked at the family that was watching them. She turned her attention to Rex. "You get some rest."

"I'll try."

She moved forward and brushed her lips across his cheek before stepping back and vanishing. Soft footsteps drew his gaze to Cut as he came to stand beside him.

"She a Jedi?"

"No. She's an assassin."

"I've never seen her kind before."

"It's for the best that you haven't."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

Rex started at the question. "Wife?"

"No," Rex finally said.

He wasn't sure the answer to those questions himself. Moira told him exactly where she stood on what she wanted from him and he wasn't at the point where he felt he could make a correct choice that he wanted the same thing. "Maybe someday."

Cut just smirked at him and the two went back into the house to get some sleep. Rex would have to rejoin his team in the morning. His mind was awash with questions that he had no answers to, but one day he would.