A/N: Those poor natives lol Here's the next chapter! Sorry it's been a while! Enjoy!
Lost
Chapter 3: Losing You
The natives looked amongst themselves and then back at Ben and Rey. When they saw the oozing purple coming from her arm, their eyes widened. Now that he got a look at them, they were covered in bandages, much like the Tuskens, but kind of like the Ewoks, too. It was a weird combination. They weren't human, from what he could tell. They looked to be animals. They were tall and slender, had tails and ears resembling a fox. Their eyes were large and green, complimenting their dark green skin... or... fur? Ben couldn't tell. "Don't just stand there! Help her!" he hissed, his saber thrumming with the unsteady energy he shoved into it.
The natives slowly approached and saw Rey's arm as well as her shallow breathing. They chattered amongst each other and one took off into the forest as if his life depended on it. The one in front, he assumed to be the leader, raised his hand to Rey's arm, moving the bandages all the way. Ben slowly lowered his saber, deciding to trust these things. After all, they were his only hope of saving her. He cursed the many years of his mistrust. He didn't know who to trust anymore. He knew that the only way that she would be saved was if these beings would help her. They knew this planet better than he did. He was an outsider. He knew nothing. He looked down at Rey's blank face, sweat beading on her forehead as she struggled to breathe. It tore him apart. He felt her pain. Every single bit of it. His brows knitted together in agony, both emotionally and physically, as he held her against him and prayed to whatever god was listening that she live.
He was rustled from his thoughts when the other native came back abruptly. The leader ushered him in and began to gather the supplies. He took out a pestle and mortar and began to pile in leaves, berries and flowers. Ben watched curiously and frowned when he realized that they were making the same nasty smelling stuff that was oozing out of Rey's arm. Or at least it smelled similar. They added a splash of water to it and the leader handed it to Ben. Ben stared at him for a moment, knowing what he was going to tell him to do, but still being hesitant to follow through with it. The leader cupped his hands and brought them to his mouth in a drinking motion, pointing at Rey. "What is this?" Ben asked as he looked down at the stuff he was about to give her.
The leader acted out as if he were scratching himself and things oozing out of his arm. Ben understood that he was trying to tell him a scratch was made and poison was seeping out. The leader then made some different hand motions of him collecting flowers, and scratching motion again, and grinding them up. He nodded at Ben. "So...the same plant that scratched her... is going to act as the antidote? It will cure her?" The leader nodded and ushered him to give it to her. Ben looked down at Rey and sighed before gently shaking her. "Rey..." he called softly. "Rey, wake up. I need you to drink this," he said as he gently shook her again. Her eyes opened a fraction, her breathing labored as she struggled to get her sight straight. He held the bowl to her lips and allowed a little to slide out of the bowl, but it wouldn't go in her mouth. He frowned. "Rey, wake up. You have to drink this to get well," he said a bit more sternly. "Rey, please drink this." He felt their bond weakening and he felt the panic rising within himself. He shook her a little more violently. "Rey!" he hissed. "Rey, you need to take this!"
The natives looked on, their ears lowering as well as their tails as they watched the sad scene before them. Had they been too late? Ben cursed under his breath before taking the liquid in his own mouth and pressing his lips against Rey's. He forced the liquid from his mouth to hers and gently massaged her throat to help her swallow it. When he felt that the liquid was gone from her mouth, he hesitantly pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. He frowned at the amount of emotions he was feeling at the moment. His side of the dyad was a raging whirlwind of emotions as he tried so hard to get his feelings to simmer down. How this stupid girl could have such an effect on him was beyond him. He pulled away when he felt her breathing start to level out once more. Now she seemed to be having a much deserved nap, rather than fighting for her life. He looked back at the natives and nodded his head in thanks. The leader of the natives nodded back at him and waved at him to follow them.
Ben was at a loss. Should he follow them? He looked down at the woman in his arms again before hoisting her up with him, carrying her bridal style as he followed after them. They stalked through the jungle, their footsteps quiet while his were commanding and thunderous. Curse these boots... He looked around and noticed that everything looked greener. The puddles on the ground weren't the muddy type that you'd expect after a rain; they were crystal clear. As if the rain that fell was completely pure with nothing tainting it. This planet was so odd...
The natives continued to walk through the forest, Ben holding Rey in his arms while she slept. He didn't know how long they'd be walking, or how long they'd been walking; all he knew was that the woman in his arms was at peace. It had suddenly occurred to him that had he not been able to help her, had the natives been unwilling to help them, she would be dead. His chest stung and burned at that thought. To think that he had almost lost her... that he would still live and she would die... He quickly shut that thought out of his head for fear that the surge of emotions would overtake him again and wake her. She needed her rest. He glanced down at her face and saw her curl up against him even closer, her face buried in his chest. He felt a warmth spread against his cheeks, if only for a moment. Who would have thought that the great Kylo Ren, leader of the First Order, would be brought to his knees over a scavenger from Jakku? It was laughable.
But this was his life now.
Truth be told, he didn't know what he would do had she not lived. His grip tightened around her at the thought of losing her. She wasn't allowed to leave him. Never. She had to live. As long as she lived, he did. He watched the natives call the group to a halt and he looked between them, watching them gesture to each other as their silent way of communicating. The leader seemed to be settling a quarrel between two others. One apparently looked unhappy that he was there with her. The other simply refused to let the other get his way. The leader only smacked them both on the head, demanding submission as they both quieted down and backed off. The leader nodded his head at Ben and moved the vines away, revealing an entrance to a cave. The leader gestured for him to enter and Ben hesitantly walked in after the other two that were squabbling.
Such strange creatures these things were. He looked around the cave and saw that it was a pathway. There were primitive torches lining the walls and steps leading down under the ground. He followed the creatures in silence, holding Rey close to him as if something threatened to pull her away from him. The deeper they got, the colder it got. And then it became warm and the sound of running water graced his ears. He felt the muggy feeling assault his skin once again and he had to hold back a groan of irritation. He hated the muggy atmosphere of this planet. It didn't help that he was wearing black.
Rey made a soft whimper in her sleep before reaching out and clutching his shirt, burying her face deeper in his chest. He looked down at her for a moment as he continued to descent the stairs. The affection he felt for her all of a sudden was almost too much to bear. He heard a faint whisper through their connection, which halted him in his steps. It was very faint. Very soft. Very... loving...? "Ben..."
It stole the breath right out of his lungs. Did she know she was clinging to him? Did she know what he had to do to save her? Did she know... how he was feeling right now? Was she even awake!? His lips pressed together tightly as he struggled to hide his emotions behind his side of the dyad. The only thing that saved him was the leader came up to him when they hit the bottom of the steps. He looked at the creature and the leader slowly reached for Rey's arm where she'd been scratched. The being looked it over carefully and nodded. "She live," he said in broken English.
Ben blinked in confusion. Had he known English this whole time!? "What was that back there?"
"Velenosa. Poison plant. Die in eight hours if no medicine," he said with a nod. Ben remained silent. He looked down at Rey and felt a pain in his chest at the thought. "You rest with her tonight." Ben's eyes widened a fraction as he raised his sight to the leader. "She need you to live." He turned to another of his species and spoke in a different language that Ben couldn't understand, but when he was done, he nodded at Ben and another of the species, possibly a girl, came up to them, ushering him to follow her.
Ben reluctantly followed her deeper and saw that it had opened up to a basin. There was a fire in the middle of the spot and small huts lined in a circle around the rock wall. He took in the sight. How these things had managed to survive, he was not sure, but it was definitely fascinating to say the least. The girl creature led him to a hut and opened the door for him with a small smile, her whiskers twitching in happiness. "My name is Lili. I'll help you tonight if you need it."
"You speak better English than the leader," Ben commented as he walked through the door, having to duck to not hit his head.
Lili giggled slightly. "Yes. I'm the only one that's been off world. You pick it up after a while." She walked in after him and led him through the house. Apparently, as soon as they walked through the door, there was a living room area with a couch and table. Venturing further in, there was a bathroom on the right and on the left was a bedroom. "You and your mate can lay on the bed for tonight. If you need anything else, let me know!"
"She's not my-!" Before he could finish the sentence, Lili was gone. He sighed heavily and shook his head. He gently set her on the bed and covered her up. He lingered for a moment, then stood and turned to walk away. A hand on his wrist stopped him. He froze in spot before looking behind him and seeing her eyes barely open. "Rey-"
"S-stay..." she whispered. Her voice was so small. Not the normally confident voice that she usually had. No, this one was of fear. "Please don't go," she said through their link, her eyes finding his weakly.
That was all the convincing he needed as he turned on his heel and knelt at the side of the bed. He got comfortable, arms folded on the bed as he looked over her. "How are you feeling?"
She offered a small, short-lived smile. "Tired... and hungry..."
He allowed a small smirk. "I'll find you some food. Stay here." She weakly nodded and he stood once more to leave. He walked to the front door and opened it, looking around the campfire. His eyes landed on Lili and within a moment, she was bouncing up to him.
"What can I help you with?" she asked cheerily.
He bit his cheek for a moment, not liking asking for help. Then he remembered that it was for Rey and not himself. "Food," he said simply, looking around as if he were going to get it himself.
Lili offered two bowls of some soup looking stuff. He looked down at it, unsure if it was edible. She only laughed in response. "Don't worry. Velenosa was more dangerous than this soup. Try it. Elder Mar-Bik worked hard on it." Once he took them from her, he nodded his thanks. "I'll leave water for you by the door," she said as he retreated inside.
Ben walked back inside to Rey and saw her sitting up on her own. Or at least attempting to. He set the bowls down in a hurry and rushed over to her, attempting to help her. Once she was up, he looked down at her and sighed. "You're so stubborn."
"You must be looking into a mirror," she tossed back as she grunted and held her stomach. "What happened?"
Ben felt his face heat up as he cleared his throat and handed her a bowl. "A plant they call Velenosa scratched you and poisoned you. Had you not received the antidote you'd have been dead in eight hours. The elder of the natives helped you."
She looked up at him and noticed there was something he wasn't telling her. "And?"
He shook his head and reclaimed his seat on the floor, back to the bed with his own bowl in hand. He felt her prodding at the connection and his body tensed a little. "Leave it alone, Rey."
"You're hiding something, Ben. What is it?"
"It's nothing."
"It's obviously something, now what is it?"
"I said it's nothing!" he hissed, his face burning with an intense heat that he was thankful for the darkness concealing it.
Rey frowned as she put a hand on his shoulder to coax him to look at her. "Ben, what are you hiding?!" Ben glanced over at her, an uncomfortable glare on his face, making her recoil. "Ben... I won't be angry... What happened?" Her voice was calmer now. Soothing. She kept her hand on his shoulder and watched as he sighed and turned his face away from her for a moment. "Ben-"
She felt his side of the dyad open up. What was he hiding?