- After landing, run straight to the south, got it? - Anakin strained his throat to make sure his words pierced through the noise of the gunship. Ahsoka was often tempted to let the orders fly by her montrals even in normal conditions, all the more when engines were drowning them out.
- Sure, Skyguy - She answered casually, not bothering to raise her voice excessively. Anakin wasn't sure whether the command properly sank in her head. Ahsoka was staring at the durasteel door, her arm awkwardly stretched upwards, palm tightening grip on the handle as the ship shook violently.
- I just don't want Obi-wan to pick at my tactics again. - Anakin murmured, looking away, aware that even Ahsoka's sensitive hearing couldn't catch his grumbling.
The interior was quickly heating up and the warm, adrenaline-fueled breaths of the platoon of soldiers were only partly behind it. Humid air filled their ship, indicating they entered the planet's atmosphere. Explosions of the battle were almost tangible at this proximity.
- The fire is too heavy, General. - Clone's voice sounded through the comm. - It's the closest I can get you.
- Close enough. All right everyone, behind me. - Skywalker shouted just before the door opened, letting the strong gust of wind in.
Ahsoka was soon gone in the opposite direction, bringing him some relief by obeying the orders for once. Anakin jumped off the board, his legs barely touched the ground before sending him forward, right into the centre of the battle. His saber was no longer a straight line but a bright blue glare as it swiftly swung around, deflecting blaster bolts. Cut droids didn't even crumble to the ground and Anakin was already piercing his saber through another one, leaving a path littered with metal parts. Despite countless explosions, Skywalker could hear his troops' heavy footsteps, feel their movements as they trode right behind him.
Anakin soon fell into the rhythm set by his own heartbeat. He was effortlessly spinning among red beams, his smooth motions unaffected even by thick, high grass brushing his calves. That was until a strong force threw him off balance. The impact was too sudden to cushion it and he found himself kneeling on the ground, saber reflecting the incoming bolt at the last moment before hitting his head. Anakin glanced at Ahsoka who was now half-laying in dirt after unceremoniously bumping into his back.
- You were supposed to head south - Anakin barked while standing up. He had to refocus on the battlefield and keep on deflecting bolts but couldn't shake the urge to dust off his clothes.
- I did! - She snapped. Ashoka climbed to her feet, grimacing as her knee throbbed in the process. - Where did you think I was until now?
- No idea, but I was fine with it as long as it wasn't on my back. - He retorted harshly.
- Glad to see you both in sync - Came Obi-wan's calm yet mocking voice. Anakin looked to his left and saw his Master smirking knowingly.
- Is that how you greet reinforcements?
- I said I was glad. - Obi-wan sent him a wide grin, which Anakin eventually returned.
- Sorry to bother but wasn't there a point in me instaling the bombs? - Ahsoka cut in.
- Oh, right. Almost forgot about that - Anakin said casually. Ahsoka just rolled her eyes.
One tap on the girl's wrist was enough to make the ground shake under their feet. Big stones which served as a great cover for Separatist forces now exploded, burying tanks with a massive noise. Anakin wanted to cover his ears but instead went for shielding his eyes as a cloud of dust swept into their faces.
- Well, that solves our problem - Anakin summed up when the storm settled down.
- It sure does - Obi-wan agreed after coughing the dust out. - But really, Anakin? Bombs?
- What? It's effective.
- It's lazy. Why is it that all of your plans end up with some kind of explosion? - Ahsoka vocalised her irritation while massaging her montrals. They always hurt after loud blasts, which on battlefields wasn't out of ordinary. Despite her spiteful remark, Anakin sent his padawan a sympathetic look. - You've become repetitive. - She huffed annoyedly.
- I understand Obi-wan complaining about my tactics, he's an old man after all, but my own padawan backstabbing me like that? - Anakin put on the most dramatic expression he could muster.
- Well to be fair, your plans tend to be reckless. - Kenobi pointed out, not bothered by Anakin's display in the slightest.
- Nah, depends on your point of view. - Anaki waved his hand nonchalantly.
- Precisely. And mine wasn't very optimistic while being a decoy for Gundark.
- But it all worked out in the end, hadn't it? - Anakin argued with a cocky grin spreading across his face and arms confidently crossed over his chest. - I mean, look at all those droids: smashed under rocks while we're standing here, chatting, problem-free.
- Sir, we have a problem - Rex suddenly came up to them but didn't even manage to take his helmet off when Ahsoka burst into laughter.
- Perfect timing, Rexter. As always - The girl said between ripples of giggles. Captain looked confused at his commander, then directed a clueless expression at Anakin.
- Don't mind her - Skywalker shrugged it off with a wave of his hand. - What is it, Captain?
- We received a message from General Mundi, he awaits our arrival. However, flight in gunships won't be possible at night.
- Then it's a good thing the sun is up high… - Anakin broke in banteringly but when he looked up at the sky and saw orange light consuming the horizon, his eyebrows furrowed heavily. - It's already sundown?
- Thank you for your detailed observation, your perception abilities are spot on - Obi-wan mocked in such a serious tone that if Anakin hadn't known him better he'd have been almost flattered. - The rotations are much shorter here, the night won't last longer than five hours but we don't have time to wait it out.
- Then we better get going. - Anakin looked behind his shoulder at the mix of blue and yellow markings covering white armour, then turned back to his Captain. - Rex, gather the men. - Clone nodded before shouting commands to the troops.
Anakin was observing the dark outline of high trees way off in the distance for a while. The prospect of a long hike made him miss the dynamic of a battle they'd just won. But postponing the set-off won't make it go away. He made a particularly big step to go over a still-sparkling droid. They moved towards the sunset, leaving the droid graveyard behind.
- Be careful, there might be stray units of droids. - Anakin warned the troops as they entered the forest. He didn't want to ruin the bright banter between 501st and 212th but they didn't need any more obstacles. The path was already bad as it was. The initially slimy ground morphed into an outright swamp, its surface going up to Anakin's shins. Deep down, beneath the thick treetops, the air was stifling and heavy but water plopping in his boots wasn't the kind of refreshment he appreciated.
- Kriff, I can't see anything - Anakin cursed loudly after a wet leaf slapped his face. It was past nightfall and the only source of light was the one coming from flashlights from the clone's helmets.
- Then let the force guide you, Master. - Ahsoka said in the most spiritualised tone, only his title slipped from her mouth with a very noticeable amount of sarcasm.
Skywalker wanted to fight back but she already disappeared far ahead in the dark. He knew she was silently flexing her nocturnal vision but couldn't even blame her for that. He would have done the same, only more flashily.
- Has something happened between you and Ahsoka? - Obi-wan asked, now that she couldn't hear them. - She seems more… - Kenobi made a pause, looking for the right word.
- Snippy? - Anakin prompted. - Yeah, we had some…
- Misunderstandings? - Obi-wan offered as Anakin was also struggling to verbalise his thoughts.
- Something like that. - Anakin returned the gentle smile that his Master was sending, but it soon faded. Misunderstandings were quite an understatement and they both knew it. But how was he supposed to deal with Ahsoka? He'd tried many strategies and they all seemed to fail. Maybe his padawan was right, maybe he was lacking in fervour. And their charged relationship was going to explode, one way or another.
- Anakin, stop that - Obi-wan's voice abruptly cut his chain of consuming thoughts. - Tell me what's troubling you. But slowly - He added when Skywalker was about to open his mouth and rashly let the words out. He took a deep breath, collecting his feelings to be able to express them in a more coherent way.
- Ahsoka tends to…misinterpret my intentions - He started diplomatically - It's just that - Anakin had to really strain his self-control not to let his emotions get the better of him - I'm trying to keep her from danger as best as I can, but then she says I'm being overprotective, that I don't trust her. So now that I'm trying to give her space, she thinks I don't care. - Despite Anakin's effort, his frustration managed to fill both his words and an exasperated huff he let out. He was silent for a moment, then added in a whisper. - But I do care, I really do.
Obi-wan sighed. These predicaments were far from unfamiliar. He could easily recall the feeling of utter helplessness. And without his own Master's guidance, it was even harder.
- I know it, and I'm sure Ahsoka does too. - Anakin could feel Obi-wan's gaze on himself but stubbornly kept his eyes fixed ahead. - But maybe you should look at it from her perspective. - At this Skywalker's head snapped.
- I have no idea what her perspective is. Only that it's karking messed up. - Anakin couldn't hold his temper and the swamp's water line rising to his hips wasn't helping.
- Anakin, she's basically a smaller version of you. - Obi-wan pointed out tiredly.
- Then why don't you talk some sense into her since you've already been through this with me?
- I've never said I figured you out.
- Oh, that's funny - Anakin said dryly.
- What I'm trying to say is that probably the person who understands her the most is you. - Anakin held back a retort. Partly because he agreed with Obi-wan, to some extent, but mostly he was distracted by the unknown feeling in the Force.
Skywalker strained his eyesight to locate the difference in his surroundings when green blazing light flared up far ahead. Anakin halted, tentatively reaching for his own lightsaber and, out of the corner of his eye, could see Obi-wan do the same. The sound of splashing water ceased as troopers froze in place. After a series of metallic clicks of the unlocked blasters, the forest went deadly quiet. The beams of light were flickering in different directions as clones turned their heads, trying to spot the danger that even Anakin couldn't place. Skywalker couldn't help but think of the wide gap separating him from Ahsoka when her lightsaber took a first forceful swing and the hell opened its gates.
Clones started shooting before Anakin could properly see the black, slimy creatures bursting out of the water. He cut the monsters in half, their heavy lifeless bodies falling into the swamp with a loud ripple, thick blood tainting the water green. But then another figure disappeared underneath the surface and Anakin wasted no time diving in. Visibility under the water was just as bad as beneath it. Blue bolts shone in the mud, persistently missing their fast-moving target. Anakin manoeuvred through them to the clone who was struggling in the tight grip of the beast. The Jedi managed to slaughter it before sharp teeth pierced the trooper's armour. Anakin rushed for the oxygen, tugging the man along.
- Thank you, General - Tup rasped out while still leaning on Skywalker; his legs were wobbly, hand trembling around the blaster's trigger.
- We need to get out of the water! - Came Obi-wan's strained voice and despite fighting a few metres away, he was barely hearable, almost entirely drowned in the cacophony of gunshots and swamp's splashing.
- We need to move! Go go go! - Anakin shouted at the top of his lungs after he got rid of the water that got inside them.
There was no time to think, he wasn't even sure if everyone heard him, but they had to have enough self-preservation to run. Anakin's lightsaber didn't stop from cutting the creatures, his other hand force-pushing clammy corpses but they kept coming. The escape was draining them, sweat dripping on their faces and falling to the knee-high swamp. Anakin greeted the drop in water level with relief but no one dared to halt until their feet emerged from the mud and were wading in nothing more than slimy puddles.
Loud gasps for air sounded in the never-ending canon, everyone tried to catch a breath but Anakin couldn't, not when there was no sight of small Togruta. She disappeared amid a battle and it's been far too long since the last time he at least caught a glimpse of her green lightsaber.
- Where's Commander Tano? - He asked no one in particular but troopers answered with a shake of their heads. Anakin tried to comm her but only a dull buzz came from the other side of the link. - Ahsoka? - Skywalker called with panic rising in his chest while turning around frantically. - Ahsoka!
Anakin was pushing through the clones, dozens of flashlights weren't enough to see past the darkness of the forest. He tried to pinpoint her presence but unfamiliar creatures were distracting his senses, just like his throbbing heart. His mind started projecting horrifying scenarios in which Ahsoka was being torn in the murderous grip of strong jaws. He knew that it wasn't true, at least not yet, but it was enough of an impulse to break into a run. Mud was splashing onto his calves with each heavy step on the slimy ground. He was running practically blindly, the dim light of the moon barely enough to avoid colliding into tree trunks. Anakin slowed down to miss bumping into another one when something slammed into him. He quickly turned around, mussels tense until he realised that small hands clenching his tunic belonged to Ahsoka. Her big blue eyes fixed on his face for a moment, then she buried her head in his chest. Anakin immediately embraced her, his breathing slowly coming back to normal now that he knew she was safe and within his reach.
- You went south too far this time. - Anakin murmured, his voice much more hoarse than he expected.
- Sorry - Ahsoka breathed, her frame relaxing in his arms. - I'm sorry Master. - Her voice was quiet, muffled by his tunic but despite all that, Anakin heard the unwavering sincerity in her words. His lips twitched upwards in a gentle smile. He allowed himself to take a few more deep breaths before releasing Ahsoka from his hold and returning to the troops.
The rest of the trip went without any surprises but everybody was too exhausted for even a small chat. The moment they left the forest behind, bright orange light fell on their faces. Anakin had to squint his eyes slightly to see the camp in front of them. Warm rays of the sun were already drying his clothes, but Skywalker wasn't sure he could shake the feeling of being drenched for the next couple of days.
- Master Kenobi, Master Skywalker, it's good to see you - Mundi greeted them but his eyes grew wider when he came close enough to look them up and down. - I could point out lateness but based on your appearance I assume you had your reasons.
- Let's just say we were fraternising with the locals - Obi-wan sent Anakin a knowing look. Some retorts were bouncing at the back of his mind but he was too tired to say them out loud. Despite shorter cycles here, Anakin could easily count this night as one of the longest in his life. But then he glanced at his small padawan leaning trustfully on his arm. And somehow he felt more at peace now that cuts and bruises adorned his skin than a few hours ago when the sun was high up in the sky.