Cal was awakened by a burning in his lungs, blood tainted ravenous waters chocking him. He attempted to find the surface, disoriented he barely moved as the river ripped him down. Cal with darkness creeping at his vision only was partially aware as something grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him above the raging rapids. Eyes snapping open when his face broke the surface, vision blurred as he gasped weakly coughing up water as the river continued to try and drown him. Cal did his best to assist his saviour as they reached calmer water, recovering himself back from his semi-consciousness. They both stumbled onto the stone bank, half out the water Cal breathed heavily on his hands and knees, bringing up all the water he could. A firm hand patted him on the back, looking up Saw finally came into view. Other than clearly exhausted and drenched he appeared to have fared well.
"You alright kid?" Saw helped him sit up onto his heels. The world span, pain pulsing all over, a stinging in his head and side. He first reached for his head, fingers brushing against a wound on his temple, retrieving his hand he found blood dripping from his pale fingertips.
"Yeah, I think so." Cal anticipated he would have aches and pains from taking a tumble down a waterfall. Saw kneeled in front of him, something appearing to have caught his attention. He peeled back Cal's drenched poncho, only then Cal noticing what Saw had.
"You sure?" Saw looked between his wound and his eye line. Blood having stained the green fabric red.
"I'm sure it's fine." Cal attempted to get to his feet, Saw aiding him with a steady hand. The pain was just bearable. Saw attempted to lead Cal into the jungle that stood in front of him, the wall of trees and vines intimidating. A horrid thought found itself at the forefront of Cal's mind.
"Where's BD-1?" He spun around the best he could, eyes scanning the river as well as its banks looking for his little friend.
"We need to move." Saw tugged Cal's arm, he fought back trying to stand his ground but Saw persisted.
"I'm not leaving him!" Saw grabbed his shoulders forcing him to face the rebel leader.
"The droid is gone, it's time to worry about yourself." Saw pointed to the fresh wound still bleeding on his side. "The plan is still in motion we have a job to do."
"Are you serious?" Cal finally managed to free himself from the man's stern hold, he wobbled on his feet, steadying quickly. "They know we're here; the whole point was to catch them off guard."
"They found a small scouting team and supposedly dealt with it; they're not going to expect a full-scale attack." Saw adjusted the equipment that he still had, not caring for Cal's reaction. "This is war Cal; people die but we must go on for those that still stand." Cal didn't know what to say, conflicted he found himself speechless. "Tend to your injury, then we move out."
With his back braced against a hefty root of a tree Cal tore the fabric of his blood-soaked poncho, uncovering more of his wound, a deep gash dribbled with crimson red. His clothing having not protected him in any way from the sharp rocks that littered the bottom of the falls. Hissing he pulled the now loose piece of fabric around his back, positioning it over the open wound, the two ends in a knot ready to be tightened. Cal gritted his teeth, trying not to curse under his breath as he pulled the fabric tight. The pressure was excruciating however necessary, with the little supplies this was the best he could do. He pushed himself up the tree, hand on his side. Like Saw he gave his equipment a quick check. The loss of BD-1 was weighing down on him the droid not just equipment to him. His bloody hand tapped at his thigh, his heart sank to a depth never deemed possible, he looked around frantically. His lightsabre was gone, presumed snatched up by the river. He instantly felt incomplete, as if his weapon was a part of him, his history.
"Cal." Saw's voice shifted his eyes, presented in front of him his lightsabre. The grey metal standing out in the lushes green environment. With a shaky hand Cal took back the hilt of his blade, keeping a tight hold. "You held onto that thing all the way down, took it from you when I grabbed you." Saw clarified as he readjusted his gloves. With a nod he turned, peeling back vines as he made his way deeper into the jungle. Cal took one last look behind him, one last look at the river that had claimed the life of a friend. With no time to mourn he walked away.
The terrain was somehow more unforgiving than before, Cal having to push himself to be able to keep up with Saw who was constantly a few meters ahead of him. With one hand clutching his lightsabre he used his other to balance himself when needed. His gloved hand brushed the bark of a towering tree, an image flashed in his mind. He stopped taken back for a moment.
"The others ran through here." Cal called to Saw ahead; the force having showed him a vision of the past. The sound of blasters being fired ringing in his ears. "They were chased." Cal continued as he regained himself, Saw watching him ahead.
"That's good, means those who knew we were here are behind us."
"They are being hunted and were just going to do nothing?" Cal face was a picture of disbelief, the commanders little care for those who fall in the name of peace haunting.
"This mission will succeed." He turned fire in his eyes, Saw pounced, walking right up to the young Jedi. "This mission will succeed, people will die, have died!" Cal held is tongue. "So, you can go running off after a lost cause, or you can help me win a battle, to eventually end a war." A finger prodded Cal in the chest and still he said nothing, just holding his side with his free hand. "We need to reach higher ground to contact the reinforcements." Saw tapped at the buttons on his gauntlet, trudging up the natural ramp leading back up the side of the falls. Cal heaved himself over a large root, leaf's brushing against his face, hair still stuck to his forehead, cloths heavy with water. Fresh blood staining his makeshift bandage. He followed Saw, guilt eating away at him.