Back to the present...

Ezra Bridger

"What'd I miss?" He said, swinging down from the rooftops. He saw it in the girls' eyes that they were surprised by his agility. It was nothing to faint at.

"Her." Via said simply, pointing to the newcomer. "Her name is Sabine."

"What's up with the uniform?" He questioned, taking in the suit that Sabine wore.

"Nothing. We'll just be hiding her for a few days." She glared at Sabine. "Right?"

"Right." Sabine said, her voice polished and precise.

Ezra went to the door and pried it open. Letting it swing shut behind him, he strode into the room.

"Rude." He could hear from the surface, and stifled a chuckle. He went to a small corner of the room where he'd made his territory. His own stuff was strewn around, not that he had much stuff.

He shuffled away a pile of his junk to reveal something he had found: a hole. It wasn't too deep, and it was set in the wall, away from prying eyes. The girls have apparently used it before, because there was a flashlight in there, but otherwise, it was all his. He took off his backpack and put it on the floor in front of him.

Inside were his usual gear, and some others he'd picked up from the house. There was a pair of gloves that he put on, but they dangled off his hands. They seemed thick; thick enough to avoid scrapes and scratches. Another was a jacket, its orange color faded by time. There was also a small slingshot that he couldn't figure out how to use. He stuffed it all in the hole and covered it again.

Ezra took a breath, but it was caught in his throat. He had no doubt that all the gear had been his dad's, and again he wondered where his parents were. "Don't dwell on the past," he murmured, never intending for anyone to hear.

"What?" Ocean said, coming up behind him. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." He said, his voice cracking.

"Oh I get it! You said the word 'nothing'!" She exclaimed, seeming to not have noticed.

Ezra turned around and began to go out the door, when Ocean stuck her foot out. He tripped and fell flat on his face.

"Ow! What was that for?" He said, rubbing his sore nose.

"You're not leaving until you tell me what you said. Ocean tightened her hands into fists, and assumed an attacking stance.

"Okay fine!" Ezra said, throwing up his arms in exaggeration. "I said to not dwell on the past."

"Well that isn't right." Via said, strolling into the room. Sabine scrambled in after her and went to the girls' room. "You have to learn from your past, to make sure it never happens again. Not to just forget about it and cast it aside like a pair of old boots!"

"What do you know?" He said, crossing his arms. "It's not like you've ever had something you need to forget.

Via whipped around to face him. Ocean's eyes went wide, and sliced her hand across her throat repeatedly. Obviously he struck a nerve.

"Be quiet. You don't know what Ocean and I have done. You don't know what we've had to do to get this far. So I just recommend that you stay silent! Unless you want another unidentified body floating in a river!" She said through clenched teeth.

She stomped off outside, and clapped four times. Market. "And don't even think about following me." She spat as she ducked through the door.

"What was that?" Ezra asked, his heart hammering from the confrontation.

"You don't know what we've done in the academy to get where we are. So I suggest you stick to thieving and stay out of our lives." Ocean seemed more distant than angry, but Ezra decided not to push it. Having your sister on your tail is bad, but having a sister who's faster, stronger, and more cunning than you on your tail is worse.

"I never knew," He said, almost talking into his shirt collar.

"And you never will."

Ezra perched on the rooftop, shifting uncomfortably on the thin ledge he was sitting on. Via hasn't come back since the morning, and it was already midnight. Ocean had ordered him to stay up here and guard the entrance, and "see if Via comes back with a dog. That's the only excuse she had for staying out so late."

He sighed again and pulled out a pair of binoculars. Looking around, he couldn't see anything, and with a jolt, he realized that Via hadn't gone out in her usual jeans and t-shirt (Do these clothes exist in Star Wars Rebels?). She'd gone out in her slinking uniform, full black. That either meant she was too lazy to change (That's never happened before, she hates the tights that go with the outfit) or she was going to rob someone. And with robbing comes storm troopers. And with storm troopers come prison. And with prison comes –

No. If all of us were captured, I would probably break first. Via would probably stay silent until they released her, or she escaped, and Ocean would probably make a joke or drive them insane with her talking. I would probably, well, tell them nothing. I know nothing. That's my cover story. The girls kidnapped him, and he has nothing to do with them. It's always good to have a story to lean on, no matter what.

He put the binoculars back in his bag. Going inside the hideout, he shook Ocean awake. She muttered something intelligible, and rolled over.

"I'm going to look for Via." He said, shaking her again. She waved her hand in the air and put her head below the covers. Yep. She heard him. He went to his corner, got some credits, and took off for the market. His feet thudded on the ground as he ran, and his backpack smacked against his back every time he took a step. When he got to the market, he could see nothing. All the stalls were closed, and no one was anywhere near. Taking a deep breath, he did something Ocean had taught him.

Reaching out with his senses and closing his eyes, he imagined the scene in front of him as if he were looking at it. He felt around for any presences of life, and he found none. Disappointed, he opened his eyes, but saw a curious purple streak on the ground, winding down the road. He rubbed his eyes, but it was still there. (At this point, I sorta forgot Ezra is 9, so I'm reminding you. EZRA IS 9 RIGHT NOW!)

As he looked at it closely, he realized that it was the same feeling he got from looking at Via's cloaking gadget. He began to follow the path, through many towns and roads. This was the first time since his parents' death that he'd left his hometown, but he had a purpose other than survival. And it felt good.

By the time he stopped to rest, the sun was coming up. He looked ahead, and dimly wondered how Via could have traveled so far. Then his eyes caught sight of the end of the trail. It ended at a building's door.

Lothal's Academy of the Foremost Storm Cadets.

Via, what have you done?