The sound of life filtered into the dark room, children giggling, stall holders bartering with customers, droids clattering. It was the usual serenade, nothing out of the ordinary to the woman who sat within the room, her blaster before her as she cleaned it methodically. Her helmeted head tilted to the side, her well tuned ears picking the new sound of soft footsteps, indicating someone approaching. She lifted her gaze, eyes zeroing in on Tilah and Jaacob who paused in their motions at the adult's gaze.
"And where are you off to young ones?" The woman called, returning her gaze to her blaster as she began to reassemble, the amused lilt in her voice giving away her amusement though the tone still made the two children exchanged glances.
"Nowhere." Tilah answered, tilting her head as she saw her companion shrug his shoulders. Quickly turning her own helmeted head back to look at the elder of the three Mandalorians, who merely hummed, assembling her blaster as she waited for a true response "We got lost?"
"Hmmm." The woman nodded, playing along as she slung her reassembled blaster around her finger before returning it to her holster, pushing herself to her feet, "Then I assume you are glad you bumped into me."
"Kayla!" Jaacob, the elder of the two foundlings, whined, "You're the one who showed us this place."
The elder mandalorian nodded, glancing around the space, lifting her hands to gesture out to the space around them, "Yes. To allow us to delve into the histories of Mandalore without distraction and to develop your ability with weapons." Kayla reminded them somewhat gently, walking over to the two foundlings and turning them around, nudging them forward as she let of a huff of light disapproval, "Not for spying on the world above." The two children sighed, looking down at the ground with what Kayla assumed was annoyance, making a warm smile grace her hidden features only for it to fall as confusion settled in, "How did you reach this far anyway? Wasn't someone watching you?"
"Paz got distracted." Tilah shrugged, glancing back up to the red helmet of the elder mandalorian who tilted her head at the news.
Kayla's eyes narrowed in confusion. She'd never known Paz to have been so careless, and certainly not in their current home, there wasn't much to become distracted by. The sound of her confusion was masked as her voice came out slightly distorted by her helmet's modulator, "By what?"
The two shrugged, Tilah once again opening her mouth to answer, "Someone who came in from outside."
Kayla froze mid step, her head turned sharply down, glancing at the two foundlings in confusion before lifting her head to look down the corridor. No smoke. No blaster fire. No shouting. Her eyes narrowed as she quickly deduced this was no intruder. Her lips pursed behind her helmet as she thought through their current relations, working out who would draw Paz's attention, whom could be knocking that wouldn't cause a fuss, before her eyes widened, a warm smile settled over her face.
"Din." She breathed, her voice modulator barely picking up the noise earning her looks from the two kids.
"You ok Kayla?" Jaacob asked, as he and Tilah suddenly got nudged to move faster along the corridor, Kayla moving at a quicker speed and directing them along the length she knew would lead them back toward the area used for fight training that they'd likely escaped from. The elder barely cast the two foundlings a glance as she moved past, the children sharing another look as the woman didn't reply, before Jaacob called once again, "Kayla?"
"Hmm?" The red helmed madalorian hummed in light question, turning back to face them before the question caught up with her, "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Get back to Paz you two." She ordered lightly, before continuing on.
The two foundlings shared a look before sighing and shaking their heads as they moved back down the dimly lit corridor that would lead to their lessons. It wasn't the first time the woman had caught them, and while Kayla wasn't exactly the strictest Mandalorian within the covert, she wouldn't take them ignoring her orders well. Though the reaction to the news of an incomer did confuse them, the red warrior usually so calm and composed, and would never have dragged them down the corridor as she had.
Unaware of her silent tells, Kayla quickly made her way down the corridor, trying to maintain her composure but all out failing as she sped walked down the dim hallways that they temporarily called home. Nodding absently to a few of her brethren that hung around close to the entrance of the secluded entrance, the only form of protection they needed.
It didn't take her long to get to the chamber that had been selected for the Armorer, the housing of the clan's matriarch and home of all their rituals. It was a well-versed route for Kayla who often found herself seeking guidance or advice. Her steps did slow slightly, her head beginning to catch up with her, realising it would be unwise to burst in on Din and whatever his business was with the Armorer, knowing that was always his first stop whenever he returned. Her steps slowed as she turned the corner, her lips falling into a thoughtful frown as her usual question flitted through her skull. However, before she could think more on it, she caught sight of the bulking form of Paz, the very person the foundlings had escaped from, keeping watch from outside the door.
The mass of Mandalorian turned his head, clearly having heard her steps, her almost able to feel his eyes narrowing in disapproval at her appearance. Her own eyes narrowed in response, reading the unhappiness in his posture, the red warrior setting back her own shoulders in response, hands moving to her hips, just above her holsters. She bit back her huff as the man shook his head, clearly unamused by her display.
"Kayla." He greeted, his tone layered in warning.
"Paz." The red warrior returned, echoing his tone in a way that had him tilting his head in agitation, making a flare of irritation rise within her, "I shall remain. You may leave and see to your duties." She bit back a huff as Paz bristled, lips pursing as she tried to force his hand, "Your charges are in need of guidance."
Paz didn't vocally react to the news but instead crossed his arms, Kayla feeling a more expectant gaze being aimed her way and quickly deduced he'd likely let the pair she'd found out early from lessons once he'd found out of Dins return, "I fear they are not the only one in need of guidance." Kayla's hands fell to her blasters, "That would not be wise Kayla."
The red helmet tilted to the side, indicating her confusion, "Paz, I am the memory of this tribe." She reminded him, voice laced with warning, "And I fail to remember a time you were the quicker draw than I." Paz shuffled slightly, his hands falling to his own blaster.
"You would do well to remember what trouble he has brought."
"And you are quick to forget the support he has provided." She hummed back, her shoulders rolling to a more relaxed position as she eyed her fellow Mandalorian. After a pause she sighed, shaking her head, "Leave him be Paz. Believe it or not, I'm not in the mood for a duel. And I doubt anyone else would enjoy tidying our mess."
Paz continued to stare, Kayla watching him closely as he seemed to debate her words. It was true what she had said, she was the quicker draw and had yet to be beaten by him in a duel, but she was well aware there was always a first time for everything and as such her eyes remained pinned on him. The silence continued on, but eventually Paz huffed, pushing himself off the wall and walking off, but not before barging her shoulder in a light display of warning. Kayla knew she would likely be paying for her remarks during her next sparring session once word spread to those that agreed with the bulky Mandalorian.
A light sigh passed her lips as she sagged against the wall, arms falling to her sides. This was not the first argument on this topic, and she doubted it would be the last. She supposed it was only natural; this situation wasn't ideal; it was not the best environment to raise foundlings nor was it truly a place for a warrior. None of them liked hiding underground, so it was almost expected for there to be jealousy aimed towards Din and his freedom, accompanied frequently by anger at the trouble he occasionally brought back.
"This is the way."
The familiar phrase uttered by Din as he exited the armorer's forge brought Kayla back from her thoughts. Her head whipping around so fast, her body could barely keep up. A grin broke out on her face as she took in the familiar helmet, ignoring how his shoulders stiffened as if he was expecting a fight. Her eyes slowly drifted down to take him in fully, checking over his armour and weapons before quickly dragging them back up to zero in on the shining beskar pauldron that sat neatly on his right shoulder.
Din mirrored the slightly shorter mandalorian before him, his defensive posture instantly melting away as he quickly took in the familiar red helmet of Kayla. His gaze flickered down over her armoured body, quickly returning to her visor once he was sure she was still in one piece. His head tilted to the side slightly, silently questioning her, unsure as to why she would have come looking when it usually fell to him to seek her out, often finding her surrounded by the future of the covert, telling tales of long-lost hero's.
Ignoring the silent question, the red warrior moved forward, her hands drifting towards the newly forged armour that sat upon Din's shoulder. A light hum escaped her as she gently set her covered hand on the pauldron, able to feel the last tingling of warmth from the forge. She ran a finger down the piece, admiring the handiwork and the metal, it having been a while since she'd seen such fresh beskar. Her head tilted as she took it in, gaze moving back to look at Din as her hand fell back to her side.
"This is from the Great Purge." Kayla realised, her voice filled with light wonder, Din continued staring back at her as he waited for her to continue, the woman quickly piecing the information together, "You have a new job." She breathed, her shoulders sagging slightly.
"I do." Din agreed to her assessment, his voice barely hiding the sigh he longed to give at seeing her excitement fade once more. Kayla nodded her head slowly, trying to hide her disappointment and push back any selfishness, forcing herself to focus on the tribe.
"Do they have more beskar?" Din nodded his head once, Kayla letting out a small sigh that was barely picked up by her modulator as she took a step back, "Then you should not delay, it's imperative it's returned to the tribe."
"Kayla." Din tried as he took a step with her, "It's," He cut himself off as the red warrior before him shook her head.
"Din, you must think of the tribe." She continued, trying to justify his decision to herself, "The foundlings. We need all the beskar we can find." She lowered her head, pushing away her own emotions as she thought of all the children that was currently in the care of the tribe, the amount of beskar that had been reforged from lost mandolorians that still did not allow for armour for all the foundlings, "We must not lose our way."
Din lifted his hand, gently grabbing hold of Kayla's arm that was closest to him, understanding what she was doing. Kayla lifted her head on instinct at the contact, Din gently lowering his head to tap his helmet against hers, squeezing her arm gently in comfort. Kayla's eyes closed, lifting her other hand to place atop his and offering a squeeze in return as Din quietly sighed, "This is the way." Kayla let out a calming breath.
"This is the way."
The two stood in silence for a moment, heads continuing to touch. Kayla felt the familiar sensation of disappointment and pride fill her once more, knowing that while Din would not stay, his actions were valiant and allowed the covert to remain hidden, remain safe. In her youth admittedly she'd been more vocal in her agitation, desperate to travel and prove herself just as much a warrior, but with age came wisdom and her place within the tribe became clear, her role was written before her from the moment she was born.
"Ad'ika." (Daughter) The commanding voice of the armorer hummed, Din instantly straightening his head away from Kayla who pulled back slightly, squeezing his hand once before turning to face the woman who stood in the door.
"Buir." (Mother.) Kayla greeted, nodding her head respectfully, pursing her lips slightly as her mother turned and walked away, the silent order clear. Kayla cast a quick glance to Din, tilting her head as she offered him a caring pat on the chest, "K'oyacyi cyare'se." (Come back Safely, Sweetheart.) Kayla didn't glance back as she walked past, feeling Dins eyes on her and allowing herself a small smirk, when she heard her friend move off.
They'd see each other again, in this life of the next.