Chapter 4: Hawks

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Tar'la was finally, finally, off shift. She somehow got bullied into taking several long shifts at a time. Which meant she could finally go to Keldab'ika. She wasn't sure what the mandos thought of the guard coming in and crashing their party, but she loved keldab'ika. She loved the mandos. There was just something so freeing with them. The guard and the mandos should have been squished together years ago. It made the stories about Tarre Viszla all the more interesting. Mandos and Jedi were meant to be one and the same.

Today she was extra excited to be going to Keldab'ika, because she got to take Ob'ika with her. So, she had happily hopped onto the public transport heading in the direction of Keldab'ika with Ob'ika hanging on her hand. He was chirping away about his classes, and his friends, which honestly was the cutest thing ever. She listened attentively with a smile. She was lucky enough to get quite a few assignments in the creche, and watch over their little mascot.

It was a good thing the little monster got over his biting phase, Cin said that he was starting to develop his venom, which meant biting would start to hurt more than just the little teeth. The details went over Tar'la's head but it sounded very very painful and long lasting.

Ob'ika's voice trailed off and he went still as a stone.

"Ob'ika?" She asked, looking at the youngling. His eyes were wide and unfocused, staring off unblinking. The guard were trained by this point to know the signs. Even now that he was 7, visions still tormented him regularly.

She pulled him closer, wrapping an arm over his shoulders as she kept watch around them. There were a few eyes watching them, but no danger yet. They were two stops away from Keldab'ika, soon they'd be in safe territory. The force was growing in warning, and she felt more tension. She had to be on alert.

"Hawk." Obi-Wan whispered.

"Hawk?" She asked softly.

"Mythosaur."

The transport stopped and the force blared an alarm. She bent down and scooped the youngling up in her arms, her hand twitching towards where her lightsaber was hidden. A mando stepped onto the transport and a cold chill ran down her spine. She knew that symbol. The guard were forced to learn the different mando symbols for Obi-Wan's safety, which ones were a danger to the youngling and which weren't. This mando was one of the ones they had to look out for. She quickly stepped off the transport, holding Ob'ika close. They could walk to keldab'ika. It would be longer, but they could do it.

"Hawk."

"Yes, hawk" She echoes absently as she shifted through the crowd. The muffled presence in the force that spoke of beskar followed them. With a glance over her shoulder, it was confirmed. The mando was following them, his T-visor looking directly at her.

"Hold onto me, kiddo." She said softly, wrapping his small arms around her neck so she could tap on her vambrace. "Come on, answer damn it."

"Veshok, what is it?"

"I need reinforcements to my position."

"Me'bana?"

"We've got a tail. Mando. Seems to be the enemy." She whispered into her com. "Ob'ika's in the middle of a vision."

"I'm sending out some ramikad'e." came the response.

"Make it fast." She said, ducking just as the force screamed. A dart went flying past her head, missing them by inches. She took off, clinging tightly to the still unaware youngling in her arms.

"Hawks closing in, surrounding."

"That doesn't sound good." She answered, trying to keep him calm as she ran.

"Aruetii. Aruetii."

"An outsider?"

"Aruetti. Used to be mythosaur, but not."

The force screamed and she ducked again, avoiding another dart. She wanted to curse and scream. This was her day off, it was supposed to be fun and easy, not this. Finally the familiar scream of jetpacks filled the air and blaster fire.

"This way." one mando said, male from the sound of his vo-coder, and she quickly followed them while the other mandos fought off the one attacking them. He scanned her over for any trackers and when she was cleared he guided her through the maze of alleyways and crossroads into Keldab'ika.

"Is the ad'ika okay?" He asked. She set Ob'ika down and looked him over. The youngling's eyes were still wide open, unseeing, but he was calm in the force.

"I think so? Visions aren't my specialty."

"I'll go get Sthal, he's in training at the moment." The mando offered and went off to the building the mandos let the guard learn and train.

"Hawk." Ob'ika whispered, tears filling his eyes.

"Hawk," she repeated, rubbing his arms to try to bring some comfort.

"Ben'ika!" the Mand'alor's voice called and she winced. Reluctantly she held a hand up, asking him to not get closer. "What's wrong?"

"Vision." As soon as the word left her mouth Sthal came running out and dropping next to them.

"What's happened?" Stha; asked, touching the youngling's shoulder as his force presence seemed to surround the little one.

"He's just gone vacant. He's been speaking, but nothing that makes sense. There were no reactions to his environment, not even when we were being shot at. But he did answer a question I asked." Tar'la reported.

"What question?" Sthal stopped whatever he was doing to look at her, brow creasing.

"He said aruetii, I asked if he meant outsider. He said 'used to be mythosaur but not'"

"Traitor then, probably, it's a good sign that he's able to respond." He turned back to Ob'ika. "Hey Ben'ika, can you hear me?"

"Hawk." Ben answered.

"You see a hawk?" Sthal asked, force presence reaching out to Ob'ika again, softly surrounding him.

"Lek."

"What's the hawk doing?"

"Eating."

"What's it eating."

"Mythosaur."

"That's very interesting, but you need to come back to us now."

"I don't want to leave the mythosaur alone."

"Why not?"

"Don't want him to be alone." Tears fell from his eyes as he started to cry. "Don't die."

"You need to come back to us."

"No."

"You are upset."

"... don't die."

"Your Buir is here, he wants to spend time with you." Sthal tried to coax Ob'ika back to the present, but instead the little one burst into tears and the force went heavy.

"Okay, Tar'la, I need you to grab onto my force presence, and don't let go." Sthal said calmly, shifting to sit fully in front of Ob'ika.

"Why?"

"Because I need to go in and help pull him out, but he's going to be trying to pull me in. You need to act as an achor."

"I am not trained for this."

"I'll be fine."

She let out a strangled sound, her lekku curling in anxiousness. Finally she knelt next to him, placed a hand on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt his presence in the force and grabbed onto it with both hands. His presence started to pull away from her, but she pictured herself settling down, lowering her center of gravity and held tight. Like an immovable rock, an old firm tree, she would not move. Whatever Ob'ika was doing was certainly causing quite the fight, but she would be damned if she lost a tug of war competition with a youngling.

Finally Sthal tugged back, pulling himself and the youngling out. She heard distantly the sound of sobbing, but she held tight. Then a tap on her shoulder and she opened her eyes.

"All good, you're a good anchor."

"Please don't make me do that again."

The bastard grinned and helped her up to her feet. She glanced over his shoulder and saw the little one sobbing his heart out as he clung to his father. The Mand'alor rocked his baby in his arms, trying to soothe him all while others watched.

It took some time but eventually the Mand'alor was able to get Ob'ika to stop crying and had scooped his son up to go off to celebrate his name day. Tar'la followed Sthal to their 'classroom'.

"So how far did you get into the codex?" He asked.

"I'm at clans and houses."

"Good, we've on the same lesson then."

Feemor grinned, clutching two mugs of tihaar as he wove his way through the celebrating crowd. This was something that would never be seen at the temple. The mandalorians clung onto any and every reason to celebrate with vigor. They even had a word for it. Shereshoy, a lust for life, the enjoyment of each day and a determination to seek and take every possible experience and relishing it. Today it was to celebrate Ben's name day, another year passed where the little one still lived. He was now flourishing and growing stronger, and that was something to celebrate. Ben bounced back from the vision rather quickly this time, and was off playing cu'bikad with his brother and his brother's friends. He winced slightly, part of him wanting to rush over to take the knives out of little hands, but knew that this was who they were.

"Alor," Feemor greeted, handing over the second mug as he sat.

"Ah, Aran Feemor, welcome. How are the classes? Good yes?"

"Elek, Alor. They are very interesting."

"Good, good. You are family with Alor Cin, yes?" The Mand'alor asked. Feemor made a face and tipped his hand back and forth. The Mand'alor took a sip of his drink and silently urged Feemor to continue, so with a grimace he did.

"Jedi families are… different. Most consider lineages the same as family. In that case we do share a lineage. His Master, Master Yoda, also taught Master Yan, who taught my mas- My former master."

"Former? He is no longer your teacher? I did not think the jetiise stop teaching once the student is grown." The Mand'alor frowned and leaned in.

"Ah, well…" Feemor sighed and looked into the liquid in his mug like it could save him. "My master has declared he did not raise any padawan to knighthood."

There was a gasp and a few shouts of outrage from nearby Mando'ad who were listening. He could feel the collective wince from the other guards who were around and knew.

"Your teacher, your parent said he was not your parent?" Someone gasped. Feemor slumped his shoulders, wishing he could melt into the ground and disappear. There was more talk in rushed mando'a that he couldn't quite keep up with when a hand clasped his shoulder.

"There is no word in our language for a child divorced by a parent. To do so is a shame on his honor, not yours. Only a child can divorce their parent, not the other way around." The Mand'alor said softly, having shifted to sit closer to Feemor.

"Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad, Feemor Sthal." One of the nearby Mandos jumped up with a large grin. There were shouts of idnignation and arguing that left Feemor sitting in wide-eyed shock.

"Luubid!" The Mand'alor shouted, causing everyone nearby to fall silent.

"What just happened?" Feemor asked, looking around at everyone.

"You do not have Aran Feemor's consent." He said very carefully, staring at the Mando who had jumped up. The Mando pouted and opened his mouth to respond but the Mand'alor raised a hand and silenced him. "Aran Feemor is not a foundling, he also has family with the Aran'alor. You did not ask for his consent. In addition, you would not have first claim even if he did wish to be adopted."

"ADOPTED?" Feemor squeaked, feeling his face go hot with blush.

"Sorry, if anyone adopts this kid it's going to be me." A familiar voice called over the crowd accompanied by a familiar presence. Feemor buried his face in his hands. Force take him now. An arm wrapped over his shoulders and Feemor groaned.

"Cin-"

"Nope, you're stuck with me kiddo. Sorry friend, but I'm keeping him." Cin interrupted him and Feemor could feel the smile in his voice. The sound of hurried little feet came rushing up to him and he could feel cin flinch against him. Reluctantly Feemor looked over and saw little Ben had plastered himself against Cin with a big smile.

"Master Cin, Master Cin, it's my name-day!" He chirped with a big grin.

"So it is, Ob'ika. Congratulations."

"Rur just adopted Fee, so now we can celebrate our name days together!" He cheered with an even larger smile. There was scattering laughter that made Feemor's face burn brighter.

"No, Fee didn't get adopted, Rur didn't go about it right." The Mand'alor said patiently. Ben pouted.

"But I wanted Fee to be in our house." He mumbled, moving to hug Feemor.

"Feemor, I know you are a Jetii, but I would be honored to count you as a member of my house." The Mand'alor said calmly and everyone went silent.

"I-"

"You do not need to answer. Think about it, and when you are ready you may answer."

Ben continued to pout but looked between his father and Feemor. He carefully climbed into Feemor's lap and gave him a very sincere hug before sliding back down and going over to his father.

"Buir, play cu'bikad with me." Ben demanded as he tugged on the hem of his father's tunic. Immediately the Mand'alor turned his attention to his youngest.

"I thought you were playing with Jango?"

"Ori'vod teamed up with Myles and Silas, but you're better than even three people so you play with me."

"Ohhh, I see. How about I tell you the secret I have on how to play?" Ben's eyes went wide and he crept closer as his father whispered in his ear. After a few moments Ben grinned brightly and took off.

"Ori'vod, I can beat you!" Ben shouted, clamoring up to the older boys. The Mand'alor chuckled and sat back down.

"Come, sit with us Cin." Cin plopped down between Feemor and the Mand'alor, to Feemor's relief.

"So, what have I missed."

As the two started talking, Feemor watched. An offer to join house Mereel, even though he wasn't a member of a clan or a mandalorian.

It….

It was a lot.

"He seems to have taken an interest in diplomacy and language."

"Really? Did he say why?" The Mand'alor asked, head tilted. Cin laughed and leaned in closer after checking the area for the children

"I asked him too. He said 'Jango's bad at speaking and makes people want to punch him, so I gotta learn how to convince people not to punch him'. I almost busted a rib trying not to laugh." Cin snickered but the Mand'alor groaned covering his face, which made Cin laugh even harder.

"I keep telling him that he doesn't need to learn to support his vod."

"He wants to support his vod because he loves him. It's quite cute. He's very determined to be the best advisor to Jango when he becomes Mand'alor."

"He does not need to-"

"No, but he wants to. And for some reason the force is drawing him to it." Cin assured and then went silent, glancing over at a laughing Ben. "I believe he has seen something, he won't say what, but his learning is important."

"Do you know what it is he sees?"

"No. Not entirely." Cin said carefully.

"Hawks flying high in the air, above the clouds." Feemor whispered, eyes locked on the flickering flames.

"Feemor, we shouldn't-"

"He should know." Feemor sighed, eyes closing, remembering what he had seen when he was drawn into the vision. " Hawks flying high in the air, above the clouds. One large and great, it's shadow covering the others. Below a mythosaur, digging into the earth, shaking animals to the ground. The hawks circle and watch, the mythosaur does not see them. Another mythosaur approaches, friendly and calm. When the first turns it's back, the other attacks, wounding it. It turns from a mythosaur to a great hawk. Then the hawks descend, pecking at the flesh, down to the bone. The large hawk tears out the heart of the mythosaur. A herd of young mythosaurs approach, scattering the hawks to the sky."

Feemor opened his eyes and looked up. Many eyes were on him. All the adults nearby were silent, the sound of the children playing just a ways away sounded jarring with the heavy weight that had settled around them. He took a deep breath before looking into the Mand'alor's dark eyes.

"Fee-" Cin started.

"You are the mythosaur. Ben has seen your death. He has seen it before, but it is all the same. There is an aruetii. And they will lead you to your death. Jango will watch you die."

Mando'a

Me'bana: What's happening? What happened?

Ramikad'e: Commandos

Aruetii: traitor, foreigner, outsider

Lek: yeah (shortened version of elek: yes)

Tihaar: alcoholic drink - strong clear spirit made from fruit, like eau de vie

Shereshoy: lust for life and much more - uniquely Mandalorian word, meaning the enjoyment of each day and the determination to seek and grab every possible experience, as well as surviving to see the next day - hanging onto life and relishing it. An understandable state of mind/ emotion for a warrior people. Closely related to the words for live, hunt and stay safe - and, of course *oya*. All from the same root.

Cu'bikad: Indoor game that involves stabbing blades into a chequered board - a cross between darts, chess and ludo

Alor: Chancellor, leader, chief, *officer, constable, boss

Aran: guard

Elek: yes

Jetiise: Jedi (plural)

Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad: adoption vow - lit. I know your name as my child.

Luubid: Enough

Buir: Parent/ mom/ dad

Ori'vod: big brother, older brother, special friend