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illuminatedquill · 2 days ago

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Story Summary: Takes place post-Ahsoka S1. Stranded on Peridea, Sabine, Ahsoka, and Huyang pass the time listening to tales of Ezra from the Noti, one of which reveals the origin of their mysterious starbird medallions.

Happy Birthday to the one and only @alphaofdarkness! Hope it was a good one this year and thank you for being such a lovely friend and super talented artist for our fandom.

It had been another long day of travel for the Noti convoy and their new protectors. In the week since Thrawn, his Imperial Remnant, and a stowaway Ezra had made the escape back to their home galaxy, things had since settled down back into a mundane routine.

As evening fell, the Noti prepared a feast to celebrate another safe journey. In middle of camp, a massive cauldron hovered over a fire, boiling with some delicious smelling stew. Ahsoka took a sniff, her stomach rumbling at the aromas drifting in her direction on the gentle night breeze. Folding her cloak over her body more snugly, she took mental stock of their journey so far.

The nomadic bandit clans that roamed the wastelands of Peridea were dangerous, despite their primitive weaponry. The Noti had no real way of defending themselves, outside of the rock-like shells that were an extension of their physicality. But Ezra's presence had clearly left a mark; the turtle people were resilient and clever, relying on their wits and ingenious solutions to avoid a head-on confrontation with their ancient enemy.

It probably also helped that they now had two Jedi to protect them, instead of one. Although two was admittedly a stretch since Sabine was in training. She had pulled off some amazing feats of the Force since her reunion with Ezra, but her ability to wield it fully was still erratic.

Ahsoka wasn't worried, however. They had nothing but time now and Sabine was a fast learner . . . once she actually started listening, that is.

Sitting on wooden stump that serviced comfortably as a seat, the smell of tonight's dinner wafted through the air; a thick, creamy seafood broth that was a Noti specialty, according to Huyang. The droid had been chatting constantly with the turtle folk in attempt to learn their native tongue to better learn about their culture and facilitate easier lines of communication in case of emergency. Ahsoka had been trying to learn the language herself but could still only understand it roughly and was still unable to speak it.

Huyang stood near the fire, observing the Noti cooking. His vocabulator emitted a strange series of chirps and clicking sounds to which the turtle people responded in kind. When they finished, Huyang's mechanical head turned to find Ahsoka. She waved at him from her spot on the rock, a few meters away.

He gave a thumbs up. She blinked at him and then - hesitantly - gave one in return.

Familiar footsteps came up behind her. "Seems like we'll actually be able to taste tonight's supper then," remarked Sabine.

Ahsoka smiled, turning to find her padawan squatting down to take in the scenery before her. Every night, the two of them would take turns patrolling the perimeter, ready to send an alarm in case of a late-night bandit attack. So far, the bandits didn't seem interested in the Noti throughout this latest journey.

In fact, they seemed eerily quiet. The Noti elders had said that it was unusual - but not uncommon - for the bandits to not be seen for quite some time. There was no centralized leadership among the bandit clans; they were all separate and distinct, sometimes warring amongst themselves.

Ahsoka hoped that was the case. She knew that her and Sabine were not the only ones on the planet: Baylan Skoll, a fallen Jedi, and his apprentice, Shin Hati were also here. Whether they were together or plotting separately, only one thing was sure: neither of them were up to anything good.

But that was a problem for another day. For tonight, she would focus on the present and enjoy a relaxing evening after a productive day with some good food.

"You think that's what Huyang's thumbs up was about?" Ahsoka asked.

Sabine shrugged. The Jedi noticed the glassy, vacant look in the young Mandalorian's eyes. Her body was physically present, but Ahsoka knew that Sabine's mind - and heart - were elsewhere.

With Ezra.

Despite her reassurances that Ezra had made it home, she knew the young woman remained worried about him. Her feelings for him still burned bright after their long-awaited reunion. If anything, Sabine's feeling had only intensified since then.

Ahsoka prodded her gently. "All quiet out there?"

"Nothing but the wind," Sabine replied. "Maybe some tumbleweeds."

"Good to know."

A small Noti came up beside them then, tugging at Sabine's sleeve. She blinked and focused on the little turtle alien. "Hey, Fred," she said politely. "What have you got there?"

"Fred?" Ahsoka was surprised that Sabine knew the Noti's name. "How did you know his name was Fred?"

Sabine grinned at her. "I called him Fred. Didn't seem to mind. Now it's his name. Simple."

The Jedi snorted. That was her padawan's casual slant on things, alright.

The Noti - Fred - produced from his ratty shirt an unfamiliar object. It was round, in the shape of a medallion, but not too large since it fit in his hand. It was carved from pale wood that was native to the trees that grew on Peridea and painted on it in dark orange hues was a symbol.

"Looks like the New Republic symbol," Ahsoka murmured. She turned to Sabine, about to ask for her guess -

And was hit with a wave of melancholy and regret through the Force. Sabine stared down at the little wooden medallion with sad eyes.

"Sabine?" asked Ahsoka. "What's wrong?"

For a long moment, she thought Sabine hadn't heard her. Then, quietly, she heard an answer, whisper soft: "Ezra made these."

Fred jumped excitedly at the mention of Ezra. "Ezra Bridger!" he squealed, pointing at the medallion and then at one of Sabine's shoulder pauldrons.

"Really? You're sure?"

"She is correct, Lady Tano," came Huyang's voice. He had made his way over to them, joining the discussion. "Master Bridger did indeed craft these medallions for the Noti."

Ahsoka looked at the droid and then back to Sabine. Suddenly Sabine's outburst of feelings made sense.

"It's not the New Republic symbol, is it," she said. "It's something else that looks similar to it."

Sabine sat down on the ground; head bowed in sudden grief. She didn't reply.

"It is Lady Wren's symbol," Huyang answered instead. "Her personal Starbird, if I'm not mistaken."

Sabine remained silent. Ahsoka frowned and asked, "Why did Ezra make these?"

Huyang turned and knelt in front of Fred, relaying the question in the Noti's language. Fred chittered something back, making exaggerated hand movements all the while.

Finally, Huyang finished the translation. "Fred says that the medallions are charms to ward off fear. The starbird symbol on them makes them brave."

That elicited a reaction from Sabine. A choked sound that was half-laughter, half-sob. "Of course he would," Ahsoka heard her mutter.

She poked her padawan. "Care to elaborate?"

Sabine looked up, eyes glistening. "There are no birds on Peridea," she explained, her voice rough with emotion. "He couldn't give them a feather."

Ahsoka glanced at Huyang. The droid merely shrugged.

"I'm not following," Ahsoka said.

Sabine was quiet for a moment, struggling to regain her composure. The Jedi waited patiently, knowing how difficult it was for her padawan. Anything regarding Ezra was always a touchy subject for Sabine.

The young woman took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice soft. "When we were younger - still traveling on the Ghost with everyone, that is - I told Ezra a story about the starbird once."

Fred sat in front of Sabine, stubbly legs crossed, looking enraptured. Ahsoka felt amused. Despite the language barrier, the Noti still seemed interested.

Ahsoka turned to Huyang. "Translate for Fred, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all, Lady Tano."

Sabine blinked. "You want me to tell the story?"

"Well," Ahsoka pointed out gently, "seems like you want to tell it, Sabine."

She cocked her head. "I don't understand."

"That's fine. Just keep telling the story. It sounds lovely."

Sabine sighed. "Another lesson, huh. Fine, have it your way."

Her expression turned thoughtful, and then she began telling the tale.

"A long time ago, the first space travelers learned the secrets of hyperspace. At least they could be free of the confines of their lonely planets and travel to far beyond. They built ships and flew them into the void between planets, in the hopes of seeing what the vast galaxy had to offer. But, very quickly, they became lost. The planets were so far away and there was nothing to mark the path; no guide to point the way forward or back in the endless, deep dark. "

Ahsoka smiled, enjoying the vivid imagery her padawan was invoking. She was a natural storyteller, whether Sabine believed it or not.

Sabine leaned forward; eyes sparkling as she continued the story.

"For you see, there were no stars back then. None existed, as they do on this evening, brightening up the night sky. All those people, lost in the dark, with no way to go home. They were scared. In the void of infinite space, they cried out for anyone - anything - to save them."

A couple more Noti had come over to join them now, forming a small circle around Sabine. Huyang continued to translate, his voice chattering away in the Noti's tongue.

"Then the starbirds came. From where, no one really knows. But they came through the darkness, their feathers shining so brightly. To the weary and scared travelers, they each offered a simple trade:

'Give me some of your fear and, in return, I will give you some of my courage.'

"The travelers agreed, awed by the majestic beauty of the starbirds - but even more awed at their generosity and compassion. And so, the trade was made, over and over again. Because fear is never gone forever, right? Again and again, they fell into fear. Again and again, the starbirds gave them courage. And that courage came in the form of a feather."

Sabine pointed up at the night sky. "Starbird feathers burn forever, did you know? Whenever the travelers became scared, the starbirds left a feather to light their way. And that's how the first stars came into being. Guiding lights to shine their way home."

Ahsoka reached out to Fred and lifted up his medallion. "He had no feathers to give," she said out loud, understanding dawning her on Sabine's earlier statement.

The young woman nodded, smiling. "No birds on Peridea. No feathers to give. So, Ezra did the next best thing; he gave them the image of a starbird."

Huyang interjected with a sudden question. "I had heard of an ancient Mandalorian saying: 'May the Starbird come for you.'"

"Yes," Sabine said. "It originated from that tale. My people used to say it as a form of well-wishes, when undertaking a long journey."

"My understanding, however, is that the phrase was intended as a curse," Huyang said.

Ahsoka watched her padawan's face darken for a moment. "It can be meant as one," Sabine admitted reluctantly. "In some of the other stories about starbirds, they were used as weapons to punish our enemies."

Her eyes flashed fiercely. "But I always held onto the belief that starbirds were creatures of hope. Not vengeance. That's why I chose them as my personal symbol."

Huyang nodded. "I see. I concur with you, Lady Wren. I prefer your version rather than the other ones."

"Ezra made these to give the Noti hope and courage," said Ahsoka. "He was thinking of you when doing so, Sabine."

Sabine looked away suddenly. "He was thinking of a myth. Stupid."

The Jedi raised a surprised eyebrow. "You don't really believe that."

"He should have been thinking of how to survive!" Sabine shouted. Suddenly, the turbulent feelings were back in full force. A dam, somewhere deep inside her padawan, was beginning to burst. "A starbird wouldn't save him. Couldn't save anybody. These little trinkets he made - "

She stopped short of saying whatever came next. Shaking her head roughly, she stood up abruptly and stalked off into the dark.

Ahsoka watched sadly, watching her go. Then, to her surprise, Fred came up to her.

"What is it?" she asked.

He brandished his medallion and then pointed at Sabine, walking off into the distance.

"She looked scared," came Huyang's remark.

Again, Fred pointed at his medallion, then at Sabine.

It clicked for Ahsoka what the Noti was trying to tell her.

She smiled.

_ _ _ _ _

Sabine sat down in the dirt, feeling miserable. All these feelings, with nowhere for them to go . . .

She sensed a presence - no, two - coming up behind her. There was a small rustle and then Fred appeared beside her.

Ahsoka was right behind him. She squatted down next to her.

"Talk to me," her master said gently.

Sabine blew out a breath. "I shouldn't have walked off like that. I'm sorry."

"I understand," Ahsoka said. "And there's nothing to apologize for. You were upset. Walking away is never a bad idea when feeling overwhelmed."

Sabine glanced at her. "Better than shooting or blowing something up, huh."

"Infinitely preferable," Ahsoka replied dryly. "You've made some progress in that regard, thankfully."

Sabine felt a wisp of a smile cross her lips for just a moment, before turning melancholy again. But the tangled ball of emotions in her chest had loosened, just slightly.

"It's about Ezra," she said.

"Oh, is it?" asked Ahsoka. "I couldn't have guessed."

The young woman gave the Jedi a sour look. "Huyang's statement about the ancient saying. It bothered me."

"'May the Starbird come for you,'" Ahsoka repeated. "How did it bother you?"

"I know Ezra was thinking about me when making these," Sabine confessed. "But I'm not a Starbird. I'm not brave like the stories are."

"You're scared," Ahsoka said.

Her padawan stared into the dark, tears glistening in her eyes. "So scared. Like I might be crushed to death from the weight of it."

"What scares you, Sabine?"

"I . . . I just got him back, you know? After all these years. And now he's gone again. And Thrawn's back, too, which is partly my fault." The tears slid silently down her cheeks, glinting like diamonds in the moon light.

"I know you said he'll be alright, that he made it home fine, and my head believes it but my heart - my heart doesn't. The blasted thing doesn't want me to be happy."

Ahsoka sat in silence for a few seconds, her heart aching for Sabine's misery. She had her burden of guilt for her padawan being stuck here on Peridea instead of going home with Ezra.

Finally, she said, "Can I tell you my own story about Ezra?"

Sabine sniffed. "Sure. Why not."

"Hera was teaching you both how to read star charts, right? While on Atollon base."

The young woman turned her head curiously, caught off guard by the sudden change in subject.

"Yeah, she was a real pain about those. Ended up being saving our lives a couple times, though." Sabine snorted. "As usual, Hera was right."

"Always wise to think that about her," Ahsoka acknowledged. "One night, I visited the base after during a recon mission for Commander Sato. I came upon Ezra in the hangar, studying some maps."

Sabine titled her head but said nothing. Ahsoka continued on.

"He and I chatted for a bit, catching up on what he had been up to. I asked him about the maps, trying to quiz him on any constellations or polestars he would use in case he was lost."

"And what did he answer?"

Ahsoka laughed and said, "He admitted that he didn't know any. He also said that he didn't need to know any of this."

Sabine smiled. "Of course he said that. What a goober."

"Ezra Bridger," agreed Fred.

"So, what was he going to do if he got lost, then?" Sabine asked, incredulous. "Spin his lightsaber and then head off in whichever direction it pointed?"

The Jedi gave Sabine a serious look suddenly. "Ezra said that if he ever got lost, he would just go find you. Or that you would find him."

Sabine went still.

As if on cue Fred reached out with his tiny hand, something grasped within it.

It was his starbird medallion. Sabine stared down at it, then at him.

"You may not believe in the myth, Sabine," Ahsoka said softly, "but Ezra did. And it came true. Because you made it so."

Fred nudged the medallion at the young woman. "What's he doing?" she asked.

"Well, you just admitted you are feeling scared," Ahsoka pointed out. "He wants to make a trade, it seems."

Sabine caught on. A small smile appeared. "Some of your courage, for some of my fear," she whispered, understanding the gesture.

"A good trade, I think. I would take up the offer."

Sabine reached out and took the starbird medallion gratefully. "May I?" she asked Fred.

He nodded excitedly. Sabine slipped it on, clasping the symbol tightly in her hand. She looked to Ahsoka.

"He's going to be okay," she said. "That's real."

"It will be," Ahsoka confirmed. "You'll find each other again. You did so before."

Sabine closed her eyes, breathing deep. "Okay. Okay, I can do that. I'll believe it."

She cracked open an eye to look at her master. "Not in the myth, though. I'll believe in him. And in myself."

Ahsoka shrugged. "You two make a good story, I always thought. Someday, younglings might speak of you both as legends someday."

"As role models, you mean? To inspire or to warn?" Sabine asked.

The Jedi grinned at her. "Up to you."

Sabine stood up. "Well, guess we'll have to survive to hear what those younglings think someday."

Her stomach grumbled then, loud as a horn. Ahsoka laughed; Fred clapped for some reason.

The young woman blushed and said, "Guess I should get some chow, then."

"Seems like it," Ahsoka said. "Save me a bowl?"

"Of course," said Sabine. "Oh, and Ahsoka?"

"Yes?"

She turned to bow deeply to her master's surprise. "Thank you."

"Anytime, my padawan."

Sabine flashed her a quick smile and jogged back to the camp for supper.

Ahsoka stood up, intending to follow - but not before whispering to Fred, "Thank you for the help. Your idea did much to give my friend some much needed cheering up."

The Noti patted her on the leg in response and then chittered back to her something in his tongue.

She frowned, concentrating, but understood the gist of what had been said.

Is she worried about Ezra Bridger?

"She is," said Ahsoka. "But she trusts that one day they will be reunited once again."

The Noti tilted his head. She wasn't sure if he understood her, until Fred spoke again.

Ezra Bridger always spoke of the Starbird that would come down from the sky to take him home. Is that where he went? Did the Starbird come for him?

Ahsoka looked to the camp, seeing Sabine standing next to the campfire, in line for the food. She could just make out the starbird medallion on her padawan's chest.

"Yes, Fred," Ahsoka replied. "She did."

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