#forgive me baylan for i have sinned against you once again

[kalevalakryze]

Dreams Of Madness

AO3 Link: Here! For @wolfwrenweek Day 2: Force Bond Warnings: Attempted Murder, Nightmares Summary: “What did you see?” Ahsoka didn’t look at her, merely guided the way to the path they would take for their morning meditation sessions, allowing the Mandalorian to scramble after her. When Ahsoka stopped walking, Sabine nearly slammed straight into her back, stopped only when the older Force-Sensitive turned to place a hand on her shoulder. “It’s Shin.” She panted, reaching to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Baylan is after her, and I think-” She could feel the crustiness of sleep under her fingernails as she rubbed at her eyes. “I think he’s trying to kill them, and that it’ll unlock something to do with somebody’s mother.”

Like most life-altering events for Force users, it started as a dream. Her exhaustion ran bone deep as she worked tirelessly at Ahsoka's side. Baylan was still on the planet, and the Togruta was working tirelessly to find him. She had no idea who the ‘Brother, Father, and Sister’ she would mention were, but was promised time and time again that all would be revealed in time. Trust in the Force. 

But she was trying! As hard as she could, every single day. Huyang was growing impatient with her as she failed each grueling question or missed the mark during saber training. She used the Force already, so why was it being so kriffing temperamental? 

She’d finally stormed off from the ancient robot, cursing his power cells as she did, stomping the entire way to the temporarily decommissioned T-6, tarps and cloths draped from the wings to create some semblance of privacy and protection from the harsh dust storms that ravaged the planet. 

Sleep had found her easy, though her rest was anything but. The moment her eyes shut, she was running. An orange fire burned from the hilt in her hand, a blade carefully crafted—fractured by Master and Apprentice, just like their bond. Each breath was ragged and rough; it felt as if blood was flooding in every breath. “Shin!” a booming voice called. Sabine felt fear spark up her spine—fear that was not her own. 

She tripped- the hand that caught her weight against the ground was not her own, the saber that burned into the dirt was one she’d only ever seen wielded by her enemy. “We must be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. You have always known this.” His voice was close, too close. Her muscles screamed as she twisted, raising her blade just in time to catch the staggering blow as Baylan brought his saber down against her own.

This was not her Master. The only thought Sabine could agree with as she seemed to watch on. This man had been twisted, and corrupted by Abeloth and the false promises offered to him.

 Get out of there!  Sabine found herself shouting, willing the body that was not hers to just run. The body complied, legs pumping to create distance between herself and the man in her Master’s body.

When Sabine awoke, sweat-drenched her brow, her flight suit clung to every crevice of skin it could reach, with armor digging painfully into soft flesh to boot. She felt eyes on her- another flash of fear as she scrambled for her lightsaber, illuminating the night with a fluorescent pink light. 

Ahsoka’s eyes seemed to twinkle in the night, the otherworldly glow that they had at night dimmed in the light of Sabine’s saber. “Let’s talk.” Was all the Togruta said, motioning her head to the split in the tarps. Sabine scrambled to follow, still uncoordinated- her muscles burned, and she could feel her heart thundering in her eardrums. 

“Ahsoka, I—” she started, wiping her sweaty palms against her pants. Her sweat-slick skin immediately felt the harsh cold of the night as it soaked into the fiber of her being. Her legs ached as if somehow, she was still running from a monster.

“What did you see?” Ahsoka didn’t look at her, merely guided the way to the path they would take for their morning meditation sessions, allowing the Mandalorian to scramble after her. When Ahsoka stopped walking, Sabine nearly slammed straight into her back, stopped only when the older Force-Sensitive turned to place a hand on her shoulder. 

“It’s Shin.” She panted, reaching to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Baylan is after her, and I think-” She could feel the crustiness of sleep under her fingernails as she rubbed at her eyes. “I think he’s trying to kill them, and that it’ll unlock something to do with somebody’s mother.”

Ahsoka did not respond, turning her gaze upwards as a familiar figure floated on the wind high above. “I see.” She whistled a tune, loud and high into the silence of the night. “If he believes that they are the key, then we have to protect them.”

Sabine scoffed, feeling the familiar boiling of anger starting in her chest. “Seriously? You think Shin would let us protect her? After everything?” She recognized the sound of pawpads on the ground, two sets, laden down with gear. Ahsoka’s been planning this- or something like it, at the very least, for a while now. 

“She let you see that she was in danger.” Ahsoka answered matter-of-factly, brushing her hand down her Howler’s snout as she approached. “We can’t make them come with us, but if they’re taking this step with you, then there has to be hope, somewhere.” 

Dejected, Sabine nodded, admitting defeat by burying her face into the side of her Howler’s neck as he trotted up to her. “Whatever, let’s go save them from the consequences of their actions.” 

Every time her eyes would drift shut, Sabine would see them. It was through these ‘nightmares’ as she’d taken to calling them, that she was able to find clues about their destination, though each time they got too close, the trail would go cold, and they found themselves back at square one, chasing Shin and Baylan all across Peridea, having all but abandoned 

Three giant statues stood tall on a cliff face. Sabine felt the chill of winter settling into her bones as her poncho whipped wildly in the wind. The snowfall was no gentler as it fell to the earth in blankets. “It’s been weeks, Ahsoka.” Sabine called over the rising snowstorm. They’d all but abandoned Huyang and the Noti, and while they both knew that this would be an excursion, she knew Ahsoka hadn’t brought enough supplies for this to continue. 

Her spine tingled. Danger. It wasn’t too unlike what she’d felt in her nightmares, except now it was the aura of fear watching through her own eyes. She wasn’t alone in her mind. Shin?

Stop looking for me. It was just her own thoughts, but she could hear their voice plain as day, accented and exhausted. 

Just stop running. I can help you. Her fingers fisted into the warm fur of the Howler below her, trying to ignore the feeling of Ahsoka’s eyes on her. Forget Ahsoka right now. I can help you.

There was a pause in their communication, a moment that allowed the Mandalorian to breathe, the moment that could have shattered everything they’d built over the weeks of loth-cat and loth-rat. 

Come alone.