Metanoia | The Mandalorian

Chapter 35

Din and the kids stood near the railing, looking out at the sea as the boat sailed forward. The wind ruffled Juno's hair and she took a deep breath. She missed the sea, it gave her the feeling of her home planet.

"You ever see a mamacore eat? Quite a sight." Asked the man from the inn. Din looked at him but didn't say anything before he turned his head back to the water, pulling the kids closer to him. "Children might take an interest." The child cooed and they both looked up at Din. "You should take a look. Come on over here." He continued. The small family turned around and walked after the man. "Get a good view. Let the kids see."

"All right, close enough." Said Din as the kids walked closer to the edge. They watched as the hatch opened and the fish were released into the water that soon started bubbling.

"She must be hungry." Said the man while the kids moved even closer to see better. "Oftentimes we'll feed her in the early morning, but we missed that 'cause we were going out of port!" He said and used his spear to push the pram into the water. The mamacore emerged from the water and grabbed the pram. The child managed to close it before the creature closed its mouth and went under the water. Soon after the child, the man pushed Juno into the water as well.

"No!" Yelled Din. Juno cried out as the water went rushing over her head.

"Da-" She tried screaming before something grabbed her ankle and pulled her down. She managed to take a deep breath before she went under. Before she closed her eyes she noticed a flash of silver beskar trying to reach her but the creature was faster.

Din held onto the bars of the hatch after diving after his kids, struggling as the men above him stabbed at him with their spears. Suddenly, a group of Mandalorians appeared, attacking the men and taking them out before they opened the hatch and helped Din out.

"There's a creature. It has the children." Explained Din as the female Mandalorian pulled him out. He sat down and coughed, breathing heavily, while one of the Mandalorians dived in. "It pulled my little girl down after the child. Help them. Please." He begged and another one of the group dived down too. The group came up to the edge and watched as their friends dealt with the creature.

The first one appeared on the boat, holding the pram. She opened it and gently pulled out the child, handing him to Din. "Here you go, little one." She said. Din held him close to him as he looked over to the water, waiting for the second Mandalorian that had yet to appear. A few moments later, he came up, holding Juno in his arms. He placed her on the ground and she stared shaking, coughing up water as she turned to her side.

"There we go. Good girl. Breathe." Said the man who brought her back while he held her shoulder.

Din quickly rushed to the girl and she slowly started to breathe normally. "Juno! You're fine, everything's okay now." He said and pulled her to him too. He hugged the kids tightly, both children holding onto him as they calmed down. "Thank you." He told the Mandalorians while the kids leaned against him. "I've been searching for more of our kind."

"Well, lucky we found you first." Said the leader of the group.

"I've been quested to deliver these children. I was hoping that..." He trailed off when the Mandalorians removed their helmets. Passing the child to Juno, he stood up and walked closer to the group. "Where did you get that armor?" He asked suspiciously.

"This armor has been in my family for three generations." Replied the redhead leader.

"You do not cover your face. You are not Mandalorian." He said.

"He's one of them." Said the man next to her.

"Dank farrik." Mumbled the other woman.

"One of what?" Asked Din.