A Shadow Of Hope

Chapter 63

Pain is something we all endure. Emotional and physical, it can inflict us at any moment. Sometimes, emotional pain can hurt more than the cut of a blade or laser from a blaster. Fawn knew that from experience. The tragic and traumatizing memories she had of her past would always haunt her in their own way. Nightmares, hallucinations, visions and dreams. They all came to remind her of the history she prayed to forget. However, she knew she wouldn't be able to do so. Most of the time, other people accepted the past and moved on. With Fawn, it was more difficult than that. She'd been turned against her Master after the Sepratists gave her a poison to change into a Sith. She'd murdered some of her closest friends and always blamed her own self for not being able to stop herself. She wasn't able to save her parents in time before they were captured and executed by the Empire. And now, Kabera had been ripped from her too. The moons had taken a beating while Kabera itself looked like a endless desert of smoke and ash. The air was like trying to breath in thick and foul smelling fumes that clogged your nostrils and created a tight feeling in your lungs. Bodies of the dead lay everywhere, symbolising the destruction and successfulness of the Empire's attack. It broke Fawn's heart severely. Kabera was her home. The place she'd spent years slaving over plans and materials to help make it a safe sanctuary for her winged friends. Now, she'd done it all for nothing. The dragons were either severely injured or dead. The Guardian Dragons; Karabo, Fulgur, Oceanus, Clyserdale, Zerif, Mavis, Pixie, Erabor and Raxia, had all been hurt so badly, Fawn was afraid they might die. With Mavis being the Guardian of the Light Moon, she was always a little weaker than her siblings. However, she was still strong and Fawn knew she would pull through. The other seven Guardians were extremely powerful for their age and experience. It would take more than the Empire to wipe them out. But one thought lingered in Fawn's mind above the rest;
How did the Empire manage to hurt the Guardian Dragons so badly?
That dragon's scales were tougher than anything else Fawn knew of. A bomb would barely create a injury. How did the Empire do it?
The Gray Jedi asked so many, but it was always the same answer.
'Improved laser fire'
Fawn didn't want to believe it. The only thing that could really hurt a dragon was kyber crystal energy. If the Empire was using those crystals as their power source, Kabera wouldn't survive another attack like that.

The Ghost Crew stood in the common room, waiting for Fawn who'd barricaded herself in her cabin with the bonded dragons. They'd let her go for some thinking time but almost fifteen minutes had passed and there was still no sign of the Gray Jedi.

"Maybe I should go and talk to her?" Ezra suggested.

"She needs some time alone right now Ezra, you saw what the Empire had to Kabera" Hera said.

Ezra nodded sadly. The image of Kabera broken and destroyed entering his mind. Suddenly, the door opened and Fawn walked out with her dragons beside her. 

"You alright?" Kanan asked, noticing the pained expression on the girl's face.

"I've been talking to the dragons and my Master. We've all agreed on an option for the good of Kabera" she said.

Ezra noticed how dull Fawn's voice sounded. It was like seeing Kabera in shambles had taken the energy and spirit out of her.

"What is it?" Sabine asked.

Fawn exhlaed and clutched her arms.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but Kabera needs me more than you guys do. I've loved being a part of this family and fighting with you. But right now, my home is broken and needs to be fixed."

She studied then with sad eyes before admitting the harsh, cold truth.

"I'm leaving the rebellion."