𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕦𝕤𝕥 | A Mandalorian Story

XIII

Fennec Shand

Mando

Mando wished Bryn had stayed behind for her own safety but he couldn't deny the fact that her presence was soothing. Toro kept him on edge but she kept him from doing anything rash, whether she knew it or not. 

His fingers fluttered over her arms which where wrapped tightly around him and he felt her shift behind him, hiding her face in his back. He flexed his muscles, moving around the armor on his back to give her a little bit more comfort. 

He pulled to a stop and held up his hand, motioning for Toro to do the same. "Get down," He whispered, pulling Bryn to the ground beside him. 

"What? Oh." Toro followed his lead and they lay on their stomachs, watching from behind the dune.

"What's the matter?" Bryn's soft voice came from beside him. 

He pointed ahead. "What do you see?"

"It's a dewback," She commented.

"Looks like the rider's still attached." Toro added.

The dewback made a noise in the distance. 

"Is that her? Is that the target?"

"I don't know." Mando pulled out his blaster. "I'll go, you two cover me. Stay down. He shot a glare at Toro, knowing he would most likely be the one to screw it up. 

He ran over the scattering sand and slowly approached the dewback, making sure to keep his distance. The dewback gave a low bellow and stomped it's feet. "Whoa, whoa." Mando quickly calmed it and bent down, pushing over the dead body which lay bleeding in the sand.

"Well, is it her?" Toro called. "Is she dead?" 

"It's another bounty hunter." He replied.

"Hey, I hope you don't plan on keeping all that stuff for yourself!" Toro yelled back and Mando bit back a scoff. "Can I at least have that blaster?"

Mando was only half listening. He pulled out the tracking fob from the hunter's belt, watching it flash red. The beeping flashed quickly and he stood,  knowing the bounty was near. 

"Get down!" 

As soon as the words left his lips, a blaster shot hit his shoulder, causing him to crash to the ground. "Mando!" He heard Bryn scream through his ringing ears. He scrambled to his feet, shaking off the blast and ran back to the dune, barely making it over as another shot sounded, grazing his armor.

"Mando!" He barely had any time to get up before he felt a delicate hand on his helmet. Bryn hovered over him, face filled with worry. 

Mando stilled, momentarily forgetting the pain from the sudden stun of the shot. There was so much worry on her face. Was it really all for him?

"What happened?" She breathed, hair whipping in the wind. She tucked a strand back.

He pulled himself up and rolled onto his stomach. "Sniper bolt. Only an MK-modified rifle could make that shot."