Chapter Text
The war had finally reached you.
Months into years had passed since civil war had broken out on your planet. Neither side meant anything to you. All you knew was that as each day passed the food stocks had become smaller and smaller, as supplies were siphoned off to the war effort.
When the supply deliveries had stopped altogether, you'd turned to picking wild plants from the ground. When the ground had gone sallow, you resorted to trapping the rats that lived in the cracks of the rocky ground.
It was around the time that the rats had run out that enemy boots finally made land in your town. You'd hoped they would never reach you, that the war would tire itself out long before it followed you, before it could march to a town as far away as you could get from the centre of conflict.
Far away from your family, who smiled when their share of food was taken away from them. The family who'd called you a traitor for not doing the same. You left, and thought that by the time the war ended and you could come home that they would forgive you. You hadn't known then that you'd never see them again.
---
You were awoken by a commotion at your neighbour's house. Your bleary eyes at the window, you could see fire, and perhaps broken glass, and two children in pyjamas running through the street crying for their parents. You suddenly understood what was happening. By then you were wide awake.
Your body had moved before your mind could. You had put on your robe, tied it, torn a piece off the bottom to protect your face from the smoke, and walked out of the back door straight into your ship.
You hammered a set of coordinates and jumped. The metal floor was cold on your bare feet.
---
This was how you'd ended up orbiting an arid-looking planet in a system you'd never been to.
In the sudden silence of peace that surrounded you in empty space, you wondered for a moment whether it had just been a dream.
Just as you, in a daze, pondered returning and going back to bed, a smaller ship flew out from the planet's atmosphere and approached yours.
As it got closer, you saw its guns.
Out of reflex, you activated your shields, but instead of blaster fire a voice came through the ship's comms.
"I don't recognise your ship. Identify yourself."
The voice was deep, and masculine, but sounded somewhat distorted even through the commlink. You opened your mouth to reply but didn't know what to say. The voice spoke again.
"Do you copy? What is your business with this planet?"
"I- have no business here," you choked out, aware of a suspicious tone in his voice, "I punched random coordinates into my jump. I don't know where I am."
You could make out the pilot of the other ship. He was wearing some kind of flight helmet, which visibly cocked to one side.
"What do you mean, 'punched random coordinates'? Pretty remote out here. You'd better tell me who you are before we have trouble."
"Wait!" your hands were shaking, "what I mean is I- I had to run. It was an emergency and I didn't have anywhere else to go."
"On the run? You'd better not be bringing pirates out here."
"No. Not like that. My planet was- it's-"
You couldn't get the words out. Your planet was what? A mess? Done for? Somewhere you could never return to?
Still, the other pilot seemed to consider your words carefully.
"You need assistance?"
"Yes. I think so. I just need somewhere to rest, before I figure out where to go. If there's such a place nearby."
"There is. But it's not that simple," he paused, "Follow me down to the surface. Keep that rag on your face."
---
You cruised behind his ship, following him down to a rocky planet surface dotted with lakes. You could see occasional brush and a few trees, but it was hardly lush. The smaller ship landed near the entrance to a cave , and you manoeuvred your own, larger ship just a little further away.
You watched the man disembark, noting that he kept his helmet and body armour on. You ran a quick scan of the air, wondering if that was why you were to keep your face covered - but it came back clean. You exited your own ship as he approached you.
"Watch your feet," he said, and only then did you notice the feel the scratch of warm rock under your bare soles, "so, you weren't lying. You obviously left in a hurry."
You weren't sure why you blushed at this. But as you began daintily walking towards the cave with him, he reached an arm around you to support you. You were still in shock, but even so, you couldn't help but notice the sturdiness of the man beneath the armour. Your blush continued.
You saw several other figures begin to appear from the cave and beside the lake. They wore armour, just like this man did. You suddenly became acutely aware that you had no idea who these strangers were, or what they might do.
Couldn't be any worse than my home planet.
One figure, a woman of a strong stature, stepped forward. Her helmet had small horns.
"You have brought a visitor," she said, addressing the man but looking at you.
"She was in danger. She seeks refuge," he answered for you.
"She sought refuge from us? The location of our covert is a strict secret. You have covered your face. Do you know who we are?"
The man started to speak, "It doesn't seem s-"
"She can speak for herself," the woman cut him off, "now, speak."
"No, I don't know who you are. I don't know what planet this is. I just ran," she continued to stare at you so you continued, "please, I don't mean to stay here for long. I just need rest."
"Very well. However, as you may notice, in this tribe we keep our faces covered at all times, without exception. You, of course, are a stranger, but will be expected to do the same if you are to eat our food and sleep in our beds. Is that understood?"
You nodded. The rag on your face still reeked of smoke, and made you want to gag, but you would do whatever they asked.
"Good. Thank your stars that we did not see your face when you came here. Din Djarin," the man, Din, straightened up, "you will escort her while she is here. Any trouble, and it will be you who bears the consequences. Take her to the living quarters."