Serena & Din

Chapter 12

Author's Note:

Hey Yall! Just a quick heads up 5 chapters of Serena and Din have been translated in Spanish! For all you Spanish speaker or learners, give it a shot and tell me if everything sounds right grammatically. 

I'm also debating to translate to Polish and/or German. What do you guys think?

Let me know, comment on my board!

And again as always suggestions for this plot are always welcome!

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In the darkness, Serena felt a light touch to her forehead cool and comforting against her clammy skin. Slowly, a small whisper cut through the silence, repeating over and over. As if someone were praying a mantra of sorts. Though she couldn't understand the language, it was so beautiful. All she could of was wanting to hear it more. As that very thought came to being the void which enveloped her started fading. Not into further darkness, no. Instead hues of color then blended into a shaft of pearlescent light.

Din was beside her, holding her bandaged hand. After noticing her stir, he struggled to contain his joy, saying, "Thank the gods, you're awake!"

'It was only a bump ' she said with a crooked smile. Despite Din's annoyance, he felt instant solace upon seeing her back to life under the helmet. She squeezed the gloved hand lovingly, and asked how the others were and where the heck they were as she noticed her surroundings to be a thatched hut of sorts. Din then explained that local shrimp farmers ( whom he and Dune had helped in the past) found them in the rubble and were generous to let them stay until all were fully healed.

"Some of Skylar's men are pretty well bruised, so I don't see us moving forward for a while," He said . Serena understood though; she wasn't that cruel. "But how long do you suppose?" she inquired. He estimated no more than a few weeks, at which Serena tried to not look bitter at the prospect of being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

As soon as she got dressed, Din took her outside and showed her round the small village. Outside a barn sat Cara Dune and the Nite Owls, who happily greeted them " Finally," Bo-Katan exclaimed "we were begining to think you wouldn't wake! It felt like weeks 'til you rose."

Serena turned to Din who shrugged " You were out for a while but not that long. She meant three nights and four days." Still Serena couldn't help feel shocked of her slumber. Time just dripped like honey from a spoon she guessed. After saying bye to Dune, Din showed her what she missed during her time. As she passed by, many stares greeted, thankfully followed by friendly smiles children being no exception. To the little ones whom haven't gone off planet, Serena's mere presence set off their curiousity to a passion. Some shyly waved and told her their names and gave small gifts ( flowers), while others who were bolder walked up to her and asked her questions like where she was from and what were her favorite things. As they continued, Din sensed a new feeling in Serena, one of warmth. It made him silently send a prayer to the Gods of thanks for giving Serena to him. Who knows what he may have been doing, probably catching criminals for the hotplate still had he not noticed the girl.

It was midday when they reached the small lake near the edge of the farms, the waters rippling peacefully as they walked. Serena stops abruptly and gazes out on the blue exspanse before her, a light breeze twirling rivets of her hair in its hold. Then, she strips off her clothes, leaving Din the sight of her with just her chemise. He's just about to ask what's suddenly gotten into her when she jumps in the waves  with surprisingly powerful and graceful strokes. Her swim takes her far out, so much so Din can't even see her with his visor scanner. A small jetty stood out, tied to a buoy at the lake's center. A form stood on that jetty waving to Din, with relief he waved back. Her silhouette leaped back into the blue, and soon her head could be seen popping out near the shore. 

"So, what did you do it for?"

"Just to clear my head I guess. I haven't swum since my parents died, I'm surprised I still could." 

Serena and Din walked back just as the glimmers of midday were fading and the sun began to set. One of Skylar's men spotted Serena and stopped them to say, 

"Serena, ma'am Sky wanted to see you."

Serena looked at Din questioning silently, Din shrugged so to say " Your call." She readily agreed and the hunter took them to Skylar's hut.  

Skylar looked up from his hammock that he was in and gave a sort of grim grin.  Serena knelt beside him, water from the lake slightly dripping from her now curly lochs on the sheets. He didn't mind though.

The first thing he asked was "Enjoyed your swim?" He usually meant it in a sarcastic setting, but for once this wasn't.

"Yes, it was nice. How are you feeling?" Her tone was gentle compared to last night's coldness.  He told her he's better than before, just that his ribs hurt. This got Serena's attention.

"I can heal some to relieve the soreness,but I'll have to see it first." 

Skylar was a little hesitant to let anyone, let alone a woman to see his wounds, but there was just something about Serena. The warmth and trust she was emanating, he could not help himself. With a nod, Serena lifted his bandages. It wasn't major, but the scrap along his abdomen was deep enough to get infected. Din was still standing outside while this was happening, he heard from the hut "Ask Omera if she has a medpack or some herbs please!" He returned with small satchel and came in to see Serena and Skylar. He remembered how worried Skylar was about Serena when he visited while Serena was in a coma. He would ask nothing more than "Is she awake yet?" or "How is the little lady doing?" Now, Din was beginning to wonder whether Skylar was actually caring about Serena's welfare or just wanted her alive for his paycheck. He put these thoughts aside as he handed the small bags of herbs to Serena and left.

As she searched through the small bottles, she found Aloe Vera. She uncorked the bottle and fingered the clear goop and began to put it on Skylar's wound. Initially, he winced, but his abs relaxed once the herb gel cooled the burns. Serena slightly reddened as her hand glided over the smooth scarred skin of bronze. When she was finally done, she laid new bandaging on him and stood up to leave, but Skylar pulled her hand. 

"Stay a while," he said softly "please."

She hesitated, but only for a moment. For a long time,it was just Serena holding Skylar's hand and telling him about the plans after he and the others recovered. She wanted to investigate th wreckage to see if there were any clues as to how the AT-ST found them, it could lead them to a sort of hideaway to the ones who sent it their way. Without saying a word, Skylar listened intently. When she was done, he attempted to sit up, which utterly failed with a groan of discomfort. Seeing this, Serena helped slowly sit up and fluffed a pillow for him.

After he got comfortable he asked "Just out of curiousity, was the punch in the gut that day necessary?"

Serena had almost forgot, and it made feel slightly terrible, only slightly. 

"Well," she said "you guys were trying to rob a man, that's one."

Skylar gave a small chuckle. 

"You're a lot more than what others think aren't you?" he said, gazing into the sapphire pools of his healer 

"I suppose it just depends," she replied merely.

"On what?"

"On how you see me as... that's all."

And with that, she left.