The wounds were beginning to sting noticeably now. Dried blood mixing with dirt across dark blue scales. Whiplash tried not to look down on the boy in his wing talons, but gods it was difficult. Saliva went down his throat, but his mouth remained like sandpaper, despite the spit going down every few minutes.
The overwhelming adrenaline from the battle had begun to fade, leaving Whiplash shaking and dragging his paws across the floor.

Find the exit. Get out. Save Ezra. Find the exit. Get out. Save Ezra.
Find the exit. Get out. Save Ezra. Save Ezra. Save Ezra

Harsh coughing brought Whiplash's agitated train of thought to a hault. He quickly looked down on Ezra and felt his heart stutter for what felt like the eighth time that day. The boy was scarily pale, a red flush blotching his cheeks. But what scared Whiplash the most was the blood was dribbling from the side of Ezra's mouth.

"Ezra?" Whiplash fought to keep his voice from breaking. "You okay?"

"Peachy" was the tired and noticeably strained reply. "What 'bout you?"

"Who cares about how I feel?" Whiplash replied, attempting to keep the mood light as he trotted through the cave.

"I do."

It was so softly spoken, but in the silence of the cavern, Whiplash heard it. He bit his lip to hold back tears. The kid really knew how to break him today.

"I know" Whiplash responded quietly. He felt like his heart being ripped to shreds when Ezra looked up at him through half lidded, glassy eyes. "Whiplash?"

"Y-Yeah kid?"

"If...if those cats come back....drop me and run."

Whiplash stumbled on a rock, almost dropping Ezra in the process. "What the druk are you talking about?"

"I'm dead weight pal, I'll only slow you down-"

"Not on your drukking life am I leaving you behind becuase of some overgrown, space Lothcats."

"But-"

"No buts" Whiplash rumbled firmly. "If I left you behind, Fawn would be after my blood."

Ezra exhaled a chuckle at that but was cut off by another coughing fit. Whiplash winced in sympathy and stared as more blood slipped from the teen's lips.

"Kriff."

"Watch yo' profanity."

The statement was so out of the blue from the kid, Whiplash actually let out a surpised laugh. "How about I get us out of here and we'll worry about my language later?"

"Solid plan" Ezra agreed tiredly, eyelids slowly drooping.

"C'mon kid," Whiplash butted Ezra's forehead with his nose. "You gotta stay awake alright?"

"Mmm...not sure I can do that-" coughs wracked Ezra's small frame.

Druk.

Whiplash needed to get him outta here pronto.

Whiplash picked up his pace, switching from fast walking to a slow gallop.

"Uh....Ezra?"

"Mhm?"

"Bit of a situation here bud."

"What's going on?" He slurred.

"Remember that revenue we had to cross?"

"We're at it aren't we?"

"....Yeah."

Ezra glanced over to see the looming edge of the cliff. "Well kriff."

"My thoughts exactly, we could try jumping again but that could result to me dropping you. Flying wouldn't work either-"

"Can't you just climb the walls?"

Whiplash paused, staring at the tall rocks on either side. "I can't promise if I'll be able to hold on but it's worth a shot I suppose."

"Ready when you are."

Whiplash's claws extended, his back legs bending low. Carefully as he could manage, he placed Ezra on his back, his wings crossing over his spine to keep the sickly boy in place. "Comfortable?"

"More or less" Ezra replied.

"Doesn't answer my question but okay. I'll make this fast."

"Take your time, we have a while before I die."

"Ezra-" Whiplash swallowed back his breakfast when it threatened to come up. "Don't talk like that, you're not gonna die, I won't let you."

"Thanks bud."

Whiplash shook himself, preparing to climb. Rearing back, he leapt for the tall walls at the edges of the revenue. A loud crunch sounded as his claws embedded in the stone. "Huh, it's actually kinda thin, no wonder those space cats have no trouble burrowing through it."

His barbs snapped up to attention, tiny sparks of energy crackling from the tips. Whiplash swung his tail where it landed in the rock face. Using it as leverage, the dragon leapt a good few feet across the wall. "You good back there bud?"

"Yeah-" sharp hacking cut Ezra's sentence short.

"I'll take that as a signal to move faster."

Whiplash detached his spiked appendage, using his claws to scale more ground. With a grunt, he leapt off the wall, free falling for a few fleeting seconds before all four talons hit the other side. Whiplash breathed out in relief, even a little proud of himself for the climb. "And that's where Commander Training Camp comes in handy" Whiplash looked over at his rider.

Ezra didn't respond, his head turned, mouth open and slack.

"Ez? Ezra? Ezra?!"
_________________________________

Chopper was a simple droid; loyal to Hera Syndulla, doing the work he was set, and said the occasional rude and witty comment. He had a short fuse and a bit of a temper that everyone on Atalon was aware of. But when Whiplash and Ezra hadn't commed him or returned in the past three hours, he wasn't angry.
He was worried.
Though he had a cranky and sour attitude, under the rust and orange paint he was a softie. He cared about his family dearly so the fact that neither of the boys had called, unnerved him a bit.
Warbling quietly, he attempted to com Whiplash for the sixteenth time.

"Chopper?!"

The droid leapt up in joy and surprise, whirling and beeping at Whiplash's shout through the com. 

"Chopper! Oh thank god it actually worked! You need to come to my location right now! Ezra's dying!"

Chopper froze, then absolutely exploded into warbles of questions.

"I'll explain what happened later but Chopper please! I need you here right now! I can't fly and Ezra needs help!"

His voice was so desperate, he sounded close to tears.

"Chopper?! Do you read me?!"

Chopper beeped loudly, affirming that he was on his way. Cutting the connection, he boosted himself up into the Phantom's droid port. The ship started up, and after locating the dragon, Chopper was off.
______________________________

Whiplash's emotional walls were beginning to crumble, his shoulders shaking as he did his best not to break down entirely. He'd tried to heal Ezra with his tears but they were meant for physical injuries not toxins and did nothing. Chopper was on his way which was small reassurance. Whiplash had finally managed to reach the droid once he got out of that blasted cavern. After the call Whiplash had lay Ezra on the grass, and was now tenderly brushing his snout over the boy's forehead. It somewhat soothed the both of them.

"Hang in there bud" Whiplash murmured. "Just hold on, Chopper's on his way."

He prayed Ezra would wake up and say something like; "I didn't know the rebellion had helicopters". But he didn't. He remained stone still. The only sign of him being alive and keeping Whiplash from losing his mind was the rise and fall of Ezra's chest.

"Druk, come on Chopper" Whiplash looked up to the sky, teeth digging into his lip. "I can't lose him like this."
_________________________________

"You need to come to my location right now! Ezra's dying!"

Whiplash's desperate cry rung through Chopper's head on repeat. God why did that stupid kid always get himself in life threatening situations? That stupid, annoying, dumb, kind, lovable....kid.

Chopper accelerated the thrusters. He couldn't lose Ezra.

He just couldn't.

The boy was just too important to him and the little family Hera had put together over the years. The thought of him perishing was just too horrid to fathom. And the idea of what it would do to the others on the Ghost Crew. Knowing Hera, she would be struggling with the death of another family member. It would take a while for Kanan to process the loss, losing people  was one of his greatest fears. Sabine would most likely be scarce for a few days to handle the grief, Zeb might do the same. Fawn wouldn't recover for a long time and Whiplash....

Chopper you need to come to my location right now! Ezra's dying!

I'll explain what happened later but Chopper please! I need you here right now! I can't fly and Ezra needs help!

Chopper?! Do you read me?!

If Ezra died, Whiplash wouldn't recover at all.

It was that simple.
________________________________

Whiplash had taken to pacing. Denting the grass and beginning to leave impressions in the firm dirt. He barely felt the shifting earth underneath his talons, too caught up in his spiralling thoughts to notice.

Ezra's chest, every so often, would stop moving for a few terrifying seconds which was sending the already anxiety-ridden dragon over the edge.

That set off all the alarm bells in Whiplash's head. Chopper was running out of time.

Ezra was running out of time.

Whiplash paused, looking over at the boy. He was so pale, beads of sweat clustering around his forehead. His eyebrows were furrowed and even breathing looked down right painful.

God what did the poor kid do to deserve this?

He always seemed to be dealt the worst hand that he played the best he could.

"Not the time for crappy metaphors, Whiplash" he mumbled to himself, moving over to his rider.

Sitting by Ezra's side, Whiplash gazed down at the sickly Padawan. "Druk" he sighed, "I really screwed up, didn't I, kid?"

No reply, but that was expected

"You'd better not die on me, you know" Whiplash began. "Cause if you do, I'm not going to forgive you for it."

The silence was terrifying as Whiplash had grown up with noise.

"I don't know if you can hear me Ez, but-" Whiplash's claws dug into the earth. "You mean a lot to me, more than you realize. I can't lose you like this, I promised I would protect you from day one, you remember don't you? Yeah, ever since we bonded," Whiplash looked down on the spiral burned into his shoulder.

"The day I got the mark, was one of the happiest moments of my life. I still recall it like it was yesterday."

Whiplash took a breath, his chest constricting with every word. 

"I remember how hard you hugged me when you got the mark on your hand. You were so excited-" Whiplash inhaled sharply, gritting his teeth. "The joy we felt on that day was unlike any I've ever felt before. The mark for a dragon is a promise to protect the rider, the mark for the rider is to trust the dragon."

Whiplash covered his eyes.

"But I guess...I failed. Not just my part of the bond, but yours as well" Whiplash knew his walls holding back the tears had finally broken down. "I failed you, I failed your trust, I-I fail everyone. I try so hard to do everything people ask of me, but I can't-"

Whiplash struggled to breathe properly as hot tears rolled down his muzzle.

"I'm weak Ezra, I spent the past six months trying to get stronger so I could protect everyone I loved..." Whiplash let out a bitter laugh, "am I really that much of a bad omen? Everywhere I go I only create more suffering-"

Whiplash inhaled sharply.

Don't go into a panic attack you idiot

Whiplash's shoulders slumped, the last of his adrenaline fading, leaving him to realize exactly how exhausted he was. "I'm sorry Ezra- I'm so so sorry....you didn't deserve to die....not like this...not this young..."

Whiplash felt himself splintering apart from the inside, his body slowly going numb.

"I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to save you."

Whiplash's legs finally gave out, his only supports keeping him up. He collapsed, head hitting the ground hard. The dark was closing in around him, his eyelids growing heavy. With the last of his energy, he tenderly grasped Ezra's fingers. "I'm sorry Ezra...I'm so.....sorry...."

The darkness latched on and Whiplash let it pull him under into unconsciousness, tears still dripping from his closed eyes.