*Hera's POV*

I walked through endless tunnels with Ezra at my side. We'd been sent on a mission together to find a herb for a sickness that Sabine and Kanan had caught. The antidote required the herb so we're going to get it. Zeb and Chopper were out getting the other ingredients while we dealt with this. Only Ezra volunteered for this mission, Zeb and Chop hate tunnels. 

"How much further?" Ezra asked, kicking a stone into the darker depths of the cave.

"I'm not sure" I replied, moving my torch to the sides of the cave.

"But we're close."

"How do you know that?"

"I have a feeling."

"You're beginning to sound like Kanan."

I couldn't help but smile at that. I have to admit, that Jedi and I could both be pretty similar at times. Then and again, so did Ezra and Kanan.

'Like Master like Padawan I suppose' I thought.

"Hera, is that it?"

I looked to where Ezra was pointing and my eyes widened in joy.

"Yes, that's it" I told him going over and taking a good look at it.

"A shovel isn't going to be able to dig this out, mind using your lightsaber?"

I heard the sound of the teen's weapon and watched as the blue blade lowered to the plant.

"Be careful" I told him.

"Hey, I'm always careful."

I had to hold back a snort, thinking back on Ezra's record of trouble and uninterrupted missions that had suddenly sprung upon him. Always careful, pssh, yeah right.

Ezra finished cutting around the plant and pulled it out, passing it to me.

"Good work" I praised, putting the herb in my bag.

"We should probably go..."

A growl suddenly rolled around the cave making us tense.

"What was that?" Ezra whispered.

"I don't know" I murmured back.

I turned on my torch, lifting it to the darkness of the tunnel and almost dropped it in fear. Standing tall and too close for comfort was a Gundark. It gazed at us for a few moments before a growl started to rumble at the back of its throat.

"Ezra, run" I ordered already taking off.

The teen was right behind, unfortunately, so was the Gundark. It let off screams of snarls and growls, it's claws drumming heavily on the rocky ground. The cave began to quake, loose stones falling from the ceiling.

"Hera! Look out!" Ezra shouted.

I looked up and felt myself freeze. Rocks the size of tauntauns were falling, right to where I was standing. I felt like someone had shoved me hard in the back, throwing me far from the debris. I covered my head as dust and boulders continued to crumble and fall from the roof of the cavern. The ground shaking terribly, making me feel sick. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it all stopped. Some of the dust settled on the ground like fine powder while the rest floated around. I coughed and sat up slowly, still shaken from the sudden event. I looked over my shoulder and felt my stomach drop. Where there was once an open cave now lay a blocked pathway of rocks.

Ezra was nowhere in sight.

"Ezra!" I yelled, stumbling to my feet and running to the wall of stones.

I clawed desperately at the rocks, tearing them away the best I could.

"Ezra!" I shouted again, making a few loose stones clatter from the ceiling.

"Ezra, can you hear me?!"

"Hera?" I heard a voice call back, a few coughs following.

I sighed in relief knowing the boy was still alive.

"Are you alright?" I called.

"I...I think so. That creature that was chasing us, it's gone."

"It'll probably come back with friends" I told him.

"We don't want to be here when that happens."

"Hera I can't get through, there's no possible way past this."

"Can't you use the Force?" I called.

"I don't think I could lift this many rocks."

Silence fell between us for a few moments.

"Hera, take the herb and get back to the Phantom. Take it and go to the fleet, Kanan and Sabine need that plant."

"What? And leave you? Not on your life" I said sternly.

"Hera, I'll find my own way out, I promise I'll be alright."

"I'm not leaving you behind Ezra" I told him firmly.

"You're gonna have to it you want to save Kanan and Sabine. They're on the verge of dying Hera, I can feel it."

"Look who's starting to sound like Kanan now?" I said with a small grin.

I couldn't see Ezra, but I knew he was most likely rolling his eyes.

"Just go Hera, I'll be alright."

I couldn't leave Ezra, I just couldn't! Then, there was Kanan and Sabine who were struggling to stay alive. I looked at the bag with the herb in it and sighed.

"Don't you dare die on me" I told the teen sternly.

I heard him laugh a little.

"I won't."

I pressed my hand against the rocks before slowly pulling it away. I gazed at the wall for a moment before running down the  cave.

*Ezra's POV*

I listened as Hera's footsteps faded away, leaving me alone. I hesiatatntly brushed the long graze going down my arm. It still hurt but it could've been worse. I gazed around the dark cave for a moment before reaching for my lightsaber. Turning it on, I saw how much had really fallen from the ceileing. Force, it was a lot! Exhaling slowly, I broadened my mind and listened carefully, calming myself so I could think straight. I could hear water trickling from the walls, the light clattering of pebbles from the wall of rocks, the slow intake and exhale of my breathing. Opening my eyes, I lifted my lightsaber higher so I could see better before walking further into the tunnels.

"There has to be another way out of here" I told myself.

"There has to be."
__________________________________

The further I went, the more lightheaded I got. I've never been claustrophobic, but it felt like the caves were closing in on me. I felt like I'd been going round in circles for hours. These tunnels never seemed to end, there was no way out. I leaned against a wall for support, rubbing my temples as I attempted to clear my head. I couldn't start thinking like this. I was going to survive, I survived on the streets, I survived the Jedi Temple Test, I survived fighting Vader. I survive against the Empire every single day!

My legs suddenly gave out, making me fall to my hands and knees, my breaths becoming shallow. These caverns were lacking oxygen, making this ten times harder. My throat was dry and stomach protesting with hunger. I tried to stand but collapsed, unable to move.

"I'm so sorry Hera" I whispered.

"I'm breaking your promise."
_________________________________

Warm air brushed my hair and face, a fuzzy feeling of fur tickling my forehead.

"Mmm" I hummed trying to turn my head but I was too weak to move.

The feeling came back and I jerked my head to hopefully scare away whatever was near me. This time, something rough and moiced licked my cheek making me squirm. I opened an eye and almost had a heart attack. Above me stood an animal that had blue and green feathers round its head and a long body. Yellow eyes gazed down on me over the sharp grey beak it had. It made a strange ringing noise as it noticed I has woken before dipping its head and sniffing me intently. I did my best to shuffle away but my body wouldn't cooperate. The thing sniffed and lightly tugged on my hair in curiosity.

"Go away" I tried to say but my voice was small and as useless as my body.

The animal gave a purr before gently taking hold of the collar of my shirt and lifting me onto the air. Turning its head, the creature placed me on its back.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I was lain on the scaly and feathery surface.

The bird like creature gave a click of its beak before trotting through a tunnel. I have no idea where this thing was taking me, all I knew was there was nothing I could do to stop it. Was it going to eat me? I shuddered at the thought of being eaten alive by this animal. Not that it was ugly, I actually thought it was quite beautiful. It was the fact that those claws and beak looked quite harmful.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked softly.

The creature gave a short rumble before changing route.

"Do you even know where you're going?"

The animal replied with another rumble before going a different direction.

"Where are we going...?" I cut myself off when I felt something.

Air flow.

"You're taking me outside" I realised.

"You're helping me."

The animal gave a gurgly purr of confirmation before picking up it's pace. I smiled in relief and stroked the creature's feathered back.

"Thank you."
_________________________________

We soon reached the end of the tunnel. It opened up into the light and a breeze of fresh air. I breathed it in deeply, grateful for the oxygen. It filled my lungs and cleared my head. The creature moved through the exit into the forest planet.

"Ezra!"

I looked up to see Hera, Zeb, Chopper and Rex speeding towards me. I slid from the animal's back, planting my feet on the ground. Almost instantly I overblanced but my new friend moved quickly to support me.

"Thanks" I smiled gratefully.

The four rebels slowed down as they approached, eyeing the creature warily.

"It's okay guys, he helped me escape" I told them.

"Kid, that's a Varactyl" Rex said.

"So?" I shrugged, running my hand through the animal's feathers.

The Varactyl purred and clicked its beak, nuzzling my arm.

"He does seem friendly" Hera said before walking over and embracing me tightly.

"But I'm just so relived you're alright. I thought you'd gotten lost or something had happened to you. I was only gone for two hours but it felt longer than that."

"I'm okay Hera, really, if it wasn't for this guy, I never would've gotten out of those tunnels" I told her.

"You got lost?" Zeb asked.

"No! I just...forgot which path I'd taken" I told the Lasat. 

"So you got lost?" Rex asked.

"Well...I...yes" I admitted sheepishly.

"But like I said, if it wasn't for him, I never would've made it out."

Hera patted the Varactyl's beak to which the animal purred pleasantly.

"Thank you" she said to it.

"Hera" I began, making my eyes innocent and hopeful.

"Can we keep him?"

Suggestions are open and appreciated. Please send ideas in, I am running out.

Star-Wars-Dragons out 🐉