"You have healing powers!"

   Kanan was walking around like he wasn't walking on the edge of life or death an hour ago. It thrilled me and the crew to see him back on his feet.

   We also dropped the prisoners off in a nearby town called, Jhothal. The prisoners had gone and we got some pay for saving them. Evidently, they were slaves of the Empire and brought to the faculty that they call The Spice Mines of Kessel. They soon would of been killed if we didn't arrive and save them.

   Now, we were back on the road, again and everything was going fine. It was good while it lasted until Sabine yelled that fact to the world. I flinched a little as Kanan, Zeb, and Hera watched us from the booth carefully.

   Sabine towered over me as I sat on the couch in her shadow.

   "Well, it's not something I like to show to often," I replied, uncomfortably. Honestly, I'm surprised that I'm still on the RV after almost killing Kanan. I still feel the guilt twist and turn through my very being.

Yet, they still let me stay with answers unknown as to why I could stay.

Even through all of it, this wasn't the kind of conversation I want to get involved with.

   "Then why didn't you just tell us?" She asked, angrily.

   "Why does it matter to you?" I yelled, standing up, "You didn't care about a thing like me since I arrived and all of a sudden you care?"

   "Oh, I would of kicked you out a long time ago but no. I decided to try and trust you, you rat," she replied.

   I paused for a moment then after a while replied. "That's because it is my business. Remember a little conversation like that, Sabine."

   I pointed over at Kanan, adding, "Kanan even hides his so why can't I hide mine?"

   Her teeth clenched together and a small growl came through them. "You at least have a power that does good and many people, including Kanan, can't say that."

   Again, I paused and said, "Wait, you all know Kanan's power besides Hera?" The room went silent after that. Each face was either shocked or worried.

   I turned my gaze back to Sabine, who stared blankly, not sure what to feel or say. "Wow, it really does seem now like no one here trusts me," I said, lowly.

   Then added, "Congratulations Sabine, you were right, I'm an untrustworthy rat."

"Ezra,wait," Kanan said but I didn't listen.

I walked into the bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. They don't trust me. I knew it. I'm just another person taking up space in the RV. Another person to feed and drink.

   A lump formed in my throat as a pain knotted in my chest. Why did I think people would actually see me more than a street rat? Silly mistake and a hopeless dream just like the mythological stories of the almighty cure. One big rumor. One huge lie.

   A knock came from the door.

   "Can I come in?" Kanan's voice asked from the other side of the door. I sniffed and thought. He probably is going to make up another excuse on why he can't tell me anything.

"Why? So you can make up another reason why you can't trust me?" I spat and flinched when my voice cracked.

"No, I just-" I heard him sigh, "There are things that I'm not proud of that this power can and did do."

"You don't think that I feel the same with mine?" I snarled.

"I completely understand," he answered. I calmed down and looked at the floor, swallowing down a sob. He sounded so genuine. So truthful but mostly, hurt. Very hurt at the very thought of his powers. Just like I was.

   I stood up and unlocked the door before opening. Then bowed my head and hugged myself, moving to the side. Kanan walked in and shut and locked the door behind him. I couldn't help but flinch at that.

   He sat on the lower bunk and patted the empty spot next to him. I lifted my foot until hesitating.

   "It's okay," he said, softly, "Take your time." The way he said it wasn't in any way annoyed but patient. My mouth felt dry as I walked over and sat next to Kanan.

   "You can ask me any question," he said.

   I wanted to ask what his power was and why he didn't like it but stopped. If I didn't like showing, let alone telling, people of mine then why should I force Kanan to do it. So I asked a different question that's been on my mind.

   "Besides Hera, why did you tell Sabine and Zeb about your powers?"

   To my surprise, he smiled a little and almost chuckled.

   "I didn't," he answered. I gave a confused look to the man.

   "What do you mean by 'I didn't?'" I asked.

   "I didn't tell them anything. They figured it out on their own," he said, "Like you, they were curious and wanted to know until finding out the horrible truth."

I was stunned. They wanted to know just as badly as I do but somehow, found out by invading his privacy. There wasn't much room on this RV, it is small and not many secrets can be hidden for long. So it doesn't surprise me that they found out about his power. He would of had to of used it at some point.

   "Can you control it?" The question slipped out of my mouth. I didn't mean to say it but it just spun until finally finding an opening to be released. I was about to tell Kanan he didn't have to answer that question.

Then paused when a soft and barely audible voice spoke.

"No."

It was as simple as an answer could be but, the way he said it, gave a lot of meaning. The emotion, the pain, it was all there in that one word. I didn't need any other evidence to know that Kanan hated his powers. His curse that was bestowed into him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't of asked," I apologized.

"It's ok. I'm learning about you, it's only fair if you learn about me," he replied, staring at the floor. A small smile graced my lips. It was that amazing feeling that made you feel cared for. That's what I am feeling and it is incredible to hear coming from someone, especially Kanan.

   "Thank you," I told him, honestly.

   "No problem, Kid," he said, ruffling my hair. I swatted the offending hand away and glared at Kanan. He smiled in return. Really though, I felt cared for, like I actually belong. After seven years on the streets. After seven years by myself. After seven years, I finally found a place that felt safe.

   A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. "Kanan, Hera wants to speak with you," Zeb's gruff voice called from the other side.

   "Okay, we'll be out in a minute," Kanan replied. I could hear footsteps walking away as my head turned to face Kanan.

   "We better go see what the Captain wants," he said with a smile and laying a hand on my shoulder. I returned the smile before we both left the room to see the others at the table.

   Maps and books were spread across the surface of the table. Hera stood with her back facing us, skimming a book while Sabine sat at the table scanning the map. Zeb was rummaging through the fridge and muttering something about 'no waffles.'

   Kanan walked up beside Hera and the two began to quietly chat. I stayed at the bedroom door like I wasn't aloud to step into the next room. There wasn't anything that I could be of any use except for trouble. So I stayed at the door. Kanan looked over his shoulder and eyes landing on me. I averted my gaze to a random object that wasn't anywhere in Kanan's direction.

"Hey, Ezra." At the sound of my name, my attention turned to the voice that called me. Hera.

"Why don't you come over and help us?" She said, gesturing me over. For a split second, I hesitated and waited to see if they would change their minds. Waiting for them to abandon me. Waiting for any sign of betrayal or excuse that they don't need me.

   My whole life has been based on that. Never trust a person cause in the end, they will always let you down. Always abandon you in the end.

   The crew wasn't like that. They don't abandon people even if it was a total stranger like I was. None of them knew me but still let me stay even when the consequences were clear. I was trouble, a reckless rat, and a con artist. They saw me as more than that. They saw who I could be. Who I was. A lonely child.

   I walked over and stood next to Kanan and let my guards down. Sabine glared and Zeb silently cleaned his weapon on the couch.

   "So, what's the problem?" I asked.

   Hera pointed to a symbol of bare, black trees on the map.

   "That's the problem," she said then explained, "This path is shorter and all the others could take us a couple more days than we need."

   "Wait, you want to go in that forest. Are you trying to give us a death sentence?" Sabine said, exaggerating 'that.' It startled me a bit.

   "Why? What's wrong with that forest?" I asked. Everyone gave me a look, either shocked, surprised, or irritated.

   "You never heard of the Whispering Woods?" Zeb said a little more shocked than needed. I raised an eyebrow and replied with a 'no.'

   "What's the Whispering Woods?" I asked again, not knowing if I do want to know about the forest.

   "That place..." Kanan started, "that's where it all started. The place where the asteroid hit."

   My eyes widen and shock drilled into my brain. That was the place where it happened?

   "Ok, but why is it a bad place still?" I asked, again. There had to be some kind of reason than just being the place it all began.

   "The Whispering Woods is a magnet for all things evil. Bloody psychopaths, cannibals, gangs, pirates..." Hera listed.

"There are even plants that give off a gas that makes you hallucinate but the worse part about the Whispering Woods is the Infected are even worse," Zeb spoke up, after latching his weapon onto his back.

   "What do you mean?" I asked. How could the Infected be worse? Was that even possible?

   "They're bigger, stronger, faster, smarter and vicious killers. Nothing like the ones you find in the tall grass back at Lothal. Those kind seem like a walk in the park compared to the ones in that forest," He explained. Shivers ran down my spine.

"Zeb, stop scaring the kid," Kanan said, a little annoyed. He turned and laid his hands on my shoulders.

"As long as we stay in the RV and together then we'll be fine, ok?" he told me. I gulped but nodded. An unsettling feeling swirled.

   A cold feeling.

////////////////////////////////////////////

Stay tuned and adios!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁