Every step was a struggle. You could hardly feel your feet anymore, as they were bare and exposed to the frigid snow. Your tattered rags were no good at shielding you from the brutal winds. But still, you had to go on. There was no turning back, not when the only thing awaiting you was a slow, painful death. You had been a prisoner for too long. This was your only chance at freedom.

You knew of a bar somewhere nearby. Your Master had been there many times, occasionally bringing you along as a source of entertainment. Those nights were the worst. Terrible memories aside, the bar would hopefully bring you some comfort while you tried to construct a plan. You had no money and nothing of wealth that could possibly buy you a way off this frozen wasteland, so you were stuck until you figured something out.

A totally different crowd occupied the bar during the day, leaving it practically empty compared to the crowded atmosphere at night. Less people meant less prying eyes, meaning you could sneak in fairly easily without being spotted. You couldn't just stumble in and ask for a drink. The bartender would definitely recognize you and report you to your Master.

You tucked yourself away in the corner of a back room, trying to stave off the cold. It was warmer in there than it was outside, but not by much. You cupped your hands in front of your mouth and softly blew into them, your hot breath warming them just enough that you could finally feel your fingers again. That was a good start.

While you were busy warming yourself up, you could hear a conversation sparking in the main room. You couldn't help your curiosity and poked your head around the corner to see what was going on.

There was a man standing at the bar, talking to the bartender about a possible job. He was covered in gleaming silver armor and his face was masked by a distinctive helmet. A Mandalorian? You thought to yourself. You had only heard stories of them. Seeing one in person felt exciting, like finally catching a glimpse of a rare animal after tracking it for days. What was he doing here? There were no jobs that you knew of besides ice harvesting and landspeeder ferrying across the frozen lakes. He didn't seem like the type to be doing that kind of work.

"If you're lookin' for work, I suggest going to Vraso. It's a village just south of here." You heard the bartender say as he leaned on the counter. "Jobs are scarce around these parts, especially for people like you."

"That doesn't sound very promising." The Mandalorian replied. His voice was heavily modulated by his helmet. "I'm not here to waste my time."

"Trust me, it'll be worth yer while. There's plenty of things to do down there, they're always in some sort of a pinch." The bartender said with a snort. He seemed annoyed by The Mandalorian's presence. Maybe it was because he hadn't bought anything.

"Can you vouch for them?"

"Listen, buddy, I don't have time for all these questio-"

Someone came storming through the main entrance, bringing all conversations to a halt. You froze, immediately recognizing him as your Master. Shit . . .

"That filthy rat!" He roared, slamming his hands down on the counter. He paid no mind to The Mandalorian, who stood silently off to the side.

The bartender looked rattled. "W-What's wrong, Linus? Need a drink or somethin'?"

Master Linus shot a venomous glare at the bartender, who immediately shut up. "That damn bitch Y/N escaped! This is the second time this week!" He snarled, his teeth bared in a disgustingly slobbery display. What a nasty man.

You cursed to yourself and crawled behind a wall of stacked crates. This wasn't good. The back door was a possible escape route, but Master Linus most likely had his guards stationed there in case you showed up. While he wasn't the brightest sometimes, he had his moments of genius and they always came at the most annoying times.

"I-I-I haven't seen her, I swear!" The bartender fumbled for words. "She could be anywhere!"

Meanwhile, The Mandalorian looked elsewhere. His gaze slowly scanned around until he spotted something in his peripheral vision. Among the melted puddles of snow on the floor, he could make out a few dark spatters of blood against the grey concrete. While the bartender defended himself against the angry Devaronian's tirade, The Mandalorian went over to investigate.

Your heart leapt into your throat when you heard heavy footsteps approaching. It couldn't be your Master, though. He was still having a screaming fit with the bartender. You remained frozen in place, hoping you wouldn't be found. A flash of silver caught your attention and you cautiously peered around the edge of the crates. The Mandalorian was knelt over a few puddles of melted snow, seemingly studying something. You were clueless as to what it was until a sharp pain suddenly gave you an idea.

Looking down, you could see that the bottom of your foot was bleeding. You had probably stepped on a rock on your way here, but didn't feel it because your feet had gone numb.

The Mandalorian suddenly looked up and you cursed under your breath, yanking your head back behind cover. It was already too late. There was no way he didn't see you watching him.

You heard The Mandalorian stand up and slowly make his way over to where you were hiding. Your heart was racing in terror. Would he turn you in? He was a bounty hunter, of course he would! All he wanted was a reward and you knew Master Linus would reward him handsomely for returning you. You curled into a ball, just waiting to be dragged out of hiding.

Surprisingly, nothing happened.

When you peeked through the gaps between your fingers, you could see The Mandalorian's legs. He slowly knelt down beside you, only making your heart race faster. His gaze, although hidden behind his visor, was most definitely on you. It made you feel ashamed, especially because of the crude way you were dressed.

"Hey." He spoke in a soft tone. It sounded strangely... comforting. "Are you the one he's looking for?"

You hesitated to speak, fear preventing you from doing so. Oddly enough, he seemed to be giving off a protective vibe. Maybe he wouldn't hurt you if you complied. Or maybe it wasn't his intention to hurt you at all. Bounty hunters were hard to trust, yet this one seemed different.

Well, here goes nothing.