"Mom! Look at this one!"

His senses attuned naturally, he focused in on the voice. It was a young one, a female.... the voice of a bright young girl mesmorized by something.

He turned, the sound of sand crunching under his booted feet the only background noise. The world around him drowned out, until all he could hear was the child.

"Isn't it pretty?" She was excited, in awe of whatever she was eyeing.

"Yes, darling." Came the sighing, smiling answer.

"Can I get it?"

The smile faded from the other's tone. The child's mother, no doubt. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. We don't have enough credits."

"Oh." The sadness was evident, disappontment at it's finest. "It's ok, Mom."

Having been turning in a slow circle, he finally laid eyes on the pair. The world returned to full volume, blasting away at his eardrums, as he looked upon them. He watched the young girl eye the golden pendant necklace in longing.

Not able to be a bystander any longe, he strode over to the duo, where the mother was paying the Rodian vendor for some fruit. He made sure his sun hat, protecting his head from the burning sunlight, was partly covering his distinguishable facial features. "Excuse me."

The mother looked up from her purse. "Yes?" She was still a young woman, with copper eyes and a curious expression that reminded him sharply and suddenly of a friend from his past. 

Standing in the middle of Dantooine's only market, Kanan Jarrus smiled pleasantly at the woman before turning to the vendor. "How much is the necklace?"

The vendor named a price and Kanan tried not to wince. He pulled the credits out of his pocket and dropped them into the eager Rodian's hand. The vendor gestured at the necklace, and surprised, the little girl carefully took it. The mother just stared at him in shock, putting up her fruit in slow-motion. 

"Thank you!" She squealed.

Karan smiled at her. "You're welcome."

Still staring at him in shock, the mother managed a thank you. "That was awfully kind of you. But you didn't have to."

"Nice to see a smile on people's faces for once," Kanan shrugged nonchalantly. 

"That was an expensive smile." She eyed him curiously, but there was no suspicion in her copper eyes. 

"Honestly, it was nothing." 

"Well, thank you again. You must let us repay you. Would you care to join us for dinner?" The woman invited, smiling. 

Kanan chuckled. "I'm afraid I don't even known your name, ma'am." 

"I'm Collette. This is my daughter, Katia." She gestured to the young, beaming girl clutching the jewelry as if it might disappear and staring up at Kanan in awe with big emerald eyes. "You don't have an excuse now." 

"I'm Ryder," Kanan said. "Thank you, ma'am–Collette–but I can't accept your offer. I don't want to infringe. The necklace was nothing, really." 

"Nonsense. It's the least we can do. It would be our pleasure, Ryder." 

Karan debated internally. There appeared to be little to no risks involved–although he knew from experience that things were almost never what they seemed. He usually tried his very best to keep away from interaction with anyone on Dantooine, but maybe it was the call of food other than the bland food he brought home for his son, Dev, to cook–which was always as delicious as his chef son could get it, but the same thing everyday got old after a while–that prompted him to answer. 

"If you're sure, that would be great." He replied gratefully. "I'll just have to contact my sons. We live quite a ways out of town, and they'll be worried if I don't return soon." 

"I was just going to say, I haven't seen you around before. That explains it. Wonderful! Come on, Katia. Ryder is going to join us for supper!" She took the little girl's hand and led her a little ways away as Kanan pulled out his comlink to contact Dev Dume and Ezra Bridger. 

I'm backkkkkkkk!! Super hyped to be returning to this series.... Who's excited?! Especially for summer, when I'll be updating more consistently! :) 

Just to be clear, "Star Wars Rebels: Chosen" takes place three years after the last book (19 BBY, the same year that Luke blew up the Death Star, but before that event). May the Force be with you,

-LothalRebelUltraFan