Bea

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

🌋Welcome to Ryloth! Enjoy the read! Timestamps are up in the upper righthand corner, most of the story is organized into chapters to better organize the changing of timelines/major events.

Updates!

🌋 2/1/20 - Ryloth is now open for the public to write in. If you're interested in joining, hop on over to to the Discord and see what we've been talking about. You can also ask @Fallenreaper or myself if you have any questions and need help figuring out where to fit in. Happy writing!

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Chapter 1

Training Has Begun... Finally

---

Tython, 6 ATC, 6

Week 2, Day 1

Jedi Master Dominik Rothul sat in silence as the transport ship shifted, docking easily onto the main Tython landing pad. An announcement was made to all its passengers to exit if they wished, and moments later everyone aboard the shuttle began to do so. His mind was elsewhere, his body moving with the crowd as he exited the spacecraft and made for the Temple.

Corellia, Sith, evil schemes that would have been far better off had they been uncovered sooner, it was all swirling around in the Master Jedi’s head as he moved. His body ached, his hip screamed at him as he walked despite being aided by a waist high walking stick as he walked. He had meetings with the Council to attend, meditation to perform, but most importantly, a Padawan to meet.

Padawan learner Lo Lya'Tre, a young Bothan girl whom he had met while she was still very young. There was a history between them, involving a promise and many many questions and times of self doubt on both sides. Ultimately, the local council deemed it good for both parties to be paired together, despite the silent protesting of Dominik’s grieving and grumpy heart. The man, aided by his walking stick, made his way towards the speeder hangars, for no particular reason, but feeling that the hangars would soon prove to be the right place at the right time.

Lo’s fur pushed back against her skin. The wind raked its invisible fingers across her surface and pressed it close, causing her muzzle to pull into a smile. Her eyes narrowed on the winding landscape. She swayed instinctively with the speeder bike as she parted the long grass in her wake. Each movement appeared perfect and without flaw in its execution. Lo couldn’t explain it, but being on a speeder felt natural for her. Rarely did she ever second guess or hesitate with her actions. She didn’t think in depth over it. Instead she reacted and followed the result to the end, even if she crashed into the dirt.

Her hands gripped tightly onto the handles and revved the engine into life. Her body leaned into the movement as she swept to the side then began to slow on entering the hangar. Unlike many Padawans, Lo didn’t wear a helmet. It blocked her head in and made thinking difficult so she often conveniently left it behind. Even in the wind in her eyes didn’t bug her since she moved more on instinct than her sight.

As the speeder bike grinded to a stop, she cut off the engine. Her right leg slid about and she hopped off, pushing her spiky fur back into place. She let out a sigh of relief while she considered what to do next. The last several months blurred together. Loneliness had began to settle in and allowed dark thoughts to gnaw at her. Lo shook them off before she began to push the machine back into line with the others.

Guilt had started to eat away at the old Jedi’s heart. First, his Padawan, then one of his best friends and her Padawan, Xid Terrik. Now, he had been assigned to Lo, and it had been months since the Master Jedi had stepped foot into deep friendly space. Here he was, attempting to meet a young Bothan who he had known for years, who had been assigned to him and who had waited patiently for his return. The man stood back, watching his young Padawan from the entrance to the speeder bay. He could not claim credit for what he saw.

Confidence as she walked; it reflected in her posture and her expression. No doubt she was feeling better about herself, about her situation, feeling optimistic about the opportunities she’s been afforded and no doubt ready to train and grow stronger. He took no credit in the changes he saw and the aura he could sense. She had done this all on her own; quite a big step for the timid, doubtful and shy little Bothan. With proper reinforcement, and the Jedi Master she had waited so long for, she would make a fine Jedi.

The Jedi decided to wait. To see if their bond was remotely strong enough to allow the girl to feel he was there. He wanted to give her space, to allow her to realize just who had come and to take in everything that was about to change, for the better.

As Lo put the bike away, she turned to the thoughts of her daily lessons. Depression poured over her like cold water causing her to sigh again. She didn’t look forward to them. Especially combat. Why couldn’t life be so simple, she thought as she turned about. Something tugged at her causing her to look up from the ground. Her eyes focused on Master Rothul as her mind numbed in thought. Everything about the upcoming day vanished from her mind when she began to realize he really had arrived.

“Master Rothul?” She asked, her voice soft and unsure.

A soft, warm smile made it’s way to Dominik’s face, the man shifting where he stood to put more weight onto the side that was supported by the walking stick. He took a deep breath, starting to walk towards Lo, glancing around at the controlled chaos that was everyday Tython in the hangar. “I apologize for my tardiness,” he began, approaching the young Bothan before stopping just a couple feet in front of her, “but I seem to have lost my way.” He teased, winking at the young girl before him. He took a deep breath, the smile from his face fading as his playfulness was drowned out by the apology he wished to make.

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long, little one.”

Calm replaced the uncertainty causing Lo to smile slightly, her eyes showing genuine joy.

“I thought… maybe something had happened or…” She didn’t finish her thoughts, but the tone made it clear. The little Bothan wondered if he had decided she wasn’t worth the effort to train.

Dominik could sense the mixed emotions coming from the young Padawan before him. He took a deep breath, shifting his weight again away from his injured hip before the Master Jedi spoke. “Remember what I told you? Years ago on H’ratth when you were doubting yourself?” he asked, calmly, gently, watching Lo and letting her think about what he meant.

Lo nodded, her eyes raised higher.

“I told you to trust in the Force, to let it guide you. It is the will of the Force that you and I are together. It just… took a little longer than expected.” Dominik said to the girl, teasing her near the end to keep the mood light.

“I tried, but when the days turn into weeks and weeks into months… Silence is often my worst enemy.” For once, Lo spoke from a place of strength despite its negative effects. She wanted to hide her doubts, but the recent months proved lying to herself hadn’t done much good. It only made reality much more painful.

“And look where the waiting has brought you.” Dominik added, kneeling down to better see the girl’s eyes.

“The Force is a fickle thing, Lo. But now you have been rewarded for your resilience and patience.” The man said before he stood slowly back up, regret crossing his features as he used the walking stick to help himself stand. “Now come. No more classroom lessons, no more hours of reading, no more waiting. You’re leaving Tython, we’ve been tasked to help with a relief effort.”

The man stood fully, winking at the young girl before him before turning, expecting her to follow in his wake as he made for the shuttle bays.

Lo cocked her head. Her ears perked at the words. She had hoped to hear them since she arrived on Tython, but her mind wanted to imagine it away. This couldn’t be actually happening, could it? Lo bit her lower lip as she shot up beside him. Her face lifted up to examine his expression and see through any illusion. All her senses told her she had nothing to be worried about.

“A relief mission? To where?” She asked, trying to control her river of questions from pouring out.

“Ryloth.” Dominik replied quickly, looking down to speak to Lo before the man continued forward.

“Are you sure you don’t need to rest?” Lo noticed the walking stick and Master Rothul’s movements. She didn’t decide to address it until now.

“We’ll have time to rest before we arrive. Ryloth is located in the deep Outer Rim, it will take us some time to arrive even by hyperspace lane. I’ll take my time then, don’t fret.” He advised, his heart feeling appreciative of the young Bothan’s worry. An old wound that fought any form of healing, Dominik was constantly reminded of the price one sometimes paid as a Jedi, though he was never bothered by it. It was simply a test of endurance that we constantly revisited.

“Gather your things, we won’t be returning to Republic space for quite some time if all goes well. I’ll meet you in hangar eleven, alright?”

Lo nodded then rushed off. As she neared the corner, her foot slid along the marble floor and she slipped. Just before she fell onto the floor, her balance adjusted and she caught herself. In a few moments she was gone to retrieve what meager belongings she brought with her. It didn’t her long before she returned with a small haversack filled with a spare outfit and a few trinkets inside. She hung it over her shoulder, pressed against her back, while she located hangar eleven.

When Lo found her way to hangar eleven, she would see Master Rothul speaking to a few other Jedi, along with some Republic workers who were leading supplies onto the Mirage.

When she looked closer and reached out through the bond, she faintly sensed concern and worry from her master. Her muzzle scrunched up as she tried to understand it. Unsure if it was due to his body language or the bond she heard about between padawan and master. He was being briefed on the situation on Ryloth, it was starting to become much more serious than he had initially been told. The man quickly masked his feelings though as he noted Lo approaching. The few Jedi and Dominik said their farewells before the Master Jedi turned to approach his Padawan. This mission was supposed to be in support of the relief effort to the planet's struggling colonies of Twi'Leks and Humans alike, but it seemed he and his Padawan would be dropping into a much more dire situation. Introduction by fire, as he liked to call it.

He addressed Lo as she came near, smiling reassuringly to his Padawan before gesturing for her to follow him onto the Mirage. Lo paused long enough to adjust her haversack while keeping close.

"We've got a long journey ahead, Lo," he began, resting a comforting hand on the Bothan's shoulder as they started up the ramp. "Are you ready for this?"

“Maybe?” She tried not to squeak in her voice. Her eyes looked to him, suspecting her expression revealed more than she wanted to. One born from concern and desire to help, but also of inexperience and uncertainty.

“You still haven’t given me any details aside from the fact it’s a relief effort.”

"We're going to help aid the Twi'Lek colonies on Ryloth. Both in settling parts of the surface that haven't been established yet, and helping to protect them from any outside opposition." Dominik explain. He led Lo to the cockpit of the ship, a small space with four single chairs, two in front of the control panel and two further back.

"Master Rothul! Things are all ready for you. Everything is strapped down and ready to go Sir." Came a shout from behind them, further back on the ship.

"Loud and clear mister Henry. Thank you." He responded before taking a seat in the main pilot's chair.

The Jedi looked to his Padawan, feeling her uncertainty, judging her confidence, his mind playing through their arrival on Ryloth. Once things were settled, training would begin, but not before he would try to build the relationship between Master and Padawan.

Lo’s curosity still gnawed at her as she took a seat behind him. She couldn’t sense if he wanted her to sit in the wingman’s seat or a passenger one, so she decided to take the best possible option. Unlike a speeder bike, she had rarely flown a starship. The few times she had went well enough, but she didn’t want to risk complicating things if issues rose up.

Dominik began the startup procedures for the ship as Lo sat down, reaching up and flipping switches above his head before his fingers moved across the dash, years of piloting and ship maneuvering making these procedures turn into muscle memory for him. The ramp to the Mirage closed as the last of the supplies were loaded and the loading team departed. Dominik glanced behind him, watching the young Bothan behind him.

"I feel pretty lucky to have you around Lo," Dominik began, turning back and continuing with the procedures as the ships engine started. "I've been without a co-pilot for quite sometime. I was starting to feel a little lonely."

The Master Jedi wouldn't force her, but he wanted Lo to feel comfortable at his side. He tried all he could in that moment to direct her attention to the co-pilot seat. Every Padawan belonged next to their Master, but their relationship was not the norm for every Master and Padawan. Dominik fully accepted Lo as his Padawan, but he would let her take her time when it came to accepting herself as his Padawan as well. He wanted her to take her rightful seat, but would not say so directly. She had to make her own decisions.

Lo cocked her head again then began to pull up from her seat, cautiously slipping into the co-pilot seat. She exhaled as she strapped herself in. Her eyes glanced at Rothul, trying to read the faint bond between them. It wasn’t easy.

“I’m not very confident with flying, but I’ll try.” She tried to keep the unsteadiness out of her voice. Her eyes turned to him for guidance as she smiled, happy to hear his compliments.

“I think I’m pretty lucky to have you for a master too. You give me strength when I feel like I have none, and not ashamed.”

After Lo took her seat and strapped in, Dominik took hold of the main thrusters control and pushed it forward. The Mirage lifted off from the bay floor, maneuvering through the open door and speeding up towards Tython's atmosphere.

The Master pondered many thoughts in the back of his mind. The coming mission would test them, both of them, both physically and mentally. He would have to balance Lo's overdue training with mission priorities and objectives. The Master knew there would be time, and the experience old-world would be good for Lo. There would be new beings to meet, new things to experience; but dangers and threats followed closely behind. Ryloth needed the aid of the Jedi; just as Dominik needed an opportunity to teach Lo, something that was long overdue.

---

Looking for some good Star Wars fanfiction!!

Much of what is happening in the PW Universe right now includes it's players and writers coming up with their own stories. The only thing set in stone is the era this takes place in, the year, and maybe one or two other things. If you have further questions about the PW, I can send you a link to the Discord. There are many people there who would love to discuss stories with you, and what original content has been created so far.

@MarvinToran

[Approved] Jedi Padawan Marei Nyx

Approved! Just need one more. <3

[Korriban, 6 ATC 4] Setting Boundaries

Week 7, Dᴀʏ 5

Dash laid down on the ledge that barely fit her ass. Her right leg dangled over the edge and swinging lazily, her head turned to below. She watched a pair of students pitted against each other. Dash flipped onto her side to better view the events transpiring below. Her back pressed into the cold, red stone used to construct the academy's structure.

With an overseer supervising, the teacher shouted to begin. Immediately the two students turned on their weapons. The first one launched into an offensive attack, rushing to jab the second. In a counter, the second flipped over and slashed at the back of the former. Their movements betrayed their experience with their forms. The lightsabers buzzed and hissed with each block or redirection.

As time passed, the first student got the upper hand. He managed to land a blow onto the second's wrist then disarmed her. The overseer's harsh bark ceased the match. A few sharp, inaudible words berated the weaker student followed by a harsh backhand to the face. The female crumbled to the ground drawing more anger from her teacher. Dash's lips pressed tightly into a line, but she said nothing. This place created the strong by weeding out all the weaknesses.

The overseer turned her back and flicked her wrist, dismissing them both. Not eager to earn her wrath, both students departed quickly.

Watching them left a souring pit in Dash's stomach causing her to sit upright. She leaned forward to catch her balance and push onto her feet. With a little bit of wobbling, the hybrid managed to catwalk her way to an observing platform. She sat on the railing then flipped her legs over, debating on her next destination.

Overseer Haryss was many things to his students. Dedicated, knowledgeable, articulate; but one thing many would note he lacked, was patience. And so Kilian, who made sure his point had been made two days ago during their chase; who pinned Dash down in the combatives room as he spoke about her place in his game, held very little patience when student did not attend class. When they didn't follow his orders and disobeyed clear instruction, Kilian intended to clarify just what would happen should tardiness continue to be an issue.

Entering through the door to the observation deck, Kilian's booted heels made hardly a sound as he walked up behind Dash.

"So you purposely miss my classes and snoop around where you do not belong, yet you see it fit to come and watch while others spar in your place?"

Dash tensed when her ears caught the Overseer’s harsh tones. Her legs had finished flipping over the edge when she considered retreating, her voice caught in her throat. She chanced a glance up to see him directly in front of her. Every instinct within her screamed to run away.

She struggled to swallow her fear down and forced herself to speak with a steady pace. “I wasn’t intending to watch an Overseer humiliate a student, but if I moved then it would’ve drawn attention I didn’t want. If it helps to ease your anger, it wasn’t enjoyable for me.”

Dash didn’t move. Her figure remained still as possible in hopes to find an escape from his attention.

"Down, in the pit. Two minutes." Kilian ordered, turning his back and strolling back towards the door. "Today we will learn the consequences of hiding away and watching, versus attending classes and learning." He explained, leaving Dash to absorb his words as the electronic door shut behind him.

Kilian allowed Dash some freedom just then. Freedom to choose. Would she follow his instruction and meet him in the sparring pit, or would she run and hide again, or risk facing his wrath and temper the next time she met him.

Dashara kept her head down, her arms against the railing and breathing shallowly. Her mind fluttered back to the similarities between Garix and Haryss. Her arms pulled up to wrap around her shoulders chasing away the growing fear. Stop this, Dash. You’re stronger than this. Dash mentally chided herself. With a shake of her head, she pushed upright and moved toward the door.

Her head ducked out, mentally ticking down the two minutes she had, to look down both of the hallway ends. Only one was clear. Dash bit her lip then ducked back inside. She glanced to the balcony and moved toward it. She moved her legs over as she began to scale the small ledge on the interior of the pit’s walls. Hairs on the back of her neck rose causing her to pause long enough to look down. Dash’s breath froze in her throat when she saw Haryss’ head look upward and scowl at her actions. Not wanting to keep his attention, her figure shimmied across the wall to the next observation platform.

After she disappeared into the room, she crept into the hallway. Pain rippled through her scalp when a hand gripped a fistful and jerked her head back. A yelp escaped Dash’s lips thanks to the pain. Her hands reached back to try to claw away her attacker’s grip, but it only encouraged him to tighten it. Forcing her to step on tiptoes to keep her scalp from being ripped out, he began to march her toward the pit.

Upon arrival, his grip released and shoved her forward. Dash managed to keep her balance and stopped herself from toppling over. Her hand rubbed the back of her head where the asshole attempted to rip her hair out. She glared back at her ‘escort’, avoiding the Overseer’s direction.

"Two minutes late." Kilian stated as Dash was shoved into the sparring area. He nodded towards the apprentice, who took a step back and framed himself in the doorway, arms crossed in front of him.

Dash's head turned to Kilian when he spoke. Her teeth gritted as she watched his gestures and her exit blocked to prevent her escape. She couldn't help, but roll her eyes at his next words.

"I shall find something for you to do later, so that I can get my two minutes back." He said, looking to the other door as an apprentice, about the same age as Dash, stepped through the opposite doorway. Another apprentice followed her and also stood watch by the door. Kilian held his hand straight down towards the ground, pulling up a wooden pole that laid next to his feet. He took hold of it quickly before tossing it towards Dash. The other apprentice, her opponent, picked up a wooden pole that laid nearby.

"Today we will be reviewing the lessons I have taught so far. Parrying, counter attacks, and attacking your opponents openings."

Dash dropped the pole, unable to catch it. The sound drew anger to the surface while she bent over to retrieve it. She inhaled while her eyes never removed themselves from her would-be sparring partner. She examined the student's appearance and posture, including how she held her weapon. Dash attempted to mimic with obvious flaws.

"Begin."

At Kilian's signal, the female apprentice, Ehla, charged at Dash, a two handed grip holding the weapon as she struck towards the girl's defenses.

Pain erupted on Dash’s left side, her figure rattled from the strike. Her teeth bit down on her tongue to avoid screaming in pain. However, the strike’s impact became obvious when her knee bent to one side. Instinctively, Dash’s feet backed up to draw distance between her attacker and herself.

Ehla moved her hands quickly, pulling up the other end of the staff as Dash retreated back. She moved her feet strategically, running at her opponent and, once close enough, using the lower end of the staff in an attempt to sweep one of Dash's feet out from under her.

“Ack!” The cry managed to squeeze out past her attempts to hold it in. Dash’s feet jerked into the air as the pole caught and brought her down. All her breath flew out of her when she landed on her back. Her eyes caught the student coming in for a downward blow. Dashara rolled to the side, narrowly feeling the end brush by her back.

As she rose upright, something ticked in her back of her head. A warning. Dash stepped back to narrowly avoiding a thrust to her exposed side.

Ehla, growing frustrated at her misses, thrust her hand out to throw Dash off balance using the Force. It was a simple push, but enough to force her momentum forward.

Ehla then charged in and threw up her foot into Dash's back, throwing the young woman forward onto the hard ground.

Kilian, standing where he was when the fight started, frowned at the young Zeltron's lack of skills in this fight. He sighed in frustration, but wasn't expecting anything too entertaining. Although his lesson was working for its intended purpose.

"If you lose this, you can expect young Mahree to pay for your tardiness and lack of motivation." He called out as Ehla went in for another strike.

"Fucking coward." Dash hissed as she forced herself back up, narrowly missing the next hit.

Kilian only smirked at Dash's comment, watching as Ehla moved the bottom of her staff to attempt another strike.

The unwilling student spit a bit of blood from her mouth, letting it land on the arena floor. When Ehla's weapon closed in on her side again, Dash placed the pole between herself and the attack. She gritted from the pain, but managed to remain upright. Her hesitation cost her.

A blow to her leg sent her onto her knee. Her pole jerked up and protected her head when Ehla sent another attack crashing down. It took all her strength not lose her grip. The center of her pole began to crack and splinter causing her eyes to look up.

Dash smirked when an idea formed in her head. She dropped back and her leg moved against her opponent's stomach. In a swift movement, she flipped Ehla over her head. Feeling the pole weakened, the half Zeltron jumped back onto her feet. Her hand held it vertically then kicked it the rest of the way apart. She tested the larger of the pieces, getting a quick sense of its weight and balance.

She rose her 'weapon' to deflect the next blow, batting it away. Her feet stepped with surprising grace and rhythm compared to before. One gained through prior experience. Each strike found her 'blade' as she parried, blocked ànd finally started to attack. Slowly Dash began to direct her target toward one of the walls.

Red tingled at the edge of Dash’s vision as her anger built. As the fourth strike lashed at her side, she braced herself. It landed on her left side drawing out snarl as she gripped it. She jerked herself closer to the apprentice while her other hand lashed her weapon at the side of Ehla's head. At the last moment, Dash stopped just shy of hitting the cheek.

“I win.” Dash’s anger dissipated while she released the staff then stepped away.

Seeing Dash stop short of clobbering the younger Sith apprentice in the side of the head, Kilian scoffed. He hadn’t set rules, hadn’t set boundaries, so Dash had chosen her way to end a fight, even though she could have knocked her opponent out and probably on her way to the infirmary. It would have been one less opponent in the long run.

[Korriban, 6 ATC 4] Setting Boundaries

OOC

[H’ratth, 3 ATC 6] Meeting an Old Friend

---

Cᴏʟʟᴀʙ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ Fᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ Bᴇᴀ

It wasn’t often that Master Rothul rested, especially not during the ceasefire that was the “treaty” of Coruscant. Even though a treaty had been signed, that didn’t mean his work of intel gathering and person watching was over. He had dived deep into his work after the Sacking, for more reasons than one. It was a distraction, his home away from home. His ship, the Mirage held enough supplies for him to be gone for months. Although, as a member of the Jedi Council, that was not something that could easily be done.

As the Master Jedi reflected on these thoughts, the ramp to the Mirage lowered and he stepped out into the cool morning air of H’ratth. Dominik could count on his hand how many times he had visited the jungle planet, and the small praxeum that resided there. Nowadays, there was only one reason to step away from his duties and direct his way back into the inner rim.

The Jedi keepers of the praxeum emerged from the front entrance to the landing pad, greeting the master as he approached them. Few small younglings followed in suit, and Dominik could not help but notice the absence of one that was normally among the others to greet him. One Jedi stepped forward from the rest of the greeting party, bowing his head in respect to the Master. As Dominik did the same they both exchanged smiles before laughter filled the greeting.

“My my, am I seeing a tinge of gray there? You sure you’re not thinking about retirement, Master Rothul?”

Knight Arv Tyhpis. A seasoned Zabrak Jedi that Dominik had known for most of his later years. They didn’t see each other often, but each meeting was always one filled with laughter and reflecting upon the good old times.

“Y’know if you’re really that concerned we can take it to the sparring ring and see just how rusty I’ve become?” Dominik teased, to which the Zabrak playfully held his hands in the air and gave a lighthearted chuckle.

“I see that we’re missing someone today.” Dom continued, glancing around at the Younglings before his eyes moved back to Arv.

The Zabrak gave a smirk before his head nodded towards the praxeum.

“You’ll find her in the lower courtyard. It seems to be one of her favorite places as of late.”

Dominik nodded his head in thanks before his stride took him down a stone pathway. He followed it around the lower base of the praxeum, his eyes observing the gorgeous greenery that surrounded the walkway and extended farther than his old eyes could see. ‘

Stepping into the lower courtyard, he wandered through the tall trees, his eyes observing the treetops, watching as a slight breeze moved the leaves and made the old trees creak. It was then that he spotted the young Bothan. She wasn’t too high up, but it was high enough that he did not want to climb up after her. The older Jedi smiled, his eyes moving down to the jungle floor as he kneeled down.

Soon the master found himself in a meditative position. Sitting, waiting, listening to his surroundings and taking in the sounds of a world at peace with itself. Time to meditate surrounded by peace and quiet proved hard to find for Dominik. So the master took this time to do just that, and to reflect on the experiences that brought him to the planet in the first place.

Lo’s figure shifted. A few leaves floated down and touched the Master on the head. She couldn’t help the shift as she made a soft whimper, her eyes closed tighter. Her fur bristled to make her seem larger than she was. As her eyes drifted open, her fingers curled to wipe away the sand in her eyes. She pulled upward on the branch then gave a long yawn. Her fur flattened out while she placed her hands on her ears, pinning them to her head.

“You know, you’re going to get me in a lot of trouble some day, little one.”

Dominik’s voice came softy, soothing, a tone that few could say they’ve heard. Despite what he had told himself he wouldn’t do, Dominik found himself scaling the tree and finding a seat on a large branch across from Lo. A hand against the strong trunk, Dominik glanced down to the jungle floor before looking back to the Youngling in front of him. Dom knew she might not be able to hear his soft words, but with words came comfort through the Force; a warm, friendly feeling that only two Force-users might be able to share through the bond they had together.

Lo, curious as ever, looked down to spot Master Rothul climbing to the branch just below her. Her muzzle slipped into a wide grin. She felt the earlier crash fade as new energy sprung up in its place. She sat upright, looking from her perch. After a moment or two, she slid to the trunk and began to scale to Dominik’s branch.

“I’m so sorry. I forgot you were coming!” Lo’s voice took a higher pitch as her guilt cropped up too.

Gradually, she began to inch closer until they were facing each other on the same branch.

“You’re not hurt, right?”

"I'm fine, Lo." Dominik replied, watching the young Bothan for a moment, "And what about you? I can sense something was bothering you a moment ago. Just a dream?"

Lo shifted in her seat, her legs straddling the branch and keeping her upright. She bit her lip then looked thoughtful to the side. A hesitation filled her for a moment before she braced her hands onto the tree bark. She opened her mouth to explain.

“A dream, yes. A confusing one. I was running. I don’t know why, but I was being chased. Big black creatures with helmets and they weren’t stopping. I was scared. One grabbed me and I just woke up.” She frowned in a cute fashion, her fur upright and unhappy.

“I don’t like how it made me feel.”

“We must not let our dreams tell us how to feel, Lo,” Dominik began, giving a slight smile as he spoke, “it’s alright to be afraid, or sad, but you can’t let those emotions linger. It was only a dream after all. Look around and focus on where you are, here and now.” the Master Jedi said, offering his wisdom to the young Bothan. It wasn’t often that Dominik was around to guide Lo; his time was filled with the tedious and dangerous job of seeking intel and watching persons of interest. Finding the time to visit the praxeum was rare, so the master took advantage of it.

“How often do you have these dreams?”

Lo lifted her head to face the Master then considered his question.

“When I first arrived, they were really bad. They stopped for a while, then started up again.”

“Have you talked to any of the Masters about them?” Dominik replied.

Lo’s silence told him everything he needed to know. A simple, unsaid no.

Dominik’s nostrils flared after a few short moments, the man letting out a sharp sigh of disapproval as a slight frown found its way to his face.

“It is not good to hold on to these feelings, Lo. If you’re having multiple dreams, then it could be something else. You cannot hide these things.” The old man gave Lo a stern look before he started sliding off of the large branch, making his way carefully down the tree.

“Come, I want you do meditate with me.”

Her fur flattened out at his gentle scolding. She didn’t like disappointing her teachers as her ears caught the sound of him lowering himself to the ground. Lo peered over from her seat, watching him a moment and finally began to follow down. After her feet hit the ground, she straightened up.

“I was hoping they would stop. They did before.”

“That was before, Lo. This is now.” Dominik began, watching the young Bothan as she straightened herself. He adjusted his robes before eyes moved to observe the jungle around them. The praxeum was just in view through the trees, but the Master had other plans.

“What do you say to taking a short hike into the jungle, hm?”

Lo’s head tilted to the side, “Sure. There’s not much here aside from peace and quiet. So any place works well. Did you have a certain place in mind?”

“No, I don’t,” Dom began as he started to head off down a small hiking trail that led away from the praxeum, arms held comfortably behind his back. “And that is why I’m going to let the Force guide me there.”

He glanced back at Lo, a slight smile in his features before eyes returned to the pathway ahead. “Are you coming?” the Master Jedi teased as he continued down his path.

Lo’s fur rose a little as her feet rushed after him. Her movement quickly catching up to him before she slowed into a leisurely walk.

A few long minutes went by as the two walked together. Dom held his eyes closed every now and then, reaching out with his senses. He listened to the world around him, felt for emotions, followed the Force as it flowed through the planet.

“Lo,” he began, glancing down to the young Bothan besides him, “do you trust in the Force? Do you trust it to guide you to becoming a Jedi?”

Lo looked down and thought for a moment how to give her words a proper voice. She trusted the force knew best, but her issue was following it accurately. Her own confidence in her instincts fell short of what other students seem to have.

“I trust the Force knows best, but I worry about my ability to follow it. It’s hard to explain.” Lo tried to explain. Her hands folded into her sleeves of her training robes. Her feet kept pace by stepping twice as much as his longer strides. She was a smaller individual compared to him.

“You’re young, Lo,” Dominik began, slowing his pace slightly to allow the young Bothan to catch up, “you have time to learn and to train and grow as a young Jedi. You will lose, you will fail, but you cannot be afraid of that. You must be able to take that failure and turn it into something greater.” The man advised, his arms hanging casually at his side now.

The man took in a long breath, sorting out his thoughts and words before he spoke next. “I have failed, many times, Lo. And I will fail, many more times. I do not know when, or how, but I must be ready and I must be able to take that failure and keep going.”

Lo cocked her head. Her eyes widened in surprise as she spoke what was on her mind, through it just tumbled it out.

“I… you’re a master. I didn’t think you could fail.”

“Anyone can fail, Lo. Sometimes you cannot help what happens no matter how hard you try. I have failed many times, but I still stand here today. Sometimes I learn through my failures, but I take them and I keep going.”

Lo rolled her shoulders. Her feet stepped casually in pace with Master Rothul while her eyes shifted. They looked at him then back to the ground, absorbing his wisdom. She bit her bottom lip before she replied.

“If I fail the Padawan trials, I’ll go to the service corps. It means I can’t become a Jedi. I haven’t shown much talent in anything.” A little bit of sorrow jumped into her voice.

“If you focus on failure, that’s all you will see. You’re already talking about the future, but you need to focus on the here and now.”

Dominik stopped suddenly, his Jedi robes swaying around his form at the sudden change of momentum. His head turned, ever so slightly, as if listening to something. Moving off the beaten path, Dominik stepped into the thick brush of the jungle. He glanced back at Lo for a moment as he walked.

When Master Rothul stopped, Lo jumped and stepped back. Avoiding knocking into the older man, she tilted her canine head then followed his new direction. A confused look crossed her face, but she didn’t question his reasons. Timidly she keep close while they continued to walk.

“Change of plans, I guess we’re going this way now.” Dominik teased, winking at Lo before he started further off the path. His words hinted as if Dominik wasn’t making his own decisions, yet it was just he and Lo there in that moment. The Master Jedi let the will of the Force guide him. He wanted to find the ideal spot to meditate, somewhere maybe Lo hadn’t stepped foot before. Something new.

Lo’s eyes wandered to the background. Animals, from avian to mammal variety, all scattered into their branches. Harmless creatures but all curious about the invaders into their territory. Small eyes followed them which drew Lo’s anxiety to a new level.

Dominik glanced down at the young Bothan at his side. He could easily sense the young Initiate’s anxiety, he hardly had to reach out to feel it.

“They will not harm you, Lo. They are only curious. Show them you mean no harm and they will do the same.” Dominik said calmly, parting two large leaves as he walked in between them, allowing Lo to do the same before he let the foliage return to its natural position.

The youngling nodded, but still seemed unsure. Lo’s fur flatten as she followed the master, shifting through the leaves after him. “I’ve never been this deep. We’re usually told to keep close to the temple. How will we find our way back?”

Her eyes glanced back as she bit her lip. She noted how fast and heavy her heart began hitting her chest. She knew she shouldn’t have been frightened, but her mind didn’t help. Instinctively the small Botan kept close to Master Rothul. Her mind drew familiarities and peace from his presence.

"If we trust the Force to guide us, we will find our way back. Just as we are finding our way now." Dominik replied, letting Lo hang close to him as they moved through the thick foliage.

"You must trust the Force to guide you as you grow, Lo, just as we're trusting it now. Do what you feel is right and you will succeed."\

Master Rothul grew quiet, his pace slowing as eye closed, his senses reaching out. After a few moments, a smile grew upon his face. Two hands reached out to part a wall of thick foliage. He allowed Lo through the small pathway first before he followed. What greeted them on the other side, however, was something far different from the jungle they had been traversing through.

The forest floor opened up tremendously to a small, sunny glade. Daylight and sky could be seen through the treetops, small flying creatures made their way from branch to branch, dancing with each other as they went.

A small stream ran through the middle of the glade, carving through two large, flat and smooth rock ledges a few feet above the creek.

With experienced eyes, Dominik could see the use of the flat stones. Many Jedi had meditated upon them before. He could feel the Force flowing through the small glade, greeting them as the pair observed the area.

Lo’s eyes widened in wonder and awe. Her attention shifted from one end of the scenery to the other. She didn’t expect to find such beauty among the jungle, especially after such unfamiliarity. Her heart swelled with joy at the sight. She looked up at Master Rothul, her muzzle wrinkled by childish grin.With renewed curiosity, the small Bothan edged deeper into the glade as she raised her arms to spin around. A small giggle erupted from her before she paused to look at him.

“Did you know this was here?” Lo asked, her attention fixed on him again.

"I did not," Dominik began as he slowly walked over to the large, smoothed out stones. Slowly lowering himself down on top of one, the Master Jedi took a loose meditative position, inhaling and exhaling as he glanced around at the small glade.

"I trusted in the Force and it brought me here, Lo. This is what can happen if you trust your instincts and trust in who you are."

The Master glanced back at the young Bothan, a small smile donning his face at her antics.

"Come, sit, I want you to meditate with me."

Not wanting to be left behind, Lo followed him. Her feet easily navigating the scattered jungle debris and taking the other stone right next to him. With a swift movement, she crossed her legs and lowered herself into a sitting position. The ending resulted into a hard flop drawing a soft grunt from her.

She inhaled to clear her earlier anxieties from her heart and head. Her hands rested on her knees while she closed her eyes. The sounds of the jungle’s surroundings that fallen silent began to build once more, their daily activities returned once more.

Dominik waited for a few long moments until Lo was settled. His eyes closed, hands rested on his knees, the Jedi drew a breath in and out, calmly, quietly.

"I want you to think about what's been bothering you, in your dreams. But, Lo, you must also remember where you are. You need to face these dreams and realize that is all they are, dreams."

Lo nodded as she turned inward. Her mind shifted through the dreams, picking out elements and determining their hidden meaning. As she detailed her dream, she explained her thought process in an objective perspective.

"The running could mean I'm running to or from something. It felt more like I was running to safety rather than away from the monsters. Their shapes…"

She stopped, her anxiety reared up in her chest again. Her breath inhaled then exhaled. Each time she kept trying to remember she wasn't dreaming anymore and instead awake.

Dominik waited and listened as Lo went through her dream, step by step, and detailed it to him and what she thought the meaning was. He remained still as she started to struggle, waiting a few moments to see if she would pull out of it.

When Lo didn't, Dominik moved closer to her. He rested a hand on her shoulder, taking in a deep breath and then exhaling as he concentrated on the here and now.

"You're here, Lo. It is just a dream, it isn't real."

Lo began to relax again. Her breathing settled down and became steady again.

"Thanks. The shapes might not be important. We had a lesson over the Empire so maybe they are fears instead? I'm worried about not making it. That the force feels I'm not good enough to become a Jedi."

The moment the words slipped out, it felt right and accurate. "I am afraid to fail."

"You cannot be afraid, Lo. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering… it is not the Jedi way."

Dominik sat in silence for a few long moments, his hand remaining on Lo's shoulder as a gesture of compassion.

"You need to trust in the Force. Let it guide you through these dreams, let it guide you as you grow to become a Jedi. If you trust the Force, you will not fail."

“I’m trying. My own insecurities keep getting in the way. I don’t know how to make them stop. I feel like I’m alone.” Lo tried to keep her voice from cracking during the last part, but Dominik could easily tell.

“Lo, listen to my voice. You are never alone, even if there is nobody around you. You are a Jedi, Lo. The Force is with you, always.”

Dominik sat in silence then. There wasn’t much more to try and convince Lo that she wasn’t alone. She had to trust in herself, she had to see her nightmares through and realize they are not real.

Lo’s fur flattened and relax against her form. She reasoned away the guilt as she released it, letting it gradually unknot her emotions. Her breathing became steady and strong with each inhale then exhale. Dominik could feel her tension begin to fade from her shoulder.

“Where the Force guides me, I will trust it is for the best.” The words didn’t hurt when she spoke, instead it felt right to say. She didn't like it, but she wouldn’t feel rotten about it.

Her eyes opened to look at Dominik with a small, warm grin.

Watching the young Bothan begin to find reason behind his words, and convincing herself to calm down a little, Dominik was glad he had found this moment to teach Lo. He was worried, forgot seemed a lot harder for her than he expected. Lo harbored feelings and memories of her past that she didn't recognize, though the Master Jedi knew exactly what her nightmares reflected when she described them.

"There you go." Dom said, offering a kind smile back down to the young Lo.

"Trust is the first step little one. It is also one of the hardest steps for most."

“I know that and it’s hard not to worry. It’s like a knot gets created in my stomach and I can’t stop trying to untangle it. Each worry leading to another until it’s bigger than before. I just don’t see any sort of greatness within myself.” Lo stated calmly, her fur flattened against her figure.

She adjusted her sitting posture while keeping her calm demeanor. The sounds of the jungle appeared to fill her ears causing her nervousness to fade completely. Each time she heard an avian or creature scurry about, her lips curled into a bigger grin.

Things were going to be alright.

[H’ratth, 3 ATC 6] Meeting an Old Friend

OOC

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Trial by Sith

Mahree Mais-Ede

Korriban, home of the Sith. Red sand, harsh deserts, a rather unforgiving and unkind planet in its entirety. Mahree had never seen it's surface, until now. She stood about a foot away from Dash, arms crossed nervously as her eyes looked at the other recruits around them. Overseers gathered to ensure none of the group strayed too far from where they waited.

Why were they waiting? What cruel game would they have to partake in now?

"Dash?" Mahree asked, looking to her friend just as Dash seemed to have averted her eyes. "Do you know what they're going to do?" She asked, her voice quiet and reflecting the nervousness and fear she felt in her heart. It had been only six days since their arrival on Korriban and Mahree was sure it had already been an eternity. Each day was filled with some form of backlash; if she wasn't enduring punishment, she was waiting, moment after moment, praying the device around her neck wasn't set off.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced the device on her neck as she thought about it. She was starting to forget it was there, that it wasn't part of her. Every now and then she could feel parts on the inner side of the device pinch or pull on her skin when she moved.

Now she waited, staying close to her friend, holding they wouldn't be forced apart again. This was the first time in six days that Mahree had seen Dash for more than a few minutes. So she treasured these moments, hoping to make them last for as long as possible.

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Trial by Sith

Poor Little Mahree trying to not get killed in here.