A Study Of Youth

[Balla Vahla]

The Jedi temple on Ilum was a fantastic place. Built in the mass of ice and snow it stood out, it was also of vast importance to the Jedi and it would remain as such for many generations to come. Balla recalled her first time walking up to the temple with her fellow trainees, it was a time of mystical awe and wonder. Till the kids started a snow fight. It was almost like tradition for the younglings to start a snow ball fight when their instructors back was turned.

And this was no different.

Their first trial of clearing the entrance had erupted into a snow ball fight, the children laughing and tossing the snow at each other. Of course she was going to have to step in and stop them at some point, but in the mean time she pretended to remove some supplies from the ship that brought them here.

Balla pulled her thick coat around herself, a bit upset that his jacket hugged her a bit too close and hid her sleeves. She wasn't the Jedi in charge of this trip, that was reserved for another among them.

After, there were only six kids. Not a whole lot to watch, and these were the kids deemed ready to partake in the Gathering. They were to began the first steps of making their light sabers.

"Please, allow me to redirect their engery." Balla dropped her jacket into the snow, paying no attention to the cold temperature. She wanted her sleeves for this.

She ran forward, the sleeves billowing around her as she kicked up the snow. Balla stood in the middle of the kids little war zone and spun in a circle, spinning low into snow and then back up to a standing position, the snow swirling around in a fantastical manner around her thanks to her telekinesis.

It was quite a beautiful sight, Balla with her white hair, standing in the center of a small personal snow storm. Her eyes closed as she felt around, finding all of the kids lifeforce in the snow. They had, of course, stopped their fighting only to watch, even if it was just for a second.

Her eyes opened and the snow suddenly stopped. As if time itself had frozen.

The kids gasped and had a fraction of a second to react as the snow that floated around her quickly formed into perfect snow Balla and shot off after each kid. They screamed and some ducked for cover but there was no stopping it. Each snow ball hit its mark, each fluffy snowball exploding as it connected with its chosen kid. Covering them in snow.

The kids groaned and rolled in the snow as Bella stood in her place, looking like the perfect picture of innocence.

She grinned at the kids and clasped her hands together, making a muted clapping noise thanks to her too long sleeves.

"Now that the winner of this little... Kerfluffle is decided, shall we continue with treating this ritual with the respect it deserves?"

Humiliation add a dose of guilt and what do you get? Receptive children... For a limited amount of time.

Begrudgingly, they set back to work clearing the entrance. Balla grinned, sometimes tough love was the answer but in all honesty, this place spooked her and she was glad the kids had their little fun.

"Time is of the essence, children." She warned as she walked back to her Jedi companion.

 

[Rev]

Ilum was a wonderworld at times. Between the frigid temperatures and the planet's correct cycle, there was quite nothing else like it. It was memories of his own passage onto the next phase of training so many years ago that had him deep in thought now. It was the first Padawan, a young girl, hitting another, a boy, in the side with the opening snowball. It was the bundled up younglings that truly brought a smile to the elder's face. As if they were a group of padded warriors in the heat of battle. Turning his back to the scene only one thought came into his mind.

Let them have their fun..

As he turned he was able to see his companion, Balla D'Aom unloading the ship, an act which brought a quick smile to his face. He had a quick thought back to the ride here only hours before and a wager the two managed to bargain. Which of the snowball 'shooting' children would be the first to ask had either Balla or himself had partaken in the Gathering. Pushing the thought aside he began to venture away from the encampment some; however, leaving the blocked entrance in view. It was in this position he could feel the arctic air descend over a ice wall and collide with his flesh. His robes were just as ordinary as they would have been on Tattooine or Coruscant for that matter. He instead embraced the environment for what it was, sucking in a deep breath of the frozen air both slow and deep into his lungs. A slow half of an exhale would follow, but not before another deep breath would find his lungs. He had been doing this since leaving hyperspace; it was no Jedi trick, simply one he had learned from an elder too long ago.

"Time is of the essence, children."

The echoing words off those same ice walls met Andrei's ears which turned him to face his approaching assistant in the Padawan's training. Smiling to the woman for what had to have been the hundredth time he asked her a simple question.

"Are they ready?"

 

[Balla Vahla]

Balla pulled her jacket back around her shoulders, shivering a little bit. She grinned and nodded her head.

"Yes, I do believe so. I'm very excited to be here." Perhaps she wasn't shaking just due to the cold, the younglings had no idea what they were getting into here.

They were her babies and she eagerly awaited this moment for a long time. Now, was the time.

They had cleared the entrance of the temple. All that had to be done now was open the door and from there... Well, it was all just a magical experience.

"Alright children. Show Knight Andrei how far you all have come. Open the gate."

The students focused and held out their hands, some looking a bit cockier then others, others unsure and nervous.

Balla had to suppress a squeal of exicitment as she felt the Force swirling around the children. By their powers combined the gate to the caves squeaked and the icey doors opened. The kids seemed shocked as they had their first victory, but the hard part had yet to come.

"Amazing! Everyday they make me proud!" She said this to Andrei, looking to him. He had such a cool composure about him.

 

[Rev]

"Good. Very good."

His response to her answer was as direct as it could be. The coldness it may have flirted with did have a depth of warmth to it still; but, it was as stern as an elder's wisdom should have been. He this time offered her a nod and tuned in to the same spectacle that Balla would. Once she gave the command he could feel his own nerves start to take shape, it was in this moment they would see just how well these soon-to-be Jedi would work both together and individually. Their own answer to Knight D'Aom's request was no easy one, but a passing grade no-less.

If it wasn't for that arctic wind, the cold stillness that held in the air was no doubt the Force whispering out to any who would listen. That whisper changed as the air and gravity around the younglings sizzled with energy. His eyes would fall shut as his own presence of mind merely reached out, taking in each source of power and connecting it to one of the children. Before he knew it they were done, and he had their own connections assessed. He could tell by the first exercise alone who was better in tune to the Force and who was not. He only hoped those that lacked a strong connection to their strongest of allies made up for it with their blade.

"I am glad to hear.. and sense your excitement, my friend."

He took a step to the cave's new opening, a bit of excitement swelling in his own gut as well as he thought back to his own journey within. It had been some years since he had traced his steps back to this place; but, even time did not take away those strong visions and memories of the past. He was sure Balla had memories of her own assuming she took it. Not all were required due to the Temples distances from Ilum and with wartime being ever present. Stopping his stride he faced her once more.

"..I will stress one thing to be mindful of."

He again paused to let her own thoughts wander and perhaps foresee what he was about to tell. He'd offer this next part with a solemn gaze, not the friendly smile he had often flourished.

"Failure lies within this temple. Not all who venture in find what they are searching for.. Nor do all come out alive."

He hadn't lost a youngling to this place, but there were plenty of stories of what they saw taking them to places that would not release the child. Some would venture paths that had long been lost to the years of corrosion. He brought his gaze back to the children who were steps ahead of them in going into the belly of the beast. Their sight would be tested in such darkness along with every other sense they possessed.

"The Force is just as dangerous as it is powerful. Nature is no different."

The next bit may have been a ruse, but he said it to at least put both of their minds at ease. He would say the next bit while walking backwards into the cave, still facing the female Knight.

"I sense good things from this group though. They're mindful of one another. More to that they are mindful of themselves."

 

[Balla Vahla]

Of course he knew she was excited. Andrei was her senior knight, he was so much more attuned to the world around them then herself. She smiled at him as they the main cave and Balla watched as her young charges wandered into the the true belly of the beast. They were to remain in the center and wait for them... She wondered if Andrei was attuned enough to the Force to tell her which child was going to make it and which wasn't. They were all good kids to some degree but she never forgot when she was here... They had lost a student student.

Granted the Knight in charge of their trip had managed to go in and pluck the child from the strange hell he was experiencing, but he was never the same after it. He had left the order soon after... And now, Balla had no idea what had happened to him. Maybe living a normal life somewhere? Maybe not.

"What was your trial here, Andrei?" She asked him, thinking about her own experience here when she was just a babe. At least she had believed herself to be a babe. She was perhaps still rather young in this Knight's eyes.

Balla could feel something crackle at her finger tips a bit, it was all in her mind of course, but as a valha... She felt the pull to the dark side. More then she liked to admit. More then she wanted the others to ever know. It was like a constant surge of emotions would trip her up, it easier to get rid of the feelings the older she got but she was still worried. Her people seemed so attached to the darkside, she was worried one day she would get too mad and a blast of eletrictiy would pop out of her eyes or something.

That was how the dark side worked, right? She knew the dangers of the darkside all too well.

They stood in the center, this area had natural light at least. It was warm with the sun directly on them, it also allowed for the waterfalls to flow freely and grant the kids access to their chosen paths. A couple of them looked over their shoulders, others braved head without looking back. Balla waved to some, nodding her head encouragingly. They could do it, she knew they could.

 

[Rev]

One by one the children disappeared into the dark abyss that was the starting chamber of the cave. He could feel each of their presence still, even through the dense ice and rockwall. There was one child however, that continued deeper before another warned him to stop. A short smirk would grow on his face as he noted to keep an eye on the boy. If he was fortunate he would pass on this most telling of days, but if he lacked the patience he had just shown; it will be a long journey indeed. As Balla's own question settled into Andrei's mind he could only reflect on it, despite it being fresh within his mind. Giving the Knight beside him a look he huffed in a slow breath to prepare his explanation. It was now they both found themselves within the entrance of the cave, and if they couldn't sense their eyes upon them through the Force they could certainly feel them.

"It was long enough ago to forget, but I surely never will. Just as I'm sure you remember your passage to Padawanship."

Looking around at the darkness that enveloped them, hiding each of their faces; what they as younglings knew and both himself and Balla as Knights was how to obtain sight in such a place. It wasn't as clear as ones 'normal' vision, but what it lacked in clarity, it made up for in perception. Stopping at the center of the circle his spun in a slow circle before stopping where he had once faced. The sun coming out from behind a grey cloud again highlighted the room in its dull warmth and brightness. The sight he was met with now was that of a frozen fall, the largest of them all in the room; but if one didn't look close enough they'd never know it to be an entrance. Extending his hand out he closed his eyes and waited for what felt like minutes, but in truth as a long set of seconds.

"Sometimes the clearest path is not the easiest. Sometimes the route you take may not be easy. Sometimes the chosen way isn't the route you were meant to go. The Force has a strong pull on every being in this universe. But on you and on me.. on all of us."

He extended his arms out to the younglings and again spun in a circle only to stop and face the younger Jedi Knight, setting his hands on her shoulders from their open extension. As he did so the wall of ice began to melt under itself thanks to the large kyber crystal hung from above magnifying the sunbeams to an otherwise unknown strength.

"I saw what I needed to, just as you did."

He locked eyes with the woman for a long time, letting the words and riddles settle within her mind. The answer was of course in what he had just said, but it wasn't in plain sight for her to grasp or for the children to know. Finally inhaling another breath of the cold enriched air he would release his grip on the girl and again opened his arms to the many entrances to the vast tunnel system that was open to the trainees.

"Choose your path wisely.. Or let it choose you."

Looking up to the holding sun he offered a smile which held a bit of deceit to it as well as a jokers malice.

"Upon sun down the water will freeze. 17 days children. 17 days you'll find yourself locked within this cave until we can extract you from your path should it be the case. May the Force be with You."

The final bit would hit everyone telepathically. His words blanketing them in warmth unlike any they had felt before. Crossing his arms he awaited the first to make their move. Deeper down he wondered if any of them would choose the same path, a question he had for years following his own trial.

 

[Balla Vahla]

A small amount of hesitation. Everyone here was ready, Balla knew this, but he was focusing on her for quite a bit of this speech. But she smiled at him and listened. It was rare she ever got to listen to a senior knight, well... She was offered the chances to listen to the Senior Knights, but she opted to spend most of her time studying or doing something else. Training her healing, and on the rare occasion she also trained with her lightsaber and blades. She still wrapped her arms around herself, watching as the children started their journeys.

Taolinz, a Dathomirian girl ventured out first. She was always the more confident one, she hesitated though, for a split second before changing tracks and entering into a different path then originally intended.

A miraluka boy, Jurac, went next. He looked like every picture of calmness and serenity there was as he entered his chosen path.

The chittering noise that came from the rakata boy made Balla nervous for a second. He was probably one of the taller kids here, but he looked around wildly at the different paths before taking off in a dead sprint. "Or'ta was never quite good at speaking basic..." She worried about him.

Nick named 'Demon' by his peers a Maelibus boy walked around the cavern first, his long claws scrapping into the stone before he looked back at one of his buddies giving him a stern look and then entered his path.

The boy Demon had been looking at, was a wookie. Who didn't seem like he wanted to go into THAT cavern, but more afaird of what Demon would do then what the Force would do, followed Demon into his path. "Demon and Hibie are thick as thieves, but I had hoped Hibie would see the error of Demon's ways..."

"Miss Balla Doom?" Balla looked down to the last student, a h'drachi girl. Despite her appearance she was the sneakiest of the bunch. Balla smiled at the girl.
"Yes, May?"
May hesitated for a bit longer before just... Looking up at her with wide scared eyes. Balla looked to the Jedi next to her for a second before kneeling down and patting May's face. She didn't offer her advice, Balla wanted the girl to figure it out all on her own. May looked to Andrei for a second before Balla gave the h'drachi a gentle nudge towards the center of the room.

The girl lingered for much longer then needed, looking back between the two Jedi before heading into the last path.

Balla stood back up, the room felt so much more... Quiet without all of them here.


_____________________________________________________________________________

So just to recap, there are six students. All went into their own paths expect Demon and Hibie. Demon kinda got Hibie to go with him on his path. All kids are open for you to control if you want to, but otherwise we can just have Balla and Andrei chat and feel what happens to the kids.

 

[Rev]

As the children again disappeared into their respective path Andrei would turn to face his ally. His arms would cross much like hers, but instead his right hand would raise to beneath his chin. He did not know what would lie on each of their respective paths, only that they must conquer it. Giving a glance to Demon and Hibie's path his expression fell grim; those two he had a bad feeling about. Pushing the thought aside this was not his decision to influence and he instead motioned to Balla to follow.

"I came out of my trial later... much later. Than I or anyone had expected."

He looked around the open hall they were soon going to exit out of, heading to a different place within the Temple.

"Three of the others failed their trial, one of which failed to come out."

A left would lead them to an eastern wing within the temple. First passing through an open courtyard, the fresh snow coming down with a silent tranquility that seemed a sin to break. Crossing that open area they'd come to an arched entryway, motioning for the woman to enter she'd be met with a rather unique meditation chamber. The center a rare hot spring heating the room to only a few degrees above body temperature.

"I was told this chamber belonged to an old Nautolan Council Member that came here to better connect with the Force. Having little humidity was perhaps a hell here for him. Though that was years.. decades ago."

He let out a soft laugh at a thought as warmth hit his face from the spring. Entering the spacious chamber he would fall to a knight before bringing the second under himself. He found it would be better to follow the students from here than in the cave's hall. It wouldn't be long before any or all of them would encounter something that they were no doubt battling within themselves.

 

[Balla Vahla]

Balla had never been allowed to venture around in the temple, she sometimes went to the library here, but thawing out all the scrolls took quite a bit of time she didn't always have. Knowing this room was here changed quite a bit. She looked around the meditation chamber with wide eyes as she slowly released her grip on her jacket, looking some of the warmth this chamber offered to seep into her skin and warm her to the core.

"Amazing!" She was truly impressed and wondered if she should spend more time wandering the temples to find little nooks like this one.

Balla placed her jacket on the ground and took up a mediating position. Her hands on her kneels, as she sat on her jacket. When he told his story of his time in here Balla found herself nodding. A similar experience... But only one student.

"Do you have any idea of what happened to the ones who failed? Did they try again?"

This was not the end all be all of the Jedi Army. There would be other chances... She was sure someone who failed this test could come back a second time, right?

 

[Rev]

"One ventured down a path I'm told that only led to rock sheer. A Master had nearly died looking for him, if he had gone that way there was no way back."

He paused to think about the other two, nodding at the memory he quickly blurted out their outcome as well.

"One was never the same. He lost his way on that path and fell to the darkside. I heard he was killed years later, but it was just whispers. The other came out to be a well respected Jedi Master. She was lost on Tython."

Sucking in a deep breath of the steamy air he felt as if his lungs could take in less of the thicker oxygen. Closing his eyes he reached out to the first youngling he had connected with: Jurac. The lad was wise in that he did not venture too quickly, but was wary of the haste necessary to move on. Slow is smooth, smooth is quick; a strong philosophy to live by. Andrei could feel his calm heartbeat, the boy was meditating and awaiting to find his answer. Patience was a strong ally to have in this place.

_____________________________________

Taolinz was a woman of confidence but indecision. Each step forward came with a pause and wonderment of if she had chosen the correct path. It all started at the beginning, a fight within herself as to where to go. Instead of acting on instinct her mind was in control, and that could be a very dangerous beast to conquer. She came to an opening within the dark chamber she could turn in here or venture further down the path. Taking a step inward she stopped and quickly jumped back out unsure of where to go. Looking left then right she finally made a decision and went deep into the cave, altering her initial decision once more.

 

[Balla Vahla]

Balla nodded, "Among my class I had a boy fail as well. A knight went and plucked him from the caverns but the boy was never the same... He ended up leaving the order and I didn't really keep up with what happened to him... I never even thought about him till now."

A sad truth. Balla felt a little bad that hadn't even spared a thought for the boy at the time, but when she was younger. She had been angry, a rather destructive youth and didn't like any of her classmates. They had all mocked her for being valha saying she was going to shoot them with electricity or something along those lines. She had mellowed out greatly thanks to the trials and then even more so after getting her master. Baba had been the true turning point for her, and she was glad her master had picked her.

"I was filled with so much anger when I got my kyber crystal as well... It wasn't like the others, it made me feel so... Different."

Now she cherished her lightsaber and understood more of its meaning.
__________________________________________________________

Hibie and Demon were just walking down a path that had nothing but darkness, ever so often they would come across a fork in the road, as if the force was trying to give them an out, but ever time Demon would grab Hibie's fur and drag him with him. Demon was muttering things about this test while Hibie just looked rather fearful. He knew what was coming, he could sense something brewing in the darkness but Demon just seemed focused on how 'stupid' this test was. Hibie grabbed Demon's arm, making growling yipping noises trying to warn him but Demon brushed him off.

May wrung her hands as she looked around at the walls, it was getting... Brighter in the caverns the deeper she went but she wasn't enjoying the light. Something seemed off about it. It was getting brighter and brighter till it was almost blinding and May had to hold up her hands to block the light from getting into her eyes and hurting them. She whispered small prayers to herself as she pushed forward and then down. She had not been able to see ahead with her hands blocking her view and had stepped right into hole.

_____________________________________________________________

Balla winced feeling the sudden surge of panic. She was more attuned to May and Demon then she was the rest of the children and she could sense May's panic as she did her free fall, and sensed Demon's ignorance to the situation at hand.

 

[Rev]

He couldn't help but nod at her first comment. He too hadn't remembered those children in years, except for the Jedi Master. She had perished recently, the two would even talk; but, never about the trials. It was almost a secret everyone held from each other. A weaknesses exploited by something within those caverns that you'd always somehow hold onto. Perking an eyebrow at her second comment about anger he had questions of his own.

"Anger..?"

It was remarkable the ability to meditate and talk once mastered. The focus wold never be complete, but one could still reach out. He was sure to miss something as the focus was only at the back of his mind now.

"-the crystals, they are tuned to certain energies. It is still connected to you, but a different path may have shown you another crystal; each is different."

Andrei's eyes nearly opened to break all of his concentration, but he managed to hold onto what he had. Exhaling slowly and holding that before inhaling he reached out to Balla.

"Are you okay?"
_____________________________________________________________

A figure showed itself to Taolinz that froze her where she stood. The shadow did not move closer or further, it merely existed which sent chills colder than that arctic air ever could conjure up her spine. Closing her eyes she was met with indistinguishable whispers, nonsense and chatter. Backing away slowly the whispers only got louder and she opened her eyes to be met with... nothing. Trying to calm her breathing she took a knee and reached for her water, taking the moment to relax.

_____________________________________________________________

Jurac stood from his meditation and took long confident strides towards the sounds of running water. Looking upwards his senses peaked at something, but it was odd.. it was familiar. Wishing for the thousandth time he had sight, but knowing it would be worthless in the situation he extended himself outward; focusing his Force Vision. With it he could see a faint glow of a tumbling orb of light, it was that familiar glow his mind raced.

"May!?"

Sprinting forward his own focus again extended outward, almost blurring his vision with his sprint in darkness. That focus instead went to May directly, his feet sliding to a stop as he reached out. The calm winds of the tunnel raced to his own location, but instead of crashing into him they burst upward in a final hope of scooping up the girls body. With any luck he could catch her before she hit the stone rockbed with the winds aid.

 

[Balla Vahla]

Oof!

May landed in the boys waiting arms, looking around wildly and clinging to whoever it was who caught her. She blinked back tears and then looked at Jurac, her fur was flipped all over looking like she had just stepped out of a wind tunnel. The falling, and then the aid of his wind have saved himself mostly from flat killing him on the landing. She gasped and wrapped her arms around the boy, squeezing him tightly. She had never been so happy to see another person in her entire life!

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

This was going to go on for awhile.

______________________________________________________________________

Balla let out a deep sigh upon feeling the relief wash over May. She couldn't help but smile, glad those two had ended up together.

She let out a weak laugh and nodded her head, "I am alright. I am better now... Better then I was before." She rubbed her knees and closed her eyes again.

"Being a Jedi was all I ever wanted, and now I am... Now there are other questions out in the world that I want to answer... My lightsaber will help me, but I like to think my compassion is guiding me."

Her work with the children could not ever be taken away from her. She was sure that the kids here would remember her for a spell before they too forgot and moved onto to do whatever it was they wanted. Her eyes cracked open and she looked to Andrei.

"Do you fear the dark side of the force, Andrei?"

___________________________________________________________________________

The two boys were just walking aimlessly in the dark, it was getting harder to see. Hibie kept one hand locked onto Demon's arm, looking around with a pained expression on his fuzzy face till he spotted something in the far distance. Which meant Demon saw it too. A faint glow. A kyber crystal?
Demon took off in a run, jerking his arm out of Hibie's grip. Hibie yipped and attempted to chase after him. The ground started to shake and Hibie sensed it before Demon could.
Hibie launched himself at Demon and gripped the back of his neck and yanked him back just as the ground beneath the crystal crumbled and dropped into what sounded like water below them. Demon glared at Hibie and then knelt on his knees looking over the edge of the abyss. He had wanted that crystal. Hibie was looking down into the water too now, casting a lot of side glances at demon to ensure his safety.
They both could see the glowing crystal in the water, a bit murky now but still there.
Without further ado, Demon jumped into the water. Hibie yelped and reached out for him, but it was too late. Demon landed in the water that only went up to his knees. He laughed and looked up at Hibie with a 'I told you so.' look on his face before he started to wade over to the crystal.

 

[Rev]

Jurac scratched his head some and smiled, not really sure if this was part of the test or not he simple nodded to the woman and motioned for her to continue on. As if to add a bit of insult to injury he added a quip of his own.

"I think it's this way... watch your step."

_____________________________________________________________

Or'ta had moved with caution down the passage. Nothing really seemed quite out of place, but the creature was trying to be as ready for whatever this trial had in store for it. Letting out a series of clicks before passing through a dense cloud of fog Or'ta was for the first time met with complete darkness. The first step was filled with hesitation, but taken regardless. Something told it that the next part was a maze shrouded in darkness, something the Rakata had in truth feared.

_____________________________________________________________

"Remember your lightsaber is merely an extension of yourself and your training. It is a tool, not a weapon as many Jedi in our ranks have come to think. Be deadly and be direct when it is called upon, but only when it is called upon."

He spoke these words from the heart. The taste of blood could change even the strongest of Jedi. He had seen it before and would surely see it again, taking a life was perhaps a step in the direction of darkness. Even if you are wiping out the most vile of enemies.

"Do I fear it?"

He paused and shook his head, letting this conversation being the only thing to break his focus on the task at hand.

"Never. You merely must respect what it is, be aware of its temptation.. and above all else know when to drown the flame when it shows itself."

Looking at the woman before him he quirked a brow at her once more.

"What is it that is on your mind, Ball D'Aom."

 

[Balla Vahla]

May wanted to cling to the boy for a bit longer but released the blind man none the less, looking a bit sheepish as she pressed onward. She stuttered a bit, as if she wanted to say something to Jurac but the words never left her mouth. She took in a deep breath and advanced. They rounded a corner and May paused as the pair came across a vast cavern. The floor of the cavern was nothing but sharp pointy rocks, about 3 or 4 feet in height with the tip being the sharpest and narrowest point, but what was even more shocking was the fact the ceiling was absolutely covered in faintly glowing crystals in the dead center where just below them was nothing but the deadly rock spikes.
May whimpered.
"H-How are we suppose to get those?"
She cast a glance at the walls of the caverns to see that they were perfectly rounded. Making climbing next to impossible unless they were spiders.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The crystal that Demon was trying to fetch from the water suddenly vanished. Sinking deep into the water. Demon gasped and knelt in the water, kicking at the sand and then glaring at the rock that his foot connected with. He crossed his arms and growled.
Hibie knew the crystal was his... He shivered from his spot above the water, he could see the water all the more clearly now... Could hear as Demon sloshed around in it. Nightmares clouded his vision and he pressed his furry forehead against the floor of the path.
Demon finally paused what he was doing and looked up at his friend. He went over to him and looked up. He tsked and chided the boy in wookie, calling him a wimp, but Hibie didn't respond. Didn't even look up. Demon didn't like that... He sighed and looked around and started rolling rocks over to Hibie, stacking them ontop of eachother till there was a little staircase for Hibie to climb down on. He tossed a little rock at Hibie's head and he finally looked up.
He seemed shocked his friend had done something nice for him. Demon sighed and rolled his eyes and gestured for Hibie to hurry up. The wookie boy hesitated and Demon sighed again.
Growling and yowling at the boy, but Hibie didn't seem nonplussed by this for once, and Demon didn't look he was ordering him around. In fact... Demon looked to be encouraging his friend.
Hibie slowly descended the rocky stair case, his eyes widening as he saw the crystal slowly start to emerge from the rock again.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Balla didn't hesitate to tell his Jedi her woes, he had proven himself to be filled with great advice so far and Balla wasn't going to dismiss his words. She wanted his help, his guidance.
"I don't know much about my people... But the more I look into it, the more of the darkness I see in them... I see in me. I embraced the light but the more I study the more I peek into my past the darkside tugs at me. I would never abandoned the Jedi, I live in the light and I strive for balance, but I fear what this inkling will do to me over time, Andrei..."

 

[Rev]

Jurac tilted his head to the side as he scratched at his head, not finding an idea immediately. His unique vision wasn't showing him anything the younger girl couldn't see either. Extending his hand out he channeled some of the stagnant energy within the chamber to his hand and pushed outward a short but powerful pulse of Force Energy. The result was a shockwave bursting outward from his own center. As the wave moved forward some of the tips on the rocks shattered to pieces, revealing themselves to be ice. This time his energy had one thing in mind, sight. Through the darkness he was able to see glowing flats scattered throughout the hall. Now the only risk was to lose footing; the fall would no-doubt be deadly.

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Tao'linz had continued through the passages. It was as if every turn their where a whisper of guilt to it. She still was never able to make a true decision and it was as if the caverns knew this. Coming to a fork she again paused neither deciding left or right. As she stood and fought within herself a shadow would grow from both the left and the right their darkness almost making them indistinguishable from any blank face.. but somehow she knew they were reflections of herself. As she stood and watched the two approach one another she'd watch as they push and fight at first, then the pain started to rush over her body like a heat wave. Those shadows turning into a blur as they became indistinguishable. The girl looked to her left and sprinted in the forks directions, her instinct guiding her at last.

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"Your people are no doubt a piece of you, but they are not you."

He stressed that final you leaning forward to stare at her face for what must felt like an eternity. He wanted those words to sink in before continuing. She would not get anywhere in her own growth if she was constantly comparing herself to her people, something he too had to learn long ago.

"I sense a strong light within you, we all are tempted by darkness... some even driven by it without ever knowing. I am glad you are aware of this darkness and how it is even now attempting to manipulate you... persuade you. It is easy to fall to its temptation, Balla."

He again reached out and gave her robed shoulder a firm squeeze of reassurance.

"But you are strong; I sense it in you. I do. Your path is not one of darkness. You mustn't fear it, you're letting it win then."

 

[Balla Vahla]

May was impressed! She had never seen someone so young so strong with the force before... Granted they were in the same class but rarely did they ever get to show off like this. May looked up and climbed up onto the now safer ice spikes. Looking at the crystals. She bit her lip and bent her knees, she was going to do this... She was going to be strong...

May extended her legs, but didn't go up. She groaned and pulled down on her ears, taking in a few deep breaths before bending her knees again. She wiggled around in the air before this time... Pushing up, and seeming to soar into the air. Guiding by as much force as she could focus on while flying through the air. One hand reached up into the sky and she grabbed a crystal and yanked it from the ceiling.

The force guided her downwards, a bit too quickly and she didn't stick the landing. Tumbling and rolling till she stopped right at the boys feet. She blinked and looked up at him. Proudly looking at her glowing crystal in her cupped hands as she just... Laid there on the cave floor.

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Demon offered his hand to the wookie boy and the boy accepted it. With Demons guiding hand Hibie was stepped into the water. They both finally spotted the glowing crystal and they stared at it with a bit of wonder. Demon nudged Hibie and Hibie took in a deep breath and reached into the cold water and plucked the crystal from the water. It was almost as if he opened the drain in a bathtub. All the water started to rush down the hole that the crystal had left.

Hibie held up his crystal proudly and Demon rolled his eyes but looked a bit proud of his friend.

They both started to wade out of the water, but found... The water was sucking a bit harder now, and it seemed to be focusing on Demon. Demon tried to run out of the water but it was pulling him in, closer and closer to the teeny tiny hole. Hibie managed to climb up onto the rock stair case that Demon had made and held out his hand for his friend to take.

They reached for each other his clawed claws grazing his hand but... He tripped, the current had been too strong and Demon vanished underhead in the water.
Hibie threw back his head and yowled and searched the water desperately for his friend.

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Balla focused on the senior knight, her hands squeezing her knees as she listened to his words. His words made sense and yet they confused her at the same time... They also made it feel like her burden was a little lighter. Like she didn't have as much to fear from the world. It was all so confusing and yet... Balla felt a lot better.

It was like all she needed was to hear it from someone else... Granted that could be said of a lot of humans.

"Do you think... I should stop searching? For my people and my connection to them?"

This was a question she had better ask herself down the line, but she was deeply interested to hear what he had to say about it all. He had confirmed that her path was only in the light, if he could see it, surely others could as well. She was not the first valha jedi, but she had a feeling she was not the first one with these kinds of questions either.

 

[Rev]

Jurac did much of the same that May did, instead though he jumped from 'stepping stone' to 'stepping stone.' Before long he found himself below a rather brilliant yellow crystal. It hung low, but just out of arms reach, closing his thoughts his focus was on the one object that glowed like a beacon in his limited vision. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before, like the crystal itself was reaching out to him just as he did to it. Once the connection was made his eyes shot open and the gem simply fell from its rooted position. Extending his hands out the glistening kyber krysal fell into place and he quickly slid it into his pocket.

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Or'ta was beginning to think himself lost, his clicking echoing through the maze with an echo unlike any he'd heard before. Taking a left what he saw now was light, like the sun cresting the horizon. His eyes began to adjust, but they settled at the orange glow that radiated like dusk. A voice would call out to the youngling but he couldn't understand it. Taking steps close the voice seemed to become more exotic; more distant. Taking in a deep breath the rakata began to think back on his teachings; remembering something about meditation and memories. Sitting down he huffed in a deep breath and tried to focus his mind on the task at hand, or anything that he learned in the past to guide him. Grunting out something in his native tongue he couldn't help but feel he'd be here awhile..

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Andrei stared at the young woman before him for a long moment. He did not know the answer to that question, and truly did not want to guide the girl down a path that which she was not destined for. Instead he would ask her a simple question, one that may required a complicated answer.

"What do you seek to find... in them?"

Again he looked Balla over before extending a thought out to her that was on his mind.

"It appears you have found yourself already, Knight D'Aom." He smiled at her and continued. "You may find answers to your culture and perhaps to your people by continuing; but I do not believe you to be weaker than the dark sides temptation. Blood or otherwise."

Standing from his position he could feel a familiar sensation creep up his back, tickling his spine. Opening himself to the flow of the Force and closing his eyes, he could feel the sudden stillness that crept over the temple. The trainees specifically. Closing that connection his eyes just as quickly shot open.

"One of the trainees... -They're in danger!"