[CLOSED] The Education of a Rabbit.

[TweedPawn]

Left foot in front. Right foot in back. Breathe. Focus. Push.


Della dashed across the patch of grass she practiced her sprints. It was the only real relief she could get from her burdens. She could lose herself in her focus as the Divine Luck rushed through her veins, allowing her to concentrate on each single muscle in her body. She no longer had to even see, she just understood when to stop running, where to place each footstep and when.

She stopped and looked behind her. There was a line in the grass where she had practiced so often, that it was worn dirt. Each time she allowed herself to stop and break her focus, the fear and uncertainty rushed back to her. The pain of her past kept at her heels like a hound. If she could just focus enough, and run fast enough, maybe she could finally lose her weaknesses. She would finally be worthy of training here. Finally shed the pain that the Other had caused her.

Della stood back into a runner's position. Beads of sweat poured down her young face. She began to focus on the energy she could feel rising in her. What was it? Her people called it Divine Luck. Fyston said it was the Force. Atreia described it as simply both Divinity and Force.

The confusion broke Della's concentration. She cursed herself and tried to draw the energy back into her body. Her legs began to tense as they prepared to push from the ground. Della counted to three, and dashed.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

This little girl was working as he as he used to in his youth. Though it was only ten years ago when he began in duties as a Jedi, they were still recent and fond memories. He could remember, back on Empress Teta, how he'd run through the forests and then through the halls of the palace. Perhaps she would enjoy the same thing. She worked hard for her abilities and he commended her for it. Sebastian stayed back, observing her as she worked herself to the bone. Yes, just like himself.

This wasn't uncommon. He shared many of the same traits as his Apprentices. Perhaps this is why the Force brought them together. Regardless, he'd learned much since he became a Knight and it was time for him to pass on this wisdom and knowledge, if only minimal, to those on their way toward the Light. The Phoenix quivered a bit out of excitement when he began to approach the girl, finally time to introduce himself. "I'm Sebastian Solborne, Knight. I'm here to train you. Come, let's take a run," he gestured with an unusually straight face and little tone in his voice but with unmistakable interest in their training together.

He dashed straight into the wood and instantly began weaving through the vines and branches of the forest. He used his Force Speed enough to push Della to go faster but never too much for her to lose sight of him. The moss and ferns erupted and disappeared as their intense speed rushed by, literally tearing their way through the forest. He took some time to Jump onto some trees and even above the canopy at one point. He traversed a natural obstacle course for her to follow, keeping her focus high enough so she could mimic his movements. Eventually she'd tire from pure fatigue and working her muscles with the Force too rigorously.

He would stop in a small clearing and kneel without considering his surroundings, assuming them to be safe. "Relax your body. Focus on it. Sense the tears in your muscles and mend them, strengthen them. Manipulate the cells in your body to heal and Revitalize," he began doing the same, but to a much lesser degree than he would have. "When participating in a chase, this is a valuable ability. It's less than Heal but covers a greater range. Rest, my Padawan."

He fell into his own meditation when he finished giving her directions on an ability he'd naturally learned himself. The Light whispered to him, filling him with energy as he used it to maintain his rock-solid muscles and steel-strength bones. He then wandered the philosophies of the Jedi but couldn't come to a consensus of what was right, at least for him. His meditation was incomplete and distracted, so he decided to return his attention to Della. "What is it you're unsure of? What are you running from?"

One thing the Light told him was the intentions or miscomings of those around him. He didn't have the natural ability himself but the Light was clear in its messages to him. One when his mind was completely clear would he be able to successfully and accurately decipher these messages.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della went quiet as possible when the Jedi approached her. She froze still, paying attention to his every word and movement. When Sebastian dashed into the wood, Della was caught off guard by his speed. She followed, curiosity getting the better of her instead of caution.

It was difficult to follow Sebastian at first, Della's natural cautious nature distracted her. She was forced more and more to ignore the unfamiliar surroundings to keep up with the Jedi. Her lungs burned, but she had to press on. She couldn't match the jumping abilities of Sebastian, preferring instead to allow her instincts to keep track of him as he vanished beyond the canopy for just a moment.

Her muscles were exhausted. Her lungs cried out for her to stop. She still kept running. Her focus began to become narrow, like the head of a pin. It wasn't necessary to physically see the Jedi anymore, she just understood where he was at any time now.

When he finally stopped. Della nearly fell to the ground. Every part of her ached. She only ran like that once in her entire life, and it was a much more dire situation. She tried to regulate her breathing. She could hear Sebastian speak to her. It was a tone of a coach, a mentor. It commanded authority, but gently. She did not question the logic of the body being able to heal itself, her body wanted to rest and it forced her to shun distractions.

She began to focus on her breathing first, forcing her lungs to accept air slowly and deeply. Then, her heart rate was slowed. Della could feel small spasms as her body began to heal. She could feel the energy in her return. Della finally sat on the ground as she listened to Sebastian's instruction.

Her mind had started to question the safety of her location, when the Jedi spoke again. This time, it was a question. It required an answer.

Della did not want to answer at first. She first felt shame. Shame at the fact that she was afraid. That she couldn't seem to shake her past as the other Padawans did. Della wanted to run, flee from answering Sebastian. But her body was too tired. Perhaps, this was the instructor's intent all along.

She was in the wood with a person she did not know. Everything was unfamiliar. She did not know the way back. She would have to cooperate with Sebastian. She looked at the ground and began to draw a series of images.

"I-" she started. Her body tried to silence her out of reflex. She forced herself to speak.

"I once lived in a place where my people thought we were alone. That we were the only planet with life. Then...The Other, I think you call Sith, came. They took me. They took others. They hurt me. I did not understand. They do this thing..." Della drew a picture of lightning in the dirt.

"Atreia tell me, there are good and bad Jedi. Good and bad Bogan. I believe in Goddess and Divine Luck. Fyston tell me there is no Goddess and the Divine Luck is the Force. This galaxy is strange. It frightens me. The Other frighten me."

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

"Hm," he puffed out at her answer. "Fear is something one should not run from but, instead, face bravely. If you fear the unknown, learn.

"Atreia is correct, there are many Jedi. There are those that practice within the Light, as we do, and others which revel in Darkness, which we call the Sith. Bogan is the red moon which orbits this planet, which represents the Dark Side of the Force. The other moon, Ashla, is white and represents the Light Side of the Force. However, these are the religions of my people. Your Goddess and the Divine Luck may provide for you different answers for these phenomena. What we call 'the Force' you may identify as 'Divine Luck.' Neither is wrong or better. Come up with the answers and reasonings for out behavior within yourself. Do not believe what you cannot."

He was becoming more in tune with the Light, being able speak more of himself as he learned what it was that he followed and believed. He was not one to persuade another from their beliefs or claim a certain thought as more valid or true than another. He strived for long enough to learn of his own truth and his own path that he traveled. This girl was scared, and rightfully so. She deserved kindness and warmth. She also deserved the truth and to grow from the fear she felt and that drove her to such physical exhaustion. "Meditate. Relax your body and focus your mind. There is nothing to harm you, here. The forests of Tython grow with the Light and prove to protect us. Seek truth within yourself and learn what it is you already know."

Though his words were cryptic and vague, they were the only way Della would be able to come within herself. She needed much emotional growth before he was to work with her as a Jedi. It's nothing a few lectures couldn't cure. "Do you fear the unknown, Della?" he asked as if she was a peer rather than his Apprentice. And though he knew this himself already, he wanted Della to validate this apparent truth.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della tilted her head. The Jedi was not direct, but they forced her to confront herself. She had to reflect on what had really happened. To observe it not as a victim, but as an observer. She was hesitant to mediate in the wood, full of strange sounds, scents, and animals. She had to trust Sebastian to react for her in case a predator was nearby.

She closed her eyes and began to focus. She tried to reflect on her memories of how she arrived on Tython. She saw the images of when she was found by Capt.Brick and taken to meet Sam, Fyston, and Shi-Gel-Hu. She was terrified. She could have hurt them, but the three Jedi had somehow managed to calm her. She did not understand Basci at the time, and most of the efforts to understand her resulted in more fear for Della.

But, she was now watching her memory as an observer and she was starting to understand that she had changed from who she used to be and why. Her people's natural caution had been corrupted into panic. Her cunning had been turned into fear of the unknown, and her speed was a means to escape herself instead of predators. It had been because the unknown had been turned into darkness.

"I am afraid." she said softly. "The unknown is where the Other hide. It is where shadows are."

She then paused.

"If the unknown is Shadow, then is knowledge the Light?"

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

She was meek, her mind weak. He was astonished that the Force brought them together. Regardless, he was to learn something just as valuable as she would. However, his goal, now, was to cure her of this ever-debilitating fear she's been experiencing since her arrival on this planet. It'd be difficult, but after this hurdle, she'd be able to grow exponentially.

However, now possibly wouldn't be the time. His answer would be bleak, at best. "In a sense, but not really. At least, not what you're thinking. The Light is the philosophy we follow. It is the Code, of which you've learned already. Knowledge can shed light on that which you don't understand, but it is not necessarily the Light. You'll know what I mean in time.

"We all experience fear, though. However, within this fear is when we show our strength. Our ability to act the way we do within fear is what gives us the name of 'Jedi.'" He fell back into himself, searching for more words which may be able to comfort her. "You are not weak, Della. When you come to know this, you will not fear the shadows." He knew this would take a long time to develop, but the place they were heading was the first step to his Apprentice's growth as a Jedi. For now, he'd fall back into her words and attempt to find reason for her concerns and make sense of her fears in order to aid her in overcoming them. This would take more time than he was willing after a half hour's time as he allowed Della to continue healing herself.

"Come, we have a long way to go." He rose slowly and began walking through the forest at his usual quick pace. They'd eventually set up camp somewhere when night fell upon their side of the planet. He prepared for them a fire as well as foraged berries and shrubbery from the surrounding area. As he handed her a bouquet of eatery, he attempted to cause her fleeting eyes. "There's nothing to worry about, here. There are few, if any, predators here and they are easily detracted by Force-users such as ourselves." He tried to cut a smirk into his cheek but it was largely a failed attempt. He would listen to any of her queries or comments through a semi-meditative state as he sat before the fire, allowing it to illuminate his strong face.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della listened carefully to Sebastian's words. She was in awe at how complex and simple the answers seemed to be, if one could call them answers. She did not reply to the Jedi, but reflected on what he said as she continued to meditate and heal her body.

She was summoned to follow Sebastian further into the forest. It was growing thicker and darker. Della tried to rely on her eyes and ears to make sense of her surroundings, but the fast pace of the Jedi kept her from dwelling on her location. Della watched Sebastian pick which food was safe to eat. When she ate the vegetation and vittles, she was very careful and deliberate to memorize the shape, the smell, and taste of the food. She picked it apart, making certain not to miss any detail that could differentiate it from a poisonous plant or insect.

Sebastian tried to reassure her of any danger in the forest as he began to mediate. Della watched the fire flicker in front of her. There was a long moment of silence. Della wasn't sure what to speak to Sebastian about. The fire reminded her of Sacul and she felt a little lonely. Perhaps, the Jedi would not mind learning about her people.

"I notice that Jedi are not very, how do you say it? Cautious? Where I am from, there is many things that try to kill us, so we must be silent, cunning, and swift. We learn every inch of the wood, field, and lake so we know when something is out of place. When we are in strange lands, we stop and carefully investigate our surroundings. Jedi just walk through. That will get you killed where I am from." Della reflected on the golden grasslands of her home. She closed her eyes. Her longing could easily be felt as her thoughts drifted to home.

"I was the fastest where I am from. I outrun almost anything. When the Oth- Sith come, they were as swift as I was. I use cunning to outsmart them. So, I go to hide in the wood. But-" she stopped. She breathed in deep. She recalled the focus she felt in meditation. A few seconds passed as she used her meditation to keep herself calm.

"There was a child in the wood. He had seen the Sith and twisted his foot trying to escape. I say to child 'go. I will give you time.' so I ran back out of wood and charged at Sith. They took my trick. They follow me instead of child. But I was not swift this time. They took me." She sighed, her eyes focused on the flame. Her sadness was clear, but it was in control. It was the first time she was able to put into words the details of her life when she was takemn.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

His meditation dipped into thoughts of the Force and attempting to feel the world around him. It was difficult and forever vague, but he was beginning to grasp the concept of the Force outside of his own body. Even so, he could feel the insecurities of the girl as she spoke. She described to him about what she knew and her personal observations of their behavior. It was interesting and even odd. He allowed her to say what was on her mind, even taking a minute to respond to her when she was finished speaking.

"When one has the Force for an ally, fear is something foreign. When one understands the Force and comes to accept its truth, death is only the next step in life. Even so, our awareness is always acute, especially in hostile situations. However, the Force is able to tell us when such situations arise. As of now, I feel no danger around us." This was a partial lie as he could hardly feel the presence around them, but he continued talking in order to reassure her personal truths. "You are brave to have done what you did. In the face of danger, you met it with your own face. You are strong and capable, but you allow your environment to cripple you. You cannot allow this for you will never grow to learn and cope with your fears, Della. Now rest. We are to continue travelling early."

He continued meditating on the area immediately around them. He wasn't able to accomplish much, but through practice, he'd learn to read it. But he woke up with the sun and smothered the fire while gently waking Della up. He was very much the paternal figure. This is ironic for he grew up without a father, or a mother for that matter. Regardless, he was ever-protective and always pushed his students to become stronger as a father or coach would. He wouldn't run today and, instead, kept his pace from yesterday to continue through the forest. Sebastian still tried to sense his surroundings, but he was only able to feel a scurrying animal a second before it happened. Not much, but perhaps enough.

He was almost mentally taxed by the time lunch came around. He sat in the dirt and pulled out more vegetation for them to snack on before continuing toward the tree he'd meditated by when he became a Knight and with every Apprentice since then. It was a powerful tree, almost alive. Whenever he was around it, the Light filled him up and he could feel the entire planet. It would take years before he could do it himself. "So, what were your parents like?" he asked, wishing to know more about his Apprentice's life. "What did you do for fun?" They'd continue the conversation through the wood.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della reflected on her instructor's words. She began to trust Sebastian more. He seemed the most level-headed of all of the beings she had met on Tython. In any case, she had to rely on him while she was out in the wood. A small inkling of fear tried to interrupt her focus on what she was learning, but Della took a breath and imagined it leaving her. It worked. Della was able to rest easily that night.

The morning brought flashes of scents that reminded her of home. She loved mornings. The smell of the misty earth made Della recall the summers when she would wake up and spot for rabbits. Birds were everywhere, just like they would be back at home. If she closed her eyes for a moment, she could pretend she was back in the nearby wood of her homelands. She gave a few hearty morning stretches to help her legs wake up and followed Sebastian.

Della found it easier to keep with Sebastian's pace this morning. She almost felt cheerful, allowing her cautious nature to rest.

"My Mom is a pharmacist. Well, really she's a mortician. She wanted to be a pharmacist, but women aren't allowed to do that. She tried being a mid-wife, but it didn't work out. So, she runs her own morgue and funeral home. Daddy is a ,how do you say it? Ah, a horse farmer! His are the fastest." Della's instincts kicked in for a moment and she suddenly went silent, though she didn't understand why. She blinked in confusion, but trusted Sebastian. She continued on.

"Fun? Well, all the kids get together and we go exploring. We race each other, and we hide from each other. I was usually busy helping my daddy on the farm and mom needed help...cleaning." Della's face showed a slight disgust. Cleaning usually involved the morgue. Dell tried not to dwell on the gross bits as she ate her lunch.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

Sebastian's face stayed cold and frozen as she told him of her past. She was becoming more of a person, and he hoped she realized that. It sounded like she had a normal childhood, a loving one. Not that he could compare as he'd kept his childhood within the walls of the Temple on this planet. His meditation kept him on their immediate surroundings, again, not able to feel much but enough to know what it felt like. He could, oddly enough, feel where Della's mind was, or at least, he could assume. She obviously missed her home but, perhaps, they could go back when she was stronger and show them how much she's been able to grow past the horror of her abduction. This would be a time from now, but it was a thought, nonetheless.

Perhaps he was going about this Sense thing all wrong. When he felt the tremblings of the earth and the shifting of leaves, they became more pronounced and audible. He could feel and hear these distant sensations. Perhaps he needed to focus on the hairs in his skin and the mechanisms within his ears and the cells within his eyes to "sense" the world around him much more acutely than usual. However, when he began to focus on these aspects, the sensation went away. That is, until a small rodent skidded across the forest floor 45 kilometers to his left. The leaves it touched were crisp and its tiny feet sent vibrations through the ground, through the Force, that he was able sense. Unfortunately, he was deep in meditation and this wouldn't be the most practical skill to utilize any more stressful situations. But he'd train in this new ability during their time at the tree.

He rose slowly, breaking from his meditation as he did so. "We should leave. It's going to take a whole day to get there from here if we walk, so we're going to run." This statement was plain and obvious that it wasn't a suggestion or something to discuss. Again, he dashed through the forest, weaving through trees and pushing Della to go faster than yesterday. This was a skill many Sith had, and if she was to be able to escape deadly situations with her life, she'd have to develop a speed greater than his own. They would have to run for hours, non-stop. She'd, no doubt, began to develop some skills in Revitalize before he even coached her in the technique the previous day. "Control your breathing. Control your muscles. Focus," he shouted from his position.

He continued to push her, increasing his speed little by little as the hours went by. They'd reach the spot in the late evening. He stood there, staring into a blank section of the forest when they'd arrive. A large, ornate tree once stood in the direction he stood. But it was gone. He hadn't been here for six years, but the ground was so entirely undisturbed that there was no signs of an uprooting or a fallen trunk from an old, rotting tree. It was gone, like it had never existed. He quickly dropped to his knees to meditate in the place he took haven in the beginning of his journey as a Knight. It felt different, void. The presence that was there was absent.

Then, a flicker of Light sparked in his meditation. He felt relieved and explored the sensation for a bit.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della noticed how unchanging The Jedi's face was. It was like a wall made from stone. On Sacul, there were many aspects of communication that involved facial expressions and subtle glances. It allowed for silent conversations in case there was a predator nearby, but it also meant that it was difficult to hide one's intent. This Jedi was like trying to read a blank piece of slate.

She became alert as Sebastian rose. So, they were going to run some more. Della felt excitement and uneasy at the same time. She loved to run, but she had never been pushed so much in her entire life. The Jedi was incredibly fast and he had endurance. Della was glad she was learning from him.

When the Student and the Teacher began to dash through the wood, Della paid close attention to Sebastian's coaching. He was right. She needed to focus. She allowed her mind to close off the distractions of her emotions and caution. She could feel her muscles swinging in unison. Her breath in rhythm with her mind to bring oxygen to her blood. This was different from the way she prayed to the Divine Luck. She was in control, not asking for a favor.

Sebastian was almost out of her field of vision, but she was doing better to catch up with him. Her vision was not on the obstacles in the wood, but it was focused. She could sense her instructor's turns and darts. He was getting faster, but so was she. Her lungs burned. Her muscles protested. She continued.

Suddenly, he stopped. The stop happened so suddenly that Della nearly ran into the Jedi head on. She plopped onto the dirt and began to recall the technique she learned yesterday to revitalize her body. Great Divinity, this Jedi was something to behold. Were they all this fast? This focused?

Della noticed that the area they were now resting in was open and bare. She scanned the area with her ears and eyes as she remained perfectly still. She began to reason. If this concentration could be used to improve running, then it could be used to improve vision and hearing as well. Della turned her attention to Sebastian. He looked busy. His unreadable face did not betray any thought he was having. Della wondered about the significance of this open place. She wanted to ask Sebastian about it, and many questions. She took a deep breath, as she thought of the most relevant one.

"When we are running with the kind of focus we are using, that is The Force. Isn't it?" She tried to express what she felt, but found that the words could not quite do it justice.

"It is hard to explain the sensation. It is not like asking for a prayer and hoping you'll get it. It is...different. Intentional. Deliberate. I wish I could explain it better."

She suddenly became aware that Sebastian was using this focus. She could sense it flicker. She suddenly had her answer without the Jedi saying a word. This was the Force. Connection. Focus. Order. It was energy from a source that she could use and it could use her. It was more complicated than that, yet it was simple.

She sat in front of Sebastian without saying a word. She was a bit uneasy as she began to meditate alongside him. She took another deep breath and tried to see what else she could sense of the Jedi. She wanted to try to establish the connection that she had seen other Padawans make. She did it once with Atreia and was able to learn Basic. She was able to express her joy without words to Yuunda.

She didn't want to be intrusive, so she simply focused her mind to see what she could pick up.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

Her voice faded away as he fell deeper into a meditation that was a search for the energy he had once felt here. His panic was real, and he tried to suppress it, but he frantically searched the Force for the benevolent energy which had guided him this far into his journey. The Force which showed him his past and helped him to see the wisdom of his Master was gone and he felt alone. He searched the planet, or what he could, for any trace of the energy he once felt. In the far distance, where they had traveled from, he could feel something familiar. It was very far away, almost as far as the location of the Temple. He searched deeper into the source, hoping it would grow and consume him with knowledge and wisdom as it once had.

The Light echoed to him what Della had said before his frantic moments. The words resonated slowly, coming into an intelligible volume soon enough. "Yes, the Force is a universal item that is available to all. Being able to focus it and manipulate what you are given is what the Jedi do. However, the Sith take this energy for their own and use it for their own ends instead of that of the Force," he described, his voice distant as he continued his search into the distance.

It, indeed, grew. It felt like it was moving, like someone walking peacefully through the forest. He couldn't identify it precisely, but it was definitely the same energy that showed him visions of his past and spoke to him through the Force. It wasn't the Light which followed him wherever he went. Instead, this energy stayed frozen, dormant within the tree that once stood here. Sense the area around him once more, there was something out of place that didn't recognize. It was a container, empty. The same energy touched it, opened it, and surrounded it once. He couldn't intimately tell what it held or where it came from, but it had to be from the energy that continued to near their location.

 

[Master Maverick]

A wave of pressure would crescendo before crashing upon those intimately attuned to the waves of the Force, almost crushing those with any fortitude lesser than that of a trained Jedi. For those not so connected, it would simply make the hairs on one's arms and back of neck stand on end.

Something was near.

A being closed in on their location, human-like and clearly sentient, it knew they were there and it knew what they wanted; their reason for being there. Many hundreds of meters off in the distance it closed on their position with a slow gait, easy and unhurried. There was no rush, but more importantly, there was no danger to be had with the approach of this entity.

"I come..."

Through the Force it spoke to the pair of Jedi. An echoing voice far away yet whispering in their ears. It was kind yet resolute. The gender was not immediately determinable and the 2 words spoken were not enough to reveal this information. The words echoed off the trees, it seemed, but more so within the minds of the young Jedi. Deep in their minds the waves would travel, unhindered by whatever defenses they might throw up in fear of being controlled.

Still quite a distance away, it would take almost 2 hours, at the pace the spirit was traveling, for it to reach the Jedi, and 2 hours it would take for its speed would not increase and, without words, it told the Jedi to stay where they were.

And it was not one to be defied.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della began to sense that something was amiss. She closed her eyes and began to focus her mind. She first drowned out the noise and the clatter from the wood. She became still as Sebastian as energy flowed through her. She felt that she was drifting, to something far away.

Something felt...odd. Out of place. It didn't cause her to be alarmed, but it made her confused. What was she looking for? She had to find it. If she could just understand her surroundings a bit better.

Della's eyes opened. She placed her ear to the ground, hoping to sense something. What was it?

"Sir, something...is off."

She suddenly shuddered. Her eyes and ears darting. She was not fearful. She was alert. She stood to her feet trying to understand the whisper she heard in her mind. She was trying to obtain information, through any means necessary.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

The low hum began to ring in his ear. Though this sensation was new to him, he knew what it was, or at least he thought so. He focused on the energy, it was wide and encompassing, almost everywhere and nothing. He couldn't pin-point the source but felt the Force flow over the forest as it naturally would. However, this energy had purpose and being. Della continued to shift and scutter about but Sebastian stayed still, attempting to focus on the energy and diffuse the growing noise in his ears, turning them off if he could. The energy was impressive, but as it neared, it seemed less than he was used to. But the sensation was unmistakable and whatever was here was returning. Excitement began to boil within in.

"Sit, Della. Relax. Sense with the Force instead of your body." He wanted to teach her how to meditate within the Force and learn how to sense the world around her and even further and stronger than what the body could naturally do. He also just wanted her to calm. Her behavior depended on senses that humans were born with, but she needed to learn to depend on the Force even more if she was to become a great Jedi that he knew she could be. The girl had incredible potential and awesome abilities even aided without the Force. If she was to be able to develop these more fully and in-tune with the Force, she'd be able to accomplish great things within the Order.

Sebastian would sit there until the being arrived while descending into a Hibernation Trance to survive off the little amount of food they'd eaten on their journey, though this was become second-nature to him.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della heard her master speak. He did not seem frightened. Della obediently sat down close to Sebastian. Her eyes gave her surroundings one more glance before closing.

He wanted Della to sense through the force. She closed her eyes and turned her attention to her surroundings. Her physical senses were overwhelmed. She would have to try to drown them out if she wanted to be able to understand what was going on. She breathed in deeply. Her mind once again started to focus. There was a brief moment when she felt as if she was going to drown in the commotion of the wood around her, and then there was clarity.

She could feel that amazing thing heading towards her. It was new to her, but old to the forest. Della did not know what to make of this being. It was coming towards where she and Sebastian meditated, but Della was not afraid. She could feel the excited energy from Sebastian. Did he know what this thing was?

Della's body wanted to hide. To dart into shadows. But Della was now in control of herself. She would not hide. She would not run. She would obey the request of the being that came towards her.

 

[Master Maverick]

Time passes as a soft breeze through the canopy; none can stop the forward movement it traveled as it winds through the space that is the galaxy. While it was not a thing to take for granted, it was not one to rush either. As time, the Guardian traversed the grounds sacred to all Jedi modern and ancient. This being was a slight mixture of the two.

After an hours time, a pressure slowly started to grow once again, much like the time before. The being concentrated the Force as it flowed freely through it, still not in complete control. It would seem as though behind both of them, a reverberation grew, a sound closed in on them and conversed with them once more.

"I come..."

"Young one..."

The second voice, for it was clearly another being, would be hauntingly familiar to the male human. He would know it as though it were part of himself.

Just as before, the words echoed off of their respective consciousnesses and lingered far longer than they should have. Immense peace followed, filling them with a rush of energy, cool yet warming. In the state of deep meditation it would seem as though minutes passed before silence reigned once more, but perhaps it was only moments.

...Time has no meaning in such a state...

________________________________________

Almost another hour would pass. All the while, the presence, familiar to Sebastian but completely foreign to the girl, crept closer, but the oppressive nature of the entity diminished as it slowly gained control over its body and the Force that flowed through it. A few days of deep meditation beforehand helped in this process, making it a bit faster this time, but still it took the better part of an hour to accomplish.

Silence enveloped the pair even as she entered earshot. For all their skills, techniques and powers in the Force, neither would hear her approach through ears of the flesh.

At the edge of the clearing the figure remained stationary, unmoving and statuesque. Completely concealed under heavy garbs she moved not for several minutes, simply feeling the pair as she did so. Her eyes, also obscured by the upturned hood, peered at them.

No. Through them.

It was largely unneeded, as the Force told her much more than mere eyes could, but she did so regardless, attempted to focus itself to the pair through such a physical manifestation of concentration.

"You have returned here, young Jedi. Why is that?" It spoke only after several more minutes after examining the pair through the Force. With a full sentence spoke, a feminine voice was revealed. It seemed middle-aged, yet intimately knowledgeable and deeply wise. The years of the woman were impossible to determine due to such facts. These words were distinctly different from the ones spoken the third time to the pair; deeper and not quite as airy, but smooth as fine sand upon a beach.

She remained, motionless and steadfast, not moving towards the pair nor moving away. Simply, she waited.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

The low hum soon became an encompassing buzz all around him. This being's energy flooded him, bombarded him, but also filled him with peace and security. The voices echoed in his mind, and he actually smiled a little. In his deep meditation and attempting to feel the area around him through the Force, it was becoming more intimate the closer the being approached. He could make out the individual leaves and vines of the forest as well as the texture of the ground. Della's breathing was part of the sounds of nature. The leaves rustled and the birds chirped. He could pinpoint their locations and even see what species they were. Though his Force Sense increased substantially, he didn't feel overwhelmed by the amount of environmental information he was gathering as she approached across the two hours that it took.

Flashes from his past glowed in his mind. The memories of his father and mother leaving him on this planet and the strange creature which brought him here. The hooded figure was always cloaked and well-hidden, but he didn't care much for its identity. At least, not yet. The journey to Ord Cantrell was largely unfruitful, but at lease he learned of the origins of his biological family. Even now, that all seemed inconsequential to the power and energy of this being approaching them. What was the tree he'd meditated before all this time? When she arrived, he didn't want to look up as he felt too inferior and lowly to do such a thing. This divine creature didn't deserve his eyes, but he allowed all of his respect to be shown.

Her voice wasn't as warming as Ayva's, but it had a distinct feel and resonance with it. It was cooling, relaxing, while Ayva's voice was warming and invigorating. Even so, he hesitated to answer the female sentient, wishing to choose proper words in her presence. However, he figured that any of his words could be critiqued. "I come to seek your wisdom."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della's heart pounded. It was getting harder to maintain her concentration as her body screamed to run. She was in control. She focused on this unfamiliar sensation that was coming towards her and Sebastian. It spoke, she listened. She dared not to move or speak.

Then, peace washed over her. Her body no longer desired to flee. She wanted to be a part of this peace and allow it to let her drift away. She could stay in this moment for eternity, it seemed. She never knew her body could be so still and her mind so clear. She felt as if she could become one with the grass she sat on. She wanted to give herself completely to the environment around her.

The being was now close. When it spoke, Della simply remained still. Her focus felt concentrated like the head of a pin. She could sense the wisdom of this divine being. The age of it was awe-inspiring. Della wanted to be like this being, full of grace and wisdom.

Della sensed Sebastian's humility. This was indeed a being to be respected. It seemed to understand the two Jedi better than they understood themselves. Della wanted to greet it. To show her respect, but she could not find words appropriate. To establish a connection through the Force also felt intrusive. Della took the awe she felt of this creature and allowed it to flicker inside of her. It was demure and humble, but available should the being desired to understand Della's intent.

 

[Master Maverick]

"Great acts are built upon the smallest of deeds..." The whispered words floated upon the air, not meant to be heard by the pair but not hidden from their ears either. The reason for the phrase was to remind herself that this was, indeed, necessary. There were many an act to do and little time in which to do so. However, such acts would only gain importance and significance through such menial tasks. These two, while rather inconsequential in the galaxy as a whole, had a role to play and the Guardian would call them to do so now. While the male was the one of her immediate attention, the girl's attempts at whatever form of communication she was able to muster didn't go unnoticed, but weren't acted upon.

Not yet, at least. She would address the female soon enough.

"It was not my wisdom that you received from me, Jedi. I simply presented to you calm and peace. It was your Master that presented you with knowledge that might be construed as wisdom. Though, that is not to say she is not wise. Indeed, she is quite so despite her years." Silence followed, the prelude to a breeze that wafted through the forest, bending around the foliage and the massive trunks of the nearby trees. Their branches swayed lazily and a wave of movement could be discerned for those perceptive and knowledgeable enough about such things. The female tilted her head upwards, her heavy cloak moving slightly, as she took in the breeze in full before continuing.

"Whatever wisdom you gained here was of your own creation," she started once more as she turned her head back down and level to look upon the two before her again. "Thus I ask again; why is it you have returned to this place?" Her face remained completely masked and no feature of her physical body would be easily determined. Only that she was a touch shorter than six feet tall and her figure, despite the heavy clothing, begged that she was slender; well within the ideal mass of most female species.