Ask [Endor] A Nest in the Forest

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Endor, night
outside an obscure training course

Around two months had passed since Seela and Kyosuke met on Nar Shaddaa...

They spent that time surviving at the galaxy's edge, honing their skills while the Shadow taught the former slave the basics of the Force.
Often times they'd go off to explore and experience some other parts of the galaxy, such as the pod races of Tatooine and more.
Eventually Seela was able to advance under abilities under Kyo's guidance, who also improved upon some of his own
It wouldn't be long before they'd created their own training course to test their abilities and push themselves beyond their limits.
And then Kashyyyk was glassed by the Sith, and Kyosuke found himself facing a very difficult decision...


---

​

Kyosuke Yamato stood atop one of the wooden bridges of the pair's handcrafted training course in a black shadowsilk attire. Except, he couldn't be seen. The Shadow had altered the ebb and flow to manipulate the light and sound around his body to hide his physical appearance. The moonlight looked like it passed right through him unhindered, making it difficult to spot where he truly was. He'd finally achieved the ability to walk while he had the Cloak of Force draped over him, and he taught what he could to Seela to improve her chances of survival.

"It seems like anywhere I go now I put you and everyone else there in danger..." The Cloak around Kyosuke dropped, and the man was revealed. His face was tilted up at the moon, hands in his pockets. He let out a heavy breath, and dropped his gaze to the course they'd made together, hoping Seela was still nearby. They were out here as an exercise to see how far she'd come in being able to hold her own Cloak, but he'd lost track of her at some point. Kyo would then reach out with his Sense to see if she was still in the area. "...Seela...?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela had been crouched on a branch a few meters above the Shadow, truly wanting to push her Cloak ability to its limits, and was almost giddy with Kyosuke having lost her. She really felt like the trees here were her home, ever since setting foot on the planet. She had really come into her own, now, as her body got the nutrients needed to truly flourish for probably the first time ever. Her muscles had strengtened, her endurance skyrocketed, which opened her horizon to so many stunts and skills it was almost like a drug to test herself. Seela had always liked dancing, for the feeling she got, of pushing her body, of moving in ways a vast majority of people didn't even dream of, of defying gravity. Now, she could do it even more, her body having the strenght and energy to withstand her demands. She never walked on the ground, if it could be helped. The trees were her domain.

Seela breathed silently, spying on her unsuspecting target, when he let his Cloak fall. Knowing that she still couldn't evade his Sense from that close, she decided to strike, soundlessly stepping off the branche, aiming to land just behind him.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Good." Kyosuke spoke with his eyes closed, catching Seela in his Sense while she silently dropped through the air. Had he been unfocused any more she might've been able to pounce right on him. "You've gotten much better since the Force brought us together."

He'd then open his bright blues while he'd calmly turn just enough to see her from the corner of his gaze. "But..." He let out a heavy breath, not sure how his companion would feel about everything he was about to tell her. "It'll be any day now that I'm summoned to do my part. The Jedi are reaching out to make up for their wrong doings, and I have to do what I can to help make things right..."

Kyo considered the strong possibility that getting involved in the war could have significant consequences for both him and Seela, but he felt he had to do something. Seela'd learned so many things in the last two months between him and the Ewoks, he was sure she'd be fine. He'd even set contingencies in the ship and droids to transfer ownership over to her if for some reason he never returned.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela pouted as she landed. She had failed her embush. She really had wanted to surprise her companion...

"Well, knowing what I'm doing sure helped a lot!"

Noticing the man's more serious demeanor, Seela rummaged in her pockets, taking the blue scarf she had bought nearly two months ago. She had brought it for this exercice, as for some reason, probably the Force, she knew she would need it. It was time for them to part, at least for some time.

"So that's what has been distracting you lately... your people really have a big mess to clean up..."

Not really knowing how to go on with what she wanted to do, she just... suddenly wrapped the scarf a couple times around Kyosuke's face, then took a few steps back.

"If you get Gremlin in trouble, I will kill you!"

Then, she turned and sprung back into the branches, quickly swinging and jumping in the canopy, heading to her nest, to process the new information.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Kyo would've stopped Seela to explain the situation a bit more, but the sudden wrapping of his face with the blue scarf took him completely by surprise. "What the kri--" He just stood there, baffled by the fact he hadn't seen this thing for the last two months, and now here it was, distracting him while she got away.

"Uh-" He went to turn and reach his hand out to stop her, but then realized it might be better to let her go. "huh..." Besides, she'd pretty much already gotten away anyway. Gremlin would then drop down on the railing next to his bestie from one of the branches he'd been hiding in, and let out a confused whine while he watched his other bestie disappear.

"It's okay buddy." The heavy-hearted Knight reached down down to pat the scout droid on the top of his metal head. "She just needs some time and space."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Upon reaching her nest, Seela settled in and started thinking.
She always knew this partnership wouldn't last forever. After all, Kyosuke had to realise at some point that he had nothing to gain from helping her, right? Plus, he gave her so much!
She understood that some people had a sense of belonging to organisations, just not why! If being part of something puts you in danger, you should just cut ties with it! Seela really didn't understand that duty bantha poodoo! Sure, she had learned to somewhat rely on the man in the last two months, but that wouldn't stop her from cutting her losses and bailing if she tought he was putting them in danger! But then again, not everyone had survival as their sole goal in life!
Rationally, Seela knew that she could function on her own now, thanks to the numerous skills Kyosuke and the ewoks taught her.
However, it still didn't stop the young twi'lek from having a small panic attack, curled in a tight ball in her nest. She didn't feel ready to fly solo!

Seela thus proceeded to freak out and process the information for about an hour, then spent a few more hours in her nest, meditating.

Once Seela felt more settled and calm, she took the scenic tree route back to the ship, working on her Cloak ability again, while swinging and jumping amongst the canopy.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Kyo was currently deep in the cargo bay of the Shinigami, where he'd been putting some of the final touches on a new outfit he'd been creating in secret. He neatly folded the purple top with bits of light grey metal built into it in a vac-sealed metal briefcase, along with a matching pair of pants to go with it. He'd then turn his attention back to his synthweaving station, where he was currently running the machine to add a pair of goggles into the dark purple headband.

Gremlin sat on the mechanic workbench across from Kyo, curled down in his low-power mode so he could recharge. The focused Shadow decided not to have any music on today, which was gradually becoming normal for him as he adapted to life with Seela on Endor. Unlike usual, he'd left the cargo lift down and the hangar bay open as an invitation to his companion. He just hoped none of the ewoks would sneak up on him again while he was busy.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela snuck in the ship, smirking when she heard the weaving machine at work. Looking around the cargo space, she spotted the vent opening she often joined Imp by, on their vent excursions. Noticing Gremlin was "sleeping", and the other two droids were probably somewhere else, Seela crept up to just behind Kyosuke, and leaned down slightly. She then softly blew on his ear and adressed him.

"What's the new project?"

Then very quickly ducked and rolled away a few feet, in case of a violent reaction.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"GAH!!" The startled young man jumped when Seela ambushed him. He hadn't realized he'd been so distracted and focused that he'd made himself so vulnerable. "Seela?!" He went to turn and face her while he shut off the synthweaving machine for standard safety reasons.

But his hand didn't move with him. It jerked his arm back and failed to follow him like it was stuck.

Kyo's bright blues went wide as he quickly pieced together what had happened. He slowly turned his head back to the weaving needle that had been stitching the goggles to the large sockets of the headband he'd made. "Hng---!!" His breath cut short, then would remain held in as he struggled to speak hoarsely. "Why---?!"

Thankfully the headgear had been pushed out of the way by his reaction, and had pretty much been finished by the time Seela snuck up on him, so the crimson that leaked out from his hand wouldn't stain the item. "Raise---" His eyes rolled back as the pain kicked in, then he'd quickly start to pull the Force into the wound to try and mitigate some of the pain he felt. "Raise the needle---"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela started to giggle, when she realised that something was very wrong. Color left her face when she realised just what had happened, and she sprung up and towards the machine. Looking on the machine for the right button or control she finally managed to raise the sewing foot and needle, freeing Kyosuke's hand. Immediately summoning all her Light, she pushed it frantically to the puncture wound.

"Stars! I'm so sorry!!! Oh no! There's so much blood... I'm sorry!"

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Tss!!" The young man hissed inwardly at the pain in his hand as he grabbed his wrist and carefully pulled it away from the synthweaving machinery. "Ahh!!" He'd grit through his teeth as he tried to focus the ebb and flow into his hand and dull the nerves where he'd been struck. "It's okay... Don't worry..."

Kyosuke would try to keep his somewhat shaky hand as steady as possible while Seela moved in with the Force to try and Heal the injury. "Well..." He shook his head lightly like he was trying to consider the bright side of things while he still held back the feeling in his hand as best he could. "At least this is a good chance to show me how far you've come with your Healing ability."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela pushed all she had to the wound, slightly panicking, as she couldn't see it closing. Swaying a little, she ground her teeth and pushed harder.
When she started feeling like she had after she was Force Drained, the wound finally closed. Thank the stars she had just meditated!
Backing up a few feet, she tiredly sat on the floor, catching her breath.

"Uuuhh... Oops?"

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Hmm..." Kyo would gently flex and open his hand a few times to test how well she'd done at closing the wound and healing the deeper internal parts of the injury. He noticed there was still a small mark left behind where the needle had struck his hand, but at least she seemed to do a pretty decent job of sewing him up with the Force.

"Good." The Shadow would give a nod to Seela, then he'd take a small spare cut of black silk to begin cleaning his blood off the workbench and machine. "Function mostly seems to be back, but it's still a little stiff and sore..." He'd use his good hand to press down between the bones and muscles where he still felt a bit of pain and irritation. Nothing that he couldn't handle though. It would within a couple days just fine.

After a few moments of wiping the crimson up and testing his hand more he'd turn his head to Seela and give her a nod with a soft smile. "Either way it's much better than it was a minute ago, so thanks for the Heal." He'd slightly tilt his head at her as he looked her over to see if the ability had drained her as much as it used to. "How are you feeling? Any pain? Exhaustion?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela was shaking her hand to hopefully get rid of the pain quicker, frowning slightly.

"Well, the best part is you're not gushing blood everywhere now! There is pain, yes, and I feel like an empty power cell..."

Seela's stomachs rumbled at this moment, and she scoffed. Really, two months of eating regularly and more than once a day was all it took for her body to start demanding food every few hours! Still, she reached in a pocket, taking out yummy berries she had picked on her way back, distractedly munching on them. Seela liked fruits very much, she had discovered!

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"I see." Kyo would nod along as Seela listed off the common drawbacks of Healing someone. "It'll probably be like that for awhile before you don't feel that way after." He'd then turn and rest his lithe hips against the edge of the synthweaving workbench, careful not to get caught again. "Keep getting more experience with it when you get the chance. Just don't go overboard with it and you should be fine..."

Suddenly aware that he was still wearing the bright blue scarf over his lower face, Kyo vigilantly began to examine as much of it as he could without taking it off. He'd try to remain calm and keep his cool while his focused eyes would scan the accessory for any signs of crimson drops. "None of it got on the scarf, did it?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Throwing berries in the air anc catching them with her mouth, Seela was doing her best to forget the feeling of the needle going through the hand. Needles always made her uncomfortable for some reason...
Seela squinted towards the scarf, trying to see if blood got on it.

"Nah, it doesn't seem so..."

Looking towards Gremlin, she remembered she had something for the little droid as well. She pondered if she should give it to him now...

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Whew." Kyo would softly sigh with relief. He'd then begin looking through some of the smaller metal crates in the corner until he found a couple cleaning supplies and disinfectant to disinfect the synthweaving station. "One less thing to take care of." He'd then begin dissembling and detailing the machine's frame and components to throughly clean it, which would take quite a bit of time.

Meanwhile, a distant rainstorm would gradually gather as the night drew on, accompanied by the nocturnal orchestra of the forest world's relaxing ambience...


The young Knight could feel the electrical tension in the air as his affinity for Electrokinesis adjusted his natural and ethereal senses to the growing storm. Charged particles nipped at his edges and caused his skin to prickle with countless bumps. It was a sensation he'd been growing used to since he and Seela had started using Endor as a nest. Not that he had a literal nest, unlike his companion.

Kyosuke would also tuck the unfinished goggles away in a compartment in the desk for now, not wanting to ruin the surprise gift for Seela, while Gremlin would very groggily begin to awaken. Wanting to make sure he got everything out of the way before they potentially never saw each other again, Kyo figured he'd try and comfort the lavender Twi'lek on the subject that had caused her to flee earlier.

"Gremlin isn't going to go with me. It'll be better if he stays with you." The little scout droid sleepily raised and tilted his head, then let out a soft curious whine while Kyo continued to wipe away at some of the machine's complex internal mechanisms. "I'll be fine buddy, don't worry."

Grem would then sadly gaze up at Seela as he tried to analyze how she felt about whatever it was the two humanoids were discussing. "It's expected to take only a day or two. I'll return after that..."

Kyo would try to remain as honest as he could, distracting himself with the cleaning while he'd attempt to hide the fact he wasn't sure he'd actually make it back.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela was shocked. Kyosuke and Gremlin had both told her how the little droid saved his life more than once. And now, he was speaking of going on a potentially fatal mission without his best bud? It didn't make sense!
Kyosuke might be trying very hard to hide it from her, but Seela could read him like an open book, now, and she saw just how serious this mission was for the man.

"But, what if you get hurt? Without Grem to pop a stim pack into you... Don't try to tell me you won't get hurt, we both know that's bantha fodder!"

All Seela really wanted to do, was to make him stay. Stay with her, safe, training in the peace of the forest. Stay far away from other people's wars and bantha shit. However, Seela knew that for some reason she couldn't understand, Kyosuke felt duty-bound to his people, and that his moral principles made him feel like he needed to do that.
He had done so much for her, without demanding anything in return... now it would seem it was the time for her to pay it back by respecting his choices, and not making it harder for him to leave...

"I'm not asking you to stay, or anything like that! I understand that you feel like you need to do it. But not taking Gremlin?"

Seela fished in her pockets to distract herself from the worry, taking the cute blue bowtie she had bought two months ago. Walking to Gremlin, she quickly tied it on the slimmer part below his head, making sure it wasn't crooked, before backing up a few steps.

"Look! You two match, now! You really would separate yourself from this adorable droid that matches you so well?"

Yeah, not a strong argument, but she was desperate. Not only would it be more risky for Kyosuke to go without Gremlin, but the little droid would be heartbroken to be left behind!

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Gremlin had been cooing along with Seela's points, willing to get her back usually no matter what side she took. But this time he wasn't sure what to think. He wanted to be on both their sides, but both of them seemed like they were trying to push him away and on to the other.

The little droid looked down to the cargo bay's durasteel floor dejected with a soft whimper. His legs, which had barely just extended to make him stand, now bent weakly and caused him to gradually sink lower. Kyo paused cleaning the machine, and glanced over at his shoulder to see what Seela was talking about.

Then he saw Grem's little bright blue bowtie to match his new scarf. The often distant and reclusive Shadow suddenly felt a lighthearted jab in his chest as he noticed how silly the droid looked. He tried to hold back a snicker, and nearly failed, which caused the scout to look up at his bestie confused. The sight of the innocent and clueless Gremlin caused Kyo to nearly let out another one, but he quickly caught himself and cleared his throat while he steadied himself.

"Ahm..." He gave a nod to Seela for her cleverness in buying the accessories back when she did those couple months ago. The young man would give a gentle pinch and tug on a piece of the scarf with a thankful gesture and faint bow to let her know he was grateful for what she'd done.

Kyo would then return to cleaning while Gremlin hooted curiously and gazed at his colorful bowtie, extremely confused since his bestie never put anything colorful on him. Or anything at all for that matter, really. "I thought I'd leave him with you, because it sounded like you'd want to kill me if he ended up in some sort of trouble." Of course he was pretty sure she hadn't been serious, but he wanted to make his point that he'd made the decision for her rather than for him. Even if it meant he'd be less likely to succeed.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

"Aw, you're adorably adorable, Gremlin!"

Seela smirked at Kyosuke's reaction to the bowtie on the droid. Got him!

"Oh, I will most definitely be cross with you if something bad happens to Gremlin. Only means that you two have to stay safe!"

Couldn't he see that she worried?
Seela reflexively picked up the little droid, cuddling him.

@AdventCore