Ask [Endor] A Nest in the Forest

[Kyosuke Yamato]

The sweet musky scent of the storm mixed with the charring branches that were being tickled by the pair's small fire. Kyo flicked his attention over to Seela as she began to approach, then realized she was on her way over and subtlety turned his head away to wipe his cheeks with the blue scarf, just in case any streaks still remained.

Once she offered the band he looked to it, then to her. His dim blues flickered with the flames as he hesitated, then he gently took it from her and gave it a once over. With a couple nods he'd softly place it on his left hand and began to glide it up his wrist until it was snug. "You've gotten really good at these. It's very nice. Thank you."

He let his gaze fall to the fire, then sat silent for a couple minutes while his mind continued to replay their last couple months together.

After the silence had settled long enough that it was just beginning to become awkward, the sullen Shadow would finally open his mouth, glancing over to Seela for a moment before his gaze returned to the flames. "You remember... The first time we camped out on Endor? You wouldn't stop bugging me about the horses while we were trying to sleep. Said you thought for sure they were going to sneak up on us and eat us." He let out a soft chuckle, recalling Seela's frantic expressions at the time.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela nodded in thanks, feeling her cheeks darken slightly at the praise. A peacefulness took over the pair, just sitting near the fire, watching the rain outside.
Of course he had to bring up the horses... how clueless and scared had she been...
Seela chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"To be fair, they sounded big, and so they could totally have been dangerous to us if they wanted to... plus, I had no clue what horses were... remember when you almost fell off your skimboard, the first time I managed to hide from you, using Cloak? I was so worried you had gotten seriously hurt..."

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Oof. How could I forget?" There was another soft chuckle as he recalled skimming through the forest moon's clear skies, having thought he'd lost Seela.

"It all started when Grem called me and told me he couldn't find you anywhere. I guess I let myself get so worried that I decided to skip my skim for the day to look for you." He dipped his head, a slight smile as he remembered how glad he was when she found him, nearly unconscious and mostly unable to move while he was strung out in the forest's canopy.

"I ended up pretty hurt actually..." He thought about how he'd nearly broken several bones in the process. "At least we got the bacta tank installed in the Shinigami by then, and your Healing helped get me back on my feet enough to stagger back to the ship with your support." They wound up saving each other's lives several times over the last couple months, and often seemed to downplay it to each other.

He thought about how nice it'd been to have her around. She was really the only person he'd spent this much time with since his master exiled herself. "It's been nice. Having you around."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

"Eeeh, you were fiiine, barely bleeding, just a few bruises, nothing broken!"

Yeah, Seela had been worried upon finding Kyosuke, and did feel guilty about getting him hurt, but she didn't think the bacta tank had been absolutely necessary for it.

"Oh, oh! Remember when you taught me to slice and do techy stuff? I had Shini play that scream every time you said 'shini'. Watching you try to figure it out was soooo funny!"

Seela still giggled while remembering the flustered knight's confusion at Shini's reactions to his commands. She remembered hiding in the vents, with Imp and Rabbit, watching the chaos unfold.

"I learnt a lot, and had lots of fun..."

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Don't remind me." Kyosuke groaned and rolled his eyes as he remembered how annoyed and grumpy he was when he first heard the hilarious scream. He couldn't admit that he actually thought it was pretty funny, but after several hours he finally had to set the sounds back to normal. Couldn't let Seela catch on that he was actually using it to mess with Shini and the droids too.

"Yeah, you even eventually overcame your fear of horses, and picked up mounted combat pretty well. Ranged and close. You were a good student, Seela, you picked up pretty much everything we focused on over the last couple months very well." He referred to Seela's natural ability to pick up athletic and dexterous skills with the same fascination and interest of an eager Initiate. It made him wish he could've gotten her to join the Order, to become his Padawan so he could show her more and get her involved with the rest of the galaxy. But at the end of the day he knew she was better off alone, safely hiding far away from the star wars.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela chuckled a little bit more, then started poking aimlessly at the fire, not really knowing how to respond to his latest comment. Receiving such praise and approbation so freely still made her blush and flounder...

"Well, once I knew they wouldn't want to eat me, those cute fluffy critters were actually quite nice! Remember the younger one, I named her Sacha, I think she might be starting to really like me! She seemed to want to follow me back to the nest last time I went to see them... curious little one!"

Seela was really starting to feel the tiredness seep in her bones, so she hunkered down in a little ball, lying on her side, still poking at the fire, burrowing her face in her lekkus.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Yeah, they were a great source to practice our animal bonding with. I think you developed it better than I did though, like with the plants." Kyo gave a nod to the bracelet she crafted for him. He was slightly able to increase the growth of small plants now, and could kind of get them to move too, but most of his time was usually spent focusing on other abilities. It was good though. If she was going to stay here on Endor, or any other wildlands, then these skills would be better for her anyway.

After a few more moments of letting the cave warm up a bit Kyo finally got up from the fire, made his way back to the sack, and picked up the other cozy blanket. He of course made sure his blanket stayed around his shoulders while he did so. Then he made his way back to Seela, and leaned over her while he dropped it around her in such a way that it would cover the core of her body. Not too much, not too little.

"Sleep tight." He'd whisper a few feet from her, then began to head back to the corner by his smartpad. A little while later he'd be leaning against a somewhat smooth part of the rock cave wall with his upper back, letting his hips and legs rest along the ground. His eyes strained as he stared at the screen for awhile longer, continuing his search for professional help while he patiently waited for sleep to eventually take them both.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

"Well, once I started meditating outside, I really just started feeling at home in the trees... like I was just meant to be here... dunno if it's the force that wills it, or just me really liking the place, though."

Seela was mainly slurring and muttering at this point, on the brink of sleep, so she didn't really stir when Kyosuke got up and covered her with a blanket.
She might have mumbled something along the lines of "you too" but wether he understood or even heard it was a mystery.
She just wiggled a little, snuggling her face in her arms, and finally went to sleep.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

A new dawn cracked through the forest outside the pair's emergency shelter, which was notably not nearly as comfort as Seela's nest in the forest or Kyo's bed on the Shinigami.

The last bits of the fire cracked and popped before the charred structure that barely held up through the night would finally crumple and collapse in on its own ashes. The distant choirs of birds chirped and sang a peaceful morning tune as the pair of individuals in the small den finally began to stir.

Kyosuke immediately shut his eyes upon letting them open. The light wasn't extremely bright, given the towering trees and canopy that loomed outside and blocked it, but Kyo chose to cling to the comforting darkness just a little longer as he pulled the blanket over his head and curled up. Sleep still lingered. Wanting to pull him back into its soothing embrace as he silently laid in peace.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela eventually woke up, then stretched. What a nice sleep she just had! Crawling around the cave, she silently put the things back in order, before coming back to put her almost dry boots back on. Making sure her laces were tight enough to offer good support to her bad ankle, she then limped outside to gather some brush, to sweep the ashes out of the cave. Then, she sat back in her place, and started poking Kyosuke's back with a stick.

When she had ventured out, she had heard Sacha's herd relatively close, so she might not have to walk back to the ship!

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Hnnhn.." The sleepless Knight poked his hand back at Seela's stick and lazily tried to wave it off as best he could. Another night's sleep shortened by the reoccurring nightmares he'd been having, now ranging from more than just his experience when he met Seela to lucid images of the moon they were on being glassed by the Empire.

"Fiiine." Kyo grumpily groaned once she finally stopped poking him. He then let out an exaggerated sigh and stretched his limbs as far as they would go while he turned from his side to face up. Then he glanced over at his smartpad dataphone to see if he had any urgent notifications. Satisfied to see none, he then unlocked the device and glanced at the last thing he'd been looking up last night.

"Dr. Mila Vanda?" He groggily wondered as he skimmed over the information of a zeltron psychologist that had been left pulled up before he finally passed out. He could barely remember finding their profile before he faded, and scrolled through it a bit more while he considered them as the person he should contact or not.

'Are they the one who is going to help?'


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela chuckled at the grumpy Kyosuke. He sure liked his sleep! Springing to her feet, she skipped/limped towards the opening, before taking a very deep breath, and unleashing a powerful whistle. If Kyosuke wasn't already awake, that ought to have woken him up!

"Hey! Sacha, over here!"

Seela knew the curious creature would probably arrive quickly, and was looking forward to speeding through the trees with the sure-footed equine.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Kyosuke lifted his head to glance at Seela, when a crimson turbolaser crashed to the ground where she'd been moments before. Kyo gasped. His eyes went wide, his heart skipped, his breath choked, and his hand shot out like he desperately tried to reach her. Then the dirt and rock that had erupted into the air slowly began to fall back down to the surface.

A second later he blinked, and she was back. Still standing just outside the cave entrance. Peaceful. Innocent. Completely unharmed.

Kyo let his hand fall, and his confused gaze dropped. He tried to steady his breathing as he realized it was just a ripple of the nightmares. His other hand went to his head and pressed against the front corner of it like there had been some kind of ache there. Then after a few more moments and some quiet groans he'd finally scoop up the phone, lock it, and slip it into his pocket. It was time they got going. He needed to fix this.

He'd then crawl out of the blanket, and gradually start rolling it up. His gaze hesitatingly returned to the cave opening as he finished and heard the sound of hooves approaching Seela from around the corner.

"How's Sacha?" He called out to the lavender twi, loud enough to be heard and soft enough not to startle the horse.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela was busy greeting the excitable equine that just arrived, energetically prancing around her, wanting to play.
The silky tawny coat was as soft as ever, and the young creature just as bubbly and curious. Seela offered a few berries to Sacha, hoping it would help calm her down.

"Still as soft as ever! Aren't you, girl? Yeah, you're the prettiest of the herd, you are! Want to let me ride on your back a little? I can't really race you right now..."

Seela was busy "head-bonking" the creature, in a playful nuzzling way that she observed the young one do with her herd, careful of the two tusks sticking out, and petting the orbak's neck.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

After stashing the last of the items, and dusting himself off, Kyosuke finally began to make his way outside. The rays of light that pierced through the tall canopy nearly blinded him once he emerged from the cave's maw.

"Ngh!" He winced and covered his eyes, then straightened his bangs back over them to shield them from the light. "Nice day." He remarked with a slightly sarcastic and playful tone. Then he turned his attention to Seela and the familiar animal she'd bonded with.

"Sacha." The Knight politely greeted the shaggy horse with a respectful bow. Then he looked off into the distance where the rest of the team remained. He could see the black coated horse he'd been trying to bond with over the last couple weeks since it turned up. A stray that had wandered far from a distant group. It kept its distance from the others, slowing to a stop so it could begin grazing in a nearby clearing.

"I might as well try one more time, right?" He glanced over to Seela and Sacha, an unusually confident expression across his youthful features. "You wanna go on ahead, or tag along?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Now sat atop Sacha, who was still prancing and dancing around, Seela looked towards where the Shadow looked, to see the cast off he had been trying to befriend.

"I'll tag along, but I might keep a distance, or this one might spook them!"

That said, she affectionately pat Sacha's shoulder. Really, the young orbak was probably hyperactive!

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Hm." A solid nod to Seela would let her know that Kyo agreed, and that he was ready to move out. He began slowly, gently moving beyond Sacha as he took each measured step toward the clearing several dozen meters away. The black shaggy horse meanwhile seemed to pay little attention to Kyo as they used their tusks to forage for food, but seemed to be having a slight bit of difficulty with it. Kyo knew he could help if he could get in closer, and he felt that he could do so if he was able to calm the horse through the Force.

The steady Knight breathed in deep, straightened his back, and slowly closed his eyes. Then he focused on the flow of the ethereal essence, and concentrated on making a connection with the black orbak. He'd continue to concentrate, taking several moments before they finally let out a curious snort, flicked their head and shook it, then slowly began to turn and face the focused Shadow.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela leaned forward on Sacha, still petting the excited orbak, concentrating on Sacha's mind.

"Alright pretty girl, we have to be calm, now, ok?"

Once the orbak was reasonably calm, Seela proceeded to lowly nudge her mind to follow Kyosuke, at a distance. Seela needed to concentrate on her own mount, so she couldn't really be of help to the man, but she didn't want to leave him stranded here.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Kyosuke felt his mind softly stretch and wave, the Force gently flowing between him and the black shaggy creature. The youthful Knight remained steady, gradually focusing more and more as he pushed away all thoughts and cleared his mind, all except for the animal in front of him, which was now beginning to walk toward him at a slow cautious pace.

Their minds continued to bond, gradually forming a frail link. The two began to recall their previous encounters, syncing their minds as their breaths steadied and equalized to matching rhythms. Kyo relaxed further, and the orbak followed.

A vivid memory of the horse running through the moonlit forest flashed through his mind, like the creature was a shadow covered by the shroud of night. The calm and focused Knight then slowly opened his brightly shimmering blues, their eyes locked together.

"Nightshroud." The horse snorted, shook his head, and then finally bowed his head. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Kyosuke."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela could feel Sacha becoming impatient under her, the young orbak probably having reached the limit of her ability to remain calm and in one place. Chuckling, Seela let her hold on the orbak loosen, and instead chose to only use their bond to anticipate Sacha's movements. Being that tuned in to her mount allowed her to have an easier time not falling off of the rambunctious creature.
Seela changed her stance, from sitting astride the equine, to pretty much laying on Sacha's back, hands gripping each side of the base of the neck, leaned forward, her cheek pressed to the side of the horse's higher neck, and her tighs, knees and feet holding on to the animal's body.
Quickly getting the memo, Sacha started a slow galop around the herd, gradually increasing her speed, and making more daring maneuvers, like jumping fallen logs, and quick direction changes, zooming between the gigantic redwood trees bordering the clearing.
Seela smiled, as Sacha flipped her ears, before sending her "fasthappyfreeyay" excitedly. Indeed, this sensation would never cease to amaze Seela, feeling the wind in her face from the speed, the rippling muscles working in harmony under the soft tawny coat, the weightellness during the jumps...