Is That a Peacock?

[Saeros]

Theme​

Alone, he stood. Saeros' large, black eyes gazed out across the expanse of his home world, taking in the sight of the time-worn rocks, the swampy ground far beneath the clouds, and the great waterfall that poured down the mountainside. Far up in side that mountain was where the Rishii grew up, where his nest lay inside a simple cavern. At least, the remnants of his nest. Saeros had only been a young avian when Exiles had attacked his home, slaughtering the rest of his tribe and burning everything he held dear. A band of Jedi tracking them had rescued Saeros who'd taken refuge in a small rook in the cave, and his life as a Jedi had begun.

Two decades later, he'd returned. Many other Jedi would have warned him from doing so, as re-living the past was something Knights were supposed to avoid. Leaving attachments behind, letting go of painful pasts. For Saeros, he needed to return to be at peace and reaffirm his convictions. Here, with the wind howling around him on the spire of a great rock overlooking a great valley, the Rishii immersed himself in the Force. He could feel the chaos of the winds, the calmness of the water, and felt the Light — he was at peace.

A thought appeared in his mind, and with it came rising curiosity. There was a nest nearby his own when he was just a young fledgling, a different subspecies of Rishii. They were not especially good memories of his neighbours, as the nest's inhabitants were very pompous and arrogant. Their interactions were rare and filled with strife, but these years later Saeros now wondered if the Exiles had attacked them too. Searching his memory and scanning the cliffsides, head twisting as he did so, the Rishii looked for any evidence of the nest. Finding what appeared to be a roost far in the distance, Saeros opened his great wings and took off, riding the wind and updrafts to his destination. If they too had been slaughtered and left to ruin, he would mourn their deaths and move on.

@Faster Than Light​

 

[Zik'ir]

Saeros wasn't the only one who couldn't leave the past behind, for Zik'ir found himself on the Rishii homeworld as well. It's been over a decade since he has been on the planet. It was when Zik'ir was an adolescent he made his choice join the Jedi after they visited and confirmed his gift of the Force. Flash-foward to the present and he stands among the Jedi Exiles. Back then, he was reluctant to join the Jedi but was ultimately convinced. Given how his path turned out, looking back it was the best decision he ever made. If he didn't join the Jedi, he wouldn't have been able to take the path he is flying among now. He has power, he has a saber, the Jedi are weak, even one of their councilors got killed. That and Zik'ir has the all-knowing power of the Dark Side of the Force at to command.

The peacock-like Rishii soars above, just fifty-five meters diagonally to the left in front of the other Rishii (@Vosrik) in flight. Zik'ir spreads his wonderous, illustrious green wings. He flies with grace, just like any proper Rishii should. He is flying along a curved flight path to the same destination his Jedi counterpart is going as he is riding with the winds. With a glance he can see the other Rishii, but he is something feels.... off about him. He can sense something about incoming Rishii. Curious, the Rishii slows down his approach, and begins to turn his body upright, ascending just a a meter upwards as he comes to a stop-mid flight with him hanging in the air. Zik'ir would be at 1'o clock forward in front of Saeros, waiting for the owl-like Rishii to come to the peacock-like Rishii, if Saeros can be bothered. Beneath his helmet the peacock has a smirk, his default expression. Lets see what happens...

 

[Saeros]

It wasn't long before Saeros' binocular-like vision caught sight of the outrageously coloured wings of another Rishii. It was likely just a local inhabitant of the planet — living without much knowledge or real care for anything beyond the mountainous planet. Sometimes Saeros thought back to times where the most he had to worry about were the threat of Maunger coming up from the thick swamps below during warm seasons. What a relaxed, simple life this fellow Rishii must be living — no thought to the Jedi, Exiles, or the war at large. It appeared that the primitive local had even recognized Saeros' presence and turned to speak to him. Not wishing to speak midair, as it was difficult for the owl-like Rishii to do so, their comparatively oversized wings designed for silent flight. "Khila amin, mellon," <Follow me, friend,> Saeros called out in their native tongue as he passed the stationary peacock.

Continuing his descent to the mountainside, he spotted a rather substantial ledge with plenty of space. Alighting silently onto it, he collected himself and observed the other Rishii. Now that he wasn't focused on flying, Saeros noted something different...was it a connection to the Force that he sensed? If it was indeed the Force, their alignment was...clouded. With this in mind, he kept his guard up in case the worst happened. It couldn't be a coincidence, right? A neighbouring Rishii also a Force-Sensitive — and a trained one too?

Saeros' thoughts drifted back to his training days. He had gone through rather different training than other Jedi, as he was brought to Ossus instead of Jedha. Being a studious youngling with no knowledge of Basic, the Great Library was exceptionally helpful for him. The Temple was not nearly as populated as the home of the Guardian sect, and as such Saeros met few other younglings and no other Rishii aside from Eldfrit. He'd had a rather solitary upbringing, and kept to himself mostly. It was one of the reasons he continued, even to this day, to speak his native language.

 

[Zik'ir]

The colorful Rishii could understand what Saeros said as he passed him. Zik'ir didn't say anything back, but he did follow him, beginning flapping his wings. He would then match the owl-like Rishii's speed while keeping him at his twelve. Zik'ir tailed Saeros until, coming onto the mountain ledge. Saeros alighted and so did Zik'ir as well, landing one talon on the ground swiftly with his wings spread out and eyes closed. Zik'ir's nest had taken pride in their graceful and elegant appearances and they have the mannerisms to match, it was second nature to Zik'ir even if it is outlandish to everyone else. As a Jedi, his teachers tried to condition him to be more modest, more humble, less pretentious, and carrying himself in general like a Jedi should. After becoming an Exile, he embraced his vanity and it shows as he carries himself now. With both feet firmly planted on the ground, he then takes a few steps forward to the owl-like Rishii, with him being twenty meters away from him. Just like Saeros, The peacock-like Rishii could suspect something strange coming off the owl, just he did early, but with him not having to flap his wings, he can hone in on his senses as well.

The winds blow at the two, the peacock had his eyes on the Rishii and the same expression he had on in the air awhile ago. Zik'ir took off his helmet and then held it on his hip with his right hand, revealing his face. Although the the owl might be cautious, the peacock was confident, if it ever came down to the 'worst', his lightsaber which is held on his person is easy to reach and could be pulled to him with the force. The other Rishii appears to be deep in thought, maybe. Since the owl told him to follow him, he can have the honor of starting off any conversation the two might have. Zik'ir awaits to what the owl has to say with his right eyebrow raised with interest.

 

[Saeros]

Peering closer at the other Rishii, Saeros could tell he was undeniably from the nearby nest of his childhood. Bright, obnoxious plumage, elaborate feathers, and an air of superiority. The Rishii even had a telltale smirk tugging at the side of his beaked mouth. Saeros tentatively opened himself to the Force, trying to see if he could discern the truth about the other avian. What he sensed was something terrible — a dark coldness that pointed to only one thing. Saeros puffed out his feathers, keeping his distance and letting out a banshee-like screech. It was truly a terrifying noise, especially coming from such a fluffy-looking creature.

"Lle naa pant o hdúath! <You are full of darkness!> Saeros stated, not reaching for his lightsabers yet but keeping his eyes locked on the Rishii. It was obvious that this peacock-like avian had been either found by the Jedi Order or the Exiles, and then brought up as one of them. Perhaps he was the physical manifestation of another of the Order's failures, an Exiled Jedi Knight that succumbed to the lure of the Dark Side. In Saeros' mind, there was no difference. Darkness was a blight upon the galaxy and the very reason his home was razed as a young fledgling. He would not fight — not yet — but in the end, if this Rishii would not return to the light, then there was only one alternative.