Author's note: This is my first foray into the Star Wars universe! I'd like to formally thank my fact checker and idea bouncer, aka my little brother, and wookiepedia, which keeps me from writing something glaringly stupid. As always, I have to say that Star Wars does not belong to me, however, all of my original characters are mine (Tibs, Edan, Kalryn, and anyone else I might come up with).
Six-year-old Tibeah Renks sat, glowering, on the bed. Her deep purple eyes silently followed Edan Ordo as he moved around his room, packing his things to leave with his new master. She hadn't spoken to him since he said he was leaving. Without warning, a holopad flew off of the growing pile on Edan's desk toward his back. He turned and caught it with obvious Jedi reflexes and gave Tibeah a hard look. "Come on, Tibs, none of that."
The little girl's lip trembled, and angry tears stood in her eyes. "But its not fair! You said we'd have our adventures together. Now you're leaving me here."
"You're still just a youngling, Tibs. You still need training before we have our adventures together." He saw her working herself into another throw, so he went on quickly. "I promise, when we're both our own masters, then we'll go on our adventures. I promise." He stacked the last of his things in his small bundle and heaved it onto his shoulder. "So are you going to say goodbye?"
Tibeah dove straight off the bed, Edan barely catching her as she attached herself to him. "I'm gonna miss you Edan."
"I'll miss you too, Tibs." He leaned his head down and gave her a brotherly kiss on the forehead and a tight squeeze. "I've gotta go now. Remember, train hard while I'm gone, and when I come back we'll have our adventures." He sat her down, and she made no move to cling to him again. She tried her best to look strong.
"Bye, Edan."
"Bye Tibs."
~*~
Seventeen-year-old Tibeah was a swirl of long dark hair and flashing purple lightsaber as she swooped in an attack on her opponent, a Twi'lek girl who had a much more timid fighting style. Perhaps the girl might have been more offensive, but the more driven Zabrak girl fought with a fury that frightened even the most seasoned of the Padawans, and even some of the younger knights. Her master, Kalryn T'ae, who watched from the sidelines of the tourney, had tried to calm some of that fury, but all she had managed to do was control it.
Tibeah finally disarmed her opponent and delivered the final blow, a singeing strike to the neck with the powered-down lightsaber. She turned to where her master sat and bowed, and the crowd watching burst into cheers. Tibeah might have been a hellcat in a fight, but she was kind to her fellow students elsewhere, which made her a favorite among the younglings still living in the Temple. As the victor, she would have a short respite before her next duel, so after tossing a quick salute to the crowd, she made her way to the preparation room just off of the arena. A pile of cooled towels sat waiting for the competitors' use, and she grabbed one and began wiping the sweat dripping down her tattooed arms. Master T'ae always chided her for wasting so much energy in a fight, but it was like once she began, her body took over, always using the maximum power possible. Mercy was impossible, only victory. It was her weakness and her strength. She sat down on a bench and leaned her head forward, trying to rest a bit before her next opponent.
A vaguely familiar voice brought her back. "I watched your last match. Very impressive."
She looked up, and there stood a young knight, a little taller than herself, dressed for the dueling ring. "Huh? Oh, thanks." She looked at him a little closer. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
He laughed. "I should hope so, Tibs, although I guess it has been a while."
She knew who it was now. Her eyes narrowed. "I should say it's been a while, Edan. Eleven years. What's kept you away so long?"
He made a serious face at her. "Don't be that way, Tibs. You know things have been unsettled since I faced the Trials. Master Yoda has had me leading troops in the outer rim for nearly three years."
"You could have at least sent messages, or something." She grumbled into her towel as she wiped the sweat that had collected around the base of the three small horns on her forehead.
Edan sighed, knowing there would be no easy way to get past this. Tibeah had always been one to hold grudges. "You're right, Tibs… I was wrong not to keep in contact. But I'm here now, can't we just get along?"
Tibeah took a breath to say something, but the warning bell sounded, letting her know the fight before hers was over. She tossed her towel into a pile and picked up her lightsaber. "We can talk when my bout is over."
Edan hefted his own lightsaber. "No need. I'm your next opponent."