Five Months after Order 66
There was no moon on the hot Shilli night - the grasses remained still and the heavy humidity was a warning of the oncoming storm. Asleep in Ahsoka's arms, Cala snuffled as the older Togruta tried to find shelter - any shelter where they might not be seen by others. However, it was becoming quite evident they might be forced to stay with someone.
Their past few days had been terrible. The past few months...to put it mildly, they weren't any better. Everyday was a challenge, and at first, Ahsoka just felt...weak. Even after her ribs had mended, her heart had not. She truly missed Anakin Skywalker.
She missed the Jedi...maybe even Master Windu. Certainly he was better than this...maybe not, but still.
Ahsoka knelt to the ground, lifting damp mud, or perhaps it was clay, with her fingers and streaking her cheeks and forehead with it. Facial markings halfway concealed, Ahsoka wondered if she should rub Cala's out - it was unlikely that she would be remembered by Vader. Settling with some gentle streaks, Ahsoka smiled gently, so sadly, at the tiny Togrutan child.
The child who never had a chance to show her face to the galaxy, the one who was forced into hiding just because of Ahsoka. Ahsoka hated it, but she knew that if Cala would die, it would be her fault. It was only because whoever was on the former Padawan's side would receive the cruel punishment Vader issued to all.
Death.
Vader was not Anakin Skywalker...he just wasn't. Anakin was kinder than that - he understood her. This man, no monster, did not know who Ahsoka Tano was as a person, not anymore. Because he would try change her, and morph her into a criminal, even though the galaxy was now run by a criminal liar who had stolen Padme and Ahsoka's Master.
Who cared if it was wrong? Because Ahsoka hated Palpatine...despised him. In the end, the galaxy would know the truth. Vader would know the truth. Palpatine rejoiced only in the Chosen One's now limited powers, and one day, he would find someone new and better to replace him. For some reason, Ahsoka hoped it truly, deeply hurt Vader.
Standing and letting out a small groan at the weight of Cala in her arms, Ahsoka braced her back and bit her lip as her exhausted body protested. Her clothes hung limply on her scrawny, once fit and healthy, body. She really needed to eat more...
Cala moaned in Ahsoka arms, sweat beading on her crimson forehead. Ahsoka's hand scurried to her canteen instinctively, one arm supporting Cala against her body, and she fumbled to remove the cap. She allowed it to fall to the dust below and hurriedly wet the younger's lips. What had she done, forgetting to keep Cala hydrated?
It was impossibly hard to care for children, Ahsoka decided, as Cala's purple eyes blinked open. Half the time, she was doing things wrong. Well, what could be expected? She was still pretty much a child herself.
Cala pushed herself out of Ahsoka's arms indignantly, muttering that she wasn't a baby. Ahsoka offered an amused smile, resting a hand on her lekku, a small gesture of reassurance. The tiny child liked to believe she was holding up well, but it was obvious she shared the burden that Ahsoka carried, even if it was only a portion.
Ahsoka, still smirking, watched Cala rub the sleep from her eyes, and take in her surroundings. "I hear something." She announced, then hesitated and whispered, still straining to hear, "I feel something."
Ahsoka couldn't believe she had actually forgotten that this was the home of the dangerous Akul, the Akul that would destroy these two lonely Togrutan girls with ease. The Akul who destroyed without mercy. Bands hunted them - there were celebrations when the enemy was killed, but the Togruta generally only took what was needed for food. It was never a meaningless hunt.
The smile slid from Ahsoka's mouth, and suddenly one of her previously hidden (in her very dusty, mangled robe) was in her hand. She searched her robe quickly, pulling out an unfamiliar lightsaber hilt that Jenx had awarded Cala. The child had revealed it to her mentor about after a month upon coming to Shilli, only to have it snatched away in fear that it would lead to discovery.
Ahsoka looked at Jenx's 'saber, studying every line as if weighing her decision, then, finally handed it to Cala, "Don't you dare kill me. Or yourself." She said dryly, before adding in a more serious manner, "And don't let anyone see you. Then they'll know we were former Jedi."
Cala stared at the lightsaber with raised, slanted, but square eye-markings, "We're in the Outer Rim. Far away from Vader."
Ahsoka looked at her, long and hard, and for a moment, neither was sure of anything, because there was only a treacherous cliff they were navigating and it was a long way to the bottom of endless pain. Cala gulped as Ahsoka said, her voice soft and low and full of foreboding, "He's got spies everywhere, and they won't hesitate to kill you."
A distant scream of desperation, the sound of the animal stalking its prey jolted the Jedi girl back to reality. Her green blade glowed, snapping to life for the first time in a very long six months, and she backed up. "Don't strike unless I tell you to. Hide."
Cala's smile at the blue glow of the lightsaber was cheery, and Ahsoka knew the feeling quite well. She could still remember climbing into the caves of Ilum for the first time - before she knew Anakin - and afterwards looking at her created lightsaber and thinking, 'This is mine. This is real. Now it's life or death.' But upon her mentor's firm glare, the girl hesitated. The blue beam of light cascaded back into the gray hilt, and the scowl on her face was almost funny.
Ahsoka backed behind a rock, literally dragging Cala with her because the child was so insistently curious and demanded upon trying to see this quickly approaching curious. "What are you - " Ahsoka trailed off, her eyes locking on the beast she had not seen since she was almost four years younger than Cala. The words died in her throat, and she could only stare. At the very least, it kept her quiet.
The thing was huge, with saliva dripping through it's lips, and when it lifted it's head, a snarl menacingly evident on it's features, the sharp, knife-like teeth gleamed. In what? There was no moon, only the distant roll of thunder, but that did nothing to cower the beast.
Ahsoka whipped her head around, nervously searching for what was the light source, but then she saw that Cala had her lightsaber activated again to see the savage animal better. The child was crazy, absolutely crazy. Ahsoka reached out for the hilt and jerked on it, but Cala grasped with strong, muscular hands, "Mine."
The Akul hesitated, its tiny brain calculating and processing the small sound. The hunters? Was it time for its next meal? After all, the voice had sounding very young...
Cala wouldn't let go of her possession, only work at it harder to remove it from Ahsoka's hands. The older girl didn't let go, either, and rage blossomed on her cheeks. "You just gave us away, idiot!" The girl whispered furiously, jerking harder, "Give it back!"
Ahsoka was furious, too, and she scowled darkly, completely forgetting anything but what landed her in trouble with Skyguy the first time she happened to meet him. Did danger matter then? No..."Me? I'm not the idiot who activated that lightsaber!"
Cala smiled sweetly, but the determination in her gaze was doing little to persuade Ahsoka to calm down. Meanwhile, the Akul had spotted the two Togruta (who both happened to be idiots in such a situation) and was silently coming closer, "Yeah, well," Cala replied finally, her purple eyes on the Akul, as were Ahsoka's, "Too late to worry about that, now, if you had actually thought about where we happened to be!" And the blue beam shot back out.
Ahsoka took that moment to grab the lightsaber from her hands and fiercely say in a very loud voice, "That's the last time your getting this, or at least until you learn to listen!"
Cala grinned again as the Akul came within five feet of them, "As you did?"
For a moment, a glimmer of a smile crossed Ahsoka's face, breaking her concentration...well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. And the Akul sensed its chance, crouching low to the ground, and just as it leapt, Cala flew into hiding with fear written all over her young face. Ha. Ahsoka got her way.
The Akul landed heavily on its large feet, paws, whatever, Ahsoka thought as she nimbly rolled underneath him. Suddenly, the girl who had not been a Jedi for six months was back, and she was just where she left off; mouth, a scowl filled with determination. Nose; wrinkled in disgust and concentration at her enemy. Eyes; narrowed, firm, and with one message - stay back!
The Akul had fought before, and it appeared that he had won, considering the dark blood matting his body. Ahsoka could hear Cala gasp in revolusion, and the animal swung its massive head to the source of noise. He was closer to her; he started to turn around, eyeballing his prey hungrily. It was then, with a firm, authoritative tone of voice, Ahsoka said softly, "I'm bigger, Barve. Yummier. Once you get me, you will have no trouble wither her."
They danced around each other, completing a full circle. Ahsoka was nimble on her toes, and several times had the animal tried to fake - who knew they were so smart? - and Ahsoka had wasted energy readying for an attack.
The akul crept towards Ahsoka, looking confused at the implied tone of voice. It was controlling and strong and clearly stated that the predator was in control. One more step, and Ahsoka hissed, "Easy. Back away from the girl." One more step closer.
Cala looked more than infuriated, and daringly, she started to creep forwards. It was that movement that distracted Ahsoka, made the older girl's eyes widen in horror. Somehow, Skyguy could always keep himself and Ahsoka safe at the same time, but Ahsoka showed no talent in that yet. In her distraction, the Akul charged, sending Ahsoka flying.
The Togruta landed with an "Oof!", but immediately used the force the Akul had pushed through her to launch into a painful roll. As she crouched, blue eyes met the fiery golden, and in the corner of the blue eyes, Ahsoka noticed her lightsabers roll out of reach. One just disappeared in a river the girl had not noticed before, and as for the other, Ahsoka had no idea where it went.
Ahsoka leapt to her feet, in her shaking body she only knew resolve and the need to do this. On the outside, she seemed so calm, so ready to fight. A frown twitched on the corners of her lips as she glared at the animal, and it charged her again. This time, she was on its back as soon as it came close, her body a red and orange blur of agility and strength.
She landed on it's back in a rider's crouch, her feet leaving her almost standing, and for several minutes the Akul bucked and demanded to be ride of its passenger. The stubborn girl gripped its leathery back and held fast, and soon it became aware that its attempts were rather stupid to continue. So he threw himself onto his side, crushing Ahsoka beneath its massive body.
Her left leg was evidently bruised, but it had landed in the crevice between the leg and stomach area, resulting in none full impact. Ahsoka let a breath of relief, her mind already spinning for new tactics.
She was lucky, however, because beside her was a wooden staff with a sharpened rock tied to the end. Ahsoka could distinguish it as a weapon she had learned about in her younger years, but her disoriented mind refused to offer a name.
Still, her slim fingers wrapped around the end and she charged, ignoring the other advancing girl. Why didn't she listen? She was going to kill them both!
The wood met the Akul's hardened skull, and Ahsoka ground her teeth as she pressed the staff to it. The Akul, to put it mildly, did not look amused. Let's try, Ahsoka decided, furious? Enraged? Unhappy?
The descriptions her mind supplied fit the animal perfectly, and he quickly used these emotions to fuel more power through his stocky, muscle-bound legs. As he pressed into the staff, it split like a twig, and the Togruta was at loss for what to do. All she had left was her wits, and in her fatigue, they were nearly fried.
Darting backwards, searching the Force for her 'sabers, Ahsoka saw only one choice. The animal was too close to her, and she reacted by yelling loudly at Cala to strike it with her lightsaber.
If she obeyed, Ahsoka didn't exactly find out. It was too late - in so many ways, it was too late - and Ahsoka was so tired - she had failed, she was terrible. But because of a silly mistake trying to keep the younger alive. At least she had...was she?
The Akul's impact on her body sent her flying again, but when she attempted another roll, her body hit a rock. When she hit the ground, small, sharp stones scraped her face, and she could almost taste Cala's fear. But she also felt triumph...sweet victory.
Cala was crying in fear and surprise at the same time. She stared at the downed creature, purple eyes so wide they might pop out of her little face, and she darted over to the older girl, "'Soka, 'Soka, wake up! Please! I did it!" She rolled the limp body over, staring in shock at the rivers of red blood running down the orange cheeks, and in further alarm, she listened intently.
She was right; somebody was coming. Perhaps to the creek for a drink, or something...and when the Togruta woman with a hooded face stepped into view, both creatures froze. The poor child stared at the woman and her face crumpled. She burst into hysterical tears, because she didn't know what was going to happen to them, but...but...
The woman knelt beside Cala and Ahsoka, and the little girl caught sight of a military bag, worn and burnt, filled with meats and a few vegatables. Her slender fingers - they looked surprisingly like Ahsoka's - touched the girl's cheeks. At least, Cala thought optimistically, she could not see Ahsoka's facial markings.
"Come." The woman commanded, and she easily lifted Ahsoka close to her body.
When the woman turned her small body away from the younger Togruta, the child silently grabbed Ahsoka's lightsabers, and hide them with hers in the small cloak that was draped over her spindly shoulders.
Cala had to trot to keep up, but her tired legs were soon relieved. They came to a cottage, a dwelling in the middle of nowhere, not at all how Togruta were supposed to live in tribes. The confused child did not question the woman, and when the came in, she threw back her hood suspiciously. "Who are you?" The woman queried nonchalantly, and Cala shook her head, pointing to Ahsoka.
The woman smiled down at her softly, taking her through the house to another room and set her on a bed. Her nimble fingers flew over the girl, checking her for injuries, but she shook her head, a tired and swift motion, "She's just tired. She'll be alright. Her leg will be sore for a bit, but she didn't suffer any head trauma. Her back might hurt, and she'll need to be cleaned, but..." The woman shook her head. "Did you kill the Akul?" The woman's deft fingers lifted a cloth from a small jug of water, and Cala panicked.
"I'll do it." She volunteered meekly, holding her hand out for the damp cloth.
The woman looked confused, "Did you?"
"What?" Cala asked, now sounding just as confused.
The woman let out a small sigh and asked, "Kill the Akul?"
Cala felt a burst of pride, and she beamed whilst nodding. "Yes." She was so proud, so happy, she didn't notice the woman cleansing Ahsoka's face, and when she finished, Cala was brought back to reality with a gasp.
The woman suddenly looked very young as she looked at the cleaned Togruta's face, and her bright sapphire eyes glowed. "Ahsoka?"
I finally finished this chapter.I haven't had a lot of time because school started about two weeks ago and its just been busy. So my updates won't be very regular. I'll try.
Anyone know who the woman is?