As the transport began its planetfall and encountered the usual turbulence, Aisii braced for the shaking and lurching she knew to expect while the military personnel all continued their conversations without giving any of this a second thought. Sandoval simply sat upright in his seat with his head back, eyes closed, and resting after the trip through sub-light. A benefit of all the years the Commander served the Republic was travel to virtually any place within the Core, and possibly a few secured planets in the Outer Rim, however it was military transport hospitality and not private shuttle luxury.
It was too late by time they broke through the atmosphere and the transport smoothed it's flight in the morning sky. Solasta was wide awake and crying after being so very rudely awakened.
As the wails from Solasta grew louder, Sandoval opened his eyes and noticed the other passengers on the transport were beginning to take notice of the fussing baby. Aisii who had scarcely let go of Solasta since they left the Nar Shadda, looked exhausted so he offered to take the baby so she could freshen up or get things in order before they began the final approach to Fort Garnik, the small military base on Avilatan Island.
Aisii handed the baby to Sandoval and took the opportunity to use the refresher. As she made her way to the back of the transport she smirked to herself and wondered how he would deal with his daughter in such a state since he wouldn't be able to 'pull rank' on her.
As Aisii was washing her hands in the refresher she became aware of fact that Solasta's cries could no longer be heard, and thought it would just be another reason for Sandoval to tease her about a 'music instructor's hearing', had he been standing next to her. Collecting up her belongings and stepping out of the refresher she was greeted with a sight that made her grin and laugh to herself.
There was the Commander walking up and down the wide aisle of the transport introducing the Republic's newest Private to all the soldiers with Solasta cupped in one arm while using his free hand to make her salute everyone they stopped to meet.
Aisii returned to her seat and waited for the Commander and Solasta to return from their tour of the transport. When the pilot made the announcement that they were on approach for the spaceport and requested everyone to prepare for landing, Sandoval did return. Smiling, Aisii asked, "Did you two enjoyed inspecting the troops?"
The Commander just beamed with pride looking puffed up like a male Flutterplume in springtime.
Once off the transport they found their speeder and headed for home in the countryside, and the entire ride was filled with discussions on what needed to be rearranged so Solasta could have her own room and what baby proofing would was required to make every room safe. Ord Mantell had many city centers but was generally known as a quiet back-waters type planet with farmlands mountain plains, volcanic islands, and a growing population of retired Republic citizens moving here. Several regions had become decidedly unhappy with their government's decision to remain loyal to the Republic there was a growing tension occasionally spilled over to those who were from, or supported, the Republic.
Over the months that followed the Dinn's became quite accustomed to having a baby in their lives and took every opportunity to learn more about Cathar culture to help them prepare Solasta, and about Cathar development to prepare them. The few Cathar in their small village were gracious with answering any questions they had, but Aisii was always left with the feeling they were judging or didn't approve of them as adopted parents, whether it was their age or being non-Cathar. The Commander reassured her it was just the serious nature of the Cathar and nothing to worry about.
One thing they appreciated learning and prepared for was that because of the accelerated physiology of Cathar young, Solasta would be hungry at all hours and grow at an amazing rate. Cathar young are weaned much sooner than most species, they were told as a hereditary trait to prepare them for hunting at an early age despite centuries of evolution and technological advancement that would have made hunting a sport, not a necessity.
They learned that claws regularly needed to be trimmed as Solasta discovered and tested what they could do, and that the stuffed toys in her bed had a 50/50 chance of surviving the night. Shortly after the 3rd month of being home, they learned that the stuffed animal carnage was quite the opposite of Solasta being destructive.
One night, an especially fussy Solasta, was having problems with her last infant tooth that did not want to fall out despite the insistence of the adult tooth developing behind it. She seemed inconsolable until Aisii began stroking her kitling fuzzed back and softly sang to her, and it was then that Aisii noticed that in Solasta's contentment she was involuntarily extending and retracting her claws to express her pleasure but creating holes and tears in the fabric of the stuffed animal she was hugging.
As the seasons passed she continued to grow and her every day was spent with one or both of her parents in the small retirement village they lived in, playing in the fields around their home or exploring the wooded area behind their small cottage. Her life thus far consisting of Aisii doting on her, and the Commander struggling to understand why it was so difficult to get this rambunctious child to "fall in line" when he tried to explain a point or share a lesson with her, and many solitary hours exploring the world around her.
In Solasta's 6th season the time had come and she was enrolled into First Form at the local school, and the first day of classes was a disaster for all involved.
Being an adolescent Cathar she had her kitling fuzz to keep her warm, so she could often be seen in loose fitting shorts, pants, and tops, but for her special first day of school Aisii had bought her a blue and orange dress, and a pair of black Ronto Leather dress shoes.
When they arrived at the school Aisii held herself together and encouraged Solasta to make some new friends and be nice to the teacher. The Commander reminded her to pay attention, be punctual when the bell rang, and be respectful. Solasta wore her very first dress.
After hugs, kisses goodbye, and making her parents promise three times that they would be there when it was time to come home, Solasta turned and headed for the doors to the school.
During the trip to school in the Commander's vintage Desler DA-5 speeder, Solasta's dress had become twisted and matted around her, and her new shoes weren't flexible like her play shoes were (when she wore them), so her parents watched as she walked away, slow and stiffly, while pulling the bits of dress wedged from her bottom.
The Commander stood stoically and waved to Solasta as tears rolled down his cheeks, and with a gentle sniffle Aisii looked up at him and asked, "Are you okay Sandy?"
"Just Fall allergies and dust," he said, without taking his eyes of Solasta.
Nearing the end of the school day they returned to the play yard early and waited patiently with the other parents for the dismissal bell to ring. When it finally did a sea of kids poured out of the doors and they looked at every child trying to find Solasta. When she finally did burst out of the doors she stopped to look back and wave goodbye to her teacher, then continued full speed into Sandoval's arms where he picked her up.
Solasta talked non-stop about her day as they walked to the Desler. "Teacher liked my dress, I sit in the 'fird row, we eat in a caffa-teery-ah, I got to paint 'wiff my hands, an took a nap, an played outside, teacher read us story, an we had snack, an took a nap," at which she giggled and said, "I said tha' already." Resting her head on her father's shoulder, she closed her eyes and murmured, "I can't wait to go back 'morrow."
Aisii followed behind in tears. Solasta's dress was ripped, she was missing her shoes and couldn't remember where she took them off, the fur on her right shoulder was crusted with something so she would go right into the refresher when they got home... and was that dried sauce or a paint stain on the back of her dress?