/"You're late,"/ Kibecca rumbled.
Skynia mumbled an apology, dipping her head in a sincere show of respect. She dropped to the floor across from the wookiee and settled into a cross-legged position, her hands quickly twisting her long black hair into a braid.
Kibecca blinked slowly and inhaled deeply. /"How is your Padawan?"/ the Jedi Master asked, woofing in the Shyriiwook language that had become so familiar to Skynia.
Skynia sighed. Only months ago, she'd still been the Padawan and Kibecca had been the Master. But with Kibecca's promotion to the Jedi Council, Skynia joined dozens of other Padawans who would face their trials early. With the war raging out of control in the galaxy, the Council was desperate for competent Jedi to defend against the threat of the Sith.
"She's restless, Master," Skynia replied.
Kibecca snuffled, her gaze rising to the domed row of skylights above. /"Who can blame her?"/
"I can't," Skynia admitted, her mind wandering back to the discussion she'd had with Kianna early that week.
"If we keep waiting for them to strike us first, we'll all die," Kianna had said. "We can't wait for the Council to realize how real this threat is. If they don't do something, we'll have to."
Skynia bowed her head and pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She wasn't sure if Kianna and Truen and the others would really go through with anything, but if they did… What would her decision be? Could she defy the Council and Kibecca? Maybe not, but she knew something had to be done. With every day, more of her fellow Jedi were slaughtered. If they sat by and only tried to defend and maintain peace rather than taking an aggressive stance, where would they be a year from now? Who would be left? Jaia, as young and innocent as she was, had already seen so much pain. Maybe she would be one of the next to fall.
Pressing her lips into a firm line, Skynia shook her head and leaned forward. "Master, you must convince the Council to rethink their decision. We can't wait any longer! I know they think this is the best decision, that this will keep us alive, but if we're wrong…"
Kibecca's eyes slid shut and she lowered her head. /"You must be patient, Sky. Only the Force knows what the future will bring. If you dwell on nothing but what you cannot change, all you have done is give into your fear. And..."/
Skynia spoke the words along with Kibecca, "...fear is the path to the dark side, I know. I'm sorry, Master. You're right, of course."
Kibecca reached out and laid a hairy paw on Skynia's shoulder. /"And you are right as well, my young friend. Something must be done. But what? And how?"/ The wookiee shook her head. /"Too much is uncertain in these days. We can only trust that the Force will lead us down the right path."/
Nodding her reluctant agreement, Skynia let out a slow breath. "Patience."
Kibecca smiled, her head bobbing approval. /"Patience. Now, come. The others will already be at the morning meal. If we don't hurry, they'll have everything eaten before we get there."/
Skynia smiled, rising smoothly to her feet. Kibecca wrapped a furry arm around the young Knight's shoulders, and together they headed for the Temple commissary.
"Do you think she suspects anything?" Kianna asked, leaning forward across the table and keeping her voice low so only her brother and fellow Knight could hear her. He sat opposite her, holding a tall glass of ice water. His brown hair was in need of a haircut again, but she doubted he would get it cut until after both she and Kestry had nagged him for several weeks.
Frowning, Truen scratched his ear. "I don't know. She hasn't said anything."
Kianna sighed. "Maybe we should ask Master Kibecca."
"Sounds like a good idea," Truen nodded.
"What does?"
Kianna twisted in her seat at the familiar purring voice. Grish stood behind her, arms folded casually across his chest. His tail flicked, smacking the chest of his towering companion, Chldrrl. The wookiee snuffed, swatting at the farghul's offending tail.
"Oh. Sorry, Rrl." Grish gave a little bow and sidestepped out of the wookiee's reach, his tail innocently flipping up to slap the wookiee's face.
Chldrrl growled a rude comment.
Kianna shook her head and choked back a laugh. Those two…I'm surprised they haven't killed each other yet.
"Come on, guys, have a seat." Truen waved a hand at the row of unoccupied seats, ignoring the curious stares of others in the commissary.
Grish slipped into a seat beside Kianna while Chldrrl took the one opposite. Kianna lowered her head as the farghul's tail flicked over her.
Pointing a hairy paw towards the food line, Chldrrl snuffled. /"I'm thirsty. Anyone else want something?"/
Truen tipped his water glass and lifted his hand, both brows rising. "Uh, I could use some more water...?"
Grish smacked his lips, giving a deep purr. "Ah, blue milk, please."
Kianna trailed her thumb down her jaw, frowning in thought. She'd just finished a steaming cup of Ansionian tea, one of her favorite drinks. She was feeling up to something stronger, though. "Hmm. Maybe an Arkanian sweet milk?"
Chldrrl's furry brows rose. Arkanian sweet milk, while it was creamy and had a smooth, sweet taste, was very potent. Few people could stand to drink much of it at all.
"Uh, sis?" Truen began, clearing his throat. "Remember what happened last time you got some of that stuff?"
Her neck and cheeks flushed, and she shot a glare at Truen. "Uh, bro? Secret?"
"Ooh, secret!" Grish exclaimed.
Kianna dropped her face into her hands, sighing heavily. She had tried to forget about the time Truen had been forced to escort her home after she'd had too much to drink. It had only happened once, but as she recalled, she'd spent most of the evening singing some stupid song at the top of her voice. It was all Truen could do to keep her out of Kestry's sight--and hearing--until the alcohol wore off.
"Fine," she mumbled. "I'll take another tea."
Chldrrl snorted a light laugh, then stepped up behind the farghul, pulling him from his seat. /"Come on. I need help with the drinks."/
Grish protested half-heartedly, but didn't hesitate in trailing after the wookiee, his tail perpetually flicking and twitching as he walked.
Sighing once more, Kianna brushed her fingers over her forehead, then dropped both hands to the table. To her surprise, she felt Truen's hand cover hers, and she looked up into his eyes. He smiled softly, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. "Forgive me?"
Shaking her head, she smiled slowly in response, then gave Truen's hand a little squeeze. Something about her brother's boyish innocence made it impossible for her to hold a grudge for long. "Yes, Tru. Of course I do. Just promise me you'll never talk about it again, okay?"
He grinned then, eyes sparkling as he gave her hands a final pat. "Promise."
It didn't take long for Grish and Chldrrl to return with the drinks, and the four sat together in companionable silence while they enjoyed their individual beverages. Finally, Chldrrl rumbled, setting aside his oversized cup. /"How are your preparations coming, Grish?"/
Grish looked up from his glass, blue milk rimming his lips. Brows rising, he looked confused for a moment. "Preparations?" Realization dawned in his eyes. "Oh, those preparations?"
Chldrrl sighed. While the wookiee had recently completed his Trials of Knighthood, Grish was mere weeks away from facing his own tests. Kianna and Truen had never been given their Trials, having gained their Knighthood after their encounter with Tardin, the Dark Lord of the Sith. The memory of that meeting brought a frown to Kianna's face. The Dark Lord was shrouded in indomitable evil, an evil that she still sensed sometimes in her dreams. She shivered, forcing her mind away from that subject and back to her friend's voice.
"Well..." Grish began, his long fingers playing with the rim of his glass. His tail gave a nervous flick, his ears twitching. He cleared his throat, then tapped his glass against the table. "Well...?"
Kianna smiled gently, reaching to lay a hand on his forearm. "You'll do fine, Grish. The Trials are a test of your skill and spirit, not to mention courage, and I know you have that. There's no one I'd rather have by my side in a fight."
Truen coughed pointedly and Chldrrl whined. Kianna rolled her eyes, lightly smacking Chldrrl in the chest. Grish smiled fondly at all of them, his eyes shining. He reached for Kianna's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Aw, shh. You're making that up, Kia."
Still smiling, Kianna shook her head. Her friends were the closest thing she'd ever had to a family. She wasn't related by blood to any of them--even Truen--but that didn't matter. What bound them together was a complex web of trust and love, which to an outsider, would have been a confusing riddle. For Kianna, though, this "family" was the one thing that kept her sane.