Belong - Part 3

The small ship landed smoothly three days later. The distant planet of Kembar Lune wasn't often visited by foreigners, but it was the home of more than twenty different tribes. Some tribes were rivals, though large skirmishes were rare. Individual bands of aggressive tribesmen did break out at times. Injury and death did happen. For the most part though, the planet was a peaceful one.

Jaythen stood on the ramp of the transport in awe of the beauty before him. The lush green plains expanded for miles, bordered by dense forests on either side. In the distance, lazy waved lakes kissed the foot of the mountains. At the uppermost elevation of the highest of mountains, snow capped the tips, disappearing behind low lying clouds as they floated past. The skies sparkled blue and an enormous yellow sun encouraged life in every direction. Large bushy tailed animals of all colors and patterns grazed on the flourishing grasses. Small houses built with a combination of log and clay littered the plains.

"Master, this is incredible. I've never seen – I've never imagined anything like it. How can you ever leave this place and go back to the temple?"

"I ask myself that same question each time I leave here, Jaythen. But the force calls me back. This is your home for the next month. There is much to do, much to learn. I want to introduce you to my family. And my horse."

"You have horses here? I've read all about them, Master! But I never thought I'd get to see one."

"Not just one. Many. See them grazing down there. My people ride them and hunt with them. They're courageous and strong, and they're an important part of our history and heritage."

"And you have your own?"

"His name is Arrow. You'll have your own as well. You get to chose him and name him."

Unable to hold back another grin, Jaythen's face lit up at the idea that he would not only meet and learn more about the animals, but would also get to ride and care for one of them. "Obi-Wan will never believe this."

"You'll have to tell him all about it. For today, we'll keep things simple. Meeting my parents and getting settled in our home."

"You have your own home too?" Jaythen said, his eyes wide.

"Well, not my own. But I visit so often that my father and I built an addition to their house. I guess you can think of it as an attached apartment. Not very big, but it serves its purpose. Grab your bags. I'll tell you about my family as we walk. The transport may spook the horses and wildlife so we can't bring it any closer. It'll be safe here."

They walked and talked. T'narr telling his apprentice all about his people. "My tribe is called the Noma tribe. It means 'horse people'. You've wondered about these feathers behind my ears, but you've been too nervous to ask?"

Jaythen shied away from the question.

"It's natural, Padawan. The body markings too, you've wondered. I know. Each one has a special meaning. Wait until you see my father's."

"Does your mother have them too?"

"Only a few, but the most important is the one that symbolizes her bonding with my father. It strengthens their devotion to each other." T'narr pointed to a spot in the distance. A small lake, a cluster of log homes. "That's my village. It's where I was born. The Jedi took me from there. My parents have lived there since they bonded."

"What are your parent's names? What should I call them?"

"Good question. There are Noma words for mother and father. The word for mother is Anya, though my mother's name is Neela. The word for father is Pai. My father's name is Ihaani. Chief Ihaani actually. As for what you should call them, let's just play that one by ear."

~*~

As they arrived in the village, there was a sense of joy that one of their own had come home. Tiny children hurried here and there, pointing at T'narr as they clapped or squealed in delight. Men, similar in appearance to the big Jedi, nodded to him as they passed. They were strong and stocky. Skin painted with markings. Ears decorated with feathers. Long dark hair in single braids hung past their shoulders. Clothing was made of animal hide. Shoes, if worn, were made of the same.

The women were of a smaller build. Some wore one feather, while others wore none. Body markings were fewer, but still present. Jaythen wondered if the markings or the number of feathers worn by the women meant something in particular. Or if there was a reason that the men left only their faces unpainted. How old was a child before he or she got a first body marking?

He was full of questions already, but dutifully trudged along beside his master, knowing that T'narr would answer the many questions in time.

They approached the Kresson house. T'narr stuck his head in the door less archway. "Anya?"

A high pitched wail loud enough to be heard in a neighboring village bounced off the rounded log walls. Neela Kresson sprinted from wherever she had been to the front room, not stopping to see who the visitor was. She knew. There was only one it could have been. Throwing her arms around her beloved son, she clutched at him as tears formed rivers. Then she stepped back and held his face in her hands, stroking it lovingly. "Tana, I didn't know you were coming home. It's been too long." Stopping to wipe the tears, she realized there was a smaller presence standing just behind and to the left of her son. "Tana, who've you brought with you?"

T'narr stepped back and put a proud arm around his student's shoulders. "Anya, this is my apprentice, Jaythen Talari."

Neela Kresson was shocked. How many times had her son told her that he had no desire to be a teacher. No desire to be a Master Jedi. No desire to be a father. And now here was this boy, much too young to be a Jedi warrior, standing with T'narr and smiling shyly at the sudden attention. "He's adorable, Tana. Jaythen, is it?"

Jaythen nodded, trying not to let his nerves show. "Yes, ma'am, Miss Kresson. I'm pleased to meet you."

"Miss Kresson? You shall call me no such thing young man. You call me Neela or even Anya, like my Tana calls me. If you are his part of his family now, you are part of ours." She brushed her long flowing black hair out of her face and knelt down. "A little thin. Don't you feed this boy, Tana? How old might you be Jaythen?"

"Eight, ma'am…I mean, Miss Neela."

"Those Jedi allow one so young to become a peace warrior, Tana?"

T'narr nodded. "That's why they have teachers, Anya."

Neela looked up at her son, studying him as she said, "I knew you had it in you to be a teacher. All those years of you being alone and claiming that the force was leading you that way. I knew it was all just talk."

"Things change, Anya. As we get older we realize we were foolish in our younger days. Jaythen and I…this is right. I know it is."

The mother smiled and brushed a finger over a droplet of water sliding down Jaythen's face. His master's words had emotionally caught him off guard. One day he'd have more control of those emotions he thought and politely bowed his head away from Neela.

"A good boy you have here, Tana. I can feel it." She stood. "Now that you surprised me with your visit, don't you dare tell me you are only here for a few days."

"A month. We've been granted a leave of absence from the Jedi. I only took Jaythen as my apprentice a few weeks ago. We've struggled together. I'm hoping time away from the temple will help us. And I'm eager to teach him the ways of my people."

"As well you should. Your pai will be home soon. He's out hunting. You'll want to get settled though." Reaching down, she took Jaythen's hand and led them through the house to the 'attached apartment' as T'narr had called it. The room was large, holding two beds, a sturdy table with three chairs, and a large wash basin. Each bed was fitted with a colorful quilt and a pillow that looked as soft as the rabbit fur it was made from.

Jaythen noticed one thing missing however. "Master, um…where is the bathroom?"

Mother and son shared a glance and a laugh, but stopped short when they saw Jaythen's face redden. T'narr put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's a good and necessary question, my Padawan. Follow me." They walked out the back entrance of the dwelling and found a tall, rectangular shaped shack not more than thirty feet away. It had a rickety wooden door with a double crescent moon window carved into it. "This is the part of Kembar Lune that takes a little getting used to. The outhouse. Unlike the comforts of Coruscant, Jaythen, there is no intricate plumbing system here. One lives off the land. This is your bathroom for the next four weeks."

Watching the boy's eyes grow to the size of potatoes was entertaining to say the least, but T'narr managed not to laugh this time. Jaythen's emotional state was always in flux and more fragile than most. And with their bond still growing, he wanted to be careful about too much teasing, even though it was all in good spirits. "It's not as bad as it seems. It's basically an elevated hole in the ground. Now for bathing purposes, see that lake over there?" He motioned for the boy to look past the other houses in the distance. "That's the biggest bathtub you've ever seen isn't it?"

"Yes, Master. And cold too, I bet."

"Well, it's chilly. But I'll show you a hot spot that's easier on the body. It takes some getting used to, but you'll adapt."

Neela led them back inside and told them to get settled. She disappeared into the main part of the home.

"Master, your mother…I mean, your anya, I like her. She's force sensitive, isn't she?"

T'narr raised an eyebrow. "You felt that? Interesting. She's only barely force sensitive. And has never tried to use it. Although I suspect she could become stronger if she trained herself to the force. But she's content with her life and her place." He tossed his larger bag onto the bed and began removing the extra clothing. There were bulky wooden trunks on the side of each bed for storage. Neither Jedi had many possessions, but they did bring clothing that would be more comfortable long term than the Jedi garb they were branding at the moment. "Don't put your light saber in the trunk, Jaythen. I have a lock box hidden in the floor for that. Not that anyone would attempt to take them, but you know the rules to abide by when it comes to our weapons. Most likely we'll not need them here, so they'll stay safely hidden."

The bedding under the quilt was thick and comfortable. The younger Jedi sat down to test the padding as he brushed his hand over the pillow. "Master, do you have to kill the animals rabbits yourself to get this fur?"

"We do," T'narr replied, not missing the slight sadness in his leaner's tone."We live off the animals and plant life here. All parts of the animals are used. They give to us and in turn, we give to them by allowing them to roam as they please. We hunt only when needed. No animal is killed unless necessary. Young ones are not harmed, and if we find them injured, they'll be nursed back to health and released. If you care for nature, it cares for you. I know it might be difficult for you to see an animal killed. It's difficult for all of us, even after so many hunts. But like with being a Jedi, sometimes certain things are necessary for survival. Does that make sense?"

"It does. But…I don't have to hunt with you, do I?"

"No, Padawan. I'd never force that on you. You've told me how much you love reading and learning about animals. I'd never ask you to hunt them if you didn't wish. I only wanted to make sure you understood that it is part of what Noma tribe is about, and to prepare you for the reality."

Jaythen felt some of his initial enthusiasm waning. He had no desire to intentionally hurt another living thing, unless his life depended on it. Though this was a culture that needed those animals in order for it to survive. Once he came to accept that part, he figured he'd manage. "I'm just nervous, Master. This is all so new. I've only ever seen places like this on holo-vids. To feel it come to life, and to be standing here…it's overwhelming."

"You'll do all right. Here," T'narr tossed a small circular object to the boy. "Taste it. My anya makes it. A homemade candy. Pure sugar. We'll take some home with us when we go." He watched Jaythen sniff the petite sweet and then pop it into his mouth. The reaction was as expected.

"Wow! That's…" he stopped for a second as his face puckered. The sweet giving way to sour, then sour giving way to sweet again. "Wow….wow!"

T'narr laughed, happy to see Jaythen loosen up. "Told you it's good. You have to limit yourself to one piece a day though, or you'll end up addicted to the stuff. It's that good!"

As they continued unpacking, and fixing their areas to their liking, another voice had entered the house. T'narr recognized it immediately. Chief Ihaani Kresson. His father. His pai. He motioned for the apprentice to follow him and a few steps later, T'narr fell into the strong arms of his father. When they released, Chief Ihaani held him away, staring into the deep grey eyes. "I've missed you, my boy. You've been gone much too long this time."

"I know, Pai. But duty called. This time I'm here for a while, and I brought someone I'd like you to meet." He stepped to his right and put a hand out for Jaythen to come forward. "Pai, this is my apprentice, Jaythen. I know I told you I'd never take on the responsibility of a student, but Jaythen here…well…"

With reddish-brown skin covered in paintings, the Chief was an imposing presence. Taller and broader than T'narr. His eyes were densely black. A wide nose and strong cheek bones made him look a natural leader. Three feathers fell behind each ear. Several more were webbed into his hair, which fell almost to his waist. Unlike the other tribesmen, his hair was not kept in a single braid, but flowed freely. A braided section over and around each feathered ear marked him apart. It marked him a chief. He stood with chest out, chin high and glancing down at the boy standing before him.

Jaythen of course was completely uncomfortable with the glare, but held himself tall. Though it still made him several feet shorter than the immense leader. "Hello, sir. Thank you for allowing me into your home."

A heavy grunt from the big man. "He's polite, T'narr. I can say that for him. A little small though for a Jedi warrior."

"Anya said much the same. It's not all about what's on the outside, Pai. Jaythen will make a fine Jedi Knight once he reaches the age of his trials. I have no doubt. For now though…you can stop with the act."

With a sigh, Ihaani deflated his chest and gave up his intimidating chief stance. Then he laughed and slapped his son on the shoulder. "Whew. Good. I can't do that for long, it's just not me. And it's hard to hold my breath like that, and stay all puffed up. I'm not a young man anymore." Both men turned to the boy, who was standing still as a statue, afraid to even blink. He had no idea what had just happened.

T'narr walked behind Jaythen and put his hands on his shoulders, giving a gentle massage. "Sorry, Jaythen. My family can be a slight bit odd at times. Everyone thinks my pai is this intimidating figure who never laughs or smiles. But he's just a big gentle type really. And he feels this strange need to put on his little show for anyone visiting our village for the first time. Anyway, just call him Ihaani. That all right with you, Pai?"

"Sure it is." He remarked, looking over the apprentice. "Hmmm. Do you feed this boy, T'narr? I've seen starved bison with more meat on their bones."

"Always obsessed with food, aren't you? Don't listen to him, Jaythen."

Ihaani sat in a large comfortable chair covered with animal skin. A skin with a head still attached. Jaythen stared at it and sat as far away as he could. "Ah, don't worry about that boy," the chief waved his hand. "It won't bite. Just an old elkon is all. So, T'narr, I understand you're here for a long visit this time. I suspect you'll finally be paying that horse of yours a visit, hmm?"

"Of course. I'd never miss a chance to ride Arrow. And I'm going to have Jaythen pick out a horse of his own from the herd. Teach him to ride."

"Ah, and hunt then?"

Jaythen, sitting on the arm of a chair where T'narr was, shrunk closer to his master. T'narr gave him a comforting pat on the knee. "No hunting for him, Pai. He's not the hunter type." He flickered a look at his father that meant he wanted the subject dropped, and it was.

They talked for some time and all through supper. Jaythen picked at the food, not sure about the new textures and spices. Some were particularly strong and made him wary. T'narr assured him it was all right, but it didn't matter. Jaythen did enjoy the fresh bread however, downing several pieces slathered in honey butter.

Excusing themselves early, they turned in after the meal. It had been a long day of arriving, getting settled and meeting family. Jaythen was exhausted. He washed up and folded himself under the incredibly soft quilt.

"Master?" he asked from his bed, as T'narr scrubbed his face over the basin. "Did Neela make these quilts?"

"She did. It's one of her many talents. Women from other villages bring items to trade for them. It's a good living."

"The temple needs these."

"I can imagine Yoda's reaction to that one."

The boy sighed thoughtfully. "You're happy here aren't you, Master?"

T'narr dried his face and started brushing his long hair out of its braid. It was a nightly ritual required to keep the thick hair healthy and clean. He didn't respond to his learner immediately. Several minutes passed before he sat down on the other bed facing him. "I am very happy here, Jaythen. You noticed?"

A nod. "You're different. I don't remember seeing this side of you since you became my master. It's…relaxing." T'narr grinned kindly. The truth was never so evident as when it was put right out there to see. Jaythen had read him perfectly. He was different here. He felt so at ease, so…happy. This was his world. His people. Though he loved his job as a Jedi, he often thought he could walk away from it, come home to Kembar Lune and never question the decision. "I miss this life. I think about it often when I'm on Coruscant. I suppose my Jedi life isn't as fulfilling as I like to think it should be."

"You could leave the Jedi and come home, couldn't you?"

"Probably. But the force speaks strongly to me, and I feel that my talents are useful for more than riding a horse and catching fish in a lake. Don't think it's not crossed my mind though."

"I hope I can become that comfortable here. I'm still anxious. Especially about that outhouse. There are bugs in there. Strange looking spiders with tiny round brown bodies and really really long legs."

"Ah, you've met our resident harvestman spiders. They don't bite, but for some odd reason they tend to hang out on the outhouse walls." He shrugged. "I don't know."

"Creepy."

"You'll get used to them. Stay warm and covered. It gets chilly here at night. If you need another quilt, let me know. I'll turn in shortly. I wish to speak with my parents for a while longer. Goodnight, Jaythen."

"G'night, Master."

~*~

T'narr found his parents in the common room. His mother was fastening a new quilt. His father was sharpening the tips on his quiver of arrows. Ihaani looked over, surprised to see his son hadn't turned in. "Restless?"

"No, not at all," came T'narr's reply as he tossed a log into the fire place and sat close. "Jaythen is quiet. He's very tired. I thought it best if my snoring didn't get in the way of him finding a deep sleep."

"Yes, you do snore like a bear. Often keeps me awake in the other room."

"Pai, you exaggerate."

Putting her tools down, Neela sipped on her mug of steaming tea. "That boy of yours. Are you sure about this, Tana? He's so young and unsure."

"That's why we're here. To help him. To help me. We need time together. He's a good boy, Anya. He really is. But he comes with an emotionally difficult past. Myself and the healers on Coruscant are working to help him through these things, but I thought time away would be better. You should have seen him when I told him we'd been cleared to come here. He was bouncing out of his skin. This is his first time off Coruscant. His first time out of the temple since he was brought to the Jedi."

"Ah, so that explains his nerves."

"Some, yes." T'narr debated how much to tell them. He didn't want to betray his learners trust. But at the same time, they would be here for quite a long time. It would be best for his parents to know more about Jaythen, so they could understand his reactions to certain situations. So he told them about the traumas. The death of his parents. The death of his only friend. The death of his beloved crèche master. Neela and Ihaani were solemn throughout.

"And you are certain that you are prepared for what all of this brings with it?" Neela said. She knew her son. She knew how strongly he would devote himself to a task once invested. But this boy was no simple task. He was a child that needed enormous emotional support. She was worried T'narr hadn't completely prepared for this undertaking. And that's why his next words took her by surprise.

"You don't know how many times I thought about giving up in this last month. Nothing clicked between us. We were both off balance and uncomfortable. We were two strangers working together. But, Anya - I know now. I'm devoted to Jaythen's training. I have spent the last few days thinking about that and very little else. I've sought the force. I've sought the advice of others. I've talked to Jaythen. For too long I've worked alone. I've had great success, but something was always missing. I just didn't realize what it was. I guess I didn't realize how lonely I was until recently. Coming home here so often, seeing the village children together and playing and laughing. Seeing the others working together and hunting together – it's worn on me. I've neglected that part of my emotional self for far too long. I want to pass on my teachings. I want to pass on my upbringing. The ways of my people. My abilities as a Jedi. I want – I need – to share that. Jaythen is my duty. My responsibility. My apprentice. I will train him. I will be stern with him. I will comfort him. I will – love him like a son. I had a good teacher in Pai. That small emotionally challenged boy is my legacy. I will not let him down."

Without a word, Neela walked over to her son, as proud as she'd ever been. Her hands cupped around his face and she kissed him on the temple then leaned her head against his in a quiet moment of rumination.

It was Ihaani who finally broke the silence. "You'll make a fine teacher and a fine father, T'narr."

The Jedi relaxed, content that his parents understood now why they were here, and the circumstances surrounding his taking of an apprentice. Eventually he turned in for the night. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

~*~

"Master, which horse is yours? There are so many. Do they stay in this pen all the time? Do they all have names? How often are they ridden?"

"Easy with the barrage of questions, Jaythen. I can't remember them to answer them. See that black and white one over there? The one with his head held high and his mane in his eyes? That's Arrow."

"He's beautiful, Master! Can I touch him?"

T'narr whistled. Arrow's ears flicked toward the sound. "Step inside the gate, Jaythen." Arrow trotted over and immediately nuzzled against T'narr, accepting a piece of apple from his hand, nickering softly. "Hi there, boy. I missed you. Jaythen, hold the apple out away from you. He'll take it."

Arrow sniffed Jaythen's hair with his great whiskery nose, nibbled briefly on his short braid, then found the apple and accepted it gratefully. Jaythen reached up and hesitantly touched the big animal's neck.

"I've seen so many holos of horses, Master. But never thought they'd be so spectacular. Are you going to ride him today?"

"I hope so. But first, you get to pick your horse. Choose carefully though. The one you pick will be yours forever."

"But which one? Some of these belong to others, right?"

T'narr pointed out five horses that were spoken for, but the remaining ten were not specifically owned by any one person. Jaythen stepped forward, listening to the instructions to go slowly and stay even and deliberate with his movements. He watched every animal. Looked into each one's eyes. They seem to hold an almost magical quality within those deep dark gazes. How could he narrow it down to only one? They were all so beautiful. Then, he saw it. Apart from the group, standing alone and quiet, was a smaller horse. A mare. She was plain and brown. Her only markings were a thin irregular blaze running the length of her face, and one long white sock that ran over half way up her right hind leg. The rest of the mare was just brown. The boring and not-to-exciting type of brown. Her eyes though were anything but boring. They were huge, black and intelligent. They watched Jaythen the entire time he made his way around the herd. But the mare never moved from her distant spot next to the fence.

Jaythen held out his hand as he approached. "Hi, girl. Are you friendly? I have an apple for you." Gently he made his way to the brown horse. She never took her eyes from his, not even to accept the apple. Either she was trying to figure him out or she was testing him. Her eyes wavered but a second to the larger man now standing behind the boy. T'narr touched Jaythen's shoulder. "She's mostly a pack pony. Nothing exciting about her, so she's never been accepted. My father found her orphaned a few years ago. Her mother died during foaling. He brought her here to raise and protect her from predators. She's small and not much for hunting, as a pack pony, she's strong. Not afraid to work hard. Mostly though she just hangs out here and watches. Always watching. There's an intelligence there that's somewhat unusual for the species."

Jaythen reached out and stroked her face, running his finger down that long skinny blaze. "Her mom died. She's lonely. I can feel it. No one has taken the time to love her. She's small and plain." The brown mare nickered once and pushed her muzzle into Jaythen's face. The boy hadn't noticed the tears on his face as he thought about the horse and the suffering she must have felt early in life. He felt emotionally connected to her almost immediately. They had much in common. "Can she be my horse, Master?"

"Are you sure you don't want another, Jaythen? Most boys your age look for the biggest and the most beautiful they can find. One full of energy and eager for anything. You should be certain on your decision."

"She is beautiful, Master. Look at her eyes. She just needs someone to love and care about her."

Smiling, T'narr felt proud. Given the chance to pick any of ten horses - some big and flashy and marked with fancy spots - his apprentice chose an ordinary pack pony. He found something inside the horse that was much more important that what others saw on the outside. "Then she's yours, Padawan. She'll need a name of course."

"Saber. I'll call her Saber," he said as he ran his hands down her neck and over her back. She leaned into the touch, almost as if she'd been waiting years for the feeling.

"Saber. I like that. All right, let me show you how to put a halter on her and we'll take the horses over near the supply shed for grooming. They'll need to be cleaned up before and after each ride. Most importantly, we have to look after their coat and their feet. Saber here hasn't gotten much brushing, so she may be anxious about it." T'narr removed a halter from the nearby fence post and demonstrated on Arrow how to slip it over his face and behind his ears. It was a task more challenging for Jaythen being short, but amazingly Saber lowered her head to his level after the first few attempts, as if sensing the problem.

"She's a good girl, isn't she, Master? She knows I'm small."

"Perhaps this horse is more than anyone ever gave her credit for." He snapped a lead line onto the halter - Jaythen observed and did the same. "Keep the horse on your right. You should always walk on the left of them. And whatever you do, watch your feet. It's not a pleasant experience when one of those hooves gets you. But it'll happen eventually."

They moved to the supply shed, tying the animals to the tether post. Saber watched her new master carefully as he disappeared into and then returned from the shed. She never missed a movement and as he began brushing - shadowing T'narr's movements with Arrow – Saber began to come to life. Her coat began to shine and she held her head higher. Her mane tangles were pulled and she swished her tail happily. When the grooming was finished, the little brown horse looked like a different animal.

"I knew you were beautiful, Saber. You just needed a little love and attention. What do you think, Master?"

T'narr starred at the newly named Saber, amazed at the change. "I never thought it possible she would look like that. I guess no one ever really gave her a chance." The master didn't miss the parallels between the horse and the apprentice. Someone just needed to take a chance on them. It's why Jaythen was drawn to the plain brown mare - they shared much in common.

"Now that she and Arrow are looking the part, how about I show you how to put a bridle and saddle on." Back into the shed to get the tack T'narr continued the lesson. "Now, a lot of the Noma tribe ride their horses bareback - without a saddle. Personally I find that quite painful and would recommend against it. But you wouldn't be trying that anytime soon anyway. Our saddles are small and light, but serve their purpose of helping one stay on board."

Jaythen was a quick study. He watched everything T'narr did, taking in every detail as the saddle and bridle were tacked onto Arrow. When it was his turn, he stood on a nearby log and clicked for Saber to lower her head. Something she did willingly. The saddle presented more of a problem because of his size, but after a few minutes of struggle, the apprentice managed to toss the saddle up and over. The girth was tougher, because he couldn't find the physical strength to get it tight enough, so T'narr stepped in to help, marveling at the connection horse and rider had achieved in such a short time.

"I think Saber has found her master, Jaythen. I've never seen such a quick bond form, especially with a horse that hasn't had much direct human contact. Amazing."

The boy smiled proudly. It felt nice when his teacher praised him. He'd only ever felt that before from Master Valree. More often than not, he was ignored and overlooked by his age mates and other Jedi. Master T'narr made him feel good about himself. "Thank you, Master. She's a good horse. I bet she and Arrow will become friends."

Arrow tossed his head in agreement causing both Jedi to laugh. "I suspect he's always wanted a girlfriend." Arrow agreed once more. "All right, how about a ride? Always mount on the left of the horse. Grab the reins and a clump of mane in your left hand. Put your left foot into the stirrup then grab the rear of the saddle with your right hand. Push off the ground and swing yourself up, like so." With a grunt, T'narr got himself into the saddle. A little rusty, but smooth enough that he didn't embarrass himself. Looking down towards his padawan, he motioned for him to try.

Several attempts proved unsuccessful, as the boy just couldn't get his right leg over Saber's back. He took a step back, closed his eyes and found the force. With a little assistance he found himself up and on. Sitting high with a goofy grin on his face, Jaythen was seeing the world from an entirely different view. One several feet higher than usual. "I feel tall, Master. Finally! Now what do I do?"

Showing him how to correctly grasp the reins and how to gently urge the pony on, Jaythen did as instructed. And then they were moving. Slowly bouncing from one side of the saddle to the other, he struggled to find the rhythm that T'narr and Arrow had together. "Master, how do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Ride without bouncing off the saddle?"

"Practice. Lots and lots of practice. Mostly though, it's just becoming one with the horse."

"Is that like becoming one with the force?" Jaythen snickered at the rhyme.

"Funny, Padawan. Actually there are similarities. They both involve practice, patience and understanding of the other – cooperation if you will. You'll get the hang of it."

As they rode for a time, Jaythen did eventually find a method to the horse riding madness, though he still spent a lot of time rubbing his backside. He had a feeling tomorrow he might be feeling pain in places where there just shouldn't be pain. But he was having fun and was continuing to see a side of his teacher that he truly enjoyed.

Several hours later when they finally called it a day, T'narr gave Jaythen instruction on how to take care of the horse once the ride was over. "Every horse deserves a thorough rub down after working hard. Keep good care of their coats and their feet, and you'll have one happy partner."

The rub downs done, the horses turned out and the tack put away, the two Jedi spent the rest of the day near the lake. T'narr showed Jaythen the hot springs area that was popular for bathing. He also taught him fishing and all about the various aquatic animals populating the local waters. By late afternoon, they'd caught enough for a mighty feast. The contentment that came over them was pleasing. They were finding that part of each other they needed in order to become a strong and formidable master-apprentice team. T'narr was also discovering the type of apprentice Jaythen would be. Obedient and polite. Hardworking and honest. Underlying all of that of course were his weaknesses – the emotional issues. They'd only barely touched on those but that would come in time.

~*~

Supper was filling. T'narr's parents relaxed in getting updated on the goings-on of their son as a Jedi, and getting to know a little more about the boy he had taken as his apprentice. Jaythen, nervous at first, was soon talking easily with Neela and Ihaani and it wasn't long before he began to feel part of the family. In fact, a week later, he'd seemingly had become just that. He'd joined in with the cooking and the chores, and was learning the ways of the Noma people. He was becoming an accomplished fisherman and had begun learning the ways of the bow and arrow, though he still had no desire to hunt. His aim was steady and sure, if not all that accurate at times. Accuracy would get better with practice. What was more important was that now almost two weeks into the trip he and T'narr were becoming inseparable.

Jaythen however was unable to completely put to rest that nagging fear that he would eventually lose Master T'narr as he did all the others in his life that he'd loved. Those fears struck mostly at night in the form of bad dreams. Some kept him awake. The closer he and his master were drawn together, the more the concern of losing him grew in intensity.

The past few nights, the fear had been eating at him more than usual, though all seemed calm within the force. It was a sunny blue-sky day when they left together on their horses into the forest hills. Chief Ihaani accompanied them so they could share the day together. They'd ridden for an hour when Jaythen found out why he'd been having the frightening feelings.

END PART 3...tbc