Shaak Ti spent her quiet time meditating when Dalene arrived.
«Come, Warrior Sister. It's time for you to fashion your jewelry,» Dalene said.
Shaak got up and walked with her. Amazingly, her leg didn't hurt quite as much as it had earlier in the day. They arrived at Dalene's tent and sat down at a table in front of it. Shaak reached into the pouch on her belt and removed the teeth. In spite of their smaller than usual size, she was impressed at how many she had been given.
«Don't worry, I plan to show you how to make one of the more ornate designs I've done,» Dalene reassured her.
«It's not necessary, really. Something simple is fine,» Shaak, responded, her head-tail stripes darkening slightly in embarrassment.
«Nonsense! You are a Jedi, a great warrior, and now that you're a warrior of your people. You deserve something to reflect that. Besides, it isn't the most ornate headdress I've ever designed. I reserve those for tribal leaders.»
Dalene then took the teeth and slowly arranged them. She periodically looked up at Shaak's face to make sure her design would match the contours of Shaak's forehead. She then grabbed some small tools and took one of the teeth and punched a small hole in opposite ends of it.
«Here, you've seen me do it, now do it yourself,» she invited Shaak.
Shaak took the tools with slight nervousness. However, she couldn't help but smile and reveal the tips of her sharp canine teeth after successfully punching holes in the next tooth.
«It feels good to fashion something with your own hands, doesn't it, child?» Dalene asked.
With all the teeth prepared, Dalene took a number of small metal rings and showed Shaak Ti how to link the teeth together. Dalene then placed the headdress on Shaak Ti's head and adjusted it some to better fit its shape.
«Now for the final part,» Dalene said. The statement left Shaak curious.
Dalene removed the headdress and punched additional holes in the center tooth. She then opened a small chest that was filled with indigenous gems and stones. She picked out a native green stone surrounded with silver adornments and attached thin silver strands and beads to it.
«Try it on now,» Dalene said. Shaak Ti put her headdress back on.
«Now, you look as dignified as you have proven yourself,» Dalene stated proudly.
A Togruta male then came with a long piece of leather.
«Here is the leather you asked for,» he informed Dalene. She nodded in thanks and placed it on top of the table.
«I don't suppose you know your tribal emblem?» Dalene asked.
Shaak shook her head no. «I was taken to study the Force when I was an infant,» she replied.
«I will show you how to sew our own emblem,» Dalene replied. She helped Shaak stitch the long ornate patterns that represented the Thelane tribe.
«It should be ready for you to wear tomorrow once the leather sash cures and the embroidery tightens.»
Shaak nodded as she looked at what would be her traditional Togruta Sash. Usually, it had an emblem representing the wearer's native tribe. However, the wearer had the option to choose an emblem that represented the tribe that assisted with the rite of passage or any other design of interest.
«Come, I should present you before our next meal,» Dalene said. Shaak was a bit confused about what she meant.
Most, if not all the tribe was assembled as they watched Dalene escort Shaak Ti to their assembly. Upon reaching Ranara, Dalene addressed him after giving him a formal bow.
«Great Ranara, I would like to present our newest Warrior Sister, Shaak Ti,» Dalene announced.
Ranara extended his hands and placed them on Shaak's shoulders and said, «Shaak Ti, our warriors and those before us who watch from the Great Afterlife recognize you as one of their own. Today is a good day, for we have added a new warrior sister.» All the assembled Togruta cheered and applauded.
After a meal featuring meat from Shaak's akul, the remainder of the evening had a festive mood.
«Will you be leaving us?» Ranara asked Shaak.
After silently contemplated what her time on Shili meant to her, Shaak answered, «I must leave tomorrow. While I'm grateful for your hospitality and acceptance, I must return to be the Jedi I was destined to be.»
«I understand.» Ranara replied with a nod. «Know that wherever you go, you will always be a proud Thelane warrior. You will always be welcome should you ever return to our homeland,» he promised her.
«Thank you,» Shaak replied with her own respectful bow.
The next day, Shaak packed her things after breakfast and she retrieved her Togruta Sash from Dalene. She felt particularly proud to finally have both her headdress and her sash as part of her apparel. She noticed that other Togruta were preparing the remainder of the akul's pelt and its bones for use.
«We use whatever we can. We may fear the akul, but we make sure we don't waste it unnecessarily when we make a kill,» a male explained.
Shaak nodded. In her time on Shili, she had come to appreciate the simple, yet skilled resourcefulness of the tribe. Before she could leave the open area, the tribe assembled once more. Ranara asked her to offer some parting words before she left.
«Thank you for welcoming me and assisting me with my quest. I will be ever-grateful and remember you every time I wear my headdress and sash,» she said. Applause and cheering briefly interrupted her.
«But in addition to the successful hunt, I've come to better understand and appreciate my Togruta heritage. I may not know if or when I return, but I know I will benefit both as a Jedi and a warrior from my experience. May the Force be with you all,» she said to conclude her speech.
Shaak was surprised to see Liona slowly walk up to her. Liona presented her with a small dagger with an ornate engraved handle. It was a customary gift among tribal Togruta.
«Did you make this?» Shaak asked curiously.
Liona nodded. «My father taught me, and I now make them for each new warrior brother or sister. I hope that my child will also learn how to fashion them as well,» she said before handing Shaak Ti a leather sheath for the dagger. Shaak assumed it was made from the akul she slew.
«This is so you will always be ready to defend yourself,» Liona added.
Shaak thanked Liona for her gift. It's no lightsaber, but to our people, it's probably a very significant gift and just as powerful from their perspective, she thought.
Shaak bid farewell to the group amid closing cheers before heading back to her ship. During the return to Coruscant, she continued to reflect on how much her trip had made a difference in how she would handle herself as a Jedi.
Upon returning to Coruscant, she immediately checked in with Master Yoda.
"Master Ti, returned from Shili, have you?" he asked.
She nodded as Yoda discovered the differences in her apparel.
"So, passed the rite of passage you did? Hmm?" he asked.
"Yes, Master. Thanks to the hospitality of a local tribe," she answered.
"Reaching out to others in need, is important, for Jedi or Togruta, no?"
"Yes, Master Yoda. The experience has made me more aware of what I need to do as a Jedi Knight."
Yoda noticed the torn fabric on her Jedi robes. "To the medical bay, you shall now go. Heal your wounds, they will. Again, congratulate you, I do," he said.
Shaak gave a reverent bow. "Thank you, Master Yoda," she said before she left for the Halls of Healing.
As the healers treated her wound, they were impressed by how effective the Thelane healer had treated the injury.
"They may live in tribes, but they are very intelligent and resourceful," Shaak proudly informed her healer.
After she left the Halls of Healing, Shaak Ti next visited the Jedi Commissary. There, she replaced her torn robes. Finally, she returned to her quarters. After unpacking, she looked at herself in the mirror. This was the first time she saw herself with her new headdress and sash.
Dalene was right. I do look more elegant. I can only hope I command the respect I've earned both as a Jedi and a warrior, she thought.
She removed her headdress, putting it on a nightstand. She then curled up in her bed to rest, curious what the Force had planned for her tomorrow.
Closing Commentary: The story title is based on a concept from my private writing. There, Togruta who successfully slay an akul are referred to as warrior brothers or sisters.
I had fun writing this story and having the chance to explore Togruta culture while offering a possibility for how a tribe might handle an akul hunt. I've also suggested that different tribes may have their own slight variations on this important rite of passage.
In closing, I hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
END