Kachirho was truly wondrous.

It struck Qui Gon every time he visited. The wroshyr trees took his breath away. The way the force lived and hummed within their centuries old branches, swaying in the wind… He let the force flow through him. Kashyyyk was quiet, still. Qui looked over at his young padawan, who was munching happily on his sandwich as he watched the wookies walk past. They took a break from negotiations for the day, and brought a picnic to the beaches of Kachirho. Obi Wan looked up at him, a piece of sandwich falling from his mouth.

"Tomorrow we go home, Obi Wan."

Obi Wan looked up at Qui Gon. His blue eyes reflected the passing clouds. To Qui Gon, he was the image of an ideal padawan. A strong future jedi. "We are finished?"

"Yes. We were here to give advice and to offer our knowledge and support. The decision is yet to be made by the wookies."

Obi Wan nodded, and Qui Gon rose and brushed crumbs from his robes. "where are we going next?"

"I must speak with General Tarfful. Why don't you head back and get ready, we will leave when I return."

Obi Wan nodded, and Qui Gon started toward the tree that housed the general's home. Obi Wan turned toward the opposite tree line. He started toward the tree that housed their room, and then realized he wasn't sure where he was in relation to their room. On their way to their picnic spot, Obi Wan hadn't paid attention, he was enjoying the forest-

He closed his eyes.

He searched his feelings, hoping the force would reveal his destination to him. His panic blocked his mind, whirring through his thoughts, pounding its own frightful heartbeat in his ears. He opened his eyes, and a group of wookies brushed past him. He searched his senses for Qui Gon, but his mind was blocked by fear. He was on a strange planet where he did not speak the native language. He was lost.


"Obi Wan, yes his name is Obi Wan. He is too far for me to sense him." Qui Gon told the group of wookies that were to search the forest for Obi Wan. Qui was nervous, but he didn't let it leak through his calm demeanor. With his previous padawans, he could always sense them, if only a little. He searched for Obi Wan repeatedly, and all that remained was silence. The wookies nodded and howled in understanding before they left to search for the boy.

He let his body guide him to the couch, sitting with his head in his hands. They had done quite a bit of weaving through the trees. He assumed the boy knew the way back. His cold fingers ran over his forehead shakily. Kashyyyk was no place for a fearful twelve year old. It had been a long time since he had a child under his care. He had forgotten the responsibility it held, and his negligence could perhaps cost Obi Wan's life. He stood, raking his hands through his bronze hair. He tossed a pillow on the ground and knelt on it, closing his eyes and allowing the force the flow through him.


"Master Windu, his midichlorean count is very high-"

Mace Windu folded his hands in his lap. The council room was empty, and Avia Kutae had cornered him as he was leaving. "The child is far too old-"

"I understand that, Master, however, I strongly believe that he would be a fantastic asset to the order. He's incredibly driven and focused, especially compared to those his age."

"Yes, perhaps that is true. But, he has himself a reputation."

"A reputation?" She repeated, her eyebrows knit together.

"He cannot read or write, he has no knowledge of the force whatsoever at 10 years of age. He's painfully shy, and I myself have witnessed how jumpy and fearful the child is. I believe it would be more damaging. He is quite fragile."

"He deserves a chance. He is learning to read and write and he grows more confident by the day."

Mace Windu sighed, and rolled his eyes in the all too familiar way that Avia always looked forward to seeing. It meant a compromise was near. "If you can find the boy a master in the next month, I'll support his training."

"A month? Master, most already have padawans that wanted them-"

"One month."

She nodded and bowed, before sweeping from the council room. It would be no easy task, but it was what the force willed, and she would see it done.


It was dark.

Obi Wan was lying on a fallen tree, his small frame quivering in the bitter breeze. He'd wandered to try and find where they were staying, but found himself in a forest, far from the city. Tears ran freely from his eyes. It was dark. Master Qui Gon had probably left without him, realizing how irresponsible Obi Wan must have been to get lost. He watched the stars twinkle through the thick, billowing leaves of the wroshyr trees. There was a crashing sound, and Obi Wan stood, his light saber drawn. His finger shook over the button. All he could make out in the dark was the moving of bushes. Suddenly a wookie was before him, and he flinched, dropping his saber. The wookie approached him, and Obi Wan moved away nervously. He tripped over the log, his behind hitting the ground. Hard. The wookie picked up his lightsaber, and offered it to Obi Wan. Obi Wan took it hesitantly, and the wookie purred and growled.

Obi Wan had no idea what he was saying, but sputtered, "I'm lost, I'm with master Qui Gon Jinn-"

The wookie nodded furiously, and offered him his furry hand. Obi Wan took it, and the wookie lifted him into his arms. Obi Wan took handfuls of brown fur, hising his face in the wookie's chest. The wookie wrapped his arms around Obi Wan, and started toward the city.

Before Obi Wan knew it, he was squinting in the light. He put his hand in front of his face while his eyes adjusted. He sat up in the wookie's arms, and they were in the hall before he and Qui Gon's room. The wookie knocked, and the door opened. Qui Gon gasped, and Obi Wan was handed to him. Qui held him close, and Obi Wan wrapped his legs around Qui's waist. Qui's hand stroked Obi Wan's padawan braid, and he breathed him in for a moment, relief filling him with each reassuring breath.

"Thank you, Chewbacca." Qui said, his voice tainted with emotion.

Chewbacca roared in response, and shut the door behind him. Qui Gon held him, his arms firmly planted around the boy.

"I'm sorry, Master," Obi Wan mumbled, his face against Qui Gon's neck. "I panicked."

"I am the one who is sorry. I should not have assumed you knew the way back."

"I tried to contact you, but I panicked, Master." Qui Gon looked at his young padawan, shame evident in his face.

"That is alright, Obi Wan. You are young, and have much to learn. You must remember, I will never leave you to fend for yourself. Whenever you need me, I will be there to help you, so you never have any need to panic. Alright?" Obi Wan nodded and Qui Gon smiled and embraced him again before putting him down. "Let's go home."


Avia reentered the apartment, and Haz was sitting on the couch, drawing. She smiled to him and he smiled back, continuing his drawing.

"Hazafarr," she said softly, and he looked at her fearfully. She sat at the table, and beckoned him over. "Nothing is wrong don't be afraid." He put his drawing supplies down and walked over to her. She pulled him into her lap, and wrapped her arms around him. "Midichloreans are tiny little lifeforms that live inside every living thing. They are what connect Jedi to the force." Haz nodded. "Jedi have many midichloreans, more than the average person. You, Haz, have enough midichloreans to easily become a jedi."

Haz turned around to face her, his eyes wide. "I- I can be a jedi?"

"You certainly can, if that is what you want."

"Who will be my master?"

She sighed, and adjusted her hold on him, "that is the hard part. The council has given me an ultimatum. We have to find you a master in one month."

"One month?"

"Most Jedi younglings are trained from the age of three. You are far older than they and have never been trained in the force. It will be difficult to find a master for you."

"Oh." He said thoughtfully. She turned him to face her, his body still far too light. "Being a jedi is a hard life, Haz. I think you should take the time to make sure it's what you want."

Haz nodded, and got down off of her lap. His gaze was distant, and she took his hand. "Why aren't you a jedi anymore?" He asked.

She stared at him, her face puzzling to find a way to tell the story. "I had a padawan named Tetum Dukros. He was a very good padawan, very promising and loved to learn. I brought him on a dangerous mission with me, thinking he was ready." She paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. "He panicked and did not follow my direction, and was killed."

Haz stared at her, and he touched her arm, "I'm sorry." She put him down on the ground, and stood.

"It's alright, Haz. I have no control over that now."

"Can I have time to think about being a jedi?"

"Of course. You are welcome to talk to me about any questions you have, or master Qui Gon or Obi Wan. They will be returning soon."

"Ok."

"Ok?" He nodded, and she smiled and kissed his cheek. "There is no right or wrong decision."

"Thank you," he murmured, and hugged her.

"You're welcome. Get some rest, we'll dig through jedi life tomorrow."

He nodded, and went to his room.

Not a half hour later, there was a knock at the door.

Avia was wrapped in a blanket on the couch, a book in her hand. She rose, and padded across the ebony wood floors. She knew it was Qui before he even knocked, but she smiled and greeted him and the fearful looking padawan.

"Qui. I expected you a lot earlier."

"We had some problems. My apartment apparently has no electricity or water for the moment, so would you mind if we spent the night?"

There was an air of annoyance in his voice, and she knew that he had to have had a rough day to let it show through his usual serene demeanor. She stepped aside, and Obi Wan had Qui's robe around him.

"Hello Obi Wan," Avia greeted warmly, and he smiled and bowed his head.

"Obi Wan, time for bed," Qui Gon said and Obi Wan started toward Haz's room. He turned when he reached the door, and Avia pushed it open for him. Haz was asleep, his holo- stars floating around near the ceiling.

"Haz," Avia said quietly, her hand on his shoulder.

He groaned, his eyes glowering in the dark. "Yes?"

"Obi Wan is going to sleep over tonight."

"Ok."

Avia opened Haz's pajama drawer, "change into whatever you like."

"Thank you, master Kutae."

"Anytime," she turned to Haz, "Move over, honey, so he can fit."

Haz scooted over toward the wall, and Avia left them so Obi Wan could change. Soon after Qui Gon joined her in the living room. He sat on the couch, his head in his hands.

"Obi Wan got lost today on Kashyyyk." He said quietly.

"What?"

"I left him to meet me back at our guest room, I assumed he knew where it was. I forgot how young he is…"

"Its alright, Qui. He's still getting adjusted and so are you. What's important is that he is here."

"I could not sense him."

"Maybe it was him. Perhaps he was too afraid." Qui groaned and stood, his fingers scraping along his cheeks. "You cannot blame yourself. You are not perfect."

"I know," he sighed.

"Haz's midichlorean count is very high." Qui looked up at her, his blue eyes calculating, searching her feelings. "Windu said I have to find him a master in a month."

"One month?"

"Yes. I must find a painfully shy fearful child with no training a master." He stared at her face, her anxiety evident on her face. Hardening her soft features. "Qui." She said quietly, and his eyes met hers, following the line of her cheekbone.

"Yes." He whispered.

"Haz, I don't know if he knows what he's getting into."

He shook his head, "he has time to understand all that he must do, and not do." He lingered on the end of his sentence.

"He may not know until it's too late."

Qui brushed hair from her face. "He will. He is an intelligent child." She nodded, and he sighed. "Avia-" he turned, and Obi Wan was in the doorway.

"Master Qui Gon, I don't feel well."

"Alright give me a moment." Qui said and turned back to Avia. "You were meant to be a Jedi, the force wills it. You are strong with the force, do not ignore its intentions."

"I am not I-"

"Haz is not Tetum."

"Haz." She smiled, thinking of some far off memory. "Haz is an amazing child."

"That is why he deserves to have you for a master."

"He has so much to learn," her voice was worried, and she picked at her fingernails.

"If anyone is up to the task it's you." She took his hand in hers, and smiled. "Can you take a look at Obi Wan? He was looking a bit pale."

She nodded and followed Qui to the room.

Obi wan sat up. "Hello Master Kutae."

"Hello sweetheart. What's wrong?"

"My head hurts, and I'm dizzy, and my throat hurts." She sat on the bed and pressed her wrist to his forehead. Haz watched tiredly, and she felt his neck for any swelling.

"I think you're just behind on sleep, Obi Wan. You've had a rough day and your body is tired. Try to get a good night's sleep and we'll see how you feel in the morning, ok?" He nodded and she smiled. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight master. Thank you."

"Of course. Goodnight, Haz." She said softly, kissing his forehead.

"Goodnight." They shut off the light and exited the room. Soon after Qui and Avia crawled into bed, and avoided one another's gaze.


Thanks so much for reading! Sorry for the long delay, I'm taking a summer course that has a heavy workload. Please review! Let me know what you think ;)