Ren walked toward the campfire behind Rey. He felt her weariness after their duel and she went through her pack and brought out her ration for the evening, she sat next to Neya who broke her stare into the flames. Luke was meditating, and the wookie was already asleep. Ren on Rey's other side and chewed on a dried nerf ration. The air was cooling, but the warm heat from the fire soaked into his clothes almost immediately. Thankfully, Lana'i was no where to be seen. He was mad at her and himself. He knew she was right, but didn't want a random person to interfere his training with Rey.
"Rey, Ren. You practice with lightsabers often?" Neya asked, the flames illuminated her skin with a warm glow.
Rey was chewing quickly, trying to swallow to answer, so Ren answered instead. "Yes, almost daily we spar. She does other mental exercises with Luke at times too."
"You however, you use the Dark Side. I felt your anger from your duel. How does it not control you?" Neya's eyes burrowed into his.
Ren clenched his jaw together. Rey sat next to him, feeling interested. He'd rather not share but a few details wouldn't hurt. "I've never been able to master one side of the Force completely. I... have come to terms with this and balance it within."
She was still curious he could tell, and she was studying his face. "Were you and Rey... enemies at one time?" Ren didn't think often of his scar across his face, and he felt it very much right then, the skin tight from Rey's swing. She panting in the snow, he felt from her anger, her desire to kill him before the earth below them opened. He looked at Rey, she was staring into the flames. She was pensive in her emotions, but also a comforted sensation filled her mind. She was most likely thinking of their time in the Crystal Cave.
"Yes. I was her enemy. And Luke's enemy. I was sent to kill Luke and bring Rey back to my master, Snoke. I followed Rey into a cave, thinking it was Luke. We fought in the cave on a cliff and I pushed her with the Force. She fell and drowned." The feelings and memory played in his mind vividly. He was no longer infront of the fire, but in the cave again. "I faced Rey before but I was weakened. This time I was fully healed and ready to fight her. I wanted to show her the Dark Side and have her join me. I was actually obsessed with her joining me. She denied me, and refused the Dark Side. As I stood over the cliff, her drowning below.. my thoughts were confused in my mind. I couldn't let her die. I realized she was my equal and dove after her. I begged for her to come back to life, made promises as she became colder. I gave up, promising I would never ask her to join the Dark Side again and she drew breath." The last words were a ragged whisper, his heart felt pressure from begging her to come back, the threat of her dying in his arms. He had never told Rey this memory, and he felt from her intense love, and burning affection for him. He looked at her, her cheeks had wet trails that lead down to her chin. Neya was moved, her eyes watery. Ren took a breath "The cave collapsed behind us, so we had to spend time in each others company through the cave, and face some additional dangers before we made it out. There was no way I could kill her, my obsession with her turned to something more. And for some reason, she wanted me to stay despite my faults, my heinous past, my use of the Dark Side..." This was more than Ren wanted to say, and he closed his eyes. Maybe since he was prohibited from speaking much the last few days, the opportunity had him divulge the tale.
Rey's words trembled, his revelation had surprised her. Her love for him seemed to have grown tenfold "I always thought that Ren was a lost cause, even though Luke and Ren's mother told me otherwise. After he saved me though, we faced other challenges, and I didn't want him to die. I felt with the Force if he went back to Snoke he would perish." She moved to him and her fingers entwined through his, she squeezed his hand. He looked at her, and their eyes met. Feeling her love for him was so strong, he wished they were alone. He wanted to hold her, feel her warm skin next to his, and kiss her soft lips. Hear her say his name again as he pleased her.
"Do you think that anyone can come back?" Neya asked, her brows furrowed. The fire crackled and sparks drifted up to the sky above before burning out.
"It depends on the person I think Neya." He murmured. "I went to the Dark Side for power. I wanted to be as strong as my grandfather. I started to doubt the cause I fought for so long, and came to terms that... that I'll never be as strong as my grandfather. I have other abilities I excel in. " He sighed. It still agitated him but admittedly it was the truth. "Not everyone I think can come back. I don't ever see Snoke coming back..."
Ren heard a rustling of leaves and looked to the source "These types of questions should be asked of your grandmother, not some nightspell user male." Lana'i said acerbically as she appeared from the depths of the forest. Her spear was upright in her hand as she walked toward the fire, and she set it down looking at the younger clanswoman. Ren felt his anger rise with her presence and disdain of him.
Neya stiffened and replied "I am positive she wanted me to come to learn of other points of view if I am to follow her one day." Neya and Lana'i locked eyes, and surprisingly Neya didn't back down.
"His words are filling you with false hopes. He will fall completely one day and you best pray that he is not on this planet and is far from here." She went into her pack and ate some cheese before lying down and turning her back to the dying flames. Neya stared at the woman's back, jaw clenched.
"Ren, join me patrolling the camp. Neya, Rey, you should rest." Luke said quietly, and placed an additional two logs on the fire as he stood. Sparks and ash flew as the logs were placed. Rey squeezed his hand before going into her bundle for a blanket, and Neya moved her belongings closer to Rey. Ren followed Luke well into the forest, the fire was quite small when Luke turned to start patrol. Ren felt out with the Force, he sensed no one nearby except those by the fire. Twigs and leaves crunched under their boots as they walked through the dark forest. Ren's eyes adjusted to the lack of light gradually, there was no moon tonight as the clouds blanketed the sky.
Luke's voice was almost a whisper when he spoke again "Ren be watchful and careful of Lana'i."
Ren was surprised with the comment. He felt anger with her words but to hear this from Luke was unexpected. "Do you sense something Luke?" under his breath. He was unsure if Lana'i was asleep, or if she was able to augment her hearing using the Force.
"Not exactly. I was shocked to know that Lana'i was chosen to accompany us to where the exiled Nightsister is, but perhaps Euouae felt that she could benefit from the same experience that Neya is. That is not happening and I am sure you can concur on that assessment." Luke and Ren took a dozen paces before Luke spoke again. "When I was here before Lana'i was indifferent to me, but not outright cold like she is now. I will tell you some additional history, but you must keep this to yourself." Ren gave his word and Luke continued. "Roughly twenty four years ago, I had stayed for several months in hopes to convince some to restart the Jedi Academy with me. One person who was very adamant against me staying was a young woman named Kailiss who was on the council. Euouae rejected her disdain and said they should respect Jedi, as their Allya was a Jedi and her law was what they lived by. I suspect there may have been additional disagreements between her and Euouae, and this only fueled the tension between them. Kailiss attempted to assassinate the clan mother with several others, however I had felt a disturbance and came to Euouae's aid. With their decision to kill, they were lead to the Dark Side. They were exiled." Ren listened, intrigued. The only sounds around them were their steps and breathing. The temperature was dropping, Ren's breath started to mist the air. "Where Lana'i fits into all of this, is that she was best friends, almost sister-like, to Kailiss. She disagreed with their treason, but did nothing to stop their attempt. In her fear she ran from the settlement. Euouae and I found her alone in her grief that she lost Kailiss to the Dark Side. It is evident, that even though all this time has past, it still pains her. She associates me with her loss, and now that I am here, the wound is opened again."
Ren murmured "Her anger and blame is making her vulnerable to the Dark Side."
Luke calmly spoke, barely a whisper "Absolutely. I think she is still wary of me since to her I am a Jedi, however she may see you as an easy target. I heard with the Force her taunt to you. I know you do not push Rey as much as you could, as you want to protect her. You do it out of love but agreeably you should probably start challenging her more. Unfortunately I feel that Lana'i observed your duel and gauged your skill. Her presence didn't move much after you re-engaged Rey." Ren's skin crawled, his breath catching. The chilled air felt even colder. "I do not think you were at one-hundred percent of your skill. You have never used all of it against Rey. Also, Lana'i does not know of your mental capabilities. You must prepare yourself for a possible confrontation. I could be wrong though, hopefully I am. She may choose to stay with the Light and fight the Dark Side within her, that is the best possible outcome."
"I should have resisted her words..." Ren tried to fight the fear within him. He remembered Lana'i's fight with Rey from days prior, was she even at her full potential? They were warrior women, she probably hid it from him. His anger at Lana'i and himself rose within himself, the Dark Side seething with every breath.
Luke noticed his fury. "Control it Ren. There is a reason why I only shared this with you - you are still at this time more skilled then Rey. And you yourself must be careful. You are Rey's weakness. Be strong for her."