Tradition

by B L Lindley Anderson

Jareel volunteers Qui-Gon to help him lead a wilderness trip for some initiates. The big Jedi seems confident that he knows what to expect because he works with children so much. But does he really know?

Tradition

by B.L. Lindley Anderson

"Qui-Gon, old friend," Jareel came up and started to slap the elder Jedi on the back put pulled up short as he remembered his friend was still not completely over the beating he had received on Jabbot. He looked at his big hand as if he weren't sure what to do with it…and then just let his arm hang at his side.

The elder Jedi smiled at the reaction. Slowly…but very visibly, the old Jareel was coming back. Qui-Gon doubted his friend would be exactly the same. He had endured too much that had affected him deeply. Life changing events. No, the big blonde man would not be the same as before Charon…but some of his more relaxed and lighthearted nature was beginning to exert itself. It was a transformation Qui-Gon welcomed. There was nothing wrong with Jareel's desire to be more focused…but change by experience and growth was healthier than just restraining natural personality. The Jedi was glad to know his friend had finally learned that…but the final realization had come the hard way…after the quake on Lamorah. Qui-Gon shook his head to chase away the nightmare memories from that experience.

"What is it you want Jareel?"

"Want? What makes you think I want something? I can't greet my friend? I'm hurt."

"I don't fall for that one bit Jareel. Many things have changed about you…but your 'I want a favor from you' tone and mannerisms have not changed."

The blonde man just stood there, looking surprised and trying to figure out what he'd done to give himself away. "Qui-Gon, old friend…"

But his old friend cut him off. "That's twice you've said that phrase, in that tone, in about a minute. This must be something really big you want."

The big Jedi was just becoming more flustered. "But…Qui-Gon, old…I mean…." Jareel stopped and took in a breath. He started over. With a bow and a flourish he said in a neutral tone, "Greetings Master Qui-Gon."

The elder Jedi stood with a crooked grin on his face and arms folded over his chest. "Salutations Master Jareel. How fare you?"

"Well, thank you. I trust you continue to recover well?"

"Yes. Just a bit sore still."

"Ah…you are put on restricted duty for merely being sore? I see."

"Well…if you are so interested in my condition, you could inquire at the hospital."

"Hmm…yes, well. I'll be glad when Mi'al gets back. I probably could find out something from him. I know how to manipu…ah…that is, I'm more used to understanding the unspoken in what he says."

Qui-Gon was impressed. Jareel had not cracked a smile through any of this. He knew the big man was trying to engage him in innocuous conversation so he could catch him off guard…and then he would manipulate Qui-Gon into his favor. The brunette Jedi decided to be aware…and just see how long this would go on until Jareel dared voice his request…or demand it would probably be. "I understand that as soon as he finishes up with the relief effort on Lamorah that he will be coming back to the temple."

"Good…good." Suddenly Jareel was even more serious. "You were right about Mi'al…and I was wrong. I saw what he was doing in Loma with Intergalactic Relief. He was not running away."

Qui-Gon nodded his head. "You have learned much since Lamorah. I'm glad you had the opportunity to see what he was doing. Not just to try to get you to back down however. I wish more people at the temple knew about it. It's honorable…and we could all serve Intergalactic Relief in some capacity. I'm actually thinking about taking sabbatical with IR."

"Really?" Jareel replied in surprise. "What brought this on?"

"I suppose I knew of IR before, but now I have encountered Mi'al twice while he was engaged in his work with them. I suppose it made me more aware of who they are and what they do. I spoke with some of their people on Lamorah. They do need other workers besides medical personnel."

"Oh…would this be soon?"

"No, not soon. First I have to finish my recovery…"

"Recovery? From being a little sore?"

Qui-Gon smiled and continued as if Jareel had said nothing. "Then I would have to find out what missions are coming up. It is entirely possible my request for sabbatical would be turned down. It's not as if we have nothing to do. But…it would provide a needed service. And I think it would be a good learning experience for me. We see only a little of the people, problems, and needs of the planets we go to."

"That is true. And…while you are on restricted duty…would you like to participate in something that is light duty, would provide a needed service…and would be an excellent learning opportunity."

"I knew it! I was just waiting for it. What do you want from me Jareel?"

The big Jedi tried to look hurt…but one glance at those ice blue eyes revealed an unmistakable gleam. "It's not for me, old friend. It's for the children."

"I don't think I'm up to wrestling…"

"No…no. It's not crèche duty. It is a wilderness trip…for some of the older initiates."

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed. "A wilderness trip?"

"Yes, to teach them how to get along away from civilization. You had such training as an initiate. Remember our trip? I thought we would drive Master Yoda mad." The big Jedi laughed heartily.

Qui-Gon smiled in spite of the fact that he didn't want to show positive emotion toward this. It was just so good to hear his old friend laugh once more. How long had it been? The big Jedi had laughed since Charon…but not this boisterously. It made Qui-Gon's heart warm to hear it. Jareel's soul was finally beginning to heal.

"What's this about Master? What's so funny?" a new voice said.

Qui-Gon turned to see Obi-Wan hobbling up. The sight of his padawan up and around again made him happy too…in spite of the limp. That would be gone in time also as his healing was made complete. But even if the apprentice had limped for the rest of his life, Qui-Gon would be glad to see him at least alive.

"My old friend is trying to convince me that it would be to my advantage to accompany him on a wilderness trip with the initiates."

"I think it's a great idea," Obi-Wan said at once.

"What?"

"Master," the padawan's tone was almost pleading. "I'd do anything to get out of the temple for awhile. I'm so tired of taking it easy. It's boring."

"Aye, listen to the young one," Jareel added. "I remember what it was like being laid up. It is boring. You'd be doing it not only for the children…but for your padawan." The big man put an arm around Obi-Wan.

"Dirty space dog," Qui-Gon mumbled. Jareel knew that after the scare on Lamorah when Qui-Gon thought Obi-Wan dead, he would do almost anything for him now. He was so glad to have Obi-Wan "back" that he wanted them to make the most of their time together.

"Master," the apprentice implored. "You know I don't try to manipulate you or insist on my own way, well…not often anyway. Please…let's do this. I'm going to go mad soon. I was actually talking to Harld about the line of ascendancy to the throne of Gallium V!"

Qui-Gon was unable to hold back a smile. He supposed that the enforced rest was hard on the normally very active young man. Perhaps it would do them good to get away a bit. And…it might be fun to share the experience with Obi-Wan. After all…his wilderness trip was quite an experience now that he thought back on it.

"Very well. I guess I can't fight you both…unless Daven might take my side."

"Sorry old friend, he agreed almost before I finished asking him."

"Thank you Master!"

And so it was that the following day a small liner left the atmosphere of Coruscant. They were bound for a planet in this same system. A small green and blue sphere called Sertes. Near Coruscant, center of the Republic, the little planet was a protected area. The only species native to it were animals. It was unspoiled by the intrusion of civilization…and the Republic wanted to keep it that way. It was used as a park area, camping site, tourist attraction. There were cabins to be leased in little organized park sites. Or for those who truly wanted to get away from the confusion of society, most of the planet was as natural as it had always been.

Each of the four "counselors" had been to the planet at various times on wilderness trips, vacations, or long holidays. Now that he was on his way, Qui-Gon was happy with the decision and not sure why he had hesitated. A quiet beautiful planet, a few days to relax, and well-behaved Jedi initiates…eager to please, ready to learn, studious, intelligent. What could be wrong with that?

The initiates soon gathered in groups and talked fairly quietly among themselves. Quiet, yet the excitement was evident in their voices. Daven and Obi-Wan were chatting. Jareel was even silent. Qui-Gon turned to look at him, curious about why he was so sedate. The big Jedi had a small smile on his face as he looked out the window. He just seemed happy.

Qui-Gon smiled and settled his head back against the headrest. Because Sertes was in the same system, it would not take long to get there…but he may as well make good use of the time. Soon he was softly snoring.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Daven almost whispered.

"Aye, it is," Jareel agreed. He looked over at his snoozing companion. An idea began to form in his head…but another thought over rode that. With his eyes closed and looking so peaceful…Qui-Gon almost looked…. Jareel wouldn't allow himself to complete the thought. The ugly memories of Lamorah haunted him and he quickly let go of his idea on how to tease Qui-Gon. A little more seriousness Jareel. You never know when he may be gone. Instead, he simply shook Qui-Gon's shoulder. "Wake up old friend. We're at Sertes."

The elder Jedi opened his eyes only half way. The sight of the planet enticed him to a better look though. He stretched and leaned toward the window. That's when he became aware of the increased noise from behind them. The initiates were jockeying for position at the windows to see. As long as they weren't too unruly…. They got away from the temple so seldom he could understand their excitement.

Jareel grinned…both at the children and his memories. "We've had some good times there."

"Yes we have," Qui-Gon said wistfully.

From directly behind them the Jedi masters heard Daven respond, "Will we get to hear about some of them?"

Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled mischievously. "That depends. How good are you with children? They are going to need a lot of help and attention down there."

Jareel saw the look and he fell right into the routine. "Aye. That's right. You young ones are much more able to run after them than we old masters are. Why do you think we brought you along?"

There was only silence from the padawans' seats. The two masters smiled at each other.

Daven stood next to the liner exit. He checked each name and handed out name badges. He was also to make sure they had come with all the initiates that had been assigned to them…and only those.

Obi-Wan stood next to the rear of the liner. He had the door open, revealing the baggage compartment. Of course, the youngsters had not packed their gear in neatly…as they were supposed to. The container made it look as if the ship had been flying battle maneuvers. The apprentice stood with hands on his hips as he surveyed the mess.

"You have the pose of a man with a problem," Qui-Gon said as he walked up with Jareel. When the big Jedi saw the mess, he burst into laughter. Obi-Wan looked up in surprise at the reaction.

"You didn't really expect them to put their packs in there in order did you? Didn't you oversee this?"

"No Master Jareel," Obi-Wan admitted as he looked down. "I told them how to pack…and I thought they would do it." He looked up and said defensively, "They are Jedi initiates. I thought they were more responsible than that."

Jareel draped one of his big arms around Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Young one, they are Jedi initiates…but they are still children. Don't you remember what it was like before you were a padawan?"

"Well…yes, but…"

"No," the big man interrupted him. "Don't answer so quickly. Think before you answer. Think back to when you were much younger. What kinds of things did you do…especially if you thought no adult was looking?"

The apprentice thought for a long moment. Then his eyes opened a little wider. He looked up at Jareel who laughed. "Yes. Now you understand what you have volunteered for."

Obi-Wan groaned and put a hand over his eyes.

Qui-Gon smiled. "Remember, you were the one who wanted to do this. Good luck." He slapped the apprentice on the shoulder and slowly walked to the front of the liner.

"Don't worry Obi-Wan. We'll be here to protect you from them." Jareel chuckled and followed Qui-Gon.

"Hi Obi-Wan," a young grey fur covered boy said. "Daven said you'd have our packs for us. My name is Onon. Where's my pack?"

The apprentice looked to see where the two masters were. They should be out of earshot.

"You threw it in there instead of carefully packing it like you were told. You find it. And," he pointed a finger in the boy's face, "Don't be throwing everyone else's packs around."

The initiate didn't look happy to hear this. He started to complain but decided it would do no good. He began to dig though with Obi-Wan watching carefully.

"I don't see it."

"You might have to take some things out," the padawan said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't throw them out."

Onon grumbled to himself as he began pulling packs out. Obi-Wan tried not to smile. The job he thought he would be stuck with was being done…by one who had made it necessary.

A human boy walked up. "My name is Satar Hahn. Where's my stuff?"

Obi-Wan just pointed at the compartment. Satar saw Onon digging through packs and shrugged his shoulders. He climbed in and started looking.

After a couple other initiates were put to work helping the unloading, Obi-Wan leaned against the liner and just watched…to make sure they didn't throw the packs out the same way they had thrown them in.

"You are going to make a good master," a booming voice said from behind. Jareel was chuckling.

At once the apprentice was defensive and was trying to sputter out an answer.

"Don't worry Padawan," Qui-Gon assured him. "You are only responsible to look after them, not wait on them. I'm glad you're making them do this instead of doing it for them."

The liner pilot was grumbling as he walked to the back of his ship. "What's taking so long. I have to get back. I have other flights. What is going on? You're going to make these kids unload instead of helping them? This will take all day." He looked among the three Jedi who merely stood around watching.

"They made the mess," Jareel declared. "They are responsible for it. And we are responsible for them. They are learning a lesson."

"I don't have time for your lessons. I have to get back!"

"If you would like to help them…." Jareel held a hand out toward the compartment.

The pilot considered the work versus the complaining his boss would do when he got back late. "Let me know when they get finished." Then he turned and boarded the ship. He plopped in the seat and pulled his cap down over his face.

Finally, all the names had been checked. Every initiate tracked down everything they had brought with them…after some minor panics. The liner was gone. Now Jareel stood with his big hands on his hips and looking menacing. The initiates remembered him from his visits when they were in the crèche…and knew what a pushover he could be. Jareel knew it also. That's why he knew he had to make a commanding stance in the beginning…before they tried to get around him with their games. His glare bothered some…but not many. The blonde man just stood in silence for a moment, looking them over. He heard the buzz of whispering.

Looking to see whom the guilty party was the Jedi called out, "Harth, come here."

The boy looked surprised. "Me, Master Jareel?"

"You. Come."

"But…I…"

"You what? Are you going to tell me that wasn't you talking?"

He looked down, knowing he shouldn't lie…and knowing he had been caught. "No Master Jareel."

"Come." Harth walked slowly up to the big man. "Since you think that what you have to say is more important than what I have to say, why don't you tell us what it was?"

His eyes opened wider but he said nothing.

"Daven, come here. Since Harth doesn't want to share his knowledge with us, perhaps he'd care to do a demonstration for us. See that stone Harth?" He pointed at a rock about the size of the boy's head. "You will levitate that so the bottom edge is even with Daven's eyes…until I tell you that you can put it down. Daven, let me know if it wavers."

"Yes Master." The apprentice tried not to smile. He remembered such punishments.

The blue skinned boy concentrated and seemed pleased when the rock started rising. He had to move it back and forth a bit to get the placement right.

Satisfied, Jareel turned back to the group…all of whom were watching Harth and the rock.

"Attention here…or we will have others doing the same thing." They all turned their eyes to the Jedi master…but still tried to sneak a glance. "You will all be responsible for what I am about to tell you. So, I would suggest you pay complete attention. Anyone disobeying a rule will be punished…no exceptions. I do not want to hear anyone say they didn't hear me say something."

At that threat, Jareel managed to get more attention. He saw the eyes turning toward him. "We are here for a lesson. If we have fun while we are learning, that's good. But even if we don't, that doesn't matter. We are here for a purpose and it's not to have fun. This is going to be hard. It's going to be hot…and long. I know you all think that you can handle this because of all the workouts at the temple. This is different…very different. And…as long as everyone is able bodied, you will be expected to keep up the pace with the rest of us. There will be no lagging, no one to carry your gear for you. Every individual is responsible for themselves. The only exceptions will be for anyone who gets hurt or sick…really sick. I don't appreciate anyone playing ill. It is deceptive, the same as lying. You will be punished for it."

He stopped for a moment to check on Harth. The stone was going up and down and the boy was fighting for all he was worth. Not that it was so heavy that he couldn't levitate it long, but initiates still had much to learn about control. That is why this was such a good punishment.

"Daven?"

"It's moving around Master…but he seems to be able to keep some part of the rock above my eye level…most of the time."

The big man watched the boy struggle a little longer. "All right. I think you've learned to listen when you're supposed to. You can let it down…but carefully. Don't hurt Daven."

The rock came down quickly. Harth tried to slow it before it hit the ground, but was largely unsuccessful. Daven saw what was happening and hopped back away from the rock, uncertain which way it might rebound from the ground.

"I'm sorry Master Jareel," Harth said sorrowfully.

The blonde Jedi tried not to smile. "You still have to work on control…but you did well. You can go back to your place."

With head down, the initiate made his way back to his pack…and did not talk.

"We are going to be leaving shortly. We will be away from all the campgrounds and parks. That means we will also be away from marked trails…and out where the animals are. Everyone has his or her light saber? Good. No one…do you hear me…no one goes anywhere alone. Not even to relieve yourself. Take someone with you. And do not go far from the camp. Yes…you've already been told all this…but I now how you little space pirates are. This is not a game. This can be dangerous. If you don't do as I say, you could get hurt. Always ask before you leave the camp…ask an adult and make sure you let him know when you are back. If you are in doubt about anything…ASK! Don't make assumptions. I'm sure I haven't told you everything, but I've told you enough. Remember you are Jedi initiates and not a bunch of wild space pirates. I expect you to conduct yourselves as such."

He paused and tried to judge if they were truly listening or not. "I'm sure you already know Master Qui-Gon and our padawans Daven and Obi-Wan. Master Qui-Gon and I have been given responsibility for you. I am amending that. For this trip, Obi-Wan and Daven have just as much authority over you as we two masters do. You will respond to them in the same way you respond to us."

"Why?" a voice asked.

"What's that?"

Everyone turned to look at the questioner. A lanky green scale covered girl, Unya. "Why do padawans have the same authority over us? We're almost padawans."

Jareel tried to put on his best severe look. In a firm voice he said, "First, they are practically knights. And second…because I say so." There was instant grumbling from the initiates. "Hey!" Jareel called and some of the mumbling quieted. "Who wants to carry my pack?" The young ones all looked at the huge bundle and quieted. "That's better. Now, we will get started. Daven, you and Obi-Wan take the point and Master Qui-Gon and I will bring up the rear."

"Yes Master."

"Are you sure you're up to this Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked even though he knew he was being over protective. But he couldn't help himself.

"I'm still sore and stiff, but I think I'll be fine Master."

"All right. Just let me know if it's too much or you need a break."

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan replied as he and Daven turned to walk away.

Daven jibed, "I bet you wouldn't tell him even if you did need a break."

"I won't need a break," Obi-Wan assured his friend. "You know it's a tradition for the masters and padawans not to shave while on the trip. How do you think we'll look with beards?"

The two masters laughed. Jareel bellowed. "Grab your packs and follow Daven and Obi-Wan."

"Uh…Master, which way?"

The blonde Jedi waved a big hand. "Just pick a direction."

Qui-Gon looked a little worried. "You don't have anything planned? Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Jareel fell into line behind the last initiate and had to slow his pace at once. With his long legs, he knew he shouldn't be leading. "Don't worry old friend. It's hard to get lost here. We always have our comlinks."

The elder Jedi wasn't entirely assured however. The thought of getting lost or in trouble…and then calling for help didn't present a pretty picture to him.

"And you…are you up for this?" Jareel asked.

"Of course. Just a walk in the woods."

The big Jedi smiled a little. "If you say so…but let me know if it gets to be too much for you."

"Have you done this before?"

"Lead one of these trips you mean? I've been here plenty of times."

"That doesn't answer the question I asked."

"If you're going to worry the entire time, I'll send you back."

Qui-Gon shook his head. He looked around and cast one last glance at the landing area before it disappeared into the greenery as they increased their distance from it. It wasn't being in a wild area that bothered him. The Jedi master had been here plenty of times. It was the uncertainty of a group of preteens.

"How much of what you said do you think they heard?" he asked his hulking friend.

"I'd say no more than half."

"You really think it's that low?"

"Oh, I'm not worried about it. They will probably start gathering in groups. If a group of, say four, are together and each heard only fifty percent of what I said, then maybe between all of them, they might have seventy-five percent of the instructions."

Qui-Gon turned his blue eyes on the blonde Jedi. "Your confidence is overwhelming."

"Old friend, remember what I asked Obi-Wan? Don't you remember what it was like to be young? I know that's been a very, very long time ago for you…but you do remember some vague images, don't you?"

With a crooked grin, the elder Jedi replied, "I think my senile brain can remember a thing or two from that long ago."

"Then just think like an initiate. You didn't listen to the masters then either, did you? And…thinking like an initiate will help when we try to figure out where they've disappeared to or what they are up to."

"Disappeared to?"

Jareel chuckled. "Of course. You know they are going to think it's funny if we think they have disappeared…and they are simply far enough away to see us panicking."

"Hmm…you think too much like an initiate. I'm not sure you've grown up."

"Now you sound like Leish."

"Since you bring that up, I've been meaning to ask you," Qui-Gon began. "Leish has been quiet recently…more than I thought he would be. That last little talk you had with him…just what did you two talk about?"

"Just what I said, about focus and balance. All we did was talk."

"I decided that much must be true. I haven't heard from Master Yoda about you. What are you up to?"

"I'm not up to anything. As part of my new focus, I decided to try to get Leish to see things my way, but with his methods…reason and logic."

Qui-Gon still didn't trust his friend. Something just didn't ring true. "And?"

"Leish agrees that there should be a balance in life. Study and meditation shouldn't take all your time."

"And…"

"He just doesn't think that my form of recreation is…quite what a Jedi master should engage in."

The elder Jedi was getting frustrated with whatever game Jareel was playing with him. "And…" he said in exasperation.

"And what? We have a difference of opinion."

"So? That is nothing new. Have you two been able to come to an understanding? Leish hasn't been complaining about your pranks. As a matter of fact…there haven't been any."

Jareel's eyes twinkled merrily but he said nothing.

"I knew you were up to something. You're not even going to tell your old friend?"

"There's nothing to tell. Is your back all right carrying that pack?"

"Yes, fine."

"Good. Now…quit being so inquisitive. We are here to relax. Enjoy."

"Relax? With a bunch of rambunctious kids? Are you serious?"

"Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon…these are Jedi initiates. They are more mature than other children."

"But as you said, they are still children."

"Just look and listen. Take a deep breath. Relax."

The Jedi tried to relax. He looked around at the tall green trees against the slightly pink sky. The pink sky. One of the things that he most remembered about Sertes. Suddenly memories flooded his mind. Every trip was a good one, but his first would always be the most special. He let his mind wander back.

The Jedi initiate was a tall and gangly thing. A very serious and quiet student. Young Qui-Gon was easily embarrassed…especially about things that made him stand out from the other initiates…and they knew this. His long and lanky frame was proverb among the others. When Qui-Gon had first begun light saber training, he was very awkward in a body that seemed too big for his age. At first, he had always wanted to be able to crawl away and hide when he made a mistake due entirely to his clumsiness. One day a master took him aside and assured him that he would adapt…if he kept at his training. Qui-Gon needed to learn to shut out the taunts and focus himself better. And…that seemed to help. He still had much to learn…but seeing a little immediate improvement was enough to encourage him in spite of the laughter that burned his ears and the comments about the walking toothpick.

Now he could laugh at it. He was awful thin and tall compared to the other initiates. And then…he had discovered Jareel. At first, Qui-Gon thought this was a padawan…and certainly older. The big boy was even taller…and broader than Qui-Gon. He was surprised when he discovered the boy was an initiate also…and younger than him by four years! The blonde boy was also different in another "big" way. While Qui-Gon was quiet and reserved, young Jareel was loud and boisterous. Always causing a disturbance everywhere he went. Always looking for a way to make the others laugh.

The lanky preteen was confused and amused by the bigger boy. Qui-Gon was aware that his peers considered him "too good". Always well behaved. Never a problem. Young Qui-Gon was the ideal student and often praised by his instructors for it. Although he knew it was the right thing to do, and was secretly proud of the praise, still the lanky boy couldn't hold back all his feelings when he was teased about being the pet and getting special treatment because the teachers liked him so much.

Perhaps that's what caused the draw to Jareel. The blonde boy was everything that Qui-Gon was not…but secretly longed to be. He would like to be the center of attention, but when he was, it was negative attention…teasing. He would like to make people laugh with him…not at him.

Now so many years later, the elder Jedi stole a glance at his big friend. Until recently, Jareel's personality had altered little. He was still the rambunctious, funny…yet caring person he'd always been. So long Qui-Gon had seen Jareel that way. That's probably why he'd been very concerned about the big man when he did start changing. So drastic the transformation in one who had changed little his whole life. Certainly, a sign of something not right.

And even in all the time they had been friends, Jareel never…never ceased to surprise him. Even now, walking along like this. One moment joking with Obi-Wan about what he'd gotten himself into. Next severely lecturing the initiates. And now…silent. Normally walking along with a friend, Jareel would be loudly talking about whatever his current interest was.

But he was completely quiet. He seemed to be totally absorbed in the surroundings. Qui-Gon guessed the big man felt as he did…very close to the living Force in all this abundant growth. It was healing to his soul. That's probably what Jareel was feeling also. Their last mission was so hard on them all, physically and emotionally. It probably was a good idea to come here. Jareel must be seeking that same soul healing that Qui-Gon could feel taking place in him. He was glad that his big friend had convinced him to come. It was what he needed.

Reaching over to slap Jareel's shoulder, Qui-Gon said simply, "Thanks."

Sensing what Qui-Gon meant, the big man smiled and said, "You're welcome."

"Master Jareel," a voice called out.

"Yes?"

"I gotta…go."

"Already? Didn't everyone go before we got off the liner?" No one answered. The big man sighed. "All right. Stop!" The group halted. "How many need to go?" Almost everyone raised their hands. "All right. Everybody that has to go get a buddy and go off the trail…but not far! Just enough to be out of sight. Wait! Girls to the right, boys to the left. You have five minutes for everyone to go…and then I come looking for you…boy or girl. If I have to come after you, you will help your buddy carry their gear. Don't worry…you and your buddy can swap if you think you can get out of it by both of you not showing up. Five minutes from right now!"

The group dropped their packs and scattered at once. As far as the two masters could tell from the sudden exodus, they did obey the separation of boys and girls.

Obi-Wan took his pack off and sat down on a rock. "Are you all right?" Daven asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little frustrated that it's taking so long for my leg to completely heal. How many of them do you think we'll have to go after Master Jareel?"

"Probably half."

"Is that your formula for everything?" Qui-Gon asked.

"When it comes to children, yes. Half is usually optimistic. Gentlemen, I would suggest you take advantage of the opportunity as well since we have stopped. I'll stand here and keep an eye out."

"You're not going to take advantage?"

"I will when I have to go into the forest after them. For right now, I'll keep an eye out for any animals…or initiates trying to sneak away while no one is looking."

Qui-Gon chuckled and stepped to his left into the trees. Just when he stopped at what he considered a decent distance from the trail, he heard laughter…from overhead. The Jedi master looked up to see two boys clambering up a tree. They obviously had not seen him…yet.

Qui-Gon concentrated and used the Force to levitate himself to their level. "Hello boys. I didn't know that relieving yourself required climbing a tree."

"Uh…ah…Master Qui-Gon…we were just…"

"You were just going back down," he supplied.

"Yes…we were…right now." The young creature looked down at his companion. "Go on. You're in the way. I can't get down until you move."

The Jedi master lowered himself and did his business while the boys climbed down.

"Now go ahead and do what you were supposed to come out here to do…and we'll all walk back together."

"Yes Master Qui-Gon."

Meanwhile Jareel leaned his head back and closed his eyes, allowing the sun to bathe his face. But…he was listening carefully. There was an advantage to having initiates who hadn't been on such a trip before. They didn't realize how much noise they were making in the wooded area. Even when they thought they were being quiet, there was some snapping of twigs on the ground, dead leaves. It was hard to be completely silent.

The big man suddenly turned his head and opened his eyes in time to see two girls appear from the forest about a hundred meters or so up the trail. They were tiptoeing out and trying to stick close to the trees as they started away from the Jedi.

"Excuse me young ladies!" Jareel boomed out. "Where are you going!"

They froze. Then they turned and began walking back sheepishly. The blonde Jedi planted his hands on his hips and watched them. As they approached one of them said, "Uh, we must have gotten turned around…or something."

"Or something," he agreed. "Unya, why don't you carry Daven's pack and Lonar you can carry Obi-Wan's." They both opened their mouth to complain but he cut them off. "Would you like to carry a nice big rock in your arms also?"

Qui-Gon came out of the forest herding his two well behaved, eager to please Jedi initiates. Jareel looked at him questioningly. "They misunderstood. They thought you said to go into the forest and climb the trees."

The blonde Jedi nodded once. "You can carry both of your packs first," he pointed to one. "Then you can take them next." To Qui-Gon he said, "I'll be right back. Keep your eyes open. We almost lost two of them."

"Um…just a minute. Before you go…could you do me a favor," Qui-Gon asked sheepishly.

"Of course. What is it?"

"My back is itching like mad! Part of the healing process. Could you…uh…scratch it for me?"

Jareel grinned and obliged his friend. He scratched vigorously and Qui-Gon sighed in relief and pleasure. "That enough?"

"For the moment. Thanks."

Jareel lightly patted him on the back and then turned to head into the treed area. He could hear lots of laughing, crunching noises and other sounds…even though the five minutes were almost up. He tended his own needs and then turned toward the noise. There was only one way to break this up quickly. He put both hands to his mouth and bellowed out a wild cry. The Jedi couldn't see the wide eyes all through the forest. At once, all the stray initiates ran toward the trail. He chuckled to himself and turned back toward the trail.

When he heard the noise, Qui-Gon was alarmed and immediately drew his light saber. He was about to step into the forest when a sudden flood of initiates appeared…from both sides. The girls had heard the noise also. Obi-Wan and Daven drew their weapons as well and hurried to the Jedi master's side.

"Where's Master Jareel?" Daven said in concern.

"Right here," the blonde man came walking out of the trees.

"What was that?"

Jareel glanced over to the group of initiates huddled together and looking wildly around. He whispered, "Me."

"You," Qui-Gon blurted out.

"Shh! It worked didn't it?" Then out loud he called, "Let's get going."

The group was more than anxious to comply. "Come on Obi-Wan! Let's go!"

"Where's my pack?"

Another voice answered, "I've got it! Can we go! Now!"

"And I've got Daven's"

Jareel chuckled. Qui-Gon studied him. "You have done this before, haven't you?"

The procession started on their way again…most eagerly…and with much looking about.

Somehow Daven just knew that his master was responsible for this. Oh yes, there were many animals around, he knew that. But if there had been real danger Jareel wouldn't have placed the kids in possible peril by lingering like this. He was slow in leaving the area. Yes…Master Jareel had made the animal noise. His dark eyes twinkled as he smiled. He remembered his wilderness trip to Sertes. Many times he had seen the huge Jedi master at the temple, but had not been around him much…until Sertes.

Daven was somewhat outgoing, not very extroverted. There was still a shy streak to him…but he was working to overcome that. The big blonde man intimidated him…especially with his booming voice and menacing attitude toward the initiates. It didn't take him long to figure that out though. Daven's peers were looking for any chance to "have some fun", which meant get away from the masters. With an entire group of kids looking to escape, the boy soon understood the need for a severe attitude. His suspicion that it was an act was borne out, to him anyway, when he saw how Jareel interacted with the other leaders of the expedition…laughing and joking with them…always thinking the kids didn't see. To them, he presented his most stern face and manner.

It was fascinating to the young boy to watch the big man change character easily. And he became a little less intimidated by him. For his part, Jareel hadn't really noticed Daven very much. Because the dark complexioned boy was somewhat on the quiet side, he blended in with the other initiates. He did catch Daven watching him intently a few times. The boy would turn away quickly, very embarrassed. Then it became a game with him to catch Daven watching. However, the initiate didn't understand the game and soon was back to feeling intimidated.

So, it was that Daven tried to stay away from the big blonde man as much as he could. Then came the day that they were going to travel down river in small boats. A less than friendly competition broke out to see who could tip the other's boat. Daven didn't want to take a swim in the cold water and fought valiantly to keep his boat from being over turned. More and more initiates were going over…and they all came up wet, cold, and very angry about the situation…complaining to the masters very loudly.

Finally, Daven took the swim. His first instinct was to be angry too. But as he climbed out of the cold water, it suddenly struck him how funny it was too see all the wet initiates standing there complaining while they shivered…instead of going to change and try to get warmed. He burst out laughing.

Everyone turned and looked at him. At once Daven became quiet…and flushed. He turned to fish his boat out of the water and then went off to change clothes. Just as he was smoothing his tunic and pronouncing the job complete, a voice said, "Hello young one."

He knew the voice. The initiate whirled around. Daven was sure he was about to be punished for laughing at everyone. Jareel's next comment didn't dispel the fear. "Daven, what was so funny?"

"Um…well…it's just that…." He shrugged his shoulders. May as well just admit it and get the punishment over. "It was just funny to me that the other kids were complaining so much about being cold…but they were standing there in their wet clothes instead of changing."

The big man laughed. Daven was surprised. "I thought that was funny myself…but as a master I didn't have the luxury of laughing at them. Although, maybe it would have shown them how silly they were acting. And out of all of them you could see the humor instead of being so quick to complain…"

Daven could remember that conversation as if it had happened yesterday. The memory was so vivid because it was a turning point in his life. Suddenly Master Jareel was interested in him…and now Daven was his padawan. Now, this much later he understood what he didn't then. The big Jedi knew he would need a padawan who could endure his humor…and understand it. One of the biggest conflicts Jareel had with the Jedi council over his unique sense of humor was that they were afraid he would set a bad example for a padawan who may see his jokes as a license to show disrespect.

Keeping that in mind, Jareel had carefully watched promising initiates. Why he hadn't noticed Daven, he couldn't say. But his ability to laugh even in the face of his own misery and misfortune caught the big man's attention.

Daven looked around at the lush greenery of Sertes. It was such a lovely place…and to him a very special place. Here it was that the master who had such a profound effect on his life first noticed him. An inner warmth filled him and mixed with the outer warmth from the sun.

"What are you thinking about?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Hmm? Why do you ask?"

"You seem happy."

"I am."

At the same moment, the same master was remembering his own initial trip here. Jareel still had the big grin on his face from the reaction just now of the initiates to his animal noise. During his wilderness trip as an initiate, a similar incident occurred. The boys were scattering further and further away from the masters. One of the accompanying padawans had tried the same trick…a wild animal cry to scare the young ones back. And it had worked…for the most part. Jareel and his companion saw the padawan in action. So big for his age, Jareel was about the same size as the padawan. He ran and dove at the apprentice's legs, knocking him to the ground. When the struggling stopped the big blonde boy was sitting astride the padawan.

"Oh…all I heard was an animal. I couldn't see what it was through the trees. Are you all right?" He got up and reached a hand down to help the apprentice. In indignation, he ignored the assistance and stomped away. The padawan was much more careful to look around before he tried that trick again.

The blonde Jedi chuckled at the memory and wondered if Qui-Gon remembered it. Then a disturbance drew his attention. A boy on the ground grabbing his knee and groaning. The big man ran forward.

"What happened?"

"Onon tripped me."

"No, I didn't! He fell and he's blaming it on me."

Jareel had a look at the boy's knee. "It's fine, just scrapped." Then he looked at Onon. "Did you trip him or not?" The boy started to reply but the big man held up a finger. "Wait. Don't answer so quickly. Think about what you about to say. Did you trip him?"

The grey furry creature looked down and kicked at the ground. Very quietly he said, "Yes Master Jareel."

"So, you tripped him…and you lied when you denied doing it. First, you are going to help Yura since you caused him to get hurt." The big man unshouldered his pack and removed a first aid kit. "His knee needs to be cleaned, bacta applied and a bandage."

"He'll hurt me," whined Yura.

"I'll be watching…but it may hurt even if he is careful."

Qui-Gon knelt down next to his big friend. "We're not going to make much progress this way."

Jareel looked at him in surprise. "That doesn't matter. We aren't here to make progress. This is a learning experience, not a race."

"It certainly has been that."

"OW!" Yura cried. "I told you he'd hurt me."

"I'm watching him. He isn't doing anything wrong. It just hurts because your knee is scrapped. Anything that touches it will hurt. That's why we are going to bandage it."

Onon seemed to be pleased that Jareel thought he was doing well at the first aid job. So, he tried to be as careful as he could. Maybe that would ease some of the master's anger at him. When he finally applied the bandage, he sat back on his heels and smiled, pleased with his efforts.

"Good job," Jareel pronounced as he helped Yura up.

"Um…Jareel, I think I know something else Onon could do that would be helpful…and part of his punishment," Qui-Gon spoke up.

"Eh? What's that?"

"How about back scratching duty?"

The big man tried not to smile. "Onon, you are assigned to back scratching duty for Master Qui-Gon. I think it's appropriate. His back itches a lot because of the injury he's recovering from. You want to help, don't you?"

The boy nodded uncertainly. Qui-Gon knelt down so Onon could reach and removed his pack. Slowly and hesitantly, he lightly scratched.

"You're going to have to try harder than that," Qui-Gon teased. "Harder. I'll let you know if it's too hard. Yes…ah…that's it."

"There are lots of trees around for you to back up against," Jareel laughed.

"Thank you Onon."

Jareel handed Yura's pack to Onon. "This is still just to help Onon. We'll have to deal with lying to a master later." Onon's smile fell and he took the pack without a word. "Daven, Obi-Wan. Let's go…please."

"When are we going to stop to eat Master Jareel?"

"Look up. See the sun? When it's directly overhead we'll stop."

"But it is overhead."

"Not directly. Look at your shadow. I told you we were here to learn. You may not know what the local time is, but you can know when it is mid-day. At mid-day we will stop. Not before. Any whining will result in a late lunch."

"Shut up!" someone said. "Don't anybody say anything else. I don't want to have to wait. I'm hungry!"

"Then shut up yourself! He said any whining would make lunch late."

"Shh!" a third added.

Finally, they all fell back to their regular conversation…keeping a close eye on the sun.

Now that Qui-Gon thought about it, Jareel was actually being easy on the kids. He remembered the sour old masters that had brought them here. If these kids thought that Jareel was being hard on them…. They would never have survived with those masters.

The big blonde boy stood shame faced before the prune faced master.

"Jareel, would you care to explain these?" He held out several large rounded woody objects…sharp thorns protruding from them. The Jedi master had found them in his bedding…the hard way.

"I'm sorry Master Thane. I put them there. I apologize."

Another thing that amazed Qui-Gon about his newfound friend. Jareel would readily admit his pranks when caught red handed…and red faced. However, the blonde initiate had learned early the penalty for trying to hide what he had done. It was inevitably easier to take the punishment for a discovered prank than the worse punishment for trying to play a joke, getting caught, and then lying about it.

"But…why did you put them there?"

Jareel hung his head. "I thought it would be funny."

"Funny? To see me get hurt? To possibly have one of these thorns break off under my skin?"

The initiate was glad he had looked down. Master Thane couldn't see him trying to hold back a smile. It was exactly those scenarios that Jareel had in mind when he planted the things he had gathered in the forest. The picture of the disagreeable man leaping from his bedding after being pricked was funny.

"Jareel I don't understand you. You are intelligent and talented. You could be a great knight. But these…pranks…. No master is going to want to take you as long as you carry on like this. You must be more serious or they will think you don't take your training seriously."

"But I do Master Thane. I take it very seriously. I want to be a knight more than anything."

"Let's see how much you mean that. Why don't you stay awake tonight, performing the katas and meditating? I'll be checking on you. Don't think you can go to sleep after I leave."

And, the prankster had done just as he was instructed. He did stay awake…and focused on what he was doing. Master Thane was only surprised that Jareel stayed awake not that he was focused and able to concentrate for so long. He knew what the boy was capable of. Not only did Jareel do that. He even hiked the next day without complaint. But he was much too tired to play any pranks. It was the quietest day they had. And the big boy fell into bed early. That was the quietest night they had.

A smile came to Qui-Gon's face. That was still so much like Jareel. He loved his fun, but when there was a duty to perform, he did it with all his energy and strength…and no humor. As funny as he could be, Jareel was also a very devoted knight who would not let his silliness mix with an assignment. Qui-Gon pulled his attention back to the moment, remembering he had to keep an eye on the children.

Obi-Wan involuntarily groaned.

"Are you all right," Daven asked in concern.

"Yes," Obi-Wan tried to say in an even tone. "I'm still kind of sore. I'm tired of having to be so careful. I'll sure be glad when this is over with."

His friend was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Obi-Wan do you remember our wilderness trip here?"

"Yes," the padawan smiled. "I do. It was great fun. Like going to a big park."

"Yeah…the first time I had been away from Coruscant since being brought to the temple. It was exciting to be away from the temple. What do you remember most?"

"How beautiful it is…and being here with friends." Then his face darkened.

"What's wrong?"

"Something else I remember. Bruck. I couldn't even avoid him here. No matter where in line I chose to walk, he kept moving with me. He tripped me…more than once so he and his friends could laugh and he could call me Oafy-Wan. I suppose I shouldn't think he'd be any different here."

Obi-Wan grew silent. Suddenly he felt as if he were twelve again.

"Ha ha! You tripped again over your own feet Oafy-Wan. How clumsy you are."

"Everybody knows you did that Bruck…and that you did it the last time. You're not fooling anyone, except yourself."

"Don't blame me because you can't even walk on the trail without falling. You shouldn't be such a clumsy oaf…Oafy-Wan."

The initiate could feel anger trying to rise in him…but he didn't want Bruck to get the best of him. He bit it back. "Better to be clumsy," he replied calmly, "Than to be dumb enough to think no one knows what's going on."

Bruck started for the young boy, but his friends held him back. "You'll just get yourself in trouble."

"Yeah, you're right. And Oafy isn't worth getting in trouble over. I don't know why you're even here. Do you really think any Master is going to be interested in you…especially when you can't even walk? You'd be a lot of help in a battle, tripping over your own feet. They must have just let you come along to make you feel better…before they send you off to be a farmer. See all the vegetation? Better get used to it…farmer."

Obi-Wan could almost feel the anger just as intense this many years later. He tried to drive the memory away and think on the happier times of the trip. There were many more good memories than his few encounters with Bruck. That's what he needed to remember. Cooking meals, a few pranks, trying to catch some of the gill breathers in the river. The river. Yes, they had a lot of fun at the river…but he'd encountered Bruck there too.

"Look Obi-Wan! I think I caught something!"

"Yes! Quick, pull it in!" Then suddenly his world began tumbling and he landed with a loud splash in the freezing water. When Obi-Wan got his head out of the water hateful laughter assaulted his ears.

"What's the matter Oafy? Is the bank slippery?" Bruck and his friends started laughing anew.

Obi-Wan pulled himself closer to the shore and stood up in the water. He was trying hard to control his feelings. "Only cowards come up behind someone to attack them. That way you know your victim can't defend themselves."

"A coward? I don't need to come up behind you. I could have pushed you in even if you were looking Oafy. You're so clumsy. You couldn't have stopped me."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted. "Obi-Wan! What are you doing? You're not supposed to be in the water," a graceful Jedi master called out to him as she neared the river.

"He fell in Master Tilor," Bruck answered trying to keep a straight face.

She looked doubtful. Tilor knew of the conflict between the two boys. There would be no point in taking it up now. Bruck would blame Obi-Wan for everything as he always did. She would have to talk to each separately. "Come on and change your clothes Obi-Wan."

"Yes Master Tilor." Laughter sounded behind him as he walked away. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and tried to quell the anger.

Thankfully a voice intruded on the remembrance and brought the padawan back to the moment.

"Master Jareel, the sun is directly overhead," one of the girls announced.

The big man looked up at the star, then down at his shadow. The other initiates held their breath and shot dirty looks at the one who dared speak out.

"You're correct. It is. All right. We'll stop here and eat. Let's move off the path as much as we can in case someone else wants to pass." The big Jedi waited until all were seated. They threw their packs to the ground and began digging into them. "Remember, the food that was given to you is all you will have. So, no matter how hungry you think you are, I would advise you to only eat a one-meal portion at each meal. I doubt you'll get much sympathy from your friends if you run out of food." Then he chose a position where he could see all the initiates before he sat down. "Sit here Qui-Gon. You'll be able to better help me watch them."

Obi-Wan and Daven joined the two masters. Obi-Wan sat down and slowly stretched his right leg out straight.

"How are you doing Padawan?" Qui-Gon inquired, trying to keep his tone neutral.

"Tired," he admitted. "But I'm all right."

"You are at the front," Jareel replied. "You can set the pace. Don't worry about trying to hurry. We don't have any specific goals. We all understand your leg is still healing."

"Thank you Master Jareel, but I'm fine, really."

Daven looked at the blonde Jedi. I'll walk slower Master.

Thank you Daven.

For the masters and padawans, lunch consisted of watching the initiates rather than enjoying their meal or talking. Even as they ate, it seemed the young ones were trying to find some way of slipping away from the main group. There was something so tempting about that…doing the forbidden…as the four Jedi remembered from their own trips.

"Do you want to rest a little or do you want to hike?" Jareel called out.

"Aw, we need a break," someone complained.

"Then take it…instead of carrying on so. If you have that much energy, you must be ready to go."

There were sudden admonitions from some initiates to their peers to sit down…and whispered threats about what would be done to anyone causing them to hike more than they wanted to.

"Onon," Qui-Gon called out. "I need your help."

The boy came trotting over and without being told, began scratching vigorously. The Jedi master rested his forehead on his bent knee and sighed.

"I think he enjoys that too much," Jareel observed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think that he just wants an excuse for someone to scratch his back."

The padawans laughed. Qui-Gon seemed oblivious to the comments.

"Thank you Onon. You're quite good at that." The boy grinned and ran back over to his friends.

Finally settling down a little, somewhat tired, and having a meal, the children began to get drowsy. At least they were easier to watch…but the Jedi master knew what would happen when he called out, "Time to go. Get your packs. Let's move out."

"Master Jareel, we're tired."

"Yeah, we aren't used to this."

"Let us rest some more."

"I can't move. I'm too tired to get up."

Jareel surveyed the sullen group. "Do I have to come up with a group punishment, or do you prefer one at a time?"

Slowly and with great deliberations, the initiates pulled themselves up. They murmured about the unfairness of it all with each movement.

"Don't we at least get to go before we start again?"

"Yes…but this time I'll not come looking for you. In five minutes, we four are going to start without you. This is not an idle threat. I will do it. Then you'll be left here…with whatever that was in the forest earlier."

Some of the children stared at each other. They had forgotten that! Now some were afraid to go into to forest…but didn't want to admit it to their peers. They waited to see who would be first to go.

"Well? Are you going or not?"

They began edging toward the trees. Finally, one boy spoke up. "Master Jareel. What if…it is in there?"

"All right, Master Qui-Gon and I will go with you." To his friend he whispered, "See? Now we can keep an eye on them all and not worry about them trying to run through the forest."

"What about us?" one of the girls whined.

"Yes," Qui-Gon grinned. "What about them?"

"Oh…ah…. Well…you're just going to have to stay close to the path. Just get out of sight. Daven and Obi-Wan will be right here. Don't worry. I'm sure they won't peek."

"Master!" Daven blushed.

The masters laughed as they followed the group of male initiates into the trees.

Five minutes later another head count was taken and all was ready…except the children.

"My shoulders hurt."

"I can't carry this."

"Do I still have to carry Obi-Wan's pack?"

"How far are we going to walk this time?"

"Hey! Quiet!" Jareel bellowed out. "Don't you remember your instructions? Everyone is responsible for himself or herself. You have to carry your own load. You have requirements you have to meet on this trip, according to the Jedi Initiates Wilderness Training Manual. Come on. Let's get going. It won't be so bad. I've seen the way you run around the temple after each other. You have more energy that this." The initiates seemed to move slower and slower.

"Daven, Obi-Wan, go!" The padawans started moving and some of the initiates fell in behind them with the masters following. The remaining initiates were taking their time picking up their packs and complaining. Jareel waved a hand and a roar sounded from the forest. At once, the stragglers were fully energized and found themselves at the head of the line.

"Hey," Obi-Wan complained as he was almost knocked down by a boy who ran into him because he was running forward while looking backward. "Be careful! You're going to hurt someone." The rebuke was lost on the boy as he grabbed at Obi-Wan.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Qui-Gon accused Jareel.

"I vowed when I was an initiate if I ever took a group on one of these trips that I would never be as hard on them as Master Thane was on us."

"He was a…difficult person."

"Difficult? You put it mildly, old friend. He made bitters seem the sweetest thing in the galaxy. I think he enjoyed tormenting initiates and padawans."

"Well, you didn't exactly endear yourself to him on our trip to Sertes."

The big man chuckled. "Aye, I suppose you're right. I'm sure he never forgot us after that."

"Yes," Qui-Gon agreed somberly.

In a true tone of penance, Jareel said, "I'm sorry that I got you in trouble then. That was the first time you had even been in that much trouble, wasn't it?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "Yes. I almost wasn't punished though. No one could believe that good ol' Qui-Gon would be in on one of Jareel's tricks."

"I'm sorry."

"Ah…it's nothing. Besides, it was long ago."

"It is something to me," the blonde Jedi said quietly. He paused a long moment. "When I thought…on Lamorah…it occurred to me that I was always so busy teasing you that I wasn't sure that you realized what a good friend you are to me."

Qui-Gon turned to look at the big man. His blue eyes looked dark. As close as they were, why was it always hard for them to confess it to each other? It seemed to be understood, something they didn't talk about. Why?

"You don't have to tell me Jareel. Every time you play a prank on me, call me old friend, or cart me around the training area…you show me. I know it, old friend, I know it."

They walked on in silence.

Even though the amount of time the group spent walking was long, the pace was such that the distance covered was not great. Still, the children complained loud and long. Even with four breaks, they still complained. While there was still plenty of daylight the masters began looking for a place to set up their camp. Just off the path they had been following, Qui-Gon found a small clearing in the forest. Probably enough room if they put their tents close. Jareel led the group in and told them they could start setting up their tents.

"Don't we even get to rest first?"

"I'm tired."

"I'm hungry."

"It's too much work."

"You mean we have to sleep alone?"

That last question threw silence over the group, just as if water had been thrown on a fire. With the lengthening shadows and the specter of darkness…in the forest…in the middle of nowhere…with animals…began to eat at the young ones' confidence. Yet, no one said anything.

"Now you've been complaining all day about how heavy your packs are. We tried to make them as light as possible. That means you have to carry a small tent. But we are all going to be here together. There will be a tent on either side of you. We four will put our tents on the outer edges. You're going to be safe. There's nothing to be afraid it." Jareel looked at the little faces. Not all of them were convinced. Qui-Gon poked him in the side. He had a wry grin on his face. He had visions of initiates crammed into tents with masters and padawans.

"And," he continued, "The tents are not so hard to set up. It only takes a couple of minutes. Onon, get yours out and you can show them. I'll tell you what to do." Jareel knew if he set up even one tent, there would be many "I can't do this, show me how" calls.

The boy looked uncertain but followed Jareel's instructions. He was pleasantly surprised to find out it only took a couple of steps to raise it. The tent itself was all one piece of material. Only the poles to hold it up had to be put in place.

"See. Simple. Now everyone else set yours up. Each person has to set up his or her own shelter according to the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual. I'll start our meal. I have something special planned for supper. When you get your tents in place, we will put ours up…to enclose you."

"Onon, if you're finished…" Qui-Gon began, but didn't have to finish. The boy came over with a big grin on his face. The enjoyment that the Jedi master got out of his "help" made the boy a willing partner. The tall man knelt down and Onon began energetically scratching with all his might.

"Just a little bit too much," Qui-Gon winced. "There…that's better. Yeah…that's it," he sighed. Jareel just chuckled and walked away. A minute later Qui-Gon said, "Thank you for your help Onon." The pleased boy strutted away.

Qui-Gon went over and sat down next to where Jareel was beginning to prepare a firepit. "No stove?"

"No. They are supposed to learn, remember? According to the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual, at least one meal has to be cooked this way. I'll get everything in order here and then show them how to start a fire if they don't have a stove. Then you can help me cook. Maybe the dark will keep them from wandering off. Think we could convince our padawans to keep them entertained while I cook?"

"If you could convince me to come on this trip, you can convince anyone to do anything."

"Space pirate. All I did was ask. You could have said no if you didn't want to come."

"And miss all this fun of seeing you struggle to keep them together…and moving? I can't wait to see how you make it through the night with them…and get them up tomorrow morning."

Jareel stopped what he was doing. "You realize you are a co-leader of this trip. You are equally responsible. I've just been trying to give you a break since you are still recovering. But if you think you have better ideas than I do…." The big Jedi stood without waiting for an answer. He looked around to see how the tent raising was going. The padawans were walking along to see if they could offer instruction. It was simple enough and soon the little tents filled the clearing.

"Now I want you all to gather around here. Master Qui-Gon is going to show us how to start a fire if you have no fuel or no stove."

"What?" Qui-Gon whipped his head around and stared at the blonde Jedi who seemed oblivious to the glare.

The initiates surrounded the small cleared place Jareel had prepared. The big man stepped back out of the circle, folded his arms over his chest…and grinned.

"Well…first you have to properly prepare the area." The Jedi master's mind raced as he tried to recall how to do this. He hadn't done it in many years. "You need to make sure that you get all the dry and dead things away from where your fire will be so it can't spread." He looked around for something to use then shrugged and used his bare hands to begin sweeping the bare dirt clear of debris.

Jareel faded away from the group. He called Daven to him. "I noticed how much more Obi-Wan is limping. Maybe he over did it a little either in his exuberance to be out…or his desire to show he's better. At any rate…why don't you set his tent up for him while he is occupied and can't object?"

"That's a great idea Master. Thank you." Then his face fell. "I wish I'd thought of it."

"You will. You'll think of these things. You're too caring not to."

Jareel surveyed the tent setup. He placed his tent at one corner toward the deep forest and Qui-Gon's at the other corner. On the side closer to the trail, Daven set up his and Obi-Wan's tents at the corners. They walked back over in time to see the kindling flash into flame beneath Qui-Gon's hands.

"Wow!"

"That's great!"

"Are we supposed to learn how to do that?"

"Can you show me again?"

"I couldn't see."

"There will be other opportunities," Jareel interrupted. "You can learn to do this on Coruscant if you don't learn here. Now, Master Qui-Gon and I are going to cook. Daven and Obi-Wan are going to entertain you."

"That's convincing them," Qui-Gon quipped. "Not giving them a chance to say no."

"They have a chance. Boys, do you mind?"

The two padawans looked at each other. They didn't know what to say…but they knew they wouldn't say no. After all, they had wanted to do this. They shrugged.

"Come on kids. We'll tell you about the draigons."

"Yeah!"

"Oh boy!"

"Draigons? Are they scary?"

"Yes! I can't wait."

The two Jedi laughed and settled themselves by the fire. Jareel began pulling things out of his pack.

"I can't believe you brought all that," Qui-Gon said in amazement as he watched the assortment of items.

"That's the advantage of being a big boy. You can carry a big pack! Remember our trip here? Things weren't so compact then. These kids have it easy…and they complain." The Jedi started assembling the meal as Qui-Gon watched.

"Yes," he said in agreement. "I remember part of our punishment…having rocks added to our already heavy packs."

"I've thought about that today, believe me! But…I'll wait to see just how bad they get." He looked over his shoulder at the group gathered around the two padawans. I hope they don't scare them too much."

"That's part of the tradition," Qui-Gon replied with an impish grin. "All the initiates come back with stories of things they saw in the night…or heard. What exactly is that you are making anyway?"

The blonde Jedi grinned. "A secret recipe given to me by a cook at one of my favorite restaurants."

Qui-Gon winced, "Not that one you took Obi-Wan and I too when we were…"

"No…no," Jareel interrupted. "This is a new place. I've just discovered it…and been a regular customer. They say I'm half their business."

The elder Jedi tried to see exactly what his friend was doing, decided he wouldn't be able to figure it out, and thought maybe that was best. He thought about his own supplies for a moment. On such a trip he'd learned the hard way to always bring extra. Qui-Gon was wondering if this might be a good time to skip the meal and raid his own stash. Maybe he'd at least give it a taste….

"Oh yes, the draigons are big!" Obi-Wan was saying. "They are bigger than any bird you've even seen on Coruscant. They could carry you away."

A couple of initiates looked around at the increasing darkness, but one boy decided to show how brave he was…to himself. "Yeah…but there aren't any draigons here. They may be big…but we don't have to worry about seeing any of them."

Obi-Wan and Daven traded a significant glance. They tried not to smile.

"But there is something on Sertes to be worried about," Obi-Wan said ominously.

"What?" one of the children blurted out.

"The Mad Wookie!" Daven said loud and suddenly, causing several to jump. Others were at once skeptical.

"The Mad Wookie?" Onon said sarcastically. "I don't believe it."

"It's true," Obi-Wan whispered. "You've never heard the story around the temple?"

"No. What story?"

"Tell us!"

"Is this for real?"

"Is it scary?"

"For you it is," Daven said in a worried tone. "Because if the Mad Wookie comes…he'll be coming for you!"

A mixture of skepticism and fear reflected on the young faces.

Obi-Wan took over. "This Wookie doesn't like Jedi knights. One of his relatives was killed in a fight by a Jedi."

"Why?"

"Well…because…" he looked to Daven for help.

"Because the Wookie was robbing a poor planet of the only resource they had. The council sent a knight to investigate. The Wookie wouldn't surrender or agree to stop what he was doing. When he tried to get away, the knight had to stop him. A fight broke out…and the knight had to kill him."

"Wow!"

"Justice!"

"Who was the knight?"

Daven looked at Obi-Wan who blurted out without thinking, "Master Yoda." Daven looked at his friend in shock. Of all the knights to pick! "Well," Obi-Wan said defensively, "That's the way I heard the story when I was an initiate." Daven just looked away. Obi-Wan took over the narration. "So…this Wookie doesn't like Jedi. But we have the Force to use against him. That's why he goes after those who don't have much training yet…the initiates!" he exclaimed. There were a couple of shrieks at his outburst.

Jareel looked over his shoulder again. Obi-Wan and Daven were the perfect picture of innocence…but the big Jedi knew better than that.

"Do you think we ought to see what's going on?"

"No," Qui-Gon said quietly as he watched. "I'm sure they're only having fun. Our apprentices are responsible. They wouldn't do anything to terrify them…just a little scare. I'm sure they won't upset the children much."

After the two masters quit watching, Obi-Wan leaned forward again. In a low, yet disquieting voice he continued, "The Mad Wookie knows the Jedi bring kids here every year. He wanders around looking…looking. Watching the sky for the liner that brings his enemies."

"Then he goes into the forest to hide," Daven added. He follows along, watching. "That's probably what we heard in the forest today!" The children began drawing closer together and looking toward the increasing darkness. "He's probably out there right now…just watching, waiting. The first time one of you wanders away from camp…"

"He'll get you!" Obi-Wan cried out. The young ones shrieked and drew even closer to the padawans who were trying their best not to smile.

"I don't believe you," one boy said…but his voice had uncertainty in it.

"Well…that's your choice," Daven said nonchalantly. "It's a well known story. We both heard it when we were initiates…"

"Then how old is this Wookie? How do you know he's still alive?" a girl said doubtfully.

"Yeah!" several said.

"He swore that as long as his family lived, there would always be a Wookie from his family here to wait and get revenge…on…initiates!"

More squeals. Qui-Gon turned to take another look. He gave Obi-Wan a severe look…but the apprentice looked completely innocent. However, at that glare he whispered to Daven, "Maybe we should calm it down a little."

"What are you whispering about?"

"You're making this up, aren't you?"

"You're just trying to scare us."

Daven leaned forward and looked appropriately scared. "I saw the Mad Wookie. When I was here on my wilderness trip, I had to go in the middle of the night. I heard that same roar we heard earlier. I was terrified. I couldn't move. Then I saw it! The Mad Wookie! He was coming at me with a bowcaster in one hand and a blaster rifle in the other! The big monster was growling. His eyes glowed red. He was foaming at the mouth."

The young eyes were wide, mouths hanging open. "What did you do?"

"Nothing. I was too scared to move!"

"Why didn't he kill you?"

"All of a sudden someone grabbed me and pulled me out of the way. It was Master Jareel. He saved me from the Wookie! That's why he took me as his padawan. But…my friend wasn't so lucky."

"What happened to him?" a wide-eyed boy croaked out.

Daven lowered his voice but kept the fright in it. "He was still standing there. Master Jareel only had time to grab one of us. He chose me. Then the Wookie was running right for my friend. He leveled his bowcaster and…"

"Supper's ready!" Jareel boomed out.

Several of the on-edge children shrieked. They got up quickly and with much wild looking about, hurried over to where the big brave initiate-saving Jedi stood. Jareel couldn't understand why so many children were hovering around him.

"All right, everyone get your meal gear and I'll start serving," Jareel said but no one moved. He looked around. "What's going on? What are you waiting for? Go on." The big man…and Qui-Gon took a knowing look at their padawans.

"What have you been telling them?" Qui-Gon folded his arms over his chest

"Oh…just some of the same old stories that we heard as initiates," Obi-Wan said vaguely. "You know, they're kind of traditional. We were just passing them down."

"You didn't tell them about any big animals eating children or initiates being kidnapped and taken by space pirates in the middle of the night?"

"Oh no Master! Nothing like that." Obi-Wan looked genuinely surprised that his master would suggest any such thing.

"Well…since you've managed to get them frightened, why don't you two help them get their things?" Jareel said pleasantly, but there was a dark look in his eyes.

As the two padawans began walking the children to their tents, Daven whispered, "Did we go too far?"

"If we did, it's too late to do anything about it now."

The group sat close to the fire as they ate. Several conversations were going on. Some of the initiates looked around at the darkness now and again. Whispers buzzed in some groups about what they could do with that information…who they could scare in the middle of the night.

"That was very good," Qui-Gon said to Jareel. "I have to admit I'm surprised."

"Now maybe you'll have more trust in me. Did you two like it?"

"It was great Master," Daven replied.

"Yes," Obi-Wan added.

Qui-Gon leaned toward his padawan. "Do you feel all right?"

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan answered in confusion. "Why?" But Qui-Gon didn't answer.

"How about some stories?" Jareel said. "That's a tradition of wilderness trips, for the masters to share stories of great knights. Does that sound interesting?"

"Yeah!"

The children all turned to see the big man. He launched into a tale of a war on his own planet. One that raged for many years. In great detail, he told of the brave men who died protecting their families and villages. Then to help end the war, the Jedi council sent a wise and venerable knight. In gratitude for his help, the planet allowed the Jedi to come and test children that they thought might be suitable for training. That was long before Jareel was born, but if it had not been for that knight, many other knights from his home planet would not have had the chance to come to the temple.

The big man sat down, satisfied with the retelling of his planet's history and contribution to the Jedi. He prodded Qui-Gon to tell a story. The Jedi rose to his feet and began to tell of the death of the last Sith. The great and glorious battle that raged between a now legendary knight and the only Sith left after they had destroyed themselves with the jealous infighting. In detail, Qui-Gon described the battle…more detail than was recorded. There were no witnesses, save the survivor. His account was the only one of the battle. Usually one to stay with facts, the elder Jedi found himself caught up in the atmosphere…and the memories of his trip to Sertes…and he did "enhance" it a little.

As he neared the climatic end, a boy came up to Jareel. "Master Jareel, my stomach hurts. I don't feel good."

Jareel stood up to walk him away from the group so they wouldn't interrupt…and just in time. He began vomiting. The poor young one heaved until he hurt and his stomach was empty.

Jareel put a hand to his head. No fever. He wondered what brought this on so suddenly. "Have you been feeling sick today?" The pale looking child only shook his head. "When did you start feeling like this?"

"Just a little while ago."

"Do you still feel nauseous?"

"A little. Master Jareel…I need to…." He turned and ran into the dark. The big man followed.

"Master Qui-Gon. I don't feel good." A girl interrupted his tale. He looked over to her. She didn't look so good. Suddenly she got up and ran to the edge of camp where she began vomiting. For some other already sick feeling initiates that was too much. They leaped up and ran for a place to vomit.

By now, Jareel was walking his charge back into the camp.

"You haven't had diarrhea today until now?"

"No Master Jareel."

The big man looked up at the sounds that greeted his ears. He was surprised to see a handful of children vomiting at every corner of the camp. "Why don't you go lie down in your tent and I'll come check on you in just a minute." He walked over to Obi-Wan. "What's going on?"

But the apprentice was clutching his stomach and turned to make his own sick run.

Jareel started making the rounds of the sick children to see what was wrong with them.

"Are they all settled down…finally?" Jareel asked.

"Yes. I think so," Qui-Gon answered. "No one else is complaining…for the moment." He sat down next to the dying embers of the fire. "Jareel," he began slowly, "Just what was that you made?"

"You really think it was that?" he said sadly.

"Well…It's more than coincidence that a large number of them got sick…and not so long after eating what you made."

"But I've had it several times…"

"Yes, old friend, but you could eat Bantha tripe and not even burp. That doesn't mean everyone can eat like you do. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

"Now Qui-Gon…"

"I'm not trying to be ugly to you Jareel. But you have to admit you're…different from others…in many ways. Your stomach is a tough as you are. Even Obi-Wan couldn't keep it down. Children certainly couldn't eat some of the same things you do." The elder Jedi paused for a moment. He wasn't sure how to ask. In a quiet voice he began, "Exactly what else have you got planned…in the way of meals?"

The big man sighed deeply. "Do you mind cooking?"

Qui-Gon tried not to smile too much. "No. I don't mind. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two." Obi-Wan limped up, hand to his stomach. "Feeling better?"

"Yes Master," he replied unconvincingly. "I haven't felt that bad since I was sick on Orino."

"I'm sorry Obi-Wan," Jareel said.

"It's all right Master Jareel. I'm fine." He tried to think of something positive to say. "It was good."

"On the way down," Qui-Gon quipped.

"Space dog," the big Jedi mumbled. "Where's Daven? Did he get sick too?"

"No Master," a voice answered. He had managed to keep his supper down…but his stomach was protesting it. Daven had just had more "practice" with Jareel's eating habits.

"It's been quite a day," Jareel grumbled. "I'm going to bed."

"Master Jareel! Master Jareel!" A boy called as he shook the big man.

"What…what?" he responded in a groggy voice. "Harth, what are you doing here?" Suddenly the boy was quiet. "Well? Do you have a good reason for being out of your tent in the middle of the night?"

"I…had…a bad dream."

"A bad dream?"

"Yes. The Mad Wookie was after me."

He sighed. The Mad Wookie? "The Mad Wookie is probably dead by now."

"But I heard him! He's out in the forest. It's one of his…relatives."

"Harth…"

"Please, I'm scared. Don't make me go back alone."

"I'll take you back to your tent."

"Uh…can't I stay here? You have a big tent! It's huge! A bunch of us could sleep together in here. Please Master Jareel. Don't make me go back to my tent…by myself."

The big Jedi sighed. The only way he was going to get quickly back to sleep would be to give in. "All right. Let's go get your sleeping bag." Jareel climbed out and he and Harth crossed the camp area.

"Master Jareel."

He turned to see a face peeking out at him. "What is it?"

"I gotta go."

Oh Force! "All right. Come on. I'll get a lamp and we'll go out behind a tree."

"In the forest at night?" the wide-eyed boy said. "Where the Mad Wookie is?"

The big man groaned. "The Mad Wookie isn't here. He's dead by now. Do you want to go or not?"

The boy scrambled out of his tent. Jareel collected Harth's sleeping bag and delivered him back to the big tent where he got a portable lamp and his light saber. To Harth he said, "You'd better be settled down by the time I get back." Backing out of the tent he said, "Let's go."

The boy clung to the Jedi and looked about wildly. Every night noise was amplified to his frightened mind. They heard a low howl and the boy grabbed Jareel's leg and tried to climb it like a tree.

"The Mad Wookie!"

"Hey! Stop it right now." He knelt down. "Listen to me. Look at me. There is no Mad Wookie here. I'm right here and I have my light saber if any animal gets too close. Now calm down. Do you have to go or not?"

The boy did have to go, but Jareel had to stand at a distance because the lad was so upset that he was watching the forest instead of his aim. As soon as he was finished he was already on his way back to camp even though Jareel was behind with the light.

"Master Jareel…"

"Go back to your tent and get to sleep."

"But Harth…"

"Go back to your tent…now."

The boy hung his head and slowly walked to his tent. Just before he entered, he took one more look back.

"Go!"

Just as the blonde Jedi started to enter his tent he heard, "Master Jareel."

"Oh no…"

"I need to go."

This time it was a girl. Jareel reminded himself next time to bring along a female master. Next time? What am I thinking!

The logistics were hard to work out because she didn't want the big Jedi far away…but her modesty pulled at her too. Her fear won out and she was content to have Jareel close by but with his back to her.

Next time a female master. Next time a female master.

Jareel delivered the girl back to her tent and tried to hurry back to his before he was spotted again. When he entered it, Lonar was lying in her sleeping bag next to Harth.

"What is going on here?"

"I had a nightmare. I came to tell you…and Harth was here. He said he had a bad dream and you were going to let him stay…" her voice trailed off.

Jareel said nothing. He just climbed back into his bag. There was a quick giggle. "If I hear one more sound, you're both going back to your tents…alone."

Qui-Gon came out of his tent and stretched as he looked around. It was a beautiful day, clear and sunny. He had slept wonderfully. He was reflecting on how long it had been since he had slept so peacefully. Yes, getting away from Coruscant, but not on mission was a good idea. He would have to remember to thank Jareel for asking him to come.

The blonde man dragged himself out of his tent. His long silvery blonde hair was sticking out in all directions and his eyes were bloodshot. Behind him, four initiates climbed out.

"Jareel?" Qui-Gon said. "What happened? You look awful. Did you get sick too?"

"No," he grumbled. "But I wish I had. I probably would feel better."

"What's this all about?" he indicated the departing initiates.

"Nightmares about the Mad Wookie."

"The Mad Wookie?"

At that moment Daven came running out of the forest with Obi-Wan hobbling along behind. "I'm getting better. You won't be able to outrun me much longer."

"Ah…boys, may I talk to you for a moment?" The big Jedi's tone gave them to know they had everything to dread. Slowly they walked over. Jareel folded his arms over his broad chest. "I had to baby sit little ones who had nightmares about the Mad Wookie. Did you tell them that story?"

"Um…yes Master," Daven said as he refused to meet his master's stern gaze. Realizing he'd been caught, Daven knew it was best to confess. The punishment would go easier than if he tried to get out of it or hide what he'd done. But…he didn't confess the embellishments that he and Obi-Wan had added. Things were bad enough. "We were just trying to have a little fun Master. When we were initiates, we told scary stories on our trip. Just…continuing…the tradition," he smiled weakly.

"Yes, but your fun caused some nightmares last night…and cost me some sleep."

Daven hung his head. "I'm sorry Master. I didn't mean any harm. I should have thought more."

"Yes, you should have. Well…the damage is done. But you will make amends for your behavior, both of you." He looked at Qui-Gon for concurrence. The elder Jedi nodded. "Starting tonight you two will be responsible for all night time emergencies such as trips to the forest and comforting those who have nightmares. I also strongly suggest that you don't tell any more scary stories."

"Yes Master Jareel," the two padawans replied.

"Now…get going."

After the two left Qui-Gon shook his head and tried not to smile. Jareel watched until the two were well away. Then he chuckled. "That story is still going around about the Mad Wookie?"

"Who would have thought when you made that up on our wilderness trip that it would still be around this much later?"

"I just wonder how much it has changed. You know those kind of things take on a life of their own after awhile. But…it still seems scary enough to cause nightmares."

"So you can't be mad only at them. It's your own fault for making that up to begin with."

"Aye. I suppose you're right."

"Now follow your own advice. Think about when you were younger. I'll bet you did worse things than what they did."

The big Jedi's face broke into a sunny smile. "Yeah…you're right. I did. I also had to pay for some of them too. I'm going to bathe in the river. Be back in a bit."

"You're going to bathe in that cold water?"

"Yes. I hope it helps wake me up!"

Qui-Gon glanced around the camp as he tried to reach his back. "Onon! Where are you?"

"Master Jareel said the Mad Wookie was dead," Harth said to Obi-Wan as the apprentice helped the boy put an inflatable plastic boat-shaped object in the river.

The apprentice shrugged his shoulders. "All I told you was what I heard when I was an initiate. That same story has been passed down for years."

Daven heard and grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm. He pulled him away. "Are you out of your mind? You heard what Master Jareel said. He said to stop the stories. Are you trying to get us into deeper trouble?"

"But he said we were responsible for taking care of the nightmares. How's he going to know?"

"But what's the point anyway?"

"Come on Daven. Don't you want to have some fun? Remember what our wilderness trip was like? Remember how the padawans harassed us constantly? Don't you want to have something to tell the other padawans when we get back? We're helping continue a great tradition that has gone on for years and years."

The apprentice wasn't totally convinced. He looked thoughtful for a minute. Then he pointed a finger at Obi-Wan. "If we get into more trouble, I'm going to tell Master Jareel that I told you that you shouldn't be repeating that story."

"OK, fine. We won't get into any more trouble. Trust me." Then he walked back to the shore. "All right Harth, in you go. Oof!"

"You all right?" Daven was at his friend's side at once.

"Yes," Obi-Wan huffed in irritation. "I'm fine." Then he realized his tone. "I'm sorry Daven. I'm just…frustrated."

"And impatient."

Ignoring the jibe, Obi-Wan turned back to Harth. "Master Qui-Gon and Master Jareel are downstream. Now what happens if you turn over?"

"I grab onto this and stay with it until I get to Master Qui-Gon and Master Jareel."

"Right…because they will be looking for this bright blue boat. They can see that easier than they can see you. If you don't stay with it, they might not find you. Ready? Here's your oars." He gave the little boat a shove and watched it float away.

While Daven and Obi-Wan were arguing and Obi-Wan was helping Harth, Unya and Onon stood nearby waiting their turn.

"You haven't heard about it?" the green scale covered girl said in amazement. "You've never heard of the master prank for the wilderness trip? I thought all the initiates had."

"Well, tell me instead of fussing at me," Onon insisted.

She leaned over to whisper so the padawans wouldn't hear. It didn't occur to her that they heard about it when they were initiates. Obi-Wan and Daven were adults. They would tell the masters if they found out.

"You're kidding?"

"No, I'm not. It was done for the first time a long, long time ago. Since then every wilderness trip group has tried to do it again. Not many have been able to. I think we should try it."

"I don't know about that. I have a bad feeling…"

"You're just a coward. Coward!"

"No I'm not. I'll try it. I'm not a coward."

"Good. We have to make sure the others know about it. I'll let you know when we are going to try it. But, shh! Don't let any of the adults hear about it…or I'll Force choke you."

"Yeah? Go ahead and try. I'll tell them everything then…including how you're using the Force in a wrong way."

"Onon if you don't keep quiet…"

"Hey," Obi-Wan interrupted. "What's going on?"

"Oh…nothing. We were just talking." Unya smiled sweetly.

The apprentice looked doubtfully at them and they looked away. He wasn't sure what to do. "Are you ready for your turn or not?"

"Yes! Me next!" they both cried.

Jareel and Qui-Gon were walking along the river to the point at which they would pluck the initiates out of the water. The big Jedi had been very quiet. Qui-Gon wasn't sure if it was because he was still drowsy or if something was wrong.

"You all right?"

"Hmm? Oh sure. I was just preoccupied. Seeing the river again just reminds me…of the first time I saw…I mean really saw Daven."

"Oh yes. I remember that story."

Jareel smiled. "Daven has been a wonderful apprentice. He's very wise and talented…and has more patience than anyone I know of to put up with me…except maybe you, of course."

Qui-Gon grinned. "I used to wonder about you and how you would do with an apprentice. I have to admit I misjudged you. Maybe you did have a rough time with your first apprentice…but since then, you've had two good apprentices. Daven definitely has been the best of the three."

"Aye, you're right. I finally was in tune enough with the Force for it to show me the right one…and it has been a wonderful experience. I suppose I'm getting too old for this though. Daven will be the last…" his voice trailed off.

"I know how you feel. Obi-Wan will most likely be my last. I'll miss it though. Obi-Wan has been a joy to train."

"So what do two old masters do when they quit training?"

"We can still do some teaching. Remember that teaching assignment I had recently?"

"Ah…yes…"

"Or…you could help in the crèche…"

A smile played at the blonde man's lips. "Yes. I could do that. I already do."

A happy shriek interrupted their musings. They looked to see the first initiate coming downstream. Jareel kicked off his boots and socks to wade out.

"Aren't we getting too old for this?" Qui-Gon asked as he removed his boots.

"Ah…you're always too old for everything, old friend."

"Uh…Jareel, before you go out in the water…" his voice trailed off as he pointed to his back.

Sometime later twenty initiates stood around ranging from damp to soaked. They were all happy though. The ride on the mildly rough water had been exhilarating for children who had never been on anything but the very calm lake at the temple. This fulfilled a requirement in the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual for a short raft trip. As they were plucked from the water, they were supposed to be deflating their boats and rolling them up. Most of them deflated them and lay on them in the sun filtering through the trees. Some didn't bother to deflate their boats though and just lay in them on the shore.

The two Jedi masters came walking out of the not very deep river.

"Here now! You were supposed to be ready to go when the last one was here!" Jareel boomed. The children slowly got up, complaining about being tired. "Tired? This was our first activity of the day! You haven't been long out of bed. Are you getting old or just lazy?"

They grumbled as they set to work. Onon whispered something to the boy working next to him. He listened intently.

"Are you two working or playing?"

"I'll tell you the rest later," Onon promised. Then he put his finger to his lips. "Shh!"

It was a short walk, but the initiates didn't think so. The fun part was coming down the river. Now that the fun was over, the rest was work…no matter how far or short the walk. The two masters herded the dragging group along and chatted, trying to ignore the complaints.

"Master Jareel, are you going to cook again at lunch?"

"No," he said sourly. "You eat the prepackaged meals for lunch. Cooking is only at supper. Master Qui-Gon will be cooking tonight."

A sudden buzz went through the group at that announcement. Qui-Gon saw the look that crossed Jareel's face and tried not to laugh.

During lunch, the same group that wanted to be so close to the big Jedi last night suddenly gathered at the edge of camp. Their conversation was quieter than usual also.

"I don't know what they are up to…but they're planning something."

"You're paranoid, old friend," Qui-Gon replied.

"Do you really think so Master Jareel?" Daven asked.

"Aye. I have a feeling about it. The little space pirates are too quiet…like they don't want us to hear them." He looked sidelong at the padawans. "You haven't been telling any more stories, have you?"

Daven said nothing, leaving Obi-Wan with responsibility. "No Master Jareel. We haven't told them any other stories…scary or otherwise." That was mostly true. He had not told anything other than the Mad Wookie.

"So, what is on the agenda for the afternoon?" Qui-Gon asked.

"You are a co-leader of this expedition," Jareel reminded him. "Feel free to offer your input. This was not intended to be a vacation for you. Didn't you read over the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual?"

"It's not a vacation? You made it sound that way when you were trying to talk me into coming," Qui-Gon grinned. Then he said, "What Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual?"

"Space pirate." Jareel stood and walked out of camp.

"Now where is he going?"

"Either he's leaving you in charge for awhile…or he just had to go," Daven grinned.

"Maybe he'll be back in a minute then. He'd better be back in a minute," Qui-Gon suddenly realized…he'd be in charge of twenty preteens by himself! No…Jareel wouldn't do that to him…would he? Maybe he was just trying to make a point. He'd be back…. "Daven, do you know what Jareel had planned for this afternoon? Or what was in that manual?"

"No Master Qui-Gon. He didn't tell me everything he had planned."

"But, I've never done this before. I don't know what do to. I didn't know there was a training manual."

Obi-Wan was trying to hide a smile behind his hand. It was amusing to see his usually calm and unruffled master…ruffled.

"Master Jareel hasn't done it before either."

"He hasn't? I thought he had!"

"Not since I've been his padawan. But…what did the initiates do on your wilderness trip Master Qui-Gon?"

"Well…that's not important," he tried not to smile at the memories. They didn't always do what they were supposed to do. "We're supposed to teach them how to get along away from civilization. They've learned about making a fire, and cooking…or how not to cook." The padawans laughed. "We've exposed them to the water. It's hard to lecture them on poisonous plants because they vary so much from planet to planet." He remembered his experiences in the jungle on Auriga. "I suppose I could show them some guidelines to help them be able to judge plants no matter what environment they are in. Let's take a nature walk. After all, it is the first time they've been in an environment like this. Anything they learn will be new and helpful to them."

The Jedi master stood, "Initiates, attention please. We are going on a nature walk." There were groans. He tried to remember how Jareel dealt with them. His gruff ways seemed to work. Qui-Gon put his hands on his hips. "Now, I don't want to hear any more complaints…or you'll be carrying rocks in your packs." The children stared at him in disbelief…so did the apprentices. He looked at Obi-Wan and Daven. "Well…that's how we were punished," he defended in a low voice. "Take along a snack and some water…and electrobinoculars or any other device you may have brought along that will help you enjoy the environment." He looked back at the two padawans. "Should we wait for Jareel?" Daven shrugged. "I don't know either. Well…he can't be too far away. Let's go."

The Jedi master started off into the forest and almost ran headlong into Jareel.

"Hey…watch where you're going. Where are you going?"

"I wasn't sure where you were going…so I thought I'd take them on a nature walk. Unless you had other plans…from your manual."

"This will do. They are supposed to take a nature walk to become more familiar with the environment." Jareel grinned. "After you."

Qui-Gon tried in vain to lead them quietly through the trees and undergrowth. He was trying to show them how to get close enough to a bush to see the animals eating there. But no amount of imploring would quiet them. Someone was always pushing someone else. Or one child would just have to talk to his or her friend. They just didn't get the concept of quiet. Quieter than their normally loud carrying on was silent to them.

Jareel was enjoying this very much. He had been the recipient of much of the abuse so far and was glad to see his friend endure his share. After awhile, Qui-Gon just gave up and led them through the forest as they talked and looked at what they wanted to look at.

It turned out to be a nice walk in the cool forest. Qui-Gon had been left to himself to lead, so he was at the front while Jareel, Obi-Wan and Daven were at the rear. Probably best. In the thick undergrowth, it might be better to watch the children from behind instead of looking back at them. Too many more opportunities for them to escape.

Qui-Gon drew in a deep breath and sighed. The aromatic blossoms were almost intoxicating. And they were unique in their scent. It was a perfume that screamed Sertes to him…and filled him with happiness.

"You'd be perfect," the young blonde boy proclaimed. "You're always so well behaved. No one would suspect you of having anything to do with this."

"I don't know Jareel," young Qui-Gon replied. "I don't think Master Thane will be very amused by this."

"He probably won't," the initiate agreed. "He's so sour. If he would just laugh once in awhile he'd probably be a happier person."

"Yeah, but he's a respected old master."

"I know that, but he's still not a happy person. What good does respect bring you if you're miserable?"

"What makes you think he's miserable? Maybe he's just…quiet and reserved."

"Like you?" Jareel teased. "You're quiet and reserved, but you're not sour. You can even laugh…though you don't seem to do it much. Why?"

Qui-Gon shrugged. "I don't know. The old masters don't seem to like it…and there doesn't seem to be much to laugh at."

"If you don't change, you're going to be like Master Thane when you're older," the big boy shook a finger at his newfound friend. "You don't really want to be like that…do you?"

"Well…I guess I don't want to be quite that…"

"Sour," Jareel supplied. The young brown haired boy laughed. "See. Did it hurt anything for you to laugh?"

"No," Qui-Gon agreed. "I guess a little joking is all right…but what you're talking about doing to Master Thane is…more than a little. It's a lot. A whole lot!" His blue eyes opened wider.

"Don't worry about it," the big blonde boy assured him. "Master Thane will never even think of you being involved in this. I know he'll think of me first thing."

"Then why do you want to do it?"

"Because it will be fun…and a challenge. I haven't tried anything like this before. If we are able to do this…we'll be legends. It will be talked about for years! It'll be the best prank ever pulled on a wilderness trip!"

Qui-Gon smiled at the memory. Jareel had been right on several counts. Master Thane immediately suspected the big boy when he awoke and saw what had been done to him. He also knew that Jareel had to have help. The bad-tempered old man had questioned some initiates…but not Qui-Gon. Even when Qui-Gon finally confessed, after seeing how much trouble Jareel was in, Thane had not believed him at first and threatened him severely for lying. However, the brown haired boy had not been able to remain quiet. It wasn't fair for Jareel to be punished so strongly and for him to just walk away…even though the big boy kept telling him to keep quiet. And…they were famous among their peers…and even some of the padawans for what they did to old Thane.

All these years later Qui-Gon wondered if it was worth it. He and Jareel had to do extra meditation, extra study as well as the grungiest clean up jobs at the temple…for many, many weeks. He couldn't even remember how long it went on. But the two had to work at something all their waking hours. Qui-Gon had never been so tired in his life. Jareel was more used to it. This was not the first prank he had played…and not his first punishment. Even at his young age, he was beginning to show muscle from all the extra work he had been assigned because of his jokes. No, the worst of it for Jareel was the fact that the pair couldn't talk while they worked. Keeping quiet was hard for the boisterous boy. That was more of a punishment for him.

The Jedi master stole a quick glance at his big friend at the end of the line. He was smiling and pointing out various things to the padawans. All those hours of punishment had never dampened his spirit, much less broken it…which was what the masters decided needed to be done to control the boy. What they never seemed to realize, but Qui-Gon had learned in all the years of their friendship was that the same spirit that seemed wild and uncontrolled, was the same depth of spirit that made the big man such a caring, compassionate person…and dedicated knight. Just the right master had recognized it though. Qui-Gon wondered if Master Qu'tel had not chose Jareel, would anyone else have?

Daven's mind wandered. He was listening to his master as he pointed and described various things. Then the big man would be quiet for awhile…and the padawan would let his thoughts drift back. After his first "real" conversation with Master Jareel on Sertes, the initiate noticed the big man increasingly. Whether that was just because the encounter on the wilderness trip now drew his attention to the blonde Jedi more, or Jareel was beginning to be around more, Daven couldn't say. But he was happy at the thought that the Jedi master might be interested in him.

Another master, Master Yuwa, had taken quite an interest in Daven shortly before the trip to Sertes. Any attention by a master usually flattered and gladdened an initiate. However, Yuwa was very studious and serious. He worked long and hard hours at everything he did. The bright white creature was up hours before anyone else at the temple to begin his meditations and workouts. There were many stories about Yuwa around the temple…and Daven didn't like the ones he heard the other initiates repeating. The creature's last padawan had been worked into exhaustion more than once by Yuwa's great demands. And he wouldn't allow him to see a healer. Yuwa kept the boy in his quarters and tended his needs for a day or two and then the padawan was required to use the Force to regain himself…in spite of how tired he was. It was a great training experience Yuwa insisted. A Jedi might have to face such a situation in actuality in a battle situation for example.

Such talk shocked the young boy. He tried to make himself feel better by remembering that his peers usually exaggerated everything they told. But he couldn't shake the horror that filled him at being taken on by Master Yuwa. So, when the easygoing, humorous big blonde master suddenly began to appear more and more in the gym…and obviously watching Daven, his heart was lightened. He worked hard while Master Jareel was around…and not quite so hard when Master Yuwa was around.

"Daven, did you hear me?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry Master."

"Qui-Gon just called for a rest stop. Help me keep an eye on the little ones. Out here, they are liable to do anything in this thick growth. This is when they are most likely to try to hide or slip away."

"Yes Master."

"Onon!" Qui-Gon called out as he looked around for the little grey furry boy. He came running at once. The attention that went along with his "duty" pleased him and it was no longer a chore. Qui-Gon knelt on one knee and instinctively rested his forehead on his knee as he waited for the expected relief.

Jareel watched with a smile. Qui-Gon enjoyed it and Onon seemed happy with the set up. Then he saw Obi-Wan slowly settling himself to the ground.

"Are you all right young one?"

"Yes Master Jareel. Actually, I think all this exercise is good for me. I'm just not used to it."

"Aye, but you don't want to over do it either. I know you're anxious to be whole again…but if you try to hard you will just set yourself back."

"Yes Master."

The initiates had not waited to be told. They each had gotten a buddy and scurried away behind trees and bushes. Jareel sat himself down on a rock and drank thirstily. Qui-Gon walked up next to him.

"How am I doing?"

"What are you doing?"

"OK…so my idea wasn't such a good one. But we are out having a nice walk. They are getting exercise and actually noticing the environment. Does the whole trip have to be intense? We can relax some also, can't we?"

Jareel chuckled. "You're so defensive. I spooked you when I brought up the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual, didn't I? I still think this will fulfill the requirements. You aren't being quite so rigorous with them…but they are learning. There's much to be learned here. I think that we are still in our boundaries."

"And what had you planned for today?"

"That's all right. I'll save it for another day."

Qui-Gon started to reply when he heard a shriek. The masters sprang up at once to see what was going on. Some initiates were running into the small clearing, yelling and rubbing their eyes.

"What the…"

The children ran past them and kept going. The children who were standing about suddenly began yelling and running. As they passed the bewildered masters and padawans, the four saw what the problem was. A small group of little dark furry creatures was running along…and spreading a horrid smelling spray. Their eyes and noses started burning and the four Jedi ran after the children.

When they were finally away from the small beasts, the group stopped. The little ones were crying and complaining. The animal's secretions covered them…and burned…and was very aromatic.

"My eyes hurt!"

"My nose burns!"

"This stinks!"

"How do I get it off?"

"Hey!" Jareel yelled for quiet. "Obi-Wan and Daven will walk you to the river. It won't all wash off. Master Qui-Gon and I will mix up something to help get it off…but even that won't get all the smell out. It will have to wear off." There were groans and mumbling. "I can't change nature. Now off with you." The big man stood with hands on hips and watched the group stomp off with the padawans.

"What was that?" Qui-Gon asked since Jareel seemed to know.

"Ah…I should have been more careful. I knew those beasts were around. When they are attacked…or think they are being attacked, they secrete this stuff and spray it on their attackers. Running and screaming children probably seemed very much like an attacker."

"So…what do we do?"

"There's a plant around here that helps neutralize the odor…some. It won't all go away, but it's better than nothing."

The blonde Jedi began walking along and trying to make out the required plant through his still watering eyes.

"Have you had this encounter before?" Qui-Gon coughed.

"Yes…unfortunately. I came here once for rest. That's when I found out about the little monsters. A fellow that rents cabins told me about the 'remedy'. Ah…I think this is it." He plucked a leaf, broke it open and sniffed it. "Yes, this is it. Well…come on old friend. Start breaking off branches. We're going to need quite a bit of this."

It was getting dark. A line of initiate clothes hung along one side of their camp. Another line down the other side held the other children's clothes…and master and padawan clothes. The unhappy group was huddled around the fire in their only other change of clothes. Several times they had bathed and scrubbed with the leaves…but the light acrid odor still hung in the air. Heating the air didn't help matters either once the cooking fire was lit. The lively group was very subdued now. They were more than unhappy with the inability to totally rid themselves of the smell.

"Is anyone hungry?" Qui-Gon said. Only grumbling met his ears. "I know it's hard to be hungry…under the circumstances, but if you don't eat, you'll be hungry in the middle of the night. I'm not going to be doing any cooking then." The grumbling quieted for the most part.

"I suppose you'd better prepare something whether they eat it or not," Jareel replied. "At least we will have done our part. If they refuse to eat, then it's their own fault."

The two masters lightly chatted while Qui-Gon cooked. Jareel tried to watch, without making it look like he was watching his friend's preparations. The padawans were trying to decide whether they dared tell anymore frightening stories.

"You know that was only a baby that we saw today," Obi-Wan tried to say with a straight face. "Those animals grow to be huge! Then they can run faster than you. You'll never be able to get away from them."

"I don't believe you."

"You're just trying to scare us again."

"Tell us some more about the Mad Wookie."

Obi-Wan and Daven exchanged a glance. Daven looked doubtful. Obi-Wan glanced quickly at his master and lowered his voice.

"The Mad Wookie almost always gets one kid from every trip."

"No."

"That's a lie."

"Then why do they still bring initiates here?"

"How do you think they get rid of the extras?" Obi-Wan asked. "I mean…look how many there are. How many masters already have padawans? There's too many initiates for the masters to choose from."

Daven elbowed Obi-Wan and gave him a dirty look.

"Then why do the Jedi keep bringing children to the temple if there's too many?"

"To satisfy the Mad Wookie. If he takes the young ones, then the masters are safe."

"Obi-Wan!" Daven said in a low but severe voice.

"But…but…I thought the masters are brave…"

"Oh, they are. But the temple needs all the masters for missions. The council can spare a few kids."

Daven's mouth fell open. He stood and walked away. He wanted no part of this. Obi-Wan insisted on getting in trouble, but he wasn't going to take Daven with him. The apprentice walked over to the two masters. He wanted them to remember he had been with them while Obi-Wan was telling tales to the little ones.

"Tired of the stories already Daven?" Qui-Gon asked.

"What is Obi-Wan telling?" Jareel inquired.

Daven was stuck. He didn't want to get his friend in trouble…but he couldn't lie to his master. "Ah…um…." He put a hand to his head and crinkled his brow while he tried to think. But Jareel misinterpreted.

"Are you all right Daven? Here sit down. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong Master. I'm all right."

"Then what was that all about?"

"I was just thinking."

"You looked like you were about to faint."

That's what I felt like when you asked me that question. But he said nothing out loud. That distracted the masters' attention momentarily. Daven was quickly trying to think of a new topic of conversation.

"Daven…I don't want to bother you," Qui-Gon began. "But could you…" his voice died off while he was trying to reach his back.

"Of course." The padawan moved behind the master and began scratching, hoping this would continue to divert their attention.

Qui-Gon let his head drop forward. He sighed and moaned relief…and lost track of what he'd been doing.

"Ah…Qui-Gon, old friend," Jareel said.

He looked up in time to see the vigorous boil of what he'd been cooking. At once he moved the pot from the fire and stirred.

The big man chuckled. "At least I don't burn what I cook."

The way the initiates gathered close to the fire, the masters were certain Obi-Wan must have been telling what he had agreed not to tell…something frightening. Qui-Gon caught his eyes and gave him a severe look…an "I'll deal with you later look." And…as Daven had hoped, they remembered that Daven was with them while Obi-Wan scared the children.

It was much easier to get them into bed this night. They were tired from the…interesting day they'd had. Before they let the initiates retreat to their tents, Qui-Gon and Jareel reminded them that if they awoke in the night for any reason, they were to go to the padawan's tents. Obi-Wan and Daven groaned but said nothing…until they were away from the masters that is.

"You scared them again. We're not going to get any sleep tonight. You realize that don't you?"

"Oh…it won't be that bad. The first night is the worst because everything is so new to them. It'll be all right. Don't worry."

"Oh, I'm not worried. I'll take them to the bathroom. I do share some responsibility for the first telling of the Mad Wookie story, but I'm not sleeping with them. I'll send them to your tent."

The next morning Jareel awoke refreshed and ready to greet the day. It had been a wonderful sleep…except for the odor in his enclosed tent. But once he'd gotten to sleep that wasn't a problem anymore. He'd forgotten how nice it was to sleep out in the wilderness like this…uninterrupted that is. He spent a short time in meditation and then crawled out of his tent.

It was late morning. Why wasn't anyone else awake yet? He went to Qui-Gon's tent. It was empty. He glanced around. At once, he was alarmed. He checked a couple of the initiates' tents, which were empty also. Jareel was about to go to Daven's tent when he saw Qui-Gon walking into the camp.

"Where have you been? I was wondering about you," the blonde man said in a severe voice.

"Sorry. I didn't know you'd be up before I got back. Just bathing…again. I think I got some more of that off me. The aroma doesn't seem quite so strong." He sniffed his arm.

"Where is everyone else? Are they bathing too?"

"What do you mean?"

"They weren't with you? Some of the children's tents are empty."

Qui-Gon stiffened at that news. He started toward Obi-Wan's tent when the padawan came crawling out. He didn't bother to get up but just fell into a sitting heap. He had dark circles under his red rimmed eyes. Behind him five children scrambled out.

Jareel laughed. Qui-Gon looked up at him…and then started laughing. Obi-Wan was too miserable to complain about the treatment. The big Jedi turned just in time to see Daven crawl out of his tent and collapse to the ground…as children began crawling out behind him.

"The first night is the worst," he grumbled. "Everything's new to them. It won't be a problem."

"Shut up Daven," Obi-Wan mumbled.

Jareel suggested a morning of fishing and cooking their catch for lunch. This was met with mixed reactions. Enthusiasm and squeamishness. "Another requirement from the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual is to glean a meal from your surroundings. It is necessary for you to participate," the big man said in finality.

That seemed to leave little room for argument…so off they went to the river. As they walked, there was much whispering up and down the line.

"You haven't heard yet?"

"Heard what. What's going on?"

"Shh! I'll tell you but you can't let any of the adults know."

The intense buzzing was interrupted when Jareel stopped the group before they got to the river.

"First we have to find bait."

"What's that?" Onon scratched his head.

Qui-Gon saw that. "Um…Onon." He motioned the boy over and knelt down.

"We have to find insects. That's what the fish like to eat. We need something to entice them with."

"Yuck!"

"Bugs!"

"We're going to eat fish after they ate bugs."

"YUCK!"

"Stop it right now! You've eaten fish before. There's nothing wrong with it. You are just finding out how they are caught. You have to learn this kind of thing to be a Jedi. Your life might depend on it some day. If you get stuck in the wilderness on some strange planet, how are you going to survive? Don't you want to learn these things? It's part of your training."

No one dared grumble any more. Part of their training. They knew that was important. To show unwillingness to participate in training…that would not reflect good on them…especially to masters who were looking for padawans. They didn't want Master Jareel or Master Qui-Gon to say bad things about them.

"That's better. Now, let's find some insects and we can keep them in this container."

The wooziness they had first experienced over the thought of bugs and eating fish they would have to clean only worsened when it came time to put the bait on their hooks. Some initiates were quick to do it. Others insisted they couldn't. So, the masters and padawans spent most of their time with bait and taking caught fish off the lines.

Soon the initiates were engaged in competition over who could catch the most and the biggest. With the adults to deal with the more repulsive parts of the outing, the children were having great fun. Even the lingering odor was soon forgotten as catch was compared with catch.

Before they had realized how much time had slipped away, Jareel was calling a halt to their fun.

"We were just starting to have fun."

"Yeah. You always stop us when things get to be fun."

"Do we have to go?"

"Can't we cook here?"

"We have to get back. Soon you'll be saying you're hungry. We've got to prepare the fish. We can't cook here because we don't have everything we need. And I already told you before, you are here as part of your training…to learn, not to have fun. Now have I answered everyone's questions?"

With much grumbling and whispering the initiates began to leave.

"Wait! Aren't you forgetting something? Your fish."

"We have to carry them?"

"I though you were going to do that."

"I have to touch them?"

"Yuck!"

"All right, no afternoon activities. I think we all need some meditation and reflection time to focus ourselves," Jareel answered the complaints. Before a new round could begin he added, "The more you complain, the more meditation and time of seclusion you get."

There was only a light sound of mumbling as the children got their fish and followed the apprentices back to camp.

"First you couldn't get them to fish. Then they didn't want to stop." Qui-Gon grinned wryly.

"Little space pirates," Jareel mumbled. "We weren't like that, were we?"

"We were too afraid to be like that with Master Thane around."

"We're too soft on them. Maybe a little more time in something serious instead of trying to keep them entertained. That's the problem. We're trying so hard to keep them interested that is it like entertainment. They expect to have fun."

"Well, nothing wrong with having a little fun."

"Aye, I agree. But they are just spoiled. They have it too easy."

"Now you sound like one of those sour old masters." Qui-Gon grinned.

"Dirty space dog! You let me be the mean leader in charge while you sit back and criticize."

"Oh no!" they heard from the front of the line as they were coming into camp. The two masters hurried forward to see what the problem was. The camp had been ransacked. Food containers, open and unopen lay around. Food was scattered around. A few sleeping bags were either out or half out of the tents. The clothes that had been left hanging to air out were half hanging or on the ground.

Jareel picked up a ripped open prepackaged meal. "I told you about properly putting your food away and you didn't listen. That's what drew…whatever to the camp. Now look at this. There's probably half your food on the ground."

On a planet away from Coruscant, with a limited food supply…that was suddenly smaller. The children suddenly had visions of starving.

"We can call the temple for more food, can't we?"

"All we have to do is go back to the landing area…to the cabins."

"I want to go home."

"Shh! Listen to me. We can't go home. The ship doesn't come until the end of the week except in medical emergency. We won't starve. We're just going to have to find food around us. We caught enough fish for lunch and supper. It will be all right. Now, you can start cleaning the camp up while we adults start cleaning the fish and cooking lunch. And…I don't want to hear any complaints!"

There were no complaints…no loud ones anyway. The initiates quietly grumbled and whispered as they set to work. The masters and padawans settled themselves to begin cleaning the catch. Obi-Wan sat down gingerly and slowly. Qui-Gon looked around. "Onon. I'll let you get back to that in a minute. I need you."

The boy was happy for the reprieve and came at once to scratch Qui-Gon's back.

"Are you sure your back really itches that much? I think you just enjoy that too much," Jareel remarked.

But Qui-Gon had his eyes closed and wasn't listening.

The initiates had taken a cautious approach to their meal. The fish took on a whole new meaning to them now that they had seen how they were caught and prepared. Most of them ended up eating happily though.

"Things are different now," Jareel was saying to Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Daven. "We do have fish for supper, but I think we should go ahead and find something else now instead of waiting until we need it. Qui-Gon, since you've had recent experience, why don't you and I go look. I'd rather not have the little ones scattered around the forest…especially now that we have them smelling better." Then he looked skeptically at the padawans. "Do you think you two can handle them?"

"Yes Master Jareel," Obi-Wan said confidently.

"We'll do our best," Daven said, being more realistic.

The big Jedi studied them a moment. "Qui-Gon are they to be trusted? After all they were told not to be telling more scary stories."

In a firm tone Qui-Gon said, "I think they have learned their lesson after last night. I don't think there will be any more such stories, will there Obi-Wan?"

"No Master Qui-Gon," he said quietly.

"Stay in camp. We have enough problems with out chasing lost children."

"Yes Master."

Late in the afternoon, the two masters returned with their robes slung over their shoulders like bags. They were about to burst with the bounty the two had found in the long and cautious search. The pair had tasted small samples of everything they had brought back. So far, neither of them felt sick. They were comfortable with all the precautions they had practiced in trying to avoid anything toxic. The initiates were glad to see them…or more correctly…glad to see what they brought back. They wouldn't starve!

"So…what did you do while we were gone?" Qui-Gon asked slowly.

"We practiced Force control exercises," Obi-Wan replied hoping his master wouldn't question him too closely.

Qui-Gon was pleasantly surprised…but he pictured the kind of exercises that he had done with Obi-Wan. But that had little resemblance to what had gone on in camp. The padawans had done all the exercise. The initiates had been on the receiving end of many exciting somersaults and various levitations. It had been great fun…and had helped the young ones in formulating their plans. When Obi-Wan and Daven had begun to toss the initiates around, it gave certain ones of them ideas…more ideas to add to what they already had. The padawans were so caught up in the entertainment they were completely unaware of all the whispering and staring that was going on behind them.

It had been another tiring day for initiates and masters both. They didn't linger too long around the fire before many started drifting to their tents for the night. The adults stayed around the fire chatting until they were certain the little ones were all in their tents and settling down.

Soon the padawans gave up and went to bed. Jareel stood to take his leave.

"Uh…Jareel, old friend."

The big man looked around and Qui-Gon pointed sheepishly at his back.

"I still say you are using this as an excuse just to get your back scratched." Jareel knelt behind his friend and scratched.

"Not so hard! Yeah…that's better. That's it. Right there. Yeah…ah…." His head slumped forward.

Yes…Qui-Gon was enjoying this too much. Jareel kept it up for a couple more minutes. Then feeling a tug from the dark side, he pushed Qui-Gon over on to the ground and began to tickle him.

"Stop! Space dog!"

At once the big man stopped…but only because he didn't want the children who were already asleep wakened. "I'll finish this some other time," he promised as he got up to go to his tent.

"Thanks for the warning," Qui-Gon called after him.

Obi-Wan was in a semi-conscious state…almost asleep.

"Obi-Wan…Obi-Wan."

He groaned. "Nightmare or other?"

"It's not either of those."

Obi-Wan raised his head to see Harth crouched just inside the tent. "What do you want then? And it had better be good."

"The other initiates have been talking about something. We thought maybe you could help us with it." Obi-Wan didn't say anything…but he was getting frustrated. "Have you heard of the master prank?"

A small smile came to the padawan's lips. "I didn't know that story was still around."

"Will you help us?"

In the middle of breakfast the following morning, a light rain began to fall.

"To your tents everyone. It's the only shelter we have."

"Can we share tents so we don't have to be alone?"

"If you can fit," the big man replied. "But…be careful. Don't rip the tent. It's all the shelter you have. Don't come to me if you tear your tent up trying to fit all your friends in."

Jareel climbed into his roomy tent. Another advantage of being so big and strong. He was able to carry a big tent without problem. The big man needed a big tent. Jareel was so tired of being big in an average sized world. He brought a nice roomy tent that could have held two Jareels. He lay on his sleeping bag and sighed. A day to relax…and the light rain on the tent was peaceful.

"Like some company?" Qui-Gon's head popped in.

"Sure. Plenty of room. Come on in." The blonde Jedi looked sidelong at him. "You didn't just come in here to get your back scratched did you?"

The elder Jedi laughed. "No, that wasn't the reason I came here…but as long as you mention it…." He turned his back to his friend.

Jareel began scratching. "I can't wait until Mi'al gets back. I have several questions to ask him."

"Still think I'm faking?" Qui-Gon asked in a very relaxed voice.

"Yes I do, as a matter of fact." He paused as he listened. The pace of the rainfall picked up suddenly.

"But you know that I'm still on limited duty until I recover. The itching is part of my healing. Hmm…sounds like quite a storm coming up now."

"Yes, I know you are still healing…but I still think you may be using that to your advantage." Thunder boomed over them. "Do you think they'll be frightened by that?"

"Aren't they old enough to be past that?"

"I hope so. We've had our share of…the unexpected on this trip."

"It's really raining hard though."

A wet head poked in. "Master Jareel, can I come in here," Lonar asked shyly.

"You're supposed to be in your own tent not standing there in the rain. Come in here. Why are you out in the rain?"

"Water is coming in my tent," the dripping initiate said as she entered.

"What? Do you mean it's leaking?"

"No, it's coming in the bottom."

"It's flooding?" Jareel frowned.

"Yes Master Jareel."

The two masters looked at each other. "Some of the tents are in a low area…or a natural drainage path."

"Master Jareel…"

"Come in Unya."

The scale-covered girl came in followed by Harth.

"Water coming in your tents?" the blonde Jedi sighed.

"Yes Master Jareel."

Qui-Gon's comlink buzzed. "Yes?"

"Master some of the tents are flooding."

"Yes I know. Is yours?"

"Yes."

"Go to mine and see if it's wet. You may have to get some of initiates in with you. I don't know how many tents are affected…or how many we can get in with us."

When everyone was finally in a non-flooded tent, Jareel and Qui-Gon had six of the children with them…boys and girls. The initiates thought it was great. Now there was a bigger group of them. It was like a party.

"Did you know that Pura has been flirting with Onon?"

"What? She told me that she couldn't stand him!"

"She must have lied to you."

"No, she really didn't like him…but he's been nice to her…doing things for her."

"Oooohhh! So he started flirting first."

"No, he was just being nice. She's the one who's been passing notes to him and waving across the room to him."

"She's so silly. Nobody does that kind of thing anymore. It's childish."

"You know how Pura likes attention. She wants everyone to know she's flirting."

"She's a dumb girl. What do you expect?"

"Girls aren't dumb."

"OW! Don't hit me."

"Lonar," Jareel said in frustration. "No hitting. I'll make you go sit in your wet tent. Now apologize."

"I'm sorry Harth."

The incident was forgotten at once and the party was back in full swing.

"I heard that Master Tilor is going to pick…." A look over a shoulder at the two masters, then in a lower voice, "Rhea."

"Rhea! Really?"

"Shh!" A nod toward the two adults.

"But Rhea. He's sooooo dumb."

"He's nice though."

"Yeah, but nice doesn't make you a good Jedi."

"Well…maybe Master Tilor can make him a good Jedi."

"Ha! Good luck to her! Rhea couldn't turn his light saber on without instructions."

Jareel leaned close to Qui-Gon and whispered, "We weren't like this when we were that age…were we?"

Qui-Gon smirked. "Not at all, old friend. We talked about much more mature things. Like the ascendancy to the throne of Khala."

The big man shot him a dirty look. "You know what I mean."

"What exactly do you mean?"

The conversation disturbed the party and the children turned to watch the masters argue. They were at once aware of the attention and got quiet.

"Master Jareel?"

"Yes?"

"How old are you?"

"Old enough. You can't count that high."

The little ones laughed.

"No, really. How old are you?"

"I'm four years younger than Qui-Gon," he said with a smirk to his friend.

"How old are you Master Qui-Gon?"

"I'm sixty," he said without hesitation.

"So Master Jareel is…fifty-six."

"Wow! You are old!"

"But we're not dead yet," Jareel laughed.

"How old do you think you'll be when you die?"

"Probably fifty-six," he mumbled.

"What does that mean? Are you about to die?"

"Are you sick Master Jareel?"

"Are you dying?"

"No! I'm not dying. I don't know how old I'll be when I die. How does anyone know?"

"Well…I thought maybe you might know from the Force."

"The Force doesn't tell you everything," the big man pointed out. "Some things are better left unknown."

"Oh."

Obi-Wan's head popped in. "It has quit raining…for the moment."

"Thank goodness!" Jareel grumbled. "You are going to have to let me out. I have to see what's going on."

The kids came out into the drippy air. As soon as Jareel and Qui-Gon got out, they hurried back in.

The Jedi stood and surveyed the sorry sight of a few tents standing in a large pool of water.

"Looks like a low area just collected water," Jareel observed. "We'd better get the tents out of there."

"Where are we going to put them?" Qui-Gon asked. "There's not much space left in this clearing."

"I have no idea…but we can't leave them there. We've got sleeping bags to dry out…and sleeping arrangements to settle."

Some time after mid day the whole campsite had been rearranged. The small tents had been crammed as close together as the adults could fit them. Sleeping bags hung from trees. Clothes and other wet things from the tents were laid out or hung so they could dry. It looked as if a small village had done all their laundry and hung it to dry.

"Master Jareel."

"Yes Harth?"

"What if it starts to rain again?"

"Then Harth, I will cry." Jareel turned and walked away.

"Will he really Master Qui-Gon?"

"No," he smiled. "Master Jareel is just…frustrated. We hope it doesn't rain again."

"Where are we all going to sleep tonight?"

"We're thinking about it."

"Master Qui-Gon!"

"Yes Lonar?"

"I can't find my other slipper."

He took a deep breath. Qui-Gon thought he might cry too. "Have you looked everywhere?"

"Well…no. I guess not everywhere. Will you help me?"

"I can't. We have to decide who's going to sleep where. Get one of your friends to help you look."

"Master Qui-Gon."

"Obi-Wan! Please…come here and help me. Please…see what the children need." Then the tall Jedi realized what was causing part of his aggravation. "Onon! Where are you?"

Supper was a quiet affair. The children sensed the tension in the air and were afraid to make either of the masters mad at them…especially since their special plans were for this night. They didn't even complain about their makeshift meal that the masters had found in the forest for them. There was an excited buzz of short whispers. Jareel and Qui-Gon didn't seem to notice however. They were still trying to work out who would sleep where.

It wasn't a question of not enough tents. A tent wasn't absolutely necessary. In fact, Jareel was going to give up his large tent to as many initiates as it could hold. But…there weren't enough dry sleeping bags. It was already decided that the adults would give up their sleeping bags to the initiates. Because they were bigger, the bags could contain more than one child. If they could convince the others to sleep on some sort of ground cloth and open the sleeping bag up to cover with, more than one child would be covered. They could squeeze it out that way. The trick was getting the initiates to accept all this. Jareel had little hope of that going smoothly. Even the smallest inconvenience was met with much complaining and whining.

Not able to put it off any longer, the big blonde man stood. "Little ones, I know that you are probably not going to be happy with what I have to say…but we've talked this over and over. This is the best plan we can come up with. It's not going to be easy…or fun. You know half the bedding is wet. So…unless you want to sleep in a wet bag…or you have a better suggestion…that will work for everyone…this is it."

Jareel laid out the plan he and Qui-Gon had so carefully put together. The initiates didn't like what they were hearing…but somehow they had been prepared for it. Even they could figure out that with wet sleeping bags, something was going to have to be sacrificed. That's one of the things they had discussed while they ate. It was decided no matter how bad it was, no one was to complain. Nothing could interfere with their plans. There had been much threatening for all to keep quiet. Even now as the sleeping plan was unfolding, there was much elbowing and fingers to lips. Faces fell…but no one said a word.

Jareel finished and prepared for the bombardment of complaints and whining. But all the children just sat and stared. Even Obi-Wan was amazed at their control. He stared in admiration at them. His look only encouraged them.

Jareel was dumbfounded. "Are there any…questions…or…complaints," he asked hesitantly. More elbowing as initiates could see a companion about to speak up. "No one has anything to say?"

"Master Jareel?"

Ah…here it comes. "Yes?"

"I'm tired. Can I go to bed?"

"Me too."

"Yeah."

The blonde Jedi looked around in confusion. He looked at Qui-Gon who was equally amazed.

"Uh…yes. Go on to bed if that's what you want."

At once, the initiates began even helping get things laid out. The masters were astonished.

"Maybe they realize the gravity of the situation and are trying to be nice about it?" Qui-Gon posited.

Jareel shrugged his broad shoulders. "I guess…"

Soon all the children were in bed. The masters decided they and the padawans should go to sleep also...to keep from disturbing the children while they were so agreeable.

"Are you sure you and Obi-Wan are going to be able to sleep on the hard ground…still being sore?" Jareel asked his friend.

"It will be all right. I can fold my robe and use it for some cushioning."

"Here take mine also."

"You'll need it."

"No. I insist. You need it more."

"Good night Jareel."

The big man still couldn't believe how cooperative the children were…and how quiet they were now. Maybe Qui-Gon was right. Maybe they were more mature than he was giving them credit for. Jareel put the thoughts away. He was tired. If this was going to go over so well, he wanted to get to sleep before someone woke up in the night deciding they couldn't sleep that way after all. He relaxed himself and soon was sound asleep.

Obi-Wan lay next to Qui-Gon and Daven next to Jareel. Each padawan was watching his master intently and listening closely. When they were sure each was asleep, they quietly crawled away.

"Obi-Wan, I don't know if tonight is such a good night to try this," Daven whispered. "Master Jareel is awful upset and tired."

"That's all the more reason to do it now. It will cheer him up. He'll think it's funny."

"I don't know about this. I have a bad feeling."

"Come on. Do you want to be part of history…or not?"

Obi-Wan didn't wait for an answer but just crept to Jareel's tent. "Shh! They are asleep. You better be careful not to wake them." The initiates came crawling out silently and began to alert the other children.

The last group to report in had one of the inflatable boats with them. They were trying to carry the squeaky thing quietly with much shushing and arguing.

"Shh!" Obi-Wan admonished. "Follow Daven."

The padawan ignited his light saber. They needed some illumination but didn't want to use one of the portable lamps in case someone were to accidentally shine it in one of the masters' faces. Also, the padawans knew there were many animals about in the forest. Daven started through the forest followed by four children carrying the boat.

Obi-Wan looked at his wrist chrono. "We'll give them ten minutes."

"All right. It's been ten minutes. They should be ready for us. Are you ready?"

Several heads nodded. The initiates wanted to do this themselves. Obi-Wan was there to illuminate their way, advise…and in case of an emergency…to intervene. He stood aside and watched to see what would happen.

The children concentrated and the big Jedi's body began to rise from the ground. They were able to levitate him! There were a few giggles.

"Shh!" Obi-Wan admonished. "You have to keep quiet. Can you do it? You have to concentrate. Let me know if you need my help."

At that moment, Qui-Gon mumbled something and turned over. They all froze…but it seemed as if he were just moving about in his sleep. He was still and quiet.

"Let's get out of here before we wake him," Obi-Wan whispered.

The slumbering body of Jareel began floating through the forest. Obi-Wan led the way, lighting the path with his saber. He kept looking back to check on their control. Jareel kept floating up and down. He was afraid they were going to wake him. But he kept snoring.

"Obi-Wan, I'm getting tired."

"Me too."

"OK, I'll help." He focused on the Force and helped lift.

Daven saw Obi-Wan's blue blade through the darkness. "Here they come," he whispered.

The ones holding the boat were amazed and impressed. Jareel was still snoring away. Gently they lowered him into the boat and set it adrift close to the shore in the quiet water.

"Let's go," Obi-Wan said as he began hurrying back toward the camp. The children followed his blue saber light and Daven brought up the rear. He wondered how long Jareel would sleep before he finally would be wakened by the motion. And he wondered how angry he would be…but he also wondered how famous they were going to be for pulling off a stunt that had been tried so very many times…and succeeded so very few.

About half way back…just when they were all beginning to think they had pulled it off, a large dark furry shape jumped into their path snarling and growling.

"The Mad Wookie!" someone yelled.

The air was split with shrieks, screams and shouts. Then initiates and padawans alike all scattered different ways.

Obi-Wan was first back to camp. He went to where Master Qui-Gon had been sleeping. He wasn't there. He must have heard the screaming and came to see what it was. The apprentice wasn't sure what to do. There were children lost in the woods…but he didn't know where to look for them. He turned on the portable lamps and began calling out, hoping the noise and light would be a beacon. The padawan stood with light saber ready in case the Wookie showed up.

Wookie? It can't be. That's a made up story! But…that's what it looked like! It was a Wookie! Is the story real after all? It can't be!

Just when he was thinking he should go looking for the children, a couple ran into the camp. They ran to Obi-Wan and grabbed onto him.

"It's the Mad Wookie. You were right! You didn't make it up!"

"Do you know where any of the others are?" he asked.

"No! Don't leave us."

"I won't. I have to stay here and keep you safe."

Another couple came into the camp.

Obi-Wan kept calling out over and over.

"Shh! The Mad Wookie will hear you!"

"I have to let everyone know how to get back! I've got my light saber. You have yours. Now help me. Be Jedi. That's what you are."

Daven came running in with a couple of children close behind.

"Where's Master Qui-Gon?"

"I don't know. He was gone when I got here."

"We've got to go get Master Jareel."

"No. We have to stay here and keep the children safe…and find the others. You stay here. I'm going out in the forest and find the others."

In about fifteen or twenty minutes all the initiates were back safely in camp. They hovered in one big group around the padawans.

"Please start a fire."

"Yeah. It's too dark."

"Maybe it's afraid of fire."

"Obi-Wan," Daven implored. "We've got to find Master Jareel and Master Qui-Gon."

There was a snarl from the forest. Children screamed and tried to get closer to the apprentices. Then the two Jedi masters came walking into the camp.

"What's the matter Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked calmly.

"Where have you been? Are you all right? Did you see the Wookie?"

"Master Jareel," Daven cried out. "How did you get back?"

"I didn't go anywhere."

"What?"

"Who could stay asleep with that bumpy ride. And did you really think I was going to go to sleep after these space pirates were so angelic about the new sleeping arrangements? Do you think I am so thick? You think I didn't know something was up? I can tell you every twist and turn of the path you took. I can even tell you when Obi-Wan started helping."

The padawans' mouths fell open. "How did you know?" Daven asked.

Jareel draped a big arm around his apprentice's shoulders. "It's easy. Who do you think originated that prank?"

"You!"

"Yes. On our wilderness trip, Qui-Gon and I did it to Master Thane…for the first time. It was my idea. Qui-Gon helped because he was innocent and no one would suspect him. We floated Thane right down that river and he didn't wake up until he was kilometers down the river." Jareel burst into raucous laughter.

"Master?" Obi-Wan said.

"It's true Obi-Wan. Every word. You can ask Master Yoda. He's the one who made sure we carried out our punishment."

"You were awake the whole time?" Daven asked again.

"Yes. You little ones have much to learn about control."

"Wait a minute," Obi-Wan suddenly remembered. "The Mad Wookie!"

Jareel and Qui-Gon began laughing again.

"You?" Daven said.

"I started that story…on our wilderness trip," Jareel wiped tears away.

"But…what I saw in the forest," Obi-Wan said.

"Was me," Qui-Gon grinned.

"No…what I saw was brown and furry."

Qui-Gon pulled out a piece of brown furry material.

"Where…"

"For old time's sake I brought it along. We used it the night Jareel made up that story. How many did we scare?"

"I don't remember," Jareel laughed. "Several. Even made ol' Thane jump."

The initiates didn't find any of it funny. They were mad and let down. Their great plan found out and foiled…worse, they had a trick pulled on them. Some of them were trying to think of holes in the story. They just couldn't believe they had been had…by adults!

"All right," Jareel announced. "I think we've had our fun and excitement for the night. Back to bed everyone…for real this time!"

The children complied…and without complaining! They were still upset and trying to piece the whole thing together. And they were tired.

Jareel and Qui-Gon lay down on the ground near each other.

"Old friend," Jareel began, "I don't feel so old suddenly."

"Oh…do you think you're twelve again?"

"I know better than that. I just said I don't feel so old." He chuckled. "Did you see their faces when we came walking into camp."

Qui-Gon laughed. "Yes. I'm not sure who was the more frightened, the initiates or the padawans."

"Master!" Obi-Wan said.

"Hey…it's not polite to eavesdrop."

"It's hard not to out here."

"Go to sleep Obi-Wan. We'll have a talk later about plotting pranks against your master," he said with a wink to Jareel.

"Master Jareel…you really were awake the whole time?"

"Yes young one. It was hard not to laugh…especially when they almost dropped me. Little space pirates finally had to ask you for your help."

That convinced Obi-Wan. He lay back down and closed his eyes.

Qui-Gon grinned. "Too bad we can't brag to anyone. We'd be legends…just like before."

"Oh…who says we can't brag?"

"You're really going to go back and tell the other masters about all this?"

"And why not? Wouldn't they expect such out of me anyway?"

"Well…not recently, no."

"Then it's time for them to realize that the same Jareel that originated those pranks has returned…especially Leish."

"Jareel…"

"Good night, old friend."

"All right you little space pirates, up with you. Just because you were up late with your pranks doesn't mean you can lounge about. We still have things to do. You haven't met all the requirements of the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual yet."

There was much groaning and complaining. Actually, Jareel had let them sleep a little longer because they were up late, but it wasn't enough for them. They were slow to respond. Finally, the big Jedi started going around and pulling at least one child from each tent to show he was serious.

A group of sleepy eyed children sat around eating their breakfast in silence. Daven and Obi-Wan sat near the masters…but still separated from them. They were still discussing the events of the previous night. The initiates, however, wanted to forget their backfired joke.

"Since you did have a hard night last night, we'll take it a little easy today," Jareel said after he finished eating. "We need to talk about first aid in the wilderness. That will be easy enough on you. You have five minutes to change and visit the trees and then we'll get started."

The group slowly began moving.

"What exactly does this involve," Qui-Gon asked.

"According to the manual, just basic aid for minor injuries."

"What about major ones?"

"That's what comlinks are for," Jareel grinned. "Something wrong? What are you looking for?"

"Onon."

"I think he's busy. Come here."

Qui-Gon turned his back and closed his eyes in anticipation of the expected relief. He actually was going to be a little disappointed when the itching was gone. It was annoying to be sure…but the back scratching felt so good…. He wondered how long he could use that as an excuse before others started questioning him. Probably not long. He was still truly having a great deal of itching and Jareel already doubted him.

"Master Jareel, I can't find my other shoe."

"Where did you take them off? Did you look there?"

"I can't find my belt."

"Look again. You had it last night didn't you?"

"Master Jareel, I can't find…"

"You little ones are old enough to keep up with your own things. This isn't a prank on ol' Jareel because you're still upset about last night is it? Everyone can't be missing something."

About ten minutes later the initiates were finally all gathered. Some missing things had been found…some had not. It was a motley looking bunch with some not completely dressed and all still drowsy looking.

Trying to ignore what he was certain was part of their way of getting back at him, the big man began, "We are going to talk about what to do in a minor emergency when you are away from civilization. The first thing is to determine if it is a minor emergency or a major one. Whatever you can not manage on your own is a major emergency. Even if it is a small cut. If it is bleeding a great deal and you can not stop the bleeding…then you can not handle it on your own. And, it's always better to err on the side of safety. If you are in doubt about anything…consider it major. The most important device for a major emergency is this." He held up his comlink. "If you need help…call for it. It's that simple. Now we will talk about what to do for minor injuries…or what to do while you wait for help."

Talk of blood and emergencies seemed to get some of the initiates more interested while others hoped there wouldn't be too much more said about blood.

"I'll need two volunteers named Obi-Wan and Daven," Jareel turned to the two padawans. They looked surprised, but realized they had not been given a choice. The pair had an idea of what was coming. Slowly they walked over to the big blonde man. "Thank you for volunteering. You may as well lie down and get comfortable."

Jareel gave a short talk about the Force and healing, emphasizing that healing was not instantaneous. That answered the question that was waiting to be asked about why they need to know this stuff. Then he broke the initiates into two groups. One group gathered around Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and the other around Jareel and Daven. The two masters began to demonstrate on their apprentices proper bandaging techniques and how to immobilize broken limbs. Then came the moment the children had been looking forward to…and the padawans had been dreading.

"Now," Jareel announced. "You get to try what you have learned. Qui-Gon and I will watch and advise…but you get to make all the decisions about what's wrong with your patient and what you will do for him."

Obi-Wan looked with pleading eyes to his master who was trying not to smile.

Just think of it as your punishment for that stunt last night.

Yes Master. At least he knew his penalty…and that it would soon be over.

The worst part of being bandaged was that the little ones didn't stop to think about how tightly they were wrapping the material. Obi-Wan refused to let them work on his still healing leg. It was sore enough without their torture. He looked over to Daven who was having his head wrapped for a deep gash to his forehead. The bandage was half over his eyes. The padawan had his eyes closed and was completely still. Obi-Wan wondered if he was just trying to endure…or if they had really hurt his friend.

"Daven?"

"Shh! You're supposed to be unconscious. You can't talk," Onon declared as he stuck some tape over Obi-Wan's mouth. With one arm immobilized and an entire group trying to wrap his other arm, he wasn't able to pull the tape away.

Master!

Sorry Obi-Wan. I can't talk to you. You're unconscious.

Then Daven yelped and Obi-Wan turned in time to see the initiates trying to roll him onto a makeshift stretcher. They weren't very careful in their preparations though and when they tried to lift him, the stretcher gave way and Daven fell though to the ground. At once, his rescuers were at his side inundating him with questions about where he hurt.

The apprentice fought his way out of the crowd, pulling at bandages. "Master, please!"

"All right," Jareel chuckled. "You can have a break. Why don't you go to the river and bring back that string of fish. You can start cleaning them."

At once, the padawan was away. Anything would have been better than more of that abuse. Daven was glad to be away, in the quiet of the forest. With the initiates not around, it was very pleasant. He slowed his pace so he wouldn't have to be back too soon.

As he neared the river, he thought about last night. A wry smile crossed his face. He should have known. Somehow, he should have known that Master Jareel was involved in the Mad Wookie story and the master prank. At first, he had been shocked…and someone doubtful of the story…but now thinking back it all made sense. His boisterous and fun loving master must have been even more so as a child before he learned to reign in his passions.

Daven looked for the marker they had set up on the riverbank. It was there…but knocked down. Idly he wondered if that happened in the confusion of last night. The padawan replaced the marker and reached in the water to haul the fish out. The line was lighter than he remembered. When he got it out, he could see why. A large part of their catch was gone! How did that happen? There was no one else around but them. If it were an animal, wouldn't it have taken the whole line? He didn't understand…but he did understand lunch was going to be short. The apprentice grabbed the remaining catch and hurried back.

As he pondered the question of the missing fish, a noise caught his attention. Daven looked up in time to see a dark furry figure disappear into the trees. For a second or two, he was startled, but then he understood. The "Mad Wookie". That must be why Master Jareel sent him, so he could pick on him about being frightened last night. That must also explain the fish. Further "proof" of the loose Wookie. The padawan grinned and continued to camp.

Daven entered the small clearing in time to see Obi-Wan bandaged almost head to toe…including his right leg. The initiates had immobilized it so they couldn't injure it. Now they were trying to roll him onto a stretcher. The children were about to lift it when Obi-Wan began trying to cry out around the tape over his mouth.

"Shh! You're unconscious."

As he feared, when they lifted him, he tumbled to the ground. Now he was making louder noises.

Master! Please! They're going to break my leg all over again!

Qui-Gon tried not to laugh. "I think that's enough for now."

"Yes," Jareel agreed. "We are going to have to start preparing lunch soon."

"First you have to return the fish you took," Daven grinned.

"What?"

"I don't know how you got back so fast Master. You almost had me fooled."

"What are you talking about Daven?"

"Master," the apprentice seemed miffed. "It's bad enough what happened last night. You don't have to make me look more foolish by pulling this prank on me."

"What prank? What are you talking about?"

"I saw you in the forest with that brown thing wrapped around you. You took the fish, didn't you?" He held the line up with the reduced catch on it.

"No. I didn't bother the fish." Then Jareel's eyes narrowed. "This is your prank isn't it? You're trying to get back at me. You come with this story of a creature and left part of the fish."

"No! I didn't do that. This is all that was left, really."

Jareel looked at Qui-Gon who looked at Daven who looked at Obi-Wan who looked at Qui-Gon who looked at Jareel.

"Do you think the little space pirates did it?"

"I don't think so Jareel," Qui-Gon said. "That's their lunch. I don't think they'd play games with that."

Jareel was still looking sidelong at his apprentice. "Let me have this. You and Obi-Wan see if you can't catch a few more while we clean these." Obi-Wan was still lying on the ground mumbling around the tape. "Let's get him loose." The Jedi began cutting away the strips of material. Obi-Wan started helping as soon as he could. He gingerly stood and rubbed his leg.

"Are you all right Padawan," Qui-Gon asked.

"I guess so. At least it's not broken again."

The two apprentices hurried away mumbling and grumbling.

"All right children. Last meal we cleaned these fish. This time you have to help."

"Awww…."

"Yuck!"

"Do we really?"

"I can't do that."

"It's one of the requirements of the Jedi Initiates Wilderness Training Manual. You have to participate, in all ways, in gleaning a meal from the wilderness. You have caught the fish and eaten them, but you haven't helped prepare them."

A requirement! They knew they wouldn't be able to get out of it now. That didn't stop the grumbling though.

"One of these days you might be glad you learned to do this," Qui-Gon responded. "It's not so far fetched that you may be in the middle of a jungle, having to rely only on yourself to find food." He wished he could impress the importance on them as he remembered his "adventure" in the jungle of Auriga.

"Do you really think Master Jareel took them?" Obi-Wan asked.

"An animal would have taken the whole line. It had to be a person. Who else would have done it?" Daven answered.

"But…even if he did, why didn't he just give back the fish? We need the food now that the camp was ransacked."

"I think this is part of our 'punishment' for helping the initiates try to pull a joke on them."

"You really think so? Certainly they know it was in fun…tradition. Every initiate does these things. They even started it! You really think they would be upset?"

"I don't know," Daven admitted. "I just can't come up with another explanation."

"Was that so bad?" Jareel was saying as the little ones were getting ready to start cooking. Of course, by now some of them had lost their appetite. Still…they had to satisfy the requirements of the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual. They would cook the stuff…but they didn't have to eat it since they had already done that. And as if knowing what some were thinking, Jareel said, "If you don't eat your lunch, that's all you get until supper. Remember, we are short on food now." This was met with more groans and complaints. "Perhaps you would like to spend the afternoon in meditation and contemplation." Relative silence fell.

"I hope this is enough," Obi-Wan said as they hurried through the forest. I don't know how long we've been gone, but I'm sure they are waiting on this."

"Yeah. I hope we have enough so we get to eat also."

"If we don't, we'll just raid the forest for something. Hey look Daven." Obi-Wan pointed to something big and dark moving through the forest.

"That's the same thing I saw earlier. I told you it was Master Jareel."

"Yeah. It looks too big to be Master Qui-Gon. But…why is he running instead of jumping out in front of us?"

"Probably because it's daytime and that sorry piece of whatever they had wouldn't look so convincing up close in the day light."

"Yeah. You're probably right." Obi-Wan was a little angry. "Even if they want to punish us, this is a bit much. The least they could do is let us have our meal and just assign us some chores or meditation."

"Well…it's over. Let's just get back so we can eat."

The two padawans got back just as the meal was winding down. Some of the initiates were glad to see extra food coming in while others were almost sick at the sight. There was enough help in cleaning that it didn't take very long. All, including the padawans, had enough to eat.

"We saw you Master Jareel," Obi-Wan spoke up. "Your costume isn't very convincing in the light is it?"

"What are you talking about young one?"

"Daven and I saw you running through the forest when we were coming back."

Jareel and Qui-Gon exchanged a puzzled look. "I was in camp the entire time you were gone. You can drop the Mad Wookie story."

Obi-Wan and Daven traded a doubtful look. This was part of the joke that the masters were playing to rub their noses in being caught at what the initiates had planned.

Qui-Gon looked around. "Onon. Please." The boy came running with a big smile on his face. He loved the praise he got from the Jedi master and was more than eager to please him.

"Onon," Obi-Wan said in a quiet voice. "Did Master Jareel leave camp after we did?"

"No," he replied. "He was showing us how to clean the fish."

"You're sure? He could have been gone a little while."

"No. He had to help everyone. He didn't leave."

Qui-Gon was listening but said nothing. He was trying to figure out what was going on. "Thank you Onon. You have a good technique. If I didn't have an apprentice…you'd be the one." He gave a quick wink to Obi-Wan to make sure his apprentice understood he was just saying that to encourage Onon.

"Now," Jareel announced. "Another requirement of the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual is for you to go out into the forest and be able to find your way back to camp." This was met with mixed reaction. To some, it meant freedom! To others, it was a little scary. "Everyone get a partner." There was mass confusion as the children argued and bargained. Finally, everyone had someone.

"Now I have maps here where I have marked the location of the camp. You will be given a map and a compass. We will walk you out to a proper distance and you have to find your way back. You won't be a very long distance away because of the animals. But…you do have your light sabers and comlinks. Line up and we'll drop everyone off. Obi-Wan, Daven, you take half of them and go that way. We'll take the others and go the opposite way."

Qui-Gon and Jareel had delivered all their charges and were on their way back to the camp.

"Hey Qui-Gon. Look."

In the distance, they could see something brown and furry running away.

"Obi-Wan and Daven?"

"Who else. They are trying to have some fun with us now. That must be why all the talk about seeing something in the forest. They hoped we'd believe it and think this was real."

Qui-Gon laughed. "They are taking it awful hard, aren't they? Well…let them have their fun. We'll just act as if we saw nothing. Don't say anything when we get back."

"All right."

The two Jedi masters strolled into camp to find the padawans lying in the grass and talking. They exchanged a smile and went over to sit near them.

"Get everyone out there all right?" Jareel asked.

"Yes Master," Daven answered.

"Good, good. Just been relaxing?"

"Yes. It's good to have a little quiet time."

"Oh yes. It's been an exciting trip. Good to relax and do nothing for a bit." He winked to Qui-Gon.

Sometime later, the first pair came hurrying into the camp, laughing and carrying on. "Yay! We're the first! That was fun…and easy."

"See," Jareel said. "I told you before that you could have fun while you learn. But the important thing is to learn. What did you learn?"

"How to use the map and compass…and the sun."

"Good."

Another group came in. "Aw! I thought we'd be first. We hurried."

"Ha! We beat you!"

"All right," Jareel said. "The important thing is that you figured out how to find your way back."

It was late afternoon and just over half were back. Jareel's comlink buzzed, "Yes?"

"Master Jareel we're lost!" The voice sounded panicked.

"Just calm down. You're not lost. You're still on Sertes. You can't figure out where you are?"

"No," the voice seemed close to tears.

"All right. I'll come after you." Jareel stood. "Qui-Gon…"

"Go on. I'll keep an eye on things here."

One of the boys laughed. "I should have know Unya and Onon would get lost."

"Now," Qui-Gon said firmly. "It isn't funny. This is a serious lesson. You all need to learn how to do this. We should be ready to help fellow Jedi, not laugh at them, right?"

"Yes Master Qui-Gon."

"And you really shouldn't tease Unya and Onon when they get back." Onon…he missed him. Qui-Gon looked around. "Harth, would you do me a favor?"

Jareel easily found the lost initiates. They really weren't so far away. The pair had just panicked and weren't thinking clearly. He got them started on the right track and let them work on their own. The big man pulled out his comlink. "Qui-Gon?"

"Yes?"

"Any others out here that I need to go look for?"

"I think we have most of them heading in now. Daven and Obi-Wan have been out too. Why don't you just come on back in?"

"Be right there."

Soon the big man was walking into the camp. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Daven were standing in the middle of the group, taking one more head count.

"Just one more group," Qui-Gon told the blonde Jedi. I've heard from them and they should be here soon."

"Good. It went better than I expected. I'm proud of you all. You did what you were supposed to do instead of playing around out there. Good job."

"We didn't want to be out in the dark with the animals," one of the children spoke up.

"Oh, there's still plenty of day light."

"But we didn't know how long it would take to get back."

The last two initiates came running into camp, eyes wide and huffing hard.

"What's wrong? Are you all right?" Jareel went down on one knee to look them over.

"The Mad Wookie! It's real. We just saw it!"

"Oh…come now."

"We really saw it! Really!"

"Jareel," Qui-Gon said in an accusatory tone.

"What?"

"Did you have to scare them?"

"I didn't do it Qui-Gon."

We were all here…and you just got back."

"And I don't have that fur with me. Go look and see if it's still in your bag."

The initiates and padawans were waiting for the show down. And Qui-Gon knew it. The two masters couldn't afford this kind of confrontation in front of them. "That's not necessary. If you say it, then I believe you."

Jareel was aware of all eyes on him now. "Good, because I didn't do it."

"Then how do you explain it?" Obi-Wan tried to keep his tone even, but it was clearly a challenge.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said.

"I don't know how to explain it, but on my word as a Jedi, it wasn't me."

The initiates all looked at each other and then back to the big man. He had given his word as a Jedi. That was serious. Would he be believed now?

Qui-Gon quietly said, "I think this is settled. Let's have supper now."

"You really didn't play Mad Wookie?"

"No I did not Qui-Gon. You still don't believe me?"

"I'm just trying to figure out what they saw."

"Maybe they saw nothing. They were in the forest all that time, lost for awhile. Perhaps they were just frightened and saw a shadow that seemed to move. A tree limb blowing in the wind."

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Can we let it go now?"

"That's quite a beard you're getting now. If you let it grow it would be very full."

The big man put a hand to the silvery blonde growth on his chin. "Yes…I was toying with the idea of letting it grow instead of shaving it when we get back. What do you think?"

"Hmm…I don't think a beard would do you as much justice as it does me." Qui-Gon put his hand to his dark beard.

"Shave it Master," Daven said as he walked up. "It makes you more fierce looking."

"All the more reason to keep it."

"You'll probably scare the children in the crèche." The padawan tried not to smile.

"I think you're just jealous because you don't have a choice. You have to shave yours when you get back," Jareel grinned.

"I don't know. It's kind of itchy." Daven started scratching his chin.

Qui-Gon looked around. "Onon, where are you?"

"Here!" He came running up behind the Jedi. Qui-Gon's head was already tipped forward. Obi-Wan grabbed Onon's hand and put a finger to his own lips. He began scratching.

"That's great Onon. You do well at that. Ah…." He didn't see the boy walk around in front of him.

Obi-Wan said, "If you didn't have an apprentice would you choose me?"

Qui-Gon's eyes opened. He raised his head and saw Onon standing there. An impish grin crossed his face. "No…I don't think so. You don't scratch very good." Qui-Gon reached back to swat at Obi-Wan but he ducked it easily.

"So, what do you think of your beard?" Daven said to Obi-Wan.

The padawan pulled at the whiskers. "I don't know. I'm not so sure I look good with it."

"Really?" Qui-Gon questioned. "I think it flatters you."

"I'm not so sure myself. But…if I had one that looked as nice as yours, Master Qui-Gon, then I might be tempted to keep it."

"Hmm…flattery will get you everywhere," the Jedi master smiled.

Jareel laughed. "I think they both look good. Too bad they can't keep them. But…when you become knights then you can get lazy and quit shaving."

"Is that why you grew one Master?" Obi-Wan tried to ask with a serious face.

The elder Jedi swatted at him again and connected with his rear end this time.

Obi-Wan just laughed. "Come on Onon. Let's go tell some stories."

"No scary ones…or you'll be up tonight Obi-Wan."

"Yes Master."

"Was everyone able to find enough shoes to cover every foot?" He looked severely at the initiates. "If this missing shoe routine is a prank…"

"It isn't Master Jareel. Really."

"I still can't find my other shoe."

"I've looked everywhere…really!"

"All right…all right. Let's just get going. We have a busy day ahead of us. Today we are going to put together some of what we've learned. We are going on a hike. We will be gone all day. Our food will come from the forest. For one full day, we are going to live off the land. This is the final requirement of the Jedi Initiate Wilderness Training Manual. When you complete this you get credit for the training."

The children grinned at each other. They had survived…almost. Just one more thing. After all they had been through, it didn't sound so bad. Just another walk…

"Obi-Wan and Daven, you can lead us off. Initiates next. Let's go."

They started off willingly enough. This one last requirement…and it would be over! They were anxious to have it over. There was much excited chatter among the initiates. They were already deciding what to brag to the younger children about when they got back.

"Well…at least we are all together now," Obi-Wan observed. "There shouldn't be any more Mad Wookies running loose."

Daven didn't answer. He wanted to believe his master…even though he didn't know how else to explain what everyone was seeing. The padawan was a little miffed at his friend in his continued belief that it was Master Jareel even though the big man had given his word. Daven just ignored Obi-Wan and let his mind wander.

"You will be sparring with Rith today Daven. There is a master who wants to see you."

"Really!" Daven cried out. He knew what that meant. One of the masters was seriously considering him as padawan. Then suddenly fear filled him. "Um…who is it?"

"He didn't want me to tell you in advance. You will find out. There will be a small audience. There are others who want to see this match…and someone who wants to see Rith. Go prepare yourself."

Daven was excited and nervous. He had tried his best to see who was seated in the gymnasium, but to no avail. He had gone back and forth from thinking about who he hoped was out there to whom he hoped was not out there. The initiate told himself he should be using the Force to calm and prepare himself.

At last the moment came. "Daven, we are ready for you."

Taking a deep breath, the boy walked to the center of the gymnasium. At once, he began eyeing the small group gathered to watch. He recognized most of the masters. Daven almost fainted when he saw Master Yuwa. No…not him…anyone but him! Then he saw a welcome sight…Master Jareel! Could it be he was the one who wanted to see the initiate? That thought excited the boy. He was torn. Should he do his best so Master Jareel would be impressed?

But…what if the big man weren't there to see him at all? Maybe he wanted to see Rith. That thought crushed Daven, but he had to be realistic. It was a possibility. Maybe he should hold back in case Yuwa was the one watching. What should he do? Then he realized that as a true Jedi he should always do his best. He sighed. So much he had been told of the Force. Now he would have to find out just how much he did trust it. The Force would lead the right master to him. Daven turned himself over to that unseeable, unmovable power and would do his best.

He focused himself and fought as hard as he could. The boy could feel the energy flowing through him and around him. His every movement was gently guided as he gave himself more and more to the Force. Daven knew he was dueling at a level he had never reached before. The Force was strongly with him and he pulled it close to him. Rith began to tire soon and made more mistakes which Daven easily took advantage of.

It seemed to the boy that almost no time had passed between the signal to begin and the voice that called "Halt". He powered off his saber and bowed to Rith. The boys were dismissed to clean up. Then they were asked to wait in the dressing area.

Just as the match had gone so quickly, the waiting seemed forever. Daven tried to meditate but was unable to concentrate. His future was waiting out in the gym and he didn't know how much longer he could just sit and wait.

"Boys, will you follow me out into the gym please?"

Daven took a deep breath and followed the tall master. When they came out on the gym floor, two Jedi stood there. Master Yuwa…and Master Jareel. The boy was mad with the desire for this to be over with. The nightmare master…and the very likeable one. Which one wanted him? Being chosen by Yuwa would mean not only that the strict master wanted him…but also that Master Jareel did not want him! Daven didn't know if he could stand that. When would the announcement be made?

"Boys, meet your new masters. Rith, Master Yuwa has chosen you. Daven, Master Jareel has chosen you."

Daven thought he would faint. He felt lightheaded. The breath he had been holding rushed out more noisily than he intended. The big blonde man laughed and the boy felt his cheeks warm.

Yuwa and Rith left together. Daven looked way up at his new master. Jareel noted the gleam in those dark eyes. Yes…he was sure. This was the right padawan. The Force had led him to the right one.

"Come along young one." The big Jedi's ice blue eyes sparkled. "Let's get you moved in…and then I have some place special we can go eat."

Daven smiled and warmed at the memory. That special moment in his life, becoming a padawan, was influenced by an event that happened right here on Sertes. No wonder this was such a special place to him. The place where he and Master Jareel had "met". A voice intruded on his thoughts.

"Master Jareel, my foot hurts."

"All right. Stop everyone." He walked up to Lonar. "Take your shoe off and let me see." She complied readily. "Hmm…a blister."

"Because I had to borrow a shoe. I couldn't find one of mine."

"All right. Let's take a break while I bandage this. Anyone else having shoe problems?" A couple others raised a hand.

"Can we…go?"

"Yes, but come right back. No playing about. Hurry now."

"Onon," Qui-Gon called.

"All right. Everyone's bandaged. Are they all back from the forest?"

"Yes," Qui-Gon acknowledged. "I did a head count. They're all here."

"Master Jareel, how far do we have to walk?"

"I'm tired."

"My feet hurt."

"Just a little further. We have a requirement to meet…." Groans. They were getting tired of hearing that word. "All right now…just a little further. Then you can have a break. Let's get going."

"Jareel, I happened to remember something from our trip to Sertes. The day we were hiking back to be picked up, there was some…creature that fell out of a tree onto one of the girls. It was slimy and stung her a little. Master Thane said those creatures crawled on the ground…and didn't dwell in trees. Do you know anything about that?"

"Know anything about it? You mean the creatures?"

"No. I mean about why one would fall out of a tree when that's not where they are normally found."

"Are you accusing me?"

"I was just asking. It was kind of odd…"

"Here I am being accused again of something I didn't do. Qui-Gon have you even known me to not take credit for a prank? Even when the masters caught me…did I ever deny it?"

"No, you didn't," Qui-Gon admitted.

"I didn't drop a creature on an initiate…and I wasn't playing Mad Wookie either."

"I thought we had that one settled."

"I thought so too. I was just wondering if you were trying to bring it back up…"

"No…honestly. I really just wondered about that creature." He wanted to change the subject. "So, I suppose you are the only master in the history of the temple who invented a prank that was later played on you."

"Aye. I wonder if fifty years from now initiates will still be trying to float a master down the river on Sertes?"

"Remember on the way back how Thane made us walk at opposite ends of the line?"

"I do remember that," Jareel laughed. "And he walked at the back, afraid to turn his back on us."

"Do you blame him?"

"I wonder if other initiates before us were so bad? Do you think we set a precedence?"

"Well…there weren't very many traditions of the wilderness trips until we came along."

"We changed it for the better."

"Are you sure? If things had happened differently and they had been able to pull the master prank on you…what would your reaction have been?"

The big man stopped to think. If he had awakened in that boat way downstream, would he have thought it funny? Yes! "I probably would have split my sides laughing. And if they had pulled it on you?"

"I have to admit, I probably wouldn't have found it as amusing as you…but I would have to remember that I did it myself once. I would try to laugh."

Jareel chuckled and they walked on in silence.

"All right, stop everyone. We will divide into four groups. Each of us adults will take a group and gather some native fruit for our lunch. Please divide orderly and quickly. Don't make me do it for you."

There was a flurry of activity as initiates tried to get with their best friends. Of course, some were disappointed. But they quickly found a group to belong to…before Master Jareel divided them with no concern as to friendships. Soon, they were heading into different directions with much talk and carrying on.

The two Jedi masters were deep into lessons about deciding what was safe to eat when a scream pierced the air. Everyone ran to see what was going on. They arrived to the sight of Daven trying to comfort Unya while he examined a bite on her leg.

"What happened Daven?" Qui-Gon said as he dropped down next to him. Jareel arrived in time to hear.

"Some kind of long scaly creature bit her. It was black and red on the back."

"No legs?" Jareel asked. Daven shook his head. "A pointed shape head and flat looking body?"

"Yes. Do you know what it was?"

"Sounds like a gink," Qui-Gon replied.

"Aye," Jareel agreed.

"Is it poisonous?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No," Qui-Gon answered while Jareel got out his first aid kit. "Painful…but not toxic."

"The voice of experience?"

"Yes."

Jareel cleaned the bite, applied some bacta and bandaged it. "Are you all right Unya?"

"Yes," she answered quietly.

"Come on. I'll carry you back to the trail. You can rest there. I'm sure your friends won't mind brining lunch to you." The big man easily lifted the girl as her friends assured her they would take care of her. "I'm going to stay with her Qui-Gon. I think she's still a little upset. Will you keep an eye on my group."

"Of course."

Unya had many visitors during her lunch…and much lunch. The others brought more than enough for the girl and for Master Jareel.

"The little space pirates," Jareel smiled as he watched the initiates check on their friend. "I didn't know they had it in them." He took a big bite out of a golden sphere.

"Just like when I got bit by that gink on our trip," Qui-Gon replied.

"Yes. Even ol' Thane felt sorry for you."

"What do we do now Master Jareel?"

"You can have some time to explore…but one more requirement, everyone has to bring back some sort of specimen that you can take back with you to tell your teachers about…a leaf, a small branch from a tree. But you have to make sure you can tell about what you bring back."

"Master Jareel, may I go too?" Unya asked.

"Do you feel like it?"

"Yes. It still hurts a little…well, more than a little, but I can walk. Can't I go also?"

"Of course," he smiled. "But keep an eye out for more ginks."

"More?" she said nervously.

"All you have to do is be careful."

"Yes Master Jareel." She turned slowly to go.

The two masters exchanged a smile.

It was no chore to gather the initiates. They all came back on their own…most of them whining and rubbing their exposed skin. They had discovered much on their explorations…such as insects and mildly toxic plants.

One look at the rash that some of them had, caused Daven to back away in horror. He remembered the awful, painful, and slow to heal rash from the vine he'd climbed during the bonnon hunt with Beb Gonk.

"Qui-Gon, look at them! Almost all of them are swollen and red somewhere. Between this and having to eat whatever food we could find…what is the council going to say?" He put a hand to his forehead as the full impact suddenly dawned on him. "And a gink bite! And sleeping on the ground. Having to wear shoes that don't fit. Half their belongings are lost. They are going to think I'm irresponsible. Master Yoda will think I've neglected them. What am I going to do?"

"You're going to calm down first," Qui-Gon put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure they realize accidents happen and that children can get hurt out here. It won't be the first gink bite an initiate got. You're over reacting."

"I hope your right," the big man replied uncertainly.

"Let's get going. They are probably going to be slowed down by all this and we want to get back before dark. But first…Onon!"

Obi-Wan was caught up in the wonderful memories of his wilderness trip. He remembered their final hike. It was…somewhat like this one. All the initiates had managed to get into something or other.

"Obi-Wan! What happened to you?" Reeft cried out.

"Shh! Don't get the attention of any of the masters. If they find out I was climbing that tree they told me not to…"

"You didn't?"

The boy grinned. "Yeah, I did. Look." He held out an odd shaped leave that Reeft knew could have only come from one place…. It was the only tree around that had that kind of leaf. This was the one souvenir that Obi-Wan wanted from this trip because it was so strange looking…and it was so hard to come by. The leaves were only at the very top of the tree. An initiate coming back with one was looked up to for having the courage to defy the masters and go after it. It was considered even more valuable if one could obtain it by physical ability alone. The lowest limbs on the tree were way above the children's heads. Using the Force to levitate to the branches instead of climbing up was considered cheating.

"Did you do it without using the Force," his friend looked doubtful.

"Yes," Obi-Wan replied somewhat indignant that his integrity was being questioned. "I did. How do you think I ripped my clothes? By levitating myself?"

"How did you get that big bruise?"

"I almost fell. That's where I fell against a branch."

Reeft's eyes opened wider. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah…I guess so. Just a little banged up."

"What are you going to show the masters when they ask you what you brought back from the hike?"

Obi-Wan grinned as he held out a black shiny stone.

"Where did you get that?"

"Over by the river."

"It's nice looking."

"Yeah…but it's just a rock. When we get back to Coruscant, I'll probably throw it away. I've got what I want right here," he held the coveted leaf up.

But somehow when he got back to Coruscant, the ordinary rock didn't get thrown out. It lay on the shelf next to his leaf. Obi-Wan often showed off the leaf, leaving the dark stone ignored and collecting dust. It was a faithful companion though and waited for the day that Obi-Wan would realize a stone could be more than just a stone.

Pulled back to the present and away from the memory, a big smile spread over Obi-Wan's face at the memory. He still couldn't say what had caused him to keep the rock he intended to throw away. Now he was glad he had not. It was a wonderful reminder of Sertes and the wilderness trip. At this moment, that rock was in his quarters in the temple resting next to another precious stone…the one Qui-Gon had given him for his thirteenth birthday.

Very late in the afternoon, the exhausted initiates trooped into camp. They ran right into the backs of the padawans who had come to a sudden and complete halt. Jareel and Qui-Gon came forward to see what was going on. They came to a sudden halt also.

Tents were overturned. Sleeping bags that had been left hanging to finish drying were scattered about. Packs were pulled from some tents and the contents emptied all over. The whole campsite was a mess. Adults and children alike just stood and stared in silence for a long time.

"What could have caused this?" Obi-Wan finally said.

"Some kind of animal I suppose," Qui-Gon answered.

"But there was no food."

"Aye," Jareel acknowledged, "But maybe it was the one who was here before. Come back to see if there was more."

"I suppose," Qui-Gon said doubtfully. "Why would he pull out the packs and dump them. It didn't do that before. It only went after the food."

"I don't know," Jareel exhaled a long breath. "And at the moment I don't care. I'm very tired. We've got all this to worry about…and supper to get together."

Everyone groaned.

It was a very sedate group that sat around the fire. With many hands and much time, the campsite was cleaned up, tents set back up. Supper was gathered and prepared. And…now…everyone was too tired to do more than sit and stare at the fire.

"Well," Jareel began. "Our trip is over. Tomorrow we go back to the landing area to get picked up."

That didn't bring the reaction he had hoped for. The big man thought the children would be happy that it was over. But they were tired and miserable from their maladies. All they could think about was that walk back to the landing area.

"As tired as we all are, perhaps we'd better get to sleep and get plenty of rest…since we do have that walk," Qui-Gon suggested. "Onon…are you too tired?"

"No Master Qui-Gon." But he sounded very tired.

"I'll be back in a moment," Jareel said. "I'm just going to…go…"

Qui-Gon waved a hand at him.

The big blonde walked out into the trees. As he stood there, he was thinking over the whole trip. What a disaster! In spite of Qui-Gon's attempts to reassure him, Jareel just knew that he was in for a long lecture…at least. He didn't have to worry about future trips…there would most likely be none after this.

He finished up and started to turn back to camp when a noise caught his attention. He put a hand on his light saber hilt and turned to see what made the sound. Something was moving in the bushes nearby. Jareel needed some light. He powered on his saber and slowly walked toward the moving bushes.

Suddenly there was a tall creature with long brown, scruffy looking fur. Its yellow eyes were open wide in surprise. At least that looked like surprise in its eyes. The creature's mouth was agape and long fangs shone in the dim light. It took one look at the big Jedi, let out a squeal and began running. It all happened so fast, Jareel was still standing there in shock as the creature ran. He turned and hurried back to the camp.

"Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon!"

"What is it? I heard a noise."

"Yes! There was some big furry creature out there." The padawans were on either side of Qui-Gon. They stared at the big Jedi as if he were nuts.

The elder Jedi laughed only a little. "Very funny Jareel. I'm too tired for this."

"It's not a joke. There really was something out there. That's what made that noise."

"Was it the Mad Wookie?"

"Qui-Gon, old friend, I'm not teasing. I'm serious. It was really there." But the Jedi was walking away.

"Obi-Wan, you believe me, don't you? I really saw it. It was taller than I am…and broader. That must be what tore up our camp."

"Master Jareel," Obi-Wan said in a solemn voice, "You told us not to scare the children."

"But this is no story. It was real." The padawan walked away shaking his head. "He never gives up with the pranks does he Master?"

"Daven…my own apprentice. You believe me."

"Master, it's late and I'm tired."

"I'm not making it up. It was huge and brown…and furry…" his voice died off as Daven walked away.

"I'm not making it up," the big man said to himself. "I know what I saw. In the light of my saber…I saw it. It was real. I didn't just see a shadow. It was real. I know it."

Very slowly, the camp awoke the next morning. Everyone was still tired even after a good night's sleep. Jareel got up…and kept to himself. He was a little peeved that no one would believe him.

"Master Jareel, we believe you." He turned to see two boys looking up at him. "Remember that day we were lost in the forest and we told you what we saw?"

"Oh…yes. I do remember. What did you see?"

"It was huge, and brown, and furry."

"You do believe me then don't you?"

"Yes Master Jareel."

"Good…at least now I don't feel so much like I'm losing my mind. Thanks boys." His first instinct was to tell Qui-Gon, but he knew the Jedi wouldn't believe him. He turned back to his task of taking down his tent and packing it up. He heard a roar behind him and turned to see Obi-Wan with the fake fur on him. Jareel said nothing but turned back to his task.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon admonished. "That's enough. Put it away." He walked over to his friend. "Jareel, you were very tired last night."

"I prefer not to have this conversation. I am busy."

"Jareel, come on. A joke is a joke."

"Yes…but this was no joke."

"Are you sure. It was dark. We were tired, frustrated…"

"I know what I saw by the light of my saber. It wasn't completely dark."

"Are you sure?"

"Qui-Gon, I have joked with you, tormented you, but never deliberately lied to you." Jareel turned back to the packing.

Qui-Gon didn't know what to say. It's true Jareel had never lied to him…but still…he had played so many pranks before. The Jedi wanted to believe him…but…. Well…he must have seen something. What that something was no one knew. It could have been his own shadow. Jareel did say it was big.

"All right Jareel. I can't explain it…but I believe you saw…something."

"Don't humor me. At least someone believes me." Jareel walked away.

During the walk back, Jareel walked along side the line of initiates instead on in the back with Qui-Gon. The elder Jedi felt bad about the situation but didn't know what to do to resolve it. He couldn't lie to his friend either. So, he couldn't come out and say that he believed the story. Maybe when he thinks about it, he'll see how improbable it sounds.

Qui-Gon began idly listening to the initiates at the back of the line talk. They were mumbling about Jareel's sighting…and comparing it to what the two boys had seen. That's when Qui-Gon remembered their story. Could that be what they saw…and not Jareel in that fur? Jareel had given his word that he didn't pull that trick on the boys. Now Qui-Gon had something new to think about…but he still didn't know what to make of it. The boys and Jareel could all have seen their own shadows for all he knew. Enough. Whatever it was they would soon be away from here…and maybe Jareel would soon let it go. He drove the thoughts away and tried to enjoy this last bit of Sertes before they left.

The liner was waiting with a not very happy pilot. "You're over an hour late," he groused.

"It was unavoidable," Qui-Gon replied as he passed by. The only explanation he gave. Obi-Wan stood by the baggage compartment to make sure everything was packed neatly this time.

The exhausted initiates trooped onto the liner. One last head count. All initiates, padawans, and masters accounted for. The liner lifted off the pad. Almost at once, all the campers were sound asleep.

Jareel was staring in the mirror, still wondering whether to shave his new beard or not when the comm panel buzzed. He hurried to it.

"Jareel Noraan."

"Master Jareel, Master Yoda wants to speak with you. Are you available?"

"I'll be there right away." He terminated the communication and groaned. Here it comes. The healers have checked out the children. They have found out about all the bites, scrapes, rashes…and probably malnutrition. Master Yoda is going to let me have it.

He went at once to the little councilor's office. Yoda's aide ushered him in. The big man bowed. "Master Yoda."

"Master Jareel, interviewed the initiates I have about their wilderness trip. Also, their check-in report I have here. Your report I have but have not read it yet."

"Master Yoda, I can explain. You see…"

"Listen you will!" The diminutive green master glared at the blonde Jedi who almost replied, but decided to stay mute. "Excited the children were. Learned much they did. Interesting were the things they brought back with them. Knew much of the plant life they did. The most fun they've had they said."

Jareel listened in astonishment. The initiates had complained at every step. They didn't seem interested in learning anything. All that seemed to matter was having fun. And…the decreased food supply and suddenly missing belongings had brought the most bitter protests. The big man thought they were miserable the whole time. Very few times did they actually seem to be enjoying themselves.

Since Yoda had paused, Jareel dared venture a question…but slowly. "Ah…what about…the children's check ups? I know that they looked awful…but I can explain…"

"Explain what? That accidents children have? Mind everything you tell them do they? Find out for themselves they must about some things." Yoda's big eyes gleamed.

"Um…what about…the food shortage?"

"Starve they did not. Learn they must that sacrifices Jedi must make."

"I see…. So far you have told me the positive side…" Jareel's voice trailed off.

"Not perfect is anyone. Did everything right you did not. However, such an enthusiastic group have I not seen in years. Congratulated you are to be. Know I do how much you enjoy the children. Assigned before now you should have been to do this. An excellent job have you done. Keep you in mind I will for future wilderness trips. May the Force be with you."

The blonde Jedi just stood and stared in disbelief. He played the words back through his mind. Words of praise, not of reproach.

"Something else is there?"

"No Master." Jareel bowed and hurried out.

"I understand you have made your formal report to Master Yoda," Qui-Gon said to his friend as they stood on a balcony and watched Coruscant's big golden sun sink below the horizon. Wispy clouds hovered nearby, colored bright red and orange by the refracted rays.

"Aye," Jareel sighed, entranced by the beauty.

"Well? Were your worst fears realized? Has he assigned you to clean up the crèche as punishment?"

Without looking at Qui-Gon, the big man grinned. "No. He told me I did an excellent job."

"Excellent? He used that word?"

"Aye."

"He obviously didn't hear all the details of the trip then…like the Mad Wookie and the master prank."

"Well…he doesn't need to know…everything. He said the initiates were most enthusiastic when he talked with them."

"Really? After all that complaining and whining? They enjoyed it?"

"Aye. I suppose the force of my magnetic personality overcame their imagined misery."

Qui-Gon grinned a lopsided grin. "You're right I'm sure. And knowing how much you contributed to the success of the trip, I'm sure you'll be fine next time…on your own. You obviously don't need my help."

"Space pirate. In my written report I made sure that Master Yoda knew of your contributions…and Obi-Wan's…and Daven's."

"Hmm…I hope you didn't overstate my contribution."

"First you complain about being left out…now you complain about being included."

"I just don't want Master Yoda to think of me next time. I think you should take along someone else to educate…like Leish." Qui-Gon tried to keep a straight face. "I think it would be…amusing for Leish to wake up one morning far down the river in one of those boats."

Jareel's ice blue eyes glimmered in the dying rays. Qui-Gon knew he had set up Jareel and Leish with that statement. Now he would have to convince Leish how worthwhile the trip would be…and what a tempering influence he would be to Jareel. Then suddenly the elder Jed realized he was thinking like Jareel! The sudden re-emergence of the blonde Jedi's true personality was affecting him more than he thought. The Jedi master shook his head and promised himself to spend extra time in meditation tonight to "realign" his thoughts.

Qui-Gon leaned his elbows on the railing and looked back out at the sliver of sun left peeking out. "Have you made a decision about your beard?"

"Yes I have."

END