Block. Parry. Swing. Flip. Repeat.

The familiar sounds of sparring blades rang in her ears as she attempted to run through drills. She twisted her body, maneuvering to use her smaller stature to her advantage against her partner. Petro laughed as she brought her legs up, attempting to kick him, quite unsuccessfully and he hit her in the ribs with the hilt of his lightsaber.

Pain shot through her and her vision blurred, but she stumbled back into position and continued countering with her blade. Blue light soared around her in every direction, and her eyes roamed around her distractedly. She panted, gritting her teeth as she attempted to push Petro back, but he stood firm and held his ground.

He swung at her with more power than usual, a glint of frustration in his green eyes. Grunting, he spun around and tried to kick her, barely missing. She was surprised, her eyes widened, and she almost fell backwards blocking his advances narrowly.

"Come on Katooni, you're just swinging your blade." Her opponent said, bringing his weapon down on hers and barring her. He used all of the strength in his body to block her as she crouched under the little protection her saber offered her in the moment.

She tried to close her eyes and center herself. Taking a deep breath as the sabers sizzled closely to her face, something dislodged her usual easy connection with the Force, and Petro seized the opportunity, bringing his leg down and sweeping her to the floor on her arm with an ever so slight smile of satisfaction.

She cried out in pain and winced as her lightsaber deactivated and rolled away.

"Katooni, maybe we should be done for the day."

Petro kneeled next to where she had landed and reached out to examine her wrist. She shook her head, her jaw clenched as she stood, clutching her injury to her chest.

"I'm okay." She said tersely, retrieving her lightsaber from the ground through the Force and igniting the blade, twisting and spinning the hilt around herself routinely, feeling the familiar weight of the weapon in her palms. She returned to first position, both hands wrapped around the saber in readiness, as she locked eyes with Petro, expecting him to advance.

He stood where he was, his lightsaber in his hands as he crossed his arms over his chest, skeptically watching her as she pointed her blade towards him tauntingly.

"Come on," she said taking a few steps towards him. "Give me your worst. I just need a little bit more work on it."

"You need to do more than just work on it, 'Tooni." He broke his stance and turned away from her, latching his weapon to his belt and running his hand through his tousled hair.

She deactivated her blade and let her hands drop to her sides with a sigh. She jogged a few steps to catch up with him as he made his way out of the training facility.

"Don't do that to me Petro, let's just run through a few more drills. I'll be fine."

"You're distracted," He said, glancing at her briefly as the doors shut fluidly behind them. "I'm not going to run through drills while you're like this. You need to take a break."

She scoffed, "You sound like Luminara."

"Maybe," he replied. "But it's true. You can't focus right now. Besides I'm done with this anyways."

Katooni never predicted she would hear those words from him. Not only had he reprimanded her distractedness, but had ended their sparring match, which was something he was never prone to doing; he enjoyed combat with her too much. It was a chance for him to prove his dominance over someone who was clearly his equal.

However, he'd changed in the recent weeks. His face had been more solemn, his routine lightheartedness has almost vanished. During their drills today she could sense his frustration in every powerful blow he'd inflicted on her.

She worried for a moment, before shaking her head in defeat. She couldn't claim herself to be any better than him. She had been distracted today, disappointingly so. Every counter she'd made to his had been clumsy and uncoordinated, her eyes had never been centered on a target, but had wildly followed his blade in panic. Her head hung low with guilt, her Master would've been displeased with her today, and she thought quietly how thankful she was that he had not been there to watch.

They walked silently, Petro a few paces ahead of her, his long strides much faster than her shorter ones. She managed to keep up with him, but she had no idea where they were going. He said nothing, his jaw set and his eyes pointed forwards unwaveringly.

"Petro," she said, reaching her arm out towards him as he turned a corner. "Wait up for me, what's wrong?"

He turned, stopping in his tracks; his gaze almost blank as he looked at her.

"Nothing's wrong."

"That's not true," she pleaded with him for an answer. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to talk to Master Kenobi." He said, his gaze breaking as finally conceded with her.

She watched his fists clench at his sides. "I can't bear this waiting game anymore; I have to know what is happening on Kashyyyk. I trust him enough to ask."

Her brows furrowed, pitying him as her eyes softened. "Master Fisto told me he was dispatched recently to Yerbana, Skywalker has left as well."

He let out a frustrated growl, and turned his jaw tense as his strides became longer and more forceful. She followed, sensing his concern as he headed towards the elevators.

When they reached their destination, Petro outstretched his fingers, using the Force to summon an elevator going downwards. He turned to her with his forehead creased in exasperation.

"I'm worried, Katooni." He said, his eyes gazing towards the floor as though his mind was somewhere else. "The Council has been acting strange. I can't trust them after what they said. They just brushed us off, and Master Fisto—"

The doors opened and two chattering R2 units almost collided with them as they vacated. Petro almost reprimanded them, but Katooni stopped him with a pleading look as both the Padawans entered the empty elevator. There was no point in chiding a droid, especially an R2 unit.

She looked up at him, attempting to make eye contact with him as he continued on his tangent.

"Listen," He demanded, his hands waving forcefully. "As much as you respect your Master, I don't trust him. Didn't you notice how he didn't even heed your vision in the slightest? He just went with the rest of the Council; he didn't even ask for your opinion."

"Petro," she interjected. "I have to trust in my Master and the Council. Who else can I trust in?"

Petro looked at her as though she were insane.

"The Force." He replied, the words falling out of his mouth like stones. "Is that not what we were taught Katooni? Trust in the Force?"

Her eyebrows raised as she crossed her arms, shifting her position to one hip in annoyance. "You know what I meant. I am obligated to—"

"No, I don't, Katooni. Your only obligation is to the Force. The Council is a hypocritical group of ancient haggs who sit up in their tower, protecting their own galactic influence and power."

She took a step back from him, "Petro I understand your frustration but you can't say things like that,"

He didn't falter. "It's true isn't it? The Council is a place of prestige, a social club for 'the wisest of us all'" He made air quotes as he spoke, changing his voice to further his ridicule.

"How can you say that? You need to watch your words, Petro; your own Master is on The Council."

The doors opened and she took the opportunity to leave. Skirting around a few Jedi boarding the elevator, she dodged her friend, who chased after her in remorse as she made her way to the Archives.

"Katooni, wait."

"No," she retorted, speeding up her pace, but she was unmatched to his taller strides and he kept up with her effortlessly.

"Katooni, listen to me," He demanded.

She stopped in her tracks in the center of the Temple hall and turned to face him, her eyes almost burning with uncharacteristic anger as she waited for him to speak.

"Listen," He said, imploring her to hear him out. "All I'm saying is that if the Force gave you a vision, you can't stand by and allow yourself to be manipulated by them. I mean, you've been feeling terrible for days; you can't eat, or sleep," He gestured to her wrist "You can't even run through basic drills without hurting yourself. Something is obviously wrong; you and I can sense it. Are you going to stand by and do nothing?"

She scoffed and threw her hands up. "What do you recommend I do, Petro? Storm The Council by force and demand they listen to me? I am held by the Code to be loyal to my Order, regardless of the outcome."

He furrowed his brows and looked at her with astonishment before his gaze softened. "'Tooni…" he whispered. "Those are dangerous words."

She burned with rage. "Have you been listening to yourself?" she said, pointing at him accusingly. "I'm surprised Luminara didn't instill the same core beliefs in you that I have grown to hold fast to. I expected more of you both. You speak of anarchy, and I will not take part in that." She whipped around, the tendrils of her fleshy Tholothian hair moving violently with her.

Petro did not attempt to follow her, he simply stood, watching her go as darkness descended over him like a blanket. He felt the presence and recognized it in his arguing with his friend. He was being influenced by the dark side unwillingly, and so was she.

He took a deep breath and willed whatever strength was left into his mind. Something was coming, and it was already tearing them apart.