Chapter Twenty One:

It was well into the evening of the day, and the two of them had settled together on Mara's pallet to share warmth, though they remained in a seated position. Mara was nestled against Luke, who had his arm around her.

Both were watching the meat as it finished cooking, and Luke's stomach was growling in anticipation, something Mara found amusing.

"One thing that will never change about you is your appetite." Mara teased, making Luke chuckle.

"I think I get it from my father," Luke said. "Anakin could eat us out of house and home if Mother let him."

Mara snickered. "And she had two of you to feed while you were still living at home."

Luke grimaced. "It's a good thing we had a healthy income."

They shared another laugh, and Luke broke from the embrace to collect their dinner. Since they had no plates, they would merely pick the food off the spit and eat their fill. But first it would need to cool somewhat.

"It smells good," Mara murmured, stretching.

"It does." Luke agreed. "But it's too hot to touch, sorry."

Mara shrugged and merely settled back against Luke, who was braced against the wall. It had been a while since their special moment, and they had spent the entire time talking and simply enjoying each other's presence. They had agreed to stay in the cave until morning light, at which point they would continue onward. Mara had attempted to keep track of their days since the start of the trek, but with all the mayhem that had occurred of late, she'd lost track. Mara was a little worried that they would miss the deadline.

"We will have to make good time once we move again." Luke commented, picking up on her thoughts.

"Yes, but since I'm not sick anymore, that will be a much easier task," Mara replied. She pushed away the habitual sense of guilt, having moved on from that mistake. She wouldn't live in the past.

"True." Luke had a thought. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, but Mother Keostea offered us help in getting off the mountain."

Mara blinked up at him, confused. "You're calling her that now too?"

Luke tilted his head. "Of course. After all she's done for us; it's the least I can do."

Mara was still lost. "I get the golems coming to us, but what else has she done?"

Luke frowned, and then his face lit up with comprehension. "That's right, you wouldn't know."

"Know what?"

Luke shifted, gently pushing Mara to sit upright. He then gestured to her shoulder. "Have you seen the mark on your shoulder yet?"

Mara had actually forgotten all about it with everything else that had happened since her awakening. "Yes. I've been meaning to ask where it came from."

Luke smiled softly. "It came as a reminder that you have been connected to Keostea."

Mara sighed. "Luke, please stop with the half-answers. What happened?"

Luke looked down for a moment, his countenance changing.

Mara frowned at his suddenly solemn demeanor, and touched his arm tentatively. "...Luke?"

He looked to her hand and then slowly took it, clasping their fingers together and then meeting her gaze. "Mara, I thought I was going to lose you." His voice was hoarse. "I got you to this cave after you saved me, and I did my best to help you..." his voice cracked, "but it wasn't enough. I slept for a time, and when I woke, you were burning up. It hurt to touch you."

Mara swallowed with difficulty. She had felt the heat, yes, but she hadn't realized just how close to death she'd come.

"I was starting to panic," Luke continued, "and I tried to think of what to do to help. Then I remembered the golems saying Keostea would help us so we could assist her. So I connected with Keostea in the Force. She sent a golem, who led me to an underground chamber," here Luke gestured deeper into the cave, "where you were healed by the planet herself."

Mara sat back. "Come again?"

Luke nodded emphatically. "It was... amazing! You were laid in a patch of greenery, and then vines came up to encase you, after which Keostea replaced all your illness and pain with her health. She was able to do this because everything related to the issue was already part of the planet's ecosystem. So she traded sickness for health."

Luke touched the area where he knew the leaf to be, and Mara exposed the mark, wanting to see it for herself in a new light. Luke traced the design with a fingertip, making Mara shudder. His gaze returned to hers and he took her other hand, holding both her limbs fervently.

"I was so scared I would lose you forever." His eyes became wet. "Before I could tell you how I felt about you. I didn't want to lose the woman I love."

Mara released one of his hands to gently wipe away his tears, realizing deep in her mind that she did know how to help Luke in all ways. Why had she doubted herself before? Maybe all she'd needed to do was believe in herself. In them.

"But you didn't," she whispered. "Focus on that."

Luke smiled shakily, nodding and allowing her to continue to clean his face. He then asked something of her. "Mara... will you ever leave me?"

Mara paused, looking to him. Her first instinct was to inquire why he'd ask such a thing, but she knew why. Shaking her head, Mara rested her forehead against his. "Never, Luke. I'm here to stay."

Luke smiled happily, kissing her deeply. When he pulled away, he traced her jaw line with a finger. "Thank you."

To their mutual amusement, his stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and laughter bubbled up between them.

"Better feed you now." Mara remarked, grabbing the spit while they both settled in to eat.

As they did so, Mara pondered on what Luke had told her, and eyed the leaf from time to time.

"What kind of a connection do you think I have with the planet?" She wondered aloud.

Luke shrugged. "I don't know if it means anything other than Keostea leaving a trademark to show who healed you. It could be something more," he shrugged again, "but I don't know."

Mara considered, then let it go, knowing if it did mean anything more, that would be revealed in the future.

00000

Morning found them asleep in each other's arms. Luke was the first to wake, as usual: he'd always been an early riser while Mara much preferred to sleep in whenever possible. But she could get up when needed.

Mara happened to be closer to the mouth of the cave, and thus Luke was rewarded with the morning rays of sunlight highlighting Mara.

The angelic sight stole Luke's ability to breathe. The red-gold of Mara's hair shone like the flames of their campfire last night. But her porcelain skin... already so creamy smooth to his touch, was lit up to make her literally glow.

Mara was already the most stunning woman Luke had ever laid eyes on, but shown as she was in the light of the sun... she was exquisite. Luke smiled upon her sleeping face, caressing her red-gold locks with tender fingers.

The motion made her stir, and she cracked an emerald eye open.

Luke smiled at her. "Good morning."

Mara stretched against him, glancing to the sun and cringing at the bright light. "Hi there."

She shook herself awake and stood, shivering from the loss of warmth provided by Luke's body against hers. There was snow on the ground, though thankfully it hadn't stormed again. But it was still deep, and would freeze their feet long before they found the end of the snowy terrain.

Luke stood with Mara, stretching to loosen up before he began to clean up the campsite and repack their bags. Mara joined in his efforts, breaking up the fire and making certain it was out by bringing snow to put on the hot coals that were left behind. Steam sizzled angrily from the action, and Mara steered clear for a time to let the fire fizz out.

She folded her blanket and donned her coat, then stuffed her minimal items into her bag. When they were both ready, Mara joined Luke in standing at the mouth of the cave. She then looked to Luke.

"What do we do to contact Keostea?" Mara asked.

Luke took her hand. "Follow me in the Force, and I'll show you."

Mara nodded, trusting him. "Alright."

Luke showed her how he had found the planet's core in the Force by following the flow of the planet's ecosystem, or life-force. Mara gasped at how... luminous the planet was, feeling Luke's similar sentiments.

He then spoke to the planet, letting Keostea know they were ready to go and needed her promised aid. When they returned to the real-world, Mara jumped to see something moving in the snow.

But she relaxed when she realized it was a golem, albeit a much smaller one. She knew this had to be the one Luke had mentioned before. It made sense given the terrain outside.

"Mother Keostea has sent for creatures to bear you," the golem said. "They will take you as far as the snow goes, and then you must continue on foot."

Luke and Mara nodded their acceptance. They shared a look that let them know both were more than happy to not have to trudge through the snow in sandals.

A few minutes passed before two large creatures appeared. They were the exact color of the snow, and Luke though they looked like arctic cousins of the tee-muss from the planet Onderon. Their fur was thick and heavy, and the horns protruding from their hammer-head face were silver and forked at the end.

The two animals stopped before the humans, and with a grateful word to the golem, Luke and Mara mounted. The animals seemed to already know where to go, so Luke and Mara merely let them walk.

Mara glanced back at one point, but the golem and cave both were out of sight, and Mara turned back around. She was having a little trouble getting used to the way these creatures moved, but one glance at Luke showed he was completely at home on the back of his mount.

"Is this what it was like on Mirat?" Mara asked, drawing Luke's attention to her.

"More or less." Luke admitted, smiling wistfully. "But Mirat was far taller, so a fall from her back could hurt a lot."

Mara lifted a brow. "And is that where a lot of your scars come from?" she teased.

Luke mock-glared at her, making a face. "Hey now, I was a great rider."

Mara snorted. "Yes, but how long until that?"

Luke lifted a brow. "How long did it take me to learn to ride? I'd say a few weeks before I became proficient. But after a year I could ride her without any tack. Not many could do that."

His voice held a hint of pride, but Mara knew it was a good kind. It was healthy to be proud of one's accomplishments, and Luke would never turn haughty about such things, so Mara didn't call him on it.

"Well, how do you get used to the way these things move?" Mara asked, trying to adjust her seat somewhat.

Luke glanced to her. "Sit more upright, and grip the animal's torso with your legs." He demonstrated for her and Mara followed his lead. "Firmly, but not too tightly." Luke added when Mara's animal snorted.

Mara grimaced, patting her ride on the neck. "Sorry, I'm trying."

The animal settled, and Mara found that after doing what Luke had said, the experience became more pleasant. The forest was beginning to thin out, Mara noticed, and soon she could see grassland ahead.

"This was a relatively small forest." Mara commented.

Luke nodded. "It was. I think the rapid change in elevation makes the difference."

He gestured to the way the land sloped sharply on this side of their mountain. When they broke the tree line the snow went on for another mile before it ended. Their mounts stopped, and Luke patted his on the neck before he slid from its back.

"Thank you for the ride my friend."

Mara thanked her animal too, and once she was off, the duo returned to their forest, disappearing rather swiftly. Neither human realized they were being watched from a distance.

00000

Thea gasped as her keen eyesight spotted movement at the edge of the forest. She had been expecting something she could hunt for food, but she'd never have thought she would see what came into view.

"Shiva, look!" Thea exclaimed, pointing earnestly.

Shiva frowned at her teammate, but followed the other's line of sight... and promptly gaped, her jaw dropping like a stone.

There were the two humans... on the backs of the most sacred animals on Keostea. Animals that were rarely seen, and never before had anyone ridden on them! Those animals were things of legend among the Kestan people, and it was forbidden that anyone hunt them. In fact, they were considered to be part of Mother Keostea— one of the few beliefs that the newer generations had adopted form the ancients. The idea had been passed down from parents to children, so that everyone knew and loved the legends.

"By the stars!" Shiva said in awe, sharing a dumbfounded look with Thea, who leapt up and called to the humans before Shiva could stop her. Shiva growled, looking down and grabbing something to cover her leg with.

How embarrassing this would be!

00000

Mara and Luke shifted their packs more comfortably and trudged along, but before they could go more than a few meters, they stopped when their names were called out. Surprised, they both looked about to find the source of the voice.

Mara spotted it first, pointing to a familiar figure. "That looks like Thea."

Mara refused to allow any traces of jealousy cloud her mind, and she firmly trusted in Luke, and in his loyalty to her in any and all romantic senses of the word.

Luke and Mara walked to Thea, with Mara wondering where Shiva was. Her answer came when they got closer. Shiva sat upon the ground, her back turned while she held something over one leg.

"Thea, I'm surprised to see you," Luke said honestly. "We thought everyone would be well ahead of us by now."

Thea shuffled her wings. "Normally, yes, but we got caught in that snowstorm." She glanced at Shiva, meaning to continue, but the other shot her a warning look, so Thea stopped.

Mara saw the exchange and approached Shiva. "What's the matter with your leg, Shiva?"

The other looked away. "Nothing. I'm fine."

Mara lifted a brow, glancing to Thea, who shook her head in a definite 'no'. Mara had an idea and began tugging on Shiva's shoulder. "Well then, let's get going, shall we? We wouldn't want to miss our deadline."

Shiva rose, but as soon as she put weight on her ankle she yelped, going down again. She panted, holding her ankle, which Mara could now see was swollen. Shiva glared murder at Mara, and swiped at her with a clawed hand.

"Why don't you mind your own business?! Go away!"

Mara shook head. "No. You need help; whether you want to admit that or not."

Shiva huffed angrily, turning away, and Mara glanced to Luke, who wore a somewhat sad look. Mara thought of herself not too long ago and sighed, sitting beside Shiva but not touching her again.

"Look I get it. You want to appear strong. So did I." Mara admitted. "I hid a secret that nearly cost Luke his life, and then it nearly killed me as well."

Shiva turned her head to look at Mara now. "And what secret could that be? That you're sick?"

Mara smiled sorrowfully. "I was sick. I was also injured. I know you smelled it when we met a few days ago."

Shiva nodded. "I did. You had a serious infection." Shiva softened somewhat. "I am impressed you were still moving."

Mara smirked irreverently. "You mean for a puny human?"

Shiva stared at her for long seconds, computing the joke before she actually laughed. "Something like that."

Mara smiled. "Well, it was that hagrabold injury. It never properly healed, and I hid it so I could do this trek. Well... it was a huge mistake to hide it. Luke tried to help me repeatedly, but I wouldn't take it. Long story short, he and I nearly died because I was keeping such a thing secret."

Shiva eyed Mara. "You seem in good health now, so how did you get the injury fixed?"

Mara took a deep breath. "I was healed... by Mother Keostea."

Both Kestans gasped, though Shiva glared. "That's not something to mock!"

Mara shook her head, holding up a placating hand before she moved to show Shiva and Thea her shoulder. Thea leaned close to see and gasped a second time when she saw the leaf.

"Mother Keostea's mark!" Thea exclaimed, actually dropping to her knees reverently. "You bear her mark!"

Mara, uncomfortable with the way Thea was acting, gestured for her to rise. "I'm not her, so please don't bow to me."

Thea shook her head. "You don't understand, Mara. You are part of the planet now. You have a rare connection to Mother Keostea. I believe that she healed you." Thea's eyes widened. "And then you were both riding a sacred animal! No one has ever done that! Not even our ancestors!"

"Sacred?" Luke echoed.

Thea nodded sagely. "Those animals are sacred to our culture, considered to be an integral part of Mother Keostea."

"What are they called?" Luke was curious.

"We call them honites," Thea answered, and Luke nodded his understanding.

He was a little awed by the gesture from Keostea, and silently thanked her again.

On the ground, Shiva was staring mutely at the mark, and she actually lifted a hand, though she paused before moving it closer. "May I?" She indicated her desire to touch the mark for herself, and Mara nodded once.

Shiva touched the mark, felt how ingrained into the skin it was and breathed out slowly, dropping her hand. "Thank you." She closed her eyes for a long time, breathing deliberately before she opened them again. "You're right, Mara." This was the first time Shiva had used Mara's name, and it surprised the redhead. "I need help. Please, do you know how to mend a twisted ankle?"

"I'm not much of a medic, I'm afraid, but Luke is." Mara gestured, and Luke smiled gently, approaching to look at Shiva's ankle.

"I'll wrap it," Luke said as he pulled out one of the animal skins he'd been saving. He used it to securely wrap Shiva's ankle, tying it with some of his leftover vines. When he was done, he stood, scanning the area.

"Now we will need to formulate a crutch for you to use." He indicated the forest and returned to it for a time, during which Mara and Shiva chatted.

"I am sorry for how I have been treating you both," Shiva said softly. "I'm not normally like that, if you can believe it."

Mara smirked. "I can. Why were you like that, though?"

Shiva sighed, her wings seeing to deflate. "I was worried that you both would show me up and ruin any chance I had of..." she looked away, her voice losing steam, "of impressing my family."

Mara tilted her head. "Why do you want to impress them?"

Shiva shook her head. "I am the only one with an imperfect education. All in my family are well educated and have a high-status job because of that. I..." she cringed, "I have a less-than perfect education. I finished basic school, but when I tried to do college, I wasn't able to find out what I wanted to do, so eventually they asked me to leave."

Shiva blinked, and Mara thought she may have seen a hint of moisture in Shiva's eyes. "The Wasaka Games were my way of earning their respect, but only if I won. They'd never accept me if I lost. So I gave it my all just to be chosen as a participant. But then the Leaders announced that two Jedi would be participating and I feared that my ability to lose would vanish."

Mara felt her heart go out to Shiva, and as she spied Luke returning from the forest, Mara spoke. "I had a father that gave me up because he accused me of killing my mother at birth." When Shiva frowned at Mara, she explained. "My mother died in childbirth."

Shiva made a movement with her head. "I am sorry to hear that." Then Shiva touched Mara's shoulder in a friendly fashion. "Perhaps the two of us are more alike than we'd like to admit."

Mara snorted. "I think you may be right."

Luke returned then, and Mara helped Shiva stand so he could size a stick to Shiva's height. Finally on the third attempt a match fit the Kestan. Shiva offered a clawed hand. "Thank you."

Luke nodded, and the two teams stood together for a moment. "How many days has it been since the trek began?" Luke asked. "I was keeping count, but I wanted to be sure I'm not off."

"There are five days remaining," Thea replied, looking forlorn. "We will be hard-pressed to complete this trek in that amount of time with Shiva's ankle in such condition."

"Why don't we work together?" Mara suggested. Luke nodded his acceptance, as did Thea, but Shiva hesitated.

"Look, we were told that we were allowed to do what was necessary to complete the trek." Mara reminded Shiva. "So why not work together? It's not 'obvious illegal activity'." Mara pitched her voice lower to emphasize that rule, making everyone laugh.

Shiva and Thea shared a look, and then both nodded. "Alright."