NOTE: *....*means character thoughts
//....//means telepathic messages
((....))means my thoughts on whatever just so happens to happen
~*~*~*~means flashback/dream
Ch. 3
Lenna tread softly past Qui-Gon and out of the tent. She paused briefly, thinking of the Jedi Knight's reaction when he would find that she was gone. No matter. She was 'worthless', after all. If her Master thought her worthless, then so be it. She would no longer burden the Jedi with herself.
She walked on into the forest, lost in her own thoughts. Distress and turmoil hung over her heart heavily as she wandered. So many questions...too little present answers.
*Why, Master?*
*Why did you leave .......us?*
*why leave the Jedi?*
"Why leave me, we were a family?"Lenna whispered out loud.
Lenna sighed, leaning against a tree trunk. Her mind vaguely registered the soft rustle of leaves and nearly imperceptible crackle of twigs underfoot. Lenna brushed the sounds off without caring. It was probably some harmless woodland creature. It was a woodland creature, but harmless, it was not.
A pack of malia, a group of wolflike predators, circled the area in which she sat. Drool dripped from their fangs as they watched the young Jedi with ravenous hunger.
Then, the voracious predators attacked, unable to wait for their meal any longer.
* * * * * * * * *
Lenna stood in alarm as the malia showed themselves. The creatures snapped at her, drooling hungrily.
*great, first, my Master dumps me. Now, I'm being stalked by angry wolves? Things can't get much worse*Lenna thought sarcastically.
Oh, but things did.
The malia sprang at Lenna, who backpeddled....straight into a tree. Lenna swiftly drew her lightsaber, warding off any attacks from her unguarded sides. The malia leapt at random, making it impossible to anticipate where an attack was coming from. Lenna could barely fend off all of the attacks.
As Lenna focused her attention around her, a few of the hungry creatures made their way above her. Suddenly, one of the malia leapt from the trees.
Lenna cried out in shock and horror as one malia landed on her back, throwing her to the ground. Her lightsaber rolled from her grasp. Lenna struggled violently as the malia tore at her clothing, then sank it's razor sharp teeth into her flesh. Lenna put her hands over her neck and head, desperate to protect the soft flesh on her neck, desperate to protect herself from the impending doom that looked upon her.
She cried out in pain as one malia grabbed her left leg in it's mouth and pulled. Another malia grabbed her right arm, and thus began the deadly game of tug-o-war.
Then, as abruptly as the crushing pressure on her limbs had come, it was gone. The tell- tale snap-hiss of a lightsaber filled the forest.
Qui-Gon's lightsaber was a blur of light as he moved swiftly to fend off the pack of malia. The malia attacked relentlessly, every attack ending in at least 1 of their number falling. Finally, the malia fled.
Qui-Gon extinguished his lightsaber and rushed over to where Lenna lay. He knelt next to the injured girl, putting a hand on her shoulder. Worry clutched his heart to see her unmoving and drenched in her own blood. Lenna recoiled from his gentle touch.
"Lenna, let me see,"Qui-Gon said sternly, concern sharpening his tone.
Lenna rolled over to let Qui-Gon see her wounds. Qui-Gon gently probed her injuries. "Well, I guess this may end our trip,"Qui-Gon murmured. Lenna looked down, avoiding the big Jedi's gaze. Qui-Gon gently put an arm around her waist and pulled her into his arms, despite her protesting.
Once they were back at their campsite, Qui-Gon pulled out the medical kit. Qui-Gon began to clean the deep gouges left in Lenna's flesh from malia's teeth. Lenna winced, but said nothing more.
"Lenna, why did you go out there?"Qui-Gon asked softly.
Lenna once again avoided Qui-Gon's piercing blue gaze. She remained silent. "Lenna, please answer me. I want to help,"Qui-Gon said, his voice almost pleading. Lenna gave no answer, but she did look up. A clear, fresh, resounding pain filled her eyes, "you can't help....I can't...."Lenna whispered, but gave no further explanation.
Qui-Gon bandaged Lenna's wounds and stood, packing up the campsite. Qui-Gon walked over, their small amount of bags in his hands and helped Lenna up. The two Jedi began their hike back to the ship.
* * * * * * * * *
Lenna's eyes widened slightly as they neared the ship. Her breathing became shorter with disbelief and fear. No....it couldn't be. Yet it was. She sensed the oh-so-familiar presence that haunted her nightmares and wishes. She sensed her Master.
"Qui-Gon, I think we should leave,"she whispered, her eyes wide.
Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow slightly in a concerned curiosity. "What's wrong, Lenna? I don't sense anything."
Lenna struggled against Qui-Gon's strong arms as the feelings of unease mounted. Something horrible was going to happen if they did not leave. "Please, we need to leave—"
Lenna's plea was abruptly cut short.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the ground and air around them as their ship blew into a fiery mass. The two Jedi were knocked to the ground from the shockwave of the blast.
Qui-Gon gave a small cry of shock and pain as the air burned around them. Shrapnel dug into his body, but he paid it no mind. He had to find Lenna and get her away from the nightmare around them. He stood, his body crying out for attention, yet he ignored it.
Lenna cried out as the blast knocked her to the ground, sending stars exploding before her eyes. No shock came to mind as she hit the ground. She somehow knew her Master would get her some day. She just wished Qui-Gon did not have to share the pain, also.
Lenna could feel her skin burning under the heat of the flames around her. Her entire body ached. She just wished she could end her whole struggle then....by just not moving. Lenna made a vague attempt at pulling herself to her feet, but gave up. The heat too intense, the flames too hot, the pain of shrapnel and memories too large to go on.
Suddenly, she felt strong arms grab her. Lenna did not even fight the person responsible for saving her. She leaned limply against Qui-Gon's chest, trying to forget the reason the ship had blown up, trying to forget the man responsible for all the pain.
Qui-Gon ran from the flames and collapsed exhausted to the ground about a hundred meters from the inferno that was once their ship. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heartbeat and out-of-control breathing. Once calmed, he sat up, ignoring the horrendous pain in his hip and side from the shrapnel and looked over at Lenna.
Her shirt had been melted to her back, which was badly burned and painful. Shrapnel dug into her upper back and shoulders. A few minor burns marked her neck and jawline, but other than that, her back was the major issue of her injuries. Lenna laid on the ground on her stomach, a blank expression on her face.
"Lenna, are you all right? Say something,"Qui-Gon said, almost pleading.
Lenna opened her eyes. Qui-Gon was taken aback by the amount of pain in them. The pain was not physical, but emotional. "You're hurt.........I'm so sorry...."she whispered as she saw the pool of blood forming around Qui-Gon and the burns on his face and neck. Tears came to her eyes.
"Lenna, no, what do you have to be sorry for? This was not your fault. Besides, you're the one who is in pain, also,"Qui-Gon said, utterly bewildered by her guilt.
"You're hurt because of me,"Lenna said, her voice firm and monotonous. The young girl then fell silent.
Qui-Gon shook his head vehemently as he pulled himself over to where she laid. He pulled her burned body into his arms, careful not to irritate her injuries any further. "Lenna, in times of danger, I am happy to bear pain if it means my friend will not have to go through the flames of life alone."
Lenna looked up at Qui-Gon. Her pale, crystalline gaze met those of midnight blue. In the midnight blue eyes of the older Jedi, Lenna saw hope, belief, truth, compassion....and caring. Lenna averted her gaze from Qui-Gon's, unable to believe that someone could care for her after everything that had happened. She was, in fact, useless according to her Master—former Master.
Lenna stayed silent, lost between the pain of the past, and the calling of a new future.
***********************************
Hey, sorry this chapter was once again, so short! I just felt this was where it should end!
I hope you enjoyed!
PLEASE REVIEW!
Signing out for now,
Lina Skye
//....//means telepathic messages
((....))means my thoughts on whatever just so happens to happen
~*~*~*~means flashback/dream
Ch. 3
Lenna tread softly past Qui-Gon and out of the tent. She paused briefly, thinking of the Jedi Knight's reaction when he would find that she was gone. No matter. She was 'worthless', after all. If her Master thought her worthless, then so be it. She would no longer burden the Jedi with herself.
She walked on into the forest, lost in her own thoughts. Distress and turmoil hung over her heart heavily as she wandered. So many questions...too little present answers.
*Why, Master?*
*Why did you leave .......us?*
*why leave the Jedi?*
"Why leave me, we were a family?"Lenna whispered out loud.
Lenna sighed, leaning against a tree trunk. Her mind vaguely registered the soft rustle of leaves and nearly imperceptible crackle of twigs underfoot. Lenna brushed the sounds off without caring. It was probably some harmless woodland creature. It was a woodland creature, but harmless, it was not.
A pack of malia, a group of wolflike predators, circled the area in which she sat. Drool dripped from their fangs as they watched the young Jedi with ravenous hunger.
Then, the voracious predators attacked, unable to wait for their meal any longer.
* * * * * * * * *
Lenna stood in alarm as the malia showed themselves. The creatures snapped at her, drooling hungrily.
*great, first, my Master dumps me. Now, I'm being stalked by angry wolves? Things can't get much worse*Lenna thought sarcastically.
Oh, but things did.
The malia sprang at Lenna, who backpeddled....straight into a tree. Lenna swiftly drew her lightsaber, warding off any attacks from her unguarded sides. The malia leapt at random, making it impossible to anticipate where an attack was coming from. Lenna could barely fend off all of the attacks.
As Lenna focused her attention around her, a few of the hungry creatures made their way above her. Suddenly, one of the malia leapt from the trees.
Lenna cried out in shock and horror as one malia landed on her back, throwing her to the ground. Her lightsaber rolled from her grasp. Lenna struggled violently as the malia tore at her clothing, then sank it's razor sharp teeth into her flesh. Lenna put her hands over her neck and head, desperate to protect the soft flesh on her neck, desperate to protect herself from the impending doom that looked upon her.
She cried out in pain as one malia grabbed her left leg in it's mouth and pulled. Another malia grabbed her right arm, and thus began the deadly game of tug-o-war.
Then, as abruptly as the crushing pressure on her limbs had come, it was gone. The tell- tale snap-hiss of a lightsaber filled the forest.
Qui-Gon's lightsaber was a blur of light as he moved swiftly to fend off the pack of malia. The malia attacked relentlessly, every attack ending in at least 1 of their number falling. Finally, the malia fled.
Qui-Gon extinguished his lightsaber and rushed over to where Lenna lay. He knelt next to the injured girl, putting a hand on her shoulder. Worry clutched his heart to see her unmoving and drenched in her own blood. Lenna recoiled from his gentle touch.
"Lenna, let me see,"Qui-Gon said sternly, concern sharpening his tone.
Lenna rolled over to let Qui-Gon see her wounds. Qui-Gon gently probed her injuries. "Well, I guess this may end our trip,"Qui-Gon murmured. Lenna looked down, avoiding the big Jedi's gaze. Qui-Gon gently put an arm around her waist and pulled her into his arms, despite her protesting.
Once they were back at their campsite, Qui-Gon pulled out the medical kit. Qui-Gon began to clean the deep gouges left in Lenna's flesh from malia's teeth. Lenna winced, but said nothing more.
"Lenna, why did you go out there?"Qui-Gon asked softly.
Lenna once again avoided Qui-Gon's piercing blue gaze. She remained silent. "Lenna, please answer me. I want to help,"Qui-Gon said, his voice almost pleading. Lenna gave no answer, but she did look up. A clear, fresh, resounding pain filled her eyes, "you can't help....I can't...."Lenna whispered, but gave no further explanation.
Qui-Gon bandaged Lenna's wounds and stood, packing up the campsite. Qui-Gon walked over, their small amount of bags in his hands and helped Lenna up. The two Jedi began their hike back to the ship.
* * * * * * * * *
Lenna's eyes widened slightly as they neared the ship. Her breathing became shorter with disbelief and fear. No....it couldn't be. Yet it was. She sensed the oh-so-familiar presence that haunted her nightmares and wishes. She sensed her Master.
"Qui-Gon, I think we should leave,"she whispered, her eyes wide.
Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow slightly in a concerned curiosity. "What's wrong, Lenna? I don't sense anything."
Lenna struggled against Qui-Gon's strong arms as the feelings of unease mounted. Something horrible was going to happen if they did not leave. "Please, we need to leave—"
Lenna's plea was abruptly cut short.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the ground and air around them as their ship blew into a fiery mass. The two Jedi were knocked to the ground from the shockwave of the blast.
Qui-Gon gave a small cry of shock and pain as the air burned around them. Shrapnel dug into his body, but he paid it no mind. He had to find Lenna and get her away from the nightmare around them. He stood, his body crying out for attention, yet he ignored it.
Lenna cried out as the blast knocked her to the ground, sending stars exploding before her eyes. No shock came to mind as she hit the ground. She somehow knew her Master would get her some day. She just wished Qui-Gon did not have to share the pain, also.
Lenna could feel her skin burning under the heat of the flames around her. Her entire body ached. She just wished she could end her whole struggle then....by just not moving. Lenna made a vague attempt at pulling herself to her feet, but gave up. The heat too intense, the flames too hot, the pain of shrapnel and memories too large to go on.
Suddenly, she felt strong arms grab her. Lenna did not even fight the person responsible for saving her. She leaned limply against Qui-Gon's chest, trying to forget the reason the ship had blown up, trying to forget the man responsible for all the pain.
Qui-Gon ran from the flames and collapsed exhausted to the ground about a hundred meters from the inferno that was once their ship. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heartbeat and out-of-control breathing. Once calmed, he sat up, ignoring the horrendous pain in his hip and side from the shrapnel and looked over at Lenna.
Her shirt had been melted to her back, which was badly burned and painful. Shrapnel dug into her upper back and shoulders. A few minor burns marked her neck and jawline, but other than that, her back was the major issue of her injuries. Lenna laid on the ground on her stomach, a blank expression on her face.
"Lenna, are you all right? Say something,"Qui-Gon said, almost pleading.
Lenna opened her eyes. Qui-Gon was taken aback by the amount of pain in them. The pain was not physical, but emotional. "You're hurt.........I'm so sorry...."she whispered as she saw the pool of blood forming around Qui-Gon and the burns on his face and neck. Tears came to her eyes.
"Lenna, no, what do you have to be sorry for? This was not your fault. Besides, you're the one who is in pain, also,"Qui-Gon said, utterly bewildered by her guilt.
"You're hurt because of me,"Lenna said, her voice firm and monotonous. The young girl then fell silent.
Qui-Gon shook his head vehemently as he pulled himself over to where she laid. He pulled her burned body into his arms, careful not to irritate her injuries any further. "Lenna, in times of danger, I am happy to bear pain if it means my friend will not have to go through the flames of life alone."
Lenna looked up at Qui-Gon. Her pale, crystalline gaze met those of midnight blue. In the midnight blue eyes of the older Jedi, Lenna saw hope, belief, truth, compassion....and caring. Lenna averted her gaze from Qui-Gon's, unable to believe that someone could care for her after everything that had happened. She was, in fact, useless according to her Master—former Master.
Lenna stayed silent, lost between the pain of the past, and the calling of a new future.
***********************************
Hey, sorry this chapter was once again, so short! I just felt this was where it should end!
I hope you enjoyed!
PLEASE REVIEW!
Signing out for now,
Lina Skye