Author's Note: Well… I thought it was going to be ages until I posted this, but inspiration hit me really hard and I hammered this fic out in just a few days, so here it is! My overwhelming gratitude to She-Elf23, whose kind consideration of my prompt words and generous sharing of her thought-provoking ideas absolutely inspired this fic, I really hope you enjoy this offering, my friend, I dedicate this one to you with my grateful thanks for the inspiration.

This is the last instalment I had left to write, so this series is almost finished, aside from a little polishing before I publish the final three Chapters. Chapters X, Y, Z were all written at totally different times, but upon review, I have found several similarities between them, so I have worked hard to make W completely different. The hurt/comfort is a little milder but I hope you enjoy a more light-hearted instalment here, it was fun to explore the teaching side of a Master-Padawan relationship…

My further thanks, as ever, to everyone who has been kind enough to leave such lovely reviews… you guys are my motivation to keep going. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.


Wildlife

"Master…"

Fifteen-year-old Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi hesitated at the top of the ramp of their transport shuttle, eyes wide as he took in his first sight of the planet they had just landed upon.

"What is it, Padawan?"

His Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, paused at the bottom of the ramp, and half-turned, looking up at the teen expectantly, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

"I… I do not understand, Master. I thought we were going on a training exercise… what is this place?"

"Welcome to Druidia, Obi-Wan – and yes, we are indeed on a training exercise."

"But… Master Yaddle said that our class would be going on retreat with our Masters to strengthen our connection to the Living Force… she strongly suggested the Jedi Temple on Yourandell…"

"Pah," Qui-Gon waved one hand in a dismissive, downward flick, "all of the other Masters can take their Padawans to Yourandell… I have decided to bring you here instead."

"Oh, no…" Obi-Wan let out a soft groan; how typical of his maverick Master to simply throw the rulebook out of the window and do things his own way.

He had only been apprenticed to the tall Jedi Master for a couple of years, but in that short time he had discovered that his Master seemingly went out of his way to go against Obi-Wan's tutors, the other Masters at the Temple, even downright disobeying the Council whenever he saw fit; and he had a terrible tendency to drag his Padawan along for the ride.

"Are you coming, Obi-Wan?"

The teen grimaced, rushing to catch up to his Master, having to assume a quick pace to keep up with his much taller teacher.

"Please, Master," he said, quickly, "Master Yaddle was very insistent, we are all supposed to spend a week in meditation in Yourandell…"

"Anybody can connect with the Force in the peace of a Temple filled with candles and incense," Qui-Gon snorted, derisively, "the real skill is in being able to do so in the wildest of places."

"Am I going to get in trouble with Master Yaddle for this?" Obi-Wan groaned.

"Padawan… have I ever gotten you in trouble with your tutors?"

Obi-Wan considered this carefully; "Ahh… yes. At least seven times. Eight, if you count that incident with the Fire Beetles, because although Master Vokara is not one of my tutors, she was very angry about it."

"No… that one definitely does not count, because she was angry at me, not at you."

"That still makes seven other occasions, Master," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Well, then; you should be used to it by now," Qui-Gon flashed him a quick, amused smile, "now, your training exercise begins here, young Padawan. Look around, and tell me what you feel…"

Obi-Wan came to a halt beside his Master, his worries about his tutors banished from his mind as he soaked in his surroundings. The area was, quite simply, beautiful. The sun shone high above him in a bright blue, virtually cloudless sky. Their shuttle had set down in one of the plains areas; the green grass was kept short by the herds of ungulates that grazed lazily upon it; here and there were towering trees with thick trunks and vast branches sprouting yellow and red leaves, that were being delicately picked at by massive, slow moving herbivorous lizards with long, serpentine necks. The branches hosted flocks of brightly coloured, chattering birds. To the North, ahead of them, a vast expanse of ocean glittered purple in the sunlight; beside it to the East were tall cliffs that climbed into steep, snow-capped mountains. To the West was a thick rainforest sweeping up rolling hills; turning South, the plains stretched far behind him, giving way to what looked like an endless desert of dark red sand and rock.

He drew in a deep breath of the clean, fresh air, carrying a slightly salty, sea-tang to it, closing his eyes as a soft breeze ruffled his hair. He could feel the strength of the Force in this incredible place, and when he opened his eyes again, he could see his Master smiling slightly, watching him with quiet expectation.

"Life, Master," he replied, at long last, feeling much calmer and more centred than he had ever felt before, "I sense… life… everywhere. It's incredible."

"This planet is teeming with it," Qui-Gon nodded in confirmation, obviously pleased with his answer, "a wide variety of species co-exist here, Obi-Wan, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores; plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects; predators and prey alike. They have existed here like this for hundreds upon thousands of years, but as yet, no creature here has evolved to become technologically adept… No one creature or species here strives for dominance over any or all of the others. What does that sound like to you?"

"It sounds like… balance, Master. A natural balance of the Living Force."

"Incisive as ever, Padawan," Qui-Gon smiled again, and Obi-Wan began to relax a little more, pleased to see that his Master was obviously enjoying this teaching opportunity, "come, we will start with a simple exercise that you should have no trouble with…"

The Master walked a short distance to the foot of a cliff, gestured, and knelt down on the ground, indicting a small circle of white stones. Obi-Wan frowned a little; the circle was perfect, and obviously not natural.

"It pleases me that this is still here," Qui-Gon nodded, his smile turning a little nostalgic, "I shall wait here for you, Padawan. Go; fetch sticks and kindling, and make a fire in this pit."

Obi-Wan nodded, and immediately set to work. They were on the edge of the grasslands, at the base of one of the sheer cliffs, and the trees were sparse, but there was bracken and branches scattered about to be found. He worked quietly and methodically, wondering at the sheer vastness of life on this planet; it seemed every branch he picked up had a teeming insect colony living beneath it, or a small lizard basking upon it in the sun, or a scurrying rodent foraging around it. He made sure each twig he gathered was free of passengers and that he did not unnecessarily disturb any of the living creatures, choosing to build his fire slowly and with care, as his Master patiently meditated nearby.

It therefore took some time, but after a couple of hours of painstaking, careful work, he had gathered enough kindling and sticks to build a respectable camp fire. Standing back, he drew his lightsabre from his belt, ready to use the plasma to ignite the fire, only to gasp aloud as the hilt was suddenly snatched from his hand. The lightsabre flew through the air, landing in Qui-Gon's upheld palm, the Master closing his fingers around it, as the same mischievous smile played on his lips.

"Not so fast, my young Padawan," he murmured, opening his eyes slowly, lowering his hand into his lap and keeping hold of the confiscated weapon, "you may not always have such convenient tools to hand… you must learn other ways of surviving."

"But you have always taught me that I should never allow myself to be separated from my lightsabre…"

"And yet you just were," Qui-Gon pointed out, with obvious amusement, "yes, this weapon is your life, and you should not be parted from it if it can be helped… but it cannot always be helped, can it?"

"I… I suppose not, Master. What… what must I do?"

"Be seated, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon gestured, and the Padawan obediently knelt down on the opposite side of the fire pit, gazing across at his Master in rapt attention, "now… close your eyes. Concentrate. Reach out with the Force… just as the kyber crystal focuses the energy of your lightsabre, you are the crystal that focuses the Force. Draw upon it. Channel it. Feel its warmth, its strength, and focus that into a pinpoint of heat, the spark that will ignite the fire, Obi-Wan… concentrate…"

Closing his eyes, stretching out his hand towards the fire, a slight frown creased his brow as Obi-Wan concentrated, drawing upon the Force, following his Master's command, feeling the energy flowing through him, channelling it into a tighter beam than he had ever considered doing before, sensing the build up of heat… until there was a spark and a crackle, and his eyes flew open in shock as the kindling ignited, flaring, small flames catching and licking up at the pile of dried wood and bracken.

"Well done, Obi-Wan."

"Master! I… I just… that was an Alter ability! Padawans aren't supposed to… I'm not allowed… I'm only supposed to be practicing Sense abilities!"

"You are strong with the Living Force, Obi-Wan, and you will never learn anything new by sticking to what you already know," Qui-Gon replied, with another small smile, "I am your Master and it is my prerogative to teach you what I think you are ready to learn, not just limit myself to what your tutors dictate."

"So I am going to get in trouble for this…"

"And no doubt so will I," Qui-Gon agreed, far too cheerfully for Obi-Wan's liking.

"Oh, dear…" Obi-Wan sighed, and then shook his head as Qui-Gon huffed in amusement.

"I have brought you here to learn things you cannot learn sitting isolated in a Temple, Obi-Wan," he said, softly, "and do not concern yourself with your tutors… I have brought you here, to this place, just as my Master brought me, when I was only a little older than you are now."

"Master Dooku brought you here?" Obi-Wan raised his head in surprise; it was rare to hear his Master openly mention his Grandmaster, "did you build this stone circle then, Master?"

"No, Obi-Wan… Master Dooku did, when he was but a young Padawan… yes, that is correct; Master Yoda brought him to this place to train, just as he brought me, and now I bring you… hopefully one day, you may bring a Padawan of your own here, to learn the lessons that I am going to teach you… but of course, I am, and always will be, far too young to be called a Grandmaster."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan dipped his head momentarily, making a token effort to hide his amusement, "are we to make camp here tonight, then, rather than sleeping on the shuttle?"

"Who said anything about sleeping?" the sly amusement was back in his Master's tone, and Obi-Wan gave a theatrical groan in response, "come, Obi-Wan – meditate with me for a while."

Obi-Wan obediently assumed a cross-legged position, resting the backs of his hands on his knees, straightening his spine accordingly. He cleared his mind, trying not to think of Yourandell, with its beautiful temple, ornate halls, manicured gardens, fountains, candles, incense, and comfortable beds with soft mattresses and warm sheets… as he reached out for the Force, another thought occurred to him and he pulled back, momentarily.

"Master?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan?"

"May I have my lightsabre back now, please?"

His Master's amused laughter drew another smile from the Padawan as he held up his hand, and summoned the weapon back to himself. He reattached it to his belt, and the two of them entered a meditative trance together, the Force flowing in and around them as the fire crackled merrily between them.


Scarcely two hours had passed before Qui-Gon gently led Obi-Wan out of their joint meditation; the Padawan blinked his eyes open, to find that the sun had dipped low to the horizon over the nearby ocean, turning the sky vivid shades of orange, red and purple, glittering on the ocean as it slowly set. Even as it did, a huge moon began to rise, bathing the whole area in a silvery glow. The hoofed mammals and long-necked lizards were gone, retreating into the tree line of the nearby forest, hunkering down in the overgrowth, waiting for the night to pass.

Qui-Gon stood, slowly, gesturing to Obi-Wan to do the same.

"We should not leave the fire unattended, Padawan… see if you can extinguish it, just as you lit it."

Obi-Wan bit his lip, but stretched out his hand, waving it over the fire, attempting to draw out and dissipate the heat of it using the Force; the flames died down a little, but smouldered back to life as he passed his hand over it. He tried twice more, then, on the fourth attempt, the fire extinguished completely. He grinned in sheer delight and disbelief, as his Master nodded approvingly.

"Well done, Padawan," he said, with a proud smile, "now for something a little trickier, I think… come, this way."

The tall Master led the way, beckoning for the Padawan to follow, as he walked down to the beach, the crests of the waves glittering silvery-white in the moonlight. To Obi-Wan, it seemed as if his Master was about to walk right into the water. He was about to reach for his rebreather, until the Master turned, and stepped onto a path so narrow it was almost invisible, winding up the front of the sheer cliff, worn into the stone by the hooves of sure-footed goat-like creatures who climbed the cliffs to feed on the moss and lichen that clung to the wet rocks.

Obi-Wan followed his Master without hesitation or fear, moving with the preternatural grace of a well-trained Jedi, confident in his physical abilities, his power in the Force, and his faith in his Master. They walked for some time, until they came to a halt on a narrow ledge, at the mouth of a small, dark cave, stretching back deep into the rock face, further than Obi-Wan could see or sense.

"Reach out further, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon told him, encouragingly, "and tell me what you sense. Describe it to me… thoughts, feelings, instincts… anything you can detect."

Obi-Wan concentrated, pushing his Force-sense further than he ever had before, stretching into the cave, beyond the darkness.

"There is something… alive, in there, Master," he frowned, "it is… hungry… carnivorous… and… oh dear… now it is awake, and it has our scent… and… uh… I think there are actually two of them."

"Excellent," Qui-Gon did not sound in the least bit perturbed; if Obi-Wan had to guess, he would say his Master was actually enjoying himself immensely, no doubt at his Padawan's expense, "this is your next task, Obi-Wan – you know how to reach out and touch the mind of a weak-willed being; you know how to manipulate their thoughts and feelings and even their actions… now it is time to test that skill on something a little wilder, more instinctual. Watch closely, and follow my example."

Obi-Wan took a half-step back, as something began to emerge from the darkness of the cave. It had long jaws, lips peeled back in a snarl, showing off two rows of wickedly sharp, hooked teeth, shining in the moonlight. Piercing yellow eyes with huge, black, slitted pupils glared at them menacingly, beneath curling, thick horns atop its head. A serpentine neck connected the head to a squat, muscular body, as it walked forward on folded up wings in place of fore-arms, clawed fingers gripping the rock as the leathery wings rustled and creaked, counterbalanced by muscular double-joined hind legs, followed by a whip-like tail that flexed and lashed as the creature growled and hissed.

Qui-Gon calmly held up his right hand, two fingers extended, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. The creature let out a screeching howl but this drew no reaction from the serene Master, though Obi-Wan found himself taking a nervous step backwards. The creature snarled again, shaking its head from side to side in confusion, but Qui-Gon maintained his concentration, until, eventually, with a soft snort, the creature stilled, and lay down on the ground, neck extended, chin resting on the rock, waiting expectantly. Qui-Gon lowered his hand and walked towards it, running his fingers gently up its snout and down its long neck, before vaulting onto its back, settling himself at the base of its neck, resting against the shoulder joints of its wings, even as Obi-Wan gaped at him in shock and awe.

"No time to dawdle, Obi-Wan; his mate is right behind him, and now it is your turn, Padawan!"

Swallowing his shock, Obi-Wan braced himself as the second huge, scaly, and very angry, winged lizard began to emerge, hissing and snarling. He held up his hand, trying his best to quell his anxiety, resisting the urge to tug on his braid as he often did when he was nervous, as the creature slithered towards him, scales and teeth glinting in the moonlight.

"Oh, dear," he murmured, taking a step back, "nice lizard, good lizard, please don't eat me…"

He stepped back again, his boot heel sliding off the edge of the cliff behind him and he flailed wildly for a moment, catching his balance as loose shale clattered down the sheer rock face, disappearing into the ocean crashing over the sharp rocks below. He heard a snort of laughter from his Master.

"Come on, Obi-Wan, you'll have to do better than that! Remember your training!"

Obi-Wan held up his hand again, fingers outstretched, as he started by releasing his fear and uncertainty into the Force. Clearing his mind, he focussed himself, and directed his will towards the snapping, snarling creature, pushing the rage and instinct to hunt from her mind, quelling the wild fury, sending waves of peace, and calm, and compliance; the creature swiped a claw at her face, shaking her great head, and then, with a heavy sigh, succumbed to his suggestion and lay down, stretching out her muscular neck. Obi-Wan approached slowly, touching his outstretched fingers to the lizard's snout, feeling the huff of warm breath through her arched nostrils. He trailed his hand slowly along the beasts' face and neck, before carefully climbing onto her back, finally looking across and meeting his Master's gaze. Expecting a rebuke for his perceived initial failure, he was surprised to find his Master smiling openly, feeling the projected pride through their training bond.

"Well done, Obi-Wan! Are you ready for the next part?"

"The next part, Master?"

Qui-Gon laughed aloud this time, kicked his heels back, leaning forward, as he shouted to his steed; "Yah!"

The creature lunged forwards, launching into a run, leaping, and plummeting head-first over the edge of the cliff. Obi-Wan's heart leapt into his throat and his own mount growled in response, reminding him to keep his focus on her, even as he heard the crack of air filling leathery wings, and the first lizard soared high into the sky, with slow, deliberate wing beats, circling around and gaining height.

Exhilarated, Obi-Wan refocused on his own steed, urging her onwards; with a roar, she leapt up, pouncing, clearing the edge of the cliff and plummeting straight down. The sharp rocks and turbulent waves rushed up to meet them at dizzying speed, until the reptile opened her wings, catching the air and soaring, skimming the surface of the water and then flapping, hard, gaining height. He urged her into more speed as the two winged lizards flew and circled each other, and Obi-Wan laughed at the sheer thrill of it, the wind rushing through his hair and billowing his cloak as he exulted in the feeling of flight, his connection with the powerful creature he rode, and the temporary bond between them through the Living Force.

Qui-Gon urged his mount lower, skimming the waves of the ocean, and Obi-Wan followed suit, watching as the winged reptile dipped her jaws, snapping up fish that leapt clear of the waves momentarily, swallowing up the morsels of food with ease. Climbing once more, silhouetted in the moonlight, the two Jedi and their rides soared higher, until they finally returned to the beach where they had started; Qui-Gon dismounted, patting the neck of his mount, and then waved his hand; the creature took one last look at him, and then launched back into the sky, setting out on his own hunt. Obi-Wan copied his Master's example, and the female soon followed her mate.

"Master, that… that was incredible!"

"Hah! Indeed it was… you don't get to do that in a meditative temple."

"No, I suppose not," Obi-Wan laughed, still a little breathless, his joy radiating from him like a beacon, drawing a smile to his Master's lips once again, as the Padawan braced his hands on his knees, bending over and taking a moment to catch his breath, "and Master Dooku taught you how to do that?"

"Ah… hmm… no, not exactly. He and Master Yoda both favoured riding the long-necked herbivores. I thought youmight enjoy more of a challenge."

Obi-Wan shot his Master a knowing look; "You mean you wanted to ride one of those things instead…"

"Well… we are all allowed to have a little fun, now and then. How did it feel, Padawan?"

Obi-Wan shook his head, his exhilaration obvious as he reflected on the connection he had shared with the wild, powerful carnivore during their flight.

"I never thought… I didn't know we could… Master, I have no words. It was incredible! I've never felt the Force like that before!"

"Using the Force is not all about combat and meditation, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon told him, knowingly, "those are just two opposite extremes of our skills… there are many subtleties and nuances. You will find, like all Jedi, you are stronger in some abilities than in others… some Jedi develop quite unique skills, like Master Yoda's visions of the future, or Master Windu's ability to sense shatterpoints; key people and events in time and the Living Force, or your own young friend Quinlan, who knows the history of a person or object simply by touching it. Part of this exercise is not just finding out and testing your strengths, but also knowing and accepting your weaknesses, my young Padawan, that you may compensate for them appropriately."

"Oh… yes… I think I understand, Master."

"No, you do not. Not yet. But you will. Come, Padawan, that is enough for today. It is not safe to sleep out here, there are many dangerous creatures that roam this planet and hunt these plains at night. Let us return to the ship to rest; I have more to show you in the morning."

The Master placed his hand on the Padawan's shoulder, drawing him closer, and together, they walked back to their waiting ship to rest, and await the coming dawn.


Obi-Wan rose first, and early, excited to know what lesson the day would bring, already thrilled by the new abilities his Master had shown him. It was rare in the Jedi Temple to be allowed to use the Force frivolously; everything was drilled, controlled and regimented, strictly so, lest an inexperienced wielder inadvertently cause harm to themselves or another. It was the first time he had been allowed to test and stretch his abilities to their limits, to see what he was truly capable of, and it was exhilarating. He found himself looking forward to his next lesson, far more than he would have anticipated a day of meditation in the Yourandell Temple.

Nonetheless, he moved silently, preparing a meal of porridge, fruit slices, bread and freshly brewed tea, in accordance with his normal routine. He laid everything out on the table in the passenger lounge of their shuttle, just as he would have in their living quarters at the Temple on Coruscant. Sure enough, just as he was pouring the tea into the mugs, his Master appeared, dressed in his tunic and trousers. They bowed low to each other, smiling, expressing mutual warmth and greeting through their training bond, before taking their seats.

Qui-Gon, as usual, started with his cup of tea; he never seemed to eat anything before finishing the first brew, even as Obi-Wan tucked into the porridge.

"Would I be permitted to ask, Master," he said, hastily swallowing a mouthful of food, "what today's lesson might be?"

"You are permitted to ask, Obi-Wan, but whether I choose to answer would be a different matter entirely," Qui-Gon replied, mildly, as he downed the last of the mug.

Obi-Wan dutifully fetched the pot and topped it up, as the Master finally began to eat his own breakfast.

"Then it is to be a surprise?" Obi-Wan arched one eyebrow in response, resuming his own meal, adding an extra dash of sweet spices to his bowl and stirring it in.

"Well, that makes it more interesting, doesn't it?"

"For you, maybe," Obi-Wan shot back, knowingly, and Qui-Gon laughed in response.

"You, my young Padawan, are becoming far too incisive for your own good," Qui-Gon wagged a finger at him, but there was no rebuke in his tone, only amusement, "very well… I shall give you a choice, then. You can choose one of two options, and learn the lesson that accompanies it."

"And my options are…?"

"You may choose between hot, or cold."

"I… do not understand, Master."

"Those are your two choices, Obi-Wan, they are simple enough, are they not? Which one will you pick?"

Obi-Wan stirred his porridge, scooping a spoonful into his mouth as he pondered the two options and their possible meanings. He tried to call upon the Force to help him sense a direction, but then only found himself frowning in confusion as he drew a complete blank, and Qui-Gon chuckled at his bewilderment.

"There is a lesson even now, Obi-Wan – the Force does not make us all-knowing and all-powerful. It is a guide, yes, but it will not answer every question you are confronted with. This decision is yours, and yours alone. Both options are equal; both contain an element of danger, and both will teach you a valuable lesson."

"Am I to learn one lesson at the expense of the other, Master?" Obi-Wan asked, curiously, "In which case, surely I must be able to choose the lesson that will benefit me the most… Or is it simply the case that I will learn one after the other? In that circumstance, it is a false choice, and it matters not which I do first... Or will the lesson be the same, regardless of which option I choose? Surely I must be allowed to make a more informed decision, Master…"

"It is what it is, and it is simply a choice, Obi-Wan; hot… or cold."

Obi-Wan angled a sly look at his Master; "Which one would you choose?"

"Please tell me you honestly did not expect me to fall for that, Padawan."

"It was worth a try, Master."

"Then I will ask you again; hot, or cold? It is a simple question, Obi-Wan, now answer it."

"Then I choose cold," Obi-Wan said, decisively, "I have never particularly cared for hot places, though whether the choice is one of climate or something else entirely, I shall wait to discover."

Qui-Gon chuckled, breaking off a piece of bread, nodding; "And that is as good a reason as any… excellent. Finish your breakfast, Padawan, and then fetch our cloaks… we will need them."


The walk up the cliff side path had been long, but Obi-Wan bore it without complaint, enjoying the panoramic views across the ocean, plains, forest and desert below them. The climb up the side of the mountain had been arduous, but he had managed to keep up with his Master, despite his shorter reach and lack of experience. Trekking through the snow, however, in the thin air of the high altitude, chilled him to the bone, leaving him breathless and gasping; he walked alongside his Master on the high plateau; they could no longer see the ground far below, shrouded as they were in freezing mists.

"Is this cold enough for you, Obi-Wan?"

His Master, as usual, sounded much too cheerful, and Obi-Wan had to remind himself that had he chosen 'hot', there was no doubt he would be just as uncomfortable, if not more so, at the other end of the spectrum, probably somewhere deep in the desert and sweltering in baking sun.

"It is freezing up here, Master!"

"Excellent," Qui-Gon came to a halt; surrounded by the icy mists and the crisp, white snow that almost came up to the tops of their knee-high boots, "now, then – remove your cloak."

"What?" Obi-Wan was not sure he had heard correctly, as he clutched the fabric tightly around himself, scant protection as it was against the biting cold, staring at his Master as if he had gone crazy.

"I said; remove your cloak," Qui-Gon shrugged out of his own robe, dropping it carelessly to the ground, looking completely unfazed by the below-freezing temperatures, "your tunic, as well. Remember why we are here, Padawan… the Force has many applications. Use it, draw it into yourself, and warm yourself with it."

The Master unfastened his tabard and removed his tunic, revealing his broad shoulders, muscular arms and bared chest. He took a deep breath, seemingly completely unaffected by the icy, thin air, and then put his hands on his hips, watching his student expectantly. Obi-Wan let out a small sigh, dismissed his anxieties, putting his faith in the Force even as he half-considered the possibility that his Master was actually insane, and was simply trying to kill him in the most inventive ways possible.

Reluctantly, he slipped off his cloak, dropping it to the ground just as his Master had done. His shivering increased, and he took a ragged breath of the thin air, concentrating on the Force; it was hard to grasp, his body rebelling, trembling uncontrollably, his extremities already too numb to function, joints stiffening with the cold. Still he tried, frozen fingers fumbling to undo and take off his own tunic, unable to suppress a wince as the cold air met his bare skin, lancing through him like a knife.

"Do not focus on your discomforts, Obi-Wan, they will only distract you. Focus only on the Force, draw it into yourself; be warmed and sustained by its presence within you and around you."

The Temple on Yourandell was suddenly a much more appealing prospect once again…

Obi-Wan dismissed the thought, trying to measure out his breathing, instead of panting in short, sharp, pained gasps. He closed his eyes, reaching out and drawing in the Force. It started as a warm feeling, in the centre of his chest, so he focussed on that, pulling in more living energy, feeding it to the spark of warmth, feeling it spreading throughout his body. Gradually, his shivering diminished, and then ceased altogether; his joints loosened and his fingers flexed easily, and suddenly, he was warm, and he could breathe properly.

"Well done, Padawan," Qui-Gon said, approvingly, "Master Dooku told me that when your Great-Grandmaster brought him here, he almost succumbed to hypothermia, had Master Yoda not intervened… but then again, Master Dooku always hated the cold. I had to learn to do this in the desert, using the Force to cool myself instead… and that was after he made me run the whole way there."

"That sounds… awful," Obi-Wan commented, with a sympathetic wince.

"The life of a Jedi is not always pleasant, I am afraid, Padawan… but that is another lesson for another time. How are you feeling now?"

"It is beautiful, even up here," Obi-Wan marvelled at the snow-scape, finally able to look around and appreciate the landscape, no longer affected by the freezing temperature or his physical discomfort, "but… Master… maintaining this state… it is hard. It… it feels strange. It's tiring…"

"Yes," Qui-Gon agreed, "like all Jedi, you have limits, Obi-Wan, even when it comes to using the Force. Using Force-energy requires a great deal of mental and physical effort; just as you exercise your body to build strength, so too you must exercise your abilities. The more you practice, the stronger you will become and the more Force-energy you will have to draw on. But you must be careful not to over-exert yourself. Force-exhaustion is real, and no trifling matter, and many Jedi, including myself, have learned the hard way just how painful and debilitating it can be. Sometimes, it is even fatal; I have know of Jedi, under extreme circumstances, to expend so much energy they can no longer sustain their own life-force, and they have succumbed, becoming one with the Force before their time."

"How will I know my limits, Master?"

"Oh, you will know, my young Padawan," Qui-Gon sighed, with a shake of his head, "I just pray you never have cause to test them too far. Now, to the next part of this exercise…"

"Next part?" Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows in surprise, "there's something else?"

"Of course – there is always something new to learn, Obi-Wan. Now… try not to be too concerned about this, but I am going to show you another Alter ability."

"I really am going to be in so much trouble when we get home."

"Stop worrying, Obi-Wan, most of your fellow Padawans would be thrilled to be learning these skills at such a young age."

"None of my fellow Padawans have ever had to spend three straight days in remedial meditation with Master Plo, like I did after that incident with the Corellian Ambassador's shuttlecraft…"

"I have already apologised for that, Padawan, several times; I simply misheard the docking bay number for which shuttle you were meant to collect…"

"They thought I stole it, Master – I was apprehended by the civilian authorities. They arrested me!"

"It was a learning experience."

"Master Plo certainly thought so…"

"Well, Master Plo isn't here, so now I get to teach you something far more interesting… first, we shall re-dress, but keep your concentration on being warm, Padawan. Learning to channel the Force in more than one direction at a time is a vital skill for any Jedi."

They quickly re-donned their tunics and cloaks, and Obi-Wan watched as Qui-Gon took in a deep inhalation, and then stretched up his hand. The young Padawan felt the shift in the Force as the Master called upon it, and he had to remind himself to keep his own focus, as a chilly breeze picked up around him, tousling his short hair and stirring the fabric of his cloak. Obi-Wan's eyes widened in delighted shock as the mists swirled around them, rising up and forming into thick clouds, and it began to snow; thick, white flakes, tumbling gently to the ground, whirling and dancing in the light breeze.

"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, in astonishment, "Did you… did you do that? You made it snow!"

"Yes," Qui-Gon smiled at his student's obvious amazement, "it is simply a matter of using the Force to draw together what is already there… you cannot summon something from nothing, Obi-Wan; you cannot simply will it to rain in a bone-dry desert, for example. But here, where there is moisture in the air and below freezing temperatures, you can move the winds and draw the clouds together, concentrating what is already here, and bringing down the snow. When I learned this in the desert, I had to summon the winds to create a sandstorm…"

He reached up again, waved his hands and the thick grey clouds above them dissipated, the snow trailing off, the last flurries falling and settling around them. Obi-Wan shook the soft flakes from his hair, grinning openly.

"Your turn, Obi-Wan. You felt what I did; now you do it. But remember, you are channelling the Force in two ways now; internally to keep warm, and externally to manipulate your environment. It will not be easy to maintain this balance, but you must do it."

Gnawing a little on his lower lip, toying nervously with his braid, Obi-Wan nodded. He took his time, concentrating, continually drawing on warmth, but then slowly shifting half of his focus externally. He was mystified, at first; reaching out to touch the clouds, they of course slipped through his grasp. He withdrew, considering, and then recalled the breeze his Master had summoned. Of course; he could not simply grab and move a cloud as he would a tangible object; he had to will it to move in other ways. He felt the breeze pick up a little as he concentrated, stirring it. He shivered a little, and had to refocus on his own warmth for a moment; the breeze disappeared almost immediately. Frowning, he tried again, slower this time, a gentle whisper of wind, though he felt a dull ache in his temples at the exertion.

With a little more effort, he allowed the warmth within to diminish only a little, using more of that energy to guide the wind, bringing the clouds together. He could feel them now, thickening and darkening, heavy with moisture but freezing in the cold mountain air. Something soft and cold landed upon his cheek; he opened his eyes and looked up, gasping and marvelling as a few flakes of snow drifted lazily from the sky; nothing like the flurry that Qui-Gon had summoned, but it was snowing, and he had done it…

Abruptly, a sharp pain lanced through his temples and he yelped aloud, clutching his head in both hands. His concentration broken, the wind whipped straight through him, snatching away the warmth that had previously sustained him, even as the snow continued to fall lazily from the sky, summoned into being yet not dismissed. Obi-Wan felt strong hands grasping his shoulders, and the warmth flooded back through him, infused with energy that bolstered his strength and chased away the pain in his temples.

"Easy, there, Obi-Wan, careful now," his Master's voice was low and soothing, "that, my dear Padawan, it what it feels like to overstretch yourself… no, no, do not look so dismayed. You will build greater strength and endurance as you practice and grow your abilities. You did extremely well…"

Qui-Gon reached out his hands and banished the clouds; the light snowfall ceased as the mists surrounded them once more. The Master sent another wave of energy to his exhausted student, who accepted it gratefully, using it to warm himself once more, this time finding it much easier to channel the energy as needed.

"You are a fast learner, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, fondly, as the Padawan straightened himself up, "you have done well… come, we will make our way back to our campfire and spend some time in meditation, so that you may recover before our next lesson."

With a sweep of his cloak, the Master turned, and led the way back down the mountain.


After eating a pack of heated rations and spending a few hours in meditation, along with a restorative cup of tea, Obi-Wan found himself following his Master out into the plains in the silvery light of the huge moon. Wrapped in their cloaks, with their hoods drawn up and their hands clasped in their sleeves, the two Jedi walked down to the coast, where they stood in quiet contemplation for several minutes. Obi-Wan spared a quick glance at his Master, curious as to their purpose, but the older Jedi simply stood with his eyes closed, breathing deeply, apparently meditating. Obi-Wan briefly brushed against the training bond they shared, but sensed nothing from the other man, so he closed his own eyes, and simply enjoyed the peacefulness; the sound of the waves breaking on the shore, and the scent of the ocean air.

He felt movement beside him and opened his eyes, to see his Master once again removing his cloak and tunic, but this time also removing his lightsabre and his boots, leaving them in a pile on the soft sand. He took his rebreather from his pocket, and Obi-Wan immediately copied his example. Soon enough, the two Jedi were standing on the shore, clad only in their lightweight trousers. Burning with questions but respectful of the silence, Obi-Wan fitted his rebreather, clenching it between his teeth, as Qui-Gon led the way into the sea, walking out until the water was up to his chest, before dipping smoothly below the surface and beginning to swim, down into the depths.

Obi-Wan followed, expecting to quickly be swallowed by darkness, but his eyes widened as he saw faint lights beneath them. He could see his Master ahead of him, a dark shadow, and he followed, marvelling at the bio-luminescent corals that glowed all around them, in bright blues, greens, pinks and yellows, a whole rainbow spectrum of colours, as tiny fish darted in and out of the reefs. Qui-Gon led him out to the edge of the reef, where the sandy seabed stretched out into darkness before them. Floating in place, Qui-Gon hung in the water, his long hair drifting like a halo around his face, as he turned towards his student, illuminated by the corals around them.

The Master raised his hand, pointed to his rebreather, reached up, and then took it from his mouth. Bubbles of air escaped his lips as he breathed out, drifting upwards. Obi-Wan frowned, uncomprehendingly, wondering if this was to test how long he could hold his breath for; like all Jedi, he was well practiced in deep breathing and hyper-oxygenation techniques to allow him to hold his breath for several minutes… however, he quickly came to realise that this was not the point of the exercise.

Once again, the young Jedi found himself utterly amazed as his Master concentrated, and pushed back the water around him, forming a small bubble of air that rapidly expanded; instead of drifting upwards, Qui-Gon held it in place, surrounding first his head, then encompassing his whole body, expanding it outwards, until it formed a small dome, reaching outwards and including Obi-Wan within it, the Padawan's feet touching the soft, wet sand without the water surrounding him to buoy him up. He immediately removed his rebreather, drawing in a breath, wondering if he would ever cease to be amazed by the range of applications of the Force and the apparent ease with which his Master weilded that incredible power.

"Wow," he breathed out, marvelling at the water, held back around them; he reached out, touching it.

It rippled beneath his fingers but the bubble held, and he gazed around in wonderment at the fish swimming around them, seaweed swaying gently in the current. Something small and crab-like scuttled past his foot and disappeared back into the water through the edge of the bubble with a soft plop, and Obi-Wan reminded himself to pay attention to what his Master was doing; he was under no illusions that it would be up to him to try to emulate the feat in due course.

"Your rebreather is another useful tool that you should keep with you at all times," Qui-Gon spoke at last, breaking his long silence, "but, as you have already learned, tools can be taken from you with ease. It is much more difficult to rob you of your connection to the Force."

Qui-Gon reached out, plucking the rebreather from Obi-Wan's hand, holding it up.

"Technology like this is also prone to failure," he added, taking a step backwards as he examined the device, "the filters can become clogged with silt, the oxy-separator can break down, various other components can cease or fail, it can also be stolen, lost, or damaged, or worn out from use… the Force suffers from none of these things. The only component that need work properly is the Jedi who wields it."

"How are you doing this, Master?" Obi-Wan touched the edge of the bubble again, "How long will the air last?"

"Not long, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon replied, glancing around their small refuge of air, "at least, it will last for as long as I can sustain it... Now, remember, just as you drew the snow that already existed in the moisture of the air of the mountain earlier, so too can you separate the oxygen that exists in the water and use it to create a breathable atmosphere. But doing so takes a great deal of effort; it is very difficult to hold back the weight of the ocean. Sometimes, it is enough to simply create a small bubble, just to breathe by."

"Master, I'm not sure I know how…"

"We learn by doing, Obi-Wan."

With that, his Master took a step backwards, and the bubble was gone. Obi-Wan barely had chance to draw in a sharp breath – certainly not deep enough to hold for long – as the cold water crashed around him, lifting him from the sea bed, suspending him in the dark depths once more. Panic immediately assailed him; his Master still held his rebreather, and Obi-Wan instinctively reached for him, but then immediately withdrew his hands, treading water.

Focus, he reminded himself, sharply, concentrate. Do not forget your training.

Quelling his panic, Obi-Wan reminded himself of how it had felt, to stand on top of the mountain and summon the snow. This was the same, yet completely different… he could not use the currents of the water to move the air, as he had used the wind to move the water of the clouds… how could he draw air from water? It seemed impossible to start… until he had an idea.

He slowly breathed out a bubble of air, and then mentally reached out, catching it with the Force. His lungs were already screaming at him to take a breath, heart hammering in his chest, but he ignored it, concentrating on the bubble before him, drawing the oxygen from the water around him, feeding and directing it into his little pocket of air, expanding it, until it was big enough to surround his head, like a diving helmet. He managed to take a proper, deep breath, steadying himself, calming his rapid heart and shaking muscles, as he drew in more air, separating it from the water, pushing the bubble outwards, until he was able to sit, cross-legged on the ocean floor, holding his little pocket of atmosphere around him, breathing normally, at one with the Force and the elements around him.

Approval shone from his Master through their bond, as Qui-Gon swam back towards him, rebreather once again in place. Obi-Wan smiled, reaching up, allowing his hand to pass through the edge of his bubble without breaking it, and his own breathing device was returned to him. He placed it between his lips, and slowly let the air close back around him, shrinking it until it disappeared, floating upwards in a curtain of tiny, silvery bubbles, submerging once more. Qui-Gon turned, and Obi-Wan followed, swimming back to the shore, feeling utterly exhausted and elated at the same time.

They finally reached the beach, and waded out of the water, removing their rebreathers, Obi-Wan staggering slightly, aching with fatigue but delighted, laughing as he stumbled free of the water. Qui-Gon let his amusement and affection for his student seep through their bond as Obi-Wan reciprocated with mutual affection and gratitude, tinged with a hint of mischievousness.

"May I ask one question, Master, in exchange for a straight answer?"

"That depends very much upon the question, Padawan."

"Do all of the Masters make concerted efforts to kill their Padawans in the course of their training exercises, or is it just you?"

Qui-Gon threw his head back in a bark of a laugh, even as he wrung the sea water from his long hair.

"Part of being a Master is challenging your student to reach their full potential… by whatever means are most practical," he replied, as they gathered up their clothes and headed back towards the shuttle, "you know that I would not allow any real harm to come to you, Padawan… these are valuable lessons that you are learning; they are necessary, in that they may one day save your life, or the lives of others. Though, as your Master, I pray you never have to face such circumstances… but you have chosen the life of a Jedi Knight, and that is rarely an easy or a safe path to follow."

"So the answer is yes?"

"Well, as I said before, even Masters are allowed to have a little fun, on occasion."

Obi-Wan snorted his amusement, shaking his head, as they ascended the ramp of the ship, hiding a jaw-cracking yawn behind his hand, even as his Master chuckled once again.

"Take a shower, Obi-Wan, and then get some sleep. You have done very well today, Padawan, and I can sense your exhaustion. Tomorrow, we will try some slightly different exercise, I think."

"I noticed you said 'different', not 'easier'," Obi-Wan remarked, tiredly, blinking heavy eyelids even as he headed for the fresher, "I've learned better than to ask what that might entail…"

"As I noted earlier, you are a quick study… now go, and try not to fall asleep in the shower."

Obi-Wan nodded, and headed off to wash away the salty sea water, before drying off and dressing in his warm sleep-clothes. He climbed into his bunk as his Master went to use the shower next, and was asleep before he even knew it.


Unusually, next morning, Obi-Wan found himself being nudged awake by a very insistent tugging from the Force – the training bond he shared with his Master. He groaned, blinking his eyes open, pulling back the privacy curtain across his bunk as he pushed back the blankets, swinging bare feet onto the carpeted deck. He reached up to scrub the sleep from his eyes, blearily, as he saw his Master setting out mugs of tea and bowls of porridge.

"Oh," he murmured, a little dazedly, "I… I am so sorry, Master… I did not mean to oversleep…"

"Do not concern yourself, Padawan," Qui-Gon replied, with a warm smile, "you have not overslept; the sun is only just rising. We have a long way to go today and an early start will be beneficial if we are to reach our campsite before night falls again."

"Campsite?" Obi-Wan's interest was immediately piqued, "Master, I thought you said it was dangerous to sleep outside on this planet..."

"There is danger everywhere, Obi-Wan; that is the nature of a Jedi Knight's life. But in this instance, the danger is minimal, as you will see. All will be revealed in due course; practice patience, my young Padawan, and today's lessons will be learned in time."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan obediently tucked into his breakfast with all the enthusiasm of a growing teen, taking a second helping of the sweet porridge even as his Master was topping up their mugs of tea.

When they were finished, Obi-Wan dutifully cleared the table and washed their dishes, before showering quickly and dressing in his tunic and robes, clipping his lightsabre to his belt. Qui-Gon had packed their bags while Obi-Wan had tidied up, and the Padawan was handed a backpack containing three ration packs, two flasks of water, a sleeping mat, blanket and a pillow. He shouldered the pack easily, tightening the straps to stop them chafing his shoulders, adjusting his cloak.

"Are you ready, Padawan?"

"As ready as I can be when I do not know what to expect, Master."

"Such is life, Obi-Wan. Come, then… follow me."

"Always, Master."

They two of them left the confines of the ship, as Qui-Gon remotely retracted the ramp, closing the hatch and securing their vessel. He led the way across the plains, the long-horned ungulates scattering before them skittishly, before resuming their grazing when they realised the Jedi were no threat.

Obi-Wan was unsurprised to find Qui-Gon leading him into the forest, having already been tested in the plains, the skies, the mountains and the ocean. The plants were sparse at first; long-leaved, curling ferns interspersed with tufts of longer grasses and sapling trees, but as they moved in deeper, the trees grew thicker and taller, forming a dense canopy overhead, through which the sunlight filtered into a verdant green glow. The air was thick with humidity and the heavy scent of earthy tones; here and there small streams crossed the narrow path they followed, a natural trail worn by the animals that traversed the jungle on their daily territorial patrols or in their search for food.

Towering orchids, higher than their heads, bowed over them, heavy with nectar and teeming with buzzing insects. In the trees above, small, black-furred mammals with long, prehensile tails swung from the branches, chattering and regarding the two Jedi with curious, amber eyes. A legless reptile slithered across the path before them, no doubt hunting for the rodents that scurried unseen in the undergrowth. Obi-Wan kept half of his focus on his Master, following obediently in his footsteps, but the other half of his attention was on the sheer vastness and complexity of the life around him, the ebbing and flowing of the Force, from the dizzying speed of the brightly coloured birds that flitted and flew amongst the trees, to the slow plodding of a six-legged, bright yellow and red mammal as it stretched out along a tree branch, lazily flicking out a long, pink tongue to feed on the insects that skittered along the bark.

The foliage grew denser but they continued to push on, and Obi-Wan could feel the slight strain in his muscles as their path began to slope upwards; it was clear that they were ascending, climbing towards something… or at least, to somewhere. As the sun reached its peak in the sky for midday, Qui-Gon signalled a halt in a small clearing at the edge of a stream, where they took a break for a short while. They sat on the thick roots of a towering, ancient tree, ate a ration pack each, taking a little water, and meditated for an hour to replenish their energy, soothing aching muscles and regaining some stamina, before their hike resumed.

Splashing through streams and climbing ever higher, it was impossible to see their destination or the path that they had taken through the thick rainforest, but Obi-Wan kept his senses attuned to everything going on around him.

"How are you faring, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked, conversationally, as they squeezed through a particularly tight gap between two thick tree trunks, the surrrounding foliage too dense to go around them.

"I am enjoying this, Master," the Padawan smiled, "you were right, this place is teeming with life, and so incredibly strong with the Living Force, yet everything seems perfectly balanced."

"The balance of nature and the Force is a precarious one, Obi-Wan, and it is sadly a rare thing to experience it so beautifully as one does here. Druidia has the almost unique advantage of being strategically unimportant, outside of any particular claimed or occupied system, far from most regular trade or transport routes, and almost completely lacking in any valuable mineral deposits. As such, few, if any, sentient species ever bother to come here."

"It feels like a paradise, Master."

"It is, Padawan, and it pleases me greatly that you are enjoying it as much as you are learning from it… for today, the only lesson I will share with you is this – sometimes, it is worth simply taking in the simple pleasure of your surroundings. When one is constantly on the move, it is easy to forget to live in the moment, and a Jedi must always be in the moment."

"Is it a case, then, of the journey being just as important as the destination?"

"Sometimes, even more so," Qui-Gon agreed, as he stepped over a bubbling brook, his boots sinking into the soft, muddy earth as they continued their ascent through the jungle; "I have, on occasion, simply travelled with no destination in mind; the Force will always lead us to where we need to be."

"And is that what you are doing now, Master? Following the Force?"

"On this particular happenstance, Obi-Wan, I am relying on my memories of this place and the paths worn for us by the creatures that live here… but yes, the Force is always leading our way, even if we are not fully aware of it… ah… hush a moment, Padawan, and observe…"

Qui-Gon crouched down, pressing himself into the thick fronds of a tall fern that sprouted from the base of a tree at the edge of the path, gesturing to his student to do the same on the opposite side. Obi-Wan obligingly hunkered down behind the root of another tree, kneeling in the damp leaf-litter and bracken that coated the forest floor. Ahead of them, pacing down the path, was a large creature, clearly a predator, and Obi-Wan stared at in awed fascination. It was mammalian, roughly feline in appearance, with large, sabre-toothed fangs protruding upwards from its lower jaw. It had short brown fur, patterned with darker brown and black spots and stripes, lending it astonishing camouflage in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the tree canopy.

Luminescent green eyes glittered in the shafts of daylight, fur shining, as huge paws padded silently down the pathway. The creature stopped close enough for Obi-Wan to see the sharp black claws half-sheathed in its toes, a long, striped tail held semi-upright behind the lean, muscular body. A short grey mane around its neck gave way to a crest of fur that ran down its back. Atop its head, large, pointed, triangular ears flicked this way and that, picking up all of the sounds of the forest around them and curled horns framed its menacing eyes. The creature stood nearly four feet tall and over six feet long, not including the serpentine tail. Obi-Wan held his breath in awe as the creature huffed, pausing, sniffing the air, and Qui-Gon held out his hand.

"You are not hungry for this prey, noble beast," he murmured, aloud, more for the benefit of his Padawan than in any hopes of the predator understanding his words, though he projected the feelings straight into the creature's mind, "you will move on, there are far tastier offerings further down the path, and your territory must be defended."

The creature huffed a snort, shaking its mane and flicking its tail, before it resumed its steady pace, padding silently down the well-worn trail. The Jedi waited until it was gone, and then emerged back onto the path once more.

"What was that, Master?"

"Many of the creatures here do not have names, Obi-Wan… they have never been studied, or classified, so remote is this place. When I was a Padawan here with Master Dooku, I made it my mission to study and record as many details as I could recall about all of the life I observed here, making up names for a multitude of the creatures at my whim or based on their physical characteristics, until I realised something… that in naming the things I was seeing, I was taking away some of their mystery, their uniqueness, something intangible – that in just allowing them to exist and simply be, in the way that they have for generations – was far more satisfying than trying to label and catalogue them. So the creature has no name, because it has never needed one."

"Once again, I do not fully understand, Master," Obi-Wan sighed, a little wistfully, "but if it did have a name, I would call it…"

He hesitated, then, breaking off as he considered his next words carefully. His Master merely waited, patiently, a small smile tugging at his features as Obi-Wan nibbled his lower lip, clearly deep in thought. What name would suit such a noble creature? He thought of its characteristics… sharp-tooth, razor-claw, mane-back… but none of these seemed lofty enough for the majestic predator. Something more evocative, perhaps, based on its environment or skills… jungle-cat… day-stalker… claw-strike… shadow-hunter… but these also fell short, even as he tried translating the words into a multitude of languages in an effort to find a name that would capture the sheer power and awe of the creature he had just seen.

Realisation struck him; he met his Master's gaze, and smiled.

"Now I understand," he said, softly, "I cannot name the creature, Master. It needs no name. It simply is, and no single word I can assign to it would ever be sufficient to describe it."

Qui-Gon simply smiled back, nodding in agreement, and they resumed their path.


The sun was approaching the edge of the horizon when Qui-Gon pushed through some thick ferns, following the course of a river, and then stepped to one side, allowing his student to pass through. Obi-Wan found himself stumbling to a halt, eyes wide with astonishment once more, mouth hanging agape.

"By the Force…" he whispered.

He knew, immediately, that they had reached their destination. The trees gave way to a huge, natural clearing, thanks to the rocky ground where only small ferns, tufts of grass and spectacular green-purple mosses grew on the wet stone. Towering above them was a huge cliff, over which cascaded a thundering waterfall, plunging into a deep pool in the middle of the rocks, turning into a small lake before running into the river that wound back into the forest behind them. A fallen tree across the mouth of the river had clearly been there for a very long time, as Qui-Gon Force-leapt onto it, and walked across with the easy grace and agility of an accomplished Jedi. Obi-Wan immediately followed, and smiled when he saw, at the other side of the lake, a flat bed of rocky shale, in the middle of which was another perfect circle of stones.

Without needing to be told, he set down his pack, and immediately began foraging for wood for the fire, building it up and setting aside a supply of sticks to keep it fed through the night if necessary, while Qui-Gon set up their camp, spreading the sleeping mats on the ground, laying out their pillows and blankets. Obi-Wan concentrated, lighting the fire with the Force, just as he had been taught, much to his Master's amusement.

"I thought you were worried about getting into trouble for doing that, Obi-Wan."

"That sounds like something I'll just have to deal with when we return to Coruscant, Master," the Padawan replied, a little mischievously, his eyes sparkling in the light of the fire and the setting sun, "besides, you are always encouraging me to live in the moment, and at the moment, my tutors are a long way away from here."

"They are indeed," Qui-Gon laughed, as he pulled out a small pan he had been carrying in his own pack, along with two metal mugs, "here, fill this from the stream, the water is perfectly safe to drink once it has been boiled, and lends a rather nice flavour to the tea leaves…"

They made their camp, the waxing moon rising high above them, framing the cliff and waterfall with silver, the roar of the water a constant, white-noise in the background, not unpleasant and certainly not disruptive to sleep or conversation. Obi-Wan felt a flutter of curiosity as to why his Master had brought him to this place, but then dismissed it, finding that, for once, he didn't particularly care to know, nor did he need a reason. Just being here, in that moment, enjoying the simple pleasure of a cup of tea and a basic meal in the company of his Master in this beautiful place was more than enough. He found himself yawning behind his hand, his head nodding, the food, tea and constant flow of the water having a soporific effect after their long hike through the jungle, and he could sense his Master's mirth through their bond.

"Sleep, Obi-Wan," the older Jedi said, encouragingly, even as he lay down himself, drawing the blanket over his tall frame, "we are perfectly safe here, I have never seen the larger predators come this far up… in the morning, we will do some kata exercises, and I will show you some new applications for what you have learned thus far…"

"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan smiled, sleepily, already settling into his bed, even as he projected his gratitude and happiness through their bond.

His Master sent him a wave of peace and calm in return, and he drifted into slumber, lulled by the sounds of the waterfall and the calling of the night-birds in the jungle.


Obi-Wan shifted and awoke naturally the next morning as the first rays of light broke over the horizon, signalling the coming of the dawn. He lay still for a while, shivering a little, before gently calling upon the Force to warm himself, revelling a little in the cosy feeling. He watched the sky turn grey, then brightening to clear blue, and knew it was going to be another beautiful day. At length, he roused himself, adding more wood to the embers of their fire, encouraging it back to life, before crossing to the edge of the lake, kneeling down to splash some water on his face. As he knelt, he let out an inadvertent hiss at a sudden, needle-sharp pain in the side of his left knee.

He glanced down, just in time to see a tiny, eight-legged creature skitter away from his side, scurrying under a rock. It was no bigger than his palm, dark brown in colour and covered in downy hairs, with a long tail that curled up over its back, tipped with a small barb. He shook his head; he had not seen it and must have startled it, so the creature had stung him defensively. He considered waking his Maaster to ask about the creature, but decided against it – the pain had already faded to nothing, so he dismissed it as unimportant, and set about washing his face and hands, before filling the water pan again, and taking it back to the fire to boil.

Setting the pan upon the rocks around the fire to boil slowly, Obi-Wan ran through a few stretches to ease the residual stiffness from his muscles, as a flock of brightly-coloured, tiny, leathery-winged reptiles flew overhead, uttering delightful chirps and chatters as they landed at the edge of the other side of the lake. Obi-Wan watched them in pure delight as the beautiful little creatures drank and bathed in the shallows of the water, splashing and flicking the water around with careless abandon, before spreading themselves out on the rocks, wings stretched out to dry themselves in the early morning sun, vying amongst themselves for the best positions on the highest, warmest rocks. However, their playfulness was shattered when a medium sized, sharp-toothed mammal leapt out of the tree line, pouncing on one of the lizards, snapping it up in its jaws. The unfortunate prey squealed helplessly as the rest of the flock took off, and Obi-Wan immediately released his feeling of dismay to the Force; the predator was only following its instincts, and it needed to eat; perhaps it even also had a hungry family to feed.

As the water in the pan finally began to boil, Qui-Gon also roused; greeting his Padawan a little groggily as he, too, went to the waters edge, refreshing himself and returning to find a mug of tea waiting for him. Obi-Wan knew better than to try to engage his Master in conversation before his morning brew. They drank in silence, breaking their fast with a couple of cereal-based ration bars, consuming a second cup of tea, before Obi-Wan tidied the campsite, stowing the refuse in their bags and washing the cups at the waters' edge, careful, this time, to avoid inadvertently disturbing some small creature just going about its business.

Qui-Gon led them both through a series of meditative exercises and stretches, before demonstrating to Obi-Wan how he could use the Force to manipulate water and other elements even further; the Padawan had learned at an early age how to lift objects like rocks – it was considered to be one of the most rudimentary skills a Jedi could learn, must like learning to write one's own name – but his Master took it a step further, showing him how to find and utilise natural faults in rocks to break them apart using the power of the Force, and how he could further use that skill constructively to put a basic structure together, forming a shelter, or destructively, collapsing the rocks to make effective weapons or barriers.

He learned how to capture and redirect a rapidly moving object, though personally he felt his Master was having just a little too much fun with throwing the rocks at his head while Obi-Wan used the Force to either catch, deflect, or redirect them, with ever-increasing accuracy.

He learned how to push back water and walk, dry-footed, across the bed of the lake. He even used the Force to temporarily redirect the waterfall, standing on the rocks behind it and parting the wall of water like a pair of curtains, holding it until his arms trembled and his head ached with the effort.

He called upon the wind to pick up and clear the fallen leaves from around their campsite, directing them into a neat pile at the base of the cliff; his Master even took him into the edge of the forest, showing him how to push down and tunnel deep into the soft earth with nothing more that a thought and an out-stretched hand.

They returned to their campfire, where Obi-Wan immediately rekindled the fire, sitting down on one of the nearby boulders, admiring the beauty of their surroundings once more, feeling tired but delighted with his day of discovery.

"Padawan," his Master's soft voice caught his attention and he looked up expectantly, as the taller Jedi approached him, one hand in his pocket, "your attention, for a moment, if I may?"

"Another lesson, Master?" Obi-Wan asked, eagerly, his tiredness forgotten in the sudden rush of anticipation.

"I admire your enthusiasm, but no, you have worked hard enough for today," Qui-Gon huffed his amusement, "no, I have something for you, Obi-Wan…"

The Master held out his hand, proferring something small, held between the tip of his finger and thumb. Obi-Wan frowned in confusion but held his palm out obediently. Qui-Gon placed the small object into his hand, and his eyes widened in delight. It was a small glass bead, green and purple in colour, and he understood the significance immediately.

"It looks like Druidia," he exclaimed, "for my braid?"

"Yes, Padawan; I had it made, especially. Will you permit me?"

"Oh! Yes, definitely! Thank you, Master!"

He projected his delight and gratitude, immediately untucking the Padawan braid from behind his right ear. Closing his eyes, he focussed on the bond with his Master, allowing himself to be completely immersed in it, as his Master carefully unfastened the binding on the braid, loosening the three strands, gently sliding the bead into place, before slowly and methodically re-braiding the strands of hair, fastening it off, running the braid gently through his fingers and letting it rest on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

Rousing from his mediation at his Master's hand on his shoulder, Obi-Wan smiled, reaching up and running his braid through his fingers, toying with the new bead, joyfully.

"Thank you, Master," he repeated, softly.

"You are welcome, Padawan," Qui-Gon smiled back, "I must warn you, though… Master Yoda will know immediately where we have been when he sees that addition to your braid."

"Somehow, I think Master Yoda would know with or without the bead," Obi-Wan snorted, amused, "but I am still grateful, Master."

"You have done well, Obi-Wan, you have far exceeded my expectations already. I foresee that, one day, you will make a great Jedi Knight."

It was therefore an exhausted but elated Padawan that collapsed onto his sleeping mat as the sun fell once more, muscles quivering from the exertion of the day but thrilled by his new-found abilities and the addition to his Padawan braid. He lay on his back in a half-doze, one arm tucked comfortably behind his head, as he watched the sky slowly darken, the stars gradually appearing, the gigantic moon rising high above them.

"I do love this place, Master," he sighed, happily, "thank you for bringing me here."

"Even if it gets you in trouble with Master Yaddle?"

"Yes… even if it gets me in trouble with Master Yaddle."

"Well, I hope she does not choose to punish you too severely, than."

"I'm already planning to put all the blame on you, Master."

"I think I can say with some confidence that your strategy will be successful," Qui-Gon replied, wryly, "once again, I must say, you have performed extremely well today, Padawan, you have learned a great deal in a very short time. Tomorrow, we shall return to our ship, but our lessons are not over yet, we still have a few more days…"

Obi-Wan made a tired but happy sound of acknowledgment, curling up on his side on the sleep mat beside the fire. Qui-Gon busied himself with heating up their ration packs, but then smiled to himself when he realised that Obi-Wan had already fallen asleep. The Master ate his own meal in silence, setting the Padawan's to one side should he awaken hungry during the night. He moved silently, picking up Obi-Wan's neatly folded blanket, draping it over him with a tender, affectionate smile, before he moved back to his own bed, and lay down to join him in slumber.


Obi-Wan awoke the next morning with a shivery, cold feeling; he tried to call on the Force to warm himself, as he had learned, but frowned when the familiar, comforting light failed to chase the chill from his bones. He could feel a creeping ache in his joints and muscles, which he decided must have been caused by his exertions of the last few days. He pushed back his blanket, groaning softly as he clambered stiffly to his feet, staggering a little as he crossed to the edge of the water. Kneeling down with great care, he grimaced as his left knee in particular protested the movement, before he scooped up some water, splashing it on his face. He gasped a little at the icy coldness, but at least it succeeded in snapping him back to full wakefulness, even if it left him with a slight ache in his temples.

Dismissing the feeling, he straightened up, feeling somewhat refreshed, as he put some water on to boil, finding a ration pack sitting unopened in the pan, and remembered that he had fallen asleep before he had even had the chance to eat it. Realising he did not feel particularly hungry – in fact, the thought of food actually made him feel a little queasy – he put the uneaten rations in his backpack, before he tried to run through a few stretches.

Even as he did so, he felt strangely stiff and off-balance; the movements that should have been easy and fluid from years of practice now stilted and jerky, as his sore muscles refused to obey. Giving up on the exercise and deciding the hike back down through the jungle would no doubt loosen him up, he made their morning brew as Qui-Gon began to stir.

Obi-Wan made a token effort to eat his cereal bar; if his Master noticed his reluctance to eat he did not comment on it, and the Padawan ended up shoving the half-uneaten bar back into its wrapper, tucking into his pocket, deciding to finish it later. They broke camp, returning everything to their backpacks, as Obi-Wan carefully extinguished their fire. They made certain they had left nothing behind other than the stone circle, before Qui-Gon had Obi-Wan part the waters of the lake, practicing his skills, rather than walking across the fallen tree.

"Are you alright, Padawan?" Qui-Gon frowned a little, as they reached the other side, "You look rather pale, and your hands are shaking…"

"I am fine, Master," Obi-Wan tried to raise a reassuring smile, hiding his hands in the sleeve of his robe, "just a little tired, I fear."

"That is unsurprising – you have worked very hard these last few days; I am sorry if I have pushed you too much…"

"Oh, no, Master, I have enjoyed the challenge and you've taught me so many wonderful things – I am grateful to you."

"Well, there is no further need to test your strength in the Force today, Obi-Wan – all we need do is make our way back through the jungle and to our ship, and the way down is much easier than the way up… will you be alright, Obi-Wan?"

"Of course, Master," the young Jedi nodded, gamely.

Qui-Gon eyed him assessingly, nodded in acceptance, and began the trek back to their ship.


Qui-Gon had promised the way back down would be easier, but it did not feel so to Obi-Wan; after only a few hours of walking through the dense jungle, he found himself rapidly tiring. The air was thick, heavy with humidity, and he soon found himself soaked in sweat, breathing heavily, trying and failing to use the Force to cool himself. He paused to shrug out of his cloak, stuffing it into his pack, before hefting it again. The weight of his bag seemed four times what it had been on the way up, his shoulders and back aching with the weight of it.

His pace began to slow, a little at first, but then he began to fall behind; Qui-Gon had to pause several times for him to catch up, each time frowning in concern and enquiring if he was alright; embarrassed by his perceived weakness, Obi-Wan persistently assured his Master that he was fine and made a concerted effort to keep pace, but inevitably found his strength and stamina flagging once again.

What made the going harder was his left knee. At some point along the way, what had started as a niggling, tingling feeling in the joint had developed into a strange, pins-and-needles sensation, before blossoming into a full-blown ache. He could feel the joint grating painfully every time he moved it, and, given the walking pace of his Master, this pain became his constant companion. He kept his focus on his mental shields, determined not to show weakness to his Master, who thus far had expressed nothing but pride and commendation in his student's efforts over the last few days; he did not want to fail and disappoint the older Jedi now.

However, as he stepped down a particularly steep step in the path downwards, white-hot agony shot through his left knee, and his brave front immediately collapsed. With a pained yelp, the knee gave way beneath him, and he tumbled over, landing face first on the leaf-litter strewn ground, groaning in pain and dismay.

"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon exclaimed, turning quickly and running back a few steps, dropping to a crouch in front of him, "Are you alright, Padawan? What happened?"

"Agh…" Obi-Wan groaned, raising his head, glancing back over his shoulder as he half-turned, lying full-length on the narrow pathway, "I… I am sorry, Master, I must have tripped."

"Perhaps, on this occasion, Obi-Wan, you might consider telling me the truth."

"Master?" Obi-Wan could not prevent the dismay and shock from leaking into his tone.

"Something is clearly troubling you, Padawan, and your attempts to shield from me, while admirably strong, only confirm it," Qui-Gon replied, bluntly, "I will not think any less of you, Padawan, if something is bothering you; in fact, I am a little disappointed that you feel the need to hide anything of the sort from me in the first place."

Obi-Wan hung his head at the sting of shame he felt; he had never been comfortable admitting pain or weakness to anyone, seeing it as a personal failing. He only wanted to be the perfect Padawan, striving to be the best Jedi he could be and to make his Master proud. He felt like if he admitted weakness it would be tantamount to confessing he was no good enough; that he might be punished, or sent away, or worse… incur disappointment from the Master he worked so hard to please.

However, a gentle hand gripped his shoulder and a wash of concern flooded through him from the training bond with his Master, and he blinked back his emotion at the strength of the feeling. He felt Qui-Gon's steady reassurance that he simply wanted to help his Padawan with whatever might be the matter, with no rebuke or reprisals, concerned only for the younger Jedi's well-being.

"I… I am sorry, Master," he finally stammered out, "it's just… it's my left knee. It gave way underneath me, I think I may have injured it…"

"Then let us take a look at it," Qui-Gon replied, decisively, "I seem to recall, a little further down here, the path widens slightly; there will be room for us to stop and rest a moment. I have a little bacta and a few bandages in my pack, we will see if we can do something to aid you, Padawan, if you think you can make it a short way further?"

"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan felt his cheeks redden a little, even as he accepted his Master's hand, pulling himself to his feet, "I will manage."

Testing his weight on the aching knee, he grimaced a little, but waved off his Master's offer of support, knowing it was virtually impossible to walk side-by-side on the narrow trail, instead leaning against various rocks and trees as necessary. He was forced to visibly limp as his knee screamed a cacophony of pain at him resulting from the fall. The strange feeling of pins-and-needles tingling was also spreading down his leg and into his foot, which made walking increasingly difficult, as if it was not hard enough already.

Finally, he stumbled through a narrow stream, almost colliding with his Master as the taller Jedi turned, catching his arms, and lowering him down to sit on a damp, moss-covered tree root. Unable to bend his knee properly, Obi-Wan sat with his leg stretched out in front of him, a little awkwardly, feeling the sting of embarrassment in his cheeks and sweat on his brow. Qui-Gon crouched down, unfastening the top of his left boot, even as Obi-Wan managed to tug the leg of his trousers free, rolling it up carefully, mindful of the relentless throbbing that blazed through the joint.

However, he was unprepared for the sight that awaited him when he pulled up the loose fabric; his knees was so swollen he struggled to tug up the leg of his trousers over it. When he finally revealed the injured joint, he heard his Master draw in a sharp, shocked breath, even as the Padawan cringed internally, sensing his Master's dismay. Along with the obvious swelling, the skin around his knee was hot and red, covered in small, blister-like lesions, in some patches darkening to blue, purple and black bruising.

"Obi-Wan…" Qui-Gon struggled for a moment to release his shock and dismay into the Force, instead of projecting it onto his Padawan, "what happened?"

"Master, I-I'm sorry," the teen stammered out, unable to hide his own shock, "I-I don't… I didn't know, I… I…"

"Hush, Padawan," Qui-Gon immediately adopted a softer, soothing tone, mindful of the young Jedi's pain and confusion, "Obi-Wan… this is no mere strain or bruise. How have you come by this injury?"

"Master, I don't know, I'm so sorry, I can't…" he trailed off, blinking, as recollection suddenly crashed over him, "wait… yesterday morning, when I went to wash and collect water…"

"What happened?" Qui-Gon asked, patiently, even as he shouldered off his pack and began rummaging through the various pockets.

"I knelt down to get the water, and I did not see it at first, but I felt it… there was a small creature, hiding amongst the loose stones. I must have accidentally disturbed it… I think it stung me, in defence, but then it ran off."

"Can you describe the creature?"

"Um… it was very small. Smaller than my palm, anyway… it had eight legs and a long tail with a pointed barb, and it was brown in colour, I think."

"Hmm… I have never seen anything like what you are describing, but the variety of flora and fauna here never ceases to amaze me," Qui-Gon admitted, "every time I have visited I have seen something new. It seems that the creature may have been venomous… Padawan, you should have told me at the time, why did you not?"

Obi-Wan hung his head again; "I am sorry, Master. It did not hurt at all after the initial sting, I thought nothing of it… it did not seem to be of any consequence."

"You should have told me, nonetheless, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon's voice was far from scolding; laced instead with obvious concern, "when it comes to the unknown wildlife of any planet, nothing should be taken for granted. Even the most harmless-looking creature may prove to be deadly in the most unexpected of ways… any bite or sting, even minor ones, should be carefully and immediately treated, just in case."

"Yes, Master… I am sorry that I have disappointed you," Obi-Wan murmured, ashamedly.

Qui-Gon paused in his search through his bag, reaching out again to clasp Obi-Wan's shoulder, sending him a wave of reassurance and comfort.

"I am not disappointed in you, Obi-Wan," he replied, firmly, "I am a little dismayed that you felt the need to hide your discomfort from me, but the fault is mine, if I have in any way made you feel like you cannot confide in me when you are struggling, Padawan."

"I did not want to let you down, Master," Obi-Wan reiterated, as he blinked back the strength of his emotions, fighting to release them into the Force, unwilling to make his situation any worse than it already was, "I am sorry, Master."

"There is no need for further apology, Obi-Wan – our priority now must be to triage your wound, and get you back to the ship, where I may properly assess and treat it. First of all, Padawan, try to relax a little. Take a moment to steady your breathing; calm yourself… release your fears and feelings into the Force, and let go of the pain a little, if you can… I will assist you."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and straightened his back a little, clasping both hands onto his bent right knee, unable to assume a proper meditative stance. He took a few steadying breaths, feeling more than a little lightheaded, as he felt a gentle hand cover both of his. Almost immediately, the pain ebbed away from his knee and he felt the warmth of his Master's presence flooding through him, lending him new strength and helping him to calm the torrent of emotions, soothing his anxieties and filling him with a sense of peace and tranquility.

Satisfied that his Padawan was finally calmed, Qui-Gon withdrew his hand, and turned his focus towards the livid-looking injury before him. He gently laid his palm over the joint, feeling the heat emanating from the swollen knee, even as he tried to send a wave of healing energy into it. However, he frowned a little to himself; though he could ease his Padawan's pain – and the joint was certainly painful – he found he could do little to reduce the swelling and inflammation, and he sighed to himself.

"Definitely venomous," he murmured, under his breath, as he finally located the bacta and bandages, "Obi-Wan, I am going to cleanse and bind your wound; it may help a little, but it will be painful. It would take a far more experienced Healer than I to successfully draw all of the toxin from the wound, so we will do our best to get you comfortable enough to make it back to the ship, where hopefully we can treat this a little more effectively."

"Yes… thank you, Master."

There was still a soft mixture of pain, fear, exhaustion and dismay in the teen's voice, so Qui-Gon sent him another wave of healing, reassuring strength, before uncapping the small vial of bacta – he had only packed a small amount, expecting to perhaps have to treat a minor cut or graze – pouring the whole lot over Obi-Wan's swollen knee, very gently massaging it into the red-hot, blistered and bruised skin as gently as he could. He could nonetheless feel Obi-Wan quivering slightly, trembling with pain despite the gentleness of his ministration. Unrolling a length of fabric bandaging, he carefully bound the joint, tightly enough to support it and hopefully prevent further swelling, but not so tight as to cause unnecessary discomfort.

Once he had finished, he gently tugged Obi-Wan's trouser leg back down, tucking the fabric back into the top of his boot, fastening the leather strap around the young Jedi's calf.

"I am sorry, Padawan, I did not think to pack any hyposprays, but I do have these," he pressed a couple of tablets out of a blister pack, passing them to Obi-Wan with a flask of water, "they are mild pain-reducers, they may at least help you a little… you will need to try to release your pain into the Force, while also concentrating on healing your knee yourself, as much as you can."

"I will try, Master," Obi-Wan nodded, obediently, before he swallowed the pills and a mouthful of water, wincing at the bitter taste.

Qui-Gon inclined his head in return, and then carefully helped his Padawan to stand; Obi-Wan tested his weight on his leg. His face tightened a little in obvious pain, but he stood a steadying breath, and nodded again, indicating that he would be able to walk unassisted for the meantime. He reached to pick up his pack, but Qui-Gon snagged it first, lengthening the strap and slinging it over his own shoulder in addition to his own.

"Do not try to argue, Obi-Wan," he Master held up a hand, warding off any comment, "the less weight you put on your knee, the better. I will carry our things, you need only follow, Padawan. And please, Obi-Wan, please… if it gets any worse, if you need to rest, if you experience any other symptoms, you must tell me immediately, yes?"

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan nodded, already steeling himself, determined to make it back to their shuttle withough further incident.

"Obi-Wan," there was an edge of warning in his Master's voice that immediately caused his anxiousness to peak again.

"Yes, Master?" he queried, timidly.

"Do not try to conceal your discomfort from me further, Padawan – it will not impress me, and I need to know immediately if you are in need of assistance, lest you exacerbate your injury, understood?"

"Oh… yes, Master."

Lowering his mental shields slightly, Obi-Wan allowed his Master to scan him with the Force, letting through the pain, his tiredness and the touch of dizziness, but also giving his Master a sense of his strength and determination. He was rewarded with a feeling of warmth, pride and approval.

"Very well… come, then, we will try to reach our shuttle before nightfall…"


It had been optimistic to think that they had any chance of reaching the ship before darkness fell. Qui-Gon deliberately slowed his pace to allow Obi-Wan a chance to keep up, but he could feel his student flagging as the hours wore on; the younger Jedi limping heavily, leaning on rocks and trees to aid his path, occasionally seeking support from his Master when all else failed. Several times, a misplaced step or slip of the uneven terrain caused the younger Jedi to stumble or fall, eliciting pained yelps or a stifled cry; each time, Qui-Gon took a few minutes to help him rest, regain his focus, and release the pain into the Force, before helping him up to resume their trek.

However, it did not escape the Master's notice that walking was becoming increasingly difficult for the young Padawan; he seemed to be dragging the wounded leg more and more, seemingly unable to move, lift, bend or place weight on it properly at all. His breathing became increasingly ragged, panting for air with rapid gasps, and Qui-Gon could feel the exhaustion radiating from him. Stumbling through a particularly rocky patch of the narrow path, Obi-Wan grabbed hold of a tree-trunk, having fallen several steps behind once more, clinging to the rough bark as if it were the only thing keeping him upright.

"Master," he called out, breathlessly, alerting the older Jedi to his distress; Qui-Gon immediately returned to his side, taking his elbow supportively, "Master, I am sorry… may we… may we rest, for a moment?"

"Of course, Obi-Wan… here, sit down…"

Qui-Gon guided him a few steps down the path, sitting him down on a slight ledge beside the uneven path they were following, formed by the gnarled, twisting roots of the towering trees. Obi-Wan sagged down gratefully, right elbow resting on his bent right knee, left leg stretched out before him, left hand clutching the tree root beside him for support as he hung his head, fighting to catch his breath. Qui-Gon placed a soothing hand upon the Padawan's back, feeling his tunic damp with sweat and humidity.

"Tell me how you are feeling, Padawan," he murmured, softly, even as he closed his eyes and concentrated on their bond.

"I… I don't know…" Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut, lifting and pressing the heel of his left hand to his forehead, shivering despite the heat of the jungle, "my knee… the pain is spreading, Master, into my foot and my hip, I am struggling to move my leg properly. I… I cannot tell if I am hot or cold, though I cannot stop shaking… my head is aching, and I… I am dizzy. I just… I feel so tired, Master."

Qui-Gon sensed the truth of his words; though it pleased him Obi-Wan was not trying to hide or downplay his discomfort any longer, he had never sensed this kind of distress from his Padawan before, and it was concerning. He encouraged the teen to drink a few sips of water, once again attempting a level of Force-Healing to assist his ailing student, with little success, though he was at least able to ease a modicum of the pain for a while, giving Obi-Wan a little more strength, allowing him to stand and continue on their way.

As the sun set and the moon rose, the way became increasingly difficult for young Obi-Wan; Qui-Gon moved as gracefully and surefootedly in the darkness as he did in the day, aided by Force-enhanced senses and a familiarity with the route they were taking. Obi-Wan, however, could barely keep enough focus on the Force to keep his leg from giving out entirely, slipping and stumbling in the darkness, utterly exhausted, but pressing on with his Master's unwavering support and assistance.

Eventually, however, he staggered to a halt, leaning heavily against a tree, sagging into it, just to take the weight off his injured leg for one blessed moment of relief.

"Master," he murmured, not even caring that his voice was little more than a slurred whisper, "I… I am sorry… I don't think I can go any further…"

He began to slide, then, his right leg folding beneath him, the left one stretching in front of him, until a pair of strong hands hooked under his shoulders, firmly pulling him upright again, even as he shook his head, groaning, reeling with the dizziness that assailed him.

"It is alright, Padawan," said a very soft, gentle voice in his ear, as he felt his Master pull him into an embrace, "the path is wider here, and easier… you have done well to get this far. Now, put your arms around my neck…"

Not comprehending but not wanting to be disobedient, Obi-Wan managed to get his trembling limbs to obey, reaching up to hook his arms around his Master as instructed. He felt Qui-Gon bend over slightly to allow him to reach better, but then he was lifted clean off his feet, one arm cradling his shoulders, the other hooked under his knees; the wounded one spiked in agony, protesting the movement, and he gasped at the shock of it, a tremor shuddering through him as he did so.

"I am sorry, dear one," murmured his Master, sending a soothing wave of calm through their bond, "it is not far to go now, Padawan, I will take you the rest of the way…"

Normally, Obi-Wan would have been mortified by the thought of his Master carrying him in his arms like some crèche-bound youngling. Normally, he would have protested that he was fine, or insisted on gathering himself before making the rest of the walk. Normally, he maintained a level of fitness and personal health that was enviable, even to his peers… but then, nothing about his current situation was normal. He was aware only of the pain spreading through his left leg and into his waist, wondering, distantly, if it would soon consume his whole body. He could feel the swifter pace his Master adopted, practically running, rushing to carry him back to their ship. Most of all, he could feel the warmth of his Master's concern and affection, focussed solely on the ailing Padawan in his arms, desperate to soothe his distress, and he clung to the comfort of the training bond they shared, wondering if his Master could sense everything that he was feeling, hoping he was not radiating his pain too much.

Do not distress yourself further, Obi-Wan… be at peace, dear one. All will be well again, soon…

He let out a low, pained groan at his Master's gentle whisper in his mind.

Master… he tried to focus himself enough to reply, even if he lacked the wherewithal to speak aloud, I… Master… I do not feel well…

I know, Padawan, and I am sorry… we are not far from the ship, Obi-Wan. Just hold on tightly to me, and stay awake for me, Padawan. I promise it will all be well again soon… just stay with me, dear one, hold on…

He groaned again in sick pain and confusion, turning his face into the soft folds of his Master's tunic, feeling the dampness of the fabric from the humidity, but savouring his Master's familiar, comforting scent. He felt his consciousness drifting but shook his head, willing himself to stay awake; a breeze stirred his hair and he shivered at the sudden coldness of it; Qui-Gon was running now, they must be free of the forest, sprinting across the plains, towards their waiting ship.

Sure enough, he heard the familiar clunk of a door opening and the whirr-thud of a ramp extending and hitting the soft, grassy ground. Qui-Gon did not even break stride, sprinting up the ramp, slowing only to wave open the inner door, entering the passenger lounge. He crossed immediately to Obi-Wan's bunk, placing him onto it gently, shrugging off and dropping their packs carelessly to the deck.

In the sudden bright lights of the interior of their shuttle, Qui-Gon got his first good look at his Padawan, and his heart clenched in his chest as he swallowed his horror. Obi-Wan was ghastly grey in complexion, sweating heavily, his eyes looking bruised blue and sunken in their sockets as he peered up at his Master helplessly, his gaze half-lidded and beseeching. Qui-Gon placed his hand briefly on Obi-Wan's forehead, shocked by the heat that emanated beneath his palm, even as he scanned the teen with the Force.

"Rest here a moment, Obi-Wan," he said, despite knowing that even if he had wanted to, the Padawan was simply too weak and too sick to move, "I will be right back, I need to fetch a medical kit, we will have you back on your feet very soon, I promise."

Obi-Wan managed a weak nod, his right hand feebly clutching at his own tunic, murmuring his distress and writhing weakly as his Master disappeared for several minutes, rummaging through the storage cupboards until he located their medical kit. He snatched it up and shot back to his Padawan's bedside, dropping to his knees on the floor beside him.

Even in the short time he had been gone, Obi-Wan seemed to have deteriorated; his movement had stilled to little more than pained, exhausted trembling. He was audibly wheezing for breath, his right hand lax upon his chest, the left one weakly clutching the fabric of the blanket beneath him, scrunching it between his fingers as his head slumped listlessly on the pillow.

Qui-Gon placed the medical kit on the floor beside him, snapping open the fastening and assessing the contents quickly. He selected a green-labelled hypospray, turning the dosage up to maximum, before leaning over his Padawan, grasping his shoulder with his left hand, even as he held the medication ready in his right hand.

"Obi-Wan - can you hear me, Padawan? I need you to listen…"

With a shuddering, rasping breath, Obi-Wan's eyes flickered open, darting wildly around the room; Qui-Gon moved his hand to cup the Padawan's pallid cheek, once again alarmed at his rising fever, but gently tapping his jaw, hoping to raise the boy to consciousness. Eventually, hazy grey eyes met bright blue ones, the former dulled with pain, the latter sharp with worry.

"Listen to me, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, urgently, "that creature must have injected you with a slow-acting neural toxin, but its progress is rapidly spreading, which is why you are struggling to breathe. I am going to give you a very high dose of anti-toxin, but it may be unpleasant, Padawan. I need you to keep your focus on the Force, and on our bond, and I will try to help you through this, Obi-Wan. Do you understand? It is to make you better, Padawan, I am helping you, I promise."

I trust you, Master… I understand.

"Thank you, Padawan," Qui-Gon nodded, as Obi-Wan's eyes began to roll closed, "no, Obi-Wan, no, you must stay awake, please, try to stay awake…"

Wasting no further time, Qui-Gon pressed the hypospray to Obi-Wan's neck, and administered the full dose of the anti-toxin in one go. For a long moment, nothing happened; Qui-Gon found himself holding his breath as Obi-Wan wheezed and shuddered. Then, the Padawan dragged in a deep, ragged breath; Qui-Gon felt a wave of panic and confusion, and then the teen's back arched clear off the bed as he went into a full seizure, bucking and shaking uncontrollably, his eyes rolling up into his skull as he choked and gasped for air.

Qui-Gon fought back the impulse to try to restrain the younger Jedi, instead holding out his hand, focussing on their bond and projecting nothing but calm reassurance, quelling his panic and helping to release his tumult of pain and emotion into the soothing embrace of the Force. Gradually, the seizure abated, the jerky movements slowing and stilling, leaving the Padawan limp and washed out, still trembling slightly. Qui-Gon closed his own eyes, maintaining his focus; with the majority of the toxin eliminated, he purged the rest himself, drawing it from his Padawan's body, letting it sweat out out of the pores of his skin.

Reaching into the medical kit again, he picked up another hypospray, this one bearing a blue label. He injected the medication into Obi-Wan's neck, catching the slightly fearful glance his student shot him.

"Relax, Padawan, that was a pain reliever," he spared the shuddering student a warm smile, combing his fingers gently through the boy's sweat-dampened hair, soothing him, "the worst has passed, Obi-Wan, I am sure of it. You may go to sleep now… you will feel much better when you wake up."

Obi-Wan did not need telling twice, as his eyes immediately fell shut, and, with a soft sigh, he was out like a light. Qui-Gon waited until he was certain the young Jedi was deeply asleep, before he mentally administered a mild sleep suggestion on top of his slumber, keen to make sure his young companion slept soundly. He then gently removed Obi-Wan's boots and belt, loosening his tunic a little, before fetching a spare blanket, and tucking it carefully over the sleeping teen. With that, he got up, moving to one of the nearby chairs, where he sat down, and kept vigil through the night.


Obi-Wan stirred and groaned, and his first conscious thought was quite simply:

Oh, kark… I feel kriffing awful.

"That is hardly surprising, Padawan," chuckled an amused voice nearby, "though I am sure Master Yaddle would have something to say if she heard you using that kind of language."

The jolt of surprise that shot through him was enough to jar him into full wakefulness, but unfortunately, this brought with it a whole new wave of discomfort, aching muscles and sore joints all clamouring for his attention, none more so than his still-painful left knee, and an inadvertent whimper of dismay passed through his clenched teeth. He sensed movement at his side; a warm hand pressed to his brow, and there was a slight sting at his neck, followed by a soft hiss, and the pain gently ebbed away, chased back by the medication, and he finally blinked his eyes open, to find Qui-Gon smiling down at him warmly, his thumb gently stroking his forehead, and he found himself relaxing immediately beneath the soothing touch.

"That was quite the scare you gave me there, Padawan," Qui-Gon's voice were soft but his worry was clear in his gaze, "how are you feeling now? Be honest, Padawan, you are projecting more than you may realise…"

"Um…" Obi-Wan licked his dry lips, grimacing at the sour taste in his mouth as he shivered a little, "I… I do feel much better, Master. My knee still hurts, and my head, and my… well, I just ache, a lot, all over, and I am cold, and tired, but I do feel… I do feel better. Thank you, Master."

"Think nothing of it, Padawan. If you learn nothing else from this trip from this moment on, Obi-Wan, I hope you will learn that I will always care for you, dear one. You are my responsibility, and it is my duty to tend your wounds and care for you if you fall ill, and it is a responsibility I gladly accept. You are no burden to me, Obi-Wan, there is no shame in needing a little help now and again, and sometimes, I may even need that assistance from you in return. You serve no one well by trying to hide your pain, thinking yourself unworthy of their care, or undeserving of comfort, can you understand that?"

Obi-Wan managed a slight nod, a feeling more than a little overwhelmed, and Qui-Gon spared him a sympathetic smile.

"If you feel up to it, I think a shower and a change of clothes would serve you well, Padawan, yes?"

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan nodded, gratefully, as he pushed back the blankets and allowed his Master to help him to rise, gingerly standing, relieved to find that, although it hurt, he could bear to stand on his still-swollen knee. He limped towards the fresher, and then paused in the doorway, half-turning back as Qui-Gon began to strip the sheets from the bed to replace them with fresh linens.

"Master?"

"Yes, Padawan?" Qui-Gon paused his work, looking up, expectantly.

"You know what you just said… about asking for help when I need it?"

"Yes?"

"Will you help me by explaining all of this to Master Yaddle for me when we get back to the Temple?"

"Hah!" Qui-Gon let out a bark of a laugh, "perhaps I should have added a disclaimer when it comes to standing before members of the Council. There are limits to even my courage, Obi-Wan… especially when one of them is also an irate tutor who has warned me several times before about getting my Padawan in trouble…"

The two of them shared a brief moment of laughter, before Obi-Wan ducked into the fresher. It was safe to say that of all the training exercises he had been on thus far, this one had taught him more than he had ever expected. He knew there was a lot more to learn from his unconventional Master, though he had a feeling some lessons would be harder to learn than others…