Luke approached Cas's room and lightly tapped on her door. When she did not answer he opened it just ajar. She was still asleep, sound asleep. He smiled and walked over to her window. In one swift motion, he yanked down the blinds and light flooded into the room. Cas blinked at the sudden glare and growled something obscene at Luke.
Luke grinned at her charmingly. "Good morning."
"Good morning my ass!" Cas snapped and quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, realizing her mistake all too late.
Luke tried for a moment to look stern but failed miserably. "It's getting late. There isn't much time when there is light on this planet. C'mon UP."
Cas grumbled something not-nice-at-all in his direction and rolled over. "My mother wouldn't like that." Luke said in response to her insult. "Now, come ON." Luke walked over to her bed and folded his arms. He stood for a moment and tapped his foot. "Cas, I am counting to ten."
Cas looked up at him in shock. "You can count!" she let out an insane laugh and ducked back under her covers. Luke counted to ten VERY loudly. Then he let out a sigh and ripped off her blanket. She shivered a little but remained still. Luke took off her slippers. She cursed but just curled up in a ball.
Luke grinned. "Cas, if you don't get up, the rest is coming off."
"Ha ha." Cas snorted. "Jedi don't do that."
Luke shrugged. "Most don't, I do." He edged closer to her and grinned evilly. "I'll make breakfast." he threatened.
Cas shot out of bed and was dressed in a matter of moments. She growled as she tied her garments firmly in place and threw her cover back on her bed. Luke had politely turned his back during her changing and now turned back around to give her a mocking grin.
"Don't give me that." she snapped, tying her final robe on. "It's not MY fault you're a rotten cook"
"I am a good cook and you know it." Luke smiled, exiting her room.
Cas cursed at no one in particular and gathered her things for training.

About an hour later...

Cas sat crouched on the ground, watching Luke's back from behind the brushes. Sometimes she got so mad at him she wanted to really attack him and beat him up good, but she was not allowed to hurt him. She must simply surprise him. She was to sneak up on him without his knowing, and steal a small piece of cloth from his robe. She could then face him with it, to prove she could sneak about in hispresence without his knowing. Then she would be ready for the next challenge. Cas was mere inches from him now, she could hear him lightly whistling. Her hand shot into her robes, and retrieved a small vibro blade. She reached out to cut the small piece of cloth and-
Luke spun with amazing speed and caught her hand effortlessly. He grinned at her and handed her back her knife. Cas grumbled and tucked it away, sliding off the small cliff of slim she had perched herself on to stand beside him.
"You could hear me huh?" she asked, frowning at the ground.
Luke smirked. "Only, a lot. You need to slow your footsteps, there's no hurry. I'm going to be standing here the whole time, pondering about whatever us Jedi ponder about."

Cas looked up at him and grinned, so he HAD been screening. Hopefully he hadn't caught that thing about...
"Oh, and thanks for compliment about my rear end. I've been working on that." he said in his funny little way.

Cas slapped her forehead and let out asmall chuckle. "OK, you got me. Now, let's get back to work ok? Go ponder."
Luke smiled and rested his hand on her shoulder for a fleeting moment and was gone. Man, how does he DO that? she wondered to herself, scoring the land for him. He was nowhere in sight. She sighed and set about her search.

It wasn't long until she found him. He had a habit of whistling and singing wherever he went. She strained her ears and soon came the soft sound of...

"I look at you,
And I see who you are,
You seem so distant,
But I know you're not that far..."

Aha. There it was, that silly little song he always sang. She had never figured it out, was it a love song? A sad song? A song about a lost friend? She never knew, she had never heard the whole thing. She followed the sound, slowing her footsteps as she had been told. She thought she caught a glimpse of sandy blonde hair in the distince, but it was only a fleeting bird. She sighed. The sound was gone now, she hadn't heard it in a while, maybe she was moving away from it.

"I need you more than life,
You left too soon,
Now all I do,
Is stare at the moon..."

Yes! There it was! She quickly, and as quietly as she could, changed directions and followed the sound of his husky voice, getting closer and closer as she went.

"I look up at the sky, And I wonder why,
You think you don't need me,
You're fine on your own,
But I don't wanna be alone..."

She could see him now, he was sitting on a rock near a cave, singing his strange song. Oh, that voice! Sometimes it disturbed her concentration so she began daydreaming! She was very close now, almost too close. Surely he must sense me by now. She thought in bewilderment. But he seemed to be far away, somewhere she could not go. She thought about reaching out with the Force to tap into his thoughts, but surely he would sense her then. She dropped back into her crouch position and took out her blade. Her hand edged out of the brush again---and slit just the smallest amount of cloth from his cloak. She wanted to squeal with joy and jump up and down, but she remained calm. She did, of course, allow herself a small smirk.
She eased out of the brush, still surprised he had not caught her yet. She decided to do something a little silly, just for the fun of it. She tucked the blade away, so as not to harm him, and tackled him. Luke yelped in surprise as she jumped on him, knocking him off his seat. He lay flat on his back and gasped. Her laugh rang out as she dangled the small cloth in his face, triumphent.Luke smiled up at her and took it from her.

"Well, I'm impressed. But, attackers USUALLY don't jump on their prey and laugh." he teased, handing it back to her.
She grinned and tucked it away as her trophy. Suddenly she realized she was still on top of him. She blushed a bright crimson and got up in a hurry.

Luke stood as well and brushed himself off. "I must say, you've got quite a good grip." he said and rubbed his shoulders.
Cas looked away, trying to hide her crimson face. "What now?"
"Ah, something different." Luke said, a strange and evil glint in his eyes.

"What?" Cas asked, suspicious.
Luke grinned at her and pulled her to stand beside him. "Look, over there." he wrapped an arm around her and steered her in the direction he pointed to.

"It's a cave." she said, slightly confused. She had been expected a monster, a vision, or something else, not a cave.
"Yes, it is. But, it's not like other caves'." Luke said, pushing her slightly forward. "Want me to go with you?" he asked, knowing he hadn't liked going in by himself one bit.
"No." she said firmly, she would do it on her own.
Luke sensed in her tone that there was no room for argument, and stepped back. As his arm left her shoulder, suddenly she became very cold. Something lurked in that cave, something evil. She looked back at Luke with worried eyes, wondering if he had ever been in there.

He nodded at her lightsaber. "Take it with you, you will need it." Cas gulped and unhooked her lightsaber from her belt, holding it ready. She dropped her jacket near the opening, not wanting it to get in the way in case she got into a tangle. Slowly, she crept into the cave. It was not as dark as she would have thought, an eery, light green glow bathed the strange place. The moment she entered, she felt as if she were walking in a dream. Nothing seemed real, she felt as though she were under water, unable to move as fast as she thought was needed. She ran through her calming exercises and slowed her breathing.

"I look up at the sky, And I wonder why,
You think you don't need me,
You're fine on your own,
But I don't wanna be alone..."

The music floated to her ears, as quiet as death but as loud as thunder.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a dark form appeared in front of her. It had no face,no distinct species. It wore a long, black cloak, all significance hidden from the naked humaneye. She snapped her icy blue lightsaber on, ready for whatever would happen. The creature did not move, did not speak. She couldn't feel it, sense it, hear it, or even smell it. The Force was dead in this place. The Force was the enemy it seemed, working against her. It moved foward, but not to attack her. It lay an icy cold hand on her shoulder, and finally it's face was visible. Luke. He looked sad, and worried, as though he feared for her. Still, it could be a trick. She thought, and held her lightsaber ready.
"Cas..." the creature spoke.
She stared at it, not believing it could have said that. "Wh-what did you say?" she asked it, not sure it would answer.
Then the transparent Luke's hand left her shoulder, reaching into it's robes for something-
Before it tried anything, she brought her lightsaber beam up and through. She sliced through him easliy, the other end of her blade appearing on the other side of his back. His face showed intense pain, sorrow, but not for himself.

"Cas...don't do this." it begged, once again putting his hand to rest at her shoulder.
She ignored it, it was now quite obviously a trick. She yanked her lightsaber out of him and watched as he fell to the ground. His hand came out of his robes, holding something. She knelt down to examine it. It was a small crystal on a chain, with her name on it. She scoffed and turned off her lightsaber. It must have been a Dark Side tempting, some creature pretending to be Luke to lure her to the unknown, she was not falling for that.
"Cas..." the being breathed it's last and disappeared. Cas looked at where it had lay, wondering just what it had meant, what it had been.

Outside, Luke softly sang his strange little song...

End Of Chapter Two