Obi-Wan paused at the edge of the field, smiling at the shoots of green that were now past knee-height. The had all sorts of things planted in the field, and the young man was amused to see how much delight Qui-Gon took in tending to the young plants, nurturing them and helping them to grow.
He watched the older man now, as the Knight knelt to speak to one of the cucumber plants. His master was in his element that was for sure. The Living Force was quite abundant on their little farm, and Obi-Wan had no doubt that it was Qui-Gon's doing.
He didn't want to bother the other man, but he felt he should let his master know where he was going. He stepped gingerly between the rows of plants until he was standing next to Qui-Gon.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon beamed. "How are things coming along?"
"Things are fine. Mac and I had a nice jaunt around town. Moo and Ronnie are grazing in the pasture; Roo and Claire are clucking away in the chicken coop," he stated, naming their horse, cow and bull, rooster and hen.
"Good. It sounds like you have everything under control."
"I do. Which is why I came by to let you know that I'm going to go exploring the woods some more."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Alright. Be careful and have fun. And see if you can find some wild herbs for dinner tonight."
"Always. And I will."
The refreshing dimness of the trees was like sinking into cool water. Although his skin was now tanned from his many hours in the sun, he remembered all too well the searing kiss of sunburn. The forest was a welcome refuge from the hot summer days, and Obi-Wan relished his time under the leafy canopy.
The dappled sunlight illuminated the pathway and he struck out along the winding track that he had slowly been uncovering. He walked for a little more than half an hour, passing through the little clearings that he had explored so thoroughly on his last visits and which produced the handful of edible herbs that he had discovered.
He reached the final clearing and peered about before finding where his trail should pick up. His muffled footsteps announced his passing, and he pushed through the underbrush, intent on seeing what he could. Obi-Wan carefully picked his way into the unknown, his Jedi senses helping him keep his sense of direction.
He had been on a few tracking exercises with Qui-Gon, and had learned much about silently passing through areas that would otherwise announces his presence like a blaring siren. He drew on all these skills as he cut a new trail, one that was entirely his own, letting the Force guide him.
The silence deepened and Obi-Wan could feel the air pressing in on him. A thrill of uncertainty coursed through him, as the sound of soft, rolling thunder bent the airwaves, but he was unafraid. His heightened senses added a delicious flutter to the moment; the unexpectedness of what he would find caused the adrenaline to carry him on its wave; a wave, indeed, as he broke through the mantle of branches and into another, very large clearing.
Unlike the others, this clearing was very large. A ten-foot high rock-face was directly opposite him, its ragged features starkly contrasting the soft edges of the forest around it. It had to have been about fifteen feet wide, and how far back it went, Obi-Wan could only guess. Its roots were submerged in the crystalline waters of a pond, which reminded Obi-Wan strongly of the lake back in the Jedi Temple. A cascading waterfall fed the pond, its roar heralding its presence as the dull clamour filled the area with a blanket of sound.
Standing on the shingle, he could see the rocky bottom of the cliff, and the soft sand that was the edifice's doorstep. Obi-Wan didn't hesitate. He pulled off his boots and tunic and waded into the surprisingly nippy water. When he was waist deep, he scooped the clear liquid into his cupped hands and splashed it over his face and hair, before diving under the surface.
He swam every inch of the pond, exploring the depths until his lungs hurt. He dried himself on a nearby boulder, letting himself sink into a peaceful meditation. The sun lagged in its journey through the sky, warming the rock and Obi-Wan deeply. The westward movement of light playing behind closed eyelids gave a welcome change in texture to his meditation.
Completely in tune with his surroundings, it was astounding that he failed to be prepared for the gentle weight on his bare chest. It didn't register at first, he supposed, because he was so in tune with everything. But, as the meditation ebbed and flowed in its intricate weave, he became aware of something upon him. It was a curious feeling, slightly fuzzy and ticklish, yet with a touch of cool leather right in the centre.
Emerging from his trance, not moving a muscle, Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes. He let out a startled gasp. There, very near to him, was the brilliant green-headed, black-eyed, yellow-billed visage of a duck.
"Quack!" his feathered companion stated.
Obi-Wan blinked rapidly a few times, trying to figure out why a duck was perched on his bare chest. Very slowly, so as not to startle the creature, he reached up and gently lifted the animal off of him and sat up. The duck allowed this course of action happily, stamping his webbed feet on the sand once Obi-Wan set him down.
Pulling on his tunic, Obi-Wan spared a glance at the duck and smiled. "Thank you for your company, friend. But it is time for me to go home." So saying, Obi-Wan donned his boots and started walking towards the path.
"Quack!" the duck cried again, with a flutter of wings. Obi-Wan turned just in time to see the fowl land neatly behind him. "Quack!"
Keeping an eye on the duck, Obi-Wan took a couple of steps. The duck followed. Obi-Wan broke into a jog, but before he could gain the trees, the duck landed in front of him.
"QUACK!"
"How you can sound so indignant is beyond me," Obi-Wan said to the duck, slightly amused. "Well, let's go then. No need to keep Qui-Gon waiting."
The unlikely pair trod back through the woods, stopping only to pick Qui-Gon's desired herbs along the way. As they reached the farm, they could see the sun beginning to sink below the western horizon. Obi-Wan and Quacks, as the youth had come to think of him, found the Knight putting away his gardening tools.
He looked up at Obi-Wan's approach and raised a brow in curiosity, as he took in the younger man's companion.
Obi-Wan merely smiled and said, with a shrug, "What can I say? He followed me home, Master. ...Can I keep him?"
Qui-Gon threw his head back and laughed.