AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks for being so patient everyone - what good Jedi you are! I promise the next couple chapters will start to wrap up this, and answer your questions - so let me know them to include them. But now, back to the adventures of two lovable Jedi...

Down the Wrong Path - Chapter 9

if start down that path...

Tamolok felt it. The sudden cry of his daughter, followed by complete silence.

He launched towards the shaman, who shrunk down in the pain he too had just felt.

"You know! Who is it?"

The shaman gurgled as Tamolok grabbed his head.

"Who killed my daughter?"

The shaman, his eyes in mere slits, spit out a name Tamolok knew, even suspected, but would never have believed possible.

"Eyuria."

He roared, all of his fury boiled out through his metal studded lips as he grabbed his staff.

He took a step for the door, and then doubled over in tremendous pain.

His son. Uchalok. So many warriors, falling down silent. He felt each of their deaths as if pieces of his skin were carved off his body.

Shivering, sweating, he glanced over at the shaman, who only nodded.

"A new telan has arrived."

He looked horrible. Disheveled, dirty, trembling, pale, clothes barely hanging unto his body. There were no physical signs of injury, but Anakin could feel them. His Obi-Wan was hurt inside. The wound was something he'd never felt in his master before. It was seeping darkness into a soul that shouldn't have it. His master was supposed to be the epitome of all that was good with the Jedi. He burned with the lightness of the Force, a blazing sun of Jedi grace and wisdom in a sea of darkness. But now that lightness was faded, shimmering instead of blazing.

Anakin shivered. His Obi-Wan felt more like he himself did at that moment.

Deep down, his soul growled... in pleasure...

"Obi-Wan, what has this Xaantin bitch done to you?" he growled, not preventing the possessiveness that came naturally to his voice. If this creature had hurt the man he cared for, then this creature would soon find out what two expertly-wielded lightsabers can do. Just like Uchalok had, after leading him into an ambush at the edge of the village. How he'd managed to communicate with the others Anakin couldn't figure out. But they soon learned, as had those in the clearing, that they were no match for him.

Obi-Wan looked over at the creature, who tensed under the scrutiny of both men. Obi-Wan's mouth moved, but he didn't hear what the Jedi Master said.

And in the next instant, Obi-Wan had the creature pressed against the hut and had called his lightsaber back to his hand. The creature's eyes went galaxy wide as she found herself staring at glorious retribution in that blue-white blade. Anakin grinned. And he had been worried about Obi.

He shivered again, and his grinned disappeared. Actually, this wasn't good.

The darkness he'd felt in Obi-Wan got deeper, colder. Anakin could actually feel the anger roll off his master in waves, crashing over him and through him. That only made him madder. And more worried.

Shifting his stance to accommodate possessing only his saber, he drew up behind Obi-Wan, softly placing his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. But Obi-Wan actually tensed under his touch and shrugged him off.

"Obi-Wan?"

Hearing the softness in Anakin's voice just made Obi-Wan tense more. He went completely rigid. For a moment Anakin glimpsed a barrage of emotions and images through their bond. But just as quickly the bond was severed, shoved down into the darkness festering in his wound.

"This is Eyuria, Anakin," Obi-Wan said softly, readjusting his tightening grip on his saber. "She has many questions to answer."

Well, he heartily concurred. He had no idea what was going on, and understanding what these creatures had been doing to Obi was at the top of his list of current priorities. However, at the tip-top was getting them both out of there, alive.

"I'm sure I'd like to hear those, too," he replied.

He heard the buzzing in the Force. A group of Xaantin warriors had finally gathered enough force to head for them. While he wasn't concerned about dealing with them as he'd dealt with the others, protecting Obi-Wan was his focus now. And the possibility of those two activities not being completely compatible quelled the bloodlust that had started to rise in his throat.

"But right now, we've got to get you out of here, you're in no shape to fight."

Obi-Wan shot his sharp glare at Anakin, who recoiled from the intensity in those blue eyes. His heart stopped for a moment, seeing such a kindred soul in this man. It was ... unnervingly exciting.

"I will fight when I want to, young one, you are not my master," Obi-Wan shot back.

The group was getting closer. He really didn't feel like arguing with new dark Obi-Wan, interesting though the possibility of such an argument may be.

"Okay, I'm sorry, of course, but weren't you the one to tell me that there're always alternatives to fighting?"

Obi-Wan's glare held for a split second more before faltering and falling.

"Yes, perhaps that is for the best, for now," Obi-Wan responded, lowering his lightsaber. Eyuria, who perhaps only at that moment started to breathe again, did not relax as Obi-Wan grabbed her arm. "She comes with us."

Anakin nodded slightly. "As you wish."

Thud-poing!

Anakin sprang back as an arrow slammed into the post by his side. His lightsaber swung up the next instant as others followed. They disintegrated against the blaze. He felt Obi-Wan settle in besides him, joining his saber to Anakin's as they deflected the hail of arrows the group leveled at them. Anakin smiled. Now this felt just like old times.

"Get her down, I'll cover you!" Obi-Wan ordered.

Anakin nodded, didn't even question. Obi-Wan could deflect the arrows easily enough, but in his current state carrying their prisoner may have been too taxing. He shut down his lightsaber, pulled Eyuria to him, and launched himself back towards the forest as far as the Force could carry him before settling to the ground.

The Eyuria creature felt limp in his arms. He knew she wasn't injured. Actually, she wasn't terribly nervous or scared. All he could sense off her was -- relief?

Anakin plowed into the forest, relieved to sense a moment later that Obi-Wan was right behind him. The few arrows still pursuing them thudded into trees or vanished against Obi-Wan's blade. Anakin led the way into the forest, trusting the Force to find a path for them in the unfamiliar territory.

Despite his haggard appearance, Obi-Wan fell easily into place behind Anakin, and soon the arrows disappeared as the forest swallowed them. Anakin had his saber extinguished to better hold the limp Xaantin. Obi-Wan kept his lit. Maybe he's just comforted by having it back in his hands, Anakin thought, as they hurdled trees in silence. He reached out tentatively through their bond, but Obi-Wan slammed the door in his face.

"Not now, Anakin," he grumbled, loud enough to hear only because of the silence that surrounded them.

Sure, not now, not when I want it! Anakin glowered, biting his cheek. He had just risked his life to save this man, and all he got out of him was "Not now, Anakin," like he's a petulant little child asking for a sweet biscuit before dinner. Not even a thank you! Sure, maybe Obi had just gone into the black pits of Kessel, but he's been through bad times before and it never bothered him like this did. Anakin simply did not like seeing his master in so much anguish - he smiled briefly, at least, not if he wasn't the cause of it.

He'd throw his hands up in frustration if it didn't mean throwing this Eyuria creature high into the canopy. Well, he'd still do that if he knew it wouldn't upset Obi-Wan. Just what was this creature's connection with Obi? Was she being mistreated by the other Xaantins? Doubtful, as his mind replayed the instant retribution Obi-Wan sought when his lightsaber was returned to him. By that token, she wasn't an ally - Jedi don't kill allies, and Obi was even reluctant to kill enemies. It just didn't make any sense. It's not like she could be his--

"Wait, stop," Obi-Wan commanded, grabbing Anakin's arm, snapping the younger man from his thoughts. "I know this place."

Anakin looked around, but didn't see anything familiar about the landscape they found themselves in.

"What do you mean?"

With the barest of movements, Eyuria turned to face their surroundings, and let out a strangled cry. She went from being limp to being a hellcat in less than a second, pushing and kicking to get out of Anakin's arms. Little good it did her against his natural strength combined with the Force he drew on to restrain her.

Obi-Wan descended on her and gently squeezed the tender spot where neck meets shoulder. She again went limp, slipping into unconsciousness.

"Thanks, didn't know she was that feisty," he said, shifting her weight once more.

Obi-Wan continued past them, muttering, "I did."

Anakin squinted at the man's back as he lead the way, but shook his head, tossing that line to the growing pile of confusion that surrounded his master. Eyuria once again secure, he followed Obi through the forest.

It wasn't long before they broke through the forest into a clearing. He heard the burbling before he saw the small stream that poured over rocks, shimmering brightly under the sunlight. There were no insects, no noise save for the river and a distant, melodic whistling of wind through thick canopy. Anakin drew in a deep breath. Amazing. It even smelled peaceful. And the water was beyond inviting. It looked like Padme after a long stint in space, when all he wanted to do was bury his face in her hair. Setting Eyuria down on the soft grass, he greedily dove for the water.

"You always were better at finding peace than I was, Master," Anakin observed happily, water streaming down his hair and face. "This place is beautiful. How did you--"

Obi-Wan had dropped to his knees, still blazing lightsaber held too lightly in his hand, too closely to his lap. His face was a mixture, of blankness, of amazement, of utter confusion.

Anakin quickly flicked the dangerous blade off with a nudge through the Force as he rushed to his master's side. He fell to his knees beside Obi-Wan, but was at a loss of what to do. Touch him? Shake him out of it? Hug him? Were Jedi even allowed to hug each other?

compassion, unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life...we're encouraged to love...

And so he did.

He wrapped his arms around Obi-Wan, embracing the man the way he himself had been embraced so long ago, when the spaceships were still cold, and his heart ached for the warmth of his home and his mother. He held Obi-Wan to his heart, his hand cradling Obi's head to his shoulder, his other hand rubbing soft, slow circles on the other man's back. He just wanted to soothe his master, make that haunted expression leave, make him return to be with him in this clearing, dispel the darkness that was not supposed to reside in his beacon. He just wanted his Obi-Wan back.

It seemed forever before Obi-Wan stirred in his arms, breathed softly against the exposed skin of Anakin's neck. Anakin bit his cheek and averted his gaze as he let go, allowing Obi-Wan to pull back from his warmth.

But he didn't move far. They knelt side by side, legs, knees touching. Anakin kept a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, to steady the older man, and himself. By the Force, why was he finding it so hard to breathe?

"Master, please, you're frightening me. What happened?" he whispered.

Obi-Wan looked at him. He had never seen those blue eyes more intense than at just that moment. Maybe it was the haggard appearance, the pallid skin, the sweat. But Anakin doubted it. They were the eyes of a man trying to believe what he saw, and forget it in the same moment.

Obi-Wan broke the gaze to return it to the clearing. "I've been to this place."

There it was again. A flood of images and sounds leaked through the seals Obi-Wan had placed around his mind. It was a momentary slip, but he sensed something. Some memory, so recent, so raw, and yet so unreal. And why did he get the impression that he was part of it. A memory that he himself had no recollection of?

"What happened, Obi-Wan?" he repeated, even softer this time, as if he was afraid of the answer.

They heard the soft moan. Eyuria was stirring. Obi-Wan's gaze settled on her, but his expression did not change.

He got up, hauling Anakin to his feet. For a moment they stood there, hand in hand, Obi-Wan watching Eyuria, Anakin watching Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan dropped Anakin's hand and went to the Eyuria creature.

"All in due time, Anakin," was the only response Anakin got to his question, to quell his mind and heart. "And thank you, Anakin, for coming to find me."

"You mean save you," Anakin shot back.

Obi-Wan threw a grin over his shoulder at the young man. "Someday I shall have to repay the favor."

Anakin folded his arms, grinning back. "Not likely. I'm never in danger."

Obi-Wan only nodded at that and turned his attention to the Xaantin.

It may be the way of the Jedi to love unconditionally, but that man really makes it difficult sometimes. Anakin sat back down to watch them. This was a test of his patience, waiting for an answer to what had transpired back in the Xaantin village. So, he'd wait.

At least until that Eyuria was able to talk. Then he wanted answers. And there was more than one way to get someone to talk.

Tamolok stood in the center, surrounded by what remained of his warriors. Too few, the young and old ones, some of the women, his archers. All his best, his strongest, slaughtered by that telan who commanded a staff of fire.

The legends spoke of the warring ways of the telan. The others had those fire staffs as well, but they had been undone by his ancestors. Just as the captive telan had been, until his traitorous daughter set him free to kill her brothers and sisters. And now she would lead him to them. For that, he will kill her quickly and save her the pain he wanted to deal her.

He tightened his grip on Uchalok's staff, still stained by his own blood. His son had lured the telan into a trap, but he sprang it too soon, too far outside the boundary of their village. Had he been wiser and lured the telan further into the village, the full force of the village would have turned against the telan. And no fire staff would have defeated them all. Stupid creature, he growled, wringing the bloody handle in his hands. I shall avenge your death, but not your life.

The shaman sat beside him, head bowed, his lips moving soundlessly. His apprentice sat alongside, translating to the lord.

"She awakens."

"Where is she?" Tamolok growled.

The apprentice fell silent, listening intently. "The silent stream, cutting through the woods in a sunlight opening. Between here and -" he paused, eyes widening, to look up at Tamolok. "Between here and the other's village."

"They mean to take Eyuria to the other," he snarled. He roared out to his warriors. "They mean to disclose the location of our village to the other, to those lifeless creations!"

The assemblage roared back, pounding on body armor, weapons.

"We will find the telan! We will find my traitorous daughter! We will kill them all!"

The roars intensified, shaking the surrounding forest with their anger.

He pointed to four warriors, the last of his best.

"Secure the path, and we will drive them to you."

The four bowed their heads and disappeared into the forest.

Tamolok pointed the staff to the archers next.

"Drive them from that clearing!"

His archers bowed and likewise vanished.

Tamolok bellowed to the remainder of his tribe. "Those of you able, I shall lead the way to vengeance!"

All the men raised their weapons. Many women drew bows and long blades and followed the men into the woods. Older children and orphans slipped the grips of their elderly and joined. Soon there was nothing left of the village but the elderly and the youngest.

And the shaman, who gripped Tamolok's leg as the lord set out.

"My lord, Eyuria must not die for this tribe to live."

"Eyuria's death is guaranteed," he hissed back.

"If she is with your heir, my lord, she must not be killed."

Tamolok did not flinch. He merely removed the man's grip from his leg.

"Eyuria will be killed. Whether it is today or months from now, she will not live to raise any children beyond birth."

The shaman bowed his head to the dirt.

Tamolok held his son's staff over his head and with a roar snapped it in two, discarding the pieces like mere kindling into the forest. Snatching his own staff from his youngest daughter's hands, he stormed into the forest, death his sole pursuit.