Other Younglings

Punjam Hy Loo. The home of the Kinnaran people and their Temple of the Sisters of flight. Additionally, it is the location where the nine Jedi initiates train to become the future Jedi of the New Order.

But they aren't the only young ones in training to be Jedi.

On DunBroch another young man had been training in secret to become a Jedi. Prince Harris practiced his forms under the supervision of his teacher and Master. He didn't know her true name. So he just called her Gran.

The old woman was very knowledgeable in the ways of the Jedi and the Force. She taught him the code of the Jedi and how to properly use his power. He diligently took to his lessons, determined to one day be a Jedi like his sister's boyfriend.

"Alright lad. Take a break," Gran said at his side. Harris sighed as he dropped to the floor to rest. Gran gave a chuckled as she tossed him a canteen of water. He uncapped it and took a few big gulps. When he was satisfied he took slower, smaller sips as he peered at his master.

She was sitting on a tree stump, teapot and cup in hand as she poured herself some. He was curious about his teacher. She was an elderly woman, constantly complaining about her aching back, but when they sparred she could move in a blur of motion, flipping and leaping over his head in ways that made it near impossible to keep up with.

From what he gathered she was a Jedi, but she said she'd left the order before the Clone Wars and come back home to DunBroch. Which was strange because Harris never recalled the history records saying DunBroch had ever had a Jedi.

"Master?" Harris asked curiously. Gran took a sip from her cup before looking at him with an arched brow. "Am I your first apprentice?" he asked.

Gran set her cup down and took a breath. "No lad. You're actually my third," she stated.

"Who were the others?"

Gran frowned. "Well I don't like to talk about my first apprentice. He was my greatest failure and shame. But my second," she said as her eyes lit up. "Oh she was something. Powerful, clever, an amazing Jedi warrior. And she learned it all from me," Gran said proudly.

"What was her name?"

"Valka," Gran stated as she lifted her cup up and took a sip. "Lass was from Berk. The first of her people to ever become a Jedi. Found her when she was just a wee lass as Berk was opening its borders to outsiders."

"So what happened to her?"

"Oh well she got married to a fat man, was with child last time I saw her," she paused, a pang of sadness tugging at her heart. "She's gone now," she muttered with a bowed head. Harris could tell she was saddened by the memory of her late apprentice. He opened his mouth to say something when she suddenly looked up with a bright smile.

"Well no matter. These things happen. Death is a natural part of life. No one can truly escape it," she said with a shrug as she took another sip of tea.

Harris arched a brow. He couldn't help but wonder how old Gran was. "How old are you Master?"

Gran looked at him in appalment. "Young Prince, you never ask a woman how old she is! Didn't you learn any manners?" she chastised. Harris flushed in embarrassment and realization before he mumbled an apology. "Oh I'm just joking lad," Gran said with a laugh.

"Hmmm...I honestly don't remember. After a while the years all kind of blur together," Gran said with a shrug.

Harris hummed, wondering how long one would have to live to forget how old they were. It sounded silly. With a breath Gran stood up, staring down at Harris and prompting him to get to his feet.

"Alright lad, now enough gabbin'," she said as she grabbed her hatchet. With a twist the handle separated from the blade, and with a press of a button a blue blade of plasma sprang out. Harris reached into his kilt and drew his own lightsaber before igniting the blade.

"Let's see if you can live up to your predecessors young prince."


Across the stars, at the borders of the galaxy was a planet in the outer rim. This planet was full of life, it's environment practically glittered with the Force. Its surface was paved with grasslands that expanded for miles, splintered with rivers, separated by canyons, and paved with mountain ranges and tall cliffs. It was quite beautiful if you asked most people.

A lone cloaked figure walked along the cliff of a mountain side, looking up at the red sky as she patrolled the borders. This woman was not from this planet. She was in exile, hiding from the Empire. If she intended to stay in exile had been waning on her mind as of late. She could feel changes in the Force. The scales were tipping ever so slightly as the Forces of light fought back against the darkness that had spread across the galaxy. But she'd been in hiding so long she didn't even know if she could ever rejoin the fight.

She'd been running, not only for her own sake but for the sake of those who depended on her. Speaking of which. The woman's lips quirked upward ever so slightly as she felt herself being followed. Slight rustling of the grasses behind her and a familiar Force signature closing in. She slowed her pace, bare feet making small strides as her stalker closed the distance.

She tilted her body to the right as her stalker attacked, flying right by her with a mid air kick. Then she leaned back as her stalker landed in front of her and leapt up while turning to try and deliver a kick across her face. The woman smiled beneath her cloak as she easily parried her stalker's attacks. As she sent her attacker staggering back her pointed her staff at him, keeping him back.

Or more accurately, her back.

"Hey Master," her student said with a smile, as if she hadn't just tried to sneak attack her. "Man how do you always know I'm coming?"

Her Master gave a chuckle as she lowered her staff and walked by her to continue her patrol. Her student fell into step at her side, looking up at her with grass green eyes. The girl, a young teen with dark skin, curly poofy hair, and green eyes smiled as she followed her teacher and mother figure. The girl was a Tholothian and she was Force sensitive. Her Master had saved her at a young age from being discovered by the Empire and being taken for whatever nefarious intentions it had planned for children like her.

But her rescue was not without consequences. She been separated from her real mother ever since. She tried not to think about it but it still got to her at times. She hoped when she was older and could protect herself she could go and find her mother, be a family with her once again. But for now she accepted what her life was.

Besides, it wasn't all bad. Her teacher was a good stand in, kind, caring, compassionate. And she had sisters in the form of her teachers other students. She just wished her teacher would let her venture off planet with them every so often.

"So Master, next time one of the girls goes off world I was hoping I could join them?" she asked hopefully. Her teacher stopped, glancing to the side to look at her with brown eyes.

"We've talked about this-"

"Oh come on Master. It's not like I'd be alone, and besides," the girl raised her hands up in a battle ready stance as she threw punches and jabs at the air. "You said yourself I'm pretty strong. I bet I could take care of myself," she said looking to her hopefully.

Her teacher stared blankly at her before turning her head away. "Go back to the village," she commanded as she continued on her way. Her student dropped her stance and was about to keep following her when her teacher turned her head, "Now Gratuity," she commanded again.

The girl, Gratuity (not what she preferred to be called by people close to her), frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, staying on the spot in defiance. Her teacher stopped and glanced back at her, playing a game of patience that she always won. After a few moments of silence Gratuity let out a huff as she turned on her heel and stomped back to the village.

The woman watched her go before getting back to her task with a sigh. Why were all her students so stubborn? She placed her hands behind her back, staff still in hand as she looked up at the sky. She'd lost so many after the destruction of the Jedi Order. She'd been lucky to get away, and now she had people she needed to protect. She wouldn't lose anyone else. She brought her hands forward to look down at the staff in her hand.

The wood flowing with the powerful life force of her deceased Master, a part of her body she'd bequeathed her upon her death. She'd carried it with her since her demise, vowing to never touch a lightsaber until the day she died for her failure.

She looked up at the sky for answers, one she never got. "Master Willow, what should I do?" she asked aloud. She of course got no answer, she didn't know why she even bothered. She found it sad sometimes, a former Jedi Master looking desperately for answer as if she were still a Padawan.

It seemed for now she would stay the course, waiting for the will of the Force to make itself known to her.


new chap

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