Thrush waited as the younglings lined up for sword practice. She looked to each and every one of them as she prepared to start the day's routine sword practice session. Before she began however she took of a missing body. She narrowed her eyes, glancing around and looking to the entrance to the practice chamber. But after a few moments of waiting the person did not appear.
Thrush turned her attention to the younglings, eyes landing on the Zabrak. "Wrath. Where's Havolian?" she asked sternly.
"Not sure. Might still be sleeping," Wrath said with a shrug.
"Well go wake him up and bring him here," she ordered. He nodded before leaving the room. The younglings all waited for his return, shuffling on their feet and wondering what was up.
Soon enough Wrath returned, and Havolian was not with him. "He's not in his room."
Thrush furrowed her brows. Wondering where the Sephi was. He'd never missed sword practice. He was never even late. He had the punctuality of a soldier. Thrush looked up and around before calling out to some of the Kinnaran temple guards. She ordered them to search the temple for Havolian. They nodded before flying off.
With that Thrush got the younglings started. All the while though Wrath was wondering where his friend was. It wasn't like him to just disappear. The lesson went on as usual until Thrush dismissed them. As she did the guards returned, reporting to Thrush that they hadn't found him. Thrush frowned, ordering them to search the city and the surrounding jungle and lake. They all flew off.
Meanwhile, Wrath left the temple. He caught a sail barge to the floating city. He eventually found himself at the door of a Kinnaran residential complex. He knocked on the door and waited until it slid open. He was greeted with the sight of a bright orange Kinnaran with spiky head feathers.
She smiled at him in recognition as her children hovered behind her. "Oh. Hello Wrath. Can I help you?" she asked curiously.
"I was just looking for Havolian. No one has seen him at all today so I thought he'd be here," he explained.
Oriole's eyes widened ever so slightly. "He's gone?" she asked, worry already lacing her voice.
"I mean I'm sure he's just-"
"He's missing?" Oriole said with a gasp.
"We don't know that yet," Wrath said quickly. But it was too late as Oriole was consumed with worry and concern. She immediately flew away to call Ash, then one of her sisters to watch her children before she flew out of her home in an orange blur to search for the Sephi.
Wrath stood there awkwardly before he left to search himself. He pursed his lips, wondering where to begin. He brought a finger to his chin before heading to one of their hangout spot. He borrowed a small hovercraft, flying it toward a distant mountain peak surrounded by mist.
He weaved through peaks and cliffs before he found him. He landed beside Havo's hovercraft before getting off and approaching. He took a seat beside him, letting his legs dangle over a cliff.
"Hey," he said casually.
"Hey," Havo muttered.
"So you've been missing for a couple hours. People are noticing," Wrath said.
"Sorry," Havo said. He didn't even look at him. He stared out into the distance, face blank. Beside him Wrath could feel his sadness through the Force. He'd never seen Havolian like this. It made him concerned.
"So want to tell me what's wrong?" Wrath asked.
Havo remained silent before taking a breath and letting it out. "Today's the anniversary of my brother's death," he revealed.
Wrath flinched as he took that in. "Ah," he said awkwardly.
Havo leaned back onto his hands. "Yep. Even when I'm off Naboo I can still feel the day when it comes around."
"Want to talk about it?"
"He was the only real family I had," Havo began. "I never met my dad. He died in a space battle before we were born. My mom...she just...I guess never got over it. She threw herself into her work. Leaving us to practically be raised by the rest of our town. Then the purge happened and...well you know the rest," Havo ended with a shrug.
"My brother gave his life for me," Havo mumbled.
"That's what family does," Wrath chimed in. "I'd do the same for my sister. And you too man."
Havo didn't respond, just kept his gaze on nothing in particular. "She's alive you know. My mom," Havo revealed.
"I did no know that."
"I wonder if she even thinks of me. I wonder if she even thinks I could still be alive. I wonder if she'd even care if she saw me again."
"I'm sorry man."
"Not your fault."
The two teens sat in silence. Wrath just kept him company, letting the hours pass into the evening as the sun started to set.
"We should head back," Wrath chimed in.
Havo let out a breath. "Yeah," he said in agreement. They flew back to the city before catching a sail barge back to the temple. They went searching for Thrush to let her know where Havo had been and apologize for missing practice.
They came back to the main chamber, only to pause as they found Thrush arguing with Oriole. They approached, catching the word 'search party' coming from Oriole. Thrush raised a hand, telling the orange Kinnaran to calm down, only for Oriole to shout out at her, "I will not calm down! My son is missing and I want him found now!"
"Oriole," Havolian said behind her to grab her attention.
"Not now Havo," Oriole said dismissively. Everyone paused for a moment. Oriole blinked before whirling around to find Havo behind her. "HAVOLIAN!" Oriole shouted in realization and relief. She threw her arms around him, squeezing him hard enough to nearly suffocate him to death.
"Oh Havolian I was so worried!" Oriole cried out loud. She pulled back to scowl at him in disapproval. "Where have you been?"
"Well-"
"I don't want to hear excuses! Next time you decide to disappear without telling anyone, do me a favor, and tell someone," she chastised him.
"Yes ma'am," Havolian muttered with downcast eyes, feeling slightly guilty for making her worry.
And admittedly touched that his disappearance had affected her so.
Her scowl faded into a smile. "Have you eaten anything today? Let's go to my home. I'll make you some dinner. Thrush I'm taking Havo into the city."
"Fine. But I expect him here tomorrow. On the dot," Thrush said.
"He'll be here," Oriole said. She ushered Havolian out of the temple. He gave Wrath a small wave in goodbye as he followed Oriole out of the temple, into the city, and then her home.
She cooked him a meal as his step siblings fluttered around his head, tweeting and chirping at him. Oriole watched him eat with a smile, a strange satisfaction resonating within her. When she was done she took his plate and since it was late she told him to stay the night. She lent him some of Ash's clothes and gathered some spare blankets and pillows and made him a spot to sleep in.
She put her children to bed before checking on Havolian one final time, asking if he need anything else for the night. Havolian assured her he was fine as he pulled up his blankets and got comfy. She smiled at him, wishing him goodnight as she flew up to the second floor to her own bed.
She hadn't heard it, two words Havo had probably never gotten the chance to say. And he wasn't sure he wanted her to hear them. They had just slipped out. But they felt right. Almost natural.
"Goodnight mom."
new chap
