Raiko heard the panicked voices from the gallery, and jumped down from her position on Muri's lap, running towards the cockpit. Coming through the door, she almost collided with the Queen's security captain. "What's going on?" she asked, and when no-one spared her an answered, wriggled her way towards the front. To her surprise, she came face to face with a boy, who looked to be her age, with bright blue eyes and dirty blond hair. "Who's this?" she blurted, eyes going wide in surprise.

"Qui-Gon's in trouble. Fly low." Obi-Wan said finally, directing his speech to the pilot.

The boy had turned to face her fully. "My name's Anakin. Who are you?" he asked brashly, with a little too much confidence for his position. Raiko realised he must have been a little scared.

"I'm Raiko. Its nice to meet you Anakin." She stuck out her hand, watching as his eyes trawled over her markings interestedly before he took her hand. His hands were shaking slightly, but his grip was firm.

It was only when she reached Qui-Gon's side did she realise they were still clinging to each other. But Anakin didn't seem to want to let go. Right there, as they rocketed towards freedom and away from the hellish planet, Raiko promised herself she would protect this boy. She would look after him. That's what Jedi did.

Raiko was awoken later that night by the murmur of voices around her. She cracked one eye open, focussing on Padme talking to Anakin who was curled up beside her. She'd gone to find the boy and had fallen asleep next to him, tired from her Force work earlier in the day. Now, she was aware of him shivering slightly, the sadness in his voice as he spoke with Padme. A warmth was draped over them both, Padme's fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment.

"-The Queen is worried. Her people are suffering, dying, she must convince the Senate to intervene, or… I'm not sure what will happen."

"I made this for you…"

Raiko drifted back to sleep, dimly aware of something emanating from the boy next to her, deep and mourning, tinged with hope. The Force was strong in him, she thought dazedly, before sleep claimed her.

A sort of calm settled over her as she got off the cruiser on Coruscant, the energy of the place familiar to her. Even the sight of Chancellor Palpatine and the Chancellor Valorum were so familiar that she couldn't help but smile at the sight of them, bowing low in front of them, and tugging Anakin's sleeve to force him down with her. He shot her a confused look, and to her surprise, she felt something nudge at her awareness, a curiosity. She leant over to him as the Queen approached. "They're very important in the Government. Palpatine is a friend to the Jedi." Anakin nodded.

She stepped further out of the way, settling against Obi-Wan's legs as Anakin hid slightly in Qui-Gon's robes. She watched, interestedly, as Padme shot Anakin a smile, and felt a tingle in Force from her new friend. She looked up, to see Obi-Wan already watching Anakin, brow furrowed slightly. He seemed to feel her gaze on him and turned his eyes to her, smiling slightly, and tugging on one of her braids. She muffled a giggle, and turned back to the conversation.

Qui-Gon had paused in front of Valorum. "I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, the situation has become much more complicated, and this little one needs to get home." Valorum spared her a glance, eyes – as most people did – flickering over her skin.

"Of course. I'll arrange for another transport."

It was only then that Raiko realised that Anakin wasn't with them. She turned, spotting him leaving in the crowd of Naboo. He turned, meeting her gaze and frowning. "Master Qui-Gon, why isn't Anakin coming with us?" she asked worriedly.

Qui-Gon patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, little tooka, you'll see him soon enough. For now he should stay with the Queen – until the matter of his training is addressed." Raiko watched, with a slight pout, as Anakin was hurried along by Padme – his transport disappearing into the distance before she could blink.

The quiet peace of the Jedi temple settled over her the second she stepped inside.

The high arch ways, the old statues and relics, the brown robed beings walking through seemed like a dream after the wild adventure she had just had. All of sudden, she was aware of just how slow things moved there – how time was slow and trickling, like a dammed river flowing lazily over immovable stones.

All of a sudden, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were the most familiar things to her – because, as a group of initiates noticed her, and hurried over – she became aware of the wide-eyed innocence in their eyes. They hadn't experienced death, nor war, nor danger – and as they began to babble at her, asking questions, demanding stories, explanations, she realised just how different things were now. How different she was. She became aware of the simmering restlessness in her belly, the knowledge that things were changing in the galaxy and that peace was hanging by a thread and that her people were in danger. And the only people in that moment who seemed to understand, were Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the latter of which was looking at her with a worry and faint irritation that Raiko knew inherently wasn't actually directed at her.

"Raiko will be back to answer all your questions soon." Qui-Gon was suddenly there, a familiar presence at her back, hands settling on her shoulders, fending off her clan mates. "She needs to accompany me to the Council first, and then I promise she will be right back."

The sighs and whines of disappointment made Qui-Gon chuckle, but stay unrelenting as he steered Raiko out the crowd, Obi-Wan walking ahead and serving as a spear-head, parting the crowds around them.

Raiko had only been to the Council room once before, when she had sworn into the Dragon Clan. It remained as it did in her memory – a place so thick with the Force and ancient wisdom that she could feel it heavy on her skin.

Yoda's eyes on her were searching, but she couldn't help but look to Mace Windu, who was watching her with a faint crease to his brow. "Youngling Omari – pleased we are, to see you here in one piece." Yoda said finally. "Our apologies, we extend. A dangerous mission, we did not expect."

Raiko bowed her head. "I'm okay. I'm glad I went." She said quietly, watching as Mace's eyebrow went up and Yoda tilted his head curiously. "It was… really scary. But now I know, about the evil. About the bad things in the galaxy. I know why we are needed. What we have to fight." She said uncertainly, haltingly.

"A warrior's spirit, you have." Yoda smiled slightly. "Interesting, it will be, to see what sort of Jedi you become."

"Return to your clan room, Initiate. Rest well, because the final trials are soon – and it will be a difficult journey into the caves." Mace Windu's voice was as removed as usual, but there was a faint pleased look in his eye, and Raiko felt her eyes widen at the proposition of venturing into the Ilum caves so soon.

"I'm going to make my saber?" Her excitement spilled over. Yoda inclined his head indulgently.

"Your time it is, to become a padawan learner. Your bravery on this mission, a trial completes."

Raiko bowed low again, and turned to leave, catching the edge of Qui-Gon's pleased smile. Before she could stop herself, she turned and barrelled back into him, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tightly. "Thank you." She whispered into his midsection. He gave a surprised chuckle, and patted her head. She released him, and bowing again to the Masters, feeling her cheeks burning green, backed out of the room.

She could feel the seriousness settle over the room as the door swung shut behind her, and sobered, remembering the danger Qui-Gon had experienced on Tatooine. A sith. She thought to herself, and shuddered at the implications of such a thing.