'ello, peoples of the earth!
So, good news - if this was any other week, I would've updated tomorrow. However, there is a chance that I may not have wifi tomorrow because I'm going to be doing fun stuff with my youth group. Therefore, you get an early update! :)
Thanks to katierosefun, Zenkid100, CaylithTheGolden, Lux's Sister, and Hands of Destiny for your kind reviews. I now present the third chapter of Style - hope y'all enjoy! :)
When Kira came to, the first thing she noticed was that she was lying on something not soft, but not coarse, either. The second thing she noticed was that her entire body ached all over. The third thing she noticed was that someone was humming softly next to her.
For a moment, Kira thought she was back on Zygerria in Atai's palace, stuck as a slave that would never be free, and her mother was the one caring for her. "Mama, I'm alright," she murmured, squeezing the hand that was holding hers.
"Kira?"
That was not Kira's mother's voice.
Slowly, Kira's memory returned to her, and she opened her eyes to find Caleb kneeling next to her, dabbing a cool liquid onto her forehead with a rag. She squinted when some drops of the liquid fell into her eyes. "Caleb?" she asked, voice hoarse from disuse.
"Shh," Caleb said. He removed the rag he was using from her forehead. "Rest for a minute, would you? You don't have to be up and running all the time."
"What happened?" Kira asked. She struggled to sit up.
Caleb placed a hand on the small of Kira's back and helped her into a sitting position. "The crash knocked you out," he told her. "We were really worried about you. We thought you had joined the Force for a minute there."
Kira laughed bitterly. "It's gonna take a lot more than a shuttle crash to put me in the ground," she claimed.
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "I don't doubt it," he said quietly. He looked like he was going to say more, but instead he suddenly threw his arms around Kira and hugged her, gently so he wouldn't aggravate any sore areas. "I'm glad you're okay."
Typically Kira would've pushed Caleb away, but this time she sagged into his embrace and put her arms around him, too. "I'm fine, Caleb," she promised, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine."
"I know. I was terrified you wouldn't be."
Eventually the hug lasted a little too long for Kira's liking, and she removed her arms. Caleb took the hint and let go of her, sitting back on his heels. "Where's Master Billaba?" Kira asked, having not seen the Master.
"She's trying to find something edible," Caleb explained. "We found water, obviously," he said, gesturing to the rag he'd been using and a small canteen filled with water, "but it looks like we'll be stuck for a while." His expression was grim. "All our communications were destroyed."
"Were there any other survivors?"
"No. It's just us."
Kira sighed sadly. "What else did you find out about this planet? I've never heard of it before."
"That would make sense, since it's uncharted territory," Caleb joked. "Well, it's a jungle planet, so we have plenty of shelter. My guess is that our real worry is the food we find and the animals we may come across."
"Any sign of other sentinents?" Kira's head was killing her.
Caleb shook his head. "Not yet."
A rustling sound came from nearby foliage, and the Padawans' senses immediately went on high alert. Caleb reached for his lightsaber in case the intruder turned out to be unfriendly, and Kira checked to see if hers was still attached to her belt. It was, to her relief.
The greenery on Kira's right rustled some more, and Depa emerged from the jungle depths. "I found some berries," she said tiredly, "but I'm afraid to risk eating them. Is Kira awake yet?"
"Reporting for duty, Master Billaba," Kira joked, grinning.
Depa's head whipped around to face Kira. She smiled softly as she approached the two Padawans; however, Kira could sense the Master's excitement that she was all right. "Dear, it does my heart good to see you awake," Depa said, kneeling beside Caleb. "I assume Caleb has explained our current situation to you?"
"He has, Master," Kira replied, stealing a glance at Caleb.
Depa nodded. "Then I presume that you understand our predicament. However, I do have some good news." She glanced from one Padawan to the other. "When I was on my way back, I saw some smoke on the horizon. It wasn't much, but it's a lead."
"That is good news," Kira commented.
Caleb peered up towards the sky. "Where'd you see it, Master?"
Depa's dark eyes twinkled. "Are you calling me a liar, my young apprentice?"
"No!" Kira had to laugh at the indignant, exasperated expression on Caleb's face. He continued, "I simply wanted to find out if we could keep it in sight so we have a reference."
"You can't see it over the tops of the trees, Caleb," Depa said knowingly. "The only reason I could see it is because the foliage on the other side of the river isn't as tall or as dense as it is on this side - and that's where I saw the smoke."
"You're telling me," Caleb said slowly, an eyebrow raised, "that we're going to have to walk who knows how far and ford a river on top of that? With Kira injured? Who knows what could be out there?"
"I'm not injured, Caleb," Kira protested. "Besides, even if I was, I'd rather find a way to cross a river than sit around and wait for someone to start looking for us. How are we going to call for help if we can't find a way to transmit a message to the Fist?"
Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He shut his mouth in defeat.
"Thought so," Depa said. She turned to Kira. "Do you think you can walk?"
Kira nodded. "I believe so."
"Alright. Caleb, perhaps you will collect our supplies and walk with Kira, just in case something happens? I'll scout ahead and find the least troublesome route for us to take."
Kira didn't feel like arguing that she was perfectly fine and didn't need an escort, and Caleb seemed rather happy with this arrangement. So Depa went on ahead while Caleb and Kira gathered up their supplies and used Caleb's robe to bundle it up. (Kira had offered her own robe, but Caleb claimed that he had another one back at the Temple. She wasn't sure if he was lying or not, but she did agree that he most likely wouldn't need it on this hot and humid planet.)
By that time, Depa returned with news of a clear route. The three set off, Depa walking ahead and the two Padawans a little ways behind her. The walk was quiet except for the sounds of their footsteps against the jungle floor.
After a little while, the trio came upon the river Depa had mentioned. Sure enough, Kira could see the smoke rising above the trees on the opposite bank. The sight lifted her spirits immensely, for if they could see the smoke at their current position, civilization wasn't too far away.
Caleb was still skeptical. "Did you happen to find a good place to cross, Master?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, I did." Depa gestured for Caleb to hand her the bundle of supplies, which he did. "The river itself is about the same width in this area, but I did find somewhere shallow to cross. The current is rather strong there, however."
Caleb glanced sideways at Kira. "Think you're up for that, Kiki?"
Kira groaned. "For the last time, stop calling me that! And also, stop treating me like a china doll that will shatter if you drop it. I'm fine."
Caleb shrugged. "Okay," he said, though he didn't sound convinced.
"Then let's get going, shall we?" Depa said, hoisting the bundle under her arm. "I'll go first."
"Be careful, Master," Caleb replied. Kira saw concern in his eyes, which, she noticed, had little green flecks in the sea of cerulean.
How come I've never noticed that before?
Kira shook that thought away from her mind and kept her eyes on Depa as she stepped into the water. Holding the bundle on top of her head, she made her way into the middle of the river. The water reached Depa's chest there, and it splashed upwards into her face as she struggled against the current.
Kira hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until Depa safely reached the opposite bank, soaking wet but otherwise unaffected. She called to the Padawans, "You're going to have to swim a little. Be careful when you reach the center!"
"We will!" Caleb called back. To Kira, he spoke less loudly. "I think you should go first. I'll be right behind you."
"What if the current carries you away?" Kira asked. Despite what she had said earlier, she truly didn't want Caleb to fall into danger.
"It won't."
"Pride goes before a fall, Caleb." Before he could respond, Kira slipped into the river.
Caleb dove into the water after Kira, who was taking her time and attempting to keep her balance in the current that was stronger than she had originally thought. The water was extremely chilly as well, and Kira was having trouble catching her breath now that she had waded in up to her chest.
Finally Caleb had had enough. "Move it along, would you? I don't want to get a cold later," he grumbled.
Kira didn't dignify the remark with an answer. However, she didn't deny herself the secret pleasure of inwardly fuming. It was so hard to deal with Caleb when he switched from a joking, caring friend to an arrogant grumbling menace that she put up with for reasons unknown.
Caleb confused her, and Kira didn't like such confusing puzzles.
So lost was Kira in her thoughts that she wouldn't have noticed that she had reached the middle of the river had it not been for the incessant tugging on her waist, fighting to knock her off balance. The ground underneath her suddenly fell out from under her feet, and she slipped with a gasp and lost her footing.
Kira found herself being dumped head over heels, carried away from the shore by the current. Struggling for air, she flailed in the water and held out her hands, hoping to find something to hold on to until she could steady herself.
Something clamped onto Kira's wrist and pulled her up and out of the water. She began to cough up the water she'd ingested, clinging to whatever it was that had saved her.
"Hang on. I've got you," Caleb said, holding tightly to Kira's wrist as she choked. She couldn't answer and continued coughing and sputtering all the way to the shore, where Depa met the Padawans with a concerned expression on her face. She and Caleb patted Kira's back to help expel the water.
When finally Kira stopped coughing, Depa draped her robe around Kira's shoulders to keep her warm. "What happened out there, Padawan?" she asked.
"I slipped..." Kira sputtered, another cough sneaking between her words. "I think the river bottom sloped and made me lose my footing."
"The bottom does have a steep slope," Depa said, looking apologetic. "I should've warned you both about it. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Master Billaba," Kira reassured the Master. "I should've been more careful."
"I suppose." Depa looked up at the sky, which was beginning to grow darker as the planet's sun set. "Perhaps now would be a good time to stop and make camp. We'll find some shelter, and I'll find some firewood while you two stay with our supplies. Does that plan sound agreeable?"
The Padawans nodded in reply, and the trio started off again. When Kira looked down, she realized that Caleb hadn't released her wrist. She pointed this out to him. "Caleb, you can let go now," she said softly so Depa wouldn't overhear.
Caleb only gripped her wrist tighter. "I don't think that's a good idea," he teased. "What was that you were saying about not needing any help?"
Kira bit her lip to hold her tongue. "Shut up," she muttered, patience running thin. Caleb just grinned.
A little more Caleb and Kira interaction for certain people I know. ;)
Kira: *shouting* CALEB! Where's my cloak!?
Caleb: *shouting back* I don't know!
Me: *facepalm* This is what happens when I bring two teenagers on a youth retreat thing. Oh, congratulations to Lux's Sister for guessing the song title! (Technically, katierosefun got it because she continued the lyrics, but she never named the song.) So here's your cookie, girly: (::) Hope you like chocolate chip!
Kira: Oh, please. Everybody likes chocolate chip cookies.
Me: Go finish packing. We need to leave in ... *checks time* less than an hour.
Kira: But I wanted to pick a song!
Me: Then pick the blasted song!
Kira: *presses button on tablet*
Tablet: I'll be right here now, to hold you when the sky falls down, I will always be the one that took your place ...
Me: One more thing. I've been trying to come up with a name for Kira's series, and I was thinking that maybe you, the readers, could help me. So, if you would like to help out, you can click on the link to my profile and take the poll there. I'm at my wit's end concerning this!
Kira: *peeks in* More self-advertising?
Me: Kira, your turn to do the review notice!
Kira: But I can't find my pillow!
Caleb: *peeks in* Where's MY pillow?
Kira: Well, you're holding mine. -_-
Me: *groans* Stop procrastinating and give the review notice!
Kira: *huffs* Review if you liked it, hated it, or wanted to light it up and watch it burn. Now give me back my pillow!
Caleb: Not until I find mine!
Kira: ARGH! Get back here!
Caleb: Oh, karabast. *runs*
Kira: What does that even mean!? *chases Caleb*
Me: *sighs* May the Force be with you always, readers. Now to find Caleb's pillow. -_-
Caleb: *from hall* PILLOW FIGHT!
Kira: BLAST!
*thump thump thump*
Kira: OW!
Me: Aaaaaand they found it. *facepalm* See y'all later, guys.