a.n. I actually surprised myself and got another chapter of this story done. I wasn't going to work on it for awhile because I am busy with another story, but this idea popped into my head yesterday and I thought it was a good way to write the chapter. It is very different than what I had started before, but I like it better. Enjoy, read, and review!

Youth

The dark haired boy ran tirelessly through the dense underbrush of the jungle, hoping to evade his pursuers. They were close behind him, hot on his trail, and the gap between him and them was slowly decreasing. He reached deeply into the Force for more strength and his step quickened. His lead increased and the sounds of those following him gradually died away, but he knew it wouldn't be long before they too picked up their pace and caught up with him.

A tall tree caught his attention. Heavily laden with leaves, vines, and branches, it was the perfect spot for him to hide. Once again, using the Force to boost his speed, he took a giant leap and landed on one of the tree's many limbs. Frantically scrambling to find more cover, he hid himself amongst a mess of leaves, hanging vines and twisting branches. Stilling his rapid heartbeat and slowing his quick, deep breathing, he surrounded himself in the Force, concealing his presence from those he knew were searching for him. He quietly sat and waited for them to appear.

Presently, those he was waiting for came into view and he watched as they came to the base of the tree he was hiding in. He gathered himself in, further concealing himself in the Force and hoping to seem smaller and out of view to the figures below.

There were two of them, both humans, one a male and the other a female. From his vantage point, he could see they had the same coloring, both with light skin, obviously tanned from many hours spent in the sun. The two of them had chestnut hair and were very similar in height, though the male seemed to be a bit taller. He watched as they meticulously scanned the area, unable to sense him through the Force, but somehow knowing he was there. Several times, twin pairs of brown eyes focused intently on his hiding spot, trying to get him to show himself to them. He could almost feel their eyes boring into him, and he nearly gave in until he re-centered himself in the Force and calmed his mind.

After a few minutes without turning up anything, the two left and headed away from him, back the way they had come. He waited silently for a few minutes, trying to gauge whether or not the two were still within his general vicinity. When he determined that they were nowhere nearby, he allowed himself to relax his hold on the Force and he began his descent down.

Once back on solid ground, he took a quick look around him, using the Force to see if he could sense the two figures that had been following him. Not finding anything, he cautiously, and warily, began his trek back.

Though the brush was thick and hard to pass through, his innate sense of direction, refined by his Force abilities, allowed him to clearly know exactly where he was heading. He allowed himself to absorb the sights and sounds around. The jungle life was rich around him and he was determined to enjoy it as he made his way back.

Suddenly, two figures pounced on him out of the bushes, tackling him to the ground. Limbs tangled together as the three bodies struggled and rolled together on the leafy ground. Shrieks of surprise and merriment rang out as they came to a stop and began disentangling themselves from one another. The three of them sat up, clothes mussed and dirty, and leaves in their hair, but laughing heartily. The dark haired boy sat in between the other two, laughing with them, though with some semblance of disappointment was etched across his face. The girl ruffled his hair affectionately as the other boy gave him a friendly slap on the back.

"You gave us quite a good chase, Anakin."

"Yeah. Jace and I had trouble finding you this time. You're getting real good at shielding yourself, little brother."

Anakin's mood lightened some at his siblings' remarks. It was a game he enjoyed playing with his brother and sister. Playing hide-and-seek while practicing their Force techniques had always been a favorite the three of them liked to play, ever since they were young. Running throughout their Coruscant apartment, finding the smallest crevices in which to hide, annoying Threepio with their playful antics, and sometimes drawing the ire of their mother, though their father often laughed and encouraged them behind her back. Those were memories of days long gone by, days that seemed so far away to them, now that they had joined their Uncle Luke's Jedi Academy. Being trained as Jedi was an arduous task, one they didn't take lightly. They had faced many obstacles in their childhood, from kidnappings and assassinations, to the loss of friends and near-death experiences. All had given the three of them a harsh dose of reality early on and they grew up knowing what a harsh place the galaxy was. They appreciated all the times they were able to be together and enjoy themselves like this, as they had done in their younger, more innocent years.

Anakin looked at the happy, laughing faces of his siblings. His sister, Jaina, the oldest. She was always the stubborn one, the one who refused to give up, to give in, under even the direst of circumstances. His brother, Jacen, the younger twin. He was the practical, compassionate one, always searching for answers, able to sense the emotions of other sentient beings. Anakin himself was the youngest, the quiet one, the one who solved the most extreme problems, the one who wanted to help everyone and fix everything. As a team, the three of them overcame the obstacles that stood in their way as they struggled to maintain some semblance of peace and security in their often-chaotic lives.

The trio's laughter gradually died down until they were left sitting together in silence, with only the peaceful sounds of the jungle surrounding. They noticed the sun dipping below the horizon and knew that it was time for them to be heading back.

"The sun is beginning to set," Jaina noted, "I guess we should start heading back to the Academy."

"Yeah, we don't wanna make Uncle Luke and Mom and Dad have to come look for us, do we?" Jacen questioned, "If we don't get back soon, we might get that look from Mom."

The siblings all shared a shiver as they thought of the look they would be inflicted with by their mother if she had to come out looking for them. They had been at the receiving end of that look and the accompanying lecture many times, and none of them wished to receive it again.

Together, the three of them rose off of the ground and began the walk back through the jungle to the ancient Massassi temples that housed the Jedi Academy, laughing together and enjoying each other's company.

A silent figure watched the three of them plod through the trees, noting their laughing voices and happy statures. A small, sad smile formed as the figure watched the young boy with the dark hair.

Enjoy your time together with your family, young Anakin, for soon it will become a precious commodity. Be wary, young child. Your day of reckoning is drawing near. Soon enough, the galaxy will become shrouded in shadow. Darkness and light will be hard to distinguish and an unseen enemy will make itself known. I will help lead you through the dark days ahead, though it is you who will have a heavy burden to bear. You will soon come face-to-face with your destiny and you must be ready for it. But do not fear just yet, for you still have time. Enjoy yourself and enjoy everything around you as you prepare for the rough journey ahead.

Jaina and Jacen passed by him as Anakin slowed down to look behind him. A strange feeling had overcome him, a feeling of familiarity had brushed across his consciousness and he felt compelled to glance behind him. His eyes scanned the dark silhouettes of the trees, looking for whatever it was that had caused that feeling. Finding nothing, he turned around and trotted to catch up with his brother and sister ahead of him and they resumed their trek.