Anakin decided that sand was no longer the worst substance ever to be devised. At least sand wasn't cold and didn't freeze a part of your skin whenever it hit exposed flesh. The snow here was like a living creature, a cruel furious one of untold evil. On top of that there was the wind. the wind wasn't like that from Tatooine when it was hot and dry. Here it chilled straight through the skin and down into the muscle until it hit the bone. At least that's how it felt.

But even with that one thought never left Anakin's mind. Padmé. She was in a strange kingdom, all alone, maybe even dying. He had to stop his train of thought right there. The image of the one person in this galaxy he loved more than life itself dying in the arms of another man,m one better than he was, was just too much for his imind to process anymore. His heart could only break into so many pieces before it was nothing.

He pulled the cloak tighter around his neck. It was next to nothing against the wintery elements out here, but it was the best that he had. He managed to salvage it from the palace before he had slipped out. The palace. Anakin stopped and looked back again. He was sure that it was only a matter of time before the queen and her men were out after him. He hadn't known Aurora long, but he knew enough to know that she wa smuch wiser than the rest of the galaxy, near impossible to trick.

Even with all ehr wisdom, there were some things that he knew the queen could never understand. She would never understand why he had to do what he was going for. She would never know how much the love was rooted in his heart, to deep to be yanked out by anyone else. Not even by such a woman as she was.

Anakin tried to get an image of the upcoming pass through the beads of snow. It was near blinding, but he could barely make o ut the ominious forebearing looking structure up ahead. It was dark defined only by jagged rocks. But once he made it through there it was only a matter of going down through the snow to reach the kingdom below he knew.

Simple, he thought. Go through, get down, and don't die in the process. It would all be so easy if it wasn't for that last part.

"Stop denying it! We all know that you did something to her! Tell us what!"

Caci and Alejandro stood outside Padmé's room going back and forth in the same argument. The wolf rey clenched his fists tighter each time he heard the accusations.

"I thought you Jedi were fairer than that! Not so blinded to pride and biased like the rest of the galaxy. I see how wrong I was now."

"This isn't about our pride! And I'm not biased. But I think that we all know that you were more than interested in our Senator. You would have done a lot to make her your own."

"Which gives you all the more reason to see why I would never go out of my way to harm her! In any event, shall we not note that she was perfectly well until you showed up and conflicted her as such?"
Jesse saw Caci's eyes flash. He didn't want to see her make a huge mistake now of all times. Finally he broke from his place watching the two go back and forth. He took a few steps and stood next to Caci.

"Your Highness, please. Dr. Lane is as fine a Jedi as I've ever seen. The Republic has a duty to protect it's own such as Senator Amidala. This world is strange to all of us. If you've given her anything, or changed a thing, with or without intention. We have to know."

Alejandro looked at the two strangers critically. His people had lived not trusting the galaxy for centuries. Why start now?

"Please," Caci said, her tone returning to normal now. "We all want what's best for Padmé. None of us can afford to lose her."

For a moment she almost felt hope. It seemed that the wolf rey was actually listening, considering them. Suddenly without warning he turned and walked around them. He closed the door as he crept into Padmé's room.

He looked at her lying in bed like that. So pale, so still. So near lifeless. He pulled up a chair next to her bed and took her hand, pressing it to his face.

"Oh mi flor. What do we do now?"

"That's it Jesse! I'm calling for backup!"

"No Caci, you're not."

Caci was pacing back and forth now. Her anger was reaching its boiling point, and Jesse knew it. The last thing any of them needed was another battle on their hands.

"They're strange creatures, they need time. You know, they're uh, delicate."

She paused and looked at him with a raised brow. "You're using common sense? Wow, that's a first."

"He might come around, we'll see. Besides you had her stabelized."

"I'm afraid taht won't be enough anymore."

Suddenly Caci found herself walking over to the window. She stared out into the swirling storm and gasped.

"Caci? Caci what is it."
"No, it-it can't be. Is it? Anakin?"

Jesse shook her shoulder harshly. "Caci! Snap out of it!"

"Jesse I know it sounds crazy but we need to get out there, now!"

"We do? Why - "

Caci picked up his coat off the chair and threw it at his face,. "Come on! We need to! Follow me!"

Jesse groaned as he stuffed his arms into the sleeves. He questioned many times and perhaps now more than ever, why he had agreed to stay working with Jedi.

Caci didn't break her gait until they came to near the base of the mountains. Evidence of a massive avalanche was everywhere. This had to be the right place.

"Anakin! Anakin!"

Jesse finally caught up with her. He was panting like a thirsty dog. "C-caci? Are you-you sure everything is-is alright?"

"Jesse he's here! Dead or alive I'm not sure but Anakin's here I know it!"
Jesse groaned. It seemed he was always looking for his friend when he least wanted it. "You're sure?"
But Caci didn't listen to him. She was calling and looking as if her life depended on it. Jesse sighed and leaned up against the trunk of the nearest tree. That's when the figure approached him. It was hard to make out in the snow. And it moved all wrong, more or less limped.

"Uh...Caci? Caci!" Not waiting for an answer Jesse drew his blaster. "Who are you!"

He took a few steps closer to examine the creature. He gasped when he saw. "Anakin!"

Anakin shook the snow from his hair before nodding yes.

"What happened to, oh geez don't answer that. How is your leg even still attached? Oh and - "

"Anakin!" Caci came running down from somewhere. Anakin didn't think he'd ever feel so relieved to see her face like that.

"What are you doing out here? How - "

Anakin shook his head and gestured onwards. Jesse looked in the direction and understood.

"He's right Case. We need to get back."

Caci looked him over with her medically trained eye and shook her head. "That doesn't look good. I can't have him walking like that."

Anakin rolled his eyes and pushed past her and Jesse both. His heart had never left his angel's side and he had enough delays.

"Anakin please!" Caci called after him but he ignored her.

"Now what?"

Caci sighed. Keep up with him I guess. We need to get back there."

"If the rey doesn't kill us first."

"Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of that detail."

Alejandro jumped up as the door burst open to Padmé's chamber. He frowned to see his own guard standing there. "What now?"
"Your highness, the Jedi have returned."

"I didn't know she was gone to begin with."

"No, I mean she is returning, with the shifter. We have sighted them and they are approaching."

Alejandro stood up and pushed back the chair. "I knew Jedi were fools but to think they'd be so bold!"

But suddenly all his anger was stopped by a weak sleepy voice coming from behind.

"Anakin...Ani...my Jedi..."