Rey and Ren exited after dinner and headed back to their apartment; it was late and they only passed one patrol on the way. Ren felt she was pensive about the Nightsister and their trip tomorrow; their steps in the ship's corridors was the only sound.

They entered their apartments and before Rey took another step he wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and rested her head on his arm. "Ren, you knew that the Darkside would affect you that way?" He knew what she meant, her horrified face at the Nightsisters skin and cause said it all.

"Not at first, no. But I saw some signs with myself and looked up the few pieces of information Snoke had regarding prior Dark Side users... For me, I noticed my skin becoming much paler. More than what was to be expected with me fully clothed. Snoke confirmed that this happens, and in extreme cases of anger or when the Dark Side is very strong, the pupils can become red or yellow..." He admitted he may have said too much but, it was the truth. He turned her to face him.

Her eyes weren't fearful surprisingly, but they searched his. "I wouldn't want something, to control and affect me that way. Control me mentally and physically." and she said more quietly "And yet the temptation lingers. I don't feel it now but it's waiting in the depths..."

He caressed her cheek with his thumb. "The Dark Side, you sacrifice everything for that power. No matter what happens. Its for selfish reasons. If you think of it that way, you can see that making sense for some. It made sense for me for a long time. We can overcome it Rey, you and I." He held her close. He had to make sure she never fell. She was everything to him.

She relaxed in his embrace and he leaned down and kissed her neck. Rey's body shifted in his hands and her mouth found his. She tasted faintly of her last sips of the sweet white wine. She started to remove his shirt and his hands eagerly helped in removing it, his heart and breath quickening. She placed her hands on his waist and moved him so that he ended up lying on the bed facing her. Ren watched as she disrobed, leaving only her undergarments on and crawled next to him. His hand traveled across her figure, her small hips to her breast that he enjoyed cupping in his hand, her skin soft and warm. Her hand rested on his arm. They stared into each other's eyes.

"I love you." He said to her. He had said it the prior night, but liked how it sounded in his mind, hearing his voice say it to her. He shifted to his side and twisted a loose strand of her hair in his hand.

"I know. I love you too." she murmured into his neck, and started to kiss him. Her breath and lips were warm on his skin. He closed his eyes, enjoying her attention. Her body pressed next to his, and his body responded. He wanted her every night, to feel her in his arms, pleasing her. Her small hands joined his and removed his shorts, and she touched him the way he taught her to. He moaned softly as they kissed passionately. After a few minutes, she pulled back slightly and looked at him. "We won't be able to lay like this while we're on Dathomir..."

"No, we won't, will we?" He said aggressively in a low voice. He grinned at her and positioned himself on top of her, removing her bottom. Rey's cheeks turned pink for a moment, but she wrapped her arm around his back, and the other grabbed behind his head and forced him to kiss her. Her lips were hungry for his. Ren felt himself relax and enjoy this with her. Tomorrow they would have to be ready for anything.

I

They awoke the next morning, packed their belongings to take with them to Dathomir, and headed to the Falcon after their mid day meal. Chewie would be coming with them, and Rey went to assist him in repairing the shields. Ren watched them passively when Luke arrived. Instead of the normal long robes he normally wore, he wore a black collared shirt, black pants tucked into black boots, and his lightaber holstered to his belt. He set his pack down and looked at Ren with his blue eyes.

"Before we leave, I would like to review their culture with the both of you..." Luke started.

"I'm listening Luke." Rey said. She was handing Chewie tools while holding some wires out of the way.

"Very well. Ren, you and I may not get the warmest welcome. And we may have a rocky welcome anyway. They are wary of strangers, and especially of non-natives of Dathomir. You and I will not be permitted to speak unless spoken to, and the chance of that happening will be very rare. The matriarchal clans of Dathomir... are protected and run by females only. Men... are not equals in their society." Luke took a deep breath and continued "They used for breeding and serving the women."

Ren couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was an extreme form of matriarchy, for their males to be treated this way. "Then how did you talk to them so long ago?" he asked incredulously.

"The matron Euouae, or clan mother, of the Eupha Rivers clan met me once I was taken captive. She realized I was a Jedi and allowed me to speak and we discussed my desire to rebuild the Jedi Order. She politely declined and I was free to leave."

"And you're hoping she is still alive."

"I am." Luke said simply.

"If she is not, then will we be taken captive? What is your plan for this?" Ren was feeling frustrated with this plan, he wouldn't be in a position to protect Rey. The tone of his voice reflected that.

"Rey will have to petition to see the clan matron on behalf of us. Ren, remember they are Force users and follow the Light Side. While they may not provide a welcome we are used to, it is against their nature to kill without being provoked. That being said, you must reign your temper. They will treat you second to any female. If you do act out, they may suspect your Dark Side leanings, which as you could imagine jeopardize all of us..."Luke trailed off.

Ren felt he was being confined on the trip, and he felt his anger grow within him.

Rey gave the cables back to Chewie, apparently they were done, and walked to where Ren sat. She had a determined look in her eyes. "I will be your voice and we will find out anything we need to know." Luke nodded and reviewed the questions she should ask, and other cultural differences they had.

Ren had calmed down some when his mother arrived later to wish them off, flanked by Poe and Finn.

"We'll let you know what we find on the R2 unit." Leia said solemnly. She gave the three of them hugs and stood back, allowing for Poe and Finn to say their farewells.

The Falcon left the hangar, and headed for Dathomir.

Luke stood behind Rey as they descended into the atmosphere. "These are roughly the coordinates from when I was here before. The clans are for the most part stationary, although it wouldn't be out of the question for them to migrate..." Chewie input them the system and they drew close. The planet was diverse, with sprawling woodlands and plains, and further on there were mountain ranges. They landed the Falcon near the edge of a forest, and exited. It was early afternoon on the planet, although the sun was obscured by a layer of clouds.

"Chewie, will you stay here with the Falcon? Once we've made contact we'll come back. I am not sure how amiable they would be with technology..." Luke requested. Chewie whined, he would stay.

Luke lead the way with Ren and Rey following, packs securely fastened to their backs. Rey noticed Ren's tension in his stride and the way he held himself. He was quiet the whole way to Dathomir. She was nervous as well, she may have to be the one to speak to the clan mother if Luke's acquaintance was deceased. The way ahead of them was mostly flat land with rolling green grasses as high as her chest, she could see for leagues. A mountain range rose up from the far north, the peaks white with snow. The climate was temperate, although Rey wouldn't have minded if it was warmer.

"You think they're going to find us Luke?" Ren asked. He wore black pants and a grey long sleeved shirt, with his black cape. It flapped in the breeze.

"Absolutely. They have patrols. Since they are tribal, it is not uncommon for them to raid other clans, or be raided. They will take livestock and capture men as well."

Ren said nothing for sometime. "Luke, I'm not feeling comfortable with this."

Luke stopped and turned to them "Ren, if you are to become a Jedi, you will need to have experience with different cultures, and also feeling uncomfortable at times. You have to overcome your doubts. We will either be able to obtain the information we seek, or Rey will have to petition on behalf of us, or we'll go home. " Luke's piercing blue eyes were locked on to Ren's, and Rey got the impression he wanted to say more. After a few moments Ren's face flushed and he broke eye contact.

"You're right. Let's go." he said defeated.

Luke turned and continued. Rey felt that Ren's conflict was stronger of late, and wasn't sure how to respond or help him overcome it. She turned her eyes to the horizon to see if anyone was approaching.

The grasses rustled with the wind and soon they approached a river. It was wide and deep, the water clear. A scattering of trees and large bushes were more present near the water, and the grasses had thinned. Rocks layered the river bottom and the banks were pebbled with small stones and mud. "This is the Eupha River. We're getting close." Luke informed them.

They had barely followed the river for fifteen minutes when a woman stepped from behind a bush. Her hide armor, braided black hair and spear named her one of the clanswomen. Her skin was olive toned, and eyes hazel. There were no markings on her face like the Nightsister to Rey's relief. Her skin prickled and she looked behind her. More women were appearing from further away, all in hide armors of different colors. Two rode on huge beasts, Rey had never seen an animal like this before. They had a triangle shaped head with scaley brown and green skin, the eyes large and black. Their feet had three toes each and the monster also had short thick tail that stretched behind it.

Luke stood there, patiently, while Ren's body was tense. Rey walked ahead of Luke and spoke slowly and clearly "Hello. We are here to see the clan mother Euouae. I am Rey, and with me is Luke Skywalker and Ren. We mean no harm."

The leader said nothing and motioned with her hand, her first two fingers pointing to them. Rey turned, and four armed women walked up to Luke and Ren. Before she could say anything they used their staves to knock down and bludgeon Ren and Luke's stomachs and legs, causing them to fall over on their knees. Luke shouted, and she knew he'd be punished for it "Ren stay calm!", and immediately he received another blow to the side of his ribs. Luke groaned but stayed on his knees. Ren was trembling with anger, he was looking down to the ground on his knees.

"Stop! We're here peacefully to meet with your clan mother!" Rey yelled, and went to Ren, kneeling in front of him. She put her hands on his face to calm him, and saw that the woman next to him was going to hit him. Rey could stand this no longer, she had to protect her friends. She Force Pushed her, and clanswomen went flying into the river water. In the woman's surprise, she had dropped her spear and it laid a few feet away. Rey compelled it to come to her with the Force and stood up, the spear in her hands. A darker yearning within her started to awaken.

Rey rotated looking at the women, she would Push any away who would try to hurt Ren or Luke. She was fighting at remaining calm, Pushing them wouldn't kill them and her only intent was to defend. Rey's eyes met the leader again. She herself had a spear and was standing to challenge Rey. Rey felt with the Force, none of the others were making a move. Rey was determined to disarm this woman and leave.

The woman lunged and Rey parried. The staff and spear were similar, but the foot long sharpened metal point made all the difference in how it was used. The woman was fast, but the Force helped Rey evade and counter with her unfamiliarity with the spear. Rey could feel the sweat form on her back, her chest, and she breathed heavily. She made the decision to treat the spear as a staff instead, and felt the Force flow through her. She closed the distance between her and the raven haired woman. The spear was better for piercing, however when the distance was shorter, this clanswoman would have to choke up on the grip or treat her spear like a staff. Hopefully the latter Rey thought... Rey felt confident in her abilities. Rey's wish proved true and the leader had to change her stance. Rey rushed her, hitting her wrist and knocking her out from under her feet. The tip of Rey's spear hovered above the leaders neck, and Rey saw in her mind's eye Sicarii a brief second. The monster within her clawed for control. Rey threw the staff down and stepped back, more so to distance herself from the weapon and the Dark Side. The leader, looked in shock at Rey's abandonment of the spear.

Rey was about to demand they release them when they started to murmur in some chant. Their leader stood up, and called the spear to her hand. She was a Force user as well. Rey couldn't hide her surprise.

"You can come with us to see our Mother. We had to make sure you weren't tainted." She spoke in a raspy low voice, full of authority. She continued "The males are to be bound until it is decided what is to be done."