Ren felt the Dark Side strongly inside him after he fell to his knees, he wanted to strike at these wild women. The blow to his stomach winded him and he gasped for air. He knew this was going to happen! Rey was unharmed, but for how long? She panicked, begging for these woman to stop. Ren squeezed the dirt between his hands in an effort to control his temper and felt Rey touch his face. He couldn't protect her, or he'd ruin their mission. How long could he wait until it was ruined by these savages attack on them? Decisively, Ren concluded he would destroy them if he had to, and the Dark Side anticipated the battle eagerly.
To Ren's amazement, Rey Pushed the woman near him back and Pulled the abandoned spear to her. Rey looked around to their adversaries, her face serious. The leader started to advance on her, the spear held ready to attack. Rey faced the leader again, and they engaged. Ren watched in turmoil, silent prayers that Rey could beat her, whereas the Dark Side wanted to attack. Rey started to gauge her appointment, and changed her stance. Ren saw the leader's mistake as she tried to compensate for Rey's change of strategy, and Rey disarmed her.
Rey staff hovered over the leaders throat. The memory of Sicarii flashed into his head, and his heart raced in panic, but Rey threw down her spear. What surprised Ren more is when the leader called the spear to her hand. She was Force sensitive!
The leader dictated for Luke and him to be bound. Ren clenched his teeth. Rey ran to him and pulled his face to look into hers as he knelt. She was worried about him, her eyes full of concern. "Ren. I'm here. We can do this." she pleaded. Ren's anger started to ebb with her touch. Luke already had his hands out and they were being bound with rope. He put his hands in front of him and one of the clanswomen started to bind his. He and Rey kept their eyes locked on each other, it strengthened his resolve to go through this farce. He said nothing, he wasn't sure if any word would get him the same punishment Luke received. They removed Luke's and Ren's lightsabers and packs, but allowed Rey to keep hers.
Luke and Ren were forced to ride on the giant lizards, lead by a clanswoman. The saddles were no more than a rough blanket draped over its back. Rey walked next to Ren and looked straight ahead, and occasionally looked up at him. Her eyes held encouragement, and her love for him. As frustrated as he was... he was content to know she was close and unharmed. Two of the clanswoman turned back, and started to follow the path they came, back to the Falcon. If they treated Chewie the way they treated Ren and Luke, they may not make it out alive.
They must have walked for almost two hours following the river. It remained overcast as they passed the grasslands, sparse trees and bushes along the river's edge. The lizard's slow gait was uncomfortable and Ren was beginning to feel sore. He would be able to get off soon he hoped, a settlement had appeared a league back and they were just now entering the boundary. This clan lived in low domes, covered in tanned lizard skins if he had to guess. Most were small or medium sized, although there was a larger one that they were being lead to. In between each domed dwelling, a small garden had various vegetables growing. Three-horned tawny goats and brown hairy nerfs were being herded by the men outside of the settlement. Inside they were doing various chores cleaning, cooking, tanning skins or teaching young boys to do the same. The men were dressed minimally, with just cloth wrapped around their waist that hung to their knees. Woman on patrol with spears or staves walked by and studied the non-natives before moving on. The women walked with a deadly grace, ready to strike; all of them wore the hide armor. Young girls practiced fighting nearby with older women overseeing them. Rey was taking it all in, her head pivoting as they walked along.
They stopped in front of the large dome, and Luke and Ren were able to finally dismount from the lizards. Two female guards stood outside. The black haired leader who brought them whispered to the sentries, then ducked inside through split flaps. The lizards were taken away, and the rest of their escort dissolved to the rest of the settlement. Luke was alert, waiting patiently, and Rey was looking at everything. A few moments later, the leader came back. "Our clan mother will see you now" and lifted the flap for them to enter.
Rey went first, followed by Luke and Ren. It was dark inside, and a smoke hole provided some light, however there were braziers lit every few feet. There was no smokey smell, some sort of herbs were added to the braziers to perfume the air. There were carpets upon the ground, and ahead one woman sat on several hide cushions, and two others flanked her holding spears, standing. They said nothing while watching their procession. The sitting woman had mostly dark brown hair, with few strands of grey, in a multitude of braids that hung to her shoulders. She also was adorned in the hide armor, and for some reason reminded Ren of his mother, she commanded authority. The raven haired escort from before walked next to Rey, and before they reached the sitting woman she put her arm out and stopped them. Luke had explained to them how to kneel on the ship, and they copied the stance. The knees were tucked under the body on the ground, and they basically were sitting on their feet. The three of them leaned forward as Luke instructed to do. It was painful sitting this way, Ren's muscles burned.
Ren's face was looking down, when a melodious, but stern, voice spoke "You may speak young woman." Ren kept his face down, and looked out of the corner of his eye. Luke was doing the same.
Rey spoke calmly "We are here to meet with the clan mother Euouae or her successor. My name is Rey, and with me is my mentor Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, and his other student Ren. We come in peace, and also seek help and assistance with a troubling matter we found well outside of this system. " Ren held his breath.
"I am Euouae. Luke Skywalker, it has been over twenty years since I have last seen you, and time has taken its toll on us..." The clan mother appraised Luke before speaking again. "Lana'i here informed me of your meeting. I apologize for the nature of it, however two ships have been in the sky of late. Lana'i, these are my guests. Please have... "she paused for a moment,"two tents set up for them and a small feast tonight. Find where their ship is located and bring the ship and any crew members here. Also please send in Neya." Ren saw the black haired leader, Lana'i, leave as she passed him. And then was followed by Euouae's guards. After a few mintues Euouae spoke again, this time warmly "You may come closer to me, and sit however you prefer. I'm aware that for outsiders that position is particularly painful." Ren mentally sighed in relief, he was starting to feel pins and needles in his legs. The three of them moved toward her, and Luke sat on her left. "Luke Skywalker. I anticipated in seeing you when ships started to appear in our skies. It was a matter of time."
A young woman entered the tent behind them, she was lithe and her stride was evidence that she had been trained as a warrior. She sat between Rey and the clan mother. She had blonde hair, her eyes hazel. She could only be a few years older than Rey if he guessed. "This is my grandchild Neya. She is clever and will one day succeed me. Neya, this is Luke Skywalker and his apprentices Rey and Ren. Luke, please continue." Ren only stared, Euouae looked as though she could be no older than ten, possibly fifteen years his senior, and had a grandchild a few years younger than him. Rey had an inquisitive look on her face as well, she was trying to do the calculations in her head.
Luke raised his eyes to meet Euouae's "Thank you for meeting with us, clan mother. We have been fighting the dregs of the Empire, they now call themselves the First Order. Yesterday, we encountered a ship well outside this system. We came here for information and any guidance... on the ship was a Nightsister. We could not hold her captive, she ended up killing four of our own before she was able to be subdued by my apprentices."
Euouae's green eyes were furious. "Their desire and lust for power knows no bounds now. We have seen two ships, heading for the mountains north of here where the Nightsisters reside. This happened before, long ago when the Emperor attempted to lure us off the planet. However, the Nightsisters rejected his offer. Now, you find one aboard a ship." Euouae's eyes appraised Rey and Ren "And your two apprentices were able to overwhelm her. Impressive... I will need to reflect on this information regarding the Nightsister some more."
Luke nodded. Euouae's eyes studied Rey for a few minutes. Rey broke eye contact and stared at the carpet infront of her. The clan mother's gaze then rested on Ren, and her brows furrowed. Ren felt unsettled but refused to show any sign of it. "Luke Skywalker. You are aware that one of your apprentices uses the nightspells, or as you call the Dark Side?" Her voice inquired. Neya looked surprised and then defensive. He realized she would take her weapon against him if necessary.
"I am aware. He is balancing the light and dark within himself." Luke acknowledged.
"Any encounter could lead to his fall in his state. Are you willing as his master to stop his threat to the galaxy if he does?" Ren sensed the meaning behind her words and also was agitated that they spoke about him, in front of his face this way.
Luke looked into Ren's eyes initially, and then to Euouae. "Darth Vader, my father, and Ren's grandfather, fell to the Dark Side for many years. He was as conflicted as Ren was throughout that time, and at the end redeemed himself by saving me and killing Emperor Palpatine. Ren started to overcome his dark leanings by saving and being saved by my other apprentice Rey. Ren is my nephew."
Ren could see disagreement in the clans mother's eyes but said no more. "I will advise, and Neya, you will also tell those who inquire that Ren is an outsider and belongs to, and is bound to Rey. You will say nothing of his conflict. You understand why?"
Neya, spoke softly but her eyes were still serious "Yes grandmother. It will be as you say."
"Take our guests to their tents, this one will be prepared shortly for our feast."