52ABY, 1st Melona, Datunda 9
What is the force? Have you ever wondered what is possible with the force? Could you go back in time and change events with the force? Could you shape water into a Kroggan? Truly, is there a source from which it comes? Is some all-mighty god just toying with us beings? I think about these questions because I don't know, but not knowing makes me more curious about the force.
The force is not the only thing that has been on my mind. I keep having this weird dream that pops into my head a lot. It's like a super mysterious memory that shows up when I sleep. There are blue bridges on a dark and stary night. Someone picked me up and smiled at me. They had dark clothing, blue eyes, and ash-brown hair. I try to speak, but only babble comes out. Who was he, and where am I? As I'm lifted in the air, I look around me and notice something glowing from afar. He lowered me down to his side to carry me. We head to the glowing entrance, but as we go further, the memory becomes foggy, and I wake up.
It's weird, but it's something I will have to deal with later.
Back to what's important, I'm sitting under a waterfall admiring the sound of nature. You know, Nerit's a beautiful moon we live, but I feel like there's more out there... I reach out to the sky.
I always wonder what is out there. What's out in this big galaxy? Whose out there?
Sitting up, I see how the waterfall looks so eternal and so pretty. My body feels sluggish, and I'm a little tired, but I want to practice my strike.
Rubbing my face as I stand up and walk out of the cave, I look for a stick. I need something to use to practice fighting. It's such an interesting dance. I get excited just thinking about dancing against other beings.
Looking around, I see a stick on the ground near a tree. It looks sturdy from where I'm standing. Grabbing the stick, it feels just right in my hand. It's not too heavy and not too light either. I imagine the tree is a book with missing pages.
Using a stick to attack a tree, I grunt, "HEEEYA!" The tree is sturdier than this flimsy branch, of course.
It's nice to do something different other than read ancient texts. I do this in hiding because other Neti would be nagging at me for doing it. The tribe doesn't teach us to fight but teaches us to be one with nature. I mean, nature fights, right? Different animals fight each other for survival. The same goes for Flora against the environment.
I love the books we read, but would it hurt if we knew how to protect ourselves? T'raa has told me some battle stories in her days. I wonder why there are so few of us, Neti. All of them here are older, not buds (younglings) like me. I wish there were more of us so I could play with Neti my age. I wonder how Neti learned to communicate.
Oh, I haven't introduced myself. Apologies, my name is Alani Bo. I was born on the planet Ossus. Weird being born on a planet but living on a moon. How is that, you might ask? Well, I don't know, ha...ha.
I've always wondered what Ossus looks like and how I ended up here. Don't get me wrong, I love my home. One of my favorite memories as a kid is from here. In the memory, T'raa said,
"Be like nature and Flow like water in the cosmic forces.
There you will find what it is.
You will see why power is neither evil nor good.
The force will guide you,
Sweet Alani, do not peril in the face of hard times.
The journey is a difficult one, but you will find the ones you need
The force will guide you.
The force guides you to its will."
Her hair branches wrapped around me, and I could feel her sincere emotion. Her light green eyes felt kind when she talked to me. I didn't know her name at the time, so I asked Maior Tuk as we walked away.
As Tuk held my hand, his voice felt like a warm breeze when he said, "Her name is T'ra Saa."
It was a fun day because she was so nice to me. She spoke in a funny language at times with the other Maior (elder). It only made me more curious and have so many questions.
I thought to myself, "I want to look like her when I get older."
Maior(elder) Tuk told me this wisdom many only dream of hearing. I wonder what it means, but I hope to have fun throughout my future journey.
Ahhhhhh, that's always a fond memory of mine. After practice, I took a nap back in the cave under the waterfall. As I wake up, walking in the forest of brightness sounds nice. But I have this itching sense I need to... I get up from lying down under the waterfall. It is a nice day outside, after all. The waterfall I was under is south of the Forest of Brightness. I see the path leading to the forest, and I'm pretty far from the forest.
Walking in The Forest of Brightness, I'm amazed by how pretty the flora and tree colors can brighten up anyone's mood. This forest is the heart of the village.
It's called Truth Village. None goes unseen in our village, even if the Neti aren't aware, but nature always is. That is one of the reasons it is called truth village.
I'm standing in the middle of the forest as I hear the Flora conversing. It sounds musical when they're conversing. It brings joy to my core just hearing it. They are communicating with one another, but also with me. I could taste each Flora as a bright smile appeared on my face. My eyes are closed, leaning my head up to the sky. I notice a unique flora catching my senses. I look around to see where it is, but I don't feel close. It's close enough to feel but not enough to touch.
I closed my eyes to focus on the unique floras' location. It shines so brightly in this dense forest. I want the Flora to be closer, so I reach out my hands and visualize the Flora moving towards me. As the Flora gets closer, the smell and taste become more potent. The Flora arrives in front of my face and is encased in these dark, galaxy-like blue leaves. After a few moments, the leaves spread out. Revealing 3 bright golden buds saying in a clear and strong voice,
"Breath in, Allow energy(Force), Flow."
Hearing this clearly, I take a deep breath and place my forehead on the golden center of the plant. I'm not sure why, but using my forehead just felt like the right thing to do at that moment. I felt the entire moon's life force. I felt deeply connected to the moon as if I were a part of it.
Maior Tuk called for me, "Alani, it's time for meditation!" Tuk startled me while being in a deep connection with the Flora.
Before I leave, I ask the unique Flora for their name. The flower says with a calming scent, "For-Shoo."
I leave the Flora, running on the path to the Den Meditation room. I like the name For-shoo it has a ring to it. The feeling I had connecting to the moon was out of this world. I wonder if Tuk could explain what happened with me and For-Shoo. I didn't get to see everything that For-Shoo wanted to show me, but I still enjoyed my time!
I approach the entrance to the Den Meditation. The room is really big and is made of wood with different symbol carvings. I do not know what they mean yet. I'll be taught about the symbols after my Netu Ceremony. I see Tuk reading through scrolls on a table in the center of Den Meditation. Den meditation has a big center and smaller rooms that form a big circle.
I say to Tuk with excitement and a smile, "Hello, Maior Tuk! I have some exciting news to share!"
Maior Tuk responds calmly and warmly, "Oh? What is it, Alani?"
With a beaming smile and jittery excitement, I say to Maior Tuk, "Maior Tuk, I saw this amazing Flora with a vibrant golden center and beautiful dark blue leaves. I talked to it, and it told me their name is For-shoo. For-shoo gifted me with a connection to the life force of the moon, and the experience was so exciting! I felt like I could go deeper than..."
Tuk's wooden eyelids lift wider than normal, and his mouth opens as though he's speechless.
I ask with concern and confusion, "Maior Tuk, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" I feel myself becoming smaller, and my face feels like it's curling up in itself.
Tuk scouts around quickly, almost like he's watching out for something. Facing back to me, Tuk asks for us both to sit in the meditation room. He says in a calm and worrisome tone. As we are walking to the meditation room, it feels like the air is dead. There was no music, no bliss, just unnerving silence in the air. Did I do something wrong? Did I say something weird?
We arrive at the meditation room and sit on small pillows. Tuk is across from me, staring straight into my eyes. Tuks eyes have returned to their slouched look, but he still shows seriousness and worry.
"Alani, where did you find this flora, and what do you think it showed you?" Tuk says with anticipation and mystery.