Blood On the Snow

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

The dynamic class II came out of hyperspace, Matsu had spoken to the mandalorian contacts she had, the Willamina clan were skilled hunters and more then happy to work with her group. They had been expanding and looking at creatures throughout the galaxy so why not some of the more unique creatures on Mandalore and that the ancient warriors have fought. A smile on her face while she had some crates of equipment they could use. Basaba had recommended the head of the clan while she was touching down outside and Matsu stood up, her hair in thick tight braids that kept the longer then ankle length hair higher then her boot heels while she was walking. Her hands behind her back while the ramp was coming down into the snow and polar region. She was giving the time and effort for the clan's alor to see her and be more comfortable meeting her as she sent the message that she was here to meet Rawnie but wouldn't enter without permission.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

The ship was easy to spot. Not many ships taking off or coming in this far north. Not much up here. Wind whipped through her hair, stronger than she would have liked. A storm was on it's way. Autumn was rough, unpredictable. At least winter, while cold, was usually fairly calm. She put a hand over her swollen belly. Galaar was kicking again. And he was low. It would be any day now. She was getting close.

Even so. She had a duty to her clan. She clutched her long white fur jacket as she went to meet their visitor.

"Su cuy'gar," she greeted, hiding her hands in the pocket of her jacket, "Me'copaani?"

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

Matsu looked out as she felt someone in the distance, two someones and was walking. The thick brown robes over the light brown bodyrobes that pulsed with the lightside She bowed her head in respect when she got close looking at the woman as she pushed her hands together bowing more. "Su cuy'gar, Tal'verda Alor." She raised her head up while she looked out across the snow. "I am glad that you were willing to see me, only a few of the mandalorian clans like working with jedi. Even ones that offer work." Her hands went into the pockets of her robes with the cold while she had her anklet circlet for the cold it was still a thing she didn't want to be out it.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie looked the woman up and down. Brown robes. Yup. Definitely a space wizard. Lucky for her, the only space wizard half the clan had come in contact with had been, well, her brother Corrin. But he was missing. Run away somewhere. Who knew why. She was worried sick.

"Just don't advertise that you're a Jedi around here," she warned, "My people are... tolerant, but we've had bad run ins with your kind before. Best to just keep it on the down low, if you wouldn't mind."

The wind howled again, sending giant flakes of snow whirling through the half echani womans white-blonde hair. Galaar was kicking harder than ever.

"We best get inside. A storm is on it's way."

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu bowed her head in acknowledgement while she was walking with the snow blowing around. "Understood, I am saddened to hear of your experience with jedi. It is not easy to changes one opinion after it is made." She had experience with that and narrow minded ones while moving and ensuring her sabers were obscured from view. She had her attention on much of the other places in the village before she was moving to go inside keeping her footsteps careful while she was ready to head in and talk with the pregnant mandalorian.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie did not lead the woman to the longhouse as she normally would have. Instead, she led her right to her own cabin, then inside. The cabin itself was a larger one, designed to house an entire extended family. Seven small bedrooms, three bathrooms, two floors, a large kitchen and a room with a large fireplace by the front door with plenty of seating. It was not fancy. The floors were hard, cold stone with fur rugs in places, and the walls were bare wood with a few family portraits and tapestries hung here and there, along with the helmets of fallen family members displayed to honor them.

"Please, have a seat anywhere you like. Welcome to the Tal'verda family home. Can I get you some warm tea?"

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu perked at the mention of tea and she had a grin on her face though while going into the home. It was warm and well more homey then the temple could be while she was here. She could see some more appeal in it while moving around and taking a seat. "Yes please teas would be most welcome and you have a lovely home." Matsu continued to watch all of it, letting some force energy expand outwards mostly to feel the world and the regions. It wans't often she was on such a world and ignoring a chance to feel it or get some enjoyment of the culture and history would be foolhardy.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie disappeared into the kitchen, hand on her stomach as baby Galaar kicked her from within her womb. She wished Lorane was around right now. Walking around, even to the kitchen was rough. Her ankles were so swollen. But she did it anyway, because she had a duty to her guest. She removed her fur boots, setting them aside, then bent over the gas stove top to heat up water for the tea.

They had few herbs up here that was useful in tea. Most of it was made from a flower that they were able to fins growing in the warmer months on the side of the mountain. She plucked a dried out bud from the tea tin and set it carefully inside the cast iron teapot. As she poured the boiling liquid over top, the flower began to bloom and color the water a deep red/gold. Pretty, but with a slightly minty flavor. She set the teapot on the tray, along with two cups and went back out to join her guest.

"I hope you enjoy it."

She poured the liquid in both cups and passed one over to her immediately.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu looked at the woman go off and she was feeling the two lives in the force as she nodded in approval. Things were looking up though in her excitement and small walking meditation to the tea as she was smelling it with a smile. "Thank you." She slowly wrapped her fingers around the cup and blew on it and then sipped feeling the minty sensation on her tongue and then the back of her throat. "It is delicious." She still had much to discuss with her but had more of the tea while she was relaxing. "You have a beautiful home."

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

The very pregnant Mandalorian lowered herself carefully into a wooden rocking chair. One of her vod had made it for her, for the baby. Said it was nice for rocking her new baby to sleep. She rather enjoyed it. She sipped at her own cup, nodding in thanks to the Jedi.

"My father built it," she explained, "For us and my mother."

This cabin would stand for generations. Her father built it well.

"Now. I think you had something you wished to discuss."

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu looked at her and hearing all of it about who made the house. She was glad to admit it was a nice place and she could think of a few things here they could work on. "Yes I do, my company expanded and started working on a preserve for animals. Catching them, studying them and in some cases trying to create technological advancements based on their biology." She was looking at her and took another sip. "Our goal is to study some of the more obscure and dangerous creatures of the galaxy. I was hoping skilled mandalorian hunters would be able to capture some of the more deadly creatures. i have contracts with the amazon's of Dxun but there are creatures here that are in the snow and dangerous. I could ask the Garon clan but I am uncomfortable with their leader always hitting on me."

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie smiled at this. A job. Just like bounty hunting. She could manage this. Well, her people could at least.

"You were wise to come here. My clan has lived in these snowy mountains for generations, and we are well known for our hunting skills."

She took another sip of her tea, ignoring her baby as he kicked and fussed inside of her.

"Just how much does this job promise though?"

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu was happy to see she was getting right to the meat of the offer with a grin. "We have equipment in development and credit wise we are looking to pay double the value of some of them for safekeeping. We would pay for a kennel to be built to pick up from you and we have access to other resources should you want it. Specialized equipment for providing food and water from matter, an exclusive piece of technology we share with you."

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie thought about this for a while. All of it sounded too good to be true. But at the same time, capturing a creature alive with their limited resources was hard work. The girl took a long sip of the tea, thinking it through.

"Deal, but only if you can also provide us with grain in trade for each pick up. Bread is hard to come by up here. Impossible to grow our own grain, you see."

Bread. It was good for keeping people feeling full. The food they were able to make up here was nutritious, but it was bland tasting and not very filling. People found themselves feeling hungry again, even after eating. Bread was a luxury, but one she was certain she could find a way to provide.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu looked at her and. "We can do that, we control an agricultural group that grows crops for us. Just have a list of what you need and we can have it set aside for you." SHe looked at her though. "And while we don't want to be in your debt we are also offering plenty of other things. The equipment we create for Ranger's and ones to use can prove useful. I know many mando clans respect finely crafted weapons and armor."

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie nodded at this and took a sip of her tea. Galaar was not letting up in the least. The boy was kicking harder than ever, almost as if he were struggling to get out. She placed a hand over where his tiny feet were pushing against her. That seemed to calm him down somewhat.

"Weapons and armor is always useful for us up here. We can go into that in greater detail later."

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

Matsu gave a nod to that and finished her cup of tea while she was looking over some of it and bringing her hand up. The palm holo showing plenty for the gear and equipment but also spec of what they had. "We'll need a place to store and place the equipment for you. We can start sending droids with the prefabricated warehouses." She had more but looking at the alor of the clan she was certain of two things... the Tal'verda were the best ones on Mandalore to deal with and well it would be a fair deal above all. She had dealt with other clans and they wanted so much for so little it made working with them near impossible.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

Rawnie nodded, pouring more tea for herself and offering to pour more for her guest.

"We have plenty of space here for storage," she said tilting the pot carefully, "That's not an issue."

She smiled up over the cup of tea, then frowned again. Something felt.... off. Not about this deal. About Galaar. She was starting to think she might just want to call Lorane home. Just in case...

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Rawnie Tal'verda"]

"Good then we can start and." She looked at the girl more with a raised eyebrow while not needing the force. her attention going towards her while she got more of the tea. "Are you alright? I do not need the force to know what it is like to have a baby and everything. My girls liked to kick my kidney's all day." She said it with a smile on her face though and her three daughters came to mind while sherubbed her heands together.

 

[Rawnie Tal'verda]

The blonde cast a weak smile at the Jedi, feeling silly. This wasn't just Galaars kicking that she was feeling. This was something else. She had a feeling that she knew exactly what it was too.

"I'll be alright. It's gotten to the... 'any day now' stage, you see. I think 'any day' might just be today."

She stood up, hands rubbing the aching muscles on her back, trying very hard not to look as in pain as she felt.

"I think I might need my husband now. I, err... trust you can see yourself out? I don't mean to be rude..."

[member="Matsu Ike"]