Private Come Dawn, the Darkness Lingers

[Falentra]

More than determined to complete her training, Nouqai had tried and tried gain. Yet again and again, she failed. Unlike the four other trials, this was simple, she had to tap deep down into her spirit through meditation and face her darkness. However, that darkness was overwhelming, an entity with a silhouette large and formidable, that aroused terrible fear, accompanied by a winged creature in the shadows. Nouqai always found herself running, running till her hearts gave out, up till the point her body spiralled into a seizure that Grrwunhoool had to pull her out of the vision.

They had went to different temples, in hopes that the outcome would be different, to no avail. Patience, Grrwunhoool had always taught her, but Nouqai was getting desperate. The 17 year old had been training under the wookie for 3 years, now completely understanding his native tongue completely without the help of a vocoder. If she passed this trial, then she would become a knight, and the wookie would get the role he deserved after all these years: the rank of master.

Days ago, the padawan proposed a solution to this hurdle, an idea that was perhaps influences by her pet crow, Corvus when confinding it the avian. It was to attempt a more practical method - all of her other trials had been completed in action on the field. They were to go to Thral, a planet just outside sith territory, that she might have a better chance with facing her darkness. The wookie agreed.

It took 3 days on the ship to arrive to the destination. Nouqai piloted the ship, the Wookie having taught her the skill a couple of months ago. The vehicle entered the atmosphere and lowered on the clearing on a cliff, although landing was slightly bumpy and could use some work, it was decent enough. Still casting a glance at her master looking for any expression of approval. Corvus hoped on her shoulder as they left the ship - the bird was almost inseparable since it had followed her from Myrkr 3 years ago. "We should find a cave." The teen said, clearly a little impatient. Also believing she had read up enough about the planet before hand not to need a briefing.

Grrwunhoooll Agaburry

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

The burden of a masters is to watch their students needlessly suffer. You would think this only applied to physical suffering but there was alot more to it. Over the years of their relationship Grrwunhoooll and Falentra had grown. How they had grown exactly was hard for the wookie to describe. There were many phrases or sounds for it in Shyriiwook, but when translated to basic the meaning seemed to elude most. You see the wookie was concerned and had been for a long time. Nouqai had learned to be strong, determined and if anything more stubborn, a trait she and the wookie shared and it was for the better. But there was something that Grrwunhoooll felt between him and his apprentice that was the issue and he feared that he was failing her. In some way all her toils and struggles could somehow of been linked back to him and his style of teaching. As a young wookie male, Grrwunhoooll was fiery, direct and springing with energy at best. At worse he was inflexible and stoic with emotions. He knew how to have fun, but his standards for others were too high and he knew it and yet it was his own hurdle he had to get over.

Sadly Nouqai, at times, felt like the key to getting over this hurdle and it proved difficult.

So when a new strategy for the Trial of Spirit was suggested. Grrwunhooll listened and began putting into practice letting go of control and letting his padawan taste leadership. This was her trail and thus her mission. I am just here to support and guide when asked or needed. That was what he told himself at least. This time she will succeed. She has to.

Still casting a glance at her master looking for any expression of approval. Corvus hoped on her shoulder as they left the ship - the bird was almost inseparable since it had followed her from Myrkr 3 years ago. "We should find a cave." The teen said, clearly a little impatient. Also believing she had read up enough about the planet before hand not to need a briefing.

Grrwunhoooll approached and after collecting a few items and finishing a some Bantha Jerky, he simply nodded. Returning his gaze to his padawan he briefly spoke in his native tongue. " Whatever you need we will get. Be patient. I have faith in you." Everything was in order and he was ready to go.

 

[Falentra]

The assurance, while comforting to know that her master had faith in her, did not help her much. Nouqai was far too stressed and under pressure. The padawan had long lost her patience - there was only one thing on her mind and it was to succeed. Now trying to fortify it as she let the force guide her. It was about a 25 minute trek before the reached the mouth of a cave.

This would be her place of trial today, whatever she would find in this cave, would test her spirit. She took a deep breath and letting out a slow exhale to calm her nerves. She couldn't fail this time. Nouqai entered, cognisant that the large wookie was following behind her and corvus still perched atop her shoulder.

The mist or fog was thick, bleeding out the light from within the futher they ventured deeper into the cave. While her vision was well adept to the night and absence of light, she still found it hard to see through the fog. She could feel the darkness within like a sense of a heavy weight in its atmosphere. It sent a chill down her spine.

"Grrwunhoool, I have a bad-" Nouqai turned, only to realise that the wookie was not behind, only an immensely thick fog. "...feeling about this." The rest of the sentence came up in a mumble. "Grrwun?" Her voice echoing through the expanse of the cave. The padawan attempted to retrace her steps, however, the path was not familiar, it hadn't seem like the route she remembered going down.

"Just you and me now." She told corvus with a lingering apprehension in her voice, giving the pet raven a scratch under the chin.

This was the trial. A challenge. This was no place for fear.

<<Nouqai?>> She heard the voice echo... it was all too familiar... a voice she had not heard in years yet it sounded so distinct and real. "Kephi?" She called out, her voice restrained. It couldn't be. Kephi was dead. As if corvus heard it too, spreading its wings, the avian took of in the direction of the voice. "Wait. Corvus!" Nouqai didn't want to be alone in a place so unfamiliar. Her foot steps pattered as she rushed forwards, chasing after the bird.

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

The mist or fog was thick, bleeding out the light from within the futher they ventured deeper into the cave. While her vision was well adept to the night and absence of light, she still found it hard to see through the fog. She could feel the darkness within like a sense of a heavy weight in its atmosphere. It sent a chill down her spine.

"Grrwunhoool, I have a bad-" Nouqai turned, only to realise that the wookie was not behind, only an immensely thick fog. "...feeling about this." The rest of the sentence came up in a mumble. "Grrwun?" Her voice echoing through the expanse of the cave. The padawan attempted to retrace her steps, however, the path was not familiar, it hadn't seem like the route she remembered going down.

She is stressing way too much. This was Grrwunhoooll's primary thought as the two approached the cave that his apprectice had insisted on going to. It was no issue for the wookie, but the Jedi Knight did ponder why such a location and planet was chosen. This was an area that he did not understand though as well. For the Trial of Spirit was far easier for him to confront than it was for his apprentice. My toughest trial was the Insight trial and for good reason. Maybe this is Nouqais equivalent then? The wookie shrugged to himself and the dreadful feeling that he was some how to blame for Nouqais stumbles in this matter came to bear once more. Shaking his head, distracted by the thought, A furry foot sank into a deceptively deep puddle of mud with a plopping squish that irritated the wookie to no end. Its gonna take days for this to come out! A burst of his youth came out as he pulled his foot out and shook off the thick mud.

It was when Grrwunhoooll looked up to check on Nouqai ( Falentra ), That the Jedi Knight blinked and looked around. There was no one there. Just a stone like arch that greeted him and more cave tunnels. Hairs on the back on his neck and shoulders stood up and then he felt it. The darkness and from experience he knew what had, maybe, occurred.

Nouqai's trial had begun.

If she has already started it then maybe she can still hear me?

The wookie let out a cry and hoped his apprentice could still hear him.