Esk SW-4 - Old connections

[Azula Tindara]

Jaani watched the fire intently as it writhed and crackled. The odd spark escaped the flickering dance and drifted away in the breeze, seemingly at peace once away from the main flame. Jaani idly swiped away a hot ash that landed on his jerkin.

Cold and damp didn’t particularly bother him, but he hadn’t packed winter clothes. His feet were tingling as the heat of the fire returned feeling to them. Strange, that feeling. Half way between pleasure and pain.

Probably should have gone to the warm continent, Jaani pondered. For some reason he’d been draw to the south though. Strange little world. He slunk about a bit around his ship, looking at some of the more peculiar lifeforms that inhabited the rocky terrain of the region. A few sentients, pink-skinned humanoids had noticed him and shouted something unintelligible. He’d fled and then hidden out of sight.

Reaching into his shoulder bag, he pulled out the strange talisman he’d found on another world. Odd, that he’d chosen to keep such a pointless carved bone.

 

[Azula Tindara]

He pulled the small ocarina to his mouth. It was an awkward instrument for a Gungan. Jaani didn’t really have the dexterity in his lips for the small mouthpiece. He blew and tried to play a simple tune. He’d done this most evenings by the fire, as he’d sat on various outcrops and watched the world below. As an infant he’d learned some simple Gungan wood instruments, but it had taken a few nights just to get the hang of the fingering.

The sound was anything but magnificent. “Not too annoying” was the best it could be described. Still, he felt at peace. Out here in the wilderness, all alone. It was like being back on patrol on Naboo, not the crowded and busy ports and cities he’d often inhabited recently. It was almost as if he could feel the living, breathing world around him. All too often it had been easy to give in to temptation. He’d spent many nights out until the early hours drinking heavily, in the same manner as some of the younger Militagungs he’d harshly disciplined. He had so many credits now, and so little things to occupy his time with between hunts. Maybe he should go back to Naboo and be with his people again? Maybe the shame would fade away until the point he could face doing that. He’d have to deal with the loneliness for now.

There was an echo in the breeze. Faint at first, but starting to build. Jaani stopped playing. The noise immediately stopped. Odd. There wasn’t a delay, it instantly stopped. Jaani started to play again. Once more it took time for the echoing sound to build. He almost felt it rather than heard it.

 

[Azula Tindara]

The bearing of the echo became more and more specific. Soon Jaani realised that whilst it matched the timbre of the noise, it didn’t match the notes he was playing at all. Again, when he stopped playing the echo ceased instantly. A strange tingling sensation at the back of his mind replaced it.

When he played again, he was surprised to find the echo began instantly. The bearing of the noise became more and more specific. This was so unlike anything that had happened to him before. Maybe this was a trick of his mind, he thought to himself. The loneliness, the darkness, perhaps he just needed a good night's sleep? As soon as his fingers brushed the cold surface of the bone talisman, his resolve was bolstered. Something was out there and he needed to find it. With some haste, Jaani put away his things. He kicked dirt over the fire. The old hunter knew he should have stayed in place for the night, but this calling was too urgent.

The ocarina sat tied to his belt, within easy reach. With his right hand he held the pole of one of his electrostaffs, using it as a walking aid. He’d always healed quickly, but recent events had taken their toll on his body. Plus it always helped to have a weapon to hand, in the Gungan’s experience. Throwing his bag and weapons over his back, he marched into the darkness.