Private Guilty Feet Have No Rhythm

[Kuhbee]

Location: New Corv Jedi Temple
TAG: M'ra Thii


The feel of the grassy terrain beneath his feet was refreshing. It felt more like his home planet than the cold metal durasteel that was so prominent in this galaxy. Wookies aged so much slower than humans did so while still considered a youngling Kuhbee had been around this galaxy long enough to know humans didn't always appreciate nature the way they should. His people believed the tree spirits were guardians of the planet and that the tribe of Wookies just shared the space, but did not own it. This was a foreign way of thinking in this galaxy though but the youngling hoped when he met more Jedi they might feel differently. He knew the younger students but today was his first day as a padawan and he was looking forward to proving himself.

As he entered the garden he smiled and for a moment just let the sunlight touch his fur. His new master was out here. From what he'd read on her file she was a Neti, a species he'd never met but had been quick to research so he didn't accidnetly offend her. When he learned that she was a living tree it seemed like destiniy that she should be paired with a Wookie padawan.

He could feel her in the Force and offered a soft growl greeting in his native Shyriiwook tongue.

[Master Thii I hope I am not disturbing you]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

The tree that was M'ra had watched the young wookie as he entered the gardens, noting the way he carried himself. A smile touched his face and it warmed her to see him happy. A hearty species, it wasn't often that they expressed happiness away from the forests of their homeworld. She understood. Being away from the trees that you knew was not an easy task. How long had it been since she'd been to the moon of Ossus? She didn't even remember the last time she'd been there.

Sensing her, the padawan spoke, expressing a hope that she was not being disturbed. If she'd had a mouth in that moment she might have laughed, she certainly did inwardly. Disturbing her was precisely what he had intended to do, of course. It was a common phrase uttered by many when they did actually mean to. She'd always found that humorous, even when she was younger and had done the same herself!

The tree shook a bit and shifted as she focused on changing her form back to that of the humanoid woman that she normally appeared as. The natural form of a Neti was all well and good for most people, but over time she had grown accustomed to the smaller, faster shape of the humanoid. Although, even small she was rather large compared to the females of most species, standing over six foot tall. The young wookie was tall, less than a foot shorter than she was, but he still had to look up at her.

"You were expected, Kuhbee," she said as she reached a hand over and ruffled the hair atop his head. "So no, no disturbance."

He was an adorable - little? - guy, that was for sure.

"Expected, but I'm afraid I do not know much about you. What is it you seek here?"

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: @M’ra Thii

Kuhbee was glad to hear he had not disturbed the master but her question confused him. He furrowed his face and frowned at her.

[I am here to start my Jedi training Master. I was told today I become your padawan. Is this not accurate?]

He titled his head to one side, curious and not quite grasping the depth of the question in his youth.

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

Ahh, the expression of youth. She forgot that deeper questions were often lost upon them. It was easier for them to look at questions from a surface level understanding rather than thinking about the root of the question. Her own age had gotten the better of her with that one, though she couldn't help but smile at his respone.

"Yes, that is the truth," she said, nodding to him. "But not quite what I was asking. What I wanted to know was why you want to be a Jedi. What are you seeking to do as a Jedi?"

In the olden days it wasn't that padawans sought to become Jedi, most of the time. They were usually taken from their homes very young and made to be Jedi. She'd never quite liked that practice, and was more than happy to see it had changed.

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii


He felt a little foolish now that he truly understood what she was asking. If he could blush he would probably have done so but his fur covered body did not change. Instead he spouted what he had been told since his birth.

[It is very rare for Wookies to be able to feel the Force. I want to bring honor to my people and use the rare gift I have been given.]

He knew this was the exact opposite of her species. From what he had read all of the Neti were Force Sensitive. His people had told him what a great honor it was to have this gift and so he knew that they were all counting on him. This seemed to be the logical reason he was a Jedi, but even as he said the words a memory stirred inside him.

He remembered being at the circus and how his captors had used fire to control him and the animals around him. He remembered the painful cries, the screams, and the sobbing at night. He spoke without even realizing as these thoughts drifted to him.

[I want to help others who can't help themselves.]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

Initially he gave her a response that was almost formulaic. If he had a textbook in his hand it would have seemed to come directly from it. This was the ancient way of things, viewing the Force as something to bring honor to others. She would have to discuss that with him in further detail, but it seemed his mind had drifted off to something else, as he stood there still, not really looking at her. Her question had triggered an emotional response within him, and when he spoke again, she got a more real answer.

She nodded and sat down on the grass, motioning for Kuhbee to sit as well. Part of training to utilize the Force was discussion of it, not just the fundamentals of how to use it. If she was to teach him, she needed to get to know him.

"Why do you want to help others? Did something happen?"

Clearly something had. She wanted him to open up about it, both so she could know him, and so she could know if what happened was going to be a danger to him in his use of the Force. One of the hardest things they'd had to deal with in the olden days was younger Jedi giving in to their anger and fear. It was, after all, what had created the one who had slaughtered all of those inside the Temple those hundreds of years ago, the one she'd gone into hiding to avoid facing.

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii


Kuhbee sat as instructed and let out a low soft growl as he remembered his captors. When he spoke his voice was rough.

[On my way to the Jedi our ship was attacked by slavers. I was taken to a circus. They kept animals in cages and sentient beings as well. They forced me to use my strength to control the others. If we didn’t listen they burned us.]

Indeed he did have bare patches over his body where his fur would never grow back due to burn scars. It contributed to his deep fear of fire.

[I shouldn’t have done it. I should have fought more.]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

M'ra frowned. The idea of slavery was something she heavily detested. In point of fact, she'd initially been against the use of clones back during the Clone Wars because of the similarity to their being bred for a singular purpose to that of slavery. They were given no choice but to fight and die for whomever was in charge of them. That was one of the reason's she'd rejected being placed in charge of troops, choosing instead to work as a scout who hunted for separatist bases.

It clearly bothered Kuhbee, what had happened to him and the others. She looked a lot closer at him and noticed the thinner patches of fur. She wished she'd been able to find him back then. Her ability to heal could have kept him from forming scars, but she could not take those scars from him.

"That is deplorable what happened to you, and I implore you not to hate yourself for what you did to survive. The Force has reason for the things we dea with, and the fact you survived means it has purpose for you yet."

She reached out and plucked a small bug from one of the nearby flowers, letting it sit upon her finger. Even if it wanted to harm her, it wouldn't be able to burrow through her bark-like skin. It was a pollinator, not a burrower. She decided to push for further information, wanting to know more about whaa he did to escape so that she could learn more of his strengths.

"How did you manage to escape?"

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii


He watched as the bug crawled around his new masters hand. It was such a small delicate thing and Kuhbee looked down at his own paws. He felt sometimes like he didn't know his own strength and could accidentally hurt others. He never wanted to hurt anybody ever again. The slavers had forced him to use his strength to hurt, but his new master said he shouldn't feel bad for trying to survive. Was it true that he wasn't guilty?

He thought back to the day he left the circus. There was fire everywhere and the memory made him shudder.

[I was able to open one of the cages. Like this...]

He moved his paw sideways back and forth.

[It was the Force. I opened one of the cages and the animals got free and then they let me out to get them back in their cages and I.... ]

He looked down at the ground. He had attacked a lot of people that day. The tent had caught fire and he knew not everybody had made it out like he did. Some did, but not all. He should have planned it better.

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

"And you fought."

Yes, she understood. He felt remorse, which was a good thing. M'ra understood Wookie's quite well. They were very much gentle giants except when they didn't want to be, or if they were backed into a corner. She liked them because they respected trees and nature. But Kuhbee was upset because he had hurt people, and used his strength to do it.

"It's alright to feel remorse for harming others," she said, allowing the little bug to go back to its plant. "Good, even. If you did not feel remorse for harming others you would be like the people who'd harmed you and the others at that circus."

She reached over and took his hand in hers, well, sort of. Even at his age his were larger.

"These hands of yours are strong. They were meant to be that way. Your desire to protect others is proof of that. A Jedi's role in this galaxy can vary, but one of the most important tasks we have is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I know you feel guilt that you didn't do it sooner, but you are young, Kuhbee, and you were afraid, and neither of those is a bad thing.

"You've shown me that you have strength and courage that many do not. I will help that grow within you so that you can help keep others from ever being in your situation."

She released his hand and placed both of hers within her lap. Perhaps it was now a good time to begin his training.

"I would like you to close your eyes, and when you do, I want you to feel. Not with your hands, but let that inner strength come out. Feel what's around you and tell me what you experience as you do."

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii

Kuhbee looked down at his own paws that were so massive they enveloped hers. The way she was talking these were a gift that he could use to help others and there was a reason he had so much strength. Could this really be true? He knew he was unique because his people usually didn't feel the Force like he did, but sometimes it made him feel like a outcast. Maybe with her teaching he could figure out that it was a gift and learn how to use it properly.

She sat back and told him to feel the world around him. He nodded and closed his eyes. At first it was difficult. Youth makes it very hard to just sit. He was fidgety. He kept opening his eyes to see what she was doing. He could feel the wind and hear an insect buzzing around and it kept distracting him. He took a deep breath and tried to go to the place in his mind where he felt the Force. It was almost like a bubble that he could extend if he poked on it in his mind. He tried to stretch that bubble as far as he could and finally peace overtook him. He went still and sensed the world around.

[I feel the garden. But I feel so much more than what I see. There are ants beneath the soil. The trees all feel different and special. There are birds. They are hungry. I can feel the hunger as they search for worms. ]

He opened his eyes and let out a low growl.

[The Force shows more of the world than my eyes do. Is that normal?]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

The times he peeked his eyes open she was sitting there with her own eyes closed, feeling out herself. It brought her peace to do so. It was how she had survived for hundreds of years on Myrkr in a state of dormancy. She'd gotten herself lost in communicating with the trees, the animals, the insects. It had allowed her to be content in who she was, and where she was. It even allowed her to grow stronger in the Force as those conversations lead to further understanding of her connection to it and the purpose of it. It also took her mind off the fact that she knew more people like her were out there dying, and she wasn't able to stop it.

When Kuhbee spoke, she smiled and listened to his words, but didn't open her eyes just yet.

"Yes, it is normal," she assured him. "The Force is in everything around us. It is life and death. It is a part of all living things. Because of that, when you reach out through the Force, it allows you to connect with the plants, animals, people, insects, around you. They feel your presence and you feel theirs. It's a form of communication. We don't control it, we just participate in it."

She opened her eyes and waved her hand, causing a light wind to blow and ruffle the fur that adorned his body.

"It's in the air around you. It's what allowed you to open the cage. What we do as Jedi is not to bend it to our will, but to strengthen our connection to the world around us. We grow stronger in the Force by working to make the connection consistent, constant, and making suggestions to the Force itself of what we would like for it to do. In this manner, it is not about physical strength, but mental.

"You have great physical strength, and you can use the control of your own body to strengthen your mind. Knowing how to touch a tiny insect without harming it or a flower without stripping it of its petals, is more important to your development as a Jedi than anything else. I will teach you lightsaber combat later, of course, and your strength will be a great asset to you there, but for now I want to work on your control of yourself."

She pointed to a flower to her left, a beautiful lily with long petals.

"This flower next to me is alive. You can feel it. I want you to feel it through the Force, and then reach out and touch it without distressing it."

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii

Kuhbee was excited to learn more about the Force. As his master described it he felt a certain sense of wonder. It seemed so powerful and so beyond anything he had ever experienced. It was almost awe inspiring in the youngling. His master explained how it encompassed everything and how she would one day teach him how to use a lightsaber. This was probably the most exciting thing about being a Jedi, at least to most people. Kuhbee had not built a saber yet. In the olden days the padawans did the gathering and went to look for their crystals, but he had not done that yet. He had read all about it though. The youngling spent a lot of time at the library reading whatever he could get his paws on.

His master gave him another task and honestly he was uncertain about it. He looked at the delicate lily and held his paw over it. His paw was so much bigger than the tiny flower. These paws had already caused such destruction. He didn't want to hurt the flower and felt anxiety rise inside him.

He closed his eyes and felt the flower, trying to concentrate on it. He felt like he could sense the flower better with the Force than with his eyes, but his master said that was normal. Perhaps he should not look at the flower. Seeing how delicate it was only made him nervous but perceiving it in the Force he could see it had a strength all its own. He reached out, but hesitated and withdrew his paw again. This happened several more times as he fought his insecurity over hurting the small plant.

Finally he brushed the plant with just the tip of his finger, his claws pulled in tightly so as not to scratch the flower. When he opened his eyes he saw the flower was still standing. He smiled in disbelief.

[It's so small... so ... soft...] He touched it again with just the very tip of his finger. He was scared to do more because he did not want to hurt it.

[But in the Force it feels stronger...]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

"Strength is delicate," she said, rising to stand beside him. "One tip in the wrong direction and strength becomes weakness. An external push and your strength can be turned against you."

She moved her own fingers to the flower and gripped it between her fingers before running it smoothly down the petal. Those fingers moved along its entirety, taking it all in, and then pulled her hand away to reveal that the flower was unchanged despite the firmness with which she had touched it. It sprang back exactly as it had been, still beautiful and pristine.

"The flower, if you feel it, will tell you how to touch. It will guide your hand. Do not be hesitant. Don't allow your fear to control you. Let your fingers move as the flower instructs through the Force."

 

[Kuhbee]

TAG: M'ra Thii

The flower could talk to him? This was confusing to the youngling. He wrinkled his fury brow and looked down at the delicate plant. He grew up among a people who always said the trees could talk, but that was more recognizing their wisdom than actual communication. Wasn't it?

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was a tad easier this time to feel the Force around him. The hard part would be focusing on the flower when there were so many little points of light around. He wasn't used to zeroing in on the Force yet. He stretched his senses out and felt ants scurrying around. For a moment they distracted him but he reminded himself he needed to focus.

The lily was next to him, a soft glow in the world around. He reached towards it and heard what sounded like a whisper. He hesitated. Was that the flower communicating? It wasn't words... it was... a feeling. Gently he reached forward and let the flower guide him towards its petals. At first he pulled back, worried he was hurting it as the feeling got stronger, but then he realized it was just a connection with another living being. He ran his paw over the flower, down its stem and when he opened his eyes he was amazed to see he hadn't hurt the precious plant at all.

[I did it!] He smiled, which honestly looked a bit scary on a Wookie but it was a gentle intent.

[Do all living things talk in the Force?]

 

[M'ra Thii]

​

TAGS: Kuhbee

She waited and watched, noting how he seemed hesitant at times to approach the flower. Even though he was young, he knew he was strong, and that strength caused some uncertainty and fear within him, which was entirely the point of this exercise. Well, that and she wanted him to get an understanding of the fact that everything was within the Force and communication with the world around them was essential to the ways of the Jedi. But the primary focus was on his strength and him learning not to fear it, but to control it.

And when he did it, and smiled, which honestly did look a little odd but she found it adorable on him, she returned the smile.

"Good! I'm proud of you, Kuhbee, for facing your fear of hurting the flower."

Motioning with her hand, she indicated that he should sit again. The flower could go back to doing flower things for the time being. Mostly it was probably going to be harassed by a variety of pollen collecting bugs, but that was the life of a flower.

"In a way, yes. Most don't speak in a literal sense, but all living things feel in their own way, and that feeling is conveyed by them through the Force as well as in physical ways. Some plants do not like to be touched, and will shrivel up and curl away from you if they are. Nature is full of a variety of different life forms, but they're all connected through the Force.

"You are connected to them as well. Our existence relies on them. Plants make the air around us breathable, after all. But that's not why I wanted you to do that. Think on what you just did and what it means that you can do that even though you're so strong."