Private Hither Homeward, Where the Silver Fields Call

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

When Valery spoke, the words were soft, reverent, and true. Eve didn't answer aloud — didn't trust her voice — but she nodded slowly, her fingers curling gently in her lap. A quiet acknowledgement. Yes. She still carried it. She always would.

And then, mercifully, the moment passed, lightened by Mariana's story and Valery's teasing elbow bump. That set off more giggles between them, and Eve leaned slightly against her Master, cheeks still pink but glowing now with something softer. Something steadier.

When Valery turned to her mother and offered that final quiet thanks, something inside Eve fluttered. She looked over, silver eyes bright in the lowlight, and saw it written in Valery's face, not just fondness, not just warmth, but pride. Real, honest pride. For her. It made her cheeks warm.

Eve didn't say anything in response, nor did she need to. She just smiled, small, and full, and quietly luminous.

And just like that, the conversation resumed, not with any fanfare, but like a stream returning gently to its path. They spoke of memories, of stories, of things long past and dreams not yet lived. The moon climbed higher as they talked, and the stars turned overhead, unnoticed through the window, but present, like old friends listening in.

It would be a long night. One filled with quiet laughter, gentle stories, and the unshakeable comfort of family.

* * *​

Morning came softly, ushered in by birdsong and golden sunlight that filtered through the shutters. The Vale household stirred slowly, the kind of slow that came from peace, not lethargy — a pace born of knowing there was no rush to greet the day, not really. In the kitchen, steam curled from cups of herbal tea as Mariana hummed a low tune, her hands busy slicing a fresh loaf of crusty bread, still warm from the hearth oven. A dish of soft cheese sat on the table, beside a pan of herb-roasted roots and pear preserves.

They all ate quietly at first, the kind of quiet that needed no filling. The kind that lingered in the echoes of last night's laughter and old photographs. Every now and then, Mariana would reach out to refill a cup, chattering idly about weather signs and which trail might be less muddy after the rain. She didn't ask where they were headed, not exactly — just kissed Eve's temple as she passed, the way a mother does, and told her to bring back something shiny or strange or sweet. She gave Valery a wrapped bundle of travel provisions, with the firm but fond warning to "keep her out of trouble." Eve could only giggle at that.

With packs slung over shoulders and cloaks drawn loose against the cool morning breeze, the two Jedi stepped outside. The day was crisp and bright, the scent of dew and damp soil heavy in the air. Bees buzzed lazily around the herb beds. Beyond the fence, the first hints of wildflower bloom painted the hills with colour. Eve grinned at the thought of what she had in store today.

As they started down the familiar dirt path, heading toward the small stable nestled in a grove just beyond the homestead, Eve glanced sidelong at her Master and grinned.

"So," she asked, brushing a silver strand from her cheek. "Ever ridden an orbak?"

The teasing lift in her voice said she already knew the answer, or at least, she thought she did. And from the way her eyes sparkled in the morning light, it was clear; today was going to be fun.

At the stables, two sturdy orbaks waited under the shade of the trees, their shaggy coats gleaming in the sunlight. One let out a deep huff at the sight of Eve, ears flicking with recognition. She approached slowly but confidently, offering her hand first to brush along the creature's neck with the kind of quiet reverence only someone raised around them could have. Then she reached to the other to offer the same.

"Whisper. Bramble." A warm, loving smile touched her lips as the two creatures released low, contented huffs, their breath rumbling with quiet approval.

Then, with the ease of long-practised familiarity — though she did pause once mid-motion with a sheepish mutter of "Ugh, I'm a little rusty..." — Eve grabbed a handful of Whisper's mane and swung herself up in one clean motion, settling into the bareback saddle like she'd never left Eshan. She gave a little bounce in place to find her balance and grinned down at Valery.

"They're gentle, but big," she said, patting the orbak's flank affectionately. "Best way is from the left side, just behind the shoulder. Keep your grip light but steady. They don't like tension. And once you're up, just move with them. Don't try to force the rhythm. Let them guide you, and you'll be fine."

She leaned forward slightly, whispering something to the orbak, who gave another pleased snort.

"You ready?" Eve asked, glancing back to Valery with a cheeky glint in her silver eyes. "I promise I won't let you fall."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery had risen with the sun.

Not because she had to — not because of duty or restless dreams — but because mornings like this were rare. Quiet, slow, wrapped in the scent of baking bread and herbal tea, the echo of laughter still hanging in the rafters like a blessing. She'd padded barefoot into the kitchen while Mariana hummed, wrapped herself in the warmth of the Vale home, and let herself be still.

And then she was outside, pack over one shoulder, cloak fluttering in the crisp morning breeze as she trailed after Eve down the familiar path. The moment she saw the orbaks waiting in the shade, her smile widened.

"I've fought Sith warlords," Valery murmured with a dramatic, deadpan tone. "Survived collapsing temples. Given birth to triplets. But this?" She looked at the towering orbaks with mock gravity. "This might be the one that does me in." But her eyes were gleaming with excitement. She stepped forward slowly, hands open at her sides, and let the creature take her in. Its breath was warm, damp against her palm as she offered it gently, and when it gave a quiet snort of approval, Valery let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Well, hello there," she murmured, brushing her fingers through its thick mane. Eve's instructions earned her a glance — amused, a little incredulous, but wholly game. "Let them guide me. Got it." A pause. "I'm trusting you not to laugh if I end up in the mud." With a little bounce of her own — and maybe a smidge more determination than grace — Valery grabbed hold, braced, and vaulted up.

It wasn't elegant. But it was effective. She landed in the saddle, adjusted her weight, and grinned like a kid discovering speed for the first time. "Alright," she said, patting the orbak's side and settling into the rhythm of its shifting weight beneath her. "Not bad for a first timer, huh?"

She turned to Eve, all challenge and sparkle in her amber eyes.

"Let's ride."

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

Eve watched her Master, one brow arched in amusement as Valery mounted Bramble like some new trial conjured by the Force itself. Her silver eyes sparkled.

"You know, I've read all manner of stories of you fighting Sith Lords with one arm and a baby on your hip," she said, voice dry and teasing. "But I think this might be your most impressive battle yet."

She clicked her tongue softly, prompting Whisper to march forward, and gave Valery a grin as her boots squeezed the orbak's sides, causing it to then promptly reach a comfortable but speedy pace.

"Try to keep up, Grandmaster."

The countryside opened up around them, rolling silver-green fields swept with morning mist, the occasional tree standing like a sentinel, white-barked limbs reaching to the sky. The orbaks moved fast and sure beneath them, their hooves making soft thuds against the earth. Birds scattered as they passed, and somewhere far off, a herd of wild grazers stirred and watched. The wind caught Eve's hair, whipping silver strands behind her, and for a few long minutes, she said nothing, just rode, smiling, letting the wind and sunlight fill her chest until it felt like she might float.

Eventually, the land began to rise, and she slowed.

"This way," she said, guiding them along a narrow path that snaked between two tall stone outcroppings. The orbaks climbed with ease, their bodies built for uneven terrain. Trees pressed closer here, their leaves dappling the sunlight into shifting mosaics on the forest floor.

At the crest of the hill, the path opened, revealing a hidden hollow nestled in the embrace of stone and tree. Steam curled from a series of natural pools, their waters tinted faintly blue by the minerals within. Moss blanketed the rocks, and the air was warm and laced with the gentle, earthy scent of the springs. Birdsong echoed softly here. A breeze stirred the steam like breath. Eve dismounted, patting Whisper's side as she wandered a few steps to drink from a nearby stream.

Now, standing here again with her senses wide open, Eve felt it, truly felt it, for the first time. The warmth in the air, the stillness beneath the surface of the water, the way the trees seemed to breathe in time with the world... It wasn't just peaceful. It was alive with the Light. The Force pulsed softly through everything, like a heartbeat just beneath her skin. She had always been drawn here as a child, without understanding why, but now she knew. This place was steeped in the Light Side, and even before her training, some part of her had recognised it, needed it. She turned to Valery, her voice quieter now, calmer.

"I used to come here all the time," she said, silver eyes scanning the scene with distant affection. "To meditate. To listen. Everything always felt clearer here. I always felt... closest to myself. Nobody else knows about it, not even Mama."

She looked back to her Master, something gentle in her expression.

"I wanted to share it with you."

Eve stepped to the edge of the pool, fingers moving to loosen the ties of her outer layers. She let her robes fall in soft folds onto the mossy stone, folding them with quiet care before dipping a foot into the water. The heat wrapped around her instantly, like an old friend. She eased in the rest of the way with a quiet breath, the warmth enveloping her limbs, sinking deep into muscle and bone. It was familiar. Home. The kind of heat that didn't just touch the skin, but reached inward, coaxing tension from her shoulders, her spine, the place behind her heart she hadn't even realised was clenched. She sank until the water kissed her collarbones, her hair floating weightless behind her, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, Eve exhaled, truly, fully. The ache she carried slipped away, carried into the water like leaves on a stream.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery dismounted with a quiet laugh, giving Bramble a grateful pat along his muscular neck. The ride had been exhilarating — the kind of thrill that reminded her she was still alive in ways even lightsaber duels sometimes couldn't. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair tousled by wind, and her chest rose and fell with deep, content breaths as she took in the sight before her.

The steam curling off the pools. The way the forest hushed around them, reverent.

She followed Eve with quiet steps, her boots crunching gently along mossy stone. And when Eve spoke — really spoke — Valery looked at her with something warm and deep and proud behind her eyes.

"You have a good instinct," she said, her voice low, reverent. "Places like this... they call to those who know how to listen."

She lingered there a moment longer, letting the Light seep into her bones. Then, with a soft, delighted sigh, she pulled at the zipper of her jumpsuit, dragging it down to her waist before stepping out of it entirely, folding it beside Eve's neatly discarded robes. She was down to a simple black tank and shorts — modest, but enough to fully enjoy the warmth.

"You weren't kidding," Valery murmured as she stepped into the water. It wrapped around her like silk, heat kissing her skin, easing every tired muscle the ride hadn't already loosened. She sank lower, up to her collarbones, arms spreading out along the edge behind her, and let herself melt.

"This is fantastic."

She tilted her head slightly to glance at Eve, one brow arching as her lips curled into a teasing smirk.

"And don't think I missed the little detail about nobody else knowing. Secret hot springs out in the woods? Mmhm." She hummed, mock thoughtful. "Sounds like someone's planning to bring her new beloeved here for a private meditation session."

Valery's eyes sparkled as she looked back at the water, her tone light but playful.

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

Eve had just finished sinking into the water when Valery's words hit her like a pebble tossed into a perfectly still pool. The water was deliciously warm, the stones smooth beneath her palms, but a visible ripple ran across her features—shoulders tensing ever so slightly, cheeks blooming into colour that the steam couldn't hide. She gave a small, sheepish laugh as she looked away to hide her embarrassment at the suggestion.

"M-Master!" she said, her tone notably flustered. But she remained silent for a moment, as her thoughts fell once again on Tigris , biting her lower lip lightly. She shifted slightly in the water, curling her arms around her knees as the steam wove through her silver hair. Her gaze drifted out to the edge of the springs, where the forest loomed, ancient and serene. She let her legs drift in the water, the heat lulling her into stillness, her gaze lost somewhere in the steam.

"She's..." she finally began after an extended silence between them, then hesitated, her fingers gently brushing the surface, sending soft ripples outward. "Tigris is the strongest person I've ever met. But not just in combat. In everything." Her words came slowly, unforced, like they'd been waiting to be spoken.

"She doesn't know how loved she deserves to be. I don't think anyone ever showed her. Not really. But when she's with me, she becomes something else. She lets herself be seen, as she really is." Eve's cheeks flushed a little deeper. She gave a sheepish glance toward Valery and then looked away again.

"And when I'm with her, I-I feel... whole. Like I'm more than I am alone, braver, stronger. Like there's nothing I wouldn't face, if it meant keeping her safe. It's not just a crush. It's... It's more..."

She hesitated again, the truth finally rising, as her eyes returned to her Master, their gazes meeting. Within her quartz irises, there was a cocktail of feeling; apprehension, excitement, warmth, fear, all framed by a single realisation.

"I think I'm in love with her."

She gasped gently at the external acknowledgement. The words hovered in the air between them, soft, vulnerable, unshakably real. Eve didn't hide from them. Not this time. She just exhaled and let them stay.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile the moment the words left Eve's mouth.

"You think?" she echoed, teasing just enough to soften the weight of the moment. "Eve, I've seen the way you look at her. You glow. Every time her name comes up, it's like someone flipped a light on inside you." She shifted slightly in the water, angling her body just enough to better see her Padawan.

"And the way you talk about her?" Valery placed a hand over her heart with mock dramatics. "Strength, bravery, wholeness? Stars, I half expected poetry next. You're not just in love, you've fallen." She let the playful note fade, softening into something far more sincere. Her gaze was warm, steady, full of that particular blend of fierce pride and tenderness that only Valery seemed capable of offering.

"I'm happy for you, Eve," she said, her voice low but brimming with truth. "Love like that doesn't come often. But when it does — when it really comes — you hold onto it. You nurture it. And you protect it." She paused, a hint of memory flickering behind her amber eyes. "Not with fear. But with trust. With honesty."

She leaned her head back against the mossy edge of the pool, letting out a breath that seemed to carry years of understanding.

"This feels real. And it feels right." She smiled again, soft and sure. "I support it. Completely." Then her smirk returned, playful as ever.

"Just don't bring her here without warning me first. I'd like to be fully dressed before I end up third-wheeling one of your secret spa dates."

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

As Valery spoke, Eve's expression shifted — slowly, almost imperceptibly — until her silver eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Not from sadness, not even from fear, but from the sheer magnitude of the emotion she was holding inside. That feeling of recognition. Of knowing. Of being known.

She blinked a few times, lips parted slightly, her breath catching in her throat. The heat of the spring kissed her cheeks, but the warmth blooming behind her ribs was entirely her own. It was the truth she had been circling for weeks. The thing she'd known without naming.

She was so completely and unashamedly in love.

And someone else saw it. Someone she trusted completely. Someone who had freely given her blessing.

"Th-thank you..."

Her eyes dropped to the water, arms still wrapped around her knees, and she exhaled through her nose in a soft, watery laugh. No tears fell — not really — but her eyes stayed glassy with the weight of it all.

Then came Valery's teasing remark, and it broke the emotional tide just enough for Eve to laugh; a real, fluttering thing, breathy and bright.

"Master!" she squeaked, utterly scandalised and blushing all over again. She reached for a nearby splash of water and flicked it gently in Valery's direction with a grin that didn't quite hide how full her heart was.

Laughter faded into the morning air, leaving a peaceful hush in its wake. Eve leaned back slightly, letting her arms trail through the water at her sides. A few moments passed, and then she tilted her head toward Valery, quieter now.

"Can I ask you something?"

A pause.

"When did you know?" she asked softly. "That you were in love with Kahlil?"

Her voice held no expectation, only curiosity, the kind that bloomed from a desire to understand something profound. Something she now stood at the edge of herself.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's grin only widened when she saw the shimmer in Eve's eyes. Oh yes, she was proud of that one. She reached up with one hand, wiping a droplet of splash-water from her shoulder with dramatic slowness.

"Stars, I knew I still had it," Valery said, thoroughly pleased with herself. "Still capable of reducing my Padawan to sparkly eyes and heartfelt blushes." She sighed contently, sinking a little deeper into the water with a playful wiggle of her shoulders.

Then Eve asked her question.

The shift in mood was subtle, but Valery felt it like a change in current beneath the surface. She turned her head toward her Padawan, her teasing grin softening — not vanishing, just settling into something more introspective.

"When did I know?" Valery echoed, her voice quiet now, but fond. Her gaze drifted upward, toward the branches and morning light shifting above the springs. "Honestly? …The same day I met him."

She chuckled softly, almost to herself. "It wasn't anything dramatic. No grand speeches. No slow-burn tension. It was just… this feeling. This certainty. He looked at me — really looked — and I felt like I could finally breathe again. Like the weight of my stasis was finally lifted."

Her eyes turned back to Eve, warm and sure.

"I think I knew I loved him before I even understood why. He was kind. Steady. And somehow, even in the middle of chaos, I felt safe with him. He was the only one I felt safe with." She paused, smile curving deeper, more tender now.

"I don't know if soulmates are real in the way the old stories say. But if they are… I found mine." Valery tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and meaning.

"And now, I get to watch you walk that path, too. Just maybe with fewer explosions. Maybe."

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

For a while, Eve didn’t speak. The warmth of the spring curled around her like a blanket, but it was the warmth in Valery’s words that settled deeper, into the marrow of her bones, into the heart of things. She felt it like a gentle tremor inside her chest, rippling outward, stirring something that had only begun to bloom.

She dipped further into the water until it kissed her collarbones, silver hair slicked back and clinging softly to her shoulders. Her eyes turned upward, not to the sky, but to the reflection of the trees dancing on the spring’s surface. The morning light shimmered, bending and shifting with each small ripple, like the future itself; uncertain, but beautiful.

He looked at me, really looked...

Those words stuck out at her.

She didn't need to say Tigris’ name. The shape of her, the feel of her presence in the Force, the warmth she’d left in Eve’s soul, it was all there, silently echoed in the stillness between the trees. That look, the one that saw her, not just as a Padawan, not just as a girl trying to prove herself, but as Eve, she had felt it too. Her lashes lowered, and her voice came soft, almost fragile.

"I know what you mean. I didn’t think anyone would ever see me like that," she whispered. "Like I was… more than what I thought I could be." Her fingers gently traced a small ripple across the surface.

"But she did. She does. Even when I’m scared. Even when I fall short. She sees me. And somehow, it doesn’t make me feel weak... It makes me feel..." Her breath caught, and she gave a quiet, trembling laugh through her next exhale.

"Complete."

She turned her head just slightly toward Valery, not meeting her eyes yet, but drawing comfort from her presence.

There was silence again, but not the empty kind. Just the hush that came when something important had been said. Eve let it wash over her, then drew her knees in closer, resting her cheek against her arms.

She didn't cry — not quite — but her eyes shimmered with more unshed tears. Not of sorrow, but of awe. Of realisation. Of finally seeing herself, just a little clearer, through the eyes of someone who loved her.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For sharing... and listening."

In that quiet moment suspended between breaths, they were no longer Jedi, no longer Master and Padawan, but simply two women shaped by love, cradling it like something sacred; a truth shared not in words, but in stillness, and in knowing.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery didn't rush the silence. She let it breathe — let Eve's words settle between them. She watched her Padawan with a quiet kind of pride, her expression soft, open, and touched with something older than words. Eve was glowing. Not with light, not with power — but with that quiet strength that came from being seen, being loved, and finally allowing herself to believe in it.

"You know," Valery said, her voice hushed with something close to reverence, "When I was your age, I didn't think I'd ever feel that way either. I thought love was something I'd never have because attachments were forbidden. It was something that didn't belong to people like us — people who run into fire for others." She smiled gently, tilting her head just enough to meet Eve's half-turned gaze.

"But it does belong to us. You belong to it. And you deserve every part of it." A droplet slid down the side of Valery's cheek — water, not a tear — and she didn't bother wiping it away. She just sighed contently and leaned back against the warm stone edge of the spring.

"When she looks at you like that… don't look away," she added, her tone a little more playful again. "Let yourself have that moment. That joy. The galaxy will take enough from us as it is. But this?" She nudged Eve's foot gently beneath the water.

"This is yours."

Then, after a brief pause, Valery gave a sly little smirk. "…Although if she hurts you, I will give her the lecture of a lifetime. Possibly while holding my lightsaber. No pressure, though." She winked, just enough to hopefully earn a laugh, and leaned back again with a smile that lingered — soft, proud, and completely, entirely full of love.

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

Eve said nothing at first. She sat, unmoving, her knees tucked to her chest, arms folded softly around them. The water lapped gently at her skin, steam curling in lazy spirals around her silver hair. Valery’s words had folded around her like a blanket. It settled into her bones, rooted somewhere deep where grief used to hide.

When Eve finally moved, it was only to lift a hand and press it gently beneath her eye. Her fingertips came away damp, but not from the spring. Silent tears had slipped down without her even noticing, warm trails drawn by the sheer weight of what she felt.

To Valery's final comment, she let out a soft, watery laugh, one that cracked as she tried to smother it behind her palm.

"Goodness," she whispered, voice trembling with the ghost of a giggle. "The thing is, I actually believe you would do."

A breath, a pause, and she sat up straighter, shoulders rolling back. The moment had passed, but the light it left behind still lingered.

"We should start moving," Eve said gently, almost apologetically, like she didn’t quite want to disturb the stillness. "There’s work to do... I need to gather some wood... to finish the casing for my lightsaber." She had mused on it for so long, and what her hilt was missing was that extra touch of home. To be able to borrow something from this place she cherished so much, from her own world, and encase the light of her heart's expression with it, she knew would give her utmost joy, and finally achieve what she was looking for.

She stood carefully, the water slipping from her form in rivulets, catching the sun like molten silver. She stepped from the pool with a soft breath and began reaching for the drying cloth they’d left by their packs—

Then froze.

Just beyond the ferns, half-shrouded in morning mist, stood a figure. Small, lithe, cloaked in moonlight and silence. A fox — but not any ordinary one. Silver fur shimmered like starlight, and its eyes glowed faintly with a pale, mirrored gleam. It stood still, utterly unafraid, watching her.

A breath caught in Eve’s throat. Her heart thudded once, hard.

"I..." She turned to speak, to share it, but when she glanced back...

It was gone.

Vanished into the trees like a dream that dissolved on waking.

Eve stared for a moment longer, stunned and strangely quiet. Then, softly, as if confessing to the wind, she spoke with a sense of quiet reverence.

"I think... I think that was a Miralune Fox. They're very rare. Some don't even think they exist anymore. It's... It's extremely auspicious to see one."

There was deep conviction in her voice, informed by a lifetime of local tradition and reverence for such a creature. She blinked, lips parting, then shaking her head with a quiet breath of awe. She turned to Valery again, face thoughtful and faintly shaken, but smiling.

" Come on," she said, tugging her tunic back over her damp form. "We’ve got some wood to find."

And with that, she stepped onto the forest path, the memory of silver fur glinting behind her eyes.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery had been just about to tease Eve again — something light, something warm — when the shift happened. The moment her Padawan froze, Valery's eyes narrowed instinctively, the old reflexes kicking in before anything else. She tensed, not with fear, but readiness, already halfway to standing when she followed Eve's line of sight and saw—

Nothing.

Just mist curling between the trees. But she knew that look in Eve's eyes. She'd seen it before, on temple steps and cliff edges, in the silence after a vision. Wonder. A kind of recognition that ran deeper than thought. Valery straightened fully and stepped up beside her Padawan.

"A Miralune Fox," she echoed, voice barely above a whisper. "Well then." Her gaze lingered on the trees, thoughtful. "Looks like the Force is watching you, too."

She smiled — slow, soft, touched with something older than amusement. There was meaning here. She could feel it. Not the thundering kind of purpose, but the kind that hummed beneath the surface of things.

Valery tilted her head, eyes returning to Eve.

"Looks like the galaxy agrees with me," she said, her grin returning, this time a little crooked, a little fond. "You're exactly where you need to be." She didn't press. She didn't have to. Instead, she reached for her own drying cloth and slung it lazily over one shoulder as she fell into step beside her. "Alright, let's find you that wood."

As they walked deeper into the forest, Valery cast one more glance over her shoulder toward the place the creature had stood — and for just a second, she thought she saw silver eyes gleaming in the mist.

Then they were gone.

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

They didn't speak much as they climbed.

The path through the mountain wound upward through ancient forest trails, the kind where roots knotted like veins across the earth and the trees grew so close they whispered to one another. The air thinned as they gained elevation, crisp and cool, edged with the scent of moss and pine. Somewhere below, the hot springs still steamed, hidden now behind the curve of the land.

Eve moved quietly. Her hair, still damp from the springs, clung in places to her cheeks, and her robe hung loosely around her shoulders. She walked with a kind of reverence — not because the forest demanded it, but because her spirit did. Valery let her lead, their pace unhurried, unspoken.

When they reached the plateau near the summit, the trees began to thin. The land opened just enough to welcome a view of the valley below, and for a long moment, both women simply stood there, letting the wind pass through them like a breath too long held.

They found what they needed not far from the edge — a fallen tree, its wood dry and split clean. Good for carving. Eve knelt beside it, her hand brushing along the grain. She didn't say anything, but Valery didn't need words to know that the girl had already chosen which pieces would become part of her lightsaber. Her hand was steady as she began to gather them.

Later, as the shadows grew longer and their packs sat a little heavier with the weight of wood, they rested beneath the slope's edge. The sun was still hanging low, casting golden light across the world, and the breeze carried a hush like a secret.

Eve sat with her knees drawn up, her flute resting in her lap. She hadn't played in a little while, but she felt the need to bring it along. She wasn't sure why at the time.

But now, with the Force humming through her, and the memory of silver eyes still lingering in her thoughts, she lifted the flute to her lips.

The sound was soft — a single, wandering melody. It wasn't a song of triumph or sorrow, but something quieter, older. A sound that felt like it belonged to the mountain itself. Her fingers moved with care, shaping breath into music, and for a little while, the world was very still.

And somewhere, deep in the woods below, a silver fox turned its head and listened.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery sat with her back against the warm curve of the slope, legs stretched out, arms loosely draped over her knees as she watched the horizon begin to soften beneath the setting sun. The light caught in Eve's silver hair like fire spun through silk, and for a long time, Valery didn't move. Didn't speak. She simply breathed, letting the stillness sink into her bones, into the spaces between her thoughts that were usually too loud to hear anything else.

The forest was quiet, save for the gentle rustle of leaves and the occasional call of distant birds. But as Eve lifted her flute, and that first delicate note slipped into the air, Valery felt something shift again.

She closed her eyes.

The melody was like water over stone — patient, persistent, worn smooth by time. There was no force behind it, no need to be anything more than what it was: a gift. A reflection of a soul finding its voice not through words, but through something older, something purer. Valery let the sound fill her, the way only music could. The way it bypassed the mind and went straight to the heart. Her lips curved into a soft smile, one hand lifting to rest over her chest where that familiar ache of pride and love always lived.

When the last note finally faded, Valery opened her eyes again and turned her head slightly to look at her Padawan. She didn't speak right away, didn't want to disturb the delicate stillness the song had left behind.

But then, gently, quietly — "You always surprise me, Eve." She let the words linger. "Not because I doubt you. Never that. But because you keep finding new ways to show me just how much heart you carry." She pushed herself up slowly, brushing dirt from her hands, and stepped over to sit beside her. The breeze tugged gently at their hair, the last golden rays catching on the horizon like the galaxy itself was pausing to take a breath.

Valery glanced sideways at her, eyes soft. "That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing it."

Everest Vale ​

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Hiking
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Uneti Flute
Tag: Valery Noble

Eve lowered the flute slowly, the quiet stillness lingering in its wake like dew that hadn’t quite burned away. Her silver lashes lifted at Valery’s words, and her gaze turned not upward, but downward, toward her hands, still cradling the flute in her lap. She didn’t smile right away. Her voice, when it came, was soft and reverent.

"It wasn’t meant to be anything grand... just a... thank you," she murmured. "To the trees, the sky... the wind that brought us here." Her thumb brushed the edge of the flute, tracing the familiar grooves of its hand-carved shape. "The Force feels loud sometimes in cities. But here, it’s quiet. Like it listens... you know? And I just… like to give something back."

She glanced up then, a small, sheepish grin finally rising.

"I didn’t think it was that good."

The wind rustled the canopy above, scattering light across the slope. Birds wheeled lazily overhead. As the moment stretched, the golden light thickened, deepened. The sun was sinking lower now, brushing the forest with amber and rose. Eve rose slowly to her feet, brushing off the grass from her robes.

"We should head back before Mama worries," she said, her tone warm. "I think she’s making stew."

She offered a hand to Valery as they prepared to descend the mountain together, the quiet contentment of the afternoon still cradling her every movement, as if the music had never truly ended, just faded into something deeper.

Something lasting.