New acquaintances and a willingness to teach

[Celiana]

It'd been a long while since I'd spent any significant time on Kasshyyyk. Business and building my shadow web had taken a large portion of my time, though there was always something about Kasshyyyk that seemed to pull me back. Recently I'd been giving thought to taking on a padawan, as it was I made it a point to teach saber classes to either younglings or those willing to learn. I wasn't typically one to spend time at the temple but there was some work being done on The Morrigan and I found it helpful to cleanse my mind through saber forms. As of now I was going through a Djem-So form in one of the outdoor training areas.

The feel of the breeze against my skin and the hum of my saber was part of peace I'd been missing. Continuing through the form I let my cares float away, I felt distantly a sense of curiosity in the temple. Perhaps whoever it was would find their way outside with me...

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

Since the Jen'ari empire had falled, Lakura had wandered around without guidance or purpose. She had fallen with a Jedi master and went on a journey with him. Now that was over and she was once again lost.

She had arrived on Kashyyyk and was welcomed. So she dwelled with these people for now. Confident a purpose would be discovered, she found herself walking in one of the temple gardens. Built in with the nature of the planet, the Jedi had made themselves a home here and Lakura was free to be herself.

Normally not confident, some of that had come to her and she was called by the hum of a lightsaber. Something she did not possess and wanted to watch a person versed in its use in action.

Staying to the shadows, the apprentice had her hood pulled up to hide her hair and eyes. Some things just weren't normal and her silver white hair and glowing pink eyes were certainly not that.

Not saying anything to interrupt the practice, Lakura sat down on the ground to watch the other woman go through her motions.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I was making my way faster and faster through Djem-So variants now. Each strike led into the next, Djem-So created openings for others to exploit but while I used Djem-So I also supplemented it with Makashi. Thrusting attack, the rebound then Djem-so powerstrikes and counters. I was distantly aware of being watched but here on Kasshyyyk I wasn't worried about being jumped.

I sensed the young woman's curiosity and having come to a point in the variant form I flourished my cyan blade out to the side and said "You can come closer if you wish y'know? As for the hood I doubt you'll need that here on Kasshyyyk. There's so many different species that come through here...part of being a Jedi is about keeping an open mind. I promise you'll receive no judgement from me youngling."

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

Her attention was on the movements of the other woman and once her presence was mentioned, she almost ran back into the shadows. That lack of confidence kicked in, but the tone of voice she heard seemed welcoming enough. Her hands lifted to her hood and she shook her head.

Speaking with a very soft tone, "I am still afraid of how others will see me. Judge me for my looks before knowing me. You say you won't judge me, why not?"

Maybe the question had already been answered, but Lakura chose not to hear it the first time. Nobody welcomed her really and for the last eighty years, she had wandered around not being at peace or having a place to call home.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

"If others judge based solely on looks then it must be a very sorry life indeed they lead. The Mandalorians have a saying... a warrior is more than their armor." Looking at the seemingly young woman I asked "So young one, first time on Kasshyyyk? I typically see most of the younglings come visit my saber classes at least, yet I've not laid eyes on your particular face yet...."

I had to admit her features were quite striking and not unnattractive either... shaking my head softly I said "by the way youngling you shouldn't be so self conscious, you have an ethereal grace and beauty about you. Plus your amethyst eyes are quite beautiful." Tucking my hair behind my pointed Force altered ears and opening my mouth I showed her my Aelfin ears and sharper canines. "Not everyone is what they appear youngling, I happen to be a bit different as well."

Winking at her I gestured towards the ground and said "So what can I help you with my dear? I'm Celiana, a knight with the Silver Jedi and you are?"

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

There was still a bit of a look that appeared to be that of a deer caught in a speeder's headlights, but the tenseness of Lakura was starting to fade. She listened to what Celiana was saying and thought about her words. Her looks were the reason she had been banished from Dathomir by her mother. Her father was unknown and had nothing to do with raising her. When she was asked if this was her first time on Kashyyyk, she nodded.

One of her hands went up to the side of her face and her fingertip rubbed at the corner of an eye when they were pointed out. Letting out a surprised gasp when the other woman pointed out her down features, it would also be noted her own teeth were sharper than a human and she had elf like ears as well.

"What are you? We appear so similar. I am Lakura Selim. Former member of the Jen'Ari and nothing right now."

I am nothing to anybody, not even myself. Just a useless waste of space...

Her inner voice told her and that was what she felt like. However, the welcome she genuinely felt from Celiana helped put her at ease and she came out of the shadows. Taking a seat on the ground, she moved with fluid grace and looked up at her new acquaintance.

"I don't know."

Not meeting the gaze of the other woman, Lakura stared at the ground in front of her.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling at Lakura's question I said "I started out as a human-Echani mix you could say.... After the catastrophe on Eshan I returned and experienced several changes shall we say? The Force physically altered me, hence the Aelfin ears and sharper canines. I...shall we say grew into my culture? As for you youngling, saying you are nothing seems a bit untrue to me. You're here so you were at the very least curious."

Winking at her I said "if you don't know then may I suggest looking at your desires? They frequently can lead one to the truth about what one is seeking." Looking around I said "Kashhyyyk is a place all its own. There's much to experience here if you're open to listening... Reach out and tell me what you hear from this place youngling...."

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

"Did that happen to me as well?"

The question was out before she could stop it and Lakura darkened slightly at her unexpected question. She wasn't human or echani and had grown up on Dathomir to a single mother. Her father never played a role in things, but she did know what race he was.

"I am Dathomiri and Zorren. Not the same as you."

What did she desire?

"I don't want run or be afraid."

Gulping slightly, she wasn't sure if her words would make any sense or help Celiana get an idea of what she wanted.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smirking slightly I said "I believe you'd know if The Force physically altered your body young one, it's not something that escapes attention easily." Arching my eyebrow slightly at her desire to not run or be afraid I smiled. "That shows a hunger for growth which is good....There are several questions I have for you then Lakura. First, what do you believe you're running from? Why? Secondly, what is it you fear?"

I looked at her and smiled before continuing "The thing about running is that while you can escape for a time, unless you identify why or what you're running from you'll always continue to run rather than stand your ground. Secondly identify what you fear because only by facing that can you conquer your fear."

Smiling I looked at her and said "I suggest we take a moment to allow you to meditate on those things and then after you've had that moment we can see about teaching hmmm?"

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

"I was in the wilds for a month. No mirror or anything to look at. Over that month, this happened."

Pointing to her eyes, ears, teeth and claws, she looked at the same features present on Celiana. Lakura sat on the ground and listened to what was asked and could easily answer some of them.

"I am running from enemies. Several groups came in and destroyed the government I followed. Hunters have come after many and several have just disappeared."

Looking to the ground, she looked up again after taking a breath.

"I fear death and what comes after. There is no escaping that. It will come even if it isn't for thousands of years."

Blinking, she fell silent and waited to hear what the other woman would say to refute what she had said.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling at Lakura's comment on death and what came after I said "A wise man once said, to the well-organized mind death is but the next great adventure. I don't personally look forward to that day myself but I know that when it comes I can still effect great change. Old masters such as Skywalker, Yoda, Kenobi, and Jinn all effected great change from beyond the grave." Looking over her features I took in the nails, teeth, and eyes... "As for your physical changes.... perhaps The Force willed you to be a more effective predator or a wraith like me. The ears I have now I can hear things others wouldn't pick up even with Force abilities, my senses have been vastly improved. Such that I'm even more effective than I was before at shall we say.... special operations."

Her comment about the government she'd followed being destroyed brought a smirk to my face. "Lakura, governments rise and fall like the tides or position of stars. If you're concerned about being hunted then I suggest you turn the tables and instead become a hunter yourself.... This I can teach you to do and to do VERY effectively. If you're concerned about finding those who were taken I can show you how to find them as well. Though my methods shall we say could be considered aggressive..."

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

Shaking her head at the offer of finding those that had been taken. She had no loyalty to them and while it might have pained her slightly to not know what had happened to them, Lakura really didn't care one way or the other. They had very little to do with her and their loss didn't have any effect on her life.

"No, I have no interest in finding them."

The woman had not thought of death as just another adventure and really did not like it. To her when one died, that was all. It was the end of their story. However, from what Celiana said, there were a few that had lived on and even brought about changes from beyond the grave.

Drawing in a breath, she listened as the other woman continued on.

"What do you mean? There are always governments and movements. Good, bad, light dark and everything in between..."

Her words faltered as the offer from Celiana reached her brain. Sitting up a bit higher, she opened and closed her fist a time or two and nodded without even knowing it.

"How can I learn to be effective?"

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling softly I said "aye, everything in between. Governments and people are more often than not concerned with maintaining power. In terms of being an effective hunter....what experience do you have with combat? Not everything requires bladework or blasters. Sometimes the most effective things to learn are how to not be seen. How to listen, how to watch without moving...." Channeling The Force I wrapped myself in the currents of energy and vanished from view. Moving behind a nearby tree I said "How to vanish from sight." Stepping behind her with a dancers' grace I tapped Lakura on the shoulder and dispelled my Force Cloak. "Sound like something you'd be interested in Lakura?"

[member="Lakura Salim"]

 

[Duma Shallotte]

Celiana asked what Lakura knew of combat and her hand opened and closed again. The sharp claws, a natural part of her body now digging slightly into her palm. Her tounge ran across her canine-like teeth and she smiled a little. Just as she was going to answer though, the other woman seemingly disappeared from view.

She could still hear her voice though and the tap didn't come as a total surprise.

"I was raised on Dathomir so know a little on fighting there. However, when I turned 18, that is when I changed into this."

Hands motioned to her body, "and I was cast away. I am a survivor though and know how to live off the land. It is something I was forced into."

Lakura could hunt, fish and cook off the land and knew how to keep her presence hidden from wild animals. To be able to do that to people too would be something she only ever dreamed of. She could return home and take vengeance on the people that so coldly turned her out.

"That does sound like something I am interested in."

Giving Celiana a smile, she stood up and held out a hand to shake. Raising her eyes to meet hers, she was silently for a moment more before asking the next question on her mind.

"What is the price for this training?"

[member="Celiana"]