Private Reunions & Surprises

[Katherine Emberlain]

REUNIONS & SURPRISES

Tags: Valery Noble

When Katherine had gone on her own bit of ‘self-exile’, she had established a single line of communication; to a specific set of people, should any emergencies occur that required the winged Jedi’s presence. Other than that, the redhead had disconnected herself from the galaxy as a whole.

After both Coruscant and the Core Worlds had fallen, Katherine had practically thrown herself into helping with relief efforts. But it very quickly spiralled down to a point it was physically making her ill. Not that it would’ve stopped the winged Jedi, but she had someone at her side at the time.

Torin Emberlain.

He had been the first to find her after the invasion, and remained as a steady rock at her side as she moved about the galaxy trying to help. But he was also the one to stop Katherine the moment it became clear she was pushing herself beyond her limits.

After all, she wouldn’t be able to help anyone, if she herself was incapacitated.

So Katherine made plans to disconnect from the galaxy, in order to heal, meditate and self-reflect. Torin took her to a planet he had found, one where large swathes of land were covered in forests. Which came as zero surprise that the towering druid was lucky enough to stumble across such a planet.

There were a few settlements sprinkled across the planet, all of which were all very low tech, pretty much villages in function and definition. But there was one that was actively seeking development, and during his stay Torin had sought them out, intending to aid them. Katherine joined him during her exile, assisting in the efforts to help the locals develop their village into a prosperous town.

Eventually, Katherine returned to the galaxy, this time lending her lightsaber to the High Republic. Though that didn’t come without some roadbumps along the way. Namely the schism that formed when a group of Jedi wanted to take a more ‘active approach’ against the ever rising Sith threat.

The winged Jedi had taken a neutral stance, making it clear she’d only make a decision after seeing if the Order and Council would take greater action against the Sith. Otherwise she’d join with the renewed Vanguard. But then events happened, and their lives were thrown a couple curve balls…

Upon sensing Valery’s return to the known Galaxy, Katherine hadn’t hesitated to reach out. She extended an invitation to visit her and Torin at their home. The redhead was eager to catch up, to learn what Valery had been up to during her time away. Though even through the message there was an undercurrent of something else, something unspoken, something that elicited excitement from Katherine.

But as Valery’s ship was descended to the clearing in the dense forest, it wasn’t Katherine that waited there to greet the Jedi Master, but the towering form of Torin instead.

“Valery, it’s been a long time.”

 

[Valery Noble]

​

The familiar presences reached Valery before her ship had even touched the ground. She felt Katherine first, unmistakable even after all this time, and Torin close by. It brought a smile to her face as she guided her X-wing into the clearing. The forest bent beneath the wash of its engines until the fighter settled onto its landing gear and powered down. After so much time spent moving between unfamiliar worlds and meeting people she barely knew, there was something comforting about finding old friends again.

Valery opened the cockpit and climbed out, dropping the last short distance to the ground before looking toward the figure waiting for her. She had expected Katherine to be the first one running out to greet her, but instead found herself staring up at Torin.

And up.

Her eyes traveled over the towering, muscular man before meeting his gaze, and an amused smirk appeared. Rather than offer anything formal, Valery stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug. She held it for a moment before pulling back, her hands briefly resting against his arms.

"It's good to see you, Torin. Really." Her smile softened as she studied him. "I hope you've been well. Katherine too, of course. It's been far too long."

Valery glanced past him toward the forest and the home somewhere beyond. Katherine's presence still lingered there, and already Valery was curious about what had brought the two of them all the way out here. The invitation itself had carried a certain excitement that hadn't escaped her notice either.

Her attention returned to Torin with a knowing little grin.

"Though I get the feeling Katherine has something she really wants to tell me."

Katherine Emberlain ​

 

[Katherine Emberlain]

REUNIONS & SURPRISES

Tags: Valery Noble

“I’ve been doing well, Kat too.” Torin replied, crouching down just enough to give Valery a proper hug. When she pulled back, the druid didn’t immediately stand, instead he looked at Valery, really looked at her.

Outwardly she didn’t look that much different, maybe the additional visible scar or two. But there was something about her, something within Valery’s eyes told Torin quite a lot had indeed changed since they had last seen one another.

Seeing Valery’s grin, the corner of Torin’s lips twitched, but he managed to refrain from smirking too much. “All in due time Valery, all in due time.” He replied, finally standing to his full height. Though in the process of doing so, something shifted loose from beneath his tunic and fell out into view.

It was a necklace.

One that had clearly been handcrafted, woven cord with a sculpted wooden carving hanging in the middle. It depicted a tree being hugged by a pair of wings.

“I’ll guide you the rest of the way to our home.” Torin turned on his heels and began leading the way out of the clearing and into the depths of the forest. Even from this distance, one could hear the faint sounds of activity coming from the town close by. Its visage was visible through the treeline as they followed the path.

“Katherine wanted to be the one to greet you, but a sudden matter called her to the town instead, she-” Torin paused for a moment, his focus clearly being pulled elsewhere. The druid smiled, sensing Katherine’s presence. “Ah, it looks like Kat’s back at home already.”

Torin turned his head to look at Valery. “How have you been, Valery? From what I’ve heard, you’ve been on quite the voyage.”