Private Salt Upon Wounds

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

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The roar of the waterfall filled the meditative garden, a steady, rhythmic crash that drowned out the distant hum of Coruscant beyond the Temple walls. Alana sat motionless, her red eyes locked onto the cascade of water as it tumbled into the pool below. Mist clung to the air, cool against her skin, but she barely felt it.

She didn't belong here.

The garden was too pristine, too carefully curated to invoke the illusion of peace. It reeked of Jedi ideals, of balance and serenity—concepts she had never truly known. Even before the Sith took her, peace had been an illusion. A lie. In a sense she was a prisoner here.

She adjusted her seating position, trying to shield her gaze from the overhead glow of Coruscant's sky. Somewhere, out there, the world moved on without her. Bounty hunters tracked marks. Smugglers ran spice through the underworld. People like her—people who had crawled through the muck and filth of the galaxy—weren't meant to sit in quiet reflection beneath the cascading waters of a Jedi sanctuary. They were to never amount to anything.

And yet, here she was.

Alana exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the pistol at her hip, the hidden blade tucked beneath her sleeve, the lightsaber she barely understood clipped to her belt. This meeting was a risk, but she had learned to trust in nothing but risks.

The Jedi she was waiting for—she didn't even know their name. Didn't know what they wanted from her. Valery had simply requested she speak with the woman, and that was all.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts.

She tilted her head slightly, red eyes shifting toward the presence behind her, then back to the waters before her.

She wasn’t sure how to start this conversation.

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway


The meditation gardens had become a much needed place of retreat for Everest. Following everything after Woostri, and all the healing that followed — including Eshan — visiting the gardens to meditate and play the flute had become an almost daily practice for her since; a chance to ensure her heart remained open and true in the face of all that threatened to the Light of the world.

But today wasn't like most days. Normally, she would spend her time here either alone for hours, or with Tigris. She had been slipping into something of a routine, and she appreciated the stability. But today was different.

'Go and meet Alana Calloway', her master had told her. 'She could do with a friend.'

And truly, Everest would relish a new friend too. Life seemed to move so fast in the Temple, and so many of her friends were constantly moving around the galaxy, whereas Everest simply wished for more moments to slow to a halt, enjoy tea, and breathe.

So she walked calmly through the gardens, white robes gently rippling with every step she took like the waterfalls themselves. She took in several slow, measured breaths, savouring the humid scent of plants and water, and a gentle smile came to her as she made her way to this mysterious new acquaintance. To her own surprise, she was Echani too.

"Hi~" came her voice when she arrived behind her, gentle and warm. "Is it Alana?" Both hands on her legs, she gave a brief, timid bow and shot her a smile as she walked up beside her. "I'm Everest— Eve." She was never good at introducing herself, and it always made her feel so awkward. She blushed a little, suddenly remembering how difficult it was to get to know new people. "D-Do you mind if I join you?"

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana sat on the edge of a stone bench, elbows resting on her knees, staring into the water as if it might offer her something—answers, maybe. Solace, more likely. The humid air clung to her skin, the scent of wet stone and greenery filling her lungs with every slow breath. It was too peaceful. Too quiet. It set her teeth on edge.

She had heard Everest approach. Even though her hearing was still half-shot, a dull ringing filling the space where sound should be, but she caught the movement in her periphery. White robes, careful steps, soft voice.

Echani.

She turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing as she took Everest in. The soft smile, the slight bow, the nervous energy she carried. Alana had seen that kind of openness before—people who hadn't yet learned how much it could cost.

Her gaze flicked away, back to the water. "Depends who's asking," She muttered, voice rough from disuse. Almost immediately after saying that, the guilt kicked in, and she replied. "Yeah. Alana." She tapped the empty space beside her with two fingers, an invitation—reluctant, but real. "Go ahead."

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

There was something about her that Eve could sense. There was a conflict brewing inside of her that was hard to ignore. For a moment, Eve hesitated, aware of the reluctance and tension coming from the woman. She didn't want to intrude, and yet it was already done, the invitation had already come, as reluctant as it may have seemed. Quietly, she sat beside her, setting down her cloth-wrapped flute against the side of the bench.

She didn't say anything for a moment, and merely allowed the quiet to settle between them. She took in a slow, measured breath, savouring once more that moist, nourishing air, and taking in the sights of the waters and what lay beyond it. It was a lovely spot, and it gave her that same solace she so often came in search of. She couldn't help but let a small, satisfied smile come to her, before remembering she was in company.

She turned her head to Alana.

"Um—" She was suddenly stricken with a familiar shyness. "I'll admit," she started, trying to break the tension. "I was kind of surprised when my Master told me to come meet someone new. I'm not, uh, not exactly the outgoing type."

She let out a tiny, awkward chuckle, as if she wasn't sure of her own words, and rested her hand on the back of her neck.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana didn't respond at first. She just sat there, staring at the water, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the bench. The girl was nervous—shy in a way Alana hadn't been in a long time. It was… disarming.

She sighed through her nose, finally glancing over. "Yeah? Could've fooled me," She muttered, not unkindly. "Most people who aren't outgoing don't just walk up to strangers and start talking. But…I’m used to being a social butterfly, just depends."

There was no real bite to the words, just an observation. A dry, weary sort of amusement flickered across her face, but it was gone in a blink. She shifted slightly, leaning back against the bench. If Eve was good at reading body language, Alana’s was signaling unease.

"Suppose I should be flattered your Master thought I was worth the trouble. I’ve had a lot of people…I don’t know, they view me as being fragile-“ She stopped herself, voice quieter now, as if she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Her gaze flicked over to the flute beside Everest. "I'm guessing you know how to play that thing, right?”

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

Eve could hear the hint of lightheartedness in her voice, that subtle wish to connect a little more despite the automatic response to reject. She noted the way she chose her words with an air of caution about them, as if she wasn't entirely sure of herself, as subtle as that sensation was, buried somewhere deep within herself. That was without even noting her body language, which had discomfort written all over it. Eve could completely relate to it all. She had been in such a place many times, and still visited it herself.

As for Eve, she had started to relax more deeply. The meditation gardens tended to do that quickly for her, and as Alana actually started talking more, her own apprehension over meeting her had begun to fade.

Then Alana turned her attention to her flute, and her breath hitched the tiniest amount as she automatically turned to look at it.

"Oh— Y-Yeah. Actually, I made it." She hesitated at first, suddenly shy about the whole thing. Normally, she would offer to play for friends if she knew them well enough, but would other play alone for her own sake. But it being brought up suddenly, and being put on the spot like this, made her bashful.

Picking it up, she carefully rolled it out of its cloth wrapping. Its deep wood was intricately carved, with lacquered symbols painted all along.

"I made it from the Uneti tree here in the temple, if you know the one." She looked at the flute herself for a moment, as if making sure even now there weren't any mistakes in its craftsmanship. "I, uh— I can play something for you..." She slowly looked up to Alana, and a small smile formed. "...if you like."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

She shifted a bit, looking more to Everest as she became more at ease. She looked the flute over, a memory of something distant came to mind. Her mother had a dart blower, something Alana had tried to play several times she recalled-

Then the memory slipped, just as the vague outlines of her mothers face began to form.

“I thought my mother knew how to play one of these, but, she just had it for work.” She rambled, recalling that Alphonse had something not that far removed from what Eve held. “My…father though, I think he used to play while we were camping on Dantooine….never taught me how to play though.”

She smiled faintly at the memory, before that too faltered, the dying embers of a fire and the shadows of her adoptive fathers face-

"You got a good heart, kid," He murmured, voice full of a warmth she had never quite learned to trust. "You just gotta decide what to do with it."

Her smile faded, but Eve’s offer gave her a glimmer of hope of recalling the past again. “If you don’t mind….I’m far from versed in music, but, I’d like to hear what you can do.”

She pulled her legs up, sitting cross legged now on the bench as Eve had the woman’s full attention.

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

There was something in the way Alana's face warmed suddenly as she smiled. All the apprehension that seemed to nag at her seemed to melt away, replaced with the spark of something deeper and warmer. Eve couldn't help but pick up on it.

"Oh– Of course." She shot a timid smile, somewhat taken aback despite how clearly the conversation was leading up to the request. She looked at the flute again, needlessly running her fingers along the wood a moment, considering what she should play. "I'm not so used to playing for others," she finally said unnecessarily, an awkward chuckle escaping her. Eve tapped the flute a moment longer, lost in thought for a second, before raising the instrument to her lips.

She became suddenly seriously, still, her eyes closing as she turned inward. Her surroundings melted away as her mind turned to the melody that was already playing in her hearty. A gentle inhale through her nose, and she began.

The song was delicate, serene, tinged with a quiet undertone of profound tragedy. Eve worked through the piece with masterful precision, the years of experience coming out through her fingerwork and the subtle control of her breath. As she played, a gentle hum of Light emanated from her and the instrument, offering a sense of calm and wholeness. By the waters, several koi fish had slowly gathered up to the surface, as if yearning to get closer to the music.

When she finished, she let the flute rest on her lips for a moment, her eyes still closed, herself still lost in the trance of the moment. The piece was a song of her home, a traditional work from the rural landscapes of southern Eshan. It spoke of love and of war and the tribulations of life, but overlaid with the unmistakable sense of hope for a better tomorrow.

At least, she lowered the flute and exhaled, quickly wiping away the tear that had fallen down her cheek during the piece's climax. She opened her eyes, blinking back into her bright surroundings, and gave Alana a bashful smile.

"It's a song from Eshan. One of my favourites."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana had been quiet throughout the entire piece, caught somewhere between listening and… feeling. The melody had reached something in her that she wasn't prepared for, something raw and unspoken, buried beneath years of survival and necessity.

She had never been much for music—not in the way that others were. But this? This was different. It was more than just sound. It was a story, woven into each note, pressing against the walls of her guarded mind and demanding to be heard.

And she did hear it. She felt it in the way her chest tightened, in the way her fingers twitched as if reaching for something she couldn't quite grasp.

When Eve finally opened her eyes, blinking away a tear, Alana wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't even sure she could say anything. She just felt something inside her being soothed, though what it is, and why she had no idea.

For a moment, she just stared, lips slightly parted, caught in the aftermath of something she didn't entirely understand.

Then, finally, she swallowed and forced a smirk—though it lacked its usual sharpness. "Didn't take you for the sentimental type," she muttered, her voice quieter than she intended. She glanced away, exhaling through her nose. "It was… nice." A pause, then softer, almost hesitant—"Really nice."

She shifted her weight, feeling oddly restless. "So that's what home sounds like to you, huh?" Her gaze flicked back to Eve, something unreadable in her expression. "I haven’t….I grew up on a ship as a young girl. I can’t say I’ve had one.”

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

Eve shyly grinned, and moved a stray silver strand behind her ear before beginning to wrap the flute back up in its cloth.

"Oh, I'm probably the most sentimental person you'll ever meet." The grin remained, transforming slowly into something more mischievous perhaps, but it was tinged with something very self-aware. "Thank you. I'm glad you liked it."

Alana turned to her own home, or lack thereof. The thought made Eve feel remorse on her behalf, as if taking on her pain for herself. Home being such an important part of her, Eve couldn't imagine how it must feel to live a life so... untethered. None of this did she indicate, but her expression did soften to her. And yet, as she dwell on it all, she did think on how much life has changed for her. Eshan was where she came from, but home was where she was happy. Home, for her, had become Tigris, and the Nobles, Azzie and Colette. Even these gardens.

"I think... home can be wherever you want it to be, if you give yourself enough time..." she said thoughtfully, slowly.

Before she continued any further, Eve reached into the depths of her robe pocket and produced a bag of bread crumbs. Giving it a quick shake loose, she glanced at the fish that had gathered by the surface, attracted by her song, and knelt by the edge.

"Hi, little ones." Using her index finger to guide, she let a soft and gentle string of Light to trickle through the water and dance about them. They swam around joyously in response, one even leaping up several centimeters above the surface. Eve giggled, and reached a hand in to grab a generous portion of crumbs, tossing them into the water. The fish sucked them up immediately. She turned to Alana.

"Sorry. They expect it from me at this point given how often I'm here." She grinned. "Did you want to?" She held out the bag in offering.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana watched the way Eve handled the fish, the way the Light danced at her fingertips, soft and effortless. It was… foreign. Not in the way of something unfamiliar, but in the way of something long forgotten, buried beneath layers of dust and neglect.

She glanced down at the bag of breadcrumbs, hesitating.

"I don't think they'd want anything from me," She muttered, the words carrying more weight than she intended. It wasn't just the fish. It was the way people recoiled when they sensed what lingered in her, the way the Force itself sometimes felt like it held its breath around her.

Still, after a beat, she reached out, taking the bag.

She grabbed a small handful, letting the crumbs slip between her fingers into the water. The fish hesitated at first, as if unsure of this new offering, then swam forward, snatching up the pieces.

Alana let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Guess they don't mind," She said, voice quieter, almost thoughtful. She glanced at Eve, then back at the water.

"Home, huh?" She tossed another handful in, watching the ripples spread. "Maybe. I think some people are just meant to be untethered."

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

Eve could feel the soft hum through the Force emanate from the fish as they enthusiastically fed on the new crumbs Alana had tossed to them. As she watched carefully, smiling at the fish as they ate, a faculty in the back of her mind was able to latch on to the subtlety of their simple sensations, a single word eventually shining from the interaction.

~Friend~​

Eve smiled.

"They like you," she told Alana knowingly, offering a warm smile to her.

"Maybe you're right," she said, attention turning back to the idea of home. It was a solemn thought to Eve, being so untethered from... anything at all. Yet, something in her didn't quite agree that some people were simply meant to have a life that way. She cleared her throat.

"But maybe... it just takes finding the right place, the right people." There was something left unsaid in her words, an unspoken feeling on the nature of personal change as well. For a long time in the beginning, the Coruscant temple was the furthest thing from home to her. But as time went on, she made friends and a second family there. Above all, though, she herself had changed in such a way that made her see the place as offering something she had finally grown into fully appreciating.

"I think... there always a part of us that feels like it doesn't belong, and that can be scary..." She chose her words slowly, thoughtfully, an undeniable weight set behind them.

A gentle breath. Her head turned up towards the canopy overhead, lost in thought.

"But if we can find our own calling in this galaxy, I think we can start to see home, or make a home, in anything we choose." She fell silent for a moment, contemplating her own words as if she had just been told them herself.

She dropped her head again and looked suddenly awkward again, shooting a small smile to Alana.

"I dunno if that makes sense."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana watched the fish, their simple contentment rippling through the Force, and found herself oddly still. However what was felt and understood by Eve, remained cut off and silent to Alana. She had closed the force off from herself, letting it settle within her.

A belonging.

The thought unsettled her, not because she disliked it, but because it had been so long since she'd entertained the idea. Friends had a way of slipping through her fingers, whether by death, betrayal, or the simple drift of time. And home? That was an even more foreign concept.

She let Eve's words settle between them, turning them over in her mind like a gambler weighing their odds.

"Maybe," Alana finally said, voice quieter than she intended. She wasn't sure if she was agreeing or just acknowledging the thought.

She glanced at Eve then, catching that flicker of awkwardness, that small, uncertain smile. There was something disarming about it, something that made Alana's usual instinct—to push back, to deflect—waver.

"It makes sense," She admitted, the corner of her mouth twitching, as if surprised at herself for saying it. "I just don't think everyone gets that choice."

Her eyes flicked back to the water, to the fish that knew nothing of war or loss or the weight of ghosts.

In a way she envied them, and the thought of that felt laughable. But she didn’t laugh, because it made her a tinge sad. She’d rather be a fish in a pond, than Alana Calloway.

"But I like the idea of it."

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

There was a sense that something was missing inside Alana, a hole or a scar that had been buried deep away, longed to be forgotten. But Eve could see how it came out in the way she chose her words, the way in which she held herself, like she was always on edge about something not yet fully realised, or holding back for fear of opening a wound that she wasn't yet sure would heal fully.

Eve could relate to it completely.

Woostri still hung heavy on her tender heart. Despite everything, there was always that tinge of pain ever present. She could see that same tinge clawing at Alana, and something started to take a hold of her as she watched her; an overwhelming need to want to do something about it. To reach out to someone who maybe doesn't have the same support network she was lucky enough to have.

"You know," she began softly, her gaze fixing on the cascading waters across the way. "I often come here when the weight of everything just feels too heavy. I've been coming here a lot lately, actually." The flash of a scream — hers and yet not — echoed through her mind, melting in an instant into the backdrop of the waterfalls. She took in a deep, measured breath, closing her eyes a moment and stretching her neck slowly as if to pull the memory back in. "The serenity of this place... It helps me find balance."

She turned to Alana, offering a gentle smile. "But... something I think I'm starting to realise... Peace isn't about the absence of chaos; it's about finding calm within it. It's not easy, especially when our pasts are filled with..." She didn't finish, hesitating with finding the right word to describe it all. A delicate hand floated onto her flute once more.

"Music has been my anchor," she admitted, eyes falling to the floor. "But also practising Echani. I tend to do that when I'm especially stressed, but it brings me back to myself... I'm not so good, though." She let a small chuckle escape her. She would be the first to admit she just wasn't 'good' at being an Echani. Yet, she was learning to savour her roots more and more as time went on. Returning home had solidified that connection, and she couldn't have been more grateful for it.

She took a gentle breath, a silence hanging between them. She wanted to say more, and she had gone too far to stop now. and she steeled herself with another breath.

"We all carry wounds," she said quietly, hoping she wasn't starting to overstep. "But it's how we heal from them that defines us."

She paused, allowing the words to settle. "If you ever need someone to talk to... or just sit in silence with... I'm here."

Eve's offer hung in the air, a bridge extended towards a soul she could see, from within her own damaged heart, was in need of some manner of solace.

Maybe it was all such a cliche thing to say, but it was genuine.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana listened, her gaze still fixed on the water, but she wasn't really seeing it anymore. Instead, her mind traced the edges of what Eve was saying, like running a finger along the rim of an old wound to see if it still hurt.

She didn't flinch, but she felt it—the familiar ache, the empty spaces she never let herself linger on for too long.

Eve's words were well-meaning, honest. And that was the problem. People who meant well tended to make her uneasy, not because she distrusted them, but because she didn't know how to handle them.

She exhaled slowly, arms crossing over her chest. "I think peace and I had a falling out a long time ago," She said, voice even. "Doesn't mean I don't try, but it never really sticks."

She finally looked at Eve then, studying her for a moment. The flute. The way she carried herself. The way she admitted her struggles so easily, as if sharing the weight made it lighter. Alana wasn't sure if she envied that or if it just made her uncomfortable.

Still, the offer—I'm here—wasn't something she could brush off like she usually did.

"I don't really talk about things," she admitted after a beat, shifting her weight. "Never had much use for it." A pause. A dry smirk. "But if you really want to hear me out then, I guess I can try…and offer that back to you in kind."

It was the closest thing to acceptance she could offer.

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

She didn't respond in quite the way Eve was expecting, or hoping. But then again, maybe she wasn't quite so effective at helping people as Master Noble was. Nevertheless, Alana was opening up, at her own pace. Eve just needed to remember not to push her, and simply make sure she was aware that she was there should she decide she needed it.

She nodded as Alana hesitantly accepted her offer, letting a smile seal her own sincerity. It warmed her to hear her offer the same in turn.

"Thank you," she said quietly. It was nice to know that she reciprocated, but she didn't want to burden her with her own problems so soon.

She sat there in silence for a moment, letting the space between them fill with a gentle wash of warmth, before standing slowly and turning to face her.

"Do you maybe... want to go for a walk? I find it helps to clear the mind sometimes."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana glanced at Eve, considering the offer. A walk. Simple enough. No expectations, no pressure. Just movement.

She let out a slow breath, then gave a small shrug. "Yeah, alright," She said, pushing herself up to stand. "Beats sitting around waiting for the galaxy to make up its mind about us."

There was a dry edge to her words, but not unkind. If anything, there was the faintest hint of amusement in her tone—as if she wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of clearing her mind, even if she wouldn't admit it outright. "Not us like, not like that, like. As people. Platonically. Us as separate beings, not that you aren't-"

This was only getting worse, so Alana stopped herself, color starting to form in her cheeks.

She adjusted the weight of her coat, rolling a stiffness from her shoulders before nodding toward the path ahead. "Anyways, lead the way."

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

Eve blinked at her for a few moments as she comprehended whatever that was just then. Alana stumbled over her words awkwardly, and Eve wasn't naive enough to not realise what had just happened. She could see the colour come to Alana's pale cheeks, but for once Eve's own cheeks remained exactly as they were, unaffected by the moment. She smiled at her knowingly, but said nothing, unflustered.

The two walked through a path that wound around the whole garden complex, treading through all manner of diverse plants, a series of small ponds, all flanked by the stunning waterfalls that seemed to appear at every corner. It was a lovely walk, and one Eve had spent much time getting familiar with over the last months.

The path lead to an opening amidst trees, an open area of sand and soil along the edge of what had become a stream. It was entirely unattended, save for a mother duck that was bathing in the water while her tiny yellow babies played in defiance. The open space gave some respite amidst the otherwise dense greenery that flanked every corner of the gardens.

"This is where I usually come to meditate."
Eve didn't say much else, didn't question anything, but she did allow Alana the space to enjoy the gardens as they were, and she knew now that if she did want to tell Evee anything, she was right there. And if not, she would there to hold silence with her. Whatever it was she needed, and only on her watch. She shot her a warm smile.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Salt Upon Wounds​

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Gardens​

Tag: Everest Vale​

Gear: Some really lame robes​

​

Alana took in the scenery, letting the sounds of the water and rustling leaves settle over her. It was… nice. She wasn't sure what else to call it. Peaceful, maybe, but in a way that didn't make her feel like an intruder.

She exhaled slowly, watching the ducklings flit about in the stream. Carefree little things. No concept of the wider galaxy, no weight on their shoulders. Just playing, swimming, living.

When Eve spoke, Alana glanced at her. Meditation. Not something she had ever been particularly good at—too much noise in her head, too many things she preferred to keep buried. But she could see why this place worked for Eve. It was the kind of quiet that didn't press down on you, didn't demand anything. Just was.

Alana nodded slightly, stuffing her hands into her robe pockets. "I can see why," she said, voice softer than before.

She didn't say anything else right away, just let the moment breathe. Then, after a beat, she smirked faintly. "Bet those little guys think they're invincible," she murmured, nodding toward the turtle ducklings. "Blissfully unaware of how small they are."

There was something almost wistful in her tone, but she let it pass, eyes still on the water.

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Uneti Flute
Tag: Alana Calloway

Eve looked to the ducklings, such sweet and delicate little things, and she could sense the hum of their feelings swept up in a flurry of excitement of their own creation. If she were to translate the sensation into some kind of recognisable word or two, they would've emerged as three very distinct exclamations.

~Mama! Food! Play!~​

Eve grinned at them. What simple lives indeed.

"Mhm, maybe," she said to Alana in agreement. "I guess you could say the same about us, though... Blissfully unaware of how small we are." As she spoke, it was as if the wisdom of her Master shone through in her voice. The growing confidence and wisdom that bubbled from her surprised even herself, but she was learning to roll with it.

She let the words hang between them for a moment as she thought on what exactly she meant by them. Seemingly, the months of Padawan training were starting to pay off, as she learned to comprehend all the poetic speech that adorned many of the Jedi texts available to her. After a moment of quietude, she decided to continue.

"I... like to think that's okay, though. Sometimes things just... happen, and it's not always up to us to try and change it." Her voice became suddenly more solemn as she spoke, the memories of Woostri and Jedha and everything in between pressing on her mind. They still haunted her every day, and yet as she developed distance from those experiences, she was learning to find a greater context for them in her own understanding of the universe.

Realising she had been staring aimlessly towards the ground in silence for a while, she raised her head and looked at Alana again.

"Like I said," she began, feigning a small smile. "It's up to us to decide how we deal with that... and I think that choice is part of the beauty of being here... alive, and free."