The Light Of The Lanterns .. [Boo]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

.. will guide you home.

The struts of the Tarly touched down on the outskirts of Fridheim digging deep into the winter snow. The engines roared just before the ship would start its cool down cycle but not before creating a pool of water melting the snow with the heat. Theo sat back in the pilot seat, his shoulder aching still from the invasion of Thyferra, his arm in a brace, his leg strapped after receiving treatment for the burns. But regardless of all that, his injuries were nothing compared to the devastation of that planet, he would mend in time, the lives and families of those destroyed by the Sith, would not.

He had come directly to Fridheim for several reasons, he did not want Ylva to see him in this state and he would see her very soon. He had precious cargo on board, his son, who he had sent a message to as soon as the battle was over telling him of what had happened, and to pack their belongings as they were leaving Ilum. There would be one last mission for the Empire before he would had in his commission as Praetor, they did not have any need for him now but the galaxy and the Jedi did. The Iron Empire and it's people were good, outstanding in their attempts to protect that quadrant of the galaxy but things change whether forced upon them or a decision made with heavy heart the time had come to move on. And it was time for Boo to meet his grandparents, he would have to do the same for Ylva too, and that time was coming sooner rather than later.

He also had bad news for them, they had known Kiriko and Theo had not been seen unless in his company his father even made comment on it. There was never one without the other. But things change, life changes everything.

"Boo, meet you at the ramp when you are ready to depart". He spoke over the comm.

He rose from the pilot seat with a grunt fueled by pain before making for the ramp which now rested heavy on the snow of Midvinter. With a bit of difficulty Theo placed his black fur cloak over his shoulders and pulled it over his injured arm and descended upon the soil of his home land.

Fridheim had grown considerably in the time from when father and mother had first established the village, now it is the second biggest city on Midvinter, only Thainbroek bests it and he was surprised to see transport awaiting him at the landing pad which his parents had commissioned built for the purposes of ships now regularly seen in the skies of Midvinter. The Valkyri of Fridheim had advanced, even more so than Thainbroek, they had accepted the change quite well, although some still clung to the old ways and so it was strange for Theo to see a big burly Valkyri sitting astride a ground speeder, revving the engine before vanishing into the forest. It placed a smile on his face, for the first time since Thyferra.

"Lord Heavenshield! Welcome home lad". It was old Belegar, father's trusty companion standing by the side of Theo's ship who had come to greet him.

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

In the back of the ship, there was a mass of blankets, pillows, and holo-comics.

"Boo, meet you at the ramp when you are ready to depart"

The mass of blanket moved, as the lump underneath shifted around. Pillows and holo-comics tumbled off onto the floor as the young Pantoran sat up, though not quite awake. Bleary eyed, the bed-headed youngling was entangled with the snake-like biot, as he looked around the interior of the ship. With a large yawn, the boy stretched, wiggling his toes as he rolled out of bed.

What time was it?

Were the ship's chronometers still on Ilum time? Or was this Coruscant Standard Galactic Time? Or was this local time?

Stumbling about the aft section of the ship, the boy managed to get himself dressed and then donned a black cloak with a sable fur across the shoulders. The amphistaff made getting dressed awkward, the snake-like alien wanted to slither into the sleeves and legs, but the youth was used to the trouble at this point.

He came down the loading ramp a few minutes later, his hair still not combed, to find Théo talking to some old guy with a really strange hair cut.

The boy's amber eyes flashed dangerously.

To be honest, which, as a matter of general principle, Boo rarely was, he was a tad upset at the Grand High Master Jedi. Théo had gone off to Thyferra without him. And come back looking like chit.

They could have fought together. Maybe Boo could have helped. Maybe things would have gone differently then.

But it hadn't been different, and Boo wasn't sure how he felt about being left behind.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"It is good to be home Belegar, and quit with the Lord stuff" he said thumping his good hand attached to the good arm on his big man's shoulders. "My father and mother are here in Fridheim I take it?", Theo had not sent word to them he was returning home to see them, there would be too much to explain in a hololink up it was best done face to face. "Aye lad they are, but I doubt they will be happy to see the state of you". Belegar eyed him over, nodding his head with Valkyri sense of approval for a battle hard fought regardless of the outcome. Suddenly a loud high pitched whistle split the air as Belegar gained the attention of one of the lads under his charge here at the landing pad, and waved a small transport over for Theo to use.

"You in any fit state to drive this thing?", Belegar asked as the transport sidled up to them. "Nope, but I have very good pilot with me", he could not help but grin as Boo came up to them and Theo turned to his son. The dark look on Boo's face had not gone unnoticed by Theo but he would speak of it later, in private. "This is .. Lord Boo Heavenshield, my son". It felt good saying that for the first time, unusual and strange, but there would be a sense of pride in his words. But the reaction from Belegar was anything but reverend, "By the bloody Gods, the boy is bitten by the cold .. he is as blue as water trapped ice!", and with that Belegar took off his cloak and wrapped Boo into it, rubbing him vigorously to bring warmth back into his limbs. Theo laughed loud, which only caused him pain in the ribs which soon stifled it. "He's fine Belegar, that is his skin colouring". Although Theo hoped Azi had found himself a warm place under all that cloak and fur.

"We better get moving before the night comes", it was already darkening, the path to Fridheim would be difficult to see as it was. "Just follow the light of the lanterns little lord, they will guide you home". Belegar had stopped man handling Boo once he realised his error. Theo jumped into the passenger seat of the transport and awaited Boo to join him.

And once he did, "Why the long face Boo?". Theo knew, he had had the same feelings as a young boy when he watched his father and mother go off to war, to fight battles against the darkness.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Azi had a way of maintaining her own warmth.

Which, was another reason that the boy's hair was standing on end. The amphistaff was sending a bio-electric current across her serpentile form. Perhaps this was the real reason Yuuzhan Vong went bald.

Lord Boo what?

The Pantoran boy turned to give Théo a very skeptical look as he was introduced. Lord and Boo were words that hardly went together, and Boo seemed a very strange name for a Heavenshield. Boo was a Pantoran name. It didn't really translate well into human. Or Valkyri.

As the boy was bound up in a cloak and jostled about, he was distracted from his present task of fuming in Théo's general direction. Azi's viper-like head appeared for a moment, as the amphistaff poke out from underneath the layers to see for herself what was going on.

She approved of the additional cloak.

Jostled, shocked, and otherwise discombobulated by the welcome to Midvinter, the young Pantoran stumbled along to the speeder. Throwing himself in the driver's seat, the boy took a moment to orient himself to the controls.

Also to the fact that his feet didn't reach the floorboard.

And he couldn't see over the dash.

Diving over top of the seats, the youngling rummaged in the back for a moment. Returning a moment later with a small box, the boy fashioned a booster seat for himself using the extra cloak he'd been given. Then tossed himself back down into the driver's seat.

"Why the long face Boo?"

What did that even mean?

The violet haired boy turned and gave Théo another skeptical look. "This is just my face. Is it 'sposed to be short?" the boy asked, the sarcasm dripping as he turned back to look for the controls.

The accelerator was on the floor. Of course it was.

A ripple of the Dark Side of the Force tapped the accelerator to the floor. Boo wrapped his hands around the yoke and waited in anticipation of the speeder popping off the line with some speed.

Instead it shuddered, and then began a slow crawl forward.

Head turning all directions, the Pantoran looked down to see if the accelerator was, in fact, on the floor. Yes. Yes it was.

If they weren't careful, they might be doing 19 kilometers per hour.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He let the comment go knowing that Boo was fizzing over his leaving him on Ilum while he went off to war. The dangers of it all he knew well, the fear that maybe the ones you love and care for will not return from it, he had spent fretful nights in his youth when his parents were away, Nina was the same as they had to both go to their grandpapa's in that time. His thinking as a boy was that if they all go together, and the worst happened, at least they would die together. It was intolerable .. to be left.

"How about you operate the steering and I will work the peddles", with that Theo lifted his right leg over to Boo's side and moved his foot to the accelerator. Yes speeders on Midvinter are right hand drive. "And try pushing that button", he pointed to a red button on the control panel. At this rate it will take all night to get to Fridheim and Theo did not relish waking father in the middle of the night, he is such a grumpy bear with a sore head if woken in the wee hours. "And if that button does not work, I think I have just found a new use for the Bum Hummer". If the red button did not work, it could be dirty fuel and it would be a very slow trip.

But that was fine too, any time spent with Boo was cherished.

"Are you okay with all this?", he turned to watch Boo's face. "Me and you .. you are not a new born baby with the inability to have a say in the matter but a young man with a mind of your own. Seen more of life than most kids have. So this adoption is one that we take together, I adopting you .. and you, adopting me".

Whatever the name Boo wishes to take if he agrees, is entirely up to him. Even with the slow meandering pace, they had passed several lanterns lighting the way along the snow covered road to Fridheim, it would not be long before the fork in the road would have them turn the speeder to the outskirts of the city toward a house nestled by a large frozen lake surrounded by pine.. and more snow. He could almost smell mother's caf brewing on the hot plate.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Théo put his foot down on the accelerator.

What? Did he not believe that Boo could handle pushing a foot pedal down to the floorboard? "I can do it," the boy fired over at the man. The Dark Side of the Force rippled through the air a second time, as the youngling bristled at Théo's attempt to help.

To be honest, it wasn't that Boo was upset at Théo for trying to help. And it wasn't that Boo didn't appreciate the help. But there were some complex emotions going on with the whole gone to Thyferra, dinner's in the autochef, be home soon situation. The problem was that Boo was just a youngling, and didn't really do complex. At least, not very well. So between loving Théo and being mad at Théo, it worked up to just being flustered and frustrated toward anything and everything.

"And try pushing that button."

The violet-haired child just turned and issued a smoldering glare over at the backseat driver riding in the passenger seat.

It couldn't hurt. This engine felt like it was straining to get moving this fast. Someone must have put a bad motivator on the repulsor block. The way that it seemed to be seizing whenever he tried to get more thrust from the engine, his guess was it had something to do with the intake manifold, but he'd have to get into the block to know for certain.

Of course, a speeder wasn't the same thing as a swoop bike. So Boo probably wouldn't even know what he was looking for. But, in theory, it was all the same. Just... bigger.

"What button?"

Seriously, there were, like, bajillion buttons on this dashboard.

The red button? Of course. Press the little red button. Nothing bad ever happened then. De-pressing the button, the boy was taken aback when the windshield wipers suddenly popped into action.

There was even a little squirt of anti-freeze windshield clearer, so that the wipers dressed the windshield nicely for the ride.

Now, Boo really only had enough room in that small frame for about one emotion at a time. But he could run through a number of them in a single minute. But now, instead of being flustered or frustrated or mad, he was just giggling incessantly at the fact that the windshield wipers were going.

Cruising along Midvnter in a speeder that was more aptly described as a slow-er. With the windshield wipers flashing back and forth.

And now Théo was talking all weird. Adopting Boo. Boo adopting Théo. It didn't really make a whole lot of sense to Boo.

"That's why we came," the boy offered lightly. "I'm taking you to the Masters Heavenshield so I can ask for a refund."

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Boo's giggles were infectious, not only that but wonderful to hear to Theo. It had been a long time since he had heard it, and wanted Boo to do more of it, in fact Theo had to wonder just how much laughing his son did in past. He hoped that over the time spent in each other's company a lost childhood might be regain to a point. All Theo wanted for his son was to be a kid as these years are fleeting and he will have the rest of his life to face whatever life will thrown at him.

Theo placed his arm around Boo's shoulders and drew him closer for a moment to place a fatherly kiss on the top of his head. The ripple of the darkside was felt by him of course, not that Theo was overly dismissive of it, but he is more accepting of the fact that this is were Boo draws his strength from, but he loves Boo and there is a heavy amount of concern for his son, knowing exactly what the darkside will do or can do to people on a personal level. Boo would never be Jedi, Theo accepted that fact.

With the windscreen wipers doing a great job in providing them with a clear view of the snow covered road, they came to the turn in the road and Theo pointed to the left as the speeder turned toward the path to his parents home. The path lead around the frozen lake over several small rises but very soon the house came into view. The front door light was on, glowing a soft golden yew across the spread of snow before the house. An inky swirling smoke issued from the chimney a good sign that a warm room would greet them upon entering. He could sense his parents within the dwelling, they would sense his approach as well if they had not already before this. This alone helped Theo's heart mend, and he hoped that his father would be able to heal his body somewhat.

Already he anticipated the fussing mother would do once she saw his injuries, he hoped that the presence of Boo would distract her from all that. As much as he loved it when she did, but he is a man now. The speeder would come to it's approach and stop and with no amount of pain, Theo managed to get out of the seat to stand on the cold snow laden ground. "Come on, lets get inside before my body freezes up and ask for that refund", under his cloak he carried a small bundle of items all wrapped up in a white cloak, it was all that remained of Kiriko and there was still a sense of his essence, his presence around them, and now at least he was home on Midvinter.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Alright, so then you add the... uh, parsley? No, tomatoes?" Thurion's mind was working overtime as he and Coci stood by the stove, desperately trying not to burn the sauce he had been preparing by heeding his wife's every instruction. There was nothing the Warden of the West dreaded more than cooking; so many things going on, knowing when to add certain ingredients and how to prepare them. Needless to say it had never been his forte, and so the Heavenshield household was thus very grateful for Coci's considerable expertise on the subject.

As he tried his very best not to muck up the work they'd done so far, Lady Heavenshield stood right beside him directing her husband in his endeavours in the kitchen, all the while fussing and teasing him which only added to the challenge. Thurion dipped his pinky in the sauce and placed a drop of it on the tip of her nose, chuckling as he did. "I should just sabotage this entire operation so that you'll be stuck having to eat it," he teased with a smirk as he turned in her arms to grab and kiss her hard on the lips, leaving the kettle to simmer on the stove.

Just as his mind began racing with thoughts not on cooking, their playful mood came to a halt as both mother and father felt the presence of their firstborn. "You, uh... You keep an eye on the sauce, yeah?" he quickly bailed out on the cooking as he practically ran over to the front door. Before either Théo or Boo had made it onto the porch Thurion appeared on the threshold, his fatherly smile soon fading as he sensed something was wrong with his eldest boy. Nevertheless he greeted him with a loving embrace, careful not to cause further pain. "My sweet boy," his hands cupped Théo's cheeks, pressing his forehead against his.

"Ah, and this must be the mighty Boo," he grinned as he got down on one knee and reached for his little blue hand. "Do you remember me, son?" His blue eyes pierced the youngling's, before gently pulling him in for an embrace. "Welcome home, Boo."

"Come, come," he then said as he stood back up. "You must be freezing, we'll put another log on the fire for you." Thurion settled a hand upon Théo's shoulder and offered him a reassuring smile before the three headed inside to get out of the cold. "Hey, Mama," he called Coci over from the kitchen. "Check out these stray dogs I found outside our door! Can we keep them?"

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Get inside before his body freezes?

The youngling stopped short, a perplexed expression contorting his facial features a moment as he seemed taken aback by that sentiment. "Aren't you Valkyri?" the Pantoran uttered finally, the implication more than apparent with the question.

Truth be told, Boo was more than just a little apprehensive on the approach to the front door. In his mind, he was trying to recall the proper incantation for Broodica's spell of concealment. Was it dzitka iw shias? Or was it poka?

No... poka was Huttese, wasn't it?

Many of the most revered Primeval holy texts were passed down in Huttese. It was known to be one of the oldest of the living languages, but he read Huttese for prayers and then Old High Sith for spells. It definitely made it hard to keep it all straight in his head.

Before they'd even made the landing at the base of the steps up to the door, he was there.

Thurion.

The great master of the Jedi was a presence that was unmistakable. Boo immediately took a half-step closer to Théo, and just slightly back behind him as well.

"Ah, and this must be the mighty Boo."

Now would have been a good time to recall that incantation.

As Thurion reached for the boy's hand, the Pantoran skittishly wrestled with the instinct to shy away. Did he remember him? The day that Boo had showed up at Voss in a stolen One Sith ship, covered in blood, and with a bunch of freed Silver Jedi liberated from Primeval slavers? That wasn't exactly the sort of day one shrugged off. "Yes, sir," the boy offered softly, his voice low as the boy's amber eyes immediately went to the ground.

And now, just like then, Boo found himself pulled in for a hug.

One thing he had forgotten. It was difficult to breathe when Thurion came hugging.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Although a little heavy handed with the parsley, Thurion had done a very good job with the sauce and it was finished when Coci turned to watch him bolt from the kitchen smiling and shaking her head at the sight of him. She removed the pot from the heat and sat it aside before wiping her hands on a towel and would join them presently. Theo's visit was unexpected, but nonetheless would be welcomed, they very rarely got to see their son since he moved to the Empire and it was not long before she joined them on the porch just in time to see Thurion hugging a small boy.

Is wasn't until the hug ended did she see who the boy was. The last time she had seen Boo was on Midvinter the night of the festival, she had tried to see him then but the boy had escaped her running away into the night. There had been no sign of him until now, she hoped he would stay this time. Then her eyes fell over her son any sign of delight to see them fell from her face as she could see he was injured and she came quickly to him her hands mirroring Thurion's in cupping his face but she placed a warm kiss to his cheek. "What has happened to you?", they were battle injuries she could recognise them and that fact his spirit was in pain, the sense of it strong in his presence. "Thurion help Theo in side" she requested with heavy concern, Theo could walk on his own but a mother's love insisted on aid regardless. Theo was about to protest but a flash in her black eyes soon put a stop to that.

Now her attention turned to Boo, standing there in his awkward state, unsure of what to do or what to say, as Thurion helped his son. She stepped closer but kept a distance between them so he would not get anymore uncomfortable than he already was but her hand raised toward him with open palm for him to take and she would lead him inside the warm house. "Theo is Valkyri, but they get cold too", she had heard his comment to his master, and this idea was very pleasing to her for this young boy was very important to their family, after all Boo had saved Theo's life and the lives of other Jedi, years ago.

"Come on, lets get inside, you must be hungry. And you will always be welcomed here", she looked down into his handsome blue face with a smile.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

As Coci suddenly appeared at the threshold immediately fussing over Théo's injured state, Thurion made a subtle grimace for his eyes only, playfully mocking her motherly protectiveness. She was right, of course, and Thurion would oblige. Having invited them inside, he took Théo by the arm and led him to the dinner table to sit down in one of the chairs. "Let's get you out of those clothes," he said as he helped undressing his upper body down to his skin. Their home was warm with the fire of the hearth and so he would not feel cold.

There were a lot of cuts and bruises, all of which would heal by the passing of time. What drew his immediate attention was his badly-mangled arm, having noted how painful it had been for him to disrobe himself. Kneeling by his son's feet Thurion looked up into his face, seeing so much of himself in him. By outward appearance Théo had taken a lot after his mother, his facial feature softer and more rounded than Thurion's. Thirdas was the complete opposite, looking the spitting image of his father with more chiseled features. However in both cases their eyes reflected who they were; the older brother had his father's blue eyes, and had taken after him in the way he behaves and acts. The younger brother, again, proved to be the opposite by demonstrating his mother's Corellian adventurousness on several occasions.

They were two sides of the same coin, with the perfect blending of Thurion and Coci.

As always Thurion felt like he'd let Théo down all these years, having spent so much of his upbringing away on Jedi business. In a way he wished he and Coci would have retired back when they brought their son into the world, yet he chose to place his duty to the Silvers as their Grandmaster before the raising of their firstborn. At least, that is how he felt about it.

Reaching for a bottle of ointment located on their bathroom counter, the brown glass bottle hovered its way through the open doors and made a couple turns before finding the palm of his hand. "This will help alleviate the pain, although applying it might sting quite a bit." There were no local methods on display where his own son was concerned, instead going straight for the treatments one would encounter in the greater galaxy. Thurion grabbed the piece of cotton and began gently dabbing it against his wounds.

As he worked with great concentration he was able to interact with Boo as well, if only to break the tension a bit. "So, tell us... How did the two of you finally find each other after all this time?"

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

"...you must be hungry."

In perfect unison, the amphistaff and the boy's heads both came up. Near identical expressions on their respective faces. There was food? Suddenly, Boo was very interested in going inside. The young Pantoran allowed himself to be led by the hand, joining the Coci on this search for a mystical treasure known as snacks.

Inside Thurion was swabbing Théo with stuff from a brown bottle. It was the kind of bottle that had the universal medicine look to it. And, thus, Boo instantly wanted nothing to do with it.

Something in the kitchen smelled wondergood. The boy almost set out in that direction, when he heard Thurion's voice and realized that the man was talking to him.

Somewhat startled by the attention, the boy froze for a moment. Time in which he was quickly abandoned by Azi, as the amphistaff uncoiled and shot out toward the kitchen to investigate this food thing for herself.

"Oh, uh... I guess I heard there was a bounty hunter collecting Jedi lightsabers. So I decided to check up on what Théo was doing way up in nowhere."

How had he known that Théo had been up in nowhere? He used to be the Exemplar of the Primeval Bleeding Sun. There were certain people that Boo kept tabs on. "I tracked him to Oslyn, but wound up getting rolled up into this Imperial Security Bureau op that was kar--"

Sithspit. He'd just about said kark.

Karking poodoo to be exact, because that's exactly what it had been.

You could take the guttersnipe out of the gutter, but he still talked like a street rat from Coruscant's Undercity.

"...uh, well, it turned out to be more than I'd bargained for."

The boy wandered a little closer to where Théo was sitting. He was used to Sith medical droids whenever he'd gotten banged up. So it was honestly somewhat disorienting to see Thurion being careful and delicate with how he treated Théo's wounds.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The dull pain in his shoulder tweaked more as his father helped him out of his clothing to take a look at the injuries. Theo gritted his teeth trying to stifle a hiss of pain escaping his lips but to no avail, as his father began to apply the ointment. But all through this he listened to Boo speaking to his father, every now and then rotating his shoulder to try and loosen it up. "I think I have torn a ligament or something, if it wasn't for the Heavenshield .. ". Things would have gone far worse he was sure of that.

"Boo found me at the Iron Empire Pantheon on Ilum, we have been together every since", apart for the war on Thyferra which Boo was so upset with him about. "Father, I have decided to leave the Iron Empire and return to the Silver Jedi, and to Midvinter as much as possible. I have been away for far too long", he did not have to prove himself any more, never had he had to do that for his family but it had been a journey necessary for himself.

He leaned forward and pointed toward the white bundle on the caf table, "Father if you would open that bundle for me please", This was going to be difficult to retell and the worse of news, he hoped, would be at least soften, with the best of news to follow. "My former padawan, and our great Beorni of Midvinter [member="Kiriko"] .. was killed on Thyferra in the war. He died so others would live. I could not get to him in time to save him and all I found of him was what you will find in that bundle. His spirit returns to the force... His lightsaber is yours".

Theo slumped back into his chair, his good hand coming to his face to rub his beard hard trying to keep back the emotions, but his blue eyes would give away his thoughts as tears he had thought spent, welled and crept down his cheek. Kiriko was too young to have passed, he had not even reached the passage of manhood.

​

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Mean while in the kitchen ...

With the arrival of two more mouths to feed, Coci was busy trying to make more for her family to have. There would be enough meat and vegetables, but with three hungry men she doubted she did have enough, so she decided to whip up some pancakes to add to the meal. And once that was finished she stood at the sink to wash her hands, when suddenly she felt something on her leg, slowly sliding upward. "Honest Thruion you are so insatiable .. and we have comp..", a grin was stopped as she looked down and she did not find her husband but a snake which had curled around her leg and moving up her body.

She froze, breathing hard wanting to scream but could not summon it. She could hear the boys talking in the other room, "Thurion", he would never hear her squeak. She tried again, only to produce another squeak. And as fear mounted and the sense of self preservation grew, "THURION!". The bellow would rattle the cups in the cupboard. By now the snake had reached its destination and flicking its tongue into her face, only inches away before turning its head toward the pancakes on the plate.

Coci looked at the pancakes, back to the snake, back to the pancakes. Slowly her hand reached toward them and broke off a piece and threw it to the far side of the kitchen and within seconds the snake slide down her body and away to food. There was no place safe from a snake, even still Coci mounted the kitchen table and awaited her knight in shining armour.

​

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion offered them both a sagely nod as they told of their reunion in Iron Empire space, which made sense considering Théo's station there. When next his son spoke of returning to the Silver Jedi he had spent so many years away from, he looked up into those eyes mirroring his own and understood his decision. Théodred was his own man who made his own decisions, and he would not tell him whether said decision was right or wrong. It was not his business. Instead he simply placed a hand upon Théo's and offered a kind smile. "I know Valae will be happy to see you again, son. As will many others, though I can't say how many are still around since you left all those years ago. Your mother and I will certainly be glad to have you closer by from now on."

But as he continued, Théo's eyes began to well up and his voice grew uneven. Little Kiriko had been inseparable from his son since the two found each other, and had thus become part of the family. He was also a Midvinter native, hailing from a race far older than anyone could imagine, and every Beorni lost was a heavy blow against their people given their comparably small population. Thurion rose to his feet and took his eldest son in his arms, holding him in fatherly embrace and caressing his black locks. "He will be missed by many, sweet child. I know he was like a brother to you."

Placing a soft kiss upon his cheek, he pulled away just enough to have their foreheads touch. It was an old Valkyri custom; a form of greeting reserved for family and loved ones. However in this case, he just wanted to comfort his son in every way he could think of. "Honour him in your every breath, your every action; honour his sacrifice," he whispered before embracing him once more. "He will be with you, always."

A moment of solemn silence followed as Thurion cradled Théo in his arms, until eventually a loud shriek came from the kitchen. "Coci? Coci!" Leaving Théo where he sat he rushed into the adjacent room, only to abruptly stop on the threshold and lean against the door frame, arms crossed as he couldn't help but smirk at the whole situation. "Now what do we have here, hm? A damsel in distress?" His eyes scanned the floor of the kitchen only to find the slithering form of Boo's amphistaff in the far corner, seemingly minding its own business. "Boo, I think we have a bit of a situation here. You mind giving us a hand?" he called over the shoulder into the living room.

Casually stepping over to where his wife sat on the kitchen counter, feet pulled up away from the horrid floor. "Upsy-daisy," he took her into his arms and lifted her off the counter, carrying her off into the living room only to playfully collapse with her onto the soft furs spread out in front of the roaring hearth, laughing as they did. "There, better?" he asked while gazing into her dark eyes, a boyish grin on his face. "I've warned you - all living things possess an innate craving for pancakes!"

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Boo Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Azi was, indeed, coiled up and quite entertained. Tail waging, the amphistaff viewed the woman atop the table the seemingly a sense of amusement or confusion.

For his part, Boo as definitely confused. There was screaming. And there was running, in the case of Thurion's flight to the kitchen. There was Coci atop the table and a pancake on the floor, which Azi was using her coils to rip pieces off and snack on as the snake-like biot watched Coci intently.

Scooping up the snake, the amphistaff coiled around the boy's frame. This vantage point gave it a much perspective than on the floor. So the diamond-shaped head alternated between watching the strange woman and staring at the plate of pancakes.

Turning around, the small blue kid made his way back over to where Théo was sitting. "You mom was up on the table," the Pantoran described, idly scratching the top of Azi's head.

"Is that... normal?"

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"What has happened here will never leave this room", she said to them all, with a grin and feeling a little bit more than sheepish. And it was she that answered Boo's question. "No Boo, I just got a .. surprise", although not a big fan of snakes, she keeps a respectful distance between them so when one decided to slither up her leg unannounced anyone would react accordingly, would they not? Well at least women are honest about, men shield behind some sort of need to be seen to be strong.

On the furs by the fire and by the side of her husband, she leaned in to rest against him. She was happy to see that Theo had mended somewhat in the time spent under the healing of Thurion. There would be more work to do for his shoulder, along with some time away from the stresses of using it. Her eyes caught the white cloak on the table and the items within it had been unwrapped and placed side by side, she had heard the conversation before Azi had introduced herself to Coci, and she recalled reading the reports on the war of Thyferra. It had been a bloody battle for both sides, much life lost for the sake of wanton destruction and death. There had been no other purpose than the want of 'sending a message' again. That is all the Sith seem to want to do these days.

"Tell me both of you, what other news do you have?", it was time to take their minds off the pain of war, if only for a short time. Coci knew full well that once the cloak of the night come over them and in their beds when they lay alone with their own thoughts, the images and experience will always remind anyone that has witness such horror will return. She would speak with her son alone later.

She looked between Boo and Theo, and noticed a small growing smile on her son's face as he turned to look into his mothers eyes.

​

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Boo Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

In truth Theo was glad for the change of direction in the conversation, he knew more would come later but for now he just wanted to be with those he cared about more anything in the galaxy. There was only one person missing but he would see her soon. As the smile grew on his face, Theo pushed up out of the chair with some difficulty but he did it, he wanted to be on his feet for this and standing next to Boo. A strange match they are, already with a history that was unique but now held more significance than the past. It was the present and the future with this young boy that Theo wanted more, and he would not change this situation for the world.

It was not until now did his mother see the injuries on his body, the extent of them but it was one of his old ones that her eyes fell upon. A large untreated wound on his lower torso which was only matched by the same on his back where something had run him through entirely. She was about to inquire of it, looking at Thurion to see if he noticed or possibly knew of it and did not tell her. It was an old wound healed over for some years by the thickness of the scarring. She just felt another hair turn grey.

His arm raised and rested on Boo's shoulders as he stood beside him looking down into the faces of his mother and father sitting on fur by the fire. "Mother, father .. Boo and I have adopted one another. He is your grandson and holds the name of Heavenshield". Good news, happy new for a change.

He turned and looked into Boo's face with a smile and a bit of a nod but nothing would prevent or prepare Boo for what was to come. There maybe cracked ribs.

​

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The news their son had brought were not all sorrowful, it seemed, for when Théo next spoke he told them of how he had become the adoptive parent of young Boo. [member="Boo Heavenshield"]. Thurion could barely comprehend what he'd just been told as a big grin found its way to his lips. He sat up on his knees with Coci beside him, eyes unable to decide which way to look. "You... I... We..." he stuttered, trying to get a hold on the many thoughts swirling through his head all at once.

"You mean... I'm a grandfather?" he finally asked, eyes now set upon those of Boo. What then began as a nervous chuckle soon turned into the most joyful laughter a man his age could produce, and he practically threw himself at the young lad as he wrapped both arms around him. "Oh, my sweet little boy," he held him in his strong arms, before pulling back to look into his face. "You have no idea how happy you have just made me." Letting go of Boo, Thurion then turned his attention to his firstborn. "Both of you." There were tears in his eyes. Tears of joy.

Grabbing Théo by his good arm he pulled him down into another embrace between father and son. A few sniffles escaped him as he buried his face in his son's broad shoulder. "If I ever thought I could not be more proud of you, I was wrong," he whispered past his ear. It was a time-honoured tradition in their family, after all - one that started with a young Thurion adopting a tiny white-haired child on Umbara. "Do you... do you need help with anything?" he then asked as their embrace eventually came to an end, with Thurion wiping his face of dried up tears.

"Parenthood can be very stressful, after all. Especially if you don't have someone to share it with," he put one arm around Coci and smiled.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

There was a moment where the young Pantoran wasn't sure what to think.

Was it okay that Théo had adopted him? The Heavenshield's were, like, the most Jedi Jedi that Boo knew of. And he'd defended the Sith Code to Coci during a trip inside of Voss-Ka's inner city, during a debate about the boy's perceptions of the Jedi Code as hypocritical and contradictory.

Not many people in this galaxy knew anything about the boy. Maybe bits and pieces. [member="Irajah Ven"] knew where he was from, but hadn't known the whole story of how he'd wound up there. The First Order knew a little more about that and about Boo's abilities, but not all of what he was capable of. But the Heavenshields? If anybody in the galaxy had any idea who Boo was, it was the three people in this room.

And there were a lot of reasons he belonged back in that sewer on Coruscant.

He could understand if someone who was so great a sinner would be unwelcome. The Heavenshields would never make someone an outcast, of course. But the idea that Boo could ever be a Heavenshield was something of a betrayal of everything that the name represented.

So, hands wringing the amphistaff draped around him, the Pantoran waited to be rejected. And, for a moment, when Thurion seemed to give this awkward laugh, he'd thought for certain that was just what he was going to receive.

He didn't.

Instead, he got pulled into another rib-crushing Thurion hug. And just froze completely, because he really had no idea what was happening right now.

Azi, for her part, slithered out from around Boo and across Thurion's arms to his shoulder. That was the second time Boo had been hugged, and yet no one was giving any of this affection to the amphistaff.

When Thurion hugged Théo, Azi slipped off of Thurion's shoulder and settled instead on top of Théo. Then, head raised up in protest, offered a very curious mewling hiss.

There was a lot of hugging going around for the biot to not be receiving any of it.

Meanwhile, Boo had started crying even though he still had no idea what had even happened. Because it had never occurred to him that being accepted was even an option for him.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​