Private The Rage of Wind

[Xian Xiao]

Because Xian only had a few things to unpack, it didn't take long for her to settle on Ron's ship. His odd timekeeping was another matter entirely. It soon became clear to the young woman that he was used to traveling alone. He had told her as much, but this was obvious very quickly.

One day, he might call her out to train in the middle of the afternoon, and the next, it would be in the middle of the night. Xian didn't know where they were heading, and he had not informed her. Right now, she felt it best to keep quiet about her curiosity and focus on what he was trying to train her.

"Do you think we should have an animal handy to practice on?"

She hadn't noticed any and wasn't yet sure how to use her air-bending ability to heal one.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

It was a difficult period, as caught between attempting to remember or devise some sort of plan. Recognizing the time constraint, yet determined to provide Xian with extensive training opportunities to enhance her ability as much impart knowledge efficiently. Taking into account the somewhat challenging position he holds within the Order, there were a great deal of things that he could try or be elaborated upon. He acknowledged the fact that they had been tolerant and accepting of him, and he was grateful for their openness. It is worth mentioning that there were individuals who did not share the same enthusiasm for his somewhat unconventional demeanor or his perspective on various issues. It was uncertain whether they would raise objections or identify any shortcomings in his approach to training with Xian.

Nonetheless, since he was not inclined to follow rules, he would, at the very least, present her with both the choice and the opportunity. The choice of learning and selecting a path is entirely up to her, and she can do so on her terms. Opting not to be given directions or guided, she wasted no time in becoming familiar with the outline of his ship. He'd call them to train at some odd hours of the day in the keeping of not only testing as much prepare Xian.

During one such break, the two sat in a cargo hold after having just landed on one of many planets. He occasionally stops along his trips and hears her question Ron replies.

"We could … and who knows might, as there are a few on this planet. Though few of them are not quite pleasant or easy to deal with in manner speaking…"

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Even though she was breathing quite fast from the exercises Ron had just given her, she grew a large and toothy grin when he answered. Running her sweaty hands on her pants, she looked to the floor of his ship.

"What planet are we on?"

His comment about animals here not being pleasant or easy had her a little scared. Apprehensive was probably a better emotion to describe the teen's feelings, but she kept this to herself. She picked up a flask containing water and unscrewed the lid before taking a long drink from it. Closing it, she set it back down and stretched a bit.

Today's training was all about fighting forms, and the new movements strained the young woman's inexperienced muscles. Bending to touch her toes, she brought her body up again and ended the stretch with her arms above her head.

"Is there a mission for us here?"

Bouncing on her feet, Xian rubbed her chin with her and waited for him to answer.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

Ronin rubbed his weary eyes, feeling the strain of their earlier exercises. Despite his fatigue managing to maintain his composure, not wanting to appear preoccupied. His gaze drifted towards the opposite wall, where a seemingly insignificant item caught his attention. Hanging there was a battle-worn bow caster, a weapon he had carried for years, alongside an equally worn bandoleer. The sight brought back memories of Kashyyyk, the planet that wasn't initially on their mission agenda but now seemed to be their destination.

"Kashyyyk… planet we're in currently is called as such."

A faint hint of apprehension and uneasiness crossed Xian's face as Ronin spoke. However, before he could explain further, Ronin's attention shifted back to the bowcaster.

"In a manner of speaking,"

He continued,

"one of the local elders sent a message requesting a meeting. We will have to wait until we reach the village to find out more. But then again, as you've asked...maybe we could find one here as there are quite a few then here depending on how long or far down we could go."

He then left it at that before handing her a datapad.

" And I guess if care read up while we're here..."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

There had been a time in her life when Xian had been on Kashyyyk. Ron might not have known that about the young woman, and she felt maybe she would tell him. Waiting until he finished speaking, she held a finger up for a moment and lowered it. Based on what he said, she didn't think they would be visiting the Rest.

"I never went outside the Rest, Master, but I have been here before."

That apprehension returned, and Xian remembered the stories she had been told about the various beasts and monsters that resided in the lower areas of the planet. Accepting Ron's datapad, she flipped through the different pages until she found the ones about wildlife. Stopping on a rather calm-looking creature, she held it out for him to look at.

"I think this might be a safe animal to keep. It's called a pug jumper."


Pug jumper

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

As they made their way towards the gear section, Ron's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The dark side of the planet held secrets that could shatter even the bravest of souls. He remembered the bone-chilling howls that echoed through the dense foliage, the glowing eyes that lurked in the shadows, and the feeling of being constantly watched. It was a relentless battle for survival, where every step could be their last. But Ron was no stranger to danger. He had spent years honing his skills, learning to navigate the treacherous terrain and outsmart the merciless creatures that inhabited it. He had trained himself to be quick, agile, and alert, always ready to face the unknown.



Now, with Xian by his side, Ron felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they possessed a unique blend of strengths that could prove invaluable in their mission. Xian's resourcefulness and analytical mind complemented Ron's bravery and intuition. They formed a formidable team, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. As Ron grabbed a few essential gears, his hands trembled slightly. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders, reminding him of the lives at stake. They needed to reach the chief village before sundown. Time was slipping away, and what it's worth Ron hadn't the heart to break the truth to Xian. That the truth matter was, this was not an official mission, but one he undertook of his own accord. The Village chief brother was an acquaintance of his and had sent the message that brought them here.

With each step, Ron's determination grew. He pushed aside the haunting memories of his past encounters with the dark side, channeling his focus on the path ahead. The forest grew denser, the air heavy with an eerie silence. Ron could sense the impending darkness creeping closer with each passing minute.

"I guess could settle for that and will see about locating one later... but for now it's best to grab a few gears. So that we can at least see if can set off to make it to the chief village before sundown."

But he refused to let fear consume him. Ron knew that they had the strength and resilience to overcome whatever awaited them. With Xian by his side, he felt invincible. They would persevere, no matter the odds.



As Ron and Xian set off, their eyes locked on the horizon, they could feel the weight of the mission bearing down on them. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that seemed to reach out for them, but Ron pushed forward, his heart filled with unwavering determination. The race against time had begun, and they were ready to face the darkness head-on.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Her time with the Silvers on Kashyyyk had been rather limited. After losing her first Master and then others not taking any interest in her, she left them behind and returned to Castell, where Ron had found her. The Force worked in odd ways, but she was pleased with how it all turned out. Ron had proven to the teen he wasn't going to abandon her on a whim. He took her training seriously and really helped her with things.

Following him to where he kept various kinds of gear, Xian was silent. She could tell something was bothering her Master but couldn't figure out what it was. Their time together had been one learning experience after the other, and to her, this was another one. It would not have mattered to the young woman if this was an official mission or one he'd taken on of his own choice. Of course, there was no way for her to tell him this because she didn't know what he was thinking.

Looking up at him as he answered her statement about getting the pug jumper, she turned her attention to what he offered and picked up a survival vest. Pulling it up to her nose, she wrinkled it and set the vest back down.

"Do you have anything that doesn't smell like the inside of a bantha?"

Accepting the items and ideas he offered, Xian soon was equipped with several things, and none of them smelled too horrible.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

It was by far mostly quite the unconventional pair that the two made. Given the way the two met and thus far conducted their mentorship. Despite knowing very little of the other and for the most part, being respectful of the other. Which by far would been quite the shocker as it seemed out of character for Ron. To those that knew him ... for he came from a slightly violent trying past.

Seeing as after forming quite a strong unbreakable bond with his Master. It had seemed in quite seem to be for nothing... for in his Master fall to darkness. Those things fell apart... as he took and clipped his saber into the side. That heavy burden of those memories still haunts him. That despite his commitment to doing right. It seems the faint stain of darkness still eluded him shake off. That through the long struggles he had ... being lost then passed over by countless Master who deem him seem unredeemable. Faltering as much fail a few times along the way made his standing amongst the Silver quite contentious.

But still somehow despite all his faults or non-adherence to rules spending what bit of time he had with Xian. Training as much makes good on making her ready to face the stark reality before them. Allowing her the freedom at the same standing by her as they navigated the ever-changing world. And destined to traverse the seem undefined path that lay before them... come to terms as much become that which they were meant to.

And so with his mind somewhat distracted Ron appeared unintentionally pick up. A pair of old very well-worn survival vests and hand it over to Xian. Who no doubt and seemed to speak her mind made a slight quip about it. He silently chuckled a bit before speaking.

" I guess might..thought if can..."

And just then reach over to the top shelf of the side compartment. He finds one and hands it to her... Then one gears up the two head off onto the interconnecting canopy settlement toward their intended destination.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Accepting Ron's new vest, the teen put it on and glanced at his lightsaber. Holding a finger to indicate he should wait a moment, Xian ran into her cabin and pulled a chest out from under the bunk. Opening the lid, she took out her lightsaber and returned to him. She extended her hand out to him to show him her prize.

"Do you have an extra clip? I lost mine a long time ago."

Xian didn't remember ever having a clip, but it was just a tiny white lie she told her Master, which was almost unintentional. The point was that the girl needed a holder for the small weapon—one she didn't use very much and never thought of telling him she even had it.

The Padawan used the Force if she needed to accomplish something and rarely used the lightsaber. Even in the past, she was learning here on Kashyyyk with the other students.

Looking around, she could tell they were in a different area than she had been in before. Staying by Ron's side, though, the young woman did not stray. Having had that happen one or two too many times, she learned her lesson and stayed close to whoever guided her. In this case, it was her Master and a man she trusted with her life.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

As the thought slowly returned to the present, his mind seemed lost in memories. Though he had fumbled for a moment during the interaction, he could amend and correct things by handing her a different vest. However, he had accidentally let slip one of the two sabers he had on him. This led to an odd shift in things for him. He briefly disappeared and returned shortly, holding aloft her saber while making a simple request. Though he was momentarily bemused, he dug into a side panel to reveal the very thing she had asked for.

"I just might... figured now is as good a time as any to put it to use."

With that said, they set off on a less-traveled path that took them far away from most settlements. They had to trek through the thick forest, and Ron would often glance back to make sure Xian was close, despite knowing how risky the path was. They finally drew close to a village where smoke came from up ahead, followed by a low bellow of the horn.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Accepting the clip, Xian smiled at him and put it on her hip. It felt like it belonged there, and she should always have it in place.

"Thank you!"

While Xian was growing up, there were still times when she was like a child. Getting this simple gift from Ron made her day, and the girl still present showed itself. This only lasted a few moments before they left his ship and set off into the darkening forest.

"Master, can you teach me how to use the lightsaber? I only have a little training from when I was a Youngling here."

She rarely spoke about her past, but if Ron ever asked, she would tell him.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

It seemed an uneventful trek thus far, with just the occasional horn and billowing village bonfire off in the distance. Soon enough, once they stopped to take a break, Xian then spoke up with a request for him
. He then listens as much and ponders how best to reply. Truth be told, he didn't have much formalized structured training himself to draw from. As most would or hared for outside of his time spent with his first Master. Few took the time nor initiative to complete his training. Outside a chosen few, given the hushed nature as much reluctance, most in the order had towards him. But still seemed respectful and did not want to cloud Xian's judgment as to what path she was to take. He then nodded and replied.

"Very well, seeing as we might need camp out here for a while.....but then again, to be honest. I've never quite had one myself as ... let's just say I've never been one for rules. But I guess we could start with a warm-up just to see where either one of us stands."

And with that powering his saber down a bit, Ron then goes through the basics with her for a moment. Before the two moved on to a fair bit of sparing ... unbeknownst to both there was a pair of eyes watching them from the distance.


Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

The girl paled slightly when Ron mentioned having to camp in the forest. She had been warned not to be out after dark because of the creatures that came out. Putting herself a step closer to him, just in case, one decided to come out and glomp her. Listening to him, she nodded and realized they were a lot alike.

"Master, we do make a good pair. Neither of us had much structure while we were learning."

Xian unclipped her lightsaber and held it in front of her momentarily before igniting it. A pale blue bean extended from the hilt, and she followed him through the basic motions. As her moves became more fluid and natural, they started a spar.

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

It was by far not quite the ideal situation to be in... choosing to camp out that night out in the open. Rather than push their luck and seek shelter in one of the nearby villages. But then again Ron by far was not quite the conventional as most Master would be. But then again he was no fool either for having lived much of his life in the backwater fringes of society. He'd garner for himself quite a reputation and skill very few outside those in his close-knit network of individuals knew.

And so seems having gained Xian's trust along with piquing her interest as such. Judge from her words at which time he seems silently scoff at the idea in retort to reply.

"That it would seem as... only time would tell what the future holds for us both this time round."

And with that with little ado about nothing else, the two began things off. Eventually, they seem gotten comfortable with each passing moment of their sparing match. Seem let slip a few stane or moves he'd shown Xian. He'd seem to pick up or learn during his long sabbatical away from the Temple. Much of which would not sit well with most of the other Master but....

That soon enough as night wore on Ron had to call things off for the night. Having them set up to camp in what appears to be an old hunting cabin, To rest and prepare for the next day.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Giving Ron a large smile, she knew what he said was a true statement. Her training had been very limited when she was actually with the Jedi, and she almost wished she had paid better attention in class. However, she was mostly self-taught and felt like she could beat any of the other students she had known.

Trying to spin her lightsaber in a cool manner, the girl accidentally dropped it on the ground. Luckily, it was set low and did not cause her any harm. Picking it up again, she looked sheepishly at Ron.

"I think it would be best if I kept to simple moves."

He took this as a sign to finish the lesson and found them an old cabin to sleep in. Gathering nearby sticks to use as kindling, Xian quickly had a small fire burning in the fireplace of the hut.

"Master, what are we doing here?"

Ronin Wendigo

 

[Ronin Wendigo]

The sight of her smile slightly eased Ron's mind. At that moment, both doubts and worries were still lingering, causing some concern. However, Xian's high spirits brought a glimmer of hope. Her ability to adapt to unconventional methods was impressive, and it gave Ron a sense of reassurance. Despite its brevity, Saber's playful bounce off the floor brought a sheepish grin to Ron's face. As they continued their conversation, Ron nodded in agreement while speaking.

"Maybe, but on the other hand... It's preferable to know one's limits in advance, sooner rather than later."

His words trailed off, triggering a rush of old memories flooding his mind. These memories were a reminder of why they were here in the first place - to fulfill a promise and prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating. With this purpose in mind, they concluded their training and proceeded to set up camp at her designated location. Curiosity sparkled in both of their eyes as they pondered the question at hand, and after a momentary pause, Ron replied,

"We are here not only to make good on a promise but also to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself. As from what message that came thru relayed. The village chief had come harm and there had been quite a bit of trouble brewing that possibly might require some assistance to be dealt with. "

Xian Xiao