Private The Thunderous Drums

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Survive //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

Her hands carefully hovered above the fire, trying to stave off the cold of the night wind. The comfort of the flame chased the cold away that had sunk deep in the Echani's bones over the past few weeks, a soft smile carved itself on the cheeks of the girl as she finally allowed herself to relax. To understand that she was safe and could finally calm down.

Then Kito's amber eyes turned towards Ayra, a sorrow, or perhaps guilt, took the fiery orbs as the regarded the Echani. And then she spoke the truth of her mission.

Ayra was meant to be dead.

Whatever warmth had crept along the girl's skin vanished as numbness crept in, a pallid feeling that raised goosebumps along her skin. The soft smile that had taken her face fell away, pale blue eyes turned back towards the flame. It danced in her eyes, though the shock behind them was still plain to see.

"Oh..." The words were choked as they came out weakly, unsure how to respond to Kito's confession. "That's... okay, you saved me anyways..."

There was a small tone of appreciation as she spoke, but the sorrow washed it away. It hadn't been Kito's fault, of course, but to be told that you were expected to die was a difficult thing to hear. War wasn't heroic, Ayra knew that in her heart. But she had never been expected to act as sacrifice for the Alliance. The Echani's arms wrapped around her knees as she sunk into melancholy, wondering if her superiors knew that she would be sent to her death.

She hadn't even noticed as Kito wandered off and changed until the raven-haired girl stooped down and set a tray of skewers next to Ayra, some folded clothes alongside it. A weak smile flashed towards the ronin, a silent thanks all she could muster at the moment. Looking at the food, she found her appetite lacking despite her stomach's heaviness.

The towel pulled against her wet haired, straining the water away as she dried it, still deep in thought until Kito pulled her attention back to where she would sleep. Yet another setup made for only one, another grave chill falling down her spine.

"You aren't planning on sleeping?" Pale blue eyes looked back across the fire, concern lit up in them. "You need some rest too, Kito, just because I'm here now doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself. I'm a Jedi and a warrior just like you."

There was a ping of guilt in the voice of the Echani, it was clear that Ayra's presence had changed Kito's plans. An inconvenience at best, she at least tried to pretend that she wasn't feeling as sorry for herself as she was, though it was difficult to hide as Kito told her to eat.

"Don't hold back on because of me..." She spoke in a quiet whisper, unsure if the words were even true as her confidence waned. The skewers rotated between her fingers, a melancholic contemplation over her face before she set it downwards.

"I'm not feeling too hungry right now." The tray was pushed away softly from the padawan, not trying to offend the girl that made it. For all the gnawing of her stomach, she couldn't bear to take even a bite. "Sorry for wasting your cooking."

An awkward silence held over the pair as Ayra took to her thoughts once again. She felt guilty for bothering Kito and being so childish in the rescue. She didn't want to die, of course, but the raven haired Jedi had to change all of her plans just because she got unlucky and ran into a walking corpse. Her face fell into Kito's tunic that she still wore as her eyes began to mist, hiding them away as the droplets threatened to trail down her face.

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Kito watched as Ayra's demeanor changed. It wasn't her intention to ruin the mood, but it seemed she was pretty good at it. She sighed softly and shook her head.

"Even if I were alone, I wouldn't sleep," she commented, trying to sound as matter-of-factly as she could. There were ways to sleep and to keep watch, but she didn't need to let Ayra know that. Her eyes glanced away from her as she sat and ate her own skewers. The sound of the tray sliding away drew Kito's attention again.

She was going to allow the girl to wallow in her feelings. Sometimes it's better to let the mind come to terms with it. Kito had been there, and often she found herself in that headspace recently, but her life still continued.

Her eye followed Ayra, reading her movements. Kito knew she was hungry, and as annoying as she had been — seeing her like this was worse.
Standing, Kito grabbed a skewer and stood in front of her. The skewer hung loosely in front of Ayra as Kito just waited.

"Eat," Kito said quietly, holding the skewer in front of the Jedi's mouth.

Nothing.

Kito frowned and waggled the skewer again. "You should eat." Another suggestion as she waited. She had a feeling the only way Ayra was going to eat was if she was forced.

Sighing, Kito's brow furrowed slightly as she smeared the light sauce she had made for the skewers onto Ayra's lips.

Maybe that could entice her.

"Eat."

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // "Eat" //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

The Echani was still curled up as Kito neared her, eyes still watching the dance of the flames as she battled her inner thoughts. Melancholy had fully seized the girl and her responses lessened and lessened, unable to find the ability to summon any appetite at all. As the ronin stood in front of Ayra and held the skewer near her face, the silver-haired girl didn't even address the woman.

The skewer waved in front of her with renewed vigour as the K'paur tried to entice the padawan once again. Pale blue eyes looked up to Kito with a sadness, quietly pleading her to stop.

Of course, Kito refused to.

The girl was finally pulled out of her tranced as the skewer smeared against her face, red sauce smearing against her lips as she tightened her mouth to refuse it entry. This time, it wasn't necessarily about refusing to eat, but the fact that Kito decided to become the same irritating girl that Ayra had escaped with.

The azure eyes that looked up to the ronin turned fierce, clearly upset in their silence. The Echani petulantly refused to open her mouth for the woman, deciding that this might be the hill she chose to die on. And then the tangy waft of the sauce hit the girl's nose, a light touch of spice and richness to it.

All of a sudden, her hunger returned with a vengeance, stomach rebelling violently against Ayra's pride. A small blush took her cheeks as her stomach rumbled.

Her stare didn't surrender its fierceness, even as the Echani's lips softly parted. She allowed for the ronin to feed her the meal delicately, and as the savoury morsel touched the palate of her tongue, the girl's body decided she had made the right call. Her posture began to loosen as she bit down upon the meat and vegetables that had been offered to her, savouring every bit of the sensation she had tried to deny her body.

As she finished it, the herbal sauce of the meal still decorated her mouth and Ayra slowly wicked it away with her finger before placing it in her mouth, enjoying every last taste.

"Thank you..." The words acted more as an apology than Ayra cared to admit. "That was better than I thought it might be. Didn't take you for a chef."

She allowed her arms to fall away from where they had wrapped around her legs as her posture loosened. Feelings of self pity still remained, but it was hard to deny the joy that a good meal brought her. Ayra's eyes dart around the lodging, surveying carefully to find what she hoped before surrendering to ask the ronin towering above her.

"I don't suppose tea was in your few rations? Or maybe a bit of hot chocolate?"

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Kito held the skewer and allowed Ayra to eat. She didn't understand the Echani's need to be fed like a child, but if it got her to eat, then Kito would just deal with it. There was something odd like this, and Kito decided to finally look away. Her eyes focused on the ground, her feet, and anything that wasn't the Echani eating dinner. Too often, she made her approval known with small noises from her throat.

It made Kito uncomfortable, but she didn't voice her discomfort — too scared that it would make the girl stop. Though once it was over, Kito took advantage of it and moved away as quickly as she could. Slowly finishing her last skewer, quietly.

When Ayra spoke, Kito looked towards her and tilted her head. A hand waved, "Oh — I just know how to season things, nothing too crazy." The compliment did bring a small smile to her face. The muscles used felt foreign — she wondered when she last really smiled.

"I appreciate it, though," She paused and decided to say something nice. "You have a good appetite and you chew really efficiently." Nodding, Kito gathered up the trays and headed towards the small wash station. The evening had mostly been routine, despite having Ayra around. Shower, dinner, and now cleaning. It was simple, but it kept her going.

Kito finished quickly and headed back over, stopping only when Ayra asked her a question.

"Oh?" She paused, letting her mind mull over the rations she had packed. Typically, she never indulges in any type of treat, but maybe she does. She moved past the Echani as she rubbed the back of her neck for a few minutes. A part of her felt bad if she didn't have either comfort for the girl. In reality, she did just tell her she's supposed to be dead.

Digging through the crate, she found a chocolate bar and some milk — they weren't exactly the easy-to-dissolve packet, but she could make do with this. Wandering over, she broke a piece of the chocolate and handed it to Ayra.

"Shouldn't take long, but you should make sure you're fully dressed and dry. I'm sure you know that the nights here get cold." Crouching over the fire, she put on a pot and poured the milk in. She kept the chocolate in another bowl; it wouldn't do well to just melt them together — there was a process.

Kito didn't say much; she usually didn't carry on with small talk. Only one other person had been able to keep her chatting. Mostly over nonsense, but it was still something that had held the other's interest. Her slight smile faded for a moment, but she did her best to just continue to focus.

The milk bubbled, heating to the right temperature. She poured it over the chocolate bar and let it melt slowly, whisking it together. When the initial bit of milk melted the bar, Kito added the rest and then brought it back over the heat in the pot. She gently brought it to a pleasant drinking temperature and poured it into a mug for Ayra.

"Here, I hope it's okay." Turning the fire, she kicked debris over it, mostly to smother the flames. The sounds of fighters and the enemy militia echoed in the night. It was a celebration from the sound of it, which meant that everyone was dead.

Except Ayra.

Kito went against everything her brain shouted at her and sat beside Ayra. In the cold evening, heat radiated off of her — a byproduct of her fire shaping.

"You should sleep soon…" Kito tried to talk, tried to make any sort of noise to drown out the celebrations of their comrades' death. She stayed close, hoping to provide something so that Ayra didn't feel alone.

They sat in the darkness, protected and surrounded by the enemy.

"I won't let anything bad happen to you... I promise."

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // "Eat" //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

The mood lightened as the pair finished their dinners, generously provided by the K'paur. Ayra tried little to fuss about it, hoping to avoid overly stroking her companion's ego, but that was the first delicious meal that the Echani had in months. If only she knew how to cook, perhaps something could have been made of her own rations.

For now, she was content to bask in the warmth of the flames, embers dancing away from their home to die silently in the night air. A satisfied smile crept on the face of the white haired girl as she watched Kito gather the ingredients to make her some hot chocolate, smothering her grin with the sleeve of her tunic. Unsure if it was to rob the girl of the satisfaction of seeing her wide grin or her own sense of dignity at being so happy about something so small, she preferred to keep the look to herself.

"For someone that seems so solitary, you make a fantastic host." The tone of the words told the truth of her smile, the melancholy fading from her voice. "It helps... thank you." The gratitude came silently, creeping through the cracking of the fire.

As the raven-haired girl presented a cup, Ayra gladly took it in her hands. The warmth of it seeped through her hands and crawled along her skin, clutching it tightly as the night air continued to bite. It was clear that despite the flame, cold had begun to set into the girl. Before she took a sip Ayra breathed the drink in, the richness of it washing away the weeks of dirty and blood that stained her senses.

"It's amazing."

She pressed the metal cup to her lips, caring little for the temperature. A second, more measured attempt, was taken after she burnt her tongue on the first, finishing the beverage quickly as Kito smothered the flame, the last of the ambers dancing past her black hair as Ayra looked up to her.

Her lips twist into a pout as the flame died, its warmth fading away quickly. It had to be done, of course, the call of victory coming from the butchers that had slain the freedom fighters growing impassioned in the distance. But as the cold air washed over the Echani, a new warmth grew brightly beside her.

Kito had taken a seat beside Ayra and radiated heat, unlike anything the Echani had felt from another being. There was little shame in Ayra's heart when she immediately scoot over and sat shoulder to shoulder with the K'paur and rest her head upon the woman as she spoke.

"I will... just stay here for a moment and let me finish this."

Perhaps it was the girl's warmth or because she mentioned sleeping, but the months of restlessness crept up on the padawan, her eyes closing briefly as she took the moment of quiet to herself. Her lips parted into a soft smile as Kito promised protection, the Echani unable to deny the trust she felt in the words.

"Then I trust you." Ayra raised her head from the K'paur's shoulder as she finished the last of her dessert, looking her in the eyes as she spoke. The Echani didn't like the idea of leaving Kito to stay awake, but yielded to the girl's confidence. After all the ronin had done for Ayra, the worst thing she could do was doubt her.

Ayra made her way to the single cot, pale blue eyes looking back as Kito took her position to watch over the camp. The tunic provided was comfortable enough, and the sleeping bag itself kept some of the cold out, but the chill of the night air still threatened her. There was no way to convince the K'paur to reignite the flame during the night, but perhaps she could take the girl into a mutually beneficial alternative.

"I understand you're set on protecting me during the night..." The words trailed weakly as the Echani thought of how to best word this, understanding that if Kito hesitated on showering together then this would be equally as difficult. "But you don't have to do that from all the way over there." Ayra sat on her elbow as she raised to speak to the girl, a redness from the cold beginning to take her ears, nose, and cheeks. "It's not the biggest but there's more than enough room for both of us in here, plus sharing a bed could keep us both warm." It was clear that the Echani needed the heat far more.

"I won't ask you to sleep, but at least come keep watch from beside me in here."

Ayra didn't look Kito in the eyes, the blush on her cheeks now unsure if it came from the cold or the proposition. It made sense to the Echani entirely that this was sensible, a benefit to both of them to be able to get through the night. And yet, as she asked, her heart grew more rapid and found it difficult to look the ronin in the eyes.

"Please."

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Kito did her best not to stiffen at the sudden physical touch. Her mind raced as well as did the twin hearts in her chest. This wasn't the closeness she was ready for, but she allowed it. Ayra had been through hell, and Kito had to keep reminding herself of that. No one probably their age, no one who could understand what it was like, among other things. From reports, the other Jedi had perished, and Ayra was the last of them.

She understood how to be alone, but she wouldn't have wished that kind of knowledge on anyone else. So, she let it happen. She let Ayra find comfort in her shoulder and warmth.

Kito nodded, a small grunt from her throat as she didn't know what more to say. To be trusted was good, especially now. They only had each other, and she hoped that if the worst occurred, Ayra would have her back — or be smart enough to run if Kito told her to. Sighing softly, the ronin understood now why the platoon had sent her back.

She wasn't made for this.

Ayra moved away, and Kito was set free for the time being. Soon, she would be alone with her thoughts as the other Jedi chose sleep. It would be a nice break, one that she could do something to center herself after the consistent awkward moments.

Kito enjoyed her moments alone. It was something she was accustomed to, something that brought her some comfort. Though it seemed it was short-lived, as she heard the quiet echo of the Echani's voice. Kito looked over towards the cot; it felt far away, but in reality, it wasn't. She listened, trying to understand the why.

Warmth spread across her cheeks the moment Ayra had mentioned the size of the cot. Memories flooded her mind, as she was well aware that the cot could fit more than one person and that the sleeping bag could easily keep two people warm. Kito chewed on the end of her thumb as she tried to quell the ache she was suddenly feeling.

Ayra was trying to play into the idea that Kito was cold. Unlike normal people, the young shaper could feel her own warmth radiating. It meant that she was always warm, so she didn't need to use the heat of another to keep warm.

Though Kito figured Ayra was trying to do this for herself. Not wanting to yell, the ronin stood from her seat and made her way to the small cot. Standing over it, she looked down at the small Echani.

"I know why you're asking this," Kito whispered. "Just be honest, don't try to weave it in a sense of trying to help me… I don't get cold." There was a small chuckle at the end of it — she wasn't upset, just thought it was funny her fellow Jedi would work up a story just to be near the living heater.

"Fine, only because you wanted to be warm."

She began to remove the tunic she had put on; lying in the sleeping bag would only overheat her. She did the same with the thick pants, leaving her in the thin fabric of her undershirt and shorts. She moved to the other side of the cot, unzipped the sleeping bag, and climbed in.

Lying on her back, she stares at the bunker's ceiling — doing her best to keep her mind sharp on any disturbances. Luckily, the entire camp was wired to let her know if anything tried to enter.

"I'll stay as long as you sleep. That's the condition."

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // "Eat" //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

A soft smile parted the lips of the Echani as Kito came over to the side of the cot, gently returning the small chuckle the ronin had given her. Even if she asked Ayra not to think of it as a favour, she still did. Whether it was for warmth or companionship, there was benefit enough for both of them.

"I feel warmer already."

The smugness was thick in the Echani's voice, but it quickly grew silent again as the K'paur began to strip away her heavier clothing. Ayra quickly turned her gaze, but it just as easily returned back Kito's way. Pale blue eyes dart to and away from Kito as she undressed, the Echani unsure both why she wanted to look and why she didn't.

The benefits of this arrangement for Ayra were immediately clear, the heat radiating from Kito immediately warming the sleeping bag, chasing the cold from the Echani's ears. Sleep began to hover over the Echani, her eyes fading as she drew closer to the K'paur. The warmth radiated from her skin, but Ayra would have to be content with the closeness they shared for now.

"I don't thi-" A long yawn broke up the words as she spoke. "I don't think that will be an issue."

As they lay close to one another, the marks upon Kito's skin became more visible. Whether it was sleep increasing the boldness of the Echani's movement or something else, a lithe finger softly ran along one marking the girl's back.

"Where is this one from?"

The tiredness in her voice was clear as she barely fend off sleep, hoping to stay awake long enough to hear Kito's answer. The two girls were the same age, yet couldn't be any more different. As much as a coward as Ayra felt, Kito was fierce and bold, resourceful enough to take care of herself and another on a whim. She wanted to hear the stories that Kito had to tell, wondering what exactly made the K'paur who she was.

Space lay between the two of them still, despite the warmth being closer to the source, Ayra respected the girl's boundaries to at least try not to cling to her back. That respect faded away as the Echani fell half asleep, her body lightly rocking as she sought to find a comfortable spot to lie in. Eventually in her semi-conscience state, she found it. An arm wrapped around the K'paur's waist before bringing their bodies closer, her cheek pressed into the back of the ronin as she clung to the furnace that lay next to her.

"Mmmmmmm..."

A low moan escaped Ayra's lips as she crawled towards Kito, clearly taking much pleasure in the warmth and comfort of the girl. Her head continued to twist and turn, failing to find a comfortable way to rest against the taller girl. Problem solving had fled along with Ayra's consciousness as she sought somewhere to lay her head. Eventually her feet pushed her up the sleeping bag, and her head found a pleasant spot to rest against Kito's neck, her head falling against the girl's shoulder as her soft white hair lay on the woman. An arm folded against the K'paur's back as another was once again thrown over Kito's body, delicacy of where it lay fading as Ayra felt into a more comfortable rest.

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Kito didn't say anything as she curled up into the smallest space she could in the cot. She did her best to ignore the pale blue eyes that wandered over her form. Unfortunately for Ayra, Kito had good night vision; it was part of her genetics. She saw the blush, she saw the way she looked at her, and it was embarrassing.

She second-guessed her agreement to this silly plot devised by the Echani. Kito knew the sleeping bag would keep her warm enough to avoid getting sick or hypothermia. This was a bad idea.

Staring off into the distance, Kito kept her mind clear, trying not to think of what she wanted to think of, what this feeling reminded her of. The person next to her wasn't who she had in mind, and it wasn't fair to either of them. Exhaling softly, the Padawan held something close to her neck, keeping her back turned.

Hopefully, Ayra would pass out sooner or later, and Kito could evacuate the sleeping bag. Already, she could hear sleep begin to take the Echani behind her, perfect.

Kito rolled the necklace between her fingers absentmindedly as she lay there, waiting for Ayra to finally fall asleep. She wasn't listening, tuning the girl out for the time being as her own thoughts mulled over her situation. It had been a recent development for the Padawan. Lost in her thoughts, daydreaming or something more. Nothing ever came of her musings, nor did she ever share them.

She was content with just letting memories play in her mind. A part of her wanted to sleep; at least there, the memories felt real.

Suddenly, something brushed against her skin, and her body tensed. She was suddenly reminded that the person behind her was still awake, it seemed. Kito wanted to lash out, pull away quickly so that Ayra didn't become bold again. But instead, she stayed and sighed.

"It's from another chapter in my life." Kito answered flatly. She knew what the scar was that Ayra found so interesting. Part of her was surprised that the wound had actually scarred. Still, it was from another time.

Kito didn't elaborate on the subject, hoping that Ayra didn't push her to. There were enough things etched on her body beyond memories. She shifted, keeping her own space, hoping the Echani would do the same.

Again, Ayra proved Kito wrong. As suddenly as she answered, Ayra seemed to need to press against something or someone. Kit was the helpless victim of the girl's desire for comfort. Kito lay there, arms crossing around her own frame as she tried to keep to herself. Ayra had scooted closer, her face pressed into her back, then moved up towards her neck. Again, even if she couldn't, her body tensed further. No one had been this close to her neck before. The feeling of Ayra's breathing against her skin made the heat in the Shaper burn.

This wasn't who was supposed to be here. Still, Kito endured it. She wasn't ready — not for this, not for anyone.


Kito finally turned over and pushed Ayra gently onto her side. "Turn over," she ordered. If Ayra wanted warmth, Kito would give her a bit of it so the girl would sleep — and she could leave once this was over.

When Ayra resisted, Kito guided her until she lay facing away. Then she slipped her arms around the Echani's waist and pulled her close, more to quiet her than out of comfort. The size difference between them was almost frustrating.

Not even this was the same…

The tunic still smelled of the perfume, and Kito gently inhaled it, feeling the warmth of the memory take hold. At least she had that.

"Be quiet and go to sleep," Kito whispered.

Holding onto Ayra, while it felt wrong, she just let it happen. She had to try, even if it killed her on the inside. Her eyes welled up slightly, and tears fell softly into the back of the tunic, the fabric absorbing them.

Kito stopped herself and sighed softly. Hoping that none of this was noticed.

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Slep //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

A small grunt would have to be all the answer Kito would receive as she mentioned the scar, Ayra unwilling to delve deeper as she drifted away. Whatever secrets the ronin decided to keep would remain hers alone, maybe to be revealed another day. The discomfort of the K'paur was clear.

Despite her willingness to share a bed, the tense feeling of Kito's posture told the Echani that this was mostly unwilling.

It was a sad feeling for the girl. Of course this was hardly an intimate setting, but still. For someone to tense at a touch was difficult to accept, and her finger lightly retracted as she accepted silence as the answer for her curiosity, instead retreating back to her current goal of fading into sleep.

"Mhmmmm..."

A small moan was all that answered Kito as she commanded Ayra to turn around, though the girl's small frame quickly followed the order. The warmth had already chased the cold away from her features, and the barely conscious figure smiled slightly as the K'paur embraced her.

The satisfaction of the girl neared its pinnacle as she found herself coddled in a wonderfully temperate hold. She squirmed and settled within Kito's grasp, arms clinging to the girl's bicep as she buried herself further against the ronin's figure.

The difference in their size was as wonderful for the Echani as it was frustrating for Kito, being able to fully fall against this furnace of a woman.

As she felt the heat wash over her like a second blanket, all ability to fight away the weariness from the past few months drifted off her shoulders. The rhythmic rising and falling of her chest indicating that she had finally been fully embraced by sleep;

It took awhile, but eventually a noise would gently wake the Echani, her pale eyes squinting awake as she sought the source. Her senses took a moment to awaken, hazy from the rest that her body had long craved. A wetness of her nape and the sound of soft crying gently roused Ayra, it's source closer to the Echani than she had assumed.

It took a moment for her to understand quite what was happening, but by then she felt too awkward to address it. Whatever emotions Kito was fighting were meant for her alone, but a soft pity tightened in the chest of the padawan. For as strong as Kito was, the girl clearly decided to fighter her own wars silently.

The Echani simply lay there for a few moments, silently pondering just what she could do for her saviour. Addressing it aloud seemed the wrong move, not wanting to often the ronin with some shallow pity. Instead, she tried to answer Kito's struggle in the best way she could. The smaller girl turned around in the black haired woman's arms before wrapping her own delicately in a hug. The movement was careful, trying not to scare away the K'paur as Ayra held her.

"It's alright."

It was a soft embrace, tightening slowly as she only tried to comfort the woman during whatever internal struggle she faced. Ayra didn't open her eyes, allowing Kito her silent grievance without fear of being observed. Whatever support that the girl needed, Ayra would try to offer it without damaging her pride.

It was the least she could do, after all...

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

It would have been better if Ayra had ignored her. Left the ronin to deal with her own thoughts. She had hoped that her tears wouldn't be noticed and that she could either find sleep herself or return to her watch. Slowly, she felt Ayra rotate in her arms. She watched as the girl didn't open her eyes but settled in close to her.

Kito held her breath, hoping that it was just an accident that Ayra had moved. Then she heard her voice softly, and the walls that Kito had built instantly barricaded. The woman had seen her, heard her, and now attempted to comfort her. Kito didn't want this. It was the worst-case scenario: a stranger knowing that she was crying over something as trivial as a broken heart. It wasn't like Valaine wasn't going to be around her… she just couldn't be with her.

The urge to pull away from Ayra, to instantly deny her the warmth that she had sought after her months-long ordeal. But she didn't. Kito stayed and allowed the Jedi to comfort her. Maybe it was her way of silently repaying Kito for saving her. If Kito hadn't shown up, once the victory happened, they would have hunted her.

Ayra wouldn't have survived.

While she was utterly irritating, no one deserved that kind of death. Sighing softly, her tears dried, and she nodded.

"I'm fine," Kito murmured between them. She didn't want to answer any questions, and she hoped Ayra would just forget this moment. It was embarrassing, and Kito wasn't the type to draw others into her sorrow.

Sighing again, she wrapped her arms around the Echani. She drew her closer, letting her head rest near her neck. A hand held the back of her head, keeping her close, protectively. The crowd outside was growing louder, their celebration of the deaths of the freedom fighters.

Kito wondered if they knew Ayra, if they knew she wasn't among the dead. She also asked if they knew the pair was just inside the bunker, trying to sleep, so they could escape. Kito didn't sleep, but her breathing slowed, feigning the act of sleep. She wanted Ayra to feel comfortable despite the imminent danger just outside the walls around them.

"A few more hours and we keep going." She hinted to the Echani. "Get your rest."

Kito would allow Ayra to get comfortable, despite the Shaper's mind being elsewhere with someone else.

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Slep //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

Ayra allowed for the tears to fall silently against her, remaining unanswered. There was no reason to push any further against Kito's discomfort. Hopefully the embrace was as comforting for the girl as it was for Ayra. She was content to allow sleep to drift across, wiping away what consciousness was left in the Echani.

A heat crept through her body as she slept, a concoction of the tunic she wore as well as the girl lying next to her. In a state of half slumber Ayra quietly shuffled the Tunic off of herself as she sought some comfort.

But the heat refused to dissipate.

The K'paur would hear the heavy breaths of the Echani as she sought to cool herself off, writhing beside the ronin as she sought some relief from the warmth. As much as Ayra enjoyed lying next to the raven haired girl, the discomfort it fed to her body had to be managed. Kito was a furnace of a woman, and sweat dripped from Ayra as she tried to not wake the girl.

Her thoughts drift to the day, of how she had imagined death coming for her so vividly before the commander sacrificed himself. And then Kito had come to rescue the Echani, as poorly as their introduction had been. She thought of how the girl casually threw her over the shoulder and the comfort of the way Kito had taken care of her. They drift to the shower they shared.

God could Ayra use another shower right now.

Grunts and moans came from the Echani as she tossed and turned in the cot before finally a wave of cool air washed over her, a barely stifled noise coming as it balanced out the heat from the K'paur.

Quietly, she lulled herself back into a proper sleep, resting against the K'paur once again as she hoped she hadn't disturbed her saviours sleep.

Morning would come soon enough, and the Echani waited for the smell of fire and breakfast to wake her. A soft murmur came from her lips as she stayed in the cot, unwilling to awake from the comfort she felt, or perhaps unable to. The sun stung her eyes as it chased the night sky away, washing the day before away like a bad dream.

Looking up, she saw the already alert K'paur tending to the fire, prepared to douse it in case they needed to flee.

"Good Morning." A yawn coming from her lips as she sat out of the cot and stretched her arms up, forgetting that the tunic still lay to her side.

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Everything that had happened that evening was a lot. Kito felt the girl shift, moving constantly, and the cot moving with her. Slowly, she opened her eyes only to see what was happening. Her mind instantly figured out, and her tears dried up, and she shut her eyes faster than she ever could.

If she pretended she didn't see anything, then it really didn't happen. Kito kept her eyes shut until the noises and the movement ceased.

She exhaled slightly and drew her arm from under Ayra the best she could. Even if she woke her up, at this moment, Kito didn't care. Once she was free, Kito waited until she heard the slower breathing, which indicated that Ayra had finally fallen asleep. It didn't take Kito long to climb out of the cot. Sleep wouldn't be visiting her tonight; whatever she got, that was it. She sat by the ashes of the smouldering fire and sighed softly.

The evening was cold, but the clean tunic and clothing she had pulled on would be warm enough for her. Her face found its way into the raised collar. The gentle lingering scent of coffee soothed her. It was small, and she knew one day it would all fade from her belongings, but she wouldn't ever fade. Kito would never forget and would always feel the same way she did. Fingers rolled the small fang between her fingers, its point enough to ground her in the reality of the moment.

Her thoughts were all she had in this moment. Ayra slept soundly, and she would listen to the voices that lingered drunkenly outside. If she had just stuck to her original plan, none of what just happened would have happened. Maybe Kito sought comfort from Ayra as well; she had never felt loneliness until now. The thought annoyed her; it only made a specific saying more true than it ever had been.

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Kito let the words linger in the back of her mind. Valaine wasn't gone, but it still felt like it at times. Maybe…

She reached for her comm device, the screen dim, not to draw attention to herself or the camp. She flicked through her contacts — there weren't many, but she found the most important one. The only one that was starred in the corner.

Her thumb moved over the small keypad as she sent the message.

<: Hey… You up? :> ​

Kito paused and tilted her head, her body suddenly relaxing as she leaned forward and drew her legs in, curling up by the dead campfire.

<: I miss you… :> ​

The rest of the evening passed, and as the sun rose, Kito took the opportunity to start the fire again. She began to cook a simple breakfast, meat and eggs. Something to hold them over until they could make their way to the hidden fighter. As the food cooked, she made the rice porridge over the fire, stirring it slowly with a wooden spoon to ensure it didn't burn.

Ayra's voice chimed over the silence, and Kito sighed softly. Her peace and quiet was now ending, and she glanced over only to realize the Echani's state of dress.

Her eyes turned away, focusing on the porridge. There was no reaction as she continued to stir. Any other time, a moment like this would have made the Shaper blush, but her annoyance was too far gone at this point. She remained silent, not responding to the greeting for a few minutes.

Finally…

"You should put the tunic back on, you'll catch a cold being as bare as you are." She didn't look again and nodded her head towards the showers.

"I filled the water, it should be warm. Clean up and come eat while I break down camp."

 

[Valaine Valentine]

-

COMM-THREAD xx-x | ENCRYPTION: xxxxxx

TO: Kito

FROM: Valaine Valentine

yeah im up its like noon here what are you up to?

[IMAGE UPLOADING...]

also if your asking that you should probably get some sleep anyways
will be here to talk when your more awake xxx


— THREAD TERMINATED —

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Slep //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

The stretch continued, a dragged out yawn escorting it as she felt surprisingly refreshed in her sleep. Perhaps it was the fact that this was the closest to a bed that she had in a long time, or perhaps it was being wrapped in the arms of another. No, definitely the former she thought to herself, immediately denying any chance that the ronin gave her comfort.

"Oh..."

She hadn't even realised the tunic was discarded in her sleep, though she supposed it mattered little if the shower was ready. The tunic stay lying there as she made her way to the shower, a temptation to invite her saviour once again though she thought better of it this time. Ayra had already teased the girl enough, she supposed.

As the water once again washed away the stress, she took a moment to bask in the water, a proper shower as she quickly rinsed the mud out of her hair and the sweat from the night away from her skin. A humming would come from the shower as she bathed, low and sweet in nature. A song from childhood perhaps.

It wasn't long before she had finished, actually managing to have a towel before stepping out this time. Quickly drying herself, the girl put on the clothes Kito had readied for her, rolling the cuffs on the pants as they fell well past her feet. She decided to keep wearing the tunic for now, not out of any sentimentality but simply for it's warmth.

"For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure I've had a cold for a few weeks now." The lightness in her step was obvious as the Echani half skipped over to the fire, her hands barely peaking out of the tunic as she sought to warm them. "But it smells like you cooked something up to chase that away, please tell me there's some tea to enjoy with it as well."

The Echani calmly waited for Kito to serve the food, half tempted to get the ronin to feed her again. She mulled the thought in her head as the K'paur cooked before deciding against it. As much as Ayra loved the pampering, she didn't want Kito to think she was useless. Or perhaps realise was the better word.

Pushing aside the thought, her pale blue eyes quietly watched Kito work over the food, an appreciation for the artistry planting itself in her mind. The raven-haired girl definitely knew how to take care of herself.

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //: Valaine Valentine //:

Kito smiled sheepishly as she read the message. It was daytime for Valaine, so she did some mental math and offered a quick message back, letting the woman know when she would be awake. Along with the message, an image was also attached.

The brief messages were enough for Kito to find some peace and let herself doze off. There was something to look forward to in the morning and for the rest of the trip. She may find a moment between missions to visit the Sangnir. It had felt longer than it had since they had seen each other.

---

Kito didn't pay Ayra much attention as she stood and took advantage of the warm water that Kito had stored and kept warm for her shower. Despite the evening's 'events', Kito wasn't the type to be as petty as most would be. The action confused her, but she figured it was just the feeling of being cared for after everyone you knew had died. Remembering this small factor, Kito decided to be a bit nicer — at least for the rest of the mission.

The shower didn't take as long as she had thought it would. Moments later, Ayra had found the towel and the clothes that Kito had laid out for her. Despite needing the clean clothes herself, she figured Ayra would be more appreciative of the non-damaged clothes to wear than the bodysuit. She continued to stir the porridge as she listened to Ayra.

"I'd expect you'd be in pretty bad shape," Kito tilted her head as she let her gaze drift from the porridge to the girl beside her. She looked different, better than her original state when Kito found her.

"Despite that," Kito looked back at the porridge as she stood and gathered a couple of bowls. "You seem refreshed after getting a full night of sleep." Kito wondered if she should ask, but she busied herself with portioning the breakfast. Outside was silent, which only made Kito more on edge.

Handing the bowl to Ayra, she sprinkled in some dried vegetables and then gave her a sweet chocolate bar. Remembering that the girl had liked the chocolate from the night before, she wondered if chocolate was something she found comfort in. Kito retook her seat and started to eat. Remembering, she shook her head, "No tea. There's no time."

It didn't take long for the Shaper to demolish her food and then begin to break down the camp. The items would be buried and treated like debris, like everything else. They couldn't carry it, and Kito figured Ayra wasn't in the mood to lug more items around with her. The faster they go to the fighter, the better.

The question that lingered in Kito's head continued to chew on the edge of her mind. She wanted to know what had happened last night and why, but she also didn't want to know the exact details. She wasn't interested; she just didn't understand.

Stopping, as she was breaking down the cot, she looked over at Ayra, "Did you sleep well? You were moving a lot, so I was wondering…" Kito grabbed the sleeping back and folded it down as small as it could and returned it to her pack. It was one of the few items she took with her. She had her reasons and they weren't the reasons Ayra was probably thinking.

"I just need to know now if I'm going to have to carry you the rest of the way."

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Escape //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

Ayra blew softly on the hot bowl of porridge as she took her own time enjoying the food, paying little mind as Kito tore down the camp. Sounds of equipment being trashed and debris being scattered did little to distract the girl from her sustenance. She didn't mind not helping, Kito probably had more experience tearing stuff down than she did after all.

As the porridge was slowly consumed, the Echani offered only a pout as she was denied her tea. It was petty, of course, but Ayra often found herself in a petty mood at Kito's side.

She lingered as the ronin finished spreading debris around the camp, a little sad that she couldn't rest for longer. But the sight of the raven-haired woman working made up for it, watching sweat build on her skin as she did the work.

Then the K'paur asked about last night, and Ayra realised it hadn't been a dream the entire time. Redness took over the entirety of her face as her mind raced to find an excuse.

"Oh!"

The gasp did little to help as she sought an escape from this moment.

"I'm a bit of a restless sleeper, couldn't really find a comfortable position."

She lied unconvincingly.

"You're a bit of a furnace so I needed to get comfortable, that's why I took the tunic off."

Ignoring the state it left her in.

"But the rest way nice after a bit, I slept great. I appreciate you holding me."

A crumb of truth to finish off the story.

Ayra hoped that would be the end of the questioning and that the moment could pass away into dreams as she thought it had, pushed deep, deep, down where it could die a slow death.

Finally standing, the Echani's legs began to numb from soreness as Kito asked if she needed to be carried. The weeks of poor rest and fighting catching up to her all at once, or at least she pretended so.

"I wouldn't want to slow us down. I might have twisted my leg climbing yesterday, so if it's easier for you..."

The sentence wouldn't be finished, allowing Kito to make the suggestion instead. Her foot dug a small hole into the ground as she waited for the ronin to speak.

 

[Kito]

//: Ayra Lowe //:

Kito raised an eyebrow, watching Ayra try to explain away what had happened the night before. All her suspicions and knowledge of what occurred were only justified by the way she acted.

Nodding, "Okay then," she said matter-of-factly. There was no more diving into the subject. She didn't want to know the details and didn't want to know what made the other padawan thing those things. Least of all, she didn't want to know if Ayra's mind had trailed in her direction.

Kito paused and thought quietly. It was awkward to believe that someone else found her attractive in that way. It was impossible. Shaking her head, she figured the Echani had a boyfriend or something she was missing.

That made the most logical sense. She finished gathering up the camp, leaving Ayra wondering if she would be carried for the rest of the trip. Once Kito's small pack was done being packed, she walked towards the shorter padawan.

"You do walk slow, alright." Kito thought about carrying her like a potato sack again, but decided it wouldn't be very comfortable for her shoulders, given the uneven weight distribution. She didn't want the intimacy of carrying Ayra like a princess or in the front. The only option was finalized, and Kito moved her pack to her front and turned to beckon the Echani to climb up.

"It's this or nothing…" she warned and waited for Ayra to climb up. It takes a long time for her to crawl up the Shaper's back, and Kito tucked her hands under the girl's knees, keeping her legs wrapped around her waist for support.

"Don't choke me, please." Kito paused, giving the girl a little jump as she settled her better against her back and adjusting her grip. "If you get too hot… Please let me know so we can take a break and I can put you down…"

Remembering the night before and the reasons why Kito didn't want to have another episode. With the camp fully broken down and looking as if no one had been there in ages, they were off.

The Shaper's footsteps were light as she made sure to step irregularly. This would prevent anyone from tracking them and ambushing the pair. While Kito knew she could defend them, she didn't know much about Ayra's fighting abilities — if she had been told to survive, they might not be there.

Kito kept her thoughts to herself as she walked toward the edge of the bunker's entrance. Outside, they would be more exposed, which meant that if the enemy wanted to continue their sweeps, they would be in trouble.

Where they were was more urban than she had liked. If they were in the forest, Kito knew they would have an easier time hiding. With the city around them, it meant they would have to settle for abandoned apartments or shops — while hoping the enemy didn't want to plunder.

Again, Kito tried not to think about it; her focus was just getting to the next camp she had set up. She was fine traveling in silence, but she figured Ayra was the type who liked to converse; she also wanted to prevent her from falling asleep. When the girl was alert, she was lighter to carry — yet when she slept, she was dead weight.

"Um," Kito started, trying to think of something to talk about. "I've never seen someone who looks like you… Where are you from?" While Kito had met very few people in the galaxy, this was an easy start to a conversation that didn't involve anything too personal… maybe.

As she left the bunker, she squinted her eyes in the morning sun. It was bright, and she hoped they didn't look too out of place. Her mind wandered for a moment, wondering if it was evening for Valaine now and if they were going to make it to camp before the woman went to sleep.

If anything, she'd have to find a moment to reach out — at least to check in…

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Escape //
// Focus // // Kito //

---

---

As Ayra continued her pitiable act to get the ronin to comply, the mask slipped a bit as Kito motioned to allow the girl to jump on her back. A small whimper of glee escaped her lips as she happily fell onto the back of the raven-haired girl, relieved she wouldn't have to walk.

"I'll take it!" She clamoured as she ignored the previous insult, tucking the slight away to avenge later.

It's not as if Kito would noticed the difference in weight anyways.

"Since your asked nicely." Her hands fell across the girl's shoulders as Ayra finished her ascent, allowing the K'paur to put her hands beneath her knees.

Her mind wandered again as she assumed the girl would have liked it anyways considering the bite marks.

Probably not while she was walking though.

The Echani's head fell against the K'paur's back, not minding the extra bit of warmth in the least. The cold air of the morning air was quickly chased away by the shaper's nature, and only the blinding light of the sun threatened Ayra now.

In a shocking turn of events, Kito was the one to begin the conversation.

It was surprising from the quiet girl, and considering their past bickering Ayra didn't mind a quiet walk. But she supposed the ronin deserved a nice chat if it was what she wanted.

"The white hair catch your interest, huh?" A hand brushed some of the strands across the girl's shoulder to show it off. "I'm an Echani, though I wasn't born or raised on Eshan. I grew up with my moms on Castell, in a nice big mansion until..."

The words fell away, keeping Ayra's secrets to herself.

"So I haven't really grew up around many others aside from my siblings, there's a whole martial arts my people use to communicate that I don't even know." The words came shamelessly, having made up with the dissonance from her people. Or at least enough that she could pretend it didn't matter. "So you've chosen a pretty poor girl for your first encounter, I bet I could put you on your butt though."

She couldn't.

Still, it was nice to share when she could. So often Jedi just devolved into mindless training that a simple conversation felt like a forbidden fruit.

"What about you? Those eyes of yours hardly scream human."