To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

[Keira Priest]

There were a few seconds of hesitation before Keira stepped out of the shadows and into the light, this time literally so. Instinctively she squinted against the waning glare of the evening light, though she refused to shy backwards so much as a step. If this was a metaphor for her new life then she would play her part perfectly, though perhaps not exactly as expected. While her pace was slow it was far from hesitant, and she moved with a confidence that still demonstrated a sort of respect to her surroundings. There was no doubt that she was changed, though how much remained to be seen. This was a new side to the typically no-nonsense and brazen attitude she was often possessed of. Here now was the facet that brought to light a deeper tolerance of those about her. In that moment she did, for a second, resemble the picture of a Jedi.

Gently she broke away from his hand on her arm, insisting that she walk on her own despite the obvious exhaustion that accompanied her. That stubbornness was a piece of her that would never be completely worn down, and she would always retain it somewhere within her. This was a journey that needed to be undertaken at least partially by herself, no matter how small a step it may have seemed to others. It was a part of her gaining an independence from others, a show of her own resilience and refusal to back down. As she slowly stepped away from the Temple itself the action symbolized in a way her breaking ties with her formerly shackled past and starting again as a new individual. Now she was better than that darkness, resolved to take a stand and fight for what she believed rather than simply going where she was directed.

With every step her pace increased just slightly, and before even she was consciously aware she had taken to running the rest of the way off the grounds proper and into the true open wilderness of the planet. Her speed wasn't augmented with the Force, and she instead relied solely on her own athleticism to carry her, enjoying the feeling of pushing herself, the working of her muscles a pleasurable sensation. It had been some time since she was granted leave to exercise herself simply because she chose to instead of being pushed into things. And with the chance she found within her an energy that hadn't been present previously, seemingly inexhaustible reserves lending themselves to her, her speed unwavering for what seemed like forever in her mind. If this was true freedom in its purest form, then she never wanted to go back.

After a time she once more slowed, having found herself in a clearing of sorts. Nearing the middle, at a walk now, she allowed herself to somewhat gracefully fall onto her back, the soft grass blanketing the landing and providing a natural cushion. Her chest rose and fell visibly as she caught her breath, a purely genuine laugh escaping her at the sheer absurd bliss of this entire scenario. Never in her life would she have imagined setting foot on Voss with no violent intentions, and yet here she was, lying on her back in one of the many forested areas, simply taking in the nature that surrounded her, content to whittle the day away without a care in the world. An energy was felt in the air that was at once rejuvenating and calming, filling her with energy and yet bidding her to relax at the same time. The sensation was dizzying in a pleasant manner, brought on by the enjoyment of life itself.

Slowly the smile faded from her lips as she stared upwards into a sky splashed with the thousand colors of a sunset, beholding a beauty that had been rare in her life previously. In that moment she vowed to never miss another again, making time in her life to appreciate the little things which were once so sparse. Now she was only biding her time until Connor finally caught up. No doubt he was wondering just what she was up to, and had they traded places she would likely be thinking much of the same. Drawing the Force into her core she pushed outward gently, the energy manifesting itself as a gentle breeze for those near enough to feel it. With it was still that rebellious undertone which hinted at her presence here, something that would never really abandon her no matter what standing she took. For once she felt at home.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

For a moment they walked side by side around the Temple to the outskirts, and then, just like that, she was gone.

His eyes raised slightly as she started to walk faster and then run - not in a way to escape him, but in a way like...like a child would exploring a vast space before them that was all theirs with no restraint. Connor didn't stop walking or shout, he just smiled at her as he watched.

Keira was heading out from the main front of the Temple down to the fields and clearings that was laid out before it like a picture postcard. Mountains in the far distance, a waterfall hitting a stream to the right and waving grass tall and short teasing a makeshift path through. It would be easy to get lost if you didn't know your way around, but the isolation of the Temple in this large clearing, walled in with the mountains and waterfalls, was the perfect hideaway.

The girl vanished into the grassland surrounded by tall trees. Connor followed her trail easily, his outstretched hand drifting over the blades of grass he walked through. It was nice to see her enjoy this moment, because Connor himself had done something of the same recently. Not running, of course, but just escaping into the nature of the planet and surrounding himself with the Force to feel at home, at one and at peace. No distractions and nothing to question him.

Maybe he was doing something right for someone if Keira was finding some solace here with him.

A few moments later he came to the trees and clearing, and could see her through the blades on the floor, and he walked over, standing behind her so not to break her vision up into the blue sky.

"Is somebody having fun, Keira?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

"You know, if you tell anyone about this I'm going to have to kill you." Turning her head slightly to look at him the crooked smile on her lips made it clear that the previous statement was lighthearted in nature. This was the most at ease Keira had been in a long time, what with being able to make offhanded comments like that and for once mean nothing by them. In that moment she was struck with the utter simplicity of life and the galaxy around her, and how easy it was to be genuinely happy. All it took was merely accepting and letting go of the troubles that couldn't be changed in her life, and admitting that sometimes help was necessary in order to adjust to walking a new path. This was just the beginning of a journey that would no doubt be a months long journey, but she was prepared to put forth the required effort to be something better than herself.

Despite the tiredness that had settled deep within her bones she was wide awake and acutely aware of every detail of the land about her. "I don't know. I think so." Of all the matters she was innocent to, it was those of the purest sort. Plenty of horrors had been witnessed on her part, but anything of a gentle and caring manner was entirely foreign. "I guess I've forgotten what that means. I know what it means to suffer, I know what it means to feel pain, but when it comes to having fun I'm clueless. Sad, isn't it?" A quiet, self-deprecating laugh escaped her, and she dug her fingers into the dirt beneath the grass in order to ground herself in the present moment lest she forget herself once more. It would ultimately be her downfall to let her emotions reign supreme, and so she had to force her head to remain clear.

Rolling over onto her stomach she pushed herself first into a sitting position and then to her feet, once more taking in the breathtaking peace that encompassed the planet itself. The Force seemed to urge her to listen if only she would take the time to do so, promising to enlighten her so that she could achieve her own sort of peace. It was an offer she would accept in due time, but right now she was connecting on much of the same level with another sentient first, relearning what it meant to put her trust in another and this time not have it broken. "This place is beautiful. I don't think I've ever been anywhere so alive." Even the grass she had once been laying in withheld its own energy and life force, and everything from that to the larger trees and the microscopic organisms that inhabited them were full of an unexplainable tranquility.

Just as she had to find the clearing she once again set out with a sort of purpose, this time among the trees themselves. Stopping at the base of one she looked up into the branches, flexing her fingers at her sides and chewing the inside of her cheek. Finally she began climbing the tree itself, scrambling for handholds and footholds both, never halting in her movements. The rough texture of the bark beneath her fingertips as it scraped against her skin was refreshing rather than an annoyance, the sheer difficulty of finding a viable placement as she climbed higher only making the activity all the more enjoyable. There was a fork in the branches she deemed a suitable place to rest, and it wasn't so high that he wouldn't be able to hear her speak or see her form, but high enough that she achieved a better view of the scenery Voss had to offer.

This life was hers and now she would live it. Maybe twenty-five years too late, but she would nonetheless. "Thank you for this. For giving me a chance where no one else would have. For listening and trying to make sense of things. For not giving up on me." Her entire formed leaned back into the tree, each word she spoke the honest truth. "I know I haven't made things easy by being the way I am, and I know a lot of the time you probably just wanted to walk away. I did, too. But now we've made it, I guess, even if we won't ever really be fixed. Now we can try and figure things out together, maybe." Cooperation had never really been her best skill, but for something like this she would put forth a genuine effort. For something like this she would at the very least try. "Now I feel like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. That maybe there's some hope left. A chance."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

All he could do was stand and listen. Connor rested his hands on hips and watched her lie there. Part of thim wanted to join her, to look up at the world with untainted eyes and not have a care about it. But, he simply stood and watched her.

"I won't say a word," he said gently.

Looking around the planet, seeing a high moon up in the atmosphere, Keira was on the way up the tree beside them and scrambling around without using the Force as an aide like Connor would have. But there was no point in trying to live if you had to use the Force to compensate the thrill of doing things yourself.

"It's a beautiful place and the only home I've ever known. Cursed or not, I'm here until destiny calls and takes me away."

Squinting one eye closed as he looked up at the partially salvaged Jedi...Sith...Dark Jedi...whatever she was - Keira, simply for now - he chuckled. He bore nothing against her, despite their history. They'd never even crossed each other as enemies because perhaps they weren't. They were beyond that. What she said touched Connor, and it was like something Syala would say, except now is was this firecracker saying how it felt to find some solace in things.

"I said I'd never give up on you," he smiled at her.

Reaching up, he placed a hand on her boot swinging down from the fork and he held it, looking up at her.

"You've been a pain in the ass but you're my pain now so I'm glad I've been able to help you in someway. God knows I need to feel needed a little bit more than I have been recently."

He let a beat skip, and winked at her, patting her boot and returning his hand to rest and turn back to the tree, sitting down on the soft grass leaning against the soft brown trunk.

And then there was...peace.

[member="Keira Ticon"]