As she climbed in and sat next to him, he tried his best to make more room for her. The comfort to her sitting with him was more warming than the fire could ever be. He was curious to know more about her than he had been earlier when he had learned of her plight. Emotions were not something he was particular good at comprehending like he had explained earlier but this warm sensation in his heart could only be a few of the things he was aware of. Another tear fell from his eye as he thought about the future ahead of him and already having an idea of the road ahead. If he hadn’t gotten a empathic snapshot of the road ahead of him he might not have agreed to meet up with her. He knew his time to get away with such things was rapidly closing or that a Sith could open his door at any moment and the two of them would be killed on the spot.
“If the secret to aging doesn’t pay well I could go into the nightlight industry.”
He tried not to laugh but failed as he chuckled and winced in pain. He gripped the abdomen of his frail body feeling his muscles starting to roll and tighten up into a cramp. He had winced again the pain stopping and the cramp vanishing as he felt the warmth from the bed which is now mostly on fire or so it seemed. He wondered if such flames were safe around some of his supplies or if it burned oxygen in this small room.
“Thank you for helping me with the datapad. I want to pay you but you have to live long enough to accept the payment. So no more seizures.”
“So do we get to stay friends after I go back to the Jedi? Or do you think the Sith Empire might not like that?”
“Friends?” he asked opening his eyes again wondering if she was sincere in her offer, but he knew he would never be able to tell by just looking at her. His body started to shiver less and his teeth chattering slowly stopped thanks to the heat of the fire and how close she was.
“Having a friend is payment enough…I’ve never had one before but no the Sith or the Jedi would not approve. Its more dangerous if you are a friend,” he said slowly and calmly as he rolled over to face her better still remaining curled up a bit into a ball.
“I’m sorry,”
Katarine Ryiah