Shadows of War, Skynia's past.

[Skynia]

((I've been wanting to write some stuff for Sky, but just never got the inspiration. Finally did last night, though, and so here's this. Hopefully there'll be more to come.))

Wind whistled through the city, sweeping across the roof tops and balconies, swirling past the solitary Jedi Knight. Skynia Drego stood with her back to the setting sun, watching the shadows grow and deepen below in the city streets. The people moved about as usual, unaware of the growing storm that the Jedi sensed, ever present in the back of her mind.

The galaxy was changing. Where the Jedi had once maintained peace and order, the Sith now rampaged, spreading corruption and violating all that was once pure. They had even managed to tamper with the Jedi’s connection with the Force, with their ability to sense and perceive the future. The Jedi archives told of a time when the evil of the Sith had done much the same thing. It had all ended with the horrible deaths of hundreds of Jedi when Palpatine’s Order 66 had ushered in the end of the Old Republic Jedi. Now, over five hundred years later, the Order had grown and evolved. It was no longer the Order the legendary Jedi had known. Sometimes, Skynia wasn’t even sure if it was the Order she knew.

“Master?”

Skynia turned, smiling gently at her young Padawan, Jaia Kaato. The girl had been her Padawan for nearly a year now, and Skynia was pleased with the progress she had seen in Jaia’s training. The girl was a quick leaner. “What is it, Jaia?”

Jaia approached cautiously, seeming almost hesitant in her movements. She stood beside Skynia, gazing down at the city. The sun had sunk beneath the horizon, leaving the city cloaked wholly in shadow. “It’s coming, isn’t it?”

Skynia nodded slowly. “It’s been coming for a long time.”

“Do you think the Council’s wrong?”

Skynia glanced down at her Padawan, frowning softly in thought. The Jedi High Council had ruled against deploying more Jedi in a military posture across the galaxy, despite the obvious threat posed by the Sith and the rebellion they led against Galactic government. Skynia knew she wasn’t the only one in opposition to the Council’s decision. Just that morning, she had spoken to her fellow Knight, Kianna Starflight, about what the spreading darkness could mean for the Jedi. If the Council refused to acknowledge the threat of the Sith, then they could lose everything.

“I think,” Skynia began, her voice low and tinged with sadness, “that the Council has a difficult decision to make. One wrong step in these dark times could lead us all to ruin.”

Jaia sighed heavily. “But we’re Jedi. We’re supposed to fight the dark side, aren’t we? Why can’t we just find these Sith and kill them all?”

Smiling sadly, Skynia rested her left hand on Jaia’s shoulder. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”

Jaia’s smooth features crinkled in a frown. “Is the dark side more powerful?”

Shaking her head firmly, Skynia tightened her grip on Jaia’s shoulder. “No. But, in a way, you could say that the Jedi have created the dark side. As long as there is light in this galaxy, there will be shadow and darkness. It’s something we can’t deny, and we certainly can’t hide from it.”

Jaia’s frowned deepened and she lowered her head. Skynia watched her Padawan in silence. She wished she could shelter the girl from the evil that swirled around them, but she couldn’t. Jaia was barely past her tenth birthday and more than seven years younger than Skynia, but she had already seen more death and reckless hate than Skynia had been exposed to in her early years as a Jedi. The galaxy was changing so very quickly, spiralling out of control, and Skynia didn’t like the direction it was headed.

[Skynia]

“You’re late,” Kibecca rumbled.

Skynia mumbled an apology, dipping her head in respect. For her credit, Kibecca didn’t look as though Skynia’s tardiness bothered her. Her pale blue eyes shone with affection, and she motioned for the young Knight to join her.

Skynia didn’t hesitate and dropped into a comfortable cross-legged position opposite the wookiee. They studied each other in silence for a long moment. Just over a year before, Skynia had still been under Kibecca’s tutelage. But then the wookiee was assigned a place on the Council, which propelled Skynia into her trials several years before she had expected. It was no surprise, though, since many other Padawans faced the same challenge. With the war raging as it was, the Council had already promoted many of the older Padawans to full Knight status.

“How is young Jaia?” the Master asked, snuffing and woofing the words in the familiar wookiee language, Shyriiwook.

Skynia sighed, taking a long, deep breath before answering Kibecca’s question. “Restless.”

Kibecca snuffed a sigh, her gaze rising to the domed row of skylights above. “Who can blame her?”

“I can’t,” Skynia admitted. After her talk with Kianna, Skynia had been torn between defying the Council and honoring her former Master. Kianna had spoke of acting independently, without the Council’s approval, and striking out against the Sith.

“We’ll take the fight to them,” Kianna had said, her eyes shining with a passionate determination Skynia hadn’t seen in her friend before. “If we keep waiting for them to strike us first, we’ll all die.”

While Skynia still wasn’t sure she wholeheartedly agreed with her fellow Knight, she did know that they had to do something. With every passing day, more of her fellow Jedi fell in battle. If they did nothing, where would they be a year from now? Who would be left? Jaia, as young and innocent as she was, had already seen so much pain. Maybe she would be one of the next to fall. Pressing her lips into a firm line, Skynia leaned forward, her voice strained by desperation as she spoke, “Master, you must convince the Council to rethink their decision. Too many have died already. How long will the Council stand by and do nothing? We have to fight!”

Kibecca’s eyes slid shut, her shaggy head sagging. The massive wookiee sat in silence, showing no sign that Skynia’s words had affected her. Skynia knew better though. Kibecca was one of those Council members who had ruled in favor of non-aggression. No matter how wrong she might think the decision was, Skynia would never willfully speak out against her former Master. Yet here she was, passionately declaring her opposition to Kibecca’s decision and the Council’s wisdom. Lowering her head, she was just beginning to form an apology when Kibecca woofed gently.

“You must be patient, Sky. Only the Force knows what the future will bring. If you dwell on nothing but what you cannot change, all you have done is give into your fear. And...”

Skynia spoke the words along with Kibecca, “...fear is the path to the dark side. I’m sorry, Master. You’re right, of course.”

Rumbling a low laugh, Kibecca reached out and lay a hairy paw on Skynia’s right shoulder. “And you are right as well, my young friend. Something must be done. But what...? And how?” The wookiee shook her head. “Too much is uncertain in these days. We can only trust that the Force will lead us down the right path.”

Nodding her reluctant agreement, Skynia let out a slow breath. “Patience.”

Kibecca smiled, her head bobbing approval. “Patience. Now, come. The others will already be at the morning meal. If we don’t hurry, they’ll have everything eaten before we get there.”

Skynia smiled, rising smoothly to her feet. Kibecca wrapped a furry arm around the young Knight’s shoulders, and together they headed for the Temple commissary.

[Skynia]

((Not from Sky's POV, but it's still the same story...))

“Do you think she suspects anything?” Kianna asked, leaning forward across the table and keeping her voice low so only her brother and fellow Knight could hear her. He sat opposite her, holding a tall glass of ice water. His brown hair was in need of a haircut again, but she doubted he would get it cut until after both she and Kestry had nagged him for several weeks.

Frowning, Truen scratched his ear. “I don’t know. She hasn’t said anything.”

Kianna sighed. “Maybe we should ask Master Kibecca.”

Nodding, Truen was quick to agree. “Sounds like a good idea.”

“What does?”

Kianna twisted in her seat at the familiar purring voice. Grish stood behind her, arms folded casually across his chest. His tail flicked, smacking the chest of his towering companion, Chldrrl. The wookiee snuffed, swatting at the farghul’s offending tail. “Oh. Sorry, Rrl,” Grish purred.

Kianna smiled at the display. Grish and Chldrrl had been her friends for... How long had it been now? They’d met before this Force-forsaken war had begun, so that must make it at least three years, though it was likely closer to eight. A wave of nostalgia struck Kianna, and she reached for Grish’s furry arm, giving it a gentle squeeze of affection. He glanced at her, seeming somewhat surprised at first, then purred, his tail flicking Rrl again.

The wookiee barked. “GRISH!”

“Oh, terribly sorry, old friend.”

Truen and Kianna burst into laughter as Grish gave a little bow, then sidestepped away from the wookiee to sit beside Kianna. Chldrrl glared at Grish, snorted once, then broke into a roaring laugh. Grish gave another purr and chuckled, his tail narrowly missing the back of Kianna’s head.

Oblivious to the stares of the other Jedi in the commissary, the friends slowly calmed, the two humans wiping tears. Chldrrl was the first to get his laughter under control. Pointing a hairy paw towards the food line, he snuffled. “I’m thirsty. Anyone else want something?”

Truen tipped his water glass and lifted his hand, both brows rising. “Uh, I could use some more water?”

Grish smacked his lips, giving a deep purr. “Ah, blue milk, please.”

Kianna trailed her thumb down her jaw, frowning in thought. She’d just finished a steaming cup of Ansionian tea, one of her favorite drinks. She was feeling up to something stronger, though. “Hmm. Maybe an Arkanian sweet milk?”

Chldrrl’s furry brows rose. Arkanian sweet milk, while it was creamy and had a smooth, sweet taste, was very potent. Few people could stand to drink much of it at all.

“Uh, sis?” Truen began, clearing his throat. “Remember what happened last time you got some of that stuff?”

Her neck and cheeks flushed, and she shot a glare at Truen. “Uh, bro? Secret?”

“Ooh, secret!” Grish exclaimed.

Kianna dropped her face into her hands, sighing heavily. She wasn’t so much annoyed as mortified. She had tried to forget about the time Truen had been forced to escort her home after she’d had too much to drink. It had only happened once, but as she recalled, she’d spent most of the evening singing some stupid song at the top of her voice. It was all Truen could do to keep her out of Kestry's sight--and hearing--until the alcohol wore off.

“Fine,” she mumbled. “I’ll take another tea.”

Chldrrl snorted a light laugh, then stepped up behind the farghul, pulling him from his seat. “Come on. I need help with the drinks.”

Grish protested half-heartedly, but didn’t hesitate in trailing after the wookiee, his tail perpetually flicking and twitching as he walked.

Sighing once more, Kianna brushed her fingers over her forehead, then dropped both hands to the table. To her surprise, she felt Truen’s hand cover hers, and she looked up into his eyes. He smiled softly, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “Forgive me?”

Shaking her head, she smiled slowly in response, then gave Truen’s hand a little squeeze. Something about her brother’s boyish innocence made it impossible for her to hold a grudge for long. “Yes, Tru. Of course I do. Just promise me you’ll never talk about it again, okay?”

He grinned then, eyes sparkling as he gave her hands a final pat. “Promise.”

It didn’t take long for Grish and Chldrrl to return with the drinks, and the four sat together in companionable silence while they enjoyed their individual beverages. Finally, Chldrrl rumbled, setting aside his oversized cup. “How are your preparations coming, Grish?”

Grish looked up from his glass, blue milk rimming his lips. Brows rising, he looked confused for a moment. “Preparations?” Realization dawned in his eyes. “Oh, those preparations?”

Chldrrl sighed. While the wookiee had recently completed his Trials of Knighthood, Grish was mere weeks away from facing his own tests. Kianna and Truen had never been given their Trials, gaining their Knighthood after their encounter with Tardin, the Dark Lord of the Sith. The memory of that meeting brought a frown to Kianna’s face. The Dark Lord was shrouded in indomitable evil, an evil that she still sensed sometimes in her dreams. She shivered, forcing her mind away from that subject and back to her friend’s voice.

“Well...” Grish began, his long fingers playing with the rim of his glass. His tail gave a nervous flick, his ears twitching. He cleared his throat, then tapped his glass against the table. “Well...?”

Kianna smiled gently, reaching to lay a hand on his forearm. “You’ll do fine, Grish. The Trials are a test of your skill and spirit, not to mention courage, and I know you have that. There’s no one I’d rather have by my side in a fight.”

Truen coughed pointedly, and Chldrrl whined. Kianna rolled her eyes, lightly smacking Chldrrl in the chest. Grish smiled fondly at all of them, his eyes shining. He reached for Kianna’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Aw, shh. You’re making that up, Kia.”

Still smiling, Kianna shook her head. Her friends were the closest thing she'd ever had to a family. She wasn't related by blood to any of them--even Truen--but that didn't matter. What bound them together was a complex web of trust and love, which to an outsider, would have been a confusing riddle. For Kianna, though, this "family" was the one thing that kept her stable.