Relationship Status: It's Complicated
WEARING: xxx
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Naedira Darcrath
Familiarity, the ability to know something because of a deep and long, intimate knowledge. It was a word which could describe the smell of the air as it blew past, or the sound of the leaves rustling in the trees as it moved them about. The way his boots sank into the soil that seemed undisturbed for some time brought with it a recognition that seemed too fresh to be forgotten. This was the only place the wolf could return after so long and feel as though he had neer left. Past hurts had burned away the night his parents were killed. All Gerwald felt now was the nostalgia that came with happier times, and the pride of what he had built since.
This was Stewjon.
This was home.
Much had happened since the last time his eyes took in the sight of the house he had rebuilt, or the training yard which he had constructed for himself. Even the pull he felt toward the woods where a makeshift cabin stood buried deep where no one would find it had seemed like something of a distant memory. It was more a home to him than the building which was in plain view for anyone to see. It was in the woods he had been free to be himself. Though now, he no longer hid who or what he was.
At least that is what he had told himself until he discovered the truth.
Gerwald had made a promise to Naedira that he would bring her to the place he had been raised. Perhaps it would help distinguish which of her childhood memories were actually his, designed to fill in the gaps that remained from what could not be recovered. It was more than that, however. The wolf wanted her to know his humble beginnings. Naedira needed to know how far he had come, the dedication of his work, and the strength it had taken to become who she knew now. Neither of them were who they were before joining the Knights Obsidian, and while Gerwald had been to Naboo, he could not recall that Naedira had been to Stewjon.
Even the planet had changed since.
The wolf had lived enough for several lifetimes in the past decade, and even more in just the past two or since he had last set foot on his homeworld. However, Gerwald was determined that Naedira would know who he was.
What he was.
What that might have made her.
Today, Gerwald looked nothing like the Sith Lord that had devastated many planets in the name of the Sith Order. He was not the Lord Commander of the Knights Obsidian which had liberated worlds, and redirected a powerful force storm to save the lives of those under his charge. The wolf was not even the gullible young pup which had believed every little thing his mother had told him.
He was simply Gerwald Lechner, the man and the beast.
Strong hands gripped the wooden handle of the splitting maul as the sharp head of the instrument collided with the log which had been placed on the chopping block. Could he have used the force, yes, but the beast was not above manual labor. It was a different kind of work, the kind which allowed his mind to rest as the route activity proved to be enough of a workout to keep his arms and shoulders toned. The sound of wood splitting filled the air causing the animals in the forest to stir. It had been too long since the noise of human activity had been heard at the Lechner house, and the creatures which had taken up residence near it had all but forgotten the wolf which owned it.
Gerwald wiped the sweat from his brow with a work cloth that had been hanging out from his back pocket. His shirt had been lost during the work somewhere, not that it mattered. His skin was glad to soak in the familiar rays of sunshine. He let the splitting maul lay where it fell with a thud before gathering up the chunks of wood which had been cut to keep the fire going at night.
It was going to be cold.
He walked into the house carrying a stack of wood and set it on the grate reserved for it by the fireplace. His eyes washed over the woman he had brought with him and nodded toward the training circle which was just beyond the back door.
“Care to see if you can knock me on my butt,” he said with a tease.
Was it a challenge?
Of course it was.