Boat Behind

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]​

Deep breath in.

“Bloodburn.” Deep breath out. “Fever, overheating, death.”

Deep breath in.

“Death Seed.” Deep breath out. “Necrosis, also death.”

Deep breath in.

“Hypoxia.” Deep breath out. “Laugh-”

“What are you doing, Nora?” One of the nearby students finally cracked and forced the question that had to be asked. “And why are you sitting like that?”

The Arkanian slowly opened her eyes and uncrossed her legs in order to stand up by her associate. “I am memorizing.” She offered as a rather simple answer. “And one of the Jedi on campus said meditation had always helped her when she needed to remember or learn things, I figured I would give it a try too.”

“Yeah, but, all this talk of death-” Her fellow student tried to speak.

“It’s what toxins and disease do.” Nora clarified for her.

“Yeah, but it can’t be good to just repeat death-” The other student tried once more.

“I think you are wrong, Vin. I think it’s quite handy.” Nora scrunched her nose at the remark. “We are all going to die at some point, that much is inevitable.” Vin looked rather surprised at what Nora was saying. Nora went on regardless. “By memorizing what diseases do what I can shorten my response time when the situations call for it. I don’t have the force at my side, but I do have my brain and I plan on making the most of that.”

“Okay, but just…” Vin kept her mouth open trying to find the words before she gave up and shook her head. “Just don’t go crazy on us, okay?” She chuckled with a fake pout. “I don’t think we’d be able to take it.”

“You’re too kind, Vin.” Nora said and beamed yet another smile. “Do not worry, I am only memorizing these for the sake of prevention.”

“Ten minutes until we revert into realspace.” A voice called out over the intercoms.

“Oh! Excuse me, I have to find someone before we touch down on Dagobah.” Nora gave Vin a smile who gave Nora one in return. “See you later, Vin!”

“Yeah, you too, Whites.”

Now, where had Nylea gone? Nora ventured down the corridors towards the actual meditation chambers in the hopes of finding her there. She had no idea if she would be there or not, the ship was huge and such, but with Jedi — Nora had come to find — the meditation chamber was more often than not a very solid bet.

Besides, if she wasn’t in the meditation chamber Nora’d have a perfect excuse to go to the Mess Hall again. Couldn’t go wrong with that.

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nylea had promised Nora to help her whenever she needed it, and in no time she was called upon. Dagobah wasn't the friendliest of planets, and even though she was confident in the Lotus Guard keeping the people who had come here for research safe she was more than happy with lending a helping hand herself. That way she would be able to personally make sure Nora would be fine, something that eased her soul greatly.

"Ten minutes before we revert into realspace."

The woman opened her eyes as her meditation was interrupted, now looking around the meditation chamber. Everything was still the same, revealing nobody had entered the room while she had shut herself off from the outside world. The calming effects bolstered her connection with the Force, something she knew was going to be very important. Any Force sensitive that had visited the swamp planet would be able to tell you about the powerful presence of the Dark Side there. She was going to have to be vigilant and not let it get to her, and for that she needed the Light to be with her.

The echani rose to her feet and walked towards the corner, where she had placed her jacket and bag into which she slipped, and flung over her shoulder respectively. While making her way towards the door she stretched before casually pressing the release button and letting it slide open. Walking through the corridors that sported other doors like the one she entered through she caught a glimpse of a pale-skinned woman walking another way. Another look later she confirmed it to be Nora and she figured she was in this part of the vessel to look for her. Walking in a steady pace to catch up with the Arkanian without running she approached her, only slowing down once she was aside her. "Looking for me?"

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

Ships somehow still felt like such an alien environment to the young Arkanian. She hadn’t come from a particularly wealthy family, and as such trips off-planet hadn’t ever really been a thing they indulged in. The first time Nora had been in a spacefaring ship was when she was sent to Sanctuary to join the Sacred Lotus, and now here she was on a far nicer ship than the second-rate cruiser that had gotten her there. On this ship she might have shared room with other people again but that didn’t bother her much. The beds were nice and they had blinders that let the user isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Last night the people in her room had decided to have a little party with drinks they had smuggled aboard. Nora had joined at first but went to be a long time before the others had. She had inevitably caught them getting a stern talking to this morning by the man taking them as his charge, a Lotus Guard by the name of Clarence. He was a good sort, if a bit overprotective of those that he took care of. But that was most likely due to this being his first serious mission for the Order since his knighting.

See, to the few individuals around the ship that weren’t sensitive to the force this was just another outing. For those that were, well, it was more a test of character and a lesson in the importance of self-control and to control your fear. Dagobah wasn’t a very pleasant planet for anyone involved. For mortals, non-force users, it was a place full of monsters that wanted them dead, and for those that used the force it was a planet of the darkside. The amount of Lotus Guards would in the end make up half as many aspirants and padawans on this trip, with Clarence having been assigned to the small group of non-sensitives aboard the ship. Which was to say a group of eight, three of which he had already reprimanded twice this morning.

It brought a devious little grin to Nora’s lips as she passed them by in the corridors on the way to see Nylea.

“Looking for me?” A voice called from behind her and Nora visibly froze with a twitch and panicked yelp.

“Yes!” She almost screamed. “Hi!”

Her four-digit hand covered her chest as she let in a few quick breaths to still her nerves.

“We should be arriving shortly.” Nora exhaled before she eventually shone up with a smile. “Just wanted to ensure my best buddy was along for the ride.” A soft knuckle patted against the Echani woman’s shoulder. “Ready to collect some water samples and anatomize some swamp monsters, Nyls?”

“It’ll be great, trust me.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

A soft chuckle escaped Nylea's lips as Nora froze and yelped, jumping from the echani's sudden appearance. "Hi, Nora. I'm still not that good at not sneaking up on people, it seems. I wouldn't want to give you an actual heart attack." She rubbed her friend's shoulder as she calmed herself down, smiling at her. She seemed excited to explore the planet of Dagobah and despite not particularly looking forward to it herself she was glad to accompany her. After all, it was the exact reason she was here.

"Of course I'm along for the ride," Nylea answered, "Anything for a friend." She jokingly rubbed her shoulder, pretending it actually hurt a good amount. "But please, do be careful." Her tone shifted somewhat to be more serious. "Dagobah is a dangerous planet and not to be underestimated. I am here to watch your back though, so as long as things don't go horribly wrong we should be fine." She took a breath, feeling the Dark Side nexus of the swamp planet already as they came closer. "And I want to ask you a simple favor. While we're down there could you..." She paused for a moment as she heard the intercom voice talk once again.

"We have reverted into realspace. Prepare for landing."

The woman remained silent for a moment to make sure nothing else was said before continuing. "The power of the Dark side is very strong here. Not only is it unsettling, it also... triggers things from my past. I'm sure it will try to tempt me to fall back. If you could keep talking to me while we are there I would really appreciate that."

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

Well, that felt a bit like an understatement but Nora would smile regardless. Nylea was good at sneaking, perhaps too good almost, but that was just what made her who she was to a degree. The most of it was the fact that she wanted to be there for Nora, that was what made them true friends. They had each other’s back and they both knew that. A hand gently rubbed in ‘aggravated’ pain where Nora had nudged Nylea’s shoulder and the Arkanian couldn’t help but put on a mock frown for a second as if to play along as the sympathetic friend. Not that she was unsympathetic to begin with, but for the sake of the act…

Well, Nylea got it. Hopefully.

Nora was about to drag out an ‘I knoooow’ at her friend’s comments. Dagobah wasn’t known as a very friendly place, but Nora wasn’t worried. For one she had her very own Jedi Guardian, and barring that she had the Lotus Guards. Nora felt safe, but Nylea herself might not have from the request she made. Knowing the Echani woman’s history with the darkside and her fear for it — the decision made itself. Head gently bobbed up and down at the request. She could do that.

“Of course, Nylea. If that’s what you need, then that’s what I’ll do.” Nora gave a sincere smile at that. She wouldn’t let her friend down now of all times she could let her down. “One toxin and disease trivia machine, coming right up.”

Eyes wandered down the hall to see the rest of the students and Jedi who were all making their way towards the shuttles. It was perhaps time for them to do the same and Nora tilted her head in the direction everyone was heading as a means to point towards it and get them going.

“We should probably go before we get left behind.” She snickered and began to head towards the hangar. “I actually have something I’d like you to do too, Nylea, if you can. Or want to.”

Nora lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “If I get any stupid ideas…”

“Try to hold me back, okay?”

“I don’t get excited, I get stupid-excited, and stupid-excited more often than not leads to harm in these situations.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

The mock frown made Nylea chuckle and smile, entertained by the nonverbal exchange. Something within Nora made her a lot more relaxed and laidback, something she had been looking for in the past where she was calm, but in a perpetual state of an emotion she couldn't describe. Like she always had to be on the move, like she couldn't like a step back and catch her breath. Nora helped her get that feeling out of her system somehow, which would be exactly what she needed while down on Dagobah.

So when the Arkanian happily granted the echani's request, she gave her a quick hug while still walking. "Thanks. I knew I could count on you. Hopefully I will know everything about those things by the end of it." The others were quickly leaving towards the shuttles and the duo had to get there too, so to show she understood Nylea applied the Force to speed up just enough so Nora wouldn't be able to keep up, but only for just a moment. She then looked over her shoulder and chuckled, letting her catch back up. Things like those were what kept her mind off of things when she needed it.

A request not very different from Nylea's was then made, to which she nodded. "You can count on me. Just don't chew me out when I do, you know I do it to keep you safe. The Force tells me when things are dangerous, and it hasn't ever been wrong before." When the two arrived at the hangar she walked towards the nearest shuttle with enough space for the both of them, then let Nora in first. "After you."

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

It was as equally nice for Nora to have met Nylea in the end. The force still frightened her and there was no way for her to really drop that. It was a part of the galaxy she would never get to experience or explore. The unknown didn’t scare her, but the unknowns that she would never be able to define on her own did. Ambiguity was how the higher ups on Arkania kept her family in check with vague promises and gifts that they would never know if it kept their strings attached or not. Yet it was was the exact same fear of influence that made her thankful she wasn’t in the seat Nylea was in. The idea that something metaphysical would steer who she was, what she thought and how she acted terrified her even more than the rest did to the point where she was somewhat certain that in the end she was the blessed one.

That was to say, on some days. Others she felt little more than envy at what the others could do. It had been a constant roller coaster and she still wasn’t all that sure if she wanted to get off or not.

“You can always count on me!” Nora exclaimed back, perhaps a little too loud, as Nylea hugged her. Her voice lowered, her smile still beaming. “Always.”

Nylea eventually let go.

And then she sped up to catch up with the others. No, she literally sped up. Made the force quicken her feet and put her at a distance that forced Nora to run after her in a half-sprint. Well Nora wasn’t a sucker, she knew how to deal. Experienced feet tapped against the metallic floors of the ship in a steady rhythm that they had practice for so many years now. Nylea had stopped and Nora felt a sharp exhale part her lips as she caught up.

“Not cool.” She chuckled under her breath. “And, I won’t. I hope.”

Nora bowed her head in a thank you and stepped up the ramp to the shuttle. “You are too kind.”

As Nylea stepped aboard the ramp would begin to raise until it sealed with a hiss. The ship shook a little as it jumped off of its supports and Nora ever so inexperienced with spaceflight began to stumble her way towards a seat.

When she eventually found one she motioned at Nylea to take the one before her. There were many around that were coming with, and if Nora was to assume anything it was that people from outside the Order had asked to come along as well. There were analyzers and other hardware packed aboard that seemed to be more than able to turn this ship into a mobile workstation for anyone with an interest in cataloging the local wildlife and critters of Dagobah.

“So uh, when are we starting the whole ‘talk non-stop’ thing? Because, I mean, you know… I can’t feel that thing you feel. The bad mojo.” Mouth opened, eyes rolled, head shook, sighs were had. “To the same degree anyway.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

"Just being polite. It's part of being a Jedi, too." Nylea chuckled as she followed Nora into the shuttle. It did not take long for it to take off and as it shook around for a bit the two managed to take a seat, their trip to Dagobah about to begin. They were far from alone on the shuttle, but the echani most definitely saw that as blessing. Safety in numbers was a real thing, even if it also meant having to look out for more people. For a moment she double checked if her lightsaber was indeed clipped to her belt, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as her hand wrapped around it. It was more paranoia than anything, but being absolutely sure it was there was a comforting thing.

For a moment Nylea thought of using the remaining time on the shuttle to meditate, but it was then that the arkanian in front of her asked a question. It was a valid one in her mind, there was indeed no way of knowing for her when such a thing would start affecting her. Not only was she not sensitive to the Force as the echani was, but it always differed per person. "It depends on the strength of the Force on the planet, but I am sure you will notice me react to it. I will let you know when it starts getting to me, though." Once more she would smile. "Thanks again."

It did not take long for it to happen, however. As the shuttle started to land Nylea felt the oppressive power of the Dark side weigh her down, causing her to slam her eyes shut. Focusing on her breath she kept it steady, calming her back down. The struggle was far from over, it was only getting started, but at the very least she was able to hold it at bay on her own for now. The boarding ramp lowered with a hiss and the silver-haired woman slowly got up, looking at Nora for a moment. "This is unlike anything I have experienced before, it is like the Light is actively being pressed away by the Dark side. It's... I'm okay." She nodded, although mostly for herself. "Let's go, I don't want to keep anyone waiting."

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

“Uh huh.” Nora deadpanned at Nylea’s remark about politeness and Jedi.

---

In the end it would be hard for Nora to really truly understand this. Now there was talk about how the force could be strong on a planet? Was the force a planetary thing then? Like nexuses of variable powers? Did that mean Sanctuary was weaker, or possibly stronger than other places? Nylea smiled at her and Nora smiled back, her head nodding up and down to make her friend know that she was still there to look out for her for as long as she needed. The ship entered the atmosphere of Dagobah with little turbulence, yet as they began to land Nora felt a creep at the base of her spine as if someone had just dropped a thick piece of ice down her shirt’s collar.

“That’s natural. Just the world trying to tell us we may not be all that invited.” One of the teachers said and patted the Arkanian on her shoulder and tried to usher her towards the door.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to keep an eye on my friend.” Nora smiled at her supervisor. “We’ll be close, but she has asked me and I would hate to not live up to my promise.”

The teacher frowned, she knew this was a safety hazard. Yet she took long enough for Nora to jump into action and seizing the day so to speak.

“Thank you, I promise we’ll be safe.” Nora beamed. “Always in sight from the others.”

Well, that simply might not have been true in the end. Approaching Nylea there was little Nora could do but look at her as the ramp lowered. Look and listen, that’s what she did.

“I think Miss Uvenk had some objections to this pairing, but she seemed to let it slide.” Nora nodded back at Nylea. “So, I don’t know if you Jedi people got a checklist or anything of what you needed, but I got a list of samples that I need to collect. Or rather, a number of them. I’d like to try and make them as diverse as possible. With your help, of course.”

“So uh, should we talk to one of your overseers before we set off or are we good to get this rolling?”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

As Nylea saw Nora's discomfort she felt the need to push away her own and smiled while the teacher spoke to her. She convinced herself that she would be fine and that her friend needed her more. Walking up next to her she took a deep breath and focused on her being. "See it as a test of spirit. It's what I am doing. We'll be fine, we're not alone." The echani found comfort in the code she had been living by ever since joining the Lotus, and at this moment one line in particular. It embodied how she felt at that moment perfectly.

Chaos, yet serenity.

Despite the oppressive presence the planet inhabited in the Force Nylea looked to retain her inner peace, as difficult as it was. It was testing but would act as a way to grow and find strength in the Light. Perhaps Nora's struggle would be a bit more physical, but it remained to be seen. In the end they were not left to their own devices, with enough care they would be more than fine. Hopefully the arkanian would not wander off too far.

"I will watch over her just the same, do not worry," she reassured to the supervisor as Nora explained their plan. "If I sense any danger we will pull back immediately and warn the others." With that she followed her friend down the ramp, taking in the swamp area around her as her feet connected with the not-so-solid soil. Almost immediately the Dark side would prod at her, trying to force flashes of the things she had done in the past into her mind. Her trust in the Light warded her from those images for the moment at the very least as she kept her breath steady.

With a nod she turned to Nora once more as she talked about what she were to do here, asking a pair of questions afterwards. "We did not get a checklist, it was more of a mental excercise. It's a bit difficult to explain, but it has a lot to do with the things I told you about. Overcoming that." She flashed her a reassuring smile, letting her know it was going to be okay. "I have nothing else to do, so I am ready whenever you are. Any pointers to help me look for the things you need?"

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

In the end it was comforting to know that she had someone there who was an actual friend. Nora was an extroverted type, but there weren’t many who she considered to be actual close friends. She could count those that she trusted explicitly on one hand, but the same could not really be said for how many friends she had. It seemed as if people had a very odd urge to keep close to her almost as if to safeguard her. On more than one occasion she had caught talks about how innocent she was, but in the end that was just not true. The real cause for Nora being with the Order was something she didn’t talk about very easily, and with the fear of how people would react she just didn’t feel like it was something that needed to be said. It didn’t change who she was, and what people already knew was really what she truly was. It was mainly the circumstances of why she was there, and for as long as she could she would keep that one a secret.

Not everyone wanted to be a weapon. Nora especially did not. She could easily understand the concept of coming face-to-face with your own worst fears and letting them go. It was what she had done, wasn’t it? Hazel knew what it was, and as far as close friends went she was the only one. Nylea deserved to know too, even if the secret was in so many ways just a trivial tidbit about who Nora was. Maybe later, maybe when the time was right.

Eyes still beamed at Nylea at the question, Nora still had a big smile on her lips.

“Anything that looks cool to dissect.” Nora snickered. “All in all the exercise for us normies is to learn how to pick up hazardous or otherwise dangerous samples in the wild for field studies. This probably won’t be the last time I go to a place like this, there are many worlds like this one and I want to see them all.”

Not so much one for lazy days on the beach, although Nora most certainly would have enjoyed those too. In moderation. Like the saying went: love what you do and you won’t have to work a day in your life.

“So uh, what should we talk about?” Nora asked and took her first step away from the rest of the group. “There is a whole wealth of bacteria living here, some that could most likely kill you in a few hours unless treated. Maybe even a parasite or two. There’s so much here that needs to be analyzed for the betterment of people everywhere that I really don’t know where to start.”

She stopped and turned to look at Nylea. “Maybe the water. Now that will be treacherous to say the least.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nylea let out a small chuckle at the mentioning of the word 'normies', but in disagreement more than anything. "Normies? That's a bit harsh. Makes it seem you're downplaying yourself for some reason." Her words were spoken out of a belief she carried strongly, that nobody was 'just another person'. Everyone had something that impact those around them greatly, and it was up to the person to let that impact be positive or negative. Perhaps that view was a bit naïve, but she knew that at the very least the core of that view was true. Whether someone was a wielder of the Force or not simply did not matter.

"That's a good thing. Knowing how to work in these kind of environments is invaluable." For a moment the echani pushed out through the Force, taking in the environment around her for any dangers. As she did so she instinctively closed her eyes shut herself off from the world around her to look at the Force only. This turned out to be a bad idea. Nothing but Darkness could be seen by her and in shock she suddenly opened her eyes again, shaking her head for a quick second. "Sorry, I- I drifted off for a moment." Flashing Nora a smile she hoped the Arkanian didn't notice too much of it. "If you want to see everything we better get started."

The two started moving and the question what they should talk about was one she wasn't sure how to answer until Nora talked about bacteria and parasites. Nylea did not know much about either, so it was a good place to start. "I don't think I'm sure what the difference between a parasite and a bacteria is, exactly. I have a faint idea, I think a parasite uses its host as sustenance, but I don't know much more than that. And I am probably wrong anyway." She was actually curious to what the difference was, so perhaps Nora could enlighten her on that.

"Then the water it is," the silver-haired woman replied. "I'm right behind you, so if I see or sense anything I'll tell you immediately."

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

“I…” Hadn’t thought of it that way, really. “Guess.” Nora nodded. “Working here will be invaluable, yeah. Means I know to look out for the dangers and the-”

Something seeped by the corner of her eye, the infrared spectrum of her vision told her so. Eyes squinted trying to focus again but it was all in vain, whatever it was had already slipped out of view again. Surprised eyebrows carried Nora’s attention over at Nylea again. She had drifted off? Well,

“Me too.” Nora smiled before her brows sunk, threatened to dig themselves into her nose bridge as her eyes peered over towards the movement again. Still nothing. The pale Arkanian eased up and looked over at her friend again. “Yeah, that about sums it up.” She nodded. “Bacteria can be parasites, but… Let’s not talk about-”

The corner of her eye flared up again and she turned to look. “I swear I saw something.”

The waters shifted. A signature underneath it…

The perfect sample to dissect…

It was just a fish, how hard could it be?

“I see it.” Nora said and raised her elbow by her side. Fingers dangled and swayed in tensed preparation as it swum closer, under the water visible only through a vague… No this was bigger.

Eyes went wide. This was not a fish.

“Dragonsnake!” Nora shouted out and backed out of the water as best she could. “Stay out of the water.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nora quickly shifted her head towards the water, causing Nylea to follow suit. The arkanian had seen something, which meant she likely wanted to get up close. The waters were probably one of the most dangerous places in Dagobah, which worried her a little, but she was certain that if they kept enough distance until they were certain it was safe they would be fine. "I sense more than just one creature in there, be careful." She wasn't quite sure which one Nora had been focussing on, although it was likely one of the larger creatures.

"Keep your distance, we don't know what we're dealing with ye-" The echani's warning was quickly cut off by Nora's announcement of what she had been seeing as she backed away. "Are you okay?" she asked as she rested a hand on her shoulder as a non-verbal way of calming her. "Good to see your reflexes are sharp, that will be helpful." Although she did not show it Nylea had internally jumped herself at what had transpired, mostly out of worry.

"I may have an idea. I'm not sure if it will work, but if not there shouldn't be any risks attached." The silver-haired woman went to sit down in a meditative position. "Keep an eye out for anything around us, I'm going to have to focus." Closing her eyes she pushed out through the Force, searching out the dragonsnake in the water. She felt its instincts, its primal needs, and connected to them. With that she attempted to shut down its aggressive nature so that Nora would be able to safely study it.

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

A hand was placed on her shoulder, yet all Nora would do was lick her lips in anticipation. Her head nodded with a small ‘uh huh’ as Nylea praised her reflexes, not really of the mind to start celebrating just yet. Like a fisherman with an obsession, Nora would begin to reach for the belt on her hip and the holster it held. This would be the big one, the great joy to anatomize. Eyes on the prize she kept an ear out for Nylea’s idea, only really snapping out of her trance as the other woman asked Nora to keep an eye out.

A brow perked.

A glance thrown at the encroaching dragonsnake.

It… Slowed down. Weird.

Was this Nylea’s doing? Nora would suspect so, it was the most logical assumption and Nora would go with it. The force worked in mysterious ways, or whatever the hell it was the Masters around campus said. Hocus pocus, the creature was still an remained unmoving in the swampy waters beyond its movements to keep itself afloat. Hesitant to approach it, Nora kept her eye on Nylea as she focused on it. A hand reached out to touch the creature in the waters. A look of ecstatic glee spreading from cheek to cheek on Nora’s face as her fingers touched against its scales with no struggle.

That was, until they furrowed in focus. The hand that had touched the scales touched against the creature’s head as her other hand began to reach for the knife on her belt. With a swift movement she withdrew it from its holster, raised it in the air...

A loud splash and crack disturbed the silence of students and teachers looking for specimens of their own. The creature went limp, went dead, and Nora would proceed to wrap her arms around it to grab it out of the water and bring it up for booking and dibbing in anatomy class. A great sense of pride and gratitude filled Nora as she mud wrestled the heavy creature out of the water, her hair and back getting a treatment Coruscanti nobles would have paid great amounts of money to experience.

Of course, maybe not in the hair. More like, the face.

“Thank you, Nyls.” Nora grunted as she let the creature lie by her side in order to let her get up on her feet again. “That was a lot easier than it could have been.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nylea's eyes remained closed while Nora carefully approached the dragonsnake, focussing only on her connection with the animal. The deep connection revealed its primal instincts, its senses, the Force that flowed through it like it did through every living being. It was a beautiful thing to behold and would have been able to sit there for hours.

Then the connection was severed, signifying Nora was finished.

The feeling of feeling nothing but that creature to it returning to the Force was quite jarring and it left the echani out of it for a moment. Memories of her ending lives herself flooded her mind in that moment of weakness, the strength of those memories strengthened by the Dark side aura of the planet. It was a kind of mental agony that always existed in the back of her mind, and although she normally was able to tune it out it was simply too strong now to ignore.

Her breathing had become irregular as her friend was busy pulling the dragonsnake out of the water, her eyes still shut. She had lost her grip on her focus and was frantically trying to grasp it again, a sense of desperation coming over her as she was unable to do so on her own. It was like she was in a freefall, and she feared that the pit was bottomless.

"Thank you, Nyls."

A simple statement, perhaps. Yet it was exactly the thing Nylea needed. She remembered she was not alone, there people who were there for her now. It was no longer a fight she had to take on alone and suddenly she had softly landed, her breathing returning back to normal. A deep breath in and out later her eyes opened and the woman got back on her feet, smiling. "I hope it will be useful. Need me to help carrying it?"

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

To say that the teachers were worried at first was an understatement. Several of them had dropped everything in their hands to run over and help the young Arkanian, but once it had become all the more obvious that the only reason Nora was struggling to get herself out of the water was because she was quite insistent on wrestling a big dragonsnake out of the waters they would all come to a stop and look in horror as the young Arkanian got up from the ground and began to tie her hair in a victorious ponytail, or rather a disheveled loose knot at the back of her head.

Heavy exhales forced her to ramp up her intake of the putrid Dagobah swamp smell. Her throat clicked as her nose wrinkled in disgust for a second before her mouth allowed itself to close and minimize her intake. Eyes set on Nylea with shoulders rising and sinking in rapid succession. It took a while for Nora to find the words she needed, but they were there.

“If you want.” She nodded. “I’ll grab the head, you grab the legs and-”

“Nora Lithos!” Her mentor called out her name in great frustration. “What do you think you are doing?!”

“It was a calc-” Nora tried.

“It was dangerous, was what it was!” The woman exhaled and dragged a hand through her hair. “You know better. You know a lot better than to do what you just did.”

“I was very well aware of the risks.” Nora muttered. Her eyebrows furrowing as she sought the Arkanian equivalent of eye contact which was admittedly hard without any pupils. “I have a specimen to dissect, I wasn’t even injured, and that is all that matters.”

“Which isn’t to mention the fact that you just mercilessly murdered an innocent creature, Nora.” The woman crossed her arms, seemingly amused by the small signs of rebellion in the Arkanian girl’s posture. “Did you ever consider that? Your friend certainly seemed to realize it.”

Four eyes set on Nylea at once. Nora’s mouth opening to defend herself without finding the words. It was true. She hadn’t exactly considered the impacts of her actions as much as what this would mean for her own agenda. The chance to dissect something as infamous of a dragonsnake felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To not seize it felt foolish, yet here she was feeling like it was as equally foolish to take it.

“Oh.” Nora whispered under her breath. “Nylea, I am so sorry!”

The mentor seemed to smile at the Arkanian scrambling towards her friend to hug her.

“I didn’t think about it. Sorry.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nylea had not expected this to happen. Perhaps she should have, but her mind simply no longer saw killing as such an easy thing to do like it once had. Instead of observing and inspecting it, it had come to this instead. It was too late now however and so she would have to accept it, the past was something that couldn't be changed. Not a semblance of blame was put on Nora however, instead the echani put it on herself.

When Nora's mentor made her way over however, it was clear the matter had not yet been resolved. Nylea herself remained silent with her head slightly angled downwards, listening as the woman scolded her friend. To her it wasn't fair, it wasn't right. In that moment the things she had done herself that led to the end of the dragonsnake started stacking up in her mind, perhaps overthinking her role in what had transpired.

The hug was immediately returned, watching the arkanian's mentor smile at the sight. At the very least Nora was okay, which was what mattered the most, and without hesitation she replied to the apology. "No need to be sorry. It's alright." Patting her friend's back a few times Nylea was able to clear her mind a little, the fact Nora was there helping with distracting herself from letting her mind getting too messy. "I've got your back, remember?"

After the embrace was broken off she turned to the mentor, an apologetic look forming on her face. "It was my fault. I should've realized that it could have gone wrong, but I didn't. I sincerely apologize." Life was about learning from one's mistakes. She could have gotten Nora hurt, something she would have never forgiven herself for. It was fortunate that had not happened, but putting people in unnecessary potential danger was something she would look to never do again.

[member="Nora Lithos"]

 

[Nora Lithos]

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

The mentor looked at Nylea as she apologized. In the end it hadn’t been the Echani girl that she wanted an apology from, but perhaps it would suffice. Her shoulders rose in a deep inhale and a prolonged exhale before she raised her hand at a nearby Lotus Guard and waved at him towards Nora and her friend. The man nodded and the mentor turned back towards the two girls.

“I will have to put you under supervision,” The woman frowned. “Nora.”

The Arkanian girl scrunched her nose in disapproval at the fact. Brows furrowed as if she had just been dealt the most putrid smell ever. Considering the locale it might very well also have been the truth. But alas, it was not. Nora knew what she was doing, and she had already apologized. Her friend had even taken the blame which struck her as unnecessary but was something that she ultimately appreciated.

Even if it was entirely Nora’s fault.

Yes it was.

“I don’t need supervision.” Nora groaned and shook herself as she turned to walk away from the mentor who simply shook her head back and turned around to pay attention to the others. “I am not dumb, I know what I can or can’t do, the beast was dead.”

She looked as two men approached the dead dragonsnake to lift it up into a nearby refrigerating unit, scratching their head contemplating how to make it fit in any of them. It wasn’t her problem then anymore, they’d take care of it and that was it.

“Nylea — and guard, I guess — we should continue.” Nora sighed. “Still need a plant sample.”

“Karl.” The guard said.

“What?” Nora looked at him unamused.

“My name is Karl.”

“Right, well, Knight Karl, we are going to need to find a plant sample.” Nora turned back around to look for something to uproot. “Without risking death again.”

“Even though I wasn’t, Karl.”

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Nylea wasn't entirely sure how much her apology had done, but at the very least Nora did not have to sit the rest of the day out. There still was a clear sense of annoyance coming from the mentor, but she figured there was sadly not much to be done about that. The echani wanted to make sure that her friend could at the very least do what she had come here for, and if that meant taking the blame for thing then that was how it would be done. When a Lotus Guard was sent over as a way of preventing more from happening she interally sighed a breath of relief, despite Nora's reaction to it. An extra pair of eyes and ears never hurt, so perhaps it was for the better. Not that she didn't trust Nora to not get in trouble, but- well, she was actually quite certain she would get into trouble again if she had the chance, but it wasn't necessarily her intention to have it end that way and as a friend Nylea would help her if anything went wrong. That's what friends did.

It was clear that arkanian felt differently about the addition of another person to their now-group, however. It didn't dissuade the silver-haired woman from offering him her hand to shake and introducing herself. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you before. I am Nylea." Her tone was much more welcoming and friendly, providing a contrast to her friend's. The arkanian seemed content by just calling him guard, which warranted a raised eyebrow, but he quickly answered with his name. Their short exchange brought out something out of Nora that Nylea hadn't seen from her before, and she wasn't entirely sure how to react to it. She remained calm however, instead deciding to be more friendly to him. "In any case, thank you for coming along. Safety in numbers. Now let's get that plant sample, shall we?"

[member="Nora Lithos"]