Fun? Do Jedi Even Know Fun?

[Delila Castillon]

Norah stood covered in dirt and soot from head to toe. Practically dressed, the redhead girl wore bib overalls that were cuffed down by her booted feet. A short sleeve shirt could be found underneath, worn and old it was a P.E. shirt from her old school on Laekia. There was no need to tear up her good clothes. In her hand was a thick notepad and a pencil.


She was squatting next to a large archaeological dig found just outside the Temple grounds on Voss. The dig was a practice dig set forth by her instructors. Strings worked in a grid fashion, separating it neatly into squares for collection. Brows knit together as she wrote quickly, looking up to confirm something and write once more.


Norah had been learning via distance method for some time now. [member="Dirks Hutchinson"] had work in the area, visiting some new site for his job. This gave Norah a full two weeks on at the Temple, allowing her to do the hands on work that she couldn't do back on her datapad on Ceto.


There hadn't been much time for visiting with friends like @Théodred Heavenshield , Boo Chiyo or the casual friends she had made during the class visits. Maybe if she got through the more practical portions of her archaeological dig work she could seek them out for some fun and...well, whatever it was Jedi kids did. She wasn't sure what that was still. Norah was quite the odd one out at the Temple, not having the Force and all.


Standing with clipboard in hand, the redhead moved to another location only to squat and write more.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

It was one of those slow days, which Théo just loved. Half day off school for him, as he had been pulled out of Art Appreciation and re-enrolled in wood work but that was not until tomorrow. He had left Nina in the Academy Mess Hall, well she had left him racing off to get to art class not wanting to late but he would see her tonight before bed. So he found himself at a loose end.

Leaving the Academy via the side door, he found himself near the Temple and out in the gardens, he walked along one of the walls that separated the meditation gardens from the rest, not surprisingly all was quiet .. too quiet. Théo kept walking until he came to the manicured lawns with a line of a tall trees, one in particular looked appealing to climb, thick branches and foliage to hide within. So up he went, until reaching the utmost branch and he rested his back against the trunk, propped a leg up and swung the other dangling, he looked down into the meditation gardens and saw some older padawans sitting around in the most comfortable looking positions he had ever seen and not talking or doing anything save sleeping? He yawned.

Théo turned his head to see what might be in the other direction, he could just make out a small person through the dense foliage, a flick of bright red sparkling in the sunlight. Now this caught his attention, and so he moved along the branch to get a better look. It was Norah. But what was she doing? He was not close enough to see so, he moved along the branch which interlocked with the tree next to it and allowed Théo to be able to move from tree to tree until he was over looking some sort of strange hole in the ground. Weird ..

Norah moved closer looking at some pad or something he could not make out and he grinned with a plan forming in his mind. Pulling off a small branch he plucked off the nettles held out his arm and allowed them to drop right on top of Norah's head and pad. He giggled and did it again.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


There advantages to keeping her hair up in braids around encircling her head. Crown braid her mother had called it. Either way, keeping the tickling hairs from escaping with activity throughout the day was always troublesome. Norah was always tucking strands behind her ears once she felt them against her neck.


The tickling sensation pricked on the back of her neck once again. Free hand came to tuck the flame-red strands behind a pale ear. Norah was still engrossed in her work so it took a long moment for her hand to pull back needles from a tree above her. Continuing to fall, more needles quickly covered her work book. Bright blue eyes scanned the surrounding trees with a frown. There was only a light breeze, nothing that would cause the amount of tree debris to fall on her. Perhaps some little woodland creature?


Norah wouldn't have second guessed her theories until she heard a faint giggling. Someone was near her, she wasn't alone in the slightest. It didn't like sound like someone behind her though...it was more...above her. Moving from her crouched position, she slowly stood up, notebook in hand. Head tilted back to find one Theodred Heavenshield above her in the trees. So he was the one throwing needles down on her hair.


Such a boy thing to do.


"Shouldn't you be in school? Its only just past lunch. " At least, Norah was guessing at the time. Sometimes she got engrossed in her activities.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo pushed off the branch high up in the tree and landed using the force to cushion his fall. "Nope, I have the rest of the day off", he said from the side of the hole in the ground that Norah was so interested in. He walked around the hole, looking at the lines of string and wondered what they were for, "What are you doing?", he asked now more curious. "Why are there lines of string? is it some kind of a game and can I play?".

He jumped down into the trench or hole and began to walk toward Norah. Each foot lifted high to place over the lines, "It is not much of a game I don't think".

Before long he stood next to his friend and checked her over, she seemed alright, no injuries or stuff to tell if she had been hurt. "Don't you have the day off too?". Théo looked off into the distance as if something was calling him, a longing to be anywhere but here by the Temple and possibly be called to do some chores or something unsavoury. "Have you ever been beyond those forests?", his eyes scanning the horizon to the tree line in the distance.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

Norah watched as [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] tromped around her archaeological dig. Mouth was slightly agape as he ran around through the strings, marching up and down the lines as it was some game. Silently she was thankful this was only a practice dig. Norah was to write down all the steps used, any findings, important information and the like....then turn it into a rather hefty report. According to the Master handling the class it was going to be an extremely large chunk of her grade.


"You just tromped all over my pottery shards..." In actuality the pottery shards were broken plate bits from the kitchen, no way would an eleven year old child have access to priceless artifacts. Especially after her friend walked through it so casually. "This is for one of my archaeology classes. I have to do a massive report on what you just stepped through."


Theo appraised her up and down for some reason. Heat flushed in her cheeks, giving a slight blush. She wasn't sure why the boy was looking her. The old and dirty clothes? Or did he like her? Norah was pretty certain it was the old and dirty clothes that made her friend give her the once over before continuing on about the forest.


"I don't have the day off....I'm never really here so all my stuff is crammed in when Hutch brings me by."


Norah carefully fixed the strings once again. She needed them to hold while she finished the report. Shouldn't be much longer now...her information gathering. The end of the day might see her finish the research phase and get to the real writing.


"Not really. The only thing I did last time was wander in town by myself to the corner store. Voss has a whole bunch of snacks I can't find on Ceto...ya know...other side of the galaxy and all."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo moved out of the way when Norah told him this hole was important to her, but he would not for the life of him understand why? "So .. you study broken bits of pottery? that's broken? ..why?". What was the point! it is broken.

He watched her put back the strings he had got tangled up in and set about doodling on her pad once more. Théo yawned. "So, you are going to do this all day?". He sat down on the grass and started pulling on it for something to do. Why are girls so boring? what is it with them and this constant studying?

He flopped back on his back in the grass and blew out his cheeks with frustration. The sky was no more inviting for adventure than Norah's pit, well maybe it was but she would have another fit if he walked through it again. "You going to be long?", he finally asked. "I was thinking of going to check out the forest, you know. Thought you might like to come along". The sky had nothing to say about it at all.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]



"Not pottery..." Norah was a little exasperated. Boys! "...Sometimes there are bones or tools or weapons. Sometimes even entire forts or things like that. This is only a practice for me to learn so the Master used broken dishes from the kitchen. There are more things to study besides....whatever it is that you study."



"No, I'm not going to do this all day. I have to eat dinner, shower and sleep as well."


Furiously writing, it was clear Theo wasn't going to run off until she went with him. Apparently he got the day off so that meant that she should apparently follow him off into the woods. Norah liked spending time with the boy....its just there was the pressing weight of finishing the assignments at hand. Finishing her writing, Norah tore off the paper with her notes and carefully folded the paper into her pockets. She placed the notebook next to her stringed off section of land and looked at Theo.


"Yeah, I'll follow you into the woods. You lead the way."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo sat up and looked at Norah as she explained what her day was to entail. Part of him felt guilty for stomping over her .. broken dinner plates, more guilt for suggesting she dump it and come off with him to explore the yonders. The remaining unguilty? nonguilty? part of him was happy she would drop the datapad and come to the woods.

"Only .. only if you really want to", he said and meant it. "Maybe I could help you write the report when we get back?". Yeah that was going to happen, although he would but he knows nothing about her studies. He scrambled to his feet and brushed off the dirt and grass from his behind then made sure he took a wide birth around her hole in the ground. As he did so he cast an eye into the hole, "You missed one", he said pointing and grinning with his teasing.

Leading on as Norah had suggested, Théo soon made a path across the edge of the lawns and into the forest. He had zero idea where they are going or in what direction, he allowed his feet to dictate the trek. However, they soon discovered a real path, it looked like it had been there forever, narrow as it was but no grass or weed grew on the harden surface. It seemed to wind it's way through the thickening woods, strange twisted trees with branches inter locking and only the tips would bare leaves. There was not much undergrowth to speak of, only small laying flowers and grass and some evidence of animal tracks darting off in all directions. Avian a little here save for one black bird which seemed to watch them pass with a keen eye.

Théo felt a strangeness about the place, the force ebbing and flowing with dark and light never settled but it was not threatening .. at least not at this point. He would be on guard the force told him to be. "I wonder where this goes?", he asked in hushed tones to Norah despite him knowing she would not know. "I don't suppose your master told you about this path".

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


"I'm not sure I want you writing a report about something you know nothing about."


Norah could see the report now, just one line 'It was a hole with broken dishes'. A mock scowl went in Theo's direction but she really wasn't mad at him. He was a good friend, one that tried to drag out from the depths of seriousness and sometimes sorrow. Navigating life was still difficult for her even if she kept it close to her chest. Norah was being faced with her world turned upside even further, with Dirks taking on a serious girlfriend. To be honest, she wasn't ready for someone trying to mother over her. To say such a thing out loud would be devastating though.


Feet found the worn path easily. She trailed behind Theo, taking the time to actually look than dive headlong into the forest. It was merely a reflection of their personalities. Neck craned and her eyes turned skyward, taking in the avians that rustled in the canopy, disturbed by their footfalls.


"Nope, I only know about the hole."


Silence stretched between them. Norah had a question to ask, it came forth in hushed tones.


"Do you ever think of running away? Going on your own?"

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

As the two let their feet decide the direction, Théo found them on a narrow path leading deeper into the forest. The landscape had changed quickly and differently to the edges of the forest. The trees more gnarled as if twisted by some powerful force of nature, but Théo soon realised they are natural this way, their forms beautiful in contracts to all the trees he had even seen, tall and straight pines of Midvinter or the spindly trees of Voss. The undergrowth had thinned, only grasses and some strange looking flowers that seemed to shoot up from the earth around the base of the trees and would not grow elsewhere.

And yet there is no danger sensed but something 'old' lurks on this path, a history that clings to the air heavy with experience and time. Much time. And as they walk, the path turns toward the sun. Soon the two would come across their first 'find', for ahead are old ruins of temples past.

"No", he said quickly as he turned to look at Norah now with concern. Even he knew that children do not ask these questions lightly. "I don't have reason to. Oh sure I go off by myself, to get away and have time to myself but never would I ran away".

He stopped on the path and stopped Norah too with a hand on her arm. "What is wrong, why did you ask that?".

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


Sun dappled along the path, wind lightly blew the strands of flame-red hair around her ears. Hands slipped into the pockets of her dirty overalls, eyeing the forest around them. It was ancient looking. As if the trees had never been harvested or thinned and merely grew and regulated themselves. As they pushed deeper the path grew darker and darker from the thick canopy above. Strangely they seemed to hear and see less birds...or maybe it was her imagination.


Going back to her question, apparently Theo got to come and go on adventures. Perhaps it was due to his family. His status as an up-and-coming Jedi within their order. She found it interesting, almost on the verge of asking more and how his arrangement worked. Theo's arm came to rest on hers, stopping their progress through the forest.


"Nothing is wrong....its just grating on my nerves to feel like....like the third wheel. Or feel out of place everywhere I go." Norah shrugged. "Its difficult to explain....not to mention real personal Theo. Sorry."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

What Norah was feeling was foreign to him, having the blessing of parents that love and care for him and very much alive. Norah had lost her mother, Theo was not sure about her father and would not ask, but she had someone to care for her, didn't she? He did not know what to say in response, at first.

"I don't mind you asking questions or wanting to talk about things. I can't say I know how you feel because I can't. But don't you have a guardian? or is that what you mean. I don't think your guardian considers you a wheel", I think that is what she said?

He did not know her home life situation and why that had prompted her sudden questioning, but something is up and he would hope to help his friend as best he could. "Besides we would like you to stay with the Jedi in the temple, there is always room for people here .. do .. do you not have a real home Norah?".

Theo thought it might ease her mind more if they continued walking, "Come on we can't be too far off", too far off what? He could still sense something up ahead, and if it was interesting to her she might feel better about herself.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


Questions peppered her statement. Norah wasn't certain on how to answer his questions. To explain what she was feeling was difficult so she was quiet for a long moment as they started to walk once more. She was racking her brain looking for an analogy or better explanation to her story. Footsteps crunched along the path, noticing the leaves here lay much thicker. They were the first people here in some time.


Foot moved along the dirt, brushing away leaves and revealing smooth stone. Almost like a stepping stone to a path or buried stairs. Red eyebrows knit in thought but continued on.


"Yes, I have a guardian" Norah finally spoke on the subject. "Not like he was expecting to take me in though, you know? Suppose you were having a sleepover with one of your best friends. Everything is going good and you had stuff planned for the night. Then someone else jumps in with no warning. You don't hate that person but you didn't plan for your night to be interrupted. Same thing with my guardian."


Norah shrugged a little.


"The Jedi Temple is fine...but....its for Jedi. Not for normal girls."


Foot brushed away more smooth stone.


"Also, I think we're on a ruined walking path of some kind."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"I have sisters, that are not blood. [member="Nina Heavenshield"] was found alone by my father many years ago and grew up with him before mother came along. Before I was born even. And another, Mysa. My parents became her guardians for a while before she had to leave, but before she left I could see that she was not .. comfortable within our family like .. she knew somehow. She did not get the time to settle. I think .. it will take time and maybe you will grow to feel more comfortable around your guardian", Theo was trying his best to help her, he is a lucky one growing up in a solid family. But he could not help but think about what life would be like if something was to happen to his parents, the thought of it was horrible.

"I am sorry you lost your Mum, she must have been a very strong lady, cause you are". He offered a smile. "You know that is not true, the Temple is for everyone that wants to be with us. There are others there that are not attuned to the force that live in the Sanctum, some even study to be Jedi, after all it is a way of life, a good way, and there are not that many rules". Not that rules bothered Theo.

His attention dropped to her feet, after Norah announced they are walking a path of stone. "Wow, it is cobbled! Lets see where it goes!". He recognised a cobbled path, as there is plenty of them on Midvinter especially in the capital.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


"Yeah, maybe it will take some time."


Norah was clearly skeptical of the advice. Her new found friend could be incredibly right, she wasn't trying to doubt his sage advice. There were just forces at play beyond her control. Despite feeling more than a little lost, the Jedi Temple felt more 'home' than her current one. Norah liked how large it was, how she could disappear into the crowd as another person. Granted, she had no Force ability and didn't dress like the other kids. Still with the diversity came more opportunities.


"I have to admit I do like being here....it feels like I am doing something. There is a lot to do to keep my mind off things. Like...this walk for example. Well....maybe not so much on this walk but you get my point..."


Eyes searched the cobbled path. She would go slower than Theo, stopping to check and see if they were still heading the in correct direction. Smooth stones were hidden by leaves, dirt and other general forest debris. Clearly someone had built this to lead them somewhere. The path felt like it was going down, almost gently going down hill.


Squinting, she looked around at the horizon.


"I think we're near water...I see something shiny."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo knew his little pep talk did little to ease Norah's mind, at least for now but maybe in time and as she got to know her guardian better her mind would change. He hoped so anyway. "Yes there is always something to do. Like for me? there is training to be Jedi in the sense of strengthening my ability in the force. And one day I shall become a Knight!", he declared with the confidence of a child, although he was learning there was more to it then that, training alone does not make the Jedi. "I am pleased you like it here and I hope you can stay as much as possible, I am sure as you learn you will be able to teach others too". Sometimes adults can learn a lesson from a child.

"What do you want to be exactly? I mean when you grow up?", he looked down to the path and looked in the same direction Norah did. There was something shiny ahead whether it was water or something else they would discover soon enough, if their feet would simply guide them. "I mean I know you want to look for broken bits plates and stuff, but there must be more then that". He was joking about only looking for plates as she had explained more about her lesson before, but did Norah not wish to join the Order? there would be no stopping her doing so if she wanted it.

"Come on lets go and find your .. 'find'", he poked his tongue out at her.

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]



"Study broken pieces of plates of course." Norah stopped to reveal some more stones. She gazed around once more before continue to talk to Theo. "Find ancient ruins and lore....explore a ton of places. I want to just jump from place to place exploring and finding stuff people have forgotten about."


Her pace picked up a little. She could tell they were getting closer, especially the way the land was going up. Most things with this type of fancy cobblestone would have been built for others to take notice on. The forest was getting thicker and more dense in vegetation. There was a bit more life out here, she could hear insects and frogs croaking.


"I'm sure you'll make a fine Jedi Knight in a few years."


Going silent once more, Norah stopped to look again. Foot cleared some of the path. No cobblestone. She backtracked to look for where it 'ended',only to find it turned right. They quickly took off again to soon come across a very ruined stone building of some type. It was covered in vines and moss. A large tree grew in the center, shading the area, its roots causing the bricks to become unhinged from the mortar.


"Think we found it."

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"I .. I am sure I will", he said but Norah was gone! Lost in the maze of cobble stones and determination. Theo smiled at her in a teasing way, she really did love this old stuff but he had to admit .. to himself .. not to Norah .. that it was interesting. But not up his 'cobbled' alley.

To tease her further, he rubbed his chin as if he had a beard like his father, "Hmmm, curious ... curious indeed", and then she was off again paying him little attention.

"Hey! wait for me!", he yelled out as she pushed her way through the thickening foliage. "You can't just go haring off like that! there might be something dangerous there", he pulled out his saber ready in his hand just in case some spooky jumped out at them. Theo, the hero to the rescue if required!

Soon he stood along side of Norah looking over the ruins she had found. "Wow, I wonder what this place once was", he could sense the force, old. "It might be an old temple or something", he added. However, he pressed his hand to his temple with a slight sign of pain. "There is darkness here Norah we should be careful".

​

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

The great black beast had been stalking the younglings for quite a while. In fact, since they entered the forest, truth be told. Their safety in the wilds were not assured, as nature was designed for culling the weak, the sick, and the foolish. Predators would often maneuver young from their sires and dams, the helpless offspring powerless to defend themselves, and too slow to escape, the predators attacks. These children now, were so deep in the forest, so far removed from their adults, that a predator would find them a mighty easy meal indeed.

Had [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] been a normal youngling. And had the great black beast been a simple predator.

Yes, the instincts were there. The strength, equipment, and capabilities were there. But the desire? No. The beast was more than just a beast. The beast, in truth, was a Jedi. A padawan, like it's peer standing at the ready, saber in hand, against any unseen threat to himself and the young woman he was with.

The beast, noting their path of travel, had moved swiftly, the Force accelerating it's movements, into the clearing before they would have come near to breaking the treeline around the temple. It'd stalked carefully to the tree, and with a simple enough leap, would lay itself along the length of a low-laying branch. After the two younglings would have ventured far enough into the clearing to be in the 'danger-zone' of the beast, approximately twenty meters from the tree itself, the great animal would open it's maw into a long, lazy, yawn. Pink tongue lolling out, revealing the beast in it's perch to the younglings. The saber-like fangs glinting in the sunlight reflecting up off of the water below.

As they'd likely react in some varied measure of shock, being so close to the nearly 400 kilogram predator, the beast merely observed them. It's eyes, like molten pools of gold, watched their movements with an air of curiosity. There was intelligence in the animals eyes. Intelligence that did not exist in 'normal' animals. And, as large, imposing, and well-equipped with natural armaments the beast was, it seemed to genuinely be of no threat to the younglings.

Should they remain in the area of the large cat, it'd remain peacefully upon it's branch, lazily watching the two younglings, almost like it would it's own young at play. If they strayed too far, it'd seem to rouse slightly, as if preparing to move from it's branch to follow. No hostility, just an almost nurturing concern. Odd.

[member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Ryn'Dhal"] | [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]


"Some of us can't stand around stroking our imaginary beards!" Norah shot back as they approached, Theo bringing up the rear this time. He was saying something about darkness and rubbing his head. Jedi. She would never really understand them. Darkness this, darkness that. Norah sometimes wondered if it was an excuse for certain situations.


Scrambling towards the ruins, her eyes caught a flash of pink in the darkness. Her head tilted to search for it. Connected to the flash of pink were white,long teeth. Golden orbs stood out in the inky black darkness, staring down at them. Norah had heard stories of smugglers and unsavory types keeping exotic animals as pets and lookouts. If the ruins were valuable and someone was nearby to collect something, well...it wasn't looking good for them.


Norah was already backing up without thinking,her back smacking straight into Theo.


"Time to go..."