Public Giant Cousins

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

Raarpaa walked on the platform, nodding to the Wookiees she saw, some of whom did a doubletake at first. The Ewok had sensed something on this planet, Kashyyyk. Had sensed it for a while. She had no idea what it was, and was determined to find out. The Journeyer's eyes widened at the sight of the building looming in front of her, a building she would soon learn to be called the Silver Rest.

 

[Aayla Shan]

Well before she would've gotten to the building, there would be Aayla, resting her back against the steps of the temple. Regarding the "young wookie" with interest. She'd never seen a Wookie baby before ironically. She had an odd impression they sort of just... Were born as giants. That was dumb, but as she had never seen the aforementioned Wookie younglings, her first impression was that that was what they looked like. She didn't say anything, but just watched; eyes idly scanning down to note... It had a saber. Strange, but not exactly unheard of. Any creature could be Force Sensitive, after all. It was just curious to Aayla, as she had never seen this before.

In tales of past, there were legends of Wookie Jedi, Masters even. In any case, she was somewhat stunned, so much so that she may not have paid attention to the fact that she was openly staring at the Ewok Master.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

The Je'daii noticed Aayla Shan and approached her. "What is this place?" She asked, gesturing to the building. "It looks like a Temple of sorts."

 

[Aayla Shan]

Her eyes perked up once the small creature approached, canting her head lightly at the question. "I would think most Wookies know what this place is... Ah, my manners... This is Silver Rest, the main temple of the Silver Jedi Concord..." Aayla trailed on that last bit, eyes glancing down to her saber. At that point, she wondered if the other was being smart, and would offer her own smart rebuttal.

She upnodded the saber on Raarpaa Zerlac 's waist. "What's that?"

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

The Ewok chuckled at the surprisingly common mistake. For one, she couldn't speak Shyriiwook, and second, she clearly spoke Basic. "I'm not a Wookiee, and this?" Raarpaa took her lightsaber from her belt, igniting the blue blade. "This is my lightsaber."

 

[Aayla Shan]

Aayla was surprisingly calm when the other activated that saber. Mainly because she felt no malintent from the other, and honestly the kyber cystal within the saber was one that was widely considered friendly. A smirk found her lips, accompanied by a few slow nods. "Well if you're not a Wookie, then what are you?" she asked, relaxing as she crossed one leg over the other.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"I'm an Ewok," Raarpaa explained with a laugh. The Journeyer was clearly unoffended. "My name is Raarpaa Zerlac."

 

[Aayla Shan]

She nodded once at that, and regarded the still lit saber with interest. "An Ewok... I.. I think I've heard of Ewoks. Your people are from Yavin aren't they? Or, one of its moons?" she asked, shaking her head a bit as she noted her true lack of manners. "My name is Aayla-Senn Shan, I'm a padawan here at this temple... I'm sure we would be honored to have you." she noted, smiling at the small Ewok.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"Forest moon of Endor." Raarpaa said, turning off her lightsaber. "I'm a Je'daii Journeyer. It's nice to meet you, Aayla." The Ewok clearly wasn't one for formalities.

 

[Aayla Shan]

She glanced up at their temple, and then back to the other. "I have no authority to permit you entrance to the temple... As I am. However, if you enter with a clear conscience, and aren't deterred; I also can't stop you. No doubt you're here seeking holocrons?" Aayla asked curiously, aware most wandering Jedi, or more broadly referred to as... Rogue Jedi were common in doing. In a way, it disgusted her, but she had never strayed in the regard of going out on her own, she she couldn't tell their mind; maybe in their shoes she would be doing the same thing. Maybe she would be content with who she was.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

Raarpaa shook her head. "Actually, the reason I came was because I've sensed something here for a while. A powerful presence in the Ashla. Now I know what it is." She said, gesturing to the Temple.

 

[Aayla Shan]

"Ashla... That's the Force, right?" her eyes narrowed at that deduction, indeed while Aayla was a force on the battlefield, her seclusion to the temple had turned her into something of a bookworm. As Raarpaa motioned to the temple, she would look around them both, and just shake her head. At that, she pushed off the wall gently and began to walk up the steps to the temple. "Come on..." she mumbled, not keen on getting into trouble, but also aware there was the low chance she could've gotten into trouble by not being hospitable to their guests...

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"Yes," Raarpaa said, nodding as she followed Aayla Shan . "Ashla is the Light, while Bogan is the Dark. We Je'daii seek Balance between the two."

 

[Aayla Shan]

Aayla grimaced lightly at that comment, her step slowing, but not stopping. "Why seek balance with the Dark Side? The practitioners of the Dark... They are evil. Cruel..." Aayla said, a little disappointed to even hear such words come from the traveler; though, interested in learning more.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"It is possible to use the Bogan and not lose one's sanity, so long as you balance it with Light. It works both ways. The Jedi centuries ago stayed close to the Ashla and grew prideful, eventually paying for their hubris." Raarpaa explained calmly, then smiled. "Perhaps a change of perspective would make more sense. Let's say we're in a closed off section of the forest. The Bogan is death and the Ashla is growth. Too much Bogan, and everything dies. Too much Ashla—yes, there is such a thing—and you get overpopulation. Eventually, things get so crowded, everything dies anyway. But with the Bendu—the Balance—there is equal life and death, and the forest flourishes."

 

[Aayla Shan]

What a wonderful way to put it. It made her stop walking. Aayla never considered that, but... She was right. Balance. It made absolute sense. In fact, she would stare at the other for a few beats before saying anything. "If more of us thought like you, maybe there wouldn't be so much... Suffering." she took a hesitant step, and resumed her stride up the temple steps. "You're right though, I never thought of it that way... Still, to knowingly cause suffering is something I could never... I could never be comfortable with it... And from what I see, that's all the Sith.. The Darksiders wish on living beings just like themselves. They Force depredation, and suffering. Perhaps a balance is needed, but... Well no.. This isn't a Forest we're talking about. We're talking about people. People who feel, and hurt. And balance can easily be lost, even by the most skilled." Aayla responded, nodding to reaffirm her own words. Maybe not at the other, but to herself.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"I understand completely, Aayla." Raarpaa said, gently touching the Padawan's elbow. "I am not comfortable with taking life, either, but sometimes it is necessary. I never have taken the life of another sentient, and I hope to keep it that way. And you are correct. It is a constant struggle maintaining Balance. Occasionally I find myself leaning one way or the other, but I always recenter myself."

 

[Aayla Shan]

Aayla had reached the top step, turning to look back at the forest of Kashyyyk, squinting an eye as the sun shined directly in her face. At that point, she sunk to a crouch, bouncing lightly on her feet and regarding the other at an equal level. For a moment, she didn't speak, but watched the other. "Never huh... Me either.. Droids, and... Well, predatory animals. Never a person." she gulped, her head dipping lightly with the action, then shaking the thought away. "I don't want to know what that feels like... Yet you say, you re-center yourself... Could you elaborate on that?" she asked Raarpaa, looking now (and for the first time since they met) in her eyes with focus. The other having broken through the walls all sentients put up when meeting a new individual.

 

[Raarpaa Zerlac]

"Certainly." Raarpaa said, looking Aayla Shan in the eye. "Whenever I lean one way or the other, I embrace it for a moment, then release it. When that fails to work, I trust the Force needs me leaning that way. I remain disciplined and do what needs to be done, embracing it but never allowing myself to be consumed by it."

 

[Aayla Shan]

She watched the other for a moment longer, eyes faltering for a moment as the words hit her. Raarpaa was different. In a way, of her own spirit, but also too willing to drift to the other side. In Aayla's mind, if she drifted to much to the other side, she was to pull herself back, while Raarpaa seemed to perceive it as a message in the Force... Could that be the right way though? It was a curious possibility for sure; suddenly, she wondered if she was...Well, mature enough to be talking to the Je'daii. Aayla stood again, walking with Raarpaa into the temple; regarding the guardians who looked at Raarpaa briefly, but continued their stoic stare into nothingness. She knew for a fact, if the other meant harm, or ill intent, they would be the first to respond...

They were just good that way. Skilled, that way. Somehow.

"To be honest, it scares me... It scares me that I could ever..." she trailed off then, not finishing the sentence.