Here's To Mud In Your Eye! [Isla Ashen]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

A fire had began to burn in his soul, replacing the heightened rush of the 'hunt'. It was Isla, a burning flame spreading throughout his entire body consuming him and he allowed it to happen. Théo would never be able to walk her path, although he is more then Jedi, different because of his heritage, the warrior of blood and ancient people, it was an essence of him that would never be denied, nor would he want it to be quell. To serve to protect, the tenant of the Silver Order, means to kill, if no other option is available.

This girl with the emerald green eyes, flaming red hair and the most plumpest pink lips, now stood before him gazing into his eyes. And he simply could not tear away from her gaze, he did not want to. He paid little attention to her words, instead he tried to keep control of his emotions when all he wanted to do was to find out what those lips tasted like. The adrenaline of the hunt, replaced with a more powerful sensation and he could hear his Valkyri blood crying to be answered.

As she neared him, her eyes remaining locked to his, he did not move as she inched closer and as she was about to pass him, it was then his arm raised, his hand slipped to her lower torso to her waist, stopping her progress. He turned into her, leaning toward her ear, his breath warm on her skin and whispered, "You have .. something in your hair", the words barely audible and deep. His free hand plucked the twig from her locks, yet he remained there his nose caressed her hair as he took in her scent among the aroma of mud and water. He linger that moment too long, but cared little about it.

Reluctantly, he let his arm fall away from her waist and stepped back to allow her to pass but his eyes remained within her's. In this moment, however, outside in the distance the cry of a man in pain, it was the one Théo had secured to the tree still alive and open to any creature that might come across him. His lips turned upward at the corners, the only reaction to the screams, "A new hunt begins", he said equally as softly as before, and a look in his eyes would show the true nature of his meaning.

​

[member="Isla Ashen"]​

 

[Isla Ashen]

Théo did not shy away as she moved close, and his hand found her waist. A moment later she felt his voice speaking next to her ear, and gazed over his shoulder at the opposite wall. Isla was not one of those meticulous women that constantly preened and fussed about their appearance. She would likely have walked the whole of the day with the twig tangled in her flame-red locks. Isla stood her ground as Théo’s hand gently removed the forest debris from her hair, and she turned her gaze down towards her boots as he moved closer still.

There was a part of Isla that wanted to remain there next to him, and there was another that wanted to go running for the hills. The Knight of Ren was not a woman easily shaken, but the notion of such closeness was strange and unknown. Perhaps, deep down there was a longing for such feelings.

There is no room in your heart, none at all.

Théo’s arm fell back to his side and his form made room for her to pass. Isla allowed her eyes to linger with his for a moment longer, but soon turned to look out of the front viewport. The forest outside their vehicle had grown deadly quiet, but the eerie silence did not last for long. The area was filled with screams of terror; there was something about this sound that Isla liked. Her emerald orbs shifted to the side, viewing Théo in profile, catching sight of the hint of a smile on his face. Isla canted her head to the side at his comment.

She had gathered his true meaning, but turned her head away. Silently, Isla had a seat in the co-pilot’s chair. While she could not deny that the threads of desire were beginning to tighten around them, she would not be so easily swayed. She could not afford to become a slave to her emotions. And so, Isla’s expression grew stony, and her heart did, too.

“This day we are comrades in the hunt,” She said, still avoiding his eyes. “But should we meet again, we do so as enemies.”

Isla’s voice was almost stern, and she wondered if he would see right through her.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Her words were like a stabbing pain to his whole body and soul, yet within her countenance was a sense of untruth. Her lingering told him otherwise as well, and a moment between them had been there but passed onward as she grew stoic and cold. Before that had happened Théo felt the pull of the closeness around her too, she wanted more almost as if she longed for it, deep down hidden away because of her alliance to the force, because of his.

"Then, I hope that day never comes", he said in a whisper as he pulled his body up and stood straight and tall. His words he meant, the idea of meeting her again as enemies was not something he desired, and he knew he would not hurt her but would defend his position as Jedi. But all he could think about was one day meeting her again and he hoped it would not be on the field of battle.

Théo took up the pilot seat and began to push the vehicle forward, "Keep an eye on the scanners for any sign of danger but and a way out of here". The vehicles began to weave through the large towering trees skimming over the swamp waters toward the north in hope to find the planets star port. There they would be able to find transport off the planet and go their separate ways. He sat in silence for the most part of the journey, hating every second as it ticked by and every yard the vehicle traveled took time away from them together.

As the sensors began to pick up on the star port, he finally turned toward her to speak. "If ever you need me, if ever you are in danger .. call me". There was no smile, nor emotion in his voice, but only the truth in his words. "No enemies Isla".

​

[member="Isla Ashen"]​

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla knew that the bond they had formed during their hunt would not be lost; it would be a memory that lingered with her. And perhaps their curious sense of closeness would be better left in the past. If they did cross paths again, Isla did not know what would happen. Would it give her a reason to turn on him and his light-sided ways? Her eyes shifted down towards her lap as the Théo took to the controls. She had heard him speak, but did not turn to acknowledge him at first. However, she gave a small nod when he advised her to keep her eyes sharp.

They were not quite out of the woods just yet.

The flame-haired Ren was thankful for the distraction, and she let her eyes shift to the viewports. Isla let the forest surroundings passing by become a bit of a blur, but she remained alert. The pair shared a tense silence as the ride continued, both perhaps feeling a stab of dread at their time together coming to an end. Isla watched as the swamp area gave way to a star port, and her gaze shifted back to Théo.

No enemies? His words echoed in her mind.

“No promises,” Isla spoke quietly, almost to keep him from hearing. Her form rose from the co-pilot’s chair, it would not do either of them any good to linger. She was not a sentimental woman, and she was not very eloquent with words. Just a quick farewell, it would do the job.

“Goodbye, Théo.”

There was a hint of warmth to her tone, but there was also cutting edge to her words – it was the only time she wanted to say them. Then, in the blink of an eye, her dark form turned and moved out of the vehicle. The black of her cloak dragged along the ground as she went, still quite heavy and caked with mud. The Knight of Ren made for the star port hastily; it was time to find passage away from Dagobah.

And away from [member="Théodred Heavenshield"].

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Dagobah had revealed more of its treasures then Théo had imagined. The astounding beauty of the place had been surpassed by the face of Isla and for him at least, Dagobah would always be in his memory for the time he had spent with her, as dangerous as it was. Long forgot would be the threat to them, the insect infested swamp and its dank waters that seeped into their bones, but nothing would erase those green eyes framed in red flaming hair. She was closed, cold and blunt, but he knew beneath it all was a heart beating with a fire of life, a desire to find out more and set true with emotions that are hidden and wanting to get out. Did she know of her capacity to care, or love? And did she even want it? These are questions she would have asked herself in those closed, cold lonely hours of the night. He knew she would have asked them of herself, he had of himself .. everyone does of themselves.

He watched her walk away, he watched until he could no longer see her before he turned to find transport off Dagobah for Silver Order space. No promises, that was fair she would not be able to offer more than that, at least not now.

Bitter sweet goodbye… her words betrayed her, but he too would lie to himself convinced that this trip had been nothing more than a meeting of two people that needed each other in a time of survival. They had not been enemies, even though on paper that would be the case, they had not even ventured to ask of their associations in the galaxy, it did not seem to be important. Maybe it was the adventure of the day, or maybe they just did not want to know the answers.

Only the force would know if they are destined to meet again.

[member="Isla Ashen"]​

​

​

The end..​