Private Of Birds And Men

[Rhia Kesyk]

Force was it cold.​

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Each breath the duo took sent wisps of condensation rising up through the air, and in an effort to conserve energy neither really saw fit to speak. Every now and then she'd turn her gaze down toward him, pausing to fasten his thick outer coat tighter about his person. It wasn't a perfect fit, a hand-me-down from when she was his size, but it would do. Even if his nose was getting a little ruddy.​

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Rhia checked her GPS.​

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"Not far now" she mumbled, taking note of the coordinates which flashed up.​

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Even now she could feel the air releasing some of its frigidity. A hoverbird flew overheard, a better indication of their proximity to the Rift than anything else. Belsavis might have been a frozen wasteland, but it was not without its beauty spots and Plawal Rift was a veritable utopia in comparison to the wastes they'd just journeyed through.​

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From there they'd set up camp, and wait for Varo's call. It would take another day at least for the patrol craft to return, thankfully Rhia had not packed too light; she hefted the bag upon her shoulder, and ushered Ideon on. They'd follow the bird, she decided. It would make its way back to the Rift soon enough. It had to.​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

Snow. Snow. And more snow. Kyyrk cursed under his breath as his foot slid. That wasn't snow, it was ice. Oh well. He trudged onwards through the snow, gripping his walking stick tightly. He wasn't sure WHY the old hermit had pointed him towards this...Plawal Rift place. The name sparked nothing within him. But, the old man seemed to think his journey would lead him there. Or perhaps he was just deflecting. In fact, the more Kyyrk thought about it, the more he was sure that such a thing was certainly the truth.

He paused, looking out across the icy expanse as he caught his breath. His speeder bike had given out some miles back. And Kyyrk was cursing the cheap rental. He should have known better. But it was too late now. His cloak was wrapped tightly around his person, and the fur mantle across the shoulders of his armor helped to keep his head warm. Not that Kyyrk needed it. The Force was able to keep him quite comfortable. But it did also diminish the focus he could devote to his surroundings.

He continued on, sighing to himself. Quick trip, they said. Don't need your ship, they said. Kyyrk cursed under his breath again. He hated the snow. He hated Belsavis. Something about this world left a twisted feeling in his gut. He wasn't sure why. But for some reason, the world brought forth memories of another: Oricon. But what connection could they possibly have? Was that why he was here? It was infuriating. He was here to find answers. But maker only knew what question he was here to answer. Within the hour, Kyyrk had finally reached the edge of the valley. He paused again, looking down over it. Allowing the cold to seep into his bones, Kyyrk turned his focus to his boon of vision, squinting as he focused on the distant landscape. Nothing immediately stood out as Rakatan. But then that's how Belsavis was. On the surface? It seemed a perfectly normal planet. But underneath the surface?

Underneath the surface it was something else entirely...​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

Following the bird proved fruitful.​

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As they neared the edge of the Rift the air began to warm and plants sprouted up out of the melted snow. Down below, once they stood on the ridge, a tropical expanse lay. Already Ideon was removing his outer layers, never one to enjoy bundling up in the first place, and ever dutiful in her care of him Rhia took charge of his coat so that he did not end up dropping it or leaving it behind somewhere.​

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"Oh, I bet there's fruit down there," the girl assured him, her stomach grumbling some, "It looks like there'd be fruit down there... Come on. Let's find a safe path down."​

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She released her hold of Ideon's hand, needing both of hers for balance, and led the way down. Every now and then she'd glance over her shoulder, to ensure that the boy was sticking close and following her lead. It was tough going, rocky terrain, but in comparison to the frigid landscape up above it was a welcome change. By the time they reached the bottom of the valley they were more or less sliding down the ridge, keeping their bodies low to avoid tripping.​

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And there, just as she had been expecting, was a veritable grove of fruit-laden trees. Rhia practically squealed with excitement, and Ideon rushed forward to pull some of it down from the lower hanging branches. This made the journey worth it... Definitely worth it.​

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Once they'd had their fill, she turned her sights to their surroundings.​

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"Master Shif always says to find a source of water before making camp," she reminded her silent companion. "So that's what we'll do... Then we'll set up on whatever higher land is closest to it." Avoid flood plains, which might cause their things to drift away should a storm come in. This wasn't their first rodeo, but it was the first time she'd be setting up camp without her Master.​

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Still, he'd trained her well.​

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"Come on, let's go."​

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Ideon was carrying a healthy burden of fruit as they made their way through the trees, in search of running water.​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

By the time the children had made their way into the valley, Kyyrk was already deep into the tropical environment. He often wondered how nice of a planet Belsavis might become if the atmosphere became warm enough to sustain life across the whole of the planet. Though thinking this prompted a swift reminder of some of the fauna he'd encountered on Belsavis. He vaguely recalled legend of a monstrous beast that had taken an entire council of Sith to fell it. Direfang? He could not even remember the supposed beast's species, much less its name.

Thinking of all the life forms native to the planet was starting to make Kyyrk's stomach growl. That, he found, was certainly easy enough to fix. Night would fall upon him soon anyway. He'd need to find a place to bed down for the night. And so, the party was split. Kyyrk moved towards the small stream flowing through the valley, while a small owl lit from his shoulder. Kyyrk watched the bird disappear into the foliage quietly for a moment, then turned back to the small clearing beside the river he'd selected as his camp site. A rather simple affair, not even a tent. Just a small fire, and a large rock upon which to sit.

Kyyrk's pack was left beside the rock, covered by his cloak. He decided to wait for the return of his companion by immersing himself in the stream nearby, to help cleanse some of the grime from the day's hike. And so, his armor was shed to sit beside his things, and his lightsaber placed neatly atop the entire pile. The water was not as cold as Kyyrk would have expected, but nor was it as warm. Kyyrk remembered well enough that the tropical areas of Belsavis were powered entirely by geothermal activity, which became increasingly apparent in certain areas. Kyyrk suspected that this stream intersected a glacier or part of the ice wall further up stream.

Soon, however, he was clad in his boots, pants, and a simple tunic, and sitting by the fire. His avian companion had found a worthy meal, a Nexu Cub, and brought it back to the campsite. Kyyrk now waited for the meat to roast to a consumable level, staring lost into the flames as he sat. A lot had happened in seven years. Yet at the same time, nothing had. Seven years since he'd been named the last of his kind. Horace hooted softly from his perch in a nearby tree, breaking Kyyrk from his trance. He looked up, now sensing what the owl had seen. Two children were drawing near to his position. Well, one was certainly a child. The other looked to be a young adult. Brother and sister? Kyyrk frowned slightly. The better question is what they were doing out here on Belsavis. As the soft purple glow of his eyes pierced the fading light, he called out to the children. "Belsavis is a dangerous world to be wandering alone, young ones. I would hope the rest of your party is near by?"​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

Night had already begun to fall over the ridge by the time they heard the trickling sound of flowing water. She had not expected it to get so late quite so fast, and already Ideon seemed asleep on his feet. Not enough that he'd dropped his bounty, of course, but enough that he wasn't picking up his feet anymore.​

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"Not long now, Deon. Pick up your feet, or you'll trip." Not to mention he'd ruin his shoes. Where were they going to get new shoes out in the middle of nowhere like this? Nope, simply wouldn't do. Though the boy made an effort, it was by no means perfect. He still drug his feet every now and then. Better than before, though. "Hey, pass me one of those blue ones," she asked of him, and soon enough he was handing her what looked to be an orange, only, well, blue.​

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As they made their way toward the water, she worked on peeling it to satiate her stomach. Maybe tonight they'd just have to sleep under a lean-to, and deal with actually putting up the tent come morning. It certainly seemed like that sort of night.​

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All at once she became aware of the presence of another, and through the trees spied the warm glow of a blazing fire. Curiosity bade her to approach, even if only to briefly observe whomever it was that had also seen fit to set up camp. That way she could assess their threat level, and find out if they needed to keep walking further upstream. If so that would be far from ideal... She had a feeling Ideon would be making most of that trip on her back, if so.​

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He was lucky she loved him, and that he was relatively light.​

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And yet before she could make her assessment, it seemed as though the individual had already caught on to their presence. With little sense in keeping hidden, she stepped forth from the underbrush and into the glow of his fire.​

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"Yep," she replied, smoothly lying through her teeth at the question of the rest of their party. Vero Shif would not be pleased if she told the truth in this scenario, the man beside the fire was nothing more than a stranger after all, and honesty could lead them into a world of trouble. Best he be made to believe someone else would soon catch up with them and notice that they were missing. "They're on their way."​

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The smell of whatever it was he was cooking over the flame was almost intoxicating, after spending most of their day with naught to eat, then gorging on fruit, the idea of sinking her teeth into something far more savory was enticing. But it wasn't hers, so she rejected the notion as quickly as it came.​

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"If it's so dangerous, why are you alone?"​

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Perhaps it was rude of her to ask, but she couldn't help herself. It sort of slipped out. Down by her side, Ideon was rubbing his eyes something fierce. Force, they couldn't linger long. The poor soul needed his rest.​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk chuckled quietly as the young woman posed her question. If it was supposed to be dangerous alone, then why was he alone? "I'm not." Kyyrk's gaze lifted towards a nearby tree branch as Horace dove after something in the undergrowth. Presumably a rodent of some kind. "But to a man of my age, the dangers of Belsavis mean little." Kyyrk stood, and picked up another log to toss on the small campfire. His gaze lifted to the children, looking them over. His gaze lingered for a long while on Ideon.

"You're welcome to camp here for the night." Kyyrk's purple orbs flicked back to Rhia. "I don't think your companion has much left in him." He gestured to the meat roasting over the fire. "There's plenty to share." Kyyrk turned, moving across the clearing to the neat pile of armor sitting by the large rock that sat off-center. He knelt beside it, and withdrew a knife from the boot. He manipulated something else for a moment, before standing and turning around, a trio of small cups, and a large flask of some kind. Clearly, it looked as if he expected the children to stay.

"You can call me Kyyrk." He knelt beside the fire, and reached up to tuck a lock of his shoulder-length white hair behind his ear. The hand he used to do so, his left, was clearly a synthetic. He set about cutting off slabs of meat from the roast, and dicing them up into smaller, more manageable pieces. Quicker and easier than sharing the knife, in his mind. He looked back to the duo as he worked. "The owl's name is Horace. If he ever returns to camp." Kyyrk chuckled, looking back to the trees into which his companion had disappeared. "He often spends the nights on watch. Both for our safety, and for small rodents." Kyyrk looked back to the small tray of bark he was working on, picking it up and offering the meat-adorned tray to the children. "Might be a bit bland. Not much room in the backpack for seasonings..."
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Rhia Kesyk

 

[Ideon Taldrel]

Ideon was the first to respond to the man's offer of rest; not with words, no, such was not his way, instead he slipped away from Rhia's side before the girl could say otherwise and sank down to his knees beside the warm fire. Dropped what remained of his fruit-filled bounty to the ground, and then pretty much joined them there. Curling up, his fatigue was quick to try and take him. How long had they been wandering? How long since they'd left Master Shif with the promise that he'd catch up with them shortly?​

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No, the stranger was correct. Deon did not have much left in him at all. And yet he did not immediately fall asleep either. Instead he peered up through the trees at where the owl was perched, his intrigue was peaked. The boy had always had a fascination for creatures, they made better company for people that was for sure. Simpler... They wore their personalities, their thoughts, on their sleeves. They were incapable of lying.​

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As the creature drifted away in search of rodents in the underbrush, he kept his gaze to the skies. When it returned, he hoped to know.​

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Of course that plan was ruined when the offer of meat was made. He shifted to a seated position, and then took an offered slice. Rhia opened her mouth to try and stop him, but she wasn't fast enough. When he eagerly chewed and swallowed and seemed to show no sign of anything untoward happening, she seemed to soften.​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

"You're not?" she inquired, before lifting her gaze skyward and sighting the owl. Huh, look at that, he wasn't alone. It might have been a bird, but there were worse companions to have. Maybe it was well trained, and could serve as an extra set of eyes, or a warning system. Either way she did suppose he was a man grown, not two children.​

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An offer was made for them to camp, and Rhia made to shake her head. That was until Ideon made his own thoughts known. "I don't... Maybe we should..." The girl sighed. The boy was already lay by the fire; she brought his coat over to him, and lifted his head just enough that she could slide it beneath for comfort. Then she shrugged out of her own coat, and lay it over the boy.​

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She didn't mind the slight chill which blew down from on high.​

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"You have our thanks," she informed him, with an inclination of her head. "I shall allow him time to rest before we meet with the rest of our group." He'd even gestured to the meat at this point; she followed that gesture too, and her stomach grumbled in response. Internally, she tried to beg it to stop.​

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"Sharing your hearth is more than enough, Sir. We shan't take your food from you also."​

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Then came a name. Rhia was quick to conjure up a set of alias', and they slipped from her tongue effortlessly. "Kyyrk. I am Effis, my brother here is Sal." The second name was subtly punctuated with just the slightest expulsion of the Force, from girl to young boy. Sal, she reminded him, in case he had not been listening, We are Effis and Sal. Her ever quiet companion just pushed forth something of a confirmation, no words though. Just a vague impression of it.​

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As food was offered, she opened her mouth to try and speak against it. Whatever she said trailed off when Ideon hastily took some of the offered meat. Her heart thumped noisily in her chest, so much so it was almost deafening. She hoped he might spit it out, or something... He didn't. He chewed, he swallowed, then he took a second small piece.​

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Good? Another confirmation. That was foolish, you know?​

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Nothing.​

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She reached for a little of the meat herself. "Thanks." Rhia found herself a seat by the fire, close to Ideon but with good sightlines of their surroundings. "Horace, that's a good name. How did you end up with him as a friend?"​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk watched as the younger boy collapsed by the fire, and the elder placed a coat beneath him and over him. He was not convinced they were brother and sister. The Force did not hold them within its tapestry the same as it did true blood siblings. Close friends, he decided. He was about to caution the girl to stay at the camp till dawn, and resume their travels on the morrow, but he was interrupted by her stomach growling. His head tilted in a look of exasperation that only a parent could offer as she insisted she didn't need food.

His eyes flickered between the two as she introduced them. Effis and Sal. And for the briefest moment, it looked as if his eyes had...flashed. The glow behind his purple orbs had deepened just the smallest amount as the girl had pushed the names towards "Sal." And again, when the boy responded. Kyyrk wasn't quite sure what to think of that, but he took them at their word. He did, however, arch a brow at Effis as she froze. Sal took the offered food without hesitation. But Effis seemed to think he was up to something. "You wound me, Effis. I know my cooking is bad, but even I am not animalistic enough to poison children."

The words were said with a tone of mock offense, a sense of dry jest. But it carried with it a sense of calm and peace. A plea that she did not have to keep her guard up. He would be no threat to them. Kyyrk popped one of the smaller pieces into his own mouth, and stood. His cloak was fetched from its perch atop his backpack. The lightsaber was moved from on top of the pile to the rock the pile leaned against. Kyyrk turned, and walked back to the fire, offering the cloak to the girl. She would need a blanket of her own soon enough. He then sat beside the fire himself, taking a quick glance around the area.

The girl asked him about Horace. How he came to find such a companion. "He was...a gift." Kyyrk's eyes turned to where the bird had been. He could still clearly remember that cold and snowy night on Naboo. The small flicker of joy that had been sparked at seeing Srina Talon , when all else was nothing but darkness and despair. "A life-day present, actually. From a dear friend. Horace is...far more than he first appears. And for such a young creature, incredibly wise." The way Kyyrk spoke of its intelligence suggested that the bird carried some degree of sentience. Perhaps it was like the Loth Wolves, who themselves possessed both speech and intelligence? He looked back to Effis. "He and I have been through more than a few scrapes together. He's a good bird. As protective of me as I am of him."

Kyyrk felt another stabbing pang of guilt flood the pit of his stomach. Would things have been different had Kyyrk not sent Horace away on that fateful day? he grabbed another piece of meat and chewed thoughtfully. No, it had been for the better. Those he left behind deserved to know what had happened. Kyyrk sighed quietly, his gaze sinking to the fire. What he said next was certainly the truth, but it was not the entire truth. "We came out here seeking a legend of the past. The Eternity Vault. I cannot say why...but there is something there the Force wishes for me to find. The only difficulty is..." Kyyrk gestured towards the ice wall at the edge of the Valley. "It's...out there. Somewhere."​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

The man was smarter than she initially gave him credit for, at least he picked up on all the subtleties of her person to pinpoint the lies as they were made. She knew as much from the way in which he tilted his head, the way he looked at her, and then obviously by the way in which he spoke with mock-upset at her hesitance to eat.​

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"Surely you can't blame a girl for caution," she retorted, her voice softened in hopes that it might keep him from becoming further frustrated by her. "You said it yourself, worlds such as these are not known for being safe." And they were but two children. No... An exercise in caution.​

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All the same since Ideon did not show any sign of rejecting the meat, and since the man himself partook of the same dish, she did take a little of what was offered. Then she picked up some of the fruit which was left, and set it down in a more communal spot by the fire. "Then at least accept what we can share in return."​

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He returned to the fire with a cloak, one he offered to her. She frowned for a moment, wondering what he would use to rest under if she was given his cloak, before she took it with an inclination of her head. Somehow she reckoned he wouldn't take no for an answer, and frankly it wasn't worth the fight. She brought it down around her shoulders, and nestled into it. It was warm, comforting even. Very much welcome.​

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"Thank you" she whispered, before listening to the story of how he'd met his owl.​

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As he spoke, Rhia lowered a hand and lightly ran it through Ideon's hair. The boy was tired, she could sense as much without looking down at him, and after a few moments of her comforting touch his eyes closed and she felt him drift into the tender grips of sleep.​

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"They must be a good friend indeed, it seems they knew you well when they chose your gift." She sensed a series of emotions washing over him, and tilted her head curiously to the left. Though her eyes were knowing, though she clearly wanted to ask about it, she did not. It was not her place to pry, and besides she was still hoping to keep up appearances as just an ordinary set of children. Nothing special about them at all.​

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"The Eternity Vault?" she echoed, unfamiliar with whatever it was he was speaking of. When he said it was up in the icy wastes she couldn't help but grimace. "I can see why you'd choose to camp down here..." No, they'd spent their fair share of time up on the glacial surface of the world, this valley was far superior in her eyes.​

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Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk did not say anything for a moment, simply looking out over the valley. In the fading light, his white hair and beard made him look...far older than he originally seemed to be. In the daylight? He was very clearly only in his thirties. Or...whatever the equivalent was for the pale skinned alien. He wasn't human, that much was sure enough. Perhaps some kind of Chiss? His pale bluish skin and purple eyes certainly shared similarities with the humanoid race. Kyyrk looked like he was considering something, and wrestling with it something fierce.

"She did. Does, I guess. We've...grown distant over the years." Kyyrk's relationship with the wintered woman wasn't the same after he lost his memory. She had helped to train him, that much was sure. But they never quite became the friends they had once been. But it was simpler to tell the girl that they had simply grown distant. It was more or less the truth, wasn't it? "The Force does not often guide you upon an easy path. Horace has been a steadfast companion in the face of it all. Though I wished I'd found him sooner." He did not need to bore the girl with details. The sob-story of how his planet had been destroyed, and how he felt personally responsible. How his species, already on the brink of extinction, had been brought even closer by his actions, direct or indirect.

He sighed quietly, turning to look back at the children, and answering her more direct question. "It should come as no surprise that on the planet of prisons, the only thing in more abundant supply is prisoners themselves." He recounting of the following tale suggested that the man was something of a scholar in his free time. Such was his familiarity and confidence in what he spoke of. "Some...three--no, four thousand years ago, this planet served as a prison for the Republic. Built these huge walls, fortified their spaceports and landing pads and...." Kyyrk gestured outwards with his dominant hand, emphasizing his next words. "...just let the prisoners run rampant. Anyone makes a move for the off limits zones, shoot em down, let the wildlife clean it up."

"History always repeats itself, though. Wasn't long before the Republic realized they weren't the first to make Belsavis a prison. They were all too happy to take advantage of all the infrastructure they found laying around. They kept searching for more and more of these ancient structures, relics from the Infinite Empire. The Rakata. Eventually, they found the largest prison of them all, built to contain but a single individual." He did not say the name, but it was clear he was now speaking of the Eternity Vault. "Soa, they called him. The Infernal One. He was defeated by a team of Jedi shortly after the Republic discovered the Eternity Vault. I was of the impression that the bones of the place had been picked clean long ago. But..." Kyyrk shrugged. "The Force is calling me to go there. And in all my years, its visions have not led me astray. So, to the Eternity Vault I go."​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

Rhia listened to all that the man had to say with something akin to grim fascination. Truth be told part of her was grateful that Ideon could just about sleep anywhere, because talks of what had happened here centuries prior were not conductive to a good night's sleep bereft of nightmares. How many souls had lost their lives here? How many had died to their fellow prisoner's hands, or even to those meant to protect them in their detainment?

She grimaced a little, and shook her head. It didn't bear thinking about.

"So this vault... Was built to contain one man?"

An entire vault, for one individual? That was fascinating and mindboggling all at once. Just how strong was this individual? How much of a terror could one man be that such lengths were taken to ensure they were away from society?

Rhia could not claim to know much about the Ratakan beyond their ties to the downfall of the Je'daii Order of yore. Their Force Hounds, their Force Sabers. A power unmatched in their lifetime.

"Why do you think you're being called to it?"

From the sounds of it though, the man did not know. She couldn't help but ask all the same.

Kyyrk​

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk nodded quietly, his gaze having fallen to the fire. "Aye. Well, Rakata. Same difference, I suppose. In all the knowledge about the Rakata I've ever studied, they've always been portrayed as ruthless and bloodthirsty. Like the Sith but...fewer ethics." Kyyrk offered a speculative shrug of his shoulders. "Makes a man wonder what was so bad about Soa that they would have locked him up. And what value he provided that he was not simply executed outright." Kyyrk looked back at the girl, his brow slowly knitting together in concern.

Her reaction to his words were a harsh reminder that not everyone was as used to the horrors of the galaxy as he was. Kyyrk's attention was commanded elsewhere as the trees nearby began to rustle. He held up a hand to Effis, signaling her that it was nothing to be alarmed at. A second later, Horace emerged from the tree line, gliding down to rest precisely on Kyyrk's shoulder. Kyyrk reached up to scratch the bird's breastfeathers with a single digit, his gaze returning to Rhia. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked him why he was being called to the vault. "I do not know. I stopped trying to discern the exact purpose of my visions long ago."

The man's gaze fell to the fire once more, as he thought in silence. "I think there is something I'm meant to find there. Not a weapon, nor some enemy to strike down. But...guidance. Something that will help me guide my people to safer havens." Kyyrk's gaze lifted to the girl once more. "Enjoy the world while he is your only responsibility." Kyyrk's head dipped in the direction of her companion. "It's as simple as life will ever get."​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

"Fewer ethics than the Sith?"

Rhia shuddered at the mere thought of that. Her Je'daii Teachings did not inherently view Bogan as evil per se, not in the manner that many Jedi would, but it was still an extremity to avoid delving too deeply into. It wasn't that the Sith made use of it that bothered her, it was how, and why, and to what end. Ruthless... Yeah, that word barely even cut it. There were Sith out there in the present Galaxy that had little qualms with committing acts of genocide. Just because...

That there had been an entity out there akin to such, but worse? No. She was glad they were gone...

Talks turned to his purpose here, why he thought he was being called to the Vault, and in that moment Rhia simply nodded her head. "Guidance is more important than weapons, I'd argue," the girl stated. Where would she have been without Vero's guidance? Sure she had her imbued blade, and Ideon his daggers, but they would only have gotten the children so far. No, it was the wisdom of their forefathers which allowed them to flourish.

"I hope that you find what you seek, Kyyrk." Or it not what he sought, then at least what was planned for him to find.

Either way, it seemed as though the man trusted in the Force in some capacity. She could not fault him for that.

Kyyrk​

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk's gaze was lost in the fire. Watching the individual tongues lick about the wood. It was becoming easier and easier for him to become lost in his thoughts these days. A mind begging for the sweet release of...knowing. Of remembering. His shattered mind longed to be whole again. To find an answer to his people's strife. Kyyrk sighed quietly, pushing himself to his feet. The fire needed more fuel. He reached across to the small pile near by, and collected a couple logs to toss on the fire.

"What of yourself?" Kyyrk's gaze turned back to the girl. There were many questions on this world, and Kyyrk was most intrigued by the ones posed by the children. Not in what they had asked him, but in what they didn't. Kyyrk scooped his Lightsaber off the pile of armor, and returned to his seat beside the fire. "For how few provisions your group sent you with, I would have expected them to be here by now." The look he gave Effis was knowing. Not accusatory. Just...knowing. His tone was not adversarial. He was...probing. Testing a theory. Trying to figure out if she had really lied to him, or if she was telling the truth.

"And, more to the point, Belsavis is hardly a planet worthy of a family outing." Kyyrk's attention turned to the blade in his hands, and he began to dismantle the casing. In the light of the fire, it was easy to see that the hilt, a rather large one compared to standard, bore a huge scar. A black, jagged edge was patched near the hilt of the blade. Kyyrk was making adjustments to the internal components, and inspecting the patchwork job that had been done on the shell. "Something to do with your training, perhaps?" The twinkle in Kyyrk's eye suggested he knew of the children's Force Sensitivity. Given his heritage, it was almost impossible not to. Yet it was not clear if he truly knew they were trained, or if he was making an assumption to elicit an answer...​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

Though Rhia had done her best to keep the subject matter about the man himself, he inevitably turned it back on her. Everything he said spoke to the fact that he knew, on some level, that she was lying. Could he blame her, though? Wouldn't he want his own kids to lie through their teeth when encountering strangers on weird planets?

Glancing at Ideon, she knew for a fact that's what she'd encourage him to do if she wasn't here.

"We're learning to live off the land," she explained, thinking on her feet. Truth be told though that wasn't a lie at all. Only the part about having people with them was. And their names... Okay, so she'd told a few lies. "That's why we foraged the fruits, and why we were following the stream."

None of that answered why they hadn't met up with the rest of their supposed party though, did it?

"We were separated from the group," she lied, "But we agreed on coordinates ahead of time." Not a lie. "Once Sal's better rested, we'll make our way there." She pulled out a nav device from her belt, the type which showed lat and long coordinates, and checked it. All things considered, they weren't that far from where Vero planned to meet them in a few days time.

She returned it to her belt.

"So you see, everything's okay. Nothing to worry about."

She even went so far as to offer him an unconcerned smile. They always said that the best lies were those sprinkled through with truths... Right?

Kyyrk

 

[Kyyrk]

The girl had given him an answer, but it was a vague sort of answer. One that answered his question, but told him exactly nothing. Or at least nothing he couldn't already surmise for himself. Kyyrk smiled to himself. She was smart, He'd give her that much. It made the man wonder what the children were really here for. "Didn't say I was worried. Just was asking your purpose for being here." Kyyrk glanced up from his lightsaber briefly. "I've lived through enough things to know better than to waste time with worry."

Now it was his turn to lie. He worried. A lot. All the time, actually. In this instance, though, he was not worried. Not for the sake of the children. He suspected they were not truly out here on their own. Not this far from civilization. Kyyrk looked back down to his blade, finishing the tweaks and re-casing the device. "But the nearest settlement is a good few kilometers away from this valley. You're definitely out here for something..." Kyyrk placed the blade on the ground beside him, looking back towards Effis. He knew there was something she wasn't telling him. "...But I'll content myself to wonder what your designs might be, Effis. Were I to encounter a strange Jedi on a gods-long-forsaken world, I too would be mistrustful."​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

Well he'd figured her out, hadn't he?

Wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he knew she was deceiving him in some fashion. She swallowed, more so when he referred to himself as a Jedi, and turned her gaze down to the fire. Force, was it suddenly fifty degrees hotter?

"I thought experiencing much often led people to worry more," she remarked, voice filled with thought to detract from her own uncertainty. Her gaze drifted momentarily toward the lightsaber he'd been meddling with, and she mentally checked to ensure she still felt the weight of her imbued blade where it was hidden on her person. Not that she doubted it was there, but for peace of mind.

"We don't travel by settlements," she informed him, and there was nothing but truthfulness in her words, "The less people to encounter the better. Wild beasts are less fearsome than some men and women in this Galaxy. I'd rather take my chances in the wilds."

Perhaps that was more illuminating of her distrust than anything else. No matter. Were they here for something? No. This was genuinely all just an exercise for them, see how they'd deal without Vero's constant support, how long would they last, would they remember their training?

This certainly wasn't part of their training, but it had taken them much longer to reach the gorge than intended.

"Jedi doesn't hold the weight it once did" she whispered, gaze hardening some as she looked back to the fire. "I do hope you'll forgive me for not taking it as a comfort." They were as bad as the Sith they sought to remove these days, as war driven and eager to fight. Not to mention Rhia's own personal misgivings with those caretakers who had stolen her away as a babe, and raised her in ignorance. Lied to her, and twisted her world view at such a young age.

No. The phrase Jedi wasn't one of hope for her.

In the near distance, something bayed. Certainly it was not the owl. She stirred, shifting where she sat to stare off in the direction the noise had come from. Her hand itched to reach for her blade, but she waited. Instinct bade her to rose and prepare for its approach, but they were not alone and she did not want to throw all of her cards out on the table before she was certain such was necessary.

Even so, she could sense that whatever it was was nearing.

Kyyrk

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk chuckled quietly, his gaze also falling back to the fire. "No...No it is not." Kyyrk shook his head slowly, a wry grin creeping across his features. "The Jedi and I haven't seen eye to eye in...quite some time." Since they threatened to kill him. But that was a long time ago. Things had changed. Kyyrk was no longer the Sith Lord he had once been. "I am impressed that you know the Force well enough to know that there are more than just Jedi. Most just see a lightsaber and make assumptions."

Kyyrk nodded quietly. "You are wise to not trust people. Of that, I have seen enough to be beyond certain." He set the lightsaber on the ground beside him. "Such a disheartening thing. To sacrifice so much for them. But to know deep down that it's the right thing to do. Just to watch as the people you save turn on each other at the slightest provocation." His tone was not one of abstraction or hypothesis. There was something specific he had in mind as he said this. He opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted.

He too heard the noise, and his glowing eyes snapped towards the direction the sound had come from. He pushed himself to his feet quickly, calling out with his mind. Horace... His hand outstretched, and his blade flew into his hand. The blade yet lay dormant, but Kyyrk was prepared. Though he was not clad in his armor, he was a formidable fighter. He stood, tall and proud...READY for whatever may charge at them through the trees. Be it friend or foe. "If I tell you to run, you run." Kyyrk could sense his companion returning. He would be there within moments. Hopefully, Kyyrk was being over-cautious. Hopefully...​

Rhia Kesyk

 

[Rhia Kesyk]

"There is much more in the Force than most see fit to realize" she retorted with a shrug, not really thinking about the implications of admitting as much so openly. Was she outing herself as being Force Sensitive? Was she admitting to being something outside of the status quo, neither Jedi nor Sith? It took her a few moments to realize what she'd said. And therein she sort of blinked, and glanced down at her lap.

So much for secrecy.

"You are a Jedi who does not see eye to eye with the Jedi?" she inquired softly, not looking up as her brows creased in thought. After all, had he not referred to himself as a Jedi in passing? "That must be a difficult existence, Kyyrk. To feel apart from your flock. I know how lonely it can be, truly."

They were a group of just three Je'daii, she, Ideon, and Vero, and though there were other Je'daii out there in the Galaxy they were not yet converged. It was difficult indeed to feel like a trio against the Galaxy, but then that was why Vero Shif kept them isolated. Trained them in manners such as this to be able to handle themselves despite the situation.

With the cat more or less out of the bag, and the man seemingly more open to alternate beliefs than she'd first expected, Rhia opened her mouth to speak more on the subject, but before she could the sound was heard and Kyyrk's owl was called forth through the trees.

Everything became tense then, her hand curled for the hilt of her blade hidden beneath the folds of her clothes. Through the Force she lightly prodded at Ideon, rousing him from his sleep in a gentle but direct fashion. He awoke not too much long after, and already the boy had his knifes pulled free from their sheaths. The sound of it rang out in the quiet which followed.

Kyyrk gave them instructions then, and Rhia could only nod in understanding. Immediately she set about gathering up what few things of theirs was lay about, though admittedly there was nothing to grab other than Ideon's coat which she hastily had him bundled up in. They couldn't afford to leave it behind, not since the icy wastes were their only way off world. So too did Rhia put on her own.

Then she drew her sword, which thrummed with the Force. Imbued, an old Je'daii technique. If the Jedi was familiar with it, well he might well have the answers he'd sought about their heritage.

Stood to her full height, Rhia stared off in the distance as the thumping of several paws against the earth neared them swiftly. Surprisingly both of the children looked ready and willing to fight.

Kyyrk