Tall Trees

[Valae Heavenshield]

​

The forests of Kashyyyk were vast and wild, perhaps not the ideal place for someone to live. But, one person had made themselves quite at home there. There was a small dwelling set in the woods, however, not terribly far from Silver Rest. It blended in well with the setting, for it was in the trees – quite literally.

Valae looked out at the landscape of the Wookie home world from the porch of her tree house. It really was pretty here, she’d grown to love this place quite a lot. The memories of the Order’s arrival still remained in her thoughts, more often now than ever. Here she had seen the Silver Jedi grow and thrive, she had watched her fellow Jedi accomplish more than she could have ever dreamed, and she had made more than a few very good friends. These were the memories she would take with her from Kashyyyk.

Speaking of friends, she had asked [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] to visit her here at her home in the trees.

Her invitation might have been expected, as she usually took visitors at her office at the temple. But, she felt that the informal atmosphere of the tree house might serve them better. As the location was known only by a choice few, she’d asked a Wookie friend to meet Josh and bring him there. No doubt, the news of her departure was probably known – at least to the members of the Silver Assembly, Valae had a feeling that her last days here were going to turn into a long string of ‘goodbyes.’

But, goodbye didn’t have to be forever.

Seated in a small chair, she folded her hands in her lap and closed her eyes as she waited.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The day that the woman formerly known as Valae Kitra had taken the role of Grandmaster, she had been in disarray from the fallout of Arisa Yune's departure. That had been the day that Josh had done his best to comfort her and made her a promise. He had promised her that he would support her the whole way, until the very end. That was a promise that Josh had kept. And now it seemed, the end was finally here. Josh had been surprised to learn the news that Grandmaster Valae Kitra was officially stepping down from her position as Grandmaster Of The Order.

And that she would be leaving. That was news that had upset him, though he tried not to convey it as he walked with a Wookiee through the trees of Kashyyyk. He had been sent for by Grandmaster Kitra-No, Valae. It was Valae now. He had been sent for by Valae to meet her in her own home on Kashyyyk. Interesting, considering he usually met her in her office. Josh would be led to the home, and Josh would speak a few words in Shriwook in thanks before he departed their company. With that, he would walk in gingerly, looking around the place. It had been the first time he had been here, after all. And likely the last.

"Valae?" He called as he would scan the room for the now-former Grandmaster.

[member="Valae Heavenshield"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

A brow rose slightly, noting the familiar presence of [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] on approach. Though he’d never been here before, she figured that he’d ascend and find her waiting. It wasn’t long before she heard his voice call for her, and she stood from her chair on the small back porch. Stepping into the small living space, she motioned for Josh to make himself comfortable. There was a sofa and pair of arm-chairs, as well as a nook for dining.

“Good to see you, Josh.” She said, offering a casual nod and a smile in greeting.

Moving into the kitchen – well, stepping behind the counter, the open floor plan made conversing quite easy – Valae began to boil a pot of water for tea. As she searched her cupboards for a quick snack to serve her guest, she pulled out a box of ginger biscuits that would go quite well with their tea.

“I hope the trek here was alright,” She said, glancing over at the tall form of Josh. “I don’t normally entertain here, the small space doesn’t really allow for it.” Valae said with a small chuckle. Judging by the rather somber aura that seemed to loom, her eyes softened slightly.

“I take it you’ve heard the news?” She knew that her friend would likely have questions, and she slid onto a stool to wait for the kettle to boil. “I know it might have seemed rather sudden,” Valae started, without actually mentioning the topic at hand. “But this was the right time.”

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

As Valae stepped in, he would greet her with a warm smile. But the bittersweetness of his expression was all too obvious. He wasn't able to cloud his emotions well, not with how things were right now. Recent events had made it more difficult to cloud his emotions, and his feelings... But this? How could he hide himself at a time like this?

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Valae" Josh spoke softly as he would heed her motion and relax down on the sofa, letting out an exhale as he closed his eyes a moment, trying to allow himself a moment of reprieve, a moment to calm down. But his eyes were open again soon after, and were beaded on Valae at all times. Almost as if he knew this could be the last time that he ever saw her and didn't want to waste even a single moment. He would perk up when she would ask about the trek while she made tea, and he smiled and nodded his head. "The trek was fine" He assured. "A little small for a Heavenshield, you mean?" He teased, a light joke about the... Lifestyle of the Heavenshields, last he had heard.

And then it would come. She would inquire if he knew. She knew that he knew. It was clear. It was obvious. It was written all over her face. He watched her as she would sit down, and after a few hesitant moments the Jedi would nod his head.

"Aye. I have" He spoke softly as he looked into her eyes. Brimming brown eyes stared into her own, almost pleadingly in the way he looked at her, finding difficulty in masking his sorrow as it was clear that he was going to miss her when she was gone. "I guess I just don't understand" Josh would admit. "If there were signs of it being time, I never saw them."

It was sudden, indeed.

[member="Valae Heavenshield"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae accepted Josh’s quip about being small for a Heavenshield with a chuckle. It was very true, she supposed. Her Master did tower over her, he always had – but strangely, she had not been intimidated by the tall shadow he cast her in. When her friend voiced that he had indeed heard her news, Valae’s shoulders relaxed. Somehow, a small weight lifted off her shoulders at that moment. However, she knew that she would have some explaining to do yet.

She sat thoughtfully for a moment. Where to start?

“Well, I didn’t want to burden the Order by making my own issues readily known.” She started, glancing over at Josh. “But, I’ve had this feeling for some time now. You see, I never anticipated becoming Grandmaster, when Arisa handed the position over to me… I wasn’t sure I could ever quite fit the role.”

As the kettle began to whistle, she stood to remove it from the heat and prepare her teapot.

“War is unavoidable, we both know that.” She said, now pouring two cups of piping hot tea. Valae slid one over towards Josh. “It was difficult for me to send members of the Order off to war… I just… I just don’t have the heart for it.” Valae shook her head, “I can’t send my friends out to battle again,”

Memories of Mirial still haunted her. She didn’t want to lose anyone again, and she would silently chide herself for this selfish thought, she hadn’t been the only one affected, after all.

“More than that,” She sighed, “I think the Order needs a strong leader, someone that is capable of making the tough decisions.” Valae took a small sip of tea, “I think my replacement will do the job admirably.” She added, smiling over the top of her cup.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh listened as Valae would begin to talk about why she felt that this was the right time. He listened as she didn't think she would ever fit in the role. She talked about war. How it was unavoidable, which he agreed with... It was a lesson he had learned the hard way. But he understood her pain when it came to sending Jedi out to war, when you didn't want to.

"When I was dismissed, I was told that I was a good peacetime Grandmaster... Just not a good wartime Grandmaster" Josh spoke with a bittersweet smile. "So I think I get you, a little. War just... Isn't something either of us are comfortable with. I didn't have the heart for sending members out either. It just doesn't seem right. War isn't what we do. And it's never easy sending out the people we care for."

He understood, at least. He understood why she wanted out, even if he didn't like it. Taking a sip of tea when offered. She talked about a replacement, and he nodded his head.

"Jyoti, I assume?" He would ask. Jyoti had basically been doing the job already the last while. At this point, it was just a formality. But even then, he had been holding out hope that Valae would return to the fold... He didn't think it would end like this.

[member="Valae Heavenshield"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

A good Grandmaster in peacetime – yes, perhaps that’s what she was as well.

Valae nodded as Josh spoke, he seemed to understand her position. However, she also noted that he seemed unhappy, somehow. But, then again, she knew that it was never an easy thing when friends chose to uproot themselves and leave. However, Valae wouldn’t be gone for good, she did not wish to abandon the Order.

Taking another sip of her tea herself, she glanced over the cup at Josh when he mentioned Jyoti. Nodding, Valae set the cup back on the saucer with a tiny clink.

“Yes,” She said, a small smile on her face. “The Master of the Order is generally the next in the line of succession.” This she knew well, for her own time as Master of the Order had been rather short-lived before Arisa had asked her to step up into the role of Grandmaster.

As Jyoti was already quite competent and eager as Master of the Order, Valae had the Echani’s name at the very top of her list. Of course, members of her Silver Circle were named as well. However, Valae had hoped that Celeste and the others would continue to keep the healing halls running smoothly in her absence.

“And, as for me – I’ll be starting fresh on Midvinter. You’ll have to come visit me when I’m settled.” Valae took another sip of tea. “Well, I didn’t just call you here to talk about this… I actually have a favor to ask.”

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Of course he'd be unhappy. He already had a hell of a time getting to see Valae in person these days. Now she wouldn't even be at the Rest anymore! Sure, he would miss her as Grandmaster. But the more important thing was that he would be missing Valae. He felt like he'd be seeing her even less now. Which wasn't something he wanted, he wanted to see more of her! Still, he would remain calm and listen to what she had to say. He wasn't surprised that Jyoti would be taking the role of Grandmaster. It almost seemed like she was meant for the role, almost like she'd taken it before. She took to leadership like a fish to water.

"I figured" He spoke with a light smile. Valae would then explain that she would be going to Midvinter, obviously to live with Thurion and his clan. Josh would nod his head, taking a deep breath. "I understand" He spoke softly. It was going to be a pain to take a detour to Midvinter just to see her, but... Well, for Valae, he supposed it was worth it.

But he would quirk a brow when she noted she had a favor to ask. "Hm?" He asked. "Do tell."

[member="Valae Heavenshield"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Now that they had moved past the elephant in the room, and she had given her explanation for resigning as grandmaster, Valae was happy to change the subject to something lighter. With Josh’s curiosity sufficiently peaked, she took a leisurely sip of tea and exhaled contently. Her eyes roamed the small living room for a moment, noting the many nights she’d spent curled up there. There were good memories here in the tree house.

“Well,” She started, setting her teacup down once more. “Since I’m not going to be here on Kashyyyk, I got to thinking about this place – my home.” Valae waved her hand to indicate the treehouse. “I’d like very much if someone else put it to good use.”

Valae smiled, hoping that Josh had caught on to what her favor might be. Sliding off the stool, she made her way to the counter and began to slice two pieces of homemade banana bread, as if to sweeten the deal. Setting a piece down for Josh, she took a small bite herself.

“If you’d like to have this tree house, it’s yours.” She said, smiling fondly. “I figured that you might like a private place to escape to every now and then. And I thought that Jason might have a fun time here.”

After another bite of bread, she dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin to remove any crumbs.

“So, what do you say?” She asked finally, eyes growing a bit wider in anticipation.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh still was far from happy about Valae's decision, but the decision was hers and he would respect it. And he knew that the Silver Jedi Order would do well in the hands of Jyoti Nooran to where he knew he wouldn't have to worry about it. He just hoped Valae would still have time for him now, being part of the big bad Heavenshield camp and likely being busy.

Though he would tilt his head when she would reveal that she wanted him to take the home that she had been using here. He was honestly, genuinely surprised and it was written all over his face. It took a moment or so for it to fully sink in just what his friend was asking of him. As she would slide the piece of banana bread to him, he took it gratefully and took a few bites while he pondered it.

He had a home. Not on Kashyyyk though, here he just had the quarters on the Rest. But admittedly the Treehouse did have it's sort of charm that the cramped quarters did not. And it had a bit of privacy that he would be able to lean into when he wasn't training but it wasn't time for him to take Jason and head back to Naboo... Which he only did every so often. For him and Jason to have a place to be alone and in the quiet, rustic treehouse when Josh was stationed here... He appreciated that she had thought of him, he really did.

After a few moments, he would swallow the piece and take a deep breath, before meeting her eyes.

"Of course. I deeply appreciate this, Valae" He spoke softly. "Thank you. We'll put it to good use."

[member="Valae Heavenshield"]