The Fox's Earth.

[Vulpesen]

"We zorrens are born with a natural instinct to protect others... if we fight it, we can end up a bit broken." Emphasizing his last words, Vulpesen lifted a hand to tap the side of his head. "My mother was one of those that fought it, as one would upon joining the sith. As she asked how he had found their animal friends, he gave a shrug. "I was trained by a beast tamer. Moreover, I've been re-attuning myself to the more natural aspects of the force since I found myself on Veradune. And they should be alright."

 

[Riamah]

"I grew up as a sith and taught by a single master. Protect yourself and what you consider yours. Like Vincent, though he is a person, I consider him mine and would protect him. You I don't think need would need that."

She did listen to his answer and nodded after speaking what she did. Finding it odd, Ra wondered to herself how she would fit in with the culture here, but kept it in her mind. Time would tell anyway and provide an answer.

Giving Vulpesen a small smile when he mentioned the animals, she put her arm around him and just enjoyed walking with him to where Shadow would be ready for them.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"My mother prefers to teach of ambition. Take what you wish and let nothing stand in your way. I suppose Zarro did teach me a little of that when it came to mercantile business." There was a part of him that winced at the mention of Vincent being hers. no doubt had one of his people heard, it might have rose a brow, but he new her well enough to know what she meant. And his men knew well enough not to question his judgement. "It is my job after all, to protect any and all others I'm capable of defending."

 

[Riamah]

"Who says I don't take what I wish?"

Unconventional by normal ​standards, Ra was still sith. It was something Vulpesen needed to remember. At his mention of business though, that got a raised eyebrow. Looking up at him, there was a little question on her face.

"I dabble is business as well. Transportation though. Perhaps we can forge business ties."

At the word ties, she shut her mouth as another totally different line of thought went through her mind. Giving herself a mental shake, she shoved her foot up in there too to get that thought out of there.

"Defending anybody?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned a bit and offered a sideways glance, walking down the steps of the temple after leaving its main doors. "You certainly proved that when we got here." Continuing to walk, he flicked his ear to her question. "Well, anybody who's not hellbent on taking over the galaxy through murder, slavery, or destroying it through anarchy. We further the code by acting as the guard dogs of the galaxy."

 

[Riamah]

His grin and comment brought some color to her cheeks and she looked away from him. Sniffing in a little, Ra looked in front of them.

"Nah, that's not my way, so I suppose if the need arose I would be one that might fall under that umbrella."

She thought she could handle herself well enough though and hoped to never actually need that protection.

"I already have like this unexplained desire to protect children. No reason for it though, I just do."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Well, you could always support the cause." From the steps of the castle, it wasn't long until they had found themselves at the entrance of a large stable. "Does one need a reason to protect innocence such as a child? That alone is more than most sith I've met can claim." Nodding to the stable master who opened a door for the duo, he continued on with Ra.

 

[Riamah]

"Yes, I could. I'm still trying to figure it all out and how I might fit in at the same time being what I am."

The past week had in one way or another upended her life. What Ra thought was impossible for her had happened, so it was always possible she could incorporate both codes and be herself. If that was a route she chose to take.

Paying attention to the way they took to the stables, she was fairly confident she could find her way there on her own.

"Many sith only think on a broad scale of things and wish to enforce the code on everybody. That's not my way though and if those children die that I want to protect, where is our future? Even though I don't fully agree with their methods, it does serve a purpose for them. Like the way I feel serves me."

Walking into the stable, she looked around, but didn't know what anything was inside.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"First you need to figure out what you are. The sith think on as broad a scale as involves them. That is why their flourishing brings pain to the rest of the galaxy." Around them sat stable after stable, each held with various Veran Foxes of an array of colors from white, to red, to black. Being led down the center of the rows was a more familiar face, shadow being led down with a set of reigns draped on her back, her midnight fur bearing sapphire and gold markings. "Ever though that its possible to believe the code without being a sith?"

 

[Riamah]

"What would be the purpose of that though? Follow the sith code, but not be one, I mean. It is what I am though, all I've ever known."

Except for a few years when her mind was veiled somehow.

"The galaxy doesn't revolve around me, I'm just a not so simple person among countless others. You yourself are more important than I ever will be."

Ra saw one of the foxes had flame colored hair like she did and pointed to it. Until she learned how to ride or control one, being on her own was out of the question, but that one drew her because of the coloring. Looking in front of them though, she saw Shadow being lead over.

"Where are we going, Vulps?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Once upon a time, all I had ever known was staring up at the stars, being a merchant, and being human... Once upon a time, all I knew was war under the banner of the jedi. Once upon a time, I was just a kid playing with a chitlik in my dad's study. Who you are is not always who you will be. Importance is best earned. And even the greatest of tyrants and kings once sat in their mother's lap." He hopped onto Shadow's back who swept her tails around for Ra. "To the forest. Unless you want to see someplace else like the market or dining halls."

 

[Riamah]

Listening to what Vulpesen said, Ra nodded slightly in understanding.

"However, all those things compound to make you who you are. That child that played with whatever a chitlik is the same one that knew battle under that banner."

Being able to play was something Ra never had, so she had no idea what that was he played with when he was little.

"But those future tyrants and kings usually knew where they were heading. Trained from when they were old enough to be what they grew up to be. That is what happened to me, though it didn't work out the way my master planned."

Shaking her head in answer, she climbed up the tail provided and took her place behind Vulpesen on Shadow's back.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"You can be trained. But the choice to follow that training is yours. You can have a plan, but sometimes the force has another." Once shadow had secured them in her tails, Vulpesen urged her onward, leaving the stable and heading towards the edge of the city where the buildings ended and the wild forest began. The distance would be a short one, and the transition between civilization and wilderness could even be missed by those who weren't paying attention.

 

[Riamah]

"What training do I need? I mean I know there's always more to learn, but training?"

If he could see her face, it was clearly showing Ra didn't think she needed training really. Her voice also spoke her disbelief on the matter. Smiling slightly, her expression changed slightly before she spoke again.

"You sound a little like a jedi when you say that, Vulps."

Looking around them, she noticed the change between the city and the wilds. It was rather subtle and she actually liked that fact. Resting her hands on Vulpesen, Ra enjoyed the ride Shadow was giving them.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Of course there's always more to learn, but I was simply using your training as an example. I was trained to be a merchant or a soldier, and yet here I am, choosing the pat of a king." As she stated how he sounded like a Jedi, Vulpesen couldn't help but smile. "I guess some habits are hard to shake. i was after all, a jedi for quite some time." His tail flicked out a bit as he looked around the forest. Placing his senses on a bit of a higher alert, Vulpesen prepared for any trouble that might be ahead of them. While not expecting problems, in the forests of Veradune, there was no such thing as too cautious. Beauty came at a price.

 

[Riamah]

Even Vulpesen admitted there was more to learn and that he picking on her to prove the point.

"I have training as a merchant of a sort. For a few years, a man took me in and taught me how to be a businesswoman. Then he was killed, but that night I rescued a little girl. Took her to the orphanage I thought I grew up in and she's still there. I've thought about adopting her, but the time has never been right for it."

It had been a very long time since she had thought of her captain. A sudden sense of loss came over Ra, but it was gone in a moment, buried within herself.

"I don't think I could ever be a Jedi."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Is it me, or does knowing you seem to be a hazard of sorts." Riding on, he thought a bit over her words of the child. "You certainly have the resources to keep the child safe and fed. As for being a jedi, I think its safe to say that I was not fit for the life either. I won't say that their ideals are bad, but the order is prone to corruption, and its tenets often times tie their hands, preventing them from fighting the evil they claim to stave off. The galaxy isn't black and white. There are other ways than the sith or Jedi."

 

[Riamah]

"Maybe? I didn't kill him though. In fact, he instilled something into me that I still keep to. My word and honor. We ran a business and if we struck a deal, we always saw it through. If we didn't, then we wouldn't have had a business."

He was the father she never had.

"Her name is Xian and would be probably about eight years old now maybe even a little older. I'm not sure how she was when her family died. Didn't kill them either."

Whenever Ra went to Coruscant, she always visited the girl and had started to try and adopt her, but something had happened and she couldn't see it through then. Maybe now she could and at least be a mother to Xian.

Listening to what he said about the Jedi, how he didn't fit that life either and their ideals, Ra shrugged a little.

"In my personal life, it doesn't matter to me personally what ideals somebody has for the most part. Just stay out of my way. Yes, there are other ways..."

Her voice trailed off slightly and she fell silent for a moment.

"Yours is a different way and has no less merit than any other."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Much like what my Master Zarro taught me. A merchant's life relies on his credibility and good word." Around them a chorus of sounds would come alive in the woods, chirps, barks, and the constant rustle of leaves as lives large and small passed around them. "I've done my best to ensure that the Vitae may welcome any and all who would seek to do good for the Galaxy, whether that good is done in the search for glory and credits, or something more noble."

 

[Riamah]

"Exactly, Vulps. So even though sith have the tendency to break their word once it is given. I will not do that."

Her tone was genuine, open and honest. Listening to what he said about welcoming any that would do good for the galaxy, she shook her head a little.

"Yes, I'm not sure if I fit that mold yet. What do you consider noble?"

[member="Vulpesen"]