Private The Promise of Spring

[Everest Vale]

There was a soft stillness about the temple gardens this morning. Coruscant's spring sun, and the cool breeze that accompanied it, invited peace and clarity to anyone who came to the gardens for a morning meditation. Overhead, a soft scattering of cirrus clouds had spread gently into its crisp light blue backdrop. Amidst the gardens itself, perfectly cultivated trees housed mother birds in full preparation mode to raise their newborn young that hid in their comfortable new nests overhead, sweeping down to the large, ornate planters and plant beds about the area in search of breakfast. The soft sound of flowing water reverberated gently against marble, and birdsong was swept delicately along the breeze.

It was here where Everest Vale had spent much of her morning, away from much of the crowd and sitting silently beneath the trees where the birds were roosting. This place was as close to home as she had managed to find amidst the busy life of a Jedi Padawan on Coruscant, and she relished every opportunity to come here now that temperatures were rising once again. A small finch came to rest on Everest's knee. Smiling softly, she offered a small rip of the bread she had bagged ready for such a moment. Eyeing her for a moment, it gave a single chirp, took the bread and disappeared again into the trees. Everest sighed with reserved joy.

Shan Pavond​

 

[Shan Pavond]

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The planet was healing. That was how Shan saw it as he walked amongst the temple gardens in silence. A frown on his face however at that thought. Coruscant was healing from the invasion, but there was still a part of Shan that wasn't. He had failed people. Whilst other members of the order, even his ex-padawan had been fighting on the planet or dealing with the invaders, he had been stuck on an evacuation shuttle until it had been too late to lend a hand. And what had he done after the invasion? Turned tail and left. Ran off to go and study to become a Doctor. He was back now at least but part of him wondered if it was too little, too late. Things had been so much easier when he had been a padawan...

The chirp of a finch snapped the Mirialan out of his thoughts. Blinking to himself as the garden came back into view and he spotted the Padawan as the finch blew away from her. A small smirk came up onto his face at that, shaking his head ever so slightly as Shan put his hands into the pockets of his robes.

"It's always beautiful to see the way nature can grow and come back to places that once suffered. I'm Knight Pavond. Though please, call me Shan. Titles have never really made sense to me...At least for me. I'm just a regular Mirialan."

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

The Mirialan was humble with his introduction, but despite his reserved manner Everest stood from her spot on the grass - a little flustered at the sudden visitor - and bowed in the generally expected way of a Jedi, finished with a soft, youthful smile.
"Hi," she said a little awkwardly afterwards. "I'm Everest. Everest Vale, but people call me Eve." She hadn't ever met a Mirialan before, but she recognised one immediately.

She glanced up to the tree where her newfound finch friend had landed to nuzzle her young. She could hear the tiny chirps of hungry babies overhead, and as she reached out through the Force to sense their presence, she couldn't help but smile warmly. How she loved such soft and gentle creatures.
"They weren't born very long ago, you know," she said softly, entirely distracted. "Maybe a few days at most." She looked back at Shan. "That was their mother just now. She's been on the hunt." She then shook the bag of bread she was holding and grinned.

She was never so comfortable meeting strangers before, but something about the gardens set herself at ease in a way nowhere else on the planet had done. The chance for her to connect with the animals that lived amongst the greenery - few as they may be - was immensely exciting for Everest, and she relished any and every opportunity to be amongst them. It was fortuitous that Shan had arrived when he did, otherwise he would've met a shy and bumbling Padawan girl she usually was. But today was different. Today she was entirely herself.

Shan Pavond​

 

[Shan Pavond]

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"Well. It's a real pleasure to meet you Eve. Always nice to see the younger generation of Jedi."

Shan nodded to himself, keeping his attention on their surroundings with a soft sigh and a smile on his face. Nature used to amaze him when he first came to the Order. Having came from Nar Shaddaa, he wasn't used to such vibrant colours and such vibrant life. Though the amazement had dulled over recent times. It wasn't a case of him not being as impressed but more a case of him knowing that he couldn't stop and stare at the butterflies all the time.

"Ah yes. The early bird catches the bread. I've heard that saying before."

He couldn't help but grin to himself as he looked over towards the bread that Everest was holding. The Mirialan folded his arms along his front as he thought to himself in quiet. Staring up towards the birds as he heard their cheeping. In a way, it reminded him of how the Padawans could be. Cheeping away with each other whilst also requiring the guidance of some of the Jedi. Shan shook his head at that, turning his attention back over towards Eve with a smile.

"There are plenty of interesting species you could learn about here. Either in person out here or in the archives. It's a wonderful place to be."

Everest Vale