Will You Go To Dance with Me

[Judah Lesan]

Aden had been working for Strider and his new crew lately, and it kept him away from his friends. There was one friend though that Aden always found time for, [member="Mesh'la Hokan"]. THey had met some time ago along the river which an just outside the city limits of Keldabe. After she had gotten him to jump out of the water worried about leeches, they became fast friends and caught some fish, cooked them, ate them, and continued their friendship since. Whether they borrowed Kad's guns, or some her step-dad had, the two were always coming up with something to do. There was the shooting range, or small game hunts for a quick meaty snack. The two certainly stayed connected.

He was home, the first time in a while. Obviously the first person he sent a text to was Mesh'la. He was actually suddenly nervous about seeing her again after being gone for about a month. Fall was coming to Keldabe, and that meant harvest. Harvest meant the fall celebreation and games were right around the corner, and the, barely, sixteen year old wanted to go with Mesh'la as they had always gone together. Except he really didn't want that, not this year. Aden wanted to go with her as her date.

***Mesh'la we just touched down.
Meet me at our spot in half an hour if you can.
Can't wait to see you!

--Aden***

With the message sent, Aden got to work in getting his part of the unloading done. Waving to the crew he told them all he'd catch up with them later, and ran off toward the river. There was a nice tree where Aden had managed to catch his fish the first time he had met Mesh'la. It had become their spot, and a great place to swim when they wanted to. It was too cold for that now, but they could still fish or something. He grabbed a blanket on his way, and ran as hard as he could. He would be there a bit early, but he didn't want to be late.

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la raised her head and looked up into the Keldabe sky as the roar of engines overhead caught the 15 year old's attention. There was no mistaking what ship it was coming in to land; the Avril had a distinct look and it was headed towards the other end of the valley following the Kelita River to the Garon Homestead… That meant [member="A'den Dral"] was home from his last job with his buir and crew!

For some reason it meant more this time. Mesh'la had no idea why though, just that it did. The teenage girl was finding herself thinking different things about her friend lately, who was a boy of sixteen. Actually to be honest, Aden was her best friend as the young Mando seemed to just get her without having to explain herself to him, well most of the time. He was male after all as her mother would say.

It wasn't long after that a text message came through from Aden. He wanted to meet her at their place along the river. Mesh'la sent him a text back with just a simple smiley face.

The young blonde quickly finished covering the stacks of hay bales that her father had brought in from the fields of the Hokan farm. Gra'buir and Buir'ika had said when she had done that, Mesh was free for the remainder of the day, which was perfect to welcome her friend back.

After cleaning up and changing into one of her a comfy casual outfits, Mesh'la got on her speeder bike and took off towards Keldabe proper. Atin had stayed behind, much to the dog's dismay because he was busy keeping track of Lil' JJ, Mesh's younger half-brother as their parents were finishing up the day's harvest.

Riding up to meeting place along the river just down from the south side bridge, Mesh'la parked her speeder bike, then walked down the bank to the tree where Strider's son was waiting for her.

"Su cuy'gar, ner vod'ika," she offered with a soft smile. "How was your trip? I saw the Avril come in. I'm glad you're back"

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden was always one to keep busy. While he waited for [member="Mesh'la Hokan"], he picked through the river rocks to find small, flat stones perfect for skipping across the surface of the water. He had not taken the time to change, so he was still in his spacer outfit. His throw was all kinds of messed up when he heard Mesh'la's voice and turned to see her smile. He smiled in return, involuntary. It was just the natural reaction to hers. She had that affect on him lately. Aden could not explain it, but it just was.

"Su'cuy," he said running back up the bank of the river enthusiastically. "Stri'buir's ship is hard to miss. It's pretty unique. I'm glad you knew I was home then. The last week seemed like it took forever, and I missed having you around."

Aden always said more than he needed to when Mesh'la was around. He wasn't talkative, but when Mesh'la was around he was. They just knew each other, related well, and seemed to be in each other's minds at times. It was kind of scary, but it was fun too. Aden reached into his pocket and pulled out a little bag. There was a charm inside for the bracelet Aden had gotten Mesh'la in his first trip. Every time he went away he made a little charm from that had something to do with the job they pulled. It was a silly thing really, but Aden liked giving her the souvenir. This time the charm was shape of a spent shell casing from his slugthrower.

"This one wasn't as easy as we thought," he grinned, "but we made it back okay, like always."

The young verd sat on the blanket and patted the seat. He pulled out a wrapped piece of uj cake and offered some to Mesh'la as he patted the spot next to him. He was still working up th courage to ask the question, because he really didn't want their friendship to change. At the same time, he wanted things to be more.

"So has anyone asked you to the festival yet?"

Aden mustered enough to ask that. He just hoped he wasn't giving himself away completely.

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la saw the blanket all spread out under the canopy of the tree. She also noticed how [member="A'den Dral"] rambled on more than normal around her. Was he nervous about something? The handmade charm was taken with an appreciative smile.

"Thank you… That was sweet of you. I'll add it to the charm bracelet with the others," she said sincerely, then pushed up the cuff on the sleeve of her pink sweatshirt exposing her left wrist and put the spent shell casing onto the silver chain. On the wrist too was her iChrono.

"You are sounding more and more cocky like your buir… " Mesh chuckled as she sat down on the blanket where Aden had motioned for her to sit next to him. "I'm not sure that is a good thing or bad yet, though cute none the less."

A corner of the offered uj cake was broken off and popped into her mouth. They often would bring some treat to share between them when meeting. While Mesh'la chewed, she listened thoughtfully to what Aden asked her…. Wait! It sounded as if he was trying to ask her out on a date? But that was silly because friends don't date. They just accompany each other to things having each other's back, right? Her stomach fluttered.

"Erm Nayc… Are you going?"

 

[Judah Lesan]

Cocky!? Like Strider!? Okay so maybe his Buir was rubbing off on him, at least other parts hadn't yet. Aden didn't have a girl in every port and a child to go with the girl. Right, Strider didn't either, but traveling the Galaxy the teen had heard many stories and still had to figure out what was true or not. That wasn't the matter at hand though. He was supposed to be inviting Mesh'la to the festival.

"I'm glad you like it. Really it was a close one this time, and I suppose Stri'buir is rubbing off on me. I've been spending enough time around him. It was bound to happen sooner or later I guess. You'll tell me if it gets bad right? Right."

Aden already knew the answer to the question. [member="Mesh'la Hokan"] was the only person he allowed to be brutally honest with him. The way their friendship worked, it had very little filters. They shared what they thought, which was why the longer Aden stalled, the more awkward things might get. He was relieved when she hadn't been asked yet. She was at the age where it was bound to happen, and he wanted to make sure he asked first, and they went together. They had always gone together, but this was different.

He grabbed a chunk of the uj cake and popped it into his mouth. The teen chewed it quickly and swallowed buying him a bit more time. She'd asked if he was going, and he nodded his head. "But I haven't asked anyone yet," he said right after he swallowed. "I was kinda thinking we could go together, you know like usual, except maybe this year, we go together, like a date. I mean, you know, if you wanted to do that."

Aden wasn't getting any points in the confidence department there. Instead he was cautiously, and nervously, asking a question he knew would change the dynamic of things no matter what her answer was.

 

[Alleycat]

Okay now those butterflies in her stomach were frantically flying about. [member="A'den Dral"] had indeed meant as a date not just as friends. Mesh'la reached for her backpack purse she always had with her and took out a water bottle. She drew a long sip from it, bidding her time to reply to his question. If she was honest with herself deep down inside Mesh wanted to go to the festival as more than just Aden's friend, though that thought terrified her too. What if it changed them or what they had? or worst yet… it ruined their friendship completely?!

After wiping off her moistened lips with the back of her hand, Mesh'la handed the water bottle over. She took a deep breath, then spoke.

"I would love to go with you. We always have a fun time… Though why do you want to go as more than friends this year?" Mesh asked curiously and nervously, wondering maybe being out and about with Stri'buir had gotten him interested in doing other things; things that men and women do together that friends don't. She was definitely not ready to go that far.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden had not expected the last question. He was excited she wanted to go with him officially, but the question made him nervous. Did he know why he really wanted to go with her as more? Aden just wanted to. His feelings had been getting stronger for [member="Mesh'la Hokan"]. The Mando lightly chewed on the inside of his cheek, a nervous habit when he was usually deep in thought. He wanted to make sure he gave Mesh'la a good answer.

"Because every time I go on a job, your always on my mind. I miss you like crazy you know, and how we used to see each other all the time. I know you could really hurt me for what I'm about to say, but you are gorgeous, you embody your name rather well, and I can't imagine a future without you in it."

The last part could be taken many ways, but it was the truth. There was no future Aden wanted that did not have his best friend in it. Yeah there was the chance they both found love elsewhere and remained close friends. Right now though, Aden liked the idea of remaining close friends and dating. He was sixteen and in a year or two he'd be able to take a riduur, expected to by the culture, and so would Mesh'la. It might as well be with each other.

"I really like you Mesh'la, and I'm pretty sure you really like me too. If we do this right, it will only make us stronger friends."

He had to voice the positive, because the negative was easy to dwell on.

 

[Alleycat]

Did he just say, mean….? Mesh'la didn't know how she really felt about his admission. They had been friends now for four years; bff's if honest, ever since the young Mando had shown up on Mandalore to live with his buir he didn't know he even had until that day. How had things come to this? Oh yeah… They were growing up, no longer preteens; each having passed their verd'goten. The two were indeed nearing the time when potential riduurok partners were being considered, though acted upon? [member="A'den Dral"]'s declaration was basically staking his claim on her. It made Mesh's heart race, breath hitch, and stomach flip flop. She swallowed hard, then prepared to give her reply, turning to face Aden; blue eyes looking into his hazel. They were dreamy. Were they that way before?

​"I've been thinking about you a lot lately too, missing you when you're off on your adventures with Stri'buir. I find myself liking you in different ways than before when we were preteens… I suppose more align with how ner buire do, though I am not ready to be them," Mesh paused, licking her lips nervously.

"I want to do this right too because I couldn't fathom losing my best friend. I'm scared to take the next step though… "

Okay now she was the one rambling.

 

[Judah Lesan]

"I am too," he said more confidently than he had when asking her to the festival as his date. "I mean, me just asking what I did, it changed things. We both admitted we think of each other in ways we didn't used to. The last thing I want is to mess this up, which is why I was thinking the festival. It was something we would normally do anyway, and I don't see why anything of what we do together has to change."

Whether he said it right or not, Aden was trying to say they didn't have to stop what they were used to. In all reality, at their age, what they did together with the fishing, the snacks, the swimming, the hunts, the shooting ranges, and the races, it would all be considered something mando'ade who were courting would do together. The touching, kissing, even sex, as some were not traditional in their approcah to courting, didn't have to be something they included for now. When Mesh'la said right, what she really meant was slow, the fact she mentioned she wasn't ready to be like her buire gave it away.

Aden reached over to the tree, and pressed on the compartment they had built into it together. They had a couple of fishing poles hidden in their along with the bait they needed. He handed Mesh'la a pole with a smile. At this point Aden was going to continue with the afternoon and evening like they were good friends, because they were, best friends.

"I promise if this is something you want to explore with me, it won't cost our friendship. I'm afraid if we don't we could lose it too."

He baited his hook and cast the line into the river. The fish should be biting well under the tree, and they would have some fish to cook over an open fire in no time.

"Do you want me to talk to Gra'buir about this? Should I get his permission to court you?"

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Good, then we are of like mind… I look forward to going to the festival with you and very much enjoying ourselves, Aden'ika," she smiled sweetly, then added a bit cautiously after a moment of thought.

"Ner buire will not consider an official courtship offer from you or anyone else until I am sixteen… So until then, we will have to keep our true feelings and nature of our transitioning relationship to ourselves, and our actions appropriate too."

Mesh'la was actually quite relieved when the "feelings" conversation was over with and Aden reached for the fishing poles stashed away in the hidden compartment in their tree. Now they could just get back to being them and doing what they liked to do together.

"So tell me more about your time on the Avril, and how things are going with Stri'buir?" she asked after casting out her fishing line and settling in hopefully for the catch to come.

[member="A'den Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Okay then, so 11 months and 24 days before I can ask," Aden said with a smirk and teasing grin.

They both knew each other's birthdays, and they were relatively close to each other's. In a way it was a relief her buire would not entertain an official courtship until she was sixteen. He would be nervous enough talking to Graad, but more than that, the year would let them explore the idea of courtship without having to worry about it putting pressure on their friendship. It was likely the community who knew them had it pegged the two may make a riduurok at some point, but what Mesh'la had shared took all the pressure off.

Aden took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He wasn't disappointed for the subjecct change, but he was a guy so his brain needed to change from one topic to the next. Everything was not connected in his mind they way a woman's brain worked. His thoughts were very compartmentalized.

"Traveling with the crew is great. I really do miss you a lot when I'm gone, but the group is really like a big family when we're together. I haven't really had that most of my life so that's nice I guess. Stri'buir is, well, Stri'buir, and I'm learning a lot about what it takes to be a good leader from him. Despite his faults, and reputation, the old hound is actually really great."

The answer was general, but Mesh'la usually got him. It was going to take a bit for him brain to catch up and talk to her about what happend on the last job. He knew he would have to explain the shell casing sooner than later. It might be easier to show her, but that would also mean he'd be explaining anyway. She at least knew it meant they got in a fire fight.

"I got to see some pirates up close and personal this time."

He left out the tidbit of his knew scar.

"What about you... what did I miss while I was gone?"

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Well that's good… I'm glad you are finding it a positive experience so far. Makes the time you're away more tolerable knowing you're doing alright in that regard."

Mesh'la hadn't gotten a bite yet so she reeled in her pole and cast it out again into a different area of the slow moving part of the river near a downed log.

"But hearing you had a dust up with pirates worries me… Do promise you'll be careful. Would hate to have you lose something before you get to use it," she quipped lightly with a tinge of heat to her cheeks in after thought. Maybe Aden had already used it. He was a guy after all, and Strider's ad. Mesh'la couldn't even fathom doing that yet, though would by lying if she wasn't a little bit curious. Walls were thin in the farm house…

"Hmm Let's see…. With Mand'alor still missing, the clans have decided to form a council to handle issues concerning the Mando'ade as a whole. Ba'vodu Nolan is representing Aliit Detta as he is Alor now. Ner buire are staying out of all that business. They just want to get back to living a normal life. Gra'buir is enjoying being a vhett full-time, and Buir'ika is back to being a country baar'ur. She really likes working out in the community and treating the whole person. Me too. These last few months of apprenticeship with her have been great."

[member="A'den Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden listened as he watched the bobber on his pole. He was content to let the pole sit until it got a bite, he'd found a pretty deep spot in the river anyway, and knew it was a matter of time before he got a nibble. The tricky thing was knowing when to check it. Many times he'd gotten a bite while reeling it in. His cheeks did get very red when Mesh'la made her comment about the use of something very particular. That was so not fair to go there. He was sixteen, a guy, and sitting next to his best friend who was very pretty, someone he was doing his best to not undress with his eyes right there. Though he would never admit out loud he'd failed that several times over since hormones had kicked in. He swallowed hard, trying ignore the fact his best friend had just gone there, and answered her.

"I'm being careful, believe me I have no plans on dying anytime soon. Stri'buir doesn't let me out on the major fights anyway. We got ambushed is all. A slug grazed my arm for the first time, nothing serious. Felt good being in a fire fight though. Felt like a verd!"

Of course Aden would say that too. He'd been raised to answer Manda'lor's call and fight when needed. Aden had also spent a lot of time training to be a good sniper. He wouldn't have been hit had the attack been planned. Anything planned would have seen him on high ground taking out targets from out of sight. He was quite the marksman now, all thanks to Strider's training.

Aden was disheartened to hear things were being run by a council. From what he understood, that had been done before and failed miserably. It didn't really matter though. Stri'buir retired from the military, and Aden was with him full time. There were other verde, like Mesh'la's buire, who were staying out of it all as well. These were divided days for the Mando'ade. He would have said something, but he got a bite, and rushed to his pole to reel it in.

"My goodness, look at that one. Big enough for the two of us, but you still better catch one cuz I've had nothing but ration bars for the most part the past week. I might eat the whole thing myself."

It was good to be back, and it was good to be with Mesh'la. The two always seemed to pick right back up where they had left off.

"I better get a fire going. It get's darker sooner now anyay, and it will get cold too."

That was Aden's way of saying he didn't plan on taking off before sunset.

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Maybe I should take a look at your wound after we eat, just to make sure it's healing properly. I wouldn't be a good baar'ur, if I didn't at least check it."

Mesh'la was studying to be a Mandalorian medic just like her buir'ika and ba'buir'ika. Medicine came easily for the young blonde, but she more than that too. Mesh was a good shot and tracker, which made her a good little hunter, and fisherwoman it seemed as she reeled in a nice trout to go with Aden's.

The sun was starting to go down in the west and the heat of the fire felt good. The cooking trout smelled good as well especially how Aden prepared them.

"How long is the Avril going to be grounded this time? Perhaps you could give me a tour before you head out again, if that is okay with Stri'buir."

[member="Aden Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aden wasn't sure it was a good idea to let Mesh'la see the wound. For one thing Ydrin, Avril's medic had done a good job with applying the bacta, and bandaging it well so it would not be infected. Secondly, it would require him to take his shirt off on a chilly evening. He didn't doubt Mesh'la's ability to check on the wound, he just didn't really have any good reasons as to why she shouldn't.

"Sure, if you want. Doc said I needed to keep the bandage on until tomorrow, so you if want to look at it, you'll have to redress it."

The blonde medic was great to have around. She could catch fish, track animals on a hunt, her aim was killer, pun intended, and she knew field medicine well. Aden knew she'd be an asset wherever she was, but his mind always went to the fact she'd be great on a crew. Not every medic was good under pressure, but Mesh'la, she was. There were many reasons why Aden liked her as more than a friend, yes he already did, but he wasn't about rush things with her.

Mesh'la hooked a fish shortly after he did. Aden loved that she took care of the hook and fish herself. It made things easier. The compartment they had made in the tree had everything they needed. Obviously this was a regular activity for them. The fish were quickly filleted, seasoned, and put into an oiled cast iron pan. Tonight they were going to be pan fried.

"I can arrange a tour, in fact if you want to look at the wound, the Medbay would be a good place. I'm sure you have your pack, but this way you get to used the Medbay, and I know you'll like it."

He plated the fish, as it never took long to pan fry them. The first plate went to Mesh'la and he took his last. By the time the sun dipped under the horizon, the two were eating. The fire kept them warm, and made thier clothes smell of smoke. That was Aden's favorite part of building the fire. The young verd wished he had more time for camping.

"I don't know when we're leaving next exactly," he finally answered her first question. "We'll be here long enough to repair the engines, and get another job. I think some of the crew wanted a few days planet side anyway. I could always stay here and skip the next job too. I'm sure Strider woukdn't mind."

Aden finished his fish quickly, and set back on his elbows to look up at the night sky. They were far enough away that the lights of Keldabe didn't get in the way of seeing the stars. They were beautiful, even when not traveling them. The look on Aden's face would tell anyone he loved them.

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

[member="Aden Dral"]

"Well tomorrow might be better to look at your wound actually as I don't have the proper supplies or lighting here. Anyways it gives me an official reason to see you too," the blue-eyed blonde winked with a smile behind it.

The fish was done perfectly for her taste as always. Aden was a good over-the-flame cook. Mesh'la would love it if they had enough time to take a quick camping trip, but that was probably not in the cards for the two friends, who were taking things slowly to being more.

After the meal was done and dishes washed in the river, Mesh put them away in the tree compartment, then sat down on the blanket next to Aden with her knees drawn up to her chest and arms hugging them enjoying the warmth of the fire along with his company nearby. He was relaxing back looking up at the stars. She'd never been off Mandalore, and was curious of what it was like… space travel and having adventures amongst the stars.

"So what's it like, traveling in space to different places? What's your favorite destination so far?"

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Because you need an official reason," Aden teased knowing they were getting to the age where her buire might actually put that limit on them.

It was wise for them to slowly transition from friendship to more for that reason as well. Yes he was gone more now that he traveled with Strider, but that could have potential of increasing the temptation for them to do something Aden was positive Graad would shoot him for. He winced as he chuckled, indicating the wound was not healing as well as Aden was convincing himself it was. Just because the Doc out Bacta on it, didn't make it all better. There was still the possibility of an infection setting in when the body was mending, and Aden still had to be careful for that.

He kept his focus on the stars hoping Mesh'la didn't notice. A smile crept on his face when she curiousky asked about the stars. Aden hoped her curiosity would get th better of her one of these days. He'd wanted to ask her to stow away for sometime now, but that hadn't been brought up yet. Aden has to think about it for a bit. All the planets had an appeal, but some more than others.

"Depends what you like I guess. If you like cities well Nar Shaddaa and Denon have their good parts, scenery you go to Naboo, but I haven't been yet. Most of the time is spent on the ship, and that can be interesting. You have to like the people because you spend a lot of time together. Being in the stars though, nothing like it. At the same time, I'm content to be here, like this, looking at them, with you."

Aden wanted the same thing she did. A camping trip would be nice. The bank of the river was good, but another three or four kilometers outside of Keldabe, and the stars would light up the night sky like nothing else. On a clear night like the one they had, the sky would be littered by a smattering of stars.

"You have to come with me one of these days, or if I could talk Stri'buir into it, maybe a quick fly around Manda'yaim, just so you can say you've been out there."

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

"That would be fun, to go with you on an adventure... Well after I turn sixteen, I can do what I want to so something to think about. Until then, we'll just have to make the most of our time together, hmm," she said, flashing a soft, meaningful smile Aden's way as he relaxed next to her on the blanket still gazing about the stars above.

It was getting late. Mesh'la would have to go home soon. So what did two friends, who now were more than just that supposedly, do with the time they had left? That had never been a question before… Was now any different than previous? Maybe… It was all confusing now.

"Would you like a ride back to the Garon Homestead? You can even drive, if you want to," the blonde offered. Mesh's speeder bike could easily accommodate both young Mando'ade, that is if they squeezed together on the single seat. It would be easier if Aden handled the controls while she snuggled him from behind. That scenario would be both practical and allow her to get the feeling of being close to him without being close or pressured to do so.

[member="Aden Dral"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Nothing had to be different in Aden's mind. In fact, as long as he could not "officially" court her as per Mando tradition, they shouldn't really force anything to change. Really, Aden wanted the idea out there because he was of the age where culture would put pressure on him to look for a riduur. He was willing to wait for Mesh'la if she wanted to go that direction with their lives, and she was clearly his first choice. Before his mother passed away, she had always mentioned how she should have married her best friend. Aden had always tucked that away.

The moon was getting a little higher in the sky meaning the night was getting to a point where buire would wonder where their ade were, and what they were up to. That would be a horrible way to start exploring a different kind of relationship. Aden had to show respect for her, and her buire, especially if he wanted Graad's favor and permission for courtship.

"I'd love to drive the speeder bike. OH! I picked an old classic some was going to junk for parts. It needs some work, but I know you'd like it. Maybe while I'm here you can help me fix it up?"

That was his excuse to find more time to spend with her. He wasn't going to tell her no to driving either. First, Aden wanted to drive the bike. He'd been doing enough of that for Strider lately. Second, Mesh'la was going to have her arms around him, and if he was honest, other parts would be pressing against his back as well. The real challenge for Aden was going to be the patience because he knew what he wanted already. The temptation would be to want to move things fast, when for the sake of their friendship, things needed to move at a slower pace.

He got off the blanket, and offered his hand to help the younger female up. Her bike wasn't that far away, but he did have to fold up the blanket so he could get it back with him, or stuff it in the compartment. Aden had a feeling they'd be at the river a lot. It was the only place which was "theirs" to be without anyone really spying on them. If only they could actually pull of a camping trip. Aden got on the bike after after puting everything away, and gripped the handle bars. This was going to be fun.

"Do you have time for a tour when we get back, or will that have to happen tomorrow when you come to look at the scrape?"

Which was more than a scrape, but he didn't want her to worry about it tonight.

[member="Mesh'la Hokan"]

 

[Alleycat]

"You know I'll help you any way I can. I like to tinker a bit. Gra'buir has taught me a thing or two about machinery, well farm machinery that is."

Mesh'la took Aden's offered hand, noticing for the first time how hers fit into his nicely, then she helped him fold the blanket up. It didn't take long and their river site was all put away and they were making for her speeder bike.

"Well that depends on how fast we get there," Mesh quipped with a playful wink, then lifted her leg up and over the seat. The blonde snuggled up behind Aden, wrapping her arms around his mid-section with her rounded chest pressed against the young Mando's back. She wasn't trying to be a tease, though in order for her not to fall off the back when he bolted out of there, Mesh'la did need to hang on tightly.

[member="Aden Dral"]