Open Ajan Kloss Early Mornings

[Soren Rel]

Open to any Jedi​

It was still early, the sky only just starting to show the first signs of light. Soren liked to come out here this early to meditate. He sat about ten feet away from the gently flowing river that ran near the Jedi Temple.

He let the sound of flowing water to lull him into a trance. His mind was empty and clear. Soon the temple grounds would be busy, bustling with the traffic of Padawans and their lessons, Knights with the studies and missions, and Masters with the teaching. For now though all was quiet.

There was a time when he hated when his Master would make him get up early, but now the newly Knighted Jedi was beginning to see its allure. He could sense others nearby, which wasn't unusual. He was far from the first Jedi to take up such a practice.

He let them slowly drift away from him and let his mind sink deeper into nothingness.

 

[Nashyr Ris]

One of the first rules to owning a business was to make sure you were awake even before the first morning caf was a dream for the other people sleeping in. She had drilled herself into a strict practice of rising early... plus, the lack of numerous people made it appealing to stretch, and savor the cool humidity before the dawn's rays would turn the sky golden.

She took a deep breath, eyes taking in all that spread before the temple. Not too long ago, she would have shied from going outdoors; too many years stuck behind a bar or in a gym, no fresh air or natural sunlight. But here, everything was so... fresh. Clean, almost.

She had dressed in her standard dark grey leggings, black tank top and survivalists' bag slung over one shoulder, lightsaber clipped to her hip in a holster and palms free. As she began to lightly jog down the temple's steps, her feet barely made any sound. It was only when she reached the edges of the jungle ahead that she began to lengthen her stride, feeling the stretch and warming up as the air filled her lungs and legs powered forward, partially by the Force.

It wasn't unusual to see others this time of morning, but unfamiliar faces were always a curiosity to the Cathar Jedi. In the last few years since she had joined, she had met many unique individuals... and all of them with their own take of what it took to be a Jedi. This morning was no different. She lunged over exposed roots and vaulted over low branches, grinning despite the pounding of her heart and the heat rising as she moved.

She paused some distance away to catch her breath, allured by the sound of running water. It couldn't hurt to cool herself down a little... but who knew who was awake this time of day.

@Raydo

 

[Soren Rel]

Soren had been meditating for sometime when he sensed a presence drawing closer. It was enough to gently pull him from the trance he was in and return him back to consciousness.

The Jedi Knight opened his eyes, the sky starting to show the first hints of deep oranges. He pulled his knees up to his chest and took several deep breaths before standing. "Please don't let the fear of disturbing me keep you from the river." he said while still looking out over the water.

Soren walked several feet to the water's edge and pulled off his boots and rolled up his pant legs before settling back down and easing his legs into the water. The water was cold but it brought clarity to his mind, pushing the last vestiges of sleep away.

The water was crystal clear and it was becoming light enough to see the fish of all colors swimming about back and forth. He felt connected to this place, he could feel the song of the river pulse through him.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She knew there was someone else here, but that close made her almost skid, stopping at the edge of the water. She blinked, golden-green eyes skimming the edge of the jungle bank until she spotted him. Head tilted slightly as she pushed dark hair out of her eyes, lips automatically curled into a smile.

She couldn't help it, she was a social cat. "Oh, I wasn't worried," she commented easily, feeling her heartbeat slow from its' race, as she took in a deep breath. "I just wasn't certain how close you were; I'd hate to disturb a peaceful morning with carelessness."

He was a new face, or at least one she hadn't faced before, that much was certain. She strode towards the bank, shucking off her bag and kneeling down, palms cupping the cold water to splash lightly over her face and neck. It was icy, much to her delight, and she lifted her hand to press its' coolness to the back of her neck, giving the fellow Jedi a sideways glance.

"It's good to see others embracing the morning," she shifted her gaze to the sunrise, still kneeling. "I don't believe we've met before, though." Not the wittiest of morning conversations, but this was pre-caf. Her mental witticisms were yet to show themselves in her talk this morning, but the water was helping.

@Raydo

 

[Soren Rel]

She approached the water and Soren leaned back, leaning on his hands. The stone was cool underneath his palms. "Well, you're not a disturbance at all." he said warmly.

He had never seen her before but that was much of a surprise. "Old Habits I suppose, while a Padawan my Master was pretty insistent on raising early. At the time I hated it, but now, its something I doubt I could stop doing even if I wanted to. Funny things change." he said. "Though it would be a short morning if I tried to run through this jungle in the dark." he said picking up the head lamp and clicking the light on and off.

The sun started to peak over the horizon. The colors of the jungle were bright, Soren could feel it start to come to life. "I don't believe we have. My name is Soren Rel. I have really only just returned to Ajan Kloss. My master kept me away for most of my training, She was a tad obsessed with ruins and old relics." he said with a smile. He remembered her and those times fondly. She had recently passed and with that Soren was promoted to Jedi Knight.

He stretched slightly. "I normally run through some saber maneuver drills once its light. Though I wouldn't mind a sparring partner if you cared to join?" he asked turning to look at her.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She grinned when he remarked she wasn't a disturbance; part of her was tempted to say something smart in return, but she couldn't puzzle out his sense of humor yet. Nor she felt like she could call the guy 'kiddo'; he seemed earnestly serious for someone so young, something the Knight could understand... but made her slightly sad all the same.

Since when were the young allowed to be young in this galaxy, anyways?

Her lips quirked into a smirk, head tilted. "The morning is the perfect time to run; you don't tend to startle many kids on jungle treks with their masters, looking like something of the wilderness yourself." Perhaps in the beginning of dawn, he could understand better; the markings of her fur and the unsettling glow of her eyes was often mistaken by others to be some jungle creature lurking in the shadows until it revealed itself to be the extroverted Cathar.

"I'd love to," she commented, stretching her arms up over her head and relishing the limber sensation of every vertebrae arching, muscles pulling just enough to ease some of the tension once stored in her shoulders.

"I'll admit, there aren't many to spar with who are willing for maneuver drills." She tilted her head towards the temple, her face taking on a slight bit more serious cast. "Practice is something we all need for what's ahead... Ah! But I'm getting ahead of myself." She propped a hand on her hips, eyes sparkling with a faint hint of mischief.

"Nashyr Ris. A pleasure to meet you, Soren."

@Raydo

 

[Soren Rel]

He stood when she agreed and stretched out the stiffness from his meditations. Bones in his back and legs cracked slightly before he made his way back towards the treeline where his stuff was.

Instead of reaching for his lightsaber, he reached for the two wooden staves he kept here for such occasions. Turning back towards the Cathar woman, he tossed one of staves. He nodded as she finally introduced her. "A pleasure." he responded.

Soren spun to staff around for a moment to regain the feel and weight of the weapon. "I normaly pracitce in the clearing over there." he said pointing towards the tree line. "but I could use the practice on the uneven ground." he finished.

The rocky beach sloped down towards the water and was covered in rocks of various sizes that would make footing difficult at best. He left his shoes off and moved off about ten feet. He found a spot of balance and looked up at the woman. "You ready?" he asked.

Once she was, he would slowly advance, careful to place his feet in solid posistions. He had no doubt that he was at a disadvantage in that department, but that was the point. As he drew close he stuck twice with probing attacks towards her upper legs.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

Such a solemn young soul... she wondered at the man. He seemed a good type, dedicated to this way of life, but she wondered if the tradeoff for being in the Order was feeling the weight of the galaxy on your shoulders, and always being weighed down because of it. She knew what she was signing in for... but seeing younger folks be so weighed down tugged at the old cat in a way she wasn't certain she was comfortable with.

When he tossed a stave her way, she hefted it for a second, adjusting to its' weight and heft, her head cocked to the side slightly. Walking barefoot on the rocks could be problematic; the likelihood of slipping and getting injured was pretty high, but she simply shrugged in affirmation, and began to shuck off her own boots instead, savoring the cool damp of the rocks and sand beneath.

He took his position some feet away, and she grinned once in affirmation, stave in her left hand as she placed her feet on more secure flat-topped rocks, knees slightly bent and torso forward. "Ready," she responded, then as he began to shift forward, so would she. When he tapped forwards she would withdraw two steps, back left foot sliding slightly on one slippery rock.

She wobbled, but remained upright, green-gold eyes glinting lambently in the warming sunrise. The second hit he drew forward was barely caught in time by her own, and she attempted to deflect the tip to her left, forcing him to widen his stance and possibly stumble himself if he didn't withdraw fast enough.

This was going to be interesting.

@Raydo