Ask Master and Apprentice

[Novaron Rah]

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The blue tunnel of hyperspace dissipated, bringing the Nightshade into orbit around the swamp world that had been indicated by Wurfuhlla… And Nova could not have been more thrilled. For days, he had been pestered by question after question of the overly ambitious young Wookie and while his desire for knowledge was indeed admirable, the Cathar Knight felt like his head was about to implode.

”Please… No. More. Questions,” Nova growled, exhaustion evident in his tone. Of course, it was inevitable that more would soon follow considering their fresh arrival. Twon Ketee slowly spun against the darkness of space, a thick haze of cloud covering much of the planet’s surface from orbital view. Nova had never visited the world before in his travels, never had the need. Much of his time had been spent searching for Force Sensitive sentients who were willing to dedicate their lives to the Order. To his knowledge, no one made this world their home. Far too dangerous given the naturally occurring fauna on it’s surface. At least, too dangerous to your average person and perhaps a good many Jedi. Nova, however, was looking forward to this visit. If nothing else but to put some distance between him and the eager young Padawan sat behind him.

Bringing the Nightshade below the cloud line, the swamps and trees of Twon Ketee became evident. As did the smell, leaking in through the fighter’s air scrubbers. It didn’t matter how many swamp worlds someone visited, the unique smells were something very few could ever become accustomed too.

As the cockpit slid open, Nova peeled the helmet from his mane and shook his head to have his fur pull away from his ears before jumping to the soft, muddy soil below.

”Twon Ketee, boy. The world from your visions, yes?” Nova asked Wurfuhlla as he surveyed the area. The cries of many creatures could be heard in the distance, but more powerful still was the sheer amount of Force Energy that emanated from the planet's very core. ”Lead the way,”

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Wurfuhlla had took in the very sight of the planets surface. He looked around and listened carefully. The sounds of the wildlife on Twon Ketee had the same sounds he heard in his head. This had to be it. Nothing else had this sound. Once he realized this was the place he knelt down to meditate and search for the energy from the crystal calling to him. He felt many different things from warmth, to coldness, to darkness, so sadness. He couldn’t make it out. He knew he had to focus on just one thing at a time. And then he heard it. Like the sound of something shining. He knew exactly what it was.

“This way” he said as he walked towards a large tree beside a body of water. “It’s in a cave under there.” He looked to Nova and then back down to the water. “I hope you can swim” Wurfuhlla said as he ran to the water and jumped in the air diving into the water. He waited for the Cathar knowing he wait for a long time thanks to the size of his lungs.

 

[Novaron Rah]

Nova observed silently as the Wookie made his way from the fighter, watching as Wurfuhlla took in all the sights, sounds, and… smells? Nova was impressed that it had not so much as sparked even an inkling of a reaction from the boy. Then again, the depths of Kashyyyk’s Shadowlands could have a very potent odor themselves. Perhaps he was simply more accustomed to it than the Knight was.

As the Padawan closed his eyes, immersing himself in the Force, Nova too allowed his own consciousness to follow the currents to where ever they may lead. While the crystal they were here in search of was not speaking to him, the planet, its creatures, these were things that Nova had spent many years trying to understand and communicate with. Much as he had instructed the young Padawan Isen to do back on Yavin in the weeks past, the Cathar was soon lost in the tug and pull of life and death of Twon Ketee. And there was much of it.

“It’s in a cave under there,”

The words broke Nova from his meditation, returning him to the here and now. As Wurfuhlla pointed downward to a cesspool of swamp water, Nova’s lips curled back in disgust. He was no stranger to walking through such stagnant collections of moisture, having done so with his last student, though he was still not a fan of fully submerging himself. Even in the cleanest of oceans. Swimming, water in general, were not his forte.

”Ooof course it is,” Nova grumbled to himself as he strode towards the now already drenched Wookie. To top it off, now both of them were going to be returning to the Nightshade smelling of soaking fur. It would take days to get that stench out of the fabric…

Unlike Wurfuhlla, the Cathar slowly advanced into the water, keeping his hands raised as he did to delay the inevitable as long as possible. By the time the murky fluids had reached chest level, he drew in a large breathe and pulled himself under entirely…

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Wurfuhlla had seen the Nova entering the water and swam close to 25 meters under water and into what looked to be the cave he had seen before. Except in his visions it was dry. And full of air. When he swam toward it he noticed that there was what seemed to be an air pocket. Once he made it to pocket he immediately fell to solid ground. He looked up and realized it’s exactly what he had seen before.

“This- This is it. This is what I saw!” Wurfuhlla was amazed by how it was exactly the same. Every small detail. “The force. Is. Awesome!” He stood up and looked back to see the Knight he knew to be his master. As he waited he shook his body hard enough to knock off excess water and he started looking around at what he see from the illumination the water gave. He could see a lot but knew that this was the place to be. Once his master made it he looked at him and said “We’re not too far away I think. Also water is not a good look for you.”

 

[Novaron Rah]

With the rebreather firmly placed in between his lips, Nova plunged deeper and deeper into the dark water. His sight was drastically impaired in the sludge of Twon Ketee, instead forcing the Jedi to reach out with the Force and guide his movements. Moving his arms and legs in unison, strides of great length to try and accelerate through the water as fast as possible, he sensed the Wookie take a turn upwards into what could only be the entrance to the cave he had seen in his visions. ”Finally!” Nova thought to himself. They may have only been submerged for a short time, but it was already far too long.

Surfacing, Nova scrambled to the edge of the cave’s approach and pulled himself to dry land. Or rather, what passed for dry land in the subterranean chasm. Removing the rebreather, the Cathar wiped the water from his face with one of his giant paws only in time for Wurfuhlla’s wild shake to soak him once more.

“Water is not a good look for you,”

Turning to face the Wookie, a disgruntled expression plastered across his dripping face, the Cathar let off a low growl.

”You don’t say…” Despite his frustration with the situation as a whole, Nova could sense it too. This cave was very in tune with the Force. The boy was right. There was something here. Proceeding carefully, the Jedi pulled his saber from his belt and ignited the blue blade to light their way. The cavern walls were covered in both moss and vines, small puddles spotting the pathway as the route extended deeper and deeper into the planet’s surface.

”We should proceed with caution, boy,” Nova stated, emotionless but with an air of authority to his words. He could sense the child’s eagerness and worried he may try to run ahead with little to no thought of what may lay before them. ”Patience will serve us both well here. Tell me, is this anything like what you had seen on your homeworld?” Nova had been to Kashyyyk a handful of times in his life, both before and after joining the Order. Though his experiences prior to being opened up to the Force could be compared to walking through paradise after being blinded. Now was an opportunity to see just how in tune Wurfuhlla was with the Force in such a place.

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

The cave we intense. And had such a vibrant flow of the force within it. The pair began walking down the path after Nova ignited his blade, blue flowed through the caves corridors. Wurfuhlla had admired the look of the reflections the light gave off.

“Patience will serve us both well here. Tell me, is this anything like what you had seen on your homeworld?”

Wurfuhlla knew of caves in Kashyyk but he hadn’t felt a presence of the force this strong. At least not anywhere besides the great tree.
“Yes but not this strong. The great tree had such vibrant energy but, this. This is different.”

The young Wurfuhlla had continued beside his master. Looking for any confirmation on the place of the crystal. But then he heard something. It sounded like a shreek or maybe even roar in the distance of the caves. “Did you hear that?” Wurfuhlla began to feel a slight bit of fear arise but he wouldn’t let Nova see.
The two came across a fork in pathways. One paths on the left, one on the right. The strongest senses of the force were to the right but to the left they could hear the shreek again. “I think if we go left we die” let out the young Wookiee. “I say right is right in this situation.”

 

[Novaron Rah]

Walking along the crag path of the cave, Nova nodded to indicate he understood his words. The Great Tree of Kashyyyk, he’d seen it once on his many trips to the Wookie homeworld. Still a Padawan learner himself at the time, he remembered listening to the tribe’s Chieftain explain it’s history to his Master and himself. While he was still unsure of any sort of ethereal purpose to the tree, it was clear that it had significant historical meaning to the people of Kashyyyk and it was not his place to question it to the Padawan.

Coming to a stop at a fork in the path, the cries of an unidentified creature echoed around them from somewhere ahead. Wurfuhlla did his best to hide the fear and anxiety of the cries but the Cathar could still sense the emotions of the Padawan.

”Oh you do, do you?” Nova responded plainly, staring down the path to the left. Neither of them had been here before, nor did they know the lay out of the cave. It was entirely possible that the sounds had reverberated down both tunnels, the vibrations simply being thrown to one side of their position, misleading them from it’s source. ”Your eyes, your ears… They can deceive you,” Reaching out with the Force, the Cathar could feel the strong pull to take the path to the right. Wurfuhlla was correct in his assessment, they needed to go right… But there were other lessons to be taught in this cavern, he felt. Danger lay to the path on their left. But so did a chance to show the Padawan what could come from not following his intuition. Peril was a magnificent teacher in Nova’s mind.

”Let us just see what lay this way,” Nova spoke as he took a few steps ahead of the Wookie, leading the way. Once he knew Wurfuhlla would not see his face, the black lips of the Cathar curled up in a snide smirk. He knew it was a reckless teaching method but everything he knew, he learned from first hand scenarios. Some things needed to be experienced to be taught.

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

This was frightening to the Wookiee. Not only was it that the path chosen was towards what seemed to be danger but his master seemed to insist on it. Wurfuhlla had begun to second guess how he felt about being a Jedi. The only thing Wurfuhlla knew he could do was follow and believe the force will be his protector.

“Alright. This isn’t frightening at all. What do you think is down there? Is it evil? Does eat Wookiee? How big is it?” The Wookiee bombarded his master with questions in whispers. He knew how much the Jedi hated hearing so many questions but he felt a little more at ease speaking so much. As if he was using it as a way to not think about what’s down the path they’re walking. He could hear the growls and roars growing louder as they got closer. His fur seemed to start standing as he felt his body tremble.

“Let’s hope they aren’t hungry” Wurfuhlla said. But it was almost a stutter. He couldn’t see his masters face but he felt more life forces down the path. The Wookiee knew there were beings straight ahead.

 

[Novaron Rah]

The curiosity of a child is supposed to be something that is accepted and molded by their elders to groom the young one into a wise and knowledgeable adult. Nova just wanted them to stop. Fear was dictating Wurfuhlla’s actions and what the youngling didn’t seem to know or had failed to realize is that it was this exact fear that had the potential to bring about exactly what he dreaded most.

”Silence, boy,” Nova growled at the Padawan, not turning back to face him but continuing down the pathway with his saber held ahead, illuminating their way. ”Your voice may carry further than you realize and whatever lay ahead may just as well sense the fear rolling off of you as easily as I do now. Gather your wits and steel your nerves. For your own sake,” he added, a distinct tone of irritation ringing with each word.

Coming to a stop as the pathway dropped off into a large chamber, Nova retracted his blade. Moon light filtered into the cave from the higher levels, revealing a group of four ball-like creatures with long lengths of tentacles as they slowly rolled around amongst one another. Motioning for Wurfuhlla to come to his side, Nova then placed his index finger to his lips to indicate his silence was crucial.

”Rathtars,” the Cathar whispered as he remained crouched, dozens of feet above the carnivorous beasts. Calling upon the Force to conceal themselves from the native creatures, Nova turned to look at the young Wookie. ”Your fear could easily spur them to action. As a Jedi, you must learn to conquer your anxieties or threats such as these will find you easy prey,”

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Silently Wurfuhlla nodded. He knew his master was right. He knew he had to be strong and not think about the fearfulness, but to be able to be fearless. He crouched down with his master looking over the edge and seeing the monsters he felt the presence of. They were a frightening sight but Wurfuhlla wasn’t thinking about that. Instead he put his mind in a place of actions. Such how to defeat or what their weaknesses were.

“How do we beat them?” The Wookiee whispered. “Mind tricks are great but I don’t think these things think.” He had never seen them before, just assumed they were mindless carnivorous beasts. He knew if something were to happen that his master would have to deal with the majority of the fight, so he wanted to be as quiet and strong as his master needed. He noticed he suddenly wasn’t scared any longer, he was calmer knowing that he had his master with him. That they would protect each other. Or at least he hoped.

 

[Novaron Rah]

Nova turned to face the Padawan, his words causing one of the Cathar’s eyebrows to raise with concern. It was normal for young members of the Order to not consider all the options that lay before them, of course. It was also true that Wurfuhlla had openly admitted that combat was his preferred form of lessons. Nova understood that better than most, having been drawn to learning ways to defend himself since he was a young boy as well.

”Beat them?” he replied seriously, quietly. ”Beat them why? They’ve presented us no threat yet, have they? Or were you planning on jumping off this ledge towards near certain death?” Nova would then move backwards, remaining crouch and at the edge of the tunnel but motioning with his right hand towards the Rathtar below.

”Be my guest, if you wish,” he continued. ”I’m confident in assuming they’ve yet to taste a Wookie,” The Cathar knew he was being sharp with the boy but there was a lesson here he wished to teach him. First, however, he wanted to see his reaction.

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Wurfuhlla felt it deep within himself that he knew the rathtars hadn’t wronged them in any way just yet. Although they are dangerous and would probably attack them, the beasts were just living and existing. Wurfuhlla had much to learn about what’s right and wrong. That’s why he is on his journey and titled Padawan Learner. “I suppose you’re right. So what do we do now? There’s no possible way we can make it through them unharmed. I’m big and full of meat, I bet I taste good and I would like to not become an entree.” There was slight bit of annoyance in his tone toward the end but he immediately followed by saying “I just don’t want to die.”

The Wookiee took another look at the beasts before turning back with his master. He wanted an experience but now that he got what he wished for he is wanting it to be over. Safety was definitely playing a factor in this situation. Right when he started thinking to himself he felt that same surge of force presence within the caves. And he heard the calling of the crystal. Within the calling he could hear “Patience is the path to prosperity” Wurfuhlla immediately turned to his master “Did you hear that?” He wasn’t sure what to make of it but he heard it as if it were in his own head. The Wookiee wanted to be sure of what he heard.

 

[Novaron Rah]

Nova smirked as the Wookie insisted that he simply wanted to survive. Of course he did. It was only natural to consider self-preservation above all things but it also was counter-intuitive to what it meant to be a Jedi. The Cathar had no intention on bringing them any closer to the Rathtar than he already had, however. They were in no danger so long as they kept their distance and remained quiet.

When Wurfuhlla asked him if he had heard anything, Nova simply shook his head that he had not. The Force was strong here, as strong as any world he had visited that had not been touched by war. He could sense a great many things on this world’s surface but it paled in comparison to what the Padawan would be feeling. His crystal was here, beckoning for him to come and locate it.

”The Force speaks to us in many ways, boy. It’s influence affects those who hear it’s call and interpretation lies with the listener. To some, it could be felt as a cool breeze on the plains of Dantooine. To others, the whispered words of a higher power settling in your ears. How the message reaches you does not matter. It’s what you do with what you’ve been told that decides who you are, who you will become,” Nova straightened his back and leaned on the wall behind him, watching the Rathtar in the distance.

”What is it you heard?” he asked of the Wookie, watching the instinctual beasts below with cautious interest.

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Listening to the wise Cathar before him, he nodded showing he was listening. Wurfuhlla found inspiration in Novas words. “Yes master Nova” the Wookiee had let out. And when asked what he heard he answered with “Well it was a distinctive voice of sorts. I had never heard it before. A male voice. He said to me “Patience is the path to prosperity” and I only wish to understand further. The force is quite interesting the way it works.” The Wookiee truly was confused as always, but knew the statement was quite a phrase.

The Wookiee sat on the ground, and leaned against the wall across from Nova. He closed his eyes and tried to reach out to the presence that spoke to him but he couldn’t feel it any longer. He could only sense the crystals strong energy. “I can’t feel it anymore, I was hoping to get a clear answer.”

@Tulos

 

[Novaron Rah]

Evaluating Wurfuhlla’s words as he recited the phrase spoken to him through the Force, Nova closed his eyes. He was no Master but it was clear to him what it was that the Wookie was being told. If he was going to claim his crystal, he needed to slow down. He was excited, and understandably so, but if he rushed through the cavern then he ran the chances of endangering them both or even possibly missing the crystal entirely. The hunt for one’s kyber crystal was often a trial of sorts. It seemed this was his.

”You’ve already gotten your answer, boy. You are only failing to recognize it,” Turning to face the Wookie, Nova stared at him devoid of emotion. ”You will go on ahead alone. Be that back the way we came or finding a new path to take is your choice. I will remain here and keep on eye on these creatures. But the choices that are made in this cavern must be yours alone. I can not make them for you,”

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Wurfuhlla was frightened at the thought. Not only is he going to be on his own, he’s going to have to trust himself. This is trial, yes. But he believes it’s a trial against himself. He decided what he must do and how he’ll do it. He stood up and looked at his master and had agreed.

“Yes master. I will be back.” Then the Wookiee had walked back the way they came. He was following the signals of the force. He felt it stronger and stranger as he made it back to the fork. He went the path the pair had ignored at first. As soon as he went down the path he could feel the feel pulsing through him. He hear the crystal calling. Speaking to himself he lets out a mutter “Where are you?” He knelt to the ground and closed his eyes and connected to the force. Once he had done so felt it pulling him slightly in one direction. Wurfuhlla followed it in hopes it’s leading him the right way. After a long walk down a straight bridge, Laren felt it growing stronger. This has to be it. He looked around the giant room of which he had just entered. A large pillar in the center with something shining upon the top of it. But it looked to be surrounded with floating rocks.

Although the site of this was quite mesmerizing for Wurfuhlla he had felt the strong sensation of the force with the room. “This must be my trial.” Wurfuhlla had wanted to rush in jumping from rock to rock, but as soon as he tried the second rock moved. This caused Wurfhalla to fall to the ground. The Wookiee was confused as to why it had moved. He tried again and again and again. The same outcomes had came every time he rushed it. “What am I doing wrong!?” He wanted to be mad but he was rather confused.

As much as he wanted to quit he knew he was missing something. He sat in thought for a moment and the phrase he had heard through the force went through his head again. The key word was the first of the phrase, Patience. The Wookiee was reluctant try to do what he thought was the answer but he walked forward with any rushing. He didn’t anticipate anything. He let his mind go and started up the rocks. As he casually leaped from rock to rock he made it further and further up. After a while of moving up he had finally made it to the top. There was a stand with a fist sized rock and he could see what looked to be a rather large crystal inside it. “That will be one large saber I guess.” He used the force to lift it and bring it to his hand. He used the force to broke the rock off of the crystal. Oh wait a minute.. Wurfuhlla had either broke his crystal or it was two within the rock. He had looked at the two crystals and noticed there wasn’t any significant breaks on either one. “I was called upon by two crystals. That’s really cool.” He had examined them. They looked to be white and without color. The Wookiee was curious as to why they were white but nonetheless glad he had finally found them. The only thing left to do was to turn back and speak with his master.

@Tulos

 

[Novaron Rah]

As he sat upon the ledge, legs outstretched the width of the tunnel, Nova observed the four Rathtar below. Still they had not noticed him nor had he noticed the amount of time that had passed. Watching the beasts, primal and naïve, the Cathar began to feel at peace. It was moments like these that drove the Jedi to explore the edges of both known space and the mysterious stretches beyond borders. There was a connection to the wild animals of the galaxy that he felt, one he could not quite explain. Ever since his Master had found him aboard the ravaged freighter along the Rimma trade route, ever since he was awoken to the Force.

Nova’s mind began to wander as he reminisced of his old Master. Donishiva, a historian to the last. The image of the old man’s face began to form behind the Cathar’s closed eyes. He could still remember every crease, every wrinkle, ever strand of whispy white hair. But what he would remember most fondly was the tired yet caring smile the old Jedi Knight displayed. Time and time again, the pair would arrive on some back water world far from the sights of the galaxy at large. At times, to seek new members of the Order. Others, to explore ruins of ancient civilizations that worshipped the Force in one form or another. Being here on Twon Ketee reminded the Cathar of one such journey. A trip to the sinister world of Dathomir.

While their landscapes were vastly different, the tugging sensations of darkness felt much the same here as they did on the crimson planet. But the Nightsister clan, they drew such an intrigue from the old Jedi that he cared not of the sinister influence. And it was there that Nova had first discovered his capabilities with touching the soul of wild beasts, meshing his own energies with theirs and establishing a bond that transcended the physical world.

”Don’t allow yourself to become lost in your own mind, my Apprentice,”

The words perked Nova from his near meditation. He looked around, expecting to see Wurfuhlla but soon discovered himself to still be alone. Puzzled by what he heard, the Cathar closed his eyes once more and reached out with the Force, searching for… Someone? Something? Anything.

”Be present, Apprentice,”

Growling, Nova opened his eyes once more. How he hated it when the Force played games with his mind. Looking back to the Rathtar, however, he soon realized that the voice was speaking to him for a reason. Where once there was four of the beasts… Now there were only three. One of them was missing.

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Wurfuhlla finally finishing his task at hand, he hopped rock to rock back down to the solid ground. He was ready to finally show his master what he had accomplished with the forces advice. The Wookiee began walking forward down the tunnel the had led him to the crystals. But something felt off, he felt a presence close by but it wasn’t that of his master’s.

Turning around he saw a rathtar at the end of the tunnel. The Wookiee’s eyes widened as he looked at the giant beast. “This can’t be happening.” Wurfuhlla was doing his best not to be scared but that’s all he knew he was at this point. “Time to go” after his muttered statement he turned around and began dashing forward hoping the rathtar wouldn’t follow but of course it did. “MASTER!!!” The Wookiee yelled as he was being chased down by a rathtar. “HELP ME!” The young padawan begged. He came across his master after running for dear life. “One of those things is chasing me!” He let out to his master. Turning around he had seen the monster looking at him and started moving forward. “What should we do?”

@Tulos

 

[Novaron Rah]

Searching for the young Wookie or even the missing Rathtar, Nova found himself dominated by a deafening sense of concern. He had brought the boy here, after all. In time, he would have had to come of his own accord to claim the crystal that called to him but he was in the Knight’s charge and as such, was his responsibility.

Fortune was on his side, however, when the Wookie child came crying from further down the tunnel as Nova had arrived at the fork they had previously encountered. Fear dominated Wurfuhlla, and rightfully so, but Nova was well equipped for such an occurrence. Having the Padawan back at his side, he was able to ease his worry.

”Behind me, boy!” Nova barked at the Wookie, likely coming across far more stern than was necessary but it did not matter to him in the moment. The screeching of the agitated Rathtar began to grow closer. Closing his eyes, the Knight could feel it’s presence. He could feel it’s energies. It’s instinctual cravings. Finally, the beast arrived at the mouth of the tunnel as it’s razor sharp teeth and waving appendages were put on terrifying display. Still, Nova did not move.

Slowly, his right hand began to rise, out stretched with an open palm towards the creature. He could no longer hear the ravenous screams of the Rathtar nor the fearful cries of Wurfuhlla. Instead, he felt at absolute peace. He could feel the Rathtar’s anger and through the Force, touched it with his own serenity. It began to subside to nothing and as he finally opened his eyes, he saw the creature laying on the cavern floor in a stunned state. But for how long, he did not know.

”Slowly, boy. Make our way back to the water,” Nova turned to the young Wookie and grabbed him by the shoulder, looking down into his eyes with a glare of grave intent. ”Slowly,” They did not need to chance waking up this creature or attracting the attention of it’s pack…

@Scoobert

 

[Wurfuhlla]

Although the Wookiee was still uneasy about the rathtar. He decided his master was right. Wurfuhlla knew that times as such were definitely times for silence. So he knew he should be quiet and decided speaking would be too loud especially with the voice of a Wookiee. Turning to see his masters gaze on him he looked his master in the eyes and nodded. The understanding between the master and apprentice was clearer than ever.

Wurfuhlla began lightly walking towards the water they had came from. As he walked he looked down at the crystals he had collected. He was happy he had finally taking this step to achieving his own personal goal. The only thing left is to construct a lightsaber, but what would he make it out of? He has plenty of wood and of course constructs at the temple. He was ready for this task to be completed. “Master how did you construct your lightsaber?” The Wookiee was ready to take the words of wisdom and do the best he can.

@Tulos