Chapter Text
"Jeerota!" (Friend!) Koraw's voice wakes Anakin from his meditation to find the rest of his class has already gone to dinner. Koraw waves a paw in front of Anakin's face once more and he pushes it away, smiling. He slowly unfolds himself from the meditation position and grabs Koraw's paw, dragging him to the communal dining area for dinner.
"Kush are thees." (You are good.) Anakin smiles at his friend's compliment. He is glad to have Koraw at the temple, as everyone in his class is at least four years younger than him. At first, he had felt embarrassed at being put in a class with five year olds, but he has gotten used to them more now. When he was finally moved up to be with people his own age, he felt as if he didn't know them as well. One of them, called Reika, keeps following him around and he isn't sure why.
Arriving at the dining hall, he helps himself to the food. Koraw follows closely behind, looking like an innocent ewok, and Anakin has to stifle a laugh. Looks can be deceiving, as he knows Koraw is a cheeky young ewok. He is secretly learning the ways of the Jedi while sat on the edges of Anakin's classes. Anakin feels the force quite strongly within him, and has appealed to the Masters for Koraw to be allowed to become a proper Jedi, but they said no. They didn't tell him why, but he thinks it's because they think it will distract him from his own training.
After dinner, Anakin and Koraw head back to the dormitory. Anakin turns to Koraw when they are alone in the dormitory.
"Kush are cheeky, Koraw." (You're cheeky, Koraw) Koraw smiles mischievously.
"Meechoo know kash ota use ta force sta." (I know how to use the force now.) He replies. Anakin laughs.
"Kush shouldn't though. Ta Treeta Dobra said kush are not allowed ota ta an official jedi." (You shouldn't, though. The Council decided you aren't allowed to be an official Jedi.)
"Meechoo am strong with ta force, fruk. Ta masters should have let me ta e jedi." (I am strong with the force, brother. The Masters should have let me be a Jedi.) Anakin wishes he could give Koraw a good reason, but he knows it is his fault that they haven't let Koraw train properly. If he had been discovered as force sensitive when he was younger, he wouldn't be so easy to distract and wouldn't have to learn everything so quickly. If he had been trained from a younger age, the Masters might have said that Koraw could train.
"Meechoo am sorry, koraw. Kush should ta able ota learn ta ways of ta force. It ta meechoo fault." (I'm sorry, Koraw. You should be able to learn the ways of the force. It's my fault." Anakin jumps as he realises the rest of his class has been stood behind him for the past few minutes, but he knows they can't understand the two of them, as Koraw taught him to speak ewokese when he was 4.
**********
Reika walks into the dormitory to the sounds of a foreign language being used. She doesn't recognise it, although some words sound familiar or similar to the ones she uses, so she knows it must have evolved from basic. She looks up to see that it's the new boy, Anakin, and his pet ewok, Koraw, who've just been put in her class. She had been confused as to why they had been put in her class when no one had been added since they were 5, but Master Yoda came and personally explained it, so now she understood more. She waves over her shoulder out the door at Kiren, who disappears round the corner to his bed. He's a Miraluka, so he was born without eyes, but he's one of the best Jedi in her class. She looks up to Anakin because he's so good at meditating, which makes him good at keeping peace when he feels like it.
"Kush ta fratta?" She hears Koraw ask, gesturing towards her when they don't think she's looking.
"Fratta ta one of ta girls zeeg meechoo class, Reika." She hears Anakin reply. She recognises 'girl', 'class' and Reika, so guesses Koraw asked who she is. She vows to herself then and there to learn ewokese purely by listening to Koraw and Anakin speak to each other, and by working out what they are saying using the words she knows.
**********
Kiren picks up the crystal and holds it tightly in his hands. He knows that most Jedi lightsaber crystals are green or blue, but colours don't affect him as they do most people, being Miraluka. He doesn't know what colour this one is, so he'll ask Reika when he gets back. However, it had been calling to him, as Master Yoda had said one would, so he'd picked it up. He heads back to the meeting place and finds Reika, Anakin and Koraw are already back. Reika tells him that he has a purple crystal, and he smiles proudly. She also says that it is bigger than usual. Anakin tells him that his crystal is blue, and that Reika has a turquoise one. Through the force, he senses Anakin look round to check something, he assumes. He seems satisfied, however, as he turns back to Kiren and Reika and whispers "Koraw picked one up because he said it was calling to him. He is force sensitive, so I let him have it. It's silver."
"Koraw has e crystal." Koraw yells excitedly. Kiren guesses he didn't think he'd get one because he's not an 'official Jedi', so he must be very happy.
Back on Coruscant, They are shown how to make their lightsabers. Kiren is told by Master Yoda that he will be able to make one with a main blade and two smaller ones on either side if he would like. Reika has a huge crystal and wants to make a double ended lightsaber, but Master Yoda tells her to wait until she is a Padawan to do that.
**********
"Fruk, kush are weewa." (Brother, you're home.) Koraw runs up to Anakin and hugs him. Anakin has been at the temple with the rest of his class, learning how to make their kyber crystals into lightsabers.
"Meechoo am, Koraw. And sta Meechoo am going ota teach kush kash ota make your lightsaber." (I am, Koraw. And now I am going to teach you how to make your lightsaber.) Koraw celebrates excitedly.
"Allayloo!" (Celebrate!) He yells loudly. He grabs his crystal from around his bed post and sits cross- legged in front of Anakin ready for his 'lesson'. "So, kash do Meechoo make it?" (So, how do I make it?) Over the next week, having already meditated with his crystal, Koraw forms his own lightsaber under Anakin's supervision.
"Teeha, fruk." (Thank you, Brother.) He says, picking it up and twirling it proudly in his hand. "Meechoo have meechoo own lightsaber sta. Chak!" (I have my own lightsaber now. Yes!) He dances around the room and Anakin has to calm him down before anyone notices.
"Remember, Koraw, only Reika and Kiren know about your lightsaber. Do not tell anyone else." Koraw nods seriously, looking really mature and then gets on the bed and starts jumping on it aggressively.
"Allayloo!" He repeats, swinging his lightsaber round. He never thought he was going to get his own lightsaber, as the council wouldn't let him become an official Jedi. Anakin has to confiscate it before Koraw breaks something and tells him that he will teach him in his free time.
"Chak!"
The next time Anakin is free, he takes Koraw to the training area and gives him back his lightsaber.
He finds one of the droids that shoots lasers and turns it on.
"Kush will start without ta helmet, otherwise kush will end up with only one arm." Anakin says, guiding Koraw's arms into position. He turns the droid on and watches as he blocks each laser beam as it comes, shouting tips every now and then.
Just then, Master Yoda walks through the door.
"Going on here, what is, hmm?" He asks, obviously knowing exactly what's happening.
"I was teaching Koraw how to use a lightsaber, Master Yoda." Anakin says. He knows Yoda won't get mad, but he might be disappointed and that's worse.
"Lightsaber, how does Koraw have, hmmm?" Master Yoda asks.
"He had a calling from a crystal on Ilum, so I let him have it. I told you he should have been a Jedi." Anakin replies defiantly, protecting Koraw. "He's been secretly learning when he's been sat in on my lessons, so he's now a strong Jedi."
"Yet, he is not." Yoda says. "Been through the trials, he has not. He is not to become a Jedi. It is not his destiny." Yoda turns and walks back out of the room, leaving Anakin and Koraw in peace.
**********
Reika is jealous that Anakin got to become a Padawan so quickly. She knows that the Council didn't want Anakin to have a Master, but it was Master Qui-Gon's dying wish according to Obi- Wan, so the council allowed it. She stands nervously next to Kiren, waiting to find out if she has been assigned a master.
Master Yoda walks through the door, followed by about 10 masters. This makes Reika more nervous, as there are 20 students and only 10 masters. Master Yoda reads a list of people who haven't been assigned masters, and they turn around and walk out dejectedly. Reika breathes a sign of relief and inwardly celebrates. She has been given a Master. Now to find out who it is.
She and Kiren are the last two on the list that Master Yoda reads out, matching masters to Padawans.
"Kiren, your Master is Master Dula." Kiren walks calmly up to the Twi'lek stood on the side, his lightsaber safely in the hilt of his belt, and Reika watches as they introduce themselves. She looks around and her face drops as she notices there are no masters left. Master Yoda turns to her, and beckons her through the door.
"Reika Kosokhan, your master in the Temple now is not, but waiting we are, as she requested you specifically. Master Wepreu your master will be." Reika smiles. Master Wepreu has always favoured her when she's been assigned to teach the younger Jedis. She had been hoping that she would get her as her master. "Have apartment 1331 you will, next to Kiren and Master Aawer'dula and Anakin and Master Obi- Wan." Reika inwardly celebrates and bows and thanks Master Yoda before running off to find her friends.
"Anakin! Kiren! Koraw! We're all next to each other." She yells excitedly. She can tell everyone else is just as excited, especially as Koraw yells, "Allayloo!" really loudly. Over the 3 years she has known him, she has learnt quite a lot of Ewokese and knows that to mean 'celebrate'.
**********
"Saalia! Come here now!" The master yells. 'What have I done wrong now?' She wonders. Then she remembers. She forgot to light the fire this morning before she washed the dishes. She walks quickly to the master, knowing that he will pull her if she doesn't turn up fast enough. She turns the corner, coming face to face with the master. "Why did you not light the fire this morning? You know I get cold easily." Her face fails to mask her terror, as she has seen what he can do. "Well?" He shouts threateningly. "Answer me!" She raises her head slowly until she makes eye contact.
"I- I'm sorry, m- master." She stammers. She curses inwardly. She knows he hates stammering, but she can't seem to help it. "I f- forgot to before I w- washed the d- dishes." He glares at her.
"You forgot to, 'ey?" He laughs. "Well, what if I 'forget' to feed you, or 'forget' to give you access to the lavatory? What then?" Her fear increases, and she answers carefully.
"I'm very, very sorry, master. It won't happen again." The master rolls his eyes.
"You said that last time, slave. And you'll say it the next. You need to learn." He grabs the chain wrapped tightly round her wrist and pulls her along behind him. She tries to keep up, but ends up stumbling and being dragged behind the master on the floor. She doesn't recognise where she is being taken, so it can't be anywhere near the slave's quarters or the rooms she works in.
Arriving at their destination, wherever it is, the master chucks Saalia into the corner of the room. He keeps hold of the chain, though, and tells her "You will have a collar around your neck from now on. You will stay here until you can learn your place." He slams the door and the key clicks in the lock, before Saalia hears his footsteps retreating down the hallway.
The next day, the master comes back to attach her collar. She shakes her head quickly before he attaches it, knowing it will restrict her movement. He brings it around her neck, and she notices it has spikes on the inside, so she has to keep her neck absolutely straight. She screams as he pulls one side of the spikes into her neck so that he can tie it together and watches as the master's face twists into an evil smile.
"Maybe it will make you prettier as well." He says. He walks out and she collapses in pain, too tired to do anything, even move onto the blanket. She looks at the door hopefully and stays that way until she falls asleep.
**********
"Padawan! Rise and shine." Stariso yanks open the curtains and Reika turns her back on them. She is not a morning person. "We're meditating today. You need to learn patience. Having watched you over the years, I know that it was a great feat for you to be able to meditate with your kyber crystal and, if you want to make the other end of your lightsaber, as you have told me many times, you will need to have patience." Reika groans and tries to pull the covers over her head, not really worried about developing patience yet, but Stariso is one step ahead, and yanks them off her before she can stop her. "Come on, Reika. Aren't you excited about your first day as a Padawan?" 'Great', Reika thinks, 'trying to guilt trip me. Well, it worked.' She hauls herself slowly out of bed and chucks on the first outfit she finds.
"Will you help me make my lightsaber, Master?" She looks at Stariso with doggy eyes, and she laughs.
"I'll help you if you can prove you have the patience to meditate with that crystal for twice as long as you did the first one. That doesn't mean you'll actually have to, only that you have to prove you could." Stariso's accent is something Reika hadn't heard before she met her but, over the years, she's gotten used to it. Reika groans again, spinning her lightsaber hilt absent-mindedly in her hand.
"Fine," she groans, but smiles at her master. "I'll show you." She says aggressively, a look of defiance entering her eyes. She grabs Stariso's robes and pulls her out the door, locking it quickly, before carrying on to the training room.
She sits down opposite Stariso and starts trying to shut off the world around her, failing miserably the first few times. All she wants to do is get up and do something more active, but she's determined to prove to her that she can meditate for a long period of time.
**********
Kiren knocks on the wall three times, their signal to let each other know that their master is out. As soon as he finishes, Reika rushes through the door looking flustered.
"Hi, Kiren. I don't have very long, because Stariso and I are going to the council meeting in an hour. Something about a drone seen watching the temple's activity, I think." She pauses for breath and Kiren takes the opportunity to interrupt her before she carries on.
"Anakin hasn't arrived yet, so I guess he's with Obi- Wan." Reika nods and opens her mouth to speak, so Kiren continues quickly.
"I'm going to the meeting too, Reika. You don't need to babble on about it." He says teasingly, punching her lightly on the arm.
They spend the next hour teasing each other and playing hide and seek round Kiren's apartment, until Aawer and Master Wepreu walk through the door.
"Kiren, Reika, the meeting is in five minutes. We need to get ready. Reika, come back to our apartment, please." Master Wepreu says reprovingly.
Reika gets up from lounging on the sofa and rushes to the door, tidying her robe as she goes.
**********
"Dangerous this is, I fear." Yoda says worryingly. The Council sit in a circle in the top most room of the south western tower of the temple.
"I think we should send someone on a mission to find out who was controlling it." Mace says, bringing Reika out of her daydream. Maybe she'll get to go on the mission with Stariso.
"Perilous, it will be. Need to be well-trained whoever takes this on will. Yessss." Yoda replies.
After what seems like ages, it's decided that Reika will get her wish, and will try and find out who controlled the drone. However, that's not the best bit. They also decide that Kiren and Master Dula will go too.
Back in their apartments, Reika and Kiren have a conversation of knocks through the wall.
'I can't believe we get to go on our first missions together. It's so exciting." Reika smiles.
'I know. What were the chances?'
'Like, none. Actually, there probably was quite a high chance.' Kiren replies teasingly. 'We're both new Padawans and our Masters are really good friends.'
'True. Well, I've got to go. See you ready for tomorrow.'