Nya sat cross-legged on the soft grass with her eyes closed and face relaxed as she bathed in the warm rays of Coruscant’s sun. Not half an hour earlier she had taken up her current position and her mind and senses had easily dipped into the peaceful eddies of the Force. Around her, she could sense the presence of several others of her age-group. Most had managed to stay awake, but a few sleeping initiates were dotted across that area of the gardens, some still sitting with their chins on their chests, others leaning on each other, and some simply curled up on the grass. Their meditation instructor, Master Rina, was there as well. She was a calming individual, which was as much to do with her presence in the Force as her lulling and yawn-inspiring voice. The middle aged woman seemed oddly fond of meditating and always volunteered to take the initiates, group after group. Perhaps she got headaches like a lot of the crèche Masters seemed to. Either that or she was sleeping… Realising her concentration had wavered, Nya opened one greenish-blue eye to peek at the master seated a few paces away. Seeing she had not been spotted, she closed her eyes again, straightened her posture, and began re-immersing herself in the Force. No sooner had she done that did she feel something bounce off of her. Opening one eye as she had done earlier, she looked around without moving her head. There was nothing amiss and she soon realised whatever she had felt had been through the Force. The young initiate closed her eyes again, searching as well as she could given her still rudimentary skills in the Force. Seconds later her senses were poked again and her eyes flew open. Immediately her gaze fell on something in the distance. Behind one of Master Quillan’s prized hedges, she could see a small mass of blonde hair, which because it stood on end and came to a point, resembled a flame. “Initiate Malini, is there a problem?” Master Rina said in her slow, calm drawl. Nya’s head jerked back from where she was watching the blonde hair bob along above the hedge, to where the meditation instructor was sitting, still with her eyes closed and a neutral expression. “I’m sorry, Master Rina. I sensed my friend.” Without opening her eyes, the middle aged woman replied, “Excellent. You may go play.” Nya stared at her for a moment. When it was clear the Master was not going to add anything further, like “How dare you interrupt my lesson?!”, Nya hesitantly got to her feet and began weaving her way through her still seated age-mates. When she reached the edge of the group, Nya glanced back over her shoulder, just making sure, before running off to catch up with her friend. “Walking is sufficient, young initiate,” an unknown master said as she ran along the path. Nya immediately dropped her pace to a stroll and the Master nodded approvingly. When she had past the aging master, Nya increased her speed as much as she could without being considered to be running, looking rather uncomfortable (almost like she desperately needed to use the refresher) as she did so. Passing a hedge, a thin, tanned arm reached out and grabbed her, pulling her off the path. “Hey!” Nya cried. “It’s me.” Nya looked up to see the bronzed, dimpled face of her friend. “I’ve been looking all over, Celeste!” “I know, sorry. But we have to be quick!” Celeste’s bright green eyes took on their usual mischievous glint. She peaked around the corner of the hedge as she spoke, making sure no one was around to overhear. “Where are we going?” She was silent for a moment, but when she turned back to Nya, Celeste’s face was agleam with a smile. “I heard that Master Quillan has a snerfus! We can maybe use it in Master Wookiee’s adventures!” she exclaimed. Master Wookiee (one of Nya’s stuffed toys), had the starring role in one of their games, which included his shuttle (one of Kylenn’s model ships), but as of yet, Celest didn’t have a participant of her own, and had been borrowing Nya’s only other doll. They were still in great need of baddy, after all, Master Wookiee had to save the princess from someone. Nya’s greenish blue eyes went wide before she frowned slightly. “What’s a snerfus?” “I don’t know,” Celeste paused in thought, “but it sounds really scary! Let’s go!” With that they raced off through the gardens, not exactly keeping a low profile with their giggles. Minutes later, two heads popped up in one of the windows of Master Quillan’s shed. One with blonde hair that resembled a flame and the other jiggling with brown curls. Their eyes were wide as their noses pressed against the plexi-glass, their breathing fogging up the window and their fingers leaving smudges. “I don’t see anything.” “Me neither,” Celeste replied. “Maybe if one of us goes over to the other window, we’d be able to see behind…that thing.” Her finger pressed on the window, pointing at a bulky, unidentifiable garden tool (at least to their six year old eyes). “Okay, I’ll go.” Nya slowly tilted her head around the corner of the shed and then back the way they came to see if the area was clear, expecting Master Quillan to jump out at any moment. She crept forward warily. Celeste watched the opposite window without blinking, waiting for Nya’s face to appear. The seconds ticked by and she held her breath. Finally, her friend came into view, giving a small wave for reassurance that she hadn’t been attacked on the short trip alone. Celeste pointed inside the shed with a finger, and also kept nodding and ‘pointing’ with her eyes. Nya did as she was bid, but saw nothing out of the ordinary, well apart from some of the tools which looked like they should belong in the infirmary or maybe even those museums that had all kinds of old weaponry. She glanced back to Celeste to shrug that she hadn’t found anything and froze with rounded eyes, momentarily paralysed with terror at what she saw. Nya started waving her hands frantically. Misinterpreting, Celeste pressed her face closer to the plexi-glass, if that were possible, her bright green eyes peering in excitedly for what Nya had discovered. Suddenly, something heavy fell on her shoulder and she squealed. “It’s got me! It’s got me!” Her eyes were open impossibly wide as she jumped from foot to foot, flailing against what was holding her, yelling all the while. Nya raced around the shed, certainly not caring if she was seen and not even looking where she was going. She cried out as she tripped over something metallic, causing it to fall to the ground and without thinking, she picked it up. When she reached the other side, Nya couldn’t even see her friend underneath the mass of brown slime that had enveloped her. Setting her jaw, and scrunching her forehead in effort, she swung at the creature with the object she had picked up. The creature seemed to growl and Nya whimpered slightly in response, swinging the object high over her head, and hitting it again. It growled again, this time, letting go of Celeste and turning around. Seeming to lunge at her, Nya fell back into the Force, almost instinctually, knowing it would protect her if it could. A clang brought her back to the present, just it time to see the creature topple to the ground. Nya turned her attention to the object in her hand, which seemed to be vibrating, realising now that it was a shovel. “Oh,” she said in understanding. Celeste scrambled to her side, staring at the prone form on the ground. “Do you think it’s d-dead?” Nya eyes were wide and her mouth open in disbelief. “I don’t know.” They were both quiet for a moment, standing side by side. Celeste took a deep breath. “You should check.” “Why me?” “Everybody thinks your nice,” Celeste said as if it explained it all, glancing quickly at her friend but returning her eyes to the creature warily. “They do not. Anyway, why does that matter?” Celeste rolled her eyes slightly. “Cause it won’t eat you if it thinks you’re nice.” Nya looked at her uncertainly, but her friend nodded encouragingly, holding out her hand for the shovel. With reluctant hands, she handed it over. “And if it wakes up, I’ll…” She waved the shovel. Nya frowned. “What? What are you doing?” “I’m hit-ting it.” Celeste punctuated the syllables by hitting an imaginary target with the face of the shovel, the heavy tool swaying slightly. “Okay.” Taking a few steps, Nya stopped to crouch down and pick up a twig. She continued on, until she was about a pace away from the creature. After making sure Celeste had joined her and had the shovel ready, she took a deep breathe and held out the twig. Getting it over with, she poked the tall creature with two short jabs in the side and jumped back. The creature didn’t move nor did it make any sound. “You have to do it so it can feel it,” Celeste advised. Nya looked at her as if she were crazy. The other six year old shrugged. “I’m just saying.” Nya searched around the immediately area for a larger stick to use, and quickly picked up one that would do the trick. She nodded to Celeste and they moved back near the creature. Again taking a deep breath, and this time holding it, Nya none too gently jabbed the stick into its side. “Not that hard!” Celeste hissed. Before Nya could respond, they both jumped when the creature groaned. Their plans to use the shovel forgotten, they both screamed and after bumping into each other they simply ran away, as fast as their legs could carry them. Mace Windu was enjoying a leisurely stroll in the gardens when he felt a familiar burst through the Force. He quickly turned around in a full circle, searching for the little girl he knew it had originated from. He didn’t have far to look when two small, grey clad forms barrelled into him. Nya and Celeste screamed again when a steadying hand dropped on each of their shoulders. Nya was the first to emerge from her hysterics, reacting to the calming presence of the stately Jedi. “Calm down, calm down.” Mace looked down into her tear-streaked face. “Is someone trying to hurt you?” “The snerfus!” she cried. He just studied her for a moment, wondering what she was talking about, the possibility that Lucifer Tree Winder bulbs had once again made their way (or were helped) into the temple gardens, crossing his mind. The other young girl in his grasp, who he vaguely recognised as one of Nya’s friends, suddenly started at a noise from a distance. “Urgh!” Down the path, the creature appeared, covered in dirty slime, obscuring its features. Both girls jumped behind him, clinging to his robes, whimpering. Their eyes were transfixed on the creature, though they each wanted to bury their faces in Master Windu’s tunics. In Celest’s case, that was a definite indication that she was scared out of her wits. The creature lumbered closer, grunting and groaning as it swayed unsteadily on its feet. A self-satisfied smile slowly grew on Mace’s features. If the two initiates had not been there, he would have burst out laughing. “Qui-Gon, my friend!” He looked the other master up and down, taking in his mud covered clothing, assuming that his friend had slipped. “How’s the gardening going?” |
 |
| If you have enjoyed this story please consider leaving feedback, no matter how short or long. Many thanks! Add Comment |
| The Snerfus By Imzadi |