[SpringsSong]

"I was not joking when I said that he is the reason I am still alive," Xyshari said, looking out towards where he was fine-tuning the bikes. "If he had died then, he wouldn't even be here. Sometimes I find it a miracle that I did not..."

"Ona," Ti called from the terrace. "We're about ready to set off."

"All right, Ina," Xyshari called back. She turned to Lana and held out a similar cap for her saber pike. The Sith scrunched her nose up slightly, but sighed and took the cap from her wife, extending her saber pike and locking it in place with the cap.

"When we were last here, Ti and I did not reveal we were Jedi until we had to. They... do not care for Jedi here," she said.

[SpringsSong]

"So they especially wouldn't care for a Sith... if I can even still consider myself one," Lana said. She frowned as she looked away from Xyshari, and Xyshari knew exactly what her thoughts were.

"There... are people who have eyes as vibrant as yours naturally, ra svet," Xyshari said. Lana offered her a small smile, and nodded.

"I know. They just don't normally have skin as pale as mine," Lana said, chuckling softly. "But I'll still accompany you to town. Perhaps I'll stand guard over the speeder bikes and ensure no one takes our supplies; I've been told I'm quite intimidating."

[SpringsSong]

"Whatever you feel most comfortable with, ra svet," Xyshari said, and the two of them headed out onto the terrace hand-in-hand, Xyshari's pike-staff in her right hand, and Lana's in her left. As they came out onto the terrace, Ti looked up to acknowledge them, a faint flicker of emotion coming across his face but leaving almost as soon. However, Xyshari caught a hint of it still in his eyes.

There is something on your mind, she stated plainly through telepathy, and she could sense his surprise.

I'm glad that you found someone that you love, he replied. Xyshari dipped her head in return.

She found me, she replied.

[SpringsSong]

Regardless of who found whom, she has been good for you, I can tell, Ti said. I was... worried, at first, when I realized you were falling for her.

Yes, I remember your litany of question, Ina, she replied with a grin as she got on her speeder bike. "Who are you and what have you done with my Ona?" Honestly, your question took me off-guard, and I wasn't sure what, specifically, you would be asking me about in that tone.

Knowing the stance you had on Sith before I brought you here the first time, yes, Ti said. But... then I met her.

[SpringsSong]

Does she have your approval? Xyshari asked in a joking tone as they revved the bikes and began to head towards the settlement.

Has she ever made you doubt that she loves you? Ti asked. Have you ever felt like you need to watch your back around her, because you think she might stab you in the back?

Not once, Xyshari replied. ...though there was one time when I wasn't sure who I could trust, but of all my advisors and companions, I knew I could reach out to you, and I knew I could trust her, she said, looking back at Lana and offering a smile. She threw herself in front of a blaster bolt for me - it might have been to stun, but there's no way she could have known.

[SpringsSong]

Then she has my approval, Ti said as they came into town, stopping just outside of it. Xyshari and Ti got off of their speeder bikes and secured them, while Lana got off of hers and moved to a position where she could keep an eye on the bikes, her lower face covered.

"Right," Xyshari said, looking at Ti and offering a nod. He pulled his scarf over his mouth and nose and fitted the rebreather that was hidden within to his mouth, and Xyshari did similarly. She looked at him with a playful gleam in her eyes as she said to him, Remember that time...?

[SpringsSong]

Of course you would remember that time, Ti said. I tried hacking into the system to open the doors and instead ended up flooding the room with a poisonous gas. And then there was that Sith that you'd faced before...

Ugh, yes, the one whose hand I took in our first encounter, Xyshari groaned. I think that was the first time I understood what it was to be the master of a padawan - and what it felt like to need to protect someone.

I think that might've been the first time our bond manifested, Ti admitted. Before I lost consciousness I felt your demeanor shift from calm, like you always were, to concerned. For me.

[SpringsSong]

I think you're right, Xyshari said. I remember leaping over that Sith bastard to place myself in between him and you.

I remember you being over me when I came to, he said. Just like that time I ended up with a concussion.

Ah, I remember that, Xyshari said. I distinctly remember running to your side as soon as the battle ended to check you for notable injuries. I remember thinking--

--"Don't you die on me, Kaya; don't you dare," I remember, Ti said as they came to the first store in the village. Both of them looked to each other and nodded, drawing on the Force around them to sustain their bodies as they removed their rebreathers so that they could speak.

[SpringsSong]

"Figured you'd be by," the man at the back said. "What supplies we were able to gather from your normal order are in this crate. It's not everything, but since you've been such a good help, I tried to set aside what I could."

"Thanks," Ti said, opening the crate to look at the supplies within and make a note of what was and wasn't there. He motioned to Xyshari to look over the crate, and she nodded approvingly.

"Thank you," Xyshari said, offering a small bow of her head. Ti sealed the crate back up and picked it up, carrying it out of the shop and back out to where Lana was waiting.

[SpringsSong]

As soon as they were outside, they got a hold of their rebreathers again and started to breathe through those again. Xyshari looked to Ti briefly, tilting her head in question.

So how many things were missing from the order? she asked.

Not many, actually, Ti replied. A couple of the paper-related items, but we'll be able to manage.

Good, Xyshari replied as they came into view of the speeder bikes. Lana was leaning back against one of them, looking around every few minutes as she stood there. When she saw the two of them approach, she stood up slightly.

Were you successful, my love? Lana asked.

[SpringsSong]

We were, but we still have two more stores to go to for our supplies, Xyshari replied. It shouldn't take us too long. She turned to Ti as she said this last part, and relayed the message to him. It shouldn't take us too long at these last two, right?

Not long at all, no, Ti replied. If I'm worried about any of the stores not having what I requested, it's these two. They're... not quite as willing to put in favors for me as this generous gentleman is.

Yes, but he basically owes us a debt since we saved his ass from Mandos, Xyshari remarked

[SpringsSong]

I suppose that's a story for when we're not out? Lana asked, and Xyshari nodded.

We'll be back, Xyshari said, offering a bow of her head before she and Ti turned away and headed back into the village. They were the only people that were actually out walking at the moment; either they had arrived early, or people were actually staying in their homes unless absolutely necessary.

It feels so... empty, Xyshari said. Almost like Kaeru Cove or the overlook back on Caamas if you knew when to go there to meditate.

And you did, Ti said, chuckling as they came up to the second shop and knocked before entering, removing their rebreathers again.

[SpringsSong]

Honestly, I have to wonder if - towards the end, when I was a Master - whether or not I scared people off just by being there, Xyshari said with a chuckle. My meditations would just as likely turn into me practicing my moves with the pike. I did not get to be a master of Ataru by resting on my laurels.

And we did not get to where we are with Juyo by resting on our laurels, either, Ti said with a chuckle. We should spar when we get home, if you're up to it.

I'm always up to a spar with you, Ina, she said as they approached the shopkeeper, who had already pulled a crate up and placed it on the counter.

[SpringsSong]

Do you think Lana would give us pointers? Ti asked, wordlessly examining the crate. This one was much closer to empty, with only one or two items in it. He looked up at the shopkeeper, who offered a shrug.

"Some things are getting harder to come by, especially with the shipping lanes closing down," the shopkeeper offered. Both Xyshari and Ti glanced at each other and offered imperceptible shakes of their heads; they knew that he wasn't telling the truth, but they also knew better than to accuse.

"It happens. We had to try," Ti said. "Thank you all the same."

[SpringsSong]

As the two of them walked out of the shop, they shook their heads at each other.

He had the items, but he doesn't trust us, Xyshari said. I think he remembers the whole Mandalorian incident and us revealing that we were Jedi.

Well... yeah, lightsabers and very evident Force powers would give us away, Ti said. But I believe that the situation called for it.

Mandalorians are the only other beings I will... condone doing what must be done, Xyshari said. After all, they will kill you if given the chance.

But I heard that you found some that weren't as bad, Ti said.

[Wild Pet Found]