[SpringsSong]

Lana. Xyshari.
Akails.

Lana and Xyshari had barely wanted to believe that the color was starting to return to the world, especially when they were in the proximity of these two strange creatures that they had acquired from the scientist in Desuna. The scientist had suggested that they take the Akails out into the areas that still had no color, to see what they could do in terms of "healing" the world around them.

Lana had seen the crestfallen look in Xyshari's almost-black eyes when they awoke and realized that the Akails were not on their bed, as they had been the night before. She knew that Xyshari was taking the loss of color hard, but once they found the Akails, both of them seemed to rest easier.

[SpringsSong]

The Akails were, as any "new" creature to the world would be, curious about their surroundings. Xyshari and Lana watched them play for a little while, and then, Lana looked to Xyshari with a small smile.

"Why don't we take them out to that area where we found those hot springs? Where we found the color of your armor?" she asked. Xyshari perked up some, and she nodded as she offered a genuine smile to Lana.

"I'd like that," she said. "That area was pretty... and maybe we can learn more about the Akail while we're out there. At least, I think that's what that scientist in Desuna said they were called."

[SpringsSong]

"That is what she called them, yes," Lana said, humming softly. She knew Xyshari hated it when she said it, but she loved when her wife genuinely smiled. So often, if felt like she put on fake smiles for the people she was required to be around - showing them a brave front, showing them that, no matter what they faced in the galaxy, they could take it on so long as they believed...

And then, in private, she would often collapse to her knees and sob. Not just cry, but sob. She knew that many people died because she sent them to one place or another. She knew that people were looking to her, and that oftentimes, people would curse at her and blame her for their loved one's deaths.

[SpringsSong]

When they arrived in Idalani, the two Akails tilted their heads as they looked around, their helms catching the light of the sun and scattering light all around them. The darker purple one chattered excitedly, as though she (he? it? Neither Lana nor Xyshari, despite being a beast master, had any idea what gender markers these Akail had) recognized the place that they were at. It turned its head to its companion, and crouched low to the ground, its rump wiggling slightly before it reared up on its hind legs and lunged forward, tapping its companion on the shoulder before running off.

"Stars," Lana chuckled, barely loud enough for Xyshari to hear. "They're playing."

[SpringsSong]

Xyshari watched as the light purple one stood up straight, shaking its head and making a snuffling sound, like it was confused. However, as the other one retreated, the other gave chase, and Xyshari couldn't help but chuckle softly as she moved closer to her wife.

"They're playing tag," she said. "They don't know that anything's wrong with the world, or that they're supposed to help fix it. They're just... babies in this world," she said, sighing as she lowered her head. "You'd think with all of the creatures, large and small, I helped in my time as a beast master, that this wouldn't... be so hard for me."

[SpringsSong]

"You never were a Sith, my love," Lana said. "Though, somehow, I feel like you would be a more pragmatic and empathetic Sith. Regardless, you cared about all of the creatures you cared for - and that is not a weakness. You helped them in ways that only you could, and I'm sure that, if they could talk, they would thank you."

"I'm sure they would, too," Xyshari said. "Our goal was always supposed to be rehabilitation. They were supposed to go back to the wilds where they came from," she said. "But some... some were never going to be rehabilitated. They were brought in as babies - life in the sanctuary is all that they knew."

[SpringsSong]

Both Lana and Xyshari looked up as they heard screeches from the Akail, but they both breathed sighs of relief when they saw that they were still just playing, and one had tackled the other. Lana placed a hand on Xyshari's arm, offering a soft smile.

"And I'm sure that you raised those specific creatures to the best of your ability, making sure that they were comfortable and well-cared for," she said. "Now, why don't we see if we can get any closer to these Akail and see if we can observe anything that might be... drawn to them, as the scientist thinks there might be?" she asked.

[SpringsSong]

"All right," Xyshari said, looking over at the two. It would be several minutes before she would speak again, and when she did, Lana could hear the tears in her voice. "I don't think we should name them yet. We don't know if the scientist will want them back... and I don't want to get attached to them, just to have to send them back."

"That came out of nowhere," Lana mused. "But I understand the sentiment. The minute you name something, you start forming a bond with it. Until we know for sure that they're going to be staying, and not taken back..."

Again, the two Akail let out screeches at each other. Lana reached out towards her wife, whose hand had instinctively flown to her saber.

[SpringsSong]

"I'm not sure that's part of their playing," Xyshari said, almost glaring right into Lana. "I can sense something out there... something that's not natural," she said.

"Well, the scientist did mention that these Akail should be able to draw out some... strange creatures," Lana said. "We should wait and see what happens, and then intervene if we need to. But, until then... you need to relax, my love," she said, placing a hand on the side of her face and turning her head towards her. Xyshari sighed as she looked down, first, and then towards her wife.

"I know I need to relax, ra tikaya," she said. "But sometimes..."

[SpringsSong]

"Sometimes it feels like you can't," Lana said. "I... felt something similar. Theron could tell you more than one story about how I was wound tighter than a durasteel spring during the five years you were missing..."

"I'm sure he could," Xyshari said. "How many times did he say that you needed to just sit down and take a load off?"

"More than a few," Lana said. "He also heavily implied I should sample some of the local liquor to help me relax," she said, looking over at the Akail again. Both had stopped wrestling, and were staring off into the distance, the color on their tendrils pulsing slightly as they stared, ears perked towards whatever sound they might have picked up.

[Pet Found]