[SpringsSong]

The next thing Lana felt was her body being literally knit back together.

The sensation was not a pleasant one - Xyshari had had a literal hole in her stomach, and things were falling out of it. It was, frankly, a miracle that she had even survived that long, but she did not have long to be saved. Slowly, the blackness faded as Xyshari came to, dimly realizing that a Miraluka clothed in black and white was working frantically to save her. Somewhere in the distance, her former Padawan lay on the ground, unconscious and with some burn wounds. Her current Padawan, a Cathar like her, stood worrying over her.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

As she sat up, the Miraluka collapsed. She had expended too much in healing Xyshari, who was now working frantically to save her. Every ounce of her own Force, she devoted to saving this other woman, until finally, she turned her attention to Xyshari and acknowledged that she had stabilized.

That was when Lana felt the closest thing to true anger that Xyshari had ever felt.

"Despite what I told Loq, I had accepted that it might have been my time. I was ready to go if it was my time," Xyshari said sorrowfully. "But... she planted my feet back in the waking world, and almost at the cost of her own life."

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"I had a friend come and improve the security of my embassy," she continued. "But I did not remain long. Certain... events," she said, and Lana could see another Cathar - female, with black fur - questioning a male Cathar at a settlement on Taris before he leapt towards Xyshari, only to be intercepted by the Padawan and stabbed in the chest, but not before hearing the male say, My master will come for you, to Xyshari, "...caused me to reevaluate my position. I asked the Council for permission to seek out this Sith and deal with him before anyone else was hurt."

Lana felt another palpable wave of rage and indignation wash over Xyshari as she shifted her gaze pointedly over what appeared to be the council.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

There was a pale woman with white hair and silver eyes, a fair-skinned woman with dark hair and gold eyes, a bronze-skinned woman with amber eyes, and a Cathar. Lana didn't need to guess who it was; he was the only one looking at Xyshari with any amount of sympathy. Suddenly, fast enough to give her whiplash, Xyshari had whirled around and stormed out of the council chamber, barely stopping to snatch back her lightsaber from the Council Guard at the door.

"I heard," a warm, familiar voice said. "They're not letting you go."

"They're not stopping me, Ti," Xyshari replied as she looked over her shoulder, noticing that the male Cathar from the council chamber was following her. "I'm going to find him anyways."

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

Xyshari explained this to the older male Cathar in private. To her surprise, he told her that he would go with her. However, when Ti asked her if he could come along with her, Xyshari had told him sorrowfully that, while she wanted him to, the order still needed him. She began to train him to take her place - that of the First Warden - and encouraged him to pick a successor.

Passing on her mantle to him - technically for the second time - had felt like a knife in Xyshari's heart. However, she knew she was leaving the wardens she had helped shape in capable hands.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

Distantly, Lana felt Xyshari's hands drop from hers. In her mind, however, she saw her departure from Kashyyyk, her hunt across the galaxy, and finally, her separation from her master.

"Are... you sure you want to see this part?" Xyshari asked Lana. "I... do not mind. It is a memory that I have relived over and over again... I've become almost numb to it."

"If you're sure..." Lana said.

And as soon as she said that, Lana felt a painful jolt rip through her, as though she had been hit with Force Lightning. She felt Xyshari stop, look around, and begin to move forward.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

After a few steps, the sensation happened again, only this time, it lasted longer. It was also punctuated by a constriction of her throat - Lana didn't need to guess what it was; she had felt Force Choke on more than one occasion, though she was loathe to admit it. For the next several minutes, there would be alternating between lightning and choking, and it would be punctuated with a searing pain in her chest.

"I felt his death," Xyshari said. "I was unconscious for... days. A week or more, all told, was what the chronometer in my astromech indicated," she said. "I finally hunted him to Yavin, and killed him... but almost died myself. Ti rescued me."

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"He felt your distress," Lana ventured.

"Yes," Xyshari said. "We rested, recovered... and then we got thrown right back into the fray," she said. "It would be another decade before... we met."

The vision faded, and the connection receded. Lana panted heavily as she fell forward, sweat gathering on her forehead. Xyshari frowned, rubbing her wife's back gently.

"I did warn you that it would be a lot to take in," she said with a soft smile. She could feel Lana scoff, and then chuckle.

"Now I understand why almost nothing phases you unless you're truly terrified," Lana said. "You've been through so much..."

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"Terror isn't the only thing that phases me," Xyshari said, pulling at Lana's shoulder gently and cupping her face. Lana would meet Xyshari's eyes, and she noticed that Xyshari met her eyes, too - something that Xyshari had emphasized was typically reserved for challenges.

However, in Xyshari's eyes, she saw only kindness, tenderness, and love.

Once more, Xyshari leaned in to brush her lips against Lana's. Lana met the gesture eagerly, kissing Xyshari with a hunger that she could feel over their bond. Xyshari would hold Lana close, deliberately taking her time, despite the hunger she felt from Lana.

"Patience," she crooned. "We've waited this long, I want to make it last."

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"You. Are. Impossible," Lana growled out telepathically, pressing a little harder as she wrestled for control. However, the Cathar remained steadfast as she smirked within the kiss, a soft purr emanating from her.

"So you keep telling me," Xyshari replied smugly. "And yet, you still love me."

"Undoubtedly, unequivocally, unabashedly, yes," Lana murmured within the kiss. "But I started this. Let me take the lead again."

"My, my, you aren't feeling very patient tonight," Xyshari mused, leaning back slightly as Lana pressed against her, one hand sliding down Xyshari's stomach to rest in between her legs, palming her insistently. She would offer a low growl.

"And you're wearing too much armor," Lana growled, and she caught Xyshari's lower lip between her teeth.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"Well, why don't you fix that," Xyshari teased, nipping back in a playful manner. She could feel the Force swirl around Lana, and she felt it swirling around her armor.

"If you want it intact, I suggest you reconsider that statement," Lana said coolly. "As you observed, I'm not exactly feeling very patient."

"Mm. But to do that, we'd have to stop kissing long enough for us to both shed our armor," Xyshari pointed out, making no move to push Lana away so that she could remove her armor. "And you are wearing plenty still yourself, my love," she added, running her hands down Lana's arms to her sides, and then to her hips.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"Damn you and your ability to keep a level head," Lana said, finally breaking the kiss. "I know I've said it already, but you're impossible."

"I know," Xyshari replied, her voice thin as she fumbled at buckles. Lana's own outfit was shed much quicker, but she didn't have as many buckles to deal with as her outfit was mainly clothing, and not literal armor. Finally, Lana leaned forward to help Xyshari undo the rest of the buckles, speeding the process along.

As Lana undid another buckle or two, Xyshari's hand went to her upper arm, resting on a rather nasty scar that had mostly healed, but was still visible.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

"Defending me when I was still disoriented from my carbonite prison," Xyshari murmured softly, pressing her forehead to Lana's. Lana would slow slightly, and she felt Xyshari's hand wander to a spot between her breasts where a nasty burn scar remained, and spidered out onto her chest.

"...leaping in front of me when Theron..."

"Hush, love," Lana said. "Yes, I have scars from those, still. But I see you every day, and I remember why I got them. Why I risked my life and put myself in harm's way."

In silence, Lana finished undoing the buckles that held Xyshari's armor together, and she set the pieces off to the side as she pushed her down against the bed roll.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

With a reverence that she seemed not to care about a moment before, Lana gently ran her thumb over Xyshari's lip. Xyshari shuddered beneath her, and Lana leaned forward to kiss her. The kiss was soft, gentle - completely opposite of the tone that she had had just moments before.

"You just wanted to get me naked," Xyshari said as Lana pulled away.  Lana smirked, but didn't give a response as she practically dove forward, kissing her passionately and roughly.

Xyshari gave a muffled cry of surprise, but she yielded beneath her wife, moaning into the kiss as she reached up, knitting her hands into her hair. Lana shuddered as she felt her wife's fur against her bare skin, moaning in return.

[ 3BPs awarded ]

[SpringsSong]

Time both seemed to blur and stand still around them when they were in this state. It had never ceased to amaze Xyshari how Lana could be both tender and demanding; in control one moment, yielding to her the next. When they had stolen away on Yavin 4 before being thrown into new roles by their respective superiors, their encounter had been rushed and desperate. Both of them, somewhere deep inside, had hoped that "getting it out" would put it to rest and allow them to go back to their lives as though nothing had happened.

Oh, how wrong they had been.

[ 3BPs awarded ]