Force Sprites: Calling the Force

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Day One...


Jacali was excited, it was the first day of classes with the young. She and fellow Jedi Knight Falcon Gyndar would be heading the meditation class.

Her leg brace clicked noisily as she entered the classroom, she was the first to arrive.

Jacali looked about the classroom and sighed deeply, this was going to be quite interesting to say the least. Getting the children to settle down and meditate, five-year-olds were always full of energy, but nonetheless it would happen.

But, for now she awaited her teaching partner and the children...

[Vista Alor]

Vista yawns and then stretches as she makes her way to her meditation class. She'd had a blast in the previous class, but her normal youthful energy was gone. But give it a bit of time and it'll come back. That's for sure.

As she enters the room behind Jacali, she gets an impish grin on her face before running up behind Jacali and jumping onto her back, wrapping her arms around her as best as possible.

[Falcon Gyndar]

"Good morning..."

Falcon entered the area in time to see Vista jumping on Jacali...

"Umm.. Miss Danner...You have a..um.m...." He laughed. "....on your ahh, back."

Falcon moved towards them, going to pick Vista off her back.

"Come down from there, Vista...If you're going to attack anyone, you should attack me."

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali was nearly ready to topple over for a second until she was able to regain her balance. "Heya, lil' one." She beamed as Falcon entered.

The newly appointed Jedi Knight was kinda glad that Falcon had taken her off, she was afraid that her leg might give out and the two of them would topple to the floor in a heap. Possibly, hurting Vista in the process.

"Thanks, Falcon." She smiled as she turned and faced her young attacker with a bright smile. "Are you ready for your next lesson, Vista?"

[Falcon Gyndar]

Falcon placed Vista on the floor.

"With that much energy, i'd say she's quite ready." He indicated with a laugh. "We just have to wait for the other ones to arrive now."

[Valora Ashen]

Valora pokes her head in the room. The 4 year old girl is still a little shy around people she doesn't really know, which is understandable, since she spent the 1.5 years of her life as a slave, before her mother Neyasha and her mother's master, Wei saved her from spending the rest of her life as a slave.

"Is this the place for the next kids class? I don't know where it is."

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali smiled as she saw Valora at the door. "Hi there!" She said gently. "Yes, it is. Come on in. I'm Jedi Knight Jacali Danner and this is Jedi Knight Falcon Gyndar, we'll be your teachers for this session."

[Vista Alor]

Vista smiles as Falcon takes her off of Jacali's back and says that she should attack him instead. When she's put on the ground, she sits on Falcon's right foot, grabbing onto his leg.

"I'm ready for class."

[Valora Ashen]

Valora says ...

"Hi I'm Valora."

She then walks into the room and takes a seet in the back corner waiting for the class to start.

[Valanya Belargic]

Despite her enthusiasm, Valanya was finding herself last to arrive for most every lesson.

“Hello, Masters,” she said, as she hurried herself into the room, patting down her windswept hair and smoothing out her robes.

[Vista Alor]

Vista grips Falcon's leg a bit tighter since she doesn't want to let go yet, despite the fact that she could curl up for a short nap right now.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet is last to show up, still with the bursting energy he had in Kack's class, but he seems to be winding down. He did good last time, and he can do good this time, in this new class. He's going to make his mommy so proud.

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter Kincaid wondered in silently, her eyes were wide as she nodded towards the others and quickly took a seat. The youngling didn't speak with her tongue, but through the Force.

[Falcon Gyndar]

Falcon looked down at Vista.

"Go sit with the others, Vista. Class will start soon."

..Then he looked to Hunter, watching her until she saw that his eyes were on her. Then he 'spoke'.

Hello, little one. What's your name?

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter Kincaid, Sir. She never moved her lips, but the voice she used in the Force was very strong.

[Vista Alor]

Vista pouts as she lets go of Falcon and sits with the other Kids.

[Kwiet Ideya]

The back of Kwiet's neck is prickling, in much the same way it did when he had his impromptu illusions lesson with Akrabbim.

"Hey, what are you guys up to!?"

This is directed more at Falcon than Hunter, though he's eyeballing the girl suspiciously.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali could hear the telepathic conversation and was very impressed to say the least that the child could 'speak' so well.

She gave them alll a kind smile and waited for Falcon to ease Hunter and Kwiet.

[Vista Alor]

Vista looks at Kwiet and frowns slightly before going to speak to Kwiet.

"Calm down Kwiet. You're not being harmed here."

Vista says, thought she unknowingly uses the Force, for the First time in class, to get Kwiet to settle down. The Force adds a bit of power to her words to give a compulsion to do as he is directed.

[Valanya Belargic]

Valanya had started to play with the belt on her robes, in absence of anything else happening – she had a short attention span.

[Trent Zellan]

"Ma, I know where I'm goin', I can go by myself."

With all the exasperation that an eight-year-old could muster, Trent Zellan hurried away from his mother towards the group. He'd been at his fathers and, as per usual, Abby'd been late in picking him up.

With a hop, skip, and a jump Trent joined the others, a placid smile on his mischievious face.

[Falcon Gyndar]

Falcon looks fully upon Kwiet.

"We're talking, Kwiet. Telepathy."

And quickly, his eyes move over to Trent, who has just arrived.

"Hello, young Mister Zellan. Nice of you to join us..."

[Trent Zellan]

"Yeah."

Trent grinned toothily and gave the Knight a cheery thumbs up sign. He glanced at the little girl playing with her robes and looked at his own striped t-shirt and flight pants. He pointed at Valanya.

"Wow, you look like a real Jedi!"

[Valanya Belargic]

"I am a real Jedi!" Valanya beamed-toothily at Trent. :D

[Trent Zellan]

"Really?!"

Trent looked at the girl inquisitively. He put his hands on his hips and tilted his head, looking at her sideways.

"You're a really small Jedi..."

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali saw that all the students were now here and accounted for. With a slight wave of her hand and a small telekinetic pull, the door to the classroom closed and latched.

"Alrighty, shall we begin?" She smiled at her new students. "I'm Jedi Knight Jacali Danner and this is Jedi Knight Falcon Gyndar. We are going to teach you the basics of mediatating."

She stepped over to a pile of small mats. "Now, I'd like everyone to grab a mat and chose a comfortable spot and have a seat on it."

[Vista Alor]

Vista gets up, runs over to the pile of mats and picks one up. She then walks over to another spot, places it on the ground and sits back down.

"What's meditation?"

[Valora Ashen]

Valora gets up, grabs a mat, and goes back to the corner she was sitting in.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet gets his and drags it over, sitting down on it with his chin in his hands.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali smiled as the pupils one by one, got their mats. "Meditation is a way of thinking deeply, pondering on one's thoughts. For a Jedi, it's a way of reaching deep within yourself to that place of peace and calm. We're going to show you how to go about doing that. It's kinda hard at first, but as you grow and flourish in the Force, it will become easier."

[Hunter Kincaid]

The little girl listened carefully as she grabbed her mat and took a seat near the front of the room. Mama needs mediate...she no calm all time....

[Valanya Belargic]

Valanya tugged her mat into an empty spot and sat down, cross-legged, on it. She remembered seeing her uncle meditating, so closed her eyes tightly and began to make a low ‘ummmmmm’.

[Vista Alor]

Vista starts to laugh as she hears Valanya start to make a low ‘ummmmmm’ sound.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet sighs irritably. These girls have done little other than grind his nerves since he met them. Trent's kinda cool, but not really. He looks back at Jacali after having given his peers a short staring-down.

"What next?"

[Vista Alor]

Vista sticks her tongue out at Kwiet before turning her attention back to Jacali after getting her giggles under control.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali goes and grabs her own mat and sets it down in the middle of all of them. She sits down and crosses her legs as best as her brace will allow. "Alright, let's all begin. Place your hands loosely on your knees and close your eyes. Now, take a deep, calming breath and relax."

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter has seen this several times while she was away with her dad, she imitates what Jacali is doing.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora unroles her mat, and copies Jacali in the way she is sitting, and keeps her mind calm.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet sits in the same position, but he looks too tense. His back and arms are stiff, though he's doing pretty good at taking deep breaths.

[Vista Alor]

Vista sits down cross legged on her mat, mimicing Jacaili's postion. She then starts taking deep breaths, but after a couple, she bursts out into laughter.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora looks over at Vista when she starts to laugh, and starts to laugh as well.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali opens her eyes and smiles as she slowly gets to her feet. "Alright, alright, I agree this isn't the most intriguing class in the world. But, it is very important to learn how to do this. Let's talk about this for a bit. Everyone scoot closer, or better yet let's all get into a circle, I can see you all better that way."

She waits while the children get into a circle and then continues. "Does anyone know why it is so important for a Jedi to meditate?"

[Vista Alor]

Vista gets herself seated next Jacali and when she asks the question, her hand scoots into the air.

"It's impotent cause it helps us to be calm and do things right."

[imported_Jacali Danner]

"Yes, very good." Jacali nods. "Okay, so when is a good time for us to meditate?"

[Kwiet Ideya]

"In the morning or at night," Kwiet answers, nodding once as he mumbles it. He's tired, yes, but he won't be outdone by his brat-like female peers. "To prepare for the day or unwind from our activities."

Meditation is to Jedi as prayer is Abel. Abel told him once that those are good times to pray for those same reasons. He equates meditation with a form of prayer, and thusly lumps them both together with the same rhyme and reason.

[Valanya Belargic]

Shifting a little closer to Jacali, Valanya offered, “And when you are feeling bad… because it makes you calmer.”

[Hunter Kincaid]

My daddy did it if he was tiord.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali smiled at them all. "Yes, very good. Excellent answers, all of you. Also, meditation is very healthy."

She stood. "Meditation will in turn also offer you better balance, greater understanding and inner peace."

Jacali walked around them slowly on the outside of the circle. "In this class you will learn a simple, powerful meditation method useful for anytime. Seconds, hours any time frame you chose and..."

She pointed a finger upwards to make a point. "You learn how to use it under stressful times. Does anyone know what I mean, by stressful times?"

[Kwiet Ideya]

"Dealing with difficult people," Kwiet mutters, shooting a pointed look at every girl in the class.

[Vista Alor]

Vista shoots her hand into the air.

"Stwessful is when you get into a situation where there are those that do things that cause you stwess. It be ppl or objects or things which happen.

It can also be when something nice is happening cause it's a change and any change, good oh bad, bwings stwess."

Vista may be a child, but she does know things which normally a child her physical age wouldn't.

[Valora Ashen]

"When you get put in a cage and eletrocuted is stressfull."

Valora shutters at the thought of what the bad man did to her to get here mommy to talk to him.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali nodded at Kwiet, "yes, Kwiet. Dealing with difficult people can be very stressfull."

She looked at Vista next. "Yes, all that can cause stress, you are very right."

Jacali felt a wave of emotion come from Valora and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze to show that she cared. "That would be very stressful, Valora."

She paused for a moment. "Alright, now that we've discovered why meditation is important, let's go to different meditation styles. Meaning, how each of you feel the most comfortable going into a meditative state.

There is no competition in this and there is no right or wrong way to find your own personal style. Some methods will just be different than others. That's all. Your choice of style maybe cross-legged or in a garden or standing in the sun.

What I want to make sure you all understand is, that this is your personal style and it's how you'll best find your own way to relax. There are many paths up the same mountain, it's just finding the path that is right for you. Don't worry if you can't find that right pose today, we've got a while to learn."

Jacali smiled. "Alright, let's begin. All I want you to do is to find a meditative pose that you are comfortable with and see if you can remain in that pose for...let's say five minutes." Before she let them go, she added. "Now, remember there are others in this class so let's all be respectful to each other and be quiet, so everyone can test out some poses.

You'll have the entire training room to work with, mats if you'd like, or if you'd like to sit on top of a desk or whatever, just no stunts. I don't want to take anyone to the med bay for stitches or something of that sort.

I'll be walking around the room, if anyone needs help. Are there any questions before we start?"

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter waited to see if anyone asked any questions first as she began to glance around the room to find a spot that she wanted to go to.

[Vista Alor]

Vista starts looking around the room for a spot to plop down. She preferrably wants one where she can hide herself from the rest of the class. From when she talked with her Mommy about things like this, she was told privacy is the key to it all.

She stands up, grabs the mat she was sitting on and moves it over to a corner of the room and places on it's side against the two walls where it stays. A smile dances across her face as she moves the mat again so she can get in there and places the mat back. She then sits down on the floor and out of sight of everybody else.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet goes to the opposite corner, squatting down with a sigh. No one's gonna bug him over here. He puts the tips of his fingers together, turning his hands over so his thumbs are by his bellybutton. The boy sighs and tries to focus. The teacher says this will make all his Force abilities stronger. He won't fail in this.

[Valanya Belargic]

Valanya pulled a mat of her own into an empty space and flopped down onto it. She lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, before closing her eyes and trying to concentrate on… nothing in particular, like the teacher had said.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali smiles at the children as they all begin to move about and go different places. They are doing very well so far and she's very proud of them for doing as she says.

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter decided she was going to sit on top of a table with her legs crossed. She yawns and closes her eyes.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora lies on the floor, then rolls over, then sits up, then lies back down on her back, and falls asleep since it is around her nap time.

[Kwiet Ideya]

Kwiet sighs again. His head is nodding, but he's trying hard to stay awake. All he has to do is be like this for five minutes. Seeing as he used to sit like this for hours back with Abel, it won't be a problem. But...meditating, she said. He wants to try and get ahead if possible. How would he meditate? Would he focus on something? Would he focus on nothing? What would his mom say?

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali walked around the room, pleased with the outcome so far, she nudged Valora awake with a smile.

In a quiet voice, she began again. "Alright, now that you are all unwound and quiet. Let's center on your breathing slowly in and out. In and out."

She waited for a few moments and then continued in the same gentle tone. "Now, let's go into our minds and think of a happy time, one where you were relaxed and everything was pleasant. Don't talk about it, just think it."

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter imagined being with her daddy, her brother Ry-Obi, Auntie Nat or Papaw 'Esser. She always had good times when she was with them. She loved them all.

Her mommy didn't fit into the picture, her mommy wasn't fun all she did was leave her alone all night and sleep all day.

[Kwiet Ideya]

That's easy. Abel had him do it when he prayed. He takes a slow, deep breath, and exhales slowly. Finding a happy moment is easy, too. The face of his mother appears vividly in his mind. She makes him happy. His world practically revolves around her. She is perfect in his eyes, she is divine, and for her, he will do anything. His body begins to relax. Yes...every second spent with his mother is happy. That is what he clings to as he sits in that corner.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora wakes up as she was nudged... She listens to the instructions, then goes to act...

Her thoughs go to her father, mother, and her twin. How they were so happy together. She thinks about all the fun they had. But then her thoughts go bad as her mind wanders to how she will never see her daddy, or her twin brother again because they were killed by the bad men that took her from her mommy.

When these thoughts come to mind Valora starts to cry..

[Valanya Belargic]

Valanya thinks of a time when her mommy and daddy had been sitting with her, eating ice cream. She can’t help but grin – until her stomach starts to rumble, what with thinking about ice cream and all.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Jacali, being on the other side of the room, hurries over to Valora. "What's the matter, Sweetie?" She asked kindly as she kneels down by her in an awkward fashion.

[Vista Alor]

Vista sits quietly in her little corner which she's cordened off from the rest of the room. Her thoughts go to her Mommy and how happy they were and all the neat places she got to see while travelling. Her thoughts focus on her Mommy's smile and laughter, on all the fun they had together. Those were fun times and good as well.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora looks up at Jacali...

"I was thinking bout all da fun stuff my mommy, daddy, twin, an me had. Then I remember how I saw my Daddy and twin cut to peices by the bad man that took me from my mommy. I remember that I never have fun with my daddy an twin ever again!"

Valora continues to cry...

[imported_Jacali Danner]

"Oh, sweetheart."Jacali says and gives the child a comforting hug. "But, we must'nt think that way. You should always remember the good times and not dwell on the bad. It's those bad times that can become very harmful to a Jedi, do you understand?"

[Valora Ashen]

Valora hugs Jacali back, but continues to cry...

"But It's soooo hard not to remember what happend to my daddy an twin!"

[Hunter Kincaid]

Hunter opens her eyes to see Valora crying and doesn't really understand why, but stays quiet with no mental disruption.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

"I know, sweetie. But, try and remember the good times. Let's not think about bad times, alright?" It was more than obvious, the child had been through a lot and getting her past some things so she could move on was all part of being a teacher.

"Remember meditaiton is to help one get past stressful times, not create them, Valora."

[Valora Ashen]

Valora takes a few deep breath and stops crying after a few moments...

"I trying... But I not doing too well. I suck." Valora says looking ashamed of herself.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

"It takes time and it takes practice. You're doing a great job, everyone here is. You're not going to learn it all in one day. That's why I'm here to help you along." Jacali smiled.

[Vista Alor]

Vista pays absoultely no attention to what is going on between Valora and Jacali. Her thoughts have actually drifted from her Mommy and into other things, like being a Jedi. Her eyes are closed, and she's actually slipping into a proper meditation to relax both mind and body. She almost feels like she can feel the Force flowing through the room.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora looks up at her teacher...

"How I not remember da bad stuff? please help me wit dat..."

[imported_Jacali Danner]

The child was suffering with restlessness, it was common. "Alright, Valora, let's work on this. First, I want you to go back to your breathing, focus on that. Center once again on your breathing. Slowly, in and out."

As she worked with Valora, Jacali reached out to all the other children. Is everyone doing alright with the exercise? Remember just remain focused.

[Valora Ashen]

Valora nods, and goes back to focusing on her breathing, and is doing well at that point.

[imported_Jacali Danner]

"Good job, Valora. You're doing excellent."

[Valora Ashen]

"Now what." Valora asks

[imported_Jacali Danner]

Creative Visualization. This was the next step that little Valora needed to get to and learn to get past in order for her to reach forgiveness. The child was fighting it with a passion.

Jacali took a seat on the floor in the middle of all the children. She spoke to all of them, kindly and gently. "You must go easy on yourselves, this is very important in all centering practices, because you aren't going to do this perfectly. You must learn to forgive your scattered attention as it shows itself time and time again."

She paused and let the room go back into it's quietness.

In nearly a whisper, she continued. "If your mind keeps wondering, just remember. Ooops. There I go again. Oh well, back to breath. Back to breath. It'll come with time and practice. Center yourselves"

[Valora Ashen]

Valora Trys to follow what Jacali's instructions, and for the moment she seems to be doing well.