A Journey To Remember

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Following the annual Convergence and its attached festivities on Kiffu, Lorenza had spent a couple of weeks at the Temple, working on upgrades for her ship, the Peregrina (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Barloz-class_medium_freighter). Given how her role often consisted in traveling to acquire goods of various kinds for the Seeker, she always did her best to ensure that her freighter remained in perfect shape. She had had opportunities to go for a newer transport a couple of times, but she liked the reliable Barloz class, especially as she could fly it solo, not even having to bother with a droid. She enjoyed time away and the solitude of space, so she could do as she pleased, including studying and training.

She had been happy when told that her next errand was lined up. She loved Kiffu, but had never allowed herself to become fully part of the community. There was something missing about who she was, besides the obvious fact she wasn't Kiffar herself. She didn't know where or how she would find it, for she couldn't help musing over the possibility it had to do with her untrained potential. She had gained freedom from her imperial life, and yearned to become more deeply embedded on Kiffu, but she still wore self-imposed chains, even though she preferred avoiding such thoughts.

Her current destination was a known one: Dantooine. In the past few years she had worked for the Seeker, she usually visited the planet quarterly. She usually visited the Okiaru village, where local farmers had plenty of supplies of Vincha (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Vincha), Tritacale (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Tritacale), and Kibla Greens (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Kibla_greens). That visit had her travel to another village though, for the season hadn't been so kind for Tritacale, and Lorenza wanted to make sure that she brought some back to Kiffu.

She didn't mind the detour, for the Temple rarely had firm deadlines for her travels, for they knew she would return in a timely manner. Save for the Convergence, which wouldn't happen for another year now, most of her errands were on a flexible timetable.

After a few days on Dantooine, Lorenza decided to use the couple more she could afford to linger, to go hunt Iriaz (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Iriaz). She hadn't brought back any from her previous visit, and she wanted to do better this time. So, she went by speeder to a more remote area of the region, and continued by speeder until she could set up camp in an isolated cave. As such, she would be able to at least bring any kill back there and take care of it in between.

It was early morning when she gathered her weapons and pack, and headed into the wilderness. As much as the creatures could be docile, she knew they could get quite fierce when attacked. She liked the challenge, and it brought her back to some memories from her old life, where she had attended military school and went on field trips to learn better.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan prowled through the lavender grasses of Dantooine near the edge of a biba tree forest. Kal and Ka'ra, his eight year old twins, copied his movements as they stalked in his footsteps, their energy bows slung across their backs.

A herd of iriaz had come through here recently. He held up a closed fist and the twins huddled up close next to him, their faces eager.

"Look," he said softly, pointing down at the droppings the creatures had left in their wake. "What does this tell us?"

Kal narrowed his eyes, his red hair long enough on top to be slicked back, except it fell into his face as he studied the ground. Ka'ra, her matching hair bound back in three braids, only gave the excrement a passing glance.

"We are on the right path," she said quickly. "The iriaz came through here recently."

"Are you sure it was recent?" her father asked.

"The smell is lingering," said Kal at last. "And the droppings are still soft." He squished a round lump between his fingers to prove the point.

"Good. And wipe your hand, Kal." Akaan smiled at his children, and waited for Kal to clean up. He had lived the first twelve of his years as a native of Iziz City, living in the slums. After his parents had died of a pox, he had run out into the Wilds in search of the Mando'ade. It was said they would take in any orphans who wished for a better life, and it had been true. His former name had been Theolodius, and while he still held the name in his heart in memory of his birth parents, Akaan was the name given to him by his adoptive family.

Now pushing forty cycles, Akaan rarely thought of those first, hardscrabble years in the slums. Life among the Mando'ade was also hard, but in a different way. Your fate was always in your own hands in the Wilds.

On Dantooine, their surroundings were far more forgiving. Taking his children on a hunt in these grasslands was not certain death, though danger could always lurk in unexpected places.

"Take the lead, Ka'ra," Akaan said. "Find us the herd."

A smirk on her face, Ka'ra elbowed her brother as she passed him and crept through the grasses, her father and twin in her wake.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

While she had grown up in urban settings, and could still adjust to such places with decent ease, Lorenza preferred quieter and more open spaces. Military field trips had made her appreciate the wilderness. It also brought her peace of mind, and being by herself in nature helped her let her latent potential run free, without the incessant comparison with others, as her soul often did back on Kiffu. She knew that her self-deprecation was responsible for limitations she struggled with.

Blending with her surrounding, both with her chosen piratical attire, and the lightness but precision of her movements, she had been walking most morning at this point. One of the trails had turned cold by now, and the distant sound of a speeder had made her roll her eyes for someone might have had a successful hunt, but had scared much of the remaining game by bringing a motored vehicle too deep into the hunting lands. That irked her. She might be too hard on herself; but at least she wasn't some lazy and obnoxious pest.

She took a brief pause and had a quick snack from a ration bar and some dried fruits she had picked at the local market before heading out for a few days into the open spaces.

The moment she resumed her trek, she felt something tug at her perceptions. As raw as her gifts were, the years on Kiffu had honed them just a tad, enough that she could discern a few living beings, potentially hunters, further away, where her path was taking her.

It was possible they were following a trail that would converge near a lake; but there was no reason for her not to continue in her chosen direction. After all, there normally was enough game for many people if finding a herd of Iriaz.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Ka'ra made her way forward, as silent as a wraith, Kal making a little bit more noise as he tried to mirror her footsteps. Akaan had a harder time keeping low than the twins did, but he was no stranger to the hunt.

And this time the plants weren't trying to kill them.

The faint trail they were following led out of the grass toward a lake, and the twins hunkered down just before the edge of the tall grass, their father beside them. The herd was spread out a bit in front of them, some iriaz drinking, others cropping the vegetation nearby with efficiency.

Akaan touched Ka'ra's shoulder, pointing out a large buck, and then did the same for Kal and another likely creature. "Once one goes down, the herd will spook. You have to coordinate."

The twins nodded, drawing their energy bows and activating them silently as they took aim on their respective iriaz. Ka'ra counted down from three, and they loosed their deadly projectiles in unison.

Ka'ra's hit her buck in the neck, Kal took his in the belly. The herd sprang into action, dashing off around the lake, the wounded buck screaming and floundering into the grasses.

Akaan jumped up. "Come on, we have to catch it."

Kal was already running out into the clearing and following the blood trail into another part of the lavender grasses, his sister close on his heels.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza followed the trail until she could see the herd from afar. She wasn't close enough to take any good shot at them, also keenly aware that once any would go down, the rest would scatter, thus requiring her to be strategic in her choice of target.

The brunette had her bow in hand, an arrow already ready ready; but she knew that aiming before several other meters would be foolish. So she kept the weapon low and moved with light steps, blending with the foliage and a nearby group of trees and bushes.

She felt something in the distance, and she couldn't shake the feeling it had to be other hunters; but she couldn't see them. And her gifts were still quite raw, even after years spent on Kiffu. After all, she had always felt like an outsider there, save for some scattered moments when she forgot she had placed most limitations onto herself rather than them being the fruit of external forces.

She was almost within range when a large buck suddenly screamed and stormed off. She barely registered that another had been shot down because the wounded buck was coming her way, covering distance too fast for her taste.

Without hesitation, she raised her bow and aimed to finish him in the throat. The massive iriaz fell to the ground, only a short distance from her. She knew that it wasn't her kill for she had only got the fatal shot; so she waited for whoever was behind this to come to retrieve it, her eyes soon falling upon a small group coming her way, an adult and some youth it appeared.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Ka'ra stopped dead in her tracks when they reached the downed iriaz, her father nearly running into her. Kal had eyes only for his kill, carefully closing the distance until he could put his hand on the beast's chest. No movement.

The boy closed his eyes to thank the creature for its sacrifice, while Akaan quickly saw what Ka'ra's sharp eyes had caught. A second wound on the iriaz. None from their clan were hunting this direction today, so a native of Dantooine must be nearby.

<"Mind your tongues,"> he said quickly in Mando'a, catching the wave of the tall grass as it was parted by an approaching figure. When she stepped out into the clearing made by the fallen beast he took in her appearance.

Not Dantooine, he decided immediately.

"My son wounded this iriaz," Akaad began, his Basic clear, but accented in a strange way that was not easy to place. If one was good with accents they might think it similar to the lilt from the Onderon system, which was in and of itself obscure, but centuries of isolation had twisted their Mando'a, and the resulting accent, into it's own language. Someone familiar with the modern language would be able to understand and communicate, but it would not be easy for casual passersby to recognize.

Ka'ra smiled at the woman and walked over to her twin, standing near him.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza arrived in the clearing, weapon still in hand, but lowered. She took in the sight of the small group and took a few more steps forward, her shoulders dropping just a tad, but her bow was still in her hands until she was sure that the people wouldn't try to attack her. She had seen hunters take offense, violent offense, at someone interfering with their kills, even when their target tried to kill someone else.

When the man, the father, spoke up, she couldn't tell where the accent was from. She had traveled to several parts of the galaxy, but the Lorrdian couldn't place this one. It wasn't so surprising really, given the extensive amount of planets and civilizations that populated the known universe.

At least, she was used to strange accents and could understand it clearly. As his daughter smiled to him, she finally put her weapon away, nodding to them.

"This iriaz belongs to your son. I only defended myself from being trampled over."

It was a no brainer for her to let go of that kill. She was curious about the family before her, for she understood it had to be such a case; and was unsure whether they would speak more or go their separate way at once.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan simply nodded, adjusting his position so he could see both his twins and the stranger at the same time. Ka'ra was helping Kal roll the iriaz onto its back, holding apart the hind legs as he readied his knife. Not a vibroblade, as it would be easy to cut too far, or too quickly with such a blade.

The boy unconsciously bit his lower lip as he studied the curve of the beast's belly, trying to remember where to cut. Akaan was about to step in and point when his son leaned in and began, sliding the sharp knife from the iriaz's anus to its sternum. Kal was cutting too deeply, enthusiastically, and Akaan couldn't help the amused twitch of his mouth as he knew what could happen.

Experience was the best teacher. He folded his arms and turned his head slightly toward the woman. "The herd is big, more than enough for us all."

A hissing sound emanated from the iziaz's belly, and Kal's face creased with confusion and then horror as the beast's stomach erupted into his face. Ka'ra squealed in spite of herself and let go of the legs as she backed out of the splash zone, causing the carcass to roll toward Kal. His knife had cut into the guts, so instead of a neat field dressing where the entrails spilled out mostly intact into the grass, the eight-year-old was covered in stomach contents and an odious mess slopped out of the iriaz.

Akaan stepped up and pulled on the legs, rolling the iriaz away from his son, who was blinking and gasping, wiping his face with one of his hands. "I think you cut into the stomach," Akaan said dryly.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza observed the family process with acute interest. Scattered memories of her own youth and family came back to mind. It had been years since her decision to leave the Empire had ostracized her from them. She knew it was for the best; but the scene before her reminded her of that in a bittersweet fashion.

She had been building a life on Kiffu in the past years; and she hoped to continue make it a permanent affair; but at the same time, she had been longing for more, for a way to make herself worthier of being with the Kiffar, and especially in the presence of the Great Lady.

She spot how the boy was likely going to end splattered the way he used his weapon to cut through his prey. She said nothing for it wasn't her place; instead returning her attention to the adult.

"I have been on Dantooine several times; but have rarely wandered in this part. Thank you for the information about the herd."

She was thinking of bidding her goodbyes, not wishing to interrupt much longer when the boy ended covered into stomach content. Hopefully he'll remember the lesson.

"The local Iriaz are definitely well-fed," she remarked.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"There is a lot of grass," Akaan said simply, tossing a cloth to his son and squatting to finish field dressing the kill.

As he bent, a silvered mythosaur emblem on a cord dangled from his neck, and he paused for a moment to tuck it back under his shirt. Kal and Ka'ra crouched around him, watching his deft strokes as he removed the remainder of the guts from the carcass.

The woman did not leave while he cut, so Akaan spoke to her without looking up from his work. "You do not live nearby?"

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Having lived with the Kiffar for the past few years, learning about their culture and traditions, Lorenza was attentive to every detail she could glean about strangers. Her Lorrdian ability to read body language with more depth than most other humanoids helped her get a better understanding as well.

She felt in some strange limbo right now for the hunter didn't appear hostile to her; but just as she seemed unable to just walk away at once, wasn't sure what to make of her presence.

Leaving was the logical choice; but something in her soul nudged her to stick around just a little longer.

"No, I regularly visit Dantooine for supplies, mostly vegetables. When I have some time, I usually trek away from town and hunt Iriaz."

She paused for a moment, thinking about the Great Lady, which brought a smile to her face.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The female hunter was not moving on, rather she was standing and watching as Akaan finished his quick dismemberment of the iriaz. Kal and Ka'ra were oblivious, the former still trying to wipe gastric juices from his clothes and the latter readying to tie up the meat in an easy to transport bundle.

Akaan wiped his knife and hands on the grass and stood, facing the woman. "It is surprising we have not run into you before, then, if you often hunt in this area."

"Our village is nearby," piped up Kal, scrubbing a handful of grass across his chest and missing the warning look his father shot him.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza silently cursed herself for not having taken her leave yet. She felt like she was simply trespassing now even though these were open territory in terms of hunting based on her previous experience on Dantooine. She couldn't explain why she had felt pulled to keep this moment going. It was a weird intuition that she was tempted to second guess now.

Before she could course-correct, the adult spoke to her again, and she took in that the kid added their village was nearby, which she hadn't realized as she normally kept more West of where she had been tracking the Iriaz. The warning look the father gave the boy wasn't lost on her observant nature either.

"I visit Dantooine a few times a year to purchase vegetables and other goods for my employer," she replied, having no reason to lie. "I generally make time to hunt a few Iriaz myself before leaving. And I normally do that West from here."

She paused and took one step back.

"I probably should leave you to your hunting lesson. I have already taken enough of your time and I still have to find other Iriaz."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Of course," Akaan said. "Good hunting--"

"Do not forget mine," Ka'ra interrupted, jerking her head back the way they'd come. "Kal's ran away to here, but mine was a clean shot."

"Go find it," Akaan told his daughter. "We will be done here soon."

Ka'ra grinned at his permission to run off by herself, and wasted no time doing exactly that. Akaan looked back up at the stranger, and nodded as the woman took her leave and disappeared into the long grasses. An interesting encounter.

Kal leaned in enthusiastically to help cut the meat, and Akaan was soon preoccupied trying to make sure the boy did it correctly.

Meanwhile, Ka'ra jogged through the grass, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet as she retraced their steps to where they'd first encountered the herd. The wounded iriaz had run farther than she remembered, and it took a while to find her own kill. The grasses were flattened ahead where the grazing creatures had stomped them flat, and she remembered to enter the area carefully, crouching down beneath the tops of the grass and edging into the clearing.

There was a strange, wet sound ahead of her, and Ka'ra caught the coppery scent of blood in the air. A greenish grey bulk was crouched in front of her, the dead iriaz under it, and Ka'ra unslung her energy bow from her back. Nothing was going to take her kill away, not if she could help it.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza bowed her head and let the family to their devices, letting her instinct and her knowledge of the land guide her towards what she hoped would be at least a couple of Iriaz to take down and prepare to bring back to the Great Lady. One could hope at least.

The pilot was surprised that she had encountered other people during this adventure in the wilderness. After several trips here, it was the first time it had happened. She mused over it for a while, letting her mind run wilder than usual, for she had learned that her overthinking had often been more of an impediment than anything else, especially back on Kiffu where she still struggled to carve a space for herself, feeling like she didn't truly deserve to become part of the people living at the temple, even though she dutifully and wholeheartedly served the Seeker, having uncanny affection for her despite the distance that most commonly separated them.

She was looking for other trails when she suddenly saw something that brought her to a halt. She had only seen these once in the past, during her second trip to Dantooine and the memories brought a cold shiver to her spine. She hadn't learn much about the gift she had discovered at a young age and that could have got her in trouble in her birth world; but she knew when to trust it, and all her senses were now on alert, especially as she could see the path head to where another kill had occurred.

Where Ka'ra had gone, she realized before turning on her heels and heading into that direction. It didn't take her long to reach the spot, right in time to witness the Graul charge at the girl.

"Go for his eyes," she shouted, knowing that it would attract attention. While she had her own bow, she knew she was better in such a situation with her vibroblades, and she already had one in hand. All she could hope was that the girl would trust her, even though she was a stranger. The Graul tended to be deaf or at least extremely hard of hearing and blinding them was one of the few ways to survive, besides running away, and she didn't think Ka'ra was the kind to do that.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She’d stuck an arrow right into the beast’s back, which had made it rear up on its hind legs and turn on her. Ka’ra took a step back and drew another arrow, trying to control her breathing as it closed the distance. It was huge, as big as a boma back home, and the girl felt a stab of fear.

”Go for his eyes!”

The graul turned its head toward the sound and Ka’ra shifted her aim to match, loosing the arrow. It whistled through the air and sunk deeply into the creature’s cheek, just below the eyeball. The graul roared in pain, skidding to a halt as it clawed at its own face, breaking off the arrow and deciding on its next charge.

Ka’ra didn’t wait, diving into the long grass and running as fast as she could away from where she’d heard the voice. Maybe the graul would lose sight of her and head toward the distraction.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza watched as the arrow hit the beast right under his eye. She knew that her loud voice would have its attention. She sensed more than she saw, the girl run away, which was her goal. She had dealt with a Graul before and even had a couple of scars to prove it.

The beast charged at her and she had little time to adjust her aim before she threw one of her vibroblade and pierced one eye. The howl that shattered the atmosphere was loud enough to demolish her own skull but she found her center and threw another blade, getting the other eye.

The Graul that had stopped a few meters from her charged blindly, clawed hands swapping at the pilot, and Lorenza felt a large one scrape her shoulder, just enough to damage flesh and muscle without leaving permanent damage, although her arm was excruciating to use for now.

Groaning, she forced herself to keep her focus, and she leaped away, not gracefully at all but she just wanted to survive and down the beast. She didn't know whether Ka'ra would still be around and helping to take the beast down now that it was lost and confused.

Dancing around the beast, she needed enough space to use her bow to shoot the now deaf beast at the throat.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The roar of the graul split the air, and Kal dropped the meat he had been wrapping with a start, his father leaping to his feet. He looked at Akaan with wild eyes.

The elder Mandalorian gripped Karl’s shoulder. “Come.”

They abandoned the meat and ran through the grasses toward the sound, and toward where Ka’ra had gone.

***

The graul swiped blindly at Lorenza, then reared back as another arrow sprouted out of its side. A second arrow quickly followed, just catching it in the chest as it spun around, and then Ka’ra was running again, circling around the area the iriaz had trampled.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza managed to avoid the swipes and her senses alerted her of the swift change right before arrows hit the beast. The one in its chest almost brought it to its knees, which meant a fantastic shot. The pilot caught sight of Ka'ra running around, having indeed returned.

She stilled herself and pushed through the pain, breathing through it as she grabbed her bow and armed it, letting her instincts take over as she shot twice at the beast, the arrows piercing its neck. After what had felt like forever but was only several long seconds, the graul collapsed on the ground, gurgling until it exhaled one final time.

Wincing at the sharp pain in her elbow, Lorenza lowered her weapon, looking at the girl.

"You okay?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Ka’ra nodded. “I am okay.” She walked cautiously out of the grass and approached the woman.

The young Mandalorian slung her bow on her back and unwound the fabric wrappings from one of her arms. "You are injured. Let me help you."

Akaan burst into the clearing, shell gun in hand, and took in the scene quickly. Kal appeared a few seconds later, energy bow at the ready, as the twins' father carefully appraised the corpse of the graul.

"Cuyir gar shupur'yc?"* he called to his daughter.

"Nayc," Kara answered, already wrapping up the woman's injury. "This one helped kill the beast."

Akaan came closer, thumping his closed fist against his chest. "I am in your debt, then. I am called Akaan."


*are you injured

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza nodded when Ka'ra said she wasn't injured, relieved that the girl was alright. She knew that hunting had a learning curve that generally involved a level of pain and light wounds; but going up against a Graul could be a real mess.

She appreciated the offer to help and moved her bow out of the way. "Thank you."

The brunette would need to retrieve the two vibro blades she had used to blind the beast before they took it down but she understood the priority order of things especially as her shoulder was really painful. Tending to such matters first made her likely to use her arm again sooner than later.

She watched the father storm into the clearing at once, soon followed by the brother. She couldn't understand what they said but guessed he was checking on her. She was surprised when he said he was now in her debt. She hadn't thought twice about helping.

"I saw the footprints and I know how dangerous grauls can be. Glad I could help. Ka'ra is a great shot."

Of course, she had also let her intuition, her gift, help her deal with the situation; but she knew how not everyone in the galaxy was kind to people like her, so she was careful not to bring it up to easily.

"My name is Lorenza," she added with a slight bow of her head.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

“It ate my kill,” complained Ka’ra, as if she hadn’t just had a brush with death. Perhaps, Akaan mused, he should impress upon his children the notion that just because everything on Dantooine wasn’t trying to kill them it did not mean that nothing on the planet was dangerous.

”We can come out again another day.” Akaan looked around before focusing on Lorenza. “Our village is not far. We have a doctor who can treat your wound. And there may be another graul near, it is my understanding they hunt in pairs.”

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Ah, to be young and still somewhat carefree.... Lorenza couldn't help raising a brow at Ka'ra's annoyance that the beast had eaten her kill. She kept her mouth shut though and nodded to what Akaan offered. She was far from her ship and other towns, so she wasn't going to turn down such an offer.

"Thank you and I am taking you up on that. I'd rather keep use of this shoulder."

She adjusted her position, and adjusted her bow on her back. "Let me get my blades."

She walked to the dead beast, wishing she could already clean the weapons but it wasn't going to be for a bit.

"We killed the male. If the female wasn't in sight, she likely has little ones, meaning she'll be even more ferocious than if we had just killed her mate."

Without further ado, she walked up to her unexpected new acquaintances, ready for them to lead the way.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan nodded, mentally reappraising the woman as she correctly accessed the situation. “We will swing by to collect the meat we left behind. Carefully,” he warned Kal, who was about to run back to where they’d butchered the iriaz.

”Follow,” Akaan told the twins, and they nodded, falling in behind him as he parted the lavender grasses and made his way to the wrapped meat. Lorenza brought up the rear, sensibly keeping an eye on their surroundings, just as he was. Ka’ra and Kal quickly packed up what was left of the iriaz, and then Akaan led the way again, north, toward the Mandalorian village.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza could tell how the kids were still eager to get things done and still needed strong reminders to be careful. She didn't have kids of her own but she had been a youth and had witnessed enough of them to know how the learning curve could be, sometimes improved with a not-so-fun and sometimes painful lesson here and there.

She naturally took the rear of their little group. Even with a wounded shoulder, she would still help should they run into trouble. She memorized the path they were following so she would be able to make her way back to where she had come from in the first place. She doubted that she would carry on to fetch iriaz for the Great Lady this time around; but she might try to pick an extra delicacy or two in town before returning to Kiffu.

She chose not to make small talk for she saw little point to do that. She was used to be on the quiet side due to her life at the Temple; and Akaan had been a man of few words so far.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan was intent on arriving home as quickly as possible, so there were no lessons along the way for the twins. Ka'ra didn't seem shaken by her experience, but Kal was quiet and watchful. They would talk when they were alone again. Kal occasionally still had nightmares about the day their mother had died, even though he'd only been four at the time.

"We are almost there," Akaan said, after a time. "Stay with me and do not wander off. We do not get many... visitors."

Ka'ra slipped her hand into Lorenza's and grinned up at her as a small fenced community appeared on the horizon. The wall was patchwork durasteel but not nearly as fortified as it had had to be on Onderon, with no visible gate. However, as they drew nearer, it was obvious that the wall was a work in progress and only a section had been completed.

Beyond were clustered prefab dwellings, cook fires, and in the distance a few parked freighters. Akaan stopped, and looked at Lorenza. "You will see my people in armor, but do not be afraid, as long as you are my guest you are safe."

[Lorenza Dalenak]

While she was far from Kiffu, Lorenza understood what Akaan meant without any issue. It seemed to have become a pattern in her life to tread on unfamiliar ground that might not be that open to others in the first place. She would ponder on that at a later time, keeping her wits about herself for the time being.

She smiled to Ka'ra and gave a gentle squeeze to her fingers. She was happy that the girl had come out of the encounter with the graul without any injury. It was a relief she had been able to help for these beasts could wreck an adult humanoid if they weren't well skilled and careful.

She noticed how the surrounding wall was still being built as they neared closer, and she was mindful of the surrounding and what she could sense from the people. It was mostly impressions given her lack of real training but she had become attuned to how a place and its people felt over the years.

She raised a brow at the mention of armors a few moments before she caught sight of a couple of them in the distance. It was when the realization hit her and put a few pieces together: Mandalorians. That wasn't something she had expected but somehow it made sense in her ever-learning brain. She had never met any of them before but she did read about them and had seen some illustration when younger.

"I appreciate your hospitality and your warning. I am used to being an outsider and I will seek no trouble."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan nodded and turned to face the village, holding up his hand in greeting as an older woman approached them. "Granoi, su'cuy!"*

The woman smiled thinly, her skin sun-browned and deeply creased, and looked pointedly toward Lorenza. "Su'cuy, Akaan. Gar ganar evaar'la adat olar."**

"I have," Akaan said, continuing the conversation in Basic for the benefit of his guest. "We ran into this one while hunting. Ka'ra crossed a graul, and Lorenza killed it. I have brought her here to see Draylshy'a." He paused, putting his hands on the twins' heads. "Can you take these for a moment, old one? Gedet'ye?"***

Granoi grunted, holding out well-muscled bare arms toward the children. "Come. We will take care of that meat you are packing." As she herded Kal and Ka'ra away, she favored Lorenza with a small nod. Respect, for the kill.

Akaan led the way deeper into the village, past groups of people who stopped what they were doing to watch the pair pass by. Most of the Mando'ade were wearing cloth: some in tunics and pants, others in jumpsuits. One very small child ran by completely naked, their mother chasing after them. But there were also the Acolytes who patrolled constantly, their armor glinting in the sun. There were not usually so many present, and Akaan realized that there was an additional ship parked in the distance.

Mand'alor was home again.

An Acolyte stopped them outside of the medical facility, her armor striped with a single thick red line, the chestplate bearing deep scratches from a boma encounter. "Who is this, Akaan? Have you been hunting for a wife?"

"Nuhunla^, Tiktik." Akaan shook his head. "She has been injured while protecting my ad. Draylshy'a is available?"

"She is checking over the foundlings. It will be a few minutes." Tiktik cocked her head, looking at Lorenza. "She does not look like she will drop dead if you wait."

Before Akaan could reply a trio of armored Mando'ade approached: Obed, Hel, and Man'dalor herself. Akaan put a protective hand on Lorenza's uninjured arm, but aside from Obed giving them an obvious once over they did not stop until Man'dalor entered the building with Hel. Obed stood outside, and Tiktik took her leave to go talk to him.

"How is your arm?" Akaan asked Lorenza. "It may be a longer wait than I hoped."



* you live [a greeting]
**you have brought a stranger here
***please
^funny

[Lorenza Dalenak]

As a Force sensitive Lorrdian, Lorenza had always been extremely sensitive to her surroundings and it had helped her navigating both her imperial youth and all the places she had visited since leaving this life behind her. The village had a different flair to the Temple on Kiffu, even though she understood that she was standing out like a sore finger, the small enclave likely indicating a tight-knit community. Her intuition was confirmed as she watched one interaction after the other as she walked by Akaan's side.

She bowed her head to the older woman who eventually took the twins away. She had weirdly got fond of Ka'ra in the short time she had known the girl, maybe recognizing some of her carefree bravado she had once possessed herself. She waved at the girl as she and her brother were herded away.

While she always made sure not to stare and remain well-mannered and as little intrusive as possible, she couldn't help thinking that what she had read and glimpsed of Mandalorian armor in the past had nothing on the real thing. She was quite impressed with the design.

She chuckled as she watched a mother chase her naked offspring shortly before they reached the medical facility. She was grateful for Akaan keeping most of the interaction in Basic, as well as others offering the same courtesy even though they didn't have to for she was the outsider.

The brunette quirked a brow and smirked at the mention of Akaan hunting for a wife, although her expression grew focused again as she watched the interaction and soon saw the trio march towards the building, and a woman whose vibrant presence left a lasting impression on the pilot. She watched her and someone else step inside before she turned to Akaan as he talked to her again.

"It can wait a bit. Ka'ra's first help to sling it in place has been helpful. I've had worse and I don't want to interrupt whatever is going on with your leader."

She realized Akaan hadn't formally said that about the woman who had recently walked by them but there was something about her that had Lorenza quite certain in her assessment.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan tilted his head at Lorenza's words, but her correct assumption not entirely surprising. Mand'alor's black and red armor was more ornately painted than the others, and one of the few full sets that did not have any cobbled together pieces. She was escorted by guards, and had an aura of authority that followed her.

"Man'dalor has interest in the foundlings," he said plainly, as if that explained everything. He looked at the makeshift sling Ka'ra had made out of an arm wrap, and nodded with some approval. "Ka'ra is impulsive and gifted, but you are still bleeding. We should apply pressure."

He lifted his hands, waiting for permission before he touched her.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza noted that Akaan didn't contradict her assumption about the woman she had only got a quick but significant look at. She didn't ask further question regarding her interest in the foundlings, as he had put it. She walked the fine line between curiosity and respecting what wasn't her place to poke around as a visitor.

She appreciated his seeking permission before he touched her. Not everyone had that courtesy.

"I agree, thank you," she replied with a nod, standing still so he would be able to apply pressure in a way that would be difficult for her given the placement of the wound.

"Ka'ra has a lot of potential indeed. She reminds me a little bit of myself when her age."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan chuckled. "Then your family knows my struggle."

He kept a steady pressure up on the makeshift bandage on her shoulder, one hand on either side so he didn't just push her over.

---

"And how is everyone today?" Lilaena turned from her conversation with the children, a motley assortment that included a young Wookiee and Rodian, to Draylshy'a.

The young woman smiled, her shoulders lifting in a bit of a shrug. "They are all healthy, as near as I and Duck can tell." At the sound of its name, the ancient medical droid at the side of the room turned its head toward the doctor. "And they are doing well as can be expected in their families. The nightmares are less. But trauma can manifest unexpectedly, so their caretakers are still learning how best to navigate those pitfalls as they come."

"Good." Lilaena looked back at the children, and smiled at Draylshy'a. "I am not checking up on your work. You have done well. I just wanted to see them." There was a slightly wistful look in her eye, which quickly disappeared. "I will be here for a week or two, if you need anything let Hel know."

Draylshy'a nodded to Hel. "I will. Thank you, Manda'lor." She put her fist over her heart and Lilaena returned the gesture.

Putting her helmet back on, Lilaena made her way out of the building with her honor guard at her heels. Tiktik poked her head in as she exited.

"Draylshy'a, Akaan is here with a stray. She got injured fighting a graul."

"He can bring her in," said the doctor. "Take the foundlings back to their families, please?"

Lilaena paused outside, Obed and Hel stopping as well, and regarded Akaan and this 'stray' he had found. The woman was dark and attractive, even as she grimaced slightly at the pressure Akaan was putting on her wound. The pair realized she was staring at them, and Akaan nodded respectfully, blood seeping into the bandage under his hand.

The woman... was Force sensitive. Sometimes Lilaena could just know when a being could touch the Force, and this was one such time. It made her instantly wary.

"Keep an eye on her," she said quietly to Hel. "Find out where she came from."

"You got it." Hel thumped her chest.

Lilaena strode away, Obed following.

--

"Our turn," said Akaan, taking Lorenza's other hand and pressing it to the bandage to indicate she should hold it. He led her into the building as the foundlings filed out following Tiktik, who gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up as they passed. He sighed.

"A graul encounter?" said Draylshy'a, looking up as they entered the main chamber. "Well, you are walking so that's a good sign."

"Draylshy'a this is Lorenza," said Akaan. "We ran into her while hunting iriaz, and she saved Ka'ra from the graul."

The young woman's eyes softened at the mention of Ka'ra. "Let me take a look at the injury."

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza chuckled as an old memory came back to life though. "I had a cousin... He had four sisters: quadruplets that would probably have young me and Ka'ra look like well-mannered teacup-holding ladies." Her expression sobered a little bit as her mind going back to the life she had left behind several years ago. She was impressed to see the foundlings well taken care of for the little she had seen so far. It was heart-warming, for life could be quite unkind at times.

When Akaan prompted her to place her other hand to the bandage, she did as instructed and followed him inside the building. Her eyes followed the foundlings following Tiktik - if she had heard the other woman's name correctly. She caught the thumbs up and she smirked.

"Thank you for seeing me," she said with a polite nod to the healer. "I'd met another graul in the past."

She was glad that her underneath tank top allowed for easier inspection after the beast had torn through her outer tunic. There was a tear through the muscle and she bet she was going to end with another scar. She worried about the state of her tendons.

"I have been mindful not to move it too much; but still had to shoot an arrow shortly after getting wounded."

She didn't think she had broken anything and hoped she was right.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Draylshy’a tsked as the bandage came away, taking it from Lorenza with a couple fingers and delicately dropping the soiled wrapping into a trash container without looking away from the wound. “I will need to wash it to get a better look, but it doesn't seem so deep as to interfere with the movement of your shoulder long term."

The doctor pressed a clean towel to Lorenza's body under the wound and instructed Akaan to hold it in place, which was a little awkward as he realized what part of the woman's body he was holding it against. Draylshy'a retrieved purified water and paused, looking at Lorenza. "This may hurt."

She poured the water gently into the bloody gash, the towel underneath soaking up the run off as the wound was rinsed. "Yes, this will need quite a few stitches, but it will heal nicely I think." She took the wet towel from Akaan, who was grateful to be able to stand back from the pair of women, and it went into a bin to be washed. "We do not have all of the latest medical tech here, but if you'll allow me to treat this I think you'll be pleased with the result."

In the corner of the room Duck, the old medical droid, regarded all of them impassively.

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza sat quietly as the doctor inspected the wound and she didn't flinch or show embarrassment when Akaan had to help keep a towel in place, regardless of its potential awkwardness. She could thank her time with the military and having had to make do in weirder situations in the past. Also, she had had nothing to complain about from his behavior or Draylshy'a's. She was being offered medical care and she was grateful for that. It was what mattered to her.

She was glad that the wound shouldn't impact her shoulder use long term. She hadn't thought so based on previous trouble she had run into; but she also knew she was no medical professional and could have been wrong.

She winced as Draylshy'a cleaned the wound. It wasn't as horrible as the pain of the laceration when it happened; but it nevertheless ached.

"I trust your medical ability and equipment. The latest tech can be helpful but it is not an option I've had that many times in my life, so I'm grateful for however you can help."

She smiled and nodded towards the door.

"And if you can wrestle with all the kids, I'm sure I'm in good hands."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Draylshy'a laughed as she got out her suture kit, unrolling it and deftly setting the supplies out. "If you think they were hard you should see how difficult a grown man can be when he's sick."

The wound was numbed, treated, and sewn up in about twenty minutes, the young doctor clearly skilled at what she was doing. A strip of synflesh was cut just so to fit the area (not wasting any of the precious resource), and pressed down into place.

Akaan ushered Lorenza out of the building. "I can provide a meal for you for the journey back, if you want it." He stopped walking as Hel peeled away from the side of the building and stood in front of them. The tall warrior was holding her helmet in her hand, her hair ear-length with a sharp undercut on one side.

"It will be dark soon," Hel said. "Your friend is welcome to stay the night in the camp."

[Lorenza Dalenak]

The doctor's laugh was contagious and Lorenza couldn't help joining in at the quip about grown men. "Fair point," she replied between softer chuckles.

She was grateful for Draylshy'a's efficient and attentive care. The way the other woman was intentional about everything, including how she made sure not to waste synthflesh, didn't go unnoticed. While she hadn't grown up in a poor household, her time with the military and then as a wandered who only had so much money had made her careful with not wasting resources.

She thanked her for her assistance before leaving the building with Akaan. She was about to accept his offer, knowing that they had already offered more hospitality and help than she would have asked for; but the moment she opened mouth to say anything another woman, one of the warriors she had seen with their leader, stood before them.

Lorenza wasn't sure what to make of the invitation. There was something about it that intrigued her and she wasn't certain if it was in a good or bad way. She kept her expression neutral and nodded to the tall woman, pondering on it for a moment.

"I didn't realize it was getting so late and I don't wish to overstay my welcome...."

She knew though that another graul would still be around on her path back to where she had hiked from, and with her recouping shoulder, it would be a bit idiotic to just wander off as such.

"But I believe one graul encounter for the day might be enough."

She briefly looked at Akaan, unsure of what he made of this surprising turn of events, for he had rightfully expected her to be on her way.

"So thank you for your invitation. I will stay the night," she finished with a slight bow of her head.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Akaan couldn't help but stare a little at Hel, who was smiling pleasantly at Lorenza. He couldn't remember seeing that expression on her face before.

"We have empty living quarters at the moment," Hel continued. "I would be happy to escort you there, and take care of the meal."

Akaan opened his mouth to speak, and Hel added, "Granoi wished to speak with you, Akaan. Something about Ka'ra giving someone a black eye?" The tall woman shrugged.

"I should take care of that," he apologized to Lorenza. "Hel will see you are taken care of. I will check back with you after dinner then?"

[Lorenza Dalenak]

Lorenza was surprised by Hel's hospitality and what seemed like a genuine smile. It made her cautious but even more curious. She wondered if there was some hidden agenda behind all of this, especially with how Akaan had mentioned that the settlement had few visitors. She would find out sooner than later anyway.

She observed the exchange between the two Mandalorians, and could barely hide a smirk at the mention of Ka'ra giving someone a black eye. The kid was a feisty one for sure.

"This sounds like a plan," she replied with a nod to Akaan.

She then turned her attention to Hel and smiled to her. "Lead the way."

She was easy going when it came to sleeping about anywhere after some of her past; and the prospect of food sounded quite good after the eventful day.