#backstroy

“Crunch Wrap please!”

Lyra gripped the tree branch, pulling herself up, and slowly lowering herself down. Her brothers were standing off to the side, talking with her father. She had been doing stuff like this forever, trying to gain muscle mass, to gain strength, but there was nothing.  

She dropped down, leaning against the tree, her eyes filling with tears. She watched her father, and her brothers. Almon glanced at her, and she saw him bow his head to their father.  

He came over, standing beside her. "Well?"  

Lyra looked at him, her lip quivering, "I've trained, and trained, and I can't do it."  

"Can't do what?"

"You guys are so strong, and I'm not. I've been trying, and I just can't get stronger."  

Almon looked at her, blinking. "You know you are a girl right?"

"Well yeah!" she shouted, "But I don't want to be weak!"  

Almon's eyes traveled to the great sword on her back, he looked back at her, and shrugged. "Well, then, maybe work on different strengths."

"I can't be a warrior like you guys if I can't be stronger."  

"You tote around a sword bigger than you..." Almon crossed his arms.  

"That doesn't matter. I need to be strong.. You just aren't getting it."  

"I'm not sure you know how strength is measured..."  

"Yes I do! People always look at you guys and say how strong you are. It's because of your muscles. I don't have any."  

"Ly... I, um."

"Forget it." she sighed, sinking down to sit on the ground. She started playing with the leaves.  

Almon stood there for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but he just headed back to his father and Tarron.  

She watched them talking, and laid down in the grass. If she was stronger, she bet that she would be setting and talking with them. She was just too weak to help plan.  

Lyra sat up when she heard something. Her eyes scanned the area, and she saw a light disappearing into the woods. She hopped to her feet, running after it. She was sure that whatever that light was, was a sign. She had to follow it, had to see where it would lead.  

Her journey through the woods was getting more difficult. She didn't have armor on, and in fact only had a skirt she had cut from ankle length to mid-thigh length, and a tight fitting top with straps that tied around the back of neck.  

Even with her knee length boots, the higher bushes, and thorns dug into the flesh of her arms, or thighs. Her eyes narrowed with the pain, her jaw tightening. It didn't hurt badly, but there were so many thorns scoring her flesh, it made it seem worse than it was. She picked up her pace, afraid of losing the ball of light that danced in the woods. She was almost running at that point, rushing past the thorns that drew blood for her passage.  

The ball of light stopped in a small clearing, hovering over the ground. She looked around, walking slowly into the clearing. It was odd, the thing just hovering there. She didn't understand it, but she wasn't about to let that stop her. It might be a fairy, or something of the like. She should have put her armor on, just in case something would happen. Still, she just shook her head, walking forward.  

She reached up, touching the ball, and it blew up in a spark of light. Her eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face. Lyra loved that, she couldn't focus as well as others to do magic, and her family ran around too much for her to do it. Besides, her dream had nothing to do with magic, it was to become as strong as her brothers, and more so, her father.  

The sound of rustling made Lyra look over, blinking. That was when several men came forward. She thought nothing of it. If she was in the woods, why couldn't they be?

"Hey, did you guys see that light too? I touched it and it blew up. I wonder what it is.. er was. I was hoping it was a fairy, but I don't think so..." she hesitated, seeing the men looking back and forth to one another, looking her up and down.  She stood there for a second longer before starting to back up the way she had come.  

"Well, no fairy, so I think I'll leave now. I don't want to disrupt your meeting." she had just turned when a slim human stepped out in front of her. His eyes were a deep grey, almost black. His cloak was wrapped around him, and covered the majority of his long black hair.  

"Oops, sorry, I  was just leaving."  

"I don't think there is any need for that." the human smiled.  

"Oh, well, thank you for the invitation to stay, but my brothers, and father will probably have noticed I'm gone. They'll be getting worried..."

"I'm sure a while longer won't matter to them."  

"Somehow, I think you're wrong." she laughed, though the sound was forced, nervous.

The human took a step closer, eyes locking on hers. "Stay awhile. I think we would like to get to know you a little better."  

"Oh, well, I'm Lyra Dragonsoul. I am traveling with my father and brothers, who really would have noticed my absence by now, and if I don't get back, I'm going to be in so much trouble."  

"Well, Lyra, I don't think you understand your situation. You aren't going back. That 'fairy' was a light of my own making. I honestly wasn't expecting it to bring in a woman, but at least they blessed us with a beauty like yourself."  

"Back off." Lyra said, all hints of the childish, well-mannered girl gone. "I mean it! I don't want to hurt you, but I will!"  

"You, hurt us?"  

Lyra pulled the great-sword from its sheath, the only thing she did carry with her into the woods. It immediately fell to her resting position, her hands at her hips, the tip a few inches from the ground.  

The human laughed. "You look as though you can barely hold that thing, let alone swing it."

Lyra narrowed her blue eyes, "I do too!" she shouted, puffing out her chest.  

She didn't hesitate after the slight, after knowing they had lured her there for whatever reason she knew would not be good. Even if she got away, some other girl wouldn't stand a chance.  

"DAD!" She screamed as loud as she could before taking the swing. The shout must have surprised the man, because he dodged late, taking a slash across the chest. The others were on her in seconds, she was trying to defend herself, trying to block.  

A hard knock to the back made her sword fall from her hands, landing with a thud on the ground. Hands were grabbing her arms. She pulled, hopped up and slammed her feet into the belly of her attacker. They weren't well armored, and he dropped her with a grunt. She grabbed the sword again, bringing it up as a great ax split the man in front of her.  

"Almon!"  

"Don't lose concentration, Lyra!" he chided, turning back to the fight. Zadicus and Tarron were there as well, slicing their way through the small band. Lyra's eyes sparked, she fought with renewed vigor, the fear of being alone all but gone. In the moments it took to fight, she didn't think of the consequences yet to come for her actions.  

With the bodies surrounding them, the dead laying on the bloodied grass, Zadicus glared at her. He shouldered his weapon, walking over, his eyes narrowed to slits.  

"What were you thinking?!" he demanded.  

"I was following a light. I thought it was a fairy, or something. That it was going to be a good thing."

"You left, went off on your own. You've been told how dangerous that is!"

"You let Almar and Tarron go on their own! You let them do whatever they want, but when it comes to me, I can't?"

"That's not the point. The point is they can take care of themselves. When you try to, you only get yourself hurt! You couldn't handle those men on your own. That's why I don't want you to be on your own. That's why I don't let you go on your own. You can't handle it."

"But I can. I could have handled it, I could have gotten out of that. I just needed a bit more time, to think a little bit more."  

"Then why did you call for me?" he said, crossing his arms.  

Lyra looked away. Tears stung her eyes. If she had just tried to do it on her own. If she had just left well enough alone, maybe, just maybe she could have proven herself. Her anger and disappointment in herself, and fear of disappointing him over boiled.  

"Fine! Next time I'll do it on my own. I'll show you! I can do it, I know I can." she said, wiping the tears away, and looked all three men in the eyes before heading back to the horses.  

Lyra had gotten Ina, the newest member of the Fire-Flower, food and drink. Ina was still hesitating. Lyra could tell she wasn't sure about her decision. There was little that she could do to tell her it would be okay, as well.  

Instead, the young elf tried to help the only way she knew how. Smiling, talking. Anything that could make the kobold more at ease.  

The pair was odd, and Rover, who had come back from planting flower glanced up at Almon many times.  

"Why are you nice to those you should see as evil?" the kobold asked, crossing her small, skinny arms.  

"I'm not sure." Lyra put her index finger to her bottom lip, her eyes on the ceiling before smiling back down at Ina. "I think I just know that not everything is as it seems. You aren't evil just because you are a kobold. Rover isn't evil because he's a goblin. You guys just need a chance to show it!"  

"You are an odd human."  

"Am I?"

"Very."  

"Oh well." Lyra laughed. "So, are you sure you want to work with us? I can find somewhere to take you if you don't want to."  

"No, it's fine. I will help you. I don't have anywhere else to go. You seem to be quite content in taking my home.."  

"It's our home now. Well, it's the Fire-Flower. If you help take care of it though, Rover, and Renning will make sure you get your gold."  

"Where does the rest go?"

"Into a bank account. It'll go back to into the shop. Paying for the shop, horses, flowers, and such. Rover can explain a lot of it to you."  

Ina looked to the goblin, giving him a nod of her head. Lyra looked at the pair, oddly happy. She wanted Rover to have a friend, and now the two could work on being what would be considered outsiders together.

"Sister, we need to go." Almon sighed. She turned to him, and nodded.  

"Right." She pulled Rover into a hug, and then Ina who fought it more than the goblin. "I'll see you guys later!"  

Lyra ran out of the store, heading down the street at a quick pace while her brother, groaning, followed.  

As the two got to the inn, Tarron and Zadicus were discussing something, leaning in close to one another. They looked up when the door opened, and Tarron leaned back away from his father.  

Lyra looked between them, a smile on her face. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I gained another worker. Rover won't have to do it alone."  

"Oh, how did you manage that?" Zadicus asked, his brow furrowed.  

"There was a kobold. It only slightly tried to kill her."  

Zadicus looked pointedly at his daughter. "Tried to kill you?"

"She didn't know me yet. It's okay now. She isn't with anyone else and has been hiding in the house. I'm not sure how we missed her when we were building, I imagine she just kept moving in different places. But she's okay now, and is working with Rover."  

Zadicus looked to his sons, and sighed. "Lyra, I love you. You shouldn't make a parent worry so much, though."  

"What do you mean?"

"You are in cahoots with monsters, and that is what they are first and foremost, both of which had a weapon at you at some point."

"But, I gave them a chance to understand it isn't like that, and they're fine father. They aren't bad. They just needed the chance."  

"I'm not going to argue. I just wish you understood that not everyone deserves your kind heart."  

"And those that don't get the sword." she said, nodding, "I'm not going to hurt something that could be an ally instead if I can help it."  

"This isn't why I wanted to have supper together. I just wanted the family together again. To plan, to think. With everyone here."  

Lyra tensed. She wasn't ready to move on quite yet. "Plan what?"

Zadicus took in a deep breath. "There is a bounty here now. We could leave it to the other dragons to take out, but if we can take care of it..." he looked to his children, "The gold would be good. That being said, it is a very dangerous fight."

"What is it?"

"A young adult blue dragon, from the reports."

"A dragon?" Lyra asked. Her thoughts were immediately on befriending it, thinking of flying through the skies with such a friend.  

"A blue dragon. It's not going to be an easy fight. It's destroying the nearby water supplies of the town. As it grows closer," his light colored eyes darted between his kids, "it will destroy this town. I don't know where the dragons are that should be guarding against this kind of attack, but we need to do something."  

"What if we go to fight it, and the rightful fighters appear?" Tarron asked.  

"They should see what we are doing, and help rather than hurt. We have a plan for it though."  

"We aren't leaving the town though?" Lyra asked, looking to her father.

"Not yet, but we need to continue on soon, Lyra. Even if you do not."  

"I want to." she said immediately, "The Fire-Flower is almost ready for opening day. I just want to be there for Rover and Ina."  

Zadicus looked to his son's. Almon nodded, and Zadicus gave one as well. "When it's done, we leave."  

"I'm fine with that." Lyra said, standing. She pulled a map out of her bag, looking to her family as she spread it out of the table, leaning over it.  

"Here we go." Tarron said, the sound of relief in his voice.  

"Planning time!" Lyra shouted, met with looks from other patrons and the bar keep who was shaking his head. Red spread over her cheeks, and she waved, "Sorry, quiet planning time."  

They looked over the map, trying to find where the dragon would be at. They were talking over their plan, Lyra standing, bent over the table the whole time, her focus on the map.  

Time passed, and eventually the bar keep came up to the table. He glanced around at the four of them before clearing his throat.  

"I'm sorry, but the downstairs is closing up for the night."

"Ah, no, I'm sorry." Zadicus said, getting to his feet. "I think this is a good time for everyone to get some sleep. We all have a very interesting day tomorrow, and we should get ready for it."  

No one argued, everyone standing up. Lyra almost skipped up to her room. She hadn't noticed how much she had missed fighting. Sure, she would rather get the blue dragon on her side, but if it were impossible, she would be more than happy for a battle.  

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Andor (TV), Star Wars - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Luthen Rael/Baylan Skoll Characters: Luthen Rael, Baylan Skoll Additional Tags: Tales of Andor, Tales of Ahsoka, Backstory, Snippets in time, Jedi Temple Guards (Star Wars), Friends to Lovers to Enemies Series: Part 24 of Tales in Star Wars Andor, Part 41 of Ahsoka Series Shorts, Part 29 of 100x1000 Summary:

Lovers divided by a Cause too strong to ignore. Opposite sides beckoning them both.

This is Cheyanne's (Ginger Snap) back story to how she got her car. Please enjoy. >w•

Steps echoed across the alone alley way. Street cats roam without a sound. They search for scraps and leftovers from the restaurant that lay next to the alley. Cheyanne just got off work from one of these restaurants. She works odd jobs to keep rent.

Winter just end. New Years day, that was three days ago, was almost forgotten to the harsh and cruel city streets. Cheyanne made a New Years goal, just like everyone else. Being 19, she was permitted to get get a driving license. Thou the car.. the car was going to be difficult.

She could barely keep up with rent, and she was losing jobs left and right. It always seemed to be her fault, but that was not true. She was 19 in an age of gangsters and thugs, but she knew these alley ways like no one else. See, Cheyanne had a unusual nack with directions. Like.. she had a campus in her head.

Cheyanne continued to wander down the alley ways of downtown. She took a right at the end. Finding an opening she never really paid much attention to. Till just now.

There sat a nice BNW. A bit messed up, three of its tires missing, a bit rusted on the chrome of the only tire left. Ut had a huge crack on its left side, but for Cheyanne it was her right.

Cheyanne opened the car door. A few bits of blood, but she could clean it out. She pulled the lever for the hood to pop a bit. She manoeuvred to the front of the car. The hood wouldn't open. She was about to push the hood down when she saw another leaver. She pulled it and the hood unhinged. Cheyanne pushed the hood up. The engine, all of it. Was still intact.

A lucky find for Cheyanne.

"So then. Your were abandoned to, huh?" Cheyanne started talking to the car.

"Your engine is still there." Cheyanne poked and prodded the engine to see what was connected and what not. "Nothing seems to be miss'n."

Cheyanne closed the hood of the car. She made her way to the drivers door. She opened it and started to look for something.

Keys, hopefully.

Ot took a bit of searching, but she found them. A bit of blood was on the handle. Cheyanne jumped out of the car, closed, and locked the door.

"I will be back gal. Dont worry," Cheyanne patted the hood of the car. "We will get through this gal. We'll ge through this."

Once Cheyanne got the dent and windshield fixed she left her appointment, and start sleeping in the car.

She fixed it bit by bit with the money she got.

She never gave up on that car.