#creating parallels

The fluffy massif looking thing, a Thernbee was what Skywalker called it, was hovering around looking kind of lost. As I got close, I felt the Force disappear and suddenly felt calmer. The echoes of the nightmare visions that had been plaguing me dissipated without the Force to fuel them. The creature cocked its  head at me and I caught a glimpse of the bare patches on its neck that matched the patches under its haunches and on its belly. It flopped down on one side and whined at me, eyes sad.

It communicated with the Force, Skywalker had explained, but it had also eaten an ysalimir and was now amplifying the Force free bubble the creature created. That was helping me at the moment but likely causing the creature a great deal of distress.

“Stinks, doesn’t it?” I said quietly, “such a key part of how you live suddenly disappears one day?” The Thernbee watched me closely but didn’t object as I sat next to it, in fact it moved closer, offering me a place  to relax against its flank. As my body settled against the patchy fur, I felt all the adrenaline of the past weeks drain out of me and fell asleep.

If the words had pierced my unconscious state before the hand on my shoulder, I might not have reacted the way I did, but Skywalker touched me first, and so before he’d even gotten out the words “Mara, are you okay?”, I’d grabbed his arm, levered myself up and pinned him to the ground instinctively. I was barely awake, and between the surprise and the Force-less bubble sapping his energy, he’d been unable to get out of the way.

I found myself straddling the Jedi who was still shirtless, his salve and blister covered back now jammed solidly against the dusty concrete. He winced noticeably as I moved my hands off his shoulders.

“Kriff, Luke. I didn’t mean to -” I started, climbing off his body and helping him to his feet.

“My fault.” He demurred, “I should know better than to grab your shoulder like that, but you didn’t answer me when I called the first few times and I was… worried.”

“First good sleep I’ve had in awhile.” I admitted, still trying to get my bearings. His admission of concern didn’t register at the time.

“Without the Force?” His gaze sharpened and there was an analytical look in his eyes I didn’t like.