#pathtopain

    “It’s yours.” A shake, lifeless digits wriggling with the motion. “Don’t you want it?”

                   He   was   silent,   eyes   looking   aimlessly.   He   could   hear,   feel,   sense...   he   knew   she   was   there.   However,   he   stood   facing   forward,   “   Don’t   be   fooled,   ”   he   spoke   gently,   looking   over   his   shoulders.   Milky   hues   shimmered   in   the   direction   of   the   female,   “   I   know   you’re   there.   ”

Nil-Rae had never really considered herself 'close' to the Jedi tied to the Temple on Coruscant. Despite her parentage, her history with their ilk had only ever been rocky at best and actively antagonistic at worst. But when the Clone Wars had begun and the Separatists had tried their hand at isolating Felucia from the rest of the Galaxy, she'd found herself grateful for the assistance the Jedi had provided to her people, both in terms of extending protection and the supplies they'd deliver in times of crisis. Today, on a seemingly random day in the middle of the cycle, had been one such day and, at first, it had seemed to be no different than any other.

Until, that is, the sound of blaster fire erupted over the hill and red blaster bolts came ripping across the jungle from one of the neighboring villages. Something wicked and vile tore at Nil-Rae's chest, something that reminded her entirely too much of days spent trapped in a dark haze of hatred and anger, and she found herself standing still as stone. Instinctively, she reached out with the Force, trying to find the source of the darkness but finding only pain and fear everywhere she touched. Without thinking, she ran into the small structure she called home, grabbed her lightsaber, and fled across the village to one of their neighbors, desperate to find out what was happening.

She'd expected to find Separatist droids ambushing the relief aid sent by the Republic. Instead, she saw a handful of Clone troopers inching their way towards a petrified young blonde girl who stood in a defensive stance over a cloaked figure lying prone on the jungle floor. Villagers cried out in concern, uncertain what to do as the Republic troops turned on the Jedi seemingly without warning or cause. Extending her consciousness out towards the Force, she called upon it to aid her forward momentum and pushed herself into a dead run. Mere seconds before the Clones opened fire on the girl, Nil-Rae slid into a halt between them, lightsaber in hand and ignited. She swung wildly in an arc to the right, deflecting blaster bolts as they came screaming towards her.

The fight was over in a matter of seconds. Taken by surprise by the sudden arrival of an unexpected Force-user, the Clones turned their attentions from the girl to Nil-Rae but not in time to stop the deft swing of her laser sword. Without pause, she cut two of the troopers down and whirled on her feet, crouching to swing at the midsection of another. From the ground she deflected blaster bolts back at the remaining two, sending the red energy through one's helmet and the other's chest plate.

Heavy breaths rose her chest and shoulders with each exchange and as the last trooper fell to the ground, she disengaged her lightsaber blade and turned to the girl at her back.

∗ 86﹕ sender  brings  receiver  to  their  knees  during  combat .

@pathtopain​: ‘  how come depression makes me feel more alive?  ‘

Gaze shifts toward her and he considers her words. They’re completely different people. With different experiences and pain. He can’t compare what he’s been through to her, but, in a way, he understands.