•SOLSTICE•

Chapter 1: Plunge

25,012 — 42 BBY
Kalee, Jenuwaa Sea
0126
Ronderu lij Kummar

Cold water swirled around her as she was thrown into the ocean. The embrace of the sea was one that normally she would have welcomed with open arms. But not like this.

Ronderu couldn't even struggle. It wasn't as if she could swim with a leg and a half, and only one arm. Scarlet slowly flooded the water around her, clouding the water, surely attracting predators to ensure her demise, and yet swirling in an oddly beautiful way. She was distantly aware of the cries of Glow Dragons. She could see their lights in the corners of her eyes.

Bubbles rose past her lips as the air escaped her lungs. She felt a small creature brush against her back. Perhaps trying to push her to the surface.

Her last thought as she struggled for consciousness, was of Qymaen.

Her dear Dreamer.

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Ronderu let out a groan, artificial light hurting her eyes. A she tried to sit up, a hand pushed her back down against the soft surface. "Hold on there ma'am, you're safe now."

"Am- Am I dead?" She grumbled. She slowly blinked away her blurry vision, feeling slightly shocked when she saw that it wasn't a Kaleesh treating her, but a Togruta - if she remembered right - with large spiraling montrals. "You speak Kaleeshi well......." Ronderu commented softly, and the woman nodded.

"Mhm, I'm a shadow, I have to know many languages."

"Jedi Master Athena Evergreen."

Ronderu had heard stories about the Jedi. Powerful individuals that wielded blades of pure fire and unnatural abilities. Practically living gods.

"Ronderu Lij Kummar."

Evergreen smiled softly, "Nice to meet you Kummar. We're coming up on Coruscant soon, so if you wanted to see hyperspace, now's your chance."

Ronderu just gave her a confused look.

"The healers at the temple can treat you far better than I ever could. I almost lost you a couple times." She helped Ronderu to her feet.

Ronderu's eyes widened slightly, "I owe you my life then..."

She made an indifferent sound, helping Ronderu to the cockpit and settling her down into the co-pilot's chair. A soft gasp escaped her, staring out at hyperspace. It was gorgeous, nothing she'd ever seen in her life. Casting blue light over the cockpit, almost like a tunnel of stars. Her mouth was slightly agape in amazement.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all...

She glanced at her leg. The flesh around the wound, where her leg had been all but torn from her body, was marbled and burn scarred. It was a clean burn, as if a blade with the heat of a sun had touched it and whisked her away from death. Ronderu couldn't recall when her wound had been burnt like that though, surely she would've remembered such a searing pain, wouldn't she?

"Evergreen?" She asked, slowly. The Togruta turned her head to look over at her, tipping it slightly.

"What is it Kummar?"