Gray | Anakin Skywalker

Prologue

Harsh heat and molten lava. That's all I've come to know. I've been traveling this wasteland alone for as long as I could remember. The only memory I have of my mother was her leaving me on this wretched planet at the age of five. I can only recall the feelings I felt as I watched her ship fly off into the sky. The dread, the anxiety, the confusion it all filled my body at once. I wasn't sure why she was leaving me, I only knew that I was on my own from now on. My father I knew nothing about, I didn't even know if he was alive. For all I knew he may not even know I exist.

I am now nine years old. Four years alone traveling this rocky planet, following streams of molten lava hoping to find someone or something. My wavy brown hair has grown out to just above my butt.

I was blinded about a year ago while trying to find food. I had stumbled into a cave unaware of the explosives still hidden there from years past. I was chasing an Ash Rabbit into the cave when I suddenly stopped. I felt a wave of something I couldn't quite place. Almost like something was telling me I shouldn't go into the cave. My stomach was growling so loudly I decided to ignore it. I cautiously moved further into the cave until I tripped a wire. The wire snapped and I immediately turned around to run but I wasn't fast enough. The explosion threw me forward causing me to land in a liquid that started to burn my skin. It got into my eyes and I started to panic watching as my vision started to fade but I was fully conscious. I got up out of the liquid and ran using what little vision I had left. I made it to the opening of the cave before my vision fully blacked out tears filling my eyes.

As the days turned into weeks I have become more attuned to my senses relying on my other four senses to navigate through this life.

Today, I was in trouble. My feet slapped against the hot rocks of Sullust in the same rhythm it always has but this time, with urgency. I've been running for 4 years, it's quite exhausting but I have to push forward. I had been searching for people for years but these people chasing me... They weren't what I wanted to find. I heard yells behind me from the slave traders that were currently chasing me. Why they wanted a blind little girl as a slave, I have no idea. I ran for what felt like ages before I found a cave and slipped into it feeling a gush of heat. I hid behind a large rock formation listening for any trace of the men.

"Where'd the little rat go!" One of the men shouted from a distance. They sounded to be decently far away. I decided to move further into the cave hoping to conceal myself further. I successfully navigated further into the cave only to step on a sand cats tail.

"Oh Kriff" I muttered as the jet black cat began to get up with a yowl. I backed up closer to the cave entrance preparing to make a break for it.

The cat began stalking forward my instincts beginning to kick in. I closed my eyes sensing my surroundings the air seeming to flow through me and decided to do something risky. I stuck my hand out to the cat, waiting with anticipation. Suddenly I felt the cold nose of the cat press against my finger tips sniffing my fingers. I felt it rub it's head against my palm, its soft fur gliding through my fingers. A smirk made its way upon my tanned face.

"Want to help me make the escape of a life time?" I spoke softly the cat mewling in response. I walked over to the cats side and patted it hoisting myself up onto it's back. "Alright, let's get out of here".

The sand cat burst through the cave as I gripped onto its scruff steadying myself. I heard yells of terror along with thuds on the ground from the men diving out of the way. I smirked to myself feeling the hot wind against my dirty face.

The sand cat ran us a ways away from the slave traders to what I could sense was a ship. The cat slowed down and stopped just a ways away from the ship to let me down. I jumped off the cats back and it dashed off into the distance. Curiosity got the better of me as I walked towards the ship. The landing ramp began to open as I stood with anticipation. A Kel Dor male began to exit off the landing ramp. I immediately stood in a defensive stance in preparation.

"Easy now child, I'm not going to hurt you" a smooth, deep voice rang out. Immediately I believed him, his presence soothed me in a way I've never felt before.

"Who are you?" I asked my now white eyes landing on him.

"My name is Plo Koon, I'm a Jedi master" he spoke with a very wise tone. I wondered what the kriff a Jedi was but didn't question it. "And you are?" He asked after a moments silence.

"I'm Anala, Anala Zephyr" I spoke stepping forward. I sensed him tense as I said my name. I cocked my head in confusion but he had returned to his normal posture just as fast as it had changed.

"You are very strong with the force Anala, do come back to the Jedi temple on Coruscant with me." He stated more so than asking.

"What's a Jedi?" I finally asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

"We are the guardians of peace in the galaxy" he stated as if having already answered this question a million times.

I nodded walking towards him onto the ship. "I would like to be a Jedi, but what's the force?" I asked as we made our way onto the ship.

"All your questions will be answered at the temple child" he chuckled as the landing ramp shut and we prepared for take off.

As we made the jump to hyperspace I smiled to myself finally having a way off this wretched planet. Four years of wandering this planet by myself and I finally wasn't alone anymore. I was going to be apart of something. Something I could feel was going to be much bigger than myself.

Bring it on...