Ahsoka Tano - Undeserving

6

The sensations of the jungle were almost too much for Ahsoka to bear at first. When the small trio had begun their trek through the undergrowth she noticed more than ever before just how rich their environment was: every leaf and small branch crackled under their steps, no matter how lightly they tread. Every now and then Ahsoka would hear a winged animal emit their call and a response would sometimes occur; and gusts of wind constantly made themselves known through the wave of rustling leaves that passed above and around them.

After a few miles Ahsoka got used to the constant noise; she had been accustomed to either a battlefield, which had an entirely different sort of constant ambiance, or a Venator which was as silent as the Temple meditation rooms when it wanted to be. Either way, this noise was starting to grow on the padawan when Anakin decided to suddenly halt, causing her to almost run into his captain.

Alarmed, Ahsoka peered past the clone's shoulder to see the Jedi paused in front of them, unnaturally still. His right hand was held out in a fist, a sign Ahsoka understood as halt for danger. She complied and stood perfectly still, save for a hand reaching towards her primary saber.

The trio was still for a few more moments before Anakin slowly lowered his hand. "False alarm." He muttered, some of the first words any of them had spoken throughout the now hours-long trek. Ahsoka's shoulders lowered and Rex holstered his blasters.

"Sir, what was the problem?" The captain inquired with a cocked head.

The Jedi didn't turn back towards them, but Ahsoka could visualize the frown on his face. "I thought I sensed something, a predator, but whatever it was it wasn't interested in us."

Truthfully, Ahsoka had sensed it as well in the form of a tingling on the back of her neck, but had decided to ignore it. Her jumpiness and tendency to be trigger happy had resulted in both her and her master second guessing almost every bad feeling she had through the Force, leading to her disregarding almost all bad sensations on instinct except the horrible ones as to not anger her master.

She adjusted the straps of her pack, prepared to keep moving, but to her surprise Anakin just sighed and looked around their immediate area. "This seems like a good place to have a small break."

"Yes sir." The captain removed his helmet and placed it at his side while Anakin slung his pack off and sat on a fallen log nearby. The two broke out their rations and started eating, while Ahsoka stood uncertainly.

Anakin frowned at her. "What's wrong?"

"I... Er... We normally don't take breaks, so this is new for me." The kid replied, slowly sinking to the floor cross-legged. As she took off her pack Anakin and Rex exchanged a glance, likely thinking the same thing: typical Krell, always working his people to the bone. No wonder his battalion seemed so quiet, they were probably exhausted.

The Jedi chose to only shrug lightly. "We normally break for a few minutes to eat and discuss strategy when we're getting close to our destination."

Ahsoka nodded in understanding and bit into a ration bar, chewing slowly. Anakin made sure not to stare, but it was hard not to given the puzzle he was slowly unraveling about her relationship with her master. But his trademark instinct to care too much combated with the Jedi teachings embedded within him: it wasn't his business, so he shouldn't pry.

"So, youngling, what's it like being with your master's battalion?" Rex asked, normally comfortable with silence but wanting to know more about this intriguing child.

Ahsoka swallowed. "I don't know, probably the same as yours." She frowned. "Your troopers tend to talk more, though. Like they have personalities. It's refreshing."