-A Padawan's Journey-

Rough Beginnings

A small girl laid in her bed. She observed the beige walls of the jedi temple. Her brown hair that fell just past her shoulders was sprawled out on her pillow. She sat up and looked at the door. She didn't want to go to her studies, she didn't fit in with the other younglings. She was way ahead in her studies and none of the others wanted to train with her. Not that she wanted to train with them anyways but she was lonely. She hated being the outcast even the older Jedi at the temple knew she was a loner, but no one reached a hand out to help her and she heard the whispers from the younglings. They didn't even hide the fact they talked about her when she walked by.

She finally got up from her bed and fixed her hair. She left her room and started making her way. She studied the other Jedi as they walked the halls. They would greet her and she would greet them back. She was so focused on her surroundings that she wasn't watching in front of her. She bumped into someone.

"Excuse you." The deep male voice boomed.

Valerie held her head down. "I'm so sorry!"

"Look at me child." The Jedi Master said, Valerie kept her head down, afraid of being scolded.

"Youngling Ortis." Another voice said. "You are being spoken to."

Valerie slowly lifted her head and saw the two Jedi Master's. Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Drake Amon, both of them very powerful Jedi. Valerie swallowed her fears. "I-I'm so sorry Master Amon. I didn't mean to bump into you. I should've been watching to where I was going but-"

"Where are you off too now?" The Twi-lek questioned, his voice intimidating but Valerie sensed a hint of curiosity in the small child.

"Um-to-uh Master Yoda's teachings, sir." Valerie said, staring right at him.

"Hmm." Master Amon said, placing a hand on his chin, studying her.

"Well then youngling, you best not keep Master Yoda waiting." Master Kenobi said. "You ought to get going."

"Yes master." Valerie said and bowed. "Excuse me and again I am sorry Master Amon." Valerie brushed past them and continued down the hall, but of course not missing their next conversation.

"Youngling Ortis, A quiet one she is?" Master Drake said.

"Afraid so." Master Kenobi said. "A bit of an outcast she is. The other younglings don't seem to like her and she doesn't help her cause by not making any friends."

"Yes, children can often be the most cruel." Master Amon said. "But it's our duty to correct that cruel behavior."

Valerie held her arms as she continued down the hall, she felt embarrassed. Of course even the masters knew how much she doesn't fit in here.

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She made it to the classroom and walked in. Some of the other younglings were already there, they eyed her as she entered the room. She walked past the other younglings to the back of the room, she heard their whispers but kept her head straight.

"Weirdo."

"Does she even belong here?"

"She doesn't ever speak."

"A teacher's pet that one is."

"Taking all the glory and she's mute!"

Valerie sat down on the ground, she reminded herself to not cry in front of them. She didn't want to ever give them the satisfaction. She started playing with the fraying part of her pant leg. She then reminded herself that she didn't want to be there, the other younglings were right she in fact didn't belong with them. Then a young Togruta, the girl had never seen her before, walked in. The Togruta looked around the room and made eye contact with the girl. Valerie quickly looked away from her.