-A Padawan's Journey-

This Is War?

Some time later Valerie started to stir. She felt something resting on her mouth and nose and brought her hand up to it. It felt bulky, it was pushing oxygen through and it felt nice. She moved her hand back to her chest, resting it and she let out a quick cough.

"Welcome back to the land of the living Valerie." Someone said and Valerie slowly peeled opened her eyes. She was laying in a tent and she turned her head. It was Red, he was sitting up on the cot he was on, facing her.

"Wha-" Her voice was scratchy. "What happened?"

"Not quite sure, you left the tent. Then there was commotion outside and you were being rushed back in here, the general was carrying you with the oxygen mask on your face." He pointed out. "Ginkgo said that you must've inhaled a lot more smoke than we thought, you were coughing up blood and said that your throat must be really irritated."

Valerie sat up in the bed but kept her mask on. "Oh."

"Valerie, I think you should really be laying down." Red said.

She pulled down her oxygen mask, "I'll be fine Red. I don't think I can be laying down anymore anyways, that cot is uncomfortable."

"Red is right, general. You should be resting." A clone appeared, he took the mask away from Valerie and handed her a canteen, the water in it was cold against her throat when she took a drink.

"I'm fine uh-" Valerie looked at the clone.

"It's Ginkgo sir." Ginkgo said.

Valerie slid out of the cot and stood up, she brushed herself off. "I'm okay, Ginkgo. Where is my master?" She asked.

"He's in one of the other tents with the captain, they're trying to come up with a way to get into Alderaan's capitol." He pointed and Valerie thanked him before leaving the tent and started making her way. She saw the sun had set and the stars lit up the night sky.

"Hey general!" Someone called out and saw it was Moose who jogged up to her, "You okay kid? You gave us quite a scare when you collapsed on the ground."

"I'm sorry Moose, I didn't mean to scare you all like that." Valerie said. The two of them walking side by side.

"Don't be sorry general, we just wanted to make sure you're okay." He said and the two of them stopped outside a tent.

"I am Moose, thank you for asking." She said and he nodded. She ducked into the tent and saw Rickshaw and her master talking. "Master, captain." She bowed her head.

"Ah padawan you're awake, how are you feeling?" Master Amon asked.

"I'm feeling much better, I apologize for scaring everyone." Valerie said.

"Don't apologize kid, we're glad you're feeling better." Rickshaw said.

"Yes, we were just finishing up discussing our advance on Alderaan's capital tomorrow." Master Amon said, "you should get cleaned up, you are still covered in soot from the explosion. We leave early tomorrow morning."

"Yes master." Valerie nodded.

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Valerie laid in the tent with her master, he was peacefully sleeping next to her but Valerie found herself not being able to sleep. She tried to sleep but it wouldn't come and she found herself staring up at the green tent. Her mind wandered to everything that has happened already. From the crash landing, to the dead clones, to herself blacking out. She was overwhelmed and she wasn't sure if she was made for war or for being a padawan. She quickly became overwhelmed.

I don't know if I can do this. She thought. She sat up in sleeping bag and looked at her master. He was softly snoring. She got up and hooked her lightsaber to her waist and quietly left the tent. Everything was quiet and all the clones were sleeping. The cool air nipped at her cheeks. She wandered towards a small mountain and climbed up it, no one was awake to stop her. She sat up top and brought her knees to her chest and rested her head on her knees, wrapping her arms around them. In the distance she saw the capital of Alderaan, the city was lit up. She sensed someone coming up behind her, but she didn't turn around.