Jedi Storytime: Pods & Ponies

The Secret Past of Jinn & Justice

"Ow!" Anakin winced.
"Sorry," said Obi-Wan, disposing of another thorn.
Anakin was laying on his stomach while Obi-Wan was carefully using tweezers to pull out thorns that had gotten stuck into his backside from falling in the rose bush. For such tiny things, though, they hurt a lot.
"It looks as though you've learned another rule about horseback riding the hard way." Obi-Wan said, getting another thorn out.
"OUCH!" Anakin cried. "Yeah. No getting off the saddle near rose bushes."
"I was going to say be more aware of your balance, but that is another good lesson."
"OW!"
"It would be a lot less painful if you'd hold still, Anakin." Peppermint said. "We're almost done."
"Peppermint, fetch the ointment and bandages." Obi-Wan said. "Okay, this one is a little deeper in. You might want to hold your breath, Anakin."

Meanwhile, Padme was helping the Koons wash their horses, when...
"OOOOWWWW!"
"What was that?" said Citrus, covered in suds.
"Sounds like our guest got too close to the rose bushes." Ahsoka said, having seen the children get hurt on those bushes a few times.
Padme started to think. Anakin really didn't seem to know much about living in the countryside, much less how to ride with a horse. Even while out of his slave master's grasp, he seemed stuck on getting things done quickly. That probably wasn't surprising, especially if his master was always urging him and his poor mother to go faster than their bodies would let them. Perhaps Anakin needed a little help learning to slow down.

Anakin groaned as he finally got to get up from getting bandaged once the last thorn was finally out.
"I don't think I'm gonna be able to sit down for a while," groaned Anakin.
"You wouldn't be the first patient I've had say that." Obi-Wan said, washing his tools.
"Wrecker and the kids have gotten hurt more times on those bushes than I can count." Peppermint said.
Anakin sighed; at least his next task was to assist in construction of the new wall for the Fetts' stable. Hopefully this construction project wouldn't involve planting more rose bushes or any briars, for the sake of Anakin's already hurt backside.

After being dismissed from the doctor's office, Anakin got right to work beginning repairs of the stable walls.
With Wrecker and Hunter helping, Anakin hammered the supports into place before it was time to add the wooden sheets. Tech triple checked the measurements of the wall and the wood to make sure it was cut just the right size so the construction team would be able to place it.
"Looks good... right?" Anakin said, sounding nervous.
"It looks great." Hunter said. "All that's needed now is some brick and steel to hold it all in place."
Conveniently, Wrecker already brought in the wheelbarrow of bricks while Crosshair and Echo got to mixing the cement to put it all together. Anakin quickly started to line up the bricks, making sure to smooth out the cement across each line as they were stacked up. it was messy work, but he kept going, even as his stomach started to grumble. So did the Fett brothers'.
Omega came into the stable after helping her mom with some yard work.
"Hey, everyone. Mom and Dad say to come to the diner for lunch."
"Alright! I'm starving." Wrecker said.
But while the Fetts all began to head out to get some lunch, Anakin continued working.
"Aren't you gonna eat too?" Echo asked.
"I will when the work is done." Anakin said, not looking away from another brick he was cementing.
And then Anakin's stomach growled again, a little louder. But Anakin was used to that by now.
"You sure your stomach can wait that long?" Echo said, sounding worried. "It's gonna be a while before the cement dries on the ones you just stacked."
"I've had to go days without eating before." Anakin sighed, his stomach growling once more.
That was it for Echo, and Omega thought the same, that being shown as she came in and pulled Anakin by the arm and out of the stable.
"Come on, Anakin!" Omega said.
But in response, Anakin freaked out, screaming, "No! Let me go!"
And Anakin was curled up into a ball, like someone was going to hurt him. The others got worried about Anakin again. Despite knowing about his past as a slave, they didn't know everything he'd been through.
Of course, Omega, being the youngest one there, wasn't sure what to do for this. So, she did what she was always taught to do in situations like this: tell a grownup.
Omega came back with Obi-Wan, figuring a doctor would be a good choice at a time like this, but by the time they'd gotten there, Anakin had disappeared.
The Fetts and Obi-Wan started to look for Anakin, but could find him anywhere. He wasn't in the yard, the other stable, or in the diner. It worried everyone else when they heard about Anakin's freakout.
"Where do you think he went?" Crosshair said.
"I might have an idea." Qui-Gon said, not bothering to take a bite of his food before standing up.