Star Wars: The High Republic Book 1. Return of the Sith

Prologue

 Tosho awoke slowly as the warm golden light of the morning sun seeped through the stone window of her temple dormitory. She rolled over, before sitting up, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She looked down at her hands, still covered in those old scars. She sighed, before stretching, her snow white hair draped over her back as she stood up, and readied herself for the day.

 The temple mess hall was filled with the sounds of laughter and joy, as many Jedi sat at their tables, exchanging friendly banter as they ate the fresh food supplied to them from the local farm.

"Kassandra hit you over that?" asked the burly lasat, leaning in close to Kai'onne.

"Yes, over helping my padawan. Aever is out of control, and she refuses to see it, it's such a headache..." Kai'onne almost sighed the words. After a moment, the lasat put his hand on Kai'onne's shoulder, "I'll make sure she get's a piece of my mind, I promise you this," he assured Kai'onne.

"That won't be necessary, Palesed." He gave his friend a warm smile as he looked him in the eye, "But thank you," he said as his eyes drifted behind Palased, to a familiar face. Palased huffed as he took his hand away, almost disappointed.

"I'm sorry friend, I must go." Kai'onne stood, patting Palased on the shoulder as he walked by. "Enjoy your food!"

 Tosho stood in the middle of the cafeteria, lost as she often is in crowds. "Tosho, over here!"

 She looked up, her eyes meeting her master's as he approached her. "M- Master Kai'onne Sorry," She looked down at the ground, "I-I just-"

"How many times must I tell you Padawan Tosho, you don't have to apologize so much." He slowly reached out, gently patting her on the shoulder.

 "S-So- M-" She looked up at him with her icey blue eye, the other obscured by a white eyepatch. "R-Right..." She looked down once more.

 Kai'onne sighed,  looking down at her. "C'mon," he said, "Let's get you out of here."

 A group of silent, golden birds flew overhead, diving down into a clearing in the jungle's canopy, snatching fish from the lake's surface, sunlight shimmering in the ripples of the water like glitter. The two walked along the temple's path, its stone walls towering far above the tree line, the sounds of the rainforest like music, and the morning air slowly beginning to warm.

 As the birds perched up in the treetops, so too did Kai'onne, finding a log to rest on. He patted the seat next to him for Tosho to follow suit, who silently obliged. "So..." He started as Tosho began to pick at her food. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm uh... I-I'm ok..." She looked away, taking a small bite.

"Tosho, it's not good to bottle up your emotions like this, you'll... You can trust me... I know Aever can be... Cruel. Did she hurt you?"

 Tosho sighed quietly. "No. I'm ok, really."

 Kai'onne looked at Tosho a moment, and sighed, deciding not to push. It never ends well. "If you would like to talk, I'm here... You're important to me, Tosho. You're like a daughter to me." He smiled at her, though she doesn't pay him the attention.

"Thank you," she says simply, taking another bite.

"Did you send your brute to come face me, hm?" said a tall blonde haired woman clad in a graceful flowing dress. Behind her, a barely standing Palased held by the wrist, and her padawan. Her eyes pierced Kai'onne's own. "Kassandra? Palased, what did you do?" Kai'onne asked in an exhausted tone.

"Mmmmphpumpineapple."

"I will take him to a medical droid. You. Watch your step." She said, before dragging Palased past them, her padawan kicking dust at Tosho's feet as the two  walked by.. Tosho just kept her eyes down, trying to avoid the conflict.