Don't Leave Me

Chapter One

Anakin didn't want a Padawan. He wanted Ahsoka.

Unfortunately for him, Obi-Wan had gone behind Anakin's back, arranging with the Council that he be given a new Padawan. He'd told Anakin that he couldn't dwell on his grief forever. A new Padawan would do him good, and finally get him the rank of Master.

Anakin wasn't talking to him anymore.

It took a while for him to cool down. A few weeks at the most. Obi-Wan had taken on Rupa's training during that time, until one fateful day when they'd had to leave her behind for a mission to bring reinforcements to Raxus, where the Separatists were based. The Battle of Raxulon had been going on for over two months now. Far too dangerous for her, surely.

Rupa had snuck onto the ship before they'd left, stowing away in the engine room.

She hid herself there for what felt like hours, meditating like Obi-Wan had taught her. She sought out the two Jedi through the Force, leaving her hiding place once she felt them moving. Her hand curled over her lightsaber at her belt as she left the ship, following quietly behind them: a black hilt with a silver floral engraving, simple but elegant.

Obi-Wan had taught her to be silent and swift on her feet. To be as patient as the raxshir in hunting its prey and as shrewd as the falcon.

Raxus was a lush and beautiful planet. The area where they'd landed was enveloped by trees. And so, naturally, she took to the trees, swinging from branch to branch with practiced ease. She'd always loved climbing, ever since she was a little girl. She loved the burn in her muscles, the satisfied exhaustion that overcame her by the end of it. Master Yoda often joked she could climb before she could walk. Rupa couldn't remember when she'd first learned to climb, though she knew she'd started walking early.

It was a day's journey to the main city of Raxulon. She'd overheard some of the clones talking about it. Their ship had landed as close to it as possible, but then Rupa supposed a Republic ship right next to the capital city would cause some alarm.

After a while, she grew too tired to climb, and switched back to walking, keeping to the shadows of the trees. She supposed that all this would be moot, since the two Jedi had the ability to sense her through the Force. But Anakin had not sought any connection with her, much like her former master. Rupa concluded that she was safe from him, at least for a little while.

Obi-Wan, however, had spent the past ten weeks training her, had taken great pains in creating that bond with her. Rupa only hoped that he had his mind too focused on the mission to think of searching for her presence.

She kept careful pace with the 501st, although her feet were sore by the time the sun was high in the sky. It had been a while since she'd been out on a proper march, a real battle, after all. She'd been stationed in the Temple for a while now, teaching the younglings while the Council had debated over what to do with her. 

Anakin called a break a few minutes later, the 212th mingling with the 501st. Rupa sat down to rest her feet, stretching out her aching muscles. She silently thanked Master Obi-Wan for all the cardio he'd made her do, something she'd never imagined being grateful for.

She looked around at her surroundings, the sound of chatter filling her ears. Talk from her fellow soldiers. Rupa lost herself in the noise, letting the cacophony roar in her mind, letting herself forget everything but the noise. It was oddly peaceful. Meditating with Master Yoda had taught her that peace could be found even in the most chaotic moments. 

It hadn't been long, but she missed her charhound and her steelee, Smokey and Silver. They were native to Elphrona, Rupa's home planet, and had belonged to Rupa since she was no more than a few months old. No one had wanted to deal with a baby crying unnecessarily: besides, empathy was an important trait, and best to develop it early, and so Rupa had grown up with them.