His Padawan

First impressions

On the way, Obi-Wan filled him in on the newest member of their invincible duo, soon to be one a trio. Not much had been revealed, but Anakin now knew that his Padawan was a human female at the age of sixteen.

Obi-Wan also told him an interesting rumor that had been circulating around the Temple. Apparently Anakin's apprentice had started her Jedi training at the age of six, older than any Padawan besides him.

Unlike Anakin, her training was approved unanimously by the Jedi Council. Then at the age of thirteen, she vanished. The Temple surveillance showed a figure coming in but then were apparently tampered with. His Padawan had been missing and presumed dead until she recently reappeared on the brink of death. No one knew what her injuries were or how she got them.

She had been forgotten and no thought had been given to her training. Presumably, the only way she had become his Padawan was a chance run in with Master Yoda. Anakin disliked all the mystery surrounding his apprentice and couldn't wait to question her.

Anakin and Obi-Wan reached the Jedi Temple. Both looked fondly on their old home for just a moment before heading inside.

They were directed to the training room when Obi-Wan asked for Kiara. It was a pretty name, Anakin thought distractedly.

Master and Knight strode into the room where they had spent many hours being trained in lightsaber combat. In the back corner sat a small human girl, deep in meditation.

As Obi-Wan led Anakin towards her, the girl opened her eyes. They were a deep brown, appearing to swallow the rest of her face. She had a light dusting of freckles across her nose. Kiara's red-blond curly hair fell over her small shoulders.

In fact, Anakin thought, almost everything about this girl was small, even by human standards. She did not look strong enough to hold a lightsaber, let alone use one.

Obi-Wan made the introductions and Anakin held out his large, gloved mechanical hand. He felt a brief flash of irritation when the girl only stated blankly at his hand before he awkwardly let it fall back to his side.

Obi-Wan noticed both of their uncomfortableness but decided to continue on about what a great team they'd make, etc.

Anakin just studied his silent Padawan. Her large brown eyes met his blue ones for a fleeting moment, and Anakin felt a flash of mixed emotions from her Force aura. Fear or intimidation of him was certainly one of these.

The other emotions were impossible to discern, but none were a sense of happiness at having a new Master. Not for the first time, Anakin felt a flash of resentment toward the Jedi Council. Why couldn't they have given him a useful, or at least normal, Padawan?

"Kiara! Come show your skills for your Master!" One of the teachers called out.

The girl slowly rose from her corner and Anakin saw that her head barely reached his chest. She shrug off her brown Jedi robe and walked to the center of the training

room. Kiara drew her lightsaber but left it unlit.

Anakin took a sharp breath as he took in the scars covering the girl's pale arms. He couldn't tell what they were from, but he felt a wave of compassion over his Padawan's suffering. The rumors were true, she had been injured badly.

Her opponent was a burly male Padawan, nearly twice her size. The two Padawans stared at each other for a brief second before he lunged.

Kiara's lightsaber ignited with a snap and a hiss. Her green blade met the other Padawan's with a sharp crackling.

Anakin watched apprehensively as she appeared to struggle under the weight of the human male.

All of a sudden, she disengaged with a quick back flip. She sank into a fighting stance and watched as the other Padawan charged at her like an enraged bantha.

Kiara met his charge with a quick strike that left him disarmed and a sweep of her skinny leg that left her opponent on the ground.

Obi-Wan clapped appreciatively.

"Beautiful form, Kiara", he commented.

Anakin gave her a small smile, still in shock over her skill.

She put her dark robe back over her scars and followed Anakin and Obi-Wan out the door.