Broken Beginnings (A Star Wars: Clone Wars fanfic)

Chapter 41: The Gathering Part 1

Ok guys now I know I strung the last chapter out and I was going to have them actually do the Gathering but I decided to wait a little longer.  Which brings me to this chapter, I was going to have the entire Gathering in this chapter but because it is turning out to be so long I've decided to split it into two!  I hope you guys don't mind...

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Alexa POV

The trip was long and, in my opinion, boring. Rendal was being a real stick in the mud, he didn't want to talk to just me for too long in case the others thought he was playing favourites. This meant that he kept encouraging me to socialise with the others and that was something I had no interest in doing. I would rather keep to myself than talk to a bunch of younglings who would scream if I said so much as "boo" to them. So I just stayed quiet.

That is until one of them approached me. It was the Rodian boy, Oblo something or other I think his name was. He came and sat down beside me, I merely chose to ignore him, but then he started asking me questions.

'You're Alexa, aren't you?' I didn't reply. 'I'll take that as a yes.' If only he'd take it as a sign that I did not want to talk to him. 'Why do you have your hood up? Are you trying to hide your face? Why are you keeping your face hidden?' That was none of his business. 'Do you speak basic or do you not understand me?'

'I just want to be left alone.' I finally growled at him.

I could sense he was taken aback but he needed to know that I was not in the mood to answer questions from anyone, especially someone like him who could never understand what I've been through in my life. Stupid snotty nosed kid.

'I'm sorry to have bothered you then. I just thought you looked lonely.' He looked sad and turned away, almost making me feel the smallest bit guilty. He was only trying to be nice and I just pushed him away...

'Wait.' He looked back at me. 'I'm sorry. I'm just not a very nice person.' I apologised.

'I think you are, you just don't really know how to deal with some people.'

'You're pretty smart for a youngling.' I gave him a tiny smile, though it only lasted a second, I don't even know if he saw it from beneath my hood.

'Thank you.' I didn't have to be a padawan to sense the air of humility that surrounded him and I had the feeling that some day he would make a wise Jedi. Especially if he could gain some practical knowledge and street smarts.

'You're welcome. Anyway, let's talk about you instead.'

'Ok, but what do you want to know about me?' The boy asked.

'Well how long have you been part of the order?'

'As long as I can remember. I think my father might have been a Jedi, or at least Force sensitive, but since I haven't met him I have no way to prove it.' He replied with a sigh.

'That's unfortunate...My parents are both dead now. They died when I was young.' I murmured, trying to keep the sadness out of my voice though I think he could hear it anyway.

'I'm sorry to hear that.' He frowned. Unsure of what to say I merely sat in silence, my gaze dropping to the floor, until he spoke again. 'I guess I'm sort of lucky in that respect, after all you can't miss what you never had...right?'

'I guess not.' I agreed, though his tone made me think some part of him believed otherwise.

'But that's a depressing subject, why don't you come talk to the others and we can talk about something that's a little happier?'