Iron Braid

Part 2 - Krani

"I've got you now!" Two Jedi younglings were sparring in a training room. Both were blindfolded and bantered as they fought. 

"Nope, you missed" the boy crowed, swinging his saber at her shoulder. She blocked his advance, then ducked his next swing.

"You couldn't get me if I was tied to a tree! Yeep!" She tripped and fell onto the floor, using her stumble to her advantage as she swung at his shins. He blocked and pressed her saber against hers, slowly pushing her hand back to her neck. She struggled for a moment, then held still. The boy, so focused on his lightsaber, did not see what was coming until it was too late and sat down hard as she kicked his feet out from under him. 

He laughed. "Truce?" She smiled at his voice. 

"You were never one to finish what you started. Sure." The blindfolded opponents grasped the other's wrist and pulled each other up. "Good fight as always, Garma Ancon."

"You too, Krani Viall. For a girl." She pulled off her blindfold. 

"It's a known fact that girls fight better, Garma. You just refuse to accept that." He shrugged and pulled off his blindfold. "Whatever you say... I'd better get going. I have to meet a Knight who is interested in training me." He smiled nervously. "I hope he takes me..." Krani smiled. 

"May the Force be with you!"

"And with you!" He said as he left the room. When he had gone, Krani sighed. She felt so empty. They were the same age and equals in nearly everything, and he had attracted two Knights already. None had even looked sideways at her. She reached up to tug on her Padawan braid as she did when she was nervous. Her fingers only brushed air. She reached again, confused. Her braid was... gone? It couldn't be! She stroked the unraveling stub of what had been her second-most prized possession. It was gone. She turned quickly and looked around the training room floor, panic rising in her chest. she frantically looked and when her eyes rested on the thin rope, she squeezed them shut. "What am I going to do? I cut my braid in training! That's got to be a huge offense! No one cuts their braid before Knighthood! She sat down on her knees, holding the severed strand in her hands. "Will I be sent away? Will they say I can't be a Jedi now? Oh, I couldn't bear that..." She was very near to tears, horrified by what had happened. "I'll never... get a Master... now..." she sniffed, "no Master would want a Padawan who cut their own braid..." She rubbed her eyes fiercely with the back of her hand. "I've worked too hard for this!" After a moment she stood up, trying to calm her emotions. "I'll tell Master Yoda. He's going to understand. I hope..." She focused herself in the Force and used it to hold the severed braid to its place so nothing seemed awry. Then she reached for her comlink. "Master Yoda?" Her voice quivered. "I must speak with you." 

The Grand Master spoke kindly. "In the council spire, I am. Join me, you may." Krani murmured her thanks and started off for the spire.