The next few days were isolating. Depressing. She was irritated and angered to say the least. Dain had made several attempts to get a somewhat of a response from her but failed.
She didn't know when they were coming next and she wasn't willing to find out. She was prepared and ready.
Sharpening the end of the staff, Dain watched from a far as she shredded at the wood violently.
"You just gonna stand there and watch.." Jedha muttered as she glanced over her shoulder as she continued stripping the wood.
Stepping closer Dain shook his head, "Mai made lotus root-"
"I'm not hungry."
Dain nodded slowly, his hair falling in front of his face. "Just wanted to see.."
The two remained silent as the wind billowed and howled. "Mai, she's worried about you."
"She shouldn't be."
Glancing in front of him, he watched as she tore away at the bark of a large stick viciously. "I don't think of you like that." Dain spoke.
He watched as she promptly stopped and turned to look at him. Her eyes were narrowed and darker than usual.
She scoffed, "Like what? Like a sith?"
Dain didn't respond as he shifted his gaze. He felt her anger growing inside of her, something brewing underneath.
"I am no sith. I am no jedi. If anything every single one of you should be at my feet thanking me for not letting those murderers kill you all."
"Why didn't you."
She paused, her eyes softening as she grasped the machete in her hand. "Why didn't I what?"
"Why didn't you let them kill us."
Letting out a breath, Jedha stood to her feet, grasping the spear in her fist. Glancing to the spear, she sauntered to Dain.
"Don't stand here and act like the only reason we're all here today isn't because of me. The only people not here is that idiotic.. foolish... stupid old man- he handicapped us! They could've massacred all of us! Yet... here we are."
Pushing past Dain, Jedha made her way back to the village. "We're ready to fight." Dain muttered under his breath.
Pivoting on her foot, the gravel crunched underneath her as the dust rose. "You're not ready for such a thing. The only reason why I'm doing this is to get back what's mine."
Glancing behind her, Dain felt his veins grow cold at the thought of Jedha leaving him over a saber. "They're ready too."
Furrowing her brows, Jedha swiftly turned around. Villagers all turned towards her, their eyes wide and ambitious.
"We want to keep our independence. We don't want to obey those people anymore."
Jedha couldn't help but feel her face grow red and her heartbeat growing in her cheeks. Were they serious?
"You're our family, Jedha." Mai spoke as she appeared in the crowd. "We fight for family."
"We've got a lot coming for us. I-I don't even know when they're coming next-."
"That's why start preparing. Now!" Mai spoke.
Jedha nodded as she hurried back into town, running into her house and grabbing the armor she had taken from the trooper.
"I need women and children to go with you. Anything tactical, traps, holes, spikes, anything to keep them away from where we are. Dain, we're training the army."
The two nodded their heads as Mai dispersed from the group, gathering women and children.
"How are we going to train them if we don't know when they're coming?" Dain asked.
Jedha glanced to him before moving towards the group of men, "We train them as if they're coming tonight. Or tomorrow."
"There will be posts that need to be filled, we will change them every two hours all through the day and night."
Dain nodded, "Boys over the age of fifteen, you'll be going with my mother, anyone else you'll be going with us."
The group shuffled before they were left with their final group. "What are we going to be doing." One of them asked.
"Fighting." Jedha replied. Glancing towards the group she started jogging up the hill, the group trailing behind her.
Their feet slid against the gravel and the sound of their breathing filled the air.
Finally stopping, Jedha looked out onto the plain below. The spot was perfect, everything within two miles could be seen from there.
As the rest of the stragglers finally caught up, they all caught a glimpse of the view before turning to the two.
"Here is where we'll be training. We don't know when the next visit will happen but we're not risking. Everyday you'll be training like it's your last." Dain spoke loudly.
"You'll be either protecting your post or defending your land, either way, your attention will be perfected."
