Ashes

Chapter 9: Family Ties

AHSOKA TANO

Ahsoka stared through the glass window on board The Onderonian freighter Lux had arranged to take them to Shili. There was much more water on the planet than she remembered, and even from space, she could tell that the grasslands were teeming with life.

Alema stood next to her, her hands glued to the glass. "So you're really from there?" the small Twi'lek girl asked.

"You could say that."

"I wish I could go home."

Ahsoka sighed. Ryloth had become a sad state of affairs after the Empire rose to power, and it wasn't safe for someone like Alema to return yet.

"I know, tazi sa'mahr (little sister). Your father was from the colony on Kiros right?" Alema nodded. "Well," Ahsoka continued, "the Togrutas in that colony moved there from Shili. That makes Shili your home, too. Sort of." She flashed a reassuring smile. "Besides, everyone's going to be waiting on you hand and foot here. I'm not sure you're ever going to want to leave!"

Alema shrugged. "Du'yeh och (we'll see)."

-:-:-:-:-:-

Ahsoka stood on the ramp of the ship, her palms sweaty. Where were her combat gloves when she needed them?

"Hey," Lux said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You can do this. You believed in me when I needed you to, so I'll believe in you now."

"We're here for you every step of the way," Koyi reassured.

Ahsoka took a deep breath and took a step forward.

Then another.

And another.

She stepped out into the light of the morning sun. She could smell the salt from the ocean in the breeze, lessening the intensity of the heat. There was a long stone bridge connecting the landing platform to the royal palace, which seemed more like a large, fancy, and dignified cottage than what she pictured in her mind on the journey here. In front of the bridge stood a small group of Togrutas, all more or less matching her complexion except for one.

It was her family and Governor Sotik.

She quickened her pace, fighting back a smile.

"Welcome home, Ra'tano," Sotik said with a small bow. "We have been anxiously awaiting your arrival."

"Thank you, Governor," she said. "I'm happy to be here."

He gestured to the group behind him. "You have some people here who would really like to meet you."

A boy around her age, maybe a few years her senior, stepped forward and extended a hand. "Koda Tano," he said. "I'm so glad you're back, little sis. It's been too long."

Little sis? Her heart fluttered. She had a brother! 

She gave Koda a once-over as she shook his hand. His skin was a darker orange than hers, and his facial markings were more gray than white, but the resemblance was definitely there.

"Azora was the oldest, then me, you, the twins, Lidan, and Moira," he said, gesturing to each one of them.

"The twins have names, you know," one of her sisters said. "I'm Heda, and he's Seda."