The mysterious mountains

-The Twilight-

It has been an hour a since Ahsoka, Kix and Rex made it back to the Twilight. They had found some food along the way. Soon, the could see Reetha running back in her wolf form, with Hardcase on her back. "Sorry, were late. Looks like the party started." Reetha got on her paws to wait to Hardcase to unload the huge bottles of spotchka, then reverted back to human form.

 "Our part of the mission went well. How about you guys?" Reetha asked as she stretched out her hands and sat down on the ramp. "We met a friendly waitress who gladly told two weary travelers about some droid rumors they heard of." Kix said. "Rex?" "Farmers can be quite stubborn. But I did get some information out of them."

The group flew the twilight deeper into the Sorgan's jungle, away from the tavern and the plains to set up camp for the night. They built a fire outside the ship and had their dinner. "So, the common thing we all got are these Pine Hills." Ahsoka remarked, stroking the edge of her montrails. 

"Most eye witnesses seen the droids by the foot of the hills." Kix added. The group had shared their pieces of information about the mystery droids. After accessing the information, Reetha came up with a conclusion "Looks like we need to investigate these mysterious hills. We leave in the morning. Oh, and pack up some camping supplies. Sorgan looks peaceful but their jungles and forest can be quite challenging." The rest of the group nodded their heads. 

"So, spotchka anyone?" 

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-The Twilight-

Nights on Sorgan got cold pretty easily. The team had retreated to their warm rooms in the twilight. Reetha laid on her bed trying to get some sleep that never came. She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Eventually, she gave up and decided to try to get some sleep under Sorgan's starry skies. 

If she could not sleep, at least the sky is pretty enough to look at. She carefully crept down the bunk bed, not wanting to wake Ahsoka up, since they shared the room. When she walked out of her room, she transformed into her loth wolf form. 

The twilight is not known to be a quiet ship, it's not old but its flooring is quite noisy. The soft pads on her paws made walking almost soundless, and she used it as an advantage to quietly creep out of the ship, not to wake the rest. 

R4 was on hibernating mode, recharging himself. Reetha willed the ramp to open with the force. The hiss was not to loud to wake the rest but little did she know that a certain clone had seen her up and about. 

Kix's point of view

After the girls went to sleep, my brothers and I headed to the common room to talk. It was about 0200 when I caught the unmistakable glimpse of white fur passing the common room. I knew it was Commander Khan, so quietly I nudged Rex's leg from under the table and signaled towards the door. "I think Reetha's awake." I whispered. We stood up and quietly followed her to the ramp and saw her walking out of the Twilight. 

"Call me crazy, but I felt the commander's emotions. It was quite a heavy feeling." I stated. Rex and Hardcase looked at me and then at each other. "Well maybe she just wants to get air." Rex said. "Well, Kix may be on to something." "What do you mean Hardcase?" 

Hardcase then went revealed to us that Sorgan is Reetha's home. "My guess is, she's just missing home. I mean, if I were separated from a peaceful and beautiful home for so long, I'd want to sleep under the starts as well. In fact, I think anyone would react this way if they were back home after so long, regardless if their planet was involved in war." Hardcase continued. 

"We can relate well to that. I mean, I miss Kamino despite having to share the planet with the damned longnecks." Kix agreed. "Should we join her?" Rex questioned. "I don't know. Quiet time might be what she needs right now." Hardcase stated while he leaned against the wall. "Maybe." Kis answered. "Or you should just join her in the quiet, Rex." Kix suggested. 

"Yeah. I could sense that Reetha was quite distracted during our mission." Hardcase agreed. "I think she might need to talk it out to someone. I didn't want to press on the matter at the time, but she may just need someone to approach her, and as far as I can tell, she trusts you vod." He said as he looked at Rex. 

Rex's point of view

After our discussion, we agreed that I would keep Reetha company. Hardcase and Kix went to bed. The night was dark, the campfire had been put out and the campsite being illuminated by the dim lights from the twilights lamp and the starry night sky. 

However, I could not see Reetha. I decided to walk a little ahead from the campfire when I see a head of white fur and two pointy ears lifted up to Sorgan's sky, poking up from the tall grass that surrounded the ship. Since I had established a connection with Reetha in her wolf form, I could sense her signature. It was calm and serene. 

I walked slowly towards Reetha, carefull not to disturb her peace. I saw her ears flick towards me, picking up the slightest sound of grass crunching beneath my feet, and I knew, that she was aware of my presence. She was laying on the grass and her white tail slowly wagging, as she turned she head to look as me. I heard a content hum as I sat beside her.

"Beautiful night." I observed. "Yes. It is." Reetha hummed. 

"Could not sleep?" "Nope." Reetha emphasized on the 'p'  and let out a huff of breath. 

"Your home is beautiful." Reetha tilted her head slightly towards me, asking an unspoken question. "Hardcase told me. We were awake and Kix thought he saw your walking around. Just wanted to check up on you" I statted gently. 

Reetha hummed and gently blew a huff of warm air to my face, then she laid her head down, eyes still fixed on the sky. "Thanks for joining me. And, yes. Sorgan is my home." I looked at Reetha, and saw the emotions held within her eyes. 

"I don't want to state the obvious, but you miss your home. How long has it been since you've last set foot on Sorgan."

"Well, it has been about 12 years."

"12 years?" I chocked out. "If you don't mind me asking, how old where you when the Jedi found you?" Reetha kept quiet and closed her golden eyes. "I was 4 ." She blankly answered. 

I nodded my head in reply. 'Wow' I thought to myself. I could not believe she had not been home for 12 years. I was utterly speechless and felt sorry for her. 

Then again, Reetha's a jedi. I guess it helped with the 'no attachments' thing. But to rip a child from their home and not being able to see in 12 years seemed quite sad. I had more questions to ask but I did not want to push Reetha. I figured that she would be more comfortable to open up at her own pace, so I sat with her through the comfortable silence. 

Reetha's point of view

I could feel Rex's thoughts and understood that he didn't want to force me to open up. I was glad that he understood me, and more glad that he joined me for the night. I could tell that Rex was genuine and wanted to make me feel welcome. He's been doing so much for me to help me fit in. I could sense that the captain had more questions for me. 

"I can't remember much about my family." I started. Rex's soft aura was concentrated towards me. "All I remember is that my village was aware of my power, and wanted to keep it a secret from the rest of Sorgan and the universe." I hummed as Irecalled my pass. "I didn't understand it at first. I thought they were afraid. But, grandma always told me otherwise. That they wanted to protect me from those who wished to harm me." I sighed quietly and lifted my head to the moon.

 I could feel Rex nod in understanding as he kept quiet to let me continue. "I was allowed to morph into my wolf form, but only in the village. If there were visitors or if I leave the village, I was told not to morph. One day, I saw a spaceship land not far from my village, and soon two people walked towards my home. I saw a small green being and  a Kel Dor." I recalled. 

"They met up with my grandmother and talked to her in private, while I waited for her in the village hall. Soon, they came out and the Kel Dor approached me. I was scared at first so I hid away from him. Then my grandmother coaxed me out." I narrowed my eyes and lowered my head slightly. "I remember her whispering something, but the memory is so distant so I can't remember what she said. The next thing I know, I was in the arms of the Kel Dor, and on my way to Coruscant." 

Third person point of view

Rex took in Reetha's words. Though she spoke calmly, he could feel her hesitance and slow burning pain. She missed here home dearly. She continued to tell him about how plain she felt when she was a youngling. She was thought not to reveal her morphing abilities to the other younglings. Rex found out that she did not have many friends. 

Not being able to transform made her hide her feel suppressed. It didn't help that she was not as strong in the force as the other younglings. She was hard to teach because she could not control her powers and feelings. Finding a master for her hard as well, as the Jedi she was introduced to could not properly help her to manage her focus.

"When I became a padawan, I was introduced to many masters, none of them could help me control my ability. That was until I met Master Syrn, Dante Syrn. He was a very kind man. From the beginning, he was aware of my powers and instead of trying to get me to suppress it, he told be to embrace it." 

Reetha paused and remembered his words. "He told me, that I had to understand my powers and its strength. I'd say he was the only one who ever saw me as a normal kid. He became my father figure. He often took me to the temple gardens and let me run into the grass in my wolf form. He would join me, chasing me up and down." Reetha recalled as she smiled to herself, reliving fond memories. "He often brought me to Dantooine for training, and also so i can train in wolf form." She said softly. 

As she spoke, Rex could see a lost child beneath all the calmness. In the end, Reetha was just a child trying to find her purpose. "Your master sounds like a wonderful person". Rex stated. "Oh, he was. Fun, smart, disciplined and fatherly." "How is he now?" Rex asked. 

At this question, Reetha froze almost instantly. He master, how is he now? Her ears fell backwards and she lowered her head. "My master is,.." she hesitated slightly then sucked in a breath. "He is no more." 

Rex's eyes soften as he looked at Reetha. She said those words so calmly, yet, it held overwhelming emotion. "I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Reetha, huffed and slowly sat up on her hind legs as she morphed back into human form. 

Rex felt her pain and longing to her master. Her father figure. Rex may not have had parents, no less a father, but he understood the pain of loosing a family. He felt that very pain every time he lost a brother during battle. "It's.. in the past, Rex." Reetha quietly replied. 

She stood up looking at the moon, now in her human form. Then she looked down at Rex, who sat beside her, and decided to sit with him. They sat in the quiet, but it was not oppressive. Rex knew when to push on a question, and when to let it flow on its own. "I understand where you come from." Rex stated. 

"We clones were born knowing only our brothers as the only family." He said as he looked towards Reetha with soft understanding eyes. "We are thought not to allow our feelings get in the way of battle. In a way, suppressing our brotherly instincts.." He continued. "... which is incredibly painful to push down, by the way." chuckling out the last part, earning a small laugh from the young girl beside him. 

"I may not be word savvy, Reetha. But i feel your pain. Loosing someone you love and longing to be in the comfort of home is hard. It's much more painful, when the people you work with don't seem to understand us. But when we find the right people, we should stick with them. Create the most out of it." Rex said as he back on his hands.

 Reetha followed his actions and relaxed as well. "But, that does not mean we should not adapt to change. No matter how hard or challenging, we must learn to adapt to new situations, but still be true to ourselves."  Reetha nodded back in understanding. "I know what you mean. My master gave me similar advice." Rex nodded back in understanding. "And I guess I'm just happy I met you. Lucky, even. " Reetha continued, looking at the starts. 

"You help me adapt. You and your brothers are understanding, and for that I am grateful." She continued and smiled to herself. Rex noticed this and hummed in content. " I'm just glad I could help you little one." Reetha looked at him and smiled back. " So, I'm the little one now, hmm?" she could not help but smirk to the nick name. 

Rex laughed back and shook his head. "Little one, vod'ika. Don't worry, you can start a collection of new nicknames from myself and the gang." He said and ruffled Reetha's hair as she playfully pushed his hand away. 

Reetha looked back at the sky. She felt happy that she could finally relate to someone. She stared into the distance and looked to the sky recalling her master's advice. "Be brave and face change head on Reetha. I'll be with you every step of the way, no matter how far I am from you." She smile to herself once more then looked to Rex. 

"Thanks, by the way." she said quietly. Rex smiled back his welcome. "It's just hard for me to open up. I'm used to bottling up emotions after my master passed. I guess... you just remind me of him." "Ah, its no problem, Reetha. I'm just glad I can help." Reetha smiled and looked down, happy to have found someone patient whom she can abide in. 

"Hey kid." Rex called softly. She turned to see Rex with a smirks and a raised eyebrow. "I'm not much of a softy, but you look like you could use a hug." She looked back at him with a smirk of her own. "You, know what. I accept you offer." Rex gave Reetha a one hand hug as she relaxed into his side. 

She let a tear fall, feeling content and safe. "Thanks Rex." She sniffled. "It really means a lot." Rex hugged her more, then ruffled her hair. He held her shoulders comfortingly and looked at her with the most genuine look. "Like, I said, vod'ika. I'm happy to help." Reetha lifted her head and wiped her tears and mustered a smile. 

"Just remember, if you feel down, don't hesitate to talk it out. Take your time to open up. You have all the time in the world to discover yourself." Once again Rex ruffled her hair, then he stood up and helped Reetha up as well. 

"We should get some rest little one." "Alright." Reetha looked towards Rex. "Thanks again, Vod." 

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