Aaylah sat quietly watching the sunset on Atollon. "Aaylah," a soft, quiet, yet firm voice came from behind her. Though the voice was firm, it sounded hesitant; full of regret and... remorse. Aaylah sighed, "Yes?" She attempted the question cheerfully, though her voice wavered slightly with a bit of an edge to it. Ahsoka sighed. "I understand if you're upset with me. I just came to say good-bye."

   The Bendu had made it sound as though she would die on this mission. This mission where she might not come back. This mission that would most likely be her last. It's kind of ironic, she thought. Her first was mission with Anakin, and it certainly seemed like he would be the cause of her last. No, she thought. They're not both Anakin. Then a little voice said to her subconscious state of mind, But they are. She shook her head. No. They may be the same eyes, but they are different people. It was true: one was a compassionate human, the other a vile monster.

   Aaylah stood up from her spot and shuffled over to Ahsoka. "Just come back," she said, clutching her arms just below her chest, head down and voice barely above a whisper. Ahsoka could've cried. She knew she wouldn't come back. How would she tell that to her 14-year old apprentice? Oh, by the way Aaylah, I'm basically walking into a death trap! Ta-Ta! No! She couldn't say that. Though, by the look of it, Aaylah could already tell what she was thinking. There was silence. "You're not coming back, are you?" Aaylah asked quietly, her question sounding more like a blunt statement than an inquisition.

   Ahsoka stood still for a moment, pondering. "Coming back is not a guaranteed factor," she started. "But no matter what, I'll always be here," Ahsoka finished kneeling down to match Aaylah's height (she was rather short for her age) and poking her index finger gently in the middle of Aaylah's chest over her heart. Aaylah launched herself toward Ahsoka, wrapping her in a tight embrace and stifling a sob. As they parted and Ahsoka stood to her full height, a Convor swooped right between them.

   They both would have laughed, but right now that was an impossible feat. "Aaylah, if by chance I don't come back, remember you can always go to Rex. And if something happens to him, there is someone else. Here on Atollon... Bendu I believe," Ahsoka told the young girl. Aaylah's head shot up. Now she knew where Ahsoka had been: with Bendu! "You should probably go get Ezra," Aaylah said. She didn't want to start sobbing in front of Ahsoka; she already felt bad enough about leaving her.

   Ahsoka sighed, then said, "You're right. Wish me luck." She put her hand on Aaylah's shoulder and looked into her eyes, then turned and started walking away. "You don't need it!" Aaylah called after her. Ahsoka chuckled. Well, kind of chuckled. Aaylah would be alright on her own. She knew the girl would miss her; everyone would - especially Aaylah and Rex. She sighed again.

   The Convor swooped past her once more. She couldn't forget the exchange she had shared with Bendu, but one part was especially troubling: "So I will die?" she had asked.

   "You will? I didn't know that." He had answered her, though avoiding her query rather ominously. What did he mean by that? She had asked herself.

   Just as she thought of these things she stopped in her tracks looking down at the young, blue-haired teen. The convor circled overhead. What has that bird been doing? She asked herself.

Comment and review!  Keep language and themes clean and PG please.  Should I continue this with an aftermath of her fight with Vader from Aaylah's perspecitive?  Comment and review!  Thank you!

-Aruna Accalia