Atathum watched the temple grounds grow smaller and smaller, knowing what awaited at the bottom. His body flipped to face the ground. It was coming in fast. Oh dear. Atathum thought.

"Sorry, Master," Atathum whispered to himself.

His body did another flip and faced towards the sky.

"I'm sorry that I failed you, Master."

Atathum hit the ground with a thud.

*~*~*~*

"Atathum what?!" Lilak exclaimed.

"Atathum's life force isn't resonating, I can't sense him," Sebellrae exclaimed.

Lilak was still confused with what Sebellrae way talking about. After Atathum left, class ended, and she was sitting calmly and normally with Sebellrae at lunch until it seemed like she had a motionless seizure.

"I still don't understand what your saying," Lilak said.

"Lilak, Sebellrae," Anakin said, startling Lilak a little.

"What do you want, hot shot?" Lilak asked annoyed, turning to face Anakin.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Can you come with me out into the hallway?"

"Why?"

"It's about--"

"Atathum?!" Sebellrae asked, excitedly.

Anakin nodded as the three walked out into the hallway.

"Okay, Anakin, you managed to remove me from my seat, now, spill the tea," Lilak said.

"I was taking my free hour stroll down in the streets of Coruscant and--"

"You were down in the streets?! Wait till Obi-wan hears this!"

"That's not my point Lilak. The thing is, as I was walking down the street."

"What a padawan," Lilak murmured.

Anakin slightly glared at Lilak. "If you'll let me finish, I can tell you what I saw."

"Go ahead. Bore me."

"As I was walking down the streets, I heard people saying they saw a skyboy. At first, I thought this was a storytime for children, but when they described him, it was the same features as Atathum, and I'm worried if Atathum somehow got to the streets without us knowing."

"If you want us to help you find him, I might as well go with you."

"I will, too!" Sebellrae added

Lilak lifted up the hood on her cloak. Anakin and Sebellrae did the same.

"Okay, chosen ones," Lilak said and held her arms wide facing Coruscant, "lead us to Atathum."

"I'm not the chosen one, Lilak," Sebellrae argued.

"You get my point!"

Anakin walked ahead of Lilak and started heading down the steps. The two girls followed him. They walked past cantinas and bars, and homeless people along the walls of the skyscrapers. I can see why the Jedi don't want younglings like us to be down here. Lilak thought. Lilak saw that the party had stopped to talk to an alien.

"Did you see the sky boy?" Anakin asked.

The alien clicked a yes.

"What did he look like?"

The alien proceeded to do a series of clicks while Anakin took note.

"He's where?!" Anakin asked, shocked.

The alien clicked and pointed to an openish area.

"Thank you for your time." Anakin tossed the alien some republician credits and took off towards the area where the alien pointed.

"Anakin, what was that about?" Lilak asked.

"The alien said he saw Atathum fall from the sky and hit the ground up ahead," Anakin replied.

"Like, fall falling?"

"The kind that makes you limp when you hit the ground."

Lilak thought of all the possibilities that could make it seem Atathum didn't hit the ground from a fall.

"Are you--" Lilak began but quickly halted when she saw the others stopped. She saw Atathum lying limp on the ground. "...sure," she finished quietly.

Anakin walked up to Atathum and placed his hand on his face.

"He's still breathing!" Anakin said, astounded.

Anakin then proceeded to check Atathum for injuries that could hold him back from picking him up. He took off his cloak, folded it, and placed it underneath Atathum's head. Then, he picked the lifeless boy up.

"What's wrong?" Sebellrae asked, nearly in tears.

"He split his head open hitting the concrete, suffered whiplash from when he hit the ground, something's wrong with his spine, and I didn't bother to check the arms or legs, and have assumed they're broken," Anakin replied moving quickly, but smoothly.

Lilak watched as blood ozed down Anakin's cloak. She shook her head and continued to follow Anakin, with Sebellrae close behind. Lilak didn't know what to think, once more. Was this suicide, or an accident? If suicide, why would he want to die? If an accident, isn't he more careful than this? Lilak wondered.

Lilak noticed that they already were walking up the Jedi steps. My thinking must pass the time! Lilak ran in front of Anakin and opened the giant doors.

"Thanks, Lilak," Anakin thanked as he carried Atathum through.

Sebellrae nodded to Lilak for her thank you. Lilak turned and followed Sebellrae who was following Anakin. Lilak watched as the blood dripped onto Anakin's arm, and landed on the floor. Lilak noticed all the padawan's backed out of the way to let them through. Anakin ran into the dorms and ran into his room, Lilak following not far behind.

"Hey, Anakin, you're--" Obi-wan began. His mouth slightly dropped as he saw Anakin run up to him, holding Atathum.

"Master, we need help, Atathum fell and he is on the verge of death," Anakin begged.

"Did he fall off the temple grounds?" Obi-wan asked.

"Why would you ask that?"

"I was with him earlier up there, and he almost ran off the edge. I talked to him, and he seemed worried."

"Why wouldn't you tell me this when I came back?"

"You never asked."

"I--never mind. We need to help Atathum right now."

Anakin carried Atathum into his dorm with Obi-wan right behind him.

"Should I get a wet rag?" Sebellrae asked.

"Yes," Obi-wan called from the other room.

Sebellrae used the force to grab a rag and get it wet. Geeze, why can't I have something cool with the force like that? Lilak thought. Sebellrae "handed" it to Lilak. She grabbed the rag and took it to the others. She saw that Anakin's cloak was soaked in blood from where Atathum's head was resting, and now blood was getting all over his covers. The cleaning droids are going to have fun with this! Lilak sarcastically chuckled to herself. She handed the rag to Obi-wan.

"Thanks, Lilak," Obi-wan said as he lifted up Atathum's head.

Lilak saw the source where all the blood was coming from. There was a huge cut on the back of his head, and made it appear that Atathum's head experienced an earthquake. She was used to seeing gross stuff, but this was just horrible! "You're welcome," Lilak replied, slowly backing out of the room.

She turned and saw Sebellrae standing outside. She walked over to her.

"How do you think Atathum's doing? Should I go and visit him right now?" Sebellrae asked.

"I highly suggest not to," Lilak replied.

Sebellrae turned and looked at Lilak, worried.

"How bad is it?" Sebellrae asked, uneasily.

"I was even disturbed."

Sebellrae's face went pale. She slowly turned away from Lilak. Welp, I just traumatized her. Lilak thought. Oh well. She walked back into the room. She looked for a seat, and found a half-moon couch. Seriously, does everyone have a half-moon couch? Lilak thought as she sat down.

She sat in that same spot for hours. Suddenly, Sebellrae ran from outside to the half-moon couch.

"Atathum's waking up! I can sense it!" She exclaimed

Lilak stood up. Anakin ran into the room.

"Guys! Obi-wan and I have sensed that Atathum's waking up!" He exclaimed, "and we still need to put the staples in his head, so we need you guys to help hold him down."

"Yeah, I know," Lilak replied, rolling her eyes.

Lilak strode past Anakin into the room. Sure enough, Obi-wan had staples in his hand, and Atathum's breathing began to quicken slightly every minute. She stood by Atathum's side. Sebellrae stood beside her, and Anakin was across.

"You guys ready?" Obi-wan asked.

The padawans put their hands on Atathum.

"Okay, here we go!"

Obi-wan moved behind Atathum, lifted up his head, and started to insert the staples. Atathum was still just waking up, so he was still catching up on his breath. Lilak rested her hands on his arm. Obi-wan paused, then put in another staple. Atathum's eyes suddenly flew open. Crap! Lilak thought and firmly held his arm down. Sebellrae and Anakin did the same. Atathum started trying to force himself from the grip of his comrades. Obi-wan held his head down.

"Let go of me!" Atathum yelled, struggling to move out from Obi-wan's grip.

"Settle down, Atathum, I just need to do a few more staples and then your done," Obi-wan reinforced.

Atathum moved more. "No! I don't want you to put staples in my head!"

Lilak's hands kept moving around as she tried to keep Atathum still. Calm down, Atathum! Lilak thought. Suddenly, Sebellrae moved her hand and held it on Atathum's face for a few seconds. Atathum seemed to slowly calm down, and his eyelids slowly closed. Sebellrae moved her hand off a few moments later.

"Wow! That was...interesting," Anakin marveled.

Sebellrae smiled. "Wow! That was interesting!" My talents are interesting too. Lilak thought, frustrated. She just wanted this to be over with. Obi-wan put in another staple, then another, and another; Atathum still was out.

"Okay, last one," Obi-wan announced, moving his hand towards the back of Atathum's head.

Don't wake up, Atathum; Please don't wake up! Lilak prayed. Obi-wan put in the last staple, and Atathum never moved. Obi-wan slowly lowered Atathum's head back onto the pillow. Lilak, Sebellrae, and Anakin all removed their hands off of Atathum. Lilak watched as Obi-wan looked down at his blood-stained hands.

"Do you think he'll be alright, Master?" Anakin asked.

"Yeah, just give him time to recover," Obi-wan replied.

"Should we move him to his dorm, or the healers?" Sebellrae asked as well.

"Let's just leave him here for now, if that's alright, Anakin."

"Not a problem, Master."

Lilak removed herself from the room, frustrated.

She didn't like Anakin one bit, and didn't understand how Atathum could be friends with such a man. And this kid was the chosen one?! What the--! Lilak thought before she was interrupted by a loud crash came from outside. Curious, Lilak forced herself to walk over and check things out. When outside, she found nothing. But I could've sworn... Lilak wondered. She looked around. Nope, nothing.

"What in the world!?" Lilak exclaimed, swinging out her arms.

She stood like that for a few seconds, confused on why there was a noise, but no one was there. She lowered her arms, and walked back into the room. Everyone else was there, too. They were talking about...someone....

"I don't understand why," Sebellrae said, upset.

"Understand what?" Anakin asked.

Lilak stood in the doorway, silent.

"Why Atathum no longer talks," Sebellrae replied.

Of course it's Atathum!

"I agree, the fact that Atathum is being more reserved than a week ago is getting on my nerves," Anakin agreed.

"He's probably going through a tough time," Obi-wan suggested.

"Well..." Anakin almost whispered.

"'Well' what?" Sebellrae asked.

"Nothing, it was just a fleeting thought."

"If it is something important, you should tell us, my padawan," Obi-wan said looking Anakin straight in the eye.

Anakin's face seemed redden with the two of them staring at him. "I...uh...he was...um-"

Realizing that Anakin clearly didn't want to say what it was, an idea popped into her head.

"Gossiping about our friend Atathum, eh?" Lilak asked, walking slowly into the room.

Obi-wan and Sebellrae looked at her, and stepped away from Anakin, causing him to sigh softly in relief. The other two looked down and then Sebellrae walked out the door. Obi-wan walked into his corridors, leaving Lilak and Anakin. Lilak began to walk out, but something grabbed her arm. Anakin... Lilak thought, annoyed. She put on a fake smile and turned towards Anakin.

"Yes, not-caring-for-personal-space?" Lilak asked, sarcastically.

Anakin gave her a slightly disgusted look before he said, "thanks for what you did back there. I owe you one."

"Yes, you owe me big time!" Lilak replied, nodding her head to add emphasize.

Anakin raised an eyebrow before letting her go. Lilak raised her eyebrows and turned to head out the door. She was in the hallway when she stopped. Yeah, I should. Lilak thought.

"Good luck with your Courscauntian walk later, flyboy!" Lilak yelled, and quickly ran away from the dorms.