The breeze picked up, releasing a shower of evergreen needles from the cathedral of trees by the river. The campfire crackled and hissed, filling the air with sparks as a plume of smoke wafted high above the tree canopy.

The forest sounds transformed at twilight as the nocturnal animals came to life. Long-haired rodents chittered as they scurried across the rocky river bank. Large avians dived into the river to catch their dinners while screeching their battle cries.

Ben combed the evergreen needles from his hair as the wind blew his fringe back from his face. He pressed a button on his hover chair to weave between the tents and move closer to the fire.

The centralized campfire kept the wildlife at bay while the churi meat gave off its sharp scent. 

Jedi Pilar tied back her auburn hair before flipping the strips of meat. Flailing a knife, she turned to the Padawan who was encroaching on her cooking area. "Ben."

He didn't need any other warning. He wasn't going to argue with the least-skilled swordsman of the Jedi Order while she was waving a knife.

The teen adjusted his chair a few meters out of range of that blade. He observed the Jedi as they changed guard duties and interacted with each other.

Despair pounded. Jealousy raged.

Punching knuckles together in some obscure ritual, Jedi Knights Benae and Zeke grabbed their rifles from the shuttle and swapped watch duty with Wei'ahtt and Tandolleau.

The fear of the recently promoted knights, Benae and Zeke, assaulted his senses.

Pitiful.

Wei'ahtt, the one that the Padawan secretly called "the plushy Wampa," headed to his tent to grab his jacket, while Tandolleau sneaked up behind Jedi Jannah. The blonde woman sat cross-legged on a fallen log while polishing the hilt of her lightsaber.

The thin, dark-skinned man smoothed his wavy hair and flashed a cheeky grin as he wrapped his arms around the woman's waist. The Senate liaison leaned back into his embrace and pulled his head down for a kiss.

Gag. I'd heard rumors about you two. I'm surprised Master Luke hasn't done anything about it. Get a room.

Ben rolled his eyes and swiveled his chair toward Jedi Wei'ahtt Ahhzteen, his torturer—um, physical therapist.

Wei'ahtt smirked while unzipping his tent. "About time you two stopped playing hard to get."

"Oh, hush, Wei'ahtt," Tandolleau murmured. "At least I had the guts to chase her." He snapped his head over to his hulking friend and raised his eyebrows. "Besides, the chase was half the fun."

Ben had no idea what Tandolleau was referring to, but he was pretty sure the Jedi was teasing his friend. Wei'ahtt's cheeks blushed a deep red as he averted his eyes from Jedi Kallay.

He turned his chair once again to watch the river glint in the distance through the forest. The youth liked it out here where the Force moved so strongly among the trees and the wildlife. The Force intertwined with the trees that surrounded them. The roots that twisted together underground gave the Force a new form to follow, and Ben wanted to be part of it all. But not if he had to be with the Jedi around him.

He was never "one of the crowd," especially not with the original knights: Kalder, Kallay, Jannah, Tandolleau, and Wei'ahtt. More than once he had caught Master Fau and Master Skywalker referring to them as "their kids."

But not me. They don't even acknowledge that we're related by blood. To them, I'm not even their nephew, and I'm definitely not their adopted son. I'm nobody.

Especially now.

Ben slammed his hand down on the arm of the hover chair, tipping it precariously.

"Careful, Ben," Kalder said from the shuttle ramp.

He snorted. "Just squashing a bug."

Lies are so much easier than the truth.

Master Skywalker was his mission specialist, Master Fau his trainer, and Master Flo'et his Lothcat, always watching. It had been this way for over a year now. And all Ben wanted was some time alone—in a place like this, where he could merge with the Force and forget his troubles.

"Hmm, that smells so good, Pilar. How long until dinner?" Jannah pulled herself out of the embrace and straightened her black tunic.

Well, at least Kalder had enough sense not to give you KP, Jannah. At least I don't have to worry about food poisoning on this trip.

Pilar, the slender Jedi at the grill, tapped some pieces of meat from her tongs. "Another ten minutes or so. Can someone grab the salad from the galley?"

Kallay stood from her cross-legged position beside a tree. "I'll get it."

"Someone grab the dishes, too."

Wei'ahtt's bashful smile lit up his blushing face. The burly man with short, dark, curly hair took one step. "I'll help you, K-kallay."

Hard to believe that guy's nearly thirty. I hope I don't turn out like him—afraid of rejection.

A sinister smirk crossed Ben's face.

They're all afraid. Kalder—someone getting hurt. Jannah—not being in control of Tandolleau. Tandolleau—losing Jannah. Benae—messing up. Zeke—having to speak. Pilar—still afraid of her lightsaber. How pathetic they are, still ruled by their fears.

Ben chuckled softly.

His eyes focused on Kallay as she exited the shuttle with the salad bowl in her hand.

You're the only one I can't figure out. I could never read you. But you have fears, too.

The youth closed his eyes and reached out, sending his mental presence around her sealed thoughts. Probing, a little here and a little there. Almo—

"Hey, Ben, dinner's ready. Grab a plate."

Ben glared at Kalder for the interruption.

"Coming."

Well, Jedi Kallay, I'll know your secrets soon enough.

The Jedi grabbed their food from the barbecue before sitting on the moist loam around the fire. Pilar took her plate and hiked down the path to the rushing river.

Ben moved his chair a few meters away. He was tempted to retreat to the shuttle. Their camaraderie grated on his nerves.

Jannah leaned on Tandolleau as they shared their meal. Kalder, Kallay, and Wei'ahtt spread out around the fire, close enough to hear each other but not really sitting next to anyone.

Ben sighed and drove his hover chair down the path to the river.

Kalder yelled, "Hey, where you going, Ben?"

"Away from that. It's ruining my meal." He put his finger in his mouth and gagged.

"Stay close. There's something out there." Kalder's stared at him for a moment. "And don't forget you have dishes."

"I know." Can't you let up for just one minute?

Did you know ...

• The hover chair can't really fly too high. It basically smooths out the ride by not rolling over the ground, but it's only about 4 centimeters above the surface.

• Jannah has "liked" Tandolleau for at least 16 years now. She's led him on a chase though playing "hard-to-get." She even tried to make him jealous by feigning interest in Wei'ahtt and Kalder when they were all Padawan years earlier. But Tandolleau has always known she was his one true love.

• Pilar has issues with the combat role of the Jedi. She doesn't even like to defend herself. It has to do with how she feels death and injury through the Force. Her two major strengths are piloting and healing.

• Zeke and Benae have recently been knighted. Both are shy and afraid of messing up.

• Kallay is afraid that she will reveal her brother's secret, putting his off-world, non-Force-sensitive significant other at risk.

Tell me what you think ...

• Why do you think Pilar heads down to the river for dinner away from the others?

• What do you think about Jannah and Tandolleau? Is there another love interest with anyone else in the group of Jedi?