The continuing story of the journey of an original character mentored by Ahsoka Tano – set before, during, and after Season 1.
I took up this fanfiction right after the first season of Star Wars: Ahsoka, but recently returned to it with the start of filming of the second season. I guess I need to finish this before that starts. This is going to be novel-length, so I guess I’d better get on it!
Read Chapter 1: Before the Fall
Chapter 2 – Edge of Elsewhere
Kendra stood at the edge of Fernwood and eyed the way to Timberport. The old road wound through the dense, wet forest to the east under the clouds of the earlier storm. Memories of Kendra and her master’s previous visit to the larger town incited Kendra’s desire to return.
Kendra tried to push down the restlessness the idea of Timberport evoked as Fernwood’s needs brought her back to the present. She stood between two orderly rows of huts at the edge of town. Each wood frame structure in this section stood a foot above the ground on a raised platform, and smoke drifted from smoke holes above them. Water dripped off each thatched roof, collecting more moisture from the intermittent sprinkles of leftover rain falling through the leaves above them.
Her cloak had done little to keep her dry on the walk into town or during the lingering storm, and she’d quickly found the peace of her morning meditation challenged by the environment. She needed new pants; the ones she had chafed when wet, and she’d spent much of the day healing her chapped skin between talking to people. Her stomach growled, and she felt the first twinge in her stomach, indicating her cycle would start soon.
Kendra hauled most of their supplies in a backpack and carried her rifle, both of which she shifted to be more comfortable. Edith kept her lightsaber somewhere hidden under her clothes.
She glanced back at Master Edith and winced as the elderly woman knelt in front of a seated child with a skinned shin. Master Edith also winced, though she hid it behind a smile.
Evan pushed the tattered sleeves of his dirty green tunic up as he regaled Master Edith with the tale of his hard-won injury. It involved jumping between two stone walls that, according to him, were “at least eight feet apart!”
“Surely it was farther.” Master Edith’s weathered face showed no sign of pain or exhaustion as she examined Evan. “I think we can probably patch this up,” she said. She retrieved a clean bandage from the well-worn leather bag at her waist.
“Brad said he heard from Tahlia that she heard there was a Tarnox roaming out west near the mountains when she was in Timberport. They said they could see it from space.”
“Who are they?” Master Edith asked.
“Well, the pilots, I guess.” Evan fidgeted with the hem of his tunic.
“Sounds big,” Master Edith said. “Have you ever been to Timberport?”
“No,” Evan said. “I think that would be cool. Tahlia says they have so many ships there!”
Master Edith and Kendra lived a few miles west of Fernwood. It was a week to Timberport to the east, assuming Master Edith could maintain good speed. Kendra had once suggested catching a ride with a trader, which would have made the trek in under a day. The day’s plan didn’t call for either option, of course. They didn’t have the supplies for the trip, and more importantly, Master Edith said no. Timberport did not need any healers as it contained a proper, if small, medical facility.
Fernwood did need healers, however. They had given some basic care to a man with a broken leg, two other children who had recently been burned, and one woman halfway through her pregnancy. All with basic first aid supplies and low-level medical equipment acquired by the town and its two healers over time.
“We saw the nexu in the trees yesterday.” Evan pointed somewhere to the north.
“Oh? Tell me.” Edith continued working on the shin, cleaning it and then applying a salve.
“They have a lot of eyes!” Evan pushed his damp red hair out of his eyes. “It was twenty feet tall, at least.”
Nexu did populate the jungle, but never close to town. Kendra sensed them while hunting to ensure she didn’t go near them. They also didn’t grow much taller than seven or eight feet, at least the ones she’d had seen. The nexu Evan saw lay nesting with its young in that general direction, explaining why it had not moved away from town since Kendra sensed it on a prior visit.
“They are a little dangerous,” Edith said. “Best not go near them.”
“No, it looked scary and mean. We ran back to town.”
“Good,” Master Edith said.
Kendra sighed and looked down the road again. Ahead lay the only town with ships she’d ever seen, though not as many as Evan imagined. There were three ships there the last time Kendra and Master Edith visited, and Kendra studied each like she would study any of her medical texts.
Master Edith said the largest of the three, a matted gray vessel seemingly half the size of Fernwood, flew between the outer rim and core worlds on a trade route. Edith spoke to the captain, hoping for more news of the fallen Empire, while Kendra shopped for new boots, books for her studies, and a used training droid.
“My mom says the vine cough is coming back this year,” Evan said with less enthusiasm. He looked toward his family’s home several huts down the road. Their hut sat a few feet farther from the road than the other huts, but it stood out due to its recent repairs. Cassandra’s husband had died of the cough four years earlier, and the town rallied around the weaver to ensure the upkeep of her home.
According to Kendra’s studies, the vine cough came back every year. Some years hit some areas harder than others, likely due to changing weather. The locals seemed to know when it’d be worse. Evan had every reason to fear it, as did Kendra.
Kendra forced the thoughts of Timberport, ships, and departing Celestoria to the back of her mind and walked to Edith and Evan. “Didn’t you have that two years ago?”
“I did. It was terrible.”
“But you were fine, and you will be again if you get it,” Kendra said. She knew from her studies that people rarely had a severe case more than once.
“That’s right,” Edith said. “The first time is always the worst.”
Kendra still wanted to heal everyone of the vine cough if she could. She’d never tried on anyone but herself and Master Edith. She wished she could have healed her mother.
Edith said, “Make sure you have plenty of winger root. You can find that without going near the nexu that you saw. We also picked up some medicine for it in Timberport.”
He nodded. “Mom is making more blankets.”
“Your mother is wise.” Master Edith tapped the bandage. “All done!”
Kendra gave her hand to Master Edith to help her stand. At seventeen, Kendra did not have any of the limitations of her master’s age. She tried to remember she also had none of the wisdom, but the more she studied the Force, the more she wanted to leave.
Jedi were supposed to be helping across the galaxy, bringing peace to conflict. She should be healing those with significant wounds and helping those she could not heal to better medical facilities.
“Thanks!” Evan stood, then gave his most profound bow to the two women, tipping an imaginary hat. He scuttled off, away from his home and away from any winger root he might find in the other direction.
“If the vine cough comes…” Kendra’s voice trailed off as Evan disappeared around a hut.
“If it is life or death,” Edith said.
“But,” Kendra started.
“You’d like to use your healing, I know,” Edith said. “Just like last year. And the year before that. We can discuss it on the way back.”
“But if the Empire is gone—“ Kendra burst out, then cut herself off at Edith’s raised hand.
“Not now,” Master Edith said, her voice low, “not here. Let’s get some food, and then we’ll go home. We can discuss it on the way.”
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