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_ "I am so glad I found you and didn't kill you." _

~Mara Jade to Luke Skywalker

To say that things started to become unusual the day after Locke recovered would be an understatement. Locke's presence on the ship for a month after had been friendly and upbeat as he started training alongside Syrra and Kajex. Despite this, there was an undercurrent of unease within him and Syrra knew much of it had to do with his concealed fear of what would happen to him and his companions, after their reports had been fully analyzed. Nevertheless, on more than one occasion both she and Kajex had assured him he would be judged fairly, and insisted they would stand beside him no matter what action New Republic Intel took against their newest crewmember- the vote of confidence seemed to do alot for him as a result, such that Card Nights had become more enjoyable for him (not least because he was a skilled player in his own right).

Miles, on the other hand, was a little more skeptical that the NRI would be so lenient- though his skepticism was dulled by his own confidence that Master Skywalker would ensure nothing bad would come of it. Even while he was an Imperial officer, Miles admitted he had tremendous respect for Skywalker as a both a soldier and a Jedi, and had expressed his opinion of the situation they were in as being the most favorable outcome anybody could have hoped for. As a result, his behavior was nothing short of genial and cheery as he helped everybody train while keeping his own skills sharp- Kajex had admitted that Miles was the only person in the universe so far he was okay with tampering with his ship's weapon systems, after the Miraluka had spent the day repairing both back and belly laser cannons as thanks. And both of them liked that he and Talrik got along so well.

Syrra's main concern from the start was Keris', however. The animosity between them had been forgotten, but once things had settled down she had expected the vixen's behavior to be downright acerbic- only to be surprised when the Amaran asked if she could start training along with her. Whether because she was bored waiting around in the vessel or because she genuinely wanted to show her gratitude (she had not said why), she'd gone out of her way to spend time chatting with Syrra during their free moments- it was almost as if the entire ordeal had changed Keris' opinion of the Trianii. It was a marked improvement between them, to be sure, though Syrra found herself wondering what precisely brought it around.

Not that she could complain, however; certainly not when she considered that in addition to having new allies by their side, recent events had turned out fairly well. She initially thought it was going to be the toughest moment of her life at the Praxeum, finding out Kajex was a Jedi and had been hiding it for over half a year. Instead, it ended up being one of the happiest weeks in her life when she'd learned who he was and had their love and trust reinforced. That the day had culminated in him proposing to her properly was so incredible to her that even a month later, it still made her feel giddy thinking about it- she was engaged.

"But... you haven't told your mother yet?" Keris asked in confusion, setting down a canteen of water on the stone wall they were sitting on.

"Hell no," Syrra said, shuddering as she twisted the cap off hers. "Neither Bast nor Iaora."

"Why not? I mean, I know why you don't want to tell your blood-mother, but you said your 'true' mother, Iaora, would be more than fine with the idea of you and Kajex tying the knot." She snickered. "Still sounds dirty..."

"Don't be juvenile," Syrra chuckled. "But as for why I haven't told my mother- I've already mentioned how invasive Bast is. I wouldn't put it past her to have hired someone to slice into Iaora's communications just so she can keep an eye on me. And the last thing I want is to bring up something that might cause her to sic her goons on my fiancee."

Keris raised an eyebrow. "What, you don't think you're a match for your blood-mother's hit squad? I might not have thought much of you in the past, but now? I've seen you fight, I saw you throw down with Ulfric. You could have ended him if you hadn't been stunned by your own skill- I doubt anyone could get the drop on you or your fiancee."

"It's not Kajex or me I'm worried about," she admitted. "It's everyone else, every student or master at this Praxeum- even you, Locke and Miles. I don't want to put anyone at risk just because of my own life choices. It's why I've been putting a bit more emphasis on training ever since he proposed. Thanks for tagging along, by the way- I kinda needed the company."

"Anytime," Keris responded, gazing out at the Temple training grounds. "Not like I was gonna stop after getting started."

For the last 3 weeks, Keris had been following Syrra out on jogs and runs through the training grounds, just to get accustomed to what she and Locke had agreed would be their new place of study. While Locke had yet to gain another audience with Master Skywalker, as he had left the Praxeum to help the New Republic address the Black Fleet only two days after the interview; his substitutes, Master Streen and Master Solusar, had agreed to allow both him and Keris to train- provided they did so under the guidance and watchful eyes of another Knight or student. As Kajex neatly fit under that role, and as they had a handful of friends to help the two integrate into the Praxeum, this was an easy condition to fulfill.

Syrra glanced at her vulpine partner. "So... you've asked me a fair few questions about my parentage," she started hesitantly. "Would you mind if I ask you something?"

Keris shrugged. "Won't know if I'll mind until you ask."

"Did you ever know your own parents?" Syrra asked carefully.

The Amaran shook her head, though she smiled. "'Fraid not. At times it makes me wonder if orphaned Force-sensitives are a thing because their folks get murdered or go missing as a result of the ongoing Purge, leaving people like me and Locke to slip between the cracks where nobody will find us. Not that I'm particularly troubled about not knowing, mind you. At least with me, I know what species I belong to and much of my own culture- Locke and your fiancee have it a bit worse than most, I imagine, since at least I was adopted."

"What was your guardian like?" Syrra asked, interested.

"Not a bad guy. Another Amaran, a trader from Naboo named Pilus. He was a pretty relaxed guy- gruff, sometimes, but well-meaning. I didn't really learn all that much from him, he really just needed an extra hand to help with inventory; but he did let me earn my keep too, which was nice. We parted on good terms after he hit a pretty good score on Nar Shaddaa- I never found out what happened to him after." She paused, frowning. "I suppose I should look him up, now that I'm completely free."

"Nothing wrong with having a friendly contact to rely on," Syrra suggested. "Kajex does, it's helped him out a few times." She paused, feeling awkward. "So... you worked as an escort, after that?"

Keris smirked at the Trianii, getting up to her feet and stretching. "Yeah. I actually enjoyed that kind of work. I, ah... I learned to be sexually open with my guardian," she admitted.

Syrra jerked up. "Really? How early did you...?"

"Hell, I was 11 when he popped my cherry," Keris said with a grin as she poured a little focus into a pile of stones, lifting them telekinetically. "Completely consensual. Illegal on most Core-worlds? Absolutely- but at no point did I feel abused or ashamed, especially since I was the one who asked. And he never tried to take advantage of me. It was about as close as the two of us actually got, and it made those long voyages up and down the Corellian Trade Spine much easier to deal with."

Syrra swallowed. "Still, you don't think that's a little... extreme, don't you?"

The vixen shrugged. "Not really. Why, are you going to tell me _you_didn't have biological urges before you hit your teens? I mean, you don't have to answer that, I'm not trying to antagonize you, or make excuses for myself- I shouldn't have to. It's just... it is what it is. And I enjoyed it enough that when I got my own apartment on Nar Shaddaa, I sought it as a career choice at a bar that was looking for waitresses. I had the body for it, and there was a sore lack of 'petite' options for the clientele." She smiled. "So I went for it. Made sure to check for infections at least once every week, just to be safe. And I was good at it- not that I knew it at the time, but I also had a penchant for getting clients to ease off when they were getting too rough, through the Force. I even unconsciously used it to get a little extra in the way of credits," she admitted.

Syrra could feel her cheeks burning with the heat of a supernova. "I... that's..."

The Amaran raised an eyebrow, floating up the stones she'd gathered and stacking them idly. "Did you always want to be a Jedi or Trianii Ranger? Didn't you ever want to be a model or dancer, like most girls between ages 3 and 12?"

Syrra shook herself to clear her head- it was a reasonable question, and she thought she knew where it was leading to. "I... well, I did_take up dancing at Bast's request. It was one of the few things about nobility I enjoyed. But that's _hardly the same as selling sexual services, isn't it?"

Keris grinned. "Not as wide a gap as you'd think, actually. Ever danced for Kajex before? You know, put those hips into motion and let him know what he's about to get? You should consider it- it could put him in the mood, make it much more of an intense experience for the both of you."

"I'll... take it under consideration," Syrra said quietly, blushing furiously as she put unsteady focus on a stone of her own, stacking it on top of Keris' small tower. The stone wobbled and fell over, thumping into the dirt. Keris smiled warmly.

"I'm sorry. It's probably putting you off, being so bold about it. I keep forgetting you didn't quite like how I groped you back on AS-303- which I'm sorry about," she added, bowing her head. "Just because you have Kajex and Talrik, I shouldn't assume you're comfortable talking to me about being... promiscuous."

"It's fine," Syrra said, taking in a deep breath. "I asked after all."

"And I'm better now, at least- down to one a day, even," Keris said as she floated a couple of pebbles on top of the tower. "When Locke picked me up... well, let's just say I showed my gratitude the entire flight from Nar Shaddaa to the other side of the Mid Rim. Took him a few years of training and nightly intimacy to make me a bit more manageable, so to speak."

"What happened that caused you to have that kind of drive?" Syrra asked as she focused on her stone and stacked it on top again, using the pebbles to keep it in place. When Keris didn't answer immediately, she looked back to her- a sour expression was on the vixen's face as she clenched her paw into a fist, her emerald eyes glaring into the stack of stones.

"That Hutt fuck did a number on my physiology with drugs and chemical concoctions. Not atypical for Hutts, really, the best way to make sure someone stays in your employ is to force them to need something you have. Zorba just took it a step farther- most of us didn't even need chains, cuffs or collars to be kept in place," she said bitterly. For a moment, she stared at the tower, looking tense- with the speed and reflexes of a trained Force-sensitive, she drew her lightsaber and cut cleanly down the middle of the stack, growling slightly as she returned the weapon to her hip with a flash.

"... Keep calm, Keris," Syrra advised softly. "You're not a Sith anymore- if you ever were to begin with. You have every reason to be angry, but the bastard is dead and you had a hand in it. At least be at peace with that."

The vixen closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. "Yeah... I guess it helps to know he's food for smaller, less-corpulent worms." She folded her arms as the tower split apart, kept together through Syrra's concentration. "Still, I can't help but keep in mind that most other Hutts are only slightly better than he was, and that there are a lot of other slaves in their keeping. Pisses me off sometimes..."

Syrra nodded as she forced the tower farther apart, taking note of the smooth, almost polished cut the lightsaber had left. "It's okay to be bitter about it- as long as you don't make it your focus. Either way, you have my sympathies, I feel the same way you do about the practice. Trianii know what it's like to be targeted for slavery, both for labor and sex- though I doubt I'll ever understand what it's truly like to be a slave."

"I hope you don't have to," Keris said softly as she leaned against a wall and watched the Trianii padawan stack one tower half atop the other. "... Hey. Thanks."

Syrra managed a smile as she diverted just enough attention from what she did toward Keris. "You've had only Locke to talk to you about these things, and to his credit he's helped you curb the physical injuries you sustained- I can only imagine how little you've been able to talk about. And besides, you're good company- I'd like us to be more comfortable speaking to each other."

The vixen nodded, her eyes drawn to the top of the tower, which seemed to be stacked so perfectly as to stand tall and straight without issue. "... Do you think I belong here? Like... do you think I'll actually make it and become a Jedi? What if it's not for me?"

The Trianii got to her feet, dusting her pants off and shrugged. "That's up for you to decide, in my opinion. I'll say this, though- when you stood with us at Katarr, you were the only one of us capable of using the Force to not sustain any injury, even though you engaged about 20 heavily-armed stormtroopers more or less by yourself. That's nothing to sneeze at- that's a mark of considerable skill." She paused. "Put simply, if you don't end up becoming a Jedi, I can only imagine that it's because you don't want to be one in the first place. If you're worried about adhering to classic Jedi philosophy, that's fine- it's not for everyone, and even Kajex doesn't follow it anymore. Maybe a different discipline or philosophy would be better suited for you. You should consider it- something like the Jensaarai or Matukai philosophies."

Keris scoffed. "The Matukai? Seriously? Those guys are masochists, they love_punishing themselves. And they're scary," she admitted, whining slightly. "Ever seen them practice martial arts? It's terrifying, they can punch through durasteel _without using the Force. The Jensaarai, though..." She trailed off, looking thoughtful. "It might be an easier transition- Sith pragmatism, power and technique; and Jedi compassion, discipline and honor. I might talk to a couple of them... provided they can trust me."

"I'll help you if you need it," Syrra assured her, putting a paw on the vixen's shoulder. "I've been here a year, and I remember what it was like doing things solo- things are much easier with a friend."

Keris smirked as they both looked at the tower of stones. "Is that what we are? 'Friends'?"

Syrra shrugged, smiling back. "That's up to you. If nothing else, you haven't tried to kill me recently, so that's a hell of a step up from out past interactions- I'd gladly call you a friend to help heal whatever rift remains between us." She jerked up straight. "Healing- shit, I forgot what time it is! I need to get to the Medical Wing for training!"

Keris grinned. "I'll race ya there- try to keep up, bitch!" she said with a snicker as she started sprinting towards the Great Temple.

"Wha- you cunt, get back here!" A golden blur tailed a rust-toned blur, as the two young women used the Force to make haste back home, leaving behind their erected tower of stones as a bird perched atop the peak.

"And he says it'd only cost about 5 thousand credits just to get a comfortable filler set," Kajex said eagerly as he bent over the top of his ship, tail wagging excitedly as he pulled his work goggles off his eyes. "It just means I'll have to head to Corellia myself and hand my ship over to the manufacturers for a few days, but it'll be worth it!"

Locke leaned against a stack of cargo containers, smiling wryly at his twin. "Kajex... do you even have that kind of money?"

The gray wolf whined and frowned. "Of course I do! I mean... just barely. Stop dashing my dreams, dammit! I just wanna make my ship more comfortable for you guys- it's your home too, now."

The white wolf chuckled, using the Force to float up a handheld fusion-cutter to him. "And I appreciate that, I truly do. But you've done so much for us lately, I feel awkward about you wanting dump your nest egg just for us- you have a future wife to think about, what would she say?"

The squeal of boots screeching to a halt preceded a slim collection of golden fur and Jedi robes sliding across the hangar floor on her side. Syrra looked up at Locke, who stared down at her with an arched eyebrow. "Uh... his 'future wife' says she trusts whatever financial decisions he wants to make, as long as its his money," she said as she got to her feet and dusted herself off. "Why, what does he want to do now?" she added, watching as Keris sped past her briefly, only to slow down a half-second later halfway through the hangar.

"He wants to upgrade the Gold Rush with extra living space for each of us," Locke explained. "Apparently he can do it at very little cost- or at least at as little cost as starship modification can come."

"Yeah, Captain Lynch put me into contact with a guy at the Corellian Engineering Corporation. He messaged me back this morning to tell they stopped making modular units for the XS series freighters about a thousand years ago, but only because they had a tremendous surplus once their Y-series freighters started getting popular." He grinned. "It'd take a few days, but I could have my ship upgraded with some new rooms, a better water purification system and a few bunks, even!"

Locke sighed, though he seemed amused. "I'm trying not to squelch my brother's enthusiasm, Syrra- but please be so kind as to break it to him gently why it's probably not feasible."

Syrra glanced between them before shrugging. "I don't see why not. I know Kajex likely has the credits to cover it, and I'd gladly pitch in my own healthy sum if it comes to extra, being that it's my home too and all. Besides, it's not like it would put a dent in my accou--" She squeaked and slapped a paw over her muzzle, her eyes widened.

The gray wolf blinked as what she'd just said clicked with what he knew about her. "... Wait a second..." He sat up straighter, a grin forming on his muzzle, jabbing the fusion cutter in her direction. "Syrra... you're loaded, aren't you?"

"I didn't say that!" she chirped in panic.

"No, but you are thinking it," Keris said with an amused smirk as she walked back up to them.

The Trianii groaned. "Dammit... I was worried this was going to happen. Okay, yes," she admitted loudly before Kajex could say anything again. "Being a powerful noble's daughter does mean that I'm technically 'loaded'- my father made sure I received every credit in his name when he died, and it comes out to enough to buy a fully decked-out starship, some land on Ekibo and still have enough loose change for a decade's worth of Retsa's noodles for a full crew. But that's... it's not me, you know?" she insisted weakly, ears folding in embarrassment. "I'm not some spoiled rich girl."

Locke smiled warmly. "Come now, Syrra- why would any of us think that of you? You'll always be the Jedi who brought me back from the brink of death, instead of some spoiled rich girl. But anyway, as you said," he turned back to Kajex. "If you have the credits and_she's_ okay with it, I suppose there's no sense in trying to stop you. I can't control your mind, you're too good at shielding it."

"Awesome," Kajex responded with a grin, slipping his goggles back on- he'd work out the when and how later, but knowing he was clear for it was a good start as far as he was concerned. "So, where are you two headed?" he asked as he started cutting into a section of the hull. "Could use some help with the ship a little later when you've got the time, since I see you as my fiancee, Padawan and co-pilot, instead of a rich girl who is too afraid to get her hands dirty- I wanna get this coded booster installed so you guys can have access to the Praxeum archives on the ship's consoles."

She smiled appreciatively. "How sweet of you," she purred. "But I need to get my hands dirty in the Medical Wing, unfortunately- Cilghal is expecting me and Keris wants to tag along."

"Alright, you guys have fun studying," the gray wolf said with a wave. "And remember, we're gonna cover blaster deflection later this afternoon, so get Miles, Talrik and a couple of other Rangers, if you can!" he called after them.

"We will!" Syrra hollered back- Kajex and Locke watched the two continue to chat as they made for the turbolift into the Temple proper, humored smiles on their muzzles. Once they boarded, he looked down to Locke.

"So... how soon before one of them propositions the other?"

Locke grinned. "I'd give it another week."

It was nearly a week later when Master Skywalker finally returned to the Praxeum, to the news of his involvement in ending the Black Fleet Crisis. Though at this point Locke and Keris had been training alongside Kajex and Syrra in private (save for a few sessions with Battlemaster Katarn so Locke could demonstrate Juyo), both wolves nevertheless sought an audience with Luke to discuss what they had learned and how the two former Sith felt about joining the Academy properly. They were granted an audience the day before Luke got back; more surprising, however, was that it was Kajex's and Moarn's presence that were insisted upon during the meeting- once Master Skywalker had returned, all 4 Jedi pack members and Master Moarn followed Skywalker to the audience chamber with barely a word between any of them.

Kajex spared concerned glances to Locke and Moarn, but despite the silence of telepathic conversation neither of them had any idea what seemed to going on- only that Luke seemed slightly upset. Once they had reached the Great Temple's ceremonial hall, Master Skywalker finally spoke, turning to them all- but eyes focused on Master Moarn in particular.

"I want to thank you for coming on such short notice, Master Moarn. I understand you've been working exceptionally hard to add new data to our archives here, and I greatly appreciate your efforts," he said calmly.

Moarn bowed. "I'm happy to have helped. Engaging in this project has helped me immensely. Was there a concern you wanted to address with us?"

Luke seemed to hesitate a moment before nodding. "Yes- with you and Kajex, actually."

The Sentinel blinked. "Er... why me?"

There was another pause as a troubled expression set into Luke's face. "I... admit that I'm moderately upset, right now. I'm trying not to be, but this conflict damaged me in a way that I hadn't foreseen. The loss of life was great, and I sympathize with those who have lost loved ones on both sides on the war- I wish I could have intervened sooner, but... I accept that my sister's counsel not to send me in early, not even to save her own husband, was a good call all the same. In the period that I waited, I had contact with a Fallanassi named Akanah. I would not be talking to you about her were it not for the fact that she promised to help me discover who..." he paused, swallowing, "... who my mother was."

The gray wolf Jedi felt a pang of sympathy for the Jedi Master. "What happened?"

"She promised she would aid me in discovering the other half of my parentage," Luke explained, uncharacteristically stopping at the foot of the hall's stairs and sitting on the third step with a weary expression. "When the chance was offered, I was, I confess, tremendously excited that I might finally figure out who my mother was, and I made it a point to tell my sister that I was going to found out who she was. She... she wasn't happy about it. At all."

Keris frowned. "Why not? Doesn't she want to know, Master Skywalker?"

He shook his head, sighing. "Shortly after the defeat of Palpatine, and the Truce at Bakura, Leia was visited by the Force spirit of our father, Anakin. She'd known even before then that he was Darth Vader, as I'd told her, but... I guess the reality that she was the child of a man who caused so much pain and suffering didn't set in until that moment, and she couldn't find it in herself to forgive him. Since then, she learned a bit more about his early life on Tatooine, even learned about our grandmother; and she's made peace with him, fortunately. But the idea of knowing who our mother was... I think she was terrified at what I might find, and while she didn't bother to convince me to let it go, she forbid me to ever approach her about it if I found out anything. There's just too much pain there, for her."

"So... what were you able to discover?" Syrra asked gently- Kajex glanced at her and just through her expression alone he could tell that she treated this with incredible seriousness. That she, too, had a history with a troubled parentage was probably the root of her concern.

Luke looked up, smiling blandly. "Nothing. I was lied to."

Kajex flinched. "... Ouch..."

"Yeah... 'ouch'." Luke echoed softly. "The Fallanassi practice the Force as well, which they know as the White Current. Though they don't practice traditional Jedi techniques like telekenesis or augmenting bodies, they are unrivaled in producing Force-generated illusions. It's how we were able to defeat the Black Fleet, by producing a 'phantom' fleet of our own to confuse and disorient the Duskhan League's ships." There was a pause in which he shook his head and continued to smile. "This seems irrelevant on the face of it, I realize, but the connection is there- Fallanassi believe that authority is a lie, an illusion to be dispelled, and above all that one should serve themselves over all others. To that end... I was used to further her own goals, and led by the illusion of a promise."

Keris glared. "Why? How could she do that?"

Luke shook his head. "There's no sense in being angry with her. She, too, sought for information about her own family, her own heritage. I hope what she has discovered gives her some measure of peace- because I know that her deception has caused her to feel immeasurable guilt. But... Leia was right. I should have been content to just let things go."

Master Moarn frowned sympathetically. "Except you haven't, have you?" he asked.

Luke smiled again. "Not exactly, no. So I'm only going to ask you and Kajex once, and never again. I don't care if you don't know, because somehow I expect I'll never know- and if that's the case, I'll simply have to make peace with that. But I've spent so much time telling my students that they don't need to give up their attachments that I feel... maybe I deserve a connection of my own." He paused. "Do either of you know who my mother could have been?"

Master Moarn shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not. Anakin Skywalker had many political admirers for his heroism, but only a few friends within the Jedi Order- none of them female other than his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. She was a Togruta, however, and she left the Jedi Order prior to the Jedi Purge. She might have known who Anakin might have taken as his lover or wife, but... I expect that she was one of the Purge's many casualties, unfortunately. Even if by the will of the Force she were alive, I doubt she would return to the Jedi. We... betrayed her, in a way."

Luke nodded, before glancing at Kajex. "And you?"

The Sentinel's ears flattened sadly. "I wish I could tell you, Luke, I really do. But I have no idea, either. If anything comes to mind, or if I remember something that seemed innocuous on the face of it, I'll let you know."

Luke sighed. "It was a long shot, I guess." He shook his head, clearing his throat and standing back up. "Well, I said I was going to have to make peace with the possibility, and I will. So, let's move on to you two," he suggested, gesturing to Locke and Keris. "Master Streen and Master Solusar informed me that you two expressed an interest in joining the Praxeum as students. Are you still interested?"

Locke nodded resolutely. "We are."

"Well then, allow me to welcome you to the Academy," Luke said simply, smiling.

"... Wait, that's it?"

"That's it."

"... But we're former S--"

Luke chuckled. "Locke, you have no idea how many students here have had brushes with the dark side of the Force- or even how many of them used to be Dark Jedi. Kam Solusar was one of Palpatine's Dark Side Elites. Kyp Durron and Kyle Katarn have both been influenced by the dark side in the past. One of Kyle's students, Rosh Penin, worked with the Disciples of Ragnos more than a year ago, but he's become wiser and more studious since turning away from them. I even have a, er... close friend of mine, Mara Jade, who used to be one of the Emperor's Hands. There's nothing in your past that can prevent you from being a student of the light, if you're willing- except yourself."

"Even with everything I've done, you're just... willing to let me in?" Locke asked skeptically.

"I'd suggest seeing how much damage Kyp Durron has caused before you begin judging yourself; and yet we still believe he is a good person at heart. I've read your report and I've heard your regrets. I believe we can count on you as a trustworthy student- and instructor," he added.

Locke seemed to sway. "W-wait, why an instructor? I mean, I just barely got here!"

"You are probably one of the most learned individuals here when it comes to knowledge of Sith culture and history," Moarn interjected. "I don't believe for a moment you'd put anyone at risk by trying to advocate Sith philosophy- but to remain ignorant about what they know, what they have done and what they are prepared to do to destroy the Jedi, is dangerous for the Order. You have much to offer by educating others to the dangers of the dark side- and how to resist it. Recounting the history of the Sith and detailing their dangers may very well be an adequate role for you to fulfill, or at least contribute to the archives."

"In addition, you are the only duelist we know of who has studied_Juyo_ to the degree of mastery," Luke continued. "And while it may be a lightsaber form created by the Sith, it is still effective and necessary for our students to learn how to defend against it- even our older, more experienced members might be able to handle it with your instruction." He turned to Kajex. "More importantly, you've bonded closely with your friends here. I didn't separate Kajex and Syrra when they grew close, and I feel it would be damaging if I separated you and Keris from your new 'pack'- so I won't."

The white wolf might have barely been able to hide his smile, but Kajex knew everyone could see his tail struggling not to wag. "I... thank you, Master Skywalker. But who would you assign to take on training me?"

"Oh, I don't see you as requiring any real training from one of our masters, to be honest," Luke responded with an amused smile. "The upside to Sith and Dark Jedi education is that it tends to be constant and thorough, if only because it's seen as necessary to be able to kill off us Jedi. I've no doubt you've mastered core Force abilities, and I'm convinced that the claims of you being capable of mass Force persuasion are legitimate, which indicates you possess a high level of skill. What you require, more than anything, is guidance from friends and family. Like I said, I'm not going to separate you from Kajex as it's clear you've both been positive influences in each other's lives. In that regard," he said, turning to Kajex again, "I'm counting on you to help your kin."

The gray wolf grinned. "Hell, I've already gotten them started on basic Sentinel mind-resistance exercises. Syrra and I will get 'em into shape."

"Very good," Master Skywalker responded approvingly. "Then from today onward, Locke, you are considered an instructor and Jedi Guardian here at the Praxeum, with Keris remaining as your Padawan and Kajex monitoring your progress, until we deem you ready to be assigned the rank of Knight. This also means I expect you two to help Kajex and Syrra when they're on-mission- as they will also be your missions. I expect with the 4 of you working together, in addition to Talrik and Miles supporting you, you'll be exceptionally well-prepared to handle anything the Circle of Syn throws at you all." He clasped his hands together. "Well, I think that's about everything, then- unless any of you have something you wished to discuss."

"I do," Locke said abruptly. He stepped forward, swallowing as he drew his lightsaber from his belt calmly, staring at it for a few moments before offering it, handle first, to the Jedi Master. "I put a lot of thought into it... and I decided it would be best if I give you this."

Kajex's eyes widened as his brother held out his weapon. "But... that's your lightsaber, Locke. Why?"

The white wolf shook his head. "It's not mine, Kajex. It never belonged to me. I found it in a speeder wreck, remember? It's served me well for 2 decades, but as much trust as I've had in the weapon, and as much as it's guarded my life... it's never felt like an extension of_me_. It's always felt like it's just been there for the ride, forced to do things its original owner would no doubt have refused to do had it not been there to guide and protect me." He sighed, watching as Luke carefully took the weapon from him. "If I'm to truly come to terms with... everything... I think it would be best if I let go of the past, and constructed my own weapon- one attuned specifically to me. I've had a somewhat unique lightsaber design in mind which I would like to employ, as it is."

Luke smiled. "I understand. For now, you are more than welcome to borrow any of the Academy's lightsabers."

"Thank you, Master Skywalker- but I actually intend to get started immediately." He stared at the weapon for a moment longer before nodding, seemingly more to himself than to anybody else. "It's been a long time coming, and I shouldn't put it off another day."

The following day saw an intensive effort between Syrra and Keris to learn from the instructors at the Praxeum. Despite the continued whispers that Syrra could sense, speaking of a lack of trust towards both Locke and Keris, Keris seemed happy to be learning from the Academy. At times, Syrra wondered if she was the only one hearing these whispers of uncertainty- but she felt no need to dampen her newest sparring partner's spirits.

Syrra had been worried that Keris might express too much exuberance in their sparring sessions, only to be pleased when the vixen eased up on her. While the Amaran was clearly the better aggressor between the two, Syrra had been ramping up her skill in Soresu to better control the pace of their combat, although she still had trouble in shifting her styles so she could better reverse the flow of battle. The two had help, however, from both Locke and Kajex.

"It's not about controlling the direction of the battle," Locke advised her as Keris offered a paw to help her up. "It's about working with the flow. True control of a battle's direction is more in the realms of battle meditation and the like- the absolute best you can do in a duel is exert limited control over the pace, and even then, only through your own actions."

Syrra sighed, taking the vixen's paw and getting to her feet, hissing slightly at the burn on her ankle. Keris looked slightly apologetic. "Need a break?"

The Trianii nodded. "Just a short breather." She turned back to Locke as he returned much of his focus towards his new weapon, using a cold-welder to fasten long strips of plating against a long shaft. "I just don't know if I have the endurance to keep up with yours or Keris' styles of combat- not like Kajex, anyway."

The Sentinel smiled. "It's not about endurance, with me. It's about creativity. I only controlled the pace of the battle between myself and Locke because I knew how to defend against it and how to break the pacing by using my environment. Niman works well to compliment most styles because of its balance- and it's emphasis on thinking outside the box. But it literally takes years_to master _Niman to the level of matching a master in another style, and I had a lot of time to do it. You don't have the luxury of having that much time."

"Would it help if I said you made me work for that victory?" Keris asked.

"Are you being honest about that?" Syrra replied.

"Well... mostly," Keris admitted.

"If I may provide some advice, Syrra," Locke said clearly as he fitted another strip. "Try not to shift into styles. Employ what you know about Soresu and compliment its strength to make up for the weaknesses of Ataru instead. The former's defensiveness can still be achieved while performing the latter's intensity- Kajex tells me you performed it while engaging Ulfric." He looked up and smiled again. "If nothing else, consider it admirable that you're utilizing a defensive form in combat first, instead of resorting to a more aggressive form from the start. Is that not what a Jedi would do?"

Syrra took a deep breath and nodded, letting it out. "Alright, I think I can go again."

Keris grinned. "Whenever you're ready."

They tapped their low-intensity blades together before taking a step back and assuming ready positions. Intense focus, absent of any animosity, surged between the two sparring partners as they approached, initiating combat with their opening strikes. Sharp cracks echoed through the already-noisy hangar as the sapphire and ruby energy blades clashed repeatedly. The duel panned out as it had the last few times- Keris utilized wide, sweeping slashes and careful footwork, parrying Syrra's pokes and counter-attacking almost immediately; Syrra kept on the defensive, trying not to become frustrated as her blocks were battered against by the vixen's relentless assault, relegated to backpedaling once again.

Unwilling to give up so easily, she backed away out of striking range and recentered herself with a quick inhale-exhale of air, stepping back into range as her foot and bladework changed drastically- instead of being planted solidly into the floor, as was demanded of _Soresu_to weather powerful blows, her feet became more lithe and agile; instead of the tight defensive angles she employed for defensive, she shifted into a more aggressive, agile counter-assault against the vixen, weaving a veritable tapestry of energy as she circled Keris. The abrupt change in combat style bewildered the fox, causing her to falter and forcing her to the backfoot.

With the battle shifting in her favor, Syrra struggled not to lose focus, attempting to maintain a balance between the abrupt shifts into solid defense, and the acrobatic and relentless bursts of Ataru. When Keris attempted to counter-attack, Syrra's momentum allowed her to intercept and batter the vixen's blade away, allowing her to continue dictating the flow of battle. The Trianii became dimly aware that Kajex and Locke were not the only ones watching- Miles and Talrik had returned, and a handful of the hangar workers turned up to watch the sparring match unfold. Ignoring the new spectators, she stepped in closer to Keris, spotting a vulnerability as the vixen attempted another wide, sweeping strike- with an agile duck, Syrra side-stepped deep into her attack range, turning her back to the vixen and shifting her weapon into her off-hand quickly.

Seeing the feline so close, Keris panicked and reversed the assault, only to have it blocked- unaware that Syrra had switched hands, Keris yelped as the Trianii grabbed her wrist and deactivated her weapon, shifting her footing quickly; using her arm to push the vixen off-balance, she followed up by kicking the back of the Amaran's knee. Keris dropped to her back along with Syrra, the Trianii rolling expertly into a kneeling stance with her lightsaber reactivated, the point of the low-intensity blade directed at the vixen's chest.

Keris blinked, staring at the point. "Uh... solah?" she surrendered with a sheepish smile.

The feline paused before smirking, tracing the tip of her blade against the fabric of Keris' borrowed tunic- the low-intensity blade was still powerful enough to burn through the clothing down her cleavage, easily slicing past her chest-binders, until the tunic nearly separated cleanly. At this point, Syrra drew her blade away with a satisfied smile, flicking the lightsaber off.

Keris sat up, staring down at her bared cleavage with an arched eyebrow. "... Wow. Now what was that all about?" she asked with an interested smile. Their attention was turned to a couple of catcalls from the watchers (amounting to "aww, why'd you stop!?" and "take it off!") Far from being embarrassed, Keris seemed to be moderately pleased with the attention, though Syrra noticed as she offered the vixen a paw back to her feet that she did nothing to fulfill those demands. "That was much better," Keris said warmly.

"Thanks," Syrra replied bashfully. What she had done had not been planned out, but it brought a smile to her face nevertheless, as well as made her cheeks burn. "I... sorry about--"

"Hey, it's your tunic, bitch," she teased. "No credits outta_my_ account."

"Alright," Locke said with an amused smile. "I think you two had better hit the showers and cool down before you start stripping in front of everyone."

"Aww, why spoil my fun, Master?" Keris whined humorously.

"Knowing you," Locke said as he returned to his work with a grin, "you'll be having your 'fun' on the Gold Rush in fairly short order."

"What exactly did he mean by that?" Syrra asked curiously once they were inside, stripped of their clothing and moving under the ship's crew showerheads. "Have I been missing something?"

Keris smirked as they ran the water, waiting for it to heat up. "Locke seems to think I have a thing for you," she replied teasingly, a soft purr in her voice.

The Trianii flinched slightly, the blush she'd possessed while sparring having returned. Whether it was what she said or the way she said it, the words made her shiver slightly- and not unpleasantly. "And by 'thing', you mean...?"

The vixen arched a skeptical eyebrow. "You're not actually asking that question, are you? You know the answer. Since day one, I've thought you were attractive, you know that- and despite that half-year of animosity, I guess that never really changed," she admitted as she stepped under shower, letting out a relaxed sigh as the warm water matted her fur and hair.

Syrra swallowed as she watched the flow of water run down her back and along her curves. It was difficult not to stare at the vixen as she bathed- she'd never really actually looked at her with any sort of appraising eye (and was now in fact trying to remember a situation when she actually saw Keris completely nude as opposed to being in the same room with her), but now that she was there and it was in the open, Syrra couldn't see anything but the vixen's attractive body. In many ways it mirrored her own, though Keris' nipples were slightly inverted (slowly starting to peak) and her pubic fluff was a patch of crimson as opposed to Syrra's cream-colored tuft of soft fur- they even had the same slightly athletic yet satisfyingly curvy physique that came with years of Jedi/Sith (and in Syrra's case, Trianii Ranger) training.

It was a few seconds before Syrra realized the vixen was staring back with a grin- the heat of at least a half-dozen supernovas seemed to set into the feline's cheek's as she snapped her head away and stepped underneath the running showerhead, trying shake her hair forward as it matted to hide her blush. She didn't dare look at Keris as she tried to steady her nerves and still her thoughts so the vixen couldn't catch on, though she wondered if it might not already be too late.

She heard Keris clearing her throat as she started building a lather of soap. "You know... it's alright if you stare," she said quietly. The Trianii risked a glance and saw Keris lathering up, though even through her matter fur Syrra could tell she was blushing furiously as well. "Makes me feel a little more at ease knowing the attraction isn't completely one-sided, you know? I won't try to make a move on you, I promise- besides, like you said... we're friends, right? And the last thing I want to do right now is give you any reason to break whatever trust you have in me." There was a pause. "... Especially since you're about the only student here who actually trusts me in any degree."

Syrra's ears flattened slightly. "So... you do hear it, then- what other people are thinking."

The vixen nodded, looking slightly troubled. "I was expecting it, honestly. Locke, too- but he's been so fixated on his new connection with his brother that he doesn't care what they think in the slightest. It helps that he's skilled enough that the other knights and masters at least respect him, but... aside from Garrett, you're about the only student here who trusts me on any level- even though I nearly killed you over half a year ago."

The Trianii felt a slight twinge beneath her left breast, where Keris had once impaled her. "You didn't, though," Syrra replied. "It hurt like hell, yeah, but you let me live."

"Only because we intended to bring you to the Circle," Keris said, shuddering slightly. "And yet you still spared me on AS-303. You still went out of your way to save my life when Ulfric tried to kill me on Central Rock, even going so far as to treat my wound while I was being a bitch to you. And when Locke was dying, you didn't just look at him and decide to let it happen- you offered to bring him onboard and get him treated. You brought him back from the brink of death."

Syrra turned back to her, no longer staring at her body so much as regarding her with concern and care. "Is that why you've been much kinder since you started living with us?" she asked. "Because I rescued both you and someone you love even though at the time you saw me as an enemy?"

The vixen seemed to hesitate before nodding, as if ashamed of admitting it. "The night you brought us here and took him to the Medical Wing, I considered breaking out of the ship just to be with him, regardless of the consequences. Only thing was... I'm not tech-savvy, so I knew it'd be fruitless for me to even try. I just stayed in the crew quarters like you asked. I slept and dreamed of Katarr- only this time, you weren't there. Locke was dying, and there was nothing I could do to save him. I didn't train in healing other people, and all I could do was just watch the life fade from his eyes." She shuddered. "And after I woke up and cried myself dry, I started wondering... what would I have done if things hadn't panned out the way they did, with you there to make sure it did? If you had been a lesser person than you are now- less in compassion and training- Locke might be dead; and so would I, if you had refused to bring me with you if he had died."

"We would have brought you with us if that had happened, I swear it," Syrra insisted earnestly.

"I believe you. But that doesn't change the fact that I owe you and Kajex everything." She paused, leaning against the tiled wall. "Your fiancee and Locke grew closer, became attracted, because of that bond they share- not just in their blood, but in their actions. I believe that Locke's right- it's hard not to feel attraction towards someone who has had such a large impact on your life; and I do, with you. That's why I don't mind that he and Kajex fucked- they both deserve some measure of happiness after so much bullshit, and I wouldn't want to come between them."

Keris looked up with a slightly teary smile. "So believe me when I say that I admire and respect the hell out of you, and I'm not interested in doing anything to violate your trust- even if there are times when I really, really want to get on my knees and give you the best tongue-lashing I've ever given another woman." She chuckled, wiping her face a bit and brushing a few strands of her crimson hair out of her eyes. "Though I'd only do it as a way of showing my thanks, mind you."

The Trianii's cheeks and ears burned with the offer, a thrill running through her body. "Are you sure about that?" Syrra asked, smiling coyly.

"About what?"

"About not wanting to 'cum' between my fiancee and his brother?" she replied, emphasizing the word just right and causing the vixen's eyes to widen.

"I-- ... well... you do know how to pick 'em. I guess you and I have similar tastes," she responded with a slight purr, looking bewildered with Syrra's response, though pleased. "I guess my point is... I wonder how close you'll let me get to you- how far your trust in me extends."

The Trianii hesitated, her eyes fixed on the vixen's. She recalled words Talrik had once said to Kajex months ago- I'm excited this is all happening, it's just not where I envisioned myself to be 5 years ago, you know? She had told him that she doubted any of them could have predicted the position she, Talrik and Kajex had found themselves back then. If she'd been told a year ago that Kajex would have asked her to marry him, and that her future husband would have found out a former Sith apprentice was a genetic twin and then slept with him with her permission; she would have responded how much of an impossibility it was with derisive laughter. Now here she was, admiring the body of her future brother-in-law's lover, a former Sith apprentice herself- and she was moving towards the vixen slowly and taking her paw in hers, ready to make whatever fantasies currently dancing through her head reality.

"Can I ask you to do something, Keris?" she asked, her heart hammering in her chest so hard it was a wonder the sound didn't echo through the ship.

The vixen paused before nodding, looking happily anxious. "Sure."

"Would you mind showing me how you'd thank me?" she purred gently.

The pause the seemed to stretch into forever as the vixen's wide, wine-colored eyes stared into Syrra's. Whether it lasted a few brief moments or an entire week, Syrra couldn't be sure- she'd forgotten to count how many heartbeats had passed as she waited for an answer. But the answer did come, in the form of an action- Keris squeezed the feline's paw gently as she drew forward just as Syrra mirrored the action. The two Force-sensitive young women let out a pair of quiet moans as their damp bodies met, at precisely the same moment their lips did.

Syrra had only kissed one other woman intimately in the past, and while she had been reptilian the sensation had been more than agreeable, if foreign. But while Keris' lips and muzzle were not unlike Talrik's, the act itself seemed to feel more erotic and heartfelt than when she normally locked lips with the Amaran sniper. Adding in the softness of Keris' tits pressed firmly against her own rack, their arms slipping around each others waists as they shared a moment of sapphic intimacy, the act made the Trianii pleasantly light-headed. Radiant warmth bloomed in her belly as their agile tongues danced in tandem, the act sending delightful thrills through the Trianii's spine. When she pulled away from the vixen's muzzle, it was with a tremendous measure of reluctance and a broad smile on her face.

Keris smirked. "You've become a lot more open than I expected you to be," she observed. "Half a year ago, I don't think you'd have let this happen."

Syrra chuckled. "No, but you weren't my friend back then, either."

"So... did you want me to...?"

Syrra shook her head. "Not here, at least- we shouldn't keep the water running, but... do you think you can hold off at least 10 minutes?"

Keris whined slightly. "I mean... I'll try, but... knowing that you wanna fuck is really getting to me."

The Trianii smiled and kissed her gently on the nose. "Please hold on- for me?"

Keris blushed, but smiled back as her tail swished positively. "Alright... for you."

Months of jogging and training in the jungle both with Kajex and by herself had given Syrra enough knowledge to know the region surrounding the Great Temple at least 3 miles out in any direction. Meditating in those areas had also given her insight into which areas people didn't frequent much, which was useful when she and Kajex wanted to spent a few hours alone without being bothered by anybody, while also getting out of the ship to get some fresh air. The mid-afternoon warmth was balanced by a cool breeze that stirred through the outcrop of rocks Syrra had found about 3 months after she'd arrived at the Praxeum, which she had used once or twice to be intimate with her fiancee- what it lacked was a soft place to rest afterwards, which made the soft bedroll she had tucked under one arm a welcome addition to the scene.

Her other paw, meanwhile, squeezed gently around Keris' paw as the feline guided her new vixen friend-with-benefits. The two had taken only enough time to dry off quickly and throw on a couple of simple tunics before gathering a couple of items and sprinting out of the hangar, blushing and giggle like schoolgirls while Kajex and Locke watched them leave with confused expressions. The thrill was still there; so was the arousal. They were only a mile from the Great Temple, but took a little longer to get to the spot than it usually did, as Keris had insisted on stopping every so often to pull the feline into pleasant kisses and nuzzles that Syrra reciprocated. Even now as she tossed the bedroll onto the ground and allowed it to unroll, the vixen pulled her into another deep kiss that the Trianii returned as she was forced against a tree.

More than half a year ago, Syrra had lashed out at the vixen for attempting to grope her on AS-303, sparking their animosity- now all that seemed forgotten as she allowed her new fox lover to snake her paws up her shirt. Syrra moaned as the vixen gave each breast an appraising heft, before pulling her shirt off and entertaining herself, burying her muzzle between the feline's cleavage. The Trianii giggled slightly as Keris playfully motorboated her, before she drew the vixen's face up with both paws and treated her to another kiss. Eager as they were to get into it, Syrra kept the pace slow as they purred into each other, their paws roaming and pulling off each article of clothing until not an inch of their bodies was covered.

They shared no words as they explored each other, reduced to cute chirps, mewls and purrs as their lips traced against each others nipples, their fingers tracing between inner thighs and testing the moist warmth of each other's depths gently. Syrra's mind went intermittently went blank as the vixen began to finger-fuck the feline, jamming a pair of fingers into the Trianii's wet mound and riling up her slick inner walls slowly. For all her desire to return the favor, though, Keris denied her the opportunity, grabbing the one free paw that wasn't wrapped around the vixen's waist before in reached between the vixen's legs, pinning it against the tree.

"Nuh-uh," she chided the feline Jedi with a gentle, affection purr. "You wanted me to thank you, love. And I will, I promise."

Syrra found herself unable to anything more than blush and shiver anxiously as the vixen took her paw and pulled her onto the now-inflated bedroll. There was minimal resistance as the Trianii allowed herself to be pushed gently to her back, though she raised her head long enough to watch Keris nuzzle and lick all the way from her neck, down her cleavage and towards her belly. Her nose grazed slightly against the Trianii's lower-left vestigial teat, causing her to flinch. The involuntary reaction brought a grin to the vixen's face as she started attacking each sensitive nipple with gentle kisses and suckles, reducing Syrra to incomprehensible moans and mewls. With the feline unable to do little more than writhe, the vixen was free to place her paws back on Syrra's full breasts, her thumbs and forefingers caressing, pinching and tugging her areola.

Dizzy and drunk with lust, Syrra almost didn't notice when Keris stopped, a moderate tingle still lingering on her teats as her body relaxed slowly. The moment she felt a cold nose against her clit she let out a sharp chirp, flinching as the vixen nuzzled against the button affectionately. Her back arched as Keris attacked, lashing her netherregions from the bottom of her slit to the top of her hood with a skilled tongue that bespoke of years of sexual experience with other women. Not even clenching her teeth and fists could dull the incredible sensation of Keris' soft tongue working at the Trianii's cleft expertly, lashing the blossom with a moist warmth that persisted even when the vixen paused.

But even immersed in a haze of bliss, Syrra felt compelled to help out, to return the favor in some way. A restrained gasp from the vixen caused her to regain some of her senses back, enough that she supposed Keris' paws were not necessarily idle, or at least one of them was not. Her right paw supported her upper-body weight as she lay on her side- but as Syrra lifted herself up to her elbows, trying to weather past the vixen's skilled tongue now drilling into her depths, the Trianii could now see her other paw rubbing her own outer folds vigorously. The scene alone was hot enough that it kicked the feline's arousal even higher, a hard blush burning in her face. With a shaky paw she ran her fingers encouragingly through her vixen lover's hair, purring deeply as the gesture caused Keris to work harder on pleasuring her Jedi partner.

"N-no, wait," Syrra pleaded. "G-give me a sec, Keris!" she mewled.

The vixen stopped abruptly, concern in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry, was it too much?" she asked, her ears flattening timidly.

The feline took in a deep breath, sighing pleasantly. "Yes, but in the best way possible, I promise." She leaned forward, cupping the vixen's face. "I think I know how thankful you are, now... but right now I'm in a lovemaking mood instead of having a random fling."

The vixen cringed a little. "Wait... even with someone like me?"

"I need to show you that I trust you, Keris," the feline explained gently. "That I'm not just letting this happen because it feels nice, or because our significant others have bonded- I feel like...we've bonded, too. Haven't we?" she asked uncertainly, hoping the feeling wasn't one-sided.

The vixen's answer was an eager nod, followed by the intimate meeting of their lips only a moment later. She didn't need to ask if Keris was a pack-mate- they both knew it, she could feel it now, the sensation no longer obscured by her own apprehension. It took very little to coax the vixen to her feet and even less to spread her legs apart so the Trianii could get a clear look at her snatch. With a paw supporting each of Keris' soft buttocks, Syrra leaned in and pressed her muzzle against the vixen's netherlips, tasting her folds. A cute whimper escaped the vixen's muzzle as she shuddered; Syrra immediately became aware of how horny the fox was just from the way she was grinding against her face, if the heady aroma of her sexual scent and copious moistness hadn't been clues enough.

It was nothing short of delicious; her tongue caressed against the vixen's gash and picked up the sweetness of her dew, though soe some reason an incredible flavor seemed to center around her clit- a gentle flick with her rough tongue made the vixen chirp excitedly; another flick and Syrra could both feel and taste the vixen getting wetter. She breathed in, the intoxicating scent of horny fox-bitch drowning her senses as she continued to kiss her lover's cleft passionately. Her textured tongue swirled around the vixen's pot, scraping gently against her inner walls; there was no doubt that her efforts were being appreciated, Keris rocked needfully against her muzzle, trembling and whimpering.

With the knowledge that she was getting a good reaction from the vixen, Syrra redoubled her efforts. Drawing her tongue away from Keris' mound, she gave her only a few brief moments to steady herself before slipping a pair of fingers into her warm pussy, grinning as Keris cried out again and started to grind desperately against her paw. Making sure the vixen could keep upright, she leaned back in and kissed the vixen's clit gently. With the fox's button caught between her lips, the Trianii purred loudly and sent those deep vibrations directly against her lover's cleft- the effect was immediate, with Keris' mewling loudly and placing her paws on Syrra's head to steady herself, rubbing the feline's ears as she began swaying dangerously.

The Trianii had the good sense to stop only half a minute later, when it became clear it was no longer safe to continue. She drew back and caught the vixen before she could fall over, the fox moaning and purring pleasantly as Syrra held her in her arms. What concern the feline had that Keris would be injured melted away at the look of pure love and adoration the vixen was giving her as they drew close and nuzzled, licked and kissed.

"So... good," she whimpered. "How'd you... get so good?"

The Trianii purred and licked her neck. "I thought to myself, 'if I had a clone, what would I make her do to me?' Then I just turned it around and did it to you, instead."

"Silly," the fox mewled cutely, drawing her into another kiss. When they drew away again, the vixen seemed to have gotten some of her vigor back, pulling the feline on top of her. "C'mere, I wanna try something."

"What's that, Syrra asked curiously, her tail swishing side to side eagerly.

Keris bit her lip shyly, trembling a little bit. "While I was... enslaved... I had only the other girls for comfort, and... some of them would grind against each other. I never did it with others, but... I want..." she swallowed. "Would you please fuck me like that?"

The feline's cheeks burned brightly with the request- she was familiar with the act, her fiancee having devoted an entire subfolder to the sexual position on his ship's computers. Not even in her most erotic dreams had she ever imagined being asked by another woman, even one she cared about, to perform that act- but now that it was there, Syrra was more than ready to oblige. Without a word she spread the vixen's legs apart and revealed her leaking gash, pushing her down to the bedroll as she straddled her lover, sliding one leg beneath the vixen's inner thigh as she bent forward. To an untrained body the position might have seemed uncomfortable or difficult; but Syrra was pleased to see the vixen was just as flexible as she was- which was to say, very.

The Trianii nearly yowled in bliss the moment their mounds came into contact- she caught the moan before it left her, turning it into a surprised gasp as she felt their netherlips caress against each other. Keris did nothing to silence her own satisfaction, chirruping excitedly as she ground back against the feline's cleft, causing hot electric sparks to prickle against Syrra's labia. As overwhelming as the sensation had been, Syrra moved to repeat it, moaning freely as their folds slipped together sloppily- as amazing as it was, it was made only better by the tingle of the vixen's deep-red pubic tuft brushing against her unguarded clit.

Her eyes opened slightly and fell upon Keris- the vixen stared back at her through half-lidded eyes even as she mewled and rolled her hips up, grinding their mounds. Her medium-length hair was messy and spread to all directions on the bedroll, but to Syrra the vixen had never looked more attractive. Even as they continued to thrust and caress against each other, there was little difficulty in Syrra leaning over lower so she could tease her lover with brief kisses and nips- even as the position forced Keris' leg back until her knee was beside her breast, the vixen was able to flexibly move her hips in tandem while returning the Trianii's tender affections.

"Nng... Keris, how...?"

"Keep going," she mewled.

The minutes wore on as they bucked against each other with barely-restrained eagerness. Every movement and counter-movement seemed to draw more fresh moistness to the feline's cleft. While no longer a stranger to sexual activities with the opposite sex, and even having slept with one other woman, there was a newness to this act that made it so much hotter- that she was doing it with someone she was bonding with seemed to make it more erotic, making every pang of sexual pleasure that shot through her netherlips and up her spine so much better. There was no sense in asking Keris how she was feeling anymore- the vixen vocalized her satisfaction quite clearly with unabashed moaning that made the Trianii's ears burn.

Before long, the sensation started to become overwhelming- Syrra's physical stamina was in no way depleted, but her sexual endurance was another matter. Their movements became more desperate as they ground more heavily, their clits nuzzling against each other and sending hot lances of arousal spiking through the both of them. Tightness on the Trianii's shoulder roused her from her sexual haze, causing her to notice that Keris had begun to cling to her shoulders- her response was to take the vixen's paws and pin them down with entwined fingers, bearing down heavily with a tormented moan as they kissed a final time.

Indescribable heat and bliss exploded in her loins as the Trianii climaxed hard, her muscles tightening as she drew her now-gushing pussy hard against the vixen's- at roughly the same moment, Keris' screamed in ecstasy and experienced an explosive orgasm of her own, the mixture of sexual nectar soaking both of their netherregions completely. Even after the brief flow, they writhed against each other, clinging desperately as they suffered the intense pleasure of reaching their peaks. Dizzy with the haze of sexual bliss, Syrra fell forward, landing next to her Amaran lover as the latter wrapped her arms and legs around her. Still gasping from the mind-shattering experience, they were reduced to minor demonstrations of affections, giving each other blind kisses and licks, nuzzling gently as they both purred with delight.

It was Keris who broke the relative silence between them. "That... was fucking... amazing," she panted as she snuggled the feline tight.

Syrra purred and licked the Amaran's cheek. "I can't believe... that went so well... for our first time together," she purred softly.

"Can you even move right now?" the vixen whimpered. "I feel like I just went through about 10 dueling sessions with you."

"You don't have to move," Syrra assured her with a small giggle. "I brought the bedroll out her for a reason."

Silence returned between them as they shared the warmth that radiated from them both. Enough time had passed since they'd arrived that the sun was nearing the horizon, not too far from disappearing behind the jungle canopy. After perhaps 10 minutes of relaxing in the buff, the Trianii sat up, stretching out with a pleasant moan- then choked out a laugh as Keris slid her paws up her body from behind and fondled her breasts. "Again?" she asked incredulously.

Keris purred but shook her head. "Nah, I'm more than good for the rest of the day," she responded, pressing her lips against the side of the feline's muzzle. "I just wanted to ask what this means to you, if you don't mind."

"It means I trust you, Keris," the Trianii replied simply. "That I know we can fight at each other's side and be ready to come to each other's defense if it comes to it. And it means that I consider you a part of our pack, and not just because you're my future brother-in-law's lover."

The vixen sighed, resting her head on the Trianii's shoulder. "Thanks... for everything."

Syrra nuzzled against her before using her future husband's common response with a smile. "Anytime."