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"Domestication of beasts has been a facet of almost every culture of every sentient race in the universe, almost as far back as the Beginning of All. The true nature of life everywhere is dependency. For most animals that possess some form of sentience, this consists of the 4 needs- food, water, shelter and companionship. If you are unable to provide these things to yourself, you will die; if you are unable to provide these things to your mate, there can be no union; if you are unable to provide these things to your offspring, there will be no future for them."

Garrett listened with rapt attention to Master Simetra, his new instructor, his deep brown eyes fixed on her respectfully- or as respectfully as could be managed given her attractiveness. He had tried repeatedly not to dwell overmuch on her body but it was rather difficult as she normally donned form-fitting gear that only seem to accentuate her natural curves, often wearing sleeveless coveralls that fit snug to her physique yet did nothing to impede her agility, allowing an unrestricted view of her heavily tattooed arms and pale, marble-toned skin. And he could not deny that her soft features, short black and silver streaked hair and pale blue eyes were incredible- but his respect for his teacher was high enough that he focused less on what she looked like and more on what she said. She stood slightly shorter than he did and was only a little older, but he had learned long ago that size and age was no definite measure of experience or wisdom- that in mind, he had treated her with respect from the moment he had been assigned to her, three months ago.

"What is the key to domestication, my student?"

Garrett paused, thinking it over as he ran his hands through his raven-colored hair. "... I guess most would say breeding is a key factor- culling unfavorable qualities and emphasizing favorable characteristics."

"You are correct to point out that most would say that. But why is it a foolish means of communing with nature?" she asked with a gentle smile.

Garrett paused again, shifting a bit and getting comfortable on his rock seat. "I suppose because you're trying to control nature by changing it instead of accepting it. If you selectively breed a species, you're not dealing with the same species in the end- trying to fit the square peg in a round hole, so to speak, by shearing off the corners."

"A fitting idiom," Master Simetra said approvingly. "If you had to choose a way to commune with nature, to be at peace with the beasts of the universe without forcing them to change artificially and against their will, how would you go about doing it?"

"I'd probably try to communicate with it- or, failing that, demonstrate some kind of trust by helping it obtain some of its needs."

"And have you attempted to do this with any of the creatures on Yavin 4?" she asked.

Garrett shifted again, looking out into the wilderness around them. "A few of the brush canids that have made dens around the northern river. A pair of them started visiting me here at the Praxeum when they're not hunting, even," he stated with a smile on his face. "I think they're a mated pair, I've never seen one without the other."

Master Simetra nodded again. "It's a blessed thing, to gain that kind of trust. If they would leave their home so readily to come to see you, spend time with you, you have made an impression on them such that they see you as a member of their pack. Cherish such a thing." She paused. "When I was a Nightsister, I knew only how to dominate creatures within the clan's sphere of influence. We would often control powerful beasts, usually rancors, setting them loose against our enemies. At the time, I thought little of such practices- we thought nature was ours to command, that we were its rightful masters but not its allies. Even during the weakest periods of the the Nightsister's existence, we thought ourselves powerful."

She sighed. "I learned wisdom within a few short years, when I realized what my foolish hands had wrought- I had thought my steeds and hounds as little more than fodder to be thrown at my enemies, not as living things with their own thoughts and feelings, however rudimentary they were. To feel the screams of anguish in their minds as their life ebbs away, knowing they never trusted you and only obeyed out of fear..." She paused, looking a little despondent. "Such a callous and ignorant practice was a facet of the dark side- and I'm thankful I was not completely lost to it that the pain of their passing could not bring me back to the light. I hope you never experience it as I did."

Garrett swallowed, feeling sympathetic. "I hope I don't either."

She motioned him to follow her, striding deeper into the jungle. Garrett had not yet had a lesson with her that took place within the walls of the Great Temple- she had explained that her assignment to Garrett had much to do with his affinity with animals, and to that end had decided it would be best to spend time outdoors. That wasn't to say he didn't learn other aspects of Jedi training- she still ran lightsaber drills with him in the ruins and on some of the uneven terrain, insisting they spar on unsteady ground so as to prepare him for battle in such settings, where even footing was not assured.

"Where are we going?" Garrett asked as they walked deeper into the jungle. He was not unfamiliar with going a few miles into the brush, but he had learned to stay away from some parts of the jungle due to its less-than-friendly fauna.

"Deeper," she said simply. "I'm told that when the Rebel Alliance used the Great Temple as their base, they used pesticide to ward away piranha beetles. When Master Skywalker established the Praxeum, some of the students were allergic to the compound and he had it cleansed away. He then provided a barrier from the beetles, using the Force to ward them away- an admirable application of the Living Force."

"That's pretty clever," Garrett agreed as he vaulted over a rock to keep up with his master.

"I agree, which is why our lesson today will focus on something similar. You have, without instruction, learned to bond with some of the less-hostile creatures of the moon. Brush canids are naturally curious, though cautious, and are rather shy of sentients. Gaining their trust is not too terribly difficult, although it's still admirable you did so," she added, assuring him she did not think less of him. "However, there will undoubtedly be creatures which are not as receptive, and which will go out of their way to maim or kill you instead."

Garrett started feeling uneasy. "We're not going to go looking for battle hydras or something, are we?"

Master Simetra laughed, her kind, clear voice making the Padawan blush. "Capable though you and I may be together, I would never suggest something so foolish. No, we are simply going to circle the edge of the ruins nearby. Junior Instructor Jaden Korr brought out a few children for training last week and sighted 3 or 4 howlers. The children suffered little more than a bad scare when they shrieked, but they are reticent to continue training until the area is clear. I asked Master Skywalker if might use this task as an opportunity to train you, and he agreed."

"Okay, that sounds much better," Garrett responded, letting out a relieved sigh. Much as it was a relief to be away from the stuffiness of high living on Coruscant and back in the wilderness where he felt more at home, he liked it best when the wild beasts of Yavin 4 weren't trying to kill him- but better howlers than a battle hydra.

It took only 30 minutes of jogging beneath the canopy to reach the training ruins, but in that time Garrett had sensed the approach of two familiar brush canids. Though he kept the bulk of his focus following his master he could not help but notice as they continued to tail the teacher and student some distance away. Every so often Garrett would glance back, and though their natural camouflage made it difficult to spot in the thick vegetation that lined the path, he was certain that it was they who caused the leaves of the brush to rustle every so often, even hidden in the foliage with their mossy green and brown pelts.

It was a site he had visited several times in the past, when Moarn was still his master and Syrra had been his fellow Padawan. Though it was difficult to find in the wilderness for those new to the academy, it was unusual to find the site not being used for some form of training. Yet now it seemed devoid of human presence, save for himself and Simetra- and the two canine followers that had poked their curious black noses out of the brush, following their every move.

"Eyes forward, Padawan," Simetra instructed, though she smiled. "Try to impress your audience- I suspect they have followed to aid you in case things go wrong."

"How could they go wrong?" Garrett asked as he peered into the ruins, spotting 2 reptilian howlers tussling among the ancient stonework.

"Howlers are a creation of the Sith," she answered, her voice serious. "A fabrication of the Sith lord, Sorzus Syn, brought to this moon around the time of Naga Sadow's presence. They, like many of Syn's abominations, were created and bred to be biological weapons to fight the Jedi, thousands of years ago. Thankfully the creatures are the least evil of her works, but they are not as receptive to the light side of the Force, though they can be reached with patience and compassion. Be cautious with them- they generally do not attack humans, but if you have read the bestiary of this planet you will no doubt be aware of their natural abilities."

Garrett nodded, shuffling behind a crooked pillar and peering around the edge for a closer look at the creatures- they were long-necked with acid-green scales, their elongated snouts showing many teeth, but he was all too aware their cries were far more dangerous and debilitating. "What do you suggest I do?"

"Feel them out. Compel them to leave through some means. I will remain on hand to provide aid should things get out of hand for any reason- remember, you must gain their trust first before they will listen to you. I would suggest trying to figure out why they have decided to come out this far, to a place they know to be frequented by humans." She squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do well. I'll keep high to monitor your progress." With that she sprang into the air, catching a ledge above them and swinging herself up, gracefully transitioning into a sitting position.

Garrett let out a sigh- it was one thing to befriend the brush canids, but he'd never engaged in direct communing with more hostile creatures like howlers. He peered around the corner of the pillar again, surveying them as he recalled the discussion he'd had with his Master earlier- food, water, shelter and companionship. The beasts did not look thirsty by any means, but they did seem thinner than he expected them to be. Though they seemed playful enough to engage in mock combat, he thought he could sense a layer of worry beneath. That they would have occupied the training grounds suggested that 'shelter', or rather territory, was the issue; howlers often preferred caves or burrows near water sources, and while the river did run near and even under the ruins, the stonework would be too hard for their claws to nest comfortably, and there was a lack of the small game and insects they usually ingested.

But he had read the bestiary back to front, fascinated as he was by the moon's indigenous species, and by this point knew the howler's diet by heart. Small lizards and game that could be stunned easily with their voices, larger game if they could get it- but Piranha Beetles were a favored food above all to them.

He cast a glance up to Simetra, who nodded as she seemed to understand that he meant to travel a distance away. He could feel her eyes on him as he jogged towards the nearby river, while his own eyes scanned the underside of the canopy, keeping his ears out for the distinctive buzzing sound associated with a beetle hive. Within 10 minutes he found his goal, sensing a nearby swarm minutes before locating it visually, hanging from a branch halfway up a thick tree. Before he could begin his task, Simetra's voice whispered into his thoughts.

"Mind that you don't drain the hive of its workers. A balance must be maintained out here. Take only what you need, no more." Garrett nodded to himself, heeding the Dathomiri Jedi Master as he reached out with the Force, beginning to pluck the buzzing insects from the air one-by-one.

The inch-long insects were grotesque and posed a danger even to larger organisms, stripping the flesh off the heedless Jedi hiker or injured creature unfortunate enough to be within range. Yet after perhaps an hour in the cool jungle morning, and a few painful bites on the wrist as a couple of beetles took notice and tried to ward him away, he had managed to gather no fewer than 50 insects, coaxing them into a loud, vibrating ball that hovered in front of his hands. The concentration it took was not as taxing as he had thought it would be, as he eased the insects into peace such that they barely moved at all.

The fog had cleared by the time he had returned with the moderately-sized bundle of bugs in his possession, and it was here he encountered some difficulty. Though the howlers had not moved from their new home and were now resting peacefully, maintaining his grip on the beetles was difficult as he sought to reach out to the howlers. He started first by stepping out in clear sight- within moments the howlers were on their feet, letting out guttural chirps as they paced back and forth warningly. They quickly noticed the buzzing ball of beetles he was holding out, but Garrett could easily sense their sense of caution far outweighed their hunger.

Panic started to flare up in him and he felt his concentration slipping, as one of the beetles lazily nipped his wrist and nearly made him jump. He grit his teeth, forcing himself to be calm as he approached slowly, directing his perceptions and mind towards the howlers as they backed away slightly. Dividing his focus between keeping the beetles in check and creating an emphatic link between himself and the howlers put a strain on him, but before too long he finally managed to reach them.

Their thoughts were unlike the calmer fauna of the jungle- whereas most prey animals were gentle and shy, sometimes skittish, these predators were more bestial and untrusting, regarding the world around them with alert eyes and suspicion bordering on cynicism. Garrett marveled that such creatures could be intelligent enough to understand such concepts of selfishness, but shunted it aside as he attempted to convey that he meant them no harm, and wanted only to help them. He had expected resistance based on their perception- and he was not disappointed.

The reptilian beasts growled with clear animosity, lowering their heads as if ready to fight. The idea of a human offering help offended them, made no sense to them. Their instincts caused them to look at Garrett and his master with pessimism. To them, such life forms like him always sought to hurt them, or make the howlers fight wars for them. This sensation, this idea of war gave Garrett pause- it was as if they had inherited the knowledge of their original purpose, and that such a purpose meant only their deaths as a species.

It caused a pang in the Padawan's heart to realize this, and this emotion seemed to disarm the pair of reptiles as they lifted their heads curiously. Sensing an opening, Garrett conveyed his sorrow for their circumstances, insisting he meant no harm. With great effort he guided the beetles before them, offering the bundle to the pair. They cocked their heads, bewildered. They looked around, as if expecting some cruel trick from either Garrett or his Jedi Master seated above them on the roof. Garrett remained as still as possible, sweat building on his brow from the exertion of keeping everything in control. Slowly, the pair started to crawl toward him, keeping an eye on the human as they approached. The Padawan slowly lifted his foot, prompting them to stop for a moment as they watched him plant his foot carefully behind him, moving away from them while keeping the beetles suspended in place.

The gesture worked. The howlers moved forward, taking in long breaths. Garrett dropped his concentration, gasping as he staggered back, his hands clapping over his ears moments before they let out their screams. The very air around their toothy maws seemed to ripple, causing visual distortions that struck the now unrestrained swarm of piranha beetles. Garrett watched as the beetles flitted around in confusion, only to be struck from the air by the sonic aura emanating from the reptilian beasts, stunning if not killing them and causing them to fall to the ground. The howlers reacted excitedly as they darted forward and nipped into the stone and grass, catching the beetles in their teeth and crunching into their hard shells. Garrett could feel the exuberance coming off the pair as they feasted, letting out a sharp, ear-splitting chirp anytime they spotted a stray beetle trying to reorient itself and take flight, knocking the escapee over again.

The Alderaanian Padawan let out a relieved breath as he stepped back. The movement did not go unnoticed by the howlers, but now they were regarding him with curiosity as opposed to animosity, glancing up from their meal every so often to stare at him. He looked back at Master Simetra, who treated him to a warm smile that made the Padawan's chest flutter. He wondered if she knew how that smile affected him.

"Oh yes, believe me- I know, and have known since we were first introduced. And I'm flattered." Her smile grew broader, eyes narrowed almost seductively.

Garrett almost felt like passing out as a hard blush hit his cheeks, but he knew his task was not yet finished- he mustered his energy and focused on the pair again. Knowing it would be a bad idea to tell them to move, he focused instead on inquiring why they had come to a place they knew humans frequented. The howlers seemed to grow tense at the query, though they did not react with hostility. Unable to communicate with words, the pair looked at him with their deep orange eyes, a sensation of fear and terror in their minds as they recalled a terrible beast that had driven them from their territory and destroyed their nest. Garrett could perceive bare outlines of the beast they feared, unable to identify it.

He turned to Simetra. "Some other creature seems to have driven them away and destroyed their recent clutch," he informed her quietly. "Had to have been something big enough that they couldn't fight physically, and dangerous enough that their screeches couldn't harm it in any way."

Simetra frowned. "That narrows the list down considerably. I wish I could say otherwise, but we have to consider the possibility that they encountered a hydra somewhere in the forest."

Garrett gaped. "This close to the Praxeum? Why? I thought battle hydras were usually shy of humans."

"It's difficult to say- but if such a beast is around the area, then it's a good thing no children were here." She stood up. "We had best not stick around- I'd like to inform Master Sk--" She froze, her eyes widening.

Garrett turned around, his eyes falling on the howlers- they had backed up, their eyes scanning the air anxiously as they backed into the ruins, shivering as they took cover beneath an overhang. Garrett could feel the fear radiating from them even without consciously delving into their thoughts. He turned to Master Simetra, beginning to speak when it happened.

She had leapt to her feet seconds before and moved her hand to her hip as she tried to draw her Jedi weapon, but before her palm reached the handle, a man-sized creature with golden scales had swooped in from the skies and barreled into the Dathomiri Jedi Master, knocking her off the roof. Simetra cried out as she tumbled from the impact, landing awkwardly on a pile of ruined stonework and rolling through the grass as her assailant snapped down at her with three sets of jaws. She groaned as she backed away from the battle hydra, the juvenile creature clambering down and challenging the disoriented Jedi with a roar.

Garrett did not take the time to marvel at the beast's gleaming golden scales, its powerful musculature or long, whip-like tail. Gathering what courage he could in the face of such a monster he drew his lightsaber, producing an olive-green blade from the hilt with a ear-piercing snap. The sound drew the attention of one of the hydra's many heads as it stood upright, the other two turning and seeing Garrett standing at the ready. The sight of his energy blade seemed to cause their eyes to glint for a moment before they shrieked angrily and lashed their tail out at him.

He ducked just in time, avoiding the poison-laced hook on the end of its tail narrowly as it whipped overhead. Ducking low and stepping with striking range, the Padawan stabbed into the beast's left flank, expecting to sink in easily- instead, the hydra's tough scales deflected the blow, his lightsaber point gliding across the creature's hide and leaving a shallow gash. The hydra changed position and Garrett ducked again, raising his weapon and swinging vertically, using his own strength and the tail's momentum to cut the appendage off completely.

The hydra shrieked in pain this time, looking absolutely livid that prey should be so bold as to injure it. One of its three heads swung out, trying to catch the Padawan in its jaws, only to miss and batter it's snout into his midsection, winding him and knocking him away. By this time Simetra had her weapon in hand, a sharp snap-hiss cracking through the air as a silver blade of light swung towards their hunter, glancing at the neck-scales of its left head. Though the blade crackled and hissed against the scales, it cut into the beast's neck only partially. The attack left Master Simetra open to another attack as the hydra hissed and snapped as her leg.

The beast's teeth glanced against her right calf only briefly, but it was enough to tear through fabric and flesh, cutting into her leg as if each shiv-long tooth were a vibroknife. Crying out in pain, she failed to stop the second attack, the middle head slamming into her side and swinging her upwards, sending her flying into one of the standing ruin walls.

Blood trickled down Simetra's leg as she struggled to get back onto her feet, groaning as the pain in her leg slowed her. The hydra began to advance on her, hissing menacingly, but before it was within striking distance a pair of hostile, angry snarls rang out. Green-brown blurs of fur struck the hydra first, a pair of long jaws attacking and clamping around the throats of the left and right heads. Simetra watched in awe as the brush canids snarled and growled, their exceptional weight and strength enough to overpower the hydra's powerful neck. Within seconds the canids had forced the hydra's two side heads to the ground, their paws digging into the earth as the juvenile beast tried to rear back, dragging them slowly with them. Each restrained head shrieked and snarled, trying to bite at their attackers futilely, their unfavorable position making their goal impossible.

In this compromised position there was little it could do to prevent Garrett from getting back up to his feet, sprinting towards the fight, leaping high into the air with his lightsaber ignited, and diving point-first into the creature. Accelerated by the Force, the Padawan slammed into the hydra's back, the extra velocity allowing his weapon to pierce the base of the beast's neck. The juvenile choked, a guttural gasp of confusion gurgling from his maw as its body slackened, not yet aware that it had suffered a killing blow. It failed to notice the olive-green lightsaber sticking out through its chest.

Garrett withdrew the weapon from the wound, frowning at the beast as it started to moan in fear and pain, realizing what had happened. The brush canids let go of the other two heads as they feebly stirred, anguish in their eyes. Summoning as much strength as possible he brought his weapon around, cutting across the neck and cleaving through the scales, flesh and bone cleanly. The head toppled from the beast's body, silencing it and ending it's life quickly.

Simetra watched as Garrett staggered back, looking at the corpse guiltily as his energy blade disappeared into the hilt. He stopped several feet away, leaning exhaustedly against the ruin wall, breathing hard both from the exertion and from the shock of what he'd just done. She got to her feet, hissing slightly as fresh pain surged through her leg, limping to her student.

"... Garrett?"

He looked into her blue eyes, shame and sadness showing in his features. "I... didn't want to..."

She didn't allow him to continue, embracing her student tightly.

"Garrett, you must eat."

"... I'm not really hungry right now."

Simetra sighed. "You need to keep your strength up. We have the convenience of constant nutrition, where out in the wilds creatures like your friends here must fight constantly for sustenance." She gestured to the two pairs of animals feasting on the remains of the hydra- the howlers had deemed the two Jedi safe to be around, and recognized the brush canids that had accompanied them as their allies, allowing them to consume the kill with them peacefully. "Celebrate that you and I are alive, and that you may eat once again." She smiled softly. "Besides, it's only ration bars. I can't imagine they will unsettle your stomach further."

Garrett managed a small smile. "I'm sorry, you're right. But I just can't force myself to eat, either." It was not the violent scene that unsettled him- he was used to witnessing the brutality of the natural world ever since before he was a teenager, so the sight of blood, bone and organs was little more than interesting to him. The motivations of the hydra, however, troubled him greatly. "I can't understand why this one was so aggressive."

Simetra looked into the distance, north of them. "Battle hydras are yet another creature of Sith origins, I'm afraid, going back as far as the time of Sorzus Syn. It was not until the efforts of the fallen Jedi, Exar Kun, that they took the shape we see them today. Like howlers, they are far more docile in the absence of the dark side of the Force. When Kun 'died', for lack of better word, his spirit lingered for millenia, until Master Skywalker and his students cast him away. But such evil will always leave traces, and will always seek to corrupt those it encounters- particularly people or creatures, like hydras, that are more receptive to the call of the dark side."

Garrett sighed. "Then there was no way I could save it," he said despondently.

Simetra regarded him sadly, shuffling next to him and putting an arm around his shoulders. "You did save it. You released it from the grasp of the dark side. Yes, sadly the cost was its life, but you must bear in mind the kind of torment such creatures endure when controlled like that. I... I've felt it," she admitted quietly. "I'm guilty of performing that kind of evil- and I'm glad you ended its life so it would not suffer for long."

"I wish I could feel better about it."

She smiled, leaning in and pressing her lips against his cheek gently. The act made Garrett flinch, as if he wasn't sure what he had just felt or why. When he turned his gaze on her, realizing what she had done, her smile broadened. "Would it help if I told you that you saved me, Garrett?" she asked, slipping her hand into his.

Garrett swallowed, his heart racing. Knowing there was no point in lying to her, he nodded. "I just... I told my friends to help you while I was getting my balance back."

"You used the Force to call upon nature to save my life. You led them like the alpha of a pack, using their trust in you to claim victory. That's... very attractive in a mate," she said, smiling as a hard blush reddened his tan skin.

"M-mate?" he stammered.

She laughed. "Am I expected to believe you haven't thought of me in that way from time to time? In the last week alone I have felt your eyes on my body, the lurid desires hidden beneath your thoughts in the late hours of the day, when you seek solitude. I make it a point not to pry... but your guard seems to drop in my presence nevertheless."

"I... I didn't want to say anything," he said, grinning sheepishly. "I had heard that your culture didn't think highly of men."

"It doesn't," she conceded, squeezing his hand. "Yet we are not among my culture, and I have traveled far enough and long enough to see many males who would be considered fodder to our tribes, and regrettably few who would be suitable as potential mates."

Garrett stared at her, trying to form thoughts in the middle of his blown mind. He swallowed again as he scrounged up confidence. "Am I considered a 'potential mate' to you?"

She stared at him for a moment. "I feel that you are, yes."

His eyed widened. "That was... a bit forward."

"I would not like to lie to you, someone I respect and care for deeply," she said with a sincere smile. "Your strength, both in body and in the Force grows daily. It won't be long before you become capable of doing much of what I can. I... admire that drive, that willingness to learn and to develop your strength."

Resolve seemed to build in him at these words- becoming a fully-trained Jedi had become a goal years ago, when he learned the Jedi Academy had been established. Not for the power it promised, but for aid it could provide to the ecosystems he wished to study and restore. And now here he was, sitting very close to a woman who admired him for it, one who was not only teaching him the ways of the Force, but who seemed to feel as he did. It took him a few moments to realize they were staring into each other's eyes, but once he became aware of it he was reticent to stop.

A snuffling noise next to him brought him back to the present. Garrett yelped and jumped as a cold, wet nose snorted in his ear, turning his head only to get two bloody tongues lapping against his face. Despite how disgusting and unsanitary it was, Garrett relaxed and laughed, reaching out and stroking the brush canid's mossy green manes, rubbing behind their ears and making them pant happily with their heads leaning into the affection. They didn't linger for very long, spending only a few minutes in their presence before growling to each other and trotting back into the jungles, leaving the student and teacher to themselves.

Simetra stared at where they left. "How far from here do those two live?"

Garrett wiped his faced off with a rag he kept in his satchel. "Around half a mile away from here. Their territory covers from around the waterfall to maybe a mile upstream, catching ungulates and small game that stop for a drink."

She smiled. "Shall we see what they are up to?"

Garrett hesitated. "I... don't know if that'd be a good idea," he said slowly. "They've been pretty sexually active lately, I wouldn't want to pry."

Simetra's eyes widened. "Is that so?" She looked to him. "Have you never been... curious about their habits?"

Garrett felt a warmth in him. "... With those two? It's hard not to be curious."

She took his hand again. "Then perhaps you'd like to join me in viewing them?"

Had anybody else made that suggestion to him he would have said no without bothering to discuss it- such a thing seemed too taboo to even think about. But as Simetra suggested it, he did not feel the same shame or disgust with himself that he normally felt when he considered doing so on his own. Part of the intrigue was the trouble the mated pair were having in conceiving. Yet despite their despondency in each outcome, they continued to try. Garrett empathized with the canids deeply, had been monitoring their progress, but... this was the first time it had ever been suggested by anyone that he should delve deeper.

And they look in Simetra's eyes seemed to indicate that she knew his interest in the two and did not judge him negatively for it- quite the opposite, in fact. He could see she also had her own reasons for asking him, for making the suggestion. Reasons he knew he was not about to object to. He squeezed her hand, smiling and nodding. "Carefully, then. We don't want to spook them."

They both closed their eyes, hand-in-hand as they breathed deep, exhaling as both slipped into simultaneously trances. Almost immediately they could feel one another's presence- Garrett, alert and curious as he extended his perceptions beyond the ruins, past the still-feasting howlers and locating the canids within moments; Simetra, warm and coaxing, brushing against his perceptions affectionately as she followed closely, side-by-side with the padawan as their consciousness trailed behind the canid pair. Ahead of them was a roaring waterfall, next to which the canids stopped to rest- nearby, the entrance to their humble den.

Garrett wondered if perhaps Simetra had known that these two had left for their own purposes, as it was not long before they began to display affection, licking at each other's faces gently and pressing against each other. He felt her brush up against him again, perceiving her acknowledgment. "I am not unfamiliar to sexual activities, my friend- not even among the fauna of other planets. As you saved my life... I feel I can trust you enough to share in this with you. Do you trust me?"

Garrett breathed out- whatever excitement and happiness he felt was tempered with the peace he was immersed in. "I do, Master."

"You may call me Simetra, Garrett. I would prefer that you call me by my name." He could feel her comfort as they watched the bitch's tail wag, laying beside her mate as she nestled her head near his legs. "Though I am your instructor, I don't deny wishing our connection to each other to be... deeper."

"As deep as this...?" he asked, his heart burning from her thoughts.

"Yes... I have never owned a male, and I would never want to own one... but I would have you as my student, my friend... and my companion."

A thrill ran through them both as the bitch nuzzled her mate's belly, the male whining lazily as he shifted his hips forward. A shaft of red flesh slid free from its sheath, the bitch leaning forward quickly and dragging her agile tongue across the flesh. Garrett was dimly aware that his loins were reacting to the scene, his trousers feeling tighter as he watched the female stimulate her mate's member. He let out a satisfied growl as it flicked across the surface, the bright-red prick beginning to glisten.

Moments later the male reciprocated, burying his nose under the bitch's tail and attacking her vaginal spade, his tongue slurping against the smooth, supple rim- Garrett felt an ache in his hand as Simetra clenched around it like a vice. He could hear her sighing, feel her lean into his shoulder, yet his concentration did not waver as he continued to watch the mated pair proceeded. Muzzles wet and sticky from their output, the lewd sounds of them slurping, sucking and nuzzling each others nether-regions caused Garrett's forehead to dampen with sweat. Seeing animals breed behind a pane of reinforced glass was one thing- but to sense this carnal act up close, such that he could feel the sensations as if he were being to to them, was a completely new experience to him.

All of it was new to him- even the foreign hand that was now undoing the drawstring to his trousers. He nearly lost his concentration in surprise, wondering what the hell was happening before Simetra's consciousness rushed to him, enveloping his own in her comfort. "I apologize, Padawan. I lost control..."

There was a pause, one in which he perceived his physical self moving. He pulled his master into his embrace, witnessing as if in third-person his lips pressing against hers in a deep kiss. He could not tell with any real certainty if he was actually moving his body on his own, or whether he had willed it to happen, as his hands began to roam around her body. The comforting aura of his master grew warmer as the two scenes played out- in one, the brush canids engaged in a feral 69 position, their muzzles suckling or slurping each other's sexual organs; in the other, Master Simetra straddling his lap and unzipping her coveralls, baring her breasts for him as he leaned in to kiss her neck and chest, pulling his pants away.

"All you needed..." he responded gently through their linked minds, "... was to ask. I've wanted this since the moment I met you, as ashamed as I am to admit it." He groaned as she ground against him, helping her tear off her coveralls as the Dathomiri kicked her boots off. They were almost lucid as they stripped each other, hands never more than a few moments off each other's bodies as they held each other, kissed and pressed their bare skin together. Within a few minutes they were completely bare and in the grass, Garrett having pushed his master to the ground, pinning her shoulder's to the soil and plant as he kissed her deeply, bare bodies meeting in unison as she moaned his name out loud.

The scene was all the more erotic because he was not viewing it from his own eyes, but continuing to sense it from his own consciousness, witnessing the moment by way of the Force. Still locked in a trance, he could feel not only the sensation of his respectable cock pressed between their abs and hear his master's voice moaning his name- but also the sensations of the brush canids still preparing each other. He slid his hand into her cleft and found it unusually moist, the warmth and wetness exciting him. "Is this how I affect you, Simetra?"

She nodded physically, almost unconsciously. "By the Force, yes... I have desired you as a companion for as long as you have. I have never believed in love at first sight- but I have never rejected that we are bonded by our beliefs and our actions. You saved my life, Garrett... I would share my body and more with you in return." She gasped, writhing and bucking into his hand as he slid his fingers into her mounds- the sensation of his digits caressing her slick inner walls bled into Garrett's mind, the pleasure making him moan with her. His cock reacted to the sensation, his thick length producing copious amounts of pre-ejaculate. Without prior warning he felt her hand slid around the turgid shaft, hissing loudly as she stroked him and squeezed the pre-cum from his shaft.

He drew away from her, grabbing her arms firmly and rolling her onto his hands and knees. Her consciousness emitted amusement at the act, as the canids had both gotten to their feet and assumed a similar position. "You wish to breed me like these two mates will?" she asked telepathically, spreading her legs apart for him as he slid his pre-slick cock between the curves of her backside. He hesitated, knowing full well what he desired, but lacking the nerve to take it.

"I have no sheath to protect you," he said hesitantly.

Her aura was that of warmth and reassurance. "You have saved my life. You possess the knowledge and strength to provide food, water and shelter. I would have you as my companion- whatever the consequences."

"And your mate...?"

"... If you would have me as yours..."

"... Is it too soon to say--"

"I love you."

"... I love you too, Simetra."

His doubt was gone. He understood the consequences of going further. It wasn't because he didn't care about her that he continued, but rather because he cared for her on a deep enough level that would do all he could to improve himself, to be worthy of her- whatever happened, he would be there for her, as she would be for him.

He moved at the same moment the male canid did, groaning as he parted her folds with his thick length and slid into her sweltering crevice. The sensation was far stronger as he pulled the both of them into the minds of the canids- he assumed the male's perceptions, while she accepted the position of the bitch, both of them whining and crying out as their bodies were filled with cock. Both males slid every inch into their mates as they held close to them, their chests resting gently against the backs of their companions. Both females pushed back against their males, whimpering gently as they ground against their hips.

Minds linked as they were, they all moved in unison, the male beginning a passionate pace that drilled his prick into the bitch's hot depths, making her whimper as she wordlessly begged for cock. The heat in her soaked loins was incredible, her velvet interior smooth yet searingly hot as it squeezed erotically around her mate's length, stretching to accommodate his girth. The feral joining was emphasized by the raw, powerful motions the male adopted, striking his mate's rump with significant force. The shock of each thrust battering her interior as he bred her enthusiastically caused her to yelp and whimper with each blow. Yet their focus did not wane.

The pace was erratic, but effective- when it slowed, she could feel her mate's prick throbbing powerfully, could feel the heat of hot precum pouring into her heated depths, cooling her heat briefly; and he could feel her tight inner walls compress around his throbbing cock, the friction of his slick length grinding against the vice. When the pace quickened, it culminated in a whirlwind of pleasurable sensations- the beat of the male's hips battering against his bitch's backside; the jolt of each stab in the bitch's cleft; the squeezing forelimbs holding their mates tight or bracing against the dirt as they pushed back into their mate's bucking.

There were no words between them- just the vocalizations of passion as they joined their bodies repeatedly, and the thoughts and emotions they shared. When she needed to recover, he paused, savoring the feel of her vaginal ministrations; when she wanted more from him, whether harder or deeper, she did not need to tell him- he complied instinctively, boring deeply and hammering into her hole. Nothing guided him but her thoughts and her moans, and it was these things that heightened his arousal such that his knot swelled rapidly.

He knew she was become pregnant if he tied with her. That was the point. They trusted each other enough to seek this outcome. He did not need to ask, she was begging for his seed, his offspring, his future with her between her panting breaths. They belonged to each other. The bitch whined and cried out as he rammed his knot against her cleft, meeting significant resistance as it refused to enter easily. Her legs drifted further apart, tail raised high as she yelped with each brutal thrust, he forepaws digging into the soil to hold her in place.

"Garrett...! Claim me...!"

With a final burst of strength from her thoughts, the male snarled loudly, hips flexing powerfully as they drove forward one final time. It split her netherlips apart as every inch of hard dick sheathed itself inside- a moment later, the dam burst and she could feel the delicious splash of white-hot cum as he pumped it repeatedly into her fertile womb. She screamed in ecstasy, writhing beneath her mate, the two howling in sexual unison as their effort culminated in the beginning of new, fresh life. There was no question about it- the feel of thick, potent seed swimming past her cervix and pooling within elicited feelings of incomparable joy as they reveled in the knowledge that they had produced offspring.

It stopped all at once. At some point, Garrett and Simetra had fallen over on their sides, gasping for air as they broke out of their respective trances. He could feel his cock still lodged in her tight pussy, his arms wrapped around her waist as he held her.

"G-Garrett," she whispered gently, reaching down to hold his hand. "That was... amazing..."

He nodded weakly, groaning as she squeezed around him- though he was no longer held in place as he did not possess a knot, he still found it difficult to draw his length away, partly out of reticence and mostly because her clenching walls made it difficult to do so. Eventually he did pull free, holding his mate close as they both came down from their sexual euphoria. She shifted her position, facing and snuggling him close.

"... Did you feel that?" she asked.

Garrett nodded. "She got impregnated." He swallowed. "Or... you did."

"It's... impossible to know for sure," she started, but Garrett cut her off.

"We both felt it, Simetra- we felt a certainty in the Force. What we did... or what they did... life will result from it, I know it." He looked into her pale blue eyes- he would see slight trepidation in them.

"What... what if it's me, Garrett?" she asked quietly.

"... Then I'll be a happy father, won't I?" Garrett said simply- and he meant it. The prospect did not bother him. "I'll provide for you with all I have- the Force included. And even if it's not you... I'll remain by your side." He touched her face, feeling his heart swell as she smiled, looking reassured.

"... Do you know why I desired you?" she asked.

"It can't have just been for my charming Alderaanian looks," he joked softly, making her laugh as she sat up, pushing him onto his back and straddling him.

"Well, no- although I did, and still do, find you remarkably handsome. But that was not what drew me to you at first. Even during our first moments together, I could feel your attunement to nature. You respect it deeply and honestly, and you care for it. You have never hurt an animal willingly, and when you have you have shown remorse for it." She put her hands on his chest. "Your heart is strong and true, which I can only say for a few others- I have traveled far enough and long enough that most males I met came as a disappointment. Most were unworthy- not because they weren't strong enough, but because they lacked the compassion that people like you possess."

"Am I really that different?" he asked.

"You are. You possess the beginnings of wisdom and are insightful enough to communicate with other creatures through their thoughts. You are empathic to a degree that only Jedi possess towards sentient beings, but which few Jedi possess towards 'lesser' creatures. And yet you are also strong and courageous, willing to battle a dangerous creature to save a life." She leaned forward, smiling gently. "How could I not love you for that?"

They kissed, Simetra's bare breasts pressed against Garrett's chest- even without the Force, they could feel their matched heartbeats as they held each other. She broke the kiss and stared into his eyes. "Promise me something," she asked.

"Anything," he responded without hesitation.

"Never lose who you are, that compassion you have. Agree to that, and when you are finally knighted... I'll be waiting for you."

Garrett smiled. "I promise."

"And that's how it happened," Garrett finished, leaning back and draining the last few drops of his bottle of ale.

Kajex raised an eyebrow, staring at him from the other side of the galley table. "Okay, so... kill hydra, eat lunch, knock-up your master; that's how it happened?"

Syrra punched her lover's arm playfully. "Don't be mean, Kaj. So... she's pregnant, then?" the Trianii asked.

"When did I say that?" Garrett said with a grin. "I only said I might have gotten her pregnant."

"So why are you telling us then, kid?" the wolf asked curiously. "Don't get me wrong; good on you for being awesome, saving a life and then sticking to your word and being there for her if it turns out she's carrying your kid. But did you come here just to boast about it?"

Garrett looked away. "Well, no... I wanted to let you know because, well... Syrra had told me she had been interested in a little bit of recreational sex, with your permission, of course, Kajex. She didn't want to commit back then, and I didn't want to pressure her into it just because I thought she was pretty sexy."

Syrra smiled. "That's nice of you to say, and kind of you to be that considerate. So... were you still interested?"

"No- I did mention it to Simetra because I felt it would be best to be honest. And she's uncomfortable with the idea. I told her specifically because I respected her, and now that I know... I'm gonna have to decline, Syrra, I'm sorry."

The feline waved it off. "Don't apologize, Garrett. We're really happy for you, finding someone to be with while you're training. It's kinda like what me and Kajex have, except ours isn't as serious."

"Yet," Kajex added, putting his arms around the Trainii and kissing into her neck. "Give me a few more months, a couple more adventures, and who knows, kitten- I might have proposed to you by then." He grinned, chuckling as Syrra blushed hard, though she purred and nuzzled into him. He looked back up. "So, do you still have time later tonight for Card Night?" the captain asked.

Garrett winced. "Ah, sorry you two, but I'll have to pass. I, ah... wanted to spend an evening with Simetra. We want to see how the canid pair is doing."

"Well, feel free to bring her along sometime," Kajex offered. "We could always use another player to screw Lynch out of his credits- as long as she pays for her drinks, mind you."

Garrett nodded and stood. "Well, I'll mention it to her and see if she's interested, then, and we'll come next week for it." He held out his hand. "And again, thanks for the hospitality and the drink."

"Don't mention it," Kajex responded with a smile as they shook. "You're good company, kid. I hope things work out between you and Master Simetra. Take care, Garrett."

"You too," he responded, picking up his bottle and tossing it into the bin. "I'll see you guys around later." He started walking out of the galley and down the corridor to the ramp when Syrra poked her head out from the door.

"Hey, hold on!" Garrett stopped and turned around. "When will you two figure out whether or not she's pregnant?"

Garrett grinned. "I guess you'll just have to find that out for yourself eventually."