Welcome to Gaia! ::

So as I realized that in the coming days I will be referring a lot to my characters time on Tython when he first crashed landed I thought it necessary to post up the story once again. Also I don't think everyone here has gotten a chance to read my little story so I want to share it again with you all. Please enjoy the story as I spent a lot of time and countless nights writing and re-writing parts and having fun with some of the musical sections. I will post several chapters together at a time until all are up, should not take long.

Ronyo set the last of the supplies he could scavenge from his downed ship beside a extremely tall tree nearby. The Jedi had managed to cut his way through the bent and broken pieces of the ship to retrieve a few of his things, the small cache of rations (about a months' worth), the first aid kit, and a few odd and end metal scraps. He also took a few of the smaller internal components from his nav-computer and hyperdrive incase he could find any use for them. The knight dusted off his green shirt and leather vest as he looked around to see trees stretching in all directions for what seemed like miles. Ronyo pulled out the small datapad he had brought with him and did his best to mark his location and then placed a beacon on his ship so he could find it again should he need it.

"No since waiting around here, if I can find the old temple or maybe even the library I should be able to at least get a signal out to someone. At the very least find someplace to camp."

Ronyo packed up all the provisions and supplies either in the medium sized backpack he had been wise enough to bring or strapped it to the pack. With everything gathered up the Jedi Knight made his way through the forest with the force acting as his guide. The force had brought him this far he did not think it was going to stop at having him stranded on this planet with no means of getting off.



the vastness of the forest had begun to take on a vibrant red and pink hue as the sun began to make its decent for the night, although a few grey clouds had taken up space in the sky. Ronyo had walked the entire time and had not once seen any sign of civilized structure or even ancient structures for that matter. Since he had no idea where he had crashed he had no way of knowing how far from the old Jedi Temple he truly was. He could be on the other side of the planet from the building for all he knew. As the light began to fade Ronyo made the decision to press on and continue his trek through the forest even as night took over. He brought out one of his lightsabers to help see and to ward off any creature that might wish to see what Jedi tasted like. The constant hum of his lightsaber also was soothing to the Jedi as he also felt safer with that rhythmic sound he had grown accustom to. As the night took on its role in full the sky was obstructed by the dark storm clouds that now covered the sky above him so not even the stars above could lend their directional or illuminating assistance. Soon enough Ronyo felt his legs growing sluggish and his eyes growing heavy. The Jedi pressed on though knowing he needed to find something he could use for a shelter, even if it was a cave or a fallen tree. To compound matters the first drop of water tapped off a nearby leaf, and the next found the top of Ronyo's head. A bright flash of lightning ripped through the sky and a clap of thunder followed suit. The lightning and thunder was like the trumpet to call down the rain for it came on like a mad rushing army ready to take a fortress or enemy stronghold. The rain hissed and created wisps of steam as the hit Ronyo's lightsaber and for whatever reason the thick rain seemed to dull the light from the saber as well. Ronyo continued on through the storm as best he could with the water beginning to make his clothing and gear heavier.

After more walking through the now muddy forest Ronyo could go no further with the storm coming on so strong. The Jedi had turned his saber off long ago given the light was of little use at this point. With a heavy sigh the knight slumped to the ground but managed to move himself under a group of bushes that provided some protection from the rain. With his body spent and his mind wishing to rest Ronyo didn't even have the time to take off his pack before he had propped himself up against a nearby rock and allowed sleep to take him.



Ronyo squinted as he attempted to open his eyes. As his lids opened up slowly they closed with the sudden on rush of light from the morning sun. Slowly Ronyo adjusted his eyes enough to open them wide and take in the sight from where he had fallen asleep the night before. Even with the morning sun his cloths and gear was still wet and he found himself now shivering with the cold clothing sticking to his body. He quickly made his way out of the bushes and into a small opening where the sun shown in full. The morning rays were truly warming and almost rejuvenating in a way. Ronyo was only able to take in the wonderful feeling of the warming sun few but a breath until his eyes fell upon an even grander sight. The ancient Jedi Temple. With a howl befitting a creature more native to the planet Ronyo took off at a dead run for the tall and vast structure that stretched out over multiple buildings and came only half away to the tree line. Ronyo ran up the long steps that led to the main entrance and once he reached the top he could truly see the marvel the building could have once been. Ronyo stood in the doorway to the original temple of the Jedi order and could not help but be humbled by its size and by the depth at which the force had guided him to it. Ronyo looked over the temple for a moment before he knelt and gave a respectful bow to the structure itself and to the force that had guided him. Ronyo entered the temple with the same feeling he had when he had first entered the temple back on Coruscant, but compounded one hundred times.

The journey to the library had been relatively calm with only a few moments were Ronyo worried about what might leap from the bushes. He was confident in his force abilities which gave him the ability to talk and work with most animals but there was always that creature who would not stop to talk. Luckily no such event had halted Ronyo's trek through the faded road to the worn out building the Jedi used as their library.

It had taken close to a day to reach his goal, and Ronyo only rested for a moment as the sun crested over at dawn. He knew better than to try and sleep out in the wilds at night and that the predawn hours were always the calmest with nocturnal creatures seeking shelter and diurnal ones just waking up. The Jedi knew he would find rest at the library once he reached its stone and durasteel walls.

Now Ronyo stood at the steps of the ancient library that seemed to be a large circular structure and once again did not try and reach above the trees in height. All the structures on Tython had a much more humble appearance and less decor and finery, even with decades gone by it was still obvious is areas were meant for plating or to be covered by something else. Ronyo scaled the small flight of stairs that again contradicted those of the Coruscant Temple, and found himself in a large hall way that lead to a center room. In that room stood the remains of a stone desk which looked like it once allowed for multiple holovids and displays to be shown at once. In all likeliness this was the Librarians desk where he or she could easily watch over the entire library and see if anyone needed help. For out from the center of the desk the building broke off into several large section with a small hallways in between each one to better section it off. There was no wasted space and no extra need to walk through more halls to find the normal sections of the library. Those section that held holovids and records for younglings, Padawans, and newly appointed knights of the order.

Ronyo placed the holocron he had brought with him on the stone desk and activated it, and once again the small alien came to life through the hologram projection. It looked around the room for a time and then looked at the desk it had been placed at and almost seemed to start chuckling until it stopped and returned to its normal waiting position.

"Librarian you have made me it seems, what question have you now?"

"I know I would like nothing more than to go through each and every one of these records but I also know there will be time for that later."

"Ah time, it is something we all seek more of but also fear the advancement of yes?"

"Yes. Patients is key to being a Jedi."

"Not just the Jedi was I talking about," the little alien seemed to smile a bit again but quickly returned to its normal view.

"Right, well I wish to know where the Jedi holocrons are located?"

"Holocrons you say? Great knowledge then do you seek?"

"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge."

"Haha well said, hope for you yet there may be. Holocrons here were placed behind a door only a Jedi with great understanding of the force could unlock. A test and also a right of passage for all those who would seek the knowledge."

"What rank is normally allowed access?"

"You misunderstood my words young Jedi. Not did I say rank but understanding of the force. A great Master could a rank be bestowed but their knowledge lacking by the ways of the force. A newly adopted Padawan could a rank signify but already a great understanding could there be. It is a test to all not just a few."

"Alright I guess no way to know then to just try then right?"

"There is a saying my kind has always enjoyed when such a question is asked. Try or try not, no. Do or do not."

"Then let's do shall we?"

Ronyo picked up the holocron but did not turn it off and walk as the small alien guided him down the correct hallway. after a short time they reached a large door with no handle or way to open it of any kind. Instead a small crystal embedded in the door seemed to shimmer for a moment as Ronyo approached. Ronyo stared at the crystal for a time and for a moment the Jedi felt as if the crystal was staring back. After a moment the crystal shimmered again and the doors slowly began to open, even more so do to the age of the door and frame itself. Dust flaked off and a teeth screeching grinding sound could be heard as the doors made an opening big enough for Ronyo to easily walk through.


"An understanding in the force you have, one that is great enough to be allowed knowledge from within," spoke the holocron alien.

Ronyo walked in slowly to see several pillars of stone running down like a group of columns holding up the building. Each column held many square lines that looked like they could be removed without causing the column to be weakened. Ronyo walked towards the nearest column and pulled one of the square blocks out. With a similar flash like the holocron the Jedi now held the square came to life and produced a small blue hologram of an alien with robes of a Jedi. It looked at Ronyo for a time and then introduced itself and asked what the nature of his inquire was. Ronyo smiled and looked at the rows and rows of columns and chuckled a bit.

"I'm going to be here a while I think."

Ronyo sat with his legs crossed a top a flat rock with his eyes closed and his mind open. As the sun peaked through the trees for the first time that day Ronyo slowly began to stir and his normal senses came back to him in waves. The smell of the forest and water close by, the feel of the cold stone slab he sat upon, the sound of thundering water cascading behind him, and finally the sight of the Tython forest once he opened his eyes.

The Holocron of Master Raana Tey had finally allowed Ronyo to stop running once they had reached a fair place to set up camp. The place was well suited for survival with a small lake that had a large water fall constantly feeding it. The holocron of the Togruta had also expressed how Ronyo should not fall into a deep slumber but allow the force to reenergize him each night so he would be fully ready to take on the next day's tasks. The idea was called reverie and was a form of meditation that allowed the user to rest and reenergize while not becoming completely unaware of things around them. Ronyo found the practice difficult at first but on his second go he had found it quite relaxing and could feel the force running threw him all night long.

With a stretch of his arms Ronyo sat up and used the force to activate the holocron of Master Tey. She appeared and seemed both happy and upset at the same time. Likely she had expected Ronyo to not continue with the training regiment she had talked about on the run.

"Your late knight, that means we have time to make up for. Now collect me and let us be off," Ronyo nodded and picked up the holocron and secured it to his belt and watched as the hologram righted itself so it would not appear sideways. Ronyo took off through the woods at a break neck pass. It was time for him to get stronger, faster, and better than he was already.




For the next few days the only holocron Ronyo was "allowed" to turn on was Master Tey until she thought he was ready for the others. Those days were filled with all manner of exercises from the common idea of running great distances to the odder and harder tasks of climbing the tall trees with rocks on his back. He did pushups until his arms felt like they would burn off and then did more. He used the trees as punching bags which caused his knuckles to bleed and crack slightly, but this caused them to heal stronger and soon the Jedi was making dents in the trees. Which did not please the Jedi master so she moved him to rocks. After his fists hardened he worked on his shins, arms, heels, and the balls of his feet. His runs soon turned into endurance runs with his feet laid bare to the underbrush bellow him. His feet came back bleeding but soon hardened like the rest of him and became tougher. With enough time Ronyo began to do his pushups while in a hand stand, he started doing sit ups while tied to one of the tall trees with rocks tied to his arms.

Once the Jedi Master believed him ready she began having him make runs through the tree branches. His hand eye coordination improved after a few branches to the face and some even harder falls to the ground. Reflexes and speed increased as the Jedi began to dash through the trees tops like many of the creatures that called the trees their home.

Ronyo ended his nights in pain but always woke up feeling stronger and better prepared for the days activities a head of him. In a short time his muscle became bigger and leaner, his arms began to look like small cords of muscle running together, but never bulky or over necessary. His chest became hard and thick, his abs like the stone he punched, and his legs thicker and containing more power stored inside them.

With in what seemed like a short time the Jedi knight was not the man he had started out as. Now instead of "scrawny Jedi" he was taught and like a spring ready to be let go. He began running farther and with more speed. He was soon cracking the rocks he punched and requiring bigger rocks to do his sit ups. At which point the holocron of Master Raana Tey laughed while smiling at the man's progress and decided he was ready for the next step in his training. That night as Ronyo sat and ate the last of his rations from his ship the Holocron of both Master Tey and the small green alien lay next to him on a rock.

Music Stop

"You will not become stronger eating pathetic scraps of dried up rations. You will need to gather something real to eat. You will need to hunt for something in the forest so you can have the energy to continue," Master Tey chimed in

"My first thought is to say I could do so simply with my saber or the force but I know that is neither natural or even close to sporting."

"Right you are young knight, and more so are you on being worried about Master Tey's next lesson," The small alien chuckled as he watched Ronyo make a strong gulp of the last of his rations.

"You know I do not even know your name Master. You have helped me a great deal and yet I do not recall ever hearing it."

"Give it I did not, since you did not ask. A name to call me is not important, a title merely this is. Master I was and Master I am still. That will be all you need know for now."

"If that is what you wish then..."

"Bah are you always like this boy? You talk as if you were reading from a Jedi script or something. Being respectful is one thing but being overly so can just get boring. You have a personality do you not?" Master Tey asked with a rolling of her eyes

"Yes, I just have had no use for it yet. You did not ask me to sharpen my tongue as well as my body."

"Ha, that's a bit better, but your still boring. You can take care of that part yourself now you have to listen to what I have to say. The next part of your training begins in the morning and until it ends you are forbidden to turn any of the holocrons on. You will have to do everything without instruction and without your sabers or any major ability of the force. Only when the force speaks to you may you use it and never to harm or help your situation in any way. You must become capable of taking care of yourself without the force before you can use it for anything else.

You next task will not be easy and there is a chance you will find the end of your journey in it. You know how to communicate with animals with the force yes? Before you answer it's a rhetorical question because I know you can, honestly you have got to be the dullest blade on the battlefield. You are to go into the forest and seek out a group of creatures who are strong in the force but stronger in the ways of the hunt. You will learn from them or they will eat you, if they eat you I won't have to listen to your mindless answers any more. Now turn me off and get some rest."

Ronyo just sighed and leaned over and disengaged Master Tey's holocron. He moved to the other holocron and was about to turn it off as well when the little alien looked like he was trying to hit his finger with his cane.

"Fast your fingers should not be, for I too have some closing words. Masters of the force does not a talking being have to be. Strong is the force and vast is its reach, never underestimate it and it will never leave you. A long time was the force around before a title was given to it, and longer still were there those who understood it fully. My switch you may now turn and your journey does continue in the morning."

Ronyo did not speak in response to the small alien but merely nodded his head and switched the holocron off. The Jedi sat himself up on his rock and slowly let the force take him into his meditative slumber. He let his mind hold on to the small master's words for a moment longer. Until he let himself go completely into the folds of the force.

The pack was off again into the forest with the scent readily on their noses. Alpha was in the lead and he gave a howl to the others which served the purpose of communication as well as creating a small measure of uncertainty in the prey they now hunted. No howl came back for none needed to because all knew their roles in the hunt and they would not detour from the plan. The pack ran on with their padded paws making almost no noise as they hit the forest floor. Neither did the pair of human feet moving beside them at the same rate.

Ronyo had learned much in the few short days he had lived with the force wolves. He had to, for there was no instruction given it was simply follow and pull your weight or go hungry. The training he had been through helped him stay in pace with the silent hunters and now he was learning how to sense and track animals without need of the force. Even if he tried to use the force in any means other than communication the Alpha seemed able to block him somehow. It almost felt like it was just his ability to enforce his role as leader that did it but Ronyo had grown to enjoy the time actually.

This time the prey was a group of wild creatures that often feed on the grass and low growing bushes of the forest. These creatures also were capable of long running sprees with little need for a break, considering a break could mean death. The force wolves knew this well and now peeled off in small groups to move around and even in front of the prey. The movements were so picture perfect fighter squadrons would find themselves jealous of the skills. Ronyo stayed with Alpha and continued to move in unison and stayed in formation.

Soon enough the flanking group moved in and pushed a selection of the prey off to the side. Then the second team came in to narrow the path the prey could make. Finally the last group turned themselves into the prey and caused them to scatter in all directions. The move had the force wolves grabbing a creature in every direction and Ronyo made sure to pull his own weight. With a pair of daggers made from the antlers of one of the fallen creatures the Jedi leapt into one of the scattered creatures and stabbed quickly and cleanly to the vital areas. The kill was painless and swift leaving no room for suffering, that was something all the wolves accomplished either through accurate strikes or pure power.


Ronyo knelt over his kill and closed his eyes as he thanked the force for guiding his hand and for the sacrifice the animal he killed gave for him. He turned and waited as he had learned as the kills were brought back to tally up and carry back to the cave the force wolves used as a den. It was also here where Ronyo was granted his portion of the meat based on his own participation and skill in the hunt. As Alpha approached and examined his kill Ronyo waited patiently with no sign of anticipation or doubt. With what the Jedi thought could have been a smile Alpha gave Ronyo the honor of taking the entire animal for his own. It was a first for most of the time Ronyo was allotted just enough to restore the energy he lost that day. With a grin Ronyo replied to Alpha knowing full well the honor he had been given but also seeing the test held within.

'I am truly honored my brother but this is more food than I could eat. I would take only what I can eat and give the rest to my fellow brothers and sisters,' Alpha nodded to Ronyo and ended with a howl that was echoed by the rest of the pack, and with that the hunters gathered their kill and made their return back to the den.

It was at the den Ronyo would use a knife made from flint to cut away his portion of the meat and set it aside to be cooked. Even though he hunted like the force wolves and could stalk, track, and kill like them he still did not have the ability to digest raw meat. A fact a could feel a few of the younger wolves give him a hard time for, all in fun and Ronyo had learned to take it with laughter. Ronyo had also learned much about the force by not using it except for the few moments to speak with his new brothers and sisters. He had also learned how to dig deep within himself and bring forth something that was almost like another person. A hunter that did not need the force to perceive, track, move, and strike which only brought more promise with the idea of combining it with the force. It was something that Ronyo hoped to achieve but also understood how dangerous such a skill could become. It was something that paralleled his past experience with using his emotions to enhance his saber skill. When the time came to use it he prayed to the force he would have the strength of will, mind, and body to control it.

Sensing Ronyo's thoughts Alpha made his way to sit next to the knight. He looked at the man and then looked up at the sky and for a moment there was only silence. Then images came to Ronyo and those images formed the idea from which Alpha spoke to Ronyo. He showed the Jedi how nature moved along the edge of chaos every day but always maintained a measure of order within its deep layers. It was that at their core of being they had a strong enough sense to keep themselves within the realm of order. The small light in the darkness that always brought hope when needed most, the whisper in the wind that brought comfort to the downtrodden, and the power bolt of lightning that would strike down the wicked and cast away the darkness in one fell swoop. Ronyo smiled at the force wolf and reached a hand up to scratch the canine behind his ear, which the old wolf could not help but enjoy.



Another day another hunt and once again Ronyo was racing alongside his brothers and this time as a member of the flanking team. The flanking teams were the fastest and most vital part of the group for if they failed then there would be no prey for the predators to strike at. Ronyo moved like the wolves did and performed the turns and banks as if he had been part of the pack all his life.

As they made the first quick turn into the first flanking maneuver a roar echoed throughout the forest halting all in their tracks. Even the few wolves who where feet from their prey did not move as their ears twitched feverishly. Another roar bounced off the trees and caused birds to take flight and this time the prey scattered without and second thought to the force wolves and Ronyo. The Jedi moved to Alpha's positioned who started off in the distance where the trees could be seen to shake. Ronyo sent the simple question of what to Alpha and the wolf took time before it responded.

Alpha told of a creature that seemed not to belong on this planet. Something brought here long ago by beings who seemed to be consumed by the dark side of the force. Alpha showed pictures of the creature stomping and attacking Jedi from long ago. The images were clear and Ronyo knew the creature from his time studying on Coruscant. He raced through his mind trying to think of a name and Alpha held the image of the creature while the Jedi searched. Then he recalled a small mention of such a beast in what was recorded as the Great hunt. Terentatek. Ronyo watched as the trees shook and new that to be the creature simply moving through the forest.

Alpha then showed Ronyo something he had not expected, it was how the force wolves found this particular Terentatek to be different from the ones before him. It was the fact that the creature was not asleep manly, and did not seem to emit large fonts of dark energy. Alpha made sure to clarify that it still felt strong in the dark side but did not spill forth in it like others before it had. The claim of its lack of slumber came because when the dark side was not strong in the area around Tython the creature hibernated and awaited the return of a large amount of dark energy. This one had woken up only a year ago and did not seem to be looking for anything. After time the Terentatek simply became part of the food chain, being at the top of course, but only hunting like any large animal its size would. Alpha seemed to have a small idea as to why but he had never gotten close enough to the creature to find out.

The pack leader displayed what he thought was an adaptation in the creature with no dark energy coming close enough within such a long time. That there was a possibility that this Terentatek had changed and become less needing of the dark side which caused it to need to wake up and hunt like a real creature. It evolved through the force and while it slumbered for thousands of years small changes to its behavior and basic instincts shifted to those of a normal creature.

Ronyo took it all in and found himself more curious than hesitant of the beast now. Such a change in a creature created from the dark side meant hundreds of possibilities for those who still sought the dark side as its master. That something so primal could turn from the darkness and become something within the normal boundaries of the force itself. Alpha could sense the curiosity forming and Ronyo's mind and decide to at least impart a warning. That even though the beast is not solely of the dark side it still retains it resistance to the force and still seeks to hunt almost none stop. Ronyo nodded his head and understood this was a curiosity best left for another day.