Jedi Academy

It was a bit of a trip to get to where Corvin's friend apparently lived, but the speeder was fast. Corvin was quiet as he drove, but not unusually so. Any questions the students had would be deflected with "can't answer, driving".

It was just under an hour when the speeder slowed to a stop. The terrain had gotten even rougher, and substantially more forested; generous rain and two suns led to a lot of plant growth. Just up ahead on a footpath was what looked like a cabin. A Mon Calamari man stood in front of it, giving them a lazy wave.

Corvin climbed out. "C'mon." He said, jerking his head, even as he began walking towards the Mon Calamari.

Zizzy watched the terrain go by with a happy smile on her face. It was like going for an adventure with Grandma, only much faster and with fewer grubs to eat.

When they stopped she jumped out and reached down to touch a flower before following. "Oh this place is nice!" She waved back to the Mon Calamari.

Eir hopped down from the vehicle, tossing back the hood of her robe and her scanner goggles, letting them hang about her neck. She grinned and waved back to the Mon Cal. The humidity was cloying, but she didn’t mind, the lush and natural vegetation was too awesome to care. The forest was filled with new and intriguing scents, it smelled green and alive. She waited for Corvin to take the lead.

The Mon Cal came out to greet them, mouth open in a smile. He and Corvin clasped forearms. "Corvin. It has been some time." He said, voice rough to rival Corvin's.

Corvin grunted. "It has. Lookin' good, Gieb." He gave the Mon Cal a nod. "Brought along a couple of students who I thought might want to meet him. Hope you don't mind."

They started walking up towards the cabin as the Mon Cal waved to the two. "How do you do? My name is Gieb Kleben. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello Gieb! It's nice to meet you too, I'm Zizzy Roosh." She looked between the adults, back at Eir, and then to Gieb again adding. "This planet is fascinating. It's so lush. Do you live here? And how do you know Corvin?"

Eir nudged Zizzy with an elbow as the pretty girl rattled off a series of questions, "good to meet you, Gieb, I'm Eir."

Gieb laughed. "Corvin, you and my uncle made me think Jedi are quiet. This one has questions, I see." Corvin just smirked.

He gave the two students his open-mouth smile. "I do live here. It's very peaceful. And Corvin's master, after he became a Padawan, was my uncle. I'll bet he hasn't told you much about when he was a Padawan, has he?" Indeed, he hadn't.

Zizzy managed not to say 'ow' and gave Eir a grin. She nodded to Gieb. "It really is beautiful Gieb. And no, Corvin hasn't told us about when he was a Padawan. Or about his Master, that's so cool! He has told us to be quiet when he's driving, but now we're here..." A little smirk appeared on her face.

In contrast to Zizzy's over-excited questioning, Eir was quietly awed. Corvin's Master? Oh, wow, the Knight had been correct, Eir was fascinated by this revelation. "One question at a time, Zizz, I want to hear the answers," she teased.

"Well..." Gieb caught Corvin's scowl. "Perhaps that will be a conversation for later. I think you will learn enough from meeting his friend."

A bit farther, up the hill, and they could see the cabin more clearly. And the creature on its porch.



Spotting Corvin, the great cat rose to its feet, making a strange gurgling sound. Grinning, Corvin stepped forward. He dropped to one knee as the great beast bounded forward.

"Ooof!" Corvin grunted at the impact. "Heya, buddy. It's been a while." He said, rubbing the beast's side as it... purred, probably. Gieb stood back, watching.

Zizzy stood watching with her mouth open. Eventually it turned into a warm smile. "Oh wow."

She looked at Corvin's interaction with his old friend. For a change she only asked one question, quietly. "How long has it been since he was last here?"

Eir's glowing eyes went wide at the large feline, her attention torn between the interaction between it and Corvin, and Zizzy's very interesting question.

"Moved here from Ithor a year or so back." Gieb spoke softly. "It was time. Last saw Corvin a year or two before that, right after he got his injury."

Corvin sat back, still rubbing the big cat. He looked up the two students. Grinning. Probably the only time they'd seen him do that.

"Eir, Zizzy. Meet Fang." He chuckled. "Or Master Fang, as I'd call him sometimes." The big cat looked up at them curiously.

Eir crossed her arms, tucking her hands into her sleeves and bowing her head to the cat, "greetings, Master Fang." She glanced at Corvin, "what, uh, is he? she?"

She thanked Gieb and moved a bit closer. "Hi Master Fang! You're beautiful. I bet you know it too." She beamed back at Corvin, looking forward to the answer to Eir's question.

"He. And yeah he does." Corvin chuckled. Fang (or Master Fang) gave another one of his gurgling growls that seemed to be akin to an especially excited purr.

Corvin scowled up at them, good-naturedly. "Well? Is that how you say hi to a manka cat? Come on, don't be shy. He doesn't bite."

Zizzy couldn't contain her enthusiasm and quickly moved closer. "A Manka cat? Wow, I've heard a bit about them. Never thought I'd meet one though."

When she got closer she offered a hand to the cat. "Nice to meet you." Her tendrils floated into a better position for a more complete view.

With a suppressed giggle, Eir also held her hand out for the manka cat to sniff. Once the cat had sniffed, she stroked the large feline's head gently.

Gravely, Master Fang sniffed first Zizzy's hand, then Eir. When Eir stroked his head, he gave his loud gurgling purr again. The fur was surprisingly soft, although Eir could feel some roughness underneath.

"That's more like it." Corvin said, patting the big beast's side fondly. "We met back on Ithor when I was still a student. He was probably a quarter the size he is now. Got each other through some rough times."