Meditation Garden.

Terra heard Kay'li speak about her Trials, and it brought her mind back to her own upcoming Trials. She had half a mind to ask Kay'li about it, but had scarcely leaned forwards when she heard something in the bushes behind her."Huh?"Terra looked over when she felt something on her arm, and by the time she had turned around, the vornskr hiding in the bushes had already started to lick her face."Wha...ack!!"She recoiled for a moment and raised her arm to wipe her face off where the vornskr had licked her, then sat back up to see who or what had ambushed her.

To her surprise it was a vornskr, and suddenly she recalled Ael mentioned that she had a pet vornskr wandering around the gardens. Selaya if memory served correctly. The creature seemed to be friendly enough, though Terra would have preferred a less...wet greeting. She did smile a little bit when Selaya wrapped her tail around her arm, taking that as a sign that the vornskr had signaled her as a friend.

Animals seemed to be taking a liking to her today. First the adorable little Durind, and then the...well still actually kind of cute, but definitely not so little Selaya."You scared me..."She wasn't sure if the vornskr understood her, but maybe next time she would refrain from licking the young woman in the face...

The nearby presence of a large and distinctly non-human predatory creature was recognized by the young Jedi's subconscious, but her sense of precognition did not elevate the information to a conscious recognition. There was no perceivable threat (at least toward herself, or her fellow Jedi) portrayed in the beast's actions. The vornskyr was tame, after all, and it's appearance through the force was much less alarming that its physical presence.

Thus, Kay'li was startled when a huge head suddenly plunged through the foliage not three feet away. Tearing her attention away from Durind, she faced the vornskyr confidently, without flinching. She knew that large predators were affected by human body language. Fear would indicate weakness. Her eyes widened in surprise as she watched the creature intently, stretching out through the force to sense it's intentions. The connection was tenuous, as best. There was no threat evident, but the beast seemed very pleased with itself about something, and seemed to be at least casually hungry.

"What is this, another pet?" Kay'li arched an eyebrow skeptically as she watched Terra pet the beast. She had arrived after Jade's mention of the vornskyr, and so she had missed out on the warning that the older woman had given. Surely, if anyone at the Academy were keeping such a large beast as a pet, she would have heard about it before now, wouldn't she? She maintained a suspicious eye on the vornskyr as she stretched out her left hand, channeling friendly feelings toward the beast.

Terra smiled and nodded, remembering that Kay'li hadn't been present when Jade had spoken of Selaya before. The rest of the group seemed understandably intimidated by the vornskr's presence amongst them, but there wasn't anything to fear. She herself had been a little startled when the beast had suddenly appeared behind her and licked her face, but she wasn't afraid, especially after Selaya had communicated a desire to protect her.

She looked up at Kay'li, still smiling a little as she petted the vornskr."Her name is Selaya."

The Jedi Knight's eyes widened further as Terra gave a name to the beast, even as the rest of her body began to relax. Serrin's seemingly shy, unassuming padawan knew this creature by name and trusted it? Clearly there was much more to the girl that she had expected. Not that she really had any expectations at all. The academy had gotten too big for every Jedi on Corellia to become personally acquainted with every other Jedi. So really, Kay'Li wasn't sure what she was trying to say to herself. Certainly, it spoke well of the girl's training that she was able to befriend such a creature. She shook her head slightly, in bewilderment. "Yours?" She asked simply, raising one eyebrow quizzically.

As Ralph, who seemed quite tired, no doubt as a result of his long journey to Corellia, took his leave, the young woman nodded in acknowledgement. "Nice to meet you too, Ralph. See you around." Kay'li was only vaguely aware of the arrival of the silent Zabrak, her attention still largely fixed on the Vornskr. It posed no discernible threat, but she remembered well the stories of how it's species sometimes mistook a Jedi for it's natural prey, due to their strong presence in the force. It seemed plausible that even a tamed Vornskr could make a mistake if it were hungry enough.

I glance around the garden as I enter. It isn't as crowded as usual, but there are still a fair amount of Jedi here, some conversing quietly with each other, others deep in meditation. I catch sight of a zabrak I recognize as being one of the Academy's Jedi consulars and make my way toward him. Soloiem is the name, I think.

"Pardon me," I say, "it's Master Soloiem, correct? Do you have a moment?"

"Ah" Kay'li replied, nodding her head slightly as the puzzle resolved itself in her mind. She lifted her foot to take a friendly step closer to the beast, but stopped as the creature stretched prolongedly, and disappeared into the depths of the garden's thickest vegetation. The Knight's eyes followed the vornskr out of sight, then she turned slightly as another young Knight (she supposed) approached the silent Zabrak master, and addressed him.

It seemed that today was new arrivals day at the Academy, or something. The Force was mysterious like that sometimes, drawing great numbers of Jedi to the same place, and only years later would it become clear why that particular time and place had been chosen -- if it ever became clear at all.

"Instructor, yes. Sorry," I say as we walk toward a more secluded corner of the garden. "I need guidance, actually." I give a quick look over my shoulder to make sure no one else is within earshot before continuing. "A few days ago, I encountered what seemed to be a very powerful Sith spirit. He was interested in the research of a Sith lord who died many years ago, and promised me 'great power' in exchange for tracking down anything that Sith lord discovered." I stop walking and look up at the instructor. "His offer of power is surely an attempt to sway me from the light, but I wonder about the information he's sent me to find. If it's useful to him, it might be useful to the Order as well. What would you do in my position?"

== Soloiem Dem==

He smiles slightly back to Serrin's Padawan and awaited for her to be out of ear shot before prompting Celia to continue. . .

. . .Soloiem's brow furrows and his palms find their constraints amongst each other as the Zabrak male folds his arms in front of himself, his cream robes flowing slightly with every slow strolling step he took. Knight Oshala's words disturbed Soloiem slightly as he listened with intent. " A Sith Apparition appeared to you? Was it here? Why did it come to you" Concern for the academy at large came into the typically serene demeanor Soloiem typically keeps himself. "Apologies. So the Spirit wanted you to obtain information for it and he offered you 'great power'? Yes, as you say, it is a slippery slope off the path of the Light. As Master Yoda has taught us all: The darkside is not more powerful, it is simply quicker." Soloiem took a centering breath to allow that simple reminder to sink in before he continued.

"As to the question of whether or not the information the Apparition wanted holds value to the Order at large. . ." Soloiem chose his next words carefully. "The Old Jedi Order closed its teachings in a very dogmatic manner and treating any faulter or progression with . . .extreme prejudice. The New Jedi Order brought us into a new view of what the Force really is; and it has ushered us into a more . . .fluid study in pursuance of serving the Living Force, or Ashla as many of our Corellian colleagues have been fond to call it. I tell you that, to tell you this: the Jedi High Council, Masters Roma and Son'tir among them, have encouraged all jedi to find their own path through personal exploration, meditation, and some independent study. We have found diversity has strengthened the Order at large. With that in mind, I cannot tell you what to study and what not study; that is a part of your path. But as an instructor of younglings here at a Jedi Order sanctioned academy, I have an obligation to warn you: if you pursue this information-- tread lightly. Many times type of power the Apparition mentioned comes with a price to pay. It is my belief that any power that the darkside craves, comes with a price I would not willingly pay." Soloiem gives a slight smile and nod to show his conclusion of his forewarning. "Does that help you at all, Knight Oshala?"