Felucia's Open Terrain

*There was hesitance, Terra not responding, her eyes closed and she remained still. Morgan wondered if this was a bad idea, but there was no doubt about it: There was something dark and disturbing about Terra's childhood that would be difficult to talk about, or at least Terra would be reluctant to mention. Morgan was about to tell her not to say anything, when it came out: Terra was a slave on Nar Shaddaa as a child.

Morgan was stunned, expression blank, unable to form a coherent thought or response. When she finally was able to, she was just in utter disbelief. Terra, a slave? She'd heard tales about children being taken into slavery, but didn't think she'd ever actually meet someone who actually had been a slave as a child. So what did she say? How could she react? What even did people make her do as a slave? No, Morgan suddenly didn't want to know. Her mouth worked soundlessly for a moment before closing.

Then instead of speak, she simply rolled over and threw herself on Terra, wrapping her arms around the girl's neck. There were tears in her eyes, but she wasn't sobbing. She didn't know how to respond other than this, so she didn't speak. For a little while at least, then words finally came to her.*
I'm so sorry that happened to you... but... at least you're here now, right?
*Morgan lifted her head so she could look Terra in the eyes, her own still glistening but were accompanied by a kind smile. Morgan always wanted to focus on the positives, and this moment was no different. Everybody had rough things that happened to them, but if they all just focused on the good things, then they could pull through.*

*Morgan's smile grew a little wider when Terra said that she was right that she was here now, and that was why she was glad she'd met Morgan. Wow, who knew that a small run-in on Tython could lead to quite a friendship. Morgan was very happy for this, glad she was able to put a little joy in Terra's life, and allow her to let loose and be free and playful through the jungle. It may have been a little thing, but also a very important one she was glad to impart upon the girl.

When Terra hugged her a little tighter, Morgan reciprocated, tightening her hug a little and snuggling Terra at the same time. Terra then thanked her very earnestly, and Morgan's eyes teared up a little more with joy.*
You're so welcome! I'm just happy I helped you have fun... and I'm glad you're not a slave anymore. Now you're free, and you can play whenever you want. ... well, not whenever you want, but you know what I mean.
*She giggled a little and let herself simply lay against Terra for a moment. She glanced up at the sky, then finally rolled off of Terra and back onto the ground, not wanting to leave a Morgan-shaped imprint on her. She smiled, then wondered if it was time to steer the topic onto Morgan's own history with the planet... She figured that if Terra could trust Morgan enough to tell her about her past, then Terra deserved to learn all about Morgan's... overwhelming history with Felucia.*
So, Terra, wanna know why I love Felucia so much? ... why I really love her so much?
*Had Morgan attached a gender pronoun to Felucia yet in her speeches with Terra? She felt like she might have but couldn't really remember. If Terra had picked up on it, there was her first, subtle hint. The rest would soon follow...*

*Morgan smiled when Terra nodded to confirm that she did want to hear about why Morgan loved Felucia so much, though Terra took on a curious look when she noted and asked why Morgan had called Felucia "her" instead of "it." Morgan's expression wavered briefly, debating just how Terra would take all this information that Morgan was about to divulge. Forcing a smile, she decided she would just cut straight to the chase.*
Because she's my mommy.
*There was a pause, partially so Terra could digest that statement, mostly so Morgan could decide how to proceed from here with the story. Looking back up at the sky, she sighed.*
When I first came here... I somehow made a connection to the planet. For a moment, I could feel and hear everything, then it just stopped. Later, when I went to sleep, I had a dream... about this lake, actually, and about some flowers here that could cure sicknesses that the jungle can cause. Then when we came out in the jungle and got lost, the jungle led me through safely, and protected me when I asked for help. Then Felucians found us and took us to their village, where an old shaman talked to me about my connection, telling me that I was like them, and that Felucia was their mother, so she was mine too...
*Terra probably didn't know that, before then, Morgan hadn't had a mother since she was three. Sure, now Morgan had three mothers by definition, but at that point, Felucia had become her only mother. Morgan took a moment to gather her thoughts before presenting the next portion of the story, then continued.*
We didn't live here yet. We went back home to Belkadan, but a while later, a monster...
*Morgan's eyes traveled downward and she tilted her chin forward to peer at her scars, then turned her head toward Terra.*
Remember when I told you about my scars? Well, when the monster did that... I would have died if Felucia hadn't taken my spirit and held onto it until my body was ready. But... it was okay! Because when my spirit was here, I met her myself! The real Felucia! And she was so pretty... and she taught me all about Felucia and showed me everything, and she even gave me new powers! And even though I can't see her like that anymore, she's still here, looking out for me, and I can still talk to her...
*Morgan had the brightest smile right about now, and she looked back at the sky again, reminiscing about her time spent with her mother. Time she missed, but that would also deprive her of time with her friends and family. A difficult trade, and one she wasn't sure she could make. There were many things she would give for just one day with her mother's human form again, but she didn't think she could ever make that trade permanent.*

*Terra seemed to be utterly speechless after Morgan had revealed all this information. Not too surprising she supposed; it was a lot of information and admittedly quite strange to one who hadn't experienced it for themselves. But then Terra looked at Morgan with a smile, saying that it was "incredible." Morgan smiled back, glad there weren't any questions or otherwise hints of disbelief. She'd accepted it, and that was good enough for Mor—*
Get up!
*Morgan was suddenly in a crouch, one hand on the ground, being completely still as though listening to something.*
Rush says there's something coming this way. Did you bring a lightsaber?
*Morgan had hers packed into her backpack, which she should probably grab. She did so without moving, extending an arm and using the Force to drag her backpack to her side. She opened up the backpack, rummaged around, pulled out her lightsaber, closed the bag, drew it over her shoulders, and lifted the weapon as she stood up and turned to face the jungle. She hadn't quite gotten the report from Rush of what exactly was out there, but she wasn't about to wait to find out before she prepared herself.*

Not yet.
*This was the only reaction Morgan had, as she awaited more information from Rush. This was actually one of the first times he'd sent her a warning, but his impressions were coming through clear: Large beast, but not too large; fleshy, fat, tusks on their faces— Uh oh. It was the boars again. Morgan planted her feet a little more firmly, starting to draw from the Force in preparation should she need to attack or evade, extending her own senses outward to search for these things.*
This won't be easy, Terra. It's the boars I told you about. They're territorial, and get very angry, which makes it hard for me to make them leave us alone.
*Something was nagging her in the back of her mind, like she'd forgotten something— Lokay. Turning toward him with a worried gasp, she called out to him.*
Lokay! C'mere! Fast!
*She gestured with her head, mostly toward her shoulder, and quickly he was on his paws and scampering over to her. She crouched down and extended an arm for him to climb up and perch on her shoulder, then she stood up again, once more building upon the Force. She looked out toward the jungle, again extending her senses.*
Please Terra, try not to kill them. I don't like killing them. I just want them to go away, but if they're going to attack us, I won't be able to do that easy...
*She located them in her own mind. Three of them this time? Oh joy; two was annoying enough.*
There are three. Wait, they can't swim! We should get back in the water qui—
*... but Lokay hated the water. She wouldn't be able to protect him out there.

And she'd run out of time; the boars were upon them.

They definitely looked like boars, with the distinctive Felucian touch: They had a strange neon-colored mane, with speckled tusks and stripes along their bodies. In fact, they almost looked more amphibious than mammalian. And just as true with just about any other thing, they were more dangerous on Felucia.

One was further ahead than the other two, charging straight at Morgan with an angry whine. But its mine was met with a mighty roar as a red blur launched itself at the creature's side, toppling it over. The blur rolled over and landed on all fours; Rush had come to protect him. The creature he had tackled squealed angrily as it rolled onto its stubby feet, turning to meet the new threat. Rush began to circle it, a motion that only seemed to anger this boar. It reared up and charged, but Rush simply leapt to the side, slashing at its hide with splayed claws, causing the creature to howl in pain.

But that didn't account for the other two, who appeared together a short distance down the treeline and picking their own target: Morgan herself. Morgan gasped, eyes widening, but she kept her feet in place. They charged at her, aiming to bowl her over, but as she'd been building up the Force within her, she merely waited for them to get just close enough to be dangerous and leapt into the air, clearing them both. They skidded to a stop, looking back and forth confusedly as Morgan landed in a crouch behind them; Lokay had taken flight and circled above them, just out of the boars' reach.

The boars, having lost their original target, turned to Terra instead, scraping their hooves on the ground and snorting. There wasn't enough room to charge, or they would. Instead, one of them lunged at her.*

*Morgan stood and turned just enough so that she could keep the boar fighting Rush in sight as well as the other two. Realizing that she hadn't instructed Rush not to kill it, Morgan quickly sent out a plea through the Force to only try to drive the boar away instead of kill it. Rush's feelings in response were... disappointed? Either way, he responded by jumping back as the boar charged and spinning, smacking the boar in the face with his tail, causing it to squeal and lose its footing, toppling over briefly before wildly scrambling back to its feet.

Morgan didn't watch; she'd turned to Terra, who'd avoided the boars by Force-pushing one to a halt and rolling away from the other. Then she asked Morgan how to stop them without killing them. It was here that Morgan had to freeze with a blank expression on her face. Then finally she spoke.*
... I don't know! I've never fought them before!
*She just wanted them to go away unharmed, or relatively so; Rush had already slashed one across the side. The two boars continued to focus on Terra, seeming to prepare another assault. Morgan knew they were angry and that they wouldn't listen, but she had little choice right now. She ran forward a few steps, thrusting her palms outward and extending her senses to them, both through the Force and through the planet herself. She tried to plead with them and calm them, attempting to befriend them as she had many other creatures.

They stopped moving, looking at Morgan. For a moment she thought it had worked, but then they squealed angrily and came after her instead. Morgan gasped and lowered her hands, crouching and leaping again; only this time, she hadn't had enough time to build up the Force, and she landed on the back of one and tumbled over it onto the ground. She groaned in pain but rolled onto her feet, stumbling backward toward Terra. She tried to shake off her sudden loss of balance and then attempted to brainstorm new ideas. They could go into the water now that Lokay was in the air, but then the three of them might gang up on Rush... What to do...*

*Yes, yes they did need to think of something, and fast. Something that didn't involve killing them. Maybe they could just run into the jungle and climb a tree or something. No, then they'd just go after Rush. Well, maybe they could have them chase Rush and Rush could outrun them and lose them somewhere... but then would they just come back? Well, she supposed she and Terra could just run somewhere else and the boars wouldn't be able to track them.

Suddenly, she was made aware of other presences in the jungle. Uh oh. More predators? Boars? Or just other creatures entirely? They were moving fast, and suddenly she heard the sound of projectiles whipping through the air. Then squeals of pain as suddenly there were arrows protruding from their sides. Figures leapt from the woods and landed on the boars' backs, glittering white blades of bone catching the sun before slicing the boars behind the necks. After final squeals of pain, they toppled over, dead.

Morgan immediately realized what was happening, and she looked to the woods to see arrows glancing off the hide of Rush as well. She ran forward, making noises at the top of her lungs.*
~Leave him alone! He's my pet!~
*The assault ceased, though Rush looked poised to pounce upon the newcomers until Morgan called him off, but even then he still watched them distrustingly. Morgan looked toward the two boars on shore, and the Felucians that had killed them preparing the bodies for transport. Another Felucian approached on all fours from the jungle, then stood on his hind legs as he first regarded Terra, then addressed Morgan.*
~Do all skypeople prefer to be sky-clothed, or is it just the two of you?~
*It was an attempt at humor, but Morgan didn't look very amused when she saw him.*
~You killed them! I just wanted them to leave us alone! Why did you kill them?!~
*The Felucian had a look of surprise; at least, for a Felucian.*
~Were you not under attack? We only meant to save you, and these creatures do make fine meals for the villagers.~
*Morgan stood her ground, still looking disgruntled, though had to admit to herself she had reacted a bit hastily; the Felucians were hunters, after all, and they took whatever they could catch. And, well, these things were like pigs, and pigs were generally pretty delicious...*
~Fine... but I still need to find out how to make them my friends! I can make most other things listen to me...~
*The Felucian seemed to laugh at this statement.*
~A gargantuan task. They hardly see past their own anger and are difficult to tame. Though should you be able to accomplish this, it would be most impressive.~
*Of course. Morgan knew this. She muttered and grumbled to herself, though knew that he was right. It just... wasn't pleasant when creatures died, especially ones so linked to Felucia. For the moment, she'd almost forgotten about Terra, who would have not heard words, but a series of clicks, trills, and guttural sounds that made up the Felucian tongue...*

*As though suddenly regaining her senses, Morgan remembered Terra again and turned to look at her, seeing that she was a little red with embarrassment. A small smile came to Morgan's expression, one that would have been larger if she hadn't had to deal with the deaths of the boars, but it was still mildly amusing... and another unexpected test for Terra. Morgan stepped toward her, just as Lokay decided to glide down and perch on her shoulder.*
Terra, these are the Felucians! They... saved us, I guess. Even though I wanted the boars to live...
*She muttered the last part, this time sounding more melancholy than disgruntled. She looked back toward the jungle line to see Rush emerging from it. He gave the Felucian leader a wary and somewhat-miffed look before focusing on Morgan and continuing toward her. Morgan ran to him, hugging him around the neck and stroking his scales as she checked him over for injuries, thankfully finding none.*~I apologize for attacking your pet. We have never seen a creature like that before and feared it was vicious.~
*Morgan looked at him with as neutral an expression she could muster, though was finding it difficult to fight back an eager smile at the knowledge that she knew about something the Felucians didn't and could tell them about. She did her best, though, to speak evenly without sounding excited, even though a little of it leaked through.*
~His name is Rush. He's an akk dog! He's not from Felucia, like me. He protects me and watches the jungle for me, and his scales are tough and can block almost anything. He won't hurt you if you don't try to hurt him. Or me.~
*The Felucian looked mildly intrigued, but Morgan had turned back to Terra.*
I'm sorry if you can't understand us, they don't speak any Basic. Well, a couple of them can, but not all of them. I'm just telling him about Rush, and I told him I wanted to keep the boars alive, but he said that they were just protecting us, and that they'd make good food, and that they're hard to tame.
*The disgruntlement had returned to her voice and expression, and she even rolled her eyes before she looked back to the Felucian.*
~Would you mind if we followed you back to your village? We can't stay the night, but I'd like to show my friend Terra around.~
*Terra would be able to hear her own name, but the explanation wouldn't come immediately just yet.*
~But of course. You're always welcome in our village, little sister.~
*Morgan smiled, then turned back toward Terra again.*
Do you want to go see the village?

*Morgan continued to smile when Terra agreed to go visit the village, though when Terra asked with embarrassment if they minded whether or not they were naked, Morgan gave Terra an amused look, though still tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. She didn't exactly know if the Felucians had any sorts of specific feelings regarding humans' state of dress... or lack thereof. She'd never asked, though when they happened upon her naked, they'd never seemed to mind, though maybe that was just because she was a child... She shrugged.*
I dunno. Terra, if you'd rather put your clothes back on before going to the village, then do it! I'm not, though. But if I was wearing my Felucian dress, I would, because I like to fit in with them.
*An odd statement from her, considering she'd rather not "fit in" with everyone else who wore clothes. Maybe Morgan just felt greater kinship with Felucians than she did with humans, despite most of her closest friends being human. Morgan then turned and pulled herself onto Rush's back, mounted and ready to move out before looking at Terra.*
And if you want, I can ask them to let you ride back with them on one of their gelagrubs. And I can ride next to you on Rush!