Comfort

[Moonfire]

"I..." She started, before closing her mouth again, contemplating the question a little longer. Anxious hands moved back to hair, stroking the beads and the braid, a substantially shorter section of hair, only two years growth. How best to explain her feelings?

"I think that one definitely needs balance to be a good Jedi. You need to be removed enough from both sides to see things objectively. And thats what Jedi are, they're objective. Serenity, peace, harmony. They all require stillness, and balance is only achieved by perfect stillness. Thats... Thats what I think anyway." She gulped, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. Moonfire never really talked this much with much of anyone. Not since she was babbling youngling.

"But it can be very difficult to act that way, I think. Philosophy and theories are easy, its acting in balance thats difficult."

[Thaddeus]

"There isss no need to be nervousss, sssay what you mean." He tried to sound as encouraging as possible.

Seated as impassive as ever, studying Moonfire's features, and listening intently to what she said not interrupting. As she came to an end Balkk spoke at last,

"If a Jedi isss objective how then can they feel the pain of thossse who are wronged? Are our judgementsss to be made without mercy and compassssion?" He pointed to her chest with a claw, "If we can feel the Force, which linkssss everything together, how then can we be objective?"

He smiled. "You right, we mussst be ssserene and at peace; but look at your plantsss, are they not ssserene? They are in harmony with the Force, asss iss thiss water..."

He pointed to the fountain. "Are they ssstill? There isss an order, a processssion to life, it movesss ever flowing onto the next ssstage: birth, growth, ssstruggle, growth, and death. Then within the Force life goesss on forever."

He looked over at Moonfire his mind had reconciled itself to the wisdom of the Force. He nodded absentmindedly to himself. When she said that acting in balance is difficult, Balkk nodded again.

"Very, thisss iss why we mussst always remember Assshla and Bogan."

[Moonfire]

"An order," Moonfire echoed, letting the lesson sink in as the world around them continued that motion-filled life he had mentioned. It was interesting, how many ways the old stories could be interpreted, how the different Masters pondered over and expressed their views. It was thrilling, truly to be among so many minds and so much diversity within one united front.

"Yes, Master Balkk. And I know that Master Teiko lives on in the Force... Like your Master does. And he will always be a part of me, even for the short time we were together." No tears this time, though her voice still wavered some, feeling the acceptance, the peace of it roll over her.

Blue eyes flicked back up to the imposing, yet incredibly gentle figure of the Jedi, a smile touching the corners of her lips as her head dipped in reverence.

"Thank you very much, Master Balkk for your guidance. I truly appreciate it."

[Thaddeus]

"An order to all thingsss." Balkk repeated again enjoying an eager and interested listener. Yes, he thought, the Force guided me to her.

He was especially to see the first signs of serenity returning to Moonfire, she still mourned for her master - as he had for his - but she was beginning to understand that he was not gone. For any Jedi the passing of their master was an experience which upset their balance, it took time to restore that balance and to see the truth of things. Perhaps this was the last great lesson of all masters, a single commonality, that in the end there is the Force. Something to ponder Balkk thought. For Balkk like any true Jedi knew that he was still learning, that there was still so much more for him to understand. To believe that one knew everything, to cease in the pursuit of understanding, was to disconnect yourself from the Force. It was to try and isolate yourself, to say I am - when in fact there never was an I, there was only ever the Force. To study the Force was an act of self-discovery.

"Padawan Esensse it hasss been a privilege to talk with you..." He bowed his head deeply, and then slowly rising, "... And we ssshall talk again, for I expect a nice cup of your Ruusssan tea." A hand stretched out indicating the way back to the medcentre.

As they began to walk back, the sound of crunching pebbles becoming the echo of stone, Balkk spoke again softly.

"Padawan Esenssse I believe the Force brought me to you, and I believe the Force wissshes for me to inssstruct you." He said it all very gently, he had no desire to upset the girl. "But I would like you to meditate upon it, if you discover assss I have then I will asssk the Council to be asssigned asss your new massster. Regardlessss I look forward to our tea." The towering Trandoshan looked down kindly, in all his years he had never found a padawan nor been assigned one. He had taught and instructed one other, but he had not been his padawan. But in Moonfire he believed he had found one, but he would leave up to her.

[Moonfire]

Moonfire stood up, still internally noting the incredible differences between them, their height being the most jarring at times, towering nearly three feet above her as they walked, the skittering stones crunching under her boots and the clacking of powerful claws.

"Of course, Master Balkk. It should be ready in a few days, I will let healer Amyzon know." Another little bow of her head in response.

Hands clasped behind her back as they walked a shorter, but still quite familiar path back to the medcenter. She had much to think about after this enlightening walk, the thoughts of order and balance tumbling about in her mind. Objectivity, but not too much. Walking that thin line between too light or too dark. And most confusing of all, her own place this.

"Padawan Esenssse I believe the Force brought me to you, and I believe the Force wissshes for me to inssstruct you." The rumbling was heavier, but soothing. Gentle even, that pleasing bass nearly distracting from the statement.

"Oh yes, I will--Oh!" She began autonomously before catching his meaning and taking that perfect opportunity to stumble over the stones of the gravel path and losing her balance for a moment before quickly righting it, legs wobbling with the effort.

"I mean, ummm uhhh, yes Master Balkk I will meditate on your umm...offer." The girl rambled, face flushed. "I... I do appreciate all of this. T-thank you, I must hurry back. Amyzon will worry."

And with out another word the skittish padawan scurried off, not being nearly tripping over her own foot in the process, promising to meet again soon.