━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      ARAMINTA slept with a knife within her grasp. It brought her comfort and helped her feel quiet, it gave her less to worry about while she was in her weakest state and gave her an edge for any situation. She had long felt like she couldn't rest properly unless she had a weapon for a pillow and was behind a lock. As such, rest was well-received after any mission she went on where it was harder to choose where she slept, so when she was woken by a knock on her door, her hand tightened around the blade as she slipped out of her covers.

She had been moved to a bigger room in the Temple in honour of her services since the beginning of the Clone War, or something along those lines, she had largely zoned out during the process. All Araminta knew was she had received a larger space than anything she had lived in before, and it was hers. It was not the temporary residence she had had when she had first been taken into the Order, and it was not the cold, metal walls of Octavian's quarters that smelt of iron.

Everytime she entered it was a reminder of how far she'd come, and how much she had spited the man who had ruined her life, who she knew would tear his skin off at the thought of his most-prized asset living wall-to-wall with Jedi in their temple. On her bedside table was a vase, which was constantly replaced with new flowers by Padme, who had been appalled by her lack of decoration when she had first visited. It was the main spot of colour in the room, but Araminta didn't mind. Keeping the space clean and organised kept her sane, and made her feel safe.

She didn't switch on a light as she made her way through the dark to her door, knife still gripped in one hand, bare feet padding silently. Araminta paused, ears perked, before she recognised the presence on the other side of the door. With a sigh, she opened it to see Anakin standing there.

Araminta slumped her tense shoulders, the knife spinning loosely in her hands at the lack of a threat. "What is it?" she asked, quietly. She was used to the situation of him appearing at her quarters for a moment of peace in the night; it was hardly the first time since the war had begun.

Anakin's eyes flicked down to the knife catching the faint light. "Your good one?" he said, lightly.

The assassin's lips curved into a tired smile. "Always."

She moved out of the doorway, letting him enter before closing the door behind him, watching as he turned on the lamp beside her bed. She winced at the sudden brightness, blinking rapidly to get used to it.

"Sorry," Anakin said weakly, seeing her distaste for the light.

She shrugged, dismissively, as she placed her knife on her bedside table, not sheathing it as it reflected shapes onto the ceiling. Anakin briefly glanced up at it, before looking back to Araminta who slumped onto her bed, pulling her knees to her chest, arms resting around them. She stayed quiet, waiting for him to settle in and talk, as he always did.

As per routine, he settled down across the bed from her, sitting against it on the floor, tall enough compared to her frame that he could almost look her in the eye while sitting down.

"What happened on Maridun?" he asked after an extended silence. Araminta looked away from her knife to meet his eyes.

Araminta wasn't sure if it was being phrased as a question, but chose to take it that way. "Nothing," she said in reference to their unexpected journey on the distant planet.

Anakin tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Are you sure?"

"You're trying to get me to tell you I was worried," Araminta stated.

"No."

"You're a bad liar."

She knew that wasn't the answer Anakin wanted judging by his face, as he seemed to struggle with something internal, eyes a brewing blue storm. "I know, it's just–" he cut himself off.

Araminta's face softened slightly. "What is it?" He didn't look at her, or respond. "Hey," she murmured, repeating, "What is it?"

"Can you hear again?" Anakin asked.

Araminta furrowed her brows at the deflection. "Yes. I got the all clear."

Anakin nodded. "You shouldn't have had to do that," he said quietly, voice uncharacteristically small.

The assassin furrowed her brows. "Do what?"

"Step in to–" he paused, as if the words were poison. "To protect me."

"It happens," Araminta shrugged.

But Anakin didn't reciprocate her nonchalance, hissing out, "I should be better than that."

"Why? Because you're the Chosen One?" Araminta asked rhetorically.

"Yes." Anakin frowned at her, the girl looking back at him with mixed feelings, unsure of what to say. She was not well-versed in what he was feeling. Anakin sighed at her quietness, looking down at her covers. "I stepped in to save us, and I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't– couldn't hold it back at the port and then you carried me around for two days like dead weight."

Araminta shook her head. "You weren't dead wei–"

"You had to carry me," he cut in.

Araminta paused, wringing her hands in her lap thoughtfully. "You said 'thank you' for it, before," she said, softly.

Anakin looked at her with a frown, and she met his eyes, which were darker than usual. She had learnt to read him overtime, better than she had with many people, but she rarely saw insecurity in his features like she did now.

She had always tried to understand the plight of being the Chosen One, sometimes flicking back to her words on Naboo so long ago, listening to him vent to her without hope for a suggestion. Because Araminta had no advice, not really. She was a case of bad luck and he was destined for greatness, or something of the like.

"I did. But it never should have happened," Anakin insisted. Araminta glanced down at the hand he had on the covers, his flesh one, which she noticed was red and bruising.

She looked back to his face warily. "It happened once," Araminta told him assertively. "Stuff happens. You learn."

He looked like a boy in that moment, closer to his actual age than what the war had made of him. If anything, he reminded her of the day he had come knocking on her door asking about the horrible things she had done, seeking understanding and trusting her with what he had done.

"Did you ever fail?" he asked, barely above a whisper. Araminta pressed her lips together at the question.

"Just once," she said, giving him a pointed look that passed silently between them.

Anakin nodded twice at the words as they lapsed back into silence, the Jedi still looking unsure as Araminta glanced back at the shapes shadowed on her ceiling.

Some nights they had just sat in complete silence, Anakin leaning against her mattress as he simply spent time with her while she either busied herself with reading or moon cycles. She never slept, but that wasn't personal, and he always left before morning so as not to raise any suspicion.

Araminta knew it was far from anything suspicious, but they had both wordlessly figured it would look rough if he was spotted leaving her quarters early in the morning. Not that the emotional connection they had was anything less condemning to the pathetic Jedi way, at least in Araminta's opinion.

Because she knew that's what it was. From the day she talked to him on the steps and the Clone War had begun, she had considered him a friend, and someone who knew her better than anyone– whether by mistake or choice, it didn't matter.

Anakin moved abruptly, Araminta perking up, as he raised himself and shifted onto her bed, sitting at the far end as the mattress dipped under his weight. Araminta looked at him cautiously.

"Can I ask you something?" he said after a moment. Araminta resisted the urge to say that he just did, only nodding. Anakin opened his mouth, but paused, Araminta letting him reconsider, before he asked, "Would you trust me to save your life?"

Araminta leaned back slightly, shrugging. "I don't trust anyone."

"Solarii," he said in a scolding sort of way.

Araminta sighed, knowing the question meant something to him, as she averted her eyes from him, gazing at the ceiling for a moment. Now it was his turn to stay quiet and let her reconsider, Anakin remaining patient despite the desperate look in his eye, as she shifted and looked back at him.

"I don't know," she said honestly. "I know you've done it before. We've been at this war for a year now– but I don't know," Araminta elaborated at Anakin's slackened face. "If I were to... put myself into a situation I knew could kill me– I would only trust myself. I do only trust myself." She gestured to herself. "I trust you with other things, if that makes you feel better."

Anakin was still looking at her in a disappointed sort of way. "Like what?" he asked, as if clinging to her every word.

"Like– this," she said, holding out her hands to him. "With Octavian, with everything before the Clone War. You're the only person I trust with that."

"But you don't trust me to save your life?" Anakin responded instead.

Araminta sighed in frustration at his refusal to be uplifted. "No. But that's not personal," she retorted. She knew Anakin knew that. "You think I don't trust you because you're not capable?" she added at his continued mood.

"I don't feel like the Chosen One," Anakin replied, confirming her words. "I don't feel like I know what that means anymore. It just feels like I'm falling short."

"The only people falling short are those leaving you in the dark," Araminta snapped. Anakin's eyes widened at the response. "Sorry," Araminta apologised, realising she'd said something anti-Jedi at the wrong moment.

She pushed the back of her palms against her tired eyes as Anakin watched her. "It's okay," he murmured.

Araminta shook her head, searching his face as she leaned forward slightly. "What do you want me to say?" she asked.

"I don't know." He still sounded distant.

"You know I'm not the most uplifting person to talk to," Araminta tried a different route, giving him a weak smirk.

Anakin scoffed slightly. "I know but– you're the only person I talk to."

The response humbled Araminta more than she cared to admit, and she couldn't help the way her expression softened and her chest felt warm. She wondered, briefly, if this was what it felt like to be trusted.

"Is that enough?" she asked.

"Yes."

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      THE COLD had never slowed Araminta like it did others. That was simply her biology, which proved to be very useful on her next assignment with Obi-wan and Anakin. They were sent to a bleak ice-planet called Orto Plutonia to investigate the disappearance of Republic troops who had stopped transmitting from their base.

Araminta was grateful to be back in Obi-wan's company, booting him back to first priority in the field, but with a watchful eye on Anakin, too. Their conversation did not leave Araminta easily. Often she took his nights spent with her in stride, talking him through it, providing her general dose of tough love and harsh personal experience, but something about him admitting she was his only confidant had stayed in her chest.

It wasn't necessarily in a bad way, it had felt nice in actuality, but it was odd.

"Looks cosy," Anakin mused, looking outside the small window. Araminta managed a weak smile as they began to swing around their landing point.

Zyris, her home planet, itself was a ball of ice, near-constant snowfall and deep valleys of rich, sheltered forests made it beautiful, but harsh. Araminta had been left out of the thermal uniforms, dressed lighter than anyone else onboard the gunships, just with full sleeves compared to her regular dress.

But in spite of being so well-adapted as they descended through the blizzard, she was reminded of exactly where the ball of ice was in comparison to everything, and she wished she was anything but resistant to the cold, from anywhere else but another planet in the same sector.

"And this is the planet's tropical zone," Obi-wan announced as they stepped out of their ship, Araminta following at his side as per usual. Immediately, the cold bombarded them, a brisk wind flooding Araminta's senses and ruffling her clothes. She had tied her black hair back tightly, braiding it around her scalp in a way she had seen Padme do.

"It's not Tatooine, that's for sure," Anakin chimed in as they trudged across the snow. Obi-wan didn't acknowledge him as another gunship landed a few feet away, the Jedi Master moving to meet them. Araminta wished she could have hung back, but followed in his snowy footsteps.

"Captain Rex, have your men survey the area. Place as many sensor beacons as you can before dark," she heard Anakin say as he followed them.

Araminta stopped next to her charge as the gunship opened to reveal the Pantoran dignitaries disembarking, all dressed lightly for the cold in the same way she was, as they began to beeline for the trio. The one leading stood straighter than the others, hands held behind his back.

"General Kenobi!" he shouted in greeting.

"Chairman Cho. Senator Chuchi," Obi-wan addressed. "I suggest you wait here until we can secure the area."

"I respect your judgement, General Kenobi, but I will go where I choose," Cho said, firmly as they met in the middle. "This is sovereign Pantoran territory."

"The planet's uninhabited so it can't be aligned," Araminta chimed in, not liking that he hadn't acknowledged her, as his golden eyes finally moved and met hers.

"I don't believe I asked for your opinion," Cho snorted. "Are you a Padawan learner?"

"Araminta is my bodyguard," Obi-wan interjected, sensing tensions. "She is as sharpened as any Jedi."

"I go where he goes," Araminta added, pointedly. The chairman grimaced at the response as he moved his cloak over his shoulder, scanning the group of three again. He was flanked by guards, and the Senator was looking at Araminta softly, but the assassin couldn't care for her kindness.

She didn't like standing next to the Pantorans, it made them look as related as they were, while exposing the differences between them that had made the political wedge in the first place. They were the same shade of blue as her, which was enhanced by the fact Araminta's faded spotted markings were hidden by her full-body gear. When they blinked down at her, it was a mirror image, yellow on yellow.

It was Araminta's tufted tail and twitching ears that set them apart the most, traits she knew drew attention while she stood amongst them. And while the Pantorans' gold facial tattoos stuck out and emitted warmth, Araminta's silver dotted her face as if she had been kissed by the moon, as pale as the snow around them.

"Our moon of Pantora is the only civilisation in this system," Chairman Cho continued after a moment. He gestured to himself, "I'm the one who asked the Senate to protect this planet. This wasteland belongs to us."

"With all due respect, Chairman, this is for the Senate to decide, not us," Obi-wan replied.

"Ah but the Jedi report to the Senate," Chairman fired back, gesturing to the young girl beside him, "which is Senator Chuchi of Pantora."

"Technically speaking, Master Jedi, the Chairman is correct," Chuchi told them with a frown. "Since the planet is uninhabited, the moon of Pantora reserves the right to continue as its protectorate."

"Point taken, Senator," Obi-wan relented. He turned to Anakin, who had remained quiet during the exchange. "Anakin, stay here with the Senator and the droids while we secure the base."

Araminta felt herself relax slightly as Obi-wan gave her a small hand gesture as she followed after him, not glancing over her shoulder as she separated from her evolutionary relatives, a hand reaching up to her throat to touch her moonstone.

Obi-wan gave her a worried look, the one that made him look older, but she ignored it as they approached the entrance to the base, which was nothing but a door inserted into the side of a giant ice sculpture.

They were backed by clones as the doors slid open, Araminta's knees bent and ready for anything as the darkness was revealed. Araminta's ears flicked forward at the silence inside as they entered, and Obi-wan removed his goggles slowly as they left the elements outside. The clones ran forward for cover, blasters raised, but the base was deadly quiet.

But that was far from the most alarming thing, as Araminta and Obi-wan came face to face with the row of spears sticking upright, Republic trooper helmets on top of them.

"I don't get it," Rex said with a shake of his head.

"It must be Separatists," Chairman Cho snipped, entering behind them. Araminta resisted the urge to shoot him a glare, instead staring harshly at the floor.

"I'm not sure," Obi-wan said, more cautiously. Cho looked disgruntled by the response, as the Jedi turned to his guard. "What do you make of this?" he asked her.

Araminta reached up and lifted a helmet off the spear, pushing herself to her toes to do so. "Well, these spears are taller than I am so not amazing." Obi-wan scoffed. "It looks... primal," she added. "The way they're organised is a message."

"Primitives wouldn't leave a message," Cho said haughtily, shooting Araminta a look she didn't miss.

Obi-wan ignored him. "A message of what?"

Araminta shrugged. "To go away, probably." She placed the helmet on the ground. "Machines didn't do this."

"This planet is uninhabited," Cho butt in.

"It might not be," Araminta finally retorted, tail twitching in annoyance. Cho stared down at her, looking ready to snap, as Obi-wan placed a hand on her left shoulder.

"Let's just keep looking," he said, quietly. He squeezed her slightly– a warning to stand down. Araminta pulled away, tearing her glare away from the Pantoran as they headed further into the base.

They remained on alert, Araminta's ears twitching the entire time, but unable to pick up on another soul or sound in the halls. All they encountered were more spears and helmets, which had begun to put some of the Pantoran guards on edge as they moved further inwards and spiralled up the base's tower.

"Araminta," Obi-wan said as they approached the communications room.

"What?" she hissed, sensing his lecture tone.

He looked hesitant to say anything, sighing, "I know the relations between Zyris and Pantora are sour, but please–"

"I'm not the problem here," she cut him off. Obi-wan gave her the same look he often gave Anakin, and she turned away, but didn't take back her words.

"We Pantorans have excellent hearing," the Chairman interjected with a sneer. Araminta shot him an annoyed look.

But she kept her mouth shut, feeling Obi-wan eyeing her, as they entered the communications room. It was the highest point of the base, with small windows to allow a view outside but currently only showed a wall of blistering white.

Araminta scanned the room, stepping down from the top platform where the Pantorans stood, observing the Jedi and clones moving around. She skipped to Obi-wan's side, gaze never staying in one place, even though she suspected the threat was long gone, she was not one to dismiss stealth or any sort of trap.

"Do you think the Separatists are building a forward base to attack Pantora?" Cho asked, but it sounded more like he was seeking confirmation than a theory. Araminta suspected a part of him had already decided it was droids.

Obi-wan didn't respond immediately as he looked down at the console, brushing a hand lightly over it. "I don't think we're dealing with Separatists," the Jedi announced. "These computers haven't been touched."

Rex approached them before the chairman could protest. "Sir, our scouts have spotted a droid base on the other side of the ice ridge," the Captain told them.

Obi-wan exchanged a glance with Araminta, who only shrugged in response.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      THE SNOWSTORM continued to rage as they arrived at the base, Araminta watching the desolate ice planet rush past them as they did so. Even she was forced to cover her face with her arm as they approached, Anakin and Obi-wan completely rugged up against the elements. Anakin had made some snarky comment about the outfits on the way over, but Araminta had ignored it in favour of festering her bitterness for the Chairman, who had stayed behind.

Araminta immediately knew they were in for the same case as the Republic base when she saw the droid heads propped up on spears outside the entrance. The assassin blinked at the display, pulling one of them off – with surprising difficulty – and examining it. She turned it over, staring through the hole from the spear piercing it.

"By the look of things, I'd say whoever attacked our base took out the droids, too," Anakin said, looking over her shoulder, chest almost pressed against her back.

"Rex, help Anakin place the sensor beacons," Obi-wan instructed, before slightly shifting his gaze to the other troopers with the Captain. "You four, come with us."

"Yes, General!" Rex responded.

Araminta followed Obi-wan into the base, which was as ghostly as their own, although this one came with the frozen and headless figures of droids who had been cut down while moving. The clones never lowered their blasters, moving in formation around Obi-wan and his right hand.

The assassin stayed close to him, but deviated to look closer at one of the statue-like droids. She looked at where its head had been disconnected, narrowing her eyes. "Separatists didn't do this," Araminta murmured. "There's something else out here."

Obi-wan sighed as they ascended the steps to the Separatist console. "I know."

"The Chairman doesn't want to believe there's life here because it threatens Pantora's control," Araminta continued in a bitter voice.

"I know that as well," Obi-wan muttered as they came to the top level, still yet to encounter anything. Araminta huffed a breath, which clouded her face, as Obi-wan turned down to the first level where Anakin had entered through a gap in the wall. "Did you find anything?" he called down.

Araminta could see the line of propped up droid heads from where she was, as a weak barricade for Anakin's team. She watched him crouch down, holding a hand over the snow.

"Some large footprints," he called back.

Obi-wan nodded. "Have one of your men make a cast." He gestured with his head as Araminta gave Anakin one last glance and followed her charge inside to the communications system.

"There's something," Araminta murmured as she fiddled with the buttons.

"What is it?" Obi-wan asked.

"Something unsent– some kind of signal," she responded, hitting her fist against the console. "But everything here's almost frozen from the doors being left open."

Araminta heard him before he entered, Anakin arriving behind her with Rex. "Sensors are in place," he told the other Jedi.

Obi-wan nodded as he gestured to Araminta who was leaning over the console in frustration. "I think we found something," he said.

"It's stuck," Araminta snipped, glancing over her shoulder at Anakin. "Frozen solid."

"Well, something we have in common," he scoffed. Araminta rolled her eyes, before Anakin placed a gentle hand on her back. "May I?" Araminta faltered for only a moment before holding up her hands in a 'go ahead' motion and stepping away from the console.

Anakin punched it.

Surprisingly it worked, a hologram flickering to life in front of them, depicting a droid with a blaster swivelling around. Araminta blinked up at it, the blue reflecting in her golden eyes.

"685 to command. There are too many of them!" the droid shouted, voice further warbled by the recording. Araminta could hear chaos in the background, blasters and more indiscernible shouting. "They've overrun the base! We need reinforcements, I–!"

A low growl cut off the droid's shout, before something else entered the hologram, a monstrous shape that passed too quickly for Araminta to see anything before the recording cut off.

Araminta exchanged a glance with Anakin. "What was that?" he asked.

"Whatever it was, it's strong," Araminta replied with a shrug. She glanced at Obi-wan, the older man looking thoughtful at the news.

"The droid's log indicates they were investigating the southern canyon," Rex told them.

"Sounds like a good place to start," Obi-wan said jovially, putting his snow goggles back on.

"Fantastic," Araminta deadpanned, knowing they were heading into certain danger yet again.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      THE SOUTHERN CANYON wasn't far, and Obi-wan decided to split off from the clone force and leave Rex on watch. He had justified it by saying they didn't want to approach with uniforms that the creatures, or inhabitants, had already treated as enemies. That left the three of them speeding towards the canyon in their own freeco bikes, speeders made especially for the cold climate like that of Orto Plutonia.

It left Araminta less capable of watching Obi-wan's side, but they were equipped with dual laser cannons and she trusted the ship could take the brunt of a spear if needed. She didn't doubt for a second that they were being watched as they approached the split in the terrain, giant walls of ice around them.

Obi-wan stopped them at the entrance, Araminta immediately stepping to his side as they excited their vehicles, small feet barely sinking into the snow. The falling flakes had lessened now, collecting in Araminta's dark hair as they scanned the peaks around them.

"There's some kind of reflection up there," Obi-wan said, binoculars to his eyes. He handed it to Araminta, as Anakin used his own pair behind them. "Do you see it?"

"Yep," Anakin responded, Araminta nodding at the blinking light high above them. She turned, seeing the same flickering on the other side of the canyon.

"There's more," she announced, handing the binoculars back to her charge.

"Well, they know we're coming," Obi-wan said, unfazed.

"They?" Anakin asked.

"We have to assume we're dealing with a sentient species," Obi-wan answered, rationally. "Let's go," he said, leaving no more room for questioning as he headed back to the speeders.

Night fell as the trio continued through the winding canyon walls, deeper into unmapped territory. The lights on their vehicles cut a path in front of them, but the snowy scapes around them were under the cover of darkness and Araminta felt horribly exposed as they moved.

The barrenness of the Orto Plutonian landscape made her want to be anywhere else. She liked the cold, and she had fond memories amongst snowy scapes, but Zyris had small oasis' carved in it, deep ravines of glacial rivers and collections of snowy woods that grew year round. It was beautiful. The ice planet they were on was as lifeless as it had originally been perceived. It made Araminta oddly homesick for a place she hadn't seen in twelve years.

They approached a small, rocky bridge, and Araminta blinked at the small dots of orange in front of them as they stopped. She followed Obi-wan's lead, cautiously padding across the snow to his side as she scanned the scene in front of them.

It wasn't a defence line, but a village. Igloo-like structures, some built into the side of the ice-mountains, with small, sheltered fires burning outside them for light. Some of the creatures – the same one that had attacked the droid in the hologram – were watching them from the safety of their homes, while others were armed and lined up at the front.

One was riding some kind of mount, which was growling lowly, but otherwise they did not make a move to attack. Despite this, Araminta had already brushed a hand across her hip where her good knife was, the most accessible one on her arctic uniform, as if reminding herself it was there. Anakin, too, cautiously reached for his sabre.

"Steady, both of you. They're only curious," Obi-wan cut in, not even needing to look at either of them. "Let's not provoke them as the droids and our troops must have done."

Araminta knew he was right, as she followed him straight towards the village, movements slow and contained. Anakin brought up the rear. The creatures made indistinct noises, some backing away from them, others staying where they were and forming a wall as the group of three moved forward.

Two of them stopped the group with spears, before a third walked in between them. He was dressed differently, wearing the skin of a native animal, and his beady eyes focused on Obi-wan, who was at the front of their endeavour.

The leader said something, gesturing with his hand, and they were allowed passage. Araminta didn't relax, as she heard the two with spears follow them as they followed the leader.

"Not to be that person," Araminta spoke up, quietly. "But what next?" she asked, pointedly, directing the words at Obi-wan, who sent her a side glare.

"It's too bad we didn't bring 3-PO along," Anakin chimed in, referring to the droid they had left back at the Republic base. "How do you plan on communicating with these things?"

"Patience," Obi-wan responded, sounding tired of the younger ones' questioning. "Maybe they're smarter than we are."

What Araminta had assumed was the leader of the village had stopped at a tent made of pelts and sticks, where another was standing. This time, she knew he was the leader in reality and not a messenger, adorned with jewellery, a headdress and a cloak tied with a chain made of claws. Obi-wan seemed to guess this, too, stopping politely and holding out a hand to his guard.

The leader said something, seeming distressed, before raising his spear. Anakin and Obi-wan's eyes followed it warily, and Araminta had bent her knees, ready to jump. The spear only landed in the snow, pointing to the sky. Araminta stared at it, trying to guess the message.

"Well, say something," Anakin said snidely after a few moments of silence.

"Just shut up," Obi-wan responded.

Araminta bowed abruptly, dipping her head and flicking her ears back. The leader said something softer this time, and Anakin and Obi-wan followed her movements. She looked up after a few moments to see the leader ushering them towards the entrance to the tent. Araminta exchanged a glance with Obi-wan, before they continued forward together, pushing past the flaps of fabric and entering.

Being in a meeting with the inhabitants of a believed-desolate planet with an unfamiliar language buzzing in her ears and the constant threat of miscommunicating was not how Araminta had expected their assignment to go, but she knew by this point that rarely anything with Obi-wan and Anakin went the way she had expected.

"We come to you in peace," Obi-wan repeated, gesturing to himself and then the inhabitants. They had been trying for minutes to communicate to no avail.

The leader was clutching a piece of slate with a crude etching of a droid on it, which Araminta had vehemently shook her head at while gesturing to themselves when they had first been shown it, but some time had passed now and they weren't getting anywhere.

"We will not bring harm," Obi-wan continued. Anakin sighed and exchanged a glance with Araminta, who shrugged and leaned back on her knees.

She heard scrawling and looked over to see Anakin had gotten his own piece of slate, and was using her discarded knife she had been forced to remove to scratch into it. She watched him wearily, not liking the sight of him handling her favourite weapon, as he placed it down and turned his sketch to the inhabitants.

"Peace," he said, simply, showing a simple image of one small person and one large shaking hands. The inhabitants warbled at the image, looking between each other and nodding.

Araminta scoffed at the first bit of progress all night, lightly shoving Anakin's shoulder. "I didn't know you were an artist," she mused.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      IT TOOK most of the night to establish some form of understanding with the inhabitants, which they had come to know as the Talz. Their leader, Thi-Sen, had embraced Obi-wan as they left, with the promise of peace and a mutual understanding. They had then disappeared into the dark and headed back to the Republic base, which had regained power and was filled with Pantorans and Republic patrols as they pulled their speeders into the garage.

The storm outside had worsened once again, making the journey back more difficult than it should have been, but Araminta was grateful to be back undercover and out of the wind. The cold she could stand, but the rush in her ears and the sheet of white that blocked her vision after only a few feet made her feel horribly vulnerable.

"Glad you made it back, sir," Rex greeted Anakin. "It's getting nasty out there."

"You don't know the half of it," Anakin sighed, Araminta spotting the Pantorans approaching over his shoulder. The assassin put on a neutral face as they stepped up.

"What'd you find?" Chairman Cho asked.

Obi-wan removed his fogged-up goggles. "It seems we've stumbled onto an inhabited planet."

"Impossible," Cho spat. "Our explorers have spent much time here over the long history of Pantora. No one lives here. They're trespassers."

"With respect, Chairman Cho, these creatures – the Talz – aren't advanced enough to master space travel. I think they may have been here longer than Pantora," Obi-wan explained calmly, but he had a firm tone.

Cho was unconvinced. "Whoever they are, they belong to us. This whole system belongs to us," he snapped.

"They don't belong to you," Araminta protested, ignoring Obi-wan's disapproving eye. The Chairman fixed his matching-gold eyes on her, features twisted in a scowl at her defiance. "None of this does, you can't just–"

"Be quiet, tail, you have no say here," he cut her off.

Araminta closed her mouth, golden eyes hardening immediately. She bit her lip to stop it from spitting something she'd regret, her tufted tail twitching dangerously as she stayed silent.

Senator Chuchi gave her a sympathetic look as she spoke up, softly. "Your Majesty, if there are life forms here, then the Senate must decide jurisdiction."

The Chairman fixed his fire on her. "They are savages. Look at what they've done. They've slaughtered your troops."

"They only want to be left alone," Obi-wan cut in. "The droids attacked them and I'm afraid our outpost got caught in the middle."

"They must be subdued. They're dangerous," Cho insisted. He made an aggressive gesture to the clones. "Captain Rex, prepare your troops for battle."

Anakin held out an arm to stop his Captain from moving. "We promised their chief there would be no retaliation," the younger Jedi told Cho, who looked displeased at being refused.

"We've arranged a meeting between their High Council and you and the Senator," Obi-wan informed Cho. "They want peace," he repeated.

"We can't send troopers. They'll think we lied," Anakin said, more exasperated than his calm mentor, as Araminta stayed deathly silent, gold eyes fixed on the Chairman like a predator looking at prey.

"These creatures are little more than animals, you can't lie to an animal," Cho scoffed. "They can't be trusted."

"But your Majesty–" Senator Chuchi tried to intervene.

"No, it is obvious these creatures are not covered by the Convention of Civilised Systems. The Jedi Council has no say in the matter," Cho concluded, sending Obi-wan a nasty look that was all smugness and an overgrown ego.

"If the Jedi are able to communicate with them, their status is in doubt," Chuchi continued, sounding desperate.

"Do you stand against your Chairman, Senator?" Cho asked, crossing his arms and standing up to Chuchi, and Araminta saw someone eerily similar in his stature, feeling the unfamiliar blistering of anger under her skin.

Chuchi's eyes widened slightly, as she responded in a small voice, "Of course not, your Majesty."

Araminta watched the exchange with disdain, as beside her Obi-wan spoke up, "If we are going to meet with Thi-Sen and his council at the arranged time, we will have to leave now."

"You shouldn't let him walk over you like that," Araminta hissed at the Senator once the Chairman had departed to gather troopers and weapons. Anakin had moved to speak to Rex, and Obi-wan was listening over their shoulder, but Araminta didn't care.

Senator Chuchi looked at her with wide gold eyes. "Chairman Cho–"

Araminta cut her off at the defensive tone. "–Is a dictator of a man. He feels threatened by you so has to keep you under his thumb," she told Chuchi firmly. "I know men like him."

She felt Obi-wan tense behind her, but the Senator stayed quiet at the words as Araminta pulled away from the pair, clutching at the pendent sitting at her throat. Araminta felt eyes on her, and turned to see Anakin watching her, as he left Rex's side and approached.

"What did the Chairman call you?" he asked abruptly.

Araminta blinked at him, having not expected the question or lack of greeting. "Tail," she said with a shrug. "It's the most obvious feature of ours that they don't have," she added at Anakin's still-furrowed brow. "He's probably still angry that Zyris won their independence and a seat on the Senate."

"He can't just get away with that," Anakin snapped.

"It's life," Araminta sighed, hiding her surprise at Anakin's tone. "Pantorans have hated us for generations. They think we're less evolved than they are."

"That's stupid," Anakin said, exasperated.

"I know," Araminta responded, coldly. "Not that we never fought back, either. But there were raids, sabotaged trading routes, some assaults on both sides," she continued. "For years I thought it was Pantorans who killed my family. We've been in and out of conflict but I guess there's bigger issues right now."

Anakin processed the new information, looking at her wearily. "Zyris has its independence now, they can't take it back." The words were a reassurance, she knew he was trying.

It had been almost a year since Padme had come knocking on her door on Coruscant with a wide smile and an almost-proud look in her eyes as she had announced to Araminta that Zyris had won its case to the senate and had officially been considered its own– not a fracture of Pantora or a violent outpost in the Outer Rims as they had been painted as towards the end.

Araminta had managed a smile at the news, which had made her feel further away from her old home than ever before, while also feeling like it was within distance, brushing at her fingertips with the moonlight on her skin.

"They can try, but you're right," Araminta said after a moment. "It's probably why he's so angry with me– they lost in his eyes."

Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well, they'll lose again. I told Rex not to fight. We're not going to war," he assured her.

Araminta just turned away from him, shaking off his touch, her eyes dark. "Let's just go," she said. She moved off back towards her speeder, her gaze finding Obi-wan near the entrance, as Anakin fell into step easily with her.

"The storm's picked up," Anakin told her. "We can't use the gunship and we don't have enough speeders for the entire platoon."

"Probably a good thing," Araminta said, tightly, as Cho passed them with his two guards. She watched him go with glowing eyes, running a hand across her neck, tugging on the small chain as they reached her speeder.

"You're doing that a lot," Anakin pointed out.

"What?" she asked indignantly.

"Touching your necklace," he said, softly. Araminta paused, palm against her speeder. Anakin watched her carefully, his taller frame almost hiding her from the view of anyone passing them. "What's going on?" he asked quietly, in a tone not dissimilar to the way she had spoken to him the other night.

"I don't even belong to Zyris– but I am included in the anger," Araminta told him, sounding annoyed.

"And you're angry back," Anakin pointed out.

Araminta scoffed. "I have no place to be angry. I don't belong to the people he hates so much but– I am angry," she admitted, sounding unsure.

Anakin nodded. "Good. You should be."

Her nose scrunched up at his response, looking up at him. "What?"

Anakin sighed out his nose, holding out a hand to her as if he was going to touch her, but thought better of it, as he expressively used it to speak instead. "Solarii, you told me once you don't belong anywhere, but you wish you did. And you do. Zyris can still be your home, even if you were taken from it so long ago. It's still your home and you are still a part of their people. And you clearly still feel like it."

"Alright, let's go," Obi-wan interrupted, forcing Araminta to tear her eyes from Anakin and to her mission, who was mounting his speeder with the rest of the troopers and Pantorans.

Araminta looked back to Anakin, who was watching her with soft eyes, as she playfully said, "See you out there," as if nothing had happened.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      THE RENDEZVOUS was at the Separatist base amongst the snow, which had formed a thicker layer than the day before, as they braved the worsening storm. The landscape was quiet when they arrived, with no sign of the Talz, and Araminta kept her head low as she stepped out of her speeder, moving so she was immediately by Obi-wan's side.

The Senator and Chairman walked together, Cho gesturing to Rex. "Captain, put your men on that ice ridge. We will attack as soon as the savages arrive," he instructed.

Obi-wan's face fell from beside Araminta as he stepped up to the Pantoran. "There will be no attack, Chairman," he said firmly.

The Chairman moved so quickly that Araminta jumped in front of Obi-wan, afraid Cho would strike, brandishing his fist and tall form. "You will do as I command. This planet is under my jurisdiction," Cho snapped as Araminta remained in front of the Jedi.

Obi-wan didn't flinch, as he slowly turned away, leaving Araminta glaring up at the Chairman before she followed her charge. "Nothing is under your control, Chairman," Obi-wan yelled over his shoulder. "The Talz are already here."

They emerged from the rise on their mounts and they appeared in the canyon walls sound them, perfectly blended into the landscape, and Cho paled at the sight.

"Their scouts have been following us for some time," Anakin added smugly. "They don't trust you anymore than you trust them." A troop rose from the snow itself, surrounding the Clone troopers as they defensively raised their blasters. Anakin paused, holding out a hand. "Rex, tell your men to stand down. Stay here and don't do anything to provoke them."

Rex obliged the order as Araminta pulled away from the Chairman and brought up the rear of Obi-wan and Anakin as they headed towards the empty Separatist base, with the Chairman and Senator, the Pantoran guards and C-3PO in tow.

"Your Highness," Obi-wan greeted Thi-sen as they arrived, the leader waiting inside.

"We've returned, as promised," Anakin chimed in. Araminta stayed silent, only dipping her head and ears again.

The three moved to let C-3PO through, the golden droid tottering in. He spoke a garbled language, Thi-sen reacting positively to it, as he replied with something else.

"These savages have no rights here," Araminta heard Cho say under his breath.

C-3PO turned back to them. "Chieftain Thi-sen welcomes you to his home and hopes you come in peace. He wishes to be good neighbours, but he does not wish you to remain on his planet."

Cho took a rough hold of C-3PO. "Listen, droid, translate everything I say and exactly as I say it," the Chairman snapped.

Chuchi jumped in, placing a hand on Cho's arm and gently removing his hold on C-3PO. "Would you like me to represent Pantora in this matter?" she asked quickly.

Cho shoved her back. "Not on your life, Senator. There will be no diplomacy this time." He pushed past her and C-3PO, brandishing an accusing finger at the Talz. Even with the language barrier, it was clear by his body language what his intentions were. "Listen here, you savage, this world belongs to the moon of Pantora. And as the Supreme Chairman and Exalted Ruler of Pantora, you will not command me to leave this planet or do anything else."

"Your Majesty," Chuchi tried again, moving in front of him. "We can't."

Cho took a hold of her arm and forced her to the side. "Droid, tell him," the Chairman snapped at C-3PO.

"Oh dear," the droid said, moving forward.

"You're making a mistake," Araminta protested at the defeated look on Obi-wan's face. "They've already slaughtered your troops and they know these canyons in a way you don't. Is it worth it just to own them? Is any of this worth starting a war?"

"I will not be pushed out by primitives!" Cho exclaimed, looking down on her through his pointed features. She met his glare evenly, only looking away when Thi-sen let out a series of guttural vocals.

"That didn't go over very well," Anakin murmured.

"Chairman, I promised the Talz that we would leave them in peace," Obi-wan insisted.

Cho made a dismissive gesture towards them, as he proclaimed, "This is now an internal affair of Pantora."

C-3PO cleared his throat, drawing attention. "The great Thi-sen, Son of Suns, asks again that you leave or it will mean war."

"Then war it is." Cho didn't even hesitate.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      "SAY the word and I'll do it," Araminta hissed as they left the empty base.

The Talz had retreated with low-hung shoulders and vicious cries, disappearing back into the snow and the Southern Canyon as they no-doubt prepared for an assault. Chairman Cho had walked out afterwards, shoulders pinned back and the same smug sneer on his face that Araminta was learning was common on him.

"We're not killing him," Obi-wan sighed as they trudged back into the snow.

Anakin shrugged from beside them. "It's an option."

"Don't encourage her," Obi-wan chastised, but he didn't sound as scalding as he usually did.

"It's so pathetic," Araminta continued as Cho disappeared into the snowy hills with Anakin's platoon on speeders. "The entire fucking galaxy is at war and all he cares about is this."

"I didn't know you were so political, Araminta," Obi-wan said in a knowing sort of tone.

Araminta shot him an annoyed look. "I'm not. That's how you know it's bad."

The three had reached where the Senator was standing anxiously, her golden eyes focusing on them as they approached. "Senator, you know a preemptive strike is illegal," Anakin said without greeting. "Isn't there anything you can do to stop him?"

"I'm afraid not. He has proclaimed this conflict an internal affair," Chuchi replied, sounding defeated. Araminta looked at her for a moment.

"You could petition the Jedi Council for an intervention," the assassin offered up. Eyes went to her, Senator Chuchi looking shocked at the idea, while Obi-wan and Anakin looked at her with mixed expressions of confusion. Araminta looked between the two men. "What? I listen to Padme," she said with a shrug.

Chuchi stammered at the idea. "Do you– you mean without his authorisation?"

"No shit," Araminta responded.

Anakin had also latched onto the idea. "There must be someone on your moon who could approve it," he chimed in.

Chuchi looked thoughtful, before her face lit up. "The Speaker of the Assembly. He has the power."

Araminta exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Obi-wan. "Well, that's what we want," she said, clapping her hands together.

Her charge nodded, his eyes moving upwards to the sky. "Let's get back to the base," Obi-wan suggested, though it sounded like a command. "The storm is letting up. Maybe we can get a transmission through."

Senator Chuchi dipped her head in response, looking lighter than Araminta had seen her since their time on Orto Plutonia, as they headed back for the gunships. Obi-wan escorted her, gently moving a finger in her direction, Araminta taking the command as she flanked the Senator closely.

They reached the Republic base with no resistance, though Araminta did wonder what had happened in the canyon, if anything yet. She wondered how long the fighting could go on before the Talz would still accept peace– she knew that if Pantora requested peace from Zyris it would be impossible to swallow.

The Senator was moved to a gunship to attempt a signal, while Obi-wan and Anakin headed inside to gather the rest of the platoon they had left behind. Araminta moved to follow on instinct, but her charge stopped her with a pointed look.

"Araminta, stay with the Senator," Obi-wan instructed. The assassin only hesitated for a second before nodding and pulling away.

"Have you got a signal?" Araminta asked as she stepped inside and out of the wind.

"Yes," Chuchi said, enthusiastically, stepping aside for Araminta to see the holographic image of Pantoran man. Araminta nodded, turning away and watching the door, trying not to listen in on the sensitive political conversation, eyes scanning the snow from the gap in the gunship.

After a few moments, she saw Obi-wan and Anakin move out again, followed by troopers who began to load up the other two gunships. Araminta straightened as the Jedi arrived, ears flicking back to the Senator over her shoulder.

"How's it going?" Anakin asked.

"Well, no one's raised their voice," Araminta said, mildly.

Anakin rolled his eyes at her as they moved back inside, Chuchi not even looking over her shoulder to acknowledge their return, transfixed on the transmission. "The assembly has decided that the actions of Chairman Cho are out of order. Senator Chuchi, you are given authority to negotiate a peaceful settlement between the sovereign planet of Pantora and the Talz."

Araminta heard Anakin let out a sigh of relief beside her, as Obi-wan spoke up, "It is decided then."

Chuchi closed the transmission, turning to the two Jedi and assassin with an apprehensive but hopeful look. She nodded once, and Anakin took a hold of the strap above him as he shouted, "Pilot, let's get moving."

The gunship took over, Chuchi leaning against the wall, Araminta close to her side and hanging onto the handles above them as they soared over the snow. There were hardly any windows in the gunships, and they stayed closed because of the unusual environment, leaving them flooded in red, interior lighting.

It made the whole thing feel more ominous as they rushed to stop an impending, useless war.

They were fast approaching the Southern Canyon entrance when Obi-wan spoke up over the rush of the engines. "Senator, now that you have the authority, how do you plan on making peace with the Talz?"

Chuchi blinked at him. "Actually, Master Jedi, since you're far more experienced, I was hoping you could negotiate on Pantora's behalf."

Obi-wan and Anakin exchanged glances across from the two azure girls. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Senator," Obi-wan said, solemnly.

"But I don't understand," Chuchi said, hastily. "The Jedi serve the Senate. I must order–"

"Senator," Obi-wan cut in firmly, "it is your people the Talz are at war with. If the violence is to stop, it is you who must represent your people."

Chuchi sighed deeply, glancing to her left at Araminta, the pair meeting eyes. The assassin couldn't quite place it, but the look in her golden gaze was almost something of reaching for approval, the same way Ahsoka sometimes looked at the older girl. But Araminta didn't see herself in Ahsoka, so she managed a nod to the Senator just as their ship began to arc towards the ground.

As Araminta stepped back out into the cold, it was immediately clear they had arrived just in time. The gunships' doors opened out onto a barricade of Rex's shrunken troop and only one Pantoran remaining, the Chairman himself. Araminta blinked at the blood on the snow that came from him, callous, unfazed. Maybe even relieved.

The bodies of troopers were scattered, and the Senator stared down at them with wide eyes. On the horizon was a paused line of Talz warriors, some mounted, all with spears raised to the blurry sky.

"Good to see you, sir," Rex greeted, pulling away from the barricade at the reinforcements.

"You okay, Rex?" Anakin asked.

Rex was bleeding slightly through his arm, but he dismissed it. "Eh, just a scratch."

"What'd we miss?" Araminta said, eyeing the wall of Talz pointedly.

Rex sighed. "We're in quite a mess," he admitted. "Eleven dead, the rest wounded, including the Chairman."

Araminta looked back down at Cho, who was clutching at his chest and heaving ragged breaths she could hear even over the wind. Chuchi stepped forward, crouching down to him. "Chairman, can you hear me?" she asked, gently. Gentler than she should have, in Araminta's opinion.

The Chairman focused on her, taking hold of her shoulder. "Senator, good. You must avenge me. As my final command as Chairman of Pantora, I order you to destroy the Talz."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that Chairman," she said calmly, removing his hand "The Pantoran assembly has called you out of order. I am to negotiate peace."

"No, impossible," Cho spat, voice losing volume at the end of his sentence, as if he couldn't get enough air to finish the words. "Peace? Never. I died for our people."

He slumped back, heaving rapid breaths that indicated he was not far from the end, but Chuchi surprised everyone when she stood up, unfazed, eyes on the horizon.

"All yours, Senator," Araminta said from behind her, sensing her apprehensiveness.

Chuchi glanced at the assassin out of her peripheral vision, before hardening her face. She removed the Chairman's hat and grabbed a spear from the snow, looking at it for a moment. She wheeled around, spear held to the sky.

"Protocol droid, come with me," she ordered.

The golden droid hesitated, but Anakin stepped back. "3PO, get going," he said. C-3PO looked as nervous as a droid could, as he followed after the senator and straight towards the Talz. "Do you think she'll be able to do it?" Anakin asked when they were out of earshot.

"She has to, so she will," Araminta said, not looking away as Chuchi and Thi-sen met in the middle.

Anakin said nothing, but she felt his eyes on her. She still did not look at him, watching as Chuchi placed the spear upright in the snow and propped the Chairman's hat on top. They were too far away for even her hearing to pierce, and with the rushing of snow and wind she doubted she would even if they were in her radius.

Araminta felt her chest tighten as Thi-sen raised his spear, before erecting it beside Chuchi's instead of forcing it down into her. They were talking, Araminta could figure that much from the distance, before the entire Talz army lowered into a bow, as Thi-sen and Chuchi exchanged the gesture.

"Told you," Araminta scoffed, lightly shoving Anakin's shoulder, as the Senator and C-3PO turned and moved back towards them, the Talz moving back into the distance.

"Well done, Senator," Obi-wan said as Chuchi returned to their side.

"Yes. Impressive," Anakin agreed.

Chuchi smiled, looking flustered by the praise. "Thank you, Master Jedi," she murmured, before clearing her throat and straightening up. "May I have a word?" she asked, tone stronger. Obi-wan moved forward but the Senator held a hand out. "Sorry– I... just meant Solarii."

The assassin's eyes widened, exchanging a glance with her two companions before shrugging. "Okay." The two Jedi left them be, moving to help the wounded and regroup the platoon to leave the planet.

"Solarii," Senator Chuchi said formally.

"Please, just call me Araminta," she interrupted.

Chuchi looked caught off guard by the lack of pleasantries. "Oh– right." She paused, as if regaining her train of thought, before saying, "I would like to negotiate peace with your people in the future– an alliance, even."

Araminta couldn't stop her face from scrunching up in surprise. "That's a lot to undo, Senator," was all she could say, because it was the only truth she knew.

Chuchi sighed, looking genuinely sad. "I know. Your Senator– Tala– He is a kind man. I think he pities me, actually."

"Look, Senator, I am Adanei, but not Zyrisian. He's not my Senator," Araminta pointed out, somewhat bitterly. "It's been that way for a long time. I'm not the best person to talk to about this."

But Chuchi didn't look discouraged. "What is it they say? As long as the moons... glow your skin, Lunae sees you," she said, albeit a bit unsurely.

Araminta furrowed her brows. "Yes. It doesn't translate well," she said, slowly. "But you knew that?" she added, looking curiously at the Pantoran who was more aware of Zyrisian culture than was normal.

Chuchi gave her a small smile. "I was voted Senator because my pitch was peace with Zyris. Before the war, of course." Araminta nodded, watching her intently. Chuchi glanced over shoulder where Cho's body was being taken into the gunship.

"Chairman Cho was more... traditional," Chuchi said, cautiously. "But there are many that feel the conflict should end after so long. That Pantorans and Adanei should be united."

Araminta resisted the urge to reach up to her mother's pendant. Anakin had made her painfully aware of it that day. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, quietly, looking evenly at the Senator, who stood almost the same height as her.

Chuchi swallowed thickly, looking hesitant about whatever she was going to say. "When the time comes, I would like your help," she said. Araminta pulled back, tail and ears going limp at the shock of the request. Chuchi looked alarmed by her reaction, rushing to explain her reasoning, "Senator Amidala speaks highly of you and I believe you have a unique but personal viewpoint on the conflict."

"Okay." Araminta leaned back, and she was surprised by herself at how easily she said, "You let me know."

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

[ 2023 ] as of this chapter, previous chapters in act 1 have been edited to comply with new plots and timeline adjustments

well this episode was hard to write for because obikin are like not the centre of it at all and it read very script-like and i struggled to write around it tbfh. it's also insanely political and with the adanei stuff too- the word count went whoosh (almost 10k jfc) even though i feel like nothing happened at the same time. there;s a part in the middle that makes me wanna shoot myself in the foot

i just committed to writing it all the way through in the end because araminta x chuchi is important for future but yeah (also the way i ship them i'm so(not) sorry)

 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

i know that the species politics is very heavy handed here but meh to subtlety. act 2 is all about araminta questioning and finding a place to belong and purpose and such, which includes her original home. act 3 is where everything hurts

also some of my comments are being deleted somehow? like i get notifications on my phone home screen and then go to respond but they're just gone. so thank you to everyone who's reading along and enjoying the story, even if i haven't responded, and to the person who asked if i had considered ao3, i have! i just know that ocs aren't very popular over there so hold off from cross posting

thank you to everyone who supports this book, it's in a number of "favourites" reading lists which i appreciate so, so much <3 next two chapters/arc coming soon!