Dathomir: 18 BBY
Location N/A
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa followed Ketei a good distance away from the cave. They stayed in the open, though, wary of what creatures might wait in the overgrowth. Ketei faced Nakoa at last. He sat down and began to tend to his leg wound. He said nothing, letting her look him over.

    "You look...older than I expected," Ketei said at last. "Though I suppose you have always been a little boy in my mind."

    He finished with his leg and straightened. Nakoa drew a deep breath and began his explanation. "I'm sorry, Ketei. When I found her, she thought I was an illusion. It was the only thing I could think of in the moment. When we got back to the ship...I just hoped it would help her realize I was really there. I know it's not something I should've decided in the moment, but I felt like I had to. Besides," he faltered for a moment.

    "It was going to happen eventually. I've been thinking about what I want for my life. The Clan means a lot to me and so do you, but I can't live by the Creed anymore. I don't believe in it the way you do. I'm sorry." Nakoa fell silent.

    "I know. Our way of life isn't for everyone. I'm proud that you can choose your own path, even though I'm sad it will lead you away from me."

    Nakoa shook his head. "It won't lead me away from you. You're like my mother. No Creed will keep me from you."

    Ketei hesitated, then hugged him. "I am glad to hear that. You will come visit me, then?"

    Nakoa nodded. "You should extend that invitation to Galaar too. I know he devoutly follows the Creed, but he's still your friend." He laughed after a moment. "And I'm not giving my armor or weapons back."

    Ketei let go of him with a chuckle. "I wouldn't ask you to give them back. You're still a Mandalorian. I'm not so blind a follower to not acknowledge that."

    "Thank you."

    "Go check on Lesia. We'll talk more later." Ketei waved him off. Nakoa gave her a sideways smile and headed back towards the cave.

Dathomir: 18 BBY
Nightsister Cave
Lesia Mirri

    Memories filled her dreams, both good and bad. She embraced them all, letting them run their course. Les didn't fight them. She felt stronger, as though something were aiding her. Her anger was fading. Her pain was still there, but duller than before.

    She blinked her eyes open, expecting to see the walls of her cabin. Instead, red stone and green fire met her gaze. Les sat up carefully. Manon knelt nearby. She lifted her head, hearing Les.

    "Are you whole?" Manon asked.

    "I feel better, if that's what you mean."

    Manon grinned and hugged her tightly. "I performed a healing ritual on you to heal your physical and mental health."

    "So that's why I felt stronger. I feel...restored." Les smiled. "I feel like myself."

    "I'm glad. I wish I could've helped sooner."

    "You did what you could. I'm grateful." Les glanced around, biting her lip. "Where's Nakoa?"

    "Outside. He was talking to Ketei, I think." Les began to stand. Manon wrapped an arm around her and helped her up. "Just take it easy for at least a little while."

    "I will," Les promised.

    She stepped out of the cave and cast her senses out. He was nearby. Les spied Oni standing beside the Mythos. I'll talk to her later, she decided. Les perked up as Nakoa appeared up ahead.

    Emotion overcame her and she ran to him. Nakoa's eyes widened in surprise and he caught her as she jumped at him. She wrapped her legs around his and kissed him until they were both breathless. Nakoa set her down.

    "You're feeling better, I take it?" He rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks still pink.

    "I am. I...thank you for coming after me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth sooner."

    "I understand why you didn't."

    She smiled, then frowned. "Manon said you spoke with Ketei?"

    He nodded. "I explained what happened to her."

    "So now what? You can't go back to the covert."

    "I don't need to." Nakoa took one of her hands. "Feton told me he has no desire to rebuild Clan Ralius and that I should claim it if I want it. I've been thinking about that and about us. There are lots of people in the galaxy who have been in our shoes. Jedi survivors, orphans, refugees..."

    "And?" Les prompted.

    "I can't build an official Clan now, when the Empire is in power, but I can form one similar to Ketei's. I want to take Clan Ralius' territory and rebuild."

    "Can you do that?"

    "The territory is unclaimed and just as it was when the attack happened. I can speak with the leader of House Kryze. If Bo Katan agrees, I can claim the territory again."

    "And build a Clan for refugees like us," Les murmured.

    "Les." She lifted her gaze to his. "I want you to build this Clan with me."

    "But I'm not a Mandalorian."

    "That doesn't matter. Do you think everyone who will come to us will be Mandalorians?" She shook her head. "I'm not going to make them live by the Mandalorian Creed," Nakoa said with a grin. "But the Code will be important to remember."

    "I suppose that's fair, seeing as it will be on Mandalorian ground."

    "So?" Nakoa watched her hopefully.

    She tilted her head with a smirk. "Can I have a jetpack?"

    "You can borrow mine."

    "Then yes, I would love to." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

    Nakoa hugged her tightly. "I love you," he whispered.

    She blinked, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "I love you too." Finally, he drew away. Les smiled at him and started towards the Mythos. She drew in a deep breath. Oni was still standing there.

    "I'm glad you're all right," Oni said as she approached.

    "Thank you for coming for me."

    Oni shrugged. "I had to. After everything, it was the only thing I could do to start making things right." She released a sigh. "I'm sorry for everything. I treated you horribly and got in the way of things between you and Nakoa."

    "I accept your apology. But," Les knit her brows. "What made you change your mind?"

    "Nakoa called me out. It made me angry at first, but I thought it over and realized he was right. I was being selfish and I couldn't let go of my feelings for him. I still haven't, entirely. I won't get in your way, though."

    "You're still human, Oni. You still have feelings, even if they aren't returned. It's all right to feel that way."

    "You sound a bit like Galaar," Oni huffed. "Still, I'm glad you're empathetic."

    Les bit her lip, then spoke again. "Nakoa wants to build a new Clan. You could help us."

    Oni thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Maybe someday, but not now. I want you two to sort things out and I need to sort myself out before anything like that. Besides, Ketei will need my help, with Nakoa and Galaar leaving." She perked up a bit. "Although, you might suggest tracking down Galaar. He might want to help."

    "I'll keep that in mind." Les grinned at her and headed back.

Dathomir: 18 BBY
Location N/A
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa waited for Les to rejoin him, then followed her in the cave. Manon was returning a few items to their proper places. She straightened, seeing them approach. "Will you be leaving soon?" She asked.

    Nakoa nodded. "I'll have to take Ketei and Oni back to Corellia. You too, I assume?"

    Manon nodded. "The Shrouded Claw is still there. I'm not leaving my ship for the Empire to scrap."

    "What will you do afterwards?" Les asked.

    Manon shrugged. "I'll do what I did before, I suppose. Travel the galaxy and take bounties."

    Les glanced at him questioningly. He nodded. "You could come with us. We're going to build a Clan of our own."

    The Witch tapped one of her taloned fingers on her chin. "All right. It will be better than living on my own."

    Les grinned and hugged her briefly. She glanced between the three of them, then laughed. "So far, our Clan has a Mandalorian, a Nightsister, and an ex Jedi. Imagine who else might join. Oni suggested finding Galaar."

    Nakoa nodded. "I already thought of that. I want to ask Drystan and Tilla as well. They're two kids Oni and I found on Batuu. They've been struggling to adjust to the Creed, so maybe they'll want to."

    "Does this Clan have a name?" Manon asked.

    "Not yet," he admitted. "Most Clans use their leader's last name, but I don't want a Clan named after me."

    "We could name it after Lesia?" Manon suggested.

    Les grimaced. "No thanks. I'd rather not be immortalized in history."

    "You're a founder. You will be anyway."

    Les stuck her tongue out. "Well, if we're going to be a Clan of survivors, maybe we could call it something like that. How do you say survivor in Mando'a?" She asked.

    "Cuyan," Nakoa replied.

    "Clan Cuyan," Manon said. "It's not awful."

    Les rolled her eyes. "I like it."

    "So do I." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a grin.

    "Now that that's settled." Manon lifted a crate of things and headed out of the cave. She started towards the Mythos.

    Les leaned her head against Nakoa's shoulder. He glanced at her, briefly concerned. She looked fine. In fact, she looked...content. Les met his gaze. "What?"

    "Nothing." He looked away.

    Les tilted his face back towards her. She brushed her lips across his. Nakoa smiled at her when she pulled away. For the first time, he felt like he knew his place. It was beside Lesia. It was at the head of their new Clan. It was with his friends and someday, his family. Les laced their fingers together and they began walking towards the ship.

    Nakoa turned his gaze towards the sky. It was nice to see it without his helmet for once. Still, it was odd to know that he had broken a code that he had lived by all his life. It was worth it, he thought. Broken codes are not as important as other things.

    They reached the ship. Manon, Oni, and Ketei were already on board. Les headed up the ramp and Nakoa followed her on. They prepared to take off to Corellia, and beyond that, their future.