When I woke up, I had no idea where I was for a horrible moment.

My eyes darted around, taking in unfamiliar surroundings. No cell, no cage... just a normal room with a few things in it. What was going on?

"My master thought it best to take you to my room," a voice suddenly said.

I whipped my head around to see him. The young Jedi who had first seen me on the battlefield defending my master's palace. His blue eyes met mine as I stared at him.

As I blinked at him, still processing, I suddenly realized I was almost naked. My strong body was on full display under the thin blankets.

As if reading my mind, he quickly said, "Don't worry, I didn't see anything when I took your clothes off." He gave me a small, reassuring smile.

His face grew more serious as he continued, "Obi-Wan had a doctor do a better job on your chest. A few strokes of a lightsaber through the chest... it was a moment you shouldn't have been with us."

I gulped, my hand instinctively moving to my chest. What had happened to me? And why did this Jedi seem so... concerned?

"My name is Anakin," the young man said and sat down at the edge of the bed. His weight made the mattress dip slightly, and I felt a sudden urge to scoot away.

"I'm...Nyx," I said slowly, tasting the name on my tongue. I wasn't sure if I should speak or not, but when Anakin smiled and offered his hand, I found myself reaching out to shake it. His grip was warm and firm.

"It's nice to meet you, Nyx," he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "Sorry about my master, he didn't really mean to stab you in the chest." He chuckled, as if lightsaber wounds were an everyday occurrence.

"Oh, and you might want to meet him," Anakin added, standing up. "Stay here, I'll go get him."

Before I could protest, he was gone, leaving me alone in the room again. I pulled the blankets tighter around me, suddenly feeling exposed. Who was this master he spoke of? And why did I have a sinking feeling in my stomach?

The silence in the room was deafening as I waited, my mind racing with questions. What had happened on that battlefield? And more importantly, what was going to happen to me now?

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

A few hours later, Anakin returned with the auburn-haired Jedi Master I had seen in the battle - the one who had killed me.

I bared my fangs at him, a low growl building in my throat.

"Woah, hey, easy," he said, spreading his hands to show they were empty. "I'm not here to hurt you."

Anakin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, an amused smile playing on his lips.

"Damn, Master," he teased, "this is the first time I've ever seen someone afraid of you."

The man - Obi-Wan - shot Anakin a withering glare. "I almost killed her, so I get it," he muttered. He turned back to me, his expression softening. "Hey there, I'm Obi-Wan. What's your name?"

"I'm Nyx," I said coolly, my eyes never leaving his face. I searched for any sign of the ruthless warrior who had struck me down, but all I saw was a man who looked... tired. And maybe a little guilty.

He smiled and nodded, "It's nice to meet you, Nyx. Would you mind if one of us visits you when you feel better?"

I shook my head, surprised by my own willingness to agree.

His smile widened, "Good, then we'll let you sleep and maybe go out and get some food for you. How does that sound?"

I nodded, my stomach rumbling at the mention of food.

Obi-Wan put his hands on his hips, looking pleased. "See, it's not that bad here. Don't worry, we won't bother you."

Then he turned and left the room with Anakin, leaving me alone once again.

I snuggled into the bed, the softness of the mattress a stark contrast to the hard floors I was used to. Despite my confusion and lingering suspicion, exhaustion soon took over. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what this new chapter would bring.

Would my life with the Jedi be different from what I'd known before? Or was this just another form of captivity, dressed up in kindness and soft beds?

These thoughts swirled in my mind as sleep finally claimed me, pulling me into a deep, dreamless slumber.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Screams filled the air.

I looked around and saw it was the Jedi, the Sith, they all fell beneath my claws. I stared in horror as blood began to spill on silver serrated claws.

"That's who you should be, Nyx, a killer, a murderer," a deep, soft voice said, and I looked around in panic, but all I could see was myself staring back at me.

White scales shimmered and tears gathered at the edges of the beast's eyes, "It really is you, isn't it, but I guess there's nothing you can do about it, we're built to be killers," the beast drew its wings to its chest and looked down at its own claws before shaking its head, "No, I refuse to believe that," it groaned.

"Come on, Nyx, wake up," it said then, staring directly at me.

"Wake up." 

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

I jolted awake, my heart pounding in my chest. The remnants of the nightmare clung to me like a cold sweat, the images of blood and carnage still vivid in my mind.

"Wake up, Nyx," a soft voice called, pulling me fully into consciousness.

I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. Anakin was there, his hand hovering near my shoulder as if unsure whether to touch me or not.

"You were thrashing about," he explained, concern etched on his face. "Bad dream?"

I nodded, unable to find my voice. The memory of my dream self - that white-scaled beast with tears in its eyes - haunted me. Was that really who I was meant to be?

"Do you want to talk about it?" Anakin asked gently.

I shook my head, drawing the blankets tighter around myself. How could I explain the horror of seeing myself as a killer, a murderer? How could I tell him about the voice that insisted it was my destiny?

Anakin seemed to sense my distress. "It's okay," he said softly. "Dreams pass in time. You're safe here."

But as I looked at him, I couldn't help but wonder: was I really safe? Or was I just as dangerous to them as I had been to everyone else?

"Can I get some water?" I asked him gently.

Anakin nodded, his eyes softening with concern. He stood up and went to the bathroom built into this room.

While he was gone, I stared down at my hands. Flashes of blood appeared every now and then, making my stomach churn. Was I losing my mind?

Anakin returned, and I forced myself to look up. I gave him a small smile as I took the glass from him and drank. The cool water soothed my parched throat.

As soon as the glass was empty, I thanked him and sighed.

"You know," Anakin said, his blue eyes fixed on me, "you can talk to me and Obi-Wan anytime you want. Hell, you can even talk to Rex."

I looked at him, trying to keep my face neutral. "Thanks, but I'm fine. The dream wasn't something you guys would want to hear about."

Anakin chuckled and finally put his hands on my shoulders. I stared into his eyes, surprised by the sudden contact.

"Nyx, my friend," he said slowly, his voice filled with warmth, "we Jedi care for others, but I do more. And I know my master will want to hear about it." He paused, his gaze intense. "Come on, when you're ready, you can tell us, okay?"

I looked at Anakin, surprised by his gentle persistence. His hands on my shoulders felt warm, grounding me in the present and helping to chase away the last wisps of my nightmare.

"Thanks," I said softly, managing a small smile. "But I'm fine. The dream wasn't something you guys would want to hear about."

Anakin chuckled, his blue eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made me want to look away. But I couldn't.

"Nyx, my friend," he said slowly, his voice filled with a warmth I wasn't used to, "we Jedi care for others, but I do more. And I know my master will want to hear about it too." He paused, giving my shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Come on, when you're ready, you can tell us, okay?"

I hesitated, torn between the desire to open up and the fear of what they might think if they knew the truth. Could I really trust them? Could they possibly understand the conflict raging inside me?

"I... I'll think about it," I finally said, not wanting to commit but also not wanting to push away this unexpected kindness.

Anakin nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. "That's all I ask," he said, finally releasing my shoulders. "Now, how about some breakfast? I bet you're hungry after all that sleep."

As he stood up to fetch some food, I found myself wondering: was this what it felt like to have friends? To have people who cared? It was a foreign feeling, but not an unpleasant one.

I stood up out of the bed, my legs a bit shaky after so much rest. Anakin, ever the gentleman, turned away to give me some privacy.

With a snap of my fingers, my clothes changed in an instant. Magic coursed through me, transforming my attire into something... beautiful. A small dress hugged my figure perfectly, accentuating curves I didn't even know I had. Over it, I conjured a jacket that shimmered red, adorned with sparkling rubies.

"You can look," I said shyly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Anakin turned around, his eyes widening as he took in my transformation. He blinked rapidly, as if not quite believing what he was seeing.

"Okay, just how fast are you?" he asked with a chuckle, his blue eyes twinkling with admiration and curiosity.

I rolled my eyes gently, a small smile playing on my lips. "I have stronger magic than you think," I replied, feeling a flutter of pride at his reaction.

As Anakin continued to stare, I couldn't help but wonder: was this the first time someone had looked at me with something other than fear or scientific curiosity? And why did his gaze make me feel so... different?

"Let's go before Obi-Wan begins to wonder where I am," Anakin said, shaking off his stare. He offered me his arm, and I took it, feeling a strange warmth at the gesture.

We walked out of the room and through the temple's hallways. A few clones stood at attention, and I could feel their gazes following us as we made our way to the main hall. I hung back a bit in the shadows as Anakin went inside to get some food for us.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan appeared with a Togruta girl I hadn't seen before. "Oh, Nyx, is that you?" Obi-Wan said, sounding surprised.

I smiled and bowed my head, my black hair falling into my eyes. "My goodness, you are certainly not what I thought," he said with a chuckle.

The Togruta girl cocked her head. "Master, who is this?" she asked curiously.

I lifted my eyes, red meeting gentle blue. The girl started, taken aback. "Your... your eyes," she trailed off, clearly shocked.

I sighed, a familiar heaviness settling in my chest. "That's what you get when you're made in a lab," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel their eyes on me, filled with curiosity and perhaps a hint of pity. Would they see me differently now? Would they treat me like a freak, like so many others had before?

As I stood there, caught between the desire to run and the need to stay, I couldn't help but wonder: would I ever truly fit in anywhere?

Obi-Wan smiled warmly, gesturing towards the Togruta. "This is Ahsoka Tano, Anakin's padawan," he explained. Then, his brow furrowed slightly. "Where is Anakin, anyway? I thought he was going to be with you."

I nodded, glancing towards the main hall. "Yeah, he's inside getting some food for us," I said, my voice low. "I don't want to show myself to the clones just yet."

As if on cue, a group of clones walked past us. I ducked my head down, letting my dark hair fall like a curtain over my face. Their whispers reached my ears, no doubt discussing the strange new girl with the Jedi.

Ahsoka's eyes darted between me and the passing clones, a mix of curiosity and concern on her face. "Why are you hiding?" she asked, her voice gentle.

I lifted my gaze to meet hers, seeing my reflection in her blue eyes - a girl with fiery red irises, looking lost and out of place. "It's... complicated," I murmured.

Obi-Wan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Nyx. You're safe here. Take all the time you need to adjust."

As I stood there, caught between the shadows and the light, I couldn't help but wonder: could I ever truly belong in this world of Jedi and clones? Or would I always be the outsider, the girl from the lab?

Just then, Anakin emerged from the main hall, his arms full of food. His eyes lit up when he saw us all together. "Hey, looks like everyone's getting acquainted!" he called out cheerfully.

We all chuckled, the tension easing a bit. Ahsoka stepped forward, taking a few bags of food from her master's overloaded arms.

"We sure are," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You and Master Obi-Wan keep finding strange beings." Then, she turned to me with a warm smile that made me feel oddly... accepted. "The best kind, of course."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at her words. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a place here after all.

Anakin grinned, looking between us all. "Well, shall we eat? I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

As we moved to find a quiet spot to enjoy our meal, I couldn't help but steal glances at my new companions. Obi-Wan, with his kind eyes and gentle demeanor. Anakin, whose presence seemed to fill any room he was in. And Ahsoka, who had accepted me without hesitation.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, I had found somewhere I could belong.

But as we settled down to eat, a nagging thought tugged at the back of my mind: how long would this peace last? And what would happen when they discovered the full extent of what I was capable of?