[High Valley in Southern Cordillera]

Obi-Wan winced as the decimals once again rose higher between his teacher and the zoologist. There had been a heated argument going on for hours between both men over what to do now that K'tay had joined them. Pohl was adamant that they all continue on to the Tanaken camp. Jinn was just as adamant---if not as loud---that the K'tlyan be allowed to take Nicholas with them to their clan. Neither seemed willing to compromise.

"You can't expect K'tay to willingly walk into your hive, Director. Nor, I think, will Nicholas find K'tlysa there," Qui-Gon declared for the upteenth time.

"Nicholas!" Pohl sneered. "Enough! You must think me out of my mind to believe such a thing as migrating souls, bloodsucking people, and other universes! Na! Na--you Jedi are naught separating me from Ayar---and neither is K'tay!"

"I will do whatever I must to see Nicholas healed whether you believe in him or not. And right now, his best hope are the Kievet. Now, unless *you* can lead me to a village within the next couple of days.."

Listening from his curled up position against his R'ket, K'tay made an interrupting noise. He smiled nervously as the pair of dour faces turned to him.

After expressing his vow to help deBrabant's plight, the K'tlyan had made good on his word by immediately taking K'ishti's place, the starry-eyed Singer having first given his warm cloak to his lacking brother Singer. Now he meekly let Nicholas feed off of him as he sat listening to the argument in his homespun attire of woven tunics and leggings--both garments so baggy they made the Jedi's attire look almost confining. Heavily embroided cuffs on the wrists and ankles kept his hands and the furred boots from being enveloped. The left side done all in eight-colored stripes, the left side consisting of interconnecting triangles---again in the eight colors. Wrapped around his waist, a textile belt was cinched and supporting a knife sheath. Everything was tied, which made Obi-Wan wonder if his race had ever conceived of the idea of buttons or snaps. About his neck was a triangular piece of fur that covered his shoulders and most of his chest. Upon its plush white surface a large, flat pouch had rested ---also richly embroided in the two geometric designs---as well as a striped scarf held in place by the wood and stone ring. In order to feed Nicholas, K'tay had removed the first two articles and tugged the scarf looser so that Nicholas could better access to his neck. Now he let out a loud chirp to get Jinn and Pohl's attention.

"Apologies, Jedi Jinn, but need more than two days to travel where need. Is long way and complicated to keep free of Rek." The purple eyes glanced briefly towards the Anarans, leaving no doubt just who he was referring to.

"How long?" Jinn asked. If they were to make it back by the Council's deadline, they had little time left to waste on hiking about the region.

"Many days of Enkati's journey," K'tay responded sadly as he sensed the Jedi's increasing distress. "Also is this... Take time for K'tlyan't to make Nicholas whole. Take time for Nicholas strong enough for climb up mountain to meet K'tlysa. Naught thing to rush what seek, Jedi R'ket."

"Wonderful," Obi-Wan exhaled. "Master, we don't have time for all that. The Council's decree..."

"Is less important than de Brabant's life, Padawan." Jinn sighed, seeking his center. They *were* running out of time, though he had defied the Council before and would again if it came down to just a matter of days between Nick's life and death. If they could save the Earther then the Council could just stuff their timetables! The worst they could do would be to recall the transport--

The transport! Qui-Gon mentally thanked the Force for showing its student the obvious.

"Singer, if you could fly as a bird would you know how to fly directly to your closest village."

K'tay blinked. "Fly? You mean as if winged like K'aya? Na Kievet can do this."

"Master--?" Obi-Wan began to object, seeing where his teacher was going. Jinn shushed him with a short flick of his hand.

"But if you did?" he persisted. "Would you know where to fly to?"

Confused, K'tay nodded his affirmation. "Aye, *if* had wings could do this. Mieket picture teach all of Ava." The little native watched the long-haired being break into a confident smile, not sure what to think.

"Then I'll get you those wings!"

Kenobi tried again---*someone* had to be the voice of reason in their partnership. "Master, the Council did not authorize--" {{ Sith---the Council had specifically *forbidden*!... }}

"The Council is not aware of the dynamics of our situation, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon smoothly explained. We will do what we must to render our friend aid." He ignored his padawan's groan as he flipped open his comm link. "Scout Leader to Bantha.."

The comm link static gave way to the male voice of the Repulbic transport captain, "Bantha is still here, Scout Leader. Ready to come back?"

"Not exactly, Bantha. The troop needs a quick scene change. Can you oblige us?"

"A scene change?" Obi-Wan fancied he could hear the man nervously licking his lips, "Is that wi--I mean..uhm...acknowledged, Scout Leader. Where's the troop?"

"Directly north of the stable," the Jedi Master informed him, eyeing the steep mountain sides, "but in need of a larger playground at the moment. Will contact again when ready." He clicked off the device and pocketed it again.

"I knew it!" Pohl erupted. "I *knew* you had something planned! Just wait until we were out in the middle of nawhere and then spirit Ayar away! So much for Jedi and their touted honor!"

"Relax, Doctor," Qui-Gon said, once again wrapped tightly in his Jedi serenity. The Force had shown him the way---all they had to do was follow it. "I have no intention of leaving your planet as of yet. Besides, if we *did* have the extra time to travel via your method to this Etwan village, I sincerely doubt that the Singer's would be willing to let you tag along. By flying in our vehicle, you will be unable to relate to your fellows just where they are hidden." He turned to smile at K'tay, who was coaxing a satiated Nicholas to rest against the belly of the Singer's animal. Lulled by the combination of warmth, a satisfied stomach, and ths oddly reassuring sound of the R'ket's heartbeat, Nicholas was quick to fall asleep. "That would be allowed?

"Allowed?" K'tay echoed muzzily--- his fingers fumbling with the opening of his chest pouch as he struggled to stay awake himself after having lost so much energy. Pulling out a small bundle of cloth he unwrapped it to reveal a handful of reddish leaves. "Pakha?" Selecting two small ones, he offered one to K'ishti---who politely accepted---, popped one in his mouth, then carefully rewrapped the bundle and stowed it away as he chewed. The bag was soon traded for the slender form of his flute. As he began to play a slow tune, the large pupils of his eyes gradually disappearing as the colors shifted to obliterate them. A quick glance towards K'ishti showed the same phenomenon happening to him as well. Obi-Wan turned to his Master to confirm what he was sensing; Jinn nodded in affirmation: the Living Force was flowing around the furred natives while the R'ket tensed as if on extra alert for attacks.

Curious, Obi-Wan picked up one of the red leaves, smelling it. It's scent reminded him a little of that of the 'milk' that Nick found so addictive. However, the plant material seeme innocuous enough---he sensed no hallucinegetic properties in it. It did make the skin on his fingers tingle a little though, so he hastily put it back, absently raising the affected area to his mouth to suck on it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Matek spoke up an instant before Kenobi's lips and finger met.

"Huh?----Aah! It's Hot!" The intense heat shot from his lips and rapdidly spread over his skin making the unwary padawan appear to blush with embarrassment as he frantically rubbed snow over his lips to quell the chemical burn. Coming abruptly out of his meditative state, K'tay hastily took up one of the blue leaves, crushed it with his teeth, and forced it into the apprentice's mouth before he could object. Almost immediately Obi-Wan's eyes lost their pained look as the fire in his mouth cooled. He saw the look of amused disapproval his Master gave him, heard the laughter of the Anarans, and quickly cast his eyes downward, shamed for his childish stupidity.

"Sorry, Master."

"It is not I you need to apologize to, Padawan." Qui-Gon reproved him.

Kenobi nodded, repeating his apology to the Kievet.

K'tay shook his head. "Be at peace, K'nobi; apology accepted. K'tay also learned this way the difference between the Avenati and Ivanti...though naught affect so strongly as do others." He paused remembering a past time with his teacher before Pohl had come to change their lives forever.

"Etwan't will naught like this bringing of the Yellowed Ones amidst the young," K'tay said at last, his eyes already reverted back to normal, but tinged with exhaustion. "Naught like the Anarek...but allow if not allowed knowing of where in Ava is. And if na hurt come to the Clan."

"I promise you on my word as a Jedi that he will not learn the location of your people from us."

"Then," K'tay grinned shyly at the Jedi Master before yawning mightily, "is allowed, Jedi Jinn." Letting his eyes close, he slumped back against the R'ket's belly, folding into af fetal position next to Nicholas. On the other side of the giant goat, K'ishti followed suit---and all three Kievet were asleep.

The brown eyes of the R'ket regarded the Jedi and Anarans as if daring them to challenge his protection of the smaller beings. Nobody did.

"So..." Obi-Wan coughed. "I take it we camp here?

Matek shrugged, going to a pack quad in order to set up the sleeping bags.

---------------------------------o----------------------------------------

Nicholas awoke on a hard floor surface, his eyes seeing nothing more than a swirling grey. Feeling a little panicked, he hastily rose up onto his knees and was gratified to see that the grey was merely a thick mist clinging to the cobblestoned floor. His relief, however, was fleeting as he realized he didn't know where he was...

Stone walls with arched openings, their aged surface illuminated by the flickering flames from tapered candles. Not a room, though---a tunnel. The Parisian catacombs? That wasn't possible....was it?

Confused, Nick ran his hand through his hair, further rumpling it; realized it felt different. Different..hell---it felt...normal! He looked with amazement at his bare hand, noticed that his clothing was the same as it had been back during that first year of 1228 when LaCroix had brought him over, felt his face with its unshaven chin.

Felt his heart beat faster as his fingers touched perfectly normal *fixed* eyeteeth.

Felt his heart start to positively beat out of his chest as he realized what *that* meant.

{{ I'm human again? Time travel? But why am I dressed like this? I wasn't human when I first ventured down the catacombs, and yet here I am. What's going on? }}

A series of deep, angry growls echoed from further down the tunnel, the sound making the hair's on Nick's nape stand on end. Either there was a lion down here with him, or...

LaCroix?

Nick hesitated, both wanting and not wanting to see his vampiric father.

Deciding retreat might be the wisest course to take in either scenario of his imagination---at least until he could get his thoughts to stop spinning, Nick turned and as quietly as he could began to grope his way in the opposite direction of the noises.

---------------------------------o----------------------------------------

Obi-Wan was awakened during the night by the sound of growling. As the 'keeper' of the Kievet his sleeping bag had been positioned closest to that of the R'ket. Thinking at first that it was the quadruped that was making the noise, he was surprised to discover that it was actually Nick snarling in his sleep, the hue of his eyes golden where they showed through not-quite-closed lids.

"Nick?"

Cuddled against the browner form---which Kenobi noticed was now undeniably smaller and becoming more obviously two-toned as the back hairs darkened while the front lightened---, the also wide-awake K'tay softly admonished the padawan.

"Sha."

Glancing back at his blissfully asleep companions, Kenobi whispered back with a slightly annoyed air, "Pardon me?" No reason for *everyone* besides the lowly apprentice to lose their sleep, he thought sarcastically.

"Donah wake him...he is on spirit journey."

Obi-Wan mulled that over. "You mean he's dreaming?" he gestured Nick.

"Aye."

"Sounds like a bad one."

"Is always a bad jouney when being is in conflict. Impossible to rest so."

"So I've noticed. Not terribly easy for those around the 'conflicted' one, either," Obi-wan groused the words in complaint. But his tone was heavy with amusement. This was still better than the time he had had to share a bed with the Ruesaln King's young son while Qui-Gon searched for the kidnapped father. The unruly brat had kept him awake all night with his 'unconscious' kicks and jabs and faked snoring. Besides, now might be a good time to learn about the Kievet without inciting unwanted commentary from Dr. Anders.

K'tay's eyes lit with mirth. "Is so. Misery canna abide its own company in solitude---and so must share it with others."

Propping himself up on his elbows, Kenobi scooted himself closer to the pair, the R'ket aknowledging his maneuver with only a tolerant grunt. Seeing that his presence was not going to be challenged by the creature, Obi-Wan regarded the K'tlyan. "Well, since we seem bound to share Nick's misery tonight," he whispered amiably, "why not share more? Like why are you out here so close to your enemy's camp? I'd have thought your people would leave the Anarans a wide berth."

"It *is* wiser to head the other direction when see Vrek track in snow. But K'tlyan must journey to valleys, so...we go."

"Why must you journey? Is there something you can only obtain outside your clans? Something your people need? Or do you leave to fight the Anarans?"

K'tay shook his head in emphatic denial at that. "Na. Fight is for R'ket---na Kievet."

"But you threw that stone at Pohl!" Obi-Wan felt obliged to point out.

"Na at Pohl---na intend hurt Pohl." A kien's first lesson with a sling was how *not* to aim at any living thing regardless of the reason! K'yavanti had not made them to be of the Rek. It was Unayarek who had created those early into the start of Creation with his soft lies of poison into the ears of the unwary. If anyone knew of this firsthand, it was certainly his own Mieket who had almost given in to the Destroyer and still felt its call. Mieket had made sure his kien understood that lesson well---aye, even if the teacher was tempted to leave it himself.

"His quad then---though it would have hardly made a difference if the beast had fallen over the cliff and taken Pohl with him."

K'tay looked stricken at that. "Was mistake. Aimed for what hit, but did na think quad would frighten so easy as to become unbalanced. Forget na like R'ket are Anaran Companions. Is na purpose of K'yavanti for K'tlyan to take life away."

"But why? If you did, maybe the Anarans would leave you alone---and *they* certainly have no problem with 'taking life away' as you put it. Hiding is fine for a while, but eventually you'll be found if you stay still while your enemy continues to search."

"So Mieket say to Etwan't and K'tlyan't---fight like R'ket and na just be Yampa." A self-deprecating smirk twitched at K'tay's mouth, the expression almost covered by his moustache. Apologies, Obiwan na understand words."

"I think I got the gist of what you mean," Kenobi smiled back, "and I take it this Etwan't and K'tlyan't don't agree with Mieket?"

"Na. The Kwi-Etwan't en Ysh is of Ysh, but the Fen-Etwan't is na---is of Flah."

"Come again?"

"Apologies. The First Eldest of Ysh Clan was made by Ysh Valley, but the Second Eldest...Lelana (she of no fear) was of Flah Clan."

"But I thought Flah Clan doesn't exist anymore."

"Aye. Mieket--that is, my teacher--- helped whom could escape to Ysh. Lelana was among."

"And that's bad how?"

"Lelana never like Mieket."

"Even though he saved her life?!"

"Even so. Is long story. Quickly?---Lelana is...strong in what thinks is right. To her, Mieket is often na right. Too much to change, is Mieket to Lelana. Too tainted. Yet Lelana is too. Lelana is like stone. Mieket is like water. One diverts; the other wears down." The little Singer grinned ruefully. "They...have difficulty seeing the other's way."

"Stubborn, huh?" Obi-Wan clucked thinking of his own differences of opinion with Qui-Gon. Jinn could have been on the Council by now if he would just quit being so... "Sounds like my Master...actually, that defines all the masters and a good portion of the Council." His eyes sparkled with humor even as he kept a serene facade. The K'tlyan was not fooled one whit, his eyes echoing the padawan's hilarity---but he was not as successful in keeping the verbal expression in check.

K'tay's quiet giggle was met with another light growl emanating from Nicholas.

"Aren't you going to ease his nightmare..um..journey..or something?" Obi-Wan asked in concern.

"Naught yet. Some journeys must be walked, Obiwan K'nobi. Sometimes, the Rek in our lives must be seen and faced instead of fleeing from them."