(( Enjoy the insight to Ira’s past and daily life 
mood music: ships that pass in the night
ira lies in her bed, twisting and turning as a dream unfold …
She sees herself as 17 year olds, back in her home. Playing prank on the oldest sister Shi’dana, as she had put a small bag of flour under the training dummy’s vest. Shi’dana strike it and a small explosion of white flour puff into her face and she stand there for a second then…
Shi: “Iraaaa’dana !!”
A giggle escape Ira as she get chased around the house with the flour covered Shi after her, they pass the middle of the sisters twice, Isi’dana who shake her head with a amused look. Isi’dana then manage to grab Ira as both she and Shi carry Ira toward the little creek nearby all while Ira wiggling and trying to escape then they try to throw Ira into the shallow water only for them all to end in it and they look at each other before laughing for a moment as it turn into a splashing fight.
Their mother come out at the sounds of them and look at the daughters messing around as she place a hand on her hip, trying to give a stern face though end cracking into a grin.
Mother: “alright girls, go get dry before you catch a cold and dinner is ready soon.”
All the girls: “Yes mother”
They all head into the house dripping water on the floor as their father come out of the kitchen wearing a apron, he look at the sisters and give a little smirk.
Father: “Causing a scene again, snowflake?”
Ira reply in a innocent tone ‘no’ before getting overruled by her sisters. The father grins a little and send them of to get dry before returning into the kitchen. Each of the sisters go into their rooms and soon after come out dry and in new clothings and move to sit at the table while their father come out of the kitchen with the pot of stew. Their mother follow suit as she places the bowls and spoons then everyone sit down and begin to get their potions.
After the dinner with varies small talk Ira end in the kitchen to help with the dishes along with her father while her mother and sisters go outside to train again.
Father: “Snowflake you know the path you chosen means you one day have to be boring and stern.”
Ira give a small sigh and nods. “I know father, just as you taught me. Once i wear the mask and robe i have to be a smouldering fire, barely expressing myself even among family, being looked down on from hiding myself.All so i may become one with the dance of fire during a fight”
Her father reached over and ruffle her hair as he did when she was younger while giving a gentle smile as he replies: “It will be boring and hard for one who have the fire of life within but it exactly because of that i fully believe in you, to bring the dance of fire to life when required …yours will be beautiful to behold”
The next morning at early sunrise the family wake up, the sisters go about preparing for the new day though Ira grab pillows from each their room and move to the bathroom then start to throw pillows at her two sisters with a giggle. Shi’dana give a light groan as she get hit while brushing her hair.
Shi’dana “Ira’dana you have too much energy!”
Isi’dana then decide to join in on the fun as she too throw pillow back at both her sisters and a pillow fight begin, Their mother open the door just as a pillow hit smack in her face then give a sigh even though she end joining for a small while as even more pillow fly around before finally laughing softly and hold a hand up.
Mother: “Alright girls, enough fun for this morning, you all got training routine to fol-”
Only to get interrupted as their father poke his head into the room and cut her off “Food first then training”
Mother: “You right, so clean up this mess then go food and no i do not accept the excuse Ira’dana started it”
Ira’dana grining reply: “Mean you have to help clean up”
Their mother give a smirk and reply no since Ira’dana started it and leave only for all the girls to let out in unison “Not fair !” which causes the sound of their father laughing in the little distance from the stair. The sisters quickly go about cleaning up and get ready before rushing down the stairs to the table and sit down as the family enjoy the food with small talks. It quickly fall into training talking between Shi’dana,Isi’drana and their mother around light weapon and Ira’dana end talking to their father for her training.
After the food the two sisters and the mother leave outside while Ira’dana help with the dishes before following her father outside. She see her two sisters kneeling in meditation beside each other before she does the same a little distance. Their parent join them as a entire hour passes by before they all start to do some light running and excises then finally they go to get the weapons, metal blades with dull edges. Ira two sisters get light weapon and face of with their mother and Ira get the twin vibroblade and face of with her father.
What was before a quiet time now is noisy as the sound of combat echo from the family sparing and training. Ira’s mother give advices and correct her sisters while her father correct her. This go on for two hours straight with no pauses before they finally allowed a break. Isi’drana fall flat on her rear catching her breathing before Ira’dana rushes over sit on her legs with the side to her. Isi’dana give a sigh but smile as she reply to it.
“Shi’dana is right, you have way to much energy after all the time you been training with that weapon and got used to it”
Ira’dana just give a little giggle before Isi take out some candy and throw it, saying ‘fetch’ and Ira end looking between her comfortable seat and the candy a couple of time then jump up and rushes over to the candy, muttering something about bribing but eat the candy greedy and happy as the rest of the family grin at the scene.
The break is short lasting before the sisters get back to even more training, this time in the echani art and hand to hand combat. Through most the day this continue with hours of training and short break, only one larger break for food before they resume. It only toward early evening they stop and start to go about the duty in the house.
Ira’dana is cleaning the kitchen and living room, Isi’dana is cleaning other rooms and Shi’dana is helping their mother in the town. After some time Shi’dana and their mother return with bags and Shi go outside for own brief training.
A typical day for Ira’dana like any with the same strict rutine spiced her own pranking nature amomg her family. Usual only stopped in the event they get visitors in which case everyone act proper with conduct and subtle behaviour.
Toward the late evening in the kitchen with her father as she help cut vegetables her mother barge into the kitchen looking annoyed. “Darling, the outsiders is here again asking for Ira…”
Her father give a sigh as he look upon his family gathered around him then tell them to follow their mother before walking toward the hatch to the basement. Ira and her sisters get moved to the second floor with a small window. Outside a group of four people stand. A moment later her father step outside the door and walk up to the group, dressed in the robe and mask with the flame symbol and carrying his ritual brand.
her sisters give a frown and silent look between each other in surprise and confusion while her mother just sigh and mumble something about no more hiding it but Ira watches with intense curiosity, this was the first time she seen her father being outside the house wearing the outfit and ritual brand. How he softly walked up the group with confidence in his step to the group. While the family could not hear what was being said then the bodylanguage of the outsiders was like a open book, every moment signal increasing shift from polite to frustration and final hostility.
Two outsider draw vibroblades, another a blaster pistol as the third give a hand motion to the rest. Ira’s father grab his ritual brands as the blades start to turn red hot and line of flickering flames appear across the edges. The outsiders give a pause in surprise of the sight before Ira’s father start to swirl the twin vibroblade, leaving the illusion that a circle of fire spinning in the air then begin to move as he combine the attacks, deflection with the movement into the form of a fire dancer, making the fighting look like a graceful dance.
Ira’s eye open wide with admiration at seeing the full teaching unleashed even she worried about her father but the outsiders was caught ofguard and the two with vibroblade only manage to get one attempt in then collapses at the same time, he spin and dance between the blaster shots as the fiery movement of the blades edges closer to the third while the last outsider read the situation and run. When it finally over the family meet in the living room where it become clear her father was not fully in one piece, a blaster shot had graze his left arm.
The mother rushes over and start to tend to the wound as the father give a sigh. “We out of time, sorry my love but we have to do what we talked about…it for her own good, they will keep coming…”
Everyone end looking toward Ira with a sadden expression who just look confused “M-mother, Father…sisters what yo-”
She get interrupted as her sisters grab her and move to Ira’s room and pack a bag of essential clothing all while Ira protest then she dragged into the living room again as both her mother and father is bowing with the hands outreached, shared among their hands rest the slim elegant engraved box, open with with velvet purple inside and a mask with the fire symbol on the forehead.
Both her mother and father speak in unison: “Even if we seperated by the stars our bond persist, May honor follow you as the flame is passed on. No matter who look down on you for carrying the flame, no matter what you face then you are of clan Cali. Our honor and bond persist through the stars.”
Ira now at the point of tears as she little shaking take the box then her entie family surround her and hug her just before she start crying, Each of them whispering their last wisdom and parting words. two advice stick out from them all. Train, improve and that she should let her jesting nature take over in the outside world since outsider do not read bodylanguage that well.
Everything turn into a blur as everything happen so fast and in the end she find herself in a cargo container, biting her own lip as the door closes between her and the last sight of her family, her father looking proud but sadden, her mother who show regret and her sisters that trying to give a brave face through all their willpower.
Back in real world Ira tossed and turned enough that the bed cover is on the floor all while giving a light sleeping whimper. “No i dont want to go…”
She end dreaming of being inside the container with a tiny light,the inside was padded and not uncomfortable,beside her lies a datapad with few comic on it to pass time. She shivers as she read the comic but not from cold, the event left her shaken, sad,afraid,pain she not felt before.
What feel like hours pass by before she notice the ship give a little shake then the sound of the engine in the distance dies down.The sound of talking close by before the doors open to reveal the lithe young Echani adult girl covering in the corner of the container, holding her hands up to block the light. Despite being scared her trained reflex kick in and she get into a combat stance at the shadowy form outside the container before her silver eyes adjust to the light and she sees a Cathar male gentle reaching out his big hand, offering it as she hear the words.
“Its okay child, you safe. Your father entrusted you to me as a friend, Come i have prepared a room and hot meal await you”
Ira keep the stance as she listen to the deeper voice even it gentle, her eyes instinct tries to read this stranger for a moment before she let go of the combat stance and slowly take a step forward then another, She reach out her hand but retreat it, again instinct reading the Cathar who dont move and finally places the hand on his. She gentle pull into a warm embrace as he speak deep but softly in basic.
“I know you scared child, even sad but that okay. You dont have to trust my words, just do your echani thing and judge for yourself”
Another male Cathar appear who seem to be part of the spaceport, speaking in a strange language while pointing at Ira. While she dont understand the words it clear to her that this male is not happy about her. He is however soon looking down and nods stiffly after a reply from the Cathar who hold her. She is let go as the Cathar walk into the container and take her belonging before gentle guiding her outside the spaceport to a speeder and finally they roaring off and away from the city. Ira dont respond, she is not even looking at the views passing by. She keep looking down in her arms where the slim elegant engraved box is hugged close to her while the Cathar male stay silent, likely knowing there is little to do to push her out of it.
Eventually the speeder stop at a great wealthy house in the countryside, As she get out another young Cathar male rushed up from the front door with a grin and wave to the older male Cathar before reaching his hand right infront of Ira who by a warrior reflex drop the box, grab his arm and send him flying over her, using his own weight against him, he end on the back in the grass and give surprised look before laughing then speak in little rugged basic. “I like her already, she got spirit”
His father face palm softly and look down at his son. “You asked for that, she a echani and right now she deal with a loss and confusion. Give her some time to adjust”
As the two walk into the main door with Ira little behind she notice a third person peeking out from behind a pillar, greenish skin and female looking with strange small tattoos. Their eyes lock for a second before the Mirialan step forth with the hands behind her back and speak little cryptic. “Another soul, a warrior soul found shelter…”
Ira is guided to her new room and told she get the hot meal soon. She slowly inspect her new room. Everything she would need as she begin to unpack the little belonging she have, a knock on the door is heard as she stand up and turn toward it before it open as the young male enter with a bowl of food and spoon and place it on the desk, he seem unsure as if wanting to talk though Ira still behaviour as she watches him closely seem to make him reconsider before he eyes the slim elegant engraved box curious and take a step toward it, as if a trap sprung Ira jump and slide between the box and him, getting into a combat stance without a word. He back up slowly and nods then leave the room.
Ira’s stoic and guarded behaviour did not change for four weeks but at the end of the fourth week she stood in the living room with all three and clenches her fists, pushing herself to cross a boundary of grief and confusion, pushing through the stoic and guarded behaviour she been taught as fire dancer as she finally speak the first words ever to her new odd ‘family’ even if it something as a simple as… “m-m-m-m-morning…”
The father of the young Cathar give soft smile and exhale in a light relief, the young Cathar perk up at finally hearing her voice all while the Mirialan give a light bow of her head. Ira however end looking away being self conscious as a little blush creep in, almost ready to leave before the older Cathar speaks.
“Morning my child, it ease my heart to hear your voice after all this time. Small steps child, dont feel like we pushing you. I know your father taught this way and you using it to stay alert.”
Both the young Cathar and Mirialan nods in agreement as Ira look back at them…then the dream stop suddenly
Ira sit up in the bed breathing heavy as the dream is shattered, her eyes instinct fall toward the slim elegant engraved box for a moment before curling up and hugging her knees, calming herself as she wipe her watery eyes with a hand then finally notice the bed cover on the floor with a soft frown before getting out of bed and prepare it again.
“gee, stupid dream. I am okay, i trained, i have friends. My family would be happy to know how far i gotten even if they miss me, even if i miss them too. Though i am not ready to carry the flame openly father, i lack the last part of your teaching, i lack a ritual brand and i am afraid i end pushing anyone away even uh…i could do as you did…”
Ira then move toward the shower and prepare for a new day.
