The trip

[Iradtoki]

She yawned as she heard the comm paging her, at first expecting Kairos wanted to chat again, not that she minded though usually he didn’t message her for another few hours knowing she would be asleep. Groggy eyes peered at the message as she sat up then blinked twice, her Master was summoning her to him immediately for an assignment. Quickly dressing and donning her mask and hood, she stepped out and headed to the hanger where he was patiently waiting for her. She bowed low calling him Master and getting that playful look knowing he wasn’t entirely fond of the title.

Qyilisc: Ah, good morning Sentinel. Are you feeling well rested? I did have a trip planned for you.

I am yes, thank you. Where did you wish me to go Master? Also why?

Qyilisc: Well, I wish to test your progress, particularly in how you’ve handled your survival training. Unfortunately it is not safe to do so here, and it would be prone to too many interruptions. I’d understand if you feel that you need to stick around, given the trouble abound, and if you’d rather stick around to help, then I’ll respect that choice. he paused, perhaps alluding to something they both knew, but he wouldn’t say outright Generally when doing survival training, one spends a period of time living off the land and their skills. I’ve chosen the planet Tokima for this, it should be adequate for what is needed.

Tokima? Never heard of it? Though it sounds interesting. The temple should be okay without me for a little while I suppose.

Qyilisc: There is one other thing. A series of challenges in place for you.

Very well Master, what will they be?

Qyilisc: For this trip, you may only bring your Lightsaber and a hunting knife. I will be taking your personal comm, and replacing it with this one pulling it from his pocket as he took hers, handing it over It will allow you to only communicate with me in case anything happens. You are forbidden from using the ship as any form of shelter unless you state over the comm you are giving up the challenge. You are forbidden from any communication, exchange or otherwise with any of the locals or other people you may find in the area. You are to avoid them and remain unnoticed. All food and drink must be gathered yourself. You are not to leave the planet without calling in a surrender, or I call you to tell you that the challenge has ended. I have also packed a bag with basic survival supplies. Though I do mean very basic. The ship will also have an emergency survival bag in the event it is urgently required. Though using it would be considered a surrender. Do you understand?

Yes Master, I do. When do I leave for this test?

Qyilisc: Within the hour. Prepare yourself. Your trip will be a long one and I truly hope to see you succeed.

Yes Master. I will succeed.

Qyilisc: Glad to hear it. See you here in an hour.

she bowed once more stepping away, catching her breath she moved back to her room and began prepping, pulling a hunting knife from one of her drawers, she clipped it to her belt opposite of her Saberstaff. Stepping outside she spotted Kairos, letting him know she would be away a few days on assignment. The hour passing quickly she took one final breath as she gazed around at the peace that had settled over the Temple grounds before heading back to the hanger.

Qyilisc: Are you ready Padawan?

I am Master. bowing her head

Qyilisc: Very well then. The ship is already programmed with its course. The designated landing spot is extremely remote. Tokmia will give you a challenge you can’t find here. So I truly hope your ready for this challenge.

I wont let you down Master.

Qyilisc: Very well then. Board your ship and I look forward to your successful return.

Bowed her head one last time before boarding the small ship. It was not large by any means though it was comfortable for one person. Activating the ship the navigation took over as soon as she was out of orbit and headed off. She took one final breath to steel her nerves before closing her eyes to meditate on what she had been told. A great challenge was ahead of her. She could only wonder what that meant.

[Iradtoki]

She took a slow breath as she neared her goal, the planet looked half frozen as she approached. Relaxing as she waited for the ship to land she gathered her bearings and moved to gather her things. As she landed and stepped from the ship she took a breath at the cold air. Focusing enough to shield herself in tapas as she looked around. Ensuring she had everything she was allowed to bring with her, she noted the location of the emergency bag, though quietly vowed to herself that she would not be using it as she closed the ship till she heard the lock activate. Turning from the ship she spotted the forest she would call home until this challenge was complete.

Trudging into the woods with her carry bag, she looked to the sky as it slowly began to darken. She had arrived just before nightfall. She would need to find shelter fast or bare the cold of the night which would likely drop very quickly. Hunting around for a while she could find no caverns to secure herself in, thus being forced to move to the next best option. A leanto. It was nowhere near what she was sure her Master would design. Building it took long enough that the sun was nearly down completely as she quickly gathered wood for a fire, storing some of the wood inside the leanto to dry, getting some quickly set up and with a fair bit of work to get it lit, forming a small fire close to the leanto. It would keep her warm for tonight, though not offer much light as she climbed inside. Listening to the howl of the winds that picked up as the planet settled into night. She already missed home. Taking a breath she settled in for the long night, curling up close enough to the fire that it would be warm, but definitely not a fire risk.

The night was long, cold and for the most part quiet. A few animals could be heard in the distance, yet the fire no doubt kept most of them at bay. She looked out to the stars in the sky, watching light snowflakes drift by as she relaxed. Internally she had to admit she could see the draw of camping. There was a great beauty to it. It was extremely peaceful and relaxing. No talk of the war that was millions of miles away. No emergency surgeries to save a life. No Malakites blasting in from every direction. Now it was just her, nature and the stars. Quietly within she partly wondered if her Master had given her this as a much needed break from the stress as much as a challenge. Not that she really minded either way. Slipping off the mask and hood she smiled as she relaxed. Sure, it wasn’t that she didn’t miss everyone. She did for sure, but it was hard to be homesick with such beauty. She lay for hours watching the stars until finally, sleep claimed her. The fire keeping her warm for the night and animals away. The day would bring many challenges. Though for tonight, it brought peace.

[Iradtoki]

Dawn had arrived and with it came the cold frost, a yawn escaped her as she looked out, still warm by the fire she stirred the remaining kindling though not adding more to it. Sitting to meditate she focused quietly for a few hours. Letting herself be at peace as she relaxed within the peace of the forest. After some time had passed she rose to her feet stretching a bit more. Hunting was on the table as she had yet to eat since last night, and using Tapas long term would burn vital energy. Ensuring the fire was out, she headed out across the lands heading deeper into the woodlands to find food.

It took time to find tracks out here, she assumed most herbivores were likely out where there was less ice and snow, but assumed some had to be around still, there was bark ripped from the trees likely where some herbivore had been eating it. Spotting a set of tracks she set to work. Slowly across three hours she began tracking the creature. Over hills, through a stream, and finally out to a field. Finding what looked to be a rather large doe and fawn together she let out a sigh, she could not take a mother. Though glancing further through the field, she spotted a rather large buck. One that could provide the meat she needed for a few days if rationed carefully.

Moving through the woods and around the field, she slowly made her way behind the large stag. Utilizing the lessons from her Master she made her way closer, making nearly no sound as she moved across the wet grass beneath her. Just as she neared, the beast turned with sharp antlers coming towards her as it charged. Leaping to the side and out of the way, thanking the force silently for the extra boost she repositioned drawing her saberstaff. The beast was quick though to turn and charge once more, not afraid but seeming more angry and territorial as she again had to move from range. One hit with those antlers would cause serious damage. Taking a breath of focus she steadied herself adjusting the beam power of her saberstaff and stood in the Jedi Neutral stance, her breathing calm, focused, controlled as she waited. Again the beast charged her, though this time when she moved aside, she stepped into Makashi, using the grace and dexterity to not go so far, but instead to sidestep the creature enough out of the way of the antlers to not get skewered, but still in decent range for her lightsaber as the head cleanly fell free from the beasts shoulders.

Taking a breath she slowly gathered the head, then carefully levitated the remaining body and slowly began the hunt back to her camp. Going back though took much longer then getting too. Often having to take small breaks with burning the energy in carrying the carcass, and unable to focus enough to keep Tapas up at the same time, she needed breaks to stave out the biting cold. Being late afternoon by the time she got back she set the carcass down and grabbed one of the large pots in her bag, heading to the stream she got some water in the pot and moved back to her camp. Spending several minutes just sitting and focusing in Tapas she began to realize how much energy she had depleted in hunting, and why this was truly a challenge. It was easy to do on Viscara, where the temperature was always warm, animals were close, and she didnt burn through so much energy. She would need to eat and soon, or she would not have the energy to keep herself warm tonight when the temperature dropped further. That was no doubt only a few hours off.

Pushing herself through the exhaustion and drain, she set to work. First getting a fresh fire going though this time adding a hanging branch over it to hold the pot. Hanging the pot over carefully to get it boiling she turned her attention back to the carcass, pulling out the hunting knife she had been given and going back over the lessons mentally, she slowly began carefully skinning the beast. Fingers slowly beginning to ache as she worked the delicate process of not damaging the skin, knowing deep within that her Master would wish to see proof of her work. Once the hide was off she carefully hung it out to dry. Turning back to the carcass she slowly began breaking down the meats, using the snow around her to act like a fridge to preserve it as she worked, slowly cutting out enough meat for her own meal she pulled over a nearby stick and slowly carved it into a skewer. Skewering the meat onto it she carefully hung it over the fire as she moved again. Pouring some of the now boiling water into a cup which she set in the snow to cool, then slowly moving around her camp and grabbing herbs, vegetation and some small plants she could identify as edible, washing them in the stream and moved back to her camp. Grateful she could use Tapas for that as she added them to the pot and began letting it simmer for some time

Turning her attention back to the hide she got to work setting it onto a larger rock and pulling out a fleshing knife from the bag. Slowly and carefully beginning to remove all flesh and skin from the hide. Taking a break now and again to check her meal, once the meat was nicely cooked, she slowly added it to the boiling broth which now held a very nice scent. Moving carefully she set the hide under some faster moving water she had found earlier, making sure it was secure. Deeming to leave it for the night as she sat down back at her camp, pulling the pot off and scooping some fresh soup into her bowl. Nodding to herself in approval at how the soup turned out, she carefully moved the pot from the fire, though hanging it on a high branch and ensuring the meat in the snow was fully buried. Warm, full and tired from the full days work, she settled back into her leanto. Exhausted her eyes closed quickly as she fell into a deep sleep.

[Iradtoki]

She woke with a sigh, the fire nearly completely out as she stretched and moved to feed the flames. She would need the fire today. Getting the fire built up once more she moved the pot back over the flame as she stirred the pot, heating the soup for something to eat as she moved back to the stream, carefully checking on the hide. Nodding her approval at most of the hair already gone, she drew it from the water and laid it back out on the rock, carefully beginning to use a small dull stone to scrape off the remaining hair.

Hearing her pot boiling she gets up again and moves to take the soup from the fire, scooping out enough for herself she again hangs the pot, letting it cool for a bit she moves back to the hide once more. Pulling out another pot, she half fills it with fresh bark easily gathered, then adding water to it and sets it over the fire. Sitting to eat as she lets the water heat up. She finishes her meal just as the pot starts to simmer. As it finishes she moves to dig a bit of a pit. lining it carefully with a thick plastic from her bag. Carefully pulling the heated pot off the fire she carefully strains the water out into the pit. Filling it as she carefully moves and grabs the hide, submerging it into the mixture and carefully stirring it with a branch. Leaving it aside she moves to clean her camp, not wanting to leave a disaster behind.

Moving back to the stream she carefully washes herself, not wanting to actually stink and cleaning her robes as well, not entirely a pleasant process, though keeping Tapas around herself to keep herself warm. Glad to be rid of the scent of death and smoke. She moves again to better her shelter. Build up the leanto and then moves to cook more of the meat. Carefully making a form of dried jerky with the meat. She nods to herself as she works. Eventually having most of the meat made into jerky, she cooks the rest of it over the open flame to act as a different meal from the soup. Not wanting the soup the entire time shes here. Setting it aside in a separate bowl, she moves to stir her “tree brew” once more, enjoying some of the cooked meat as she sun sets once more, she relaxes into star gazing, content with the hard days work, and a more comfortable leanto, with some softer “bedding” made of needles and leaves to make it more cozy

Watching the stars she yawns a bit as she considers back home. Wondering how the Temple is keeping up. How Kairos is doing on the Praxeum, how Jim is doing with his training, how her Master was doing with the entire war, heck honestly hoping that more weren’t critically wounded and in need of rescue, but this time she wasn’t there. Sighing she pushed such thoughts from her mind. The Temple was capable. She had to trust in them to manage even without her there. After all, they had before her, and they would after her. Looking down to her lightsaber, the markings on the hilt, she couldn’t help but smile a bit as she laid back. Slowly drifting to sleep

[Iradtoki]

She woke to a cold blast of wind, it was snowing heavily and looked to be a near whiteout. Taking a breath she quickly moved to secure what she could, bringing it into the leanto as she saw the fire completely out. It was a very cold morning. Snow blanketing the area around her as she watched unable to do anything more. Several times she had to keep the leanto from blowing over, several times she had held it in place. Watching till mid day when the storm finally broke, ensuring she didn’t get buried into her leanto. Eventually climbing out as the sun shone brightly now she began to evaluate her camp. Digging out the pit for the hide, ensuring the fire pit was clear and the way into her leanto was not blocked, she sighed a bit moving towards the stream.

Stepping close to the stream she let out a yelp as her leg suddenly went down and she fell into the water, letting out a stream of pained curses she wasn’t even sure she knew before today she carefully pulled herself out of the water, grumbling and shivering as she moved to pull her foot out from a hole that had been covered by the snow. Ditching her plan she hobbled back to her camp, the wound needed to be seen to in case it was serious. Getting into her leanto she stripped off her robes, hanging them to dry by the fire as she moved to examine her ankle, while it was very tender to the touch, she let out a sigh of relief that it wasn’t actually broken. Slowly she focused and meditated on the healing. Slowing her breathes and keeping her energy very slowly healing the wound.

Having taken more then two hours to heal the leg, she sighed a bit at the wasted time, checking on her robes finding them dry enough to wear once more she slipped them back on and still taking it a bit slow, checked on the hides. Pulling them out now. she laid them on a rock once more as she moved to a more in her opinion, disgusting part. Grabbing the head that had been kept intact mostly by the cold and ice, she carefully cut the brain free and boiled it into a paste with a small bit of water then began rubbing it into the hide. Carefully working it in before eventually rinsing it back out of the hide. Then creating a more frame, binding it together with some strips of cloth, she attached the leather to it and hung it over the fire where the smoke would best reach it, using a rock to help press the leather to make it softer, as it dried. After several long hours of work, the leather was now dried and soft. She looked over her work and nodded her approval, folding it and setting it into her bag as a gift for her Master.

Moving back to her pit she emptied out the “bark stew” and filled in the hole. Ensuring the place was as good as she arrived before moving back to her camp. Eating some of the meat and the last of her soup, she soon fell into an exhausted deep sleep. The stress of the healing, the work on the leather and the cold plunge having drained her as she yawned. Sleeping soundly through the night.

//Special thanks for the tanning guide is a mix of two different guides mixed together to account for time and effort. Both linked below!

How to Make Leather Naturally (with Pictures) - wikiHow

How Did the Indians Tan Deer Hides?

[Iradtoki]

She woke in the morning to a strange beeping sound, a yawn escaped her as she looked around confused then to her bag. Moving over with a stretch she opened her bag drawing out her comm and looked to a message left for her. “You may return now padawan” was waiting for her, earning a smile from her as she considered the message. Nodding to herself she settled to enjoy some meat as a breakfast as she relaxed and began mentally reviewing the process since her arrival. It had been a lot of work. Making the camp, getting the food she needed, making the leather she would now gift to her Master. Making each meal by hand. So much had been done in such a short time since her arrival here. So much of it had taken everything from her to upkeep and maintain. Yet people did this every day of their lives which was amazing to even consider. She had learned a lot on this challenge and had a much stronger appreciation for her Masters lessons. Also was very grateful she had them, these skills would be invaluable in the future.

Finishing up her meal and packing everything after ensuring it was all cleaned at the stream, and careful not to fall back in that hole again, she slowly disassembled her camp. Careful to ensure she had not disrupted anything and that everything was left in balance. Ensuring the fire was out and there was no possible chance of sparks catching anything, she nodded her approval as she set out from her camp just as the sun reached mid day. After a few hours walk she came back to the clearing where her ship still sat, using the force to clear the snow from around it she carefully opened the ship and tossed her things inside. Moving to board as she sensed something off. Stopping halfway in the ship she closed her eyes and using Force Sense, she reached out with the force to find what had troubled her. When she felt the darkness that touched her. That was when her eyes opened as she looked out, she could feel other life forms that way as well, yet she could not knowingly leave them to the Sith.

Slipping on her hood and mask, she leapt back down and using the force to boost her speed, she raced towards where she could feel the growing darkness. Stopping just short of what looked to be a very primitive village, she spotted them. Two sith and what she could only assume to be a Lord. The Lord was holding one of the natives viciously. Barking commands that the creature did not seem to understand. As his rage grew he activated his lightsaber that was a blood red hew as he moved to strike, she lunged in. Catching him completely off guard as she severed the hand holding the lightsaber making him drop the native in shock. Putting herself between the creature and the sith, her yellow saber glowed brightly in contrast to his red. The Lord looked furious at her as he fell back behind his subordinates, ordering them to kill her as he turned and fled towards what she assumed was their ship. Something she had no intention of letting him reach.

Swapping into Jar’Kai, she quickly parried, blocked and fought through their advances. The two having hoped to out maneuver her as two one one. Quietly she thanked the Training droids she had practiced on time and again for a two on one scenario. Twisting and spinning, she worked quickly. Not wasting time as she cleaved the arm from one, twisting the blade in rapid succession taking the head from the other as she jabbed her blade forward and through the chest of the first underling, then moving for the Lord. Knowing he could not be allowed to get away from here lest he come back and wreck havoc on the planet. The Lord realizing his underlings had failed turned to face her. Blasting her with force lightening as she drew near then drawing his own saber with a snarl

Growling in pain though using Pain Control to force the pain away from her mind, she could not afford to be in pain as she fought a Lord. She knew quietly she held the advantage. Force Lightening could not be used again while he held the saber, not since he lacked his opposite hand to hold it with. Though that did not give her any relief. If this was in fact a Sith Lord, he was still deadly. More so being in pain and angry. She could feel him enhancing his abilities in the force and took a breath as she came in. He was faster, stronger, more skilled then her as she fought against him. His handicap of missing an arm giving her a very minor advantage as he had to keep his guard on that side. Feeling the minor hits he would score with his own lightsaber she lunged back in with her own. Parrying away another vicious swing, she parried it and began pressing him back. Not giving him time to get on the defensive or retreat or even regain a tactical foothold she switched into Ataru. Knowing it the more draining of her tactical forms she pressed the assault none stop.

The Lord continued to back away, his saber moving quickly though he could tell he was losing and he could not stop her barrage. Choosing instead to drop the saber as he could not hold against her with that, he made a gesture of surrender. Her oaths holding her as she considered his surrender a moment he moved into a quick force choke. Catching her off guard and struggling to breath he chuckled darkly as he stood, knocking the saberstaff away from her as she struggled against him.

Sith Lord: Always do you Jedi make the mistake of surrender. Your little saberstaff is impressive. Catching me off guard even more so. Though I will make you pay for it. grins as he ignites his lightsaber through her leg, opening her airway enough for her to scream in pain before blocking it again Ahh. Such a delightful sound. I will enjoy watching you squ-

he was suddenly cut off and eyes widened as he lost grip on his force choke and falling back holding his own throat, her vibroblade in hand as she coughed and gasped, looking where the vibroblade had cut deep through his throat as she force pulled the saberstaff to her, plunging it through his heart without another moments hesitation. Moving to his ship. She set its course to well into deep space, then set its self destruct setting for 30 minutes from take off and got out. Watching it take off.

Gathering the three lightsabers she looked to the natives who watched fearfully, bowing her head to them, she set out the remaining supplies of meat she had as an offering to them, then made her way back to her ship. Carefully climbing inside she looked down the the growing pool of blood through her leg and pulled out the First aid emergency kit, working first to staunch the bleeding before sending word back to her Master she was returning wounded. Setting the course back for Viscara, she flew off. Laying back and allowing herself to slip into meditation to control the pain