Going to see the Bear Clan

[morally_cryptic]

After dinner with Obi-Wan, Anakin wanders through the Temple, heading generally toward the room in which Yoda usually has evening meditations with the Bear Clan. Mostly, he's not thinking about much of anything except that Yoda had told him they would have to speak after Obi-Wan was released from the Healers. Which doesn't promise to be fun in the least.

Finally, he's dawdled enough and he arrives at the room just as Yoda is finishing their meditation exercises. Anakin can't help but breathe a small sigh of relief, any earlier and he probably would've been asked to join in and...well, you don't just refuse that.

Anakin waits until Yoda acknowledges his presence, then bows at the Jedi Master and smiles in greeting to the Younglings. "Master Yoda, Master Obi-Wan sent me to visit the Bear Clan." Pause, "With your permission, of course?"

Yoda nods, "Ahh, awake then is Obi-Wan?" Inwardly, Anakin can't help but think As if you didn't already know... but Yoda is continuing, "Good to hear, that is. Of course my permission you have, Padawan. Happy to talk to you the Younglings must be." Yoda pauses and for a moment, Anakin thinks he might be off the hook. No such luck. "Recall you may a talk I requested?" The Jedi Master doesn't wait for Anakin's nod, "Now that well Obi-Wan is, tomorrow after the morning meal to see you both I would like."

Anakin does nod now, "Of course, Master Yoda."

Yoda nods approvingly and begins to walk past Anakin out of the room, "Leave you with the younglings then, I will." There may be a glint in his eyes not unlike the smile Obi-Wan was directing toward Anakin as Anakin had left Obi-Wan's quarters.

Anakin just looks at the children around him and wonders what to say.

Comments

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

........Meditate? They just got done meditating.......! But he can't say no to those faces, and it's not like it's a bad request anyway.

"If you want me to."

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

A disjointed chorus of, "We do!" is Anakin's answer.

Yes, they just got done meditating, but Anakin, though he may not realize it, has gotten them worked up again.

They're quite smart. And sneaky. Anakin's reputation for not being able to sit still is engraved on the Temple walls, and they intend to try curing him of it.

The Little One shifts a little in Anakin's lap, then pulls the Padawan's arms into the loose embrace that the Little One enjoyed with Obi-Wan so many weeks ago.

The rest settle down and assume their preferred meditation positions.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

They're all right. I am doomed.

Nothing for it now but to take a deep breath, relax, and try not to think about how much his leg just started itching.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

The group sinks into meditation quickly; having done it together so many times before, they've gotten good at it.

Once they're sure Anakin is completely unsuspecting, one child reaches out with the Force, a calming thread to sooth nerves. It's not a long burst, but enough that it's noticable.

A few moments later, another does the same...

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

He's surprised, but not enough to throw him out of it, it's more of a bemused surprise, anyway, They're tag-teaming me...

But he can't say he minds so much, in fact, the respite is...welcome.

His leg still itches, though.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

The Little One shifts and sighs. Before settling again, the child whispers, "Focus, Padawan Anakin. Don't worry so much about your body. S'all in your head..."

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Anakin can't help murmuring back, "You're spending way too much time around Obi-Wan."

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

The child takes a moment to grin, "But your leg doesn't itch anymore, does it?"

And so saying the Little One hits Anakin with his own tendril of the Force, trying to draw the Padawan into the communal medittion more completely.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Gonna be on the Council before he makes Knight if we don't watch out. He can't help but grin too.

And then he lets go as best he can, letting himself be drawn into the meditation, even if it's strange for him as he's generally used to solitary meditation, or, if communal, just with Obi-Wan.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

[*laughs* And he should walk in on Obi and the kids meditating sometime. It would be amusing.]

The kids continue to 'tag-team' Anakin. Once they feel he's with them as much as they can get, they begin to weave a tapestry of Force tendrils in an effort to get as close as they can to total communion.

They did it with Obi-Wan, they hope to do it with Anakin. Or get close, at any rate.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Anakin does his best to work with them but it's more difficult with him as, unlike Obi-Wan, he has a lot more to hide from them. Or at least, feels he does.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

The children try to come to his rescue, each trying at various places to nudge him in the right direction.

The parts that they want from him - need from him - are tough to tug at, but really, they aren't so personal as Anakin might think.

The Little One tries a different tactic, to augment the aid of the others. It's something that Anakin has felt recently from someone else: acceptance.

The message is plain: no need to fear cause we won't judge you. We're kids, for crying out loud.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

They might not judge him but that doesn't mean they won't talk.

And he's stubborn.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

The kids try for a little bit longer to draw Anakin out, but then figure they shouldn't push too much.

They want him to come back and play again, after all. So they make do with what they have and try their best to make something with what they got.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Anakin may not open up more but when they stop pushing he does at least relax more.

And they helped, they really did. Do. Both.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

And helping Anakin in such a way was probably Obi-Wan's secret plan. Who knows?

Eventually, though, these things come to and end, and the gentle chime that signifies curfew for the young ones tinkles through the room.

Each child falls away from the meditation until they're all looking at Anakin.

The Little One hugs the Padawan again and grins. "Thank you, Padawan Anakin."

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Smile, "And thank you for helping me letting me visit with you. And I'll be sure to pass on your well-wishes to Obi-Wan."

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

They all stand.

From one: "We hope you can come back soon!"

From another: "Tell Master Obi to come soon, too, so we can keep him out of more trouble!"

And from a third: "Will you walk us to our part of the Temple?"

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

"So do I, and I will, and yes of course."

As he makes sure everybody's all together and walks with them to their part of the Temple, making sure to deliberately shorten his strides so they can keep up.

[master-obiwan.livejournal.com]

When they get there, they all say good night and give Anakin another hug with one more warm fuzzy each.

And then, they're disappearing into their rooms, as they give each other warm wishes for the night.

[morally-cryptic.livejournal.com]

Stares at them as they go, kind of wishes he'd grown up here like that instead of on Tatooine, shakes it off, goes to wake up Obi-Wan.

Cause, you know, he deserves it.

OOC

[age.livejournal.com]

Since Anakin seems to want to bug his master...

http://www.livejournal.com/~master_obiwan/29787.html?mode=reply (http://www.livejournal.com/~master_obiwan/29787.html?mode=reply)