The Edge of the Universe

XXXVIII

"This is a good spot to set up camp," Ahsoka announced turning around to face us.

"Is it safe?" I asked.

She nodded and I sighed in relief, Anakin and Rex set me down on the ground leaning against a tree and I finally relaxed and let my aching muscles rest. 

"Okay, we need to get sticks and rocks for a fire, the sun is starting to set so we need to be prepared for night time," Ahsoka said. 

"When did you become an expert on survival Commander?" Rex asked a bit surprised.

"First of all, lighting a fire is common sense and second of all as a Torguta, we learn survival since we're 2 years old," she replied.

"Is that why you get abnormally high marks in the survival class?" I asked.

"Yeah I guess, I was only found by the Jedi when I was 5 which was late according to my classmates but I learnt a lot of survival things," 

"If they think being found at the age of 5 is late then you should tell them to brush up on Anakin's history, he was found when he was 9," 

"I was actually 10," Anakin called. 

"That's not any better," I replied.

Anakin came back with his arms full of sticks and dumped them on the ground. 

"I know," he sighed.

Ahsoka got to work on starting a fire as Rex knelt down beside me and pulled the med-pack closer. He placed a large bacta patch on my thigh to stop the bleeding and then looked at my ribs, Rex was no professional but he was pretty sure my ribs were just bruised and not broken or fractured. He made me swallow down two painkillers without any water before leaning back against the tree.

"Commander, are you alright?" Rex asked.

"Yep, I am injury-free," she replied before finally starting the fire.

I reached out with the force to make sure she was okay and she sent me a glare, I completed my check and assured myself that she was fine. Ahsoka was still sending me looks and I tilted my head.

"You should take my word for it, you're always teaching our class about trust," Ahsoka stated.

"Yes but since your Anakin's Padawan you never know," I replied.

"Bold of you to assume my Master hasn't double-checked to make sure I'm okay before I even began walking," 

I knew she had a fair point and when I looked over at Anakin I knew that he in fact has already checked Ahsoka over to make sure she's okay. I reached out with the force to see if Anakin was okay but I was blocked by his strong shields, Anakin sensed me trying to reach out with the force and he narrowed his eyes slightly at me.

"I wish I never taught you how to put your mental shields up," I grumbled.

"I'm actually fine Obi-wan, you don't need to worry about me," he replied.

"Have you taught Ahsoka how to put her shields up yet?" 

"He has, I just need to make them stronger and I don't have enough focus to keep them up all the time yet, but even when I do have them up there's he can still reach out with the force," she complained.

"Every Master knows the weaknesses in their Padawan's shields, I helped you create them in the first place," Anakin responded, "At least at first,"

"He's right you know, soon enough you'll be able to block him out completely," I said.

"You don't need to keep them up all the time though, do you Master?" Ahsoka asked me.

"No, I don't think it's necessary, but some people like to keep them up all the time," I replied giving a stern look to Anakin was sat down on the ground leaning against a tree as Ahsoka poked at the fire.

Night had fallen now and Rex was watching the banter with amusement like he usually did, the fire cast a warm glow on all of us and the embers rose up into the air and disappeared.

"I have my secrets just like every other person," Anakin shrugged.

"But Master Kenobi knows everything about you," Ahsoka commented.

"Not everything, there are some things that I don't tell anyone,"

Ahsoka looked stunned for a second and for a brief moment I was kind of surprised, I thought I knew most things about Anakin but I guess I didn't. 

"So, Snips, did you spend most of your childhood learning survival stuff?" Anakin asked.

"Basically, survival stuff is rooted in our brains as soon as we're born. I can't really remember learning all this stuff but I just know all of it," Ahsoka shrugged. 

"That was your childhood Commander, just survival?" Rex asked.

"Yep,"

"That sounds a lot more eventful than most Younglings and Padawans I meet," I commented.

"What about you Master Kenobi, what were you doing as a young child?" Ahsoka asked curiously.

"I don't remember much on Stewjon but I was just a normal Youngling doing my training, nothing too exciting," I shrugged.

"What about Quilan Vos? According to him, you two caused a lot of trouble," Anakin interjected.

"That's what he says, he was the one that caused trouble and then he dragged me into it most of the time," I argued, "And what are you doing talking to Quilan Vos? I told you he's a bad influence,"

"I met him when I was a Padawan, I was with Master Fisto and we had to meet him for something, it's how I learned how to do a bit of psychometry," 

"If you two ever meet when I'm present then it will result in some sort of injury and a very high chance of death," I groaned.

"Quilan said he misses you, I'm sure he's going to come back to the Temple soon," Anakin teased.

"Well anyway, we know what Master Kenobi was doing when he was young, so, what about you Master?" Ahsoka asked.

"My childhood involved, making and fixing random things, podracing and doing trades with random creatures and basically scamming them," he replied.

"That sounds about right," Ahsoka laughed.

"Don't forget an explosion every other week," I added.

Anakin rolled his eyes but didn't deny it. We spent the rest of the night talking about random things and it was nice to forget about the trouble we had landed ourselves in but I knew tomorrow it would be another story.