Tales of Tenric's Training: III

It was a small forest clearing deep in the heart of the Darkwood. Low brush grew in and around the roots of the trees that ringed the open space. Lush grass grew interspersed with moss and lichen, filling the clearing except for the exact center, which held a large boulder. It was made of a dark veined, grayish, rock that was easily fifteen feet around and nearly five high. Clearings such as this were rare in Darkwood, and this one was Tenric’s. Tucked up against the foothills of the A’Roupar Mountains the trees here grew so thick that only the hardiest of ground foliage could survive and the trails were little more than wide spaces between the trunks.

The ground was a combination of spongy moss and detritus that had fallen from the trees above. Many creatures lived in the wood. Most were small, some were predatory, and all could be dangerous. Tenric was not concerned, however, because he had grown up in the area and knew their ways. As long as he merely passed through and made no disturbance they remained unconcerned. Aroused, however, they could be noisy, and harassing, even threatening.

He had found the clearing yesterday while searching for a spot to make his own for meditation. Remembering his Master’s last lesson Tenric had tried to feel the ebb and flow between the Unifying and Living Force. He had walked for what seemed like hours without purpose, following his feet and the faint whisperings he sensed in the Force. He had ended up in this clearing and known immediately it was to be his place. He did not know why, just that it was the right place.

Placing the stout stave that functioned as both his walking stick and practice saber against the boulder he clambered lightly up onto the rock and sat with his back to the mountains. Closing his eyes he cleared his mind by imagining the waters of the pond and then smoothing out the ripples on the surface. It took him a few minutes to succeed and then, thus calmed, he reached out with the Force toward his distant homestead…

“Master.” He called silently, “I have found my place. Can you now find me?”

He was not sure if he had enough control to manage such a message, but an answering wave of amusement told him both message and challenge had, at least, been understood and accepted. Now he had only to wait. His Master’s teaching yesterday had changed his view on meditation and he was quite eager to begin learning more about it. It would, however, be some time before his Master could locate him so Tenric thought it would be interesting to explore his clearing a bit.

Crossing his legs he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, emptying himself as he did so. Then he reached out a hand and touched the rock upon which he sat. He could feel the warmth that the rock had absorbed from the sun along with a sense of both size and age. Apparently the rock was much larger than it appeared, with only the tip exposed. There was the faintest hint of vibration in the rock and Tenric wondered once more about the ripples his Master has spoken of. He tried to go deeper, to the bottom of the rock, but kept getting distracted by faint sensations from all around him. Focusing himself he drew his Force-sense inward until he once more felt the sun’s warmth.

With another deep breath and exhale he pushed himself farther down, or was it out, and became aware of what could only be the root system of the grass in the clearing. The Force, he assumed it was the Living Force, was present in the grass as faint echoes not unlike a chorus of Burble Toads heard from afar. He could feel a connectedness something like he did with the pond yesterday. Here and there he could sense open spots with echoes so faint he was unsure if they were real. Those must be the moss and lichen he realized.

So fascinated was he with this new adventure that he was quite unaware of both the passing of time and the arrival of his Master. An uncomfortable sensation rose in his awareness and Tenric realized his right leg was badly cramped. This had the effect of yanking him out of his trance-like state and back to himself. Just as his self-awareness returned his Force-sense went wild alerting him to an unexpected presence right on top of him!

Tenric’s body jerked convulsively as he tried to do to many things at once. It seemed that opening his eyes, extending the pained leg, calling his stave to him, and hopping off the boulder, away from the presence, into a fighting stance was asking a bit too much from his inexperienced muscles. All he succeeded in actually doing was shooting his leg out and losing his balance on the rock, falling over sideways and hitting the ground somewhat painfully, landing next to his stave.

A heavy sigh told Tenric the intruder was his Master. Turning he saw that resigned but slightly amused expression his Master seemed to direct his way at least once a day. Favoring his cramped leg, he rose and smiled a hello.

“Master! How did you find me so quickly?” he asked.

“Have you been sitting there since you called to me?” His Master asked looking concerned now.