[Audio]

[sand_wormie]

[There is no visual, since the datapad is in Luke's pocket. The sound's a bit muffled, but a little of the ambience can be picked up on - traffic and wind. He's outside somewhere. And speaking.]

Hey... it's okay, little guy. I won't hurt you.

- I'm not food, either. Yes, I'm sure you do eat dead people sometimes, but I'm alive. See? ...That's better

Comments

[soloing]

[aw animals, jacen luvs the widdle animals] What've you got there?

[sand_wormie]

Hey, Jacen! He's a hawk-bat!

[The creature permits him to scratch its neck.]

[soloing]

Oh? Did you catch him on your own somewhere?

[sand_wormie]

I found him up here trying to molt alone. I think he's going to fly away and find food, soon.

[There is a tail-flip from the hawk-bat, who's had all the loose the green skin picked off. Luke sighs.]

And then I'll go find somewhere to wash my hands. Silicon-based animals don't have toxic skin or anything, do they?

[soloing]

You'll find its teeth more dangerous than its skin. When it finishes its molt, it'll be full grown.

You found no signs of a nest up there?

[sand_wormie]

They're smaller than urusai - the reptavians I see back home. But they're sleeker, too, and they don't just scavenge.

[Pause; the hawk-bat tries to pluck at his sleeve with its toothy beak and gets caught. Luke unhooks the beak deftly, if absently, rolling his sleeve up and out of the way and staring at the animal with a frown.]

...He has a flock. He just... they...

[More pause. Luke blinks.]

They ate a body, and he didn't because it was time to change? Yeah. He hasn't seen them since then.

[soloing]

Did it tell you all that?

[sand_wormie]

[Urk. His aunt and uncle don't want him to seem different. It's not like denigrating the Emperor over public channels - it's something they want, and it seems more important to him.]

[but, it's a bit late now to hide.]

Sort of. He's... he doesn't have anything really like a language, he doesn't think like people do. It's more feelings - most animals show emotion if you know how to look.

[soloing]

You might say that's something we have in common. Especially at your age, I had quite a bit of interest in wildlife for the same reasons.

[sand_wormie]

Really? Huh. People usually think it's weird.

[soloing]

It isn't a gift everyone shares.

[sand_wormie]

[Luke is not a good liar.]

...I'm really nothing special, Jacen. I just... I'm just good at listening.

[soloing]

And that skill doesn't make you special? I know plenty who lack that much.

[sand_wormie]

...I'm just not supposed to talk about that kind of thing. [The real reason is that he's supposed to grow up with a low profile, but-]

It makes it sounds like I think I'm superior. I don't. If I was, my friends wouldn't call me- [Urk. Yeah, he doesn't want his nickname bandied about!] - I wouldn't make so many mistakes.

[soloing]

Everyone has their talents, Luke. What keeps you grounded is recognizing that you're not alone in that. It doesn't mean you have to ignore your own gifts.

[sand_wormie]

Now you sound like Annie...

I... I guess. [He feels guilty now, imagining what his aunt and uncle would think.] So what do you think I should do, then?