watched as Corellians shuffle into the diner nearby, her stomach growling as her eyes follow the many plates of food being served to the customers inside. The six year old girl never had the luxury of indulging herself in mouth watering food like the people in there, she didn't have any choice but to settle with the bits and pieces she would pick up or manage to steal. There are some days when she would go to bed starving, and there were some days when she would come back with various cuts and bruises, courtesy of the many merchants she has been stealing from this past year.

Layna was orphaned at age five, and she had absolutely no one else to turn to as the only family she had ever known was her mother. But then, Layna lost her as well - she didn't have anyone or anything left. Because of her loss, she had to learn how to live independently at such a young age, and she did what she had to do in order to survive in such a harsh environment. She resorted into stealing, pocketing money, food and clothes from merchants, random passers-by, and tourists. There were times when she'd successfully steal without their knowledge, but Layna isn't always that lucky, and she'd get beat up by the people she's stolen from. And that was more often that she'd liked, considering that her reputation has made it harder for her to steal anything from anyone, as word has spread about her throughout the streets of Corellia.

"Layna." The brunette child peered over her shoulder, her dark brown eyes locking onto a slim figure holding a basket in her small hand. She was met with the sight of the girl holding the basket up to the hungry girl, raising the basket's flap so as to present the contents of the basket to the brown haired girl. In the girl's hand was a steaming hot bun fresh from the baker's oven, and the delicious scent wafted in the brown haired girl's nose. Layna's eyes widened in realization as her eyes stopped on the smiling face of the tanned girl in front of her.

Although Layna has been left without a father since her birth, and without a mother since her death a year ago because of an illness, she was never truly alone. Layna only had one friend, and the young girl considered the raven haired girl her best friend. She was one of the kindest souls Layna has ever known, and not many people have been kind to Layna or her mother in the first place. It was nice to have someone treat you like a person, and not the scum people think you are just because you weren't part of the higher society with decent clothes and decent food.

Aria Altair was the daughter of a pilot just as Layna was, but Aria's father was a very well-known pilot who managed to achieve fame and status. It was something Layna's father never got a chance to do as he was killed in action before Layna was born.

Aria was not like any of those well-to-dos that treat Layna like she was the scum of the Earth because she had nothing. Aria was just like Layna in a way, she always craved adventure and she always craved the rush of doing something that would probably get them in trouble. She lived for the excitement, which is why the two girls get along well.

Layna still remembered the day she met the raven haired girl for the very first time. She tried to steal from the young girl in the market, only to be discovered and to the thief's surprise, the girl actually gave her the money instead of reporting her. Although wary at first, the young thief reluctantly accepted the money and Layna found herself seeing the pilot's daughter almost everyday in the streets, with either food or clothes in hand. It was thanks to Aria's kindness that Layna got to eat most of the time, instead of only once a day at most. She is thankful for her best friend for being there for her when she needed someone the most, if Aria never bothered with her that day in the market, she would have probably died of starvation.

"Thank you," Layna croaked out, taking the warm bun in her hand and smiling as she took in the fresh bread's scent. She took one huge bite out of the bun, savoring the taste of warm food in her mouth as she hasn't that that luxury in a while. Swallowing it slowly, she sighed in content as she felt the food descend into her stomach, making the growling quiet down. The raven haired girl giggled, placing the basket in her best friend's free hand and watched the hungry girl scarf down the rest of her bread.

Aria's lips tugged into a closed mouth smile as Layna reached into the basket to find a vial of clear water, and the brown haired girl flicked the lid off and downed the water in one go. Layna placed the vial back inside the basket, and her dark brown gaze landed on Aria, who had a huge smile on her face. She was about to ask the girl why she went out here again, but before she could, she felt something in her gut. Wincing, she bit down on her bottom lip and screwed her eyes shut, causing the smiling girl to quickly run to her side and ask her what was wrong.

Layna wasn't unfamiliar with the feeling, as she has been experiencing this since she was a very young child. She would always ask her mother about it, wondering if she had superpowers because she could feel things that others couldn't. Her mother would always have a knowing smile on her face, kissing her temple as she told her, "You have mommy's gift as well, sweetheart. You'll learn to control it when the time comes." And until this day, the young girl still didn't understand what her mother was trying to tell her back then, and her mother never did get to tell her all about whatever Layna had.

"What is it?" Her best friend asked, concern written on her pretty face. Layna didn't know why she felt that something was wrong, but that was what she could feel deep inside of her, a feeling bubbling up into the surface. And it was strong, so much stronger than the feelings she used to sense when she was younger. She could not explain what the feeling was, but all she knew was that she could feel so three different entities very close by. The two of them felt calm and peaceful, but also vaguely familiar as the presence felt similar to that of her mother. But the other one made Layna shudder in terror, as it was dark and angry and just pure evil, the complete opposite of the first two she felt in her gut.

She waited for a little while, until the initial shock faded and the strong feeling she had dissipated. She could still sense and feel them, but it wasn't as close and as intense as it was before. She heaved out a heavy sigh, forcing a smile as she reassured her best friend. Aria shot the brown haired girl a worried look, before dismissing the issue, which Layna was thankful for.

The tanned girl shook her head and lifted her head, squinting at the sky. "I'm afraid I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow, Layna." The brown haired girl nodded, ignoring the nagging feeling in her chest as she waved her friend goodbye.

As soon as Aria disappeared around the corner, Layna's dark brown eyes scanned the area. She needed to know what those two entities were, they felt so much like her mother that maybe, just maybe, they knew about the powers she had been born with. Layna felt that these two entities knew what the hell she was, and what is this strange power she has been holding inside of her.

She could feel them moving, and their presence pulled the six year old towards them just like how a magnet would attract any metal. Her eyes fluttered shut, and the young girl focused on the two presences in her mind, trying to figure out where exactly they were. Left, she thought as she opened her eyes again, dodging aliens and Corellians as they passed her by.

Right again, straight forward, take a left here and right again, she instructed herself mentally as she continued the search for these two entities - no, humans, as she now realized. The feeling was getting stronger and stronger the more she closed the distance between them, and soon enough, Layna felt an overwhelming amount of power in one small area. They were here, and she needed to find these two humans as they could hold the answer to the mystery her mother left behind for her.

"Where are you?" She murmured to herself, her dark brown eyes flickering to search for the two humans she has been tracking down. She could feel that she was so close, so close to getting the answers to her questions and all she had to do was find the two humans she had sensed.

"Are you looking for me, child?" Layna swiftly whipped around in alarm, her heart rate rising rapidly. She didn't understand why she didn't sense them behind her, it was a bit strange considering that she could immediately sense people just like she did just moments before. She lifted her head and she saw that staring down at her were two men - one in his late thirties and one in his early twenties.

The one who spoke was the older man, who gave the startled young girl a gentle smile to ease her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He told her, his shining blue eyes taking in the sight of the young brunette girl.

Layna glanced over at the younger boy, who hasn't spoken yet, and found him examining her curiously. He noticed him stealing a glance towards the older man, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion before his gray-blue eyes found the child once again. "Master, are you sure this is the child?" The younger man asked the older man, who just nodded twice and continued to stare at the girl with so much interest.

"I know that this is the girl, my young Padawan. I can sense that the Force is strong in her," He nodded towards the girl, who has already started to calm down upon hearing the man's words.

The force? She didn't understand what he was talking about, could this be the mysterious power she has had since she was younger? Can these people control it as well? Are these people to be trusted? There were so many questions running through her mind this very moment, but she blurted out the first one she wanted answered. "Who are you?"

The older man bowed to her slightly, his blue eyes boring into her as she nodded, cheeks tinting pink. "My name is Qui-Gon Jinn," he gestured towards the much younger man beside him, who was still staring at Layna with so much doubt in his gray-blue colored eyes. "And this is my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Layna's dark eyebrows met, hearing the unfamiliar word roll off the man's tongue. "Padawan?" She repeated, trying out the foreign word on her lips. She had heard many things, being a resident of the streets of Corellia, but never had she encountered the word Padawan. Was it another alien language she couldn't understand?

"A Padawan is a Jedi apprentice," The bearded man replied, gauging the young girl's reaction to the word Jedi. And true to his expectations, Layna's expression changed as soon as the word Jedi registered into her brain.

She may not have heard the word Padawan, but she has heard about the Jedi. They were those who were trained to be protectors of the peace in the galaxy, and they were very powerful individuals. She could recall the many bedtime stories her mother had told her about these beings, and she never would have thought that she'd have the privilege to meet one in the flesh.

"You're a Jedi?" Layna asked, her dark brown eyes widening as she scanned the man up and down in disbelief. She could not believe that someone like this man had the status of a Jedi Master. And here she was right now, in the presence of one along with his Padawan. She blinked a few times, smiling at the two men towering over her. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jinn. And also you, Mr. Kenobi."

"And what is your name, young one?" Qui-Gon bent down, so he was eye-level with the dirty looking girl whose eyes showed so much loss and so much loneliness. But despite these experiences, her eyes still shone as bright as ever with a newfound determination.

"My name is Layna Hale," she introduced herself this time, and the younger man's neutral expression disappeared, a shocked one replacing it instead. Obi-Wan turned towards his master, who shared the same expression, nodding in understanding.

"Tell me, Layna, are you the daughter of Eloura Hale?" Obi-Wan inquired, earning a confused look from the brunette child.

"Yes, but mother never spoke of Jedi she knew," Qui-Gon nodded, confirming the suspicion he had about the former Jedi Knight. Layna searched through her memories, and despite telling her stories of the Jedi, her mother never actually told her specific names, or if she knew any of these Jedi she told stories of. Layna previously thought that her mother made them all up, but now, she isn't too sure about that assumption. "Did you know my mother?"

Qui-Gon turned to his student, a concerned look flashing on his face before focusing his attention back to the young girl whose true identity remained a secret to herself. "Your mother used to be one of my students, but she left the Order abruptly around seven years ago." His ocean colored eyes took in the tiny girl's features, noting those which are similar to those of her mother. "And now I see why."

Layna frowned, as she was too young to understand the true reason behind her mother's departure from the Order. She didn't understand why her mother - a Jedi, would leave everything behind and run to the planet of Corellia. She didn't understand why her mother never told her that she was a Jedi herself, it was to protect her, she said, but protect her from whom? From what?

Qui-Gon could sense the young girl's emotions, swirling madly and stirring inside of her, and he placed his large hand on the top of her head. He stroked the girl's head, in an attempt to calm her down and distract her from the never-ending array of questions clouding her young mind. "You, my dear Layna, have the power of the Force inside you as well. I know that you know all about it, because you used this power to find me - to find us, correct?"

Slowly, Layna strung up every little bit of information she has learned from the past ten minutes just by talking to these strangers. She sought them out looking for answers, and she managed to get the answers to most of the questions that have plagued her head since she learned to understand the world around her. Nodding slowly, she peered up at the older man whose eyes turned gentle and warm when she gazed into them. "Finding you here today was the will of the Force, I am sure of it." Qui-Gon spoke, sensing the warm feelings flowing out of the grinning girl in front of him. "And this is why, young Hale, I want you to come with me and Obi-Wan. I want you to train as a Padawan, just like your mother before you."

As soon as the words left Qui-Gon's lips, Layna knew that this was what her mother wanted her to do way back then. Her deceased mother's words rang through her head, and this time, she knew exactly what her mother meant by them."You have mommy's gift as well, sweetheart. You'll learn to control it when the time comes."

"I will go with you," the young girl replied immediately, and her eyes burned with the same determination as her mother before her when she started training to become a Jedi. Obi-Wan saw it, and Qui-Gon saw it. A ghost of a smile formed on the Padawan's lips, as he was reminded of the woman he used to call a close friend and Obi-Wan knew that in that moment, that this young girl would grow to be a strong Jedi just like her mother.

"Excellent," Qui-Gon pushed himself up, dusting his robes as he glanced over at his apprentice. "Obi-Wan shall take you back to Coruscant to meet with the Council. Once you begin training, you are to stay with your Master until the end of your Padawan training."

Layna realized just what she was getting herself into. She wanted to become a Jedi, she truly did, just as her mother wanted for her before she became one with the Force. Layna felt like becoming a Jedi was something she was meant to do, and she was going to do her best to become one of the most powerful Jedi to exist. But in order to begin this journey, she had to say goodbye to Corellia.

It wasn't Corellia she was going to miss, it was the only person she cares about in Corellia. She wanted to see her best friend one last time before she began her training, and she wasn't going to leave until she does.

"Wait, Master-" "Please wait!"

The Padawan and the young girl spoke in unison, briefly glancing at each other from the corner of their eyes, before turning back to the much older and much wiser being. Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at the two young ones, wondering what it was that each one wanted. Layna hushed, knowing her order of business must not have been as important as Obi-Wan's, and gestured for the Padawan to speak first.

"Master, I cannot allow you to search for that individual alone. What if we find him? Then what? You might die out there, Master!" Qui-Gon held up a hand to his apprentice, causing the brunette man to silence himself.

"I appreciate your concern, my young apprentice. But please, I need you to bring Layna to the Council-" Layna quickly shot her hand up, cutting off the Jedi Master. "Um, could I bid my best friend goodbye before we go, Master? You two could go continue your original mission while I could tell her goodbye one last time, Master, please."

If there was anyone Layna would miss in this planet, it was her best friend. Aria has been like a sister to the thief this past year, and she was the only person who comforted her regarding her mother's loss. Layna didn't want to just leave and disappear without saying goodbye, she knew that Aria wouldn't stop worrying until she could see for herself that Layna was safe and sound.

Qui-Gon glanced over at his apprentice, seemingly thinking things over carefully before letting out a resigned sigh. His blue eyes gazed upon the pleading girl, and he gave her another soft smile. "Okay then, young one. I'll take Obi-Wan with me to search for that bounty hunter, while you go and bid goodbye to your friend."

Layna nodded rapidly, cracking an ecstatic smile as she ran up to the man and wrapped her arms around his legs to embrace him. "Thank you so much Master!"

"But you have to promise to come back here as soon as possible," Qui-Gon instructed her, patting the top of her head like a father would do to their child. Layna never knew her father as he had died before she was brought into this world, but she was pretty sure that this was how having one felt like, even if she had only met the man today. She pulled away, flashing the Jedi Master a smile, before speeding off to find her best friend of almost a year.

"She reminds me so much of Master Eloura." Obi-Wan watched the girl disappear with sad eyes, the various memories of the beautiful woman invading his mind all at once as soon as her daughter was gone. His master agreed with the young man, folding his arms across his chest as he peered over his shoulder, feeling the presence of a kind soul he used to know.

"We will take good care of her, that I promise you, Eloura." Qui-Gon reassured the mother of the young girl, despite not actually seeing the deceased woman. The only reason why he knew she was there was that familiar presence he always felt whenever the beautiful woman was anywhere near him. The bearded man felt a breeze whip against his cheek, and he smiled, knowing that it was Eloura's way of thanking the man.

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