Rating: G
Summary: Nothing major happens, just seize the moment.
Archive: sure, let me know where. The usual suspects already have my permission :)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money made, just a little fun story. Please don't sue me.
Author's Note: No beta on this, just a little story. Forgive the mistakes.
He watched quietly as the young crechelings splashed around in the mudbogs. Three other masters also kept watch, though the noise alone generated by the young ones was probably enough to frighten off any curious beast. Still with that much uncontrolled force energy focused in one place, one could not be too careful.
He should take another apprentice. He knew this long before he made this trip with the other masters. Normally a master of his status would never be asked to do such a task as chaperoning a trip to one of the outer moons, but he had been away too long, too far out of touch with the living force, the here and now of these small creatures. And while he watched them play, he wondered which one he should take.
Foolish, he thought. It has been too long. Nothing have I to offer an apprentice. Too old, too set in my ways. Foolish.
And yet...
He glanced the young boy in front of him, studying him with curious eyes and smiling. Unused to such open scrutiny, he smiled back.
"Hello," chirped the boy, still smiling, mud dripping from his shirtfront.
The master nodded and offered a smile of his own. The boy beamed, and he felt the energy of the living force emanate from that toothy grin.
"Why don't you come join us, Master?" the boy asked. "You don't look very happy sitting on that rock."
"No, thank you," he answered. "Warm in the sun, I am. Content I am here."
"Are you sure?" the boy prodded. "The mud is warm too. Warm and squishy." He shuffled his feet. "It feels good when it squishes in between your toes too."
Just then, one of the other attendants came up. "Qui-Gon, let Master Yoda be. You shouldn't disturb him while he's trying to meditate."
Qui-Gon Jinn cast his gaze downward, ashamed. "I'm sorry, Master Yoda." Bowing deeply, he shuffled after the attendant, and Yoda felt the Force trail after him. It tugged at him playfully.
Foolish, he thought, watching the boy join the others. From his perch, he could hear the laughter bubbling up from the mud-covered children.
I am too old for this foolishness, he thought.
He hopped down from his rock and sank his toes into the mud.
~~~fin~~~
