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My earliest memories were growing up within the Singing Mountain Clan. They told
me stories of how a ranger patrol found me as a little girl, unconscious in a crashed escape pod in a dark ravine. That was
beyond my memories. All I knew were my clan mothers and sisters in the compound. My life consisted of running the hills,
plains, and ravines of Dathomir. I was free to come and go as I pleased, as I had the favor of most of them. I learned
the ways of the rangers, the elders, and the assassins. I honed my fighting skills on the creatures of Dath, and even participated
in several Nightsister and Nightspider Clan raids. There was nothing more exciting than seeing the life seep out of the eyes
of my prey. It was on these raids that my heart was hardened and consumed with rage. The closest thing to love I felt
was when I drove my knuckler into the belly of an enemy. The only embrace I knew was that of my enemy as they clung
to me in death.
I grew tall, tan and lean; muscled and hardened by the world that surrounded
me. My zabrak genes became prominate and my tattoo markings darkened with age. I was intimidating to look at and took full
advantage of it with the younger members.
One day the Clan Mother summoned me to her chambers. As an 'off worlder' she explained
to me that I could come and go as I pleased among the galaxies. She told me how the Singing Mountain Clan was banished
to Dathomir hundreds of years ago for being force sensitive and how they have never left since. They survived by absorbing
captives and taking male captives as slaves and lovers. Many of the male slaves were escaped convicts from the Imperial Prison
located on the far side of the planet. Clan Mother told me I would have to learn to walk among the people of other worlds
without threatening them. I would have to learn how to blend in and be unseen among them. I took her advice and started taking
short trips to Corellia, each time learning more and more about 'off worlders'. My visits, of course, weren't without 'conflicts'
and each time I came out the victor. These people were easily manipulated by my force powers, no matter how weak mine
were.
I had just arrived on Naboo and was heading to the cantina when I
heard a male voice in the crowd that stopped me in my tracks. Mind you, I have had plenty of run ins with many o' men
and had blown all of them off, if not left them for dead. What were they to me, but childish curs who were only after one
thing, and I was not about to give that up. I stood for a moment and listened again, but the star port was filled with
so many people I could not tell where the single voice had come from.
I continued to the cantina and found a seat near in an alcove and ordered a Tatooine
Sunburn. After a moment I noticed a striking man walk into the cantina. His long silver hair was eye catching and his demeanor
strong. He was very good looking, as one could tell with the attention from the entertainers. Many smiles and hellos went
his way. He was easy to look at and I observed him from my seat, glad to not be noticed. As I watched him he said
something to an entertainer and the voice sent shivers down my spine. The entertainer looked in my direction and his gaze
followed. As he walked to my table I steeled myself for a typical encounter, keeping my vibro knuckler at the ready.
"I noticed you at the star port and I had to meet you. My name is Man'ie, my lady,
and I am at your service."
His voice was hypnotic. Never had I heard such a sweeter accent. I didn't
even know what to say.
"My name is Ti'ana, sir."
We talked for about a half an hour, all the while watching him with suspicious
eyes, looking for the littlest sign of an alterier motive. To be honest, I don't remember much of the conversation after that,
only the sound of his voice and the way he spoke to me, as if I were a true lady. After leaving him in the cantina, his
voice still rang in my ears. I made my camp outside of town and as I lay under the stars his face kept flashing behind
my eyes.....what was wrong with me? Never had any man affected me in this way, not even the slaves back home. And when I
say man, this Man'ie was all man, no boy about him. He was strong yet gentle, kind yet firm. He had a confidence about him
that spoke volumes, but did not come off as cocky or arragant. I was infatuated and curious. For the first time in my life I
wanted to know more about a man, this man. I wanted him to know me. Why did I want this? I had no idea. Clan Mother never
told me about this, about men, about love. The word was foreign to me, not even in my vocabulary. Little did I know I
was about to learn the meaning of love, and love every moment of it too.
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