She didn't remember the Rancor swiping her sideways into the stone column, the gash it left across the left side of her face, the blood that filled her eyes, nose and mouth, nor did she recall the Mountain clan witches pouring into the remnants of the old courtyard to subdue the beast, she did not remember the trip back to Rhona's home, Dathani scoring a line across her flesh with a sharp scalpel, or Rhona stitching her back together with every due care.

Since waking her time was spent withdrawn from everyone, locked away in her own mind with all her conflicting thoughts battling each other for supremacy, her heart torn into one hundred pieces.

She refused to eat, she couldn't sleep, she could barely bring herself to look upon her son in her melancholy.

The shining silver talisman never left her hands as she sat alone in her bunk, it's gleaming red jewel smooth under her fingertips, her nails traced the scroll-work that the stone was set in, She tried to make some sense of what it had shown her that night, she knew that she must know what it meant, she knew she would ask it again, she felt powerless against it's sway, and no longer afraid of falling to it.

Real was the constant ache in her chest, the dull thudding of her heart, the utter despondency.

Real was the fear that constantly made her run and hide, the pain of loss, Jango's betrayal, the torture of her childhood, and it made her angry.

She had been used, manipulated, abused, the more these words ran through her head her body began to shake, despondency gave way to a white-hot rage, her fist tightened around the token in her palm, her jaw set, teeth clenching together and the dull thudding of her heart became loud and fast in her ears.

She had promised to trust in none but herself now was the time to hold herself accountable to that unspoken vow, to stand on her own feet and to keep her progeny safe.

She could no longer stay with Rhona, the Mountain clan would never let her return to them so long as she harboured a nightsister, they did not care Ana had never met another nightsister, they declared her one by the desires in her heart and her lust for the dark knowledge in the temple.

And so the woman who had become so much like a mother to her, the only mother she had ever known, relented to her, the location of the Nightsister encampment, away across the marshes past the temple, deep in the jungle where the sun shone it's dullest through the mist and clouds.

Rhona touched her cheek, fingers tracing the outline of the fresh scar etched into the upper-edge of her cheekbone, no witch magic could erase the jagged gash.

"Be safe child, I wish you would stay, that I could change your mind."

"I want you to be reunited with your clan, with your daughter," Ana paused and swallowed back tears, her eyes darted about the meadow, avoiding Rhona's concerned gaze, her stomach tightened, anxiety bloomed, a nauseating feeling crept all the way through her flesh and a shudder ran up her spine, she hated herself in this moment. "Keep her close to your heart where all children should be, tell her that I'm sorry."

Rhona only nodded her understanding and kissed Kycian's tiny cheek, hugging them both close to her chest for the longest time, hesitantly letting them go and watching them cross the sloping field to the shuttle.

Ana set Ferine down on the quaggy surface of the jungle floor, the craft was surrounded by sweeping trees, their large leaves lit red by Dathomirs' bloodied sun, from their boughs hung giant cocoon-like fruits their fragrant sweet smell filling the shuttle even through the filtration system.

She extended the boarding ramp and acknowledged Far with a thank you, unbuckling and gingerly making her way to the sleeping pod, she leaned on the door-jam for support, breathing deeply and calling on the force to dull the pain from her healing belly.

Ana gazed down on the sleeping boy, for all she had lost, she thanked the Force continually that she still had him to hold, gathering him up carefully in her arms, it took all she had not to cry out in pain, Ana disembarked the shuttle entering into the morning mist.

The force was so alive here, she could feel it everywhere, dark, but not so ominous as the presence of her father, so very powerful, yet not uncomfortable.

She breathed in deeply, feeling the sutures in her skin tugging, reminding her they were there.

When she had first arrived on this world she had called it home, but now that she had finally reached her mothers' village, she truly was.

Checking the readouts Far sent to her wrist-pad she made her way toward the life readings displayed on the small screen.

A vibrant green mist began to rise from the swamp on either side of the trail she tracked. It hugged all around her and her son welcoming them, showing them the way.

Out of the fog a tall palisade loomed and as she passed through the gates huts began to appear, simple rope bridges spanned areas of marsh paving the way to small islands in the quagmire where abodes sat, fires burning brightly before their doors various animals moved about in pens beside them, a great stone fortress rose from the mists at the very centre of the settlement to awe her. Sisters surrounded them now, weapons held at the ready, unmoving, awaiting orders from an unseen leader. Their faces stony and littered with tribal markings.

The green ichor swirled hurriedly in front of Ana before the witch materialized out of it before her, she fell to her knees clutching Kycian close to her breast.

"Lost child returned to us." The witch whispered her hands opening expressively. Ana raised her eyes up to the angular and pale face, covered in ceremonial ink. She did not have words for the occasion. "Daughter of Akkhan and a true child of Dathomir stolen from us by the Sith, I sense you have many things to tell me." she beckoned Ana to follow her "Come child." and began towards the temple structure.

"Sit." The elder woman waved her arm in the direction of the crackling hearth and continued "I am Mother Talzin, I have long awaited your return to our fold." Ana settled herself as Kycian stirred in her arms and began to cry. "Ah the child, let me see him," Talzin demanded, reaching out for him and Ana extended the boy to her. He was almost lost in her rich red robes and he fell silent as soon as she looked down on him. "Such ability this child has, he belongs with our nightbrothers where he would learn to become a true warrior." She passed the boy back to his mother "I sense this boy is connected to the nightbrothers by more than just you." She didn't ask, she knew.

"My son is the issue of someone else stolen from you long ago." Talzins gaze did not change "The nightbrother, Maul, is the father of my child." The mother remained silent and composed, her face showed no surprise at this revelation.

"Where is Maul now, does he live?"

"He was taken from me, defeated, at the hands of a Jedi Knight."

"I have foretold that before long Dathomir will be drawn into the coming wars," The Mother changed topic abruptly, "The Sith Lord has already taken enough from our people, he will take no more." Anger and resolve grew in her voice with each word and her fingers clenched, furled into her palms. "Will you join our family and protect us against your father, daughter of Akkhan?" Talzin outstretched her hands to Ana silently requesting her loyalty.

The elation she felt did not expel the anguish she felt over the events of the past few days, the acceptance she was offered did nothing to drive the pain away, the anger still raged like a blazing fire in her belly, Talzins eyes narrowed reiterating her question, without further hesitation Ana reached out with her one free hand and clasped her mothers fingers.

"I will." Came her solemn reply, the coven mother seemed pleased and called out to a cloaked figure outside the door.

"Sister Shaelinn, our clans finest craftswoman," She introduced the young woman who had pulled back her hood revealing a sweet round face, finely pointed chin and exotic almond-shaped eyes in the darkest shade. "Shaelinn, show our new sister her home."

"As you wish Mother." Shaelinn inclined her head to her chest and signalled for Ana to accompany her.

The pair made their way through the winding village paths, Shaelinn pointing out buildings of note, asides from the temple, the heart of their community, there stood behind it a large structure which served as a warehouse, filled to overflowing with stores of food, cloth and furs.

The apothecary stood to the right of the temple structure and was the home of Daka, oldest and wisest of all the sisters, her ageing body and failing eyesight did not hinder her in caring for her sisters in their hour of greatest need,

The smelt glowed in the haze from twenty metres away, this, Shae informed her, was her place in the clan, she was the metallurgist, smelter and blacksmith, all the pikes, spears, sickles and blades Nightsisters wielded were made here by her, every totem and talisman crafted by her hands, with her magicks imbuing them with the ichor of the God and Goddess.

Her workshop was a wonder in itself, the space was the open front before her hut, covered by a leather awning braced up by two rough-hewn wooden walls extending from the sides of her home.

Ana had never seen anything of the like in her life, she came from a world where everything was created by machine, artists such as Shae were few and far between, Tongs and hammers lined the back wall, crucibles of differing sizes for melting metals in the furnace were stacked up at the far end of her workplace, the anvil stood proud, close enough to the furnace so she need not carry hot metal too far, yet far enough that nothing would be in the way of her swing.

"Will you make my weapon?"

"When you choose what weapon you wish to do battle with sister, I will make it whatever way you wish."

Shae removed her hooded cloak and hung it near her doorway, she was near a head shorter than Ana, and not so slender, but her arms were strong, muscles in her shoulders and neck defined, long black hair tumbled down her back in a heavy braid.

"You will stay with me, my hut has been empty since my mother passed on."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"Don't be, it was many moons ago." She ushered Ana into her home and set about stoking the fire to life and hanging a kettle to boil above it. "I don't always get along with all of my sisters, some are young, ungratified, maturity will come with time and experience." She gave Ana a long hard look "But I sense you are different to them, rather than the desire to prove your worth you have the hunger to learn, you already know your quality."

Ana surely knew herself now, who she was, what she wanted and how she could achieve it.

"All I want is to grow, to learn how to better defend myself and my child." Shae poured hot water over dried and pungent leaves, stirred the contents together and handed the tin cup to her.

"There is no one finer than Mother to teach you."

"Everyone life brings our way has the capacity to teach us a lesson." She was careful to not throw the word 'force' around here, she did not know how the sisters would accept it, would it be revilement to them and their magick, or viewed as something entirely separate to their belief system. She herself did not know if they were one and the same or two entirely different talents.

"You are a wise one." Shae set aside her drink and motioned for her to stand "Bring the boy, I will find some clean linen for him." She turned as Ana struggled to her feet, grateful to not have to hide the pain that flashed across her face.

Shae showed the way down the narrow passage leading off from the main room, an old wooden door hung on each opposite wall and another at the end of the hall, Shae pushed open the door to the right. "You will have to share a bed for now."

"That will not be a problem, we are grateful for your welcome."

Shae quickly shook out the woollen mattress and made up the bed so Ana could settle Kycian for the night.

"What is his name?"

"Kycian." no sooner had she uttered it did a fleeting frown cross Shae's forehead, quickly she composed her countenance, but not fast enough

"Beautiful name for a beautiful child."

'You know his namesake?" Shae pulled the door closed

"Talzin did not tell you? She is Kycina, or was before she became our Clan Mother," the other woman gnawed her lip apprehensively "I'm sure she would have told you in time, I should not have said anything." Ana placed a gentle hand on her forearm

"Worry not, this news makes me happy, It ensures my sons' safety, for he is her grandchild" Shae grimaced again, Ana could not tell if she was troubled for herself, having said too much, or she pitied Ana, in her wrongness. She swiftly steered the conversation away as they returned to the living area

"What is your gift sister, what talents do you possess?"

"I see, things past, happening presently, and some things that may come to be, whatever the universe wills me to see."

"May the Winged Goddess and Fanged God open your third eye to even greater wonders."

The pair talked well into the early hours and knew one another far better by the time the red daylight began to creep into the hut through the small panes of glass.

Shae had told her all about life in the clan, what would be expected of her, what she could expect from her sisters, spoke to her about the God and Goddess, rite and ceremony and how they played integral parts of the day to day life in the village.

From harvest ceremonies to the great rite of fertility, which resulted in finding a mate, ultimately leading to the sacrifice of strength, gifting the life of the father to the gods, after a new sister was born.

Ana had shared in return, stories of growing up on Mustafar, seeing the nightbrother she would grow to love, but not knowing him until long after.

The Force, Shae sat riveted as Ana explained the powers the force bestowed her, to the best of her ability.

Life on the Republic capital world, serving as an aide in the Senate, and how she came to be on Dathomir now.

Shae unfurled from her cross-legged position on the fur rug and stretched out her limbs, her dark hair, now loose, full of kinks from being braided, fell messily to her waist.

The small amphora on the table was dry, the silver goblets empty, but their bellies were warm with wine and laughter.

Ana hoped that this friendship would grow, that it would be a true and lasting love, not to be stolen away by pain, death or deception, but perhaps it was too much to ask of the force.

Days, weeks, months passed by and Ana absorbed every iota of knowledge she could from the Nightsisters until she was full to overflowing, not only with magick spells but more practical knowledge as well.

Shae had taught her how to hunt, skin creatures and prepare their hides, to weave, sew, build shelter, she could climb the highest of trees and hold her own in a fight, the khopesh was her favoured weapon, her blade now imbued with dark magicks rendering it near unbreakable as she trained to disarm with its hook and dispatch with its deadly curving blade.

Talzin had brought out the best in Ana, not only could she see further than ever before, but she could also use her powers to reach out to her sisters, while in a meditative state, a talent she knew from her force studies as battle meditation, urging them on and encouraging them, empowering them in the hunt while confusing their prey. She had never had the opportunity to aid them in a battle, secretly she hoped that she never would.

As she grew in knowledge and mastery so Kycian grew in stature, his hair, product of his diluted zabrak genes being overpowered by human influence, long and shaggy brushed his shoulders and refused to be fastened, he was by no means a tall child nor was he small, he never stopped moving, he was lean and strong. He spoke clearly and eloquently, his mind was sharp as a laser and full of quick quips and wit. By his sixth year of life, the Nightbrothers of his house came for him, She did not want to let him go, It felt unnatural to part with a child so small, the act threatened to break her spirit, but he too needed to learn how to protect himself outside of her mothering arms.

As he held the hand of his blood uncle Feral, the other named Savage, looking on impatiently, Ana removed Maul's kyber from its place near her heart and hung it around her son's neck.

"I will visit as often as I can my love, remember who you are, learn, grow strong, I am proud of you." She pulled him in close, memorizing how he felt in her arms, his scent and the power that coursed in his blood, tears rolled down her cheeks as the males led him away to the speeder, departing on the long trip to the other side of the continent, where the jungle gave way to vast desert plains and mountains of sand.

He would begin training under Tael, a ferocious warrior who trained all nightbrothers, In the hopes he would become the older Zabraks successor, securing a place of safety within the tribe.

The day they were parted was the day she received her tattoos, Shae's skilled hands gifted her the physical manifestation of the emotion she felt, the dark brown embellishment graced her forehead, tapering from her hairline to the bridge of her nose, with fine diamonds and delicate line-work, covering the scar on her right cheek tracing her cheekbone from her temple to her nose, feathering down onto the fleshy part of her cheek, her freckles, matching the ink, covering all the spaces in-between the stain.

Shae held her when she was finished, embracing her from behind, where she sat as she studied her reflection in the polished metal.

"You are truly one of us sister." Her cheek pressed against Ana's in the reflection, her face showing sadness, a sadness Ana recognised in herself.

Despite all their accomplishments, the reverence and respect that came with their positions, neither woman felt as though they had fulfilled any great destiny.

"You and I will never be like them." Her voice was shallow as her hand came to Shae's soft round cheek, in turn, Shae clasped it in her own, "We aspire to be something greater, something more."

"Teach me now, your force, show me how to wield it."

Ana turned her head to face her, foreheads grazing, eyes unmoving, gaze un-breaking, breath escaping her in a slow stream as she agreed.

When Ana woke the next morning she felt suffocated by her loneliness, rolling over in her covers expecting to see her sons happy face, ready for a new day of work, but her room was empty.

Her face smarted, as though she had spent too much time in the sunshine burning her skin, blood spots marred her pillow where her cheek had rested.

Veeka birds sang in the overhanging tree outside and sisters could already be heard stoking their fires or collecting water from the stream to boil for drinking.

Pushing off her covers she began to dress, she had hung up her cloak long ago, it still adorned the corner of her abode, she dressed like all other sisters now, gone was the drab olive travel suit she had been unable to remove the bloodstains from, gone was the pale blue under-shirt stolen from Jango's closet so long ago for a nightshirt, replaced with crimson weaves and rich brown leathers, she still dressed modestly, body covered, but avoided long skirts that impeded her ability to carry out the simplest of her tasks.

The boots she had worn since leaving Coruscant still served her well through several resoles and patches, they looked dirty and worn but fit more comfortably than ever before.

The thin black under-bodice shirt was quickly covered by the supple leather under-bust bodice, loose crimson breaches fastened around her waist before she began to lace the corset.

She was not unfamiliar with such restrictive clothing, she had worn far more uncomfortable items in the Senate or to the opera, the leather piece was akin to light armour, to protect from tusks and teeth while out hunting.

Pulling the rich red poncho over her head, she then began working her hair into a single thick braid over her shoulder.

As her fingers toiled, her gaze fell on the tapestry above Kycian's now empty bed, depicting the Winged Goddess, claws at the ready amidst swirls of ichor, her very life force, beneath her the Fanged God crouched in wait, Fangs bared, eyes blood red, tattered wings folded against his back.

The fragile balance of drawing strength from the two was comparable to the light and dark sides of the force, but there was no good or evil when it came to magicks, one will do what is necessary to achieve an end, good or bad were nought but intentions, the decisions they all made and the purity or impurity behind them.

Ana had discerned for herself that the Nightsisters were not the abomination the Mountain clan made them out to be, they were sisters, family, together through every joy and hardship, looking after one another, there was nowhere else she would rather be.

Stepping outside into the early light, water pail in hand, she stopped to re-kindle Shae's furnace before heading toward the stream to collect water to boil for drinking for the day.

Life on Dathomir was primitive compared to what she had previously been accustomed to, No droids to be tasked with menial work like laundering or cooking, rather than hate these chores, Ana found a certain solace in them, she had all the time in the universe to think while she washed her furs in the watercourse, or skinned roots for their supper, more so now as she traversed the path to the stream alone, without her son racing ahead of her to splash in the lazy currents.

Lost in her unhappiness she scarcely noticed the sister running uphill toward her,

"Sound the alarm!" The girl Ana recognized as Falthu, barely 14 years old, one of the scouts, came to a stop, panting heavily, dripping water from the stream.

Ana dropped her vessel and turned tail at high speed to the nearest watchtower, deftly pulling herself up the ladder rung by rung, clambering onto the platform she sounded the old bell it's clanging ringing too loudly for her ears, which she promptly covered with her hands, only releasing her hold to keep the bell chiming until she saw more sisters overflowing the narrow trail, all heading in Falthu's direction.

Ana made her way back down from the treetops and joined the rear of the crowd gathered.

Scouts such as Jezetha and Falthu did as their position suggested, scouted not only their own territory for signs of intrusion but also the regions of other clans, their comings and goings, reporting back to the clan elders on all they saw or heard.

"Karis," Ana placed a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, "What happened, was it the Mountain Clan?"

"No, The Spiderclan as best as I can make out, they must have encroached too closely on their caverns for a pack of spider nest-mates to set upon them."

"No closer than we had ever been before sister." Falthu's black eyes were narrow, anger apparent in her voice.

Karis looked as if to retort when Ana hushed her and took Falthu under her arm,

"Come, sister, I'll take you to Mother, are you injured?"

"Jezetha's body-"

"Shush sister, the elders will sort everything out, try not to worry yourself further."

Ana was often graced with permission to sit in on Mother Talzins affairs, the affection bestowed upon her was not unwelcome, it allowed her to understand Talzin better, the coven better, Ana was not always in agreement with the decisions Talzin made but she respected her all the same.

Talzin had an outward persona of kindness to the sisters, and Ana did not doubt that she loved them, in her own way.

But the Mother could also be cold, calculating and callous, perhaps not all of Maul's personality had been instilled in him through years of torture and rigorous training, possibly a small part of that had simply been who he was, passed down by his blood mother.

Ana watched, a scribe in hand, as Talzin comforted the young sister, assuring her that Jezetha would be avenged, they would not rest until Spiderclan blood was spilt in return.

Inwardly Ana cringed, outwardly she remained stoic, she knew her place and knew the penalty of shame for speaking out of turn, what she did not understand was the infighting among the clans, Talzin had said herself she had foreseen the Nightsisters being drawn into the galactic wars, why waste life in vengeance? Why not make their peace with the Spiderclan who were not all that dissimilar from the Nightsisters themselves? Being as it was that they were a splinter of the Nightsister clan, who had left after some dissent between sisters, Loyalty could leave one narrow-minded and dogmatic, unyielding to other points of view, Ana thought to herself as Falthu left.

"You do not agree that we should seek vengeance Daughter." Talzin did not ask her a question, only stated that which she already knew.

"You know me too well Mother, "She set aside the parchment and scribe, folding her hands in her lap "You are only too aware of how I feel about the infighting among us here on Dathomir, but I am new to your ways and still have much to learn."

Talzin pressed her fingertips together before her lips and for the briefest of moments Ana saw doubt flickering through her silver eyes, perhaps there is hope, just as quickly the doubt was gone, replaced by resolve.

"The Spiderclan has invoked our wrath." She did not speak for the clan, but as a conduit of the God and Goddess, and Ana bowed her head in acknowledgement of this, "They shall repay our spilt blood with their own, may their spiders be upturned in their death throes."

Talzins words hung in the air, they were absolute, final, the Nightsisters would wage war.