Shili Ke'leh

Du territory

Ahsoka could feel the force bubbling around her; something was going to happen. She wasn't sure it was going to be good, she could also guarantee it wasn't going to be good.

-----

One could call getting ambushed by three Akul bad and then having to face three waves of clankers bad - Ahsoka could suppose, but that didn't seem to be what the force was talking to her about.

What she didn't realise was that this 'threat' would come from her people.

-----

Rex could feel the stares on his back, the whole time that they fought there were multiple sets of eyes on him. The amount just seemed to multiply when he entered the village, but this time, he knew who was staring at him.

He had a trail behind him of what seemed like half the younger population of the village. They even seemed to start arguing between each other when he openly looked over at him. It was unnerving for definite.

He could not help the glances he kept sending to the Commander and General, hoping to see whether this was something that would typically happen. He approached the two commanding officers, removing his helmet just as he was about to reach their side.

"Ke'leh," one of the older of the trailing females whispered, startling him with how close they got.

Before he could even process what they had said as they reached to grab him, he saw the female get decked to the floor, the Commander hissing as she paced in front of him.

He knew he must look a state, eyes full in confusion, body startled in shock.

Ahsoka stared down the female, hissing and bearing her teeth at her. She kept hissing at the other females in the background. "Not sa, not tunga. Not sa ke'leh, not du ke'leh. But du territory, du tribe."

The rest of the 501st were opening staring with their mouths hanging open at the display happening in front of them. They could see that Rex seemed to be the one that this was all rotating around, but they could not understand why.

"Rex get back to the ship," Anakin ordered, his face pale.

Just as Rex went to move, Ahsoka turned back towards them, snapping quickly, "do not move and do not turn your back on them. Otherwise, you'll trigger the next stage of the mating ritual."

That was when Rex's jaw dropped; he'd triggered a mating ritual?

"You've already shown yourself to be a warrior, then, when the boys listened to you, they singled you out for your power," Ahsoka explained, "they then told you they wanted to mate. If you walk towards them, then they have power over you, if you walk away, they'll give chase."

"Is there any way to say no?" Rex asked the situation sounds like there was no way for him to back out.

"Nothing you can do on your end, you've left it too long, and you don't know the words either," Ahsoka sighed before hissing and striking out as some females came forwards again.

"So there's nothing that can be done," Rex asked almost miserably.

The 501st was sickly white as they took in the situation now the Commander had translated what has happened. They were at risk of losing their Captain.

"There is one thing that can be done, now worst has come to worst, only another of age female togruta can fight for 'mateship' of the chosen male," Ahsoka sighed, "by killing Akul on my own to wear this headband, I am of age, which is why they acted before you reached me. I'm a threat, and I'll have to prove to them that I should be the one to be with you. Otherwise, you will not be able to leave this planet, ever."