A Life-Time of Wonders [Thurion]

[Coci Heavenshield]

Makem Te​

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The Tract​

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The Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy​

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[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Right on their door step, Makem Te. Home to the Swokes Swokes who spoke Swoken and a thick accented Basic. Makem Te is also the home planet of interesting fauna most notably the Schinga of which come in varying sizes and venom, a serpent-like creature which Coci cared little to meet. But today starts a journey of a life time, Thurion and Coci had discussed and decided to undertake a pilgrimage of sorts, to visit all the twenty wonders of the galaxy. This would take a life time to do, but still each moment spent with Thurion in such an undertaking will fulfill a dream for the both of them.

The Oathkeeper broke through the atmosphere and began it's descent to the main city of Thousand Thousand, the capital of the planet and from there they would travel to the Tract in an open air ground speeder. It is a hot planet mainly desert, dry and unforgiving if not respected, and so they had with them plenty of water. Coci dressed to combat the heat, white attire save for her boots which are as black as her eyes, saber clipped to her belt and for the first time in her life she wore a hat. She looked like something from a holovid, Raiders of the Lost Holocron, she recalled to her own amusement. The only thing missing was the whip.

As the ship docked, Coci and Thurion made their way to the speeder housed on the ship, security had given the two Jedi the all clear to depart and Coci settled into the passengers seat with an air of excitement and a smile on her face. She is relaxed now they are on ground, and for a day and possibly over night, they would explore and keep out of trouble. She hoped.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The decision to visit the twenty wonders of the galaxy was an easy enough to make, but deciding where to go first was a whole 'nother level. It made sense to start with Makem Te, a neutral world nestled between the Silvers and the Levantines. The Tract of Makem Te was essentially a massive graveyard housing trillions of passed souls and their remains, and covers over 10% of the planet's surface. That alone makes it worthy of a visit, but adding to this is the marvelous architecture dating back thousands of years. With his keen interest in craftmanship of any kind, he was more than eager to study its history while also paying his respects to the deceased Swokes Swokes whom rested there. Besides, it'd be good to go somewhere where they would not run into trouble right off the bat.

Dressed in light clothing similar to Coci's outfit, Thurion wore light-brown trousers with a cream shirt, with the addition of a dark-brown duster coat. This was also his first time sporting a hat of any kind, not counting the hood of his Jedi robes. They were about to spend most of the day in the desert, meaning extreme heat and, should they stay the night, extreme cold. For this reason he'd packed a couple of Älk furs; he refused to believe any place could be colder than Midvinter, but one could never be truly sure. Assuming the pilot's seat, the speeder took off across the vast desert in the direction of the Tract.

With one hand steering the easy-to-pilot speeder, his remaining arm draped around Coci sitting next to him in the passenger's seat. "Do you think Théo will be safe with Nina and Mysa? I still think we should've found a baby-sitter." As Coci rested her head against his shoulder, he pressed his lips upon her forehead.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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"I would be more worried that Nina and Mysa will be safe with Théo", she teased him, but a spike of concern filled her at that moment, "Nina and Mysa will be fine, but if you are worried we could have someone we trust to go check on them".

"But those two girls are very capable, they will be fine", now she was convincing herself.

Already the heat of the sun began to assault their bodies as the speeder raced across the sandy planet, it would not take long to reach their destination consider how much coverage of the planet the Tract spans, Coci could see the tops of the graveyard columns gleaming in the sunlight. Although Jedi are apt at survival having the capability to reduce the need for natural necessities for long periods of time, Coci already felt parched in the mouth and reached for the water bladder. They had more than enough water for days, but one never really knows what events can happen in such an environment so it is best to be prudent. She took a mouthful of water just to moisten her mouth and offered the bladder to Thurion to do the same.

As the speeder entered the Tract, mile upon mile of columns formed in a line fell before them. Tiled pathways lead deep into the Tract, patterned with shapes and colours that matched the architecture of the capital city. The fat bottomed column sat upon large marble platforms forming the 'head stone', mosiac inlay of orange, blue and grey elegant in design covered the entire column and the place is vast. On some of the graves Swokes Swokes had left tribute to loved ones past, or ancestors, bowls of food or water and flowers and cloth.

"Thurion, lets stop and walk for a while". she asked him.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion couldn't help but give a chuckle at her comment. Their son sure was a handful, always running off to explore on his own or trying to go off on some imaginary adventure. Force knows how he'll act once a teenager. With his older brother looking out for him, Thurion was never really the reckless type growing up on Pelagon. Wasn't that much to run off to living on an aquatic world, anyway. He was happy for the freedom his son had at his disposal, more than anything. His thoughts were interrupted by Coci offering him the bladder of water, which he gratefully accepted.

They arrived at the Tract, the awesome sight of the necropolis stretched on for as far as the eye can see making him let loose an audible gasp. It was overwhelming to the senses; the countless dead, the palpable sadness of loved ones paying their respects. But there was also much love and devotion on display, visible in the many various offerings and tributes to deceased ancestors. Death was a natural part of life, and the very reason why life was worth living in the first place. Much like Light and Dark, one cannot exist without the other.

Parking the speeder and casually strolling down one of the main roads, Thurion took Coci by the hand as they walked. "This place is... amazing! So much history interred within every crypt, beneath every gravestone."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Pulling one of the water bladders over her shoulders, Coci took Thurion's hand happily let him lead her along the roadway within the Tract. She could feel the heat of the day reflecting off the marble and warming her face and yet this placed seemed peaceful. Strange how the dead can make one feel peace, at least in these grave yards. The valley of the Sith Lords would make one feel anything but peace. One could easy get lost in this place, on and on the columns ran and not one person in sight, as least not here.

The Swokes Swokes had kept the Tract in fine condition, evidence of repairs seen on some of the platforms that had fatigued with time and small shards from the ceramic littered the surface but would in time be replaced. The two wandered aimlessly for a time, deciding to make their way down another part of the Tract that took their interest. "This is truly a wonder, the sheer size of it alone is extraordinary and sad. But the same for the rest of the galaxy I suppose, this history of the Swokes Swokes in concentrated and so we feel the loss greater".

Coci stopped Thurion and turned to face him, taking his other hand in her's. "It is life, to die. But remember, it is not the end of the journey, we will always be .. now and beyond this life. I meant that you know, if I die before you .. I will be waiting for you only so we can continue our path together".

Suddenly the sun seemed to go behind a cloud and a shadow fell over them, but it was not the sun shrouded, she knew that immediately as there was not a cloud in the sky when they traveled. Coci looked to find the source of the shadow and her face turned white. Behind Thurion reared up a giant Schinga Shikou, a large and venomous serpent. Opening it's mouth wide, it issued a piercing scream which made Coci cover her ears with her hands. The serpent reared up further in a posture to strike, large fangs dripping venom glistened in the sunlight.

"Run!". Coci grabbed Thurion's hand and pulled him away as she began to run.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion kissed her hands as she stopped to face him, and he was about say something when he too noticed everything become engulfed in shadow despite the lack of clouds. The terrified expression on Coci's face as she glanced over his shoulder told him everything he needed to know, and there was no hesitation once the bid to run came. Tossing a brief glance over his shoulder, he quickly identified the large serpent creature as a Schinga Shikou - native only to Makem Te. Not unlike the mighty Hrothwûrm of Midvinter, one of which were felled by him and his father with much difficulty.

He gave her hand a tug as he stopped and pointed to one of the crypts. "There! We need to get off the streets! Come on!" They set off towards the crypt with all haste, passing one of the impressive-looking columns. His free hand lashed out against it, and moments later it gave way at the base and proceeded to fall over in an attempt to block the way for the huge serpent. It did succeed in slowing it down, but only for a moment as it soon slithered right over the debris. It was all the time he and Coci needed, however, and as they neared the thick door designed to keep out intruders Thurion summoned the Force to bull charge it, tackling it wide open upon contact.

Once inside they soon had the metal door permanently sealed by fusing it to the entrance using their lightsabers. He made a shushing gesture as he listened for outside noises. "I think we lost it," he whispered softly as the dust settled around them. Assured that this was the case, he slumped to the cold marble floor with a sigh of relief. "Why can't we go anywhere without getting into trouble?" he asked his wife, offering her a smirk.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

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Now with the entrance sealed, and possibly without a fresh oxygen feed, they needed to find a way out. At least it is cooler here and the serpent unable to get to them, they hoped. The crypt plunged them both in darkness and Coci ignited her purple lightsaber to shed light. With her heart pounding from the running and heightened emotions of preservation for them both, she sat down next to Thurion and returned his smirk. "Got a feeling this is not over yet".

She looked around the stone chamber, the purple light showing that there is some kind of passage way in front of them, leading where would be anyone's guess but it did not appear to go far, they did not have many options. "We will have to find a way out, not sure how much air is down here". Or what air there is could be perilous.

Coci let out a sigh, not really seeing anything that would give them a clue, her black eyes able to pierce the dark more than most have the capacity to do, but all she could see was more stone, flushed together and offered no passage through.

As her heart began to calm, and feeling some fatigue from emotions settling, Coci leaned back on the wall behind them, her back thudding against it in slight frustration at their situation. Her head tilted back aganist the stone wall as she closed her eyes to rest. But the back of her head .. hit something.

Clunk...​

Dull but a clear clunk. And the floor began to move.. fast, to fast for them to readjust, the stone wall parted and the two tumble backward down a long steep incline. The gradient of the stone incline would do little to slow their descent into the black antechamber. Coci's saber went flying and cartwheeled through the blackness and lucky for them out of their way. Following Thurion down the hard surface, her backside over head, legs sprawled in all directions the two would finally come to a halt. Coci landing right on top of Thurion with a hard stop. Although he had softened her fall, her lungs expelled air with the sudden impact.

Battered and bruised, Coci pulled herself off Thurion, "I am sorry, are you alright?", she said with much concern. She looked around to see .. nothing, total darkness except for the saber still ignited laying on the floor. Coci jumped up as quickly as she could and went for it. As she walked she could hear the sound of crunching under foot and as she approached her saber the light from it revealed thousands of aged fatigued white bones. They are in a room complete covered in bones of creatures. Well, it is a grave yard after all.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Just as the two thought they'd be given a little peace and quiet, the floor beneath them parted and sent them tumbling downwards. When Thurion finally landed with a loud *crunch*, he soon found Coci lying on top of him, both of them bruised from the fall. Gritting his teeth from the brief pain, he coughed up some dust caught in his throat. "I'm fine," he told her with strained voice. "I'll just... *cough* ...stay here for now." As she climbed off him to go have a look around in the total blackness of the room they were in, Thurion remained on the floor to catch his breath.

Rolling over on his side in an attempt to get up, he found himself staring into the hollow eyes of the skull of a Swokes Swokes. "Erm, Coci..." he told her just as the realisation hit her, as well. "I don't think this place is meant for the living..." As he got up on his feet, he let out a sharp hiss before falling over again. "I think... I think my leg's broken," he told her while trying not to alarm her too much. "I don't know, I can't see well enough to make sure. Hang on..." Feeling his way down his aching leg, he found that there was no blood. He let out another sharp hiss as he stumbled upon the area where his leg had been broken. "Well below the knee-cap," he managed with some effort.

Unable to continue examining his injuries due to fatigue and sheer pain, he instead used both hands and his good leg to crawl backwards until he hit a wall to lean back against. "Coming here was your idea, you know..." he attempting a poor joke. Last thing he needed was for either of them to succumb to despair in a time like this.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She heard Thurion first hiss, she was about to give a comment that his impression of the serpent needed work, but she sudden felt the pain he suffered through their force bond.

"What!?!".

Her face went as white as the bones that lay on the floor. The majority of bones are those of creatures however there are more, the dead of the people of this intriguing planet. Coci went on tippy toes to try and not step on the dead, it was impossible of course .. "Sorry, sorry.. pardon me", she said to the resting.

She reached Thurion's side and knelt down, her saber in hand to give light for him and to see his injury. "Are you sure?", she asked knowing the answer, it was one of those silly questions one asked in situations where one does not need more problems. A question of disbelief.

"Below the knee", she repeated and sighed as she gave him a sheepish look. "Ok I can do this", she began talking to herself. Coci is a good healer but nowhere near the skill of Master Whitelight and she had never mended bone before. "Next time, it is your choice", she offered by way of apology, and smiled hoping that would ease him just a little. "I love you?", she added for good measure. She took in a deep breath, more to reassure herself. "I can do this", she said to Thurion to reassure him. Well she had to try, Coci would not have the strength even with the force to carry her beloved out, last resort would be to assist him to walk but they had no way out at the moment and who knew where they actually were. Calling for help was not an option simply because no one would hear them.

Coci's mind raced over the possibilities, before she concentrated on the job of healing. She remember very well her lesson from Maya, succeeding in mending flesh on a molecular level, bone should not be that different. Bones!

Grabbing two pieces of bone from the floor, "Can you hold my saber please?", she handed it to Thurion, she needed both hands free. Holding the two pieces in her hand and examining them, not really knowing what or who the bones belonged to, but that did not matter at this point, the owners had little use for them now but she did.

Coci focused and the bones lifted in the air only a few inches about her up lifted palms. Bringing the bones together to meet, she concentrated on the join as they touched. Through the force Coci began to knit the bone, little by little the two end fused together and when she believed them to be soild she allowed the bone to drop to her hands. "There!", she said with triumph as she held it up for Thurion to see, only to watch as the top bone fell to the floor. "hmmm.. ". Damn it! never the one to swear out loud.

Letting out a long sigh, she dropped her shoulders and hands fell to her lap. But Coci is nothing if not persistent, or was it determined. "There is no emotion, there is peace". she repeated as she closed her eyes to re-focus. She had not been focused entirely as she worried about her beloved and the pain he suffers and the situation in which they find themselves. "No emotion, peace", she repeated very softly.

This time she allowed the force to choose the bones and two pieces floated up from the floor behind her and moved to her as she lifted her hands once more and began the process of knitting them. She allowed time this time, removing all the concern and frustration and simply permitted the force to guide her hands. As the bone knitted and rested in her outstretched palms she knew this time she had succeeded. Taking the bone in her hands she made sure by trying to break it once more. But it held true.

This time she looked at Thurion with renewed confidence. "Are you ready, this might... hurt", she grimaced for him.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Noticing the worry on her face despite being unable to actually see her properly, his palm settled upon her cheek. "I know you can. I believe in you." He knew her as a passionate and persistent woman, especially when it came to her loved ones. "It'll be fine," he spoke calmly. He was not worried; the Force would guide her through the procedure, even down here where life did not exist and death reigned supreme.

While a skilled healer himself , repairing broken bones was nothing like mending cuts and bruises, especially when doing it on himself. Using the Force to mend injuries required much focus, and being in pain yourself did not help things. Back on Midvinter, after he and Nina crashed in the mountains, Thurion found himself impaled on a tree branch through the abdomen. When Thrand found him he'd blacked out, but after waking up in his cabin he spent two weeks recuperating, slowly healing himself using the Force. While a broken bone was not as serious an injury, the process of self-mending would be a slow one. Coci doing her thing was their best bet; time was not on their side with their limited supply of air.

Deep, steady breaths as she was about to get to work. "Go on, Coci. I'm ready..."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The warmth of his hand on her cheek did much to increase her confidence as well as his words and her energy level rose in the core. Coci looked down at his leg, although she could not see his injury through is trousers she would be able to 'see' using the force. Both hands lifted and remained only inches about his leg just below the knee, he would begin to feel the warmth of the force enter is leg as she concentrated. Their situation required an economy of time, but she would not rush this, they still air enough for now.

To remove all concerns, Coci focused on the leg almost in her trance like state she employees to enter someone's mind but she funneled this focus to her hands. Firstly she began to find the bone, the living bone snapped and off line, the warmth of the force heightened as she pulled the bone into alignment. Blocking out any pain or exclamation that Thurion might feel or issue, she had to in order to continue. This operation would take a large amount of her energy, but that mattered little.

The force began to weave around the bone, the heat intensified which would feel uncomfortable to Thurion but would not hurt. And Coci began to knit the green bone.

Energy ran through her body from her core, up to her arms and down into his leg through her palms, time moved on but the healing continued as molecules fused, bone reattached until the bone became one again. Some of his muscle had torn from the bone and had been cut, the force wrapped around the flesh and attached once more in place, blood vessels mended and nerve ends joined, as best she could. She is not practiced enough to fuse nerves completely and her energy began to wane.

There is no break in the skin, which they are grateful for and Coci had completed the healing to the best of her ability, the bone would hold and his pain would be considerably lessened, but most importantly, Thurion would be able to walk.

Coci sat back on her hunches and let her hands fall to her lap once more, she is tired but would recovery soon enough. They would both have to recover quickly and try and find their way out.

"How does it feel?", she asked as she took her saber from his hands. "It is mended, I will help you stand". she said pushing off the bone covered floor of the antechamber, with effort.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

There were no sounds of pain coming from Thurion, now sat in deep meditation as Coci worked on his broken leg. That's not to say he didn't feel anything; he could feel the bone being stitched together, muscles reforming and sinew reattaching itself - there just wasn't any pain. His face would grimace as she worked, brows knitting and mouth twitching, but no sound. When it was over, he opened his eyes. "It feels... stiff, like I haven't used it for some time."

With her help he slid up the wall behind him, using it and her for support. Hesitant to put weight on his newly mended leg, he started out small by softly pressing his foot against the floor of bones, slowly adding more weight to it. When convinced he could stand properly without assistance, he reached out for Coci with loving embrace. "Thank you, my love..." Despite it being pitch-black his lips found hers, and still she smelled and tasted as sweet as she always would.

"Now, let's find a way outta here. At the very least we should find out just how far this room goes." Adjusting his outfit after the fall, as well as brushing off his duster and hat from bone meal, he checked on his lightsaber before joining Coci in exploring the dark room.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

With one arm around his firm waist, Thurion's arm around her shoulder, she laid her other hand on his torso. She could feel his pack moving under his skin as she moved slowly and favouring his good leg to begin with, Thurion soon found balance and confidence to place his weight on the mended leg. Coci let out a relieved sigh as the mend held for him.

His kiss warm, his lips soft and tender she parted her's to return is his and for that moment their dire situation vanished, it always did in his arms, even now. It never failed to amaze her the love the two share and each day she is grateful for him and his love for her.

She would still support him as long as he required it, and so with her arm remaining around him she held her saber high with the other to shed light to their surroundings. "You know, in a strange way this reminds me of when were in the cave, when we first .. make love", she smiled despite all of this, they had met briefly before that night in the cave, on Voss on a mission. "However, this place does not inspire .. romance", she chuckled.

In the immediate antechamber there was nothing but the floor of bones, but she had noticed a passage way before Thurion had told her of his leg. "Over here .. I saw something".

They stood on the threshold of the passage way and began to walk slowly down toward what appeared to be a wall, but it is unclear because of dull vision as to what lay ahead of them. As they moved further in, a sudden flash of light filled the passage way, as torches mounted on the walls burst into flame. Yellow light filled the passage way and danced on the stone walls, shadows, their dance partner and small insects scurried away frightened by the presence of the light and living beings.

"I think we triggered something". or something is here.

As they came to the end of the passage way, they would discover yet another room, no bones on the floor but dust and in the center a stone sarcophagus.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

He smiled as she chuckled. "You always inspire romance in me," he told her as his hand kept a steady grip on her shoulder for support. Once the wall-mounted torches flickered to life and lit up the catacomb they'd found themselves in, he made sure to look around for anything that could help them out in terms of escaping. Alas, for now all he could see were thick walls and an endless supply of bones.

When they encountered the sarcophagus, however, he let go of Coci in an attempt to walk on his own. Taking a few uneasy steps until he could rest his weight against the sarcophagus itself, he began to wipe away the thick layer of dust and cobwebs covering the stone surface. "I don't see any inscriptions... Do you?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

She walked around the room with seemingly no way out, after Thurion had moved tenderly toward the sarcophagus, and found no sigh of anything to give them a clue. But, in reality a tomb is not suppose to be an exit for those that enter it. Hope remained however, as long as they are together they will both look after each other. Even though the walls held torches for light, it occurred to her that they are here for a reason, that they lit without aid from Thurion or herself. So what triggered them to ignite and how?

There is more to this place, she thought.

At this moment Thurion asked about an inscription on the stone lid. She walked over to him and held her saber for more light and ran it across the surface only a few inches above to shed as much light as possible. Nothing, not a word to give a name of the interned. Neither of them knew if this Swoken .. if it was a Swoken .. interned here and so no idea to the importance of the person. But what either of them had not noticed before was now clear, the lid of the sarcophagus had been moved, it sat off line at an angle as if someone had opened it. "Thurion, look. It has been opened .. help me move the lid, if you can".

Coci could not use the force to push, still lacking energy from healing, she pushed with her natural physical strength. But slowly the two would begin to shift the lid until it fell over the side and broke in two on the stone floor. However, what Thurion and Coci would find hidden within the sarcophagus was no body, but a small platform, and from that platform, the first of many steps down into what they would discover to be a vast room.

"We have no choice", she said as she climbed in first and stood on the platform. She held out her hand for Thurion to take so she could help him climb in. At this moment, a low rumbling sound began to fill the antechamber, vibrations could be felt through their boots as the stone floor began to tremble, thin streams of dust fell from the ceiling and fell in small piles to the floor, and the sound of the serpent scream pierced the silence and disturbed the rest of the dead.

A loud crack, came after the scream, and another and another, as the tomb began to crumble. The serpent had burrowed underground hunting it's prey, and now on the other side of the stone wall in the antechamber it began to smash through the stone work.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Joining Coci, he secured his footing before pushing the lid over the side, creating a loud *thud* that proceeded to echo through the antechamber and further down the secret staircase into the enormous room below. "Well, I'll be..." Wasting no time he took Coci's hand and climbed atop the sarcophagus onto the platform before the two would descend the stairs together. They were interrupted, however, by the loud roars of the large serpent from earlier. It smashed through the wall, sending debris across the room. "I think we better go!"

Summoning his strength, he used both legs to the best of his abilities to run down the stairs alongside Coci. The area below was even bigger than any previous room, more akin to a hub of hallways and secret passages. They were in no position to make a stand in such a large room where the snake could easily fit, but the narrow passageways could be used to shake their pursuiter with a bit of cunning. The area was lit with torches just like the ones from upstairs, so finding their way around would not be too difficult.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Again the torches are triggered, and the whole room burst into light with the orange and yellow flame. They had a moment to stop and look around, but the echo of the serpent's destructive path resounded throughout the chamber, they had little time to make a decision. Assured that Thurion was alright and able to stand with more security on his leg, Coci moved quickly around the room. Her eyes looking for anything that would give them a way out, only yet another small passage on the far wall appeared to be the avenue to freedom. Or it could lead them deeper into the underground. They had no way of knowing just how far beneath the surface they are but going back was not an option.

Coci turned back to Thurion standing a little distance away, hoping he might have found something to get them out, but it was at this moment she noticed his shadow cast from the flames. His shadow flickered and danced on the surface of the room in random movement, quickly she looked to the torches, the flames bending to the right. "Thurion look, the flames are moving, there is air here, it is coming in from somewhere". Hope filled her heart now, these is a way out they just need to find it.

Boom.. boom.

A thick pillar of sand began to fill the room. The serpent relentless stalking and destruction had dislodged a large stone as it entered the room of the sarcophagus and the desert sands began to cascade into the underground room.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The serpent slithered across the huge room, searching for its prey. With its heightened sense of hearing and keen eye-sight it would only be a matter of time before it found them. Sneaking through the narrow passages, Coci soon discovered a way out by studying the fluttering of lit torches telling them there was air coming from somewhere close-by. Behind them was a wall, much more weathered than the rest. A flaw in its construction, or was there perhaps something more to it? Pressing his palm against it, he could feel a draft of air from the other side. "This wall - it's hollow," he told her. "Stand back."

He lashed out against the flimsy-looking wall, summoning a burst of telekinesis to knock the wall down. On the other side there was another passageway, only this one led to a staircase going upwards. At the far end a source of bright light welcomed them. "Let's go!" Certain that the serpent had already taken notice of the noise the wall made when it collapsed, there was no time waste and certainly no point in being sneaky anymore. While making it up the stairs, the hideous creature stuck its foul head through the entrance. "There's no way we'll outrun it," he told her as he stopped and turned around. In an attempt to slow it down, Thurion collapsed the entrance atop the serpent using the Force. He would not linger to watch the dust settle.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

The hissing of the sand filling the room echoed in their ears, but Thurion had discovered a possible way out. Coci's heart felt relief as the air tickled at her face and it smelt clean, unlike the stale air of the chambers. She sensed what Thurion was about to do, his force power so strong and familiar to her now, it would give her the energy needed to go on. He is her hope and light in dark times, her everything in the universe.

She stood back as Thurion unleashed his power toward the wall, it would hold no resistance to him and the wall blew away. Dust kicked up around them, which caused her to cough, but she wasted no time in following him through. Behind them the serpent, roared as if sensing its prey getting away. It's gaping mouth dripping with venom, its teeth bared to strike, but the rock from above as well as tons of sand fell on it. It would only slow it down for some time, but it might be time enough for Thurion and Coci to escape and get back to the speeder.

Racing up the stairs after her beloved, taking two steps at a time, Coci looked up to see another door way, black with the lack of light, no torches lined on the wall and so once more her purple saber lead the way. Here the air was fresh, and she could feel a soft breeze on her face. Moving cautiously forward, her force senses reaching out ahead of them, there was nothing, no living thing at least. Eventually, she lead Thurion into yet another antechamber, by the time they get out of here the two will not want for stone chambers again.

"I think we have found another chamber like the one we first fell into, if so there must be a incline like before which will get us out". she began to look for it. Her head had triggered the last one, there must be another trigger on the walls somewhere. Running her hands over the stone wall, she found something, a smaller piece of the stone masonry and worn. She pushed, it was long shot and could open up more trouble, but a rumbling sound started low and soon from above the walls moved and an incline descended to the floor. Above that ... a door opened and Coci could see the daylight.

"Thurion!", she pointed. "Lets get out of here". Coci concerned for her beloved, after his injury wanted to get him to safety and to proper medical help as soon as possible. She began to move up the incline and waited for him to reach her position.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion was admittedly having trouble with all these ascending staircases. Right leg still didn't do all it was told, despite Coci's fine handiwork, as it still felt stiff and tender. Even with the Force he had considerable difficulty keeping up with his beloved who'd gone ahead and open up their escape route. Still he kept going, limping up the stairs with a giant serpent creature hot on his heels, now free from the debris. "Don't wait for me, keep going!"

In a last-ditch effort he turned around to face the serpent for but a moment, long enough to throw his lightsaber at its face. Its blue blade struck true, putting out one of its unprotected eyes as the rest of it was covered in scales thick enough to deflect most energy weapons, lightsabers included. He'd let his blade remain in its eye-socket for the time being as it would provide further distraction to buy them some extra time. Unarmed he carried on climbing the stairs, now summoning what strength he had left to aid his faulty leg.

Coci awaited him at the exit, and as the sunlight struck his face once more he felt invigorated. They had crawled through the land of the dead to reach the land of the living, not unlike their brief time spent in the Netherworld. Before they would make their escape, however, he reached out for his lightsaber still lodged inside the skull of the creature. It disignited itself and soon returned to its owner. He would not leave behind his most trusted and loyal travelling companion, who'd been with him since he was knighted over a decade ago. Asha's cloth still adorned it, albeit a lot more covered in blood and guts than before. He would take extra care in washing it clean once back at the Oathkeeper.

They weren't safe just yet, as the serpent was still coming for them, slithering up the stairs with great haste despite its missing eye.