Private Into Darkness

[Cadere]

Dxun
The Demon Moon

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Finally! Something fun and interesting to do - Cas and another Padawan, Vil, had been tasked of exploring a recently discovered ancient temple on Dxun. The only information they received regarding the temple was that it was built on a Dark side nexus and was used as a place of worship by now long extinct natives, Cas' and Vil's job was to attempt and purify it for further investigation and research later on.

Seemed easy enough, after surviving an encounter with a Sith Apprentice, a Mandalorian and much more nothing really phased him, the only concern that the Kiffar had however was that his companion didn't own a lightsaber and the fact he was mute. It wasn't like with Sakadi, where she could communicate through telepathy... so this was a bit troubling. The least the Kiffar could do was try and keep him safe as much as he could.

As the two Padawans arrived just outside the temple's entrance - Cas could already sense the Dark side surrounding the temple, he wasn't sure if the two alone could purify what was inside that temple but... they had to try. And if they couldn't, well, they can bring back more powerful Jedi that were more versed in the lightside. Staring at the temple's entrance, Cas playfully nudged his slightly shorter companion and grinned at him "You ready for this, guy? Should be pretty fun." he quipped, eager to get started.

Vil Cesslo

 

[Vil Cesslo]

Guess it was finally time for him to get out of the temple. Finally too! Between growing tired of the same old tiring look of the Jedi temple and the occasional memory it brought to his mind he had been egging to get a nice change of scenery even if it was just going outside and catching some fresh air. The excitement though was tempered when he found out he was going into an unexplored temple and his hopes were further dashed when he found out that he wasn't going with a master or knight but another Padawan. Still he heard a few rumors about his fellow Padawan that he knew he would just have to ask him after this.

Needless to say he was nervous as feth right now. He didn't know much about temple diving but old and unexplored spelled dangerous to him, as he delved through the forest he felt totally out of his element the brush grabbing and trying to claw at his clothing looking for a crease to snag on. Every new sound registered to his ears and there was just a whole other life to it one he wasn't used to as he kept expecting some beast to just sprout out from the under-grove and try to pick at him.

That disappeared though when he caught site of the temple all of that stopped as he stared mouth wide open at the temple with the grand shadows casting off the structure and that lone stone path way that bisected the two symmetrical buildings it was beautiful. He could feel the hairs stand just looking in and taking in the sights. He felt a chill as his usual nervousness began to seep in knowing that he was about to step closer into the unknowns and what he could face there. Thankfully Cas' quip broke the chain of thoughts streaming in his mind and he felt a sliver of tension break. Vil had to wonder just how the hell Cas could be so relaxed about this, and how he could be like Cas in that regard. Still he tried to put on a smile.

[I hope I'm ready, first time for everything right?] He signed to him without putting much thought into it, he was finding it easier and easier to 'talk' like this, way better then grunting at people. Though quickly he realized that he didn't even know if Cas understood him or if he was in for a round of charades so he quickly gave Cas a thumbs up before turning back towards the temple as he would now begin to take his first steps towards destiny, mainly so he can show his more experienced friend he wasn't a coward... hopefully.

Cadere

 

[Cadere]

From the basic sign language taught to him by his own mute Master, Cas could very vaguely understand what Vil was making out - something about being ready and a first time for... something? He really should have paid attention more. However, his thumbs up confirmed he was ready prompting a smile from Cas "When this is all over, I gotta get my Master to teach you telepathy." closing his eyes, Cas reached out to Vil's mind and then "Like this..." his voice echoing through Vil's mind. He was still learning himself and could only string together a few sentences.

With that, the Kiffar motioned for his fellow Padawan to follow him inside the ruins. As soon as they entered, he felt as if he was hit with a wave of the Dark side - feeding on his own negative emotions and impulses, it was a struggle for him to counteract it with his presence in the Light side. Feeling as if he was drowning in it he had to stay strong and save face, he turned to Vil once more, sensing the nervousness within him "How are you feeling?" he asked with a hint of concern.

With the various cracks, crevices and many sized openings within the temple's structure, sunlight was able to shine through it thus making it easier to navigate without the use of some sort of flashlight. Trailing deeper inside this temple, and in turn, its nexus he felt the Dark side grow but more than that, he could sense something... more within? Other presences inside, but it was strange, as if these presences were fading in and out of the Force. Quickly glancing over at Vil, he wondered if he could sense it too.

A series of deep, menacing snarls overlapping each other then echoed throughout the walls of the temple. Emerging into the light were a pack of Nighthunters, sensing that they were being influenced by the nexus Cas immediately ignited his cyan lightsaber and backed away slightly, cautiously standing in front of Vil. "Hoo boy, that's a lot." he nervously stated.

Vil Cesslo

 

[Vil Cesslo]

Well it seemed like he got the point so there was something though he realized that he would have to keep his signs simple if he wanted to keep things crystal clear. He could see Cas' pause as he tried to process and interpret what he said. His comment on telepathy would raise a eyebrow from Vil curious what telepathy could ope... A voice intruded straight into his mind just like it was a thought of his though one he couldn't control, the voice foreign both to his mind and to what Cas normally sounded like as it lacked everything. No echo, no reverb, no refraction all unnatural, all invading. Suddenly his mind reeled and shivered as he felt like he wanted to just shrink inside while another part just kept repeating no no no NO. He wanted it out of his head, he wanted that sense of a being wriggling around and infiltrating his mind to just disappear. Needless to say he was he was uncomfortable at that thought and would frantically shake his head to say no.

He tried to move on though he already felt embarrassed for having such a strong reaction, he almost wanted to apologize though he kept his lip... figuratively shut. Instead he distracted himself with the temple which seemed a much more interesting prospect for his mind to think on and obsess over. As it loomed over him and he fell into it's shadow before stepping inside. He could feel just how cold it was inside compared to being outside which felt odd to him. He heard a few descriptions of the dark side but he never had any experience with it personally, just some vague concepts that couldn't be held to reality.

It was hard to nail down what was different as Vil scanned the interior it just seemed to be normal other then the cold and the fact that the shadows were somehow even darker then normal, yet a small intuition just would not stop nagging at him. Something bad was around the corner, something was out there and at any point it could spring into action like a well laid trap. Still he heard Cas' Question, he wanted to say no and leave but he just shut his mouth and gave another thumbs up for good. A part of him wanted to say but he didn't want to let Cas and all the Jedi, if they sent him here then it must have meant they thought he could do it.

He at one point he stopped as he could feel something itching and clawing at the back of his head. Like noises that were too faint to discerned but loud enough to be heard, or like the very air around him flowed. The sensation was incredible and reminded him of the days of roaming the streets. That feeling when the air itself was being clouded by a person filling the space even if they didn't make a sound. Invisible yet drawing it's a to his core like a weight... or gravity. He was curious and wondering if this was the very force moving about and languishing him with a six sense. There was a brief moment when Vil would look over to Cas' direction and Cas to him making eye contact as without a word Vil could already tell what he was asking. Yes he felt that.

As if to confirm the suspicions the pack made it's presence known as it stepped into the light and revealed itself. Big, vicious and snarling exactly what Vil thought would try to eat his scrawny frame in the woods. He could feel his body tense as he body was ready to kick into fight or flight. Though that was when a sense could take hold and force him to stop. Then his eyes looked in wonder at the cyan plasma of Cas' saber... Ok now he had to get one of those. Quickly Vil reached for his stun baton and primed it ready to defend as he looked at the beast and quickly found the situation familiar. It was just like being caught on a Rival gang's turf. He took a few steps forward and moved to the side of Cas. Standing as tall as he could make himself he stared at the beast trying to retain eye contact with what looked like the head of the pack. Don't show you're scared, don't show you're sacred... played in endless repeat in Vil's head as he did everything to try and force himself to look at it's face. The teeth that could easily gash into flesh, claws that could hack away and eyes that screamed of malice. Everything was telling him to look away, turn tail and run, it was only the glow and his fellow Jedi that was stopping him from running. The nighthunter seemed to pause and take an interest in Vil returning contact as it seemed to partake in a stare off for a few brief seconds. As other Nighthunters began to prepare for a strike...

Cadere

 

[Cadere]

The Padawan's eyes met Vil's with shock and surprise, his reaction... was unexpected to put it lightly. For so long Sakadi had communicated with Cas this way because it was the only way he knew how, due to his easygoing nature he never saw it as a problem. He neglected to realise that communicating with another telepathically may be uncomfortable or unwanted for them. After shaking his head at Cas, he raised his hands up in surrender and apologised profusely to him "I'm sorry, if I had known-- I wouldn't--" but he cut himself off.

*******​

Cas met Vil with a sideways glance as he stood beside him, a grin formed on his face. He remained ready to defend himself, watching in curiosity at the stare off between the alpha Nighthunter and Vil while also keeping an eye on the advancing nighthunters.

Then a snarl was heard from one of the nighthunters, "Uh-oh." he whispered to himself as one of the nighthunters lunged at him which Cas promptly swatted away with his lightsaber. "What?" his eyes widened in shock at the fact that his lightsaber didn't cut through the creature instantly, Cas used the Force to push the pack backward. Twirling his lightsaber, he began backing away slightly and hoped Vil was following suit "So, bad news..." he opened up, "They seem to be resistant to lightsabers." he awkwardly chuckled "Reckon that stun baton can do anything? If not, we can always run away."

He would wait for Vil's action or inaction, but remained ready to defend his fellow Padawan and himself nonetheless.

Vil Cesslo