Preperation

[Subject 37]

Vaal

This had never been an important world. Not during the time of the Empire, not during the time of the Republic, not even during the old days. Vaal was a small planet, filled with grassy plains and oceans. No one ever thought of this place, no one ever really considered it. Why should they? There was nothing here of value, no cities, no mountains filled with resources, no mass of cortosis.

The only thing Vaal was good for was getting away.

Perhaps that was why people came here, perhaps that was why small villages dotted river and coastlines. In truth it hardly mattered to Aryn.

For many millions across the galaxy Vaal was nothing, but for him it was something to remind him of home. Togoria had been scarred, burned, broken by the Sith and Jedi. Vaal reminded him of his home, reminded him of the grassy planes, rolling hills, and calm oceans. He liked it here, it was calm. The Togorian could sit upon the plains and simply...relax. It was something that was hardly afforded to him anymore, especially now that Death Watch was his.

Sera had left, set upon a different path.

He understood it, even told her to go, but it left him with a heavy weight upon his shoulders.

Clan Spar was his, at least for the time being, and with it came Death Watch. It was a responsibility that he had not thought to bear, yet as of yesterday he had to. A frown settled upon his lips, his eye closing for a moment as he slowly stood from the bare rock that he had been sitting upon. The sun was setting in the distance, and he would have to make it back to his ship before it set, lest the Hyenax set upon him.

He opened his good eye and began to lop down the hill, headed for the coast.

 

[Lief]

Tall scorched grass whistled past her vision, downtrodden beneath heavy boots and pushed aside by panicked hands. From behind came the fierce howl of a creature she couldn't quite see in the waning light, yet she had spent enough time outrunning fiends such as these to know it was gaining on her.

She couldn't see ahead, she only hoped to find that the grasslands had a break in them somewhere so that she could gather her surroundings... But that wasn't very likely at this point.

Asha dodged left, several thick stands of grass snapping back against her face as a sharp wind blew from the North. Instinct urged her to weave back the other way, but a second howl made her think better. For now she pressed on.

But she couldn't outrun them.

Fatigue was already wearing her down, yet it was the root which snagged her foot, twisted her ankle, and sent her flying to the ground which really screwed her over. But roots meant trees.

She had only a second to glance, yet thankfully she found the somewhat scrawny trunk of an acacia tree only a stones throw away. By now the howls had stopped, replaced with a heavy panting. They were prowling now, no doubt circling her in the grass. She didn't have long.

Making her way up, resting her weight on the better ankle, Asha half ran, half hobbled, toward the tree and scrambled to climb up it. She didn't know how tall her pursuers were, or if they were able to climb, she could only hope and pray she remained out of reach until a better plan came to mind.

Her beloved lightsabers were out there somewhere, lost within the crushed trail she had created in the grass... Truthfully she couldn't believe she'd dropped them at all, then again she hadn't been expecting the likes of the Hyenax to appear before nightfall.

Proves what she knew.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Hex"]

The plains and ever stretching grasslands seemed to loom before him, the horizon slowly growing into a tiny of orange as he moved along the path that he had earlier created. A wash of gray began to settle behind him, a massive flowing ocean of dark clouds that gathered above.

A storm was coming.

He had not noticed it earlier, perhaps he'd been lost in thought he'd simply lost his touch, but the air was thick with moisture now, the clouds wracked with thunder, and every now and again a distant boom would sound out miles behind him. The great Togorian bounded forward, a steady jog rushing him through the tall grasslands as he made his way towards the ship. He had left it some miles away, hidden beneath sheer cliffs so that none of the local villagers would find it. As he moved the clouds seemed to gather behind him, swarming and growing darker by the minute.

He frowned slightly, stopping his trail as he looked up behind him.

A flash of lightning soared through the clouds, jumping towards the earth.

His eye caught the waves of rain in the distance, a wall of water falling from the sky. He frowned slightly, realizing that the storm would hit him before he made it back to the ship. His neck craned towards the nearby trees, a small smattering forest that would provide him with at least a little cover. Aryn tilted his head slightly, sniffing the air and letting out a bestial growl as he caught the scent of a pack of Hyenax. They were filthy creatures.

Pack animals, not much smarter then whomever lead them at the time.

They were headed towards the same trees that would provide a measure of shelter. He scowled slightly, looking back towards the coming storm and then towards the trees. With a another low growl Aryn began to move towards the forest.

 

[Lief]

One branch... Two branches...

She felt hot breath at her ankles as one of the feral creatures just about missed her with its great maw, curved fangs grazing the skin. Sucking in a breath she snatched her foot up higher and finally found sanctuary within a more sturdy bough, deftly avoiding the acacia's thorns.

"Shoo" she hissed, clapping her hands to try and scare the beasts off. But they weren't like Red, they were not skittish and scared by sudden noise. Besides, everything she said, every noise she made, was becoming drowned out by the distant rumble of a storm.

Asha closed her eyes and sighed. There was no way she could be caught out in a thunderstorm, not in a tree at least. But she had no clue which direction her ship was in, and even if she did know she refused to leave this world without her lightsabers.

Poor Red would be terrified, no doubt hiding under her bunk on The Prophet... She wanted to get back to him, but then again she wanted a lot of things as of late. Best to keep her hopes down.

Sat there, with nothing much to do as the beasts prowled and circled the base of the tree, Asha couldn't help but recall the first time she'd ever experienced a storm. She had to have been only little, maybe five or six, when she'd ran screaming into her Papa's room on some random planet she couldn't remember the name of. Monsters, she'd said... There were monsters.

[member="Jericho"] had set her straight, told her then and there that there was no such thing. Of course, he also told her that the truest of monsters were men. Not exactly comforting, but that had never been his way.

Her cheeks flushed with indignation at the thought of her Father.

With an angered growl she tore one of the flimsy branches off the tree and threw it down to the hyenax below. It bopped one of them square in the center of its head, but no sooner than it landed did the creature's maw tear it to shreds.

Resigning herself to her current fate, Asha settled her back against the sturdy trunk and closed her eyes. There'd be no sleeping tonight, but she could at least rest her eyes. For now, at least, it seemed as though the prowlers below couldn't climb trees. Asha hoped that was the case, and that they hadn't simply not thought of it yet.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

@Asha Hex

He did not hear them, or see them, but he didn't have.

The beasts had a certain stench. It wasn't death, not the same kind of death that carried on a man or a woman who murdered, but it was a distinct scent that could be picked out from any hundred. They were filthy, almost never cleaning themselves even when in the presence of water. That fact alone made the Hyenax distinguishable from other creatures on Vaal. It also helped that their mouths hung open at almost all times, their breath serrating the air at every moment.

They were easy to track on that alone.

His eye followed along the broken path that had been carved through the tall grass, his steps growing lighter as he found the muddied ground. There were paw prints, dozens of them overlapping and stamping on one another, but there was something else.

They weren't as obvious, having been trampled over half a dozen times by the Hyenax, but they were still there to the discernible eye. He crouched for a moment, ignoring the urgent calling of Thunder behind him. For a moment a single claw carved through the muck, pushing aside felled tall grass and revealing a single footprint. He scowled slightly, trying to recognize the making of the shoe that had left the now cemented print. A growl escaped his throat, his head cocking up as he heard the yelp of one of the Hyenax up ahead.

The creatures were hunting something, that much was clear.

Aryn rose from his crouch, slowly beginning to creep forward towards the pack.

Hyenax weren't exactly known for their intelligence. They followed a single leader, and that leaders intelligence decided the rest of the packs. It was an odd system, but one that worked for the odd creatures. Of course, it also made taming them much easier. All you had to do was take out the head of the pack.

 

[Lief]

A flash in the distance pierced her eyes despite their closed state and startled her into once again sitting upright. She reached out to catch herself before she tumbled down from the tree, and felt a sharp sting at her palm which immediately began to feel itchy. Pulling her hand free she noticed the somewhat shallow scratch caused by the thorns the tree naturally had, and grumbled.

She could heal it, of course, but the scent of her blood - despite how little there was - renewed the beasts interest in her as they sniffed the air and howled menacingly.

Wiping her hand on her trousers, Asha shifted on the branch so her legs hung over the edge, just out of their reach, and stared off into the distance as the storm began to make itself truly known. Lightning shot across the sky, and for the first time since they caught her trail Asha could sense genuine fear in the eyes of the creatures down below.

They didn't like the weather?

Ears back, teeth bared, the hyenax backed up a little with rumbling growls that nearly matched the distant thunder.

Perhaps the storm she had wanted to avoid would in turn become her saviour. Who knew.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

Not many would willingly walk into a back of Hyenax. They may not have been the smartest creatures in the galaxy, but there was usually a lot of them. That was enough to deter most hunters from chasing them, not to mention that the scavengers didn't even taste good. Yet Aryn had become curious.

There were not many people who made their plains home, fewer still that would be out here without noticing the coming storm.

That was a mystery, one that he found himself needing to investigate. As he wandered through the grass the scent of the Hyenax began to mingle with something else, a lighter smell. It was a soap of some sort, the kind that would smell sweet to some, though burned his nostrils. He wrinkled his nose and shook his head slightly, drawing himself up so that he could see above the grass. His eye wandered across the field for a moment, then stopped on one tree in particular.

There was a small figure within it, one that he could barely make out.

His eye fixed on that figure for a moment, his lips turning slightly. A growl passed his throat once more as he saw the Hyenax circle around the tree, their bodies low to the ground, their ears kicked back against their heads. Had they heard him? No. His head craned back towards the coming storm.

They knew what it meant.

Aryn looked back towards the tree, considering. He knew there was someone there, likely a human. Did he wish to save them? He could just wait for the Hyenax to get them, though that would take time. By then the Storm would strike, and he would be caught within the middle of it. Aryn sighed, and then began to move forward. There was nothing to it.

 

[Lief]

How long she'd been sat there for, Asha couldn't tell.

What she did notice was that the time between the lightning and the thunder was decreasing rather quickly. Some of the hyenax backed up further, but one in particular stood their ground. Likely the alpha, no doubt picking up on the scent of blood she'd wiped into her trousers.

She knew that if she really had to she'd be able to fight them off, but the only open she currently had involved using something which - in her eyes at least - had forsaken her during her time of need. She wouldn't give it the smug satisfaction of relying upon it again any time soon. It or him.

No, Ash would get out of this herself.

Another flash of light, quickly matched by its rumbling counterpart, caused something to catch her attention in the distance. The tall grass was moving, as though another body was coming through it, and that only angered her further. Not more of these stupid creatures!

With a grumble she snatched her feet back from their dangled position and got ready to rise up. She still wasn't a hundred percent sold on the notion that they couldn't climb trees, not yet.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

There wasn't even a second of hesitation. The grass parted, the earth fell below him, and Aryn pounced.

It was a swift motion, almost too fast for the human eye, but he came from the tall grass in a flash of blood and violence. The Hyenax had circled the tree more then once, he'd watched them for a moment, tracking the one that they followed. Predictably it was the largest of the creatures. It was striped with black lines of fur, a long scar running down it's side. The creature looked tough, though it stood no taller then even a Togorian Pup. It was the only one of the creatures that Aryn went after, the only one he had interest in.

A loud roar escaped his throat, the Hyenax scattering for half a moment as he jumped and landed upon the lead creature.

The fight did not last long, Aryn's powerful claws digging into the creatures throat, his hands wrapping around it and then a sudden and very loud snap ringing out as he tore the creatures neck around it's own body. A yelp rang out from it's throat, and then suddenly it fell limp.

There was a lull as the rest of the pack tried to comprehend what just happened, the Hyenax yelping, growling, then suddenly coming to the realization that their leader had just been taken down in one quick fell swoop. They looked at him as he rose to his feet, standing tall and towering above him. For half a second Aryn thought that the creatures would try to attack him, go against their nature and try to kill their new pack leader, but eventually they stepped back.

Each one bowed it's head in submission, refusing to reach his gaze.

 

[Lief]

A roar, far more powerful than that of her pursuers, broke through the storm. Had she not already been tense and on edge Asha may have fallen back off the tree in surprise, instead her hand tightened around the branch and her toes curled. A moment later the strongest of the Hyenax, the only one who had remained undaunted by the storm, was tossed aside as something much larger pounced upon its form.

It was limp within mere seconds, and even up in the tree with the storm brewing around them she heard the snap and wheezy whelp as its life was ended.

The rest of the creatures seemed to take pause, she could tell from their stance that they wanted nothing more than to tear this newcomer's throat out... Yet they didn't. That made her confused. Thankfully, though, their attention was no longer on her. Was it worth the risk if she tried to flee now?

This newer creature had its back to her, so she had no real clue what it was. But it towered over everything in their surroundings, even the long grass, and that made her wary even if it had potentially saved her.

Asha frowned.

The whole point in this trip was for her to strengthen her resolve, to fight her own battles (not that she'd ever had anyone fight them for her before now) and make sure that she wasn't taken advantage of ever again. And this thing, whatever - whoever - it was had ruined that.

For now she watched from her vantage point. She would never outrun the Hyenax or this newcomer if it came down to it, best she keep the only defense she had for now.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

He breathed for a moment, blood dripping from his claws. He didn't turn around, not yet, instead he looked at each one of the Hyenax, staring at them in turn to make sure that they all stood as they should. They watched him, only ever when he looked away. They were cowards, all of them, unless he lead them into a fight they would not strike, unless he told them to do something they would not move. His eye narrowed for a moment and then he finally turned towards the tree.

"You." His voice was a low growl, as always.

During his time in the Pits, during the Death Camps of Togoria, he had screamed himself hoarse. The troopers had beaten him, tried to break him, nearly every day they had come for him to try and destroy him. Every day he had fought them, screamed at them, broken himself until his voice was hoarse with blood.

Eventually they had stopped coming.

They had left him within the pits. Until he'd escaped.

"Come down from there." He ordered her, taking in a deep breath. "Now."

 

[Lief]

It seemed as though she'd been forgotten by both the newcomer and the Hyenax. Good, then maybe with any luck they'd carry on their way and she could get away from this damned storm. The grass remained trampled in the distance where she had run, perhaps she could trace her way back to her weapons? She really hoped so.

Only her plans were dashed when a voice broke through the thunder... Directed at the tree. Directed at her.

Asha tensed.

Whoever it was, they didn't sound too happy. She couldn't blame them, they had just come out of a fight... Even if it happened to be one sided. Yet all the same she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Did she really want to risk getting down from the tree?

He looked strong enough to break the branch she was sat on, and he was more than tall enough to drag her down himself. Best she give him no reason to be hostile toward her.

Slowly she dangled her legs back over the edge and turned midway to grasp onto the branch. Dropping into a crouch in the damn grass below, Asha assessed the situation from a level ground and inhaled slowly.

She didn't rise up, but she did back up ever so slightly. She had no weapon to speak of, yet while she was loathed to do so right now there was always the Force to call upon. Another thing to break her plans.

Asha could only hope it wouldn't be necessary.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

The girl jumped down with a light thud, Aryn watching her with his good idea. The Hyenax looked at her, appreciating her like ready meal. His eye shot to one of them who got brave enough to take a step forward, his throat ringing with a low growl. The creature let out a slight yelp, then backed up behind him.

The Togorian was no fool.

This little girl was here for a reason. She wasn't dressed like a local. Their garb was more of a collection of drab browns and light beige. They didn't particularly care for color, but instead focused more on blending into their surroundings. It was a necessity if you wanted to hunt or move through the plains without something spotting you. Aryn had come here often enough to experience that problem, but he was also a talented enough hunter that he could easily move through the country without anyone, or anything seeing him.

This girl however?

Unlikely.

It was why the Hyenax had found her in the first place, and why they had managed to run her up a tree. There was a crack of lightning behind him, a distance rent within the sky that struck down against the earth. One could hear the storm now, the raining coming down in heavy droves.

Aryn half turned to watch for a second, feeling no threat from the girl or anything she could do. His eye wandered across the plains for a second, watching the dark shroud draw closer and closer. They had to move deeper into the trees, try to find a bit more cover. "Follow."

His voice rumbled as he began to trek into the forest.

 

[Lief]

She bristled as some of the Hyenax continued to sniff at her, tensing in preparation to bolt again should they decide to continue their hunt, but the stranger didn't let them get more than a foot closer before putting them back in place. That didn't mean she'd be trusting him though. Hyenax were cowards, had she had her lightsabers on hand there was no doubt in her mind that she'd have scared them off herself, but she didn't. So she hadn't.

Now that she was closer, now that his gaze was upon her and she could see his face in the stormy light, she noted who he was. Or more, what he was. She had traveled a lot in her youth, spent more time aboard a ship than any planet... And she had seen many people, many places. This one was a Togorian, and one used to fighting their own battles from the looks of all the scars. Plus the way he'd handled himself just now.

She could never outrun a Togorian.

Slowly she rose from her crouched position, taking one very slight step back. Damn her foolishness for picking a world such as this. It was supposed to be mostly untouched, and it was just her luck that someone else would be here, in this very patch of the Savannah. It was looking to become more and more of a Hex trait as time went by.

Clenching her jaw, but resisting the urge to scowl, Asha watched as he scoured the horizon and then asked - nay, told - her to follow. More indignation coursed through her, and the girl stood her ground.

What are you doing, Ash?

This was probably right up there on the list of stupid things she'd done. And she'd done a lot of stupid things in her time. Still, it couldn't go as bad as the Thule incident had. The mere thought of what had transpired there made her stiffen her resolve and dig her heels in. The storm didn't scare her, she'd been to worlds where storms were perpetual... But she'd be lying if she said he and his new entourage of Hyenax didn't.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

Aryn stared at the girl, his mouth pressed clothes. His one good eye settled directly on her, the other, burned white, seemed to stare at a deep void. For a moment the massive Togorian said nothing, simply watching in silence before turning back towards the Storm.

Lightning arched in the distance, the clouds shredded with an eerie bloom of purplish red light. He watched for a moment as the flash rushed through the storm, striking against the ground and thundering over head. There was a loud boom that seemed to shake the very air. The Hyenax cowered behind him, some of them whimpering loudly while the others simply crept closer to him. They knew what was about to happen, they were stupid, but they had the same instincts that he did.

The storm was sweeping ever forward.

"Then stay." He grumbled low in his throat. Aryn was not the kind of person to own anyone, he did not seek to control the girl nor did he wish to harm her. He had been a slave once, he had been beholden to others will, he would not allow the same. "The storm is coming."

The massive Togorian pointed a single claw towards the distant clouds. "It will sweep you up."

It was more then a little rain, more than a little wind, that much was clear. The rain slashed, the lightning bit, and the wind tore at the earth. This storm was perhaps the worst one in a century, and the only protection that was offered for miles around was the overgrown trees before them. Aryn waited a moment more for the girl, then began to head into the forest.

 

[Lief]

Her heart pounded so hard that she felt as though it might break through her chest at any moment, a firm pulse set behind her ear which made them buzz with a steady ring which hummed on for an eternity. Her head swayed, and it took all of her will to remain where she stood as a deep dread seared beneath the surface. A second passed. Then another.

She felt his gaze slide from her as he turned to watch the storm, and the breath she had unknowingly been holding slipped from between her lips in an almost muted sigh. One breath, then another. Then he spoke.

He wasn't going to make her.

The knots which had firmed her shoulders and stayed her legs seemed to release all at once. This wasn't like Thule. It wouldn't end like Thule.

He continued to speak, short blunt sentences which emphasized each point he made and punctuated the urgency of the situation better than any amount of fluff could have done.

The storm, of course. Even as she watched it she realized these weren't the same storms which rocked the world of her nightmares. Worse, far worse. She would be stupid to remain here, out in the open beneath the one big tree which screamed 'Strike me, strike me now...!' to the cosmos. No, she didn't want to be here when the lightning struck overhead.

Dropping her former resolve, she gave a short nod of understanding and when he set off toward the deeper forests on the edge of the Savannah she began to follow, acutely aware of the prowling hyenax who followed after their new alpha. It would've been an almost humorous combination outside of their current predicament.

Her eyes strayed over her shoulder, to the crumbled grasses and the lightsabers which lay beyond. She hated this, hated leaving them behind. Her eyes scanned upward, looking for some sign in the sky, on the horizon, anywhere that would give her a good indication of which direction to return in. She would not be leaving this world without them.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

Aryn moved at a trot, which for someone his size was basically a run...or perhaps a light sprint for someone the side of Asha. Either way it was clear that Aryn didn't particularly care whether or not the girl followed him, though every now and again he would turn back and see.

Perhaps he was checking on her, or perhaps he was watching the progress of the storm.

Either way every now and again Aryn looked back, his one good eye folding over Asha and then up towards the clouds, then at the Hyenax. The creatures were still following low to the ground, half fearful of the coming storm, half fearful of Aryn himself. They seemed to ignore the girl almost entirely now, taking their cues from Aryn and what he did. The Togorian walked for some time, but even his quick pace was not quite quick enough. Eventually the storm caught them.

At first it was just a light drizzle, a soft splash of rain.

"We need to move faster." He growled, pointing deeper into the forest. "The roots of dead trees dig caverns. We need to find them, fast."

The storm would glow more powerful, and Aryn did not want to be caught.

 

[Lief]

Asha had to push herself into a sprint just to keep up with the Togorian's long strides, and even then she lagged behind. Not letting that dismay her, she simply pressed on as the first signs that the storm had met them rained down.

Not good, not good at all.

Pushing back a strand of hair which insolently impeded her vision, Asha huffed a breath and tried to focus on something other than the aching in her legs. When had she let herself get so out of shape? In the back of her mind she knew the answer, the durasteel graveyard had sapped much from her, her days of intense training had driven to a halt when she'd become encased within it.

Shaking that thought from her, she looked up and toward the forest. They were nearing its boundaries now, but that didn't mean they'd be out of the clear. As if reading her thoughts the Togorian spoke his urgency. Underground... Yes that would keep them safe.

Still it felt as though she was going at a snails pace. Part of her wanted to open herself back up to the wonders which lay within, to throw caution to the wind and fuel herself. She'd get to the trees even faster than the Togorian... Maybe. Honestly, Asha didn't know just how fast his kind could sprint.

But she wouldn't, couldn't. Not here, not now. She wasn't ready for that. Asha would rather face the eye of the storm than the Force.

[member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Asha Nyerie"]

The forest was a sprawling, living creature. Some of the trees here had been alive for millenia, growing, dying, planting seed and then growing once more. It was a constant almost everlasting cycle. Through that cycle thousands upon thousands of meters of tunnels had been dug throughout the forests underground. These cavers had at first been crafted by the roots of the forests more ancient trees, but as those had died off it had been the living creatures and flowing waters that had carved them deeper.

They acted as a natural shelter from severe storms for creatures like the Hyenax. It was natural, though they held their own sort of danger of course. The Togorian made no show of that however, simply seeking to get away from the one sort of danger he couldn't confront head on.

The rain now pelted down, even through the leaves of the trees one could feel thick splotches of water hammering against them. The storm was quickly catching up, and as time went on it only seemed to be getting worse and worse. Lightning flashed, thunder cracked, and the sky seemed to be rending itself over and over again. Wind began to howl, rain poured down in droves, and before long the Togorian found his fur almost completely soaked. "There!"

He called through the winds.

"Head towards the caverns." Aryn pointed to a small opening between gnarled tree roots and broken branches.

 

[Lief]

It was as though she were trapped within a cyclone, the wind whipped around her, around them, until all sound became one murmured whoosh. It was nauseating, truth be told. So it was that Asha was more than surprised when the rumbling growl of the Togorian somehow managed to slip through.

Her gaze shot toward where he was pointing to, and indeed she did see it. The tree was gigantic, its roots dwarfed her... There was no way this storm or any other was uprooting it from the land. No storm she had ever seen, at least.

Satisfied, she pushed her aching muscles as far as she could. While the storm had well and truly soaked her at this point, a thin layer of sweat had joined it along her back which left her extremely uncomfortable. She wanted to shrug out of her damn attire, it was beginning to feel rather claustrophobic.

One thing at a time.

The tree enveloped her as she finally slid between its roots and into the earthen hovel beneath. The entrance was muddy, and she slipped most of the way down into the tunnels. Until her boots scuffed up dusty dirt instead. Far enough in that the rain had not yet effected it.

"What if it floods..." Her eyes lifted to the entrance, before she shook her head. Answering her own question. There was no river nearby, infact the savannas were rather too dry for their own good. She could only hope the trees above would stave off the worst of the storm.

Asha all but collapsed against the tunnel wall, huffing a heavy breath. Her legs burned, her lungs too, but they had made it. The question now was just how safe did that make her? The last time she'd been trapped inside a storm...

No, no more thinking back to that.

[member="Aryn Spar"]