Private The Dagger Pit

[Darth Ophidia]

Darth Strosius

The climb grew ever more treacherous as he neared the ledge where his weapon rested. He would find that the hand-holds grew slimmer and slimmer until the weapon was just within reach. The sounds of the slumbering beast grew nearer and nearer with his approach. Then, a crack.

Dust and pebbles fell below, but Alisteri remained. One more push, and he was there.

The weapon within reach, and just beyond it something massive.

It was the same sort of beast as he had encountered below, but by size they were the loth-kittens of the litter and before him slept the mother. The terentatek matron's massive crown made her appear the size of a ship on her own. Her massive body lay curled around a dug pit, in which lay a nest of eggs.

Above her, on the pinnacle of the cliff, was the familiar form of Darth Ophidia, looking down at her apprentice in silence.

She had not given him any further instructions. He was a knight, and she expected him to make choices in the obstacles she had given him. Here, the choices were many, and she would judge him accordingly.

 

[Darth Strosius]

Climbing silently was all but impossible it seemed, given the stray loose rock that cracked and tumbled down after narrowly missing his head. Hopefully the beasts that he left behind wouldn't be able to follow the noise back to him. If the sleeping one didn't get him first that is.

When Alisteri finally pulled himself up the ledge his gaze landed on the shining hilt of his lightsaber, and then on the sleeping beast that seemingly guarded it. It was far larger than the ones that had initially appeared to eat him but what worried him most was the nest that it slept in. A clutch of eggs would serve as a far more fierce motivator than simple hunger.

He froze and glanced from his lightsaber to the nest, noting how it was within reach and wouldn't disturb the beast so long as he didn't fumble when picking it up. The Knight slowly reached for the weapon and plucked it from the ground, keeping his breathing and movements as silent as he could manage.

Theoretically, if he were careful not to make any more noise, he could potentially escape the pit unhindered so long as the beast wasn't roused. He glanced up and spotted his master looming over him despite being so far away, knowing that she had her eye on his every movement. As usual.

The beast was massive and would undoubtedly be able to pull him off of the wall if he disturbed it while he climbed, leaving it alive was a risk that could prove more fatal than a fall into the pit itself. Alisteri took a breath and quietly crept towards the mother as she slept, his weapon clutched tightly in his hand. It was risky to try and kill while still on the edge of a cliff but better to fight it while he had his feet on the ground.

He raised his lightsaber and inspected the head of the mighty beast for a moment before moving to press the weapon against what appeared to be the softest and most direct route to the brain. After a moment of hesitation, he ignited the blade.

Darth Ophidia

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Darth Strosius

The dark side gathered around Alisteri Haxim as he approached the beast with lethal intent. And when he ignited the blade, the beast jerked to the sudden influx of pain, then relaxed as its body grew limp. The darkness that had grown around him settled on his soul, drawing the dark side of the Force closer. Blood spilled for gain peeled away the layers of innocence.

His hesistation would soon fade, she imagined as she watched.

Darth Ophidia nodded down at her apprentice, then turned. Her body melted into the background and vanished, only to appear next to Alisteri where he stood.

"It is a terentatek, a sithspawn that hunts force-users."

She knelt down and picked up one of the eggs, stroking it with her hands.

"Useful creatures, but unruly." A small smirk spread on her lips "Unless raised right, of course,"

She looked at Alisteri again.

"The hunter never saw you coming, and thus you landed the fatal strike." "This is but the beginning of the possibilities available to you through the force's mysteries of stealth." "In time, you can learn to conceal your physical form from even the greatest sentinel, and then there is nothing that can stop you."

From inside her cloak she produced a scroll.

"A gift, study it if you wish to proceed in your studies."

 

[Darth Strosius]

To slay a sleeping beast was hardly a feat of any meaningful kind, and yet something about the way that the mighty creature jerked and fell limp with his lightsaber stabbed into it filled him with a measure of pride. He even felt more powerful for it, although admittedly he wasn't certain if that was merely the presence of his master rather than his own.

Given how quickly she appeared next to him that uncertainty only amplified.

"An interesting creature to be sure." Sithspawn were always a curiosity, something that was purposefully modified or even created by a Sith of some variety. Having a dedicated beast to hunt down those blessed with the Force was a fascinating concept. Alisteri nodded at his master's assessment of the beasts and extinguished his weapon, retuning it to his belt as he turned to face her with a bow.

The possibilities for even further concealment were obviously tempting. If one couldn't be seen or detected, then how could they fail in whatever mission they attempted? "I see...thank you for this generous gift and lesson master."

He plucked the scroll from her grasp and briefly glanced it over before slipping it into his own cloak for safekeeping. Alisteri had plenty of time to look over it later, after his master was done with him. "Is there anything more that you require of me master?"

Darth Ophidia