The Desert never gives up its dead

[Cerys]

[SIZE=10.5pt]A Djinn how very interesting what had she done then she smiled, "I've lured a man into the desert with my wiles. I've been having him trek through the sands telling me stories of his life" She grinned as she used his reference of a Djinn to make it seem as though everything had been planned.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"But then again maybe I'm the Djinn luring you out here to be taken advantage of" She gave him that look of what do you think of that. She could play this game too. She kept walking though the soft sounds of shuffling sand, the occasional sound of a rock slipping from above and sliding downwards.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"If I were Djinn I would wear a robe of pure luminescence and glide along the sands” She seemed to like this idea of a creature that could hold such a place. But she knew it was only a story, a myth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“What illusion would I have to use to get your attention Dallas?” She would play this out for as long as he would let her.[/SIZE]

[member="Dallas Taylor"]​

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


“What illusion would I have to use to get your attention Dallas?”

Dallas grinned but his answer was interrupted when Grinder returned to them. He was quiet, but, to Dallas seemed tense. He also kept looking behind them as if he sensed something he couldn’t place. Much the same way Dallas felt. It was probably the first time Dallas had been walking in the desert at night that he was looking forward to the suns rise.

“There’s a cave not far ahead that I use as a camp at times. Maybe we should wait the night out in it.”

Dallas knew it had one entrance that he and Grinder could watch so that their mystery couldn’t join them; at least not unannounced. As he led them to the cave, he remembered her question and smiling answered, “Cerys, you need no illusion… none at all to hold my rapt attention.”

 

[Cerys]

[member="Dallas Taylor"]

A cave you say, Dallas are you trying to get me into a secluded place? She gave him a teasing glance as she looked at Grinder still trying to make sure that he remained friendly to her and she to him. She didn't look to see what Dallas look was at her question she was certain he would not be shocked though he might feign hurt.

She was ready to say something else when he said she needed no illusions to hold his attention.

Dallas you say the nicest things. She smiled softly, Lead on to this cave Dallas it might be good to rest some it has been an interesting few days. Yes it had been a long day. Days in camp always started early they rarely ended so late though but in truth the mercenaries who had come into camp had stolen her energy through scaring her. That was the thing that mercenaries did best put fear into people, second thing they did kill people without mercy.

Yes the day had been long.

[member="Dallas Taylor"]

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


He felt bad that he hadn’t realized she was getting tired. It had been a taxing ordeal for her that had lasted several days. Even if most of it has been in the tent with the children, the stress alone would have been grueling. Fortunately the cave wasn’t far and he hurried them towards it.

The small, steep-sided canyon the cave entrance was located within had a barricade Dallas had made many years in the past. It consisted of Canyon Krayt’s ribs stuck into the ground like a bizarre picket fence. The gaps between the bones were too wide to offer much of a physical barrier; however, for most of the superstitious desert dwellers, it offered a psychological barrier very few would breech. Dallas led her about half way up the canyon and around some rocks that blocked the view of the cave entrance from the mouth of the canyon. He pulled a small light from an inner pocket of his robe and shown it into the cave. Not seeing or sensing anything inside, he said, “Wait here a minute,” and stepped inside. Giving the chamber a thorough search for unwanted critters, he finally called her inside, “You can come in now, Cerys. Nothing seems to have claimed this cave as their home since I was here last.”

When she joined him, she found a large stack of fire wood and the frame of a camp cot. Dallas said, “Hold this light for me. Point it on this sandy area over here.” He knelt down and began running his fingers through the sand. He quickly found what he was seeking and grabbed the edge of a buried storage barrel. Pulling and using the force to lift it, he pulled the barrel about half way out of the sand. He unsealed the lid and opened it up. He grinned at Cerys and said, “I don’t like bugs in my things.” He pulled out a thin mattress for the cot and threw it on the bed. Then came a couple of blankets. Digging deeper into the barrel, he removed a lamp, some dried food, a large container of water, a couple of cups and a large bowl.

Dallas lit the lamp and placed it on a ledge near the top of the wall. It cast a yellow light throughout the chamber. After the darkness of the desert night the room seemed brightly lit. Dallas poured the bowl full of water and placed it near the entrance for Grinder. Then he took a large armful of wood and arranged it to make a fire in the entrance. Calling Grinder inside with them, he snapped on his light saber and used it to catch the wood on fire.

When the fire was blazing well enough, he stepped back to the rear of the chamber and sat on the cot. He patted the seat next to him inviting Cerys to sit as well and poured them each a cup of water. Then he tore open one of the packs of dried food. It was an assortment of dried fruits and nuts. “Let’s have a quick snack together and then you can make up the cot to your liking and get some sleep. Grinder and I will keep watch by the fire.”

 

[Cerys]

It was quite the production watching Dallas this cave was certainly something he had stocked and prepared for just this type of outing. Or was it more for finding solace when the wants and needs of the galaxy began to close in and demand everything from him. She wanted to help but had the feeling that even though he would let her he would prefer she stand back. This was the protector in him needing or wanting to do everything to ensure it was done properly.

The lamp light flooded the cave and now Cerys could look around and take in the carefully hewn rock. Was this the very same kind of cave that Obi Wan had lived in so long ago? Could she live so long in something like this? The fire blazed giving warmth to the cold rock. This could almost be homey, almost not quite but with some additional items it would work.

Hearing the soft sound of his hand patting the mattress of the cot Cerys turned and then made her way over to him, and sat closely to him. As she had been doing since they met.

OH food, how nice, "A snack would be nice, fruit and nuts." She reached over and accepted what Dallas offered, so he and Grinder would sit in the doorway and watch for movement while she slept. Dallas how much sleep have you had? Perhaps she should take the first watch and let him sleep if they were going to be dealing with Hutts in a day or possibly two she needed him to be in peak condition.

Cerys looked into his eyes she looked to see if there were signs of being tired. He seemed to push through it all with little complaint.

Dallas, in light of everything in your life have you ever considered having another relationship? The pain may have been too much to risk another but she had to ask.

[member="Dallas Taylor"]​

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


“I had plenty of time to sleep flying here from Corellia,” Dallas remarked, chewing on some unidentifiable piece of dried fruit. He was happy it tasted better than it looked. “Besides, I can meditate and rest and still have an awareness through the force. And ole Grinder will be there, too.”

Dallas took a sip of the water – one of the more valuable commodities on Tatooine – and said, “See that rock fall in the back of the cave? It’s covering a passageway that leads into a deeper chamber – one with a spring and a pool. I keep it closed off so that I won’t have to check it each time I come here as well as this chamber. Cool caves draw all sorts of creatures, especially ones with water. It easy enough to open up enough to get by if you have any desire for anything exotic … like a cool bath,” he teased.

He cast her a curious look when she asked about relationships but didn’t ask why she wanted to know. Instead he tried to answer. “I actually did fall in love again. It took a long time for me to become brave enough to approach her with my feelings. When I did, she seemed receptive. Then our responsibilities took us in separate directions and the last I heard about her she had married some high level Mandalorian. As much as I understood, it still hurt. And, I guess, honestly, it’s made me leery of trying again. Not that I don’t crave companionship so badly at times that it actually becomes a physical ache.”

He took a long look into her eyes, then said, “I’ve being too chatty. That’s totally unlike the Hooded Walker.” He gave her a weak smile and continued, “Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to make a quick circle of the canyon and settle in by the fire.”

 

[Cerys]

Cerys looked back towards the pile of rocks how long had it been since she had been able to immerse herself in water. The thought was enticing and the memory of how water felt was enticing to her all the more. She looked back at Dallas who was still talking. Another heart hurt.

Perhaps she was the one to show you that it is alright to have a relationship, and that the next one will be more...fruitful. She took a bite of the fruit it was a bit chewy but it was better than what she had been eating. She would not complain, not one bit. She chewed, and chewed, and chewed. All while she looked at Dallas he was looking into her eyes, was he searching her emotions no she would know if he was.

She nodded too late to take back the words but still she tried to always choose her words carefully. Be careful out there Dallas. She watched him go out. She looked at the rocks, and since he was gone. Why not. She did a hasty job on the bedding, she could sleep anywhere but a bath now.

She removed the last of the rock barring her way in reaching up to take the light she headed in before her she could see the pool. It looked inviting, looking back to see if Dallas had returned unexpectedly and finding he had not. She slipped out of her clothing, and laid it across a rock. The light she set down and then she slipped into the water, gasping at how good it felt.

She slid down and put her head back, letting all of the stresses of the last few months float away in the water.

[member="Dallas Taylor"]​

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


Dallas made his way slowly up a series of narrow ledges that led to the highest point of the canyon rim. There he found, and occupied, a spot he had used many times in the past to observe; for from there he could see the plateau top and the canyon depths. On a moonlit night, little could move, save possibly in the darkest shadows of the canyon, without Dallas being able to see it.

Predictably, Grinder followed Dallas to the observation point and settled in beside his adopted companion. Dallas placed a hand on the back of the mastiff, eliciting a contented huff from the beast. It never ceased to amaze the old jedi how even such dissimilar creatures as a man and a mastiff could find comfort in one another’s company. He realized that, with a few notable exceptions, all animals needed a social outlet – a community – to fulfill their need for companionship. The years Dallas had spent wandering the Tatooine desert - almost always alone - hadn’t negated that need in him. If anything, it made it stronger and that much more pleasurable when opportunities to enjoy another’s company arose.

Which brought his thoughts back to Cerys. His general awareness of her through the force told him she had wasted little time working her way back into the inner chamber and into the pool. He had little trouble imagining her naked in that cool, clear water. The thought of it affected Dallas just as surely as it would any man, and, the temptation to go and join her was strong. Plus the impression he’d had that she wouldn’t mind if he did. Still…

Dallas was something of a conservative. Casual relationships were for conversations, meals, or playing sabacc. Intimacy was a different matter altogether and there was nothing casual about it. To Dallas, physical intimacy should be a fringe benefit of emotional intimacy. He had left his heart unguarded twice in his life and fallen hard each time. Both ended in the pain of loss that he had no desire to experience again. He’d rather wander into the krayt graveyard and leave his own bones there than have his heart broken once more. Which only meant he would be very cautious; not that he wasn’t interested.

Grinder growled and Dallas was instantly alert once more chagrined that he had let his attention wander so badly. His hand on the mastiff’s back restrained and quieted the beast while he searched for the cause of his alarm. Across the plateau he saw several wavering balls of light slowly moving across the desert flats. They weren’t torches or man=made that he could tell. In fact he had no idea what they were other than they probably weren’t swamp=gas. It was time to retreat back into the cave. There were too many unexplained things happening tonight.

 

[Cerys]

[member="Dallas Taylor"]​

​

Her mind had drifted as well as she laid there washing away the desert sand and heat from her skin. She wondered if he knew she could see into the ultra violet range, she wondered was he concerned of her canine teeth. She had great strength but days of weakness would drain any movement or ability from a person. Sometimes her skin still turned silver when she was frightened, and she had not shared with him her need of protein. Another reason her natural attributes were waning, her diet required quite a bit.

What he may not know was that her kind had many behaviors which would be considered animal like. including the need to mate. But much like many creatures when she mated she would mate for life she would imprint upon a male. Trouble was, she found herself longing for Dallas and feared that in one of her states of weakness she had already done so. It would explain her need to touch him, be near him, follow his lead, and feel fiercely protective. But she had not told him these things, humans often did not understand these types of behaviors and it scared them.

If she had truly imprinted upon him and he did not ever come to return the emotional attachment she would be destined to be alone the rest of her life. but she would not tell him these were decisions that he would need to make on his own. Nature it seemed may have already made the decision for her.

Cerys could feel Dallas he was moving, something was wrong, or troublesome. She quickly got up and grabbed a towel making sure to rub off all water to prevent her from getting a chill in her weakened state she could get sick and not heal quickly. She towel dried her long two tone hair, and then she heard it.

That was not Dallas, he was still coming down.

Cerys pulled on her clothing, dropping the towel she headed to the mouth of the cave. She narrowed her eyes and looked out she could see light. She arched a brow, and then slowly made a move to walk towards them. She would protect Dallas.

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


Dallas sensed Cerys’ approach as he paused part way down the path at a level that he could just see the top of the plateau. He watched as the lights wove their way across the highlands. He pulled her close when she drew near and whispered in her ear, “I’ve never seen anything like them. It appears they are searching for something.”

In the direction they were moving there was only one thing that couldn’t be found in any other direction.

“Do you have everything? I want to follow them when they begin to move off the plateau.” That was if they continued in their current general direction. If they turned to approach them, he would be in favor of a very hasty retreat.

“If you have an explanation for what they are, I’d love to hear it,” he told her still in a hushed voice. He hoped she had some local knowledge he’d missed out on in his absence. If not, he’d tell her his theory – as much as he hated it.

 

[Cerys]

The temperature was already starting to drop the cool of the desert was spreading. The sands and rocks still warm from being heated all day still radiated heat. She pushed her hair back still wet. She was hungry again the bits that Dallas had provided were good for delaying the effects of hunger but not for satisfying it.

She walked along carefully placing one foot in front of the other all while watching the lights moving. She had not seen this so many nights inside a tent, cave, or building would have kept her from discovering this.

There was so much she did not know so focused on the lights that she failed to hear Dallas the moment he grabbed her and brought her close to him she reacted in two ways, she growled and immediately started to struggle. Then once she realized who had pulled her in holding her firmly as his voice softly, whispered to her. Dallas.

She shook her head that she did not know but now to follow for a moment when she turned to look at him. He knew something, she turned around to face him leaning forward she put her lips to his ear, "What do you know of this?"

She pulled back and waited for the answer not that she wouldn't start walking if he did, but she was requesting he share what he knew. She knew that he would he would not want her to go blindly into the night with him. This was most certainly turning into more than dealing with mercenaries killing off raiders.

[member="Dallas Taylor"]

 

[Dallas Taylor]

[member="Cerys"]


Dallas shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like them. That’s why I want to follow and observe. I count nine of them in what appears to be a coordinated search pattern that’s basically a big diamond shape. They are moving in an overlapping zigzag pattern so that every area is passed over at least twice if not three times.”

Dallas watched them a moment before continuing. There was no change in their movement that he could tell.

“When I study them I get a vague sense of darkness. So my first question is… are they natural or a creation. I seriously doubt a creature like this could exist naturally without some notice of it somewhere and reports of those sightings. Then, if they aren’t natural, who created them and for what purpose. A hunting creature developed by the sith comes to mind, but, these seem to surpass sith skill. They are… exquisite in their form,” Dallas admitted admiringly.

“Then, if not sith, who? The reason the direction they are moving is significant is that in the large valley just beyond the second ridge on that heading lies an ancient artifact called the Star Map. It is one of five left throughout the galaxy as monuments to the Rakatan conquest many millennia ago. If they are somehow associated with that, the galaxy should tremble with those implications.”

 

[Cerys]

[member="Dallas Taylor"]

"I can see into the upper levels of ultra violet Dallas, if I can get a little closer I might be able to hear them and see them better" Yes her hearing was also quite good but she was weakened and did not know exactly how well she would be able to do either.

Cerys turned and moved slightly to where she could narrow her vision, "They are masked, and their eyes shine when hit with light" Cerys reached back for Dallas making sure he was with her even though she had only moved a few steps, she slid her foot down and dropped down a level from the path, small rocks slid but the sound did not carry to the group moving out under the cover of darkness.

"They are saying something too, but I need to be closer to hear" She looked back at Dallas this time, "Well then let us follow them and make sure of what their purpose is, and who and what they are" She turned back to the desert, "Life is definitely not boring with you around"

She smiled though and was ready, she would have to admit to Dallas soon the need for a protein.