The Hunt

[Loken Blake]

In years past, the streaks of lightning that webbed across Dxun's grimy skies might have frightened the young Echani. Such violent displays of nature's power were never commonplace among the stars where he'd been reared, and they still gave him some semblance of fright. At the same time, the explosions of light and the rolling thunder that preceded its arrival were welcome. They meant that the beasts of Onderon's moon were not likely to be upon the prowl, and more importantly, that Loken could keep the entrance to the cave unsealed.

The Blakes' shelter was nestled into the flank of a great mountain some twenty feet up an incline that allowed the two youths an easy view over the forest. Night had long since fallen, though the light of the storm did well enough to keep the surrounding lands illuminated. The howls of Dxun's great beasts had ceased whilst nature had begun her temporary cataclysm, but Loken knew they would return.

They always did.

"Think we hid our scent well enough?" He asked idly of his twin. The Echani was busying himself with whittling shafts of wood they had procured into makeshift arrows. The arrows had very little effect on Dxun's larger predators, but they served to deal with the world's smaller fauna well enough. The fox creature roasting upon the workman's spit over their fire was a testament to that.

"I mean, even if we didn't, the rain should do the job for us, right?" Loken continued, biting back a curse as he carved a shallow cut into his thumb. With another arrow done, Loken moved on to the next one. "Or maybe there's a Zakkeg waiting just down the hill," he mused, "That'd be fitting with our luck."

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

There were a few things about Dxun that Kaden had grown to enjoy. One of these things was the weather. He stared out the mouth of the cave, captivated by the dark clouds that circled Dxun like an avian would it's prey. Lost in the mesmerizing movement of the storm clouds Kaden had lost focus on his brother, and as a result he could no longer hear his twin.

Once he realized his focus had slipped from his brother and to the clouds he turned to Loken, looking to his lips. They moved yet only a few tiny murmurs came to the Dead sibling. He exhaled, focusing on the bond the two of them shared, and in the next moment Loken's words became as clear as day.

Kaden knew his brother had been worrying about the animals that plagued the jungle of Dxun. They were a threat, yet at least the rain was keeping them at bay for the time being.

He focused on his brother and the bond they shared, speaking to him with his mind rather than his voice. 'We'll be fine, but we should hunt before the rain stops.' Kaden turned to the stick that laid beside him, it had been widdled down to a solid shaft, the tip was carved to a fine point to be used as a crude spear.

He took the weapon into his hand, resting the body of the weapon onto his shoulder while looking to his brother. 'I'm in the mood for Cannok, what about you?'

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

Cannok.

How many times had they eaten the creature? Ten? A dozen? Two dozen? Loken had lost count. For all the abundance of flora and fauna that Dxun boasted, only a handful of the bounty was easily earned. Most of the world's predators were bred to be killers, and there was far too much risk in taking them down to justify a change in palette. The herbivores were similarly dangerous, and often times even more aggressive than the creatures that hunted them. Of Dxun's beasts, only a handful were so inclined as to be of little risk for the two young men to hunt, and Cannoks were at the top of that dwindling list.

The creatures themselves were subjects of general disgust. With plump, fatty bodies and large eyes set upon leathery stalks, the beasts were not pretty. Their meat was stringy and lacking in distinct flavor, and the lack of spices had made Cannok dinner something Loken almost dreaded. It was only when the duo had gone days without eating that Cannok meat even began to taste appetizing.

With all these thoughts traveling through his mind, the eldest of the twin groaned. "Sure," though his tone suggested anything but agreement. "We'll take Cannok tonight. They're the only things stupid enough to be out in this kind of storm anyway. Well, except us. "

The Echani flashed his twin playful grin as he rose to his feet. With a shrug, he wiggled out of the long leather coat that had been keeping him warm, exposing toned pale arms tattooed with jagged lines and archaic symbols signifying an Echani warrior. Now clad in simple sweatpants and a black tank, Loken looked more at home in a city's underbelly than Dxun's savage forests. A quiet groan followed as he stretched himself up toward the cave's broad ceiling, and then he turned toward it gaping entrance.

"The rain should conceal our scent," the boy murmured as he checked the vibrosword hanging from his belt. "Well, it'll conceal mine." He hoisted a makeshift bow of simple oak and a quiver made from Cannok flesh over his shoulder. "Yours? Not so much."


[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

There was a loud shock of thunder as Kaden approached his brother. He set his makeshift spear on the ground next to his boots before pulling off the cloak he made from the hide of Cannok's. Underneath the cloak Kaden wore a dark brown leather vest that was riddled with patches. Kaden did not wear pants, in place of them were a small pair of leather shorts that were hidden with a black Kama.

He looked to his brother with an arched brow before responding to the man's comment on his scent. 'You're not exactly one to talk, Sometimes I wish my nose that didn't work instead of my ears.'

Kaden bent down to recover his spear, setting the weapon on his shoulder once again as he made his way out of the cave. 'Come on, I want to finish before the rain stops.' As he stalked into the jungle of Dxun his feet sank into the moist ground beneath him. The rain had turned the cold jungle floor into a muddy surface. While the rain fell down onto Kaden's head he ran his hand over his hair, exhaling at the cool feel of the falling liquid.

'Feels good, been a while since we've had some rain.' His thoughts echoed over to his brother but the next moment his seconds of relaxation had passed. He returned his attention to the jungle before him while kneeling down, lowering himself to the jungle floor. The man looked to the ground and smiled at the Cannok tracks that had riddled the ground. The small pudgy creature's had been in the area lately and in a decent number as well. The tracks were fairly drowned out by the rain showing that it had still been a decent time since they had passed by the area. He turned to his brother and reached out with his mind, speaking once more. 'There were a few here not too long ago.'

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

Loken responded to the pointed jest with a wrinkling of his nose, and a slight tilt of his head. Drawing himself up to his full height, the white-haired young man rose to his feet and followed after his sibling. The bow was slid from his shoulders, though Loken did not yet knock an arrow. To do so would be premature.

His lips pressed into a thin line as they strode out into the rain. Fat gobs of liquid splattered against his pale skin, and sent powerful shivers down his exposed arms. Gritting his teeth, Loken did well to ignore the displeasure of the night's rainfall. He reminded himself that the rain itself was a blessing, not a curse, and with it they would reap a particularly bountiful harvest this night. Blue eyes narrowed as Kaden drew his fingers upon the rapidly fading tracks. The beast could not be far.

"Whole band of them," the warrior mused, "Seems like they were moving out in a hurry. Wonder what it was exactly that they were trying to get away from so quickly." In response to his own question, Loken drew one of the handful of arrows from his quiver. He knew not what had driven the Cannoks further into the woods, but he had a few ideas in particular.

With a grunt, the Echani whirled toward the direction of the tracks and began to march on. The imprints faded rapidly as they were shelled by the storm's equivalent of artillery, but Loken had sharp eyes. He reached out into the beads of the beyond; allowing his senses to travel along the trail left in the force by the Cannoks rather than the trail they had made with their webbed feet. With renewed purpose, Loken marched deeper into the muddy forest, waving aside brambles and overhanging branches with a broad forearm.

"Getting tired of Dxun," he muttered, his words travelling across the mental link that tied the twins' fates. "Always smells. Always trying to kill us. Figure the spot where that ship landed last week is only a few miles away now. We might be able to reach it if we march from the morning."

Something scurried in the clearing ahead. Loken came to a halt at the treeline, a single hand reaching out to pull apart the bushes that barred his vision.

"What do you say?"

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

The rain continued to bear down on the brother's though they had become used to it. In most cases they were more off set by any days void of the rain's cold embrace. They maintained a slow and steady pace, equally focused on finding their prey without alerting the beasts.

As time advanced they found themselves on the tail of their prey, Loken's words were shadowy echoes ringing through Kaden's ear. The younger of the brother's had neglected his focus on his brother, therefore loosing his full hearing once again. As he dialed into the ever-shifting nether of the Force he glanced back to the man who stood behind him, placing a finger over his lips hoping to silence the brother.

Kaden had always been fond of his brother and there were few moments the sibling's tested each other's patience. But as it were Loken was a bit of a talker, which was fine so long as you were not hunting. The jungle's terrain was a formidable enemy in it's own right. Large rope like vines hung from the highest of trees creating a curtain of greenery that had to be negotiated. Below them the forest floor was cold and littered with all manner of thorns and jagged rocks. The young Echani took a moment to soak in the scene around him before letting out the softest exhale he could manage.

This place is death come to life. He thought, hand tightening around the wooden spear he fancied as a primary weapon.

His train of thought met it's end when the soft sound of shifting leaves could be heard. It was clumsy and cautious, showing the signs of the Cannoks they had been tracking. He looked around but the mixture of rain and vines had all but clouded his vision, he knew he would not be able to land a successful kill under such conditions, but his brother could.

When it came to skill what one brother lacked generally the other could make up for. Kaden moved slowly, pressing his body up to the base of a nearby tree. He looked over to Loken and gestured towards he Cannok's with a flourish of his hand. 'Can you take it?' Once again he tapped into the void of the force, using it to guide his voice to his brother's mind.

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

"Of course I can take it," Loken grumbled, "Frai'ad, brethro? They're just beasts." The words fell from his lips like a taunt, though the intention was anything but. The eldest of the twin turned to flash his sibling a quick smile, just as the rustling was broken by the sound of a large beast croaking.

That'll be the Cannoks.

In sudden silence, Loken turned back toward the clearing, his bow raised. Before them gathered a group of six Cannoks, each beast lumbering about and munching on anything within snatching distance of their over sized mouths. Loken eyed them with trepidation, seeing through his brother's vision for the moment. He took his position in relation to Kaden and the Cannoks, drew in a deep breath, and took aim. With the sort of aim that only came with great practice, Loken homed in on the largest of the beasts. On his own, Loken could never make the shot, but anything was possible alongside his brother.

"Y'ai so'le," the Echani murmured under his breath just as the arrow was sent flying. The bolt made little noise, and what it did was drowned out by the roar of the storm. The Cannok did not know what was coming for it until the bolt had pierced the spot where its two bulbous eye stalks met its skull. The beast made a frightened gurgling noise before toppling over, blue blood spilling from the hole in its cranium. The rest of the Cannok scattered in five different directions.

"I'd say that went rather well," Loken mused in basic, slinging his bow across his back as he strode into the clearing. The warrior fell to one knee alongside the dying Cannok,drawing a dagger from his belt. "I'm sorry, but we need to eat. You won't go to waste." The blade was plunged into the beast's throat, and all was silent.

After a long moment, Loken exhaled a deep breath.

"Almost missed that one. You move too much Kaden; karking up my aim." Loken flashed his brother a smile as he sized up their soon-to-be-dinner.

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Loken's words would have normally summoned a scoff from the younger brother. Were it not for their meal being on the line Kaden would have indulged in such an action.

'Y'ai wi'e.' Kaden's Telepathic message reached his brother as he watched him prepare his shot. The words were low and rang with a great deal of sarcasm as they were sent. Kaden turned his attention back to the beast just in time to hear the sound of rope striking wood. The sound to follow was a soft thunk that triggered the group of Cannok's into a wild frenzy. Kaden watched the creature collapse under the weight of it's now lifeless body. The rest of it's pack had scattered to avoid a matching fate.

Kaden watched the interaction his brother had with the deceased Cannok before simply moving to stand beside the man. Echani, especially from Kaden and Loken's clan, had a respect for all life which had always been very powerful in his brother. Once the man recovered had recovered Kaden let a wry smirk come over his face as he pointed towards the dead animal. 'Sure I'm your brother? You and him have quite a few similarities.'

Kaden set his spear on his shoulder as he often did, glancing up to the dark skies before turning his attention back to his brother. For the first time in almost a week Kaden spoke, though his words came out oddly garbled and with a lack of accent. "Let's get off this damn planet."

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

"I'm you, but stronger," Loken fired back, his eyes rolling. With a huff, the Echani warrior hefted their rather large dinner up over his shoulder. The beast weighed a good forty pounds and made his shoulder ache, but he did well to ignore letting such things show. It was better that his brother not see such a sign of weakness, though he knew Kaden felt it at the very least. Such was the curse of the bond forged between them upon the hour of birth.

"Looking to leave bre'thro?" He cocked a white brow at the dark skinned man. His lips pulled back in a tight half-smile, and the Cannok's corpse jostled on his shoulder. "So am I. I say we march for that ship that landed a few clicks out. Can't be that hard to get to it, and whomever was flying the thing hasn't left just yet. Maybe we can hitch a ride."

A quiet laugh followed his words. Loken knew full well that, were it absolutely necessary, his brother would assure they had a way off-world by any means necessary. As Loken found himself looking into the deceased Cannok's glassy black eyes, he found himself wondering if he could do the same.

Probably not.

He winced at the thought. Kaden was, above all else, the most important thing in his life. He liked to think that he would do anything for his younger sibling, even if it did broach upon the thin line that was immorality. Perhaps he would, if it was absolutely required.

His lips parted to speak further, but the words died in the back of his throat. Something massive moved at the edge of the clearing. A blunt of thorny teeth reared out from the trees, beady black eyes mentally devouring the two Echani. Its scaly lips pulled back in a snarl.

The Cannok's body hit the ground with a thump, and Loken's longsword was already at his shoulder. Left foot in front of the right, with his left shoulder facing the beast, Loken assumed the opening position that had been drilled into him since his earliest days.

The single word was spoken through the twins' mental link.

"Zakkeg." ​

​

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Kaden flourished his spear absentmindedly as his gaze fell onto the elder of the brothers. 'Hopefully he'll allow us to ride with him. If not we'll just have to take it.'

As Loken dropped the Cannok, allowing it's lifeless corpse to slam against the jungle floor, Kaden arched a brow at his brother. 'Don't tell me, it's too heavy?' His words met a blank expression and a mute response causing a flare of caution to echo from one brother to the other.

Kaden turned to see what his brother had spied in the dark shadows of Dxun. A beast, predatory in nature, towered over them as it menacingly stalked towards the duo.

As the Zakkeg slowly moved closer to the two Kaden could not help but mutter a slight curse, shifting from his mind to his brother's. 'Xai'Chath.'

Before Loken reacted to their newest problem Kaden's hand moved to grip his shoulder, hoping he could convince his brother to wait on his attack. 'Brother....It's hungry.' The obvious statement may have seemed to be a rather naive and pointless observation but Loken would know better of his brother. Hopefully.

Kaden slowly bent down, gripping the dead Cannok's legs as he attempted to pull the beast into his arms as slowly as possible. 'Sink into the jungle....wait for your chance to strike.' Once again his words were sent directly to his brother's mind.

With the dead Cannok clasped in his arms, it's blue blood spilling onto him, Kaden slowly approached the Zakkeg whose hungry eyes rolled over Kaden, abandoning Loken.

Kaden abandoned his mental tether to his brother, using the force to reach out to the creature, hoping that the Zakkeg would at least shift it's focus away from Loken.

Once there were several meters in between Kaden and his brother he slowly fell to a knee in front of the beast, shifting the Cannok's body out of his arms and onto the ground in front of the Zakkeg. The creature's large snout came over Kaden, sniffing him menacingly before his eyes fell to the corpse that laid before him.

Kaden remained on his knees, unmoving as the beast began to examine the offering laid out before him. The hair's on his neck had become erect as he clenched his eyes shut. With his bond to Loken severed he could not even hear the soft crunch the beast made as it bit into one of the Cannok's protruding limbs.

Though the beast was distracted by it's meal for the moment Kaden knew if he attempted to run or the Zakkeg finished it's meal before Loken attacked he would become the creature's main course.

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

Whatever Loken might have said was blocked by the sudden severance of the twins' mind. He muttered a curse under his breath, watching as the Zakkeg approached with all the grace of a drunken Wookie. The creature didn't need much beyond its brute strength -- nothing on Dxun could pose much of a threat to it besides the Drexyls, and there were no Drexyls here. The Zakkeg was, for lack of a better term, an alpha predator. Loken could only hope it would take Kaden's offering.

With practiced feet, Loken stalked along the edge of the treeline. Were it any other man, he likely would have left him to his fate. This was Kaden though, and there wouldn't be much point to continuing on without his blood-sibling. Even now, he felt the emptiness that had once been Kaden's mind. Their link was not truly severed, Loken doubted anything was capable of doing that, but it was blocked. With it came silence, and silence was where Loken truly thrived.

He scanned the Zakkeg from behind a nestle of bushes. An arrow wasn't going to do much beyond pissing the thing off. A good murder stroke to its cranium might give the thing a concussion, but Loken wasn't sure how compact its head plates were. Furthermore, it was dreadfully likely that his sword's pommel would not survive the strike. That left a stabbing motion, preferably to one of the chinks in the monster's armor, of which there weren't many.

"The eyes."

The beast's oculars weren't very large, but they seemed to be softest place. The beast loomed over Kaden, and it was making a meal of their dinner. There wasn't much time to make a move. Loken closed his eyes for but a moment, his thoughts linking with that of the ethereal flow. In that he felt pace, and clarity.

Senses were heightened. Though physically blind, Loken saw so much more. His vision lingered all around the beast, absorbing every ridge and curve along its bulky spine. He heard the distinct crunch of bone as the Cannok's leg was shattered beneath its monstrous maw of teeth. He heard Kaden's breath quicken as the Zakkeg's eyes shifted from the offering to the human every few seconds. It would not be satisfied with the Cannok alone.

Loken rose to his feet, placing one hand on his longsword grip, the other along the middle of the blade. He held it close to his chest and darted out from cover. The Zakkeg was too busy with its meal to react quickly enough. Its scaled head rose just as Loken drove the tip of his sword into its right eye. The black orb popped, spraying dark liquid and mottled blood along Loken's arm. The beast recoiled, letting forth an ear-splitting scream as it shoved its great bulk into Loken. The warrior was hit hard, finding himself stumbling down onto his backside just as the beast turned onto Kaden. Now blind in one eye and fueled with rage, the alpha predator bore down on the two brothers with tooth and claw.

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Time itself felt as if it had come to a stunning halt as Loken charged towards the beast. Kaden's eyes had come open just in time to see his brother's vibroblade pierce through the creature's pliant orb. A refreshing breath of air was taken into Kaden's lungs as he watched his brother's assault. Had he been holding his breath the entire time? There was no time for reflection because now the beast had transformed from it's sated visage to an eager and enraged state.

Kaden's hand found the wooden spear he had discarded into the mud when he fell to a knee. As Loken was dispatched by the Zakkeg Kaden found his opportunity to strike.

Good thinking, bre'thro. He thought as he pushed himself to his feet, caked in the cold mud that came from the ground beneath him. His arm shot forward, aimed towards the creature's one good eye. The soft eye caved underneath the pressure of the younger brother's spear.

The Zakkeg lashed out in a blind fury hoping to strike either of the two humans who had damaged it so. It's large paws found nothing but air as Kaden jumped back from the enraged predator. Slamming into the mud a few feet back Kaden quickly recovered from the fall. He planted his palm into the mud, pulling his legs back from his center as he held a three-point stance.

Finally having a moment to rekindle the connection to his brother Kaden glanced over to Loken with a satisfied smirk on his face. 'Get up. It's not nap time yet. For a minute there I thought you might let that thing take a bite of me.'

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

Precision was a lovely thing.

The Zakkeg, now blinded, was thrashing about in hopes of crushing either of the twins. Fortunately for the two Echani, the beast was a fair distance away. Enough to stand safely, at the very least. With a grunt, Loken rose, rolling his eyes in what he thought was Kaden's direction. In reality, he was rolling his eyes at a tree.

At least he was trying.

"It's all about timing. You can't rush a maneuver whenever you're half-swording, or you'll get your fingers cut off." His words echoed through their telepathic link. The twins watched as the Zakkeg continued to thrash around in what was truly a pitiful display. The great beast had simply been unlucky. If either of the siblings' strikes had missed, at least one of them would be dead, and likely both. Loken wasn't one to attribute anything to the will of the force -- he'd been through too much heartache to believe that -- but this was about as close as he was going to get to it.

He distinctly faced away from the beast and Kaden, as was common when speaking in combat. Loken did his best to try and seem like he was looking in the direction of whatever being he might have been conversing with at most times, but that required effort that did not need to be expended when his life was on the line. He took a moment to wipe the Zakkeg's gruesome mix of viscera and vitae from his blade, watching as the beast turned to charge off deeper into the jungle.

"The thing ruined our Cannok, and it won't live without its sight." He spoke aloud, turning toward the sound of thundering feet. He slipped his sword back into its sheathe, and nodded at his sibling. "I've never had Zakkeg before. Care to try it?"

Without awaiting an answer, Loken took off at a brisk pace in the direction the Zakkeg had fled.

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Though Kaden kept a watchful eye while the beast continued to thrash around he glanced down at his spear that had been covered in gore and blood from his assault. His hand searchingly ran over the tip of the weapon, curious to it's condition.

Blunt. He exhaled before casting the weapon into the mud below them. He knelt down, digging into his boot as he listened to his brother's lesson on timing. 'So long as we're both alive I suppose it doesn't matter.' Kaden produced a fair sized vibroknife from the sheathe he kept in his boot. While returning to his full height he watched the Zakkeg bound off into the forest with a loud screech.

Approaching the ravaged corpse of their prey Kaden idly scratched at the palm of his hand. 'Xai'Chath...We didn't even get a bite.'

Loken's words piqued Kaden's interest, yet before he could respond the brother had already begun the chase to the Zakkeg. Without hesitation Kaden's legs shifted, pulling him into a steady pace behind his brother. The Zakkeg had been thrashing about blindly, using it's nostril to guide it to wherever it had made a break for. It left a rather obvious trail for it to follow, never mind the constant shriek that had been echoing around them since they began the chase.

Kaden enhanced his own speed allowing him to pass his brother in the chase. However the lead was short lived as they quickly found themselves halted by the new scenery they had stumbled into. Trees gave way to raised grass and a rock formation that the Zakkeg now stood in front of. It stalked between the rocks, hissing towards the brothers. Their scent had spilled to the creature and now it was very aware of their presence. The stone surrounding the creature were five meters in height but most were only a few meters wide.

The Zakkeg let out a blood-curling screech before turning from the two and racing into the formation of stones. Kaden flipped his dagger over in his hand before gesturing towards the rocks with the back of his blade. 'After you, big brother.' His words were laced with sarcasm as a challenging smile crept over his face.

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

"I never thought myself to be a hunter of monsters," Loken muttered under his breath. His vision, ensconced within the ultimate reality of the force, pierced the darkness with no difficulty whatsoever. He saw the shrouds of shadow that shielded the entrance of the cave from Kaden's vision, but such trivialities were of no concern to the blind Echani.

The beast had cornered itself, and it was going to fight like a hounded dog. With no way to attack the Zakkeg from behind, even blind, the beast would prove to be extremely deadly. In the confines of this small cave, even more so. Yet, the two needed to eat, and the Zakkeg's corpse would provide sustenance for many days.

It might come for us if it lies. Follow our scent.

Resolved, Loken stepped forward. He held his longsword at the ready, his senses extending beyond the cavern walls as he stepped forward. The terrain was hazardous and the path was just large enough for the Zakkeg to fumble its way through, but there was something else. Loken sensed life -- five lives in particular. One, he recognized as the tortured mind of the Zakkeg. The four others were far smaller, yet they resembled the Zakkeg.

"This is its nest." He muttered to his brother, just as they found themselves in a rather large cavern. The smell of detritus and sickly sweet copper flooded Loken's nostrils, and the sound of running water echoed across the walls. He could hear the Zakkeg rustling about, a crunch that sounded eerily like the shattering of bone, and cries from some smaller beasts.

The Zakkeg turned as they entered the cavern, one of its young clamped firmly between its jaws. Another lay in shattered bits at its feet, while the remaining two tried to scurry away toward the final curve of the cavern.

"It couldn't feed its children, so its feeding on them instead," he mused through the mental link, "And I thought our parents were neglectful."

His brow furrowed, Loken stepped forward. The Zakkeg wasted no time in making a blind charge, one the Echani barely managed to sidestep. He slashed the haft of his blade along the monster's flank, but the blade found no purchase. It just skidded along the scales.

Loken turned upon the creature as it continued barreling toward Kaden.

"The beast is blind. Tie your steps bre'thro, and w'll have the beast!"

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

The approach to the mouth of the cave was careful and paced. Loken led the way as Kaden kept a watchful eye on the dark shadows that shifted in front of them. It was a rather comical scene, the blind leading the deaf, but it was a scene they had successfully played out many times in the past.

Kaden inhaled softly as they krept into the shadowy cave, what he could only make out as the mixed smell of feces and decaying flesh filled his nostril leaving his stomach with a rather light feeling. The threat of regurgitation forced him to an unexpected pause. He exhaled softly, regaining control of his gut and continuing their advance through the creature's nest.

As Loken advanced he covered the view to the next clearing, forcing Kaden to remain slightly confused on what was happening. He reached into the force, using it to amplify his sense. The connection was as clear as cool water in the sprint time, allowing him to practically see the events happening in the next part of the cave. A loud crunch could be heard and in that moment Kaden felt something, as if something heavy had become slightly lighter.

Death. It was always something that was easily recognized in the eyes of the Force.

As Loken spoke Kaden tightened his grip on his dagger. 'Let's end it before the others are harmed.' He stated, his thoughts moving to his brother as he placed a hand on the man's shoulder. But Loken was already keen to their goal, the Zakkeg had to be killed before it could slaughter the rest of it's young. How pitiful that a creature's existence could be brought to such a conclusion, such is life.

Another step forced the Zakkeg to become aware of their presence, the beast barreled forward and Kaden was ill prepared to counter the wild charge. His arms came up in a defensive reflex but the Zakkeg was too powerful. Tackled back into the wall by the creature Kaden found himself winded by the assault. As his spine connected with the rocky wall behind him he felt a sharp pain shoot into him. He attempted to let out a yell of pain but it was cut silent when he looked up to see the Zakkeg's razor sharp teeth bared towards him.

Kaden moved quickly, shooting his arm forward, his blade leading the movement. Without a second thought Kaden jarred his blade into the creature's mouth. Not enough to truly harm it but enough so it could no longer clamp it's jaws shut around the young man's head.

Kaden used his feet to try and pry the beast back from him but his strength had been sapped by the pain shooting into his back. His mind rang towards his brother as his words were as clear as day. 'Help me!'

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

No.

Something snapped in Loken's mind. Kaden did not step aside quickly enough. The Zakkeg bore down upon him, its teeth sinking into the twin's flesh. Kaden should have died then, his body left as naught but rage of cloth and ruined flesh. Despair washed over Loken, only to be overwhelmed by sudden elation. Judging by the shout that thundered in his mind, Kaden yet lived.

The Echani did not bother to speak. Instead, he lunged toward the Zakkeg's back. His sword fell, only to skid along the beast's hardened scales once again. The monster didn't even notice his attempted assault. The young warrior cursed, his sword hanging limply at his side. The violent shift of his emotional state had been draining enough; being confronted with utter failure and total powerlessness was just too much.

A terrible roar was torn from the back of Loken's throat as he thrust an open palm into the monster's flank. Ethereal energy danced between his fingers, before coalescing in a small ball of condensed telekinetic force. The ball burst forward in a violent explosion of energy the moment it met the beast's scales, and the Zakkeg was sent sprawling into the cavern wall. The impact was strong enough to make the cavern shake, and to cause loose rocks to tumble from the ceiling. The sound of the impact reverberated across the short distance from one wall to the next, creating a deafening vibration that made Loken's mind reel.

The warrior fell onto his backside as the Zakkeg, its scales broken and numerous places and many of its bones shattered, attempted to right itself. Utterly spent, it was all Loken could do to try and control his breathing, a terrible pain now throbbing between his temples.

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Kaden hated being caught in a situation where he required his brother's aid to get out of it. However when Loken assaulted the beast Kaden gave off a sigh of relief, though it was incredibly short lived. His brother's attacks were having no luck in penetrating the cortosis-like skin that the beast adorned as a scaled armor. Kaden felt the creature shift from on top of him, the same moment he felt a wave come over his brother. Fear? He could feel it radiating from his brother and he knew there was worry for his own safety.

The younger twin felt the beast become lifted from him, his blade tearing through the creature's mouth leaving a bloody trail as it was thrown off of him. Kaden's arm had become caked in a coating of blood and skin particles. He wiped some of it on his vest before rising to aid his brother. Rather than check on his brother Kaden charged for the beast, his back still tight and hot from the large beating it had just taken.

Before the Zakkeg could find it's balance Kaden slammed into it, forcing it back into imbalance. The Echani took notice of several chips in the creature's armor, where hard scale had given way for fleshy skin. Kaden thrust his blade into the chinks in the armor, finding a soft home each time as his blade became more and more encrusted in blood.

The Zakkeg flailed wildly but it's body could not bend nor turn in a manner where he could successfully strike Kaden. In time the flails became less and less frequent and losing the power they once had. Kaden's arms grew weary but he continued to stab until finally the beast lay still. The boy left his blade in the creature's body, labored breathing taking over as he leaned against the large corpse.

He slid down onto his knees and quickly rolled over to a sitting position, back braced by the dead Zakkeg that was behind him.Still exhausted from his assault he looked over to his brother who was in a matching state. 'Well...that was fun.' The brother forced a somewhat dazed smirk through before exhaling once more, trying to pace his breathing.

[member="Loken Blake"]

 

[Loken Blake]

It was flesh and bone and shattered steel. The scent of blood, sweet like a copper wire filled Loken's nostrils. With it came a certain intoxication; a satisfaction in the bloodletting that many Echani warriors came to know as victory. Battle was the language with which they spoke, and the Zakkeg's words were those of true desperation. The beast had been starving, which explained why it was so easy for Loken to drive his sword through its eye. The Cannok might have fed its babies, but then it grew greedy, and had to pay for such.

Loken took it as a personal lesson in the danger of sin. To grow too ambitious when victory was already in one's grasp was to be faulty. One could not claim that which is had not earned. For attempting to do so, the Zakkeg had descended into the greatest depths of depravity. Its parental instincts had been overridden by the desire to survive, and the certainty of an easy meal. Its young could never have hoped to resist its voracious hunger.

For such crimes, the Zakkeg had paid the ultimate prices. Loken would keep this event close to his heart, for fear that he might ever be driven to reach farther than he might be capable due to the promise of riches or power. One could learn every detail of life from observing nature; this was a capital example.


"She hungered for herself and her children. When we crippled her, she feared for her life. Her children might have preserved it. Her greed led to both her death, and the deaths of her two infants," Loken spoke aloud, his voice ringing hollow in his ears. "Can't let that happen to us."

He reached up to wipe some of the dust and grime from his face, and rose up to his feet. "You okay?" He offered his brother a hand.

Whatever might have followed was interrupted by the yapping of the two infant Zakkegs. Neither could have been older than a few weeks, and both barely rose to Loken's ankle in height. Their scales had not yet grown in and they resembled little blobs of flesh more than a formidable alpha predator.

One's skin was milky white, much like Eshan's moons. It peered at Loken through small blue eyes, yapping fearfully at the man. The other, larger yet seemingly more fearful than its sibling, hid behind its brother. This one had skin like obsidian, far darker than its mother's -- indeed, darker than any Zakkeg Loken had seen. It watched in wary silence, its eyes like shining emeralds.

"Two lived." Loken muttered, his sword slamming back into its sheathe.

[member="Kaden Blake"]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Kaden felt as if he could drift into a long nap, allowing recovery to take it's place while he slept this off like a bad hangover. But they did not have that luxury on a planet molded for their death. Loken recounted the actions of the Zakkeg and he nodded before rolling his neck around softly. 'We'll never abandon each other for madness....ever.' He took his brother's hand, using the aided strength to pull him to his feet. Loken's question had good intention but Kaden could not help but return with a sarcastic remark. 'No I'm not ok? Didn't you see that thing hit me? What are you blind?'

He smirked before placing his hand on the crux of his back, pressing into it until a loud pop erupted from his spine. The younger brother let out a relieved sigh before smiling at the relief his back finally felt. He returned his attention to Loken who had become occupied with the silent yaps that had been coming from the nearby room. While Loken walked in Kaden glanced at the creature's he spoke of.

In some....weird ways....the baby Zakkeg's were rather cute. Their yapping left much to be desired but they held little resemblance to their monstrous parent. Kaden absently walked over to the Zakkeg they had slain, he used his dagger to pry off a small portion of the beast's armored scales. 'They're still infants...You know they will die if we leave them here.'

As his words echoed out to his brother he began to cut long strips of meat from the Zakkeg's body.

Kaden turned back to the cave, holding out a piece of the meat to Loken with a sigh. 'It's all they have to eat...' The idea of feeding an infant it's own mother was a terrible one, yet it was better than the alternative of starvation. Kaden leaned down and held the strip of meat out, the smaller of the two Zakkeg's slowly wobbled over to Kaden, sniffing at the meat cautiously.

He watched as it took the meat into it's mouth and began to chomp at it wildly. Once the strip was fully devoured the small creature wobbled towards Kaden's leg, nuzzling into him, most likely hoping for more food. 'We should take them with us.'

Kaden bent down to pick the creature up and smirked down at it. 'He's kinda cute.' The small predator began to lick at the blood and gore that riddled Kaden's arm which left him slightly disgusted. 'Mostly...'

[member="Loken Blake"]