Together at Last

[Laira Darkhold]

Because of our bond I could easily feel Chiasa’s emotions, as much as she might want to hide them from the rest of the Galaxy, she could rarely do so from me. I could feel the emotion, it was affection from what I could tell, and happiness, seeping through her which resonated from me as well and echoed through Meliha. I was glad she liked the little memory of her I carried with me at all times. For months it had been my only comfort, my only pure memory that wasn’t plagued by voices or corrupted by grief. Now that I had Chiasa and Meliha back, the voices seemed to have abated, which was good. It was possible it was simply a way my psyche had chosen to deal with their loss, despite what else I might have suspected before.

I closed my eyes and let myself drift away when her lips pressed to mine, the her sweet scent washing over me and taking me to a simpler time on Nar Shaddaa when we had accepted each other and become one family instead of two lost souls in the galaxy. The giggling babe Chiasa held reached up and snapped me back to reality, and she laughed at the two of us. It warmed my heart that she found our displays of affection amusing and that she felt comfortable around us.

I smiled, even the moment having ended, for no moment with them could be ruined, “I missed you my love. I do not know when my vod will get here, if they will respond at all. But I know that everything will be okay from now on, as long as I have you." I said, straightening up and looking around. "We have as much time here to recover as you need. If you want to talk a walk through the forest with Meliha, I can do that, if you want to retire for the night… I can do that.” I said the last with a wry smile and a wink, the afternoon sun shining down on us with the corvette and shuttle glinting in its light in this little clearing.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"It would be unfair to take her away from her playmate..."

Chiasa offered one eyebrow raising slightly and a hint of devilishness gleaming in her eyes. Perhaps this seemed surprising, that she would be willing to relinquish her only child again so quickly. In fairness though, for her it had been both an eternity and also only hours since she'd seen Meliha last. That and having seen and felt her daughter, she trusted that those her husband had entrusted as guardians were capable.

"In truth,"

This was said mroe reluctantly.

"I am not certain how much of a walk I would be capable of today."

Yes she'd largely rid herself of the hibernation sickness, for the most part, but healing took energy, and seeing as when she'd been frozen she'd been in the midst of a prolonged duel for her life, energy was not something Chiasa had a lot of. Anticipation and joy had kept her going so far, but even with the Lesai still in her system she was tired. She needed a chance to rest, if only for a short time.

"Perhaps tomorrow we could go for a walk? Explore the forests and such? Or entertain your friends if they arrive of course."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Well, then how about we retire for the night. It has been a few days since I slept either.” I answered softly, brushing her lekku behind her shoulder, “And tomorrow we will see what the future holds for Drahr and Ga’Ihlr.”

Nodding to the elderly duros, “Benji, take care of Meliha and make sure she gets fed and put to bed at a reasonable hour. You can put her in the guest cabin on my ship along with her crib. I still have the droid synchronized to the life sensors on my ship.”

The old duros male, nodded in response and reached to take the child from Chiasa "Come on now Meliha, let's play with Dorrin some more while mommy rests", Meliha mumbled a bit but didn't cry, even though I could feel she wasn't exactly pleased as she was taken away. She lightened her mood a bit as I scooped Chiasa off her feet carrying her back towards the ship.

“When or if they make it out here matters little to me, Mesh’ika. All that matters is that for this night and all the nights to come I can hold you in my arms.” We walked back aboard the ship, but there was something different this time, like a weight had been lifted off me, that there was no goal, no task, no great quest that needed to be undertaken and that my life had become simple.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"Days?"

She gave him a bit of a look at that. Hypocritical since she never slept and he'd likely been awake looking for her. Still, she loved Draco and certainly did not approve of her Drahr going for days without sleep.

When he spoke to the Duros, the name was filed away. She would need to learn his men, figure out who they were. She extended them partial trust because Draco did, but it was yet to be determined how much they could be trusted and in which situations. She let Benji take Meliha, and noted with some satisfaction that while the child grumbled, there was no significant darkening to her presence, no hint that the child disapproved of this elderly caretaker. All of this calculating however, was brushed aside as the present moment called her full attention when Draco literally swept her off her feet once more.

"There is nowhere else I would rather be Viyi'ee."

------​

There was resting during the night, though not the full night. Exhausted though they might be, neither was so tired that they did not have energy to check every inch of the other and make sure that all was still right. Scans were one thing, the tender one on one attention was another.

There was still too much Lesai in her system to actually sleep, but she could rest, let her mind drift, eyes closed, safe in Dracos arms, with his warmth beside and around her and the steady beat of his heart to soothe her.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Nothing could have kept her from my arms that night, our first night together after so many months. But I was tired, exhausted and so when I did succumb to sleep, I stayed that way for a long time. It must have been close to twelve hours before I was roused from my slumber by the sound of children laughing and the smell of fresh cooked breakfast foods.

I knew Chiasa would already be awake, she had never fallen asleep because of her lesai habit, something I did not agree with. Mostly because I knew it could be very harmful for her if she was deprived without access to proper medical attention, but also out of selfishness. I wanted to be able to hold her and embrace her and have her drift away in the comfort of my arms, but if she felt she needed the drug, I would not stand in her way.

I left the suite and moved outside where a table had been set on the grass waiting for me and her to come and join the few people here. The woman and her young child were humans, sitting at one end, Laira and her son Dorrin. Benji and his wife Yara, the elderly duros couple were old friends of mine. And of course Henn was there too. A pair of service droids moved around the table and set food while the two empty chairs beside Meliha’s high chair had empty plates, waiting for us.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Dracos rising was the signal that the rest cycle was over, as he rolled out of bed and followed the scent of food and the sound of laughter, she rose also. A quick look around which she'd not really bothered with prior found that as usual, Draco had thought of what she would need before she herself did. A quick stop in the sonic shower and then she pulled on the clean clothes Draco had had waiting for her, all precisely in her size. He'd taken her measurements once, to make her armour in one of their first encounters, before they'd ever become intimate, and apparently he'd kept it on file since then. It was these small thoughtfulnesses that helped to keep her love for him as strong as it had ever been. She wished she knew more ways to return the favour.

Personal hygiene and clothes seen to, she moved to join the others.

"Good morning."

This was.. odd. This communal breakfast. Not bad necessarily, just odd. Sitting around with these people she did not know as if they were some sort of cohesive unit. She supposed they were, or were going to be in some ways. Still, her life had always been very partitioned. Personal went here, and it never touched anything else. Business went here. She wasn't sure if she'd ever even shared a meal in the same room as Henn. That her personal life should include more than herself, her daughter and Draco was.. different.

She took her seat beside Meliha, immediately checking to make sure any solids were cut up into size appropriate pieces. In her experience with her daughter, it was best to let her feed herself if she felt like it and clean up the mess afterwards. Occasionally she still fussed, and then playing 'spaceship' to get her to et was necessary. Hopefully not this morning. Chiasa would do it, there wasn't much she wouldn't do her her daughter, but hopefully not this morning in front of these strangers.

"Have you heard from your friends?"

She inquired, since Draco might have checked his comm in the time it took her to shower and dress, quick though she'd been.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Good morning love.” I said to Chiasa as she walked over and sat down between Meliha and I. Like a true mother bird she hovered over Meliha making sure everything was to her liking before focusing on herself.

“I haven’t. I will send another message through soon to see if they will make it out but I doubt it. After Wayland the Mandalorians have been in turmoil, and been focusing within. That is one of the reasons I have us hiding out here. That station has more civilians on it than soldiers as it stands, so it needs to stay out of the fighting.” In truth there were only minimal crewmen for the station, normally chosen by the age of their children and willingness to be cut off from the outside world, and even then only my closest most trusted soldiers were allowed to be armed on the station. The few civilian families that were there had been chosen by profession and having children roughly the same age as Meliha. A few doctors, educators, and the like were there for support.

I smiled and put my arm around her for a moment, “What would you like to do today my love? Anything special, anything in particular?” I asked, waiting a second before offering a suggestion. “We could take Meliha to see some of the Ewoks if you like. They have a village near here that is semi friendly, and we can always take care of our selves.”

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

For a moment there was just the slightest of annoyances at the Mandalorians, before she reminded herself that she was one now for all intents and purposes. Or was working to be one. They were not doing particularly well in their fight against the Primeval and Sith. She had tried to extend a hand to them before, when she'd ruled the Ravens and they had been strong and been snubbed. Proud warrior culture or not, perhaps if you weren't able to even hold your own land you should be a little more polite to those who actively tried to be allies.

She was glad that Draco was pragmatic. That he wasn't so blindly committed to his people that he would leave his employees and family in the midst of a warzone certain that he'd decided they would win or die trying. There were very few scenarios in which Chiasa saw death as an acceptable outcome. She was as a general rule very much of the live to fight another day mindset. So she nodded once as he explained.

"Makes sense."

When he asked what she wanted to do she paused for a moment. So many days had been dedicated to what she needed to do, other than the stolen moments with him, that she wasn't entirely certain what she wanted to do. Particularly when it struck her that this for the most part would be every day for the foreseeable future. The fact that she was not President of the Red Ravens, that they did not even exist in any official capacity was still sinking in and had a tendency to creep up on her and make itself known at odd moments.

"Ewoks are the.. little bears yes? That might be nice, and it would give me a chance to stretch my legs."

Capable though she was she'd likely not have taken Meliha to a semi-friendly anything on her own, but between her and Draco, the chances of anything harming the youngling was slim to none. This decided she nodded again once.

"Besides, I have never been to this moon, I suppose to be here and not lok around would be a waste, particularly when it is in the company of my two favourite people."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I smiled at her as she spoke, letting my emotions seep into the Force for the first time in a long time I was being open with my emotions intentionally and felt truly comfortable and rested. Meliha was happy and jovial, especially with the presence of her mother once again. It had seemed that the infant girl’s mood had improved since Chiasa had returned to us, and that made me happy. I like the idea of having my family together and getting along so well, especially given the extended absence Chiasa had suffered through.

“Yes, the little bears. Even unfriendly they aren’t exactly dangerous, and with us around and my abilities to influence minds, these ones are harmless.” I said, confident in my own abilities, and those of the soldiers that stood around us. These were Mandalorian warriors, of Aliit Vereen, paid and equipped by ArmaTech, and put through one of the most grueling training regimens in existence. “Besides, the boys will be nearby if we need something and I will be there. You have nothing to worry about. Benji and Yara have met them before and they don’t seem to mind us, so long as we aren’t kicking in doors or invading sacred places.”

After breakfast was over I looked around, getting a feel for the planet. I could feel something out there that intrigued me, but I couldn’t tell what it was. I made a mental note to check it if we had time to after visiting the ewoks. It felt like it was in the same direction, though the presence was cloudy and smeared. “Well, lets go and meet the Ewoks and go exploring. Do you like that Meliha?” I asked, picking her up out of her high chair and holding her up to where she could see and letting her play with my hand for a moment. She wasn’t walking quite well enough to go without some sort of crib so the FAU-V1 needed to come with us.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Well, if a couple of elderly Duros could handle it, then she and Draco certainly could, backup aside.

"Kicking in doors wasn't number one of my list of things to do, I suppose I can get through my day without ruining any bear dens or desecrating any holy sites. I mean it'll be hard, but one must make some sacrifices to get on with the neighbours. What if we ran out of sugar?"

She commented philosophically.

Done with breakfast she set her cutlery neatly together on the plate, and then rose. Draco picked up Meliha, with a half hidden smile, she reached past him with a napkin and wiped the girls face clean. The sight of the FAU-V1 made her a little smug. That had been a good piece of work. Certainly Skolnick had done a large chunk of it, but her fingerprints were all over them. Few people saw their full potential.

They were an ideal and safe way to transport an infant with a few modifications, they could provide very effective battlefront first aid, and then lesser known reason she'd included many of the things she had.. They were good fro restraining enemies. From basic soldiers to force users. With the right array of drugs and their sturdy build. Not to mention they could store medical samples for fairly lengthy epriods of time. Always handy. Particularly when paired with the ASU-V1s.

"I am glad we have a nice day for it."

She added after a glance up at the sky.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I watched Chiasa being all motherly with her child and my heart warmed a little from the sight. My burning Starbird was careful where she cast her flames and which flames she cast, which made me glad she was here now, warm and gentle to her family. “Well, I guess I can carry Meliha until we get there my love.” I said, gesturing for her to walk alongside me as I moved off slowly, leisurely through the woods towards the Ewok village. The warriors of Clan Vereen moved nearby, two in front, two behind, two to either side, keeping a respectful distance from us as we moved through the forest, sun shining down through the canopy and the massive trees swaying gently in the light autumn breeze.

Small animals could be felt nearby, most going about their business as usual, but a few I convinced to come see Meliha and let her pet them. Subjugating the mind of a single herbivore was about as easy a subjugation as you could hope for, so I wasn’t worried about them reacting or lashing out at her, I was in complete control of their minds while they were in her presence. Little Bordok ponies made the infant squeal with glee as she reached out and pet them and I sat her on their backs, keeping my hands on her to keep her stable, and keeping their will suppressed under my own. “We should get one of these for her on the station. I think that would be nice. Maybe when we get ready to leave we could capture one of the younger ones.”

One of the warriors made a nod from where he was in the loose formation and I could feel in their minds they had made a mental note to get their Aliit’buir’s daughter a pony while they were here.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Chiasa was often a wildfire. Burning everything in her path. Unstoppable, unsteerable, unpredicatable. But she could also be the home hearth. Glowing gently, casting light and warmth, minding her family. Fire had always been like that though, both the blessing and bane of man, who for the most part harnessed it only a little better than moth. Still, nothing was worse than the slow death of one without any fire at all, however small or hidden. So she burned for her family, and in return her family kept her burning. If she was the flames, Draco was the coal.

She walked beside him as they moved off, and once more a part of her danced, still thrilled at the novel idea that she was walking beside her husband who was carrying their daughter and they were for the most part safe with no pressing business beyond their own. She could almost ignore their escort. It would take a little while. She was much less adept than Draco at altering or affecting minds, but she was very good at sensing things. She almost had a proper feel for those accompanying them today, and once she did she would be able to identify, track and dismiss them entirely. Having followers and watchers was nothing new to her after all.

When Draco started to bring out animals for Meliha to play with, Chiasa had to smile at not only her obvious delight, but also the attention Draco paid to her and the way he catered to her. While Meliha had clearly entirely accepted him as ehr father, and he had accepted her, it still occasionally rose in Chiasas mind that this man, this heartbreakingly worthy man, had taken on a child not his own blood. The bit of research she'd done said this was typical of Mandalorians, but still. The Twi'lek had to laugh when he spoke of getting her her own.. pony.. thing.

"Ah, I am sorry. It is a good idea, she seems to love them. Perhaps two, so it is not alone when she is not playing with it? And so one of her little friends can ride with her as well, especially when they are a little older."

They were small, two should not be much harder on the station than one. Besides, unsteady though she was, Meliha tore about on her own two feet now, seemingly undeterred by how many times she tipped over.

"It is just.. Surreal sometimes, when there is time to stop and think. Lucky and unexpected enough that we found each other, and have our own family but that we have both succeeded enough that we are living in a private station you had designed and built, are going for strolls surrounded by elite troops to ensure safety, and are casually discussing ponies for our daughter. Once I owned nothing."

And while still not overly fixated on material goods unless they were useful, just the way they both had risen, and how high and how quickly. Technically with her presumed death and the disbanding of the Ravens she supposed she had 'fallen', but she still had more than enough to support her family for the rest of her life, and Draco was probably one of the top ten most successful and influential businesspeople in the galaxy, as well an an accomplished warrior and force user.

Another quick scan through the Force of the area, more habit than anything else, showed no immediate dangers, though something drew her attention. It was not moving and did not feel alive however, and was still at a distance. Likely one of the sacred spots. Bear temples did not particularly interest her. Besides, they were probably dirty caves or something.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

We had come so far alone, but we could go so much further together. She had had nothing once, but by the time I had met her she had been the leader of a massive criminal syndicate and controlled numerous planets through them. I had been a low born man with a criminal background not long ago. Now I owned and operated a massive company that operated throughout Mandalorian space with reaches into Silver Sanctum Space and the Techno Union. Some people may dislike me, but for those that I had contact with, I held friends in every government. That had not always been the case, but it was the present.

In the grand scheme of things, the single station we owned meant little, barely a blip on the radar of things we owned, but it was our home as far as I was concerned. We might eventually live on Concordia where Clan Vereen was setting up, but that was in the future. “Two sounds nice. She will enjoy them, and from what I remember of childhood, most children want a pony at one point in their lives.”

Meliha stumbled here and there but I was always right there to help her to her feet if she needed it, and there was always her mother nearby. We could sense the Ewok and their village in close proximity and above us, some Ewoks had already started to gather and watch us, their thoughts curious and nonthreatening. Even still, I did not want to take any chances so I exuded trustworthiness and kindness through the Force, just enough so that their first impression would be that we were probably trustworthy. If push came to shove I would be more aggressive, but I doubted that would happen here.

As we approached the little village we were met by a few Ewoks carrying short stone spears and wearing more ceremonial headdresses. Through their interesting little language they spoke, a language I did not understand, but I could comprehend them through use of the Force. Finally when they were done, I spoke, implanting the thoughts into the leader’s mind as I did. “We are just taking a stroll with our family and we wanted to come visit your village. Our little one was curious.”

Several unintelligible mumbles and they seemed satisfied with the response, making way for us to enter their little village and for the most part acted like they didn’t mind outsiders. In the back of my mind I could still feel the presence, still of in the distance, further away from our ship than we were. I decided Chiasa and I would go look at it, whether we would take Meliha adventuring was up to her mother however.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Chiasa was exceptionally aware of the Ewoks when they started watching the small family. While almost certainly not a real threat, she was incapable of not tracking unknowns. Particularly when her daughter was present. She could feel when Draco started pushing out his 'Let's be friends, I'm a good dude' waves. It was a good idea, she could and should probably do the same. When she was younger she might have, when ingratiating herself to those around her was what came most naturally. It didn't any more. Her stripes weren't the only thing that was vaguely feline. She preferred to hang back and remain aloof, reserving judgment.

When they eventually ventured down, she kept her face arranged in a pleasantly neutral smile, lips closed and teeth hidden. Ewoks were decidedly horrifying. Definitely not something she'd want to be surprised by. With their beady little eyes and their rodenty little teeth. Terrifying, soulless little beasts. Luckily Meliha did not share her opinion, or there might have been waterworks. She just saw furry beasts.

"You've gotten very good with mental abilities Viyi'ee."

She commented approvingly. She knew offensively he'd mastered mental abilities, but it often took a more capable touch to do this sort of thing without causing harm, that he was communicating through the force showed a whole nother layer of mastery.

She had to admit, as they moved on that as much as the ewoks creeped her out, their treetop village was interesting, structurally and architecturally.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I smiled, watching Meliha look on in wonder at the little village and its furry little inhabitants. The toddler desparately wanted to get down and walk and touch everything, but I kept her in my arms. I didn’t want her on the ground and vulnerable just in case. She seemed content to just reach for everything that caught her eye and making grabbing motions with her hands. At some of the little market shops, or at least what appeared to be a market, I bought, traded, or bartered with the little creatures to get her the things she seemed to most enjoy, mainly little baubles that they made for their little children to play with. She seemed delighted to be here and hopefully she would remember these times more than the times I had to leave her with others.

“Thank you Mesh’ika. I trained for the whole time you were gone, trying to get better at it. Seeing as I can’t hardly pick up a stick with telekinesis, I focused on this more. It’s really useful for what I had to do, and for what I am doing.” Telepathy was difficult, a little strange, but some practitioners had figured out how to speak with others across vast distances rather than just send feelings or help through the Force, but actual communication. It was something I was working on slowly, myself.

“Can you feel that presence off that way?” I asked pointing in the direction I felt the slight Force presence. Some of the Ewoks mumbled warnings and grumbled dislike. “They seem to warn against going over there but it isn’t one of their sacred places. I want to check it out if that is okay with you?” I said, questioningly. I was pretty sure there wasn’t anything in this forest that was a serious threat for the whole group of us.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

At his question her head turned, lifting slightly, like a dog scenting the wind.

"I feel it."

She agreed. She had assumed it was an ewok thing, but now that they were up in the village.. She extended her senses. She was good at this. Control, detection. She would never pull a stardestroyer out of the sky, but this she could do. It didn't feel like the ewoks. A few of them had a touch of the force. And from the extra bones and various other things she didn't understand the purpose of they had draped over themselves she assumed they acted as shamans or priests or something. They felt much like the moon itself did. Simple, straight-forward, primal, natural. Whatever was out there though..

Dark. It had darkness wrapped around it. Not an active, breathing darkness, like a Sith Lord or a Terentatek. Something passive and old. And made. A curiousity then.

"It is fine with me."

She agreed easily enough with a one shouldered shrug. Through the bond they shared she gave him her findings, that he could sense it as clearly as she could.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I smiled, I could feel the faint trace of Darkness, no more than my own, if only a little different. "I am glad then. We can continue our little stroll through the woods and go take a look at whatever holy place they have out there. It is probably just some rival tribe's sacred statues or something of the like." I said, shrugging off the little feeling I had about the object. I was curious more than anything else and I exuded confidence. Chiasa and I were both strong in the Force, Meliha probably would be as well, especially given Masters like myself and Chiasa to train her. I knew the benefit of having numerous masters which was why I had trained under a half dozen people, and no doubt Chiasa had a fair share of mentors as well. Meliha would have her pick of influences for her training when she was old enough, but part of me wanted to introduce her to some aspects of the Force as early as possible.

"Well, lets go take a look then love." I said, slipping my hand to interlock with Chiasa's. The eight warriors nodded and started walking at their predetermined posts from us, keeping a respectable distance from our little family. They knew when to give their Aliit'Buir some space to be a husband and father. The Ewoks followed us just outside the boundaries of their village, offering last warnings and wishing us luck. Meliha made little waving gestures with her hands giggling as they disappeared through the trees and something else started to get her attention. Birds chirping, animals making noises, and eyes watching us from every angle, this forest was fraught with danger, but most of it could be kept at bay with simple suggestions. There was nothing to fear.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Melihas fascination with all things furry, feathery or that made noise when banged or shaken was a source of affectionate amusement to the Twi'lek. Her buirs indulgence of this was even better.

Chiasa, while often paranoid and almost always wary, was also a proud beast by nature. That, combined with Dracos confidence set her almost completely at ease. While their Bond was strong and felt entirely natural, on a life-time scale it was still relatively new, and some of the drawbacks hadn't even occurred to her, let alone been compensated for. Between pride and confidence, no matter how well deserved, her guard was effectively down. Her attention was on her husband, daughter and in an off-hand manner, their target.

"Even if they come shake their spears at us, as long as we don't push it over I imagine we'll be fine. This lot didn't feel particularly war-like. Certainly provokable, but not.. Not like the races that are waiting and looking for a fight."

He'd been in their heads, he would understand what she meant, even better than she did. Unless really pushed, she didn't think they would attack, ignoring the fact that even if they did she and Draco could surely handle it.

"I am enjoying this. It is nice."

She commented, as his hand found hers, and her fingers intertwined with his. It was something of an understatement. She loved spending time with him as a family unit. She wasn't sure if the novelty would ever wear off, if she would ever stop feeling grateful for what life and fate had seen fit to give her.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

As we walked through the forest I could feel a great number of creatures looking on us and watching, which wasn’t out of the ordinary for strangers in a forest filled with strange and wondrous animals like this one. I smiled at Chiasa’s words, and playfully bumped her with my hip, hanging on to her hand. “I know it’s different from the desert and city you are used to, but these places are some of my favorite, especially with you here safe and sound.” I said, tugging her back to close proximity.

Distracted for but a moment, when I returned my mind to keeping watch I could feel a large presence in the woods. It didn’t seem malevolent, or even curious for that matter. For now it seemed content to just be strolling through the woods, going where ever it intended. I assumed herbivore seeing as how it wasn’t aggressive towards the other creatures and judged by how most of the birds ignored it except for those close to the ground. I mostly ignored the creature and focused on Meliha and Chiasa. It should be easily enough to get to ignore us through a simple suggestion when it crossed our path.

A few moments later the sound of small trees cracking announced the beast and I lazily turned my focus onto it, to convince it to move along. It was only then did it walk into view. Almost twenty five meters in height, hairy, and humanoid, the massive Gorax took notice of the small group with curiosity at first. Then hunger filled its mind and it decided it would feast on our small group. The soldiers were already moving between it and Chiasa, Meliha, and myself. “Oh crap.” I muttered, pressing a few buttons on the control panel of my armor, the photoreactive fibers activating, making most of my form disappear from sight and covering Meliha as best as possible. I turned and leaped, the jump pack activating in air taking me higher, away from the creature.

[member="Chiasa Vereen"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Chiasas reaction was very nearly immediate. Taken by surprise as she was, she switched straight from calculating to feral in the blink of an eye. Not only her husband, but her daughter was in danger. That could not be tolerated. The rumbling roar of the Gorax was met by a snarl from the Twi'lek. She'd not brought her lightsaber or blaster with her, all she was armed with was the custom trench knife Draco had given her. This did not stop or even apparently concern her.

As the Gorax swept with one long, gangly arm, a move that looked slow due to its size but was deceptively quick, a few of their escort did not move quickly enough, and were sent tumbling, hopefully protected by their armour, though only time would tell. Chiasa was moving forward, blade out, eyes blazing and teeth bared. The knife, which made contact on it's shins was hardly long enough to do any more than enrage it. As the Twi'lek bounced back and away, striking repeatedly at the creature, her intent was solely to keep it focused on her, and away from her family.

Because she was who she was, while this was going on, and the majority of her mind was given over wholly to the moment, to attacking and dodging and weaving, to an all consuming rage around a core of fear, there was a part of her that started to think, to plan, to analyse.

Like a see-saw, this methodical, controlled part of her mind rose, pushing away the instinct for long enough to send a burst of intention to Draco through their bond.

[member="Draco Vereen"]