Private What are the odds...

[Rax Tremira]

When he awoke, for a moment he couldn't remember where he was; or why it was so dark. His hands fumbled around in the dark as his memories slowly, but surely fell into place. There was a space battle. They had ordered everyone to evacuate the ship. That's right, which meant... This place was Saleucami. Finding the latch, he forced the hatch on the escape pod open, and was met with glaring sunlight. He looked about the pod, and didn't see anything in his immediate area. As far as he knew however, this planet was Empire territory, so it shouldn't have been hard to get off of this specific rock. He placed his head in both hands as he seemed extra sensitive to the light at the moment. He sat there for a while, mentally preparing for the hike he was about to take. There was a ration pack on this hunk of junk, and he would be taking it, but it was much more important to figure out what direction he needed to start off in. In a desert of this size, without formal training on survival in such an environment? He knew that walking in the wrong direction for even a little bit of time could result in death.

"Arrrgh!!!" he yelled at the Desert, answered by nothing. Not even his own echo. What did he know about situations like this? First things first, he got the ration kit; then his hood. He didn't want to don it, but had better cover his head. If that sunlight kept beaming down on his scalp he would dry out much faster than he needed too. Drying out in the Desert meant death. Even younglings had that much sense right? Served him right for wanting to go exporing. He should've just stayed on Korriban, or Kass... "Nooo..." he said to himself, laughing a bit. "Lets go see the galaxy..." he continued, gathering all of his belongings and simply picking a direction. As he walked he would turn and glance about; specifically looking up at the sky to see if anything was visible. If the fight was still going, he certainly couldn't spot it from the surface. Looking up at the glaring sun, he noted a single cloud that seemed en route to offer if only temporary shade; though, it sailed just nearly by the sun, not blocking any of his worst opponent.

He was certain there was some Force ability that could help him get through this easier, but he didn't know it; and now wasn't the time to get stuck up on regrets. And as such, he simply kept walking. Holding his hood above his head, but trying his best to not let it rest against his body. He would walk up his nearest hill, and freeze. There was another escape pod... And it wasn't Empire. At that, he immediately dropped to a knee, staring at the other craft. "WHAT, are the odds..." he growled to himself, aware that may have been a good thing. When it came to people, Rax was usually as tough as nails, but in this situation a Sun didn't care how tough you were, or what side of a war you were on. A sun simply did Sunny things. In this case slowly drying him out until lhe died. The ration kit may have had a few helpings of water, but with how far he had to walk, he wasn't sure it would be enough. For now, he would watch the pod, watching for any activity.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

The Padawan had been assigned with several other Padawans to go on a less than ideal routine mission to scout the borders between them and the Sith Empire. However, it turned into something far more than routine when alarm bells starting clanging and the young people were shoved into escape pods and sent to the planet below.

Things were stuffy in her pod and quite dark. Even though there was a viewport to look out of, she really didn't see very much. Then it grew lighter as she faced the dim sun before fading again. Eventually, the light leveled out and was still quite dim but she could see the ground fast approaching.

"Oh kark! This is going to fracking hurt!"

Luckily she had been taught how to barrier herself and placed one around herself as quickly as she could manage...while trying to stay calm. Failing this a few times, she eventually just closed her eyes and it manifested just moments before her pod hit the ground.

Letting out a grunt when that happened, the barrier fell and the door popped open to expel her body onto the sand. Reaching back into the pod, the teen grabbed the packed bag and then finally decided to look at the area around her.

"How the frick am I supposed to know where to go?"

Shaking her fist at the pod, she looked up at the sky above her.

"Didn't think to pack a map...no I didn't karking think so! Ugh. This sand is sooo annoying!"

Lifting up a foot, the sand shifted under the other one and she waved her arms around to help keep her balance. Totally failing in her attempt, she lost her balance but caught herself against her pod before falling entirely. With her eyes more or less level, she heard the sound of somebody scream in the distance. She also couldn't help but notice another pod nearby and that was where the scream had come from.

Knowing they had just been in a skirmish in the skies, she could tell that pod did not belong to the Silvers...which meant it belonged to the Sith. Growling under her breath, she raised a hand with a ball of flame and shot it in the direction of the offending pod.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

From his position atop the sand dune, he would observe the other plainly. As plain as day, might one add. It wasn't hard to realize... Those gears in his head turned to an inevitable DING. This girl was a Jedi... Which meant she was the enemy. Which meant that whatever she had on her person she probably didn't need. Why? He was going to kill her, simple. By the time he was done with the other, she would be begging him t-.. Is that a fireba-.. Rax dropped everything he was holding in an attempt to dodge a bit to his left, but a good tuft of flame still hit his shoulder and sent him careening back down the hill he had come up. Cursing all the way, and quite frankly panicked as the flames burned at his cotton robes.

He patted the flames out pretty quickly, staring up at the top of the hill in amazement. Getting to his feet, he drew a mangled and haphazard saber from his side, activating it with a snap-hiss, that hiss turning into a rhythmic, angry tick as the unstable kyber crystal that produced the blade did its work. With that, he would start walking back up that hill, letting than anger grow within him. Whoever that girl was, she had done it now... He intended on killing her anyway, but lighting him on fire didn't help her much... Was that even the Jedi way, weren't they supposed to... Talk to you or something first!? It didn't matter, all that mattered was proving himself here. He imagined that dull smile on Alina's face when he told her how he murdered a Jedi.

It was going to be perfect...

 

[Xian Xiao]

Letting out a satisfied huff when she saw her fireball hit in the area of her target, Xian turned away and started heading in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, that lead her back the way she had come. Sighing now, the only course she could figure out in her mind was past the Sith pod.

Not even having a training saber was something she would bring up with the Masters when she got reunited with them. Currently, she couldn't see the Sith she had lit on fire but after just a few steps, she certainly heard him.

A familiar tone of a lightsaber being ignited reached her ears and she stopped. Looking up the hill, she saw him come over it and head in her direction. Gulping suddenly, the teen was scared for a moment before bluster filled her. She had kicked his butt once, she could do it again!

"Don't come any closer! I'll fire you again!"

To show she wasn't lying, she held her hand out and a ball of flame appeared...for about two seconds before poofing away.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He came to a stop, staring at her and psyching himself. He was going to kill her, it was as simple as that. The mangled saber in his right hand crackled off sporadically, yellow sclera seeming to only intensify with rage as he watched her. With that, he made his approach, letting that saber score the sand black as it dipped in, and out with his gait. His breathing accelerated, imagining how it would look. The smell the saber would create one it seared into her flesh. At that thought, his heart panged once.

'Am I really goi-...' he couldn't even bring himself to finish the thought, but then he remembered Alina. He remembered that training room, and his promise to her. Even so, there was conflict. This girl was his age, maybe younger... Unarmed, save for her apparent ability to create fire at will. He would stop briefly when she displayed another fireball, bending at his knees just slightly to be ready to dodge again. Though this time, she didn't throw it. There was visible confusion in his face, and he would straighten, arcing his direct approach, only by about a foot or so, before breaking into a guttural chuckle. The gears in his head turning.

"Go Ahead then..." he dared her, calling her bluff, or at least trying to Force her hand... Though by his assumptions, she was about to start running in a few seconds. Within that period, his nerve returned and he approached head on. "Or could it be you aren't too good at that trick ye-" his eyes trailed off behind her for a moment, wondering if he was seeing things. Though, it seemed to be nothing, so for now; he continued his menacing approach. Trying to quiet the conflict, trying to mentally remove the humanity from her so that what he HAD to do, would be easier. One swing, that was it... It would be that easy.

 

[Xian Xiao]

The girl wasn't the best at reading people but Xian got the funny feeling he wasn't entirely lost to the Sith yet. She was not going to question him though! When her fireball withered away, she growled under her breath and there were quite a few curses involved...all before he got to her.

Then he questioned her! The guts of this guy. Giving him a very dirty look and sticking out her tongue, Xian nodded her head.

"You're right. I'm not but I am with this."

Air was her strongest element and she could use it with barely a thought. Without even making any motion, a cloud of sand appeared almost directly behind Rax. With a roaring sound, it hopefully ran over him...this caused her to blink her eyes a few times before she realized her error. It was going to hit her too!

Instead of trying to run from it, she tucked down. Throwing her arms up over her head, she covered it as best she could. Feeling the grains of the sand score against a few exposed areas of her flesh, she knew she was at least going to have some scratches from this.

Holding in the urge to cry a little, the teen waited until the small storm passed before standing up. Brushing some of the sand off, it was already making her itch in places it should never have even gotten into.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He wasn't lost yet, still there was a lot of conflict in him over the morality of what he had done in his life, and what he would do.. What he wanted to do. Apart of why he was intent on killing her. He wanted to quiet that within himself, as his reasons for being Sith, or wanting to attain the right to call himself so weren't what most might think. As most Sith wanted power, he wanted recognition. He wanted to be noticed. Abandonment could be an overwhelming feeling, he knew it all too well.

There was barely any warning when her attack came, and he was indeed pulled forward, and off balance. His saber was deactivated, lest he fall on it; And within the sands, he also covered up. The centralized sandstorm he most likely guessed was another trick up her sleeve. He weathered it for a moment, when he noted this was an opportunity for her to escape! He rose, both arms outstretches, pushing outwards and clearing a good bit of it from around him. Not yet so powerful to clear the entire area, but was able to see... Oh yes, see.... Sithspit...

He was just barely able to make out the teeth on the damn beast, it almost seemed to be grinning, while airborne. He activated his saber yes in a defensive posture, and heard the sound of it singing flesh and fur, the smell of it. Though, unfortunately for the young Sith, that didn't deter the Nexu from delivering a powerful bite on his shoulder, mauling him briefly, and sending him careening into Xiao's escape pod. How ironic his action of clearing the sand made him the more viable target.

The sound he made could've been construed as ones final death grunts, were it not for his pained moans after hitting the side of the pod hard. The creature observed its mangled forepaw, then hobbled in his direction, having no intention on missing out on this meal, but also not aware there was another snack close by. He turned just in time to see that same sneer on the creatures features, but just... He wasn't strong enough. It sucked, but... That was it for him.

That damn Jedi wouldn't help him... He wouldn't have helped her, that's just how it went...

"At le-..ast.. Run.. Jed..i scum..." he mumbled, placing his forehead in the sand in resignation.

 

[Xian Xiao]

As she was brushing the sand away, she looked up in horror as her opponent was mauled by some creature that looked like an oversized cat with spines and fangs. The boy got shoved onto her escape pod and left a fresh splotch of blood on it! That was her pod! At least he could have made the mess on his! Letting out a growl, she would deal with him after taking care of this large cat.

Lifting up a hand, she confidently hurled a fireball in its direction.

"Come on, leave us alone! He's my fight. Get out of here, you beastly cat!"

Raising her hand again, she barely heard Rex call out to her to run.

"Too late for that buddy. Let's beat this thing and then we can finish our fight."

Brushing some hair out of her mouth, she would ready another fireball but hold onto it. She had its attention and it turned its big toothy mouth in her direction. Screaming a bit, if there were any people around, they were going to hear it.

"Now it's your turn! Run! Ahhhh!"

Running away from the two of them, she let go of the fire and it disappeared from her grasp. Falling down the hill Rex had recently climbed up, she was able to see every now and then, the sky above her and the nexu running after her. Exactly as she had planned.

"Oh KAAAAARK!"

Coming to a stop, she flipped her head and sent a blast of air up the hill to try and slow the monster down before it reached her.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He was probably going to die. At least it wasn't some Jedi right? What a pure shame he was bested by some dumb cat, in such quick and lasting fashion at that. He would count the seconds as his pain subsided into pulsing spikes to his nerves. "Fight?" he mumbled to himself, turning his head and watching the other engage the large cat... Idiot. She should've took the opportunity the escape. Though what an embarrassment she was what, fighting on his behalf? That wouldn't do, not while he still perceived information in this life. He wasn't bested, and his eyes hadn't closed yet, so he wasn't worthy of death yet. Not today.

It was time for action... How ever much actions remained were really up to the Force, and he didn't know its plan for him, so like the Phoenix, he rose from the ashes of his ruin. Leaning back against her pod, and focusing his eyes on the Nexu. It had been hobbled, but it was born to be dangerous quite frankly... Born to rip and tear, devour and consume... And by the hells if he wasn't too. His blood loss seemed to slow, but he was still in danger from it, his extremities feeling a little numb. He watched her for a moment, something in him clicking. What the hell was her problem anyway. He made it very clear he intended to kill her, and here she saw giving HIM an opportunity to run away? It was infuriating for all its own reasons.

He stumbled, taking the opportunity to fall to a knee, gripping his saber from the sand, immediately feeling stupid as it pierced his flesh, as it always did. Just more pain... Then motion, slow at first, but then as his adrenaline kicked in, he worked up a "healthy" jog. His own scruffy locks of hair tousled from his movement, and the scarce wind. He followed the screams, and just as he reached the top of the hill, he braced, another gust of sand sent in his direction. Covering his eyes, he pushed through the haze, rolling into the sand, and staining it with his life force. He maintained his senses, standing and again locking on the creature.

He just needed to enforce his will, just like any other situation. Just like any training he had done back at home, yet so much more important.

He extended his hand, causing a visible shimmer to reflect around the Nexu, seemingly entrapping it, though it still growled, and budged incessantly within the Force Stasis he had cast upon it. With that, he would approach it from behind, slow, but steady; that saber activated yet again in its previous display of snaps, and crackles. When he got near, he inserted the blade into the Nexu's hind leg, pushing it in far as the creature growled in agony, and with that, he simply walked forward. Dragging it throughout the beast in a jagged line that ended as it exited the creatures skull, causing it to shudder, and die.

As soon as he stepped past it, it dropped dead. Dead as a doornail, as they say.

It left him staring at her, grimacing from his suffering, but intent on heading up with her. She challenged him, she wanted to continue their fight. He wouldn't decline. Death was better, as the Sith behind him wouldn't fail. Yet, his legs had turned to rubber after the threat had been eliminated. He kneeled, with that saber still activated in hand.

"You didn't save me! Weakling! You would dare sugg-... Suggest! That I need YOUR HELP!? COME ON!"

He growled as he got to his feet, bringing the saber up shakily with his right hand.

"Come on, and I'll make it quick..." he threatened idly, aware how this would end. His mind was becoming unclear, unlike the Stasis he had used on the Nexu, the clarity he had to protect her was dimini-... Protect. Was that what he was doing? Rax fell down in the sand, looking over to her with expectant eyes. He would do what he needed to, but he had resigned to death. Death by fire, it seemed fitting for the evils he'd done. The evils he would go on to do if he left his place...

 

[Xian Xiao]

She covered from head to toe in sand and it was certainly starting to itch in places sand should never be. Grains were deep into her hair and Xian assumed it was going to take months for her to get rid of it all. The teen was coming to a conclusion that sand was just as evil as glitter.

Sitting on her rear end, she sent that gust of wind up the hill to slow the beast down. It did that and then her enemy appeared to be holding it with the Force. Seeing that it was unable to progress on its path to kill her, the Padawan stood up and started dusting off her clothes.

Watching as Rex eviscerated the nexu, she let out a sigh as it collapsed behind him. He fell to his knees but the odd-sounding lightsaber remained ignited. What he said caused her to bring her eyebrows together and she shook her head.

Pointing a finger at the cat, she watched as he stood up again.

"We did that together, Sith."

Lifting her chin up a little, she set her face stubbornly and brought her hands up. One held a fireball and the other was empty. Then he fell down again. Lowering her hands, the fire went away and she ran to his side. Keeping a bit of distance between them in case this was a trap, she could see in his eyes he accepted that she would kill him.

"No, I will not grant you that wish. Maybe when we're both recovered. Let's get out of here!"

Unless he continued to put up a fight or resist her help, Xian would attempt to get him to his feet. Even though the girl was young, she was Jedi and she would help even her enemy.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He tensed a bit as she got near, honestly stunned that she would approach him with the saber still ignited. And yet, even as she had walked into range of its nasty arc, he didn't lash out; instead, he collapsed the weapon with a hiss, groaning as she helped him to his feet. She wasn't wrong, they had did that together, but in the end she was an enemy. At least, he had been raised to view her, and her kind as the enemy. As such, there was no explanation he could bring himself to articulate as to why her head was still attached. Nothing he was mature enough to divulge just yet anyway. In fact, her excuse may have been perfect in this situation; they would just finish it later.

"The water... And the rations."

Rax said, not really able to bring himself to look at her just yet. Obviously, he wasn't afraid of the other, he was simply experiencing something he wasn't ready to experience. He pulled away slightly, a surprisingly soft gesture, that was matched by him growling as he sat himself onto the Nexu's relatively soft corpse. He head drooped, and he coughed up a bit of blood, the bleeding was slowing, but there was still a risk of internal injury. Not to mention he could still smell the aroma of burnt hair and fabric about himself. Had she not headed back in the direction yet, he would add something else onto his directive.

"We'll die without water, or Food."

The young man then glanced up at her, eyes for the first time observing her as a human, not as a target. Examining the sleek features of her face, committing it to memory. She was so free-spirited, it almost gave him the urge to smile. He didn't do that, however. He just watched her. Wondering if he should have told her his name, or if something like that even mattered. She was a Jedi to him, and he was a Sith to her. This was a temporary alliance to survive the Desert. That was how he would take it.

 

[Xian Xiao]

As soon as he put his lightsaber away, Xian noticeably relaxed. She was still on her guard though. Like the two of them were bound at the hip or in a three-legged race, they worked together to made it back to one of their escape pods.

"Water won't be an issue, Sith. I'm an Elementalist! Even in this desert, there is water in the air. Watch."

With her free hand, she made what looked like a cup out of her palm. Since the two of them were so close, he would certainly feel her using the Force. After a few minutes of her concentrating, her palm had enough water in it for a few sips.

"See?"

Holding it out for him, if he so desired, she would allow him to drink what she had produced.

"It's not much but it'll do if we run out. I'm Xian Xiao by the way. We're going to be spending time together until we can both get off this rock. Might as well call each other by our names. If you want."

The pod they had reached first was his and she rummaged around inside for anything that was left. Finding a very important med kit, she set it on top and opened it right away. There was a can of bacta spray and some bandages and gauze. Taking these out, she held them in front of her for him to look at.

"You need this on right away. Will you allow me? As for food...there is a rather large carcass on the other side of that hill. I don't think that'll be an issue either. At least, not for a while."

Letting out a sigh, she hoped the Sith would accept her offer and they could work together to accomplish their goals.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

Firstly, he would indeed lean forward, sipping from her hand, his own left hand shakily holding onto hers to stabilize it as he slurped up the water. Drinking from it, he watched her oddly. Curiously. How could it be she showed him mercy, after he had terrorized her in such a way. After she felt his anger targeting her. He knew she felt his killing intent, and yet she was letting him drink from her hand? The medical equipment made him shudder, and he would look away briefly. Offering a nod, though not even in her direction. With that, he went about removing his upper robes, and cuirass; revealing extensive damage from the Nexu. How lucky he was it had avoided anything major. On the other side from that, was what she had done, burning his right neck, and leaving patches of burned flesh leading down to halfway across his right bicep.

He was toned, but clearly a boy still; his frame held such promise for his future however. When she mentioned the carcass, He just grumbled, a guttural dismissal of that damned beast. It had almost ripped his damn throat out, and he was still bleeding. Had he not been at least basically trained in the Force.. Had he been a regular boy, he would've died for sure. For now, he sat there, blinking out at the desert. That bacta would be welcome, but likely it wouldn't save him from the scarring, only fix the tissue. Xian Xiao... What a cute name, he thought, flinching at his own inward admission.

His mouth opened, but he didn't say anything at first. "I.. I'm just Rax. I don't have another name" he winced, and resigned to her care, honestly the trust barrier got hit with a speeder bike at that point, water, medical aid, and promises of temporary alliance. He would've probably been interested in killing the other if they were Sith like him, but in this case he was... He was amicable. Open to her, though there was no explanation for why she seemed to disarm him emotionally. where as before he could psyche himself, and prepare to shed her blood, now... Now he had memories of her distracting the creature that was intent on feeding on him.

He wondered if she was scared when that happened, but he didn't feel like asking. She was probably more scared of him, threatening her and such... He winced again. " Alright... For now, we'll work together; but we're... We're still enemies" He said, gripping his saber. And quite frankly, lacking any true conviction in that statement. He was just talking, saying what he believed a Sith should say in that scenario.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Trusting Rax might be a mistake on the part of the Jedi but she took his word as a promise and worked with him. Xian did not sense his internal questioning as he drank out of her hand. If there was anything she was thinking about it was how to get off this world. Nothing about her reasoning behind working with a Sith or even wondering why he wasn't trying to kill her still.

After he finished drinking, she dried off her hand and waited for him to strip. Looking at his exposed torso, she reached out a hand but did not touch him yet. Drawing in a few ragged breaths, she assumed his old scars were from his days of training and these new ones would just be added to that number.

"You're going to be scarred from this but who doesn't have some?"

Shaking the bacta spray, she started spraying it over his wounds. Picking up the wrap, she unwrapped it and held it between them. Lowering it a little when he said he didn't have any other name, she looked a bit confused.

"How can you not have another name? Didn't your parents have a last name?"

Seeing him flinch, she knew he had to be in pain and all she wanted to do was relieve it. When he stated they were still enemies, she felt some sorrow but entirely understood. As she tended to his wounds, she could tell any hostility he had felt earlier was gone.

Giving a shy smile, she nodded and brought the wrapping back up. Hardly daring to actually try and meet him in the face, it was a good thing he had his back to her.

"May I try to heal you? I'm just a Padawan...but I want to learn to be better!"

Almost clutching the bandages to her chest, she held her breath as she waited to hear his answer. Even if he said no, she would at least be able to wrap his body and stop him from bleeding out more. Making no comment about them being enemies, that was a given. He was Sith and she was Jedi.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He said nothing. She spoke and spoke, and he just listened to everything she was saying. After a few moments, he gulped then spoke softly in return. "They died in the Omega War... They left me with someone, Guess they didn't think it through." he responded, thinking about the idea of her using the Force to fix his wounds, and vaguely remembering he hitting him with an actual fireball. He glanced back once, eyes locking on hers, and quickly looked down her form as if he was trying to figure out just who she was asking that. Though, he would just turn back to the horizon.

"Just try to hurry... If I remember correctly, The Desert will get cold when the sun falls. It'll be better if we can find an outpost... Or shelter at least before then."

He did not miss the smile, and when he turned away couldn't help but smirk a little himself. The pain had been reduced to a series of dull aches, but when he moved there were sharp spikes of pain. Something he was used too. She was definitely a curious person, and he couldn't help but feel... Was it guilty? Yes... Guilty, for trying to kill her. At that point, he wondered why he even wanted too. He had no personal vendetta against her. She hadn't done him any wrong... If anything she was doing everything in her power to help him.

There was an answer that question of course, being it was what he was taught to do. Ages, literal ages of fighting resulted in the young turning on each other for no reason other than their guardians told them that was the way. It was the reason he initially wanted to destroy her. Likely the reason she attacked him on sight. It just was, what it was. He wondered if it had to be that way though... He breathed in deeply then, purging all of that indecisiveness from his mind.

The hell was he even thinking about, she was an enemy... They were at WAR! Well, that's what he wanted to say to himself, and call it a day; but she made such a Black & White form of thinking impossible. With her... Her smiling, and her... Tenderness. It reminded him of Alina, in a way. Well, a very different way. It was about an hour or so past noon now, which meant they had five or so hours to get somewhere safe.

As she worked, he looked out for threats. Damn sand cats were sneaky. He really wished he could change that about himself. He always just narrowed in on stuff. He was the type of person that could do two things max. Anything else and his efficiency was trashed.

"Who cares about another name anyway... Its just to get peoples attention. Doesn't make you stronger..." he said, eyes narrowing on the horizon in anger. "Xiao Xiao, or whatever..." he said, purposely butchering the name he had heard perfectly fine..

 

[Xian Xiao]

She was also an orphan and had been left with somebody. The woman that rescued her had red hair and out of her brief memory of this person, she dyed her hair the same color. Xian couldn't help but feel some sympathy and understanding for her companion and enemy.

"My parents died too."

Giving herself a mental shake, why should she try to connect with a Sith? When he said she could try to heal him, she totally lowered the wrap she had been clutching to her breast and moved close enough to touch him.

Making sure he wasn't going to fall over, her hands hovered just above his torso and she closed her eyes. Trying to see where the worst injuries were located, she reached out to touch him with the Force. Sensing where the heat was, she focused there to soothe it away.

Her ability was young and raw, but it worked well enough. His skin closed but he was certainly scarred from the gashes. His bleeding came to a halt and once Xian was sure she had covered every inch of his exposed skin, she sat back on her heels and let out a sigh.

"It's Xian Xiao!"

In a huff, she stood up, crossed her arms, and hastily gathered up the supplies she had found.

"Is there any kind of bag to carry these in, Rax? We should also go to my pod and look for more items."

Holding a hand out to him, she was still a little irritated but finding a safe location was more important than fighting the Sith.

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

When she was finished her work, he got his clothes back on, still feeling a dull ache from his person. The kind of pain that lingered well beyond the wound. His very nerves had been sliced in some places, an attack that would definitely shape how he treated himself in the future. For all Force Warriors thought they were, it was that easy... A lapse of concentration, and then death. He would've just been a snack in the Desert. She would've probably soon followed, she was bubbly, and Rax was still trying to decide whether that was an indication that she was aloof, or just direct.

In any case, when she mentioned a bag, he just shook his head. "We've been here too long already, let's move.." he said, having sat there staring at the horizon, he also reached out into the Force, and simply felt the direction he had chosen was best.... He would turn, snatching some of the items from her, and heading on, making sure to keep space in between them. If something attacked again he'd prefer it be her that get bitten. In a situation like this, he would've wanted Alina by his side. She was a strong woman, she could've probably whacked that cat thing one time and killed it... And he wouldn't have been touched... So he thought anyway.

He glanced over, peering at Xian for a moment, still holding that gnarled saber in hand, he just shook his head looking straight. In the distance there wasn't anything, but he still felt confident about the direction... Until they walked a few hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five and a half hours would pass, the noon sun having long since begun its daily sulk behind the horizon. They would have been walking for quite some time, They would speak briefly (if they would), but there was nothing in particular out of the ordinary. In fact, it was just that, nothing. By now, the temperature would have definitely been cut, a brief respite from the scorching heat of the day. Yet, it would be short lived as the night would seem to bring a cold the polar opposite of the deadly day time heat.

It crept in at first, like a chill on the air, but would rapidly become lasting, sucking the warmth from the sand in no time and causing even the winds to be biting.

Making their way into a nearby cave system, Rax scouted ahead some ways until he confirmed it dead ended, then would return to be sitting around Xiao, staying far away from her with his eyes pinned on her. The haunches of the Nexu he had cut off still dangling from his neck via twine.

"Can you even cook?" he questioned her, shuddering once from the frigid air that still crept through the cave entrance. The truth was, he couldn't cook worth a damn, and figured it was better to attack her with the question that outright admit it.

 

[Xian Xiao]

Bubbly was not a word Xian would have picked to describe herself right now. Cranky and grumpy might have been closer to the mark. Giving Rax an almost offended look when he just grabbed some of the items and walked off, she picked up the rest of them and a blanket to carry them in.

After walking for what felt like an eternity to the Jedi, the sun started to set. If the items weren't being carried in the blanket, she would have wrapped it around herself to keep warm. While they had been walking, Xian had not complained once about anything. Keeping all of her feelings to herself, she did not want to provide Rax with any weapon to use against her.

What she did do now and then was stop to take a drink. With her ability to draw water in from the air around them, it did not take away from the reserves in the canteen. Once they found a place to camp safely, she planned on refilling those they carried.

Eventually, they stumbled into some sort of cave system. Wishing to actually like Rax, she was surprised when he went in first and scouted to make sure it was clear and safe for them. Then again, he was probably thinking more about his own life than hers.

Waiting for him to return, when he did, she almost let out a sigh of relief at seeing him. Gratefully falling to the cave floor, Xian leaned against one of the chilled walls with him on the far side. When Rax asked if she could cook, she actually gave him a genuine smile.

"Yes."

Not feeling any anger at him for forcefully asking the question, she stood up and walked over to stand beside him. Lifting the twine from the back of his neck unless he stopped her, she looked around for a place to set the meat. Laying it down on a clear patch of stone, she turned to look at her companion.

"It's going to have to be well done in order to be safe to eat."

Sitting down on the ground again, the Padawan reached out with the Force and started cooking their meal. Making sure to keep it moist, there wasn't much she could do about the flavor. At least, it wouldn't be dry. After about fifteen minutes or so, the air had actually warmed up inside the cave a little and the meat was starting to steam under her hands. As soon as she felt confident that the meat was done, she lowered her hands and let out a sigh. Tearing the portion in half, she held one of them out for Rax to take.

"This is the best I can do here. Sometime, you'll have to try my cooking...in a better setting."

Almost smiling, she just looked a bit smug.

"Do you have a favorite food?"

Rax Tremira

 

[Rax Tremira]

He really tried his best not to snatch that meat up from her, but took it all the same, immediately biting into it. He chewed with his mouth open, steam rising from the bites as he tried to blow his mouth throughout the hot bites. Stupid Nexu... It tasted great though. When she mentioned tasting her food in a better setting, he wondered if she had forgotten he was going to run her through with a lightsaber before...

Or maybe she was just being a Jedi. He had only gripped that saber earlier when she approached him and lifted the twine, but had not taken his eyes off of her the entire time; outside of when he was eating. When she asked that additional question, he looked up from the meat, and shook his head slowly.

"Food is food... I have to eat it so I don't die." he said, still holding on to that internal conflict that related tot heir specific organizations. With that, he continued wolfing down that meat, and would toss the bone off somewhere into the cave. A few beats would pass, and then he mumbled something else.

"Nerf Soup... Its pretty good, if they add the dumplings." he offered, looking her over, then turning to his right with a light grunt of effort. Now looking at the cave entrance, his tangled hair hid his features, and the light smile that had reached his lips.

It was nice to talk to someone... Not to mention, he was comfortable knowing that with their combined abilities they had a good chance at survival. She was pretty much fire and water, and he could kill stuff with his saber. Not to mention his enhanced understanding of Force Stasis made it easy to stop things. He felt confident he could do it on command now, and not just in duress as he had in the past.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Of course, for just a few moments, she had forgotten they were someday going to finish what was started earlier that day. True to his thoughts though, she was just being Jedi and true to her nature. So far, they were getting along fine and hadn't tried to kill each other...much. At least for most of the day. Mentally sighing, Xian listened to what he had to say and gave him a surprised look.

"There is sooo much you can accomplish in cooking! I swear I will cook you a proper meal some day!"

Drawing in a breath when he actually did answer her question, she gave him a large smile. Giving him a thumbs-up motion, she had given her own meat time to cool off before eating it. Being a bit more gentle about things, she carefully pulled its skin away before biting into the meat under it.

"This isn't nerf but it has to do. While we travel tomorrow, we should keep an eye out for wood and other signs of animals. The nexu won't last much longer before going bad. Unless you want me to dry it out and we can have nexu jerky for a snack."

Moving to sit closer to the Sith, she didn't touch him. Holding out one of her hands, she pointed to his canteen.

"How much did you drink? We should refill that way we have enough for our journey."

If he looked at her closely, he would be able to tell she was almost ready to fall asleep sitting up. Not showing she was that tired, the young teen kept quiet about how she felt.

Rax Tremira