Ask Disrupting the Dead

[Sah'ra Ryun]

​

What was it with her family and their ties to humid, wild jungles? Even with her growing disdain for such worlds, she found herself frequently being drawn towards them as though they were a beacon of her blood. They called out, and the Ryun clan was never hesitant to answer with their presence. Would her father have elected to live on such a world were it not for the privately funded lab at his disposal being located on Coruscant? What would happen if Tren and herself were separated? Would they both revert back to interstellar nomads, finding solace in the wilds of worlds such as Dxun? Onderon? Felucia?

She knew only too well that she wouldn’t.

The only reason Sah’ra had even bothered coming to Onderon was to track down the tomb of her fallen ancestor. Here laid the culmination of her life’s work and here too would be the first step towards completing Sah’ra’s own. Together with her new Apprentice, the Sith Champion would finally set out on the path that would grant her the powers required to ascend through the ranks and reclaim the honor her family had once held, so many generations ago. Her destiny was at hand, she simply needed to reach out and take it.

”We’re only a few hours away from the location I’ve uncovered, Apprentice. We shall camp here for the night and proceed at first light,” Sah’ra called back over her shoulder to Zoella as she brought her dalgo mount to a halt, the sun beginning to descend past the tops of the jungle foliage. Before them was a small clearing, a river flowing gently a few meters away. Yet despite the serene appearance of their surroundings, the familiar taint of darkness ebbed through-out the area. Perhaps thousands of years ago, this was the location of the battle that ultimately resulted in the death of the Sith Lord that now resided within the tomb they sought.

Setting up camp was a quick process. Organizing rocks to form a makeshift firepit and laying out the bedrolls they had brought along, Sah’ra was soon able to pull the cloak from her shoulders to reveal the night black tunic and leggings she often wore for such expeditions. Kneeling down in the tall grass, the Sith closed her eyes and allowed dark energies to wash over her. ’Soon,’

”Have you ever visited any tombs of the ancients, young one?” Sah’ra would ask of her apprentice, her eyes remaining closed though acutely aware of what transpired around her.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

In the past Zoella had toured the Inner Rim planet of Onderon with her family, but never had she traveled outside of its capital city until this day. When exposure was limited to only that which resided within the towering walls of Iziz, it was easy to forget that Ondern was actually a jungle planet full of wild beasts.

If Zoella had forgotten that before, she certainly wouldn't now.

The trip had not been wholly unpleasant, but it was not without its drawbacks. For one, the Acolyte's mount had taken an instant disliking to her, and the feeling was mutual.

When the vile creature was not tugging against the reins in an attempt to plot its own course, it was side eying the girl with its vicious, glowing purple eyes. Dalgos might have been domesticated, but Zoella remained keenly aware of their carnivorous appetite.

The air was warmer than even the hottest summer day on Arkanis, and the Acolyte's damp clothing clung to her skin. When Sah'ra Ryun pulled her mount to a halt and said they would be stopping for the night, Zoella didn't hesitate to slip from the saddled Dalgo's back.

Between the two of them, they made short work of setting up camp. It helped that neither of them had brought many personal belongings.

With a contented sigh, Zoella sat down on her bedroll a short distance from her Master. The Acolyte pulled a bag of Calamari Crisps from one of the saddlebags, tearing into it. She popped a few chips into her mouth and chewed.

"No, Master. I haven't," she answered, swallowing abruptly. The teenager enjoyed hearing the Champion call her "Apprentice," but after a lifetime spent in the royal house of Arkanis it would take time for her to grow accustomed to calling Sah'ra "Master."

"What are they like?"

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Jungles such as these were rarely silent. Wind whipping through the tall grasses and leaves of the trees, the subtle snapping and popping from the fire situated between Master and Apprentice, the howls of creatures some distance away… and the sounds of Zoella’s fingers dipping into the foil bag followed by the crunch of crisp chips. As Sah’ra remained knelt on the bedroll beneath her, one eye opened to inspect both her apprentice and the snack she had elected to bring along. The edges of her lips curling up into a smile, she soon closed her eyes once more before extending her hand towards the Arkanisian, waiting for a few of the crisps to be handed over. Of course she had brought her own food but Calamari Crisps were hard to pass up when they were brought out.

”Oh, dusty. Dark. More than likely filled with skeletons of both man and beast,” Sah’ra would elaborate calmly in response to Zoella’s question as she slipped one of the chips into her mouth. Chewing it quietly and swallowing, her eyes soon opened once again with a mischievous glint. ”It’s the traps that you need to worry about,”

The wailing calls of creatures in the distance continued as darkness consumed the jungle but it did not take an educated ear to interpret that whatever it was crying out into the night was in danger. Such as it was in any jungle, really. There were always predators and there were always prey. The trick to survival in such a place was, of course, being the top link in the food chain. A simple task for a Sith Champion and the more gifted Acolytes. Sah’ra was curious to see how Zoella would fare in such a situation though she was less eager of actually placing themselves in such an encounter. Alas, so long as she need not deal with any swarms of hostile insects then she was content for the moment. Or rather, as content as she could be in the damp and humid jungle.

”Once we locate the tomb and make our entrance, I recommend staying close. Should we become separated, I cannot guarantee your safety… or your survival,” Sah’ra added finally, the playful sinister look dancing across her blue eyes yet to fade as she placed another chip on the tip of her tongue. The light from the fire cast shadows across both women’s faces, though Sah’ra’s own looked far more terrifying than to be expected. Perhaps it was the ambience of the darkened jungle or perhaps it was simply the air the woman exuded given their circumstance, but she knew exactly what she was doing. What better time for frightening tales than here and now, sitting around a fire and lost to the wilderness?

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

The Sith Acolyte placed a handful of chips in the palm of her master's outstretched hand, more than happy to share if it meant she actually got to keep the Calamari Crisps. Part of her had expected the older woman to throw them into the jungle or shove them back into the saddlebags.

"The traps?" Zoella echoed, arching an eyebrow. Catacombs and in-ground entombment were a foreign concept to the teenage Arkanisian. Due to the constant rainfall on Arkanis, the dead were buried above ground in mausoleums. This had been their tradition for centuries, as far back as their history could be traced. "What sort of traps?"

Absentmindedly, the teenager popped a few more crisps into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, considering the Champion's words. Of course I'm going to stay close to you, she thought to herself as if it was obvious. If wandering off to explore the catacomb on her own had ever entered her mind before, it certainly wouldn't now.

Flames danced across the Champion's azure eyes, the fire casting long shadows down the length of her face. Zoella maintained eye contact with Sah'ra, as difficult as that might have been. The woman was both mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time.

The howls of wild beasts echoed through the jungle, the foliage stirring faintly in the wind. If Zoella was a silly girl and allowed her imagination to run wild, she might jump to the conclusion that every small movement and sound was a wild beast ready to pounce on the pair of Sith and devour them whole. There was a reason the people of Iziz holed up in a walled city, after all.

It had been the Acolyte's intention to bathe in the river and wash the stench of travel from her, but she intended to stick close to the fire now. Perhaps in the morning she would, in the light of day.

She cleared her throat. "So... I've heard stories that the ancient Sith Lords are able to raise themselves from the dead. Is... is that true?"

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

”The possibilities are endless, I’m afraid. We’ll be dealing with power unseen for millenia. Very few Sith of the modern era have ever achieved the competency of our lost generations,” Sah’ra spoke softly as she answered Zoella’s first question before placing another chip in her mouth. While the Acolyte had managed to maintain a steadfast appearance, Sah’ra could sense the apprehension that she harbored.

Not one to pass on an opportunity at having some fun at another’s expense, Sah’ra quickly picked up on the stutter in Zoella’s voice and knew she needed to capitalize on it. She let the question hang in the muggy air, never breaking the locked gaze between the two women. Flames continued to illuminate the space around them, though the flicker of each individual wisp of fire caused the lighting to be inconsistent, only lending aid to the spine chilling effect she was hoping to continue. As the silence between them continued, her still smirking lips moved casually with the chewing motion as she prepared to swallow the Calamari Crisp.

”So it is said,” Sah’ra replied plainly, wiping her hands together to remove the dust of the chips from her palms before leaning her elbows down onto her knees. ”I’ve heard all sorts of tales. Ruins that had been scanned and found to be perfectly stable collapsing in on themselves from no reasonable explanation. The whole expedition team lost, crushed under thousands of tonnes of rock and rubble,” The chronicle was generations old but was born of fact; many people died that day on Drommund Kaas and no one was ever entirely certain of what caused the collapse. "Many believe it was the tomb's Master putting their displeasure of uninvited guests on display, but none know the truth,"

”Perhaps more sinisterly, there is the tale of the old Sith Lord, Darth Rakkos. He had been entombed on Korriban for thousands of years. A Sith warrior unknowingly sparked a chain of events that led to the reanimation of the long dead Lord’s corpse,” Sah’ra paused, looking to the ground with an empty gaze, as though she was looking beyond the soil before her and into the core of the world. ”It’s said that the undead Lord had torn the man who disturbed his slumber into four pieces and his remains were cast from the tomb. Anyone else who ever entered after that… Well, their screams were so chilling that it was enough for them to be documented and the tomb was eventually sealed off by the Sith Council of the era,”

Once again, Sah’ra let the words hang in the air, offering her Apprentice no further elaboration as she continued to stare blankly ahead. The already thick air began to feel heavier than before, as though simply speaking the ancient’s name had called upon a dormant darkness that now impermeated the encampment. Suddenly and without warning, Sah’ra quickly tensed and her hand moved to one of the lightsaber hilts clipped to her belt as her eyes shot up to the shadowy jungles around them. ”Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice quivering with a new panic.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

Shadows continued to dance across the Sith Champion's face, some of them taking on a life and a shape of their own. If Zoella allowed her imagination to run wild, she could imagine monsters and dark, sinister creatures rising up out of the flames. All of them hungry and intent to feed on her flesh, of course.

The Acolyte's senses were heightened, hyper aware of every amplified sound and movement. Every bug that rubbed its wings together, every bird that let out a final call for the night, and every wind-blown leaf carried with it the possibility of something far more menacing.

Zoella swallowed hard as she listened to her master's stories, from tombs collapsing for no apparent reason to Sith Lords like Darth Rakkos, unwittingly reanimated by a careless Sith Warrior. The Acolyte chewed slowly, veins beating a visible pulse beneath her pale skin.

"Do... do you think there's any chance that your ancestor could... you know— be reanimated?" the Acolyte asked in a shrill voice. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach, as if she didn't really want to know the answer to that particular question. She reached a hand into the bag of Calamari Crisps, disappointed to discover that the bag was empty.

Just then, the teenager's master reached for the lightsaber hilt that hung at her side. "Did you hear that?" she asked, startling her apprentice. Frightened, Zoella jumped to her feet. The empty bag of Calamari Crips discarded to one side without a second thought, Zoella's quivering hand shot for her own blade. Her green eyes scanned the dark expanse that surrounded them, her eyes straining to see anything past the campfire.

"I— I didn't hear anything," she spoke barely above a wshiper, not daring to speak any louder. It struck Zoella as odd that she had not heard this sound, but that was why Sah'ra Ryun was the Master and she the Apprentice. "Do you sense anything?"

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

As her Apprentice turned to face the jungle, her fears stoked and brought to the forefront, Sah’ra couldn’t suppress a wide, devilish smirk. She had most certainly only been toying with the younger woman and to see her so easily take the bait was in part exactly what she had hoped for, but also had proven something far more distressing. For the girl to be so easily manipulated only displayed how easy it would be for someone to twist her mind and potential motives against her. Certainly something to be addressed in the future, but for the moment? She had come this far. Why stop now?

The camp itself had grown eerily still as the Champion continued to weigh down the air around them through the Force, lending aid to the suspicions of some impending attack of sorts from the shadows beyond the treeline. This was only further benefited as cries of yet another wild beast some distance away found itself wailing out to the moons of Onderon. Slowly, ever so slowly so as to be sure to not make a sound, Sah’ra lifted herself to her feet and started taking cautious steps towards Zoella’s turned back, only coming to a stop as she leaned forward to position her lips a short distance away from the Arkanisian’s left ear.

”Only a coward,” Sah’ra growled, lowering the octave of her voice and giving it the strongest gravelly evil tone she could possibly muster. As she spoke, both hands moved quickly to wrap themselves tightly around Zoella’s wrists and restrict them from drawing her weapon, instead searching to press them tightly to the woman’s hips and holding them in place.

While it was within her power to subdue the young woman further, perhaps place her in a state of stasis and continue the ruse with false sounds of struggle behind her and leave her to believe she was alone, Sah’ra instead decided to take a step back and out of range of any potential swinging limbs. The last thing she needed was to receive a black eye from her Apprentice this early in her tenure.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

The deep growl silenced the Acolyte, and its warm, unfamiliar breath sent shivers down her spine. Cold, uncaring hands wrapped around the teenager's wrists to hold her in place. Zoella's reaction was instant and instinctual. Fear paralyzed her—crippled her, and she grew very still. Her shoulders were rigid, her back stiff.

Zoella's gaze settled on the lightsaber hilt that hung at her side, wondering what the best course of action would be. The teenager's muscles were tense, ready to run or fight. As she came to a decision, the hands that had held her in place slipped away without warning. Now was her chance.

Pulse racing, the Acolyte spun on her heel to face her opponent. Her pale fingers slipped around the lightsaber, gripping its hilt as if her life depended on it. In her mind, it did.

Green eyes scanned the campsite, darting back and forth between the fire and the tree line. Nothing. No one. Confusion settled on her features, her brow pinching together in thought.

Only Sah'ra Ryun stood before her, and suddenly it dawned on her. "You!" she accused, stabbing a finger toward her Master.

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Lips pursed in pure amusement, still turned upward in the same impish grin, Sah’ra looked into the eyes of her Apprentice with a mischievous stare. Searching to unsettle the nerves of the young woman across from her, she found that she had succeeded in her goal only too well. The only lacking component being a shrill scream of terror but the adventure had only just begun; who knew what awaited them come dawn. Crossing her arms at her midsection, the woman leaned forward slightly and relished in the moment, chuckling softly.

”Me?” Sah’ra replied with sarcastic innocence, lifting one hand and placing her middle finger to her sternum. Of course there was no denying now that she was simply having some fun at the Acolyte’s expense as the camp remained silent whilst the accusation hung in the air. Shrugging, tilting her head to one side, the Champion giggled softly. ”You didn’t wet yourself, did you?”

Would Zoella have the courage to retaliate? It was certainly a very simple and harmless prank to pull though had their positions been switched, Sah’ra knew full well that she would search for an opportunity to even the score. The balance of power between Master and Apprentice amongst the Sith was always intended to be weighted to one side, but that did not mean there was no room for retaliation. Whether it be a severe action such as an attempt on one’s life or something as simple as a humiliating joke, response was not only expected but encouraged. Sah’ra decided in that very moment, seeing the fire in her eyes, that she would need to be on her guard just in case.

The pair hardly had any opportunity to banter amongst each other, the voices of each woman carrying out into the wilderness had been unknowingly drawing in the predatory creatures lurking beyond. While Sah’ra was so focused on feigning the approach of danger and Zoella so prepared to accost her new Master, the sounds of growling and grunting went unnoticed until it was too late.

From the jungles behind Sah’ra the camp leapt a gutkurr beast, intent on sinking it’s teeth into their tender flesh. For a single beast, their bodies together promised it enough food for at least a day. It knew from experience that hunters who travelled in few numbers were often easy prey. This was a folly that would cost the creature dearly.

The Sith Champion’s training was extensive, she didn’t need to rely on her sense of hearing to detect it’s approach. Malicious intentions radiated behind her through the Force, her smirk finally fading away as her hands dropped to one of the hilts clipped to her belt. The snarl and snap of jaws came calling as the alpha lunged for her throat but found itself coming up empty handed as it’s target ducked below it’s trajectory. The body of muscle slammed into the dirt and slid towards the fire at the center of the camp, but not before her crimson blade was ignited into it’s underbelly as it soared above. Snapping upwards and looking back to the jungle, Sah’ra stood as though frozen in place whilst the lightsaber hummed at her side.

”We need to move,” she finally announced, retracting her blade and replacing it on her belt before moving to collect what few supplies she had. Stowing them away on the now very frightened dalgo, Sah’ra moved with haste as she continued. ”Gutkurr are pack animals. There will undoubtedly be more here any moment. We’re heading for the ruins now,”

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

A deep scowl settled upon the teenager's face, her fingers clenched tightly around the hilt of her saber. The Acolyte had half a mind to pull the weapon from its place and put it to good use, but she knew that Sah'ra Ryun would cut her down where she stood before she could even take a step.

"No, I didn't," Zoella huffed, crossing her arms in anger. "I'm not a child." Only after she'd spoken those words did she realize just how much like a child she did sound. Her brows pinched together at the thought, and color began to inch up the length of her neck. More than anything at that moment, she wished the rising color could beblamed on the heat of the fire, but she knew that it was embarrassment that crept at the lines of her pale face. Worse than that, Sah'ra Ryun would know it too.

Already the Acolyte had embarrassed herself in front of her master, on her first real mission. This was not a great start to their partnership, but she took solace in the fact that this was just the beginning. There would be more opportunities to impress her Master, possibly even at the ruins tomorrow.

Zoella's shoulders relaxed, finally won over by the gentle timber of her Master's laugh. A self-deprecating smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, but hopefully not enough for Sah'ra Ryun to notice.

Before the teenager could say anything else, a snarl paralyzed her in place. This time, it was not her Master playing tricks on her. It was a real life threat, with long, hooked claws and sharp teeth intent on elimination. Zoella was forced to watch, a spectator on the sidelines as Sah'ra Ryun impaled the creature with one of the blades that lined her waist.

The creature's demise had thrown up dirt and dust, and Zoella had to cough to keep from swallowing. She took several trip steps forward, nudging the creature with the end of her boot. Just to make sure it was dead.

Satisfied that she would not be taken unawares again, Zoella followed her Master's instructions. Within a matter of minutes, the camp had been packed up and the fire extinguished. "Do you think there will be more of them?" she asked in the most confident voice she could muster.

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Throwing her leg over the dalgo’s back and spurred it into movement, touching it’s anxieties with the Force to ease it’s fear and remind the beast that it was to listen to her commands and not it’s instincts, Sah’ra cast a look back to Zoella.

”Do I think there will be more?” the woman groaned as she mirrored the Acolyte’s words. Shaking her head, she once again unclipped one of her hilts from her belt and held it away from the beast whilst her other hand remained on the reigns. ”No, not at all. I just want to take a leisurely night time ride through perilous jungles to take in the scenery,”

Rolling her eyes as she jabbed each heel into the dalgo’s sides, rider and mount bounded off into the jungle as Sah’ra ignited her crimson blade. Dually this was to ensure she was prepared for an attack but as well as to guarantee her acolyte had something to follow, given the darkness that surrounded them. The jungles of Onderon were unforgiving; should Zoella become lost there was no guarantee that Sah’ra would be able to find her in time. So long as she remained close and they maintained the speed they had reached, they would reach the burial ruins well before sunrise.

Fortunately, there were no sounds or disturbances in the Force that indicated they were being followed. Surely the effectiveness of how she had eliminated the alpha of the pack had inspired fear in the betas, the path between them and their goal left clear. So long as they didn’t ride face first into a tree, of course.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

Given the perilous circumstances they found themselves in, the Sith Champion's derisive answer was not appreciated. Silently, however, Zoella would concede that she was right. It had been a stupid question, prompted only by fear.

The hoofbeats of two frightened Dalgo's nearly drowned out the noises of the jungle, each as eerie and ominous as the next. A rushing sound filled Zoella's ears, prompting her imagination to jump to the wildest and—of course—most dangerous scenarios, but she reminded herself that this was simply the sound of her own beating hard. Pounding against her chest cavity, rapid and unsteady.

On occasion, the Acolyte would dare to turn back, glancing over her shoulder to see if wild beasts were hot on their heels in pursuit. Her green eyes scanned the darkness that engulfed them, but she could see nothing past her own mount. Sah'ra Ryun's scarlet blade lit the path ahead and provided Zoella with a beacon to follow, but the rest of the jungle was obscured by shadow.

The beast that carried Zoella continued to prove stubborn, tugging on the reins and producing low grumbles that signaled its disapproval. Sah'ra Ryun had used the Force to calm her mount and ease its anxieties, but Zoella was not yet a practiced Force user. Every attempt to subdue the beast only vexed it more, and it let out a series of angry huffs in response.

Stupid creature, Zoella couldn't help but think to herself, tightening her grip on the reins and digging the heels of her boots deeper into the creature's sides. Fear had driven the beast to desperation, its stubborn and headstrong tendencies amplified.

"I don't see anything!" she eventually called out to her master, hoping the Champion would be able to hear her over the thunder of rapid hoofs. "I think we outran— ah!"

A high-pitched scream escaped the teenager's lips as she tumbled from her mount, thrown by the Dalgo as it made a sharp turn behind Sah'ra Ryun. A series of startled cries followed by snaps would be heard as Zoella rolled down a steep incline to whatever awaited her at the bottom.

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

The sounds of hooves colliding with the damp soil of Onderon’s jungles drowned out nearly everything around Sah’ra as her dalgo raced towards the ruins they sought. Her senses stretched out, guiding her hand as she in turn guided her mount. The path they rode, non existent yet clear within her mind’s eye as she pushed the beast beneath her on both physically and emotionally, was treacherous should one not have the instincts of a Sith. This was something she had woefully underestimated.

The shrill screams of Zoella pierced the night air, heard over even the grunts and gallops of the creature she sat atop of. Perhaps a better Master would have immediately brought their advance to a halt, turned on their heel and returned to their Apprentice with the intent of ensuring their safety. Instead, as the dalgo stopped in it’s tracks, Sah’ra stared ahead into the darkness of the jungle for a moment as her crimson blade retracted to it’s emitter. With a heavy sigh, the Sith hung her head as she tapped the weapon in her hand to the bridge of her nose.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely Zoella’s fault that she had been unable to follow her Master. It was becoming increasingly evident that her training prior to their partnership was minimal and while the intention of this mission was to get a feel of where to begin with furthering her knowledge, Sah’ra now feared it would begin with the basics.

Turning the dalgo back to the location where the Arkanisian had taken her tumble, she came to a stop at the crest of the ridge and looked down into the darkness as she leaned her forearms across her mount’s neck.

”What are you doing down there, child?” she cooed, smiling in Zoella’s direction. ”Stopping to smell the flowers?” As she teased the young woman below, the Sith allowed her senses to penetrate the darkness around them. No longer were the dutkurr in pursuit of them, but they were not alone. Prowling in the shadows laid a new threat, one far more deadly and swift than what they had faced prior. The guttural snarl of a ravenous beast was hardly evident over the sounds of the jungle though a keen ear would be able to detect it. Of course, Sah’ra knew fully well something existed in the dark and came to the conclusion it was time for her Apprentice to prove her worth. ”Look behind you,” Sah’ra teased once more, pointing to the bushes at Zoella’s back, the glowing yellow eyes of an invasive Nexu watching the woman with ravenous intentions.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

Zoella tumbled for what felt like an eternity, hurtling over grass and rock. The teenager reached out, pale hands clutching at earth and rock but never finding purchase. It was a whirlwind of a tumble, her body smacking into trees and branches on the way down. Branches and wild, overgrown weeds pulled and tugged her hair and clothing, stones and loose dirt scratching any exposed skin.

Finally, the Acolyte rolled abruptly to a stop at the bottom of the slope. Warm water coursed along the side of her face, and with trembling hands she managed to push herself upwards into a seated position. Zoella had landed in a small creek, but she did not consider it a mercy as it was no more than five or six inches deep.

Her head was spinning, and her eyes were unable to adjust to the darkness that surrounded her. Moonlight attempted to cascade through tree branches overhead, but the jungle's foliage was thick and nearly impenetrable. "Oww," she moaned to herself, pressing her eyes shut.

The sound of her master's voice eventually roused her, its soft coo echoing down the incline. Zoella grumbled a few choice words to herself before answering, "No, I am not 'smelling the flowers.' That ignorant, empty-headed creature bucked me!"

Zoella huffed, struggling to her feet. Her entire body ached, protesting the movement, but she just pursed her lips. She scoffed, "Ha! I'm not falling for that again."

Was this really the time and place to be playing practical jokes? And just how stupid did the Champion think she was? Did Sah'ra Ryun really think the Acolyte was so foolish as to allow the wool to be pulled over her eyes twice? In the same night? Hardly!

The Acolyte ran a hand through messy hair, plotting the best course back up the hill when a low, guttural growl emanated from the bushes behind her. Zoella stopped in her tracks, frozen and unable to make a sound. Surely that had been her imagination?

Seconds dragged on, and there was only one way to know for sure. With baited breath, the teenager rotated her gaze to the clump of bushes behind her. Two massive, yellow eyes stared back at her through the darkness.

"AH!" Zoella screamed, jumping back and reaching for her lightsaber.

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Zoella’s cries of discontent with the behavior of her mount rose up the hillside she had fallen down, every word heard by the Sith Champion above. So it seemed this would be the first lesson for the young Acolyte, and it would be one that was taught through necessity in the field rather than in the controlled training chambers.

The Nexu began to creep from the brush, it’s massive front paws slapping across the muddy bank of the river that separated it from it’s prey. While this Nexu was nothing less than an invasive species, likely an escaped gift meant for a noble, the creature was quite suited to the environment it found itself in. Natural infrared vision, agile and deadly and incredibly volatile. Even under preferred conditions, such a beast would be a difficult challenge for many Acolytes. Yet from above, Sah’ra could sense the creatures unease and anxieties. Even an apex predator required familiarity of it’s home. Here, in this strange place, it was off balance.

”If I said it was just as afraid of you as you are of it, would you believe me?” Sah’ra called down the hill with a smile, still leaning her forearms across the neck of her own mount. There were options that Zoella could take, her hand falling to her lightsaber indicating that she was quick to defend herself with violence. ”Use your own fear to fuel your abilities, child! Amplify them!” she finally continued. ”Your distress can be a powerful tool, as can the unease of the creature! Use these feelings against him!”

Violence, while effective, only bred more violence. This was a lesson Sah’ra had learned for herself long ago. It was a rare occurrence for her to draw her own weapons, instead choosing to rely on her other fields of expertise. Where did Zoella’s lie? The choice was hers to make, so Sah’ra elected to not intervene but rather wait and watch.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

"Uh... Probably not," Zoella replied, a little surprised she had even found the courage to speak. Her mind whispered a thousand different instructions— some of them far more clever and intelligent than others. Run. Hide behind that bush. Scurry up the hill. How fast can you climb a tree?

Sah'ra Ryun's advice cut through them all, her placating voice doing very little to calm or assuage the Acolyte's fears. Was this really how she was going to die? On her very first mission, to some random beast in the wild jungles of Onderon? Couldn't she at least face her final moments in a more exotic jungle, like Felucia or something?

The creature drew closer, its massive paws moving through the stream. Water rippled around its claws, its yellow eyes fixed intently on her. What had her Master said again? Zoella attempted to recall, her brain racked with worry. Use these feelings against him... Was this creature scared, too? Just like her? It was not possible, with its sharp canines and its forked tail, and yet that was exactly what her Master had implied.

Swallowing her fears, Zoella took a step forward. Her shoulders trembled, but she attempted to appear confident and unafraid. "Easy there, kitty... You're an ugly looking kitty, aren't you?" she said in the sweetest voice she could muster, hoping the creature would not notice the lump in her throat and the way her voice broke with every other word. Here goes nothing....

The Acolyte relinquished her hold on the lightsaber at her waist, opting to follow her Master's suggestion instead of resorting to violence right away. "I—I am not afraid of you," she lied, raising the palm of her hand in front of her. "And you do not want to attack me."

A low, guttural growl reverberated in the creature's throat, the hair on the back of its torso standing straight up. Zoella's confident façade crumbled to pieces in a matter of seconds. The creature darted forward, and the Acolyte panicked.

"Get away from me!" she screamed, pulling the lightsaber into the palm of her hand with the force. The crimson blade ignited, startling the beast. Zoella swung wildly, slicing trees in two and tearing bushes and plants to shreds in an effort to defend herself. This display forced the Nexu to retreat, disappearing into the foliage of the jungle as plants parted around it in its haste to escape.

After a few seconds, Zoella extinguished her blade. The creature was gone, but so was her own dignity. The Acolyte tucked her lightsaber back into place, not daring to lift her green eyes to meet those of the Champion at the top of the hill. Using trees limbs and bushes to anchor herself, Zoella ascended the incline in shame.

@Tulos I rolled a 5 for Zoe's attempt to use the creature's own fears against it ​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Sah’ra watched as Zoella scrambled to her feet, anxiety and fear rolling off the young woman in waves. Even from her position above, the elder Sith could sense the emotions clearly. So strong were they she could almost swear she could smell them, subtle hints of spice and sweat wafting in her face. Of course this was all within her mind, even knowing for herself it was merely a subtle influence of the Force in the air. Grinning as she observed, her eyes and lips twisting upward with malice and excitement, Sah’ra was certain that her Apprentice would soon unlock a degree of her potential as she tapped into these emotions. So certain, in fact, that she cackled softly under her breath as she prepared to watch the nexu tremble and descend into madness.

What followed led only to disappointment. Zoella failed spectacularly not only in her efforts of twisting her foe’s emotions against them but her display with the lightsaber that followed was lacking in any form of technique. Her smile faded and was soon replaced with a scowl so deep one would fear permanent damage. If the Arkanisian struggled with tapping into her own fears, her own anxieties, when faced with such adversity… was there truly any hope for her?

”Pathetic…” Sah’ra hissed from her mount as Zoe arrived at the crest of the hill. Swinging her leg across the creature’s back, the woman slid to the ground with grace and took three long strides in the direction of her Apprentice. Her arms hung at each side, away from her body ever so slightly. Her chest heaved slowly, her anger simmering stronger and stronger every moment she replayed the scene in her mind. Yet her face remained calm save for a burning irritation behind her eyes. ”Here, let me show you,”

Slowly a hand moved forward, coming to a stop a few inches away from the Acolyte’s right temple. Invisible energies began to penetrate the Acolyte’s mind, pulling memories of her father forward at random yet twisting them away from total truth. At first the Lord of Arkanis would belittle his only daughter, declare to his entire council how unworthy she was of his love. How little she meant to him and his family line. How happy they would be if she was cast aside, thrown from a cliff, or met with an unfortunate ‘accident’. She would soon feel hands grasp her by each arm and drag her away into darkness. Nothing existed here except her father’s voice.

“Pathetic,” it spat out, echoing in the vast nothingness she had found. She would feel a growing sense of failure and self-loathing for who she was. “Pathetic,” it continued, louder with each repetition. “Pathetic,” By now, the voice had changed. No longer was it solely that of her father but hints of a woman’s voice rang in unison. “Pathetic,” Each time the word was sung the more these feelings of defeat would grow and more it transitioned until it was Sah’ra’s own voice that consumed her. “Pathetic,”

Suddenly, pain. Searing pain as though every inch of her skin had been kissed by red hot steel, her entire body enveloped in the material as she writhed in darkness. It felt as though her skin began to bubble and boil, peel away from her muscles and fall to the floor. And just as suddenly as it had begun, it ended. The jungles around them had grown silent, cut only by the exhale of the dalgo at her Master’s back. Kneeling before the Acolyte as she cowered in the dirt, Sah’ra spoke in an ice cold tone.

”Next time… Pretend it is me you’re facing… And use your hatred of me for what I have just done. If you fail again, you may not get another opportunity,” she hissed, standing tall and returning to her dalgo. They still had a few hours before they’d reach the tomb and with Zoella’s own mount vanished, they had no time to waste.

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

Zoella ascended, dreading the face that would meet her at the top. Taking one final step, the Acolyte stared up at her Sith Master. A permanent knot settled in the pit of her stomach. A knot she knew all too well of late— anxiety. Worry. Dread.

The teenager was truly scared. Terrified, even. Sah'ra Ryun's face was cold, devoid of any sympathy or pity. There was no patience in her voice, no hint of amusement in her eyes. Any humor the situation had elicited in the older woman had vanished without a trace. The woman that stood before Zoella was not her friend, and she certainly was not her confidant. It was a Sith Master, and Zoella feared the possibilities that carried.

Would Sah'ra Ryun strike her down now? Would she torture her? Would she banish her from her sight, never to return for future training? Zoella had no idea, and not knowing was killing her. The anticipation, the longing to be put out of this silent suffering was a torture of its own, and Sah'ra Ryun knew that very well.

The woman was calculating and devious. She did nothing without some purpose, some motive behind it. They'd come a long way from sipping tea beside the fire in a very short time.

Zoella opened her mouth to speak, to rebut the determination of "pathetic," but she was afforded no opportunity to defend herself. Not that she had any defense worth presenting. She was young and wholly unexperienced. With one long stride, Sah'ra Ryun was standing in front of her, and even a novice in the ways of the force could feel the anger that radiated off the Champion in waves.

The blonde Acolyte closed her eyes as a hand was raised to her face, expecting to be slapped— struck. But no sting ever came. Sahr'a Ryun never laid a finger on her, and suddenly memories began to flood her mind. Images of her father flashed before her very eyes, as if she was reliving each and every terrible memory all over again.

Her father was lecturing her again, screaming and listing her faults in great detail. Asking her why she couldn't be more like her older brother, more responsible? More ambitious? More productive?

More. More More. Always more.

Anger and indignation washed over her. Then it was her mother, dropping subtle hints and urging her to be someone other than herself. Then it was Sah'ra Ryun herself, and their voices blended in unison.

Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic.

Zoella's hands shot to her temples, clutching at skin and hair as she shook her head back and forth to repel the Champion from her mind. But it was no use. She was no match for her Master, physically or mentally. It was unlike anything the teenager had ever experienced in her entire life, and she was completely at the mercy of the Champion. Helpless. Totally helpless.

When the voices finally faded, the Acolyte dared to open her eyes. Unbeknownst to her, she had sunk to her knees. Pale fingertips were stained with blood, drawn from her own scalp. With trembling limbs, Zoella stood up. There was nothing she wanted to do more than crawl up on the ground and cry herself to sleep, but she knew that the result would be disastrous.

All she could do was obey her Master. Swallowing down her fears, Zoella climbed atop the dalgo behind Sah'ra Ryun, careful not to touch her master in the ascent. The teenager pressed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, holding back unshed tears.

@Tulos​

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

By the time the pair of Sith had arrived at the ruins that contained her ancestor’s remains, Sah’ra had already been watching the rising sun for several minutes. It had been a silent trip once the encounter with the ravenous nexu had concluded, neither woman offering each other words of disapproval or complaint. Agitation at the young woman’s failure had not yet subsided but there was little use dwelling on the matter now, not when they had finally reached their goal. In the cover of foothills and mountains, a small cavern entrance could be seen. It seemed to have been undisturbed for many years but a shiver through the Force told the Champion that someone had been here not so long ago.

”This is it,” Sah’ra announced as she swung her leg over the dalgo’s back and slid to the ground. As she approached the maw of the cave, her eyes scanned the ground for any indication that beast or man may have been residing within but the torrential storms of Onderon’s wilderness had washed away any sign of recent activity within. No, there was no physical evidence but the Force continued to whisper in her ear of an imprint, an event of some sort transpiring within. ”Something is wrong…”

Cautiously she approached, hands hovering at each side as she crossed the threshold. Just within was remains of a fire that had nearly been whipped away entirely by winds from beyond the cave entrance. Further ahead, a pair of tunnels that branched off in different directions. Eyes closed, Sah’ra reached out with the Force for guidance and was met with soft whispers echoing from the tunnel on the right. ”Stay close, girl,” she hissed, unclipping one of the hilts from her belt and igniting the crimson blade to illuminate their way. "And please try to stay on your own two feet for a change,"

@llamallove​

 

[Zoella Dorran]

The only sounds that escorted the Sith to their destination was the heavy breathing of their mount as it tore through the Onderon jungle and the calls of distant, wild animals. Neither Sah'ra Ryun nor Zoella were in want of conversation, not when resentment and disappointment lingered between the two of them.

Zoella's master was merely inches away, but the Acolyte had nothing but her own thoughts to keep her company. That, and the aftereffects of the force induced psychosis Sah'ra Ryun had pressued upon the teenager's mind. Voices—whispers continued to ring in her ears, faint but present and entirely in her own head. Of that much she was sure. These voices were personal and familiar—twisted and corrupted by sorcery to deliver their own personal brand of torment.

Once they had reached their destination, Zoella followed her Master's example and slid down from the back of the dalgo. There wasn't an inch of her body that didn't ache, or at least that's what she convinced herself. Her Sith robes had been torn in the fall, and so had her skin—small scratches and cuts from branches and rocks. Where clothing had been torn away to reveal skin, bruises had begun to form.

A small, discontented sigh would escape the teenager's lips, but she would not breathe a word of complaint. There were a thousand and one things she would have liked to complain about— the cuts, the bruises, the harsh scolding she'd received, the voices in her head, and the fact that she hadn't slept a wink last night were all good places to start, but she didn't dare. Not now. Not with her Master practically breathing fire from her nostrils.

As for the tomb, it was more akin to an abandoned set of ruins, decayed and falling apart to the wear and tear of time and nature. These ruins had not been completely abandoned, however. Remnants of a fire remained, crude and scattered about the entrance of the cave.

The Acolyte knelt down beside the campsite. If she wanted to survive, she was going to need to gain favor with her Master. She extended a hand forward, reaching out through the force in an attempt to learn the history of this place. Of the souls that had sought shelter in this cave and built a fire for warmth. It was called Psychometry, something the instructors at Korriban had taught her when she had first been initiated into the ranks of the Sith.

There was supposed to be a blinding light, and then information or history or whatever you wanted to call it would follow, but none of that came. Instead, Zoella's hand slipped, and she lost her balance. The Acolyte slid forward into the abandoned fire, landing face first in the ash with an audible humph.

Without missing a beat, the teenager was back on her feet again, wildly brushing ash from her clothing and coughing up soot. If she was lucky, Sah'ra Ryun would be none the wiser. It wasn't likely, but a girl could hope.

"Yes, Master," Zoella answered the command, pretending nothing had happened as she continued to spit up ash.

The sun had begun to rise, its warm rays filtered through the canopy of foliage that covered the planet. It was a new day, and a new day brought new beginnings. Hopefully Zoella wouldn't screw this one up.

@Tulos 3 for Psychometry​