Talak found himself wanting to be gone from this place and forgetting the memory of what had happened here. He was thankful that Ana didn't ask him any questions right now, though he half expected them to come later. There were some things - most things - about the dark side that Talak took no joy in.
As she rifled through the Trandoshans gear for the communicator, Talak rummaged through the remaining gear, finally finding what he was looking for.
No, we can't leave him here, he said, his hand wrapping around the hilt of a vibroknife. Hunters like this almost always had some sort of utilitarian or combat melee weapon, and although this one was small, it would do.
Without hesitation - and this time without remorse - Talak activated the blade with a whirrrrrrr. And just like that, he plunged it into the lizard's throat, tearing a gash across the entire length. Blood poured from his throat, and it was a small mercy that he wasn't awake until the very end. He started thrashing and flailing, grasping his throat as the darkness that had nothing to do with this cave closed in around him. Then he was still.
I'm fine, he said shortly. That demeanor from Kashyyyk seemed to be pulling at him now, his answers short and his mood less boisterous. He was breathing more deeply now, trying to calm the feelings raising their head inside of him. All he wanted was to fall into their cool embrace, and it tore at the edges of his mind.
He lit up the flashlight from the Trandoshan and they started making much better time through the cave. Perhaps it was the Force that told him this wouldn't be their end, but there didn't seem to be any anxiety or impending doom surrounding him, and after several more minutes, he realized why: the cool night breeze blew down the cave and Talak paused.
Do you feel that? he asked. His steps became quicker and yet also more cautious as they advanced. The stars speckled a small area at the far end of their tunnel, and Talak let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like you were right about the cave-in, he said. It had disrupted their pursuers and hadn't killed them in the process.
We'll need to be careful. They could have looped around, he said quietly, extinguishing the flashlight as they came toward the opening of the cave. A wide valley lay beneath them on this side as well, but he couldn't see any sign of others right now.
As she rifled through the Trandoshans gear for the communicator, Talak rummaged through the remaining gear, finally finding what he was looking for.
No, we can't leave him here, he said, his hand wrapping around the hilt of a vibroknife. Hunters like this almost always had some sort of utilitarian or combat melee weapon, and although this one was small, it would do.
Without hesitation - and this time without remorse - Talak activated the blade with a whirrrrrrr. And just like that, he plunged it into the lizard's throat, tearing a gash across the entire length. Blood poured from his throat, and it was a small mercy that he wasn't awake until the very end. He started thrashing and flailing, grasping his throat as the darkness that had nothing to do with this cave closed in around him. Then he was still.
I'm fine, he said shortly. That demeanor from Kashyyyk seemed to be pulling at him now, his answers short and his mood less boisterous. He was breathing more deeply now, trying to calm the feelings raising their head inside of him. All he wanted was to fall into their cool embrace, and it tore at the edges of his mind.
He lit up the flashlight from the Trandoshan and they started making much better time through the cave. Perhaps it was the Force that told him this wouldn't be their end, but there didn't seem to be any anxiety or impending doom surrounding him, and after several more minutes, he realized why: the cool night breeze blew down the cave and Talak paused.
Do you feel that? he asked. His steps became quicker and yet also more cautious as they advanced. The stars speckled a small area at the far end of their tunnel, and Talak let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like you were right about the cave-in, he said. It had disrupted their pursuers and hadn't killed them in the process.
We'll need to be careful. They could have looped around, he said quietly, extinguishing the flashlight as they came toward the opening of the cave. A wide valley lay beneath them on this side as well, but he couldn't see any sign of others right now.