Ask Blinding Lights

[Vren Mallick]

When the two finally hashed out their differences after a few moments, they returned separated while shaking their heads at each other before the other two joined them. Vren casted a glance toward Zana as he had caught her expression before he went to deal with Tock. It wasn't perfectly transcribed but he believed she at least understood what he had been trying to say earlier and it made him feel better. Rowe was about to ask if they settled their little dispute but one of the workers interrupted and informed the nearby crowd that the main show was about to begin, earning a few cheers and excited conversations.

The crowd shifted in the direction of a lit-up path as they listened to directions and the group followed the rest of them. Small lights in various colors brightened up the path and ground, either creating images amongst the grass or just through the light themselves. As they all walked through, Vren's hair couldn't help but reflect the small light show that took place around them, multiple colors zipping through the silver strands.

The two boys walked side by side, Tock's question tearing the Echani's gaze away from the warm-up show, "Wouldn't miss it for the world. Maybe next time, you can be the distraction can show me how to properly do it." Vren slapped his hand on his friend's shoulder to give him a light squeeze. The reply made Tock smile but one that didn't fully reach the corners of his face.

At the mention of being patched up, his golden eyes flicked down at the bandaged area and then to Zana out of the corner of his eye before back to Tock, "I'm not. Thankfully, one is and she was looking out for me." While the cut itself wasn't too bad, it had been entirely possible for It to be infected if she hadn't intervened. While his tone was impassive by nature, the Echani tried to make it sound as appreciative as he could.

The path they took led to a small open field, the lights forming a perimeter in the shape of a square. Tock found them a little plot and dropped the two backpacks there, "Finally!" He exclaimed before collapsing into the grass. By that point, the first round of fireworks had started, the sky being lit up with a multitude of colors as the boom of each one echoed. Tock and Rowe sat down next to each other and went through their backpack, Vren coming next as he got down on one knee first and pulled the other backpack in front of him.

Opening it, the Echani dug through and when Zana sat down, he would offer her one of the snacks stored away as he murmured softly, "He at least prepared me for this." Vren would be illuminated red momentarily after as a firework exploded above, it creating a unique mixture with his golden eyes before disappearing. If she didn't take it, he would claim it for himself as he fully sat down and rested one arm on top of his knee to watch.

 

[Zana Ari]

Zana’s mood had improved quite a bit by the time they found the patch to sit in and watch the fireworks. She was smiling and looking all around herself, watching others that were laughing and chatting excitedly. It was a perfect break from the constant doom and gloom of the war. Every day felt as if the Sith would attack or another temple would be burned down. It made cherishing every little moment all the more important.

She sat down and looked over when V took a seat next to her. Tock and Rowe were already bickering about something and Zana couldn’t help but chuckle. She glanced down at the snack V offered, giving him a smug grin.

“It’s the least you can do after I patched you up,” She said with a soft laugh as she took the snack. Zana didn’t miss the reflection of the fireworks in his eyes, and she blinked a few times eyeing them. Her own displayed something similar, the goldens almost illuminated of their own accord.

She looked up at the sky again, munching on her snack in silence for a moment.

“Really does help you forget about the war for a moment, doesn’t it?” Zana said with her eyes still gazing up at the display, “Just for a second. Even if we’re going to be in so much trouble if we get caught sneaking out,” She began to chuckle to herself.

 

[Vren Mallick]

Zana's comment brought a rare half-smile to his face and didn't reply back on until he sat and could cast a glance toward her, "If snacks doesn't win you over, I'll think of something else." There would have to be a little thought put to it as she didn't have a messed-up leg for him to nurse. Another snack was retrieved from the bag for himself as he opened it casually and casted his gaze upward.

After a moment, Vren just laid back and onto one elbow as he straightened his legs out, giving himself a more comfortable position with a better angle. All of them eventually quieted and just watched the spectacle unfold, each firework a different and elaborate design.

Halfway through a display, Zana's comment broke his attention from the firework but his gaze didn't drift away as he answered, "Helps you forget about everything." Even though he claimed everything, there was a sense that he was referencing only a few items. It was his family for him mostly and more specifically his brother. At the mention of sneaking out though, that time it managed to draw his gaze down towards her, a slight smirk touching his lips as he nudged her with an elbow, "Hey, we're supposed to be forgetting." The thought of being caught hadn't crossed his mind at all.

As the fourth round of fireworks began, an orange explosion taking place at first, an ear-piercing scream would spear through the air as another firework shot up. Vren sat up immediately, his golden optics first flicking to Zana and then behind her where he heard it. Half of the crowd still hadn't heard and continued watching, the other half twisting their heads around with a questioning look. A few moments later more screams would take place as the fireworks silenced, people yelling at each other to run as there would be loud crashes from the actual fair.

A loud and familiar bellow would travel across the field before another loud crash echoed out. Vren slowly just looked back to Zana, "No..." In the span of a second, the Echani had launched himself from the ground and straight into a dead-sprint towards the fair, the burning pain from his leg pushed to the side as he ran past families and stragglers reaching the rest. Thankfully, most people had gone to the fields to see the light show but there were still the merchants and others.

When Vren crested a small hill, he could see a black figure tearing through a small stall as it broke into pieces, the four horns gleaming in the light. The bull's black hair rippled as it dug its hoof into the ground before taking another random charge into a tent as civilians screamed and got out of the way. Vren could barely believe it was Fern and after watching him take down another stand, the Echani barreled toward the fair as fast he could.

 

[Zana Ari]

Zana looked over at him when he nudged her, reminding her about forgetting. She had a sheepish grin on her face, though she said nothing aloud. She simply kept her gaze on his, hearing the fireworks above them. Zana didn’t look away, idly fidgeting with one of her lekku. She looked as if she was going to say something when the loud shriek erupted behind them. She whipped around to look, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

When she heard that bellow, her blood ran cold. Tock and Rowe also knew that unmistakable noise, both whipping around to look and jumping to their feet. Before Zana could do anything, V was already bolting in that direction with his injured leg. The twi’lek gritted her teeth and looked back at Tock.

“Why does he always do that?!”

Tock shrugged helplessly.

“Well don’t all go after him at once!” She shouted at the two of them before chasing after V. Tock and Rowe got the hint and began to rush as well.

“V STOP! YOU’LL GET HURT!” Zana watched as Fern began to tear through the different stalls and game stands. She could see him rushing down a path that had a small child by a stall standing there crippled by fear. Zana’s eyes widened as she coiled the Force around the boy and yanked him to the side, Fern bolting right past him. Screams and chaos erupted all around them, but Zana felt helpless. None of them knew those animal bonding Jedi moves. Having a frightened crowd was also largely unhelpful.

“Do you have a plan?!” She shouted as she caught up to Vren, “Besides bleeding to death?” She glared, his wound bleeding again.

 

[Vren Mallick]

Vren arrived at the edge of the camp and in between two colorful tents as he slowed to a stop while attempting to form an outline of some plan in his mind. Fern continued to angrily tear down everything in his path. At the last moment, the Echani caught out the corner of his eye the small boy about to be trampled by the animal. His hand whipped out towards him, ready to shoot out a blast of force and most likely would have been too late but was thankfully yanked out of the way.

His eyebrows furrowing together for a second, Vren whipped his head back and found the culprit, Zana, rushing in behind and catching up to him. There wasn't any time for a greeting and asked about a plan before adding a comment about him bleeding to death. At first, he rolled his eyes and then glared too despite the carnage around them with their gazes meeting, "Really? Now?" Still, he glanced down briefly to find blood staining the bandage and his pants.

Tock and Rowe finally caught up to them and were a little breathless. With the bull rampaging, there wasn't time to discuss a thorough plan and Vren just shook his head with a shrug for a moment before he spoke, "I got a plan, not a good one." His gaze went to Zana's again, staring into her eyes for a moment, his own golden ones telling her silently, just go with it. "Stay safe." The comment added quickly while his eyes conveyed another message, one completely different from the last one as his gaze lingered on hers for a brief moment.

The Echani knew she would resist and before she could even open her mouth, he began to jog back towards the sound of Fern's destruction, not giving her an opportunity to counter at all. "I'll catch his attention and lead him away from the people. Zana, you make sure to get them out of the way!" Vren then turned around and started to run as he shouted, "Tock, get to the gate!" There wasn't time to waste and the Echani mixed into the crowd as he chased after the bull, leaving the rest to get ready.

Pushing through scared civilians, Vren eventually wound up in the middle of one of the pathways found in the center of the festival. He turned toward the sound of snorting and found Fern at the end as it whipped its head around and snorted. Getting flashbacks momentarily of their first encounter, an apprehensive exhale came out from him as he prepped himself, "Shit..." Not wanting to risk anyone else anymore, he put two fingers in his mouth and let out a sharp whistle that pierced the air easily.

It caught the bull's attention as it turned around slowly to face Vren, his bright white and reflective white hair standing out that captured its attention easily. Fern quickly inspected the young padawan and seemed to remember their previous meeting too as it stomped its feet. Unlike last time, it instantly charged down the path and straight at him, bellowing as it did. Vren would spin on his heel and run, stumbling at first before he picked himself up and his speed as fear blossomed through him. His direction would be towards Groo's farm as he hoped the others were ready.