“Not good enough…” He growled to himself as he concentrated all of his anger into the Ashlan Temple. The process was progressing, even though it was slower than he wished. Corrupting an old Jedi temple had been a mission he gave himself after becoming the newest apprentice to Lady Revna. As his first job he volunteered for, he was tasked to turn this temple into a possible training and meditation area for other fellow Sith. The task had lately proven…troublesome after the disappearance of his master a couple of weeks prior. Just about every night Varin would return to this temple to practice old rituals and pour all his anger and sorrow into the building, but something deep inside the foundation was fighting back, and hard.
Growing weary he dropped his attempt for the night and was preparing to grab his things for the travel back to the academy. Some rest would likely do him some good. But as he grabbed his sword he noticed an imprint in the sandy floor not far from him. A paw print, adorned with claws. Something had taken interest in the boy's antics at the temple, possibly even lured it.
Varin was now on his guard as he began to leave the temple. Like most nights on Korriban the air was dry and cold, Varin pulled his cloak closer around him to avoid the buffeting sands as he ventured forth. But something was off about tonight, like he was being watched. He quickly glanced around for any sign of anyone. But there was no such sign. He pushed forward through the sands.
He didn’t hear it, not at first. Light thudding headed his way and quickly he turned in time to see a clawed paw strike towards him scratching his chest plate and knocking him to the ground, the impact of the claws shot sparks off of his armor leaving a few gouges in the plating. Quickly he scrambled back to his feet and looked in the direction of his attacker.
It was a black creature of some sort, almost feline yet hound like. Its eyes a piercing red in the night, gazing into him with malice and hunger. Varin drew his sword as he felt another impact on his back, this time the claws dug into his shoulder dragging him down. A second beast held him there, hissing and breathing down his neck. Blood trickled from his wound as he bit back the urge to yell in pain. He tried to push himself up but was instantly pinned back down as the claws dug deeper. Then he saw it approach, a beast that was larger than the other two, older, covered in spines down its back. It showed a level of intelligence in its eyes that Varin had never seen in a wild creature. Only these weren’t any wild creatures. These were Sith Hounds, “Tuk’ata” as they were called. Sent to guard the tombs of ancient sith lords, it's possible that Varin forcing a pocket nexus of dark side energy drew them to him.
Before he knew it, one latched onto his shoulder with its teeth and began to drag him through the sands. Varin let out a yell as the pain set in and he swiped at it with his sword, slicing into its chest. Not deep enough to wound it, it had deftly dodged his attack as another flanked him and swiped down his back across his plate.
Wind began to pick up as the sands began to stir creating a sand screen, making it nearly impossible to see, especially at night. Varin stood up with his sword ready, eyeing the three predators as they circled him.
“You can’t have me.”
He spoke to them as they circled nearer. Varin kept his eye on all sides. A quick jolt of one pouncing towards him caused him to spin towards it. Quickly he lifted his hand and grabbed the creature by the throat with the force. He roared at the creature as it struggled to breathe, the cracking of its bones could be heard over the whipping winds as the creature hissed towards him, desperately swiping, until at last it had collapsed. The second small one pounced on Varin’s back trying to go for his neck and instead clamped down on his shoulder. He yelled in pain as his vision went red. Like an erupting volcano his back burst into flame igniting the creature and engulfing it in flame as it howled in agony. Through its burning struggling body Varin could see the third hound, sneaking in the sand screen through the fire light.
Varin produced a flame in his hand and hurled it towards the creature, the impact of the fire hitting the sand near the creature caused the flame to combust in a wide radius driving the creature back. Varin was losing blood and consciousness. Slowly his vision was growing black as his wounds began to heal. The larger hound played his distance as if waiting. Finally the wind began to die down, but as his vision began to clear, Varin felt his knees buckle as he collapsed in front of the creature.
“You…won’t…take me.”
His words were separated by his heavy breaths as he locked eyes with the creature. Finally his gaze fell to the sands and his vision was black.
Wake up boy!
Ignati’s voice cut through to the boy's mind, jolting him awake.
We need to find that hound. You challenged it, and it will not stop until one of you dies.
Varin looked around at the now morning sands in confusion.
“Then why do I still live?”
Ignati sighed deeply.
The thrill of hunting your prey while it's at its best, is a lot more sporting than when they’re slumbering.
Slowly Varin pulled himself back up.
“So we go hunting then.”
