Private A Force of Nature

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

“Agreed, this is just slaughter for the sake of it.” Katherine replied, crouching down to examine one of the more ‘intact’ Cannoks closer. She had seen plenty of death, caused by both man and beast. Knew that nature was just that, nature. One always had to be the prey, and the other the hunter. One had to die in order for the other to survive. That was just the natural order of things.

The scene before them? Was the complete opposite.

Unnatural, twisted by something that had been inflicted upon the Cannoks.

Katherine carefully checked its wounds, being particularly cautious about what she touched. The Valkyrie partially cursed herself for wearing fingerless gloves to this excursion. Ultimately, all she could find were wounds that matched what a Cannok was capable of doing.

But as Torin said, Cannoks didn’t cannibalise. Sure, they had a habit of trying to eat anything, inanimate objects ‘n’ all. But nothing in their nature would lead them to attack one another.

“Why does this all seem oddly familiar?” Katherine muttered to herself, standing back up. There was something about this whole thing that was ringing faint bells in her head. But try as she might, the redhead couldn’t place it.

She turned to look at Torin, realizing the druid was looking up at her.

“Far deeper than we initially thought.” Katherine replied, nodding in agreement. Returning her spear to its holster on her back, the Valkyrie took Torin’s lead and followed as they began their trek deeper into the jungle.

It was only minutes later that an idea struck her.

“Torin. You connected with the Maalraas already…” Her voice trailed a little, uncertain if what she had in mind would even work. “Is it possible for you to like, use that connection to trace what path she took here?”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin had noticed it, the way Katherine's eyes lingered longer than usual on the remains, the faint tension in her jaw, the flicker of something just behind her sharp focus. Trouble, not spoken but present. He didn't ask. Not yet. But it settled quietly in the back of his thoughts.

When her voice reached him again, asking about the Maalraas, he turned his head slightly, expression unreadable at first. Then, a soft nod.

"I've already been… listening," he said, his voice low and steady. "The land has memory. And the Maalraas left a trail through it — a pain still echoing in the soil."

He stepped forward, easing into a kneel beside the fallen leaves and tangled underbrush. One large hand brushed the earth, fingers splayed. His other hand came to rest atop it, grounding his form.

The jungle around them felt heavy with watching. But he closed his eyes and let his breath slow, until it matched the rhythm of the unseen things beneath the canopy.

Then—silence.

His eyes rolled back softly under closed lids. The Force surged downward like roots, threading through dirt and stone, sweeping deeper. His awareness extended like mist, searching. Feeling.

There was life, stagnant, wary, retreating. And then there was something else. A taint. A wrongness at the edges of sense, like ink blooming in clean water. It curled through the land's pulse, subtle and invasive.

Torin's brow furrowed. A sharp breath escaped him, not loud, but strained. The sensation stung like smoke in the lungs. But beneath it, clearer now, was the thread he sought. The imprint of the Maalraas. Desperate. Driven. Not alone in its madness.

With a final exhale, he pulled his awareness back. His eyes fluttered open, and this time, they burned with certainty.

He stood and pointed wordlessly toward the dense growth to the east.

"There," he said simply. "The path is still fresh."

He glanced once at Katherine, not just for confirmation, but to see if that flicker of trouble was still shadowing her eyes.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

Katherine had numerous questions she wanted to ask Torin about his abilities, but she put them aside for now. They had much more pressing matters to focus on for the time being. She wonder how similar it was to something like Psychometry, but rather than inanimate objects, it was tied to forming a tangential connection with another living being.

It made her curious whether he could do the same with tracking someone.

As she watched him, Katherine could feel his movements through the Force. Careful and precise, akin to someone gently brushing aside some dense foliage to move forwards.

She replayed his earlier words in her head, particularly about the Dark Side’s influence on whatever was happening here. And there was that feeling again, that pang of familiarity that twisted about in Katherine’s stomach. What exactly it was, still eluded her however. They’d need to stop at some point, take a moment to rest so she could gather her thoughts.

Presently, she was solely focused on the now. Senses stretched out and were ever alert incase of any potential ambushes. Once Torin seemed content in an accurate direction, Katherine simply gave him a nod of confirmation, before following the towering druid as they continued their trek.

It was a scene of pure carnage they found.

What was seemingly a relatively small clearing, had been ‘expanded’ by something large smashing around. The dense underbrush; and other underlying foliage, had been squashed and flattened into the dirt. Around them, the initial line of trees had been bent and broken, as if something had been slammed into them.

The potential culprit however, was barely a glance off to the side. Before them was the dead body of a large, quadruped beast. Katherine crouched down before it, quickly realizing just what exactly it was.

“It’s a Zakkeg, the Maalraas natural predator…” But even from a brief examination, it was clear something larger had attacked it. Sure, there were telltale signs of a Maalraas getting some damage in, but something else had caused the vast majority.

“The wounds show signs of…infection, or maybe poison.” Katherine frowned, another bell bringing in her head. “A single Maalraas couldn’t have taken this Zakkeg down.” She glanced over at Torin, silently asking confirmation that he could only sense the lone Maalraas having been in the area.

It was then that the Valkyrie caught sight of a different pair of footprints, a large two-toed imprint.

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin knelt beside the carcass of the Zakkeg, thick fingers brushing along its hide and down along the ragged gouges that marred it. The beast had put up a fight. There were deep lacerations, puncture wounds, the telltale frenzied patterns of a desperate struggle, but it hadn't been enough. Not against whatever had come through here.

He didn’t speak right away. Instead, his hand hovered over one of the wounds, eyes narrowing slightly as he extended his senses. The Maalraas had been here, yes, but only briefly. There had been a moment of contact, maybe even aggression, but the resonance in the Force didn’t match the scale of destruction laid out before them. No. Something else had turned this clearing into a grave.

Katherine’s voice confirmed what he already suspected, and he nodded slowly.

"You're right. The Maalraas was here, but it wasn’t the killer. Not alone." His voice was quiet, steady, but edged with a deeper tension now. He rose slowly to his full height, scanning the line of broken trees as though they might speak the name of the thing that had done this.

Then he saw it. Just past where Katherine crouched.

A pair of massive, clawed prints pressed deep into the churned earth. Two-toed. Heavy. Old…but not old enough. The jungle floor hadn’t yet swallowed them.

He stepped forward, brow furrowing as he studied the shape. Recognition stirred like a cold wind through his chest.

"...Terentatek," he murmured at last, and the word seemed to darken the clearing itself. "I’d hoped I’d never see their tracks again."

His gaze lifted to meet Katherine’s, and though his expression remained composed, there was a flicker of something colder in his eyes now. Not fear, but the memory of it.

"We need to move."

As if in answer, a low rumble rolled through the sky above them, distant thunder, steady and slow. The canopy overhead began to sway more deeply, wind threading through the upper branches in an uneasy hush. A thin streak of cloud, dark and heavy, carved across the fading light. Torin tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

"The storm’s coming faster than expected." He glanced once more to the tracks, then to the broken trees ahead, his jaw tightening.

And then, the first drops of rainfall hit the tops of the canopy.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

The Valkyrie frowned as she looked at the footprint, knowing there weren't any bi-pedal creatures that resided on Dxun. Practically all were quadruped in order to survive in the dense jungles. But then again, perhaps the information she had was out of date, and something new had since been introduced to the moon’s ecosystem.

Hearing the name Torin muttered however, had Katherine almost snap her head towards him.

“Did you say Terentatek?!”

The lightbulb finally lit up in the Knight’s mind, leading her to slap her forehead with the palm of her hand.

“Of course this sounded so damn familiar.” She started, letting out noises of frustration. “This isn’t the first time the NJO has encountered something like this. A while back, one of our Council Members; Jonyna Si ran into something similar. Teamed up with a witch to help a settlement of Wookiees, who were dealing with the local wildlife being increasingly destructive.” Very much akin to how the Maalraas and Drexl had been acting. “Similar thing with them attacking their own, killing beyond nothing but senseless slaughter...”

Katherine was cut off by low thunder rumbling across the sky, not too far off now. Each time it roared, the louder it got, and it seemed to be progressing rapidly.

“Do you think the prevalence of the Dark Side here is influencing it?” She asked, but before Torin could even answer, an ear-piercing screech echoed out from nearby. Then another, and another, until a multitude of them practically blended together.

Thinking on her feet, Katherine looked up at the canopy over them. Rain was starting to slip through, intensifying by the second. Summoning the Force to her body, directing her down towards her legs, the Valkyrie launched herself upwards, bursting through the thick canopy.

At the crest of her jump, the redhead unfurled her wings and began to hover. Her eyes immediately looked into the distance, towards the source of the screeching. Multiple pairs of beady bloodcrazed red eyes stared back.

“It’s the Drexl! They’ve come back in greater numbers!” Katherine shouted, hoping that it was enough for Torin to hear. “Too many to deal with such limited space, we need to find a clearing.” She turned around, using her height to scan the surroundings for a potential location. “There’s a good sized clearing less than half a mile due west. I’ll lure them towards it!”

Katherine reached down to her belt, grabbing her lightsaber. Without a moment's hesitation, the yellow-bladed ignited, and the Valkyrie began to fly in the direction she had indicated, waving her lightsaber to draw the Drexls’ attention.

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin shielded his eyes as Katherine vaulted skyward, wings cutting through the rising storm with startling grace. Her saber flared to, casting brilliant gold against the rain-soaked canopy. For a heartbeat, she hovered — radiant, defiant, wild — framed by the storm like a warrior plucked from myth. Torin exhaled low, the breath catching at the edge of reverence.

"What a woman..." he muttered, almost in disbelief, shaking his head with a crooked, lopsided smile.

But the moment passed — duty called. The storm crackled above, and the screeches were getting louder.

His focus honed.

Turning west, he surged forward with long, bounding strides. The jungle closed in around him — roots, vines, brush — but he was faster. Limber. The Force surged through his veins like fire and rain, guiding his every footfall as he moved in perfect harmony with the land. Every breath, every shift of weight was instinct — this was his domain.

And then, the clearing.

He broke through into it just as Katherine came into view again, a streak of golden light above, Drexl screaming in pursuit.

One of them dove.

Torin reached for his greatsaber.

The hilt slapped into his palm with practiced weight, and in one smooth motion, the massive emerald blade ignited — humming like thunder, pulsing against the growing dark.

The first Drexl swooped low.

Torin met it with a roar. Green light arced upward, cleaving through fang and wing in a single stroke.

Another dove — and another — and the jungle lit up with rain, fury, and the unwavering blaze of the Force.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

The storm had well and truly fallen upon the area now.. It was already getting dark before it had rolled in, but now you could easily mistake it for night, whereas it had barely gotten deep into the afternoon mere minutes ago.

Rain poured unrelenting, but Katherine appeared unfazed as she soared through it with ease. She was battle-focused, not concerned with the added weight the rain was adding against her feathery wings.

She didn’t need to look down to know Torin was keeping up, carving his own path through the jungle. Katherine could sense his movements through the Force, moving forwards like it was nothing, as though he was keenly aware of the quickest and most efficient path to reach the clearing.

They both arrived at the same time.

Katherine dipped as a Drexl lunged towards her. She brought her lightsaber up as she moved, slicing the winged foe in two. They couldn’t afford to let them get a hit in, not with the potential risk of them transferring whatever madness they had been afflicted with. She didn’t want to think what that could do to some-

The trainee! He got scratched by the Maalraas!

She needed to send them a message, but knew it was impossible right now. The storm was too intense to reach the pilot on a commlink, let alone trying to reach right across to Onderon.

Deactivating her lightsaber for a moment, Katherine reached down towards the bottom of the hilt and twisted. The bottom popped open, and extended out almost five times its original length. Now in pike form, the redhead ignited the now shorter blade and began taking out the Drexl with more distance.

Their numbers almost felt endless, despite the fact Katherine had counted roughly a dozen. But with each Drexl they slew, the rumbling thunder got increasingly closer. She wasn’t going to be able to stay airborne for a whole lot longer.

“Torin! We’re going to need to find some cover after this, we ain’t tracking anything while the weather is like this!”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

The clearing had become a battlefield of wings, rain, and fury. As the storm lashed the trees and the jungle churned into mud, Torin moved like a force of nature himself, unrelenting, grounded, alive. His greatsaber flashed and roared with every strike, a verdant beacon that cast jagged shadows across the writhing chaos. The Drexl came fast, erratic and ravenous, but he was faster.

One dove for his flank.

Torin pivoted low, the soaked earth skidding beneath his boots, and drove the hilt of his saber into its jaw with a meaty crack, stunning it mid-flight. Before it could recover, he stepped into its chest and unleashed a two-handed upward cleave that split its torso wide. As its body fell, Torin whispered beneath his breath.

"Return to the wild. May your spirit fly free."

Another shrieked from behind.

He whirled and hurled his off-hand forward — vines from the edge of the jungle snapped to life, curling like serpents around the beast’s wings. With a grunt of power and a twist of the Force, Torin yanked the Drexl down into the muck with a thunderous crash. Before it could even thrash, his saber speared down.

"Forgive this necessity," he murmured, rain mingling with blood at his boots.

Katherine then called down.

"We will!" he bellowed back through the roar of the storm, locking eyes with her above. Rain streaked down his face, his hair plastered to his brow. "Let’s finish this quick!"

Another screech came from the left — two more diving in tandem. Torin turned, crouched, then launched upward with the Force behind him. His saber swept wide in a blistering arc as he met the first mid-air, the blade carving a brilliant crescent that opened its belly in flight.

"You were not meant for madness," he muttered, watching it spiral downward.

The second Drexl snapped at his shoulder, but Torin landed hard beneath it, rolled into a crouch, and spun low with a reverse strike that slashed its talons clean from its feet. It crashed into a nearby log with a sickening thud.

"Sleep, and be made whole again," he said softly, stepping past its still-twitching form.

He rose again, panting but focused — surrounded by twitching, fallen beasts. But never cruel. Never triumphant.

Each death weighed on him. Each step was a prayer.

Lightning split the sky behind Katherine’s wings as her pike flared through the air — beautiful and deadly, the yellow glow reflecting and refracting through the rain on Torin’s face.

He felt the pressure building. Not just from the Drexl, but from the storm above and something darker beneath. They would need shelter soon. But first—

He readied his blade once more, whispering to the next one already diving for him:
"May the green remember you."

And struck.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

Katherine swooped and dived above the clearing, manoeuvring around a pair of drexl that were trying to bite her. Unlike Torin, who had to deal with those that opted to dive down towards him, she had to contend with them being just as equally as manoeuvrable as her.

A disadvantage in a way, though one remedied by the fact that she had enough open space to dodge.

But it did make it apparent the creatures; or the Drexl at least, weren’t totally mindless. Whatever was affecting them, fueling them with a bloodlust, it didn’t rob them of everything. The two Drexl were utilizing tactics, whether consciously or not. One was taking Katherine’s central focus, while the second was constantly trying to flank her.

It didn’t help that the thunder was getting closer, each rumble in the sky causing the hairs on the back of Valkyrie’s neck to stand.

Thank the Force I didn’t wear my armour.

She did not want to become a flying lightning rod.

But it seemed Katherine had spoken too soon.

The two Drexl flew back around for a joint attack, forcing the Valkyrie to fly backwards gathering momentum in her wings as she did. And with one mighty flap her wings, she hurled a burst of elemental wind energy straight towards the flying creatures, knocking them off their intended course.

And then it struck.

The thunder had stopped rumbling, leaving only the sounds of the torrential downpour of rain. And a tense, eerie quiet beneath it.

BANG!

A bolt of lightning struck the clearing, just barely missing catching any of the trees on fire. But for Katherine? The winged Jedi suddenly froze on the spot. She felt her mind, her senses, her body, everything get suddenly pulled backwards through a memory.

Of the time when she had been in the clutches of the Dark Empire, being tortured. Force Lightning crackling across her skin, burning and scarring it.

Katherine was deaf to the real world at that moment, until something snapped her out of it at the last moment. She didn’t know whether it was her own senses, Torin’s voice, or something else entirely. But she ‘returned’ just in time to see one of the airborne Drexl flying in close.

She dodged out of the way, swinging her lightsaber up enough to take out one of the creature’s wings. Only for the second one to come swooping in, missing its intended mark, but it's solid form slamming into Katherine’s head instead.

Katherine felt her vision suddenly go blurry, her head spinning just like her body as she hurtled towards the ground below.

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Torin Emberlain

The moment her silhouette dropped from the sky like a wounded star, everything else fell away.

"Katherine!"

Torin carved through the nearest Drexl with a furious sweep of his saber, the rain sheeting off his shoulders as he kicked into motion, Force Speed crackling beneath his stride. The world blurred — trees, shadows, rain — until all he saw was her. Falling. Spinning.

Too fast.

He pushed harder.

She broke through the canopy like a broken-winged hawk—closer—closer—

"Got you!" he roared, arms outstretched as he leapt.

Her body collided with his chest, hard, and he twisted mid-air to absorb the impact, skidding across the slick forest floor. Pain sparked up his side, but he held her tight, arms wrapping protectively around her frame.

She didn’t move.

"Katherine?" he breathed, heart seizing.

No response.

No groan. No flutter of lashes. Her head lolled against his chest, limp.

More Drexl shrieked above.

With a growl, he laid her down gently behind him, then rose to his feet, mud-soaked, drenched, furious. He reached into the core of his being and ripped the power from the Force itself.

His hands shot outward.

The repulse burst forth like a thunderclap.

A brilliant white shockwave detonated from his centre, shattering the air. The Drexl were flung like broken dolls into the trees. The forest shook. Rain was torn sideways, flung into mist.

And then—silence.

The kind of silence that chills the marrow.

Even the storm seemed to pause.

Frozen droplets hung midair, glimmering like stars.

Torin stood in the centre, trembling. His breath was fire in his throat.

Then, with a crash like the return of gravity itself, the rain resumed its fury, blinding, battering. Torin breathed in hard.

He turned back.

Kat was still.

Without hesitation, he gathered her into his arms, cradling her as though she might vanish. Her skin was too cold. Her staff lay nearby, and he summoned it to him without looking.

"I’ve got you," he said, more a promise than a comfort. "You’re safe now. Just hold on."

The forest became a blur. He ran, dodging trees, leaping roots, wind lashing at his soaked robes, until at last, he found shelter: a shallow cave cut into the rock, half-concealed by vines and shadow.

He slipped inside, the storm muted but still loud enough to press in behind them. The cave was damp, narrow, but dry enough. Torin laid her gently on the ground, brushing damp strands from her brow. Still unconscious. Still pale. His jaw tightened.

"Freezing," he murmured, mostly to himself.

He didn’t hesitate.

With steady, respectful hands, he unbuckled the clasps of her sodden gear — her belt, vambraces, gloves — removing each piece with the care of someone tending a fallen comrade. Then her main garments, soaked through and clinging to her skin. He worked quickly but gently, averting his eyes when he needed to, mindful of her modesty even now. Once her body was free of the drenched fabric, he wrapped her in the cloak he had in his satchel, thankfully kept dry, and tucked it around her securely to preserve what warmth he could.

Then he stood, shivering.

His own attire was soaked to the bone. He stripped them off with a wince, every movement now dragging on aching muscles. He laid the clothes out near the cave wall, close enough to the spot he’d chosen for the fire.

Then he stepped out into the torrent.

The storm clawed at him. Every twig was drenched, but he gathered what he could: wet bark, half-dry branches sheltered beneath roots, anything salvageable.

By the time he returned, his skin was numb. He dropped to his knees beside the bundle, stretched out one hand. Sparks spilled from his fingertips. The air shimmered. Heat rolled outward, drying the wood. Bark blackened, then caught. Flames began to rise, flickering bright and slow.

Torin sat back against the wall with a groan. Aches bloomed through his spine, his legs, his ribs. His heartbeat was steady now, but the fire inside — the need to know she was safe — hadn’t faded.

He looked over at her.

Kat lay wrapped in his cloak, lit faintly by the firelight. Her breathing was even, but slow. A bruise or two was forming at her temple.

Torin watched her in silence.

Rain still pounded the world outside.

But here, in the quiet crackle of the cave, he kept vigil, eyes never leaving her.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain
​

She barely heard Torin’s shout as she fell, her consciousness rapidly slipping away. By the time the druid had caught her, Katherine saw nothing but darkness.

However, when she finally stirred it wasn’t to the cave Torin had found. But rather a beach, by a campfire, with a familiar figure sitting at it. It was a sight Katherine thought she’d never see again.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting to see you around this neck of the mindscape so soon.”

Katherine looked over to see an older version of herself, a ‘leftover’ from the whole ordeal with Lorelei. Only now, the visage reflected Katherine’s new body. But the aged face and white-streaked hair was ever the same.

“What happened?” Katherine asked, slowly pushing herself up into a seated position.

“Lightning.”

“Ah.” She remembered what happened, the bolt of lightning followed by the Drexl barreling right into her skull. The last thing she remembered was falling. “Well, given only my head feels like hell, I assume Torin caught me before I could hit the ground?”

“Oh yes, your shining knight in armour has looked after you well.”

“He’s not my shi-wait, what do you mean?” Kat asked, eyes narrowing slightly at her older self's tone.

Older Kat just chuckled, shaking her head a little. “You’ll see soon.” Before Katherine could question her further, she felt a pull suddenly start tugging her backwards, back towards consciousness.

The first thing Katherine noticed upon waking, was the smell. She was wrapped in something that smelled like nature. Not through artificial means, but someone who lived amongst it almost every day.

It felt like safety.

Katherine let out a series of soft groans as she shifted, somehow caccooning herself further into Torin’s cloak. But eventually she began to stir properly, eyes blinking open as she awoke.

“Torin?”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin had barely moved since carrying her into the cave and setting up the fire. He’d kept watch, stoked the fire, and listened to the storm rage outside as the minutes passed like slow tides. When Katherine finally stirred beneath his cloak, he let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realised he was holding.

He moved a little closer, but not too much — enough to see her face in the flickering light. His expression was calm, but there was clear concern in his eyes as he studied hers for a moment, checking her pupils. In fact, they were... quite beautiful eyes. There was no sign of concussion. Her colour looked alright. That was a relief.

"You’re awake," he said quietly, a note of warmth breaking through the quiet. When she shifted and called his name, his brows lifted slightly.

"I’m here," he said, voice low but steady. "You gave me a bit of a scare there."

He turned back to the fire, adding another few pieces of wood and adjusting the logs to let the heat build. It flared a little higher, casting a golden glow across the cave and helping to chase away the damp chill.

"How do you feel?" he asked as he turned back to her again, kneeling beside her now but giving her space. "No dizziness? No pain in the back of your head?"

The rain continued to roar outside — thick sheets hammering down — but in the shelter of the cave, they were safe for now. Torin glanced toward the entrance briefly, then back to her.

"The storm’s not letting up anytime soon," he said. "We’ll rest here until it’s passed. You’re safe, Katherine."

After a pause, he reached for his satchel, setting it down beside him. With practiced care, he pulled out a small cloth-wrapped bundle and opened it. Inside were thin strips of dried rootbread, salted vine-fruit, and a few slices of smoked lakefish wrapped in fragrant leaves.

"Not a feast," he murmured, offering it toward her. "But it’ll warm you up and keep your strength." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Prepared all of it myself, grown and harvested back on Selvaris."

He didn’t press her to take it, just left the bundle open beside her and leaned back, the firelight dancing in his quiet eyes.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain​

Katherine’s head throbbed as she tried to slowly sit herself up. “No dizziness, no. The back of my head is fine, but the front…well feels like I took a headbutt from a Drexl.” She said, a slight amused tone to her voice.

The redhead could feel the slight goosebumps along her skin, the fleeting touch of cold that had been gradually erased by the campfire and the cloak wrapped around her. It was a strange feeling for Katherine, someone who had been immune to feeling cold for so long. Perhaps that immunity was no longer a thing with her new body, or was it just less effective now?

“Mmm, safe is good.” She mumbled, eyes flickering over to the entrance, where the rain was still visible pouring down with no apparent end. Katherine’s gaze continued to linger, eventually falling on Torin himself. It took her a few moments, but his state of undress became very apparent.

Katherine felt her cheeks heat up, but she didn’t immediately avert her eyes. Ohmy.

His clothing hadn’t exactly done much to hide his arms, but now his whole torso was on display. Somehow it made him look even larger than before, and Katherine couldn’t help but stare. However, Torin shifted as he reached for his satchel, and the redhead found her eyes linger south a li-

Katherine quickly looked away, head turning at such a speed she almost got whiplash. She stared down at the stone floor, her cheeks; if they hadn’t already reached the point, were matching the colour of her hair.

“It’s appreciated all the same,” she said, taking the offered food. “If I’m being honest, I could probably eat tree bark right now.”

Katherine shifted a bit, moving the cloak some so she could move her arms more. This resulted in the cloak hanging over her shoulders a bit more loosely. The redhead reached for one of the salted vine-fruits, taking a bite. As she did, Katherine’s eyes lingered around the cave some more.

It was then that she caught sight of Torin’s clothes, where he had placed them against the cave wall to dry. Makes sense, must’ve been soaked after getting out of the rain.

But then her eyes continued along the length of the cave wall, and landed on where her own clothes were drying. It took a few seconds, but the final pieces finally fell into place.

Letting out a rather undignified squeak Katherine quickly wrapped the cloak back around herself. She looked over at Torin, but was quickly caught in a back ‘n’ forth between looking, and trying not to.

“Yo-you uh…” Katherine tried to form more words, but could only stutter. That, and the blush across her cheeks somehow managed to become an even darker shade.

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin had just taken a bite of rootbread when he noticed the sudden tension in Katherine’s posture — the squeak, the sharp movement of her cloak being yanked tighter. He blinked. Then followed her gaze.

Ah.

His eyes widened slightly. And then he flushed — not deeply, but enough for a clear pink to rise along his cheekbones and the tips of his ears. The druid straightened a little where he sat, as if that might somehow make him look less... undressed.

"I, ah—" He cleared his throat and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I didn’t want you to catch cold. You were soaked through... and hypothermia was a real risk."

His voice was gentle but clearly flustered now, words coming a little faster than usual.

"I made sure not to look— I mean, not, uh, improperly, just... enough to make sure you weren’t hurt. I was... respectful." He glanced at her, cautious. "If I gave any offence, I... sincerely didn’t mean to."

He shifted his weight, running a hand down his face before returning it to his lap.

"Didn’t exactly plan for this part of the trip," he muttered, almost to himself. Then, louder, with a slightly lopsided, embarrassed smile, "In future, I’ll pack spare robes."

A beat passed, the storm still thundering outside. Softly, he spoke again, care and concern voiced in every word.

"I’m glad you’re okay."

He didn’t push further. Just leaned back again, letting the firelight play against the curve of the cave wall, cheeks still faintly red as he reached for another strip of lakefish.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain​

The Valkyrie’s head snapped up again, looking over at Torin. “No no, there’s no offence taken! It’s just…I’m not you know…used to well…” Katherine’s voice trailed off, as she gestured with her hand towards herself, and vaguely to Torin. “This.”

Katherine kept her eyes firmly affixed to the druid’s face, her cheeks still burning as she dared to not look anywhere else.

“My clothes were soaked, potential for hypothermia. You did the most logical thing to keep me safe and healthy, of which I am extremely grateful for.” She finally said, offering Torin a warm and reassuring smile.

The furthest thing she wanted to do was make him feel bad for doing what was right.

“It was just a…surprise, that’s all.”

I’ll say, certainly makes for one hell of an impression.

They literally met hours ago!

And? Look at him, he’s gorgeous. Could’ve picked worse~

Katherine immediately shoved those thoughts to the deepest part of her mind. She did not need those kinds of thoughts bouncing around her head right now.

“I should’ve known, I don’t do well with lightning these days.” Katherine sighed, returning her attention to vine-fruit, taking another bite. “Just very, very glad I opted to not wear my armour for this mission. Would’ve made for a whole different situation, probably a lot worse too.”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin’s head dipped slightly, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he rubbed the back of his neck. His posture was usually so sure, grounded like old stone — but now he shifted a little where he sat, unsure what to do with his hands, unsure where exactly to look.

"I—I wasn’t trying to make things awkward," he said, voice low and a touch rougher than usual. "Just... didn’t want you sick or worse. You took a bad fall. So I figured, uh. Dry and warm was the priority."

He gestured vaguely toward the fire, the cloak, the dry clothes against the cave wall — all the unspoken details laid bare in the glow of it.
For a second, his eyes flicked up to meet hers, then away again.

There was a small pause, the crackle of fire filling it. And then something in him settled — like a branch bending with the wind and returning to stillness. The fluster faded, replaced with the kind of quiet steadiness he usually carried. He looked back to her again, more composed now, though still careful in the way he held the moment.

"I’d do the same again, if it meant you'd be alright. But I hope it didn’t… make you uncomfortable. I just wanted you safe."

A gentle honesty laced the words — not dramatic, not self-deprecating, just plain truth spoken like a river running clear.

Torin gave a soft hum of agreement then to her next comments, the flicker of a smile at the edge of his mouth.

"Aye. I dread to think if you chose to bring it," he murmured, glancing toward the damp armour piled near the cave wall.

He didn’t say much more at first — just studied the fire a moment, then her face, as if checking again for signs of pain.

After a beat, he added quietly, "You’re holding up well. Still feeling okay? Can I get to anything?" There was respect in his voice, admiration, for a woman who defended an aerial assault, fall out of the sky, and still managed to smile.

What a woman indeed...

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain​

Katherine was mid-bite of a fruit when Torin spoke, his tone of voice low and rougher than she had heard it before. She felt her stomach flutter, something the redhead hadn’t really felt before. But brushed it off as just…still feeling the effects of the cold a bit.

That had to be it.

Right?

“I mean, I won’t lie to you and say I didn’t feel a bit uncomfortable.” She said, chuckling lightly. “But better to be that kind, rather than still being covered in soaked clothing.”

Again, Katherine felt that feeling in stomach again, this time hearing that Torin wanted her to be safe. It wasn’t exactly the first time she had heard those kinds of words, from people she knew, that she loved dearly.

So what was it about Torin that made her feel like this?

Katherine smiled at his offer, shaking her head. “I’m still feeling okay, yeah. And you don't need to get me anything more, especially after sharing your food.” She replied, another grateful smile on her face.

Finally finishing the fruit, Katherine moved onto trying the bread. “You said you made these yourself?”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin glanced over, fingers brushing a bit of ash off his trousers as he shifted slightly beside the fire. Her question seemed simple, but it caught him off-guard. His eyes dropped for a moment, then returned to hers with a faint, almost bashful nod.

"Yes," he said softly. "I made them."

He paused, searching for the right words.

"I move around a lot… but I keep a camp in the Selvaris jungles. Quiet place. Good soil." His voice gained a little rhythm now, his hands moving as he spoke, as if shaping the memories in the air. "You can dry fruit there easy. Smoke meat. Bake flatbread over coals. If you know how."

There was a light in his voice then — not pride, but a quiet sort of joy. The kind that comes from doing something for its own sake.

"I just like food that lasts. Keeps you going. But... doesn’t taste like dust. There's a bit of a art to it. It's fun finding the right balance."

He caught himself then, realising how much he’d said, and cleared his throat gently, eyes turning back to the fire.

"...I like cooking," he added, a touch sheepish.

And despite himself, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Dxun
Outfit: Link
Equipment: Lightsaber, Beskar Spear
Tags: Torin Emberlain​

The redhead couldn’t help but smile as she watched and listened attentively to what Torin was saying. At some point he wasn’t even really looking at her, the look in his eyes clear as day. That kind of look when someone was lost in thought, drawing upon a memory to describe something.

I wonder if this is how I’ve looked whenever I’ve talked about a passionate interest.

She watched as Torin became animated, hands moving about as if re-enacting how he went about preparing and cooking a particular food.

It was honestly adorable, at least in Katherine’s opinion.

Eventually though, realization seemed to finally click back in, and Torin’s gaze turned towards the fire. Katherine did her best to not chuckle too much.

“Nooo, really? I never would’ve guessed.” She replied, a teasing tone to her voice. It did make her smile though, to see someone speak so passionately about something.

“I liked to draw.” Katherine added in, a small knowing grin on her face. “Haven’t got back into it recently, with everything going on. But early on; when I wasn’t either training or reading, I would be drawing something.”

They were fond memories.

“Don’t know how I even started, it just…happened one day.”

 

[Torin Emberlain]

Equipment: Greatsaber, Soul-Ring, Pendant
Tag: Katherine Holt

Torin huffed a quiet breath — somewhere between a laugh and a sigh — and rubbed the back of his neck, fingers combing idly through the shorter strands there. Her teasing hadn’t gone unnoticed, and while he didn’t meet her eyes immediately, the faint pink that touched his cheeks betrayed him more than words ever could.

He shifted a little on the stone, letting the moment breathe.

Then, softly: "You should get back into it."

His voice was gentler now, stripped of the earlier sheepishness. Honest.

"Drawing, I mean."

His gaze flicked toward her, steady this time.

"I'd love to see it. Your work." A small pause, then almost as an afterthought: "If you ever felt like sharing."

It wasn’t a request, exactly — more like an open door. Something quiet. Respectful.

The fire cracked softly between them. Outside, the storm still raged, but in here the warmth held.