A Hunting We Will Go

[Muad Dib]

Dathomir

He crouched in the meadow, long strands of tan grass masking his silhouette. His tan tunic and brown pants helped him blend into the surroundings save for the glowing blue orbs peering out. Several meters to his right Tracyn, the man's companion tuk'ata, watched with blue eyes as well. A hundred meters away two bull rancors were fighting for dominance, each massive creature struggling for dominance. Watching the battle the man grinned to himself while slowly raising a hand and speaking softly to the tuk'ata.

"Nwul woyunoks. Dzwol."

The tuk'ata settled back on his haunches at the words, eyes looking over to the man with almost an inquisitive expression on it's canine face. The man shook his head almost imperceptibly and the sith hound laid down n the tall grass to wait for his master's command.

Watching the rancors battle the man plucked a strand of grass and placed it between his teeth thoughtfully chewing while his mind went back to the first time he had arrived on Dathomir several years in the past. A nightbrother had asked him to come, to train under him so he could undermine one of the witch clans. She was his mother and hated the nightbrother hated her. But he feared her power and had sought one who was crazy enough and powerful enough to do what he had feared to do.

So the Mad Knight had come.

He had endured trials from his first appearance eventually proving his worth and earning himself a right to train from a nightbrother. Many had sought to claim him as a slave but the knight had proven too powerful and stubborn to ever bend the knee to another. In truth the reason Muad Dib had agreed was to learn from the witches, train with a master sorcerer of Tund, and to grow in strength, but even as he learned he had felt an affinity with the planet, the wildlife, and several of the witches.

Now, years later, he had returned not as the Mad Knight of the Sith but rather as the Mad Knight of Manda'yaim. The mandalorians and the witches had a symbiotic relationship which worked well for both. And the Muad Dib was still learning the balance within himself that he had learned on Tython. A balance between Chaos and Serenity.

As the battle ended with a mighty roar one rancor limped away as the victor sounded off his victory cry. A grin on his face the man stood and continued along the path with Tracyn trotting beside him as they followed a faint game trail to where a softly flowing brook crossed the meadow.

(" Peace, little one. Let it exist. ")

[member="Daedel"]

 

[Derek Dib]

He sat in the darkness of the humble hut. The earthen floor was swept clean and the thatched roof was dry. A rough been table were flanked by two simple stools, lone sentries. A rustic bed lined the far wall. By the door a rack stood with a black mid thigh leather jacket and a shoulder holster holding a pistol and a large knife.

In the center of the room a man knelt class in dark pants and boots. Sweat ran down his pale, bare torso as his forehead furrowed in concentration. Silence filled the room as he focused on the force and the future that moved like shifting sand.

Then his eyes opened, two bright red orbs glowing softly in the dark. A single word escaped a cruel set mouth surrounded by pitch black stubble. "Muad..."

 

[Muad Dib]

Tracking through fields, and giving the trail left by the rancors a wide berth, the sith knight and Sith hound headed into the nearby forest. Pausing he closed his eyes and focused on the blood trail. Years earlier he had learned the ability during his time among the witches. He cared enough to mark only three people: his lover, his brother, and his blood brother. Now he was using it to track his brother, Derek.

Opening his eyes he tilted his head into the forest. Traycn slobbered and began trotting ahead. With a wry grin Muad followed along. Traveling at a brisk pave they made sure not to interfere with any of Dathomir's fauna or flora. The nightsisters were quite territorial and wouldn't appreciate outsiders meddling in what they considered their affairs.

As night encroached the Mad Knight climbed a tree, the tuk'ata joining him in the higher reaches to sleep the night in relative peace. And yet Muad knew that to grow complacent was to die, so the two took turns on watch.

In the early morning hours he was awakened to the soft growl of the sith hound. Placing a hand on Traycn's head to silence him they watched a troop of Dathomir natives passed through. An amused grin cruised his face as the complete ignorance the troop had that the two were in the tree watching. Once the group had pass Muad and the tuk'ata waited for about an hour before dropping from the branches and picking the trail to follow.

 

[Derek Dib]

Rising from the bare ground he removed his boots and pants and draped them on his bed before moving out of the hut. Behind the residence was a small brook that he walked to. Looking around with both his glowing, red eyes and in the force he sensed no danger and so proceeded enter the cold, clean water.

After an hour went by he climbed from the brook and went back to the hut dressing and arming himself. Raising his head he glanced to the door sensing a presence approaching. Heading out he straightened the holsters around his shoulders, the 48. Enforcer in the left and the massive dagger in his right. Slipping the coat on he headed outside.

Sitting on a stump was the old woman Kore who was clan mother of Snow Cliffs. She held a parcel with her as she looked at Derek. "I had a dream, a dream that the Firewalker was leaving. Leaving with another Firewalker." The old woman's voice was brittle and harsh, like broken glass. But despite stooped form and aged body she was a powerful witch elder. One who welcomed him in and helped him along his path.

Dropping to his knees he bowed his head in respect. "Clan mother i too have felt the winds of change and i fear i must go. I did not know who was coming. But if it is another Firewalker it is possible its my brother. He would not come to collect me lightly."

The old woman nodded her head sagely. "The seers speak of visions of war, a cloud of death that encompasses us all. We band together, witch and mandalorian, to battle the coming darkness. You will return my Firewalker and learn more of our ways. But until then i have a gift." Standing she reached into the satchel and removed two items. The first was a metal rod no more then two feet long. One end came to a sharpened spike while the other tapered to a point. Gripping it away from her body she pressed a button that telescoped the rod out two meters. "This is a weapon that will stand you in great stead Firewalker." Handing it over to Derek she handed the second item over well. He recognized it for what it was. A spell book.

Bowing again he held them to his chest. "Thank you clan mother Kore." She nodded and looked into the distance. "We shall await the other Firewalker together."