A Predator In The Dark

[Orion Darkstar]

Artist​

Planet: Kashyyyk​

Location: Shadowlands. Deep within the Jungle, Unknown.​

Objective: Survive and kill a Terentatek​

Time: Unspecified, Landing logged at 14:22:10​

Weather: Humid, Chance of Rain 60%​

Day | Night: Day​

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Calm.​

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The silent jungle was a sight to behold, at least what you could see in the depths of its dark clutches. The vines that stretched from tree to tree showed continuous growth, a spectacle that seemed rare for the young sith. Orion had been presented with many things, but the representation of a living and breathing world was not one of them. The ever-growing landscape around him was lush and thick with life. he had forgotten that such places existed. The lantern he had grabbed before departing from one of Kashyyyk's major cities, Ittummi, gave way to what was around him, without it Orion would be lost, perhaps dead.

The shadowlands were said to harbor not only vicious beasts, but dangerous Flora as well. Navigating in such a dark, rich area was more dangerous than usual. Orion had arrived during the day, thinking the sun would give way. Not even the sun could find its way into the ground level of Kashyyyk. The lantern was his saving grace, for now. The humidity made it difficult to breath and his newly crafted mask held a sinister gleam to it. He made it himself, smithing it, adding a chrome finish for additive effect. The mask however wouldn't help him here, it made him sweat, along with his heavy robes and light armor. Precautions had to be taken in such a threatening place.

Leaning over, he moved his arm forward, the lantern swinging like a pendulum. The light casted Orion's shadow onto the glistening water nearby as the silence was broken. Rustling trees and snapping branches caught his attention as he froze. It wasn't like him to be overly cautious, but one wrong step and he was dead. His master had already arrived, per the logs provided to him on his way to the planet. Darth Ferox seemed to always be one step ahead of the game, naturally this made Orion confident in following the man into the sweltering jungle. Even if Ferox had lead him here by his lonesome, there was no turning back till the job was done.

Orion knew one thing was certain, the creatures of Kashyyyk were watching as he slowly continued forward. The sweet smell of sweet nectar reached his senses, something he hadn't expected to be present in such a dark place. Shifting the lantern to his right hand he spotted a peculiar marking on a thick tree, just at the edge of a wide water source. He squinted trying to make out what it said, but before he could begin reading, he felt it. The darkside of the force, like an explosion of familiarity. It was his master, the force had bonded them by nature, having created a relationship for the betterment of Orion’s future in the practices of The Sith Order. A light smile reached him, his silver mask turning to see if he could see the red skinned savior, in a world of green and darkness.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

From one of the branches above [member="Orion Darkstar"] the remains of an eaten fruit would be thrown for the boys head. A childish act, but one made to test the reactions of Orion, and keep the man on his toes. Ferox had watched the boys decent into the dark below, and had watched how wary he had been until feeling Krest's presence nearby. The Acolyte seemed to view the master as a safety net.

But that wasn't the way of the Sith.

Shortly after throwing the apple the Sith Lord jumped down, stretching his older form out. Stiff joints popped in relief as he did so, and a deep sigh escaped his lips. "Look at you, dressed up for war. Down here, that's only going to kill you faster." Without warning the red man threw another object for the Darkstar, this time a backpack. He had expected the boy to wear the same outfit he always did, and prepared in advance. "Put these on. Keeps the air moving around you, not sticking to your skin and making you sweat. Sweat produces scent, and scent down here lures the beasts."

As if to emphasize an unknown creature let out a bone-chilling howl. It wasn't close by, but none the less the sound came from a rather large creature. "We're hunting a Tarentatek. I'm sure you know what they are by now. Gonna kill it, and use it's hide. You ready for a hunt?"

 

[Orion Darkstar]

He turned, but what greeted him was the empty verdant of the forest ahead. Instead, he shifted his feet sideways as a small shimmering blade sliced through the air. The small piece of fruit spit at his mask as the blade connected. The red and yellow halves falling to the ground with a tiny thud. He was still capable of preforming in such attire, but he hadn't thought of the conditions so far ahead. The sweat and heavy warm air made him regret his outfit.

Sheathing the sith sword, Orion watched the figure above drop to the ground. As always, his master was traveling light, something Orion should have considered in his current circumstances. He knew he felt him in the force, this meant his sensing abilities were improving. If not, their bond was stronger than they both thought.

"Look at you, dressed up for war. Down here, that's only going to kill you faster."

Orion knew the comment was coming, even he felt stupid about it.

"I didn't account for such hot temperatures in such shade, an oversight of my own, master."

Another bulkier item was tossed through the air as he caught it. A satchel filled with his normal lightweight attire. It was his tank top and regular pants that suited his agile movements. Even though it was a heavier risk, his master made a great point. His scent was a key factor and so he obliged, not that Orion had a choice. Quickly, releasing his robe he began to take his heavier garments off. He slipped on his new set of clothes and grinned, his new mask lifted from his face. The pale complexion of his Zelosian roots showed and while he felt at home among the flora, the free current of air made him release a sigh of gratitude.

Stuffing the outfit, he came with into the bag he swung it over his shoulder and nodded to Darth Ferox. A distant howl interrupting him before he could speak.

"I am ready. I've done my homework, the force will be of no use to us, against it. Which I'm sure you already knew about. What are the hides used for? Anything in particular, master?"

He was inquisitive, but careful not to seem too needy, while Ferox was a comfort blanket soon he would face a predator alone, a Terentatek. Orion knew of its biological forthcoming's and while it worried him slightly, he was confident he was more deadly than the venomous claws he would soon face.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"It's hide. When alchemized correctly, the hide acts the same as it would on a living Terentatek, resisting the Force. When alchemized by a Master, it can cancel out any effect of the force on what ever wears it. Be it a grenade, or a person." Krest didn't bother to hide anything about their goal. The method, however, he kept hidden. Not that it would be hidden for long. As the boy changed the Sith Lord stepped over, and snapped a hand down for the side of his neck to knock him out cold.

When [member="Orion Darkstar"] would awaken he would be weaponless, and alone. Beside him, a simple datapad with a series of instructions. Good morning! Or night. By the time you've woken up to read this, I'll have left you here alone and most likely already found the Terentatek. Unfortunately, this also means that I've sent the beast your way. Your task is now simple. Sith Swords give off a unique signature in the Force. Find it, before the beast finds you. Then, find the beast and kill it before it does the same to you. Good luck Darkstar. Know that I will be watching, but I will not help you.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Orion heard the answer, unaware of the swift blow to his neck. The sharp pain spiked into his vision, the cloudy green world around him becoming a vivid dark. He held on to what he could see for only a slight second, before drifting into a world of pitch black. His body fell limp, his mind completely turned off as the restless chirps of insects lulled him deeper into his trance.

Being knocked out by your own master wasn't anything he expected. In fact, he thought Darth Ferox was going to help him, at least to kill the Terentatek. This wasn't the case and as the ambiance of the chirping and rustling bushes around him became reality, his bright, green eyes snapped open. The sharp blades of grass poked at his ears.

How did he get here? No, why?

Then it hit him like a rock crashing into his skull, the pulsing headache slowly becoming apparent. His hand slid to his forehead as he let out a low groan. Rolling to the right he realized he was laying along the jungle floor. The smell of wet cedar, reached him.

Did it rain? Where's Ferox?

Confused he finally found the muster to sit up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a tiny blinking light. The red repetition of the light made him eager to grab the electronic device. Extending his reach, he lifted it from the ground and pressed the power button. The screen lit the dark area around him for only a moment, before dimming as words scrolled across the screen.

A message left by his master, the instructions were very clear and while his head hurt, he rapidly got to his feet. Wiping the dirt and grime from his outfit, he reached out to the force. If the sith sword Ferox left for him was in the jungle, he would have to pinpoint its location. In his mind spheres were formed, the waves of the signature vibrating through him like a server collecting data.

This was a test.

Orion had to prevail.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

A blip on the Zabraks wrist holocom signified [member="Orion Darkstar"] having turned on the datapad. A smile formed on the red man's lips as he looked down to the blinking light. Gently he pressed down on the com, shutting off the alarm. "Bout time kid." He mumbled under his breath, then looked down from the perch he was on. Krest was up a tree, just above a clearing of blood and gore. It was there that a beast slumbered, undisturbed. The thorny creature with claws as large as a person snored peacefully, fat of a fresh kill.

Krest jumped down from the tree, just in front of the Terentatek and grinned wide. He couldn't harm the beast, but needed to lure it to his apprentice all the same. It was a personal challenge, one he planned to excel at. So he cupped both his flesh and mechanical hand to his mouth. "Oi! Get up you mangy mutt!" That was enough to wake the alpha predator of the Kasheek Shadowlands. With a rumble and a growl the beast pushed itself up, and it's burning red eyes narrowed upon the Sith Lord before it. It's mouth quickly began to salivate, as nothing could truly sate the creatures hunger.

And with the beasts attention on him, Krest turned and ran, heading right for where he had left Darkstar to his nap.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

He felt a tiny needle slipping into his mind. The sith sword was calling out to him, but the force still refused to reveal the swords whereabouts. Instead, the drilling annoyance of the signature allowed him gauge the direction it was coming from.​

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North.​

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The thought reached him and before he knew it, he was in motion. Time wasn't on his side. His master left a specific message, a message that told Orion to learn or die. It was an odd way for sith to become strong, unbreakable in their will to fight. In a real battle, you had to survive, fighting tooth and nail for your right to stay alive. It was unfair, but nothing in this galaxy was fair. Orion knew this all too well, adapt or fail. It was that simple.​

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He hurdled over a large thick root blocking his path as he gained speed. The surging source of energy in the distance provided him with a map. Left, Right, Right, Straight, Left, Jump, the steps flushed his mind as he obeyed. The force showered him with a gift as his senses heightened. Staying alert, he continued to pursue the weapon hidden by his master.​

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Sweating, he was thankful for changing before being tested in a real environment, fraught with danger. He jumped one last time and bent down onto a thick branch, scanning the area for danger and catching his breath. Placing his left hand over his forehead he swiped the sweat off the side, a grin reaching him. The heat was terrible, even worse it was getting darker. His vision was minimal, making it difficult to spot anything past a few hundred feet. He had more to go.​

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Orion launched his body forward, dashing from tree to tree. His feet landed perfectly alongside the thick of the bark. His heels churning into the sides of the trees as he danced along the thick layered jungle. His agility and evasive maneuvers were executed with ease. Every so often his arms would extend to grab a branch and swing, it was his playground now. Just like before another needle rushed into the spheres of his mind, pinpointing the sword a few hundred yards away.​

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I've got you now...​

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[member="Krest"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

"That's right biggie. Keep followin me." The gruff voice of the Lord continued to speak to the creature, as if it could understand him. Krest actually thought the ancient creature could though, in its own way. The thorned beast continued it's hunt, roaring. By now, [member="Orion Darkstar"] would be able to hear it. More importantly, the dark side beast would be able to feel him.

Krest's own presence suddenly disappear, and the Sith Lord jumped into the trees. The sudden loss of it's prey caused the beast to roar again, but it's new scent, it's new prey, soon grabbed it's attention. It was coming.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

He threw himself forward as he let go of another limb from the providing trees. Orion didn't expect such a heightened drop. His left foot slammed into the moist dirt below as he tucked his knee inward and rolled along his back before sprouting upward and latching his pale fingers around the hilt of the sith sword.

A small smile reached his face, he was getting better at such activities. His body was treated like a temple, careful not to let his hours of pure physical training go to waste. Orion's toned structure took a while to gain, but maintaining it was even harder. Regardless, the shriek from the hidden beast rampaging towards his location made him stiffen. Not out of fear, but instinctively. It was mistake many made and Orion had learned to quickly adjust his posture.

His arms grew loose and his legs spread. The thundering snaps and crashes of trees shook the shadow lands around him. The dark opening, he stood in was enough to test the beast. Orion never fought a Terentatek, many acolytes in his position wouldn’t, Darth Ferox seemed to force his growth, expecting results. As of late, Orion had become quite capable at doing his master's bidding.

His slid his foot backwards as he watched the trees in front of him tumble. What emerged from the hazy, tangled bushed ahead was a monstrous creation. It dug into the ground with ease as it roared viciously, saliva from its sharp teeth spewing at him like a sprinkler, gone awry. The smell was atrocious, the sulfuric gauze that came with the mucus was almost unbearable. The creature was a sight to behold, its jagged shell of armored skin was intimidating, but only until Orion saw its thick muscular arms. Something else seemed to be protruding from him, an aura that almost weakened the force around them.

Great...

Staring down the Terentatek, Orion sighed. Gripping onto the hilt he held the weapon up pointing the shiny blade at his ludicrous adversary. Gritting his teeth, they shifted. a tiny click from his jaw made a loud pop. The beast charged, rampaging as sticks and dirt were torn asunder by its unmatched strength. Orion stayed still, waiting for the right moment to react. It was simple, don't die.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

From above [member="Orion Darkstar"] the Sith Lord sat, munching on something similar to an apple. His blue eyes stared down at his acolyte and the large beast, watching them in their deadly dance. Well, more deadly for the acolyte than the beast. But that was part of the point. To force the young one into a situation of death, and make him try to survive on his own. Yet even as the Lord enjoyed his fruit, he was prepared to intervene when, and only when, Orion would find himself unable to survive any longer. He wanted to see how long, and how inventive, the young one would be.

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Motionless and patient, Orion watched the massive beast lunge towards him with a shrieking roar. Its thick, large arms spread in width, in seconds the large muscular limbs rushed for him. As the beast extended his body, it closed the gap in a furiously fast amount of time. The Terentatek was faster than he thought. For such a massive creature, Orion analyzed a slower attack, even worse only one attack. The beast would crush him if its thick claw-filled hands got to him, he had to act, but rushing forward and under the beast came with a high risk of being cut by the sharp shell like points on its skin. Dodging to the sides meant not being crushed, but being flung in the opposite direction.

Orion felt the wind slam into him. The large creatures' hands were a foot from him before Orion acted. His palm fell dead, then with a click, his hand snapped open. A small burst of energy sprung Orion upwards. As Orion ascended above the Terentatek, he watched the two claws slam against each other. A tumultuous slam erupted from the forceful slap, Orion didn't account for such force and was flung through the air and into a tree. His back cracked alongside the bark of the thick tree.

Orion coughed up a tiny bit of green, sappy blood. Descending from the side of the tree his back began to burn from the deep scratches that came after. Another loud roar came. With it, the beast charged for him. Orion shook it off, until he realized the sword was missing.

What the...

Quickly scanning the ground, he couldn't find it. With little use in the force, finding the sword would prove difficult. Regardless, he had to move or he was dead. Spitting he dug his hands into the dirt and stood. With his back, up against the tree that bruised him, Orion waited until the Terentatek made its move. The creature went for a swipe, but before it could reach the young sith, Orion ran forward and slid, it was safer than last time. The dirt from below kicked up into the air as the beast lost track of him. Unsheathing a small knife from his belt, Orion struck at its ankle.

Nothing...

The beasts hide was too strong as Orion emerged on the other side of the scary monstrosity. He needed the sword and soon.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Crunch.

Just as Krest was to take another bite of his apple, [member="Orion Darkstar"] hit the tree and his sword came the Zabrak's way. It spun through the air to his perch in the tree, and the Zabrak chocked on his apple as the realization came. As he coughed he ended up falling back off the tree limb. His mechanical hand was the only reason he didn't fall to the ground, and a thump signified the sword had cut into the branch itself.

The Zabrak spit out the chunk of apple he was choking on and pulled himself back up to see the sword embedded right where he was sitting. A frown formed on his lips as he grasped the hilt. With a quick tug the sword came free, and his blue eyes traveled down to see Orion and his dagger trying to cut the beasts ankle. "Right. Gotta get him an alchemized version of that.."

Krest shook his head, then lifted up the sword. The Force swelled around his form, and a quick toss he sent the blade as a spear. Just as the Terentatek was turning, the sword would slam into the ground just to the right of Orion. "Take better care of your weapons boy! You're not gonna get far if you keep getting disarmed."

 

[Orion Darkstar]

Instinct.​

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It had to be what made the beast such a agile creature to begin with. Instincts were probably what got the massive Terentatek to turn so quickly. The fiend’s eyes showed dark circles that scrunched together like a pair of crow’s feet. It blinked, snarling as it drooled for a taste of another sith acolyte that failed before him. Being eaten wasn't on Orion's to do list. His eyes shifted to a shiny glare that soared through the air and onto the ground to the right of him.​

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"Take better care of your weapons boy! You're not gonna get far if you keep getting disarmed."​

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There was no time for talk, the thick strong claws dug into the dirt below right in front of the ashy, white monster. With another tumultuous roar the Terentatek ripped the earth from the ground and charged forward. Saliva swayed off the jawls of the beast as it sent a flurry of poisoned-filled claws at Orion.​

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Like a machine, Orion's brain was programmed to firmly grip the base of the hilt. Swiping the ancient instrument of death, he ducked, dodging the first few attempts made by the Terentatek. A quick spray of force lightning at such a close distance would roast the creature, but circumstances prevented Orion from such an execution. Instead, the blade lifted in a vertical manner as it met with two of the Terentatek's sharp claws.​

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SHIIINNNGGG!!!!​

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The loud grating noise followed by a few sparks forced the two into a bind, a test of strength. This wasn't the result Orion had hoped for. Instead of slicing the claws clean off, Orion held the growling monstrosity at bay. Twisting his wrist with enough force to break the blade free he leaned into it, diverting the Terentatek's hand from claiming his chest. With another furious swing, the sword met the beasts other arm. A putrid red sprung outward, a fountain made of fresh blood spraying upward as Orion opened the Terentatek's forearm. The screech that came after shook the ground as the ashy, white foe stomped in place. Along with its giant feet came its hands, waiting to smash the puny sith into a pile of squashed brains and bones.​

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Oh, poodoo...​

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[member="Krest"]​

​

 

[Darth Ferus]

The shine of metal would pass by [member="Orion Darkstar"] 's head, cutting dangerously close and perhaps even into the boy's face. Krest stood before Darkstar, a longsword in his hand. The Darkside oozed from the blade, and the second arm of the Terentatek fell down, thudding against the ground right beside Darkstar. With a frown on his face the red man raised his other hand, sending the roaring beast stumbling backwards. It fell upon it's back, flailing around it's stump of an arm.

"You should always find a way to make room between yourself and your opponent, especially one as large as this. Focus on your footwork." The Zabrak hefted up his sword, and simply walked away. The beast by this point had started to work it's way back to it's feet, growling. "You should be able to handle it now."