A Slug in the Swamp

[Dravis Rosilla]

DAGOBAH

Tyyni Oluja slid along the moist ground carefully, vigilant of the dangers of the swamp. The air was cool and heavy, the chirping of birds and bugs easily identified. Tyyni didn't know much about the planet besides his studies on Voss. Something about the intense greenery and life of the planet appealed to the Hutt. Reaching his mind out to the cosmos, Tyyni could feel the Force flowing through the very bones of the planet. Every sense was stretched to it's limit to take it all in. Padawan Oluja was on this beautiful speck in the galaxy because of a similar sense.

Something on this planet called out to the Hutt. He didn't know exactly what it was, so he had done some research. There was apparently this old, crazy hermit living out here. When Tiny heard about it, he immediately knew he was supposed to meet this person. Without delay, the Hutt Padawan had booked a flight to the system, and went to seek out this hermit. Training Lightsaber clenched in his meaty fist, Tyyni made his way through the underbrush, to wherever the Force might take him.

[member="Kiara"]

 

[Kiara]

An unmarked section, in the swamps of Dagobah...

Various cameras quietly hummed as they turned to focus on new-found creatures. At times, even their programming had to be manual for all of the small creatures squinting inside had made for a tedious chore of updating systems repeatedly. Despite this, a camera slowly rotated it's black oval lens to see a young looking Hutt. It's camouflaged being transported the information to various screens in a small dirt hut...

A silent alarm woke a hermit immediately. Her eyes shot open and her body half flew to the screens on one of her many walls. A visitor. A Hutt. She had a bad history with them, and didn't much bother for proper introductions. Hesitating and pacing about the dirt floor of her hut, she soon decided to be quiet and wait in the place of shelter.

There was no use running, hiding, from all of these cliche verbals of crime lords. Though there was too much in the way for her to sense clearly through the Force, she had a small hint that this one was not out to cause her trouble. Her own signature may come as a shock, though, once the Hutt came close enough to find it. It was a mix of Dark, Light, and Grey, all clinging about and barely grasping onto each other with strains of themselves, while the rest was almost filled with a void of nothingness, not dark, not light, not colors of the rainbow, simply nothingness for an untrained mind to struggle grasping to.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

As Padawan Oluja moved forward, his mind sending it's feelers out through the swamp, he considered different scenarios from his studies in his head. In the case of being attacked by a Dagobah Python, use the Force to calmly untangle yourself from the... Then he felt the presence.

It was new and extremely strange to the young Hutt. Darkness swirled in the confines of this feeling, but it was entangled with the Light, and something else. Tyyni was intrigued by the feeling, and immediately stopped in his tracks, sinking into the mud a few inches as he called out. "Hello? Is anyone out there? I mean no harm!" The sun had just disapeared under the treetops, the sturdy trunks casting their large shadows over the area. To see a little better, Tyyni ignited his training saber, the steady sapphire blade illuminating the forest around him. The swamp had quickly turned from entrancing to intimidating.

[member="Kiara"]

 

[Kiara]

No harm... She had heard that before. Slowly a wooden door slurped open, caught in it's muddy trap of hinges. Step by step the figure of strange Force came around and forward into the wilderness, pacing forward and closing the space in between the two.

Without warning a loud 'twang' came from a nearby rock as the durasteel staff was slapped against it. "Who dares to enter my home? What do you want!?" A venom-like voice spat out from the dark shadows that it hid in. Whistling of the wind came through the various leaves and shrubs of the swamp, giving the atmosphere that much more of a fearing chill.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni was starting to get creeped by the atmosphere as the person came out. He felt a sudden rush of relief ; that is, until this person showed an extreme amount of hostility. Tyyni's eyes widened as this person closed the gap between them, and he heard the ping of metal on stone. The wind rushed through the dark trees as the Hutt responded to the seemingly Human woman.

"I... I am Padawan Tyyni Oluja, of the Order of the Silver Jedi. I heard rumors that someone was out here, and now it's obvious there is, because you are..." The Hutt stumbled his words, and took a large breath. "What I mean to say, is that I come out here in curiosity. I... felt the pull of the Force, if you will. So... Could you please not attack me?"

Preparing for the worst, Tyyni went into a simple Soresu stance, Lightsaber over his head, one hand in front of his body. If she attacked, he was ready. If she didn't... Tyyni didn't know for sure what he would do.

[member="Kiara"]

 

[Kiara]

"So your faction sends out their little trainees to come and gain my trust, then slay me?" She spoke with a hiss as the durasteel flipped and swooshed in the dark, going into a strange position - one of which wasn't Light, Dark, nor Grey of a fighting style. "Is this what you mean to tell me?"

Strange croaks and chirps started to settle down around the area. It seemed they were not at peace any longer, and began to move away from what once was the quiet of the swamps they lived and groomed in. The woman was acting hostile - for now, to see what this young Hutt would do. From the stories told - she did always put tests into the most strange of places.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni faltered in his stance as the words were spoken to him, his lightsaber hand starting to angle lazily toward the ground. "What? No, of course... I would never... I..." The Hutt struggled to think of a way to diffuse the situation. He sensed various life-forms begin to shy away from the confrontation.

The way the girl held her staff upset him. Something about it felt off, although he couldn't decided what it was. It seemed to go with her strange aura, not like anything Tyyni had read about. He didn't like his odds here. Still struggling to put thoughts into words, Tyyni took a deep breath in again. "I have come on my own accord. Not to hurt you, nor to do anything else that would harm you." Tyyni paused, thinking, emerald eyes sparkling in the blue lighting of the Padawan's lightsaber. "I just want to... talk, I guess?"

[member="Kiara"]

 

[Kiara]

A loud scoffing sound came from the girl. Instantly she bounced forward to break the few meters they had, and come nearly inches away from the Hutt's face. "Talk? To me?" She spat in a rude tone. Her breath smelled that of raw meat and dirty water, her appearance was nothing prettier. Dirt teeth, dirt coated face, even her robes were a mess.

"Do you even know what kind of person you're dealing with, little Hutt?"

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Turning his head slightly to the left, Tyyni considered the woman's question. "I can't say I do. I think that's what I want to talk about. I've never felt an aura such as yours before, and I don't think I've heard of it in my studies..."

A sudden flash of suspicion ignited in Tyyni's eye as he considered his tutelage. "You aren't a Sith, are you?" The Hutt raised his lightsaber back over his head, at the ready. All of the frogs and small animals that had occupied the area had cleared out. The shadows of the trees cast an ominous mood over the two. Tyyni couldn't decide if he was on-edge, or curious. Perhaps both?

 

[Kiara]

She let loose a low growl in the back of her throat. "So you've heard of all those dangerous Sith," she hissed quietly. "Well I'm the worst one of all," letting whispering breath go, then bouncing back, she swinging her two meter long staff repeatedly around and about her in an aggressive form. This was starting to look more like a Sith's sword training's behavior.

"So, do you wish to test your luck and fight one of the most dangerous Sith, or flee like the little slug you are back to your tiny faction to cry for help against an old woman in the swamps?"

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni shivered as the wind rushed past the two. There was no way he would be able to outrun a Sith Lord. His stance tightened as he stared down the hermit, and her new aggressive style. The Hutt debated simply putting away his lightsaber, accepting the inevitable, perhaps trying to talk his way out. The Hutt did not have confidence in his silver tongue, however. Why would the Force guide me here, only to have me slaughtered? I can't face a Sith!

Tyyni's green eyes grew stormy, in classic Huttesse determination. If he were to go out, he wouldn't lie down and die. He would slash and block his way out, in a final blaze of glory. "I will not run, Sith." He made no aggressive actions, but prepared himself, like a rubber band being pulled taut.

 

[Kiara]

The woman stood there for a long, long moment, then put her staff down and walked to the young Hutt with no more than a normal attitude. "Well, you have gained my primary respect. What is it you wish to learn of the hermit who lives in the swamp?" To think this young creature was fearing her just moments before - this weak, little woman who looked like she could barely carry around the staff she carried.

But then again looks were always deceiving.

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni kept up his stance as the hermit put down her weapon. He did not trust this lady one bit. Being a Sith Lord would explain why her presence was so strange, but it did not explain the light in her as well. With a cautious glance, Tyyni let his first and most obvious question ooze out.

"If... Um... If you aren't a Sith, then why is your aura so... weird." Tyyni could not think of a better way to explain what he felt. Tyyni had plenty of questions, but he held his tongue until he could make sure he was safe.

 

[Kiara]

A small smile spread across the woman's features. "Because I'm not a Sith, nor a Jedi. I'm a witch," she said with a twirl of her staff. "A witch who lives in the swamp, just like in my fairy tales." Without warning she turned her back on the slug and started into the deeper jungle.

"If you truly want to learn, convince me! I do not give just everyone who walks in here the answers they seek. They earn it!"

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni gasped as she spoke. Before he could speak, the newly-announced witch went into the marshes, yelling over her shoulder that he had to earn it. "Hey, that's not fair," the Hutt yelled back, sliding after her slowly.

With a grunt, Tyyni tapped into his Force, enhancing his speed. He was now sliding along at a regular being's running pace, but he would not be able to keep this up. Even now, he felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he followed the hermit. As he bolted forward, he thought about what would happen if this was indeed just a Sith, tricking him deeper into the jungle. I suppose my Master would come looking for me, but from what I felt, I don't know if Master Quenladose could handle this 'witch'.

 

[Kiara]

The hut was surprisingly not that far away from their previous position. She sat there, in front of the bushes to wait for the slimy being to follow her. The strain he put through to even find and follow her was proof enough that he was determined, but it wasn't good enough for her to spill her secrets onto.

Dancing her staff onto the ground, she kept empty and searching senses out to feel for the Jedi when he was to come in closer, and find her being.

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni finally burst through the bushes, so intent on followong the strange signature that he almost ran into her. The Hutt slid to a stop, mere feet away from the witch, who had stopped. By this time, Tyyni was extremely tired. His large chest heaved with each breath. "Now... Now, can we talk? I have many questions!"

Looking around, Tyyni noticed a hut, surrounded by the greenery of the swamp. He had to admit, it was beautiful. Tyyni had always liked nature more than your average Jedi. All plants do their part to further the ecosystem, and don't move a muscle in the process. Tyyni had a lot in common.

 

[Kiara]

The witch didn't answer him right away, but rather continued to dance the staff in tiny pokes of the dirt in front of her. When it was all done, she looked up at the Hutt, then poked at the dirt once more to motion him to it. It read in beautiful basic letters, 'The stars say hello!'. Now the Hutt had finally made it to her spot, and she was mildly impressed. All those stereotypes were starting to go in the trash.

"Of course. What is it you wish to talk about first, little Hutt? I must remind you I have given up interviews a long time ago, so excuse me if I seem rusty." She spoke with just a hint of sarcasm in her voice. The stories were true to their word - she seemed grumpy.

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

The stories were true to their word- she seemed grumpy. Tyyni didn't mind grumpy. Perhaps he would be offended if an equal were to act in such a way, but something told him that she was way out of his league, Sith Lord, Witch, or neither. Finally letting his lightsaber retract back into the hilt, Tyyni sat down, well, as close to sitting down as a Hutt could do, and wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead.

"Well... Hmm... First of all, what is your name? I have already told you mine, so I think it's only fair. And... You're a witch? Do you... like... Eat children like the tales say too?" Tyyni smiled at the thought. He very much doubted it. But, one could never truly know.

 

[Kiara]

"Oh, my name. Name or Title, young Hutt? Both can be very confusing. I suppose most people call me crazy, but what I was called before that was Kiara. As for your next question..." She slowly grew a devious grin as her eyes wondered about the young Hutt...

She didn't know how they tasted, or how to cook them, but boy did they look like they'd make a good meal. "I've eaten many children. Toad children, bug children, even bird children. Now it's my turn. Why? Why did you come to me of all people?"