Private Rage Therapy

[Ghruna]

Ghruna snorted at the talk of cybernetics.

"Fair point."

The shuttle shuddered as it settled. She was on her feet before the ramp finished lowering. Ghruna was not well travelled. She had spent her youth on just Malthyl. She was quite looking forward to a small amount of freedom and a new planet.

Midvinter hit her like a slap. The white light was bright. The thin air was cold and bit straight through the fabric and into the bone. She pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders and stepped down into the snow, boots sinking with a heavy crunch.

Her tail tucked in close against her leg. She would not give the wind that much of her.

"Lead on, pretty Jedi. Before I freeze standing still. Who do we question?"

 

[Aris Noble]

"If it's too cold, focus on your breathing. Keep yourself warm by internalizing that heat." It was a trick in the Force from what Aris had read to help any Force User keep themselves from either overheating or freezing. Part of his task here was to teach Ghruna, so why not help learn something more practical at the same time?

"The victim."

He lead the way through the plaza, giving a brief nod to each of the Valkyri as they passed. He knew all of them, it seemed. It was the shop that he stopped by, stepping through the doorway with a slight bow of his head to avoid hitting his forehead.

"Welison."

An older man glanced up from the desk he was behind, smiling faint and warm.

"Hello Aris."

Ghruna

 

[Ghruna]

"I don't need tips."

Ghruna tried anyway it as they crossed the plaza. In through the nose, out through the mouth, pulling the heat inward the way he said.

It felt clumsy at first, like holding her breath for a fight, but a thin warmth settled under her ribs and the worst of the bite faded from her fingers.

"It works," she admitted, begrudgingly, "A little."

She watched him nod to the Valkyri as they passed. Every face knew him.

The shop doorway made her duck as well. She stopped just inside, cloak still tight at her throat. She took in the old man behind the desk. She kept her mouth shut and let Aris speak first, the way she had promised.

Her blue eyes moved over the room instead. Looking around as if there would be answers on the shop shelves.

"I am Ghruna," she said, accent thick.

She stayed a half step behind Aris’s shoulder, tall and still.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Hello, Ghruna." It was a general store, selling all manner of food, tools, and the like. They weren't advanced tools like across the galaxy, more general hand tools and the like. Aris glanced briefly towards the Maldrani. She wasn't shivering as much now. Perhaps she'd quickly grasped it, then? Good. He turned his gaze back to Welison.

"Can you tell us what was taken?"

The old man watched Aris for a moment before he let out a sigh and stood from his seat. He was hunched, very obviously old, but still carried a strength with him. He'd step over to the shelves. "Nothing of major importance from what I can tell. Foodstuff, some tools. .. Ah, they did steal some gemstones I was selling. I don't see why they would though, given they sold it to me to begin with."

Aris raised a brow, but glanced to Ghruna instead, curious on her take.

Ghruna

 

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble

Ghruna’s gaze followed the old man to the shelves. Then Aris looked to her.

"They sold you the stones and then stole them," she said, slow and plain.

"That is not hunger," she said towards Aris. "That feels like it was planned."

She glanced at Aris, then back to Welison.

"Who were they? How many? Were the gemstones worth much?" Her tail flicked once under the hem of her cloak.