Sure enough, a groggy but well-armed Cato crept up beside her. Inanna moved slightly to allow him a better vantage point over her shoulder.
The sound of hooves grew steadily louder, until a figure came into view. In the darkness she could just barely tell it was indeed a horse-like creature, although with a very long tail and a more humanoid upper body. She was vaguely reminded of the centaur-like Chironians.
Inanna went very still, almost subconsciously blending in with her surroundings as she watched the creature. Its movements were slow and cautious, filled with frequent pauses, as if it knew it was being watched. But it evidently didn’t realize
who was watching it, because it kept getting closer to the tent.
Glancing toward Cato, Inanna leaned over to whisper in his ear. "
I'm going to try and scare it off." Then she leaped outside, igniting her lightsaber.
The creature jolted, emitting a high-pitched shriek of alarm. By the yellow glow of her blade, she could
see it much more clearly. Alas, she didn’t have much time to study it as something struck the ground in front of her. The creature’s long tail—which had a sharp blade on the end of it, she noticed with some consternation—lashed toward her. It was too precise to be anything other than warning strikes, trying to keep her away from it, so she simply held her ground, hoping it would get the message.
Sure enough, the attack was short-lived. But rather than fleeing, the creature collapsed, its equine legs folding beneath it and its fur darkening in color until it was almost black. Alien as it was, she could still get a read on its emotions in the Force. This was a sentient being, exhausted and terrified, but also in awe of... what, her? Or her lightsaber? She wasn't sure.