Private The Tusken Rain Dance

[Braze]

TAGS: A'Runda Aris Noble

A'Runda's strike had altered the beast's attack, sending its acidic bile skyward instead of in a direct, deadly stream. Now, the acid fell back down in a misty storm, its potency some what dulled, yet still dangerous. The first droplets sizzled against Braze's robes, eating through the fabric before reaching his skin.

The acrid scent of smoldering cloth filled his nose. Tiny holes burned through his sleeves and shoulder wrap, the acid burrowing deep into the material before the pain followed. Sharp at first then searing. He let out a sharp breath, jerking his arm as the sting spread. It wasn't enough to cripple him, but it had slowed him down.

Braze looked up and caught the rifle, his fingers closing around the worn stock. He held it in his hands, trying to focus down the crude iron sights on the large beast as it turned and writhed about. He reached for the Force, though muted, it seemed to elude him. But Braze did not hesitate. With or without the Force, he took the shot.

A few resounding 'powm' emanated from the cycler rifle, tearing through the air. The shots peppered the hide around the beast's open wound, a few grazing close to the eye but missing it. The damage to the gash didn't do much to incapacitate it... However, it did royally piss it off.

The Krayt Dragon turned its head toward Braze, its deep-set eyes locking onto him with murderous intent. A deep, guttural snarl rumbled in its chest that shoothe very ground with it's vibrations before the long beast rose upwards, pulling itself from the sands, shaking free layers of dust and stone. Then, with a massive lurch, it slammed its upper torso downward, the sheer force of its bulk shaking the dunes beneath their feet.

But Braze didn't stop moving. He kept shooting as he ran, his little legs carrying him as fast as they could over the shifting sand. Exhausted, robbed of the Force, and running on near empty, he pushed forward, driven by nothing but instinct and sheer will.

A massive clawed hand slammed down, narrowly missing him as he leaped to the side. Sand exploded into the air, blinding him for a second, but he had forced himself forward. His boots skidded in the loose sand, nearly sending him tumbling face-first into the dunes, but his body refused to keep going.


He tried to push forward, to force himself upright—but his limbs felt leaden, drained, unwilling. His strength was gone, his breath ragged, and the weight of exhaustion settled deep in his bones. There was nowhere left to run. and nothing left to give.


His hauled hismelf upwards, his knees hit the sand, not from choice, but because his body simply couldn't carry him any further. Resignation, not panic, settled over him. His arms trembled as he lifted the rifle, aiming skyward with one last shot, because it was all he had left.

The massive Krayt Dragon wasn't done.

Its gaping, fang-lined maw lunged toward him, jaws spread wide. The force of its impact sent acid-laced sand flying as the cavernous mouth snapped shut—!

Its long neck craned upward, lurching back into its hole within the earth's crust as it swallowed him whole.

Braze had disappeared inside the beast's maw.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

Acid.

The others didn't breath acid. Aris blinked in surprise as the mist formed before he redoubled his focus. It took him a moment before he realized it. The sizzle. Diluted as it was, he could see it eating at his clothing some. Little bland patches here and there. And pain. It stung, even just faintly, on his skin. No wounds were to be found, given how fast he healed, how diluted the acid was. It didn't stop the brief tint of panic from settling in, though.

Acid could eat at him.

The repeated sounds of gunfire brought him out of his stupor as he glanced towards where Braze was. Where he was supposed to be safer. The realization that that wasn't the case sent a chill down Aris's spine before he took off in a blur of movement. Desperation, necessity, it was a terrible mix all things considered.

Worser still, he hadn't fully learned how to control his fastest speed, and the loose sand underfoot only proved to be a tripping hazard. He went end over end before he could stop himself, covered in dust as he looked up to see the dragon tilt it's head back. Lightning danced across Aris's skin as he was suddenly up. He couldn't control his running, but he could control his jump.

His strength.

Both hands took hold of the beasts fangs as he pulled. There was a groan as the dragon's maw was pulled apart, Aris straining but none the less pulling it further and further open. Just enough for him to slip through. He couldn't open it that much, considering just how large the beast actually was, but it was enough for him to dive right in, acid be damned.

"Braze!"

Braze | A'Runda

 

[A'Runda]

Location: Tatooine
Tags: Braze | Aris Noble

A’Runda breached the surface of the water in a panic. His arms and legs thrashed about in the oasis. He wasn’t a very good swimmer, terrible even, but he had tried in the past. To better connect and appreciate the talents of someone so dear to him. It was as though there weren’t very many places to practice swimming on Tatooine. His Tusken clothes felt heavy as they soaked and fought against the resistance of the water with him.

What a mess things turned into.

As his masked face dipped above and below the water he could faintly make out the dragon’s movements. The way it charged after where Braze could be. With a frustrated grunt A’Runda tried his best to paddle himself out of the lukewarm water of the desert. His panic made it hard for him to gather energy and power out of The Force.

Suddenly A’Runda felt a violent tug on his arm that pulled him through the water. Looking over he could see a trio of tusken tribesmen with a rope they manage to expertly lasso around A’Runda. Even in the chaos of the moment, some didn’t want to possibly see one drown in the oasis. A rare yet severely tragic fate within their culture.

All the while Aris raged against the leviathan. Gradually prying it’s mouth apart by the second. Doingn their best to free Braze from the beast's mouth. But how it seemed to the dragon was that it now had a new tasty target who was practically jumping into its maw. Once more the Krayt Dragon began to cough and gag, signaling another geyser of corrosive enzymes was bound to erupt from it and douse Aris at point blank range…​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble

In the cavernous maw of the dragon, Aris's may have spotted Braze precariously perched near the back of the mouth, his boot ensnared between two colossal teeth, ankle wedged painfully against the jagged spikes close to the gums. The young half echani boy dangled dangerously, swinging wildly as gravity pulled him thisway and that, the stench of the beast's hot acrid breath filling the air sandy mud like consistency of the over hydrated mouth.

With an almost frantic desperation, Braze fumbled with the rifle, the weapon still secured to him by a sturdy shoulder strap. Braze twisted his body, angling the rifle's buissness end upwards toward the softer expanse of the dragon's palate, preparing to unleash hell. In one swift, desperate act, he fired off a barrage of blaster shots, each explosion echoing against the slick walls of the beast's gaping maw. A few rounds struck a tender spot, igniting a furious roar that reverberated around them as the dragon writhed in agony.

As Braze struggled, furiously firing into the newly opened wound. Just as a sentiment of hope spring up that they might survive this insanity, the entire structure of the dragon's head lurched violently. It was as if the ground beneath them vanished, and the spine-tingling sensation of free fall enveloped them. Time seemed to stretch as they plummeted downwards. It was about now that Braze realized that Aris was close by and he reached out a hand towards the stronger boy.

 

[Aris Noble]

It wasn't enough. Just getting into the beasts mouth wasn't going to do anything. He could smell, hear the acid as it started to build up for another spray. There had to be something more here, right? It's hide was thick, if damaged, but what could he do in here- Ah. Something he should've earlier, certainly. He brought his fist back around, slamming into one of the teeth he'd pried open just a moment before.

It cracked, splintered, and shattered under his strength. He reached out to grab it, his eyes narrowing in focus.

Only to no longer have any stability to stand on. Sure, he was in the mouth of the dragon, but there was some ground still. Now he was falling. Braze. Right, the blaster fire. They were coughed up and free falling, but he could hear the acid building up again. So, he threw the tooth. It flew like a bullet, slamming into the acid duct with quite the wet crunch of flesh.

A mist of acid came next, falling like rain. He twisted, looking to Braze before flashing a grin, and caught him. They'd fall together in the acid, but Aris's larger size made it pretty easy for him to protect Braze from it. At leas there wouldn't be any more acid sprays.

A'Runda | Braze

 

[A'Runda]

Location: Tatooine
Tags: Braze | Aris Noble

After a bit of time A’Runda was finally pulled from the water, now a beached Tusken at the shore of the Oasis. Pushing against the sand, he forced himself back up onto his feet. Feeling so much heavier now and sluggish after his clothes have become soaked in water. It was an unfamiliar sensation. With a gravelly voice he thanked the tribesmen for the help in their shared language.

Bringing his attention back towards the krayt dragon he wiped his goggles of excess water just in time to see the two teens become dislodged from the beast’s maw. Now it appeared to be in a great deal of pain as it sprayed out some more acid.

Despite how dangerous the dragon was, it pained him to know that it was suffering and had been for quite some time now. But even if it had to meet a violent end now, at least it would be an end for its anguish. Letting out a deep breath A’Runda pulled his lightsaber hilt off his back and ignited it. Both ends of the long hilt shot out a crackling red blade. The weapon let out a distinct howling noise before A’Runda began to rush back into the action. Twisting his body some, pulling his arm and weapon back the Warden of the Sky tossed his double bladed lightsaber at the beast. The weapon spun fast and furiously through the air.

Its crackling red blades cleaved through three of its legs on one side before the weapon flew back towards A’Runda like a boomerang. Now suddenly missing a good few appendages the struggling Krayt Dragon lurched over before falling heavily onto one of its sides. Considering that it’s swollen body already was having trouble moving it was now put into an exceedingly vulnerable state. Missing some legs, it’s acid spewing glands and being quite literally defanged. Not to mention the large, scorched open head wound that was likely the cause of its erratic behavior here.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble A'Runda

Braze curled in close against Aris' chest, his face pressed into the taller male's tunic as he clung on for dear life. One of his boots was gone, left behind in the frenzied escape, slipping from his foot as the monstrous beast had lurched and collapsed onto its side.

Sand exploded everywhere. The impact sent a rolling wave of golden grains outward, catching the wind, turning the air into a stinging haze of dust and grit. The sheer force of the fall should have been fatal, would have been fatal, for a lesser creature, but the gorged monstrosity refused to die. It lay sprawled, its broken form convulsing with weak, shuddering breaths, a mewling rumble escaping its throat. The grotesquely engorged flesh, swollen and torn, worked against the would be killing blows they had each dealt, the ravaged tissue dulling the burn of seared wounds and absorbing the shock of impacts that should have shattered its bones. Something was still keeping it clinging to life.

Braze could feel it. The pain. The stubborn, agonized struggle of the thing as it refused to succumb. Each rasping, breath shuddered through a gurgling spew of acid.

He could sense the beast's will clawing at the edge of death, fighting to stand, to right itself, to keep going...

Braze pulled away from Aris, his breath still uneven, his body trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. Yet something in him refused to let the creature suffer any longer.

He stepped forwards as sand shifted beneath his bare foot, and placed a steady hand against the krayt dragon's massive trembling hide. The beast was lost in the throes of agony, its instincts urging it to fight, to rise, to keep struggling against the inevitable.

Braze exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. He reached into the Force, to guide the creature. His presence folded over the creature's failing body, easing the frantic tension in its muscles, whispering calm into its confused and pain-ridden form. The ragged rise and fall of its chest grew slower, less strained. The mewling rumbles faded into silence.

With each heartbeat, he willed it toward rest. Toward stillness.... and finally towards peace.

The great beast let out one final breath, shuddering under his touch, and then… nothing.

The Krayt Dragon had died.

Braze let himself drop to his knees in the sand beside the great creature, his breath heavy and uneven. For a moment, he just knelt there, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him, before finally giving in and collapsing onto his back. The sand cradled him with warmth as relief swept through him like waves.​

 

[Aris Noble]

The grin was more bitter than he'd wanted it to be. Pain wasn't something Aris was used to, in truth. It was rare for him to be cut, bruised, broken. Acid was wildly different. The mist ate clothing and flesh alike. It was mind numbing. The sensation of not being able to focus, of being able to even think. The only thing he could properly focus on was not outright crushing Braze as they hit the ground.

He grimaced. Pain seared still through his mind as he shifted on the sand, trying to push himself to his feet. He couldn't, of course. The muscles on his back had been eaten away too much for him to use his arms. He hissed out a breath, trying to will his mind to think. The dragon was still here, still a threat. He had to help, and-

He heard the still of the beasts massive heart. That was enough for him. The hiss faded to a chuckle as he let himself fall prone and fully let himself drift into unconsciousness.

A'Runda | Braze

 

[A'Runda]

Location: Tatooine
Tags: Braze | Aris Noble

The tribe's men and women did not get too close to the young jedis. Too concerned with the caustic fog that still lingered as it could threaten to burn away their clothes. A’Runda didn’t shy away from it and rushed to the boys. Worried that Braze might get himself hurt after approaching the fallen dragon. He could sense the sudden yet oddly gentle release of life from the Krayt Dragon. As Braze fell over he stepped over to the boy to closely examine them. Exhaustion had clutched onto the boy once more.

But the echani was alive and still conscious, unlike Aris though. The tusken rushed over to where the larger teen was. Only then noticing a soreness in his leg that made him limp. Recognizing now that the Krayt Dragon had likely done more damage striking him into the oasis than he’d first thought. Bruised legs could wait however, hastily A’Runda sank down to his knees in the sand next to Aris and examined the epicanthix. There seemed to be some nasty chemical burns thanks to the Krayt Dragon’s acidic belching. Under his gloves A’Runda’s knuckles turned white as he clenched them in frustration. Disappointed in himself for the damage the two boys have sustained under him.

He called out to his dewback companion. Urging it back to him. Naturally it was reluctant since it wasn’t sure yet if the large predator had been actually killed yet but it came with much vocal complaining. A’Runda went to his saddle packs and rummaged through them. Pulling from the packs a medkit. Once back to Aris A’Runda muttered something in his native language, a saying reminiscent of ‘kids these days.’ Lamenting the recklessness of youths. Moving Aris onto his side A’Runda began to clean the burns on the teen’s back and shoulder. Wiping away the dust and sand from the wounds and wiping them down with disinfectants. Finally he began to liberally apply bacta spray into Aris’s burns. He knew still not to neglect Braze as well. But for now he wanted to looked after the more critically wounded of the teens​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble A'Runda

After several minutes of just lying there breathing, feeling alive. Braze found the strength to roll over in the sand. Slowly but surely, he made his way toward Aris and A'runda. He lowered himself beside them, careful not to kick up dust into Aris's wounds, and let himself rest, taking in a much-needed breath.

His gaze drifted to the gathered tribesmen and women, watching them for a brief moment before returning to his companions.

Aris didn't seem to be in immediate danger, but Acid had hurt him. How badly? Braze wasn't sure. He didn't know what kind of effects the substance might have, and he hoped Aris would be okay.

"Is he okay?" Braze asked, voice quiet but edged with concern.

As his eyes flicked around, he realized the rifle was gone. His stomach twisted.

"I'm sorry about your gun..." he murmured, almost sheepishly.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

They were deep burns, through flesh and muscle. And already healing just looking at them. By the time A'runda returned, Aris's flesh had knitted itself back together, though still raw in appearance. Sore most likely, though it wasn't going to stay that way for much longer. Not that Aris himself was aware. He was in a much more blissful sleep now that his wounds were healing, likely part of why he was healing so fast.

A'Runda | Braze

 

[A'Runda]

Location: Tatooine
Tags: Braze | Aris Noble

“I think he’ll live. But he’ll need more comprehensive medical care.” A’Runda admitted before he finally noticed how Aris’s body seemed to not need any outside help. But the rapid healing was in itself a bit concerning for A’Runda. The energy to do so needed to come from somewhere didn’t it? Quickly checking around them. He really knew nothing about the epicanthix teen and didn’t want him or Braze to get accidentally force drained so that they could regain their vitality.

But Aris didn’t seem to be draining from leeching off of his or Braze’s health or from the land. It must’ve been purely internal. “Well I’ll be… Your friend’s got some interesting talents…” What A’Runda wouldn’t give to be able to so easily shrug off trama like that.

Looking over finally at Braze. “My rifle?” Was it eaten by the Krayt Dragon? But glancing back to where the boy was laying down he noticed it. Even from here he could tell that the weapon had severely corroded and rusted beyond repair. “It’s okay… much rather lose it than either of you two.” The Warden of the Sky didn’t want to be responsible for the loss of maiming of two young Jedis.

Looking over Aris’s body once more to make sure there weren’t any other open wounds, A'Runda grabbed the teen’s body and hoisted it up. “We still should get him to a doctor. Get up on Darwin Braze, and keep Aris from falling off.” The two boys would ride his steed given how tired they both were. “You should meet with my ship and make haste to Anchorhead.” A’Runda said as he set Aris on to the dewback. Stepping back to where Braze sat, A'Runda grabbed the echani and pulled him up with one arm to set him onto Darwin behind Aris. Pulling out an old tracking device from the saddle bags he handed it to Braze. “Use this to find my ship back in the jundland wastes, take it and use any of my supplies you need for yourself and Aris. I have a small amount of bacta. I’ll catch up eventually, now go!” A’Runda wasn’t taking any chances with the two boys. Riding on the dewback together will have them get back to modern society sooner while he stayed behind.

The dewback didn’t seem pleased with the idea of leaving A’Runda but he urged it to. [“Rush!”] He commanded the huge lizard in his native tongue. Having it trot away with the two young Jedi.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble A'Runda

Braze didn't mind as he moved to carefully clutch onto Aris. He took A'runda's ship and made the trip with Darwin to Anchorhead, finding a medical station to tend to both Aris and himself. Whatever care was left to be done, it was handled there efficiently.

Before settling in, Braze made sure to find a corner of the ship to feed Darwin and offer him water. He stroked the creature's hude and gave quiet praise for the ride. "Good job, Darwin," he murmured, voice low but warm. "You did real good."

Braze was exhausted, but he didn't leave Aris for long. He always came back.

Once they were clean and treated, Braze stood over Aris's resting form. He reached out and gently pet his head, mimicking something he'd seen Zaiya Ceti do many times before. Braze had always liked to be pet; it was a small, guilty secret held over from faint childhood memories of his mother. Embarrassing, maybe, but it brought him great comfort.

It felt only natural to offer Aris the same as he lay there, unconscious. Soft strokes, light and slow, like trying to coax someone back from sleep with kindness alone.

The medical staff had said he'd be fine. Braze only hoped they were right.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris would be out for a little while. A very surprisingly short amount of time at that, considering the wound he had and the healing he was going through. By the time they were in the medical station the wound was gone, and shortly after he stirred. Yawned some as he sat up, stretched like he hadn't just been in a fight or melted by acid. Just a long, restful nap.

He blinked slowly before glancing around.

".. Okay I missed something. What happened? Where are we?"

Braze | A'Runda

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble

​

Braze continued to offer soft pets to the top of Aris' head, fingers moving in small, careful strokes. His hand lingered a moment longer, as though reluctant to stop, before he finally pulled it away and let it fall quietly into his lap.

"...A'runda told me to take you to town because of your wounds," he said softly, his voice carrying that calm steadiness that had returned only after the chaos had ended. "So I did."

He glanced down at Aris, thoughtful and a little tired. "Didn't argue. Didn't hesitate. Just… picked you up and rode out. Darwin wasn't happy about leaving A'runda behind, but he ran like he knew it mattered."

Braze paused. For a second, it looked like he might stop there, but then he kept going, quieter now.

"You were burned pretty bad. The acid did more damage than I thought. You didn't wake up the whole way back, and I… wasn't sure if you were going to. But you started healing fast. Faster than you should've." He didn't sound alarmed.

"The doctors said you'd be fine. I stayed. Just in case."


He leaned back a little against the wall beside the cot, arms loosely folded now across his chest.


"You sleep like a rock, by the way."

 

[Aris Noble]

That explained why A'runda wasn't here. Aris briefly glanced around, more or less double checking. Tuskens wouldn't enter town, no matter the reason. The distrust between them and the others who lived on Tatooine were too great. "Not a lot of things can hurt me, but when I do get hurt I heal pretty quick. There was a Sith Lord who beat me once. With his fists, I mean. I don't think he broke any bones, but he certainly bruised them. Zaiya ended up taking me out of there and as we walked everything just healed."

He shrugged nonchalantly. There were a couple other things that could hurt him, and now acid was on that list.

"Did you get checked over? You took some hits too, and you don't heal like I do."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble

"What I wouldn't give for a gift like that," Braze said, almost under his breath.


His gaze had drifted, toward something only he could see. The sigh that followed wasn't loud, but it carried weight, like it had been sitting in his chest too long, waiting for a moment to escape.

He didn't answer right away about the hits he'd taken. Maybe because he was still counting them. Not just the ones from the last fight, but the ones that had lingered. The ones that stayed beneath tunics and armor and memory alike.

When he finally did speak, his voice was quieter. "Scars don't fade easy for me... I was treated but I will have more scars. "

​

 

[Aris Noble]

The difference in culture was drastic here. Aris nodded his head as he listened to Braze speak of the scars he'd end up with. Aris would never have a scar. For the Epicanthix, scars were a sign of honor. Of fights survived, if not won. The fact he couldn't have any was disheartening to the warrior within him. "I'm sure they'll heal well, at least."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aris Noble

Braze stared down at his wrapped hands, his thoughts in turmoil. He debated momentarily whether to remove the bandages and reveal the web of gnarled scars that crisscrossed his skin; evidence of burns, cuts, and injuries that had marred him over the recent years, all remnants of a life fraught with hardship. Yet, he hesitated. The scars were a story to his past failings, reminders of pain and survival, but sharing that part of himself felt too raw, too vulnerable.

Instead, he opted to keep his hands covered. He was still wearing his Tusken garb, the flowing robes and head wrappings lending him a semblance of comfort and anonymity. There was something about donning the attire of the sand people that provided him with a small measure of peace....

As he shifted his thoughts back to the task at hand, Braze couldn't help but reflect on the peculiarities of the situation.

"That is a nice thought... " he trailed with a soft sigh.

​