"So who's our target?"
"Not who, what." Paz shook his head, "You've spent too much time with Din."
Upon Cara's confused silence, Paz continued.
"What? You think we buy meat in the market each week? Like we'd waste credits on that." Paz adjusted the rifle sling on his shoulder. "No, we're after qartuum."
"Qartuum?" Cara raised an eyebrow, an image of the goat-like creature coming to mind. "You send three mandos to down a qartuum? Don't you think that's a little overkill?"
"Doesn't take three of us to down them, aruetii." Thravaa hissed, "It takes three of us to carry 'em back. If you haven't noticed, we're a little low on those fancy speeders your kind tends to keep around."
"My kind... What's that supposed to mean?" Cara matched his tone, and they stood nose to nose, or rather buy'ce to nose.
"Luubid." Paz suddenly pushed Thravaa back from his near predatory stance before Cara, and up against the wall. "Copaani mirshmure'cye, vod? Vi r'hibirar, ba'jurir ibic verd, nayc takisir. Tayli'bac?"
"A-" Thravaa broke out into a protest, but Paz slamming him against the wall, cutting him off before he got a full word out.
"Tayli'bac?" Paz repeated.
"Elek, al'verde." The words were spat, and Cara knew Thravaa still wasn't a fan of whatever he was agreeing to.
Paz released Thravaa, who re-adjusted the pulse rifle on his back. Turning to the both of them, Paz spoke again.
"We're here to work together. If you can't do that head back now."
Receiving no response, they began again down the stone hallways. At some point, Thravaa trompped off ahead, grumbling to himself, leaving only Paz near Cara.
Cara wasn't sure exactly what Paz had said to Thravaa, and she knew that Paz had intended it that way. It certainly sounded like a rebuke. The ease with which Paz lifted the other from the stone floor only served to emphasize the man's frame. Paz may be nothing short of a teddy bear to the foundlings back at the covert, but clearly he reserved a special side of him for threats.
"I can handle myself, you know." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. From a ticked off sounding shock-trooper.
"I know." Paz's helm only turned slightly towards her.
"Then why didn't you let me?"
"This is neither the time nor the place for that." Paz said, "The more noise we make out here the greater the danger to the covert - I couldn't be sure how far you two would escalate things, so I didn't give you chance to. And given both your reactions, I'm glad I didn't."
"Oh."
They walked in silence for awhile before Cara spoke again.
"I didn't mean to put your people in danger."
The words implied the "I'm sorry" that she was just a little too proud to say.
"Shh..." Paz hushed her, whispering, "We're coming up on the entrance."
Cara fell silent behind him, tightly gripping her blaster as Thravaa exited.
Once they received the 'all clear' sign, Paz and Cara stepped out and followed.
Both the moon and sun were up, creating a twilight that made for some perfect shadows to hide in as they trekked across the rocky terrain. Cara could hear the crowds in the town moving about, shutting up their businesses before returning to their homes for the evening. It gave them enough cover noise that they could keep a decent pace without worrying they'd be heard.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"Lava flats," Paz said, "The qartuum like to sleep there at night for its warmth."
Sure enough, upon reaching the flats, they saw a heard of qartuum stretched out along a distant bank.
"We need 3." Thravaa pointed down to the heard, "Any more, we won't be able to carry them all, leaving evidence we've been here. Any less, and we'll have to make another hunt, which means greater chance of getting caught."
"Their vision sucks, but they've got the best ears in the galaxy. Stay hidden, stay quiet." Paz instructed, "Once they hear a shot, they'll bolt. Near impossible to hit once running."
A Mandalorian, barely old enough to have sworn the creed ran up to Din holding one of Din's vambraces which gave off a low beep.
"I heard it as I walked past."
Dank Ferrick.
Din leapt to his feet, accepting the vambrace with a muttered thanks as he sprinted off towards his enclave. Heavily colliding with Faik in the corridor, she stopped him.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" she asked, "I thought you were watching the foundlings?"
"They're in trouble."
"Who's in trouble?"
"Cara and Paz."
Cara wasn't entirely sure when the hunt had gone to kriff, but it was probably right around the time the reptavian showed up. The double winged, poisonous creature didn't seem like it was going to be much a problem at first - until the rest of the flock followed it. Three of these things had been enough to down Greef and nearly down Din, and now they had somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen to contend with.
They didn't move a muscle at first, willing the creatures not to notice them. At first, the reptavians just circled the quartuums. It appeared they were simply on a hunt themselves. After hearing nothing, Paz slowly peeked out from behind their cover.
And that was all it took.
The reptavians were upon them now, shrieking as they flew, closer and closer with each pass.
They were in trouble. No doubt about it.
Din walked swiftly as he explained the situation to Faik. "The foundlings are tied up in the great room, I need you to watch them."
"Surely someone else can-"
"Anyone they meet at this time of night is bad news, we need surprise on our side." Din said, "I've got the best chance of dropping in unnoticed."
"But you're still hurt-" Faik protested, "You're not even supposed to be wearing beskar."
"I'll be fine."
I hope.
In truth, he was still sore. Certainly better than he had been this morning, but he could still feel the pull of his ribs as he tugged on his flight suit and fastened his cuirass.
It was fine. He would be fine.
And that's what he kept telling himself as he slipped out the covert door, pulse rifle strapped to his back.
A/N: Hehehe, so I just had a premonition of the eventually ending of this fic. Don't worry. I said eventual. There is PLENTY more where this came from. But I think I know what I'm going to do in the very last scene now. Also, sorry for the super short chapter, but it seemed like a natural stopping point. We get some action next chapter! Yayy!
"Copaani mirshmure'cye, vod? Vi r'hibirar, ba'jurir ibic verd, nayc takisir. Tayli'bac?" = "Are you looking for a smack in the face, mate? We learned, educate this warrior, not insult. Got it?" (said quite agressively)