Lyni woke to Feral running through the undergrowth with a witch behind him. Oh No! She clung to him more tightly as they were chased.

"Give me the sacrifice!" the witch screamed at them.

As her magic lanced at them a stranger in brown robes deflected it with a blue light. "This way," the resonant voice said. There was a glimpse of a mask and stange claws as he motioned. Still, they instinctively felt that they could trust this man. So they followed him.

Running again the stranger soon had them in front of him as the witches chased them through the swamp. As Mother Talzin emerged from behind a rock formation the stranger pointed at a ship, "In there."

Desperately Feral ran with Lyni clinging to him. They barely registered the grey and white armored figures around the ship. These figures quickly got the ship going and they flew away as soon as Feral, Lyni and their unknown helper were on board.

There were several chairs around and Feral sat down heavily in the one that was the most out of the way with Lyni on his lap. He was breathing hard. She moved closer to him and leaned her head on his chest, not wanting to face the strange people yet. The girl could feel the wariness in the men around them, as well as palpable hostility.

The one who led them there came over and spoke to them. "We have not been introduced, I am Plo Koon." Then something that added to their surprise, "Do you require anything?" Both shook their heads in unison and there was a slight chuckle as he answered, "It seems that you could use some water."

Lyni nodded and whispered, "That would be nice."

He stood and left, which made the two kids shrink. Did Lyni offend him? No, he came back with two containers of water, "Here you are."

Feral took it and both spoke in unison, "Thank you." A faint pair of words, but there.

There was a smile on that masked face with goggles hiding his eyes. "You're both welcome." After they drank some of the water, "It would be nice to know your names."

Lyni looked to Feral who spoke, "I am Feral and this is my sister Lyni." There was a hint of challenge in his voice.

The white and grey men came forward a bit at the challenge, but Plo Koon gave no sign of hearing it. "It is nice to meet you Feral," looking at the girl, "and you Lyni."

She looked up furtively to find him looking at her. Then she quickly buried her face back into Ferals shoulder. The resonant voice came again, "Do not worry, we will not force you from your brother."

Lyni spoke softly, "There are ways to separate us without force."

Feral's arms tightened around her, and he nodded confirmation, "Mother Talzin ordered Lyni to go to her." Anger in his voice, "Then tied her in the swamp, leaving Lyni as a sacrifice to increase their magic."

The clawed hands tightened, then relaxed. "Is that why the sisters were angry when you tried to help your Lyni."

Feral nodded, "I knew I would be punished if I was caught."

"Then why do it?" A man in grey and white asked. It was a harsh question, and he had dark lines under the eyes of his mask.

Looking at him Feral answered, "Because we're family. We don't just leave kin behind."

This was not what the strange man had expected. Koon spoke into the silence, "How about our medic checks Lyni to make sure the sacrifice attempt hasn't harmed her."

The two kids nodded and Feral asked Lyni quietly, "Can you walk yet?"

She shook her head, so Feral lifted her into his arms again as he stood. Koon motioned for them to follow, "This way children."

As Feral followed their savior, Lyni looked over his shoulder at the unhappy men behind them. "It's alright fluff top." Feral murmured so only Lyni could hear.

She smiled at the use of her old nickname. Then they stepped into the treatment area. There was a man there, but this one had removed the helmet of his white and grey armour. It showed that he had a pleasant face, light brown skin, brown eyes, and some white in his otherwise black hair.

However there was one thing that stood out to them that Lyni commented on, "No horns."

He looked up and smiled at them, "No, I don't have horns." Then he looked at Koon.

"Payback, Lyni here was almost sacrificed to a swamp monster." The calm voice normalized even what should have sounded ridiculous, "Could you please put her brother's mind to rest as to her health."

The man, Payback, smiled. "Of course."