The corpses of rebel soldiers from phoenix squadron surrounded the dark figure, the harsh and bitter cold night disrupted by the crackling red sabre.
The battle raged around the rest of the imperial garrison, the storm troopers stationed there were ducked behind cover, trading shots with the other rebel fighters.
Out from the centre of the rebel lines, a cloaked figure rose, and slowly began approaching. The battle ceasing as the both sides paused to watch the confrontation.
The cloaked one stopped before him, white sabers igniting, the light doing nothing to remove the shadow protecting the persons face under the hood.
The red sabre wielder paused, attention fully focused on the Jedi before him. "Jedi." He growled, his helmet distorting his voice.
White sabers moved ready for a fight. The crackling red blade moved down to the wielders right side.
The red saber swung first, a viscous crossways blow, blocked by both of the white sabers, who was quick to duck the following swing, her hood getting snagged and cut off.
Both sides backed away to asses the other, pacing clockwise.
"You," The synthetic voice garbled, "are meant to be dead."
Cold eyes regarded the inquisitor. "I've heard that before." Her voice was uncompromising.
"Then I shall gladly abide by my masters wishes." He growled, stalking forward and igniting the second blade on his lightsaber, before it began to spin.
He swung whilst both blades were still swinging, mid swing he switched off one of the blades, forcing her to react to his now singular blade.
Powerful and aggressive swings were met with an unyielding defence. She bade her time, before engaging in a counter, slashing towards the inquisitor's head.
He was quick to move, yet not enough. There was a mighty spark as the kyber white blade met the visor of the helmet. He staggered back, his free hand held the wound.
She watched as he reeled from the blow, sabers ready for another strike. She could hear his ragged breath, as he dropped his hand down and met her eyes. The diagonal gash had completely removed the front of the helmet, the jagged metal still glowed orange.
She stared into the orange pupils of the inquisitor, into the eyes she recognised so quickly.
"Ash," she whispered in shock.
The inquisitor tore off his helmet, casting it aside.
The red skinned zabrak had changed much since the end of the clone wars, his horns were more jagged, his facial features more stern, as if he was constantly sneering.
"Tano." He growled back.
He wouldn't even say her name anymore, never in all the time she had known him did he ever call her by such.
"H-how?" She questioned in disbelief.
"How what? How did I escape after being left for dead?" He fired back.
"I didn't know!" She cried back, tears forming.
"Liar!" He roared back, "you left me for dead, and took a clone with you instead." Leering at the word clone.
"You were dead!" She cried back, her arms shaking.
"Clearly." He jabbed back.
"I- I heard it on the comms!"
"Yet, if I was dead, you didn't bother giving me a burial, but did for the lab creatures." He retorted.
She was admittedly speechless, it was true, but she hadn't wanted to venture back into the venator after it had gone down.
He cried out in anger as he finally closed the distance and swung.
She raised her blades to block the strike and was thrown by the sheer power behind it. She staggered backwards as the blades met, the force boiled in anger around him.
She had no option but to begin pacing backwards under the rainfall of his vicious blows.
He raised his blade and brought it straight down over his head, she spun out to the side, striking out and catching the tip of his blade just under his armpit.
It was a superficial blow, but he groaned in pain before he growled in anger. He lashed out again, but she dodged, continuing to step back.
She timed her strike perfectly, and swung, her blade destroying the hilt of his saber,
He reeled back, assessing the situation, before growling and leaping at her, intent on killing her with his bare hands.
Now, being a Zabrak he was prone to aggression, sure, but this was unprecedented. She stumbled backwards and tripped on a dead rebel, falling backwards.
He leaped stop of, apparently intent on ripping her apart with his bare hands. Her lightsabers had been lost as she was tackled.
She fought him, holding both his arms as she tried to pry him off her. She brought her elbow up to the cut under his arm pit, he grunted in pain and the arm went lip, providing her with the chance to pull her saber to her and ignite it, the gleaming white blade shit through his chest and powered out his back.
He gasped, choking. The world stilled, as her childhood friend, temple clan mate, and closest confidant fell limp in her arms.
Sabine watched on as Ahsoka piled up the wood in the clearing. Since returning, she hadn't said a word. And you didn't need to be a Jedi to sense the sadness that lingered around her.
The sunset cast long shadows, as the Jedi returned to the pyre a coffin floating behind her. She watched as the body was levitated out, and placed atop the word.
She was confused to see the corpse dressed in the uniform of an inquisitor, the being a red skinned, wild-horned Zabrak.
She had no time to dwell on the thoughts, as Ahsoka ignited her saber, holding the tip to the base of the pyre, as it slowly caught fire, the arid winds spreading the flames.
The pyre burned, as Ahsoka watched on in solitude, her form shaking slightly as she cried.
A white beam of light flared up from the centre of the pyre, firing into orbit, bathing the togruta in light, as she tensed, before sighing, and letting go. His soul becoming one with the force.