Upon entering the view of the tribe's chieftain throne, I recognised Nar'Tja immediately. He was older, greyer, with longer mane of hair but still looking as powerful as he had done all those years ago. Perhaps he had been younger than I had suspected when we first encountered one another, and perhaps these feline creatures have longer lifespans which meant their prime lasted for many years. Decades, even. The protocol droid began toddling forwards in order to translate, however I held out my arm to stop it before then floating the container down with the Force and set it at the feet of the chief.
There was no bow, no word spoken in greeting, merely locked gazes and a fierce sense of predatory hunger in his as he began to growl at me. The rest of the gifts were then placed down, all of them before the chief, and once the clones had all backed away, the chief then launched himself to his feet and released a powerful roar. Behind me I sensed Kit instinctively make towards me as the clones took up defensive stances but with a flick of my hand, their weapons were all pushed downwards with the Force in a silent order for them to stand down. In a display of his power, Nar'Tja beat upon his own chest and began to break and shatter things before then clawing at the containers in order to rip off the lids without even bothering to use the panel to unlock them.
The rest of the tribe began to gather, hissing and snarling, the warriors baring their fangs and brandishing their weapons as they slashed and pushed at the clones, myself and Kit, making to try and rouse us to fight back but according to my instructions, no one retaliated. Settling down after his demonstration, the chief signalled for the containers to be taken aside in order to open up a space between himself and us, eyes never once wavering from me. Now I allowed the protocol droid to translate, and as it was viewed to allow the chief to speak first, we waited until he had decided on what to say. "Chief Nar'Tja demands to know the reason for why the Prime Prey has returned, and if you seek vengeance upon his people." The droid translated after a serious of growled and hissed words, some of which I could understand myself.
"I am come in peace, and have no reason to take revenge for all the years your people hunted me, Chief Nar'Tja. These gifts are yours, as a token of our respect." I said, inclining my head at an angle whilst spreading my hand in gesture towards the containers and explaining what they were. Materials, food, tools, equipment and all manners of things for them to use and build better lives for themselves. Some were valuable gemstones and jewellery, and several of the chief's mates began to sniff at the beautiful ornaments with curiosity and desire. Listening whilst having seated himself back upon his throne of bones, I noted that it had numerous more skulls now decorating the feet from what I remembered.
"Chief Nar'Tja accepts the gifts, but demands to know the price."
"Only that you listen to our words, and consider an alliance between your tribe and mine." Knowing that I had to keep things simplistic, Nar'Tja considered before giving a sinister smile which exposed his long, yellowed fangs before answering.
"Chief Nar'Tja says that he will not barter with the weak, and that if you wish to have any voice amongst his people and tribe, you are to…oh dear…you are to fight him to the death." The clones started in protest, making sounds to say that such a request was barbaric but Kit quickly silenced them and stepped forwards.
"Protocol droid, translate for me." He instructed before introducing himself to the chief, who now studied him. "I am Master Kit Fisto of the Jedi Order. If there is to be a duel, then I will stand as representative for our cause." The droid translated but Nar'Tja snarled and swiped out his hand, claws flashing in the reddish gloom of the sunlight which filtered down from above us.
"Unfortunately, Chief Nar'Tja insists that he will only battle with the Prime Prey. He says that if his condition is not met, then he will have everyone slaughtered and allow his people to feast on your flesh and innards whilst you are all still living. He wishes to finally capture the long awaited prey that had eluded his people many years before. The chief insists that to kill her will bring him great pleasure, and once her blood wets his tongue and he has finally tasted her flesh, he will listen to any bargain that you may wish to strike." Beside me I sensed Kit's frustration and even a little anger at the chief's words, but I stepped forwards and accepted the terms before any argument could be made.
"No Theca, you cannot…"
"This is something I must do, Kit." I told him softly, touching his hand before he could grasp hold of me in order to gently push it aside.
"Chief Nar'Tja decrees that you will fight unarmed, and the use of your magic is prohibited." The droid said to me as Nar'Tja began to announce the rules before his people, who were now hissing and grinning with glee as they hastened to provide a kill circle around us, forcing the clones and Kit back in order to either get to the front of the perimeter or climb the trees in order to get a better view. It was a wide circle, allowing for plenty of room and manoeuvrability, and as I discarded my cloak and handed my lightsaber over to Kit to hold for me, Nar'Tja began to prowl. Hearing the panting snarls and hisses which rose from his chest, I had to forcibly keep myself from shuddering as the amount of times I had heard that very same sound lingering over my shoulder as I would run from the hunt and as his fur rippled and his claws flex, I had to swallow back the instinctive fear.
He sprung at me first, causing my heart to leap as I saw the claws swing at me with all his strength behind the blow. Throwing my weight backwards, I dipped and flattened my body in order to see the strike swing wide over me before I pivoted on one foot and struck in a parry, connecting the blow to the side of Nar'Tja's ribs with a mighty crack. His fur softened the blow somewhat, but it was still enough to possibly break a few ribs, and as the connection was made, the roaring and chanting began from the spectators.
Recovering instantly, Nar'Tja angled his leg at me in return, and thus, our battle ensued. He was far more powerful than I was, and though he was overpoweringly large, his size did not detract from his speed. It required all of my training in order to keep pace with him, but none of my blows seemed to be doing any particular damage, except when I managed to hit him in the face. This seemed to be his only weak spot, particularly the eyes and nose, but I did not target them each time as I did not want to become predictable. I took any opening I could find, though Nar'Tja seemed adamant to kill me once and for all, having dreamed of it since the moment he had realised that I had been left on his planet and in his territory.
Through my continuing escaping and eluding, I had become the ultimate prize, the prey of all preys, the Prime Prey, as they called me. To capture and finally kill me would bring him honour in the eyes of his people. The only drawback was the fact that I had no more an intention to die today than I did fifteen years ago. I fought with everything I had, allowing myself to delve back into my old ways as I found my wrath and fear rising within me, allowing it to fuel my movements which became more powerful with each passing second, doubling again each time Nar'Tja managed to land his claws into my flesh, drawing blood across my back, my leg and collarbone, narrowly having missed my throat.
I blocked out all distractions, I could not even sense Kit as Nar'Tja became my one and only focus, eyes narrowing as the bright gold began to deepen into an intense yellow, and the first flashes of red began to encircle my irises. I wanted this chief to die, and to die at my hands. I want him to feel the same pain and fear that I had endured whilst being hunted by his people upon his command. If he died then I would finally be granted peace, and the promise of such a desire made me mad with rage and determination which pushed me into a flurry of movements which finally overcame Nar'Tja who was now hissing and panting, his age beginning to catch up to him.
Sweeping out his legs, I then pivoted upon my hand to wheel my feet around and kick him down, my heel driving into the base of his ribs and caused several to shatter upon connecting with the ground before I then flipped on top of him, landing upon his arms to pin them down with my knees before drawing back my fist and punching with a furious bellow. I hit him again, and again, and continued beating him until one eye was swollen shut and blood was pouring from his mouth and nose. This was it, the final blow, this would finish him off for good and I would finally be free. I will have prevailed, conquer him and I conquer my fear, and I shall never feel weakness again.
I froze in place, fist still drawn back in order to deliver that final blow that would have been fuelled with all of my hatred, anger and terror with the Force warped into my fist, intending to shatter his entire skull. Something made me stop, hesitating at the last moment. What was I doing? This was not me, or at least, not the person I wished to be. I wished to be gentle and peaceful, to seek solutions without violent conflict, and to be an example of what a Jedi could embody through the Light Side of the Force. This was everything I stood against, and as I began to breathe again, I realised that if I killed Nar'Tja, I would also be killing myself.
The broken parts of me would resurface, and I would become a slave to the Dark Side, someone completely different from who I was before, and if I changed, then perhaps Kit would not feel the same way he did about me if I became something sinister and deadly. I clung to that thought, fighting through the inner turmoil within me as my entire body shook from the effort. Around me, there was complete silence. Kill Nar'Tja…don't kill him…destroy him…do not destroy him…I wanted to do both, but I could not. I had to choose, and my choice now would affect me for the rest of my life.
Drawing in a deep breath, I let go of my resentment and sought out the forgiveness I knew I owed myself, more than anything. Forgiveness and acceptance, of my past, my weaknesses, and the decision to move past it all. The Light Side of the Force began to blossom within me with a strength that I had never known before, channelling itself until it became as vital to my life as blood. My trembling subsided, my fist relaxed for a moment, scanning Nar'Tja's face and his injuries, recognising that I had been the one to inflict these wounds and caused his blood to flow. At first I was horrified, disgusted with myself, I almost pulled myself away from the chief in order to recollect myself, but I stopped at the last moment and instead, leaned over him with my fist ready to strike. "Yield to me."
Nar'Tja snarled at me and the protocol droid promptly translated that the chief refused to yield. I snarled back at him, speaking in his own language as best as I was able to warm him that if he did not yield then we would continue to fight until he was past the point of exhaustion. Still refusing, I sprang off of him and prepared to fight again, putting some distance between us as Nar'Tja began to stagger back onto his feet, gripping his injuries and labouring for breath, weakly attempting to gather his strength and return to the fight. I focused on calming myself, of finding my own balance in order to battle once more, but this time without losing control, however before we could launch ourselves at one another, a Rothian warrior leaped at Nar'Tja's exposed back and without hesitation, buried his fangs into the chief's throat.
Shock reverberated through me as I saw the blood spurt and Nar'Tja gave a dying yowl of pain, the claws coming around to rip through his chest and begin to slice through him. All at once, everything rushed into a blur of motion. Warriors came bursting into the circle, the females screaming, others crying as a bloodbath ensued, Rothians lunging at one another. I felt a hot splash of blood splatter against my cheek and after I required a moment for my mind to catch up with everything that was happening, I turned and swiftly launched myself towards Kit and the clones, calling for them. I pushed through the fray, fighting to get through until I located them.
Seeing them still near the land speeder, I Force pushed them all to the ground and sent them under before throwing myself at the floor and slid under also to join them. Turning over, my arms quickly pushed their heads down to keep them from moving as the protocol droid yelled in confusion amongst the fray. "Stay down, they won't engage with us until the bloodbath is over."
"Sir, what's going on?" Warren cried out over the noise and sounds of ripping flesh and screams.
"An overthrow. Nar'Tja was shown to be weak, now there will be a power play for the position of the new chief. They'll kill him, all his male descendants and any supporters." We had no choice but to wait out the carnage, crowding together under the land speeder and as we lay crowded together, and in moving closer to one another, reached out in order to grip one another's hands discreetly and held onto one another until the fighting as over. We waited until the quiet, and after we raised our heads, I pressed a finger to my mouth in order to make them remain quiet before we began to emerge once more.
The horror of the scene before us was something I could only add to my long list of nightmares. The ground was covered in blood, bodies and parts, and worst of all, were the sobbing of the mates of Nar'Tja, who held their sons in their arms, from full grown adults, to tiny, innocent little ones no older than younglings. Even the clones were horrified by the scene before them, I could sense their reaction through the Force. Kit was silent and grave, anchoring himself beside me as the new chief took his place on the bone throne. Angling myself, I faced him as the Rothian people parted, drawing away their dead and wounded as the new chief claimed the spoils of victory for himself, including the leadership, new mates, the loot, gifts and everything that Nar'Tja once had.
His fur was completely black which was far sleeker than most of the other males, without a mane and numerous scars over his body, intense luminous green eyes with narrow slits for pupils. For a while we merely stared at one another. His followers all gathered around him, snarling with their tails flicking sharply. The protocol droid, who was somehow still functioning and unharmed in the scuffle, was able to come forward and translate when the new chief began to speak. "The Esteemed Chief Mor'how welcomes you to his tribe. He invites you to explain the reason you have come." Allowing myself to study the new chief, I sensed that he was far more intelligent than Nar'Tja, less in tune with his predator instincts, and I could feel that he was studying me as studiously as I was him.
"Honourable Mor'how, we come humbly before you in order to seek your alliance. Foreign invaders will soon come to your lands, seeking to destroy and plunder your home." I spoke, inclining my head in respect before then gesturing to Kit. "I introduce to you Master Kit Fisto, I implore you to listen to what he has to say." Considering for a moment, Mor'how nodded his head and Kit stepped forwards, touching his hand upon his shoulders and began to open the negotiations, explaining to him about the Separatist threat to their home world. We spoke with Mor'how for several hours until the light began wane.
Because night was now upon us, we could not return to the campsite, however Mor'how was far more reasonable than Nar'Tja, and invited us to remain within the tribe where we would be protected against the cold. He was a strong warrior, and had a streak of ruthlessness in him, but also a rationality, and later in the evening I was able to ask him why he was being so hospitable towards us as strangers, sitting in his tent cross legged surrounded by the females he was mated with, including those that had belonged to Nar'Tja before his murder. The disgust at the bloodshed was now beginning to wane on me, as I knew the Rothian people revolved their culture around strength and establishing hierarchy through fighting and killing.
"Chief Mor'how, in answer to your question Master Rouyn, states that he has known you ever since you came to this world, and was even one of the hunters that sought to capture you for many years." The droid translated for me as Kit and I listened together, side by side. "In the time that he hunted you as prey, Mor'how gained respect for your survival ability, your strength and perseverance even at such a young age. He is willing to broker a trust agreement between your clan and his, providing that he is able to witness your superior strength in fighting the metal enemy that you say is coming."
"I understand. Thank you, Chief Mor'how, for your generosity." Bowing my head, one of the females stepped forwards in order to lead us to our own tree pod where we were to sleep for the night. It was made from mud, branches and twigs, as well as an orb of glowing insects which radiated warmth, combatting the cold as well as the acid pools from below. The clones also had their own room and the protocol droid made to follow, however I held up my hand in order to make it stop.
"No, go and stay with the clones and translate for them if they require." I ordered the protocol droid, so it bowed and went on his way, though shaky on the walkways. Now I turned to the female, and with guttural growls and hisses through my words, asked her if this was where both Kit and myself were to stay in the same pod together, to which she answered that since it was understood that Kit was my mate, it was assumed that we would therefore want to share a pod together. For a moment I looked at her, moving my lilac hair away from my face to understand how it was known, and seeing my questioning expression, she explained that Rothians were able to catch the scent in the air between us which betrayed the truth of our union.
Some of these words I could not translate, but through the Force, I was able to understand the majority of what she meant. Thanking her, she gave a rather feline smirk before leaving, sealing the pod closed behind us. "I sense that we have been placed together intentionally." Kit said to me and after taking a moment to ensure that everyone was away from us, I turned around and walked towards him as his arms naturally rose in order to bring me close to him. "Theca, you almost lost yourself today, I could feel the pull of the Dark Side swaying over you."
"I know. I am sorry." Leaning into me, I lifted my face up towards his as our brows came to rest against one another.
"No, do not apologise. This planet brings you back to a dark time in your past, which can make anyone vulnerable to the subtle influences of more sinister forces. You did well to overcome it, even at your darkest moment." Humming in agreement, I elected to forgo any further discussion and instead chose to enjoy this time alone that we had together. Being so far away from Coruscant and the temple, and the eyes of so many others around us, we were able to be freer and more open in our expressions of feelings for one another. I was glad that the night was long, much longer than a night on Coruscant.