Wally kept his nose to the ground, hot on the trail of...something? He didn't know what he was smelling. It didn't smell like an animal. Or anything living for that matter. It didn't smell like water, wood, or earth either. He wondered if he was possibly smelling the Force.
Was that even possible? To smell a universal energy that connected all living things?
Didn't matter. All he knew was that his instincts were telling him to keep after it.
So he kept going, his path lit by luminous gemstones and glowing moss. His search eventually led him into a large open cavern. The scent grew stronger. Much stronger. He breathed it in, nose going wild as he crawled circles around the cavern. He sniffed frantically, closing in.
He suddenly stopped. He took in a breath through the nose. His instincts blared like alarm bells in his head. He' found it. Whatever he had been smelling was right under him.
With a wide smile he dug his claws into the cave floor and began to dig.
Ella walked alone through the caves, trying to keep her senses alert for any sign of her crystal's call.
She'd split from the other girls, her senses directing her in a different direction from them. They'd wished her luck, and she them, before setting off on her own. She marveled at the feeling of the crystals all around her. She could sense them, but none were calling to her.
She wondered how she'd know it when it was when she rounded a corner and immediately stopped. She peered down a new tunnel while being hit full in the face with smoldering heat. It was unbearable stepped back the way she'd come and the heat dissipated entirely.
She found that odd. How she felt nothing from just being around the corner. She took a step and peered just her head around the corner and the head blasted her. She couldn't even breath. She threw her head back to escape it and the difference was night and day.
She turned, deciding she'd rather not go down that way when she the warmth tickled at the back of her neck. She stopped and glanced back, feeling a warm breeze.
And a pull.
She turned and peeked around the corner again, this time looking down the tunnel. She found an orange light emanating down it. The heat followed after. She lifted her arms to try and block it from hitting her face. But the feeling was still there. Stronger even.
The light was flickering but bright.
It was sweltering. But with a small breath she took a step forward.
Wally dug and dug, feeling he was getting closer and closer to his prize.
He pulled out chunks of the stone floor, tossing them aside and out of his way. Then he stopped, eyeing the glowing patch of earth pulsing just below. With one last handful of he'd found it.
His crystal. A light blue in color and impossibly beautiful. With a smile he reached a clawed hand out to collect it when something small and quick scurried over it. Wally blanched in surprise as he eyed a small rodent like creature snatch up his crystal.
"Hey!" he shouted. With a snarl he pursued. Growling, snapping, and snatching at it. He'd gotten close a few times but it always kept just out of reach. As he attempted another grab it disappeared into a hole at the base of the wall.
Wally growled in frustration. His crystal snatched by a rat.
He raised his hand up and thrust it at the wall. It cracked, hit by a concussive blast with the Force to weaken it before he began to pull.
He was getting his crystal back.
Ella hissed as the heat grew more and more intense. Each step brutal as a wave of hot air battered her.
She'd only ever felt this once before. On her home planet. When the Empire burned her home to the ground.
She could hear the fires, burning and crackling all around her. She could smell smoke, making it hard to breath.
The source of the light and heat was just up ahead.
Wally kept his focus on the wall, pulling it outward with the Force. The cracks spread and widened with bits of the wall beginning to fall off in small pebbles and stones. Wally took a breath, drawing his hand back with one more big pull before it gave away.
The wall broke apart in chunks and behind it was a den for the nefarious creature.
"Got ya," Wally said lowly. "Now to…" he paused for a moment to really take in the small rodent's den. A little nook with more luminous crystals lighting the inside, placed carefully in the walls. And in the center a small nest, made with grass and dirt and holding small wriggling bodies.
The small rodent held Wally's crystal while lunging at his foot. Large buck teeth bared and trying to intimidate him into fleeing. Wally just stared, knowing the creature was simply trying to protect its nest and young. He took a step back and the creature retreated, sitting atop its nest protectively, beady eyes staring at him as it held his crystal.
"Smart little thing," Wally said. It appeared to use the light of the crystals for its home. And his crystal glowed brightest. He crossed his arms and hummed. He needed that crystal. He was sure it was his. But he felt bad taking it from this creature.
Suddenly an idea came to him.
Hot. So hot.
Ella felt like her skin was close to igniting. Her throat was dry and parched. It felt like the entire tunnel was on fire around her. But she'd made it to the end. Before her was a blazing wall of fire. Its heat intense. But the pull, whatever was calling her was right behind it. She took another step, only for it to flare up, getting hotter, and brighter.
With a hiss she backed away, the heat burning at her skin. She dropped to her hands and knees. Feeling like she could pass out at any moment. It wasn't just the heat, it was the memories it was bringing. Of her loss and pain. Her people, home, and family that had been swallowed up in a fire not unlike this. She looked up at the flames dancing and crackling before her.
And through the flames she saw a faint light.
She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist before willing herself to rise. She got her feet under and forced her body upright. Then she placed a foot forward. Then another. Then another.
Finally she was just before the fire.
She raised a shaky hand up. Her strength nearing its end.
With what little remained she thrust her hand forward and into the fire.
The fires were immediately snuffed out. Dispersed by an electric blue light that chased it away, and with it the heat. Ella looked into her hand, at the blue crystal resting in it. A cooling feeling spreading through her. Chasing away a fear she'd hadn't known she'd been holding.
Bringing with it only peace.
"Alright little guy, how about a trade?" Wally said as he stood in front of the creature's den. The little rodent continued to stare before making small chattering noises as a sign of aggression. "See, glowing moss," Wally said as he placed two handfuls of the glowing flora down.
"You get this stuff, which is easier to move into your little nest. And I get my crystal," Wally said. The creature did nothing. Wally sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. The thing was wary of him, thinking he was a threat to its young and self.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Wally said softly. He knelt down and extended a hand. He opened his mind in an attempt to connect with its own, to convey his intention.
The creature gave another chatter. Wally paused before closing his eyes and looking away. Leaving himself entirely open to a painful bite.
"I mean no harm," he whispered. He kept his eyes closed and waited.
Then after a beat he felt something brush against his hand. He opened his eyes and looked down to see the creature rubbing itself against his hand affectionately. Wally smiled as he stroked it with his finger.
"There you go," he said as he ran a finger down it back before rubbing it under the chin. "See. Not so bad, right?"
The creature looked up meeting his eyes before giving one last nuzzle. Then it's little claws released the crystal before turning and scooping up the moss and scurrying back to its den. It began adding the moss to its nest while Wally plucked up his crystal.
He held it between his fingers and smiled at the sky blue crystal. His crystal.
He stood up before looking down and meeting the creature's eye one last time. "Thanks little buddy. Now let me fix your home up a little," he said. With a movement of his hand and the Force he moved the rocks back into place. Not perfect, but it would hold.
With a nod at his work he looked to his crystal once more in pride before making his way back.
*gasp* he's still alive
