Terri looked at the list Mother Ysum had given then and narrowed her eyes
"Dream Shimmer bile" she said out loud she had no idea what that meant, was it from like a plant? or animal? She assumed it had to be from something natural to be used in the ritual, still 'Dream Shimmer' she hadn't the foggiest idea what that meant. Terri opened up the holonet and did a quick search for the creature, initially she found nothing until she found a selection of old folk tales. It spoke of an animal called the Dream Shimmer that had the power to induce your worse nightmares through some ancient magic, Terri shivered at the idea of her worse nightmares coming to life. It was tall, quadrupedal had spines on it's back that could be oh so many things, Terri groaned she wasn't going to get any closer with this. She looked out the viewport at the dense swamp they had landed in, getting the ship landed in a stable position was enough of a challenge she could only imagine what it would be like once they were on foot.
Terri sat and waited for Zash to return unsure of why she had gone she'd just disappeared saying she had to 'meditate' whatever that meant, Terri did wonder what she was doing when she was meditating she imagined channeling some emotion or something. Terri frowned she wondered what Zash's worse nightmares could be she could only imagine they were terrifying, Terri hoped they wouldn't have to face that looking down the list none of these sounded very safe no wonder Ysum couldn't do it on her own. Terri was still worried about Ysum, since the encounter she'd been researching nightsisters and they certainly didn't seem like the good guys. All she could really find were legends rather than facts but from what she could find it seemed like Zash should be wary trusting them.
Terri waited for a few more minutes before Zash returned to the room with a wide smile on her face "sorry about that Terri all sorted now" she picked up the list wasting no time to chat "so what's first on this list? Dream Shimmer huh well that doesn't exactly sound docile" Terri nodded bringing up the folk tale it seemed dangerous and scary if anything
Terri grimaced "nothing concrete I'm afraid just some old folk tale that says they 'induce your worse nightmares through some ancient magic'" Zash nodded looking at the tale
Zash sighed "lovely, well I guess we may have to talk to some locals, if this exaggerated description of the beast is inaccurate" Terri had to admit it was written like something out of a storybook claws as sharp as can be, piercing eyes all that crap.
Zash beckoned for Terri to follow her as they made their way outside and Terri was immediately hit with the humid smell of the swamp around her, she cringed a little from the barrage of feelings attacking her senses she was not looking forwards to today. Terri took a deep breath doing her best to ignore the heat and the smell, around her she could see low hanging trees covered in mossy dark green leaves and large lakes of brown gloopy liquid wasn't exactly a nice vacation spot.
Zash chuckled "I can't imagine why anyone would call this place home" she began walking into the swamp seemingly undeterred by the conditions, Terri did her best to follow her feet squelching through the thick mud as she walked. Terri hoped Zash would be able to sense the creatures they were looking for otherwise this was going to be a long day
A few hours later and Terri was exhausted they had been walking through the swamp trying to find these 'dream shimmers' but seemingly to no avail, Zash said she had been able to sense them or maybe somethings presence nearby but Terri was starting to not buy it.
Terri hung her head "how much longer do you think we'll be walking Zash" all her bones ached she just wanted to go back to bed
Zash let out a long exasperated sigh "we're close Terri I sense this habitat has the right potential for such a creature" Terri wasn't convinced she'd said the same thing like an hour ago
Terri groaned "are you sure they're force creatures they cou-" before she could finish Zash interrupted
"I am sure!" Zash snapped turning around a tense glower on her face, Terri jumped back in alarm
she held her neck awkwardly "sorry Zash I'm uh just tired" Zash's glower quickly softened back to her normal look
Zash looked away "yeah me too, sorry I snapped at you Terri I guess I'm just a little tense having to be Ysum's errand sith" Terri nodded she guessed she understood that "It's not exactly the grand return I wanted" Terri nodded she'd help her get there though right?
Terri felt like she should ask "Zash? do you trust Ysum?" Terri had been pondering the question a lot
Zash chuckled "no not in the slightest" Terri frowned "Terri as a former sith lord I know not to trust anyone below or above me" Terri guessed that made sense they had a reputation
Terri was still confused though "so why are we working for her?" Zash smiled raising her eyebrow
"well we're going to outsmart her Terri" Terri's eyes widened "Ysum said only nightsisters can learn to control the spirit ichor but I don't believe that for a second she doesn't want us to learn it. Even so all we need to do is find a way to cancel out her magick and then take the results of the ritual" Terri frowned that felt kinda dishonest
"that's kinda mean Zash are we sure that's necessary?" Zash gave Terri a sympathetic smile
Zash walked over to her putting a hand on her shoulder "Oh Terri you really are naive aren't you trust me she will try and do the exact same to us, she has not intention of giving us the rewards of the ritual" Terri frowned she wasn't that naive but she had to admit that added up
Zash turned to continue walking but Terri was still worried "uh Zash?" Zash turned around "you said you don't trust anyone above or below you? does that mean you don't trust me?" Zash sighed giving Terri another sympathetic look
Zash took a second "well a little but trust me that's not your fault I just have to watch my back, Terri my apprentice betrayed me and trapped me in a mind prison I'm a little justified" Terri guessed that made sense
Terri pouted "I dunno I guess I just thought I was different" Zash nodded Terri was worried was she really just another apprentice type to Zash
Zash sighed "Trust me I hope you're different too I want to trust you but for that to happen I need you to completely trust me and do what I say ok" Terri nodded not saying anything "thank you Terri I really think we're going to do great things together, for us and for Lusari" Terri nodded she guessed she should trust Zash it just hurt a little to know she didn't trust her as much as Terri trusted her. Still could she really blame her after what the commander had done to her she guessed that was just the sith way, well not her she was going to be different she was going to be better.
They continued walking for a while before Zash stopped Terri "don't take another step there's a trip wire here" Zash pointed to a tripwire concealed in the mud. Terri took a sigh of relief she nearly walked right into it, Zash took out a small virboblade cutting the wire.
Terri smiled "phew that was close, do you think there are some nightsister colonies around that set that up" Zash nodded smiling
She walked through the now disarmed trap "Very good Terri it seems likely but now with their mediocre trap disabled we'll be abl-" before she could finish a net pulled her into the air,
Terri had to stifle a laugh as she came over to help, Zash glowered at her from inside the trap unable to mover her arms. Terri made her way round to find where to cut the trap "I'm sorry it's just you kinda had it com-" before she could finish she felt herself now hoisted up into a separate net
Zash let out a long sigh "fantastic, fine I'll just get myself out" Zash began trying to reach her saber with the force but as she did Terri saw a group of figures appear from the swamp behind her
Terri stammered "uh Zash um lo-" Zash cut her off before she could finish
Zash glared at her "Terri please let me concentrate" Terri didn't know what to do she wouldn't let her tell her.
the figures came closer "but Zash" now in the light Terri could see they were Rattataki in brown robes they seemed to be holding blowpipes, Zash had now lift her saber into the air she may have a chance "behind you!"
Zash turned but it was too later Terri suddenly felt a small prick hit her neck and she became suddenly very sleepy, Terri could see as Zash's saber dropped to the floor just before her vision faded to black…