Terri's eyes fluttered open a loud ringing in her head, she cleared her head and looked around she could see she was in what looked like a makeshift cage made out of some form of wood. She turned to see Zash, she was sitting quietly eyes closed but definitely awake Terri could feel her hands were bound by some suprisingly thin rope.
Terri shuffled over poking Zash "uh Zash are you awake?" after a few seconds Zash's eyes opened
she turned to Terri looking slightly agitated "what is it Terri?" she seemed strangely calm for the situation Terri didn't even know where they were
Terri looked around "um where are we?" there was a long pause before Zash answered
"I believe the nightsister colony on Jagomir, it's seems small maybe not so advanced" Zash gestured to the cage, Terri frowned it seemed Zash's anger from the trap was completely gone she was calm as ever
Terri looked at the cage "um is it possible to break this it doesn't look very sturdy" Zash nodded slowly she looked a little agitated by Terri's questions, she had to have a plan right? "so uh why are we still in here, uh if you don't mind me asking" Zash had told Terri to trust her she wasn't sure if she should ask
Zash seemed amused by Terri's question "remember what I said today" Terri thought back to the conversation they had in the swamp "if anyone knows how to control the spirit ichor it's the nightsisters" Terri had to admit that wasn't a bad idea "and those who are separated from Ysum may be less informed of her scheme" Terri nodded she should've trusted that if Zash was that calm she had a plan. Zash turned to Terri "so we wait and see, proceeding with caution of course" caution did sound best who knew what they would be like.
They waited for a little while longer until a nightsister came to them "your presence has been requested by the chief" Terri frowned she was unclear on nightsister hierarchy she just assumed there would be more mothers
They followed the sister to a large open chamber where a Rattataki sat in robes that more closely resembled the red robes they had seen on Dathomir, a long streak of white hair ran into a long ponytail behind her head. The chamber was really just a cave with a few minor structures, there was a fire roaring in the middle of the room the sisters surrounding it. Terri did her best to pretend like she wasn't able to get out of the ropes, if Zash wanted information she'd do what she could to help.
The Rattataki leant forward "I am Chief Xetev of the nightsisters, you are walking upon our land what is your purpose here on Jagomir" Zash was perfectly calm Terri couldn't sense any emotion she was letting slip
Zash bowed slowly "my name is Zash this is Terristera, we are familiar with your culture and mean you no harm we are merely here to find a beast by the name of a Dream Shimmer" Xetev nodded Terri was unsure of wether this was hostile or more casual they all seemed to have a permanent frown
Xetev stroked her chin "hmmm I'm familiar with the creature, a dangerous beast to say the least but that is not the issue here you walked upon our sacred land" Terri frowned sacred? this wasn't where they were from Ysum had told them as much
Zash also seemed confused "this land is sacred? I wasn't aware it was my impression the Ichor around us was placed here long ago" a flash of anger crossed Xetev's face
Xetev glowered at Zash "this is the birthplace of the sacred Ichor do not say it in vain" Terri frowned that was definitely not correct at least according to Ysum, she wondered how long Jagomir had been on it's own maybe misinformation had spread about where they were from
Zash seemed calm despite the rising tensions "hold on do you know how to manipulate the Ichor?" Terri tensed up she was saying it again did she want to get them in trouble
Xetev's eyes widened "manipulate the Ichor? it is not our place to try such things even if we could" Terri noticed as Zash's expression changed her face dropping into a noticeable frown "now why are you so curious about our culture? should we be worried?"
Zash sighed "it doesn't matter now let us go and we'll get off your land, I can leave something as a token of peace if you need it" Terri let out a sigh of relief good they could just get out of here no need for a fight.
without the option of learning the nightsister technique Zash seemed to lose any interest in the conversation as Xetev spoke "as long as you return to your 'machine' and leave as soon as your prey is caught" Zash nodded seemingly ok with this deal, they would have to get hold of the Shimmers quick
Terri had to admit these sisters seemed to have grown a little primitive she wasn't sure how but she wasn't gonna argue. Their binds were cut as Zash spoke "Terri go wait outside while I leave something to maybe help this… rather undeveloped culture" Terri nodded she thought they could use all the help they could get that was nice of Zash.
Terri was lead out of the cave and leant against a tree as she waited for Zash to make sure there were no hard feelings, she had to admit it seemed a little unnecessary but wasn't going to argue with a nice gesture. She had to admit now looking at the state of the colony she was a little embarrassed they'd got caught out by what seemed like just a primitive tribe. Terri was messing with a datapad as she saw Zash stride out of the cave alone
Zash walked over to Terri "well that was unfortunate" Zash gestured to Terri to follow
Terri was confused "is there a problem Zash?" Zash led Terri to a clearing silently
Zash breathed in deeply "well it seems they were going to shoot us in the back once we had left, I tried to offer up my small bit of tech to help them well not go extinct and they put a bow in my face" Terri frowned had they been lying the whole time?
"so what did you do? is it all ok" Zash nodded putting a hand on Terri's shoulder
"I dealt with it most of them are stunned but the strong willed ones were unfortunately killed" Terri was shocked but she had heard nightsisters were fickle from her research maybe it'd all been a ruse to get separate them. "it seems the only people we can trust is each other, well of course to a certain extent" Terri shuddered at the thought
Terri put it to the back of her mind "you're right sorry I forgot to consider well" she gestured around her "all this" Zash nodded looking around
she stroked her chin "yes well that whole experience was all a bit weird, what did you make of it" she seemed to be scanning the area hopefully for the Shimmers
Terri thought about the experience "it was odd I think maybe the separation and the planets conditions led to them kinda regressing socially and forgetting how to use the eechor?" she had no idea how to pronounce it she hoped she was right
Zash chuckled "it's Ichor Terr but apart from that I think you're spot on, they lost their history and magick ability probably due to ignorance of a chief. I suppose I should have expected it but certainly not the ideal way to learn how to manipulate the Ichor" Terri nodded Ysum had said something about being cut off from the other colonies she hoped this wouldn't become a common thing. Zash pointed towards the west "I can sense Shimmers close this way follow me" Terri beamed yes finally she was so sick of the swamp
about 20 minutes later they crept up to the edge of a ridge where they spotted them, there was 4 of them, they were like wolves but much more gaunt the folk tale was right about the spines they lined their back with seemingly no end. Their fur was a light and dark grey she could hear them snarling to each other, Terri shuddered these things looked savage and above all dangerous.
Zash was noticeably quiet as she peered at the creature "the spines that's where the bile comes out of" Terri's eyes widened how had she worked that one out. Zash noticed her surprise "look closely at the spines they shimmer unnaturally like they're coated in something" Terri peered at them she was right now she looked she could see it.
Terri turned back to Zash "soooo avoid them?" it seemed obvious but just in case
Zash nodded with a smile "yeah you avoid them" with that Zash jumped down into the den igniting her sabers as she did.
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the Shimmers turned around as Zash hit the floor, immediately she threw them against the wall of the ridge. Each tumbled to the ground with a yelp but the largest one quickly got up and began charging towards Zash, Terri was so flustered she still hadn't jumped down yet. As Terri jumped down she saw Zash swing her sabers at the shimmer and in one fell swoop she removed the spines as well as the top of it's head. She pulled the next one towards her as the other ran towards Terri, Terri quickly ignited her saber and tried to mimic the moved Zash performed but missed by about an inch. She felt as the Shimmer slammed into her knocking he back, luckily it's spines had missed her she saw as it reared up this time to spray whatever bile they had. She focussed on the pain she just felt lifting up a rock and slamming it into the shimmers head, the shimmer crumpled to the floor unconscious. Terri saw Zash was holding the third shimmer up in the air she had a jar in her hand as she seemed to be taunting it.
She squeezed its throat "go on show me my worst fears" Terri saw as a spray erupted out of the Shimmers spines towards Zash. Terri watched as Zash moved the jar in front of her eyes quickly filling it with the creatures bile, she promptly stabbed the creature dropping it to the ground with a thud one more to go. Terri stood up as she saw the last Shimmer shamble up, it was smaller than the rest and seemed badly rattled by the initial throw. Zash strode towards it but suddenly stopped staggering back in what looked like fright, Terri gasped noticing a bit of bile on her hand that had missed the jar. Terri had to act fast Zash was in no state to fight and the Shimmer was about to strike she ran forward sliding past Zash giving the shimmer a hard kick to the face. It wasn't as impactful as she hoped but she quickly rectified that with a slash to the face and with that the last Shimmer fell to the ground, Terri turned to see Zash staggering back away from her.
Terri tried her best to snap her out of it "Zash Zash it's me are you ok?" Zash was breathing heavily eyes darting all over the place
she still had her sabers ignited "I'll not go back in there NEVER NEVER!" she began to swing wildly.
Terri had to snap her out of this "I'm sorry for this but it might help ok" she waited for a prompt moment and slapped Zash across the face which seemed to at least stop her swinging
Zash shuddered then she turned back to Terri looking enraged but it quickly melted away as she got her bearings "uh um thanks Terri that was not fun" she rubbed her face where Terri had slapped her.
Terri looked away awkwardly Zash seemed weirdly vulnerable "sorry it's just it was the only thing I could think of" Zash nodded still looking a bit spooked
Zash picked up the jar now full of bile "no it's fine I mean we definitely have enough bile" the Jar was almost entirely full taunting it certainly had worked. Zash looked around "let's get out of here this place is the worst" Terri chuckled
"that's what I've been saying this whole time" Zash gave a half smile maybe this wouldn't be so bad one down a lot to go…