Chapter 22.

New meetings

Part 2

Kyra felt paralyzed with tremendous fear. She had never seen a creature like this before. It was at least sixteen feet high standing upright on two very large muscular legs, with a long thick tail trailing behind it. The huge round head with a big mouth full of razor-sharp teeth looked very intimidating. Its long muscular arms ended in large hands with four claw-like thick fingers curled up menacingly. This enormous creature walked out of the tree line and headed straight toward Kyra.

In a split second, she jumped to her feet and started to run in the direction she came from. She wasn't sure if she could outrun the creature. He was way too big and had longer strides than hers. Kyra didn't dare to look back, she just ran as fast as she could. With every step the creature took, she could feel the ground trembling with great power.

While running, Kyra got disoriented and came to halt at a dead end. She found herself at the foot of a huge flat rock wall. She had no idea how she got here. Kyra tried to backtrack, but then the creature appeared. There was no way out, Kyra thought frantically. In her despair, she tried to scramble up the wall, but there was no place to hold onto, and she fell back to the ground.

Seeing her desperate attempt to flee, the animal started to approach her. Kyra turned toward it and tried to call the Force to help her. She tried to focus deep down inside but somehow it didn't work. Then she had an idea. If she could get really angry, then she could unleash her inner monster and it would be an equally measured fight she thought. But panic took over her and she wasn't sure if that would work at all especially without her lightsaber.

Damn it! I am going to die here like this, and there is nothing I could do about it, she thought desperately. Most likely this creature will devour her. In her last attempt, she closed her eyes and tried again to call upon the Force.

The creature was so close now, stretching its arms out to grab her when suddenly it made a harsh, ear-piercing cry, then it fell to the ground shaking it with tremendous impact. Then everything went quiet.

Breathing hard and fast, Kyra slowly opened her eyes. What she saw amazed her.

The dead animal's arms stretched out almost touching her feet. She could see the ten-inch claws, spreading out just in front of her boots.

Then looking up, she saw a tall man on top of the creature. His red glowing lightsaber was plunged deep into its neck.

He deactivated his weapon and jumped off, landing in front of Kyra.

She had to look up to his face. He was tall, much taller than Maul she noticed. He wore a dark gray armor with big shoulder plates, and dark gray knee-high leather boots.

On his yellow face he had the traditional black tattoos, just like Mauls, but in different patterns. His horns on the top of his head were large and long, and his eyes were glowing in a bright yellow shade. When he looked into her eyes, for a second she saw Maul in them.

Standing an arm's length away from her he looked her up and down.

Then in a deep voice, he said. "I heard a damsel in distress. So I decided to rescue her."

Lowering his face to Kyra's, he said with a growl. "You're welcome."

The shock on Kyra's face was comical. She had to compose herself to understand what really just happened. She was almost eaten by a very ugly and hungry giant, and now there was this man in front of her who stole Maul's eyes and was talking to her condescendingly.

Clearing her throat, she said in a flirty but cold tone. "May I know the name of my rescuer?" She didn't mean to talk to him like that but it just came out that way, and now she couldn't take it back.

His face inches from hers, curled into a sly smile, and then he said. "Not just a damsel, but a damsel with a smart mouth." Then he straightened up and added with a frown. "I should have let the damn Rancor eat you for dinner." Then he turned and started to walk away from her.

Kyra looked at the dead creature in amazement, and then she made a witty remark. "And I thought Rancor's were fluffy cute animals."

He stopped and then beckoned for her to follow him. She stepped around the dead one and then followed him.

Kyra had a hard time catching up to him as he walked fast-paced through the forest. He was heading toward a cave that he walked in casually and headed deeper. Kyra stopped at the cave's mouth and was unsure of what to do.

She didn't know this man. She was completely alone and exposed to him, and then she started to have second thoughts about following him.

Suddenly she heard his deep voice coming from the darkness of the cave. "If I were you I get in here quickly, this time of the day is dinner time for Rancors." Then he added. "I can't guarantee to rescue you again, princess."

How dared he to say that she had a smart mouth. Look who's talking? Kyra thought angrily. Reluctantly she entered the cave. It was dark inside and she couldn't see a damn thing. Holding onto the cave's walls, slowly, she made her way further in, when suddenly a red glow enveloped the cave.

Holding a lightsaber, the man was sitting on the ground looking at her. His face took on a reddish hue, but those eyes, she thought they were just like Mauls. Even the way he looked at her right now. She sat down in front of him trying to get comfortable.

"My name is Savage Opress, I am son of Dathomir." He introduced himself. Gazing into her eyes, he asked. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

Kyra wasn't ready to get acquainted with him but she didn't want to be rude either. "My name is Kyra." With a thin smile, she added. "And I'm not a princess."

A sudden small smile appeared on his tattooed face. Then he looked at her arm and noticed the injury. "Are you hurt?" He inquired.

Kyra completely forgot about her earlier meeting with Zora, and now looking at her arm she saw blood with small deep cuts embellishing it. The swelling on her arm was also getting worse.

"You know if you don't cauterize that wound it could get infected, then you could lose your arm." He said. Then he added. "You would be arm-less attractive with only one arm." His remark made Kyra laugh a little.

"May I?" He said as he motioned for her to stretch out her arm. She did as he asked allowing him to examine her arm. Before she could muster up a cry, he pressed his lightsaber onto the wound. It made a sharp sizzling sound and the air quickly filled with a smell of burned flesh. Then as quick as he touched it as quick he removed it. It only took a couple of seconds but Kyra's eyes went wide with great surprise while her mouth formed a silent O. She couldn't believe he burned her arm with his lightsaber. How stupid she was to trust him! She thought with anger and frustration. Kyra was about to speak up and tell him all kinds of things when suddenly he put his hand over her mouth.

Just outside the cave was a Rancor. Most likely it smelled Kyra's freshly burned flesh. It sniffed the air then slowly walked away from the cave.

As Kyra held her breath, she noticed Savage hand was still on her lips while he looked toward the cave's entrance.

Then his attention turned back to her and then he swiftly removed his hand.

"We have to spend the night here." He said. " It's too dangerous to go out right now."

Kyra didn't want to sleep here, but she knew she had no choice. When Savage deactivated his lightsaber, the cave went pitch-black again. Within a couple of minutes, he was already sleeping. She couldn't believe how fast he fell asleep. She just hoped, she could do the same thing. Carefully, Kyra touched her arm where the wound was now closed up tightly over her skin. With a smile, she laid down, closed her eyes, and hoped to fall asleep.