Tython
The landing pad was buzzing with activity as the newest shuttle arrived on the surface of the Jedi homeworld. Three padawans all stood on the edge of the taxi pad with their masters, waiting for the recruits to arrive.
In the center was a light-skinned female with shoulder-length, dark red hair that was parted on the right side. Her sapphire blue eyes held an intelligence that far surpassed her fellow twenty year old peers. Saiyah Davire, one of the most proficient padawans in the Jedi Order. Standing behind her was a green mirilian, Master Somminick Timmns, her mentor.
To Saiyah's left stood Jaesa Willsaam, a brown-eyed brunette with the unprecedented ability to discern any being's true nature and uncover a person's most secret intentions. Master Noman Karr was beside her. On Saiyah's right stood Ashara Zavros, a headstrong and prideful orange-skinned Torgruta with white and blue lekkuu atop her head. Masters Ryen and Ocera were beside her.
The shuttle had a smaller group than last time, only bringing four new padawans instead of the customary ten. Normally, the Jedi Order did not need such drastic security around the landing pad, but the native species on Tython, known as the Flesh Raiders, had become increasingly bolder around the training grounds. Sightings had increased, and one group of padawans had been attacked. The Masters did not want to take any chances with the new members.
As the four new initiates exited the shuttle pad, Saiyah stepped forward to greet them with a smile. "Hello there, padawans. Welcome to Tython." They all gathered in front of her, and she could sense varying levels of awe and excitement; feelings that she herself could recall when she first landed on the lush, beautiful planet.
"My name is Saiyah Davire. This is my mentor, Master Timmns," He nodded his head. "- padawans Jaesa and Ashara," The two girls both waved. "- and their masters Karr, Ryen, and Ocera. We will be accompanying the four of you to the Jedi temple."
One of the recruits, a human female with voluminous auburn hair and green eyes, looked at Saiyah quizzically. "You're not a Jedi Master. Why are you the one leading us?"
The redhead smiled. "I have been living on Tython since I was four years old," she explained gently. "I know this planet and its paths like the back of my hand, and I can ensure we will find the safest route back to the Temple."
The four initiates exchanged worried glances and murmurs. The other human female, with black hair and brown eyes, spoke apprehensively. "The safest route? Are we in danger or something?"
"The natives of Tython, known as Flesh Raiders, have been spotted in the training grounds recently," Master Timmns said, stepping forward. "The Jedi Order has never seen them acting so hostile before, and we will not be taking any chances. Rest assured, the four of you will be safe with us. Saiyah, Jaesa, and Ashara are three of the Order's most advanced combat padawans. You have nothing to fear." The two girls seemed comforted by his words. The two males, one human and one Zabrak, were wary, but they had no choice except to trust the Jedi Master.
Saiyah looked around, her brow furrowing. There were eleven of them standing on the landing pad right now. "We will need to split up. A group this large will not go unnoticed by the Flesh Raiders," she pointed out.
"I agree. We will be safer in smaller groups," Master Ryen said. He was a tall Cathar male with glowing yellow eyes. When he spoke, fangs could be seen just behind his bottom lip. "What are your names?"
The auburn haired female spoke up first. "My name is Cora. This is Jerikko." She motioned to the blond male closest to her. "We're siblings."
Master Ryen nodded approvingly, shifting his gaze. "And you two?"
"Moracen," the black hired female stated.
The Zabrak male hesitated a moment, seemingly intimidated by the Cathar. "Spanios," he finally blurted out.
Ashara couldn't hold back a snort of amusement, earning her a disapproving look from Master Ocera. Jaesa took the moment to speak up. "Welcome, all of you." Her voice was soft and warm. Anyone in her presence always felt at ease.
Saiyah walked over to the steps, turning around to face the group. "Ashara, you and masters Ryen and Ocera can accompany Cora and Jerikko. Jaesa, you and Master Karr can accompany Spanios. Master Timmns and I will accompany Moracen. We will go in waves to keep the Flesh Raiders off of our trail." She paused a moment to determine if these standards were satisfactory. No one spoke up, and she sensed no disdain from anyone. "Right. Ashara, take your group first. Jaesa, you'll go second, and I'll take up the rear. Any questions? If you run into trouble, we all have holocommunicators. Don't be afraid to use them if necessary. Let's move."
Ashara's group made it to the Temple in just over an hour. Jaesa's group took longer due to the Flesh Raiders discovering the first trail. After warding off an attack, Saiyah realized that her group would not be able to take the direct path without fighting the whole way there. Too risky.
There was one issue. The main trail was the only path that led through the massive concrete wall separating the training grounds from the Jedi Temple. Saiyah had two options; take the long way through the terrain to the path, or find a way around the wall. Flesh Raiders were not difficult to fight single-handedly, but according to Jaesa's holocall, they were gathering by the dozens along the main trail now. It was too dangerous for just the three of them.
Saiyah tucked her holocommunicator onto her belt. "Sounds like we're taking the long path." Moracen grumbled with annoyance. "Wouldn't it better to take them head-on instead of all this sneaking around?" "Normally, I would say yes, but with how strangely the Flesh Raiders have been behaving, it's not safe. A fight will only attract more of them, and that is not a risk I'm willing to take." Saiyah unsheathed her training saber, igniting its yellow glow as Master Timmns copied her actions with his own blue lightsaber.
The three of them headed off in the direction of the training grounds. The setting sun cast a warm glow across the wilderness, bathing everything in colorful orange, yellow, and pink light. If not for her senses being so on edge, Saiyah might've actually enjoyed the scenery. Her head was on a constant swivel, her ears filled with the humming of her and Timmns' weapons.
Bellows from the uxibeasts upon the mountain slopes echoed through the trees. The rivers that snaked through the terrain burbled quietly, their waters shallow enough to walk through with ease. Small groups of horranths could be seen in the cliffs, and Saiyah made sure to avoid them. They had nasty dispositions and their underbite was a vicious weapon.
Saiyah led Master Timmns and Moracen up a steep cliffside that ran parallel to the concrete wall. Once they reached the top, they would undoubtedly be able to find a trail leading back down the other side towards the Temple. With a grunt, Saiyah pulled herself up onto a flat ledge, making sure to deactivate her saber before turning to help Moracen up. Master Timmns used the Force to jump up next to Saiyah, then turned and looked out across the territory.
The top of the Jedi Temple could be seen in the distance. They had already been traveling for almost two hours, and the journey was only halfway complete. They would not make it to the Temple before sunset, which did not sit well with Saiyah. The Flesh Raiders thrived in the dark; that's why they resided in caves.
Saiyah closed her eyes for a moment, reaching out into the Force. It glowed brightly on this planet, seeped in generations of light-sided practices from the Jedi. Ever since the Flesh Raider attacks started, however, tiny specks and dark blotches had started tainting the presence of the Force. Peering in further, Saiyah clenched her teeth as she sensed several of these specks not too far off from them. Flesh Raiders. Most likely out hunting now that they could hide in the evening shadows.
Moracen groaned loudly, sitting down on a mossy rock. "Why couldn't we have gone first? We've been walking for hours," she complained, a pouty frown on her lips. Saiyah and Timmns exchanged a glance. Moracen's attitude thus far had not been the greatest. Clearly she still had a lot to learn about the ways of a Jedi. "Consider this a prequel to your training, Moracen," Master Timmns said, offering her a smile. "Your trials will require equal amounts of mental and physical effort. This is good practice." Moracen sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. "You're right. I apologize, master. Let's keep going."
The trek down was twice as perilous as it was going up. Sharp rocks and uneven ledges made it difficult to scale the steep mountainside. At one point, Moracen lost her footing and nearly tumbled down the cliff, but Master Timmns was able to catch her by the wrist just in time. When they finally reached the bottom, the planet was in total darkness.
Saiyah stepped lightly through the trees, making sure Moracen and Timmns did the same as she carefully picked her way along an unmarked path. As they grew closer and closer to where the main trail should be, bright patches could be seen on the path from the lanterns.
"We're almost there. Stay alert," Saiyah warned in a hushed voice. The three of them moved forward silently, and as soon as they stepped onto the main trail, Moracen sighed loudly. "Finally!" she exclaimed.
A tremor in the Force. To the left…and the right. Saiyah raised her training saber in front of her, eyes scanning their surroundings. Master Timmns ignited his blue lightsaber. "Do you sense them?" he asked quietly, slowly circling the two padawans. "Yes," Saiyah murmured. She mirrored his actions so that their newest initiate was in the center. Moracen looked back and forth between the two of them, fear rolling off of her in waves. "Sense what? What are you two talking about?"
"Calm yourself, Moracen. Your fear is fogging your senses," Master Timmns said. "The Flesh Raiders are coming. We must stay on our – "
His words were interrupted by a shrill scream. Saiyah was turning around before the sound even came from Moracen's throat, and slashed out her saber across the Flesh Raider's neck. It dropped with a groan and fell heavily to the ground. Moracen stumbled backwards, her jaw gaping as she stared wide-eyed at the dead native.
"Move!" Saiyah commanded, almost snapping at the frightened recruit.
The trio broke out into a run down the lighted path. Saiyah could hear the twigs snapping in the trees, the scraping of metal blades against the rocks as they were pursued from the shadows. With how loudly the beasts were huffing, it felt like they were practically breathing down the Jedi's necks.
Keep running. Keep moving. Don't let them catch up.
All of a sudden, a red laser from a blaster whizzed past Saiyah's ears, barely missing her head as it hit a tree in front of her.
What the stars! Was that a blaster?
The redhead stole a glance over her shoulder as she ran, her adrenaline now racing wildly. Sure enough, one of the brutes that had ventured out onto the lighted path was pursuing them with a blaster in hand.
Bantha turds.
"Master! Get Moracen to the Temple!" Saiyah shouted. She planted her feet into the dirt, skidding to a stop. The green Mirilian halted abruptly in his path. "Saiyah, no! What are you doing?" The armed Flesh Raider took advantage of his static targets to fire off a few more blasts, which Saiyah easily deflected back towards him, and the native dropped.
Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one with a gun. Three more Flesh Raiders came out of the shadows with blasters in hands and started firing. Both Saiyah and Timmns were able to deflect the lasers, but Moracen had not yet received her training saber and was unarmed.
"Master, get her out of here before she gets killed!" Saiyah shouted, more aggressively this time. "I can handle the Flesh Raiders! You need to warn the Jedi Council!"
To prove her point, the redhead rushed at the trio of armed Flesh Raiders. With a bit of dodging and a few quick strokes, the more dangerous of the hoard were taken down, but there were still plenty to go. A glance into the Force told Saiyah there were at least a dozen more Flesh Raiders hiding in the trees lining the path, and she didn't know how many more had blasters. If they turned their backs, they risked being gunned down.
She peered over her shoulder, growling in frustration when she saw her master hesitating. "Somminick! Go!" Saiyah roared. Her aggression incited more Flesh Raiders to come forth from the shadows, and they began to swarm the path.
"Master Timmns, please, we have to tell the Council!" Moracen pleaded in a high-pitched voice. The Mirilian clenched his jaw, and Saiyah could feel the worry seeping off of him. He had been her Master for the last sixteen years, protecting her as necessary. Now here she was, charging headfirst into danger and asking – no, demanding – him to abandon her. He had no choice.
Whirling around, Master Timmns grabbed Moracen by the hand, using his lightsaber to deflect laser bullets as the pair fled. Saiyah leapt into the throng of Flesh Raiders, aiding in their escape as she began to cut down the natives. The pungent odor that seeped from the Flesh Raiders skin created an overwhelming stench that made the young redhead dizzy. If she wasn't so busy trying to fight for her life, she would've keeled over and hurled.
Saiyah side-stepped as a vibrosword came slashing down on her right. It stuck into the dirt, and she used a Force blast to send its owner back into the trees. Two more Flesh Raiders charged forward, their weapons at the ready, and the padawan leapt over them to take down the one holding a blaster.
The fight went on for several more minutes before Saiyah finally stood victorious over a group of slain Flesh Raiders. She was breathing hard and sheened with sweat. There had been more than she expected. Since when did the natives travel in such large groups away from their camps? It was odd.
A presence in the Force caused the redhead's head to snap up. This was no Flesh Raider. This was a Force-user. "Master Timmns?" she called out, turning around.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack, followed by a blinding pain in the back of her skull. Before Saiyah could utter another word, she slumped to the ground, blacking out.