Tasa still had a few weeks before he would be boarding a shuttle to go to Coruscant, and he was living pretty spartan since he had already packed and shipped all his clothes to the University. He had gotten up early to help his parents get Atan and Cudu ready, and offered to drop them off at school so his parents could take their time getting to the shop and hopefully grab a caffa on the way. As they ate breakfast the usual morning sounds that filled their home were silenced by a series of loud bangs, the chittering of the dishes in the cupboard, and the sound of blaster fire in the distance.
Tasa began to stand, but his father raised his hand motioning him to stop, saying "Stay here, I'll look at what's going on" and ran into the family room at the front of their house. He returned moments later and said, "The Separatists are armed and moving. It looks like they've plasma bombed the houses down the road."
Leaping to their feet, Tasa and his mother both followed him back to the family room.
His father started pulling the Cathar made Vibroswords and War Staff from their mounts on the wall, although the weapons looked decorative in their home, they were battle-ready and deadly. Handing a Vibrosword to Tasa and one to his wife. Tasa's father activated the War Staff, which had blades at either end of the staff, and they extended simultaneously with a 'CHING' and hummed with the same tech that powered the swords.
"Tasa, you stay with your brothers and protect them while your mother and I go out front," his father said, "hopefully they will think twice about coming up the road this far when they see we're not afraid to defend ourselves, but if they choose to come test us, you will be safe as long as they don't know you're inside."
"Father, I won't hide!" protested Tasa.
His father reached out placing his hand on Tasa's chest, "No, you must keep your brothers safe."
Both parents ran out the front door as Tasa looked at his Vibrosword and muttered Scaa! [shit!]. He ran back into the dining area where his little brothers were still sitting at the table staring at him wide-eyed and scared. "Come with me," he called to them and they all ran to the younger boy's bedroom at the rear of the house.
"Stay here and get down!" he told them.
He turned to join his parents when another explosion rocked the house and he leapt to his brothers, using his body as a shield.
Kneeling and holding his brothers close to him, they could hear a mix of blaster fire, the clashing of melee and Cathar battle screams. Sensing the kitlings fear he told them, "stay down and be quiet," before crawling over to the window for a peek outside. Tasa could see dozens of Separatist Guerillas moving through the road and yards blocking any escape.
Cudu whispered, "Tasa..."
Tasa turned his head to see Atan pointing out their bedroom door at something in the hallway. Crawling back to the kitlings he peered around the corner to see the house filling with smoke and could see the reflection of flames flickering on the wall at the end of the hallway. He tried to close the door but it was no use, the power was out and the door would only close partway.
"Get in the other corner and I'll sit in front of you so the smoke doesn't get you," he said.
Had someone looked in the room at that moment all they would have seen was the back of the large black Cathar sitting in the corner of the room as though he had been scolded and sent to his room without dinner.
"Stay with us Tasa we're scared," Cudu pleaded and pulled on his arm.
"I'm here," Tasa said, "We'll move somewhere safe when the Separatist's move further away."
As smoke filled the room the sounds of blasters could be heard outside the window, which thankfully hid the sounds of the coughing from inside the house. To try and calm his brothers Tasa made up a story, telling them how Solasta was coming from the Republic base and was bringing all the soldiers, and they would be there soon to save them. With each explosion or blaster volley they heard he told his brothers, "See, that's Solasta getting closer. The soldiers are driving off the bad men, so just be brave and she'll be here soon."
Atan gasped and whispered, "Tell her to hurry Tasa."
The smoke thickened and Tasa motioned for the boys to cover their faces with their hands, but it was little help as the smoke was already in their lungs and burned their eyes. The sunlight coming in from the window became a murky grey puddle on wall across from Tasa, but he kept his eyes on it to maintain his bearings. When he could no longer hear the battle screams of his parents and thought the blaster fire was fading, he tried to move to the window but he no longer had the breath or strength.
Hugging his brothers close while still griping the Vibrosword, he gasped, "Solasta's almost here," and forced himself to recall Solasta's every smile, every marking on her fur, every scent, until all went dark.