𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝙔𝘽𝙍𝙄𝘿, clone wars ² ✔

Chapter Seven: Act Five; Shadows of the Lost

"Grief is the price we pay for love, and love is what keeps us standing."

☠⚡⛓

Cool water dribbled down Nyx's chin as she crouched near a faint trickle, a rare and precious source of water on this forsaken planet. The droplets fell from an open, cracked spout, the liquid a stark contrast to the dry, desolate air that hung heavy around her. The water, although scarce, was refreshing, and for a brief moment, it soothed the deep, gnawing ache that had plagued her for so long.

Her eyes narrowed as she lapped at the ground, the taste of the planet's harshness lingering in the back of her throat. She hadn't found much of it yet—water was a fleeting gift on this cursed land. But it was something, and in her broken world, something felt like a victory.

She turned her head, glancing over her shoulder. The shadows, long and dark, clung to her like a second skin. As long as she remained in their grasp, the other predators—those that had taken over the citadel, those who ruled the land now—would remain unaware of her presence. Nyx wasn't ready to face them. Not yet. Not until she had found what she needed.

She had lost herself in this desolation, a creature of purpose now wandering a planet where survival had become the only instinct. But as long as the shadows protected her, she would remain hidden. No one would find her, and for the time being, she would stay in the dark, away from the dridos who had claimed the citadel as their own. She would bide her time, stay patient. She had a destiny to fulfill, but it was far from clear.

Rexy approached from the shadows, her large, muscular form moving with a silent grace that belied her size. In her powerful jaws, she carried a large, roasted leg of some animal—an unfamiliar, thick-fleshed creature that Nyx couldn't place. The scent of it wafted through the air, rich and savory, carrying the hint of a fresh kill. The meat glistened in the dim light, its dark exterior marked by scorch marks from the heat of the flame that had cooked it.

Nyx's amber eyes flickered to the leg, her curiosity piqued. She eyed Rexy warily, still cautious despite the fact that the other dinosaur had not yet made any aggressive move. Rexy had always been a formidable force, but in this strange, desolate place, their usual alliances were stretched thin. The question of whether they were friends or foes lingered in the back of Nyx's mind.

Rexy settled down beside the trickle of water, placing the leg on the ground with a heavy thud. Her red eyes gleamed in the low light as she turned her head towards Nyx, offering the meal in an almost nonchalant manner.

"Eat," Rexy rumbled, her voice low but steady, offering the food as if it were a simple gesture of peace—or perhaps a challenge. Nyx hesitated for a moment, her claws flexing, unsure of what to do. She didn't trust easily, especially in a world that seemed to offer only loss and betrayal. But her stomach growled in response, the hunger gnawing at her as she glanced back at the meat.

It had been so long since she had tasted anything other than the bitter remnants of what was left in this dying land. A deep part of her—instinct, perhaps—urged her to take it, to accept the offering and enjoy the rare moment of nourishment. But the wariness in her gaze remained.

"You think it safe?" she asked, her voice low but tinged with uncertainty. "To trust in this place, in you?"

Rexy shrugged casually, tearing off a piece of the meat with ease, her powerful jaws crunching through the tough flesh. She chewed thoughtfully, her red eyes still locked on Nyx as she gnawed. The sounds of her eating echoed in the quiet of the cave, but there was something almost nonchalant about her—like the entire world could crumble around her, and she'd still keep going.