𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝙔𝘽𝙍𝙄𝘿, clone wars ² ✔

Chapter Eight: Act Seven; The Hunter's Wrath

: "Those who hunt monsters must beware the beast that strikes back."

☠⚡⛓

The next morning, the hunt began. The Trandoshans' guttural laughter and jeering echoed through the dense jungle as they released their captives onto the planet's surface. Nyx landed heavily on the fresh, dew-soaked vegetation, her sharp instincts kicking in immediately. She moved swiftly, her glowing red eyes scanning her surroundings as the sound of traps snapping shut rang out in the distance.

She dove behind a thick bush, her movements silent and precise. Crouching low against the damp ground, she stilled her breathing and listened. The jungle buzzed with life—the hum of insects, the rustle of leaves, and, faintly, the heavy footfalls of her pursuers. The air was thick with tension, and every nerve in her body was on edge.

But it wasn't just the external threat that clawed at her. Deep within, the rage simmered—primal, untamed, and hungry.

"Let me out," the voice snarled in her mind, its growl vibrating through her very soul. "Let me take over, and we'll slaughter them all for daring to hunt us."

Nyx's claws dug into the soil as she fought to maintain control. Her quills bristled faintly, and she clenched her teeth, willing herself to focus. "No," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the jungle. "Not yet. Not like this."

But the madness didn't relent. It clawed at the edges of her mind, whispering promises of power and vengeance.

"They think we're prey," the voice hissed. "Let's show them the error of their ways. Let's make them beg for mercy before we tear them apart."

Nyx exhaled slowly, her breath shuddering as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her lightsaber. She couldn't afford to lose herself—not here, not now. The Trandoshans were watching, waiting for any sign of weakness. And if she lost control, she wouldn't just be fighting them—she'd be fighting herself.

From her hiding place, she could hear one of the hunters nearby, his heavy breathing and the faint hiss of his words cutting through the underbrush.

"She won't get far," he sneered. "Dar will have her head before sundown."

Nyx's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as her resolve solidified. They thought they controlled this hunt. They thought they could use her as a stepping stone for their twisted traditions.

They were wrong.

She forced the rage within her to quiet, channeling it into a cold, sharp focus. Her time would come—but it would be on her terms. For now, she stayed low, her body still as a shadow, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

SCENEBREAK

With careful, deliberate movements, Dar crept through the dense jungle, his scaled feet pressing silently against the damp soil. Each unexpected snap of a twig or rustling of leaves made him hiss in frustration, his sharp claws flexing at his sides. His glowing yellow eyes narrowed as he tracked his prey. The creature he'd been sent to hunt—the supposed Indoraptor hybrid—wasn't what he had imagined.

When he finally found her, it wasn't a towering beast he saw but a girl. She was crouched by a spring, her short, dark hair damp as she dipped her hands into the clear water. A soft melody hummed from her lips, carried on the breeze. The sound was haunting yet soothing, blending with the jungle's natural symphony.

Dar froze, his head tilting as he observed her. She didn't look dangerous—no claws, no fangs—just a girl who seemed almost out of place in this hostile wilderness. Yet something about her intrigued him. He crept closer, his nostrils flaring as he caught the faint, intoxicating scent that lingered around her.

"Heh," Dar growled under his breath, his voice low and rough. "Girl, I can see you're new here, but let me make one thing clear—you're not welcome in our territory."

The girl paused, her humming cutting off as she turned to face him. Her red eyes glinted in the dappled sunlight, catching him off guard.

"Oh," she said softly, her tone light and almost playful. A small, amused smile curved her lips, and a quiet laugh slipped free. "Really? Well, isn't that something."

She stood slowly, the movement deliberate and unhurried, as if she felt no fear at all. The water dripped from her hands, glinting like crystals in the sunlight. Her form was graceful yet commanding, her posture exuding confidence that belied the simplicity of her appearance.

Dar hesitated, his claws twitching at his sides as his gaze swept over her. Despite himself, he felt a flicker of uncertainty. There was something unnerving about the way she carried herself—like she was the predator here, not him.

And then, to his horror, the girl before him began to change. Her amused smirk twisted into something far more menacing as her muscles rippled and shifted, her slender form elongating and contorting with terrifying grace. In mere moments, the human girl had vanished, replaced by the towering, obsidian-scaled Indoraptor he had feared.

Nyx loomed over him, her red eyes glowing like embers in the dim light of the clearing. She let out a guttural hiss, her quills rattling as her claws flexed. The air seemed to grow colder, the jungle falling into an eerie silence as she stepped closer, her massive frame casting a shadow over Dar.

Before he could even move, her claws lashed out, slicing clean through his chest. Blood sprayed in an arc as the force of her strike sent him stumbling backward, his shocked eyes wide with disbelief. He didn't have time to scream.

With a final, precise swing, her talons cleaved his neck in one smooth motion. His head snapped free, bouncing off a nearby tree trunk before rolling into the undergrowth. The clearing grew still once more, save for the sound of Nyx's heavy breathing.

She snorted disdainfully at the lifeless body, her sharp teeth bared in contempt. "Bah, pathetic scum," she muttered, her voice low and dripping with disgust.

With a final glance at the carnage, she turned and slinked back into the jungle, her massive frame vanishing into the shadows as the clearing was left silent and empty, save for the remains of the hunter who had underestimated her.

SCENEBREAK

Nyx soon stumbled upon a group of the other captives hiding in the dense jungle, their faces etched with fear but glimmers of hope sparking at the sight of her. They huddled close, whispering hurriedly, and it didn't take long for them to piece together a plan—a desperate, but clever strategy to turn the tables on the Trandoshans and put an end to their twisted hunt.

But their plotting was interrupted by a thunderous roar that ripped through the air, shaking the very trees around them. It was a sound of raw fury and anguish, and it sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

Nyx glanced toward the source of the sound, her red eyes narrowing as she heard the furious bellow of Dar's father echo through the jungle.

"Hear me, monster!" the Trandoshan's guttural voice boomed, heavy with rage and grief. "You'll pay for this! Mark my words—you'll be my trophy in the end, and I'll sever that pretty head of yours myself!"

The group froze, tension hanging thick in the air. One of the prisoners, a young Jedi named Kalifa, muttered under her breath, her tone dry. "Well, you've certainly pissed him off. That much is clear."

Nyx shrugged nonchalantly, her claws flexing slightly as she turned back to the group. "I don't care," she said bluntly, her voice calm but resolute. "He's just another problem to deal with later. Right now, we need to find a place to hide."

Kalifa gave her a skeptical look but didn't argue. The captives began moving, staying low as they slipped through the thick vegetation, their breaths shallow and their senses sharp.

Nyx took the lead, her glowing red eyes cutting through the shadows of the jungle. The weight of the Trandoshan's threat hung over her, but she shoved it aside. For now, her focus was survival—and ensuring that the Trandoshans learned just how dangerous their "trophies" could be.