Sands

Djaeric continued trekking through the blistering sandstorm, he had ripped apart the giant slug like creatures and had as much of them with him as possible, and every now and then he would eat from the bits and pieces.

Each bite of the slug tasted horrendous, but once again Djaeric had to thank his experience for saving him the trouble of adjusting. It was just a fact that, not only were these creatures far better than anything he had eaten on Mek-Sha, but they were also nutritional.

And having spent a few days in the desert already, Djaeric was glad to have run into them when he did.

But as he continued crossing the sandy terrain, he couldn't help but ask himself why he hadn't seen anymore creatures yet. Even when resting at night, he expected at least a few attacks from the wild slugs.

Djaeric's mind is fully kept on the slugs, perhaps it is because of the slugs he carries with him. Their scent maybe keeping the others at bay. Maybe they were the strongest of their race? There were too many variables that mattered, that Djaeric simply could not ignore.

" I still have much to learn about this planet." Djaeric said it to himself as a form of affirmation.

Djaeric wandered even further into the valley, being pulled by the dark forces that covered his body.

Being on Korriban was like being submerged in the darkness. The very planet itself was rich in the darkside of the force and its pull was strong. So, Djaeric let himself be taken along the path set by the energy pulling him.

And eventually, Djaeric stumbled onto something... Or someone.

As Djaeric wandered aimlessly through the sand, he stumbled upon a beaten and injured acolyte lying in the sand. And though the sand might have made it hard to see, the distinctive red hair was a dead give away.

" A shame." Djaeric muttered. Looking down at the red-haired woman lying in the sand, Djaeric knew it was the same woman he had met when he first landed. Djaeric gave a passing glance and made to move on, thinking the woman dead. However, just as he was getting ready to leave, he heard the faintest sound of the woman gasping for air and immediately turned around.

His eyes were quite wide.

Unbelievable.

That was all he could think. For a woman so small and with barely any kind of experience, to survive out here was remarkable.

Should I leave her? She couldn't possibly make it on her own. But if I try and save her, then I'd be putting my own safety at risk, as well. That's what Djaeric believed.

But as he stared down at the woman, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Truthfully, Djaeric willingly came here, seeking the freedom the sith enjoyed. But he knew well that slaves had no choice, and for this woman, despite being a slave, she was still kind enough to show concern for others.

" It's your lucky day, woman." Djaeric muttered. He reached down and grabbed the young woman and pulled her up off the ground and laid her on her back. He looked over her and noticed that she was just a little scrapped up, but not anything life threatening. The only thing truly concerning was the fact that she seemed to be a little starved. But nothing that'd end up with her dead, or at least not yet.

Djaeric hoisted the woman up on his shoulders and started walking with her. He didn't have time or the resources to wait for her to wake up, the longer they sat in one place, the worse the situation would become.

It didn't take long, the constant shaking and rumbling of her body was more than enough to jolt the young woman awake, and considering her environment, she didn't awaken very friendly.

Djaeric felt a sudden strong push on his back, and in a moment the woman he was carrying only moments ago rolled off his shoulders and fell down onto the ground.

Stammering to her feet, the woman mumbled out very clearly, what happened?

" Easy." Djaeric responded. He held out his hand and tried to calm the woman down.

" You? You... What were you doing? Where did you?"

" I found you, passed out in the sand and I carried you forward, nothing more, nothing less." Djaeric explained.

She took a moment to consider what Djaeric said, and then looked down at her own body. She was perfectly fine, aside from the slight bruises she had on her face, and the cuts on her arms and legs.

" T-Thank you. I'm sorry. I was tired and Fon... He attacked me out of nowhere... And.... And I don't remember anything else." She said.

She was visibly shaken up, understandable.

" Who is this Fon?"

" Ah, that's right. You didn't get the full speech. Fon is a pure blooded sith acolyte. Harkun's personal pet project it seems like. He kept going on and on about how he was going to crush all of us."

Djaeric listened as she explained this Fon.

" Overconfidence is the downfall of many. I have seen it personally." Djaeric told the woman.

" How would you know?" She asked.

" I grew up on Mek-Sha. Fighting was a daily occurrence. And when I was old enough, I joined the death pit. A colosseum for the slave masters to pit their best fighters against each other for profit. Trust me, in the fourteen years I was there, I learned a lot more about combat than you can imagine." Djaeric explained.

He wasn't sure why he suddenly decided to share this fact, perhaps it was to get the woman to calm down, perhaps it was because she might be able to relate with him. Or perhaps he merely did it on a whim. Whatever the reason, it was done now.

" I see. That must have been hard. I worked on a farming planet owned by the empire. I mostly helped cultivate crops and other resources the Sith use in their war. Only reason I'm even here, is because my powers awakened when I saved my father from a collapsing hay barrel. Been dreading coming here ever since." She told the man.

" I see."

" The names Korey, by the way. Korey Lynn."

" Djaeric. Djaeric Keto. A pleasure Korey. Now, what do you say we finish this trial out together. I think having a partner to traverse this sandy desert would make it easier. And I can use an ally here on this dangerous world." Djaeric was being nice, but in his mind, he knew that having someone who owed him a debt could be useful in a way.

Korey on the other hand was none too suspicious, when it came to his offer, and instead jumped on it immediately.

" Yes!"

Djaeric smirked at her enthusiasm, and stood up,

" Alright then, we better not waste any more time. Let's go."

" Right!"

And so, with a new ally on his side Djaeric once again resumed his journey towards the ancient tomb of one of the very first Sith, Ajunta Pall.