From the shadows, Tu'chak'a stepped out as his predecessor sliced out his tongue and reeled in pain from it. He stood in the low light, baring his fangs and stood with his claws behind his back, his tail twitching with anticipation. "Blood mother..."

"Apparently," she began, "the Agent and her accomplices have... vanished. You will seek them out and return her to me. However, a warning. Do not return to me without her."

"Beg my...pardon, Mistress." He began, his words slowed by the respirator around his neck. "In your...apprentice's cowardice there was a...nugget of truth." He spoke when both breathing outward and taking breath in, to not waste his blood mother's time and his own life. "There is one among them...Zenithar. He makes the...acquisition of your agent very...troublesome. His power, as well as his own apprentice's...is immense. A direct assault to...capture the agent is not...possible. Setting a trap may...be more appropriate." He slowed and clenched his hand several times from a sudden sharp pain. "I can weaken, threaten, and lead...them into your grasp, let them be made...examples of your might..."

Darth Scurus was quiet for several long moments.

"Hm. Both of you mention this person... Fine. Do as you see fit."

"Yes, my blood mother." He finished, placing his fist over his heart and bowing respectively. He turned around and brushed harshly against her apprentice hard enough to stumble him as he made his way into the darkness quick as the wind that had carried him in. When in the light, he looked at the source of the pain in his hand, it had been sliced open and the flesh stripped away. Already his naturally extreme regeneration was healing the wound, but he made note that her apprentice was to be his next target after the agent.

____

The camp was a little quiet this damp, foggy, morning. It had rained heavily the night before, drenching the camp and the logs that were outside the ship. Cheshik's wagon was loaded up with various things to sell in the city and was covered with a tan tarp. The sun was still a few hours from rising. Nyrette and Quin were still fast asleep and Cheshik was saddling up Snickers. The Varactyl preened it's head feathers, cleaning them of the dampness that was setting into the area. "I am sorry, Snickers." Cheshik said, rubbing behind her ears. "In all of excitement, I have neglected your cleaning. I even avoided hunting with you. Forgive Cheshik for being bad father." He rubbed behind her head and found her happy spot. The Varactyl seemed to forget the past few weeks when it's hind leg went to scratch it's neck but could not reach. She illicited a strange sound from her mouth, a mix between a hiss and a purr. Cheshik stopped and hugged the neck of the huge lizard. She flicked her tongue several times and nuzzled against Cheshik.

"Hello Cheshik." Cynthia said, walking down the ship steps, still in the same angular gown that she wore all week. Even with the ruckus, it stayed pristine. Considering she doesn't sleep, she must clean it constantly. 

"Oh. I did not see you. Good morning." He said, turning away from Snickers to address the Haemonculus. She lay her head down next to Cheshik's leg and rubbed up against his ankle.

"If I may ask, why did you name her 'Snickers'?" She asked, approaching the lizard. She felt a pit of fear in her heart for a moment, having never seen or heard of any creature like this before.

"Because of sound she makes when I scratch behind head." He reached down and started scratching behind her ear again and she made the same hissing-purring noise from before. "It sound like snickering, thus, Snickers." He stopped and she looked up at him, a little disappointed.

"She reminds me of a cat, but...um. Huge." She said, nervous.

"Do not be afraid of her. She big softy." He said, patting her head. "She would never hurt family."

"But...I'm not family. I'm just a servant here." She said, coming close and placing a hand on Snicker's head, feeling the scaly texture.

"You are wrong. We all want you here, you are as much family as Quin, or Marquis." He smiled, as did she. She looked a lot happier and continued rubbing Snickers' head, finding the spot behind it and scratching, making her snicker again.