[h3]Ben Solo[/h3]

His concern for Odette had been small, if not altogether unnoticed as he whirled the blue line of his saber with a practiced but coarse rendition of his studies. For sure, he had been both praised and criticized by Master Luke. Anger usually guided his lightsaber, an extensive array of rage fueled blows and deathly-wishing precision was etched in his combat tactics. 

The Master was not approving. Though he understood well. Ben could see it in both the Force and in his Master's empathetic eyes. 

The last of the canine beast lept at him as he slashed one of its packmates across its snout, the piece fell from its large head with a gross thump and released gore. Ben whipped around at the prodding of the Force but would have been too late in the process of doing so; his blue saber whirled in anticipation, his own downfalls urging him to minimize the damage but the need was unnecessary.  

A grunt from Master Luke announced the powerful gust of wind that followed the final beasts' harsh, cruel, and destructive throw into the far-off stairs of the Temple. Its body crackled with the impact, its bones were crushed. When Ben turned to look at his master, Luke's hand had been to his side, his palm and fingers open as if releasing the Force's hold on something. 

He wasn't sure how he liked being rescued by him now. It felt so... so hypocritical. To have insanely demanded answers from him and than to be saved? What kind of Jedi was he going to be become in the future? He was so indescribably and unjustly frustrated that it showed on his pale cheeks. He bit his bottom lip before simmering his saber, the blue crackle vanishing from air. 

Luke seemed to feel him out in the Force and Ben allowed it. It was not without cause, he thought vaguely. Instead he turned towards Odette and listened to her speak. 

Luke spoke momentarily afterwards. [color=yellow][b]"Nexuses are usually bothered to attack humans, or any sapient beings for that mater. They're creatures of stealth, not aggression. This was instigated,"[/b][/color] he concluded. [color=yellow][b]"I can feel the Force being orchestrated in this, we must question the padawans."[/b][/color] He stepped closer to Odette before registering something in Ben's face. 

Ben wondered if it was the resignation he now felt, the smoothening of the tenseness that once contorted it. 

[color=yellow][b]"Either way, Odette, I'd appreciate it if you and Ben could prep the starship. The Nexues did a small number on its exteriror, nothing the Force can't fix though."[/b][/color]

Honestly Ben wasn't sure if this was Luke's way of conveying trust or some misguided attempt of pushing him away. He felt that a earful would come later, regardless of today's event. The Dark Side had trickled in him now, stronger than ever. With his anger came its palpable drops, with his ire, the facuet was turned even more.  

With indifference, Ben strode towards the ship, opened the hatchet and told the kids to meet with Luke by tress. He had a dead Nexus to tend to. Tapping into the Force, Ben stretched his hand out with it, and tenderly gripped its right-hind leg. The powerful beast labored to breathe. 

[color=red][I]Its not dead?[/I][/color] he thought, stopping to study the body.