Mos Espa

Nartaga had managed to make it out of the city of Mos Espa without incident, but the excitement of the unplanned meeting with another outsider shaman had tired his still healing body. As he reached a safe distance outside the city, the Tusken would look around to make sure he had not been followed, at least noticeably, before heading off into the desert. Nartaga reached out, touching the energies of Tatooine, following the connection between himself and his Bantha Patashu to guide him to where she had wandered to for safety. The Tusken could only maintain the connection for a few moments, but it was enough time to get a reading on where Patashu was located. On foot it took him nearly an hour and a half to reach the location of his mount, which he found munching on a small grouping of desert sage, struggling to grow in a small collection of rocks. Patashu greeted the return of the Tusken with a "smile" of sorts, lifting her top lip and moving it, showing the top row of teeth. Stroking the fur of his bantha, Nartaga inspected her to ensure she had not run into any trouble in his absense.

Checking the travois cart with all their supplies that was attached to the bantha before climbing aboard, the Bantha and Tusken made their way to a less travelled path to the north-east, closer to the safety of Beggar's Canyon should they be spotted and need to retreat. The proximity to civilization, or at least what counted as civilization on Tatooine, always meant there were was the chance someone with a score to settle against the Tusken people would be making their way to or from the outsider city. The bad blood between those of his own people and that of the settlers of Tatooine from the Galaxy at large was as volatile as the Dune Sea was expansive. Settling on a spot to wait for the rendezvous with Zed and their new travelling companion, Nartaga would unpack the radiant heater and set it up. He did not fully unpack their gear, as he did not expect to make camp here, but as the Suns' light began to wain the bitter cold of Tatooine would grow worse so he would find comfort when and where he could.

With his Cycler rifle looped next to him by his arm the Tusken shaman would look over the other item he had unpacked; the medicines that he had bartered for back at the Enclave. Undoing his robes and wrapping on his chest he would inspect his wounds for the first time in days, as with the travelling with Zed he had not had the privacy to do so. It was not something that was easy to talk about or ask for, despite Nartaga touching on the issue when Zed had seen him without his robes when the Healer had saved his life. There were massive scars, the skin that had grown to cover the wounds was thin. The entire area was tender and inflamed from being in the rough Tusken garb for so long without being aired out, and there was sign of an infection, but nothing series. Taking out the vial and syringe, Nartaga would inspect the contents before drawing up about a quarter of the syringe's barrel and then injecting the contents into his other shoulder. After that taking out a paste, which was extremely pungent yet sweet smelling, and applying it to the areas needed. Nartaga would sit for several moments, letting a chilling breeze that had started hit his bare skin for a moment in silent contemplation before quickly redonning his wrappings and robes.

He would await the return of Zed and "Marie," so that their journey may continue.

What kind of name is Nickelodeon? Sounds like a real sleemo. Before he could continue his train of thought he saw Patashu a little ways off, following Maries finger he tried to make out what the smaller shapes were. Despite being a desolate planet Tatooine held a surprisingly diverse ecology and especially considering their proximity to Mos Espa they could be anything. Probably nothing but we should hurry none the less it gets cold out here really fast. In his experiences many of the more fearsome predators on the planet were reptilians or close enough to make no difference and thus would slow down while the sun was down. While some of the larger Krayts might be able to hunt at night due to their larger size making them able to hold in the heat from the sun longer whatever those shapes were in the distance, unless they were warm blooded they shouldnt be a problem.

By the time the duo would make it to Nartaga and his mount the first of the twin suns would have made it behind the horizon with the second one not far behind. Already he could feel the cold bite of night setting in and try as he might he could not fight back the shivering's that would rack his body as it tried to fight against the cold.

As they drew closer to the encampment, the shapes she had seen around the bantha turned out to be nothing more than Nartaga and his heating unit. Dusk was falling, however, and visibility would soon be reduced. Kay'li was glad that they had all been reunited before they totally lost sunlight. Already, the heat radiating back up from the ground felt less oppressive somehow, although she'd seen enough deserts on enough worlds to know that the sand would retain its heat well into the night. As they had left civilization behind, she had gradually diminished her suppression of her force presence, and instead, reached outward, sensing for any threats among the other life around them in the desert. So far, she'd picked up a few creatures going about their evening hunt, but nothing large enough or with such ill intentions as to cause alarm.

The human woman left the question about the lightsaber for her tall companion to answer, which he no doubt did with a moment's demonstration. "Again?" She didn't know a lot about Tatooine, but she did know of the Krayt dragon. She cracked a half-smile. "You've already faced one, then?" If she was perturbed at the prospect of facing a Krayt dragon, she didn't show it. She looked away from the encampment for a moment. The Force had brought them together for a purpose. She still wasn't sure what it was or if it even had anything to do with her quest. But she trusted the will of the Force. If that included a Krayt dragon, so be it. But she didn't really know her new companions well enough yet to verbalize all that. Instead, she said. "Force willing, we won't." She fell silent as Nartaga packed up the camp, and looked around awkwardly for some way that she might assist in the process.

When they were done, she shrugged at the question and pulled her cloak more tightly around her shoulders. "I'm happy to walk; it keeps the cold away."

Nartaga remained silent as Zed commented on their encounter with the Krayt Dragon. A feeling, similar to shame, welled up in the shaman's throat as he was still struggling with the experience, and his lack of recollection of it. The only memory that he had retained from the encounter was the deep well of darkness within himself, and it was not something he was proud of. Patashu, happy to not have to carry either of the outsiders, knelt down to make it easier for her rider to mount up. Nartaga grasped onto a bit of the bantha's fur and for only a slight moment seemed to struggle, but quickly recovered and brought himself up onto the Bantha, grasping the reins. Patashu stood to her full height, and slowly began moving forward at Nartaga's command. Nartaga stopped the Bantha as she made it beside Zed and the Seeker. "Need make up lost time. Long way to go to Deadlands."

The Tusken clicked his tongue and Patashu began at a steady pace north. "Neither act tough. If tired, say. Need energy...in case. More danger to whole to push self. Everyone die, then." Nartaga remained silent for a moment, before taking his own advice. "If run into Krayt, or worse, will not be able to repeat like last time. Physically, still recovering but will heal. Spiritually..." There was another pause as Nartaga looked down at the palm of his gloved hand, squeezing it into a fist as he tried to manifest Tatooine's power. The was a shift in the energy around the Tusken for a few moments, but it faltered quickly and sputtered out, returning to the previous calm before. "...Slower. Take longer." Nartaga gestured the new arrival to the group, 'Marie'. "Shamans of your tribe know of anything to help heal broken bond?"

The Tusken figured that each group of shamans had their own secrets and interpretations, and while she may not know the intricacies of the Tusken belief system, if the power of Tatooine and the Force were truly one and the same, then he could not be the only person in existence to have had this type of injury to his connection to it, and hopefully those that had come before knew of ways to heal better. Zed had said to give it time, that it may be just like any other injury, but it was conjecture, and Nartaga was hoping 'Marie' might have more answers to his questions.

Crystal set down the 'Star Runner' in the landing area for ships. She strode out of the ship as soon as the hatch opened. She had plans to enact. She flipped the appropriate amount of credits at the docking master, "Look after her for me." Then she walked onto the main street of Mos Espa. She breathed in the dry air. What a planet. She appreciated how easy it was to blend in here which would help because she needed to make more credits. She had found some credits on the ship along with the baggy jumpsuit she was now wearing. But she would need more credits to enact her revenge. And obtaining clothes that fit would be a bonus too. The jumpsuit was a necessity after the incident on Dathomir had destroyed her clothing. She sighed and watched the denizens around her, noticing a child wandering alone. She smiled slightly, remembering how she used to get into many an adventure around that age. Before it all went wrong of course. On the trip here, her memories had begun to drift back to her. She still didn't remember a lot but could remember more about her early years. She wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse yet.

Crystal frowned at the scene happening before her. Picking on a child. Now that made her angry. As the Rodian chased the child in her direction, she stepped smoothly out in the way of the Rodian as the child passed by her. Without hesitation, she grabbed the Rodian's shirt and used his momentum to hip throw him to the ground. "Picking on children, are we?" Crystal shook her head, not sure why a Rodian would want to steal a child but certain that this would not happen on her watch.

Crystal stood threateningly over the Rodian. Feeling the warm body of the child right against her leg, a small glimmer of light ignited in her heart. She offered the child a half smile over her shoulder then turned her complete attention to the slaver. Putting the full weight over the force into her voice she commanded, "You will leave this child alone and go out in the desert." She didn't care that this might mean death for the slaver. In her opinion, anyone who sought to enslave a mere child deserved death. And if the desert sealed this Rodian's fate, then so be it. Without waiting for the Rodian to react, she turned to the child. "Who are you and why are you alone?" She looked the child up and down as she asked the question, curious despite herself.

Crystal looked at the boy, considering. "let me show you where the docking area is for ships. I just came from that way." Crystal turned and started back to where she landed her ship. "What's your name?" She wasn't sure why she asked. Why did she care about some random child's name? If anything, he was just wasting her time. She needed to prepare to fight Darth Strife again, not lead some child alone. And yet, all the objections she had in her mind to why she shouldn't be interacting with this child right now, just seemed to vanish when she looked at him. She wasn't sure why, but he reminded her of her own childhood. Now that was a long time ago.

Within minutes of walking, they were back to the docking area. "See anything familiar?" Crystal gestured at the ships in the area.

Crystal smiled slightly at the boy's enthusiasm. "My name is Crystal. I'm not sure where I'm from." She laughed slightly before stopping, unsure if that was an appropriate thing to share with a child.

As the child explained what must have happened, Crystal felt concern well up in her. "Your family would just leave without you? Where I come from, family would rather die." She shook her head with disgust. "Well, Will they come back for you? I have things to do but if you can stay quiet, you are welcome to come with me." Crystal wasn't sure where the words had come from but the force seemed to want this so she didn't retract the offer.