|| 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎 ||

It had been a few months since that eerie night in the forest. The memory still lingered, but I tried to focus on the present. Since then, Obi-Wan and I had been working tirelessly on harnessing my more docile form. The wolf with wings—a Pterolycus, Obi-Wan had told me they were called. It felt strange, surreal even, to think that such a creature could be a part of me.

Now, I found myself outside, the cool evening air wrapping around me as I sat on a weathered bench. A thick, woolen blanket was draped over my shoulders, offering some comfort. My hair was still dripping, strands clinging to my face and neck from the water tube training session. Being dunked in icy water wasn't exactly my idea of fun, but it was part of the process. Obi-Wan insisted it was necessary to master control, even in the most uncomfortable situations.

I shivered slightly, not entirely from the cold. The path I was on was filled with challenges and uncertainties, but with Obi-Wan's guidance, I felt a glimmer of hope.

"There you are. I was wondering when you'd show up," said Anakin, his voice cutting through the evening stillness. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. He had been there when I had woken up after the Force-induced sleep Obi-Wan had put me through.

Anakin had told me what had happened, leaving me feeling guilty all over again. The memories flooded back—flashes of chaos and fear. I knew that it was a bad idea being here, that my presence could bring more trouble than it was worth. But seeing Anakin's confident demeanor, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. He had a way of making things seem less daunting, even when the world felt like it was crumbling around me.

"Yes, thought I'd catch some sun," I said, leaning back against the wall. I was becoming bolder in my speech, not feeling like an outsider fully anymore. Anakin being there with me always helped.

His presence was reassuring, a constant reminder that I wasn't alone in this strange journey. Each day, I felt a bit more confident, a bit more like I belonged. Anakin's unwavering support was a big part of that. He had a way of making even the toughest situations feel manageable, and for that, I was grateful.

"Rex and the boys are looking for you," he said, nudging me in the shoulder. "Getting the clones now, are you?"

I shook my head and closed my eyes. "Dream on, Anakin. That will never happen."

Anakin chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. He laid his arm around me, drawing me into his warm embrace. His presence was comforting, a steady anchor amidst the chaos of our lives. As I leaned into him, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope, a sense of belonging that had once seemed so out of reach.

"I don't mind. It just means more challenge for me," he said, and I froze. "I mean, who can't like you, Nyx? You've been here with us for a month now. Haven't you seen the hints everyone is trying to give you?"

I jabbed a finger into his ribs, and he grunted. "Not all of you are head over heels for me. That's not what I'm saying," I snapped.

He laughed, rubbing his neck and avoiding my eyes, which only made me narrow mine at him. Anakin's evasiveness was both endearing and frustrating. There was a playful tension between us, an unspoken understanding that we danced around. Despite the teasing, his words made my heart race. Could it be true? I wasn't sure, but the thought was enough to keep me hopeful.

I sighed and stood up, letting the blanket fall off my shoulders. With a snap of my fingers, my hair instantly dried and fluffed up into the style I liked.

"I better go and get some hunt under my claws," I said over my shoulder, walking away. I broke into a sprint, shifting into my Pterolycus form, my wings unfurling as I leapt into the air.

I soared over the industrial part of Coruscant, the city's endless sprawl stretching out below me. There were no trees here, just towering buildings and bustling streets. It made me uneasy, the lack of nature. Finding a place with any semblance of wilderness was becoming increasingly difficult, and the concrete jungle beneath me did nothing to ease my nerves. Despite the tension, the freedom of flight was exhilarating, a reminder of the power and grace within me.

A shot grazed my wing, and I shrieked in pain as it folded in on itself reflexively. I was sent careening out of the air, spiraling towards a platform with red-striped troopers. I let out another shriek as I crashed into the ground, feeling it crack and shake beneath me.

"We got her now!" shouted a trooper, and soon, traps were snared around me, binding my wings, jaws, claws—everything. Panic surged through me as I struggled against the restraints, the rough ropes digging into my flesh. The troopers moved in, their voices a blur as they secured their hold. Fear and anger welled up inside me, but I knew I had to stay calm, to think of a way out of this.

A clone then stepped up, wearing a kama like Rex and Fives. I growled, knowing this wasn't Rex or any of my friends—this clone was unknown to me.

"At last, we got you, little beast," he said, crouching down to look into my eyes. Little? I almost laughed. I was far from small; in this form, I could be bigger than a plane if I wanted.

I bared my teeth, a low growl rumbling in my throat. The clone's gaze was steady, unyielding, but I refused to show fear. My mind raced, searching for a way out of this mess. The ropes were tight, but maybe, just maybe, there was a weakness I could exploit.

"You're making a big mistake," I snarled, my voice a guttural rumble through my Pterolycus form. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

The clone chuckled, glancing at his comrades. "Oh really? The Chancellor wants you for his own special plan, but he trusted us with the task. If you turn human, we'll get to have some fun too."

His words sent a chill down my spine. The Chancellor? This was worse than I thought. I struggled against the ropes, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to get out of here.

"I'd like to see you try," I spat, my eyes blazing with defiance. Despite the pain and the fear, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I would find a way to escape. I had to.

I played limp and closed my eyes, being careful not to scrape my jaws against the hard floor beneath me. I needed them to believe I was incapacitated, even though every muscle in my body was tense, ready for action.

"Sir! Sir! Her vitals—they—they just dropped!" shouted one of the clones in a panicked voice.

My lips twitched into a smirk, barely visible. The sudden shift in their demeanor was promising.

"Kriff! Make sure she's alive," the lead clone commanded, his voice sharp and urgent. "If you can't, shock her back to life!"

The clones scrambled, their footsteps echoing around me. I could sense their nervous energy, the flicker of desperation in their actions. This was my chance. I just had to hold on a little longer and wait for the right moment to strike.

As soon as they removed the net from me, I sprang into action. In a blur of motion, I pinned down the leader clone, my claws digging into his armor. With a swift, powerful movement, I jabbed another clone in the chest with my wing. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his dented, but intact, chest.

I flared my leathery wings and let out a roar that shook the very air around us. The clones screamed and covered their heads, disoriented by the deafening sound.

With the leader clone still in my grasp, I shot up, narrowly avoiding the blaster fire that rained down. Hovering above the platform, I smirked at the chaos below. My jaws snapped open, and a surge of electric fire erupted, shorting out their shuttle and igniting a few crates.

I did a sharp 360, twisting in the air, and then took off, the leader clone still in my grasp. His panicked shouts faded into the distance as I soared into the sky, adrenaline fueling my escape.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

When Fox woke up, he was greeted by a pounding headache and a dull ache in several other places. Groaning, he sat up, rubbing his head and noting that his helmet was still firmly in place.

A growl echoed from the darkness around him, making him stiffen. He reached behind him instinctively, only to realize with growing anxiety that his blasters were missing. His fingers brushed against empty holsters, and the realization sank in that he was unarmed.

"I took your weapons so you can't stun me into submission," said a voice, beautiful and sweet but tinged with the raspy edge of a monster.

From the darkness emerged a striking woman with short black hair and piercing ruby eyes that locked onto him with a predatory gaze. She wore a stylish red vest, accessorized with layered necklaces that glinted in the dim light.

"You tried to take me to the Chancellor. Why? What does he want with me? How in the Seven Hells did he hear about me? Obi-Wan told me that only the Council and the Jedi in the temple knew about me, and well, the 501st and Cody's platoon."

Her eyes glinted with a mixture of curiosity and menace as she watched Fox, clearly intrigued by his confusion and the unfolding situation.

"W-we, uh, had some blue boys tell us at the last meeting at 79's," he stammered, rubbing his hands together nervously. "We didn't want to hurt you. You know, it's better if the whole army of the Republic knows about you, in case you go missing."

His voice wavered, betraying his anxiety as he glanced around, hoping for a way out of the tense situation. The woman's intense gaze made him shift uncomfortably, the weight of her scrutiny almost too much to bear.

The woman circled him as he stood stock still, unable to move. Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, he felt an inexplicable pull to bow and submit to her will. It was the same overwhelming force he had experienced earlier, even though he had been in a position to have control over her.

Her presence was magnetic, exerting an almost tangible pressure that made him want to obey her every command. He struggled to keep his head held high, forcing himself to maintain a cold front despite the inner turmoil and the magnetic allure that threatened to break through his resolve.

"You speak the truth," she rasped, her voice a whisper that danced against his ear. Her warm breath grazed his skin, making his pulse jump involuntarily. She could feel the effect she was having on him, and it made her smirk.

She knew she was attractive, but this level of control was new—even for her. The power she wielded over him was intoxicating, a dark thrill she relished as she watched him struggle to maintain his composure. The subtle dominance in her gaze and the breath against his ear only heightened the tension, drawing out his unease and feeding her satisfaction.

She stepped into his line of sight again, her presence commanding and unsettling. Tilting her head slightly, a few stray locks of her dark hair fell into her eyes.

"What's your name? None of your brothers called you by name—only 'Commander' or 'Sir,'" she said, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue.

Fox blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I'm called Fox," he said, straightening his back in an attempt to regain his composure. "Commander Fox."

The formality of his response seemed to amuse her, and her smirk widened just a fraction. The interaction was charged, each word and gesture magnifying the power dynamics between them.

She chuckled softly, a sound both eerie and captivating. In a lightning-fast movement, she reached out and gripped his chin, forcing his honey-brown eyes to lock onto her red ones.

"Well, here, Fox," she said, her voice low and smooth, "you're no commander. You have no power over me. You know that, right? If you know about me from some in the 501st, then you know what I am." She leaned in closer, her lips curling to reveal sharp fangs behind those plump lips. "Don't you?"

The proximity and the revelation of her true nature made his heart race. The fierce intensity in her gaze and the dangerous allure of her fangs left him on edge, caught between fear and fascination.

She leaned in so close that he could feel the heat of her breath and her tongue graze his ear. Her voice was a sultry whisper, sending shivers down his spine.

"What am I, Fox? Tell me," she demanded, her tone both commanding and seductive.

The sensation of her tongue against his ear was both unsettling and tantalizing, leaving him struggling to maintain his composure. The question hung heavy in the air, charged with a dark, dangerous allure that made him uneasy yet intrigued.

"Y... you're a monster," he said at last, his voice trembling slightly under the weight of the admission.

The woman's expression shifted, the seductive tension breaking as she stepped back and released her grip on him. Her gaze remained steady, though now there was a cold edge to it. "I see," she said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement mixed with something darker.

"Is that really what the blue boys told you?" she asked, her tone sharp and probing, as if testing the validity of his answer.

"W-what? No, no, it's just that—" He trailed off, looking away, but the sting of her fingers on his cheek made him flinch. She gripped his chin and tugged his head back toward her, her gaze fierce and unyielding.

"Tell me, Fox, who told you about me?" she demanded, her eyes roving his face, searching for the truth.

He struggled to find the words under the intensity of her stare. "...Tup," he finally managed to get out, his voice barely above a whisper. "And Dogma."

Her eyes narrowed slightly at the names, and a cold, calculating expression crossed her face. The information was clearly significant to her, and the atmosphere grew heavier with the revelation.

She released her grip, and Fox rubbed at the spot where she had held him. Despite not using physical force, her strength was undeniable.

"You may go," she said coolly, her voice carrying an unmistakable edge as she stepped toward the door. "Just never, ever try to hunt me down again."

With that, she slipped out the door, leaving him alone in the dark, cavernous warehouse. The echo of her departure lingered in the dim space, and Fox was left to grapple with the unsettling encounter, the weight of her warning pressing heavily on his mind.