Although the decision broke his core, Icarus had to order Delta to turn around and engage the TIE fighters while the Vulture units returned to the battlefield. Imperial starfighters were fast, and could surround and attack the Kestrel Nova from all directions. The vastness of the ship made it impossible for them to evade attacks, but at least the shields were tough enough to withstand bursts as their side and top cannons returned fire.

Gradually, the air battle intensified as they moved away from the area to get out of the line of sight of the orbiting Arquitens. While this wouldn't change things much in TIE engagements, getting out of the enemy commander's line of sight would give them an advantage. But this would mean leaving Tova and the gossam alone in the jungle.

Li Mu: - Over here. Fast. - He whispered to the little girl.

The gossam led the way, doing its best to remain unnoticed by the various stormtrooper patrols that roamed the area quite frequently. Being both short, it was not very difficult for them to hide behind the vegetation. On the one hand, Tova survived for a long time alone and at a very young age in the frigid mountains of Nelvaan, and she knew how to slip away, although Li Mu was much more experienced, and knew every step she had to take perfectly. It was strange, but that gossam didn't look like an ordinary one, and even the little girl could tell that even though she knew nothing of its kind.

Li Mu: - Quick. Here. -

The gossam pointed to a narrow crack on the surface, which seemed to lead to an underground passage. They had no idea where it led, but it was safer than wandering through the jungle with so many patrols around. Tova hesitated for a moment, as she did not feel very comfortable in narrow places, but after a while she decided to go inside, closely followed by the gossam who was constantly watching if anyone was following them.

The passage barely half a meter wide and one meter high was dark, however, what caught gossam's attention was a strange blue light that could be seen at the end. It wasn't certain, but it was possible that it led to some underground chamber, perhaps a cave system, if that was the case, they could find another way out as long as the compass inserted in his forearm guard worked correctly. But to his dismay, that was the first thing to stop working.

Coming out of the passage they found themselves in a huge ice cavern, with long stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The weather was different, much colder than the outside where they were just a few seconds ago.

The sudden change in temperature struck Li Mu suddenly, since her species was not very used to the cold, and her attire was not appropriate, but it was better than being outside surrounded by stormtroopers. On the other hand, for Tova that climate was most pleasant.

They walked for a while through the immensity of the labyrinth of ice and snow. Li Mu couldn't explain how a lake like that existed below the surface, much less knew how to get out of it. His compass was spinning in all directions, as if a strong magnetic field was seriously affecting its operation. Instead, he took his sharp combat knife and made visible marks on the rock, indicating the place from which he came, because if things did not go as expected, they could at least go back and find another way to reach the Village.

The walk was quite tough. Li Mu was in the lead this time, his E-5 blaster in hand aiming at every corner. Fortunately, the light seemed to reflect off the ice crystals, and there were virtually no dark areas inside, but if he looked away for a moment, he had the feeling that he might get lost in the intricate maze, so he focused as much as he could. , although his hands trembled from the cold. However, Tova seemed to be taking a casual walk, since the cold did not affect her, and she could only admire the beauty of the place, and the patterns that the light reflected on the different stone walls. Everything until a sneeze from Li Mu made her react.

Tova got a little scared when she heard the echo, but she felt something wrong when she saw the gossam shivering from the cold. The only thing that occurred to her was to take off her leather jacket and offer it to her companion, since the black pullover she had underneath was more than enough for her.

Li Mu: - What are you doing? You will catch a cold. - He told her reluctantly.

Tova: - My species lived on a planet of ice. I can resist the cold. Besides, this climate is very pleasant for me. -

Li Mu: - If you say so. - He said after a little mockery.

The gossam accepted the jacket and donned it over his armor. It wasn't much but at least he could keep his vital organs warmer, even though his hands were still freezing, even though he could warm them with little pauses and his own breath. This would buy them extra time, but the trouble had just begun.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed in the chamber. A sound that seemed to belong to some kind of living being. They didn't know it, but Li Mu's sneezing seemed to have alerted the locals to their presence, and they didn't seem too happy.

Without warning, three ferocious wampa approached the scene, investigating the cause of the sound that caught their attention. They were huge, much bigger than Icarus, about 3 or 4 meters tall, covered in thick white fur. Their massive horns protruded from their faces, and the white fur around their mouths was a terrifying crimson color. One of them was already all a problem. But three? It was too much.

Li Mu: - Run! - He shouted after realizing the imminent danger.

Little Tova did not hesitate twice and ran with all her might through the same place she had come from, with Li Mu following close behind. The wampa roared as they saw their prey escaping, and began to run after them. First on two legs, but then they opted for a four-legged position, with which they reached greater speed and gradually reduced the distance between them and their future food.

Both Tova and Li Mu could feel the rumble of the ground from the footsteps of the mighty beasts, which were getting closer and closer. No matter how hard they tried to run, the predators were faster, and though they sometimes stumbled into each other in the narrow corridors, neither would have a chance to escape, and the gossam knew it.

Li Mu suddenly stopped, letting Tova inadvertently advance a few meters. The gossam spun around, and a well-aimed blaster from his weapon struck the forehead of one of the wampa who were running straight into his position. The noise alerted Tova, who spun around only to see the wampa fall to the ground as the other two pounced on Li Mu with their sharp claws. However, Tova did not know the reputation of "gossam commandos."

Although not as deadly as the Clone Commandos or ARCs, the Gossam Commandos were a force that saw little of the battlefield during the Clone Wars, but were highly effective and combat trained. Seeing the two ten-foot-long beasts pounce on him, Li Mu rolled forward, letting the wampa crash to the ground, causing a loud crash that shook the cavern. The walls trembled, some stalactites fell, and one of the wampa was shot several times in the arm as he turned to avoid being hit in the head by Li Mu's blaster.

The mighty beast spun around forcefully, knocking the E-5 blaster from Li Mu's hands, who drew his knife as a desperate measure. The wampa lunged for him, but recoiled as he felt his fingers separate from his hand as the gossan swung his weapon. The wounded wampa fell back with an agonized cry of pain as the other lunged violently at Li Mu.

Without time to react, the wampa grabbed Li Mu's hand in such a way that the knife caught between his fingers, and with just his brute strength, he managed to knock the gossam to the snow-covered ground. Still holding on to his grip, the wampa used his other free hand to attempt to kill Li Mu with his sharp claws, trading it with bite and occasional thrusts as he maintained dominance in the fight. Though the agile gossam managed to avoid a fatal injury using his other arm and legs.

However, Tova could see, terrified from a distance, how Li Mu could barely face one of the wampa, when the other, the one who lost the fingers of one hand, began to approach to end the fight two against one. But there was something she could do. There was a way that she could help.

Taking advantage of the wampa being too preoccupied with Li Mu, he moved a little closer and took the E-5 blaster into his bare hands. He had never fired one but had seen many do it, and even had an idea of ​​how to use it correctly. Following the instructions she once read, she spread her feet apart and planted them firmly. She twisted her body slightly and gripped the blaster with both hands, resting the stock against her shoulder, and lined her sights against her target. It should be simple, but nothing is further from reality.

https://youtu.be/lUdzLU7svSk

The sound of the blaster going off took everyone by surprise. The wampa who had just joined the fray was shot through the shoulder, not the head where Tova was aiming, nothing that could kill the creature. To her surprise, the little girl didn't expect the heavy recoil that the gun gave her, and the blow she felt on her shoulder shook her whole body and made her drop the blaster as she fell onto the snow after losing her balance.

Li Mu could only watch in terror as the wampa that was going for him changed target, and began to run on two legs over the little girl, who still had not gotten up after the strong impact she received. Despite the shouts of warning, Tova could only look up on her back, trying to back away as the huge beast came at her at great speed.

There was not way to get out. He wouldn't have enough time to get up. The E-5 blaster had fallen too far, and there would be no way to reach it. Tova had no chance of surviving. When.

https://youtu.be/lUdzLU7svSk

A second blaster sounded, and suddenly the running wampa crumpled to the ground, its body sliding across the snow to stop inches from Tova's feet. There was no doubt, he was dead, and that was confirmed by the smoke coming out of the hole in his head.

Tova could not react immediately, as fear had paralyzed her. The last wampa, the one who was dominating the fight against Li Mu, looked up only to see a mysterious figure whose body and face were hidden behind a coat made of wampa fur. This infuriated the beast so much that it made it completely forget about the gossam, picking it up with all its might and throwing it away before charging head-on at the mysterious being.

Tova i Li Mu could only look up, to see how the frenzied beast was about to charge the stranger, when something impressive happened. The mystery being crouched, and with a huge knife impaled the wampa's head, stepping to the side as the beast's lifeless body smashed against the stone wall. And all this, without even staining his white coat with a drop of blood.

There were no doubts. He was not someone ordinary and ordinary.