Even the most unexpected bonds can guide us home."

☠⚡⛓

They hadn't gotten far before Nyx caught the scent—sharp and raw, the unmistakable stench of predators lying in wait. Around the base of the volcano, she spotted them: hyenas, large and muscular, their lean bodies moving with a predator's precision.

Nyx let out a low growl as the dog-like creatures began creeping closer, their golden eyes gleaming with a dangerous intelligence. They moved in slow, deliberate circles, their movements calculated, as if testing the group's defenses.

Rexy, sensing the threat, responded with a deep rumble that echoed through the ground. She bared her massive teeth, her warning clear and unmistakable. The hyenas paused for a moment, their ears flicking back, but their hunger outweighed their fear.

"They're testing us," Nyx muttered, her quills rattling softly as her body lowered into a defensive stance. Her glowing red eyes darted from one creature to the next, calculating their moves.

Ripper stepped up beside her, his claws flexing. "I count six," he said, his voice low and steady. "Maybe more hiding in the shadows."

"Six is enough," Nyx growled, her gaze locked on the nearest hyena as it bared its teeth in a twisted snarl. "We need to send a message. They won't back off unless we make them."

Rexy let out another low growl, her tail swaying slowly behind her as she prepared to charge. "Then let's make it loud," she rumbled, her golden eyes narrowing.

The hyenas crept closer, their muscles coiled like springs, ready to strike. But the three predators—Nyx, Ripper, and Rexy—stood firm, their combined presence radiating raw, unyielding power. The air grew thick with tension as predator faced predator, the volcano looming above them like a silent, smoldering witness.

Just then, a blaster bolt rang out, and one of the hyenas collapsed mid-step. Ahsoka landed gracefully beside Master Plo, her lightsabers ignited, their green and blue blades humming softly. Together, the two Jedi made quick work of the remaining hyenas, their coordinated strikes leaving the creatures as nothing more than faint echoes of the threat they had once posed.

"Thanks," Nyx said with a low growl, nodding toward Ripper, who had shifted restlessly at her side.

The Indoraptor began moving toward the Jedi, his sharp claws clicking against the stone. His red eyes were wary, and his body tensed as if ready for a fight. But before he could get too close, Nyx raised her head and let out a soft, commanding snarl.

"Don't, Ripper," she said firmly. "They're my friends."

Ripper froze, glancing back at Nyx. After a brief moment of hesitation, he relaxed, taking a step back and lowering his head slightly.

Ahsoka turned to Nyx with a warm smile, her sabers deactivating as she stepped forward. "It's time for you to come home, Nyx," she said, her voice filled with relief and a deep sense of joy.

Nyx blinked, her quills rattling faintly as she studied Ahsoka's face. The familiar warmth in her friend's expression stirred something within her—something she thought she had lost long ago. She hesitated, glancing back at Rexy and Ripper, then toward the volcano's smoldering peak.

Home. The word hung in the air, both an invitation and a challenge. Would she still belong there, after everything she had become? Or was this her home now, among the wilds and the beasts who accepted her as one of their own?

For a moment, Nyx said nothing, the tension between the past and present weighing heavily on her. Finally, she let out a slow breath, her gaze softening as she looked at Ahsoka.

"Maybe it's time," she said quietly, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Master Plo stepped forward, his calm presence grounding the moment. "The galaxy has changed, Nyx," he said, his tone wise and measured. "But there is still a place for you among us. If you choose it."

Nyx glanced at Rexy and Ripper once more, her claws scraping lightly against the stone. This was a decision that could not be undone.

"I'll come," she said firmly, her voice steady with resolve. "But only if they can come with me." She nodded toward Rexy and Ripper, her red eyes gleaming with a rare hope for the future they might share together.

Plo and Ahsoka exchanged a quick, knowing glance, the unspoken understanding passing between them as naturally as the bond they shared.

"Of course," Plo replied calmly, his voice as soothing as ever. "They are welcome, as long as they wish to come."

Ahsoka smiled, her expression warm and encouraging. "You've all been through enough. If they're important to you, Nyx, they're important to us too."

Nyx let out a low rumble of gratitude, her quills rattling softly as she glanced back at Rexy and Ripper. Rexy tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes studying the Jedi with a hint of skepticism.

"You sure this is a good idea, Nyx?" Rexy rumbled, her voice low but laced with concern.

Nyx turned to her, her expression soft but resolute. "It's not just about me anymore," she said quietly. "It's about all of us. A chance for something better—for all of us."

Ripper stepped closer, his yellow stripe glinting faintly in the light of the fading sun. "If this is what you want," he said, his tone steady, "then I'm with you."

Rexy grunted, glancing at the Jedi one last time before nodding. "Fine," she said simply. "But if this goes south, I'm blaming you."

Nyx huffed out a small laugh, her tense shoulders relaxing just slightly. She turned back to Plo and Ahsoka, standing tall.

"We're ready," she said, her voice filled with quiet determination.

Ahsoka smiled again, motioning for them to follow. "Then let's go home."

SCENEBREAK

They soon left the inhospitable planet behind, safely aboard the Jedi transport vessel. The hum of the ship's engines filled the cabin as Master Plo Koon was called up by none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi. The hologram of Obi-Wan flickered to life, his arms crossed, his expression both curious and expectant.

"Have you retrieved her, Master Plo?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice calm but edged with anticipation.

Plo nodded, a faint smile softening his typically stoic features. He turned slightly, gesturing toward the corner of the cabin where Nyx lay curled on the floor, her massive frame stretched out, clearly exhausted from her recent ordeals. In the cramped cargo hold behind her, two other large figures loomed—Rexy and Ripper, their presence impossible to ignore.

"Yes, Master Kenobi," Plo replied with measured satisfaction. "We have her. But we've also gained two new... friends."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, blinking in mild surprise. "Is that so?" he said, his tone a mixture of curiosity and caution. "Then they must appear before the Council when you return to the temple."

Plo nodded in understanding, the flickering blue light of the hologram casting faint shadows on his face. "Of course," he said calmly.

With a soft click, the transmission ended, and Plo turned back toward the rest of the cabin.

Ahsoka was seated beside Nyx, playfully toying with the Indominus's tail, her fingers lightly brushing against its rough texture. Nyx's glowing red eyes flicked toward Ahsoka briefly, but her exhaustion left her too drained to protest. She simply let out a soft rumble of contentment, allowing the young Togruta her moment of mischief.

Meanwhile, Rexy was speaking with a deep sense of pride, recounting the day she had become the queen of Jurassic World. Her powerful voice filled the cabin as she described every thrilling moment—the challenges she'd faced, the battles she'd won, and the triumph that had solidified her place as ruler of the mighty kingdom.

Ahsoka listened intently, her lekku twitching as she hung on every word. "And then what happened?" she asked, her eyes wide with fascination.

Rexy puffed herself up slightly, the faintest hint of a smug grin curling her lips. "Then I roared louder than I ever had before," she said, her voice thick with pride. "The rest of them bowed. They knew there was no one else fit to lead."

Nyx watched them with a faint smile, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the warmth of the moment washed over her. She closed her eyes briefly, soothed by the comforting presence of her friends.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Nyx didn't feel alone.