"When the world burns around you, the only way forward is through the flames."

☠⚡⛓

Nyx stood silently at the mouth of her cave, her glowing red eyes fixed on the shuttle as it lifted off into the stormy sky. The faint roar of its engines faded into the distance, leaving only the howl of the wind behind. Her quills rattled faintly as she lowered her head, her chest heavy with emotions she couldn't name—or didn't want to.

Rexy shifted beside her, the smaller rex tilting her head curiously. "Why didn't you join them?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity. "They're your friends, aren't they?"

Nyx's gaze lingered on the distant horizon where the shuttle had disappeared. "I..." She hesitated, her claws scraping against the stone beneath her. "Yes, they are. But I can't go back to them."

Rexy cocked her head, her brown scales catching the faint light as she took a small step closer. "Why not?"

Nyx's jaw tightened, and she let out a low growl. "Not after what I've done," she said, her voice heavy with bitterness. "They wouldn't understand. They couldn't."

Rexy watched her for a long moment, her golden eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "You're sure about that?" she asked, her tone softer now. "Because from what I saw, they didn't want to leave you behind."

Nyx let out a sharp snort, shaking her head. "They shouldn't have to carry me anymore. I'm not the same. Not after..." She trailed off, her claws curling into fists.

Rexy stepped closer, her tail swaying lightly behind her. "Well, if you're not ready to go back," she said matter-of-factly, "you can always stay with me. For now, at least. Until you figure things out."

Nyx glanced at her, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "Stay with you?" she repeated, her tone skeptical.

Rexy shrugged, the faintest hint of a grin curling her lips. "Why not? I'm not so bad. And trust me, this place is easier to survive when you're not alone."

Nyx studied her for a moment, the tension in her body slowly easing. Finally, she let out a low grunt, her gaze shifting back to the stormy horizon. "I'll think about it," she muttered.

Rexy nodded, stepping back toward the cave. "You do that," she said over her shoulder. "Just don't take too long. You're not the only one who knows what it's like to lose everything."

Nyx didn't respond, but her quills settled slightly, her frame relaxing as the wind howled around them. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt the faintest flicker of something she thought she'd lost: a sense of possibility, fragile but alive.

SCENEBREAK

A day or two later, Nyx was still prowling through the wastelands, her nose low to the ground as she sniffed for prey. The rocky terrain offered little in the way of sustenance, but it had been enough to keep her going. She paused, her head tilting at the faint sound of distant wind. Then she froze.

A roar broke through the silence, deep and guttural, vibrating through the air. It sent a shiver down her spine. The sound was unmistakable—it wasn't a threat, nor a warning. It was something she never thought she'd hear in a place like this.

It was a mating call.

Her quills rattled slightly as she lifted her head, her glowing red eyes narrowing in confusion. A mating call? she thought, her mind spinning. She'd never imagined hearing such a sound again, let alone reacting to it. Yet something deep within her stirred, the Indoraptor instincts she so often kept buried flaring to life.

"I didn't think I could still be... affected by this," she muttered to herself. Her claws scraped the rocky ground as she hesitated, glancing around the barren expanse. Finally, her instincts won. She followed the sound, her senses heightened, her stride careful but deliberate.

It didn't take long to find him.

The Indoraptor stood on a ledge overlooking a jagged valley, his frame bathed in the dim, amber light of the setting sun. His black scales gleamed like polished obsidian, and a striking yellow stripe ran down the length of his spine, glowing faintly in the twilight. His eyes, like hers, burned red. He turned his head slightly, his nostrils flaring as he caught her scent, but he didn't move immediately.

Nyx hesitated, glancing down at herself. She had been stuck in this towering, half-giant form ever since she'd lost control in the Citadel. She could no longer shift freely, no longer decide how she looked. Her body was a constant reminder of what she'd become. But still, she stepped forward, her claws clicking lightly against the rock.

"Hey," she called out softly, her voice tinged with rare shyness. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The male turned sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, there was silence, then he smiled, baring rows of jagged teeth. "Of course not, ma'am," he said, dipping his head respectfully. "Didn't think my call would actually work. To be honest, I didn't even think there were other hybrids left out here."

Nyx stepped closer, her quills rattling faintly. "Hi," she said, forcing a small smile. "My name's Nyx."

He dipped his head again, his movements fluid and confident. "Ripper," he said simply.

Nyx's brow furrowed slightly. The name tugged at her memory, a whisper of something she couldn't quite place. "Ripper..." she murmured, shaking her head slightly. "It's nice to meet you."

"And you," Ripper said smoothly, his gaze curious as he took a step closer.

Nyx tilted her head, gesturing toward the distant wastelands. "Do you... want to come and live with me? And Rexy?"

Ripper blinked, his head tilting in surprise. "Rexy?" he echoed. "As in the Rexy? The famous T-Rex who ruled Jurassic World?"

Nyx frowned slightly, her claws tapping against the ground. "I don't know about Jurassic World," she admitted, "but she's nice. She's the only company I've had for a while."

Ripper chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Fair enough," he said. Then, with an almost playful glint in his eye, he asked, "Are you into girls?"

Nyx blinked, then laughed, the sound sharp and unexpected. "What?" she said, shaking her head. "Not that I know of, no. Why?"

Ripper shrugged, his smirk widening. "Just curious," he said casually.

Nyx let out another chuckle, but then her expression turned serious as she glanced up at the darkening sky. The first stars were beginning to flicker, and the chill of night crept into the air.

"Come on," she said, gesturing with her head. "You can't stay out here all night. It's getting dark. You'll get yourself killed."

"I can handle myself," Ripper said confidently, though his gaze followed hers to the sky.

"Maybe," Nyx replied, her voice firm. "But not here. Not in this place. Especially not with a bounty on all hybrids."

At her words, Ripper's smirk faded slightly, his posture stiffening. "A bounty?" he repeated, his voice quieter now.

Nyx nodded, her expression grim. "It's not safe, Ripper. Not for us. Come on. You'll be safer with me and Rexy."

For a moment, he hesitated, his gaze searching hers. Then he nodded slowly, his yellow stripe glinting faintly in the moonlight. "Lead the way, Nyx."

With that, the two hybrids disappeared into the shadows, the wind carrying the faint echoes of their steps as the night closed in around them.

SCENEBREAK

They found Rexy sitting by the pond, her massive brown frame reflected in the still water. She looked up as Nyx and Ripper approached, the faintest smile curling her lips.

"You found a friend," Rexy said, her voice light with curiosity. "I heard his mating call, but I didn't react. I mean, it's not a T-Rex, so..." She gave a casual shrug, her teeth glinting in the faint light. "...I'm not interested."

Nyx couldn't help but smirk. "Rexy, this is Ripper," she said, motioning toward the yellow-striped Indoraptor beside her. "He's one of us."

Rexy tilted her head, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. She raised her brow ridge, the gesture faintly amused. "I see. Well, welcome to the family, Ripper," she said warmly. "Just lay down and make yourself comfortable. I'll go hunting soon enough."

"I already tried," Nyx said, shaking her head. "It's no use. The droids have scared all the prey away."

Rexy paused, her tail twitching slightly. "I see," she said slowly, glancing at the pond's surface as if lost in thought. She let out a low sigh. "Well, that's unfortunate. And we can't exactly leave the planet to hunt elsewhere..." She trailed off, her claws scraping lightly against the stone beneath her.

After a moment, Rexy's eyes flicked back toward Nyx. "I could try calling the ancestors for help," she said, though her tone was tinged with doubt. She offered a weak smile, almost as if to convince herself. "If they even listen."

Nyx shook her head, stepping closer. "We don't need the ancestors," she said firmly. "The Force will help us."

Rexy blinked, tilting her head slightly. Nyx lowered herself, sniffing at the ground before raking her claws across the stone, leaving deep grooves in its surface. With deliberate movements, she pressed her palm against the marks she'd made, her glowing red eyes narrowing in concentration.

Closing her eyes, Nyx let the Force flow through her, out of her body and into the cracks she'd carved, spreading it into the ground, the air, the planet itself. She focused on the pulse of life around her, reaching out for anything that could be prey—anything that could sustain them.

The energy rippled outward, unseen but powerful, and Nyx felt the faint stirrings of answers. A few creatures, hesitant and distant. Perhaps a few droids, too—she'd have to deal with those. Not Tarkin, hopefully.

Suddenly, Nyx snapped her head up, her nostrils flaring. Her voice was calm, but her eyes glinted with satisfaction. "Nagmothos," she said, "some elk-like creatures are on the way."

Rexy blinked, tilting her head again. After a beat, she let out a soft laugh. "I forgot you had the Force, my friend," she said, her tone warm. "You're full of surprises."

Nyx smirked faintly, shaking her quills.

"Well," Rexy said, rising to her feet with a grunt, "I'll go get them. You two stay here. Rest." She glanced at Ripper and then Nyx, her expression hinting at playful amusement. "And maybe... figure out whatever this is between you two."

Before Nyx could reply, Rexy lumbered off toward the horizon, her massive frame vanishing into the rocky expanse.

For a moment, the air was quiet, the tension between Nyx and Ripper lingering unspoken. Ripper shifted slightly, his claws tapping against the stone as he watched Rexy disappear. "She's... confident," he remarked casually.

Nyx chuckled softly, lowering herself beside the pond. "That's one word for her," she said, her eyes flicking to his.

Ripper turned toward her, his gaze softening slightly. "And you?" he asked, his tone quieter now. "What are you full of, Nyx? You're not like any other hybrid I've met."

Nyx raised a brow, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly, though there was no malice in her expression. "I don't know," she admitted after a pause. "But maybe I'll figure it out. Eventually."

Ripper gave a faint smile, dipping his head. "I'd like to stick around. You know... if you don't mind."

Nyx smirked, the faintest hint of warmth creeping into her usually guarded gaze. "I don't mind," she said simply.

SCENEBREAK

A month had passed, and in that time, Nyx and Ripper had grown inseparable. Against all odds, love had bloomed between them. For Nyx, it was strange and bittersweet. She still missed Anakin, Obi-Wan, her squad—those humans who had fought beside her and who had earned her loyalty, even her heart. But she wasn't human anymore, not in body and not entirely in spirit. She had to accept what she was now. She needed a mate who could understand her in ways no human ever could.

Nyx and Ripper splashed playfully in the cool waters of the pond, their laughter-like growls echoing through the rocky terrain. Nyx had let her guard down for once, letting herself enjoy the moment. But the peace shattered in an instant.

A sharp, piercing neigh tore through the air, startling both of them. Nyx's head snapped up, her quills bristling as her instincts kicked in. From the edge of the pond, a buckskin stallion galloped into the shallows, its wild eyes flashing with challenge. Rearing onto its hind legs, the horse kicked at the air, its hooves crashing down dangerously close to Ripper, who froze, water dripping from his black scales.

Without hesitation, Nyx lunged forward, her claws slashing out in a blur of motion. They raked across the stallion's chest—not deep enough to kill, but enough to draw blood. The horse screamed, the sound filled with fury and pain, before it bolted out of the water, leaving a trail of crimson drops in its wake.

"Back off," Nyx barked, her voice a guttural growl, her body positioned protectively in front of Ripper. Her glowing red eyes locked onto the horse's retreating form, the predator in her seething.

Ripper shook his head, blinking as he broke out of his stunned state. "What the hell was that?" he said, his claws splashing through the shallows as he moved closer to her. He shook the water from his scales, his yellow stripe glinting faintly.

Nyx's quills rattled as she sniffed the air, her nostrils flaring. "I don't know," she said slowly, her voice thoughtful but tense. "But something's stirring the animals. That horse shouldn't have been so bold." She lifted her head, her glowing eyes scanning the horizon. "It seems Tarkin hasn't stopped his hunt for us. The droids aren't going away, either."

Ripper tilted his head, frowning. "What are you saying?"

Nyx let out a deep sigh, turning back to face him. "I'm saying we need to leave this planet. It's not safe anymore."

Ripper stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Leave?" he echoed. "Nyx, I've lived on this planet my whole life. I can't just... leave it."

Her gaze softened, but her tone remained firm. "We don't have a choice, Ripper. If we stay here, we'll be hunted down. You, me, Rexy—none of us are safe here. But..." She hesitated. "We can't go to the Core Worlds. The Republic would kill us on sight."

"The Outer Rim, then?" Ripper asked, his tone skeptical.

Nyx let out a humorless laugh. "It's not safe in the Outer Rim, either," she said grimly. "It's not safe anywhere. But..." She paused, her nostrils flaring again as a familiar scent hit her. Her eyes flicked toward the distant horizon. "A volcano. We'll go to the volcano."

Ripper blinked in confusion. "The volcano? Why?"

Nyx's claws scraped against the rocky ground as she started to move. "I might be able to use it. If the energy there is strong enough, I can try to activate a teleportation device. Or maybe call for help."

She tilted her head back and let out a deep, resonating roar that echoed across the rocky landscape. The sound carried for miles, a primal call for an ally she knew would answer.

Moments later, the ground trembled faintly beneath heavy footsteps, and Rexy appeared, lumbering into view. The T-Rex's frame loomed massive against the horizon, her scales glistening with sweat and blood. A jagged, bloody scar ran down her thick neck, the wound fresh and angry.

"Rexy!" Nyx said, rushing toward her friend. She sniffed at the wound instinctively, catching the metallic tang of blood. "You're hurt."

Rexy panted, her breaths labored. "Got into a fight with a Therizinosaurus," she said, her voice strained. "Didn't think they were still alive, but... well, they are."

Nyx frowned, stepping closer to inspect the wound. "Will you be alright?"

Rexy grunted, her golden eyes narrowing. "I'll live. But where are we going?"

"We're heading to the volcano," Nyx said, glancing toward the distant plume of smoke rising into the sky.

At that, Rexy stiffened. "That volcano is active, Nyx. It's dangerous."

"I know," Nyx replied, her tone calm but resolute. "That's why we're going. The energy there might be enough to help us. Now, hurry. We don't have time to waste."

Rexy let out a low rumble of uncertainty but didn't argue. The three of them—Nyx, Ripper, and Rexy—set off together, their forms silhouetted against the fiery glow of the distant volcano. Behind them, the wasteland remained silent, but the storm brewing ahead promised chaos yet to come.