"When pushed to the edge, even prey becomes the predator."

Morning came slowly, the pale light of dawn creeping through the jungle canopy, casting fractured patterns on the damp ground below. Nyx stirred as Kalifa's hand gently shook her shoulder, her touch light but insistent. The humid air clung to her skin as her glowing red eyes flickered open, her muscles stiff and aching from the constant tension of survival.

"Wake up," Kalifa whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft rustle of leaves. Beside her stood two boys, their expressions cautious but curious.

"These are Jinx and Omer," Kalifa said, motioning toward them.

Nyx sat up slowly, the movement accompanied by the faint creak of her joints. She took a moment to study the two newcomers—Jinx, with his mop of dark, curly hair and wiry frame, and Omer, slightly shorter but broader in build, his wide eyes darting nervously toward the trees as if expecting a Trandoshan to leap out at any moment.

"Nice to meet you," Nyx said softly, offering them a small nod. Her voice carried a calm authority, but her mind was already scanning their surroundings, alert for any sign of danger.

As she rose to her feet, her muscles protested, her sore legs trembling slightly. She stretched carefully, rolling her shoulders and flexing her fingers, the movement small but deliberate. She could feel the faint tug of dried mud caked along her arms and legs, remnants of the prior day's escape.

"Let's move," she said finally, her voice firm. "We can't stay here. If we stay in one place too long, they'll find us."

The group slipped out of the small cave that had sheltered them overnight, their movements cautious and deliberate. The jungle felt alive with sound—the distant chirping of insects, the rustle of leaves as unseen creatures moved through the undergrowth, and the faint, ominous creak of trees swaying in the morning breeze. Every noise felt amplified, a potential sign of danger.

Nyx's senses were sharp, her glowing red eyes scanning the dense foliage ahead. She noticed the smallest details: the soft sheen of dew clinging to the ferns, the faint shimmer of spider silk stretched between low branches, the glint of sunlight catching on the curve of a blade of grass.

Nearby, in a makeshift clearing, the Trandoshan leader was already awake. He sat hunched over a large rock, his scaled hands gripping a blade with jagged edges. The weapon glinted faintly in the weak sunlight as he methodically sharpened it, the scraping sound rhythmic and deliberate.

The leader's scaled face was set in a grim scowl, his yellow eyes narrowing as he muttered to himself. Bloodstained bandages were wrapped tightly around one arm, evidence of a skirmish from the previous day. The remains of a half-eaten carcass—a small jungle mammal—lay discarded at his feet, its fur matted with blood. The leader's rage simmered just beneath the surface, his grief for his son fueling his cruel determination.

Nyx watched him from the shadows, her lips curling into a cold smile as she crouched low. She could feel the shift within her as she silently allowed her Indoraptor form to take over. The transformation was fluid and unnerving, her muscles elongating, her claws extending with a faint, metallic scrape. Her quills bristled, catching the faint breeze as her frame grew larger, more menacing.

She moved like a shadow, silent and deliberate, her glowing red eyes locked onto the camp. The leader's scouts were stationed on the perimeter, their blaster rifles held loosely as they scanned the jungle with lazy movements. Nyx noticed every detail—the way one scout's claws idly scratched at his neck, the way another's armor was smeared with dirt and faint bloodstains.

She struck with precision.

The first scout didn't even see her coming. Her claws slashed through his neck, the motion clean and practiced. Blood spattered onto the leaves, bright and crimson against the deep green. She caught his falling body before it hit the ground, dragging it silently into the underbrush.

The second scout turned just in time to see her, his eyes widening in shock. He raised his blaster, but Nyx was faster. Her talons tore through his chest plate, cutting deep into flesh and shattering bone. She pushed him backward into a tree, the impact snapping his spine with a sickening crack.

One by one, she dismantled the perimeter. Her claws disarmed another scout—literally—severing his hand at the wrist before sinking her fangs into his throat. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth as she dropped his lifeless body into the mud.

With the scouts eliminated, she moved toward the heart of the camp. Her glowing red eyes locked onto the leader, who was still sharpening his blade, oblivious to the fate that had befallen his guards.

Nyx circled the camp, her massive frame blending seamlessly into the shadows. Her claws scraped lightly against the ground as she moved, a deliberate sound meant to unsettle him. The leader paused, his scaled head tilting as he sniffed the air.

"Show yourself, monster," he growled, his voice low and guttural.

Nyx didn't reply. Instead, she pounced.

Her claws raked across his shoulder, the sharp talons slicing through his flesh and peeling back scales like paper. Blood poured from the wound, staining his armor and splattering onto the dirt. The leader roared in pain, his blade falling from his hands as he staggered back.

Nyx didn't let up. She sank her fangs into his other shoulder, the force of her bite tearing away a chunk of muscle. She could taste the bitterness of his blood, thick and metallic, as it dripped down her jaw.

He thrashed beneath her, his claws scraping at her sides, but she was too strong. She forced him to the ground, pinning him with her massive claws. One talon dug into his chest, another pressing against his throat. His eyes were wild with fear, his breathing ragged and wet.

Nyx hissed low, her breath hot against his face. "This is your end," she growled, her voice a guttural snarl.

With one swift motion, she slashed his throat. The sharp talons cut through scales, flesh, and muscle, severing his jugular. Blood sprayed in an arc, soaking the ground beneath him. The leader gurgled, his eyes rolling back as his body went limp.

Nyx stood over his corpse, her chest heaving, the jungle eerily silent around her. Blood dripped from her claws, pooling at her feet. She let out a sharp exhale, her red eyes narrowing as she looked toward the jungle beyond.

"Pathetic," she muttered, her voice cold and laced with disdain.

Without another glance at the body, she melted back into the shadows, the jungle swallowing her whole.