"Even the brightest light casts the darkest shadow."

☠⚡⛓

Nyx lay in her cave, her massive frame coiled in restless unease. The dim light filtering through the rocky entrance cast jagged shadows across her obsidian-black scales, her crimson stripe glowing faintly like an ember refusing to die out. Her breath came slow and steady, but her senses remained sharp, attuned to every faint sound and vibration beyond the cave walls.

Then she felt it—a distant tremor, rhythmic and deliberate. Heavy footsteps.

Her amber eyes snapped open, her quills rattling softly as she lifted her head, her nostrils flaring. The ground beneath her vibrated faintly with each step, the unmistakable gait of a large predator. A low hiss escaped her throat, her claws scraping against the stone floor as she rose to her feet, muscles coiling in readiness.

The scent hit her next, carried by the faint breeze—musky, powerful, and distinctly familiar. She crept toward the cave's mouth, her massive silhouette blending into the shadows. Her sharp gaze scanned the rocky terrain outside until she saw it emerge from the horizon.

It was a theropod, its muscular frame unmistakably that of a rex. It was smaller than her, its proportions leaner, but its presence still commanded attention. The creature moved with purpose, its golden eyes scanning the area as its massive head swayed with each step.

Nyx's hiss deepened, her quills flaring like the bristles of an enraged predator. She lowered herself slightly, her glowing red eyes locked onto the intruder. But the rex stopped a short distance from the cave, tilting its head slightly as if studying her.

For a long, tense moment, neither moved, the silence between them heavy with primal understanding.

"Who are you?" Nyx hissed, her voice low and venomous as she stepped forward, her glowing eyes narrowing. Her quills bristled, each one rattling with barely restrained tension.

The smaller rex blinked slowly, its head tilting slightly as it regarded her with what almost seemed like calm. Then it spoke, its voice gravelly but steady.

"My name is Rexy," it said, each word deliberate, its golden eyes fixed on hers. "I'm looking for a way off this frozen rock."

Nyx's quills settled slightly, though the tension in her frame didn't fade. She let out a sharp snort, steam curling from her nostrils as she studied the creature before her. "Rexy," she repeated, her tone laced with suspicion. "And what makes you think you'll find your way off here?"

Rexy stood tall, unflinching under her piercing gaze. "Because I have no other choice," it said simply, its voice carrying a quiet but resolute strength. "And from the looks of you, neither do you."

Nyx growled softly, her claws digging into the stone beneath her feet. The wind howled faintly outside the cave, carrying with it the bitter chill of the desolate world around them. For a moment, the only sound was the rhythmic rise and fall of their breaths, two predators sizing each other up.

"Bold," Nyx said finally, her tone dripping with both disdain and curiosity. "But boldness alone won't save you from this place."

"It hasn't killed me yet," Rexy replied, its lips curling into what could almost be called a smirk.

For the first time, Nyx's growl softened, though the fire in her eyes didn't waver. "Then you're either very lucky," she said slowly, "or very foolish."

Rexy lowered her head, her voice quieter, almost apologetic. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding, Indom. I really am," she said, her tone laced with weariness. "But I've got nowhere else to rest. And your scent..." She sniffed the air and let out a low grunt. "...it's the warmest thing on this frozen rock."

Her gaze shifted, landing on the scattered remnants of a battle near the cave's entrance. Among the debris, a discarded clone helmet sat half-buried in the snow. Rexy nosed it curiously, her massive claws gently nudging it free. She sniffed it once, then gave it a light kick, sending it skittering across the icy ground.

"Don't touch them!" Nyx snapped suddenly, her voice sharp and trembling all at once.

Rexy froze, startled by the rawness in Nyx's tone. She turned her head, golden eyes narrowing as she took a step back. Nyx's quills flared violently, her chest heaving as she stared at the helmet, her claws scraping against the stone floor as if to keep herself steady.

"They're mine," Nyx growled, her voice low but quivering. "You don't touch them. You don't... disrespect them."

Rexy tilted her head, her expression softening slightly. "I didn't mean anything by it," she said carefully. "I didn't know..."

Nyx's glowing red eyes flicked toward her, piercing and furious. "You didn't know?" she hissed, her voice bitter. "Those helmets... those men... they were the only ones who ever stood by me. And now they're gone."

Rexy lowered herself slightly, as if trying to make herself less imposing. "I didn't mean to offend," she said softly. "I've... lost my pack too. I know what that feels like."

For a moment, the tension hung thick between them. Nyx stared at Rexy, her quills trembling, but her snarl faded into something quieter, something more haunted. She turned away, her claws raking through the snow and stone as she muttered, "Just... don't touch them again."

Rexy nodded, stepping back toward the shadows of the cave. "Understood," she murmured, her voice low. The silence stretched between them once more, the faint howling of the wind outside the only sound as the two predators stood in uneasy truce.

SCENEBREAK

In their dimly lit barracks, Rex sat on the edge of his bunk, staring at an old holophoto flickering faintly in his hands. The image captured a moment of rare warmth: Anakin and Nyx both smiling, standing on either side of him, their arms around his shoulders, holding him close. The photo had been taken exactly a year ago—back when Nyx was still a new commander, back when they had first started to know her, to trust her, to call her one of their own.

Rex ran his thumb over the edge of the holophoto, his jaw tight as he took a deep, shaky breath. His chest felt heavy, the ache of loss pressing down on him harder than any battlefield wound. He blinked rapidly, willing the tears away, but they threatened to spill over anyway.

The door to the barracks slid open with a soft hiss, and Cody stepped in, his helmet tucked under one arm. He paused when he saw Rex sitting there, the photo clutched in his hands, and his own expression softened. Quietly, Cody walked over and set his helmet down on the table, the faint clink of duraplast breaking the silence.

Without saying a word, Cody knelt beside his brother and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a firm, grounding embrace. Rex stiffened at first, his training instinctively telling him to hold it together, but Cody didn't let go.

"I miss her, too, vod," Cody said softly, his voice rough with unspoken grief. He rested his chin against Rex's buzzed head, his words muffled but full of raw sincerity.

For a moment, Rex didn't move, his breath hitching as he tried to hold back the storm threatening to break loose. But in the safety of his brother's arms, the weight became too much. The captain's shoulders shook, and finally, the tears came, spilling down his face as he clung to Cody like a lifeline.

"I miss her so much," Rex whispered, his voice cracking. "We were supposed to bring her back..."

Cody tightened his hold, his own eyes damp as he rested his cheek against Rex's head. "I know," he murmured. "I know."

The holophoto, still glowing faintly in Rex's hand, sat between them—a quiet reminder of the bond they shared, and the one they had lost. And in the quiet of their grief, the two brothers let their walls fall, mourning together for the one who was gone.