The forest on Ord Mantell was eerily silent, the dense canopy above casting mottled shadows over the ground below. The air was thick with moisture, and every leaf and branch seemed to hold its breath.

A hunter moved silently through the trees, its movements deliberate and precise. The creature's lean frame was covered in armor-like scales, its reptilian eyes scanning the forest floor with sharp intent. It paused, crouching low as it examined the ground. Claw-tipped fingers traced the faint imprint of something—tracks, pressed lightly into the soft earth.

"C334, seek," it hissed, its voice a guttural rasp.

Beside it, a smaller figure emerged from the shadows. This was C334, a sleek and compact version of the hunter itself, its movements quick and mechanical. Its glowing red optics flickered briefly as it processed the command, then it lowered its snout to the ground and began to scan the area.

The larger hunter straightened, its claws flexing idly as it glanced around, its head tilting slightly to listen. The forest's silence was unnerving, broken only by the faint hum of C334 as it worked.

The hunter's lips curled into a faint snarl, its sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. It could feel it—its prey was close. Very close.

The creature's eyes, narrow slits of burning amber, focused on the hybrid before it. Its voice was a guttural hiss, each word laced with contempt. "Another such hybrid created by humans," it sneered, its tone dripping with disgust. The words hung in the air like a foul stench, each syllable more venomous than the last.

There was a momentary pause, a heavy silence hanging between the two figures as the larger predator took in the sight of the smaller, its gaze sharp and critical. It narrowed its eyes, as if trying to discern the very essence of the being before it. "Why would we want a hybrid made by humans?" it questioned again, the skepticism evident in its voice, a challenge wrapped in disbelief. Its stance shifted slightly, as though it was already considering the unspoken option to tear the hybrid apart in a single motion.

The smaller predator shifted uneasily, its claws scraping against the ground, a subtle tension in the way it held itself. But it said nothing, just waited for the next command, its mind racing with thoughts that it dared not express.

The leader, towering and imposing, stepped forward with a sharp exhale. His breath was like smoke, his features twisted into a sneer as he spoke again, more condescending now, his words dripping with impatience. "It's because you're as dumb as a loaf of bread, that's why." He clicked his tongue with disdain, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had lived through countless battles and commands. "But King Bogey wanted her, and I don't know why, and frankly, I don't care either." The leader gestured dismissively with one hand, his fingers curling in irritation, as if the entire situation were beneath him.

With a grunt of frustration, he thrust the spear forward, the metal tip glinting in the dim light, just short of the smaller creature's chest. The action was a clear order, a silent but sharp command to leave without hesitation. "Go on, find her. Now."

The smaller predator hesitated for a fraction of a second, its chest rising and falling as it weighed the danger of disobeying or complying. Then, it turned and bounded off into the dense underbrush, its feet pounding against the earth with a force that sent small rocks skittering. It disappeared into the shadows, its form swallowed up by the dense foliage, leaving the leader alone, his gaze fixed forward with a cold, calculating look.