Beyond the Darkness

Tarkin resisted, shoving back and gritting his teeth as he tried to push the Zabrak's back toward the boy so he could get a clear shot while working on getting the staff away at the same time.

Sirejj suddenly brought up his knee in an effort to kick him away and free his weapon. This man was stronger than he looked.


(wondering how this would end. We could a) have kid shoot him but obvs not kill him or b) third party attackers show up or c) another idea)

(Third party/predators might be a good idea because these two might kill each other otherwise)

The knee caught him in the stomach and Tarkin huffed, winded, but kept an iron grip on the staff, bringing it close to his chest in an attempt to guard it as he returned the maneuver.

(they most likely would)

Sirejj lowered his head. His horns were sharp and could to plenty of damage, especially to one's face.

From the distance there was the noise of something huge moving through the trees.

"Oh, kriff...sir? Sir?" The boy took a few steps back. Tarkin, paying no attention, stumbled to his feet and pulled the staff again, trying to drag Sirejj off balance.
"Shoot him," he ordered, glancing toward the trees. One thing at a time...

Sirejj heard the beast and struggled to free his staff from Tarkin's hands. He wasn't leaving it behind.

There was a sound of crashing as the beast moved closer. By the sound, it was a lylek. Gutkurrs were pack hunters, and this was a singular creature.

The boy, trembling, turned and instead shot blindly at the beast. Tarkin gave a little slack to let Sirejj pull harder, then let go abruptly to make him fall. He drew his hunting knife from its sheath.

Sirejj fell onto his back and decided it was best if he exit the situation. Scrambling back away from the blade, he got to his feet and took off. All the better if these two, who'd scratched him up and caused him to lose his quarry, were eaten alive.

Tarkin resisted the urge to smack the boy upside the head and tore after Sirejj. He could hear the boy and the beast following close behind.

Sirejj, not intending to make further acquaintances, leapt to the treetops and ran along the heavy branches, well out of reach of anyone along the ground.

Tarkin nearly stopped in his surprise at the agility of his adversary, but he quickly caught himself and kept going.
The creature was gaining on them; he'd lost track of the boy but assumed he was still somewhere behind him. Tarkin had lost his rifle, but he could go back for it in the daytime. He squinted into the trees, trying to spot the Zabrak.

Sirejj could hear the beast closing in. He hoped it would find and devour the annoying human who chased him. He was at home in the wilderness and could almost make it at top speed through the treetops, even toting his staff along with him. He would lose the human in the brush and circle back either the next day or when they human had given up and see if he could find any evidence left by his original quarry.

Tarkin couldn't see him, but he could hear him. The lylek was closing in fast. Getting up a tree wouldn't stop the thing, and Tarkin could run for awhile but he'd get tired eventually. He didn't see a lot of options here.
He skidded to a halt and unclipped the small blaster pistol from his belt, holding it and the hunting knife tightly as he waited for the beast to draw near.

The creature was alone. If there had been others, he would have been in trouble. Even Jedi had trouble slaying these things, and there were accounts of them being killed when the lyleks appeared in groups. But this one, a young hunter, was all too confident. It tore through the brush and shrieked, searching for its prey.

Tarkin darted to the side, waiting for it to pass or round on him before leaping up and trying to get purchase on its back. He stabbed at the thorax with his knife.