Fighting to Endure (FINISHED)

[Xazor Elessar]

7 AM

The figure of a woman passed through the halls of the Living Quarters at the Greater Jedi Order. Her shadow danced along the wall as she made her way toward the exit of the large complex. A small figure, that of a young boy, followed close to her. Both were carrying a satchel of things that they would need for the next week that they would be absent from the Jedi Order.

As the woman walked, her red robes flowed behind her like the waves of the ocean. Her waist length blonde hair was done up in Garou Warrior braids that swung in time with her steps. The gold coins wove into them clanged together softly, keeping the rhythm of an unheard song that lived in her heart. The woman was well known around the Jedi Order, and she would be missed in her absence. The woman was Xazor Dawnstrider....and the boy following closly was a student of hers...a Padawan named Chance.

The day was bright as she pushed the large doors of the Living Quarters open. The suns greeted them and kissed the dew on the grass as they walked down the path toward a speeder. Both Master and Padawan loaded themselves without a words, and blasted with speed toward the Docking Bay Complex. After five minutes of whizzing past slow moving pedestrians and stalled hover cycles, the pair finally reached their destination. Xazor helped Chance out of the speeder and they quickly made their way through the thick crowd...then stopped at a beautiful ship. The name "Escape" was printed in silver on the side of the X-Wing fighter. The Jedi Knight loaded their things in the back cargo department....and then climbed a small ladder to reach her place at the controls in the cockpit. Chance made his way in safely, as the Knight flipped a few switches. A warm humming sound followed by a gradually increasing whine greeted them this morning. It was now 7:15 on her crono, and time to depart.

A large jolt rocked the ship as Xazor plucked a few more switches and pressed a series of buttons. The RPM's quickly climbed as she turned the large ship around and slowly crawled along the set runway. Suddenly the Fighter lurched forward and picked up speed...then flew down the runway at an amazing speed. Chance seemed a bit frightened at the sudden load of G's that were put upon his body as they made their way past the Bay doors. Pulling the handles all the way down, the X-Wing seemed to go straight up in the air as it fought to escape the gravity of the planet. A few more seconds of the climb passed and two large booms echoed in their ears and those of the people left on land, as the X-Wing broke the sound barrier and passed through the gravitational field of Arcan. Smiling to herself, she set the coords into the computer and sat back as the ship jumped into hyperspace.

"Relax now....we'll be there in a little while..."

She said softly and smiled at her Padawan. Hopefully his tension would let up a little now that they were on their way. The nervewrecking part was over....and they would be safe. The Knight recalled her first mission, and the terror she found in flying with her Master. He was so aggressive in his Y-Wing....but he was a great pilot. Now she had picked up on his abilities and used her own talents while flying. Sighing gently, she looked at the streaks that flew past them. They were really stars...but one could not recognize their detail while in hyperspace. So she closed her eyes and imagined them....thinking about the great mission that lay ahead of them. What work they had set ahead of them once they reached the planet of Detrano in search of the ancient weapon....a sword named "Endurance".....

[Chance]

His Master’s X-wing was an impressive ship to the young half-draekard boy whom had only ridden in a craft near its size once. He heft exited as the craft lifted up into the air and taxied out of the hangar and into the bright sunny day. His excitement was temporarily lost when Escape lurched forward and out of the bay, a word that was similar to “Ack” escaped his lips as the two sonic booms echoed around the starcraft.

"Relax now.... We’ll be there in a little while..." His master spoke softly to the boy, whose heart beat like a cornered rabbit at the time. Her words reassured him greatly.

“I’ll try…” He responded, his voice shaken from the experience. Then his attention was caught in the streaking stars outside the cockpit. His hands pressed against the cold transparent shielding that kept the two inside the craft as he gazed out in wonder. How cool they were! He thought secretively, smiling to himself.

Long after leaving Arcan Xazor’s X-wing exited in a cloud and flash of light from hyperspace. Chance had fallen asleep from watching the passing stars and snored quietly…

[Xazor Elessar]

Suddenly it seemed as though the breaks were put on. The X-Wing Fighter came to a near standstill as it passed through a cloud and a flash of light. All of the stars bounced back from streaks of light, to little dots of silver in the black velvet sky. Out ahead of them loomed a giant planet colored with spots of blue and green everywhere. Various patches of clouds drifted along the surface of its atmoshpere.

A little buzzer went off inside the cockpit, telling Xazor what she already knew, that they had arrived. The Knight gently shook Chance out of his sleep as they prepared to descend. Suddenly Xazor pushed down on the controls and tilted them to the left. The Fighter immediatly fell into a spiraling nose dive into Detrano's atmosphere. Two more sonic booms were heard as they broke the sound barrier once again....and the ship entered the lower atmosphere as a blazing fireball. The heat shields held up well and did their job, though, for the two inside the craft remained as safe as ever.

The ship continued its very aggressive plunge, much to the dismay of Xazor's worried Padawan, until she pulled up on the controls once again. After passing through a layer of white fluffy clouds, the craft finally touched down on an unkept runway. At the end of it, a small space craft shack lay. Despite its run down appearance, it was good enough to house the Knight's Fighter. Taxying it in carefully, they finally came to a complete rest once inside. Xazor flipped a few switches and pressed a few buttons.....and finally the ship began its cool down process.

The hatch of the cockpit hissed open and warm humid air flooded the once cool climate they were in. Xazor hopped onto the forewing and then climbed down, walking underneath to reach up in time to help Chance down from his tall place. It appeared as though he had grown a bit taller since the time he had arrived at the Greater Jedi Order, and she was so proud of him.

The Knight and her Padawan made their way to the back of the craft where Xazor opened the cargo door, then pulled out their satchels. She slung it around her neck and under her arm...to rest against her back for easy transport as they walked through the thick jungles that covered this planet.

"This is a very important mission, Chance...and your first one. I know you shall do well...stay close to me and use all that I have taught you."

She said softly, gently laying a hand on his shoulder before they made their way out of the run down space craft shack. Looking about for a moment, Xazor began walking down an overgrown path, following the directions she had written out on a piece of holo-paper. The Garou woman opened her senses completely to the Force and motioned for her Padawan to walk beside her as they began their journey.....

[Chance]

The shock of re-entering atmosphere wasnt as bad as exiting to Chance. Rather, it was quite fun to the boy.

Once the craft had landed, Chance gazed out the port window and hopped down after Xazor. Retreiving his pack and slinging it over his shoulder, Chance set about 'exploring' the shack as Xazor made head's or tails of where they were. When she called for him to follow her down a overgrown path, Chance obligated and followed closely.

His ears swivled back and forth and perked taking each sound of the surrounding area. His sences were also open to the force, Listening to each animal speak and each tree move. Every few minutes he would stop and pick up an interesting looking rock or examine a plant or bug.

They continued down the path and Chance was feeling abit bored, then he remembered that he had packed a pouch full of sand from the jungle the night before to use for play. Digging it out of the bag Chance poured a small amount of the fine grained substance into the palm of his hand and blew into it. Concentrating on reviving his 'pet' wyvern with the force, Chance grinned as the flying lizard made of flame emerged from the cloud of sand.

Chance requested it to fly around and 'play'. The wyvern did so quite happily and soon landed on Chance's shoulder, even though it was an illusion the boy thought it was real. Soon he was happily chatting away with it listening intently.

Suddenly Chance felt something strange as he and Xazor walked down the path, he couldn't find out what it was or rather who it was and it didnt offer him much comfort. "Umm Xazor.. I think someone's watching us.." he mummbled, tugging on Xazor's sleeve..

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor closed her eyes every once and a while as they made their way down the path. The animals spoke of danger....warning her not to continue. Shaking off the thought, she watched her Padawan play with the illusion that he had created the previous day. His skills had come very far since he joined the Greater Jedi Order. She was proud of him and knew that in the coming future, he would become a Knight.

He shocked her a bit with his words, for they seemed to come out of no where. No one would have followed them here....she had saw no one on her radar scope as they left Arcan and entered the atmosphere of Detrano....unless she missed something...looking around, she seemed to pick up the pace a bit, a look of concern on her face. All around them the noises of the jungle...the animals chattering and the trees swaying....could be heard, along with the clanging of metal on metal due to the heavy load of weapons that were hanging all over Xazor's body.

Suddenly the Knight stopped and placed her arm out in front of Chance. Closing her eyes, she listened once again....the animals told her to watch her back....as well as her senses said the same them. Turning around, she saw nothing, but kept herself open to the Force and nature. She continued on with Chance at her side until they came to a choice. On their left and right were paths and the one they were on continued in front of them. The Knight used her better judgement, choosing the on to their right which was overgrown and appeared to be less traveled in the recent.

"Be mindful of the Force and all around you, my Padawan. Indeed, your observation was correct. Someone's following us...."

She did not wish to scare him, but honesty between them would allow this mission to run smoothly. The Knight took her duel-phase saber from her weapons belt and slipped her finger over the ignition switch. Two blue blades shot forth from the shiny silver hilt with a hissing sound. Either she would need "Love" to cut through branches and brush...or she would have to defend them already. Chance was good with his saber, and could aid them as well...but she hoped that it would not come to that.....

[Chance]

The presence made Chance a bit edgy, therefore making the illusion also agitated. He could 'hear' the thoughts of the animals just as Xazor could, telling them to stop and to go back.

When Xazor ignited her dual bladed saber Chance began to think something was amis, something bad. As they came to the fork, Chance took a quick glance around before following his master through the foliage, his left hand hovered over his own saber just in case...

Soon the duo came to a river which cut across the path they were now on. What seemed to be the foundation of a bridge stood out on the sandy river bed and rotted wooden planks visible through the water. Fish jumped here and there over the crystal clear river and seemed to give the place a passive feeling.

Chance took in a deep breath and heard something moving in the brushes behind the two, his right ear twitched trying to locate the sound but couldn't for it was gone. He took a quick glance over his shoulder and edged closer to the bank.

"How are we going to find this thing we are looking for, Xazor? If it's suppose to be hidden really good?"

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor used the Force to power herself in a jump across the river. She landed on the rotting bridge and waited for Chance to crossover as well. Once he was safely by her side, she continued leading him down the path. Many large branches lay in their way and they had to climb over the fallen tree limbs. She thought over his question and looked to the paper that was in her hand.....but it was gone. I lost the most important thing to us.....what am I going to do? She thought to herself. They were moving to quickly and whatever it was that was following them seemed to have dropped back. She couldn't locate the paper, so now they would have to rely on their senses...and the Force. The day had gone too fast, it seemed, but a good majority of their time was spent enroute to the planet.

The suns were setting and Xazor looked around in the clearing which they happened upon. Quickly moving about, she found a small cave off to one side of the clearing. It would keep them dry, for now the rain began to fall.

"We'll have to stop and camp for the night...we'll resume our search tomorrow. And don't worry about the sword....nothing can hide from the Force."

She said, answering his question from a while back. The Knight left him there and ran out to gather some firewood before it got too wet. She searched and found some quickly....then returned within twenty minutes. The woman set the fire up at the mouth of the cave, the used the Force to start the fire. It gave off a great deal of head and warmed the cave right up...giving it a cozy feeling. She had brought a few pairs of Garou robes and blankets with them. Pulling them from her large satchel, she wrapped some around Chance and herself. The days were warm on the planet...but the rain made the nights cold and damp. The warm furs wrapped around them would keep them from cathcing a sickness.

"Good night my Padawan....sleep well...."

She said softly, and then closed her eyes. The Knight was not actually sleeping deeply, for she was still attuned to the Force, listening to things all around them.....as her body rested in a very deep meditation. It was the best way to go, and brought more energy to her the next day. She hoped that Chance would try to sleep, at least...

[Chance]

How could you sleep with someone out there? he thought, looking at Xazor's resting form. The comfy blankets kept the half-draekard from being cold, but chills ran up and down his spine.

He would try to sleep but knew he couldn't with the paper missing and it no where to be seen. He kept thinking the thing he felt earlyer was following them for some reason, sooner or later it would catch up.. and then it would be bad.

Chance layed down, using his pack as a makeshift pillow. The wyvern began to sing a little lulliby in it's own tounge, the music of it's voice was enchanting and soon enough the boy was fast asleep....

[Jared Mriad]

The figure that had followed the two Jedi was still waiting... watching. Even though the boy had fallen asleep, Jared knew the other Jedi would be ready for anything.

In his left fist he held a fold of paper, written on the inside was the directions to his goal. What he was sent out to find, a sword. A unique sword.

Oh, how he would love to slay the two jedi while they slept. But, he would wait until he had the sword "Endurance" first, Then he would make the jedi... all the jedi.. suffer.

A sinister grin crossed the sith warrior's face, images of himself over the bleeding corpses of his enemys flashed through his mind.

In time... All in dues time. it spoke to him, calling..commanding.

Turning, Jared glanced down at the paper in his hand. He knew of the location of the sword now, he had memorized it's location as soon as he obtained the paper from the older Jedi. He stood up from his crouching poisition roughly 20 feet from the cave's entrance where a small fire blazed, waving his hand Jared qwenched the flames and laughed. A dark peircing laugh...

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor suddenly sat up from her meditation. The fire was out...and it was getting cold. Quickly she placed her blankets on Chance and ignited her saber, clipping the wood on her way out of the cave so that the fire blazed once again.

The duel-phase hummed in her hand as she took off after the figure that had been following them, she knew he had. It was a Sith....not one of great rank, but he was a Darksider nonetheless. The Jedi Knight continued running after him....she would catch him and make him pay for worrying her Padawan. Suddenly in front of him a great Force wall appeared and he slammed into it. Now the Knight would have to run to grab him before he escaped....

[Jared Mriad]

Jared had watched Xazor come out and ignite the fire, his eyes widening he took off deeper into the jungle. Suddenly he hit something with an 'oof'. Abit dazed and wonder what in the nine hells did he run into and hearing Xazor come through the woods Jared took off deeper into the jungle, masking his force signature and practically making himself invisable.

Stopping, He took a quick glace over his shoulder and saw Xazor's azhure blades cutting into the darkness. Quickly readin her mind for Chance's voice, he projected a false sound into her mind that sounded somewhat like the boy's scream. Not another soul heard the 'scream' in the forest, but to Xazor it seemed real as the ground she ran on.

Hoping this would provide enough distraction for him to escape, Jared turned heel once more and dissapeared into the foliage...

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor knew the difference between reality and illusion....wheter it be images or sound. He continued running and then put a voice in her mind. Shaking her head she stopped and turned to go back to the cave. He wasn't worth her time, and she needed rest.

You'd better watch your back...Sith scum....if you don't, I can guarantee that you won't make it off this planet alive....

The words echoed through the young man's mind as the Jedi Knight made her way back to the cave where Chance was still sound asleep. She curled up beside him and brought some blankets over her cold and damp body...allowing the heat from the fire to enshroud them and keep them safe throughout the night....

[Chance]

The Next Morning, 5:50am;

Chance slowly stirred from his deep slumber, peering into the darkness. He noticed Xazor had gone off somewhere earlier because she had moved from her meditation spot.

The fire had died down to glowing orange embers, standing up and keeping the blankets around his body Chance stepped out of the mouth of the cave and into the soon to be lighted day. The rain had stopped but everything was wet and there could not be a possibility of dry firewood anytime soon.

The previous night, he had dreamnt that a dark presence was going to do something. For what he did not know was Xazor's chase through the forest after the Sith and his escape.

"Hmm.." He mummbled, watching the sun rise over the horizon. Casting off the blankets and refolding them neatly, Chance bounded down to the foliage front. Something had caught the rising light and glimmered. Crouching down, Chance reached out and hand and dragged out the hilt of a lightsaber from the dead leaves.

"What in the world?" He said to himself, his sences aided with the force told him Xazor was begining to stir. She would have some answers for the mysterious saber.

[Xazor Elessar]

The Jedi Knight awoke from her meditative sleep, this time it was morning. Smiling to herself, she folded the blankets up and put them in her satchel, when she realized that Chance was gone. Her heart began to race until she felt his signature in the Force. She took a deep breath of fresh air and exhaled relief.

Getting up from her place, she swung the satchel over her back and lifted Chance's from the ground. The fire was nearly out as she made her way out into the nearly lit day. Her senses quickly located Chance for he was coming back her way with a Lightsaber. She looked at it curiously from a distance until he reached her and placed the hilt in her hands. This is very old.... She thought to herself. Looking around a bit, something large in the distance caught her eye. Taking the saber closer to her eyes, she could see a few words and a date written in a language that she had not needed since some classes she took on the Ancient Jedi Culture. Closing her eyes to remember, she suddenly did.

"I am protected and forever I shall endure..."

She read the words outloud and then put the saber together with what she was thinking. This was used by a Jedi in the time when the sword "Endurance" was created. She remembered reading about this, for on each saber was printed these words of hope. Smiling to herself, she handed the saber back to Chance.

"Hold on to this....you just found a piece of the puzzle. Well done, my Padawan...."

The Knight said brightly, smiling with approval for him. She looked down the path and suddenly took off, handing him his satchel when he caught up to her. They ran down the path side by side toward the large object which had caught her eye. They seemed to run for ten minutes until suddenly Xazor stopped, her Padawan catching onto the idea. Before them lay a huge complex....covered in thick vines and branches. There was no visible entry way, so they would have to investigate. She had lost the paper before, but her senses told her that this was a temple, and perhaps the one that held the wonderful weapon that they sought. Then something caught her eye on the front of the temple. In the same language that was on the saber, the word, "Forbidden", was deeply enscribed across an archway. It sent a chill down her spine and she turned to her Padawan.

"This is the "Temple of the Forbidden"...it holds the ancient swords "Endurance"...the one which we seek. From the looks of the building, it will be hard to find.....stay close to me, and if you get lost, speak to me through the Force and I shall find you. I'll protect you at all costs, my Padawan. You're brave....you're strong....and we'll need each others help. The saber that you found, use it if you need to. That is yours to keep if you wish.....the gods have bestowed a gift upon you. Let us go now, and may the Force be with us...."

She said softly, smiling down on him. The Knight laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently, sending a comforting wave through the Force. He would do well, and now the real test was on the brink. It would test all that he had.....but he was ready.....

[Chance]

As they came up to the temple, Chance's grip on the old saber tightend. When Xazor put a ressauring hand on his shoulder, the grip loosed... abit.

"How do we get in if there isnt a door?" He asked, putting a hand on one of the largest vines and 'touched' the mind of the plant. He concentrated and gently asked where the entrance was, the mind of the plant resisted to reply for a few moments. Chance asked again, more assuringly.

Near where Xazor searched, a tangled mass of vines moved and uncovered a doorlike object with a round slot in the center of a star. Silently thanking the plant, Chance examined the door carefully....

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor moved back away as the vines moved. Smiling to herself, she placed a hand on the door and eyed the star with a slot in the middle. It was a bit confusing, but the words above the door read:

"To enter here one needs a key, look around and you shall see...."

Lofting a brow, she looked around and spotted the saber in Chance's hand. Taking it from him quickly, she looked on the bottom of the hilt, and sure enough....the shape of a small star was visible. She grinned and shoved the hilt into the door.....then suddenly several parts of the door began to rotate one another and move in separate ways. The hissing sound that it gave off grew and grew until suddenly a burst of light shot out of the slit and the door blasted to the sides....now it was open. The Knight had to literally lift her jaw off the ground. She turned to Chance and handed him the saber once again.

"We need to enter now.....you have done so well, and speaking to the plant just found us our way in. You'll make a great Knight of the Order someday, my Padawan....."

She said with a soft smile. Looking into the menacing darkness.....she could see nothing, but their sabers could provide the light that they needed to find the path to "Endurance"....

[Chance]

Chance also had to 'lift' his jaw off the ground, He never knew the old saber was a key. Looking at the middle section of the star he noticed the saber would pop out after the door reclosed via a stone nitch that held a small hammer.

Following Xazor inside, Chance unclipped his own saber and added it's glowing green light to her blue glow. They contiuned down the corridor until they came to a fork. The boy felt out with the force just as Xazor had told him to do and felt a strange sensation. Down one corridor, Pain and Death. The other.. Chance couldnt tell what the other sensation was..

"Xazor.. I... I can't understand.. There's a thing down each path.." He stuttered, holding his own saber close..

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor stretched out her senses as her Padawan did. Their minds touched briefly and she smiled to herself. Down the path to their left was pain, death...suffering. Straight ahead was fear, unease and dissension. Finally down the path to their right was peace.....love and joy, protection and peace. Smiling, Xazor did something surprising to her Padawan....she took him down the path to the left.

"It's a trap....an illusion.....see through it I can, and if you open yourself deeper to the Force, you too shall feel it."

She said softly as they continued down the corridor. Their sabers hummed together as the blue and green mixed to create a pleasant light that lead them through the thick darkness. Xazor heard something...her ultrasensitive ears jumped slightly at the sound of....footsteps. Sighing gently, she felt out the presence and knew that it was the same one that had followed them the previous day. Despite any concerns she held, the Knight continued down the path until they came to a large door. Above it words in the same language used on all of the things she had read so far, were there.

"Those who enter shall find suffering and death, so leave once again little theft...."

The words were a bit chilling and sent a ripple down the young woman's spine. This whole temple is a trap....the creator of it intended no one to get to the sword..... She thought to herself, and let her thoughts drift into the mind of her Padawan....for she wished to keep nothing from him. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of a rodent scurrying along the floor. She turned to Chance, wondering if he had any ideas....for now the test began.....

[Chance]

Chance thought as they came to the door, the ward above the steel framed door made Chance's spine shiver with chills.

"Xazor.." He mummbled, putting a hand on the door. Chance then pushed it and jumped back as the door splitted and opened. In a split second, Chance turned on heel and 'tackled' Xazor to the ground. A rusted spear flared out of the doorframe from the roof, a dangling skeleton hanging from it's impaled solar plexus. The spear stoped with it's point right through Xazor's chest IF she stood there any second longer.

Chance gathered himself up and helped Xazor to her feet, "..Watch out." He finished, smiling lightly. He had senced that something was going to fly out, weither arrow or sword just a second before it was too late. Looking inside the doorframe, Chance saw a large beir with several armed stone soldiers in a circle around the bier. On the platform a old sword hung in the air suspended by nothing.

Slowly walking into the room, Chance made his way up to the beir and looked up at the sword. On the beir words were written as follows:

Beware Endurance is not, Death is too.

Chance cocked his head to the side, his left ear perking rythemiclly. He heard something moving inside the room but could not locate it once again.....

OOC- Xazor, Could you PM me sometime, GOt a interesting idea to discuss :)

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor saw the sword and her heart swelled with pride. They had done their job and could retrieve the sword at last. Putting all feelings of uncertainty aside.....the Knight ignored her instincts and ran into the room. Looking about for a way to get up to the sword, she saw a small platform near the bier.

She turned to Chance and motioned for him to follow her. The Knight seemed to sneak up on the sword as she walked toward its mount. It was mystical....hanging in the air as it was. It took the Garou's breath away to see such a spectacal and feel its power. Finally Endurance was within their reach. Then Xazor got an idea. Suddenly she outstretched her hand and called the sword to her using the Force. It came flying at her and then a deep rumbling could be heard...and the room began to shake......

[Chance]

Chance stummbled around as the room shook. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the stone soldiers animate and break from their platforms. In each hand they held a sword just like the one Xazor now held and a buckler on their left arm.

"Xazor!" He shouted as the stone men raised their weapons and closed in on his master and friend. Grabbing his lime lightsaber from it's clipping, He charged forward at one of the statues and swiped out with the humming blade and severing the stone legs from the rest of the creature. It fell and exploded into a cloud of dust and stone fragments.

Two of the seven soldiers left came after the young half-draekard, swinging their swords. Chance came up with a parry and blocked two incoming blades. To the boy's disbelief, their blades passed right through the plasma blade and buried theirselves into the rough stone floor.

"Help!" He shouted again as he dodged another blade and concentrated on making the stone floor under their feet like water. One stone golem dropped it's swords and swung at Chance, hitting him in the right side with a sickening bone crunch. Yelping in surprize and pain, the stone floor sloshed and liquified under the golem's feet and they sank instantly as Chance withered on the floor clutching his right side and trying to concentrate on healing the broken rib. Unfortunatly, he could only mend the pain and not correct the broken peices.

Struggling to his feet, Chance gasped as four of the creatures moved in onto Xazor whom was entralled by the sword in her hands. Picking up his dropped lightsaber, Chance charged forward blocking the pain from his mind saber at ready. Jumping infront of Xazor Chance continusly yelled as he kept the creatures at bay. The force signaled him that two were going to inclose at once and Chance whipped his blade left then right. In the past few days he had become more and more profeincent in the weapon.

The creature's arms dropped with a thud. Beads of sweat popped out on the young boy's forhead as he defended one of his only friends with fury and knowing that if she did not drop the sword. They would die..

Removing another set of arms from another creature, Chance roared out a battle cry. His lime hair began to softly glow a pale blue and lift up into the air, Chance could feel every part of his mind and body increase. His agility, strength and dexterity peaked. A Golem struck forward with it's blade and nipped Chance's side producing a streak of crimson down his jedi uniform.

Yelping in pain, Chance jabbed forward into the golem and pulled the blade up and left. The top half of the creature crumbled and fell to the floor. Spinning, Chance looked onto Xazor with a look of mixed fury with concern. He grabbed the blade above the hilt and yanked the sword form Xazor's hands in the process cutting his palm open and smearing blood across the blade. Chance dropped the blade to the ground and turned back to protecting the Knight....

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor couldn't believe what was going on around her. As she held the sword in her hands....she felt all powerful....untouchable, and completely whole. But she wasn't, she was torn and had to make a tough decision. It was evident that even her Padawan knew more at the moment while she was entranced.

Suddenly the room seemed to explode and liquify at the same time. The floor became water, and through she was blinded by the power of the weapon in her hands....the Force seemed to scream a message into the young Knight's head. It all hit her then, and the weapon was torn from her hands by those of her Padawan. At first she was upset and shocked, but then a soft smile came over her lips as she realized what he had done....

With that, the stone figures stopped moving and the ones that remained standing....fell. The weapons they held crashed to the wet floor and shattered under the water. He had broken the "spell". The Knight did not know what to say at the moment as she looked around the room of the temple they were in, until she finally saw an engraving appear on the sword that rested in the bloody hands of the young man.

"The one who does not succumb....shall endure...."

She looked up from the writing, her deep blue eyes met Chance's for a moment before she smiled once again. The Knight read the words and said them out loud a few times as she looked at him with an approving nod.

"You have done well my Padawan...the Force is strong with you. Indeed, there are even things that I have yet to learn that you already know. You have passed the test....and it was not even one that I had to give."

Just as she finished the words, her ultra sensitive Garou ears picked up on a slight noise. It was a faint cracking sound far off in the distance....and it sounded like it was coming from the only way in and out of the temple. Looking to Chance, she put her finger up to her lips and grabbed him by the arm.

"Shhh.....we must hurry. Let me see this..."

She said, taking the silver sword in her hands. With that, she spun her Padawan around and tied the weapon to his back with a piece of white silk that she had tied to her own belt. It was secure now, and in the hands of someone she trusted a bit more than herself at the moment. Once she finished tying the last knot, she motioned for him to follow her. The shadows of their figures could be seen dancing along the corridors as their pace quickened due to something in Xazor's heart...something that only she could hear....something that only she could feel.....

[Chance]

Chance saw life return in Xazor's eyes as the sword was ripped from her grasp. His hair returned to it's lime-green color and settled back onto his head, Suddenly he felt Xazor grab his arm and then himself spun around and the sword tied to his back. Nodding as Xazor motioned him to follow Chance held both his hand tight to the wound at his side.

It seemed that the knight knew something Chance did not. The sword on his back offered some feeling of protection, then he stopped dead in his tracks. Someone was at the entrance/exit of the temple. Someone with a dark heart....

[Jared Mriad]

Jared followed the two Jedi's once more, all the way to the temple. Hiding away in the foliage as the two entered. The sith grinned as the two entered the temple.

After a quantity of minutes, Jared exited the foliage and entered the temple himself. He removed the saber key from the door and watched as the stone reconnected it'self to form a barrier. Dropping the key to the ground, it side clipping a stone with a crack, Jared waited for the Jedi's to return.

As he saw the knight round the corner, he grinned. Arms out at his side and ready to engage the implimented kian sabers that were inside the sith's hands..

"JEDI!" He shouted, his voice filled with rage.

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor's heart nearly stopped with shock as she eyed the Sith that stood in their path. Then the adrenaline began rushing through her veins as she growled deeply...her elongated canines gleaming in the light that they caught.

"You'll only die if you stand in our way!"

She called to him and began walking toward the door once again. The sound she had heard was quite loud in her ears....but was not even barly audible to either Chance or Jared. The Knight eyed the Sith Warrior and could tell he was not about to move. She drew her saber, Love, from her belt and ignited it. Two blue blades shot out from both ends of the hilt with a hissing sound. She rushed at the young man and pushed past him, then drove one end of her saber into the stone of the now locked doors. With a driving force, she sent waves of energy into the barricade....using the Force to aid her cause. Suddenly, the structure of the temple began shaking and the slight sound that Xazor had heard....turned into a great wave of rumbling that was audible to even the deafest ear.

[Jared Mriad]

Jared swung sideways as Xazor rushed at him...and past him! What the hell!? he nearly screamed as she slammed her saber into the door. Activating the sabers implanted into his hands, Jared brought the six blades up, three on each hand, and yelped in surprize as the temple began to shake.

"WHAT THE--" He shouted as the temple shook even more, A brick of stone loosened from it's moorings and fell near the sith warrior. "Are you stupid?! Your gonna kill us all!" He shouted again, hanging with his back against the wall. What is that jedi doing?! He thought. And then it hit him; The Boy.

Pushing off the wall, Jared half ran half stumbled at the boy. Grabbing Chance around his chest Jared hefted the boy up into the air by holding his neck. "Hey!" He shouted, lifting one still ignited tri-saber up to the gasping boy's neck.

[Chance]

Chance grasped at his elongated ears as the deafening roar eccoed through the temple. Screaming as the roar filled his sencitive ears and caused a great deal of pain.

Then he was silenced as an arm went under his arm and a hand locked around his neck and lifted the boy into the air. The sith had got him! the half-draekard padawan could not call for help and his breath was slowly becoming more labored and difficult to breathe.

All Chance could do was gasp for breath as the sith brought up his weapon to Chance's neck and face. The sword's hilt and crossbar dug into the boy's back as Jared kept ahold of Chance's small frame...

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor continued driving her saber into the stone of the door, releasing her own life energy combined with the Force....to set them free. It was wearing her down at a great rate of speed as she continued. Suddenly she felt her Padawan in great distress and turned around to see the Sith Warrior holding him up by the neck. With quick motion, she ripped her saber from the stone and dashed at the two. The Knight disengaged one side of her saber and slammed the hilt into the base of Jared's neck. As he bent over, she drove her elbow into the center of his spine...right into a pressure point. It would paralyze him from the waist down for several minutes, but he would have time.

Bending over then, she scooped up Chance and looked at the door. The temple was caving in....and they would die unless she thought. Closing her eyes then, she remembered something. A smile crossed her lips as she held out her hands in front of her. The adrenaline rushed through her body and she became stronger, her body began changing. She was transitioning into her feral form...but had to accomplish one thing before she could stop. Suddenly light shot forth from her hands and lit up the temple brighter than any normal day could have. It was the "Dawnstrider's Light" and it blinded the Sith with the light then created cracks in the walls. With that the doors slowly pulled away from one another and natural light flooded in, bathing the three in its warmth.

Xazor hefted Jared over her shoulder as well as Chance and rushed out of the falling structure. Just as she passed through the door, a great explosion could be heard....for it imploded from the inside out. Dust and debries blew outward and knocked the trio over, covering them in a heap. After a few minutes of laying there, movement could be seen as the Jedi Knight and her Padawan rose from the pile.....followed by the Sith Warrior. In the back drop was the fallen temple...and on Chance's back......the sword.....

[Jared Mriad]

Why? He thought as the temple imploded apon it'self. Why did she save me?.

"Why.." Jared mummbled, his cobalt eyes drilling into the two Jedi's before him. "Why would you not leave me?"

Jared struggled to his feet. His head pounded with pain.. "Tell me... Xazor. Why?" He drilled, stepping slowly torward the Jedi.

"I am a sith! Your job is to bring justice to this world.. I've killed hundrends of innocents.. But you.. you.." he mummbled the last, collasping to the ground. The pressure point nerves located where Xazor had struck him screamed in pain..

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor gently shook her head and smiled gently.

"I am a Jedi.....my job is to bring peace and justice to the galaxy. I bring love and light to all who need it. You my friend are one of those people. You may kill, but I do not....I save....."

She said softly, placing her hand on his shoulder. With her touch, she sent a great healing wave through the Force and into his body. Just a minute later, the pain was gone...and he was restored. The Knight looked down at Chance and bowed her head.

"Our work here is done my Padawan. We now shall return to Avalon and discuss this with the Council. As for you, Sith Warrior Mriad...may the Force be with you..."

She said with a gentle smile and then disappeared into the brush with her student. The two walked along a cut path, and surprisingly to them, they stumbled upon the broken down hanger where Xazor had left her spacescraft. A smile danced upon her lips as they pushed some brances aside and walked toward the door of the rickety structure. Opening the small and rusted blast door, the Knight made her way to the cockpit and opened the hatch of the ship, she then walked over ot the otherside and stopped.....looking into Chance's bright eyes.

"My Padawan....you have done well. You have made me very proud and you should also be proud of what you have done. It is funny how even you may know more about some things than me. You have learned well, Chance....very very well. Use your knowledge of the Force, and trust in what you can accomplish with that knowledge. Many things in life are decieving, but if your heart and mind are open...you'll see right past those things that are illusions."

She squeezed his shoulder gently and helped him into the passanger seat of the spacecraft. Walking around to the other side, the Knight hopped in and set the coordinates for their trip back to the Temple Avalon.....