LAST DRAGON'S HOPE - Star Wars

Chapter 7

After a solid half-hour trek, they finally reached the dense forest where Luna suggested they could take a break. As they entered the woods, Anubis breathed deeply, savoring the intoxicating scent of the forest—a heavenly aroma for her attuned nostrils. Relaxing into the familiar surroundings, she let her wings unfurl, nearly whacking poor Cody in the head.

"Hey!" he yelped, ducking under the sprawling gold and black wings. Anubis chuckled, offering a sheepish apology. "Sorry about that, Cody. Guess I got a little carried away."

As Cody rubbed his head, he couldn't help but laugh along with her. Despite the brief moment of chaos, the tranquil atmosphere of the forest began to wash over them, inviting them all to unwind and take a much-needed breather.

"I shall hunt for you," Luna announced with a regal bow of her pristine white head. Anubis turned her pale blue eyes on her kin. "You don't have to do that. I can hunt with you—it's been a while since I've hunted, anyway." Luna, however, was resolute, her head adorned with sparkling scales that shimmered in the light. "No, my dear, it's fine. Allow me."

With that, Luna gracefully dipped and slithered into the lush undergrowth surrounding the resting troopers and Jedi. The air was filled with an unspoken sense of awe and gratitude as they watched Luna disappear into the verdant wilderness.

As the minutes stretched on, the silence of the forest was broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of Luna's hunt. Anubis leaned against a tree, closing her eyes and basking in the peaceful atmosphere, knowing that they were in capable hands—or, rather, capable claws.

"I never thought we'd get this far," Fives remarked, leaning his head back against a large stone boulder. Anubis turned to him, her ears twitching inquisitively. "How so?" she asked.

Rex chimed in, "Before we found your cave, we were in a bit of a bind."

Anakin nodded in agreement, and Anubis hummed thoughtfully. "War does have a way of putting people in tight spots."

Seeking respite from the conversation, she stretched out on the green grass, soaking in the sun. Her golden markings glinted brilliantly, leaving the clones, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Jesse momentarily breathless.

"Wow," Jesse whispered in awe.

Anubis, catching his reaction, cocked an ear in his direction. "What, never seen a beautiful dragoness before?" she teased, a playful smirk gracing her features.

Jesse, flustered, quickly defended himself. "Hey, to be fair, dragons aren't exactly common company for us troopers or Jedi these days."

Anubis laughed, shaking her head. "You've got a point there, I suppose."

Suddenly, Anubis' demeanor shifted, her playful smirk replaced by a look of concern. Her rows of sharp teeth flashed momentarily before snapping shut with a resounding click. She sighed, her gaze drifting to the setting sun. "Luna should have been back by now," she murmured, her claws tracing circles in the dirt, betraying her growing unease.

The others exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to make of Luna's prolonged absence. As the last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon, a tense silence descended upon the group. Each passing moment only served to heighten their anxiety, as they waited, uncertain of what lay ahead.

Just as tension reached its peak, a shrill cry echoed from the depths of the forest. Bursting through the foliage, a terrified deer buck barreled towards them, prompting Anubis to spring into action. With a burst of violet-blue plasma, she struck the creature's heart, causing it to explode in a grisly shower of flesh and fur.

"Oh, ew," Echo commented, grimacing at the sight.

Anubis simply snarled, tearing the buck's head clean off and lapping up the remnants. Luna soon emerged from the forest, her anger evident. "Hey! I hunted that," she snapped, her teeth bared in frustration. Anubis, unperturbed, returned the gesture, their primal instincts momentarily taking over.

As the adrenaline subsided, the group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to navigate the sudden display of territorial aggression. Yet, amidst the tension, a flicker of relief washed over them—Luna was safe, and for the moment, that was all that mattered.

In a surprising turn of events, Luna burst into laughter, bowling playfully into Anubis. "You silly old queen," she muttered affectionately. Anubis chuckled in return, nuzzling Luna's white-scaled face with her snout. "Sorry, Luna," she murmured, her apology both genuine and tinged with amusement.

The group exhaled a collective sigh, relieved that the brief flash of tension had dissipated. As Luna and Anubis made amends, the others couldn't help but smile, appreciating the bond between the two dragons and the levity they had managed to bring to the otherwise tense situation.

"You gave us quite a scare there, Luna," Anakin remarked, sheathing his lightsaber, which he had instinctively drawn amidst the chaos. Luna noticed and shook her head, dismissing their worries. "Jedi these days—all too paranoid. I wouldn't have hunted you guys down if you had this pretty queen with you. After all, she is the last of her kind, and I would be foolish to let the Night Furies die out."Turning her sparkling gaze towards Anubis, Luna's expression softened. "Speaking of which, how is Toothless doing?"Anubis, touched by Luna's concern for her kin, smiled. "He's doing well, thank you. As spirited and mischievous as ever, but I wouldn't have him any other way."
Despite the seemingly cheerful exchange, a knowing look passed among the group, for they were aware that Anubis hadn't told Luna the full truth. The beautiful old Night Fury wasn't entirely happy—he was possessive and had scolded Luna for her antics. Rex clenched his teeth, echoing the sentiments of many other troopers who secretly resented Toothless, the self-proclaimed "King of Dragons," for his domineering ways. They would never forget nor forgive his past transgressions.


"Let's all retire for the night, shall we? I'm certain everyone is quite fatigued," Luna suggested, spreading her wings before leaping skyward and vanishing from sight. Anubis chuckled, offering her back to her friends. "Are you sure you can carry us all?" Anakin asked, worry creasing his brow. "I'm positive," Anubis purred, bowing her head down to allow them to climb aboard.

Though they were numerous and she wasn't an exceptionally large dragon, they soon found their discomfort dissipating as Anubis soared into the air. With the sun's warm rays bathing their faces and the rush of wind in their hair, they were swept away into the heavens, all worries momentarily forgotten. Luna's form became a distant speck against the vast expanse of blue, as Anubis and her passengers reveled in the freedom of flight.