On the planet of dangerous myths, shocking fables and unspoken legends, there is also beauty. Dispersed around the untamed world are flaws; cracks formed through thousands of years. Glacial rivers rushing and destroying cliffs, racing and scooping away the soil and digging crevices untouched by all but a handful of explorers from ages long past. Isolated at the southern tip of Ilum, this particular ravine is close to the planet’s core. No-one ever dared to dive directly down into the darkness of the ravine, instead opting for laser drills that bore a tunnel into the nearby glacier. Uncharted and unexplored, this passageway is a place of nightmares for those who venture to its depths. The half-eaten carcasses of explorers who have met an untimely end litter the ravine’s descent—a warning to those who might choose to venture too far. Whether these men and women fell to their deaths, or had been murdered remains lost to the long-forgotten histories of the ravine.

The antechamber of the Crystal Cave is wide and cavernous with a winding walkway carved out of the stone itself and smoothed over with glacial elegance. The pathway ascending upwards to the top of the cave where a resilient sheet of ancient stone weathers against the raging winds from Ilum’s winter skies. At the base of the walkway is a platform of old stone used for meditation in times past.

Leaving the main antechamber leads to other tunnels carved and abandoned by miners and treasure hunters. Glinting like candlelight against the unforgiving darkness of the deep and untrodden cave, translucent clusters of kyber crystals crystals reflect the light. Untouched for a millennia, the value in this chamber once sparked an entire battle between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. The sides of the cavern stretch vertically, terminating in a vaulted arch that was carved with embellishments some time ago. On each side of the walls, various ports and alcoves distinguish in the light. Some are known to be rivers of purified water, as displayed by the translucent sheets of ice glistening along the alcove walls.

Bentre's eyes moved from cluster to cluster, his footsteps and the occasional drip of water being the only noise that broke up the smothering quiet of the cave. After so much time on Aeotheran, on Sepros and across the galaxy, it was a nice change. The Sith spent so much time trying to ensure that his Clan and his family were taken care of, there was little time to relax. He spent more of his waking hours with Sanguinius and the Summit than his own daughter. Serenity was a rare commodity for the Proconsul.

It is oddly humorous, Bentre mused as he drew a slow, thoughtful breath, that I find some peace only as I am crafting a weapon for greater war. He ran a finger tenderly along the worn lightsaber hooked to the left side of his belt, the weapon acting as a reminder of his days as a Knight and just how far the Corellian had come since being brought into the fold. The Force seemed to pulse gently with the life of the world, cool currents swirling around the Battlelord as he stretched out his feelings. The calm of his surrounding was reflected in the Force, save for a turbulent spot, deeper in the cave.

Intrigued, Bentre began a brisk trot in the direction of the sensation, taking care not to turn his ankle on the uneven ground of the cave. "Most curious," Stahoes's voice was low, but in the stillness even these quiet words echoed slightly in the enclosed area. Drawing his S-5 blaster from it's holster to his chest, Bentre felt unease twist in his gut. A scuffling noise echoed out of sight, a sound to which the Corellian responded by pointing his weapon toward the darkness. "Who is there? Present yourself!"

The scuffling sound of uneasy steps continued as the small form of a dark-armored man came into view. Though the man has responded to Bentre's commanding tone, there was a stiffness to the man's motions. The design of a wolf adorned either arm of the armor. It was a design that the Corellian Sith knew all too well.

"Well hello, little wolf," Bentre motioned with his weapon, nodding his head in greeting.

"Who are you calling little?" Mactire's word was laced with more than a hint of a snarl.

"Oh, I am sorry, Mactire," Bentre's tone became almost apologetic, save for the half-grin on his face, "I don't suppose it is right for a predator to pick on a pup, is it?"

Mactire looked his fellow Sadowan up and down a moment before igniting his lightsaber. "Do you believe that you are the predator here," his tone was full of challenge, "or are you really wanting to tangle with a wolf?" The man brought his weapon up to chest level, almost horizontal to the floor as he locked eyes with his opponent.

"Oh no, please don't misunderstand," Bentre ignited his own white-blue lightsaber with a crack and a hiss, "I am not making any small claim." A whoop escaped the Sith as he closed the distance between the two combatants, pulling his weapon over his shoulder as he gripped it in both hands, intent to cleave Mactire into two pieces. The Gray Jedi was able to bring up his own weapon in a ferocious block, resulting in a whistle of appreciation from the Proconsul. "Not bad. Can you keep it up, though?" The man gave a wink as he pulled back, awaiting a counter attack.

Mactire let out a growl as he dropped down. He clenched his hand into a tight fist, drawing the Force toward himself as he did so. With a grunt, the Gray Jedi drove his fist toward the ground. Upon impact, a wave of telekinetic energy erupted outward from Mactire. Bentre was forced to take several steps backward in an attempt to stabilize himself. As he was doing so, Mactire strode forward, bringing his own lightsaber from just below eye level across in a swing for his Sith opponent's throat.

As the blade got closer to his opponent's throat, he fainted towards the left, bringing his right knee up, knocking Bentre in the gut making him slowly stumble back. Looking up at his prey, slightly out of breath, the Mystic smiled.

“Welcome to my parlor,” Mactire grinned slowly bringing his lightsaber to a reverse grip.

Bentre locked eyes and snuffed at the younger Shadow. His eyes flickered with a slight rage behind them, and his grin deepened as he slowly called upon the Force allowing him to enhance his movements for this battle. He wanted to end it quickly..

The young Sadowan, felt the Force swell into Bentre, as if a river had opened up wide inside his opponent. As the Battlelord glared at him, Mactire slowly brought his lightsaber up to a guard position but it wouldn’t be fast enough, for the speed off the blade that was coming towards him was faster than what he could process.

Bentre leapt towards him with a surge in his strength and movement which seemed almost a blur to the young wolf. Mactire could feel the blade’s heat as it struck his armor on his right shoulder, just has his own blade was starting to block the oncoming attack. The young wolf had blocked too low to prevent anything from happening, but just enough to prevent his arm from being worthless.

“AH!” the Mystic howled in pain. Pressure from the strain of the force of the oncoming attack, and the pain in his right shoulder slowly forced Mactire onto his right knee. Breathing heavily he fought to maintain control of his anger.

The older, wiser Shadow looked down at the young wolf and smirked, slowly bringing his blade up for a final strike.

The young Shadow looked around quickly for anything that could help him to get away from the predicament that he was thrust into. While looking around his eyes managed to catch a glimpse of a loose stalagmite on the ceiling above the enclosed area. Straining to latch onto the Force, the young Shadow unleashes a Telekinetic blast towards the stalagmite with full force, significantly draining him, requiring him to rethink the task at hand.

As the cave started to slowly rumble, Bentre looked up to see the stalagmite falling towards him and his quarry.

While the stalagmite plummeted towards them, the Battlelord sprang backwards towards the far wall. All the while the young shadow rolled towards the wall on the left avoiding the debris that was crumbling down. Dust arose, covering their vision slightly but Mactire was able to make out the eerie, pale blue glow of the more seasoned Shadow’s lightsaber.

Accounting for this, the young wolf turned his lightsaber off, in order to try and hide. A low faint growl escaped his lips. Pain from his right shoulder was now worse than it was before rolling on the rough terrain. Rising up slowly the young Shadow made his way towards the vibrant gems along the cave wall.

Thankfully the combination of the dust and his extinguished lightsaber allowed the young Shadow’s mind to slowly shift the focus away from the pain in his arm, acknowledging full well that it would be worse later. As the young wolf’s pain subsided, his ears picked up the slightly heavy breathing of the older Shadow.

“Come out and play little pup,” Brentre muttered tauntingly, his breaths still labored after the cave collapse, his onslaught of attacks, as well as his Force-assisted maneuver minutes before..

“I’m getting too old for this shit,” quipped the elder Shadow, slowly moving through the dust.

The young Shadow slowly moved along the wall, utilizing the Force to conceal him from his opponent.