He found them not far ahead, Klerin Chekkat rooted on the spot, screaming in terror as a monster crouched in front of her. Elzar had no idea if the Nihil had released the animals from the zoo on purpose or by accident, but the result was the same. The hragscythe was out of its cage and feeding on what could only be the girl’s mother.

This time, Elzar really did curse. Why hadn’t the pair stayed where they were, waiting as Ty demanded her saber? Why had they blundered into the smog, half blinded by the gas? Perhaps he should have just handed over the weapon, instead of trying to recruit Ty to his cause. Would Mantessa still be alive? Would he not have another death on his conscience?

No, that was the darkness talking, trying to reel him back in, but he wouldn’t listen.

“Get away,” he yelled, waving for Klerin to run, disturbing the hragscythe from its grisly meal. All three of its heads snapped up, and it leapt forward, one of its great paws pinning Klerin to the ground. There was no way it was going to give up its next feast, Jedi or no Jedi. What Elzar had to remember was that the beast bore none of them any malice. It was only doing what came naturally and was obviously spooked. That Elzar could understand.

He killed his blade, hoping that something in the animal’s brains would recognize the trust implied in the act. Slipping the weapon away, he raised both hands, showing his palms.

“All is well. Do you understand? All is well.”

He edged toward the creature. The hragscythe’s growl intensified, and he stopped again.

“Listen to me,” he said, keeping his voice as steady as possible. “Feel my words. We are one. Joined through the Force. One mind, two bodies.”

He should have known this was going to be difficult. The events of the morning had taken their toll, images sweeping over him like a tidal wave. A Nihil ship jumping in above the zoo, its engines overloaded, its pilot out of control. The explosion had killed most of the creatures in their cages, but the hragscythe survived, the walls of its enclosure twisted out of all recognition. He saw the animal leap from its burning cover, heard the screams of the wounded as it thundered into the chaos, snapping at anyone who passed, finding the Chekkats, pouncing on Mantessa even as she screamed for the bodyguard she’d abandoned minutes before.

The only trouble with a connection like this was that it could go both ways. The hragscythe saw what Elzar had done, saw the platform smashing through the Nihil ship, saw the raiders burn, felt Elzar’s rage, and in an instant decided that he was a threat.