Vernestra twisted the bezel on her lightsaber, the purple blade melting into a whip. The ice gator still tearing at the lopsided building before her turned around, and keeping her distance, Vernestra swung her weapon, the end of it sizzling where it made contact with the ground less than a meter from the ice gator. She wanted to chase the creature off, not injure it.

The ice gator roared in response, and Vernestra was afraid she was going to have to fight the animal, but then it let out a smaller, croaking sound and turned and lumbered away, retreating back into the tree line rather than continuing the fight.

“It’s past your bedtime anyway!” Yacek called, powering down his lightsaber and holstering it. Lyssa and Vernestra did the same, and relief washed over Vernestra. The ice gators were impressive creatures, and she was glad she didn’t have to kill either of them.


Star Wars The High Republic Mission to Disaster Chapter 15