As the ship settled into hyperspace, the tension in the cockpit began to fade, but the weight of their situation still hung over them. Levi stared at the star map, his mind racing as he thought through their options. They couldn't stay on the run forever. They needed a plan.
“We can’t keep hopping from system to system like this,” Levi muttered, rubbing his temples. “We’ll run out of fuel or luck, whichever comes first.”
Luna glanced over. “You got any ideas, or are we still flying blind?”
Levi sighed. “There’s one place we could try. It’s not exactly a paradise, but it’s off the grid. No patrols, no laws, and no questions.”
Twilight frowned, leaning forward. “You’re not talking about Dusk Hollow, are you? That place is a cesspit of smugglers and crooks.”
Levi nodded. “Exactly. It’s the kind of place where no one cares who you are or what you’ve done. Emperor Rick’s bounty hunters wouldn’t dare go near it.”
Glitch perked up, her eyes wide with curiosity. “D-d-dusk Hollow? That’s where all the b-b-bad stuff happens, right?”
Levi grinned. “Pretty much. But it’s also the best place to get supplies, information, and lay low for a while.”
Twilight crossed his arms, clearly uneasy. “If we go there, we’re asking for trouble. We’ll be walking into a den of thieves.”
Luna shrugged. “At this point, what choice do we have? We’re already criminals, remember?”
Twilight groaned, clearly not thrilled with the idea but unable to argue. “Fine. But we need to be careful. That place is crawling with all kinds of scum, and if we’re not smart, we could end up worse off than before.”
Levi locked in the coordinates for Dusk Hollow and leaned back in his seat. “We’ll be smart. We just need to keep a low profile, get what we need, and get out.”
B-7T3, ever diligent, spoke up from the corner of the cockpit. “Captain, I would advise caution when approaching Dusk Hollow. The probability of encountering hostile entities is exceedingly high.”
Levi chuckled. “Thanks for the warning, B-7T3. But we don’t have much of a choice.”
As the ship continued its course through hyperspace, the crew sat in a heavy silence, each of them mentally preparing for what lay ahead. Dusk Hollow wasn’t just another stop. It was a place where everything could go wrong in an instant, where danger lurked around every corner.
After a few more hours, the ship exited hyperspace, and the dark, foreboding planet of Dusk Hollow came into view. The surface was covered in dense clouds, with jagged mountain peaks barely visible through the haze. Dozens of ships, many of them old and rusted, were docked around the spaceport, a clear sign that this was no ordinary hub.
“Here we go,” Levi muttered. “Everyone stay sharp. Don’t talk to anyone you don’t need to. And Glitch—”
“Y-yeah?”
“Try not to draw attention.”
Glitch gave a nervous laugh. “I-I’ll do my best!”
The ship slowly descended toward the spaceport, and as they neared the ground, the true nature of Dusk Hollow became even more apparent. The buildings were run-down, the streets crowded with shady figures, and the air seemed thick with danger.
Levi took a deep breath as they landed. “Alright. Let’s make this quick.”
As the crew disembarked, stepping into the dim, chaotic streets of Dusk Hollow, it felt like they were entering a completely different world. A world where the line between friend and foe was blurry—and where one wrong move could be their last.
Levi took a breath as he landed his ship onto Dusk Hollow. Different furries of all kinds roamed the area; Scorpions, Moths, Dragons, Lions, and so many others.
"Are we gonna stay on the ship? Or are you gonna leave us here again?" Twilight asked.
Levi shook his head. "Not going anywhere out there with that damn Fox lady out there."
Twilight raised an eyebrow, peering out the cockpit window at the bustling crowd of furries. “The fox lady? What’s wrong with her?”
Levi folded his arms, his ear twitching slightly. “You ever deal with a fox before? They’re sneaky. One minute they’re asking you for a favor, the next, you’re in debt to the entire damn underworld. That one out there’s a well-known loan shark.”
Glitch tilted her head, her eyes flickering with confusion. “L-loan shark? I th-th-thought she was a fox.”
Luna shook her head, leaning against the wall. “It’s a figure of speech, Glitch. It means she’s bad news. And trust me, if Levi’s nervous, we don’t want to cross her.”
Glitch's eyes scanned the area. In the distance, she saw a wolf that looked exactly like Twilight. "Th-that m-must be Sh-sh-shadow Paw!"
Twilight shot up from his seat and ran to the window. "Where?!"
Twilight pressed his face against the cockpit window, squinting to get a better look at the wolf in the crowd. Sure enough, the figure had the same dark fur and piercing eyes. It was almost like looking into a mirror, but this wolf wore a confident smirk and moved with the swagger of someone who knew they were untouchable.
“There!” Glitch pointed again. “That’s the w-w-wolf causing all th-th-the confusion.”
Twilight's stomach twisted as he watched the wolf—Shadow Paw, apparently—converse with a group of shady-looking furries. "I don’t believe this," he muttered. "I didn’t even know this guy existed until today, and now he’s the reason I’m wanted on ten planets."
Levi kept his eyes on the fox lady in the crowd. She was draped in extravagant jewelry and flowing clothes, clearly well-off and dangerous, surrounded by a small entourage. “Yeah, well, this is Dusk Hollow. It’s where people like Shadow Paw thrive. You get in, get what you need, and get out before someone decides they want a piece of you.”
Luna sighed, pushing herself off the wall and stretching. “Great. So, what’s the plan? Stay hidden here while they all do their shady business?”
Levi hesitated, glancing between Shadow Paw and the fox lady. “We can’t stay locked in here forever. We need supplies, information, and fuel. But we stick together. Nobody goes off on their own, got it?”
Twilight kept his eyes glued to Shadow Paw. “What about him?” he asked, his voice low. “We just going to let him run around and ruin my name?”
Levi growled softly. “One problem at a time, Twilight. If we go after him, we’ll draw too much attention. First, we handle what we came here for. Then we’ll deal with your doppelgänger.”
Glitch fidgeted nervously. “M-m-maybe we can ask around quietly? Find someone w-w-who knows where we can g-g-get what we need without getting involved with the wrong p-p-people.”
Levi’s eyes flicked back to the fox lady. “Quiet might be hard in a place like this, but it’s worth a shot. Everyone stay sharp. If things go sideways, we get back to the ship and blast out of here. No second chances.”
The crew exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
“Alright,” Levi said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.”
Levi glanced back at Twilight. "Actually, Twilight, I need you to do me a favor."
"What's that?" Twilight asked.
"I need you to stay on the ship."
"Why?"
"Scorpions. If you leave your ship unsupervised, they take parts from your ship until it's nothing but scrap." Levi answered.
Twilight’s ears perked up at Levi’s words. “You want me to guard the ship from…scorpions?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Levi nodded as he tightened his coat, preparing to head out. “Yep. They’re notorious for it. Especially here on Dusk Hollow. Leave your ship alone for five minutes, and they’ll strip it down to nothing. And they work fast.”
Glitch’s eyes widened, her circuits humming anxiously. “Sc-sc-scavengers? That sounds d-d-dangerous. Shouldn’t someone stay with T-Twilight?”
Luna smirked, folding her arms. “Twilight can handle himself. If any of those scorpions get close, he’ll probably scare them off with that ‘I’m not Shadow Paw’ speech.”
Twilight rolled his eyes. “Very funny. But seriously, Levi, I can’t just sit here and watch the ship while you’re all out there. What if things get dicey?”
Levi paused at the ramp, glancing back at Twilight. “That’s exactly why you’re staying. If anything happens, we need someone to make sure the ship stays ready for takeoff. You’re the fastest one here, and I trust you to keep the scorpions off our tail.”
Twilight sighed but nodded, understanding Levi’s point. “Alright, fine. But if you’re not back soon, I’m taking off without you.”
Levi smirked. “Yeah, sure. Just don’t scratch the paint while you’re at it.”
With that, Levi, Glitch, and Luna stepped off the ship, disappearing into the bustling marketplace of Dusk Hollow. Twilight stood at the entrance of the ship, his eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble—especially scorpions.
As he leaned against the ramp, he muttered to himself, “Guard duty… I get stuck with guard duty while the others get to have all the fun.”
Luna and Glitch exchanged glances, both a little surprised at Levi’s serious tone. Luna raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything, while Glitch’s usual jittery movements slowed slightly as she nodded in compliance.
Levi led the way through the crowded marketplace of Dusk Hollow, his eyes darting from one shady figure to another. The place was full of furries of every kind, from towering dragons to smaller, scrappy-looking rodents, all mingling in a chaotic swirl of trade and conversation. Neon signs buzzed overhead, casting a strange glow over the dimly lit market.
“Remember what I said,” Levi muttered over his shoulder. “We’re just here for supplies. In and out, no drama.”
Glitch fidgeted with her hands. “B-b-but what if s-s-someone talks to us?”
Levi’s ears flattened slightly as he glanced at her. “They won’t. Not unless you give them a reason to. So just keep walking and let me handle things.”
Luna kept her head down, scanning the market without making direct eye contact with anyone. She could feel the tension in the air, the kind that came with being in a place where trouble could start at any second. “This place gives me the creeps,” she whispered.
Levi didn’t respond, keeping his focus ahead. They passed by a stall where a group of reptilian creatures were loudly haggling over some questionable-looking cargo, and Luna had to fight the urge to glance their way.
They reached a small corner of the market, where a vendor stood behind a counter filled with ship parts and fuel canisters. Levi stepped forward, giving a curt nod to the vendor, a grizzled lion with one eye and a suspicious stare.
“I’m here for refuel and parts,” Levi said calmly. “No trouble, just business.”
The lion grunted, his one good eye scanning Levi and his companions. “Hmph. You sure about that? I’ve seen your type before—always running from something.”
Levi tensed but kept his voice steady. “We're all running from something, aren't we?”
The lion eyed him for a moment longer, then finally nodded with a grunt. “Alright. But if you bring any heat my way, you’re on your own, wolf.”
Levi didn’t respond, just handed over the credits. He motioned for Luna and Glitch to help gather the supplies, keeping an eye on the market around them, every muscle in his body ready for any signs of trouble.
ns 15.158.61.50da2
