The Negotiator and the Fire Fang

Hunt on Kashyyyk: The Shadowlands

"It's cold." Ura said as Shan and the rest of the convoy followed. Yoda had never heard the girl so quiet. She was usually full questions.

The river wasn't overly wide here. In the light of his green saber, Yoda could see that the bottom was mostly mud with the occasional rock. Every so often, the slippery, finned ctreature would swim around Chewbacca's hairy legs.

"Ahh!" Ura yelled as she slipped and fell under the rushing current. Luckily Marsh was there. He pulled her up immediately. She gave a fit of coughs, spitting out the icy water.

Teeth chattering, Ura clung onto Marsh as he carried her the rest of the way. Dume was trying to be tough, but even he was hiding his shivering hands as he crossed.

Chewbacca and Yoda finally made it to the other side, his hairy legs dripping profusely onto the dark dirt of the bank. A clone by the name of Bay knelt down and shoved off his pack once he got through successfully, pulling out a neatly folded grey blanket with the insignia of the Galactic Republic printed in the center. He wrapped it around Nahzalem as she and Marsh stepped onto the bank.

"Well my armor's going to need a good scrubbing when we get back." Shan said, looking down at herself in the light of her orange saber. Her white and grey armor was already full of dirt and leaves. From the waist down it was stained a brownish color. Her boots were caked in a thick layer of mud and her hood was covered in green drips from the trees overhead, as were her legs. She also had a few mysterious blue, red, and yellow stains. 

"Yeah, well you're not the only one consult." Bay said as he stood up. The clones' armor did not look much better. The group rested for a moment to dry off before continuing. Nahzalem tucked the blanket around herself as they walked.

"Quiet are you, Padawan Dume." Master Yoda said as he slowed his pace to walk with the padawan. He himself had been silent for most of the search, keeping his thoughts open to the creature. He hadn't sensed it anywhere near.
Dume started, taken off guard for a moment. Clearly he had been deep in thought about something.

"Just focused." he replied simply. Something was bothering the padawan, but Yoda didn't press it. He would talk about when he needed to.

"Is that light up ahead?" one of the clones asked as he pointed up towards the end of the trail. Sure enough, a bright streak of sunlight cut through the dark.

"It is. What could it be?" Shan muttered, concerned. They deactivated their sabers and lamps as they approached it. It took a painful moment for their eyes to adjust.

"Whoa." Marsh said, his voice low.

Before them was a demolished area of forest. They were up on a hill looking down at the carnage. Tall ancient trees had been flattened. The darkness loving flora had shriveled up and died in the bright sunlight. Dirt that was once mud filled up the spaces between the fallen trunks. In the gaping hole, they could look up and see the angled face of a large mountain. The destroyed area went for clicks up the slope.

"What happened here?" Nahzalem asked as she waddled up in her blanket to the edge of the wooded wound.

"Mudslide. Grueegho Mountain is known for them." Chewbacca explained. "I have never seen one so large." 

"Look at the center." Shan pointed to something among the mass of horizontal logs. It was a sinkhole, a big one at that. Yoda's brow crinkled in thought.

"Look around, we must. Search thoroughly. Important to finding the creature, this is." Master Yoda said. He could sense that this mudslide had something to do with the monster they were hunting.

The clones fanned out. Gungi, Dume, and Nahzalem went off searching in their own direction, leaving Shan and Yoda to investigate with the Wookiees. Chewbacca was warming up to the Gray, but Rworarcc refused to even look at her. Yoda could tell that it was bothering her, but would speak to her about in private.

The four worked their way carefully over to the hole. One tree was so large, Yoda and Sahrea had to jump on top of the log and lift the Wookiees over, Yoda raising Rworarcc and Shan raising Chewbacca. The two landed on the opposite side softly and the two Force users slid down to meet them. Rworarcc started walking immediately, not giving Shan even a glance.

"Thank you for your assistance." Chewbacca said awkwardly. He must have noticed her saddened demeanor. Master Yoda pretended not to listen to their conversation as he followed Rworarcc.

"Of course." she replied. "I apologize for my standoffishness and Rworarcc's rude behavior. We have had very negative interactions with off-worlders." he explained. Sahrea shook her head.

"You don't have to apologize Chewbacca. I should be apologizing to you for the actions of my people, but please know we aren't all like that." she told him.

"Just like we all aren't like Rworarcc. It is nice to know there are a few good off-worlders out there, especially humans." she gave him a smile.

"One of my few close friends growing up was a Wookiee. Her name was Keranok. We called her Kera. That's why I can understand Shyriiwook so well." Shan told him. "Do you have a family?" Chewbacca gave a low whine.

"I have a wife, Malatobuck and a son, Lumpawaroo." he told her. The Gray's aura warmed.

"That's sweet." Shan replied. "I came to Kashyyyk only once before, to the village of Verisokk to look for Kera's parents. We-" she cut her story short after roar from Rworarcc.

"Found something, Rworarcc has." Yoda told them. He hopped up onto Chewbacca's shoulder again as they rushed over the other Wookiee.

"That is not good." Shan said, her voice tight with concern. Just like Yoda, it wasn't the sinkhole she was worried about. It was the footprints coming out of said sinkhole. They were gigantic. If Shan laid down in the dirt, they would be as tall as her. There were also deep imprints at the toes, implying claws.

"What could make tracks like that?" she asked, breathless. Yoda's brows drew together. "Not sure, I am. Deeper grows, this mystery does." he replied as their comm links blinked. He clicked it on.

"Uhh, general? You should come see this." Marsh said on the other end.

They found the sergeant and the clones on the west of the clearing. They were all congregated around a large mass.

As they got closer, Yoda could see that it was a Katarn, a dead Katarn. The only external sign of combet was a bite mark that created a semi-circle of bloody wounds on its sides and a broken neck.

"That is a big bite from one big mouth." a clone stated, examining the body.

"We found two others in the area sir, along with a few other large predators. All with similar wounds." Bay explained. 

"The creature must be massive to be able to kill the Katarns with such little force." Marsh said. Yoda put a hand to his chin.

"More dangerous than expected, this creature is. More and more concerning, this entire thing is becoming." Master Yoda added. He was becoming increasingly uneasy with each new development. Chewbacca roared in agreement. Shan suddenly looked around.

"Where are the younglings?" Sahrea asked, scanning the clearing. "I'm not sure sir. I sent Volt after them when we lost visual." Marsh responded. Shan lifted her arm.

"Dume, where are you?" She asked into her comm link. "Dume? Volt?" she repeated, more urgently this time. 

"Consult Shan?" Nahzalem's voice came. "Ura! Where are you guys?" Shan exclaimed. 

"I'm not sure. Trooper Volt and I are trying to find our way back. We got separated from Gungi and Caleb when some strange creatures attacked us. Trooper Volt got them to leave." she explained. "It was a small, jumpy thing."

"It was likely a tach." Chewbacca remarked. Shan dropped her head back and sighed irritably. "Ok, do not leave Volt's side. We'll figure something out and come find you." Yoda hopped down to the grassy floor. He looked up at the consult.

"Search for the padawans, you shall. Help you, Chewbacca and Captain Marsh will. Continue the investigation, the rest of us will." Yoda said. "Alright master." Shan said. "Come on guys. Let's go find the younglings."