Astera:
Staying on the back of the Mylaya was remarkably harder than I thought. All of my concentration was narrowed to the tiniest shift in the beast's weight as it moved, just to keep myself from falling off every other minute. It didn't help that I had to sit behind Hunter and hold onto him, feeling his body heat even through the layers of clothing and armour between us. I was sure that damned blush that insisted on making an appearance every time I was too close to him was now permanently staining my cheeks, as was the strange jitteriness in my stomach.
The stubborn feeling had persisted for several weeks now and I was still no closer to figuring out why I reacted in such a way, and only to him. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, and more often than not it was so utterly consuming me trying to figure it out that I was starting to lose track of things more often. At least it hadn't affected my reflexes in fights yet. Obi-Wan had spent too long training me to tune out distractions for it to affect me now. Though I was sure he hadn't thought to account for... whatever this was. Either way, it was strange, to say the least.
We were deep into the woods by the time we'd crossed into the second village. There weren't many Wookiees, I noticed, seeing the few wide eyed furry faces staring at us from their huts as we passed by. Maybe they were hiding from us, until they knew we were friendly. That thought was certainly preferable to the alternative.
All three Mylayas stopped at the foot of what could have easily been the largest tree in the entire forest. There was only one hut attached to this tree, right in front of us as we dismounted, two warriors and a wizened Wookiee female emerging from within as we approached. Her fur was streaked with grey, and just the way she carried herself suggested she was the leader of this tribe. The Wookiee warrior who had led us here approached her immediately, the two of them pressing their foreheads to each other briefly before the female addressed us, speaking quickly in a series of soft roars.
"Her name is Yanna," Tech translated for the others. "She appears to be leading them."
"We are returning him to his homeworld." I nudged Gungi at Hunter's words, the Wookiee Jedi glancing at me before cautiously venturing forward. "But he doesn't know which village he's from."
Yanna smiled upon seeing Gungi, crossing the remaining distance between them and lowering herself so she was at his level. One hand cupped Gungi's cheek, who glanced again at me in wide eyes confusion before the older Wookiee dipped her head forward, encouraging Gungi to touch foreheads with her in a sign of welcome. More words in Shyriiwook followed in rapid succession, directed at the four clones standing in front of Omega and I.
"We were soldiers of the Republic," Hunter corrected, carefully removing his helmet. "But let's just say we don't see eye to eye with the Empire."
Still eyeing the group sceptically, Yanna growled out another long question, asking Hunter what was in it for them bringing Gungi back.
"Gungi was in the Order with me," I interjected before Hunter could, holding out one of my lightsabers as proof. "We came because he was in trouble."
"Jedi or not, he's still a child," Hunter added. "He needs his people."
Yanna seemed to accept this answer, her tense shoulders relaxing as she spoke again, the harsh edge disappearing from her Shyriiwook.
"She's inviting us inside," I told the group before Tech could translate. "I think she mentioned food?"
Tech nodded, confirming my words. "I believe it would be in our best interest to accept the invitation."
Wrecker barged forward before Tech had even completed his sentence, muttering something about 'haven't eaten since this morning' and 'they better have real food up there.' Almost involuntarily, I glanced toward Hunter - another habit I'd found myself falling into recently - to find him already in agreement.
"We could use the rest."
********
Despite his earlier courage approaching Yanna, Gungi was glued back to my side again in the huts, pensively watching us and the other Wookiees converse about him in the familiar Jedi manner I'd seen many of the Jedi younglings exhibit. Silently listening and observing our discussion, learning while their masters participated. Like I had once done with Obi-Wan.
With a start, I realised I'd taken on the role of master while Gungi had automatically assumed his position of Padawan. Something I'd never imagined myself doing, even before I'd left the Order. And something I'd sworn to Obi-Wan I'd never do. But the Force had strange ways of manipulating things, and I didn't even want to question how right it felt having Gungi at my side like he was my apprentice.
"Yanna's agreed to let Gungi stay with them." Omega broke away from us to inform Wrecker and Echo of our new development, the latter watching the former down some sort of drink with a disgusted look on his face.
"What about the Trandoshans?" He pulled his attention away from Wrecker to direct the question at Hunter taking a seat across from him, his expression more drawn and grim than normal.
"The Empire's been using them to strip the planet's resources. Many of the villagers have fled deeper into the jungle."
"Yanna's scouts are reporting a large convoy headed in this direction." Tech approached the table with Yanna, interrupting any response Echo might have made. "She says to leave."
I grimaced almost involuntarily, glancing at Gungi across the table. We'd brought him here so he could be safe, away from the Empire and with his own people. But it seemed we'd done just the opposite, bringing him into the heart of one of the Empire's largest operations. There was no way I was just leaving him to fend for himself, especially knowing what could happen to him if he was caught.
"Hunter, the Wookiees were our allies for years," Echo told Hunter firmly. "We have to do something."
"I can't leave Gungi on his own," I said quietly. "We need to fight for them."
Gungi roared something in Shyriiwook, both fists thumping down on the table in vehement agreement. This time, there was no sign of objection from Hunter - he was just as determined to help the Wookiees as we were.
"We'll stay and help you fight."
Yanna immediately began to protest, asserting it was safer for us to leave and they could deal with it on their own, only for Hunter to interrupt her.
"You don't have to do this alone," he insisted.
Yanna fell silent, quietly contemplating his words, before growling out a command to the Wookiee warriors at the table with us. They immediately got up and followed her outside, Gungi hesitating and glancing back at us before also getting up to join them.
"What are they doing?" Omega asked, venturing out to the deck with the rest of us to watch the Wookiees collectively lay a hand on the enormous tree in the centre of the village and drop to one knee, bowing their heads and closing their eyes in silence.
"They are asking the trees for help," Hunter told her.
"They're talking to the trees?" She whispered in awe, returning her attention to the silently praying Wookiees below us.
"They believe this planet belongs to the trees," Tech informed her in his signature matter-of-fact tone. "And they are allies in this fight."
"We're gonna need all the allies we can get," I said darkly, looking up to the whispering leaves that made up the thick canopy above our heads. Especially if the Empire discovered there was not one, but two Jedi hiding among the tribe of Wookiees.
Two hours passed, and the tribe remained motionless by the tree, still locked in silent prayer. It seemed that the battle wasn't going to wait for them however, as Echo and Wrecker broke away from their lookout post to report an update on the convoy of Trandoshans approaching fast.
"The Trandoshan convoy's closing in." Fire glimmered in the distance, confirming their words. They had to be closer than I thought then, if we could already see the flames. We had to come up with a game plan, and fast.
As if on cue, the Wookiees all rose, Gungi running towards us with an expression more positive than I'd seen on him today, informing us that the trees had a plan and to trust the Wookiees.
"The trees have a plan?" Hunter repeated incredulously, his eyebrows rising in shock. But he knew better than to question the Wookiees' methods, putting his helmet back on in compliance. "All right. Whatever they say."
Gungi grinned and motioned for us to follow after the other Wookiees, making their way down the base of the tree where the Mylayas were waiting for them. Wrecker was the first to go with them, all too eager to be caught up in battle again.
Hunter caught my bicep before I could go with them, leaning in so close my shoulder pressed against his chest. The distance - or lack thereof - was enough to immediately set my heart pounding away, and I hoped it was too dark for him to see the familiar warmth suffusing my face as I tipped my head back to meet his visor. "I know you can handle yourself. But... just be careful out there."
His gaze dropped meaningfully lower, towards my lightsabers, and in an instant I understood his concern. I'd already been using them more than I should have because of Gungi, and so far we'd gotten lucky. But now that clones were involved, we couldn't take chances. If even one managed to escape... Things would get a whole lot worse for the Wookiees.
"I will," I responded quietly, the words surprisingly stable despite my breath threatening to hitch at his proximity. It was all I needed to say - he nodded and let go of me, falling in behind the other three clones making their way into the forest. I stood on the deck for a moment longer, watching him descend the steps and my skin tingling where he had touched it.