Ask [Felucia] A Few too Many Acklay

[Kanan Marek]

Felucia System: Felucia

The Outer Rym was full of interesting planets, each offering something completely different and unique from the next despite any similarities they might share. Few, planets, however, were as colorful as the planet of Felucia. The thick jungles that covered the planet’s surface were as colorful as they were humid and played host to a variety of unique fungi.

The most famous plant that grew upon the planet was the nysillin plant, famed for its healing properties. This was Felucia’s main export, and the jungles were punctuated with farming communities who derived their whole living from harvesting and selling the plant. It was one of these small, out of the way farming communities that Kanan found himself in.

Fungi weren’t the only things of interest within Felucia’s jungles, as plenty of species also inhabited the jungles. From the flying Felucian Ripper, to the Jungle Rancors, to even the rumors of Sarlacc pits, there was good reason to always remain vigilante and aware of your surroundings.

One species in particular was the reason for Kanan’s visit to Felucia: the Acklay. Although not native to the planet, the green, six-legged creature had adapted well to the jungle climate and made itself at home. They were now almost as native to Felucia as they were to their home planet Vendaxa.

Within recent months, however, the Acklay population had begun to spiral out of control, overrunning parts of the jungle and terrorizing local farmers. A number of farmers had even reported Acklay venturing into villages, damaging housing, tearing through fields, and killing or maiming sevof the villagers.

The local Felucians, small in size and farmers by trade, were not equipped nor prepared to handle such a problem, particularly as it grew day by day. They had sent out a call for help, promising food and shelter to anyone who was willing and able to lend a hand to their dilemma. That was exactly what Kanan intended to do.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Descending into the planet’s atmosphere, Song watched the clouded skies give way to the rich and colorful landscape below. Cellophane flowers and forests of blue and green, misshapen-shaped mountains and moss-covered trees, if she could even call it that. Felucia was nothing like what she had seen in her lifetime. Not on the snowcapped hills of Krownest, or the concrete jungles of Nar Shaddaa.

The backwater world had a sprawling sense of beauty to it.

But, as Song knew especially, looks could be deceiving. There was a danger behind Felucia’s beauty. Aide from its toxic plants or poisonous rivers, beasts of all shapes and sizes lurked about. The Mandalorian was there to handle a particular strain: Acklays.

Creatures right out of a nightmare, they had been harassing a small settlement lately, and that was where she came into the picture.

They offered food, temporary lodging, refueling, and even some credits on top of it all. Although those were most of the reasons why she decided to come, Song’s conscience wouldn’t abandon the natives to their fate. She blamed her honor as a Mandalorian for that, and a bit of an old Sector Ranger she had met.

She smirked at the reminder of Kanan.

Once her ship had landed outside the village, she disembarked, much to the Felucians’ interest. Few were suspicious, most were in awe. A Mandalorian, here to help? It surprised them. Kinda surprised her, too. She didn’t expect to be on a world this deep in the Outer-Rim.

Though a lot more surprises awaited her ahead.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

The village’s name was unknown to Kanan, but its name really did not matter. It was the Felucian villagers that mattered. Villages, names—eventually they all faded to the recesses of the brain, mixing and becoming indistinguishable from any other village and name. People, however, and the difference you could make in their lives were not so easily forgettable.

Only the week before this particular village had been the latest in a string of attacks by the Acklay. There seemed to be no rhyme nor reason to the Acklay’s attacks, but that they had become overpopulated was a fact. Kanan had arrived the day before, and the villagers were only too pleased to fill him in on all that had transpired.

The Felucians were scared and desperate for help, that much was obvious. They were still in the process of cleanup and mourning over the one Felucian they had sadly been forced to bury. There was a solemn stillness that blanketed the village, even as its inhabitants continued to work and accomplish their daily tasks out of routine.

Kanan learned that several had already come with the intention of helping the locals and had been lost to the jungle. They had not been seen since, and the Felucian villagers were beginning to lose hope altogether. They did not say it, but the pity in their eyes when they looked at Kanan, the side glances and subtle shaking of their heads when they thought he would not notice told Kanan that they did not expect him to return either.

The village’s atmosphere was somber, indeed, and so Kanan did not expect what happened next. Through the thin walls of the hut, he could hear hushed voices and sudden movement. He moved to threshold of the door, the Felucian he had been speaking with only moment earlier right behind him to discover what was going on. Villagers were beginning to line the dirt street, staring expectedly down it and talking quietly amongst themselves. Some had appeared from inside their huts while others had abandoned their work altogether. They were excited, in awe, and Kanan could now see why.

A Mandalorian. A Mandalorian’s reputation proceeded them. They were capable, brave, and the strongest of warriors. Their armor alone was intimidating and striking. It was no wonder the villagers were behaving this way. They were excited, hopeful even. Hopeful that this Mandalorian had come to help, hopeful that he would be able to save them.

Recognizing this Mandalorian as he continued down the street and grew closer with each step, Kanan knew the villagers had good reason to rest their hope upon this Mandalorian. Upon River. Kanan crossed him arms, smiling to himself as he watched from the doorway.

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song casually made her way through the village. She noted the distant stares of the villagers, their hushed whispers, and even acknowledged a few with an awkward nod, something of a greeting. She figured they already knew the Mandalorian was there to protect them, and didn’t think she had much to say other than to the village elder, who was somewhere in the center of town.

As Song came closer, she noticed another figure standing at the doorstep of the elder’s home, watching her with cautious eyes.

Familiar ones.

She blinked and realized she wasn’t looking at just any rag-tag bounty hunter also looking for some lodging and a plate of food. It was Kanan, the Sector Ranger. She couldn’t believe the odds that they would cross paths again so soon and in a galaxy that vast. At the same time, she did believe it. Fate or luck, it didn’t matter. Song was only glad to see he was still alive and kicking.

Rising to the porch, the wooden floorboards creaking, she stared at Kanan for a moment. Then, she reached out and took his hand, shaking hardily. Like old friends. Like they had known each other for the longest time, when only a month or two had passed since their last meeting.

Still, a lot had happened since then.

“I can’t believe out of a thousand other planets, we cross paths a second time. Then again, I can’t be surprised,” said Song, before she glanced over to the villager behind him. “You always did have a heart for the people.”

Her smile was hidden, but it leaked through by the tone of her voice, and to anyone it was clear the Mandalorian was pleased to know they weren’t alone. “Good to see you again, Ranger.”

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

“Well, you always did have a knack for showing up at the right place at the right time,” Kanan replied, a broad smile continuing to spread across his lips. His smile only grew with every passing moment that his eyes lingered on the Mandalorian before him.

Kanan was pleased that he was not the only one smiling. Even beneath the t-shaped visor of the Mandalorian’s helmet, River’s smile could be heard in his voice. The sound of his voice was gratifying, and Kanan was surprised by how pleased he was to hear it again. The Mandalorian’s company had been sorely missed, even in the relatively short amount of time that had passed. “Good to see you again, Mandalorian.”

Further greetings between the Mandalorian and Ranger were cut short by the Felucian elder standing nearby. Kanan hoped to catch up with River; he had questions he wanted to ask. Had the Mandalorian successfully been admitted into the Guild? What had he been occupying himself with? What fate had awaited Duermo? All these questions and more would have to wait as the Felucian elder had other plans, and understandably so.

He attempted to push past Kanan in his excitement to get to the Mandalorian, but Kanan was like an unmovable stone wall in comparison to the elder’s small size. Realizing he was in the way, Kanan stepped to one side and allowed the small Felucian to reach his desire.

“We are humbled by your presence,” the Felucian stated as he stared up at the Mandalorian with admiration swimming in his eyes. “We are grateful and honored that you have chosen to help us, and we gladly offer you all that we have. Food, shelter, clothing! We have little in the way of funds, but what we have is yours.” The small Felucian clutched the Mandalorian’s hand in his sincerity and began to lead him into the hut.

Kanan remained in place, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he observed this exchange.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Right place, right time. It was ironic how, when they first met, Song thought it was the opposite. A rogue Mandalorian bounty hunter, and a law-abiding Sector Ranger, working together? Unbelievable, and yet somehow, it worked. A rare partnership which ended in a win for both sides. Song hoped today would end the same way.

No. She didn’t have to hope. With Kanan, she knew it would be alright.

Their introductions cut short by the Felucian elder, who hobbled by the stonewalled Ranger, Song smiled and gave a nod, which was the closest thing to a bow the Mandalorian could give. Her answer was curt as well, but it was clear she didn’t mind the lack of payment. Lodging, and meeting Kanan again, was more than enough.

“Thank you,” she said, and shook the elder’s hand.

She was then led into the hut, where a small table laid in the room’s center. Song took a seat on one of the cushions there, before another short, wrinkled Felucian began serving tea. Steam rolled out. The Mandalorian wasn’t thirsty, and she never drank without her helmet, but she let the old Felucian pour her a cup before they slunk away.

Once Kanan and the elder had seated, the Felucian began to explain, “I would like to thank you both for coming. These last several weeks have been… hard. We lost one of our farmers the night before. A terrible tragedy. These Acklay continue to attack at random, stealing our crops, our way of life. If they do not kill us all in the next month, we may starve to death in the month after. It is why we are so desperate for help.”

Song nodded solemnly. She understood well what the Felucian was feeling.

“Though we do appreciate protection, it will not stop the Acklay forever. That is why we had hoped to clear out their nests in the nearby mountain.” The Felucian elder sighed. “But, I will be honest with you. The last several hunters we received in the weeks prior had journeyed over to the nest, but never returned. There is no telling how many Acklay are lurking in the jungle.”

“So, if you wish to leave now, then I understand.”

The Mandalorian looked over to Kanan. She already had her answer, though she had a feeling he did too.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

The gesture of hot tea was thoughtful, but Kanan knew that the Mandalorian’s tea would go untouched and eventually turn cold. Not all Mandalorian Clans wore their helmets religiously, but this Mandalorian was from a stricter clan that did. Or at least, Kanan would assume he was.

Kanan’s own tea was likely to go untouched as well. He was beginning to tire of this talk. Here they were talking about the problem when they could have been out there dealing with the problem. It was not that Kanan did not sympathize with these villager’s struggles, but he had already been here a day and accomplished little. Surely it was better to deal with the problem now rather than later? The Acklay population was only going to grow worse the longer it was left unchecked.

The invitation to leave now and abandon these people and their village was now on the table, but taking it was out of the question. The option had never even entered Kanan’s mind until it had been verbalized by the elder. The Mandalorian’s eyes were on him, and so were those of the Felucian’s. Apparently awaiting his answer.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I came here to kill some Acklay, and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” he stated, glancing at River. He assumed the warrior beside him felt the same way. River was not one to run away from a fight. That he knew for a fact, and that he had learned the hard way.

“Good...” the Felucian elder replied, his eyes returning to the Mandalorian. “We will, of course, provide you with food for the journey and supplies for camping. We have not many, but you are welcome to take two of our tee-muss as mounts. They would make your journey easier.”

Kanan preferred to make the trek on foot, but he would gladly leave that decision up to River. “Wonderful. Thank you, sir.” Kanan tilted his head respectfully toward the Felucian elder before ascending to his feet. He was beginning to feel cramped in this small hut. “I will go and lend a hand with the preparations.”

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

The Mandalorian nodded at the Ranger’s answer. They were in agreement.

“Thank you,” said Song, her usual low tone now laced with a touch of respect. “We’ll take what we can get, and we’ll see to it the Acklay never bother you and your people again.”

It was a promise she’d keep, as long as she lived, to clear out the Acklay nesting grounds in the mountain. Though she hadn’t come face-to-face with one before, she figured it was like any other wild Outer-Rim beast. Thick-skinned and smarter than it looked, but not enough to stop a blaster, and Song rarely missed her shot. Little did she know just how treacherous the road ahead would be.

And the road before them.

As Kanan and Song rose to leave and prepare, a bloodcurdling shriek resounded over the village. Not from a Felucian, not a man, not an ordinary animal. Like something out of her own nightmares. Song’s head snapped to the source of the noise, before she moved to the door and swung it open to reveal a terrifying, six-legged creature at the village edge, trying to tear its way into one of the farthest huts.

The Felucian elder, now behind her, gasped. “My gods, they’ve never attacked in broad daylight before!”

Song plucked her gun from its holster and stepped off the porch. “And they won’t ever again.”

She glanced back to Kanan with her blaster raised and said, “You can go ahead and start prepping our things, Ranger. I think I got this.”

Song was feeling cocky. Though the Acklay was much taller than she originally pictured it’d be, that didn’t change her feelings about it. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. That was her thoughts, and she meant to prove it. Then again, knowing the Ranger, she doubted he’d sit back and watch her go off alone again.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

“If you think I’m going to let you go fight that thing alone, you’re crazy,” Kanan replied, drawing his own blaster as he charged out into the street behind the Mandalorian. “Besides, you know how I love a good fight,” he added.

The second reason he would not let the Mandalorian face the Acklay alone was left unspoken. The memory of River abandoning cover in a nameless canyon, firing at an approaching speeder, and being blown a good ten feet backward by the explosion was etched into his brain. He could also remember it clearly, as if it had happened yesterday. He could remember the intense feeling of panic and helplessness he had felt as he had watched that scene unfold. He did not want to experience that feeling again.

Kanan trusted River with his life. He had faith in him. He believed the Mandalorian to be among the best warriors he had ever had the pleasure of meeting, and he was one of the few that Kanan respected. Perhaps, though he typically was loathe to sing the praises of a bounty hunter, River was a better warrior than himself. But regardless, Kanan was not going to let the Mandalorian face the Acklay alone.

They were in this together, and that... that brought a smile to Kanan’s lips. Together.

The Acklay continued its rampage, tearing its sharp claws into the sides of the hut and shredding the wood to pieces. Screams could be heard reverberating throughout the small village as Felucians ran for cover. They all ran in one direction: the opposite direction, behind the Mandalorian and Ranger. The village elder remained in the threshold of the door, watching with baited breath. Now he would get to see what these two were made of... or, if fate was not kind to the village, not made of.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song might have argued, said she had it handled, but she already knew how stubborn the Ranger could be. If he wanted in, not like she’d stop him. Although, the Mandalorian wasn’t particularly known for sharing, even if their last encounter consisted of them working together to take Duermo down.

Hoping to reach the Acklay first, she used her jump boots to launch her ahead, closing the space between her and the creature by a dozen meters, and widening the gap from Kanan. Without a second thought, Song raised her blaster and fired two shots at the Acklay as it snapped its teeth and jaw into one of the huts. Inside, a small family had huddled together, prepared to meet death in their final moments.

That meeting wouldn’t come just yet.

Her blaster fire failed to penetrate its skin, but it was enough to draw the Acklay away from its meal. Towards her. Song had gone a little closer than she liked, but fired another shot into it for good measure. Again, its shell-like back absorbed the bolts. She realized then that if she wanted to take the creature down, she had to get closer. To its weaker points: behind the legs, the neck, or the underbelly.

With her other hand, she unsheathed her ceremonial blade.

Meanwhile, behind her, another screech echoed over the village. Before Kanan could meet with her, a second Acklay would cut in-between, trying to mince him with its clawed limbs.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

Perhaps the Mandalorian resented Kanan for not allowing him to face the Acklay alone, but that was perfectly alright with Kanan. Better a little resentment than to rush headfirst into a battle, unprepared, and risk life and limb. Rushing headfirst into battle was a mistake Kanan had made far too many times throughout the years of his life, and if he was being honest with himself, it would be a mistake he would continue to make many more times. But not today.

River made smart use of his jump boots, stretching the length of the dirt street in a matter of seconds and landing face to face with the Acklay.

The Mandalorian shot two blaster bolts at the Acklay, but it was as if they were no more than a scratch on its green, hardened skin. He had garnered the Acklay’s attention, however, and Kanan suspected that was his true goal.

The Acklay advancing on the Mandalorian, Kanan quickened his pace. But he never did reach the bounty hunter. The hunter was unsheathing his blade, but Kanan did not see what happened next. An ear splitting shriek echoed throughout the village. The second monster intercepted and stopped Kanan dead in his tracks.

The Acklay towered over the ranger, snarling and giving the ranger a front row view of its razor sharp teeth. It was not a view Kanan was fond of. He had been so focused on the Acklay tearing into the hut up the street that he failed to remain aware of his surroundings. He had only a moment to react and dodge the wild swings of its claws. Blood was drawn across his arm as one of the claws connected with skin, but it was a small price to pay for his life.

Ignoring the blood, he rolled out of his dive and fired three blaster bolts in quick succession, one for each of its eyes. Two of the shots missed and hit its nearly impenetrable skin. One good shot was all he needed, however, and that was what he got.

Now blinded in one eye, the monster let out another cry, this time in pain. This time around Kanan liked that sound. The Acklay staggered backwards for a brief moment, stunned, and Kanan prepared to seize the moment.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

The Acklay was fast, its legs never standing still long enough for Song to strike. Her blade swung through the air, a metal glint under the fading sun. She was a blur of movement, doing her best to dodge the creature’s attack, weaving in and around of its legs even in the weight of her armor. She was thankful River had opted for something on the medium-sized spectrum, than the heavy, else she’d have been punctured too many times to count.

Still, she wished it was lighter. Song was trained in speed and grace, and in that armor, it was hard to accomplish both. And yet, she did it anyway.

Except, suddenly, the Acklay brought its razor sharp limb down to her chest. It was a split second move for Song, narrowly avoiding the claw from tearing into her upper shoulder, by her neck. The blow would have killed her, or in another scenario, taken her arm clean off.

Instead, the knifelike limb scratched across her chestplate. Strong enough to resist the blow and save her skin, but the force of it managed to leave a considerable mark. Song cursed in Mando’a. What would River think? Armor was a Mandalorians’ prized possession. Damage like that would also cost her plenty to fix.

Now, she was angry.

As the Acklay brought down another leg to strike, Song swept her blade around and chopped the lower half of the limb right off. The creature shrieked and staggered, but the Mandalorian was resolved. Now or never, and she chose now.

Rapidly advancing, Song swung her sword across another leg. The Acklay reeled back, having lost a second limb, and snapped its jaw in an effort to tear off her head. Too late. The Mandalorian ducked and dived underneath its body. With her sword raised, she drove it through the Acklay’s belly. Like knife and butter, her blade slid across its exposed skin. Then, with the creature’s final cry, it fell.

Right on top of her.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

The creature had been blinded in one eye, but the organ was small and only one of three. Though momentarily stunned by the blow to the eye and the resulting pain that followed, its incapacitation was not to last long. Kanan needed to act quickly and with precision. The creature was sure to resume its attack, this time much angrier than it had been before.

The Ranger rushed forward, continuing to fire blaster bolt after blaster bolt toward the Acklay. Once close enough, Kanan drew his vibroknife and plunged it into its stomach. The creature let out a louder shriek and reacted immediately. With the overpowering strength of one of its six legs, the Acklay sent Kanan flying across the dirt street and into the side of a hut.

Rallying his strength, Kanan pushed himself back to his feet. The sound of the broken boards beneath him shifted under his weight and covered the small groan that escaped his lips. That the hut had been empty was of some consolation as he stepped back through the hole he had just inadvertently created.

The Acklay was waiting for him, running toward him actually. Its exposed belly was the most vulnerable spot on its body, but it would not let him get close to its stomach now. It had learned its lesson. Non-sentient, yes, but these creatures were not stupid. They were tactical thinkers, and that was how Kanan needed to think. The gash on his arm stung, and his whole body ached from crashing through that hut. He was angry, and he had to resist his immediate, base urge to simply charge the creature with no plan. He wished he could, but it would mean his death.

The neck. Its neck was also vulnerable. The neck-frill served as some protection, but if he could get atop the creature he would have a shot. That was the problem. Glancing around he spotted a stretch of rope sitting outside the door of the next hut over. The Acklay still charging, Kanan ran. He ran as fast as he could, snatching the rope as he went.

The ranger did not dare to look back, but he knew the creature was right on his heels. He could hear it as he worked furiously to fashion the rope into a lasso. Rounding the corner at the end of the dirt street he dropped one end of the rope and ducked behind a hut, keenly aware of the rise and fall of his chest as he attempted to quiet his breathing.

The Acklay rounded the corner, letting out a low sound as it eyes scanned the streets for its prey. It was only a matter of seconds until it spotted the ranger; it had the great advantage of height and a heightened level of sense. It would look to its right and see the ranger crouched down, hiding, and it would attack. Unless, that is, it took two more steps forward.

Kanan’s dark brown eyes peered around the corner of the small hut. It felt like an eternity of waiting, but it was only a matter of seconds. The Acklay’s small tail stood straight up, a sign that it was angry. The creature stepped forward, its front legs setting down inside the rope.

Immediately, and with both hands, Kanan pulled the other end of the rope as fast and as hard as he could. For a brief moment the two enemies struggled as the rope gathered around the Acklay’s legs, a battle of determination and strength. The rope was beginning to cut into the ranger’s hands, and Kanan was sure his strength was about to fail him.

Then, at the last moment, the Acklay leaned forward, propping up against its front legs on the dirt street. Last chance, Kanan told himself, sprinting forward before the creature could stand back up. Jumping, he scrambled up the creature’s side, nearly falling once or twice.

With one hand Kanan drew his vibroknife, and with the other hand he held tightly to the Acklay’s neck-frill as it rose to its feet. It shrieked and shook, a very nearly successful attempt to rid itself of the uninvited guest on its back.

Plunging the blade into the creature’s neck, Kanan continued to press the knife inward. Through the neck and into its head, as far as it would go. With one final shake, the creature collapsed to the ground with a loud and heavy thud.

Rolling off the dead monster’s back, the ranger landed on the dirt street below and stared at the blood soaked knife in his hand. He didn’t want to move. Rather, he just wanted to lie there. Maybe stare at the Felucian sky. Then he remembered River, and he sat up. His eyes fell on the dead Acklay lying on the next street over. More importantly, his eyes fell on what lie beneath it, obscured beneath the dead monster’s body. Several Felucians had begun to gather around the scene, and Kanan’s heart sank at the sight of it.

He had to get to River. He had to hope the Mandalorian was still alive. The ranger was on his feet and by the dead Acklay’s side in a matter of seconds. Adrenaline still rushing, Kanan used the last of his strength to lift one side of the Acklay’s body to free River.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

The last thing Song remembered was the crushing weight of the Acklay on top of her. The shortness of breath, her limbs locked into place. She hadn’t moved fast enough to escape the creature’s plunge into the ground, and it was like the Acklay seemed to be taking its revenge from beyond the grave. How ironic. Some might have feared to suffocate underneath its motionless body, but for Song, she could only roll her eyes at the sudden inconvenience.

One new problem after another, she figured.

As she tried to move her arm, she felt the Acklay shift. Her heart skipped a beat. Was it still alive? No, instead, she could hear Kanan’s muffled grunts as he moved to lift the whole creature off her. The thought made her smirk. The Ranger had come to her rescue again.

Except, she didn’t rescuing. Just a little leeway.

Thanks to Kanan shifting most of the weight off her right side, Song angled her blade and carved through the corpse atop her. Discolored blood and alien insides spilled out from torn skin, and it wasn’t long before the Mandalorian emerged from the carcass unscathed. Then again, her armor was drenched in Acklay guts, and she reeked of its entrails. A wad of slime slid down her tinted visor.

Her gaze fell back to Kanan, who was stooped beside the creature’s body. “When I said I was going to kill Acklay, this was not the way I imagined it would happen.”

She stepped out of the emptied corpse. With one hand, she wiped the green sludge off her helmet and let it drool to the ground. Song would need a shower before she even considered leaving, else she’d either have Felucian insects swarming her the whole journey, or Kanan making jokes. She wasn’t sure which was worse.

Half an hour later, after a brief celebration from the locals and a quick wash-off on her part, Song now sat aboard one of the tee-muss’ provided by the village elder. Rather than sulk in their homes and watch behind closed windows, the rest of the villagers watched them depart from the roadside or roofed porches, emboldened after the pair of hunters had successfully protected the settlement and proven their worth.

Faith was restored, but there was still a ways to go. Next stop, the nest.

The Mandalorian glanced over her shoulder, and to the Ranger beside her. It would take the rest of the day, and a night of rest, before they reached the distant mountain, so she made certain their belongings were in order. Now that they were, she waited for Kanan to lead on.

Their journey was only just getting started.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

1200 kilograms. That was approximately what this massive monster had to weigh, at least. Adrenaline rush or not, it was humanly impossible to lift this beast. Kanan realized this, particularly as his muscles strained and protested, but he had to give it a shot. Even if he could not lift the beast in its totality, he could at least lift it enough for River to either crawl out or for the nearby Felucians to pull him out. They were small in stature and size, but perhaps if enough of the natives grabbed ahold of the Mandalorian they could manage.

Instead, he heard a faint sound. Coming from inside the carcass. It was faint at first, but it gradually grew closer. It sounded as if something was moving around in there. Or someone. Suddenly, the Mandalorian burst forth from the Acklay’s body, covered head to foot in its entrails, slime, and blood. Dirty, filthy—but safe.

Relief on two different accounts washing over Kanan, he dropped to his knees. “What are you talking about?” he replied, gesturing to River’s armor, a lopsided, weary grin spread across his face. “You’ve never looked better.”

The death of two Acklays before their very eyes, a testament to the skills and determination of the Mandalorian and ranger, was enough to rally the Felucian villagers into a unified sense of hope. The Mandalorian and Ranger had the native’s complete support and trust. Kanan hoped it was well-earned. Within a short half hour, the villagers helped them clean up, pack supplies, and load up their two tee-musses.

Now, the village was slowly fading from view. The Felucians had shown them off with waves and cheers, but now they were to return to the monotony of their every day lives. They were happy to return to their work, Kanan thought. To their simple, slow-paced lives. There was a time when Kanan had dreamt of one day, once he grew older, settling on a section of land and living a quiet, peaceful life. Rarely did life work out the way you once planned.

The ranger directed his tee-muss through the sprawling fields of nysillin, planted in rows of straight lines. The beautiful color and symmetry painted a picturesque view. The farther their mounts carried them from the village, the less symmetrical the plants and fungi became. All manner of plants, ranging from large purple mushrooms to green spiked plants that Kanan avoided, covered the surface of the planet. Their leaves and vines grew untamed and uninhibited, stretching and spreading in every direction.

It was easy to see why the majority of the planet had not been explored. It would be easy to get lost, and Kanan was thankful that the Felucian elder had had the foresight to give him general directions to the Acklay nesting grounds.

The two hunters had ridden in silence for some time when Kanan turned to River. His eyes roamed the Mandalorian’s armor, always fascinating to him. Almost as fascinating as the man within the armor. “So,” he began, “Did you make it into the Guild?”

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

The arranged rows of plant-life, of cellophane flowers and discolored herbs, eventually began to lose its focus, melting away into the jungle. Song could tell when they met the border of the village, like a line drawn into the sand, when the unchecked wilderness loomed above them. Without another word, they plunged into the supposed no-man’s land. The jungle swallowed them whole as the villagers watched on with hope. Some, with fear.

They rode in silence together for sometime. Song was left listening to the call of wild birds, whose cries were nothing like the songs she heard from the snow-capped pines on Krownest, or the gentle birds nesting in the trees of Dantooine. They were primal, with a fierce tone to it, like the wilderness had turned them rabid. Maybe it had, maybe it hadn’t.

She hoped she wouldn’t find out for herself.

As the Mandalorian looked uncertainly to the sky, she noticed the Ranger looking over at her again. She wondered what he was up to now, what he might say, or what he was thinking. Song was lucky to be wearing a full set of armor to hide her face and her thoughts, but it was still surprisingly hard to read into Kanan Marek.

When he spoke, she blinked suddenly, then turned to face him.

“Yeah, I made it in,” she said. “Thanks to you, of course. Duermo squirmed the whole ride to the Guild, and I made sure he paid for what he did. Also made sure Tera got a cut of the reward, like you asked.”

Song looked out to the jungle ahead, ducking her head from a low-hanging branch. “She was happy, you know. Thought she was going to cry. I told her it was all your idea, and she was thankful for that too. Didn’t stop her from hugging me, though.” She chuckled at the distant memory. “Too bad you weren’t there. She was head over heels for you. Might’ve even earned you a kiss.”

She laughed again, though a little more quietly, then shifted the subject back to him.

“So,” she said, echoing his voice. “What have you been up to since then? Capture any rogue criminals worth mentioning?”

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

So the Mandalorian was a Guild Member now. Kanan was not surprised. There was never any doubt in his mind that River would be admitted. River was most definitely a man who got what he wanted. The ranger still held his pre-existing doubts and grudges about and against the Guild, but he had nothing but respect for the Mandalorian that rode alongside him. His union with the Guild would do nothing but better it. They had gained a valued member.

“Thanks to me?” Kanan repeated. “No thanks to me. You would have made it into the Guild with or without me. I have no doubt about that.” In case his words of praise went to the Mandalorian’s head too much, he playfully added with a smile, “No need to be so humble. Give yourself at least some of the credit.”

Tera. The mechanic. He was glad to hear that the credits had brought some measure of comfort to her. She deserved it. She had lived a hard life for one so young, and Duermo’s terrorization of her was inhuman. Kanan got angry every time he thought about it.

Kanan was perplexed, however, to hear River say that the mechanic had been head over heels for him. That did not seem probable nor likely, and his surprise showed on his face. He had not noticed that, and he wondered if the Mandalorian was pulling his leg. “A kiss? I’m afraid I’m a little out of practice,” he chuckled.

They were entering deep, thick jungle now, the trail ahead obscured. Returning his gaze to what lie ahead of them, Kanan answered. “Nothing out of the ordinary really. I did bring in an interesting Gungan a couple weeks ago. He was surprisingly wiry. I chased him for close to an hour through the streets on—“

Kanan was unable to finish his story, however, as a long tentacle reached through the dense jungle that lined their way. The tentacle wrapped itself around Kanan’s waist and snatched him from atop his tee-muss. There was no opportunity to struggle as the creature instantly pulled him into the think jungle and from view.

​

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Maybe, she thought to herself. Maybe she would have made it into the Guild without him, but it wouldn’t be the same. She was glad to have gone on the hunt with him, glad to have met him, knowing that in a galaxy this wide, Song had a friend she could rely on. Sector Ranger or not, whatever divide stood between them was purely a political one, and the Mandalorian had never been one for politics.

She laughed though at the idea of Kanan being “out of practice.” He was sincere about it, but she seriously doubted that was case. He was one of the famed Rangers, protectors of the peace, a guardian of the people. He was tall, handsome, and still in his prime. How were girls not crawling all over him? Why was he so shy about it? She suspected he was single too, having never mentioned anything about a wife, or a family.

Little did Song know the full extent of that, however. The painful truth each of them kept from the other.

As Kanan went on about a particular adventure, Song leaned on her saddle and listened, smiling. She enjoyed his stories. Really, she enjoyed hearing him talk in general. As much as she respected him as a warrior, Song relished his company more than just for battle.

Unfortunately, Kanan was never able to finish the sentence, before he was plucked off his tee-muss and pulled into the Felucian foliage. Gone in an instant. For a split second, Song forgot how to breath, shocked, but the realization hit her hard.

“Kanan!” she yelled, immediately disembarking from her tee-muss and diving into the jungle after him. She kept her blaster at the ready in her left hand, and a vibroknife in her right, knowing that whatever took the Ranger wasn’t no ordinary animal.

@llamallove

 

[Kanan Marek]

Spikes, leaves, and thorns cut and scratched against Kanan as he was pulled—or rather drug—through the thick brush and foliage. It was not until he was on the other side that the ranger was able to get his bearings and began to struggle.

Now in a small clearing in the midst of the jungle, Kanan could see clearly what held him firmly about the waist. The ranger had heard rumors and tales of Sarlacc pits that existed within the jungles of Felucia, hidden and safe from intruders, but he had been skeptical to believe such stories.

Dangling above the Sarlacc below, its mouth open and waiting, Kanan was skeptical no more. Although the creature below was not as large as he was aware it could grow, it did not matter. It was still a Sarlacc, and he was about to be dropped into its eagerly awaiting mouth.

Once within the creature’s mouth, there was no escaping. The rows of sharp teeth that littered its mouth were slanted inward, designed to keep any prey caught from crawling out.

Pressing his hands to the tentacle held firmly about his waist, he attempted to extract himself but to no avail. The Sarlacc thrust Kanan from one end of the clearing to the other, perhaps to disorient him or perhaps in excitement at its easy catch.

Still struggling, Kanan reached for his vibroknife. If he could get ahold of it, he could stab the tentacle, perhaps causing it release its hold. He didn’t know what he would do after that, as a drop from his current position would still mean a fate with the Sarlacc’s mouth. He only hoped River was on his way.

@Feng Mian​

 

[Song Wren]

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Song as she thrashed her ceremonial blade through the jungle foliage. Leaves, vines, thorn bushes and thick, translucent branches did nothing to stop or stall her. She cut through them all, following after the trail in the dirt Kanan left behind, chasing after his voice. She nearly tripped and fell into random pits, or ran into other hungry, carnivorous plant-life, which she swiftly carved through.

She ran like her life depended on it, as much as it did for Kanan.

The Mandalorian finally emerged out of the thick underbrush and stumbled into a small clearing. The largest Sarlacc she had ever seen (though she hadn’t seen much of any in her lifetime) was entrenched in the center. Its teeth protruded from the ground and throughout the pit leading into its maw. Its wavering arms moved back and forth, and in one of them, Song spotted the Ranger struggling to escape it.

“Kanan!” she shouted again, but her voice quickly drew the ire of the Sarlacc, who wasn’t hungry for just one entree, but a full course meal. Not one helpless traveler, but two.

Song flourished her sword. Not on her watch.

As one of its tentacles snapped over to grab her leg, she leapt to the side and brought her sword down hard. The razor metal edge chopped the limb clean off, and what was left behind writhed in the dirt. When another arm came at her, she charged directly at it then dropped. She slid across the ground on her knees, with her blade raised over her head, and sliced into the tentacle down its center.

The Sarlacc thrashed about, shrieking and crying out in pain. Although Song ought to have used her blaster to get Kanan down, he was too high and she didn’t want to risk him either falling and breaking a leg, or falling right into the Sarlacc’s mouth. The best she could do was distract the monster. Turn its attention from him to her.

Song would leave it to Kanan to escape its grasp.

@llamallove