Follow Your Nose

[Grug]

After the painful experienced on Iktotch, Grug and Jubba were making there way to Tython in order to gather for their next assignment. Along the path was a planet called Andara. It was optimally positioned as a rest stop and fuel spot for their trip. The planet was green and rich in natural trees and plants. One thought came to Grug as he saw the wonders ahead of him; it was prime truffle hunting land.

Grubba, as the pair had become known by others, were a pair of food loving Jedi that worked harder to find a good meal than a good fight. The Gamorrean had a good nose for smelling the underground goodies and tracking them down. Jubba the Hutt had skill in eating large portions of food. Together they were quite the pair. An excited Jedi Grug ran out to the forest to begin sniffing out his prize. To locals he would likely look very strange with weapons and ragged clothing running through the woods with his nose low to the dirt.

"Come Jubba! Truffle Hunt!"

@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

The forest was silent and Loa was even quieter, the wind blew and her steps matched the sounds of the bending branches as the girl moved from behind a tree to the next. She focused, she was getting better at stretching out with her senses, feeling the waves of the Force that washed through her, allowing her to feel the connection she had with the forest. The girl stepped forward, eyes closed feeling her thoughts fade away as she let go and placed her trust in the Force, letting it guide her through the forest. Loa was certain if Master Silas knew she was doing this, he would slap a tracker on her faster than she could say the hutts your uncle.

The girl opened her light eyes realizing she was in a place she was not familiar with and frowned. She slowly stepped in a circle trying to find any thing she recognized, but nothing would hint to where she had literally lost herself to. Loa sighed and scratched her head, rotating her staff in her hand as she focused once more, feeling her surroundings, but there was something different this time, she could feel something. The girl narrowed her eyes in curiosity and turned around, trying to see if there was anything present, but could not see, eyes can be deceiving... Silas' words echoed in her mind.

Loa reached again, feeling the pull to where the Force wanted her to continue and she followed, her dark brown hair bounced around her face, her steps now not as quiet, but she didn't feel any urgency of danger. She was getting used to that sense, one that told her something was up, and often was grateful for it to give her a heads up to be ready...especially if she was sneaking into the kitchen in the middle of the night for a snack.

Loa paused when she heard a voice, specifically, declaring a truffle hunt. Living on Coruscant for most of her life, she was uncertain what truffles would be doing in the forest. Perhaps they lost their chocolates to their dearie? That seemed odd though, regardless, the girl approached closer to the voices.

@Xorism @Cazar

 

[Jubba the Mutt]

Jubba followed behind Grug as the pair went searching for a true prize worth seeking: Truffles. They had come prepared for a long hunt and packed appropriately, mostly bringing food to eat along the way in various forms of pickled gorgs, slime pods and various oozing fungi that simply melted in the mouth and produced a lovely savory flavor.

Jubba wasn't so much of a hunter himself but rather was willing to let Grug do all that for them. His specialty was in the kitchen, turning whatever ingredients they had managed to scramble up into something vaguely resembling food, not that it would dissuade them from consuming it to see how it taste.

"Careful careful, we might squish the tuffles. What can you smell Grug?"

@Cazar @GABA

 

[Grug]

The stomping Grug ignored Jubba's warning. He smelled good stuff whether or not they were truffles. Eventually he came to the trunk of a large tree and headbutted it hard. The Gamorrean Jedi had not paid much attention to where he was going. A big shake of the tree dropped some branches to the ground, but Grug's focus was on the dirt. Between the roots there was a treasure. Fungus loved to grow in the shade of large trees between the rich roots. Truffles were here!

"TRUFFLES! TRUFFLES! JUBBA COME!" He did not believe he had actually found a small patch, most of their truffle hunts ended in battles or sad dead ends.

Grug roared with joy as he dug up the small treasure. There had to be more in the area but for now he selfishly ate half the truffles in one gulp. He would do his best to save the rest for Jubba, but there would not be much left by the time the big Hutt could catch up. Grug was way too excited. Anyone remotely nearby would have heard the roaring voice of joy. It was likely terrifying and anyone who happened to by hiding in the tree would probably be shaken. If they were in this tree.

@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa paused when two figures appeared, she had to look twice to conclude she indeed was seeing a Hutt and a Gamorrean. She was uncertain to approach closer, but something felt conflicted to her senses and continued to approach until she was clearly able to see the lightsaber on the Hutt's massive waist and the pig creature with his nose in the dirt.

Her jaw fell agape and in fact stood silent, confused on how to approach this situation. However, the teen inhaled deeply and let out a long exhale before clearing her throat loudly, "Excuse me..." she started, her voice looking to catch their attention, "What are you guys doing?" she asked, her bright eyes flicked from the Hutt to the Gamorrean, then finally rested on their lightsabers.

"Are, are you two Jedi?" she asked before they could answer the first question, she felt herself on edge with anticipation of their answer, she had only met one other Jedi, Ralaa, but there weren't too many others who seemed to come around Andara.

@Xorism @Cazar

 

[Jubba the Mutt]

Jubba dropped some food at the trumpeting sound call of the large Gamaoreon who had found their prize and was currently face down legs up, excitedly consuming anything in his path. Jubba sighed as he made the way closer and would find most of the lovely truffles completely obliterated by his friend.

Out of the clearing squeaked out a tiny voice, Jubba looked up to see a tiny human to match it. They certainly weren't expecting to find anyone else today on their grand hunt and at first Jubba was concerned that it might be ruined by another fight they were seemingly always getting into lately. She spoke softly and with increasing confidence but without malice at all, perhaps she was simply looking for truffles also, yes that was it. When she asked if they were Jedi, Jubba could hardly contain his excitement!

"Yes!! Am Jedi knight Jubba, how did you know? Are we famous?" slapping his friend on the back Jubba smiled "Grug she knows us!"

@Cazar @GABA

 

[Grug]

Grug's face was covered in dirt, more than usual even, when he looked up the human girl. Jubba had spoken for Grug which was good. The Gamorrean had food stuck in his mouth still and was already bad at speaking basic. Instead of adding on to what his Huut friend had said, he simply waved. If she got too close she would start to smell him, but he was not much smellier than usual that day.

After Jubba spoke to the tiny human, Grug gave him friend the remaining truffles as a present. They would continue the hunt and maybe this girl would come along. Maybe she would want to meet Jedi and show them the best local truffles. Yes that was it. Grug did not eat humans or human-like creatures so she was in no danger from Grug unless she attacked. Things did like to attack the Gamorrean Jedi out of fear but he usually could just frighten them away. This girl seemed scared already so a fight seemed unlikely.

@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa was not expecting this at all. The hutt became excited when she recognized them as Jedi, she was unaware of their names, but the hutt Jedi made sure to speak them clearly for her to catch on quickly. The gamorrean looked up with his face covered in dirt and waved to her; Loa was uncertain but knew if Nan was around, would tell her not to be rude. The girl waved back and approached the duo, her nose slightly wrinkled as she caught a breath of what reminded her of farm animals and stopped at an acceptable distance.

It was difficult to see them as Jedi, they were nothing like she had imagined, yet seen before in her life. However, it brought more truth to Master Silas' lectures about the Force and its interconnectiveness with all living beings. She watched as the gamorrean named Grug handed the mushrooms to the Hutt Jedi, "What are those?" she asked pointing to the truffles, studying the off fungus before looking back at Grug and Jubba and realized she did not introduce herself yet.

"OH! I'm Loa by the way, I like the Jedi, I want to be a Jedi some day." she grinned, standing a bit straighter with confidence as she shared her ambition with those she naturally looked up to. "I've been practicing a lot so I can be good enough to help fight to protect others." she paused, glancing between the two.

"Do you guys fight the Sith?" she asked with genuine curiosity and awe, being in the presence of Jedi Knights was finally sinking in, "Why are you on Andara? Did something happen? Is someone hurt? Is that why you're collecting those things?" she asked another question, now with concern that something might be wrong.

@Xorism @Cazar

 

[Jubba the Mutt]

Jubba stuffed his mouth with the truffles that Grug had just given him, the beautiful little treats could keep any bad feelings away as he mushed them up for his belly. The young one approached them happily enough, Jubba could tell a lot about a person by how they reacted to the pair.

It wasn't uncommon to hear screams or hushed whispers as folks passed them by, their heritages betraying them before anyone was willing to get to know them. It was something he learned the hard way after all the Jedi refused to knight him for a hundred years.

"Truffles!" excitedly replying breaking his train of thought.

"hello Loa, you eat truffle?" he momentarily lost focus. "The Jedi love people like Loa, they take you in!"

"We fight Sith, they bad! we beat off four Sith, can imagine? they ran." Jubba smiled thinking about their heroic victory some time past, the circumstances of their victory were irrelevant at the end of the day.

"Nothing wrong, Andara is good like you. We hungry is all, Jubba always hungry" he said patting his stomach with a smile.

@Cazar @GABA

 

[Grug]

Grug listened as Jubba told of their adventures in food and battle. He was hoping this girl knew of the local truffle scene, but she asked what they were so probably not. The Gamorrean would eventually speak up after Jubba finished, but he liked to let the Hutt Jedi do most of the talking in general. He usually spoke better than Grug could.

"Sith am run from us. We Jedi, fight for galaxy." He said confirming Jubba's little speech. "Am killed Sith just before come here too. Sith bad. Andara fuel stop. Food stop. Good stop."

The Gamorrean Jedi then sniffed the air hoping to feel more truffles nearby. All he could smell now was Jubba and the girl. That was not what he wanted to find at all. Maybe this girl wanted to get to know the Jedi though. Grug could be an amazing teacher. Food, friends, and the force would be his lessons. A Jedi learning under team Grubba would need to be a certain type of person to avoid going crazy though.

@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

"Truffles? So they're not candy..." she frowned in slight disappointment and glanced down at the ground to see the stirred up dirt, leaves and sticks. The two explained more of what they did as Jedi and her eyes grew wide with curiosity.

"Four Sith?!" she gasped, "You two must be Jedi Heroes then!" she excitedly cheered feeling in awe of such powerful members of the Jedi Order. Though these two smelled terrible and had some habits that Loa found particularly abnormal, her daydreams of meeting with real Jedi were becoming a reality. Loa was relieved that Andara was not in trouble, though if they were, she knew Silas would be more annoyed with her antics and would be away on more frequent meetings.

The Gamorrean sniffed the air, and Loa looked around, "I can help you find more? I bet they would taste good with some onion, and some young nettles, simmer in a pot...little pepper..." the girl tapped her chin in thought, "And listen to more of your stories!" she said wanting to know more of what they do, especially of the Sith they fought, she wondered how they managed to scare them away or if they had to kill them to stop them.

@Xorism @Cazar

 

[Jubba the Mutt]

Jubba nodded "Ams heroes, but Jedi first."

The fact that people spoke so highly of them was not lost upon Jubba although the Jedi were all about modesty which is why most people spoke about the pair behind their back, obviously for reasons to do with the Jedi code. Jubba was happy to finally find someone who was willing to talk to them about their deeds and clearly was interested in what they had done beyond just a morbid curiosity, she was like a student who could never stop studying.

When she mentioned that she would like to help them find more truffles Jubba got excited! her choice of foods to compliment the truffles was strange initially but became very intriguing!

"Loa help Grubba? deal!"

@Cazar @GABA

 

[Grug]

The girl became more interesting when she began speaking of recipes. Grug was always up for more food ideas. A local could probably help find more truffles if she knew what they were. The Gamorrean still was unsure of her but he would let her help.
Jubba was already telling her she could help before Grug could say anything. For a moment he wondered who Grubba was before realizing the Hutt combined their names. Grug liked it.

"Grubba super Jedi pair. Should follow us!" He said, flexing his flabby arms. "...but first, where truffles?"

A stench would likely be catching up to Loa by now. Grug was not a clean person by any stretch of the imagination. His smell was pretty rancid but if she could handle it, Grug would be even happier. Jubba never seemed to mind.
@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

These two were certainly not like the Jedi that Loa had grown up to known and they certainly were not like Silas. Regardless, Loa found delight in meeting new individuals and given these two were Jedi, their odd habits didn't seem to deter her from wanting ask questions or explore. She smiled at the name Grubba, the moniker of their names combined and begun to think on how to find them more of the mushroom they were searching for. Loa examined the pieces in the Jedi Hutt's hands and then glanced at the dirt where the gamorrean had been initially, the dirt and dead leaves stirred up. Her light eyes traced up the thick trunk of the tree before her eyes set on the leaves, "Well, to find more...it looks like some were growing under trees like this one..." she said.

Loa backed up, and stood on a root, reaching for the tree branch, but she was still too short. The girl focused, and with a gentle pull with the Force, the branch lowered to her height in order to pluck a leaf and a steam before releasing the branch. Loa held up the leaves that were attached to the stick, "You see, this is a type of oak tree, you can tell by the looped leaf tips and the acorns that grow." Loa pointed out each part of the leaf and seed.

"So, well need to find more trees like this, since the truffles may like the soil around it the most." reasoned the girl as she turned slowly to look around in the forest and started in a direction, carefully looking at each tree as she passed before she stopped, "Over here Grug and Jubba!" she said pointing to another oak tree.

@Xorism @Cazar

 

[Jubba the Mutt]

Jubba followed the young girl intently as she guided them toward the tree in search of truffles and like a legendary truffle champion she explained about the oak trees being a source of the goodness they sought so much. "Loa truffle princess?" Jubba asked in awe of her natural instincts.

It didn't take her long to spot another oak tree in the distance and Jubba happily followed along to help her search for truffles but not before slapping Grug on the back in excitement.

"Little one make good Jedi, like Grubba!"

Jubba's arms were too short to dig in the ground for truffles much to his disappointment but he would be patient while Grug and Loa surveyed their next location looking for food. He couldn't believe they had found someone as passionate about food as the pair was, Jubba hoped that she would be their friend.

@Cazar @GABA

 

[Grug]

Grug waddled after Loa, running ahead of Jubba. His nose perked at trying to smell the truffles. The girl had a good eye and the Gamorrean made his way to the tree. It had more of the prize and this time he would actually share. Grug wondered if this girl would join them or if she would stay home. Maybe they could set up a cheap truffle supply. Maybe the poor Jedi wouldn't need to hunt if this world and the girl. Grug stopped thinking about it though because thinking hurt.

"Truffles! Truffle girl best." Grug grunted as he scooped up pieces of the prize. "Come get!"

@Xorism @GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa beamed when Jubba told her she would make a good Jedi. She watched as Grug dug into the dead leaves and dirt, scooping their find. The girl stepped down from the large root of the oak tree after Grug gathered his prize, she pulled up a few more pieces, examining them carefully as she brushed as much dirt off as possible. The bulbous fungus was unusually heavy and Loa handed it to Jubba; she wondered how much a Jedi Knight Hutt would have to eat and wondered if the Jedi had a larger than usual budget in order to accommodate.

Her smile faded for a moment as she felt something in the Force and realized she had been gone for far longer than she wanted. Her family would be looking for her and she wasn't too interested in running extra laps in training. Though, Loa was certain she would do something else wrong in order to earn herself a consequence.

"Jubba, Grug, I wish you well and maybe we'll see each other when I become a Jedi Knight, like you guys!" she said excitedly to the thought of being a Jedi. "I have to leave though, my family is probably looking for me." The girl bowed.

"Good luck finding all the truffles!" she stepped lightly atop of the root and jumped down, turning to wave at the Jedi duo before disappearing into the thick groves of the forest. She was certain she would see them soon again.

@Cazar @Xorism