Ask Kashyyyk Lost In the Woods

[Ruzaan Kai]

Almost. The word had come to describe far too much of Ruzaan's Jedi career this far. He'd been almost killed in his first major action, on Felucia. He'd almost been overcome by a Force ghost on Tython; original homeworld of the Jedi. He'd almost been captured during a rescue mission on Bal'Demnic. He'd almost been too late to save the galaxy's supply of bacta on Thyferra. He'd almost been permanently paralyzed. He'd almost watched Samara die. Now, according to the Chalactan, he was almost to the top of the sinkhole.

Looking back, he could see how close he'd been to disaster. Looking up, he could see how far he was from his friend.

It wasn't fair, the Togruta reflected, muscles aching as he pulled himself slowly up the side of the crater. A Jedi's life was sacrifice, but he'd envisioned being able to make a real change in the galaxy. Now, he was grateful for days when there wasn't awful news to greet him in the morning, or nightmares to terrorize his sleep. Part of him didn't want to keep going. It would be much easier to just give up, return to the depression of the pit, and entomb himself there. What was the galaxy with one less Jedi? No more or less broken as it was right now.

Still, he kept going- hand over hand, inch by painstaking inch. Samara's voice helped distract him as he climbed; his body was stuck here on Kashyyyk, but his mind was, mercifully, elsewhere. A future better than the present hell they were in made easy respite for his weary imagination.

"I've never been one for a cold shower" he admitted, "so I'm gonna pass on that." A few moments before he realized what he'd just said. "I mean, I definitely will take a shower! Just, with hot water, you know?" The thought of plopping down to watch a holoseries with Samara, while still coated in the despair of the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, was ridiculous. "I don't watch a lot of holos" he said. "What's Crepuscular Sector about, anyway?" Elidan had gotten him to watch a few episodes of CSI: Coruscant a while ago, but he was not very familiar with the medium as a whole.

He was also almost to the top.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

"You better shower," the Chalactan rejoined, her tone almost filled with the amusement that had often permeated and guided so many of their interactions. Before one of them had been paralyzed from the waist down and the other had taken her first life. "I'm not riding all the way back to Brighthome with you smellin' like a nerf."
The Padawan continued to peer over the edge of the sink hole, tangles of purple and black hair falling around her face. Ruzaan's voice helped to ease her worries—as if nothing could happen to him so long as she could hear him. She realized, of course, that that was just wishful thinking. He could still lose his grip or pass out before he reached the top. She just wished he would hurry up.

"You've never seen Crepuscular Sector?" He really didn't watch a lot of holo television, did he? "We'll have a movie marathon, and I'll show you. We can stock up on all of our favorite snacks." Samara didn't know what kind of snacks the Togruta liked, except that he apparently enjoyed decaf coffee, but she would find out. She was just trying to keep him awake. To give him something—even something small—to look forward to. A reason to cling tighter to the sytherope, no matter how much it might have cut into his hands.

As soon as the tips of the Togruta's montrals came into view, Samara jumped into action. Her lightsaber was tossed to one side of the pit, and with two trembling hands she seized Ruzaan by the arms and pulled. Physical strength alone would not be enough, so the Chalactan called upon the Force, for the strength she herself did not possess. One artless jerk later, the pair of Padawans tumbled side by side into the dirt a few feet away from the hold they'd just climbed out of.

Samara let out a huge breath, utterly exhausted as her chest rose and fell. She didn't attempt to wade through her jumbled thoughts, instead slumping against the ground and letting the relief sink in. They were both alive and on solid ground again. "I meant it, you know," she let out a shaky laugh, looking over at Ruzaan. "You're staying here if you don't shower." Hopefully he knew her well enough by now to know she was joking. @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

There it was; Ruzaan could almost hear the amusement in Samara's tone that told him that she was about to roast him. "I don't smell that bad!" he protested, but even he had to admit that he couldn't argue her point. For as bad as he probably looked- even given the masking shroud of the darkness- he probably smelled worse.

He distracted himself by listening to Samara plan a movie marathon with him; Corpuscular Sector and snacks. "I'd like that" he replied, casting his mind to a more comfortable place somewhere in the future. The ensuring thoughts about snacks made both of Ruzaan's stomachs grumble, which might've been the first hint to the Chalactan that he was approaching the top of the sinkhole.

Whatever the reason, strong arms were awaiting to help him over the last hurdle and out of the sinkhole, and Ruzaan collapsed in weariness next to Samara on the ground. With fading adrenaline came a crushing fatigue that momentarily blurred his vision. "Thanks" he whispered in Samara's direction, wondering if he'd ever have words to fully express his gratitude for the way she'd helped him out of the pit; both figuratively, and literally.

Had anyone ever laughed in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk before? Samara may have been the first, and soon Ruzaan was joining her; chuckling quietly at her joke. The peril of the climb behind them both, actually getting out of here and off of the planet seemed far more likely; and the thought boosted Ruzaan's spirits immensely.

"I'll make sure I stay downwind of you" he promised Samara, finding and handing the Chalactan the lightsaber she'd tossed aside before helping him out of the sinkhole. Now that he was back at the surface, he was quickly able to orient himself. "Let me know when you're ready to head out, I'm pretty sure I can get us back to the rope elevator." Part of him was hoping she'd instead suggest sleeping for the next four cycles in a row, but resting in the Shadowlands was probably not a good idea.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

"Do we have to?" the Chalactan asked, tone comparable to a bad-tempered toddler that didn't want to do as her mother told. The question was redundant and did not require an answer. Samara knew they couldn't stay here until day broke. Whatever daylight was in the Shadowlands. Marked by cuts and bruises they'd sustained from the fall, each Padawan was covered in their own blood, Samara in the blood of the Wookiee she had slain. They'd be slumbering, irresistible meat sticks for every carnivore within a three hundred and upward miles radius.
No matter how strong the temptation to crawl beneath the shade of the nearest tree and rest her head against its trunk for a few hours, they had to keep moving if they wanted to survive. Samara sagged against the soil, rubbing the palms of her hands against her eyes until her vision darkened. Her next question was not redundant and would require an answer. "Are you sure you can walk?"

The Padawan sat up, draping her arms across her long legs. Even if Ruzaan could find his way back to the lift that had brought them here, could he even make it? His legs were paralyzed, unless something had changed between now and when he started to climb that rope. "Maybe..." The Chalactan was loathe to even suggest it, given the way her arms sagged against her knees, legs protesting at even the thought of getting up. The adrenaline rush she'd felt while fighting that Wookiee had left her completely drained. She'd never been so exhausted in her entire life. "Maybe I ought to carry you." In all honesty, she wasn't sure she could but if there was no other choice... she'd bear it as best she could.

Before the Togruta had a chance to agree or refuse, Samara's comlink buzzed again. A Wookiee's voice cut through the silence that followed. Samara's heart skipped a beat. "Is that..." Her sentence went unfinished. Ruzaan, no doubt, was thinking the same thing. Was it one of the Wookiees that had been chasing them? Or was it one of the Wookiees that had tried to defend them that morning? Had they survived? If the latter, they could follow the comlink's transmission right to the Padawans—if they answered.

"What are they saying?" she asked Ruzaan, whispering as if the Wookiee could hear them. @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan decided to ignore Samara's question as to whether or not he could walk; he was determined to try, even if his left leg was still doing its own thing. Her offer to carry him warranted some kind of cheeky reply, but the Togruta was too tired to think of a good rejoinder and the buzzing of Samara's commlink saved him from having to come up with one.

Ruzaan frowned in concentration as he tried to translate the Shyriiwook through the commlink's tinny speakers, aware that he couldn't afford any mistakes. "I..." he started, mind racing as he tried to keep up. "They're asking where we are." Of that, he was certain, but what he couldn't translate was the nonverbal cues that might clue the Jedi in as to if the question came in good faith. Shyiiwook was notorious for the nuances of its vocal inflection, as well. "They just asked where we are" he repeated, as if that might make him more certain as to the upcoming decision that he and Samara would have to make.

Ruzaan swallowed uncomfortably, taking a breath to center himself and turning his attention to his friend. "I don't know who sent the message, or why." Like their Senator, few Wookiees wasted time on pleasantries, and given their recent experiences at the hands of some vengeful warriors, Ruzaan found the idea of trusting an unidentified Wookiee difficult. His internal battle would be written plain on his face; there was a chance that this was legitimate and responding would bring an end to this ordeal, but there was also a risk that it was nothing but a trap to finish what had been started. "I don't... I don't think we should answer" he said, eyes searching Samara's face for approval; she was, after all, the one holding the commlink.

"What do you think?" he asked, before his eyes flicked to the sky and his heart rate quickened. "I hear engines" he said, voice low and urgent; soon, Samara would be able to hear the thrum of a ship's engine and see a searchlight raking across the dense canopy of the Shadowlands.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

Where are you? The translation did little to ease Samara's mind regarding the identity of the Wookiee on the other end of the transmission, nor did it help the Padawans to make a decision. It was better than nothing, than not being able to understand what the Wookiee said, but just barely.

Ruzaan was the first to voice his decision, albeit in a halfhearted tone. She could tell by the way he was searching her face for answers—answers she unfortunately didn't have—that he had no idea what they ought to do either.

Samara's gut told her that she ought to respond. That she ought to press her thumb to the transmitter and give the Wookiee on the other end a signal to follow. She was exhausted, physically and mentally. She didn't want to go on any longer. She didn't want to have to find their way back to the lift, groping in the darkness as if they were blind. Her conscience, however, told her just the opposite. That she shouldn't answer. That if she did she would be endangering not only her own life but Ruzaan's as well, by leading their attackers right to them.

In the end, that decision would be made for them. At least for the present. The Chalactan's first instinct as soon as she spotted the searchlight was to freeze in place and pray they weren't discovered. Her survival instincts kicked in, however, and she grabbed ahold of Ruzaan's arm instead and tugged. Gently, with all of her might—whatever was necessary to drag him out of the clearing where the sinkhole had opened up and to cover.

"Come on," she whispered desperately, breath bursting in and out. The lightsaber she'd tossed to one side flew into her grip, and she hooked it onto her belt. "We've got to hide."
Side by side, they hunkered down in a grove of trees, where there were no bushes or thistles to tear at that skin that remained. Heart pounding within her chest and pulse racing so fast that it made her dizzy, Samara pressed her back into the trunk of the largest tree they could take shelter behind. Now they waited. Waited and prayed that the ship would pass them by. @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Samara's silence on the matter was answer enough for Ruzaan, and he quickly came to the same conclusion she did; they had to hide. The Togruta worked with Samara to move towards the relative cover of a nearby Wroshyr tree, hoping that they could reach its safety before the harsh searchlights of the gunship found them. It was awkward going; their efforts were uncoordinated and rushed by necessity, to say nothing of the fact that he didn't have full command of his legs. But despite the handicap, he and Samara were soon pressing themselves against the rough bark, as if the tree might take mercy on them and absorb them into its trunk.

Ruzaan hardly dared breathe as the gunship hovered nearby, a pair of questing searchlights running back and forth across the area. Surely the Wookiees onboard could hear the hammering of his heart over the noise of the gunship's engines? That was the only reason Ruzaan could think for why the light kept moving closer and closer to their hiding spot... but just as it reached their position it winked out, and the sound of the gunship's engines grew gradually fainter. Ruzaan waited for one minute... two... afraid to move lest the action bring back the gunship. But gradually, as it became clear that the gunship was not returning, his heart stopped trying to escape his ribcage; for now, the Jedi were in the clear.

"Thanks again" he whispered, his voice dry; her assistance in helping him reach their current hiding spot was just the latest example of her selflessness. Ruzaan found his canteen next, offering it first to Samara before taking a drink himself. The water had been in the canteen too long, and the Togruta made a face at its leathery taste, but it helped calm him further.

The immediate threat behind them, Ruzaan once again considered the ordeal that still lay ahead. He and Samara would have to hike back through the Shadowlands, avoiding its dangerous fauna and any Wookiees still searching for them, until they either found civilization or were able to make contact with Master Ennias again. The Togruta was reasonably confident in his ability to navigate back to the elevator that had brought them here, but the question of if they could even make it that far loomed heavy on his mind.

"I can probably walk, with some help" he said, knowing that despite Samara's gallant offer to carry him that it wasn't sustainable; more than likely, she'd have to support him as his left leg had seceded from the union. "Think you can handle being that close to me? I haven't been able to shower yet..."

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

The gunship passed them by. It was nothing short of a miracle. Perhaps nature did watch over them, just as she'd been taught as a little girl. Even here in the depths of Kashyyyk, where the light never shone and the darkness smothered all hope. Samara's hand, hovering inches above the training lightsaber clipped to her belt, fell to her side as soon as the harsh beam of the searchlight disappeared into the forest.

"I can't believe they didn't see us," she spoke in a soft voice, paranoid still. There was no enthusiasm in her tone, despite their stroke of good fortune. She should have been relieved, but she wasn't. Now they had to plod through the forest, working blind in every sense of the word. Igniting their lightsabers wasn't a good idea if they were still being hunted, but if the paths they followed were too overgrown, making them impossible to traverse in the dark, it would become a necessity.
Nor was she confident in Ruzaan's ability to lead them back to the lift, particularly in his condition, as much as she hated to admit that even to herself. The pain had to make it hard for him to think clearly, and who could remember the way they had come? They had run aimlessly through the woods earlier, just trying to get away from their attackers. It would be difficult if not impossible to retrace their steps.

"I can handle it," she lied, wrapping an arm around the Togruta's waist and tugging his arm around her neck by the wrist. They were both exhausted, and Samara had very little will to press on, but she decided not to verbalize her irresolution. There was no choice. They had to press on. Press forward or die. "I'll just... breathe through my mouth." Their witticism did little to lift the mood.

Samara put one foot in front of the other, leading Ruzaan out of the grove of trees they had sought shelter in, toward the denser forest with movements that lacked energy. @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan had never been one to believe in the phrase, "fall asleep standing up", but 20 minutes into a stumbling, agonizingly slow walk with Samara he was confident that the only reason he hadn't fallen asleep was because the part of his brain hardwired for survival- the part that reminded Togrutas that they weren't the top of the food chain- prevented him from falling asleep in a place like the Shadowlands.

That, and the fact that he was pretty sure that he was hallucinating.

His feet were beneath him, his right leg doing its best and his left steadfastly refusing to function properly; regardless, he had no consistent feeling in his legs and more than one time he misjudged a step and either stumbled or fell from Samara's exhausted grasp. Part of him felt like he was floating, and if not for the solid, grounding presence of Samara next to him, the Togruta might've been convinced that he was actually hovering over the ground.

Around the Jedi, the fog swirled and danced, blurring the lines between tangible and ethereal. Strange cries from creatures echoed through the darkened woods, and Ruzaan licked dry lips before voicing a fear he was readily growing more certain of. "We're being followed" he whispered, shutting his eyes tightly and trying to call on the Force to determine if the threat he feared was real, or just one more trick of his exhaustion and pain. His right hand- the one not wrapped around Samra's shoulders for support,- unhooked his lightsaber from his belt; a moment later a single blue beam hissed into existence.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

"There's nothing there," the Chalactan started to say, an automatic response without any real thought or precaution put into it. They'd been stumbling through the forest for at least half an hour now and had not come across intelligent life—animal or otherwise. Not to mention the fact that Ruzaan was pretty rattled, losing his balance and swaying back and forth. Half the time she wasn't sure if he was actually conscious or not.
Then she heard it. The snap of a low hanging branch splitting in two. The rustle of leaves on a vine as something brushed against it. The Chalactan's nerves felt raw as her pulse raced and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Ruzaan was right. They were being followed. Whatever it was, it was six to seven feet behind them and gaining. No sooner had Ruzaan ignited his lightsaber than Samara had spun around on her heel, one hand outstretched, ready to send whatever or whoever decided to charge them flying back into the darkness from which it came, while the other hovered over her training lightsaber. Just in case her first line of defense didn't work out so well.

Samara stood with baited breath, muscles tense and eyes darting in the direction of their stalker. It didn't creep up on them, shifting all of its weight toward the front of its body, but hopped, its steps uncoordinated and sloppy. It was some kind of bird—a hideous cross between a vulture and a flamingo if you asked Samara. It stared up at the pair of Padawans, both quite literally shaking in their boots, its dark eyes reflecting the blue hue of Ruzaan's blade.

"It's... a bird," the Chalactan stated the obvious, comforting not only Ruzaan but herself as the creature pecked at the ground, looking for seeds. She ran a hand through her messy, tangled hair and chuckled faintly. "Not gonna lie. That really—"

Before the Padawan could finish that sentence, a four-legged arachnid three times the size of the Padawans scurried out of the forest, and it was headed right toward them.

Dice Roll: 19/20 for how dangerous is this thing? @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

As much as Ruzaan would've liked for Samara's response to be true, the Togruta couldn't quell the rising certainty inside him that he and Samara weren't out of the woods just yet. As Samara whirled around to face the creature, Ruzaan attempted to do the same. He managed a half turn and a stumble, but managed to keep from completely falling down and ended up on one knee.

Although the bird's appearance and general mannerisms didn't betray aggression, Ruzaan still held his blade aloft in as much of a defensive position as he could muster. Kashyyyk was famous for its dangerous wildlife, and this vulture-like being could very well have run out of patience waiting for them to die and had decided to finish the job itself.

The Jedi would never know its true intentions, though, as a massive kinrath emerged from the forest and went on the attack. The bird squawked in alarm and tried to make an escape, but the arachnid had the drop on it and the bird's cries soon reached a crescendo as the kinrath's poisonous appendage shot out and made contact. Ruzaan wanted to shut his eyes and cover his montrals, but could only watch in horror as the bird convulsed violently before falling to the dusty ground at the kinrath's feet.

A cold certainty settled within Ruzaan's gut- he and Samara would be next, and despite all they'd overcome on this hellish mission their luck had finally run out. The spider regarded them carefully, its element of surprise gone; now, it assessed its prey with beady eyes before skittering quickly towards Ruzaan in an attempt to finish him off. Staring down his final moments, Ruzaan could only hope that Samara might make good use of the opportunity to run... and also knowing in his heart that she wouldn't.

Before it could reach him, the unmistakable report of a bowcaster sounded through the clearing, and the kinrath staggered as a heavy bolt slammed into its side. Its hiss of surprise and pain was drowned out by the call of a Wookiee, which Ruzaan's foggy brain somehow managed to get the gist of. "This way" he called out to Samara, urging his limbs to comply as he moved slowly in the direction of where the shot had originated. A second shot was fired and a second hit was scored, and through the foliage Samara could see glimpses of their savior; a tall Wookiee with dark brown fur and an untamed appearance.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

Their knight in shining armor didn't turn out to be a knight at all. He carried no sword and wore no panoply of hauberk. In fact, he wasn't wearing anything at all. Unless bandoliers count as clothing, and—in Samara's book—they don't. It was slung around his waist, pulled tight like a utility belt, and a blinking comlink hung from its leather strap. Briefly, amidst all of the chaos, the Padawan wondered if this was the same Wookiee that had attempted to contact them earlier.

There was no time for regrets at present, however, as the four-legged arachnid let out a protracted, agonizing wail. It was an earsplitting sound, one that the Padawans were not likely to forget anytime soon. A malignant creature, it would not give up so easily. Not when prey had wandered so closely to its hive. It thrashed about in the undergrowth of the Shadowlands, still screeching, before it stumbled forward into a tree. The evergreen rocked against the arachnid's full weight, bark splitting and limbs cracking as the creature pushed against it, regaining its balance.

Once the Padawans had drawn nearer the Wookiee, and the glow of Ruzaan's lightsaber illuminated his face, Samara recognized him at once. She did not know his name, but he was one of the Wookiees that had accompanied them into the Shadowlands. One of the few that had risked his life and fought to protect them. Were there any doubts that lingered in the Padawan's minds, whether he be friend or foe, they were dispelled when the Wookiee spoke in a deep, perfunctory tone, "Ruh gqyaaaaq."

Samara didn't have a clue what it meant, but it sure sounded nice. He ushered the pair of teenagers behind him, gripping Ruzaan by the arm while his other hand, still gripping a bowcaster, continued to fire at the creature that was chasing them. At last, a ray of hope shone in Kashyyyk's Shadowlands. @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruh gqyaaaaq. Why did it have to be, "Ruh gqyaaaaq"? Couldn't it have been "Ruh kkyaaaaq", or maybe even "Nuh ghhhraagh?" But no. He should've been expecting Ruh gqyaaaaq with the way this mission was going.

"There's more" he half-said, half-sobbed to Samara, trying to block out the sounds of their arachnid pursuer in favor of willing his battered body to keep taking steps away from it. He wasn't even certain that he, Samara, and the Wookiee were going to escape this kinrath, let alone its friends.

The Wookiee's grip on his arm- tugging Ruzaan along with- was more of a hindrance than a help. His left leg barely functional, the Togruta's balance was already precarious; and the unexpected assistance was enough for him to topple over and fall to the ground. Ruzaan landed in a squishy pile of some kind of fungus.

How many more times could he keep finding the strength to get up again? Did he even have the strength to get up again?

In the span of a breath, Ruzaan took stock of his situation. His breath was coming fast and shallow, and his heart was pounding in his chest. His muscles were leaden and his left leg had completely given up. If he laid here and died, then Samara could escape with the Wookiee. From his prone position Ruzaan struggled to look over at Samara, hoping that seeing her successful escape might make his impending death easier.

What Ruzaan hadn't realized was that the Wookiee's comment was referring to other allies; not more kinraths. More bowcasters began firing from amidst the Shadowlands, sparking off of the kinrath's natural armor and causing it to hiss in annoyance and pain. The sound of the gunship that had searched for the Padawans earlier sounded again on the horizon, coming closer. Strong arms plucked Ruzaan up off the ground and began carrying him as a squad of Wookiees arrived to help cover their retreat. Two escorted Samara to ensure she also made it to a nearby clearing where the gunship was going to pick them up. As the Jedi got closer, the symbol of the FWA would be plainly visible on the side.

Help had finally arrived.

@llamallove

 

[Samara Draven]

Green plasma bolts cut through the gloom and lit the shadowlands. Samara could finally see the path in front of her, every step punctuated by the sound of blaster fire. One bolt after another struck the arachnid that had given chase, and the Chalactan could hear its wounded cries, diminishing in volume and frequency as the Wookiees guided her forward, but she didn't dare look back. She didn't care what the creature's fate was, so long as she and Ruzaan and their rescuers escaped it.

Bright, glaring anti-collision lights materialized as they emerged from the forest and into a clearing. They were blinding, but Samara didn't care. She was just relieved to see a light at the end of the tunnel. All they had to do was climb aboard the assault transport, and then they could finally breathe a sigh of relief. It would bear them to the surface of the planet, where Samara wasn't sure what would await them. Would it be dark? Daybreak? Sunset, even? The Shadowlands were a disorienting place, and she didn't know how much time had passed since they'd been attacked.

Engines roared. Wookiees called out orders in their native tongue. Blaster fire subsided. Ruzaan was propped up across from her. The nightmare was finally over. / exit thread @SlagathorTheUnknown