Here is a new story that takes off after the last chapter of "Rex's Camping Trip". In the last chapter, when Kanan and Hera took Orla the Wookiee home to Kashyyyk, Zeb decided to stay with her. This deals with Zeb learning to live amongst the Wookiees and taking a female Wookiee (Orla) as a lifemate. I know it's different, but I hope readers enjoy it.
"A LASAT ON KASHYYYK"
Chapter 1 "A New Life"
When the GHOST crew boarded the ship, Zeb stood, his body shaking with silent sobs and he felt Orla put a comforting arm around his waist. He took his good hand and waved as the ship took off. When the GHOST vanished into the upper atmosphere, Zeb buried his face in Orla's shoulder to wail loudly...
Today, was the start of his new life on Kashyyyk...
Orla held Zeb close until his crying eased off. She knew he was a bit traumatized at the parting of his family...possibly for a long time.
"Come, Garazeb," she said taking him by the hand, "You need rest."
Chaka and Rukalo watched their daughter show great affection for the Lasat male. At first they were against the two becoming close and wanting to join as lifemates, but getting to know Zeb better, they realized that they were wrong. Orla was old enough to choose a mate.
The female Wookiee , her arm around Zeb's waist, lead him to a part of the main Wookiee villlage that was her home. She took him inside and over to an area where four hammock beds were. She helped him into one of the lower ones, and crawled in next to him.
"Orla, no," he whispered.
"Quiet now. I am comforting you. Just rest," she said softly and wrapped her arms around him. Zeb closed his eyes feeling comfortable in her embrace. Soon soft snores came from the Lasat. His pointed ears twitched as he slept making Orla smile.
"Sleep, beloved," Orla crooned, "For you have a visit with the elders later."
A few hours later, Orla lead Zeb to a part of the Wookiee's main village. In an alcove that was a natural part of the biggest wroshyr tree that Zeb had ever seen, sat six Wookiees of advanced age and size. Zeb swallowed hard and grasped onto Orla's hand with his good one. The obvious leader, the largest Wookiee stood up to address Zeb.
"Garazeb Orrelios," the translator around the Wookiee's neck said. It was a voice both powerful and intimidating, "You have chosen to live on Kashyyyk with us and take Orlaruk as your lifemate."
"Y...Yes...sir," Zeb stammered out and bowed to the elder.
"Since you have made the decision to live amongst us, you will have to learn our ways and customs. Are you willing to do this?"
"Yes."
"Come forward, young one," the old Wookiee said gesturing with a huge hand.
Orla smiled at Zeb and let go of his hand, giving him a push forward seeing him hesitate.
The old Wookiee named D'Mari stood up putting his hands on Zeb's shoulders. The Lasat looked up at the hairy biped who was nearly two feet taller than him.
"Garazeb Orrelios, since you are choosing to live as a Wookiee, you will have to go through two rites of passage to prove your worthiness in taking Orlaruk as a lifemate. If you succeed, you will be welcomed into our society as one of us and you will have to let go of your former life as a Lasat. Are you willing to do this?"
Zeb nodded his head, bottom lip quivering.
"W...What do I have to do?"
"The first thing you will do is visit our healers to help with your arm injury. After that, you will be taken to the Wookiee shaman K'Pek to be purified at the sacred pool."
"Purified?" Zeb asked feeling that the word implyed something awful would happen. He stood up taller willing to accept anything he had to do in order for Orla to become his lifemate.
Orla came up next to him seeing the worry in the big green eyes.
"The purification ceremony is normal for a potential Wookiee mate. Since you are Lasat, makes the ceremony even more important."
"Will it hurt?" Zeb asked and the Wookiee elders all laughed making him frown.
"No...beloved," Orla said putting an arm around his waist, "With the help of my nurturing ones, you will be lead into the pool and K'Pek will perform a ceremonial washing of your body from head to toe. This signifies the washing away of your old life. This pool had healing properties and you won't have any pain. I think you will enjoy it. After this is done, you will let go of your life as a Lasat and will adopt our ways. Part of that will be the loss of your Honor Guard uniform."
"What?!" Zeb said realizing what she meant, "I have to lose all of it?"
"All of it."
"Uh...Orla, I don't have a shaggy fur coat like you or the other Wookiees. My fur doesn't cover certain parts of my...uh...anatomy. I'll be naked!"
"Oh don't worry," Orla said patting his blushing face, "We have taken that into consideration and will make sure your modesty will be intact. I wouldn't mind seeing you naked."
"Orla...please. This is embarrassing enough!"
She gave him a kiss on the lips making him feel better.
The elders enjoyed the rapport between the youngsters and couldn't surpress their chuckles.
"Garazeb," D'Mari said getting his laughing under control, "You must see the healer first."
Zeb nodded and followed Orla to another village section that housed a healing area. Swallowing hard, Zeb followed Orla into the hollowed area of the tree. Candles lit up the area where beds were built into the walls. A female Wookiee a little older than Orla's mother, gestured Zeb to come over and sit on the side of a wooden bed. She uttered a few grunts and growls.
"She needs you to lay down," Orla translated.
Zeb nodded and layed down. He looked up at the elder Wookiee and gulped. She growled again and brought up a basin of something that made Zeb's slitted nostril nose wrinkle with disgust.
"Karabast!" he muttered, "That smells awful!"
"It is wroshyr wood sap," Orla said, "It has deep healing properties. She will rub it on your left arm over the arm injury." It had been injured in a fall and repaired surgically recently.
Zeb nodded and tried not to gag at the repulsive smell. Orla stood by her face in an amused smile. The older Wookiee rubbed the foul-smelling concoction over his purple-furred arm, concentrating on the healing incision. Zeb sucked in his breath as he felt the sap sting a bit. He bit his lip and was relieved that the stinging didn't last long. The wroshyr tree sap was left on for about thirty minutes, then the Wookiee healer took a soft cloth dampened with water and wiped Zeb's arm clean. She put the brace back on and barked at Orla.
"You will need this treatment once a day for a few weeks," Orla said helping Zeb to his feet, "Then you may be able to lose the arm brace for good."
"Feels better," Zeb said flexing his fingers, "The hand doesn't hurt as much."
Orla's answer came in a nuzzle of his face with hers. That was a feeling that pleased him and he felt his ears tingle with pleasure. A horn sounded interrupting their affectionate touch.
"It is time for the purification ceremony," she said taking him by the hand. Zeb swallowed hard and moved closer to her. Part of him was afraid of what he was about to experience.
Chaka and Rukalo met them outside the healing area. The older Wookiees barked at Orla, gesturing her over to where two catamarans sat waiting for them to get onto. Orla's parents got on one and Orla helped Zeb onto the other one. Zeb put his arms around Orla's waist and leaned his head against her back. Soon the two catamarans began to move off away from the village and deep into the forest where the sacred pool resides. The closer they got to the sacred pool, the more nervous Zeb became.
A pleasant aroma hit Zeb's nostrils as they entered the area of the sacred pool. It was nestled in a thick growth of wroshyr trees, a stream of sunlight peeking through the thick green branches. The pool was the brightest shade of blue that Zeb had ever seen. He inhaled and smelled a pleasant scent of what appeared to him as Lasani roses. That brought back alot of memories bringing tears to his eyes. A thin veil of steam wisped up from the bluish water making the scent stronger. Zeb felt like he was losing himself in the pleasant and almost seductive aroma. It was intoxicating!
Chaka and Rukalo walked over to help Zeb off the catamaran that he shared with Orla.
"What happens now?" Zeb asked of Orla, his deep voice quiet. The sacred pool and surrounding area reminded the Lasat of a cathedral and demanded respect.
"We await the arrival of K'Pek the Wookiee shaman," Orla said, "After she arrives the ceremony will begin. My parents will help you with the removal of your clothing and armor. Then they will lead you into the sacred pool."
Zeb's eyes widened.
A sound made him turn and he beheld probably the oldest Wookiee he had ever seen arrive on a litter carried by two Wookiee warriors. The litter was sat down and the ancient Wookiee closed her eyes then opened them. The eyes were a pale blue that almost made her look blind but she wasn't. She had a translator around her white-furred neck.
"Where is the Wookiee cub needing purification?" she asked in a voice that possessed strength as well as compassion.
Orla took Zeb by the hand and lead him to stand in front of the old Wookiee.
"This is Garazeb Orrelios," Orla said and her voice sounded a bit nervous. K'Pek might not allow the joining of her and Zeb.
K'Pek's pale eyes widened.
"A Lasat?!" she exclaimed in amazement.
"Yes," Orla answered, "I have chosen Garazeb to be my lifemate, and he has come to you for the purification ceremony so that we can be joined."
"Orlaruk, daughter of Chaka and Rukalo, he is a Lasat and you are a Wookiee. In the long history of our people, there has never been a joining of a Wookiee to a Lasat."
"I love Garazeb," Orla said as she stood taller, "It is my right as a Wookiee female to choose who I want for my lifemate, and I choose Garazeb. In the tradition of our people, I have brought Garazeb to be purified in the sacred pool."
K'Pek closed her eyes as she thought deep of this unique situation. Finally she opened her eyes and looked at Orla.
"I will allow this. I can see how much you love this Lasat male."
She turned to Zeb and motioned him forward and to kneel in front of her.
"Garazeb Orrelios, since you are a Lasat, you may not know all of our customs and beliefs. Are you willing to give up your life as a Lasat and embrace the Wookiee way of life? The decision is yours."
"Yes," he said his voice a little shaky.
"Garazeb, since your nurturing ones are not here, Chaka and Rukalo will step in to fill the role. They will get you ready for the immersion into the sacred waters."
"What do I do?"
"Come closer, young one," K'Pek said and placed a hand on Zeb's head. She nodded to Chaka and Rukalo forward.
"Orla's nurturing ones will help you prepare for the immersion and since you are a Lasat your clothing and armor will be removed."
Hearing that made Zeb shudder.
"I'm going to be..."
"Naked," Orla said a smile crossing her face at the thought of seeing her intended's purple-striped fur in all it's glory.
Zeb swallowed hard and he jumped back at feeling Chaka beginning to remove his chest and back armor. Orla stood watching until K'Pek growled at her to leave the area. It was forbidden for the Wookiee female to see her lifemate fully without his arms and leg bands. In Zeb's case with the shorter fur, Orla would see everything that makes him a male Lasat and more.
Feeling more embarrassed, Zeb watched as Rukalo loosened the fastenings on his Honor Guard uniform and soon it fell to the ground leaving him totally naked except for the arm, leg, and knee guards. He closed his eyes, his face turning a deep shade of red. When the last of the uniform came off he tried to cover up his nakedness with his hands and arms held in front of him. There wasn't anything he could do about his bare back side. He felt a cool breeze that made him shiver.
K'Pek, with the help of her attendents, got off the litter and waded out into the pool of water. She gestured with her hands for Chaka and Rukalo to bring Zeb to the side of the pool. The rosy smell grew stronger and Zeb closed his eyes to the intoxicating scent.
"Bring the young one into the water," K"pek said and Zeb was lead into the water and he sighed feeling the relaxing warm waters soak into his fur. K'Pek began to utter words in ancient Shyriiwook and had Chaka and Rukalo stand in front of the old Wookiee shaman.
Zeb kept his eyes closed and felt K'Pek place a hand on his head his legs growing weak and he fell to his knees the water up to his chest. He opened his eyes back up to see K'Pek scooping up water in her hand to drizzle over his head and ears. The sensation of the water trickling over his fur, made Zeb almost swoon. K'Pek nodded to Chaka and Rukalo and they lowered Zeb back so his head was immersed in the water. The Lasat wasn't frightened of having his head dunked and he took in the pleasant scent more. The Shyriiwook utterings continued and Zeb felt more and more intoxicated from the pool's scent. The feelings began to become a bit erotic and his body responded to that. Chaka and Rukalo weren't alarmed at what he was experiencing. It was normal during the purification ceremony that the male Wookiee would have feelings of arousal from the water and pool's scents.
K'Pek placed her hands on both sides of Zeb's face and brought her head close to his so their foreheads were touching. Zeb shuddered at the closeness all erotic feelings gone. He knew she wasn't going to hurt him but the strength he felt in her hands was alarming. K'Pek uttered one more growl and helped Zeb to his feet, his legs a bit shaky. She gave the Lasat a kiss on the forehead.
"Garazeb Orrelios, former child of Lasan, you are now purified and a part of the Wookiee culture. I know you are a bit shaky, so Chaka and Rukalo will help you out of the pool and to redress you in the way of a Wookiee warrior. You may keep your Lasat bo-rifle and your chest and back armor, nothing else."
Zeb opened his eyes, still drunk from the effects of the sacred pool. He stumbled and almost fell being caught by Chaka. They lead him over to a bed of wroshyr branches where he layed down to rest after the purification. Rukalo with help from Chaka, got the Lasat redressed in his chest and back armor. A belt of Rancor hide was placed around his waist a lioncloth garment attached to it to cover the parts of the Lasat's anatomy that on a Wookiee were normally covered. Zeb began to fall into a deep sleep which was a normal reaction after the ceremony. It was exhausting to the recipient.
Orla was allowed back and her eyes widened at the sight of her soon to be lifemate. She took in the slightly damp purple fur on his head, the darker purple stripes a more vibrant shade. She watched as his armor-covered chest rose and fell with the breaths of slumber. Her gaze traveled down to his torso that was uncovered and saw the muscles beneath the purple-striped fur. Her breath quickened as her eyes moved down to his bare hips and muscular legs. She closed her eyes imagining what he looked like under the lioncloth. She would have to wait for the night of their mating ceremony which she hoped was soon.
She sat a respectable distance from him and continued to stare at him sleeping.
The Lasat, in his almost drug-induced slumber began to dream...
Zeb saw himself going through a rigorous training of becoming a Wookiee warrior and also going on a "coming of age" ritual to get a tooth from a jungle Rancor, a beast known to be one of the most ferocious in the galaxy...He saw Orla standing beside him in front of the elders and K'Pek. Orla had a ring of flowers around her head. She was looking at him with love in her eyes as K'Pek joined them as lifemates...Zeb smiled as the dreams got moe vivid as he saw Orla laying close to him as they engaged in a mating ritual, her fur giving off a scent of pleasure, his naked body giving off a scent of musk that drove Orla crazy with lust. She clutched her body close to his and the two became one in a burst of passion. He smiled more in his sleep and then the dreams changed to one of Orla's father being taken by the Empire to lure him out.
Zeb frowned as the dreams grew more disturbing. He saw himself fighting alongside the Wookiees in the way of a Wookiee warrior. He saw them fall dead at his feet from blasts of a T-7 ion disruptor.
"No!" he cried out as he sat up and felt tears on his face.
"Beloved," came a familiar voice. It was Orla. She sat down beside him putting an arm around his shoulders.
"Ssh...you were dreaming. Part of the effects of the purification. Makes dreams more vivid."
"It was so...real," he gasped leaning against her, "Some of it was...pleasant...some of it was...scary."
He looked into her eyes and saw the love and concern.
"The purification can be hard on a Wookiee male, and you being a Lasat, made the experience a bit more intense."
"I'm okay, Orla."
"Would you like me to comfort you, Garazeb?"
"Yes..."
Orla pulled him closer and kissed him on the mouth. Zeb moved closer to deepen the kiss remembering the dream of them mating, but he knew they had to wait for the proper time. Orla felt his response and pulled away to ease the seductive feelings the two were having for each other. Zeb took a deep breath and still leaned against Orla.
"We need to get back home," Orla said helping him up. Zeb looked down and saw the state of undress he was now in. A flush of red appeared on his cheeks making Orla laugh, "Oh don't worry. Everything that needs to be covered...is. I think you look very...handsome."
Zeb smiled and noticed that K'Pek, her attendents and Orla's parents were gone. How long he had been sleeping he didn't know.
"Home," he whispered liking the sound of that...