Still another chapter of "Rex's Camping Trip". This story has been a fun one to write. I've used alot of what has happened to the GHOST family, especially Zeb, from memories of past camping trips with my family.
Chapter 11 "Return to Woh River Campground"
Zeb spent two weeks in the hospital as he recovered from the arm surgery. Hera and Kanan spent alot of time with him and also had Rex bring Ezra and Sabine to the hospital a few times to visit which really cheered Zeb up. Orla also spent alot of time with Zeb, Hera and Kanan seeing that the Wookiee and Lasat were growing closer in their relationship. Orla's family had to return to Kashyyyk and agreed to let her stay with the GHOST family on one condition that they would bring her back home alone or with Zeb.
Chaka and Rukalo had their doubts about their daughter becoming attached to a Lasat and not one of their kind, but seeing how much affection Orla showed Zeb made them realize that the species difference didn't matter. The time they had got to know Zeb's family showed the Wookiee couple that their daughter had found the right person to become her lifemate.
"Hey buddy," Kanan said as Hera helped get Zeb ready for the day, "You get to leave the hospital today."
"I do?" Zeb asked relieved to be going back to the campground.
Hera finished getting a tank top on him being careful of the injured arm. She gave him a maternal smile and a ruffle of his furred head, getting him to chuckle.
"I will help," Orla said helping Zeb up to a sitting position. The Lasat gave her a warm smile that made her fur feel like it was getting warmer.
Back at the campground, Rex, Gregor and Wolffe with the help of Priscilla and the other families camping, got a celebration ready for Zeb's return. The Lasat even with his mishaps had won the hearts of everyone, not just the children. The three former troopers let Kanan and Hera know what they were planning to do and not to let Zeb know what was going on so he could be surprised.
Picnic tables had been set up in a wooded area near Priscilla's residence beside Little Woh Creek that ran through part of the campground. Shelters had been set up to protect everyone from the sun. Games were set up for the children and adults. The children were looking forward to playing games with Zeb, hoping the Lasat was well enough.
"Can Zeb play boloball?" Izzibo asked of Rex seeing the trooper set up a net for the game.
"He might, little one," he answered patting her ridged head, "We'll see how his arm is doing."
"I'm glad he's coming back. I really missed him."
"I know you did."
Later that morning, a shuttle arrived with Kanan and Hera aboard. Zeb was resting inside, his braced arm in a sling that held it close to his body. He had to wear the sling when he was up and around during the day but not at night when he was sleeping. The Lasat was glad to finally be leaving the hospital and returning back to the campground with his family.
"Welcome back, kiddo," Priscilla said seeing the Lasat walk out of the shuttle, Hera holding onto his right hand while Orla had an arm around his waist guiding him along. Zeb leaned against the Wookiee enjoying the feel of her arm around his waist.
Zeb's eyes got big seeing all the families at the campground welcoming him back. Izzibo, TyPk, and the other children came up to give him hugs around the waist.
"Be careful," Hera warned, "Zeb's arm is still very sore."
"It's okay, Hera," Zeb said bending down so the children could hug him better, "I missed you guys."
"We missed you too!" little Izzibo said hugging him around the neck, "Want to play boloball with us?"
"Sure."
Orla smiled at seeing the Rodian child hugging her beloved around the neck. The Wookiee female was more determined than ever that Zeb would be her mate. She loved him very much and she sensed the Lasat's growing affection for her too. While he was in the hospital, he responded to her loving embraces in a positive way and even showed affection for her in kisses to her cheek or a hug. He hadn't said he loved her...yet, but hopefully would soon.
Soon the adults got in welcoming the Lasat back. Dr. Tebeken and Bette fussed over him like he were a small child. Zeb didn't mind for he was very fond of the older couple. They watched as Zeb went over to play boloball with the children and also his two siblings. Hearing the Lasat's booming laughter was music to their ears. The doctor and his wife stole glances over at Kanan and Hera watching the children playing, seeing the typical love for the children on their faces.
"Look at that boy having fun," Bette said to Hera who was not only watching Zeb, but her two other children as well. The Twi'lek felt her heart swell with love for the three "kids" who she loved dearly.
"He sure is," Hera said smiling. She laughed seeing that Kanan had gone over to join the children in their boloball game. Hearing Zeb's laughter was music to her ears after weeks of his constant tears and whining. He was finally on the mend.
"Zeb, be careful. You know what Dr. Betok told you about taking it easy with that arm for awhile," she said as the Lasat picked up the large ball that had landed near her feet.
"Okay...Mom," he said and gave her one of his endearing grins.
Hera smiled back at his reference to her as "mom". It made her love him even more regardless of his age. She thought back at the day her and Kanan rescued Zeb from the ruins of Lasan. The Lasat was injured, in shock and traumatized. He had at first pulled away from her maternal ministrations towards him, but when the nightmares got bad, she held him close as he cried with grief over the loss of his family and home. His behavior after surgery, mirrored what had happened to him years before.
"Hera, are you all right?" Bette asked seeing the faraway look on the Twi'lek's face.
"I was just thinking about the first day that Zeb was with us. He had been badly traumatized and wouldn't stop crying."
"Poor child," Bette said watching Zeb throw the boloball to his two siblings, "No wonder he gets so scared when you or Kanan aren't nearby."
"He's a bit clingy when he doesn't feel well or is scared. He's gotten better over the years. Now that he is older he is very protective of his younger siblings. I know he's getting older with his reactions to Orla. I think he loves her. He may want to leave us and go to Kashyyyk with her."
"Children grow up, Hera, that's just a part of life," Bette said putting a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, "They eventually move on to start a new life. Perhaps it is Zeb's time to move on and start a new life with Orla. I know that Wookiee girl adores your son. Look how she reacts around him."
"I know. It's just going to be hard if Zeb leaves us. He's old enough to get a mate and move away. Kanan and I will miss him, so will Sabine and Ezra."
"Don't fret so. Enjoy this moment with your children...you and Kanan. Love them, cherish them, for they do grow up."
A little later, everyone sat around the picnic tables enjoying a meal of different foods prepared by Priscilla and her rangers. Ezra, Sabine, Zeb and Orla sat at a table eating and chatting to one another. Kanan and Hera sat nearby enjoying the laughter of their three "children" plus one. Orla seemed to be adjusting to being part of the Jarrus/Syndulla clan. She sat close to Zeb her head occasionally on his shoulder. The Lasat would lean his head against hers, his eyes reflecting the feelings he had for her.
After dinner, Orla took Zeb for a walk along a trail that followed beside Little Woh Creek that she had walked on before. The female Wookiee took Zeb's good arm in hers and walked by the creek. She saw that the Lasat was getting a bit fatigued and she was worried.
"Garazeb, how are you feeling? You look tired," she said holding onto his arm more.
"Fine, Orla, just a little tired."
"Let us sit on this log here and rest awhile."
She gestured to a big log that was near them and was big enough to support both of their large frames. They sat down and Orla moved closer to Zeb who swallowed hard at her closeness. It made his fur tingle. The Wookiee took a hand placing it against his face to turn his head towards her where she kissed him tenderly on the lips. Zeb's green eyes widened but he didn't pull away. He put his good arm around her and kissed her back feeling her give into it.
"I love you," she said after pulling away from his kiss.
Zeb's ears perked up and he felt his heart beat quicken for he felt the same way. Orla kissed him again and wrapped her big arms around him. Zeb pressed his lips tighter to hers and felt her respond to his touch.
"I love you too...Orla," he whispered his lips brushing her furry cheek. She let out a giggle that made him smile.
The female Wookiee uttered a seductive purr and held the Lasat tighter to her. Zeb felt himself want to give into his feelings, but knew it wasn't the right time. Anyway, he was a Lasat and she was a Wookiee, two different species. Orla pressed her body closer making him realize that he could smell the scent of seduction on her fur. He probably was giving off the same scent as well from her response to him. He had to stop what was about to happen.
"Orla...," he said his voice a bit husky, "No...we can't do this."
"Why?" she asked caressing his good shoulder, her hand slowly moving down his back. Even through the tank top, Zeb could feel the Wookiee's touch and he shivered. He felt his fur begin to warm up and the musky smell growing. Her hand kept caressing and he shivered more. Orla took her other hand and started to remove his tank top.
"I want to...mate with you," she whispered her voice husky with desire.
"I...I...know...Orla," he stammered out feeling his bare fur against her chest, "Please stop...Orla...oh..."
About an hour later, Zeb put his tank top back on, relieved that they didn't get any farther than touching and kissing. He wasn't ready for a full out mating ritual with her, it wouldn't be proper. He felt that the fur on his chest was sweaty and the musky smell was more pronounced. Orla's shaggy fur coat had also taken on an aroma that Zeb found pleasing. The female Wookiee had nearly lost herself in his musky Lasat scent.
"Orla, I better...uh...wash up in the creek before we go back to camp. My ...uh...parents will know what we did and might not like it."
"We are old enough," she said giving him such a seductive look that he felt his fur stand on end, "Go ahead. I need to wash up too."
They squatted down next to the creek bank and splashed water on themselves to clean the scent of desire off of them. Hopefully the water would cover the smell, but they doubted it. They got up and headed back up the trail. Orla held tight to his good arm and took a deep breath taking in the scent of her soon to be mate.
"You are very...handsome," she whispered in a seductive tone.
Zeb swallowed hard and said, "Orla, you are a very pretty Wookiee female."
"Zeb! Orla!" came Hera's voice from the roadside. They hoped that the Twi'lek wouldn't discover what had transpired by the creek.
"Did you two get lost?" she said seeing that the two had damp fur and their faces were a bit flushed. She had her hands on her hips in the expression of an annoyed parent, "Zeb, why do you and Orla have wet fur? Did you fall in the creek?"
Zeb swallowed hard and thought of a quick lie, "Yeah, I fell into the creek and Orla had to help me up. She fell in too."
Kanan stood by smiling, sensing through the Force that Zeb and Orla had not only gotten their fur wet but had just engaged in an intimate encounter. He felt the urges that the Lasat and Wookiee still felt but were trying to hide. He just hoped that it didn't go any farther than kisses or touching.
Later when everyone was relaxing by the campfire, Zeb and Orla sat near Kanan who was talking to Dr. Tebeken. He watched as the Lasat and Wookiee cuddled close and nuzzled each other's faces. Sabine and Ezra smiled feeling happy for their big brother and his girl.
Hera and Bette were sitting at the table chatting and sipping cups of caf.
"I'm still puzzled by Zeb falling in the creek," Hera said seeing Zeb and Orla cuddling close, "I know he's a bit clumsy, but that creek isn't that deep."
"Hera," Bette said smiling, "He didn't fall in the creek. He was trying to hide the evidence of what transpired between him and Orla."
"You don't mean..."
"Yes, Orla and Zeb had themselves a little romantic interlude away from us."
"Orla...mated with Zeb?!"
"It looks like that's what happened."
"Is it possible? They aren't even the same species!"
"Get that worried look off your face, Hera. I don't think it went that far. Being a nurse I would know when something like that happened between two youngsters. I think they just did alot of cuddling and kissing, nothing more."
"Thank the Twi'lek gods..." Hera said taking a deep breath. She wasn't ready for Zeb to engage in a mating relationship with Orla. They hadn't know each other long enough to engage in such behavior.
Towards nightfall, Orla had made herself a hammock bed between two trees like Wookiees do. Zeb wanted to stay up with her but Hera and Kanan noticed how tired he was getting. He could barely keep his eyes open and yawned constantly.
"Zeb," Hera said in her motherly tone, "You need to go to sleep. You just got out of the hospital today and are very tired. Go in the tent and get your nighttime tunic and pants on and then come back out for some medicine."
"Okay," he grumbled, his ears drooping.
"Off to bed with you...kiddo," Bette said gesturing to Hera that she would help Zeb to bed. The Lasat bowed his head and did as he was told. He didn't object to her tucking him into his sleeping bag, "Close those big green eyes and try to sleep."
"Okay. Bette?"
"Yes, sweetie?" she said sitting down next to him seeing that he looked a bit troubled.
"Orla and I didn't do anything wrong," he said as he sat back up in the sleeping bag.
"I know, sweetie," she said putting her arms around him. Zeb cuddled close to her feeling safe in her arms, "Your parents are just a bit worried because you two are so young. I know that you and Orla love each other. Just don't rush things. Take your time, you have the rest of your lives to...mate."
She looked down and saw that Zeb had fallen asleep. She lowered him back onto the sleeping bag and tucked it around him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and got up to leave the tent.
Later on during the night, Zeb woke up his arm in a lot of pain. He quietly exited the tent not waking up his two siblings. He made his way over to the stump chairs and sat down staring into the dying campfire.
Orla stirred in her hammock bed. She smiled seeing Zeb sitting on a stump chair. She got up and walked over to sit next to him.
"Garazeb, what's wrong?" she asked.
Zeb swallowed hard, blinking his now tear-filled eyes.
"My...My arm hurts...Orla," he whispered seeing the love in her blue eyes.
"Poor...love...," she whispered moving closer to him. She pulled him into an embrace making the tears begin to fall down his cheeks. She kissed his left shoulder and then her kisses went down the brace-covered arm over the incision and down to his hand. Zeb sighed feeling her lips on his injured arm. The touch wasn't seductive...but comforting.
"Orla, I love you."
"I love you too...Garazeb."
She removed her arms from around him and stood up her eyes shining with tears of love. She took him by the hand and looked back at her hammock bed.
"Come lay with me?" she asked no sign of seduction in her translator voice.
"Orla...no," Zeb stammered out trying to pull away from her. His eyes grew wide with shock, "That wouldn't be proper. We're not...joined as a mated pair...yet."
"No...no," she answered smiling at him, "No mating...you are in pain. I will comfort you...hug you...hold you close."
Zeb liked the sound of that. He followed her over to the hammock bed and with her help, lay nestled next to her. Orla cradled him in her arms, the hammock gently swaying like a baby's cradle. Zeb layed his head against her shoulder and closed his eyes to soon fall asleep. Orla lay watching him sleep and caressed his head of soft fur.
"Sleep...beloved..."
Hera's loud voice woke them up the next morning.
"Garazeb Orrelios! What do you think you are doing?!"
Zeb's eyes widened in fear and he remembered that he was laying close to Orla in her hammock bed.
"Hera?" he asked his voice in a sheepish tone.
"What are you doing there in bed with Orla?"
"Nothing happened..."
Orla got up from the hammock bed and helped Zeb to his feet. She saw that her love's parent was upset with both of them.
"What do you mean nothing happened? You looked very cozy laying next to her."
"Hera...," Zeb said his face in a look of sadness and embarrassment, "Nothing happened! I woke up during the night and came out here because my arm was hurting bad. I didn't want to wake any of you. Orla heard me and got up to help, that's all."
"Yes," Orla answered hoping to defuse the situation, "Garazeb was in a lot of pain and I comforted him. Wookiees hold each other close when we are in pain. I did not perform mating with Garazeb...I just held him close while he slept."
"Is that true?" Hera asked glaring at Zeb who looked ready to burst into tears. He just nodded not able to talk past the lump in his throat.
"It is true," came Orla's response, "That is what happened. We did nothing wrong. Please don't blame Garazeb. It is my fault if you are upset."
Hera smiled now knowing that there was nothing to worry about. She went over and gave both of them a kiss on the cheek and lead them over to where the others were waking up.
"What the kriff is going on here?!" Rex said stretching his muscles.
"Just a misunderstanding," Hera answered smiling at the trooper.
"Okay, let's get breakfast started...Zeb, what would you like?"
"Hot cakes!' came the Lasat's happy response.
"Hot cakes it is..."
