Sparks
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Chapter Eleven-Reunion
With no axial tilt and a perfectly circular orbit, Kashyyyk experienced one continuous season. The planet had four continents, making up forty percent of the surface, which were mostly covered in lush, wroshyr tree-filled forests, which were several kilometres high. The forests of Kashyyyk were filled with a tremendous variety of plant life, many with some form of consciousness. The Wookiees learned to communicate with these plants and often came to an understanding about their use. One example of this was with the Orga plants, who allowed the Wookiees to harvest their older roots to use in Life Day ceremonies.
After a lifetime spent on a desert planet, the Wookiees home world seemed like a breath of fresh air to Rey. There was so much green everywhere she looked-so much more than on Takodana or Ajan Kloss. The planet was literally teeming with life-plant and animal- so verdant and viridescent that it eclipsed everything else.
Wroshyr trees were an integral part of the lives of the Wookiees, who often referred to themselves as "The People of the Trees." Wroshyr trees were so immense that entire communities could live within their trunks. In the deep forests, Wookiee towns and cities expanded outside the wroshyr trunks by building platforms resting upon the interlocked branches of close-growing trees. One such city was Rwookrrorro, the birthplace of Chewbacca. In coastal regions where the wroshyrs were smaller and did not grow so thickly together, like that of the town of Kachirho, Wookiee settlements consisted of individual tree communities.
After the defeat of the Final Order, Chewbacca had left Ajan Kloss and the Resistance to return home and spend time with his own kind. Still grieving the loss of Han and Leia, he used the time alone to heal, to once again wander the lush forests of his childhood and find some semblance of peace. And over the past year he had managed to do just that and now felt ready to reach out to Ben, to welcome his surrogate nephew back into his life without any regrets after seeing how hard Ben had worked to atone for his mistakes. Chewbacca knew it was what Han and Leia would have wanted.
Chewie's birthplace Rwookrrorro was an inland tree city of Kashyyyk. Located several hundred kilometers of Kachirho, in an area of exceptionally tall wroshyr trees, Rwookrrorro reached up through the canopies. Therefore, it was visible to approaching starships, unlike most Wookiee cities and other settlements, which were largely hidden. The spaceport, located on the fringes of the city, was one of the few structures where metal was used more than wood. It was in this spaceport that Ben and Rey stowed the Millennium Falcon. And it was where they found Chewbacca waiting for them.
As soon as Rey spotted the tall Wookiee she had no hesitation running into his hairy arms. "Its so good to see you." Her words came out muffled as she narrowly avoided a mouthful of Chewie's thick fur as he hugged her tightly to his chest.
Chewbacca let out a soft whine. To those who had not learned to understand Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language, it appeared they spoke in a series of growls and purrs, but Rey understood perfectly. She remained fixed in his protective embrace for a long time, while Chewbacca looked over her head towards Ben. His blue eyes moistened, another much softer whine escaping him. His stare was one of deeply buried hurt, but there was forgiveness there, of acceptance.
Ben sucked in a deep breath as he continued to hold the Wookiee's gaze. He remained frozen in place for a few minutes until he saw the corners of Chewie's mouth resume its usual softness and his eyes quit staring. Chewie relaxed his hold on Rey and held out his arms for a group hug. Slowly, with much trepidation, Ben moved toward Chewie, then when he saw Rey give him an encouraging smile, he increased his pace to a fast sprint, and just like she did, he crashed into Chewie's welcoming embrace.
Chewbacca's arms were long enough to hold both of them. He pulled Ben and Rey against him, almost like he was trying to make them prisoners of his ribcage. Apart from Rey, Ben couldn't remember the last time anyone had held him with such gentleness. There was something so warm, something that felt right, smelt right. He let his body sag; his muscles become loose. Chewie gave him the respect of an equal, but cradled him like a cherished child. In that embrace Ben felt his worries loosen, their keen sting and his optimism raise its head from the dirt. With one simple, loving gesture, Chewie had let him know that he was forgiven and welcomed back into the fold.
A/N-thanks for reading!