Author's Note: I give up on formatting on this site.

Rian:

Never had I ever considered myself to be the tallest of humanoids to live, but damn if I didn't feel small being lifted off the ground by my neck by a very pissed off Wookiee.

Carth had both his blasters out, pointed at Freyyr's skull. If it was just Carth, I suppose I'd have felt a bit more at ease, but Juhani gripped her lightsaber and even the old man, Bindo, who was supposed to be friend's with the crazy Wookiee, wore a frown. Just lovely.

I tried to say, "Let go, damn it!" but with a monstrous furry fist closing on my windpipe it came out more like a muffled, wheezing squeak. I'm sure Freyyr found it to be very intimidating.

"Calm yourself, Freyyr," Bindo called out. "We are friends. Don't you remember me?"

"After years in the Shadowlands, I remember only that outsiders are not to be trusted!" Freyyr roared. "I'll see you dead!"

"Well," Bindo sighed. "This may prove difficult."

Difficult? You think, old man? Black dots marred my vision, felt claws rake my throat. Oh no, that was just dandy, I'd just stay there dangling, the plaything of a psychotic Wookiee. I didn't need to do anything important like breathe. Thanks.

"Rian, stay still," Carth said. "I'm going to take him down."

I gave Carth a thumbs up, well, it was supposed to be a thumb. In my oxygen deprived confusion, I may have flipped a wrong finger.

"He's a friend," Bindo insisted.

"And Rian's not?" Carth demanded.

"I never said that," the old Jedi huffed. "Keep your pants on."

Bindo reached out a hand and his eyes fell shut. Freyyr's grip on my neck loosened and I was unceremoniously dumped on the ground. I began to desperately suck air into my lungs.

"Take my head, Czerka filth," Freyyr growled. The old man must have trapped the Wookiee in some sort of Force Stasis field. "You won't get another chance, so swears Freyyr of Kashyyyk."

"I wasn't here to kill you," I wheezed from the ground. "Bantha ass. Just listen."

"The words of outsiders are tainted with lies," Freyyr snarled. "You can't convince me otherwise."

I flopped onto my back. "Do you know Zaalbar and Chuundar?"

"What?" Freyyr barked. "Those are my sons. Why do you speak their names? Tell me!"

"Anyone mind translating?" Carth asked. "Do I need to start shooting or are we okay now?"

Juhani shook her head and placed a hand on Carth's arm.

"My name's Rian Vega." I swallowed enough air to feel comfortable with standing up. "I came to Kashyyyk with Zaalbar."

The Wookiee sighed. His fur was gray around his mouth. "To my shame, Zaalbar was exiled and enslaved. Do you dare claim to be my son's owner, outsider?"

I glowered at Bindo. "Are all Wookiees obstinate bastards like this?"

"Most are." Bindo chuckled.

I turned back to Freyyr. "No, he follows because of a life-debt."

"Does he," the old wook snorted. "Then I will listen, cautiously. Gullibility has harmed me in the past."

"Why would Chuundar want you dead?" I asked.

Freyyr frowned. "Well, if Zaalbar is back, perhaps Chuundar is worried the people will realize things are not as they seem," he said. "Chuundar has established himself as a leader that succeeded despite the tragedies that have plagued his family. If it was shown that he conspired with the slavers, his honor would be gone."

"And how do we arrange that?" I stepped away from the Wookiee, closer to Carth and Juhani.

"With this." Freyyr unsheathed a vibroblade.

"We dice Chuundar to pieces?" I asked.

"Freyyr! Where did you find that?" Bindo asked.

"I didn't find it," Freyyr said. "All rightful chieftains possess Bacca's blade."

"Okay, if you think a rusty vibroblade's going to help us, I'd appreciate it if you'd share your logic with the rest of us." I crossed my arms.

"Hermit." Freyyr bared his teeth. "This is a friend of yours?"

"Peace, Freyyr," Bindo said. "She's a good kid, but she had an accident recently, the fall addled her brains."

I rolled my eyes.

"There is a legend of a great warrior from the old times," Freyyr said. He shot me a pointed look. "Bacca was his name and he is greatly revered. Bacca found a crashed starship, our first hint of life elsewhere. He was a cautious old wook and feared the taint of invaders. He constructed a vibroblade from the wreckage. It has long symbolized our independence. Only destined leaders have held it."

"Well, you must be destined, then," I said.

"Rian, please." Juhani placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine." I brushed her hand aside. "You ready to take your village back, Freyyr?"

"It has been too long," the Wookiee murmured. "Yes. I am ready."

"I suppose we should get this over with, then," Bindo muttered.

"Wait, we're taking on an entire Wookiee village?" Carth asked.

"You really need to learn Shyriiwook." I winked. "It'll be fine. Trust me."

Carth didn't buy it, but he reached for his blasters instead of arguing, so I didn't think too much on it. Didn't have the time to. We were already heading out of the Shadowlands.

The Wookiee waiting for us at the base of the rising platform lunged at us as soon as he caught sight of Freyyr. "You should have followed the will of Chuundar!" he roared. "Now you will face his wrath!"

I thumbed my lightsaber, only to have Freyyr snarl.

"This is my honor, human."

I shot a look to Bindo, he just shook his head.

"Put it out, lass," he said.

"I'm just trying to help," I said.

"No you're not," Bindo replied.

"You don't know me." I extinguished my lightsaber.

"Now's not the time for this conversation, child." Splatters of Wookiee blood slapped Bindo across his cheek and temple. He dabbed it off with the hem of his tattered robe. "Does anyone know how to work the platform or do I have to do everything myself?"

The Wookiee village was in chaos when we arrived. Primal shrieks laced the air dotted with burning embers and ash. A knot formed in my gut as the old Wookiee, Freyyr, hastened his pace.

The chieftain was quick in his work. The guards that refused him as the true leader were cut down with the relic that Freyyr's followers would kiss in fealty.

The heart of the conflict was Chuundar's hut. Engulfed in flames, the Wookiees surrounding the hut seemed content to let it burn. I broke into a full sprint, my knuckles turning white around the hilt of my lightsaber.

Juhani slipped in beside me and placed a hand over my lightsaber. "That's only if no other option presents itself."

"That's if Zaalbar's dead," I replied.

Juhani frowned, but dropped her hand.

Dead center of the mob, I caught sight of him huddled in a ball on his knees. Between his matted fur, there were glimpses of a small, blue body.

"Zaalbar!" I called out.

Zaalbar glanced over at a blood soaked hunting knife just out of his reach and shook his head. "You should not have come here, Rian Vega."

"The madclaw has killed our chieftain!" A Wookiee exclaimed.

"How can that be, when I still live?" Freyyr stepped forward.

"The crazy wook from the Shadowlands!"

Great, a hushed skepticism. For once, everyone shared similarly anxious expressions. Except for Bindo. The old man ruined it by looking amused.

"I was crazy for believing Chuundar's lies, yes," Freyyr admitted. "But I am your true chieftain." With a flourish, he unsheathed the relic.

"Bacca's blade."

A quiet murmuring awe. It started with one Wookiee falling to his knees and continued until the majority were bowing to their new chieftain. The few that were unconvinced, left quietly.

"Zaalbar, are you alright?" I asked.

He ignored me.

"Zaalbar," Freyyr began.

"She's hurt," Zaalbar said abruptly. He allowed Carth to scoop Mission out of his arms.

"I'm sorry," Freyyr said.

"For what?" Zaalbar asked. His eyes lingered listlessly on the knife.

"For everything," Freyyr replied. "You were right, I should have listened, but… Well, I want you to know that I'm proud of you."

"Save it," Zaalbar said. "I am a madclaw. I proved that fact twenty years ago, I proved it again today."

"Zaalbar, I'm trying to make peace with you."

"Make peace for the village." Zaalbar bared his fangs. They looked almost pink under a film of blood. He turned to face me. "We should go."

"Kashyyyk is your home and you will be welcomed as a hero if you choose to return," Freyyr said.

Zaalbar snorted. "Don't delude yourself, Father."

"Zaalbar." I reached for his shoulder.

"Do not touch me, human," Zaalbar barked.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

"I never wanted to come in the first place," Zaalbar replied.