Gungan Girl
It was a pleasantly warm day on Punjam Hy Loo. So pleasant that the Jedi younglings decided to spend their free time outdoors. They explored the jungle surrounding the mountains beneath the floating Kinnaran city before they stopped to lounge at the nearby lake.
The lake they'd found was large, with clear blue waves and a beautiful waterfall. The grass and rocks surrounding it made for excellent place to lay back and relax after some hard combat sessions. Emma, Ella, Claire, and Nuna sat near each other for company as they enjoyed the sun.
They heard splashing before looking to see Wally strutting out of the lake. Fur wet and dripping. He walked up to the girls and dropped down into a crouch before he shook himself like a dog. The girls shrieked in protest, causing the other boys to laugh as Wally drenched them. When he was done the wolf child gave a cheeky toothy smile, not at all repentant.
"WALLY!" the girls screamed in fury. The wolf teen gave a barking laugh as he took off running with the infuriated girls in pursuit.
Havolian and Wrath watched and laughed as they enjoyed the spectacle.
Meanwhile, beneath the lake one of the younglings was exploring. The Gungan girl, Lan Wu, swam beneath the waves of the lake, curious as to what lay beneath the waters. The young Gungan girl loved the water. Which was no surprise seeing as she was an amphibious species. She swam to the bottom of the lake, eyes stalks turning about cautiously for any signs of danger.
She'd been assured by the Kinnarans that there were no predators in their lakes that would be a threat to her. But she was a little paranoid given what had happened to her mother.
When she was younger her mother had unfortunately fallen to a large underwater predator(there's always a bigger fish). The even always made Lan Wu cautious about swimming.
Currently Lan Wu was searching for underwater plants. She'd had a collection when she lived on Naboo and had to leave them when she came for Jedi training. After asking for a new one, Hiccup had crafted her one and set it in her room. Now all she had to do was fill it. As she was searching the bottom of the lake she was suddenly tapped on her shoulder.
Lan Wu let out a stream of bubble in panic before whirling around to find her classmate and comrade behind her. She calmed herself down as Nemo held up some plants he'd found for her.
"Sorry Lan Wu. Are you ok?" the fishman teen asked in concern.
"Yesa. Mesa fine," Lan Wu said with a nod. With a smile she accepted the plants from Nemo and placed them in a bag at her side. With that she pointed in a random direction, signaling she wanted to check that way for more plants. Nemo nodded as they began swimming side by side.
After the death of her mother Lan Wu had found it hard to connect with people. Specifically women. And she'd always been a little shy, preferring to speak with plants and fish despite the teasing from her peers. Not only that her people had been forced to isolate themselves, making it hard for Lan Wu to relate to other races who were so vastly different than the Gungans.
But out of all the teens she'd bonded with Nemo the most. The two teens had a sort of empathy and unspoken understanding with each other. All from the fact that they were both of an amphibious species and loved the water. They both had taken to exploring the lakes and pools within the Kinnaran temple. Nemo was even helping Lan Wu gather plants for her new collection. She'd even go as far to say that Nemo was the first true friend she'd ever had.
But even with the kind Mon Cala teen as her friend Nuna longed for something more. Female friends. Even if the other girls were more humanoid and greatly different from herself she wanted to start bonding and making connection with girls her all, there were certain things that only people of the same sex would ever truly understand.
Soon the younglings' free time was up. That meant they had to get back to the temple and resume their combat lessons. The other teens waited at the shore as Lan Wu and Nemo emerged. Wading out of the water and walking up to the shore to join them.
Everyone grabbed their swords and set back off into the jungle and back toward the temple. As they were going Emma was drawn to Lan Wu's bag, noticing a plant sticking out.
She walked over to her side to speak with her.
"What you got there Lan Wu?" Emma asked curiously.
Lan Wu froze. She clutched the bag awkwardly as she tried to find her voice.
"Its just some plants for Lan Wu's collection," Nemo said noticing Lan Wu's distress.
"Oh, you like to collect plants Lan Wu?" Emma asked cocking her head to the side.
"Yesa," Lan Wu muttered softly.
"That's cool. Do you have a tank?"
"Yesa."
"Neat. Can I see them later?" Emma asked with a smile.
"I'd like to see them too," Claire chimed in as she peered over from Emma's side.
Lan Wu fidgeted nervously, uncomfortable with the sudden attention she was receiving. A nudge drew her attention, she turned her eye stalks toward Nemo, who gave her a smile and an encouraging nod.
Lan Wu took in a small breath and turned back to address Emma and Claire. "Okee day," she said with a nod.
After their combat drills Lan Wu rushed to her room. She checked it over to make sure it was tidy before taking a look at her recently planted collection. They were mostly reedy or leafy plants. Mainly green. But Nemo had been able to find a few pretty floating lily pads with flowers that were pretty pinks, whites, and yellows. She hoped her new friends would like to see them.
"Lan Wu."
Lan Wu looked over her shoulder as Nemo entered her room. "Heyo Dalee," she said with a smile. Nemo sat down on the floor.
"You going to be ok with the girls? Or would you like me to stay?" Nemo offered. Lan Wu looked away as she thought it over. Nemo was aware of her timidness concerning the other girls. He didn't want her to freeze up or get too nervous.
"Yousa can stay," Lan Wu decided with a nod. Nemo nodded in acceptance as he awaited the girls' arrival and kept the Gungan teen company.
Eventually Emma, Claire, and Nuna arrived and entered her room. They all gasped in amazement as they rushed toward the large tank full of plants. They pointed their favorites out to each other, leaving Lan Wu to stand there awkwardly behind them. She looked to Nemo for assistance. He pointed to the girls and the plants, signaling her to make conversation.
Lan Wu clenched her fists and took a breath. "So, disa mesa collection," she said with a shrug.
The girls turned around to face her with smiles. "They're so pretty. Who made the tank for you?"
"Hiccup."
"Wow. Why do you like pants so much Lan Wu?" Claire asked innocently.
Lan Wu flinched, not really wanting to tell the girls that she liked how they didn't talk back or judge. Her eye stalks turned toward Nemo.
"She had a collection at home too. They remind her of Naboo," he said, which was only a partial lie. The girls hummed and nodded in understanding. With that they sat down as they began to make more personal conversation.
Though the teens had known each other for several months already they were still learning about each other. They asked Lan Wu a little about her life, which brought up the conversation of her parents. Lan Wu informed them that she just had her dad and then explained what had happened to her mother.
"I lost both my parents," Emma said with empathy. Lan Wu looked at her in surprise. "So did Nuna," Emma said as she looked to the Pantoran girl who Claire was holding onto.
Lan Wu couldn't help but stare in shock. She had more in common with them than she'd thought. After overcoming her surprise she talked a little bit more about her mother. Causing Emma and Nuna to speak about their parents in turn. Claire shared more about her life and the conversation just flowed naturally from there.
Seeing as Lan Wu was doing fine on her own Nemo excused himself. The girls spoke a little bit more before Thrush made them turn in for the night.
Lan Wu said goodnight to the other girls and turned in herself. She smiled to herself in quiet pride, glad to have made some progress.
The next day Lan Wu was unsure of how to approach bringing up conversation with the other girls. So she stayed by Nemo as she tried and failed to think of something, anything to say. When their free time came again she ended up exploring the lake with Nemo once more while the girls lounged on the shore.
She asked Nemo for advice. The teen only shrugged and told her not to try and force it. The girls like her well enough and eventually speaking with them would become more natural. Lan Wu wasn't sure she believed him but said nothing as they dived down to the lake bottom.
They were under for sometime before they resurfaced. They looked to the shore to see the girls chasing Wally around the lake as the wolf teen smiled and laughed to himself.
"We're going to get you dog boy!" Emma called out angrily. Once again Wally had soaked them.
Havolian and Wrath just pointed and laughed as the angry girls pursued their comrade. Nemo gave Lan Wu a nudge, she looked to him curiously. He motioned with his head to the girls and to the fleeing Wally. Lan Wu shook her head in rejection. Nemo nodded in encouragement. Lan Wu hesitated, looking back and forth between Nemo and the girls. Finally she came to a decision.
With a breath she began swimming toward the front of Wally's path.
The wolf teen looked back at the angry girls still in pursuit and smiled. Until something peeked out of the water and tripped him up. He went rolling with a yelp. When he was at a stop he saw Lan Wu emerging from the water. He was about to start running again when the girls called out to the Gungan girl.
"Lan Wu! Stop him!"
As Wally began running Lan Wu bent her powerful legs and leapt over his head to land before him, blocking his path. Wally came to a stop before the girls plowed into him from behind. They started tugging on his ears and fur in vengeance. When they felt the wolf teen had enough they got off of him.
They rushed over to Lan Wu's side whooping and congratulating her on helping them catch Wally. Lan Wu smiled a little awkwardly and laughed along with them. When their time was once again up the girl naturally walked at Lan Wu's sides as they make way for the temple.
They spoke casually of what they'd do the next day after training. As they did Lan Wu cast a glance back at Nemo. He smile and gave her a pleased nod. She smiled back before resuming her conversation with the girls.
The girls curiously asked her about Gungan culture,to which Lan Wu was happy to share with them.
This is what Lan Wu had always hoped for. And now she had it. Friends. Both male and female. And a chance to share her people's culture with the galaxy like in the days before the Clone Wars.
One day she hoped she would show the rest of the galaxy what her people were like.
And when she did she'd have her friends at her side.
another OC
Lan Wu, the gungan.
