The foliage was cruel, tangled roots threatening to trip those who's footing unsteady. The thick green vegetation hiding sheer drops. The group of five paced themselves as they trekked through the claustrophobic environment, trees seeming to lean. Saw led the group, Cal covering the back as ordered, if ambushed he would be ready. The small group even though clumsy with their footing, in the environment they blended in well. All wearing appropriate camouflage, Cal now wearing a leaf textured poncho, the fabric rough. BD-1 having been smeared with mud to conceal his usually white body. Large insects fluttered around, plants snapping in their direction unsettling a few in the group. Cal remained calm, or at least as calm as he could as he followed the others closely. They had walked all night and the sun had only just exposed their worn, tired faces. A few in the group stumbling over their own feet, the mud in places unforgiving. The line stopped; Saw having risen his fist for them to halt.

"Down!" Saw commanded already in the process of dropping to the floor. Cal had also heard it and had been ready to react. Everyone crashed the floor, BD-1 pressing himself flat against Cal's back. The scream of a Tie Fighter echoed over them, the canopy above was beginning to thin as they were nearing the clearing. The increase in Imperial ships told them they were heading the right way. Everyone waited for Saw to make the first move, for him to indicate that it was clear. With a fist to the ground the group got to their feet.

"We should rest before going any further, be ready for a fight." One of the men spoke out, Saw seemingly ready and willing to just continue.

"We move forward." Was his only reply, never turning to look at the man that had followed him so far already. The group pushed on, the terrain only becoming more treacherous, the scale of the incline something they soon found they greatly underestimated. Even Cal was struggling now as they ascended beside a large waterfall, the river bellow roaring as the falling water smashed against its surface. The sights were impressive, keeping his eyes forward however was more important. The incline was flat enough that they could stay on two feet, every now and then having to balance one's self with their hands-on a nearby tree. Cal let his concentration waver for one second to wipe sweat from his face, something he quickly came to regret. The woman in front stumbled, losing her footing she fell. Tumbling towards him. Unprepared to react she crashed into him, sending them both falling perilously close to the cliff edge. Cal reached out for anything, fingers digging into the mud as he rolled. He caught sight of the woman in the corner of his eye, in that moment he took the opportunity to take a hold of her arm. His other hand grasped what it could, finally his fingers wrapping around a protruding root. A weight painfully then yanked on his arm, the woman he had grasped having come to an abrupt halt, she hung completely off the cliff. Cal's upper body the only part of him above solid ground. He wanted to call words of comfort to the woman he desperately had hold of, but it was taking all he had to keep them from falling, the root slipping under his finger's hands covered in dirt. He groaned unwillingly as he held onto both the woman and the root, muscles in his arms screaming at him. BD-1 no longer resided on his back and at this point Cal could only hope he had lost his grip in the roll, having not fallen below into the raging waters. Cal racked his brain for an answer, unsure how to use the force to aid them. He glanced around best he could to find somewhere he could possibly swing the woman to safely, the cliff however was a sheer drop. His fingers were about to give the weight too much. Seconds to spare hands gripped his arm. He was heaved to safety, refusing to release his iron grip on the woman. Her life in his hands. Only when they were both on solid ground, yanked from the edge, did he let her go. Cal was on his side, arms refusing to register any movement request. He could hear the woman's heavy breath, repeating her gratitude a few times as she was helped to her feet. The beeping from a droid caught his attention, a shadow then loomed over him. Looking up he found Saw offering his hand, BD-1 on his shoulder. Cal did his best to reach up, he was quickly brought to his feet where he took some well needed breaths.

"Well done." Saw's face remained serious; Cal could tell he was thankful.

The group had taken rest at the top of the waterfall, once reaching the top even the strain of the journey could be seen on Saw's face. In the end it was a universal decision to take a breather. The sun was now at its peak, the heat barely bearable, the humidity not as bad higher up with the canopy so spars. Cal sat with his back to the tree, he could hear the water just over the hill raging as it tumbled over the falls. Cal thought he could take this moment to try and gather his thoughts when his attention was called for.

"Cal, over here." His eyes snapped over to find the group gathering, he pulled himself up, trying not to drag his feet, it was a blessing to be able to get down on one knee. Saw pulled out a small holographic map.

"We're close now, just through these tree's is the landing pad. The way we came may be too hard to bring the rest through, I say we bring them through here." Saw pointed at a longer route, one that followed a steady path. "If they left soon, they would be hear by nightfall, an opportunistic time to attack."

"If they took the longer route we would have to wait till tomorrow." One man noted.

"The longer we're here the more chance we have of being spotted." The woman Cal had saved added, scrapes on her face and arms a reminder of her near fatal fall. He could tell Saw was going to have to make a difficult decision, Cal was turning to his own thoughts on what he would do when something caught his attention. BD-1 and the other members of the group seemed to be oblivious. Cal reached down with one hand placing it flat on the ground. He could clearly feel a thudding.

"We need to move!" Cal announced, alerting the others who hesitated. Moments later the cracking of branches and the wheezing of something mechanical got everyone moving. Everyone was scrambling to recover supplies that had been set down. Blaster fire ripped through the shrubbery. Cal ducked, the man beside him being struck in the chest, the sizzling of the blast burning his skin. Stormtroopers emerged guns in hand firing right at them.

"Run!" He heard Saw shout, Cal drew his lightsabre in time to deflect a blaster shot, redirecting it right back at one of their attackers. He backed up parrying the shots until BD-1 was in position on his back and the others had scrambled. Cal turned and sprinted, cutting away branches and plants with his blade. Trees creaked and groaned as they were struck, casualties of war. Cal was just waiting for a hot pain to strike. He burst out through some thick bushes; a hand grabbed him as he almost ran himself off the cliff edge. Saw pulling him to safety. A second of eye contact was all they got. Cal entered a defensive stance the blue light reflected in his eyes. The ground shook, Stormtroopers surrounded them, the AT-ST finally crashing through the vail of leaves and vines. The metal was filthy, vines hanging from the guns. Cal had moments to decide as the Stormtroopers raised their blasters. He let the blade of his lightsabre vanish and outstretched his hand. Using the force, the Imperials were sent flying back, Cal and Saw pushed back over the falls. He could only hope BD-1 could hang on and that he had launched them far enough to miss the sharp rocks that bordered the river below.

Authors Notes

Hope everyone is still well and this chapter was good as the last :P See you soon.

Also thanks to the lad who reviewed my last two chapter, you know who you are.