Burning Shadows

Chapter 8

After a peaceful night sleep, Yumi awoke and walked into the main room of the ship hazily.

" Good morning Yumi " Shae Vizla spoke softly as Yumikaya smiled sleepily.

" Morning Shae..." Yumikaya yawned softly before sitting next to Shae Vizla.

After a few moments, Mako walked in with food. " Oh she lives! Hey there sleepyhead. "

" Hi Mako. " Yumikaya smiled happily as Mako handed her some food and sat beside her.

" Its gonna be a long day today sweety. Aratarus wants us to train you with blasters and also wants you to do some survival training. Once you've eaten meet us outside and bring your armour but don't put it on yet ok? "

Yumikaya nodded quietly as Mako finished speaking before yawning again and stretching out. After getting her armour, Yumikaya noticed that the ship wasn't moving and she could hear animals outside. After walking outside, She noticed Mako, Aratarus and Shae Vizla standing in front of the ships ramp. After looking around, Yumi noticed that they were in a clearing surrounded by dense jungle that was all kinds of different plants and trees. She could hear all kinds of animals calling into the sky.

As Yumikaya stepped off the ships ramp, She felt a strong force presence. It wasn't evil or malicious. It was a dark energy but didn't feel dark. It felt like life energy. Like a river flowing endlessly. It was soothing, calming, enchanting but also mysterious and chaotic. It was like all life in this place was all connected through more than the force. it was as if each living thing breathed force energy with every breathe.

After taking it in, Yumi walked over to where the others were standing and placed her armour on a crate next to them. After a quick look around, Yumi spoke to Aratarus softly.

" Where are we? This place is amazing.." Yumi was in awe of the jungles natural beauty and radiance.

" We took a detour. This is Felucia. A...Large detour but a necessary one. I want to teach you how to survive. The transport ship that was taking you to Ilum will meet us here soon. Until then i want you to survive on your own using your skills and instincts. You will have no armour. No supplies and no support. We will always be watching but we will not intervene unless your life is in absolute danger. Don't go wandering into any Aklay nests. " Aratarus looked concerned but waved to Yumi as she stepped into the jungle.

The jungle teemed with life. Everything from bugs to carnivorous plants. As the sun shone across the area, The plants glistened like stained glass. After a few hours of wandering through the wild jungle, Yumi climbed a tall tree and sat in the cool breeze.

The sun was starting to go down and Yumi decided to find some food. As she looked around, she noticed a small tree with red fruit on it. After jumping down and picking one, Yumi climbed back up to the branch she was sitting on.

The fruit looked delicious. As Yumi bit into it, She felt a sharp pain on her neck. As she touched the spot, she could feel the touch of feathers and smooth bone.

After pulling the small object out, Yumi noticed that it was a dart. After a few seconds, her vision blurred and her head was spinning. Yumi was struggling to remain conscious as she heard loud barking noises and before passing out, Yumi felt like she was falling.

Several Hours Later

Yumi slowly awoke feeling like she had been hit by something heavy. As she sat up slowly, Yumi heard several loud barking noises. As her vision cleared, Yumi saw creatures with tentacles on they're heads and long arms with webbed fingers. Before she could respond to the sight before her, One of the creatures barked loudly and pointed at her. Yumi couldn't understand and remained silent but silence seemed to upset the creature. After barking loudly, a soft voice echoed through the noise.

" He wants to know what you were doing in the jungle. And why you ate one of the ceremonial fruits. " A tall woman slowly stepped towards Yumi.

" You...your Togrutan... I...I was learning to survive...I didn't know the fruit was special...I didn't mean any disrespect..." Yumi was shaking gently as the woman turned to the creature as it barked loudly.

The creature seemed...joyful...almost...excited with her response. The woman turned back to Yumi and spoke softly. " Eating that fruit has marked you as a Tribal Warrior among the Felucian's of this tribe. You will be indoctrinated as a member of the tribe and given the cloth and weapon the warriors use. You will be free to wander the jungle at will but you must first speak to the chief and be marked as a warrior. Follow me and stay quiet while chief talks. " The woman helped Yumi to her feet and walked beside her down a large tunnel into a huge cavern filled with glowing plants.

Among the plants were small huts made from sticks and leaves. As Yumi looked around she saw more and more of the strange creatures and many Togrutan among them. Yumi was enchanted by the glow and the amount of people and creatures in the cavern. She spoke to the woman softly. " I didn't know Togrutan's lived on Felucia. What brought you here?"

" Our tribe was exiled from our home world for practising the force in all forms. Our tribe has always been force sensitive but other tribes frowned upon the ways we learned and lived. So they exiled us. Our ship crashed here in the jungles and we were wanderers before the Felucians found us. They let us into they're tribe and nurtured us. Taught us. We learned to understand them. We have lived in this cavern for years. You are the only outsider to find us since we arrived. " The woman spoke softly before pointing towards a ramp leading up to another hut on what looked like a small ledge in the cavern wall.

" Chief is up there. Go. He will mark you as warrior and you will receive warriors blessing. You are very lucky. Normally they kill anyone who eats that fruit but chief says you are strong force warrior. Do not disappoint him. " As the woman finished speaking she turned and walked away slowly. Yumi stood nervously for a moment before walking up the long ramp towards the chiefs hut.

Yumi slowly stepped into the hut and saw a creature the same as the others but it was bigger and was decorated with feathers and what looked like glowing lines on his flesh. Yumi walked forward slowly and bowed slowly as the chief barked at her. Another woman stepped forward and spoke so Yumi would understand.

" Take a seat warrior. Chief would speak. I will translate. " Yumi did as she was told and sat down slowly in front of the chief. As he barked loudly, the young woman translated.

" Chief says that you are an outsider but you are strong force warrior. He can see greatness and brightness inside you and would welcome you as tribe-kin. You will receive tribe blessing. You will hear others words as your own language. It is a force ability that chief will teach you but first you must be marked as tribe-kin. Stay still. " Yumi nodded but before she could react with anything more than that, two other Togruta sat beside her with bowls of glowing liquid.

The woman next to the chief explained what it was. " This liquid marks you as tribe-kin and warrior. It is permanent and will hurt to mark. But marks will glow in dark place. Tribe-kin receive this as mark of warrior. You are now tribe-kin...unless you refuse marks. "

Yumi looked at the liquid. it was a soft pink colour and glowed lightly as the liquid swirled. Yumi was enchanted by it for a moment before turning to the chief and speaking softly. " I am honoured to be tribe-kin. I accept the tribe marks. "

The Togruta woman bowed slightly and the chief barked...what sounded like joyously..as the two Togruta beside Yumi picked up what looked like bone needles and dipped them into the liquid. As they began marking, Yumi winced at the sting of the needles. The Togruta woman explained how they were doing it. " The marks are contained with the force as they are made. They will appear how we shape them. The liquid will resemble our tribes marks of ceremonial lines. They will cover your entire body. Process will take all night but you will sleep while we mark. Drink this. "

The woman handed Yumi a small bowl of green liquid and Yumi drank slowly. As she put the bowl down, Yumi almost immediately passed out.

Next Morning

Aratarus awoke slowly and stepped outside to breathe the cool morning air. after a few minutes, Mako followed him. As they stood there, Mako spoke shakily.

" I cant believe we lost track of her. She just...vanished. We haven't seen nor heard of her since. What could have happened? " Mako looked at Aratarus worriedly as he spoke.

" I don't know but she is a strong girl. I'm sure she is fine. We will look for her again before the transport ship arrives. " Aratarus held Mako gently as he looked to the sky and thought to himself quietly. " Be safe cousin. "

Meanwhile

Yumi awoke slowly. Her body felt like it was on fire and her senses were hazy. As she sat up she could hear the Togruta woman's voice. " Slowly little one. Yours was a hard marking. But you are stronger for it. Come to chief when you are able tribe-kin. "

After an hour of slowly moving, Yumi was able to walk tenderly. She walked slowly to the chiefs hut and sat down in front of him. As he barked, the woman again translated.

" Chief says that your marks burn you because your body is untainted by toxin or sickness. Your body will adapt to your marks over the next few days. Until then you will meditate with chief to learn our tongue. You will become mind and soul with tribe and understand what it is to survive as warrior. Stay with chief. " Yumi nodded slowly as the woman left and the chief started what looked like a ritual.

In The Clearing

" Aratarus the transport ship has entered the system and is hailing us. Com is waiting. " Mako called out of the ship to Aratarus as he stared into the sky again. They're search yielded no results again and he was disheartened. Aratarus put the thoughts from his mind as he walked in to answer the com.

As the com activated, Kalina spoke softly. " Hello Aratarus. How is our little miracle doing? "

Aratarus looked into Kalina's eyes as he spoke. " We brought her here for survival training... But we lost track of her an hour or two after she entered the jungle. We have no sign of her since. "

Kalina's smile quickly turned to a look of frustration. " If anything happens to her..."

Aratarus finished for her. " I know. But we will find her. "

Kalina sighed softly and put her hand on her chin gently. " Larkan and i will be there soon. We will look together."

Aratarus sighed heavily as the com flickered off. Mako put a hand on his shoulder gently as they wondered where Yumi could be.

Three Days Later

Yumi had spent three days meditating with the tribe chief and shamans and learning to survive with the warriors of the tribe. Through her meditation with the chief and shaman Yumi learned the force ability Comprehend Speech. Communicating was now a trivial task. The chief had questions for her before she could leave the tribe cave.

" Who are the others with you? They don't have your force prowess. " The chiefs barks were loud but the understanding was as clear as basic now.

" They are my friends and family. I think the other ship i was first on will come here soon as well. They may be looking for me. " Yumi smiled as the chief seemed to laugh.

" Family. Bonds of tribe. These things you will teach to them now tribe-kin. You will now venture out of the tribe and take our teachings to the stars. Before you leave we have a gift for you. The cloth of our people and our warriors greatest weapon and tool. The Skullblade. May your blade be the bane of your enemies. " As the chief handed Yumi her clothes and weapon, Yumi bowed to the chief deeply before donning her new clothes and weapon.

Yumi smiled to the chief and bowed again before leaving. Her marks glowed a soft pink as she walked through the caverns toward the jungle.

As she stepped out of the cavern into the light of the sun, Her marks glow faded but were still visible on her skin. She breathed in the cool jungle air before setting off back to the clearing. As Yumi walked towards the clearing she waved to other tribe members hunting through the trees. After about thirty minutes, Yumi heard a ship pass overhead and looked up to see two of the flash-fire fighters from Larkan's ship. Yumi smiled brightly and rushed off towards the clearing.

Meanwhile

" How could you lose her?! Your the best hunter in the galaxy and you lose a twelve year old?! " Kalina was furious.

" Its not like she fell off a cliff or got eaten. She just disappeared. All we found was a fruit with a bite out of it and a small feathered dart. " Aratarus was trying to keep the peace but it wasn't working.

" So we start there until..." Kalina stopped as a soft voice echoed through the clearing.

" Until i find you instead of you finding me? " Yumi stood there in her tribal cloth with her Skullblade on her back as everyone turned to see who spoke. After a moment, Kalina ran over to her and held her lovingly. " What happened?! Where have you been?! And what are these lines all over you?! "

" I've been learning. A tribe of Felucian's took me after i ate one of they're ceremonial fruit. They said i have great power inside me and accepted me as a tribe-kin. They gave me they're tribal markings and taught me how to understand languages with the force. They taught me how to fight with blades and how to survive. They gave me food and clothes and this Skullblade that signifies a tribe warrior. It was very educational. " Yumi smiled cheekily as Kalina tried to process the information.

" Well that happened. " Aratarus spoke playfully as Yumi ran over to hug him.

" Well you said i had to learn survival but you didn't say how. So i learned they're way. I'm going to miss them. But ill visit them again sometime. So...Where to next? " Yumi smiled happily as Aratarus picked her up and walked towards his ship.

" Home. " Aratarus smiled as everyone boarded the ship. Out of the corner of her eye, Yumi saw the tribe chief standing in the shade of the trees watching her. As he saw her look to him, He raised a hand in farewell as the ships ramp closed. Kalina and Larkan got into the Flash-fire fighters and they all headed back to the transport ship in orbit.

A tribe of warriors and new lessons learned. Yumikaya is advancing through lessons quickly but will it lead to her destiny or ultimate ruin?

Read on next chapter to find out!

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