The narrow alleyways in the lower levels of Coruscant had turned the cold night wind into a biting whip against any exposed flesh. A young Twi'lek woman races through the dirty streets carrying a young boy. The boy in her arms barely started walking a few months before, but he can't run fast enough to stay ahead of those that chase them yet. The woman whispers sweet soothing words to her son as she tries to keep all fear from her face.

The day's steady rain turned into a downpour earlier in the evening, and the woman's plain dark robes weigh her down. She can feel blisters forming under her wet feet. Carrying the toddler slows her, but she muscles her way up the levels of the city at a quick steady pace. Level after level she climbs old stone stairways; she doesn't trust use any electronic transportation, lest it give away her position. Her aching muscles push the pair higher and higher up. She fights against pain and exhaustion. Several times she can feel her arms weaken, but she immediately pulls her son tighter to her.

After hours of climbing, and every muscle in her body screaming for rest, she makes it to a grand temple. Too scared to appreciate the view, she climbs more stairs to reach shelter at the base of a column that stretches up into a wet grey void above. She lovingly lies the boy down on the ground, trying her best to keep him dry. Pain shoots through her shoulders as she tries to stretch her arms out. She lays down beside the boy and runs her fingers over the base of the small tentacles on the back of his head.

"It's okay, Ali. We're here. Just try to sleep, okay? Good boy. Could you close your eyes for me?"

She softly caresses his head and half whispers a simple song about bright stars and deep oceans. After a few fretful minutes, she feels his breathing soften into sleep.

"Good boy. You were so brave tonight. This will be your home now. It's where you belong. You'll be a great Jedi and get to see the whole universe. Every last bit. You'll be so strong, so brave." Raindrops hide the tears flowing from the woman's eyes. Her eyes remain fixed on her sleeping son.

As the darkest hour ends, the young lady stands slowly on aching feet and disappears into the pouring rain. A few minutes later, a pair of Jedi begin their day by finding the Twi'lek boy and taking him to safety.

The Chi'roon belonged to highest peak at the center of Ryloth's greatest mountain range. The Grand Peak, as the Chi'roon called it, offered not only shelter, but prosperity. On it, they built a palace to celebrate their triumphant Twi'lek culture. The perfectly synchronized orbit of Ryloth meant that one side of the planet perpetually faced its sun. The other side remained forever locked in frozen darkness. In order to survive, Twi'lek lived deep within caves to shield themselves from the extremes the atmosphere imposed. The Chi'roon's used caves carved out by rains over millennia. Fresh water springs ran through the mountains, blessing the Chi'roon further. They never had to raise condensation farms or filter sulfur out of deep ground water like the Twi'lek living on the harsh plains.

The abundance of the peaks also provided their greatest luxury: freedom. The Chi'roon cultivated a society without slavery. This idiosyncrasy provided great pride within Chi'roon culture, and great resentment outside of it. No other tribe garnered more distrust and reaped more scorn than the Chi'roon on Ryloth.

Out of the heavy green fog that hung over the surface of the peak Master Ido wandered alone through the streets, his psyche off balance. The heavy chemical composition of Ryloth's atmosphere produced vivid dreams that itched old scars. A Jedi's preparedness and lack of comforts meant left him idle before the party left in search of the elusive flower. Meditation provided too broad a view into old memories, so Master Ido chose to explore the surface before anyone else awoke. A lone figure cut through the hazy streets and approached the Jedi.

"Master Ido," the figure spoke while removing the hood from her head. The woman stood a full head taller than Ali. Her purple skin showed the bumpy scars around her eyes that revealed her advanced age. Twi'lek don't wrinkle so much as slowly molt.

Ali look up and smiled.

"I'm sorry, you startled me a bit. Good morning. Do you call it a morning when the sun never sets?"

"I'm not sure, Master Ido. I'm not from Ryloth either. I'm from Coruscant, like you. I'm sorry for my manners. My name is Rhea'tha."

"Good to meet you, Rhea'tha."

"You're from Coruscant. How did you come to be here?"

"We were slaves on Coruscant. Saved by the Republic. There was no other place for us, so they left us in the safe care of the Chi'roon."

"They? Who? I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"Stop!" a voice called out from a distance. "You shouldn't be bothering the Jedi master."

"I've got to go, Master Ido. A bit of advice, if you don't mind. Don't tie your tentacles behind your head. The Chi'roon consider it an affront to free Twi'lek."

A tall blue man approached.

"It's okay, we were just conversing," Ali turned to Rhea'tha only to find that she had receded into the heavy fog.

"I apologize, Master Ido. My name is Ihan. I've been assigned to find you. The quest for the bloom begins when you join us."

"Very well, then," Ali replied still searching the empty streets for the older woman. When Ihan turned to leave, Ali removed the leather straps tying his tentacles back. He hoped that he would not need his lightsaber, as he had never trained to fight with his tentacles flying free.

Ali followed the tall Twi'lek to the edge of the village where the group waited. Ihan introduced himself and Loarsun to Ali, as Coedi had already been speaking to the Twi'lek. Ihan's extreme height and muscled physique created an imposing presence. He stood taller even than Coedi and wore only a pair of leather pants whose legs went down to tops of his calves and a small vest that only covered his shoulders. He carried a long spear and an assortment of small knives, all prominently displayed. Loarsun, a mustard colored Twi'lek, stood shorter than Ihan, but made up for it with the breadth of his shoulders. His massive back looked as if he could uproot a tree if it committed the offense of blocking his way. He carried several shorter throwing spears in a sheath wrapped around his thigh that permitted him easy access. On the outside of the sheath hung a tool that extended the throwing force of his arm, providing the spears with both lethal velocity and accuracy. The only blade he carried hung on his other hip and it went all the way to his knee. Both Twi'lek carried large packs on their backs with ease. Ali couldn't imagine why such a small party would need so many supplies. The Jedi carried a pack barely larger than his hands.

The group set off shortly after the introductions, Ihan leading the way, Loarsun following closely behind. Coedi followed these two warriors wearing a plain hunter's garb from Alderaan. The tight canvas he wore stretched taut over every muscle on his shoulders and back, while his pants bulged and contracted with every long stride he took. Lord Rist walked with a hunting blaster slung across his back. An elegant design hid the rifle's lethal power. The blaster looked like a slim platinum rod that grew into a pearlescent orb at the end. Ali's Jedi upbringing did not prepare him for laying eyes on Lord Rist's chiseled physique as it cut through space. He immediately felt the need to turn away. Coedi noticed.

"Are you alright, Master Jedi?"

"Yes, of course." Ali offered. "Do you plan on doing much hunting on this trip?"

"The rifle is to protect us from being hunted, Ali. I don't intend on using it."

Ali didn't understand the logic, but continued on.

Shaman Feen and Ashafan followed behind Lord Rist and Ali, keeping an eye out on everything in front of them. Each carried an energy bow to protect himself. The old shaman walked briskly and with purpose.

Hiking down the mountain moved quickly at first. Millions of footsteps had worn wide worn walking trails for the party. The first few bridges could hold two people waking side by side with their weight barely moving the bridges one way or the other.

The vast emptiness they travelled through kept their spirits lofty. Ihan and Loarsun chatted easily with each other, speaking of previous adventures down the mountains. Coedi soon joined them and shared stories of his own. He talked excitedly about hunts on Alderaan followed by banquets to celebrate. Ashafan asked Ali about Coruscant and made him fill every answer with exciting details. Shaman Feen did not interrupt Ashafan's inquiries, although he did not seem particularly interested in the descriptions of shining bright cities. Ali began to wonder if the old shaman understood most of what he was saying. One question did leave Ali perplexed, though.

"Has it been difficult sacrificing everything in order to become a Jedi?" Ashafan asked.

"A Jedi doesn't focus on what he or she has sacrificed," Ali replied. This reply didn't accurately reflect his thoughts on the question, however. Most Jedi didn't know any other way of life. One can't sacrifice that which they never had to begin with. Ashafan went back to asking about bright cities and adventures.

After walking for some time, they came around a bend, and the entire sky opened up before them. The path they walked on jutted out a few meters from the cliff face, then fell away to an abyss below. Light lime colored clouds churned below, obscuring the view of any landing. The men came to a bridge which by optical illusion seemingly flew upwards into the limitless space of the billowing clouds ahead. Ihan immediately started on his trek through the sky. Loarsun followed quickly behind. Neither man took the time to appreciate the view or slowed to take a cautious step. As Lord Rist approached the grand web of rope and wood, he stopped. Ali felt the fear building in the tall human.

"Lord Rist?" Ali tried to sound gentle.

"Sorry, Ali, I was just taking in the amazing view." Coedi breathed in deeply, trying to settle himself.

"It's over a thousand years old. The bridges meet in the middle. The fog just makes it hard to see how safe it is."

"Of course it's safe," Coedi interjected.

"I can lead if you want," Ali offered. "Keep your eyes focused on the back of my head, and that may help."

"Thank you, Ali. I'll think I'll be ok."

Ali walked ahead of Lord Rist without discussing the matter further. Lord Rist followed closely behind, grateful that he didn't have to make any more attempts at maintaining his nerve. The ancient engineering feats of the Chi'roon fully manifested themselves in the kilometers of rope bridges that carried the party across the two highest peaks on Ryloth. Hundreds of kilometers of rope wove through the high peaks, embedding themselves into anchors carved into the stone. An intricate lattice of ropework in all directions kept the structure steady. Rope zipped not only horizontally across the sky, but also vertically, connecting the sides to unseen anchors. Ballast hung below individual bridges and lines. Having studied, Ali knew that this particular bridge went on for quite a few kilometers, and that all the bridges connected in the middle where a viewing rotunda hung suspended in the mountain sky. A giant boulder hung below the rotunda, acting as the main ballast for the entire structure. Legend told that the stone weighed more than any spaceship in the Republic fleet. Its placement remained one of the ancient mysteries of Ryloth. The web's design stood as a testament to perfect symmetrical balance. A rope too taut would snap; a rope too slack could not be traversed.

Ali took care not to walk too fast, lest he worsen Lord Rist's fear. After walking more than a kilometer, a gust of wind blew into them. Rather than swaying to the side, the bridge's bow straightened and the bridge lifted. The Jedi and the Prince felt themselves soaring into the sky kilometers above the planet's surface. Ali felt like he was flying, his entire body and spirit suspended midair as if gravity held no power over him. Coedi reaction told told a different story. He immediately gripped the sides of the bridge with both hands and stood shaking, his eyes wide with panic. Ali immediately walked up to Coedi, put his arm and his shoulder and tried to look him in the eye.

"It's ok, Coedi. Just a soft breeze."

"I'm fine, Ali. Just one more second before we move on."

Coedi gathered himself and allowed Ali to lead him on. Coedi walked on with one hand resting on Ali's shoulder. Ali could hear Coedi breathing slowly to keep himself calm. Shaman Feen and Ashafan caught up and felt the easy intimacy between the two, but neither said anything. The men kept walking, and soon the central rotunda came into view. The immensity of the structure caught Ali by surprise. The rotunda had three different observation decks stacked on top of each other. No walls or windows enclosed the space, so it just appeared as if an ornate gazebo floated in space. As they entered, they walked into the center the lowest level of the rotunda. It lay empty, except for Ihan and Loarsun who sat at a table replenishing their liquids.

"Took you a bit of time to get here," Ihan stated with a small sly grin.

"Our apologies, Ihan. We lost our pace appreciating the view," Ali retorted.

Loarsun and Ihan looked at Coedi's frightened face, then shared a look with each other. Ihan offered a short laugh as Loarsun shrugged his shoulders.

"Take a rest, Coedi. The great blossom will be there when we arrive." Ihan said with a dismissive smile.

"No. I think we should continue on," Coedi murmured.

They spent the next few hours traversing the great web between peaks. Once they made their way onto the lesser peak, Ali noticed a shift in mood. Ihan and Loarsun became more serious. The stopped speaking and spent more time watching. Ihan kept his gaze straight ahead, while Loarsun above and below. As they continued down, they had to navigate around more and more cut bridge lines. They found a few bridge anchors that no longer held any rope. When they did Loarsun would pull gear out of his pack and they repel down a section. The morning's easy pace turned into a tense slog. Ali figured they had covered less than a quarter of the distance than they had before crossing the peaks, and with an eternal sun he couldn't tell how long they'd been hiking down.

They made their way to a path that offered no bridge, and had to repel almost half a kilometer down. After doing so, they found themselves on a flat shelf of rock near the base of the mountain. Behind them stood a tall shallow cave. Ihan and Loarsun immediately went out to the edge of the outcropping and stood sentry. Ashafan and Shaman Feev made their way down last and beckoned them all to the cave.

"We'll camp here tonight," Ashafan said flatly.

"What? We're nearly at the base of the mountain," Coedi complained.

Shaman Feev laid his hands firmly in the air around his waist.

"Here," Ashafan translated.

With that, they made their camp for some rest. The warriors said that each of them would take a watch while the others slept. As the benefactor of the expedition, Coedi didn't have to take a shift. Ali insisted on taking one. No one objected.

Before they took their rest, Ali asked Shaman Feev about the cut bridges and the need to stand watch.

"Enemies," Shaman Neev answered with no emotion.

Loarsun woke Ali up with a jiggle to his shoulder. The broad Twi'lek then went to lay down under the shallow indention of the rockface. Ali walked out to the edge of the outcropping and looked out on the plains below. The blue and green grasses below swayed gently in the wind, creating swirls of teal over the land. Darker cobalt angiosperms shot up sporadically through the grasses, their giant violet flowers acting as beacons for every dangerous predator the grasses hid. Clouds of pollen floated through the air. A bronze sky blanketed all. Time seemed to stand still on this planet, as the synchronous orbit kept the base of the mountain in permanent dusk.

A flock of screeching reptiles interrupted Ali's appreciation of the landscape with their glowing blue eyes streaking through the sky. Ali reminded himself of the kilometers the group would have to hike through the grasses, and all the dangers that lie within them, spitting snakes, spiders the size of a man's head, carnivorous burrowing mammals, and roots that poked up through ground with poisonous thorns. All of these worried Ali less than the one word uttered by Master Feev in the common tongue: enemies.

Ali knew better than to dwell on potential peril, so he retreated back to the center of the small outcropping and listened. He noticed the alien nature of the formation they camped on, and realized that it couldn't have been created by the planet. This small outcropping of melted rock was a result of blast from a spaceship, probably from orbit. Some errant shot from a battle no one remembered created this perfect lookout point for a people adept at surviving.

A few hours of watching the open plains below, and the other members of the party began to stir awake. The two warriors began to unpack greenish opaque armor from their packs. They handed sets to all other in the party. The pieces weighed next to nothing and were pliable when bent.

"What is this material?" Ali asked.

"Lylek," Ihan grunted.

Giant arthropods named Lylek hunted in the jungles of Ryloth. They stood taller than three men and were twice as long, with razor sharp spikes covering their bodies. Ali wondered how many Twi'lek it must have taken to hunt one down.

Shaman Feev walked up to Ali and Coedi and presented their strategy. Ashafan translated nervously.

"We have to make it to the edges of the jungle as quickly as possible. The lesser tribes will be hunting this way, and we cannot defend ourselves against a larger party."

Ali could feel Coedi grow tense with fear. The other Twi'lek looked to over to his gauge his reaction to Coedi.

"Just a good brisk run through the grasses, right?" Ali attempted to sound reassuring. The group nodded their assent.

"We follow in pairs behind Ihan and Loarsun," Ashafan continue. "Lord Rist and Shaman Feev in the center. Master Ido and I will protect the rear."

Coedi remained silent.

They ran down a narrow slope through the base of the mountain for a few hours until they found the edge of the grasses. Ali pulled off his cloak and added it to his pouch. The nearer they came to Ryloth's center, the more oppressive the heat became. The Twi'lek penchants for wearing little became obvious as the sun bore down on them. As they approached, blue grasses came up to their waists. Without hesitating, they rushed in. Ihan and Loarsun held their light shields across their bodies, parallel to the ground. The two shields held together formed a point the group cut their way behind.

They ran all day without stopping; taking a break meant walking instead of running. They ran using the giant violet petals of the flowers as markers, as the giant sun overhead only made small swirling circles above them, providing confusion rather than direction. Ali could feel the layers of life teeming under the soil, the earth below stirred with it, threatening to attack. A cacophony of wildlife swirled in all directions, growling, cawing, chirping, humming a millions different tones.

Ihan and Loarsun kept a steady pace at the front. Coedi never broke stride keeping up with the lead pair as the fabric of his clothing pooled the sweat from his body then innocuously dispensed it into the ground below. Ali kept his hand near his lightsaber, but never touched it. The grasses grew taller, to their shoulders, changed from indigo to jade to emerald, then back to jade and indigo. The grasses grew shorter then more sparse. They approached the edged of a giant forest. Trees grasping for the skies, but thin as skeletons. Blood red moss clung to the ground and trees in patches. They went walked in amongst the trees for about twenty meters and stopped.

They camped without a fire careful not to leave any evidence of their presence. They awoke and made their way deeper into the immense rain forest. The small scraps of sky remaining overhead changed to the color of rust. The sound of wildlife grew denser and more violent, shrieks and screams joined the constant humming. Giant shadows would appear and dance off in between the trees in the distance. The Twi'lek of Ryloth walked with less urgency. Ali assumed this meant the danger from other tribes had subsided.

The blanket of trees kept the sun away, but also insulated all heat and humidity in. The temperature had risen considerably, and the air hung heavy with moisture. The group changed positions with Shaman Feev now leading the expedition and Ashafan closely guarding his flank. Coedi followed as closely as he could, with Ali walking so near that his shoulder continuously brushed Coedi's bicep. Ihan and Loarsun brought up the rear, watching in all directions. Shaman Feev reminded Ali and Coedi to have one man keep their eyes on the trees while the other watched the path they walked on. Predators could strike from anywhere.

The walk through the forest went slowly as they trudged through thick wet soil. The air grew thick with humidity. Pollen larger than Ali's fist floated by, while the shaman warned of breathing any air that looked too thick, as it was likely filled with parasites.

After a day of hiking, they managed about twenty kilometers. At this point they reached a rock formation about half size of the Galactic Senate building. Ashafan explained that this would be their island in this sea of hunters. It took hours of climbing vines up the sheer rock to reach the top. The rock seemed to bleed as every footstep they took crushed deep red moss that now covered almost everything. As light from the sun became more meager, the jungle became a world of colored light.

After making their way to the center of the immense boulder, Ali walked back to its edge and looked below. The jungle floor glowed in all directions. Green and yellow veins of different insects crawled about, fighting their constant battles and scavenging the dead. Flashes of pink would explode upwards as springs brought forth phosphorescent algae from deep under the ground. Ali watched as the shadows of beasts would crawl their way across the glowing carpet to feed on a lit flower, or drink from a pool of poisonous water. Ali felt a blast of fetid air blow from above and heard the large swoosh of a beating wing over his head. He looked up to see a half the jungle canopy erased by a great leathery wings. The canopy of trees glowed a soft aquamarine. Flocks and flocks of different flying creatures moved like a river of shadows through the glowing trees. Shaman Feev walked up to Ali and smiled. The old Twi'lek held a hard fist at his heart, then splayed his fingers quickly out, and extended his arm to the sky. He looked deeply into Ali's eyes. Ali understood.

The hike the next day took a decidedly upward trajectory. They pressed up a mountain deep within the jungle. Slick moss covered the ground, making each step an exercise in balance. They climbed all day and reached the summit to find the sun and sky again. The summit was not a peak, but a vast mesa covered with a forest of shorter trees. They walked on until a clearing presented itself. A small watering hole appeared, a shining mirror whose water lay perfectly still waiting for prey to visit. Shaman Feev held the group at bay scanning high and low before taking a step out into the clearing.

They quickly made their way to the water to fill their nearly empty water bladders. Only half filled water while the others kept a vigilant watch. After Coedi, Ihan and Loarsun filled their containers, the other three started to fill theirs. Ali put the tip of the bladder carefully into the water, making sure it made no noise. Ali didn't trust what lurked beyond the trees. Ali had filled his bladder a little over halfway when he heard Ihan get thrown violently to the ground behind him.

When Ali turned around, he saw Ihan on his back with a long tendril wrapped around his right leg. Whatever had ahold of him stayed hidden behind the trees a few yards away. Loarsun stepped forward to hack at the long tentacle, but the animal's exoskeleton would not be penetrated so easily. Another long tentacle flew at Loarsun, and he had to turn around to swing his blade in self-defense. Ali lept 10 meters towards the trees, drawing his lightsaber as he flew into the air. As he landed in between the trees and Ihan, he cut through the hard shell of the tentacle that had grabbed the Twi'lek. The bloody stump immediately flew back into the trees, but the leaves above shook violently. The forest remained still and silent for a split second before the trees split open, exploding in all directions. A lylek stormed forward. The large green mantis rushed the men and thrusted its razor sharp pincers at them. All retreated to the water, except for Ali, who faced the beast alone. The lylek stabbed again and again at Ali, with the Jedi dodging high and low. The ground shook and rocks skimmed through the air with every thrust Ali averted. Ali stood and twirled his lightsaber around himself in a dizzying display, projecting an orb of green energy twice his size. The lylek's screams mixed with the hum of Ali's lightsaber as the beast tried to stand its ground. It repeatedly stabbed his pincers down at Ali's sides as its head jerked from side to side, trying to keep the lightsaber from blinding him. Spittle flew from the lylek's mandible and turned to steam as it crossed the arc of Ali's lightsaber. Ali stopped twirling his light saber, held it high in the air, focused his eyes squarely on the lylek's, and let go a force scream that sent ripples through the water behind him. The leaves of the forest fluttered with the last vibrations of the scream in the still air as the lylek stood frozen. Ali brought his lightsaber down and held his unarmed hand up to the lylek, ready to push him back into the forest with only an injury to its left tentacle. Before he was able to get the predator to retreat a spear flew over his head and struck the lylek in the neck, lodging in between the plates of its exoskeleton. A shocked Ali heard the crunch of the spear cracking through the lylek's armor and his stomach lurched. The lylek held a rigid pose for a few seconds, then slunk to the ground.

Ihan, Loarsun, and Coedi whooped in celebration at the falling of the beast. Shaman Feev walked over and gave a blessing of the thanks to the large insectoid. He then called over Ihan and Loarsun who helped him turn the lylek on its back. Shaman Feev cut open its abdomen. The shaman removed several glands and started filling small jars with the lylek's fluids. Ashafan joined the shaman and assisted with cutting out larger organs to harvest fluids from. Ihan began butchering pieces of the lylek's pincers. Loarsun slowly made his way to the fallen beast and with a power blow from his long blade, decapitated the lylek. He told Ihan that he'd split the great trophy with him. They'd equally divide the teeth, Ihan would get the mandible, and Loarsun the crown. Ihan rejected the offer. Loarsun's spear had brought the beast down.

Ali watched the butchering in stunned silence. The lylek didn't have to die. Ali knew that he could have pushed it back into the forest without any other injury. Coedi stood behind the Jedi and watched the scene unfold.

"It's done." Coedi put his hand on Ali's shoulder. Ali turned and walked away without acknowledging Coedi's attempt to comfort him.

"Shaman Feev," Coedi called out. "How much time before other predators approach?"

The Twi'lek hurriedly finished packing their trophies and quickly made their way back into the jungle. A short distance from the watering hole, and the group found a small stream and started following it. The stream grew larger as the band trekked on. After a short time, they began to hear the rush of water growing in the distance. Shaman Feev stopped the group and gestured to Ihan and Loarsun. Loarsun and Ihan unpacked some lines and netting from their great packs and began to climb different trees.

Ashafan explained that they would have to camp in the trees to avoid predators. Safety wasn't assured, but the trees provided a good hiding spot. They would sleep in pairs. Ali preferred not to sleep near anyone, but said nothing.

Coedi led the way up the tree their hammock hung in, and slung his large body quickly in. Ali followed, his mind still swimming with regret over watching a life extinguished. As Ali approached the hammock, he didn't know any other way in but to fling himself over the edge. He rolled in and found himself laying chest to chest with the handsome lord from Alderaan. Ali quickly rolled over to Coedi's side. He tried to calm himself as a soft breeze swayed the tree's branches back and forth.

"Ali. That lylek would have killed us all."

"I had it under control," Ali said without looking at Coedi.

Coedi brought his hand up to stroke the back of Ali's head, thought about what he was doing, and brought it back down.

"It's their way," Coedi offered.

"I'm a Jedi, Lord Rist. I have no emotional reaction to what happened. I am here to perform my duty and protect you. Nothing else." Ali said this as a tear rolled down his cheek, away from Coedi's view, followed by another. A few silent moments later and Ali heard Coedi's breathing settle itself into sleep.