Chapter 91 - The Yarroogona Mate's promise

After finding success in several battles across Kashyyyk, the Alliance had taken over the majority of Imperial sites across the planet, and freed the majority of wookiees from their captors. It only stood to reason that their tactics would soon need to change.

Though Han had only recently joined the rebellion, he had been trained in one of the empire's own military training academies. Thus it did not surprise him when new orders came in. It only stood to reason, after they took over the planet, their focus would shift to defense. The Empire wouldn't be too happy about losing Kashyyyk, with its mines and its slaves, after all.

Chewy made it clear, he was still a part of the rebel army, even with two kids in tow. Han didn't know what it said about their life before, but Waroo and Yavi were more at home on the rebellion base than any of their soldiers. And they were almost calling him Uncle Han, or the Shyriiwook version.

"Roooooooooogh, Raaaavraaaaaaaah" Yavi called out.

Han waved as he approached the youngling. Technically what Yavaaroo called him was 'Relative Messy-man,' but Han wasn't being particular. The later part was Chewy's favorite nickname for him in Shyriiwook, and the first was a big improvement from 'Friend Messy-man' which is what they started calling him. In Wookiee culture, it is a big thing for an outsider to be accepted as family. In time, they'll get it.

"Hey Yavi, I'm looking for Uncle Chewy. Is he in?"

"Ra…" Yavi responded, only to be interrupted by a louder call from inside the quarters.

"Graaaaaaaraaaarh," Chewy said, inviting him in.

"Hey Buddy." Han stepped around Yavi, into the apartment Chewy and his kids were using. "Did you hear the news? We're going to Thick-no, what was it? Thicky…" Han became tongue tied over the wookiee pronunciations.

"Haaaaaaakkkkaaaaaaannnnaaaa," Chewy corrected.

"Oh yeah, Thikkiiana, that's it. Yeah, we're going to their space-ports to mount a defense perimeter around the planet."

"Raaaaaawr Rwoooorrorro," Chewy moaned.

Han sympathetically put a hand up on his friend's forearm. "I know, I know." Ever since he and Chewy came to Kashyyyk, his friend had been hoping to move west. In Rwookrrorro, the capital of Kashyyyk, was an imperial stronghold. The Rebellion didn't have the strategic manpower to take it over yet, but they did have them encircled, and eventually would fight them when an opportunity arose. Of course all the promises of eventually didn't mean much to a man whose hometown was in its borders. Gosh, what more of Chewy's family must still be enslaved there?

"But we have to keep the imperials out. If they send in an army of reinforcements, all our planning will be for naught," Han argued.

Chewy nodded. He was brave when he had to be. Han respected that.

"You know what else I heard. We are joining unit Two-Three-Four in Thikkiiana. Leia is with that unit." Han's hand unconsciously came up to push his hair back. "Say, do you think I should bring her something? We don't have much available right now, but one of the Wookiees was selling home-made jewelry at the base today, and I traded for this." Han held up a necklace made with red and blue beads, and a single piece of carved bone.

"Graaaaaaaaaaaaah" Chewy seemed to like the idea. He gave Han a rough pat on the back, and growled happily.

Chewy rode with Han and the other men on a ship to their new base. Waroo had volunteered to help another team bring their supplies over, and Yavi stayed to help him. Chewy grit his teeth in anticipation over what they'd see, when they arrived. The Empire had been using Thikkiiana as a slave shipping port, but before that it was a technological wonderland. The city was almost a second capitol, with a large spaceport and computer manufacturing facility, which was used by the old republic's defense fleet. Chewy remembered when Waroo was young, he took his boy there and they got to tour the factory. It pained him to think of all their wookiee culture, covered in blood and filth, and smelling like the same human scum who were enslaving his people.

Chewy turned restlessly on the ship. Hopefully, with time, his people can rebuild their homes and make their cities great again.

Han sat and watched Chewy pace back and forth in the small shuttle. He understood his friend was stressed. After triple checking the ride his kids were taking, and nearly ripping some pilot's arms off because she'd forgotten to clean her ship's aft valves, it was clear the Wookiee needed space. He looked up at their pilot, and noticed him shift the landing gears into place. They were almost there.

Han stood up, so he and Chewy could walk off the craft together. When the ship's ramp finally lowered, He looked up to see a Wookiee style Hangar. Columns made from the Wroshyr tree supported a tall ceiling, with some metal patching done here and there by the city's most recent inhabitants, looking clearly out of place.

Han looked over and recognized the remains of an old statue. He had looked up this planet in the Alliance's files before they left for Kashyyyk. The intact version of this statue was in the images he'd seen. It was made to honor a past Wookiee clan who died to save another, and Han understood it was important. What was left was not just torn down, but defiled. Han became angry, not just that the imperials would do this, but that no one had seen to clean it up and remove what remained before his friend arrived.

Han's eyes trailed around the room to look for someone he could yell at, when Chewy let out a loud cry. A Wookiee's cries, when particularly emotional, are enough to make your heart stop. Han looked over, worried that his friend had seen the statue, but Chewy was not looking at the defilement… He was looking at another Wookiee in a crowd of people. Han noticed Leia standing nearby, and he made eye contact with her. Based on the look she was giving him, she had no idea why either Wookiee was reacting to the other.

Chewy began to growl some things, only his tone was emotional, and Han couldn't understand what he was saying. As soon as they were cleared to move, Chewy leapt out at this other Wookiee and Han reached for his weapon. He had seen his friend meet other Wookiees before, and never seen this kind of reaction. But he knew when two Wookiees fought each other, it was dangerous to get in the way.

Chewy grabbed the other Wookiee and squeezed. The other Wookiee grabbed him and squeezed back. Han just stared for a moment, before he realized they weren't fighting at all. They were hugging.

"Powerful reaction," Leia said, as she walked up to Han.

"Yeah… I mean, who is he?" Han asked.

"She," Leia corrected. "Her name's Mallatobuck. She came from another region, I think. When we were preparing to raid, we came across her owner, bringing supplies to the next city. Freeing her was easy, and we couldn't let her owner get away to warn anyone. She stayed with us when she learned what we were going to do. I know she said she's got a mate and child somewhere, but they were separated."

"Awe, that's too bad. I think Chewy's got the hots for her." Chewy was now almost purring. It could be heard across the room.

Leia looked at him aghast. "You don't see it, do you?" Han shook his head as he tried to figure out what he was being chastised for now. Leia shook her head. "How can you be so blind to what is in front of you?"

Now, if he were smarter, he wouldn't dare disturb the woman yelling at him, but Han was never an intellect. "You're highness, I'm sorry if I don't have your level of etiquette training, but…"

"They're in Love. Can't you see it!" Leia pointed to the two. Chewy was now nibbling on Malla's ear. "Chewy is her mate."

This sentence brought a crease of confusion to Han's forehead. Sure, he knew enough about the world to know that Waroo's very existence proved that Chewy had a Malla in some form. But still, there was a childish part of him that expected it to have been some one night stand, sort of thing. His friend had never been very flirtatious. Not even when the bar owner of Takodonna took a shine to him and would've given them the best deals, if he'd reciprocated. It was hard to imagine Chewy being in a relationship.

"Everything you say. You don't mean any of it. It's all mindless flirting to you, isn't it?" Leia barreled ahead, without realizing Han's epiphany.

"Hey wait!" Han turned back into the conversation. "I mean everything I say."

Leia still looked cross. She shook her head.

"I call you Princess, Leia, because you impress me. You left your home, your family, to fight for what was right. You defend people. And you can spot details about a situation I would never be able to see." Han's hand gestured to Chewy and Malla. "I'm a dunce at social situations. Truthfully I don't even deserve to be one of your contacts, but you are gracious enough to look past that. And I love that about you."

By this point, Leia had tears in her eyes, as she stared at him. She reached up to him, and he tilted downward just so. Their lips met in a kiss. Then her face turned down. Her cheeks went pink.

Their kiss wasn't something Han intended to do. Their lips seemed to collide on instinct. But he wasn't going to complain about it either. "Here," Han brought out the necklace. It wasn't much, but anything to distract her from feeling embarrassed. "One of the Wookiees at our last camp was selling jewelry. I thought this would look nice on you."

He fastened it behind her neck. Leia looked down at it. "It's nice, thank you."

"Chewbacca," Mallatobuck stopped her mate's purring. She had something she needed to tell him. "I- I'm sorry. I failed you. You were gone barely a year and they took the younglings. Our Lumpawaroo was ripped from my arms. I haven't seen him since."

"Mallatobuck, ssssshhhh." He soothed. "Lumpawaroo is here. He and Yavaaroo are safe. It is I who must apologize. When we found out about the younglings' slave camp, I had the chance to send the rebellion straight away to Rwookrrorro, but I couldn't leave him there. So instead I left you…"

"No, if you had gone home, you would've been doubly disappointed. My master had taken me to help him clear a road for supplies into Thikkiiana. A storm knocked down several trees, and they were expecting a big arrival. Even if you had.. I'm glad you rescued him first."

Chewbacca leaned forwards to purr sweet nothings into her ear. He couldn't count his luck, getting his whole family back together.

"Now, tell me who the human is?" Mallatobuck gestured towards Han.

"Messy-Man, to the humans he is called Han Solo. I owe him a life debt, but he's become more like a son to me. Though he's a bit sensitive about the age thing. He likes to be treated like he's reached his first century."

"Don't worry, I won't embarrass him. Awe, look at that." She pointed over his shoulder at the two humans again. "He's given her a Yarroogona Mate's promise Necklace. It looks like our family is growing even bigger."

"Yes, I was so proud of him when he said he wanted to give her that. He will make her an excellent mate." As Chewy said this, his hand went up to touch the similar beads he had once given his love, glad that he hadn't failed the promises they represented.

Hello Everyone,

I couldn't resist making this one sweet, but next chapter will probably have more action.

Malla, or Mallatobuck is Chewbacca's mate in Canon. I hoped you liked their reunion. In canon Chewbacca is like 200 years old, so I figured his comment about Han wanting to be treated like he's reached his first century made a bit of sense. And in defense of the Takodana comment Han makes, in TFA when Maz calls Chewy her boyfriend, chewy isn't even in the room. He conveniently stayed in the ship to do "repairs."

And the necklace Han gave Leia is like a Wookiee engagement ring. I thought it was funny to have him give it to her not knowing anything about it. The poor guy. But I also thought it was about time to have them step forward from flirting to actually being a couple. Since she doesn't have Luke to kiss in this AU, it was difficult to keep it to character.

For the Wookiee lines I thought it was odd that Wookiee place names would be so odd sounding, when the Wookiees don't speak English at all. So I tried to make them patterned at least similar to the names of the places they were saying. And Chewy, of course, has a nickname for Han. What's more Han than "Messy Man?" I imagine it works like a sign language name, as I understand it as a non deaf person. The sign, or shyriiwook, for H+A+N - S+O+L+O would be too long to use in conversation, so another sign is chosen as a nickname.

In the next chapter, the Empire will be sending their fleet to try to quench this rebellion. There will of course be a big space action scene. Some notable names may be in this fight.