CHAPTER 3:

"Where are we going to go?" Luke asked, and his expression crinkled as he waited for the answer.

"That way," Han pointed out the shelter to the next tree over. Han looked over at Leia and then at Luke. They both looked petrified. It wasn't like he himself felt any better about this climb, but they didn't need to know that, "It's a lot easier than going up. More branches. It'll be fine."

Luke nodded and looked less frightened. Leia, on the other hand, skeptically narrowed her eyes on Han. He gave her a slight nod and shrugged. She arranged her countenance into assured nonchalance. "I suppose we should start climbing."

"Chewie," Han put a hand on his best friend's arm. "Maybe you should be Leia's climbing partner. I'll be Luke's."

Chewbacca nodded and then went over to one of the survival kits.

"Whaddya doin'?" Han huffed. "If we don't get movin' we're gonna be dinner."

Chewie roared and stood up with a rope. Han's eyebrows rose, "Why didn't ya' think of using that on the way up?" Chewie's worrfs grew louder. "Yeah, we were in a hurry, but—"

"Can't you two argue about this some other time?" Leia put a hand on Han's shoulder. Her touch erased the fight right out of him, which was somewhat perturbing. She was the one who usually riled him up.

Chewbacca had cut the rope into two long pieces and began winding one piece around his waist. He growled and waved Leia over. Then he secured the rope around her waist. Han did the same with the other piece of rope with Luke.

"Chewie, you and Leia go first," Han ordered.

Chewbacca looked down at the diminutive princess and grabbed her hand. He helped her out to the long thick branch that hung close to their shelter. Her natural balance kicked in, and Chewie let her hand go and followed close behind. Han led Luke out, and they all carefully made their way toward the next giant tree. Leia knew Han was lying about how much easier it'd be, but it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Maybe she just felt secure being tied to Chewbacca. But it didn't feel as warm and safe as when she was in Han's arms.

She looked over her shoulder and stole a glance at Han. He had one arm stretched up to the branch hanging over his head and the other held out for balance. His eyes stayed focused on the branch under his feet, and a look of terror marred his face. Leia's stomach dropped at the sight of him. He seemed so confident and secure when he helped her up the tree, when he carried her to the shelter. He certainly fooled her. Leia's opinion of the man rose. Han's head popped up, and Leia quickly turned away. She was certain he didn't want her to know how scared he was, and she had no intention of ever letting him know she knew.

Han's brow furrowed as he caught the quick movement of the princess's head. Why wasn't she paying attention to her steps? He bit down his anger. The last thing he needed now was to worry about her. That's why he partnered her up with Chewie. Chewie was much better at all this, and he'd be able to keep her safer than Han would have. Luke's agility surprised Han, and Han felt as if he was holding the younger man back.

They were doing well. Maybe they could have gone faster, but for novice climbers, they were making good time. Chewbacca climbed ahead of the princess and pulled her up to him when the gaps between the branches were wide, and he stayed behind her the rest of the time, ready to catch her if she took the wrong step. Han climbed in front of Luke, mainly because he wanted to keep an eye on Leia. He trusted Chewie to keep her safe, but he couldn't forget the fear she exhibited when she and he climbed up to the shelter. He was scared for her. Hell, he was scared for him. Han never got used to the tree life despite all the time he spent on Kashyyyk with Chewie. He'd feel much better once they returned to the ground, however wet and muddy it may be.

Luke sensed the unease of his friends. Chewbacca didn't fear the climb, but he worried over the safety of the rest of the group. Luke could tell both Han and Leia struggled to keep their fears at bay. They were failing miserably, though. Luke knew he should be just as scared as his companions, but he felt quite comfortable scaling the branches of the giant trees. The climb was almost exhilarating. He never experienced anything like this. He almost felt guilty for enjoying this little adventure.

Without warning, Chewbacca froze in his tracks and roared menacingly into the dark ahead of him. Leia and Han drew their blasters, while Luke activated his light saber. But the three of them saw nothing.

"What is it, Chewie?" Leia whispered.

Chewie held a hand behind him and herded her back. Han moved closer to her, pulling Luke with him, "There are Grendolies ahead."

"I thought you said they didn't climb trees," Leia accused.

"I never said that," Han quietly argued. "I told you to ask Chewie."

"Chewie?"

Chewie grumbled, and Han translated, "Don't you think that question's been answered, Your Worshipfulness?"

"Then why were we up in the trees in the first place?" Luke piped up.

"Bought us some time," Han shrugged. "We would have been dead—"

Chewbacca emitted a moan and a whine. Han cursed, "Sith!"

"What?" Leia's lack of patience screamed out in her tone.

"Put your blaster away, very slowly," Han ordered as he holstered his own. "Luke, it might be a good idea to turn off that light saber of yours."

Luke and Leia obeyed without a word. Chewbacca howled and growled, and it was then Leia realized he wasn't speaking to them. Han slid up behind her, pressing his body against her. His arm slowly snaked around her, and Leia's breath caught in her throat. Between her fear and the bubbly sensation Han's touch incited within her, Leia was certain she'd lose her balance.

Han's hand found hers, "Cut yourself from Chewie." He pressed a vibroblade into her hand.

"What's going on?" she whispered back.

"No time for questions, Your Worship," Han hissed. "Just do it. Do it now."

The princess sliced the thick rope with the vibroblade, and at the moment the blade tore the tether apart, Chewbacca lunged out into the darkness. Chewie lunged again and then leaped to the branch above them, clearly in pursuit of something Leia, Han, and Luke couldn't see with their weak human eyes.

"Chewie!" Luke called after him. "Where's he going, Han?"

"To buy us more time," Han sneered, wanting nothing more than to back up his best friend. But he looked at the scared boy and girl in his charge, and he wanted to make sure they were safe as well. Han inwardly cursed himself once more for getting attached.

Sensing they were still in danger from things that lurked in the rainforest, Luke whispered, "Whadda we gonna do now?"

Han looked at Luke whose large blue eyes gazed back at him expectantly. Then he looked at the princess who wore the same expression as Luke, eerily the exact same expression. Han ran his hand through his hair. Why did he always have to think of everything?

"I think we should go after Chewie," Leia suggested. "We can't let him confront the Grendolies by himself."

Han rolled his eyes. That was why he had to think of everything. "Not such a good idea."

"Why not?" Leia put her hand on her hip.

"Sh," Luke cringed.

"Why not?" Leia whispered. "He'd never let us face anything that dangerous alone."

"We're not abandoning him," Han answered. "We're doin' what he wants."

"I don't care—"

Han hushed her words by pressing his hand against her mouth. He was thrilled at her spirit and reluctance to leave Chewie to deal with the Grendolies alone, but he was also frustrated because he would have gone with Chewie if they weren't with him, even if Chewie didn't want his help. Han mirthlessly laughed to himself. Chewie was probably glad Luke and Leia were with them.

"What now?" Luke asked.

"Ow!" Han withdrew his hand from the princess' mouth. "She bit me!"

"What did you expect, Captain, when you laid your hand on me?" Leia narrowed her icy eyes on him.

"Lay a hand on you?" Han's arms splayed out. "Oh, you'll know when I lay a hand on you!"

"You better not think of--"

"Will you two shut up?" Luke yelled. "We're definitely not alone out here. We gotta get out of here."

Han and Leia tore their eyes from each other and managed to look contrite. Han sighed, "We go down."

"Why down?" Leia asked.

Han clenched his jaw, "No more questions. No more discussion."

Leia opened her mouth, but Luke stopped her words with a light touch on her shoulder. Han grabbed the remnants of the rope still tied around Leia's waist. Although the rope was significantly shorter than Han would have liked, there was enough to tether her to him and Luke. He roughly tied the girl to him, pulling the rope as tight as he could.

"Ow!"

"Han," Luke placed a hand on the older man's.

Han grunted and let up on the rope he tied around Leia. Luke shook his head. He wasn't sure what would be worse: facing the Grendolies with Chewbacca or being tethered to Han and Leia. Luke looked at his feuding friends and figured the former would have been the most ideal situation.

"Okay, Han," Luke held out his hand. "Lead the way."

"Wait," Leia leaned back, forcing Han to stop. He whipped around, ready to let her have it, but she held out her hand. "Your vibroblade."

Han reached for it but then stopped, "I'd feel better if you kept it until we get outa this." Leia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Put it somewhere you can get to it fast."

Leia undid the snaps in the front of her rain poncho, revealing a soiled T-shirt stretched tight against her curves. Han bit his lower lip as he imagined all the places she might put that vibroblade. She glanced down at herself as she searched for the best place to put it before settling on slipping it into her right boot. Disappointed, Han turned away from her and searched for the best path down.

The three of them carefully made their way down to the lower canopy. It seemed to take hours. When they finally reached the ground, Han sighed with relief. He was about to untie himself from his friends when Luke activated his light saber. Han whirled around to find himself meters away from a large, muscular beast with a downy coat of black fur.

Solo grabbed the rope connected to Leia and yanked it in an attempt to pull her behind him, but all he managed to do was pull her off of her feet. Luke deactivated his saber and rushed over to her. He pulled the girl up and kept her close to him. Han's blaster was already drawn and pointed at the menacing creature before them.

The Grendoli's black lips pulled back, exposing slug green teeth honed into razor sharp tips. Han didn't like that look. He fired, but the Grendoli leaped into the branches above him. Han's shot didn't even graze it. Han re-aimed his blaster, but the Grendoli jumped back down in front of the small group. This time Han noticed what was in the creature's hand.

"Where is he!" Han yelled.

The Grendoli just laughed and Han pulled back on the trigger.

"No!" Luke shoved Han's hand, and his shot bounced off of the gnarled roots next to the Grendoli.

Han's eyes widened in anger and turned to confront Luke. Leia pushed her way in front of Han and faced down the Grendoli. She held her chin high and managed to look threatening despite her short stature. Han's anger at Luke was now replaced by fear for the princess.

She glanced at the bowcaster in the Grendoli's hand. "Obviously, you know the whereabouts of our friend," Leia's tone never sounded more regal to Han. "You haven't killed him."

Han held his breath and hoped the princess was right and that the Grendoli understood her.

The Grendoli's forked tongue slid over his teeth, and Leia took that as her answer, "So what is it you want?"

"Us dead," Han muttered into her ear. She placed a hand on his arm.

"Uh game," the Grendoli's gravely voice hissed.

Han and Luke's mouth dropped open, but Leia showed no emotion, "So you know Basic."

"We ahr as intawllejunt as yaw," the creature answered.

"I never believed otherwise," Leia stared defiantly into the Grendoli's gray eyes.

To Han's dismay she took a step toward the large creature. He grabbed the rope he tied to her and pulled, but nothing happened. Han looked down at the severed rope. Oh, he was going to let her have it if they got out of this.

"What I don't understand," Leia folded her hands in front of her and took the stance she once used when addressing the Senate, "is why you attack other sentient beings."

"Whaw do yaw think intawllejunt beings ahr bettaw thawn thuse who ahr nawt?"

Leia's eyes fell to the ground and then back up at the Grendoli, "You are right. It is unjust for us to think sentient are any better than any other living being."

The Grendoli shook his head and hissed, "Game."

"Why are you doing this?" Leia fought to contain her anger. Just because Chewie wasn't dead, that didn't mean he wasn't hurt.

"It ease auhr way," the Grendoli's tongue flicked a couple of times.

"And it is our way to negotiate," Leia countered. "What is it that you want from us?"

The Grendoli slung the bowcaster over his shoulder and bellowed, "Fun."

The princess swallowed down her disgust. She felt Han flinch behind her and sensed Luke holding him back. She held her right arm down next to her and spread her fingers, signally to Han to calm down.

"Then fun it is," Leia conceded much to the dismay of her companions. "What are the rules of your…game?"

The Grendoli's black fur rippled with pleasure, and he tossed a handful of colorful gems in front of the rebels. With that, he disappeared into the dark rainforest.

Princess Leia stood tall where she was while Luke and Han dropped to their knees and retrieved the gems the Grendoli threw. Still on his knees Han looked up at the princess. He wanted to shake her and yell at her for the stupid stunt that she just pulled, but then he saw her face. The girl was pale and her large brown eyes were even larger than normal.

"Leia?" Han grabbed her arm. "What were you thinking?" His voice was quiet.

"Chewie," was all that she said. Her eyes remained focused out into the dark.

Han slowly inhaled, his eyes focused on nothing for a moment. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his head against her chest. Leia slowly lowered her eyes and gazed upon the top of Han's head. Her fingers stroked his hair before she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Luke froze, "They're watching us." He said as he shoved the gems he collected into his pouch.

"They'll be watching us until the end," Leia replied. Her hands cradled Han's face and they gazed into each other's eyes.

Luke wanted to ask until the end of what but figured that would be a stupid question.