They had been walking for three hours and were strung out along a path in single file. What had made the path, none of them knew, but it was obviously big enough and walked through often enough to deter the greenery. The jungle life outside the quetta bushes was profuse and the noise incredible. The rain had stopped, but water dripped constantly from the leafy canopy above.
Luke addressed the uneasy feeling in all of them when he said quietly, "Do you get the feeling we're being watched?"
Leia also kept her voice down as she agreed, "I think whoever or whatever has been following us for a while."
"Hostile natives?" Luke suggested, suddenly feeling grateful for the Wookiee's presence and keener instincts.
Solo's eyes were flicking in every direction as he replied in a low voice, "They haven't killed us yet."
The heat and humidity were oppressive and Solo and the princess had bickered tirelessly for the first hour or so, but had finally, thankfully lapsed into silence. Luke could not understand why they did it. Each was equally guilty of baiting the other. At first he had thought that they genuinely detested each other, but now he was not so sure. They were like moths at each other's flame - helplessly attracted and repelled at the same time. A month ago he might have been jealous, but now... Now he didn't know what to think. What he did know was that the arguing got on his nerves.
He slapped away a persistent insect. They'd all been bitten before it had occurred to them to use repellent and, as a result, had suffered a variety of allergic reactions and had needed to take medication. Except Chewie. So far, it seemed, his pelt was an adequate deterrent. But none of it had improved their tempers.
In front, Solo slipped and almost fell. The princess, who had worked out a system of half walking, half skating on the slick surface, lost her rhythm, struggled desperately to stay upright... and failed. She swore; something Luke had never heard her do, which attested to the state of her temper. From the delighted look on Solo's face, it was a first for him also.
"I'm sorry?" he quipped. "I missed that."
He reached out to help her up and she jerked her arm out of reach. "I can manage!"
Solo stepped back melodramatically. "Sorry, Your Holiness, only trying to help."
"I don't need your help!" Leia growled as she clambered awkwardly to her feet. Then promptly lost her balance again and flopped to the ground.
Solo regarded her in an amused fashion and said, "Far be it from me to interfere."
"I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't stopped!" she snapped irritably.
"Alright, I admit it. I nearly fell just so we'd have the pleasure of hearing you swear."
Leia opened her mouth to give a stinging retort when Chewbacca barked sharply. A distant, but rapidly approaching, crashing through the jungle brought them to the quick realisation that whatever kept the path clear was on its way. Solo pulled Leia to her feet and she didn't quibble.
Luke did a rapid scan of the immediate jungle, looking for some sort of cover; but all of it involved coming into contact with the generally lethal foliage.
Chewie barked a warning and they all looked down the path and saw it. Huge, reptilian and definitely carnivorous. It was black all over, except for its teeth, and stood on powerful hind legs while it paused to label them edible.
Leia almost whispered, "Holy shit..."
Chewie was running back and forth at the edge of the path where the land sloped dramatically away. The beast screamed at them, dropped onto all fours and all but flew up the path towards them, revealing a whipsnap tail of lethal proportions. Solo's hand went for his blaster and Chewie yabbered at them. He had found what was, in essence, a waterfall of mud. He didn't wait to debate the issue, leaping headfirst down the slope and the others followed without question. By the time Chewbacca landed in the slimy mudpool at the bottom, he was doing a phenomenal speed. His arrival sent a shockwave of muddy water two metres into the air and out of the pool. He immediately threw himself to one side and Solo shot out of the cascade. He landed feet first, and the shock pitched him forward, face down into the slime.
"Ugh!"
Chewie grabbed him and pulled him out of the way just as Leia exploded into the pool. She landed just as Solo had, ending up face first in the slimy water. She rolled over, spluttering inelegantly and was yanked clear as Luke splashed down.
Luke was laughing as he got to his feet, shaking the slime and mud from his hands before attempting to wipe his face. "Wow!" he hooted. "Almost as much fun as an X-wing!"
The Corellian smiled and Leia gave Luke a look that told him she thought it was a sentiment typical of pilots, and not one to be proud of. Luke smiled at her and pulled his helmet off to empty the mud out of it. He was not about to apologise for a feeling or attitude so ingrained it was instinct.
Making sure she was all in one piece, Leia moaned at the state and smell of her clothes and body.
"Pretty good, huh?" Solo observed pleasantly, wiping his face on his sleeve.
Leia shot him a look and said pointedly, "What an amazing smell you've discovered!"
Solo chuckled and had opened his mouth with a comeback when the beast's screaming and crashing above had them seriously worried it would follow them down.
Putting his helmet back on, Luke stated the obvious, "I think it's time we left."