Sorry about the delay and this short story. I went to Comic Con—yes, got into Hall H and saw the Star Wars panel and concert—and got behind on my classwork. I hope to get back to my usual pace of posting.

CHAPTER 12:

Princess Leia Organa was not exactly greeted but scrutinized by horde of more fuzzy little creatures that resembled the one who led her to their village. When she first stepped onto their high platforms in the trees, she was met with a row of spears pointed in her direction and some gruff sounding voices. The little creature—who must have been a juvenile due to his side compared to the other creatures—spoke to the group, waving his hands around. Once her little friend finished speaking, the other creatures slightly relaxed, came up to her, and began examining her, all the while keeping their spears ready at hand. They rubbed her poncho between their fingers and petted the skin of her arms and hands. Then one creature who was investigating her holster touched her blaster, jumped back, and pointed his spear at her as he rattled off words in a language Leia did not understand. Others wielded their weapons as well. The creature she befriended stepped between her and the angry ones, and rapidly spoke to him. The hostile creatures held their stance, and the one with the skull of an animal on top of his head took her blaster from the holster.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she said as she reached for her blaster.

Leia jumped back as spears were once again pointed at her. The one with the skull on his head—the leader, Leia presumed—spoke to the tribe and the little creatures dispersed, returning to their usual work. Leia looked down at her friend who remained by her side. He took her hand and led her to a hut.

Inside small the hut were crude chairs the size of a stool, and a leave-stuffed mattress on the far end of the room.

"This is nice, but I need to find my friends," said, but her words were futile.

Her little friend scratched his head and then exited, leaving Leia standing in the middle of the hut. She stood there somewhat frustrated and confused. Why did her friend bring her here? Were they planning to keep her? If she found an opportunity to escape, would she be able to find her way back to Han and the team?

"I can't stay here," Leia told him. "I need to find my friends." Why was she trying to speak to them when they could not understand her? She sighed.

The black and gray striped leader entered the hut followed by her friend who carried some garments in his arms. The leader pointed to the clothes in the only creature she knew and then pointed at Leia. The princess's little friend stepped forward and handed her the clothes: a white long-sleeved shirt and a beige dress made of the skin of some beast. It was soft and supple in her hands, and while it would be nice to get out of her uniform, the sight of these clothes inspired apprehension; Leia was not the first female to have experienced the creatures' hospitality.

Leia's brow lowered. What happened to this female? Did she escape? Or did she die in captivity? Was Leia herself a captive?

"But I have to find my friends," she entreated.

The leader spoke to her again, his tone demanding. Leia figured he was commanding her to put on the dress and gave no indication that he was going to give her privacy. These creatures did not wear clothes save for hoods on their heads. Perhaps they had no sense of privacy. She bit her lip—she had been suffered more humiliation before—and slipped her unbuckled her belt, dropped it to the floor, and pulled her poncho over her head. She turned her back to them and slowly she unbuttoned her blouse, exposing her lace-covered bra. She dropped her shirt and put on the white long-sleeved shirt. Then she slipped the dress over her head, pushed her arms through the sleeves, and pulled the dress into place. She removed her boots, reached under her dress, and took off her pants. When fully dressed she collected her uniform close to her body and turned to face them.

"I can't stay." Her voice was quiet. If she could only communicate with them.

Then an idea came to mind. She saw a hearth in the middle of the circle of huts. Leia held up her hand and walked toward the door. The leader pounded his walking stick once on the ground. Two creatures, taller than her little friend, stood guard of the door. The leader and her friend started to leave.

"Wait!" Leia held up her hands. "You can't keep me here."

The leader's lips pulled up and he stalked toward her with his walking stick, and Leia backed up. If she could only communicate with them... Then she had an idea.

In dust that had accumulated on the table, Leia drew a crude picture of her friends. The leader and her friend began chatting among themselves. Leia grimaced. If they were fearful and unsure of her, the last thing they wanted to see were more people. She used her hand to erase her drawing. She looked up at the leader, and then to her friend. They had obviously run into some storm troopers and knew they were hostile. Her little friend instinctively hid under the log when she was almost captured by a biker scout.

If they ran into biker scouts, perhaps they would know….

Leia quickly drew a picture of the bunker housing the Death Star shield. Perhaps there was a chance to catch up to Han and the team there. "I. Need. To. Go. Here." She spoke slowly as if that would help them understand her.

"I need to go there." Leia tapped on her drawing.

The leader pulled on his furry chin and studied her face.

The princess grimaced. Perhaps they know that was where the storm troopers came from. Her brow furrowed, and then she made explosion sounds as she erased the drawing of the shield bunker.

The leader's gruff voice and Leia's shoulders slumped. The gray and black striped leader motioned for her little friend to leave. Her friend gave her a sorrowful look and then left the hut with the leader.

The princess dropped onto the stool. She would just have to wait until she got a chance to escape.