[Han Solo] - 03(26)

Things were not really green down here, but pale and washed-out looking.

There was not enough sunlight to support the green growth from above.

Chewbaeca walked the broad trails, feeling the rough bark of the wroshyr boughs beneath his feet. His eyes moved constantly, searching for quillarat spoorˇ His nostrils twitched, filtering and identifying the scents he had not whiffed in more than fifty yearsˇ The Wookiee’s gaze was caught and held by a tiny scrape of the wroshyr bark, and a small rip in the tracery of the bridal veil plant next to it.

The height was correct … yes, a quillarat’s quills had done this, and ˇ . . Chewie dropped to one knee to examine the spoor … not long ago.

The animal had been heading off, on this far smaller, secondary bough.

Chewbacca walked warily down a bough-trail not much more than two meters across. On either side of him yawned the green-browngray gulfs of the forest.

The Wookiee kept every sense alert, eyes scanning, ears listening for the faintest rustle, nostrils twitching. Quillarats had a distinctive, and, to a Wookiee, enticing odor.

His “shield,” made from woven strips of bark on a lashed together frame, was held ready on his left forearm.

Chewie’s steps slowed … then the Wookiee stopped, every muscle poised.

There! Amid those leaves!

The quillarat froze, sensing danger. Chewie leaped, shield held out.

Suddenly the air before him was filled with a rain of quills. They thudded into the shield, for the most part, though a few embedded themselves in the Wookiee’s shoulders and chest. Chewbacca’s right hand went out, grabbed the quillarat by the quilled tail, moving his hand in a particular twist that made the quills lie flat beneath his flesh.

The terrified animal squawked, turned to bite, but it was too late.

Chewie heaved it up, and sent it thudding hard against the bough beneath his feet. Stunned, the animal went limp, and another quick swing dispatched it altogether.

Only then did Chewbacca take a moment to pull the quills from his chest and shoulders, and spread a salve on the tiny, burning wounds. His right hand had one small puncture, which he also treated.

Then, wrapping the quillarat in the woven bag he’d brought, the Wookiee began a triumphant journey back to Rwookrrorro.

It took him quite a while to find Mallatobuck. He didn’t want to ask anyone where she was, since any of his friends and family would be bound to identify the scent of the quillarat in his bag. Chewie wasn’t in the mood for advice or jokes.

But, finally, he located her, wandering along a little-used trail. By now two of Kashyyyk’s three tiny moons had risen, and moonlight silvered her fur as she wandered along, not at first noticing that anyone was approaching her.

She had been picking kolvissh blossoms and weaving their stems into a headpiece. As Chewie watched her, she placed the flowers on her head, tucking their fragile white beauty behind her left ear.

Chewbacca halted on the trail and stood there, lost in wonder at her beauty. His stillness attracted her attention as his movement had not, and she stopped, looked up, and saw him.

[Chewbacca,] she said softly. [I did not see you ….”

[Malla,] Chewie said. “I have something for you. A gift that I hope you will accept ….”

She froze, eyes wide with either consternation or hope, as he walked toward her, bag in hand. Let it be hope she feels, Chewie thought fervently. By my honor, let it be hope ….

As he stopped before her, Chewbacca, in one fluid motion, knelt and removed the quillarat from its bag. Careful of the quills, he balanced the animal across his palms and held it up to Mallatobuck. His heart was pounding as though he’d climbed all the way from ground level.

[Mallatobuck …] Chewie tried to get the rest of it out, but his voice failed him. He was overcome with fear, as he had never been in battle.

What if she refused him? What if she took his traditional proposal-offering and tossed it off the trail, sending the dead quillarat, and his hope of happiness, plummeting into the depths?

Malla stared at him for a long moment. [Chewbacca … you have been long away from your people. Do you remember our customs? Do you know what you are offering?] Relief flooded Chewie, for her tone was bantering, flirtatious.

[I know,] he replied. [My memory is good. In all the years I was gone, I never for a moment forgot your face, your strength, your eyes, Mallatobuck.

I dreamed of the day that we could be married. Will you? Will you take me for your husband?] She replied in the traditional manner by cautiously picking up the stiffening quillarat and taking a big bite out of its soft underbelly.

Chewie’s heart was flooded with joy. She accepts me! We are betrothed!

Getting up off his knees, he followed Malla to a sheltered niche behind a screen of leaves. There they sat down close together and shared the quillarat, nibbling delicately on its tasty entrails, savoring its liver, feeding each other choice bits of this greatest of Wookiee delicacies.