Darkest Knight

20

Left alone again, Jaina shouted once more through the Force as the deep forest sounds grew thicker, more threatening around her. Predators, hidden in the leafy branches, cautiously approached, attracted by Chewbacca’s muffled sounds of pain. They sensed helpless victims, easy prey.

“We need help!” she called. Her words quickly died to silence in the jungle gloom.

Then a blaze of rainbow light shattered the shadows: a flash of turquoise, a streak of emerald green, a slash of molten bronze. Lightsabers, like hot machetes, chopped the underbrush aside. Jacen, Lowie, and Tenel Ka pushed their way forward, with Sirrakuk following close behind, grinning so widely her fangs flashed in the vibrant light.

Chewbacca bellowed a greeting, and Lowie and Sirra clambered up to help their uncle.

“Hey, Jaina!” Jacen called. “Are you all right?”

She wiped grimy tear streaks from her cheeks, still shaken from the confrontation with her former friend. “I’ll survive,” she said, then drew a deep breath. “Zekk was here. He said the Second Imperium is going to wipe out the Jedi academy, and that he was going to fight along with them.”

Lowie growled, looking up from tending Chewbacca. Tenel Ka stood rigidly, holding her rancor-tooth lightsaber high. “Not if we can help it,” she said.

Jaina indicated the injured Wookiee. “We have to get Chewie up and out of here. I think his leg is broken—nothing a medical droid and a few hours in a bacta tank can’t fix. But if we don’t get back up to the treetops, we’re all going to be somebody’s lunch.”

Sirra growled in defiance. Now that she had succeeded in her dangerous quest against the syren plant, Lowie’s sister looked as if she could take on the whole jungle by herself.

As the two strong Wookiees carefully eased their uncle to a standing position, Jacen and Tenel Ka did what they could to help, using the Force and their hands. Jaina took the lead along with Sirra, blazing a trail with her lightsaber.

Together, the companions made their way back up to the light.