AKwxlady Obi Wans Daughter Part one Chapter eleven

“Cherral, Cherral.”

It was the middle of the night and Cherral was sure he was dreaming. Someone was calling to him. Why would that soft of a voice call to him? Voices that called to him were rough and insulting.

“Cherral,” Ki’tia pleaded, “please wake up. Cherral.” She tried patting him. Suddenly, Cherral roared awake. Ki’tia screamed, “Aaah!” Cherral quickly realized what was going on and tried to quiet the girl by grabbing her shoulder. “Cherral, please.” She looked at him with big eyes. “I need to, um, go, but I don’t know where?”

Cherral looked at the small girl a moment and then understood. He smacked himself in the head with a paw, took her by the hand and led her to his fresher. He quickly showed her how it worked and left the room. Ki’tia closed the door. There was more to this taking care of children than he’d expected. The temperature was warm, but Ki’tia didn’t have fur, he should find her another blanket. He went back into his bedroom. When he returned Ki’tia was back on the sofa. He handed her the extra blanket.

“Thank you,” she said, and yawned.

Cherral yawned, too and barked good-night. He went back to bed.

His wake-up the next morning wasn’t much better. The door to his bedroom slammed open, hitting the wall. He jumped out of bed.

[What is that human child doing on your sofa?] his sister, Sarrua, bellowed in Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language, which sounded like a very loud Wookiee roar. [Where did she come from? What do you think you are doing with a human in your house? Cherral! Answer, me!] She punctuated all this by cuffing him on the side of the head.

[I’ll answer you,] Cherral said, ducking another blow, [as soon as you let me get a word in.] He ducked another blow. A smaller Wookiee ran into the room, Sarrua’s son. [Hi Warroogi.]

[Hi, Uncle Cherral,] the smaller Wookiee answered. [Where’d you get the little human? Can she play with me?]

[Play with you!] Sarrua practically exploded. [We’ll be lucky if we’re not all arrested with you just having her here! If the Imperials find her…]

Ki’tia came into the room and Cherral picked her up. [Sarrua, would you please calm down? You’re frightening her. When have the Imperials ever come to my home, huh, when?]

[Well,] Sarrua said, much calmer, [where did she come from?]

[She has Master Yoda’s emergency beacon,] he answered. [Yoda asked me to care for whoever used it to call for help. You know we all owe Master Yoda several Life Debts. I had to rescue her. There was nothing left of her village.]

Saurra ask the next question with one word, [Vader?]

[Vader,] Cherral shook his head. [It had to be. Ki’tia’s father is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I remember when I took him off the same planet, over seven years ago. That’s when Yoda gave the beacon to a woman in the village. The woman was pregnant with Kenobi’s child. Ki’tia’s just turned seven years old.]

Saurra raised her arms above her head and let her paws drop on her head. [You’re going to have to tell Chief Kerrithrarr about her,] she said shaking her head, but calmer.

[I know,] Cherral replied. [I’ll take her to him today.]

[Through the city!] Saurra raised her voice again, and Ki’tia hid again in Cherral’s fur. [Are you crazy?] She lowered her voice noticing the girl. [Sorry. I’ll go get Kerrithrarr and bring him here.]

[Thanks, Sis,] Cherral said, bouncing Ki’tia a little.

[I’ll bring some food for her, too.] Saurra added. [I’ll bet everything in this house is spicy enough to kill a bantha.] Cherral nodded at his sister and gave a Wookiee shrug.

[She had some food from home to eat,] he said, [but, yeah, that would be great if you had something for her. You’re great, sis.]

Ki’tia had been listening to the two adult Wookiees talk. She knew they were discussing her, and at least the new one was calming down. Cherral put her on her feet, pointed at the other adult Wookiee and said, “Saurra.”

Ki’tia repeated, “Saurra,” with a pretty good growl in the r’s.

Then Cherral pointed to the smaller Wookiee and said, “Warroogi.”

Ki’tia tried to say, “Warroogi,” with less success, and the younger Wookiee rolled in the floor with laughter, until Saurra cuffed him over the head. The conversation between the adult Wookiees continued on for a few minutes, then Saurra and Warroogi left.

Cherral took Ki’tia back into the kitchen and pulled her food from the stasis unit. He gave her more juice. She was so hungry, she ate fruit, cheese and bread. She wanted to save the fudge for just a little while longer, although she didn’t know what for. There was food left over and she put it back into the stasis unit. She looked in the basket and removed the change of clothes and the hair brush. “I’m going to go get cleaned up,” she said, and she took the things back to the fresher room.

When Ki’tia returned she had washed, changed her clothes and brushed her hair. Cherral smiled at her. She smiled back. “Would it be alright if I looked outside?” Ki’tia asked. “To see what your world is like?” Cherral nodded. He unfastened his baldric, picked up Ki’tia, held her next to him and re-fastened the baldric tightly around her. Together they headed out for Ki’tia’s first look at Kashyyyk.

Cherral knew he couldn’t take Ki’tia to the city, so they went up. The wroshr trees grew several kilometers high and even though Rwookrrorro city was in the canopy, it was not near the top of the trees massive expanse. Cherral climbed using the claws in his paws. The claws retracted within his skin when not being used, but they made climbing the trees as easy as walking. Cherral climbed and jumped, and Ki’tia looked and laughed. She loved the speed at which they were traveling through the trees, and she love the jumping! On one particularly long jump, Ki’tia leaned away from Cherral as far as she could inside his baldric. She felt the rush of the air passing her face. She leaned so far, in fact, she scarred Cherral, when he thought she might fall. He pulled her back into him quickly and admonished her with a sharp Wookiee growl. Ki’tia could tell she’d startled him, so she hugged him around the neck and said she was sorry. He really couldn’t stay mad at his brave little human. Mostly, she made him laugh.

They spent several hours exploring the forest, looking at different plants and some of the safer animals. He kept them away from the city and Imperial outposts. As Cherral approached his home again he began to worry. There were lights on. He didn’t remember leaving any lights on. He removed Ki’tia from his baldric and placed her in the crook of a tree. He then entered his front door. His sister, Sarrua, was waiting for him with Kerrithrarr, the chieftain.

[Where is the human girl?] Sarrua demanded, looking at her brother, with her temper starting to flair.

[Outside,] Cherral answered. [I wasn’t sure who was here, so I hid her.]

[You left her alone?] Sarrua challenged. [Are you crazy? She could be eaten!] She cuffed Cherral over the head.

[She’s smarter than that,] Cherral replied, now raising his own growl to match his sister’s. Sarrua raised her arm to strike her brother again.

[Enough of this you two!] Kerrithrarr growled. He turned to Cherral, [go get the girl.]

Cherral nodded to Kerrithrarr and left his house. He retrieved Ki’tia from the tree and returned with her. When they entered the room the other two Wookiees were standing with arms folded looking ominous. Kerrithrarr was older and larger than both Cherral and Sarrua, and his fur was black. He presented a rather imposing figure. Ki’tia looked at him with wide eyes and her arms around Cherral’s neck.

[She’s smart, and she’s brave,] Cherral began. [I’ve seen Wookiee spirit in her, and she is strong. I was charged by Master Yoda with her care. I am obligated to see to this debt.]

[Sarrua has explained the child’s situation,] Kerrithrarr said. [I, better than most, understand the obligation we have to Master Yoda. I further understand the obligation owing to her father, Master Kenobi. Her care will not be easy. She must remain hidden from the Imperial forces, and any visitors to our planet. Cherral, you alone cannot care for her. She must not stay by herself while you make your supply runs, and you cannot risk sneaking her on and off your ship again.]

Cherral hung his head. Ki’tia could feel his troubled mind. She patted him on the face. Cherral looked up and Ki’tia turned and looked boldly at the dark Wookiee. She held her head high.

Kerrithrarr set on the sofa and motioned for Ki’tia. Cherral put her down and she went to him. He set her on his lap, she put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. Kerrithrarr gave a great sigh. [I will speak with the elders,] he said. [This will be something we will do as a people.]

Ki’tia’s rearing wasn’t all that much of a problem for the Wookiees. She spent most of her time with Cherral, or with Sarrua and her family. Ki’tia and Sarrua’s son Warroogi became like brother and sister, and Ki’tia doted on Warroogi’s baby sister, Rubookoo when she was born about a year after Ki’tia arrived. Ki’tia found that Wookiees loved to have their fur brushed, especially the Elders. When she commented that it was such a waste not to do something with all the fur that came out with the brushing, Sarrua’s husband, Tawdarr, built a spinning wheel and loom from drawings Ki’tia made. Then started Ki’tia making cloth and tapestries. Cherral was able to sell some of her tapestries on his supply runs and use the money to buy boots and clothes for Ki’tia as she grew.

By age nine Ki’tia understood Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language of Rwookrrorro. She could speak much of the language with the help of the Force to harshen and vibrate the sounds for her. It was not easy, but she could make herself understood, if she needed to. Almost all of the Wookiees understood Basic, but they appreciated the efforts the small human went through to use their language.

Warroogi and Cherral taught Ki’tia to climb, mostly because she quickly grew tired of being carried everywhere. Here, again, Ki’tia used the Force to assist her. As long as she kept herself focused and remembered to stay intoned with the A’nir, she could keep up with both of them for hours rushing through the wroshyr trees.

Ki’tia grew to be much like her mother. She was tiny of stature with long milk white hair, and her mother’s talents for compassion and healing. The Wookiees also recognized her father, the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the growing girl. Ki’tia had her father’s striking blue eyes, a good measure of his wit, and more of his determination than was likely good for the girl. They understood her skills with the Force came from both parents, but there was no one on Kashyyyk to assist with her preparation of the Force. None of the Wookiees understood what Ki’tia meant by ‘A’nir’ although they did believe she was a special type of Force user.

By the seventh year of Ki’tia’s stay within the Wookiee community she was loved by many of the Wookiees, welcomed by all of Rwookrrorro, and accepted by most to be the smallest of the People of the Trees, what the Wookiees called themselves. It was shortly after Ki’tia turned fourteen years old that her time among the Wookiees came to an end.

A new Imperial General had been assigned to the Star Destroyer Dragoon orbiting Kashyyyk, and placed in command of the Wookiee slaves taken from the planet. General Tinnus VanBreak was determined to put an end to the growing mischief among the Wookiee slave population. He ordered the capture of the black furred Wookiee leader, Kerrithrarr. Once Kerrithrarr was aboard the Dragoon, VanBreak watched as the Wookiee was beaten and tortured until nearly dead. The Imperials then returned Kerrithrarr to the landing platform of Rwookrrorro, threw him from their vessel, leaving him for dead as a message to the other Wookiees.

Kerrithrarr was taken to his home. Wookiees have a great ability to heal themselves, but Kerrithrarr’s injuries were so extensive he was quickly losing the battle to live. Cherral and Ki’tia arrived. Ki’tia had sensed through the Force that someone was very ill.

“I can help him,” she said looking to the elders in the room. “Will you allow me?”

The elders agreed and Ki’tia went to Kerrithrarr. She put her hands on his face, then moved them along his chest. She took a deep breath to call the Force within her and began her work to heal Kerrithrarr. The healing was long and difficult. After four hours Kerrithrarr’s breathing finally strengthen and began to match Ki’tia’s. After two more hours he moaned and his eyes began to open. “Kerrithrarr, please stay as calm as possible,” Ki’tia asked. “We still have much to do to heal you.” Kerrithrarr nodded and closed his eyes. For the next three hours the Wookiees watching could see Kerrithrarr gaining strength, but they could also see Ki’tia losing strength. Finally, the great black Wookiee opened his eyes and looked around. As he lifted his arms to test his own muscles, his little healer collapsed to the floor by his side.

[Ki’tia!] Cherral growled. She was unconscious on the floor and could not be wakened. [What should we do?] he asked, looking to Kerrithrarr and the elders.

[She has over extended her use of the Force,] Kerrithrarr said, putting a giant paw on her small head. [You must take her to Master Yoda on Dagobah. Go quickly!]

Cherral picked up Ki’tia and held her in his arms. Sarrua kissed her gently as they were leaving. He tied her to his chest, under his baldric and soared through the trees to his ship in record time. He secured Ki’tia and blasted off. He flew through the upper layers of the wroshyr trees to the side of the planet opposite the Imperial Star Destroyer. Cherral started the calculation for a quick hyperspace jump before leaving the trees. When he burst through the canopy he was already nearing full speed for within atmospheric travel, by the time he reached space he was pushing his small craft to its limits. Within minutes there were Imperial Tie Fighters in pursuit.

“Unidentified freighter exiting Kashyyyk,” an Imperial voice boomed from his comm console. “You do not have clearance. Return to the planet at once, or you will be destroyed.”

The Tie Fighters were closing. Cherral estimated they were within another minute or so from firing range of his vessel. The hyperspace calculation was almost completed.

“Unidentified freighter,” the voice boomed again. “Identify yourself and surrender immediately or you will be fired upon.”

Two turbo laser blasts fired across Cherral’s bow. They were warning shots. The next ones would be the real thing. Cherral’s paw was on the hyperspace levers ready for the go to lightspeed from the navcomputer. The Ties were right on his flank. They could take him out at any time.

“Unidentified freighter, this is your last…” The navcomputer signaled the calculation for the jump to hyperspace. Cherral pulled the lightspeed levers and the stars streaked into the welcome view of hyperspace. He quickly started the calculations for the next jump. It would take three to get to Dagobah. This first jump toward Hutt space was just to get away from the Imperials and would only take about 20 standard minutes. The second jump would take them to near Ryloth. It was a long way, but it was out of the main space lanes. The third jump would take them to Dagobah. He only hoped he could get Ki’tia to Master Yoda in time.

There was no sign of Imperials when Cherral came out of hyperspace after the first jump. When he finished the jump near Ryloth there was still no change in Ki’tia’s condition, she was still unconscious.

By the time they reached Dagobah, Ki’tia had been unmoving for over six hours. Cherral entered the Dagobah atmosphere. He had been to the location of Yoda’s home twice before, but it had been years and the Jedi Master had called him, and had directed him using the Force. This time, Cherral was not sure how he was going to find his way. As the ship descended toward the surface, he suddenly felt the same pull on his paws as he had so many years before. Master Yoda knew he was coming and was guiding his approach. He looked down at Ki’tia. [You’ll be okay, my littlest Wookiee.] Cherral loved the little human like his own pup. Most of the Wookiees accepted her as one of them. She was Wookiee strong. She had to survive this.

Upon landing, Cherral carried Ki’tia out of the ship to Master Yoda. Yoda could tell just by looking at her who she was. Cherral explained what had happened when she had healed Kerrithrarr. He told the Jedi Master how much the small human meant to the Wookiees. Yoda could also sense this from Cherral’s concern for the girl.

Cherral carried Ki’tia to Yoda’s home. Because of his size, he was not able to move her inside. Yoda used the Force to bring Ki’tia into his home and place her in a comfortable position.

Cherral didn’t want to leave until he saw Ki’tia awake, but Yoda insisted, and Cherral knew better than to go against the commands of the great Jedi Master.

“Care for Ki’tia, will I,” Yoda said to Cherral. “Return to Kashyyyk you must, before missed you are, Cherral. Ki’tia well will be, soon, promise I.”

Cherral’s barked farewell and asked Master Yoda to say a goodbye to Ki’tia. He returned to his ship and soon Yoda heard the ship lift off.

Yoda studied Kerawyn and Obi-Wan’s child. He sensed a greatness of the Force in her. Kerawyn had taught Ki’tia much before Vader killed her, but there was much more to teach the girl. Over the years Yoda had meditated on the A’nir Kerawyn told Obi-Wan of, and he believed her. He could sense the A’nir in the Force, but that did not mean he could teach the ways of it to Ki’tia. He would have to teach her the ways of the Force, and let her find her own path to the A’nir. First, wake her he must.

Yoda placed his hand on Ki’tia forehead. He let the Force flow into her. “Ki’tia, child,” he said. “Open your eyes.” Ki’tia opened her eyes and looked at Yoda. “Welcome to my home. Yoda, am I.”

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