|
(2.5) Winds Of Change (Part Two)
Winds Of Change (Part Two)
Gorwooker Village
Kashyyyk
Kitmapia looked deep in to the fire as his mother looked at him, she smiled, “Kitmapia, it is time for bed. Climb up to your limb and go to bed.” his mother said to the child wookiee. The day had been a very festive day filled with grand feasts and celebrations of his first hunt and kill. His father had taught him to become a skilled hunter and his kiktydow pray stood no chance against Kitmapia the hunter.
Kitmapia frowned and sighed, he was a hunter now and he should be treated just like one. The rest of the adults didn't have to go to bed yet. So why should he have to. Then it dawned on him! It was a plan that no one dared refuse. His frown slowly turned to a smile as he finished his plot to stay up just a little bit longer. If if just worked just right, he might even see the moon raise tonight. 'Oh how my friends would envy me. First Hunt, First Kill. Then and then, I will be the first of us to see the moon.' he thought as his plan came in to being. “Mother, you are right. It is time for bed.” he said with a sigh and a sadness about his face.
“Oh My Kitmapia. Why are you sad?” she knew he was up to no good. He was clever just like his father. 'what are you planning my son' she thought with a sly smile.
Kitmapia looked to his great, great grand father, Frokazza. He was the most elderly wookie on Kashyyyk. He had ended a great journey to be here for one of his Kitmapia's first hunt. “Frokazza has come such a long way to be here today. This day is my day and I have not heard a story of one of his great adventures. When he visits, he always tells me a story. You all have talked so much tonight and I have not had a chance to get my story” the child said with a sadness in his voice. Then looked from his mother to his father, “I have been taught to respect the history of our clan and to learn as much as I can. But now because of the setting sun, I shall miss this chance to learn one more piece of our history.” he said getting up with his head hung low, 'and now the hook' he thought looking back to his mother, “But you are right mother, I shall head to sleep now” he said thinking of his beloved pet he lost last season. The emotional feelings of that lost caused his eyes to tear up and generated just the response from his mother.
She looked to her husband who gave her no show of support by only shrugging his shoulders. It was Frokazza who spoke up, “I don't mind telling the young one a story.” he said with a smile. His venerable age could easily be seen in his ragged and worn coat.
Everyone about the fire smiled as they all looked from Kitmapia to his mother. She rolled her eyes and nodded, “Fine but only one story then off to bed with you.”
'YES!' Kitmapia thought as he gracefully nodded his head. The smiled on his face and the glee in his eyes betrayed his ploy but it was too night.
“It is surely your day young Kitmapia” Frokazza said softly as he shifted himself in his chair looking at the brave child hunter. “Tell me, what kind of story would you like to hear” he questioned the child then looked around the room of wookies who had gathered by the fire.
Kitmapia thought hard, he wanted the story to be exciting and filled with heroes and brave battles. He wanted it to last till the moon comes up. He finally nodded, “I want to hear of great battles with heroes” Kitmapia said with pride and happiness. Then as an after thought he added, “ I want to hear a true story, Great Frokazza”
Frokazza smiled and nodded, “Then I shall tell you a story that I do not speak of often. This story is as true as this fire is hot.” he said holding up his hand to gather everyone's attention as the light of the fire flickered about his elderly face. The elderly wookie deepened his tone to ensure that he captured the mood of the story while shadows danced along the walls of the great hall. “I was there, I saw these things with my very eyes.” He said then leaned forward to let the light of the fire illuminate his seasoned face giving him an even more dreaded appearance. “When I was but a young hunter, just a bit older then you Kitamapia. I was young and filled with the spirit of adventure. I sought glory and valor across the galaxy in service of the legendary Galactic Republic.”
“As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, I was sent to a world not much different than this one. It was filled with great forest and vast deserts. It was also consumed with great dangers and horrible enemies. My comrades in arms and I were tasked with taking some forgotten pass and holding it. We didn't have a clue what destiny had in store for us. We were fresh out of training and some of us, like me, this had been our first alien world he had ever seen. We were so foolish and naive. But with foolish, my child, does also come with bravery. Oh we were so brave back then. We sang songs on our way to this forgotten battle. We were told that the enemy was nothing more then farmers and miners. That they would be scared and run from our sight. We all were expecting to be back in our cots by the next morning. So we sang such beautiful songs of victory.”
“Oh this place we were sent to was so beautiful. Such lush green forests, tall mountains that dotted the sky and a blue river that snaked through the mountains and passes. How much horrors could be hidden by such beauty. How my life changed in the foreground of such a beautiful place. I remember seeing the river that cut through the region. A small village filled with humanoids set on the banks of the river. I could see them as we flew overhead. When we set down, my unit was lead up a nearby hilltop to set up positions and cover our comrades in the pass below. The air was fresh and clean as we marched up the hill. We knew that the enemy was near I could smell them. I warned my comrades and we were careful and used caution. Our enemies were so clever, they used dead animal hung in the tree to confuse my brother and I. They were clever my boy. So very clever.”
“We had not reached the top of the hill we finally met the enemy. He was an older man dressed in robs. Back then we knew what he was on site. It was the first time I had ever seen a Jedi, and it was truly an experience. Just the image of him sent fear through most of us. It was my brother who fired first. I had heard stories of Jedi before but never dreamed that the stories were true. The shot from my Brother's bowcaster was reflected right back at my brother! The rest of the enemies attacked us. We rushed for the safety of the high ground at the top of the hill. They had us surrounded in a matter of minutes and we dug in while we fought them back. In time, the enemy fell back and we thought we had won the day. Then we learned the terrible truth of what had happened. We were cut off and left to rot. We watched helplessly as they attacked our comrades in the pass below. For the rest of that day, we watched in horror as wave after wave tried to over come their defenses. Each time we tried to rally and move to help our comrades, we were attacked and forced back up the hill top.”
“We watched as more of our troops were flown in on speeders. We watched them fighting for their lives. We could do nothing but watch as the tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and driods swarmed the battle below us. While they fought, we were attacked but nothing like what was happening below us in the pass. That night while we licked our own wounds, we heard the most horrible sound rising up from the pass. It was the sounds of wounded soldiers left for dead on the field. Some begged for death while others cried out for some sense of comfort. This sound echoed up from the pass and filled our souls with a sense of dread. Their was little anyone could do for those left behind. So many of us had been cut off from each other. We later learned that we were not the only unit that had been cut off from the rest. That night to the echoes of the dying, each of us, including myself, accepted that this was going to be out last hours in this world. We all decided that we would die like soldiers.”
“The next morning, more soldiers were flown in to help us. Some died even before they could exit their craft. Others were cut down while they ran across the landing zone. I remember seeing a speeder filled with soldiers coming in to land. I saw a rocket ripped from a nearby hill top. The blast blew the speeder apart. Soldiers rained down on to the landing zone like drops of rain. Death crossed the valley along with the smoke of the fires that burned. We smelled a new sent on the hot wind that blew up through the pass to our hill top prison. We could smell the sent of burning and rotting flesh of those that died the day before. The enemy had decided that this was to be our day. We spent the entire day fighting for our lives as more enemy soldiers than I could count rushed our lines. We lost almost half of our numbers that day against the never ending numbers of the enemy. Three times our lines were over run and three times we pushed them back. On the last time, I lost my arm and my mighty bowcaster to a female Twi'lek Jedi. I watched my very own brother sacrifice his own life as he rushed a group of soldiers screaming out in rage. He rushed in to the smoke and fog, he rushed in to his destiny. I saw the fireball of his explosion through the fog. I knew I had lost him.”
“That night, my comrades held me down as they cauterized my other wounds. I was told that my screams were heard far across the pass. It was that night, the enemy attacked us like never before. Both in the pass and up on our hill top. The enemy swarmed through the forest and in the pass. Once more we thought we would all meet our makers that night. But once again we refused to go in to the darkness without a fight. It was that night we were told that most of our leaders had abandoned us during the chaos of the battle. The night sky lite up with blaster fire and explosions. I am sure from a distance it might have appeared to be a sight to behold. But for us, that night was a night of nothing less than hell itself. The morning brought a calm with the morning dew and fog throughout the pass and the surrounding hills. It was if the enemy had crawled back in to their lairs and plotted our deaths. For now we had a slight break and we used it to regroup as best as we could.”
“With the morning sun, we all saw something to behold. It was the first time I saw them. A black and gold airspeeder landed and off walked four great warriors! Even as there were some fire across the land zone they did not fear it. They were leading a small army of loyal immortal soldiers. We looked at each other as we watched them spread out and join our ranks. It was a friend of mine who saw their leader first. At first we had thought she was a Jedi. We would all come to learn she was no Jedi. We found out she was a demon in Republic armor. Her heart was filled with such rage, it was like she was kin to us Wookiees. Fire burned so brightly in her eyes, it was as if two suns had been placed there. With the voice of thunder she cried out that echoed through the pass like the pure demon she was. We all feared her, but it was the enemy who had ever right to be fearful for she had come for their souls. They knew of her and her loyal immortals! They knew the battle had been joined by the armies of the underworld.”
“They attacked with everything they had with the goal of killing her and her minions. I watched her as she draw out her mighty sword and level it at the enemy while they rushed across the landing zone once more. She screamed out and her voice echoed up to us. We all could feel the power of her battle cry, we saw the sky open up with the wrath of the gods. The enemy was cut down as wave after wave of blasts ripped down from the sky. The village that the enemy was using to attack us from was also blown from the hill top along in her fiery wrath. Our salvation had arrived on the black wings of a pure demon straight from a nightmare.”
“That day, for the first time, the enemy felt the bitter taste of defeat. Our new demonic leader stood proud atop of a large mound as she commanded the battle. She dared the enemy snippers to cut her down. She felt no fear of them nor did she gave mercy to them. Her immortal warriors slaughtered their soldiers in droves. The battle joined anew and our forces fighting to regroup and rejoin each other. She drew out her great sword and joined the battle with her minions. We heard her cry out with such a voice that woke the fallen soldiers. She beckoned all of us to stand strong and fight for the day. Her very presence on the battlefield turned the tide of battle that day. For the first time since we had been in this pass, We knew in our hearts that we would win the day once and for all. I turned to my comrades in arms and spread her challenge. Today, we would not loss any more. Today we would bring death to our enemies.”
“That night, she summoned up another surprise for our enemies. She brought forth to the field her own Jedi! No more would our enemies hold the advantage of Jedi powers. I saw them rushing from their speeder, I remember thinking that these were no normal Jedi. It was not till later when we would learn their dark identities. They walked calmly through the smoke and weapons' fire as they made their way to her perch. It was clear to us, high on the hilltop, as we watched her command these Jedi and pointed to us with her great sword. We all knew in that moment, that she would come to our rescue next. We were sure that the enemy also knew what she was coming for us. We could see her and her followers assemble at the base of our hill. They were few in numbers but it was clear by the look in their eyes that they would leave this hill in victory or death. We watched the enemy line up their troops to keep her away from us. They held the high ground with their Jedi behind them. They thought that would be enough to keep her from us. She had other plans as she drew up her sword and charged with her minions. Up the hill they rushed screaming their battle cries. Their voices echoed through the mountains like raging through the forest.”
“Her Jedi clashed against the enemy's Jedi with great courage and valor. Unlike the Jedi of today, my boy, these Jedi fought with the pure force in their hearts. I watched with my very eyes, one take to the skies like a great bird of pray. He swooped down with his blade out at his enemies and slay them where they stood. I have never heard of flying Jedi but right before my eyes I saw one of her Jedi flying! They all fought with such courage and bravery. Yet to our surprise they were cut down! Our hearts sank at the sight of them being cut down. I looked at the Demon leading the charge up the hill and she just smiled back at me. She knew what was coming and trusted her Jedi to serve her bidding.”
“I look further down the hill in disbelief. I saw her Jedi raise from the ground screaming like wild animals. They rejoined the battle with rage in their hearts cutting down the very Jedi Twi'lek that took my arm. I have never seen anything like it before. They commanded the very forest to serve their needs in the battle and unleashed attacks that no mere mortal could stop. They fought fierce and were slaying the other Jedi as they rushed to join the battle. It became a slaughter of fallen Jedi. They had raged with blood lust in their eyes. There was no stopping them during this battle. The fallen Jedi never had a chance against them. Against her undead Jedi.”
“The Demon leaped over our lines and screamed out, 'Live or dying, keep up and fight as I command! OR ROT!' We together fought our way down the hill together. When we reached the her Jedi, we saw the results of their battle. The fallen Jedi were nothing more than bodies, scattered like leafs blown by the wind. The demon lead us back to rejoin our comrades in the pass below. That night, we finally had a chance to rest and eat. Or at least that is what we thought we could do. The enemy was not finished with us. That night they attacked us once more. Once more we were fighting for our lives. But this time, we knew, oh how we knew that they would not succeed. When our hearts would sink, all we need do is look up to the perch see her there commanding our forces. Standing there daring the enemy to try to take her life.”
“Bolts ripped past her as her Jedi fought like whirlwinds of death. Once more, she opened up the sky and rain down the power of gods on the enemy. We fought all night long and in to the morning hours. She gave us the strength and courage we needed to survive that final night. By the light of the morning, my coat was covered in the blood of our enemies. We looked up to the last enemy strong hold. There bathed in the light of the raising sun we saw the enemy village once more. We could see them mocking us from the safety of their mountain top village. This battle for the pass had to end and the only way for that to happen was to capture that village once and for all.”
“She gathered us at the steps of their strong hold. She moved about us saying, 'we have bled all night and all day. Our blood has mixed in the soul of this hollow ground. We are bothers and sisters of the sword today.' She paused then took a moment to look up the hill to the strong hold, 'Today we shall die, Open Valhalla's door, Let the battle begin with swords in the wind, Hail Gods of War' she yelled out as her battle cry. She led the charge up the hill with her Jedi minions behind her. We all followed her, we all charged up that hill. We were out numbered many times to one. But we charge up that hill behind her. We all followed her in to the devils own house. And we would have done it again at her summoning.”
“She held out her great sword as she charged and swung it at her enemies. Whom ever she hit were cut down. It was like time had stopped while we fought. She saw the leader of the enemy and she rushed to engage him. She screamed out with blood in her mouth, and soldiers ran from her. Those who knew better feared her for she was terror on the battlefield. She ran up to the leader as he fired on her. I say this is true as my life holds in the balance, I saw him hit her at least ten times with his blaster rifle. The shots didn't even phase her, she just continued to rush up to him. When she reached him, he swung at her. She dove beside him like a bird and right over his weapon. She rolled behind him and leaped back up. With her great sword in hand, she drove it deep in to his back and through his chest. One of his guards fired on her. She spun in the air leaping up and throw her knife at him. The force of the hit to his head cleaved his head right off.”
“The bird like Jedi that I was fighting beside was just like the rest, like a demonic warrior. With each swing of his blade, hoards of enemy fell. I watched him cut through an enemies weapon and then cut his body in half. He was smaller then anyone of us. And still he fought as if he too had made a pack with the Demon herself, and together they all unleashed the powers of the likes I have never seen before. And when the enemy had managed to cut them down, they would rise back up screaming once more like wild animals. No sword or weapon could harm them. They killed man and beast alike. By the time the sun had reached the top of the sky, we all had slaughtered the enemy down to the last soldier.”
“It was in that moment looking about the field of battle did I realize, that I was standing with true Gods of war” He said finishing his story as he leaned back in to his chair once more. There was only silence among the wookiees in the room. He only smiled at them and nodded, “I was there, I saw it with my own very eyes.”
Kitmapia looked to his father, “Is that true, father” he asked his father then added, “Could such a creature be real?” As his father gathered up the young wookiee and led him out of the room.
Once they were out of the room his father took a knee next to his son. He smiled and patted his son on the head, “Remember that these legends are only legends of the past. Sometimes, it is best to enjoy the legends as what they are. A good story.” He smiled then looked back through the passageway at the fire in the center of the room. There was a moment of thought in his mind but then he dismissed it. “Now off to bed with you, my son.”
**********************
The following poem was read before the Jedi Council last year as part of a competition.
The Force & Me
Padawan Narlia Distombe
5th Year Jedi Padawan (Twi'lek Female)
What is the Force and how does it affect me
Is it something I can hear, touch, taste, smell or see
How do I know of its’ existence, is it even real
I just want to know if it is something I can feel
The Force is a guiding helper to us
To those who accept the light and dwell within it
The Force comes to dwell in your soul
It fills a place that has long been empty and makes you whole
When you accept the light of the Force
Many life-altering changes will quickly occur
You will have a desire to do what the Force asks of you
An overwhelming feeling of peace will consume you
As you study the Force, even more will be revealed
It will provide you with protection, your armor and shield
The Force will also empower you to complete Its tasks
If you have any questions, simply meditate and ask
You will have to submit your life to the Force, which may seem tough
Don’t be afraid to admit if you have had enough
It will never give you more than It knows you can bear
It cheers with you in triumph and comforts you in despair
The Force is your guide, but also your conscience
Follow Its statutes and commandments with self-confidence
This means sharing Its promise of salvation with the fallen
With help through the Force they too can receive salvation from the darkside
The Force affects all senses and it IS real
And since you have accepted the Light, it is something you can feel
May you serve the light as I do, and strive to do Its bidding
Through the Force there is nothing you cannot do.
|
