Under the Bough's

[Ash]

"I know. I understand the dangers that the Shadowlands possess. Despite that I need access so I can reclaim the Jedi Artifact that is down there."

Ash repressed a sigh, or attempted to, but it still leaked out. He had been trying to diplomatically get access to the shadowlands for the past several days, but with no luck. He wanted to do this diplomatically, as this was a good, solid place to keep relationships and rest if needed.

But he was going down, one way or another. Back during the Archeri conflict, a ship carrying several turned force users crashed here, probably to pirates, and he finally found himself in this area of the galaxy, and so wanted to check on this wreckage, unless it was already picked over. Though that was unlikely.

The wookie spoke, and the translator droid replied, saying what he said.

"No. No escorts, no free supplies or weapons. Just what I can carry. I will only be gone for a short amount of time while I investigate the wreckage. Thats all. If I happen to perish down there, then there is no need to worry about it. Leave me."

This went back and forth for another hour before the Wookies allowed Ash to go down. Alone without assistance or companions or more supplies than the few days of food and water and other supplies he was taking.

Ash left the relative safety of Rwookrrorro quickly, keeping his pack safely secured to his back, his sword strapped so he can get it out if needed. For now though, his silver lightsaber was all he needed. After cutting down some wild creatures that impeded him, the man made it to the wooden elevator, and began his long ride down, miles away from anyone.

[Meira]

"The question is less about the initial cost and more about maintenance."

"Here, ma'am. Let me help you up."

"Oh, thank you." Viatrix reached up, taking Jerro's offered hand. She put her booted foot into the fallen trunk and climbed up with the man's help.

Viatrix, Jerro, and their Wookiee guide Ennuwk had been down in the Shadowlands for two days and were making their way back to the safety of Rwookrrorro. Ennuwk, needing no assistance whatsoever, pulled himself up onto the trunk with the same effort it might have taken Viatrix to skip a step on the stairs. The three paused on the massive trunk, taking stock of their surroundings. They were still a day's journey from the elevator that had granted them access to the lower levels of the forest, but that was little bother. They traveled light, bringing only the barest essentials. Ennuwk was a seasoned guide, knowledgeable of the flora, fauna, and terrain in a massive radius around the elevator.

"How do you mean, ma'am?"

Bringing plants and animals to new worlds requires quite a lot of preparation beforehand, and upkeep afterwards. Determining the comparability of a species with a new environment is essential. Animals might have very specific diets, for example, or a plant might require certain soil compositions."

"I see."

"Some of the more benign species of plants, flowers and the like, from this planet are well studied and documented. But I'm not here for pretty flowers." Viatrix continued.

[/i]"No ma'am, you are not."[/i] Jerro replied with a chuckle, patting the pack he carried at his hip, which contained seeds and soil samples collected from or around several of Kashyyyk's more predatory plants.

"Once we're back on Prazhi, I'll be able to study how easily these plants grow there and if it is cost effective."

"I wouldn't have pegged you for the botany type before this trip." Jerro said as they began to move along to long trunk.

"Oh, I'm not." Viatrix replied. "I suppose I might have said I'd have the plants studied. You know, by professionals."

"Ah. Yeah, that makes sense. Same with the flame beetles, and the mykal?"

"Yes."

"Grrrwoooorrr."

Viatrix and Jerro stopped at Ennuwk's order. Viatrix was not fluent in the Wookiee language, but her time in the Shadowlands with Ennuwk had been enough for her to learn certain, specific phrases. With a gesture, he encouraged the two humans to crouch down in a portion of the trunk that had been hollowed out ages ago while he moved forward to scout out whatever he'd detected. It was still surprising to Viatrix how quietly Ennuwk could move, despite his size. The two waited in silence, ears straining to hear any irregularities in the natural noises of the forest. At the start of their trip into the Shadowlands, Viatrix had surreptitiously made attempts to sense her surroundings with the Force. While she could do so easily, the problem had always been that there was simply so much to sense. To say that Kashyyyk was teeming with life would be a grave understatement. It would take more concentration than she was willing to commit to go any deeper than surface level sensing and she simply wasn't in the habit of making her use of the Force obvious. So she'd not attempted it since, relying instead on Ennuwk's expertise. That trust was not misplaced. Ennuwk had been invaluable during their excursion.

Soon enough, Ennuwk returned, informing them that there were signs of a large creature having passed by ahead recently. At his recommendation, the group altered their path slightly to the north to give the creature plenty of space. While it would not significantly alter their timeline, it would mean they would have to locate a different camping space later that evening, as they would no longer be on course to arrive at the campsite they'd used on their way outward. Ennuwk assured them that it would be alright, however. He was familiar with a great number of safe camping locations in the region and was confident they would reach a rather comfortable one before they would need to stop for the night. Jerro translated all of this for Viatrix as they walked.

"He says the site is sheltered in the roots of a tree, making for a cleared, dry patch of ground that's protected on all sides by the thick trunk. the space inside is high enough that you can have a fire without damaging the tree and only the doorway needs to be guarded."

"Oh, that sounds cozy." Viatrix replied.

[Ash]

Ash's lightsaber hummed as it cut through both low lying brashes and brush, and the attacking wildlife. It was rare to see the silver blade, Ash usually used his sword, but down here, this was much more useful. Being able to cut both attackers and the environment that barred his way was more useful than getting tangled up with his main weapon.

Quickly enough, the wildlife ran off, the surviving ones at least, and he was left alone in the relative darkness. Ash deactivated his blade and waited in the silence. Until the ambient sounds started up again. He was safe enough for now, otherwise it would have stayed silent. Ash sighed and hooked his saber to his belt instead of hiding it like normal when he was in his armor.

Setting off again, Ash fallowed his senses and the force. He had been wandering for a few days now, but he didn't care. It reminded him of his younger years training on Alderaan. The old days, back when he was a Jedi, were becoming more and more fond of those days the further the Archeri conflict was swept to the past.

Something sparked on the edge of Ash's senses, drawing him immediately back to the present. Walking out of the current thicket, the path he came to was clearly artificial. Something large came through this way and Ash didn't feel like trying to find out what it was. Best to go the other way. Wrapping the force around himself, he set off again, moving quickly out of the area and hoping he wouldn't run into it.

Instead he felt himself being drawn to more life forms. The force was odd in drawing him this way but at least it wasn't the large creature. Holding his lightsaber, off, he made his way forward, senses on alert. Wildlife sounds were still present so he hoped whatever was ahead wasn't a danger, but he was curious as why he was taken this way. Maybe it was the ship he was looking for and some Wookies were here first. That would be fantastic.