Hunting in the Swamps

[Ral]

Naboo, Chommel Sector
Mid Rim
0745 Hours Local Time
Town near the Swamps
​

The star of Naboo rose over the horizon slowly casting a soft pale blue-purple light over the misty green fields outside the small sleepy town the young Jedi Master was walking into. Kai Sera had heard some disturbing rumors that some rogue Gungans had turned to slaving and even had a Force Hunter or two amongst them to fight against Jedi, take them captive, and sell them to the Cartel or "gift" them to the Sith. If the rumors were true than Kai had to do something about it, this was his home after all, he couldn't let some slaving aliens, especially Gungans ruin it. Unfortunately, the Master Jedi's inquiries did not lead anywhere. Whoever these slavers were, they were quite good at staying hidden and unnoticed by the population at large. In fact, the only reason Kai had even heard about the group is because they got sloppy and managed to let a young Gungan female escape early on, and since then there have been reports of residents and visitors disappearing in the areas near the swamps.

With this in mind, Kai had asked his good friend Asheek to join him. The attractively young Togrutan woman was an excellent huntress who proved herself to be one hell of a tracker. It was those skills that Kai was going to be relying on for this mission. He also hoped that he could help the Togrutan Padawan get some much needed experience so that she could be promoted to Jedi Knight, something he knew that she very much desired, and in Kai's mind was getting ever so close to achieving.

So, Kai waited for the skilled huntress Asheek to arrive on the outskirts of a town near the swamps where they would begin their search. It didn't take the red skinned woman to appear, and as she did, Kai grinned, waving her over to him. Hopping off the ledge he had been perched on, Kai made his way over to where the woman was. "Asheek! Glad you could make it!" He said wrapping her in a friendly hug. "You ready to put those hunting skills of yours to good use for the Jedi and for Naboo?" The Jedi Master asked as he looked into her eyes. "We're hunting the most dangerous type of prey now, so I hoped you've prepared yourself!"

@Jabonicus

 

[Jabonicus]

Asheek had chosen one of her more common outfits, simple straps and hide leather covering what needed to be covered, along with a few wrappings for a more stylistic appearance, at least in her opinion. Either way, her outfit looked quite primitive and tribal, as always. Her bare feet stepped through the grass, her long headtails swaying back and forth as she walked. Her Lightsaber Pike was strapped to her thigh, the straps built so that she could pull it out, while making it so it wouldn't easily fall out by mistake.

Closing her eyes, stopping, she took a deep breath. Naboo was foreign to her, and her brief experiences on it previously weren't exactly good ones, and it left her with an odd opinion on the Sith. She had been confronted... And spared by someone who could have easily struck her down without a thought. She took the Sith's advice and had fled from that conflict. It was quite some time ago, yet her thoughts and fears of what happened still clouded and confused her thoughts whenever it came up.

Then she noticed Kai waving her over. It took her a moment to come back from her thoughts. As Kai approached, she happily hugged him back, giving him a quick squeeze before replying. "Well, you mentioned hunting, and that was more than enough to catch my attention." The Togrutan replied, happily nodding at his question. "...And I'll be the judge of how dangerous this prey is!" She claimed, obviously exaggerating her boast.

 

[Ral]

Laughing, Kai nodded, "I thought it might have been enough," he paused before smirking at the young woman. "I love your enthusiasm, Asheek, that's why I asked you specifically first. I knew a huntress of your prowess would relish the chance to hunt something live and could fight back. You're probably one of the most qualified people on Naboo to do so right now, maybe even the whole order," Kai exaggerated the last part, but there was a grain of sincerity in the statement, "Just don't let it go to your head, girl, alright? A Jedi always has to be humble; it's when we forget this that we are often felled by the simple thugs in the alley because we underestimated what they could do to a great Jedi like us."

As they started walking along, moving through the center of small sleepy town they had met in, the Jedi Master inquired of Asheek and how she had been, as well as her training since they had finished on Kothlis. "So, how have you been since we last met? Have you learned or experienced anything new or interesting since then? Do you think you'll be ready to become a knight soon? Or do you feel that you still have more to learn?"

Once they had made their way through the town, luckily without being accosted by the local peddlers and merchants due to the early hour, Kai found the pair of Jedi to be facing a vast expanse of trees shrouded in fog. With an amused hum he turned to face the red-skin Togruta. "Well, my friend, you are the expert huntress between the pair of us. Where do you suggest we start? All the information I have indicates the group we're in likes ambush hunters and tourists through the more well-traveled part of the swamps."

 

[Jabonicus]

As the duo walked through the sleeping town, Asheek actively looked around, obviously wide awake, despite the early hour. "I feel as if I'm ready, but obviously I have a bit more to learn." Asheek replied, acknowledging her turned away application. She had gotten Kai to practically write the whole thing, considering she couldn't write or read in Basic, and refused to send in an absolutely foreign letter to people so far above her. Though several people had explained to her that it wouldn't make much of a difference, if any, it seemed wrong to communicate to the masters and leaders of the Jedi in a language they did not understand.

"...Though, I've felt an odd urge to return home." She added after a moment, tilting her head as she stared forward into the swamps before them. "I mean... A stronger urge than before. After this, I might just head home for a while, try and figure out why my thoughts keep pulling me there." She rambled to a degree, honestly confused on what could be bringing her thoughts back to returning home with such power.

Thinking on the information Kai had given her, Asheek bit her lip. While unfamiliar with how sapient species hunted, she could compare them to predators. Playing out a few scenarios in her mind, she turned to Kai as she stopped. "I take it that they would have some informant to tell them who was going down the roads, yes? I would imagine that they would send appropriately sized groups after each traveling party. Perhaps we could pose as travelers, or even try the same guise you had me do on Tatooine?" She questioned.

Her plan, of course, relied on the idea that the Gungan raiders had an informant in the town. If they could indirectly convince the Gungan that they would be easy targets, then they would no doubt be confronted on the road, once they had begun traveling. From there, they could incapacitate and capture at least one of the raiders, and convince him to lead them towards the camp. Or better yet, should they feign capture, they could be led directly into the group.... Of course, that would mean that not only would they have to pose as important people, but they would have to leave their lightsabers somewhere for a time.

 

[Ral]

"Well, with a little more time and training, I'm sure you'll be ready for the position," Kai said trying to be encouraging; he knew that her application had been turned away, and unfortunately it had been before had been on the Council to defend her, but what was done was done, now all he could do was make sure she was ready to be a Jedi Knight and hope the rest of the Council would eventually come to recognize it as he had. Their meeting today was hopefully going to help her work on those things the Council felt she needed to go over. With a smile on his face he added, "With any luck we'll be able to cover some of those things the Council was worried about."

Listening to the Togrutan female speak about how she felt the urge to head home, and why she didn't know she felt this way, Kai frowned a little. Chuckling softly under his breath, the Jedi Master nodded, "I understand what you mean. I can only guess that the Force has something in store for you there. Shili is pretty far into Imperial space, Asheek. While I'm not going to tell you not to go; especially if it's the Force telling you to, I do ask that you be cautious. I'd hate for something to happen to you right before you became a knight." He paused as he looked at her. "If you wish I could go with you, maybe help you. But I understand if you feel like this is something you need to do by yourself." Kai gave her a sincere smile as they continued on.

As Asheek gave her input to him of the situation at hand, Kai gave an approving nod. "That is very insightful. Do you think we should hang around here for a little, see if we can't convince this possible informant to pass the message along that we'll be heading into the swamps?" He chuckled when she suggested them doing the same guise they had on Tatooine. "Well, we could. If you're up for it, though, you might want to play into it a bit more this time if we want the informant to believe we're the real deal. A young couple out on a nice walk through the woods. We would be an ideal target, especially if we made it look like we had money. If we can get them to attack us in the swamp we might be able to capture one, I'm sure between the two of us we could be... persuasive. I'll leave the decision in your hands. Think of this as a test." Kai winked as he clasped his hands behind his back, waiting to see what the red-skinned female would do.

@Jabonicus

 

[Jabonicus]

Nodding, the female Togrutan closed her eyes, processing what she would do for a moment, trying to form a general outline of what she would do. She was of the belief that putting too much thought in specifics of what she would say would actually cripple her, as she would be more likely to fumble over her words as she tried to say her specific lines. "Alright, let's get to it, shall we? We'll just see where the road takes us!" She replied, a slight metaphor for her mood on the subject.

While it was early in the morning, those who often worked at night, or those with restless thoughts would still hang about in local cantina's. Adjusting her clothing on her back, she concealed her lightsaber pike, at least for now. The cantina was rather easy to spot, it stood out with its general bar atmosphere, and the faint smell of alcohol emanating from it. Stepping inside, she motioned for Kai to follow her. Walking over to the bar, her ears were filled with the sound of a small time band playing an old classic.

It was one of her favorite songs, one she had referred to as 'that cantina song!' each time she would try to recall it. Now she knew its name though, 'Mad About Me.' Leaning in between bar patrons, she was given quite a few odd looks from disgruntled Gungans and other patrons, her bright red skin no doubt contrasting against the dim lights of the building. "...Excuse me?" She asked the bartender, her voice taking a tone similar to what it had been when she had first met Kai on Bespin, full of naive joy, and almost unrecognizable through her exaggerated accent.

Kai would likely be able to understand her, though the gungans around her would likely have trouble. She glanced towards Kai, a rather confused expression across her face. "Which road... Lead to city?" She questioned, her imitation of a Togrutan who did not know Basic was very well on-point. It was not her first time imitating something or someone, but usually it was something she was hunting. From what she knew, the road that had oh so many accidents due to bandit raids was the one she was asking about. "We are late! For photo!" She claimed, making hand motions to go along with her talk. "Shoot! The.. The photo shoot!" If Kai hadn't known Asheek's ability in Basic, he would honestly have been convinced that she couldn't quite find the words.

 

[Ral]

"Hmm," Kai nodded as he female Togrutan replied to him. It was clear she was ready to try something, and that she didn't really have a plan. This amused Kai a bit, enough to smile. Looking to Asheek as she smoothed and adjusted her clothing to conceal her lightsaber, something Kai himself was very proud of her for having constructed, he remarked. "At times like this Asheek, I find it best to allow the Force to work through us. In a manner of speaking, we go with the flow, or as you so elegantly put it, see where the road takes us. Just stretch out and feel the Force, let it guide your steps like you would your blade in combat."

Following her through the streets they came to a cantina in the small town. Staying close by her as they stepped inside, the Jedi Master's eyes scanned the room for a moment taking all the faces and smells and sounds in. As they walked up to the bar, he was really quite surprised by Asheek's acting, he ended up thinking to himself that this Togruta should have been an actress at one point. She definitely had the looks for it in Kai's mind. The accent was perhaps the selling part for him, the tone was so naive and the way she sold it with the body language left the Jedi Master really rather speechless for a moment. It was her glance towards him as she started speaking that drew him back into the reality of the moment. Walking up to Asheek, Kai wraps an arm around her waist, with a smile on his face he says, "We're not going to be late, dear! My girlfriend here has a photoshoot, or was it a holoshoot?" He looks at her feigning a bit of confusion. Then back at those who would be listening. "Anyways, There was this famous photographer who wanted to take her photo for some spread he was doing about native tribal girls from all sorts of different cultures, and he thought my girl here would be perfect for it!" Kai looks at his "girlfriend" with a look of pride and respect on his face.

The bartender looked at her for a moment, "The big road, leads straight through the center of town. You can't miss it. Just follow it through the swamps and you'll be there in no time. Anything else I can get for you? A drink perhaps?"

At that one of the Gungans present stood up and left. Looking at Asheek he asked, "Sure? Do you have some bloodwine for my girl? I'll have a glass of Corellian ale. I think we have enough time for one drink." Looking to Asheek he spoke to her telepathically."Give them time to set up for us."

 

[Jabonicus]

Asheek gave a small nod to her companion, feigning an annoyed look. "...Fine, we can stay for a drink, but don't lie love! The man said at dawn! Of course we'll be late!" It seemed as if that since they were already at a cantina, she wouldn't mind a drink. "It's as if all the clocks in the world couldn't keep you on time!" She added, giving him an obviously playful shove. "Either way, I'm sure we can make up for our lateness with a few... Quality shots." She added, taking the bloodwine drink as it was given to her by the bartender.

She took quite a large sip, with the intent of passing off the idea that she was used to such drinks... Which turned out to be a mistake. It was hard to hide the growing amounts of water in her eyes at the strong taste, but somehow, she managed. Swallowing the amount she had taken in, she begrudgingly admitted to herself that if she were to pass off a familiarity of the wine, she would have to take smaller sips. Still, that wouldn't stop her from acting as if she were taking larger amounts.

Taking a look over at Kai, and the drink he had ordered, her act continued, as she halfheartedly pointed at him with the hand that carried her glass. "I will never understand how you can stand that stuff, it's much too... Grainy for me." She knew little of alcohol, except that it came from plants, and most of it gave her stomach aches that lasted for days. Her seemingly new ability to act with such convincing manner was not coming from nowhere, as Kai would recognize many of her comments and mannerisms as those of herself, albeit earlier in time, while she was still fresh off Shili. A bit more no doubt came from the time before Kai had met her.

 

[Ral]

"Oh, don't worry, my dear," Kai waved a hand through the air as the bartender poured the young man a drink. He watched greedily as the mug slowly filled up, foaming over at the top. Taking the glass mug into his hands he looked to Asheek and smiled, "The photographer begged us to book him, darling. I'm sure he'll understand if we aren't immediately punctual. Besides, making him wait a little is just good business." Kai smiled and chuckled. Asheek seemed to be quite good at the acting, no doubt they'd fool someone here, and since Kai didn't mind being around the Togruta at all, in fact he considered her one of his good friends, he was able to naturally act like they were close.

Watching as Asheek took a rather large sip of the blood wine he ordered for her, Kai had go stifle a laugh at her face as she realized it was too large a gulp. Acting like a caring, concerned boyfriend, Kai rubbed Asheek's back for a few seconds before returning to his ale. When she pointed at him remarking how should couldn't understand how he could drink it, he smiled, "Well, considering your diet consists of meat I'm not surprised. Though you do make cooking for very easy. Now, as far as my preferences? It's a classic, but a lot of people have to acquire the taste."

Kai finished his drink and paid the tab for both of their drinks. Once Asheek was done with her drink, the Jedi Master would ask, "How was it, dear? Ready to go take some pictures?" Kai offered his arm, and would until they were out of town and out of the public view. "Time to go check out the swamps. Ready?"

@Jabonicus

 

[Jabonicus]

Asheek shook her head, grinning profusely. "You're just lucky I like my meat a bit raw, you couldn't grill to save your life." She replied, taking another, albeit smaller sip of the bloodwine. She decided that, despite being a delightful drink, she wouldn't dare finish such an intoxicating thing, much less in a bar filled with staring patrons. She preferred to keep every wit possible about her. Placing her half-finished drink down on the bar haphazardly, she took his arm, allowing him to lead them out of cantina.

As they were finally alone once more out in the open, Asheek finally let out a few coughs that she had been hiding since she had been drinking. "Ech, I don't even drink the stuff that much, but I'm fairly sure that was more wine than blood." She said, her stomach no doubt agreeing with her. "I don't think many people order it there." She added as they went towards the main road.

Thinking about their plan, Asheek tapped her chin. "Do you think, if we let them 'capture' us, that they'll search us? It'll be a lot easier to find them if they take us straight to their camp. We could fight them without lightsabers, if we hid them somewhere, but... I think I'd prefer to keep mine."

 

[Ral]

Kai placed a hand over his chest as she made the comment about him not being able to grill. "You wound me, my dear!" He cried aloud as he look to her with hurt eyes. "I'm sorry I can't match your masterful skill with the flame, but I'll have you know I know how to cook quite well. Maybe if you ate something other than wild game all the time you would know that!" He winked at her, showing that he was merely teasing with his last comment. Once they left the bar, with Asheek on his arm they started making their way towards the swamps. It took a few minutes for them to get out of the town and onto the open road where they wouldn't be overheard.

Listening to what the Togruta next to him had to say, Kai chuckled. "Aye, that's what you get from ordering a drink like that from a seedy cantina in a backwater town like this. And you're probably right, Blood Wine doesn't sound like something too many people would want to drink." Kai chuckled a little as they continued walking on wards to the swamps, which were getting quite close now.

When Asheek began plotting their next move once they got into the swamp, Kai laughed lightly. "Oh, they'll definitely search us, maybe not very well, but they will probably take our lightsabers. They might not know what they are, but they definitely would take them away, unless we are somehow able to convince them otherwise. Though, if they do take them, so long as they don't get rid of them, we should be fine. I'm thinking that we can use the Force and unbind ourselves and get our weapons back if needs be. Don't you think? I think your plan has merit though, let them lead us straight to where their camp is. I like it."

 

[Jabonicus]

As Asheek thought on it, she was perplexed. While she didn't want to leave their lightsabers behind, she feared the idea that one of them would recognize what they were. If not for her odd design, someone among them who at least had the smallest bit of knowledge might be capable of figuring out what it was. That was as Asheek looked into an open store, open as in, the store was set up outside. In fashion to storage, she had seen people shipping papers in round tubes, and she had no doubts that their lightsabers could fit in them.

"...One second Kai." She replied, turning back to the small town. The women had a level of ingenuity about her, and it was obvious as the talked to the drowsy store keeper, who was adamant about opening only on time. Kai could see faint signs of frustration as Asheek tried to persuade him into allowing her to buy such tubes, or something similar. That was when she did it, almost unnoticeable. If Kai had blinked, he would have missed it. A wave of a hand, a flick of a tongue.

Just a few minutes later, Asheek returned, a satisfied grin across her red face. In her hands were two package tubes, one stocky, and one long. Obviously she intended on re-purposing them. "..My idea is that we can slip our lightsabers into these. Make them think that they're luggage." She proudly stated, already twisting hers open, and slipping her lightsaber pike into it. It just barely fit. If she were to lay it across her back, it would go from one shoulder to her other thigh. That smile still laying across her face, she handed the stocky one to Kai.

 

[Ral]

"Okay..." Kai answered as he watched Asheek turn around and move quickly back to town. The Jedi master could see in her face that she had an idea she wanted to test, so he followed patiently while the Togruta woman ran back into town. As she began bartering with the store keeper, Kai would watch with an amused look on his face as she attempted to purchase a pair of tubes that looked like they could be used for transporting long parcels, or maybe art, or something cylindrical. It didn't take him much longer after that to figure out what her plan was, and it was an ingenious plan, too. One that caused him to crack a proud smile and almost causing him to miss the quick and casual wave of her hand as she spoke to the storekeeper turning his smile into a wide grin. Clever girl...

Returning to him with the pair of carrying tubes, that satisfied grin across her face which caused Kai to chuckle a little. "It's a good idea," he responded after Asheek told him of what her plan was whilst demonstrating what she meant. "I'm glad you thought it up, I take it we're supposed to be lovers and artists now? Or maybe just couriers?" The dark-haired man shrugged playfully as he accepted the stocky tube from her red hand. Opening it, he place his own lightsaber hilt inside. "Well, this will work out well, now let's see if it fools those slavers." Kai remarked placing a hand on Asheek's back and starting off towards the swamps again.

 

[Jabonicus]

Asheek shrugged, slinging hers over her back. "Either way, they're expecting a rather wealthy couple to be walking on any minute now. I doubt they'll look too hard at such an opportunity." She replied as she continued walking. Due to being Naboo, as well as in swampland, her feet left imprints as they went deeper on the trail. It was an odd feeling, especially after spending so much time aboard tile floored ships and well built buildings. Truth be told, she often missed the feeling of the ground beneath her shifting around her toes.

It was something subtle, something most people wouldn't recognize. While her feet were tough, they were also well adapted to walking and feeling along pathways. The ground was soft, not quite mud, but not quite dry. And it wasn't due to rain. That was what was odd about it, the ground on Shili would often take a similar consistency after rain. But here? It was the swamp water, it was all around them, even below them, even if it didn't seem like it.

As they walked, she occasionally looked down at her feet, despite the fact that Kai would no doubt see it a bit odd. By now he would be used to her walking without any coverings on her shoes, even after she stepped on a sharp shard of metal last time on Naboo. Then again, after that battle, her foot was the least of her worries. She had made a mistake, and had gotten caught in one of her ambushes. Suffice to say, the stormtroopers decided to take some revenge, savagely beating her until she managed to pull herself away. It was only when she had impaled her foot that she finally quit the battle.

She had very few good memories on Naboo. Nevertheless, she continued walking alongside her current partner. She dared not speak of the plan they were executing, nor the Jedi the work for, lest some unseen assailant be stalking them. She was exactly keen on bringing up the past anyway.

 

[Ral]

With a bit of a laugh, Kai nodded, "You have a point there. Let's hope these thugs just happen to be excessively dimwitted today, yeah?" He gave Asheek a bit of a wink as he wrapped his arm around hers with a bit of a playful look on his face. "Might as well sell it? Right? Besides, they're less likely to look suspiciously at a lovey-dovey couple who are totally surprised and horrified to be waylaid in these innocent looking swamps!"

As they walked on what could be called a path through the swamplands, Kai found his black leather boots sinking deep to the muck of the wetlands. With a bit of a frown, he realized it was going to be a bit harder than he originally expected as he pulled his boot out of the mud with a disgusting sucking pop. "So, how does the mud feel for you? Miss goes-everywhere-barefoot?" The master asked with a light tone in his voice.

It didn't take the pair much longer marching through the clinging, smelly wetlands before Kai finally sensed movement nearby that wasn't as plain and simple as the rest of the native swamp creatures. Shooting Asheek a look that easily would be read as "You sensing what I'm sensing?" Seconds later, a large group of Gungans came filing out of the brush around them and up from the pools of swamp water. Acting surprised, Kai took a step back, with his face aghast at what he was witnessing. "Wha-what's going on here?" He tried to sound uncertain, yet tough."

"Quiet yousa!" Growled one of the Gungans who slammed into the Jedi's side with the haft of his pike. Letting out a grunt, Kai rolled with the impact and fell onto the ground. The strike still hurt, but he would be fine. "Yousa comin' with wesa now."

I hate gunganese.

 

[Jabonicus]

Her feet, as they went further, sunk deeper and deeper into the mud. Unlike Kai's boots, her feet didn't have much of a solid, flat space to slow the sinking. As much as she hated the feeling, it was something she was more than used to. Sticking her tongue out at Kai, she looked up from the ground, her bare, red feet coated in the dirty mud. "You're the weird one, you know." She replied. "Acting like your feet can't take a bit of mud! Rocks I could understand, but you're getting them dirty for nothing!" She replied. Even after all this time, she still believed that, despite being the odd one out, that people who wore shoes were the weird ones.

Before she could continue, she glanced towards Kai, indeed sensing what he was. As the gungans quickly came around them, Asheek acted as if she was not a fighter. Instead, she stumbled back, as if she went to cower behind Kai. It would be obvious to Kai that it was acting on her part, as it was extremely out of character for her.

As Kai was jabbed, and fell into the mud, a worried look went across her face. She tried to take another step back, trying to keep in character. However, her foot had sunk too much as she had stood in one place, and she stumbled back, directly into one of the gungans. Taking her stumble as a sign of agitation, the gungan, firmly gripped one of her headtails, using it to hold her from falling. A sharp cry left her mouth, something she did not expect to happen, something she absolutely hated.

 

[Ral]

"Oh whatever!" Kai retorted with a grin on his face. "It's not that my feet can't take it, it's just a lot easier to clean shoes afterwards. Besides, you can't tell me that walking through swamp water with bare feet feels good!" He laughed lightly as he placed a hand on Asheek's back, giving it a gentle rub to show that despite their differences, Kai didn't mind the jabs at each other, in fact he rather enjoyed the friendly banter.

Hearing Asheek scream drew Kai back to the situation at hand. Struggling he tried to rush the gungan holding her headtail; the display was of more genuine anger and concern than their cover would imply. Unfortunately, Kai slipped and fell face first into the mud again. Pulling his face back out of the swamp water, Kai swore looking up at the gungan who had hold of her, "Let her go! Can't you see it's hurting her!"

The lead gungan, some orangey-brown thing with little tendrils dangling from its snout looked to the gungan holding Asheek and grunted. Meanwhile, the rest of the gungans moved about removing Kai's and Asheek's carriers and forcing them together with their shock spears. "Yousa come with wesa, and don't yousa try anything tricksy or wesa willa hurts a-yousa!" The captain shouted at Kai as he prodded him with the stick. Letting out a painful yelp, Kai looked to the gungan with a glare, but nodded, moving a long with Asheek.

Placing his hand around her shoulders he rubbed her as he looked at her, "How are you doing? I hope that grab didn't do any damage, it sounded like it hurt a lot though, anything I can do for you? Make it feel better?"

 

[Jabonicus]

Asheek grimaced as the jab of the shocking spears forced her to move close to Kai. Shaking her head, she sighed. "They're sensitive. That's all. It's more... Humiliating than anything." She replied. They obviously hurt, but it didn't seem like the pain carried on for long. When they first got there, Asheeks only reason to hunt down these gungans was because they were bandits. But now? It was getting personal. Realizing where her thoughts were going, Asheek gave her head a quick shake, clearing her thoughts of anything resembling revenge.

As she walked, it was hard for her not to trip or fall. As much as she hated shoes, they would probably help keep her feet from sinking so deep in the sickening mud. "...And I won't lie, this mud feels awful. This ground hasn't been solid in what, years?" She gave him a short grin, hoping that he would stop worrying. She tried to ignore the gungans, ready to jab her with another shock if she dared slow her pace. She seemed to be on edge, no doubt trying to protect her sensitive headtails. Her eyes were always on the hands of the gungans around them, which ones had spears, which ones seemed more likely to grab her should something go wrong.

Her face turning into a mask of confusion, and worry, she turned to the leading gungan. "Where are you taking us sir? We haven't done anything!" Her voice was louder, Kai would notice. Before, her voice was quiet, so that only a few words would make it to the flappy ears of their captors.

 

[Ral]

Humming, Kai nodded, "Well, I'm glad it wasn't worse then." He whispered back to her, moving his hand from her shoulder and clasped her own red hand in it so they're fingers were intertwined. The move had two purposes, first it would continue to sell their cover, and it let Asheek know that Kai was with her and that he cared enough to try to make her feel a little better. Whispering again when he could see the looks she was giving the gungans, "Calm... remember your training."

Kai did his best to keep Asheek from falling face first into the swampy mud. With each step there was that nasty suction noises, and poor Asheek had to feel it between her toes. Chuckling slightly when she made her comment, Kai shrugged and whispered back, "Probably, these swamps have been here for hundreds of years. Now you know I wore boots here. It helps." With that he stuck his tongue out at her. Unfortunately, the gungan guards didn't enjoy them carrying on quietly and one of them slammed the end of its spear into Kai's back, knocking the wind out him and almost causing him to topple over dragging the Togruta down with him. It was only with a bit of skill and the use of the Force that prevented the pair from landing their faces into the smelly, dirty water. Shooting Asheek a look that told her to wait, Kai recovered as he looked at the gungan who promptly said. "No, a-whispers!"

"Right..." Kai murmured back. They kept walking and Asheek finally asked the leader where they were going. That received a poke from one of the guards with the shock end of his spear. "Yousa speak-a when spoken to-a!" Clenching his jaw, Kai held onto Asheek, making sure she didn't fall over and that she didn't try and leap at their captors. "Wait." He signaled her telepathically. They continued moving and after about ten minutes they finally came to the slaver camp. It was a small area of dry land with some old gungan and naboo ruins in the middle of the swamp. Trees largely blocked line of sight within a hundred meters making it near impossible to find. Wondering what would happen to them as they were put in a crude wood stockade much like a cage, Kai looked to Asheek. "Wait until they're guard is down. See if you can find out anything useful. Then we'll make our move." He whispered.

 

[Jabonicus]

After she was jabbed with the electric end of the spear, she kept quiet, keeping control of herself as they were lead into the hidden camp. She looked around, getting a brief look of how the camp was set up before they shoved into the wooden cage. Sitting down on the finally solid ground, she looked at her feet, caked and hidden beneath layers of grime. It was disgusting, even for her, who was used to walking barefoot. Reaching out with her mind, she concentrated, using the force to connect herself to Kai's mind.

I won't risk talking out loud unless its part of a plan, Kai. She shot a dirty look to the Gungan guard station just outside their cage, who had their back turned to them. They took our gear over towards the back of the camp. I didn't see which hut they went into though. She added, biting her lip. We could use the force to persuade him, but I'm not sure how I'll keep him distracted once he lets us out. She continued, going through various plans in her head. Do you have any ideas?