The Big City
Chyornayakoshka looked at the boys with a look of disdain. "We are leaving very early in the morning. I expect these bowcasters to be all packed up and ready to go. If they aren't, I know two Wookiee boys who will not be making the trip."
Koshakka glared at his cousin. It was the "I'm am going to make you pay" look that Moya' had learned to dread. As soon as his father departed, the older Wookiee faced his cousin and said, "This is your job, anyway. Why don't you just do it yourself? And, if we don't get to go on this trip you will really be sorry." With that warning, Koshakka turned and abruptly left the workshop.
Moya' dutifully wrapped each bowcaster in hides and bundled them together for carrying. After many hours of work he padded off to his room to get what little sleep he could before their departure.
Early the next morning, the three Wookiees gathered their bundles and prepared to depart. Each stopped to kiss Byelayasvetok goodbye. As she knelt to accept Moya's kiss she wispered in his ear, "Have fun and don't let you cousin get you into any trouble." She smiled and ruffled the fur on her nephew's head. "I love you, Moya'." The boy smiled and whispered "I love you, too" as he picked up his load and turned to follow his uncle.
As in most Wookiee villages, there was a hidden landing platform which shuttles could reach only by flying through a labyrinth of Wroshyr branches. It was here that the family waited for their transport. Moya' could not contain his excitement as the shuttle approached. He had never flown before and had never visited a large city. Most of his uncle's bowcasters were sold in the neighboring villages which were close enough for travel by foot. The farthest Moya' had ever been away from home was about a 5-day walk.
"Uncle Chyorny, how long will it take for us to get to Rwookrrorro?"
"About eight hours. The shuttles have to stay suborbital to escape detection by the blockade ships. We will be flying through a series of corridors carved out of the forest. We'll also be making stops in a number of villages along the way."
"How big is Rwookrrorro? Do you think we will see any of Chewbacca's family there? It is his hometown, you know. I bet everyone there is related to him. This is going to be great."
"Jeeze, Moya'," Koshakka exclaimed. "You are such a village boy. It is a huge city. There is no way you will meet anyone who is related to Chewbacca. And if you did, they wouldn't want to talk to a leaf-chewer like you." Koshakka gave his cousin his best mocking grin.
"Koshakka, don't call your cousin that. It isn't nice. But Moya', Koshakka is right. It is a very big city. There are thousands of Wookiees who live there. Most of them are of the Rwook group like Chewbacca is, so just about everyone will have brown and reddish fur. I would bet there are a great many members of the Chewanna clan and the Rwookbacca clan of Rwooks there, too. But in the cities clan distinctions do not mean as much as they do in the villages. The most important thing you need to think about is to stay together and not wander off. OK?"
Moya' avoided his uncle's gaze and mumbled an acknowledgement under his breath. He subconsciously moved his hand to his satchel to feel for his datapad. A slight smile reached his face as he thought about the adventure to come.
Once the shuttle landed, Chyorny escorted the boys to their seats and watched to make sure they strapped themselves in. He then sat down in the aisle seat next to Koshakka and secured his own harness. Both boys looked out of their windows as the shuttle took off leaving their village and everyone they knew receding into the distance.
***
The entire flight, Moya' sat with his nose to the window watching as the forests of Kashyyyk passed by at an astounding speed. Wookiee pilots had developed the routes and flew them with great skill, deftly steering through the corridors cleared of branches. At last, the announcement came over the loudspeaker that they were on final approach to Rwookrrorro. Moya' squirmed in his seat, trying to catch a glimpse of the great city.
"I can't see anything, Uncle Chyorny."
"Just be patient boy. As we are about to land you will get a great view. Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, the shuttle popped out of the approach corridor and began to descend to the landing platform.
Moya' let out a gasp and the immensity of the city hit him. Multistory buildings larger than anything he had ever seen clung to the trunks of the wroshyr trees. Nothing like it existed in their home village. The shuttle landed and the boys and their father collected their things and stepped out into the bustling city.
"Let's go check into the inn. Then we can explore the plaza a bit. Tomorrow we can do our deliveries." Moya' and Koshakka followed along, hauling their loads behind them. The inn was bigger than any building in their home village. In fact, visitors to their village rented rooms from families as the village had no inn. Once their luggage had been stowed, the three Wookiees ventured out into the city. Wookiees of every coat color and pattern were everywhere. The brownish fur of the Rwooks was clearly in the majority, though. This was, after all, their home territory.
Chyornayakoshka had been the city several times, but still had to stop occassionally to get his bearings. He would find the trunk markers and check on the tree name before choosing their next walkway to follow. At long last, the trio arrived at the Rwookrrorro Mother Tree. Traditionally, each Wookiee village or town radiated out from a "Mother Tree". The tree was the spiritual, cultural, and geographical center of the community. In reality, the great city of Rwookrrorro was actually a number of smaller cities which had grown together. Each neighborhood retained their original Mother Tree for ceremonial purposes, but for the metropolitan area the original central tree was considered to be the one at the plaza. The plaza was truly a great achievement in arboreal architecture. Great platforms spanned the distance between the Mother Tree and her neighbors. The area was abuzz with activity. Vendors sold their wares from numerous vending stalls and Wookiees from all over the planet gathered in the market to do business.
The three Wookiees bought their meal from a street vendor and wandered the plaza until daylight faded. Koshakka and Moya' followed along as Chyorny led them back to the inn.
***
The next morning the Wookiees set about making their deliveries. Around lunch time, Chyorny announced that he had some business to attend to around the city and suggested that the boys could spend the afternoon on their own enjoying the plaza.
"Just be sure you two stick together. And stay in the plaza area. We will meet here at the Mother Tree at dusk to return to the inn."
Moya' did not look his uncle in the eye as he promised to stay with his cousin. His hand reached into his satchel to grasp the datapad within. At last, he would have his chance. He followed Koshakka through a couple of stalls and waited until the older boy was intently studying some weapons on display on a table. Moya' deftly slipped out of the stall and returned to the Mother Tree without his cousin noticing. He pulled out the datapad and turned it on. Calling up the secret map, he began to study the layout of the walkways around him. He checked the markings on one and, deciding it was the one he wanted, started off on his adventure.
At first, the map proved to be accurate and Moya' had no trouble following it. However, after several hours he reached a point where the map no longer seemed to match his surroundings. He picked the general direction that seemed best and set off without a clear idea of where he was going. So intent was he on his task that he suddenly realized that it was dusk. Worse, he had managed to get so lost that he had no idea how to get back to the Mother Tree.
Panic set in. Moya' looked around wildly trying to get his bearings. He turned around and tried to backtrack, but soon realized just how futile the effort was. There was no way he was going to make it back to the plaza on time. Uncle Chyrony would be furious and Moya' would never be allowed to go on delivery trips again. Frustrated, he gave in to his emotions, slumped against a tree trunk to sit on the walkway, and cried. He had completely lost control of himself and did not see a big Wookiee approach him. When he heard a voice, Moya' looked at the huge set of legs in front of him and followed them up to see a concerned adult looking at him.
"Are you hurt, young Wookiee?" The Wookiee knelt to examine the boy.
Embarrassed, Moya' did his best to wipe his eyes with the fur on the back of his hands. "Um, no sir, I am not hurt. Thank you for asking."
"Then why are you sitting here all alone crying like this? I would think that a strong, young Wookiee like yourself would be able to handle anything." The older Wookiee smiled as he saw the affect his comment had on the young Wookiee. "What is wrong, boy? Is there something I can do to help you?"
Moya' smiled and got control over himself. "Um, well sir. It is kindof embarrassing."
"Go ahead, I won't tell anyone."
"Well, I am just visiting Rwookrrorro. I so much wanted to see where Chewbacca's family lives. He is the greatest Wookiee ever. I just wanted a peek. So, I bought this map to his house. I wasn't going to bother them. Really, I just wanted to be somewhere that I knew he had been."
The older Wookiee laughed. "Here, let me see that map, son." Looking at the datapad, the Wookiee smiled and said "This is all wrong. Many of these trees are not even next to each other. No wonder you got lost. Why are you so interested in Chewbacca, anyway?"
"Well, I know all about his smuggler's network. How he helps Wookiees to leave Kashyyyk in spite of the Imperial blockade, how he gets supplies brought in, all of that stuff. He is a great Wookiee. Someone I really look up to. When I grow up, I want to be like Chewbacca."
Laughter erupted from the older Wookiee as he heard this. "Too funny. You only know the legend of Chewbacca. Did you know that he used to get in trouble in school all the time? Did you know that he used to pick on his little sister? Chewbacca is just a Wookiee like the rest of us. He isn't a superhero or anything."
Moya' tried his best to look indignant. "How can you say that? He is a great Wookiee. Probably the greatest Wookiee ever!"
The older Wookiee smiled again. "How can I say that? Maybe because I have known him all my life. Perhaps even because I married his sister. There are many things that you do not know about my friend, Chewie."
A look of awe came over Moya's face. "Are you Mahraccor, the husband of Kallabow?" Moya' stood and bowed smartly. "It is an honor to meet you, sir."
"Ah, but now you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name but I do not know yours."
Moya' bowed again. "I am Moyakoshkakyrit, son of the Koshka clan. But everyone just calls me Moya'."
"Well, young Moya'. It is nice to meet you. Now, I suspect that a young Koshka who is just visiting Rwookrrorro is not supposed to be out here alone after dusk."
Looking down at the ground, avoiding the older Wookiee's gaze, Moya' mumbled, "Um, no sir. I was supposed to meet my Uncle at the Mother Tree at dusk, but I got lost and didn't know how to get back to the plaza."
"OK, son. I will make a deal with you. I will help you find your uncle if you make me one promise. Destroy the copy of the map and do not try to find Chewie's house. OK?"
"But, why?"
"Moya'. Chewbacca has done much for our people. Even his fur brother and partner does not know the extent of Chewie's work against the blockade. And, smugglers tend to have many enemies. Plus the Empire could eventually learn about the smuggler's network, if they haven't already. The fewer people who know about his family and where they live the better. Will you do this for Chewbacca, Moya'?"
"Of course, I would do anything for Chewbacca. Here, I will delete the map right now." Moya' took the datapad, targeted the map, and hit "delete." "I really wasn't trying to hurt anything."
"I know that. Perhaps some day you will actually get to meet Chewie. I think he would like you ..."
***
"Passengers. May I have your attention, please. Our shuttle will be landing at Nym's Stronghold in just a few minutes. Please bring you seats to the upright position and make sure that your harnesses are securely fastened."
Moya' smiled to himself as he looked out of the window and watched the ground approach. His orders from Princess Leia said to report to the cantina. It was the perfect mission for a musician/rifleman and Moya's name had popped up when command was looking for an agent.
Rumor had it that Han and Chewbacca were currently working out of the back room. Maybe he would finally get his chance. He would play it cool, follow orders, and hope that his developing skills with a rifle would give him the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream.
Thinking back on that trip to Rwookrrorro so long ago, Moya' realized that he still got lost in big cities. Everytime he went to Coronet or Theed he relied on his datapad maps to find his way around. Of course, now when he got himself lost he didn't incur the wrath of his uncle. He thought back at the moment when Mahraccor delivered him safely into the custody of Uncle Chyorny. First, there was a look of intense relief. Then, the anger and the scolding. Moya' had been grounded for three months after that. It had seemed like an eternity. And, it was another three months until he was allowed to go on a delivery trip.
Still, it had been his first great adventure on his own. And while he hadn't found Chewie's house, he had met someone that actually knew his hero. Somehow, in retrospect, it had been worth the temporary dishonor and the well-earned punishment.