Han, Luke, Chewie, Anakin, and the two droids were spread out amongst the heavy foliage of the forest. Luke noticed a few holes on a nearby log, and moved towards them curiously. He ran his finger down the burn and knew automatically that it was a blaster bolt.

He quickly inspected the area around the log, his gut churning in dread as he caught sight of a helmet buried in a bush. He picked it up and brushed it off, knowing it to be Leia's.

With a look of concern, Luke looked around the silent forest, met only by the sights of nature. 'Oh Leia, where are you?'

"Luke? Luke!" Han's voice called out from the distance. Luke jerked up at his name being called, and quickly moved towards it, finding Han, Anakin, Chewie, and the droids standing together over the charred remains of a speeder. Luke froze, his eyes wide.

Anakin noticed his presence first and turned around, a nervous look on his face. He saw the helmet that Leia had been wearing earlier in Luke's hands, and blanched.

"Oh, Master Luke." Threepio said sadly, noticing the worry in his Master's eyes. "I'm afraid that Artoo's scanners can find no trace of Princess Leia."

"There's two more wrecked speeders back there." Anakin said, his blue eyes dull of emotion.

Luke bit his lip and tossed the helmet to Han. The Corellian inspected it for anything unusual and then sighed when he came up empty-handed. "I hope she's alright."

"She has to be alright." Anakin said suddenly and firmly. "We're not giving up."

Han blinked. "Woah, slow down there. I didn't say anything about giving up."

Anakin scowled. "You thought about it for a brief second. I could see it in your eyes."

Han's temper rose as well. "You Jedi and your kriffing mind tricks. Just lay off! Luke and I have known the princess much longer than you have."

Anakin's eye twitched and he huffed, not looking Han in the eye. Luke watched the confrontation with wide eyes, looking back and forth between his two friends. Chewie grumbled beside him, expressing his distaste of the argument. But suddenly, the Wookiee growled and sniffed the air, then, with a bark, pushed off through the foliage. His companions watched him go with surprise.

Han grumbled in confusion and called after his companion. "What, Chewie? What? Chewie!" With the others following quickly in pursuit, Han ran after the overgrown furball he considered a friend, trying fleetingly to keep up with his long strides.

Behind them all, Artoo whistled nervously, the astromech sensing that something was amiss. Otherwise, Chewie would not have reacted so suddenly.

Panting, the group finally stopped at a break in the undergrowth. Chewie walked up to a
tall stake planted in the center of the ground, a dead animal hanging from it.

Han stared at the stake with a disbelieving expression. Chewie had made them run that whole way for a snack? "It's just a dead animal, Chewie." Han grumbled in annoyance, trying to catch his breath.

Chewie waved a paw at his friend and stared hungrily at the carcass of meat. Suddenly, a blared warning in the Force made Luke and Anakin jerk in surprise, the warning leaving Luke's mouth first before, "Chewie, wa-wait! Don't--"

It was too late.

The Wookiee had already pulled the animal from the stake and was preparing to take a gaping bite out of it, when the ground shifted around the group of friends and they were all suddenly sprung into the air, smushed together in a tightly woven net and suspended high above the ground.

Artoo let out a wild series of beeps and whistles, and Chewie howled out his regretful apology.

Han, with a mouth full of Wookiee paw, tried vainly to move his friend's arm away, trying to call out to Luke or Anakin. He saw a small black boot in the corner of his eye and shifted his vision to see the kid struggling beneath him, all his limbs in tangles. Anakin was pretty much in the same shape, except he had both the droids on top of him, adding extra weight.

"Nice work. Great, Chewie! Great! Always thinking with your stomach." Han cried, trying vainly to move one of his limbs.

"Will you take it easy? Let's just figure out a way to get out of this thing." Luke shouted below him, squirming to reach his belt. "Anakin, can you reach my lightsaber?"

"I can try. But I can barely reach mine." Anakin responded, trying to move his hand towards his son's weapon. Artoo, impatient and wanting to be free, extended his cutting appendage and began to slowly slice at the thick net.

Han was also trying now, along with Anakin, to squeeze an arm down to reach Luke's lightsaber, the three of them oblivious to Artoo's progress.

Threepio looked at his astromech friend in worry as he saw the rest of the cords beginning to snap. "Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It's a very long—" The last rope snapped. "dro-o-op!!"

Startled, the four rebels and the two droids tumbled to the ground, each with their own cry of surprise. They all hit the ground hard, groaning as they sat up slowly.

Han was the first to notice the several pairs of black eyes staring at them. He froze, his hand going to his blaster instinctively. "Luke, Anakin, Chewie." Han said under his breath, catching his friends' attention and moving his head to gesture at the creatures surrounding them.

The creatures, realizing their pray was conscious, quickly pointed their spears at the captives, making them startle in surprise.

"Hey, point that thing someplace else." Anakin scowled, swatting at one of the spears. The creature growled and jabbed at Anakin further.

One Ewok, Teebo, approached Han with a jab, making the Corellian scowl. He pushed the spear out of his face and another Ewok came up to argue with Teebo.

The spear was back in his face however, and he angrily when for his blaster.

"Han, don't. It'll be alright. You too Anakin." Luke said, noticing Anakin going for his saber as well.

Using the distraction, the Ewoks swarmed the group, confiscating their weapons and studying them intensely. Luke gave them his lightsaber without protest, watching Anakin and Han do the same with their weapons, yet with a bit more hesitance.

Chewie, on the other hand, growled at the furry critters and held his crossbow tight.

"Chewie. Give them your crossbow." Luke said calmly.

However, just as the Wookie was about to reluctantly comply, Threepio sat up from the brush, disentangling himself and complaining as per usual. "Oh, my head. Oh, my goodness!"

As soon as the Ewoks saw Threepio, they all let out a collective gasp and chattered amongst themselves. Trying to help, Threepio began to speak to the creatures in their native tongue. The Ewok nearest to the protocol droid dropped his spear as a sort of offering and prostrated himself before the droid. In a brief second, the rest of the Ewoks had followed suit.

Chewie let out a puzzled bark whilst Han, Luke, and Anakin regarded the furry beings with wonder. Soon, the Ewoks began to chant, their words aimed at Threepio.

"Do you understand what they're saying?" Luke asked Threepio, thoroughly confused.

"Oh, yes, Master Luke! Remember that I am fluent in over six million forms of communication." Threepio said proudly. Anakin smirked. He had programmed Threepio like that.

"What are you telling them?" Han asked.

"Hello, I think... I could be mistaken. They're using a very primitive dialect. But I do believe they think I am some sort of god." Threepio said.

Artoo beeped in amusement. Han, Luke, and Anakin exchanged looks of confusion.

"Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?" Han snapped, his sarcasm on full throttle. Luke held back a giggle behind his gloved hand.

"I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper." Threepio said firmly.

Han's eyes widened in disbelief. "Proper!?"

"It's against my programming to impersonate a deity." Threepio said as if it was obvious. Anakin's cheeks flushed red. Ok, so he had some flaws. But he had only been nine standaard years old when he had built him. He deserved some credit at least.

Now red in anger, Han moved towards the protocol droid in a threatening manner. Luke quickly grabbed his friend's arm, pulling him back.

However, there was no need to stop Han, because several Ewoks' spears were quickly thrusted into Han's face at the affront to their god. The Ewoks moved in to protect their god and Han was soon surrounded by a menacing circle of spears, all aimed at him. He held up his hands placatingly.

"My mistake. He's an old friend of mine." Han said with a nervous laugh.

Anakin rolled his eyes.

•••

A/N

Hi, sorry for the little bit of wait, but I've had quite the busy weekend.

So hope you guys enjoy!

:)

PS - Thank you so much for 13K on Redemption!!! I have a surprise in store because of that...;)

May the Force be with You,

- lucky_ducky_123