A/N: AND HERE WE GO!

Star Wars is a love of mine. I have so many books, dictionaries, and the like I could fill a small library.

Wild mammalians and reptivians of Naboo: Kaadus, Pom- hoppers, Narglatches, Zaalacas, Gullipuds, Nunas, Peko-pekos, Sando aqua, Shaaks, etc.

(Like your frogs, bears, horses, wolves, birds, crickets, sea predators/amphibious creatures.... )

All of this can be found on Wookiepedia:)

*Warning graphic depictions of violence*

2 1 B B Y╒══════════════════╕

RISE OF THE GALACTIC EMPIRE-NABOO

╘══════════════════╛

  NABOO WAS HOME TO THE NATIVE GUNGANS, AND HUMANOIDS KNOWN AS the Nabooians. Comprised of a conglomerate of rocky tunnels and caverns with a plasma interior, it was located in the Chommell Sector orbiting the Naboo star system. The idyllic planet had an abundance of vibrant panorama and crystal waterfalls that spanned rolling valleys. Known for its unique domed architecture particularly, in the city of Theed; home of the Royal House and renowned the most beautiful city.

   The planets vastness stretched across the countryside of farming lands to the swamplands in the far east. The verdant ecological atmosphere was the ideal habitation for the Gungans and their underwater city Otoh Gunga.

Lianorm Swamp

  She could practically taste the humidity on the buds of her tongue. Petrichor laced the air, fresh after a rainfall.

  Her favorite.

  The groans of engorged gullipuds and the wattles of the two-legged reptilian nunas pervaded the forest. Hovering over the spongy grounds, a blanketed layer of fog unfurled as the blunted hooves of a two-legged creature native to the swamplands, a Kaadu—burst through.

  Rich laughter resounded through the air. The rush of adrenaline thrummed through her veins, the thrill of the hunt glimmering within her wide-set eyes. "Good boy, Kade! Damned creatures. Keep sniffin' 'em out boy!"

  Kaadus were known for their keen sense of hearing and smell. Kade, always the shepherded Watcher, was left to track the creatures if ever the bulbous herbivores wandered too far. Due to the malfunctioning of their gate system.

  Again.

  The young woman patted the sleek, yellowed hide with pride. A wide smile stretched across an ecru complexion; accrued from years spent in blaring sunlit grasslands with herded Shaaks. A bead of sweat trickled down one brow, a long pale silver plait matted against the nape of her neck.

  A loose beige tunic stuck to her petite frame like wet paper from the perspiring trek. "Kriffing pests huh, boy?" She rubbed the rounded head affectionately, a gesture that spoke of their long, familial bond that stemmed back to her years as a youngling...

  {Flashback}

  Thundering explosions could be heard even from the distance of her homestead. The whirring propulsions of assault armored dropships roared through the skies. Word had already stretched far of the Trade Federations blockade. Requested by the Queen of Theeds authorization, the battle for Naboo was taking place between the Gungans and The Federations army of droids within the Great Grass Plains...

  The battle would occur years before the Queens untimely passing. Not too far from her family's pasture, the grounds bore the markings of such a time. Singed into the earth were scorched, bald patches unable to cultivate vegetation. The erected Gungan monoliths remained a grim reminder to her parents of the events that later led to the assassination of the former Queen Amidala.

  Naboo had mourned her deeply, her sarcophagus lain to rest in the gardens of Theed, forever. Personally, she'd never met the Queen though Naboo had flourished abundantly under her reign. Her parents had just returned from their first trip to Theed upon the anniversary to pay their respects.

  If not for the transpiring events she wouldn't have Kade. In the leftover carnage of war, the wounded Kaadu had been incapacitated amongst the feathers of a deceased Gungan. Under careful diligence, she'd nursed him back to health and thus, a bond formed with a name bestowed.

  Bgrhh.

  The Kaadu snorted from his tethered, duck-billed snout, sensing her distraction. It brought her back to the present as they burst through a dense brush. Adjusting the leather reins reassuringly fastened, they passed under low-hanging cypress trees. The barks brittle and flaking, tufts of moss culminated into the moisturized air that echoed of nesting Peko-pekos from above, their vibrant blue tails barely visible. A cloying mist had threaded through the cambylictus trees where several pikobis hunted, their elongated sharp beaks spearing for nunas with their long tails keeping them balanced. A haze had settled over the murky waters like an ominous embrace as several pom-hoppers leaped across the lily pads with large, webbed feet in contrast to their dainty bodies.

  This is why Kade always made sure she was focused.  There were hundreds of vegetal and animal species abound, and in close proximity of Crystal Cave where the Narglatches rested in cavernous dwellings.

  Known to be nasty if preyed upon, they were hunted for their retractable spikes, teeth, and fan tails. Only by sheer luck had she never faced off with one.

  But she was weaponized.

Within the frayed satchel that was hooked to Kade, was a finger bone belonging to a slain sando aqua. Eons ago had it washed up on the shoreline village of Keren and adapted into a dagger from its intact claw. For resilience the handle had been wrapped in hornweed, a clever creation considered uncommon. It proved to be quite the sharp instrument for scavenging, foraging, and weaponry.

  "That's it, boy, follow the river."

    The clouded river of the Reillas Strait wove through the east of the swampland stretching out to the inner reaches of the underwater city of Ootah Gunga. With the ever-changing currents she was well adapted on which direction to divert. Lake Paonga sat at the edge, nestled amongst the Gallo Mountains alongside the Paonga Strait where the faambas and falumpasets nested. It was near Dee'ja Peak's farming lands. If the damned Shaaks had wandered there, she'd definitely need to be cautious; the mothers were extremely protective of the nests.

  The deluge of rain began once more, the trees providing a domed canopy. The sound was like static while drawing further into the thicket. The icy-blue foliage of the cypress trees drew forth citrus, tangling into the misted air.

  Normally the aroma would've settled her nerves in an encapsulating familiarity.

If the hairs on her neck hadn't stood on end.

It was the indication of danger that fluttered down her spine, like the wing of a capper spineflap.

The intangible presence had her abruptly holding fast to the Kaadus's neck. Shifting her weight to her arms, she vaulted off the creature and withdrew her blade. The ebony talon half of her forearm glinted menacingly in the shallow light as she stepped precariously forth.

  The presence drew closer.

Brine slipped in the crease of her lips, droplets of rain trailing down her heated flesh from the overhanging trees. It soiled her clothes and soddened the grounds that cleaved to the soles of knee-high boots, muffling her movements.

The Kaadu snorted, its slick head angled, sensing the incoming threat. It's lidded eyes flicked back and forth.

Snicket.

His head perked up as a branch crackled not ten feet beyond.

     Then, she saw it.

    Luminous, blood-red eyes glistened from out of the umbrageous foliage. Its pointed head slowly rose, cocked to the side and slitted pupils rife with intelligence fixating fiery orbs upon her.

Oh... Kark.

Waxen teeth shone in the pale light. The creature sank onto its haunches—before it shot forward.

  Reacting swiftly, she hurled herself towards the ground, seeking refuge amidst the gnarled, spidery roots protruding from the earth. Heart pounding in her chest, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "K-Kade, get outta here now!"

  She scraped up a jagged rock within reach and shucked it at the creature's hide. The creature's yellow sharp-finned tail reacted with a twitching, predatory motion whilst preparing to attack Kade.

The Kaadu emitted a large wail before it bolted.

"HEY!" she shouted.

  The creatures claw-webbed feet dug into the soft mud and deliberately turned on her.

  She surged to her feet.

Bearing down before her, its slick elongated body was more gargantuan in the open, larger than an Eqqu with a dysmorphic coloration of blue.

A Zaalaca.

Its horned head tilted once more appraisingly before it emitted a low, drawn hiss. A descendant of their ancestral line of the sando aqua; Naboo's deadliest sea monster in the planet Core. Known for its speed and visceral strength, its demonic red gaze taxed her from head to foot.

She knew it was sizing her up for an attack.

  "Oh, I don't think so," she snarled, her voice dripping with venom. The sharpened obsidian claw glimmered, reflecting the creature's own malevolence as the Zaalaca slunk forward.

But she was ready, her back arched, muscles coiled like a spring. The toe of her boot dug into the ground, anchoring her stance with its large maw opening wide. The stench of its rancid breath filled the air, yellowed, hooked teeth glistening with strands of saliva.

Although this was not her first tussle with the wilds of Naboo, she'd never faced off with a Zaalaca. Although the creatures were omnivores they were extremely territorial which never boded well for those who encroached. If she miscalculated her aim, she was as good as dead. Yet just when she readied it's strike—

   It pounced with all four claws extended.

The tip of its talon grazed a strand of hair just as she ducked, her body twisting within that pocket of air. The blade of her shoulder grazed the ground when she thrust her arm forward and plunged the dagger straight into its soft underbelly, the tip impaling the skin, saturating her in gore.

  The creature let out a feral howl, its voice puncturing the still air with a hiss, skidding off-balance across the muck, before quickly righting itself.

  Flecks of sludge clung to her bare arms as she sprang to her feet, her loose saturated tresses plastered across one cheek from relentless downpour. Through gritted teeth, she tasted the bitter remnants of the creature's blood that speckled her lips.

  With a deafening roar, it swiped a deadly appendage in her direction.

Without hesitation she lunged forward, using her entire body weight to drive the blade deep into the thick skin. The curved end plunged through muscle and sinew, impaling the writhing appendage into the saturated loam. Blood gushed from the wound, causing the creature to shriek with agony and recoil in pain. Its instinct to desperately nurse the injury left it vulnerable to her next move.

Gasping for breath she yanked the dagger out, bracing one hand against her knee as she stood. There was a deep respect Nabooians held for all inhabitants of the land. Chest heaving, her eyes bore down at the cowering, whimpering beast. The tremors that wracked down her spine, conveyed her own inferiority against the fierce animal.

  She wasn't convinced her strike was precise. Yet she did not wish to kill the creature simply for it's defense. It was best to leave before the creature regained it's strength. Zalaacas were known to be unpredictable.

  Wiping the sanguine fluid before sheathing the dagger—

  The creature suddenly vaulted through the air and slammed her into the ground.

A searing pain shot through her body, the brunt of the impact knocking the air from her lungs and sending her dagger flying. Acid saliva expelled from the beast and sizzled her skin. She screamed as it burned through flesh, its sharp teeth ripping into the muscle, nearly fusing bone. The force of the attack caused tiny blood vessels in her throat to burst from exertion, startling birds from the overhead trees.

Dark blood flowed like molten lava over the torn flesh, the venomous bite nearly leaving her paralyzed from the sheer agony —when a violent jolt seared through her body.

The jaws of the Zalaac suddenly snapped open with a massive convulsing of its body, before it collapsed to the ground.

Through hazy tears, a blurry figure slowly took form. Straining to focus, another wave of pain shot through the torn muscles, grit and debris embedded in the gelatinous fissures. She sucked in a rattling breath through clenched teeth, summoning every ounce of strength left to haul herself up into a sitting position.

   It was like trying to fight through quicksand. The intense wave of pain that wound through every nerve nearly caused her to black out. Yet she fought the black spots percolating her vision, the shadow before sharpening into focus, revealing an amphibious native to the swamplands.

A Gungan.

Inquisitive, ocher eyes bulged upon short stalks: An Ankurra. Their pinkened, lanky stature garbed in faamba skins loomed over her on three-toed legs. A long, knobbed staff was held between their four-fingered grip.

With a snort from their brazen bill, they extended one hand. A hiss slipped past her lips while she struggled to gain her footing, the Gungan backing up a step with a weary gaze.

"T-thank you," she started unsteadily, biting her lip and her shoulder searing. Her voice quivered with a whimper, "I-I'm not sure I would've m-made it."

Their eyes softened, seemingly aware of her discomfort and—quite obviously— the extent of her injuries. "Mm. Youssa berry lucky," they replied in Galactic Basic with a touch of pidgin; their native tongue. They yet appeared still calculative of her, pointing their white staff with a whetted tip towards the stiff reptilian. "Wee saa take care of Zaalacas, okey-day? Youssa goes now. Youssa notta be heeere in da swampa. Grownee hostile many."

Her brows furrowed in an effort to decipher pieces of their Basic. Her father was well more versed in Gunganese than she. She hadn't known the sentients still existed on the planet. It was rumored the Gungans had fled to one of the three moons of Naboo: Ohma-D'un.

  "It is d-dead though... right?"

The Gungan shook its head, its long floppy ears swinging with the motion. "Nosa. Berry... stunned."

She winced as a cool, dampened breeze flitted through the wetlands setting her skin once more aflame. Tears stung her eyes, beads of sweat chilling against the heated skin. "Well I'm forever..." she winced squeezing her eyes shut before adding with a grind of teeth, "I-I'm forever in your debt for this. Forgive me, there's not much I know of the Gungans other than m-myths or the history written. I'm G-Graya."

"Ahh see." The Gungan nodded, hesitating only a moment before giving their own name. "Meesa... Atta."

"Atta, it's a p-pleasure."

They gestured towards her shoulder then, a hint of concern in their ocher eyes following their formalities. "Youssa goes now, Zaalaca leaves baaad wounds. And meesa can't be caught with a Nabooian issa against orders."

"Oh, I... d-didn't know there was more of you left." Her brow quirked in surprise, squaring her chin whilst fighting to absorb the pain. "I won't say anything, p-promise."

  Atta seemed to comprehend her assurance. A calmness had finally settled in their defensive stance like a small trust had been fostered, however brittle. At this, their shoulders straightened as if remembering something of importance. "Meesa tanks. Uh youssa lookeen por lost Shaaks by chanca?"

Her head tilted in question before slowly nodding, blinking fast with a sharp exhale. "A-Ah y-yes, h-have you seen them?"

The Gungan nodded. "Yessa. Shaaks wenta thatta way passa statutes of old, by Gungans Sacred Place." The Gungan pointed towards the scallop of mountains that could be seen. Another look of caution passed through their gaze. "Not too farsa doe. Okeeday?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Graya rolled her shoulder, the frayed nerves pulsating. She swallowed hard before extending a hand, precariously gentle when she shook Attas in thanks. There lingered a fear in this Gungans eyes that would've been absent years before.

  Beyond her suffrage, it unsettled her considerably.

Not too long ago, both Gungans and Nabooians had celebrated an annual event that spoke of unity between both sentients. A show of strengthened bonds had been forged during their former Queen Amidala's, reign. Only last year had it come to an abrupt stop after Emperor Palpatine announced, "The Declaration of a New Order." She'd been in the markets that day, trading herbs for mother in Moenia, when she'd seen the holovid...

{Flashback}

Immediately she knew. This was the Galactic Senate her father had spoken of. He'd said it was where millions of sentients from thousands of planetary systems debated on how the Republic would be governed.

  The central headquarters was in the heart of Coruscant, located in the Core sector.

Although she couldn't place it, a small shiver crawled down her spine as a hooded figure stepped forth from a floating repulsorpod in the arena of thousands. Shrouded in a deep maroon velvet cloak, their bruised eyes gazed into the holo with a sickly pallor to their skin.

They blamed the Jedi for their obvious disfigurement, branding them traitors to the Republic. Their arms waved into the air as their gravelly voice announced, "To ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!"

  Other than what she caught occasionally on a holovid, to the gossip permeating the markets of Moenia, she was quite naïve to the outer worlds. Her family didn't own such communicating devices. Her father opposed all forms, choosing to lead the family in a nomadic life of solitude.

  Yet she knew when she'd seen the Emperor's speech, it had held significance.

  Importance.

  Though it remained unexplained, she'd felt a shift ripple across the atmosphere from the moment applause broke across The Senate's arena.

The birth of the Empire had left her with many questions. Emperor Palpatine had explained that greatness and stability would be brought to the new rule. But the treatment she'd seen thus far, had created her own reservations.

Though isolated from the world's politics made it hard to distinguish between truth and lies, she didn't consider herself a blind fool. Even if there were many who chose to disregard or remain ignorant to the reality.

It was a strange feeling she couldn't shake.

Her eyes slid to the Zaalaca one final time, unable to differentiate how tied their fates were. Atta's words only furthered her pity for the creature.  She couldn't bring herself to hate what its instincts were. Due in part to the Empire's stranglehold on the planet, the creature had acted on the defensive.

  Atta's right, the animals have only grown more hostile. They must sense it too.

Around the raised skin of her shoulder, the blood had started to coagulate. Bacta would-should- be able to knit the flesh back together. Hopefully, there wasn't a shortage in supply. The family's budget had tightened because of the Empire's new taxing on lands, and trades of imported to exported goods.

It was obvious the Gungan hadn't meant to reveal itself but had for her sake. She wouldn't soon forget what this Atta had done for her, briefly wondering if she'd ever see them again.

She watched as Atta began to sling several corded ropes of hornweed around the Zalacca, before she finally turned from the scene. Retrieving her dagger on an uprooted fern under the Gungans directions, she headed where the cattle had been spotted. If only so she could head back to her familiar homestead, at long last.

--------------------------------------

Q:Do you have a favorite Star Wars animal?

NOTES:

Language: Gunganese

Youssa: You

Meesa: Me

Okey-day: Okay

Nossa: No

Berry: Very

Pidgin: Native Gungan dialect with their tongue

Basic: Standard Galactic Language

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INDEX

Assault armored dropships: What the Trade Federation used to house the droids during the Battle of Naboo.

Shaaks: Bulbous herbivores native to the grasslands and used for farming as well. [Shaak ribs is a delicacy on Naboo].

Repulsorpod: Floating pod used when meetings at The Senate commenced from all galactic sentients represented by thousands of planetary systems.

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