Chapter Three
The malia sprang at the same time as Obi-Wan. The creature was just a blue streak in the air. Obi-Wan slashed at it and it fell with a wounded howl.
The rest of the pack rose. Obi-Wan counted swiftly. Sixteen. But there could be more in the caves. They were lean rangy creatures. One malia stepped forward and lifted its snout. Its eyes flashed as it bared its triple row of yellow teeth.
"Attractive creatures," Anakin said, his lightsaber at the ready.
"Back up slowly. Perhaps they won't attack. But if they do, don't underestimate them," Obi-Wan said rapidly as he backed up a step. "I fought them with Qui-Gon. They have very quick reflexes. They will come at us from the trees. They will try to separate and surround us."
Anakin took a cautious step back. "How did you defeat them?"
"We didn't," Obi-Wan said. "A native tribe helped us."
"You needed help?" A flicker of nerves crossed Anakin's face.
"Yes, Anakin. Even Jedi need help occasionally. So just keep backing up. very. very. slowly. Oh, and another thing. Don't look them in the eye."
"Oops," Anakin said.
The snarling pack surged forward. Obi-Wan saw a streak of blue as two malia separated from the others and headed for the trees. Another dodged to come at Anakin from his left.
"Anakin — "
"I see it — " Anakin almost stumbled, surprised by the speed the malia took on as it pounced. He barely got his lightsaber lifted in time to slash at the creatures neck.
Obi-Wan made sure his Padawan has succeeded even as he tracked another malia that was circling toward him from the left. At the same time, he kept his gaze roaming in the trees, where two malia were jumping from branch to branch. "Whatever you do, don't let any of them get behind us," he said as he leaped toward the malia, brandishing his lightsaber. The malia retreated, snarling, its eyes a flash in the shadows.
Anakin whirled to fend off two malia that were attempting to get behind him. At the same time, another malia dropped from the tree.
Obi-Wan leaped toward him to help his Padawan. Back-to- back, the two of them fought the snarling pack.
The air seemed to be full of flying fur and pointed yellow teeth. The malia attacked in a fury. Obi-Wan and Anakin had to use their feet to kick, as well as their lightsabers. Anakin was not yet able to easily use the Force to movie living objects, but Obi-Wan was able to send several malia flying with his outstretched left hand.
They continued to back away into the forest. Now they could use the trees as barriers. Anakin fought furiously. The rhythm of the battle took over his actions. His lightsaber was a red blur in the shadows, and his body became a weapon as well. He leaped, kicked, and whirled. He sent a malia flying with a well-timed chop of his hand to the animals windpipe. A strangle snarl ended in a yelp as the malia flew backward and hit a tree.
There were now eight left, half the original pack. Two were limping from the battle. The others circled, snarling. They still bared their teeth and howled at the Jedi, but Obi- Wan could see that their attack had become less focused. They had not expected such resistance.
Next to him, Anakin was breathing hard. Hid lightsaber was held firmly in his hand. Not even the slightest tremble betrayed how hard he had been working.
"Let's keep backing up," Obi-Wan murmured. "Slowly. Do not look at them directly."
Anakin gritted his teeth. "Believe me, Master. I won't make that mistake again."
The malia continued to follow them, but kept a few meters away as the Jedi retreated. Obi-Wan did not blame the malia for the attack. The Jedi had stumbled on their territory. He did not want to wipe out their entire pack.
The Jedi speeded up their pace a bit. The malia did not follow. They huddled together and roared their anger as Obi- Wan and Anakin retreated. The shadows gradually swallowed them up, and soon all the Jedi heard were their angry snarls
Anakin shivered as he deactivated his lightsaber. "The sound alone is enough to scare you," he said. "Do you think they'll follow us?"
"I doubt it. Despite their cunning, they are simple creatures," Obi-Wan said. "They were defending their home. We were lucky that it was daylight. They weren't in hunting mode."
"You mean they would have fought harder?" Anakin asked incredulously.
"And longer." Obi-Wan tucked his lightsaber back in his belt. "They would not have given up."
"And here I thought this was a peaceful planet," Anakin remarked. "Why would Wren lead us into a malia den? That seems extreme, even for Wren."
"He wouldn't," Obi-Wan said. "We must have misread the clue. Let's return to the place on the trail where we saw it."
They quickly moved through the trees, retracing their steps. They bent over the clue once again.
"It was my fault," Anakin said. "I saw the flattened at the edge of the trail, and I assumed it was Wren." He carefully searched the surrounding ground as Obi-Wan continued to study the disturbance in the dirt.
Anakin was right — it was an impression of a heel.. Wren had put too much weight on his foot, enough to leave a mark. It indicated that he had stopped here for a moment. It was an easy clue for the Jedi to follow. Wren had not bothered to conceal it or make it harder to read.
It wasn't like him. Then again, maybe it was. Wren enjoyed being inconsistent.
"Master — this way," Anakin called. "This time, I'm sure."
Obi-Wan crossed to the opposite side of the trail. Here, the level ground dropped sharply to a steep rocky hillside.
"Look, here. And here." Anakin left the trail and leaped down the slope from rock to rock. "He went this way."
Obi-Wan followed. It was important to let Anakin lead. That was part of the point of the exercise.
Anakin made his way down the steep slope, his footing sure and swift. They reached the bottom of the slope and immediately plunged into a forest so thick that the overhanging branches shut out all light. They paused for a short moment so that their eyes could adjust. The trees were tall, with long, flat leaves and vast trunks with thick, peeling bark. Anakin began to study the ground again.