Chapter Three

While Lisa was doing her scouting, Luke sat cross-legged in the grass and shut his eyes, focusing with the Force. Life flooded his senses – not just animals but plant life and down to the smallest single-celled organisms.

He kept his breathing slow and even, keeping his presence as non-interfering and non-threatening as possible. If he and Lisa were to establish anything here, they had to be sure to coexist peacefully with the native flora and fauna.

And what flora and fauna! The insects, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, marine life, and avians – even the trees and flowers – lit the Force up like beacons.

From the sensations in the muscles in his shoulders and legs, he felt that Lisa had landed somewhere. He sensed her curiosity, wonder, and a little giddiness. He recognized the feelings as what she experiences when she speaks to an animal for the first time. She must have found some friendly local wildlife. He was looking forward to hearing all about it.

Luke continued to meditate while Lisa did what she does best. He tried to convey that they meant no harm to any creature or their home; they’d been sent there to help others.

He felt when she took off again; she was still excited, and he could feel every flap of her wings in his shoulders. She must be coming back.

“Made a friend?” he asked with a smile the moment her feet touched the ground.

“Two,” she answered, reaching down to offer him a hand up.

Luke was about to ask when he saw an extremely colorful bird land on her shoulder. It couldn’t have been any bigger than her palm; if it wanted to it probably could have hidden in her hair.

The bird chirped, bobbing a little up and down, tilting its head this way and that in an inquisitive way.

“This is Plum,” said Lisa. “Plum, this is Luke.”

“Hello,” he said. After five years together, speaking to random animals did not faze him at all.

Plum chirped and whistled, canting its head to one side and tapping a foot twice on Lisa’s shoulder.

She smirked. “Yes, he’s my partner.”

Luke had a feeling “partner” was not the word Plum had used, but before he could ask the bird hopped over to his shoulder and seemed to be looking him over.

“Plum sits on the back of a mud yak and eats the bugs off his fur,” she explained. “She knows the river you’ve been seeing.”

He had to control himself to not frighten the little bird. “Really?” he asked, trying to keep his voice even.

Plum chirped, bouncing.

“She’s offered to lead us there.”

Luke tried to look at Plum but she was bouncing along his shoulders too much. He gave up after a minute and just said, “Thank you, Plum. Lead the way.”

End chapter three

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