Padme woke up to the sound of something rustling around in the woods that was behind the tent, but that wasnt what woke her up. She just laid there, and when she heard it, she thought it was some kind of animal call. It was the same chirping sound that she has been hearing for the past four days, since she has been here. Each time that she hears it, it seems to be getting closer and closer to the village. Padme rolled over to her left side and saw that Anakin was sound asleep. She was wondering why him and Obi-Wan did not sense the presence of something roaming around outside the tent.
Outside the tent was a very small creature. It looked mostly like a shadow, but with red eyes, and a mouth full of pointed, razor sharp like teeth. It sniffed around the edge of tent and smelling the occupants that were sleeping inside. Off in the distance, a small short whistle sound came that ended in a long chirp. Then, the small shadow raised its head up and sniffed the air again. This time, it smelled one of the dog like creatures heading in its direction. With a movement, the creature melted into the shadows of the predawn morning.
Are you ok, Padme? Anakin whispered, as he felt the young Senators emotions.
Yes, am fine. I just thought I heard something, is all. Padme smiled, before trying to close her eyes and go back to sleep.
Really? What did you hear? Anakin asked.
Well, for the past few days, I have been hearing some kind of whistle, followed by a chirping sound. At first, it was at a very far distance, but now the sound is very close by. Padme told Anakin.
Yeah, I heard it too. I can tell that something else is bothering you Anakin asked, as he was began to wonder what was really bothering Padme.
Yeah, I have this feeling that there is something more going on here. There is something that the Rollians are not telling us. Something very very evil is here. The day that I got here, I thought I saw something in the shadows of the woods, but it disapperared in the shadows. Padme let out a sigh.
Are you sure? I havent really felt anything. Anakin yawned.
Really? Nothing evil? Padme also began to yawn.
Wait a minute. There was one time that I did feel a little something that was evil, and that was the day you got here. Anakin closed his eyes.
Ok, where and what were you doing? Padme yawned and began to doze some.
Obi-Wan and I went hunting. I felt there was something that the hunters told us. That if you go into the mountains, you never come back alive. They will not go into the mountains, because they say there is something evil up in those mountains. Anakin began to fall back to sleep.
I see. There is one thing for sure, something is evil here. Padme also fell back to sleep.
Later in the day, Padme got together with Dorme, Corde and Captain Typho, along with the two Jedi, as they sat around the small table in the tent.
Im telling you, earlier this morning, I felt that there something was rustling around in the woods that was behind the tent. Then, I heard a whistle followed by a chirping sound before dead quiet. Padme looked around the small group.
I did not hear anything. Are you sure it just wasnt an animal that you heard, rustling around behind the tent? Dorme looked at Padme.
Yes. Am pretty sure it wasnt an animal The day we got here, I saw something in the woods watching us. I have also noticed that the whistling and chirping sounds started out in the far distance, but this morning, it sounded about 50 to 100 yards away from the village. Padme had that look that she was thinking about going and confronting the Rollian king.
I did not hear anything. On the first day when we got here, I did see something in the woods. It was far in the shadows, so it was a little hard to see what it was. My first thought, was that it was a trick of the sun light. Corde also looked over to Padme, before looking over to Dorme and Captain Typho.
So Master Kenobi, have you and your Padawan felt anything? Captain Typho asked.
No, I have not really felt anything. Um . . . wait a minute. The only time I did feel anything that was an evil presence, was on the day that you guys showed up. That was when we went with the hunting party and it felt like it was coming from the Mountain region. Obi-Wan looked over to Anakin, who nodded in agreement that he too felt the evilness in the Mountains.
Shh . . . Someone is coming up to the tent. Anakin motioned for everyone to keep quiet, when he felt a presence coming up to the tent.
Hello. Anyone in here? Latuna called out from outside the tent door.
Please, come in. Padme called out to the young lady.
I am letting you all know that lunch is ready. Latuna came into the tent and looked around at the small group, before her eyes stopped on Anakin.
Thank you. We will be there shortly. Padme told the young lady and dismissed her from the tent.
Latuna nodded back and left the small group, to head back to the dinning hut.
Well, we better get going. We will now keep our ears open to these sounds. Obi-Wan got up from the chair and the group followed him from the tent.
They walked across the compound and walked into the dinning tent. Then, they went up to the long table and sat down. Padme looked around the room and she noticed that the King and six of his men were not here in the tent. She also noticed that more of the villagers were not here in the village.
Excuse me, Your Highness. I have noticed that your husband and some of his men are not here Padme leaned over and asked the queen, as they sat down and waited for the food to be served.
Oh, yes. The scouting party came into the village really early this morning. They told him about a huge heard of Rampoos down by the lake, and they should be coming back really soon. The queen looked over to the two Jedi.
Well, am hoping to get this treaty written up and signed today. The longer we are away, our absence will be noticed. Padme looked over to the two Jedi also.
Yes, I understand. When he gets back, I will let him know that the three of you want to work out the treaty. The queen nodded, just as the food began to come out of the cooking hut.
They ate their food and still the hunting party never showed up. This caused Padme and the Jedi to wonder even more, that something was going on.
Do you find it strange, how the king and his hunting party just leave right when we need to write and sign a treaty? Padme noticed, as they walked across the compound, on their way to their tent. It was also very quiet in the village.
Yes, it is very strange. I have also noticed that there seems to be less people here in the village, since we have been here. Obi-Wan stopped next to the fire pit and noticed one of the villagers looked at them nervously, before ducking into her tent.
Ok. Now, that is very strange. Padme also saw a teenager run across the compound, as if they needed to get inside her tent, as to hide from something.
I feel that there is fear in the village, but why? Anakin saw a couple more women hurry very quickly across the compound and closing up their huts too.
The small group looked around the village. They saw that the occupants were shutting the windows and doors, locking them up tight. Then, they began heading to the tent and they laid down for their mid-afternoon nap. After dinner, Padme and Anakin noticed that the villagers were getting a little bit more nervous, because the king and the hunting party still havent come back to the village. !