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Tenel Ka pelted across a clearing toward the shadow of what she hoped was another patch of underbrush, but she had misjudged the speed with which the reptilian creatures could nagivate the jungle obstacles. She could feel the menacing wind from their wings as one of them swooped down directly in her path.

She sensed, rather than saw, the outstretched claws, and tried to turn aside, but slipped on rotting vegetation and fell hard against a fungus-covered log. She sensed a second pair of claws rip through the air where her stomach had been only moments before. She shuddered as twin heads cried out in rage and frustration above her, tearing at thick, tangled twigs in the brush.

Why couldn't she remember her Jedi calming techniques when she needed them? Why hadn't she practiced harder? She closed her eyes, sensed, and rolled to one side as the flying monster drove down for another attack.

The sound of dozens of wings overhead prodded her back into motion. She rolled onto her bare hands and knees, scrambled through some low thornbushes, pushed herself to her feet, and kept running.

Sense, she told herself. Use the Force.

Suddenly, she changed direction, as if by reflex. She didn't quite know why she had, for she couldn't see where she was going in the thick night, but she knew she was right. Over and over, she dodged grasping talons and the thrust of stinging tails, until she came to a thick stand of Massassi trees. At her noisy approach, a chorus of squawks and scolding chitters erupted from the trees ahead.

Woolamanders-an entire pack, from the sound of them. She had probably disturbed their communal sleep. Perhaps they would be sufficient distraction.

Tenel Ka crouched low and dove into the shelter of the close-growing trees. Surprisingly, not one of the winged monsters fol lowed. Instead, she heard their cries as they circled above and, deprived of their initial prey, hunted the woolamanders instead. The flying creatures screamed their blood lust, and the voices of the terrified woolamanders became fierce and defiant as the battle raged in the branches far overhead.

Sweat, twigs, leaves, and dirt clung to Tenel Ka's red-gold hair. She shook her head to clear it. She was almost certain that through the racket, she had somehow heard a faint, familiar voice.

"Oh please, do be careful. My circuitry is extremely complex and should not under any circumstances be-" The voice cut off a moment later with a tiny wail. Then there was a thud as something hard landed beside Tenel Ka's foot.

"Em Teedee, is that you?" she said. She groped around on the ground and picked up the rounded metallic form.

"Oh, Mistress Tenel Ka, it is you!" the little droid cried. "I shall be eternally grateful to you for this rescue. Why, you have no idea the ordeal I've been through," he moaned. "The poking, the prodding, the shaking, the tossing. And such a dreadful-"

"My night has been no more enjoyable than yours," Tenel Ka interrupted drily.

"Listen!" Em Teedee said. "Oh, thank goodness! Those dreadful creatures are leaving."

Tenel Ka didn't know whether Em Teedee was referring to the woolamanders or the giant flying reptiles, but she realized that the sounds of the overhead battle were moving farther and farther away through the canopy.

"We must make our escape immediately, Mistress Tenel Ka."

"We can't. We'll have to wait until morning. Can you keep a watch out tonight while I sleep?"

"I'd be delighted to keep a watch for you, Mistress, but must we spend the night here?"

"Yes, we must," Tenel Ka snapped, defensive now that the worst danger was over. "I need to wait until daylight so I can climb a tree and find out where we are."

"Oh," said Em Teedee. "But whyever should you want to do something like that?"

Tenel Ka growled, "Because we're lost in the jungle. This is a fact."

"Oh, dear-is that all that's bothering you?" Em Teedee said. "Why didn't you say so? After all, I am fluent in six forms of communication and I am equipped with all manner of sensors: photo-optical,