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Near the base of the wall, Raynar stood on the scaffolding in his colorful, dirtsmudged robes. The young man worked close to them, but still independently, not yet ready to become a full-fledged member of the team. He stretched out his hands and closed his eyes, concentrating as he attempted to use the Force to nudge the lower blocks into a more stable position.

Tenel Ka was pleased to see Raynar working to improve himself. In her experience of watching him, the overconfident Raynar had usually demonstrated more interest in his importance as a Jedi than in acquiring demonstrable Jedi skills.

In general, Tenel Ka herself chose not to use the Force if she could find any other way to solve her problems... though after her left arm had been severed, she had come to realize that all skills made up a person's resources, not just their physical or mental abilities.

Below, the ronto handlers yelled at the creature, which turned from one side to the other, shifting beneath its heavy load. Confused by conflicting directions, the beast swung its head, trying to move along opposing paths but unable to decide which way to go.

Tenel Ka froze, sensing the trouble a moment before it happened.

@mpeting in distress, the ronto twitched its tail in agitation. The reptilian beast turned hal@ way around and clumsily bumped into the scaffolding supports that ran along one of the temple walls. Several Jedi trainees shouted and scrambled for cover.

A load of stone blocks tumbled from above as the vines holding a wooden pallet snapped. The blocks crashed down, banging into supports and dislodging a small keystone in the unstable portion of wall. As a result, the entire structure began to collapse.

Raynar stood right in the middle of the impending avalanche.

'Lowbacca!" Tenel Ka cried-and the Wookiee saw the boy's danger the moment she did. She leaped out into open space, somersaulting as the wall shuddered and began to break apart.

Tenel Ka landed on a support strut right beside Raynar. The boy whirled about, sensing his peril but not knowing what to do. Above her Tenel Ka saw Lowbacca grasp one of the vines attached to the scaffolding. He swung down, yowling a primal battle challenge.

With only one arm Tenel Ka could not grab Raynar and swing herself clear of the falling rocks. Thinking quickly, she did the nextbest thing: she tackled Raynar backwardjust as Lowie came careening down toward them.

Still holding on to the vine, the Wookiee slammed into the brightly robed young man, scooped him up, and whisked him away.

As Lowbacca dove aside, rocks crashed, tumbled, fell. Tenel Ka lunged out of the way, sprang down to the next level, and swung herself to the ground. Then she leaped forward with all her might, just one step ahead of the crushing stone blocks.

Though normally grim and serious, she let out an exhilarated cry that rose above the clatter of the collapsing wall. She heard Lowbacca roar in triumph, too, having landed safely with the other Jedi trainee.

Startled by the loud sound of the avalanche it had accidentally caused, the huge ronto reared and bellowed, snapping its last restraints. It lumbered off, crashing through the jungle as its handlers fled to avoid being trampled.

Trembling and panting from the exertion, her heart pounding in her ears, Tenel Ka watched with relief as the last stones pattered down. Lowie stayed close to Raynar, who huddled on the ground trying to regain his composure. The young man brushed off his robes and managed a shaky smile as other Jedi came running to make sure no one had been hurt.

Seeing two days' work collapsed around them, Tenel Ka shook her head. It was a disheartening sight... but merely a setback, not a disaster.

While the other Jedi trainees scrambled to straighten out the mess at the temple, Jacen Solo dashed into the jungle after the poor frightened ronto. He knew no one else would do it, and he was the best person for the job. Jacen had a knack for sensing imals and communicating with them.

The clumsy beast was naturally skittish, so it was hardly surprising