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He crept along one tiny step at a time.

Jaina climbed up after him.

Lowbacca, agile from climbing trees and vines for most of his life on Kashyyyk, easily brought up the rear. He moved backward along the chain, still pressing one hand against his wound and holding his lightsaber with the other.

Unfortunately, the thick chains and the perilous height did not deter the combat arachnids. The spined carnivorous creatures clambered onto the chain as if it were a web they had spun.

When the companions had scrambled about halfway to where Raaba's ship had landed, Lowie bellowed an order. Em Teedee called to the others, "Master Lowbacca urges you to increase your speed, although I myself would suggest that you also exercise extreme caution."

"We're being careful, Em Teedee. Don't worry," Jacen said, easing forward a couple of steps.

"That is most reassuring, Master Jacen: However, I still reserve the right to express concern about your well-being."

As if to make Em Teedee's point, a cold, dry breeze picked up, howling in the open air. Jacen wobbled. "Blaster bolts!" he said, windmilling his arms to stabilize himself.

The chains creaked and swayed beneath him. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea."

"Maybe not," Jaina answered, glancing at the chasm below them, "but falling down there is an even worse idea. So what are we waiting for?"

Although the combat arachnids moved more slowly along the chains than the agile Wookiees, they might still be able to catch up with the humans before they reached safety. Realizing this, Lowie held his ground, wrapping his Wookiee feet around the links of the chain, bending his hairy knees, and holding his lightsaber up to defend his friends from attack. He gestured with his claws extended, urging them to go on ahead without him.

Raaba grunted encouragement to him and increased her speed, leading the way.

Tenel Ka followed, keeping her careful balance, but Jacen had trouble following as quickly. Jaina held both of her hands out to steady herself.

They crept forward as quickly as they dared, desperately making their way toward Raaba's ship, and possible rescue.

One of the horrible creatures finally reached Lowbacca, and he met it with his lightsaber. The combat arachnid reared up, using several legs to maintain its balance.

Its crimson body core glinted menacingly under the hazy sun of Kuar.

Lowie slashed with his lightsaber, but the arachnid dodged sideways, eluding the beam, In a counterstrike, it swept out a segmented leg and caught the ginger-furred Wookiee with the tip of one footpad. The blow knocked him backward--and Lowie toppled off the thick chain. Jacen and Jaina both screamed.

At the last instant, though, LoWie reached out with his free arm and grabbed one of the heavy metal links of chain. He swung beneath it, using

'his momentum to bring him up and around to the 'other side of the combat arachnid. As the creature stretched down to snatch at him, like a fisher trying to scoop a meal from a stream, Lowie grasped one of the arachnid's stable rear legs and used it to haul himself back up onto the chain.

The arachnid turned, trumpeting its outrage.

Lowie swung his lightsaber like a club and cleaved a long gash through the center of the monsters eye cluster. The creature roared and thrashed, spewing venomous saliva from its mouth hole. ' It took all of Lowie's strength to evade the arachnid's attack and reach its body core. Then, with a great growl he shoved the monster off the thick chain. It railed its many legs as it fell down, down, down, until it splattered in a starburst pattern far below at the bottom of the crater.

Lowie scrambled backward, 'getting to his feet and regaining his balance again as the other combat arachnids hesitated, wary now that they had seen their Wookiee foe emerge triumphant from battle with one of their kind.

Raaba finally reached the other end of the chain where it was anchored to the high rooftop. She sprang from the chain and stood waiting, ready to offer her help