[member="Cathul Thuku"] has asked Siriwook to talk about her trauma. Familiar with the subject of trauma both as a therapist and as one who has personally suffered makes Siriwook's mistress uniquely qualified to address these private places, dark places, that Siriwook goes to when she is reminded of where she's been. Taking her mistress's advice, Siriwook starts by clearing her mind. She jogs for a bit, which must look ridiculous, but it does not take as long as before and she does not fall face-first in the sand when it's time to speak. Instead, she jogs in place, slows, and finally stands, still, but speaks with her hands as she recounts the story that has existed without words within her for all this time--a story she's told to literally no one.
"[The farthest back I remember, I am at a party. It's my parents--they are going to be getting married and need to practice the ceremony first. My mother is beautiful. Hairy, like me, but with blonde hair instead of red. My father is also hairy. He has brown and black fur. And there are other wookiees--people I have never met before. They are upset about the wedding. They don't think my mother is good enough for their child, and they're mad that I exist.
"[I can't stop staring at the world around me. Everything is hard to see. It's too bright. My eyes hurt. My mother puts her hand over my eyes and, moments later, I can see. There is so much color. I don't even know the names of these colors. And, while I am looking around, I start to hear screams. I see them--the.. the...]"
Siriwook runs a small lap again before continuing. It's easier to slip back into the state. She only has to take a few steps before she feels ready to speak. She falls to her knees. She cradles herself as she continues her story. Her limbs shake a little from the effort.
"[The Trandoshans. I don't know they're called that yet. I am still very small and have not seen much of the world. But they take me. They are throwing their nets and thermal grenades. These words, I know. My mother taught me about hunting. I am being hunted. But why? My father--my kind father--he is killed. He dies almost instantly. Some of the other wookiees run toward his body, some away. All die. My mother is not running. My mother is standing still, holding a baby.
"The Trandoshans grab me. My mother finally moves. She yells. She reaches out with her hands. There is... lightning. She is using... she is using the Force! My mother uses the Force. But it's not enough. They take me. She tells them something. She's speaking their language. I don't know how. or why. I don't remember what she says. She runs away from me. She is running toward the transport we took from our home. We came from below the trees--I remember--no, I... I don't. There is only blackness that way. The Trandoshans take me to their ship. There are other creatures aboard. They yell at me, but I don't understand. The other creatures understand. They tell me in Basic to be quiet and sit in my cage. They tell me it's my only chance to live.
"The ship flies to Wasskah. We are all let out. I am tired. I am hungry. I stay with the others as long as I can. But, every day, we run. We are attacked sometimes. Other times, there is nothing. One day, I am the only one left. The others have died. I have taken what they have. I find something familiar--a bowcaster. I have used it many times, but I don't remember when or where. My body remembers what I must do, and, in my heart, I hear a voice telling me that I must not give up. One day, I talk back to the voice. I ask it when I can leave this place. It tells me it will be many years. I ask it why, but it does not say. It only says I must become strong.
"I stay there until I find the ship. The ship is on autopilot. It starts to take me somewhere, but I disable it somehow. I don't know what I'm doing. I eventually get help from a trader, then rescued.... That's it. That's all there is.]"
Siriwook stops talking and stands again, running. This time, she falls many times but gets back on her feet. Finally, she stands still. She doesn't need to run. She reaches that place without moving. She feels strangely calm now, as if the pain has been let out from her. But she turns from this feeling of peace and remembers that she's just said something... what was it? Something about her mother. Something about the darkness below. She tries to go there in her mind, but she doesn't think she can now.
"[I don't think I need to continue. There is more, but... is this enough for now? Oh, Mistress, I think my mother was a witch. No, I think.... I think she was... is... a Sith!]" Siriwook shakes her head. She falls back to her knees and beats the sand. Her fists begin to hurt, so she stops beating the sand and just covers her face. She reaches that place again. She reaches toward peace, toward Alchaka.
