Work Text:
The Ceremony
‘Being a part of someone else’s life, their traditions and culture can be really rewarding.’
They were all gathered around the ceremonial place with the scorched earth around them still smoking from the fires caused by their enemy’s attack and the battle having taken place there.
The once revered and worshiped statues carved longs since out of wood to stand the testament of time were a mere memory now. Most of them having been burnt in the fires caused by their enemy.
But that did not deter the remaining villagers coming there. As all of the Wookiees present having gathered there with their allies, the Bad Batch. All of them taking part in the ceremony. The one to honour their fallen. Their brothers, their sisters, their family.
The low hum started as soon as they had all settled into the quiet peaceful sounds of the nature around them. The hum reverberating with the soft winds carrying it. Leaving the sounds rising high up into the skies through the trees of the forest around them.
“What is that sound?” Omega whispered to Echo who was standing closest to her.
“It’s a prayer. A song of sorts the Wookiees chant to honour their dead.” Echo tried to be as discreet and quiet as possible so not to disturb their hosts already deep in the state of trance associated to the ceremony.
Omega could only nod. Because while this was all new and interesting to her, she did not want to dishonour the ceremony nor the traditions of her new found friends.
As that was what they had all become. Friends. Clone Force 99 having helped the Wookiee villagers in fending off their would be enslavers, their common enemy. The Empire and their minions the Trandoshans. At least for now. Having pushed the war away from their home for a brief moment.
It was far from a permanent nor ideal situation. As with only the battle won while the war still raging widely on their planet and their people in danger. But for now, that was all forgotten. For the moment of the ceremony for the dead.
The low hums soon escalated into a full blown rhythmical chant. The soft thumping of the ceremonial drums being beat to the vocals emanating from all the Wookiees present there. If this was any other occasion, it would have invited everyone to dance due to the simple rhythmic beat of the singing and drums. Alas, this was not the time nor the place for that.
As the continuous and somewhat monotonous but not without nuance chanting continued, the guests of the Wookiees the Batchers were taken by surprise of what expired next.
With Yanna, the village elder had taken centre place among the rest of her people. The vocals springing forth from her were like nothing any of the visitors had heard before. As to outsiders hearing such beautiful and crystal clear sounds emanating from a Wookiee were surprising at best. With their spoken language hardly preparing those not knowing how beautifully they could really sing.
The harmonised vocals were completely enthralling as they all listened to Yanna’s singing with teary eyes. All of the team members. As were the Wookiees too shedding their own tears. It was a touchy yet joyous moment just the same. As the Wookiees believed for death to only be the next step in their life cycles.
The song sung by Yanna was consisting of names of those fallen. Included with prayers to the trees around them. Mother Nature and even the Force to take care of those having passed the bridge. And for a safe journey to them in reaching their next destination.
This was unexpected at best. But the team felt both honoured and humbled in having been included in this ceremony of the Wookiees. Something which only a few outsiders having ever had the honour and privilege in taking part of.