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By the second day of a four-day trip to Hoth during the Festival of Life, Din is starting to regret going somewhere so cold for the holiday. In his younger and wilder days, he could spend all day tumbling through the snowy hills of Krownest with his adoptive family and not feel it the next day; now, his joints ache, his skin aches, his face is numb, and walking through snow is the worst thing in the world. He’d put off all of the day’s activities until tomorrow while holing up in a nicely warm and dry hotel room, but he already booked Grogu for a guided tour on a Tauntaun reindeer at Tauntaun Tours for today and holiday bookings are nonrefundable. He’ll just have to put on a brave face and not think about hypothermia while waiting for the guided tour to end.
At least Luke is here to keep him company. When Din first broached the idea of riding a Tauntaun reindeer, a funny look came over the man’s face and he said, “Last time I rode a Tauntaun was when I went backpacking with Han several years ago. A Wampa stalked us for several kliks on our return trip and only left when several armed rangers came out to meet us.”
Din was horrified but Grogu only leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity and awe. “You were followed by a real Wampa?”
“Rangers showed us the scans later,” Luke said. Knowing Din was about to pull the plug on Tauntaun Tours, he quickly added, “I doubt the guided tours will take you straight into the Hoth wilderness. They stick to the known trails. Very different situation. It’ll be fine.”
Speaking of Luke, he said he’d meet Din and Grogu out in front of the hotel in five minutes and it’s been nearly ten minutes since they split after the free breakfast buffet. Grogu walks in impatient circles, trying to create perfect ones with his footprints, and Din is freezing while keeping watch. His breaths rises in white clouds around his head as he rocks back and forth, wondering if he should go back inside to look for-
“Sorry, sorry!” Luke calls out, running over to them with a hand pulling his green cap over his head and the other clutching a large deep red bundle. “Didn’t think it would take that long!”
“To do what?” Grogu calls out while carefully perfecting the circumference of his next circle.
Luke stops next to Din, breathing light and fast. His blue eyes gleam while glancing between Din and the kid. “Looking for stuff. What time is it?”
“Time to start walking over to Tauntaun Tours,” Din replies while Grogu gleefully bounds over to them and starts pulling Din down the hillside from the hotel to the bustling reindeer stables.
When Din shows no inclination to walk as fast as Grogu wants him to, the kid skips several steps ahead. Din watches Grogu but he also keeps glancing at the red bundle under Luke’s arm.
“What is that?” Din asks. “I don’t remember seeing you pack that in your duffel bag.”
“You’ll see,” Luke says serenely. “Let’s hurry up before Grogu gets stuck with an old, stinky reindeer.”
They get to the stables in time for the start of the guided tour, which includes a presentation on Hoth’s wilderness and wildlife, including the Tauntaun reindeer and its significance to the local populace. Grogu periodically leans back against Din to whisper facts he gleaned from the HoloNet in the days leading up to the Hoth trip. The kid practically vibrates with excitement as the saddled and harnessed reindeer are brought out, and he waves to Din and Luke while heading off to pick his mount for the tour.
While the tour starts moving along a plowed trail that curves over a distant hill, Din turns to Luke and asks, “Are you sure about the Wampas?”
“He’ll be fine, Din,” Luke says.
He grabs Din by the arm and tugs him away from other people. They trudge through the snow for a few minutes until the noise of the crowd dims and blends in with the sounds of winter birds and reindeer and a distant wind howling through snow-capped peaks.
“I saw this in the gift shop when we were checking into the hotel,” Luke says, holding out the large red bundle. “Made from Dray wool, so you know it’ll be extra warm even when wet. It’s in Life Day colors, too.”
He unfolds the bundle as he speaks, slowly creating a long thick scarf expertly woven with a dark red thread. Din remembers seeing all kinds of pricey winter clothing on display at the hotel’s gift shop but didn’t see this one. He can’t comprehend the cost.
“Is this why you took so long?” Din asks.
“This one’s the last one they had in this season,” Luke replies. “Yesterday, you kept saying you were cold but you didn’t want to wear a cap. So, why not a scarf? Here.”
He steps forward, the scarf untangled and held loosely in his hands. Din tips his head and shoulders down, and Luke loops the scarf around his neck. It takes just seconds for his face and neck to start warming up, and for him to actually feel something. Hoth’s frigid weather is suddenly more tolerable, all because of a scarf. He huffs, smiling behind the wall of wool covering the bottom half of his face.
“Thank you,” he murmurs.
Luke beams, eyes as bright and blue as the sky while his face flushes with happiness. He leans in to press their foreheads together, then takes Din by the hand and points to a small bustling shop across the snowy road.
“Someone at the gift shop told me that the cafe makes the best hot chocolate,” Luke says. “We can wait for Grogu there and try it out. Let’s see if theirs is better than Tatooine Grill’s.”
“Unbelievable,” Din says.
He still follows Luke across the road to the cafe, his footsteps light over snow and his heart—and face and body—full of warmth. This Hoth trip isn't so bad after all, though next year he's proposing they go to Adelphi with its breezy beaches, purgill watching tours, and year-round sunny climes.
“What are you thinking about?” Luke asks.
He puts the thoughts about the next Festival of Light aside. “Just glad you came with us this year.”
“Wasn't going to miss my first one with the two of you,” Luke replies, squeezing his hand tightly. “Come on, I can smell the chocolate from here.”
Din huffs a laugh as they bound up the steps and into the cafe.
