Native Son of Hijo (Odiya Yima)

Many years ago . . .

A native son of Hijo, Odiya grew up the well-loved heir of a village Elder. A mischievous and clever (but frankly spoiled) child, Odiya became a young man before a sense of responsibility could catch up to him. Everything changed when quiet Hijo was invaded, set to become a Republic fallback for Glee Anselm. Sacred sites were desiccated by the Republic war machines, centuries old forests burned down while fighting with the first wave of Hiji resistance. Shocked by the arrival of war and the untimely death of his father, young Yima joined the second wave.
Quick-witted and devious, Yima climbed the ranks of the People's Army of Hijo, leading his people against their occupiers as Captain Yima, the so-called "Devil-in-the-Woods" (a name intended to intimidate their foes more than lionize him to his friends. Lionizing Yima was difficult, as his outspoken love of tea and laidback manner robbed him of mystery.)
After too long fighting, it was too dangerous to stay on his home planet any longer. His friends secreted him away, and he began a long, tiring period of hiding from Republic bounty hunters. 
Then came a change in the wind, and the first Galactic Empire. Just like that, the war was over, and so was any interest in long-dead rebels. There were new rebels to contend with. 
Yima was as confused by the chaos as any, but he knew that now, after so long running, he could return home. What he might find there...he kept the thought from his mind.