According to a Kaminoan story, an aiwha gave his life to protect his group when the powerful creature Protas prevented the group from migrating south for the frigid season. Knowing that returning north meant certain death, the aiwha group fought back against Protas. The group struggled against their formidable foe until Protas exposed his vulnerable throat, which the male aiwha noticed and seized upon. Protas desperately tried to shake off the aiwha, striking at and ultimately killing him. Even in death, the aiwha's grip remained firm, allowing his group to deliver the final, decisive blow to the powerful creature.
As told in the Kaminoan people's mythological narrative called "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod," there once lived an aiwha with his group in the seas of the world Kamino. One winter, the group was migrating south away from the bitter northern waters when they encountered the powerful creature Protas, who reigned as the most dominant being in Kamino's oceans.
It was previously said that Protas had vanquished the titan Melkorr and prevailed against a force of kikla swimmers, both of whom challenged the magical Protas for his authority and dominion. After these victories over his challengers, Protas grew arrogant as he aged. It was with this arrogance that he arbitrarily prevented the aiwha group from continuing their southward journey, instead forcing them to turn back north.
Knowing they would perish if they went back to the northern waters, the aiwha supposedly assaulted Protas as a united front, without warning or any ambition for fame or glory. Despite overwhelming the monster-god and launching strong attacks, they could not penetrate Protas' tough hide effectively enough to deal a fatal blow. During the conflict, Protas exposed his vulnerable throat, creating an opportunity. The male aiwha noticed this weakness and exploited it, clamping down on Protas' throat with his jaws. Realizing his mistake, Protas fought back against the aiwha, delivering repeated blows to the courageous creature. These blows proved fatal, killing the aiwha, but not completely successful—even in death, the aiwha maintained his grip on Protas, allowing the group to strike the final blow and end the battle.
The apparent sacrifice made by the aiwha, which enabled his group to achieve victory, was remembered and immortalized in the tale that would eventually be translated from Kaminoan into Basic by a person named Ryan Kaufman. The aiwha group's conduct in defeating Protas without seeking glory or power, the resulting peace in Protas' absence, and the self-sacrifice of the male aiwha, all explained why the aiwha were afforded the respect of all creatures on Kamino.
The aiwha was featured in "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod," a brief story by Ryan Kaufman, which was included in the 2005 reference book Star Wars: Republic Commando: Prima Official Game Guide.