Dreamwalker's dilema {the book}

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: please do not comment on this page, only on Dreamwalker's dilima page. the author Appreciates your help.)
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CHAPTER 1
Life and reality officially sux

THUMP...THUMP...THUMP went the multi-colored bouncy ball that my Dad gave me when I was 10 as I threw it against the wall in front of me. A small area was indented into the wall after years of my ball going against it. I only throw it when something was bugging or frustrating me. Ant this was no exception.
    I glared at this indent as I throw the ball again. THUMP. I frowned and sighed explosively. "I can't write to save my life", I growled softly. THUMP. Finally done with punishing the wall for my anger, I put the ball on the desk next to my bed and laid down. Great, I thought as I put my hands behind my head, Shakespeare could write Romeo and Juliet, Paolini could write Eragon, but i can't write a f***ing book report?? Only silence answered my call.
    I sighed again. Ms. Carter decided to give every class she had a book report to do over Winter Break that was coming up. But you'd think that being a strait A kid and being the teacher's favorite would grant you immunity from a torture every High Schooler hated. Nope. Darik was right, I thought as I glanced at the alarm block on the nightstand on the other side of my bed, no matter how nice or friendly he or she is, teachers are evil and rotten to the core.
    "ASH NICKOLAS BLACKSTONE!", I heard my mother screech, "You get your @$$ down hear this INSTANT!"
    I flinched, then slowly got up off my bed with a groan, opened the door, and walked towards the stairs. You could never determine if it was a your-in-trouble-mister call or an I-need-your-help call, but you know you've pissed off the bull when your parent uses your full name.


    "What is this?", my mom said in a disturbing calm tone. She was holding up a dirty bowl in front of her. My face stayed neutral, but I broke into a sweat. Me and Darik used the same bowl earlier to do the old Mentos and Coke experiment....Lets just say we won't be trying anything like that again anytime soon.
    "I—", I started to say weakly.
    "Don't", she said, shaking her head, "just don't. I do not want to hear what you have to say, Ash."
    She set the bowl down on the counter, leaned against the sink, and folded her arms, glaring at me.Oh, crap, hear it comes.
    "How many times do I have to say this, Ash? You are suppose to put all the dirty dishes in the washer." She tapped the brand new washing machine she had installed last week.
I froze for a second, then inside I sighed with relief. Mom was the Manager of the Blue Cross, Blue Shield downtown. It was a great thing.  My mom gets a huge paycheck, which is what let her install the washer. But ever since she saw a guy come in through the front doors of the building covered head to toe in blood 3 years ago, she's been squeamish around anything filthy. She has a maid come in every week to clean the house, and when she wasn't there, mom expected me to clean every dish in existence just so she didn't have to see filth every time she passes the sink.
    I stood on one foot, then the other, just to make it seem that I was still nervous, although I already knew I was in the clear. "Does this mean I'm still in trouble?", I asked.
    She glared at me for another second, then sighed and unfolded her arms, her eyes taking a more sympathetic look. "No, but I'm warning you only one more time. I see another dish", she pointed at the bowl next to her, " like that not in the washer, I'll be grounding you for Gods knows how long. Alright?"
    Of course I wasn't alright with being grounded for months on end, but I said "ok" just so she wouldn't get on my back.
    " I will be grounding you, though, for the entire time your at you're dad's."
    My head was down, so of course it snapped up. My eyes grew wide in panic. " But mom! It's Christmas Madness on Live all weekend! I cant miss that. It's just a stupid bowl."
    "And they are my stupid rules. You will follow them when you are in this house and you will pay for the consequences of your actions."
    "But—."
    "But nothing.", she said, cutting me off for the second time that night. She wagged her finger at me like she use to when I was little. "You are grounded, and that is final. Now go get washed up. We are having Chinese tonight."
    I looked at her one more time with pleading eyes, but it was obvious she wasn't going to change her mind. My shoulders sagged in defeat as I shuffled towards our downstairs bathroom. Now how are I and Darik going to enjoy our vacation? 'Oh, and honey, to top off your grounding, we are having your favorite take-out for dinner. Hope that takes away the pain of not getting to do anything during Winter Break'. That's it. Life officially sux.


    After an agonizing dinner with the devil's wife, I ran upstairs to brush my teeth. Before I left the bathroom, I looked myself over in the mirror. Same old brown hair, blue eyes, and tall stature. I was really tall for a 15-year-old, (half an inch from 6'1), and I was glad. Most of the bullies at school were shorter then me, and for some reason that gave me a command over them. I smirked at the memory of T.J. getting an atomic wedgy from Connor that popped into my head. But the smirk left just as fast as it came. The book report. Damn.
    Oh well, I thought as I got into my room and did a flying tackle to my bed, I'll just do it over vacation. Not like I'll be doing anything else. I rolled my eyes and looked up at the Avatar poster on my ceiling.
    I smiled wolfishly. The movie has been out for only a year, but I still think that it was f***ing awesome. But I always forget something, like how Neytiri sounds or what exactly happened during the destruction of Hometree, and for that odd reason, what I forget only makes the movie better the next time I see it.
    I glanced at the scattered papers on my desk, one reading Na'vi Language. Maybe Darik was right when he said I was too obsessed with the movie. Nah, I thought, you're a real skxawng for not trying the language, Darik. That was my last thought befor I fell asleep.


    ....White, blinding light dominated my entire vision. I couldn't feel or do anything, like someone had strapped me to the wall. I heard multiple voices overlapping each other, and I couldn't understand a thing they were saying. The light and the growing loudness of the voices was really starting to hurt my head, But then a female voice of timeless age spoke, quieting the others. Come, my child, come...come....


    I woke in a cold sweat, breathing hard, my heart racing. I grabbed at my chest as if my heart was about to break out of my ribs. I tried to slow my breathing. What the hell was that?, I asked myself. Only silence answered. I've never had a dream like that before. I let go of my chest and looked at the clock on my desk. 2:30. I groaned and flopped back onto my bed, entirely forgetting the dream. Scratch what I said before. Now life and reality officially sux.
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(don't worry. it doesn't seem like it deals with Avatar now, but it will around chapter 4)

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: this is my first book so if it seems bad then now you know why)
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CHAPTER 2
My dad goes Dr.Phil on me

    I looked out the window next to me on the plane, listening to Darik chomp away at peanuts in the background. I was glad that I was finally away from the stress and tension that was always between me and my mother these days. She could of fooled you with all the tears and hugs she gave me back in the little airport the community hade built a wile back.
    "Now you call me every day when you get the chance, ok?", she said between sobs.
    "Of course I'll call you mom. I always do."
    "Well I just want you to remember, ok?" She bear hugged me before I could give her an answer.
    Darik was a few paces away, rolling his eyes like he always did when my mother started to act up. His parents didn't do that kind of thing to him. In fact, they couldn't, cause they had left two hours earlier to take a week-long vacation on some cruise ship. Darik had nowhere else to go, since the cruise was only for adults, so my dad offered him a stay at his place for the holidays. Darik's parents jumped at the opportunity, which only confirmed my suspicions: that both families were happy for us to finally be gone, we were great kids, we get A's in school, and they love us to death.
    Go figure.
    "Hey dude", Darik said, interrupting my thoughts, "Did you bring your 360?"
    I looked at him and smirked. "You know I was grounded from everything for the entire vacation, right?"
    "Yeah, but did you?", he said, winking at me and playfully nudging me in the ribs.
    I smirked again, and he smirked too. We were both thinking the same thing. You see, my dad was a sucker for sympathy. I told him about my "death sentence" yesterday afternoon and when I was done he had said, "I guess I'll just have to go by her rules", but I knew that the silly, jack-@$$ tone he was using meant he wasn't going to. He was always being rebellious of my mother's rules since their divorce 4 years ago, especially when it came to her paranoia towards filth. I knew without him saying it that he agreed that grounding me for forgetting to put a stupid bowl in the washer was a bit harsh.
    We both held up our fists. We said "oh rah!" at the same time and pounded it.
    "Now if you'll excuse me", I said, "I'd like to upgrade my good mood with some Shinedown".
    He did a guitar-solo action, wildly bobbing his head up and down. "Rock on, brother!"
    I nodded and got my headphones out of my bag. Before I could put them on, a hot flight attendant came by and asked Darik, "would you like some peanuts, sir?"
    "I'd love some!" I shook my head and closed my eyes. I heard some rustling of plastic bags and a quiet "thank you" from my friend.
    Maybe I should start calling him the Pillsbury dough boy
    I turned on my IPOD and selected "the sound the madness", letting Shinedown blow my brains out.

    "Yeah I get that you're an outcast,
    Always under attack, always coming in last,
    Bring up the past, no one owes you anything...
    I think, you need a shotgun blast, a kick in the @$$,
    So paranoid, watch your back!
    ...Alright, hear we go...


    "Dude, I swear, if I have to hear another 'do you want this, sir' or 'do you want that, sir', I'm going to blow a fuse".
    We had just gotten out of the gate our plane landed in. I had left Darik to go to the bathroom while I went to Dunk's to get some iced coffee. Once I got back from some iced goodness-in-a-cup, Darik was staring at the national monument that stood for New york.
    I nudged his shoulder. "Dude".
    "what? Oh, yeah I heard you, dude", he said without even turning. "I don't really pay attention to what they say. I just like to stare at their—".
    "Yeah, I know what you like to stare at", I said sarcastically, "I'm the one who taught you to check out girls".
    "Yeah....", he said, drifting. A few seconds went by before he said, "Dam, that is one big-@$$ green lady".
    "Statue of Liberty. Seriously dude, you need to pay attention in history class".
    Darik tore his gaze away from the "big-@$$ green lady" with eyes wide as he held up his hands in defense.. "Hey, it isn't my fault Ms. Dicaro is so boring that I fall asleep".
    I looked at him with a eyebrow raised, but I had to give him credit for being Wright. Ms. Dicaro was well into her 70's, and to top it off, she's suffering Alzheimer's disease. She started a class once and in mid-sentence fell asleep, which started a riot of 6^th graders parading around the school in their underwear. You don't want to know what happened in the end but needless to say I was surprised she kept her job.
    He shook his head wildly. "Are we suppose to be waiting for your dad or something?"
    "Nah, I'm just waiting for you to get you brains back".
    He lightly punched me in the shoulder, but I knew he was joking. "seriously man".
    "Ok, ok". Now it was my turn to raise my hands in defense. "dad won't be able to pick us up, so we'll be getting a cab". Dad worked late as a construction worker, and they have been working on a project for the past 2 months on a new building. I won't be surprised if I don't see him at all tonight. "Come on".
    We walked off following the signs that would lead us to the front doors of the airport.


    I got the key under the mat and unlocked the door to my dad's apartment. I went in with my friend trailing behind, looking around in awe. He was used to my mom's house, which was pretty high tech. But dad's place was a whole different story. All he had for a "house" was 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Everything but the three plasma's was low tech., from the microwave to the insulation. The plasma's I have no idea how he got them, but I could really care less. And with a glance at the one in the living room confirmed that my dad was still at large with the ODST firefight thing.
    I took a deep  breath and the smell of cologne, wood chips, and rotting rug filled my nostrils. I exhaled and smiled. O yeah, it was good to be home.


    I murmured a "woof", indicating that I was stuffed senseless with mike's pizza. I was laying on the under-stuffed couch, watching Darik get his @$$ kicked at HALO 3 multiplayer by some online people, waiting my turn. I would have installed my 360 into my room with the plasma in there, help humiliate Darik some more, but after eating so much of mike's pizza I decided otherwise.
    Holding up the note dad left on the counter for me, I re-read it to make sure I didn't miss or mess up anything.

    Ash,
    It's great that you'll be staying with me for winter break. I can't wait to see you. I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up today. Tensions     aready as high as it is. Since the bulldozing incident, My boss has been on a firing streak and there is no end in sight to it. If I were to take the day off, I'd be sure to expect my position filled the next time I go to work. But I'll make it up to you. Under this letter is $30. Use it to get something from mike's. I heard that they have a new topping that you might like. I'll try to get home as soon as I can, although I don't knoe if I'll be forced to do a late shift. Love you.
                                                                                                                                            DAD
    P.S. If I get back soon enough, I'll help you kick Darik's @$$. Easy pray.  
    P.S.S. Do you mind helping me with your Na'Vi language? I've been working at it but haven't gotten gone anywhere with it.  

    I smiled at the letter. It was a bit shocking to hear that he was learning the language too. He didn't show much interest in Avatar when I forced him to go see it with me in the IMAX in July. In fact, he looked so bored with it that I think he fell asleep once during the movie. To hear that he was learning Na'vi made me happy for him.
    "Eat it. EAT IT!" Darik's taunt  interrupted my thoughts. "Yeaahh. I'M THE JUGGERNAUT B****!"
    Immediately a sniper took him down. Dom's voice came through, "Next time, don't taunt so loudly. I might of left you alone if you did".
    I started to crack up. "sniped" was all I could get out before I fell of the couch laughing. "that was classic!", I said with tears in my eyes.
    Darik frowned and through the controller at me. " Fine, Mr. Hotshot, lets see you do better". I just grinned as we switched places.
    My dad got home at the exact same time the session was over. He didn't say anything at first, which was good cause I wanted to rub in my victory a little.
    Darik just stared at the screen, looking  at the scores. "How...the hell...do you do it?", he asked, mouth open with shock.
    ' It's called patience", I sneered as I poked him in the chest, "The more you practice, the better you get".
    "He's right you know", Dom chimed in, "At the beginning of the year he s***ed, now he is owning everyone".
    "Well then", My dad's deep voice broke in, "
He's going to get a rude awakening, cause I've been practicing".
    I froze for a second. (who knew that such a big man could move so quietly?) The next second, I had the controller down, jumping over the couch, and bear hugging him all in one motion. "dad, I missed you!"
    Hey, me too kid". He hugged me back, then pushed me back and had his hands on my shoulders, looking me over with a prideful look. "Dam you've gotten big! What have they been feeding you, artificial growth hormones?"
    "I only wish, dad", I said, grinning up at the colossal figure that was my father. The guy was 5 inches taller then me and much more bulkier in muscle. He could make Mike Tyson and Hulk Hogan go cry for their mommies, which is ironic considering that I've been called Mike Tyson ever since I punched T.J.'s lights out at school last December.
    For some reason my dad's features went from pride to worried. "You ok, son? You look a bit pale".
    "I'm fine, dad".
    "You sure?" He held a hand to my forehead. "No temp...."
    I swatted away his hand. "I'm ok, dad. Really". When did my dad go from God of War to Dr. Phil all of a sudden?
    He looked at we for another moment before he cracked a smile. "I must be seeing things, Ash. Sorry kiddo, my bad. You just looked sick for a moment there". He shook his head and looked over my shoulder. "So, who's kicking who's @$$?"
    "Me, naturally", I said as I smirked, but it was a fake smirk. I've known my dad forever, and I knew when he was actually happy or when he was just faking it for the relatives, and right know I could tell when he was still worried about me.
    But I tried to put it out of my mind. I pointed at the fridge. "We left some dinner for you in case you were hungry".
    "Thanks kid, I'm starved!", he roared. Then he laughed and started for the kitchen, only to stop and point at Darik as he grabbed the controller. "Don't start just yet. I want to help Ash humiliate your @$$ on some HALO before I turn in for the night.
    "My thoughts, exactly", I said and laughed. My dad joined me. Darik just pouted like a 6-year-old.
    I loved it when my dad acted more friend then father.


    Boom! Went my shotgun as I took out another noob on live.
    "Owned", I murmured. I wasn't really paying attention to the match. It was just to get the things I've been thinking about out of my head.
    It wasn't really working.
    My dad had been annoying me ever since he got home. He didn't voice his worries, but I could tell by the glint in his eyes that he was still wondering if I was sick or not. I couldn't be. I looked the same at mom's house as did hear. If my mom had noticed something, should would of voiced her worries as well.
    I frowned, remembering how my dad had kept looking at me to make sure I wouldn't collapse or something.
    I swear, he watches that stupid Dr. Phil show too much.
    I sighed, then got up and turned off the 360 that was in my room. HALO just wasn't helping my nerves.
    I got into my bed, but I didn't want to go to sleep because of the other thing that was bugging me. I had another weird dream of that female voice again. But this time I was able to yell out, "Who are you?" she actually replied to my shout. Calm, my child, she had said, you will see all soon..... then I woke.
    I covered my face with my hands and groaned. Whatever was causing these bizarre dreams, I really wanted them to stop.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 3
Collision problems

    We walked out of my dad's apartment building towards Broadway to go look at the stores. It's been four days since my last dream, which is a good thing cause I haven't had any like it since then. Tomorrow was Christmas, so Darik said we should go check out what New York had to offer. I agreed it was a good idea, so we grabbed the $600 that we had earned and headed out into the world.
    How we got the money is a semi-funny story. We decided last Sunday afternoon that we needed spending money for ourselves, but I knew that dad wouldn't be able to give it to us. So, we had to come up with some way to earn the money. What Darik finally came up with was, "I'm gonna sing!"
    At that moment, I thought he had gone nuts, but I said "alright" and let him go for it. I was pretty sure that he was going to crash and burn hard and humiliate himself, but it never happened. In fact, he had a good crowd going.
    He preformed a few blocks away from Broadway, said he didn't want a lot of attention. He wasn't going to do Christmas carols either. Said singing "chestnuts roasting on a open fire" every x-mas with his family was good enough for him. I could relate to his pain.
    I didn't go with him cause I was sure he was going to be a big crybaby when he found out that no one liked his singing. I've never heard him sing, so I wasn't completely sure if he was good or not.
    I played my 360 for an hour after he left, then my curiosity got the better of me and I went to go check up on him, expecting him to be sitting on the curb crying.
    Boy was I wrong.
    A small crowd, no more then 15 people, was at the spot where Darik said he'd be. Before I could get through the thong of people to see what was going on, I heard someone start to sing. It sounded like Shinedown, Godsmack, and Lifehouse were singing "Hey Soul Sister" from Train (which is one of my favorite songs). I finally got through the crowd to see that it was Darik that was causing the commotion.
    I was amazed. I mean, damn, I was a good gamer, but that guy could sing!
    When he was done everyone clapped, including me. I went over to him and said, "what the hell is going on, man?"
    He smirked at my amazement. "what do you think?" He bent over, grabbed something from a container, and got back up. He handed me $100. "so, you gonna help, or what?"
    I smiled at the memory as a cold wind slammed against my face. Thanks to Darik, we could buy pretty much anything from any store unless it was really expensive.
    "I owe you one, dude", I said through chattering teeth.
    "No problem.", he said, "Just as long as you get me something for Christmas, I don't really care what I have to do for you". He punched me in the shoulder playfully. "That is what friends are for, right?"
    I nodded, the cold making it hard to respond to his question.
    "Let's shop till we drop!" he pumped both of his fists into the air and hooted. People passing us by on the sidewalk looked at us strangely, but didn't say anything.
    "Shop till we drop...", I chattered.
    He gave me the "eye-brow lift" look that I always gave him. "Dude, you really need a better jacket. Lips are already blue", he teased.
    "Oh, shut up. Maybe it will be the first thing I'll buy."
    He laughed and patted me on the shoulder. "Whatever you say, man, whatever you say...".


    I got out of Barns and Noble with a book on 'Cooking for beginners' for my dad and the latest HALO book for Darik. I knew he wasn't much of a reader, but anything HALO was worth buying for him. (And for me of course).
    Following me out of the Barns, Darik said, "Dude, bookstores are sooo boring! I don't know how you can like books so much."
    "Hey, everyone has their likes and dislikes. I like books....and you like 20-year-old flight attendants."
    "O, so your planning to take a novel out for a date?", He said sarcastically, making smooching noises.
    I shoved him. We laughed at his funny. "Yeah, it would be a lot better then trying to hit on a flight attendant. You couldn't flirt with a girl to save your life." I glanced at the streetlights. No one was coming, so I kept on walking across the street.
    "Well it's not like your in the same situ....oh s***! Ash!"
    You know how sometimes you get into those situations were everything seems to slow down? Like really f***ing slow down so much that no matter how hard you try you cant go any faster then you want to? Yeah, that's how I was feeling.
    I started to turn my head, trying to see what Darik was so panicky about. A loud screech of tires on wet asphalt filled my ears. Pain exploded into my side, then in my head. I felt myself flying, the world spinning like a multi-colored pinwheel. "Wha..." was all I could think before I blacked out. I didn't even feel the ground....


    "Oh f***!", Darik cried.
    It happened so fast that I had to blink. Some drunken idiot wasn't paying attention to the road and had hit Ash. It was like that slow motion scene from that Matrix movie where Neo was dodging bullets. Except there was only one bullet and it was the size of a small trailer...and Neo had no time dodge it.
    The truck first hit Ash in his side, which made him fly off the pavement and crack his head against the truck's windshield. He flew of the truck's top and landed onto a parked car, cracking his head, again, against the car's hood.
    I was stunned into place for what seemed like forever when it was only three seconds. The honking of horns broke my trance, allowing me to run to my friend. I ignored traffic as I yelled, "No!", even though it was already too late.
    I landed on the car's hood and picked Ash up. He had blood covering half of his face, his left arm bent at a unnatural angle. "Ash...", I said as I shook him, "ASH!"
    He slumped against me with no response.
    I looked around me wildly, fear and anguish built up in my chest, my tears half blinding me.
    "SOMEONE CALL 911!", I yelled.


    ....Today was just not my day.
    I felt like I was in that strange dream again, with the blinding white light. But it went on forever. There were voices, some of them seemed familiar. They were shadowy figures, but thanks to the light they were masked as silhouettes. And the pain...the pain was terrible. I couldn't think, couldn't speak....
    I couldn't take the searing hot pain that seemed to flow through every vain in my body. I let darkness envelop me....


    Ash's dad crashed through the hospital doors, ignoring everyone as he went through the halls. I had only one goal: to see my son.
    When I heard that Ash was in an accident, I immediately left work. My boss said that if I left work that he would fire me. I just turned around and said "s**** you! My son is the hospital, and I'm not about to let some over-weight son of a b**** stop me from seeing him!"
    I had stunned everyone I worked with into silence. I was usually the good worker, always obeying orders. But I was too upset to reason with my boss. Plus, he was getting on everyone's nerves, and I was no exception. My boss didn't say anything as I left, which was a relief.
    207,207,207, where the f*** is 207?!? I found it before I went ballistic and went in.
    Ash was in the only hospital bed in the room, a bunch of IV's strapped to his arms. A monitor that was watching his heartbeat beeped at a steady pace.
    Darik was at one of Ash's sides, sobbing. You knew some one was your best friend when they were at your side worried sick about you and crying their eyes out.
    Ash's condition finally sank in. I shuffled to the other side of Ash and slumped into a chair. My son...in the hospital....
    Darik tried to choke back a sob, but to no avail. "I should have looked out for him more, I should have...". He sniffed, took out a Kleenex, and blew his nose. "It's my fault that he's dying." He broke into tears again.
    "It's not your fault...and he is not going to die", I growled. But...will he?
    A doctor looked into the room, spotted me, and walked in. "Are you the boy's father?", he asked.
    "Yes." I immediately stood. "Is he going to be alright? Please tell me he's going to be alright." I was on the verge of tears myself.
    The doc. Sighed. "I have good news and bad news...."
    "Oh, no", Darik said, choking back another sob. "I was right. He is going to die."
    "No, he isn't, and that's the good news." The doc. leaned against the doorframe. "You're lucky you acted immediately, kid. Had you not, he might not have survived."
    "But", he continued, getting off the doorframe and taking some x-rays out of the folder he was holding, "there lies my bad news."
    He put the x-rays on a light box thing that I couldn't remember the name of. I went to look at them. There were two, one showing Ash's ribs, the other his arm.
    "Ash is suffering from multiple broken ribs and a damaged arm", the doc. said, "but when we took a look at his cerebral cortex...", He pulled another x-ray out, this one of Ash's head, and placed it with the others, "we found something odd."
    Darik got up to join me as the doc. talked. "there was a dark mass that was at the back of his head that shouldn't be there."
    "A concussion?" I knew right after I said it that it was stupid.
    "A concussion doesn't create dark masses on contact, Mr. Blackstone." He pause, looking like he didn't want to give the info that he had. "the dark mass....we think its cancer."
    I almost collapsed on top of Darik. My son has cancer??
    "You said he wasn't going to die—", I growled.
    "And he isn't.", he said, growing annoyed, "Look, the type of cancer is very rare.  It only happens to 1 in every 10,000 people."
    I tried to regroup my emotions. "I only have two questions", I growled, "Why the hell wasn't this noticed sooner, and what does the cancer actually do?"
    "The first is simple.", the doc. said "It wasn't noticed because at birth this cancer was only the size of a pen tip and your boy's head. Now it's the size of a thumbnail. If this was allowed to grow any farther it could have been fatal, but in the nick of time we were able to treat it properly.
    "this would of stayed dormant and not fatal at all", the doc. continued, "but unfortunately, thanks to your son cracking his head on a windshield and the hood of a car, he sent the 'dormant' cancer into overdrive."
    The doc looked down, then back up at my eyes. "Look...this cancer...sends the patient into a state of sleep disorder. The way your son sent it into overdrive...", the doc. paused, looking like he had something caught in his throat, "it went from a sleep disorder to being in a coma for the rest of his life...I'm sorry." He looked down again.
    Darik started to sob again. I slowly said in disbelief, "He's going to be in a coma...for the rest of his life??"
    The doc's eyes started to water. "It varies among people. Maybe a few months, or a few years, but your son...", he looked over at Ash's body, "He's never going to wake again. Again, I'm sorry sir, but those are the facts." He stepped out of the room as he whispered, "good day."
    Darik dropped into one of the chairs and cried his eyes out. I just stood there, staring blankly a the door, not knowing what to do.


    I woke to find myself in a rectangular box of some sort. "Wha...what the?" immediately I tried to get up but two things stopped me: first I was strapped to the "bed" I was laying on and second I felt like someone took a few rounds with a sledgehammer to my head. It hurt to think.
    Then a small window opened behind me and my "bed" rolled out like a car on a assembly line.
    I gasped. "Holy s***...."
    You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and you can't remember were you are, but then you hear a soft "click" and you remember everything? Well I just "clicked"....on a much bigger scale.
    I was surrounded by many more windows with people getting out of them. No, not windows...cryo pods.
    Everything came flooding in....
    The memory of my side and head exploding in pain....
    The weird dreams....
    Only one thought came to me. Avatar.
    I was on an RDA spaceship.
    And I was truly screwed.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: this ch. is going to be a dusy, so brace yourself...)
--------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 4
What the hell is going on???

    "Come on, d*****, wake up, wake up!" I shook my head violently, but nothing was working.
    A technician floated over to me. "well look who's up and unhappy." The tech smiled. "Finally realizing that your sentence is worse than it is, Mr. Prisoner?"
    ...Sentence?
    ...Mr. Prisoner??
    A idea popped into my head. If this is a dream, I thought as I looked the "techy" up and down, then they won't believe you when you say that it's all a dream...and they might just put you into a padded room.
    (So), my inner self said, (until you figure out what the hell is going on, pretend the dream is real, and act normal.) My inner self huffed. (That is if you don't go nuts first...)
    "Yeah, maybe I should have stayed on earth", I said wearily.
    "Well it's too late for that, smart-@$$." The tech worked on undoing my restraints. "Don't worry though, no one but me and the captain know who you really are. The other's think your just another scientist geek like them." He eyed me as the last strap fell away. "I'm not surprised. With the SAT score I saw on your bio, I'd be expecting them to be asking you loads of questions."
    Before I could move the tech. floated in front of me and roughly held me down again, his eyes taking on a sudden coldness. "Now let's go over the rules while I still got you hear." He tightened his grip. Geez, for a scrawny guy he was strong. "You are free to move about the cyro area as you please, but if you attack anyone the guards are authorized to shoot you on sight. Got me?"
    I swallowed hard. In a small voice I said, "I got you." I didn't want to get shot, even if it was a dream.
    The coldness went away. "Look", he sighed, "I think you're a good kid. I don't believe for a second that you did that to you're parents, but the RDA doesn't give a crap about that. All they care about is profit and income these days. So I'd watch your back, even among the scientists, k?"
    I nodded. I had no idea what the guy was talking about, but I went along anyway.
    "Your locker is over there." He pointed at a row of lockers, which people had already gotten to. "Everything you requested is in it, but I'd keep your swords in a duffle until you reached Hell's Gate."
    Swords?
    He sighed and let me go. "One more thing. The people still at Hell's Gate don't want anyone but scientists to come down. This means me, along with the other RDA soldiers and personnel, won't be able to keep an eye on you. I think you'll be fine, but be careful when you go into the Pandoran forests. I heard the plants, as well as insects and animals, are pretty nasty."
    He patted my shoulder. "Now get going. The Valkyrie shuttle will be leaving in a half hour. Get your things together and head to the shuttle bay, if you want to call it that." With one last look he floated off to go help some techs with whatever they were having problems with.
    I stared after him for a moment, dazed. Then snapping out of it, I kicked off the "floor" and floated towards the lockers the tech indicated to go. It felt weird, being weightless, but it was real easy to do with some practice.
    I got to the lockers and searched for my own. When I found it, I noticed that it was longer then the others. Hesitantly I opened it, not knowing what to expect.
    All that was in there was a few sets of clothes, a duffle bag, and not one but two identical copies of the energy swords from the HALO games that I had hanging in my room at my mom's house. The only difference was that the blades were a bit longer then the one at home, about 3-and-a-half feet.
    I didn't need to really inspect them, just put them in the duffle that was at the bottom of the locker, shed and all. I also placed the clothes in it as well.
    I stopped in mid-stuff, noticing a scanner of a shelf at the top of my locker. I let go of the shirt in one hand and let it hang in mid-air as I picked up the scanner. It looked like the one max was using in that scene were he was looking over Jake's brainwaves. I turned it on out of curiosity.
    A mug shot of me flashed on the screen and I immediately shut it off. I didn't want to read my file until I was alone. Plus, I was loathing the fact that I was in prison for some reason.
    Putting the scanner and the rest of the contents in the locker in my duffle, I slammed the locker's door and floated off towards the "shuttle bay".


    "...I will fight for one last breath,
    I will fight until the end..."

    Those lyrics popped into my head as I fiddled with my necklaces pendant. I couldn't remember were the lyrics came from, but they rang a bell somewhere.
    I was happy that at least my necklace came with me into this crazy world. The square pendant had Chinese on one side, a dog on the other. I was born in the year of the dog, so my dad bought it for me at Water Country when we went there 3 years ago.
    I sighed. I missed my dad and Darik and mom, and until I find a way to wake myself, I was stuck in this crazy dream.
    "Hey, you're the kid that got the almost perfect score on the SAT, right?"
    I looked to my left. A redheaded girl in her mid-20's was looking at me with curiosity. At first I didn't reply. I was trying to keep my head down so no one would bother me on the way down to Hell's Gate, and the others seemed like they didn't want to get all bonding either. Except for a few of the scientists talking to each other and the rumble of the engines as they died away in noise, it was pretty quiet in the cramped seating area.
    "Sure, who wants to know?"
    The redhead smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Sara. I was told that I was going to be looking over your link as you went off galloping into the woods."
    I shook her hand. "Thanks, I guess." What was she talking about? Link? What the hell is a link?
    "So, how much time have you logged in?" she pulled away her hand.
    I wanted to growl, "One question at a time lady! I'm still trying to figure out what a link is.", but I knew that would either upset her or piss her off and she'd punch me in the nose. So I just came up with a random number and said, "A hundred and seventy-two hours."
    She sighed with longing. "You're lucky. I wish I could do what your doing, but the project is insanely expensive. I know the unforgiving b******s back on earth won't let me join anyway."
    My mind was still working out the link concept, but I asked, "Why won't they let you join?"
    "Cause' I don't qualify. I can fly a Sampson and monitor the bio lab, but that's it." She sighed again.
    She looked back at me. "You never said your name."
    "Oh, um...Ash. Ash Blackstone."
    She had a pained look cross her face, but just as quickly as it came it disappeared. She nodded. "Good name....Look; you stay close to me when we land, alright? I've been living at Hell's Gate for a wile now, so I know my way around pretty well."
    "Alright."
    She looked the other way, and I could tell without her saying that the conversation was over. I started to nervously tap my foot as I waited for the Valkyrie to land at our destination.


    Holy. F***ing. Flying pigs.
    When the bay door opened out to the landing pad, I hadn't expected 10 foot tall blue Avatars with guns to be at attention as we made our way off the Valkyrie.
    I mean, I once took out a tape measure, brought out 10 feet of it, and laid down next to it to get some sense on how big the Na'Vi were.
    But at the moment I realized that my senses were worth s***.
    I just stared at them in awe as we marched towards the compound. Then I remembered that humans were driving these Avatars, so I dropped my gaze. I tried to keep as close to Sara as I could without her thinking I was some stalker.


    "Welcome to Pandora guys. I'm Dr. Spellman. But you all can call me Norm." The guy that was Norm smiled as he scanned the scientists in the briefing room.
    I had expected to be dreaming 5 or even 10 years after the first Avatar movie, but it must have been only a year or less cause Norm didn't look any older then he did in the movie.
    "I'll be getting you guys up to speed on what been going on for the past year on Pandora. Now if you'll just look to the screen to my left..."
    First off, he started of with some footage of the battle on how the Na'vi kicked the RDA's @$$ in one day. I already knew what happened, but I watched it anyway. (Note to self: never watch vid-cam 7 ever again.) Then he went over how the have been finding ways on extracting the Unobtanium from the Pandoran soil without harming the natives or wildlife. This part, along with the rest of the speech, I ignored cause it bored me to hell. Norm my be a great guy, but when he starts talking about science and whatnot you feel like you've been shot with a tranquilizer dart. I heard those things hurt.
    Finally, what seemed like forever, the speech was over and everyone got up to fill out of the room. I waited for it to clear a little before I got up to leave as well, but someone's hand on my shoulder stopped me.
    I turned around to see Norm smirking. "You must be Mr. Blackstone. It's a great pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand, which I shook quickly.
    "Ash, and it's nice to meet you as well, sir." I pulled away my hand. Why is everyone picking on me? Is it go-for-the-kid-who-isn't-18 day?
    Still smirking, he shook his head. "We're all equals here, no one really being in charge. Just call me Norm."
    Yeah, and I'm the reincarnation of Michel Jackson. "So", I sighed, "what exactly am I here for?" Except for the fact that I'm a prisoner and I have no choice.
    He gave me a look like I just sprouted a second head out of my chest. "You really forgot that fast? We lost some people from the Avatar program a wile back in the war and, although it was risky, we requested some hands-on-deck." He poked me in the chest. "They gave us you."
    You know how everything "clicked" back on the ISV Venture Star? (Apparently that's the ships name) Well it all "clicked" again. Sara's voice floated inside my head. 'I was told that I was going to be looking over your link as you went off galloping into the woods.'
    All I could think was, I'm-going-to-be-driving-an-Avatar-holy-s***-I'm-so-f***ing-happy-right-now-I-want-to-Jump-up-and-down-like-a-little-school-girl-I-cant-think-straight-I-need-to-stop-talking-so-fast.
    Norm made a gesture for me to follow him. "You want to go see how your Avatar is doing after the long ride from earth?" He smiled. I knew he could see the excitement on my face when he mentioned my Avatar.
    But all I heard was, "Go see...your Avatar."
    I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Hell yeah!"
    "Well then, follow me." He walked passed me and out of the briefing room, my teenage self following in hot pursuit.


    I just stared in amazement at the scene in front of me, no words being able to describe how f***ing happy I was.
    When I saw my Avatar in the Amino Tank, I had completely forgotten that I had a duffle on my back and just about dropped it. The Avatar looked a lot like me except for the "extras" that made an Avatar a...well, Avatar. Most people would notice the 10 foot stature, blue skin that was also blue striped, and the feline features at their first look at them. Not me, I notice the tail.
I mean come on people! Who wouldn't notice the tail on a 10 foot tall blue dude?....Oh crap, that's why.
    Norm leaned against the Amino Tank as he watched me. "You look like Jake when he first saw his Avatar. Couldn't quite believe he had one either." He smiled at the memory.
    I decided to act stupid by asking, "Who's Jake?"
    "He's the one who lead the battle against the RDA."
    I turned towards him, and I just noticed this too. "You never mentioned him in your speech."
    He sighed and got up from his leaning position. "Yeah well, I didn't want to worry the new arrivals to much." He walked away.
    I frowned and looked at my Avatar one more time. Then I reluctantly followed him.
    "Why would that alarm the new scientists?", I asked when I caught up with him.
    "Jake Sully was a former Marine when he got hear. He lost his legs in Venezuela on Earth before he came to Pandora. He was given the chance to work in the Avatar project because of his brother's death, and since his genome was identical to his, he was able to drive his brother's Avatar." We turned a corner into a hall that lead to the mess hall.
    "I heard about that. Tom Sully, I think. Got mugged, right?"
    He nodded.
    "But what does that have to do with alarming the scientists?"
    We had reached the mess hall by then. I looked in. It looked like any old high school cafeteria except it was way bigger and had a lot more metal.
    Sara was sitting at one of the metal tables talking with a guy that looked suspiciously like Max. She noticed me and Norm standing in the doorway and waved to us. I waved back.
    "Because Jake was human, and even though we all sided with the Na'vi during the war, I don't know how the newbie's will take the fact that a marine gave up his entire life to go live with the natives. They might work as spies for the RDA."
    I turned to face him. "They might, that doesn't mean they will. How can people gain your full trust if you don't give them the chance?"
    We stared into each other's eyes for a wile. I was temped to put some harshness into them, by the turned his head before I could decide.
    "Even so, if you all decided to take the Na'vi's side, why aren't you all squatting in the mud right now?"
    He folded his arms. "Good question. There is three reasons. First, the natives we know best in the area, the Omaticaya, only accepted Jake into their tribe. They trust us, but after what the RDA did to them, I'm not surprised that they don't trust us fully. Second, we have to stay at the compound, to make sure that no hostile ships decide to land on this planet. And third, even if we all got Avatars, (not everyone has one, Ash), and decided to live off the land with the Omaticaya, we can't, or if we had the chance it long gone now."
    "Wait...what do you mean you no longer have the chance to do so?" I was getting a little panicky, but I held it in. This was new to me in some sense.
    "A few days after the war, Jake, along with along with the rest of the Omaticaya, vanished. At first we thought they took refuge in Vitraya Ramunong, but we were wrong."
    He pushed his hands through his hair, clearly troubled now. I knew what Jake was talking about. Vitraya Ramunong means 'The Tree of Souls' in Na'vi. It's where the natives entity, Eywa, lived in a gorgeous alien Tree. I mad a mental note on going to see that place one day.
    "Well...they can't just vanish. No one can."
    "But they did. We scanned every inch of land within a 100 kilometers of hear and found nothing. I'm sure Jake had his reasons for disappearing like that, being Olo'eyktan and all."
    I nodded. The translation 'male clan leader' popped into my head. I was sort of relieved that the Omaticaya were no longer around. I remembered the scene were Mo'at was inspecting Jake in the Omaticaya's Hometree, bombarding him with question after question in a very venomous voice. The expression "dead man tell no tales" came to mind.
    I shivered. I was especially glad I wouldn't be meeting her either.
    I didn't know it yet, but fate was just kicking me in the balls for fun.
    "I just wished", he sighed, "that he would have given me a warning, something, that was going to tell me that he was leaving. I knew him for only for 3 months, but we got along pretty well. I helped him with his training." He paused. "Well, some of it. Neytiri did the rest."
    "Who's Neytiri?"
    Norm suddenly became hard of hearing, because he didn't answer my question. Instead he said, "Why don't you go talk to Sara? I'm sure she'll show you around if you ask. I got some monitoring to do." With that, he walked away without even saying a goodbye.
    I huffed. Something wasn't right, and the way Norm avoided my question about Neytiri confirmed it.
    I glared in the direction we had just come from. Then, with another huff, I walked over to Sara's table to go talk with the two scientists.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 5
Is doing a PT run hazardous to your health?

    Walking into the link room was like a 6-year-old walking into a candy store. If you guys remember those years, you would probably remember the feeling of...having every type of sinful bliss surround you. If you're a girl...well, I don't think you'd understand what I'm saying unless you were a tomboy. That may be racist, but it's the truth.
    As for those of you critics who think I'm not being descriptive enough in my story, get over it. I'm a f***ing teenager d****, what did you expect? Beethoven writing his 9^th symphony??
    I pretty much wolfed down my breakfast this morning, to excited about the reality of what was to happen later on today. At first I was guilty, cause' wile I'm goofing around in my head, my family is probably morning over my body in some hospital. But I kept telling myself that I was stuck hear because no matter what I tried, I didn't wake. I went as far as banning my head of a metal post last night. All I got out of it was a major headache.
    Looking around the circular area, I spotted Max monitoring some screens across the room. I went over to him. I was right when I thought I saw a guy that looked like Max talking to Sara yesterday. I didn't say much to him, listening more then talking. He was a good guy, although I could tell from the first sentence he said to me that he was a bigger nerd then Norm.
    He had his back to me, so I had to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. He turned and smirked. "Hay Ash, how'd you sleep?"
    I pointed at my eyes. "What do you think?" He laughed. "So, is everything ready for take-off?"
    "Yep." He pointed at one of the units. "The first one on the left is yours. We would have given you a different one, but every single one is being used by Avatar pilots."
    I nodded eagerly. Of course I was getting the runt of the litter, I always do. But right then I couldn't care less what link unit I got, as long as it let me get in my Avatar body.
    "Why don't you get in your link? Sara should be hear soon."
    I left him to his work with a "thanks" and went over to my link unit. It, along with the other links, looked exactly like the ones in the movie, which is a good thing cause' if they weren't I wouldn't of been able to open the lid of the unit.
    Feeling the gel layer of the link, I hopped in. it felt a lot like a waterbed, except it was softer and more stable. I waited for a min. before Sara came into view.
    "Hay Sara how'd you sleep? I bet you did better then me." She started to tap at the scanner that was next to my unit.
    "I actually slept well. Usually I don't, but last night was different." Done tapping the hell out of the thing, she turned to me. "Now remember, this isn't going to be at all like virtual reality. You won't be used to the strength and speed these buggers have, so don't get too excited when you get up. The last time someone did that the guy's tail whacked a medic upside the head and he ended up in the Pandoran soil with only a hospital gown."
    I smiled. I knew who she was talking about, and I don't think I have to mention his name for you know who it was. It also dawn on me until she mentioned "buggers" that she was from Texas.
    "So, just lay down and-."
    "Oh crap, wait." I unhooked my necklace from my neck and handed it to her. "Do you mind having that get to me when I get up?"
    She paused, then took it from my hands and placed it in her pocket. "I'll make sure you do. Now just lie down and relax. Let you mind go blank."
    I did as instructed. She put down the metal thing that was supposedly going to monitor my brainwaves and other such crap. Before closing the lid, she leaned over me and said, "Remember, don't get too excited."
    "Yeah, yeah, I know." Satisfied with my answer, she closed the lid on me before I could say anything else.
    Except for the soft blue glow of the interior, it was pretty dark in the link. I tried to look around, but there wasn't much maneuverability available. Plus the fact that there wasn't much to look at, so I closed my eyes. Let your mind go blank. I did just that.
    What happened next I couldn't explain with words at first, like people who can't explain the supernatural or the impossible. I'll tri to explain anyway, although it will probably give me a headache for sure.
    There was a word this guy made up for the ghostly moment when a human goes into his or her Avatar body. He made a story about Pandora and stuff about the link, but I can't remember the word. Just try to imagine going down a waterslide at a water park. It has so many twists and turns that you feel like you could go on forever down it. This was exactly like that, but you've been shot out of a cannon into it at 1000 miles-per-hour, and instead of one dull color of green there's a zillion different colors shooting past you, nameable and unnamable. All I could say about it was that it was f***ing intense.
    And just like that it was over. I opened my eyes to be blinded by white light. No wait, it wasn't blinding, just out of focus. There was a silhouette, and I suddenly realized that it looked exactly like the weird dreams I've been having.
    Someone called, "A...hear...me? Ash...you he..."
    I blinked again, and suddenly everything came into focus. Sara was standing over me with one of those Exopacks on her back, mask on. (We went into Hell's Gate with those on. They were not very comfortable.) She deliberately shined a flashlight into my eyes. "Pupil dilation normal." She snapped one finger in one ear, then the other. "Reaction to sound, good. Are you doing alright, Ash?"
    "I thought you only qualified for monitoring the lab and flying a metal bird." My voice sounded a little deeper but no different then before.
    She smiled. "Helping with the medical staff came with some of the perks. Now sit up, you need to go through some tests before I let yah go pester the others. Are you feeling any nausea, waves of dizziness?"
    I shook my head, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. I sat up and looked down my semi-muscular chest at one of my hands. I wiggled the fingers and they responded.
    It was weird, being a giant 10 foot blue on blue striped Avatar, but the strength in my limbs felt natural, like I've been living in this body all my life.
    Yeah, this is going to take some time to get use to.
    I felt the sudden urge to run around, but I suppressed it to go through the tests. They were so boring that it only made the urge to run even more.
    Once I was done with the tests, Sara handed me some Avatar sized clothes with my pendant on the top of the pile. "Hurry up; you've got some more tests to go through once your outside."
    I didn't hide the groan that I emitted. "More tests??"
    She laughed. "Don't worry; you're not the only one who hated the tests. A lot of the pilots wanted to run before they learned to walk." She winked and left the room to give me some privacy.
    I got on my clothes, (which was kind of hard with a tail and all, considering that it moved with a mind of its own and I had to chase it like a dog), and my pendant on. The necklace fitted comfortably around my neck, even though a Na'vi's shoulder width was supposed to make wearing anything human size impossible.
    "Yah done?" She walked in with a wide smirk as she looked me over. Now standing, I realized just how f***ing short humans are to the Na'vi.
    I smiled and gave the thumbs up. "Ready to lock and load."
    She looked up at me. (Looked up! God, I love the little things.) "You're pendant looks good on you. Stands out." She pointed to a set of metal doors. "Just go through those doors. I meet you out there."
    I nodded and went through the first door, but stopped at the second. I sighed. Remember...act normal. I opened the door.
    Sunlight blinded me as I went outside. I had to blink in order to see my surroundings.
    The Avatar section of the compound looked exactly like id did in the movie. The only thing missing was the basketball players. Huh, must be off doing something else. I saw Norm a ways of talking too a tech and an Avatar about something. They must have just gotten done, because the two guys walked away without a glance behind them. Norm saw me and waved me over.
    "So, what's it like to be in a Avatar body for the first time?", he asked when I got to him.
    "Weird", was all I could say about it as I looked down at his masked face. "The weirdest part is the tail." I looked behind me at my tail as it twitched and moved uncontrollably.
    He laughed. "The Na'vi Have a tail for a reason, Ash. It acts like a counterweight for their long torso so they don't fall over." He nodded to his left. I looked in that direction. There was a standard (Avatar regulated) obstacle course. It was something you would find in any old boot camp. "And you're going to need it. We will be testing your reflexes on the track."
    I groaned. I felt like running, but not running on that. "Really? A PT run?"
    "Yep. Now get to the starting line. I'll time you."
    Great, just my day.
    "Mmmmm", was all I replied as I walked to the line.
    Norm waited, then, "Ready?"
    Hardly, I thought, but my limbs said otherwise. They were tensing with so much energy, like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse. I flashed the thumbs up at him.
    "Alright....and....GO!"
    I bolted for the obstacle course. I mean, I bolted. As a human I wasn't much of a runner, but as an Avatar I was an athlete in a half.
    My only thought: the Olympics had nothing on me.
    I reached the first set of obstacles: 3 balance beams made out of logs, or as least I thought they were balance beams. Most people would just boringly jump over these things; not me. Instead the first one I did by sliding under it, like a guy going at top speeds on the ice rink on his knees. The second I did a front flip over it, and the third I did a back flip and kept on going like it was the easiest thing in the world. (Which it wasn't)
    Now looking back, what I did next was incredibly stupid, but I didn't know it would happen. The second part of the course was a 20 foot wall were you had to climb over it and fall to the other side by using a rope. I hade no time to slow down at the speed I was going, so I was either going to run full force into the wall or use the plan I had quickly came up with. I used the plan.
    I got the wall and, without even using the rope, ran up the 20 foot obstacle. Now you'd have to admit that doing something like that would be really hard, even with the rope. But it was actually easy.
    The problem was that it was too easy. I got to the top, but I overshot the height by 5 feet and soared over the wall.
    Oh, s***! I did a semi front flip and fell to the earth onto my back. Hard.
    "Ah, hell", I coughed. I tried to roll to my side, but they were on fire, so I just went back to being on my back, which for an odd reason was the less painful position I could take. This so went higher in the pain-o-meter then whacking my head off a metal post. And if this doesn't wake me up, I thought, nothing will.
    Norm ran over to me with a horrified look. He slid to his knees and started to shake me a little. "Ash? Ash, can you hear me? How many fingers am I holding up?"
    "3, and I'm fine, really." I noticed some technicians and avatars that had noticed my little stunt and started too run towards my direction. Great, humiliate me some more.
    I sat up, even though my sides screamed at me to lie back down. I started to wave Norm away with all his questions. "I'm fine Norm, really. Go-." I stopped when I saw one Avatar in particular running towards my position. Her features looked a lot like...like...
    "Sara?", I wheezed.
    She came up to me and smiled. Yep, it was Sara. She got her hands on her hips. "Nice wipe out. I couldn't have done better myself."
    "Why did you lie?" I slowly stood.
    "Cause I wanted to surprise you, numbnuts." She glanced down at my impression in the ground. "That's ruined though."
    I made a small growl of annoyance. I turned to Norm and croaked, "What was my time?"
    He still had a worried look on his face, and I knew why. The Avatar program is extremely expensive...and they very much doubted that I would get another if I wrecked this one.
    Norm glanced at his stopwatch. "If you had not wiped out at the last second, you would have gotten the fastest time I have ever seen. You stopped at 15 seconds at the wall I'm Impressed. I've never seen anyone go so fast."
    "Yeah, well tell that to my-." I stopped myself before I could make Norm go into another fit of questions.
    Once the small group I got together made sure I was fine for the moment they dispersed to go do what they were doing before. Norm looked at me worriedly again. "I think you should go to the infirmary, just to make sure you are fine."
    "Fine." I followed Sara as she ushered me towards the infirmary.


    I sat on the cot that was assigned to me in the house were the Avatars "slept." I forgot what it was called, but it was a lot like a hut combined with a beach house. Netting covered the beds and the openings were there was suppose to be windows. It was suppose to keep alien insects like the Hellfire Wasp from coming in and kicking us in our "sleep."
    Covered in semidarkness, I held up my Queue in one hand, watching the tendrils wiggle around with a life of their own. I was thinking about how the day went, with the nurses fussing over me and Sara giving me the unofficial tour of the compound. It was a lot to take in, but I was able to deal with it.
    I winced as pain lanced up my side. Even with the docs being able to patch me up good, I still hurt almost everywhere. My mind wasn't use to this kind of...labor. Sure, my body could take the damage and live, but my mind would feel like mush if I didn't get something from the outside world...and soon.
    Feeling a presence behind me, I put away my Queue away and turned around.
    "How yah feeling? You doing alright?", Sara asked as she sat on my cot.
    I rubbed my hands together. I was surprised how fast I had gotten used to my Avatar body. "Yeah, sure." I paused and looked at her lazily. "I don't like people worrying about me. I think that they fuss too much when I'm hurt, and when forced to sit in a bed a day, I feel like I'm not getting anything done, you know?" I felt like I could admit almost anything to this women. She kept reminding me of Darik, although he was defiantly not Texan.
    She nodded and smiled. "I understand. I once broke my leg on the course and had to sit inside for a week wile I waited for my Avatar's health to get back in shape. It was so boring and depressing, not being able to speed up the process." She sighed.
    I smiled. At least I had one person in this wacky dream to call friend. "What did you do once your Avatar was better?"
    "Naturally I jumped up and down and hooted."
    "I can say Hallelujah to that." We pounded it, which once again reminded me of Darik.
    "Get some rest, I'll meet you a dinner. We have a lot to do tom."
    I nodded and laid down as she walked off. I heard someone say "lights out" and the room went dark.
    I listened to the growls, grunts, and yowls that came from the forest. It was a bit scary, but after a wile I got used to it. I closed my eyes and...


    ...woke up to the soft glow of the link. I sighed and opened the link to see Max looking down at me with a grin. "How are you? I heard about the "'leap of faith'."
    "Oh, shut up and help me out." He grinned again, but didn't say anything as he helped me out of the link.
    "I wonder if you're going to try anything like that when you go on you're little trip tom." We started to walk out of the link room to the mess hall.
    "Ha! In your dreams." I laughed.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE:to those of you who haden't seen earlier posts, the next CH., along with other future CH.s, will take at least 2 weeks to complete because of there length. be patient, ant they will come soon enough.)
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CHAPTER 6
"Eat it, be-otch!"

    A gust of wind smacked me so hard in the face as we flew over the Pandoran forests that I almost fell out of my seat and out of the Sampson's opening. I was put as door gunner cause' the pilot that was flying us was a man short for the job. (Ironic right?) There were four of us that were going on this trip: me, Sara, and two other Avatars I didn't know. Why one of them wasn't manning the door gun, I'll never know.
    The Sampson banked to the right and all that I saw for a second was the sky and the big planet called Polyphemus, then the Sampson leveled out again and I saw forest, lots and lots of forest.
Pandora was a beautiful place. It looked like something you'd see in a postcard, like Japan or Australia. I could see it now; A postcard of the Pandoran forests with the Hallelujah mountains in the background, words on the bottom saying, "Loving the weather. Wish you were with us!"
    I smiled at the thought. I pressed my throat mike. "Where exactly are we going?"
    "To sector 11", Sara answered. "We need more samples of a specific plant for our ongoing studies in the lab." She said it like it was the most obvious thing.
    "Right." I frowned. I didn't mind not being a scientist, but sometimes I felt like I was being left out of the fun. Then I abruptly remembered how painful the tests were to get through and took back my saying.


    The Sampson landed with a small THUMP in the clearing. I stepped off the thing and unhooked the GS-221 .30 caliber from its stand. I've never used a real gun before, but I have played enough Time Crisis 4 to know how to use one. And I was a superb shot. You better watch out, predators.
    The others got out and stretched while Sara went to the front of the Sampson and looked into the cockpit. She pressed her throat mike and said, "Shut it down, we're gonna be awhile."
    The blades of the rotators died down.
    Sara looked over at me and gave a "follow" gesture. "Come on, Ash." She went over to the others, who were already leaving the clearing. I followed sourly.
I was really getting sick of the "do this" or "do that" orders Sara gave to me. Unfortunately I knew that I didn't have a clue on what I was doing, so I had to suck it up and deal with her orders anyway.
    Our group went through the dense greenery that was Pandora. Sara said that not even the Na'vi came to sector 11, which was originally sector 12, to get food and other supplies. So, she told me to keep an eye out for anything suspicious or threatening. Except for a few things that I knew, like the Viperwolf and the Thanator, I had no idea what was good or bad on this planet. Damn, I wish I had my Avatar survival guide right now.
    We kept going through alien "grass" and other plants in the general west direction for half an hour until we came to another clearing, this one more tightly closed in by trees, before Sara stopped us with a raised hand.
    "This is it. Ash, stay here with Josh as lookout. Dan, come help me with the extraction of the plants."
    The guy that was Dan nodded and they went over to a set of plants that I foggily remembered being nicknamed "cat ears" cause they tend to follow you're every move. I didn't remember the official name of these things, but I knew that the Na'vi use these plants as music instruments and children toys. Like that will do any good in this situation.
    I stood next to Josh, who held his CARB shotgun in a relaxed position. I heard those do nasty damage at close range. I coughed and he looked over at me.
    "So...um, what's your story?"
    "My story?" He looked back at Dan and Sara as they kept getting samples of the plants. "It's about the same as everyone else's story. Came hear hoping Pandora would jump-start my career." He glanced back at me. "How about you? Why did you come?"
    I pondered this for a min. as I looked him up and down. He looks friendly enough, but looks can be deceiving. I decided to tell him the half truth.
    "Almost the same thing, although it was to get out of school more then jump-start a career.
    He chuckled. "I agree with you're thoughts. I'm smart, but college really s***ed for me."
    I smiled. Oh-rah, man, oh-rah.
    A soft growl behind me made me jump about a foot of the ground. I looked behind me. "What the hell was that?"
    "What?", Josh asked curiosity.
    "Oh nothing, just imagining things." He nodded and went back too watching Sara's extraction.
    I turned around and went to were I thought I heard the noise come from. Nothing...then a bush shook for a millisecond and stopped. Quickly I got on my knees and started to investigate the bush. I know, stupid, but I didn't want to report something to Sara that I thought I heard that turned out to be nothing. Plus, my curiosity got the better of me.
    I looked into the bush and found nothing. Typical. I was about to stand when a pair of eyes appeared out of nowhere; yellow, cat-like, but definitely not human or Na'vi. I gasped and before I call out in surprise a Viperwolf launched out of the bush and knocked me several yards away onto my back. With a snarl, it landed on top of me. It only got a scratch on my chest before I was able to push it off with both my legs.
    It landed on the ground with a fertile growl, then launched again at me with claws fully extended, But I shot it in mid-air, not being able to resist the urge to say, "Eat it, Be-otch!"
    It landed dead at my feet.
    Sara and Dan immediately rushed over to se what the commotion was about, but 7 more of the creatures appeared out of the forest and started to circle us. It was happening so fast that I had to blink to make sure that it was all actually happening.
    But they looked different then normal viperwolves. They were bigger, nastier, and more savage then regular viperwolves.
    "Wha...what the hell are these things, Sara?"
    She quickly raised her gun at the things as they slowly got closer with hyena laughter. "S-Viperwolves, Ash. Genetically altered, they are faster and stronger then regular viperwolves. You have the RDA to thank for these destructive beasties."
    The SV's, as I started to call them, were getting even closer, their hyena laughter getting louder with anticipation and eagerness. I definitely didn't want to be these things next dinner.
    "Ash", Sara whispered, "run in the direction of the Sampson. We can hold them off, but they are all eyeing you." Great, I'm dinner. "You won't stand a chance against these things. When I yell mark, you run like hell, got it?"
    I nodded wildly.
    "Alright, wait for it..." The viperwolves continued to get closer. 6 feet...5 feet...
    "MARK!", she yelled and fired at the SV's, Josh and Dan followed her example. The SV's charged at us at the same time with howls as bullets hit their mark. Thoroughly convinced that I was dead if I didn't move, I ran without looking back...but not in the direction Sara indicated.
    "Not that way!", she yelled, but I wasn't listening. I was already scared s***less to think properly.
    I kept on going until the battle was out of sight. I also kept going to the point so much that I almost fell of a cliff without paying attention. I quickly stopped and got my hand on my knees, exhaling. I looked around me. I had come to a small lake with a waterfall next to it. I remembered this. We had passed it on the way to the clearing, so I made some calculations in my head and decided that I was about 200 feet from where we actually came.
    I started for that direction, but a growl behind me stopped me in my tracks, turning me around. A single SV was standing in the spot I was just in. Huh, must have gotten past Sara and the others. No matter, I thought as I raised my rifle, I can handle this one. If I could do it before, I can do it again.
    But I was overconfident with my weaponry. The SV leaped, and I shot, but it was too close. It knocked aside my gun before it even spat a bullet and ran into me with so much force that it sent us flying over the cliff.
    Irony s***s.
    I resurfaced, a coughing fit erupting from my mouth. I quickly looked around. No sign of the SV.
    Still coughing, I got out of the water and checked my sides. I had completely forgotten that I had brought my swords with me. They were still there. Then I checked my communication equipment. The ear bud was gone and the throat mike was damaged by water.
    D*****. I sighed in irritation and looked up at the sky, hands on my hips. This just was not my week. First the truck accident, then the flying wall incident, the SV attack and now thi-
    Something slammed into my back and bit down into my shoulder. I screamed out in agony as my vision started to swim.


    "Somebody help!", Darik called out.
    I had been at Ash's side last night and all this morning worrying about him. Ash's dad had stepped out for a min to go get something from the vending machine in the front lobby. It wasn't fair that this accident had happened the day before Christmas, but I was willing to give up a holiday to watch over Ash's limp body, to make sure he was ok.
    Ash's dad had only been out for 10 min when Ash began to moan. At first I thought it was just the pills that the nurses had given him that were taking affect, but then started to scream bloody murder and thrash around. His hands clenched and unclenched, as if something was trying to ripe his arms off.
    Nurses rushed in and began to strap restraints To Ash's arms and legs. Someone called out, "Sedate him, sedate him!" I just stood there, feeling so useless.


    Thrashing around like a dog didn't help, it only made the SV tighten its grip on my shoulder. I reached behind me desperately and with all my strength, tried to pull the SV's grip from my shoulder.
    Once it finally gave, I ripped it from my back, which it had given the pleasure to scratch up as well, and threw it off me. It landed in front of me on its back, but quickly got back onto its feet with a growl.
    I barred my fangs at it. "I am really getting sick of this dream."
    Like a punch to the face, sudden adrenaline went into my system, replacing all fear and wariness with anger.
    "Come on, you son of a b****!" I gave it the bird with both hands. "Come get some!"
    We charged each other at the same time. The thing knocked me to the ground and got on top of me. I desperately held up both hands to its throat as it snapped at my face.
    Then an insane idea popped into my head like a firecracker.
    I hugged the thing in a death grip, got up slowly, and landed on the things back, hard. It yelped and started to thrash and push, realizing that the odds were against it now.
    But I didn't want to kill it. I grabbed my Queue. Then, while still restraining it, grabbed its antenna with my other hand. If the Na'vi can bond with the Direhorse and the Banshee, I thought as I slammed my Queue into its antenna, how different can it be with a viperwolf?
    The tendrils intertwined.
    The SV's eyes grew wide as it stopped thrashing. My own eyes dilated as I stared out into space in awe.
    I could feel everything the SV was feeling, its nervous system, the strength in its limbs, even its general waves of thoughts of emotions. It was something I had never experienced before.
    And it was f***ing amazing.
    I collapsed next to the SV, panting from trying to best the creature. It also panted, cautiously eyeing me, not sure if it saw me as a friend or foe. Its thoughts were a lot more mixed up then its look.
    I don't know what I found funny in this, but for some strange reason I started to crack up. I got my hands over my face and just laughed it out.
    The SV must of decided that I wasn't a threat but its ally, cause it licked my face, something you would expect from a loyal canine. I looked at it questionably. Its face lost all ferocity, replaced with a friendly look.
    We had made Tsaheylu; I didn't think either of us could try to kill the other now. I closed my eyes and smiled, glad that I didn't have to fight for my life now.
    An unexpected yelp came from my SV and I opened my eyes again. Atokirina' were everywhere. 9How the hell did I miss that?) They were seeds of the sacred tree, jellyfish-like creatures that floated in air instead of water. As they got closer my SV got to its feet and growled a warning at them, but I held up a hand to stop it. "Don't worry, their not dangerous..." I trailed off in awe.
    The SV whimpered and lowered its head, clearly not comfortable with these things, but it would not attack unless I said so.
    There were about 20 of them, and they all landed on my legs, torso, arms, and head. One landed on my nose, another on my upraised hand. I knew I looked silly with all the Atokirina' covering me, but at that moment I could care less, because I was too into the moment.
    They were on me for 15 sec, and then they dispersed. I watched them as they floated away; creating a scene that was breathtaking.
    I blinked. It almost seemed like the event had never taken place. I shook my head and got on my knees.
    I looked over at the SV. "I'm going to have to call you something. SV isn't a name and Spot and Fang are to obvious..." I pondered this for a min before I snapped my fingers. "I know. What do you think of Cutter?" It sounded like a last name when you said it.
    Cutter looked at me and gave a playful yelp. He liked it.
    "Alright, lets get going then." I got up and disconnected from Cutter, drawing my swords and heading off in the direction where the Sampson had landed. "We got a lot of ground to cover."


    As quickly as it came, Ash stopped thrashing. The nurses looked at each other, unsure of what hade happened.
    Darik grinned. He's still kicking in there!, he thought happily. You just don't stop in the middle of a seizure, its impossible. That meant only one thing: he was still alive as he ever was.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: so sorry it took so long to do this CH., but it was worth the wait. enjoy. also i have to break it into two parts because of its length.)
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CHAPTER 7
I get stared down by the unfriendly Tsahik {part 1}

    I'm sick if this planet, I'm sick of this dream, and I'm so sick of this forest. I'm an f***ing Florida city boy, not a tree-hugging hippie!
    Hiding in the shadows of huge vines wasn't easy when you had to share your spot with a 7 in a half foot S-Viperwolf that could eat the family poodle for breakfast. He was a good companion, but he just took up too much space.
    Cutter was the first to notice that we were being followed by someone. He told me through his emotions that there was only one of them, and it looked exactly like me, except it was female. Cutter was definitely the ultimate in detection when it came to sneaking.
    I didn't think that she knew that I had Cutter for an ally, because whoever it was that was following us shot right past our hiding spot, oblivious to our presence. I saw a flash of bare blue skin. Damn, a native. No wonder she was being so stealthy.
    But why was the native following me? I looked down at Cutter for silent advice. He only looked back with sad eyes. He had no idea either.
    My tail twitched in annoyance. This cat-and-mouse game has been going on ever since I left the clearing that had the Sampson in it. I thought it was still there, cause' when I got there it was gone. I sighed. The 2 hour long chase was really starting to get to me, and it was getting late in the afternoon in the forest, so I was going to have to end this soon or I was never going to find Hell's Gate...even though I knew I was terribly lost. I was so not spending the night in the alien forest, no matter what. Nope, screw that, forget it.
    We waited a few min in silence, listening for any signs of the native. Feeling that the coast was clear, I got up to check.
    "Stay here unless something bad happens", I whispered.
    He looked at me with pleading eyes, not daring to even voice a whimper. He didn't want to risk my life, although it was ironic because only 3 hours ago the same SV wanted to rip my heart out and eat it for a snack.
    I went through the vines into the open. Looking around, I didn't find anything out of the ordinary...well, ordinary for Pandora. Earth didn't have aliens and wolves the size of couches.
    There was a sudden sound. The stretching of a bow's string. Before I could even draw my swords and whirl around to face my attacker, something sharp pocked me in the shoulder blades. An arrow. D*****, I shouldn't have kept my back to the direction the native went.
    A commanding females voice said, "Do not move." I slowly raised my hands in surrender, but other then that I obeyed her order.
    There was silence for a min, then she spoke again. "What are you called, Dreamwalker? Why are you here?"
    I could have sworn that I heard that voice before, but I wasn't entirely sure. "I'm Ash...and I'm just um...lost, sort of. I don't want any trouble, really."
    Silence again. The arrow pocked me a little harder. "Turn around and back up", she said grimly.
    I did what she said and just about had a heart attack right then and there, shocked at who my attacker was.
    The one pointing the arrow at me was Neytiri.
    Now it made perfect sense. Neytiri was the best hunter in the Omaticaya, (in my eyes anyway). She sneaked so well that even her own fellow Na'vi could not tell if they were being followed by her or not. Jake couldn't tell either when he was attacked by a group of Viperwolves until she intervened. Of course he didn't have any XP at the time.
    I backed up slowly as I looked at her in awe. She didn't look any older then she did in the movie either. I relaxed, but not all the way. Neytiri could be kind and gentle...when she wanted to be. I didn't know if she would just shoot me or let me explain my situation and then shoot me. I hoped she took the mystery object under Curtain #2.
    You win a fabulous prize! "Why are you here?", she asked frowning, her tail lashing in irritation.
    "I just said that I was lo-"
    "The real reason." She pulled the string back a bit more and...
    Cutter Exploded from our hiding place and got in front of me, snarling a warning. She immediately switched her aim on cutter, but stopped when she heard me say, "Back off, Cutter. She isn't a threat." She looked at me with wide eyes, shocked.
    So did Cutter. He looked back at me with the SV look equivalent to, "Are you nuts???" I just glared at him sternly the way my mom sometimes does when I went too far in a conversation.
    He lowered his head, whimpered, and got out of Neytiri's shot, padding over to my side sadly.
    But she wasn't aiming at me anymore, but at the ground, staring blankly at my companion. She was clearly shocked by the look on her face. She slowly said, "How..."
    "Yeah I know, I thought it was impossible too", I said with a small grin.
    She stared at Cutter for another sec before she un-notched her arrow from her bow. "No one has ever made Tsaheylu with a Nantang before..."
    She eyed me, still suspicious. "You may put you're hands down." I did.
    She placed her bow on her back and knelt, offering a hand to the SV. He looked up at me questionably.
    I nodded, saying, "Its alright, she doesn't bite." I hope.
    Reluctantly he went over to her. She scratched him behind the ears, which was his favorite spot to be scratched. She then stood and asked for the third time, "Why are you hear?"
    "On Pandora, or in your forest?"
    "The forest."
    I shifted from one foot to the other as I told her everything that has happened to me before the SV attack. It was kind of hard to speak of the Tsaheylu part because I really didn't know how to describe it, but she waved her hand at that part, understanding what I meant.
    I finished with, "...and when I got to the clearing, the Sampson wasn't there. You know the rest." I glared in her direction before I sighed. "And now I'm hopelessly lost, having no idea where to go."
    She never really told me why she did what she did next. Maybe it was because of the bonding with Cutter that did it. Maybe she saw my episode with the Atokirina'. Either way, she said in the halting English that I always loved, "I will have to take you to the Tsahik and Jake. They will know what to do with you."
    With that, she turned around and walked away without looking back, calling, "Come."
    Cutter and I just looked at each other, unsure. Then, thinking if I didn't get a move on we'd loose her, I went into a quick jog after her, Cutter following a second later in my footsteps.


    You want a comparison on how hard it was to follow her? It was like following a good-looking Mustang...on foot, as a human, through an obstacle course. To some sum it up: it was hard.
    Cutter would have no trouble following her if he was in front of me, but that was because he had the advantage of six legs, not two or four. I should have been able to keep up as well, after seeing what I could do back at the compound, (which still astounded me). But that was on a flat plain; this wasn't. The Pandoran forests had so many twists and turns, ups and downs that I knew that I was too inexperienced to traverse them as quickly as Neytiri could. So she had to go at a slower pace to allow me to stay at her side, which, by the small twitch in her frown, annoyed her.
    I tried to keep up small talk as we went over a huge tree trunk. Or was it a branch?
    "So, what's you're name?" I cringed, expecting a bolo to fly out of no where and tangle my legs, but nothing came.
    "Neytiri."
    "Nice name. sounds good on the tongue." God that sounded stupid. "You already know mine. How about a last name?"
    "Neytiri te Ckaha Mo'at'ite", she said as she jumped from root to another. I followed her and slightly mis-calculated my jump. I got to the next root, but I almost fell 500 feet to my death. With a frightened breath, I regained my balance and kept on going, Cutter following my example.
    "Blackstone...Mr. Blackstone", I said, mimicking the phrase from the 007 movies.
    She did a small laugh. I smiled. At least my sense of humor is good in this world.
    Abruptly, she came to a halt, making me almost run into her. She turned and looked at me with those intense eyes she was known for. I couldn't look away from those golden pools, no matter how hard I tried. Her gaze made me nervous.
    "Why exactly are you here on our land? And do not lie."
    I shifted a little, uncomfortable. I couldn't lie to her. I was too fond of her to do so. So, I summarized the info that I had seen on my scanner 2 nights, leaving the really horrible stuff out.
    "I was like any other child on earth. I had a great education, a loving family, everything a guy could want. Until one night..." I finally tore my gaze from her stern face. "Until one night I lost everything. A fire had broken out in my home. It killer everyone in my family...except me." I closed my eyes and forced a tear to go down my cheek. A little acting never hurt anyone. I sniffed, "I had to watch my mother die in my arms..."
    Neytiri's face went sympathetic, all suspicion disappearing. "I...am sorry for you're loss..."
    "I was framed for their deaths", I continued, ignoring her, "and was founded guilty. I had to spend five years in a juvenile jail. It was pure torture. Then the day came when the RDA visited my cell, saying that they could restart my life, build it from scratch." I paused. "All I had to do was come here and work with the scientists for a few years."
    I looked back up at her. "I jumped at the opportunity. Anything was better then rotting in a cage. And I was not going to live in that hellhole for the rest of my life." I wiped away my fake tear. I croaked, "Its not something I like to discuss, so if you don't mind, don't bring it up again."
    She nodded, complete understanding in her eyes. "come." She turned around and ran the way we were going. It seemed like she didn't understand at all, but the way she rushed me I knew we were in a hurry for something.


    I was expecting a camp or something in the woods to greet us. What I didn't expect was another Hometree.
    You see, the Omaticaya's original Hometree had been destroyed by the RDA for extracting Unobtanium. It's what started their war in the first place. They reduced it to a huge, dead piece of wood just lying in the ground. I had felt a lot of grief and anger when I saw it destroyed in the movies. I hoped I would never have to see it up close.
    Their Hometree was massive, just massive. If you hadn't figured it out by know, every animal, plant, tree, everything was in gigantic sizes. I think I saw a plant the size of my house on our fun to the Omaticaya's home.
    "That is one big-@$$ed tree...", I trailed off to myself.
    I tore my gaze from the tree to look down sternly at Cutter. I whispered, "Now we're going to be encountering more of...my kind here. Stay by my side and don't growl or snap anyone, got it?"
    He whimpered. He got it. Quickly, I caught up with Neytiri again.
    Its titanic size engulfed me as we got to the entrance. Seeing it up close was extremely different then seeing it in the movies. Na'vi started to swarm into a crowd to see what the Tsahik's daughter had brought. Scared, I stayed close to Neytiri's form, Cutter staying even closer.
    The looks I got from the indigenous varied from friendly, curious, disgusted, or downright hostile. But most of the looks aimed at Cutter were only shock and wonder. He wined, uncomfortable with the Na'vi's stares.
    We were directed to the heart of the commons area, where a few dozen warriors were waiting. I immediately recognized two figures among them and shrank a little: Jake and Mo'at.
    I was told by Norm that Jake had perished in the battle with the RDA, but I didn't believe it for a second. He looked fit and healthy in his Avatar body. I mean his permanent body. As for Mo'at...well, let's just say the look she was giving me was grim and unfriendly and leave it at that.
    I stood before them, hands behind my back, trying to appear at ease before the two leaders. Neytiri went over to join Jake, wrapping her hand in his. Jake and Mo'at paid no heed, although the flicker in their eyes said that they were shocked to see a Viperwolf in their home.
    I stiffened and Mo'at came to circle me, inspecting my physical appearance by grabbing my Queue and tail. Everyone was silent as she did her inspection, watching her move around me with grace that was impressive for a woman at her age, which was around the 50 mark. The painful silence was really destroying my nerves, bit by agonizing bit.
    The Tsahik drew the thorn knife that was hanging on her red...what was it called? Neck dress? Something like that. Quick as a Cobra, she struck me in the shoulder and, just as quickly, brought it back to lick the blood off it. Geez, I thought miserably, that was more painful then it looked in the movie. I rubbed my sore shoulder.
    Mo'at turned to Jake and said something quickly in Na'vi. He nodded. She brought her gaze back on me, her face grim as she placed her thorn knife back on her neck dress.
    Let the interrogations begin.
    What are you called, Dreamwalker?" that was the second time I've called that.
    "Ash Blackstone."
    A sudden pained look crossed her face. I suddenly realized what my name reminded everyone of: the Omaticaya's fallen Hometree.
    The pained looked disappeared behind a mask of discontent, her voice full of venom. "We no longer trust the sky people for their actions. Have you come to rain down destruction on us, Dreamwalker? To burn our home from us once more?"
    Ignoring the rules that I gave, Cutter began to growl at the Tsahik, but I held him back with a raised hand. Without looking away from her gaze, I said coolly, "Its ok. She means well."
    I went into another infamous thing of mine: wise-man mode. I only went into it when someone was accusing me of something or if someone was too mad or sad to see sense. In this situation, both called for it.
    "I understand your pain, your loss. But you should not judge me by my people's actions. Your Olo'eyktan is a perfect example of this." I held up a hand towards Jake.
    She studied me, a curious flare entering her eyes. "Only a child, yet you speak as if you've lived longer then your youth."
    Still calm, I said with a hint of a challenge, "Maybe I have. Everyone has lived a past life before. The trick is remembering the wisdom and lessons that life gave."
    She didn't move, but her gaze faltered. Inside I smirked. I guess 'wise-man' mode can be used for more then humiliating the teachers when their wrong about something.
    She went back to the original subject before I could get the upper hand on the conversation. "Why have you come here?"
    I pondered this for a moment. I could have said anything like "I want to get away from my species" but I didn't. Instead I raised my stakes a little.
    "None of your damn business", I growled.
    The hunters looked about ready to shoot me with their bows, (one even got a arrow notched), so I quickly added, "It's a personal choice, a sensitive subject I don't like to talk about."
    "This may be true, but we have learned that sky people can speak lies through friendly intentions. You will tell us, or we will not be as...forgiving as we would be if we did not hear it."
    "Fine", I muttered through clenched teeth, pissed off by Mo'at's stubbornness. I retold my tale, acting a little to make it believable, to me as well as the natives. When I was done, I said softly, "You see why it is such a sensitive subject. Please don't press the matter any further, because I think wouldn't be able to hold my anger back if you did."
    She studied me for another minute. I glared at her, not caring that my well being could be hurt if I did. She turned and walked back to Jake and Neytiri, discussing with them in Na'vi about my position.
    In the end, the Olo'eyktan and his wife won the argument on whatever they were saying, cause' she came back to me with a frown, not really liking what they concluded to. "We will keep you here, Ash Blackstone, until we discuss this further in depth."
    I nodded with respect, anger turning into relief.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 7
I get stared down by the unfriendly Tsahik {part 2}

    Neytiri lead me up the spiral column staircase that was part of the tree. It looked like a DNA double helix, without the rungs. She was leading me to the second floor of Hometree, where the Na'vi eat around a huge fire pit that is the equivalent of a gigantic bond fire.
    Before going up, she offered me a change of clothes while she was patching up the wounds that Cutter inflicted on me. I kindly declined her offer, cause' the Na'vi only wear loin cloths and I didn't want to be that exposed, even if I was the only one that would notice. I pretty much blushed like crazy, (which is for the Na'vi the light dots on their faces grow brighter), but Neytiri didn't notice.
    We got to the group, and the loudness you'd find at any family dining room table went dead silent. Every eye was on me. Again. I swallowed. I really hated this type of attention.
    Luckily it didn't last long, because everyone went back to eating or gossiping about whatever. She directed me through the circular rows that the Na'vi made. I was careful not to repeat what Jake did when he first came to the Omaticaya, which was stepping on someone's tail.
    Neytiri had me sit down next to the Olo'eyktan himself, then sat down on his other side.
    "I'm sorry Mo'at treated you that way, but she is always like that to newcomers, even before the war with the RDA."
    I glanced at Jake warily. He grinned. "You don't have to call me Olo'eyktan all the time. Just call me Jake." He held out his hand.
    I took it and shook. "Thanks."
    "So how are you, really?"
    "15."
    His eyes got big in surprise as he whistled. "Wow. The RDA must have been really desperate if they hired you."
    "Not really. Norm required some hands-on-deck and they sent me. That's why I got the opportunity to go to Pandora."
    "You never mentioned that", I heard Neytiri say behind Jake.
    "Sorry", was all I could come up with.
    "Actually, I added, "there was more to my story then I let on."
    Jake asked, "What?" He didn't even sound pissed while he munched on a Taylu, just curious. He handed me a leaf plate heaping with Taylu casually.
    "Thanks." I got a handful of the alien insect and passed the plate along. I eyed one silently before I ate it. Immediately I got a blast of flavor in my mouth. It tasted like Chicken McNuggets mixed with Jello and toped of with the tanginess of pineapple. It tasted like that to me, and none of that stuff should of went together so good, but they did.
    "Damn, that's good!", I said with a mouth still full. Jake grinned again.
    I swallowed the alien food. It looked like I had a new favorite now.
    "Sorry." I leaned closer to them and whispered, "I can't discuss it here. Has to be in private. You two only." I pointed at them both.
    The Olo'eyktan nodded. "I'll agree to your terms." Neytiri nodded at this as well.
    "Good." Satisfied, I ate another Taylu with enthusiasm. The rest of the meal went in silence between us.


    I sat next to Cutter outside of Hometree, away from prying eyes. Jake and Neytiri sat down in front of me, curious on what I had to show them.
    I put my pack down and unzipped it. "Now don't start attacking me after I show you this. I'll try to explain it as best as I can."
    They looked at each other in confusion. I pulled out my scanner. I thought I might have needed it during the trip, and I was right. Not even needing to search through the entire file, I scrolled down all the way to the bottom of the file, where there was a video recording of my meeting. I tapped it and, hesitantly, held it in front of them, hitting "play".
    The screen switched to one of those rooms that weren't really rooms. The walls were bars, and two guards stood by the door to this "room", which was also made out of bars. They had assault rifles at the ready in case the prisoner intended on trying to break out. And that prisoner was me.
    I was the only one in the "room", sitting at a metal table with my head on it, arms covering my head. I knew this look. I had it on whenever someone woke me up and I was still grumpy.
    One of the guards said, "Prisoner 2355, you've got visitors."
    "Mmm?", I heard myself say with a muffled tone. My head lifted, arms dropping to my sides.
    I looked really pale, the hollows of my cheeks showing. All the energy and happiness I was known for was completely gone, not a flicker of hope left in my dull eyes. It looked like I would last another week in that place.
    The looked door buzzed, and the guard that had spoken pulled it open for the "guests". Two men in suits stepped in, twins in fact. Clean-shaven, muscular, they both looked more Italian mobster then business agents. The only way you could tell them apart was that one had a blue tie on, the other white. I instantly called them Mr. Blue and Mr. White when I had first seen the vid.
    "Good morning, Mr. Blackstone", Mr. Blue chirped as he and his brother sat in the two unoccupied seats that were in front of me. Mr. White pulled the briefcase that he was holding onto the opened it, a smug look on his face.
    "What's so great about it?", I croaked without a ounce of enthusiasm or curiosity. Oh yeah, they even sounded Italian.
    In a deeper voice then his brothers, Mr. White said, "That is a good question, Mr. Blackstone. We are here to improve it."
    I past self just looked at them with dull eyes. Mr. White pulled out a scanner, the scanner I was holding, from his suitcase and placed it in front of me. Finally curious but cautious as well, I gave them my eye-brow lift. They only folded their hands and waited in silence. Another second ticked by. I slowly grabbed the scanner and pulled it towards me, turning it on without hesitation. Tiny print scrolled down the screen, my face growing more and more stern by the second as I read the tiny illuminated words.
    Soon after I turned it off, a deep frown etched into my thoughtful look. "What does Pandora have to do with me?"
    Jake sat up straighter at the mention of his home.
    "We would like you to go there and work with the scientists. Gain some insight on the inhabitants of the planet. "Mr. Blue grinned at his saying
    "Bulls***."
    The grin disappeared. "Excuse me?"
    I leaned forward, anger starting to show in my features, Growling with distaste, "I said, 'bulls***'. I know your type. RDA, am I not correct?"
    The two agents looked at each other, uncertain how to proceed.
    "You don't give a damn about the Na'vi or the planet in general. All you care about is the Unobtanium in the Pandoran soil. You're willing to sacrifice the animal and plant life just to get a handful of the worthless rock. So whatever you're selling, thanks", I slide the scanner back to Mr. White, "but no thanks."
    "On the contrary, we won't be having you digging up our 'useless rock'. You'll be doing something more...in depth...with the natives."
    I folded my arms and frowned. "How so?"
    Mr. White decided to chime in at this point. "The RDA wants you to locate a certain Jake Sully on Pandora. He went AWOL on us, rebelling against us in every way possible." He slid out a picture of Jake when he was human out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. I scanned it with a curious look as he continued. "He is the one who started the war against us in the first place. He's still there, living among the natives in hiding."
    "And he has vital information that we can use", Mr. Blue said with wariness, like he'd met the guy before. "We want you to locate him and befriend him and the natives, gain their trust. And when he fully trusts you, we want you to capture him and bring him to us so we can interrogate that info out of him. It shouldn't be too hard to accomplish."
    I sat in silence, pondering their statement. "And why exactly", I grumbled coldly, "do you think I'll agree to do this?"
    "In exchange for your services, we will get your life back, more or less. You can restart from scratch. All you have to do", he taped Jakes picture, "is this one thing. What do you say?"
    Again, I sat in silence, this time the time stretching to ten minutes, but that was fast forward assuming that the RDA operatives that recorded it got bored and wanted to get to the good part. It stopped at the exact moment that I would say the five words that would seal my fate: "Alright, fine. I'll do it." I looked like I was going to regret what I had just said, but I said it anyway, and although whatever my reasons before were, I was pissed that I would of agreed to do such a thing.
    That wasn't going to happen again.
    Mr. White smiled wildly. "Good. Now all you have to do now is-"
    I clicked the scanner off, standing and making the small speech that I hoped would convince them that I was not the enemy. I just wanted them to understand my hatred. Like they already didn't hate the RDA with a passion.
    "I showed you that because I wanted to tell you personally Jake that I don't give a damn for the RDA. They can suck it and go to hell. I'm not going to betray the Na'vi like they want me to because I respect them for what", I glanced in Neytiri's direction, "and who they are. I still do. You can believe what you want, but this will always be a fact, whether you see me as a friend or enemy: I will do absolutely anything to tell the RDA to go screw themselves." I was surprised at how fierce my tone was, even though it was calm.
    "And why should we believe you?", Neytiri asked suspiciously.
    "You don't have to. But ask yourself this: if I was really going to go through with this, why would I destroy my opportunity of taking Jake from you by showing you that vid?" It was a good point.
    Jake and Neytiri looked at each other and, with only their eyes, went through a conversation that I would probably never understand. Must be a lover's thing.
    They came to an agreement of sorts. Jake stood and nodded at me, smiling and at ease. That look alone made me breathe out a sigh of relief.
    "I don't think you'll betray us, Ash. Partly because of the way you've been acting and that vid..."
    "And partly because of your companion, Cutter", Neytiri finished, lifting her hand to Cutters direction. The SV yelped playfully, no longer uncomfortable by Neytiri's attention, which was a good thing considering that the SV could easily get spooked by anything threatening. Maybe our Tsaheylu made him a weakling. I doubted it.
    My face screwed up in confusion, tail twitching. "What does Cutter have to with your decision?" I felt like I already knew the answer, but I asked anyway.
    "You are the first person to ever bond with a Nantang...that we know of. Viperwolves are always in packs. Attacking one-"
    "-Will have the rest rushing in", Jake continued. "It would be suicide to do such a thing. The fact that you successfully bonded with Cutter without dying proves to us that you have a respect for the life on Pandora that no RDA spy could have." He sighed and watched his hands clench and unclench at his sides, unhappy at a sudden memory. "I should know. I had no respect for the life here when I first came." His voice was full of pain.
    Neytiri stood and placed a hand on Jakes shoulder. "Much has changed, Jake." She whispered it with a passion that only a person in love with someone could pull off. I should know: I got slapped once for trying to do something similar.
    "Yeah much has changed." He looked into her eyes, which twinkled with love. I felt like I was going to gag if I didn't leave.
    "Um, ok, I don't mean to break this up but", they both looked at me at the sound of my voice, "can you both take that some stuff somewhere else? I'm not big on lovey-dovey crap."
    Jake laughed and held his love's hand. "Sorry Ash, you must be exhausted after all the events today."
    Gravity suddenly decided to kick me in the gut. I was exhausted. I might have collapsed in despite of myself if Jake hadn't stepped forward and grabbed me, keeping me upright.
    He smiled wearily. "Whoa, ok, your worse then I thought you were. Come on, I'll show you where you'll sleep. Can you walk?"
    I nodded, although I knew I really couldn't. I wasn't about to let the Olo'eyktan carry me up to bed like a 5-year-old. I grabbed my pack and shuffled after him and Neytiri into Hometree, leaving Cutter to sleep outside. My eyelids grew heavy, so I didn't see much of my surroundings as I followed them up the "DNA ladder", although I did get a glimpse of a Na'vi girl, around 17 in human years, glaring at me as we walked passed her. The only thought I had was, She's pretty...
    We got to the third level of Hometree, were the Na'vi sleep in hammocks both big and small they fastened to the branches and to each other to stay above the second floor. If one were to break while you were in it, you would fall a good 50-100 feet before hitting the ground.
    I should have remembered this when we reached the hammock Jake assigned me, but my fogged mind could have really cared less. I collapsed into it and, thank god, it didn't break from my weight or the force of my short fall. I closed my eyes and immediately fell asleep...


    ...Only to wake up being slapped in the face in my link unit.
    "Ah! What the f***, really?!?" I bolted upright into a sitting position, rubbing my stinging cheek. If they wanted me to stay awake, they didn't need to slap me silly.
    "Oh jeez, sorry Ash. I've slapped you so many times that I didn't expect you to wake up." Sara leaned over me, smiling sheepishly with guilt. "You really dug in there, kid. We thought you were going to be in here all night."
    I blinked and looked around me. Norm, Max, and a few other Avatar pilots were standing around my link, all of them mimicking a look of worry.
    "You ok, Ash? Is the Avatar safe?", Norm asked.
    I waved Sara off. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine..." I looked up at Norm and smiled, about to enjoy the looks of disbelief that I was about to give them. "And you are going to have a heart attack when I tell you where I am..."

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: again two parts, sorry)
-------------------------------
CHAPTER 8
Everyone seems to have enemies {part 1}

    I rushed into the link room trying to shrug off drowsiness as I made my way for my unit. I ignored everything but the task at hand. Jake would be waiting for me, and I didn't want to make his patience wane into nothing.
    Opening my unit, I slipped in like I had been doing this since I was born. Sara finished talking to a tech and walked over to my station, a wide grin on her slightly tanned features.
    "In a bit of a rush?", she asked sarcastically wile she tapped at the station's scanner.
    I panted, "Yeah, a little."
    She chuckled. "Don't worry. They ain't going anywhere anytime soon." She finished her small task and leaned over my unit, all fun turning into seriousness in her eyes. "Now remember what Norm told you."
    I was going to ask "which part?" cause' as soon as I told Norm exactly where I had been last night he bombarded me with question after question about the Omaticaya. But I knew what she meant. Norm gave me one specific job to do: to find out where the Omaticaya's Hometree was and to learn everything they taught me. Or was that two?
    I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
    She nodded and closed the lid...or tried to. I stopped her with my grip on the lid before she could.
    "I got a quick question for you."
    She raised an eyebrow. "Shoot."
    "When we were attacked by the SV's yesterday, I wanted to ask you about their history with the RDA, but we got separated before I could do so. Do you mind..."
    She sighed and let go of the lid, sudden sadness entering her usually happy Texan features. "Well...let's see. I wasn't really on the project when it began, so I really don't know all the details..."
    I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
    "Well, When the RDA first came here, they were astounded by everything. The plants, animals, Na'vi, everything. But like the sly snakes they are, they soon saw many of those astounding things as resources or, worse, collateral damage." She shivered. "I swear those idiot scientists that sided with them were complete skxawngs for buying their bulls***."
    "So these SV's were..."
    "Experiments. They were trying to find a way around the bond that all creatures can do on this world, make them sorta like Hellhounds on a leash. But..." What she was about to say next must have been hard for her, because it twisted her into pain. "Something went wrong. Instead of creating genetically altered viperwolves that could do their every whim, this new breed was faster, stronger, and deadlier, but they were out of control. They had antennas, but they weren't connected to Eywa like normal Viperwolves are. They pretty much killed anything that got in their way.
    "One day, when one of our generators was going haywire, the locks to their cages shut off. It was complete madness. A lot of personnel got killed, both RDA and scientists. This was before the war, before Dr. Augestine had a clue about the secret project." Her gaze dropped down to the concrete ground. "One of my friends was killed in the onslaught."
    "I'm sorry." I meant it. I've never heard this story, nor have I heard that Dr Augestine knew about it. I was going to have to ask her more about the famous woman.
    "Its ok", she sniffed. "It's an old wound. You ready to go?"
    The sudden change in conversation startled me. The subject must be more sensitive then she lets on. "Yeah."
    I lay down and before I could ask another question, she semi-slammed the lid down on me. (Great, I'm the bad guy.) I sighed and closed my eyes, hoping to forget what just happened...
   
   
    ...and reopened them to see a teenage Na'vi girl, no more then 17 in human years, glaring down at me.
    "Ah hell, what now?" I groaned as I sat up and rubbed my eyes, mood growing darker by the second. After I was sure that my mood wouldn't get the best of me, I looked back up at the blue Amazon.
    She was good looking...for a blue girl with a tail, maybe even strikingly beautiful. But the look she was giving me told me in seconds that she was going to be a pain in the @$$. A face most high school cheer leaders wore, thinking they were better then everyone else within a ten-mile radius. She looks familiar though...
    A new category of b**** came to mind: bad @$$ tom boy...native style.
    "What do you want?", I asked sourly.
    "I've come to welcome you into our tribe, dreamwal-"
    "Ok, lets get something straight here", I said, cutting her off. I got out of the hammock and onto the "branch bridge". I stood and did a glare that matched hers. "My name is Ash Blackstone. And you need to drop the 'dreamwalker' s***, cause' its going to get real old real soon."
    She said slowly, "Alright...Ash. I came to welcome you into the tribe."
    "And you might want to drop the glare you're giving me if you want me to believe a word you saying." I guess my composure wasn't completely in check, because I sort of spat the last word out. I haven't felt this type of tension and anger since back at the airport.
    Her glare immediately dissolved into a calm look. "I am sorry. It is just that I have taken a hostile attitude towards sky people since the war." She looked away from my eyes, unsuccessfully trying to hide the small look of guilt she played.
    "You shouldn't judge me by my people's actions." I said it with sympathy because I could relate to her hate towards the RDA.
    She quickly changed the subject. "The Olo'eyktan is waiting for you below. Please follow me." With that she turned and walked away with me in her wake.


    "You should stay at Hometree for the day, explore a little. Just don't get in everyone's way."
    I nodded at Jake. We were sitting at the fire pit, eating breakfast. We were the only ones there because everyone else had finished an hour ago and gone about their daily matters.
    It was going to be nice to have Jake watch my back here. I could trust Norm, Max, Sara, and Cutter, but if I wanted to survive among the Na'vi I could place my best bet on Jake for the job.
    (Don't forget Neytiri), my inner voice said, (she's the one who taught Jake, remember.)
    I asked him, "What are you going to be all day then?"
    He got up and handed me another fruit, you know, the one in that scene where Grace throws it to him and he eats it? Same one.
    "I'll be hunting with Neytiri. We'll be doing other stuff, but that's the main objective."
    "K." I bit down onto the fruit. Sweet and tangy. Good stuff.
    I paused to chew. Then I swallowed and asked Jake, "Who was that brought me down here?"
    He got his hands on his hips and exhaled, "That was Ne'ri. I'm sorry if she was a bit..."
    "Hateful?"
    He nodded. "Yeah, she isn't always like that. Once you get to know her, she'll be a lot of fun to be around." He walked a few paces away before adding, "I must go, Neytiri is waiting for me. Remember what I said."
    I nodded and watched the Olo'eyktan walk off. I finished what was left of my food and went down the "staircase" to the commons.


    It's amazing what producers leave out of the main show. When I reached the commons I saw things that the movie did not have in it. One male Na'vi was scaling a fish the size of half a direhorse. Another female Na'vi was tending to an infant while sewing something into a piece of cloth. It's amazing how the Na'vi can do so many activities at once. I don't think-
    I heard giggles to my left and looked to see a group of Na'vi kids playing around with a ball shaped thing. One boy in particular walked over to me with big gold orbs for eyes. He spoke in Na'vi, but I knew enough of the language to understand what he said. "Are you the dreamwalker?", he asked.
    I smiled and gave a quick nod. He immediately went back to his friends and started to talk and laugh with them. For some reason I felt that I was some sort of bet that the kid had just won.
    Still smiling, I shook my head a little and walked out of Hometree. I didn't notice it last night, but the new Hometree had a large clearing in front of it, smooth ground covered in grass, shrubs, and small clusters of trees, going out a good 500 feet before hitting the bigger trees of the forest. The Na'vi walked about, doing whatever they hade to do.
    For the good part of the morning I took Jakes advice and watched the people around me do their chores without interrupting. I felt sort of out of place among the natives, not helping and all that, but I didn't let it get to me. Some of it was boring adult stuff, the rest was mostly interesting. I think I saw Mo'at with some of the wives at some point, but I wasn't exactly sure.
    Around 11:30 I heard someone yell "Dreamwalker!" at the edge of the "patio area". I turned to see a guy that was around 17 striding towards me. He had a small group of hunters following him eagerly. He had a scowl on that reminded me of Tsu'tey, but he looked nothing like him. Scrawny actually, even in the Na'vi's outlook, but his eyes were full of hate. Ah crap here we go...
    "Hi", I tried to say cheerfully.
    He stopped in front of me and looked at me scornfully, his scowl deepening. He hissed, "You should not be here."
    I totally agree with you, I thought, but I didn't voice it. "In this area or the planet in general?"
    I saw that anger start to boil over in his features. He didn't like me being a smart-@$$, I guess.
    "Sky people are like poison. They destroy everything they touch."
    "Well I'm not my people." What was this guy's problem? I've never met him before, yet he speaks to me like we've been enemies since birth.
    "The Olo'eyktan made a mistake allowing you to stay. You will just destroy our home like what happened last time."
    "What the hell is your problem, man?", I asked, un able to stop voicing my thoughts. "What have I ever done to you?"
    "You are my problem, man." He pushed me.
    Now the guy was getting annoying now. "I won't fight you." I started to walk away, try to be the good guy, but he shoved me in the back and sent me sprawling onto the ground. The other hunters laughed at this.
    "I should make an example of you Dreamwalker, a warning to any sky person that intends to come here." He started towards me, then stopped, and backed up a few steps.
    I didn't see this. I was to busy squeezing my eyes shut for the beating. When it didn't come, I opened my eyes to see Cutter standing over me defensively, snarling at the hunters in front of us. If the Na'vi could pale, they did.
    The guy's look of fear replaced with scorn. "You will not always have your guardian protecting you. One day he will be gone and you will be defenseless." He turned and walked away, his group quickly following.
    When I was sure they were gone, I sighed in relief and patted Cutter's flank. "Damn Cutter, you have a good sense of timing."
    He yelped playfully at me. He got up so I could stand and dust myself off.
    A familiar girl's voice spoke behind me. "Don't worry about Tsukang. He won't cause any more trouble."
    Ne'ri stepped into my field of view, grinning. "Especially when Mo'at was watching."
    I looked around me, but I didn't find the Tsahik anywhere.
    Cutter shocked me by padding over to Ne'ri and nudging her leg. She bent down and scratched him behind the ears.
    I spent some time with your Nantang this morning. He's friendly, which I didn't expect at all." Cutter made a sound deep in his throat that sounded like a cats purr, but it was as loud as a cars engine.
    "That's weird. He usually doesn't take to strangers I haven't met yet."
    She finished scratching him and leaned back up to look me in the eyes. The stance she had earlier was replaced with friendly movements. She smiled again. "I'm guessing that you've never been in a fight in your life. Am I not correct?"
    I nodded unhappily. I wasn't the one who liked to start fights in school. I was the wimp that sat in the back of the class, ignored.
    She laughed. "That is going to change real quick. I'm sure whoever the Olo'eyktan chooses to teach you will pound you into a pulp until you learn to defend yourself properly."
    "Yeah, I guess." I turned my gaze to my feet. It was a bit shameful that I hade no fighting skills whatsoever.
    "Do you want me to show you around?"

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 8
Everyone seems to have enemies {part 2}

    Sitting on a fallen log in the "patio area", I watched the sun set over the trees of Pandora. I wasn't big on watching the sunset, but with the lush greenery and the Hallelujah Mountains in the background, you just couldn't resist watching the alien beauty that was being shown to you.
    Cutter sat next to me panting, with my Queue connected to his antenna, sharing our happiness for the quiet afternoon.
    Ne'ri showed me the stuff that I hadn't seen yet after the scene with Tsukang, like the 2 big lakes that the Na'vi used for bathing and drinking. They usually do anything anywhere around Hometree, but she showed me the general area where the Na'vi practice Bow-and-Arrow training, bow staff training, and everything else that has a "training" at the end. She also showed me the Ikran rookeries that where next to the third floor sleeping area, which I though was f***ing cool as hell.
    After that there wasn't much to do but watch the Na'vi go about their business.
    I sighed with longing. It s***ed that my two biggest hobbies, gaming and reading, weren't included with crazy dream package, but it was alright. Actually living with the Na'vi was as exciting as it is. When, if, I start taking lessons from a teacher, life will start getting even more interesting then it already is.
    I saw Jake and Neytiri run out of the forest carrying a dead Hexapede between them. By the way, for those of you who don't know what a Hexapede is, its pretty much the equivalent of a deer, except its green, has huge drum like ears that vibrate from the smallest crunch of dead grass, and its twice as big as a fawn.
    I waved to Jake. He spotted me and waved back, grinning. They disappeared into Hometree, but after a minuet Jake reappeared to jog towards me and Cutter.
    When he was within hearing range, I said, "Hay."
    "Hi, Ash. How was you're day?" He sounded breathless when he said this.
    "It was great. You guys have it good here. I don't think I could live any better then you guys if I decided to live in a forest."
    He smirked and sat down next to me.
    "Did the Hexapede give you a run for its money?"
    "Oh yeah", he chuckled. "The little b****** wouldn't sit still. They're usually easy to catch, but this one invaded us really well. We had to track it all day before we got the chance to take it down."
    "Wow...an alien deer outran you. That's pretty pathetic."
    "Oh shut up", he said, but he smiled, which made me smile. You could truly be comfortable with anything with this guy.
    "So, I spoke with Mo'at this morning before you got up, discussing your position in the tribe. We have decided that we want you to stay here and learn from us. Walk and speak as we do. Mo'at trusts me in my decision in trusting you, although she does think I'm being a skxawng for doing so."
    "She doesn't think I'm trustworthy?"
    "No, she will trust you, just not yet. The destruction of Hometree still lingers brightly in the back of her head. It does for all of us." He said the last sentence so low that I almost missed it.
    "Would it do any good if I went to talk to her myself?"
    He shrugged. "You can, but it's more of a 50/50 thing with the Tsahik."
    I nodded and stood and disconnected from Cutter. "I will then. You gonna come?"
    He got up and nodded as well. We walked together towards Hometree, Cutter trailing behind us.
    All lingering thoughts of talking to the Tsahik disappeared when we got to the entrance. Someone yelled "Dreamwalker!" above us when we were about to walk in. Naturally I looked up and got a face full of sap poured onto me, the stream of it barley missing Jake.
    I should have expected it, but I didn't. More was pored onto me and I just stood there and took it. Everyone stopped in their tracks and watched in shock. What was even more humiliating: Ne'ri and Neytiri saw it as well, both covering their mouths with a hand to hide the O that they mouthed.
    Laughter came from above. Of course it was Tsukang. And I knew what everyone else was thinking. The evil sky people deserved to feel every ounce of pain that they inflicted on the Na'vi. But what Tsukang just did to me, a guy that didn't intend to or want to cause any type of pain to the natives, was just plain mean and I didn't deserve it.
    Slowly, I swiped sap away from my face. I saw Mo'at, who also wore a look of shock and sympathy. Seeing her seeing me in this state, for some reason, hit me the hardest. I was the very close to being on the verge of tears, so in order to hid them desperately, I simply walked away with a neutral face.
    As I passed Jake he whispered, "Ash, I..." but I ignored him. Cutter started to follow but I gave him a glare to tell him to stay. He lowered his head and whined pitifully.
    I need some time alone at the "bathing lake", hopefully trying to forget the fact that I just got humiliated in front of the entire tribe.


    Scrubbing at my clothes with water did nothing, as everything else I've tried has done nothing. Yep, they were permanently stained and unusable. At least my necklace wasn't destroyed, because the sap was able to come off of it easily.
    I only had my boxers on as I scrubbed at my pants near the lake, even though it was futile. I really didn't get it. I mean sure, the RDA deserved a @$$ kicking, but that didn't mean Tsukang hade the right to take all his hate out on me. I didn't even do anything to him.
    I sighed in frustration and threw them to the muddied ground. Then I looked around for the first time and gasped. I knew it was stupid, but I haven't seen the forest yet during the night.
    The forests are hardly dark at night. The plants give of a light scientists call bioluminescence that happens from chemical reactions or something like that. Even the Na'vi have it, kind of like an I.D. when people try seeing who you are. The specks on the arms, back, chest, legs, and face can be seen from up to 20 meters way, 65 feet. That's far.
    Anyway, everything gives off bioluminescence on Pandora, including the plants. The scene in front of me was just as beautiful as the sunset, the area being lit up by purples, blues, greens, and other colors I couldn't identify. To sum it up: It was almost as bright as day, and I was f***ing loving the scenery. Well...not as bright as day, like one forth the brilliance, but you get what I mean.
    I heard the snap of a twig to my right and turned my head to see Neytiri coming towards my position. She held something in her hand but I couldn't see it clearly.
    "Are you alright, Ash?", she asked.
    I sighed again, this time in wariness. "Yeah, I'm fine."
    She sat down next to me. I had completely forgotten to be embarrassed that I was in my boxers when I saw her. "I brought you clothes in case the ones you have got ruined." She handed me what was in her hand, a loin cloth that the natives wore.
    I took it and said "thanks", trying to hide the sound of distaste in my voice towards the primitive clothing.
    "I'm sorry that happened to you. You didn't deserve it."
    "Your right, I didn't." I looked at her for the first time since she got here with sad eyes. "What's Tsukang's problem anyway?"
    She sighed and took my free hand in hers. It made me uncomfortable, but a flash of memory reminded me that the Na'vi only did it when they were telling something of importance to someone, so I held my tongue and let her speak.
    "Tsukang's family was killed during the destruction of our Hometree. He was alone with the other parentless children in our clan, and he has not been taking it well since." She let go of my hand.
    I looked at my hand and watched it open and close. "I can see why he hates me so much. Great, I'm going to be his personal target practice." I paused at that spoken thought. "Speaking of target practice...Jake said that I was to stat at Hometree, to learn your ways, but he never said who was to teach me."
    She smiled. "I will be teaching you."
    "Wont you be too busy?", I said a little too quickly. I mean, I was honored to be Neytiri's student, and everyone who loved Neytiri would do anything just to talk to her, but I remembered how she taught Jake in the movie. How she kept smacking him in the head and calling him skxawng every time he got something wrong. Being her student would be an opportunity of a lifetime as well as a curse if you get what I mean. So, I wouldn't mind if Jake or even Ne'ri taught me, but god help me when Neytiri started her lessons.
    She shook her head. "I can take time to teach you."
    Great, I thought, this is going to be torture.
    (Give her a chance), my inner voice said.
    I sighed again. "Alright. What did Jake do about Tsukang?"
    "He spoke to him, and assured me that Tsukang will do nothing else to you. We will keep an eye on him, just in case."
    I nodded and stood. She stood as well. "I'll join you at Hometree soon. Just let me get changed first."
    "Ok, but hurry. The tribe is starting to gather for the evening meal." She gave me a look of sympathy, and then she turned and left to let me change in privacy.


    Let me give some advice on the "Thong" the natives wear: if they offer you to change into one, kindly decline. Not only are they a bit overexposed, they itch like hell if you're not used to them and they cause occasional uncomfortable problems for your tail. All I was thinking about was how itchy it was and how underdressed I was as I ate with the tribe. But at least I was the only one noticing and no one else was.
    I popped another Taylu into my mouth and chewed slowly. I saw Tsukang on the opposite side of the fire pit, but I didn't make eye contact with him. He had enough fun humiliating me in front of the entire clan; he didn't need to see the unhappiness to know that it got to me as well.
    I didn't know it at first, but Ne'ri sat down next to me when I wasn't looking. She announced her closeness by saying, "Are you alright?"
    I practically jumped out of my skin. These people just sneak to well, even when they weren't trying, and I hated that. "Yeah", I said uneasily.
    "I didn't expect Tsukang to do such a thing. It is unlike him." She was handed a leaf plate. She took some Taylu and passed it on, glancing in Tsukang's direction worriedly.
    "And this is coming from a girl who looked like she would have done the same thing this morning."
    She didn't make eye contact while she ate. I continued. "I understand, though. You share a dislike for the sky people that rivals Tsukang's, but I don't mind. You have you reasons, and I respect that."
    "Thank you", she said quietly, "But I wouldn't do that to you. I don't take action like Tsukang does." She looked at me, then away guilefully.
    "Oh come on, be honest", is said, grinning. "Don't tell me for on second that doing something like that didn't cross your mind a few times."
    She didn't respond at first, but then she smiled and looked back at me with laughing eyes. "Ok, maybe a little..."
    Her smile only made mine grow wider. "That's what I thought." I looked away from her and ate in silence for a few minutes. Then I said, "You never told me your name."
    "It is Ne'ri. Didn't the Olo'eyktan tell you?"
    "Yes, but I wanted to hear it from you, not him."
    She nodded. I bit my lip as I said, "I can tell we are going to get along...that is if you want to."
    She frowned. "I was only like that to test you. When you passed, I realized you were a good person, so to answer your question, yes we will get along."
    "I hope so. I really don't want to be a target for two people."
    She laughed. I liked her laugh.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE: things have been fixed, such as the switching between characters. hope you enjoy the next CH. It seems rushed, but it will not happen again in 10.)
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CHAPTER 9
Riding pains, anyone?

    Darik didn't like it when Ash's mother cried. It ruined her makeup and made her look like a clown. But he didn't say anything as she sobbed by Ash's hospital bed.
    She got into New York last night, wanting to see her son. It looked like she would have got on a hockey mask, grabbed a machete, and massacred anyone if they dared get in her way. But the hospital kicked her out because she came too late at night, and visiting hours only lasted till 9 P.M. not one in the morning. Ash's dad had to spend the night in Ash's old room so he could comfort his ex-wife. Sobs filled the entire night.
    He sighed. He thought he was the only one who knew that Ash was still in there, kicking, trying to find a way out. But even with the effort of two armies trying to take down an empire, it just wasn't going to be enough firepower.
    Ash's dad stepped into the room and sat down next to his ex., placing an arm around her.
    "Oh, Jack", she sobbed, "I can't believe this is happening to our son..." She blew her nose.
    "Hey, everything is going to be alright, everything is going to be alright..." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more then his ex-wife.
    "Mrs. Blackstone?" Darik jumped at the sound of the doc's sudden appearance.
    She wiped her eyes and croaked, "Yes?"
    "Yes?"
    "I have some good news, maybe even wonderful."
    Jack let go of his ex. and swiveled around in his chair to face the doc. "What could possibly be good news in this situation?"
    The doc, whose name was Dr. Fritz, said, "I think we've found a way to see what your son is dreaming. Now the technology is still in the prototype stage, but if you want we can start setting up the equipment and have it ready within the hour."
    "What is this 'prototype' equipment?", Jack asked.
    "Well, what it does is it scans your son's brainwaves, and then sends us an almost clear image that shows us what's going on in his-" He stopped short when they heard Ash moan softly.
    "Yes, yes, just do it", Ash's mother snapped, tears starting to swell in her eyes again.
    Jack watched his ex. carefully. "Now Sally, shouldn't we talk about-"
    "I want to see what my son is seeing. I want so see if he's alright." She was close to sobbing again.
    "Alright, alright..." He turned back to Dr. Fritz. "Do it."
    The doc nodded and left the room in a hurry. Darik looked back at Ash's still form. I guess we will be seeing what's going on in his head, he thought.


    I fell off the Direhorse with a wet thwack! in the mud.
    Damn that hurt I thought miserably. And the riders in the movie made it look easy.
    Neytiri laughed as she went to fetch the alien horse before it could wander off. We had started training early, so Sara started making it her priority to wake me with a fog horn on full blast in my face. I think I'm really going to start hating the mornings now, and I'm especially going to hate Sara because she takes pleasure in watching me fall out of bed with a wild look on my face.
    I grumbled as I stood and wiped mud from my limbs. Oh yeah, I was right, this is going to be torture. 'Give her a chance', my @$$.
    I glared at Neytiri as she came back with the horse trailing behind her. "Again", she said.
    I sighed in dread, but she just smiled with sympathy. I must remind her of Jake when he first started his training, only I had a attitude.
    "Ok...why exactly do I have to ride a horse again? I don't see the point", I said as I struggled to get back on the thing. Maybe I should have taken up those lessons my mother offered for horseback riding.
    "It is the fastest way to travel on land. It can take us places an Ikran can not."
    Finally on top of the thing, I again connected my Queue to the horse's antenna. I still couldn't get over the way you could feel everything the animal was feeling, like you were the animal yourself.
    "When will I be able to ride an Ikran?", I asked, looking down at her.
    "When you are ready. But you are not...yet. It will take time until you are ready for Iknimaya and then Uniltaron. Then you will be a Taronyu and you will finally be accepted into the tribe."
    She patted the horse's side. "But for now, you will learn from us. Now...again." She backed off a few feet.
    I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. I had a quick thought that if I could get a memory of how the Na'vi sat on top of my horse that I could sit the same way. But the Direhorse's thoughts and memories were so clouded and foggy that it was impossible to tell if it even had a brain. Short talk: I was SOL.
    I opened my eyes and shook my head. The Direhorse was so different from Cutter, whose emotions and thoughts were easy for me to read. I hope the Ikran isn't as bas as the Direhorse.
    Tightening my knees to the thing's sides, I muttered "forward" into my chest. The horse went into a gallop and for the first few seconds I didn't fall off. But something, like a thought that nags at you, buzzed at the back of my head. It distracted me long enough to make me loose concentration and fall of the horse again...right into another pile of mud.
    Ah, hell. I got onto my hands and knees weakly and spat out a mouthful of mud. The buzz was still there. I shook my head but it wouldn't go away.
    Maybe it's the humidity making me imagine things. Whatever it was, it was annoying. I stood and stretched. Yeah, I'm gonna be sore in the morning.


    "I told him he was too into the movie", Darik commented, smirking.
    They watched Ash through his eyes as he tried to wipe of mud again. The doc had said that the picture they were getting wasn't supposed to be as clear as it is, but who cares? They were watching Ash dream and that was just plain cool in its own category.
    Jack also smirked as he watched the screen. Sally only frowned. She turned to the doc. "What does this mean, exactly?"
    "Well," the doc rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "this is only a theory, but when the device was tested on earlier patients, the creators of it theorized that when someone is stuck in a permanent sleep state, their brains will create a world for he or she to live in, to keep the person from staying in darkness for the rest of their lives."
    "So it doesn't mean that he hates his real life", she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
    "Yes, it is the complete opposite. Your son", he nodded to the screen, "is most familiar with his obsession, therefore his brain created a story where he can cope with his...problem."
    Sally turned back to the screen and watched as Ash tried to get back on the Direhorse again.
    The doc looked at Darik and said, "Can I speak with you privately Darik?"
    He nodded and followed the doctor out of the room, curious on what the doc had to say. They stopped a few feet from Ash's room, ignored by everyone that went past them.
    "There is a way to communicate with him", he whispered. "The only reason I didn't tell the boy's parents about it is because I can see them bombarding the kid with questions that could send him from regular dreams to nightmares."
    Darik was shocked at the sudden change in the doc's behavior, but he didn't show it on his face. "Then why are you telling me? Isn't that illegal to hold info from the parents?"
    "Yes it is, but you are Ash's best friend, and you trust him as much as he trusts you. I've seen the way you look at him. You care for him a lot. That's why I'm only telling you, because I believe you are the right person to hold this info, to tell him what's going on around him."
    Still suspicious, Darik said, "But...how am I going to talk to him if his parents are always around?"
    "That is easy. You can pretend every night that you've fallen asleep in a chair. I'll say you can stay here, and they will leave. Then you can talk to him as much as you want when they are gone."
    He thought about this. "I still don't get why you're only telling me."
    "Because", he sighed, "I lost a friend once, and I know what it feels like to sit by his side everyday, worrying about the worst. I don't want that to happen to you, to go through what I did."
    He looked at him, and then nodded. He still wasn't sure if he could trust this guy, but the opportunity to talk to Ash was to great to ignore. They both walked back into Ash's room, the parents not even noticing that they left as they watched the screen.


    I washed my face with water from the faucet and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. It felt good to get a shock after getting out of the link.
    I wasn't looking forward to tomorrow. After Neytiri had me rife up and down the highway of pain for 3 hours, she mentally made me tax myself to the brink with the Na'vi language. It wasn't as hard as tiring as riding a horse, but I had ADHD, which only made learning a new language even more difficult then it should be.
    By the end of the day, I didn't even have the energy to eat by the fire pit. But I did anyway. After that I went straight to the hammocks without talking to anyone. I'm sure I'll get used to this schedule eventually, becoming less and less tiring, but for the moment it was painful as hearing dad sing. (Trust me; you don't want to hear it.)
    I finished washing and was about to leave when the annoying buzzing from earlier returned. Ah hell, what now?
    {Is that the hello you give to your right hand man?}
    I stopped in my tracks. Darik?!?!, I thought loudly.
    A chuckle rang in my ears. {Who else did you expect, James Cameron?}
    I collapsed onto the toilet and laughed out loud, relief flooding within me. Oh dude, you have no idea how good it is to hear your f***ing voice! You have so made my day, man!
    {Glad to be of service}, I heard him say.
    I frowned. Dude, I-
    {I know what you're going to say and you don't need to}, he said. {It wasn't your fault that you got hit by a drunken truck driver.}
    I grinned again. Yeah, leave it to the adults to screw up your life.
    He laughed. Oh hot damn, it was good to hear a familiar again. Dude, I've been trying everything to wake up and nothing is working. I banged my head of a metal post and that didn't work at all.
    {I'd figure you try something.} He snorted. {You might as well stop trying, because the doc says there is no way of you returning to us...and that just s***s @$$.}
    I wasn't actually surprised by this news. I was expecting it. But I did say, "What the f***, really??", out loud.
    "Ash?" I jumped. It was Sara. "Is everything alright?"
    I stared at the door. I really hoped she wouldn't open it to investigate. "I'm fine, just give me a few more minutes to finish up."
    "K", she said. I heard her walk away.
    {Who was that?}
    No one. So I am really stuck here, aren't I?
    {Pretty much man. Sorry.}
    I slumped into the toilet seat, but I didn't let it get me down. Shaking my head, I asked cheerfully, Do you want to hear what's been going on in my head?
    {Do I really have to give you an answer for you to know?}
    I chuckled. Well you're going to have to wait, because I have to get out of here before someone thinks I killed myself.
    {Do what you have to do}, he said.
    I got of the toilet and flushed it, to make sure that anyone that was listening would believe I was actually using it. I checked if anyone was outside and, satisfied that there wasn't, quickly headed towards the barracks.
    I was quiet as I went through the twists and turns of the compound. Thankfully so was Darik, because I needed the concentration to get to the barracks without distraction. Unfortunately, I got as far as the doors to the barracks before I was stopped by someone.
    Norm was waiting for me when I arrived, asking when I came into view, "Hey Ash, how was your first day of training?"
    "Torture", I managed to say in a tired tone, although I was far from tired.
    My hand only grasped the handle when he asked, "In a hurry?"
    "Uh yeah, I just really need some rack after such a long day."
    He nodded, but this didn't stop him from asking another question. "Were you able to find out were their Hometree is?" He unfolded his arms and stood.
    "No, not yet, but I'm working on it." I jabbed a thumb at the door. "Look is that it? Because I really need some sleep."
    "Ok, ok, I'll let you go", he laughed. He patted me on the shoulder. "I'll see you in the morning, alright?"
    "Count on it."
    While he walked away, I hastily slipped through the doors into the barracks, heading for my room. When I reached it, I went in and locked the door, not wanting anyone to disturb by conversation with Darik.
    {I think you could have been less snappish to him}, he pointed out.
     Well you're not the one who has to deal with his questioning presence all the time. It's annoying. I went about the room getting ready for bed.
    {Even so, man. It's like Ms. Carter: She's annoying as hell, gives us loads of homework, but the class still gets along with her pretty well.}
    Except for the fact that she's a demon teacher from hell that likes to torture us for fun. I finished what I was doing and hopped into bed.
    Darik chuckled at my joke. {Yeah, that too...alright, spill it. What's been going on that I've missed?}
    So I spent the better part of the next hour describing my story from start to finish. I wasn't much of a storyteller, but I think I outdone my earlier attempts at trying it. (Another long story.)
    I could almost hear the creak of bone as Darik's jaw dropped open. {So let me get this strait. You were sent to Pandora by the RDA as a prisoner to capture Jake, but you decided to tell them to go screw themselves...}
    Yep.
    {Went through Avatar training, flew over Pandora on a Sampson, got attacked by a new breed of Viperwolf while taking plant samples...}
    Mmmhmm...
    {Made the bond with one of these S-Viperwolves, which no one has ever done, with any breed...}
    Keep going.
    {Met Neytiri, got taken to their new Hometree, also got hammered down with loads of questions from Mo'at...}
    Almost there.
    {Made an enemy the next day, and now your being trained by an alien princess so that you can get a Banshee and go through the Dream Hunt to officially become a hunter and one of the Na'vi people,}
    I nodded. You summed it up pretty well, my friend.
    He went silent on his side, then said, {Even if you're dreaming, you are one lucky son of a b****.}
    I laughed silently. Then the events of the day finally weighed down on me. I felt like I sprinted up and down a mountain all day without stopping. I groaned my wariness. I needed sleep, like right now.
    Dude, as great as it is, I fear I might fall asleep on you. Let me get to bed, and I'll talk to you tomorrow, ok? I didn't want to leave the conversation so quickly, but it was either that or falling asleep while talking to him, and I didn't want that to happen.
    {Alright, I guess}, he said, a pinch of disappointment entering his voice. {I'll talk to you tomorrow.} The buzz in my head disappeared.
    I sighed and rested my head on my pillow. At least I have someone to talk to now. I immediately fell into a pleasant sleep after that thought.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 10
Times on my side...more or less

    I swear I could hear 3 Days Grace playing in the background as I dodged every swing from Neytiri's bow staff. As long as I stayed on my toes and didn't get distracted whatsoever, there was no way she could touch me.
    I blocked a blow to my calves with my own bow staff and swung it at her stomach. She also blocked.
    It's been a week since my first conversation with Darik. He's been talking to me almost every night; keeping my thoughts intact wile I did my lessons with Neytiri. Hey, someone has to remind me that I'm a crippled kid, not a 15 year old in a 17 year old Avatar body.
    The lessons varied each day. It could go from traversing the jungles all day, to learning to ride a horse and the Na'vi language, to tracking animals with all your senses. Most of the time her crap doesn't make sense whatsoever, but I keep my mouth shut.
    Especially when it comes to lessons on Eywa. She keeps on going about how 'life energy flows through everything' and 'everything is borrowed' and whatnot. She might make no sense, but the lessons are always interesting. There are some things that she teaches that weren't even in the movie or survival guide, like children's tales about how Eywa did this or that. Sounds a lot like Jesus in the bible. She even talks about really...disturbing ideas, like Eywa is always with us, watching us, even when were not connected to her animals and plants. I can relate to that because I feel that half the time someone is watching me from a distance. Never a good feeling in my book.
    I backed up from her to get some breathing space, but she kept on coming. Finally done with toying with me, she got within my guard and swept her staff under my legs, sending me onto my back. She held the butt of her staff a inch from my throat before I could react.
    "You are getting better, but you still have a lot to learn." She grinned and held out a hand for me. I took it and let her help me back onto my feet. I groaned at the pain in my back. I'm in a coma, yet I'm getting pains all over the place.
    "I almost got you that time." I grinned because I was right. Neytiri was good at protecting every part of herself but her sides and stomach. Every time I directed an attack there she had less stick for protection.
    "It seems we are both learning from our mistakes."
    I shrugged. "There is no such thing as a perfect person."
    "Very true." She held out her hand again, this time for my staff. I gave it to her as she continued. "We are done for today. You wish to be with Ne'ri, and I wish to be with Jake."
    "I don't want to-" I stopped, pressing my lips into a thin line. I could also feel the markings on my face start to glow brighter. I liked spending time with Ne'ri. She was funny and great to be around. But I didn't like her that way. Some days she was a pain in the @$$. Not the cheerleader kind of pain in the @$$, but the she's-your-friend-but-also-your-sister type of pain in the @$$.
    I sighed in frustration. I knew she was teasing, but I couldn't help letting it get to me.
    "Think what you want to think, but that is never going to happen." I turned, hoping to hide the glow of my face.
    "When I first started teaching Jake, being his love was far from my mind. Now look were we are." She was still teasing.
    (She has a point), my inner self said.
    Shut up!
    "I'm just kidding Ash. Just remember: love has strange ways of squirming into your life unexpectedly."
     "Not that strange, Neytiri." I turned back to her and did a semi-smile to her, hoping to hide the glow still. "I'll see you later then."
    She waved me off, and I jogged towards the direction of Hometree.


    I was still surprised how easily I and Neytiri got along. I was expecting the entire time I was here for her to be grim and unsmiling wile she taught me the Na'vi's way, but she was the exact opposite. She acted a lot like my mother when she was still marred to dad...wait, if you think...no I don't think of her as my mother! My mother wouldn't try to whack me over and over with a bow staff and tease me about love. Jeez, say something and everyone takes it the wrong way. "Think of her as my mother", my @$$.
    Neytiri wasn't the only one who liked to tease me. When I got to Hometree, Ne'ri was waiting with Cutter at her feet at the entrance. "You up for some running today?", she asked, smiling wildly. "Or did Neytiri beat you up so much you can't walk?"
    "Ha ha, very funny. I'm up to it...that is if you can keep up with me, slowpoke."
    Her features tightened in annoyance. It was my turn to smile wildly. She may be able to beat me in a race in the forest, but after racing her on a flat plane two days ago I found out that I can leave her in the dust easily, and she hated that.
    "Where we will be going, I will have to lead, or else you will easily get lost."
    "So what you're saying is that I have to go as fast as a Lonataya in order to follow you."
    Her features tightened even more. "Just come on." She walked past me as I laughed. Cutter did his hyena laugh, which caused me to laugh even more, but we were able to follow her despite the tears in our eyes.
    It took us almost a full hour and a half to get to our destination, so on any "road trip" like this I tried to occupy my time. I tried to identify some plants that I could remember from my survival guide. Easy ones came, like the Loreyu, a big spiral plant that sucks itself into the ground when touched, or the Eyaye, Much like palm trees except at night their leaves glow like neon signs. Others were harder, like the Penghrrap, much like a natural heat detector, and...ok I'm just going to save my breath and say that I saw a lot of weird plants.
    When we got there, I was shocked. I couldn't speak. I almost fell to my knees at the sight.
    We were at the tree of souls.
    Well, not exactly in the center of it. We were on a ledge about a mile from the center, overlooking the stone arches that enclosed the famous living goddess herself. These stone arches are about 985 feet high and 1640 feet in width at their biggest. Not as tall as the Empire State Building, but definably big enough to make you feel small and insignificant.
    Various sizes of the arches covered the tree of souls, making it look like a protective bubble somewhat. I was able to get a glimpse of a tree in the center of these mammoth formations. Eywa.
    Without moving my eyes from the scene, I asked breathlessly, "Why?"
    The sigh she emitted made me look over as she sat down next to me with her legs dangling over the edge. "I wanted to show you my...how you would say 'hiding place', a spot I go to get away from the tribe when I need to be alone."
    Cutter wasn't very impressed by the tree of souls, so he went a few yards away, curled up into a ball, and fell asleep. The sound of a car's engine started to rumble through the air.
    I sat down as well, letting my legs dangle like hers. "I meant why are you showing me your spot?"
    The dots on her face glowed brighter as she looked at me with embarrassed eyes. "I wanted to share it with someone, but no one made me feel comfortable enough to trust them with my spot. I feel like I can do that with you." She smiled weakly and looked away.
    I also smiled weakly. Did she really think of us as good enough friends with this kind of thing? "Well I'm glad you did, because now I have a place to go now when I need to think by myself. Thanks."
    "Your welcome", she said quietly.
    We sat in silence as we watched the sun peacefully set over the arches hulking frames. A flock of Tetrapteron flew over the tree of souls, flamingo-like alien birds; squawking like there was no tomorrow.
    "Can we go down there?", I asked, breaking the blanket of silence by pointing at the deity's home.
    "No", she said, growing stern.
    "How come?" We were maybe a 10 min walk away from it. I didn't see why we couldn't.
    She sighed and the stern look went away. She looked at me warily. "Because, it's not that I don't want to, it's because no Dreamwalker is allowed there. Our clan will let you near her, but not until they feel more comfortable and they trust you better."
    "Oh." Here we go again with the trust thing, I thought as I sighed disappointingly.
    "I am sure you will be able to go there someday. Just not now." She got up and dusted herself off. With one last look at the tree of souls, she declared, "Come, we must go. Everyone will be wondering where we've been after all this time."
    I nodded and got up too. I called Cutter and we left the ledge that I had now dubbed, "Eywa's Lobby."


    What do you mean you have to leave?!?, I thought loudly in my head. I was getting upset, but I tried to keep a neutral face on as I as dinner with the tribe so I wouldn't alarm Jake or the others about anything that they might misinterpret.
    {I have to man}, Darik said sourly. {School starts tomorrow, and I can't stay in New York forever.}
    f***, this s***s, I thought as I ate another Taylu with some fruit wrapped around it. Who's going to keep me sane for the multiple weeks I'll be under Neytiri's wing?
    {Hay I don make the rules, the school board does.} I could almost see him look smug. {B******s.}
    {But don't worry}, he continued, {the doc says in three weeks you'll be transported back to your mom's hospital so she can keep an eye on you. I'll always visit every night once you do get here, that is if my mom doesn't give me crap about visiting you. You'll be fine until you get here.}
    Easier said then done. I scanned the people around the Fire Pit. I watched Neytiri, who was sitting with Jake and listening at quiet jokes he whispered into her ear, as I thought, Your not the one who has to deal with miss whack-a-mole.
    He chuckled. {At least you have that Ne'ri to keep you company.}
    Yeah, I guess so. I sighed in my head.
    {Hey cheer up, it could be worse. You could be staying in New York for the rest of your life in that coma of yours and I would never see you ever again.}
    He paused, and I strained to listen to the background. I didn't hear anything, but Darik's end suddenly crackled with static, then it cleared again. Darik's voice came back, but with a hint of annoyance in it. {Ah crap, I got to go. Your dad wants me to pitch in early so I can get some rest before the trip tom. I'll see you real soon, ok?}
    [/i]Alright man[/i], I sighed, Take it easy.
    The buzz that always occupied Darik's visits faded away.
    Suddenly no longer hungry, I fiddled with a Taylu between my fingers, trying to put the depression that I knew that would eventually come out of my head.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 11
I hate running...no really, I hate running.

    I spoon-fed myself oatmeal mechanically, not really paying attention to the slop that was going into my mouth. In my opinion, breakfast hasn't really improved over the past 150 years, but that's not what was getting me down.
    It was dull and boring, but it was even more dull and boring then usual because of Darik's absence...and I felt hollow because of it. I didn't need him to come and say goodbye to me because I already knew that at that moment he was already on a plane to Florida to start school again. I should have been on that plane as well, but I was stuck here. At least I didn't have to do homework anymore. That thought got a small smile out of me.
    Sara appeared at my side and sat down next to me, a look of concern crossing her face. "Hey kid, everything alright? You look down."
    "Oh yeah, I'm fine." I tried regaining my composer. "Just thinking about what Neytiri has planned for me."
    "Then it makes sense why you look so depressed." She took a bite of her own bowl of muck and laughed. "Hey, she means well. She wants you to learn the right stuff."
    I spoon-fed myself another mouthful. "Oh I'm sure of that....what is it that you're doing today? You never tell me your schedule anymore."
    "My schedule doesn't seem that interesting compared to what you have to learn all day."
    I groaned at the key words all day. I pushed my bowl away from me, done with the muck they seemed to call food. "Humor me. I'm sure it's more interesting then getting humiliated by miss whack-a-mole."
    She grinned at my joke. "Alright then. All I'm doing is flying some scientists over to a nearby sector to get some more samples of that...what is its Na'vi name again? That spiral thing that sucks itself into the ground?"
    "Loreyu?"
    "Yeah, that's it. Loreyu. We need more samples of that for research."
    You always need more samples of something "At least you'll be flying. I'm not allowed to pick and fly a banshee yet, and waiting to do so is really starting to piss me off."
    "I don't think I could stand riding one." Something beeped in her back pocket and she took out a pager. She frowned as she inspected its small screen. "D*****." She stood with her bowl. "I got to go, kid. They're saying that they're all set to go when they just told me they needed another hour to set things up. I got to haul @$$ down there pronto. I'll see you later, alright?"
    "K."
    She took of, muttering to herself, agitated. Once she was gone, I stood with a sigh and went to the cooks to give back my bowl. Might as well go do my job as well.


    "Again, Ash. Breathe in when you pull the cord. Keep your arms in."
    I know, I growled in my head. I knew I couldn't stay mad at Neytiri forever, but I hated it when she repeated everything to me.
    I pulled the string of the bow, trying to ignore the growing agitation that was coiling in my stomach, breathing in like she instructed. She circled me, inspecting my stance, and reappeared to smack my legs because they were too far apart and the arm that was drawing because it wasn't high enough to her. I turned my head to complain, but she turned it back to look straight ahead.
    I didn't know if it was the humidity of the forest or the knowledge of Darik's returning to Florida, but I couldn't stand the bow in my hand, the forest, or Neytiri anymore. It felt like my head was going on overload, being overwhelmed by all the events taking place at the same time.
    Out of nowhere I yelled, "I can't do this anymore!", and threw the bow at the nearest tree. If I had used any more force behind my throw, the bow would have shattered into fragments of wood. I stormed off in a haze, not noticing the shocked look that Neytiri had on. I wouldn't have even cared if I saw, because I desperately needed to get away from the area.
    I found a random tree and sat down hard next to it, laying my back against it for support. I pressed my face into my hands to block out my view of the world and stayed like that for a good twenty minuets without being disturbed. I had gotten used to the schedule of Pandora, like I predicted I would, but the training was too much to handle. I was just a 15 year old kid. How did they expect me to handle all of this without falling apart?
    It was probably childish of me to walk off like that, but at the moment I couldn't think strait. All I knew at that moment was that I needed space or else I was going to whirl on someone with my anger and depression and agitation. I didn't want that.
    The crunching of alien dead leaves and grass announced Neytiri's arrival. I didn't look up to see what expression she had on, but I did mutter, "Go away."
    She didn't listen. Instead she came to my side and sat down next to me, not saying anything. It was silent in my darkened vision for five minutes before she whispered to me, "What is the matter, Ash?"
    I didn't answer. I didn't want to answer, but she wasn't about to take "no" for an answer. I felt a hand on my shoulder as she said, "Ash, please tell me what is wrong."
    I swallowed. "How do you expect me to do this? I'm not Jake. I wasn't battle hardened before I came here. I'm just a child. It's too much for me to handle, too much for me to comprehend. It's just..." I could feel my eyes starting to water.
    "You can, and you will." There was no force behind her words, only concern. "Look at me." When I didn't do what she wanted, she gently pried my hand away from my face. Unwillingly I looked at her.
    Her facial features mimicked the concern in her voice. "I know it's hard, but you need to learn it."
    I sniffed and looked down at my bare feet. "I'm sorry, Neytiri. It's just...sometimes it's too much to deal with. I won't storm of like that again."
    She nodded. "You are not the first to do so."
    I stood up, legs a bit shaky but stable enough to walk. I started towards the clearing were we had been practicing, but her hand on my arm stopped me. I turned back to see Neytiri smiling in sympathy, standing casually as she said softly, "We will stop with this for today, but we will move on to a simpler lesson."
    I raised an eyebrow in question, but I didn't argue. "Na'vi?"
    She shook her head.
    "Running?"
    She nodded.
    Ah hell. I was always full of energy during the day, even if my nerves were shot, my mood in the form of a stormy cloud, and my limbs sore as hell. But the way Neytiri traversed the forests, the way she could blend in with her surroundings without even trying, was like...I don't know, but she always kept at a fast pace without stopping for a breather. That way of navigating made me tire out quickly and I would always fall behind no matter how hard I would try to catch up. I wanted to whine, but I didn't want to start sounding like a 5-year-old with a temper. Plus, she had raised my spirits greatly, so now I didn't mind working out as much as I did before.
    "Alright, lead the way."
    She took off without a backwards glance and I followed.


    I was wrong when I said I would get tired quickly, at least for this specific trip. Something stopped us from going on for too long.
    We had been running for two hours, going over roots and passing plants that got as big as a two story building, when we stopped at a stream. I needed water because my throat was parched from breathing hard, and Neytiri needed a break too. I chose to get my water from a plant that acted like a natural water silo, while Neytiri took the stream.
    I was facing her general direction wile I stood to drink, so I didn't see or hear the horror that was creeping up on me as I talked to her.
    "So how exactly did you and Jake meet?", I asked wile I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I already knew the story, but I wanted to know how it was from her perspective.
    Started to look up. "I was hunting a hexapede and-" She stopped and stood quickly from her kneeling position, backing up quickly.
    She had a look of horror on her face as she said breathlessly, "Ash, run."
    "What?"
    "Just RUN!" She turned around and ran in the opposite direction.
    It took me only a millisecond to understand what she meant. I immediately dodged to the right as massive jaws crushed the plant I had just been drinking from. I rolled to my feet and got my first look of the creature that just tried to cut me in half.
    Holy s***, it's a f***ing Thanator!
    The Thanator has many looks of the Viperwolf, but triple their size and a hell of a lot deadlier. It could decapitate a full grown T-rex and eat me for dessert. If you want a more detailed description of this thing, just imagine a 6-legged black panther from hell and you've pretty much got a good idea at what I was looking at.
    It spat out the destroyed plant in its mouth and brought its head to face me. Upper lip inverting, it growled so menacingly that any heavy weight wrestler would go crying for their mommies. It's armored plates on its neck made a clinking sound as it positioned itself to pounce.
    "Um...nice...black, destructive...thing."
    It hissed at me.
    "Fricken daisy cutters..."


    "Why is it always the foreigners that get attacked by everything?!?", I yelled to no one in particular as I ran for my life.
    I flew through a cluster of trees without bothering to brush the stay branches out of my way. The Thanator, in hot pursuit, took only seconds to snap through them like they were twigs. I covered my head with my arms as wood exploded in every direction. I think a piece got stuck in my loin cloth, but at that moment I was a little busy trying not to die to check.
    There is no way I can outrun this thing, I thought as I ran through another cluster of trees, which the Thanator gave the honor of destroying as well. I'm going to have to lose this monstrosity and fast.
    The only problem: how the f*** was I going to do that??
    My question was answered when I caught a glimpse of a cliff to my left as I ran. With nothing left to lose, I switched directions and headed for the only hope I had left. The Thanator snapped at the spot I had just been in, stopped, and lunged at me again, claws and teeth fully extended.
    Here goes nothing! Without even thinking, I Jumped off the cliff with all the strength my legs could muster. Stupid, yes, but would you do if a death machine bigger then a trailer was after you?
    There was nothing soft on the ground to cushion my fall, so it was a damn miracle that my hand found a stray root to cling to. I crashed into the wall of earth hard, knocking the breath out of me. The Thanator, whose speed was so fast that it had no time to stop, sailed over my head and into open air. Realizing that it was truly screwed, the creature roared in defiance as it fell 500 feet before crashing through the tops of the trees below.
    For a few minutes I just breathed hard and watched where the Thanator had disappeared. Then I laughed like a maniac and kept laughing until my throat hurt. I climbed the root and got back on the cliff, stretching. Quickly I made my way back to where me and Neytiri had stopped to rest, which wasn't to hard because all I had to do was fallow the path of destruction the Thanator left behind.
    This is definitely a story I have to tell Darik.


    Neytiri was nowhere in sight when I got back, so I ended up walking back to Hometree by myself. I was sore from running so much, but I dealt with it. It took me longer then two hours to get back, and what was waiting for me was the entire Omaticaya tribe outside of their home.
    Neytiri was instructing some young hunters with a look of worry. Obviously the hunters were a scouting party for me, so I decided to intervene a little. I was going to seek up on her, but the same Na'vi kid that had bet on me last week and won noticed me and pointed in my direction, calling everyone's attention. Neytiri stopped talking and turned to look at me in disbelief. Quickly she ran over to me, the entire tribe following in her wake.
    Before I could even get a word out from my lips, she talked me with a bear hug, almost knocking me over with her momentum. "Ash! Thank Eywa that you're alright. Are you ok?" She let go of me to inspect my well meaning, close to being in hysterics.
    I laughed at her over-protectiveness and tried to do my best Sergeant Johnson impression. "You really think some overgrown cat could kill Ash Blackstone?"
    The tribe made a circle around us, multiple starting to ask questions in Na'vi. Neytiri ignored them as she laughed and hugged me again. "I am just glad that you are alright. How exactly did you get away?"
    "I'll tell the story later, around the fire pit."
    She nodded. I heard multiple Na'vi children groan when they realized that I wasn't going to give up my story yet. The circle dispersed, although some stayed, (Jake and Mo'at included), to see if I was really alright and not waving them off to avoid attention.


    With Neytiri as my translator, I described my "adventure" over the Fire Pit's glowing coals with everyone's attention on me. I used my fingers and a Teylu to give a more detailed picture on what exact happened between me and the Thanator. For once the attention I got was good attention.
    Everyone laughed at the part were the Thanator stupidly fallowed me of the cliff's ledge. I finished my story with, "And a stray root saved my life! Can you believe that?" Everyone laughed again. Some of the hunter patted me on the back, congratulating me for living through such a encounter. I was grinning the entire time through dinner and on my way to bed.


    I had to retell my tale back at the compound during dinner, where everyone goes before getting some hard-earned rack. Most if not all of the Avatar pilots at attention listened eagerly as I told every bit of the story with detail. Again, everyone laughed at the part when the Thanator fallowed me over the edge, only this time I got comments like "Was the thing's brain that small?" or "I can't believe you have so much luck! I'm so pissed..." I never knew who said any of them, but they were welcome all the same.
    Norm patted me on the back when I had finished. "That was a great story. Something like that did happen almost exactly the same way a while back, except there was a lake, and the Thanator didn't follow him over the edge. Now that would have been bad." He chuckled at his joke, but I really didn't get it.
    "Well I'm just glad I got through it," I said, grinning wildly.
    "And what's ironic", Sara added from across the table, "is that this morning this kid in front of you was down and depressed. Now he's happy and on top of the world. Who knew running for your life could improve your mood?"
    Everyone laughed again.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

CHAPTER 12
3 weeks of overdue news

    "Alright Ash, we have been practicing your wording of our language for over three weeks now," Neytiri said calmly. We were about 100 feet from Hometree's entrance, a popular spot we've been using since my little race with the Palulukan. "I want to take everything you have learned so far and try to make a sentence, alright?"
    I nodded, anxious. It should be easy considering how every time someone says something in Na'vi I can mimic it perfectly, like a parrot. The only problem was a word in Na'vi and a sentence in Na'vi were two completely different things.
    But I would try my best anyways. I've been giving my all for the past few weeks, even when I was bone tired, and I came up with some really good results. Everyone has been giving a look of pride and concern ever since the Thanator attack, but Neytiri has been giving it more often with how well I've been doing with my training. I still have a ways to go, but I've been making progress never the less.
    I thought for a minute as to what to say. Finally I said in a horse tone that resembled an Italian accent remarkably, "Oe mllte tsnì oe kin nì'ul tskxekeng." "I agree that I need more training."
    She laughed. "That you do. Your pronunciation flies true, but you must work on the arrangement of your words."
    "Yeah, that is the most confusing of your d*** language." It was so unbelievably true. I tried speaking the Na'vi language before the accident. No matter how hard I tried I could never get the arrangement right. Ever.
    "I can tell it confuses you." She stood with a grace that I still envied. "But we can begin anew tomorrow. I think you deserve a break from the continuous training I've had you do for the past week. Now go and enjoy the rest of the day." She smiled sweetly at me.
    I nodded and stood as well; glad I didn't have to overexert myself. For the past two weeks after Darik left, Neytiri has been keeping it easy with me, only a lesson a day. Then she kicked it into overdrive by making me three lessons every day for the past week. It was so exhausting that I barely ate anything at the end of the day, both at Hometree and the compound.
    I made a break for the woods, not giving a second for my teacher to reconsider her thoughts. What I should have done was go and see what Ne'ri and Cutter were doing, but there was a thought that had kicked me in the stomach earlier, nagging at the back of my skull. I needed to see if my plan would work, and I didn't need Ne'ri telling me I couldn't.


    I arrived at my destination, Eywa's lobby. Everything was that way I hade left it, all peaceful and whatnot. The stone arches that protected the Tree of Souls were as big and strong as they've always been. Something in the air was different though; a hint of tension and adrenaline.
    Today, I thought as I carefully went down steep incline that lead to the Goddess herself, we are going to meet. I want to see Eywa.


    I immediately came to a problem when I got to the center; I had forgotten that there was an indent in the earth, like someone punching there fist into a tub of silly putty, where the goddess lived. At first I hade no idea what to do, but then I spotted some vines clinging to the wall to the right of me, so I got an idea. I went to those vines and, using them as a natural ladder, went down them quickly.
    They weren't as sturdy as I thought they were. Some held my weight, others were wobbly, and some fell away from my bare feet altogether. I did get to the bottom without incident. But as I turned to look at the tree, all thoughts of caution left my mind. Yep, seeing something in the movies does not give it justice.
    The Tree of souls was the size of a normal earth tree, surprising when I've been walking among the giants of Pandora for so long. It also looked like one of those crazy miniature Asian trees you would see on the dining room table, but the bush of it was replaced by white, long tendrils that almost came to the ground.
    The scene was beautiful, in all cases.
    I walked to the tree in a sort of dream-like trance. Except for my presence, it seemed as if no one has been to the Tree of souls in over hundreds of years, even though that wasn't true. When I reached the roots of the tree, I just walked up them like they were stair steps. And when I came to the base of its trunk, a few tendrils brushing against my shoulders, I just stood there and stared at it in awe for a minuet before sitting down on a huge root.
    I was quiet for a long time, not quite sure what to say to the tree. Should I have told it, her, everything? Or should have I just told my story for this strange dream?
    (Just say something, anything, numbnuts), my inner voice teased.
    "Um...I...I don't know if your listening or not, but I wanted to thank you for your hospitality...for letting me stay here." I paused for a second, unsure. "But...I don't think you know who I really am."
    My real story poured from my lips like a river, unable to stop itself. I told her about the accident, my feelings, everything. I felt, other then Darik, that she was the only one that I could tell my story to without worrying that it would affect everything.
    So that how the next hour played out. I told her my childhood, my parents, Darik, and everything that has transpired since I arrived on Pandora. Once I was done, I sighed as I said, "I can't help but think that maybe you called to me, back in New York. Maybe you called to me for a reason, if that was you. But what that reason was, I have no idea..." I looked down at my hands, my ears twitching in confusion. "I just...I wish that you would give me a sign, something, that could tell me that I'm doing the right thing. It's just..." I trailed off, not knowing what else to say to the tree.
    I stood slowly, my knees creaking after sitting in that position for so long. I looked up at the tendrils wishfully, hoping that sign would come. It didn't. I sighed again and muttered, "Thank you for listening at least." With that I turned and left without looking back.


    That night I sat down next to Mo'at at dinner for the intention of speaking with her. Since the day Tsukang poured sap on me, I have not gotten the chance to speak with the Tsahik, maybe it was because I was too busy with Neytiri at training or Mo'at was nowhere to be seen at the time.
    But this time I've got you, I thought triumphantly.
    She didn't say anything as I sat down, but she glanced in my direction to acknowledge my presence. As we ate in silence and I thought how to approach her, I looked at my food a bit distastefully. All the food they hunted and harvested was always good no matter what, but a guy can miss hamburgers and fries, right?
    Mo'at was the one to break the silence between the two of us. "I assume that with you sitting next to me means that you wish to speak your mind to me."
    "Yes it does." We both met each others gazes as I asked boldly, "Why exactly do you not trust me?"
    I think a few of the Na'vi behind us stopped eating when I said this, but I didn't really care what they thought. I just wanted my question answered.
    Mo'at's glare went cold, but not hateful cold, more like...defending oneself cold. She looked away from my questionable gaze, continuing to eat as if I didn't even say anything. It irritated me, but it also worried me. I wasn't sure if I went to far with this woman.
    When I was about to apologize for speaking out against her, she spoke quiet enough so only me and her could listen to her words. "There are many reasons why I do not trust you, Ash Blackstone." I flinched as she said my name. "One being that your are a stranger among us. It is hard to say if a sky person like you can be trusted again. Another..." She paused to look into my eyes sadly before continuing. "When our home was destroyed, our leader Eytukan was killed. He was Neytiri's father as well as my, as your people say, 'husband'. When he died, his death made us both weep with sadness. Our grief added to the countless that lost love ones that day." She glanced over at her daughter, who was talking and laughing with Jake.
    I just about smacked myself on the forehead. How the hell could I have forgotten Neytiri's father, one of the main characters in the movie? I guess his absence helped, but that should have hinted it even more.
    "If Jake did not be so...secretive with us, his death might have never happened." Her eyes started to glaze over.
    "I'm sure he had his reasons for doing so." I watched what she was watching as well, felling her grief. "But your destruction was also your salvation. Jake became Toruk Makto and saved everyone, including Eywa herself, am I not right?"
    "This is true."
    "Then good came from the bad." She looked at me as I said this, but I didn't repay the look with my own. "I won't make the mistake Jake did. I made sure of that when I first came here. I'm a child, and I may do stupid things, but I will never betray the Na'vi, of that you can be sure of." I chuckled. "And besides, even if I tried, I'm sure that your hunters wouldn't hesitate to shoot me the second I said 'I'm a skxawng'."
    She smiled warily. "This is also true." She quickly changed the subject though; I'm guessing the painful memories being too much for her. "How go your lessons?"
    It was my turn to be unhappy with the situation. I frowned as I said, "torture."
    Her smile broadened at my misery. "Then my daughter is teaching you well."
    "You're daughter likes to whack me a lot and overwork me so much that I can't think straight."
    "She is teaching you well," she said softly. "You will be accustomed to her methods as time passes."
    "Yeah well, tell that to my aching limbs." I rolled an arm in its socket to give emphasis to my point.
    She continued to smile as she said, "You will be accustomed as time passes." She turned her head and went back to eating, telling me that my conversation with the Tsahik was over.


    With a groan I sat up in the link unit, joints popping from misuse. Sara was standing near the link, waiting for my "arrival" as she always been since I "arrived" to Pandora. She started the ritual greetings that were done every night by raising an eyebrow as she asked, "How was your day kid?"
    "Boring as hell. We practiced Na'vi again today and now I have to practice arranging the words properly, like the language wasn't a b**** to deal with." I hopped out agilely of the unit, something that took awhile for me to master.
    "The language is always a b****."
    "What about your day, hmm?"
    She shrugged. "Just as boring. Max had me stay in the labs to do scientific stuff that you wouldn't understand."
    "Well, at least it was interesting right?"
    "Hardly," she said in a mock grumble. We laughed at the joke. She patted me on the back as she grinned. "I'll see you at dinner. I got to finish up here before I go down, ok?"
    "Yep, whatever you say doc." We pounded it and I left for the mess hall.


    I hade a spoonful of beef stew halfway in my mouth, mid-chew, as Darik's voice rang in my ears unexpectedly. {Did you miss me, slacker?}
    The buzz didn't even warn me of Darik's presence. I jumped in my seat, and then I smiled wolfishly with the spoon still in my mouth like a cigarette. Did I ever! I took out the spoon and started to shovel meat and other soupy ingredients faster into my mouth, like someone would take the bowl away any minute.
    {Whoa, hey, slow down. there's no need to rush.}
    F*** you, I haven't heard your voice in f***ing 3 weeks. I think I deserve to rush a little. I finished the stew in record time and got up with it to give it to the cooks.
    {Alright, alright. Geez, leave a guy in a fictional fantasy world for any length of time and they'll miss you more then they would miss air}, he teased.
    Dude, you have no idea, I thought as I passed in my bowl. Neytiri has been working my @$$ off and I haven't seen an end to her endless bombardment of work.
    {Save it till we're alone. I want to hear everything from the moment I left.}
    I rushed through the halls towards the barracks, my sense of direction also mastered after weeks of practice and exploring the compound. I almost ran over a female tech in my mad dash for my room. Once I got inside and locked the door behind me, Darik finally demanded, {Spill it.}
    I sat on my bed and for the next hour described the last 3 weeks to him as best as I could remember, starting with the Thanator attack. He laughed at how stupid the Thanator had been for leaping over the cliff after me, but quickly got serious as he asked, {Do you think it's still alive?}
    Probably. The Pandoran trees broke its fall, so I expect that it's still alive. I just hope that I don't have to go head-to-head with the thing again. I'd rather keep my life, thank you very much. Once again, fate was kicking me in the balls for fun.
    I continued, going on about my lessons with Neytiri. A lot of {ohhh} and {ouch!} sounded in my head at parts when she would kick the s*** out of me in bow staff practice. He was impressed that I got better at the Na'vi language and bow and arrow training, but seemed to be disappointed that I haven't gotten better at horseback riding.
    I finished with the meeting with Eywa, saying everything that I told the tree. At first Darik didn't respond to this piece of news, but then he came up with, {Do you think it was a smart idea, telling her everything?}
    Honestly.....I don't know. It felt right to tell her though.
    {I don't know man. This could end up biting you back in the @$$ in the later months to come.}
    Too late to fix that, I thought as I shrugged. Only time will tell what is to happen.
    {Now don't you go all 'wise man' on me. It doesn't work.}
    I grinned; glad that Darik's vision went as far as my own while my mouth twisted in silent laughter. Alright, it's your turn. What's been going on at home?
    {Quick question: Did you ever accidentally catch Neytiri naked in the bathing lake?}
    I practically choked on my own saliva. What the...?!? Are you nuts??? No, I haven't! And besides, I've grown to admire Neytiri more and more like a role model as the weeks have passed. I would never disrespect her like that! And she's married too, you skxawng! How could you possibly suggest a thing??
    He was silent as he took my words in. Then, {You've changed, man. You told me before that you've fantasized about her. Now you're saying that you couldn't think of doing such of a thing. What happened to you?}
    Are you trying to avoid the question?, I thought, heat going to my cheeks as my thoughts lingered at what exactly those "fantasies" were.
    I heard him sigh. {A little. Not much as changed here. Most of the kids were shocked to here of your sudden 'disability'. A few girls that had crushes on you cried their eyes out when the news came to them. The teachers were just as shocked about your condition, although Ms. Carter looked pissed that she wouldn't be getting a book report from you anytime in the near future.}
    I smirked. Leave it to a teacher to still want your homework even when you're dieing.
    {You're mom isn't doing to well. She's been looking like she hasn't gotten any sleep lately every time I visited her at the Blue Cross. I think she's taking your condition a bit too much.}
    Yeah, you think?, I asked sarcastically.
    {Hay man, I'm just telling you what I know. I try to cheer her up, but most of the time my efforts don't do anything for her peace of mind}.
    You got anything on my dad?
    {Yeah. I saw him this morning while he was bringing you in. he looked as sad as your mom, but he didn't look like he'd lost any sleep over you.} He chuckled. {Dude, you should have seen the mob at the hospital today. Almost everyone, including the teachers, came to give their respects. It was soo crowded in your room that those girls I mentioned having crushes on you got to kiss you a few times when everyone was temporarily distracted by your mom.}
    God, I miss everything!, I exaggerated. I wasn't big on girls, even though my hormones have been on overload since I was thirteen.
    What about you?, I asked. How have things been going with you and school?
    He spent the next half hour jabbering on about every little thing that he thought would be interesting to me. He went over all the funny insults that were exchanged over my art room's table. He said one time T.J. insulted my memory by saying that he was glad that I was half-dead in my mother's hospital. He ended up getting pounded on by Connor and Dom as the end result. I so wished I had seen that. It would have been a good story to tell over the Fire Pit.
    {So that's about it, unless you want to hear all the homework I had to do for the past three weeks.}
    Nope, and I'm glad I wasn't there when it was assigned, whatever it was. I grinned at my remark.
    {F***er}, I heard him grumble. Then, {As much as I want to stay, I have to go before my mom has a fit about my absence. I'll see you later.}
    Alright man, take it easy.
    The buzz, which had subsided to a dull whisper, disappeared. I sighed happily, or as my mother liked to call it when one was extremely tired 'slaphappy', as I flopped onto my back, grateful that the routine that was in effect before would return. Then at least things would be a whole lot easier.


    In the dim light of the blue glow coming from the bladder lanterns, Ne'ri crouched over the hammock that held the 'sleeping' form of Ash's Avatar. Everyone was asleep but her, which puzzled her until she realized she was staring down at Ash several feet below her. Like the curious person that she was, she hopped out of her hammock when everyone was deep in sleep and went down to look at the Dreamwalker.
    She sighed. She was not sure why, but this particular sky person intrigued her much. At first she thought it was just that she wanted a challenge, something that had not come along since Tsukang. And Ash is a challenge, in a sense.
    But after seeing him return from the Palulukan's attack, which she had been extremely worried about, she had felt something. She held back, watching the tribe swarm him with attention. She had never felt it before so that was why she was down at Ash's hammock; to make sense of what she had felt.
    As she breathed in and out evenly, she had an uncontrollable urge, so much stronger then hunger or hate or fear. And it was so strange; she wanted to feel his skin, to huddle next to him, to...
    She silently gasped, a flash of memory, her mother explaining the emotions of the females of her kind, bombarding her with realization. Her mother had said that a female would feel sick if she was to mate with a male but no Tsaheylu was made. She would also feel that she needed to be close to her ideal mate when he would show up in her life. She was so young at the time that the advice made no sense to her, but now it did.
    She was in love with the skxawng.
    It can't be... She shook her head in defiance, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it was true. It had always nagged her in the back of her mind whenever she was close to him, but it never really surfaced until now. She now felt an ach to be with him, so strong that it was hard to push away.
    She abruptly stood and stalked off, so confused with love and worry that she needed to clear her mind outside.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

(NOTE:sorry it took so long, but heres the new chapter. enjoy, and comment please.)
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CHAPTER 13
Die evil space fish!

     There wasn't much space in the hollowed out canoe foe two people, so I was forced to stand as I hunted for fish. It didn't make much sense that I wasn't allowed to hunt wild game until I passed Uniltaron, yet here I was, looking for fish to kill with a bow-and-arrow with a green light from Jake to do so, without getting a lecture on "how not to do this" or "how to do that". Sometimes the Na'vi way of becoming a hunter just didn't make any sense to me. Well...pretty much all of this planet doesn't make sense, but you get my drift.
     I breathed in slowly, notched an Arrow into my worn Bow, and pulled the string into a position my teacher frequently made me practice almost everyday. The teacher herself watched without interrupting as I aimed my arrow at the misty water of the lake.
     My eyebrows knitted together as I concentrated on the swishing forms below me, muscles tense. The fish on Pandora were a bit tricky to catch, so in order to succeed in having a fish dinner you hade to keep your thoughts and aim on the water at all times, or else you just might miss at the last second and end up going home empty-handed. I sure as hell didn't want that to happen on my first time fishing, so I didn't allow my thoughts to stray.
     A heartbeat passed, but it seemed like an eternity to me. I let the arrow fly true. With a wet sploosh! the barbed arrowhead drilled itself into the fish I hade my crosshairs on.
     "Yes!", I cried out in success. I grabbed the bunted end of the arrow before it could disappear into the waters and pulled it out eagerly with my trophy still attached. It was average size, which was ok as long as I just succeeded in getting one.
     I held the fish in front of Neytiri, showing her my accomplishment. "I did it!"
     She took the arrow and fish from me, grinning. "Good work. You are getting better and better with a Bow everyday. Soon, after you have mastered our other lessons, you will be ready for your test to become a hunter." She beamed at her spoken words, which told me that she was already proud of how far I've gotten in my training. She handed the arrow back, minus one fish. "But once again, that day has yet to come. Now, again. This time aim for something bigger."
     I nodded seriously and re-notched my arrow, aiming at the water again to claim another price. It's been two weeks since I "returned" to Florida. In that amount of time, I have excelled at Bow training like Neytiri had suggested. I still needed to work on my Na'vi and horseback riding a little. (I still couldn't figure out how to sit the d*** thing. You'd think they would have come with instructions but nooo...). Anyone can run, but Neytiri (as well as Ne'ri) still leaves me in the dust after countless weeks of working on my stamina.
     Darik has been keeping me company almost every night, keeping my sanity in check. We talked about the usual, rarely straying into other subjects; what lessons I've gone through, what Teacher annoyed Darik that day, who had a crush on whom, stuff like that. Typical guy topics. If I ever had a problem with something, he would do his best to help me through it.
     Norm has been making more appearances in my life lately. He had taken the liberty of helping me with my Na'vi. It would have been great; spending my time with one of my favorite characters, if not for the fact that one teacher kicking the s*** out of me at me all day was enough. He still insisted through my wining, so now I spent almost every night in the mess hall, practicing with him practically hovering over my shoulder. I had mo idea that he could get so annoying, but I got over it, although it made me grind my teeth sometimes. Its Norm: you couldn't stay mad at him forever.
     I concentrated on the task at hand, keeping my aim on the waters. A second later something big passed underneath the small wooden canoe I stood in. I'm not saying big as in catfish big, I'm saying big as the fish I saw one of the Na'vi scaling a month and a half ago that was the size of half a direhorse. Or maybe it was smaller, I couldn't exactly tell.
     I fired before I could hesitate. It went into the alien fishes flesh like butter, but it was stronger than it looked. It started to swim away with the fishing arrow still sprouting from its back.
     I frowned. Oh no you don't. I made a grab for the string that hung from the arrows end. I just barley caught it and yanked it back, but it only seemed to piss the fish off even more. It thrashed so much that it rocked the small boat to almost the tipping point.
     I grunted and yanked again. The fish splashed (literally) a boatload of water into my face to try and get away from my grip on the arrows string, but I held on. Unfortunately the water blinded me from seeing anything, including Neytiri's recondition and horror.
     "Ash let it go. It is a-"
     The fish thrashed harder than it did before, sending me off balance. It gave another tug and sent me over the edge, which was what cut off the rest of Neytiri's sentence.
     I went into the water with a splash, forcing me to shut my eyes because I couldn't open them underwater. Still I held on like a stubborn thorn, but that was a major mistake. Without warning it turned around and bit into my arm, snapping my head back with repeated whacks with its fins. I yelled out in pain, bubbles leaving my mouth and rising to the surface, as it tightened its jaw.
     Through my haze of pain, a faint alarm rang in my head. The fish was similar to something in my survival guide. Blade-like teeth, large level of ferocity, swims somewhat like a manta ray....
     The alarm immediately blared in my ears and my eyes widened in shock. I just about hade a panic attack as I tried to pry it from my arm, pounding at the things skull. I might as well have been poking it with a stick. It only thrashed even more, digging its teeth deeper into my arm.
     It was a friggen Dinicthoid! Why hadn't I seen it sooner? I did remember everything about the thing now, which was good because if I hadn't I would have been screwed. These things are so violent that school of Dinicthoid can take down a fully grown strumbeest easily, and there f***ing 20 feet long and weigh a ton! If something as small as a Dinicthoid could take something that big out. I was going to have to think of something fast.
     I got an idea. Letting the Dinicthoid hold onto my arm, even though it was extremely painful, I pried the arrow from its armored back, using as a sort of knife to jab creature's skull.
     First try, I got its eye and it thrashed even harder, which didn't help. Second, I hit my target dead center with a dull crunch. I was rewarded with its jaw relaxing its grip from my arm. No more pain, or at least escalated pain. Yeay me!
     Growling from the fire in my forearm, I grabbed the 3 feet evil space fish and stood. (The riverbed's depth was shallower then I expected it to be). I splashed over the surface, coughing, and held the menace over my head. I looked over at Neytiri's shocked look. "How's that for seafood?" I asked with a grin. I threw the fish into the boat with a gleeful pounce.
     Neytiri slowly grinned at me as I said, "Owned, be-otch!" to the dead fish and climbed back into the boat.
     She noticed the bleeding on my arm. "I should heal that," she said, inhaling sharply at the sight.
     "Nah," I said happily. "Not yet. Want to get my prize to Hometree first, then you can do whatever to me." I panted for a min, trying to run the water out of my jet black hair, before I asked, "Can we be finished for today?"
     She laughed the good natured laughed I loved and grabbed the rowers. "Yes, we can. You deserve it." As she brought us to shore I wrapped my arm in cloth so I wouldn't bleed out.


     "Ow! F***ing hell! Be more careful."
     I sat next to Neytiri a few feet from Hometree entrance, watching her place some sticky, smelling sap-like medicine on my arm, covering it with leaves that I couldn't identify. I'd like to say that she did it gently, but frankly my language told it all.
     "It should not hurt that much," She said quietly without looking up from her work.
     My ears flattened themselves to my skull as the fire licked up my arm for the thousandth time. "Well your not the one who-ahhh!-had to tango with-Jesus!-a Dinicthoid."
     "If you had let go of the arrow like I had said, you would not be in pain now."
     "If I had, I would not have been able to-ow, ow, ow, that f***ing hurts!-to bring that prize of mine with me. I wanted to prove myself, Neytiri. I wasn't about to pass it up for my well being."
     "You're as stubborn as Jake," she muttered. She placed the last leaf on and stood, finished. "Be more careful," was all she warned, then left to do whatever.
     Cutter patted over to me from out of nowhere, licking my wounded arm and watching me with worried eyes, or as worried as an animals eyes get. He wined at me.
     "I'm fine." I did a sharp intake of breath as pain lanced up my arm again. "Well, as well as I can get..."
     "I should congratulate you on your catch of the day, but I think it was more luck then skill."
     I jumped at Ne'ri's voice, Hissing, "Jesus! You know I hate it when you do that."
     "That's why I do it," she said smiling, stepping into view. She looked the same as when I last saw her, but something was difference. Was it confidence in her looks? Or nervousness? "How's your arm? She asked, pointing at it.
     I rubbed at it, which I was sure I should have done. "I've seen and felt worse." You should have seen some of the patients that came through my mother's doors. They were far off worse then I was, and half of them didn't even make it out alive.
     Mistaking my frown as a look of misery, she proclaimed, "You'll live. Come, I want to take you to the rookeries."
     "You've already showed me them."
     "But have you seen the Ikrans up close?"
     The question caught me off guard. I have seen them in the survival books and the movie, but never up close. I managed a feeble "No" for her.
     She took my arm, the good one, with a look of joy as she said, "Come on!" and dragged me to the interior of Hometree.
     Where my skin contacted with hers, I felt a spark jump between us. I wasn't static electricity, but something...else. Made me feel even more comfortable with Ne'ri then I ever had, which I thought was odd. It was good, even relaxing, but odd.
     I looked down at her hand on my bicep. If she had noticed anything, she didn't voice it. I shook my head. It was probably nothing, so I latched it down and outside of my thoughts as we ran up the staircase.


     There are some days when I wonder what the hell I've gotten myself into, mingling and training among the Na'vi. Fake or not, I wonder if I ever had a choice to do it or not that I'd do it over again. Every time I look back at it, it's always been a yes. The only times I'd ever question that yes was when I'd been hundreds of feet above the ground, where one wrong move would send me to my death. Today was another one of those days.
     We arrived at the Rookeries a few minuets later. It was sort of like the hammock area where the Na'vi sleep, but it was open-aired, a huge branch connected to Hometree and hanging hundreds of feet above the ground. There were hammocks as well, but not exactly like the ones I had slept in but like the nets you climbed in any old-fashioned jungle gym. All I could see amongst the nets were shifting shadows among shadows. It was hard to tell what shadow was and what wasn't.
     Grinning, Ne'ri calmly walked up to the rookeries and made a calling sound. It didn't sound human, but I didn't complain.
     For the first few seconds there was only rustling that gave answer to her call. Then a giant creature exploded from the brush hiding it, screeching out a wail that sounded like one of the dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park movies.
     I literally fell on my @$$ and scooted away from the thing frightfully. I breathed hard, trying to seem unnoticeable by the creature.
     The Ikran flapped its 4 large wings steadily as it hovered and landed on the "ground," or Branch Bridge depending on your point of view. It lowered its head with a squawk as Ne'ri came to it, making cooing noises. She patted its hide, turning to regard me. He eyes had something in them, but whatever it was it disappeared. "Do not look in her eye, or she with think it is a challenge and attack you."
     I got back up slowly, nodding. I kept my eyes on its mouth as I made my way to it, which didn't make things easier on my courage because the thing had teeth. Very long, very sharp teeth that could shred me in two without effort.
     Banshee's look ½ bird, ¼ bat, and ¼ fish. They were big, but not as big as a strumbeest and defiantly not as big as Toruk, which was triple the size of an average Ikran. Ne'ri's Banshee was Navy Blue, so dark that a first glance one would mistake its hide as black. I got glances of splotches of lighter blue on its chest and the underside of its wings.
     The second I felt its hide, I felt a bit better. It was leathery and smooth at the same time. Alien, but I liked it. It felt natural.
     "Wow," I breathed, "there a lot more intimidating up close then they are in pictures." I scratched behind were I thought its ears were. It leaned against my hand, obviously liking it.
     Ne'ri smiled again. "She likes you, I can tell."
     "Well, I've always had a way with animals..." I scratched harder. The creature made an inhuman growl/purr/moan in its throat.
     Smoothly, she got onto the creatures back with liquid grace, tugging on a few straps in the process. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her kick her foot. Later would I realize it was something I saw a cowboy do when they want there horse to go forward.
     Without warning its wings snapped open, knocking me to the ground. It launched off the tree and soared down, Ne'ri's laughter following it.
     I watched in awe at the creature's grace, grinning as I rubbed the side of my head. No matter what the danger, I could not wait to get my own Banshee.