Aytautral (Sky Trees)

Started by Txura Rolyu, September 21, 2011, 04:50:00 PM

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Seze Mune

#20
Sulani allowed her young one to nestle close.  She still felt very protective of him.  Three of her last brood had been taken by a toruk, food for the toruk's own young hatchlings.  She was not about to let anything happen to this little one!

It took her quite awhile to settle in for the night, so it was with some reluctance that she opened her smaller set of eyes to identify the source of the noise she heard.  It was her young one moving restlessly, jerking his wings and making fearful sounds.  She knew his mind was back at the scene of the attack, and that he was frightened by the events of the day.  She nestled closer to him, draping a warm and dusty wing over his smaller body.  His muscles lost much of their tension and his movements calmed.  He became quieter.

By the time daylight filtered through the foliage and dappled the nest, Sulani was well rested.  She nudged her 'itan from his sleep.  A long, deep yawn revealed his full set of needle-sharp teeth.  He closed his jaws with a snap and was instantly eager for the day's activities.  Her mother's affection for him bubbled up and she teased him into a morning flight into the upper recesses of the Floating Mountains.

"If you are hungry, little one, you had better put some speed on and follow me!" she called.  Her wingspan far exceeded his and she knew she had an unfair advantage.  "Such a slow one I've never seen!"  She turned somber for a moment as she considered her words, then veered right and banked around to fly up behind him.  "If you are not careful to stay up with me, you may end up like your siblings.  Za'u, let me show you some evasive maneuvers you may need soon if we cannot make a new nest farther from the aytoruk."  

With that, she flew upwards and into the hanging maze which was ayRam aLusìng.

Txura Rolyu

My mind was still a little groggy as Sulani and I went for a quick trip up into Iknimaya. She teased me at how slow I was but I knew she would win this little race becasue she was much more of a morning creature. I enjoyed the cover of night myself.

As we flew up into the clouds I remebered the first time I had been able to fly and how I had wanted to go to Iknimaya as soon as I could. It was always great to see the floating mountains above the clouds. The massive waterfalls that just dissapeared into thin air were quite a lot of fun to fly through when you were getting hot from the sun.

"Can we get some food first ma sa'nok? I am sure I can focus much better when I have some food in me," I say to her as she is flying next to me.

She nods her head in agreement and begins scanning the sky for a flock of ayayo. Being so high up we were able to spot one very quickly. A large purple blur above the trees below signaled that there was a large group of them traveling around. I gave Sulani a nod and took off after them. Keeping my wings tucked in as much as I could I swayed back and forth in my decent so that I could adjust my aim as I got closer and closer to my prey. I was upon the flock in no time and gave a loud screech. I saw them begin to scatter but I already had my talons out and snatched two of them from the sky with ease. I readjusted my angle and made my way into the trees slowing down as I moved along. The meyayo in my talons squirmed and tried to flee even though their wings were damaged very much. I squeezed harder and soon did not feel them move anymore.

I landed on a tree branch nearby and ate my reward for my work. As soon as I was eating ma sa'nok found me and had her own meyayo in her grasp as well. She grinned at me and said. "You perform so well when you are hunting ma 'itan. I am proud to have taught you so well." A part of me swelled inside I was very greatful for her words. When I went to respond I gave a small belch instead. I quickly closed my outh in embarresment  :-X. Sulani could not hold in her laughter and so had a jolly time laughing at my burping. "You are eating too fast ma 'itan," she said as she could begin to control her laughter. "Perhaps you should slow down."

As soon as we were finished eating we began to make our way back up to Iknimaya. "So what do you plan to teach me today ma sa'nok? I believe you said something about how to be evasive while in flight," I asked Sulani. She nodded and lead the way further into the clouds. 'Today was going to be interesting for sure,' I thought.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Seze Mune

#22
On the way into the recesses of ayRam aLusìng, Sulani managed to snag a young nantang cub as it followed its mother from the den.  Nantang was a tough meat, but the young cub was tender and Sulani enjoyed it thoroughly, shredding some of the meat and flinging it to the rocky surface of the floating mountain she'd chosen to eat upon, sharing it with her 'itan who had never had juicy nantang before.

Finishing her meal, she cleaned her talons in satisfaction and then watched her young one finish his own portion. They rested for more than an hour on the mountain, watching the flights of other mountain ikrans.  When she decided to look over the edge, her excellent vision could make out the shapes of two-legged blue creatures far below.  From the way they trailed one another, it was obvious they were predators on the hunt.  Sulani was familiar with them because she had encountered these animals on the rim of her rookery in the Floating Mountains.  They had hunted some of her siblings and hatchlings and if the creatures' hunts were successful, she had lost contact with her kin.  Occasionally one of the blue ones would fall to his death, and even more rarely one of the ikrans would die.  Usually they just disappeared together in flight and were seldom seen again.  It was a disturbance the rookery dealt with on a predictable basis.

Once in a very, very long while a lone ikran would soar dispiritedly back to the rookery, and when their neural whips were joined with others, there were confusing images of massive flights of ikran-mounted blue creatures, hunting angtsìk and sturmbeest and yerik together, or mid-air fights between the blue creatures and other things which had no names.  The lone ikran would convey images of dying blue creatures and the feelings which saturated these images were most often of fondness and horror combined, as though they were attached to these creatures and did not want them to die.  Sulani could not understand any of it and eventually gave up trying.  But she knew these blue creatures now below her were the same kinds of creatures she'd seen and successfully avoided before.  No need to worry about them.

Her 'itan's interest was piqued when he saw her staring over the edge and he sidled up to her and craned his neck forward.

"Ma sa'nok, what is.......oh."  His eyes caught sight of the rapidly moving blue creatures.  Turning to her, he said, "I saw something like them yesterday, ma sa'nok.  I told you about them."  He couldn't help the small tremor which gripped him.  She noticed and rubbed her jowl reassuringly alongside his head. "We will avoid them.  You will be safe.  Come."

With that, Sulani launched herself from the rocky promontory and glided into the breezy afternoon air.  Her 'itan followed her.  He was glad for a little exercise now that his meal had warmed his belly.  The air currents and updraughts here were fairly unpredictable due to the changing configuration of the floating mountains and their heating and cooling as they gently floated and rotated in the sun.  The ikran mother enjoyed the challenge of these flights and showed her hatchling evasive barrel rolls and abrupt dives as well as feints meant to momentarily distract and disable a predator.

She was in the midst of showing her pièce de résistance, an abrupt dive at the side of a mountain and a ricochet off of it using talons and thigh muscles in a unique way, when a sudden shadow threw a chill over her.  She did not see it hit her, using her own kinetic energy to bounce her forcefully back into the wall and knock the wind from her lungs and wings.  A snap and a sudden piercing pain told her she'd lost one of her talons.  Her wings swept wide, scraping the mountain in an effort to right herself and prevent her fall, but the shadow once again swept toward her and her heart surged in fear.  She dove at once, her wings plastered to her body for maximum speed.  Whatever this was, it was gaining on her and she was far from the protective canopy of the na'ring.  Would she make it in time?  And then her mother's instinct came rushing back.  If she didn't turn and fight, her hatchling would be its next meal.

She turned, and it barreled right into her, knocking her aside.  Evidently it had not expected her movement and was likewise momentarily stunned.  Sulani's eyes searched the sky for her 'itan.  Where...

Txura Rolyu

#23
The day was going well with all the new manuevers I was learning from Sulani. Some of them were quite easy while others were almost too fast for my eyes to catch the whole movement. Sulani was always ready to help when things were difficult. She was such a good mother to me.

As she was showing me another move where you would bound off the side of a rock face to gain momentum and quickly change direction I did not notice the large purple and black creature suddenly swoop down upon ma sa'nok. I was stunned and did not know how to react. I watched as my mother was chased down towards the forest floor and at first I was afraid. When I saw her flip and attack the creature herself I had decided I would not lose my mother after all the times she had saved me.

I dived down after the creature and was upon it in no time. I landed my talons upon its thick neck and held tight. Of course this threw it head first towards the ground and it began to tumble. I released myself and followed it down. It righted itself just before it reached the tops of the trees below. It managed to get above me in seconds and it began to chase me. It roared in anger and I could hear the *swoosh* *swoosh* of its wings as it propelled itself after me. I rolled to the left and fell into the tops of the foliage making my way through the vines with no problem at all.

I could hear behind me the crashing of leaves where my enemy could not make its way unscathed. I took a quick glance behind me to see where it was and in doing so I got my right wing caught suddenly in a vine. I tumbled to the forest floor gathering scratches on my way down. I landed unceremoniously on the floor and rather dazed. The purple beast could not get to where I was though. I was in a clearing that was surounded by thick growth and I had just barely made it in. I could see it clawing its way around in the branches above. I stared right at it for a moment and I could see that it was atcually a she. It had a green vane on its head and under its chin that was the similar to a Toruk would have but she appeared to be in the body of an ikran. As the wind blew towards me my mind became thick and full of a feeling I was not familiar with. I felt no longer afraid of my attacker, rather I wanted to be at her side... and then a feeling in my lower half surpirsed me as well. I felt my face warm with embarresment  :-[.

My attacker had stopped attempting to reach me where I was and stared at me. I stared back and there was a sort of attraction between us. It was almost like we were meant to be. "What are you?" I asked with my ikran grunts and croons. She responded in a broken form my language. "I am part you and part your enemy," she was able to say. Her voice was low for a female ikran but still held the beauty of the most lyrical ikran song I had ever heard. "I see you're ayswin are not fully grown," she commented as she looked at me more closely. "You are too young to die. Perhaps another day I will find you and then we will see who bests the other," she said as she turned away. She looked at me one last time and took to the skies most likely in search of something else to eat since I had not been an easy prey.

I could hear my mother's screeches in search of me nearby. I called back to her and soon Sulani was poking her head over a branch looking at me. I could see that one of her talons was missing, but she did not seem to care. I think she was just glad to find me safe and still in one piece.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#24
Me and Ke'gan began to make our way back down, when we witnessed the Tokran engaged in a fight with two other Ikran.
Something I had never seen before, it was truly amazing to witness this dance of life. Ke'gan noticed how captivated I was by all this, he knew I had never in my life seen such things and it was all so new to me.
After only a moment, the Ikrans had fought the Tokran, and escaped... Or rather, the Tokran gave up?
I watched in awe at the sheer power and brute force this Tokran demonstrated, in my mind I didn't stand a chance with Tokran...
Ke'gan began, "Don't worry Na'vin, from what I've seen of you it should be easy to get the Tokran... She won't back down from you, so you must not either. One slip and your it's next meal."
I gave Ke'gan a look of annoyance, as if saying "You're not helping..."

The fight was over between the Tokran and the Ikran, and with nothing more to see we began to make our way down... However Ke'gan was getting slower and slower. I stopped and looked back at him, his expression showed me his age was catching up with him.
I turned around and walked to Ke'gan, who looked up at me curiously. I knelt down on one knee and pointed with my thumb to my back as if saying, "Get on old man.." His pride made him hesitate, but he reluctantly gave in. He threw an arm around my neck, I stood up and turned my head to meet his eyes... He wasn't prepared for what happened next...
I blasted forward in full speed through the cave, and in only seconds we reached the last vine to descend down to the Forest floor. However I didn't stop, I jumped onto the arc of the vine and began sliding down it holding my arms out for balance.
Ke'gan was laughing hysterically, although fear was in his voice too. We slid down until we hit the cliff side, and as I had done before I jumped off the vine over the cliff and into the Na'ring.  I still did not stop and continued moving from tree, to limb, to ground, to tree, too fast for Ke'gan to even think of letting go. Ke'gan spoke in my ear, "You're faster than Pa'li!" I smiled.

We were just outside camp, and I stopped to let Ke'gan off. So that he may walk into camp rather than be carried. He had a smile on his face as he made his way in, and I walked behind him.  Sefin and Ra'fi had beaten us back to camp, their Ikrans sat in the trees above us.
They met us smiling and in good spirit.
Ra'fi began, "The Tokran was chasing us but then these two Ikrans got in its way and distracted it!"  Sefin added, "Srane, we managed to call our Ikran, and made out way back here... we were worried about you two.."

I felt good, I felt excited.. I felt at home with these people. I wanted to stay with them and learn more from them. I had almost forgotten my past of Human exposure. I was engulfed with this world, submerged in its beauty and danger. I no longer cared about the Humans, my vengeance was not important anymore, this was more important. These people, this forest and its creatures had me seduced with its luster.
My thoughts we streaming wildly through my mind when Ke'gan interrupted, "Na'vin Nos'feratu, you are ready for Tokran. It's only fitting that she be yours, her power and strength fit yours, her size and prowess with you as well... Find her and bond to her, you will then be one of us and we will teach you everything we know. You will be one of the people."

I smiled at Ke'gan and the others standing around listening, and nodded humbly. For some reason, these people were more friendly toward me, they now smiled back at me, the women would touch my back when they passed by, they made me feel at home with them... Something I have never felt before, I was consumed with glee.
I sat down next to my Dragon Sabre which still stood stuck in the ground in front of the fire pit... I looked at it for a moment and noticed something hanging on the hilt. I carefully picked it off my blade handle and realized it was a necklace?
It was amazingly beautiful, with a very sharp tooth in the center and several red glowing stones next to it. I was surprised that this was on my Sabre, I began to think it belonged to someone else when a Na'vi woman approached me and said,
"Here, let me help you." She took the necklace and put it around my neck and tied it. I looked at this woman curiously, she continued, "This is no ordinary necklace ma tsmukan, someone made this specially for you and left it for you to find."
I looked down at the necklace that I now wore and I began to touch the stones which began to glow brighter red.
The Na'vi woman smiled and said, "These stones are of the rarest, and finding one of them can take much time. You have four of them, so whoever made this for you must really like you..."
The woman grabbed the tooth with two fingers, "This tooth is of Toruk, its a symbol of power and greatness... The stones will glow brighter reflecting your heart..." The stones slowly grew brighter and brighter, and the Na'vi woman looked at them with surprise... "You have a strong heart, no fear... Something Na'vi women desire most in a male."

The woman stood up and walked away, but I could tell she knew more about this necklace and its maker.
The night set in and everyone was gathered around the Fire pit, watching meat cook, and eating it while enjoying everyone's company.
Most of the conversations were about Tokran, me, my Sabre and the very rare necklace that was given to me by an unknown Na'vi.
Although I was embarrassed with all the attention, I was happy... The night revealed a glowing Forest, and also revealed my glowing dot pattern on my body. Something which Ke'gan described as a very complex pattern, and how my pattern symbolized leadership.
Ke'gan added that my last name Nos'feratu, was a factor in why I was so different from all the other Na'vi. He didn't explain anything else other than that.

Everyone was going to sleep. but my mind was busy with thoughts of Tokran and the mystery Na'vi who gave me the necklace.
I was going to get Tokran, she would be my companion and my way into this Tribe.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#25
She was still hungry.  The scent of those ayayo she had been hunting was growing fainter by the minute.  Premal closed her eyes and settled back on her haunches in the small cave, allowing the spray from the waterfall in front of her to bead up on her hide, creating a sparkling blanket.

Her neck still ached, but the coolness of the water provided some relief from the heat of the wounds she received when she had charged headlong into an unexpected constellation of floating boulders.  She had nearly caught her meal when the animals zipped around a rocky outcrop and she put on a burst of speed in pursuit, confident she would catch them.  Instead, she had blundered into the boulder field and took some painful slices from razor-sharp bits of rock along her neck and shoulders.

She retreated, favoring her right wing and shoulder.  Her roost within Iknimaya was not close by, but she managed to fly slowly to the cave.  She'd found it more than a year previously.  It was screened by a waterfall, making it a more secure spot to avoid the toruks which hunted infrequently in her territory.

Since leaving her parents' nest, she had foraged on her own.  To her knowledge, there was no other flighted creature quite like her.  She was smaller than a toruk, yet larger than an ikran of the same age.  Her hide was a brilliant gleaming purple,  marked with the black lightning stripes of the Great Predator.  The crests on her head and jaw were an uncharacteristic green, as were the ends of the vanes on her wings and the final portion of her twin tails, now wrapped around her powerful talons.

She took a deep breath through her spiracles and blew it out slowly, feeling the soreness in her neck.  The bleeding had stopped, she could tell.  The wounds were not dangerous, but they were painful and she moved her shoulder slightly to assess its condition.  The rest and the cool spray had helped.  She could still hunt.  And......she was hungry.

Premal opened her eyes and peered out of her cave, past the waterfall.  In the distance were two large specks.  Ikran.  And they appeared to be playing.  Her gut rumbled.

Slipping quietly from her cave, she moved stealthily in their direction using the floating mountains as shields. This gave her a chance to rest her shoulder between flights, as she clung to the shadows and watched the ikrans' movements.

She was close now and they hadn't seen her.  She could tell from the scent carried to her on the breezes that one ikran was male and the other female. The female was her chosen prey because she was likely to be less aggressive and weaker than the male.  The two ikran tumbled closer and Premal gathered and tensed her strong leg muscles in preparation for the attack.

'EKO!  Premal pushed off her perch on the side of her mountain and dove at the unsuspecting ikran, just as the ikran launched herself from her own nearby mountain.  Premal's shoulder ached at the sudden burst of speed and she unconsciously favored it, causing her to curb the strength of her attack.  That's why the stunned ikran survived as she bounced again off the rocky wall.  Premal pivoted on her left wing in nearly a zero-turn radius and came back at the bleeding ikran.  The prey had clamped its wings tightly to its body and had rocketed toward the forest canopy in an attempt to escape, but Premal anticipated this and did likewise.  She was very nearly on the ikran, jaws wide and teeth glinting dangerously when the ikran suddenly flipped and presented herself talons first.  Premal bowled into her, knocking her aside.  Both animals were momentarily breathless.

At this point, something even more unexpected happened.  Premal was blasted sideways, her wounded neck clamped tightly by sharp talons strong as a toruk's.  The force of the attack pushed her headfirst toward the forest floor.  She writhed and bucked, throwing off the male ikran who'd been overly bold to attack her, and pivoted on him in an instant.  He dove for the canopy and barely beat her, though he paid the price of a wrenched wing for his abrupt entry.  Premal screamed in anger as he tumbled to the floor, far from her. She was caught in a massive tapestry of vines and even her razor-sharp crest couldn't slice her an opening to him.  Not only was she deprived of her meal, but the ikran had been lucky enough to find protection from her.  After several fruitless minutes of scrabbling with the vines, Premal stopped and glared at him, catching her breath.

He looked back, now without fear.  "What are you?" she heard him say.

"I am part you and part your enemy," she replied, some resentment in her voice.

She peered at him through the forest gloom. "I see your ayswin are not fully grown. You are too young to die. Perhaps another day I will find you and then we will see who bests the other," she said as she looked away.

Her painful neck and shoulder throbbed even more now, overshadowing the rumbling hunger in her gut.  The female ikran was not within sight.  Premal turned and leapt from the tangle of vines, back into the Pandoran sky in search of easier prey.  

Seze Mune

#26
Sulani was bloodied and bruised from the tokran's attack.  What was left of her talon dripped blood. When her hatchling defended her by his attack on her pursuer, she was amazed and then felt the swell of pride as she watched him battle and then escape their foe.  She knew he had a strong and merry heart, but she hadn't known his willingness to risk death on her behalf.  This caused a turnabout in her estimation of his growth and progress.  He was much more the adult male ikran than she had given him credit for.

She retreated to the canopy of the na'ring and watched from her obscured perch as the tokran eventually took back to the skies.  The animal's flight pattern was slightly lopsided, she noticed, and the Great Predator's right wing appeared weaker than the left.  When the animal had disappeared in the distance, Sulani took off on a low flight just above the canopy.  She quickly spotted an area with torn branches, bare of leaves.  She called to him and when she heard his answering cries, she swooped low and gained a mossy perch on a thick branch.  Peering into the shadows below, she could make out the silhouette of her courageous young one.

"Are you hurt?"  Anxiety tinged her voice.

He moved his right wing slightly.  "Yes.  I wrenched my wing in the fall through the vines.  But I think I can still fly."

Sulani urged him back up the utral.  Fluttering hops from branch to branch brought him safely off the forest floor, away from prowling nantang and palulukan.  When he was finally next to her on the upper branch, he gingerly tested his wing.  It was sorer than he thought, and he saw Sulani looking speculatively at him.  

"Tonight, ma 'itan, we rest here.  Our foe too is injured, though it flies more easily than you.  I will find you fresh prey and we will await the morning light.  I do not want to test your wings now when there is the chance it is close enough to catch us."  The youngling felt chagrined.  He'd never felt this kind of pain before, and now his mother would have to hunt for him as though he were still a wet-winged nestling.  It was humbling for someone who had recently taken a tokran off-guard and managed to escape.

When Sulani returned with food, he bit peevishly into his meal.  His mood turned by degrees into curiosity and he decided to ask his mother about the strange animal which had so nearly caused their deaths in the bright blue of the afternoon skies.  What was it - what was she - and why did he feel so strange when he thought of her?


Txura Rolyu

#27
The yayo that I was given by my mother did not taste half as good as one that I could have caught on my own. I had just started to make my way into being independent and now I was being taken care of like a little hatchling all over again. Waiting for things to be brought to me, having to be dependent all over again, it was not what I had thought would happen after being the hero of the day.

As I munched away I let my mind drift towards thought of the Tokran and how she had been so ferocious trying to attack me. She was a very frightening enemy, but as I thought of her more and more I began to not see her as the hunter that she was. I began to focus on her face and tried desperately to remember the color of her eyes once more. I watched my thoughts slip by me and the order did not make any sense. First fear, then awe, then attraction, and then it would repeat again. I didnt know what to think.

"Sulani, ma sa'nok," I asked questioningly, "I have been thinking about our attacker today. She is nothing like I have ever seen before. She is fierce and quite deadly, but I only fear her when I think of her in the moment she was attacking me. When I begin to think of what she looked like and how her voice sounded... I feel a want to be nearer to her." I look at my mother and she is watching me intently, listening to everything I have to say. "What is going on with me? I don't know how to comprehend these feelings inside." I looked away a little bashful for not being smart enough to know what to do with my own thoughts. I should have a strong understanding of things for my age, or so I thought I should.

Sulani hoped down a branch to were I was and seemed to be looking for the right words to say. "I suppose it is time I told you about the feelings of the heart," she said finally. "You are of age to be wondering about something like this. It is something all ikran go through." She began by talking about how as the weather began to get cooler and the nights became longer that many young ikran would begin to feel strong urges within them that made them want to be close to each other. Around that time many of the older ones who had mates would begin to build nests together and prepare to spend the longer nights together with each other. "It has been the natural way of life for all of time," she explained. "On these longer nights in the darkness new life would be created between the mated pairs. Mothers become expectant and within a fortnight many young hatchlings are growing in our wombs," she said pointing at her mid section. She held her damaged talon on her midsection for a little while longer than necessary and a look of affection crossed behind her eyes. She then looked at me with a smile. "You are almost of age to be part of this process ma 'itan. It is a most wonderful journey that nobody can prepare you for and the best advice I can tell you is to follow what your heart tells you. That is the way that we all find our mates, through the heart," she said. With her last words she pointed her good talon at the place that my heart beat within me and had a very happy aura about her.

I looked at her a little confused still inside but much of what she said made sense to me. I moved closer to her and nuzzled my way under her wing. She was more than happy to have me close to her. Although it was not the usual time I fell asleep all of the training of the day had drained my energy. Before I dosed off I gave Sulani a quick lick on the face, like a kiss, and bid her a goodnight's rest.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#28
The wind brushed my body, the leaves made noise as the trees began to sway. Light made its way to the skin of my face and I felt my heart throb in my chest. I slowly opened my eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air which blew the smells of the morning foods being made in the fire pit a few feet away. I moved forward and tucked my feet beneath me, and sat in a crouched position facing the ground. I stretched my arms and then rested them on my knees.

I looked around at my surroundings and most of the Na'vi people were already awake and performing their daily actions.
Ke'gan was no where to be found, so I wasn't sure what I should do. Before I even had time to think about it, Ra'fi had hollered at me from several feet away, "Na'vin! Za'u! We go hunting today!"
I grabbed my Sabre and sheathed it while making my way toward Ra'fi. I came up to him and looked around a bit more, Ra'fi stated, "Sefin is already tracking some Yerik. Come, we will find him."

I began walking with Ra'fi and in the corner of my eye I saw many Na'vi in a small valley picking fruits and other things from the ground.
Ra'fi began to sneak around, slowing his movements and being very quiet. I did the same as we made our way around several trees, I noticed something in the distance. It was a Yerik grazing on some flora, then I noticed Sefin in a tree above the Yerik perfectly motionless.
I stopped and put my hand on Ra'fi, then I pointed to the Yerik and Sefin above. Ra'fi gave me a pat of acknowledgment and drew his Bow and Arrow at the ready.  Sefin did like wise while remaining silent, the both of them drew back their arrows and fired at the same time.
As it turns out, there were two Yeriks side by side, Ra'fi hit one and Sefin hit the other... Something jumped away a few feet to the side, it was a third Yerik... Ra'fi shouted, "Na'vin! Go get it!"

Without hesitating I leaped out from behind Ra'fi and started running after the yerik. My Sabre was bouncing around on my back so I grabbed it with my right hand to keep it still. The Yerik was moving quite fast, zig zagging from left to right, every time I would catch up to it, it would jump aside out of reach... "My Sabre is too cumbersome" I thought.
I snatched out my Sabre and while I was running, I swung it into a tree and it stuck. "Thats better"
I quickly gained on the Yerik, I was moving faster than it was. As it zig-zagged I waited for the right moment.
The Yerik jumped over to the right and there it was, the perfect opportunity. I swung a hard kick into the right side of the Yerik knocking it completely of its feet. The Yerik hit the ground stunned. I quickly ran to it, and picked the Yerik up by its neck.
I held it off the ground and I pulled upward very hard. I felt its neck bone separate.

I threw the Yerik over my shoulder and began to walk to the place where I had stuck my Sabre.
I reached the spot... but to my surprise there was someone already there waiting for me.
She was sitting on my blade which remained stuck in the tree at a horizontal angle, like it was a bench.
She laughed and said, "Kaltxi."  I froze in place, now awe struck with this woman. She was beautiful and she was smiling at me.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

Making her way through the maze of floating mountains, Premal limped slowly along.  A poor hunt.  Injuries.  A gutteral sound of anger and frustration erupted from her. 

It seemed a long time before she finally reached her roost.  There had been no prey along the journey, and her hunger gnawed at her.  She tried to put thoughts of juicy ayayo or succulent ikran flesh out of her mind as she ducked under the waterfall and landed on the floor of the cave.  She turned and faced the cave's opening, drawing her tails once again around her feet and ruffling her wings.  She was cold, hurt and hungry. 

Her thoughts turned to the ikrans, and particularly to the male.  He was young.  But he was on the verge of becoming a formidable foe as he grew.  She thought of his boldness. He had attacked her! Anger suffused her thoughts for awhile, until she realized how courageous he'd been to try to protect the female.  A grudging admiration developed.  Who was this insolent young male who dared to show such courage, who dared to stand in her way?

She crept closer to the waterfall, letting the spray cool her wounds.  Flexing her aching shoulder, she could feel it stiffening as it cooled.  This would impair her hunting for awhile and she would have to concentrate on easier prey.  That meant smaller meals.  She growled, then hunkered down.  It was going to be a long night of fasting until dawn tossed its tiny rainbows through the water curtain which protected her.

Seze Mune

While she enjoyed talking with her young one, the recent conversation troubled her more than she let on. 

To begin with, she hadn't realized he'd grown enough to think of more than food and play.  This was a sudden awareness, and she realized he would soon be leaving the nest and trying out his wings and his luck in other directions.

But what upset Sulani more than that was his interest in the alien beast which had attacked them.  This was no tactical interest.  He wasn't searching for understanding which would help him defeat and kill this beast.  He was interested in a way which spelled far more danger than that. He seemed to be seeking information for - Sulani's anxiety caused her feet to clench and she winced with pain caused by her broken talon - well, information for bonding.  This was not good.  Not good at all.

Sulani didn't like the aggressive beast which had injured her and tried to kill her young one.  Yet she knew her offspring's curiosity and she knew he would deliberately encounter this alien creature again.  Eywa forbid he try bonding with it.  No good could come of that, Sulani was sure.

Her wing tightened reflexively, drawing him closer to her warmth.  She huddled against him and felt him lick her cheek.  She gave him a small toothy ikran grin and closed her eyes.

Txura Rolyu

#31
My dreams that night were very livid. I am part you and part your enemy... Her voice permeated my thoughts. I imagined flying with the mystical beast seeing how she acted in the sky. So regal and beautiful... Perhaps another day I will find you...

The sun began to break through the leaves around me and brought me out of the dream world. Over the course of the night I had managed to get myself out from under my mothers wings. In my waking I made sure not to awaken her. I could feel I was hungry again and I my wing did not ache like it had yesterday. I stretched and rolled it to make sure I wasnt just imagining things. To my excitement I was not in pain anymore. I took a deep intake of air through my sphiracles and I was brought awake by the smell of an ayangtsìk herd nearby. I listened to my suroundings and I could hear the chatter of the lemurs in the trees cackling to each other as they moved along.

I looked at Sulani peacefully resting and proceeded to carve the branch with my talon... I wanted to go get food. I was much too impacient and decided I could make it back here before my mother awakend. I stepped to the more stable part of the branch and took off without shaking the tree. I flew up into the air and felt the warm sun and basked in its warmth. I made a circle around where I had just come from so that I could find my way back later. With a last look at the landscape I took off in the direction of the cackling lemurs.

They were not very far off and I could see glimpses of them swinging through the trees with ease. I knew I was going to have to be fast to catch one of these creatures. Their sporatic movements and ability to just stop on a branch made it hard to guess their exact direction. I swooped into the tree tops and was behind them. I flew so silent that I could hardly hear myself moving through the air. They continued their movements forwards but one of them spotted a nice piece of fruit and stopped. That was its undoing. I immediatley thrust forward and clentched my mouth shut around its open torso. It gave one dying screech and was limp in my mouth. I landed on a branch not too far away and all the other lemur took off screeching their warning cries.

I feasted on the juicy meat and savored the somehow sweet flavor it always had. Perhaps the taste came from all of the sweet fruits it ate in its diet. I did not bother myself with it. I was just happy to be able to be hunting for myself again. I thought I might bring back a small piece of my kill to give to Sulani when she awoke. I knew she loved the liver of this creature so I gently saved this last piece in my mouth without swallowing it.

I didnt want to cause my mother alarm so I wanted to make my way back to the branch we had been roosting on as quickly as I could. Before I took off into the sky I did my usual check for predators. There were none, but just as I was looking away I witnessed the creature that had attacked me yesterday appear out of a waterfall in one of the floating mountains above me. I stared awe struck at my discovery. Her body gleamed in the sunlight from all the water coverd her hide. She was magnificent to watch take off into the morning sun. I stayed were I was though to make sure she did not see me. I did not want a repeat of yesterdays attack. I watched her dissapear to the other side of the mountain with a longing in my heart. I then took my chance to get back to Sulani.

I spotted the area that I had memorized not long ago and could just see my mother on the branch hidden behind the leaves. She hadn't stirred since my leaving. I decided to wake her up in the fashion that she used to wake me when I was sleeping too late. I dived at the more flexable part of the branch and landed as hard as I could so as to shake the branch violently. This worked perfectly and Sulani squawked and was awake immediatly. I chuckled to myself and waited for her to see that it was only I that had awakened her. She was about to scold me, but then I gave her the liver that I had been saving in my jaws. She looked at it and then at me and she didnt seem to be so angry at me anymore. "Good morning ma sa'nok," I said with a playful grin.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Seze Mune

The next thing Sulani knew, she was being shaken violently awake. "AAWWWKKKKK!!!" She gripped the branch tightly without thinking about it and was rewarded with an agonizing jolt of pain through her broken talon.  She loosened her grip and flapped her wings to get some lift without flying and lunged at her assailant.

It took a split second to realize it was her young one and she deflected her aim, voicing her displeasure at the same time.  He gave her an ikran laugh and tossed a prolemuris liver onto the limb next to her.  The organ glistened darkly in the dappled light and Sulani could smell the rich scent of the tempting morsel.  It was one of her favorites.

Giving her 'itan a quick stern look, she gulped the treat and then grinned at him.  If he wasn't her own kin, she'd have chased him off her roost for startling her awake.

"Good morning ma sa'nok," he said. 

Txura Rolyu

#33
"Are you feeling any better after yesterday sleepyhead?" I asked with a teasing tone.

Sulani just huffed at my teasing and took the gift I had broght her. She looked at it for a few seconds then took a large bite out of the liver. I could see the satisfaction on her face as she savored the rare treat. I just smiled warmly at her waiting for a thank you. Only after she finished the other half did she finally speak to me. "Thank you for the morning snack ma 'itan," she said. "I am guessing your wing is not broken after all, or else you wouldnt have been able to catch your morning meal."

I nodded my head in agreement. "Srane, my wing was only bruised it seems. A good nights rest was all that I needed," I replied kindly.

Sulani smiled to know that her 'itan was not hurt as badly as she had thought he might be. "You should go and find some other ikran your age to be around today ma 'itan," she suggested. "You have been exploring and spending so much time with me I fear your friends might be wondering what happened to you."

Ma ayeylan! I had almost forgotten about my friends since the day that I went looking for the strange smell only a few days ago. I was sure they had come looking for me at some point but had with the na'rìng being so big it was hard to find just one ikran amongst so much space. "You are right ma sa'nok," I said with excitement at seeing my friends again. "I have so much to share with them. Half of it I dont think they will even believe." I treid to remember all that had happened in such a short amount of time. As I was getting ready to take off to go find my friends at the rookery I suddenly forgot that Sulani was ingured... how was she going to fare without her talon being in good shape? I turned to her and asked, "Ma sa'nok, you are sure you will be okay without me? You are missing a talon and I am sure that is not the easiest thing to deal with when hunting."

Sulani just chcukled. "Thank you for giving your mother's well being some thought, but I am more than capable of finding my own food ma 'itan. Now go, kä, be with your ikran your own age," she said as she gave me a nudge to go.

Her nudge knocked me a little off balance, but I knew how she felt. Being as learned in the ways of hunting she knew how to hunt while hindered. It had most likely happened before I knew her. I grinned and gave her a farewell and was off to go find my friends.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#34
The woman removed her hand from my chest when she heard Ra'fi and Sefin coming.
Sefin walked up first and saw the woman standing beside me, Ra'fi was right behind him.
Sefin began, "Na'vin!? you actually caught the Yerik!" Ra'fi interjected, "How?! did you do that?!"
The woman also looked at me awaiting an answer... I simply smiled then held out my hand palm upward, then closed my hand to make a fist.
Ra'fi and Sefin both said, "With your hands?!"

I dropped the lifeless Yerik at their feet and reached for my Sabre, but the woman stopped my hand with hers.
Ra'fi introduced, "Oh this is Nelkira, she will be your guide today from now on." Sefin tied a long branch to the Yerik so that he and Ra'fi could tote the creature back to camp...
A few moments passed and The two hunters took the Yerik and began to walk back to camp, however Nelkira stayed behind with me.
We watched Ra'fi and Sefin disappear then Nelkira turned to me and began looking me up and down slowly. I looked at her and watched her look me over, she held a puzzled face while doing so. "You are not like the others ma Na'vin. Why do you not speak?"
She put her hands on her hips, and in doing so, her pose got my attention. I was a few feet away but I stepped forward to where she was only inches away...
I smiled slightly and whispered "Because no one has every asked me to..." the stones on my necklace began glowing brighter and brighter. She dropped her hands from her hips and held her arms down to her sides, she noticed the necklace and its reaction.

She smiled when she saw them but quickly snapped out of it, "You have much to learn, so we should get started..."
I shook my head at her as if saying, "No..."
She stepped back and turned sideways. I turned away as well and grabbed my Sabre handle, with a stern jerk I freed the Sabre from the tree from which it was stuck in. However, as I ran my hand down the blade checking for nicks, in the corner of my eye I saw Her looking at me. I turned to her and smiled but my smile was met with a glare. Nelkira gave a sigh and sat down, "Please sit Na'vin, I have much to tell you."   I stopped smiling and became wary of her tone.  
Nelkira began, "I know who you are Na'vin, I know who your family was so listen to me closely..."
My posture and expression became serious as I avidly awaited her information.

"You are Na'vin Nos'feratu of the Hufwe Clan. Your father was Olo'Eyktan many many years ago, and his name was Na'valin. He was a mighty warrior whom the Na'vi people loved and chose to be Olo'Eyktan for Hufwe Clan. He was also rider of last Shadow... Toruk Makto... Your mother was named Tse'lin and she stood by Na'valins side when the Sawtute attacked our Clan... The sawtute killed many of our clan, they killed your father as he lead an attack to defend the people. Toruk survived, and disappeared. Your mother tried to flee with you, but the sawtute captured her. Ke'gan, your uncle.... Found your mother a few days later in the forest, she had died but You were no where to be found, so the clan assumed you died too."

Nelkiras voice began to shake, "The Sawtute took you! and our clan has been in shambles for many years! We appointed Ro'kan as the new Olo'Eyktan to guide us as the sawtute have come back again... But you also have come back! No one knows who you really are, no one except Ke'gan your uncle. No one knows you are a Nos'feratu."

All this information ran into my mind like burning water, I became livid with anger. The stones on my necklace flared brightly as if they were on fire. I stood up with my fists clenched and my teeth grinding as I bit down angrily.

Nelkira continued, "You must help us Na'vin, I fear the sawtute wish to destroy all of us this time..."
I had become so enraged her words barely reached my ears, I was becoming blind with anger and Nelkira saw this. She stood up quickly and put her hands on my face and directed my empty gaze into her own eyes.
"Na'vin, mawey.... mawey..." I began to shake as I was flooded with the pain of loss.

I snapped back to reality and words finally found there way out, "Where is Ke'gan!?" I said through my teeth.
Nelkira tried to intervene, "Calm down Na'vin! He is still at camp, but what are you going to..."
I moved in the direction of camp and Nelkira couldn't hold onto me as I began to walk away. "Na'vin wait!"
After a quick sprint I had reached camp, Nelkira caught up to me but couldn't stop me in time. With a ferocious yell I said, "KE'GAN!  KE'GAN!!!! Where are you!"

Ke'gan was sitting over by the fire pit, "Na'vin?" I made eye contact with Ke'gan and he saw my rage...
I approached Ke'gan quickly and many Na'vi stopped me with spears and bows drawn, Nelkira interjected; "Kehe!"
For the first time I finally spoke to Ke'gan, "When were you going to tell me! You knew who I was! You knew my family... You are FAMILY!" Ke'gan gave a sigh, and motioned all the Na'vi to stand down.

"You are right Na'vin... It's also time that everyone here in the Hufwe Clan knew who you are..."

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#35
The beading had to be done well.  Each bead told a story and made a statement about her status within the Na'vi. Even the colors and the placement on her long black plaits were important. Wangari's slender fingers wove the braids expertly and slipped the smooth beads to their best positions in her hair. Finally finished, she sat up and turned her head slowly, letting the beaded braids click as they traced cool patterns over her shoulders.  Adequate.

She sat within a hollow formed when a large branch of Kelutral had broken in a storm and died, leaving a sizable cavity. This was her niche, a place she had claimed as a young child.  Everyone respected it and allowed her the space. It was a place to gather her thoughts and to practice some of the tsahìk arts and understandings she gleaned from her mother.

The scent of stewing meat enriched the air.  She leaned out over the communal area and sniffed, enjoying the scent and the feeling of comfort she got from her clan.  It would not be long now, and she would have to rely on these memories to give her strength when she made her way to ayRam aLusìng for Iknimaya.  It was time for her to become a warrior and choose her ikran.  

Her heart beat faster and her palms began to sweat.  She noticed her fingers tremble slightly as she adjusted her necklace. The sturmbeest tendrils were dried into leaf shapes and dipped into various dyes before they were woven into a neck piece.  Once she made tsaheylu with her ikran, she could wear the tendrils of the nantang.   It would not be until after her first kill in battle that she could wear the tendrils of the palulukan.  

She shook her head and heard the beads clack.  She stood within the hollow, her head nearly reaching the top.  She reached behind her and grabbed something.  With a few deft moves her loincloth once again girded her slim hips. One hand remained resting on the fastenings and her ears went back slightly.  The end of her tail twitched, betraying her anxiety.

If all went well with Iknimaya, her tsahìk training would begin in earnest.

If it didn't....well.  The dead do not need to worry about that.

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#36
I began to relax a bit, although I was still flustered. Ke'gan stood up and looked around at all the Na'vi faces who had stopped everything they were doing to see what all the commotion was about. Ni'ran had shown up right as Ke'gan had gotten to his feet, Ni'ran had his knife in his hand but Ke'gan slapped Ni'ran in the chest with his arm to stop Ni'ran from approaching me.
Ke'gan looked over at Ni'ran, "Ma Ni'ran, that would be very unwise."  Ni'ran turned his gaze to Ke'gan whos expression was quite serious.

Silence filled the air and Ke'gan took a step forward, "Oeya ma Na'vi ayeylan, this is Na'vin as most of you already know, but what all of you do not know, is he is a Nos'feratu. He is my Sisters Son and he has come back to us. He escaped the Humans prison and has come home."
Everyone began to mumbling to each other... And what happened next changed everything.

A cry of pain and a scream for help had risen from the Forest. Many Na'vi turned their attention to Sefin who stumbled into camp while carrying Ra'fi over his shoulder. My heart sank into my stomach, several Na'vi rushed over to assist Sefin and set down Ra'fi.
Ra'fi was not moving and Sefin collapsed to his knees... they were both bleeding profusely. Ro'kan had appeared from his quarters and joined Ke'gan...Sefin was then brought to the fire pit where we were all standing.

Ro'kan looked on him with a shocked expression, "What happened ma Sefin?!"   Sefin gave a cough of pain, he had been shot in his shoulder. I pushed the Na'vi holding Sefin away, and I took their place. As I held his arm over my neck, he looked over at me and smiled.
Sefin returned his gaze to Ro'kan and Ke'gan, "We were ambushed by the sawtute... We went to retrieve our kills from this morning, but they were waiting." My eyes widened as the flood of hatred spilled into my body.
I set Sefin down carefully and made a short sprint to Ra'fi who was laying motionless on the ground surrounded by other Na'vi who were trying to help him.
Ra'fi opened one of his eyes and smiled at me, "Nos'feratu... Oel ngati kameie." He exhaled... and his smile vanished...
"Ma Tsmukan!!! Ra'fi!! Kehe!!!!" I screamed at him...  Nothing but Silence.

The stones on my necklace flared brightly, I clenched my teeth so hard I heard cracking sounds. Ke'gan and Ro'kan gave their own growls of anger, "Ni'ran! Prepare your brothers, we attack now!" Ro'kan yelled to his son.

I stood up fists clenched, jaws tight and my eyes wild with rage. They killed Ra'fi, and Sefin was in danger of dying himself. I could not allow this to happen again... this was unforgivable... Flashbacks of Ra'fi and his good spirit, his kindness to me, he brought me in and helped me come this far...  I snapped.
>:( I released a pent up scream of anger that silenced the ayayo and all forest creatures, a blood curtailing roar that had the nearby Na'vi jump away frightened. Everyone had moved away from me as I screamed into the sky, I snatched my Dragon Sabre from its sheath with my right hand and slammed the ground as hard as I could. The ground was actually rock, and splits ripped in every direction as my Blade had sunk into the hard ground, shattering it.

Ke'gan knew, but before he could say anything I lunged forward, ripping my Sabre from the ground which shot rock in every direction.
Ro'kan screamed, "Wait! Na'vin!!!" I was blind, deaf and no longer in control. I heard nothing.....
"Ni'ran! Go with him!" Ke'gan demanded.  Ni'ran looked at Ke'gan with uncertainty, but he overcame his fear and ran after me.

I ran wildly, holding onto my blade tightly with only my right hand. As I ran the Sabre slapped into many trees, leaving giant gashes in them. My rational mind and logic was gone, I was blind with rage which fueled this power, I was going to find these Sawtute, nothing was going to stop me.

Bullets snapped into the trees around me as I ran, the flash gave him away.... as did his screams of fright. An AMP suit shot at me, I saw the angle of his weapon and could anticipate his aim. I dodged each round, zig-zagging until I had reached him... His face was a display of disbelief... I lunged my Sabre forward and speared the suit right through the center, the blade cut through and stuck out the backside. The AMP suit fell back, and without stopping I had ripped out the Sabre to continue on.
"Foot Soldiers.." I thought as I smiled revealing my bicuspids. Four of them were only a few yards behind the suit, and when the suit had fallen backwards, I had stepped on the Suit and jumped forward without stopping. I was ontop of them, before they knew what was happening, I landed in the center of all four of them. I giant Blue Na'vi with a 10ft tall Sabre in hand had come from no where, slayed an AMP suit and had caught them all by surprise.
I landed on my left foot, turned with my right foot and spun in a 360 degree whirlwind, cutting all four sawtute in half and all nearby brush and trees with them.

Silence once again filled the air, I stood up covered in red. Ni'ran moments later ran up to discover the carnage. He stopped near the fallen AMP suit and gazed upon the terrible sight of dead sawtute with me standing in the middle of a perfectly cut circle.
Ni'rans tone was different, it was very cautious, "Na'vin?! are....you..."

Before he could salvage a sentence, I turned to him... "It is done." I sheathed my Sabre and began to walk to camp, I moved toward Ni'ran and without hesitation, he moved out of my path.
I wanted to get back to camp to tell Sefin that I had avenged Ra'fis death. After jogging a bit, I had reached camp and found Sefin laying beside the Fire pit. He was being tended by many Na'vi, but they quickly made way when I had arrived covered in Blood.
Ke'gan and Ro'kan were talking about launching another attack when I had emerged from the forest. Ni'ran joined them and began to tell them of what he had just witnessed.

I sat next to Sefin and looked for a response, but he was not conscious. So I sat and closed my eyes, and waited for him to wake.

   
NotW#82

Txura Rolyu

#37
I flew calmly through the sky, my heart was light and free. I had missed my two closest friends Niä and Trewna. They had been a part of the same group of hatchlings that I was and we had been raised together in the rookery under the protective watch of our parents. As of late we had not been spending much time in the rookery. Now that we were coming of age we wanted to see the world that we lived in. I was the most adventurous of the three. Niä favored staying close to home and Trewna and I liked to tease her about it. It was all for fun and Niä usually scolded us for the dangerous situations we got ourselves into.

I could tell I was getting closer to the rookery when I could hear the calls of other ikran. My heart smiled thinking fondly of my past here. This was my home and always would be. As I neared the floating mountain I looked around for my two friends. It did not take long to spot them sparring with each other on a cliff below me. I dived down upon them and managed to tackle them at the same time. They were both stunned and I laughed as they tumbled on the floor trying to regain their equilibrium.

"Greetings Trewna! Kaltxì ma Niä!" I shouted to them. They immediately recognized my voice and gave the most excited squawks of enjoyment at seeing my return. Trewna proceeded to tackle me to the floor. He attempted to wrestle me and dominate but he was not as large as I was. We scuffled for a short time and before he knew it I had bested him once again.

"Aww c'mon!" he protested loudly as I let him go. "One of these days I will find a way to defeat you Atan'eko," he said as he checked himself for any scrapes he had gathered from the short scuffle. Niä just chuckled at his foolishness and gave me a warm greeting by bowing gently. She had become quite the eloquent female since I had known her as a hatchling. "We have missed you greatly ma 'eylan," she said kindly. I bowed my head in return to her and then proceeded to wrap her in my wings in a friendly embrace.

"I have missed the two of you as well," I said. "I wish I hadn't been gone from your company for so long but I have been having some of the most unbelievable adventures these past few days." At the sound of "adventure" Trewna was alert and immediately full of questions. Niä rolled her eyes at Trewna's over enthusiasm but was interested to know what had been going on in the forest as well. After Trewna had calmed down I proceeded to recount all of my experiences the past few days. From my encounter with the grey behemoth and the blue ones all the way to yesterday's near fatal attack upon Sulani and I from the Tokran, I went into every detail I could remember. By the time I was finished Trewna had become so awestruck that his jaw hung slightly open and Niä was somewhat doubtful of my stories that sounded so far fetched.

Niä looked at Trewna and giggled a little at his expression. This seemed to bring him back to the moment and he immediately shut his jaw and looked a little embarresed. "I am sure of this may seem so crazy, but I swear that this is all true," I swore to my friends. I was eager to know of what they had been up too since my absence and thought a change of subject might be nice. "What has happened since I have been gone? There must have been something that went on that I shouldn't have missed," I asked questioningly.

The two of them looked at each other like they had something they wanted to say but they didn't quite know how to express it. After an akward silence Niä finally spoke. "Well there has been one rather important thing that happened while you were gone," she said with some nervousness in her voice. When I heard the tone I began to wonder all sorts of things that might have happened. Had Toruk claimed another life? Had an elder passed away and I had missed their final days in the sky? My worry must have shown through because Niä tried to calm me down. "It isn't anything bad Atan," she said reassuringly. "it is something to be happy for." Now I was confused. Trewna laughed at my sudden expression of confusion and proceeded to explain the apparent good news.

"You know the three have us have been together for as long as we can remember," he said. "Over the many years we have been together, well, Niä and I have grown rather close," he said with a sheepish grin. Suddenly it clicked in my head.

"You two are mated?!" I exclaimed in total surprise. Never in all my time of knowing them had I thought it possible that they would ever fall for each other.  

"Niä and I are mated, srane," Trewna said as he sidled next to his mate. They looked at each other very affectionately and gave each other a small croon of happiness as they locked eyes. I was still extremely surprised at the news and now my jaw hung slightly open. As I stared at my two friends in disbelief I began to become somewhat jealous. They shared such a strong connection with each other, something I had yet to understand.

I breathed in deeply through my sphiracles and wiped away my selfish emotions. This was a happy occasion. My two friends, now mates, would soon be proud parents of little hatchlings of their own when the time came to begin that journey. I smiled happily for the two of them and congratulated them both. They were very happy that I was so accepting of their sudden change in status.

The evening was setting in and they were beginning to become as hungry as I was. We all decided to go off and find us a nice evening meal before it was too dark. As they took off together I couldn't help but envy their strong connection with each other, how they reacted so well to the other, and how I seemed to become less important to them. Although we were flying my heart felt like a stone in my chest. I realized just how alone I was, even though I had my two friends. I felt sadness, but I did not show it. I did my best to be with them as friends as we had always had been.

When we returned from our hunt, which was a success, I bid them farewell and watched as the two of them take off in the same direction together. Both the feelings of happiness and the feeling of being alone gripped me. I slowly made my way back to my nest. Sulani had not come back from wherever she was so I decided to clean up some of the damaged parts of the nest to keep my mind busy. As night fell I saw Sulani make her way home. I was happy to see her. She seemed to be in a good mood herself but also very tired. We both laid down to rest, but before I fell asleep emotions brought a few tears to my eyes and my breathing became rather heavy. I calmed myself so that I wouldn't alarm my mother. I didn't need to bother her with such a trifling little issue. I would wait until tomorrow to tell her about the news of my friends. Maybe then I would have my emotions under control.
Quote from: Ekirä on March 30, 2011, 04:45:34 PMNeytiri: Now you choose your woman. This you must feel inside. If she also chooses you, move quick like I showed.
Jake: How will I know if she chooses me?
Neytiri: She will try to kill you.
Jake: Outstanding. *takes out an ikran-catcher and walks through hometree looking for women*

Seze Mune

Premal stretched her right wing sideways.  It was a little stiff, but okay.  She put her wings down and rocked forward on the thumb at the apex of her wing. OUCH!! She stumbled forward slightly as her wing gave way in pain, but her powerful legs pulled her back into balance.  This wasn't going to be easy.

Her hunger pangs gnawed at her.  She knew she needed to eat.  Her injured wing would be useful for gliding, mostly, but it wouldn't take her far.  She would have to save most of her strength for the return trip when she'd be a little heavier and would need some powerful lift.

The tokran shuffled her way to the cave's entrance and peered out.  It was now late morning, and the dark forest canopy below radiated heat and created updrafts which would assist her flight.  She perched at the entrance and watched as a herd of ayangtsìk milled far below.  In her condition, they were definitely not on the menu.  She snorted through her spiracles.  A few moments later, a flapping purple tsunami assaulted her vision.

Without thinking, she launched herself into the midst of the tetrapteron flight.  They spilled away from her, many of them hissing in fear.  But one unlucky fkio found its sudden demise in her firm grip.   Greedy for food, Premal stretched her neck and snapped at another one, catching it by its twin tails.  It twisted in flight and dug its small talons into her snout. Gaining a foothold, it brought its glassine teeth close to her left eyes.  Had she not pulled back suddenly, she might have been blinded.  As it was, the fkio's teeth opened a slice in her cheek.  Premal angrily shook her head, snapping the animal's neck.

All the while, she soared past her own floating mountain and around its neighbor, coming back at her water-curtained roost from below.  Still holding the dead tetrapteron in her jaws, she groaned in pain.  Getting enough lift to make it to the entrance was forcing her to push past the pain in her right wing.  She gave a mighty downsweep and lifted her feet, one still clutching her prey, so that she just barely made it over the lip of the cave.  She dropped the fkio and landed a few feet beyond it.  Turning, she dropped the remaining animal to the cave's floor.  Breathing heavily, she huddled over her kill for a brief second before taking a deep inbreath and crunching down on the small purple bundle before her.  This was only a snack, not a meal fit for a tokran - but it would have to do.  For now.  She finished the first one and shuffled briefly to the second animal, finishing it even more quickly.   She would wait awhile.  When the edge of her hunger was slightly dulled, she would have the energy to hunt for more.

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

It was now midday, I continued to sit next to Sefin waiting for him to awaken.
It had been several hours since the attack, the blood that covered me was dry and still stained my skin.
Ke'gan sat at the fire pit as most of the other Na'vi did, for some reason my actions had drawn the crowd. Ro'kan continued to talk to his son Ni'ran and occasionally sneaked in glances at me.
A few separate times while I was waiting, Na'vi women tried to bring me food, they tried to clean the blood off of me, they tried to talk to me.
I simply did not hear them, see them, or want their attention. I was a statue and cared for nothing but Sefin. He began to move and wince with pain.

I leaned inward toward him, the crowd around us became quiet. "Ma Sefin?" was all I could say.
His eyes opened and a smile crept on to his face when he looked up at me. In relief I also could not help but to smile at Sefin.
"Ra'fi?" he questioned while looking at me. My smile quickly left my face and I lowered my head...
"Oel Kameie..." Sefin sighed. "The humans who attacked us, they will be coming for us ma Na'vin."
I returned my gaze to Sefin, "Kehe ma tsmukan, the Humans who attacked you, will not." Sefin looked me over and noticed the red stains that covered me, my Sabre still glistened in the sun with a red tint.
"Ma Na'vin, more will come in their place. We must leave this place, we must find somewhere to go. We have been without a home for many years, we make a new camp when the Humans find us..." Sefin spoke, while giving a glance to Ro'kan and Ni'ran. "They do not yet understand who you are ma Na'vin, only a few of us know who, and what, you are ma tsmukan."

Ke'gan interjected, "Na'vin we are very glad you have returned to us, but you are not one of the people... yet. We will all be leaving to find a new home, except you ma Na'vin. You must stay here Na'vin, we will not tell you where we will go so you must find us once you have obtained Tokran."

I stood up and dusted my self off, I then used a cloth and a bowl of water that was left beside me to clean myself off. I didn't say a word, I didn't argue nor did I agree. Anything I did other than get Tokran, would be a waste of time. For a brief moment I knelt down beside sefin, I took his hand and squeezed gently, I looked at him and I needed not say a word. Sefin smiled and said, "Don't die."
Glancing over at Ke'gan I could tell he was sincere, he was being hard on me like a Father would on his own son. I began to walk out of the camp, many Na'vi were gathering their things and getting ready to move someplace else far away from here. As I walked out Ke'gan yelled to me, "Za'u ma Na'vin! See you soon..." I didn't look back because I didn't want him to see the Smile on my Face.

I was alone again, in the wilderness but with purpose. Unlike before, I knew what I wanted to do, what I needed to do. It was time to earn my place among the People and I would not stop until I got Tokran, or died trying. Deep down I was excited, more so than ever. For the first time in my life I felt like I had purpose, something worth fighting for.
I stopped for a moment as I was nearing the Mountains, I took a deep breath and gathered my wits. I was going to waste no time, but getting Tokran might take a while. I had to find her and then confront her carefully, I would have to be smart about this or I'll die.

Ready and anxious I began my way to the cliff where the vines were. I looked up and saw something moving behind the Waterfall where that cave was. "It couldn't be...Could it?" I thought.  It was purple and very large, it would seem my search was short.

With haste I began to climb the Vine...

   
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