Aytautral (Sky Trees)

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

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Seze Mune

#60
His sa'nok watched him take flight and answered his departing call softly.   She returned to her meal, and had nearly finished the second yerik haunch when a faint and unfamiliar sound made her freeze.  She concentrated, turning her attention downwind.  **...thump...thump...THUMP...** Whatever it was, it was headed in her direction.

Caution had helped Sulani survive and she heeded it now.  Abandoning her yerik, she took to the sky.  Suspended nearly overhead was one of the smaller floating mountains and a few minutes later she was clinging to the rock face.  The height of the mountain gave her an extra vantage point.  She craned her neck for the best view and was perplexed by what she saw.

In the distance, a few of the smaller ayutral within the forest canopy were swaying.  It was rare for the constant breezes to do that since their effect was deflected by the other ayutral within the thick canopy.  But there were a few glades within the forest and as she watched, a large gray animal stomped through.  Followed by another.  And another.  She had never seen anything like these before.  They were as glossy as a nantang, but the color of storm clouds.  And they held large sticks.  Were these the beasts her 'itan had described to her only a few suns ago? Sulani had seen the blue animals which occasionally attacked her rookery; these gray animals walked on two legs, the same as the blue ones.  But they looked larger and - thanks to a stray eddy of wind - she picked up a foul and alarming scent.  

Sulani flattened herself to the rock wall as the gray animals stamped through the na'rìng below.  They hadn't seemed to notice her.  When they were past, she launched herself off the sun-warmed rock and flew quickly toward the safety of the rookery.


Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#61
Filler Content and background of Na'vin Nosferatu
-Continued...

He walked away without looking back.
I crawled into the darkest corner of this large cage I was in. Terrified, confused and alone I sat thinking about what happened. I left the room which I lived in all my life at my mothers side and my father behind us. I saw little creatures that my Father called Humans, who soon pulled me away from my mother and then shot me with a dart! I awake in a cage outside surrounded by trees in leaves just like my poster.
Now a human who sounded and looked like my father but was a human, told me to be strong and do what the humans say?!

My heart broke and I felt it shatter inside my chest. Tears streamed down my face as I openly weeped for my mother. She never came... No one came. I sat alone for what seemed like ages, until several Humans began passing by the cage that I sat in. All of them taking a look at me making me feel like an animal. All of the sudden a bed on wheels started rolling by, I took a close look... "Mother!!!" I screamed as I saw her laying with her eyes closed and several humans pushing the rolling bed.
She didn't respond, I screamed louder and ran up to the wall of bars that separated me from her. "Wake up mother! WAKE UP!!"
The Humans that were walking along side her rolling bed stopped and looked at me, they wore clothing that matched the leaves around us. A couple of them smiled at me and one of them laughed!

I grit my teeth, "You hurt her!! No NO NOO!!!" The expressions of the Humans changed as they watched me for a few moments.
Something snapped within me, my heart felt like it was going to explode, a rush overflowed my body and my vision narrowed.
I was livid with rage, nothing like ever before. I knew what anger felt like, I felt it when my parents took my poster away. But this was far from anger, I was surging with energy that made me want to tear these Humans apart. I had never felt this way towards anything or anyone, I was gentle at heart and always calm... A new part of me came out, a dormant power that was fueled by rage.

I was up against the bars which restrained me, I reached out with my right arm for my mother and screamed, "Wake UP!! Please wake UP!!" she remained motionless. The humans who were smiling and laughing at me soon stopped when I grit my teeth and began growling heavily at them, a sound I had never made before. I was going to reach her, I was going to help her no matter what!
I changed my gaze to a Human who stood closest but out of reach, he turned to my mother and then picked up her hand with both of his hands. He looked back at me and dropped her arm, it fell back on the bed with a lifeless effect. That's all it took....

The bars were as thick as my wrists, capable of caging a Thanator with no problems... The bars stretched from the floor to the ceiling and were evenly spaced apart but close enough together so I couldn't slip through.
I clenched one of the bars in front of me with my right hand, I began pulling back on it with all my might. The humans moved closer and began taunting me. The human who had dropped my mothers hand moved slightly closer and said, "What? You think you can get out of there?" he chuckled.
All laughing stopped instantly... *Crunk* .. *Squeek* .. *tik-tik-tik-tik*
The bar was bending, I let a out roar of frustration, then clenched my teeth hard, growling as I continued to pull the bar inwards.
"Holy s***! ... SOUND THE ALARM!!" the human yelled to his counter parts.
Pain was shooting through me like millions of needles, my muscles tore as I continued to bend the 6 inch thick bar. I was focused on my mother as she lay there in front of me, the sight of her and the feeling of loss fueled me even more.
*Crack!* .. *CRASH!!!* The bar bent so far from the base and recoiled backwards along with my pulling force it ripped free and impaled a Bunk that was in the cage with me.

I ran out and the humans pulled their weapons similar to the one I had been shot by before. I ignored them and reached my mothers side.
I put my hand on her face, and began weeping again. All the power that had mysteriously engulfed me had vanished. My right arm fell limp as the physical damage it sustained was tremendous.
Her eyes opened and she looked at me, I was in shock and ecstatic that she was alive! She sat upwards and put her arms around me. I felt safe again as she embraced me lovingly. Dozens of Humans arrived with rifles in hand along with a familiar man... Mr. Draik.

Someone had notified Dr. Layla Moon (My mother) that I was losing control when they moved her Avatar body past my cage. She quickly jumped into a link chamber and stopped me from doing more damage.

"Well well, what the hell happened here?!" Mr. Draik walked up to the now open hole in the cage wall. I stayed in my mothers arms tucked away from the eyes of all the baffled Humans. The Human who had tampered with my mother arm moments ago had approached the very surprised Head of security. "Major Draik! We were simply taking her Avatar body to the ship for transport when the Na'vi boy got angry and broke free, Sir!" The Major stepped into the cage and looked at where the bar was ripped out of its welds and now rested halfway through a giant bunk. "Your telling me, that this little Na'vi boy did this?... Your telling me that this little blue monkey bent and broke a 1000lb bar!?" He shook his head and looked at me, I peeked through my mothers grasp and met his eyes.

He looked at me for a few moments, everyone was silent, most were in awe at the sight. The Major snapped his attention to some new Humans who began walking into the scene. These humans wore Black suits and black coats. They approached the Major, "Major Draik, where did you get this little Na'vi?!" The major Hesitated for a moment, "We... found him. Ten years ago, his clan had been...removed from the area which we now mine at."

The man in the Black coat stared at the Major for a moment then replied angrily, "Removed?!! What do you mean removed!! We were told they were relocated!" The Major glanced at me as I looked at him curiously, I didn't understand what he was talking about, I was taken?! From somewhere else?
"He is the Nos'feratu's Son. We... retrieved... Saved, him from death. Dr. Beck began to raise it for study, he discovered many things about this little boy that were.... unique. So I agreed to let him keep the Na'vi boy until I wanted him for a weapons project." the Major explained.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and it sounded true in the Majors voice.

I looked up at Dr. Moon, "You... You're not my real mother?" I looked into her eyes for fear of the answer I knew was coming.
"....Na'vin, I.... Your real mother passed away when you were very little... I raised you, and I have always loved you." she calmly answered. I yanked back out of her arms, my right arm limp at my side. Everyone was looking at me, my right arm was thrashed so bad it was bleeding from where my skin ripped.

My eyes, my heart, my feelings and personality changed. I put everything together in my head, everything the Major had said, everything Dr. Layla Moon had said... My people were killed for the Humans gain, I was taken from my real mother and raised to be studied!
I learned my full name, Na'vin Nos'feratu. , and that I was... Unique.

to be continued...

   
NotW#82

Txura Rolyu

#62
What I saw before me made me gasp from fear and excitement. The creature that had spoken to me in the clearing two days ago lay before me resting. I stood stock still not moving a muscle and watched the rise and fall of her body as she rested. Her head was wrapped around her tightly and facing away from me. Her wings covered herself in protection, but one of them was bent at an akward angle. It was held slightly away from her and it trembled with each breath she took. I could hear slight moans when she exhaled and the wing fell with gravity each time.

I wondered what could have possibly injured her like this. Then I remembered how I had attacked her to defend my mother from certain death. I watched the wing tremble again and again and with each small moan of pain I felt more guilty. I had saved a life only to condemn another. I knew from the way the wing was sitting that there was no way she would be able to fly and consequently neither could she hunt. She would starve to death here.

Suddenly she moved slightly in her sleep. I quickly pulled my head out of the nest for fear that she had awakened and I hurried my way through the vines to get to a safe location. Once I was out of the vines I went back to the branch that I had first landed on and stayed there to let my heartbeat calm itself. When I was more at ease I began running the thought that I had condemned this magnificent beauty to die such a slow death. I couldnt bear the feeling. Even though she had tried to eat me I still felt responsible for what I had done. I also remembered how I my emotions were confused when I first saw her; how she was something different to me. I couldnt allow her to die this way and so I would find her something to eat. My conscience scoffed at the absurdity of my plan to save something that would most likely eat me if it had the chance.

I looked around and listened to the forest. There was hardly any fauna life in the area. It all must have scattered in fear when the strange creature had found its way to this nest. I knew it wouldnt have gone far so I took the air again in search of a meal for the large creature in the nest. She would most likely need something rather large to keep her stomach full and to allow her body to repair itself, but I knew there was no way I could carry anything larger than a yerik. Even carrying a large yerik would not be an easy task. I decided it would be better I struggle with a large yerik rather than let myself become that meal. So I searched once again for a herd.

When I found it I spotted the largest of the creatures and took it swiftly as I had done during my morning hunt that day. The rest of the herd scattered as usual and I grabbed the large beast in my talons and made sure I had a good hold on it before taking off back towards the vine covered nest. My flight was laborious and I was tired by the time I had reached the branch again. The yerik had to be half my weight and was not easy to hold on to. Nevertheless I had gotten halfway through my task. Now I just needed to get the carcass to the nest.

I could see that some of the vines were larger and could support the carcass if I lifted it onto them. So that was what I did. Little by little I moved the meal to the entrance of the nest. I was keenly aware of any movement in the nest and took great care in being as quiet as I could. After what felt like ages I finally flopped the carcass into the nest. I then backed away and stood in the tangle of vines watching to see what the creature would do.

Hours passed without any movement from the creature. I still stayed there hoping and praying to Eywa that she would wake up. I feared she may have been too badly hurt and might not wake. Luckily a pack of Prolemur swooped by in the treetops above making a very large racket that hurt even my ears. I looked up at them and saw them pass overhead but my attention was quickly reverted to the nest when I heard the large creature bellow at the foolish tree-dwellers for waking her. I cringed in my safe location and waited to see what she would do.
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

#63
She had been running from the palulukan and it was gaining on her.  Ducking around and under treeroots, she was playing a desperate game of hide-n-seek with it.  Ra'fi had told her to TUL!!! when the beast had struck him down and savaged him.  Bleeding...bleeding...all over his chest and his loincloth and...gurgling from his throat, he had urged her to run from the attack, to save herself.

So she ran.

And the beast followed.  She could hear the thud of its quick and heavy rhythmic stride just behind her, feel its hot breath on her tail as it lashed the air in her wake.  And suddenly it was running beside her!  She darted left and it paced her, watching her, not making any effort to stop and attack. Her heart was in her throat, but her mind was sharpened with curiosity.  She wheeled and faced the animal, whipping her gleaming blade from its sheath and holding it before her.  She was panting heavily and shifting her weight from foot to foot, ready for the animal's strike but it merely stopped and regarded her calmly.  It was the most strangely marked palulukan she had ever seen...a medium blue with darker stripes and...it spoke to her.

"Ma 'eylan amip, you are safe.  I will not let anything hurt you. What is the matter?"  Wangari was suddenly awake and aware that she was not on her hammock within Kelutral.  The giant held his arm protectively around her and she followed his gaze as he looked down.  They had climbed more than 80 feet into a large tree.

"You would have fallen, you were thrashing around so much," he said as if to excuse his familiarity.  He withdrew his arm and smiled.  She was a little flustered, but covered it by explaining the dream to him.

He looked thoughtful. "Ra'fi.  He was my friend, at least for a little while.  A worthy warrior.  He was your muntxatan?"

"Kehe.  That would be my wish, but it was not possible." Her heavy sigh underscored her words. "Oeru lu txintìn nìtrrtrr tsahìk numeyu.  Olo'eyktanithu zene oel muntxa si.  Ra'fi and I were more than friends, but less than aymuntxe.  And now he's with Eywa.  He can't even be my friend, not anymore."  Her arms rested in her lap, and as he watched the tears began to well up in her large citrine eyes.  He laid a comforting hand on her knee.  She choked back the tears.  Because she was on her way to Iknimaya and then to avenge Ra'fi's death, this was not the time nor place show sorrow.  And especially not in front of a stranger.

"I am on my way to Iknimaya.  I must capture an ikran before I can become  tsamsiyu and avenge Ra'fi's death."

Anger and sadness smouldered together in Na'vin's eyes and she wondered about it.  She did not know him well, had only seen in from a distance in the company of several of the ayekytan and her adopted clan's olo'eyktan.  

"You rescued me from death, spent the night with me in a tree, and I do not even know what to call you.  Fyape fko syaw ngar?" she asked, standing up and resting her back against the tree trunk.


Na'vin Nos'feratxu

"You rescued me from death, spent the night with me in a tree, and I do not even know what to call you.  Fyape fko syaw ngar?" she asked.

I hesitated and kept my eyes trained downward. " I.... I am called Na'vin.... Na'vin Nos'feratu." I tilted my head over and without turning my head I glanced at the woman to see her expression.
I continued, "I didn't save you... You probably saved me..." I didn't want her to know I intentionally challenged the Giant Palulukan. She would probably think I was crazy if she knew I instigated the fight.
I have seen Palulukan take down AMP suits, and other large creatures... I knew that the Na'vi avoided this creature, as It has no predators.
This was no ordinary Palulukan, it was bigger and meaner. I was excited with the idea that it could challenge my strength and cunning.
And here comes a wondrous woman, who without flaw attacks a vital spot on the Palulukan, deciding the fight completely. I was amazed by her actions, her finesse and lack of hesitation. She came without fear to protect someone she didn't even know...

Little did she know that in her actions regarding me, risking her life to protect me without fear, she now commanded tremendous respect.
I could never tell her that in my mind I was now honor bound to protect her. Not to mention I was still very curious about her, she knew Ra'fi very well and if he cared about her then so must I.

I tucked both legs under me and leaned forward into a crouched position, as I was to tall to stand up without hitting any branches.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air through my nose I could smell many things, but I focused on her scent specifically. I looked up to her and began, "Thank you for saving me last night, please tell me your name?" I focused on her gleaming yellow eyes which were remarkably brighter than most I've seen.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#65
Premal had been sleeping heavily, allowing her body to heal as best it could.  There wasn't much she could do beside that, anyway.  When the prolemuri awakened her, she was startled and angry.  Used to being the apex predator in this part of her world, she was chagrined and unhappy about the last couple of days.  Ordinarily the prolemuri avoided her area because she had terrorized them - they were such easy pickings.  But now they were almost taunting her, and it made her angry.  And hungry.  She shrieked her frustration at them.

As she raised her head to glare at the offensive tree dwellers, she caught a whiff of something enticing, something delicious, something like...YERIK!  She craned her neck and gathered her feet beneath her, lifting up from the cavern floor.  Now she could see a dark heap resting fairly close to the cave's entrance.  It was yerik, and it was freshly dead.  Her pit sensors could feel the heat still rising from the animal as the scent of its blood perfumed the morning air.

Her stomach grumbled, urging her forward.  Suspiciously, she lifted her great head and tested the air, first.  A faint scent threaded its way through the delicious aroma of yerik meat.  It tickled her memory.  Something was familiar about it...

Ikran.  An ikran had lost this feast and luckily it had tumbled in front of her cave!  She started forward, eager to take advantage of the meal but stopped when she realized she knew this scent.  It was the same ikran which had escaped her two days ago, the large swift male. And the scent was getting stronger, not just faint tendrils of scent arising from his talons on the yerik.  

Her eyes searched for him, for he must be here!  It took her a few cautious minutes, but her secondary eyes -adapted for night conditions- finally located a faint outline in a tangle of vines a distance from the entrance.

Her tail lashed angrily. "What are you doing here?" she hissed at him through razor-sharp clenched  teeth.

Seze Mune

#66
Wangari glanced away from him as she heard his name.  "Na'vin." She said his name softly, almost whispering.

He could see a sudden change in her expression, a dawning recognition.

"Ra'fi spoke of you, ma Na'vin.  He liked you, and what's more, he respected you." She looked off into the distance and said quietly, "I think he would have been honored to fight by your side, even to give his life for you." No wonder she had felt compelled to warn him, protect him.  It could have been Ra'fi, urging her from within Eywa.  She touched the area between her eyes and above her nose, the place where Eywa spoke to aysahìk and their aynumeyu. There was something else behind Ra'fi's connection with this Na'vi, and she could feel it, but could not get her thoughts to coalesce behind it.

"I am called Wangari.  I come from a clan to the east of ayRam aLusìng," she explained, turning back to him.  "It is time for my Iknimaya and with my ikran I will begin by avenging the death of oeyä Ra'fi."

She lifted her arm and pointed deeper into the floating mountains. "My destination is the Mountain of Truth, the largest rookery within these regions.  There I will find my ikran.  She is waiting for me, I feel it."

As if on cue, a lone ikran dropped from a distant floating rock and quickly beat its way into the distance, its trajectory a graceful arc.  Wangari smiled.  

Na'vin's jaw dropped and his eyes flicked from the ikran to Wangari and back again. How did she do that?! he thought.  It could only have been coincidence.  He shook his head, a crooked half-smile on his lips.

"It is time, I must go." Wangari had watched the flying ikran for a moment, then swung into action.  She grasped the tree trunk and quickly lowered to the next branch, proceeding to the ground.  She glanced back at him, still on the branch, and smiled before turning and melting quietly into the foliage, following the path of the distant ikran.

Txura Rolyu

#67
I knew I was relatively safe where I was. There was no way the female would come after menwhere I was in her injured condition. When she had peered her head out and spoke directly to me so threateningly my position no longer felt safe. She seemed to be seething and would chace me if she wanted to.

She spotted me and hissed, "What are you doing here?" with a great amount of anger for my prescence being anywhere near her. I shook out if fear inside. I held my composure thoigh and just looked back at her quietly. I had to say something or else she would only become more angry.

"I don't really know what I am doing here," I said quietly. Even though I was restraining myself my nervousness took over and I started spouting words quickly trying to explain. "I came back to this place beacuse I had a dream about it from when I came here when I was younger. When I came here today I saw you asleep and I could see you were hurt and I knew you were hurt because I attacked you when you attacked me and I felt guilty. I didn't want to let you die so I went and brought the yerik for you that is in your nest." All of this came out of me very quickly and I was still frightened of her as she continued to stare right at me with a hard glare.
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

#68
The tokran continued to hiss menacingly.   She was in no condition to attack him, but if he thought he was going to take advantage of her, she wanted to convince him otherwise.

"You cannot lure me into the open with your smar, ma ikran.  
Taronyut ke yasyom smarìl
,"
she growled at him.  He remembered how she had pursued him when he was her prey and realized she was talking about him.

The young ikran made no move toward her.  After a few moments of silence, he said, "I'm sorry.  I didn't know you were so badly injured. If my presence bothers you, I will leave now.  Nga tsun yivom nìmwey. Perhaps I will return tomorrow."

She eyed him suspiciously, silently evaluating his intent. He kept his ground, and when he stepped from behind the vines he stopped for a moment and regarded her calmly, no longer fearful of the wounded tokran.  Turning his back to her, he launched himself skyward with a few strong thrusts of his wings.  She watched him.  He looked backward once and seemed to tip his wings in acknowledgement.

As he soared beyond the neighboring mountains, she lurched out of her cavern and fell on the yerik carcass hungrily.  It was satisfyingly warm, juicy and delicious and she found her heart was not unhappy at the thought of his return - especially if he brought something else delectable.  She might even decide to stop thinking of him as prey. Maybe.  Someday.

Txura Rolyu

#69
As I flew away my fear left me, but my head had began analyzing the encounter. She had not taken a single glance at the yerik I had brought to her. Would she just toss it aside and remain hungry because her pride wouldn't allow her to rely on something she considered prey? She had not liked the fact that I had been in her presence again. She didn't trust me one bit. Even after explaining why I had brought the yerik to her she had not eased her glare upon me. I was deeply confused at her actions and afraid to return to the nest.

My heart spoke to me though as I began doubting making a return trip to her. It seemed to have a mind of its own and wanted me to return even though my head was muddled. I pushed onward through the dimming sky back to my nest hoping for a good nights rest. I would make a decision tomorrow about returning to her nest.
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

#70
The foliage had barely closed in behind her when she heard "PEY! Ma Wangari..." and then *WHOMP!* as something large and heavy hit the ground in her wake.  She smiled.  That's the reaction she was hoping he'd have. She heard a few quick steps and felt his hand on her shoulder.  She half-turned and looked up at him.

"Your Ra'fi was my friend, ma Wangari.  If you are going to avenge him, I would like to join you.  Besides, I too have a quest.  I want to find the tokran which flies within these mountains.  I nearly captured her once, but she is fierce, strong and wild...she managed to escape.  She will not escape me again.  

"Ma Wangari, I would fly with you. Nìpxi tafral."
He added hastily, "Txo tivung nga."

She was glad for the company.  And curious.  If something happened to her on Iknimaya, if she didn't make it, at least someone would be able to take the news back to her clan.  Somehow it seemed appropriate that it should be this particular Na'vi, a friend of Ra'fi's.  And perhaps...just perhaps...he might end up being her friend, too.

He fell in by her side as she considered.  " Tsunslu. Pey tse'a ko, ma tsmukan."

There weren't many breaks in the canopy, but Wangari had seen the direction of the ikran's flight.  Occasionally she could get a brief sighting through the trees. There were many ways to get to the rookeries within ayRam aLusìng. Wangari decided the ikran she'd seen was headed toward the largest one.  That is an omen, she thought.  

Most Na'vi undergoing Iknimaya were led by an experienced tsamsiyu.  Sometimes the tsahìk went with them.  Wangari had been taken on one of the treks, although she hadn't been allowed to climb to the rookeries.  She was left below to care for the ikrans left by the leaders, for the flight back to Kelutral.  But at least she knew the way, now. She smiled to herself: And I'm being lead by a leader who knows better than most...an ikran.

She pushed her way through the forest quickly, aware that Na'vin was following her.  His stride was far greater than hers, so she tried to move quickly, not wanting to hold him up.  It made Na'vin smile.  She was a little taller than the average female, but not by much. He checked his stride so that he wouldn't bump into her.

It was clear to Na'vin that Wangari was tracking the ikran.  He followed for awhile, but he was hungry and his body needed fuel for the trek into this wilderness.  She didn't need to be careful covering her tracks, so Na'vin knew that if he went off to hunt he could easily find her again and share his catch.

He gauged the direction of the ikran's flight, and with a last look at Wangari's retreating form slipping gracefully through the thick foliage he headed off at a tangent.  Perhaps the noise of her passage would flush game in his direction if he could keep some distance from her.

The spoor of several animals was immediately evident, and Na'vin chose one of the larger ones.  It would be enough to feed both of them.  Unfortunately, the tracks revealed that animal hadn't passed that way too recently, so it was no surprise to him that it was some time before his ears finally caught a faint sound in the distance.  He stopped to assess it.  The muscles at the base of his ears tensed as he focused on the strange sounds.  His tail froze for a moment and then began to flick angrily as he listened.







...

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#71
I sat low and well hidden in the brush, listening carefully. The smells and sounds of the forest were overwhelming my senses, I closed my eyes to focus on specific scents and sounds. I slowly began turning my head listening carefully, but to my horror a familiar sound popped in the distance. A few more pops were heard and my heart twisted inside my chest.
"Wangari!!" in the moment it took me to call her name, I had kicked off with a branch breaking jump into Wangari's direction.

No more sounds were heard, I stopped only long enough to examine any more sounds that might lead me to her. It was silent, I was livid and frantically searching for anything that could tell me where to go. I looked down and saw her tracks, their pattern seemed normal up until a random and sporadic junction in the forest. This is where it happened!
Before I could assess anything else, a very familiar hydraulic whine sang into my ear.  Something was cutting into the air, like the sound of an arrow but bigger? It was getting closer at an extreme rate... The branches that hung low in front of me exploded into halves, my reaction was to duck. I hugged the floor quickly laying flat with both my hands and feet still touching the ground and my chest only inches from the floor. *KRACK!*-*Kling* I knew the tune of that clinging noise, nothing made that noise except my Sabre!

I jumped to my feet and sure enough, my Sabre was stuck into the tree that was behind me. I turned my gaze into the direction from where it came and I could see a clear cut path from where it was thrown. There stood an AMP suite and in front of him...."Wangari!"
She was laying on her side motionless, the AMP suite remained behind her and didn't move... Something else was wrong...
Another flick in the wind revealed something else cutting through the air, I didn't even need to move this time. A dart passed by my neck and stuck into the tree which also harbored my sabre.  I saw where the dart came from, several yards away from the stationary AMP suite..
This was a trap and I quickly lay eyes on several foot soldiers, one of them whispered, "Damn! I missed!"

I snapped my gaze back to the AMP suit who began moving towards Wangari, she began to move on her own! The AMP suit drew out its chest Blade and was headed straight for Wangari! I had no time to retrieve my Sabre, I exploded into a sprint right at the AMP suit.
A fallen tree lay over from where my Sabre had cut it down and provided the perfect podium for me. I reached the fallen tree and with a light jump, I was airborne. Throwing both my legs in front of me I kicked into the AMP suit as hard as I could. The glass shield which housed its driver cracked everywhere from the fierce blow. I failed to hesitate, I whipped myself ontop of the AMP suit which now lay on its back.
Closing my right hand into a fist I punched through the shattered glass shield, grabbing a hold of the now screaming AMP suit driver. I put my massive grip around his entire chest and pulled him out of the suit with an angry tug.

I stood up with the gasping AMP suit driver, he had no mask on and he began suffocating. I returned my gaze to three foot soldiers who had just arrived within the moment it took me to deal with the AMP suit. I threw the AMP suit drivers body at them which knocked two of them down, the other foot soldier kicked off a round... but missed.
I bolted over to Wangari and snatched her up mid stride, I held her carefully while sprinting back to my Sabre. Finally there I dug a ditch with my heal as I slid to a stop in front of my Sabre which still remained in the tree.
There was about 100 yards between me and the foot soldiers, plenty of time. I carefully set Wangari down, a dart was planted into her leg and she fought to regain herself. I moved her carefully out of sight behind the big tree, then I snatched my Sabre out of the trunk and tossed it onto my shoulder... I waited.

Apparently this little platoon had found the vacant camp sight where my Sabre had been left behind. They found it and knew it belonged to me. They tracked me up to this point and I figured they had orders to capture me rather than kill me. The darts was a give away for that theory. However they made a fatal mistake... They didn't bring their whole army... I was insulted...

*Pop-pop-pop!* Bullets fired as the foot soldiers approached me, however their bullets only found their way to being deflected off my Sabre. They had given their AMP suit driver a mask, something I hadn't counted on... So now all four of them had arrived with weapons drawn on me. They stopped about 20 feet away and one yelled out, "Hey! Na'vin! Your coming back with us! Dont make us kill you!"
Apparently they weren't told much about me... They did not know who they were messing with.

Behind me... I could hear something, and with a "Huff" a spear had flown past me into the AMP suit driver. The AMP suit driver was lifted from the ground by the large spear, impaling him into a tree behind him... Wangari had apparently come to, and was eager for her revenge.
The three remaining foot soldiers looked frantically around as if surrounded, they didn't see me move so they figured there was more Na'vi around. I wanted these three soldiers to take back a message...

I snapped my fingers a few times at the soldiers, they turned to me with their rapt attention, "I'm going to let you all go... but take back a message for me." I continued, "I know who I am, and I know what you did. I'll have my revenge..." The soldiers hesitated making sure I was done, then with a very un tactical retreat, began running away as fast as they could.

I watched them run and made sure it was clear. I turned around to meet the humble eyes of Wangari.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#72
Wangari had travelled swiftly toward the rookeries within ayRam aLusìng, intent on providing a pace fast enough for Na'vin to follow without overrunning her.  In her haste, she was not as vigilant as usual.  Her thoughts, in fact, had been focused on Na'vin and not on her surroundings.  

She stepped quickly into a glade with her eyes cast skyward in search of the ikran and failed to note the unusual shadows which spilled across the sward in front of her.  Suddenly an exo-masked human stepped from behind a tree, and her eyes flitted to the menacing form.  Her body reacted before her mind comprehended the danger as she ducked and rolled toward her left.  Something exploded then whined over the spot where she'd stood.  Her momentum rolled her back onto her feet, knife drawn, eyes searching for her enemy. Her attention thus deflected, she did not see the human to her near left smoothly raise his dart gun and fire.  A blackness without bioluminescence enveloped her as she crumpled soundlessly to the forest floor.  Her knife slid from her limp hand and embedded itself in the ground close to her thigh.

*THUMP*...*THUMP*...*THUMP*...The ground shuddering beneath kept her from sinking entirely into the blackness. Something kept slamming into the nearby loam, transferring sound and vibration through her hazy senses, giving her something to cling to, to fight towards.  She slowly opened her eyes. Blurry movements drew her attention, but she couldn't make them out.  Where was she? She tried to roll over, but her legs wouldn't work right. Why? The sound of something shattering caused adrenaline to surge through her veins. A battle? There must be fighting...Ra'fi! RA'FI!!

Strong arms lifted her and she felt herself slung over Ra'fi's shoulder.  Her arms slipped around him, holding him more closely than was necessary - only because she didn't want to fall, she told herself.  For a split second she was pleased with his warmth and his scent and the feel of his arms around her.  Abruptly, she was lowered to the ground and was leaned against a tree.  Without his warm presence she felt bereft; it made her struggle harder against the murkiness of her senses.  She wanted to find him again.  If this was a fight, she would stand by his side because it was where she belonged!  She would not let it happen like it did last time...last time...wait...!

She reached out for the tree and steadied herself as she rose to her feet, shaking the fog from her head.  Nausea roiled through her but she steeled herself against it.  No time for that.  

"Hey! Na'vin! You're coming back with us! Don't make us kill you!" She heard the human voice punctuated by the staccato sound of weapons and the *TSINGT-INnnGGGG* sound of metal ricocheting. This was an attack, and Na'vin was the target! There was a limb near her feet, splintered at one end as though it were shaped for a spear. She hefted it then spun from behind the tree, aiming for the closest human. She caught him by surprise and watched as the impromptu spear skewered him, leaving him as a gift for the local aynantang.

Silence. Then...

"I'm going to let you all go... but take back a message for me." Na'vin said. "I know who I am, and I know what you did. I'll have my revenge..." As Na'vin addressed the remaining humans, Wangari sensed strength and determination radiating from him.  It felt as though a mantle of authority had descended upon his shoulders.  As he watched the humans turn and run, she caught his scent and remembered his warmth as he'd carried her from harm's way.  And she'd thought he was Ra'fi...her Ra'fi...

He turned and she looked up into his eyes.

"Ma Na'vin, ngaytxoa, I should have seen these ayskxawng before they saw me! I..."

As though he hadn't heard her, Na'vin reached down and plucked a dart from her calf.  It stung and she acknowledged the pain with a grimace.  He looked at it briefly.  "I have seen these used before." His jaw tightened and his eyes grew distant with memory. She saw the muscles of his right arm ripple and flex, as though in self-defense.

"You.." he spoke slowly, finally looking at her. "How did you shake this off? This dose was meant for me, not you."

Wangari looked at the dart.  It looked puny and insignificant in his large palm. "Ma Na'vin, we use poisons to tip our arrows too.  We also have strong medicines against these poisons.  As tsahìk numeyu I make these medicines. They protect me. Perhaps they also protect against these."  She picked it up and sniffed the pointed tip.  "Ketuwong," she wrinkled her nose.

"Sran," he picked it out of her hand and tossed it into the underbrush.  "We must be more careful from now on, ma Wangari.  Since they are searching for me, you also are in danger." He stopped and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps you should continue on alone.  It would be safer and..." his voice softened, "I don't want anything to happen to you."

This was the first time he had touched her with anything like gentleness, and Wangari's skin felt electric under his palm. She stepped back to break the contact and maintain her equilibrium.  She took a deep breath.  

"Ma Na'vin.  I will not desert you.  Ra'fi would have remained at your side.  I will also.  Together we will find my ikran and your tokran," she said. And then? she heard the faint echo of a thought, and pushed it aside.

"Tivaron ko!"
 She turned and broke into a quick stride towards her knife, hoping he didn't see the slow flush start up her neck and deepen the color in her face.

Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#73
I shared my concern for her safety and I was sincere in my words, I gently rested my hand on her shoulder "Perhaps you should continue on alone.  It would be safer and... I don't want anything to happen to you."

She stepped back almost as if she had just realized something shocking. Her expression was of uncertainty and her gaze diverted away from mine. She took a deep breath and returned her eyes to mine which now showed sturdiness and composure.
"Ma Na'vin.  I will not desert you.  Ra'fi would have remained at your side.  I will also.  Together we will find my ikran and your tokran."
"Tivaron ko!" She quickly turned away and with confidence in her stride she raced over to her blade which still remained stuck in the ground.

... Her movements had returned to their graceful leaps and discrete steps. She kept her back turned towards me as she retrieved her blade, it was there I noticed her figure, her patterns, her independent and powerful stance. Her display of bravery and strong Will had earned my respect, but something new was happening. I wasn't sure what I was feeling and on my chest the Red Stones were glowing intensely.

I looked to the ground as I stepped back in memory, she knew Ra'fi... From how she spoke of him, it felt as if she was much closer to him than she let on. I pondered this for a few moments and I calmed these strange feelings I had moments ago. the stones around my neck had begun to dim until they returned back to normal.

I gave a distressed sigh of confusion and frustration... Raising up slowly, I stood with my Sabre now in hand. I gave it a spin as it moved through my fingers with a familiar feeling of comfort. It felt good to have the Dragon Sabre back in my possession.
Sheathing it into place on my back, its weight brought me back into balance.
I glanced over at Wangari who had retrieved and cleaned off her blade carefully. I was happy that she was safe, I was happy that she wasn't hurt or injured in any way. I wasn't going to leave her side, although I had proposed it, deep down I didn't want to. So I was glad she turned down my proposition.

I approached Wangari slowly, I gazed upon the lifeless Human that still lay impaled in the tree. Wangari was stronger than she appeared... Doing something like this is nothing easy. As grim as the sight was, it brought a smile to my face to see how strong Wangari was. It perked my interests further the more I was getting to know her...
I must follow her, only she could lead me to Tokran... After I obtain Tokran... I shook thoughts from my mind.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

The blade gleaming in her hands reminded Wangari that it had been a long time since they'd eaten.  Her stomach was still slightly queasy, but a good meal might help settle it.  She stood up, only to find Na'vin standing next to her, his head cocked to the side as he regarded the ashen figure of the dead human, blood still dripping slowly from the great wound in his chest where the limb pierced him.  A half-smile played on his lips and she wondered what he was thinking about.  Perhaps he would tell her in time; food came first.

"Ma Na'vin, we must find something to eat.  I no longer have my bow, but I can hunt well with my knife," she held it up and it glittered, black and dangerous.

His smile widened and he reached over his shoulder, fingering the hilt of his sabre.  "Then we don't need to worry, ma Wangari.  We will eat soon.  As you say, tivaron ko!"  Without waiting for her, he disappeared into the forest.

Soon he brought back a small ground animal, already gutted and cleaned.  Wangari took the firestones from her shaman's bundle and sparked a fire.  Na'vin fed it while Wangari sliced thin strips from the loins and haunches and cooked them.  

The meal was subdued.  Na'vin seemed lost in thought, occasionally glancing her way and giving her a brief smile while he ate.  This was fine by Wangari.  She observed him from the corner of her eyes, pretending to focus on something -anything- other than him.  His body was long and lean, but well defined for a Na'vi male.  His coloring was slightly paler than hers...had he not seen the sun for long?  She saw the tip of his tail flick against the ground as he bit into the meat, chewing it slowly.  His ears perked forward as he licked the juices dripping from his fingers, savoring the flavor of his kill.  She blushed and then bit her lip, confused and a little angry at herself.

When the meal was finished, some of the remaining cooked meat was wrapped in leaves which disappeared into the pouches at their waists.  The fire was extinguished and the remainder of the animal was distributed through the underbrush as gifts for other forest dwellers.

For the rest of the day and into part of the evening they traveled far into the Flux Vortex, following the trajectory of the ikran.  It was Na'vin who noticed that Wangari was lagging and suggested they rest for the night.  She nodded wearily and followed him up the nearest large utral. Finding a wide moss-padded branch, Na'vin settled his tall frame against the bole of the tree. A smaller branch sprouted to one side, and he hung the sheath of his sabre from it.  Wangari sat next to him and they talked quietly as they ate, mindful of drawing the attention of night predators.  

She was not aware that she had closed her eyes and drifted off, but Na'vin was conscious of her dangerous position and shifted her body.  She did not awaken as he gently leaned her against his shoulder.  She's still fighting the effects of the dart, he thought.  There was no reason to think anything else.  Not with her being so close to Ra'fi.  He found himself wondering about their relationship and a tiny prickle of wistfulness crept into his heart.  The stones around his neck glowed with a pale light and gradually faded as he fell asleep, listening to her calm breathing beside him.

Seze Mune

Anxiety lent speed to Sulani's flight.  She did not like the look of the gray animals which smelled so foul and stomped so angrily through the forest.  Thinking of them made her shiver.  Even the thermals seemed abnormally cool as she beat her way back to the rookery and the safety of her eyrie.  It took her longer than expected, but she finally caught sight of other ikrans enjoying the last rays of the late afternoon sun.

The cliff's edge was well populated as she soared over it, the oncoming evening beginning to cast long shadows over the scattered rocks.  She veered right and made her way to her nest at the verge of the rocky rookery field.  Atan was not yet here, and that only increased her sense of danger.  If there was something likely to injure or kill him, Atan seemed compelled to investigate it.  She huffed, distressed.  The adrenaline forced her into activity and she started rearranging the twigs in the eyrie, becoming more unsatisfied by the minute.

She was so intent on this activity that Atan's greeting call startled her.  Her head shot up over the edge of the nest and she peered at him, twigs dangling precariously from her jaws.  Spitting them out, she greeted him joyously and moved over to give him room as he settled into the eyrie beside her.


Txura Rolyu

It was funny to see Sulani with twigs in her mouth shuffling around the nest without her knowing I was there. She was so much the stereotypical mother. When I gave her a greeting call she turned around and immediately made room for me to enter the nest and she crooned happily to have me near her again.

"I see you have been getting anxious ma sa'nok," I said with a slight jest. "Was it because the place needed some rearranging or because I was not here before sunset?"

She looked at me from the side and knew that I was picking on her. She continued to rearrange some of the twigs she had dropped but she managed to say through the twigs with some difficulty, "I was-shh waiting for you ma 'itan. You know I get wou-ried when I don't know where you are and it is dark out." She settled the twigs into place and nodded in approval at her work. She then turned to me and asked, "So how are your meylan, Trewna and Niä? Did they have any answer to your questions of love?"

I took a second to try to understand what she was asking. I was so wrapped up in my discovery of the location of the creature that I had taken a yerik to that day that I had almost forgotten that I had visited Trewna that morning. I had to make up a white lie so that I wouldnt worry her that I had done something so dangerous. I was taking to long to respond I needed to say something. "Yeah, I found Trewna this morning in the rookery alone. He was waiting for Niä to come back from her morning hunt with her parents. He had a very similar answer to what you told me ma sa'nok," I said with a bit of hesitation at first. "Since I didnt have anything else to do today I decided to spend the majority of the day with them just gooding off like we always do. I had a chance to watch how they reacted around each other and sometimes with was a little bit nausseating," I said with more conviction.

Sulani chuckled at my description of how Trewna and Niä acted around each other and thought fondly of some of her memories with her old mate. She did not press the issue about what I had done the rest of the day and I was happy to be so lucky.

"So what did you find exciting today ma sa'nok?" I asked curiously but not expecting anything very exciting. 
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

#77
With her 'itan back in her sight, Sulani was a bit less anxious.  He told her about his old friends, but she noticed that he seemed to be holding back, skirting around the subject.  Something else was on his mind and she was about to ask him a few probing questions when he distracted her with one of his own.

"So what did you find exciting today ma sa'nok?" he asked.  She could tell the it was an offhand question.  He wasn't expecting much of a reply.

She fixed him with a serious gaze and poked him in the chest with her thumb. "Ma 'itan, I have seen those fearsome great gray beasts you spoke of.  It was nìltsan you escaped them.  I did not hear the thunder you mentioned, but they held strange sticks and I did not like the way they walked.  Something about them smelled......" she searched for the word,"...kawng.  I hid from them as they passed by, but they are coming this way.  Is it any wonder I fear for you?" She blew through her spiracles, like an anxious sigh.

"Your mother knows you. It is hard to keep your curiosity in check, ma Atan, but this curiosity can make you kerusey.  Nari si."

She regarded him silently, holding his gaze, trying to impress caution on her 'itan.

Seze Mune

#78
There was a satisfying *CRACK!* as Premal slid the long yerik leg bone into the back corner of her jaw and bit down hard.  With her thumb, she held one part of it against the ground, and began to lick and chew at the jagged edges near the top.

CRUNCH......*CRACK*....CRUNCH, crunch...

When she finally finished the yerik, she used her long pink tongue to clean her thumb and groom herself.  The food was satisfying and her hunger was sated for the moment. Her right wing was stiff and painful but she tried to stretch it as best she could.

She peered through the thorny vegetation at the mouth of the cave and wondered again how the large male ikran had managed to roll the yerik up to the entrance without her noticing.  She drew air in through her spiracles and caught the faintest trace of his scent.  Why had he brought her this gift?  The question rolled around in her mind like a rock on an uneven surface.

He said he felt guilt, as though he owed her this yerik.  She did not understand.  No predator feels guilty that he killed his prey...so why would the prey feel guilty that the predator's injury prevented it from ending up as a meal?  She cocked her head as she pondered this. She tried stretching her wing again and felt a little more motion, though still painful.  She would not be flying tomorrow, either.

Pushing through vegetation to where the ikran had hidden, she checked the ground for his scent.  Here it was strong.  She huddled into his spot, wondering if she would see him again tomorrow.  Not knowing much kindness since she'd been on her own, she had been grouchy and mistrustful of him.  Now she didn't know if she'd see him again, and it was obvious that she needed him.  She looked up into the sky and found herself wishing she'd see his silhouette.  There were a few stingbats darting far overhead, but nothing the size of an ikran.

Premal sighed sadly.  It is going to be a long night, she thought as she walked back to her cavern. And maybe even a longer tomorrow.

Txura Rolyu

Sulani was giving me another warning speech about the forest. I rolled my eyes in a joking way and nudged her with the tip of my wing, "I know you fear for my safety often ma sa'nok, but you need not worry so much. I have learned a lot from my years of close calls." I looked at her more seriously and continued, "You can trust that I can take care of myself. Dont forget that I saved you from the large creature."  ;)

I winked at her and she huffed at me for being so light about the subject. I was most glad that that she did not push the subject of what I had done that day. She turned around and started busying herself with rearranging the twigs again. I helped her move more of the twigs around to spruce up the place as the last rays of sunlight set beyond the horizon. As the forest started coming to life with bioluminescence I looked out in the direction I had come earlier that day, wondering if the creature was thinking of me... Some how I felt that she was.

Before I turned away from the entrance I sent out good vibes to her and promised myself to visit her again the next day. She still needed my help and I still felt responsible for her injury.

Sulani called me over and I turned in for the night. I curled up next to her and she laid a wing over me in her usual fashion.
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*