Aytautral (Sky Trees)

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

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Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#80
No light, no sound.. just black. "Where am I" I wondered.
I couldn't move, I was frozen in place. I figure in the distance drew closer, I fought to move but I was stuck standing up. The figure drew closer and closer, the figure was a woman. As she came closer I could see her face and her eyes were glaring into mine. Fear did not exist within me, I gleamed back into her eyes which were glowing brightly. She stopped and stood right in front of me, looking up at me I noticed something strange.
She was wearing my necklace, the red stones were glowing bright on her chest. She put her hand on my chest and then on my face. "Na'vin... my son."  My eyes widened as her words pierced my mind, her lips never moved. Her voice sounded so familiar...

Another figure appeared from behind me, he walked around to stand next to the woman in front of me. His size was profound, his strength was showing through his monstrous figure. He looked like me, but his eyes and face were that of a hardened warrior. His cold eyes warmed as he looked into mine. His braid was very long, his complexion was aged but his eyes were wild. He had the tooth of Toruk around his neck, the same tooth that was attached to my necklace?  He brought his huge muscular arm up and grabbed my shoulder, he squeezed hard and surprise fell upon his face.
The woman turned to the Giant Na'vi who began to smile and said, "He's strong like his father." She smiled.   He responded, "He's fearless like his mother."

It dawned on me, they were my real parents!

My mother was more beautiful than I could have imagined. My father was intimidating and had the resolve of a Leader. He wore the Olo'Eyktan head band that Ro'kan now wore.
"Ro'kan is Olo'Eyktan but he cannot deny that you are my son, the rightful Leader of the Hufwe Clan." my father continued, "You must protect our people from the sawtute ma atan. Show them you are Nos'feratu."
My parents started becoming translucent, they were disappearing! My father said one last thing, "Your power is far greater than you know, anger brings out your sleeping power... You must control it, or it will overcome your mind making you blind to the innocent.... We will show you how to harness your power... Our gift to you ma atan."

Thoughts rushed through my mind, things I had never witnessed. Na'vi being attacked people running and screaming. Warriors fighting AMP suits and foot soldiers, bullets flying hitting and killing many Na'vi.
My heart began beating fast, rage within me was building fast.
I stood in a field which was consumed by war, hundreds of Na'vi fought. Humans began to lay waste to the valiant Warriors. I couldn't move, I struggled with all my might!
Everything went silent.... Ra'fi ran past me, he didn't see me?!  An ear piercing shot cracked through the air, Ra'fi fell forward into the ground...

It returned, the greatest feeling of loss I have ever felt... Sefin blazed past me right toward Ra'fi who began squirming, Sefin grabbed up Ra'fi and was then shot himself...
Ablaze... my eyes now empty. Screaming in rage my body moved on its own! Fading in and out I fought to remain conscious.  The ground began shattering beneath my feat as if being crushed.
Light then Dark, I clenched a fist and focused hard... It was then I saw Wangari laying on the ground now, motionless. The peak of my spirit went through the ceiling of my conscious mind.

"You wield the spirit of a Nos'feratu, power, strength, speed... there is no creature to whom can compare ma atan." Her voice reached me in my deaf and blind rage. My mother spoke softly as if to calm me, but it wasn't enough... Then Wangari's voice broke through, my heart and spirit calmed instantly by her soothing voice. I realized that Wangari was the only one who could truly calm me, her voice made the anger evaporate from within me.
___________________________________

"Na'vin... ma Na'vin... Wake up... Please wake up Na'vin..." Wangari's voice persisted.  
___________________________________


"Go my son, go to your people... Show them that you live...    Wangari waits for you, protect her as she is the voice who reaches your heart... We are with you Na'vin.." my parents voices began trailing off..
I awoke to they concerned eyes of Wangari who sat ontop of me with her hands on my face. Her eyes changed from fearful to happy when I looked into her eyes with a humble gaze.

"I'm sorry I worried you ma Wangari." I spoke softly to her.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#81
When he twitched, she was instantly awake. His arm tightened around her shoulder and his right hand twitched and flexed again.  Wangari leaned forward, turning towards him, her eyes seeking his for some kind of explanation.   His eyes were tightly closed, his brow furrowed.  His lips twisted into a grimace and his tail flailed against the branch as a low growl was born in his throat.

He jerked.  His fingers dug so painfully into her shoulder she had to shake herself free.  In spite of her movements, he did not awaken.  This was serious, Wangari knew.  It did not often happen, but Tsahìk had explained there were times when samsiyu would dream and could not be awakened.  This often happened at a critical point in their lives and their future depended on the outcome of their dreams.  "Tìsti alevrrtep"," Wangari muttered.  She pushed Na'vin, but he only grimaced.  His ears flicked forward as though he were listening to someone.

"Ma Na'vin..." she spoke his name. He did not respond.  

"Ma NA'VIN!" she said sharply, slapping his shoulder.  He threw his arm out and she ducked.

His arm muscles flexed again and he balled his fist.  If she did not awaken him, he could fall from the tree when he took a swing at her.  He was strong, but he would probably not survive such a great fall while unconscious.

With both hands she grabbed his wrist and threw herself on his chest, pushing his arm back against the bole of the tree.  He shuddered and dropped his arm.  Wangari bent quickly towards him, cupping his cheeks with her hands and bringing her face close to his.

"Ma Na'vin, look at me.....look at me...come back! You are in the wrong place....you must come back!" His eyelids fluttered, but didn't open.

Desperately, she said, "Na'vin... ma Na'vin... Wake up... Please wake up ma Na'vin..."

He drew a deep breath and his eyes finally opened.  She sat up and slid off to one side, suddenly embarrassed to be so close and holding his face as his eyes focused on hers.  He was silent for a moment, looking at her.

"I'm sorry I worried you ma Wangari," he said quietly and reached towards her.  His hand closed on her upper arm and lingered, warm and reassuring.  This brought her more confusion.  His words didn't feel like apology or regret.  Something else, unspoken and vibrant, was telegraphed through his touch and she didn't understand.  Or do I? she thought fleetingly as Ra'fi's smiling image danced before her inner vision.


Na'vin Nos'feratxu

#82
Her eyes spoke volumes of inner concern as she tried to make sense of something in her mind.

I couldn't help but allow a frown on my face as I reflected on the dream I just had. Wangari brought her attention back to me as she pushed away her thoughts.
With a shake of my head, I also released my thoughts of what just happened and returned to the present. Although I couldn't help but feel beset by the ironies of my life, I managed to pull a smile back out as I faced Wangari.

With a small sigh, I grabbed my Sabre and stood up. "I need to eat..."
Wangari apparently had the same thing in mind as her ears flicked forward and she stood up along beside me.
It was a new day and the suns were shining brightly as the morning sounds of the forest awakened. It was cool but very humid, which made it just right to track our breakfast.
Slinging my Sabre around to my back and tying it around my chest, I stepped out onto a nearby branch and crouched down keeping perfect balance.
I closed my eyes and took the deepest breathe I could, the moisture in the air harbored all kinds of smells and I couldn't help but feel relaxed.

Behind me I could feel Wangari watching me, it felt as if she was pleased to see me enjoying the moment.... *Crack!*
Both Wangari and I snapped our attention into the direction of the sound. Remaining completely still, we waited for any kind of movement...
*Brush Ruffling* ... And there they were. Some Yerik had wondered into the area grazing on the flora just a few 100 feet away from us.

I looked back to where I thought Wangari was standing, but she was gone? I looked all around and I could not see her anywhere! She slipped away while I was distracted with my thoughts of food.
There was no time to waste, waiting any longer and I would miss my chance to catch breakfast. I smiled as I let myself fall backwards off the branch, while free falling downward I corrected with a spin and landed flat onto the ground. My hands were stretched out as I had landed crouched, now looking forward, the Yerik snapped their attention to me.
I slowly put a hand on my Sabre handle as I simultaneously looked at each Yerik to pick my prey. As I was about to burst into an attack, I was stopped by her voice.
"Na'vin!" she whispered, "Are you hungry?"  I looked for her while I traced the direction of her voice.
She sat still atop a freshly killed Yerik just 40 feet away from where I was sitting. The group of Yerik quickly ran away in fright as I stood up.
I was completely surprised by this, Wangari smiled at me then began to laugh a little. She was quite the huntress! It was attractive to say the least.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#83
The frown that briefly creased his brow embarrassed her.  She felt she had angered him somehow by awakening him so abruptly from such close proximity. Without a smile or a word of greeting, he stood and announced he needed to eat.  Wangari arose, her eyes on his face as she stood with her hand against the bole of the utral.  She noticed his immediate alertness as he focused on the scents in the early morning air.  When his ears flicked forward at the sound of a small *snap*, she tuned her own ears to the sound and saw the small herd of slowly grazing yerik near the base of their tree.

Maybe this is the way to soothe his anger, she thought, hope creeping into her heart.  Before the thought was completed, she was on the ground and approaching a straggler in stealth mode.  In the shadows, the obsidian knife gave no glint of warning to the tender young buck.  She leaned out from behind a thick hedge, throwing an arm around the buck's long slender neck and throttling his ability to voice his alarm.  The obsidian knife slashed a deep red line across his throat and warm blood spurted over her forearm and ran in pulsing rivulets down her side. The buck slumped to the ground and she supported its fall, making sure there was no noise to warn the rest of the herd.

"Irayo seiyi, ma tsmukan. Kivame neEywa ngeyä tireal, kelku sivi tì'i'avay krrä tsatseng," she whispered as the animal bled out.  A thud alerted her to Na'vin's presence on the ground.  He was absorbed in picking his prey and didn't notice that she was downwind, only 40 feet away.  Hope surged in her heart - hope for a friendly grin and perhaps even forgiveness for whatever mistake he thought she'd made by awakening him the way she did.

"Ma Na'vin, are you hungry?" she whispered.  His head snapped around and his ears flicked instantly in her direction.  She held her breath for his reaction.


Na'vin Nos'feratxu

Her eyes looked to me as if in search of a reaction, I couldn't help but give a chuckle.
"Shes fast, real fast..." I thought to myself.

Upon her seeing my genuine smile, she smiled back. I began walking towards her still wide eyed with amazement.
I knelt down beside her, I didn't even think about how close I was to her. For some reason I was becoming drawn to her.
Every thing she did seemed to surprise me, she was becoming more and more interesting to me every day.

The smell of warm blood engulfed my senses, my pupils dilated as I focused on the meal to come.
Wangari had blood on one of her arms, without thinking I gently grabbed her arm and licked a good portion of the blood off. She yanked her arm back with a stunned smile, I couldn't help but laugh.
After all the playing around was out of our systems, I told Wangari that I would cut and cook the meat for us, as she had done all the work of catching our breakfast.
We soon ate after I had prepared a flat stone with a fire beneath it, cooking all the meat we could eat.

... A familiar sound subtly found its way to my ears... The calls of Ikran!
My guess was they were out hunting, but what really caught my attention was how close they seemed to be. Wangari and I had both stopped chewing, and listened.
Our eyes met, and we both had the same thought... Its time for us to find our flying companions.
We began to eat faster, then we stuffed what little meat there was left into our satchels for later.

   
NotW#82

Seze Mune

#85
Her sensitive ears caught the sound of his chuckle and her tension melted.  She smiled back.  It would take work to prepare the meal, but she was expert at it.

Her eyes drifted to the yerik as she evaluated the quality of the meat.  When he knelt beside her, she pointed to the best portion and opened her lips to speak.  Words never came.  His hand had closed on her upper arm and he gently drew her toward him.  She looked up in surprise. As Na'vin bent his head toward her, her heart leapt and then shock flooded her as his warm tongue began to lap the congealing blood from her forearm.  For a moment she was stunned into stillness, and then she yanked her arm from his grasp and stood there, her entire body trembling, responding in a way totally unfamiliar to her. She wanted to run, but she didn't.  She wanted to reach toward him, but she didn't do that either.  She frowned.  Then she smiled.  Then she shook her head.

Na'vin laughed, sensing her confusion.

"Ma Wangari, you have brought us breakfast.  I will strip the carcass and prepare the meat," he said.

She nodded, glad to be focused on anything but the strangeness of the moment.

"In that case, ma Nav'in, I will build our fire," she responded.  She turned abruptly and began to collect stones and firewood.  She had not yet calmed completely from the shock of his unexpected actions and found her mind wandering in circles wider than those her feet traveled, looking for kindling...and answers.  She found only teylu, but left them for another forager.  The meat would be more than enough. Wiya! Why weren't the answers under the rocks,too?!?

After Na'vin had prepared the food on her impromptu hearth, they sat together and ate the meat.  She had seasoned it with herbs from her shaman's pouch and it was passable, though not as good as she could do with a full larder at her fingertips.  She licked the juice from her fingers and then blushed when she noticed Na'vin watching her, grinning.  She tossed a pebble at him and he moved slightly aside as it flew past him.  He threw her another quirky smile and then cocked his head, his eyes drifting away from hers as his ears swiveled to catch the sound of...

....ikrans!

Wangari looked up, her eyes searching for the source of the familiar trilling she heard overhead.  The canopy here was too thick, but the sounds were reasonably close.  She glanced at Na'vin and met his eyes.  They had the same unspoken thought: perhaps their destination was nearer than they imagined.  She felt a small jab of worry and tried to ignore it.  Once she got her ikran, or he got his tokran.....well......there would be no more need to travel together...

She sighed, and Na'vin raised an eyebrow.  With a fleeting smile in his direction, she turned to pack her bundle with the strips of meat which had dried on the cooking stone as they ate their breakfast.  He watched her deft movements for a moment and then followed suit.  

Na'vin hefted his satchel and then tied it to the cord of his loincloth.  It wasn't heavy, and Wangari was carrying most of the meat in her larger pouch anyway.  Making sure that Wangari followed, he walked to the middle of a glade and looked upward.  He could still hear the ikrans, though the sounds were a little fainter.  At least he could tell which direction they were flying.  He looked back, only to find Wangari had disappeared.  A few branches betrayed her path as they wiggled back and forth in her wake.  She had followed the sound of the ikrans without waiting for him.  He felt a tiny finger of irritation poke him, and then he grinned.  She was being her independent self, as always.  So typical for a tsahìk......a challenging but valuable quality in a female, he decided. Or at least in aytsahìk.

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Txura Rolyu

#86
Waking up was a surprise that morning. A cold wind had picked up and a few gusts had found their way into the nest tickling at my back bringing me awake. My body was not at all ready to wake up so I laid there and didn't open my eyes. I started to take in my enviroment. The cold air was obvious but from the temperature that it was I figured it was still rather early in the day. Normally the sun would wake me up but I didnt feel or see any light in the nest as I laid there. The air was dry and so was my tounge. The need for water was quickly followed by a grumble from my gullet as it begged for sustinance. With so many things bothering my mind and keeping it awake I gave up trying to go to sleep for an extra hour.

I opened my eyes and Sulani was sleeping away soundly more near the wall and out of the blasts of cold air that were bothering me. I lifted myself off the floor and began stretching hoping to warm my body some, but the cold gusts would steal some heat each time I spread my wings open. I was never an early morning kind of guy.

When I was acclimated to the cold air I stepped outside to get some water. I shuttered at the stinging chill as it hit my gums and proceeded to sip lightly rather than gulp from the stream. As I finished drinking the sun happened to peak over the horizon. It was good to see it again and I took off into the air to climb up to a higher point and soak in the first rays of sunlight. The effects of the sun were always welcome. It warmed the blood, created updrafts to fy upon, and gave light to hunt by more easily. I smiled and bathed a little longer than usual.

As the sun reached the dark parts of the forest below the bioluminescence slowly shrunk away and greens and reds gave way to blues and purples. It was quite a pretty sight to see. At the thought of purple my encounter with the creature in the old Toruk nest hit me and I remembered that she was still there. I had almost forgotten.

Now all the questions of what she thought of me rushed back into my mind and then my predicament of whether I should meet her again and bring another yerik and how I was going to get away from Sulani long enough to do so without being riddled with questions. My initial bliss of the morning quickly wore off and I glided back down to the entrance of the nest the questions weighing down my mind the whole time. When I poked my head in Sulani turned and looked at me with sleepy eyes and smiled at me kindly.
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

With her 'itan making noises outside the nest, Sulani figured she'd have a little while until he was ready to hunt.  She chose to doze a little longer.  Nightmares had disturbed her sleep, and she still felt the ragged edge of anxiety trailing behind her thoughts.

When he poked his head back in, she figured it was time to hunt.  She still felt a little groggy from lack of sleep and looked at him sleepily.

"Are you ready for something, ma 'itan?  A hunt perhaps?"
 She yawned, her teeth retracting.  She ruffled her wings a little to shake some circulation into them and then peered at him more closely.

He was unusually silent. Pensive.  Her curiosity was aroused, and along with it came the curling edges of her dream-born anxiety.

"What?  What's the matter?" She was wide awake now.

Txura Rolyu

"I am ready to get some food, I guess," I replied after a short puase and with only a little enthusiasm.

I didnt pay much attention to what Sulani was doing and was still stuck in my thoughts. My heart was troubled and so was my mind. I backed my head out of the nest and walked to the edge of the rock waiting for Sulani to come stand beside me and lead the way to our usual hunting ground.

She joined me in short time but had a very worried look upon her face. "What is going on my Atan?" she asked with worry in her voice. She had put herself in front of me to keep my focus on her rather than elsewhere. She looked me over for any signs for what was going on with me hoping to find something that might give her a clue.

I didnt really want to tell her what I had done the day prior and didnt want to open my hearts problems onto her. I knew she would most likely dissaprove of my "irrational" feelings for something that was "dangerous" even though I didnt feel that the creature that stole my heart was dangerous or an irrational choice.

I also didnt want to lie to her. I was still her son and she had always been honest with me and taken great care of me. I couldnt lie to her face especially when I knew that it would only make the problem so much more worse later on. "I wasnt entirely honest with you yesterday about where I was going ma sa'nok," I said and cast my head down.
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

#89
Sulani planted herself directly in front of him and looked serious.

"You weren't with me when I was near the gray monsters," she said slowly.  "I don't understand.  If you were with Niä and Trewna, then why worry about it?"

Txura Rolyu

#90
I slowly lifted my head and looked at my mother. "Well to begin with I had a dream two nights ago reminding me about the old Toruk nest that I visited when I was very young." At the mention of the nest Sulani started to catch on and began to look worried by the way she held my eyes with every movement.  I continued by saying, " I did visit Niä and Trewna but they had not the time for me really and I didnt want to bother them all day with my presence. So I decided to revisit the nest, just to see what had happened to it since the last time I had happened across it. When I got there I..." I paused fearing that Sulani would have an explosive reaction to the next part of my sentence. Continuing I said, "I saw within the nest the large purple creature that attacked us only a few days ago. She was asleep and I could see that she was holding her wing at a funny angle like it was hurt badly. She was also curled up as though she was waiting to die of starvation. I couldnt bear to be responsible for her death, even though she attacked us first."

Sulani was struck with disbelief I assumed because she hadnt said a single thing this whole time. Many things were swirling in her head as her mind raced trying to think. I took advantage of this and finished by saying, "You should also know that I have feelings for her. She is different and I cant explain what is happening, but I am following your instruction to let my heart guide me."
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

Sulani, as he had correctly guessed, was dumbfounded.  It would not have occurred to her that her 'itan would even consider such actions...  Oh yes, that he would want to investigate things, that was a given.  He was always curious, and sometimes even reckless.  But this?  To visit the dangerous beast that wanted to devour him....on purpose?!
No.  Not possible.  She hadn't heard right.

She shook her head and looked away for a moment to get her bearings.  Was this a dream?  That was it.  It was a dream.  It just couldn't be real.  Her 'itan had "feelings" for the purple beast? 

"What does this mean, this 'feelings'?" Sulani finally asked, her eyes narrowing.  "We are ikrans.  We do not have feelings for those such as her."  She cringed a little as she said this.  It was obvious that at one time, an ikran certainly had had feelings for something else.  Something dangerous.  But not again, and certainly not anyone in her family!  Not her precious only son!

Her mother's heart filled with fear, she waited for him to explain.


Txura Rolyu

#92
Sulani seemed to almost be on the verge of tears. I didnt really know what to do. I hadnt seen her in such a state like this before. She wouldnt make eye contact with me which bothered me the most. I couldnt believe I was causing this to happen.

I fumbled for an answer to explain more rather than let the air between us remain silent. "When I did visit her she was very unhappy to see me. She regarded me as an enemy more than anything. Even though I caught and carried a yerik to her while she rested..." At that Sulani stared at me. The look in her eyes forced me to a hault. I could only see disbelief, fear, and utter sadness in her. I ducked my head to avert my gaze rather than have her stare burn right through me with guilt.

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

#93
She watched her 'itan for a few moments.  He seemed sad and almost hurt.  She didn't want that, either.  A deep sigh moved her chest and her spiracles blew a long sibilant sound.  He looked up and she smiled wanly.

"Ma 'itan.  I have lost every other hatchling I've had.  If the blue creatures haven't caught them, then they have been eaten by toruks.  I do not want to lose you too.  But if I do not allow you to do what your heart prompts, then I will lose you anyway, even if you continue to live.  I have no choices here.

"But you know that I will protect you, and I want to know how this goes.  Please promise that you will tell me where you are when you go to her, and always let me know when you are back.  That is all I will ask."
 Sulani could not keep the sadness from her voice and her eyes.  She walked closer to him and rubbed her forehead against his neck.

"I will always care about you, ma 'itan.  And if you ever need me, you have only to call me and I will be there." A wing went out and covered him briefly as she sought to comfort both of them.  "Do you understand?"

Txura Rolyu

Now it was my turn to feel sad. More of a happy sad at how much Sulani cared about me. All of her wishing I was safer all made more sense now that I thought of how she had lost all of my siblings but me.

I chuckled and sobbed a little as she drapped a wing over me. I could feel her compassion and love for me flowing through the connection. Through a small muffled sob I replied, "I understand completely ma sa'nok. I wish I could stay with you as the years go by but our seperation will be inevitable." I stepped back a little and looked at Sulani. She grinned through her sadness at how my face was looking. Her grown 'itan welling up right in front of her.

I laughed a little as my deep breathing became more settled and controlled with each passing moment. When I felt better I quickly wrapped my mother in a strong hug and said, "Ma sa'nok, nga yawne lu oeru." Sulani immediately hugged me back and we stayed there for a while waiting for the other to let go first.
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

#95
She dropped her wing and nudged him with her snout.

"Alright, ma 'itan.  It is time for us to eat.  Shall we hunt?"  She nudged him again and he struggled to regain balance, laughing.

"Srane, ma sa'nok.  We can hunt," then he stopped and said, "I will eat, but I will also bring meat to the purple one." He looked sidewise at her, gauging his mother's reaction.

She nodded briefly, looking away from him.  She didn't like the sound of that, but she said nothing.  Gathering herself, she sprang from the eyrie and soared into the clear morning air, leaving the rookery behind.  

Txura Rolyu

#96
Sulani took to the skies and I followed. The conversation had not taken much time, but it had accomplished a whole lot. I no longer felt like I was keeping someting so important hidden from Sulani and I was happy that she had not entirely forbid me from following my emotions. I soared along following where Sulani was leading.

I squaked at her to get her attention after a while and asked, "What is our prey this morning ma sa'nok?" I had reached her side by this point and she replied that we were to be hunting fwampop that day. She had seen some on her return the evening prior and had made note of the small herds location. I nodded my agreement and fell behind her to ease the amount of drag as I flew. I wasn't quite ready to take down a full yerik that day neither was my gullet ready to carry all that weight when I traveled to see the purple one.

Sulani started making circles about the foliage and looked intently for the fwampop. I looked with her and in little time I caught a glimpse of them. I gave a shout of excitement and dived for the herd. Sulani followed right behind me and the hunt was on.

The herd had immediately began to scatter when I had surprised them with my squak. They all started making for the closest cover they could find. Many of them found sanctuary in the ferns but three of them were all trying to make a run for a space under the lifted roots of a tree. There was a lot of distance left and I was almost upon them. I reached out with my jaw and grabbed the middle one by the back left leg and bit down. It squeeled and blanched trying to kick free but it was much to weak. I made short order of the other two with the talons on my wings. One was slashed open along the side and the other was skewered through the back killing it instantly.

With my free talon I skewered the last creature that was still kicking at me. It succimbed to death quickly and soon it lay perfectly still. The blood on my tounge made me ravenously hungry and I wanted to eat. I let go of the first fwampop and turned and began gourging on the creature I had managed to dissembowel to my left. It was a simple flavor but fresh kills were always welcome.

When I had finished with the first I spit out a bone I hadnt managed to break. I looked for Sulani and found that she was sitting up on a branch as she liked to when she ate. She was also just finishing her meal and began cleaning her talons in her usual fashion. I did the same and placed the two other kills in my lower talons before I made my way up to her.
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

#97
There was no conversation on the way to the hunting grounds.  Sulani was lost in thought and didn't realize they were close until Atan squawked for her attention.  She explained their intended target and fell quiet again, searching for fwampop amongst the ferns.  Fanlizards whirled up into the air, disturbed by rooting tapiruses, but she was unable to locate the herd of fwampop until Atan gave a shrill cry as he clamped his wings tightly to his body and zeroed in for the kill.  Sulani followed and was able to crush the skull of the largest animal as she lifted him with her jaws and flew toward a sizable utral.

She rested on the branch for a moment before laying the kill down and pinning it in place with one foot.  She tore at the meat without much enthusiasm and spent several minutes observing her 'itan between gulps.  This would likely be one of their last hunts together.  The impending loneliness lapped at her like a hatchling, and she could feel it almost like pain.  She had lost her mate, as she had lost each of her hatchlings...except Atan.  Now, she would lose him too, but in a different way.

Her appetite was off.  Half the fwampop dangled from the branch, attracting the lazy attention of a nearby panopyra whose growing tips swayed slowly in her direction.  She quickly gulped a few more bits, and then shuffled away to clean her talons, leaving the panopyra to feast on the remainder of her kill.



Atan settled next to her on the limb, a brace of smaller fwampop in his talons.  Sulani nodded and continued to clean the blood and bits of flesh from her own talons before she spoke.

"You are not hungry for more, ma Atan?  Will you carry those to the wounded creature?"  There was a slight quiver in her voice, and she fought to restrain it.

Txura Rolyu

"I have a long distance to travel and it isn't good to fly on a full stomach," I said with a wink referencing a common line Sulani would use when I was younger. She smiled at the reference only a little and that made me feel better.

"I am going to take both of these to the purple one," I said confidently. Sulani's expression of worry doused some of that confidence. "Perhaps you should see where I go so that you know that the creature won't harm me," I suggested. Sulani lost a lot of her worry for me but was now worried she would have to go near the creature. It seemed her wanting to know i was safe overuled her fear of the creature. As a caution i said, "I suggest you don't come too close though. It probably wouldn't like having two ikran bothering it."
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

#99
She had been willing to give her life for her 'itan, and she was not about to let him fly willingly into the open jaws of the creature who'd wanted him for lunch.  At least not without her!

Atan launched himself with difficulty from the thick branch, clutching the two fwampop beneath him. The animals made his footwork awkward, but they did not hamper his flight, she noted.  He is so much larger and stronger than I remember, she thought with a small sigh.

He vocalized encouragement for a short way, and then maintained silence.  He did not want to alert Premal to his arrival, much less to his mother's.  He made his way to a section of ayRam aLusìng which was seldom visited by ikrans.  Sulani was uneasy now, keeping anxious vigil for anything which could attack them.  Her head swiveled constantly, keeping Atan in her sight.  

At one point he caught her eye and she noticed him begin to descend toward a boulder-strewn outcropping which was overgrown with thick tangles of razor palms and poisonous briars.  He landed near the verge of a small tangle of dwarf trees and Sulani landed beside him.

"It would be best if she never saw you, ma sa'nok.  She doesn't like me very well, and it would be even harder for me to reach her if she saw both of us.  I'm sure she'd think we came to wreak our revenge," Atan said.  He indicated the thick shade under the trees.  

She walked the short distance to the trees and peered back at him.  He grinned briefly, then grabbed one fwampop in his jaws and the other in his left talon and flapped aloft, disappearing finally behind the wild and overgrown poisonous plants she'd noticed before.  She couldn't see any place where a wounded tokran could hide, so when Atan disappeared she began to fret again.  

If anything happens, I hope he'll call for me at least!  she thought anxiously.