The night air hummed faintly as Pandora's primary star vanished below the horizon. Night fell quickly these days. Some said it always had. And what with the monolithic trees dominating the landscape, it was no wonder daylight retreated so quickly. Darkness embraced the moon, and the forest came alive.
Packs of viperwolves scurried through the underbrush, hunting for any creature unwary enough to venture out into Pandora's dangerous nighttime world. They scampered about, paws causing the foliage to glow where stepped upon. They wove between bioluminescent octoshrooms that illuminated the forest floor like living torches, casting their soft blue light about them. When struck, they flared all the brighter. The entire forest was alight. The waters of its streams, beside which an elegant hexapede extended its great neck to drink, shone blue and green, as more flora lit it from below. Great trees stood, stretching their branches like fingers, reaching for the skies, and by the waterside those skies could be seen.
Stars wheeled overhead. More stars than one could count, or ever want to. So great was their numbers that they populated the heavens, so that scarcely a patch of darkness could exist. Dominating the scene was Pandora's gas giant, Polyphemus, casting its own light from above. The heavenly body colored the sky, painting it with fantastic hues of deep purple and red. One might gaze at such a sky forever. If given the chance.
Pandora never gave any chances.
Because while the forest was breathtaking, the sky doubly so, it was also alive. And it had to be respected. Danger was everywhere.
A lone Thanator prowled, shoulders hunched, musculature bulging beneath its thick purple hide. Its claws gripped fallen branches, crushing them with ease; its tail flicked with impatience at the fruitlessness of the hunt tonight. With a snarl, it slunk away, deeper into the forest, and was lost amid the glorious light.
Neytiri crouched, bow at the ready, an arrow knocked and bowstring drawn. She made sure of the Great Hunter's departure, then relaxed her arm. Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she felt a pang of sorrow. The touch of the weapon was like her father's embrace. It was her only remaining heirloom from him, who had been a great Chief. Sometimes she could hear him, whispering to her, through the forest. But his words were always unclear. And it was always nothing but the wind. He had faded into the legend of The People.
Dropping several meters to the floor, Neytiri raised a circle of light about her feet, its green luminescence beautiful in its own way, but this also faded. She rose from her catlike landing position, and made her way through the trees. After several hours of walking, at times pausing to duck into the underbrush as predators crept by, the trees began to thin. Eventually, she emerged from the forest, into a great clearing, perhaps five miles in diameter. Plants grew here and there, the forest beginning to reclaim the place, but it had only been a year since the Sky War, and so the scorched earth still remained.
Hometree was no more, not since the Sky People had obliterated it with their fire and greed. Neytiri still remembered those days with anger and much sadness, but the hate had faded, too, as the fires had. From the great ruins of Hometree, a new home had been erected within its hollow trunk. The People had returned to the site of their greatest defeat, and made it home again. In this way, Hometree remained, alive in the hearts and minds of The People, if not in form.
Lights danced in the distance, but these were brought about by torches and lanterns, marking the location of her village. The settlement glowed with a peaceful, warm light, and it drove the sorrow from her heart.
She made her way down the road. Not truly a road (Such things were for Sky People), but rather a pathway through the fields, trodden down and compacted by many feet. Her dark hair, braided as always, cascaded over her shoulders, and with a blue-skinned hand she brushed it into place.
Neytiri encountered several horsemen along the path, mounted on Direhorses. They acknowledged the presence of their sister, with mumbled greetings of "I see you," which she politely returned. Then they were off, probably to scout the plains.
She drew close to Hometree, and was enveloped into the great multitude of her people, making their way about. The night was still young, and there was work to do, after all. All turned to observe her as she passed, again with salutations.
Hometree was truly colossal, extending for hundreds, if not thousands, of meters in either direction, a wooden marker of what had been. Entering through a carved archway, she observed her home, once a great bastion that had challenged the skies, it was now rather a long, uninterrupted hall. The branches had been repurposed into a crisscrossing lattice network, from which hammocks hung, walkways extended, and Na'vi moved about. It had been hard work, and many had been opposed to altering the Hometree, but survival was necessary, and Neytiri liked to think that it was what the ancient spirit of the tree would have wanted.
Now was the hour to eat, and scattered bonfires burned throughout Hometree, upon which the kills of the day cooked. Neytiri smelled the delectable scent of roasted hexapede. Perhaps she would find herself a seat and partake of the beast. But not yet.
The largest branch of Hometree had been built into a winding staircase, leading to a single courtyard high above. This she ascended, making the climb easily with the aid of her quick feet. She emerged through an open trapdoor, into the midst of the plaza.
All about, the elder and honored of the Na'vi rested, speaking in vibrant, happy tones over the state of affairs. She heard boisterous voices exclaiming loudly about the day's hunt, or reports that yet another clan had pledged its allegiance to the Omaticaya. And while such things were happy news, Neytiri knew such alliances, although good omens, also told of the ongoing war. Because, although Pandora had seen no action since the Battle of the Tree of Souls, the Na'vi were still very much at war with the Sky People. No contact had been made since the last of the human prisoners of war had been released, and the dreamwalker Normspellman had predicted it would take quite some time for the humans to arrive at their dead homeworld, and even longer for any of them to return.
But when they did, Neytiri knew it would be in greater numbers, and that boded ill for the Na'vi. But such thoughts were pointless. They did no good for The People. They could only live, and try to make the best of things. Of course, as always, the Na'vi were mobilizing, couriers being sent to outlying clans, spreading word of the approaching threat. Although years away, it would pay to be prepared when war returned to their paradise.
A small group had congregated at a far corner of the courtyard, and among them Neytiri recognized the new chief, Esa'Kal. After the death of Tsu'Tey, who was to inherit rule from Neytiri's father, Eytukan, Esa'Kal had been chosen by the elders to take up their mantle. Neytiri's mother, Mo'at, remained spiritual leader, making it the first time in many years when the chief was not mated to the shaman. Upon her death, Esa'Kal's mate would inherit Mo'at's duties, rather than Neytiri, who had decided she did not desire to follow in her mother's footsteps.
She approached her chief, and performed the obligatory ritual. "I see you," she stated, inclining her head respectfully.
Esa'Kal was not an elder, as her father was, but a great warrior. He had proven his merit during the Battle of the Tree of Souls, rescuing the warriors under his command from certain death at the hands of a Sky People infantry unit. Such heroism, combined with a ringing endorsement from such important figures as Mo'at and Normspellman, had virtually guaranteed his ascension. He was a kind being, and smiled as he answered, "I see you. Come, tell me, Neytiri, what have you learned?"
"Much, Chieftain. Our friends make more progress every day. They say that their efforts will come to fruition, by the grace of Eywa." The human encampment had long since been opened to the Na'vi, and was now operating under new management: the humans who had tossed their lot in with the Na'vi. The People were being taught to understand Sky People ideas and tactics, in order to better combat them upon their return. Such an endeavor was necessary, although the Na'vi still refused to learn how to operate human contraptions.
Neytiri had been dispatched to check up on the training The People were receiving, under the guidance of elders and humans alike. Just another odd mission that needed doing, and she was the hunter for the job. These were turbulent times for the Na'vi, their world changing every day. The threat of Sky People invaders loomed over them, and they had to ready themselves. Without a clear place in The People now, she continued to serve as a hunter, doing anything that was required of her.
"That is good," noted Esa'Kal. His pointed ears expressively perked up to signify his satisfaction. "You have done well. You have my thanks, Neytiri. May the All Mother guide you."
"And you as well, Chieftain." She turned away, and made for a bonfire, where she was handed a share of the kill. She settled down to eat, and had just finished consuming her meal when a familiar hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to see Jakesully, standing behind her, a smile on his face.
"Jake!" She rose, embracing her mate.
He returned to gesture, whispering, "I see you," into her ear. She replied in kind. It was a joy to see him again, the only human she had ever known truly, and the only being to ever win her heart. Well, not a human anymore. Jake had made the ultimate sacrifice: he'd given up his human identity, forgone his body, and become one of The People. And all of it for her. She couldn't begin to describe how that made her feel. Eywa had been right in choosing him.
His yellow-green eyes gazed lovingly at her own, and her hand gently caressed his face. Here he was again, back from another of his missions, no doubt. Jakesully had long since become a legendary figure among The People, a great leader. Many had speculated that he should have become the next chief, but Jake had felt it too great a responsibility. He preferred to serve, as a warrior of the Na'vi.
"Where have you been, Jake? It has been many days." She smiled, and it was beautiful in a dangerous way. Her sharp incisors gleamed white, and it took Jake a moment to remember he had equally fearsome teeth as well. It was an extraordinary thing, to change species, and he figured he'd never become fully accustomed to it. While in an Avatar body, he could always awake and become himself. Now, his own body was an Avatar. And what surprised him even more was that he liked it. It felt liberating to be free of the prison of his wheelchair and his species, since he had long since learned to be ashamed of his human heritage. All humans did was burn.
"And I have thought of you the whole while, Neytiri." She smiled wider, her eyes alight with adoration, and held him closer. Jake went on. "I've been meeting with the other tribes. They haven't forgotten Toruk Makto. Our chief has asked that I help to unite them." Of course, such a thing made sense. No Na'vi warrior had been successful in making the bond with a Toruk in four generations, until Jakesully conquered one. That feat alone had earned him eternal fame among The People. His influence had united them once before against the evil of the Sky People. It was wise of Esa'Kal to understand it could do so again.
She shook her head. "Leave the work to others, now. I have missed you greatly." She tenderly brushed a strand of his hair out of his face, then drew away, gesturing for him to sit with her.
Jake frowned. "I can't stay. I have to have a word with Norm. I'll be leaving in a weeks' time."
Her expression grew sullen, but it was better than she could have hoped. Ever since Jake had become one of The People, his fame had kept him away from her for months on end. Still, now they could catch up on all that lost time. Perhaps they would travel through the woods together, as they once had. Or fly among the Hallelujah Mountains upon their Ikran, which Jake insisted on calling Banshees.
Yes, she would love to spend time with her mate. If not now, when?
"Go then." She spared him a parting kiss. "I will await you at our hammock tonight. Be swift, Jake."
Jake embraced her quickly, then left, making for the walkway that would lead him to the link station. That would be where Normspellman would wait. Human scientists were such confusing creatures. That was why Neytiri preferred their warriors.
Well, one specific warrior.
She watched him go with a fondness in her eye, then, when he was out of sight, rose and made for their hammock. It had been a long day. It would be nice to unwind.