Silent as ever the huntress leaned further into the branch, her sculpted cheekbone pressing against the rough bark. Narrowing her large, liquid molten eyes the huntress watched the dream walkers bellow closely, one of the young women catching her attention instantly.
"Marcus! Come on." Called one of the dream walkers, earning the attention of the woman.
Tilting her head the Na'vi watched 'Marcus', make her way towards the man, each movement precise and lethal, her grace animalistic. Large mismatched forest and caramel eyes clashing beautifully against her smooth cyan skin, bioluminescent white dots scattered across the surface.
"Skxawng!" Hissed Marcus as she finally stopped next to the male. "Fnu Jake!"
"What?" Questioned Jake, his eyes wide as Marcus spoke to him in Na'vi.
"Skxawng!" Marcus grunted. "Quiet! You're making too much noise! Like a fucking baby! Do you want to get eaten?"
"What do you keep calling me?!" Complained Jake, attempting to follow Marcus as she stepped quietly through the brush, her bare feet leaving barley any imprint in the dirt bellow.
"Moron." Marcus stated simply, throwing a muscled arm out to stop Jake, his eyes focusing on her hand, that was seemingly missing a finger compared to his. "You must learn to be quiet. We are not alone."
"What do you mean?" Questioned Jake, glancing towards the two other dream walkers and the Tawtute surrounding their machine. "Of course we're not alone. Grace and Norm are here. And so are Trudy and Wainfleet."
"No." Marcus laughed quietly, the action earning a frown from Jake. "The Na'rìng tìrey, Jake. The forest life. The plants and animals. We are not alone."
Staring blankly at Marcus, Jake turned, a large grin pulling onto his face at the sight of the orange spiraled plant, his hand reaching toward it, slapping down upon the surface.
Jumping back Jake watched as it disappeared into the ground.
"What is this stuff?" Jake asked quietly, stepping further into the flora, tapping at them randomly.
"Loreyu." Marcus answered. "It means beautiful spiral. They're part plant and part animal."
Grinning over his shoulder at the stunning woman Jake brought his hand down on another, his grin vanishing instantly as they all disappeared into the ground, revealing a small heard of Angtsìk.
Pawing the ground angrily the Angtsìk roared, his golden orange eyes fixed on the pair.
Raising his gun Jake readied himself.
"Skxawng!" Marcus rasped, knocking the gun from Jake's hands, hissing angrily at him, dim sunlight flashing off of her dangerously sharp teeth.
"Don't shoot!" Grace shouted, a little slow on the uptake. "It's armors to thick! You'll only piss it off."
"No shit." Mumbled Marcus.
"It's a territory threat display. Do not run or he'll charge!" Grace warned.
"What am I supposed to do? Dance with it!" Jake called back.
"Hold your ground!"
With another roar the Angtsìk thundered towards the pair, Jake sprinting towards it with a shout.
Halting immediately the Angtsìk turned and rushed back the way it came.
Turning slowly Marcus stared up at the large Palulukan towering above her, it's startling golden eyes fixed on a point some distance behind her.
"Ha, ha! Yeah, come on! What you got! Oh yeah, who's bad? That's right. Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about, bitch. That's right, get your punk ass back to mommy. Yeah? Yeah, you got nothin'. You keep runnin'. Why don't you bring some of your friends, huh?" Shouted Jake, still unaware of the threat.
"Fnu!" Hissed Marcus, her voice startling Jake into silence, the Palulukan's eyes snapping to her, teeth bared as an angry rumbling sounded from its chest.
"What about this one? Run? Don't run?" Jake asked quietly through the small mike he chose to wear.
"Run! Definitely run!"
Sprinting into the forest behind him Jake glanced over his shoulder watching as Marcus stood boldly in front of the towering black creature, her mismatched eyes narrowing slightly in concentration.
"Marcus!" shouted Jake, hoping to shatter her concentration. "Run!"
"TulAyashatul!" Grace cried.
Snapping from her reviver Marcus sprinted towards Jake, grabbing his hand, pulling him along, his footsteps as loud as the Palulukan's, her as quiet as a breeze through the tree's.
A deep threatening roar sounded through the Na'rìng, earning a small yell from Jake as the Palulukan yanked his hand from Marcus's, shaking him back and forth by the backpack cinched tightly on his back.
Panicking Jake clicked the buckle keeping him to the bag, slipping easily through with the next change of direction.
Pulling him along again Marcus rushed towards the edge of the cliff, throwing Jake over the edge watching as he plunged into the icy depths bellow.
Turning to face the large Palulukan that had just burst through the brush, it's large eyes fixed upon Marcus's stiff form.
"Mawey 'eveng. Mawey." Soothed Marcus stepping closer to the unmoving beast, reaching out a hesitant hand to rest it against the smooth leathery skin of the Palulukan.
Breathing a small sigh of relief Marcus stepped closer, reaching behind her for the braid that reached her lower back, separating it from the others that lay at the supple yet alluring curve of her hip.
Glancing slowly at the Palulukan Marcus reached for the antennae, holding her braid close, watching with interest as the shimmering pink strands intertwined, throwing her into the calm yet volatile mind of the Palulukan as the Tsaheylu formed.
"Mawey." Marcus whispered rubbing at the Palulukan affectionately.
Pulling herself onto the back Marcus adjust herself until she was comfortable, grasping tightly at the bone protruding from beneath the quills.
"Käì Kiyeri." Marcus thought, Kiyeri responding instantly. "Nìwin. Ayoeng zene ne Jake."
Leaning further down upon the back of Kiyeri, Marcus watched the world speed past, the waterfall Jake had fallen by falling further behind as they searched for a way down.
Glancing up at the sky Marcus watched the sky fall dark, the sun sinking bellow the horizon.
"Ftang!" Marcus hissed both in her mind and into the night, Kiyeri stopping abruptly.
Through the Na'rìng Marcus could hear the cackling laughter of nantang, followed closely by cursing and a fire lighting up the darkness.
"Skxawng!"Marcus hissed, tossing herself from Kiyeri, breaking Tsaheylu along the way.
Bursting into the clearing Marcus watched as Jake began attacking the nantang, attempting to keep them from his back.
Rushing forwards Marcus knocked them off as they pulled Jake to the ground. Hissing angrily at them as they debated whether to attack of fall back.
Dropping from above the huntress landed almost silently next to Marcus, hissing angrily at the nantang, straightening as they rushed into the darkness.
"Hey why'd you throw me off a cliff?" Jake complained loudly as he realized that Marcus was there.
"Fnu!" Marcus snapped angrily punching Jake in the stomach, a whoosh of wind escaping from his parted lips.
Turning her attention on the native woman Marcus watched closely, ears rising to pick up the whispered words.
"Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmukan, ulte ngaru seiyi irayo. Ngari hu Eywa salew tirea, tokx 'ì'awn slu Na'viyä hapxì."
"Look, I know you probably don't understand this..." Jake began. "Thank you. That was pretty impressive. I would have been screwed if you hadn't come along."
Growing agitated Marcus picked up the torch, tossing it into a nearby stream, watching in amazement as the forest lit up around them.
Ignoring him the woman stood, heading towards a branch, easily seen by the now lit forest.
"Hey, wait a second! Where are you goin'? Wait up! Just, hey, slow down! I just wanted to say thanks for killin' those things..." Jake chased after the woman, grasping her arm.
Whipping around the woman smacked Jake across the chest with her bow sending him to the floor.
"Ah, damn." Jake mumbled.
"Don't thank. You don't thank for this! This is sad. Very sad only." Snapped the woman, her silky voice coated heavily with an accent.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry." Jake whispered.
"All this is your fault. They did not need to die." The woman stated sadly.
"My fault? They attacked me! How am I the bad guy?" Complained Jake.
"Your fault! Your fault!" She shouted, pointing her bow at Jake.
"Easy. Easy..." Jake cautioned.
"Skxawng!"Hissed Marcus, stepping towards the pair, catching the attention of the woman. "You are like a baby! Making all this noise!"
"You don't know what to do." The woman added.
"Easy. Shh. Fine. Fine. If you loved your little forest friends... why not let them kill my ass? What's the thinking?" Jake grunted.
"Why save you?" Questioned the woman appalled.
"Yeah. Yeah, why save me?"
"You have a strong heart. No fear. But stupid! Ignorant like a child!"
"Well, if I'm like a child, then look, maybe you should teach me. " Jake grinned.
"Sky People cannot learn, you do not See." The woman replied as if rehearsed.
"Then teach me how to see."
"No one can teach you to see. Skxawng." Marcus interrupted, following gracefully after the woman.
"Shut up Marcus." Jake hissed, turning his attention back to the woman. "C'mon. Can't we talk? Say, where did you learn to speak English? Dr. Augustine?"
Attempting to follow the woman Jake slipped, barley caught by the woman.
"Skxawng. You're like a baby!"Hissed Marcus, helping steady him.
"I need your help." Jake told the woman, ignoring Marcus.
"You should not be here."
"Okay take me with you."
"Kehe! Go back!" Shoving Jake back the woman stepped closer to him, eyes falling on Marcus who gazed up into the darkness with wonder.
"Atokirina'."Marcus mumbled quietly, reaching out a slender hand towards the sacred seed, watching as it landed silently, caressing the slightly calloused skin of her palm.
Slapping at one Jake flinched slightly as the woman grasped his hand, halting his movements.
"W-what are they?" Jake asked.
"Seeds of the sacred tree." Whispered the woman.
"Very pure spirits." Marcus stated quietly, watching them float away peacefully into the darkness.
***I have posted pictures of what Marcus looks like, and of some of her outfits. The link is in my profile.***
