Chapter 3
The next day Peyral took Jake into the forest, just as Neytiri had done. She asked him if Neytiri had taught him how to track. Jake admitted that he still sometimes missed clues but Peyral was unfazed by that.
"I may be the best female hunter in the clan," she said, "But I wasn't always the best; I used to have trouble with tracking. Eventually I mastered it though."
"Good for you," Jake said and followed her through the forest. Peyral appeared to be more cheerful than Neytiri but, although Jake liked her, he was slightly disapproving of her vanity. She boasted about her abilities but nevertheless she was friendly towards him.
Jake eventually realised that Peyral was leading him through the part of the forest where the Thanator had been yesterday. They made their way to the place where Jake and Neytiri had fought the Thanator. The large beast's corpse was still there but parts of it had been stripped away.
"Palulukan do not come around here often," Peyral said looking at the Thanator, "This one may have been more adventurous than most. Usually they prefer to remain in a single area. They are territorial creatures and there is usually only one family of Palulukan in a single area."
"What was eating it do you think?" Jake asked. Peyral briefly examined the flesh that had been stripped away.
"Nantang," she said, "Palulukans armour is hard but Nantang can eat through almost any kind of flesh." Jake grimaced remembering the Viperwolves that had attacked him when he met Neytiri.
"I'm glad they didn't eat into my flesh," he muttered.
"Me too," said Peyral then blushed slightly before changing the subject, "Na'vi cannot eat Palulukan so if we are going to take any food back to Hometree we will have to look for something else. Come." She strode into the forest and Jake followed looking back at the dead Thanator.
Then Peyral stopped and knelt beckoning to Jake who crouched beside her. Jake saw a Hexapede through the bushes and remembered the one that had fled during his first hunting lesson with Neytiri.
"I did not bring you here just to stare at a dead Palulukan," Peyral whispered fitting an arrow into her bow. Jake was careful not to nudge anything as she took aim. Peyral fired the arrow straight into the Hexapede's side before the Hexapede even knew she was there. She leapt out of the bushes and darted over to the dying animal with Jake behind her. Peyral drew her knife and spoke over the dying animal, then stabbed it in the heart and looked up at Jake.
"That is how you make a clean kill," she said, "Usually a Yerik is the creature a Na'vi must hunt before taming an Ikran. Sometimes it is other creatures but the Yerik is the main one."
"So if I shoot one of those I'll be allowed to try and tame an Ikran?" Jake said.
"If you make a clean kill," Peyral said, "But you are not yet ready for that test; Neytiri will tell you when you are."
When they returned to Hometree they discovered that Tsu'tey had killed a Sturmbeest and, with the help of several hunters, had brought the massive bull back to Hometree. Peyral took Jake to see how Na'vi prepared their food. Though her kill was not as impressive as Tsu'tey's it was enough to become part of the feast they had that evening. Jake was really growing to like Na'vi food and he ate greedily, as did everyone else. Jake was slightly disappointed to see that Neytiri had not joined them; she must have still been recovering from the injuries the Thanator had caused. Peyral sat beside him, giving him food the way Neytiri usually did.
"What do you think?" she asked quietly.
"Delicious," Jake said grinning, "But I think my human form would choke on it; everything tastes different when I'm in this body."
"Are you insulting our food?" snarled Tsu'tey.
"No," Jake said, "Sky People just aren't able to eat your food, or at least not easily. It's a biological thing; my brother would understand it better than I do."
"You have a brother?" said Peyral.
"I used to," Jake muttered, "He's dead now." Peyral squeezed his hand comfortingly.
"I am going to check on Neytiri," said Tsu'tey and got up and left.
"What happened to your brother?" Peyral asked quietly. Jake glanced at her then looked away.
"I don't want to talk about it," he muttered.
"In my experience talking about a problem makes it better," Peyral said.
"And in my experience I don't talk about personal things with someone I barely know," Jake snapped. Peyral looked hurt at that, "Sorry," Jake muttered, "It's just, it's a personal thing and I'm not in the mood to discuss it." Peyral's expression softened.
"That is fine," she said and held out a peice of Hexapede meat. Jake took it.
"You know," he said, "Personally I think Hexa- I mean Yerik meat tastes better than Talioang meat." Peyral beamed.
"So you think I made a better kill than Tsu'tey?" she said.
"A better tasting kill," Jake said, "But don't let it go to your head Peyral."
"Go to my head?" Peyral said confused.
"It means don't get conceited about your kill," Jake said.
"Are you saying I'm conceited?" said Peyral.
"Well I don't know you very well," Jake said, "But you do seem to have a habit of bragging. No offence." Peyral appeared to have taken some offence but she shrugged it off.
"I am usually successful in my hunts," she said, "It is alright to have some pride in my accomplishments isn't it?"
"Yeah of course it is," Jake assured her, "Just don't get too vain about it. Don't keep bragging. I have pride - and shame - in some of the things I've done but I don't show off about it."
"I feel like a scolded child," Peyral said and she was looking like one too. Jake grinned.
"Welcome to my world," he said, "Neytiri treats me like a child all the time."
Until now Jake had reported loyally to Quaritch and Selfridge but after saving Neytiri, earning the respect of Mo'at and Eytukan and befriending Peyral, he was beginning to become less interested in his mission and more interested in the Omaticaya. He went to bed that night and decided not to bother reporting to Quaritch and Selfridge; there wasn't really anything to report anyway. He noticed that Neytiri wasn't in her hammock and wondered where she was as he went to sleep.
When Jake returned to his Avatar the next day, he was alone. He went down to breakfast and found Neytiri coming up for him. They met near the bottom. She stopped when she saw him looking unusually shy. She looked a bit bruised but otherwise alright.
"Hi," Jake said, "Glad to see you're alright." Neytiri smiled slightly awkwardly.
"I was coming up to say thank you," she mumbled, "Mother told me what happened while I was unconscious. You saved my life."
"I was happy to help," Jake said, "I like you Neytiri, even though you slap me around the head and insult me. I couldn't just let you get ripped apart."
"You could have been killed but you killed it to save me," Neytiri said, "I was thinking...perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you can become one of the People."
"Does that mean you think I can tame an Ikran?" asked Jake.
"Not yet," Neytiri said, "But with time, maybe you could. I am grateful and proud to be your teacher...Jake." Jake grinned; it was the first time she had called him Jake instead of Jakesully. Somehow that single syllable made him feel closer to Neytiri.
"So you're saying that you like me?" he said.
"Yes," Neytiri admitted then grinned, "But I still think you're a skxawng." Jake chuckled as he followed her down to breakfast.
Neytiri taught him with greater enthusiasm and finally started to open up her warmer and more playful side. The swats she used to give him were now simply friendly slaps and skxawng became playful teasing rather than an insult. Jake liked her more than ever now that she was treating him in a warmer and more friendly manner.
"Your archery is doing well," she commented two days later as Jake hit the middle of the target. Neytiri didn't mind lending her bow to him anymore but preferred it if he brought one of his own. However the bow wasn't Jake's; it belonged to an elderly woman who was too weak to hunt anymore.
"Well you're the best archer I've ever seen rivalled only by Peyral and Tsu'tey," Jake said.
"That is kind of you," Neytiri said, "But I am afraid I will not be kind because we are going to have another language lesson."
"That's a funny way of saying thank you," Jake said sarcastically but smiled as Neytiri led him out of the archery area.
After their language lesson, Neytiri led Jake on a quick hunt before dinner. Their language lesson had been an unusually long one and by the end of it both of them were getting bored so Neytiri decided to take Jake on a short hunt before they returned to Hometree.
"Nantang are nearby," she said then examined a footprint which was smaller than most Viperwolf prints, "And it has cubs with it. Come I will show you Nantang cubs."
"I think I had enough to do with Nantang when I first met you," Jake said but followed her even so. In the bushes they found a mother licking three tiny Viperwolf cubs. Neytiri smiled as she watched them.
"I always like looking at babies," she said, "It gives me pleasure to see new life."
"Do you watch people give birth?" asked Jake.
"Usually," Neytiri says, "It is part of my Tsahik training." She looked at the sky, "The sun is setting. We should go back." Jake gestured courteously.
"Ladies first," he said.
One day, about three weeks after Jake killed the Thanator, he and Neytiri were heading down to breakfast when they heard an excited chatter among the Na'vi. Mo'at came over to them and spoke to Neytiri in Na'vi. Jake asked what was going on.
"Ni'nat is going to sing a song this evening," Neytiri said, "she is our best singer.
"Is this a special occasion?" asked Jake. Neytiri nodded.
"It is the day my father became Olo'eyktan," she said with a smile, "Ni'nat always sings on days where mother became Tsahik and father became Olo'eyktan."
"How do you know it's the right day?" said Jake, "You don't have any calendars."
"Olo'eyktan always remember the day they earned their title," Neytiri said as they sat down to eat. "Tsahik too; Eywa tells them."
"What do you mean she tells them?" said Jake.
"I mean she tells them," Neytiri said, "I have told you again and again that Eywa is part of us. Mother and father know when they became Tsahik and Olo'eyktan because of the part of Eywa inside them." Jake had never been a spiritual man but the Omaticaya, and as far as Grace, who was probably the most knowledgeable Human on Pandora, knew, all Na'vi believed in Eywa. Jake wasn't entirely sure whether to believe in her or not, but Neytiri was certain that she existed.
"So what's the song?" asked Jake.
"I can teach it to you," Neytiri said. "Come." Jake jumped to his feet and followed Neytiri through the crowd. He never stood on tails as he had when he first arrived. "I can teach you Ni'nat's song so you understand it this evening," Neytiri said then looked at Jake with a mischievous smile, "but that means we have to have another language lesson." Jake groaned good naturedly.
Neytiri spent most of the morning teaching Jake Ni'nat's song. Jake was unable to remember every word, especially since they were in Na'vi instead of English but he got the basic idea which he decided was good enough.
"Okay can we go for a run now?" he said. Neytiri jumped to her feet and Jake did the same. Then they sprinted into the trees. As usual Neytiri pulled ahead but Jake kept going after her darting between the trees as he tried to keep up. They ran along the branches of a tree and then Neytiri slowed down and stopped near the edge of the branch.
"Stop," she commanded and he skidded to a halt behind her. "Now I teach you how to soften your landing in long fall," Neytiri announced. Jake looked over the edge.
"You're not gonna jump off there are you?" he said. In answer Neytiri charged to the end of the branch and leapt off it without a moment's hesitation, "I'll take that as a yes," Jake muttered watching as she landed on giant leaves which slowed her fall. When Neytiri landed on the forest floor Jake could barely see her. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me," he said before throwing himself off the branch. He was nowhere near as graceful as Neytiri had been but he made it down, landing hard but alive.
"Are you alright?" asked Neytiri as he picked up his fallen bow. Jake grinned at her.
"Never better," he said, "Let's do it again!" Neytiri laughed at his childlike enthusiasm.
"Alright," she said, "This time try to land on leaves not in vines."
Jake had to practice the fall three times before he got it right and a fourth time to make sure it wasn't a fluke. He took pleasure in the thrill of the fall, and wasn't worried about breaking anything; Na'vi bones were stronger than Human bones. However he was a bit bruised by the time they finished. Neytiri smiled as he landed on his feet, stumbled then straightened up.
"Almost perfect," she said, "Close enough for me to be happy."
"So what now?" asked Jake.
"We go back to Hometree and listen to Ni'nat's song," Neytiri said then looked at him for a moment, "Do you have good sense of direction?"
"Not bad," Jake said, "Not great but not bad."
"I want you to see if you can lead me back to Hometree," Neytiri said, "If you wish to be one of us you need to know the forest and not just follow me all the time." Jake nodded and, for the first time since he met her, took the lead. He led Neytiri through the trees in what he thought was the right direction. For a couple of minutes he did well but then Neytiri pointed out that they were going in the wrong direction.
"This way Jake," Neytiri said pointing left. Jake changed direction and went left. His "not great but not bad" sense of direction got them back to Hometree but not without three or four wrong turns.
"You need to work on it Jake," Neytiri said when they got back to Hometree. Jake shrugged.
"Hey I got us back didn't I?" he said.
"Only because I know the way," Neytiri said, "You're almost as clueless as you were when I first saw you wandering through forest." Then for some reason her teasing expression changed to embarrassment and shame about something.
"What's wrong?" Jake said.
"I just reminded myself that...I almost shot you when I first saw you," Neytiri said looking guilty.
"You did?" Jake said caught off guard.
"I followed you," Neytiri said, "and it was only because of Eywa's intervention that I did not shoot you. I thought that...I worried that you meant harm to the clan like so many other Sky People." Jake gave her an alarmed and slightly wary look.
"You tried to kill me," he said.
"That was before I realised that you are not like other Sky People," Neytiri said and Jake noticed there was a hint of a plea in her voice, "I do not know you very well but one thing I do know is that you are different from other Sky People; you proved that when you saved me from the Palulukan. I do not think there are many Sky People who would risk their lives to save a Na'vi." Jake looked at her for a moment.
"Well I guess that I'm just lucky that Eywa intervened when she did," he said finally and shrugged, "Besides you've made up for that by saving me from the Nantang and stopping Tsu'tey's hunting party from shooting me."
"You are not angry?" asked Neytiri hopefully.
"Nah," Jake said, "Just an unpleasant shock. But don't worry; I've dealt with plenty of unpleasant shocks in my time. I don't feel resentful towards you, Neytiri." He was speaking truthfully. The shock was unpleasant but Neytiri was obviously feeling guilty about nearly shooting him so he forgave her for it. Neytiri looked relieved.
"So we can continue being friends?" she said. Jake grinned at her.
"Of course," he said then hesitated. True friends didn't keep secrets from each other. He might have blurted out then and there that he was a spy but Peyral's voice stopped him.
"Neytiri, Jake," Peyral said. "Ni'nat is preparing for her song." Neytiri grabbed Jake's hand and pulled him into the crowd. A raised part of the ground served as a stage where the same beautiful Na'vi woman Jake had seen weaving on his first day in the clan stood. She was perhaps a couple of years older than Neytiri and the only Na'vi Jake had seen who rivalled her beauty.
Ni'nat sang and Jake tried to remember the words Neytiri had taught him but they got jumbled up in his brain and whenever he remembered a word, Ni'nat was saying a different word. In the end he gave up trying to remember the words and just listened. Ni'nat was a very good singer and Jake noticed that many males were watching her with lust in their eyes. Jake liked the song and he liked Ni'nat but he wasn't gawping at her like an idiot. For once he wasn't being the moron here. Neytiri listened with a smile and then caught Jake's eye. Jake smiled to show he was enjoying the song.
When she finished Ni'nat bowed her head and the clan burst into applause. Jake clapped along with them but he was not cheering in the same maniacal way that most males were yelling. Ni'nat was beautiful and an excellent singer but Jake already had his eye on the only woman in the clan who rivalled Ni'nat's beauty.