Pandora: A Different Time
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the terms and subjects in the Avatar world, all rights go to James Cameron (The Genius). This is my first Fanfiction ever so bear with me. A big shout out to Kateofallpeople for helping me with the grammer, spelling and random sentences I couldn't find homes for :D
Italicised words indicate characters speaking in Na'vi or onomatopoeia,
Full list of Na'vi translations at the end.
Chapter Three
Anna freefell, grabbing hold of anything to slow her fall. Branches and leaves cut her fingers as she tried to find purchase. With a crash she landed onto a soft cushiony plant, and looked up dazedly, realising that they hadn't been as far up as she had initially thought. The thundering of hooves jarred her from her brief reprieve. Craning her neck she saw numerous riders on direhorses, equine six legged beasts with two thin antennae, one of which was attached to the warrior's queue. The Na'vi term was tsahaylu, a neurological link between rider and steed.
Anna didn't have time to marvel at the majesty of the being before her. Still in a daze she felt herself being pulled roughly from the patch she had found remarkably comfortable. The Na'vi spoke quickly in their language, to the point where she couldn't understand anything they were saying.
"I want her head." Said the deep female voice, Anna lifted her head to find a beautiful woman walking towards her, her hair was intricately decorated with feathers and beads that kissed the small of her back. She was obviously a well respected warrior as her clansmen followed her orders throwing Anna to the woman's feet. Anna stumbled, her feet still bound. She quickly used her free hands to brace herself as she fell.
Crying out, she felt her hair being pulled from the scalp as she came face to face with warrior. Hawking, the female spat in her face, backhanding her sharply across the face.
"What are you doing here demon?" She asked in Na'vi. Anna trembled, not with fear but with anger as the spittle ran down her cheek.
"Beyral release her." Ngay'swizav said landing in the clearing. The warriors shifted uncomfortably now that their orders had been questioned. For a moment Anna thought the woman would ignore him but instead she was thrown into the hostile arms of two warriors. One smiled at her encouragingly and Anna smiled back, briefly flinching as a cold, sharp blade was pressed behind and against her queue.
Stumbling she was forced forward at a tiring run, biting on the inside of her cheek as she stubbed her toe.
"Stupid demon can't walk straight." The warrior holding her said, forcibly pushing her.
Up ahead a large tree loomed with towering pillar like roots. All around her was the sight and sound of a tribe in full activity. Groups of Na'vi sat by a fire pit singing, while mothers nursed their babies and watched their children with a keen maternal glare. Hunters were comparing bows and reminiscing about past hunting trips, stopping as soon as they saw the returning warriors.
The excited babble turned into hostile whispers and blatant stares. Anna swore as her legs buckled beneath her, only the force of the hunter's grip on her queue kept her knees from hitting the firm ground. Then there was a hush as a tall regal man walked from the spiralling network within the tree.
"Kelutral." Anna whispered, Hometree, home to the Omatikaya, the tribe of Na'vi living near Hell's Gate. The man stepped into the light, an extravagant headdress adoring his greying hair. His face was weathered with age and wisdom, and he wore a chest mantle of thanator claws.
"'Itan." The man said and Ngay'swizav walked towards the man.
"Oel ngati kameie." Ngay'swizav said to the man with who was obviously his father. Ngay'swizav touched his forehead in greeting. Realisation dawned on Anna as she realised who she was facing. It was the chief of the Omatikaya the Olo'eyktan.
"What is this dreamwalker doing here, her stench burns my nose." The Olo'eyktan said. Anna blushed perhaps he didn't realise she understood or maybe he did and just didn't care.
"Why have you brought her here?"
"I was going to kill her, but there was a sign from Eywa. Atrokirina surrounded her, twice." Ngay'swizav said for emphasise. Anna wasn't entirely surprised that Ngay'swizav had tried to kill her, he hadn't exactly waved welcome banners when they first met.
"Dreamwalker!" An authoritative female voice rang, hushing everyone in an instant. An older woman walked down the spiral with red and crimson neck wear that screamed power. It was theTsahik, she was the matriarch of the clan and spiritual leader.
"Mother." Ngay'swizav greeted her. The Tsahik circled Anna lifting her tail and sniffing her queue, once she faced Anna again she pulled a needle like object from a holder around her neck and swiftly pierced Anna, drawing blood from her chest. The Tsahik then ran the end of the needle against her tongue.
"What is your name?" She asked in English. Slightly taken a back, Anna answered.
"And yours?" Anna asked wishing she had bitten her tongue when gasps of shock filled the air, the grip on her queue tightening.
"I like her spirit." The Tsahik laughed causing the other Na'vi to laugh nervously.
"I am Mo'at, the Olo'eyktan is Eytukan." Mo'at shooed the warrior who held Anna, who released her reluctantly.
"You wish to be Na'vi?" Mo'at asked though her eyes showed that she already knew the answer to that question.
"Oh yes." Anna whispered. She would love to understand these people, be a part of them if they would let her. After a while Mo'at nodded as if satisfied.
"Ngay'swizav you will teach her." Mo'at said dismissively walking back up the spiral.
"What, but mother I…" Ngay'swizav gave Anna a scornful glatr which she returned with a wide grin. He looked baffled and Anna could tell that he thought she had lost a few marbles. Maybe she had, after all instead of getting back to the base, she was planning on being part of an alien clan. No, not alien but Na'vi, a race of peaceful beings that she felt akin to.
"Cheer up, if she fails I will kill her for you." Anna shuddered as she heard Beyral's whispered threat, it only angered her further when Ngay'swizav laughed and nodded.
Anna's stomach rumbled as she waited for Ngay'swizav. The other Na'vi had quickly lost interest in her and were congregating before a large fire pit where the scent of meat permeated through the air.
"Come." Ngay'swizav snapped pulling Anna into a small alcove. Anna hated dark new places but if she showed weakness now she would never be accepted so she followed, allowing him to pull her into the unknown.
---
Ngay'swizav used his dagger to pick out the dirt from his nails. Anna was taking time putting on the clothes he had borrowed from Neytiri's trunk of clothes. It pained him to give the demon something so precious to him but no other Na'vi was willing to lend any of their clothes to the dreamwalker. The netting made from intricate vines was pulled back as Anna stumbled onto the landing of a large branch, many of which connected the alcoves of Hometree to the sleeping quarters.
Ngay'swizav stilled as he saw her fidget with the beads which clung to her breast like a second skin. The material tied at her hips showed the underside of globed buttocks and once again Ngay'swizav felt himself hardening at the sight of her. If she had been beautiful in the Tawtute clothing she looked even more stunning in the clothes of his people.
"This is really pretty, thank you." Ngay'swizav was left breathless as her mutated hand stroked the material, tugging at the hem of the loincloth.
Grunting, Ngay'swizav walked briskly down the trunk to where the Omatikaya sat, digging into the hunt he and his party had found. Behind him he could here Anna bumbling and apologising as she weaved through the throng of seated people. Turning, he watched in horror as she fell into the lap of Tsu'tey his best friend and the best hunter second to him.
The people stopped talking, watching with the same looks of shock as Anna laughed, scrambling from the surprised warriors lap.
"Tsap'alute." Anna apologised,squealing when Ngay'swizav roughly pushed her to the ground. Before joining her, he noticed his friends eyes grow heavy with lust as he drank his fill of Anna. Ngay'swizav bared a fang in a secret warning but Tsu'tey just winked disregarding him completely.
"I didn't mean it." Anna said, as if she could read his thoughts. Ngay'swizav growled passing her bowl of Teylu. He didn't tell her what they were just in case she offended everyone by spitting them out, just like other dreamwalkers she ate with gusto, clearing the bowl and offering it to him in a gesture of 'more please'.
"Do you know what you eat?" Ngay'swizav hadn't even realised Beyral sitting on the other side of Anna which was strange since he normally always noticed her.
"Larvae, ooh and they are so tasty." Anna replied spooning more into her stomach.
"Do you think her stomach is bottomless?" Beyral asked grudgingly.
"Most definitely." Ngay'swizav replied in stupefied wonder as Anna ate another bowl.
That night they crawled into their hammocks, touch sensitive casings that enclosed individual Na'vi. Ngay'swizav watched as Anna clumsily hung from the tree, her toes touching the material before recoiling as it swung uncontrollably. Ngay'swizav grumbled climbing onto the branch. Without a word he picked her in his arms and climbed into the hammock waiting for it to stop swinging. He lay there for a while as the hammock came to a stop.
"Simple." He said looking down at Anna, but her eyes were shut and her breathing even.
She had fallen asleep. Hiding a smile he held her for a while, a part of him unable to let her go. It was only from the sound of movement from the next hammock did he pry her from his arms touching the edge of the hammock, watching as it curled over her sleeping form. Tomorrow he would collect those illicit thoughts and ram them into the same corner where he kept the memory of Neytiri's death.
When Anna woke up it was to find the door of the steel link unit opening, a frazzled Norman pulling her out with seeking hands. Anna felt slightly disorientated as he began rocking her to and fro whispering calming words into her ear.
"Let the girl breath Norman." Grace chided peeling the frantic man away from her. Anna smiled appreciatively, not wanting to hurt Norman's feeling by pushing him away. Her body felt slow and lethargic, Grace said it was due to high levels of activity. Anna didn't doubt her for a minute and she almost asked if it had all been a dream, but Norman wasn't usually this melodramatic.
"Here take this." Grace said, pushing a Styrofoam cup into her hand. The liquid was brown and smelt potent but Anna downed it anyway, spluttering as it left a trail of heat down her throat and into her stomach.
"What happened to you?" Norman asked still visibly shaken. Anna cradled his hands in hers and kissed them gently attempting to soothe him, which it did. Anna took a deep breath then began retelling her story, she omitted certain details like the near death experience with the viperwolves and the attraction she felt towards Ngay'swizav.
"Ngay'swizav, my best student." Grace said reminiscently. Anna arched her brow in a silent question but didn't push the woman. Though they were close Anna could tell Grace kept parts of herself shut and hidden away. Anna could respect that, there were things in her life that no one knew about, well except for Norman. Turning to her lifelong friend Anna ran her fingers through his hair.
"I like it like this." She said, before jumping off the side of the link unit. Norman reached out for her as if she were about to fall but she dance out of his reach.
"Have to inform papa bear that everything is ok." Anna said, leaving for the bunker where she knew her father would be.
---
She found him in a MK-6 Ampsuit, a human operated machine that reacted to the motor functions of the driver. It was 4 feet taller than the Na'vi, fitted out with a large knife that could slice any organic material in two. Anna shuddered at the thought of her father using it, let alone on the Na'vi but it wasn't her place to say anything. She was lucky he had managed to get her an Avatar, there was no way she could interfere with his 'business'.
"Anna Marie." The voice boomed from the Ampsuit's fitted mike. Anna waved, stepping back as the protective glass opened. As soon as he was out of the suit she ran into his arms and hugged him.
"How was your time in the jungle? Spellman told me you were so exhausted you went straight to bed." He said. Anna gave a silent 'thank you' to Norman for covering for her.
"It was great, there was so much to see…" Anna could tell she had lost her father's interest, his eyes went dull and he had a wavering smile on his face.
"That's great sweety." He said releasing her. Anna smiled then left the bunker quickly. To her father this mission was about killing and destroying, still stuck in his touring days.
But Pandora was so much more than that. If her training went well and the Omatikaya trusted her then perhaps she could help them in some way.
Eager to get back to the link room Anna dashed to the staff bathroom since it was closer. Running the shower she revelled in the heat of the water cascading down her body. Picking a sliver of soap blindly, she began to lather, washing away the sweat accumulated in the unit.
"Anna." Anna froze at the familiar male voice and her blood ran cold. Parker Selfridge pulled back the shower curtain abruptly sending a shaft of air that chilled her to the bone. The attractive but dishonest man stood back, his eyes drinking in her naked body. Anna shuddered as she saw his pants tighten, his slimy tongue licking his lips.
Anna cursed herself for believing Selfridge was anything but mean. When she had first arrived at Hell's Gate he had been as exotic as Pandora, a funny and outgoing man. That all changed as soon as she reciprocated his advances and she promised herself that she would never let her guard down around him.
"Get out." Anna hissed trying her best to cover her naked body from his perverted gaze.
"Or what?" He asked slapping at her hands. Anna screamed at the top of her voice.
"Someone, Dad! Norm!" She yelled, ducking as Selfridge tried to catch her in his arms. Swiping her towel she wrapped it around her and ran out of the room.
Selfridge slammed his fist against the tiled wall, swearing as blood trickled through the cracks and was washed away by the shower head.
"No one walks away from me." He growled, storming out of the bathroom, roaring at a scientist needing to use the toilet.
All comments are gladly welcomed, be they good, bad, or dont right ugly.
Aslo, sorry for the late chapter, things have been slightly hectic of late, I promise to get these out sooner.
Na'vi translation.
Tsahaylu-bond (neural connection)
Kelutral –Hometree
Omatikaya- Blue Flute Clan
Itan- Son
Oel ngati kameie- "I See You"
Olo'eyktan- Clan Leader
Tsahik- Matriarch and Spiritual leader
Tawtute- Sky People
Tsap'alute-Apology
Teylu- Beetle Larvae