One month later.
Claire ran hurriedly through the trees and ducked into some tall grass smiling. She exhaled excited until a group of younger kids came into view. She ducked lower in the grass and shut her mouth tightly. She yelped aloud excitedly as hands grabbed her from behind. She turned around and smiled pleasantly at two other kids beamed up at her and she laughed, "You two are so good at this game!"
They giggled at her, "It's the only game from the Sky People that Mo'at and Eytukan will allow us to play. We love it."
Claire smoother the girls hair, "Well, it is one of the least violent games." She looked over as Ninat rode up to them. She nodded to her friend, "I see you." She suggested, "Why don't we get Ninat to play with us? She can look for us!"
The kids looked eagerly at the singer, "Yeah! Play with us, Ninat!"
She glared briefly at Claire who shrugged, "Okay! One game though. Claire still needs to tell me some of her favorite songs."
Claire nods, "Even though I realized that our best singers couldn't compare with even the worst Na'vi singer." She began to declare the game started when she heard a motor approaching them. She grew worried, "Ninat, do you hear that?"
She turned with concern, "Yes. What is it?"
Claire hurried to where she had placed her bow and picked it up hurriedly, "It sounds like a plane." She glanced over as the noise died down. She relaxed slightly but kept her bow at the ready, "Ninat, let's head back to Hometree. I can get the children home on Nathan. "
The singer nodded and gestured to the children, "Let's stay quiet and head home. The time for games is over."
The group started walking until Claire heard a branch snap somewhere in front of them. She put her hand out to stop the group. She looked over and grew alarmed when she saw the muzzle of a rifle peek out of some bushes pointed at Ninat and the children.
She whispered urgently, "Ninat, on the ground; all of you!" They ducked down quickly before a spray of gunfire riddled the ground around them. She hissed angrily at the air before sending a series of fierce screeching noises into the air. She smirked to herself as she heard Nathan give an answering bay of his own. She glanced toward the group to check on them and was satisfied that they were unharmed.
She gestured for Ninat to stay down and she crawled quickly toward a tree. She stood up and readied an arrow swiftly. She closed her eyes and listened to Nathan's cries for a few moments. She straightened quickly before coming out from her cover and sending the arrow sailing low through the jungle brush. She smirked proudly as a cry of pain echoed through the jungle. She shouldered her bow and sprinted through the forest. She drew her knife and leapt up to a man clutching the arrow in his shoulder. She bared her teeth angrily and brought the knife up menacingly. She hissed as she heard a gun safety click off and a woman warned firmly, "Drop the knife or you will force me to put one between your eyes."
Claire looked over sharply in defiance before she saw the woman. She tilted her head in disbelief and put on a demanding expression, "Are you the one who ordered this one to shoot at us?"
The woman's eyes flashed with recognition, but she quickly adopted a firm expression, "I am his superior, yes."
Claire pulled out the arrow roughly and pointed to the helicopter, "You will return to your steel bird. I have words for your leader." He glared and she snarled menacingly, "I will not ask twice."
The man glared and eyed the pilot questioningly, "Go. No need to cause any problems."
Claire stalked forward and disarmed the woman and pushed her forward with the arrow. She walked them out of sight and the woman scoffed tensely, "Dang, Bennett, when Sully said you had really embraced the culture, I guess he wasn't bluffing."
She gave the gun back to Trudy and retorted, "Yeah, he was accurate." She looked sternly at the pilot, "Trudy, what are you guys doing? You're lucky I found you! Anyone else would have killed you in a heartbeat and wouldn't give it a second thought!"
She nodded thankfully, "And I appreciate that, believe me."
Claire bared her teeth angrily, "He opened fire on children, Trudy! That's a little more than collateral damage, don't you think!" Trudy looked unbelieving as Ninat and the kids came up fearfully. "I know the military have reasons to be on guard out here, but sometimes I think they're just on the warpath."
Trudy shook her head, "Claire, you have to believe me, I didn't order him to shoot anyone! I wouldn't put innocents in harms way."
She scoffs, "Well, apparently your fellows aren't so careful." She softened and told her, "You're going to leave for now. I will explain to Eytukan that this was out of your control, but I suggest you tread lightly around here." She pointed to the helicopter, "And if your triggerman so much as glares at my people, I won't be so merciful the next time."
Trudy nodded and observed, "You're definitely into the culture. It suits you."
Claire comments, "I think you'd take to it pretty quickly too. I would love to see you chose an ikran."
She chuckles, "I've already get my own bird. Wouldn't fly anything but her."
Claire starts to walk away, "But can she know what you thinking?" She stopped and turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot. I don't want you in hot water with your superiors." She drew her knife again and warned, "This is gonna hurt."
She cuts swiftly at Trudy's shoulder and the pilot grunted in alarm. She groaned as she grabbed her shoulder which started bleeding. She gave Claire an aggravated look, "What was that for?"
She shrugged, "You have to cover our conversation. You fought with a Na'vi and got away."
The pilot smirked at her, "You'd make one hell of a commander. Catch you later."
Ninat walked over to her and asked cautiously, "Is everything okay?"
She nodded, "Yes. Just catching up with a friend."
Ninat watched as the helicopter took off and headed east. "Are you certain she will not reveal us to the other Sky People?"
Claire nodded with assurance, "Yes. She's trustworthy enough, for a marine." She climbed onto Nathan and promised, "I will explain this incident to Eytukan personally with complete honesty. If they feel I should be reproved, I will understand their decision."
"I will vouch for you."
Claire nods her thanks and tells her, "I'll watch you from the sky. I want to ensure the children get back safely."
Claire lay in her hammock staring up at the stars. She smiled amazed as she counted them in her head. She watched the night sky peacefully for a few minutes until a voice asked softly, "Father told me you encountered some Sky People earlier this afternoon."
She didn't look at Neytiri but responded, "I did. He had tried shooting at us, but I stopped him before the children were harmed."
"Ninat claimed you spoke to one of them."
She sighed and glanced over, "I know I only met her one time, but she has a kind heart. I trust her to not reveal us to the Sky People."
Neytiri looked honest, "You do not need to clarify your actions, Claire."
She replied earnestly, "But I choose to. I wish to be honest to the Omticaya. You are my family, and I am open with family."
Neytiri looked approving, "You always have been truthful."
Claire smiled, "Thanks for that. How is Jake's training coming?"
She replied, "He is doing well. He is ready to choose his own ikran tomorrow."
Claire commented, "Well, that's faster than I expected; I though he wouldn't be ready for another few weeks."
She said warmly, "He has really strived to embrace our ways. He is learning quite well."
Claire noted the tone Neytiri used and looked over knowingly, "Now that tone is interesting. You sound fond of him." Neytiri looked nervously at her and Claire could swear she was blushing. She sat up and looked at her teasingly, "Is that a blush, Neytiri? Are you a little taken with the Marine?"
Neytiri looked warningly at her, "I do not think you need to mention things like that!"
"You are taken with him!" She whispered conspiratorially, "How long?" She noticed her friends anxiety, "Come on, I can keep a secret."
She said quietly, "I've noticed it for a few days now." She looked beseeching, "You must tell no one! I have a duty to my people, and I will honor it."
"I promise on Eywa; I will keep your trust." She lay down and was silent for a minute. Her eyes got a teasing look and she asked roguishly, "He is kinda cute with that loin cloth, isn't he?"
Neytiri opened her mouth in amused horror, "Claire Bennett, that's enough!"
She put her hands up in surrender, "Hey, I was just pointing out his body is getting more toned as of late!" She smiled as Neytiri slapped her warningly with her bow.
Claire soared through the sky, following Neytiri and Seze toward the mountains high above the ground. She banked right as Neytiri slowed her flight and landed on a cliff next to a waterfall. She brought Nathan to a stop and landed near Seze. Nathan yowled contented and she gave a sincere smile, "Yeah, you like being home with your kind, don't ya, big guy?" Nathan looked toward Seze and gave a soft screech, which the other ikran gave a high barking sound and flapped her wings quickly several times. Claire smirked, "Easy, boy. She's a little old for you."
She climbed off and walked up to the group on the ground. While she left him there, a white seed floating down and landed on Nathan.
Claire nodded to Tsu'tey when she went over, "I see you."
The hunter nodded respectfully and Neytiri greeted him in kind. Claire looked over Jake and the other Na'vi hunters, one male and female. Tsu'tey glanced toward Jake and looked derisively at him, "Jakesully will go first."
Claire looked cautiously at Jake who sighed tiredly and walked forward to the edge of the cliff. He handed back his bow and Tsu'tey took it impatiently. Neytiri gave her intended a mild look of rebuke following Jake out onto the narrow walkway. Claire didn't pay too much attention to her instructions but simply watched the sky, impressed by the seemingly limitless number of ikran. She headed back toward Nathan intending to take flight alongside the wild ones. She stopped short when she saw Nathan turn around and take off on his own, blowing the seed toward Claire softly.
She looked confused as the seed floated past and she called out to him. He ignored her and she soon lost track of where he was. She then remembered that Neytiri said that the ikrans choose their riders. She seemed puzzled but concluded that he had not actually chosen her. She turned toward Neytiri who had walked back to Seze. She asked quickly, "Neytiri, did you have to fight Seze before she chose you?"
"Yes. It is their way."
She smirked and replied, "I guess I way to work for mine. Nathan never chose me."
Neytiri looked proud and glanced toward their resting area. "Then go find your true one."
Claire took the restraining rope from her and walked with purpose toward the ikran nests. She moved cautiously through the group of ikrans ignoring their screeches. She looked them over carefully, gazing into their eyes attentively. She locked eyes with one across the clearing and stopped. It was significantly larger than Nathan had been with a similar color pattern. She looked at it intently and it growled out loud. She felt a thrill that she hadn't had when she linked the last time. She bared her teeth and gave a commanding hiss. Her heartbeat jumped when the ikran hissed back at her.
She didn't hesitate as she charged forward and leapt over it as it lunged forward to bite at her. She swung the rope down and clamped the mouth closed firmly. She climbed onto her conquest and held on tightly as it jumped wildly attempting to throw her off. She grits her teeth and grabbed for its rein and her braid. She pulled both together quickly and watched the tendrils loop around each other. She said firmly, "That's enough! You've proven yourself!"
The ikrans pupil contracted and expanded again. She instantly calmed down and climbed gracefully to her talons. Claire closed her eyes briefly before she inhaled deeply and looked toward the other hunters and a second, was airborne and approaching them rapidly. She hollered excitedly as she came close to Neytiri who looked impressed with her success.
Claire smiles and goes into a dive toward Jake's ikran, before pulling up suddenly causing him to lose control briefly and glaring up at her. He retaliates by circling around and chasing her around the mountains. She lets him get close enough to hear her and she shouts, "You've got to do better than that!" She leans forward and the ikran surges ahead in a burst of speed, leaving him in the dust.
