A few nights later, Jake slipped away from a boring conversation with the senior hunters, and sat down in the shadowy enclave of a root. It was just far enough from the circle he had been in that no one would realize his departure. He sunk deeper into the shadow so that if people saw him, they would think he was just getting some alone time. For some reason, no one believed the marine's pretext of "admiring cute kids" when he watched Neytiri tell stories. Maybe that was because he was curious about the history and legends, and everyone knew it. He shifted his gaze to the eight children ages four to six that were sleepily eying Neytiri, who was about to begin her story.
"It's got scary parts, and a murder."
The little boys' eyes lit up.
"But it also gives us insights on how to live." She looked intently at the ground beside her intently as she decided how to begin and waited for the children to quiet down. "The storytellers from the Ikran Clan of the Eastern Sea say that the two brothers in the story were the grandchildren of 'Itan and 'Ite. Those of the Horse Clan say that they were their great-grandchildren. The Tipani Clan says that they were father and son. But let me tell the story to you the way the Omaticaya tell it.
"Lrrtok had a younger brother named Keltsun. You may wonder why his name meant impossible. This was because 'Ite was very sick when she had him, and afraid for the child's life, but Eywa had done the impossible in saving him.
"Anyway, let's get back to the story. Lrrtok was a txantur hunter. He had great skill in whatever he did. But he always left the best animals for Eywa, so that they could breed and produce better stock, or feed his younger brothers, the aypalulukan or ayikranay. Before every hunt, he asked Eywa to let him pick the right animal to eat, and afterwards he always thanked her for her provision."
The kids nodded approvingly at Lrrtok's behavior, though some were a bit surprised at the over-and-above extent of his respect for Eywa's gifts.
"But his brother Keltsun took all the nicest things for himself. He did not thank Eywa after a hunt, because he thought it was all due to his own talent. The thought never crossed his mind that his talent came from Eywa, too." She leaned forward. "Keltsun had so many adornments that he wouldn't be able to move if he wore them all at once!"
At this, the kids burst out laughing. One of the more squirrelly boys (being so tired that he was hyper) ran around in a penguin walk, his stiff arms and legs covered by invisible bracelets and feathers.
Neytiri resumed, "Eywa was sick of his pride, and made him search far and wide for even simple things like berries, hoping that he would eventually humble himself and pray for her help. But Keltsun did not pray to Eywa. Instead, he thought she was being unfair by blessing all that Lrrtok did and not blessing what he did. He was very jealous. So one day, when his brother was least expecting it, he stabbed him in the back and killed him!
"After he did the horrible deed, he heard a whisper in the wind. 'Keltsun…where is Lrrtok?' Keltsun tried to lie to Eywa. 'I don't know,' he ventured. But you can't fool the All-Knowing Mother, can you? Eywa spoke from out of a blinding light to Keltsun. 'Your brother's blood stains my ground. Why did you never turn to me when you had the chance? Why did you never realize that I give talent? Why are you so prideful? You have chosen your path, and must be punished.' Eywa disappeared, and in her place, a shadow—toruk was swooping out of the sky towards him!" At this point, Neytiri stopped. "Now what do you think toruk did to Keltsun?"
The same six year old who had done the impersonation exclaimed, "He ate him!"
"No, he did not. Do you have any other ideas?"
No one could think of much more. A four year old girl just stared up in a scared anticipation.
"Toruk severed his tswin."
Shocked children touched their own queues instinctively, as if protecting them from toruk's jaws. To have your neural strands severed would mean that you could never make tsaheylu with any animal, or your mate. You could never directly tell Eywa your thoughts through one of the sacred trees. It was a fate worse than death.
Neytiri gave a sigh, and concluded, "This is how the first murder happened, and why the People give the same punishment for murderers today. But the most important thing that we learn from this part of our history is that we ought to avoid jealousy and let Eywa direct our paths. Be grateful for what she has given you." She smiled and nodded her head, signifying the end of the story. The children disbanded and she walked over to depression in the root Jake was sitting in.
"I saw you the whole time," she said in English.
"Yeah," he said, giving her a kiss. "You Saw who I truly was before I was even aware of it." He sighed, and then gave her another kiss. "But let's not get too sentimental."
Neytiri laughed. "No, skxawng. I saw you hiding here the whole time."