More Adventures on Pandora
"So that I understand you correctly, you tried to grind my Tsmuke, my Tsmuke, on her tail to your hammock, so you could offer yourself to her as a pillow?" Rak'nor sounded more than amused. His stomach still hurt from laughing. Beside him Harlon and Miklas made faces while Eytukan averted his half swollen face from them.
It has been three days since the party and still he was mentally down. He had tried to keep up appearances that he had crashed against a tree while drunk, but Nai'Sha had once again done everything to naught his efforts.
Nai'Sha.
He still could not be angry with her.
The four young Na'vi were on their way back from a successful hunt. Each of them had a captured Yerik thrown over the shoulders. They had to bring the heavy hexapods quickly back to Kelutrel, predators were always on hunters heels when bloody prey was transported. Hunts were always quiet until the killed prey was on its way back to kelutrel, then the Taronyu began to gossip with each other as the washerwoman. These rituals were as old as Na'vi culture and would not change over the next thirty thousand years.
They had first talked about the appearance of the strange creature which had almost crushed Ralph the Tawtute, then they returned to friendly jokes, in principle about the events taking place in a few months, the taming of their first Ikran and the clans initiation rites which would follow.
Miklas and Harlon, who had both tamed their Ikran´s a few years ago, subjected Rak'nor and Eytukan especially with the terrible parts of the trials a potential candidate had to pass for the rank of full Taronyu.
They told the two younger ones devised nonsense, cackling about the anxious faces of their friends.
After his appointed as Olo'eyktan, Jake hade done no major changes to clan live. He had only set a minimum age of 18 years for the participants a Iknimaya, to lower risks. Since this decision, no Omatikaya had failed over the past 20 years in trying to tame a Ikran. The deadly consequences were gone so well.
The only real change was hidden safely before the younger ones. It should be a surprise for the candidates when suddenly the Olo'eyktan on his Toruk would show up behind a thundering rock to chase the young men playfully. Only Tsahik knew that this idea had come from Toruk itself and Jake was more than willing to let her continuously her will.
Yes, the four had joked wild on this and other things until they came to their last glitches at the festival. Harlon, who led a happy single life without a mate and thus had no reason to get drunk in front of the women, executed in great detail how his older Tsmukan had slurred Lie'nak for a serenade, before the assembled troops, of course.
In his condition, he had obviously not noticed that he had sung to a tree while Lie'nak stood behind him shaking her head.
But Miklas knew to noose himself out of embarrassment, because of the Olo'eyktan´Itan. With Raknor he had a suitable victim for himself. "I swear by my ancestors," he laughed, "that you almost licked Gra'ice face of her head. Or you wanted to crush her with your embrace. Probably both!" Rak'nor it had nothing to reply, so he only growled. They would not believe him anyway, about Gra'ice beeing starter.
And they both had been filled. The next day, after all, had started with a huge heap of mutual apologies.
Therefore, at the end Eytukan was the last victim of embarrassing disclosures. How embarrassing it all had been. Miklas, Harlon and Rak'nor left out any part of what they could remember. Their friend was a member of the horseclans, all together hard drinking people, but Nai'Sha's self-made had the potential of turning hard lumps to babbling idiots. A babbling idiot who had to explain next day a huge slap in the face in front of the smirking Olo'eyktan.
"So dude, what did my Sempu say to you that you look so evil, since we started 4 hours from home?" asked Rak'nor with a mile-wide grin. Eytukan looked at him after an eternity of bitterness on their march. "Do yourself a favor and ask him yourself," he muttered, his eyes watching his feet.
Rak'nor leaned over to his two other companions to whisper them his father response "Well people, I've already done that, and guess what Sempu told him, how to really show girls your feelings after you grabbed their tail! And now Eytukan is upset because nothing has worked out of it in the last days!" The three friends burst into laughter, while Eytukan tried to ignore it.
"Getting love advice from Toruk Makto, I really don´t know now who he is poorer Angsik, you or Nai'Sha?" Harlon laughed uproariously, while better distributing the weight of his prey on his shoulders. His Tsmukan followed .
"Right, now it makes sense for me why our Tsahik always taught the girls in the women´s area of Kelutrel. Neytiri knows the tricks of our Olo'eyktan in and out, no offense Rak'nor, but I'm pretty sure that she has been warned Nai'Sha, from Sah'Nok to Ite. Your chances of going to end up with her are all against you, friend Eytukan. Lie'nak told me once, that the Tsahik´s daughter chooses her husband all on her own, and not vice versa. Tough luck old chap! "
While Eytukan still muttered to himself and his three companions amused about him delicious, the group finally reached the root bridge to Kelutrel. Several Tsamsiyu stood guard, watching the strange creature that still swam in the river. The animal showed no hostilities or other aggressive behavior, a sign that the countless poison arrows, which still stuck in the body of the monster had not missed at least its numbing effect.
It was already afternoon when some guests arrived. Harlon and Miklas, who returned with their Ikran-mounts from flight training with 9 older Taronyu saw them first.
Meanwhile, Eytukan and Rak'nor where struggling to deduct the animal skins of their prey with a group of teenagers, under the guidance of the elderly master butcher of course, when they heard the Na'vi welcome calls for the friends, which was passed on from the outpost trees and repeated already by the Tsamsiyu. A little later, the first visitors came into view; encircled by a cluster of curious Na'vi.
Three Na'vi women whose elaborate body painting, and their maintenance of shell necklaces immediately identified them as inhabitants of the coasts. All three were of great age, Tsahik's of their clans, as Eytukan suspected from their appearance. The amount of wildly speaking Na'vi went silent when Rak'nors Sempul landed with his own Ikran Fun'dabold beside the weathered mounts the visitors.
This, of course, was the answer for the Olo'eyktan´s absence this morning.
Jake raised his hands to the audience to silence his people. "Omatikaya, I have the great honor to welcome Kalea, Tsahik the coastjumper clan, Jil'anie, Tsahik of the windsurferclan, and Mai Teyni, Tsahik of the windcheater clan here in our humble Kelutrel!" The presented matriarchs bowed respectfully contrary to the Omatikaya´s applause. The Olo'eyktan reaffirmed one of his hands, and automatically peace returned.
"I have visited their clans today to ask for help because of the strange creature recently inhabiting the nearby river. The venerable Tsahik's have immediately offered their help to aid us in this matter. As long as they are here, our home will be their home." The amount of those present murmured respectfully and then divided to let through Neytiri, in her official Tsahik robes, accompanied by her three pupils Gra'ice, Nai'Sha and Li'nan.
The four Tsahik's and three novices exchanged greetings of mutual respect before the elders turned to Jake and whispered something inaudible to the crowd. He nodded and raised his voice:"have anyone of you seen Ra'lph today?" Everyone present looked around a bit quizzically, then turned to their neighbors whether they had seen the strange Tawtute or not.
The only one who spoke up was Eytukan: "My Olo'eyktan, I saw him this morning just after sunrise. The healers were about to lock him back in his cab because he, despite his injuries wanted to go out again." Jake laughed easily with some others about this remark. "So the usually, eh? Well, bring him here. And tell him he should take it easy, or I'll have his alcove guarded by an Ikran, as I would with any Tsamsiyu who will not listen to our healers!" This comment drew the crowd a little more violent laughter.
The joke was that originally Neytiri had applied this method 14 years ago on Jake himself after a hunting accident where he broke his upper arm to get him three weeks cold. Mo'at, which was still alive, had marveled at the ruthlessness of her Ite.
Eytukan rushed like a whirlwind into the alcove of the healers, where the ancients as well as sick and injured were treated and cared for. The area where Ra'lph sat was easy to find, after all, it was the only alcove, where a healer armed with a knife stood guard. "Hey Ra'lph, your type is required!" Eytukan shouted across the small hall.
Ralph's face lit up like a Cheshire cat, when he heard this!
Nai'Sha and her friends stood quietly behind the four Tsahik's, with the highest interest on the great river creature. Her Sah'Nok has told the newcomers of the events two days ago, but the three Tsahik's of the coastal-people had not believed her. However, when the creature slipped one of it´s tentacles out of the water to get his food, an adult Yerik held up by a Taronyu, they had revised their opinion. Now they were all waiting eagerly for the Tawtute´s arrival, who brought this whole affair into rolling.
Ralph finally emerged, Nai'Sha was very proud to finally be able to pronounce his name correctly, accompanied by Eytukan. That caused Nai'Sha a stitch, and she growled already dangerously in the direction of the young man. As Eytukan noticed this, he knocked timidly on Ralph´s shoulder, only to disappear with a cursory nod.
Nai'Sha narrowed her eyes in the direction of Li'nan and Gra'ice to stall every comment on their part on the spot, but strangely, both seemed very interested in their featherchains. No one want´s to be the target of Nai'Sha anger.
"Ite" Neytiri's voice was urgent "Bring the Tawtute forward!" Nai'Sha bowed slightly as main response before she smiled at Ralph and led him before the waiting Tsahik's.
As Ralph stood before the matriarchs, he went to his knees and bowed low with his right hand on his heart. "I see you, Tsahik's of your clans. It is a great honor to meet you," he said in flawless Na'vi. The three older women seemed a little surprised, but repeated the neutral greeting.
Kalea became the first to speak: "So you're the last Tawtute, walking on our home? You gotta be kidding me?" With these words, she stabbed Ralph, who did not flinch, with her ritual needle into the chest. The emergence of a swelling drop of blood was collected by the needle widths, then licked it briefly "No Tsamsiyu, no Vrrtep" Kalea handed her needle to, Jil'anie, who continued to smell on it "Brave, but concealed in the heart. A deep hole in his soul!" she relayed the needle to Wai Teyni, who held the bloody object behind an unpolished crystal, considering the light passing through. "Eywa is with you, she trusts your judgment!" She gave Kalea the needle back and looked at Ralph thoroughly. "Toruk Makto told us about your adventures!" Was all she said.
"Okay, okay, so you know a lot about me. Nice for you, so why, Neytiri, am I here again?" "This Tsahik's," said Neytiri, who knew Ralphs directness all too well "Are residents from the coastlines of the eastern sea. They can give us information about the creature that attacked you!" "Well that's fine, I would be happy to know the story of this squid!" Ralph looked Tsahik's expectantly.
Kalea cleared her throat before speaking, "What you've woken Skxawng, we call Pay'Toruk (last water-shadow). Such beings are among the oldest creatures of Eywa and deserve a lot of respect from us. Our Taronyu chase them by Ikran when Pay'Toruk are fishing on the surface for small birds! "
"They are usually the size of an average male, but there are legends of larger specimens," Wai Teyni continued. "In our oldest songs, it is said that some of them are older than the time of the first songs. They sleep in the depths of the sea, rarely come so close to the sea's surface, but only if Eywa requires it! "
"Then this giant octopus could have been here for thousands of years and the Na'vi have not noticed? How is this possible?" Ralph asked incredulously. "I mean, this thing is almost 50 feet long, how do he got room in the small river next to Kelutrel?"
Here Neytiri had a reply ready. "My husband told me once about such a creature in the Tawtute´s world, as I heard it again from Ra'lph. These beings can hide because of their soft bodies in every little crack. Does this fit also on Pay'Toruk?" The last question she had addressed to the other three Tsahik's.
"Yes, and it is one of our Eveng´s game to look for the little Pay'Toruk submerged among rocks. You must know, Mo'at'ite, these beings are very amazing for us." replied Jil'anie.
Satisfied, Neytiri turned back to Ralph "When ma Jake was younger, he often used to dive deeply into the river with other clansmen. He told me that our river goes deeper than you might think and the riverbed itself is coverd by many small holes and caves. An animal of Pay'Toruk's dimensions could hide down there easily! "
"All right, so the squid lives down there with no problems! Why did he fish only ME of the bridgeroot? I gave him no reaon to attack me!" Ralph sounded a little angry. "And what shall we do with him anyway, now that we know what he is?" He asked,"I can hardly imagine that someone can make Tsahaylu with something that big without getting crushed at the same time."
"Why do we not allow Pay'Toruk to give the answers by himself?" Li'nan asked. That comment was appreciative for glances from the matriarchs: "It is a creature of Eywa. We can talk to him!" "Yeah, and if it wants to live here, we should take it as a part of our clan!" Nai'Sha added. Also Gra'ice gave her approval: "It would be an honor to have such a wise creature as a friend!"
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"I think this is still a Stupid idea," muttered Ralph, who stood with the other Na'vi women on the shore, "What if he still wants to kill me? To Eywa's sake, I have cut off a piece of one of his tentacles. Nobody can forget something like that! "
"You have too little faith in Eywa," murmured Kalea, who stood behind him, "Try to see," And with those words they began a ritual that Ralph had never seen before, and he had seen a few smaller ones. The Tsahik's and their students sat down at the edge of the riverbed and plunged their braids into the water. Between each Tsahik sat one of the students who touched their masters now on their shoulders. These movements got copied from the older women and Neytiri.
Then all seven began with a, for Ralph completely incomprehensible, monotonous chant, in which the Na´vi´s bodies rocked gently back and forth as they tried to imitate the water´s wave motions. First Ralph understood nothing at all, none of his books about Pandora described such a ritual.
However, when the water suddenly began to rumble in front of him, Ralph knew what those women had in mind.
Almost explosively, and soaking up the bone wetting every person in ten meters radius, from Ralph and the Tsahik's to the Tsamsiyu on the bridgeroot to a group of craftsmen and women on the other side of the river, popped the octopus out of the water.
Ralph took a few steps back in the now damp earth, as he was aware of the creatures size. Apart from the tentacles of the octopus, who apparently seemed to have 18 of them, it´s vast, sack-shaped head stuck 15 meters out of the water. The color of the animal was impossible to figure because his skin color changed within a few seconds.
In appearance, the octopus was very similar to it´s earth´n pedants, with two exceptions. Firstly, it had more arms and thick, horny scales that covered the animal with kind of armor and not just a green pair of eyes, it had three of those. Nothing special, Ralph had expected of Pandora's environment.
No, under the most obvious difference from that monster and an earth-squid was the presence of two huge "Tswin´s", as the Na'vi called the nerve end-braids of the animals, which were still submerged in the water.
The sight of the mighty Kraken captivated Ralph, so he did not notice the Tsahik's have ended her ritual. Only the touch of Neytiri's palm brought Ralph back to reality.
"Pay'Toruk expressed his apology, Ra'lph, Tawtute Itan." Neytiri said with her beautiful voice, the wetness of her body completely ignoring "He is very old, but his curiosity about all beings is still so strong as in the first day. Pay'Toruk hopes that you will forgive him! "
Ralph nodded and walked slowly forward, observed by the other Na'vi on the shore, where one of the arms of the Pay'Toruk laid very near the water. "Well, old chap, I'm sorry that I have pricked you. It will certainly never happen again. So what you are saying, Peace?" Just uut of habit Ralph held his left arm in the direction of the tentacle. As it would understand the implication and nature of Ralph's words, the tentacle crawled slowly forward and carefully wrapped his left hand. "Well, I knew you understand what I'm saying!" Ralph chuckled while he reached with his other hand forward to pull an old, broken arrow out of the thick tentacle. "Now we have to see that you come out of your status as a pin cushion."
When she saw this with the others, Nai'Sha prodded her Sah'Nok briefly, thereby whispering in her ear, "They're funny, this Tawtute. A minute ago, he still whishes Pay'Toruk the worst fate, and a minute later, he pulls the arrows out of him! "
"You should have seen your Sempul when he was a young man," murmured Neytiri "He and Ra'lph are Skxawng as anyone could be!"
"You laugh," "No, I do not!" "But, you're laughing! I heard it clearly!" "Why should I laugh?" "Maybe because I´m soaked wet to the bone and my knees are shivering because of it?" "Why would I laugh about that?" "Rak'nor, stop it!" "Stop what?" "That!" "What about it?" "Rak'nor!" Gra'ice." "Rak'nor!" "Gra'ice." "Rak'nor!" "Gra ... hey, Wait a minute, I ..." Rak'nor came no further because Gra'ice bowed forward to seal the loose mouth of her friend with a kiss. Gra'ice clothes were still soaked in water from the communicate ritual with Pay Toruk, but it didn´t stop her to hug the Olo'eyktan´s Itan very wild.
Nai'Sha who had sat next to the two watching their banter growled in the direction of her Tsmukan. She then charged the fireplace and removed from the two Skxawng. "Not even too good to smooch in front of the half-tribe! Eywa, what have I done to deserve such a Tsmukan?" Nai'Sha angrily kicked a few stones of the tree, just to make her anger some air.
Some of the little stones hit several Tsamsiyu at another campfire, but none of them stood up to reprimand Nai'Sha. Only their Tsahik and in very rare cases the Olo'eyktan were able to do something like this. No one else in the Omatikaya Klan stood in the path of Nai'Sha and her anger.
It was not a night for her to be angry. The communication ritual with Pay'Toruk had gone very well. Now the Omatikaya could be proud of the fact, that one of Eywa's oldest creatures joined their clan! And for what? In exchange for permission to live in the flows of their blue-water river and some occasional feedings! Now Pay'Toruk, Ralph had named him Nemo, swam in one of the side arms of the river, where a few Evi were occupied in tickling his tentacles.
Since the affair with Pay'Toruk had been solved so easily, the Na'vi again had a very good reason for a rollicking Supper and the guests enjoyed the Clans hospitality proved to them. The three Tsahik's sat at the greatest campfire with her Sah'Nok and her Sempul, discussing something about a visit at Vitraya Ramunong, a possibility rarely offered to the three guests.
At another campfire sat Ralph himself, surrounded by a dozen Na'vi of all ages listening to his words. Apparently, Ralph told them again on of his ancient Tawtute stories, which he seemed to know dozens of them. Nai'Sha wondered if she sat down with him and would ask him to tell her again of the "Odyssey", an old Tawtute song about a Tsamsiyu who had to undergo 10 years of wandering around in the world only to return to his true love.
However, Nai'Sha dismissed the thought, as she Lie'nak with Miklas saw at Ralph´s campfire, casually listening. Nai'Sha hissed again and turned away from the place, to leave the fire lighted area under the Kelutrel. Just too many Na'vi in love, for her taste. Sempul would howl in despair when in a few years the next wave of mated pairs would come over him.
"Not in party mood?" asked Harlon, who appeared behind her. The Taronyu seemed to have sat quietly on one of the smaller Kelutrel roots of. Nai'Sha had not noticed him, despite the light-giving forest. It was just scary how Harlon could merge within the forest´s shadows.
"You must say…," she murmured a bit too hard "I can think of more than 20 girls who will mate immediately with you, if you would deign and select one of them" "Hey, I'm enjoying life as a loner!" Harlon said defensively. Nai'Sha saw that he was wearing his full equipment for hunting, of which he seemed never to part "And a connection is not possible for me! Not the way things are now! "
Nai'Sha sat next to Harlon "So will you still follow the advice of my Sempul?" "Nai'Sha, your Sempul was a great Tsamsiyu among his former Tawtute people and now he's the greatest Tsamsiyu among the Na'vi. He has tamed Toruk! Who am I to ignore his advice?" Harlon said.
"The Olo'eyktan has told all of us. Who wants to be Tsamsiyu must be Taronyu with 5 years experience, only then our Olo'eyktan trains you to become a true Tsamsiyu. You know the trials that your Sempul had forged for the peers. Only with the ones with true will to become Tsamsiyu, will succeed in the last test! But until then, until I will face your Sempul in battle, until then I have to prepare, until then nothing should stand between my way and my goal! Certainly no Na'vi I could fall in love! A failure on my heavy path is synonymous with death, and I can and will not inflict the pain of loose on any possible partner! I hope you understand this, Nai'Sha! "
Nai'Sha nodded thoughtfully about the words just said. Harlon was always pragmatic and direct in his opinion, unlike Miklas, who seemed happy as Taronyu with his simple life. Nai'Sha rose from her seat and looked in Harlons orange-yellow eyes, "if you really think, what you just have told me, then, uh, may I ask you for some advice, too?"
"And that from the future Tsahik!" Chuckled Harlon "But order, please! It is about Eytukan, am I right?" Nai'Sha nodded "Well, I can not tell you alot. Actually, you two should immediately made yourself a day and howl excuses against each other. But with two stubborn skulls like you I expect something to happen in 10,000 years only."
Nai'Sha infuriated at his mouth of sheer outrage, but Harlon, who was afull head taller and more muscular than her, stared her down with a disparaging look "your temperament will not really help you right now, you know it's true. Go, go right now to our Pa'li stables where Eytukan has crawled for some time, and come to terms with him, or Eywa may help me, I will put both of you back together with any violence that is neccessary!"
However, Harlon only spoke with hot air; Nai'Sha had disappeared over the hills towards the Pa'li stables. "I have to thank Eywa". murmured the young Taronyu "The future Tsahik is certainly much wiser than she believes of herself" Harlon looked skyward and saw a small Atokirina, gently bouncing up and down in the wind. "Eywa, I promise you, as soon as I am Tsamsiyu, I will mate with the first woman who considers me worthy of her!"
While the future Tsamsiyu was absorbed in his thoughts, Nai'Sha entered a few minutes later the large Pa'li stables her Clan called his own. The stables were nothing more than a large tree root hollowed out and smothered with dry grass. There stood many pitchers with nectar for the Pa'li and two small fires that warmed the stables during rainy seasons and donated a bit more light.
Actually, this place was much more like a resting place the Na'vi had offered the Pali, who were freely incoming and outgoing, but the animals had become sedentary. It was a beneficial situation for both riders and animals.
Eytukan sat in the middle of their large stables with one of the older Pa'li he gently stroked. The animal had broken three of its four front legs a week ago and was now here under his care. Nai'Sha could clearly see that Eytukan had just been there to change the bandages. As Nai'Sha approached, he looked up, "I see you," he said without emotion.
"And I see you, Eytukan Fimlo'itan, rider of the plains!" Nai'Sha walked up to him, until both faced each other. For an eternity, they only watched. Then, at once, they began to speak:
"Listen, we have to talk about what has happened over the…!" They looked again toxic at each other, only to return to chatter in stereo: "Okay, so, I've behaved like an idiot, I should not a have slapped you in your face / I should not have packed you at the tail!"
Both blinked at each other. How was it possible that they had said the same thing at the same time?
"Okay," Nai'Sha finally mumbled "Truce for the time being! Satisfied?" "I had hoped we could again ..." but Eytukan stopped frustrated. "I think I prefer to let things as they are for now!" Nai'Sha nodded "Just control yourself with my homemade alcohol!" Her voice was still quiet. Eytukan smiled weakly.
"Do you expect now that I'll fall around your neck?" "Do I look like my Tsmukan? Eytukan, you should know me better!" She looked him up from head to toe. "What?" asked the young Na'vi immediately.
"You look like Sempul, in his first riding lessons. Sah'Nok has shown me over Tsahaylu. You are as nasty as he was back then!" Nai'Sha allowed herself to giggle. "When you're done with the Pa'li, go to the river and take a cold shower. Then you finally go to dinner, you look hungry! "
She had turned away from the young Na'vi as he suddenly said, "Uh, okay, I'll do everything you say, just, uh, where are you going?" Nai'Sha turned around and looked directly into his eyes. "What I will go to the healers alcove and get some ointment for your face!" and gone she was.
Eytukan smiled slightly at the idea of being cared for by Nai'Sha, but it had distinct advantages. She would then not so of kick him on his head!
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"This is video Log No. 17, located in Hells Gate airfield ruin, 11:34 local time, Pandora Stalker Ralph reporting. First of all, the usual, the local fauna and flora still fails in trying to eat me, though it was pretty damn close the last few days. Oh, hello Lie'nak, make yourselfe comfortable, I've got to finish this now. Where was I, oh yeah, uh probe rocket No. 18 will be launched in the next few days, but before I want to go to an area that is known by the Na'vi as Lake Tanhi, located about 87 miles from Hells Gate. The water plants there have some fine healing properties, so I was told. I asked Neytiri for permission to visit the lake and she has agreed to me utterly incomprehensible. Probably just because I have asked. There are supposedly a lot trees of voices there, so it is a holy place! "
"What are you doing there?" Lie'nak asked in Na'vi, while she came behind Ralph into view of the camera. "Why are you talking in the language of Tawtute with this machine?" Ralph turned slightly in his chair and replied in Na'vi: "It is called video recording. I speak in this unit to record my picture and voice. Then I send it via remote transmitter and satellites back to Earth. I told my people just about my life here on Pandora!" He turned back towards the camera and chattered on in English:
"Sorry guys for the short break, but Lie'nak, the Na'vi behind me wanted to know just what a V is log. She is one of my watchers and an artisan in training; I think she is going to become one of the best bow makers in the whole clan. She is here today because of some slightly interest in the workings of my gear. Hm, wait a moment ... "Ralph turned back to Lie'nak.
"Hey?" he asked, "Do you want to talk something into my Video Log? So far I have only the sarcastic remarks from our Olo'eyktan on Video Log 16." "What should I say?" asked the Na'vi "I can not even speak your people's language!" "Oh, never mind, the boys and girls can receive the Na'vi all that stuff!" "Well, But I will not do it willingly, "she said.
Lie'nak had just subjected Ralphs bow to a detailed examination, now she put it back on the working bench. She got down on her knees before the, for her, so foreign camera. Due to its size, she was now at eye level withit. Ralph motioned her where to look. Then she started to speak with clear high-Na'vi: "Hello friends of Tawtute Ra'lph, unfortunately I can not tell you that I see you, but I think you can see me. I am Lie'nak, Ite of Yomi and Sva'hena and Craftswoman for the Omatikaya. I want to say that I am glad that your people have learned to see our world a little bit. Eywa watch over your ways! "
So it was already up to let Ralph further talk in his Tawtute language," So you Xeno-linguists, the translation comes nicely with the next message. Until then I remain your human hamster on duty, video log END! "
Ralph pushed the "send" button, then he leaned back and looked at Lie'nak. "I am sorry because of this formality just before you came in, but I'm encouraged from home to report at least once a week. Whatever! Moreover, how do you like that thing? "Ralph pointed to his bow.
"That's okay, we all have our duties. Regarding your question, this bow is, how should I say, something unusual for me, but the work is good. While not as strong as the wood of our Kelutrel, yet supple and beautifully balanced. What kind of material is it?" Lie'nak asked, while putting Ralph's bow again beside his quiver.
"Whoa, there it gets complicated. This bow has a core of tough cartilage cultured in a laboratory, which has been enhanced with a few layers of carbon fibers. It´s much like a Na'vi´s bone, spinningable and extremely stable. The few woods of the earth would have been pretty fast rotten by the wetness of Pandoras climate." Ralph admitted, meanwhile clearing away some crafts and food remnants from his table next to the camera to somewhat soften the impression of a bachelor pad.
"And, how is the clan actually doing? You all got used to your newest member, in the last two weeks?" Ralph asked mischievous, but Lie'nak, who inspected some half-decomposed transport probes replied dryly,"Oh, Nimal's Ite is a good girl, barely screams, never wakes the Kelutrel from sleep, crawls less often at any knots, and ..." "Uh, I'm happy for Nimal that everything went well, but my question was about your BIGGEST member!"
Lie'nak looked questioningly at him: "Nemo? Oh HIM, there are no problems, except that he blackens quite a few people now and then. But hey, we haven´t had such an abundant source of ink-colors for long time since Gali has found these painting worms. In addition, since he is there no more Nantang trust to go to our river. What is new at your place?"
"Oh, there is not much to tell, the same routine as always. Wake up to an Ikran´s call, go out, pick fruit, eat, run away before Nantang, store equipment, shower, go back out, collecting, running from predators or other things. Then pack sample, warm the day before yesterday´s meal, go to the bathroom, drawing, tape wounds, go to sleep. Unlike with you, right?"
Lie'nak looked up from the small drill that looked like a toy in her hands "If you mean Nai'Sha and Eytukan, you're right. Eywa, the two are like night and day. And then her Tsmukan, delicious how he makes himself a Gav'tinx (a small, clumsy rodent, the Pandoran form of a field mouse) for Gra'ice amusement. In a few months, and Eytukan and he will leave for Iknimaya and then" Lie'nak laughed mischievously "…then fun really begins! "
Ralph raised his head a little "Do you think I can climb up there too with my stuff?" Lie'nak laughed: "Miklas has wondered whether you could have such an idea. He, uh, has been walking the path before; he might give you directions if you are interested!" "Hey, that would be really great; I'll keep the info in mind! Nevertheless, now something completely different, more an issue for you!" He got up from his seat and went to one of his many storage cabinets, to take out something very huge.
As Ra'lph unwrapped the subject to one-third of its size, Lie'nak saw immediately what it was. It was the remnant of an Angsik hammer, weathered and marked in many places by predator tracks. "Where did you get that from?' "Old Unobtanium mine! The Angsikboys do their rutting fights there.A few weeks ago there a bull got caught pretty hard so had to wait until the Nantang had gnawed him of to the bone."
Ralph turned the broken hammer horn piece with a grunt before Lie'nak on the ground, as if he presented her goods for sale "My instructors on Earth told me, that you make your hunting-knifes out of claw´s and such horn pieces. Would you mind to show me, how you do it?"
Lie'nak shook her head: "No, you're not yet Omatikaya and I no master who can teach. I'm sorry!" Ralph smile fainted as he began to understood her situation "well, and what if I give you this block of horn? I mean, you rarely get something this big to work on?"
Now he had Lie'nak on the heel, because what he said was absolutely true. The Na'vi used to gather the Horn fragments of Angsik from the forests floor, to make their extremely sharp hunting knifes out of them. The value of one such knives could be weight in a large number of Yerik. A piece so big like that one the Tawtute was presenting her was invaluable for all professional craftsmen and craftswomen.
"I have to ask Master Fen` tu!" Lie'nak said slowly "In the next few years many Eveng will begin their training as Taronyu, it would be nice to have something for them in reserve! What would fall for you? "Ralph reached to one of his countless stacks of paper to show Lie'nak one of his paintings," I already have a sketch. With size comparison to a Na'vi. If you tell me what you could do about it, we would be quit! "
Lie'nak looked incredulous at the piece of paper in her huge hands "This is something nobody has ever made among the Na'vi, it would require a lot of skill, much time and extreme patience, at least seven months. What you are asking is very difficult! "
"But it would be possible," Ralph said firmly "Especially for a young craftswoman who can thus prove her skills!" "Eywa, I think you overestimate me and my abilities Ra'lph, I can not ..." "I would not know who else could do it!" Ralph said firmly.
Lie'nak sighed, "All right, I'll talk to the master, but do not expect too much. We have to come frequently to break up these chunks into smaller fragments, and the remaining work will certainly take a long time. You owe me a big favor for sure! "
"But of course!" Ralph chuckled audibly. "How can I repay my debt?"
Lie'nak silently pointed at Ralph's workbench, where, besides all the wrenches, hammers, etc. stood a potted plant. It was a tiny native tree, still in bonsai size, nothing more. Despite that, it was non the less an Atokirina´s offspring.
Ralph immediately understood "The little one belongs to you," he said happily, "I wanted to plant him around here anyway!"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The night on Pandora was always a pretty sight, so infinitely mysterious and reassuring. Ralph was showing awe to the huge plant life surrounding him, pleased with his last collecting trips. He really admired the surrounding nature and her strength.
Particularly her strength.
Jungle had conquered Hells Gate step by step in the last 20 years. During night, its buildings looked like mountains made of colors, so bright were the different plants that covered every square inch of the building walls.
On such evenings, when no rain was expected, Ralph spent some time outside of his habitat, to let loose of day´s events. He usually sat silent outside the entrance to his "home", equipped only with Exopack and simple clothes, where he tried to observe the animal inhabitants of Hell's Gate in their night activities.
While Ralph watched a small Gav'tinx standing on two legs trying to roll a Jabjubby fruit with his four little arms away, he recalled day´s events.
Lie'nak had left a few hours ago with Miklas and Harlon, who had helped her to carry the remains of the Angsikhorn and the little Atokirina seedling back to Kelutral. Ralph was glad that she had decided to help him, even though he was not sure if she did this for him or just for the challenge of the craft. He was sure in the future Lie'nak would make something similar for the Olo'eyktan and the another token of honor for the Toruk Makto and Palululkan Makto.
Ralph still could not believe that Neytiri had once ridden such a monster.
Deep in his thoughts, he hardly noticed that something seemed to approach his place. Probably a stupid predator a little too close to his habitat. Ralph signed, knowing that he should lie down. Tired, he rose from his seat, folded together his soft sittingmoss, and then turned to the entrance of his habitat. He felt the surge, as the life supporting equipment started to purify the air in his living room for human and Na'vi conditions.
Ralph yawned as he pulled the exopack from his face. He threw his undershirt and then his pants in the clothes-corner of his "flat". He took of his glasses while covering his body with thin blankets.
"You Tawtute have strange ideas about sleeping leaves" an extremely melodious voice spoke softly.
Ralph jumped up from his bed and looked around the room, startled by this voice, but through the darkness and his nearsightedness, he could not see much, just a humanoid shape that seemed covered with a few bright spots.
Ralph reached for his glasses on the nearest box and his combat knife under the pillow. Ready for battle he stood face to face with the intruder. As his eyes adjusted gradually to the pale darkness, Ralph realized who was standing in front of him.
It was Wa'ey!
The short Na'vi looked up to him as if he had made a joke. She still looked like he had her in his memory from their first meeting. A true beauty of a Na'vi, she wore tousled short hair with a few woven flowers while her skin was light blue striped covered with a few bright spot patterns
Gra'ice had told Ralph that the "star points" as the Na'vi called the luminescent spots could lit up to varying degrees, physically showing if their owner being ill, injured, happy, focused or similar. The Na'vi could tell, by looking on these spots, if a couple had united under Eywa, or whether a woman was pregnant.
Ralph put these thoughts ad Acta, seeing that Wa'ey was dressed this time differently. Instead of a small chest chain and her loincloth, she seemed to wear an extremely short Na'vi dress, only reserved for Tsahik. Around her neck, she wore a necklace of Nantang teeth.
"Well, I'm 500% sure that I have not touched any alcohol today, so how is it possible that you show up just like that in the middle of my locked apartment." Ralph relaxed slightly and pointed to her clothes, "Totally dressed for a wedding at the Tree of Souls!"
Wa'ey giggled "And a good evening to you too, Ralph! I see you have your fire still under control and learned to interact more with the forest ..."
Ralph interrupted her angry: "Yes, yes, let's leave out that I got chased down by hungry predators, stung by hell ants, nearly drowned by a gigantic squid and pooped on regularly by ikran chicks. I am only a little Tawtute, but no, each of the Na'vi thinks I´ve got a hydrogen bomb in my body. I get to hear something like that all the time!" Ralph threw his knife into the nearest open toolbox and sat down with his face in his hands. Wa'ey seemed to smile at him even more.
Ralph took any notice of her, instead he talked on cheerfully. "How about you tell me something about yourself? I think it is scarcely possible that 1.60 meters is the right size for an adult Na'vi female. As for your teleportation tricks, I'm sure that the Na'vi are not able to do something like that! So what are you, a ghost, a hallucination, an ambassador? "
"I'm Complicated!" Wa'ey's response was dry. The reply came from Ralph immediately: "Bullshit, do you think I'm an obvious Skxawng, not noticing anagrams? The Na'vi told me dozens of stories about their goddess, how she manifests in this world."
"That's all right!" Wa'ey said quietly, "But you have to understand that nothing like that happens at this very moment!" "Oh, you think I'm so stupid? If you turn around the letters in Wa'ey, just a bit, the word for Eywa comes out! A Surprising result, isn´t it? "
Wa'ey looked like Ralph had punched her in the face with full force; so shocked was she by his remark. Her smiling face was gone.
"So I hit the spot, right?" Ralph laughed triumphantly. "So, what are you? An emissary of the Great Mother or the boss personally? "
Wa'ey looked at Ralph with a serious look, while her face brightened "And if I were Eywa?"
"I would fall to my knees in front of you and ask you why you are gifting such an unworthy like me with your attention! Was that a trick question?" "No, it was serious. Nevertheless, I am not Eywa, not the way you understand it! Eywa is not a goddess, as you Tawtute understand it; she IS everything in this world. Every creature, every water, every stone, the sky, WE ALL are a part of Eywa. I am just like you, only a part of Eywa. Does this answers your questions? "
"Not really," Ralph replied sarcastically," I still do not know who you are. Do you have a way to prove your claim and your identity? "
Wa'ey knelt in front of Ralph, so he could look into the eyes of her angel like face. She could even feel the air around Ralph was taught as a bowstring. She placed her hand gently on his right cheek. "You should know that Eywa does not take sides and do not have to prove herself! Think about it, would Eywa do THAT? "
And before Ralph could react, she had already grabbed his face with both hands, kissing him on the initially struggled against this injury of his intimacy, but Wa'ey was demanding with her kisses. Ralph managed not even to say a word of resistance.
For him, women had always been a great mystery, mysterious beings that he tried to treat with the utmost respect. During his time on earth he had no girlfriend as companion, unlike many of his peers who were now probably on earth, busy with repopulation.
Ralph put his arms gently on Wa'ey's shoulders to respond her caresses timidly. For him, this was all new territory, an area in which he wanted to venture very carefully. By no means he wanted to hurt Wa'ey in any way possible.
She slowly pulled away from him.
"Was that so bad," she asked mischievously, still holding his hands in her own. Many small strands of hair run down her face as she looked up to him. Ralph smiled weakly, "It's, uh, well, uh, how shall I say, unexpected!" His face was evidence of great despondency. "Uh, if that was your evidence, then, uh, I believe you that you are not ..."
He was not able to continue, because Wa'ey began to kiss him again, this time more violently than before.
Ralph waked up with huge pain in his limbs, his body a single pice of exhausted flesh and bone.
He could barely remember the night and why he was so devastated.
He looked for his glasses, but they were not at their usual place on the box. Instead, they were on the ground, right next to his underpants. Ralph glanced down at himself to confirm his conclusions. "Why would I sleep naked?" He murmured as he picked up his underpants, slightly noticing something underlying them.
It was one of the beautiful flowers young Na'vi women used to wove into their hair.
Ralph was puzzled.