And we come back again to Laylat's POV. As you know, the Omaticaya are going to move to the new Hometree, along with Jake and – well, why not – Grace. This means poor Norm is abandoned, all alone… because there is no way he can move to Omaticaya Hometree with the rest. Oh, and bear in mind I'm Polish and forgive me my mistakes. Nightstalkerblade told me that writing stories is like hiking, but for me it's more like wandering in a forest: you start in familiar place, then choose a path, stick to it until you find next one you like, and after you get out of the forest, you see a next one somewhere far away, and go there and finally you are tired in the middle of nowhere, so you must ask someone for directions. Aw, long note… forgive me.
You can never lead all the Omaticaya, a good few thousand Na'vi, in one go. Tsu'tey knew the way by air, so he took about eight People on ikrans and brought them to the new Hometree. Every day he could take three groups of Omaticaya to the Hometree. I knew the way through the forest as well, so I leaded those who had no ikrans, sometimes carrying the small children. I was slower than Tsu'tey on ikran, but I could take more People in one go, so I actually brought more Omaticaya to the Hometree. Let alone this day Tsu'tey mistook the directions, got lost in a vortex and leaded the Na'vi to nowhere. It was late evening when he at last found the Hometree and I didn't know whether to laugh, to cry, or to smack him for all the worry he caused us all. He was in this forest since he was born, how the hell could he get lost? But of course I couldn't be mad at him for a long time. Before I fell asleep, I felt like this little incident was just another thing to remind by the fire, while telling funny stories. I could easily imagine a big bonfire, all the Omaticaya around it in several circles, and me saying "And can you remember how our Olo'eytkan (Clan Leader), Tsu'tey, got lost in the forest?" I giggled at this thought. Tsu'tey sat up in his hammock.
'What are you laughing at, Laylat?' he asked. I looked at him, at his face lit by these small spots on his face.
'It's just how you could get lost' I giggled. 'Funny thing, don't you think? Olo'eytkan, born in this forest, knowing it like top of his hand – lost in the forest.'
'Don't laugh at me' Tsu'tey sighed. 'I thought of you and didn't watch the way.'
I smiled and reached out of my hammock to stroke him.
'Don't, you'll fall…' Tsu'tey warned, but he seemed pleased with my caress. 'We definitely need bigger hammock leaves. I wonder how they can be grown bigger, like in our old Hometree.'
I bit my lip. I had no idea how to grow hammock leaves bigger, but I knew that the forest would tell me if I looked for answer.
'I must go and listen to the forest' I said. 'But first, I have to bring the rest of the Omaticaya here.'
'And this Sky Person too' Tsu'tey reminded me. I sighed.
'Yes. This Sky Person Grace too. She can be very annoying.'
'What do you mean?'
'Her stupid questions' I waved my hands in pretended excitement and squealed, imitating this Grace's voice, 'Oh! What an interesting plant! I must take some samples! How do you use it? How it reproduces? How valuable is it for you?' I sighed and came back to my usual voice. 'That's what annoys me. And she is always – ALWAYS – coming too close. Good I have my Tarinka.'
Tsu'tey smiled.
'I see what you mean' he said. 'As soon as we finish bringing the People here, you may go. I will miss you, but I know you must go.'
I smiled and nodded. Then I wrapped myself in the hammock leaf and slept until the break of dawn. Soon I finished leading the Omaticaya and luckily, Grace obeyed my order to stay away from me. I could go to deep forest.
'Eywa ngahu (may Eywa be with you – something like "goodbye"), Laylat. Come back as soon as possible, we need you. I need you' Tsu'tey said, kissed my palm with hesitation and then he hugged me tightly. I gave him a warm kiss and left. First I jumped down from one branch of Hometree to another and when I got to the bottom I started to watch my step. I remembered how careless I was one time and I walked right into a palulukan's (thanator's) liar and I hardly survived. The palulukan chased me a long way, but finally I managed to climb a very thick tree – this one which now was our Hometree. I had to wait there until the palulukan got bored and left me alone, stop bleeding from deep scratches on my arms, back and tail – the palulukan reached me with his claws a few times – and in result, spend much more time in the forest than I expected. My parents and brother were too worried, but luckily I came back home and now I had even no scars left. I always considered myself lucky – or blessed by Eywa very much.
This time I did my best not to need special Eywa's protection. I walked slowly, looking around and listening to the forest. I walked the whole day and half the night until I got exhausted. I found a safe place, lay down and slept. When I woke up, I was a bit hungry, so I went to look for fruit. I couldn't kill any animal when gone listening, so I didn't also eat any meat then and I never took my bow or arrows. I didn't need them, as I couldn't use them. Actually I carried only my bag, where I put gathered herbs and fruit. I found the tree where my favorite fruit grew: very sweet kxener, for most Na'vi too sweet to be considered edible, but I loved it. I climbed the tree, picked one fruit, sat on a branch and bit the kxener, but it didn't taste me. I grimaced. It was just way too sweet. How weird! I always loved sweetness. I forced myself to eat up the kxener, as I hated wasting food, and looked for something sour, like ki'ong, or salty, like katxot. I would be overjoyed to find a ki'ong tree, even though I never liked it. It was Tsu'tey who liked sour fruit, and ki'ong was his favorite. I shrugged at this thought. Maybe it was because of Tsahaylu, I could have picked up some Tsu'tey's habits and likes. I never met any Na'vi who noticed this, but it was possible. About midday I found a ki'ong tree. I reached for one fruit and bit into it as if I hadn't anything to eat for ages. Sour juice, which I never liked before, trickled on my chin. I licked it. It was so tasty that I couldn't resist a few ki'ong more. Strange! I never liked eating much, I never liked ki'ong, but I was even surer that it was because of mating with Tsu'tey. Well, he never liked katxot or any other salty food, but never mind. I smiled and decided I will go back the same way to pick some ki'ong for Tsu'tey as well. I put some in my bag, to eat on the way.
I walked forward and forward, and after a few days I felt I found the place I could hear the forest. It was not the same place as earlier, but it was similar. I knelt down and reached for my queue to join it directly to the ground. I closed my eyes to avoid distractions from sight, then I moved my ears and soon I heard the forest's voice.
'Ask your questions, Laylat' the forest said. I asked my questions and patiently waited for answers. It could take even several days to get any, and I couldn't eat or sleep until I got all of them. This time I didn't have to wait a very long time. Eywa Herself spoke to me.
'Laylat, my daughter, support Neytiri' She said. 'She will soon find out she can't do things you can. Find herbs to help her and despite all your duties find time to listen to whatever she has to tell you.'
I was surprised Eywa's words were so direct, so clear. However, when I thought them through, I knew I didn't understand everything.
'Eywa… I thought Neytiri knows what she can't do…' I said, unsure if Eywa would clarify Her words or rather leave them to me to understand.
'Not everything' Eywa said. 'Support her. She will find out and it will be painful for her. You must help her when you get to know. Come and listen to the forest then.'
I was more than willing to agree with Eywa's will. I solemnly swore I would do anything to help. If necessary, even kiss a Dreamwalker.
Eywa fell silent, but I still listened. I couldn't understand any words for good few hours and suddenly I saw a lightning through closed eyelids, I heard a thunder and I felt cold rain on my body. I wasn't afraid of the storm, as I knew I was in a safe place. I waited for answers and for the end of the storm, unsure what will come first. I blamed myself for not plaiting my hair, like most of the Omaticaya do, as my wet, loose hair were sticking to my face.
The storm lasted for what seemed a lifetime, but luckily the forest gave me some answers before it stopped. I tried to remember it all. I didn't know when the storm ended, but when the forest finished telling me about strengthening Tarinka, it wasn't raining. I still waited for the recipe for herbs to grow hammock leaves bigger. It took a few days to get this answer. I thanked Eywa and the forest for answers and disconnected from the ground. I felt exhausted, so I lay down right on the ground and slept. After a long time sleeping, I ate all the ki'ong I had left in my bag and went back to the Hometree, gathering herbs and ki'ong on my way home.
I get more and more "update soon" reviews, so I tell you now: I need at least four schooldays to write a chapter, including typing and correcting errors. At least! So let's say I'll update every Wednesday, OK? I promise.
Please review if you liked this chapter, or the whole story, or you have any suggestions for future chapters. I don't promise I will include them all, but I will include every idea I like. Please don't just click on "Add to Alerts" or "Add to favorites", a review shows me much more!
