Primarily the mountain clans would feel the aftermath of the battle in the mountains. Many of the surviving Na'vi had come together in larger communities to improve their survival prospects for the coming years, meanwhile, Tsamsiyu of four different groups, more than 2000 Na'vi under the orders of their respective Olo'eyktan, searched the mountains for enemy resistance pockets.
As it turned out, there were plenty of them. Jake and his Tsamsiyu had indeed destroyed the main force of nearly 500 enemies, but there were dozens of Vrrtep groups lurking in mountain caves. Many of these groups undertook constant attacks on some of the mountain clan´s villages, with the aim of destroying them completely and let their population disappear.
Of course, the Na'vi could not leave their Tsmukan eTsmuke of the mountain clans to such a fate, so they fought with a lot of zeal to protect these villages, despite the losses suffered.
The losses, yeah, that had been great, Ralph reminded himself about that fact constantly, as he was now resting in one of the Kelutrel healing alcove´s. He was guarded by a healer and her Ikran and filled with so much painkillers that he believed sometimes, he was able to see the forest´s. One day he thought he could smell the color of his surroundings. At least he was in better shape than the other Na'vi, who had been wounded in the great battle.
More than 108 wounded, 37 dead, all kinds of injuries. Jakes advance party had to supply a lot of people after the battle. The healers were doing everything in their might to save a couple of Tsamsiyu, but some injuries, such as direct hits indicated by Stormguards, were simply not possible to treat.
Ralph shuddered whether the madness that seemed to recapture this world again. He called the latest reports he had heard from Nai'Sha to his mind. Apparently, the Vrrtep had appeared on other sites as well, in order to terrorize the Na'vi people living there.
There were already rumors about a fight between a group of the rider clan´s and some stormguards. Other reports spoke of skirmishes at the East Sea between a Ikran Clan and a group of winged Vrrtep. Ralph shook his dazed head before he lay back in his leaves nest, trying to nap away his aching existence.
Two weeks later, the attacks of Vrrtep now had extended to all of Pandora, although no one could tell where the monster came from, Ralph was back on the road to recovery. His right arm was in a sling, and although he still had some people watching over him, he had already been allowed to leave the healing alcove just to go on a small strole.
There was not much else for Ralph to do. Jake himself had brought his Banshee Tamer back to Hells Gate base. In addition, Neytiri had been taken care of his equipment, blending them in custody. So, when Ralph was out of the alcove´s salvation, it was usually to get some fresh air, entertaining himself and his friends for some time when they were around.
Rak'nor was usually present at the Kelutrel, because he represented his Sempul, while Jake was out with his Tsamsiyu group to hunt Vrrtep or coordinating movements with the other Olo'eyktan. Gra'ice and Lie'nak seemed to be with Rak´nor, each of them fully occupied with their duties as a craftswoman or aspiring Tsahik. There were only a few hours in which Lie'nak was not found in her working alcove, just as there were only few moments when Ralph found Gra'ice in something different than the pastoral care and child protection.
He had not seen his remaining friends for days. Miklas circled through the sky while on his Taronyu, while Eytukan apparently went to the clan of his birth to support his Sempul. Harlon was just as untraceable. Traveling with a group of Tsamsiyu that he had met recently. Nai'Sha snorted always something about a Laria, but Ralph had no idea whether she was talking of a person, a Na'vi weapon or a musical instrument.
Nai'Sha itself could always be seen at the Kelutrel evening meals, but Ralph had no idea what she was doing the rest of the day. She often spoke to him about security services, then collecting trips, sometimes hunting-parties she was supposed to lead.
Ralph just thought about all this while he stroked a small Larisel´s fur. The tiny creature cooed with pleasure to herself, but scurried away when she became aware of a new visitor. Ralph turned to the entrance of the root plateau, where he saw Neytiri, dressed in official robes. The Tawtute bowed slightly before her before she spoke to him, "Ra'lph, on a word!" The phrase, probably picked up from her husband sounded on Na'vi a little bit unusual, but Ralph was quick to come for her request.
Walking briskly behind her, Neytiri led him deeper into the Kelutrels structure until she stopped in front of a curtained entrance. Two Tsamsiyu stood in front of it, keeping watch on all people around them. They greeted them respectfully and parted the curtains for them to pass. Neytiri meant Ralph to follow her, while gently slipping through the entrance into the room behind it. Ralph followed her example.
When the curtains closed again, he saw for the first time the comfortable living area of the Olo'eyktan and his family. The "apartment" looked like any other Na'vi accommodation, functionally, in harmony with nature, open to the environment. Nevertheless, this area of the Kelutrel seemed to be full of jewelry. Dreamcatchers, flowering plants, hunting trophies, all this and much more decorated the walls. The floor was completely coverd in soft silk moss. In one corner of the room stood next to a makeshift sundial a clothes rack, probably for Jake's armour and weapons. From the ceiling hung to two beautiful sleeping leafes. The larger one, which looked like a flower´s blossom, had to be for Jake and Neytiri, the smaller for Nai'Sha. Rak'nors "bed" was gone, because he now lived with Gra'ice in his own, much smaller alcove.
Neytiri meant Ralph to settle on one of the seats, while the Tsahik settled down before him in a complex sitting position. "You know what is Tsahik´s duty?" It was more of a trick question, "Yes, she interprets the will of Eywa, she interprets the course of her life circle. She is a shaman whose words count more than the Olo'eyktan´s. She is the first of the healers and priestesses and cares about the well-being of the whole clan! "
Neytiri nodded, "Then you probably know why I asked you here, Ra'lph?"
Ralph watched the golden eyes of the Na'vi in front of him, then he looked down sadly, "It´s because of Wa'ey, am I right?" Neytiri's silence was answer enough for him, "She has not woken up jet?" "The healers have splinted her bones and cleaned her wounds. She needs more time. Such wounds are slow to heal. We have given her Unil'mox juice, so she will sleep for some time! "
Ralph nodded "Artificial deep sleep, I understand!" "Yes, ma Jake has also mentioned that phrase. He has told me about you and Wa'ey and I believe that there is more to it than the short version story of my husband. So?" Neytiri looked at Ralph quizzically, as if expecting an answer. With the knowledge that he would come out of this situation only one way Ralph began to tell his story.
"Well, about Wa'ey… I've met her more than two years ago, she had already looked exactly like now, just as childlike. This first encounter, well, that was on one of your celebration day´s. I already had drunken some of the stuff Nai´sha had made for me so I was a little bit…of the shore, if you get my I hear that knock on the door. I open it, Wa'ey stands there out front. Since I did not know her name, I thought she was a stray Eveng. Therefore I invited her into my ship, offered her some stuff to drink, but she only was talking about something like an interior fire which should be my soul and then by a heartbeat she was gone! "Neytiri nodded, thinking about this information. "Well, I was pretty woozy and thought I had just get caught by the alcohol, but I still went to you to report on the matter, only then Nemo intervened!"
Neytiri chuckled inwardly, before adding: "And then the matter was forgotten for you, wasn´t it" "No, not exactly," Ralph said, "The whole ceremony with Eywa, I was not sure if that really was just my imagination. Do you remember the time I came back from the star lakes with this ugly bite wound from that gargoyle fish? Three days before I left for the Lake´s, Wa'ey visited me again, this time in a rather ceremonial dress. At first I was surprised, I think I have even yelled at, etc., but then she, how shall I say, surprised me! "
"Surprised you howß," asked Neytiri, although she could guess the answer "She kissed me, and I mean really kissed me, not only as friend, but more like lovers would do it!" Ralph blushed slightly as he said that "I don´t remember much what happened on that night, except that I woke up without my underwear, my loincloth, so I have a good idea of what we had been ...doing! "
Neytiri looked at Ralph in shock. Under Na'vi intimacies were only possible with a behavior like Ralph´s was not comon in their society. The Na'vi were not prudish or shameful, but were intimacies concerned, there still were a few rules that people had to obey for the better. "So you are mated for life?" "No,no, not that I know, how could we?" Ralph pointed to the back of his head, to indicate the absence of a braid.
"From this moment on, Wa'ey came more and more frequently to meet me, when no one of Jake's guard was looking for me. Sometimes she stayed only a few minutes, sometimes for a few days. Occasionally, she accompanied me on some of my travels, showing me something new or telling me stories about Pandora, it´s animals, it´s history, about herself! "
"What has she told you?" Neytiri asked, curious again. Ralph immediately answered her question, "Well, that she can disappear and reappear whenever she wishes, that she had always her childlike stature, that she belong´s to no clan, etc. She has described herself as a simple wanderer, just trying to satisfy her curiosity. I was happy with her response." "And you two have befriended each other?"
"Yep, pretty fast actually. Sometimes Wa'ey has come to help me with some repairs in my living habitat, a few times she has borrowed something from my tool boxes. Moreover, a few times she has made with me, well, you know, the happy thingy no one talks about…"
Neytiri was still looking at Ralph curious, and then she frowned. "Why haven´t you told us about her? She would have been welcomed as a Tsmuke in our clan?" "Sorry, but that was not what she wanted! Not that I would have proposed this topic to her, but Wa'ey wanted this relationship to remain our own secret. At that time I thought, well, what would be wrong with that? Not one of my smartest moves, I give you that."
Neytiri looked anxiously at the ceiling as if she saw a sign there, then said to him, "Ra'lph, your words will be protected, as it will be with Wa'ey at the Omatikaya´s Kelutrel. Hear what I have to say: For me, this girl is neither a little Na'vi nore a ghostly apparition. She is much more. She radiates in Eywa's power, a power one can only find in a few rare places. Ra'lph, this girl is really something special ... "
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
12 days after Ralph´s talk with Neytiri, seven, after he had recoverd enough to go back to his habitat at Hells Gate, the Omatikaya again experienced a surprise, triggered by the small Tawtute.
At least it would have been a surprise, hadn´t Nai'Sha been this day at Kelutrel, entrusted with patrol duty. Thus she came to check the radio that Ralph had left for fast contact. Except Nai'sha's parents and her Tsmukan only she and some of the younger Taronyu were able to use the clunky equipment, most of the other Na'vi were either too stubborn or too clumsy to work with the complex device.
Nai'Sha climbed again for the umpteenth time in the tree with the "communication device"; first to examine the blue disks the machine drew its vitality from the sun's light, for damage. Then she climbed back into the tree canopy, so that the young Na'vi could see on the strange stones on the machine´s body, if Ralph had sent any messages. It was always a similar procedure.
Nai'Sha was just about to go, but some crackle out of the machine made her pause in her movement. "... Repeat, Omatikaya, please come, please come, here's the Banshee Tamer. Banshee Tamer calls Omatikaya. Is there anybody who hear´s me, dammit? "
Nai'Sha rushed back to the unit, listening to the strange headdress which was necessary to speak and to answer one´s questions, "I hear you, Ralph, what's wrong?" She could feel the relief she received from the other side: "Nai'Sha, is that you? Thank Eywa, finally someone with whom I can talk to." "Ralph, what's the matter? What is wrong?" "What's wrong? You ask me what's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong with me, namely the Palululkan's going on! They threw me out of my home, that's wrong! "
Nai'Sha could not believe what she was hearing: "What, but I was thinking…." "No time to explain girl, I'm coming in with the Banshee Tamer! Is there a free spot somewhere near your Kelutrel where I can land?" Ralph's voice was very hard to understand,"What, but you can not land up here so easily!" "Exactly, that's why I ask whether you can give me a clear forecourt!" "What? Listen, there are now many Omatikaya busy with their duties, you can not possibly ... "
Ralph screamed through the speakers in her ears "Nai'Sha, my shuttle is just inches before CRASH DOWN, kapish? Either you see to it that I have a free landing spot, or I roll my rust bucket through the forest with a three-mile path of destruction, with all the suffering and terror and pain for Eywa. The choice is yours!"
Of course anyone needed to ask Nai'Sha how she would decide. Immediately she chased like the wind on the forecourt to Kelutrel to warn the Clan of the oncoming disaster. Initially nobody wanted to believe the hectic Ite of their Olo'eyktan, but as one of the Na'vi on the observation post´s got a closer look on a strongly smoking and Banshee Tamer class shuttle with increasingly loud engines, , the call of Nai'Sha was followed with hastened concern.
And not too soon, 10 minutes later Ralph went down on one of the small fields near Kelutrel with his Banshee Tamer like a meteor. Even from a distance, anyone could see that the flying machine had suffered more than great damage. The outer shell was scratched, dented and covered with the remains of what vaguely resembled black winged creatures. The wooden weaponplatforms they had built on the ship looked more than tattered and the engine pods of the shuttle smoked threateningly. With a clatter of steel, the gigantic shuttle sat down on the "landing zone", covering some Na'vi with upswirled ground dust. Only then, the engines noise died.
Nai'Sha, Rak'nor and Gra'ice were the first who reached the shuttle, followed closely by Neytiri, her Palululkan Taronyu'Tey, Wa'ey (who had woken up yesterday fully recovered) and a large amount of prying Omatikaya. They all gathered around the exit hatch of the ship. This part of the ship went open with creaking noise, smoke was still coming out of the ship.
And terrible curses:
"So, you cockroaches with too many legs, get out, especially you fat cattle! I won´t see you ever again! And you there flea fur, let these eggs alone, that is not a special football ... Yes, Yes you oversized rubber eagle, I watch out on what happens to your eggs and, hey, that's going too far! To shit in my ship! Get out, OUT! "
What came out of the hatch, nobody would have expected. Little hell ants with their queen, carrying dozens of larvae with them. Prolemuris that dangled from the door. Nantang mothers with their countless puppies, even two baby Angsik who just fitted through the hatch of the ship. And there were still more creatures coming out, small beetles, forest mammals, over the roof hatches climbed Ikran chicks along with a dam, which had apparently broken both of her wings.
The animals seemed to be flowing out of the audience Na'vi and (most important) not to bother the Palululkan Instead they slipped quickly through the ranks, looking for a new home. Some, like the Angsik babies or chicks, moved to a Na'vi to show their affection for them, others, like hell Ants, Nantang or the smaller animals were quick to come back too their forest. Behind this whole herd a rather rumpled-looking Ralph staggered out of the shuttle.
"What's so much to stare, never heard of Noah's Ark," he asked toxically in the gathered round, but up to a growl from Neytiris Palululkan Ralph got no response from the perplexed Na'vi. "Silence on the cheap seats!" Ralph snapped towards the gigantic predator who got a little bit stunned to this exhibition of courage.
Meanwhile Wa'ey went to Ralph, greeting him Na'vi way. "I see you, my friend," she said in a voice that expressed much joy. Ralph nodded wearily "Hello girl, finally awake? You look good," he turned towards Rak'nor:" Hey, Olo'eyktan-holiday cover, where is the General? I would have expected being yelled at by your Sempul because the Kelutrel Omatikaya is no aircraft carrier or something like that. Where is Jake? I need to talk to him! "
Ralph said it all so quickly that only a few could understand his Na'vi, including Neytiri who chuckled about the description of her husband and her Itan, whos tail was whipping wildly in front of him when he heard the words. Yet he kept his emotionless face, a legacy of Neytiri's Sempul. "A good day to you too, Ra'lph. For your information, our Sempul is currently supporting a Tsamsiyu group from the coastal Springer clans. He will be back in three days. All his affairs here on Kelutrel now concern me. Say, why are you here? "
"Well, that is a long story," said Ralph, as he broke away from Wa'ey's embrace. "The short version is like this: I wake up today in the morning, not only to be awakened by an Ikran but loud cries. Of course, Skxawng like I am, I run from my shuttle to look after things, and what do I see? A huge horde of Vrrtep of any kind attacks Hells Gate. Probably slipped through one of the many spie-networks of Jakes army. And when I mean Vrrtep all kinds, I mean really of all kinds. There were scouts, warriors, Stormguards, did you know that these warriors could also have wings like Bat´s? That was very disturbing, I can tell you."
Ralph paused for a moment, listening to the crowd to give them the opportunity to digest the just said:
"As if that was not bad enough, the whole animal world of Hells Gate turns up and rushes, despite outnumbered many times, against the attackers. I can only watch the spectacle, while this nursery crashes in my shuttle, along with a few dams that carry their eggs. I just tell me, okay, Eywa seems to want that kids to survive. So I end up playing Noah's Ark."
"That's why I fly my shuttle through the formations of the winged warriors to crush some of them in the air, it's inevitable when the critters neatly bag my Banshee Tamer. But I still can barely escape them, when a Nantang dribbles on my back and this huge queen ant is busy to crawl on my bed. I call Nai'Sha via comlink , tell her I need a place to land and, well, here I am! "
"It was very selfless of you to save all of these young animals!" said Neytiri, as some appreciative murmur went through the ranks of those present "Eywa seem to have trust in you when she entrusted you with such a task!" "She trusts him very much!" Wa'ey murmured, so loud that only Ralph could hear it. He replied, "Well, their parents sacrificed themself for me, I would be the biggest motherfucker in the universe if I would not offer my help in this situation!"
"And what are you doing now? You have no home anymore!" asked Gra'ice.
Ralph laughed slightly about it "Well, now that you say it, I see there is actually no problem!" "Why not?" Asked Gra'ice "Honestly" Ralph's indignation was impossible to ignore, "That's a Kelutrel over there, a HOME TREE. Look at my sudden arrival just as a very very fast relocation to you! I lean as far out of the window as I can and say that Jake won´t be particularly bothered at all! "
Four days later, Jake came back with his men, to hand the injured and to give his other Tsamsiyu some time to take a break. Jake was actually not upset, after he learned that Ralph had moved to the Omatikaya Kelutrel. In fact, he commented the whole situation with a dry "About damn time!" Ralph still lived in his shuttle for his free time to have access to filtered air, but he was now just as integrated into the clan´s life like any other of his age.
Ralph helped wherever he could, whether it was collecting duties, hunting parties, craft activities, etc. More often he and Wa'ey were wathing over the Eveng because of their body size, they fraternized more with them on one hand, the Na'vi children could not always guarantee their own safty because of age and maturity, so the two would indeed have an eye on the groups of young Na'vi playing. Just weeks after the incident at Hells Gate, the Omatikaya had accepted Ralph as one of them contemporary, because of his willingness to help.
Unlike Ralph, Wa'ey had preferred, to live in Kelutrel like the rest of Omatikaya, instead of spending the night in a no longer flyable shuttle, which was again slowly overgrown by plants. The healers and priestesses soon took her under their wing after it was revealed what talents she possessed in these areas. Even the Na'vi, who were responsible for the care of Ikran or Pa'li, soon appreciated Wa'ey for her love in dealing with the Kelutrel´s creatures.
Everything was perfect, thought Neytiri, were it not for the problem with the Vrrtep that Jake day held at bay day in and out with the other Olo'eyktan and their Tsamsiyu, even if it were reported that more and more Vrrtep began to migrate towards Hells Gate. But even this problem remained limited for Neytiri. She had greater concerns with another topic.
Her Ite.
Along with Jake, young Eytukan had come back and where the two met, there was conflict right on the spot. Eytukan's Sempul did try to speak reason to his Itan, but apparently the young man had taken a fancy to Nai'Sha, that much was clear. It was also clear that this appeal was not very beneficial to Eytukan´s health, as he once again found out. Neytiri was out together with Wa'ey whose company she always enjoyed, when she watched another sad episode of Eytukan's advertising attempts from the position of a branch.
While the young Taronyu, dressed as a magnificent bird, approached an unsuspecting Nai'Sha, the Tsahik mumbled "He will end up back in the healer´s alcove, that´s for sure!" "Are you sure?" asked Wa'ey, hanging upside down from the branch like a possum on her tail, rocking back and forth "He looks very confident!" "Wait just a second, you will see; just as my Jake he is going to grab her at the tail!" "Ow, that must hurt! "" Well, my husband had always been a bit of a large kid ... Oh, it seems Nai'Sha turns to him! "
"Yes, but only to ... OUCH that must definitely hurt!" Wa'ey said. Neytiri gently corrected her: "You're wrong, Tsmuke ma, ma Ite is otherwise much more impulsive and, oh ... Eywa, is it to believe, she seems to apologize to him." "Hey, Hey, he seems to have got your Ite at last!"
"I don´t think so Wa´ey, I don´t think so... Oh dear, that was probably a word too much! " the first Tawtute swear slowly began to resound in Kelutrel. "How does she know all that words Tsahik?" "Ralph and Jake, but especially ma Jake. Although, as long as it leaves to cursing only... Oh ma Ite, THIS is really nasty! That Eytukan can feel something in his loins only can be described as a miracle!"
"Why?" Wa'ey dropped headfirst on Neytiri's branch "His people learn riding before they can walk!" Neytiri shrugged her shoulders slightly, "Whether he can walk again it after this thing is another matter. Come Wa'ey. We need to think of a new punishment for my Ite." Wa'ey got a mischievous look in her eye´s: "Let's ask Ralph, he always got the wildest ideas!"
At the same time, only a little further away, in a small alcove inhabited by Harlon and his Tsmukan Miklas, the former listened only slightly as he heard the abuse done by his girlfriend Nai'Sha. The Tsamsiyu chuckled slightly with amusement as he tried to patch up one of his leg braces. "The Ite of your Olo'eyktan is a very dangerous woman!" he heard Laria say behind him.
For some time now the Tsamsiyu of the Tipani had been living in the Omatikaya Kelutrel, first to cure her wounds sustained in battle, then to perform as a Tipani messenger of smaller services prior to her complete recovery. But the last few weeks she had been only there to let Harlon tell her more of about Toruk Makto´s art of war. Or to acquire the told techniques.
Harlon praised her answer with a grunted comment: "Ha, that's nothing! Nai'Sha is in a good mood today, otherwise we would hear Eytukan really scream for mercy! "Laria put her head on his shoulder, having a thinking look on her face "Eytukan, Eytukan, wasn´t that yout last Olo'eyktan? "
"Penultimate. Neytiri's father, Eytukan the Great, after his death his pupil Tsu'tey the Brave inherited the title, but only for a few days. He died of his wounds after the Battle at the Tree of Souls. After the battle, the council of Omatikaya elders, together with the other 15 clans Olo'eyktan, had chosen Jake Sully to be our next Olo'eyktan. The Eytukan of which I speak is the Itan of Fimlo, Olo'eyktan of the Savage Makto. It is sometimes confusing, I know, but Fimlo'itan was named in honor of Neytiri's father! "
Laria looked at him fascinated "You never told me!" Laria said, wonderingly, "I always thought Toruk Makto would have claimed this title for himself!" Harlon chuckled when he heard this. "No, my Sempul was there when the Omatikaya forced him to accept their decission. Originally he wanted Neytiri to have the leadership, since she bore the bow of her Sempul and would be the next Tsahik, but the Omatikaya had said no! "
Harlon laid the now repaired lower leg leatherarmor to the side while he reached with his other hand for a cup of granul juice, standing next to him.
"On that day, Jake Sully disapeard from the Tree of Souls. As I understand the matter, he was previously doing penance for his sins before he would let the honor of Olo'eyktan be imposed on him"Harlon poured the bitter contents of the cup down his throat. Laria now changed her seating position in order to be closer to her friend, even if its partially lascivious movements were perceived by Harlon with the equanimity of a rock.
"So, um," Laria rested her chin in her hands, while her tail whipped back and forth casually "What happend?" "The Olo'eyktan had gone on a pilgramage to the fallen Kelutrel. There, he buried the entire dead, paiing their respects all alone. As it our people finally found him, mourning at the the grave of Eytukan the Great, Toruk Makto was a single nerve bundle. My Sa'nu has always said that he has suffered more than any other Na'vi during that time."
Laria nodded sympathetically, "Well, it must have been a difficult time." "For the Omatikaya?" "For all the Na'vi. For Toruk Makto." Harlon emphasized a hair strand in his field of vision, while he repeated Laria's words in his mind. "It certainly was difficult, but the Olo'eyktan had our Tsahik" "Neytiri?" "Yes, it's not official, but many of us believe that Neytiri has healed his soul more than anything else in this world. You Tipani, you know Jake only as Toruk Makto, as Olo'eyktan. You don´t know the man behind the titles."
Laria looked at him offended; "Now you hurt my Tipani pride. Are you trying to say, we do not SEE Toruk Makto?" Harlon shook his head "No, no, not that way! I mean, Jake is so much Tsamsiyu in war as peaceful Na'vi in quiet times. He is perhaps Olo'eyktan, but he is also at the same time Jake Sully, a Na'vi, born Tawtute. You've never seen him look after our Eveng how respectful he is to all women and men. Oh, he's a hard taskmaster, but he is always ready to accept criticism of his people. And he loves our Tsahik idolatrous. The two are part of a bond that is stronger than anything that I've ever heard about! "
"Speaking of love" chuckled Laria, who played around with her necklace "I'm curious why you do not have any partner. I mean, I was promised to one of our best Taronyu and when this time of sorrow ... is over, I will go with Gari'hos to join him in Tsahaylu. But you ... "she poked her finger at Harlon´s chest "You are only one and a half years younger than me and still have no wife with whom you want to form a partnership. I mean, your Tsmukan will marry soon, right?"
Harlon stood up and looked gravely down on the kneeling Laria "That's my business! Just enough so that you give peace, I want to spare a potential partner a possible failure on my part as Tsamsiyu. I don´t want to take a wife and give her offspring, because there is always for a Tsamsiyu a risk to fall in battle. I will not allow anyone to be left alone because I´m dead, you know? "
Laria now also rose to her feet, "I think I understand you, a little bit ..." she pointed behind Harlon "But what if Eywa personally advises you to mate?" Harlon turned and looked at an Atokirina that slowly went flying through one of the holes in the woodwall in order to put on the armor stack of Harlon and Laria. Harlon looked at the small seed in fascination as she bounced up and down while Laria reached forward to look for her fighting knife under the pile to pick up. Harlon always wore his around his waist.
"It is custom among Tipani, that the exchange of an object to each other is a sign of deep friendship. It's like a bond, only on friend´s level, and can or should be strengthened even more than once!" She held out her Harlon knife, with the handle facing forward, "I don´t want to force you into anything, but if you do not mind ...?"
Harlon had no answer, so he took his own knife with the handle forward.
"I see you," he said with a smile, as the objects forever changed by their owners.
Meanwhile the Atokirina flew away, task fulfilled.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There weren´t such things as Na'vi Weddings. No, Nein, nyet, nada, Ende Gelände!
So asserted the theory in Dr. Grace Augustine's book "Na'vi", as it was sufficiently demonstrated by observations in the Omatikaya Clan. For a Na'vi couple, marriage was pretty easy, both known for their love joined in Tsahaylu and when this connection was provided by Eywa with an "approved" stamp, the newlyweds could follow the call of nature to reproduce.
Exact the opposite of what Ralph and the remaining Omatikaya were going to see. For some unknown reason, Lie'nak and Miklas had insisted on an official marriage before Olo'eyktan and Tsahik, to emphasize the "seriousness" of their actions, so were they told by Miklas.
Harlon added a few cynical remarks to this remark of his Tsmukan, such as "You only want to have a new reason for a celebration!" Or "You dare not to go in the forest, now that Nai'Sha constantly guards it!" Even now, in the crowd of Na'vi, the Tsamsiyu went on with his biting commentary.
"This is so unnecessary," murmured the magnificently decked out Tsmukan´s groom "Haven´t your mother taught you to keep your mouth at weddings?" Ralph asked sarcastically as he pulled his clothes a little too pretty. Unlike the rest of the Na'vi, which bore full feather capes, complex jewelry, beautiful garments and Wa'ey in her Amazon dress, , Ralph stood beside her in the black dress uniform of a corporal of the United Nations Marine Corps, with plate cap, wires and all the bells and turn. He would have preferred to appear in his usual gap, but Jake had made him a stroke through the bill.
"Either appropriately dressed for the occasion, or not going at all!" had been his words when he had given Ralph his new garment for special occasions. He still did not know what strings the Olo'eyktan had to suture to pull up something like that, but Ralph suspected that he was actually wearing Jake's old parade uniform. "My Sah'Nok has taught me nothing about such Tawtute bullshit!" The words of Harlon brought Ralph back to the present.
Meanwhile Nai'Sha stood apart from the crowd in addition to the parents of the couple. She was dressed as a princess of the Na'vi, bored relocating her weight from one leg to the other and thereby switching her ears, trying hard not to hear the ramblings of the ancients. Honestly, she had really pulled the short straw, as Sempul would tell her.
She was almost about to break in her boredom with her loud voice, when finally redemption came in form of a Tsamsiyu who would form the guard of honor, "Tsmuke, we can begin!" The young man spoke reverently. Nai'Sha nodded volatile and shouted over her shoulder, "Well, let´s get over this! Follow me!" The procession continued with Nai'Sha at the top of the movement, behind her the parents of Lie'nak and Miklas, then a group of Eveng, spreading petals over the way and at the end, hand in hand, Miklas and Lie'nak, both with dreamy expression, in magnificent attire and painted with intricate symbols.
The procession moved towards the main square of Kelutrel where Jake and Neytiri would perform the ceremony. Accompanied by the sound of the choir of singers under Gra'ice the procession walked along the honor guard of Rak'nor´s Tsamsiyu, dividing the amount of visitors, marching directly in front of the royal couple. Nai'Sha let this all cold; she had to perform only a duty. As a self-proclaimed future Tanhi Makto it was her duty to act for this wedding as a personalized representation of Eywa, a role that could only performed by her. When the procession came to a halt in front of Jake and Neytiri, Nai'Sha lifted her bow to enjoin silence; even the choir and his musicians went silent.
"Behold, Omatikaya!" Nai'Sha cried with a commanding voice, "Here are two Na'vi, which require me to seal their bond for life! Omatikaya, what are their names?" First appeared Miklas before her, along with his Sempul and the Sempul of his bride. The two older Na'vi responded: "Miklas, Omatikaya Taronyu, Itan of Kora and Farum!"t hen Lie'nak copied this gesture with her Sah'Nok and Miklas Mother "Lie'nak, Craftmaster of the Omatikaya, Ite of Yomi and Sva'hena!" Nai'Sha nodded, then she touched with her bow the couple in a blessing gesture.
"So it shall be, when their love is true and pure!" she turned back to the crowd "Omatikaya, is their love true and pure?" Well Jake came into the game as he replied, "It is both, as real as the exchange of seasons, as clear as the waters of our country, I find both worthy. So is my judgment as the sixth Toruk Makto and Olo'eyktan!" Nai'Sha nodded again, then she said:
"But is their Bond pure and blameless? Have I really blessed their union?" Now Neytiri came forward her Tsahik robes, to take one hand of Lie'nak and one of Miklas. "Eywa you have blessed them indeed!" Bride and groom put almost humiliating their briads in the Tsahik´s hands, whereupon Neytiri slowly moved the two braids together. Quick as a flash the ends connected as if they had always belonged together. Lie'nak and Miklas wept with joy, overwhelmed by the emotions of the other, meanwhile, the crowd cheered like one single being. Neytiri spoke a few words of blessing, then turned over to their Ite: "Eywa, you have seen how clean is the bond of loving. What is your decision?"
Nai'Sha looked from her Sah'Nok to her newlywed friends, and then she cleared her throat loudly to silence the crowd. She drew her bow high in the air to call out with loud voice, "The Great Mother rejoices in the love of these two, let the celebrations begin!"
The subsequent festival lasted until late into the night, so obsessed were the Na'vi, to forget the last few difficult weeks for a while. There was dancing, singing, music was played, Wa'ey was with her homemade Cuew'Amokri the musical highlight of the evening. During the ceremony, Ralph and Harlon were on hand to give a brief stand up comedy about the bride and groom, including embarrassing stories from their childhood, in which many of those present were laughting to tears. It was an exuberant celebration in which Nai'sha's self-distilled moonshine was served. It was lucky for the Na'vi that Ralph held himself adamantly abstinent, even if a tipsy Wa'ey always wanted to give him something to drink.
The reason for this reluctance was not because he adjourned alcohol, oh no, Ralph had calibrated his body strongly over the last 2 years, no it was something else. Neytiri had come before the start of the festivities to Ralph along with her husband and first-born, to entrust him with an extremely delicate task. This objective was met by three o´clock in the morning when three cloaked figures rushed with two lifeless bundles through the sleeping Kelutrel so they could prepare their surprise. None of the guards took note of these, at the request of their Tsahik, which was inaugurated only too well in the plan of the three figures. In the middle of the night the three cloaked figures brought the bundles in Ralph´s shuttle, guarded by a Tsamsiyu.
The surprise came next morning, as a terrible noise, which would have even made God and Lucifer cover their ears, penetrated out of Ralph´s shuttle. There were sounds of fighting, shouting and overturning objects. Very soon each eveng in Kelutrel knew that here Nai'Sha Eytukan and were again at loggerheads. Only this time, the situation was not self-inflicted by them.
Ralph was the fox in the hen house, who had been planning this maneuver with Lie'nak, Gra'ice, Neytiri, Wa'ey, Jake, Rak'nor, Miklas and Harlon. The pompous wedding was all just a big set up, because it was the only way possible to get Nai'Sha and Eytukan together into the same Kelutrel. Rak'nor and Jake had then done the rest, in which they had drunk their two victims with the good old "I drink vodka and you" technique under the table.
Together with Harlon they then packed the two sleeping leafs and then transported them to Ralph, who had previously set up a humane tent before his shuttle. The rest has been Wa'ey's task, which brought the two brawlers with Ralph in the flightless shuttle. In the morning they were watching the reactions of their two victims live via a camera in the now closed shuttle. Needless to say, as these reactions were violently.
After the two had once calmed down inside the shuttle, they tried to free themself by force, a venture that failed to 43cm thick ceramitsteel. Then they tried persuasion over the mic Ralph had left in the shuttle along with some food supplies, but the young man was hard as a diamond. "This is the same as in the papal election; I'll let you out only when you´ve put down your differences!"
Neytiri and Wa'ey designated Ralphs approach as witty. Lie'nak called the whole hing nonsensical. Gra'ice repeatedly referred to the fact that they were dealing here with Nai'Sha and Eytukan. Jake called Ralph a cold-blooded bastard. But the work was worth it because after seven days, finally Ralph let the two out, now holding hands, to breathe fresh air again. Ralph should learn until much later that the Omatikaya would see this day forever as a day of miracle.
It doesn´t mattered for him. He was too busy cleaning up the mess caused by fighting in his shuttle.
"Well, yes, in the beginning, we got every few seconds in each others face, but then we started to see more and more into each other and well ... Suddenly we understood each other!" Nai'Sha explained to her friends, sat this evening together around the campfire. Three days had past since Nai'Sha and Eytukan had finally come
together peacefully, although still nobody wanted to believe, that this actually happend.
It had been three very peaceful days, although, yesterday Jake had ridden with Neytiri to his troops in the jungle, giving them new commands. Recently his Taronyu had identified large columns of Vrrtep, which seemed to move in the direction of Hell's Gate. The other Olo'eyktan agreed with Jake that they had to stop this march to weaken the enemy. So there were already first stories of success from the prairies, where the rider clans drove large squads of Vrrtep before them.
"It's like Sempu and Sa'nu, only even more extreme!" cackled Rak'nor who worked again as Olo'eyktan in the absence of his father. He was sitting beside his Tsmuke while his partner Gra'ice playfully tickled his ear´s. "What do you mean?" Ralph asked, while he was struggling with Miklas to crack a Kuli-nut for Lie'nak, previously rosted in the fire "Was their partnership not always as harmonious as now?"
Now every Na'vi present broke out laughing, including Wa'ey, who seemed to have heard from Neytiri some stories about the early relationship between her and the Olo'eyktan. Harlon only in pity on Ralph finally enlightened him: "This is a clan internal thing people still gossip about!" He glanced briefly at his friends before he went on, "It is said that our Tsahik was not a very patient teacher with Toruk Makto, often driven her mad while in training!" "Until they have wedded? Hard to imagine…" replied Ralph, while he struck the huge nut in half with his sword, distributing the pieces to the surrounding people.
"It´s just so with Na'vi in love, remember us two!" purred Wa'ey, which earned her a few glances. Ralph put his head tilted to the side to reply "Aha, so this is all just about hormones, something like a civilized form of the rut? I agree with you wholeheartedly!" Again there were some giggles, meanwhile Eytukan threw a few new pieces of wood into the fire "So Tsmukan?" Harlon asked him "What about you now? You've completed your training for Tsamsiyu faster than expected, nothing stands in the way for a partner for life, yet you are the ONLY one in our group, who ekes out his existence all alone!"
Everyone looked at Harlon expectantly, demanding an explanation. Nai'Sha teased "Well tell us, big guy, what's running between you and this handsome Tipani huntress?"
Harlons answer, which was more a growl, blown away his happy face "Laria is promised to one Taronyu from her clan, I know her future husband from my last deployment, the two are a perfect match and I will make sure that I am not in their way! My profession is that of Tsamsiyu, I do not want to die in battle when my body must be returned to someone at Kelutrel. Ma Tsmukan Miklas is already continuing the legacy of our family, I do not need to creat a hire too!"
Ralph was about to retort, when suddenly a loud scream pierced the air. No two heartbeats later, the cries were heard in the wake of some Taronyu coming out of the trees "Alarm, alarm, Vrrtep attack, alarm, Vrrtep are attacking!"
These few words were enough to make the Kelutrel panic. No one had expected that even one Vrrtep would escape Jakes force or that the beasts would be so foolhardy to attack a Kelutrel. But as often, the Vrrtep played not in these deliberations.
They came out of the shadows, first the scouts appeared like ghosts among the Na'vi in Kelutrel, then the flying Vrrtep, swooping in small groups out of the night sky to join their smaller brothers in fight. And finally, the main Vrrtep force.
Storm Guards marched under war-cries to the bridge root while panicing Na'vi were going there and there, firstly bringing the eveng and elders to safety, then coming back to ward off the hostile superiority.
"Extravagance the arches and Defend yourselves!" Rak'nors voice drowned out the noise easily, as the future Olo'eyktan gathered Taronyu around him with his friends on side. The young man looked so proud and imperious as his grandfather Eytukan the Great, who once also had to defend a Kelutrel. With a powerful voice, he brought order to the panic Omatikaya "shank the women and eveng in the Kelutrel, Taronyu, take your spears and cleans our home of these scouts. Ikran Makto to your mounts, get this monster´s out of the sky. All other´s follow me!"
Equal to a single living being, Na'vi tried now to obey the commands of their current leader, even if this should not prove to be so easy. Ralph, Harlon and Miklas braced themselves together with other young Taronyu against the attacking scouts, whose savage attacks they responded with their spear´s and knife´s. Ralph itself formed with Harlon and a few warriors a spearhead, because the wounds the Tawtute struck with his sword, ended for a Vrrtep usually fatal.
Gra'ice, Wa'ey and Lie'nak were among the Na'vi, who fled with the eveng in the internal structure of Kelutrel, even if this was marked by sheer hard work. People often had to be freed from the clutches of Vrrtep, then they had to prevent that one of the eveng got carried by a flying Vrrtep. Occasionally a few Taronyu brought relief for theTsamsiyu, so they had time to string their bows to let go down an arrow hail at the enemy.
Meanwhile, the main force of the enemy came closer across the bridge root, slowly and leisurely, as if they weren´t bothered by Rak'nor´s archers or Eytukan and the dozens of other warriors on Pali who thundered against them or that Nai'Sha brought down enemies from the sky along with the other Ikran Makto.
The Vrrtep weren´t bothered at all.
And that was their big error. Had they moved forward like the wind across the bridge, they would have sweeped away the weakened Omatikaya with only one attack, but they had done nothing of the sort. Thus they offered an ideal targetfor the greatest and oldest member of the entire clan.
Nemo, the Pay'Toruk, took his part in battle.
Slowly at first, then faster and faster one after another tentacle emerged from the water, threatening to blow up the sides of the root it occurred to the Vrrtep that their were in for the beating of their lifetime, but it was much too late for a retreat. With the force of a crashing train, Nemo stroke with its tentacles into the ranks of the enemy, either to crush Vrrtep or tear them with his tentacles into the depths. The cries of the beasts filled the air, their formation began to dissolve.
When Nemo's last tentacles disappeared with a screaming Stormguard in the depth´s of the water, the force of the enemy was not even scratched to some extent, so numerous were they. But his attack bought the Omatikaya valuable time, time in which they could build up their defense. As the Vrrtep began to move across the bridge root once more, this time more cautious, they were confronted by a large group of Na'vi on the other side of the bridge. Ikran, Nantang, two Angsik, Pali and many weapons were on their side.
As the Vrrtep ran directly over the bridge in the rain of the Na'vi arrows, Ralph remarked dryly to himself while another of his arrows had found his goal: "We are in for a very long night!"
And for a whole day they held their ground.
Similarly to the small force of 300 Spartan hoplites under King Leonidas, who once had opposed the Immortals of Xerxes at the ground of Thermopylae, now almost as many Na'vi stood their ground against an equally terrible enemy.
While Nemo attacked again and again with its tentacles the ranks of the enemy, but the Vrrtep gained more and more ground. After all, they had reinforcements. After the fourth attack the Na'vi were out of ammunition. Rak'nor had ordered his troops to retreat, so they would not completely lose the battle. Already there have been some deaths and injuries to complain, victims of terrible Vrrtep claws.
Thus the Omatikaya Kelutrel was besieged by a force that was not designed for such a task. As troops the Vrrtep were suited to sweep over the enemy equal to a hurricane, waltzing down everything in their path. An opponent who could stop them, that was new for them. And yet they were now fighting with such an adversary, Na'vi, who were determined to defend their homelands.
It did not matter that Ralph was almost crushed by a numerical superiority and could only be saved by Rak'nor with difficulty. It did not matter that the Vrrtep in the lower alcove destroyed the work of the artisans, weavers, butchers, potters, healer, etc. and so did years of selfless work to naught.
It did not matter that Eytukan was beaten so badly by the enemy or that he would have to carry terrible scars on his chest and shoulder till his old age. It did not matter that Nai'Sha lost her Ikran. In her rage she mounted one of the baby Angsik, smashing into countless ranks of the enemy.
All that did not matter.
All that mattered was that they were fighting the Vrrtep, tied them in place, that they endured the on going attack. For this was the worst thing one could do to such an opponent. Rak'nor was aware of that fact every second since the beginning of the fight; he repeated the teachings of his Sempul over and over in his spirit. Meanwhile, he hold some Vrrtep of to move into higher-lying plains of Kelutrel with his spear.
"Never underestimate the defender!" the Olo'eyktan had taught him "Sometimes, the attacker reached in the conquest of a country to the point where his power is no longer sufficient to continue the fight. An enemy may still attack so quickly, even with so many Tsamsiyu on his side, he eventually ventured too far forward out of sheer victories." His Sempul had then clapped his hands, so loud that Rak'nor and some other novices would have fallen almost in shock.
"This is the hour of the patient hunter. The defender waits, cultivates his resources until he is strong enough and the attacker weak. Then the predator is forced to become pray for the whole country. Remember this fact, ma Tsmukan e Tsmuke, then you will be one day good Tsamsiyu. Remember that knowledge, or learn it the hard way as I once had to in Venezuela!"
"As I once in Venezuela!" Rak'nor knew this phrase only to well, in this country at the Tawtute homeworld, his own Sempul had suffered such severe injuries that it was denied him to go in his Tawtute shell ever again.
Meanwhile, far away from Kelutrel, just far enough away that one could barely hear the noise of battle, a little Larisel tried to feast on a MuiMui fruit. The oval fruit, filled with countless knobs, had already been gnawed at some places and yellow juice dripped onto the forest floor, while the furrball still tried desperately to get to the sweet pulp.
Suddenly a slight shiver startled the small rodents, as his whiskers began to vibrat. The animal's ears stood out to his full height in order to better identify the individual sounds of the forest. First, nothing unusual was noted, but then something seemed to get closer to the Larisel, something damn big. The soft hum of the forest swelled more and more into a rumbling, as thousands of feet stomping in a single direction. The Larisel hid itself, fleeing in his hollow tree, when the first sources of noise thundered past him.
It was the Omatikaya force.
Nearly 300 Tsamsiyu, all splendidly painted and armed with huge bows or spears thundered like a whirlwind through the forest on their Pali. The hexapods passed even the largest tree roots without skipping their galloping,only slowing down slightly in their speed, while their Makto howled like there's no tomorrow. The thunder of their hooves could be heard for miles, each animal fled in panic from the mass of Tsamsiyu.
Over the Pali flew the Omatikaya Ikran, in an elegant formation they cut through the sky, their riders pressed closely to the body of their flight animals to make not too many places for headwind. In fact, the 200 flying mounts darkened the trees with ther mass itself. The warband was quickly rushing to their hometree, but that was not the only reason. The Tsamsiyu wanted to especially catch up with the speed of their leaders.
With Trees- bruising force Neytiri plowed on her Palululkan through the undergrowth, getting all out of the way that stood between her and her Eveng. While she was still wearing the robe of Tsahik, but in her right hand she held the bow of their old Sempul, the arbow of Eytukan the Great. Thus equipped, she resembled less the wise, gentle Tsahik, but rather the wild warrior princess of 18 summers, as Jake had learned to know her.
Above her, in the dense underbrush, Jake followed her on his monstrous mount. Even if the undergrowth for a Toruk was not exactly an ideal airfield, Taw'sreu hesitated not a moment. With the grace of an Atokirina, the giant creature passed every obstacle in her way, be it vines, trees or large leaves. Jake sat on her with a facial expression that would have even intimidated the mighty Tsu'tey, such anger was in the face of the 6th Toruk Makto.
The later songs of the Na'vi tell little about this battle, because the acts that were committed during that conflict are not worth to be praised. Only the Omatikaya know about the noise, in which the Tsamsiyu pounced on the surprised Vrrtep. Hardly a Na'vi knows from the terrible battles that were fought in the air.
It is the heroism of Toruk Makto, Palululkan Makto and especially the courage of their people tht was sung, but no one ever reported of the 2000 carcasses, which towered up in Kelutrel, or of the banquet which the Ikran, Nantang and Palululkan had in those nights.
About all these things was never reported to the coming Na'vi generations, never even a single syllable of how dirty, how cruel, how unnecessary, and how pointless war really was and always will be. In the hearts of future generations only the proud moments of this time would live on, but never the terrible. Because the Na'vi are not unlike the Tawtute, a terrible truth is only one truth, if you really discuss it in detail. What's been the word on the dead hero, compared to the image of the selfsame in its death, with wide eyes, stained with the blood of his body, the last plea for his parents on the lips?
What is the word itself?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"... And so I can tell you only this sad news from our friends! As it stands, they have deceived not only our clan, but also the others as well. Olo'eyktan Akwey is beside himself with rage, and the only reason he´s back to his senses is, because his adviser Normspellman brought him back! "Neytiri nodded when she heard this message. In a stern voice she asked the messenger, "And how are the other´s, the Olo'Ikran from the eastern sea?"
The young messenger, one of the best Ikran Makto of his clan, twitched his shoulders "We do not know Tsahik. The clouds over the East Sea are so contaminated with Vrrtep that an individual can not fly through it. I'm sorry!" Neytiri shook her head sadly, "It has nothing to do you harm, Ma Tsmukan, you've done your duty! Go and rest yourself, your flight was long and hard enough!" The messenger bowed to her before he left.
Neytiri looked worried after the young man, who was not much older than her firstborn. Lately, Eywa had made it not so easy for the Omatikaya and other Na'vi. The attack on the Kelutrel had demanded dozens of deaths, the number of injured even higher. It was a miracle that anyone had survived the first attack, according to what she was told by her Itan. But apparently the selfless commitment of the few left behind, including Nemo and Ra'lph, was the reason why the attackers had been repulsed.
Neytiri looked up to heaven to see Nai'Sha making just a few practice flights with Fun'dabold, her Sempul´s Ikran. Her own Ikran had been killed by Vrrtep and after the end of battle; Jake´s old mount had flown to their Ite to offer itself as a substitute. Not that it was something that would have mattered for Jake, he had his Toruk. Neytiri immediately felt the memory of her dear Seze coming up again, her beloved first Ikran had been taken from her just the same way.
Silently the Tsahik sat beside her Palululkan, which seemed to relish his snore while she recorded the happenings around her with the observation skill´s of a master Taronyu. Everywhere the Omatikaya were going to repair the damage, which the Vrrtep had left. Although only a week had passed since the attack, still traces of the devastation that had been caused by the beasts was seen in Kelutrel.
Luckily, they had arrived in time.
"Can I sit with you?" Neytiri looked up and realized it was Wa'ey who appeared with her Cuew'Amokri under her arm. "Sure, if you're not afraid of a Palululkan?" "I am not," answered Wa'ey as if the very idea was ridiculous. The young woman sat down next to the elegant Tsahik to crawl with her left hand the enormous skull of Neytiri's mount. The deep purr that its mighty larynx emanated was clearly audible.
"What grieves your heart, my dear?" Neytiri said softly, "It must be a reason that you come to see me!" "Well," said Wa'ey "Actually I wanted to just ask for a little favor!" Neytiri looked up „What favor?" "You know, I was half an hour ago with Ralph and ..." "Oh, how is he actually, I have not ssen him this day!" "Good so far, except that the healers had to bind him to his camp, because he did not keep quiet!"
"Typical male!" snorted Neytiri with a fervor that could muster only a woman who had married a big kid hemself. And her Jake was a VERY big kid! Wa'ey chuckled slightly, "I know what you're talking about. Anyway, Ralph has described to me a few new traditions of his home country, including the fact that the Tawtute remember a battle often with lamentations of the dead!" Neytiri looked at Wa'ey questioningly "But our People do that too? What's the big deal?"
Wa'ey grinned a little mischievously, patting her instrument "Do I have permission to show you something very special?" Neytiri mustered the young woman from head to toe, then nodded, "If you want to play something that would give us courage and might take awy some grief, I will not stop you." "Thank you!" Wa'ey cried with joy as she jumped up to march on an exposed tree root. Quietly, as if afraid to hit a wrong note by great haste, she raised her Cuew'Amokri to her lips.
The music began.
With soft, gentle sounds, Wa'ey played the melody of which it seemed as if she would come out of her heart. The sounds that the instrument produced were unlike anything the Tsahik had heard before, unlike any form of music, which the Na'vi knew. The song was like wind in the vast grassy plains, like warm sunbeams that shone through the canopy of a tree, like the sound of a mountain, like the drops of a summer storm.
The song touched Neytiri more than some of the many songs that were known. The tune became the father of sorrow, of grief, but at the same time it filled her heart with hope, when life was just an eternal stream, towards perfection.
But not only Neytiri had to struggle with her feelings. Unbeknownst her Palululkan woke up, pointing his ears as he may hear the call of a mate. With interest the predator fixed Wa'ey, as if he could not believe that such a small creature was capable of such beautiful sounds. The Palululkan sat on his haunches in order to continue to listen to the beautiful music. Everywhere in Kelutrel other animals did the same as soon as they heard the sounds of moving music. Anywhere Na'vi as animal paused to listen to the music.
A hush fell over Kelutrel, nothing could disturb even the most distant sound of the song. All Na'vi heard the music differently, as it would have been specially devised just for her or him. It remembered Jake of the sounds of the ancient Celtic landscapes in Ireland, where he had once spent a part of his life in a garrison. Nai'Sha heard in the tones the call of the stars, as if the universe was just a silent person full of dignity and wisdom. Rak'nor felt the same feelings in the song, which he had in his first Tsahaylu with Gra'ice, which believed to understand in details of in the song the sound of the voices of the trees, talking to each other politely.
With the sounds of the song Lie'nak awakened memories of Iknimaya, the thundering rocks. Harlon felt a deep trance perceiving these sounds, deeper than he brought into existence in all of his meditations, Miklas felt in him the hunter who becomes one with his prey before killing it. Eytukan touched the song even more, it reminded him of his native country, the vast steppes and dry wind on the long rides with his parents and siblings.
Ralph remembered the song all to well. It was an earthen song called "Forest Green", something like a national anthem of earth. It told of the pain that his people had done to themselves and the thought of him drove the tears to his eyes. He had played it once for Wa´ey on his Sound Box.
Softly he sang to the song, a text that came from deep within his soul:
"My dearest, you wait in the forest green, I desire you so much! My hope, you wait in beautiful scene, but I cannot feel your touch! "
Ralph sang in his native tongue and yet so quietly that no one could hear him except himself.
Wa'ey let the song fade away gently, almost as if she was sorry to sever the thread of these magnificent sounds so hasty. But the work was done. The Na'vi and all the animals in Kelutrel looked puzzled, all believed to have been in a dream, so unreal. Only now they noticed the Atokirina hovering sporadically in the air to the audience as if the beautiful sounds had attracted the seeds of the sacred tree. The Omatikaya saw this as a good sign, were the seeds of Vitraya Ramunong but the purest of all souls.
Neytiri rose from her seat to confront Wa'ey. The young woman had packed her instrument in a bag of silk moss and was about to go, but she was gently held by Neytiri at the shoulder. "Tsmuke, this music was overwhelming!" "I told you, I improved the mood a little bit!" said Wa'ey.
"No," Neytiri said vehemently, "I mean not that while I have listened to you, I thought I felt understood as if ... as if Eywa itself would give ease to my heart. How is it possible that you can produce such sounds?"
Wa'ey shrugged "I do not know, it just came out of my heart!" "Can you play it again?" "No." "Why not?" Wa'ey looked deep into Neytiri eyes, it was a glance exchanged between the pairs of eyes probably belonging to the wisest through out Kelutrel.
"Just like Eywa has created us unique, so is some artwork unique!" Wa'ey said firmly, "This song came from the depths of my soul. Now there's nothing left to add fuel to the music!"
