DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Avatar"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay, more reviews! Keep it up you guys; I really appreciate them!
P.S. This chapter goes back to being in Kana's POV, unless I say otherwise
CHAPTER 7
I rode back into Hometree with Lock'tu on the back of his loyal direhorse, Eyednie. I never was one for direhorses, myself, but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy I ride through the brush every now and then. The pure strength of the creature that flowed through the Tsahaylu was intoxicating; almost as intoxicating as commanding the skies on the back of an Ikran.
Lock'tu must have sensed my excitement, and my slight apprehension, for every time we'd come to a fallen tree trunk, or large root, or any type of barrier, he made a mission of instructing Eyednie to jump extra high, much higher than necessary, just so he could hear me scream out in glee, than wrap my arms around his long form when we'd once again make contact with the ground. He wasn't that big of a tskxe as he pretended to be; he was still a child at heart.
Those who were outside of Hometree, either harvesting or simply socializing, had to leap out of the way as Lock'tu and I came bounding through, with no sign of slowing down. I shouted apologies out at them, even though my voice was filled with laughter.
We rode directly into the center if Hometree; Eyednie reared up on his hind legs as Lock'tu drew him to a sudden stop. I held on to him tightly in order to prevent myself from sliding directly off of the mount's back. Eyednie landed his front legs firmly back on the ground with a grunt, and a shaking of his head.
"Wow, Lock'tu. You are some kind of rider." I said while he nimbly leaped from his direhorse, pride and happiness radiating from his very being. He reached his hand up for mine as to assist me down, and I took his hand without a second thought.
"Well, now you see why Taka was so persistent about having me appointed her second in command. There are some things that I am rather good at." I laughed lightly as I unknowingly began to play with some of the colorful beads that had been braided into my hair. Lock'tu smiled back. He brushed his hand against the large, powerful animal's neck as he handed him a piece of fruit, which he ate quickly. Lock'tu scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, and took a shaky step towards me.
"You know, K, there's this beautiful beach on the Swok River--it's pretty far east, very few venture that far up river--and it's a wonderful ride to get there. You could come with me maybe, on some sunny afternoon, and we could...talk, and...."
"Atraiu!" I uttered when I saw the green-skinned Na'vi over Lock'tu's shoulder. I quickly abandoned Lock'tu, and bounded over to Atraiu...maybe a bit too quickly.
---
(third person POV)
Lock'tu watched as his princess frolicked off into the arms of the stranger like a lover struck 'eveng. He didn't even have a chance to finish his proposal. He sighed, and turned to his loyal friend and mount.
"That's just my luck, isn't it, Eyednie? I'm finally confident enough to approach Kana. Finally confident enough to show her my love...and this ketuwong shows up. This ketuwong that she would abandon me for. Well, at least you're still with me, right tsmukan?" asked Atraiu with a light smile. The direhorse looked his rider in the eye for a brief moment, than snorted loudly before strutting off in the direction of some very tempting pitcher plants.
Lock'tu threw his hands up in frustration, than stomped off in the opposite direction of his princess and the charming stranger who was unknowingly stealing her heart.
---
Atraiu looked up in my direction when he heard his name, and his bright smile filled his face. He looked different, it seemed. Not only were his wounds healing nicely, but it looked like he had been given a new loin cloth to wear made from the hide of a talloang, and several bright feathers had been braided into his hair. He looked cleaned up, as if he was just a regular member of the clan. As if being the key words.
"Hey, Atraiu." I said when I was close enough to speak to him without yelling. He greeted me in the traditional Na'vi fashion with a smile still on his face.
"Kana. It seems that I have missed you much more than I first realized." I blushed slightly, even though I tried my hardest to hide it. I quickly erased the embarrassment, however, and stood up straight.
"Now that you've had your little spirit session with Sayla, it's time to test the rest of you." I walked past Atraiu in the direction of my chey, which was hanging along side my sisters', where I had placed Atraiu's bow before I left to find Lock'tu. I also retrieved my bow and a full quiver of arrows.
"You have a bow," I tossed the finely carved bow at Atraiu, who caught it with one hand. "Let's see how good a marksman you are."
-888-
The jungle was filled with light as I lead Atraiu to our destination. The thick, green growth that covered the ground beneath me tickled my ankles and the bottom of my feet. I had walked these hidden paths so many times, I could find where I was going blind. Atraiu was a superb follower; always keeping up at the same pace as me, never stopping unless instructed. It would be a true miracle if some of the 'evis I brought out to train in archery could be so attentive.
"So, how did it go with Sayla? Did she help any?" I asked without looking over my shoulder. Atraiu answered immediately.
"Yes, she did help a lot. She used methods that I didn't even think possible to get inside my mind."
"Yeah, Sayla is very powerful. When she was five seasons old, she tamed a palulukan with just one song. It was truly the most amazing thing I had ever seen."
We had come to a small, fast flowing river that flowed from a roaring waterfall. The sound of the water hitting the rocks below resonated through my head, blocking out all other sound. There was a haphazard collection of smooth rocks that lead to the other end of the river that we used to get across. I leaped from rock to rock without faltering, and Atraiu followed in kind.
"What about you?" Atraiu suddenly asked. I turned to look at him mid leap, my eyes wide with surprise.
"What?" I was so startled, in fact, that I lost my footing, which never happened, and I almost went head first into the river if not for someones hand that reached out and grabbed mine. I looked up at Atraiu, who smiled kindly before pulling me back onto my feet. I was facing him fully now, his tall form towering over me.
"Um, thank you." I said, tucking a stray braid behind my ear.
"You are very welcome." His eerie red eyes seemed to swim with color as he stared down at me. I'm sure I was blushing furiously by now. In an attempt to hide it, I turned away from him, and continued on my way across the river.
"You were asking me something earlier?" I asked to fill the heavy silence that had lingered between us.
"Yes, I asked about you. You're always talking about how amazing your sisters are, and I don't doubt that, but" He jumped from the second to last stone to the firm shore, only inches from me. "I want to know about you." I looked down at the ground for a moment, a slight smirk on my face.
"That's just it." I said as we continued walking. "There's nothing special about me. There is nothing to know." My head dropped, and my ears drew back against my skull. Atraiu must have noticed my sudden change in mood, for one of his strong hands found it's way to my shoulder. I turned to look at him, and found that his face was glowing with sincerity and honesty.
"Than I'll make a deal with you. Before I leave the Omaticaya, and my memory is regained, I swear that I will show you that there is something about you worth knowing."
There was such honesty and dignity in his eyes that I felt as if I was looking into the eyes of honor itself. His seriousness was scary--and charming--all at the same time.
"By Eywa." I said more as a prayer for self control than anything else. I suddenly realized that I was holding my breath. I exhaled deeply, as I turned to continue as a guide through the Pandoran brush.
As we continued on, I pointed out several things to Atraiu; things that I could tell were eating at him. We came upon many plants that I had grown up knowing, almost naturally, while he had to be taught everything...like a child.
"That's a fruit?" he asked when we passed by a collection of large, purple fruit that grew at the foot of a tree. I laughed at his astonishment.
"Yes, it is. It's very good; would you like me to cut you off a piece?"
"But, it's so large!" he said, completely oblivious to my question. I laughed loudly while I walked away, leaving him in his wonder.
"So much like a human." I mumbled.
Next we came to a collection awaieis--very dangerous plants that spouted poison tipped spines in the direction of warmth when detected that only the most trained Na'vi approached in order to collect seeds-- but, of course, Atraiu was not aware of this common known fact.
"Oh, what is this one?" asked Atraiu, who was in the process of reaching his hand out to touch the beautiful, yet deadly plant. I quickly snatched his hand away before he ended up dead.
"Don't touch that." I said, quickly letting go of his hand, for, I realized, I was holding on to it a bit longer than necessary.
"Why?" he asked.
"You'll die."
Let's just say, Atraiu kept his hands to himself for the rest of the journey.
Finally, we arrived at the small clearing that was used to help train the young ones in the ways of the bow. The trees were filled with thousands sezes, which we used as targets. Successfully cutting down a seze from the tree tops with an arrow, without damaging it, was a valued skill that all potential hunters and warriors worked for many seasons to achieve. I myself spent three seasons of my life trying to achieve the task. If Atraiu ever knew how to work a bow, this should be easy for him. If not, well, he'd have to be taught all over again.
"This is a beautiful place." commented Atraiu as he looked around at the beauty and majesty of our own training arena. "What are we doing here?" he asked, turning to look at me. I drew an arrow from my quiver, and handed it to Atraiu.
"I want you to cut down that seze without damaging it." I said, pointing at the seze that I wanted him to retreive.
"Oh, you mean that one?" he asked confidently, pointing at a flower that rested on a branch about three yards away. I laughed slightly, and shifted his hand to point towards the goal I was envisioning.
"No, that one." He had to squint to see the seze about twenty yards away that he was directed to cut down without harming. His confidence suddenly vanished.
"What if I don't remember?" he asked. The fear and apprehension in his voice was apparent, and I immediately felt sorry for him. It must be difficult; not remembering things that were once second nature. I stepped closer to him, taking his bow in my hands.
"Once you learn how to work a tsko swizaw," I handed the bow back to Atraiu "you never forget. It flows through your body like your own blood. Your tsko becomes an extension of your very self. You know how to do this. Now, cut down that seze." I stepped back some, and stood, my arms folded, watching Atraiu like my mother watched me when I was learning.
He turned, facing his target, almost convincing himself that he could do this. He took a deep breath, than took his stance. The bow string was pulled tightly, the arrow quivered slightly. He flexed his fingers, loosening his grip on the bow. His eyes narrowed, and his muscles tensed like a palulukan preparing to strike. His chest heaved slowly, at a steady pace, his pulse blending with the pulse of the earth. He looked intimidating and startling beautiful.
Than, he loosed the arrow from his grip. We both watched as the swizaw went whizzing off through the air at such a speed that I almost couldn't even see it. In about a seconds time, I heard the profound sound of an arrow being embedded deep in the tree. Atraiu and I locked eyes, and smiled in unison. I could see the brightly colored feathers of my arrow over twenty yards away, which impressed me. We walked to the tree together, and, sure enough, the arrow was deeply embedded in the tree, and the seze was pinned to the tree, as well, unharmed and beautiful.
Atraiu smiled, and pulled the arrow from the tree, allowing the seze to fall into his hand. He examined it for a moment, than handed it to me.
"Well, what do you know?" he said with a suave smile. "What else you got for me, princess?"
A/N: There you go! Review please!!!!
Tsahaylu: bond
tskxe: stone
'eveng: child
ketuwong: alien
tsmukan: brother
talloang: sturmbeest
chey: a rack for personal items
'evis: kids
palulukan: thanator
seze: a blue flower
tsko swizaw: bow and arrow
