The Outcast Clan

by T.J.98

Before being accepted into his clan, all young Navi must pass a rite of passage. And if the young navi can't, he or she is banished and shunned by their, race, their family, and even by Eywa. The same fate will befall all their descendants. Is it any wonder which side the outcasts chose to fight for when the humans came?

13. Chapter 13:The condition of Earth

During the last few weeks, I have adapted well to life in this clan. My son and I are eating regular meals for the first time in our lives, and our muscles are actually developing.

I have made friends here, both with fellow Outcasts and with the Sky People. I go hunting with Corporal Christian, I confess my fears and my failings to Father Methidous, and I work alongside Vrrtep in the clan.

As I live here, I become more and more resentful of Eywa. What kind of mother forces her children to risk their lives attempting to ride a dangerous beast in order to be accepted? All I know is that Eywa is no mother of mine.

One Sunday, I took Vrrtep up on an offer to go to the chapel and listen to Father Methidous talk about The God Of The Sky People. This chapel was named in honor of Father Eric the Martyr. He was cruelly murdered by warriors from a clan of The People who have come to raid this clan.

As I was not yet baptized, I sat in the back. In the long sitting planks of the chapel sat both Sky People who are short and without tswin, Outcasts who's skin is a pale grey and who's eyes are brown, and even two or three of The People who's skin was blue and who's eyes were yellow and who's tswin still glowed with life. It seems that the message the Sky People brought for their God rings true even to those who were not cast out by Eywa.

When Father Methidous enters, he addresses us all.

"Welcome one, welcome all! Every person is welcome at the table of God!"

After this introduction, some of those here sing songs of praise to The God Of The Sky People. These songs, unlike the songs I heard as a child which sung praise to Eywa, are specific as to why we are praising this deity. This song in particular describes how The God Of The Sky People helped his followers through a time of great sorrow. These songs are sung in the language of The People, with the exception of a few lines which are sung in the language of the extinct Sky People clan called 'the Romans'.

While there are many parts of this worship ceremony, the part that struck me the most was the sermon, where the Padre spoke of how the Homeland of the Sky People was suffering and in desperate need of our help. He described them as 'living in darkness. Without health, without hope. Constantly cloaked by a layer of smog and crowded together in suffocating spaces, constantly locked in a struggle every day simply to subsist on what meager food they can scrape together'. He called on the whole gathering in the chapel to 'pray for those still on Earth as well as the brave souls working towards their salvation'.

The picture he painted with his words horrified me. I could not focus on anything else for the rest of the service, and so as soon as I could I found a moment to ask Father Methidous about the conditions on the Homeland of the Sky People.

"Padre, I have a question about your speech."

"Ah, yes, feel free to ask."

"Why is the homeland of the Sky People in such a state of suffering? Why did your God not create forests for the Sky People to live in?"

Father Methidous paused for a moment, deep in thought. Soon he had the answer to my inquiry. "Earth once had forests and prairies and oceans. But the sons and daughters of Adam became numerous. They learned how to grow so much food that the labor of the few could feed the great multitude. My people were fruitful and multiplied, but did not at the time know how to properly steward their dominion. By the time the clans of Earth learned this mistake, it was too late. While they can reverse the process, that will involve tearing down buildings and killing the people ho live in them unless they can find new homes. That is why we look to the skies."

"But if they come here will they not destroy this world as well?"

At this the padre chuckled. "Not all of them will come here. There are other worlds they can go to, where they can spread their numbers as thin as necessary to ensure plenty and prosperity for all."

This answer is satisfying. If the Sky People came to this world, surely there are others they can migrate to as well. "For now, wat can we do to help those on Earth?"

"My fellow Sky People are digging in the ground for a rock that can allow them to travel across the skies. We can pray for their security."

I will.