Several days past and I looked out at the rows of graves freshly dug for those who had died. I twisted around and strode into the woods with anger, Eywa still had not answered my prayers, why was she ignoring me?
I went to the nearby lake, growling under my breath as the main water source pooled before me before I realised I had arrived. Something pungent and unpleasant wafted into my nostrils and they flared. Sneezing in distaste I cautiously sniffed again.
Recognising the smell I looked down to the water then lowered my head, gradually inhaling. "Get back from the water! Away! It is poisoned!" Screaming as some early risers knelt down to drink they leaped back in fear. "Do not let anyone drink from here, I will go and fetch Olo'etykan." With that, I raced to bring Jake to the water.
He sniffed, Norm by his side as he took samples. "I can't smell anything." He frowned at me.
"My nose is more sensitive than yours, Jakesully, my people are hunters, trackers, we have better senses than any other clan." Believing me with a nod, he looked to Norm who confirmed what I had just said. His little metal scanner bleeped, registering the poison.
"She's right, it has been poisoned. Who would do this?"
"Someone who wants us all dead." Jake growled. "When I find them, I will kill them."
"Get in line." I growled darkly then shifted. My foot brushed against something hard so I stooped down and brushed away the soil to reveal a dark purple stone with a hole through the centre. Thinking nothing of it, I left it alone. Jake sprang into action, turning to the warriors who he had brought with him.
"Set up a watch on this water source, no one is to drink from it. The rest of you, spread the word that this lake is poisoned." With the orders given they were carried out diligently. Norm began trying to find out what poison was used so that he could create an antidote but the analysis was taking a long time since his tools were old and salvage from the wreckage of the place that had once been the home of the Sky People.
Looking up I realised something. I knew which question to ask. Without a moment of hesitation I flew to the Tree of souls and began to pray. My mother came to me and I ran to her arms, sobbing into her shoulder as she embraced me. "He is dying, mother, I cannot save him!"
"Yes you can, my love, just calm down. What is your question?" Wiping the tears from my face I drew in a brave breath then spoke.
"What poison was used to poison the water?" Looking to the side I followed my mother's gaze as she held my hands. I saw a dark figure leaning over the water's edge, pouring the nectar of a dark, bell shaped flower into the water before hurrying away. "Darkgrass?" I questioned and my mother nodded. "But who did it?"
"You will know. You just have to look, not see." With that she was gone. Norm was not impressed to find out it was darkgrass that had poisoned the lake since its antidote was rare. When I asked him what it was, my eyes went wide.
"But my homeland is thick with sunleaf! I could find some for you, surely?"
"No, it is too dangerous and too far, Ana, besides you said the monsters destroyed your home." Jake said to me pointedly.
"They did but some might have survived or it could have grown back by now. When sunleaf grows, the roots grow very deep and do not go away easily." I explained to him then gripped his arm. "It will take less time if I fly and I am used to danger, I am a warrior now, Jakesully, I can do it. Don't you want to save Neytiri?" And Tsu'tey too.
Slowly he relented but then he looked at me with determination in his eyes. "I shall go with you." Not disagreeing with him, we prepared to leave immediately. I knelt beside Tsu'tey, wiping his sweating brow. He had held on these last few days, I do not know how much longer he could continue. "Keep breathing for me, teacher, I will come back with something to make you well again. I shall not fail you." I vowed to him, holding his hand tightly. "Just stay strong." With that, Jake and I flew away.
Pandora was beautiful when flying above it but I hardly noticed as I led Jake to the west, following the setting sun as we flew further than any ikran had done so before away from their nest. At first our ikran had protested but after explaining it to them once again, they agreed, trusting us as their riders that we would return home soon.
My home lay two weeks' worth of travelling on foot away but this time was shortened greatly by the straight route we could take and the speed we reached as we flew. We landed every so often to rest the ikran before flying forwards again.
It has been many years since I have returned home, I almost dreaded to see what it would look like. Jake was silent with fear and worry for his mate and child so I did not disturb him. I had my own loved ones I feared about. "Hold on Tsu'tey, please just hold on." My silent plea was my constant prayer as we flew day and night.
Landing inside a cave I dismounted and instantly went about finding some fuel for a fire whilst Jake hunted for us. We cooked the fish he had caught and then we sat in silence. "Do you think we will find the flowers in your homeland?" I shifted.
"I hope so. It is the only place I have ever seen them and I have travelled far and wide." Reminding him with a soft voice I watched the flames, a memory resurfacing to my mind. The flames glowed hotly off my skin as I faced Tsu'tey, dancing with him.
His hands touched my arms, tracing them before they slid around my waist and he lifted me up easily, turning with me as I laughed, lifting my hands to feel the air rush through my fingers and knotted hair.
Blinking I shook the memory from my mind then looked to Jake. "Eywa will provide. She always provides." So we clung onto that hope as desperately as if it were our air.
Cautiously I held up my hand, stopping Jake in his tracks as I crouched low, my ears twitching uncontrollably as they moved towards every new sound and sense. Raindrops pattered on the ground, throwing off my sense of hearing slightly but I was still sure of the viperwolf pack not too far away.
Giving Jake the warning signals we tried to circle back towards the ikran to head up into the air when the pack attacked. The leaped from the bushes, laughing and calling to one another as they took down Jake. He yelled in pain as one slashed open his chest but as one fell towards me, my quick reflexes allowed me to slap it away with my bow and snarl at it.
Jake broke free of the snapping jaws with his fist, leaping to his feet as he drew up his bow and swiped it at the wolves who began to circle, snapping at our feet as we backed into one another, lifting my fingers to my mouth I gave a shrill whistle, hissing as the wolves enclosed around us.
Suddenly Palu and Jake's ikran, Tornado, leaped through the foliage, hissing and snapping their jaws with ferocious beats of their wings. With these two larger, considerably more threatening predators the viperwolves shrieked and disappeared into the brush with their tails between their legs. "Well done Palu. Good girl." I nodded to her as I touched her head and smiled as she purred at me. "We are close now, it should not be long."
"Good, we've been gone for two days already, I don't want to be much longer." Jake said, shifting uncomfortably. "Where are we anyway?" I walked over to a large plant and lifted the broad leaves away.
"Come and see." He stepped forwards, his eyes widening as I showed him what used to be my home. It could have been beautiful, it had been beautiful, but all that was left now was the detestation of fire and death.
The trees were burned to char and ash, only a few shades of green towering above from growing over the years. The air was thick with the rotting fumes of plants and flowers as we looked down over the valley, the two mountains standing side by side where in their clasped hands they used to hold my village.
"We will fly to the valley of flowers, we might be lucky and it survived the attack." I decided as I mounted Palu and guided her towards the edge. "That is where they grew thickly." So with a small petal of hope blooming in our hearts I guided us towards the valley of flowers but upon nearing our destination all I could see was the mountain of grey ash and charred ground from a lifetime of destruction. Those monsters had destroyed everything.
As I landed and my feet touched the cold, heartless ground I began to grow angry. The ground lay ripped up in places, large craters carved into the earth for miles around to see. With a furious roar I bellowed at the sky, knowing that exactly where I stood, our own Tree of Souls should have been blooming effortlessly with life.
Jake's hand touched my shoulder as I seethed, glaring at the ground. "I'm sorry." He murmured but I shook my head.
"We must continue looking. Come, we have little time and our friends even less." So with that, we began our search. We parted ways to extend the search, continuing well into the night as I knew the flowers would glow, helping us to find them but still there was nothing.
Everything was dead. Dead and gone. It tore me open by old wounds and I bled as I crouched on the ground, singing softly to comfort myself as I looked out to the horizon where endless plains rolled before me like an everlasting ocean of green and pale blue.
"We should return tomorrow. There's nothing here." Jake said to me. "We've covered every inch of ground there is." It was true, my homeland was very small and we had covered it all in just a few hours but I knew I could not give up. This was the only place where sunleaf could be found. I had to find something.
"You rest, Jakesully. I will watch first." I told him softly and, knowing it was fruitless to argue, Jake settled down beside his ikran and slept. Meditating I prayed to Eywa, begging her to show me the way. I called out to my mother desperately, hoping that she would take pity on me but for a long time, there was silence.
Until finally, I heard a breath of life sighing on the wind. My ears twitched and I turned my head slightly towards it. There it was again, a soft whisper carrying. "Daughter…" Without a word I left Jake's side, parting my lips to taste the air but found nothing, all I could sense was the soft breathing of someone close by.
A scent caught my attention and it was soft and peaceful, thrumming with energy as I opened my mouth to taste the air and only found the tingling sensation of warmth as I approached the source. Through the burned and sparse trees I walked until I found myself standing before a tall cliff, the rocks tumbled one over another as if they had been carelessly thrown away.
"Daughter…" My mother's voice whispered and I could smell her sweet scent before it was all at once gone, leaving me alone. I felt hollow and empty, disappointed but I stood here, waiting until I heard something growl above me.
Palulukan scent filled my nostrils which made them flare in defence as I backed away, looking up to see the creature slowly crawl from its cave. The female was lithe and graceful as she descended the rocks, jumping from perch to perch, eyes never leaving mine. Why had my mother led me here?
Snapping awake I hissed, baring my fangs at the female but she made no reply as she came down to my level and prowled around me. Watching her form I saw she was not going to attack, her shoulders were loose and her tail swished softly from side to side.
Not abandoning my stance I watched her as she finally stopped before me, her hot breath warming my face and neck as she lifted the air and sniffed me. Then she bowed. Staring in disbelief I watched her cautiously, inching forwards as she lowered her head and offered one of her queues to me.
Picking up my own I stepped closer and she purred, watching me with a soft eye in the dim light the sparse few plants offered us. She was so beautiful. I looked to the side of her face and gasped softly when I saw the purple mark against her cheek, three spots in the exact same pattern as Palu.
"Are you one of Palu's children?" I whispered to her and she purred in answer as I reached up and connected our bonds. She wanted to take me to her cave to show me something. Being so close to a palulukan again gave me a sharp thrill as I mounted her and traced my hands over her strong shoulders, smiling as she arched into my touch.
She gave a short growl then leaped up onto the rocks, bounding effortlessly until she had brought me to her cave. The moment I was inside a strong scent filled my nose and I almost cried out with relief. There, blooming with golden light at the other end of the cave, was a vine of sunleaf.
It stretched up the cave wall in a single vine, very few leaves to spare so I picked them all and cut some of the root to replant back at Hometree. The leaves would grow back again within a few days, it grew that well. "Thank you…thank you." I whispered as I embraced the female palulukan's face and she purred happily, sensing my relief through my bond as she rubbed her head against me.
"I shall call you Era, we must return to Hometree now where we can heal the sick. You can carry me faster than any ikran for you do not need to rest. Will you do that for me?" I asked her and she lifted her great head, snorting then presented her shoulder to me, telling me to get on.
Without a moment of hesitation I sprang on and we leaped clear of the cave, sailing to the ground where I guided her to Jakesully, who still slept. "Jake! Jake!" I screamed and he leaped up, the ikran screeching in fear and escaping as I rode up on Era.
Jake yelled in fear at the sight of the palulukan but when I called his name again and turned so that he could see me, he did not make to run away. "Ana?" He questioned as Era snarled at him, lowering her head but I eased her.
"Jake, I have the leaves, we must go now!"
"You intend to ride that…thing?" He asked and I felt Era tense and snap at him in distaste.
"She will run without stopping. It will be faster, Jakesully, take the ikran and fly home, I shall meet you there." Pausing he looked at me then nodded.
"Stay safe." I scoffed and Era reared up with a mighty roar.
"I ride the palulukan, nothing will dare touch me." With that Era sprung over him to race through the woods to Hometree. The wind slapped into my face so I leaned closer against Era's body, feeling the power coursing through her as it flowed into me with an enthralling sense of control and strength.
My little satchel was clutched tightly against me as we raced through the trees, Era's speed only ever increasing as I guided her home. Hearing the call of an ikran I looked up, smiling as Jake flew over our heads. "Let us show him the true meaning of speed." I whispered and I smiled as Era growled in agreement then jerked forwards with new power and determination.
We moved as one. I barely had to think before Era was moving with my will, weaving easily in and out of trees and bounding over cracks in the earth as if they were merely branches on the ground. A palulukan is not like pa'li, they are stronger, faster and have far more endurance.
There was a story my mother told me once of a palulukan who had lost its rider and ran for an entire six moons without stopping to find them again. Era was a body full of muscle and strength. Because she had lived in such a harsh territory and had often needed to run for days to find food, she was even greater than other palulukan in my eyes.
We bonded as we rode, I learned everything about her and she learned everything about me. She was hot tempered and stubborn to the core however she was very fond of little ones, seeing as she had none of her own because all the other palulukan were either dead or gone from her territory.
She was a gift from Eywa, a descendant of Palu and I gave thanks constantly for this great blessing. We had long since left Jakesully behind as he needed to rest his Ikran overnight but Era continued to run, growling as she leaped out into the open marshlands and grasslands but she continued to run all the same.
I showed her everything about Omaticaya territory and the places she would be free to roam however I strictly ensured she knew never to touch one of my people. This argument took a little longer but I got there in the end. She promised never to attack so long as they did not attack her.
This was a fair agreement so we came to terms. Soon the grasslands fell away and her feet clawed through the forest, leaping up into the trees to soar, flying from branch as easily as if she had wings. It was so exhilarating I could not help but cry out with a hoot of joy which Era answered with a strong roar.
We passed several herds of pa'li and sternbeest, all of which scattered before our powerful stride and allowed us a direct path to Hometree. I could see it in the distance and my stomach tightened as fear gripped me. I now prayed that I was not too late.
When we neared, however, all I could smell was danger and I tensed. Feeling my fear and worry Era growled in concern, tensing also so I soothed myself so that she relaxed also. As well as the scent of death, there was blood and fire. Smoke rose in the distance and I screamed.
Era yelled as my panic flew into her, making her stumble but I caught her, using our link to pull her body to the left before she could slam into a tree. "Forgive me, Era, I am sorry but something is wrong, terribly wrong!" With a low hiss I bared my fangs and she did the same. "Someone has attacked my clan!"
So without any hesitation, we flew through the bushes into the wide clearing of Hometree, missing several Na'vi clan mates by mere inches as Era lifted her head and roared, announcing my return as I narrowed my eyes and glared at the terrible scene before me.