DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Avatar"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Lock'tu: 26, Atraiu: 30, Neutral: 6.

CHAPTER 18

(third person POV)

This world was so different from Pandora. Exotic and lush, but lighter, and newer. The trees did not speak to him, and the earth did not quake with the beat of drums played a thousand years before. But there was a life about it. A pulsing, driven, evolving life.

"It is beautiful here." said Sayla, who was standing right beside Atraiu, constantly his guide.

"Yes, it is." answered Atraiu, who could only stare.

The land they were staring at was supposedly Atraiu's home. Large arches of tan granite soared into the air, some reaching into the skies. Water flowed around them in small lakes and ponds, showing that the land had been eroded by water, and was still being worn at. In the distance, mountains loomed over them, their peaks lost in the clouds. A city made of stone and granite with one to two floor buildings and bridges that ran over rivers stood proud and strong not far from the dream-surfing pair. It sat high on a mile long and mile high block of granite, causing them both to think that the city had been carved completely out of stone. Na'vi moved about around them, some fishing, some weaving, some washing. Sayla saw her own people do the same thing every day. The only difference was that these Na'vi had green skin, like Atraiu, and bright red eyes. Their dress was also not as bare as the Omaticaya's clothing. The females wore draped shawls made from thin, almost transparent material. The males were the only ones who wore loincloths made of animal hide like the males that Sayla had grown up around. Their faces were finely sculpted, and their legs were long, but torsos shorter than those of the Omaticaya. There was no questioning that these were Atraiu's kin.

"The air smells different." said Sayla as she sniffed the air.

"That's the smell of the ocean." said Atraiu instinctively. "I may forget who I am and where I am from, but I will never forget the scent of the ocean. The city must be awfully close to the shore."

Suddenly, a loud shrieking sound, not different from that of an Ikran, pierced the air, causing Atraiu and Sayla to look up. Above them, about three Ikrans flew over head, complete with riders, but the were not the Ikrans of the mountains that the Omaticaya rode. They were all some shade of blue, and their wings had softer, rounder edges, like flippers.

"Ean Ikran." said Atraiu immediatly. Sayla turned her heads towards him, an eyebrow raised, and a half smile on her face.

"Don't ask me how I know that."

"Oh, I already know how. It is your memory returning, one bit at a time. Perhaps we should keep moving?"

Instantly, they were no longer on the outskirts of the city, but somewhere inside of it. They were standing in the doorway of a large room with an open wall that overlooked the whole of the city. There was a wide hammock suspended in the middle of the room, and there was a figure laid out in the hammock, his breath coming in slow rasps. This male was very ill.

There were five other Na'vi in the room. Four of them stood off away from the hammock, against the wall. One was a short, bent over female with thick black hair and a wrinkled face, who Atraiu and Sayla assumed to be a healer. Another was a tall, regal looking female who wore a long, finely draped shawl, and her hair was up in braids, a beautiful circlet that seemed woven from golden vines about her head. The other two figures were twins - one male, and one female - with blinding white hair, and similar circlets about their heads. They stood close to each other, whispering and speaking in hushed tones. No one could doubt that there was their eyes spoke "plotting".

The last figure was not against the wall with the others, but down on one knee beside the hammock. His back was to the doorway, so Atraiu and Sayla could not see his face. The male on the bed was saying something to the one on one knee, but his voice was so weak, he could not be heard.

"Do you remember this scene?" asked Sayla as they watched. Atraiu shook his head no, but never took his eyes off of the scene before him. He was telling the truth, he didn't remember this scene specifically, but there was a string pulling at his heart that told him that he should.

After only a few minutes, the sick Na'vi's breathing stopped completely. The regal female broke out into hysterical sobs, and the twins gave what seemed like annoyed sighs, and gave a half-hearted attempt at comforting the crying woman. The healer spoke some incantations over the body, muttering in a language that Sayla could not detect. The male on one knee bowed his head, but did not utter a single word.

"What did he tell you?" asked the female twin of the male on one knee. He said something softly, preventing the two phantoms in the room from hearing it, but, whatever it was, it set off a flame in the room.

"You? He choose you to be olo'eyktan? No. No, I will not stand for it! Sa'nok, please do something!" she yelled at the regal female whose face was presently lined with tear stains.

"Dhanya, calm down. This is your sempul's dying wish. We shall honor it." she responded.

"But, Dhawal and I are the eldest!" The other twin approached his sister, touching her arm lightly.

"Dhanya, please, maybe we should..." But, Dhanya would hear none of it.

"No, Dhawal, it is the law of this 'olo that the eldest shall inherit the throne! By allowing him to be olo'eyktan, you, sa'nok, are dooming the fate of the 'olo!"

"Dhanya!" The mother reached a tone in her voice that only mothers could reach. Everything turned to silence. The mother sighed, forcing herself to calm down, for the sake of the children, if nothing else. "Dhanya. This is the wish of your sempul. This is his decree. All of us will honor it. Understand?"

The one called Dhawal looked upset enough to tear off someone's arm, but he nodded his head in understanding. Dhanya would not bend so easily. She folded her arms, and turned her head to glare at the male who was still bent on one knee beside the old olo'eyktan's hammock.

" Oh, I understand. But I will not let the meuia of the 'olo fall to the whimps of a perfect little ioang. I will never let that happen."

Suddenly, the small, delicate atokirina that had led them this far into Atraiu's mind passed by them, time freezing as it did. The world span, colors merging and blending until everything was black.

-888-

Atraiu opened his eyes with the start, and found himself in Sayla's spirit oasis, right where he had begun. Sayla stared back at him, her eyes bright, and a large smile on her face.

"Well, that was interesting! I don't think we have ever gone that far in before. Do you feel like your mind is becoming clearer?"

"Um...yes. Yes, actually I do. But, even with a clear mind, I am still confused."

Sayla's smile faded. She reached out, and placed her hand on Atraiu's knee, sending all of the positive energy she could into Atraiu. He felt the energy, and managed to give Sayla a small smile.

"I'm going to head back to Hometree, I suppose. Give you time alone. If Mo'at taught me anything, it was that only we can know our own minds. I'll see you later."

Sayla stood, and began to make her way back to the heart of Hometree, but she was stopped by Atraiu's voice.

"Sayla," Sayla turned, smiling at Atraiu like a loving teacher. " I remember the name of my 'olo. They...we are called...the Txep Menari 'Olo."

AN: Yes, I know this chapter was short, but it was really meant to be the chapter where we spend some detailed time in Atraiu's mind, and we get to step into his past. The island that Atraiu is from [name will be revealed at a later date] was actually inspired by a painting that I found while searching google images. To see it, go to deviantART, and look up "City of the Txep Menari", and you will see it. So, review please!

Ean Ikran: Blue Ikran

olo'eyktan: leader of a clan

sempul: father

sa'nok: mother

meuia: honor

ioang: animal

atokirina: seed of the Tree of Souls

Txep Menari 'Olo: Fire Eyes Clan