OMG, you have no idea how happy I am that I discovered how to get my Mac to export things in such a way that ff(dot)net recognizes my italics. Now I will sit back and contemplate the hours of my life that I have lost from doing this one edit alone... *Sighs* I will NOT accept any Mac flames - this thing is so much better than a PC, which I think stands for "Probably Crap." :-) If you wanna know how it works, shoot me a message, I'll gladly tell you!
I need to thank three certain people for their help with this. Normally I'd use names, as it is always my preference to give proper recognition. But for this chapter a little birdie whispered in my ear to just let this one go. So I'll just say "Thank you" for your indispensable help - you know who you are. I also think I've finally come to grips with the fact that I LOVE it when people review. It's your interaction, your reaction to the story, right? Though it certainly doesn't happen all the time, I've actually incorporated some ideas from you guys. :-)
A note on Unilataron: I obviously tried to make the scene as accurate as possible, which involved much reading of Pandorapedia and watchings and re-watchings of the movie. I admit I took some poetic license with some of the Olo'eyktan's lines, but I rather suspect I'm not too far off the mark. Though I don't put much stock into this kind of thing in real life, I am a HUGE fan of symbolism. Coincidentally some readings on some of the forums pretty much validated my choice for Kyle's spirit animal. Hehe, thanks!
Last, but not least, a disclaimer for those inclined to need one: Kyle (finally!) becomes a full-fledged Omaticaya in this chapter. Ahem, you do know what that means, right? Now, don't be shocked, but Kyle DOES choose Tanhi as his mate. And seriously, what do you look forward to most on your wedding night? I'm not saying, but I'm just saying...
This chapter is a bit of a milestone - longest one yet (at least 'till the next longest one), 101 reviews... Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read! It's always cool to know that my horrendously complicated imagination is validated. Now read on, and enjoy!
Chapter 25
Kyle was exhausted.
A day spent hunting by himself had been quite successful - he had brought down the largest yerik that Eywa had graced Pandora with, after all. But of course, this inevitably meant he had to drag the deer-like creature's fat ass back to Kelutral on a makeshift sled by himself, too. Txopuluke could have easily carried the carcass upon his back. He could have probably carried two, in fact. But all of yesterday had been spent in training with Jake and Mal'ek on how to hunt from the sky, and so today Kyle had been craving some sweet time alone for a change.
Though there was no shortage of fondness between ikran and hunter, Txopuluke had readily agreed with Kyle on this matter.
And then there had been the nantang. The persistent predators had been insisting that Kyle drop his kill, but damned if he would surrender it now. The boldest nantang, the pack leader, had tried getting the jump on Kyle. It had dropped down on him from the trees, but somehow the Two Legs had been aware of him and had whipped his bow around, smacking the nantang out of midair and sending him spinning ungracefully into the bushes.
His pack had erupted into yips and trills that were simultaneously amused and laced with warning. One could not very well strike a fellow pack member and get away with it. On the other hand, the Hunter's Code transcended species, and they had been just a little bit pushy with this blue Two Legs, after all. He was tired, but clearly in no mood to give up his work just yet. That was certainly respectable.
Kyle was relieved when one of the scouts dropped out of the trees and greeted him. "I See you, Taronyu," the teenager greeted, his eyes growing wide with admiration for the kill that Kyle was hauling behind him. "Do you wish any help in bringing Eywa's blessing back to Kelutral?"
With a tired grin Kyle replied, "No, but I thank you, Ralu. But please, feel free to lead the nantang behind me on a merry chase. They have been hounding me for all day, it seems."
Ralu checked down the path and jumped slightly, surprised to see two or three of the wolflike predators peering balefully out of the brush a couple dozen yards behind Kyle. "Are they after your yerik, or do they seek to satisfy their curiosity for what a uniltìranyu might taste like?" he asked teasingly.
Kyle rolled his eyes. "That is a good question. The leader tried jumping me, but I struck him out of the air before he could place a claw on me or my kill. I sincerely hope he was not offended."
With a snigger Ralu replied, "Indeed. It would be an honor to provide you cover, then." And with that Ralu was gone, disappearing easily into the forest. Several minutes later some surprised and irritated yipping from the nantang pack indicated that Ralu was holding true to his word, and with a grateful smile Kyle resumed trudging onward.
Tanhi was quite impressed with the massive yerik that the cooks were hauling away to prepare. "Which hunter is responsible for this fine blessing?" she asked.
One of the women turned and gave her a smile, her eyes twinkling. "Why, it was your own hunter, Tanhi," she informed the young healer.
As she smiled a faint blush tinted her cheeks, and Tanhi was quite pleased to realize her flush was from pride rather than embarrassment. She quickly located Kyle at the edge of the village, and she politely waited for him to finish giving his report to Jake before she came up to greet him. There were some times when Tanhi could swear they were ripping the other's garments off with their eyes, such was the intensity of their greetings and shows of affection. This was not one of those instances; Kyle seemed too tired to do more than smile and wave weakly at her. Still, the love in his gaze was quite undimmed, and this demonstration of his skill, of the hard work of his hands, was just as attractive to her as any kiss or intimate touch.
"I think you will feed the clan for a full hand of days by yourself if you continue in this way," she told him proudly.
Kyle smiled broadly, even as he leaned against his bow and continued to pant as he caught his breath. He shrugged and told her, "I think I will fly from now on though, for surely it will be less tiring."
Tanhi laughed and nodded in agreement. She reached up and sifted some of Kyle's braids through her fingers thoughtfully. "I think it may be time to give your hair some attention again. Once you have refreshed yourself, come find me." She smiled, crinkling her nose as she added, "If you are fortunate, I may rub your back to ease your tired muscles."
Kyle's grin widened. "Yes, ma'am," he said as he slung his bow back over his shoulder and headed off to the streams.
A short time later Kyle found her as she had asked, his dark hair already loose and flowing down his back. He grinned sheepishly as Tanhi quirked an un-eyebrow up at him. "I assumed..." he began helplessly.
Tanhi laughed and took his hand, leading him to a quieter place just outside of Kelutral. She leaned back against a great root of Hometree and pulled Kyle down to sit cross-legged in front of her. Some distance away some of the younglings played a game along the bank of the river, and soon mouthwatering smells began to waft over them from the cooking fires a short distance away; no doubt Kyle's yerik was the source.
Both of them jumped in slight surprise when Kyle's tail wrapped gently around Tanhi's right leg. He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. "Not my fault," he told her with a guilt-free grin. Just because Kyle had not directly told his tail to do that did not mean he was opposed, though. Tanhi must not have minded either, because she made no effort to remove his tail from her leg.
They sat in easy silence as Tanhi began to work on Kyle's still drying hair. A few times he would try leaning back against her, and with a playful laugh she would have to push him forward so that she could keep working.
"You cannot keep doing that! We will be here all night!" she told him as she gripped his shoulders and pushed him forward yet again. She kept her hands there and began kneading his tense muscles, working out the numerous knots that she felt.
She felt Kyle's body shake with silent laughter. "Maybe that is what I want," he countered.
Tanhi dug her thumb into a knot just above his shoulder blade and received a slight hiss in response, and she chuckled and leaned forward to place a kiss against his head in apology. "My help will probably be needed in welcoming another child into the world tonight. As much as I would like to, Kyle, I do not think I can give you all of my attention today." After a moment she added, "But the birth will most likely be after sunset. We have time."
Kyle groaned as Tanhi dug her fingers into yet another knot. "Oh, good. This was just starting to feel enjoyable," Kyle said sarcastically just before he hissed again. How could one so gorgeous cause him so much pain?
"Baby," she chastised. "You will thank me later."
A short time later Kel'rey came running up to them. "Kyle, you are back! Maybe we could - oh, you are busy," the crestfallen look on the boy's face was so dramatic that both Kyle and Tanhi burst out laughing.
"Sit, Kel'rey! You are right, I will not be going anywhere anytime soon, but maybe there is something I can still show you today," Kyle said. Nothing short of blood or fire would get him to move from this position, in fact.
Kel'rey noticeably brightened as he plopped down onto the earth right in front of Kyle. "Really? What is it?" he asked eagerly.
Kyle chuckled as he leaned forward and began to trace in the dirt with his finger. "It is a game that Sky People sometimes play. Let me explain..."
"I won again!" Kel'rey announced with glee.
"Yay," Kyle grumbled morosely as he squinted down at the game.
Tanhi thumped him lightly on the shoulder. "Be nice! Do not ruin the kindness that you show him by giving him victory."
Kyle heaved a long suffering sigh before admitting, "I was trying to win. This time. And the six times before it."
Tanhi let a single giggle escape before she caught herself. "Oh," she replied contritely before she continued running her comb through the hair around Kyle's queue. She had already thoroughly detangled it, but if the sigh that Kyle just let out was any indication, the motion still felt quite good to him. It was a small comfort but she gave it gladly, if only to ease his wounded pride.
"Can we play again?" Kel'rey asked, his ears drooping cutely as he practically begged with wide, shining eyes.
"No," Kyle muttered darkly. Tanhi poked him in the ribs. "Yes," Kyle quickly amended. "Go ahead and make a new board for us."
Kel'rey bobbed his head in eager agreement as he wiped the patch of dirt between them clean and began to draw a fresh tic-tac-toe board. How could something so simple have gone so wrong, Kyle thought silently to himself. The game was just supposed to be something relatively quick and easy to show the youngster, but he quickly took to the concept like a duck to water. Um, a Na'vi to the forest? Whatever. Some kind of hitherto unknown hidden potential was unlocked within Kel'rey's young mind, and Kyle had only managed to win one game after showing Kel'rey the basics. Perhaps he could suddenly read Kyle's mind? Despite trying to rationalize his next move three or four steps out, Kel'rey always seemed to have a counter ready.
"You may go first, if you would like," Kel'rey offered in an innocent sounding voice, earning a frustrated growl from Kyle. By now the boy had realized full well that the player who moved first had the advantage by far.
Kyle frowned at him. "No, 'evi, you first. You have rather earned it, after all." Maybe this time he could win. Or at the very least he could make it a tie game. When two experts played, that was really the only outcome. And Kyle was far from an expert - he had not played in years! Like a diamond in the rough that had remained undiscovered until now, Kel'rey was a master who just did not know it yet, and he was easily schooling Kyle at a game he had never played before.
Tanhi half-watched over Kyle's shoulder as he and Kel'rey played the game that Kyle called "tic-tac-toe" as she began to gather Kyle's hair back to braid it around his queue. Kyle was definitely taking this game much slower as he struggled to match wits with Kel'rey, and Tanhi frowned when he leaned forward to draw his symbol in one of the openings. She made a little grunt of displeasure and Kyle stopped short.
"You should not place your mark there," she murmured as she leaned forward to speak into his left ear.
Kyle frowned as he stared hard at the board, trying to figure out what he had missed. "But if I go -" his voice caught and his eyes widened as he felt Tanhi's lips on his ear. She ran her mouth along the back edge before giving the pointed tip a gentle bite.
Tanhi smiled as she felt Kyle's tail spasm from where it had been formerly lying still draped over her thigh. "Please?" she whispered as she ceased her attentions upon his sensitive ear and nuzzled her nose into his still loose hair. Her smile widened as she saw Kel'rey lean over to stare at her suspiciously.
Kyle began to move his finger over each of the open spaces, his face the picture of perfect concentration as he chewed thoughtfully on the inside of his cheek. Tanhi hummed an affirmative when he was over a space that she suspected would work, and he obligingly drew a circle in the dirt with his finger.
The only indication that Kel'rey was displeased by this move was a subtle lowering of his ears and a slight increase in tempo of the steady wag of his tail. He took his sweet time in deciding where to place his counter to Kyle/Tanhi's move.
When Kel'rey finally drew his "X" Kyle grinned triumphantly. There was only one logical move for him to make, and with a flourish he traced his final "O," tying the game. "Gottcha!" he crowed smugly.
Kel'rey gave him a pouty expression. "It was only because your yawntu helped," he muttered with an accusatory glare at Tanhi, who promptly hid her face behind Kyle's head as her body shook with barely contained laughter.
"Maybe I will help Kel'rey, then," someone said, and Kel'rey turned to find Amber standing over them with a sly grin on her face, her golden eyes twinkling mischievously. Norm was just behind her, staring at the ground with raised eyebrows as he took in the game that Kyle and Kel'rey had been playing.
"Bah, my pride has been wounded enough," Kyle said with a wave of his hands. "Go ahead and see if you're smarter than me at this. If you're lucky maybe you can tie Kel'rey's game. He's a prodigy, a freaking genius."
The youngling did not know what a "prodigy" was, but it sounded like a compliment. He had been trouncing Kyle, after all. At least until Tanhi had helped him, dang it. "Do you know how to play tic-tac-toe, Amberferris? I am very good! I will teach you if you do not know how."
Amber laughed and said, "Oh, don't worry. I know how to play tic-tac-toe. Let's see what you've got, buster."
"Cool! But your yawntu can't help you like Kyle's yawntu did," Kel'rey declared.
Kyle had not even noticed that Amber and Norm had been holding hands until they swiftly let go of one another, and the tanhi on both of their faces and necks brightened briefly. Kyle gave Norm a surprised look, and the older cousin lowered his ears in silent irritation. "Norm, when did - ouch!"
Tanhi had just pinched one of his ears, her feminine intuition rightly guessing that whatever budding feelings might be between Normspellman and Amberferris were as fragile and timid as a Loreyu plant. "I am sorry! Clumsy, I missed this strand of hair here, Kyle," Tanhi apologized as she corralled some of the wayward locks of his hair.
"What, ah, what have you guys been up to today?" Kyle asked hesitantly. Tanhi's hand was stroking one of his ears again, though Kyle suspected she was just positioning herself for another pinch if necessary. Tanhi smiled sweetly up at Norm and Amber as she continued casually braiding Kyle's hair.
Amber gave Tanhi a quick, grateful look as she lowered herself to the ground in front of Kel'rey and began to set up another tic-tac-toe board. Norm quickly recovered and answered, "Just an impromptu botany lesson. Around Kelutral is a good place to study; the scouts do an excellent job keeping away predators." Norm raised his head and scented the air. "Glad we got back when we did. Dang, whatever's cooking smells fantastic."
Kyle and Tanhi both grinned. "Why, thank you, cousin. I shot the tastiest yerik I could find, just for you," Kyle told him proudly. There was something distinctly satisfying about the experience, Kyle thought. Kyle had never felt lacking in masculinity before; though in reality a Valkyrie was a glorified cargo plane, there was still a bit of an exotic air about the occupation of his former life. Somehow the act of going out and having to shoot dinner made him swell with a feeling of well-earned pride that he had never experienced before.
Norm looked impressed, and he felt quite grateful that the conversation was moving on. "Really? Nice work, Kyle! You're really beginning to fit in well, you know." Norm's expression grew distant for a moment. "Just one more thing left, isn't there," he said softly.
Kyle felt Tanhi's motions behind him slow down for a split second before she swiftly resumed the rhythmic motion of braiding around his queue. "Yeah, cousin. One more thing," Kyle responded quietly.
An explosion of noise, a mixture of mock-outrage and amusement, drew everyone's attention towards the two people playing tic-tac-toe. Kel'rey had won the first game, apparently.
When Kyle hauled himself out of his nivi the next morning he was mildly surprised to see Jake leaning up against the wall by the nearest spiral, arms folded casually across chest. His face was impassive, but there was something similar to amusement in the Olo'eyktan's eyes as he watched Kyle rub his face sleepily. "Good, you're up," Jake said in English as he looked down at his left wrist. He blinked for a second in surprise - no watch. Though he did not miss the timepiece, some habits still took years to break, and with a grunt and a shrug he motioned for Kyle to follow. "Ready yourself quickly. We're going hunting in a few minutes," Jake commanded.
"Wha...what?" Kyle asked blearily. "Lemmegetsumbrekfust," Kyle mumbled. He shook his head and reached into a nearby open section of the water-capture system to splash his face, which helped him look markedly more awake. "I'll just grab a quick bite," he repeated, his voice still a bit scratchy from sleep. Kyle was one of the earlier risers among the Omaticaya, but still, this was a bit soon to start moving so quickly. When the heck had Jake gotten up, and how had he gotten so damn chipper?
"No, you won't," Jake countered in a firm voice, drawing Kyle up short. "You won't be eating a thing today. Or most of tomorrow."
Now Kyle was definitely awake, and his ears lowered as his stomach rumbled. "Um, can I ask why?" He had yet to figure out if he was talking to Jake as friend, or as Olo'eyktan. Was he being punished for something? Kyle racked his brain, but he could not come up with any wrongdoing severe enough to warrant such a punishment.
Jake's smile was indeed reassuringly friendly as he said, "You're going to be fasting for today and the next. Tomorrow you will be taking Uniltaron, and your stomach needs to be empty. Any more questions?"
Kyle froze and his eyes widened sightly. "I...you think I'm ready?" he stuttered. He had been so looking forward to this announcement. Yet once he was presented with the news, he suddenly felt hesitant and unsure. Uniltaron was the last major hurdle to overcome. Well, maybe not the last thing...
Both men nodded and softly greeted one of their clansmen who passed between them on the way down to the ground. Once they had regained some privacy Jake said quietly. "You are indeed ready, Kyle. You told me yourself you wanted to be the best at whatever I threw at you. I won't lie, I was going to try to make things a little difficult for you, but Mal'ek kind of took over for that. And you've succeeded, brother. You've passed with flying colors. You're ready."
"My God," Kyle murmured as he struggled to get his mind around Jake's declaration. "But why me? Why not Tsaro, or Kyuna or Rai'uk? Are they not just as ready, or as...worthy, as I am?" He stumbled over the words a bit, a telling indication for Jake that this was not a prideful statement on Kyle's part.
Jake shrugged. "They're ready, or at least very close to it. It was my choice. Neytiri and Moat agree with me, as of course I need to run these kinds of things by them. You also chose your ikran last, so you may partake of Uniltaron first. You know how crazy we Na'vi are about balance and all that." Jake smirked at Kyle as he added, "And besides. You've already got a one-up on the other three. You've already chosen someone. And I'd hate for you and Tanhi to get in trouble because you two were impatient."
Kyle quickly glanced away as his face bloomed with embarrassment. His and Tanhi's behavior had been getting plenty of amused glances from some of the Omaticaya's mated couples as of late, now that he thought about it. And yes, some of the brief, lingering touches had been growing noticeably less brief and lingering.
Jake chuckled at Kyle's expression. "Take care of whatever you need to," Jake repeated. "Meet me at the ikran roosts. Don't take too long, and don't forget your bow."
Kyle smiled, a mix of eagerness and relief, and nodded before dashing down the spiral.
It did not take long at all for Kyle to make it back up to the top of Kelutral. Jake had only just bonded with Tswayon, who was squirming with anticipation at the thought of going flying with Jake. Neytiri was there, and Kyle had stepped out onto the branch just as she and her mate were kissing with such fervency that Kyle quickly looked away, feeling as such that he were intruding on quite an intimate moment.
Neytiri turned to face Kyle and chuckled at his embarrassed expression. "I See you, Kyle," she greeted.
Kyle dipped his head respectfully. "Um, I See you, Neytiri." Jake sniggered softly from behind his hand and ignored the quick glare that Kyle gave him. "Will you be hunting with us?" Kyle asked her.
She smiled and shook her head. "No, I will not. This is a time for men, and I do not wish to intrude. Or cause myself undue suffering," she added with a teasing smile at Jake, who merely quirked an eyebrow up. His look plainly conveyed, you know you'll miss me. "I will be spending much of this day with Mother," Neytiri told Kyle.
Kyle cocked his head to the side. "I've been hearing that a lot lately. Is...everything alright? If I may ask?" he hastily added.
Neytiri nodded. "You may, do not worry. Actually, you are the reason that I have been training so intensely with Mother." Kyle gave her a perplexed look at this, and Neytiri laughed softly. "You honor me, Kyle! Yours will be the first Uniltaron that I oversee with my Jake. Much preparation goes into your birthday, you know."
Kyle was flabbergasted, and a quick glance back at Jake was met with a confirming nod. "Wow, thank you, Neytiri. Or shall I address you as Tsahìk?" he replied with a small grin.
"No, I am not Tsahìk just yet," Neytiri answered. "Now I will bid you 'goodbye,' brother, before I take up any more of yours or my Jake's time. Enjoy your day in Eywa's beauty."
Kyle smiled and nodded as a telling gust of wind blew against his back. Txopuluke could be a damn sneaky bastard when he wanted to be, but there was not a whole lot that could be done to mask the way the branch creaked and settled with the giant ikran's weight. "Thank you, Neytiri. And you as well." The rays of Alpha Centauri were already warming the air. It would be a glorious day, indeed.
Kyle and Jake would not exactly be hunting from ikran-back today, but they would be traveling much further away from Kelutral than would be possible on foot or even with pa'li. Kyle positively loved flying with Txopuluke. If pressed, Kyle would probably describe the experience as a cross between piloting a fighter jet and riding a motorcycle. Though Jake and he were just transiting right now, Kyle and Txopuluke had tried some pretty impressive acrobatics in the recent past... It was enough to get Kyle's adrenaline pumping for the better part of the day.
Kyle and Txopuluke were in deep conversation about the tactics necessary for aerial hunting when an ominous shadow blotted out the sun at their backs. Kyle's insides clinched with an instinctive fear that must have been latent within his avatar body. Txopuluke, true to his name, was not afraid but the situation definitely had the ikran's full attention.
"Jake!" Kyle yelled in warning as he tucked tight to Txopuluke's neck. The ikran snapped his wings in close to his body and Kyle felt weightless for a second as they dropped past Jake and Tswayon, making a beeline for the jungle canopy below.
Jake had to shout himself hoarse twice for his command to register with Kyle, for Kyle had ignored the chirping hunt-speak that Jake had initially used. "Kyle, stop! Don't run! KYLE!"
The firmness of the Olo'eyktan's words finally cut through Kyle and Txopuluke's instinctive flight. Steady... Txopuluke intoned, and Kyle did not know if Txopuluke was talking to himself or to Kyle. Steady, Little One. Oh...guess that answers the question. Jake was right beside him again, Tswayon's wings almost overlapping with Txopuluke's as the two ikran got as close as physically possible for a brief moment.
Kyle whipped his head around to peer over his shoulder just as the massive red form of Toruk buzzed them not 20 feet overhead. All of the moisture left Kyle's mouth as he followed the predator's flight with wide eyes. "Shit...," he gasped. The thing had the teeth and claws of a palulukan, and its chilling cry turned Kyle's blood to ice water. Everything had happened so suddenly - Kyle got the distinct impression that if he was meant to die today, it would already have happened.
Jake's lips were pressed tight together as he tracked Toruk with intense eyes. Unlike Kyle, there was not a shred of fear in his disposition. "It's her," Kyle heard him whisper.
Kyle's head jerked forward as he watched Toruk flap and circle around in front of them, crying out a second time. The sound stirred something in Kyle's spirit; his body bore scars that served as a daily reminder that he was no longer at the apex of the food chain but even still, this fresh reminder of his smallness shocked him just as much as it had the first time. Kyle could not hide the shiver that coursed through his body at the sound of Toruk's voice from Txopuluke, but the ikran never held it against him for a second. It is wise to be wary of that which can eat you, Txopuluke deadpanned.
No shit.
Kyle's heart was still pounding furiously within his chest as Jake's words registered with him. "Is that...your Toruk?" he asked hesitantly. This was the closest that he had ever been to one of the great predators, and it was as close as he ever cared to get.
Jake barked out a short laugh and gave Kyle a quick glance. "Ha! No, she is not 'my' Toruk. Trust me, she doesn't belong to anyone, especially me. But yes, she and I are...acquaintances. Easy, boy," Jake finished as he reassuringly scratched Tswayon around his tswin as the ikran cackled nervously. Jake gave Kyle a significant look. "I'm glad you didn't run. If your mount had been any smaller, she would have probably plucked you out of the sky before you could have gained the cover of the trees."
Kyle's mortification mixed strangely with Txopuluke's pride within his mind. See? I told you I - the ikran began.
Oh, shut it, Kyle interrupted. You just said it was wise to be wary.
Jake smirked as he noticed the distracted look on Kyle's face, the slight tilt of his head as if he were listening to someone whispering over his shoulder. "What's he saying?" Jake asked.
Kyle snorted. "Cocky bastard," he muttered, even as he allowed a faint smile to cross his face. "Are we there yet? I'd really like to take a break from flying right now."
Jake chuckled and pointed with his chin ahead of them. "Yeah, almost there."
They landed in a small meadow, and the grass was still gently trembling from the recent passage of a fair amount of prey animals. The ground was littered with their footprints, and their smell still hung in the air. Kyle's eyes were wide, his ears up and alert as he spun around, bow in hand, and took in all the signs. The Omaticaya were of course quite careful to avoid overhunting around their home, but neither did the yerik exactly throw themselves at the hunters' feet as soon as they stepped foot away from Kelutral. The abundance before him now was the closest thing Kyle had seen to a Na'vi grocery store, and his mind spun with all of the possibilities.
"I do not expect to be out all day," Jake said calmly as he unslung his bow and casually checked the three arrows that he had with him. "Once we've managed to bring down a sufficiently useful amount of prey we shall talk about more serious things. But for now, we hunt." Jake grinned, baring his fangs as he jerked his head in the direction of the forest. "Lead," he commanded.
Kyle's ears lowered ever so slightly and he growled in response as he felt his blood begin to race at Jake's challenge. Something primordial began to stir to life from somewhere deep within him, and he embraced the heady feeling with open arms. "Yes, sir," he responded. This would be a very good day.
By midday both men were comfortably tired, and their blue skin was smeared with dust and sweat. At "base camp" were the carcasses of two yerik and four smaller but infinitely more common tapirus. "We'll field dress one of the yerik here," Jake panted as he and Kyle lugged their final kill over to lay with the rest of their catch. "The offal will make a fine offering for Tswayon and Txopuluke. They've earned the treat, at any rate."
Overhead Jake and Kyle's ikran patrolled in a loose circle around the perimeter of the meadow. The two hunters' work was bound to attract the attention of scavengers, and every now and then one of the ikran would let out a shriek and make a dive at some unseen creature that had been attracted to the smell of the kills.
Kyle nodded and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "You're a hell of a hunter, you know that?" he complimented sincerely. Jake had really given him a run for his money today, constantly pushing and encouraging him; it had been all Kyle could do to keep pace with the other man. Jake lacked the fluid grace of a natural Na'vi, but Neytiri had clearly taught him well. Jake was quite stealthy, and any minor lack of technique was made up for by sheer tenacity. Once he had gained a trail his prey was as good as dead.
A modest shrug was the response. "I hold my own," Jake replied. "It's not often I get to go hunting, either by myself or with a group. Sometimes being Olo'eyktan can take up about 110 percent of my time." Jake unsheathed the knife from his chest and looked up at Kyle. "I tend to milk these chances for all they're worth. We didn't run too hard for you, did we?" This was said with a teasing smile.
Kyle's eyes narrowed and he flashed his teeth in friendly aggression. "No, you didn't. You set the bar high, though; it's good to see what I'm aiming for." Kyle quickly knelt on the other side of the yerik, reaching over its back to take hold of its legs and bare the stomach for Jake. "Here, let me help," he said.
Jake nodded his thanks as he swiftly eviscerated the yerik in one smooth slice. The rank, warm smell of the butchered animal did not bother Kyle in the least; in fact, he found his mouth watering at the prospect of what it might taste like, and his stomach rumbled in hungry agreement.
Jake paused and glanced up at Kyle, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "Down, boy," he said. "You're still fasting. You can't eat until after Uniltaron."
Kyle grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well, one can still dream, can't they?" A shadow passed by overhead and Kyle and Jake quickly looked up; Tswayon flapped and circled overhead, watching Jake's work with obvious interest. "Who would have thought...," Kyle murmured distantly as he took in the scenery around him with a contented sigh.
A few more slices and the yerik's guts spilled fully out, hot and steaming. Jake grinned and portioned off something that vaguely resembled a liver and whistled to summon Tswayon, who at this point needed no further encouragement. "Easy, Tswayon, don't take my hand off," Jake chuckled as he fed the piece of organ to his friend. The ikran chirred happily and licked Jake's hand clean with only a few swipes of his tongue. "You'll get more later, I promise. Now give the big guy a turn before he puts you in your place."
Kyle smiled as he watched the eager ikran wing back up into the air. He reached into the carcass to withdraw the rest of the organ, and when he stood back up Txopuluke was already there, waiting patiently for his turn. While the giant may not have been as overtly eager as the notorious Tswayon, he had been watching Kyle's work with interest the entire time. Txopuluke wolfed down Kyle's offering like a starving ikran before he too jumped back into the air to resume his patrol.
"Who would have thought that we'd end up like this, eh? Dressed like savages, eschewing a fine hunting rifle for the bow and arrow. Let alone that the both of us would look like, well...," Jake trailed off and motioned at himself. "Do you miss your home, Kyle? Do you miss your old life? Tanhi will know if you do. It's the damnedest thing about the women here. They just know." He finished with a wry smirk and a shake of his head.
Kyle gave Jake a sharp look, his ears swiveling subconsciously as he pondered Jake's words. "If I had a home to go back to, I might miss it. I had a decent apartment in Cali, a good job that I enjoyed going to each day. I had a wicked fast motorcycle. How many people could say that? I'm sure it's all rubble now. I had a family...but I'm sure they're long buried." Kyle looked up into the sky as if waiting for the few clouds present to form an answer for him. "I wonder if they ever even found them?"
Jake was silent for a while as he continued dressing the yerik. He had known of the pain that had burdened Kyle and Norm. Kyle had never mentioned anything; in fact he had looked none the worse for wear...but Jake was willing to bet that this was not the case. "It's strange. We needed to have so much taken away before we can See what's really important," he said softly without looking at Kyle.
"There's more that's unsaid here," Kyle replied slowly as he heard the weight in Jake's words.
Jake nodded and kept working. "Me? I left behind no family as well." Jake laughed harshly and shook his head. "I had a twin brother. His name was Tom. He was a scientist working for the RDA. He was so excited to be an avatar driver..." Jake trailed off, shaking his head. It still hurt to think about that, even now.
Kyle blinked as Jake's words hit him. "I... I didn't know that. I'm sorry, Jake."
"Thank you," Jake said honestly. He laughed, the sound genuine as he recalled in his mind's eye his brother. "Oh, we were a riot back in the day, let me tell you! We did all the typical 'twin things.' You know, like switching places in school and all that. At least when we were younger, and it was tougher to tell us apart. Tommy quickly became the smarter one, and me the stronger one. Then it wasn't so easy to fool people."
"The dynamic duo, eh? Batman and Robin?" Kyle asked with a smile.
Jake snorted and started coughing, he was laughing so hard. "Ha! Oh, that's rich. No, it was more like that old cartoon, Pinkie and the Brain. Tommy would always figure out how to 'take over the world,' and I was the muscle that carried the plan out." Jake looked up at Kyle and rolled his eyes. "More often than not that meant I was the fall guy when things went bad. But that was Tommy...planning it all, even down to his escape." Jake's eyes finally grew sad. "He just didn't plan on the right street that day, or the right time to walk home. Stupid bastard... They don't even know who did it, who murdered and robbed my brother for his wallet. Knowing Tommy, he would have just given it to the guy, threatened or not. Credit cards can be canceled, driver's licenses renewed. So yeah, like you, I suppose I really shouldn't be here, either. But as we say, Eywa does provide. It's amazing, how something so good can come out of what was meant for evil."
Kyle froze at Jake's words. "Wait, what do you mean you aren't supposed to be here? You have...had an avatar. Didn't you? You were security or something for the avatar teams, right?"
Jake chuckled and shook his head, causing a few loose braids to sway around his face. "You don't get it still. Let me explain. I was just a marine, a grunt. I was paralyzed, even, from that shit storm in Venezuela. I had no life. Tommy and I were identical twins...this was his avatar. He was murdered a week before he was supposed to ship out for Pandora. I came in his place, because the RDA didn't want to flush a multi-million dollar baby avatar down the drain, and I just so happened to have the right set of genes that would let me link with it." Kyle simply gaped at him, and Jake threw his head back and laughed. "So you see? Both of us are the product of some pretty damned big astronomical odds."
Time passed as Jake and Kyle continued cleaning the yerik. They treated their ikrans twice more to various juicy parts before Kyle finally spoke. "I wouldn't keep anything from Tanhi," Kyle said slowly after a while.
"How long did it take for you to admit to Tanhi that she wasn't falling in love with just any normal avatar driver?" Jake quickly fired back.
Kyle blinked rapidly as he heard this and his ears fell back slightly. Oh, yeah. About that...
Jake sighed and sat back on his haunches as his tail waved thoughtfully behind him. "That's what I thought at first, too. Originally, I actually was working for Sec-Ops, for Quaritch. At first my entire relationship with Neytiri was built on a lie." Jake gave Kyle a look that even now was laced through with guilt. "I helped bring down the Omaticaya's first Hometree. Eytukan, Neytiri's father, was killed then. It was my fault. My first lies almost ended everything. Falling in love was the last thing I expected."
Remembering Neytiri and Jake's intimate farewell earlier in the morning, Kyle said hesitantly, "Well, it seems like you guys turned out okay. Right?" His voice turned up at the end, almost squeaking hopefully.
Jake closed his eyes and smiled fondly in memory. "We did, but it was close. Very close. I thought tsaheylu with Tswayon was the greatest thing under the sun. That is, until the first time with Neytiri. God, I've never had anyone love me like she does."
With a thoughtful frown, Kyle carefully asked, "Tsaheylu makes that much of a difference? Wait, how come Neytiri didn't find out about the...the reason you were there...then?" Kyle stuttered slightly over the last part, unsure of how Jake might take such a question.
Fortunately, he seemed unoffended. "Tsaheylu isn't like reading minds, especially with your mate. You can...put up walls, if you want. Hide things in boxes, and all that. It can be done, but it is not pleasant, Kyle." Jake winced and said, "I would never recommend it." Jake rubbed his cheek thoughtfully with the clean back of his hand. "Neytiri had to knock some sense into me for me to get that."
"Is it difficult, sometimes? Relating between people who are so different, I mean," Kyle said as he chewed on his lower lip.
Jake smiled. "A wise question. Yeah, it can be difficult. I don't think you'll avoid that between you and Tanhi. In many ways my human mind complicates things that Neytiri sees as ridiculously simple." With a fond laugh Jake said, "But we just determine that I'm a skxawng and move on. It's not too bad. Tanhi will challenge you, and you her, in ways that probably neither of you will expect." Jake laughed again before saying, "I'm excited to welcome you into the clan, Kyle. I want the best for you and your soon-to-be mate. I want you guys to have an easier start than Neytiri and I did, is all."
They kept working on the yerik - it was almost fully gutted and packed for the trip home, thankfully - when Kyle asked yet another question. "How much actually changed, Jake? When you... When you switched bodies. Became Na'vi."
"Well, I can tell you what it didn't do for me. It didn't make me an expert at the language, that's for sure! Neytiri still bugs me about my pronunciation. I still say her name wrong - did you know that?" Despite Jake's admission that he still speaks his life mate's name incorrectly, he was grinning like an idiot.
Kyle frowned. "Wait, I say her name the same way you do. Neytiri...," he said, speaking slowly and deliberately as he focused on his Na'vi.
Jake shook his head as he wiped his bloody hands clean on a large, fuzzy leaf. "Nope, it's actually Neytiri." Jake trilled and twisted the "R" in a way that Kyle had never heard before and was quite likely helpless to duplicate.
Still, Kyle's mouth fell open at this revelation. "Well why the hell don't you...?"
Jake laughed and slapped his knees with his now clean hands. "Does she say my name right?" Kyle shook his head after a moment of reflection - Neytiri still pronounced "Jake" with a soft "J." Jake grinned, his love for his mate as obvious as ever. "She knows she says it wrong. She's a good enough English speaker by now to say it correctly, if she or I wanted her to. But you know what? That's how we first said each other's name, and I for one would never want her say my name any other way."
Kyle could only laugh and shake his head. What could he possibly say to that?
The two men were almost done readying their kills for transport back to Kelutral. Txopuluke, bless him, calmly rested on the ground as Kyle burdened him with his share of the undoubtably tasty smelling meat. Tswayon kept trying to snitch bites when Jake was not looking, but somehow the Olo'eyktan was always able to keep a step ahead of his rambunctious ikran. "God, you're worse than a kid!" Jake exclaimed in exasperation after his third intervention between Tswayon and the meat meant for the Omaticaya. Kyle quietly laughed behind his hand, all the while thanking God or Eywa that Txopuluke was better behaved. Kyle would probably be powerless to stop the giant ikran if he decided that he did want a portion of yerik or tapirus for himself.
Kyle was just about to swing up into Txopuluke's saddle when Jake called out to him. "I don't know if you noticed or not, but I kind of dodged your last question there," Jake said with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
With a smirk Kyle replied, "Yeah, I noticed. I figured there was a good reason, though."
Jake grinned faintly as he jumped astride Tswayon's back; the ikran politely knelt a little closer to the ground to make the move easier. The Olo'eyktan's eyes were closed in thought for a brief moment; Jake opened and shut his mouth a few times without actually speaking as if he were still trying to decide on the right words. Finally, he said, "I didn't change, Kyle. I really didn't change at all. All that happened was that I was freed up to be me again."
The rest of the day passed in a blur for Kyle. The bounty of his and Jake's hunt was joyfully received; the announcement of his pending Uniltaron was cause for even greater celebration. Kyle had thought that the ceremony would be a private event, though this apparently seemed not to be the case. The entire clan quickly learned the news, and everyone saw it fit to give Kyle at least a little bit of attention.
Tsaro came up to him, a strange expression on his normally unreadable face. "I do not know how I feel about this announcement, Kylefischer," Tsaro told him after a moment in a somber tone of voice.
Kyle's ears rocked back with uncertainty. "Are...are you not happy for me, brother? Do you wish to go before me?" Kyle felt stung and was rather taken aback by Tsaro's response; there were times that Kyle still felt unsure of whether or not he had been fully accepted by the clan. He hoped it did not send the wrong message for him to be going through Uniltaron first.
Tsaro heaved a massive sigh, which Kyle suspected may have been a little staged, and said simply, "You will be my elder until I partake of the final rite. For some reason this...irritates me."
Kyle was speechless for a moment before he finally burst out laughing, his amusement so great that he staggered slightly on his feet. Tsaro frowned at the boisterous display, his ears folding back with irritation. He could not hold the expression for long, however, and soon a small but genuine smile crossed his face. He had been teasing, after all, and Kyle had finally caught it. "You are impossible!" Kyle finally managed. "I will do my best not to hold anything over your head," Kyle gasped as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Tsaro frowned slightly. "Why would you hold something above my head?" he asked curiously.
Apparently some English idioms did not readily carry over into Na'vi, and Tsaro's perplexed question triggered another bout of laughter from Kyle. "Forgive me, it is a Sky Person expression," Kyle managed after a while. It was nearly time for dinner, and for a second time in as many days the results of Kyle's labors was cooking over the Omaticaya's fires and releasing all kinds of delicious smells into the air. Kyle sighed and said with a good natured grumble, "Will you grant me a favor, Tsaro? Enjoy your meal tonight. For the both of us."
Another faint grin crossed Tsaro's features. "I can do that for you. Would you wish for me to inform you of how good the meat tastes?" Tsaro asked this with a maddeningly serious tone of voice.
A woman's laugh interrupted the two friends. Neytiri was just walking up to them, and she said with a chuckle, "You will only make things harder for yourself, Kyle. Do not worry - you do not suffer alone this night."
Kyle's expression was quizzical as he cocked his head to the side and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Ah, forgive me. I forget that you do not yet know of all of our customs," Neytiri said. "My Jake has been fasting with you, as have I. It is the way of things," she said with a shrug.
Once again, the interconnectedness of the Na'vi way of life astounded Kyle. He had never experienced the kind of unity that the Omaticaya so readily demonstrated. And to have this kind of thing offered to him...to be poised on the precipice of being accepted right into the midst of such a community... It moved Kyle deeply. This really was like getting his family back all over again.
Neytiri smiled as she saw Kyle's expression, as he looked like he was about to object to something. "It is strange to me, Kyle... You are a brave and strong man, and you were ready to give your life for those whom you had only known a short time. Yet it seems to me that you find it difficult to accept even an offer of kindness such as this."
Kyle's tail drooped behind him as Neytiri's comment hit home. She was right...as she usually was. He had no idea how to respond to Neytiri's words.
Neytiri sensed even this as well, and she said reassuringly, "You will understand what it is that I say soon enough. Now come, follow me. While our brothers and sisters eat the evening meal, you and I must begin preparing both your body and your spirit. You will need to find and capture a kali'weya for your ceremony, and I also feel that some time spent at Utral Aymokriya would be good for you. Perhaps you may find that those who have gone to be with Eywa may have a word of wisdom for you."
Before Neytiri and he could draw away, Tsaro reached forward and thumped Kyle on the shoulder. "I am indeed happy for you, brother," he said with sincerity. "I can think of no one better to call 'friend,' and I am honored to have taught you and to stand witness as you take your place among the People."
Tsaro had a way of packing a powerful punch into few words and it was all Kyle could do to dip his head in speechless acknowledgment. A third faint smile - surely some kind of record - graced Tsaro's face for a moment as he motioned farewell before turning to head back to Kelutral.
Neytiri watched the exchange with a feeling of pride and satisfaction. "Come," she gently reminded him as she motioned towards the forest.
Kyle slept fitfully that night - he was sure it was only for a few hours, at any rate. Though his eyes were closed, he was lying awake in his nivi when Tanhi appeared before dawn crouched on the branch above, softly calling his name. "Kyle. Rise up. It is time," she said.
He was up in an instant and very alert, despite only getting minimal sleep and not having eaten anything for over a day. Tanhi's beautiful eyes were faintly luminous in the darkness, and her bioluminescent freckles glowed steadily. "You are beautiful," Kyle breathed softly as he looked upon her face.
Tanhi smiled and leaned forward to swiftly kiss his cheek. "You are handsome," she countered with a quiet chuckle. "You must be painted for Uniltaron. Follow me."
As they descended one of Kelutral's spirals in the predawn darkness Tanhi explained, "It is the teacher's privilege to draw the lines and whorls upon you that represent your upcoming journey. Your teacher knows you best, and is in the best position to listen to Eywa's words regarding your life." As they crossed the ground to a private alcove she turned to him and smiled almost shyly. "I have taught you much of the People's language. I will be...one of those who does this for you."
Kyle smiled despite his best efforts to remain serious. "And who else will there be? Tsaro taught me the ways of forest, taught me how to hunt."
"This is true, but he is not yet a man, and as such he cannot be the one who helps initiate you into the clan," a new voice spoke, and Kyle turned to find Mal'ek ducking his head as he stepped beneath the low alcove entrance. "I did teach you to wield a bow with...limited effectiveness, after all," Mal'ek said, his own eyes shining with pride and good humor. Kyle's skill with the bow and arrow was much greater than merely "passable," and they both knew it. Perhaps Kyle's skill outstripped Mal'ek's own if one were to take into account his ability to shoot equally well with either hand. "It would be a privilege for me to listen to Eywa on your behalf, 'itan."
Kyle chuckled softly and asked, "I thought that you were too old and stubborn to hear the All Mother's voice, Mal'ek."
Tanhi hid her giggle behind her hand. Mal'ek was unoffended at having his past words turned against him and said with a shrug, "This is true. I have been spending much time as of late meditating at Utral Aymokriya in order to refresh my skills concerning the matter. My mate has offered her own words to me for your sake as well, so you may be confident that there is no misunderstanding." Mal'ek stepped aside and motioned into the alcove. "Now enter; talk alone will not prepare you."
Kyle smiled and lightly bit his tongue to avoid further speech as Tanhi gently pushed on his shoulders and ushered him into the alcove. Torchlight illuminated the space, its warm, orange glow casting dancing shadows against the walls. Despite not sharing any words, father and daughter somehow moved in perfect concert as they traced patterns and lines across Kyle's body. There were no mistakes, no do-overs.
"What do they mean?" Kyle finally asked. Mal'ek was in front of him at the moment, and Tanhi behind. Mal'ek locked eyes with his daughter for a brief second before he glanced at Kyle and remained thoughtfully silent. Kyle's eyes widened fractionally as he felt Tanhi gently grasp his queue, moving the braid up so that it rested over her own shoulder and down behind her. She did not want to get his hair soiled as she painted his back.
She could feel her father's eyes on her as she dipped two of her fingers into her bowl of white paint. Tanhi chewed her lip thoughtfully as she pondered her motions for a second. Once satisfied that she had indeed heard correctly, Tanhi brought her fingers up to the first of Kyle's palulukan-inflicted scars and in a single smooth motion highlighted the old wound in paint. She could feel Kyle's back tense beneath her fingers as she repeated the action twice more.
Mal'ek finally answered. "I cannot speak of such things to you, Kyle. Words are not sufficient - this is why we use the symbols as we do. The paint upon your body is Eywa's silent speech to you. I would not want to distract from her voice with my own." This was a true statement - it was not customary to explain why someone was painted as they were. But of course, one could certainly make an educated guess as to what Eywa had to say concerning a person.
Eywa's blessing as it flowed through Mal'ek spoke of stoutness of heart, of unshakeable resolve. It spoke of an inner triumph; over just what exactly Mal'ek did not know, but one thing was clear: Kyle's spirit was indomitable. There was truly no challenge or hardship that Kyle would shy away from.
His daughter's interpretation astounded Mal'ek. His heart swelled with pride for Tanhi, for it spoke well of her as a woman that she could come to such a conclusion about her future mate, despite the scars that she bore herself on the inside. There was no greater demonstration of love than a willingness to lay down one's life for another. Whether he knew this or not, Kyle had shown this to all the Omaticaya - he had been called to task on the matter, and he had not flinched. Eywa had seen it fit to give Kyle back to them all when she had every opportunity to welcome him into her arms. She surely had a plan for him.
It took many, many hours to fully prepare Kyle. When all was said and done his face, arms, torso, and legs had all been decorated. Tanhi painted the final strokes on his cheeks and down his chin and throat. Kyle's eyes never left her face; she could feel the heat of his admiration and she chuckled despite herself. "Do not distract me," she gently scolded.
Kyle's eyebrows rose. "I did not say anything," he countered.
Tanhi finished her work and finally looked into his eyes. His gaze was confident, steady, and full of promise. She blew lightly on his face, partly to help his paint dry and mostly to get him to blink. She wanted to kiss him, among other things, but this was not the time or place. "Your thoughts are nearly loud enough for me to hear," she said with a laugh.
"So you can read my mind? Tell me, what am I thinking now?" Kyle asked in a serious tone.
Tanhi blushed. Perhaps she could not actually read his mind, but she knew the answer to his question.
"It is time," Mal'ek interrupted softly as he washed his hands clean.
Kyle remembered to bring the jar that contained his kali'weya with him; he shuddered slightly as he heard the creature's irritated skittering inside the stone container. He held his head high as he stepped out of the alcove behind Mal'ek and Tanhi. Most of Omaticaya were up by now, and a few of them greeted him respectfully as they walked over to the entrance of the Uniltaron chamber. Kyle searched around him for Norm but his cousin was oddly absent, and the only flash of human clothing proved to be Amber in her avatar who stood a respectful distance away. She smiled at him and gave him a slight wave in recognition.
Neytiri and Moat were waiting for them at the top of the tunnel. "Good morning, Tsahìk," he greeted softly to Moat, who smiled and dipped her head almost imperceptibly in acknowledgement. She did not say anything to him in return, her deference to her daughter's role clear.
Neytiri glanced once over Kyle's painted body before she looked at Tanhi and Mal'ek each in turn. "Is this what Eywa says to him?" she asked the two.
"It is," Mal'ek and Tanhi replied in unison.
With a single nod Neytiri replied, "Let it be as she says, then. The Olo'eyktan will be up in a moment, Kyle."
Kyle nodded as he pushed back a wave of nervousness and tried to still the spastic twitching of his tail. "Neytiri...have you seen Norm?" he asked after a moment.
Neytiri's eyes shifted over his shoulder. "Your cousin is just now behind you," she told him with a faint smile.
Kyle was surprised - he had not heard Norm approach. He made to turn around but he felt a hand on his shoulder restrain him. "Hold on, Kyle," Norm said. "Don't look at me right now. I won't be with you for the Dream Hunt, but trust me, I'm not going anywhere."
Kyle puzzled over Norm's words even as he obliged his request and remained still. "What, wake up on the wrong side of the nivi this morning?" he asked with a nervous chuckle.
The smile in Norm's voice was clear. "Not quite, cousin. Just doing my own preparations is all. Jake asked me to warn you... Don't be nervous about the Dream Hunt. To be fair, the arachnoid sting will hit you harder than most. It's something about the avatar body. But it's bearable."
Kyle nodded in acknowledgement.
Norm squeezed his shoulder once before releasing. "See you on the other side. I'm pretty sure I have a good guess what your spirit animal will be, but of course I don't want to bias you. I'm proud of you, Kyle."
"Thank you, cousin," Kyle responded quietly. "See you in a bit."
Kyle had no idea if Norm was still behind him or not, and in spite of Norm's warning Kyle turned to check. He could not see his cousin at all; there was only a few Omaticaya going about the beginning of their day. Tsaro was walking by, bow in hand, no doubt on his way to do some hunting. The two friends locked eyes for a moment - Tsaro did not pause his steps and simply motioned a greeting. I See you.
Kyle returned the greeting just as a voice cleared its throat nearby. Turning back, Kyle found Jake had emerged from the tunnel and was standing beside his mate. The Olo'eyktan mantle rested upon his shoulders and he wore the headpiece as well, the formal garb complementing his stern expression. "Who are you?" Jake demanded as he stared at Kyle as though he had never seen the man before.
Swallowing nervously, Kyle replied simply, "My name is Kyle Fischer. I am son of..." His voice hung up on his building emotion - this was going to be difficult to say. After clearing his throat Kyle continued, "Son of Brad and Sarah Fischer. I will become Omaticaya this day."
Jake snorted. "We shall see. Tell me, Kylefischer," Jake asked, running Kyle's name together in the Na'vi way, "Which of Eywa's younger children best represents your spirit and character?"
Remembering the words that Neytiri had taught him last night, Kyle answered, "I do not yet know, Olo'eyktan. With your permission, I will hunt for such a totem now."
After a moment Jake nodded once. "You have my permission," he said. "May Eywa bless your hunt this day."
Kyle cast a nervous glance towards Tanhi; her expression was reassuring, and he drew strength from it. Kyle trailed Jake down into the tunnel, and Mal'ek and Neytiri followed behind. Only a few sparse bladder lanterns illuminated the passageway, but Kyle's sensitive eyes quickly grew accustomed to the darkness. The air grew thick, damp, and cloying - a strange smell tickled Kyle's nose and a deep breath made him feel lightheaded.
The actual Uniltaron chamber was low-ceilinged with more than a few rootlets hanging down from above. There were numerous places where Kyle had to duck to avoid dirtying his head, and he noticed that in several places the visible thick roots of Kelutral had been slit with a knife so that they oozed a sticky sap. This sap had been singed with a firebrand, and now it smoked steadily; it was no doubt the source of the strangely intoxicating scent that Kyle was smelling. The room was cramped, a true womb within the earth.
Perhaps a dozen Na'vi sat cross-legged around the perimeter of the chamber and Mal'ek quietly took a seat in an open space. Several of the men and women present were pounding out a steady rhythm upon drums that they held in their laps, their sound more like a heartbeat than actual music. Kyle knelt in the center of the room - Jake relieved him of the jar he carried and Neytiri approached with a glowworm in her hand, still wriggling disturbingly, very much alive and luminous.
"Wise worm, grant this hunter the vision that he seeks so that he may take his place among the People," Neytiri intoned as she placed the worm onto Kyle's tongue. Kyle screwed his eyes shut as he swiftly drew the worm back in his mouth and swallowed without chewing - the creature was still squirming even as it slid down his throat.
Jake stalked in a circle around Kyle as he opened the jar and allowed the kali'weya to scurry out into his palm; the Olo'eyktan had to constantly rotate and turn his hand as the giant arachnoid scrambled hamster-like between his fingers. Resisting the urge to turn and look, Kyle faced resolutely forward as Jake disappeared behind him - he did not see when Jake swiftly grabbed the arachnoid's tail with his other hand, turning the creature from calm to furious in an instant.
Kyle did not know if he was stung by the insect or kicked between the shoulder blades by an angry pa'li. The contact of the kali'weya's venomous stinger against the back of his neck jolted him violently forward onto his hands and knees, and he cried out in surprise and pain despite his best efforts to remain silent.
Kyle instantly broke out into a feverish sweat as he felt the effects from the sting spread out over his body. He felt himself growing numb, the sensation reaching from the middle of his chest and spreading out into his arms, legs, and tail, and he found himself struggling for breath as his vision began to narrow.
Incredulously, Kyle recalled the time he had his wisdom teeth pulled back in college. He had just been injected with anesthesia and the dentist told him to count back from 100. 100...99...98..., Kyle thought as he struggled to remain coherent even as the dual effects of the glowworm and kali'weya began to overpower his senses.
Then the world started spinning, and with a strangled cry Kyle scrabbled fruitlessly against the ground. He flopped ungracefully over onto his side as the room began to twirl like some sick merry-go-round. 97...96... The Na'vi began to drum faster, their frantic pace beginning to sync up with Kyle's own frantically beating heart. 95...94... Kyle was dimly aware of chanting. It sounded like Na'vi, but it was unlike any word or song that he had ever heard before; it sounded old, ancient and primeval. 93..92...
Jake crouched down beside him, watching intently, and Kyle desperately focused on his face. He tried saying something, anything, but all that came out was a wheezy gasp. The blurry image of Jake's form doubled, then tripled, and Kyle could hear a dull roar forming inside his head. 91...
And then everything was gone. The dim chamber, his chanting and drumming clan mates, the noise in his head, everything. Kyle was soaring over the Pandoran jungle through the open air, and the loudest noise was the wind rushing over his face, cool and deliciously refreshing. The feeling was more vivid even than flying with Txopuluke, if that were possible. Kyle felt the strength of his wings not just through tsaheylu, but as though it was his own body. He knew instantly what he was.
How high can I go? Let's find out... Powerful flaps of his wings pushed him up through the air. Higher and higher Kyle flew, until the trees and rivers and mountains, even the clouds, began to fade below him and the sky began to darken in a way that he knew intimately. Soon stars were twinkling brightly overhead.
Within minutes, or perhaps hours, Kyle found himself back in his Na'vi body. He was still lying on his side, but someone had thoughtfully placed a rolled woven mat under his head as a pillow. The room was empty save for a few remaining Na'vi who either paced slowly or sat back against the wall as they murmured prayers for Kyle's successful dream hunt. Mal'ek was there, as were a few others that Kyle recognized, including Sänume and Va'ru. Kyle groaned as he tried to move - his limbs felt like they weighed several tons, and he truly felt like a palulukan had tackled him all over again.
Kyle tried sitting up, but it took the help of another for even this simple move - Jake's arm helped lift him into an upright position. He caught sight of Jake's concerned face, thankfully only one this time, as the Olo'eyktan asked, "You were out for a long while. What did you see?"
His first answer came out as a raspy croak and Neytiri quickly knelt down beside him and held a water skin to his lips. Kyle drank greedily before he answered, and Jake and Neytiri traded a relieved, knowing smile upon hearing Kyle's response.
"Ikran," Kyle had gasped.
Amazingly, it was late afternoon by the time Kyle emerged from the Uniltaron chamber. He was still walking on unsteady feet, but Mal'ek was more than willing to stay less than an arm-length away, ready to catch him if he stumbled. Kyle walked into the great cathedral within Kelutral that served as the Omaticaya's main meeting place, and here nearly all of the clan was waiting for him. Up ahead Moat was talking with another tall Na'vi man that Kyle did not recognize.
When the Na'vi turned to face him, Kyle gasped. It was Norm! His human looking avatar clothes were gone; instead he was regally dressed as an elder of the clan, looking for all the world like he had been born here. "Norm?" Kyle asked in surprise, his voice still scratchy.
Norm smiled widely and motioned a greeting with his hand down from his forehead. "Welcome to the family, Kyle," he said with quiet pride.
Kyle was dumbfounded. "You...you're Omaticaya?" he asked. How the heck had he not known this?
Norm laughed softly and nodded. "Yes, I am. I'm something of a Singer, believe it or not," he said. Norm's eyes flashed, warning and teasing at the same time. "Not that I'm going to be actually singing any actual songs anytime soon, but being a scientist is rather like a Na'vi history keeper, after all." Norm rubbed his hand over the bullet scars on his chest and shoulder. "Moat and Jake kind of decided this for me after the battle. Something about blood shed on behalf of another and all..." Norm's voice trailed off. "It looks like we both have a family again, doesn't it?" Norm whispered.
Before Kyle could respond Norm tilted his chin in Jake's direction. Norm stepped aside so that Jake could stand in front of Kyle, with Moat and Neytiri on either side. Jake was still appropriately solemn, though his eyes now twinkled with subtle excitement. The Olo'eyktan formally placed his hands on Kyle's shoulders and began to speak in a voice that projected for all to hear. "You are now a son of the Omaticaya," he said, and Kyle felt his stomach do a little joyful flip. "You are part of the People. What comes against you comes against us all. And what blesses you blesses us all."
As Jake spoke Kyle felt other gentle touches on his shoulders as Neytiri, Moat, and Norm added their presence. Tanhi had appeared at his right side, her face positively shining with joy; Tsaro was at his left, smirking confidently. Mal'ek had stayed close to him the entire time and was just behind Kyle. The Na'vi who could not directly lay hands on him instead touched those who were touching Kyle, and soon the entire clan was connected in this way, a unified circle with Kyle at its center.
Kyle was still stunned by the intensity of it all as the hands began to fall away, and it was all he could do to hold back tears of joy. The ceremony was finished in its entirety, and the formal atmosphere transformed to one of vibrant joy and celebration as more than a few of Kyle's hunter friends, Tsaro included, let loose with several wild yips and yells.
Kyle really only had eyes for one person, though. He turned to Tanhi and captured her face in his hands, drawing her in for a passionate kiss, the reservoir of feelings for her having been filled near to overflowing. Tanhi quickly pulled back though, a slightly sour look on her features. "Ack!" she complained as she wiped her mouth with her hand, much to Kyle's amusement.
"You've never acted like that before when I've kissed you," Kyle said as he leaned forward for another go. "Here, let's try again."
Tanhi swiftly covered the lower half of his face with her hand so all that was visible was Kyle's mirthful eyes. "The paint tastes terrible! I will not kiss you now!"
Kyle laughed as Tanhi withdrew her hand. "So what happens next?" he asked her.
With a glowing smile Tanhi replied, "You may end your fast. I imagine that you are famished, knowing you and your fondness for food. There will be much celebrating on your behalf today, Kyle." She chuckled and rubbed her finger against his painted cheek. "At some point you need to clean yourself!"
Her words sparked a memory of their first meeting, which truly seemed like a lifetime ago to Kyle. "You're perpetually telling me to go clean up, Tanhi," he laughed. Kyle took her hands in his own and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "Come to the river, Tanhi. Bathe with me."
Tanhi's heart jumped within her chest. That was tempting...very tempting. But it was not quite the way she imagined things, and she did have a specific plan for this evening, after all. "Not... Not this time, Kyle. Eat first!"
Amusingly, Kyle's stomach rumbled in agreement, and amongst much cheering and congratulatory thumps on the back he willingly allowed himself to be dragged away to find some food. And drink. Yeah, definitely time for drinks.
Jake, Neytiri, Moat, and Norm watched the goings on around Kyle with amused interest. "I doubt there will be any mystery around his choice," Moat observed dryly as they watched Kyle whisper something in Tanhi's ear.
Jake snorted. "Even I could have told you that, Mother," he retorted, which earned him a playful smack on the back of the head from Neytiri and a faint smile from Moat.
"He looks happy," Norm said with a sigh, which did not go unnoticed by his three companions.
"Are you not happy as well, Normspellman?" Moat asked him.
Norm winced. "I am doing...better than I have been, Tsahìk," Norm admitted after a moment.
"Wanna grab some drinks?" Jake asked, half teasing, half serious. The corners of Norm's mouth twitched up at Jake's words.
Neytiri noticed first that they were being observed. She whispered something into Moat's ear, and whatever she said made the elderly Na'vi smile and nod once. Moat bid her goodbyes to those around her before politely bowing out of further conversation.
Neytiri lovingly grasped Jake's elbow and said, "Come, Jake. Let us go celebrate together! We may now eat as well!"
Jake's eyebrows rose at Neytiri's sudden sense of urgency, as she was practically dragging him by the arm towards the epicenter of the food and beverages. "Um, okay, Love. You don't have to dislocate my shoulder, you know," Jake grumbled as Neytiri towed him away.
Norm made to follow but Neytiri quickly objected. "No! Stay here, brother! We will... We will bring something back to you!" It sounded suspiciously like Neytiri had come up with that excuse on the spot, and Jake cast a helplessly perplexed look at Norm over his shoulder just before the crowd swallowed him up.
"Okay...," Norm said slowly as he frowned in confusion. What on Pandora had gotten into Neytiri? Within the space of several seconds, all of Norm's company had evaporated.
Norm felt a tug on his tail, causing him to jump in surprise. Amber had somehow snuck up behind him and she was grinning impishly. "I must say, this look suits you quite well, Dr. Spellman," she said as she raked her eyes unapologetically over his body. Norm pursed his lips and tried not to blush...too much. Norm had always been rather bashful about his body - suffice it to say that he did not put himself through his schooling on an athletic scholarship. Though it had yet to really click in his own mind, avatar-Norm was in pretty damn good shape. And he had gotten quite skilled on the basketball court.
Time to fight fire with fire. "You know what would be cuter than me wearing a loincloth?" Norm asked as he examined Amber while stroking his chin in an overblown gesture of concentration.
"Hmmm? What might that be?" Amber responded coyly as her ears flicked forward with curiosity.
Norm waited a moment before answering, ostensibly to avoid revealing just how quickly the idea had come to him. "You wearing a loincloth...and one of those Na'vi necklaces," he told her.
Amber's eyes widened a fraction and her tanhi brightened noticeably, prompting Norm to break out into a fangy grin. "I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you," she muttered after a moment. Amber did a mental face-palm - what a bloody brilliant response. Way to strike fear into his heart!
Amazingly, Norm kept his composure. "I'm actually not sure," he responded with a shrug. "I guess I'd have to experience such a sight for myself before I draw any verdicts on it. Can't put the conclusion before the observation, you know. Terrible science, really. Why, are you offering?"
Amber actually growled, and her ears lowered in aggression. Or was it arousal? Neither of them were sure by this point. How they had just jumped from merely having conversation and spending time with each other to such overt flirting was beyond Amber's comprehension.
Norm, bless his heart, saved Amber from having to respond by extending his hand to her, palm up. "Tell you what: While you're thinking about all of that, would you like to accompany me for the rest of the day as we celebrate my cousin becoming Omaticaya?"
Amber almost automatically reached for Norm's hand, but at the last minute she stopped short of actually taking it. "Are you asking me on a date, Dr. Spellman?" she inquired, an amused expression on her face.
Norm was well into the groove by this point, and he made a mental note to give Neytiri the biggest, most brotherly hug he could muster some time later. Eywa bless her for clearing the field of an audience for him. "Actually, I was thinking you could be my bodyguard." Amber squinted at him, thinking that he must have surely lost his marbles by this point. "You won't believe the looks I've been getting from the women here," Norm explained, and was quite flattered to note that Amber's ears folded back at this announcement. "I really don't feel safe. Maybe you could...keep me company for the evening? I'd feel much less threatened if you did." Norm's expression was infuriatingly serious as he spoke.
Amber offered him a small, wry smile as she finally took his outstretched hand. "Alright, Dr. Spellman. I'll keep you safe. After all, I think I've handled the sudden appearance of your pretty blue ass strikingly well, all things considered. I suppose I'm qualified."
Norm nodded solemnly as they began to walk deeper into the celebration. "That you are, Dr. Ferris. That you are."
Kyle was finding it increasingly difficult to focus on things. He felt horrible for it, this inability to be attentive to what was going on around him. To be sure he enjoyed the feast - it was in his honor, after all! He enjoyed the music, and the dancing - especially with Tanhi. But the privacy he desperately wanted was sorely lacking.
It took a verbal kick in the txìm from Tsaro to snap things into motion. "Talk to her!" he explained in the same exasperated tone of voice that he had used when he had first began teaching Kyle. "You are giving all of the other unmated females in the clan false hope by dragging this out! It is already dark - do you intend to perhaps ask her tomorrow?"
Kyle winced. "I did not want to be rude -"
Tsaro smacked him soundly upside the head. "Skxawng," he muttered as he shook his head. "Eywa grant me patience. Even now she is looking to you."
Tanhi was indeed a short distance away speaking with Sorewn, Kyuna, and several other of her friends. The giggling and fleeting looks that the women kept casting in his direction made it painfully obvious that he was the source of much conversation.
In the manner of friends everywhere both Kyle and Tanhi were shoved none too gently forward out of their peer groups, and both of their ears folded back in slight consternation. The two drew hesitantly closer, and after a painfully awkward silence Kyle began to speak. "Um...," he began, but he trailed off as anything resembling a coherent sentence fled his conscious mind. He had already effectively proposed to her, and before this time it was all they could do to keep their hands off of each other. Why the hell was this so difficult?
Tanhi recovered first. "Yes, Kyle?" she asked primly.
"Would you... Could we go for a walk...or something?" Kyle stuttered out.
"Oh...? Is there something we need to speak of?" she asked innocently. Then she did the head-tilt thing that she did when she was curious about something, and suddenly all Kyle could do was wonder what the sculpted curve of her neck might taste like. "You are still painted, by the way," Tanhi reminded him.
Kyle looked down at himself to confirm that yes, his entire body was indeed still decorated for Uniltaron. "Damnit," he muttered.
Tanhi laughed at his frustration. "I will be waiting for you to return, Brave One," she told him.
Kyle nodded and licked his lips nervously. "Okay... I'll be right back then, I promise," he said as be began to step back. "Just a minute!" he called over his shoulder as he turned tail and bolted out of Kelutral for the river. He could not have moved faster even if palulukan were behind him.
Tanhi hid her laughter behind her hand. Her eyes caught Tsaro's and she could not help but blush as his expression broke out into a knowing grin. He bowed slightly at the waist in her direction before he motioned a silent goodbye, then he melted away into the crowd as easily as if it were the forest.
Kyle had returned to Kelutral in record time - he was clean, but still rather damp. Sorewn observed with amusement as she watched his eyes rove about, clearly searching. His left hand had a nervous tic - he kept touching his thumb to the tips of his fingers in a perpetual rhythmic pattern. She could tell he was tense, and there was no denying the purposeful, excited flick to and fro of the tip of his tail. Sorewn recognized his body language clearly - she had demonstrated it herself many a time, and she has seen it amongst practically all of her clan mates at one point or another.
Kyle was hunting.
His prey was conspicuously absent, though, having taken flight as soon as he himself had left. Sorewn watched his frustration mount; she was about to take pity on him and volunteer some useful information, but Kyle surprised her when he changed course from his searching and purposefully approached her, clearly ready to cut straight to the point.
"Where is -" he began, but Sorewn interrupted as she pointed with her hand.
"You may find whom you seek down that path," Sorewn told him as she indicated a trail that followed the babbling brook that ran by Kelutral. Kyle had been quick, and Sorewn hoped that Tanhi had gained enough time to get ready.
"Irayo," Kyle murmured before tearing off in the indicated direction as Sorewn's soft laughter followed after him.
Kyle was fully prepared to bring all of his considerable tracking skills to bear in order to locate Tanhi, but it was soon revealed that this would not be necessary. Signs of her passage abounded, and Kyle might have been insulted had he not been so eager to find her. Tanhi had not taken any amount of care to hide her footsteps. Hanging leaves were bent with someone's passing but not replaced to their original position. He found a flower from one particular plant lying underneath the leaves of a plant of an entirely different species. Last of all, a warbonnet fern leaf was conspicuously twisted, its arrow-shaped, bioluminescent frond pointing perpendicular to the trail, a Na'vi neon sign saying, "Go here!"
Kyle's ears were up and alert as he slipped off of the path and followed someone's trail through the foliage. The stream could he heard gurgling up ahead, and the night air was still pleasantly filled with the scent of blooming flowers. A minor explosion of fan lizards startled Kyle for a second, but the magnificently beautiful display did not hold his attention for long.
He reached a small clearing by a calmer section of the stream, and a peculiar dark spot against the softly glowing grasses drew his attention. Kyle leapt soundlessly forward until he was crouched over the object, his tail twitching behind him with excitement. What new clue was this? It was a bit of leather and strapping, and a necklace clinked and tinkled as Kyle carefully lifted the bundle and took an experimental sniff. Tanhi's scent exploded across his senses and Kyle could not help but groan.
Then, the obvious struck him: He was holding Tanhi's clothes in his hands. Thus, that would mean that she was most likely not wearing anything at all. Kyle's arousal rose several notches as he began to fully harden within his loincloth. He did not fight back these feelings anymore, though.
The brush to his right shifted and Kyle heard a soft giggle. He spun and dropped Tanhi's garments in his haste to stand, for at that moment Tanhi had slipped out of the cover of the glowing plant life that had previously concealed her. She was indeed as naked as the day she had been born - she had removed all of her jewelry as well, and her dark hair flowed loose behind her. The only concession to anything resembling an alteration from the natural was the braided hair around her queue.
Tanhi resisted the urge to speak, to step forward or back, to move in the slightest as she watched Kyle's luminous eyes drink in the sight of her body. She smiled slightly, and her tail swished with pleasure behind her as she watched him nervously lick his lips as he continued to stare unabashedly.
Her body was perfectly proportioned in Kyle's opinion. Her delicate arms belied the power he knew they contained; Kyle had watched her as she shot her bow, had seen the way her supple strength rippled beneath her striped skin. The glowing lines of softly twinkling spots flowed down her neck, over her collarbones, and across the firm swell of her perfectly shaped breasts. Kyle already knew this - he had almost choked on his tongue that night they had gone swimming together and he had seen her topless for the first time. Still, he appreciated the sight before him as though it was the first time all over again, for it was just as gorgeous now as it was then.
The lines continued unimpeded down her flat stomach, framing the shallow dip of her navel. Kyle bit his lip so hard that it hurt as he gazed upon her womanhood for the first time, and he felt inordinately proud to realize that she was already quite aroused, and it was because of him.
"Kyle," she spoke, yanking his wide eyes back to her face. More like purred, her voice thick with desire, and its tone triggered another pang of arousal in his groin. "Kyle, you are wearing too much," she told him softly as she gazed at him with heated intensity.
"Oh," he mumbled. "Oh!" he said again, earning a fond smile. Kyle began to remove his own ornamentation, unfastening his simple necklace and hastily slipping the armlets that Tanhi herself had made for him off of his biceps. Tanhi watched, her eyes twinkling with amusement and promise as Kyle reached behind him and began to fumble with the straps of his loincloth where it attached around his tail.
"Do you need help?" she asked sweetly and received a quick, irritated growl in response.
There. The straps were undone and Kyle stepped out of his garment, shaking his tail loose and thanking Eywa that he did not trip over himself as he let his loincloth fall to the ground beside Tanhi's. He stood back up straight and clenched his hands still at his side as he stood bare before Tanhi's own admiring gaze; they were both naked now, naked and unashamed. He was almost painfully hard and he fought down the urge to outright pounce on Tanhi. No, he would give her the time to memorize the contours and planes of his own body as she had done for him.
Tanhi's eyes finally ascended back to his own face. Her expression wavered for just a moment, as though she might suddenly collapse in on herself without warning. "Kyle..." She whimpered his name, her one spoken word full of infinite vulnerability and need and love.
He was right in front of her in an instant, his large hands gently cupping her face as his mouth brushed hers. "I'm right here, Tanhi. I'm right here, and I'm never leaving," he murmured against her lips.
Tanhi threw her arms around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. She molded her body to Kyle's and purred in approval as she felt his rigid erection grind against her hip. "Nga yawne lu oer, Yawne," she said as they broke apart to breathe, only taking the bare minimum of necessary inhalations before they began kissing again.
Frustratingly, the need for air continued to demand their attention and at the second break in their kissing Kyle gasped in response, "God, I love you too, Tanhi. I love you so much."
Kyle ground against her again and Tanhi smiled at his eagerness. "Tsaheylu, Kyle. Tsaheylu," she breathlessly reminded him. He groaned and Tanhi felt him nod as his hands slipped down from her neck and began to travel down her body. Kyle almost reverently caressed her breasts, his fingers quickly causing her nipples to pebble. He smiled and stifled Tanhi's moan with his mouth as his hands settled on her hips and his thumbs began to rub tender circles against her skin dangerously close to her center.
His hands slipped down past her hips and around to the back of her thighs, and he encouraged her to wrap first one leg, then the other, around his own waist. Tanhi's arms tightened around Kyle's neck, and she marveled at his strength as he somehow effortlessly supported her weight as he began to lower both of them to the ground.
Kyle knelt on the ground with Tanhi astride his thighs, and he took eager advantage of her temporarily taller position to trail loving kisses and gentle nips down the arching column of her throat to her collarbone. So that's what she tastes like, he thought with satisfaction.
His lips were moving over the tops of her breasts as he teased and tasted the pattern of dark stripes on her cerulean skin, and Tanhi gasped at his attentions as a hand pressed at her lower back, just above the base of her tail, keeping her body close to his. "Tsaheylu," she whispered again. Oh Eywa, it was so difficult not to get carried away.
Kyle finally looked up at her, his eyes shining intensely as a proud, tight smile ghosted across his face; his eyes were dilated wide until the gold of the irises was barely visible; his unique pattern of tanhi on his face and neck glowed with strong, steady emotion. Even without the bond he could feel just how eager she was for him. One hand remained at her lower back while he lightly ran the fingers of his other hand up her spine to her neck, where he carefully gathered her braid; Tanhi returned the favor, bringing his own queue around until they each held the end of the other's between them. Kyle watched, completely enraptured, as perhaps the most delicate and precious parts of their bodies revealed themselves.
"I have no doubts about my choice," Kyle murmured as he stared at the gently waving neural tendrils. Even now, they were reaching for one another.
"Nor do I, Kyle," Tanhi replied softly as she held the end of his braid against her own.
To say that fireworks exploded within their minds would be a vast understatement. The sudden merger of such like beings completely overwhelmed Kyle. He felt Tanhi's whirling surges of emotions as though they were his own, felt her unbridled love for him. In an instant he saw himself through her eyes, just as she saw who she was through his. Both of their rapidly beating hearts stuttered disconcertingly within their chests for a brief moment before they resumed beating with a unified rhythm. For a split second Kyle was simply unable to draw in a breath - neither was Tanhi, until as one they heaved in a shaky gasp, inhaling and exhaling together as a single person.
That was truly the crux of the bond: In all his life, Kyle had never realized that he was only a half of a whole until that moment when he formed tsaheylu with his life mate. His masculinity meshed perfectly with Tanhi's femininity, a match as old as time. For a moment he was simply beyond himself, and all Kyle could do was bury his face in the crook of her neck and let the intensity of the bond wind down, if only just a little.
Tanhi smiled against Kyle's hair as they held each other for a brief moment - she reveled in the feeling of him, and of the feeling of him feeling her. Tanhi's fingers began to trace the scars along his back, physical signs that her mate was a brave and fierce man indeed. There was nothing Kyle would not face on her behalf. This was good, but soon Tanhi's body reminded her that there was so much more that she wanted.
Before Tanhi could even speak Kyle had sensed her urges, and a deep rumble of approval issued forth from deep within him. Tanhi sensed his intentions just before he sprang into motion, but she still let out a laughing cry of surprise as Kyle suddenly tilted her back, his strong arms still supporting her weight. She felt his distant discomfort as his thigh muscles started to cramp, but such concerns were driven from Tanhi's mind when Kyle nuzzled his face between her breasts and breathed in deeply, savoring the special scent that was her.
Tanhi cried out his name when Kyle captured her left nipple between his lips, gently teasing and nibbling until Tanhi was practically writhing in his arms, her fingers digging into his biceps. Kyle laughed against her skin as Tanhi's tail slipped between his legs and flailed spastically against the ground. That is, until it somehow became tangled up with his own tail. "Need...you...," she somehow managed to say as Kyle began to lavish his attentions upon her other breast.
"Oh, I need you too, gorgeous," Kyle panted as he leaned further forward and tenderly allowed Tanhi to slide off of his legs and onto the grass. "Want you so much..." Kyle's lower body settled naturally between her legs, and each brush of his manhood against her was sending jolts of nearly painful stimulation through the both of them. He emitted a deep growl at the contact, and Tanhi encouraged him to press down against her as she wrapped a shapely leg around his hip. "Tanhi...?" Kyle slowly asked as he drew back just enough to see her flushed expression.
Tanhi nodded an affirmative as she brushed some of Kyle's braids away from his sweaty face. Her hand caressed his chest and Kyle hissed in pleasure as she lightly dragged her fingernails across his toned stomach. Kyle stared down between their bodies, watching with utter fascination as Tanhi gently, oh so gently, wrapped her hand around his length and guided him towards her entrance.
He began to slide quickly into her just as he felt a flash of warning through their bond. Kyle easily broke through one of two protective membranes within Tanhi's body, and he felt Tanhi's pain acutely through the link even as she muffled her cry against his shoulder.
"Shit! Oh, Tanhi, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he breathed out as his ears flattened back with a combination of shame and shared pain. How the fuck could I have been so stupid?
"It is always...uncomfortable...the first time," Tanhi gasped even as she stroked Kyle's back, seeking to comfort him and allay his fears. "There is...one more," Tanhi murmured. The dull ache from the first breakage was almost entirely faded now.
Kyle realized what she intended to do just before she did it. "No - wait!" his breath left him in a huff as Tanhi locked her legs around his hips and pulled herself up onto him until the last barrier gave way and he was fully sheathed within her. Kyle realized she was probably masking much of the pain that she felt from him, and his physical pleasure from their union mixed strangely with his suddenly tumultuous emotions.
Tanhi knew it would not take long for her body to adapt to mating. She was a healer, after all...she knew how these things worked. She was so focused on willing away the pain that she failed to catch the withdrawal of Kyle's mind until he was almost gone, his mental presence fading away from her like a formerly deep stream in the drought. "Kyle?" she asked hesitantly.
"Gimme a second," she heard him pant from beside her face where his head rested against her shoulder.
Tanhi frowned. "Are you hurting?" she asked. It was Kyle's first time, too. Perhaps males hurt in the same way...
This train of thought caused something ugly to flip around in Kyle's mind, and she felt him move quickly to hide it. But of course, the more he tried to conceal the thought, the easier it became for Tanhi to locate it within his mind. Tanhi sensed a sudden hesitancy from her mate, so she carefully pushed with her leg until they rolled over onto their sides, even as she made an overt effort to keep Kyle within her. Why was he fighting the pleasure that she knew he was feeling?
Kyle whimpered against Tanhi's neck as she finally teased out what was wrong: Tanhi was a virgin, whereas Kyle most definitely was not.
To be sure, he had never mated in this body, but that did not mean his mind was so pure. Kyle sensed the intimate gift that she had just offered him, and it galled him to the core of his being that he had nothing with which to offer her in return. Actually, he felt distinctly dirty for what had just transpired. "I'm sorry, Tanhi," he whispered again, and Tanhi knew that he meant it.
Tanhi leaned back so that she could look at his face again, but Kyle's eyes were clenched tightly shut. "Kyle," she said. No response. "Kyle, look at me," she repeated, her voice somehow tender and firm at the same time.
At last, Kyle's eyes slid open. Tanhi's face was less than a few inches from his own. She looked wild and beautiful, even as she reached up to brush some of her hair away from her face so that she could see him clearly. She then moved her hand to caress his own face, tracing his handsome features as though seeing him for the first time. "Yawne, I would rather have you like this than not at all," she whispered.
Kyle's eyes widened. If it were not for tsaheylu he would have outright called her a liar, but he did not just hear the truth in her words, he felt it as well. "I don't deserve you," he responded softly.
Tanhi's face lit up into the most beautiful smile he had ever yet seen, complete with her famous nose-crinkle. "And I do not deserve you, Yawne. So let us gladly accept the gift of the other without question or complaint." She felt his spirit began to open back up to her at this, and she thought it was the most beautiful thing she had felt in her entire life.
"You will always be amazing to me," Kyle said in a breathy chuckle as his hand gently stroked her side.
Tanhi laughed softly as well. "Enough talk," she said as both of their mating urges resurfaced with almost animalistic intensity. "We need to -"
Her words transformed into a startled squeak as Kyle suddenly moved until he was back astride her again. The man she loved was back, strong and tender at the same time. "You were saying?" Kyle asked through clenched teeth before he kissed her again with heated intensity. Then, once he was sure that she was ready he began to flex and roll his hips, thrusting within her with a building intensity, creating a friction that felt so good.
Tanhi moved against him just as eagerly. The sensation of him filling her was nothing but pleasure now, and she reveled in it. Kyle was busy tracing the shell of her ear with his tongue as he continued to thrust within her with purposeful movements, and his attentions were so thorough that Tanhi almost forgot to try something that she had only heard about...
She held Kyle's shoulder with one hand as the other began to slide down his back. She could feel his powerful muscles moving beneath his skin, and for a moment she was amazed at the correlation between each flex and each fresh burst of pleasure that it brought her.
Kyle really was not paying attention to Tanhi's hand, and he did not think much of it when she carefully caressed his lower back, just above his tail. That is, until she wrapped her hand around his tail's base and squeezed. Kyle threw his head back and snarled as a jolt of pleasure shot through him, and it caused him to grind down into Tanhi much harder than he meant to, though her own decadent hiss indicated no harm was done. His back arched like a drawn bow, and Tanhi took advantage of the position to lean up and run her tongue along the exposed curve of his throat, terminating the move with a nip to the base of his jaw.
Kyle just barely avoided collapsing on top of her as he came down from his high. He had to check himself, because the pleasure had been so intense for a split second he thought that he had misfired. "Tanhi, you cannot do that again," Kyle gasped as he rested his face against her shoulder.
"Hmmm?" Tanhi asked as she rubbed soothing circles against his slick back. What Kyle said and what Kyle thought were two very different things. Her gently stroking hand slid back down to his tail, and before Kyle could object she gave it another squeeze. At the very least she could blame her own selfishness for the action, for she quite enjoyed their shared pleasure from the sensation.
Tanhi felt every muscle in Kyle's body ripple and tense up, and this time he rode out the wave of pleasure by sinking his fangs into the juncture of her neck and shoulder, the pressure of the bite just shy of drawing blood. It would definitely leave a mark. Tanhi hissed at the deliciously painful sensation and she reciprocated by raking her fingernails against his shoulder and hip, marking him in return. She did not mind the rough treatment - she had provoked him, after all, and both of them would emerge from their encounter wearing plenty of additional bites and scratches.
"I am sorry, Kyle," Tanhi murmured into his ear.
This time, Kyle had no problem calling her a liar. "I have got to find something to do to get you back for that," Kyle panted.
This question triggered all kinds of potential erotic scenarios within Tanhi's mind that just might cause such a reaction within her. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) Tanhi was so enthralled with their union that she failed to filter her thoughts correctly, and Kyle received a very vivid mindful.
He was startled enough that he paused his thrusts and jerked back to look at Tanhi's face, which was flushed as she stared back at him with an odd combination of embarrassment and anticipation. A wicked grin spread over Kyle's features as he leaned down close and whispered huskily, "Hmm, I think I can do that."
They made love long into the night before they finally collapsed exhausted together, a blissful tangle of arms, legs, and tails. They fell asleep still joined in tsaheylu, and in another wonderful demonstration of intimacy they shared their first dreams together.
Kyle was quite unprepared for the vividness of the first dream. Tanhi knew what it was, however - it was Eywa's blessing of their union. They glimpsed the two of them flying together, each with their own ikran, laughing like children as they chased each other through the skies as their ikran each tried to playfully nip the other's tail.
And immediately afterwards they glimpsed an image of them together at Kelutral. Tanhi gazed at Kyle with an expression of ageless love, and she laughed as Kyle ran around her with his arms outstretched, making ridiculous noises that he called an "airplane" while the young Na'vi boy perched on his shoulders laughed and pulled on his ears with his little five-fingered hands to indicate which direction they should fly to next.