The meeting broke up into several small groups, discussing the amazing demonstration. Jake made a beeline for Neytiri and pulled her aside. "You were going to say something at the beginning. What was it?"
His mate looked at him with a troubled expression, "Jake, I will be heavy with our child when the new ship arrives. I will not be able to fight with you."
He'd thought of that a while ago but hadn't wanted to throw cold water on the joy she'd been feeling. He took her face in his hands and spoke softly, "I think Eywa knows that this ship isn't dangerous to us, so she's given you something to do that's a lot more important than being bored sitting in a tree outside Hell's Gate for a few days." She gave him a brief smile, but he could tell that she was still disturbed.
The noise of an approaching crowd broke into all of the conversations. Everyone looked to see dozens of Na'vi approaching their conclave. Nasato was in the lead, and he was followed by something Jake had never expected to see – five Na'vi wearing clothes!
All five were wearing leather breeches and moccasin-type footwear. Three were wearing soft hide vests; two were bare-chested in acknowledgement of the warm weather. Every piece of clothing was lavishly decorated. It was obvious that many in the crowd were itching to examine the garments close-up.
Nasato waved when he saw Awkey. "Kaltxi, ma'tsmukan. We have visitors! These brothers and sisters have come all the way from the Ice Lands to see Toruk Makto!" Almost everyone present did a doubletake. It had been generations since any of the local clans had seen a Na'vi from so far away.
Jake waved to get Nasato's attention, "Here I am."
The brother of the Horse Clans' Olo'eyctan shepherded the guests over to the Omaticaya leader. "Ta'sit of the White Mountain Clan, this is Jake Sully, Omaticaya Olo'eyctan and Toruk Makto," Nasato formally introduced the head of the delegation. For the first time Jake wished that he had his stupid Olo'eyctan collar on. He felt rather naked.
The tall Na'vi nodded and then asked, "Forgive me for making an odd request, my brother, but may I see your hands?"
Jake obligingly displayed them and saw expressions of relief and confirmation appear on the faces of all the newcomers. He put them down and queried, "May I ask why my hands are important to you?"
Ta'sit explained, "Two months ago Eywa spoke to our Tsahik, Ramanoa. She said that Toruk Makto flew once more and that he had wisdom that the People would need to learn in order to face a great enemy from the sky who will come years from now. The All Mother told Ramanoa that five warriors of our clan must journey north to seek out Toruk Makto, and that we would know that we had found him when we met a Na'vi with five fingers on each hand. We are to stay until we have seen this enemy with our own eyes and then bring this wisdom back to the White Mountain Clan and our nearby brother-clans so that all may be prepared when the Great War comes."
Jake almost reeled. How in the hell…? he thought to himself in shock.
Mo'at saw her son in law's expression and smoothly introduced herself to take the pressure off of him. "I am Mo'at, Omaticaya Tsahik." She indicated Neytiri, "This is my daughter Neytiri, mate to Toruk Makto and our future Tsahik." The group politely acknowledged the introductions. "You are very welcome among us, brothers and sisters. Our Hometree is not far from here and we would be pleased for you to stay with us for as long as you like. What you see here," she indicated the quickly-growing crowd, "is the semi-annual Gathering of all the local clans, whose Olo'eyctans and Tsahiks these are." She indicated the group around her.
Awkey looked up at the sun, which was halfway down the sky. "It grows late in the day. Not even the swiftest ikran will be able to fly you to the Omaticaya's Hometree before night falls, and that is not a time for those who are unfamiliar with the area to be about."
A couple of the visitors' eyes bugged out at his words. Fly? It was obvious that flying was not a common mode of travel for their people.
He continued, "Please, be our guests and rest here for the night. You must be hungry and thirsty, and the best food and drink that our clans can make is hot and ready. Allow us to entertain you. You can continue on to the Omaticaya's Hometree in the morning, when you are rested." It was obvious that everyone was dying for a chance to speak to their far-away kin.
Ta'sit bowed his head in gracious acceptance of both the hospitality and the curiosity. "Thank you, we would be grateful. The journey has been long, and we welcome the chance to speak with our brothers and sisters." The Horse Clans' Olo'eyctan gestured towards the cook-pits, and the whole group started moving off in that direction.
Jake lagged behind with Mo'at and Neytiri, badly spooked. "How the hell did that happen? I only decided to teach the Na'vi a little while ago! How did they know to come? And why did all the clan leaders agree so easily? I was expecting all kinds of arguments, that I'd have to convince everyone. I mean, they all saw how badly the Sky People overpowered us in the war, but I thought there'd be a lot of resistance to having a dreamwalker teaching them Sky People skills."
Neytiri touched his arm comfortingly as they walked. "That is because you do not understand the Na'vi fully yet, Jake."
Mo'at explained, "There is much more to being Toruk Makto than simply taming Toruk. There are any number of ikran makto that have the ability and skill to ride Last Shadow, but that is not what determines who rides the Olo'eyctan of the skies."
Jake looked at his mother in law with a puzzled expression and she continued, "Only Eywa decides who rides Toruk, and She only allows it when the People are in great peril. The person She chooses is the one who knows what must be done in order to save us all. Every single person She has chosen has saved the Na'vi from terrible danger. No one would be so foolish as to disagree with you. To go against Toruk Makto is insanity; he is the All Mother's own hand, guiding and protecting us."
Jake couldn't help but shudder. He was starting to feel like a piece that someone was moving around on a great, unseen chessboard, and he didn't like it at all. Not that there was a damned thing he could do about it – which also didn't help.
He sighed and wondered if there might be any berry pockets left as they approached the cook-pits.