"How will I know if he chooses me?" Jake questioned.
"He will try to kill you." Neytiri deadpanned.
"Outstanding."
...
...
Jake slowly made is way off edge of the rock wall, heading towards the small rocky plain where the Ikrans were huddling. Neytiri hung by the edges to watch, the other hunters following and remaining behind her by the ledge. The numerous beasts eye Jake warily, shrieking and hissing at the intruder. As he stepped closer Jake unrolled his leather bolo in preparation for a capture. He moves his head on a swivel, searching for the one that would stand its ground against him. With each step he takes, a handful of ikrans frantically fly away. One hisses at him in warning and Jake takes a step towards it. Like the others it quickly retreats. As Jake patiently makes his way across the rocks, all the others file in behind and fan out around the edges in anticipation. Finally, at the end of the small plain he spots a large male glaring at him. Jake makes eye contact and steps closer, inwardly pleased that the ikran doesn't fly away. Instead it turns climbs up on a rock and turns fully towards the intruder, holding its ground. Feeling the shift of energy, Etta and the other hunters gather around the edge of the inward cliff as they watch. Jake tilted his head curiously at the blue and purple patterned beast. He hissed at the ikran; smiling when it answered back with a teeth baring shriek. Closest to him, Neytiri grinned manically.
"Let's dance." Jake muttered, beginning to swing his bolo rapidly. Tsu'tey chuckled.
"That moron is going to die." He muttered to the others, gesturing towards Jake. Etta snarled in annoyance.
"Don't make your judgement yet." She warned, turning her eyes to watch the action intently. Jake and the ikran shuffled before one another, looking for an opening to strike. In a flash the ikran lunged, Jake sidestepping the bite and instead whipping the bolo around it's mouth to close it. While the beast startled, Jake wasted no time in jumping onto its neck and wrapping his arms around it. The blue ikran bucked, flapping wildly as he tried to knock Jake off. Etta shifted anxiously, her tail twitching as she watched the two creep closer to the edge of the mountain. The other hunters whooped with excitement, cheering on the action. Jake kept his grip but struggled to reach one of the antennae. Trying a new method, he used one arm to hold the ikran's head against it's neck, while locking in his grip by going under the head and grabbing his bicep almost like choke hold. Jake grunted as he used his long legs to try and flatten the ikran more to get it under some control.
"Do not be afraid warrior!" Tsu'tey encouraged, having his fill of adrenaline in watching. Etta couldn't tear her eyes away from the wrestling duo. Jake needed to get a move on.
"Make the bond!" Neytiri ordered harshly above the cheers of the other hunters. Jake let go of the head and frantically reached for the antennae. However, this allowed for the ikran to have control of its head once more. Using that to its advantage, the ikran rears back and headbutts the man on its back. Jake yelps in alarm as he is fully tossed off and sent sprawling to the edge of the mountain. He reaches out and barely manages to grab onto a root hanging over the edge.
"Jake!" Etta yelps in fear, taking a step towards the man. Tsu'tey hold out his hand, preventing her from approaching.
"You cannot help him. This is his fight." He warns lowly. Etta clenches her jaw, knowing he was right but she burned to take action of some kind. Instead, she punched her mentor on the shoulder with a glare.
"No need to be so happy about it asshole." She snarled, taking notice of the man's pleased grin. Tsu'tey grunted dismissively, turning his eyes back to the show. Jake glanced over at Etta when she had cried out and grit his teeth together in determination. He wasn't about to die after having come so far. Hauling himself back up with gusto, Jake let out a war cry as he leapt back onto the still muzzled beast. Etta smiled as Jake was much faster in getting the animal to the ground, sending it sideways. The other hunters cheered his name, pumping their fists.
"Sheheylu Jake. Sheheylu." Neytiri reminded, crawling closer as she watched.
"Finish it Jake!" Etta shouted. Jake clenched his jaw even tighter and this time used his legs to pin the ikran's head down. Now that he had both hands free he once again reached out for an antenna with one hand and his own braid with the other. While holding onto the thrashing animal he quickly held the two ends together and watched as they melded into one large pink strand. The ikran screeched at the new sensation; eyes dilating as their minds connected.
"Stop!" he orders with a yell. Instantly the heaving beast beneath him stills, huffing out heavy breaths. Neytiri softly coos to the animal, keeping it calm. Jake grins widely as he straightens up, reaching forward to take the bolo off it's mouth.
"That's right. You're mine now." He hums, taking the time to observe the animal beneath him now that it was calm. He peels off the wrapping from the ikran's mouth, letting the animal take a minute to stretch its jaws out. The Jake sits on the ikran as the beast stands on all fours, lifting the man into the air. Neytiri races over to him and begins nudging him towards the ledge.
"First flight seals the bond. You cannot wait." Jake stutters in alarm, suddenly realizing that he would have to ride this thing.
"Think fly." Neytiri informed.
"Fly?" The second the word escapes his mouth the ikran takes off into the sky at startling speed. The duo drop down the waterfall, twisting out of control. Etta scrambles to the edge, still hearing Jake's shouts of alarm as they fall. Jake struggles to hang on as they go spinning down the rockface. They straighten for a few seconds, allowing Jake to scramble back into position.
"Ah god damn." He mutters, forcing his mind to focus. However, they fly through the mist of the waterfall. Shaking off the liquid, Jake's eyes widen as he spots a wall of rock straight ahead.
"Oh shit." He yelps as they collide, the ikran scrambling along the wall. Suddenly it drops down through the air, Jake's legs flying out behind them. The ikran shrieks as they fly haphazardly in the air.
"Shut up and fly straight!" Jake snaps irritably. Again at the command the ikran followed his orders, becoming silent and gently leveling off. Jake lets out a breath of air, taking a moment to recompose himself. He grins as the wind whips across his face.
"Uh…Bank left." The duo gently turn that direction, much calmer than a few moment earlier. He laughs as they level out, and he gets into the crouched position like the other riders do. Neytiri rushes to her own mount and takes off into the air after her student with a grin while the others on the cliffside cheer and whoop.
"Ya JakeSully!" Tsu'tey barks out a command to shut them up, however Etta gives one last cheer as Jake and Neytiri disappear.
"Go Jake!" her mentor turns to give her a withering glare. To which she merely sticks her tongue out childishly.
...
...
While Jake and Neytiri explore the skies and let Jake get some experience, Etta was stuck with the rest of the hunters. To her displeasure Tsu'tey instructed for all the others to go before her. After a couple hours up on the cliff, Etta watched as the last of the younger hunters took off on his ikran. Once satisfied the boy wouldn't fall off his mount Tsu'tey turned to Etta who was sitting on a rock boredly.
"Are you ready?" he inquired. Etta rose a brow.
"Oh I can go now? Are you sure?" she asked sourly. Tsu'tey rolled his eyes.
"Don't be a child. I kept you for last so I could teach you to fly." He snipped. Silver eyes blinked in surprise as she stood up.
"You wanted to go flying with me after?" she asked. Tsu'tey shuffled uncomfortably, looking away from her.
"You are my student. I am to make sure you complete your training. If you fail it would make me look like a bad teacher." He grunted dismissively. However, Etta knew him well enough to see through his indifference. She grinned.
"I look forward to it." Tsu'tey glanced at her with a hint of a smirk.
"Then go, you take too long." He threw his hand out towards the group of ikrans that had returned to their roost. With a nod, Etta stretched her body out and tossed him her bow. Tsu'tey caught it easily and crouched down as he watched his pupil approach the ikrans. Etta pulled out her bolo from a pouch on her waist and absently began whirling it around, her head on a swivel as she approached the clusters of ikrans. Like before, many of the creatures took flight when she got closer. Etta ducked to avoid one that flew particularly low over her head. As she knelt her eyes landed on a set of eyes glowing within an alcove of the mountain. Her head tilted curiously, the eyes mimicking the action. Etta smirked.
"Come on out and play, or are you chicken?" she taunted. As if it could hear her insult, a resounding hiss echoed across the rocks as the ikran inside inched its way out into the open. Etta took a step back to allow for the size of the large purple beast to fully emerge. The ikran snarled as it stalked the avatar before it, Etta hopping away from its jaws when it snapped at her. She began whirling her bolo faster, waiting for her opening. The irkan lunged at her aggressively, spreading its wings in an attempt to keep her pinned. However, Etta dove under the wing and rolled back onto her feet. As the ikran began to spin, she stayed one step ahead of it and dove up onto the beast's back. Etta wrapped her legs and arms around its neck tightly, keeping herself flush against the torso while the ikran thrashed around.
"Use your wrapping, idiot!" Tsu'tey barked out, scowling as he watched her jerk away from the teeth that were trying to take a chunk out of her. Etta huffed, resituating her position before she swung the bolo and wrapped the front half around the snout, leaving part of the rope open. In a flash she wrapped the remaining rope around her torso before tying it off on the other side of the irkan's snout. Much like a seatbelt, accept this belt was keeping her attached to a thrashing killer. Etta arched back, pulling the irkan's head along with her to keep it relatively immobile. While her legs held tight to the animal's body her arms were free to reach for both her que and the ikran's antenna. A rush was felt through her body as the two minds connected. Etta ordered for the animal to calm down which it responded to instantly. The rider allowed for her body to relax along with her mount, finally able to stop fighting.
"Get into the air, you're wasting time." Etta jolted slightly at her teacher's voice, realizing he was right. With her job not quite finished, she reached forward and untied her new companion. The irkan rolled it's jaw, chirping in pleasure now that it was released.
"Alright boy, let's get this show on the road." She murmured, now aware of the animal's gender since they were connected. Her ikran shrilled in response before shooting up into the air. With a delighted scream Etta tightened her grip and latched onto the ikran, momentarily forgetting that she was supposed to be the one flying them. Her mount flustered in the air before dropping back down towards the rocky cliff where they started. Etta's eyes widened and she shifted into the correct riding position, crouching just over its shoulders. Tsu'tey's eyes widened in alarm as the duo launched towards him, only to pull up at the last second. He was forced to hit the ground as the purple beast flew just inches from where he was standing.
"Sorry!" Etta briefly shouted, a hint of laughter in her voice as they shot past. Tsu'tey grinned and whistled for his own ikran, swiftly hopping onto the beast. In a flash he launched up into the sky and chased after his student, who apparently was a speed junkie. Once he was close enough he tossed back her bow, Etta snatching it midair. Shakily she released her hands from her ikran and slung it across her torso. With a grin she dove straight down, Tsu'tey following with a laugh.
...
...
Tsu'tey led the way back to Home Tree, landing easily on one of the large upper branches and allowing his ikran to go roost. Etta landed a bit less gracefully, slipping off the side of her mount as he thumped onto the branch roughly. Tsu'tey barked out a laugh at her misfortune.
"You will craft a harness for him. It makes it easier to hang on and not fall off." He pointed out in amusement. Etta's eyes lit up at the prospect of designing her own gear.
"Really? Do I have to use the some one as everyone else?" she inquired. Tsu'tey shook his head fondly.
"No, but I would recommend keeping some parts of it. We know from experience." He reminded. Etta shrugged and stood up, reaching up to stroke the neck of her companion. The ikran purred and chirped, nuzzling into her chest fondly. She grinned and used their mind link to find the best scratch spots.
"You must use the next few days to deepen your bond. The closer you are the easier it will be to ride." Tsu'tey informed his student. Etta glanced up at him, disconnecting her que and allowing her ikran to find his own spot in the tree.
"So, does this mean I get some free days? No more training?" Her mentor stared down at her boredly.
"Yes, but do not grow lazy." He quipped, turning off and heading down the spiral staircase. Etta trailed after him, branching off when they reached the ground level.
"Etta!" a voice called from the side. The woman in question whipped around and smiled when she found Jake walking towards her.
"Jake! You didn't fall off and die!" she cheered, launching herself into his open arms. Jake grunted at the impact but laughed regardless.
"I resent that! I am a kick ass flyer." He insisted, stepping away from her. Etta rose a brow at him skeptically.
"I've seen you on a direhorse." She deadpanned. Jake scowled, his ears flattening in embarrassment.
"Obviously they aren't my thing. But ikrans definitely are, I was on fire!" Jake emphasized his point with a fist pump. Etta laughed and tugged on his arm to move away from the center of the village. There were many eyes watching their exchange.
"So where did you head off too when you left with Neytiri?" she inquired. Jake instantly lit up and began elaborating on everything that happened during his first flight. He and Etta found a more secluded section of Home Tree and compared notes, each one animated in their explanations. The duo remained in their own little bubble for hours, talking about flying and making plans for their handmade harnesses.
...
I may not be much of a horse guy, but I was born to do this.