The Ancients
I gratefully acknowledge one of the foremost creative geniuses of our times, James Cameron, for conceiving the lush moon Pandora and the "noble savages," the Na'vi, that inhabit it. This story uses the characters and setting he created for his movie, Avatar. I have not received any money for my work based on Avatar. If I could get paid by the hour for these stories, I would retire and spend all my time dancing and writing in comfort.
Chapter 3: Rite of Acceptance
Mo'at and Wrrtll lead the travelers into New Hometree and up the helical ramp to the gathering level, the next level above ground level. As the Omatikayan clan members see this group, they hurry up the other ramp and take whatever place they can find. Those that cannot find a place on the floor are sitting or hanging from the protuberances on the inner wall of the tree. Jake and Neytiri are dressed in their finest ceremonial garb, a first since the ceremony when Neytiri took over as Tsahìk from her mother, and are waiting by the ramp. Mo'at arrives first, followed by Wrrtll who is helping Za'ki up the steep ramp.
Wrrtll says, "Like I tell my children when they first learn to walk, use your tail to balance yourself."
Za'ki replies, "At my age, my tail does what it pleases. Back home, I'm always on the ground, except when I'm riding a pa'li or swimming in the river. Thank you for helping an old woman up this steep slope."
"You're welcome. Whenever you need help, just ask anyone nearby, they will be happy to give you a hand."
The travelers crowd in just off the ramp. Mo'at looks to Jake and asks, "Are you ready?"
He replies, "Yes, Neytiri told me my parts. Let's do this."
Mo'at looks to Neytiri and says, "The name of the Ancient is Zozasko. Say it for me now. You will have to say it after the song."
She says, "Zozasko. That's easy enough. Zozasko. I remember the ceremony, it's not that long."
"Good. I'll be nearby. Look to me for help if you need it. Now go." She puts her hands on their backs to turn them around and push them into the crowd.
Jake and Neytiri walk side by side to the center of the gathering place, and the crowd immediately quiets down. They turn around and face the travelers. Jake raises the ceremonial bow, the very same bow that Eytukan gave Neytiri as he lay dying, over his head with one hand and says in a loud, commanding voice, "Omatikaya, we have friends and strangers in our midst. Visitors, come forward and be recognized." He lowers the bow and puts it over his shoulder.
The eight travelers walk in as a group, lined up singly or in pairs, to the mated couple in charge of the Omatikaya Clan and stop before them. All but one are dressed or decorated in red. Even though the women are dressed as tsahìks, all have their queues behind them, a mark that they once held but no longer hold that office. All are carrying ceremonial weapons and have a formidable presence.
Neytiri makes the greeting gesture and says, "I See you, visitors. Welcome to New Hometree, the home of the Omatikaya Clan. I am Neytiri, Tsahik, and this is my mate Jakesully, Toruk Makto and Clan Leader."
Akwey steps forward, and says, "I See you, Tsahik and Clan Leader of the Omatikaya. You know me, Akwey, and my mate, Salamìnä. We are from the River Forks Clan on the Plains, and were with you at the Well of Souls. We have brought travelers from our home to yours." They step aside.
Za'ki steps forward and says, "I am Za'ki, a healer from the Foothills Clan on the far edge of the Plains. I also was with you at the Well of Souls. I guided the travelers from my home to the River Forks Clan." She steps aside to join Akwey and Salamìnä.
Neme steps forward and says, "I am Neme and this is my mate Vorì. We are from the Standing Rocks Clan on the coastal mountains. We brought the travelers from our home to the Foothills Clan." They step aside away from their predecessors.
Puzìpì steps forward and says, "I am Puzìpì and this is my mate Nìmì from the Coral Island Clan. We brought one of our clan by boat from our island home to the bay near the Standing Rocks Clan." They step aside to join Neme and Vorì.
An old man, clad in a silvery full-length leather coat and carrying a spear tipped with the largest and sharpest tooth the forest and plains dwellers have ever seen, steps forward and makes the greeting gesture, "I See you, Tsahìk and Clan Leader of the Omatikaya. I am Zozasko, an Ancient."
Making the gesture in reply, Jake responds, "I See you, Zozasko." He turns to his mate and asks, "What is an Ancient?"
Neytiri answers, "Our singers have a song about the Ancients, the men and women chosen by Eywa to help all clans in times of need. Singers, please sing the song that tells us about the Ancients."
The singers sing this tune that they have never sung to the assembled clan before.
The First Clan started small and weak.
Eywa watched over them, and gave them the inspiration to live and flourish.
They had to find a place to stay, out of the weather, near water for drinking and cooking and cleaning themselves.
They had to learn how to live with fwampop to stay healthy and free of disease.
They had to learn how to make fire.
They had to learn how to live safely in their environment.
They had to learn which plants could be eaten, which parts are edible, when they could be gathered, and how to prepare them.
They had to learn which animals could be eaten, how to hunt them, and how to prepare them.
They had to learn how to make and care for clothing and weapons and other tools.
They had to learn which plants and substances had medicinal effects, how to treat injuries and diseases, and how to deal with difficult births.
They had to learn how to ride and care for willing animals, such as pa'li and ikran.
Life was hard, but in time they grew and prospered.
When the First Clan, and later with other clans, got so large that the local food sources were insufficient, they had to divide and move to more bountiful areas.
These splits were necessary, but every split meant the loss of certain skills in the resulting clans. Many clans cooperated by sharing teachers, but there was much to know and learn.
Some clans were ravaged by epidemics or natural disasters, such as storms, floods, droughts, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and floating mountains crashing down, and needed much help to survive.
Eywa saw the suffering of The People, and inspired a chosen few to become teachers that travel from clan to clan to help spread skills and knowledge as best they could, and find and train others capable of being such teachers.
These traveling teachers were called the Ancients, as they passed along the ancient knowledge of the Na'vi.
After the song ends, Neytiri asks, "Zozasko, why are you here?"
"I have spent many years helping the island clans. The songs of the Sixth Toruk Makto and the first Palulukan Makto spread throughout the islands, and all were amazed by the events described in the songs. But, Eywa always directed me to continue my work in the islands. Then, an apprentice singer from the plains arrived and stayed with my clan. She had family and friends in her birth clan that fought with Toruk Makto, and brought back many stories with details not in the songs. As I heard her retelling these stories, I wondered if an Ancient was involved with these events. She was not aware of any Ancient, saying that these events were very quick, over just a few days. Those in her clan traveled to the Well of Souls as quickly as they could ride, and were in the fight the morning after arrival. They stayed for several days, mainly to tend to their injured and help drive away the vanquished. They held a great ceremony to give thanks to Eywa and to transfer the spirit of Toruk Makto into a different body. The next morning, they returned home. I did not understand this transfer of a spirit, and prayed to Eywa for understanding. In time, after my apprentice was ready to work on his own, did Eywa direct me to you. I was to travel here to learn everything that happened, and help in any way that I could. On my way, I met the healer Za'ki. She was at the Well of Souls, and explained many things to me, including the Transference Ceremony. She said her knowledge of the tawtute was limited, and there was much for me to discover here among your clan, such as your soaps." He smiles broadly at this mention of the liquid soaps.
Jake goes off-script and asks sternly, "Are you here to find another apprentice?"
Zozasko looks very serious, and replies, "Part of being an Ancient is to always be looking for apprentices. Once I find a likely candidate, I pray to Eywa. Not all candidates are suitable, and only Eywa chooses who is. That is why Ancients are also known as Eywa's Chosen Ones. She selects who will become an apprentice, and the Ancient gives the training. Right now, I cannot say if Eywa will choose anyone from your clan, but if She does, Her will must be done."
Jake doesn't look happy, but lets the matter drop. He turns to Puzìpì and asks, "What has the Ancient done for your clan?"
Puzìpì answers, "He arrived shortly after a tsunami devastated our island. We didn't think we had the time to deal with him. We had already buried the dead that we could find, and were hard at work building shelters for our living. He showed us how to build simpler temporary shelters. He had us move rocks and other debris to build a mound more inland away from the beaches, topped with a large, sturdy shelter that would be better when the next storm or tsunami hits. He showed us how to build simple rafts and boats to keep us fed, until better boats could be built. In time, we saw that he was very helpful, and hated to see him leave our clan for yours. Such is the will of Eywa."
Neytiri gives Jake one of her unhappy looks, and then faces the Ancient. "Zozasko, what is your wish?"
He replies, "I ask for the Rite of Acceptance. My wish is to become a member of the Omatikaya Clan. As I am an old man, I may live out my days with you."
Jake looks squarely at Zozasko and says, "You may have many more days to live if you join some other clan. I do not know when the next attack will come, but I am certain it is coming. If you join my clan, you may have to suffer through it, and possibly die."
"All the more reason for me to join your clan and help you prepare."
Jake looks to Neytiri and sees her distress at him going off script again. No one, except maybe Mo'at and the travelers, will ever know. He looks to the Ancient and says, "I need all the help I can get. You are welcome to join our clan and help us as best you can." He looks to Neytiri and nods.
She nods and says, "It is decided. You are welcome to join the Omatikaya clan. I ask the Elders and the group leaders to come forward."
Jake steps forward and waits for the clan leadership to surround them, with Wrrtll next to him and Mo'at next to Neytiri. He says, "You are now a son of the Omatikaya. May Eywa give your new clan-mates the strength and understanding to learn all that you can teach them." Jake puts his hands on Zozasko's shoulders.
Neytiri says, "We thank Eywa for sending you here to help our clan." She steps behind Zozasko and puts her hands on his back. Wrrtll and Mo'at put their hands on Zozasko's shoulders. Soon the entire clan is standing and putting their hands on those in front of them, making the spider web pattern that is so familiar, with Zozasko standing in the very center of the pattern.
After the clan has stood in the pattern for a short time, Jake and Neytiri remove their hands to break the pattern, and the clan quickly follows suit. Neytiri speaks up over the din. "Singers, please sing the song of the Omatikaya Clan, so that the Ancient can learn about the clan he has joined." She turns and waves her hand over the places where she and Jake and their family normally sit. "Zozasko and visitors, please sit here and our servers will bring out your meal so you can eat and be entertained by our singers after your long trip to our home. We thank you for bringing the Ancient to us, and want to demonstrate our gratitude."