I don't own any characters or anything but the story. Criticism is welcome but please don't be rude.
Aktamu was abruptly woken up by someone moving quite energetically right next. He open his to see a excited looking Har'ii smiling brightly at him. "Morning, daddy" he said with his tail waving happily behind him. "Morning" He replied looking at him bemused, trying to figure out what was making him so happy, but then he remembered. Today was the day that that he and Ateyo were going to take Har'ii and Tsu'tey on their first hunting trip.
Aktamu had been absolutely delighted when after he finished teaching the basics of hunting to the trio, Har'ii had asked to learn more. He and Ku'el had both told the children they would be completely supportive of whatever path the three chose, but he couldn't help but be pleased that one of his children was interested in the same one he himself once took.
He had been amazed by how quickly Har'ii learned once he got down the basics, and also how good his aim was. He needed to work on how much power to put behind a shot, but he had great accuracy. He only been allowed to shoot at a tree so far and it would be a while before he would be allowed to actually try on an animal, but he was sure he would get there eventually. Aktamu thought it might be a good idea for Har'ii to actually see someone hunt. He had talked to Ateyo about it, who thought it was a great idea. He thought it would be good for Tsu'tey training as well so they decided to just take them together and two boys had been ecstatic about idea.
He now smiled at his son who was bouncing in the hammock before saying "Come on let go eat and then we'll leave." Har'ii nodded eagerly before climbing out of the hammock and Aktamu and the rest of the family, who had also been woke by Har'ii's excitement, followed him. Once they down to the dining area a small body practically tackled Har'ii to the ground and it took Aktamu only a second see that it was Tsu'tey.
Har'ii shoved him off with a scowl and his friend just looked back at him innocently. They soon joined their families in eating the morning meal, while discussing what they were going to happen on the hunting trip. Har'ii was surprised himself, how much he was looking forward to the hunting trip. He had never been hunting or thought of going before, but ever since his father started teaching him, he found himself wanting to learn more and more.
He didn't know why shooting a bow felt so right to him, it just did. He felt just at ease with it, as he once had felt with quidditch. While he and Tsu'tey would be merely obsereving their fathers hunting today he still felt incredibly excited about the trip. It would give him a great insight on what hunting was really like. He was feeling really anixous to get going and he could tell Tsu'tey was too. They both had finished their food rather quickly and were waiting on their fathers, who seem to be deliberately eating very slowly.
Finally the two swallowed their last bites and Ateyo stood up, announcing they should probably get going and both boys were on their feet in seconds. Har'ii saw his mother smile at him before telling him "Have fun my son and listen to whatever your father tell you." Har'ii nodded before giving her a brief hug, before he bid farewell to his siblings, while Tsu'tey did the same with his mother.
Ateyo and Aktamu both said their goodbyes and the group headed off way making their quickly into the woods. After they were a little ways into the forest Ateyo and Aktamu slowed down and started carefully examining the ground and the foliage. They explained to the two boys about looking for traces of possible prey, by looking for the slightest signs of passage of the animals. They told them to listen carefully to the different sounds of the forest and the sounds of the various animals.
Har'ii couldn't but be impressed by their ability to find the smallest disturbances in their surrounding, from the lightest prints on the ground to a few leaves being out of place on a bush. He and Tsu'tey listened attentively, trying to take in as much of what their fathers were saying as possible. They also tried follow the adults example of looking for any possible clues to what animals had been around and where they may have gone, but it was difficult. They were told that eventually they would learn how to track prey not only on foot but on pa'li and ikran as well though that wouldn't be for a while.
Har'ii was having just seeing the slight traces while walking, he couldn't imagine doing so while riding something. He had no idea how long they walked through the woods following signs of prey and carefully avoiding area with signs of predators. According to Aktamu the target prey that they were looking for was yerik as it was one of the smaller creatures the na'vi hunt, since they didn't have a lot of people to carry back any larger prey. Eventually the signs started grow just a little more obvious and eventually they found a small herd of yerik.
They crept carefully closer trying to not make single sound that might startle the creatures and cause them to run. Ateyo cautiously grabbed his bow and aiming it, while the other watched with anticipation. Har'ii held his breath as he waited, then Ateyo let the arrow fly and it hit one of the largest yerik. It died instantly, falling to the forest floors and the others of the herd quickly took off. When they made their way over to it, Ateyo knelt next to the creature and Har'ii heard him say what sounded like a prayer to the creature and Eywa.
Seeing his confusion Aktamu explained "You must always say a blessing to whatever you hunt, thanking it for giving it's life so that we may eat. It doesn't matter what you say as long you express your gratitude. Also always make sure to either kill on the first shot or end the creature suffering as quickly as possible." Har'ii and Tsu'tey nodded that they understood. They then prepared to transport the yerik back to the hometree. It was light enough that it could be carried fairly easy by one person, so Ateyo did so and Aktamu started to lead the way back.
The conversation was light and cheerful as they their way back, as everyone was quite happy about the successful hunt. Aktamu was offering the boys advice on the different ways to take down prey that would minimize its suffering when an odd sound reached Har'iis ears. It didn't sound like an animal or anything typically found in the forest and Har'ii had no clue what it could possibly be. The sound got louder as they continued to walk until it starts to hurt Har'ii's ears.
Aktamu and Ateyo exchange a glance and then without a word they head towards the sound, making sure the boys stay close. the noise was almost unbearably loud, when they stopped just inside the last set of trees on the edge of the area where the sound was coming from. The first thing Har'ii noticed was that the large area that was void of trees and it wasn't a natural clearing. There was also no plant at all just dirt.
Right in the middle of the area was the of the deafening sound and to be appeared to massive machine. It seemed to be some kind of gigantic digger because it was continuously scooping up large piles of dirt out of the ground and dumping them into a different machine. There were people dotted around the clearing and Har'ii couldn't help but be a little surprised to see they were human. He gotten so used to the appearance of the na'vi by this point that it was a bit of a shock to see them, despite knowing they were on the planet. It was different with Grace and the scientist that he had met before, because they still looked like na'vi for the most part.
Though Har'ii wasn't completely sure from what he could tell some of the people seemed to be just there to operate and maintain the machine while others were defiantly soldiers. The soldiers were all carrying large guns in their hands and sweeping their eyes around the clearing. Har'ii was grateful that they seemed to still be far enough in the trees to not be spotted. There were also couple people in large bulldozers that were clearing out more of the plant life surrounding the giant digging machine.
They stay there for a few more seconds before Aktamu put a hand on Har'ii and Tsu'tey's shoulders and pulled them back into the trees with Ateyo following. The group was now completely silent now, each lost in their own thought, as they continued their trip home. Har'ii glanced at the other's expressions and saw that his father looked upset and Ateyo and Tsu'tey were visibly angry about what they seen.
Har'ii knew that one if the biggest problems the na'vi had with the humans or the skypeople as they called them, was that they were needlessly destructive. Har'ii hadn't understood what they were talking about until now. The Omaticaya were deeply connected to the forest, so seeing such a large part destroyed was deeply upsetting to them. Har'ii also knew that the skypeople were looking for something that could only found here, but he had no idea why it was so important.
He had been trying to keep as far away from the tension that was brewing between the na'vi and the humans as possible, but felt like it was becoming harder to do so. He loved living with the Omaticaya with his family and enjoying the easy pace of just being a child of the clan. He couldn't help but fear that peaceful life being disrupted by a conflict erupting between the two groups. It was still contemplating this when they finally got back to the hometree.
They dropped off the yerik where meat was usually kept before it cooked for meals and then Ateyo and Tsu'tey left Har'ii and Aktamu with just a brief goodbye. Har'ii and his father then went to find the rest of their family and were greeted them cheerfully when they found them. "How did it go?" Ku'el asked them warmly.
The two tried to sound as enthusiastic as possible as they recounted the hunting trip without mentioning the ending of it, as neither really knew what to say about it. If something about their tone sounded off, it was not commented on. The rest of the day passed uneventfully and as Har'ii laid down to go to sleep that night, he thought that no matter what happened with the sky people, he was going to do everything he could to protect the life he now had.