I don't own any characters or anything but the story. Criticism is welcome but please don't be rude. Now that we are 10 chapters in I want to thank everyone who has followed, fav, and reviewed so far. I am truly grateful for all the support.
Har'ii's tail swished irritably as he gazed out at the heavily falling rain. Next to him were Tsu'tey and his siblings, who all looked as bored and annoyed as he felt. It had been raining for three days now and while it was perfectly dry in the inner parts of the hometree, the children were getting bored staying within it confines in an attempt to stay out of the rain. The na'vi that were around them were still busy at work, because rain or not, there were many task that needed to be done to keep the clan running.
Har'ii sighed, he really wanted to work his training with his bow, but he didn't feel like being cold and soaked to do so. In fact everything he really wanted to do right now would require him go out into the rain. He wasn't the only one, most of the other children were wishing to go to the schoolhouse, but like Har'ii were unwilling to traverse through the rainy forest to do so.
Har'ii actually wouldn't have minded going to the school himself, just for something to do. While he and Tsu'tey didn't go to the school as much as everyone else, they had been there several times by this point. While Har'ii still preferred his hunting lessons or the teaching of the Omaticaya, he had learned a few useful bits of information from Grace's classes. The most notable of which is that the Earth that existed right now was anything like the one that the trio left.
When they had first learned that there were human already on this planet, Hirmi'ee had voiced her suspicion to Ro'an and Har'ii that when Gaia had sent them away from Earth, she had also sent them through time. While Grace didn't seem to like to focus her lessons on the current state of Earth, from what Har'ii had gathered life there was currently pretty abysmal. It was hard to tell exactly why as Grace had only made a few comments about it when it was related to what she was teaching.
He had also learned that the current year on earth was 2145, which confirmed Hirmi'ee theory and meant the three of them had been sent nearly 150 years into the future. It was difficult concept for Har'ii to wrap his head around, particularly the realization that everyone that he used to know was most likely gone. When they decided to take Gaia's offer, it hadn't hit Har'ii that when they left, they would never be able to go back. Now that he was fully aware of that fact he wasn't sure what to think or feel about it, so he tried to push his thought about it away. Also while he knew would likely never find out, he couldn't help but wonder what the wizarding world was like now.
He had also gotten to know Grace a little better and while she still made him a little nervous he had grown to like her a little more than he had. She was such a kind and open person towards them, it made it hard to really dislike her after spending some time around her. Surprisingly even Tsu'tey had admitted to Har'ii that he found her just a little more tolerable than the other skypeople though he was still wary.
Har'ii sighed again as he fiddled with the string of the bow in his hand wishing he could go practice. With his last session he had felt he was finally making some progress and he was hoping for the rain to stop so he could continue. The group of four stayed there for a little longer before Hirmi'ee suddenly got up and stated "Well since we're not doing anything else, I'm going to go talk with Eita and the other storytellers to see what songs I haven't learned yet." She left and Ro'an took off as well saying he was going to go to the medical area to help the healers.
After they had left Har'ii turned to Tsu'tey to ask if he had any ideas for something they could do. Tsu'tey frowned in thought for a minute and then he gave him a bright smile And said " Well, my father was recently teaching about thetikran and what I would need to know for when I am old enough to bond with one. Maybe we could ask him or Aktamu to let us see theirs."
Har'ii was delighted by the idea. So far he had only seen the ikran from a distance when the hunters left or came back from a hunt. He was curious to see what they would be like up close, especially since to be great hunter, he would eventually need to bond with one. There was also a part of him that missed being able to fly and was eager to soar through the skies again, even though he was pretty sure it was going to different then riding on a broom.
"Do you really think they would show us?" Har'ii asked. Tsu'tey shrugged "I can't think of why hey would have a problem with it. Beside it would good for us to know what they are like for our hunting training." Har'ii nodded in agreement and the two went in search of their fathers. It take them long to find them together in one of the alcoves of the tree, apparently doing some maintenance on their bows.
The two looked up from their work however, when their sons came towards them and greeted them. Aktamu smiled at them and said "Hello boys, is there something you needed?" Har'ii nodded eagrly "Me and Tsu'tey were wondering if we could meet your ikran and see what they're like." The two adults looked at each for a second before they both nodded and Ateyo said "That is probably a good idea, so the two you can better understand the ikran and the bond they have with the na'vi."
Ateyo and Aktamu carefully put away their bows before they led the boys farther up the tree than either one had been before. They eventually out on a large thick branch close to the top of the hometree. Har'ii had to take a second to steady himself when he realized just how far up they were and he was amazed about much of the forest he could see from here, even with the rain still falling down around them. Har'ii turned away the view to watch his father and Ateyo each making some kind of animal sound.
Just then two ikran came out from the branches above them, with one landing in front of each of them. Har'ii was in awe of the creatures and he carefully studied them. They had four eyes with the front set being bigger than the others and long smooth necks. They also had two sets of wings and on the front much larger set Har'ii saw that there was a section on each wing that was divided into three parts that were overlapped onto each other. Each wing tip had a large curved claw and they had long slim tails. Coming from their were narrow structures that Har'ii was sure held the creatures queue needed for bonding.
Har'ii obseved that the colouring on each of their father ikrans was very different, the one Ateyo was patting being mostly brown, but was streaked through with green. Aktamu's however was mixture of blue and orange with just a few spots of purple. Har'ii's father then waved for him to come closer and Ateyo called for Tsu'tey. He approached carefully making sure to keep his eyes down an away from the ikran's.
The ikran made a sound when Har'ii stopped next to his father and just a few inches from the animal. Aktamu patted his neck to calm him down and then turned his attention to his son and spoke "Bonding with an ikran is not like bonding with a pa'li, as an ikran will only bond with one person and this create a special bond between the hunter and the ikran. Choosing an ikran is a dangerous but required rite of passage for a hunter."
Har'ii thought about what his father was saying as he continued to examine the ikran. As he never bonded with anything before, so it was hard for him to fully grasp what his father was saying. He was curious what it would actually be like to join his mind with another creature. He knew it would be a couple years before he would ever do so, as right now his queue was still to immature to bond properly.
Still there was a part of him that couldn't wait until he would be able to choose and fly with his own ikran. Though he wondered if he would ever get to that far when he struggling so much with just shooting a bow properly He looked at Aktamu to see him smile at him before he saying "I look forward to the day when you will go through that rite." His tail flicked as looked down and in a small voice spoke "Do you really think I can do it?"
His father knelt in front of him, before gently lifting his head to look at him. "My son, I know you will get there eventually. You already have shown great promise to be a great hunter." Har'ii frowned slightly "But i can barely get an arrow to fly a few feet." "Yes, but you haven't given up and if you keep that determination, i know you will do well."
Har'ii considered this for a second before smiling and then hugging his father. As his dad wrapped his arms around him as well, Har'ii couldn't help but feel warm and happy to have someone with such confidents in him. It made him determined that no matter what, he was going to make his father proud.