Although Norman was accommodated ritually by the clan, that did not exempt it to finish its training by the capture of Ikran. Jake made come the two hunters which formed it in order to know their opinion on the initiation of Norman.
For them, no possible doubt, Norman had finished its initiation and learned all that a Omaticaya young person was to know, it had become fine hunter and tracker except par. It made pride of two hunters which especially regretted already this so good pupil, who on certain plans had even exceeded them, in the art of the camouflage.
Jake cordially thanked the hunters for having taught their arts with Norman. Finished maintenance, it fixed the departure towards the mountains for two days later.
The departure day before would be devoted to teach him how to capture Ikran. The best professor than it knew could be only Neytiri. Mission which it accepted joyeusement, Grace, Ikran de Neytiri, will appreciate certainly less this formation, considering it was it which will make the expenses of this drive. The morning was greeted by a heat sun of spring. A horde formed by Jake, Norman and of Omaticayas young people went through the mountains towards the place where nested Ikrans savages. Arrived close to the cascade at the edge of the abyss. Norman passed in first, the back against cliff. It posted a serenity what contrasted with the other very nervous Omaticayas young people, the small troop arrived on the plate where Ikrans had elected residence since strong a long time. Norman unfolded the vegetable thin strap which will be useful to him for the capture, it made it whirl like him to show Neytiri, ready to act. It advanced in the middle of Ikran which flew away, they did not appreciate little the visit of this intruder and expressed it by great cries, one of them made face. Vis-a-vis Norman, it of looked with an air of distrust. In a sharp gesture, its jaw opera hat twice, Norman avoided accuracy the bite, were put in position, it observed something of curious. With the leg of Ikran, a brownish spot was spread out over the gray rock, it was seriously wounded by a piece of wood, was planted in its thigh. It had not chosen it, but was defended, taking it for a predator.
Norman moved back slowly. He had learned what it was necessary to do to capture Ikran, but it did not have the least idea of the behavior to hold vis-a-vis Ikran wounding; it also knew that this animal when it felt vulnerable could show violent one very. It posed its lasso with ground and drew aside the arms, the palms of the hand turned towards Ikran. On the face of Jake was read concern.
Norman bent down, is flattened on the ground, the members largely extended, the chest with a few centimetres of sand, it advanced slowly like an insect towards him, avoiding abrupt gesture very. The group made silence, all knew that the least noise or ill-considered gesture could frighten the animal and condemn Norman to an unquestionable death. He spoke to him about a soft voice, he explained to him why he did not want any evil to him, he approached centimetre per centimetre, scanning each movement of Ikran. He emblait himself to calm himself, but continued to look at Norman with mistrust Norman pit his Kxetse and wedged it in its jaw. Gathering its legs, it took the posture of the cat-like loan to the attack, all the muscles of its body covered under its skin. Everyone was impressed by the power and the serenity which Norman released. Like an athlete on starting blocks, he sought the best support, measuring the ground with his toes, the tension was palpable. That seemed to last an eternity, nobody did not speak Norman leaps like a deer and passes above the neck of Ikran, it seizes with the flight its Kxetse which it connected to that of the animal and lands with ground right beside the head of this one.
Ikran did not have time to make the least movement, so much Norman was fast. There remained motionless, very calm, in its eyes, one read more the surprise than a feeling of aggressiveness. Norman removed the piece of wood in the beginning of its wound, Ikran launched a cry of pain, but did not seek to bite Norman. It pit in a small purse fixed at its belt, a broad sheet and a pot of healing paste resulting from the Omaticaya pharmacopeia. It made him a bandage of fortune. Ikran pushed a small plaintive cry. Norman continued of him to speak a few moments then, almost with regret, removed its Kxetse and moved back gently. Norman knew that Ikran did not choose it. Wounded, he only sought to protect, push back the intruder. As for any Na' VI, it was inconceivable for him to let an animal suffer unnecessarily. Its wound was not mortal, but would have made quickly it vulnerable, condemning it in any event to an unquestionable death. Vis-a-vis this wounded animal, it had simply tried to give him a chance to live. it occurred something that nobody with the shares before had assisted, Ikran advanced while limping towards Norman, it passed its head under the arm of Norman and blocked it, as if it did not want that he leaves. Norman, carried in its reasoning, it had forgotten, that, by its gesture. It had bound to him for the life. It was connected again, gently it enfourcha Ikran, it spread its wings and in a powerful beat, they flew away towards the blue sky under the cries of relief of all.
Ikran did not choose it certainly, but the natural generosity of Norman had conquered it, a new way of gaining the regard of Ikran.
That of Jake waited not far, everyone made a success of its capture and was by the skies until all, made their return to the clan, watched for since hours by all.
Arrived on the ground, Jake approached Norman.
- never remake me that. He says while smiling, it gives him a frank accodance, and this evening, you will be obliged to tell your capture. And how will you name it? - as it is a male, Jake, naturally. Amused, Norman watched for the reaction of Jake.
Jake posed its hand on its heart and was inclined in front of Norman, meaning to him that he regarded that as an honor.
It is not improper at Na' screw to give the name of a friend to his mounting, it is even a very strong sign of friendship.
The meal of this evening is memorable, it confirms Norman like member of Omaticayas, but also, it will be officially married in Tzé' Tey later in the night.
The festival of spring was a success, the young coldly initiated hunters were ovationnés as it should be by the clan. The nail of the evening was nevertheless offered by Norman which told with force of detail the capture out-standard of its Ikran under the glance jellyfish of the assistance and especially of young people.
When the moon arrived at its apogee, Tzé' Tey wanted to marry when the moon would be with the zenith. Neytiri, very honoured, led the ceremony of the marriage.
Each Omaticaya thanked Eywa, it had given them a good chief, a highly skilled hunter, the New Year's Day was announced under good omens.
Spring, yields its place to the summer, the beginning of this season was a little dreaded by Na' screw, of many and violent ones storms fell down regularly on the jungle, accompanied by pouring rain.
The belly of Neytiri swelled more and more, it was somewhat obliged to slow down its enthusiasm with hunting. Even its imposing very sharp Ikran usually, moderates its dashes even delicately, being posed, conscious of the state of its riding.
Neytiri, constraint at rest, spent more time with his/her mother to perfect her formation of Tsaick, with the great Mo pleasure' At.
Mo' At and Jake gave appointment to Norman and Tzé' Tey in a small isolated clearing.
With the face of their host, Norman and Tzé' Tey understood that the invitation raised being of a very serious nature.
Jake had lengthily observed Tzé' Tey, always present to look after the small wounds of the hunters, taking care the patients, relieving the burden of oldest. The expert of the clan had also noticed it and had spoken to him about it, considering its age advanced, it wished to have a pupil in order to be able to ensure the perenniality of its knowledge, and found that Tzé' Tey would be perfect in this function.
Jake proposed this opportunity to him.
Its eyes were illuminated, Jake brought its dream expensive to him, to learn the clothes industry from the vegetable drugs and to look after the members of the clan. It jumped to him to the neck, forgetting suitabilities somewhat.
They passed the end of the day to be unscrewed of all and nothing. The sun went down on the summits from the mountains and stretched the shades. With far, grondement deaf announced the beginning of the season of the storms, dreaded time of Na' screw, these storms are often very violent one. All the clan was gathered for the meal, the conversations went good progress. The claps of thunder in the evening were done threatening more and more. Several hunters left and climbed with the trees in order to locate the place where the storm burst. Very far, above the horizon of the gray and black clouds amoncelaient themselves masking the moon cobalt. The sky was zebra of flash white and bluish, the storm thundered, in spite of the distance which separated them from this storm, the claps of thunder made resounded the trunks of the trees.
A glare of a rare intensity struck the ground setting ablaze the darkness like a midnight sun, follow-up of a clap of thunder of an incredible violence making tremble the air around them. To far, of the orange flames went up towards the sky, the lightning made its work setting fire to the coppices in the neighborhoods.
A tracker located the place where the lightning fell down.
- it is close to the clan of the large rock.
Late in the night, the storm, tired of this outburst of fury this calm, leaving room to silence, the fauna frightened by this frenzy of noises it was terrer left their shelters and took again possession of the forest.
Jake joined Neytiri, blocked up in the tree-house, it looked at it lengthily, in spite of its pregnancy, it kept its cat-like grace, it lengthened at its sides and posed a hand on its round belly.
She says to him in a smile - it is for soon.
Hunters surprised by the storm sheltered in the neighbouring caves and returned in the middle of the night. In the small hour in spite of a short night, they were ready to set out again, Norman, with the head of this hunting.
With the sight of the tired faces and them rings under the eyes of the hunters. Jake issued one day of rest for all, there was enough food for everyone for at least two days. The news was warmly accommodated, it announced a last thing.
- there are still young people and pretty Omaticayas single people in the clan.
What started a great burst of laughter on behalf of the hunters and the escape of the young girls.
Jake, to slacken the hunters a little even succeeded in founding a little game in the clan. Play which consisted in hanging a fabric with the belt of each participant, that which gains was that which managed to catch that of its adversary. Considering the excellent reflexes and the swiftness of Na' screw, that gave confusing track races. This always starting howls of laughing on behalf of the spectators.
The day was passed peacefully, certain hunters made the remark of Jake profitable and account floweret with the young girls.
This day of relaxation, Jake passed it in company of its close relations. Installed in the shade of a tree, Norman and Tzé' Tey announced to the clan a good news, they awaited a girl.
The evening meal was caught outside decorated fresh fruits, the tepidity of the evening was very pleasant.
During the meal, Neytiri could not contain a small cry of pain. It made a reassuring smile with Jake. It again carried its hands to its belly, this second pain was stronger than the preceding one. All fixed Neytiri anxiously, it took again its breathing gently.
- The baby is agitated, nothing does not press It finished hardly that phrases, that a fulgurating pain crossed the belly to him, it could not repress a cry of pain, it started to lose water. Mo' At called the closest women, Tzé' Tey left like an arrow to seek the expert of the clan.
Already, the news was rependait, the men in haste made a stretcher in order to take it along close to the tree of the hearts. The women helped it to be raised and has to be installed on the stretcher. All the settings in the world within the clan occurred in this place. Jake was not prepared with this situation and even less Norman, they could only make. They were looked at a little lost when oldest from the clan came to see them - it is necessary for you to prepare It equipped it with a long white tunic, the women having already given birth to dealt with Neytiri, lavishing their councils to him.
The clan left in direction the clearing stopping with each pain. Mo' At the head followed by Neytiri carried out of stretcher by Jake, Norman and two other hunters, singing a soft song taken again in chorus by all the clan.
Arrived before on the spot, the women activated themselves with the preparations, they made a thick carpet of foam and a file in bamboo, petals of flowers were widespread around.
Neytiri arrived, the face contracted by the pain, supported by Jake and Norman, it went down from the stretcher.
Mo' At and Trudy took the relai.
The Grandfather made sit Jake, the isolated legs and it placed Neytiri between them, that head resting on the chest of Jake, the clan settled in against bottom turning the back in order to preserve decency this moment.
Only remained at the side of the couple, the closest women, Mo' At, Tzé' Tey, Trudy and the expert. Neytiri seemed serene in spite of the pains of the childbirth, Mo' At recited prayers of a soft voice. Mo' At took the hands of Jake and the installations on both sides of the belly of Neytiri while they took the ankles to him.
Mo' At tenderly cherished the cheek of his/her daughter who smiles to him, it recited a short incantation. It seizes Kxetse and that of Jake and it connected them together. It was a shock for Jake and a great appeasing for Neytiri, the contact of the spirit of Jake made him the largest good. It felt all that she lived, he heard even the palpitations of the baby, the anguish interfered with the joy Neytiri, even the pains reached him, that gave the impression to him that it was him which will give the life.
The women sang a soft supposed monotonous chant to soften the pains, the men took again the refrain in chorus.
The expert made drink in Neytiri a decoction of plant in order to give him forces. The pains were increasingly frequent and painful.
Neytiri pushed a long howl, and in a last effort, the first baby resulting from a misadventure and Na' VI launched its first cry like wanting to defy the world.
The baby was quickly cleaned and to wrap in a linen and Mo' At deposited the baby on the belly of his mother, the parents contemplated it very moved.
The clan ceased the songs, they wait the moment which will mean to them that very happened well.
Neytiri gently took again forces, after a long moment of rest, it rose, to help of Mo' At, Tzé' Tey and Jake. It gave the baby to Jake, supported by her friends, vis-a-vis the clan, they presented the newborn to the clan, greeted by cries of joy. The baby had four fingers like his mother, contrary to the misadventures which had five of them. He had the light blue dye, like all the children Na' VI. Usually they almost had all the yellow eyes of the gold bearing color. He, it inherited the blue eyes of his/her father, of the iridescent blue eyes of gold. The clan returned to the tree-house commented on the birth. Neytiri rested, installed comfortably in the center of the assembly. People were not unaware of the past of Jake. Much wondered how was going to be the baby. As in its marriage, Jake and Neytiri one moment of respite, everyone wanted even the new-born child.
The night was extremely advanced, everyone left to sleep, Jake could finally join Neytiri and take in the arms for the first time his/her child with the calm one.
Norman and Tzé' Tey were still present, they immortalisaient this scene. The photograph will leave in the center at dawn, Norman had forgotten to prevent them.
The following day will be declared feastday by Mo' At, finally its wish was carried out, it was grandmother. The technicians of the center were able to congratulate Jake and Neytiri, having learned early the morning the news by Norman, it had made the way to bring the first photograph of the baby.
The evening, Jake and Neytiri benefitted from a little respites punctuated by the tears the baby who claimed his meal. They succeeded in nevertheless sleeping a few hours.
The sun hardly rose that cries of alarm to mir itself with resounded in the tree-house, follow-ups of horrified cries and calls to the assistance, of unknown approached. They were about thirty, whose women and children, their states showed sorrow, the émaciés faces of many burns and wounds marked their skin. Some helped the others to go or carried them, so much their state of exhaustion was large. Jake in front of this tragedy shouted of the orders, so that assistance is carried to them, but it conceals useless, already the women and the hunters were activated near them, offering to them water of the fruits and what to cover itself. They were exhausted so much and in state of shock, they did not even manage to thank those which surrounded them. A hunter found the force to tell the tragedy which struck them. It was all that remained of the clan of the large rock. Jake called Norman, they left in direction the village hoping that sky they succeed in finding other survivors. They arrived for the remainders of the village, a spectacle of desolation was offered to them.
The high monolith several tens of meters which usually trônait in the center of the village had disappeared. It was him which received the lightning. While exploding, it destroyed the village, projecting stones around to a hundred meters, destroying the frail made shelters of sheets and of bamboos, fire had finished the disaster. Jake and Norman in vain sought survivors, they had to go obviously that they will not find any survivor in the debris. The only thing that they could make was to gather the bodies which they could released from the vestiges, some fell in dust between their hands. They tried to seek possible survivors around the village, but without hope. The sorrow in the middle, they could only note the drama. A clan of more than two hundreds Na' screw was decimated by the fury of the sky.
Their Ikrans usually so noisy remained quiet, as if they were conscious of the disaster. A macabre odor floated on the spot.
They will return later for a funeral ceremony.
Jake and Norman silently started from this devastated place where any trace of life was swept by the fury of the sky, no word, no word could not describe their sadnesses.
They turned over to the village, the survivors took again forces, others fell asleep where they had sat down, too exténués.
Jake recognized a hunter which had taken share with the combat against the mercenaries, it approached him, it was nothing any more but one spectrum with the eyes reddened by smoke and the tears.
It approached him and posed its hand on its shoulder, the hunter launched a glance full with hope to him.
Jake made him not head. This hunter which was so strong with the combat collapsed in tears.
Even if the common room were a little exigüe, there were place to accommodate novel members. Jake proposed hospitality to them and even if it wished it to become member of the clan. The survivors, very touched by the offer of Jake accepted. Norman was given the responsability to find places in the tree-house to them. An young woman saw Neytiri with her baby in the arms and crumbled in tears. Neytiri gave its baby to Tzé' Tey and tried to comfort it, it understood that the young woman had lost her baby in the storm.
After a fashion, the survivors were quickly placed, to surround by all. They found a little comfort and human heat. Some hunters quickly left to drive out, it was necessary to nourish everyone, an survivor united with them, a way of forgetting its drama a little.
Jake proposed that the casualties most reached are sent to the center, too ravaged to be neat by the ancestral methods, the clan approved this decision. The orphan children quickly found families of reception thanks to the devotion of the women of the clan, Trudy decided to take care of the one of them.
It remained of the clan that 34 survivors, including 8 women and 5 children.
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