A Hunter's Trial ( Jake, Neytiri, and Norm)

Norm's Avatar healed at a surprising rate. Within three weeks, all he
had was scars. Yet the wounds still pained him, albiet less and less
frequently.
Tanhí had proven invaluable to Norm. She had found and dragged his
unconscious Avatar body back to the link shack. She had cared for him
while he recovered his strength. After all that, she had told Norm
that she loved him. He had said the same thing to her and after some
slight hesitation on Norm's part they were mated.
Norm's training began shortly after his full recovery. Max had
traveled out to the Well of Souls to give Norm the all-good signal
for his Avatar body. Instead of having any hunter train him, Norm had
Neytiri.
" Jake, are you serious? I saw what she did to you. You were run
ragged. I don't want that."
" Well, do you want to be Omaticaya or not? Simple question, simple
answer."
" Yes, with all my heart. But you have to remember, unlike you, I
still have my human body."
" Just wait until after your transfer. You are in for one hell of a
ride, both before and after your transfer."
" Don't remind me."
Norm linked back the next day late in the morning, only to find
Neytiri standing over him.
" This is not how we start our day. We start early before the sun
rises. This is when you must come, not now."
" You've got to be kidding me," Norm said to himself. " And I thought
I was doing good."
Norm climbed out of his hammock and followed Neytiri. She was leading
him towards the edge of the camp. Norm could only wonder where she was
taking him and prayed it was nowhere dangerous. As they reached the
end of the encampment Neytiri slowed to a pace just below a walk. Norm
matched her pace step for step.
" Since you were wounded," she said, " your body is weak. And even
before you were wounded, your body was weak. Today, we are going to
run. Running strengthens not only your legs but also your heart. Now
catch me if you can!"
She shot off like an arrow loosed from a bow. Norm was left standing
there in stunned silence. He watched as she disappeared into the jungle.
" This is just great," he said after a minute. " Well better go get
her."
Norm started running through the jungle quietly at first, then
abandoning all reason, running full tilt. As he ran he caught
glimpses of Neytiri but for only a couple of seconds. That's when he
realized she was running around in circles. Instead of continuing to
run around, he found a hollow upright log to squeeze into. He stayed
there until he heard her start around again. He jumped out and tagged
her.
" Got you," he said with a grin on his face.
Neytiri stopped running only to stare at Norm with an expression of
utter confusion. She could not speak for a couple of minutes. When she
did speak, it was in an awe inspired voice.
" How did you get me?"
" I found a hollowed out log. I hid until you came around again. When
you passed by me I jumped out and got you."
" It seems I'm going to use a different training technique with you.
You actually think through situations unlike Jake. He used to use
brute strength instead of actually thinking things through. It's
actually a nice change. Now I get to use my intellect against one so
learned as you."
" Me? You think I'm learned? You have spent your entire life here.
I've only been here 6 years. And I still have not seen everything
there is to see. Also, you grew up in the forest and had to survive. I
grew up in a city and had everything provided for me while you had to
catch your meals and make anything else you needed for survival."
" That is true. But you learned about our culture. You know everything
there is to know even though you are not one of us. That takes
devotion and heart. And in the eyes of the People that is all that
matters."
Neytiri had Norm do a number of exercises to determine what his level
of balance and dexterity was. She soon found out that he was like a
child when it came to anything that required work.
After a few hours, she called him over to her.
" Norm," She said, " We need to be heading back to the Well of Souls.
It is about time for dinner."
" Good," Norm said. " I was beginning to feel hungry. And I miss
Tanhí. I've never been away from her for this long."
" I miss ma Jake as well. Now let's get a move on or we'll never get
back in time."
Neytiri and Norm began the journey back to the Well of Souls. The
journey took about 4 hours. All along the way, Neytiri showed Norm
different uses for, what he had thought were just decorative plants.
By the time they had reached the Well of Souls, it was nearly dark. As
they made their way through the encampment, two figures were slowly
approaching from the opposite direction. As the figures came closer
they made them out to be Jake and Tanhí. In their hands they carried
serving leaves filled with food.
" Well, well," Jake said, " The mighty hunters return."
Neytiri had just received the food out of Jake's hand. Without
conscious thought her tail flew up and cracked him upside the head. He
staggered back a couple of paces then moved forward again.
Norm was having better luck. After getting the food from Tanhí, he had
kissed her then sat down and began eating. Once he saw Jake get hit,
he started laughing.
" Jake," he said laughing, " I'd stop while you're ahead."
" Maybe," Jake said smiling, " But where's the fun in that?"
After they had finished eating, Jake and Neytiri had said their
goodnight and went off to their hammock. Norm and Tanisha discussed
their day with each other. When they finally went to their hammock it
was well into the night.
" I guess you are too tired to do anything," Tanisha asked mischievously.
" I'm never too tired for you." he replied.
He drew her in close then connected their queue's. No matter how many
times they connected queue's, he could not get over how intense the
feeling was. He could feel her and she could feel him. They could hear
each others thoughts and feel everything each other was feeling.
After Tanisha had fallen asleep, Norm again disconnected his queue from
hers. He then slowed his breathing and fell asleep. Not ten seconds
later he awoke back at Hell's Gate. In his human body. He climbed out
of the link chamber and walked down the corridor toward his room.
" Norm, that you?"
" Yeah, Max. It's me. I just got back."
" Well, how's your training going?"
" Very interesting. It's actually very exhausting. Next week, I'm
going to get to pick my Banshee."
" Exciting. You look like you need some sleep. Go get some. I've been
doing all your jobs around here so you're covered."
" Thank you. And good night Max."
" You're welcome. Good night Norm."
The next morning that Norm linked back, the place was a hive of
activity. He spotted Jake talking with some of the elders and made his
way over to them.
" Morning, Jake." he said. " What's going on?"
" Well, Norm," Jake began, " Tonight you go on your dream hunt. Your
spirit animal will come and you will know what you are supposed to do.
Now what happens is that you will eat a glow worm then be stung on the
neck by an arachnoid. The venom will give you a hallucinginous dream
in which your spirit animal will come. As you know mine was Toruk. To
this day I don't know why I was chosen but I was chosen nonetheless
Now it's your turn. I'll be there the whole time so don't worry."
" Okay." Norm said shakily. " What time do I need to be back here?"
" Just after the sun sets. That's when we will begin. You're not the
only one you know. Many others will be taking their dream hunt as well."
" That's a comfort. At least I won't be the only one who makes an ass
of himself."
" Ah. Don't worry. I was nervous when I did it to. But boy am I happy
I did. Norm, I wish you the best of luck. I would love to stay and
chat but my duty as olo'eyktan calls. See you later."
" Yeah. See you later."
Norm wandered aimlessly throughout the encampment until he found
Tanisha She was helping weave a great tapestry that depicted the war
with the Tawtute. He remembered that all to well. Absent absentmindedly he
reached up on his shoulder and touched the spots where the GAU 90
cannons had ripped into his flesh. Tanisha saw this and was at his side
in a moment.
" Are you alright, my love?" she asked concerned.
" I'm fine," Norm replied. " Just remembering old memories and
injuries."
" Oh. I thought you were in pain."
" No. It does pain me to think about what happened though. How two men
caused so much death and suffering."
" Yes. But all that is passed as rain passes through the forest."
" Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
" And I don't know what I would do without you."
Norm looked down at her and kissed her. She returned his kiss
oblivious to the stares they were receiving from the women at the loom.
" I'm going back to my other body." he said after a few minutes. "
This one needs all the rest it can get. I'll be back a little before
sunset though. I'll come looking for you."
" And I will be looking for you."
Norm gave her one last kiss before heading off to his hammock. He
gently lowered himself down into it. As he lay there he could hear all
the People getting ready for tonight. He closed his eyes and let his
breathing steady.
Norm climbed out of the link chamber to be greeted by Max. Max had
been monitoring Norm's link. He had taken to doing that whenever Norm
was out and about in his Avatar.
" Hey, Norm," Max said. " Back a little early, aren't you?"
" Yeah," he replied. " I am. It's only because tonight I'm taking my
dream hunt. After I complete it, I am one of the People. Then the next
day, I go on Inkimaya where I choose my ikran."
" Wow. You've got a lot coming at you."
" Yeah. I do. Max, listen because this is important. After I get an
ikran, I'm taking the transfer. All the people here at Hell's Gate are
invited. I've decided to become fully Na'vi like Jake. I have Tanisha
What else do I need?"
" Nothing I suppose. And Norm, that's great for you. Do you think they
would mind if I bring a couple of sensors with me? I want to see and
hear exactly what you see and hear in the transfer."
" I don't think they would mind but I'll check with Jake just to be
sure."
" Thanks Norm. You remember that little science project I was working
on?"
" Yeah. Why?"
" What if I told you it worked?"
" Did it? That's great. So you finally figured out how to make
yourself an Avatar. Now you can feel what it's like to be out there.
It's… It's… I can't describe it with words. You have to feel it for
yourself."
" It should be ready in a day or so. Hopefully I'll be at your
transfer in my new body but that's hard to tell. Everything may go
according to plan and maybe not."
" Well I'm looking forward to seeing you there. Thanks for everything
Max. I don't know what I would have done without you."
" Hey no problem. To see you and Jake happy and at peace is more than
enough for thanks."
" I'll talk to you later. I need to get some food. See ya."
" Okay. See you later."
Norm walked away from the link pod where he and Max had been talking.
His next destination: the cafeteria. As he entered the cafeteria, he
could smell something cooking. It smelled good. Tony, the chef, had
been giving them amazing meals. Tony had stayed behind because all his
family on earth was dead. He had also assisted in taking over Hell's
Gate when Selfridge had gone nuts.
" Hey Tony!" Norm shouted. " You got anything good to eat for a lonely
Avatar driver."
" Yeah. Yeah." Tony said. " Lonely my ass. Anytime you come around in
your Avatar you always have that woman with you. So don't give me this
lonely bullshit. And yes. I just finished making lunch. Do you want to
eat in peace or have company."
" Whatever you want," Norm said.
" Well then," Tony said," You can make the announcement for lunch over
the p.a."
" Okay."
Norm walked over to the p.a. and clicked the button.
" Attention all personnel. I regret to announce that lunch is now being
served."
He clicked the p.a. off and went to get a tray. After that he jumped
in line. As he neared Tony, he could tell the cook was not happy.
" Smart-ass." Tony said. " I have a mind to put you on bread and water."
" I was just having some fun. Jeez. Loosen up a bit."
" I'll loosen your head up a bit. That's what I'll do."
" Okay," Norm said. " I'm sorry. Happy?"
" Yeah," Tony said. " I am now."
Norm ate his lunch in relative silence. As he looked around the
cafeteria, he noticed that all of the Avatar drivers were there. Amy,
Cathy, Greg, Casey and Ian. Only five people had Avatars. All the rest
were either killed or they were permanently transferred over.
" Hey Greg!" Norm yelled across the cafeteria. " All y'all come over
here."
" What's up, Norm?" Amy said sitting down across from him.
" Yeah," Cathy said, " This had better be good. You pulled me away
from my food."
" And Norm," Ian said, " You know how much Cathy loves her food."
" All right," Norm said, " This won't take long. At the end of the
month, you will never see this body again."
" Are you taking the transfer?" Greg asked.
" Yes, I am. How can I not? Tanisha would kill me if I didn't." Norm
said.
" Yeah," Cathy said. " She would."
" What's going on tonight?" Amy asked.
" I'm taking my dream hunt." Norm said." I don't relish the idea of
getting stung with an arachnoid but I must if I want to be hunter. So
I just got to suck it up. By the way, you're all invited. Just come
early and we'll have a spot for you. It's nothing spectacular mind
you. But I thought I'd give you the invite."
" Thanks." Ian said. " But this time I think we'll decline. See me and
Amy got some troubles of our own and so does Greg and Cathy."
" What kind of troubles?" Norm asked suspiciously.
" Well," Greg said, " Amy and Cathy's Avatars are pregnant. Me and Ian
are the fathers."
" How do you know that the Avatars are pregnant?" Norm asked.
" We did a pregnancy test." Cathy replied. " Amy and I were feeling
bad. Nausea and lightheaded. That kind of thing."
" You realize that there's no turning back." Norm said smiling. " You
guys are mated for life. No going back."
" Yeah," Greg said. " We realize and can live with that."
" Well, then," Norm said. " Congratulations. Well, I gotta get going.
If I'm not back at the Well of Souls soon, Neytiri will give me such a
chewing out. Not to mention Tanisha She would kill me."
" All right." Ian said. " Good luck."
" Thanks again."
Norm took his tray up to the recycler and dropped it in. He walked
down to the link room but hesitated before climbing into his link
chamber. Max chose that moment to enter the room.
" Hey Norm," he said. " Goin' back?"
" Yeah," Norm said. " I have some things I need to take care of.
Neytiri wanted me back early for some reason. I think it was because of
Jake. He probably wants to tell me what happened to him. The physical
aspect of what the poison does. He said it wasn't pleasant."
" Well," Max said, " considering the sting of the arachnoid can kill
an elder and young Na'vi with its sting, I'd say you're in for one
hell of a ride."
" Yeah, you can say that again. What did you find with the trackers?"
" The imaging is not working and the sonar goes in and out. But from
the snippets I'm getting she's alive."
" Her Avatar's reading on the sensors?"
" Yeah. Actually it is. But the Flux is causing interference with the
signal. She is alive though."
" Praise Eywa. Jake will be happy to hear that. He's the one that
wanted to know."
" Really? I wonder why?"
" He saw her when he passed through the Eye of Eywa."
" Never knew that. Thanks for telling me."
" Yeah. I thought I told you. Oh well. I gotta go or Neytiri and Tanhí
will kill me."
" All right. I'll see you later. I'm still allowed to come, right?"
" Yeah. Jake said that was all right."
" Awesome. See you later."
" You too."
Norm closed the link over his head and heard Max initiate the program.
He let his mind go blank and soon he was rushing through the tunnel of
light that marked his entry into his Avatar.
When he awoke, Tanhí was in the hammock with him. As he stretched, he
woke her.
" Sorry," he said sheepishly. " I didn't mean to wake you."
" It's okay." She replied smiling." I needed to get up anyway. No one
should be sleeping at this time of day. Even the ones with child."
" Well," Norm said. " In my book, pregnant mothers get a big break but
so do father's to be. But that's just me."
" And that is why I could not live without you."
" Nor I you." After a short pause he began speaking again.
" When will our child come?"
" It will be another couple of months now. He is still quite young and
needs nourishment from me."
" You said 'he'. So you admit it will be a boy by that remark."
" I merely implied it might be a boy. I still say it's a girl."
" Well, my monies on a boy. We had better get going. I guess there is
some kind of ritual I have to have done before I actually go on my
dream hunt."
" Yes, there is."
" Any indication on what it might be?"
" You will find out soon enough." Tanhí said with a smile that was
very mischievous.
" That's very comforting," Norm said sarcastically. " Now I know to be
scared."
" Do not fear. In fact you will actually enjoy it quite thoroughly."
" I'll take your word on it. Now let's get moving. I'm really nervous
and just want to get it over with."
Norm climbed out onto the limb above his hammock. As soon as he was
out, he reached down and helped Tanhí out of the hammock as it was
hard for her to get out being a few months pregnant. They walked hand
and hand down out of the sleeping area and into the deep basin that
formed the home of the great Mother tree.
" You know," Norm said, " Every time I look at that tree, I see Grace
standing before me telling me I had contaminated a sample with my," He
started chuckling, " my spit. God, I miss her. She was like my mother.
Strict, firm and unmoving. But at least I know she's alive. I just
don't know where."
" Dr. Augustine is still alive?" Tanhí asked in amazement. " But she
died. I was here. I saw her die."
" So did I," he replied, " Max said he found her signal from her
avatar. So she must still be alive. Somewhere."
" That makes me feel glad that she is still alive. She is who I
learned English from."
" Did you go to her school?"
" For a short time, I did. But then the incident happened. I have
never gone back there since. Seeing Sylwanin and the rest of her war
party murdered in front of me was enough, not to mention the wound I
took to the shoulder. The Tawtute shot me because I was helping get
children out of the school."
" I had no idea." Norm said stopping to look at her. " I never knew.
I'm sorry that I brought it up. I can see it causes you pain."
" It is only minor pain," she said. " Most of it is gone. And it will
mostly fully pass with time. But this scar I hold as a grim reminder
that some Tawtute are evil but also that some are pure of heart, like
you."
" I love you Tanhí," he said. " And I don't know what I'd do without
you."
Norm leaned close and kissed her. By the time they separated, their
hearts were beating fast from lack of oxygen.
" And I," Tanhí said, " Love you even more."
" All right. Break it up, lovebirds." a voice said from behind them.
Norm and Tanhí turned to find Jake and Neytiri standing there.
" Sorry," Norm said. " I was just stealing another kiss with Tanhí
before the actual ritual. I was on my way to find you."
" I know, my friend," Jake replied. " Max has just arrived. His Avatar
looks good. Apparently, Grace taught him well. Well, no sense in
putting this off any longer. Let's go, Norm."
" I'm coming," Norm said reluctantly.
Jake led Norm down into a side depression of the Well of Souls. In
this room were the elders of the Omaticaya, several jars and a circle
on the ground. After completing the customary welcoming phrase, Jake
had Norm squat in the center of the circle. He brought over a burning
torch that issued forth more smoke than flame.
" Let the smoke wash over you." he said. " It will cleanse you and
prepare you for what's next."
Next Jake grabbed a rotting piece of wood. He cracked it open and
inside was a glo-worm. He picked it out and handed it to Norm,
indicating he needed to chew it.
Norm chewed the worm, thinking that it tasted like a Gummy Worm only a
little bitter. After indicating to Jake he had chewed it all and
swallowed, Jake reached into a stone jar. Out of it he pulled an
arachnoid. Norm eyed the insects stinger with dread.
" This is going to smart a little bit." Jake said as he moved closer
to Norm. " But it's nothing you can't handle."
Jake pressed the arachnoid's stinger to Norm's neck and pressed down.
He was rewarded when he heard Norm's breathing speed up considerably
due to the sting he had just received.
As soon as the arachnoid bit him, Norm was plunged into a psycho-
active dream. All the colors he saw were distorted along with
everything else. He was standing on a path in the middle of the
forest. In front of him was a the very tree Jake had described. He saw
Grace standing in front of it. She looked at him but didn't say
anything.
Back in real life, Norm's Avatar was on the ground muscles coiled up
from the poison. His back was arched as his back spasmed and he cried
out.
Meanwhile, the scene changed. The tree was on fire now. He could see
Grace pinned on the tree with a spear like a trophy. Around her were
people of the Omaticaya. He looked left and right in growing horror.
Jake, Neytiri, Max, Tanhì. All dead. He looked away as not to see what
happened when a voice spoke.
" This is what could happen if you do not take the transfer and fulfill
your destiny." The voice said. " You know what your destiny is. You
always have. And you always will."
" I…I… don't know what my destiny is," Norm replied before the
scene changed again.
This time, he saw a small thanator being held in the arms of a Na'vi.
He could only see the arms but soon he saw who it was. The Na'vi was
him. He was shocked.
The scene shifted again. It showed him riding into battle against what
looked like RDA troops on a mighty thanator. Behind him came warrior
on direhorses and foot. They were like a sea, innumerable as the
grains of sand on a sea shore. It appeared they had victory. Then, he
saw himself struck down off the thanator. Slowly the vision faded and
he was back in the ring.
Jake and the rest of the elders were staring at him. He stood on
shaky legs and faced them.
" Jake," he said. " I need to tell you what I saw in private. It
warrants immediate action. I don't feel comfortable telling anyone
else."
" Come with me," Jake said after seeing the concerned look on his dear
friends face. " Now what did you see? You look troubled."
" Jake," Norm began, " I am troubled. I know what my spirit animal is.
A thanator. It looks as though I rescue a cub and raise it. But that
is not what has me worried. This is what is troubling me……"
He proceeded to tell Jake everything he saw including all their deaths.
" And Jake," he said, " What I saw scared the living hell out of me. I
will not let this happen. So it looks like I will be joining you as a
permanent here soon."
" What you've told me is certainly interesting and warrens immediate
attention." Jake said. " I'll talk to Max and we'll see what he says.
Now, Let's not worry about this tonight. Tonight is your night, son of
the Omaticaya."
Jake led Norm into the central gathering area where all the tribe was
gathered.
" People of the Omaticaya," Jake yelled so all could hear," Our
brother, Norm, has returned from his dream hunt. He is now one of the
People. Welcome him as you welcomed me."
Jake placed his hands on Norm's shoulders with every clan member doing
the same. Tanhí was beaming with pride at her mate. She looked finally
at peace. And, at last, Norman Spellman was finally on of the People,
something he had only dreamed of had finally happened.