a/n: omg! this mai fav chaptire and i worked rlly hard on it! thanks midnight for ur comments!
it was a male hammerhead and it didn't looke happy, "it's already pissed off!" jake yelled. i was too scared to say anything. grace warned jake and i to not run or we would be attacked. jake asked what he should do and grace simply said, "hold your ground!" the hammerhead smashed its massive head sideways, crashing the small trees circling it. i stood still, parralyzed, while jake did the braver thing and yelled and made himself appear bigger than he actually was. immediately, the hammerhead stopped, it made a very pitiful sound. jake hooted, he was proud at his accomplishment of scaring the hammerhead away. i began to smile as well. unfornunately, our celebration was cut short.
out of nowhere, a thanator jumped from the brush, coincedentally, the hammerhead was supposed to be thanator's dinner. it's angery roar said it all. jake asked if we were supposed to run from it, "Run! Definitely RUN"! i picked my legs up and tried to follow jake, seeing me struggle with running away from the thanator, he grabbed me by the arm and pushed me ahead of him, "GO! " I ran further into the landscape. bugs and other things bit at my legs as i tried to stay at a pace that was away from the thanator, but close enoguh to jake. i feared that if i were away from him too long that i would surely die here. i heard a gun shot and turned to see jake in the snares of the creature. i screamed, my fears were going to be realized.
he escapes, the thanator gripped at him by his backpack, our only source of food and provisions, gone. he ran, gesturing me to follow him. the black beast continued to pursue. it felt as if my heart was going to jump out of my chest at any minute. we dodged trees and anything else that would be in our way. i was less graceful than jake, my new legs were now scratched up and bloody, i still ran.
there was a cliff and a river up ahead, jake vaulted without effort and while i hesitated, i jumped as well. i was greeted with the feeling of surprisingly, luke warm water, rushing into my nose and my mouth. i scrambled to get out, i could not breathe and my lungs felt like they could burst under the pressure. a waterfall, i could here the thanator growling angrily at losing another meal.
i jumped up, my lungs met air for the first time in a long time. i pulled up, my weak body landed on the ground with a thud. i am wet, sore, and tired. but i knew i needed to move on.
mister sulley said nothing to me. i staggered behind him. my legs still hurt.
our afternoon was spent with us trying to find a way out of there. jake worked on making a spear like object, i kept myself useful by finding ourselves a meal of two harvesting fruits and a couple of lionberries. we ate in silence.
afterwards, we continued our trek in the pandoran rainforest, my wounds were healed but the scratches were still very visible. i wondered if grace and the others were still looking for us. did they even care? grace did act as if we were dead weight, especially mr. sulley. i thought of trudy's samson. it wouldn't be able to fit through all of the foilage.
it's night now, and i am very tired.
i refuse to sleep. jake and i, we are still try to survive in this hellish climate. it cooled down when the sun disappeared for the night. jake turned his spear into a torch, which meant we had to continue this trip for as long as we can.
we are being followed. my now, enhanced hearing, could pick up the faintest of sounds. i knew jake could hear it as well. the sounds became more obvious, his walking was more jumpy and swift, while i started on a slow jog. it is too late. his torch revealed the viperwolf pack that had been stalking us for some time, now. one lunged at jake, aiming at his legs, he scared it off with the fire. another came, which he jammed away with the business end of his spear. i have no weapon, but i try to kick the others away with my boot. more come, charging at us both. the closest one stops at jake's throat until an arrow stops it in midair. the viperwolf landed on his chest, dead and limp. a na'vi, and from the looks of it, female, shows herself. she is brave and strong. her movements are fluid and smooth, she killed, pounced, and scared away the rest of the pack without fail. my mouth was wide open. she is the first na'vi i have ever seen up close.
the na'vi female hissed away the retreating figures of the remaining members of the viperwolf family.
i try to help jake up, he rebounds quickly, leaving me in an awkward position. i straighten up slowly, embarrassed. the na'vi woman walks past us. she does not speak, instead, she took his torch and threw it into the river. jake tried to stop her, but she does not listen.
we live in a darkness for only a millesecond, then the forest is transformed into an amalgam of colors. purples, greens, bright pinks, deep soulfilled blues; it is now beautiful here. pandora's natural biolumenscence, i had almost forgotten about this simple fact. i could've warned jake about this. i feel like an idiot.
the female na'vi regards a viperwolf in pain. she crouches over it, "Txoa oe, tsmukan", and then a stab. the viperwolf is gone. she's goes to the arrow stricken one, it is already dead. still, she performs a similiar ceremony. the entire time jake has tried to thank her in saving our lives, she continued to ignore his words.
he tries to thank her again, only to strike a nerve. she slaps him, hard, with her bow. i try to get him up, but she yells at me and i stop.
she exclaims that it is not right for us to thank her. what had taken place was a sad, serious moment. nothing to thank about.
my ears flatten and i avert my eyes in shame. jake tries to apologize for stepping out of line, but she continues on. she rants on their deaths being our fault, that they did not deserve to die. jake retorts in how they basically attacked us first. she aimed her bow at his adam's apple, silencing him.
"your fault! you are like a baby, making noise, don't know what to do. you should not come here!"
he gets up, slowly, he stands his ground. he confronts her on the decision of saving us. if she loved them so much? why could not let them eat us and get over with it? her features soften and she repeats his question. a strong heart, she says. no fear, no fear of the wilderness or the creatures that attacked us. i can't help but think she directed this at jake, he was, after all, the one with the spear. i try to look interested, although at bit hurt at being unnoticed.
she leans closer, her full features are seen. her full beauty is seen, "but stupid! ignorant like a child!", she turns away, believing that she had rid herself of us for good. jake decides to follow, and i try to tell him to leave her alone but he does not listen. because i am a coward and i can't survive alone here, i follow. my arms are folded above my chest and my tail whips behind me slowly, i am very unhappy.
i decide to bring my attention to my surroundings. i am captivated by the colors and its beauty. they continue to squabble and bicker amongst one another, i wish i had some earplugs.
i look down, we are very far away from the jungle floor. i try to push my eyes towards jake and the na'vi girl. he nearly falls and she catches him. i am now able to keep up with them. they continue with their back and forth routine. honestly, for two people who've just met they act like an old married couple. a really old married couple. somewhere in the background there is a slight rush of wind. then i see something, they start as small pinpoints in the sky, and then they materialize into these spectors of light and beauty. i believe they are called woodsprites, but, i am sure the na'vi girl has another name for them. she realizes their presence, as well. they flutter near jake and soon cover his body. the na'vi girl is amazed, as am i, at this sight.
one touches my cheek, like a light kiss, and then it floats away to its family.
and soon, the spectacle is over, gone. the woodsprites leave his body and the na'vi girl appears to see him in a new light. she takes his hand, "come." she says, she gestures towards me, she wants me to follow and i do. we move, our figures seem to activate the colors and lights of the forest. all is well, until a whooshing sound is heard and jake is knocked over. i run towards him, but it appears that we are not the only ones here. we are suddenly ambushed by a few na'vi mounted on their direhouses. they appear to be hunters or warriors. i scramble up, and try to run, but i am immediately haulted by their arrows. we are circled, trapped. the na'vi girl intervenes, from her voice and body language it is believed that she is annoyed by their prescence.
one jumps from his direhouse, a larger and, apparently, dominant male. he is regarded by the na'vi female with contempt. the word, TSU'TEY, sticks out. he speaks in the same language as she. they exchange words and the male turns away to mount his horse, once more.
jake and i are restrained by his fellow hunters. we are forced to run the entire way. jake tries to find answers, but i stay silent, i am very afraid.
we move into a massive tree where we are greeted by the entire tribe. this is their home. some touch at us, examine us. some just stare. we are foreigners to them. we are freed, somewhat, the na'vi girl has us both by our forearms. my legs stumble and it feels that i may trip, but i do not.
ahead, i see an older na'vi in an intricate feather ensemble. the na'vi girl finally lets us go and greets the feathered na'vi. he walks towards us with an air of authority, examining us with his, somewhat, cold, calculating glance. i want to hide behind jake, but i do not, for fear of me giving the wrong idea. the elder na'vi speaks to the younger female, he is angry at our presence.
"what's he sayin'?" jake inquires, "my father is deciding whether to kill you..." my eyes widen and my breathing is hitched, my hopes and fears are hanging on every strange word. jake is far more braver. he tries to shake the na'vi girl's father's hand in fellowship, which is immediately given a very violent response. the one thing that saved jake's life was a female's voice. from her voice and mannerisms she also plays a very important role of the life of the na'vi tribe. she is the na'vi female's mother. like the former, she regards us with an air of authority. she speaks to jake first. she pulls at his hair braid and then his tail. a thorn like object is pulled from her necklace and she pricks him. as she tastes his blood, her features soften, but her voice does not. she asks why is here, he says he is here to learn. i give him a funny look, we need to bring these bodies back!
he pretends to not see me.
he claims to be a warrior...of the jarhead clan. i sigh and roll my eyes, i could not believe what he was saying. the male that was introduced to us earlier says something, but the elder male stops him. he makes a speech, again, i know nothing. the elder female, the tsahik, assigns her daughter to be jake's teacher. and from the looks of it, she is not happy with the decision.
the tsahik looks at me. circling me, i am smaller than her, weaker. "child." she says as she does the same examination she gave to jake to me, "what do you call yourself?" my eyes are wide, scared, "ange-" i cough, my throat is very dry, "angeliquejordan!" my words come together, as if they were stuck with glue.
she produces the same thorn, i don't want her to do this. i hate needles and i hate the feeling of being stung. but i know i must do it.
she stabs my right breast, if you could call it a breast, a trickle of blood stains the now filthy shirt. she brings the thorn to her lips and then--
Mo'at sputtered at the taste, her face became the expression of disgust. "What are you, really, demon?" Angelique's face turned into one of confusion, worry. A demon? A demon? The tribe members hoot and call in response; Angelique can now feel the hundreds of eyes upon her.
"WHAT. ARE. YOU?" the tsahik backed away from the small Avatar, and Angelique can only repeat the truth, "I am Angelique Jordan. I am a skyperson, like him." she looked up to Jake, wide yellow eyes plead for him to say something for her. He cannot save her. This answer does not please Mo'at, or Neytiri, and the many inhabitants of hometree. "Because you are unaware of your predicament, Angelique." her tongue clicked the end of the girl's name, as if the point out its danger, "I will let you live, BUT--" she's looked towards, Tsu'tey, "Because is our strongest warrior, he shall teach you!"
Tsu'tey's reaction is that of rage, "You want me to teach this one?" he hissed, Mo'at scolds him in Na'vi, "You are the future Olo'teykan! You are the only one strong enough to keep this one's cursed nature, at bay. Do you question the authority of Ewya?" Angelique's reaction is that of shock. What was it that was so...offending? She wanted to say something, anything. But Mo'at stole that chance of the girl redeeming herself in the eyes of the people. "Angelique..." she continued, "is not a fitting name. For now on, you are Kxani; forbidden." Angelique can only say a breathless, "Yes, ma'am."
Mo'at looks up, and begans to speak to the entire tribe, "This girl is untouchable. She is not allowed to eat, pray, or hunt with us. She is forbidden, a poison. Ewya has told me that this girl will only bring suffering and pain if allowed. If you see her near our holy places..." Mo'at sends a death glare in her direction,"...kill her immediately." she speaks, now in English, "You are not allowed to be near us. Tsu'tey and a select few shall be your only companions. You will the one to eat last and hunt last. Until you prove you are not a demon, you will stay away from the holy places or you shall be killed on the spot. Do you hear me?"
As she looked around, she could find no supportive or kind face. Even Neytiri, the first na'vi she had meant, now looked at her as if she were unclean; tainted. Jake kept his gaze away from her. Angelique's eyes were full and scared, she felt like she could cry. She wanted to cry, but she did not.
"Do. You. Hear Me?"
"I do." she said quietly, her head hung low. "Neytiri, take these two change into proper attire. When the youngest is dressed, make her stay in that spot until we are finished eating. Tsu'tey will call for her."
Neytiri nodded, she looks to Jake, "Come." Angelique tries to walk beside her, "No! You walk behind! You are the last!" Angelique, now Kxani, changes her position to be behind Jake. She looks at the ground under her, she is tired and hungry, but she says nothing. Cursed, forbidden, she is the most hated creature among these people. As she looked up, a lone woodsprite floats above her. She closed her eyes.