Changing Faith

by vampireprincess44

I was the last of my kind, alone in a world that was lost and dying. My teachings on earth had failed, greed too prominent in peoples minds to listen to the old ways. A hole to large to fill had taken over humanity. With a death threat and all my belongings I left a doomed world. Off to where She walks among the people still. To where I belong.

5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Again any Navi is going to be in Italics

After the feast that lasted well into the evening. They seemed to be a very social people everyone was friends. It was so refreshing to the constant push and pull that was Earth. Jake and I were shown our sleeping arrangements, hammocks made out of a leaf like netting, they seemed to be a part of Home tree itself. It looked warm and inviting, however something drew me to climb. I started taking the stairs, first one at a time, then by twos, then I started leaping from branch to branch clinging to the walls. The motions like instinct, I always was a climber and this body made it so easy. I made it to the top of the tree, it was a nesting area for the flying creatures that the Navi rode. Ikran I think they are called. You could hear them chattering, chirring and calling out to each other as they settled for the night. I stepped out through the opening in the hollow trunk of the great tree. The noises silenced, it could be unsettling to the average person to have such predators watching you, knowing that you're there and waiting for your next move. I only felt at home, I walked along the branch careful to make noise but not to much. You never snuck up on an apex predator. I walked among them, careful to never look to long and not to make a challenge of myself. At the end of the nesting group a large male, navy in the dark and red with black stripes, stood staring at me. Behind him I could see the night sky.

I walked to stand beside him, looking out over the bioluminescent landscape. It was the most fantastic sight I had ever seen, pinks, blues, teals and greens all lit up against a star spotted sky. I had not seen these types of night views in a long time. Earth was too polluted, even in my little corner of land, the stars seemed to only break through for a few minutes. A sigh left my throat ripping a strangled sound with it. The large animal let loose a short snarl, as it startled. I put my hand out palm up towards the creature, "be still brother, I meant no harm. This sight pains me, my world used to be like this. Lush and bountiful, filled with life." I looked out along the sky line again, the calls of animals finding their families carried through the air, "We are hollow creatures who know no end. We are lost souls without guidance from All Mother." My hand fell to my side as the large Ikran settled again, in contentedness he started to preen his wings, comfortable in my presence.

An agitated swish of the tufted tail was the only thing that alerted me to his prescience. He was a hunter after all. Ne'teri had pointed out a few people to Jake and I, well mostly Jake but I was listening in. This warrior, tall and proud, with blazing amber yellow eyes, braids tipped in red beads. This was Tsu'Tey. He was second in command the right hand of Eytukan, the leader of the Omaticaya clan. He stepped up beside me, his movements aggressive, the Ikran behind him picked up on it an adapted the same stance. They were a flying pair it seemed. "Why are you here, this place is not allowed for dream walkers like you" I knew he could understand English, and I was not yet fluent enough with the phrasing, in case I upset someone. "I was simply enjoying the view, it is a wondrous thing, yet saddening all the same." I crossed my arms across my slim waist, hugging myself. I looked over towards the glow of the compound as it lit up the sky around it, sending an unnatural glow. "And suddenly I am afraid" I whispered, a shiver ran down my spine, my tail swished in a natural movement to expel the extra energy. The click of beads and the heavy weight that I felt on my face told me he was looking at me with an intense gaze.

I took a deep breath and sighed as words tumbled out, " An old Indian proverb, "A Man sat alone, deep in sadness. All the animals drew near to him and whispered. 'We don't like to see you so sad, ask what you wish of us, it is yours." The Man said "I want to have good sight" The vulture said "you Shall have mine", the man said, " I want to be strong" the Jaguar replied "you shall be strong like me" Then Man said "I want to know the secrets of the earth" The snake said "I will show them to you", and when Man had all the gifts they could give, He left. Then Owl whispered to the others, "Now Man knows much, and can do many things. Suddenly I am afraid." The deer, the most innocent of them all, " Man has all he needs now and now his sadness will stop" she cooed. "No," owl said, " I saw a hole in Man, deep like a hunger he will never quench, wide like a river he could never cross. It makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day the World will say "I am no more, I have nothing left to give."" I looked at him as he too found the glow of the compound, "Humans are hollow, lost creatures. But there are those of us who are seeking her light again. I simply wish to exist in this world, I mean you no harm. You or your people. This is your home, Mine was lost to the hole, the darkness in man." I turned from the skyline and took a step back towards the trunk, I stopped beside him for a moment and whispered, "I will help you keep yours if I can." I took another step, the Ikran was watching me as I went, I reached out my hand palm up once again. He set lightly his chin in my hand, "Good night little Brother," I said quietly, " Eywa be with you". I stepped through the opening in the trunk, and made my way back to my hammock to settle in for the night. I lay with my arm under my head, listening to the sounds that echoed through the cavernous space, my eyes drifting shut, a swirl of colours and a tingling at the base of my skull, then a blinding light.