FAN FIC – AVATAR: The Skxawng and his Gaia are soon parted.
By Christopher Paul "Txur`itan" Nelson
Chapter 5 – Threads passing through the Eye of Eywa
Ayoengä fìfya Ikranä aysyalhu käpìyevämakto ~ May we be carried on our path with Ikran wings, we ride out.
Ayoengä fìfya anìzawnong käpìyevämakto ~ May our path be safely journeyed, we ride out.
Ayoengä fìfya lekame käpìyevämakto ~ May our path be clear, we ride out.
Ever sense the visit at Utral Aymokriyä, I had some unusual dreams about always flying everywhere in a sky ship and not on an ikran, and falling, always falling. In this dream, as I was falling I would have thoughts about Norman, thoughts that felt like they were from another life, like I knew him before I met him. But, I was not here to think about these things, I knew I was part of another life. But, what I felt strongly, more than ever, was that I am connected to him somehow, that there was more for our future after this war, something important. But as with all dreams, sooner or later, you have to wake up...
There were fifteen of us Omatikaya flying together now, I had fallen asleep on the flight, but I was strapped to my mother so that I would not fall from her Ikran. We set out with me riding with my Oeyä sa'nok ~ my mother, Toktor Marian in her Uniltìrontokx ~ Avatar on her own Ikran, Oeyä sempul ~ my father on his Ikran and Norman in his Uniltìrontokx riding with my father. A few others of the Omatikaya were with us also.
Looking at Norman as he is watching the ground, he is smiling, he loves to fly. For some reason, probably coming from my dreams, I always fear it, dread it, perhaps hate flying. How could I become part of the people if I never learn how to fly, why would I be this way, I wish these dreams would stop.
We searched for weeks along the northern coast, flying by Ikran, but only seeing inland clans, none who knew or rode the sea creatures, none who could tell us about Eywa in the Sea.
After being unable to find those we saught, oeyä sa'nok ~ my mother decided we should visit a relative, Olo'eyktan of a northern clan, someone who might be able to help us.
Oyeä sempulä tsmuktuan. Olo'eyktan ta Ioangetukaya... ~ "My father's brother. Clan leader of the Beast People... They might have heard of the The Ocean People, they could have also learned from the ocean people about the ocean creatures. We should meet with them and ask what they know."
Oeyä sempul ~ my father was not going to argue with her, things we getting better between them. He understood it was best if she was right and he followed along for now.
"awnga kämakto." ~ We ride out then, he said.
So we flew to where she knew the clan of the Beast People, and after a few days, we were there. We landed on a slightly raised hill, far out side of their camp, near some trees where the Ikran could perch, and find shelter from the sun. We waited for a while, so we could be seen by the Beast People before we entered their camp, we stayed on the hill and waited for them to gather us.
A very large, somewhat old, not very slender Na'vi Olo'eyktan walked out to greet us. He looked like he had too much utu mauti ~ push fruit, or too much food to yom ~ eat, and had not been able to tul ~ run or tswayon ~ fly in some time. I had never see a Na'vi get like this, it was very unusual. He could never fly with us like this, he would be too heavy, he could not ride the Pa'li, it would injure the animal I think. How is this Na'vi chief of a clan, known for mastering the large riding creatures of our world?
"Ohel ayngengati kuyameie a luyu Na'viyä Omatikayaru hapxì sì livängu ke ketuwong." ~ I see you all, those who are part of the Na'vi people, and not ALIEN.
This Olo'eyktan was being very formal, something only done at ceremony mostly. He did an odd greeting, excluding some of our clan that he thought were not part of the Na'vi people. I did not know if he spoke English, but he acted as though he would not in our presence, scanning each of us, looking at our hands and faces as he circled us.
We brought no one who is not Omatikaya at all. He knew our clan, but none of our people. For an uncle of my mother, he did not seem to recognize Oeyä sa'nok very well, he did not actually greet her directly. He had no one with him, he came to us there by himself, it was incredibly strange. No clan leader as old as him is ever alone, even if he wants to be. My father would have been fine with Just my mother and I, but the clan insisted on having some tsamsiyu ~ warriors traveling with us if Ayoengä Olo'eyktan Tseykesuli ~ Our Clan Leader Jake Sully was going anywhere far from Ngämekelutral ~ New Home Tree.
This Olo'eyktan had a very pretty tukru lefngap ~ metal spear with animal shapes and plant shapes made into it, in his hands it was as tall as him from the base on the ground to the tip at the sky. He saw me looking at it, and smiled at me and gave me a nod. I never saw metal spears before. I was taught it was not common for Na'vi to make such things of metal, or anything of metal that was larger than a piece of jewelry. I was told it was because it was too difficult with what we knew how to do with metal, yet the sky people make many things of metal that large, they have the tools that make it easier for them. The Omatikaya have learned how to use a few of these sky people tools, but not all Na'vi have learned this, and not all sky people tools are easy for us to use. This tribe was too far away from Hell's Gate to have seen any of these things, or learned these things from the Sky People. I wondered if these Na'vi have learned a new way to work with metal for themselves. Norman is almost Omatikaya, and Toktor Marian is Uniltìrontokx and a part of the clan who has a Sky Person mate named Gordon with his own Uniltìrontokx who was not with us here, and a young child the same age as me, who does not have an Uniltìrontokx body yet, but I have heard she will have one also some day soon.
I wondered more about what he meant by those who are Na'vi? Did he not want to speak with the children like Norm and I?
He continued speaking in Na'vi.
Lu Oheru tstxo Aytukan te Ngetxe sì Olo'eyktan ta Ioangetukaya... ~ "I am called by name Aytukan of the Ngetxe family and Clan leader of The Beast People... I think you should know, that I will not speak to the aliens ~ -ayhetowong-. You will have to leave them here, the rest of you may come with me if you like, those of you who ARE Na'vi. I only wish to speak with your Clan leader or Tsahìk." He was speaking about, not talking to the Sky Pepople; Norman, My father, Toktor Mariann, I could sense it then. He knew about them, even though they were a part of the clan, he saw them as different and would not let them near his camp. Toktor Mariann learned to fly her own Ikran, so did my father, they were dressed like us, but they still had strange noses, eyes, hands and feet, and sometimes they smelled differently than the rest of us, we could always tell, even if they were a part of us, there was always something that kept them different, and this is what my mother's uncle noticed first about them. I wondered how he knew of them, or if he just was suspicious because they were different, or if he had never seen their kind before yet had heard of them from other clans.
"This one is my mate, he IS Na'vi, and Omatikaya, and our clan leader, he must come." My mother spoke Na'vi to her uncle, she showed that she wanted my father with her. I thought this was a good sign, I looked at her and smiled, and looked at my father trying not to hide how pleased he was to hear her say this out loud.
My father was going to be respectful though. He knew it was more important to get the information we needed, than to squabble over access to the clan leader of the Beast People.
My father spoke in Na'vi, "It is fine Neytiri, I will stay here, you speak with him, and learn what you can."
My father was careful, and precise, the best I heard him speaking, he had practiced some of what he would say, as he probably expected to not be allowed into the camp. My father placed his hand on my mother's shoulder, and as she turned to face him he pressed his for head to hers, and she reciprocated.
With their eyes closed they stood there for only two seconds, took in a breath from each other, and parted, it seemed like an eternity with the reactions it spawned from the Beast People clan leader, and the rest of the Omatikaya with us.
I was a child, and had only Na'vi traits as far as I knew, this clan leader looked at me carefully then squinted a bit. "She can come with us Neytiri."
My mother was surprised by this, we looked at each other, but she decided this was a good way for me to learn about speaking to other clans. We had such meetings so rarely while I was growing up, I had never seen it actually happen before now, as I was never brought to these meetings when they did occur. This was another first for me, something very new, if it was not with family, I think I would be very frightened.
How could anyone be afraid of this lumbering and slow moving old man, he was probably going to die soon. Na'vi like him do not last very long in our world. I do not know how he could survive like this. When he turned around to walk towards the camp, I saw a scar from his right shoulder down to his left hip, it looked like palulukan claws had been dragged slowly down his back. How did he survive this? I thought, I must ask him, but I would wait for him and my mother to stop talking. Of course, for them to stop talking, they needed to start talking, then they can stop talking, so I waited for them to start talking.
For the several minutes it took for the three of us to wander back to his camp, we said nothing. I stayed silent, because I thought this is what we must do. I was filled with questions, I wanted to know everything about these people, I was often taught that children should not speak when adults are talking to each other about important things. This I understood to be a very important thing to discuss, and so very impolite to interrupt.
While walking Aytukan spoke more about himself, "I was once called by my family name, by her, as she was accustomed to with her people. -N'deh- was how she frequently misspoke it while learning our language. She was the only Alien I have ever trusted. She is not with you, where is she?"
"Who?" my mother asked.
"Grace." He spoke her name perfectly.
"She is with Eywa O Aytukan."
He stops walking for a moment, "I see... You are certain SHE, not the dream walk body, but HER, is WITH Eywa?" He started walking again to the camp, and we followed.
"She was at the tree of souls as HERSELF, she passed through the Eye of Eywa and did not return. My mother tried to convince Eywa to place Grace in her Dream Walk Body permanently, but it did not succeed. Grace was fatally wounded trying to help us."
He seemed weakened by this news, someone of the people he acted as though he despised, this reaction is confusing to me. I never heard of Aytukan before, no one spoke of him, no one talked about him, and before this journey, he did not exist to me. Yet he knows people my mother knows who have been long dead. This means to me that he has been with the Omatikaya before, but not for a long time, and left under the pain of a very dire event.
When we arrived at a large patchwork tent made of skins, I could hear light drumming, and talking in Na'vi. Then he spoke to us in Na'vi, "This is the tent of our elders, the drum talkers. They play the drums to soothe their spirits while they speak of troubling things. All meetings for thinking and planning happen here, this is where we will talk about why you are here. They will not speak with anyone until we are done, and that will happen after you return to your clan where they wait on the hill by the trees."
My mother looks at Aytukan and curiously asks, "Is our visit what troubles them now?"
"Yes." He responds gesturing for her to enter.
My mother entered the tent, and I followed, the talking in the tent stopped, and seven old Na'vi men, and nine old Na'vi women stared at us. The Aytukan entered and walked to the other end of the tent, to sit on a large, plain looking, shaped wooden stool. The chief motioned for places for us to sit across from him, a few stools that were not being used, but we just squatted in front of him, my mother was not accustomed to using stools anymore, not like I was from going to the school, but I did as she did just be sure.
Aytukan spoke first in Na'vi, Ultxari awngeyä, Nawma Sa'nok lrrtok siveiyi. ~ "May the great mother smile upon our meeting..."
My mother responded in Na'vi. Ultxari awngeyä, Nawma Sa'nok lrrtok siveiyi... ~ "May the great mother smile upon our meeting... O Uncle, we are searching for the Sea People clan, have you heard of them?"
The Olo'eyktan looked at my mother closed his eyes for a moment, and then spoke, "It pleases me to see you again Neytiri. What is you mate like? What is this Child's Name, and how is she? How is Mo'at, Tsu'Tey, and my brother Eytukan? You must tell me, why are you not mated with Tsu'Tey?"
My mother lowered her head then looked at him, "Forgive me, I am sorry that word never reached you before now. My mate is Jake Sully and the current Olo'eyktan because of his brave leadership against the enemy Sky People and his strong voice with Eywa. This is our daughter Tomitxe, she is well but has her fathers traits for doing first and thinking last. Mo'at is well, and she teaches Tomitxe to become Tsahìk. Eytukan and Tsu'Tey are with Eywa, they have been with the great mother for some years now. I did not love Tsu'Tey as I do Jake Sully. I think he would have easily found another mate as Olo'eyktan had he not died, and while we were close friends I did not want to be with him."
I come here expecting to learn of the Sea people, and instead I learn about my mother. I never knew so much about Tsu'Tey other than him being my mother's childhood friend, I wondered no more how my father, an outsider, succeeded Tsu'Tey.
Aytukan responds, "We live very far a part, I am not surprised by this news not reaching us. I am concerned that I sensed nothing of my brother from my recent bonding with Eywa? What has happened since his death? I learned from other clans about the fight with the sky people. I heard different stories of who was Toruk Makto, from it being Eytukan, to Tsu'Tey, to one of the Dream Walkers. It sounded to me, from that what IS or that what WAS told of the battle, you could have been spared much bloodshed if you had reached my clan first before the fighting had begun. We are very strong Warriors here."
Oeyä sa'nok, "We ran out of time, the aliens attacked us viciously on more than one occasion, everything escalated to war in less than a years time while catching us by surprise. Then each battle was very fast and over in less than a day."
"I understand. It must have been hard to loose Hometree, this is the only news that remains the same, everyone spoke of it the same way. I sensed the sorrow of your people during my bonding with Eywa, it has lasted a long time. Recently, I have also sensed something very alien, and violent, it was connecting with Eywa, a screaming voice, a terrible pain and rage, crying for vengeance. What do you know of this?"
Oeyä sa'nok,"The children of Gaia, or maybe Gaia herself. The leader of their clan is from the home of the Sky People, but he is sometimes called Strange Beast, his name in the words of the Sky people is Onatah, and his presence causes us worry every day. He with his People of Gaia help us to prepare for war with the Sky People who now seek to destroy us all."
Aytukan, "Where are you living now?"
Oeyä sa'nok,"We have a new Hometree, Mo'at named it Ngämekelutral ~ -Your Second Hometree-."
Aytukan, "You seem well. You seem to have grown grown a bit, though. Are you well? Are you still hunting?"
Oeyä sa'nok,"I am well, still hunting, no I have not grown... Are you well?"
Aytukan, "I have developed a bit of a problem, and I think that it will have the better of me before the next year's time has passed. I am still strong, and can fight, so do not expect me to stay here when the fighting begins again."
Oeyä sa'nok,"Have you expected more fighting?"
Aytukan, "I can only think of one other reason for your clan leader to travel this far from home. But, I do not believe you and he are searching for Tomitxe's mate."
This was something I had not considered. I wondered briefly who my mate might be only once, but I could not think about it now, I was not ready for this, some day I though, later when there is peace again, perhaps after the war. These things were often arranged by our parents in our clan, but only if things are still uncertain by the time I am an adult in the clan.
My mother continues speaking to Aytukan, "We have more time to prepare for this battle, but we also have a much more dangerous fight coming for us. The aliens bring larger numbers, stronger weapons. They bring a metal mountain to kill our whole world, they will place it in the sea, and from there poison our skies."
Aytukan looks at his spear for a moment, then looks at my mother, "I have seen many metal beasts that sky people have used here, I am not surprised that they would build such a thing. But why destroy us, it does not make sense. I thought there were those at the Sky people home who would oppose this? What happened to them that their voices are silent now."
Oeyä sa,nok, "They are all here, They are the only Sky People here, and they are the ones who warned us. The Sky People have burned their own world in a great fire, and now their fight is coming here. We believe this will be our last battle with them for a very long time, win or loose, they will not stop until it is over. There will not be anymore Sky People coming here after this or we will not be here to oppose them if they succeed. It is said that they have Metal wings that can fly them faster than the sky ships we have seen. They have water ships that can not be seen as they swim like the sea creatures, that they have bought more weapons and soldiers than ever before. When they arrive, it is said there will be much blood, and much burning, and much death."
Aytukan, "Much has been said, how much of this do you truly believe?"
Oeyä sa'nok, "If not for Jake Speaking with Eywa, the fight would have been lost, and all two thousand Na'vi warriors would surely have perished at the Battle near the Well of Souls. I would have died, Tomitxe would not have been born. There have been other fights since then, as news of our victory took many years to stop the Sky People from sending more warriors or doctors. I have been shown what Sky People can do when they do not care, about who they kill, or about who they hurt. When they have a fire in them to attack, and when they are at their most passionate, they are at their most dangerous and most powerful. I have seen a fire in Jake like non that has been seen since the time of the first songs, he loves our people, and is a good leader, even if he makes mistakes. Many, mistakes... Many big clan insulting mistakes... He is a moron at times..."
"That makes them more like us than I thought."
"Yes."
"How has Mo'at been teaching your daughter about our people's history?"
"She does well, you should make your way to visit her, if you wish to discuss it better. Although, you will have to loose much of that weight to make the journey, surely your Ikran can not carry you any longer."
He laughs, "hähä hähä hähä, lu oeru hangham!" ~ You make me laugh he says. He has a deep heavy laugh.
The rest of the tent is amused by this, "hähä hähä" My mother and I laugh also, it really is sad though, I wish that there was a way for him to visit.
Aytukan continues speaking in Na'vi and he smiles big, "Your are right, I have gotten too heavy for my ikran, but that will not be a problem for me anymore... And how is sil..." he halts his speaking, my mother understands who he was going to ask about. Oer txoa livu... ~ "forgive me... I had forgotten... My old mind is not so brightly light as it once was. Some of it's old fires have been snuffed completely out."
Oeyä sa'nok, "It is fine. I remember her from time to time. We used to commune with her at the tree of voices near Keultral."
"Used to? Why did you stop?"
"The Sky People destroyed the Utral Aymokriyä that was hers. I have not been able to recover her spirit. She may be lost to us forever."
"I am so very sorry Neytiri..." He draws as snarl on his face, showing he is disgusted with this news... He gruffs and closes his eyes as if thinking.
I never heard about any of this, all this time my mother never once told me about anyone named Sil, but her uncle knows her so well. In Na'vi I had to ask, "Who is Sil?"
"Silwanin, my sister." My mother said. "She died before I met your father." my mother smiled at me, and rubbed my head as if trying to find comfort from contact with me, then looked back at this Aytukan. "Uncle, can you help us find the sea people?"
"Yes... But, I must have them meet with your clan leader."
"Tseyk, my mate, and Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya."
"He must have had a warriors test then?"
"No he has not, but..."
"It must be done, before another day passes. No clan leader can be clan leader if he does not know how war is fought between the clans. If he is to be accepted, this must happen now."
"He will refuse. He has already proven himself in battle. He is Toruk Makto."
"I thought that would be what happened. When I heard the stories, I had an idea about this possibility, I know the dream walkers can make tsheylu ~ -the bond-, and that Eywa could connect with them, it is why I told Tsahìk never to let them near the her queues. Eywa had done some strange things since the Sky People came to our world. We tried to understand it better, but so much about Eywa's motivations is never quite clear. Even before the Sky People came, we had little way to know how Eywa would treat these aliens. One can never know how she will act, or why she will do anything that she does. We can only hope that she will smile upon us, or lives, our children, and grant us the peace we desire."
As they continued talking about the warriors test, I was looking at the spear of Aytukan, studying it, it was forming a story in my head. The Hammerheads, the rolling of the ocean waves, the flying Toruk, the flying mountains, but there was a shape near the spear head, it looked like human writing, 少林功夫, like words I saw in one of the books at the school, this was very odd, I did not know what these meant, but I know I had seen them before. I thought to myself, "why would he have human writing on his spear?"
As they continued speaking, I was alerted to an idea for the warriors test having something to do with spears, and my focus immediately shifted, I had to know, "Mother, what is this warrior's test?"
Aytukan speaks, "The warriors test is how Olo'eyktan becomes Olo'eyktan."
My mother responds, "He has already proven himself to our clan! He led our battles, he was heard by Eywa, and victory has been ours because of it."
"But Neytiri, he has not proven himself to me. This is something he must do, I can not tell you why until he completes this task. You will tell him, that I will help him, and I will speak with him, if he passes the test. I will not help him otherwise, not before then."
"Please do not do this, we need you both for the coming fight, this is not the way we should prepare."
"Toruk Makto or not, I will not trust the lives of my clan to an unproven alien, he will show me his heart in battle, or we will not help him. My people will show you the place for the first fight. For now, have some food and drink, and bring some supplies back to your clan. I will send someone to guide you in the time of first sun up crossing second moon and second sun up."
"What you are saying Aytukan is not right, no other clan leader would be treated this way."
"All will become clear after the test. Be at piece my niece, and Eywa be with you, and with your Clan, See you again tomorrow." He stands and motions us to leave the tent.
When we returned to the clan, my mother spoke in English to my father. "He has challenged you to a warriors test."
"WHAT? You were just supposed to get directions, what the hell happened in that tent?"
"I am sorry Ma Jake, these things are not under my control. He said he will only help if you pass his test. It is his right as clan leader, as it is yours to refuse. We can try to find the Sea people some other way."
"So he knows?"
"He said he would help, if you pass his test, but I do not know what his help would be."
I thought for a moment about the scars on my great uncle's back, and realized that those were not palulukan claw marks, they were something else, like a rough rope had dragged along his back or he had been burned by fire. Something was odd about those markings, I did not know for certain why I felt this, but I did first think it had something to do with the sea people and why he acted like it was dangerous, "I think that the Sea people are not friends of the Beast People."
The human language markings on his spear entered my thoughts. "Also, his spear, it has a Sky People language writing on it. I do not know what it said, the words are strange to me, but I have seen the writing in books at the school."
Both of my parents looked at me, and wondered where I could have come up with these thoughts. Oeyä sa'nok was quick to ask about the scars, "Do you think that is were the scars are from, the sea people? I am not certain that Na'vi people would do that."
Norman who was curious about the spear, asked me to draw the writing. So in the dirt, I used a stick, and drew the shapes. Norman helped me to complete them, he knew what they were.
Oeyä sempul ~my father thinks for a moment and responds to Oeyä sa'nok ~ my mother, "Maybe, I don't know for sure on these types of scars. But, they're not from an ikran, or a palulukan, they're not from a nantang, they're not from a Toruk. We all know what shape all those wounds take. His were definitely different, and a bit unknown to us. They look deformed, and rough like a disease or very bad burns that never healed correctly."
I thought for a moment, "Maybe we should not be trying to seek out the Sea People then. Maybe we should do something else, and leave this clan in peace." My parents looked at each other and stood in silent thinking.
"What are they?" I asked Noraman pointing at the symbols I scratched in the dirt as he made them better.
"It is etched into the staff in Chinese? It must be Chinese, if these symbols are what you saw. These like this in this order?"
"Srane. Yes. Like this..." I told him.
"I think those are translated as the words ShaoLin Kung Fu (少林功夫). No matter how you slice it, though, that kind of etching does not belong on anything made by the Na'vi. It was made bu humans." Norman looks at my father.
My father was confused by this it seems, "That has to be something from the colony. What did Aytukan do? Kill a colonist for that, and keep it as a prize?"
My mother nodded, and thought for a moment, "It was a gift, from one of the scientists, a long time ago. The man was called Lam Wong, although he said we should call him Mark. He was here for a long time, working with Grace when she first came. He taught something to my uncle in private, something he thought the Na'vi would want to know. After my sister was killed, Mark left, and my uncle rejoined his own clan. There was not much said about any of it. We have not seen either of them since then. We never knew what Mark taught my uncle. No one did."
Norman looking at Jake drops his Jaw, "That is the the most awesome thing I think I have ever heard in the last 10 years. If this uncle taught the clans, we have an edge. With Na'vi strength, and those fighting skills, we are looking at a turning of the tide. I always wanted to learn Kung Fu! I wonder if he'd teach me?"
Oeyä sempul was atonished, "What the HELL! There is a tribe of Na'vi Kung Fu warriors up here, lead by some Goliath of a Na'vi, and he wants to put me through a warrior's test? What does he really want to do, crack my skull open with that spear of his?"
Oeyä sa'nok looks at my father, "Srane." ~ Yes.
My father thought for a moment, thinking of ways to fighting the sky people, and ways not to fight the sky people, if he could keep them on the ground, then these Beast People warriors would be able to push the sky people back, and away from us.
"Neytiri, how does this warriors test work?" The look on my father's face after this question was the spark of his quick to act and slow to think way of doing things, the skxawng was back. This was dangerous...