Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter five of "Danger Everywhere." This chapter is set four months later. It has a bit of Jake/Neytiri fluff. It introduces the couple's banshees named Draco and Venus. A number of animals owned by the Na'vi will have human names. I feel it would symbolize the alliance between the species very well. Stay tuned for chapter six.
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Chapter 5: In the Banshee Roost
The early morning sun shined down on the rainforest in eastern Omaticaya territory in late December. It reflected off puddles that dotted the ground and leaves. A gentle wind blew through the trees in which it caused their leaves to rustle quietly. The sounds of bellowing titanotheres, growling viperwolves, and roaring thanators echoed everywhere.
Four months had passed since the Na'vi won the War of Pandora. The rainforest was recovering from the destruction humans wrought against it. Jake and Norm worked hard to rebuild the relationship between Na'vi and humanity. The Omaticaya stayed at the Tree of Souls for a month before moving into a new Hometree that was located ten miles north of the previous one. They and the colonists began visiting each other's homes regularly with Jake and Norm's approval.
Jake and Neytiri made their way up Hometree toward the banshee roost at a steady pace. This Hometree was even bigger than the previous one. It happened to be located next to a large river that was perfect for fishing. The center twisted around going all the way up like a spiral staircase. It was filled with alcoves that were lined with moss. The moss was great for bedding.
Neytiri spotted eight tetrapteron flying above the canopy. She listened to their squawks and watched them fly a V-formation. She turned her attention to Jake's back. She formed a mischievous smile on her face. She grabbed his tail, giving it a gentle pull. He stopped to give her a look before he resumed walking. She giggled and jerked on it again, making him stop.
"You need to stop that!" he said in mock-annoyance and moved his tail away from her.
"I don't think I can!" she replied with glee.
"If you do it again, I'll throw you off Hometree!" Jake threatened playfully.
"Go ahead. I dare you," Neytiri said and put her hands behind her back.
"Nah. I'd rather you be here than flat like a pancake on the forest floor," Jake said and flicked her nose.
"You are such a spoilsport," Neytiri replied and let out a fake sob.
"Do not start the waterworks," Jake teased in a playful way. "It will not work on me."
Jake laughed as Neytiri emitted a soft huff. He gave his banshee the name Draco because he saw it as the Pandoran version of a dragon. He was offered the title of olo'eytkan by Tsu'tey after the latter recovered from his injuries within six weeks. Tsu'tey felt he was better suited for the position than he was. Jake was reluctant to accept it at first, but he relented when she told him they would help him adjust. The transition was hard, yet he managed to get through it. He enjoyed meeting other olo'eytkans whose clans lived in the neighboring territories as it allowed him to learn how their duties were the same and different.
Neytiri told Jake that she wanted to learn hand-to-hand combat from him due to rogue Na'vi having a tendency to ambush her and her clanmates in various areas of their territory. He agreed to teach her. She struggled at first, but she got the hang of it. She became very proficient at delivering punches and flipping people over her head when they grabbed her from behind. She even managed to best him in several spars they had.
Neytiri headed to the Banshee Rookery with Jake to tame a new banshee a month later. The banshee that challenged her happened to be female. Neytiri found it harder to tame her than she did with Seze due to her feistiness and dominance. She managed to do it. She decided to name her Venus after the second planet from the sun in the solar system. She and Jake took a flight together not long after. She participated in a sturmbeest hunt three days later and killed two in quick succession.
Jake pointed his finger in Neytiri's face and moved it in all directions. She mimicked with her head. She acted as if she were getting dizzy and leaned slightly sideways. He took one of her braids. He tickled her cheek with it while speaking baby talk. She swatted his hand aside and curled hers into a fist. She growled in playfulness.
"If you play with my braids again, I will give you a knuckle sandwich," she said with a smirk.
"Bring it on. I dare you," he responded.
Neytiri giggled. "Okay. Here it comes."
She pressed her fist against his chin. He responded by tweaking her nose. He pinched her cheek, getting a smack to the back of his head from her. They shared a laugh.
"You're a real piece of work, Neytiri," Jake said.
"I might be, but you're better. You're the one who usually starts the goofing around," Neytiri said.
"I do not!" Jake yelled in mock annoyance.
"It's the truth," Neytiri replied and smirked. "Get used to it."
Jake blew a raspberry at Neytiri, who giggled. He resumed the climb toward the roost, and she was right behind him. They reached it and called toward the branches. Just then, Draco and Venus flew down from their perches and landed in front of them. They flapped their wings while letting out loud squawks. Jake and Neytiri pulled hexapede meat from their pouches. They tossed them to the banshees. Both banshees caught it in their mouths. They gobbled their meals down.
Venus purred in a soft way as Neytiri grabbed her chin and spoke inaudible words to her. She resembled Seze a bit. However, she happened to be blue over most of her body. She had splotches of yellow and purple all over her. Her eyes were orange. She had a small scar on her right cheek. The tip of her nose contained a tiny dot on it.
Jake petted Draco between the eyes, whispering inaudible words to him. He got a gentle nudge on the arm from him. He heard Neytiri shriek in delight and saw Venus nip at her arm playfully. Venus squawked and nuzzled her neck lovingly. Neytiri held her head in her hands. Venus let out a small snort and nudged her in the chest. Neytiri turned to her mate, who smiled at her.
"It feels so unreal standing here with my ikran," Jake said and pressed his lips together. "I never thought it'd happen."
"But it did," Neytiri commented with a chuckle. "You wouldn't give up in taming him. I've never seen someone fight an ikran as hard as you did."
"It was tiring, but it was worth it," Jake said, smiling lightly. "Of course, I have to admit I was scared like shit."
"I prepared for my own Iknimaya for years, but I was still nervous. I was not sure if I would succeed or not," Neytiri admitted as she looked toward Venus. "Anyway, a strong heart makes a person stubborn. They become determined to achieve their goals."
He cleared his throat. "Who says stubbornness has to be a bad thing?"
She laughed. "Only idiots do."
Jake joined in on the laughter. He became quiet after a minute and let out a soft sigh. He looked down and sniffled, rubbing her nose. Neytiri became concerned and walked closer to him.
"Are you okay?" Neytiri asked.
"I'm fine, Neytiri," Jake responded calmly and looked up with tears in his eyes. "I can't believe I am an ikran makto. It was so incredible to participate in my first talioang hunt. It felt like no one else was there, not even you. It was just me and the herd."
"I was amazed at how you took out that huge male. He just fell down when that arrow hit him," Neytiri said with a smile.
"Thank you," Jake said, sighing in content. "I was ridiculed and shunned for being wheelchair-bound back on Earth. I had doubts I could be as good as anyone here."
"Look at you now," Neytiri said with much pride. "You're a stone-cold aerial hunter. You are Toruk Makto and an olo'eytkan. Who says you have to be normal in order to be successful?"
"Only insecure people do," Jake replied, rolling his eyes. "Normal people are just as likely to have troubled lives as those who are different. Some people will never get that, especially men."
"Don't worry about them," Neytiri whispered while laying a hand on his shoulder. "You're more of a man than anyone I've ever known."
Jake looked at his mate and kissed her on the forehead. He kept his lips there for thirty seconds before pulling away. He tried to hold back a chuckle, but he could not help himself. Neytiri became confused.
"What's so funny, Jake?" she wondered.
"I was thinking about when you told me you were about to kill me after you saw me for the first time. Did you hate humans and dreamwalkers that much?" he responded.
"Actually, I have never hated humans or dreamwalkers. I just hated what the former were doing to my home. Most everyone else felt the same way, including Tsu'tey," Neytiri explained in a clam voice.
"When I first met Tsu'tey, I thought he hated humans outright and wanted them all dead. The same went for your father," Jake admitted.
"My father and Tsu'tey were willing to fight humans to protect their home," Neytiri commented. "You can harbor no hatred for someone deep down and still be determined to stop them from causing harm."
"I wish your father was here," Jake mumbled, his ears lowering in shame. "It's because of me he is dead. Old Hometree is gone forever."
"Jake, the past is the past. Nobody can change it. We have forgiven you for what happened," Neytiri assured in a low but firm voice.
"I know," Jake said, sighing heavily. "Still, I should've told you what was I really up to a lot sooner. It would've saved so many lives."
"I understand," Neytiri whispered in a loving voice. She took his hands into hers and gave them gentle squeezes. "We must look to the future."
Jake smiled at Neytiri, who laid her hand on his shoulder. His skin became covered with goosebumps as he stared into her eyes. The world seemed to fade around them. Draco's loud chirping brought them back to reality. They rolled their eyes and turned to their banshees.
"You just had to interrupt that moment, didn't you, boy?" Jake asked. "Huh, huh?"
Draco chirped affectionately and nipped Jake's arm, getting a laugh out of him. He flared his nostrils twice as he turned to Neytiri as she petted Venus in between her eyes.
"You chose a great name for your ikran. This creature does resemble a dragon," she said in great warmth.
"You chose a great name for your ikran. She is as feisty as the storms on Venus," he said.
"Anyway, we better head to Hell's Gate before the morning is over," Neytiri said with a laugh. "Norm and Max are expecting a visit from us."
"That's right," Jake said, nodding fast. "Let's go!"
Jake and Neytiri formed tsahaylu with Draco and Venus. They hopped on their backs. The banshees squawked before turning into a tight circle. They headed downward somewhat. They flapped their wings twice.