Chapter 7: Finally, a Normal Day
Author note: I use { } to separate Na'vi and English when it's appropriate for the scene.
As Kiri rode her direhorse back down the meandering river that cut through the marsh, the sound of hoofbeats cascading across the water reverberated throughout the swamp. While exhausted from the lack of sleep and fighting through yawns, she still set a course for camp. The spider frogs were no longer active, but a variety of other species were about to start their day, and the sky was now filled with vibrant birds, and the occasional Ikran rider could be seen soaring through the skies.
The sun was up in its full glory, and Kiri was worried that she wouldn't be able to sneak back into the camp without being spotted by other members of the tribe. She dismounted her direhorse just out of sight of the camp, detangled her queue, and got her bag before sending the direhorse back to the herd. Voices, hunting cries, and other camp noises characteristic of the morning could be heard off in the distance.
Kiri toyed with her mother's necklace while she considered how to get inside the camp without being discovered. After some thought, she had an idea after noticing a clay pot artistically decorated with the clan's colors beside one of the trees. She snatched it up and filled it as full as her cast arm would allow from the nearby stream. It was still uncomfortable to hold, and she had to take long, steady breaths to suppress the discomfort so she could carry it with her.
Kiri made her way past the herd of direhorses that were munching on their morning feed towards the camp gate. There were two guards at the main gate, but the camp was not completely enclosed, so she decided to sneak in through one of the lesser-known side entrances that Spider had brought her through once before. Once through, she noticed a group of Na'vi warriors, both young and adults, getting ready for a dawn hunt and kept her head low so they hopefully didn't recognize her.
As Kiri made her way through that crowd and reached the cave entrance, she saw Jake standing off in the distance. He was standing near the human barracks with around two dozen warriors, giving them what she assumed was a pep talk before their morning training. Among them were Txoum and her brothers.
When Kiri was distracted, something suddenly moved in front of her, causing her to screech to a halt and nearly drop the jug. Mo'at was in front of her, and Kiri gasped in panic.
"{Child, where have you been?}" Mo'at asked demandingly.
"{I was getting some water for my tent,}" Kiri responded unconvincingly, almost dropping the jug again.
Behind Mo'at Kiri, she could see Tuk and numerous other Na'vi her age, including the brother and sister Ssezao'ite pair who had taunted her weeks before for looking at a plant for "too long." When the pair noticed Kiri, they exchanged foul looks and muttered a few snickers to one another. In the back, Tuk waved at Kiri, glad to see she made it back.
Mo'at looked Kiri up and down, making her fidget a little. "{Put that away and join us outside,}" she said, motioning for Kiri to step aside.
Kiri nodded and moved out of the path, and an audible hiss came from behind her as she unintentionally stepped on someone's tail, which made her jump and spill water on herself.
"{I'm sorry!}" Kiri spoke quickly to the upset individual behind her, and the group behind Mo'at chuckled, including Tuk.
Mo'at shook her head and motioned for the ones behind her to follow. Kiri glanced down at the ground in embarrassment as the group walked by. Internally, she was glad that was the worst of it, and she entered the cave.
Kiri reluctantly left the cave after putting her things away and thinking about sleeping in her cot. She yawned in the early morning light and looked around the camp for Mo'at. The camp was a hive of activity, with groups of Na'vi workers and Na'vi gatherers visible everywhere, mingling with the occasional human.
Jake had created a training routine for the warriors by this point, and they were seen in various groups conducting physical exercises or practicing with their bows and arrows against wooden human-sized training dummies donning old RDA body armor. Kiri could see her brothers among them, and Jake appeared to be making them do push-ups, which made her snicker.
It appeared to be a tranquil day, with no raids on the RDA and some time for everyone to unwind and feel more connected to the clan. Kiri let out a heavy sigh as she remembered she still had to see her grandmother, and her eyes darted around the area looking for her. There, close to the warriors, she spotted Mo'at and the others near some tents and headed off in that direction.
Kiri made a point, however, to go the long way around so she could go by the infirmary to check on Spider. She stopped to peek through the infirmary window and found him asleep, probably more exhausted than she was. Seeing that, she decided not to wake him and continued on her way.
As she passed the training warriors, Kiri noticed Lo'ak and Neteyam noisily counting the number of push-ups they had completed, which was well over one hundred at this point. Jake, who was standing over them and encouraging them, nodded to Kiri when he noticed her. The other warriors next to Jake were practicing with their bows, hitting the wooden targets at astonishing angles. Txoum was among them, a little preoccupied with talking to his father in between arrow shots.
When Kiri approached Mo'at and her workers, she could see that they were drying leather skins from yesterday night's killings inside tents by washing, stretching, inserting holes in the edges, and hanging them on drying racks. The finished hides would then be used to build tents and other items, including clothes, and some of the skins were so large that they would require a dozen people to carry them. This was the most boring job Kiri could imagine, and she'd much rather clean toilets, as Jake would jokingly threaten, even though she didn't know what that meant.
Mo'at, in the center of the group, was supervising some laborers when she noticed Kiri out of the corner of her eye and turned to face her. "{I'm glad you did not get lost again in the jungle,}" she said, approaching Kiri with a rustling of beads and bending her head. "{I see you.}"
"{Um, yes,}" Kiri said, bending her head and repeating the customary move. "{I see you.}"
At one of the workstations, Kiri noticed Tuk and another Na'vi girl her age threading a hide onto one of the wooden racks. They looked like they were having fun, and Kiri was happy that she hopefully wouldn't have to keep an eye on her today.
When Kiri was preoccupied, Mo'at raised Kiri's casted arm to examine the peculiar white plaster covering. "{I see once more that you rely on the sky people's medicine instead of coming to me,}" she remarked, making Kiri look at her.
That remark caused Kiri to blush. "{I'm sorry, grandmother. I just went to the sky people's medicine hut because Spider was hurt.}"
Mo'at let go of Kiri's arm. "{There is no need to be concerned, child. I'm simply pleased you weren't injured worse when falling from your... 'tree',}" she said skeptically.
Kiri bit down on her lip. "{I uh-.}"
Mo'at cut Kiri off with a hand motion before she could finish. "{I'd like to hear this story of your adventure another time, but we have work to be done.}"
Kiri nodded slowly before getting distracted by Tuk, who was waving at her. "{Kiri! Have a look at what I did!}" Tuk happily displayed the little rabbit-sized hide she had just strung up.
"Wow, great work!" Kiri said, smiling. When Kiri spoke the sky people's language, many other surrounding Na'vi youths exchanged glances, but Kiri didn't notice.
"{Come with me,}" Mo'at stated, and gestured for Kiri to follow. "{I will give you work more suitable for your condition.}"
Again, Kiri nodded, and she was led through the tents that connected the work stations and were full of young Na'vi workers. There was a lot of work to be done—more than a day's worth—because there were piles of different sized hides laying everywhere.
"{Here.}" Mo'at said, halting in front of an empty washing station containing a pile of small to medium-sized Yerik hides and a huge clay pot of water in the center. "{Clean them and place them with the others.}"
"{Yes, grandmother,}" Kiri said, recalling how she had to clean so many times throughout the years. As Mo'at went back to supervising,
Kiri took a seat next to the pot and began cleaning the hide with her one good hand, using a nearby brush. She had to scrape off any dirt and hair and get the hide ready for the next stage.
Kiri noticed snickers emanating from the nearby workstation as she was scrubbing. She looked over and made eye contact with the Ssezao'ite siblings, who were also cleaning animal skins. Ponari, the older brother, was Neteyam's age, and Uya, his sister, was Kiri's.
"{Careful not to hurt your other arm,"} Uya teased while scrubbing.
Kiri rolled her eyes and shook her head before continuing with her tasks. It was tedious labor, but at least it was tranquil and kept her mind off of what had occurred this morning. After what seemed like an eternity washing and scrubbing one hide, she paused and glanced around because something didn't feel right.
In the distance, through the fog that surrounded another mountain peak, Kiri could see foreboding rain clouds and flashes of lightning, a warning of approaching rain. The wind had also picked up, causing the tree limbs to shake and the leather tents to flap occasionally. Fortunately, the tents they were working in would keep the rain at bay.
Kiri then reflected once again on her peculiar interaction with the machine she nicknamed Ghost. She reflected on the entire adventure, from their initial scary encounter at the mud pool to the struggle against the hell centipede and finally this morning's rendezvous. It just felt weird that their paths had intersected, and maybe there was a greater reason behind it. She tilted her head back slightly as she attempted to recollect these ideas.
"{She's staring again..}" Kiri heard Ponari whispering nearby.
Kiri lowered her head and looked towards the siblings.
"{Look, the cursed one brought rain,}" Uya whispered next, just loud enough for Kiri to hear, before they both got up to bring a cleaned hide over to a pile to be worked on at the next station.
Whether it was the life-threatening chaos or the sleep deprivation from the past few days, Kiri was not in the mood for their shenanigans. "{Why don't you say that to my face?}" she snapped.
The sibling duo turned and gazed towards Kiri after dropping off the hide. The workers at the other station looked on in confusion as they didn't know who Kiri was talking to.
"{There is just the face of a demon,}" Uya stated, lifting her hand and showing off her four-fingered hand, clearly mocking Kiri for being a hybrid.
"{Why don't you go stare at the ground again?}" Ponari smirked.
Kiri clenched her teeth in annoyance before rising to her feet and emitting her first-ever hiss directed towards another Na'vi in anger. This action drew the attention of other station workers and passersby, who all turned to see what was going on.
"{Do you wish to challenge us?}" Uya laughed, crossing her arms across her chest confidently, "{Your brothers aren't here to protect you.}"
"{I don't need them,}" Kiri growled, moving closer to Uya while holding the brush in her good hand. They exchanged an intense look as Kiri's tail began to swing wildly. Ponari walked around to Kiri's side, ready to strike if she attacked.
Nevertheless, before there could be any punches or shoves thrown, the sound of beads rustling filled the air as Mo'at approached the group from behind.
"{Stop this nonsense!}" Mo'at demanded loudly, pushing aside several of the workers who had gathered to observe the possible brawl.
Ponari moved aside, but Kiri and Uya continued to lock eyes until Mo'at came up, grabbed them by the ears and dragged them away.
"{Ow!}" Kiri and Uya both cried out simultaneously.
After pulling Kiri and Uya away from the group, Mo'at let go of their ears and motioned for the other workers to resume their tasks before speaking to Kiri and Uya. "{What is the meaning of this?}"
"{She started-}" Uya spoke first.
"{You called me a dem-}" Kiri next.
"{No, I di-"} Uya interjected.
"{Yes you did!}" Kiri interrupted and turned, staring Uya in the eyes once more, and they both appeared to be set to engage in a brawl.
"{ENOUGH!} "Mo'at shouted and positioned herself in the middle of them. "{By Eywa, what is wrong with you two?}"
Kiri hissed again and turned away from Mo'at, while Uya took a step back. After turning, Kiri could see in the distance that her brothers were observing what was taking place from the nearby training area, and they looked like they were ready to jump in if anything happened.
Noticing the commotion, Jake started to approach them, and everyone he passed bent their heads in reverence for their leader. It was then that Kiri felt horrible about what she had just done since she had to pull her father away from what he was doing, and both her shoulders and tail slumped.
"{We are one clan, one family, and there is no reason for this,}" Mo'at said to the point of exasperation before noticing Jake approaching.
Uya had noticed Jake as well, and a look of panic crossed her face as she realized she was about to pick a fight with one of the chief's daughters.
Mo'at bent her head as Jake approached. "{Olo'eyktan, I see you.}"
Jake reciprocated the gesture. "{I see you,}" he said, before looking at Kiri and then at Uya. "{What exactly is going on here?}"
Mo'at glanced at the two adolescent females before returning her focus to Jake. "{These two were going to put our warrior traditions to the test.}"
"{Is that correct?}" Jake specifically questioned Kiri while folding his arms across his chest.
"{I'm sorry,}" Kiri said, staring down at the ground in shame. Uya also glanced down, embarrassed, but said nothing.
"{Uya, was it?}" Jake kneeled to Uya's eye level, and she adjusted her gaze slightly to meet him. "{I know your father was recently lost, and I'm sorry,}" he sighed heavily, filled with regret.
Kiri glanced in Uya's direction with a hint of shock because she was unaware of that. Ponari, off to the side, looked equally lost and somber.
"{He was a strong warrior, and I'm sure he would have wanted you to continue honoring your family,}" Jake continued.
Uya took a deep breath. "{I'm sorry, Olo'eyktan,}" she said, holding back tears. "{This won't happen again.}" Ponari stepped forward to stand beside her, embracing her and nodding at Jake.
Mo'at stood there quietly observing and glaring down some nosy workers. When they saw her looking at them, they promptly went back to work. Thunder rumbled again in the distance, and the wind shifted slightly.
"{Alright, then get back to work,}" Jake said to Uya, gesturing his head towards the work station.
"{Yes, Olo'eyktan,}" Uya responded, bowing her head before returning to her brother.
Kiri, glad that the confrontation was over, was about to turn and go back to her workstation when Jake spoke. "{Not you, Kiri,}" he said.
Kiri halted and then turned to face her stepfather. "{Me?"}
"{No, the other Kiri,}" Jake said with a chuckle, which made Kiri smile in amusement.
"{My apologies, Olo'eyktan,}" Mo'at said before bowing her head and returning to her supervision.
"Follow me," Jake said to Kiri before walking towards the training area.
"Okay," Kiri said, lagging just behind to turn to face Uya and her brother. They exchanged a brief glance before Kiri went to join her stepfather.
They walked together while Jake returned nods to the numerous workers who were carrying items. "So, what was that all about?" Jake asked Kiri.
While playing with her mother's jewelry, Kiri sighed. She could see her brothers watching them approach and conversing among themselves. "It's nothing more important than what you were doing."
"Try me," Jake said, putting his arm around Kiri's shoulder to comfort her.
"Well, um," Kiri responded, leaning into her stepfather. They hadn't been this close in months. "That girl and her brother were making fun of me, and I'm not sure why... I simply snapped."
"You snapped, eh?" Jake chuckled. "You stood up for yourself. That's my baby girl," he stated proudly.
Kiri glanced aside and noticed Tuk waving at her, to which she responded with a nod. "I think I did," she confessed. "So, where are we headed?"
Jake pulled his arm from Kiri and turned to face her as they both came to a complete stop. "I figured if you were in the mood to fight like a warrior, you might as well learn a thing or two," he said, gesturing towards the training area.
Kiri blinked. "Aren't I… still grounded?"
Jake put his hands on his hips. "Yup," he said, "I'm only going to torture your hands for a while before returning you to work."
Kiri then held up her casted right arm. "I don't think I can do much of that."
Jake then lifted Kiri's other arm. "You're left-handed."
Kiri looked at her arm. "Uh, yeah," she said, looking at her stepfather again. "Is this your idea of spending time together?" She started to smile widely.
"You know I improvise everything," Jake grinned before continuing toward the training area.
Kiri laughed and shook her head before she started following him again. The sound of thunder rumbled again in the distance, and she looked up. "It's going to rain soon," she said. They had maybe thirty minutes or less before the rain would reach the camp.
Jake looked up as well. "We'll make it a quick session then."
Lo'ak and Neteyam greeted them as they entered the training area, still holding their bows in their hands.
"Are you okay, Kiri?" Neteyam questioned Kiri, staring at his younger sibling, "Was it those punks again?"
Kiri nodded to both questions. "I am fine, thank you."
"I thought they got the hint already to leave her alone," Lo'ak said to Neteyam, shaking his head.
Jake cast a glance between his three children. "This won't be an issue going forward," he said, his tone indicating that he didn't want any more trouble. They all nodded, one at a time, when he looked at them individually.
"Is Kiri going to learn how to use a bow today?" Neteyam inquired eagerly from Jake.
"That's up to Kiri," Jake responded, glancing down at Kiri.
Kiri was taken aback by the question and hastily shook her head, much to Neteyam and Lo'ak's disappointment.
"So is she just watching us train then?" Lo'ak asked next. "Ready to judge who is better?"
In a playful fashion, Kiri grinned, wrinkled her nose, and shook her head. Something caught the corner of her eye, and she cast a sidelong glance at Txoum, who was removing arrows from his training dummy. He caught her glance and they exchanged nods.
Neteyam looked between Txoum and Kiri and arched his brow without saying anything.
"Nope," Jake said, stepping behind Kiri and resting his palms on her shoulders. "You two are going to teach her the art of street fighting."
Neteyam and Lo'ak exchanged glances. They understood what he meant but were taken aback by Kiri's desire to fight. Out of everyone in the family, she was the pacifist.
"There are no streets here," Kiri remarked matter-of-factly, knowing what they were from reading the placards at the old Hell's Gate before the RDA expelled them. Several of the street names used by the ex-soldiers were derogatory, and Jake felt embarrassed when Kiri inquired about words she didn't understand when she was younger.
"It's a saying we had back on Earth," Jake clarified to Kiri.
"A figure of speech", Kiri added with a nod. "A metaphor."
"Yeah," Jake said with a headshake, "English wasn't my best class in school."
"You speak English fluently," Kiri said confidently with a nod. All Jake could do was chuckle.
"Okay, come over here," Neteyam said to Kiri, repositioning himself to a clear area. "Show me your fists."
Kiri looked at Jake before moving forward to face Neteyam, while Lo'ak and Jake stood back and observed. She lifted both hands, but her stance was all wrong.
"Oh, no no," Lo'ak said quickly, stepping up alongside Kiri and demonstrating the proper posture, with fists closed and everything. Kiri nodded and took his posture, and he went back to Jake when he was sure she was doing it right.
Jake looked on curiously as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Alright, throw me your best punch," Neteyam said, holding up his hands to catch her throws.
Kiri took a deep breath before unleashing her left fist.
Hours later, the storm had moved on after soaking the camp with torrential rain. Those that were outdoors were forced to seek shelter or enter the cave as the wind increased in intensity. When the skies began to clear and new rays of sunlight began to burst through the canopy above, workers were seen clearing up the debris that had been blown about outside.
Kiri had spent about half an hour throwing punches, which Neteyam said were often clumsy or "too weak or soft," while Jake and Lo'ak watched. Still, she learned quickly, and as Neteyam began to wince in pain after each punch, she got better and more confident. The rain, however, put an end to the training session, so Jake invited the family to take shelter in his outside tent until the rain passed. Tuk had joined their group as well, but Neytiri had not yet returned.
Kiri, standing at the edge of the tent, stifled a yawn while seeing the water dripping from adjacent leaves. Just watching each raindrop always felt so peaceful to her. Behind her, she heard her family members laughing as Lo'ak and Neteyam made fun of Tuk. The distant infirmary was gleaming in the sunlight, and she couldn't help but think of Spider.
"Stop!" Tuk squeaked as Neteyam held her and tickled her.
"Knock it off, you two," Jake laughed as he ate some cooked meat in the middle of the group.
"I'm going to get you!" Neteyam snickered, while Tuk squeaked from his ticklish barrage.
"Sure, pick on somebody your own size," Lo'ak smirked at the wrestling couple as he ate a fruit.
"Yeah!" Tuk said as she wriggled about and managed to get free from her older brother's grip.
"You remember what happened the last time?" Lo'ak chuckled.
"Yeah, you tapped out," Neteyam grinned.
"Oh jeez, not this thing again," Jake said, shaking his head.
Kiri, still gazing outdoors and ignoring the merriment, inhaled deeply and turned to face Jake. "Dad, may I go see Spider?" she said, interrupting her brothers' conversation.
Neteyam and Lo'ak stopped what they were doing and gazed at Kiri in surprise.
Jake looked at Kiri and pondered for a few seconds before speaking. "Well, you know your mom doesn't want you being near him."
Kiri sighed and nodded before leaning back against the tent post. "Yes, but he's my friend."
"Our friend," Neteyam remarked, and Lo'ak nodded to that sentiment as well.
"Where's mom anyway?" Tuk asked next.
"She'll be back soon," Jake assured Tuk before turning to face Kiri and motioning with his head for her to depart. "Go see him before she gets back."
Kiri smiled. "Thanks, dad."
"Tell Spider we said get well soon," Neteyam added.
"Yeah, bring him a get-well gift," Lo'ak said.
Kiri blinked at that comment. "Uh, what should I get him?"
Tuk suddenly brightened. "Get him a flute!"
"That's so lame, Tuk," Neteyam remarked, shaking his head.
"No, it's not! You're lame," Tuk said, poking her tongue out, and Neteyam mockingly tried to grab it.
Kiri stroked her chin. "I'll think of something," she said, bowing her head. "I'll see you all soon."
Jake nodded to Kiri, and Lo'ak and Neteyam saluted Kiri before returning to their meals.
"Bye Kiri!" Tuk said.
As Kiri walked away from the tent and along the now-muddy path towards the infirmary, she could hear more laughter coming from the tent behind her. All the workers who had been working on the tannery had returned to their tents and were now eating their lunches. Mo'at was not to be found, but prayer chanting could be heard reverberating from the cave, indicating that she was likely hosting a celebratory song.
Kiri's thoughts were continually preoccupied with the dilemma of what to bring Spider as a present, and her eyes were constantly darting left and right in search of anything she might trade for. Nevertheless, before she could locate anything, she observed a person approaching her from a tent near the training area. It was Txoum.
"{I see you, Kiri,}" Txoum said, bowing his head gracefully to Kiri.
Txuom's approach caught Kiri off guard, but she nonetheless paused to return the gesture. "{I see you,}" she responded.
"{We've been fortunate with such beautiful weather today,}" Txoum joked, putting out his palms to collect some rain falling from the trees above. "{Don't you think so?}"
Kiri looked up and let some rain fall on her face, which felt comforting. "{You might say that,}" she answered, meeting his gaze. "{So, uh, yeah! Did you need something?}"
Txoum shook his head. "{No, I hope I am not stopping you from going somewhere,}" he said. "{I was surprised to see you training with your brothers earlier."}
"{I'm on my way to meet my friend,}" Kiri said, gazing down at her left hand, which was still red on the knuckles. "{He got hurt yesterday while we were fighting,}" she explained before pausing and realizing she had revealed too much.
"{Why were you fighting?"} Txoum asked curiously while tilting his head to look down at her left hand.
"{No, no! We weren't actually fighting.}" Kiri rubbed the back of her head awkwardly as she uttered this in a panic. "{We-we were wrestling and fell off a tree,}" she said, internally groaning.
Txoum tilted his head. "{What a strange place to be fighting.}"
Kiri sighed and then stared at her feet, as this continual lying and harboring of secrets was beginning to weigh heavily on her conscience. In fact, she never returned the claypot from the streamside earlier, and she made a mental note to return it as soon as she returned to her tent.
"{Are you okay?}" Txoum jolted her out of her daze. Kiri realized she seems to have a talent for gazing off into her own thoughts for extended lengths of time during awkward times.
Kiri looked up in embarrassment. "{I'm sorry. I just had something on my mind.}"
Txoum nodded. "{So who is your friend?"}
"{He's well, my sky person friend,}" Kiri said, unsure if he'd accept this. "{And his name is 'Spider',}" she finished, saying the name in English.
"{I don't think we've met, but I'm sure you could introduce me sometime.}" Txoum said with a nod, now looking towards the infirmary. "{May I walk you there?}"
Kiri was surprised to be asked that question. "{Sure,}" she said with a nod.
Txoum turned and put his hands behind his back before turning and leading the way towards the infirmary. "{I heard you were going to challenge someone to fpeio,}" he remarked, using the term for ceremonial fighting.
Kiri looked away in embarrassment while following Txoum side-by-side. "{Not exactly, but it's resolved now.}"
"{That's good. My father always says that it's better to make peace than war,}" Txoum agreed.
"{Can we, um, discuss something other than fighting?}" Kiri asked.
"{My apologies,}" Txoum nodded before changing the subject. He seems to do a lot of nodding. "{How was your day?}"
Kiri contemplated her response for a time. First, she had to negotiate with a lethal drone machine, then she had to sneak back into the camp, scrub leather skins, almost get into a fight, and attempt to remain awake for the entire day, and now she's here. "{Fine?}" she said, glancing at him. "{And you?}"
The infirmary was quickly approaching. "{The day is not yet over, but it has been intriguing,}" Txoum stated, noting that it was just an hour after midday by the sun's position. "{This discussion is likely the most fascinating portion.}"
Kiri gazed at the infirmary, which had a bright, silver-coated façade with a red cross painted on it and a little window through which she could see Spider. "{Interesting, in what way?}" she asked.
"{I enjoy meeting new people,}" Txuom said confidently to Kiri, "{particularly someone with your charming smile.}"
Kiri stopped in front of the infirmary to look at him, her cheeks turning crimson. "Uhhhh," she murmured with an amusingly lengthy pause, peering directly into his eyes. "{Thanks?}"
Txoum smiled at her. "{I would like to meet later, at the evening dinner,}" he said. "{I'll be at the same spot where we first met.}"
Kiri reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, absolutely flummoxed and at a loss for words; she could only nod twice.
"{Good, I'll see you then,"} Txoum said with a chuckle.
Kiri nodded once more and then clicked the button to open the airlock to the infirmary. A beeping sound was audible when the interior door closed and air was filtered through. Kiri, still trying to making sense of what just happened, stepped through as soon as the exterior door opened, but Txoum grabbed her arm.
"{Watch your head!}" Txoum said quickly.
As Kiri whirled around, she saw that she was about to bang her head against the top of the entranceway that was designed for humans. She has done this previously, and it was not enjoyable. "{Oh!}" she said, her face flushing with more embarrassment. "{Thank you!}"
Txoum nodded, perhaps hiding a smile, and let Kiri go. "{Be safe.}"
Kiri observed his departure before ducking inside the airlock and hitting the interior button. The procedure was performed in reverse, with the exterior door closing, the air recirculating, and the inside door opening. Inside, she observed Spider standing about and conversing with one of the human workers as if nothing had happened to him; he was also eating from a container with a spoon.
"Hey Kiri!" Spider exclaimed happily to see her, spoon raised.
"Monkey boy!" Kiri smiled the biggest smile and went in to give him a hug.
"Ooof!" Spider groaned when Kiri squeezed his injured ribs. "Take it easy."
"I'm sorry," Kiri said, bending down to look him in the eyes. "How are you doing? Everyone told me to tell you to get well." She then realized that she had entirely neglected to bring him a gift!
"I'm fine," Spider said, rubbing his side. "Tell them thanks, and I'll be out tomorrow."
"You're supposed to stay here for another week while under observation," the female medic piped up. "If you do not rest, you risk aggravating your injury."
"Yeah-yeah," Spider said, rolling his shoulders next, "I'll take it easy."
"Maybe you should lay in bed," Kiri said, eyeing the empty bed next to him.
"What are you, my mom?" Spider retorted with a grin.
"Yes, I am," Kiri said with a grin, and she nudged him towards the bed.
"Oh, alright," Spider said as he climbed onto the bed and continued to eat from the container. "Do you know what the nicest thing about being here is?"
Kiri stood up straight and crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on him. "What?"
"I get to eat as much jello as I want," Spider stated, showing Kiri the red cubes within the cup.
"What is jello?" Kiri asked, having never heard that word before.
Spider held up the cup. "Want to try?"
Kiri went for the spoon after glancing at the crimson cubes, which appeared to have the strangest texture and integrity. "Sure!"
"Do not eat that," the medic said aloud to Kiri, "it is toxic to Na'vi."
Kiri was about to put the spoon in her mouth but immediately stopped. "Hold on, does this contain food coloring?" She mentioned this, knowing that most Na'vi were allergic to human food coloring.
"Yes," the medic stated.
"Aw shit. My bad," Spider apologized to Kiri. "If the RDA knew that they would just dump jello all over the forest," he said, finishing the leftovers.
The medic shook her head at his foul language before proceeding to the next room to organize supplies.
"I'm sure that'd be rather amusing," Kiri said regarding Spider's comment, slightly disappointed she could not try the jello.
Spider put his container and spoon aside before changing the subject. "How's the arm?"
Kiri held up her casted arm. "It still hurts, but it's a lot better than before."
"Good," Spider said before reaching to grab a marker from the counter next to the bed. He then removed the top. "The doctor here told me about a tradition on Earth."
"What's that?" Kiri asked curiously as she looked at the marker.
"Show me your arm," Spider said.
Kiri cocked her head in response to this request but extended her arm regardless. Spider then proceeded to write on her arm. "You're supposed to have all your friends write their names on your cast," he explained.
Once Spider had finished writing, Kiri raised her arm to read what had been written. He scrawled "SPIDER IS #1" on her arm.
Kiri grinned as she dropped her arm. "Really amusing. Can I sign your boo-boo now?" she joked.
Spider placed the marker on the tabletop and reclined in bed. "You can try."
Kiri reached playfully for the marker, but Spider got it first. "Too slow," he teased.
The medic entered the room, took a moment to observe the two, and then quickly left through the airlock. After seeing their departure and determining that no other individuals were nearby, Kiri and Spider exchanged glances.
"I met Ghost this morning," Kiri whispered to Spider, "and brought them some parts."
"Ghost?" Spider blinked, keeping his tone low as well. "You named it?"
"Yeah," Kiri said with a sigh, looking back at the door. "They want more parts tonight and said they'll leave after."
"Are you crazy?" Spider said, his tone louder. "It's probably telling the RDA where we are now."
Kiri then paused at that thought. "I don't think they would," she said, yet she was not 100% convinced herself.
"I haven't said anything to anyone, but it's probably best to tell your dad," Spider said.
Kiri shook her head. "I don't want to involve anyone else," she said, "and see people get killed again." She shuddered from the nightmare suddenly flashing back at her.
"I'll come with you tonight then," Spider said, sitting up on the bed. "What time?"
Kiri looked at Spider for a few seconds. "I need to do this alone," she said. She wanted him to be there, but she knew Ghost and Spider were like oil and water, and he'd wind up killing himself by pushing Ghost's buttons.
Spider frowned and crossed his arms. "Do you not trust me?"
Kiri gasped at that notion; her ears flicked slightly up. "I do trust you."
"Then let me come with you," Spider said firmly.
Kiri rubbed her forehead and sighed again before looking at him. "If you promise not to taunt or anger Ghost," she said firmly,
Spider took Kiri's hands and squeezed. "I promise," he said. "What time? And where?"
Kiri looked at Spider's bandages on his torso, but knew that wouldn't stop him. "I'll meet you outside of here, an hour after midnight."
Spider nodded. "I'll see you there."
The airlock door opened abruptly as the medic returned carrying a box of goods she had gathered from the exterior, and she proceeded to the storage room to organize the items.
"So yeah. Who was that dashing gentleman outside?"Spider spoke abruptly as soon as the medic left, with his arms crossed and a sly look on his face.
Kiri's cheeks flushed again, and she looked away. "Uhh, just a friend I met yesterday."
"Just a friend?" Spider teased. "What's their name?"
"Txoum," Kiri said, looking at Spider and nodding. "He wishes to meet later."
"Well then," Spider said, leaning back in his bed once more, "shall I provide you with some excellent dating advice from Doc Spider?"
"Daaaaating…?" Kiri gasped, and her tail flicked anxiously. "We're just-"
Before Kiri could continue her sentence, she was startled when she heard loud banging on the little glass window adjacent to the airlock. Spider and Kiri instantly glanced towards the window and saw Tuk pounding her fist on the glass. They exchanged looks before standing and heading towards the window.
Tuk was trying to talk, but they couldn't hear her through the thick glass, and the look on her face made it seem like something was wrong. Outside, they could see many Na'vi warriors rushing towards the cave carrying bows or RDA firearms, and the war drums were being broadcasted throughout the camp. "What's going on?" Spider asked.
"I have no idea," Kiri said, growing increasingly worried.
Tuk waved at them to follow before heading off to join the crowd that was heading towards the cave.
The medic rounded the corner. "What's that noise outside?" she asked the pair.
"No idea, ma'am," Spider said, turning to face the medic. "I need my exomask."
"You know you're supposed to be in bed," the medic said firmly.
"I think this is important," Kiri said, gesturing to the growing crowd outside. She now saw her brothers joining the crowd and pushing their way towards the front.
The medic shook her head before going into the backroom to get Spider's exopack and giving it to him.
Spider quickly equipped it and turned it on, with the familiar droning sound of the oxygen supply pumping through. "Let's go," he said to Kiri. She nodded and followed.
When Spider and Kiri exited the door, the loud war drums were clear and intense, alerting an impending attack. "{Everyone to the cave!}" someone standing on a rock called out, repeating themselves every ten seconds after finishing. "{The Olo'eyktan has an important message!}"
"This is bad," Spider said nervously.
Kiri felt her heart race a bit, and when she looked up, she saw Neytiri and her Banshee scouting party land hastily inside the cavern. Everyone was now heading towards the cave to figure out what was going on, and Kiri and Spider started heading there. Soon they found themselves in the midst of a crowd, and they were all talking as they moved towards the large cave opening.
"{What's going on?}" somebody asked.
"{Are we under attack?}" another concerned Na'vi asked.
"{I heard the sky people are coming,}" somebody said.
Kiri and Spider stopped in their tracks, and a look of horror hit their faces. It was clear that they both thought that Ghost had betrayed Kiri's trust. The crowd behind them immediately propelled them forward before they had a chance to react before stopping near the center of the cave. Standing before the crowd of dozens, Jake Sully stepped up with a grim look on his face.