+Strange Hellos+

Mia's P.O.V

Sitting in the jungle, Jake and I were sharpening spears with the knives we had. I had lost my pack somehow when I had hit the water. I think the clasp hadn't been latched on to well. Are heads kept snapping up and looking around every time we heard a noise, or a twig snapping somewhere in the distance.

A little while later you'd find us slinking our way through the forest as quietly as we could, with our spears in hand. Jake would whirl around every now and again to make sure nothing was advancing on us.

Neytiri's P.O.V

I watched the dreamwalkers carefully as I leaned against the large limb of the tree. My bow and arrows in hand I slowly leaned myself up as I followed the strange ones with my golden eyes while they trudged their way through the jungle plants. The male tense with anticipation and the strange female with the unusual hair color, shaking with same tension as her…mate maybe.

Ever so quietly I straightened my bow and arrow and pointed in the direction of the male. You always take out the strongest link first, so as to weaken the weaker. The trespassers wouldn't know what hit them until the first and last arrow flew. Pulling back I readied myself for the release. Then something caught my eye as it floated down from the sky and landed delicately upon my arrow; a pure spirit. My eyes widen, and my breathing evened out. It stayed for only a moment to give its message and float away carelessly. Lowering my bow, I decided I would not hurt them. I knew that instead it was my duty, from Eywa, to protect them. Standing in a crouching position I took off so as to keep up with the dreamwalkers.

Grace's P.O.V

Holding on to the handle in the plane I leaned out with my binoculars in hand looking for the two kids, hoping I'd catch sight of them. It had been hours since the Thanator had chased them off, and I was beginning to worry that maybe it had caught them, but still I kept telling myself that they were smart, and they might have survived.

"We're gonna have to call it guys. We're not allowed to run night ops. Colonel's orders. Sorry Doc, they're just gonna have to hang on until morning," Trudy said through the radio up front. Placing my binoculars into my lap I reached my hand up to my radio device around my throat and replied sadly, "They won't make it till morning." Norm beside me breathed in deeply, clearly depressed by the loss we were having to endure. Jake, and Mia's human bodies would survive even if their avatars wouldn't, but still he and I both knew that we would be losing precious cargo if the creature had gotten a hold of them, or if another creature got a hold of them. Leaning back in my seat I allowed Trudy to finally fly us back to base.

Mia's P.O.V

It was dark now, even with the large blue moon like planets shinning brightly in the night sky. We could hear yipping and yowling sounds in the distance from jackal like creatures. Viperwolves, is what I think my professor had once called them. Handing my waterproof matches to Jake, he placed them in his mouth as he rolled the end of his spear, now wrapped in his jacket, in some sap like substance. Once the jacket was drenched he pulled it back, and crouched down on the ground as he pulled out the matches and began trying to light them.

I could see movement around us, but I couldn't see what it was, however I had an irking feeling that it was the viperwolves, just from the cackling noises. The noises were getting louder, meaning they were getting closer, as Jake fought with the match to get it lit. Finally he managed to light one and the moment it came into contact with the sap it burst into flames. Swinging the lighted spear around he illuminated the area we were in and killed the darkness that hid the creatures that were now inching toward us. The viperwolves were even creepier up close than they were in the books or videos my professor had once shown us. They were as big as jackals, but their skin was leathery, shiny even. They had six legs, a long thin tail, and green eyes that ate at your soul when they caught your glance. Its lips curled back in a growl, and you could see its sharp canines, taunting you as it instantly killed any courage you had left within you. These animals were vicious, even when unprovoked, and they were fast, small, and they'd cut right to the chase, right after playing with you for a few moments. They were my worst nightmare. They were a form of a wolf in my eyes.

Jake waved the fire in front of them, hoping it would scare them off, but instead it just seemed to provoke them. We backed away as we headed for a place where there was more room, and they followed. Thinking the trees could be an escape I looked up trying to see if there was a way up there, but I was wrong. We were neither safe here, nor there. The creatures could climb the trees.

Finally making it to a clearing, Jake and I stood back to back as we flung our spears back and forth, trying to get them to leave us alone. There were too many of them, and even they knew that.

Watching as if in slow motion the creatures began to circle us, and quickly Jake's angry began to rise at this threat, "I don't have all goddamn night!"

"COME ON, COME ON," Jake and I both screamed in anger as we now moved away from one another inch by inch as we advanced upon them. Finally one of the creatures lunged at Jake, and he turned in time to hit it as if it was the baseball, and he was the player holding the bat. It flew with a loud yelp, right as one of its buddies jumped me. I managed to actually run it through. Blood poured from the wound, onto my spear, and then my hands. Shaking it off I turned for the next attack still shuddering from the sound of the earlier creature's death. I didn't like killing things. It wasn't in my nature, but right now I was trying to survive, and if that meant I had to kill them then…well…so be it.

Jake tried what I had just done when one of the creatures leapt at him, but he didn't manage to get it all the way through as the thing landed with the spear still attached and ranaway from him, taking the spear further from his reach. Jake pulled out his knife, right as one lunged for him. It took him down, but Jake rolled them over and sliced at its neck. From there I didn't see what happened to my brother, because my own problems started.

Another viperwolf lunged at me. I swung viciously as my anger took over. Sounds boiled up in my throat, and escaped through my lips that I never thought I could make. They sounded like a cat when it got mad and hissed at you. That's when this sort of animal instinct took over me, or was it my survival instinct.

Another creature lunged and ran it through with the spear and threw it to the side. I was suddenly tackled to the ground by one of the creatures, but I took it by its long ears, and gripped tightly as flung it across the clearing. My spear lost in the shrubs, I pulled my knife out from my champagne colored shorts, and began slashing at the next creature that came out at me. I growled, in anger, and fury as I fought to protect myself and my brother. At one point I managed to save his ass from one of the creatures, but eventually I got caught up in my own battle once again.

I didn't even notice when a Na'vi woman came flying through the air with a bow and arrow in hand, as she struck down the next viperwolf readying to lunge from behind me.

When I did see her I followed her example as she ran full speed ahead at the creatures, while she swung, kicked, rolled, and slashed at them. In the end we were both hissing and growling at the creatures as they scampered off into the shadows of the night. Finally looking back at Jake I noticed he was still alive, wounded, but okay. I quickly made my way over to him and latched my arms around him as he patted my head, letting me know he was alright. I was still shaking with fear and adrenalin when the woman turned her back on the forest. Holding her hand up to the burning of the lighted spear nearby, she growled and cursed angrily in Na'vi.

Making her way over to the spear she picked it up and threw it into the water, all the while Jake was yelling, "Hey wait… Don't!" Jake ran over to the water leaving me to stand alone, all the while muttering, "Great." I watched carefully as the Na'vi woman walked over to a badly wounded viperwolf. It was whining, and yelping in pain, when she placed her knee upon its neck and lifted it up so she could easily slid her knife into it's heart, and end it's pain and suffering for good. I listened as she blessed its journey to Eywa. My Na'vi used to be the best, but now, I was rusty and afraid to speak if by chance I'd say the wrong thing. I needed to just listen for a while and brush up on it.

Jake was just pulling the spear out of the water, when the jungle seemed to come to life with lights. Everything glowed here in either a blue, green, purple, or light red hue. It was so enchanting, and mystical. It was one of the most amazing beauties within nature I had ever seen here so far. Finally Jake looked up and gasped in the same amazement I had shinning in my eyes that very moment.

Then ever so slowly he made his way over to the woman and began trying to talk to her while I just stood there still dumbfounded, "Look I know you probably don't… understand this but uh…" Jake was still at a loss for words as the woman continued to ignore him as she prayed for Eywa to take their spirits and let it be a safe journey for their souls, but slowly he crouched down to her level, still giving her distance and finished with, "…thank you." Watching her now carefully he replied once more thinking she might not have heard him, "Thank you…that was pretty impressive." Now she looked up at him with a blank sort of stare, but I could still see the annoyance blazing in her golden cat like eyes.

"We would've been screwed if you hadn't of come along," Jake chuckled now as he finally realized he was alive, and it was all thanks to her. However now she simply ignored him as she stood up and walked away. I kind of had a feeling that she understood, but the thing was, that she just didn't want to talk to us.

"Hey, wait a second," Jake called out as he got up and followed her, with me right at his heels, "Hey where you going." She didn't answer, she just kept walking. "Wait up," my brother cried out as he tried to maneuver through the plants in his way, as he reached out for her arm, "Just…Hey…slow down. I just wanted to say thanks for killing those things…." And that was probably one of the worst things he could have ever said to a Na'vi. Before I could slap him for it, she turned around and hit him with her bow, making him falling back into me, "Aah, DAMN!"

Holding him in place she pointed her bow at him and in anger spoke, "Don't thank, you don't thank for this. This is sad, very sad only." In my brother's defense he held up his hands, and replied, "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Wh-whatever I did, I am sorry." From where she had been leaning into him to try and get her point across, she suddenly pulled back and shook her head as she held out her hand showing emphasis as she added, "All this is your fault. They did not need to die."

"My fault! They attacked me. How am I the bad guy," my brother began as I pinched him hard in his side trying to tell him to shut up, but it didn't really work well, because after a yelp, he turned to glare at me.

"You're fault," she yelled now drawing his attention back to her as she pushed him back closer to the ground with her bow, taking me with him. "Hey, whoa," my brother said trying to calm her now, afraid that I'd get hurt. "Your fault," she cried again just as angrily ignoring his words, "You're like a baby, making noise, don't know what to do."

"Easy, fine, fine…" my brother said as he stood up, while she began to pull back the bow. Helping me up the best way he could with one hand he went on to talk, "If you love your little forest friends, why not let them kill my ass?"

"What's the thinking," I added now finally speaking to her as she turned her eyes on me, with slight surprise.

"Why save you," she asked making sure that's what we meant.

"Yeah, yeah, why save us," my brother asked her as she ignored him, but at the same time still took his words to heart as she kept her eyes on mine, looking with curiosity at their crystal sky blue features. Finally with an emotion other than anger or blankness she spoke kindly while looking between me and Jake, "You have a strong heart…no fear." That brought a twinge of a smile to my face; however she came closer as the irritated look came back to her eyes. Focusing on Jake she replied, "But stupid… ignorant like a child." With that she turned and began to make her way through the lighted path. Laughing wryly Jake looked at me as if to prove that he wasn't, but I held the same frown she did, his laughing died away as he picked up his staff, and took after her replying, "Well if I'm like a child, then uh…look maybe…you should teach me." Following closely behind I heard her reply.

"Skypeople can not learn: you do not see."

"Well then teach us how to see," I said trying to speak to her as well now.

"No one can teach you to see," she threw back to me a little bit nicer.

"Whoa," I heard my brother say as suddenly his eyes caught what was under the large root we were standing on. Down below was a long drop, with a creek, and waterfall beneath.

"Look, come on, le…Can't we talk? Say, where'd you learn to speak English," Jake asked as we tried to keep up with her on the branch, well more so Jake. I could have done just fine. Being a gymnast when I was younger helped a lot here, "Dr. Augustine's School?" Right about then Jake tripped losing his spear as it fell below into the large stream, while it took the both of us to get him before he fell off as well.

"You're like a baby," she growled getting frustrated, as she said a few Na'vi curses. Fuming my brother with the best puppy dog face he could muster said, "We need your help." She turned to look at him and that's where the stare down started.

"You should not be here," she spit out as she waved her hand in front of his face to show emphasis.

"Okay, take me with you…"

"NO," she yelled looking him up and down now as if trying to believe he was nothing to her, "Go back." Turning around she began to walk away, and my brother only followed her, "No." She turned around and pushed against his chest to get the point across that she wanted to be left alone. First she spoke in Na'vi before then speaking in English, "Go back." The both were about to say something else when they caught sight of what I was now staring at up in the trees. Slowly these pure white, jellyfish creatures floated carelessly down to us.

The woman watched in amazement as they surrounded us, and only spoke angrily when my brother slapped at one. Grabbing his wrist she held it as they continued floating down, but still he tried it again, as she yelled, "No," with a couple of Na'vi words that I couldn't quite catch. I hadn't really been paying attention, but when I felt some movement on my arms I looked down and realized these creatures were slowly coming to perch upon me. Looking over at my brother I realized the same thing was happening to him as well.

"What… what are they," he asked as one came to perch upon his palm. Breathing in she answered, "Seeds of the Sacred Tree…very pure spirits." Looking around she watch as they all descend upon me and my brother, wile in a matter of moments we were almost glowing, and then just like they came, they all flew away at once leaving us, my brother and I, baffled.

"What was all that about," I asked looking over at her. She whispered something in Na'vi so low that I couldn't here, but then she looked at my brother and me, "Come," taking his hand and then motioning for him to grab me she said once more, "Come." We followed closely behind her as she ran through the brush.

"Where we going," my brother called as I looked around at the glowing plants. Every step we took the ground would alight underneath our feet, and any plant we touched would glow brighter. It was beautiful, and soon I made a game out of it as I followed, touching ever plant I could.

"Come," she called out to me realizing I was far behind. I quickly caught up to my brother who had been doing the same as I had been.

"What's your name," we called out, before suddenly something came flying out from the darkness and wrapped around my brother's ankles tripping him. He fell against the root, before falling off onto another, and then from there he hit the ground hard. I managed to dodge one aimed at me, and merely dropped down to where he was. Trying to help him up, as he untangled himself we heard the sound of hoofs beating against the ground, and when we looked up we saw what we guessed as a form of a horse on this planet coming toward us with other Na'vi men and women riding them. They were majestic, but stern looking. I kept my eyes on the leader, or what I thought was the leader of the group.

Jake however pulled out his knife and took my hand as he turned to run, but more Na'vi stepped out of the forest holding bows, and arrows pointed straight at our vitals. Jake turned to try and go the other way dragging me again, but a horseman blocked his path instantly, as she too held her bow at him.

Finally giving up Jake held up his hands and dropped the knife as I clung to him worried he was going to get himself killed by doing something stupid.

Suddenly the woman Na'vi from early came crashing down next to us yelling in Na'vi, "Calm people, calm."

Tsu'tey's P.O.V

Sliding off the animal I had been riding I walked over to Neytiri as she angrily growled, "What are you doing, Tsu'tey." With anger at her own stupidity for bring these dreamwalkers here I growled, "These demons are forbidden here." All the while my eyes traveled over the two captives. I was looking at the male first wit a scowl until my eyes quickly caught the female. She was tall, very slender, and she held her self with pride and dignity as if she was a chief's daughter. Her hair was different though. The color was as light brown as home tree, and her eyes…they were as blue as the sky when lit by the midday sun, but they held this bitterness, coldness, inside them. They showed no fear, just anger as she held my own. How long had she been staring me down? My scowl grew when what must have been her mate leaned in and brought her closer to him.

"There has been a sign. This is a matter for the Tsahik," Neytiri threw back at me as I turned my eyes on her once more. Looking between her and the sky-people I quickly made my choice, "Bring them." Linking back with my animal I threw myself back on top and turned my eyes away from the beautiful vision that stood next to the ignorant ingrate.

Mia's P.O.V

I tried to make it seem like I didn't understand as I listened, but it was becoming harder as I glared down the man who was challenging the Na'vi woman who had saved us. His eyes caught mine after a while and he continued to stare for a few moments, a little more than he needed to before turning back to listen to woman. I only found two words I didn't know, Tsahik, and Tsu'tey, which I guessed was names of people. One being the name of the Na'vi man standing in front us, I think his name was Tsu'tey.

"Bring them," he said in Na'vi before walking back to his horse and connecting his…hair…the squid thingy at the end…to the horse's antenna.

Suddenly there was some commotion and Jake asked, directing his question to the woman, "What's goin' on?" Suddenly the other Na'vi from behind us grabbed us roughly and began to move us forward as they followed the leader of the group. "What's happening, HEY," he called out again as they pushed us. Whatever was going on, or for whatever reason they were taking us I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach about it.

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