It would take me a long time to walk there so I sought out a direhorse, a pa'li, so that I could travel faster. Herds were not uncommon in these parts and it was not long until I had found one. I walked in easily, singing softly to soothe the animals until I had selected one from among the ranks.
The herd had around forty pa'li with younglings so I chose a young male, not yet matured, so that I did not interrupt any family ties he may have had. My soft singing brought him close to me as I fixated my eye on his, drawing him closer and closer until he was breathing against my legs.
Slowly moving around I sang to him, running my hands smoothly onto his back before all at once jumping on. He squealed and panicked beneath me but my firm thighs gripped on and grabbed the neural whip, linking it swiftly with my braid until the tendrils were connected.
Once the bond was made, he was mine. "Good boy, easy now." I soothed then turned him around, walking from the herd slowly as not to panic them. We walked a fair distance before I urged him to gallop, smiling as I felt his powerful body spring into motion beneath me, the power of his strides throbbing through our bond as we raced with the rising sun and morning wind, leaping over roots and streams.
It took us several days until we were at the heart of Omaticayan territory where I then began to search for Hometree, where the clan resided. My Pa'li, whom I had named Hama, was strong willed and sometimes difficult to control but my mind was firmer and my will sterner.
We rested every few hours of galloping, allowing him to recover his strength before moving on. A pa'li could easily run all day without stopping but because the distance we had to cover was longer, I did not want to break him to the point of exhaustion.
We kept a good pace, walking calmly through the forest as I tracked what I believed to be some young Omaticayan hunters. The tracks were a few days old but they were still enough for me to follow and their scent lingered in the air. They must be young for experienced hunters never leave too much evidence of their presence when they leave.
I was humming distantly to myself, one hand resting on Hama's long neck when I heard a scream. Shifting Hama into a faster pace we cantered towards the sound, hearing the rush of water meet my ears and I feared for the poor soul.
We broke out into a wide space that adjoined the rush of a fast flowing river with a woman at its heart. Glancing I saw some more young hunters shouting on the opposite bank, some breaking away to fetch help as the others remained, trying to toss vines to the young hunter who cried and screamed for help.
With a click of my tongue I pushed Hama into the water and he whickered with determination, plunging forwards as his powerful body sliced through the water as easily as if he were leaping it. "Take my hand." I said calmly to the girl who shook her head, clinging onto the rock as Hama drew close to her. "Now!" I snapped and she wailed, closing her eyes as she leaped for me.
Stupid girl, you could have at least kept your eyes open. I caught her in my arms and drew her onto Hama's back, resting her against my legs as she coughed and spluttered water from her mouth. "Good boy Hama, hurry now." I could feel his strength beginning to waver so I hurried to guide him towards the steep bank where the hunters called out, signalling to us.
Hama placed one powerful hoof onto the bank then lifted himself up, snorting for breath as his nostrils flared and he closed his mouth, drawing in deeper breaths to gain back his energy. The girl trembled in my arms as I pushed her up towards her companions who took her and held her close.
Sliding from Hama's back I slipped behind him and pushed, giving him the extra lift he needed to get out of the water as his hooves began to stick in the thick mud. "Move! Hurry Hama before you sink!" I growled and some two of the hunter's grabbed him and helped haul him up as he shook the water from his body.
Without warning a powerful wave of water slammed into me and I slipped, calling out in shock as I slipped further into the water however a hand grabbed my wrists and yanked me forwards before I could be swept away.
Looking up my eyes widened as the male glared down at me. Hissing sharply I pulled away then went over to Hama, running my hands over his legs to make sure he had not strained or hurt himself. With a soft sigh I relaxed when I was assured he was alright.
He nudged me affectionately and I leaned against him, connecting our queues but I heard arrows pull back on their strings and point at my back so I stiffened, one hand slowly reaching for my knife. "Lower your arrows. She is no threat." The male informed the hunters and warriors so they lowered their bows. He stood a little way from me, watching me closely as I slowly turned my head to look over my shoulder at him. "Come."
Without another word he sprung up onto his pa'li then nodded to the others to do the same. As I mounted the soaking wet girl touched my leg, her wide, innocent hazel eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you." She said to me before blushing and running after the other young hunters. Saying nothing, I followed the male.
Hometree was a very beautiful place. The new home of the Omaticaya people was a network of four trees all twisted and entwined with one another, hollowed out on the insides. Down below the people gathered, watching as I rode up behind the other riders and in front of those who had run.
My ears twitched in annoyance at their stares but I kept my mouth shut as I focussed ahead. A male stood on a raised root that lifted him above the others, the root twisting around in an arch that then sprawled out into multiple roots behind him. He must be Jakesully, the leader of the Omaticaya.
He nodded respectfully to the male who had brought me here as I walked forwards after leaving Hama outside to graze and rest. "Jakesully, I see you." He greeted. "This is the female I told you about a full moon ago." He began, gesturing to me. "She has come."
"I see you brother." Jakesully answered then looked to me after looking to a beautiful female close to him, his mate. "Welcome sister, I see you." Not understand what he meant I parted my lips in confusion and looked to the male who nodded. Not knowing what else to do I greeted him in the custom of my tribespeople.
"Morning, noon and night be you friend, Jakesully." Touching three of my four fingers to my left shoulder I then bowed my head. Jakesully, slightly confused, looked to his mate who smiled softly.
"She is from the Ranuri clan of the small forest. Her greetings and customs will not be the same as ours." Jakesully nodded then smiled at me.
"You are welcome in our clan, sister, what will we call you?" I looked at him closely, tilting my head. He was different also, not like me and not like them. He had small, rounded ears a similar size to mine and different shaped eyes but also five fingers. I was very curious about him.
"Anahera is what my mother called me." The male lifted his head slightly but I refrained from looking at him, keeping my eyes focussed on the leader as the clan gathered closer around.
"Welcome, Anahera, I am Jake, leader of the Omaticaya people. My mate, Neytiri, is our clan's Tsahik. You have already met Tsu'tey, my clan brother. I thank you for defending him against the thanator." He had a strange way of talking also, it was not completely like the Omaticayan language, his pronunciation was almost lazy as he drew out some of the longer words.
Merely nodding my head I glanced to Neytiri who watched me with a careful eye. "I am honoured by your acceptance."
"You must be tired and hungry, first you will eat and then you will rest. Tomorrow, Tsu'tey will begin your training." Neytiri decided with a kind smile and a firm look to Tsu'tey who glowered at her. I was not impressed by this decision either but I decided not to argue. Perhaps coming here was not all that great of an idea after all.
Neytiri took my elbow and gently led me away towards one of the pillars which spiralled upwards. Taking me up to a new level she sat me down then ate a meal with me where she asked many questions about my life and I answered them as honestly and truthfully as I could.
She wore a warrior's garb despite being Tsahik, although there was a long, sharp quill tucked in her hair and she wore a beaded skirt over her loincloth. Mine was very old and I was aware that I would need to make a new one soon but she had one of the older women bring me new clothes to dress in.
The loincloth had was sewn into a beaded belt, the colours contrasting nicely with my pale blue skin as they flashed a more vibrant shade of the colour. I slipped the tight leather around my chest, tossing the leaf wrap away before securing the laces tightly at the back.
The hammocks rested like little webs in the northern quarter, the sleeping quarter. Neytiri brought me to a hammock then smiled. "Tsu'tey will want you up by dawn to train, you may meet him after breakfast at the front of Hometree." Her soft voice explained as her eyes gazed at me. "He is rough and tough, seemingly always grumpy but he does not mean any harm and is not the way he is on purpose."
"I shall remember. Thank you Tsahik."
"Neytiri." She corrected then touched my shoulder. "Rest well Anahera, I wish you luck for tomorrow." When I was resting in my admittedly comfortable hammock my mind drifted back across the years. When Neytiri spoke I was reminded of a friend I once had, one who would throw me into the thickest messes of trouble then drag us both out without a scrape.
She had been the kindest person in the tribe but also the one who caused the most trouble. We were always a perfect team. She was the one with wit whereas I preferred to simply leap into fights. I missed her. With a pang I suddenly realised I could not remember her name. I could still see her face though so I prayed for her then settled into a comfortable silence.
Being used to rising before dawn I got up and found some food which I ate as I walked towards the front entrance of Hometree. Tsu'tey was not yet there so I settled down onto a tree root, swinging one leg as I watched the beautiful sun rise with swift wings, drawing colour into the sky as the bioluminescence of the forest continued to shine proudly.
It was the most perfect moment to be awake, seeing the two cusps of time melting into one. The only other time to watch the sun is when it was setting, bringing the opposite effect as it drained the life from the sky and gave it to the foliage as the last bursts of gold and red streaked away from the clouds.
"You are awake, female." Tsu'tey said bluntly as he strode forwards. I ignored him, continuing to watch the sun rise, slightly annoyed that he had broken the enchantment with his brusque voice. He stopped and looked at me with a scowl before looking to where I was.
As his attention was diverted I leaped down silently then walked up behind him. When he turned he jumped back slightly with a hiss. "What first teacher?"
"Follow me, female, bring that scrap of wood you call a bow with you." Rolling my eyes I did as I was told, following never more than two paces behind him. He took me to a clearing where the young hunters obvious practices their archery. Some were already up with their tutors.
"Give me your bow, female." He commanded and slowly, I did so. Before I could yell in protest he snapped it in half. I snarled at him, my tail swishing from side to side as I balled my fist.
"You moron!"
"It was useless before. Now it will make good firewood. Pick up one of the bows over there, female." He nodded towards a stack of training bows leaning against the tree so I scowled, yanked one into my hands then nodded to him. Already infuriated with him, he set to work on correcting my form.
He poked and jabbed and stabbed at me until he was satisfied but before I could shoot an arrow, he told me to relax then start all over again. We did this for several hours, my patience with him fast diminishing. "Female, you may take a drink but return once you are finished." Tsu'tey barked then strode away into the trees. I shot him a filthy look then strode over to the stream.
I knelt down, shifting a little closer then cupped my hands into the water before lifting it to my lips. I closed my eyes, savouring the cool taste of the water as it ran down my dry throat. The sunlight brightened and the ground around me became warm as I drank from the refreshing stream.
"You are the stranger from great distance." A voice said behind me but I did not turn around. He was heavy footed so his attempt to sneak up on me and startle me failed miserably. I smiled all the same, he had a rich and warm tone.
"I am." Continuing to not look around I dipped my hands into the water again and drank, my end tail slowly curling as I began to relax.
"Tsu'tey is too harsh on you. Your form is almost perfect." The male said to me as he came and crouched beside me, shoving his hands into the water, disturbing the smooth reflection and caused ripples to spread from where he tossed water into his mouth. He shot me a grin. "I am Kakeo."
"Anahera." I replied curtly, smirking ever so slightly. Kakeo was by far one of the most handsome males I had seen here. He was broad and muscular, one of the tallest also, with long hair down to his hips and a wide nose, large ears and pale green eyes. "And if my form is almost perfect then that is the reason my teacher is not satisfied."
"You should allow me to teach you. You will progress faster." I considered his words but knew that it would be disrespectful both to Tsu'tey and Neytiri to go against their wishes. I shook my head softly then rose, brushing blades of grass from my legs before picking up my bow. "Will I see you again?" Pausing I turned, looking at him with a mysterious look before smiling.
"Perhaps." I murmured then returned to the clearing where Tsu'tey was waiting. He looked at me then jerked his chin at me and clucked his tongue, ordering me to start over again. The moment his hand slapped my elbow I hissed.