The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 4 - Part 2--- NewHome
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Once everyone was seated, Rocky powered up the turbines. As the rotors built up speed the Samson rose slowly into the air. Neytiri and Ralu were sitting inboard, their backs against the aft wall, on opposite sides of Norm's avatar that was stretched out on the deck. Jake sat next to Buck so that it would be easier to talk with Rocky during the flight. Sitting directly across from Neytiri, Jake watched her face as the Samson rose steadily upward.
"It's not quite the same as flying with your banshee," Jake said when Neytiri's face showed her apparent unease. "Not having that feeling of absolute control is a bit intimidating. You get used to after a while."
"Possibly, but I'd still rather be flying with a banshee."
"We are going to have to get you up to the rookery soon. Not being able to fly will become a problem sooner rather than later."
"Yes, I was thinking about that when you went gone. Hopefully we can make the trip in the next few days."
"Everyone, this is Ralu," Jake began when he realized he had not introduced her, being preoccupied with how Neytiri was going to handle flying when she was not in control. "She is our newly adopted daughter."
"Nice to meet you," Abby replied, as they sat shoulder to shoulder.
"Nice to meet you," Ralu replied, figuring the greeting was similar to the customary Na'vi greeting.
"We should be there in forty five minutes," Rocky announced after all of the adults had greeted Ralu. "We won't be able to get a fix on the storm front's location until after we get out of the mountains. If it's close enough for the doppler radar to echo I should be able to get a rough estimate of when it will hit. Might even be able to calculate wind speeds along the front."
When the Samson shuddered as it hit a small pocket of turbulence Neytiri tried to not let it bother her. Being enclosed wasn't helping. As all the other avatars seemed relaxed she tried to do the same.
"While we were mounting a Geo-Pack to one of the trees we discovered there was a banshee with what looked to be a broken wing hiding in the upper most branches." Kyle said after the turbulence passed. "It looked to be quite large, at least from our limited exposure to it."
"How close were you able to get?" Neytiri asked, glad to have something to do other than just sit and ride.
"Not very. We didn't even try to get near it in the tree," Kyle answered. "We spotted it from the air. That's when we noticed its right wing was hanging limply at its side."
"That was wise. An injured banshee is usually very dangerous. Always unpredictable."
"Can their wings be healed?" Judy asked.
"No, not usually. It the banshee has already bonded with its rider and the break is not too severe a splint can be fashioned that allows the bones to heal."
"I was afraid that would be the case."
"I wonder how it got up in the tree in the first place." Buck commented. "I doubt it climbed up to where we found it."
"Most likely it was fighting with another banshee," Neytiri began. "It could have broken its wing trying to get away from its attacker."
"That make sense," Judy added.
"I have a fix on the storm front," Rocky announced. "Were in good shape as it's still several hours away. The trees should be in sight in about five minutes." He didn't add that the storm looked stronger than most of the storms he had ridden out through at Hell' Gate. And over the years he had seem some doozies.
True to his word, five minutes later Judy pointed out the trees to Neytiri who leaned in front of her to get a better look at them.
"That river just off to our right passed between the trees," Judy added as Neytiri continue to gaze at the trees as they steadily grew larger.
"I'll make a pass over the surrounding area and set down where we did earlier," Rocky said as he began to descend.
Leveling off a few hundred meters above the treetops Rocky made a complete circle around the group of six trees. As no one mentioned seeing anything hostile he brought the Samson in for a landing in the clearing beside the riverbank.
"I'm going to leave the turbines idling just in case we need to make a quick exit. Jake, you've got one hour, then we need to head back."
"All ashore that's going ashore," Buck announced as he leapt out into the knee high grass.
"Ralu, you stick close to me or Neytiri," Jake said as he helped her out of the Samson.
"Yes daddy." Her reply was what one he would have expected from a teenager. But she said it with a smile that left Jake feeling she could get just about anything she wanted from him.
"We mounted the pack in the tree directly in front of us," Buck commented as he and Abby rounded the Samson and joined the others. "We didn't notice any signs that indicated people were living here."
"I don't see any of the normal signs I would expect to see here by the river bank if a clan were living here," Neytiri replied as she gazed around the clearing. "I'm a little surprised this place isn't occupied. It's almost perfect."
"The banshee is, was around the far side of the tree, just below the treetop," Kyle added as he and Buck moved off in that direction.
"Let's check out the other trees," Jake began. "See if we can find any sign that a clan has lived here recently."
When Neytiri looked at Judy when she dismounted one of the Hydra door guns she said, "Just in case. It would be embarrassing to get caught by surprise."
Not having her bow, Neytiri realized that it was probably a good idea. If she hadn't been so nervous about flying in the Samson she would have remembered to bring it along.
Neytiri quickly caught up with Jake and Ralu as they made their way to the tree nearest the riverbank. She noticed that some of the upper branches hung out over the river. The shadows cast on the water made it possible to see several large fish swimming not far from the bank.
"If a clan lived here it was a long time ago," Neytiri began. "The fish are not concerned by our presence. That tells me no one has fished here in quite some time."
"It has a deserted feeling," Jake said as he looked up at the tree in front of him. "Well there are a lot more trees than there are clans. Could be no one ever came this way or if they did, they already had a home."
"Yes, that makes sense," Neytiri answered, a shiver passing through her as she picked up on Jake's impression. "Ralu, what do you think of this place?"
When Neytiri turned to look at her daughter, Ralu was standing perfectly still, her normally bright eyes glassy as she stared off towards the next tree.
"Ralu?"
"What's the matter?" Jake asked as he turned when he heard the concern in Neytiri's voice.
"I think she's having a vision. We shouldn't disturb her until she comes out of it by herself."
"A vision? What do you mean?"
"Ralu has the gift of foresight. It is very, very rare. We were talking about it while we waited for you to return. She told me that she sometimes gets them during the day. By all appearances I'd say she is having one now."
"Does it hurt her?"
"She never said. I'm assuming it doesn't physically hurt, but emotionally is another matter."
"How long—
"She's coming out of it," Neytiri interrupted as the stiffness in Ralu's body disappeared and her eyes returned to mostly normal.
"Are you all right?" Neytiri asked as she laid her hand on Ralu's shoulder.
"Yes, but I think we should go. This is not a good place. Something bad happened here a long time ago."
"What? What happened here?"
"I don't know," Ralu answered, her voice cold, almost mechanical. "I think many people died here, those that didn't went somewhere else to live. I can't see it clearly. The strongest feeling I get is sadness."
"Ralu, are you okay?" Jake asked as he crouched down in front of her so that he could try to read what she was feeling.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry if I scared you."
"Worried me a little, that's all." Jake answered as he brushed his hand gently on the side of her face.
"Unless you feel that we are in immediate danger I think we should check the place out as much as possible in the forty five minutes we have left."
"No we'll be okay. Whatever happened here happened some time ago."
"Regardless, let's keep an eye out for anything threating or out of the ordinary."
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Author's Note:
Another quick post. I imagine most everyone will be watching the DVD tomorrow instead of reading.
Enjoy.