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By the time it was evening, I had fallen asleep against Gar'han's back three times. Each time he had elbowed me (rudely) in the ribs, telling me if I fell off the horse he wasn't stopping for me. We'd taken a few breaks to give the direhorse some time to rest. During this time we would take a moment to stretch and eat.

"This is a good stopping point," he murmured when night had fallen, slowing down the direhorse until we stopped in front of the mouth of a shallow cave that I hadn't noticed until now.

"When do you think we will reach the plains?" I asked, as I stretched and popped my back. I smiled at the satisfying popping sound.

"Mid afternoon tomorrow," He said and began attending to the horse.

"Great." Not great. At this rate, I would never be rescued by Ray. I untied the satchel on my back that Anya had given me and pulled out the furry bed roll. I climbed into the tiny cave and set up for the night.

When Gar'han climbed inside I asked, "Are we going to light a fire or something?"

He blinked at me then muttered under his breath.

"What?" I mumbled pulling the soft furs over my legs.

"You are like a human inside a Na'vi's body," he muttered throwing down a woven blanket and lying down on his back. All I could do was shrug. I twirled my hair around one finger for a moment while we sat in silence.

"I know you've been lying," he said suddenly.

He knew I was lying? I tried to play it cool, "Okay," I sighed dramatically. "I don't really know how to use a bow and arrow."

He turned on his side to face me.

"I know you recognized me from the waterfall. I saw it on your face." I stayed silent, staring up at the ceiling of the cave. I thought back to when I had first seen him in the War Sanctum. Recognition had been clearly written on my face. "And I saw why you were jumping like a reckless fool on those rocks." He was quite the chatter box now. Before, while we were on the direhorse, he had barely spoken a word.

"Why?"

"The human weapon. The gun." he said.

"I don't know what you're-"

"Don't waste my time with your lying," he cut me off calmly.

"Well you're craz-"

"Forget it. You re just going to continue lying. But answer one question. Honestly."

I glanced at his piercing golden eyes nervously.

"Who's side are you on?" he asked.

Whose side am I on? I immediately knew he was speaking about the humans and the Na'vi. Now, I realized just how evident the Na'vi's feelings for humans. They treated it like it was a war or something. And I knew what side I would chose too. Humans, obviously. I cleared my throat uneasily.

"What sides do I have to choose from?" I asked, trying for a light tone as I turned onto my back.

"Let me put it simply for you," he said, his tone becoming irritated. "If there was a war between The Sky People and Na'vi right now, which side would you fight with?"

"Well there isn't a war right now between humans and Na'vi so why waste my time talking about politics," I argued. I turned my back to him, signaling the end of the confrontational conversation.

For a moment I thought he'd gotten the hint to shut up until I heard him whisper, "Al mah is always right."

I rolled my eyes at the cryptic statement and humored him by saying, "And what does that mean?"

"Jessy is your name?"

"Yes"

"So he was right about that."

I rolled my eyes again. "That's only one thing."

"Al'mah knows you're lying about losing your memory from your head injury." I heard him snort and I scowled. "But even though he knows this, he still says you don't know who are."

Back to this again.

"I know who I am," I snapped.

He continued as if I hadn't said a word. "And you don't know who your Sempul is, or your Sa'nok."

I paused. I wasn't going to very well tell him I was created, not born, and didn't have parents. He wouldn't understand even if I tried.

"Just what are you trying to say?" I asked.

For a few moments he was silent, as though he was thinking. Then he spoke. "What I'm saying is this. I'm not taking you to the plains because I think you hit your head and forgot you entire life. I'm taking you because I have faith in Al'mah and I truly believe that you don't know who you really are."

"I know who I am," I repeated, becoming annoyed. "You seem to think you know so much about me."

"I know you were raised by humans." My eyes widened, "It so obvious in you demeanor." His next words came out more hesitant. "And I'm sure they've lied to you."

"You don't know a thing about me."

"It's what Tawtute do. They manipulate-"

"I'm going to sleep."

"Your-"

"Goodnight!" I said, shutting my eyes, emphasizing the end of the conversation. I was glad to hear he had gotten the hint and shut up. But then I heard him whisper something that sounded like "Al mah is always right."

I ignored him and went to sleep.

When I opened my eyes, it was still dark outside and instinct told me that it was still the middle of the night. My bladder reminded me why I had woken up and I, quietly as possible, slipped out of the cave. One thing I definitely missed from home: toilet paper. The thought of using some random leaf really didn't sit well with me.

Although the sun wasn't out yet, the forest was still dancing with color from the bioluminescence with the plants. It was beautiful. I made my way a little away from the cave, not too far, but far enough that Gar'han wouldn't step out of the cave and see me popping a squat.

Not only did I need to relieve my bladder but I also needed to be by myself and have a moment to think about everything that had happened so quickly in the past week.

What the hell am I doing? Ray would have to search all over Pandora to find me now. The chances of him finding me now where becoming slimmer every step I took away from the place I fell. Did they give up looking for me? I shook my head, not at all ready to accept that thought. One thing I knew for sure about Ray was that he was persistent. But still, what the hell was I doing? Was I going to sit around and wait for Ray to sweep, in like a hero, and take me back to base where I belonged? What other choice did I have though? I couldn't last a second in Pandora. Finding base by myself would be too dangerous. No, I wouldn't last a second in this forest, not alone. One thing I was sure of now was that I was safe with the Na'vi; safe with Gar'han. He was a native so he knew this forest like the back of his hand, whereas I'd only studied and heard about it.

If I ever wanted to see base again, I needed a plan. First I needed to find out where I was, geographically speaking. I thought back to the many lessons I received about Pandoran geography from Helen. Hometree was about 5 miles from the RDA base traveling north and if my memory was right, the Plains clan lived about 20 miles northwest from the Hometree. That was if my memory was correct though, and that was a fat if.

So what were my options? I could continue traveling with Gar'han, until we reached the plains clan. And then what? My other option was to go find base by myself. I knew the general direction to travel in. But I couldn't survive alone in these forests. It was too dangerous and I was too inexperienced. If traveled by myself, I end up as dinner for a hungry family of Thanators. It boiled down to those two options. My first choice was the smartest so I chose that one. I wasn't sure what I was planning to do once we reached the Plains clan but it was my best option.

After I took care of my business, I began to head back to the cave but froze when I heard a strange guttural noise. It sounded like a growl...without a moments hesitation I sprinted in the direction of the cave, getting whacked by a few branches in the process. Knowing my luck, the noise had probably come from a viperwolf that hadn't eaten in days. I scrambled through the mouth of the cave breathing hard. I tried to quiet my breathing so I could hear if something had followed me. All I could here was Gar'han snoring lightly.

I fell back onto my little sleeping palette with a huff. Yep. I definitely wouldn't last a second out there alone. I'd made the right decision. I drifted off to sleep.

I was roughly shaken awake.

"Get off, get off. I'm awake," I said grumpily shoving Gar'han's hands off me as I sat up and yawned.

"Good, gather your things so I can show you something," he said climbing out of the mouth of the cave. I scowled as I put my bed roll back in the sack Anya had given me. I was still a little bitter at him from last night for being so annoying.

Gar'han was tying his satchel to the direhorse when I emerged from the cave. He glanced up at me, before he reached around the horse to pull out the bow he had given me yesterday. At first my immediate reaction was Oh no. This again, but then I rethought. Learning how to use a bow and arrow would be a helpful for me for in the long run. If I ever planned on making it back to base I needed some form of self defense. He tossed me the bow and pulled out his own.

"Follow me," he instructed in a serious voice. I was starting to think that was the only voice he had. He led me a little ways from the cave where he found a tree and stuck a target-looking thing to it and walked back around 5 meters.

"What do you know about tsko swizaw?" he asked as he pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back.

I know that they don't stand a chance against a gun.

"You pull back, aim and shoot?" The statement came out as a question as I ducked under my bow to put it in place and readied it for shooting.

"Yes, those are the basics," he said as he lifted his bow in place also. "Now do as I do." He put the arrow in place and pulled the bow tight then released. The arrow pierced the air and landed dead center in the target. Wow. Did it have to be exactly like that?

"Now you try it."

I placed the arrow as he did and pulled it tight. Before I had a chance to release, Gar'han cut me off.

"Kehe, Kehe. Your stance is all wrong. You're standing as though you re going to use a gun. Put that foot in front of that one," he pointed and I did as he said. "And fix your shoulders."

Fix them? Well, let me grab my tool box.

"What s wrong with them?"

He sighed impatiently, like I was twisting his arm to help me. He slung his bow on his back and came over to fix them himself. He pulled one shoulder further back then the other so that they were in line with my feet. "Now show me how you're going to aim." I tried again, this time with the stance he had taught me. "Tighten your hold on the tsko." I did. He shook his head and straightened one arm while he bent my other elbow to his liking. "Now try and shoot it."

I lifted the bow so that the arrow was in line with the target, pulled back then released. The arrow landed pathetically on the ground about a meter from the tree. I pressed my lips together to hold back the goofy smile that was about to burst out. This was worse than when Ray had first taught me to use a gun!

"Why are you smiling? Fmi nìmun." Again. The goofy smile quickly disappeared and was replaced by a scowl. Glaring at the target, I pulled back and released. This time it hit just below the tree. Gar'han sighed again and stood closer to me. "You re not pulling back tight enough." I pulled the bow tighter.

"No, tighter," he said, taking my elbow and pulling it further. "Ok, now. " He put his hand over my other and tightened the hold. I was surprised to find his hands were bigger than mine. "...line the arrow with the target." He stepped back. "Now nìmun." I released the arrow.

I gasped when the arrow actually hit the bark. It was nowhere near the target but still I'd hit the tree! This time I didn't hold back the huge grin that spread across my face.

Gar'han, who was clearly not nearly as impressed as I was, rolled his eyes when he saw my smile and pulled something out of his belt. When he gave it to me I saw that it was a knife. "Ok, let's forget the bow for now; we don't have time for me to teach you more. If you're ever in any danger and I'm not around, this will probably be your only chance at staying alive."

I nodded. I could use a dagger.

"We should head out now." He said. Wasting no more daylight, we went back to the cave, saddled onto the direhorse and continued towards the Plains clan.

About half an hour into the ride I began to grow restless.

"Would you sit still? You're making her nervous," Gar'han said, irritated as he rubbed the back of the direhorse's head. It was a she?

"Sorry," I muttered. "So, um, what s the Plains clan like?" I asked, becoming bored with the silence. Yesterday the silence hadn't bothered me at all, in fact it had put me to sleep, but that was before I knew Gar'han was capable of communication.

"Like most other clans," he answered.

I waited for him to elaborate but that was all he said. Apparently someone wasn't in a conversational mood. "Couldn t get you shut-up last night," I muttered quietly to myself in English.

I heard him chuckle dryly in front of me. Had he understood me?

"They don't ride banshee as we do however. They prefer direhorse's. In fact they are also known as the Horse clan of the Plains. And they're culture is slightly different. The plains clan members tend to have tattoos and piercing. Those are the basic differences."

"You speak English?" I asked.

"A little." He said in English. His accent was heavy but it was still English.

"How did you learn?" I asked. This was amazing! Just wait till Ray heard about this. The RDA's plans for conforming the Na'vi into the human ways were finally coming into effect. I wondered how many other Na'vi knew English.

"How did you learn?" he shot back.

I was about to say I asked you first but it sounded a bit childish in my head. After a pause I decided to answer honestly. "Humans taught me. Now, how did you learn?"

"Tawtute taught me also." he responded. My eyes widened. "But not in the way you think. I picked it up from being around humans."

"When were you around humans?"

He paused as if he was deciding if he was going to tell me something.

"The humans come to our forests often. To collect some of our plants and resources. Sometimes they will not bother The People but sometimes they are a danger." I knew the RDA, on a regular basis, collected samples and resources from the forest, but I did not see how they could ever be dangerous. "So we keep a close eye on them. And after being around them for so long, I picked up the language," he finished.

"How are humans a harm to the Na'vi?" I asked.

"This is a good stopping point," he said as he slowed the direhorse to a stop. At first I thought he wasn't going to my answer question but then he continued. "To the humans, The People are nothing more than an obstacle in the way of what they want," he said as he walked up to the direhorse to feed it, I mean her.

"And what do they really want?" I asked following him.

"I suppose our resources and minerals but you know that better than I do," he said.

Unobtanium. I knew the RDA's economy was dependent on many of Pandora's resources. I frowned. "But you think that the humans would hurt the Na'vi to get to those resources?"

He looked up and locked eyes with me. "I don't think, I know this for a fact. And if you stick around long enough, you will see for yourself." There was a bitter edge to his voice.

After that we did not talk for the rest of the journey. I was busy contemplating what Gar'han had said about the humans being a danger to the Na'vi, and Gar han was busy being silent. The forest had begun to dwindle away and give way to flat land and I knew we were getting close to the plains clan.

That was when we passed the first Na'vi. They rode past quickly on their direhorse.

"Are we close?" I asked.

"We re here," he said. I noticed more Na'vi passing and riding direhorse s but not enough to make up an entire clan. In the distance I could see a few Na'vi constucted tents but not enough to contain an entire clan.

"Where is everybody?" I asked.

"Underground."

"Underground?" My eyes widened as I looked down at the passing ground. "Where is the entrance?"

"Over there" He pointed with a long slim finger to a mountain covered in green flora and plants. It wasn't very large but it was bigger than a hill. So the Plains clan's home was similar to an ant hill. I was beginning to feel nervous. The safe feeling I felt when Gar'han was around was beginning to evaporate. I trusted him but I didn't trust this clan. Not yet at least and I didn't want to be left alone with them.

When we reached the foot of the mountain we climbed off of the direhorse. She trotted away immediately. Gar'han began to climb the mountain but I caught onto is harm.

"What?" he asked turning around to face me

"After you take me in there, I mean after you drop me off," I was trying not to sound too clingy," Are you going to leave?" I finally asked.

A slow smile spread across his face. It was the first time I'd ever seen him smile and of course it had to be a little smart ass smile. I was planning to leave in the morning," the annoying smile got bigger and he stood closer. "Did you want me to stay?"

I immediately grew defensive. "I couldn't care less," I lied and climbed ahead of him. I felt something pull me down by my tail.

"Hey! Don't touch my tail!" I spun around.

"If you want me to stay, just ask." Gar'han said, no longer smiling and back. So he wanted me to beg.

"Fine, stay." I shrugged as if it made no difference to me.

The arrogant smile returned and he began to climb with me up the mountain. At the very top we reached a large opening. Long, green, rope-like vines hung around the edge. I peeked down. It was pitch black and I didn't see anybody. I wondered how far down it went.

"Are you sure this is the right spot?" I asked. I saw no inhabitants.

"This is it." he answered surely. "Grab onto one of the vines and slide down."

My eyes widened. Oh no. I had no idea how far down it went.

"Just trust me," he said.

I rubbed the back of my neck, wavering, as I looked down the deep black hole. "You go first."

He shrugged, and with animal-like grace, leaped down, caught onto a vine and disappeared below. My turn. He had made it look so easy. Well he made everything look easy. I sure as hell wasn't going to jump and trust myself to catch one of the vines so I carefully stepped to the edge and lay down on my belly. Grabbing onto one of the vines with clenching fingers, I slowly lowered myself inch by inch. My fingers grew slick and soon, against my will, I was sliding down the vine. It must have been a long drop because it took much longer then I would have thought to reach the bottom. When I did, my butt connected solidly with the ground.

Ouch! I'd just finished healing that!

I peered around. It was still dark but my eyes were adjusting to the lighting of the hole.

"Gar'han?" I called.

I felt a familiar hand latch onto my arm. "This way," he instructed. I didn't know how his eyes had adjusted so quickly to the limited lighting, because all I could see were the small glowing blue things that were scattered over the walls. I'd seen the same things in Hometree. I wondered what they were.

My attention was quickly taken away from the blue glowing bags when I began to hear a quiet rhythm that grew louder as we walked. Soon I could hear singing too. I recalled Helen briefly telling me that singing was a strong part of the Na'vi's culture. Was that what I was hearing now?

We rounded a corner and my eyes widened as I stumbled to a stop.

There had to be at least a thousand Na'vi in this room. No. it couldn't be called a room. It was much too big. The ceiling had to be at least three stories high. 'The walls were covered in vines and brightly colored flora that I'd seen all over Pandora. Many of the Na'vi in the room were singing and dancing with the rhythm of drums. Natural shelves jutted from the walls, providing more space for the Na'vi of all ages that filled the room. Around the room there were a few firepits that were surrounded my Na'vi. Where Gar'han and I stood, there was a path that led straight to a stage like platform made of solid rock. And sitting upon the stage was a large seat. Wait no it wasn't a seat, it was a throne with a Na'vi sitting upon it.

The beating of the drums ceased and the room quieted down to a dull murmur. I glanced around and suddenly realized they were all staring at Gar'han and me. Gar'han walked along the path and up to the bottom of the stage, with me hesitantly trailing behind as golden eyes around me blinked. Many of the patterned blue faces around me had tribal tattoos and piercings just as Gar'han had said.

"I am Gar'han,warrior of my Clan and I seek an audience with the Tsahik of the Horse Clan of the Plains," Gar'han stated to a Na'vi male that stood at the bottom of the stage. Was he a body guard?

The man nodded and the music started up again. Gar'han ascended the stage steps and I followed behind. I glanced behind me, glad to see that we were no longer being stared at.

"Gar han it's been too long," the Na'vi said rising from her chair and kissing Gar'han on the cheek." And what to do we owe this occasion?"

Gar'han put his hand on the small of my back a nudged me from behind him. "Al mah has sent me to return your lost 'ite."

My shock at his words was nothing compared to the shock of seeing the Tsahik of the Plains Clan. The second I locked eyes with her, I was stunned. It wasn't the tribal tattoo that aligned the left side of her face or the piercing through her nose that made me at a loss for words. It was her almond eyes, her nose, her chin; her face

There had to be an explanation. Some simple scientific reason.

But in this moment of shock I couldn't think of any reason why the Tsahik of the Plains Clan would have the same face as me.

Thanks for reading this far.