II: Pull the Other One (It's got bells on it!)
"I know you aren't sleeping, Jake, because if you were sleeping I would be able to draw a mustache on you with this black dye I happen to have with me." Jake's eyes flew open just as Yawne's hand was inches from his face. He drew it back suspiciously, "Just as I thought." the peeking forehead and eyes said. Jake quickly rubbed his upper lip sighing in relief to see no ink on his finger tips as he then continued to rub his face.
"Don't you ever sleep in?" he moaned.
"I sleep in lots of things Jake; trees, hammocks, Peyral's arms…" Yawne snickered from above. Jake stretched languidly, looking up at the ceiling of the new home tree and puffing out a great huff of fresh air while giving his abs a good scratch.
"This is my day off you know, what is it this time? Trying to a get a Thanator to chase a laser light?" Jake said in mock anger.
"Why Jake, I'm shocked, appalled, and disquieted! To think that I, the noble Na'vi warrior hunter man would be up to something this late in the afternoon with my beloved friend and protector! Shocked I tell you!" Yawne's eyes rolled dramatically.
"Yeah yeah, so what are we doing?" Jake couldn't hide the smile.
"There's a Titanothere stuck in the mud too close to one of our water supplies, we have to get him out or he'll tire himself, die, and draw scavengers for miles making it unsafe for everyone and not to mention contaminating one of our water supplies." Yawne said seriously. Jake frowned, that didn't sound too good.
"and you waited this long to tell me?" Jake hefted himself up.
"Well we already organized the Pali, it may take all night and I wanted you to be as rested as possible." He pulled back giving Jake room.
"Gee thanks, if we had startled earlier we might have been done by n-" he froze in mid-heft.
"What?" Yawne said innocently.
His hair was separated into two long silver tails on either side of his head. "Why are you wearing pigtails?" Jake stared.
"Oh this?" he said lifting one, "Peyral and I thought we should introduce some new hair styles to the Na'vi, she said she would wear them if I did." he shrugged simply.
Jake grinned shaking his head as he lifted himself, "Only you Yawne, only you…"
"What?" Yawne said incredulously as they stood, making their way down the tree. "Wouldn't you like to see Neytiri in a Fro?" Jake's laughter echoed off the inside of the new home tree as the pair descended.
…
They arrived swiftly to the scene where several yards away they observed the gigantic animal struggling in the mire with some difficulty, many of its numerous legs were sunken and one side of its head was piled high with the heavy mud as it had tried to batter its way out. Jake whistled at the sheer mess of mud thrown in a wide circle. "So much for a day off." Jake commented placing hands on hips, stoically observing the battle field. "We're gunna need some rope." Yawne looked at him funny and then handed Jake a small piece of string.
"Heave ho." he relied dryly. Jake tucked it into his belt. "Heeey!" Jake turned and jumped down a ways where Neytiri was speaking to a few other of the Na'vi. He didn't bother interrupting as he came up to them and instead listened to what was being said. The entire clans' Pali that could help were already there, but they were having the most trouble digging out a path to slide the great breast; they had already made a sizable groove but getting any closer risked the animal's crushing head. Now that Jake was there he would be among the fresh and strong backs that could dig closer. Jake, like all the diggers in the dangerous parts, was given two 'buddies' who were already tired from digging earlier that tied a rope around his waist and could therefore pull Jake out of danger while they rested.
Yawne was one of the first to go in to dig, though Jake hadn't noticed since he already washed off the mud, but he still was ready to continue digging during the dangerous part; such was his in-na'vi strength and stamina. He was already being lassoed by a male and female Na'vi who were his 'buddies' while he would dig. Jake had his digging tool, a modified spear with a flat scooping edge, and he stood beside Yawne as they stared at the titanic animal which stared at them warily. Every now and again it would punctuate the murmur of the Na'vi who sang calming songs to it with a trumpet and a heavy slam of its head. The impact of which, shook the ground with a deep thud. "Ready O' fearless leader?" Yawne grinned wildly.
"Outstanding." Jake replied. Yawne, of course, was the first to step into the thick mud; he promptly sank to his knee but he had expected to and thus didn't hesitate to sink his next leg right in. "How's the water?" Jake mused as he too let his leg be sucked down.
"This'll do my skin wonders." Yawne said struggling to cross the muddy path. Tentatively other Na'vi, mostly male, all began to follow while others began to hack at the thick mud behind them. There was a hushed moment where the Hammerhead lifted his hammer head and Yawne froze, the rope around his waist went taunt, but the animal only flung it aside slightly and then rested again.
"You think Na'vi pee would erode some of this?" Yawne said quietly over his shoulder, "Because I might have helped our war efforts." Jake smirked though he too knew they were in the shadow of the crushing head.
"One scoop at a time." Jake replied. Slowly, they each bent down and began to dip the long blade into the mud, breaking up the congealing mass with wide circle motions. The massive animal watched them the entire time, panting in apparent exhaustion. While they toiled Jake let his mind wander slightly, but not dangerously. Yawne, though better at Na'vi then himself, always spoke to Jake in English when they were alone or just talking to each other. Jake was glad for the exercise of his original tongue, though sometimes he longed to leave everything behind him, because honestly he enjoyed speaking in it. Yawne never excluded anyone in this way, not hurtfully, but he couldn't help tossing little asides to Jake only he would get- if he did- half the time Jake had no idea what Yawne was referencing, but the way he interjected it made Jake smile anyway.
Somehow during the digging Yawne had managed to thread the lyrics of "Working on the Railroad" into the Na'vi's higher calming rhythm. Jake tried to hold his laughter as the shadow of the Titanothere loomed over them, but he found it difficult even as they grew easier in its presence over time. The evening dragged on as Jake and the Na'vi wrestled with the cooling mud- by now Jake's breath was hard and his shoulders began to ache, but the digging Na'vi behind them had gotten marginally closer.
"Eyyy, ukh~nem! Eyyy, ukh~nem!" Yawne was singing to his far left. Jake had no idea what the words were but he got the tone. Strangely the Angtsìk hadn't moved in all this time, not even pushing with its legs, he feared it was growing too tired to struggle any further, but there was nothing they could do. Jake doubted it was being lulled by Yawne's voice. "~Ah hold it steady right there while I hit it, -RAH- I reck'on that that aughta get it." he continued to sing. Jake gave an appreciative frown and head nod, maybe it was. The shadows deepened even further as the few Na'vi brave enough to get closer to the stuck beast continued their dangerous work. Naturally Jake and Yawne found themselves the closest, neither willing to be outdone by the other. Though now even Yawne was breathing hard, but he still tried to get Jake to sing along on the chorus to "Whistle while you Work".
"Don't worry about it Jake, once we lash this beasty with a few ropes, why…" he huffed circling his stick in the muck, Jake was still smiling though covered up to his elbows in the grey murk, "…we'll just pull it, over that mountain!" he said gruffly.
Jake breathed a staggered sigh, "As long as you don't do that 'Here's mud in your eye' gag I-" he froze as suddenly the Titanothere lifted its great head and trumpeted hoarsely. Jake and Yawne both looked up at it opened mouthed as it brought its great head down upon them. With a jerk that ripped the wind from their bellies both of them, and a few of the other Na'vi were pulled from the muck by their running 'buddies'. The resulting splash of loosened mud followed on their heels as they crumbled like paper on the banks. Trying to regain their wind, Yawne coughed harshly. They looked up in sore wheezes as the great legs of the animal dug at the loosened muck in renewed vigor from its long rest. Yawne coughed and managed to laugh anyway, despite nearly vomiting on Jake's leg.
"You spooked him." he choked. Jake flung his hands free of mud shaking his head in disbelief at the near miss. The path had been, thankfully, dug well enough that the Na'vi could now begin lashing ropes around the Titanothere's neck. They avoided looping the sides of its head to prevent it yanking and injuring someone or the Pali. It was a deep luminescent night before the Na'vi could begin pulling upon the ropes. Everyone helped, tired or not, the Pali strained even linked, and all the villagers had to pull at a slow pace; drums were brought out, and many of the young came to watch the great event. The pounding of the wood bass drove the people on as they struggled against its great weight. They sang a deep chant, one that pulled upon their bones to free the mired giant. Their voices rose high with each heave begging them to pull just a little more, once more, and again.
Feet slipped in the ground, muscles strained, teeth flashed in the lights of the night, straining bodies and the trumpeting sound of the Titantothere. Higher and higher they cried, lower and lower the bass pounded, everyone lent their voices in the pulling melody and little by little the Hammerhead began to slide free. Heaving, great muscles straining, inch by inch and pull by pull, they worked together- with one last mighty stroke, the sliding body unleashed a great sucking pop and suddenly the Na'vi and Pali were running with the ropes pulling Angtsìk along in a rush of enthusiasm. He slid forward on his knees but soon got his footing along the dryer ground, he lifted his great head and hidden Na'vi leaped from the shadows to hew the ropes before it could whip and injure the pullers, Peyral among them. With a massive bellow the Hammerhead was free and tossing its neck as it ran off in the exultation of freedom.
The Na'vi all fell flat in relief as the thunder steps departed, and those upon the hills cheered. Yawne and Jake sat side by side in a cluster of Na'vi legs and elbows where, like a line of people in a tug of war who suddenly found slack, they had fallen into each other. There was a great chattering of victorious laughter which even several packs of viperwolves could not match, then sorely everyone helped each other up to head back. The first thing most did was bathe, especially the muddiest of those who worked their hardest, including Jake and Yawne. As they scrubbed and rubbed in the communal atmosphere of the task well done, neither gender was much paid attention to, though there were some daring looks now and again, everyone was simply too tired to make a deal out of it. Well, almost everybody.
"Who pinched my tail?" giggles abound, "Jake, was that you, you rascal!"
"I'm waaay over here"
"Well C'mere." outlined bodies moved in the starry glow.
"Fat chance."
"Aww wh- pardon me- why not?" a tangle of tails and legs dipped in the waters.
"You'll pinch my tail."
"Boooo! Oh I kn- excuse me- I know! Marco!"
"Heck-no!" Snickers flittered across the waterways, someone splashed, a few people yelped and much laughter punctuated the night. Elation was running rampant.
"Oh yeah? Well take this!" his voice called.
"Whoa-hey! What the, when'd you get over here? How'd you even find me!" Jake yelped.
"Stealth, baby!" Yawne voice said from the distance. Jake knit his brow in confusion until Neytiri's high laugh and smiling face appearance out of the shadowed lights.
Jake smiled broadly, "You dirty double crosser!"
"We are all dirty, My Jake." she replied, helping him to scrub at his left thigh.
"Now all we need is techno!" the distant voice called, then began a beat-box thum followed by an imitation of synthesizers.
"This may turn into a Mosh pit!" Jake gasped as some bodies came a bit too close.
Neytiri danced away, holding Jake's hand and somehow navigating the writhing mass of Na'vi with ease. Elsewhere those who had watched were already cooking a large meal, almost a feast, in celebration for the deed which would be talked about for days to come; including the near death of the people's weary heroes. When the clean people returned there were few who stayed behind in the night lights and a great celebration was held of laughing, stories, and music. Jake sat with a food bowl and relished the meal, tasting far better after a hard day's work. It would take another day or two for the waters to clear but the danger had passed, everyone was proud and elated. The music became a little more insistent and Jake felt Neytiri pull on his arm;
"My Jake, we dance!" she said hurriedly, her breath hot on his face.
"I don't know any Na'vi dances." Jake grinned. Neytiri puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes copying behavior she had seen Jake use when he was being sarcastic. Jake smiled open mouthed at her.
"Fine! I shall dance for you then." she stood, Jake again was shocked. As she began to sway to soothing flutes and light drums. They did a stomping, jump-twirl dance which impressed Jake greatly for the sheer display of grace. He was glad he had shrugged it off, he's look like a total idiot if he tri- Jake suddenly began looking for Yawne. He was certain this would be a perfect opportunity for the silver haired devil to try and show up Jake in a dance contest with terran moves. He shouldn't have worried, Yawne was too busy sitting across and to the side from Jake starring with overt appreciation at Peyral who –of course being in pig tails- was also dancing. Jake smirked to himself, pleased to see the mighty Yawne, so good at everything, wouldn't dance too. He knew of course Yawne must have been the most exhausted of all the Na'vi because of his foolish compulsion to help, but Jake could not pass up the opportunity to rub it in.
Grinning wolfishly Jake stood and made his way over to sit beside Yawne and simply grin at him. Yawne didn't notice at first, so entranced was he by Peryal, Jake stared sideways at him for a good long moment. Un~for~cunatly, this backfired at Neytiri had become slightly jealous of his lacking attention and came over to dance with Peyral. Jake caught them out of the corner of his eye and his jaw dropped, they moved together swaying and thrusting bellies while they rotated their hips and whipped their tails. The pounding of the drum became a bit stronger and all thoughts of ribbing fluttered away on gentle wings. Jake and Yawne bobbed their heads to the music starring openly, and open mouthed. Neytiri and Peyral enjoyed the attention but after a while couldn't help but laugh at their expressions, and suddenly Peyral whispered to Neytiri and they both fixed Jake and Yawne with a dangerous look.
"Ut oh." Yawne snapped his head up.
"What oh?" Jake tilted his head to him without removing his eyes.
"Dance off…" Yawne hissed.
"Wha-" Jake snapped his head.
"DANCE OFF!" Yawne leapt up, Jake blinked. "We have been challenged Jake! To battle! To glory! To funk!" he crowed. Jake looked back at Neytiri and Peyral who did indeed, clumsily, take up cross-armed hip-cocked stances. …great… leave it to Yawne to teach the Na'vi about step offs. Jake tried his best to become a part of the floor but Yawne had his 'I'm burning into you with my eyes' look, "Pop n' lock Jake, pop n' lock!" Yawne shook him. Jake had no hope of escaping. He stood and he and Yawne came forward; once they were within range however, they both, simultaneously threw ridiculous arms crossed, leaning back, and starring down their noses poses. Neytiri and Peyral grinned, hid it, and looked angry. A circle grew around the dueling foursome and the music turned slightly off. Yes, Yawne had taught them hip hop beats.
Neytri and Peyral went first, swaying their heads side to side, crouching, and then jumping in a spiraling twirl that was perfectly synchronized. Yawne then jumped out in a hip thrust with pelvis forward and arms hanging slackly, Jake copied him, then Yawne clapped his hand on Jake's forearm and sent an electric shock from one end of his hand into Jake who of course caught on and followed the flow sending it back to Yawne who spun, followed by Jake, and they both clapped at the same time and finally ended in disco points. Neytiri and Peyral scoffed, Peyral slide forward on bended knees, falling back so her toes touched the back of her head, Neytril leaped forward over her in a wide splay of impossible height landing in a crouch as Peyral sprung forward to then leap over her.
Yawne looked at Jake and grabbed him by the shoulders, Jake responded by bending down with hands cupped which Yawne stepped in and did a back flip as Jake threw him. Yawne landed in a crouch and knelt down where Jake then did a running step to push off his shoulder and do his own back flip. Then Yawne stood and spun back to Jake grabbing his waist Jake widened his eyes like 'Oh you son of' as Yawne deftly lifted and rotated him in a barrel roll. Jake got his feet back and gave Yawne a death glare but turned all the same with pursed lips back to Neytiri and Peyral in defiant poses back to back. Peyral looked at them stoically, but Neytiri couldn't hide her bemused astonishment any longer. She smiled at Jake and came forward wiggling her hips, and beckoning with a finger. Jake met her half way and she leaped onto him with calves encircling his legs. Jake spun her around, and nearer the sides of the circle as Yawne and Peyral then went to each other.
Jake and Neytiri couldn't help but laugh into each other though, their breath mixing as he set her down, but Yawne and Peyral didn't seem to notice as they continued the show. Jake and Neytiri stood back as they "fought"; Yawne doing the Robot, Peyral the electric slide, Yawne countered with the hustle, Peyral the mambo, Yawne the running man, Peyral the moon walk in place. So continued their unbelievable display in which it became obvious to everyone they practiced together often. Jake and Neytri danced along with everyone in the circle cheering them on into the night. "Well…" Jake said breathlessly as he pressed near to Neytiri in their dancing.
"Yes my Jake?" she smiled up at him with golden eyes and ears pressed forward, her tail lifted happily, leaning into the contact. He grinned the same charming smile;
"Guess everybody's going to be sleeping in tomorrow."