IV: Part two, Pa'li Feathers
The next few days would prove most interesting among the Omaticaya; technically Yawne had completed the ritual and was one step closer to becoming truly one of the people, however he also had broken an unspoken sacred ideal among the people… however since it had never really been thought possible, there were no laws against bonding and owning more than one Ikran. Let alone a Cave Ikran, which had not been seen in the Omaticaya skies since the previous two Toruk Maktos. Yawne's first Ikran he named Lawtaw, meaning 'clear sky' after his mate Peyral's Ikran that was named Ean'taw or 'blue sky'. This Ikran was slightly larger than a mature adult Ikran yet it was still very young compared to a mature Cave Ikran; which, much like the ancient Terran Cave Lion or Cave Bear, grew far larger than their cousins. Yawne could ride her without troubles and the rest of the Ikran seemed to get along with her well enough, however she also had a little brother barely the size of an Ikran chick. Him, Yawne was reluctant to name because it meant he would really be keeping him, but the little Ikran slightly larger than a Tetrapteron was very affectionate and finally Yawne relented.
This one he named, much to Jake and Neytiri's consternation, Quaritch. Or Quar for short. Yawne didn't need to explain his strange connection with the passed Colonel, the song was well known and recounted, and though the memory of him still irked the pair greatly for having known him, Yawne seemed to forgive him all the same. It was this forgiveness that made Jake and Neytiri grudgingly hold back their protests, and it was Peyral who sealed the name by stating it was a great idea to replace in their memories the name which brought sorrow with those of the new holder of the name and joy. In this way Jake and Neytiri, as well as many others, were able to accept that the little Cave Ikran would come to take and make the name his own… though Yawne would still hold to the memory and honor of the person for who he was named. At least, in small part. This however was the least of their worries for there was also a third Cave Ikran- or rather Cave Banshee in English and Txan Ikran in Na'v- that came with the affectionate pair.
She, their mother, was a beast of massive proportions; with a body and neck thicker then three Na'vi tied together; a wing span of those same Na'vi hand to hand arms outstretched, and lastly able to hold Yawne, Peyral and Jake besides upon her back while still able tofly with some ease. She, he named, Txanhuf, short for Txan hufwe which meant 'great wind' in Na'vi. She the rest of the Ikran were hard pressed to tolerate. It was only because Yawne had such a spacious living nook to sleep in which all three Ikran could fit in snuggly, the rest of the Ikran would bear to settle down in Hometree. Needless to say, her comings and goings made all of the people a bit wary and on edge as she scattered the rest of the Ikran. Yet there was no helping it, every time Yawne tried to fly with Lawtaw inevitably Quar and she would follow. It was nearly impossible to hunt with the massive shadow following and the tinier shadow diving about them like a deranged pixie. This however, was not a burden to the clan, as all three Ikran actually brought an abundance of food for themselves and Yawne, Peyral, and whoever else was considered Yawne's family… which somehow applied to Jake.
In fact Jake counted himself lucky not to wake up with a Cave Banshee dropping a fish ontop of him. Especially since they were just …so darned affectionate. Jake could barely get by a day without little Quar suddenly dive bombing his head and wrapping his wings around his face like a game of 'guess who', usually followed by either Lawtaw, or if Jake was unlucky, Txanhuf nosing him in the chest- which due to their size- was quite like being punched full force. But they never meant him any harm, usually it was only to rub him down with their noses, a kind of grooming mechanism so Jake thought. Cave Ikran were very social animals, especially when it came to family. Whether this was due to some offshoot that made survival more pertinent if families stuck around to watch out for each other thus resulting in stronger genes and longer lives, or because Eywa just wanted to see Jake grouped hugged by gigantic Banshee each morning, Jake had no clue. He was just happy it was happening to Yawne most of the time.
In fact, the things Yawne was put through more than made up for the small little ambushes of love Jake suffered. Jake could still recall the first time he saw Yawne, being dangled like a kitten in the gentle jaws of Txanhuf and carried overhead. Fearing for Yawne's life from some sudden bout of Cave Ikran madness, Jake followed only to see her dipping Yawne in and out of the water before flinging him around a bit, and then out into the middle of the water… where of course Lawtaw dive bombed him playfully. He was so busy laughing he forgot to be afraid Yawne might drown. He quickly learned not to give away his presence however because if Txanhuf saw him… well… he was somehow considered part of the family after all. Needless to say Yawne, of course, was not bothered by any of this in the slightest. For some unknown reason, perhaps due to Eywa, Yawne accursed indomitable spirit actually adapted and thrived to these conditions. He carried Quar around on his shoulder most of the time anybody saw him, training the little Cave Banshee like one would a hunting hawk or falcon; taught Lawtaw and Txanhuf to drive game, have Txanhuf flush them out and he and Lawtaw swoop down to select one.
If Jake had been a jealous man he would have been almost hurt by Yawne's success, but then, Peyral helped him almost nonstop. They were in it together, their devotion and patience, possibly being the only thing that made the whole thing work. It was not easy sharing a bed with three Ikran… but leave it to Yawne to tame the only Ikran who were just that affectionate. His name meant 'love' after all, and love him they did. Naturally the people grew to accept the three new additions, once Yawne and Peyral had managed them well enough to provide an even greater bounty for them, and figured out a few tricks and ways to get the Cave Banshee's to leave off the rest of the Ikran. Very soon Yawne's… "squadron"… of Peyral and Ean'taw, Quar, Txanhuf, as well as Lawtaw and himself were welcome sights around Hometree. But… as is the way of things, there was always reason for events, consequences and actions… and a party of hunters finally tracked their game they had long driven before them back to the Omaticaya. These were the harshest of the Na'vi peoples, they who collected trophies of their prey, reveled in the hunt, and glorified in the defeat of great beasts.
Their clan was small, yes, but some of the hardiest and strongest willed of the People. They lived far, far from the Na'vi peoples of the forest, sea, and plains. These people lived upon the most relatively 'barren' places of Pandora; mountain ranges with deep caves, where the rock met vegetation and created a thick bioluminescent mire and moss clung to nearly every surface, the lands known as the Burning Mountains. The Clan of the Burning Rock was not an evil clan though, far from it, they simply had an honor system that seemed strictest of the Na'vi peoples. Where the Olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya wished to give Jake Sully a chance to learn and be learned from, theirs would have made him face a gauntlet of challenges… including slaying of a beast far greater than himself with the lowliest of weapons. So it was one particularly ambitious Na'vi, the chief's son, tracked and hunted the TxanIkran very far from his home and his persistence drove the beast into the thundering rocks for shelter.
He had managed to fight with the monster only once; an ambush from above while on his Ikran, he strove to thrust his dagger- the weakest of their weapons and thus the more to bring him honor- into its head but only managed to gouge into its skin and take one of its eyes. He did not know why this particular TxanIkran had chosen to flee with its remaining child, the blue and white, because she was certainly old enough to fend for herself; usually the TxanIkran were notorious for protecting their young, even going so far as to fight to the death. Still they had tracked her movements for many days upon days, and finally had found her again. Yet, they were dismayed to see she had been taken in by the Omaticaya. How or why this was they did not know, for they dare not reveal themselves in the presence of the Omaticaya. Their clan, once massive in size and scope, were the reason Toruk Makto had gathered the other clans; to fight against them and so banish the Burning Rock clan back to their mountains, where they had not been seen nor heard from in many many years.
Now, boldly, the soon to be Olo'eyktan and his entourage of four warriors would have to turn back empty handed… and it was this dishonor, this disgrace, which so burned in the heart of Taronyu, he would not turn back, could not turn back. "I will not turn back." He hissed to his companions, Burning Rock Clan, or Nekxtskxe, all.
"You know what would happen if we were caught in these lands." His second, Txur, spoke. Txur was a Na'vi of impressive size, even for those of the mountains. He shown many scars and wore many ornaments, including the skull plate of a Txan Nantang upon his right shoulder. He was the most trusted of Taronyu's men, and subsequently the Olo'eytkan himself. He served the 'royal' family well. For they, the Na'vi peoples of the Burning Rock, who lived among the great beasts of Pandora had to be just as great as well. They called themselves Txan Na'vi, in the humblest of terms. It was this sense of nobility which led the Clan to conquest in the first place and the old ways, though they led to ruin initially, were not forgotten.
Taronyu, who very name meant 'hunter', though slighter than his second was not to be dissuaded. He bore the claws of Txan Palulukan around his neck, thought they were from a young one… a gift of his rank from his father. His Mohawk was lined and deeply ground with the red glow moss of his homeland, making his very hair burn like fire in the night. He had only to stare down his second, and so continue. "I have spoken." And with this the five Na'vi melted into the unfamiliar terrain. To make camp elsewhere and perhaps catch the mighty Txan Ikran off guard and away from those who would interfere. Meanwhile, oblivious to all the goings-on right outside their doors, the Na'vi, including Yawne and Jake shared a moment of fancy to sit and attend the cook fires for the evening communal meal. They did this out of a shifting rotation of Na'vi, spontaneously, and in part to have a quick rest to speak to one another. The pit in the new home tree was not as deep as the old, but the room was much the same. Circular and deep within the wood, the orange glow of the fire mixing with the green blue glow of the bladder lamps as the smell of delicious foods mixed within the air.
"And you sure you saw them?" Jake narrowed his eyes.
"Oh yes, clear as day, you can't mistake this kind of thing Jake." Yawne nodded.
"Well, what are we going to do about it? Do you think it was an RDA…?"
"No no, why would the RDA…?" Yawne blinked, "and how?"
Jake furrowed his brow, silent for many log moments in contemplate reasoning. Could it be true? And what did this mean for the people? Jake shook his head finally, throwing aside all doubts. "I'm still not certain you saw Terran Banana trees."
Yawne gaped, "Come on! Bright yellow! You could use 'em as phones!"
"Are you sure it wasn't just like, a really thin and tall pineapple plant?"
"Come on Jake, I have better eyes than that!" Yawne huffed, "…maybe." He added a split second later. Jake smiled at him. "I mean, I was on the back of Lawtaw… and I'm not THAT use to flying and looking…"
"And thinking…." Jake smiled, "...to control your Ikran, of course." He added slyly as Yawne raised and eyebrow.
"I can control my Ikran just fine thank you!" He said as Quar, sitting upon his shoulder, took this moment to peek his head out from under the curtain of silver hair atop Yawne's head.
"I can see that." Jake mused. "Where is Lawn~tawn by the way, and you know… Tanhuff."
"Txanhuf and Lawtaw are following Peyral if you must inquire. Have been all day. I think Ean'taw and Lawtaw are getting pretty friendly with each other now that Peyral as been accepted into the family." Yawne nodded appreciatively.
"You mean Peyral and Ean'taw can hunt with them now?" Jake's eyes widened. Yawne licked his lips a bit.
"Weeeeellll, sort of… I mean, they help flush out game, but, if I'm not on Lawtaw they don't communicate to each other as much, you know, like you and Neytiri do to check positioning and all?" Jake nodded understanding, Quar peeped.
"How do you… you know… deal with it?" Jake asked finally. "A friend of mine had a puppy once, big old lab, and it use to follow him around everywhere. It was cute when it was just a puppy, but then it got big. Then it wasn't so cute and cuddly anymore, use to have to sleep with him, sit in his lap, all that stuff. It drove me nuts and it wasn't even my dog. I don't see how you can tolerate three Ikran, much less the gigantic ones."
Yawne listened for a moment, took a deep breath and turned to Jake in a swooning kind of moping look.
"Well, Jake…" Jake recognized that puckered lips expression, but didn't have time to raise his hands or roll his eyes as Yawne naturally broke into song. "All you need is love." He began; Jake groaned and bowed his head in smiling defeat. "All you need is love!" Jake looked at Yawne, still looking at him sincerely with lips puckered. "All you need is love, love… Love is all you need." Jake shook his head, looking around as they were of course now being stared at, especially the Na'vi singing something about only needing him. "All you need its love! da~da~da~da~da~da!" Jake sighed, but by now Yawne was gripping Jake harshly, so of course he could not flee. Yawne continued the song, and the "music", well into the time for the meal to be ready, singing the chorus each time he handed back a filled bowl. Much. To Jake's smiling mortification.
…
Peyral and Neytiri sat together, high in Hometree upon a branch, surrounded by a sea of stars below their toes. The Ikrans sat among them nuzzling each other and the two Na'vi, who petted them affectionately back while speaking over a few things; mainly, mates. "Mo'at is sure it is not time?" Peyral was saying softly. Neytiri did not have to look up, her silence was answer enough. "My Yawne is not certain of the Sky People plans for the 'Avatars'… he does not know if he can conceive." Neytiri smiled kindly at the other Na'vi woman, though there was a great deal of emotion behind her eyes.
"I suppose this is why you have allowed these Ikran into your home and bed?" she said, but without a touch of scorn. Peyral smiled, petting the frill under Lawtaw's jaw.
"I suppose they are good practice." She laughed to herself, "But they do… 'get in the way' sometimes." She flashed her fangs.
Neytiri shared a devilish smile as well, "Sleep gets in the way of My Jake." They both laughed at this; their lives were busy, but at least they could confide in one another, still 'giggling girly friends' as Jake had once put it, which suited them just fine. If Jake could be a fool with Yawne, then Neytiri could be a fool with Peyral… just not foolishly in public. Neytiri had often made sure she and Peyral were completely alone beforediscussing anything of importance, or not; she was very private and dignified in public, so it was not often she actually cut loose as much as they did. This was, of course, the exact moment their ears perked forward and they caught the tale-tell sound of Yawne singing… probably at Jake. "All… you need… is him?" Neytri puzzled.
Peyral grinned just as devilishly, "All to myself, yes." She rubbed Lawtaw's forehead, as Neytri and she fell into giggles. The long and lonely sounds of singing carrying up past them and seemingly to the great planet which they orbited; starring down at them like a great eye, Pandora's shadow as the pupil; watching the events which began to unfold as far from their cooking fires, other cooking fires glowed, and five Na'vi sat in silent contemplation. The first wore a girdle of Ikran wings and a Lenay'ga head talisman, another the frill of Yerik as a mask and Talioang's crest around his shoulder, the third the crown of Angtsìk as a cape, the fourth the skull of Txan Nantang upon his shoulder, and the last bore claws of Txan Palulukan around his neck. They spoke of many things these five few, carried with them many weapons, many plans, and many dangerous thoughts.