XXVI: One Shot at Glory (XV)
The rage of the mob continued, echoing through the burning dome of the arena until the King stood regally. He looked down upon Jake and the spear bearing Na'vi with disdain, even as the beast worked its jaw back into joint with agitated hisses. "Tukru of the Shamed, why have you further shamed yourself this day?" The King boomed, silencing the crowd around the lip of the bowl. The Na'vi, apparently named, Tukru lifted his head proudly despite the Kings words of shame.
"Olo'eytkan Kerusey, Tshaik Tìrey… for my honor!" At this the crowd roared again, furious at his words, but he remained still with chin lifted. "You all know the song!" he shouted, quieting them slightly, "-of Peyral and her spear of cunning besting my own. You all know my Shame, of her sparing my life from the Ayzize' poison. She who was Omaticaya, sparing a known Nekxtskxe, one who had tried to slay her! And here, before me stands the future Olo'eytkan of the Omaticaya and its Tshaik in danger…" Once more he twirled his spear around him, slamming the butt into the stone of the cave, "I now repay my debt, I shall fight in their place!" The roar of the crowd was deafening, but the sound was mixed, chaos; Jake could not tell if they were pleased or displeased. They were blood hungry, he could tell, but the dissention among them seemed unable to decide whether it was an honorable thing he did or if he should even be allowed to do so.
Jake stepped forward as the crowd continued its rabble, "Listen, Tukru, you-"
Yet, Tukru held up his hand without looking, "You are not Peyral, Toruk Maktou… but you are her friend. Perhaps I may repay her for my life by saving yours." Jake frowned, uncertain what to do. He couldn't beat that creature by himself, and Tukru seemed more than skilled enough to face such a beast alone, but he also seemed very frail and weak. Jake didn't know if he was physically capable of fighting such a monster, despite his skill. Jake didn't have much choice. For in the murmur of the crowd, and the silence of the King, the beast had finally worked its jaw back into place, and hissed in baleful vengeance. Tukru took a defensive stance, readying himself. Jake slowly stepped back, "When I go, run to your mate." Jake's eyes flashed to Neytiri, still unconscious, vulnerable, beneath the spikes. Jake didn't need to answer.
With a furious high pitched bellow the monster charged again, claws pounding upon the rock floor, legs pumping in rhythm. Jake split off from Tukru, running the opposite direction and circling. The monster hesitated in its confusion, seeing two prey now instead of one, its steps faltering as it did not know which to chase- but Tukru was now running toward it. With a challenging cry of his own, Tukru hefted his spear high in both hands dashing forward like a pole vaulter. The Monster turned its head after Jake, then back to the advancing prey, it was closer. With an answering rattling roar it crouched low to pounce, Tukru continued to yell as he closed the distance, and the monster leaped! Time seemed to slow; Tukru spun, ducking low as he brought the spear around- the monster soared above him with claws and mouth agape wide, Jake looked only to Neytiri as his legs pounded- Tukru curled his body around the spear end, holding it forward like a great needle, and time returned with a sickening puncture. Unable to halt itself, unable to see the deadly skewer, the great Cave Thanator impaled itself fully as it landed with all its weight upon the spear… and Tukru himself.
With a horrible death rattle, the beast lifted its head and writhed, clawing at the ten foot barb piercing its flesh. Jake halted in his run, ducking low to see if Neytiri was alright, only then turning to watch the spectacle. The monster squealed in agony, and ducked its head, jaws snapping at the haft. Jake could only see its back as he heard the teeth crunch into the wood, and possibly more… he did not see Tukru. The crowd watched in rapt silence, as the beast lifted its head one last time to cry out in a whisper of death, before falling forward heavily… still. Jake held Neytiri close, her shallow breathing loud to his ears in the silence, and then- the monster moved. Jakes eyes widened and his breath caught as the beast shivered, twitching, it was impossible! Nothing could live with a javelin through its chest! Unless its heart was somehow- what did Jake know of its anatomy? The massive body shuddered, and then, fell to the side… slowly a slim figure stood, arm dangling uselessly. Tukru lived!
Jake felt his heart soar, though he did not know the Na'vi personally, "Yes!" he said triumphantly. But. the crowd did not share his enthusiasm. Silent as a tomb, they watched in disdain, all faces grim.
Tukru crawled out from under the corpse, the spear broken in half as well as his right arm. He would never use it again, but he was at least alive. Something the crowd, unlike Jake, didn't seem to appreciate. The King, Olo'eytkan Kerusey, still stood watching unmoved from his lofty height. Tuktru slowly walked forward, fell, and then rose to a kneeling position. "I…have repaid my debt."
The crowd was silent at his words, looking to one another, and finally all eyes uncertainly rested upon the king. "Tukru…" he boomed, "…you have shamed yourself." Jake couldn't believe it, Tukru looked just as confused, "You have slain our sacred beast, an honor meant for our guests. In this, you have robbed them of their glory, and so dishonored yourself." All at once the crowd roared in approval, now certain- and swayed- by the king.
Tukru looked about him in defeat, face as wilted as Jake's own in disbelief. This was crazy! And Jake could remain silent no longer, "Have you lost your mind?" He shouted, cradling Neytiri's head. All eyes looked to him. "Tukru risked his life for someone he doesn't even know, he killed a monster five times his size, for a stranger! How can you call that shameful?" Jake wished to say more, but he knew attacking their culture itself would only make him more of an enemy. He had to find a way to twist this in their terms, just as the King did.
"You are a stranger here, Toruk Maktou, what do you know of our honor? The honor of the people is greater than that of the person!" The king boomed, the crowd roared in agreement, adulation flowing wildly as the king posed grandly.
"AngtsìkShite!" Jake shouted over them, "He followed his personal code, laid down by the code of the people, and against his own peoples' wishes, he has followed that code! Their code! He has upheld the honor of his people!" Now the crowd again looked uncertain, once more turning to their king.
The king remained silent in the wake of Jakes logic, brow low and dark. "Very well Toruk Maktou, if you would guard the honor of one of our people… than you will guard his life." The king lifted his hand, and the gate behind them once more opened, revealing two more Na'vi in white loincloths and without markings. The crowd went wild, screaming in adoration. Jake gritted his teeth, he recognized them instantly, though both were malnourished. Txewk; the one Jake had defeated with a single lucky knife throw who wielded a club the size of a small child that may have crushed Jake easily, and the second, Txur; the massive Na'vi who defeated Yawne in a test of might, who carried no weapons for his name alone meant strength. "You should know of these, Toruk Maktou, they too were spared by the Omaticaya generosity. Shamed in their failure. Now, you shall give them a chance to regain their honor! It was you who defeated them in battle, by blade each, but they do not need to defeat you! No, they need only slay Tukru to regain their place among the Nekxtskxe; guard his life well Toruk Maktou, for if you fail, Tukru will die- and if you succeed, they shall die!" The crowd roared, and Jake looked around him disquieted. It was pure madness.
"You will not interfere, Txur." Txewk said loudly behind him. "This one is mine, you slay Tukru while I hold him off, and we shall regain our rightful place!" Txur said nothing as he split from Txewk, circling around Jake. Txewk walked forward slowly, dragging behind him a club without spikes, a massive knot at the end of a long curved stick.
Jake slowly rested Neytiri's head on the ground, standing. "You can't be serious, Txewk, Txur, you'd kill one of your own people?" but once Txewk was close enough, he whispered for Jake's ears alone.
"Oh no, knife wielder, I will not kill my comrade; only you." Jake's eyes widened as Txewk heft the club up to his shoulder, seeming unfazed by his slighter frame. "You bested me once, but no tricks shall save you now, I will kill you, and regain my honor my way!" Jake had no time to react, Txewk slung the club off his shoulder and forward like a tether ball. Jake had to fall backwards to avoid the massive club which sailed over his chest, dimly realizing without the spikes there was less air resistance, making the club even faster than before. Jake turned his backward fall into a roll, eyes flaring open as he realized he passed Neytiri, still unconscious. Would he attack her to get back at Jake? But Txewk paid her no mind, following through the flow of the heavy club to spin on his heel, using the momentum of the swing to turn himself and bring his other heel outward- the club continued in a batters swing now closer to Jake which he had to duck beneath!
"Txewk!" Jake shouted as he rolled sideways instinctively and Txewk brought the club around and then down in the middle of the arch, slamming it where Jake once crouched.
"You can not escape Toruk Maktou!" Txewk shouted. It seemed he wanted only Jake, a lucky thing, for Jake didn't know if he could protect Neytiri and fight for- all at once Jake remember Txur. Jake turned his head slightly, fear gripping him as he saw Txur and Tukru out of the corner of his eye, Txur was choking Tukru who flailed at him with his only good arm, Jake had to- "Where are you looking Toruk Maktou?" Txewk brought his crushing club around, sideways, Jake couldn't dodge it, he brought his forearm up braced by his legs- the full fore of the club struck Jake's defense without mercy or give. A blinding pain assaulted the side of Jake face and he knew for certain his left shoulder was dislocated and his forearm probably shattered. Jake slammed into the ground with an agonizing scream, echoed by the crowd who enjoyed every moment. Jake's mind clouded with pain and purple blots blocked his vision; he clutched his shoulder and forearm, though even this brought white hot pain shooting into his skull. He was dead, Txewk would capitalize and smash Jakes skull in- they would never get the burning rocks back in time, Mr. Smith would enslave the Omaticaya, and all of Pandora would suffer for Jakes' failure… but, where was Txewk?
Jake breathed harshly, blinking to clear his vision; he saw Txewk with his club lifted, and another Na'vi holding the other end. Could it…? It was. "Neytiri!"
She held the round end of Txewks club in her arms as Txewk tried to shake her loose with leverage, but she would not let go. "My Jake!" she answered. Neytiri held the larger end beneath her arms, using all of her weight to keep the heaviest part of the club close to her. Txewk growled and hefted in frustration, but she had the better leverage. Jake swiveled his head around, Txur continued to choke Tukru with his bare hands, though Tukru was trying to use his knee to break the hold. Jake spared one look back to Neytiri and Txewk; Neytiri thrust her chin in the other direction, leaving no room for argument. Jake turned, head still clouded even as he stood, trying desperately to clear his vision as he approached the struggling Na'vi and his shoulder burned.
…
"Let go you stupid girl!" Txewk roared as his prey escaped him. Neytiri hissed in return, pushing forward with her body weight and jabbing the handle of the club directly into Txewk's abdomen, which in his distracted and desperate state he did not dodge. The wind was knocked from him as Neytiri tried to wrench the club from his grasp. But Txewk recovered quickly, gripping the haft and pulling it into him further, using Neytiri's hold to draw himself up into a kick for her face. Neytiri saw the move and gasped, ducking low as his foot sailed over, then she used the movement to push the giant ball from her chest and upwards forcing the length of the stick right between Txewk legs. Txewk's eyes bulged and his breath left him a second time as he slumped over the handle and onto his back, yet he didn't let go. Neytiri used this position to draw the club end to her again and rip it from his hands, but Txewk was tenacious and it only jerked his arm outwards and his other sought to protect his center. Neytiri instead brought her foot up and her heel down directly into his exposed armpit. Txewk again yelped in pain as the shock numbed his arm and forced his grip from the club, finally releasing it into Neytiri's hands!
Neytiri held the odd weapon in both arms as Txewk writhed, rolling out of harms way as best he could, to regain some footing and distance. His face was burning purple from rage and embarrassment at being disarmed by this mere slip of an Omaticaya. "You little Insignifigan-!" but Txewk had no time for insults as Neytiri brought the club down upon him in a clumsy but powerful blow. Txewk rolled back as it slammed into the ground with a dead impact, Neytiri shouted in effort as she lifted it again for a horizontal swing. Txewk again had to duck away, cupping his center and armpit gingerly, the frustration clear on his face. Neytiri did not advance however, drawing the club back to her so she held it at the base of the knot, the handle sticking out behind her. She breathed heavily, her back still aching from the creatures' blow earlier. She didn't have the skill to kill him with his own weapon, a fact he enjoyed, but the fact she had it at all…!
"You weak, pathetic Omaticayan! How dare you touch my great club! I'll crush you, and mash you, and grind your bones into the dust!" Txewk shouted in his fury, Neytiri glared but remained silent. Her eyes turned to slits as she looked down at the club in her hands, she ran her eyes over the whole of it and back to Txewk as he cursed her. Suddenly, she stepped back, lifting the club high! Txewk prepared to dodge backwards, mouth clipping shut, when Neytiri slammed it into the ground carelessly and nowhere near him. What was the Omaticaya fool doing now! Txewk knew he had to regain his weapon, but his body was still pulsing in pain from her lucky strikes. Once more she lifted the club and slammed it down carelessly with all her might, was she trying to break the end? What kind of fools were these Omaticaya? Did they honestly think a Nekxtskxe great club would shatter after a few blows to the ground? Txewk looked on in disbelief as Neytiri again slammed the oval end against the ground, it was almost laughable if Txewk's true prey had not been eluding him.
He would have to finish this quickly, regain his strength, rip his club from her hands and dash her brains against the rock- but- for the fourth time Neytiri slammed the great club into the ground with all her might, at the precise angle and with the most precision of leverage grips, shattering the handle at the very base of the wood oval with a resounding crack. Txewk's eyes doubled in size, as the oval bounced away, leaving only a curved stick in Neytiri's hands. It wasn't possible! Nekxtskxe heartwood was unbreakable! Especially in the hands of a puny forest dweller! It couldn't be- Neytiri brought the curved stick around, now using the half a bow as a club of her own. Txewk was so shocked by her actions he could not react to her speed in time, as the much faster weapon whistled through the air and clapped squarely into his temple. Like a wet paper bag Txewk folded over, completely, utterly, unconscious. With a disgusted sniff, Neytiri nodded once, standing over her fallen foe; she turned her head to find Jake.
…
Jake half crawled, half ran as he closed the distance to Txur and Tukru. He heard Txewk shouting behind him, cut off as if the air was knocked from him, but he wouldn't look back. He trusted Neytiri to handle it, he had to. Txur's fingers were locked around Tukur's throat, and though he had lost much weight for some reason, he was still formidable and as large as Yawne himself. Jake's head pounded as he moved and with a bolt of pain, Jake found he could move his limp hand. Something about bones laced with naturally occurring carbon flitted through Jakes head as he realized only his shoulder was dislocated, but he still had to break the lock someho- a bloody smile danced across Jake's face as he launched into a football tackle with a great battle cry, shoulder first, into Txur's lower back. All three Na'vi gasped in pain, Tukur for air, Txur for his back, and Jake for having reset his dislocated shoulder against Txur's spine. Three bodies rolled on the ground for a moment, then Txur hissed. "Toruk Maktou, you would, attack from behind?"
Jake only coughed and laughed through the pain, "I am not Nekxtskxe!"