XXXII: God Hand (XXI)
Peyral quickly put the pieces together, whipping her head around; for some reason Yawne was fighting that brute of a Na'vi while the others watched, and more so, each Na'vi around her was covered in P'all's powder. Yawne had several dark blotches on his skin, bruises of very strong impact, while the other Na'vi had hardly a blemish meaning the fight had gone badly. Yawne must have had to resort to getting some of the powder into the giant's mouth to cause another fear reaction, but in doing so got some on himself and also fell into the depths of fear. It was a brilliant maneuver but left him vulnerable to the crowd who were milling in confusion. "My love, what have they done to you?" she said softly to him alone.
"I'm going to lose, I'm going to lose!" he babbled, hysterical giggles climbing higher in pitch; she had only seen this during his worst bouts of emotional conflict, but those were mainly due to his storms infused by Eywa, this was different. Though his eyes were dilated they latched onto Peyral, and he tilted his head and ears to her, clearly conscious acts. Was the powder weakened? Peyral looked again to the thrashing giant, who was now clawing at the cave moss and stuffing it into his mouth gibbering madly; yes, it had to be, otherwise they would both be trying to flee… was Yawne fighting the powder's effect? "If I lose the people will burn! They'll burn! I can't lose!" he giggled, gripping his hands into his shoulders and shaking himself violently. Peyral licked her lips, Yawne had the most experience with controlling unwanted sudden emotional spikes- more than anyone she had met in her entire life- with enough time he might power through the fear, giving him a clear advantage in this fight which must have been direly important, but by the lessening tremors of the giant, he too seemed apt at controlling emotion. How would she stall if she needed to?
"You have no right to interfere outsider!" someone screeched, Peyral turned to see the crowd were now closing in with fury on their faces.
"Tear her skin off, mount her on the wall!" another cried.
"I can't lose… I can't lose…" Yawne moaned hopelessly.
"Boil his bones for the bone queen!" yet another added.
"ENOUGH!" roared the gigantic Na'vi, his hand outstretched though he knelt still; breathing heavily, massive frame like some kind of neo classical statue. "This is, MY, fight!" he clenched his eyes shut, still fighting the raging fear.
"I can't… lose… I, can't… lose?" Yawne moaned quietly.
"He is, mine to do with as I wish!" Kerusey stood, bringing his hands to his head and then down into powerful claws, eyes clearing even as he spoke; "You are all mine, to do as I please. I am Olo'eytukan, it is my birth right, you are all weaker than me, you are all powerless compared to me. I am strong, I am Kerusey! I decide what happens to the outsiders, I decide when we fall upon the Omaticaya, I have the power, I am in control!"
Suddenly Yawne flipped to his feet, knocking Peyral over from the force and speed, "I can't lose!" he shouted triumphantly.
Kerusey glared, his head pounded, but the pain only fueled his hate for the silver hair. "You have already lost, silver hair, you can not defeat me in battle! I will kill you!"
"You're right." Yawne said simply, breathing like a cage fighter.
Kerusey was taken slightly off guard by this unflinching statement, but he laughed all the same as his head slowly wound down into a dull throbbing and he fixed his frail opponent with a snide grin. "Then you give up?"
"Never." Yawne said just as unflinching. Kerusey only stared in confused disgust; Peyral got to her feet, but the moment she saw Yawne's face, she couldn't speak. "I have died a thousand times and suffered a thousand times more, I have fought more battles than you ever shall in your entire life time; I have passed through the eye of Eywa, fallen buried beneath her arms, and lost myself in her very heart itself; I know pain, I know death, and I am not afraid. I have lost it all and regained these spare moments, each one- despite pain, misery, or discomforts, or boredom, tedium, or failure- have all been a gift, and I treasure every second- no, I love every moment more I get to live. So you see, yee mighty… you can break my bones, shatter my body, carve my flesh, kill me, but you can never beat me. You can't win, because I can't lose." The entirety of the Nekxtskxe were silent in the wake of this speech, even Kerusey who glared in incomprehension. The silence after such a powerful and passionate declaration drifted through the whole of the burning mountain, touching each who heard it, in a strange indefinable way… until Kerusey broke that silence as a fist through ice.
"Clearly the tales of the Silver Hair were not simple exaggerations, he is mad." Kerusey said to the crowd, no longer deeming his 'opponent' fit to address.
"And your momma wears combat boots." Yawne grinned.
"Enough of your mockery, I see I have wasted my time in this, you are not worthy of the challenge." Kerusey snarled as he turned away.
"Oh I see, running away are we?" Yawne said with a peculiar accent.
Kerusey froze, and turned darkly, "Watch you tongue, mad one, before I rip it from you."
Yawne brought his hands up into a boxer's stance, "Would that be a case of Cat got my tongue? Or maybe tongue fu?"
"I tire of your chatter, Silver Hair!" Kerusey growled stepping forward.
"My love, what are you doing?" Peyral said, touching his arm.
"I'm loving it." he grinned wildly, and began to dance. From foot to foot he shuffled, thumbs and pinky finger sticking out as he balled his fists and rubbed his nose. "C'mon fat boy, round two!" Kerusey advanced, face steel, hands at his sides. He only need snap this fool in half. "oh I'm so pretty, I'm send you to bolivion!" Kerusey reached out but Yawne twirled under and up into his arms, closing the gap between them by entering his attack range first, as if Kerusey had overreached, but before Kerusey could compensate Yawne straightened his leg into a straight side kick the force of which threw the off balance Kerusey back and directly into the crowd. The crowd folded as before, but were not quick to produce the now bewildered Kerusey. Yawne left his leg outstretched, eyes wide, "WAAAATAAAOOOooooOOoo!"
Kerusey glowered at this latest insult to his injury and tore himself from the crowd, snarling as he did so, and setting himself once more into the classic wrestler's pose. Yawne however, continued to dance. Kerusey stared hard at his feet, trying to find the rhythm and upend him, one snap of his fingers and it would be over. Like a blue viper Kerusey lashed forward, lunging with the same uncanny speed, Yawne completely ignored this motion- whether to attack him or defend against it and did a complete spinning round house kick. Kerusey easily blocked the strange unseen move but was thrown off his attack in doing so, but he did not expect the silver hair to continue his spin despite the block and turn his back on Kerusey. Kerusey had a single moment of confusion as the Silver Hair continued to dance, completely ignoring his presence directly behind him, Kerusey reached out almost in a stupor when the back of Yawne's fist shot up and took him directly in the nose. "AHHTAAA!" Yawne shouted. Kerusey didn't flinch, despite the power of the blow, but gripped Yawne's wrist instead.
"Now you insufferabl-" Kerusey didn't get to finish his triumphant taunt, because Yawne immediately dropped to the ground, hanging from his wrist and letting Kerusey support his body weight like a dangling yo-yo, he then spun, in a sweep taking Kerusey's feet out from under him. Kerusey quickly let go to catch himself, and Yawne used this crouched position from being dropped to leap upwards and bring his heel down. Kerusey saw this, rolling out of the way as Yawne slammed it not a few inches from him.
"AWaaawwwwwaaaa!" Yawne screeched again.
Kerusey rolled back into position, glaring, jaw set. He could not predict Yawne's movements, he was not moving with any kind of intent- completely unlike the great Palulukan who stalked or the mighty Toruk who circled, the silver hair did not even try to figure out with his eyes nor plan his next motion- it was if he was spontaneously reacting to every situation without thought, but to do that… one would need a mind which worked like lightening. Kerusey drew himself up, taking scope of the still dancing Na'vi. His random actions left Kerusey with no alternative, if Kerusey could not predict and thus avoid his attacks… he would power through them. Like a massive blue bull Kerusey roared and charged forward, Yawne didn't move out of the way nor even pause in his dance steps as he came to meet Kerusey. Kerusey launched his iron hands forward, seizing Yawne by the forearms, even as Yawne seized him by the wrist. Kerusey planted his feet quickly intending to throw this upstart against the wall with all his strength and break him like a stone jar. But Yawne, was already throwing himself, under Kerusey.
Using the leverage of his wrist, and Kerusey's much greater height and weight, Yawne scissor kicked between his legs, and used the counter pull of Kerusey's arms to overbalance Kerusey ontop of him in a classic, "JUDO FLIP!" Kerusey couldn't' understand why his body was now sailing into the wall. Kerusey shook his head, trying to make sense of it, only then realizing the Silver Hair still had his wrist. Kerusey turned, as Yawne did some sort of rolling flip locking Kerusey's arm in a classic armbar, and pulled. Kerusey felt his wrist pop out of joint before the rage in him took over, and he used that impossible power of his great upper body to fling Yawne into the wall. Yawne was not fast enough to let go and hit with his back full force. Kerusey stood then, ignoring the hot iron in his wrist, and launched a kick into Yawne's midsection, again throwing him to the wall. Kerusey roared as he did it again, and again, each time throwing Yawne into the solid unforgiving rock. The crowd cheered, Peyral screeched in horror, but the crowd had her and she could not pull away.
Only after Kerusey had exhausted himself from kicking for the fourth time in terrible fury, did he back away and bring his stressed wrist to his sight. Kerusey had been a fool; loosing control of his breath and his temper, he had allowed his wrist to swell and make his hand useless to him. If Kerusey had attended to it immediately instead of vigorously sending blood and adrenaline through it by attacking Yawne, he might have been able to reset it. As he was Kerusey had to catch his breath, flicking his wrist and generally looking worse for wear. But, at least, he had taken out the confounded silver hair. Kerusey turned, feeling his victory somewhat dampened by the injury to his hand, and by the effort he had to use to finally defeat the annoyance. Yawne still lay crumbled, arms tucked beneath him. Kerusey expected, much like the upstart Toruk Makto, his ribs were shattered- for Kerusey had held back nothing in his anger and it was certain Yawne's ribs were dust. Kerusey knew well his abilities and he knew a single one of his kicks could break bone in one of the Nekxtskxe, let alone a Oma- the crowd silenced. Kerusey turned. Yawne was already standing.
Kerusey gaped, holding his wrist impotently; Yawne had both arms wrapped around his waist yes, but he was breathing perfectly fine if not pained, controlled pain. If his ribs were shattered, he would have been spitting blood by now, let alone standing! Yawne protected his abused midsection, swaying slightly. "How." Kerusey said softly, then again in disbelief, "HOW?"
Yawne grinned with sharp teeth, "My bones, have already, been crushed, remade harder… better, faster, stronger!" Kerusey's eyes widened, but his pride would not be dented again, ignoring all else he came forward. Intent on once more powering through, but watchful of Yawne's flipping trick- this time, this time he would not rise! Kerusey lashed out like a fencer with his good hand, Yawne weaved backwards stumbling. Kerusey stomped and lunged again, mirrored by Yawne who could only stumble, swaying out of his grasp in the opposite direction. Kerusey took pleasure nor hope in these pitiful dodges, though he knew it to mean Yawne was now so enfeebled he could little more than barely move out of his way. Kerusey had been pushed to far, made a fool of by a fool, and he would not let his guard down until the Silver Hair was pulp beneath his heel. Again Kerusey swiped, determined to continue, until at last Yawne could dodge no more but again Yawne so was rushed and weak he could only stumble out of the way… as if drunk. Kerusey never saw the fist with hooked fingers slam into his throat at the base of his neck.
Swallowing hard, Kerusey back up only a single step, -a fluke?- but Yawne was falling forward in a tipsy sway, again his hand snapped out. Kersey got his hand up this time but the second nearly got past his defense and slammed instead into Kerusey's quick defense- right into his injured wrist. Kerusey snapped his injured hand back instinctively, forgetting it in his ignoring it, Yawne barrage of three hooked punched slammed into Kerusey's face in a blink. Kerusey swirled, throwing his good arm out to force Yawne back in a back handed sweep. Yawne bent like a bamboo letting the fist swish over him before springing back up and landing both hooked fists into the very back of Kerusey's head. Kerusey rolled forward, returning back into his stance as he stared in disbelief, echoed by the crowd who gasped and stood in stock shock; even Peyral. None of them had seen such movements, such fighting style, if it was even that- it all seemed so haphazard and unplanned, so very drunken.
Kerusey was not to be dissuaded though, he would adapt, so he thought; with a cautious approach this time, he neared the still swaying Yawne who continued to clutch his mid section in hooked fists. Kerusey narrowed his eyes, trying to make some kind of sense of the nonsensical. He knew well he could no longer power through, it risked too much injury to himself, and to his pride. Yawne was a cornered animal, trapped by the countless Nekxtskxe around him, he had nowhere to go, but if Kerusey wanted to prove to all those watching eyes he was fit to not only lead but rule his people, he would be forced to confront this… bizarre fighter. All the pressure was upon Kerusey's massive shoulders, fighting to keep his position, to prove his lineage and his culture, Yawne was simply trying to stay alive… and for that Kerusey was truly disadvantaged, he had everything to loose and Yawne everything to gain. Kerusey, the mighty, now faced a foe he couldn't simply defeat… he had to destroy him.
Kerusey unconsciously licked his lips, trepidation finally breaching that wall of generational arrogance as he again leaped to attack and Yawne swayed from his path, lightening quick fists shooting out again and again. He was no longer playing with Yawne, but facing him as an equal… and in that, unknowingly forcing Yawne up to his level even as his own level fell in the eyes of his people. As they continued their battle, the people watched in confusion; they were not fighting Yawne, not there being forced to react or act and being strangely turned at every turn, they only saw the smaller, weaker, weakly swaying Na'vi somehow dancing circles around the much larger and stronger king. None cheered now, none felt the rush of blood lust for during all of this, the powder had worn from them completely and all were now drained of emotion… watching dumbly, disheartened, and attributing all of it to the failures of their own King. Eyes began to watch now, in anger, and hate for Kerusey making them all seem like fools. Weak fools, for how could one without scars, with greater strength of body and ageless dominance… be unable to defeat the smaller, hurt, and thoroughly scarred Silver Hair? Very slowly… dissent took seed.
Finally Kerusey launched a kick of his own at Yawne's side, Yawne tipped forward, leaning against the extended leg and rolling along it to land two hooked fists into Kerusey's stomach shouting as he did, "HADOUKEN!" Kerusey was thrown off balance and Yawne capitalized, stepping forward again landing combinations of fists into Kersey chest and his wrist if he tried to block, Kerusey continued off balance trying to regain his footing but Yawne was now relentless. "FOR JAKE!" Again he stepped forward, again three hits, left, right, both; "FOR NEYTIRI!" left, right, both- Kerusey stumbled onto his other foot, "FOR PEYRAL!" left, right, bot- Kerusey gripped Yawne's wrists, shouting in frustration! Yawne leaped using the grip to land both of his heels directly into Kerusey's face and back flip landing on his feet, "FOR-ME!" Kerusey rocked back, hitting the wall as Yawne crouched low- eyes hard steel. "And this… IS FOR YOU!" Yawne leaped bringing the full force of his entire body into his right fist, upper cutting Kerusey in the jaw so hard, his great body was lifted by the sheer force. They floated, gracefully almost, as Yawne spun in mid air the beautiful dragon upper cut sending the giant Na'vi crashing down. Hard.
Yawne landed with all the poise of a cat, stunning all who looked on in absolute awe. Yawne stood slowly, still clutching his midsection. Kerusey remained on the ground, but lifted his hands to his face. Yawne watched, all watched, as Kerusey slowly rolled to his side and pulled himself to his feet. After such a terrible barrage, it was amazing anyone could stand, but Kerusey, the King of Nekxtskxe stood. Generations of fathers telling their sons they could not be weak, could not fail, could not fall or lose, hammered in Kerusey as by sheer will he stood. The crowd watched captivated as the monstrous Na'vi, righted himself and turned to face Yawne, breathing like a freight train. Yawne watched this and slowly walked forward. Kerusey let his arms hang limply, exhausted and pained, and drained more then he had ever been. "You, can't, defeat me… I am… King… I am… strong… I am… Kerusey… I am, the Nekxtskxe… you, are nothing…" he rasped. But Yane only continued to approach and stand sideways directly before him. Kerusey lifted his shaking hands, landing them on Yawne's neck. Yawne lifted his right hand directly up to Kerusey's face and placed his pointer finger on his forehead. "My people will crush you… and your people!" he began to squeeze.
"The Nekxtskxe are my people." Yawne surged forward, putting his entire body weight into a single punch and though it was only a bare finger's width, only an inch away, the force of it sent Kerusey back into the wall as if he had been thrown by a hurricane or struck by lightening. His great body crumbled and lay still, completely, utterly, absolutely, undeniably, unconscious. Kerusey the mighty King under the mountain, had been defeated. The wake of this proclamation was felt by all, as Yawne stood defiant over the much larger body before him. He turned to the crowd, face a set mask with silver mane flowing around him like a storm cloud, and his own heaving body the force of that storm with all the jagged lightening playing across his skin. He motioned for Peyral to come to him. Peyral realized herself and nearly startled, coming forward in awe, she got within inches of the godlike being before her who she had thought she'd known all her life. He bent close to her, whispering in English which the Nekxtskxe did not understand. "Catch me, I'm gunna fall over."
Peyral quickly wrapped her arms around him as he did the same, appearing to embrace her victorious lover even as he actually collapsed onto her shoulder. The Nekxtskxe saw only the show and remained absolutely silent. Deathly silent. They looked upon them with hard eyes. Peyral and Yawne breathed against each other, uncertain. The air was thick with silence and apprehension, none moved a single muscle. Then… one bowed; kneeling to the ground, then another, and another, and finally as one the rest fell to their knees. Heads lowered in silence; solemn faces and some even thankful- for yes, even among the Nekxtskxe, cruelty was recognized and tolerated but not enjoyed, and like a band-aid ripped quickly, the healing wound allowed to breath, they were relieved to be free of the fear of the oppressive Kerusey. As one the white bodies fell and raised their hands in supplication; all accepted Yawne easily because it was the Nekxtskxe way. The strong ruled the weak and in their eyes, Yawne was the strongest Na'vi on the face of Pandora; the new King and Queen of the Clan of the Burning Rock, rulers of the toughest and most brutal of all Na'vi and the Kingdom of the Burning Mountain. Yawne continued to whisper in English for Peyral's ears alone, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow."