p class="MsoNormal"It was almost impossible for Anat-Tiye to find time to seek an answer form JakeScully about riding an Ikran. Many things were happening in the clan, and she did not find her opportunity to question him about his promise./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Strange Navi landed on their shores. The Navi that humans create in their labs. Their smell wafted through the air like poisonous apples, and this angered Anat-Tiye slightly for it brought back unwanted memories./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She wanted to spy on them and eavesdrop, but she could not be certain that Neteyam wouldn't hear her with the silence of lack of Warriors yelling about. It was not until Kiri begged for the sisters to come and meet her friend, Spider that Anat-Tiye was able to assess what smell had burned her nose and made her feel uncomfortable./p
p class="MsoNormal"His real body would be in one of those strange alien-like beds that Anat-Tiye and Panya remembered seeing after being force into one of their ships long ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"But his Navi body was large, almost the same size as Neteyam but somehow, he was different. Kiri was excited to see him, and he picked her up and spun her around with a huge smile as she returned from grabbing the sisters where they isolated themselves in their pod. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""These sisters are my friends" she says, causing Anat-Tiye's heart to ache for only a moment ago she was cursing her very existence. "This is Talibah, Anat-Tiye and this little one is Panya!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""You smell very different!" Panya stated as she climbed on top of him and began sniffing him like an animal from the forest. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis took the two older sisters by surprise as Panya had not done this to a male since they had run from the Ashpeople./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Anat-Tiye watched him carefully and approached him for judgement. She wondered what it was that Panya could sense within him and she too started to sniff him. It was not usual for her sister to be this friendly with someone before, let alone a human Navi. He smiled at her, and she knew what it was that she could smell. It was his purity./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"What a strange creature, she thought as Panya began to play with him like the child she was. If the Scully's were shocked, they did great a hiding it. Instead, Anat-Tiye noticed they were cautious./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""emWow. They are really something!/em" Said Norm in English as he watched the sisters and looked over at his glowing screens. She jumped slightly as she had not seen him in the corner where he works with JakeScully on things beyond Anat./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The smell grew stronger, and she tried not to wrinkle her nose. This was Norm, the man Kiri would mention often. He was looking at her with such a fascination that it made her tense and she crouched down low to look at him properly. Now and everyone was looking at Anat-Tiye with caution as she assessed Norm with angry eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNeytiri looked angered at her mate and was avoiding their eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It is a pleasure to meet you. I must ask for I do not think I will get another chance. But can I take some samples of your hair?" he asked her in broken Navi, bowing to show respect. This was not the Navi way and she wondered why he was so strange even compared to the other human Navi she was once forced to meet. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Samples?" she asked in confusion, grabbing Talibah and putting her behind her body. Panya was still attached to Spider, but Kiri was closeby. Her mind became panicked at such a foreign word and it reminder her of all the time she was locked away in that strange place with beeping machines and screaming Navi children./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"em"She will attack you if you push your luck!" /emJakeScully said hesitantly as Anat-Tiye forgot all about them and began to reach for her knife./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Samples. A strand of your hair will do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neteyam stood up awkwardly, placing his body between his and hers./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""For your protection, Norm. He is not harmful. Just stupid." He answered, looking at her apologetically./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""He is scientist?" she answered looking past his figure and at the stranger sitting on the floor, causing his eyes to enlarge in surprise at the use of an English word./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I have seen you're type before. emScientist/em. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat is what they called themselves. These devils. Samples from Navi. To create human Navi. The human Navi that likes to kill and hurt. Is that why you want my hair? Are you a devil too?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Not at all. I am curious about your genetics and why you look slightly different to the Forest people and the Water people. I am learning about their differences and now there is you and your sisters completely throwing another twist in your biology make up!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""We are like Forest People. We grew on land and not in the sea. You do not need our samples."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""But you are different colours! Slimmer! Smaller! Slightly different facial features. And I heard you glow beautifully!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She turned to glare at Kiri, but she was pretending to be fixated on the fishing net that Tuk was forced to be weaving. Not that anybody was paying attention to their chores./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"There was tension in the air, and it angered her even further to think of such deceptions./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It was nice to meet your Spider friend, even if he is created from samples. Your heart is pure, Spider of the humans. Eywa can sense it. My sisters and I must leave. Do not trick me again like this JakeScully or I will not ever speak to you again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"And with that she left the hut angrily. Panya and Talibah followed for they knew of their sister's temper despite wishing to play with the newcomer./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"-/p
p class="MsoNormal""How do you know about the ways of the humans?" asked Neteyam the next morning as she watched the sunrise from where she floated in the ocean. She was awake before it rose swimming in the ocean, trying to get a Skimwing to let her bond with no such luck./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""That is none of your business." She replied, swimming away from him. She did not wish to speak to him after his family had tricked her./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I apologize if you feel wronged, but Kiri truly did just want to introduce you to Spider. You cannot punish her by not allowing her to see your sisters. She is very fond of you all." He said following her as she attempted to coax another Skimwing./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Listen Anat! If you listen to me, I will show you how to bond with these creatures." He said with exasperation as she swam further away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She halted and turned to look at him with excitement but quickly followed by a distrusting glare./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I do not know what Sky people you have met. But Norm is not like them. His clan are good people, and they protect us Navi. They are working with us, not against."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She looked at him curiously. "And then why did he want sample? Is it to do with what your father wishes to know about us?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He almost forgot to swim./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""And is what he wishes to know true?" he asked with determination and bravery./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I have already told you and your father this. No. We are not blessed with the ways of our mother's people. It died in the battle of Ash and blood, along with my people many moons ago."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I do not know why Norm wanted a sample, but it was not my father who asked. It was Norm when he first saw you and how beautiful you look. I promise."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She halted at his choice of words, but he did not look embarrassed. He looked determined and she grew wary of the lengths that the Scully's will go to for their 'intel'. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Now watch. You do not approach them. You wait for them to approach you. Just like Ikran. But this is different. Skimwings have had many riders and they do not give mercy to those who are learning. Ikran and Navi learn together but Skimwings do not. They have already learnt. They have all been ridden by the greatest Navi. You must accept that you will fail many times before you are ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He waited as he called one to him and he climbed onto, bonding with it instantly before taking off into the water. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe came back and got off slowly, holding it down as he allowed her to climb on./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It will fly and quickly. Do not fall off. When you dive, try to hold on as long as you can."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She grabbed her braid and watched Neteyam as she bonded with the creature. His eyes stayed calm, and he smiled as her eyes grew large with the weight of the creature's power./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"But he was surprised it did not take off in a rush like he thought it would, like he hoped it would. It considered her. Calmly. She smiled so large as she closed her eyes. And just like that they stood still without distress from the creature./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neteyam was so surprised as he had never seen such a thing, nor did he think it was possible. He had seen his sister with creatures before, but even she could not sooth a beast such as this./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She opened her eyes suddenly and gave him a wicked smile before taking off in flight and plunging towards the water where she fell quickly off, hurting her hand in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you okay?" he asked as he pulled her up and out of the water./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I am fine. I did not think it would be that scary at first. He seemed so calm and soft but when I thought of flight, he was vicious and mighty. I have never felt such a beast." She was elated and laughed with childlikeness. But she soon grew worried when she noticed his strange stare./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""What is it?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""They do not sit still for us first time. Not even for the greatest Warriors of the Meteyania."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She looked at him in fear and realized that after all her lecturing and glaring she gave her sisters, she was the one who almost exposed them by being foolish and forgetting herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"They had gotten out of the water, and she was making a rush for her pod as her brain racked itself for excuses. Anything she could say to make him understand without exposing them./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""The day I saved you in the water. I felt something strange. I slit that beasts throat and I felt the water move beneath my feet as another came to claim me." He hissed as she chased after her. She did not know where she was going, but it was a far from the sea as she could get./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""You must have been dehydrated from battle. All that sea water can make someone a bit crazy." She said, moving fast and swift through the trees. He was faster./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Do not lie to me." He demanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""We are children of Masaki. Our spiritual connection to Eywa is strong for our ancestors all lie with her." She said, turning to him and attempting to make amends for the mistake she made by being brave and giving him some piece of the truth. "I do not lie to you Neteyam, Great Warrior. It is truth. Once my mother had died at the hands of the Ash people's arrows, I do not enjoy talking about our bond with Eywa's creatures now she is dead for it is not worth the same as it once was. But it must have been luck that he was so clam, for I have not always had such luck with the creatures of the sea, as you are aware! Now, I do not feel well. I must find my sisters." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Strange Navi landed on their shores. The Navi that humans create in their labs. Their smell wafted through the air like poisonous apples, and this angered Anat-Tiye slightly for it brought back unwanted memories./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She wanted to spy on them and eavesdrop, but she could not be certain that Neteyam wouldn't hear her with the silence of lack of Warriors yelling about. It was not until Kiri begged for the sisters to come and meet her friend, Spider that Anat-Tiye was able to assess what smell had burned her nose and made her feel uncomfortable./p
p class="MsoNormal"His real body would be in one of those strange alien-like beds that Anat-Tiye and Panya remembered seeing after being force into one of their ships long ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"But his Navi body was large, almost the same size as Neteyam but somehow, he was different. Kiri was excited to see him, and he picked her up and spun her around with a huge smile as she returned from grabbing the sisters where they isolated themselves in their pod. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""These sisters are my friends" she says, causing Anat-Tiye's heart to ache for only a moment ago she was cursing her very existence. "This is Talibah, Anat-Tiye and this little one is Panya!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""You smell very different!" Panya stated as she climbed on top of him and began sniffing him like an animal from the forest. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis took the two older sisters by surprise as Panya had not done this to a male since they had run from the Ashpeople./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Anat-Tiye watched him carefully and approached him for judgement. She wondered what it was that Panya could sense within him and she too started to sniff him. It was not usual for her sister to be this friendly with someone before, let alone a human Navi. He smiled at her, and she knew what it was that she could smell. It was his purity./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"What a strange creature, she thought as Panya began to play with him like the child she was. If the Scully's were shocked, they did great a hiding it. Instead, Anat-Tiye noticed they were cautious./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""emWow. They are really something!/em" Said Norm in English as he watched the sisters and looked over at his glowing screens. She jumped slightly as she had not seen him in the corner where he works with JakeScully on things beyond Anat./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The smell grew stronger, and she tried not to wrinkle her nose. This was Norm, the man Kiri would mention often. He was looking at her with such a fascination that it made her tense and she crouched down low to look at him properly. Now and everyone was looking at Anat-Tiye with caution as she assessed Norm with angry eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNeytiri looked angered at her mate and was avoiding their eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It is a pleasure to meet you. I must ask for I do not think I will get another chance. But can I take some samples of your hair?" he asked her in broken Navi, bowing to show respect. This was not the Navi way and she wondered why he was so strange even compared to the other human Navi she was once forced to meet. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Samples?" she asked in confusion, grabbing Talibah and putting her behind her body. Panya was still attached to Spider, but Kiri was closeby. Her mind became panicked at such a foreign word and it reminder her of all the time she was locked away in that strange place with beeping machines and screaming Navi children./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"em"She will attack you if you push your luck!" /emJakeScully said hesitantly as Anat-Tiye forgot all about them and began to reach for her knife./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Samples. A strand of your hair will do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neteyam stood up awkwardly, placing his body between his and hers./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""For your protection, Norm. He is not harmful. Just stupid." He answered, looking at her apologetically./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""He is scientist?" she answered looking past his figure and at the stranger sitting on the floor, causing his eyes to enlarge in surprise at the use of an English word./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I have seen you're type before. emScientist/em. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat is what they called themselves. These devils. Samples from Navi. To create human Navi. The human Navi that likes to kill and hurt. Is that why you want my hair? Are you a devil too?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Not at all. I am curious about your genetics and why you look slightly different to the Forest people and the Water people. I am learning about their differences and now there is you and your sisters completely throwing another twist in your biology make up!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""We are like Forest People. We grew on land and not in the sea. You do not need our samples."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""But you are different colours! Slimmer! Smaller! Slightly different facial features. And I heard you glow beautifully!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She turned to glare at Kiri, but she was pretending to be fixated on the fishing net that Tuk was forced to be weaving. Not that anybody was paying attention to their chores./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"There was tension in the air, and it angered her even further to think of such deceptions./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It was nice to meet your Spider friend, even if he is created from samples. Your heart is pure, Spider of the humans. Eywa can sense it. My sisters and I must leave. Do not trick me again like this JakeScully or I will not ever speak to you again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"And with that she left the hut angrily. Panya and Talibah followed for they knew of their sister's temper despite wishing to play with the newcomer./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"-/p
p class="MsoNormal""How do you know about the ways of the humans?" asked Neteyam the next morning as she watched the sunrise from where she floated in the ocean. She was awake before it rose swimming in the ocean, trying to get a Skimwing to let her bond with no such luck./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""That is none of your business." She replied, swimming away from him. She did not wish to speak to him after his family had tricked her./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I apologize if you feel wronged, but Kiri truly did just want to introduce you to Spider. You cannot punish her by not allowing her to see your sisters. She is very fond of you all." He said following her as she attempted to coax another Skimwing./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Listen Anat! If you listen to me, I will show you how to bond with these creatures." He said with exasperation as she swam further away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She halted and turned to look at him with excitement but quickly followed by a distrusting glare./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I do not know what Sky people you have met. But Norm is not like them. His clan are good people, and they protect us Navi. They are working with us, not against."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She looked at him curiously. "And then why did he want sample? Is it to do with what your father wishes to know about us?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He almost forgot to swim./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""And is what he wishes to know true?" he asked with determination and bravery./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I have already told you and your father this. No. We are not blessed with the ways of our mother's people. It died in the battle of Ash and blood, along with my people many moons ago."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I do not know why Norm wanted a sample, but it was not my father who asked. It was Norm when he first saw you and how beautiful you look. I promise."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She halted at his choice of words, but he did not look embarrassed. He looked determined and she grew wary of the lengths that the Scully's will go to for their 'intel'. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Now watch. You do not approach them. You wait for them to approach you. Just like Ikran. But this is different. Skimwings have had many riders and they do not give mercy to those who are learning. Ikran and Navi learn together but Skimwings do not. They have already learnt. They have all been ridden by the greatest Navi. You must accept that you will fail many times before you are ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He waited as he called one to him and he climbed onto, bonding with it instantly before taking off into the water. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe came back and got off slowly, holding it down as he allowed her to climb on./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It will fly and quickly. Do not fall off. When you dive, try to hold on as long as you can."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She grabbed her braid and watched Neteyam as she bonded with the creature. His eyes stayed calm, and he smiled as her eyes grew large with the weight of the creature's power./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"But he was surprised it did not take off in a rush like he thought it would, like he hoped it would. It considered her. Calmly. She smiled so large as she closed her eyes. And just like that they stood still without distress from the creature./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neteyam was so surprised as he had never seen such a thing, nor did he think it was possible. He had seen his sister with creatures before, but even she could not sooth a beast such as this./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She opened her eyes suddenly and gave him a wicked smile before taking off in flight and plunging towards the water where she fell quickly off, hurting her hand in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you okay?" he asked as he pulled her up and out of the water./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I am fine. I did not think it would be that scary at first. He seemed so calm and soft but when I thought of flight, he was vicious and mighty. I have never felt such a beast." She was elated and laughed with childlikeness. But she soon grew worried when she noticed his strange stare./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""What is it?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""They do not sit still for us first time. Not even for the greatest Warriors of the Meteyania."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"She looked at him in fear and realized that after all her lecturing and glaring she gave her sisters, she was the one who almost exposed them by being foolish and forgetting herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"They had gotten out of the water, and she was making a rush for her pod as her brain racked itself for excuses. Anything she could say to make him understand without exposing them./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""The day I saved you in the water. I felt something strange. I slit that beasts throat and I felt the water move beneath my feet as another came to claim me." He hissed as she chased after her. She did not know where she was going, but it was a far from the sea as she could get./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""You must have been dehydrated from battle. All that sea water can make someone a bit crazy." She said, moving fast and swift through the trees. He was faster./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Do not lie to me." He demanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""We are children of Masaki. Our spiritual connection to Eywa is strong for our ancestors all lie with her." She said, turning to him and attempting to make amends for the mistake she made by being brave and giving him some piece of the truth. "I do not lie to you Neteyam, Great Warrior. It is truth. Once my mother had died at the hands of the Ash people's arrows, I do not enjoy talking about our bond with Eywa's creatures now she is dead for it is not worth the same as it once was. But it must have been luck that he was so clam, for I have not always had such luck with the creatures of the sea, as you are aware! Now, I do not feel well. I must find my sisters." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p