Pandora: The Final Solution
I gratefully acknowledge one of the foremost creative geniuses of our times, James Cameron, for conceiving the lush moon Pandora and the "noble savages," the Na'vi, that inhabit it. This story uses the characters and setting he created for his movie, Avatar. I have not received any money for my work based on Avatar. If I could get paid by the hour for these stories, I would retire and spend all my time dancing and writing in comfort.
Chapter 27: Mo'at – Rituals for Jake
Mo'at is sandwiched between Jake and Neytiri on the neck of Jake's toruk. Her "children" flew great distances together on this toruk, but this is her first ride. She thinks, "I must ask Jake for a longer ride, when he has time." Her ikran disappeared years ago, after tsahík training supplanted hunter training. She was heartbroken at the time, but became content to forego her flying partner. Her thrill of flight had become a distant memory, and she never found the time to take on a replacement ikran, with children, a spouse, and a clan needing every moment of her waking attention. She thinks, "The well was crowded when I left, where can we land?" Jake's toruk is pulling up after gliding down into the Well of Souls. Most of the well is housing the injured Na'vi who are staying near the sacred tree to access the healing powers of Eywa. Against a small part of the wall in the well is the field hospital set up and ran by the Avatar medical staff who are caring for the most seriously injured that could be saved. The largest open space is between this hospital and the tree, and that is the spot Jake is steering towards. Fortunately, the toruk lands without incident, unlike its first landing in this well the day Jake captured it. Neytiri jumps off first, and helps her mother to the ground. Jake slides down and rubs his toruk's jaw. The deck of the hospital quickly fills with staff whom have never seen a great leonopteryx up close before. After Jake breaks his bond, the toruk flies up and out of the well. It lands on the highest intact stone arch, scattering the ikran roosting there, who squawk their protests as they flee in panic. The toruk settles down and lays its head off the side of the arch, looking down at Jake, wishing it had a longer flight.
Jake looks to Mo'at and says, "I know you want to start right away, but I have got to talk to the captain of the Venture Star. He's been waiting overnight, and if I don't answer him now, he might fly before we're ready. I'll return as soon as I can."
Mo'at replies, "I understand, but don't take too long."
"Affirmative."
"That means yes?"
"Yes, it does. I'll return to you as quickly as possible."
"Good. I will be near the tree, waiting. Neytiri, go with him, and see to it that he doesn't take too long."
"Yes, mother."
"And bring his friends."
Jake looks as if he wants to ask another question, but Neytiri grabs his hand and pulls him towards the hospital. She lets go to climb up and over the railing, with Jake scurrying up close behind. The crowd parts for them, and then follows the couple into the largest hospital tent.
Mo'at runs around the tree to the encampment on the other side. The nearest group she encounters are convalescing warriors from the plains sitting in a circle, and she approaches them. "Hello, warriors."
One stands, turns toward her, and replies, "Hello, Tsahík of the Omatikaya."
She notices the speaker is much older than she expected, has one arm tied into a splint, and the other arm wrapped tightly against his body, typical of a broken collar bone. "Is there someone here who can run to take a message to Akwey?"
The warrior who greeted her replies, "I am Sawnoki, and Akwey is my clan leader. I can't use my arms, my pa'li rolled over me after it was hit and went down, but my legs are fine, unlike my friends here. I would be happy to take a message to him."
She looks at the sitting warriors and sees all have splints or bandages on their legs and feet, and a couple are missing lower limbs. "If you are up to it, Sawnoki, run and tell Akwey to spread the word that Toruk Makto will hold the war council here by the Tree of Souls, immediately after I give him his first bonding ceremony and All-Mother class. Toruk Makto invites all of his friends to these ceremonies, and will be honored by their presence. Everyone in all clans present are invited."
Sawnoki nods and says, "I have no trouble running to deliver this message. I have so many questions, but the role of the messenger is to pass along the message unchanged as quickly as possible. I will leave at once." He turns and runs towards the trail out of the well.
She yells "thank you" to his back. Without slowing down, he turns on one foot to look back at her, yells "your welcome," turns back on the other foot, and continues running towards the trail.
One of the remaining warriors asks Mo'at, "We're invited, too?"
"Yes. All friends of Toruk Makto are invited. He holds all injured warriors as special friends, because he was badly injured years ago, and like you, he was not able to walk for some time. I will be on the Tsahík's terrace." She points to a spot under the tree. "You will be able to see and hear the ceremonies from here. Please inform everyone in this camp."
"Thank you, Tsahík, we will spread the word. How is it that Toruk Makto has not had these ceremonies?"
"He has been with the Omatikaya for about 96 days, and traveled for almost six years before that. It seems he never had his childhood ceremonies, and has never attended them for others. I just learned that at breakfast this morning, and will be correcting these omissions shortly."
"Thank you again. We will be watching from here."
"I must be going. May Eywa be with all of you, and grant everyone a speedy recovery."
Most of the group answers, "May Eywa be with you."
Mo'at looks to the rear of the camp where food is distributed, and sees her clan mates that pointed her to Neytiri and Jake when she first climbed out of the well this morning. They are collecting empty baskets and pots to carry back to the food preparation area above. She runs to their leader. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Tsahík. We seem to be going in circles today."
"Yes, I didn't expect to get down here again until late in the day, but Eywa had other plans. I need one of you to run up to the clan and invite all Omatikaya that can get away to come down to the sacred tree as quickly as possible. Our clan leader has never had his first bonding ceremony or All-Mother class. I will give him these rituals as soon as he is finished talking to the leader of the tawtute flying machine that brought him to us."
Two pre-adolescent boys, both not far enough along in hunter training to be part of Jake's forces, put down their baskets. One says, "We will go and gather the clan."
Their leader asks Mo'at, "Is there time for them to take a load up to the cooking area?"
Before Mo'at could answer, the boy says "We can carry our baskets out of the well. But we could gather the clan faster if we leave the baskets where the trails split above."
The leader replies, "That will do. Go on now." The boys pick up their baskets and take off sprinting to the trail out of the well.
Mo'at looks to the leader and asks, "How are they doing?"
"Oh, they've been a big help. I think they're bored and disappointed being left out of the action."
"Like all boys that age."
"Yes. From what I've seen and heard from those in the battle, they're too young to be in it, but they yearn to be out there with Toruk Makto and their older friends and brothers. When they are adults, it will be hard for them to admit they were too young to be in the battle."
"We will have to help them get over that. I don't want to hold you up any longer. If you can get away, come back here as soon as you can."
"We will be back, Tsahík. I don't want to miss this, a first bonding ceremony after being bonded to a life mate and a toruk." The leader laughs in an exaggerated way, and then turns serious. "Jakesully always prevails, but his path is very surprising." The leader looks around at her charges, and with a big smile, mimics the warriors by saying, "Makto ko." They laugh as they pick up their baskets and pots, and start walking to the trail out of the well.
"May Eywa be with you."
"And with you, Tsahík."
Mo'at sees no activity on the deck of the field hospital, so she busies herself with helping the healers attend to the injured. She does what she can, but keeps an eye on the deck. Soon she sees Jake and Neytiri coming out of the tawtute healing tent, with Max and Norm trailing behind, followed by a number of humans and avatars. She thinks, "Good, Toktor Kari and Ketiking are with them. They need to see this." She takes her leave and runs towards the tree, climbing the terraces and stopping on the tsahík's terrace. Kneeling down, she reaches into an opening in the roots and pulls out a water-tight leather bag. She unties the bag and removes her neatly folded mantle. After sealing the bag, she slides it back into its hidey hole. She stands and carefully puts the mantle over her shoulders, missing the surrounding fronds. The throng of Na'vi around the tree falls silent. Many that are bonded with the tree break their bonds and move out from beneath the tree to join the audience. Jake is looking around the well, dumbstruck. It never occurred to him that this ceremony would be in full view of everyone in the Well of Souls.
Mo'at spreads her arms out and speaks to the crowd. "Welcome, friends of Jakesully, Toruk Makto and leader of the Omatikaya Clan. While eating breakfast this morning, he told me he was not familiar with the First Bonding Ceremony or the All-Mother Class." The crowd stirs, for this is a shocking admission for someone of his standing and apparent age. "He has been with the Omatikaya for about 96 days and has learned much in that time. Now, he will learn about these rituals. Since he is mated to my daughter, and is a rider of pa'li, ikran, and toruk, he has some experience with tsaheylu." The crowd responds with some scattered laughs. "I will do the First Bonding Ceremony now to introduce his spirit to Eywa." Mo'at motions to Jake, who just stands there. Neytiri grabs his hand again and practically pulls him up the terraces, stopping on the terrace below her mother.
Jake looks at Mo'at and softly asks, "Why are we doing this in front of everyone?"
Mo'at replies softly, "The family and friends are always invited for these ceremonies. Now pay attention, or they will be upset with you."
He nods. "Duty first, as always."
She smiles at him, and reaches out to turn him around, placing him between her and Neytiri, who also turns around and holds the hand of her mate for support. The crowd becomes more quiet now that Mo'at, Jake, and Neytiri are facing them. The toruk on the stone arch twists his head around to look beneath the tree at Jake. Even the remaining ikran sitting on the arches or hanging on the wall of the well settle down.
Mo'at speaks again in her ceremonial voice. "Eywa is the mother of all life on this place we call Eywa'eveng, Eywa's children. When a man chooses a woman, and that woman accepts his choice, they become mated before Eywa, and their spirits become one every time they make the bond together. When Eywa decides to correct the balance of life, She may entrust a spirit to the mated couple. When this baby is born, its tswin is not capable of tsaheylu. Between one half and one full year of age, its tswin matures enough that it becomes capable of making the bond. This ceremony is held at that time to reacquaint the spirit in the newborn body to the wonders and mysteries of Eywa, and to allow Eywa to examine the body encasing the spirit. If the tswin does not work, the clan leader will release the spirit to return to Eywa, as the spirit is isolated and cannot commune with Eywa or any of Her children. Once the bond is made for the first time with a sacred tree, Eywa checks the body containing the spirit. Living on Eywa'eveng is very hard, and even though Eywa provides us with everything we need, a few babies are not hardy or healthy enough to endure the rigors of life. In this case, Eywa takes back the spirit She has given. If the baby is able to endure life here, Eywa will touch its spirit, giving it some of the All-Mother's love. After that, the spirit will yearn for more love from Eywa, and will motivate its body to commune with Eywa through the sacred trees when possible. It is now time to introduce Jakesully to Eywa. Normally, I would hold the baby with one hand and use the other hand to bond the baby to the tree. I am not going to try to pick him up." Once again, some laughs are heard scattered around the crowd. "Eywa, before You now is Jakesully, your chosen Toruk Makto, a son and warrior of the Jarhead Clan, the last of his family, who traveled almost six years after the death of his parents and brother to be taken in, accepted into, and now to lead, the Omatikaya Clan. Examine him now and See his spirit that You entrusted to his parents. Now he will bond with this most sacred of all sacred trees, the Tree of Souls."
Jake kneels down and brings his queue over his shoulder at the same time. He grabs the nearest frond and holds it close as his other hand guides his tendrils toward it. They reach towards the frond, but can't make contact. Jake hesitates and looks up at Mo'at. "Now what?"
Mo'at steps down to him, bends over to his ear, and answers in a soft voice. "Hmm, babies don't ask questions. Close your eyes first. Do not speak. Ignore all noises and interruptions. Focus not on your senses, but on the bond. Banish all thoughts from your mind. Concentrate on Eywa so She may touch your spirit. When you begin to feel drawn in, will yourself into Eywa as if you are running as fast as you can towards Her. You shall know when She is touching your spirit. Now make the bond."
Jake nods, closes his eyes, and lets his tendrils wrap around the frond. Almost immediately, he goes through a tunnel of light similar to the start of a link. Then he feels the tunnel opening up around him, and now he is in a large open space, much like his dream hunt when he found himself standing on a floating mountain, facing a toruk. This time, the open space has a smooth floor and a light, cold breeze. The feel of this space reminds him of hospitals state-side after being med-evaced from Venezuela. Then he hears a familiar voice.
"Listen up, numbnuts. Don't make a sound, just think the words. Keep your mouth shut, and don't move your lips like you do when you read."
Jake thinks to himself, "Grace, is that you?"
Grace answers, "Of course, it's me. Eywa speaks to no one among the living, remember?"
"Right."
"Don't tell anyone I spoke with you today."
"I can't hide this from Neytiri. The next time we bond, she'll see whatever I'm trying to hide from her."
"Really? No wonder you're mated for life. Don't bond with her for awhile."
"No way. Are you trying to get me killed?"
Grace laughs. "OK, I get it, you're newlyweds. I understand. Swear her to secrecy, at least for now."
"She'll want to tell her mother."
"Get her to hold off as long as possible. Don't tell anyone else."
"Roger, that."
"I don't have much time to talk, this is your ceremony, after all, so listen closely. Eywa is allowing all clans to contact Tsu'tey through the sacred trees, all at the same time. You will have to introduce someone in each clan to Tsu'tey through a sacred tree. You need to keep someone bonded to a sacred tree 24/7 to get messages from him. This way, you have something like a phone, except everything must go through Tsu'tey in both directions. He knows about this arrangement and is ready to do this. Normally, Eywa doesn't allow those living in Her to pass messages to those who are alive, and Tsu'tey is the only one able to do that now. He will pass along messages for the defense of the Na'vi and Pandora, but he will not pass along personal or trivial messages. Make that clear, you know how Tsu'tey gets when he's unhappy with you. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am! Thanks, that's really great! How did you know I needed something like that?"
"While I've been conscious and cooped up inside Eywa, I've been thinking about what you need to deal with RDA. They'll never expect something like this. They never listened to me or paid attention to my research."
"Keep it up. I have lots to discuss with you when I have time. I have so many questions for Eywa, too. Can you pass them along?"
"I'll try, no guarantees. For example?"
"Can I teach the Na'vi hand-to-hand combat? How about Earth medicine and dentistry? When can I move into my avatar? When is the next ISV arriving?"
"Wow! OK, you can teach them hand-to-hand, that's like what they do now."
"What they do is more like high school wrestling, not deadly serious close quarters combat."
"Just make up Na'vi names for everything, and don't use any Earth terms, like sensei that I hear rattling around in your brain now. Can't help you with the ISV schedules, ask Max and Norm to find them. The flight plans for all ISVs on the Alpha Centauri circuit should be in the local net at Hell's Gate. Will have to ask the boss about the rest. Passing on Earth knowledge could be a big problem."
"Yeah, it hurts my head. Don't know how long I'll be at Hell's Gate today. I'll ask for you the next time I bond with a sacred tree."
"That's good. I went through hell while Eywa was trying to piece my mind back together, but She has a good enough handle on the workings of the human brain. My guess is that She should be able to transfer you any day now. Don't break the bond yourself today, let Her do it when She's finished with you, that will help prepare for your transfer."
"I've been told something like that already today. I'll stay bonded as long as I can. Wait a minute, if Eywa talks to no one, how do I tell the other clans to talk to Tsu'tey?"
"Ask the clans for ideas on how to communicate among clans more quickly. They'll start asking Eywa for help, and She will let them know about Tsu'tey. Just call for me the next time you bond, and we'll talk more. I've got to go, so you can get on with your ceremonies."
"Are you watching, too?"
"Of course! I'm a friend and maybe even family now, remember?"
"Yeah, you are definitely a friend, and a lot like my mother."
"Thanks, I think."
"Didn't think this was such a big deal when Mo'at brought it up."
Grace laughs. "Thinking was never your long suit." She laughs again heartily, and then her laughter fades away along with her presence.
Jake is alone now, and concentrates on clearing his thoughts. He feels the pull of Eywa, and mentally moves into it. As Grace left, the cool, clinical feel of this huge space went with her. Now this space is taking on a decidedly warm and comfortable, almost cozy, feel. He begins remembering his life. Growing up with Tom and their shared schooling flies through his head in a blur, with the only slow spots the funeral for his parents and the most memorable times with his first sweethearts. The remembrance slows slightly through his basic military training. His classes to qualify for First Recon are a little slower. His life speeds up again, he's glad his time in Venezuela and life after his injury are brief. The time at the RDA spaceport slows down. The time he spent with Neytiri goes by at the same slower pace, starting when she saved him from the pack of nantang, up until he bonded with the Tree of Souls at the start of this ceremony, slowing more only for last night and the night they became mated before Eywa at the Tree of Voices. With that, the images stop. His mind goes blank. All of the pressing issues that have dogged him this morning seem to evaporate, and he feels more relaxed than he has since he last woke up on Earth in the RDA spaceport. A calmness settles over him, and he feels like he is ready to take on the entire universe, not just the last shuttle craft from the Venture Star. He feels his surroundings change as his tswin lets go of the frond, and he opens his eyes. He looks up at Mo'at and asks, "Why do I feel so calm? I don't think I've ever felt so relaxed."
"That is the calm of Eywa. It means Eywa has touched your spirit. When you stay bonded to a sacred tree long enough, you will feel this calmness. Never be in a rush to stop. That is why you should bond as often as you can. I bond at least twice a day since I arrived here, after, …, after Hometree. The calmness really helps me cope."
"I got a hint of this calm the last time I bonded with this tree, when Neytiri brought me down here the night after the battle. I was really depressed with all the deaths, especially finishing off Tsu'tey. But I didn't feel as good as now."
"You must have broken the bond too soon."
"Yeah, she was standing there, looking so worried, I couldn't wait to get done. I'll give myself more time, now that I see what I've been missing. What do you want me to do now?"
"Stand up."
"Okay."
Neytiri rolls her eyes, looks to her mother, and says, "That also means srane. He has so many ways of saying yes, instead of just saying yes."
Jake stands up and looks over the crowd. "How did all these people get here? They weren't here when we started." He sees the leaders of the Plains and Eastern Shore clans standing right in front of him, with Akwey in the center. On one side is a crowd of healers and injured from their encampment on the other side of the tree. On the other side stands Max, Norm, and a group of avatars, some in white lab coats and the rest in casual Earthly garb. Next to them is a group of Omatikaya, young and old intermingled, including all children too young to help around the encampment and their mothers and minders. Overhead, sitting upright on the apex of the tallest stone arch, Jake's toruk bellows out a roar that echoes in the well. His ikran is perched on the adjacent arch, and cries a response. Everyone seems to have appeared in the blink of an eye. Jake yells to Norm, "How long was I out?"
Norm looks at his watch, and says "About fifteen minutes, maybe more. You've been in a trance the whole time. You didn't move a muscle, except to breathe. You had us worried, we've never seen you sit still for so long, except when you fell asleep doing your video logs up at site 26."
Jake looks to Mo'at, "Did you know I'd be out this long?"
Mo'at shakes her head. "With babies, it takes very little time. I was wondering if Eywa was going to take your spirit, even though you look perfectly healthy."
"She did make me remember my whole life, most parts fast, some parts slow."
"Maybe that is what took so much time. Babies don't have much to remember. I will have to meditate on your experience. What was fast, and what was slow?"
"My childhood on Earth was the fastest, and my time learning from Neytiri was the slowest, especially last night and the night we were at the Tree of Voices."
"Not what I would expect. I must think about it."
"Are we done now? I've got to get to Hell's Gate and lead the preparations."
"Not yet. I must perform the All-Mother class. Don't worry, it is short. I normally do this for children when they become old enough to understand their responsibilities. You will answer aloud when I ask you simple questions." Mo'at retakes her position on the terrace for tsahíks. Jake and Neytiri remain facing her, with their backs to the crowd. Mo'at again addresses the audience. "Now we will move on to the All-Mother Class." Mo'at recites the story she has repeated many times before.
"No one knows where Eywa was born. One of the First Songs tells us Her mother was a sacred tree near the top of a mountain. That mountain was a fire mountain, and one day, after Eywa had emerged as a seed but had not yet flown away, the fire mountain exploded. Her mother and the mountain top around her were blown straight up in the air, higher than any ikran or toruk can fly, higher even than the highest clouds. The rocks and dirt surrounded the remains of the tree, wrapping around it like a shell. The air became very thin and cold. The sky became very dark, blacker than our darkest nights."
"Her mother became very concerned for her atokirina'. Like all good mothers, the spirit of the tree was determined to protect her offspring. She struggled to place her seeds in a cavity in one rock, and used the last of her strength to wrap the rock with her fronds, sealing the seeds inside. Soon the mother died, knowing that she had done all she could. She gave her life to save the lives of her children."
"No one knows how much time that ball of rocks traveled in the darkness. The First Songs do not say, but it is believed that it flew for a very long time, more than many of our lifetimes. It was so cold, the seeds huddled together and fell asleep, and slept for the entire trip, trapped within the ball. Long ago, it arrived here, scraping against the sides of the highest of the flying mountains until sticking to the side of one, pushing that mountain down into the sand of a seashore. There was nothing but gray rocks and sand, dark water, and black skies with white clouds. The ball of rocks crumbled into a heap on the shore, after dropping off the floating mountain that drifted back into the sky. As the rocks fell apart, the remains of the mother, the dead wood and fronds, were exposed on the top of the heap. The fronds broke into splinters, releasing the seeds from the hollow in a rock. The warmth of the air brought the seeds back to life, and they woke up."
"One seed flew away over the water, and was never heard from again. Another seed flew away in the opposite direction, across the rocks beyond the shoreline, and also was never heard from again. Eywa flew up and hovered over the heap, until landing in a protected place in the middle of the heap encircled by the remains of her mother. Here, Eywa sprouted roots, and in time grew into a sacred tree. The rest of the seeds eventually flew out of the stone and settled in protected places on the heap, surrounding Eywa, and also sprouted. As they grew, their roots merged with the roots of Eywa, allowing their spirits to merge. In time, a small grove of sacred trees stood on the edge of the sea, all harboring the ensemble of spirits led by Eywa. This grove became the first Tree of Voices. However, there were no voices anywhere. Eywa decided that more voices were needed on this empty world."
"This grove began to produce its own atokirina'. Like all children, the seeds had to decide what to do with themselves. Some wished to be near their mother, so they flew to the edges of the grove and settled down on the sand. They took root and merged with Eywa. Others were more adventurous. Most of these flew away from the shore and landed where the sand of the shore met the rocks. They took root, and sent roots beneath the beach to join with the grove, and merge their spirits with Eywa. Some landed in the surf and took root under water. They sent their roots beneath the water and beach to join with the grove, and merge their spirits with Eywa. A few went too far away, and either died or could not reach Eywa. These losses made Eywa sad, but She still encouraged Her offspring to fly to places that made them happy. In time, sacred trees covered all places where seeds could grow, on the beach and in the shallow tidal pools."
"New seeds saw how crowded this area had become. They wanted to join with Eywa, and they also wanted space where they could grow. Some changed from sacred trees into other trees or bushes or plants, either bigger and taller, or smaller and shorter, to fit the space they wished to fill, and in time became the plants we see today. Even though these plants look different above ground, their roots intertwined with the sacred trees and that allowed them to merge with Eywa. Some also wanted to become different in a very unique way, able to move around instead of staying rooted in the same place for their entire lives. These seeds went out into the water. Instead of sending their first roots down into the ground, they sent their first roots back to the exposed roots of the plants in the tidal pools. They would float on the water, being moved by the wind and currents, moving further away as their connected roots grew longer. They merged with Eywa, but stayed afloat and moved as they could. Some learned to pull their root away from one tree and float until they could connect with another tree, much like our tswin. They used their other roots and fronds to steer and move around, and in time became fish. Some moved between the water and the land, and in time made changes for doing so, using fins as arms and legs, growing hands and feet, so they could stay on land. These became the animals we know today that live on the ground. A few animals climbed the trees, jumping from tree to tree, learning to fly by changing arms into wings, becoming the flying creatures we know today. All retain the ability to merge with Eywa, not continuously for their entire lives like plants, but when desired by bonding. In time, the land, air, and seas were filled with plants and animals, including us who call ourselves Na'vi, The People. All of these living things came from that very first seed that grew on the beach, the one containing the spirit of Eywa. That is why we call Her the All-Mother, for She is the mother of all living things. Do you understand how Eywa is the All-Mother?"
After a slight pause, Neytiri tugs on Jake's hand. Jake answers, "Yes, Tsahík, I understand. Eywa is the All-Mother."
Mo'at smiles, nods her head, and continues the story familiar to everyone present except Jake and his fellow humans. "All creatures retain some roots that can be used to bond with their own kind and with the roots that allow them to merge with Eywa. We call our root a tswin, the queue we use to connect to Eywa or Her children. Like many of Eywa's children, we live our lives mostly separated from Her, but the spirit within us has the need to join with Her. As children, we can bond with pa'li and later ikran, using them to move faster than we can run and higher than we can climb. When we become adults, we can bond with another adult Na'vi, and this is what we do when becoming mated before Eywa. Once our tswin becomes able to bond and all throughout our lives after that, we can bond with sacred trees. This is the closest bond we can make with Eywa while we are alive. Our spirit wishes to merge with Eywa, but She will not let that happen completely until the time is right, when our time among the living is over. Eywa is the mother of everything here on Eywa'eveng, and She wants you to live your life as best you can, before your spirit joins with Her forever. Do you understand that you must live your life as best you can before your spirit joins with Eywa forever?"
Jake answers, "Yes, Tsahík, I understand. My spirit will join Eywa after living the best life I can."
Mo'at continues. "We know each of Eywa's children, whether a plant or an animal, including you, one of The People, has a spirit that was given to it by Eywa. Each living thing contains a spirit, a part of Eywa that wants to grow up and have offspring and someday rejoin with Eywa after a long and happy life. We must recognize these spirits and do what we can to protect them. I know this can be difficult, there are many plants and animals that are dangerous. Why protect something that can hurt or kill or eat you? Why protect something you can hurt or kill or eat? Why, because we are all brothers and sisters of Eywa. As you grew up, you had duties to help your parents and siblings. Now you have duties to your clan and your mate, and someday maybe your children, Eywa willing." Mo'at smiles at Jake and Neytiri, who both blush and have tanhi that brighten. "Starting now, you have duties concerning the spirits around you and the spirit within you. For the spirits around you, you must protect and honor them. Kill only what you need to live, and be as quick and painless as you can when you must. You should always thank the plant or animal you kill for its sacrifice to help you live. As you learn to gather, you will learn what may be taken from each kind of useful plant so you do not kill it. Of course, we eat some roots, so we cannot avoid killing those plants when we gather them. As you learn to hunt, you will learn to kill the old or injured, and never kill babies or mothers with babies unless absolutely necessary to sustain Na'vi lives. Always leave enough of each kind of plant or animal so that they may have offspring that can feed you and your offspring in the future. Do you understand that you must protect all life, to take only what you need, and thank the spirits for their sacrifice?"
Again Jake answers, "Yes, Tsahík, I will protect all life, take only what I need, and thank the spirits of the living things I take to feed myself or others."
"To keep your spirit well, you must bond with a sacred tree whenever you can. Most people prefer to bond at least once every 8 days when a sacred tree is nearby. Never go more than 64 days without bonding. If you go longer than that, you risk getting a sickness of the spirit that everyone can see. If someone tells you that you have this sickness, go bond with a sacred tree as quickly as you can. If I see this sickness in you, I will take you to a sacred tree myself. Do you promise to bond with Eywa as often as your spirit requires?"
Once again, Jake answers, "Yes, Tsahík, I will bond with Eywa to keep my spirit strong and well."
Mo'at says, "Good. Remember your responsibilities to Eywa, and live them every day of your life. All Na'vi have these responsibilities, so when you have questions, discuss them with those around you. All tsahíks will be happy to help you understand what Eywa demands from us. That concludes the All-Mother Class." Mo'at takes Jake's shoulders and turns him around towards the crowd, and Neytiri turns around at the same time.
The crowd breaks into hoots and shouts, banging weapons as they yell, cheering on their leader and Toruk Makto after this reaffirmation of their beliefs. Even his toruk and numerous ikran squawk raucously, adding to the thunderous din. Jake is amazed, this is the loudest response he has heard from a gathering of Na'vi, normally a very quiet people, louder even than the rock concerts he attended on Earth. Neytiri told him these things before, but he never appreciated their importance to the Na'vi until now. Her "tree hugger crap" has now become his way of life, both physically and spiritually.