Chapter 1
His first memory was one of warmth. He remembered being surrounded in warmth and love and care, the feeling of coming home and being cherished and understood all at the same time.
Later, his mother would explain that was a memory of his first joining with Eywa.
But his first clear memory was different.
It was also warm.
He remembered clearly the feeling of Sylwanin's arms wrapped securely around him whilst her chest rumbled as she sang.
Sylwanin should never sing; it did not sound good.
However, she sang along the whole clan and the sound somehow got lost in the sea of voices that created a beautiful cacophony. The ceremony was at its peak, his mother and father presiding over it.
That was his first real memory; the Omaticaya Clan singing as one under the Tree of Voices whilst his big sister looked after him.
Similar memories followed, of him sitting at his mother's feet and learning the songs of the People, of his father singing him to sleep in his grave but soothing voice, of Neytiri humming as they followed Sylwanin, much to the latter's annoyance.
It was not long before he associated singing with the People.
"Nax'ir, pay attention." Chastised his mother.
"Sorry, mother."
Nax'ir stopped thinking about his memories and focused on the present as his mother started to teach him a new song. Songs, in the Omaticaya Clan, were stories.
This song was the story of the first Toruk Makto, Entu, along with Ralu ―both members of the Omaticaya Clan― and a member of the Tawkami Clan called Tysal, the three of whom set out on a quest to save the Hometree from prophesized disaster.
In the stories, Ralu was a fierce warrior who spent his time caring after his best friend, Entu, whilst Entu was a crafty and brave hunter who was set on saving his people. With the help of Tysal, who knew her people's art better than most, she used a sacred seed to help young Entu subdue the fierce Toruk.
The story was full of daring and twists as the three Na'vi overcame danger after danger with bravery, cunning and loyalty.
However, despite loving those stories and memorizing them easily, Nax'ir often found himself fantasizing about another story altogether.
The song of Taronyu was, without a doubt, his favorite.
Taronyu had been a member of the Kekunan Clan who spent eight days studying an individual ikran, learning its habits and customs, before the banshee felt threatened by its dedication, feeling it mirrored its own soul, and trying to kill him.
Taronyu then went on to become the first Ikran Makto and named the ikran Rotalyu.
Somehow, Nax'ir's favorite stories always involved an ikran.
He often dreamt of the day he'd earn his own and loved every moment of the few times his father's mount would let him pet him, of course with his father standing guard over them both.
"Nax'ir." He was chastised again.
The child ducked his head and muttered a sorry again before focusing with renewed vigor on learning the song his mother was trying to teach him.