Part 1: Flee of the Fallen
Chapter 3: Beyond Pandora
Index Table:
Neural Queue:A specialized organ, resembling a braid, that Na'vi use to connect with other creatures or the environment, allowing them to form a physical and spiritual bond.
Spirit Tree:Also known as the Tree of Souls, a sacred and powerful tree that connects the Na'vi to their ancestors and Eywa, the deity representing the interconnectedness of all life.
Ikran:A large, colorful flying creature, also known as a mountain banshee, that the Na'vi bond with and ride. The bond between a Na'vi and their Ikran is deeply spiritual and lifelong.
Pandora:The lush, habitable moon where the Na'vi live, known for its rich biodiversity and bioluminescent flora and fauna.
Na'vi:The indigenous humanoid species of Pandora, known for their blue skin, bioluminescent markings, and deep connection to nature.
Bioluminescent Markings:The glowing patterns on Na'vi skin that light up in the dark, reflecting their emotions and connection to the natural world. These markings are unique to each Na'vi and add to their ethereal appearance.
Ra'evani's vision blurred as the light consumed her.
The comforting glow of the Spirit Tree started to fade, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. Just before everything went dark, she began to see shadows, faint and flickering, like reflections on water or dying flames after a night of strong wind. Her father's silhouette stood tall and resolute as he put his arm around her mother's shadow, tender as a healer of their tribe. Locke's shadow flickered, as if a child hiding restlessly from the attention of the public. Nataya, her twin brother, just as strong as she remembered, stood motionless while little Elara's shadow clung to their mother's side.
"Nataya," she breathed, but he stood unmoving. She couldn't see his face, but she had known her brother's stare all her life. Then the silhouettes began to flicker and slowly fade.
"Mother! Father! Don't leave me, please! Mother Tree, I beg this of you, please!" Rae pounded against the invisible wall that separated her and her family. She reached out to the shadows, only to watch them slip through her fingertips like water, a mere shadow among the rest of the world.
Suddenly, a radiant being emerged from the shadows, its presence commanding yet comforting. The being was tall and regal, with an aura of light that seemed to emanate from within.
Rae only knew one being that could have such a divine presence. "Mother Tree?"
"Ra'evani," the being spoke, its voice resonating with power and kindness. "I am one of the Valar, the guardians of this world. Your path lies in a land far from here. You are destined to be one of the guardians, protectors of the forest. Embrace your destiny, and you will find the strength to heal and bring light to the darkness."
"Wait!" Rae stretched out a hand as if to touch the aura of the divine, only to be lifted and carried by an unseen force, warm and welcoming as the Spirit Tree. The world around her swirled in a kaleidoscope of colors as everything unfolded.
"Pxasik!" she cursed in Na'vi, knowing full well the living creatures around her might be amused by a premature Na'vi young woman saying the disgraced word "damn it."
Speaking of which...
Rae slowly sat up and looked around.
The ground was covered in a lush carpet of moss, soft and cool under her fingers. Around her, a variety of plants thrived, their green leaves shimmering with dew. Small ferns and bushes crowded together, creating a dense undergrowth that seemed to pulse with life. Though to Ra'evani, who stood eleven feet tall—considered tall even in her Na'vi tribe—these plants appeared diminutive, almost delicate and fragile in comparison to the flora she was accustomed to. Looking up, she noticed that the trees here were not bioluminescent like those on Pandora. Instead, their bark was a deep, rich brown like the soil after the spring rain, and their leaves were a strange vibrant green of the summer. The forest floor was dotted with tiny mushrooms.
Before she could fully comprehend her surroundings, she heard a sound that brought immediate comfort: the distinct cry of Lizard, her Ikran. The majestic creature descended gracefully from the sky, its wings casting shadows over the forest floor as it landed nearby.
"Lizard," Rae whispered, reaching for its neck for a good scratch as the Ikran nuzzled closer.
A twig snapped.
On instinct, Rae jumped to her feet with the grace only the Na'vi could achieve and tugged Lizard toward one of the closest bushes, which, of course, barely hid them. What small plants this place has, Rae thought, rolling her eyes.
Grabbing Lizard's rein to silence it, Rae inched closer for a better look at the creature that had arrived.
The being was only seven feet tall and lithe, moving with an elegance that she thought could only be achieved by a Na'vi. A child, perhaps, she thought, suddenly amused by the way she may seem as she observed a mere child-like creature. As he had his back to her, Ra'evani's keen Na'vi eyes immediately noticed his strangely not-blue pointed ears poking out slightly from his long, golden hair, which flowed behind him like a silken river, catching the light and shimmering with an ethereal glow. Her eyes traced the contours of his broad shoulders and strong back, noticing how the muscles moved fluidly beneath his clothes with each step. His attire was unlike anything she had ever seen, flowing and yet practical, accentuating his physique. This actually reminded her of the human clothes, how they covered almost all parts of the body, impractical and a waste of nature, she had scoffed. A quiver of arrows rested on his back, a clear symbol of the being's warrior status. The being seemed to be marveling at the Spirit Tree and slowly placed his hand on its divine white bark, muttering in a foreign language.
Rae frowned. Such a foolish creature that had no common sense to connect his neural queue to the Mother Tree.
Neural queue.
Lizard snorted softly behind her.
That's what the "Valar" meant.
And it hit her. She was not on Pandora anymore.