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Post by Neytiri on Jun 10, 2010 10:43:46 GMT -5
As she always did, Neytiri roused from slumber gradually, sinking back into the real world and her mate's embrace. Her head was pillowed on his left arm, his right one draped over her body with his hand resting loosely on her smooth thigh. He had nestled closely to her in his sleep, as he nearly always did, full body contact.
Gently she disentangled herself from his arms, then leaned back over his sleeping form and kissed his cheek. He stirred, but didn't awaken. Her hands brushed the stray hair from his face, and she kissed him again, stroking a hand down his lean body. This never failed to bring him back to her. His eyes opened.
"We must get ready, my love," she smiled at him. "I have already packed what we will need. It is time to get dressed and feed the ikrans. I know you have plans for a long day for us."
He saw her expression change slightly and knew she was worried.
His hand cupped her cheek, and he gazed directly into her eyes. "I know the man we will speak to. He is just and honorable. You may not like him, but we will be safe. And Max said this is as good a time as any to find out about our child. "
There was still an ember of doubt in her eyes. He sat up, took her in his arms and kissed her, wanting to give her reassurance. This day would be long, yes, but he was determined to control its outcome.
Neytiri stood, the long clean lines of her body illuminated by the dim light of the lamp bladders. Jake's eyes swept over her, and he rose from the hammock to enfold her in his arms. After a few moments, they reluctantly separated. This morning there wasn't enough time to follow their hearts' yearning.
Jake helped Neytiri arrange her necklet of shells and feathers, and as he affixed her loincloth across her slim hips, she gave her sheathed knife a tug, making sure it was secure. She looped her shaman bundle across one shoulder and turned to help her mate, who had already donned his own weapon in its chest sheath. Jake patiently allowed her to adjust his loincloth before he once again drew her close for another kiss.
A cold meal was quickly consumed, and Jake took their remaining yerik meat to feed Nimue and Txur. The ikrans were a little reluctant to be roused so early, but the sight of the food brought them down from their nest. They chomped greedily, and it took little time for the last of the yerik to disappear down Txur's throat. Nimue nudged him, and the two cooed at each other until Neytiri brought their packs and cinched them onto the saddle gear.
Jake made sure his mate was aboard Nimue before he achieved a quick tsaheylu and swung onto Txur's back, urging an immediate departure. As Txur's mighty wings beat the cool morning air, Neytiri and Nimue were already at his side. Before long, they were within view of Hometree and Jake could make out a group of pa'li aymaktoyu already quietly awaiting him.
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Post by Makto Fa'lihu on Jun 10, 2010 14:42:05 GMT -5
George awakened before his alarm clock sounded. It was roughly 3:25 as he sat at the table in the Vlink pod, trying to wake up. He lit a smoke then turned on his computer and filed a video log. Finishing that task, he began to pack things he would need later, such as his Learn Na'vi handbook, some pictures, and a few personal items. Hunger reminded him of his empty stomach so after he secured his gear, he made breakfast. Scrambled eggs with a side of toast were perfect. He sat down and enjoyed them with a good cup of coffee, strong, just the way he liked it.
A yellowing newspaper provided some interesting news and he read a few articles which caught his attention:
RDA still mining...Selfridge no longer Admin
Global Warming Killing the Earth
Marine Corps. decommissioned after nasty accident
Once he finished reading he grabbed his exopack and stepped outside for a few moments to enjoy the early morning sights and sounds. It was a brisk morning, so he slid his jacket on. George stayed outside a few more moments before he returned inside to make sure he had everything before preparing to link with his avatar. He made himself comfortable and then closed the lid.
Awakening in his avatar body moments later, he stretched as he stood up. Not wanting to be late after yesterday's unpleasant interaction with Tsa'krrtep, he went in search of his teacher and after a time he found her curled in her hammock, comfortably sleeping. He looked at her a few moments before he kissed his hand and then touched her forehead lightly. She stirred but did not awaken. George eased himself quietly to a seat on the mossy limb and sat by her side with his eyes closed, trying not to be a pest.
As he sat, he thought about how this day would likely go. Would the People recognize him? Would his good friends remember him? He was worried for the People that something would go terribly wrong.
It was a rather cool morning..the smell of rain was in the air. The clouds looked like gray cotton candy moving rapidly with the wind. It was worrisome. Even so, he remained firm. Today was going to be a day to remember and he was rather nervous.
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Post by Neytiri on Jun 10, 2010 16:14:16 GMT -5
The mist was thick around her, obscuring her vision with impenetrable veils. Eddies of it swirled around her feet as she walked cautiously forward. Tsa'krrtep was confused. She was sure she used to know her way along these trails, but they now felt only vaguely recognizable. Even the scent of the forest around her had changed. It had taken on an alien scent, at once familiar and strange, redolent of smoky woods, heady camphor and a rich masculine musk......
Musk?
Her eyes snapped open, her dream vanishing in wisps of vapor. In one feline move, she whirled out of her hammock and was on her feet, tail lashing the air, amber eyes narrowed and teeth bared.
Startled at this sudden indigo eruption, George fell back. He'd been lost in thought, absorbed with worries for the day ahead. It hadn't occurred to him that his teacher might be dismayed by his unfamiliar appearance by her hammock. Tsa'krrtep had always enforced a more-than-respectful distance between teacher and student, quite appropriate for Na'vi culture even when dealing with the influx of ayuniltìranyu. Having him here was unexpected and - her heart told her - troubling.
George held a palm out before him in a gesture of peace and appeasement, and also to ward off any possible blow. Looking at her fierce eyes, her angry stance, he realized he'd probably better beat a hasty retreat rather than invite any further fury on her part.
"I'm gonna...I'll...I have to go awaken the other pa'li aymaktoyu. I will see you below," he backed away from her and turned, breaking into a fast walk.
She glared after him. Her rapid, adrenaline-fueled breathing was returning to normal. "Arrrggh!" she voiced her frustration....but if she had to admit it, it was mostly at herself. No one before had ever been able to come within hailing distance without her being aware of it, asleep or not. Why was George the only one able to come so close without alerting her sentinel senses? How had he stepped so easily into her comfort zone?
Disquieted and troubled, Tsa'krrtep swiftly made ready for the day ahead and followed her student down to the fa'li.
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Post by Toruk Makto on Jun 10, 2010 18:52:00 GMT -5
The fires outside and inside Hometree were very large for the time of morning, there was a buzz of activity around them. Various Na'vi and ayuniltìrantokx were preparing for the day's journey, whether on the back of a pa'li or ikran.
Jake and Neytiri landed near the river where there was plenty of room for the party that was setting up to depart. Jake dismounted and uncinched the nearly empty bag from Txur's riding tack. Neytiri did the same, removing the rolled mat. Both walked towards Hometree where their night's supplies would be returned to their proper place and where the ayeyktan had gathered. Katja and Norm were both there as well, their mates hanging back on the outside of the circle, all crouched and talking of the day.
Jake knew it was almost 0400 now from the watch he had in an almost unnoticeable pocket on his shoulder strap. A cold breakfast of smoked meats and fresh fruits was being passed around.
Jake approached them and they all stood in acknowledgment as he 'at eased' them. “The fa'li will leave in a half hour, when the ayikran start to awaken. It is a long ride so pack food. The ayikran will leave when the shadows shorten. 0900 to you avatars. So make sure you have a bit more rest and eat something.”
He turned then, his orders to the ayeyktan finished. They all got up and spread out to where they would be needed and got to work with their brothers and sisters. He faced Katja and Norm now. “I need the complex completed about that time so your bird can cool down for the flight as well.” He put a hand on each of their shoulders, “I am proud of you both.”
He turned to walk away but stopped, facing them, “Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmuk,” making the hand gesture.
He returned to Neytiri who was changing her feathered necklace top for a more formal one for the diplomatic meeting she and her mate were going to, Jake helped her make sure it was tied right behind her neck and then turned her to face him. “You look wonderful, my love.”
“Irayo,” she said, smiling. Jake put on his formal olo'eyktan tunic. It was the same one Tsu'tey had worn in the great War. “Very handsome, ma muntxatan. Regal.”
“Irayo.” They exchanged a brief kiss before returning to the activity on the main level of Hometree.
As Jake and Neytiri walked through various groups preparing for the day, there was both excitement and worry about what might happen at Hell's Gate. These past few months it had been left open and they were all welcome to come and go as they pleased. All of the avatars-turned-Omatikaya had taken their mates to show them around the complex. Upon finding out some were to become parents, Dr. Max Patel had graciously opened his services to examine and make sure everything was going well with each and every one of them.
The time was approaching and the pa'li aymaktoyu began to mount their rides for departure. Near the end of the line Jake noticed Tsa'krrtep talking with Neytiri softly, George to her right. He was trying to get comfortable on the animal he had practiced on mere hours earlier.
The pa'li ayeyktan started the line moving and they were off and around the bend to the river in no time, almost at a gallop. Neytiri walked over and took Jake's hand as George and Tsa'krrtep disappeared from sight. “She will protect her student. I will protect our clan.” They returned to Hometree hand in hand.
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Post by Makto Fa'lihu on Jun 10, 2010 19:36:35 GMT -5
Walking outside Hometree, he stared at his watch. It was 0400. Standing there, he pulled out a mirror and his knife and began cutting his long hair. Strands and strands fell to the ground. A more unique looking George appeared as he made his hair look like the Na'vis'. George then brushed himself off and disposed of the hair on the ground. Feeling hungry, he walked over to feed his avatar body.
A sudden burst of wind buffeted him and George shivered at its slight chilliness. Never before had he felt these chilly winds on Pandora. He ate his fill and then attended to the pa'li he would ride. George checked to see if all his gear was properly secure then mounted the pa'li. The sun was starting to rise now. It was now 0420 according to his watch and he was anxious to get moving. He sensed something was missing but he was not sure what it was.
A slight sense of anger coursed through him, but then it dissipated rather quickly. He just sat on his pa'li waiting for instructions from Jake and his teacher, though he was rather uncertain where they were. He began to speak to himself.
"I hope I didn't do wrong this morning. Hmmm...I wonder where the other pa'li aymaktoyu, Tsa'krrtep, and Jake and Neytiri are?"
George was not sure where everyone else was. He felt slightly worried as the ikran and the pa'li were still there. Perhaps the others were inside discussing their plans. He decided to go inside as well, feeling as though he were needed there.
He entered Hometree. Everyone was gathered, as Jake was going over the plans for the day. He hadn't seem to miss much as he heard his and Tsa'krrtep's names mentioned. He remained quiet and listened in on what needed to be done.
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Post by Neytiri on Jun 10, 2010 23:58:35 GMT -5
Tsa'krrtep listened as Neytiri elaborated on some of Jake's plan. Specifically, she was explaining a little more detail on the teacher's and her student's roles in preparing to transport George's human body safely. Tsa'krrtep asked a few questions which Neytiri briefly answered. Nodding, she turned and observed her student dismount from his pa'li and make his way to her side, standing somewhat behind and to the right of her. He remained quiet, listening.
His teacher turned to face him. "Ma George, I know this will be tiring for you. I have been hard on you, but I expect a lot. You must use all your strength and skill, even if you are not ready."
George nodded respectfully. "I am more than ready ma Tsa'krrtep."
He stood there looking at her. Her eyes were averted, looking at the ground like something was bothering her. Something was bothering him too but he was too frightened to say what it was. Perhaps this was a new feeling for him? What was he was experiencing? He let this slip his mind for now and turned to her. "Is there something wrong? You seem a little down."
For a moment, Tsa'krrtep was distracted. She raised her eyes to his and regarded him, evaluating her reply. He seemed sincerely resolute, but there was a compassionate edge to his question and this raised the lid on a box she had kept tightly closed for years.
"I am fine, ma oeyä numeyu. I am just thinking about......things." To cover her discomfit, she said, "It's time we got underway."
Nearly all the other pa'li aymaktoyu were seated, so she made quick tsaheylu and mounted her pa'li.
"Kämakto!"
As the pa'li aymaktoyu begin their fast-paced trek to Hell's Gate, George nodded and did the same. He couldn't help thinking about his karyu, but there was work to be done. He dropped it for now.
Following close behind, he did precisely what was asked of him. The clouds were getting dark as there was a storm approaching. This made George feel a little edgy. He had a hidden fear of storms, stemming from his childhood. The feel of the wind against him was bone chilling as were his first experiences here.
He turned to his teacher. "The weather is starting to get bad ma Tsa'krrtep...is this normal?"
The tone of his voice was that of a five-year-old. He was pretty shaken up from seeing the sky change suddenly. His nervousness was transmitted to his pa'li and he felt the great beast's muscles tense in response. George took a deep calming breath to relax, knowing it was his only chance to maintain control of his mount. If it was the last thing he did, he would prove that Tsa'krrtep could trust his ability to maintain control of his pa'li. He wanted her respect that much.
Tsa'krrtep watched him closely, noting his palpable nervousness and the resultant awkwardness in his mount. Then, to her great surprise, George visibly regained his composure. She smiled with satisfaction. It seemed he might truly have more potential than she thought.
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Post by Makto Fa'lihu on Jun 13, 2010 0:37:35 GMT -5
The group of pa'li aymakto continued apace. It would be a long ride but the aymaktoyu and their mounts had stamina to spare. All but one, that is.
Tsa'krrtep guided her pa'li alongside but slightly behind George's so she could keep an eye on his progress. She had her misgivings about bringing him along to Hell's Gate this early in his training, but Jake had been insistent.
Except for his obvious fear of the approaching storm, he had done reasonably well - better than she expected. Thinking to divert his attention, she began to ask him questions.
"Ma George, you have not spoken much of your past. I would know more. Why were you helping my karyu, sa'nok Grace?"
He sighed and started his story.
"It started when I was offered a job here. I was to take samples and do research along with Grace. After a while she gave me another job. That job was to teach a clan of Na'vi called the Omatikaya how to speak English. Since I was the only person she knew she could trust, she gave me the job."
"After a while I really started to enjoy it. I met with some and grew attached to them. I already had an avatar body so I could spend a lot of time with them. Ever since then, I swore to Grace that I would protect them at all costs. I was alone my whole life until Jake took me in. I hope that someday I can settle down with somebody and truly feel a part of The People."
His eyes begin to tear as he pulled a picture of Grace and himself with some Na'vi children out of a pouch. With some difficulty, he tried to hand it to Tsa'krrtep as they rode.
"I promise I will never do anything to hurt The People, for as you see now, I am too good of a person to do such things."
Because his concentration was still imperfect, George's change in emotion was communicated to his mount. In the space of a heartbeat, George's pa'li stumbled, unseating him. He began to slip and flailed for a new grip. Tsa'krrtep had already been leaning toward him to take the photo, and without hesitation she gripped George's shoulder instead, steadying him until he regained both his balance and his composure.
This was the first time they had actually touched, and both of them were acutely aware of this. Tsa'krrtep withdrew her hand quickly, pretending to peer ahead, checking their position. But it was the sensation of his skin which resided within her mind now, and she felt unsettled by the contact. He is your student! Nothing more...stop...thinking...about this. Think of Hell's Gate. Keep your mind on what's ahead... She took a deep breath and glanced furtively at George who was staring straight ahead as he rode.
After steadying himself back onto the pa'li his mind shot back to how she quickly reacted and switched her hand from attempting to get the photograph to his shoulder and righting him in what seemed less than a second. He thought long and hard about the contact of her hand on his shoulder. How just yesterday she would have gladly let him fall then proceed to get her pa'li to stomp him senseless.
But now everything had changed; between Neytiri and Jake's talking to them both, she seemed to have done a complete one-eighty. She caught him without thinking about it, it was suddenly a reflex. He was her charge and she recognized that now.
He thought once more of her soft hand firmly grasping his shoulder, so very brief, yet it made his skin tingle.
He cleared his head and at the same time, his pa'li gave a horse-like snort. He focused his eyes back into the night light and enjoyed the bioluminescence that helped light their way. The distant sky behind them was starting to turn a very dark blue as Alpha Centauri A drifted closer to the moon's horizon.
They were near the tail end of the pa'li line and the only ones that he and Tsa'krrtep could not see were rounding a bend far up the trail.
A clap of thunder made some look upward towards the sky and the crowns of the trees above. Another flash and then a drop of rain. Then another. “Looks like we're gonna get wet,” he said to Tsa'krrtep.
“Srane, we are used to it. It is no big deal.” She too had been thinking more of their awkward first contact. Her mind, until then, had been occupied more by that than the trail ahead.
The sky opened up with another flash, then the rain started gushing down even through the tree crown above. None of the Omatikaya even once complained, it was a regular occurrence to get caught in the rain and one learned to live with it. Whether on a hunt, or gathering supplies and or food. Water, it was just a common thing.
They pressed on, through the mud now rather than a firm trail. The thunder was regular, as were the flashes that came just before.
CRACK! A flash of lightning traveled down a tree further ahead on the trail, scattering the fa'li in the near area and seconds later a very large limb came crashing down. Those Na'vi witnessing this in close proximity were actually startled and began chatting about it in very fast Na'vi.
As George and Tsa'krrtep approached the branch the other pa'li aymaktoyu had begun to form back in line.
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Post by Toruk Makto on Jun 13, 2010 22:20:51 GMT -5
The dawn's light was on the horizon to the east, Iknimaya's mountains casting vast shadows over the forest as Alpha Centauri A rose in the distance. Jake was there to oversee the first of the Vlink Pods' arrival and placement. Norm was on the roof, the same way Jake had done just the evening before.
Katja's Samson hovered in the air like a hummingbird as Norm removed the cables from the cleats on the four corners of the Vlink Pod. She drew up the cables and landed, slowing the engines as she got out of the cab, the doors having been removed so she could better see what was going on below her as she expertly flew her precious aircraft.
She came over to Jake and Norm approached as well. “How many more do you want, ma Olo'eyktan?” she asked.
“Three more, and two avatar link pods. Like I said, I want to make him comfortable here. He has had much loss these last few months and has been stranded on his own since before the War.”
Norm asked, “Why are you taking him to the Gate? I mean, he isn't really of any use there, is he?”
“I want him to know and see that there are still people there who care. Max for one. Besides, George told me he and Max were close and Max will have details about Grace that only a friend should tell a friend,” Jake replied.
Norm still didn't agree, but understood. “Alright, Jake. I just hope that this is a peace mission and not another decree of war by the humans. If it is, he won't last long without the training you have given the rest of us.”
Jake put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. “Me too. Me too.” He sighed. “I need to get the ikran aymaktoyu prepared for the flight to the Gate.” He looked to the southwest in the direction they would need to fly, down the river, and saw the edge of a storm in the distance, the dark belly of the clouds occasionally lighting up in random flashes. “Probably a good idea to get an earlier start with that out there.” He addressed both, “try to have these set up before that storm arrives.”
He turned and walked back toward Hometree. It was time to put a rush on things, especially with that storm in their path.
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Post by Neytiri on Jun 18, 2010 20:06:51 GMT -5
As Jake left in the direction of Hometree, he passed another figure coming towards the river. It was Eylikan'a. He stopped briefly and spoke with Jake, and on their parting they did a forearm hand shake. Eylikan'a waved his long Na'vi arm towards Katja and the others. He would be joining them to help with the transport of the final VLink pods and avatar units.
Katja grinned and nodded to her mate, who grinned back. Since Eylikan'a was not as familiar with handling the VLink pods as Norm, it was decided that Norm would continue his work on the exterior transport while Eylikan'a would monitor the progress for Katja from the aircraft's open doors.
She climbed into the cockpit of her Samson and spooled up the rotor speed as Eylikan'a climbed into the troop bay. Norm's mate Peyral was already inside sitting on a bench far too small for her figure, but with her legs kicked out she was comfortable. Eylikan'a simply sat with his feet dangling out the side port of the aircraft as Norm climbed in and did the same, his foot planted firmly on the starboard landing skid.
"Good to go!" Norm called to Katja as she glanced back to make sure everyone was aboard. Norm was never completely comfortable with his proximity to the open bay doors, but helping Jake and Katja transport a number of VLink pods to various places had helped him somewhat. Peyral, however, was aware of her mate's reaction and touched his shoulder lightly, smiling. He smiled without looking at her, intent on watching Katja's progress through the boulder-strewn air. Katja's large blue hands gripped some diminutive-looking levers, pulled them into position and the craft lifted swiftly into the cool air, already making good progress toward their cache of additional VLink pods.
Being one of the best ikran aymaktoyu of the clan, Eylikan'a had no trouble with heights, and he had been on several trips with his mate to and from Hell's Gate transporting parts, weapons and ammo from the base over the last few months. He recalled the first time he saw her fly towards the new Hometree - how he hated the machine, the kunsìp! But she was his numeyu, his student, which meant that her aircraft became a part of his life, too.
As he grew to know her for who she was and how often Jake had called her away from her studies, he insisted on joining her on her required journeys. This he found had helped them progress faster than the others. Katja had acquired her ikran in just under a month, a combination of her tenaciousness at learning, and working with Grace as her pilot and as an occasional substitute teacher. Flying anything, in Katja's book, was preferable to being grounded. Even so, she was amazed by the incredible freedom and joy she felt when flying her ikran with Eylikan'a. It was almost like having her own pair of wings.
The tilt rotor swiftly ate the distance, and within minutes Katja was feathering the controls until she barely hovered over the grassy site of the additional pods, weaving a little in the back draft. Eylikan'a jumped lightly to the ground and followed Norm to the first human VLink pod where he mirrored Norm's movements, hooking two of the stanchion cables to the sturdy cleats positioned at the corners as Norm worked on the other end.
Eylikan'a stood by as Norm checked his work. Satisfied, he clapped Katja's mate on the shoulder and indicated he should return to the craft. As he clambered on top of the pod, Norm grabbed a cable for support. With his other hand he touched his throat mic. "Let's go!" His thumb jerked upward when he saw Katja glance over at him.
She gave him a nod and as her mate once again boarded the craft, she began feathering the controls with her oversized fingers and feet. Slowly the Samson drew the cable taut and finally with a somewhat loud clack, the VLink lifted off the ground. Norm held his place firm and as Katja spun her craft slowly in the direction needed to return the pod below, it matched her Samson's movement and did not over spin. She was an amazingly good pilot.
She placed her finger to her throat piece and spoke; all could hear, but it was directed at Eylikan'a. In perfect Na'vi she said, "I haven't gotten the chance yet today to say I love you, my mate. I see you."
"Kame ngat, ma muntxate Katxia." He still had trouble with the 'ja' sounding like a soft 'y' in the middle end of a word and so the 't' was cut as in standard Na'vi speech. She always smiled at this, having given up long long ago on trying to teach him how to properly say her name. Eylikan'a resumed his former place at the open bay doors, leaning out to monitor Norm as the craft levitated the pod toward the new site east of Kelutral. Minutes later, rotor draft flailed the grass into long undulating waves as Katja gently lowered Norm and the pod onto the new site, expertly placing it alongside of the pod already in position. As the pod supports touched solid ground, Norm unhooked each cable in turn, gathering them in his hands until he held all four like a bouquet. Katja jabbed a button with a long blue forefinger and the cables reeled in automatically. She guided her craft to a touchdown beside the pods.
Eylikan'a remained in the troop bay while Katja slowed the rotor speed, then joined him, seating herself in his lap with her back against his chest.
Norm, with Peyral's help, had to get all the seals, the electrical, water and air hoses linked which could take anywhere from five to ten minutes. He was almost too big to be doing the job, but since there were no humans here to do it the two of them would muddle through. It was actually a funny sight watching Norm pull himself through the small door like an adult crawling into his child's backyard doll house, and Peyral had only slightly less trouble.
Eylikan'a wrapped his arms around Katja's belly and breathed in her scent, loving every second he had with his mate.
With Katja being just over a month pregnant, their love for one another increased exponentially and she leaned into him smiling. "Our child will be strong like you, muntxatan," she snickered, "and I hope not nearly as difficult as I was as a child."
"Nonsense. He or she will be beautiful and smart. Just like the mother." He kissed her on her neck.
The two saw lights come on inside the pod, this unit being strictly a bunk unit capable of housing a dozen RDA personnel at one time as long as supplies lasted.
She tilted her head and looked into Eylikan'a's large amber eyes. "I think he is about done." The door opened and Norm stuck his head and hands out preparing to pull himself through, confirming this and she reluctantly jumped out of Eylikan'a's lap to spool up the rotors once more. "Off to get some more then."
It took four more trips before the group completed the tasks of moving all five pods to the new site which was much closer to Hometree and the hub of clan activity. These tasks completed, the group settled in for the longer flight to Hell's Gate, where they would meet with Jake and the ikran and pa'li aymaktoyu before keeping their appointments with Max.
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Post by maweyatan on Jun 24, 2010 0:06:43 GMT -5
As he heard the shrieks of the many ikran, he and his beloved waited for their Olo'eyktan and his mate to arrive. He was to ride out with Jake and the other ikran aymakto. The cold air surrounding the Ayikranä Branches felt somewhat alien to him. Why have the sawtute returned? And why now? The clan leader had better have a good plan, or they wouldn't be returning. His mate looked to him as a lone tear traveled down his cheek. Sawtute don't bother him, it's their ayskxawng that do. He learned most of the 'ìnglìsì language, so he was able to communicate with Jake whenever he didn't want wandering ears to listen.
He hugged Nera'nak as she moved closer to stay warm. "Ma oeyä tìyawn, oel fpìl futa Eywal hayawnu ayoeyä olo'ti. rä'ä txopu si...Eywal tayìng srungit." "My beloved, I think that Eywa will protect our clan...do not fear." I said reassuringly.
"Slä kempe sayi oeng txo Eywal ke tsun stivawm ayoeyä aysìzawngit?" "But what will we do if Eywa can't hear our screams?" He turned my head.
"Oengìl hayawnu frakrr oeyä kllpxìltuti! rä'ä pivlltxe nìkeftxo, ma oeyä tìyawn...awnga flayä--" "We will protect our territory always. Do not speak sadly, my beloved...We will succeed--" A loud crack of thunder made our bodies tremble. "Kawnga tompa...awnga zene nari sivi." "Evil rain...We must be careful." He noticed Jake and Neytiri circling around Kelutral telling them to get ready. Tìyawn...häpawl nga...awnga tswìyayon." "Prepare yourself, beloved...We are about to fly." The rain starts to pour down.
As he got ready, his eyes skimmed over the crowd. Will the People win over metal flying machines? Probably not twice...but they WILL if they stand strong and hope. "Ma Nera'nak, rutxe yomtìng Vawma Tawit, po layu nìtxan ohakx tengkrr oeng tswerayon." Nera'nak, please feed Vawma Taw, he will be very hungry while we are flying. Nera'nak grabbed a piece of meat to feed the hungry ikran. Another lightning strike cracked through the sky.
She dropped the food in fear. "WIYA! pelun nga zene zivup, ma syuve?!" Dangit! Why must you fall, food?! He held back his laughter.
"Mawey , ma tìyawn. Mawey." Calm, beloved. Calm. She must have been nervous. She gently got on Vawma, and he noticed that she was shaking. He saw Jake come around a second time. By now everybody was on their ikran and ready to fly.
Neytiri's voice boomed through the stormy air."TSWAYON KO, ma SAMSIYU!" LET'S FLY, WARRIORS! Well, here we go. The ayikran rushed off the branch and took flight. As Vawma Taw sliced through the sky, adrenaline clouded his fears. He then rushed to meet Jake and the other leaders at the front.
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Post by Toruk Makto on Jun 25, 2010 1:16:42 GMT -5
Neytiri stood beside Nimue in front of Hometre , the ikran affectionately nuzzling her for a bit more yerik meat. Absentmindedly, she caressed her ikran's warm forehead as she scanned the trail for her Jake. A sharp cool wind played with her beaded braids, a reminder of the advancing storm to the southwest, coming from the direction of Hell's Gate. Perhaps this was an omen of things to come. She could hear the shrieks of the ikrans still high in Hometree, their aymaktoyu awaiting Jake's signal to depart.
As for herself, she felt the cold fingers of anxiety clutch her heart. She detested Hell's Gate and everything it stood for. Max and most of the avatar drivers were some of the few humans she trusted. Were it not that Jake desired her by his side, she would never venture into that fortified enclave again. Ever. A quick glance around would show that even Eywa had deserted it.
"Neytiri!" She heard Jake's familiar voice and her fears vanished like wisps of smoke from a smouldering fire. She was never afraid for herself or her people when he was by her side.
He approached from the direction of the river as the Samson flew overhead under the high branches of Hometree, heading back into Iknimaya for the remaining VLink and AVTR pods. In the growing light of dawn she made out a figure waving down to her from the crew compartment of the airship, it was Peyral. A fierce warrior and hunter, she was nevertheless always a kind Na'vi.
He finally reached Neytiri's side and pulled her in for a tight hug, at the same time Txur cooed and flapped his wings, impatient at their loving embrace. Laughing, he said, "I guess they aren't very willing to go to the Gate today. Probably eager to get back to their nest. We can let Nimue go back and you can ride with me on Txur if you like." He kissed her on the forehead.
She laughed and twined her arms around his neck, bringing his head down for another kiss. "I like that idea, my Jake." She let him go and walked to Nimue, taking a few moments to uncinch the saddle and remove all the riding tack. She seized her bow and slung it across her chest and over her back, grabbing a fistful of arrows before releasing Nimue and indicating the ikran should return to her nest. Within a few heartbeats, Nimue bounced aloft and was winging her way back to her nest, calling for her mate to join her. Txur shrieked and flapped his wings excitedly, straining to be after her, but Jake quickly attached his queue and Txur quieted noticeably, only looking longingly after his mate.
Jake patted the long neck of his ikran much like a human back on Earth would pat a horse to reassure him. "We will be fine, boy." Queue attached, he hopped onto Txur's back, cinched his feet onto the bracings near Txur's breathing holes at the base of his throat and offered Neytiri a hand up onto his ikran's mighty back.
She took his hand and was aboard with no hesitation, wrapping her arms one last loving time around her mate and kissing him behind his left ear before taking hold of his shoulders with her hands. Txur flapped his wings, two flaps, three, and was up and airborne. The added weight was not his favorite thing, but he had been getting used to it lately. To an ikran in this new Na'vi lifestyle, this is what it was to be an expectant father.
Jake guided his ikran expertly up under the branches of Hometree, circling it twice. On the first circle he hollered for the aymaktoyu to get ready and on the second, they were all mounted and ready. As they made their third and final pass, Jake allowed Neytiri to call out, "TSWAYON KO, ma SAMSIYU!" and dozens of ikranä sì aymaktoyu took wing into the growing light of day.
The loose formation of the aymaktoyu made staccato silhouettes against the lighter sky. Txur soared in advance of the group, with Jake's ayeyktan fanning out on either side. Keeping one hand on his shoulder, Neytiri turned to look behind. Everyone was keeping up, there were no stragglers. Reassured, she turned to look ahead. The scent of rain was becoming stronger and with it came an ozone stench that made her wrinkle her nose. Lightning.
Most knew the way well, and they flew on. Half an hour into the flight, a black wall was advancing toward them, veins of lightning illuminated huge storm clouds and silvered the ground beneath them. The ikran did not normally fly in storms like this and it was taking everything the aymaktoyu had to keep their mounts from going to ground.
Some of the aymaktoyu banked in toward Jake and he could see the questioning look in their eyes. Should they try to fly above the storm, or should they take shelter?
Jake shouted in Na'vi over the thunder, "Awnga tswìyayon kxamlä na'ring! Ayutralìl hìyawnu awngati ta tawä winatan!" We will fly through the forest! The trees will protect us from the lightning!
Just before entering the front of the rain system Jake dove his ikran into the crown of the forest; this would be slower but safer as they were forced to fly through the heart of the storm...to go around it would take far too long. The edges were out of view on either horizon north or south: this was a big system.
Day once again turned to night as they were both under the storm now and under the tops of the trees; luckily the path through the trees was mostly clear of random branches and vines, making it possible to maintain some flight speed. If it remained this clear then they would be slowed only a little bit.
The pa'li train was still well ahead of them and Jake began to wonder how they were doing in the storm, how was George doing. The storm would spook his pa'li and if he did not maintain a bond with his animal he might lose it. But he also remembered that Tsa'krrtep was an resourceful and accomplished pa'li maktoyu and teacher, and he knew she would help him.
As Txur banked from side to side to miss tree trunk after tree trunk and the very rare branch, Jake could feel Neytiri behind him expertly adjusting her weight to compensate for the turn, her feet planted on Txur's tack as she kept a strong grip on Jake's shoulders. Not so strong as to cause pain, but strong enough to maintain balance.
As the evasive maneuvers became more frequent, both Neytiri and Jake assumed a crouched mount position, absorbing the flight forces through their thighs, transferring most of the shock. Neytiri's arms snaked around her mate's waist and she leaned closer, her head low to help with the aerodynamics. Not that she understood it in those terms, but her body knew instinctively how to adjust due to the many aerial ballets she and Jake delighted in.
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Post by Makto Fa'lihu on Jun 26, 2010 15:04:35 GMT -5
Tsa'krrtep threw her left arm across her eyes as the blue-white lightning flash seared her retinas. "Tsa-hey!" Her mount skittered sideways and bucked, but the karyu kept her balance. A split second later a large smoking tree limb crashed to the ground, bringing smaller limbs and vines along with it. A shower of leaves. She immediately looked for George, and was pleased to see that he had kept his pa'li well under control as it danced nervously away from the noise. "Ma George!" she called.
George, however, wasn't looking at his karyu. He had seen what she had not - one of the pa'li aymaktoyu had been swept from her mount by one of the larger branches and was lying pinned in the mud, unconscious. Her pa'li had bolted, and two of the other aymaktoyu were racing down the trail, trying to head it off. Only one of the remaining aymaktoyu was approaching the felled rider, but George was already there.
He eyed the pa'li maktoyu carefully. She was in desperate need of help. Sunk halfway into the mud, she was lying on her back, one of her legs sandwiched tightly between the heavy limb and the trail below it. As he tried to move the branch, his ears became alert to a new sound: the yips of a pack of hunting aynantang. Sheltering the unconscious warrior as best he could, he squinted into the driving rain and soon made out three nantang circling the group of riders. They looked very hungry as they stared at the trapped Na'vi.
George knew he had to do something or else she would end up more hurt than she already was. He pulled his bow from its resting place across his back and released an arrow at the first. The other two started to swarm in on him. He side kicked one right in the face letting out a huge "HEYAH" The other pounced on him trying to bite him. He grabbed it by the neck and snapped its spine, killing it instantly. The remaining viperwolf tried to pounce on him but George was too fast for it, as he loosed another arrow and it died without a sound.
A groan brought his attention back to the female maktoyu. Kneeling, he struggled with the branch, slippery from the pounding rain. By this time, Tsa'krrtep was at his side trying to help, but it was quickly clear this was a one-man job. She stood by in amazement, watching her numeyu's reaction to another's suffering and endangerment. This is not what she expected from a tawtute.
George's shoulder and back muscles bulged visibly with the effort of moving the heavy branch, his neck tendons tightened and he grimaced. The branch moved slightly. Leveraging under it, George gained a stronger grip and moved the branch off the injured Na'vi. Crouching in the mud, he bent to examine her. She was still unconscious, but groaning. Her leg had been broken by the massive branch. Tsa'krrtep noted his gentleness as he picked up the wounded rider and took her back to the other aymaktoyu, who were milling around, waiting. As he walked, she fell into step beside him. "Ma George, she can no longer ride with us. She must be returned to Hometree." George acknowledged her, then told one of the aymaktoyu, "Take her back to Kelutral. She is hurt pretty badly."
Tsa'krrtep ordered a travois made for the injured maktoyu. Branches were bound with strong vines salvaged from a tangle around the fallen limb. The travois was harnessed to the rider's own pa'li which had been caught and retrieved, and one of the remaining aymaktoyu volunteered to make sure this warrior was safely returned to Kelutral. Although she oversaw these preparations, Tsa'krrtep was aware that George had not been idle. Her ears flicked toward him and she caught his quiet murmuring as he knelt by a dead nantang.
"Oeru txoa livu, ma tsmukan." George slid the arrow from the nantang's still heart. He respectfully placed a hand against its rain-slick shoulder and bowed his head. "Hu nawma sa'nok tivul ngeya tirea, oeru txoa livu." Though he didn't know it, he now had Tsa'krrtep's full attention as he made his way to the other two nantang and repeated his words. She sensed the sincerity in his voice and she saw the respect for Eywa in his demeanor. Truly, there was something admirable in this tawtute. Could it be he was really beginning to see ?
"Oel ngati kameie," she whispered as she watched him make tsaheylu and seat himself on his pa'li.
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Post by maweyatan on Jul 1, 2010 23:04:34 GMT -5
Farther back in the group of ikranä aymakto there was another pair of Na'vi sharing one strong ikran named Vawma Taw. Like Jakesully and Neytiri at the lead of the group the two were hunkered down due to the weather and the need to fly under the forest crown.
The two were mates, and proud Omatikaya. He was the tsaheylu pilot of Vawma. He and his mate balanced perfectly, expertly, on Vawma's back as the ikran turned and rolled through the branches and vines. His mate's name was Nera'nak. She was one of the clan's most beautiful women and an expert with the bow.
Nera'nak pleaded. “Ma oeyä Maweyatan, nawma fìtompal oengati txopu seykängi, ulte ke zerok oel futa tsive’a fì’uot. Kawng längu fì’u.” My Maweytan, this great rain is terrifying, and I don't remember seeing one like this. It is evil.
“Livu mawey, ma Nera’nak. Jakesully eyktan anawm lu; ayoeng ke tswerayon txo kxuke ke lu.” Be calm, Nera'nak. Jakesully is a great leader; we would not fly if it wasn't safe. he tried to reassure her.
“Oe ke lu mawey talun nga nìteng mawey ke lu, ma oeyä yawntu.” I am not calm, because you are also not calm, my beloved. he said.
“Tse…oel ke omum futa…” Well...I do not know...
“‘Upe?” What? He asked.
" Kempe si Jakesully krr a ayoeng ro fpxäkìmtsenge pähem?" What will Jakesully do when we arrive at the entrance?
"Pol awngaru patseng fya’ot peyä txo nivew…kxawm fì’ut awngal ke kin ivomum?" He will tell us if he wants...perhaps we do not need to know?
She quieted down.
On the ground below, the bioluminescence seemed to light a path toward the target location. His mind fluttered to the time he saw the sawtute burning the glowing array of ferns and flowers at night. His heart had turned into a fiery place of anger. He killed two of the sawtute, but his teacher came running to stop him and brought the young taronyu back to the Kelutral. Until he met Jake, he had not forgiven the sawtute; Jake showed them a side of the sawtute that not many of The People knew existed.
"Ma oeyä yawntu, fpìl oel futa lirvok pxawpat na’rìngä awngal,” My loved one, I think that we are reaching the end of the forest. placing his free hand on hers on his shoulder.
"Sìltsan. Oe hìmìyahaw taweyk tompal ke terakuk oeyä--" Good. I was starting to fall asleep, because the rain is not hitting my--
Just then, she was cut off by an extremely bright blaze of light. Lightning had hit a tree ahead of them, and it was falling fast. He urged Vawma to hurry up, but they were too slow. The burnt tree hit his wing and flung the Na'vi downward into the colorful underbrush. As Nera'nak and Maweyatan fell from Vawma Taw, they caught themselves on a few large leaves.When Maweyatan got up to inspect if there was anything wrong, Vawma's wing looked pretty bad.
"Poan lu sìltsan srak?" Is he okay? She looked cautiously over as she brought herself to her feet.
“Srane, slä oel ke omum futa poan tsivun tswayayon. Ro fìtseng, sutel poanur tsatsun srung sivi.” Yes, but I don't know if he will be able to fly. At this place, people can possibly help him.
Checking Vawma's wing, Maweyatan noticed a fairly long slice through the main membrane. While he was doing this Nera'nak brushed herself off and ran to his side, a look of worry in her eyes at her mate's mount.
“Eywa omum nì’aw, ma Maweyatan. Nìtxan tìsraw seri po; kxawm ro fìtseng oeng pivey fte tätxaw aylahe? Fpängìl oel futa poan ke tsun tswivayon. Ke tsun txivìng oengal pot; yasyom pot aynantangìl!” Eywa only knows, Maweyatan. He hurts much; maybe we should stay at this place until the others return. We can't leave him; the viperwolves will definitely eat him!
Maweyatan stood and put a reassuring hand on his mate's shoulder. “Awnga fmayi tswivayon, slä zayene pivate utralne txo poan ke tsun kivä. Ngian ikran atxur lu poan, ulte fpìl oel futa poan tsivun kayä.” We will try to fly, but we will have to arrive at the tree if he can not go. He is a strong ikran, and I think he will be able to go. Once more he bent down to his ikran, the animal had stretched his neck out and his head was turned away from the wound, pain was in its eyes. Maweyatan spoke softly, “Ma Vawma, awnga zene kivä.” Vawma, we must go.
The ikran picked up his head then very gingerly pulled himself up onto his wings, letting a pained ikran wail as he did so. Maweyatan made the bond once more and could sense the animal's pain. Gently he mounted his ikran and then offering his mate a hand, pulling her up as well.
This time however instead of taking to the air from the ground Vawma made his way to a large protruding root and used that as enough height to take wing and glide. The ikran was in much pain but was also airborne. They would be able to rendezvous with the others after all.
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Post by Toruk Makto on Jul 9, 2010 2:04:49 GMT -5
At first it was only a whisper, but soon rain made a sizzling sound on the leafy canopy above the ikran aymaktoyu as they dodged tree trunks and each other in the effort to forge ahead despite the storm. The rain began to filter through the leaves, eventually leaving the riders and their mounts thoroughly saturated, skin glistening with water whenever lightning illuminated them. With Jake jinking his ikran hard right and then left in no predictable path, it was all Neytiri could do to keep her wet arms from slipping their grip around her mate's waist. She tried to keep a lookout for Jake by keeping track of the other riders but they had split up upon entry to the forest and there was no telling who was where anymore.
Still, she tried now and then to squint into the wet forest and look around. It was during one of these times that she spied the rough pa'li trail leading to Hell's Gate. A quick squeeze got Jake's attention and she pointed ahead to the right of their path. Jake risked a look, nodded, and guided Txur in that direction.
Through flashes of lightning and pouring rain, it was becoming difficult to traverse the skyway within the forest canopy as he guided Txur to follow the pa'li trail so much more used in the past few months than ever before. Eywa had cleared the trail all those months ago by means of sturmbeest, yerik and herds of titanothere. Once over the path it became clearer than the flight path that was chosen earlier. They had been completely unaware they were paralleling it so closely.
As the storm surged above them, they mostly kept beneath the protective canopy. Because gliding over the trail would give them a clearer long range view, Jake would occasionally guide Txur in a swift arc out across the clearing and back into the canopy. During one of these he saw lightning strike a large kelutral far in the distance, smoke curling up into the air above. Txur faltered while Neytiri flinched at the bright flash. A few moments later thunder rumbled.
As they flew on, the onslaught of the storm's leading edge eased, and the rain slackened from a heavy drenching to a steady downpour. The lightning appeared to be behind them. Jake guided his reluctant ikran further into the air above the trail. The other ikranä and their aymaktoyu soon fell back in behind them following the blur that was Jake, Neytiri and Txur.
Able to see better now, Neytiri glanced around, counting the ikran aymaktoyu, sensing something was wrong. It took her a moment to realize that Maweyatan and his mate were missing. She gripped Jake's shoulder as she leaned forward, her lips closer to his ear. "Ma Jake! Maweyatan and Nera'nak are not with us."
When Jake confirmed Neytiri's words with his own quick search, he touched his throat mic, giving instructions for one of the other eyktans to scout the return path and locate his missing ikran maktoyu. As both a Marine and olo'eyktan, he would never leave one of his warriors behind.
As they flew on, it was Txur who first spotted the pa'li aymaktoyu along the trail. Through tsaheylu, Jake sensed his ikran's quickened interest and felt Txur's optic nerve responses even though his Na'vi eyes could not yet discern them. As they flew closer, he could make out his pa'li eyktan Tsa'krrtep and her numeyu George at the tail end of the group, with the rest spreading out ahead.
Jake flew his ikran very low over the pa'li convoy so as to show them they were here. None of the animals below startled as their aymaktoyu expertly guided them through strong tsaheylu through the storm battered forest. Tsa'krrtep raised her bow in greeting as they flew overhead.
Neytiri raised her hand acknowledging the mighty warrior turned teacher. Otherwise, she made no sound. Slowly they approached the front of the line of pa'li and finally the pa'li train eyktan. In total, they overflew well over fifty fa'li and their aymaktoyu, a slightly smaller number than the sixty ikran aymaktoyu accompanying them.
The rain was steadily decreasing now as their journey was nearing an end, perhaps another half hour Earth time; it was getting far more light as the tailing end of the storm was thinning into a mixture of torn low clouds and a hazy layer of high clouds blowing off the top by Pandora's atmosphere. Direct sunlight would be hours away as it would have to rise above the storm's height to reach them.
As the rain became a drizzle they guided the ikran fleet back above the trees. As Neytiri looked over her shoulder to watch that they all followed she could see very distant lightning under the heart of the storm now behind them. She turned to Jake and patted him on the shoulder lovingly. "The storm has passed, my love. I hope that it spares new Hometree." Jake's hand reached up and briefly covered hers, squeezing lightly. "Srane." He pointed to a distant kelutral which seemed to rise on the horizon. "Our destination."
Txur's powerful wings beat towards the tree, each downstroke sounding like the crack of wet canvas in the wind. Anxiety began to coil around Neytiri's heart, contracting it more with each beat of the ikran's wings as they closed the distance between them and Hell's Gate. She clutched Jake's shoulder tensely. There was much riding on this confrontation, and she would stand by her mate's side, hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.
The end of the trip only took minutes. Jake circled the Lookout tree and as he and Neytiri made their several passes the other ikran aymaktoyu began to land in its high branches. The Na'vi that had been stationed here these last few months had built several platforms for landing their mounts and for general living, also for loading and unloading supplies that would be placed inside the depths of the tree, or removed for safer keeping inside the Flux.
After several sweeping circles under the high branches the last of the ikran aymaktoyu were landing, he guided Txur up to a large limb and the ikran alighted gallantly. Jake and Neytiri dismounted and immediately went to the inner spiral of the tree and descended to the main dais below. This is where he would meet all the Na'vi and their avatar mates.
All they needed to do now was wait for the pa'li aymaktoyu to arrive and dismount and finally Katja, she would be bringing in the tail, provided Maweyatan and Nera'nak were safe and rescued by the ikran eyktan sent in search for them. Jake had a frown on his face. Maweyatan, especially when accompanied with his mate, was probably the best ikran maktoyu that he had; the only ones he had met better were his love and mate Neytiri and Tsu'tey.
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Post by Neytiri on Jul 14, 2010 15:53:10 GMT -5
The sun was rising high in the morning sky as Katja lowered the last of the VLink Pods into place, all five, with the two avatar pods locked in as well. All in all it was a fairly large complex that just three or four months ago would have made Dr. Grace chuckle with delight. With all the link pods inside, and the avatar Pods attached the way they were, access into the complex was very easy. It contained a wealth of research equipment and supplies which Grace had collected during the length of the program. George wouldbe proud, as Grace would be proud.
After several long minutes, Peyral nimbly pulled her Na'vi body through the main pod hatch followed by Norm, somewhat less nimble. Norm turned back in, hit the main switches inside the main hatch, closed the interior door and then the exterior. From outside, if one were standing near, they could hear the Pandoran atmosphere being expelled from within and the seals pressing shut.
Peyral boarded the Samson first and seated herself as she had a half dozen times already this morning, on the all too small bench within the crew compartment, next to Eylikan'a. Katja spooled the rotors and the Samson lifted. Norm checked under the belly to make sure the cable had spooled into the wheel properly. After making sure that everything was secure, Norm stepped on the skid and slid himself into the Samson. Katja pulled back on the stick and eased up on the floor pedals and they lifted into the air.
Eying the dark clouds rolling towards them, Katja ordered the bay doors closed. The sky looked particularly threatening and the Samson's safety harnesses were not yet modified to hold avatar bodies securely, particularly pregnant ones. "Hold on; I think we're in for a rough ride!" Her expression grim, her jaw clenched, she angled her Samson toward the coming storm and Hell's Gate.
Once she got her bird above the tree line and past the river the rain hit, a hard rain, the leading edge of the storm. Even with no wind it was difficult to handle her Samson, the rain washing over the windshield of her bird. Katja hit the wipers for all the good that would do.
Over the months she had learned that there was a subtle pattern in what the Flux was doing to her sensors and could actually navigate roughshod most of the time. Even now, with the altimeter and the pitch-meter going haywire she was able to stay on a straight heading towards Hell's Gate. "This is a really bad one, I heard some chatter over the radio quite a while ago from Jake and some of the other ayeyktan. They took to the trees for protection. We might have to do the same thing!"
Norm had pulled himself up onto the bench to Peyral's left, Eylikan'a was to her right. Within Norm's embrace she drew comfort, while Eylikan'a made sure she kept her seat. He knew the value of a pregnant woman in the clan; his mate too was pregnant, but out of his reach, flying this kunsìp. He had been on many trips with her in the past three months but nothing even remotely close to this. "I don't like this Norm!" Peyral pleaded. "The sìp rocks too much. Will it fall?"
"No, sweetie. It's not going to crash. Katja is one of the best pilots I have ever known," for the briefest of seconds Trudy flashed through his head, her smile. Her carefree, laughing smile. "She will take good care of us." Norm snuggled her closer to him and she gave him a grateful look.
Just then the wind hit, the gust front buried within the rain wall. Katja's Samson hit it as if it were solid. The craft dropped several meters and slowed to a near stop throwing all three passengers into the forward bulkhead. Norm was under the two Na'vi but surprisingly conscious. Eylikan'a pulled himself off of Peyral, who was not moving. She had hit the ceiling of the chopper when it dropped all those meters just seconds before, leaving a smoking wire and a mark of red where she impacted. The two males instantly rolled her on her back.
Norm grabbed the stocked trauma kit off the forward bulkhead and got a towel with some cleansing alcohol, pressing it to her wound as Eylikan'a informed his mate what had happened. Katja had assumed the worst from the massive thud she heard from the rear compartment. She had to remain in control of her Samson. "I can't do anything right now Eylikan'a! I have to fly. Just make her comfortable!" She shouted over the sounds of the storm, the rain, the wind, the thunder.
Norm kneeled over his mate on the floor. He had cleansed the wound, a nasty gash in her scalp. It bled profusely as head wounds do, and Norm felt panic rising as Peyral failed to respond to her name, her body limp as wilted leaves. Eylikan'a braced himself against the interior stanchions as his mate fought to bring some stability to her ship. Walking was out of the question, so he slid to the floor and worked his way to Norm and Peyral. The pregnant young tsamsiyu was still limp, but her eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. "Thank Eywa!" Norm was nearly crying, his hands and arms bracing his mate against the ship's bucking and weaving floor so she wouldn't slide into anything else.
Eylikan'a watched as Norm's relief turned once again to anxiety over Peyral's nonresponsiveness. He pulled himself over to the anguished man and asked him to get some covering for her. Older than Norm, Eylikan'a had seen injured aysamsiyu further damaged by too-anxious caregivers. The energy surrounding an injured tsamsiyu called for strength, peace, confidence and resilience....none of which Norm displayed now. Eywa had taught them this, and they had listened. Eylikan'a would keep Norm busy and watch over Peyral while his mate fought her way through this storm.
The cockpit of this Samson was cramped for her Avatar body, the only one she called home anymore. The controls felt like toys and if she wasn't careful, she could easily break them. Sweat beaded her face and dripped off her chin. She swiped at it with the back of her hand and realized too late that it only made her grip more slippery. "Damn!" she muttered as a downdraft slung them into a pit of empty airspace and again they dropped like an iron cannonball.
Norm had already retrieved a blanket and when this downdraft hit, he had been cushioning Peyral's head with his hands. The three Na'vi were pitched about, but managed to avoid further serious injury. Eylikan'a did his best to keep Norm calm.
Katja raced over the forest canopy, giving wide berth to the towering aykelutral which dotted the landscape. The last thing they needed was for a freak gust to impale them within the branches of these arboreal giants. Her challenge was to keep beneath the roiling rain-swollen clouds and well above the forest in case of wind shear. What she hadn't considered was the lightning.
As she banked left to avoid another kelutral, the rising tilt rotor became the perfect target for a jaggedly bright electrical lance which caromed off the rotor's nacelle and hit the adjacent kelutral, exploding like a dirty bomb of fire, branches, and leaves which sucked into the rotor.
Instantly the craft shuddered violently, jerking the tiny controls from Katja's grasp.
From the crew cabin the thunder was intense, and mere seconds later there was the sound of debris hitting the starboard side of the craft and a loud boom. "Shit!" Katja yelled, and the Samson spun wildly, her ass to the right hard. Warning klaxons wailed through the crew cabin and smoke began to fill the craft.
Katja tried to get her bearings and steady the craft, but the tight spin was applying G- forces to the cockpit. A sudden CRASH, and wet glass shards rained against her face and shoulder from the broken cockpit door window next to her.
Through the slow motion caused from the event Katja was able to make out a massive limb lifting meters into the air, it seemed to rotate slowly, blooming into flaming matchsticks which rained against the Samson's windscreen.
The Na'vi in the crew cabin were once more thrown to the far side of the chopper. A very dazed Peyral once again landing hard into Norm's lap, luckily sustaining no further injury other than her breath knocked out. Norm was against the tail compartment of the chopper but Eylikan'a had slammed full force into the closed bay door jarring it from its track. He managed to grab hold of the bench leg and the RDA stanchion cable before the door flopped open, hanging oddly from the side of the craft.
Debris flew around the cabin and cockpit for several long seconds, some flying out into the storm along with the trauma kit, before Katja stabilized her bird. The smoke had cleared the instant the bay door flew open and the coughing subsided.
There was a new problem now, the starboard rotor had a terrible wobble to it and Katja could feel it in the steering pedals under her avatar feet. It was like an airborne earthquake. The craft shook under the stress. One of the monitors on her dashboard displayed a red flashing insignia over the rotor mount indicating that it had been severely damaged or destroyed. She had some pitch and yaw, but otherwise, the craft was going in a large circle now; if she were to make it safely to the Gate now she would have to take half that circle then do a tight one-eighty to get back on course.
Eylikan'a pulled himself back onto the floor of Katja's Samson and over to Norm, who was holding his mate tightly with his right arm around her midriff, and his left hand clenched tightly to one of the cable banks at the rear of the chopper. He had saved her life with this hold.
"Guys, this isn't good at all. I think I can get us back, but I can't guarantee anything. Only once have I sustained this kind of damage, back when I was hit by an angry toruk shortly after my arrival. I went down, she fell apart around me. I need you to prepare to jump if I say so. When and if that happens I will get us as close to the ground as I can." She was shouting over the open bay door that let in the wail of the storm and the rotor wake. It was almost deafening.
She managed to get all the worrisome klaxons turned off which calmed her crew, not to mention herself. She was able now to concentrate wholly on flying her wounded ship. With the wind still buffeting her craft, and the rain barreling down on them, not to mention the turkey shoot that was lightning raining down all around them, it was a wonder she was still airborne at all. "Hold together, baby. We've been through worse together." She patted the top of the dashboard console in front of her. Eylikan'a again took control of the passengers, easing poor Peyral from Norm's near death grip around her belly. He pulled her to the starboard side of the craft where the bay door was undamaged, and the bench in the middle would help prevent her from sliding too far. Had it not been for the fact that the blanket had wrapped itself around Norm's leg, they would not have that to cover her still dazed form. Her breathing was shallow and her focus incomplete, but she was mouthing the one word that mattered most to her, "Norm."
The adrenaline rush had finally flushed through Norm, and he was getting his wits again. Never wild about flying, he tended to stay within the craft whenever possible and away from the doors. Those thoughts no longer occurred to him. He took his mate's hand in both of his. She was his universe, nothing else was going on now, the world was stock still, no noise, no wind, no movement of any kind. His focus was on her alone, and his head clear. "We're safe, my muntxate. Katja is flying. You are going to be fine." He smiled down at her. All Peyral saw of him was a blue blur too distant to make out, but she could hear his voice, faintly. Eylikan'a had moved to the cockpit passage. "What happened, Katja? " Even he was sore from the spinning and his earlier impact. She didn't even turn to face him, concentrating on the controls, flipping switches readying for the tight spin necessary to stay on course. "Everybody hold on!" She hit the switch and pressed the left pedal bringing the port rotor to a near stall, the damaged starboard taking the force and spinning the ship hard. Seconds later she pulled back on the switch and let off the pedal and the ship righted itself.
Once she had control of her craft again, she turned her head over her shoulder to face her mate. "We've taken a lot of damage and I really don't think there is much left in the starboard for more of those spins. I am going to do everything I can to keep us from getting lost. We are only at the edge of the Flux now and my instruments are starting to come back, but I just don't know. At this pace it'll take us a couple hours minimum and I just don't know if she's that strong." She was nearly crying, for the tough girl she constantly played and pulled off, even she had her limits. Eylikan'a put a reaffirming hand on her shoulder.
"I will go back and tend to Peyral with Norm. She is hurt badly." Katja swallowed hard at that. Peyral, sweet Peyral. Poor Norm. No, she would not let this happen. She would keep this bird in the air if it meant everything she had to do it. They were on her watch now and she would NOT lose another crewmen or passenger. Not after last time. "Not on my watch." She was back.
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