The gift of Eywa

chapter 10: learning

At night in the shack I ponder upon images Grace has called up at her work station, science graphics of the leonopteryx. Trudy and Norm are crowded around as well. "The great leonopteryx is the appex aerial predator. Not only rare but the sighting tent to not get reported."

Trudy makes a clicking motion with her thumb. "There usually isn't time to key the mike." That's when I decide to speak up. "The people call it toruk" to which Norm translates it as the last shadow. "Last one you'll ever see." "I saw one take out a gunship once. Total fricken yard sale. Ate the crew like peanuts."

'How... comforting' Grace is scanning through the images but I stop her on one. A 3D aerial shot of the stranger arched formation. "That's it. That what Neytiri pointed to."

"Vitraya Ramonung. The well of souls. Its their most sacred place." She moves the virtual camera and it seem as if we are flying around the well of souls. Only catching a glimpse of the interior. "Something bigs going on there biologically. I'd die to get a sample but outsiders are strictly forbidden."

Jake and looks outside the pressure window at human Grace, Norm and I. Wearing mask we are taking some readings from some time series experiments that Grace has set up. As we finish we head back and enter through the airlocks. "Hey guys" "Heya Jakey"

Hometree night

Jake and I stare up at the totem skull which I recognise as the great Leonopteryx. Neytiri watches us as we reach up to touch the tall indigo crest. "My grandfather's grandfather was toruk macto, rider of the last shadow. Toruk chose him. It has only happened five times since the time of the first son."

"That's a long time." Neytiri takes my hand as na'vi do that when they are telling g something important. Which for some reason made Jake glare at our hands. "Toruk macto was mighty. He brought our clanss together in a time of great sorrow. All na'vi people know this story."

River bed- day

Me, Neytiri and the other flying hunters swoop low above the herd of sturmbees. Dust rises from the living river like steam from a python's back.

Tracking with the herd a hunter appears in FG, astride a direhorse at full gallop. The sight is breathtaking. I hurl a 3 meter spear and one of the sturmbees crash down, flipping twice from momentum.

I roll in like a fighter jet, my banshee screaming. I draw and fire my bow. The arrow strikes true in the plexus between the armoured shoulder. The beast crashed down and skids to a stop in a cloud of dust. Neytiri swoops down next to me, arms raised and grinning wolfishly. Cue Tsu'tey banking around my kill, I look up and Tsu'tey saluts me in admiration.

Commens/hometree- night.

The central space is lit by a bonfire, around which the hunt festival is in full swing. Wild dancing. People gnawing on massive strumbees rib. A bowl of kava like intoxicants it passes around.

Neytiri dances in a flowing costume as a banshee spirt as Norm dances in some weird fashion. Jake and I are surrounded by young hunters, we act out the leonopteryx attack with our hands. The leaping firelight plays across the eye sockets of the toruk skull, bringing ot to life. It seems to watch Jake and Nova.

Tsu'tey squats next to us with his usuall scowl present on his face. Jake and I brace ourselves as Tsu'tey holds up... a kava bowl,  offering it to us. A challenge or an olive branch?

Jake and takes a long, hearty drink before passing it to me as some of the young hunters hoot and clap their hands in a fast rhythm. "Watch that stuff. It'll knock you into next week." Grace says, appearing from knowhere. I offer the bowl back to Tsu'tey after I have a sip. We lock eyes as Tsu'tey drinks.