Glowing friend
Ner 'eylan
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Jake had finally made his first kill in the morning. He had reached a level of precision that was almost on par with Neytiri. Almost. But it meant that they'd be going to Iknimaya.

Tsu'tey would lead, Neytiri would be there for Jake, Ka'ani and Saeyla were going to attempt it with Kyra, and Ka'un was tagging along since he had expressed interest in teaching the next generation of young hunters.

They took the pa'li early in the morning, a mist settled in the valley as it did most mornings. A subtle chill was in the air. Their trek was long and at a leisurely pace. Kyra took Peyanu, the pa'li she rode, also named after the Peyanu whose body was used to make her avatar and who knows how many other avatars.

The mist covered the valley in a thin film. The thinning mist gave way to the sunrise as they reached a mountains peak. The rocks, that their hooves knocked over, rattled their way down the mountainside. Kyra tried not to look down.

They came to a stop near it's peak where vines reached up into the sky, holding mountains in its grasp.

Kyra gazed up at the pillar and sighed. This wasn't the whole climb either. She sighed and dismounted Peyanu and patted their crest and listened to Tsu'tey coach the other students.

Atan had come along to herd the Pa'li back. He was used to it as he came along, checking each one and keeping them calm.

"The climb will be long. You will need to control your breathing when the air gets thin. I will lead and show you where to go." He said calmly before turning and beginning the long climb up.

He expertly climbed up the stalk with nimble and swift motion. Kyra calculated each motion she made as she followed behind. Utilizing each vine and crack to her advantage as she propelled herself up into the clouds.

It wasn't long before the air thinned and she had to take larger breaths, faster breaths. They came to the last bead on the string of boulders, and everyone slowed to a stop as Tsu'tey commanded them to watch and keep up. To keep going as he leapt out for a sturdy vine.

Kyra didn't doubt herself and just lunged for a vine. The rough texture scraped at her toughened hands, still too soft for this.

Jake leapt out too but not after Saeyla and Ka'ani got to it first.

Kyra began her ascent and yipped excitedly as she climbed up into a cavern that led out onto some large vines. Tsu'tey easily walked across the thick log-like vines, leading the way for the others. A shadow passed over as Neytiri's ikran trilled. She tipped happily and greeted the learners.

Tsu'tey greated her with a happy bellowing call. She left shortly after and they began again.

They entered another cave and Tsu'tey stopped the group as they explored the cave, finding a waterfall in their path and dozens of Ikrans swarming the cliff's surface.

Out there was one with Kyra's name on it. Their souls would intermingle like Kanaw and Tsu'tey.

Neytiri landed nearby and lifted her visor.

"Pxengati kame." She greeted Tsu'tey, Jake and I. She was aware that Tsu'tey favored Kyra over his other students.

Tsu'tey made the sign back in greeting. He then paced in-front of them, choosing to have the most exhausted go first. Jake.

Tsu'tey's eyes flicked to Kyra as her face turned to disappointment. She had hoped he'd choose the very eager Saeyla to show the group the ropes. As much as Kyra didn't like Saeyla, she saw that she was capable. Jake wasn't as capable. His smile dipped a little as he met her eyes. He then took Jake's bow and faced Neytiri's disapproval.

Tsu'tey returned to Kyra and his other students. He offered a sentimental expression.

"You have long been my students. I have taught you much to prepare for this day. Out there," he gestured to the ikran nests, "is an opportunity for a new bond. One that not all people are blessed with. I know you will make me proud." He placed a hand on each of our shoulders one at a time. A stern and reassuring look on his face.

"Follow." He said as he traced Neytiri's steps.

Kyra moved close behind. Wary of the imminent danger. The Ikrans moved from Jake like pepper from dish soap. Tsu'tey warded off an ikran or two to make a safe space for his students to watch and learn.

Jake faced a blue ikran. Letting his foe face him.

"C'mon Semper fi! Don't fuck it up!" Kyra encouraged.

Jake hissed at the ikran and it hissed back.

"Don't do what he did!" Tsu'tey teased.

"Let's dance." Jake said. He began to swing the mouth catcher and let the ikran attack first.

"That moron's going to die." Tsu'tey chuckled.

Jake managed to get on its back, and it spurred Ka'ani to cheer for him.

A series of encouraging words and teasing from Tsu'tey led Jake to be distracted as he was hit on the face and thrown over the cliff face. Luckily, he caught the edge and pulled himself up back on it's back. He managed to wrestle the ikran onto it's side as they made the bond. As Jake commanded him to stop, it all went silent.

Neytiri sent him off and went to join him and the group was left in awe.

"Ka'ani, you are next." Tsu'tey stated as he waited for Ka'ani to move.

Ka'ani looked lost for a moment.

"Go." Tsu'tey shooed.

Ka'ani's ikran ended up being gold and white, slightly smaller wings, but that only meant it was faster in maneuvering.

"Kyra, your turn. Have no fear." He encouraged as she turned towards the refilling basin. Ikrans crowed and practically beckoned for her. And she nodded and unloaded her jaw catcher.

She moved swiftly, ikran to ikran until the basin was empty. None would approach. It was disheartening to say the least, but she stayed hopeful and on guard.

"I told you she would fail. Look, she chases away all the good ikran." Saeyla chimed with laughter until she was silenced by Tsu'tey raising his hand to silence her.

"No. I should've sent you first. Go." He motioned for her to go.

Saeyla traded places with Kyra who returned dejected. She watched as Saeyla conquered her bonding. Tsu'tey watched the sun set behind Polyphemus as the basin began to refill with ikran.

"I failed, Tsu'tey. We should just return home." Kyra said in a small voice.

Tsu'tey stood still for a moment, looking up until he pointed up at the rocks above.

"More wait. The day is not over." Tsu'tey encouraged.

Kyra shook her head as her hands trembled.

"But I failed." Kyra repeated.

Tsu'tey took her aside and calmed her trembling.

"Not yet. This is your chance." He said firmly, "go." He commanded.

Kyra turned her eyes to the basin with hope.

She searched for her ikran in the darkness for only a few minutes before an odd crested ikran showed herself.

She was large, lithe. Her color was deep purple, almost black. Like space. She was covered in pastel blues that flowed in the dark. Her belly was glowing too, under her wings also. But only in intricate patches. Her subtler markings were much like Kanaw's and she had some shiffurple(give it a google) markings on her crest, mandible crest, queues, wingtips, secondary wing in strides and stripes to her the tips and her tail. Her eyes were brilliant blue, more saturated than the glowing markings.

She cawed and screeched dominantly. She was very large and she clapped her way down into the basin and began the battle as she dove for Kyra.

Kyra ducked and rolled under the belly of the beast as she landed. Kyra tackled the ikran, shutting its mouth with the jaw catcher while grasping onto her for dear life. She took each struggling move within her stride as she caught the ikran's flailing queue.

Her wide wings flapped in panic as Kyra reached for her queue. Her legs locked around the Ikrans neck.

"Not goin anywhere!" She grit her teeth and brought their queues together.

Time stopped for a second as she did. And relief flooded both of their bodies. Their spirits greeted each other, but it wasn't over.

"Fly!" Tsu'tey commanded as he called for Kanaw.

The pair set off into the night. The eclipse ended with the sunset briefly flashing over the horizon.

At first it was a struggle. But it all snapped into place much quicker than expected.

Her ikran was Pia'ray. She was graceful and swift. Her wings were powerful and non-reliant on the wind to soar with their wide and long shape. It felt like what being alive was meant to feel like.

The forest below was only dark because of its canopy, but some light shone through.

Tsu'tey's ikran didn't shine as bright as she did.

Kyra let Pia'ray take control for a while before kneeling down to press a chaste kiss to the back of her neck, as close as she could to her ikran's head.

"Beautiful." She complimented her new friend.