The hunt and after
Sätaron ulte mawkrr
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The hunt. It was another rite of passage.

The clan was buzzing with excitement.

Descending over the valley were only a flock of ikrans. Many more were on pa'li-back. The sounds of the hooves were thunderous and ground shaking. Kyra's group was with Tsu'tey. They worked in coordinated sweeps. Tsu'tey covered the left, Kyra covered the right. Those behind would pick off who they could and keep the herd moving within Omatikaya territory.

Pia'ray swept down close to the backs of the Sturmbeest or talioang. They didn't die from old age, rather died from injury. The largest were twice the size of a pa'li.

Kyra watched warriors try to get close and use weapons on their thick hide. She swept up and avoided a flinging spear and clapped to get higher and choose her target. There was a bull. Young, arrogant, big. It would make fine game for an eager hunter.

She swept down and followed it. She readied her bow and keened Pia'ray so that they'd tilt and curve around to the weakest point on the body, the operculum. She ululated a killing cry as she fired into it's breathing holes, also a direct line to the heart and lungs for most creatures.

It dropped suddenly and rolled onto its side and died in seconds. The warriors had much to live up to with Kyra and Tsu'tey making kills with ease.

Jake's kill was excellent, it was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome surprise. As much as Tsu'tey wanted to be angry with him, he was only doing his part.

But Kyra got greedy. She made a second kill with ease but forgot about her positioning. She was too close. Pia'ray lost balance and regained it, but without her rider.

Kyra had been thrown into the middle of the stampede. The thundering hooves were too close for comfort, landing close to her body, heavy enough to crush her bones.

Kyra abandoned her bow in favor of survival, it had broken with her fall anyway. She glanced around for a way out. Scanning the muddy valley, but nothing. She just started running. She could barely keep up, let alone outrun a talioang. So she waited for them to pass and shot out in front of them. But one slip in the mud could cost her everything.

Her feet dug in and leapt out of the mud with great effort as she tried to escape. She could hear Tsu'tey yelling at her from his ikran but she barely computed his words. She kept her knees high and her senses sharp.

Her foot came down on something hard and slippery, a rock. It was slick with algae and mud. It was over. She slipped onto her back and was dazed for a second before she gathered her wits. She scrambled up and kept moving until she was safe from the stampede.

•—————•—————•—————•—————•

"Come." Tsu'tey ordered me. I nodded and Tsu'tey clutched his basket of soaps and such.

He guided us out to the nearby waters of the Omatikaya. Everyone bathes here communally. But I choose to at the waterfalls which are only another fifteen minutes away.

Tsu'tey glanced down at his soaps and passed me the basket and turned around to give me privacy. We had to have a talk once about privacy because it's not a common concept to na'vi. But Tsu'tey wanted me to feel safe and comfortable.

I untied my muddied clothes and washed them before myself.

"You've been distant." Tsu'tey postulated. His tone was unwavering, but there was something there, something curious. I savored the sound of his voice and ruminated on his thought and possible motives.

"I've been busy." I prompted. I began lathering their natural shampoo into my unbraided hair.

"You don't come to me for lessons anymore. Not even questions. Do you think you've learned everything?" He grunted.

His head almost turned to look at me while I stared at him.

"It's been a tough time. A lot to do. I shouldn't bother the Olo'eyktanay. You're pulling the weight of our leaders. Oh, and something I want to share now that we're here." I started.

His ears perked up in an adorable way. Like a rabbits or a cats.

"Mo'at and Eytukan want to take me in. Be my family I mean." I revealed.

I began rinsing out the soapy substance into the water.

"How do you feel about it? I think it's an honor." Tsu'tey stated.

"I don't know how to feel. In my heart, I still have parents. My mother, my dad, my pops. And I know they're dead. It's hard to move on. It seemed like months ago I was telling my mom I'd be back to celebrate with her. Um I suppose you should get some context." I recalled.

"Yes, I'd appreciate that." He laughed.

"Mm. My dad was a warrior like me. Big man as far as humans go. Muscular like me. He had hair like sunlight and eyes like charcoal. He died in battle when I was little. I remember... bawling my eyes out for nights after. Sometimes even at school. Loosing your dad is like having your spine ripped out. You loose what made you feel straight and true." I admitted. My eyes started to tear up as I sat in the water.

"My mom was devastated. And uh my pops, he was the man next in line to support my family. He was a warrior in the same war party with dad. Pops married my mom and made her very happy. I don't really know what happened after that to them. They're dead. I died before I got to come home and love them and tell them I cared, and that I was grateful." I started to choke on my words and I felt like my sobs were suffocating me.

I heard Tsu'tey turn and feel his way toward me, his hand came to rest on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry." He apologized, "you've lost so much." He comforted me with gentle words and tone, his warmth was comforting.

It didn't take away the pain, but it was bare able.

"I'm gonna accept Mo'at's offer. And I'll make them proud to have chosen to take me in. I'll show them love that I couldn't give my own." I resolved.

I began to redress myself and I left the water.

"I know you'll make them proud." Tsu'tey moved, almost like he'd hug me, he wrapped a towel-like blanket around me.

"Now let's get you prepared for your dreamhunt."