Soon, I had caught up with everyone else. Saeyla always had a frown for me. Jake would be joining us, I am more than surprised. We would go soon, but we still have some late comers. I had yet to successfully hunt something yet, but Tsu'tey hadn't let me until now.

Faced with killing something is difficult for me but, I must do it. Hopefully it will be my first and last time taking a life. Bow drawn, deep breaths, a clear shot. It struck the hexapede but it didn't do down. It ran further into the dense forest.

Tsu'tey gave me a pat on my back to urge me to follow. I followed the obvious trail of blood while avoiding making any noise. I nocked another arrow and pursued the frightened animal. It bucked and screamed and I had to fire the second arrow. It was down and screaming. I pulled my knife from the sheath on my hip.

"I see you sister, and thank you." I opened her operculum and stabbed there. Her head dropped and she stopped breathing. "Your spirit goes with Eywa, your body stays behind to become part of The People." I removed my knife and the arrows as well. Tsu'tey observed silently as I did my work.

"Let me carry it for you, she's much bigger than I think you can handle." he offered.

"Thank you Tsu'tey." I said.

--------------------

When last meal had arrived, Tsu'tey said I was ready. I would go to Iknimaya and finish my final trials. Relieved and exhausted, my sore body lost it's toughness and soon I was asleep in the hammock I had made.

--------------------

Saeyla was waiting for me when I woke up.

"You! You don't deserve to go to Iknimaya!" she hissed.

"Saeyla I understand your distaste for me," I said while getting out of my hammock, "But it is not your decision to make."

"No! You will not go!" she seethed.

I walked away from her. She is not going to stop me.

We bonded with our pa'li and rode out to the floating mountains. Although I was afraid, I didn't feel fear right now.

We stopped our pa'li and followed Tsu'tey up the vines and mountains. Jake looked like he was monologuing internally. Tsu'tey was preparing all of us for the climb and the Ikrans.

The climb began as we followed him up and up and up. I was falling behind but not as far as Saeyla. She has no stamina. We were approaching the top of this string of mountains.

"Oehu." he said to us.

"Now what." Jake asked in english.

"Latsi." he said as if this where a game of tag. He waited for a cluster of vines to rotate our way. "Kivä Ko!" he urged us as he lunged and grabbed a vine. he began climbing as the others followed him. I knew if I stuck close, I'd be safest so I grabbed the thickest vine I found when I jumped.

I climbed frantically as panic set in. Jake followed behind with a smile. we gained our bearings and followed the others across these giant vines and roots. soon we came across another mountain, but it had a cave. We followed Tsu'tey up the path until we reached an opening near a waterfall. The screeches and sounds of Ikrans echoed throughout the cavern.