Out of breath and astounded, I gazed over the edge of the cave we were in. So many colors and shapes and sizes of ikrans, I was bewildered. Jake took his bow off from around him and went to look too. I understood his expression as soon as I saw it, like a kid in a candy store.

The air was damp but clear, it's so beautiful and warm. I took a minute to take it all in and just breathe. Air has never tasted so good before. I was almost brought to tears. On Earth, it's so dense and polluted we all wear breathing apparatuses. It is hard to find a nonpolluted space. And yet, here I am, so lucky to be breathing clean air.

I was drawn from my thoughts by a bird call of someone I've grown to consider a friend and mentor. Neytiri flew her Ikran(Seze) to the ledge to land, so we all backed out of the way. Seze screeched us a greeting and Neytiri took off her visor.

"Oel ngati kameie." she greeted Tsu'tey. Tsu'tey made a gesture to say the same. I keep forgetting that they're promised to eachother. I assume he was chosen by Eytukan to lead as Olo'eyktan when Eytukan is gone, but I don't know how I feel about that.

 Tsu'tey suddenly smirked as he looked at Jake, "JakeSully will go first." he said with a grin. I looked at him with disappointment as I noticed Neytiri doing the same. He was lead by Neytiri as she whispered some last minute advice to him. Something weird is going on between those two.

"Now, you will choose an ikran and they will choose you. They will attack you and if get hurt, I cannot intervene. Rely on your skills and you will do well." He said cryptically with a smile. "Ka'ani, you will be next, Lahela, you will be last, Saeyla, you know what to do." We followed him under the waterfall and watched as Jake got his ass kicked. Neytiri kept reminding him what to do, but I wasn't worried. That ex-marine is too stubborn to die. 

"Tsamsiyu! Txopu rä'ä si! Tsamsiyu!" Tsu'tey said mockingly. Jake had found his ikran and he looked angry. "Tsakem rä'ä si." he said to Ka'ani. Jake hissed and Tsu'tey laughed.

"That moron's going to die." he said. Jake started swinging the vine in his hand as a taunt for the ikran. I kinda tuned out because I couldn't watch, I don't know what happened but there was a lot of shouting and some encouragement but Jake has a banshee now so that's pretty cool. All of the sudden Ka'ani went, his was purple and actually not as big as the other ikrans. Saeyla struggled for a while to find one, but she did and it was big and green and mean. And then there was me.

"Don't be afraid and you should do well, you are not a fast learner, but when you learn something, you perfect it. You should not have too much trouble." he said. 

"That's the nicest thing you've said to me, thank you for bringing me this far." I said. I jumped off from my perch and went in search for an ikran. When I did(eventually) it was like looking in a mirror. In her, I saw myself. Her eyes are a deep blue, and her skin is golden orange with speckles of cyan and indigo. She's small like me but bigger than normal ikrans. she doesn't look to be from around here either, her stomach resembles a sky blue tone so I assume she's from the coastal area. 

I hissed, she hissed. she circled me and I followed. she lunged, I grabbed. She roared and rolled. I was just along for the ride. I jumped on her back and she tried to knock me off but my hold was strong, before too long I had her queue in my hand with the other hand I had my queue. All at once her struggling stopped and we were on our way. 

"Come, your first flight will seal the bond. Follow me." Tsu'tey said. He mounted his Ikran and left his perch. I followed behind him as her wings stretched gracefully, the wind, the mist. I had nearly forgotten about the heights, but 'Al'ìa reassured me I would not fall. She's stubborn and strong. I'm amazed by her and everything I'm experiencing.

Neural connections became easier since the practice I had with the pa'li. Tsu'tey motioned for me to follow him as we practiced flying with our ikrans.