Much to learn... (open)

[KanokFelna]

Zenke'winsi was already well past his adrenaline 'high' when he eased Yol'trr into the clan pastures, and he was literally dragging his feet by the time he slid his exhausted form into the communal fest area. He wasn't feeling like retelling his story any more, in fact that desire left him about twenty minutes into their ride back. All he saw in his future at this point was the bliss of the back of his eyelids. Too much excitement in a single day can lead to that. The pressure of the hunt, the anticipation, the exhilaration, and then the many hours of pure boredom on their ride back accumulated to sap the young Na'vi of his energy.

He beat his tutor by some time and was feeding himself, alone and silently, by the time the messenger tooled up to him with the request from their venerable spiritual guide. He was tired, in his exhaustion he was also cranky, and far from feeling social, but when Kilvan'mawey asks you to share her fire you don't politely decline.

Winsapi told the messenger, the young daughter of she that bid him to her side, that he would be happy to meet with the venerable Tsa'hik. He gathered up a horn of water and some last tidbits of food and strolled toward where the female leader sat. He noticed his tutor was also making his way in the same direction, and in the mood Winsapi found himself he now felt even less social. He quickly ate his food and made sure that Taronyuti'rea would arrive before him. Walking slower as needed to be the second to arrive on the scene. He remained respectfully silent, as he knew Kilvan'mawey would hear his steps and know the difference between how Taronyuti'rea stepped and how his feet fell upon the blessed ground.

He would wait to be addressed, would answer any questions, and would make a polite show of it all. To do any less would simply be rude.

[xanderpenton]

Despite the wave of tiredness that had struck the hunter partway through the
Groups small uproar, Tirea turned a warm smile to the youngster who greeted him so politely once their little round of singing and exuberance had toned down once more. He knew the child well, she looked so much like her grandmother but with no lines to her face to show where smiles and laughter it always worries and grief had been, and her eyes were bright and seemed to glow in the bioluminescence of the night lights. He gestured in greeting to the little one and nodded to her request, slowly rising and excusing himself politely from the group to go and sit with the Tsa'hik.

As he approached her he bowed his head respectfully and greeted her "I see you, little mother". It was a nickname he had referred to Kilvan'mawey As for many seasons, all through his youth in fact. Many others around his age had called her this out of great respect too seeing as she was the one to interoperate the will of the great mother Eywa. He wasn't sure if she knew of this fond nickname, but he was mentally tired and so, in a slip of the tongue, he referred to her as their fond name for her rather than her clan title. It was only after he said it out loud he could have kicked himself for what may have been seen as disrespectful ang hoped she either wouldn't mind, as he was pretty sure there was no possibility of her not noticing, because, despite her sightless eyes, barely anything avoided her sharp and bright mind.( I'll take this out if you don't like it... I thought it was kind of sweet and portrayed great admiration)

He was directed to a seat by the young one who had summoned him to her side and respectfully awaited her words, his keen eyes watching her gentle but time worn face. He sat cross legged,, his plms on his knees in a relaxed and comfortable manner as he took a glance around for Winsapi, wondering if he too would join them and smiled when he saw the youngster make his way s,lowly across the space to join them.

[Jai'byrd]

As they two males approach her position she instantly regretted calling upon them as she sensed their fatigue, it had been a long day for them apparently. As they came up to her she nodded at them both, the younger saying nothing, whereas the latter greeting her with a nickname some of her family used, she recalled one of her extremely tall sons came up with it ages ago as a private joke. That joke had taken on a life of its own obviously if those outside of her family were now using it. She smiled as she took no offense, heck these days they could call her a two-headed syaksyuk and she'd just laugh at their audacity. Ah youth! So innocent without realizing it she mused.

"Ah, there you both are. I can tell you are both tired, so I will make it brief. How fared you both today? Young Winsapi, did you mind the utral utu mauti like I told you too? Hrm?"

She then held up a leaf bowl with many slices of harvest fruit upon it, a delicacy this time of year, "Here, have some, please. If my family feeds me any more of this they're going to rot my teeth out."

A daughter of hers who was sitting nearby turned and huffed at her old mother, who just grinned at her making the younger woman roll her eyes and go back to talking with her mate.

"Heh, family, may Eywa bless you both with this joy when you take a mate in the future," she said it politely, but there was a hint of an edge that seemed to imply she was making a bit of a joke at her daughter's expense.

---

syaksyuk - Prolemuris
utral utu mauti - Push fruit tree

[KanokFelna]

"Young Winsapi, did you mind the utral utu mauti like I told you too? Hrm?"

The youth hunkered down across from the Tsa'hik, and by coincidence, across from those that sat beside her - including his tutor and the daughter that fetched them. His eyes were tired, half-closed, but he smiled and thanked his spiritual leader when she offered him some of her succulent meal. He took a single slice, as a show of respect, but wouldn't gorge himself. It was customary after all, and Zenke'winsi was fairly devoted toward following the clans protocols.

The question bounced around in his brain for a few moments, as he tried to remember if he had been given such a hint by the venerable Tsa'hik before they had left that morning. He really couldn't remember, though it didn't sound unusual, so after a look that spoke clearly of his efforts to think back that far, he smiled and shrugged softly.

"I am sorry Spirit Mother, I failed to mind the trees. I was seeking the plains yerik and forgot to watch for signs of the fruit."

He wouldn't go into the details of the failed hunt. He could tell the tale when he was more energetic, or if he was asked directly. In a certain sense, given the fact the hunt was a prelude to his trials, he didn't really feel it was right for him to speak out of turn. Taronyuti'rea was the superior on that hunt, and though merely an observer it would be his opinion of the hunt that would matter. Winsapi was tested, and though not found totally lacking, they did not have a yerik as proof of a successful excursion. Lacking that sign of victory it struck Winsapi as being particularly rude to crow about his performance, when Taronyuti'rea may well have a totally different perspective.

He fell silent, slowly nibbling from his slice of harvest fruit, and letting the adults about the fire speak of important things. He was content just to be there, and would play his part - as the child that should be seen, and not heard unless spoken to directly. It was hardly impolite, it was just the way of things. After he became a hunter, and flew home astride his ikran, he would be allowed more latitude at such gathers.

[xanderpenton]

Ti’rea accepted the fruit gratefully, only taking one slice, for the same reasons as Winsapi did and out of respect and gratitude at being offered. He chewed thoughtfully on the heavily sweet fruit, its soft , moist flesh mingled with its tiny seeds was very pleasing. It was at the perfect stage of ripeness, not too sticky and squishy and not to firm and unripe as to make it pale and bitter to the tongue.

He listened as their Spiritual leader questioned the young hunter about the fruit she had mentioned to him that morning, and his response to the Tsa’hik. He bit his lip a little as he too realised he’d forgotten to look for the fruit too, but considering the excitement and the events of the day, he hopes she would understand. When Winsapi had given her his response, the white hunter set about answering her other question of “How fared you both today?”

“The hunt was a good one, Tsa’hik, but stricken with a danger we had hoped against, as all hunters do.” He said as he leaned forward, his story tellers attitude showing forth as he hoped to engage people in a good tale.

“Young Zenke’winsi and I rode the pali a long way, well past the grazing of the forest yerik and out to where the forest meets the plains. He chose a good beast to carry him, strong, fast and brave. My own Pali could barely keep up as we thundered through the pathways, out to where the plains yerik come to gorge on fruit.

He chose a good distance to leave them before we set out on foot. And he led me through a good, silent route to an excellent spot from which to take aim on a small herd, 2 mothers and their adolescent fawns. Of course he made a good choice as to which one to go for. She was strong and plump, the harvest has obviously been good to this herd, and the fawns were big enough not to require her any further.

His breath was steady and calm as he took aim, but the creak of his bowstring alerted her to our presence. The whole herd ran but not before Our young hunters arrow made its mark. If it had not been for that creak, the kill would have been clean. But his triumph was short lived.”

He looked over at the young hunter, gesturing that he could continue the story if he wished. The pale hunter wanted the youngster to be able to tell some of their exiting tale, and it would have been selfish for Tirea to tell the whole story. But he had told the Tsa’hik the important part, The part about the boys test and how it would have been a success.

[Jai'byrd]

"I am sorry Spirit Mother, I failed to mind the trees. I was seeking the plains yerik and forgot to watch for signs of the fruit."

Was the only reply out of the young Na'vi (although wasn't everyone a 'young' Na'vi when you yourself were so damn old?) as the Tsahik nodded, but said nothing in reply. He looked tired, she regretted asking them to come here, it looked like all he wanted to see was his bed.

Then it was Taronyuti'rea's turn to speak evidently; “The hunt was a good one, Tsa’hik, but stricken with a danger we had hoped against, as all hunters do.”

His body language and tone were so for telling a story, apparently he had been working at this skill some as a slight smile tugged at the edges of her mouth.

“Young Zenke’winsi and I rode the pali a long way, well past the grazing of the forest yerik and out to where the forest meets the plains. He chose a good beast to carry him, strong, fast and brave. My own Pali could barely keep up as we thundered through the pathways, out to where the plains yerik come to gorge on fruit.

He chose a good distance to leave them before we set out on foot. And he led me through a good, silent route to an excellent spot from which to take aim on a small herd, 2 mothers and their adolescent fawns. Of course he made a good choice as to which one to go for. She was strong and plump, the harvest has obviously been good to this herd, and the fawns were big enough not to require her any further.

His breath was steady and calm as he took aim, but the creak of his bowstring alerted her to our presence. The whole herd ran but not before Our young hunters arrow made its mark. If it had not been for that creak, the kill would have been clean. But his triumph was short lived.”

She nodded, taking it all in, thinking it over as her dead eyes seemed to stare off into the distance. She said nothing as she was not going to be so rude as to ask 'And?' or to ask unnecessary questions and break the storyteller's flow. Thus she sat and listened, waiting breathlessly for the rest of the tale...

[KanokFelna]

Taronyuti'rea was born to be as storyteller, Winsapi already knew that much, but to hear his own story told with such candor and flair was a little surprising. For a moment it kept him rapt with attention, but that was a swiftly passing moment indeed.

Little more than halfway through his relatively short tale the warrior-to-be had his eyes fluttering. By the conclusion, when Taronyuti'rea left him the opportunity to expand upon the telling, his eyes were closed and his head leaned forward. He wasn't asleep, not per-se, but he was certainly caught up completely in that fugue that takes a Na'vi in the exhaustion before such blissful immersion in the waters of dream.

When eyes fell upon him, and that silence fell over him like a blanket, Winsapi seemed to start for a moment. His eyes flicked open for a moment, glazed and distant in focus, darting about slightly as if unable to find a point in space to stop upon. His head snapped up and he came back to his senses for a moment, but obviously had that disconnect from the moment. Confused as to exactly what he had missed, though he had missed nothing in fact, but his mind was so addled as to be virtually unhinged from the same time-space that everyone else in the small gathering occupied.

He wasn't even conscious of the fact others were waiting on him to complete his story. He looked at them with the same anticipation, though his was tinged with embarrassment (as he knew he had nodded off on them), as they regarded him in that moment.

[xanderpenton]

Sorry guys, I thought we were waiting on jai till I reread it all -=facepalms=-]

The pale hunter hid a chuckle behind his cup as he took a deep draught of the gratefully recieved fruit juice and water concoction that had been brought to him by one of the tsahiks extended family. It was chilled to the lips and not overly sweet due to the water but it was flavourful.
He noticed Zenke’winsi’s body language and thought it may be for the best if he continued the tale for the youngster.
“The Growl permeated the air, reverberating through the trees and causing the hair on the nape of my neck to rise. We all know that sound…” He cut off and let out a perfectly mimicked palulukan growl, his own teeth bared as his lips curled back to allow the sound to echo through his maw.
“She roared, and plummeted out of the foliage. Of course we saw sense and ran for our lives. Winsapi led the way up through the trees, a good safe path, high enough for the creature to be incapable of following as the branched broke beneath her weight. When she realised we were out of reach she made her way back down to the fallen yerik and before we could do anything, she had made the kill her own. I don’t know about you but I would not want to try to part such a creature from her meal. It was because of the Yerik we could make an escape without much worry. After all why chase us again when the meal she craved was now at her feet.”

He drew that section of the story to a close and pondered whether or not to tell them of Winsapis second try, but he had to fight back a yawn of his own, and decided that that may be a story to share over breakfast the following morn.
“And so we made our way home, after another arduous ride on weary and skittish pali… and strait to the halls for something to eat.. after all we had no time on the hunt.”