Great Blue Hunter (Finished)

[fuzzydude]

The step was slow, measured, soundless. His foot pressed against the bark of the tree, then lifted again leaving not the slightest hint of his passing. He froze mid-step, standing completely still, waiting. Focused, yellow eyes were fixed on the creature past those trees ahead, almost invisible through the vegetation. Once again, the wind picked up, brushing through the jungle, whispering past him. In the distance, he could hear the tones of pamtseowll. He took another step, timing each of his movements so that they were masked in the movement of the leaves and the musical sounds of the pamtseowll.

The yerik below - the single one he had chosen from the herd - had to be the most paranoid creature that had ever walked the jungle. Sleek, beautiful, graceful, and ever alert. While the rest of the herd fed, oblivious, nothing seemed to slip past the creature. Not a single drop of water, the slightest change in wind. It was the perfect prey.

He froze again, studying the movements of the leaves. The wind blew through the canopy, but a stream nearby carried cool water from a lake. He could see the leaves rustling where the breeze twisted back upon itself as it neared the ground and continued back the opposite direction it came down at ground level in just one small area. A small, temporary quirk of the wind, isolated, random, and the crux of his hunt.

The heads of the yeriks all shot up as one and their membranes flared, showing a dozen slanted eye-marks. His scent had reached them. Finally.

Atxkxell's grin widened ever so slightly, showing a hint of teeth. He drew back his bow and waited.

Suddenly, the yeriks ran and his chosen one leapt over the log, fleeing from Atxkxell's scent. And thanks to the twisted shifting breeze between his perch and the ground below, the yerik was running away from the rest of the herd and directly towards him.

The Na'vi held his breath, then released the arrow. It flew through the air with a lethal sigh, then struck the yerik, knocking it clear off its feet. A clean shot, right through the heart. The grin turned into a toothy smile as he leaped, swinging off a lower branch and landing quietly on the floor, belying his habitual stealth with a whoop that probably sent the still-fleeing herd running even faster.

The yerik was still breathing shaky breaths. It'd die in moments.

"I am sorry," Atxkxell said, kneeling down next to his prey, "but you're made of meat."

The toothy smile grew, then faded away.

"Join with Eywa now, brother," he whispered to the yerik. It eyes grew dull and its movements ceased. He lifted the corpse with powerful arms, shrugging it onto his shoulders before standing again. He took one moment to pluck a pamtseowll from nearby and began his journey back to the home of his clan, softly blowing on it, letting the musical sounds coming from it surround him.

The clan would welcome the food, and it had been a good hunt.
_________________

yerik - Hexapede ( james-camerons-avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Hexapede )
pamtseowll - Catear ( james-camerons-avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Cat_Ear )

[Mineya]

Mineya was looking for something tonight to eat, her brother and her never ate with the whole clan, they stuck together and ate together. Mineya found it hard to trust anyone, including those in her own clan. She had not been raised around them, the only reason they accepted her was because her father had been part of the clan. The tree her brother and her lives in was on the outside of the others, away from the main tree where the leaders lived. Her brother was more trusting then she was, but he still listened to her.

As she moved with the Pa’li through the forest, she kept her bow ready to kill anything she saw, hopefully a Hexapede would come along, of course, she had not expected a stampede of them coming by. She moved her Pa’li out of the way before they ran her down and she had to go and see what was going on. She moved the Pa’li ahead slowly, looking around and stepping into the path of the Na’vi who had a strong Hexapede in his arms. She looked at him for a moment, but she said nothing, just turned her horse to head up the trail back towards home. Since she would be unable to hunt that herd tonight, she would have to find something else later on.

She did not move fast, she kept her bow at the ready to get anything. As she went along the root of a tree, she sent a arrow at a fleeing Tetrapteron, hitting it with ease. She pushed her Pa’li down the root and into the creek, sliding slightly to the side, whispering words of blessing and thanks and then pulling the bird like creature on to the horse and taking it back towards the clan. Not many Na’vi hunted these creatures, but it was good and she had eaten it before. Her mother had hunted them before, made a wonderful dish.

(I know it is not much, but I can’t pull away from her personality. I was thinking maybe he could recognize her since she does live in the clan but is never around much with the large groups.)

[Jai'byrd]

The music the pamtseowll made was not the only sound coming from the jungle that day as nearby the Omaticaya Tsahìk sat singing on the great roots of a tree overlooking a small creek. The aged Na'vi sat there, seemingly rather absorbed in her song, her dead white eyes staring off into a distance not seen. She swayed back and forth a bit as the music flowed - and if someone took the time to notice she was swaying with the wind itself, in tune with the planet that surrounded her.

Kilvan'mawey was ancient among her people, she'd probably remind any Sky Person who saw her of a dried blueberry with stripes. In her lap lay her large wooden staff, something carved by nature, not by any hand as it was a big gnarled knot from a tree that Kilvan'mawey says was "freely given, not taken" and was now taller than her. It had all sorts of adornments, strings of beads and feathers, that somehow she knew how to keep from making noise when she needed it, and all the noise in the world when she also wanted it. She was adorned in simple white clothing, a loincloth and shawl that played up her silver-gray hair in tons of tiny braids.

She had been singing, but she had also been very aware of her surroundings, feeling everything around her, including the whole hunt between the nervous yerik and Atxkxell... Ah, Atxkxell... so like herself in that they both had disabilities they had to work hard to overcome and prove they were as much worth if not more than any 'normal' Na'vi born among the Omaticaya. She knew of his unspoken curse - or so how the others of her Clan treated it... a thought that made her sigh. No matter how she loved her people, in her old age things were revealed to her, things that needed changing within her Clan, but she was too old to help turn such a large tide of opinions... How she needed to find the youngling who would take over her position soon...

Best not to dwell on things that have yet to pass...

"Good hunting tstew'itan?"

She cocked her head to one side as her sharp hearing told her of another Clan member on a Pa'li... Mineya she thought it was... the Child of both the Omaticaya and the Tultxayo...

"Busy time in the forest tonight," she said to no one in particular...

---

tstew'itan = brave son

[fuzzydude]

OOC: No worries. "Much" when it betrays a character's personality is much that is undesired. Stick with your character. That's how good stories end up being told, even if every encounter isn't necessarily a brilliant explosion of action and character development. Sometimes, things just set the stage for later.

BIC: Atxkxell paused, still keeping the yerik balanced across his shoulders with one arm. He briefly met Mineya's gaze. Then, without a word, she turned and kept going, bow at the ready. One of his eyebrows arched slightly.

"Oh, yes," he muttered to the air, "It is a fine kill. I'm quite proud of it, thank you. I would tell you all about it, but I wouldn't want to hold you from your own hunt. I'm sure you will have just as much luck once the yeriks stop stampeding. And oh, oel ngati kameie to you, too," he said, carrying out the imaginary conversation to the spot she'd been earlier.

Rolling his eyes, he re-balanced the prey he carried, and continued on his way. While she was one of them now, it often seemed nearly impossible to forget she hadn't always been, the way she acted every time he met her. Then again, maybe she just didn't like him.

Somewhere off in the distance, he faintly heard the pained cry of a fkio. Odd choice, but anything that provided for the others was good. He'd be sticking with his friend on his shoulders, however..

"Good hunting tstew'itan?"

Despite his usual alertness, the voice startled him slightly. The Tsahìk had a strange way of... being - that was the only way he could describe it. Somehow she seemed to flow along with everything around her so well that even when she was in the open, it was surprisingly easy to miss her. It was as if she were so close to joining Eywa that she was practically a part of everything around her already. He'd always found her equally mysterious, intimidating, and likable. She was everything he was not. He could hardly think of two more different Na'vi. Maybe that's why he liked her.

The compliment didn't hurt, either, of course. In fact, the edges of his mouth drew up just a bit.

He nodded before catching himself. Even growing up, he had always seemed to forget she couldn't see. This was in no small part because when he was much younger, she seemed to be the only one that knew every time he got into any sort of trouble no matter how trivial. Just keeping track all that when it came to how he used to be was impressive enough! Thankfully, he'd grown since then.

"There will be another yerik for the clan tonight," he answered proudly. "A strong, clever one who's strength and cunning will pass on to the Omaticaya." Well, perhaps a little overdramatic, but he was in the mood for such things. Despite that, he grinned a little at his own over-the-top statement.

"I will bring you some of it after it is prepared tonight," he promised. "I suspect we'll eat well. It has been busy. A good night for hunting," he agreed.

He rested his other arm on the yerik still on his shoulders to balance it with less effort.

"Are you well? Is there anything you need, Tsahìk?" he asked.
________________

Oel ngati kameie - I see you.
fkio - Tetrapteron

[Mineya]

As she pulled the Tetrapteron onto the Pa’li, who shifted slightly at the weight of the small creature that was being pulled onto her backside. As she did, she heard the sound of someone near by, though it was quiet, she turned to look to see a woman she had seen before, someone she had heard of before. Kilvan’mawey was ancient among the Omaticaya people and that was something to be amazed about. She first spoke to the young man who had been hunting, which Mineya glanced to, getting the Pa’li back on the trail. She did not eat with the others at all, but she did listen to the others.

"Good hunting tstew'itan?" She glanced to the male before her. She would not refer to the Na’vi as Brave Son, she did not see sneaking up on the prey brave, she at least moved when she hunted, unlike this guy seemed to do. She had seen his hunting, but he also ate with the others, which she did not do, but she did not say anything, it would stay within’ her own mind and thoughts.

She had heard the boys muttering behind her back, but she said nothing, she just got her food for the evening and she would enjoy it. As she got back on the trail, she heard the sound of the boy boosting about his capture. "There will be another yerik for the clan tonight," She shook her head slightly. "A strong, clever one who's strength and cunning will pass on to the Omaticaya." She pushed the Pa’li past the two slightly, moving towards the clan slowly, hearing the sound of the children, but barely giving a smile. She stopped not far from the two again as she dismounted, grabbing some Teylu from under a root in order for her brother and herself to enjoy.

"Busy time in the forest tonight," She glanced back at the two for a moment, hearing the older woman speaking about the night being busy. She found it rather peaceful and relaxed tonight. She counted four Teylu and of course the Tetrapteron that was on the Pa’li. The animal tossed his head and she smiled. ”Easy Pa’li, no need to get excited about nothing.” A simple touch of her hand and the bonding calmed the beast and soon, she was back on and getting back to the business of heading home.

As she got closer to the Clan, her brother came out to met her, speaking quickly to her. ”Oel ngati kameie.” She repeated the words, handing him the Tetrapteron and the Teylu that she had. ”I am going to take the Pa’li back.” He nodded to her, looking towards the man who had been hunting. She glanced back at the man herself. ”Get the first started and start cleaning this for dinner.” He nodded to her again and went up into their own tree, working hard to get things done. She moved through the trees, stopping by the community garden to get some fruit to eat with their food and then some water from a creek not far from the Pa’li housing. She released the Pa’li and moved back towards the edge of the clan, where her brother and herself lived.

(Sorry, I know there was not much with her interacting with the two.)

[Jai'byrd]

"Kikikiki!" the elderly female cackled as she slowly stood up as Atxkxell asked her if there was anything she needed.

"Oh yes! Yes! I could use a strong and sure-eyed hunter to walk this old woman back home. Now where could I find such a hunter?" She asked with quite a toothy grin that bloomed on her wrinkled face.

With a nod to no one she started out in the direction home, which probably was disconcerting to those around her even to this day, that an old blind woman could somehow find her way around relatively well. However spry she felt inside of her own mind, her aged body reminded her exactly of how much milage she really had as she sagged a bit on her large gnarled staff, groaning ever so slightly as her old bones protested. By Eywa, she had outlived her mate, one of her five children and most of her friends she had grown up with and she was still going. It was a bittersweet thought as the crowsfeet around her white eyes pinched up a bit as she sighed, she couldn't go join them with Eywa yet... she was a woman on a mission.

Her ears picked up on others approching the female ahead of them on the Pa'li. So it was Mineya and her small family as her sharp hearing picked up on the brief conversation between them. Kilvan'mawey smiled a bit as it was good to see families of the Omaticaya, even if this bunch seemed to think they were exiled from the rest of the Clan for something. The elderly Tsahik was still not eniterly sure why they did this, as her sharp hearing heard of no dissent between them and the rest of the Clan. Maybe it was Mineya's Tultxayo blood, that of the wanderer that kept the child so restless.

"Atxkxell, my fine son, will you go and ask Mineya and her family to come dine with us this night by the main fire? Tell them I will be singing tonight of some of the best story-songs, especially of JakeSulli, yes?"

[fuzzydude]

OOC: Kikiki? Apparently, the Na'vi are actually Korean. Also, early apologies to both of you if the post is a little awkwardly written. It's been one crazy day and the smoke coming out of my brain is kind of distracting.

BIC: Atxkxell grinned even wider and shook his head quietly as she smiled and began walking directly towards home. He'd gotten used to her talent of doing such things, but he'd never taken it for granted. He wasn't sure if she'd always been blind - he'd never asked - but she seemed to talk as if it had always been the case. In fact, as long as he could remember, she'd always been just as she was now. Perhaps she'd last forever, unchanging. Perhaps she'd always been like this. It seemed that way, sometimes. If she ever had been young, as difficult as it was to imagine, it was a shame about her vision. There was no doubt in his mind she would have been the best tracker ever known to any of the clans.

He restrained his own eagerness to bring in his kill and walked slowly beside her, offering support with a free arm as the made their way back. It was not too far, thankfully. Perceptive, enduring, and wise or not, he did not know how she could stand taking so long to get from place to place. It would drive him mad.

Her request pulled him away from his thoughts.

"Mineya and her family always eat separately," he stated flatly. It was clear how strange he found this, as well as what he thought about that particular habit. He caught himself before saying more, however. Obviously, she, of all people, already knew this. Everybody did. "But," he continued, his tone somehow both being respectful and clearly telling how pointless he found the task, "I will do as you ask." Then, he added, with a little more humour, "Perhaps your story will lure them to be with the rest of the clan," he added. That particular legend was, after all, a favourite among them, being about one of the most exciting things that had happened to the Na'vi in their remembered history, with the Omaticaya playing the most prominent role in its events.

He'd always found that particular story thrilling, with its incredible battles and glorious victory. Of course, unlike most, he always suspected the greatness of Jakesully was exaggerated. The clan remembered him as a good leader and fierce warrior, but the idea of a complete stranger, and alien dropping from the sky and just like that becoming chosen by Eywa herself was... annoying. Not that this was enough to spoil the story, of course.

"I will ask them. And I look forward to hearing your song," he said, resting one hand on her shoulder before departing, still hauling around the yerik.

When he reached the tree Mineya and her brother lived, she was just returning carrying with her some fruit.

"Oel ngati kameie, smuk," he greeted them. "Your hunt turned out... fruitful, I see," he said to Mineya with a smirk. He glanced at each of them before continuing.

"Kilvan'mawey will be telling the legend of Jakesully tonight at the fire. She was hoping both of you would be there. Would you care to join us?"

[Mineya]

Mineya moved with ease through the clan, but as other’s eyed her, she eyed them equally. She was not someone who trusted others with ease, no matter what. She was more to herself then anything, but sometimes, she joined others, though it was highly rare. As she walked back towards her home, she saw the Tsahik and the hunter walking into the clan area. She moved with ease, however, she did not expect to see the hunter stopping at her home, leaving the blind Tsahik to go home on her own. Why he accompanied her, Mineya did not know, but her brother came out to join her, looking at the ’evengan slightly before she gave the fruit to her brother who took into the home.

”Oel ngati kameie, smuk," She nodded towards him, glancing at where her brother was looking out the small window. He was listening, which was normal. ”Your hunt turned out... fruitful, I see," She nodded towards, choosing her words carefully. ”Yes, I guess you could say so.” She said, her voice was very pretty. Not many heard her speak, but if one knew her mother, who was gone from this world, they would know where she got it from.

”Kilvan'mawey will be telling the legend of Jakesully tonight at the fire. She was hoping both of you would be there. Would you care to join us?" Jakesully… Not someone that her mother praised about to often during her lifetime and the beginning of Mineya’s own. He had been a outsider who got lucky, that was the truth. She glanced over her shoulder and then looked back at him. She let out a sigh, she could not let a invitation from the Tsahik go ignored. ”Tell her we will be there.” She said before turning and heading into her home.

She helped her brother prepare their own meal, she would not eat with them, but she would listen to the story told by the great woman. As her brother looked at her, she said nothing, just told him finish cleaning the animal she had killed and soon, they were cooking it, eating it, and getting ready to go. It was not hard to get ready, all she had to do was make sure her stuff was clean, like her bow and her knife and the beads and such that was around her body.

After they finished eating, they went to where the clan was, sitting in the back away from the rest and watching as many other ate and enjoyed themselves. Her brother and herself was quiet, said nothing to anyone and listened.

[fuzzydude]

For the second time that day, Atxkxell found himself staring at an empty Mineya-shaped space in the air.

"You honour us with your presence. Of course, you're welcome. No, no, it was no trouble at all," he said to the empty space in the air. With a playfully dismissive huff, he worked his way past the tree towards an easily visible clearing.

His ears flicked back briefly as he sighed, setting the yerik down on the ground and drew his knife and stabbed into the yerik a bit more violently than was necessary to begin skinning it. The knife sank in with a disturbing crunch.

She could be irritating sometimes. He didn't remember actually saying much to her in the past. A reason to do so had never come up. Now, he knew why. Talking to her was like trying to converse with a stone.

She acted like talking to someone like him was some kind of chore and doing just about anything with the rest of the clan was beneath her, just because she came from elsewhere, or... whatever the reason. He couldn't understand it. The clan accepted her. She could someday be fully one of them if only she wanted to. Yet she cast such a wonderful possibility aside. It was infuriating, especially to him.

Of course, if he sat here thinking of such things instead of hurrying up with his preparations, he'd be here all night. He was eager to be around the others again. He'd spent enough time alone today and, perhaps, others would appreciate his contribution a little more. He was already looking forward to joining the circle around the fire, sharing food and listening to stories.

Soon, he lost himself in his task.

[Jai'byrd]

Kilvan'mawey stode into the heart of the Omaticaya home alone, the Clan life whirling around her and she the calm, quiet eye of the storm. There she came upon the now vegetation-covered remains of what was Hometree - the Clan's original tree home. A tree so big it was said to have the room to house all of the Clan three times over. Kilvan'mawey almost wished she had been born a tad earlier to have seen it. Despite the tragedy, there had been a sign of hope, the single Tree of Voices within the very center of the debris. She moved through the tangled mess of fallen roots and new vegetation as if she could see, in reality she had the path memorized by heart. After a moment she had reached the Tree as she raised her quene up and bonded with the tree.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she interfaced with the magical tree, memories and voices of those gone to be with Eywa flooded into her mind making a sort of music only the Na'vi could hear. She always did this before she sang any of the history songs, to listen to the ancestors past, tell it in their own words, words she reporduced faithfully so the truth was never forgotten...

After a while like this she finally detacted and hobbled back to the large Communial Tree where she lived with her immediate family and the Olo'eyktan's. Several other families lived here as well, the Omaticaya Clan not having any system of ownership, all trees where rather free for all if there was room. As she walked past one area she heard Atxkxell muttering. Ah, maybe this was not the time to bother him then, maybe Mineya declined her inviation... Finally deciding to do something she walked forward and tapped him on the shoulder lightly with her staff.

"Would my brave hunter be so kind as to sit next to me this evening? Such a good hunter should be honored for his skills and generosity, yes? Yes he should."

With a nod and not staying around to hear the answer she toddled off up into the Communal Tree to get ready for tonight.

- - - - - - - -

Later in the evening the majority of the Clan was around the main fire of the Communal Tree, all eating, joking and talking in smaller clusters.

Then came a loud RAP-RAP-RAP! as Kilvan'mawey smacked her staff upon the floor to get everyone's attention. Immediently they all fell silent. In a way Kilvan'mawey was glad for her blindness, she could feel all the eyes on her, but she was thankful she couldn't see them or she wouldn't have the nerve to do have the things she did as Tsahìk. Smiling, she used her crowd voice to speak to all that was gathered.

"We are blessed by Eywa! Once more we may eat together with all of our Brothers and Sisters. Let us rejoice in these simple pleasures and thank our find hunters for their work in feeding us this night, such as our Brother Atxkxell here and our Sister Mineya!"

She paused as many nodded or hugged someone next to them - not that she saw that, but that's what they did...

"Well, enough of that, it's story time!" A few cheers rose up at that as she launched into the ballad of JakeSulli.

Her tail tumped behind her to keep in rythym as she sang and wove the scenes in their heads in amazing detail - a moronic Sky Person, chosen by Eywa to become a Na'vi... the beautiful Neytiri who taught him their ways and fell in love with him... and the evil Sky People who wanted what was in the ground beneith their feet and destroyed their home, the original Tree of Voices to get what they wanted... How Jake became Toruk Makto and united the Clans once more and how Eywa herself rose against the Sky People to drive them back to the stars...

[Mineya]

As many spoke and joked together, Mineya and her brother set to themselves. Sure, she wanted to become part of the people, but trusting these people… It was something she could not do. Her mother had kept her and her brother away for so long, that trusting anyone was beyond her. As the boy walked off, she focused on preparing the meal she had before she came. Her brother and herself had brought it to the clan, since they would be with them and as she set there, she was quiet.

As the sound of something hit the ground came to her ears, she turned her head to look at Kilcan’mawey who seemed to want to speak. Mineya listened, waiting for her to speak as the others began to shut their traps. She was a great Tsahik, Mineya knew this, but the woman knew she never came to these. She was not comfortable around this place. She wanted to get her Banshee and go everywhere, she could not stay here… Even if she was accepted by the clan because of her father and it was her home, she just felt… Trapped here.

”We are blessed by Eywa! Once more we may eat together with all of our Brothers and Sisters. Let us rejoice in these simple pleasures and thank our find hunters for their work in feeding us this night, such as our Brother Atxkxell here and our Sister Mineya!" Her brother touched her arm, looking over at her. She was not touched by anyone else, only looked at weirdly. She did not like being stared yet, not being able to get out of the way. ”Well, enough of that, it's story time!"

The story came about the Great Jakesulli, the Demon from the skies that ended up being a great Toruk Makto. He had been accepted by Eywa, fought along side the Na’vi people, pulled the tribes together. She listened intently and when it was over, she still felt the stares of the others. She leaned over to her brother. ”Go and get some food for the two of us… We are going home.” He nodded and went up there, taking enough food for the two of them and then they left slowly. As they went by fruit trees, they got some and once they were home, they set on the front steps and ate together.

”Why did we leave early?” She looked at her brother and touched his head slightly, smiling at him. ”I was tired of the stares. You don’t get them as bad as I do.” He nodded and touched her hand slightly with his own.

[Nayunva]

Nayunva had not hunted today. Normally she would have, but her mother and grandmother had insisted that she stay today and have a lesson in useful healing herbs. Of course, that slowly turned into them playing with Nayunva's hair and redoing it, which then turned into a lecture on not having a mate yet.

"Nayunva. Nga kin hasey si muntxa." Lili, Nayunva's grandmother said to her in Na'vi. Nayunva. You need to get a mate. It was a conversation they'd had tons of times before. As though emphasizing her point, Lili gave an extra hard tug on one of Nayunva's braids. "Ouch" Nayunva cried out, swatting her grandmother's hand away from her hair. "When I'm ready, I will. And when someone chooses me." Nayunva replied simply. Her grandmother merely scoffed, and turned her attention back to Nayunva's hair, much to Nayunva's own discontent.

Nayunva's mother, Jesunva, was busy making a necklace, but Nayunva caught her mother smiling, giving away that she was listenging to their conversation. "This isn't funny." Nayunva said to her mother, who only proceeded to laugh. "I think it is." She replied, still smiling.

Nayunva rolled her eyes, and her grandmother finished putting one last feather in her hair. "There." Her grandmother said with finality. "Now help me up. At this rate I won't get a good spot at the fire."

Nayunva stood quickly, before leaning down to help her grandmother, who was older even than their current Tsahik. Although her grandmother pestered her, Nayunva still loved her grandmother, and respected her greatly. As the old woman rose, Nayunva gripped her arm, escorting her out of their tree. It was shared with a few other families, and luckily not a far walk to the communal tree. Lili was looking more frail than ever, and both Nayunva and her mother knew that she would probably go to join Eywa soon.

They walked to the fire, where the Tsahik would be starting soon. Nayunva helped Lili along, while her mother was not far behind, making sure everything went smoothly. Lately Jesunva had been asking Nayunva to stay home more and more. Nayunva suspected that her mother was growing very worried about the old woman.

As they walked along, Nayunva's grandmother pointed out various males of the caln, whispering into her ear that, "Perhaps if you were nicer, Nayunva, one of them would like you! It's not enough to be pretty." Nayunva merely nodded her head and continued walking withthe old woman, until she found a spot to her choosing. Once settled, Jesunva sat inbetween Lili and Jesunva, barring further conflicts.

Lifted of her duties, Nayunva was finally allowed some peace. She glanced around the fire, seeing who was present and nodding to a few of the members of the clan she was close with. Occasionally, a child would walk by her and pause to touch her hair, the unusual white coloration surprising them. Nayunva didn't mind. She tended to be more patient with children and the elderly than she was with her clan-mates her own age.

It didn't take long for Kilvan'mawey to come out, and announce who had brought the food for the night. Nayunva recognized both of the names. One was a male that her grandmother seemed to disapprove of, saying he thought himself above clan ways.(However, Nayunva had never had anything against him). The other was a female, that Nayunva knew only by face. She was quiet, and kept far away from the others. Again, something her grandmother didn't approve of. Though, now that she thought of it, there weren't many things the old woman did approve of.

Kilvan'mawey began to sing of Jakesulli, and Nayunva felt herself smile slightly. It was one of her favorites. She liked tales of heroism, and overcoming all odds. When it was finished, Nayunva went to get some food for her and her family, and noticed the female, Mineya, and her sibling leaving. It was not unusual. They were often distant from the rest of the clan. This would normally irritate Nayunva, but Mineya had work ethic, and as evidence showed tonight, supported the clan. There was nothing to be said, other than her behavior was unusual.

Nayunva brought the food back to her family, and her grandmother grumbled her thanks while her mother actually audibly thanked her. Nayunva sat back down and began eating her food and conversing with those around her. Food always put her in a friendlier mood.


OOC:
This color indicates Nayunva is speaking Na'vi.
The translation for her grandmother: Nga kin hasey si munxta.
Literally means, You need to accomplish being mated.
But that sounds strange, so I translated it as, "You need to get a mate."

[fuzzydude]

Others might have been humble, or retained a stoic, quiet dignity, or simply gracefully accepting the brief recognition from the Tsahìk. Atxkxell was not another. He sat up, shoulders back, grinning a perfectly self-satisfied smile that took every little bit of the compliment and held it up for all to see. Even if it was merely a particularly successful hunt, it was hard to do otherwise when he felt like his chest would burst from pride. The glow remained within him as bright as the fire even as the song was sung, telling of the great story from long ago.

Perhaps it was because of that, or perhaps it was simply the Tsahìk's particularly skillful telling, but the words came alive more than ever before for him. Their home around him was no longer simply a fallen tree from generations ago - the same tree he had seen every day since birth. It was a monument all around them, whispering of greatness from the past. Oh, what it would be like to be such a hero, doing what no other had done, lending strength to all the clans and defending them from their enemies against insurmountable odds, chosen and guided by Eywa herself! Oh, what he would give to be chosen like that, to do such great things, one with the will of Eywa!

And almost as soon as it had started, the song ended. Those around him talked cheerfully and all the focus that had been centered around the Tsahìk seemed to spread into a warmth shared by all present. Inside, the glow had faded away. If only, if only... He pushed the thoughts aside and stood, taking a share of the food and carefully moving further from the fire to make room for the elders who most often were given the closest, best spots in the circle.

And as he worked his way around the others, for a moment, he slowed as something caught his attention, and not for the first time. She wasn't hard to notice, Nayunva, with her pure white hair, standing out so different from the rest. The glow of the fire outlined her pleasantly, and, unexpectedly, he found himself comparing her to an atokirina' - pure, white, graceful, and shining in the night. One of the hunters next to him followed his gaze, then nudged him in the leg, jokingly teasing him. He hissed, thwapping the offender lightly in the head before waving a hand dismissively.

Soon, he was joining in with the laughter, taking a place next to them as they talked of gossip, past hunts, new tricks they'd learned. Every now and then, he found his gaze drifting back before he caught himself and reminded himself to stay focused on what actually could be.

[Nayunva]

As Nayunva was sitting, she noticed the hunter that had provided the food tonight, Atxkxell, get up for his own meal. He wroked his way around the circle and then went to go sit elsewhere. He had been rivelaged enough to sit next to the Tsahik that night and had not hesitated to show his pride. She had never really talked to him before, just a few words between hunts, or an occasional nod. The Omaticaya were a large clan. Most of what she knew about him was only what she had heard. Confident, sometimes arrogant. Yet, he had never ridden a Pa'li or even taken an Ikran, despite his age. Peculiar, yes. Her grandmother always had sour words to say, but then again she had sour words to say about everyone, save for the Tsahik and the Olo'eytkan.

Nayunva's attention turned to finishing her meal, but her mother seemed to be noticing something she wasn't. She felt her mother nudge her arm. "Do you know the hunter that provided the meal tonight?" Nayunva glanced over at Atxkxell. "Kehe, oe rä'ä." No, I do not.. Her mother smiled. "He's just glanced at you twice now. You should go talk to him."

At this, her grandmother on the side of her mother immediately perked up, "Don't give your Daughter bad advice, Jesnunva-" Her mother immediately interrupted. "Oh, stop. Go, Nayunva." She gave her a slight nod of encouragement before turning to deal with the old woman.

Nayunva had just finished her meal, so she stood and began making her way around the circle. This was one of those times she was grateful for her own confidence. Most females waited for a male to approach them. She had never really been that type of girl. It was probably due to all the time she had spent with her father when she was younger. That time had made males seem more approachable. A few acknowledged her, mostly hunters she usually flew with, as she made her way across. As she got closer, she locked her yellow eyes on him before finally coming to stand at his side.

"Oel ngati kameie, tsmukan." I see you, brother. She joined the words withthe familiar hand gesture, before turning a smile upon him. "May I join you?"


ooc:
Kehe, oe rä'ä. :No, I do not.
Oel ngati kameie, tsmukan.: I see you, brother.

[fuzzydude]

"...then the ikran says, 'There's a palulukan attached to my tail!'"

Atxkxell took advantage of the laughter to take a large bite out of the piece of fruit he was holding.

"Oel ngati kameie, tsmukan."

Atxkxell began turning towards the voice, still chewing on the piece of fruit. Then, he froze, just staring. A trail of juice from the fruit dribbled down his arm and dripped down onto his knee. It could have been the light, but he was suddenly looking just a little more pale.

"Uh... oofl ngathi-"

He paused, swallowed, then coughed once. Someone behind him was quietly snickering, at least until Atxkxell's tail accidentally maliciously thwack him hard in the stomach.

"Oel ngati kameie," Atxkxell repeated, returning a smile.

"Of course, please join us... if you'd like," he added, scooting over to make room for her while self-consciously wiping off the juice from his arm. The others he'd been talking with moved over as well to accommodate and, with a few grins, began talking amongst themselves.

Atxkxell stared at the half-eaten piece of fruit for a second.

"You are Nayunva, right?" he asked, trying his best to sound casual about the question, as if he didn't already know her name for sure.

"Did you enjoy the Tsahìk's song?"