Starting New

Chapter 14



The two of us spent the next day gathering supplies. Riso gave us a leather bag to store our supplies in. We were given bread, fruits, medicines, and hygienic supplies for our trip. Jake’s chest wound looked much better, but I still applied the salve to it every day to avoid getting an infection.



I was sitting in the grass, assembling my natural healing herbs when Jake came up from behind me. He gently touched my shoulder and sat next to me.



“Looks like you’ve got everything in order,” He said, nodding at my pile of leaves.



“Well I plan to crush these two and then just pack that one. You never know when we’ll need them,” I said, wrapping them up and putting them into the bag.



“I have something for you,” Jake said, unfolding a package and giving it to me, “Riso gave me extra leather and I wanted to remake the gift I gave you at our first mating.”



I accepted the red dyed leather and carefully traced my hand over the softness of it. I looked over at my mate and nodded, “Thank you, Jake…I haven’t remade your necklace yet, but I will.”



“Don’t worry about it,” He said and smiled softly, “We have plenty of time.”



He leaned closer to me and began to tie the leather around my arms once again. I remembered how gently he had done it the first time, so lovingly. I also remembered how roughly they had been pulled off and eventually trampled on by angry warriors on pa’li. I closed my eyes briefly. When I looked up at Jake my eyes were full of tears.



“What’s wrong?” He asked softly.



“Nothing’s wrong,” I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, “It’s just that when we were human, people exchanged rings and now we exchange these gifts with our mates. It just seems like…”



“Like we’re practically married?” Jake asked with a grin.



I nodded.



“I’ve thought of that too. It’s a strange thought, thinking of being human and being with another man. But, when I think of being Na’vi and being with you it doesn’t seem so unusual,” He said softly.



“I hope this place that we’re going to is good. I hope they accept us. Do you think we’ll ever tell them, Jake? About our past I mean?” I asked, wrapping my arm around his back and giving him a quick hug.



“Maybe eventually. Not at first. It’s difficult for the Na’vi people to understand,” He said.



Before we left we said our goodbyes to Han and Dierdy and thanked them for their help. They were more than happy to stay with the Mayogato tribe. Han wished us good luck. We talked to Ishael and Riso briefly before we left.



“When you reach the plateau with the Tree of Souls after three days, you must rest there. After the plateau is the sea. You will fly for one day straight. Your Toruk will need rest before you fly the sea and so will you and your mate. Stay safe Jake and you too, Norm,” Riso said with a nod.



“Thank you for your help,” I said, honestly, nodding slightly.



Ishael stepped forward and embraced Jake and then me.



“Be safe,” she simply said.



Ishael said something to Riso. He nodded, smiled a little and translated, “Ishael says you are different—both of you. She says your presence is unusual as are your extra fingers.”



Jake laughed suddenly, but I quickly folded my hands as to hide my extra finger. I had never thought that having five fingers, as opposed to four, would be something embarrassing to have. Ishael laughed softly and petted my shoulder.

“Be safe,” She said again and took a few steps back.



A small crowd had gathered to watch our departure. Na’vi children ran around wild, but stopped to look up when Jake called Shadow. She appeared out of nowhere, her wings sending my hair flying back. I pulled the handle of the bag over my shoulder and followed Jake. He jumped up, his feet relaxing into a kneel. He gave me a hand and pulled me up behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and we both waved to the crowd. He gave a loud “caw” and we took off.



Shadow backed up slightly and started running before the clouds took over. I looked down, finally having the chance to admire the beauty of Pandora. The first time I was on Shadow I was terrified. She was so big and all I could think about were the Omaticaya warriors and wondering if they would come after us. I figured now they must be long gone. It felt good to just enjoy the wind on my face and the warmth of my mate in front of me.



We rode for three days. We stopped only a couple times a day to eat, relieve ourselves, and bathe in the sparkling ponds. We took the time to get reacquainted with each other.



“It’s like our honeymoon,” Jake jokingly said one evening while we sat around a small fire.



“Honeymoon my ass,” I said back sarcastically, “You didn’t get wind burnt like I did.”



The long ongoing days on Shadow had caused me to get a wind burn. My bluish cheeks and neck looked to be permanently stuck in a blush. I may have complained. They were extremely long days, but I still enjoyed the rides. I felt free. I still had some fear of heights, but it was better when the riding was more casual and not because we’re trying to outrun anybody. And of course, Jake helped a lot too.



“That’s only because I’m used to it,” He said and put his hand on his knee, “Ishael said many of the warriors ride Toruk. Maybe we can wrangle one up for you.”



“I don’t think so,” I said, shaking my head, and leaning greatly against him.



He laughed and we ended up rolling around on the ground tickling each other and pressing kisses against each other’s faces. We made love that night under Pandora’s night sky. The stars shone down brightly above us. Jake lay on his back, while I crawled on top of him and rode his aching manhood. We kissed and gasped for breath. He held my hips and looked up at the sky, and at my face.



Later, when it was over, I lay in his arms. He massaged my scalp and ran his hand through my dark hair. He picked up our hair where the neural connection was made and marveled at it.



“Look at it, Norm,” He whispered and I turned to look at him and then back at our hair where the connectors glistened and pulsated with light, “Isn’t that just amazing?”



I lay my head back down near his collarbone and nodded, “Everything feels so much more powerful when we’re connected. It’s so much better.”



“Well, I don’t think the human way can really compare anymore,” He said softly and pulled me close.



By the third day, late in the afternoon Jake pointed out at something, “Look over there. See the white? That’s the Tree of Souls that Riso was talking about.”



I followed his finger out and saw what seemed to be hundreds of trees. All were glowing beautiful white and could probably have been seen miles away. He landed Shadow near the edge of them, just before the water. We looked out at the sea, which was probably thousands of miles out. Jake sighed and turned away. I followed him as he walked into the tree of souls. I was quiet as he pulled out his hair and made tsahaylu with the tendrils from the beautiful white tree. He kneeled down in front of it and seemed to be listening.



I stayed with Shadow and waited for Jake to return. He said nothing but gestured me over, “I asked Eywa for strength as we make this flight tomorrow. Strength and courage mostly. I was surprised though, when I listened to the tree.”



“What do you mean?”



“The Tree of Souls is the voices of Pandora, of nature and of Na’vi who have passed away here. I asked for their opinion and for their consideration. We aren’t the only ones who have made this trip for the same reasons, Norm. There have been others. Some made it, some didn’t make it. I’m worried.”



“Why are you worried? We’re going to be fine.”



“I know. I...I guess I just worry that we won’t be accepted.”



“They have no reason not to accept us. Let’s see what we can bring to this tribe. A great warrior, hunter and Toruk Makto. You have so many leadership qualities, Jake. Whether the Omaticaya want to admit it or not, you are a good person and a damn good warrior. Don’t let anything they said make you thing otherwise.”



Jake smiled lightly and looked over at me, “And what about you, Norm? What can you bring to this tribe?”



I just shrugged and looked bashful for a moment, “I don’t know.”



“You do,” He said, walking over to me and tugging slightly on the red leathers on my arms, “You shouldn’t underestimate your healing abilities, Norm. You’re great at what you do. You can save many people if you had to. And it’s not just that. You have such a caring heart.”



We spent the rest of the evening talking about what we should expect to come. Jake joked to me about my eye straying to some of the “hot, lean blue men”. I rolled my eyes and simply told him to shut up. He laughed. We lay enveloped in each other’s arms and fell asleep early.



When morning arrived, we were thoroughly rested, as was Shadow, who seemed eager to take flight. We packed up our gear, took deep breaths and took off. The air was crisp up there in the sky, almost nippy. I wrapped my arms around Jake and huddled into his warmth. He seemed relieved to have me so close. The sky was vacant for a long while. Shadow strived on brilliantly until early afternoon.



“Look,” I told Jake, pointing straight up.



He looked up and stared at the mountains beginning to come into view.



“How are we supposed to know which one?”



We both already knew the answer. It wasn’t until later that day that the Toruk began to show. First we noticed them flying higher above us. The longer we flew the close they got until I could almost reach out and touch them. Two of them flew next to us. One was a bright, fiery red and the other sky blue. I looked at them a little clearer and realized they were not wild. They had the mounting gear typical to Ikran and even Jake’s own Toruk, which made riding more comfortable.



“Look at them all,” Jake said in awe.



“We must be almost there,” I said over his shoulder.



The sun was just beginning to set and the sky cast an eerie shade of violet over the setting sun. We heard wings coming quickly from above and looked behind us to find a Toruk coming at us full speed. This one had a rider attached.

He had several braids in his dark hair, all attaching to his long braid. He wore a beaded headdress with several feathers flying around in the wind. He also had dark leather arm and leg bands and a single beaded necklace. He waved his arm at us and shewed away the other flying animals. He said something to us in a language I didn’t understand. He studied us with shrewd, bright yellow eyes and gave a swift shake of his head. Two other warriors came from nowhere and surrounded us. He said something to one of them and tried again with the language.



“Mayogato?” He questioned.



“No, “Jake said, hesitating at first, but figuring he had to be able to communicate with them, “Omaticaya.”



“Omaticaya?” The warrior questioned, “Omaticaya no come here for long time. Why you come?”



“We…we need a home,” Jake responded and I leaned closer to him.



I was still in a slight daze to see all these warriors upon such large aerial animals. I no longer see the Toruk as a threat. It no longer seemed like a predator to me. It seemed larger and more intelligent than Ikran, though. These warriors did not seem small on their winged animals. They seemed so comfortable on them. I looked over at the ones on the side, who were dressed similarly. One had his arrow out, ready to shoot, but apparently not before getting an okay from the first warrior who spoke.



He said something to the warrior to the right of us, who lowered his arrow slightly.



“You come speak to our olo’eyktan,” He said and took off, “Come.”