Starting New

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Chapter 15



Jake looked over in the direction of the other warriors, who followed him closely. They “cawed” and “yipped” at their Toruk, who then banked up north. Jake followed, carefully steering Shadow, who was beginning to slow down after the long day. They flew so fast. They were used to it. We landed on the side of a mountain and I hung practically straight down, clinging to Jake with my life. The warrior to my right, the one who spoke our language, just laughed at me.



“You step down,” He instructed, nodding towards a small ledge.



I felt a bit stupid and slid off Shadow. Jake followed, staying close to me. The cliff was narrow, but the warriors didn’t seem to pay any heed. The two warriors we hadn’t talked to led the way and the other followed behind us. Jake’s tail snapped in annoyance. I didn’t blame him. I kind of felt like we had done something wrong, when all we wanted was a little acceptance.



We followed them up a long winding, narrow path up the mountain. Even though we were high in the air on a mountain, the ground was beginning to turn green with grass. We followed them up to a rather open area at the top. There were huts, similar to the Mayogato had made, but made with leather, instead of cloth. The warrior in front of us suddenly went to the front of the line, talking to the others. I had the distinct impression that he was someone high up on their hierarchy.



“You, stay,” He instructed and went into one of the huts momentarily. I could hear them talking in there, but wasn’t sure to whom.



He came out a second later and nodded at the others, “Come now.”



We followed him into the hut where there was another male Na’vi.



“So, you’re from the Omaticaya, huh?” He asked rather casually, speaking our language perfectly.



“Um, yes?” Jake said, just as surprised as me.



He said something to the warrior next to him and he sat down and studied us.



“I am Ala’kan and this is Telan,” He nodded towards the other and then looked at us, “I am the olo’eyktan.”



“I am Jake and this is Norm,” Jake said, putting his hand on my arm momentarily and then looking at the chief of the tribe.



Ala’kan was a typical Na’vi chief. He wore jewelry distinctive to the chief. He also wore many feathers and braids in his hair like the man next to him. He was a younger chief, probably only a few years older than Jake and I. He had both of his ears pierced and had a black henna tattoo on his upper arm.



“You must have ridden your Toruk very far to get here. You must have intended to come here. Yes?”



Jake nodded, “It was our intention, yes.”



“And what do you want from us?”



Jake took a deep breath, “I was the sixth Toruk Makto of the Omaticaya.”



“This is very unusual for other tribes. I know,” Ala’kan said with a nod, “I apologize for any misleading actions my warriors sent you. We are not used to seeing neighboring tribe’s people with Toruk. They usually come on Ikran if they can make the trip.”



“I understand their worry,” Jake said and continued, “We were exiled from our tribe.”



“Exiled? This is even more unusual. May I ask what you did to be exiled?”



Jake looked over at me and grabbed my hand, “We mated before Eywa.”



His eyes moved from Jake’s to mine and he nodded deeply and looked in the direction of Telan who was listening quietly.



“And your tribe did not approve of such mating?”



“No. We met up with another tribe, the Mayogato, along the way and were instructed to come here.”



Telan gave a little snort and said, “Ishael.”



“Yes, how did you know?”



“She a true seer. Our women be ill, she send help. She knows things. She is good shaman,” Telan said, glancing over at me at my red leathers. He must know their significance, “And you shaman too?”



I shrugged slightly, “Jake seems to think so.”



“He has studied the plants, trees and life on Pandora. He knows medicines quite well. He is a good shaman, but is modest about it.”



“And of you, Jake? What were you in your tribe?” Ala’kan asked, leaning over slightly.



Jake looked away and took a deep breath, “I was a warrior.”



Telan leaned over slightly and gave Ala’kan a look that read of some inside story that we didn’t know about. Ala’kan nodded a few times and looked at us.



“Well, you seem like a good fit for our tribe. You can ride a Toruk without anyone having to teach you. That’s a feat in itself! You must have good experience,” He said and looked over at me, “And hopefully you can get over your modesty and become our tribe’s shaman.”



“What? Me?”



“I thought that was at least part of your intention of coming here,” Ala’kan said with a big laugh.



“It was,” I admitted, “I just didn’t think you would offer me such a position…don’t you already have a shaman?”



“We recently lost our shaman. He was aging and went with Eywa peacefully. We have others who know simple skills, but no official shaman. So, what do you think?”



“Well…” Jake pinched my tail and I yelped. I glared at him and looked at Ala’kan, “Okay, I’ll do it.”



“Good. Good. Telan will show you around,” He said and spoke to him in their language.



Moments later we were outside of the small dwelling. I couldn’t believe it had all happened so quickly. We were really here and we were really already accepted by the tribe. Telan mumbled to himself for a moment and swung open a door to another building.



“We eat here,” He said simply and looked at us, “You be here early and eat with tribe.”



“Alright,” Jake said.



“I show you where to sleep,” He said and led us to the very corner of the large crater where it went down a jagged cliff. I hesitated before following him, climbing down the side of the mountain. He stopped at a small shelter that was covered with a cloth. Inside was a single hammock, dirt floor, and an opening in the side to for storage, “This for visitors, but now for you.”



“Telan? Can I ask you a question?” Jake asked after a moment or so.



“Yes. What?”



“Do you think it’s strange that Ala’kan accepted us so easily? He doesn’t even know us,” Jake said softly, shaking his head and looking at our own private room we had been given.



Telan just sighed and shook his head slightly. He shrugged his shoulders, “Ala’kan is spoiled. He gets what he wants always. He like you, both of you. He say he have good feeling of you.”



“Good feelings about us? I guess that is good,” I said.



Telan nodded and smiled, “You lucky.”



“I suppose. He was really easygoing.”



“Oh, he always like that. He always happy.”



“You seem to know him well,” I said as a passing thought.



Telan grinned and his expression nodded, “Of course, he my mate.”



“Your mate?” I asked, dumbstruck.



Telan nodded slightly and grinned at us, “You should no be surprised.”



“I…shouldn’t. I suppose,” I said slowly and nodded.



“When Ala spoke of the ‘misleading actions’ of the warriors, he make joke. He know I be a bit…what is the word? Protective. I be protective of him—and of the tribe.” Telan said and sighed deeply, “I have reason to be protective. Some tribes no like our tribe. Some tribes no want peace. So I fight them. Ala say I should not be so…mean. I no care.”



“I fought for my tribe once and they betrayed me. Even so, I would do it all over again,” Jake said suddenly, looking out the door of the small dwelling and out at the blue sky.



“Then maybe Ala’s feeling is right. You are good Na’vi,” Telan said and nodded at us, “I leave you now. You talk and then eat dinner with us.”



We nodded in agreement and just as Telan stepped outside, I stopped him.



“Telan?” I questioned, “How do you and Ala’kan know Omaticayan so well?”



“Oh, that because Ala teach me,” He said and tilted his head, “Before Ala’kan was Leomatica, he was Omaticaya.”