Norm Spellman
walked quietly through the underbrush of Pandora’s forest. His blue feet making
soft footprints in the mud, he looked up into the drizzle that made it through
the canopy. He closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the forest, a
Sturmbeest trumpeted far in the distance, and something was buzzing around a
stand of trees to his left, possibly a nest of Hellfire Wasps. Opening his
eyes, he took in the beauty of the forest around him. Ever since the RDA left
Pandora, his life had changed for the better. His understanding of the Na’vi,
the Omaticaya, and the deep connection with Eywa, had grown farther than he had
expected. He realized, finally, that this was the life he should have been born
to.
His first Avatar body had been
killed during the battle for the Tree of Souls, but there had been a shipment,
sent by an automated ISV that was carrying supplies to the now abandoned RDA
facility, and it had the supplies to clone Avatars, just enough for three or
four bodies. That gave him his second chance, and it gave his colleague and
friend, Dr. Max Pattel, the chance to finally become one with Pandora and her
children.
A sudden sound brought him out
of his reverie. He opened his eyes and let his nose sniff the air. Hexapede. He
looked around and found his target. It stood eating some Pandoran grass,
completely oblivious to its life ticking down to its last seconds. Norm raised
his bow and leveled it, the arrow pointing directly at his target. With a slow
breath he pulled back, closed his eyes, and let loose. A cry came from the
Hexapede as it fell over. Norm, as quick and graceful as any Na’vi, crossed the
distance and knelt by the kill.
“Oel ngati kameie, ma Tsmukan, ulte ngaru seiyi ireiyo. Ngari hu Eywa saleu tirea, tokx 'ì'awn slu Na'viyä hapxì.”
He quickly took his knife and plunged it into the Hexapedes heart, ending its physical life.
Jake Sully walked quietly over and knelt next to
Norm, putting a hand on his friends shoulder. “Well done my friend, that was a
clean kill. Are you ready?”
Norm took his knife out of the Hexapede and sheathed
it. He looked over to Jake and nodded. “I am, Olo’eyktan.”
Jake smiled and opened his mouth to say something,
but clearly decided against whatever he was going to say. “Then you must climb
Iknimaya.” He stood and helped Norm carry the carcass back to the village. “And
what did I say about calling me clan leader while we’re alone?”
Norm laughed, “Sorry Jake, I’m just used to all the
formalities. Especially around Neytiri, she’s a stickler for that stuff.”
“Do you see Neytiri around Norm?” Jake looked around,
as if not sure of that himself. He shook his head and reassured himself
mentally that she was back in the village, but wouldn’t put it against her that
she would follow him on this journey. She was after all, the one who had taught
him all of this “Tree-hugger crap”.
Norm did almost exactly the same thing. When their
eyes connected, they both let out a shaky laugh, and walked the rest of the way
back to the village in a comfortable silence, letting the sounds of the forest
wash over them.
I like it,keep going.
Posted by: RBingley | 01/27/2010 at 08:51 AM