Guardian of the Forest (Vexmun)

[Talau]

Silent...

Silent...

Step here.

Move this way.

Mind that branch.

Silent, now, and wait...

They've stopped...good.

Elegant ears flicked quietly as the sounds of the forest filtered into them.

The tip of a tail flicked as lean muscles readjusted their position and that lengthy appendage was forced to move to keep the body's balance.

Golden, lamp like, eyes absorbed every movement of the uniltìrantokx...the dream-walkers...as they clambered through the thick undergrowth with their strange clothing, and odd objects in packs, and their loud movements.

She had been silently following the two dream-walkers from the time they had come into her sight nearly thirty minutes ago. Deeper and deeper into the jungle they had wandered, speaking in their strange sky person language...something she was beginning to understand more and more. She had been there when they had first met with her olo'eyktan...the Aylukana clan leader...and she had first seen the sky people and their dream-walkers. That had been five years ago...

Five years since the sky people returned...the people who were responsible for the deaths of her parents and so many others. Five years since she'd first heard their language. Five years since she'd first seen dream-walkers. Five years that she'd worked to learn their language, at least in part, so she could better understand them when they came to negotiate terms for their presence on Pandora...now it was something she used to tell them to get away from their lands.

She blinked a few times and licked her lips as she watched one dream-walker toying with the plants and dirt around him. An ear flicked and she wondered just why they would want to play with the dirt in such ways? They didn't seem to be looking for something in particular...The second dreamwalker carried one of their invisible arrow weapons...something they called a 'gun'? She didn't like these 'gun' weapons...they looked bulky and awkward and not at all practical. She supposed it was fitting, though, considering the brute that was carrying it about.

His back was to her at the moment, but even for a dreamwalker...something that looked Na'vi...he looked bulky. His shoulders were far too wide, and his muscles (the ones she could see anyway) looked far too big. It was like he'd eaten too much Angtsìk meat and nearly turned into the giant hammer headed beast himself! What an ugly dreamwalker...she mused silently, a small smile curving her mouth gracefully. Yes...this one had to be the most poorly built...grown...whatever they did to make dreamwalker bodies...dreamwalker she had EVER seen. No doubt his face will be just as...

"Come on...let's go deeper in..."

That smile swiftly vanished and her thoughts cut off as her mind deciphered the meaning of the words the smaller, gangly, one who had been playing in the dirt like a small child. He seemed positively ecstatic about going deeper into the jungle, but they were nearing the boundary of her people. A shrill, and hauntingly beautiful, cry echoed from the canopy above and that smile touched her face once more. Tirol...always right were he needed to be, right when he needed to be there. Slipping through the shadows and plants, practically gliding along the branches she walked on, the woman followed them further into the forest until they stopped once more.

Lungs brought in air, which filtered through her nose and her olfactories, sorting out the various scents of the jungle around her. The smell of her people started here...it was distinctly spicy to her senses and their ikran seemed to like to mark their territory here as well...yet another easily distinguishable scent to her sensitive nose. The excitable dreamwalker seemed content enough to plop himself down in the mud and leaves and continue digging about in them at this point and she shook her head slightly, creeping further through the foliage to come in front of them. If she wanted to stop them, she would need to be in a position to do so, after all. Iridescent dots along her skin shaded themselves a pale orange in her annoyance at the babbling of the little child dreamwalker.

That had to be what he was, after all...a child or youth...with the way he was prattling on to his companion about some nonsense or other. At least the big brute seemed more sensible...or perhaps he was just slow of mind? It was difficult to tell...but either way, he (at least) was far more quiet than the other...and so, less annoying. She crouched there, in the shadows above and in front of them, watching their movements silently. Time crawled on and she stretched herself lazily along the branch she was perched upon and pulled a strip of dried meat from a pouch on leather belt tied about her trim waist, gnawing on the meat hungrily as she entertained herself with watching the odd little dreamwalker. It wasn't until the excitable 'child' that was playing in the dirt stood and proclaimed the need to go further in that she coiled up and and swallowed the last of her dried meat. Pulling her bow from over her shoulder and an arrow from the quiver along her back, she let out a sharp call that was echoed back by Tirol above her.

Dropping down from the branches, she was already moving to nock the arrow to her bow. By the time she'd landed on the ground, strong legs bending to absorb the shock of the impact, the arrow was to the string and she hissed her displeasure at them, glistening white teeth flashing in the dim sunlight as she straightened, the arrow aimed at the one with the 'gun'. Golden eyes flashed dangerously as she glared defiantly at the more dangerous of the two.

Txìng fìtseng! Fitseng Aylukana kllpxìltu...txing fitseng!

She growled angrily, pulling the string of her bow back. The woman meant business...she wanted them to leave Aylukana territory, and she wanted them to leave now.

[Vex]

Sev was used to urban jungle. An actual jungle was a bit different animal for him to get used to. Certain things were similar: the foliage and undergrowth limited sight and made the paths between the trees almost seem like alleyways. As they moved through the forest, he took it slow, not taking anything for granted.

He'd done his homework. All the literature that he could pick up about Pandora, its creatures, and its plant life had been read. Knowledge was strength and power. The more that you understood about a situation before getting into it, the better one could be prepared. That often proved the difference between staying alive and getting your ticket punched. It was also why he’d been paying particular attention to the main sentient species that was native to the planet: the Na’vi. He understood the culture…it wasn’t so different than many of the tribal cultures that had once live on Earth. With the loss of the wilderness, most had been forced to either adapt to “civilized” life or die out. Despite their seemingly primitive lives and ways, they had managed to oust well-armed and trained RDA soldiers that had been stationed on the planet.

They were clearly not to be underestimated.

The Doc liked to talk. Severin could be gregarious when he wanted to be, but he never wanted to be when he was on a mission. That was what he was on, at the moment: a mission. Severin would nod and appear interested in what the man was babbling on about while he kept most of his attention out and focused on the world about them. He would occasionally grunt or make a sound to encourage the man while he kept pace with him, staying very close at hand so that he could intercede between the Doc and any danger. Meanwhile, those eyes kept twitching, focusing on any unusual sounds or some of the dangers he’d learned about. Those eyes kept scanning the area…searching the underbrush about them and the tree branches above for any signs of danger as he heard the sound of something like a leonopterix hanging out high above.

His rich, emerald-ringed yellow eyes took in the colorful forest looming over them. He couldn’t spot the creature, but he knew from his research that it was very likely the creature wasn’t there by accident. They were rather low from the mountain range with which the leonopterix tended to frequent. They were likely being watched. The fact that he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising slightly only put him farther from ease. You didn’t survive in the crap that he’d been through on Earth by ignoring one’s instincts. Unfortunately, they weren’t in a position to do much about that at the moment. They had the agreements with the clans to be here, to coexist peacefully. It would have to be enough. The last thing Sev was going to do is be the cause of an incident that screwed up their mission. If something went down, it was going to be because the Na’vi shot first.

He just hoped the so-called experts were right in claiming that these natives were, by and large, a peaceful sort.

When they moved, Severin didn’t try for stealth. This body was quick and agile. He was confident that he could have moved in relatively complete silence if he so wished. Unfortunately, that did him no good when he was escorting an excitable, chatterbox scientist while he examined the ground like it was the Mona Lisa or something. The scientist betrayed their presence with almost infantile control.

He’d moved in closer when the scientist decided he wanted to go exploring more. Shrugging, Sev started moving too moments before he heard the sound of something hitting the ground, surprisingly light, given the amount of leaves beneath them. He didn’t wait to see what it was, however. That large, bulky frame moved with deceptive speed. He closed the space between himself and the man in two quick strides, putting his own form between his charge and whatever had landed. The barrel of that rifle led the way, its butt tight up against his shoulder as he sighted along it, bringing the unknown threat into his field of view.

It seemed that they were at an old-fashioned stand-off. He knew how lethal those arrows could be. His first focus was on the weapon…seeing it ready to deliver its lethal payload. He then began focusing on the person holding it…taking in the lithe, feminine form that spoke at them so angrily in the native tongue. He only, vaguely, understood what the woman was saying, but the gist was clear enough. He recognized the clan name from the briefing he’d received. It looked like they were close to the Aylukana clan borders. She obviously didn’t want them any closer. Staring down at her from behind a barrel wasn’t going to improve the situation any.

Her defiant glare would see the cool, detached tactical calculations going on in those ringed eyes. He clearly wasn’t panicking over the fact that she had her weapon drawn on him, though he was respectful about the situation. He was calm…something that could not be said for the scientist that was almost apoplectic behind him. He held her gaze, unwavering, before he lowered his weapon and pushed it behind him to rest, slung at his back. He held up his hands a bit to prove he did not intend to be a threat.

“Fpom…Ayoe neu kea zoplo…” His pronunciation was not great…nor was his structure, but he hoped it would get his point across. He figured starting out with their language…showing that respect…might help defuse the situation and keep it from escalating. He smiled a bit, trying to lighten the mood. “Oe ting tap’alute…” He’d just about used up his mastery of Na’vi and switched over to English again. “Didn’t realize we were so close to the Aylukana lands, love….just a misunderstanding.”

[Talau]

Deep golden eyes flickered between his as he pointed that weapon at her in return. She’d been surprised that the brute could move so swiftly, and a corner of her mouth had lifted in mild approval before falling into that grim line once more. She paid little attention to the stammering and pathetic dreamwalker behind him, as those ears flicked and moved slightly to listen for more that might be out there. She hadn’t seen them, but she wasn’t discounting the idea. Breathing remained calm as those hardened blue features gazed at her adversary, watching the wheels in his mind turn. Another ounce of healthy respect for this one was added to the first. Perhaps he wasn’t skxawng after all, and all that meat on his bones hadn’t turned his brains into the same substance? She smirked a bit at the thought, tail twitching slightly before her features became neutral once more.

He lowered the weapon slowly and shifted it behind him, bringing up his hands. Now that got a reaction. That head tilted away slightly, eying him warily as he spoke those first words “peace…we want no offence”….they meant no harm, eh? Well, at least he was decent enough to know some of the language…badly though he spoke it. Another pebble of approval was added to his lot and she slowly released the tension in her bow and lowered it, keeping the arrow nocked…just in case. Tap’alute? One muscle above her eye raised, lifting the stripes there as she attempted to decipher just what he was talking about. Tap’alute…oh! Tsap’alute…apology…well, yes. They should apologize.

Your people must mark it. Can smell as good as I uniltìrantokx, yes? Can smell the marks here.

She glared over at the dreamwalker cowering behind the strong one in front of her and shook her head slightly, that black hair waving about her shoulders as she pulled the arrow away from the bow and held it with her bow all in one hand. With five years of experience and questioning of the sky people she met (when she got the chance to question them anyway), she wasn’t half bad at their language…well…sort of. After a moment longer of glaring at them defiantly, she sighed and decided it would be best if she escorted them back to their home to make sure they didn’t try anything further. It wouldn’t do to have them trying to get past the boarder somewhere else after they left her sight.

Am Unil’tirea’taliyani and will take you back now.

By ‘back’ of course she mean to their home…where they lived on Pandora. She had touched a long fingered hand to her chest as she introduced herself, flicking her tail slightly as her agitation began to tone down a bit. Taking another look at the ‘brute’ in front of her, she decided that…for an over muscled dreamwalker…he wasn’t as horrendous to the eye as she’d first thought. Mentally shrugging it off, she motioned with her hand for them to “lead the way” back to their home.

[Vex]

Okay…things were going down a few notches. He could relax a little bit. The muscles in his back released slightly as he watched her let slack into the bow and then pull the arrow from the string. With the threat of imminent, violent death no longer on the table, things could go by smoother. He stood up a bit straighter, relaxing and letting his hands down now that they had their mutual harmlessness out in the open. He’d heard her words about the territory being marked and couldn’t help but laugh a bit at that. Reaching up, he rubbed his fingers through what passed for hair on his head, smoothing them back over that braid-like appendage that hung down. Shaking his head, he looked at her.


“We may have senses similar to yours with the Avatar bodies, but I doubt many of us are familiar with using them in such a manner. It is still…new…for us. I have a better idea.” He would reach back slowly for an accessible side pouch on his pack. It was, thankfully, on the opposite side of his rifle so she wouldn’t think he was going for the weapon. Unzipping the pouch, he pulled out a small, thin palm computer. It used the old RDA satellites to pinpoint geo coordinates. Tapping in a command, he marked their position on it. He showed her the screen. “I will mark this spot for now…later…we can meet and you can walk me along the boundary. I can put it all on here…” He showed her the marker that showed their position over the satellite imagery of the forest, drawing his finger along, like a line. “This way…our people can see where the border is and will not make the same mistake.”

Once she was done inspecting, if she was interested in doing so, he’d put the pad away once more. At her mention of walking them back, the scientist was seemed nonplussed. Clearly the idea of exploring the lands of the Aylukana clan was of much interest to him. He began to speak rapidly to Sev, making his dislike of that idea very apparent. He did not want to stop now. Finally, Sev growled, turning to face him fully and holding up a hand. “Look, Doc…I know what you want, but we aren’t cleared to pass borders without authorization. You want to change that, bring it up with Doctor Ramakrishna. I didn’t make the treaties, but I’m certainly going to make sure they stay intact. Until you’ve got approval, we aren’t taking one more step in that direction. There are plenty of other places with interesting rocks and trees to study.”

Okay, so he was being a little snarky about it, but he didn’t like people that whined and complained about things that were implemented for a reason. It at least quieted the man down. He wasn’t happy, but he certainly didn’t have any valid arguments to the contrary about it. The scientist finally nodded… “Yes…we can head back.”

Pleased with that response, Sev turned back to face the Na’vi woman. She had…quite a name. He pointed to her, “You are…Uni-tire-ata-lee-ahhnee? Long name…” He pointed to himself. “I am Severin Eckhardt. Easier just to call me ‘Sev’, if you’d like.” He nodded his head back in the direction of the compound. “You are right…we should head home.”

[Talau]

Much of what he said was lost on the poor woman. She caught meaning, some of the words clicking in her mind, but he just…spoke so swiftly…like he expected her to understand everything right away. Golden eyes widened slightly and her tail flicked behind her as she vainly tried to extract some meaning from his words, but before her mind could close around one set, he was pulling off his pack and pulling something out of it, doing some strange motions on it and speaking again as he held it out for her to look at. Ears flattened against her head and those dots shifted to a startled yellow as she eyed him, then slowly looked down to the image there on the small screen. There was a mark on it, and he moved his finger along in a line. Luckily he had spoken a little more slowly during this and she was able to understand something of what he said.

She had looked back up at him and was about to reply when the excitable dreamwalker with him had started rambling again. Obviously protesting, considering his tone, though she had no idea what he said either. Her features hardened and that yellow became an orange as she flicked an ear at him, narrowing her eyes. She wasn’t about to let this little twerp move anywhere further, but luckily the one who had been talking to her held up his hand and replied. The scrawny one had gotten quiet and agreed. She had understood that, at least. At the butchering of her name, however, one eye closed as she half winced. She really needed to remember these people were bad with their names. He called himself Sev’rin’eck’hart, then said to call him Sev. Yes…Sev was much easier, and more likely to be said correctly.

Liyani…but…not understand so much, so fast!

She sighed and nodded slightly to his last comment, padding silently along the way the two had come. It didn’t seem to matter to her what stood in her way as they moved along. Branches, roots, leaves, she moved around, over, under, through them all with mere whispers of sound. After a few moment of walking, she glanced over her shoulder at the other two and paused to let them catch up. The big…Sev…seemed able enough, but the scrawny one…left much to be desired.

What the thing you show me, Sev?

She asked, golden eyes trained on him as she stood perched upon a tall root from one of the massive trees around them.

[Vex]

The spots on his form managed to shift, turning to a rosey pink as he felt a mixture of anger (at himself) and embarrassment. He was embarrassed for speaking in such a rush and for confusing her. He had forgotten the language barrier, which made little sense since he was all too aware of his own limitations in speaking her language. He sighed after she had given him that shorter name and complained about not understanding him. "Oe tsap'alute...I did not mean to speak so fast."

He spoke slower as they began to walk through the forest back toward the compound. Certainly, her shorter name made things easier. He grinned a bit as he kept pace with her only a few steps ahead. She walked through this place so naturally, the way a human would walk down a hallway. He shook his head, more than a little impressed with that grace. "Liyani...it is a beautiful name."

He watched as she paused to let them catch up. He'd had to slow down a bit to make sure that he didn't lose the scientist. It wouldn't do for the man to wind up as lunch for something like a thanator. He looked up to her as she perched there on the root, hearing her question. Reaching into his pack, he pulled it back out. The other man needed a rest anyway. He wasn't used to moving at such a pace.

Holding it up to her, he showed her the satellite imagery map view once more. He spoke slowly, circling a finger around the map. "This is a map. It shows the land from above, like the ikran sees." He pointed to where their current location was being shown on it before pointing to the ground at their feet. "That is here, where we are."

He then tapped the waypoint he had made...a numbered arrow that corresponded to the part of the border where they had met. He then pointed back the way they came. "That shows where we met." He then pointed to the corner of the map, where the human compound was, before gesturing in the direction of travel. "That shows you where we are headed."

Smiling a bit, he shrugged. "Humans use maps so they do not get lost."

[Talau]

She barely managed to notice that shift in coloration before it was gone again. Her head tilted slight, watching him carefully as her ears perked toward him, her own coloring a curious golden green as that tail swayed behind her lightly. He apologized again and she nodded slightly, blinking her golden gaze at him. This ‘Sev’ was polite…more than she could say for some of the other ‘cowboys’ that roamed around the forest with their children like over protective, trained, viperwolves.

It is fine…Sev. Sky people forget much, swiftly…some no want us understand.

Liyani shrugged slightly, dismissing the incident easily. She was used to this kind of situation…escorting wayward dreamwalkers back to their home, and most were far less agreeable than this one. At least this one had a mind. He was still a dreamwalker…he still seemed like a child learning to make their way in the world…but at least he acted older than the one that accompanied him.

“Liyani…it is a beautiful name.”

She tilted her head slightly at his comment, not understanding the word ‘beautiful.’ It sounded strange, and she rolled it around in her mind for a moment as they caught up to her, the scrawny one beginning to have trouble keeping up. With a sigh, she crouched down on the root, the rough wood and spongy moss familiar beneath her feet as she watched Sev pull the strange little device from earlier out of his pack once more and hold it out to her. That head remained tilted, those black locks and her queue slipping over her shoulder as she eyed it, sidling closer to him to get a better view of the device. Long neck stretched out just a bit more to see what he was showing her. As he explained, she would nod slowly, golden eyes following his motions as that tail flicked about behind her. As he pointed behind them, she looked up toward where he pointed, then over her shoulder toward where they were headed. Looking back to him, she nodded again.

It is odd…this thing. Na’vi do not use ‘maps’…use smell and sight and paths like this one.

She motioned with an arm along the trail the two had unwittingly followed…more or less. An ear flicked just as she was about to continue, having heard something off in the distance. Her head came up, turning away from him, ears perking toward the sound as she scented the air again, trying to decide if the sound was threatening.

Stay. Here.

Her statement was emphasized, commanding, as she stood and put her arrow back into the quiver at her back, slinging her bow over her shoulders once more. With a slight crouch, she vaulted upward, grabbing hold of a vine hanging there and pulling herself up it before swinging lightly onto the branch that had been just beyond her reach. Turning, she held her hand out to them, palm first as if they might have forgotten her order for them to stay there. Lifting her hand she put a finger to her lips to keep them quiet and padded off along the branch, ducking below some leaves and vanishing from sight. As she moved along, that nose constantly pulled in the air about her, ears moved to filter in the sounds coming from ahead, golden eyes peered through the vines and leaves, gazing along the ground. She was silent for a moment as she held her place…finally her eyes caught on the Yerik herd that had been the source of the noise. Sighing, she chuckled and turned to pad back to the others. False alarm. Appearing atop the branch again, she grinned and dropped down to the ground, knees absorbing the shock of hitting the ground, those lean muscles flexing along her body before straightening once more.

Was Yerik…thought it was other animal.

She stated with a mild shrug.

[Vex]

"That is wrong. They are wrong. They think that because we have technology, it makes us better. Anyone that doesn't is a savage, a skxawng. They are blind." He shook his head. His people were known for that. The only difference was, now they were projecting that on the Na'vi instead of on each other. He had seen more so-called savages have more wisdom than any of the technical types. Those with technology were the ones that had caused the destruction of Earth's ecosystems. At least the savages were smart enough not to destroy what they depended on to live.

Though...in defense of them...without that technology, he never would have been able to come here. This place, as dangerous as it could be for a human, was a chance at a completely new life. It was a second chance...the chance to get away from all the demons of the past and start over on another world. That was what he'd done...why he'd agreed to this mission and all it entailed.

“We often go places where there are no trails…no scents…nothing familiar with which to go off of. That is how we came here.” He wasn’t unaware of the path that they had taken. Though he hadn’t fought in jungles or their ilk…it wasn’t hard to figure a path even from one type of terrain to the next. He hadn’t known, however, that it was one of the paths that the Na’vi used regularly. Taking a look back along it, he’d note the particulars of it. If he passed along another through the forest, he wanted to make sure that he would recognize it.

She wasn’t the only one that was paying attention to the sounds on around them, however. While he wasn’t savvy when it came to identifying things with his nose, he definitely had a handle on using the sense of hearing. Paying attention to the sounds around him was what had helped keep him alive time and again. So when she reacted, so did he…that machine gun finding its way to his hands in a flash as he brought it up to bear. At her command, he simply nodded, keeping quiet. His charge was here, he couldn’t exactly go rushing off to face danger and leave the man unprotected.

At her glance and reiteration of that command, he scowled at her and waved her off, not amused at her thinking him a skxawng. He remained on edge until she came back. He didn’t share her amusement, however, glowering slightly before shrugging. Lowering the weapon, he looked back at the scientist. Ensuring himself that he was all right, he looked back to Liyani, nodding toward the human base, gesturing for them to continue

[Talau]

She’d noted his irritated look before she’d vanished off, the orange coloring of the lights along his skin, and she smirked slightly after she’d turned around. She hadn’t just been talking to HIM after all. His glowering look upon her return had her chuckling a bit more, flashing those white teeth at him as she grinned and turned to lead the way once more. Liyani didn’t stray far ahead of them, keeping near to the other two as she moved, almost playfully, along the trail. Perhaps she should have been a bit more concerned with the fact that she’d irritated the man with the weapon, but…well, Liyani just didn’t rightfully care at the moment as she paused, waiting for them to catch up to her once more, stretching upward before hopping down from the rock she had been standing on to pad silently along beside Sev.

Tsap’alute, Sev. Did not just say to you…thin child look to run then.

She, of course, meant the scientist that was with them, her tail flicking about behind her as those little stars along her skin shaded an amused green. Her mind looped back on what he had said previously to her checking what the sound had been, and a thoughtful air seemed to settle about her. For several moments she was quiet, mulling over his words, translating them as best she could and trying to piece together the meaning. With a nod to herself, she let out a short hum sound and flicked an ear.

Many are blind…not just sky people now. Na’vi…we do not trust. Makes us blind sometimes also.

With a swift duck she passed below a large leaf and continued on. Those ears constantly seemed to move, working to funnel in all the sounds of the forest around them as her lungs constantly worked to bring in new air and scents. Pausing, she held out an arm to stop Sev and his companion, debating on if they should continue to follow this path or move to a different one. Those eyes narrowed and she scented the air, lifting her nose up, eyes closing for a moment as her head turned one way then the other as she tried to make her choice. Finally she opened her eyes and looked up at the taller man with the ‘gun.’ Really, it was for him to decide if they continued on this trail or not. She could protect them if she had to, but he was the one taking the risk with his companion.

Have a choice…can follow this path, maybe meet angry thanator, or can follow other path and not meet thanator. Other one die two day ago and land not taken yet by new male. Is your choice, is your friend.

She stated, motioning to the scientist with her chin. The man seemed nonplussed at the whole situation, not that Liyani cared really, but…she wasn’t just going to lead them through dangerous land without them knowing what was going on.

This path faster to sky person camp, but…

[Vex]

“Perhaps…, but that is why I guard. He would not run. You question my ability as <<protector>>. How would you feel if I question your <<skill to hunt>>?” He shook his head, using the analogy to make her understand just why her actions had angered him like she had. It was close to being able to be construed as an insult and he was rather certain that she would understand why something like that would bother him. He wasn’t here because he wasn’t capable at what he did.

Continuing with her, he paused when she did, seeing her pause there, watching the minute actions she was given as she considered something, weighing some sort of decision in her mind. He watched her muddle through the options before she turned and laid it out for them. He shook his head quickly. “Well, that’s no contest then. No thanators. We will take the longer way.”

The scientist piped up at this. It was bad enough that she stopped him from exploring more…now she wanted them to take the longer path. It was already going to start getting dark. If they took the long way, it would be dark and they would be in danger. Of course, the man didn’t think of the fact that, if he’d been allowed to keep exploring, he’d be even DEEPER in when it got dark. He didn’t like being looked down on by the security guard or this Na’vi girl. He was going to put his foot down. This was a scientific mission. The scientists were in charge…not the security. That was what had caused the downfall of the previous mission. “No…it’s getting dark and we are not going to wander around the jungle. We’ll go the quickest way.”

“We’ll be walking into thanator territory. There are a lot things that can kill us in this jungle WITHOUT tempting the temperament of a thanator, Doc. We are going the safer way.”

“No, Mr. Eckhardt. Speed is our best option. This is a scientific mission. I am the ranking member here. We go the shortest way.”

Sev stepped closer to the man, almost looming over him. “With all due respect…you don’t have the experience I do. That experience is why I was chosen to accompany your people here. That experience ensures your safety. By ignoring my recommendation, you put that scientific mission in jeopardy.”

“I am not a child, Severin Eckhardt. I am an adult. My intelligence quotient is in the upper tier and my education is exceptional. I believe I am more than qualified in making such a decision. We will not waste time. That is my decision.” As if to hammer that point home, the man began to walk in the direction of the trail that she’d pointed out as the shorter route.

Sev’s bioluminescence darkened to a deep, bloody red hue. Those ears flattened out and his lips curled back, baring his fangs. He looked about ready to rip out the man’s throat. Certainly, he had the inkling of doing so before he finally shook his head. “Roger that, sir.” Shaking his head, he growled, muttering under his breath, “Skxawng….”
Looking to Liyani, he shrugged before following after the man.

[Talau]

She nodded as he explained the meaning behind his reaction, her tail flicking about behind her. She certainly hadn’t meant to insult him so badly, and she wondered if sky people held long grudges for such things, those tiny lights along her skin shimmering a curious olive drab. Liyani had put the question aside, however, as they’d reached the point where they had needed to make a decision. He reached it swiftly enough and she nodded her approval. It was an intelligent choice and she started off in the new direction she would lead them. Those ears twitched in irritation, however, as the whine of that irritating dreamwalker piped up once more. Rounding on him, she had no qualms in baring her teeth at him and thrashing her tail about behind her as those lights shifted once more to an irritated orange.

Those golden eyes didn’t miss that scornful look from the scrawny twig of an avatar, and she wanted to break him like one. Even though she didn’t understand much of the argument, she certainly understood the tones and the postures of the two as they fought for dominance in this matter. Perhaps sky people weren’t so different from Na’vi when it came to males and their struggles for dominance? The thought brought a grim smirk to her face as those shimmering orbs followed the banter back and forth. For what parts of their argument she DID understand, the woman huffed and shifted her weight, debating leaving the two to do on their own. Maybe the little one would get eaten? Another grim smirk and she pulled her bow from over her back, checking the sinew that created the bowstring and the tension of the bow. It seemed things were going in the direction of traversing Black Claw’s territory, she may as well check she was prepared before they did.

Satisfied with her bow, she pulled out an arrow and sniffed it to make certain the poison was still fresh enough to be effective. Shifting it to the same hand that held the bow, she pulled out her dagger and sniffed it as well, eyeing the blade to make sure it too was up to snuff. She didn’t have many worries about it, however, as she’d sharpened it only this morning. Golden eyes looked up again as she placed it back in its sheath, her gaze landing on the taller one…Sev, she had to keep reminding herself…looming menacingly over the little twig. One eyebrow…or the muscle that was there anyway…raised slightly, shifting the stripes and bioluminescent lights along her brow. Now that was always an interesting posture to see men in, and her approval of Sev rose ever so slightly. At least he was willing to use his size to his advantage when keeping adult-children in line…perhaps they wouldn’t face Black Claw after all? She could only be so lucky.

Despite his physical intimidation, the little twerp had the gumption to start walking. Cool as always, those burnt sienna dots along her skin, and that flicking tail behind her were the only signs of her rising anger. Sev, however, was much more obvious in his, baring his teeth and looking ready to murder with those bloody colored lights, pressed back ears, and thrashing tail. Liyani couldn’t help but feel her approval of him rise sharply…especially as he growled his reply to his partner and then insulted him under his breath. As he looked to her and shrugged, a stony mask of displeasure was what would meet his gaze. Her eyes were narrowed to near slits, those distinct and angled features made even sharper by her dark expression. That jaw clenched tightly for a moment as she shook her head and started after the little idiot.

Am not friend of Black Claw…this is BAD idea…

Catching up swiftly to the scientist, she dropped a heavy hand down on his shoulder and dug her fingers in, stopping him dead in his tracks.

You stay with Sev. I go first. You want to live? You do what I say.

It was an order, and she clicked her sharp fangs at him just to prove her point. With a bright trill, she gazed up at the canopy, waiting until she heard the familiar crooning reply of Tìrol. Seeing the familiar bulk of him flicker through the leaves above, she turned to the others.

Do NOT look in the eyes.

Her glare was focused on the scientist as she spoke before turning her eyes to the trees again and gave a sharp whistle. With a loud thrashing from above, the hefty bulk of her ikran dropped to the ground beside her with a rush of air and color. A few swift pats and she brought her queue over her shoulder and formed the tsahaylu with him, stroking his great neck. Instantly he felt her agitation and discontent, and he rounded on the two with her clicking his sharp teeth angrily before she assured him they were the least of her worries.

<<Black Claw…he is the problem, Big Brother. I need you to stay close for help, Tìrol.>>

With a deep growl, he thrashed his tail about and clicked his jaw in reply, eyeing her as he did. As she pulled her queue from him, he nudged her shoulder lightly, flicking his wings at her, that brutish frame quivering slightly as he rumbled at her again.

<<Go>> tsmukan Tìrol…<<fly>>

With a good natured slap to the side from Liyani, the giant ikran launched himself into the trees and out of sight once more. Turning to the others, she nodded.

Tìrol will watch also…we are more safe now, come.

With that she trotted off into the undergrowth. The more distance they put between themselves and the source of the racket Tirol had caused the better for all of them. Every once in a while she would pause, like before, and wait anxiously for the others to catch up. Black Claw and she were NOT friends…at all…and the sooner they got out of her territory, the happier Liyani would be.

[Vex]

"Don't gotta tell me twice, darlin'. Learned long ago that it takes more cajones to swallow your pride sometimes. Nothing about this smells kosher." The words were half muttered to himself. He wasn't liking this at all. When he was young, still green in the service, he'd wanted to go charging headlong into battle. He hadn't understood the wisdom of choosing to circumvent danger sometimes instead of just trying to bulldoze it over. That was one of the reasons he bore so many scars on his human form. He'd just been lucky enough to escape any damage that was more permanent.

He closed the distance with the doctor at the same time that she did. He watched, but didn't stop, her while she halted the man's movement and gave him those commands. He wasn't about to question them. The woman had likely forgotten more stuff about survival in this forest than he was likely to learn. She knew what she was doing. He agreed with the woman, to be honest.

She had good common sense, this one. She was intelligent and driven, open-minded and honest. He liked that. She was also strong, quick, and powerful. Na'vi males were very lucky indeed to have such women in their lives.

That weapon came up as the ikran came down. Some reflexes were hard to overcome and, given most Pandoran predators and their knack for attacking on the ground, in the trees, pretty much anywhere. As it landed beside her, he realized it for what it was, something he'd only read about in those dusty video logs and reports about those that road the Banshee. It was her mount. He averted his eyes...potentially getting eaten by one creature was bad enough. he didn't need to start tempting fate by pissing off something like that.

Another set of eyes was never a bad thing, so he nodd and moved up alongside Liyani as they began to walk. Leaning his head in closer, he spoke. "If we meet Black Claw, you run. Take the doctor. Keep safe, get him to camp. He dies, it is bad. You die, bad blood between my people and yours. I die...is job hazard. They bring another cowboy." He shrugged at that, seemingly unconcerned about his own grisly fate.

With the weapon at the ready, he kept his eyes peeled as he moved back to keep an eye on the doctor and try to keep him at pace with her.

[Talau]

Sighing out her frustration at the entire ordeal, Liyani had simply moved on with her day, ears swiveling about and nose working over time. Her tail was oddly rigid, save for the irritated flicking of the tip of it, as she hurried them quietly through the underbrush. At his words, those golden eyes turned to glare at him. Was he a fool? Perhaps he was just ignorant…it was more likely the second than the first…he didn’t seem like a fool from what little interaction they’d had. That glare only hardened the more he spoke. Those ears flattened back against her head and those iridescent lights along her skin flared an agitated orange.

You do not know Black Claw…she and…

Her voice stopped abruptly and those ears perked forward, her muscles tight as the string of her bow, which now had her arrow nocked to it. Golden eyes turned from him to the forest around them, the silence putting her on edge. There wasn’t a sound from Tìrol as they moved along and she couldn’t risk speaking now, all of her attention narrowing to trying to stay a step ahead of the sure to be angry thanator. Tail twitched behind her as she kept them moving…staying in one place and waiting for Black Claw to find them was not a good idea…they stood a better chance if they just kept moving. A haunting trill echoed through the air and Liyani's heart rate rose sharply as she glanced to Sev, hoping he wasn’t going to play hero and get someone…most likely himself…killed. Swiftly her nose filled with the musky scent of thanator and fresh blood.

The rustling of plants had her body twisting around swiftly, bow raised in the direction of the sound and eyes narrowing in on a dark shape, quills rising and flickering before vanishing again. She was playing with them…she knew Liyani was here and so she was playing games. With a flash of motion, she had moved around to put herself between Sev, his scientist, and the dark shape she’d seen. Her head turned just enough to speak to Sev through clenched teeth.

She plays games with us because of me…don’t be brave fool, Sev, she follows me. You get toktor back to…

The sound of wings above, a deep growl from in front of her, and in a moment of instinct, Liyani twisted and launched herself at the two dreamwalkers, bowling the two of them over moment before the giant shadow of Black Claw flew over them and into the foliage on the other side before vanishing like a ghost once more into the undergrowth. While she’d knocked the scientist over, the majority of her bulk had needed to slam straight against Sev in order for her to even have a chance of taking him down, and now she found herself half sprawled atop him, one hand pressed against his chest, their faces too close for comfort. For a moment only she gazed into his oddly ringed eyes before golden orbs flashed upward, a dangerous mixture of fire, instinct, and the glint of determined protectiveness in them as she lept up and forward in one movement, bow coming up only moments after. She had no time to spend dealing with awkward emotions or situations right now.

Those quills caught her eye once again and she bore her teeth, hissing angrily at Black Claw, tail flicking behind her. Her blue form lit with bloody red light as her temper rose. If the beast was going to attack, attack where she could see you coming! It had been this way between the two for several years...ever since Liyani had accidentally killed one of the creatures cubs. Liyani avoided this territory like the plague if she could help it, but if she had to pass through it, she wasn’t about to run away and leave these two to possibly get torn to shreds because of it.

<<Fight in the open Black Claw! You want me, here I am! Stop the games! You do not want these two!>>

She stood defiantly as she growled at the beast in her own tongue, her growl echoed by the deep rumbling of Black Claw from just out of sight. With a loud roar, the giant black form of the thanator lept into the path before them, blocking their way to the sky person camp. The quills rose again, and claws came out as the female hissed her displeasure at the Na’vi woman. Liyani replied with a defiant hiss of her own and a sharp trill. In a flash of color and wind Tìrol stooped down from the branches above and slammed into the side of the giant beast. Spinning about, Liyani caught the wrist of the scientist and tugged him upward off his knees.

Run!

She shouted to the two of them and pulled the scientist along behind her before letting him go and dropping behind him so she could keep her eyes on him. She could only hope that Sev was going to move along with them.


-------

Muse Inspiration: "160 BPM" song from the movie "Angels and Demons"

[Vex]

Even without the visible indication of those spots, her agitation over this situation and where they were at was palpable. He'd seen video of cats...logs from old records from before. You could still find cats around, but they were vermin. When it took everything just to make food for the worldwide population, having a pet of any kind was just far too much of a luxury to worry about. Her actions, however, the way she held herself as she moved with those ears back and that tail twitching restlessly...it reminded him of those videos.


He tilted his head a bit as she began to try and explain. She was cut off, however, by some unknown sound. That was when he realized it. It wasn't a sound that she had heard, but a lack thereof. There should be sounds...animals that were moving, if, for no other reason than to get out of the path of the trio that was moving through the forest. There wasn't. It was deathly silent all around them. It simply wasn't natural. He brought that rifle up; glad he’d opted for the larger .30 caliber one usually reserved for door gunning. He’d picked it because it felt like a proper size and weight for this body. It didn’t hurt that it happened to have a decent amount of punch to it against anything that got in front of the barrel. Of course, there were exceptions, but that was always the case. By and large, when you got hit with that weapon, you were going to know it. If you were human sized…you were likely to come up missing something.

He’d twisted when Liyani had moved to place her body between him and the thanator, but he had been too slow and had only managed to see the rustling of the leaves after it had disappeared again. His head cocked up a bit, hearing the rustling of their aerial protector. That left him completely unprepared when she suddenly lunged and knocked into him, taking both him and the doctor to the ground. He was more unprepared to be flat on his back with her half-draped over his form, her hand on his chest and staring into his eyes at so intimate a distance. Pragmatism won out for the both of them, however. She looked up and would move to push up and forward. The strength of his arms would help push her upward in her endeavors before he rolled to his feet as well.

He was crouched a bit, knees bent with his weight centered, one foot about a half-step in front of the other. He scanned the forest around her while she called out that beast. Now…he’d read, in great detail, about all of the deadly fauna on this planet, considering it a job requirement. He had even seen diagrams and pictures…three dimensional builds of such a creature. It was another thing to see it, in the flesh, and be pretty darn sure that it wanted to eat you.

He suddenly had a newfound respect for mice.

The thing was huge…every inch a superior killing machine. It looked about ready to pounce when that banshee slammed into it and she bolted, dragging along the doctor. He was about to follow suit when he saw the ikran crawling around. Dangerous though the ikran was…it was an aerial predator, not made for ground skirmishes. It didn’t help that the thanator was just that much bigger too…easily half-again the size of the aerial reptile. It was leaping up to get some altitude, but the thanator was back on its feet and ready to pounce on the creature that had dared have gall to attack it. Dropping to a knee, he kicked that selector switch from safe to burst, the chuk-chuk-chuk bass echoing in the woods as he kicked off some rounds that punched into the land predators shoulder and winged against that armored skull, not having enough oomph or angle to punch through that thick bone plating. The shoulder wounds were solid though, bleeding and causing the creature to abort its attack and turn to face this new annoyance. Those quills spread again as it snarled.

He pushed himself to his feet and sprayed some more. It might take out the creature…but probably not unless he got lucky. They didn’t have time for that. He began backing up, holding the trigger as he went, hitting it repeatedly. It was a lot harder to aim and dirt kicked up around the creature, but the thanator still received a couple more wounds…but nothing that would do more than hinder it slightly and piss it off. Bullets weren’t working.

He reached into his belt, pulling out a canister from there and yanking the pin before he chucked it into the middle of the space between them and bolted. The roar of Black Claw was heard as she leapt forward to finish this annoyance.

Bu thunder and lightning filled the forest first.

The flash bang he’d pulled out had detonated, the bang sounding like a clap of thunder that deafened any nearby. Far away as she was, Liyani and the scientist weren’t going to be hurt too bad. The flash was another matter; however, as brilliant, bright white light washed out everything in sight for a quick moment, scrambling vision and causing pain as it mixed with the boom. Sev felt half-deaf, but he could see. Black Claw wasn’t so lucky, having almost been right on top of it when it went off. This time, the roar was of pain and surprise as Black Claw landed and tumbled, completely disoriented by the device, tumbling a bit and shaking its head as it tried to clear its senses, stumbling about.

Sev kept running, catching the other two and pushing her along. He yelled to her…a bit loudly because of his limited hearing. “Come on…that’s not going to last very long!”

[Talau]

Those keen ears heard the gunfire easily, despite the distance she was putting between them. Snarling she whipped around, eyes narrowing in on her target as her hand drew back that string, lean muscles pulling it tight back as she tracked the vulnerable neck of her target. She’d not seen him toss the grenade, and she was about as prepared for it as Black Claw…it was lucky for Sev that she’d not let go of the arrow she held tight. With a crack like thunder and a flash of white lighting, Liyani found herself dazed by the sudden play of light and sound. Luckily her ears recovered swiftly…she could live without sight, but to have both gone would have been deadly to her in this situation. Ears twitched as she let the tension out of her bow and turned, following the sound of Tìrol’s wings above them. Sev’s raised voice had her moving again and her eyes snapped open after a moment shuttered behind her lids.

Still not typical vision, but there WAS vision…enough to work with anyway. Leaping over the rock that stood in her way like a runner passing over a hurdle, Liyani pressed forward. A sharp, angry, cry from Tìrol above had her clicking her jaw at him automatically as if she were astride his back. The snapping and crashing behind them told her that Black Claw was on her way once again…and furious. Leaping upward into the branches she flipped around and onto the one she’d caught hold of, twisting her body around and launching one of those arrows at the creature. Because she hadn’t been hunting the arrows she carried did not have the typical toxin on them, instead having an herb mixture that acted as something of a tranquilizer.

If only she could get one of them into the neck…

The arrow lodged itself into the leg of the angry thanator, causing it to stumble. Taking the opportunity, Liyani dove through the branches, leaping along behind them and just out of reach of the thanator that was now trying to get at her once again. Hurrying to get ahead of the other two, she bounded between trees and paused upright, leading her target as it gained on them. Eywa let it flight straight…she prayed and launched the long projectile at the furious black form of Black Claw. With a roar the beast wavered in its charge, the arrow having struck just between the neck and chest. Close enough, she hoped, for the mixture to be effective. Dropping down as the two passed below her, she sprinted off with them, slinging her bow over her shoulder. Persistent in her chase, Black Claw shot after them, crunching through the undergrowth before there was no sound from her. Leaping forward, Liyani shoved Sev further ahead as the dirt below them shook slightly with the weight of the beast landing close behind them after its leap through the air.

The female groaned loudly as she pushed herself to her feet…it seemed the arrow’s effects were taking hold. Hopefully this chase wouldn’t last much longer.