On the Edge (Lat)

[Talau]

She had made her way to the edge of the jungle, prowling along the brink of the prairie just within the confines of that comfortable foliage. Liyani had come to the edge of the forest for a reason, however. The sky person base was here, and in it was someone she wished to speak to. The man had been part of the sky people to make the arrangements with the other Na’vi clans, including…and especially…her own. She had been there also, able to pose him questions as he worked as an active translator. This Doc’tor Schwaye’galt, as the sky people called him, seemed…kind…for a sky person. She had taken a liking to him more readily than she had the others that had come with him, and he had earned quite a bit of respect from her. He was a man who could teach, and who wanted to learn…she was curious and also wanted to share…it seemed a beneficial relationship could be had with the man, sky person or not. She would never reveal secrets, locations, or too much about her people, but she could help him learn about the plants and animals…and he could help her learn to speak like them so she could better understand when they spoke among themselves.

Liyani had already learned quite a bit of their language from him and by listening to the negotiations. The sky people would speak in their language to him, and he would speak to the na’vi in their language, translating for the others so the point could be made. She was clever, and had managed to pick up some of their speech by simply listening, attempting to puzzle out meanings between what they said and what was translated…but that process left much to be desired, and she wished to have a better understanding. Understanding was what had driven her to come here…so now she stood, watching the dreamwalkers near the edge of their enclosed home move about, and run, and play, and speak and laugh with each other. An ear flicked and she wondered if Doc’tor would even be out there with the others or inside with the other sky people. She also wondered if the big one she had seen earlier that week would be…no…there was no reason she should care where HE was…but…

Golden eyes scanned the enclosure and that tail flicked about behind her. No…he wasn’t around. Good.

Now…where is Doc’tor? she wondered as those keen eyes scanned the ones outside once again. Her gaze stopped on one she thought to be the man she was searching for and she prowled in his direction, keeping out of sight and within the confines of the jungle as if there were some mystical barrier there that she could not cross. Silently she moved, barely a rustle of foliage made as her blue form slunk about and wove between the plants along her path. It wasn’t until she was as close to her target as she could possibly get and still be within the jungle that she halted her progress and crouched down…watching…uncertain. Was this a good idea? Perhaps not…most likely not…but that didn’t particularly matter right now. She meant no harm to them, and she wasn’t going to enter the base or try to provoke them…she just…was curious.

The light reflected against those glittering orbs as they darted about the open expanse of grass and the other dreamwalkers moving about near by him. She didn’t like this…not one bit. She didn’t like the plains, and she didn’t like the open, and she didn’t like the prospects of all those others noticing her. There was a reason she didn’t like telling her tales to any but children, there was a reason she didn’t speak to large groups, there was a reason she didn’t sing for others…she didn’t like the attention of so many being upon her all at once…but, there was little she could do in this situation. Sighing, she stood and gathered herself together, saying a short prayer of protection and strength to Eywa in her mind before boldly stepping out into the tall, waving, grasses of the plains.

Tilting her chin up slightly, she gazed defiantly at the dreamwalkers and sky people who noticed her and halted what they were doing to stare at her as if she were some misshapen creature. The more of them that stopped and looked at her, the more those around them stopped and looked also until most of those outside had paused, watching her as if she might suddenly turn feral and attempt to kill them all. Certainly they didn’t get many Na’vi coming to look at them did they? Liyani highly doubted it. Her form straightened further and she held herself so that she might appear as large as possible, an unconscious and primal defense and motion of defiance as she attempted to stair the others down. Eventually those golden orbs turned back to where she had seen Doc’tor, hoping he would understand that it was him that she wished to see…not these others.

One of the other avatar drivers near to him leaned over as she turned her face toward them.

“H-hey…hey Doc…I think she wants YOU…”

[Dr. Latus]

Another day. Another glorious day on Pandora. Bright sun, warm humid breeze, all that was missing was a glass of his favorite beer for it to be nearly identical to home in the summer. That is, minus the trees, wildlife, cloudless sky, clean air... you get the idea. It was a day off for the researcher, one that had been long in coming. Between the long hours in the lab and the paperwork that entailed, the excursions into the forests around the compound, and translating for dealings with the locals Roland was practically spent. So, for today at least, he was enjoying himself, walking hither and thither around the barracks and rec area linked to his own avatar. Though the linking process was tiring in and of itself the feeling of having both eyes and five fingers on each hand made the temporary discomfort worth it. Not to mention the ears and tail.

He was bare foot, the feeling of grass and soil on and between his toes was refreshing. From his seat on the steps to the barracks Roland could see the entire facility and a sizable slice of forest beyond, several hundred feet from the fence surrounding the rec area. His colleges that were also in their avatars were busy doing a myriad of things like tending to the garden of edible Pandoran plants, playing basketball, walking, talking, living; enjoying themselves. In his hands his notebook was open, both pages containing his sketches of two different native plants that he had yet to categorize. The notebook itself was leather bound, a rarity from earth as the cows they were once made from were all but extinct, and it looked relatively tiny in his hands, the pencil like a toothpick. He had gotten used to it in the five years of life on Pandora the dexterous hands of his avatar as accurate as his own not to mention with both eyes able to be on the page at once. Glancing up Roland smiled at another researcher as she padded up the steps into the barracks.

A change in the overall murmur of the facility made Roland's ears perk up, the noise of activity vanishing. Glancing up he saw that the other avatars had their eyes trained away towards the forest behind one of the out buildings. Flipping his notebook closed and setting it down on the steps Roland stood, wobbling a bit on the extra long legs. Though he had been on Pandora for more than five years he had not logged much time linked to his alternate body, leaving some movements clumsy still. Padding over to where a small group of the others were gathered he peered through the fence. There, a few steps out from the forest, was a distinctive blue figure. He stood for a few moments in silence, not sure what to say. The forest Na'vi rarely ventured beyond their borders and to be so close to camp, and a woman too... was this one curious?

“H-hey…hey Doc…I think she wants YOU…” Shooting the speaker a very odd look he chuckled, seeing both possible translations for that phrase. "And why vould she vant me? You are ze more sevin tutean here, why not you? The comment brings a few laughs from the other scientists who know the translation from Na'vi to english. The one in question just shakes his head, not knowing the language. In english please, Doc Roland. You are one of the primary translators for the operation and one of the first to make contact. You would be the most likely of any of us that she wants to talk to. Laughing Roland moves away from the group. Ja ja, fine. Tell control to send around a cowboy to watch my back.

It only took a few strides for Roland to reach the gate out. Placing his hand on the ID reader he glanced at the stranger as the system ran his data. With a click and a buzz Roland pushed the door open and stepped into the long grass of the prairie. Not wishing to be out of the compound for longer than he needed to be, Roland made toward the comer in a jogging stride. At just over one hundred feet he recognized who the form was; Liyani, one of the forest clan. Raising his hand he gave her a wave and moved just a fraction faster. As he reached her he slowed to a walk and gave the young huntress a smile.

Kaltxì tsmuke Liyani. <<Why are you so far from hometree?>>

[Talau]

Good…he’d seen her there…not that the silence hadn’t gotten his attention. He’d wobbled a bit as he’d stood up and walked to the edge of their camp, but…well, she supposed he wasn’t used to his dreamwalker body yet. He’d spoken something she could barely hear over the distance and those around him had laughed, causing her ears to lay flat against the sides of her head and her tail to twitch back and forth in her agitation. She just hoped they weren’t laughing at her. The very thought made her bristle angrily and she scowled at them for a moment until she saw Doc’tor move to a new section of the boundary around their camp. He’d moved through it and trotted over, looking a little cumbersome in his movements as he did so, before he waved a hand in her direction. Nodding in return, she waited patiently for him to arrive.

“Hello sister Liyani. Why are you so far from Hometree?”

She smiled slightly and shook her head. That was a good question.

Oel ngati kameie, Doc’tor.

She replied simply, motioning her greeting to him with her right hand.

<< I wished to speak to you. Is this alright? >>

A flick of her tail and her ears perked forward slightly, some of those luminous spots along her skin shifting a drab green and others a mild yellow as she spoke. Golden eyes flickered from him back to the others in the sky person camp as more of those spots became yellow and she shifted her stance slightly, her eyes returning to his face. Movement behind him caught her eye and those eyes glinted and narrowed at the new dreamwalker who approached with one of their ‘gun’ weapons. As he drew closer, she stepped back a pace and hissed softly at him, flashing those bright white teeth at the approaching guard. Turning her eyes back to Doc’tor, she shook her head slightly.

<< I should not have come. Apologies. Goodbye Doc’tor. >>

With that she started to back away into the jungle once more, not willing to turn her back on the armed man who was now nearly sprinting toward them having seen her there with Roland.

[Dr. Latus]

<< I wished to speak to you. Is this alright? >>

<<Of course it is alright. You came all this...>>

Roland nearly jumped back as Liyani's ears flattened against her head, showing anger. The hiss and the baring of teeth that followed was not a good sign. One didn't need to be fluent in Na'vi to understand that something was bothering her. Looking over his shoulder he saw one of the few base guards running up, rifle at the ready.

<< I should not have come. Apologies. Goodbye Doc’tor. >>

Oh Scheiße.

Whirling around he took several steps toward the guard and put both hands out to stop him. Gun wielding... gonna get us all killed.

Doctor Roland, we got the call that you needed support. Shall I send this one away? The guard brings his rifle up a few centimeters more to rest in the crook of his shoulder.

Ja, that vas the call. I need you to vatch my back but do it over zere. Großspuriger cowboy! The guard took a step back as he is chastised by the German Doctor's Avatar. To the soldier his ears were flat, eyes wide and angry. Spinning back around Roland is forced to take a few steps farther, almost into the forest to stop Liyani. Wait! Liyani, pey! Pausing he waited for her to turn around, to address him again.

<<Sorry for the other. My people don't like me out here without... someone else.

Huffing he realized that something about his situation gave him unpleasant goosebumps. It was just like the boarding school as a child; if not supervised by an adult the nuns wouldn't let you do anything. Shrugging inwardly Roland speculated that it was because he was running around in something that cost several billion dollars. Switching to english he thought he might try to bridge the gap.

Vat is it zat you vanted to talk to me about?

[Talau]

She didn’t understand all that the two were saying, but she didn’t need to at this point, her cerulean form fading into the jungle behind her as she turned and nearly lept up to the lowest branches. This had been a bad idea all the way around. She shouldn’t have gone into the open, or attracted attention to herself…she shouldn’t have even been there. There was a reason why sky people weren’t to be trusted, weren’t to be conversed with…a reason why they were where they were and not allowed close to their homes or their people. She’d been stupid to even consider letting her curiosity get the better of her! With one swift leap upward the length of her propelled itself toward the nearest low hanging branch, her hands catching hold of it and arms beginning to pull herself upward.

“Wait! Liyani, pey!”

Sighing, she stopped and let herself hang for a moment from the branch before dropping back to the ground and turning to look at him, a barely visible form and two, lamp like, golden eyes looking back at him with those shimmering yellow and white dots glowing along her features.

<<Sorry for the other. My people don’t like me out here without…someone else.>>

That may have been true, but to have the other dreamwalker run at them like that with its weapon at the ready? Was that really called for? She hadn’t even had her bow out of the quiver along her back! She’d done nothing to antagonize them that she knew of…they’d been the ones looking at her like she were something from the depths of the forest come to eat them alive! They’d been the ones to fall silent and laugh and then send this other running out with a weapon! To be perfectly honest, Liyani felt…insulted…and she huffed her displeasure loudly.

<< Is this how they treat all of their visitors? It is no wonder we are told we should stay away…aside from the obvious past.>>

She mused, none too silently.

“Vat is it zat you vanted to talk to me about?”

It took her a moment to process what he was asking, those ears perking forward once more as she blinked at him and licked her lips slightly. He was more difficult to understand with the way he talked, but she could get around that…it just…took her longer. After a long pause she stepped forward a little, her form becoming clearer through the dim haze of the jungle that still surrounded her.

I…want to talk about…

She struggled for the word…what was their word for learning? Or language? Liyani sighed heavily as her mind swiftly ran over her options of useable words that might help him understand her desire.

…trade. You help 'ìnglìsì…I help you, plant or animal.

Well…it left a lot to be desired, but she had tried. Those iridescent dots along her skin shaded themselves a deep pink in her embarrassment. She didn’t THINK he would laugh at her attempt, but…it was a fear anyway. Hopefully he would understand what she’d meant…she wanted a trade, knowledge for knowledge…to learn and help learn. Surely he would understand this?

[Dr. Latus]

For a brief moment he had lost sight of her. It never failed to amaze him how they could do that, to simply vanish into the colorful foliage like it was a thick fog. The cyan hues on their skin seemed to blend perfectly into the trees and Roland found himself envying such a skill. There was something simply otherworldly about it. Oh wait, the entire world was otherworldly. Huffing in frustration Roland took a hesitant step into the thick of the jungle, gazing all around trying to find her by sight. Shaking his head he nearly chose to turn away and find her some other time until he heard the whisper of feet hitting ground. Gasping, Roland started at the sudden appearance of the Na'vi huntress.

<< Is this how they treat all of their visitors? It is no wonder we are told we should stay away…aside from the obvious past.>>

Sighing Roland gave a smile of relief, honestly worried that she had gone. Her comment troubled him though; he would have to have a word with the security chief. <<Excuse the...>> cowboys, <<they always assume the worse when it comes to your people. I will have words with them tonight so this doesn't happen again.>>

As he watched her ponder his question he realized talking English probably wasn't the best idea when speaking to the Na'vi. His accent was thick enough that some of the members on base still, even after five years, didn't understand what he said half the time. It may be easier for him but the complications of communication would be far too much trouble in the long run. Glancing over his shoulder at the light filtering through from the clearing he saw the guard taking a few steps toward them. He huffed and his ears flattened at the possibility of having to yell at him again.

"I…want to talk about…"

Roland turned back to face his guest, his tail flicking back and forth, ears straight again.

"…trade. You help 'ìnglìsì…I help you, plant or animal."

Inglìsì. The Na'vi word for the English language. It took much less time for him to translate what she was asking. She wanted to learn Engliish in return for teaching him or the other scientists about the native Pandoran animals. It seemed like a fair enough trade. What he had seen of Liyani in clan life ranked her as not just a hunter but something of a diplomat as well; this was not his first time speaking with her but definitely the most personal. The request seemed mutually beneficial and Roland quickly looked her in the eyes and smiled.

<< You want to learn English in return for some of your knowledge of plants and animals. That is a fair enough deal.>>

Sitting down on the bare flat root of a tree at hand, Roland motioned for her to sit as well. Snap. His ears instantly perk in the direction of the sound. Looking that way he sees that the guard has started to push his way into the trees, his luminescent markings turning a color of very bright orange. Groaning he shouts to him, making it clear as to where he is, not three meters in.

If you want to hang around like this, put ze gun down and take a seat! Mein gott. You are worse than ze puppy.

Just, please, be careful Roland. It wouldn't look good on my record if a scientist got killed under my watch.

Sighing he closed his eyes, his ears flattening even more and he shaked his head. You will be the death of me, not anything out here. Looking back at Liyani he gave a weak nod.

<<Now, part of our language would you like to learn?>>

[Talau]

She watched his reactions carefully, those ears perked forward to catch the sounds around them and to catch his reply. His repeating his understanding of the offer made her grin brightly, those golden eyes almost seeming to flicker as the iridescent dots along her skin became a bright, happy, green. That expression and that color was short lived, however, as she caught the sounds of more movement and a loud snap. Tensing, she stood defensively, one hand on her dagger, ready to move the doctor aside and attack whatever it might be. With a sniff of the air, she huffed and let go of her dagger once more, rolling her eyes. The jump man with the ‘gun’ was back. Her ears pressed against her skull and she shook her head as Roland turned to speak to the guard and the man replied.

It was so difficult and frustrating to not understand what they were saying! Given enough time she might have been able to make heads or tails of it, but as of that moment…not really, no. As the man seemed to relax a little and dropped back into the background of her attention, The doctor’s question came to the front of her mind and she thought on that a moment.

<< I do not know. I know so little of it…what are your words for teach or learn? That was what I wanted to tell you…but could not think of your words. >>

She gave him a tentative smile and those spots along her skin became a pale pink once more.

[Dr. Latus]

<<Teaching is>> teaching. <<Learning is>> learning.

Roland stumbled over some of the quick Na'vi to English pronunciations as his moutn was forced to move in ways that they never had to before. He nodded to her before putting his chin in his hand; if he was going to teach her the English language like that, word by word, they would be there until they were both dead. Thinking of what to say next he started several times, his mouth opening for an instant before closing again and going back to a thoughtful look. Slowly his spots turn a bright orange, his frustration mounting again; not against Liyani or the guard, but for himself not being able to think of a way to proceed. His eyebrows quirked at the fact, he very rarely was at a loss for words. Looking up he finally decided on just starting from the beginning though there would be some redundancies.

<<I must start from the beginning, Liyani. There seems to be no other choice.>> Ahem. He begins to talk clearly and with his hands, trying to make the translation easier. My name is Toktor Roland Schweigal, a human from the planet called Earth. He repeats the phrase in the Na'vi tongue.

Gesturing to her he makes it clear he wants to know her story. A thought enters his mind as he awaits her reply. His choice to do things as though she didn't know any of his language might come across as pompous or ignorant. Slowly a pale yellow color leaks into his spots. While Roland was still a little rough in social dealings, he never thought that he would have to be worrying about upsetting an alien warrior maiden. He glanced over his shoulder to where his guard was sitting; he had taken out an energy bar and was chewing quietly on it. Good, at least he isn't causing trouble.

[Talau]

She nodded, grateful for those words. Finally she would be able to say what she meant originally, and any word learned was a welcome addition. Now if only she could remember them long enough to use them again! Golden eyes watched him as she settled herself in among the ferns and leaves surrounding them. He was an odd person, nearly saying something, then stopping…only to do so again….and again. Liyani tilted her head to the side curiously as she watched his mood shift to one of annoyance and frustration. She wondered why it was so, but before she could ask he’d finally managed to say something. Start at the beginning? She didn’t understand. Weren’t they AT the beginning? An ear flicked and her own spots became an odd drab green. He introduced himself as a toktor…a medical man…and added Ro’land’shwaye’gal. She had thought he had been called Doc’tor…well now what should she call him?

Confused, she wondered why he motioned to her. He knew her name already…so he couldn’t want that, could he? Honestly baffled, she tilted her head to the other side, tail flicking around behind her as she tried to puzzle out just what it was he wanted of her.

You have my name…why you want again, Ro’land’shwaye’gal?

As he glanced behind himself to the guard, so did she, golden eyes narrowing on the man and watching what he was doing with mild interest. What WAS he eating, anyway? It didn’t look good, whatever it was. Taking a sniff of the air, she caught something vaguely sweet and bitter that caused her to huff out her breath again and shake her head. Ugh! It smelled horrible!

<<what IS that thing he’s eating? It smells horrible!>>

She exclaimed, unable to keep the thought to herself this time around. The combination of what it looked like and how it smelled made her wonder if maybe sky people had something mentally wrong with them. How could they eat anything that looked and smelled so…disgusting?

[Dr. Latus]

Liyani's reply was a relief to say the least and his concerns appeared to be unfounded. Roland had known this sole Na'vi for most of the time that he had been on Pandora, he supposed it was as close to a friend as he was likely to get with one of the native population. what said, the same reply spoke the truth. He did have her name but that was not quite the point, he would have to be a more clear when he spoke to her. As she said his name, putting the wrong emphasis on the wrong syllables, Roland tried his best not to chuckle. It sounded weird when coming from her, on the same note, it was possible he said hers with the wrong pronunciation.

<<It isn't that want your name again, Liyani.>> I found ze best way to learn anozher language is to speak it. Zat is the natural way to learn. My friends call me Roland, you may too.

He spoke slowly and clearly, allowing his guest to soak in the syllables and pronunciation. Giving her a kind smile he saw he nose twitch as it sniffed the air around her. His curiosity almost got the better of him as he watched her nose wrinkle in disgust but he held his question. Quirking his head he tentatively sniffed the air as well. For a moment he didn't smell anything unusual and looked back at her. Roland was about to say something when he caught the smell of it too, a sweet but bitter smell that only brought one image to his mind, the only thing he had ever eaten while on Earth; algae. It was the smell of processed algae. His familiarity with it made the smell no less potent and had it not been for his familiarity with it he would have gagged himself. The avatar's senses are heightened? Fascinating. Then he remembered, meal replacement bars the scientists ate were made of algae, every human on base ate them, in fact.

<<We call them>> energy bars. <<Aside from the plants we grow they are the only things we eat. Its the only food grown on Earth anymore. They are made of>> algae, <<a bacteria that we grow like a crop.>> It truly is disgusting.

The last line he said loud enough so the guard could hear him. Roland chuckled at the response of Huh? What was that Doc? as he looked at Liyani with a devilish grin on his face. Nothing, cowboy. Go back to your lunch. <<I told him to resume eating.>>

Sighing he stretched his arms behind his head, his ears perking in several directions as his tail brushed between some ferns below the roots. Shrugging he thought of what else to say in Englsh then translate.

<<Uh, I am a scientist and a translator between my people, and yours. I lived in>> Hamburg, Germany <<my home before coming to Pandora, your home.>> Pausing for a moment he then translated it into English, slowly and clearly. <<Now your try. Tell me what you do in your tongue and I will help you translate in English.>>

[Talau]

Shifting her position in her squatted stance, she eased the weight of her body from one leg to the other to allow the blood to keep flowing into those long limbs. Idly she ran her fingers along a near by fern as she listened to the sounds of the forest around them. Ah! So he DID have a use name…Ro’land, yes…that made MUCH more sense…and she supposed his comment on the best way of learning a language being to speak it was true also. She wouldn’t have known that for certain, however, as all Na’vi spoke the same basic language. Certainly there was different ‘slang’ between tribes because of the distance and differing daily lives of the clans…the language had morphed in minor ways, but nothing extensive enough for her to need to learn a whole new way of speaking. She nodded silently at this new line of thinking and curled her tail about her feet slightly.

Okay, Ro’land.

She eyed him as he sniffed the air after her, while she tried to dismiss the disgusting smell of whatever the guard was eating. Ears perked up again as Roland explained. They were ‘energy bars,’ apparently a main food source for the sky people aside from the Pandoran plants they grew. What made her stomach churn, however, was that it was a bacteria…even he agreed that it was a disgusting thing. Liyani couldn’t help but grimace, her eyes narrowing and her tongue poking out for a moment at the unsavory thought of eating something like THAT. The guard’s distracted reply only made her nose crinkle more, a slight smirk forming on her face.

“Nothing, cowboy. Go back to your lunch. <<I told him to resume eating.>>”

She chuckled a bit and nodded, tilting her head slightly.

What is ‘cowboy’?

She asked, as Roland stretched upward, then shrugged, obviously trying to think of what to say next. Her own ears flicked slightly as she caught a whiff of something more familiar. Turning her face in the direction of the sound she’d heard and the scent she’d just caught, golden eyes scanned the underbrush for the little mammal that was surely scurrying about somewhere near by. Tail twitched behind her as those eyes narrowed down and finally she caught sight of the little mouse-like creature. Honestly, Liyani wanted to catch the little thing…they were soft and fun to play with, and if you caught them early enough in their life, they made good pets. Just then Roland began speaking again and she turned back to him. Oh well, another day little friend, she thought as she listened once more. As he said the same thing in his language, she tried to piece what words connected to the ones in her language.

<<Now your try. Tell me what you do in your tongue and I will help you translate in English.>>

She nodded again and wondered just what she should tell him. Honestly, Liyani did quite a few things in her clan, but only two of them were trials she had passed to earn titles. She had no strict job or schedule…she just did what suited her, so long as it didn’t interfere with protecting or feeding her clan, but even that wasn’t a problem as those were things she WANTED to do. After a few moments of thought, she sighed and shrugged a bit.

<< I do many things. I am a hunter and warrior for the clan…bringing food or watching the boarders, but I also help others with their tasks, or take care of children and help teach them…or sometimes sing or tell stories to them. I study herb medicine now, and ride on Tirol.>>

Yes, she was a very busy woman indeed. As it was she was likely needed in the clan to do SOMETHING at the moment, but…for one day they could live without her. It wasn’t as if she were the only one there able to help with children or studying medicines…and she would hunt later, her turn at the boarders already over.

[Dr. Latus]

The edge was off her movements. He didn't show it outwardly but the level of relief her subtle movements brought him was quite high. Yes he may have spent more time around this particular Na'vi than the others but they never failed to set him on edge; they were so at home in this environment that you could be dead before you even saw them coming. Even her voice seemed a little less tense, as though she was getting used to his presence. If that was true it was a major step foreword. Her laugh at his comment to the guard was unexpected. He didn't think there was anything that was funny except... oh wait. There was no Na'vi equivalent for "cowboy." Her question reflected his thoughts; used it so many times today alone... Well, she does deserve the translation..

<<Let me think a moment. Hmm, >> cowboy << has many different meanings in English. My people, the >>Germans,<< used it ages ago as a use name for all members of the >> American <<clan. The origin is in the history of the >> American. As consicely as possible, Roland gave a quick overview of the American cowboy of the old west, translating as much of it as he could into the Na'vi tongue. All of it was impossible because some of the words just didn't exist between the languages. <<I use it when referring to the guards at our base. They are fast on the trigger and not afraid to use their weapons. This makes them seem simple minded and stupid, especially to the other scientists...>>

Roland's voice faded. He had been rambling, something he tried to avoid especially in English. While he was nearly fluent in Na'vi there were times where he got a word or usage wrong. Sighing he looked back at Liyani who was preoccupied with something in the brush; had he been that dry a talk?

Tsap'alute Liyani. I tend to plltxe si plltxe vhen its something I know well.

As he sat and watched her she gathered her thoughts on his previous request. He honestly didn't know what her day was like, what she did in her free time nor life back around their Hometree. So when she began to speak in the Na'vi language all the things, one after another that took up her time, Roland caught himself unaware. He thought she was, maybe a hunter or teacher to the children, but so many things? She spoke fast enough that at a few points he had to translate the syllables in his head before he understood them. As she stopped he paused for a moment, waiting for there to be, perhaps, more to the story. He was relieved that this was not the case. Sitting straighter and clearing his throat he recited, trying to speak word for word of her monologue in English. Roland tried to enunciate every word to the best of his abilities.

You do many things. You are a hunter and warrior for your clan. You bring food or watch the boarders, but you also help others with their tasks, or take care of children, helping to teach them. You sometimes sing or tell stories to them. You study herb medicine and ride on Tirol...

The last word caught on Roland's tongue. It was not a common usage word that he had heard before, nowhere in his momory of the Na'vi language was there a "Tirol." Looking at her as she reacted to his words, he waited until she had taken it all in before speaking again.

Vat is a tirol?

[Talau]

That ear trained on his voice flicked lightly. It may not have seemed, to him, that she was paying attention…that she was distracted…but one didn’t live long in the jungles by being distracted so completely quite so easily. She’d been listening, rather intently at that, but that hadn’t kept her attention from being divided when she had scented out that little creature. Despite this, Liyani had absorbed what he’d said easily (thanks to his speaking in her language). As he finished, those golden orbs had returned to him even before he apologized, one ear still following the sounds of the little rodent. A small smile graced her features as he apologized for this talking, and she shook her head slightly, holding up a hand to stop him before speaking her piece.

As he translated what she said, Liyani’s ears perked forward, the tip of her tail batting against her leg as she crouched there. It was a little difficult to understand what he was saying, but she knew it was what she herself had said. Words, short phrases, some of them registered in her mind more swiftly than the rest as she began to piece it together. Golden eyes unfocused slightly as she ran his translation through her mind once again, filtering more words into their places. It was a lot of information to take in, even for her…and Liyani prided herself on being something of a swift learner. Despite there having been five years of talks between their people, the encounters had been brief and the time between them long a points…it was something of an oddity that she could speak English as well as she could. His question caught her off guard, however, and she looked up at him, blinking. With a tilt of her head, she puzzled out his query through his accent and chuckled.

Hufwe’tirol…my ikran. The name is Wind Song as you speak.

She replied, looking up into the canopy of the forest before looking at him meaningfully. Tirol rarely left her side, and he’d not been happy to come this close to the edge of the forest and then have her leave him waiting. He’d followed her, of course, and she could hear him up there every once in a while, moving about as he attempted to do as she had asked him and stay out of sight. With a chuckle she shook her head and shifted her position again.

<<He is here, in the branches above. Tirol doesn’t like to leave me alone unless I am at Hometree.

[Dr. Latus]

He could have slapped himself at her response. Tirol, of course. It translated directly to song in English. The way that the Na'vi had used the word though had thrown him off, using it like a name as the natives often did with their animal companions. Smiling he nodded that he understood, for the first time feeling foolish and ignorant at such a simple translation. The only indicator of his embarrassment, one that he wished he could control, was the spots on his face and body that turned a pale yellow mixed with green. The green indicated happiness, happiness for the progress he was making with this talk, not to mention peacefully. From what he could tell she understood what he said and was picking up words and phrases from it; phrases she could teach. Then there was the fact that Liyani was a fairly important member of the clan community. Maybe, soon, he could start peace talks for forays deeper into the jungle, maybe with Na'vi guides. Roland gave a suppressed grin, the pent up emotion showing itself in a steady curling motion back and forth of his tail. Glancing behind when he heard the appendage slapping one of the fern-like plants his eyes went wide and he snatched it, tucking it around the side opposite his visitor.

I see! Ja, ja. Excuse my missverständnis. Sorry, my <<confusion>> on ze meaning. Tirol. It is a txur name.

He followed her gaze upwards to the canopy of the massive trees and his elation ceased. From her words Tirol was a banshee, one of the leather winged flying beasts common in the forests and mountains throughout Pandora. He had never seen one before, at least not alive. The scientists had found skeletons of them picked clean or rotting carcasses but never one alive that wasn't trying to eat them. In Roland's mind a fear slowly bubbled to the surface, an ignorant fear that he knew was just that; ignorant. From what he had heard of the brilliant Na'vi mounts they were quite tame in the hands of a rider. His spots flashed a shade of brighter yellow and his ears edged closer to his head. Trying to shake off the feeling he looked back at Liyani as she spoke. The tone of her voice was incredibly loving and his mind became easier. Well, a little easier. Smiling at her, Roland could only think to change the subject. Part of him wanted to see Tirol, to return and get his notebook for a sketch and observation. The ignorant part... well not so much.

<<He is here, in the branches above. Tirol doesn’t like to leave me alone unless I am at Hometree.>>

You have ze connection with him. Friends for life. I doubt he would leave you alone for any length of time. For zat, you are lucky. We humans have nothing like zat here.

[Talau]

That intelligent gaze didn’t miss the color change of his ‘emotion lights’…it was as common thing to read for the Na’vi as reading skin tone change (such as blushing) for humans or reading body language or tone changes for both species. It was difficult for the Na’vi to lie because of such a thing…and if they did lie, well, it would have to be dangerously close to the truth for it to even potentially go unnoticed. He was happy about something…a bit fearful or embarrassed perhaps, but happy as well? Liyani didn’t understand why he might be feeling either, but his happiness only became more apparent as his tail began to curl about behind him. A soft chuckle bubbled up in her throat as she watched him snatch at the offending appendage and try to hide it from her. He thought she wouldn’t notice it their either? His comment only made her chuckle more and shake her head slightly, the teeth and carved bones adorning her strap of protective leather head gear obvious against that blue skin and black hair.

It is fine toktor Ro’land…your people not have names that have meaning?

She asked, eying his reaction to her statement and motions toward where Tirol was. He seemed afraid of her friend suddenly swooping down ant trying to eat him…this was amazingly funny to her seeing as Tirol wouldn’t harm a person unless he thought she was in danger. He’d not tried to eat Sev, and HE had been armed with one of their strange weapons. She nodded to his returned comment…yes, they were friends for life.

Tsahaylu with animal…you can feel <<heart beat>> and hear <<thoughts>>…you feel what it feel…<<emotion>>…pain…life…death. With ikran, it is more than with pa’li…you feel you know ikran for many years, they are like part of you after first tsahaylu. Tirol is like part of me…he is <<very calm>> and <<kind>> but <<very protective. He will not hurt someone unless he thinks I am in danger or I ask him to.>>

She had slipped back into Na’vi as she’d spoken, her mind needing a break from using so much of a fairly new language. Liyani had done her best to speak her part in English, substituting the words she didn’t know for those in her own language.

Sev met him when led them back here past Black Claw.

She added after a moment of thought.