Its a Family thing.

[Delta]

A hefty sigh forced itself passed the man's azure lips as he sat casually on one of the many limbs that spanned out of the massive spire that was hometree's trunk. His face was knit together in a rather odd expression, one that denoted a certain level of annoyance. Raiko's grandmother, Illiane, had almost constantly nagged him about finding a woman since he first became a warrior nearly sixteen years ago.

Rai's head shook lightly as his yellow eyes gazed down at the sharpened bone of his knife, which his hand held in a relaxed position in the space between his legs. Why? Why was finding a mate so important? Granted, the man had always wanted a gaggle of children at his heel... but he didn't want to have that throng with the wrong woman. The gentle breeze that caressed his normally welcoming skin only served to annoy the imposing na'vi further as he moved his dagger up to cut at invisible vines barring his path.

Illiane actually had the gall to ask if he was interested in women! The old woman just didn't seem to realize that the right woman wasn't in his tribe. Yes, there were many fine women... but his feelings towards them were all the same. Not a single one stood out from the others in any distinguishable way, besides their talents and skills.

He refused to mate with a woman because of a skill or talent that she possessed, or even beauty. It was ridiculous notion to even foster within one's mind. Yet another sigh caused the man's broad blue shoulders to sink, perhaps this is why Tanhi left? His massive skull only shook slightly at the thought. Perhaps. Though Tan had always had no small amount of wanderlust within his heart.

Yellow eyes shifted up from the knife that had since settled into its former position to the wilderness that surrounded his tribe's home. They simply marveled at the beauty of the land that was strewn out before it for a few moments, mildly wondering when... or if... the right woman would come across his path. Shouldn't the eldest be mated first? The one who was charged to help take care of his two younger brothers at the meager age of four? How as this fair?

A small growl rumbled the man's vocal chords as that word flashed across his mind. Fair. How was his life fair? How was any of it, by any stretch of the imagination, right? It wasn't right for an eight year old boy and his twin sister to take care of an adult and two younger brothers. The man briefly considered going to Eywa and simply asking, but the audacity and idiocy of actually doing this was beyond belief. Eywa was all knowing, and he simply wouldn't be the same man that he was today if he hadn't had to grow up so fast.

So... was it a bad thing that his life wasn't fair?

Once again, the man's glistening yellow gaze once again fell back down to his dagger at the thought. What was the answer? Raiko pondered this for a few brief moments, and his gaze grew somewhat absent because of it. Soon enough, a single word flitted across his mind once more.

The word was "no."

[Talau]

Life was, for all intents and purposes, good to the lean huntress lately. With her kills for the day given to those cooking for the tribe, she had diligently prowled the Aylukana borders. It was…odd…however, watching the borders today. Her mind had kept slipping, becoming unfocused and wandering off toward the sky person camp and the two decent sky people she had met that lived within it. The first was a man who was becoming something akin to a friend, toktor Ro’land who was kind enough to speak to her and help her learn more English so she could understand more of what the sky people said to her or others. Knowledge held within it the seeds of wisdom, after all, and so she had asked him to help her learn. The other was…well, she didn’t know how to classify the other man.

Something about Sev had just…gotten under her skin. The dreamwalker was big, bulky and clumsy looking, but surprisingly agile for all that mass…he was also a fool. True, he was a brave fool, but he was a fool none the less. How did she know he was a fool? He’d played bait to Black Claw. Playing bait to any thanator was bad, but playing bait to HER…that was just foolish at best, suicidal at worst. Luckily the man had enough of his people’s warrior training to be able to hold his own with her and Tirol’s help, but…that didn’t make him any LESS a fool. His reasons for acting that way had been…commendable…however; his instinct to protect and the way he sought to fulfill his duty of guarding the skxawng toktor that accompanied him earning him even more of her respect. It was a shame that he didn’t seem to understand the fact that she and Black Claw had their own way of dealing with each other and if he’d just let her act upon her instincts and knowledge things would have gone more smoothly for all.

…Probably.

This foolishness, the way he seemed to understand the ways of a warrior and guardian, and how he’d not treated her like some creature who understood nothing…it had all gotten under her skin like some thorn in her skin or splinter under her nail that she just couldn’t get out again. It had distracted her time and again, making her constantly have to refocus on her duties only to wonder if she would really meet him again. That was the problem though…she wasn’t sure if she DID want to meet him again. He was just so…so…she just didn’t know what he was or what to make of him and it irritated her beyond belief.

It had been with great relief that she’d met another warrior at the borders and headed back to Hometree. With a loud cry, Tirol informed her that he would meet her there. No doubt he was going to feed himself first and that was the only reason why he was leaving her on her own. Silly protective ikran. Knowing these paths, these trees and plants and stones, like the stripes on her skin, Liyani didn’t take long to traverse the distance between their borders and home. She was greeted happily upon her return, welcomed back into the warm embrace of the clan from the wilds. It was one thing she enjoyed so much about clan life, something she couldn’t imagine living without…the family atmosphere that bound them together. Certainly they were not all blood relations, but they acted as family, greeted each other as family would, helped each other as family should. It made her heart soar and helped ease some of her irritation. This was a welcome comfort compared to the strange and foreign discomfort of thinking about that foolish dreamwalker.

Bounding her way up the spiraled steps, then to the branches, and further, she worked her way lightly toward the nesting branches of the ikran. She would wait for Tirol there and then they could fly. They hadn’t had a chance earlier, so now would have to do. As she padded lightly along the thick branch toward where Tirol typically frequented, she spotted a lone na’vi, gazing off into the distance. It wasn’t usual to see one of the clan sitting alone, those who did were typically under some form of duress, and she couldn’t have that…not if she could help it. Leaping across the branches, she slowly neared the form and suddenly she recognized it. Tsmukan? What was her brother Raiko doing up here…and all alone? Her emotion lights became a subtle, and concerned shade of grey blue, a few of them a dull and curious shade of green. Coming up beside him on the next branch, she crouched down, tail working to keep her balanced more easily as she rested her forearms on her knees and tilted her head at him.

Oel ngati kameie, tsmukan…what troubles you that you are up here and all alone?

Her voice was kind and touched with concern for her twin as she moved her neck to the side slightly to attempt to get a better look at his face. He seemed...irritated...perhaps a bit sad...the mixture of emotions across those bioluminescent lights catching her eye as they shifted hue and tone and brightness, her mind trying to puzzle out what might have him so worked up.

[Delta]

Raiko only shook his head at himself as his finger brushed against the narrow width of the razor sharp blade of bone. He nodded at the roughness his thumb felt as the knife's edge caught its flesh. There wasn't enough pressure for the blade to slice his flesh open, but it was certainly pretty damned close. The dagger had been crafted many years ago from the bones of a particularly crafty yerik. The ten legged blue creature managed to avoid him for weeks, but he refused to give up... and eventually, he killed the outright huge creature. His dagger symbolized that hunt, and the patience he learned from it. Granted, it may have been older than most other Na'vi daggers, but its edge was certainly keener than most others. Probably all other daggers. Though that was probably the Na'vi man's pride speaking rather than his mind.

Then the all too familiar voice of Taliyani rang in his ears, and threw him out of the near comatose state of thought that he had managed to slip himself into. Surprised would be an understatement. He nearly jumped out of his skin. It seemed that all of he man's muscles clenched and relaxed as he nearly leaped from his sitting position on the wide branch, and the thumb that had been testing the blade pressed itself into the razor sharp carbon fiber bone. A sharp pain quickly shot from his thumb as the sharpened bone edge dug itself into his flesh, causing it to weep crimson tears. Fortunately, the cut wasn't even deep enough to leave a lasting scar.

After a few long moments of silence the large Na'vi shifted that yellow gaze up from his cut thumb to his sister. She was the only one that truly understood him, and was likely the only one that truly could understand him. They had spent their earliest moments in the womb together, after all. Oel ngati kameie, tsmuke. Sa'nok's sa'nok... Illiane... she refuses to stop nagging me about finding a mate, yet another heavy sigh flowed outwards from his belly, she now wonders if I even enjoy the company of women.

Finally, he slid his red-stained bone dagger into the cloth scabbard that clung to his waist. There was no need for anyone to believe that he'd ever do something foolish and selfish with it, as surely that was what his dear sister thought. Maybe. Either way... he wouldn't think of putting her through any more such thoughts. I'm quickly growing weary of Sa'nok's sa'nok and her pushing me. I will find the proper woman in due time, or not at all. Either one is preferable to what she'd like me to do.

Granted, the man didn't spill all of his thoughts out to his tsmuke, but it was unnecessary to do so. If she asked, he would divulge the rest. Perhaps his grandmother wanted nothing more than grandchildren before she passed onto Eywa? If only she realized that Rai was something of an honorable man... and one that believed in finding the right woman rather than just one that could sing, or dance, or hunt. Even if the right woman could do none of those things, as they were quite inconsequential to being the right woman.

Raiko's big yellow eyes moved to the thumb as the crimson blood welled up within the cut. His other fingers pressed into the wound, forcing what blood had escaped his body to gush out and onto them... but the action also helped the blood stop trickling. Those eyes of his lifted back up to his tsmuke after a few brief moments of ponderous thought, has she bothered you about mating? Rai generally didn't like seeing men fawn over his sister, or seeing his sister take interest in men for that matter, but that reaction was to be expected. The man was an overprotective big (both literally and figuratively. He was the first born by minutes.) brother, after all. No small amount of threats and punches had come from him in his younger days, mostly directed towards Taliyani's would-be suitors. The physically imposing Na'vi could only hope that possible suitors to Liyani learned their lesson years ago.

[Talau]

That’s what you get for toying with your dagger all the time, tsmukan.

The gentle chiding of him wasn’t unusual from her and it was good natured, having caught sight of that crimson liquid along his thumb and the white blade of that bone dagger. She knew she’d caught him off guard…she’d seen him jump physically and had watched the startled colors flicker through his emotion lights. Besides, she couldn’t find it in her heart to be upset at him when he seemed to be hurting already. Watching him through golden eyes, she listened to him silently as he spoke, sighing a bit and shaking her head. So grandmother was the one who had upset him so? At his question Liyani couldn’t help but chuckle. Apparently their grandmother was skilled at pestering her grandchildren without the others knowing about it, or seeing it happen.

Grandmother is skilled in stealth pestering it seems. Of course she has bothered me about it, Rai. “It isn’t right for a young woman to not find a mate early in life. I was mated to your grandfather when we were only 17 seasons old! You are now 34 seasons and still you refuse offers from those who wish to mate you! At this rate you will never have a mate and I will never see my grandbabies!”

She mocked their grandmother’s voice, even shaking her finger at the invisible Liyani she was speaking too or putting her fists on her hips and narrowing her eyes as grandmother did. No doubt Rai had encountered something similar, so he would be able to appreciate the play Liyani was having, poking fun at their grandmother in such a way.

You do not help with such things, though, tsmukan…threatening the men who come to close to me. You are too protective some times…but you know this, don’t you?

With a sigh, she pushed herself upward and motioned for him to follow her with a nod of her head in the direction of the nesting branches for the ikran.

Come, I told Tìrol I would meet him here. Perhaps flying will take your mind off of your troubles, or we can speak elsewhere. My own mind has been…unfocused…lately and so I feel the need to do something relaxing or fun to press my irritations out of my own mind.

She was, of course, referring to her thoughts about Sev and the other sky people…but mainly Sev. Well…there was also Black Claw. Her face darkened at the thought, those tiny stars along her skin glinting a dark, unamused, grey-orange. She had certainly passed the point of no return as far as that thanator was concerned…and from the look the beast had given her as it had gone under from the herbal "tranquilizer" mixture that had coated her arrows...well, Liyani was at the top of Black Claw's "to be killed brutally" list. Shaking her head, Liyani pushed that thought from her mind also and moved along the branches toward the ones Tirol tended to frequent. Rai could accompany her or not as he saw fit.

[Delta]

A large smirk pursed the man's lips at his sister's mocking of Illiane, it wasn't far off from the voice of his mother's mother. Under normal circumstances, the man's shoulders would have been bobbing in a hearty chuckle. These were not normal circumstances, however, as his heart was weighed down with an odd sense of irritated sadness. Yellow eyes flashed up to his sister's face as playful words flowed from his lips. This was far from out of his emotional capacity, despite his emotions, "that's a stunningly impressive impression, tsmuke, I think I know what you'll look like in a few years."

Conveniently ignoring her second comment, the man shifted his legs around so that his feet were planted on the hometree's tough hide. From there, the man slowly shifted his weight upwards with a small grunt, then looked back over at his tsmuke. "You know me and flying, Liyani," that large smirk returned as a smaller one, and tugged at one corner of his lips. Flying had always been something as a release to the man, and a wonderful means to vent. It didn't take particularly long for the man's feet to guide him along the massive branches of his home, and lead him to the nesting ground that his tiger-striped brother tended to roost.

A cool breeze caressed the man's stripped azure skin as he stepped out to the branch, and called his massive friend. It didn't take long before a chirp of excitement and the loud rush of wind escaping from those oversized wings as they flapped were heard. Raiko walked out to the creature as it touched down, its wings folded like some kind of bat. His hand moved up and lightly petted the smooth leathery orange flesh of his cheek affectionately, and those big yellow eyes flickered over to his sister. All of his irritated sadness seemed to abate, "want a race, tsmuke?"

[Talau]

His teasing and that smirk were met with a would-be unamused glare from Liyani. She couldn’t help but smirk slightly, despite the fact that she didn’t like being accused of potentially looking like their grandmother. Certainly it wasn’t a horrible idea, and she knew she’d be old one day, but she didn’t want to be like her grandmother. Much as she loved the woman, she was just SO bitter sometimes…too bitter. He had ignored her comment on his hand in her problems, however, and she just would NOT allow that. Hot on his heels, she gave a sharp whistle to call Tìrol down from…wherever he was perched…before turning and glaring at her brother.

You’re not getting off that easy, tsmukan. You’ve had more than one hand in my troubles, you can’t just go ignoring my statement like that. You know it’s true and it isn’t fair of you to complain to me about your problems when YOU are part of the cause of mine.

Hands rested on her hips as the backwash of wind from Tìrol’s landing threatened to unbalance her. Tail lashed about behind her as it worked to keep her on the branch before the heavy body of her ikran made that branch droop ever so slightly then return to its normal position. Nudging her from the side, Tìrol made his presence further known with a deep rumble and a soft trilling before nipping lightly at her hair. Finally turning her irritated golden gaze away from her brother, she gave her friend the affection he desired, stroking long fingered hands along his face and neck before nuzzling him lightly just below the corner of his jaw.

Yes, thank you for coming so swiftly my friend…did you eat well?

She had formed the tsahaylu while she spoke, allowing her irritation to wash away in lieu of his arrival and how happy he was to see her. At least one male wouldn’t be driven off by her brother…too bad everyone else was. With a sigh she chuckled a bit at Tìrol’s chittered reply to if he’d eaten well. Apparently he’d had a bit of trouble catching a particularly tasty looking critter, but he’d caught it eventually and it had, indeed, been tasty. At the suggestion of a race, Tìrol perked up and hooted out his approval, causing Liyani to chuckle again.

I suppose that will do. Where are we racing to and what are the rules?

[Delta]

((>.< many sorries. Rai muse was phail, and this was forced. Promised you I'd get back into the posting here, Tal. ; D)

I suppose that will do. Where are we racing to and what are the rules?

Raiko couldn't help the small smirk from spreading one side of his lips thin at the question, but he said nothing right away. Even as the man moved his queue up to form a tshaylu with his large friend, making their nervous systems one. Their thoughts one. "Lan, my tsmukan, how did the wind fair under your wings today?" The massive na'vi asked as he stroked the area of Tsteu'ax'lan's head that lie between his eyes. Thoughts quickly entered his mind that were matched by quick chittering and excitement in his heart, all about how tasty lunch... tasted.

"That's good, my friend," he turned his gaze back to his sister, "apologies, tsmuke, Lan tends to take a little too much attention. He's like a giant pa'li pony," an irritated huff roughly left Lan's breathing holes, "how about... we race straight to the ford and follow the river down to the first fork? Hmm... perhaps we are to stay below the treeline after we reach the river as well?" The ford was more than a few miles away, as the fork in the river was a ways down stream. But Taliyani knew this, as they had run that very route often in their younger days. Though the final rule tacked on was new... one that would be added for a bit of extra excitement.Back before the sky people, surely long before they had even thought of coming back to the land of Eywa.

"On the count of three, tsmuke?" he asked before he threw his weight up on Lan's back, and waited for his sister to do the same. It seemed that the tiger striped Ikran was ready and rearing to feel the rush of air under his wings, but Rai made him wait... as the man was many things. Cheater cheater pumpkin (>.> for lack of a decent Pandoran substitute) eater certainly wasn't among them. "Get ready... get set... 3... 2-1-GO!" The final word had barely left the man's lips before Lan threw his weight off of the branch, taking delight in the sudden rush of wind beneath his wings. Okay, so maybe Rai was a tiny cheater.

"Slow yourself, tsmuke, pace yourself. All the speed in the world doesn't matter if you tire within the first few seconds of the race." The big na'vi commented on his companion's haste from the tree, and the concept of pacing one's self instead of burning out in the beginning of a somewhat long race. In an attempt to gain more speed, Raiko had his companion nose down in a somewhat steep dive only to angle back up and use that speed to easily gain more altitude than he had before. This dive - gain altitude combination continued, and would continue, until they reached the river.