Post by jenari on Jan 7, 2010 16:17:49 GMT -5
Name: Jen’ari (gen - are - ree)
Age: Twenty-nine
Secret Word: PM'ed it.
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Race: Na'vi
Tribe: Rokure
Mount:
Jen’ari has made the tsahaylu with a make ikran he has named Timaron. The ikran is smaller than most, yet this enables him to be quicker and more agile than his larger counter-parts. Timaron, like all other ikran’s bodies are covered in multiple colors, his ventral side is primarily a vibrant sky blue color with gray tones blended into the color running in thin stripes parallel to his body. Timaron’s dorsal side is a mixture of green with blue specks threw out his body. Around the ikran’s eyes there are oval shapes of a crimson color that match a streak of crimson on his chin, both lending to an ferocious appearance at a distance. Timaron, like his rider are cocky and rather flamboyant when in bonded and in flight, often daring to push their own limits. Like any pair they argue occasionally, but eventually make up when Jen’ari (who most often starts the argument) brings the ikran a tasty treat. The pair’s tsahaylu is deep and they transcend merely being a Rider and Mount, they are tsmukans.
Physical Description:
Standing at just over three meters tall, Jen’ari is taller than average for Na’vi males, however what he gained in height he lost in weight. Jen’ari was leaner than other males, his taunt, defined muscles tan in long sinuous strands under his flesh this had the added benefit of enhancing the maneuverability when he and Timaron are in flight by cutting down on the weight to lift ratio. It was not a big difference but when riding a smaller mount every little bit helped. As a youth, Jen’ari was the last among the other youths of the clan to being and complete the physical transformation from child into mature adulthood.
During his adolescences Jen’ari’s friends and peers often mocked him as they grew tall and his own body was striving to catch up. Though it was only in jest and playful he understood that it was no fault of his own, his body was just as Ewya deemed it to be. Yet his under standing of this did not make it any easier for a young na’vi, not one to back down. He used those comments as motivation, it inspired a fierce drive in the young Jen’ari to prove he was the best or at least on par with his peers. This attitude would help shape and define his body and mind as he grew into a young adult by forcing him to apply himself more than the others. The Na’vi in general were a people who’s agility and physicality were natural for them to survive the harsh life on Pandora, if it was not for these natural talents they as a people would not have attained such a harmony with Eywa.
Many times Jen’ari would force himself to run, climb, hang more so than any of his other friends. Always constantly racing or challenging them to feats of endurance, agility or strength, however due to his body’s in ability to compete on a level of his other peers he wouldn’t always win, but that did not stop him from trying with all that he was. After many summers, Jen’ari was finally ready to accept that his body was just as Eywa destined him to be, it may not be what he would have found to be ideal but who was he to question Eywa. Then one summer, when maturity was all but upon him, his body hit a growth spurt, as if Eywa was waiting for him to accept and understand that not all that they may wish for is granted, and that the balance of life is always upheld. Jen’ari’s body soon caught up to those of his peers, quickly passing most of them.
This of course did little quell his competitive streak continued and his constant drive to excel in all he did now produced gratifying results. Being that Jen’ari was now able to compete on a physical level equal to that of others he found that his drive led him to win those contests he so often lost, most notably contests in flight.
Like all other Na’vi his skin was of the blue-ish cyan hue, bioluminescent markings dotted his high cheekbones and areas around the eyes, like human fingerprints, his markings were unique to him and brightened and dimmed with his moods. Jen’ari kept his head shaved close to his blue skull, except for three long strips of hair that ran symmetrically on either side of the top of his head and down the middle. The center ran like a main of dark hair that flowed naturally into the long braid of his queue, the other two strips also flowed along the top of his skull and hung down his back in braids to mimic the center one, albeit not as long.
Personality:
Having since grown into his body and could now compete at a higher level with his peers, Jen’ari feels the constant need to prove himself better, faster, more daring than anyone else. This lends him an air of arrogance and a fiery temperament, it is something that translates into his flying style when he and Timaron are joined and in flight. Being a Na’vi, his natural instincts is to be a communal member of the tribe, but often he feels alienated out of place. Often times his thoughts are consumed by conflict and not knowing his place in the tribe. Once he thought he had known, he had even selected a woman to be mated with and she in turn accepted him as well yet Ewya deemed that their union was not to be they were both meant for something else, what that was Jen’ari did not know but who was he to question the great spirit?
Having been harassed in his younger years, Jen’ari fought to cope with his developing feelings and emotions, he had fait in Ewya and trusted that the great mother knew what was best, still a young man could only take so much. Jen’ari was quick to snap or get defensive over the smallest things, an absent comment about his height or how well the others were progressing in one aspect of Tribal life or another, but as he grew older he came to understand that he needed to calm himself. Once whatever was troubling him had passed or when he had a moment to regain his composure, to calm himself he realized his error and sincerely felt guilt for his sharp tongue. This was something that Jen’ari has been working to try and resolve, often he communes with Eywa looking for ways to help control his fiery temperament.
Often when he feels discombobulated, or out of sorts Jen’ari goes out with Timaron for a long flight. Its his place where he goes to center himself, to clear his mind of all that is troubled. It is often joked that Jen’ari shouldn’t even greet someone in the morning before he has had his morning ride. At first the comment annoyed him, but then after he noticed how much more at ease he was after his outing with Timaron did he get the humor of it. One of the other ways Jen’ari has tried to resolve this was by going out of his way help the tribe in which ever way he can, applying the same drive that once drove him to compete and win to helping his fellow Na’vi, especially the younger of the tribe. He can often be found playing games with the children. Eywa recognizes his genuine efforts to attain a balance with himself, and Jen’ari hopes that his tribal leaders understand that he comes from a place of good-heartedness but he is often left wondering what his destiny truly is.
Jen’ari trusts the great spirit will guide him to a path of balance, he is a fiercely loyal member of the tribe who also enjoys the solidarity provided by his flying with his brother Timaron. Jen’ari has no great ambitions other than being the best member of the Tribe he possibly could be, an example to the younger members, and Eywa permitting a good mate and father to children of his own one day.
Talents:
The Na’vi are well adapted to survive their habitat which by its very nature is harsh and unforgiving. Instinctive to all the people are the traits of hunter-gathers, from stealthily stalking prey threw the undergrowth, to speed and agility for traversing the jungle easily. There are also a host of singular traits unique to each individual. Jen’ari for example is most proficient at:
History:
Jen’ari was the only child born to parents who raised the young Na’vi to respect the world around him, to thank Ewya for the smallest sacrifices made to ensure that the people could live on. No action was without consequence and he was to live in harmony with Ewya. These early lessons from his parents would prove to help Jen’ari the most threw his troubled adolescence where he was late to grow into physical maturity.
As he grew into adulthood Jen’ari became close to a young female warrior of the tribe. The two often spent much time together either learning to hunt track prey threw the jungle. Often they would hunt in pairs and became increasingly successful and when the time came to bond with their ikran and complete the ceremony to take his place as an adult member of the tribe it was she who he had selected for his mate. After the night of their union they both awoke knowing that though they were close their pairing was not meant to be, Ewya in her great wisdom deemed it not to be. The pair had no feelings of animosity toward each other or Ewya, they simply accepted their fate.
It was the next spring when a time for trade with the other clans came did she find another. It seemed Ewya destined her to leave Clan Rokure to be paired with another. Jen’ari was happy that she was able to find her place, that Ewya had something destined for her. Yet Jen’ari still struggles to find his own place among the people. That first night when she was not present for any of the tribal activities, Jen’ari ventured off into the jungle to commune with Ewya, to ask for guidance, for the strength to find his place among the tribe. It was how he came to become a master craftsmen, learning the trade of making arrows, tempering the glass heads, assembling them.
Though he had yet to have any children of his own, Jen’ari took to the youth’s of the tribe teaching them how to expertly craft first the bow, then the arrow. He became a teacher, of the tribe sharing the knowledge he earned so that they could teach the generation after them. Working with the younger members of the tribe, it forced Jen’ari to exercise patience, a virtue he was always left found wanting. Yet it was Ewya’s way of helping him attain harmony with himself and the world around him for each shard of glass that was taken for an arrowhead, each shoot of the thick, hard grass used to make the shaft of the bow and each pair of wings plucked for the fletchings was a gift from the Great Mother. Taken and to be used to provide. It was these lessons that Jen’ari impressed upon his students.
Yet, this did not fully extinguish the fire of his temper, he still needed to take to the sky and fly and test his own mettle. Jen’ari could only hope that Ewya would see that he was trying to attain a balance with himself so that one day he would understand what his destine could be.
RP Sample:
*The sun began to wane in the sky, bathing the clouds in rich hues of burning orange and fiery reds that expanded in all directions and overhead as far as the eye could see, or at least as far as was visible from the mouth of the cave where he now stood. Nearby the sound of rushing water echoed off the dark, damp cavernous expanse at which he found himself standing at the mouth of. “This is it, this is my time…” Jen’ari thought to himself as he stole a glance down into the abyss. The water fell and disappeared into the clouds. Though he couldn’t see it, Jen’ari knew that it dissipated to mist and eventually vapor before finding its way down to the jungle’s canopy. Lifting his head he nodded to the elder warrior who escorted him and four others up the long trail. Ascending into the sky slowly by climbing rocks and vines. It was a slow and demanding task that taxed both the mind and body but the end more than justified the efforts it took upon one to reach this place.
Over the sound of rushing water came the cawing sound of the irkan who nested on the rocky outcropping. For longer than his story tellers could remember young Na’vi would make the ascent up into the sky for the very ritual in which he was to take part in. It was an important ritual, it signified that he had satisfied all that there was to his people and that he would pass into adulthood. He had heard of others, older members of the tribe recant their own stories in detail of how they too came by their mounts, it was by no means an easy task but enough of his own people had completed it that it was not impossible to be done.*
Jen’ari za’u…. [Jen’ari come….]
*Came the voice of the elder warrior as he turned to look at the young Jen’ari. Steeling his resolve, Jen’ari nodded to him and approached the edge of the cave to where a thin ledge was. Stepping out, he felt the misty water made for slick footing along the slight ledge but he did not fret. Growing up in the high mountains it was nearly second nature to scale rock faces. Jen’ari did not fear the height, nor even the prospect of plummeting to his death, in fact he didn’t even fear being bested by a ikran no what the young Na’vi feared most was failure. Drawing another breath he held it in his lungs and took another step onto the ledge and followed up with a third. Jen’ari rushed out, planted his right hand and vaulted over the large bolder at the edge of the outcropping to land amidst dozens upon dozens of sunning ikran with a growl of excitement.
There was a cawing roar of surprise by several of the closest flying creatures who promptly fluttered their wings and flew away looking more annoyed than anything else. Carefully Jen’ari stalked out among the creatures looking at them all, attempting to let his eyes meet there’s however none seemed to show any interest in him so he allowed his eyes to wander to the second shelf then up the cliff face to a ledge that looked over the area. Almost immediately his eyes met an ikran that looked, at least at this distance to be somewhat smaller than the others surrounding it.
The ikran pushed its self up and hunched on its hind legs, its head and eyes swiveling to center on Jen’ari. The young Na’vi too replied by inflating his chest and lifting his own head. There was a clarion shriek and the ikran leaped off the cliff’s edge and swooped down at Jen’ari who was forced to dive forward to avoid the snapping mall of the beast. It seemed that even though it was smaller that the others it had just as big a temper when challenged. If anyone could appreciate that it was Jen’ari who found himself grinning from ear to ear as he turned to allow his eyes track the ikran as it soared up and circled before gliding and landing not 20 yards from Jen’ari scattering the ikran already settled in the immediate area.*
Tsakern muiä… Za’u, za’u tsmukan. [That’s right… come, come brother.]
*He called too the ikran who slowly began to advance on Jen’ari. The pair began to circle each other as they drew closer until they had reversed sides. The runt ikran gave out an agitated his and gave a idle snapping of his jaws in Jen’ari’s direction. He could tell, even by the modest gesture that the creatures mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth, Jen’ari had heard horror stories of Na’vi unfortunate to have survived a bite. The lucky ones all died.
Reaching down, he uncoiled sling from around his waist and took the slack in his hands and began twirling the weighted end around with his right hand. Then feinting a lung to provoke the beast, Jen’ari took a small leap back just as the ikran dodged what it expected to be an attack then too lunged in retaliation at the Na’vi. Its maw gapped and there was a flash of teeth as Jen’ari twisted his hips counter clockwise and pivoted on the ball of his right foot. The creature was fast, given that it was smaller than the others it made it far more agile than a larger ikran would have been, Jen’ari didn’t have much time.
With his own quick reflexes he swung the sling down giving enough slack so that it would loop around the beak of the creature just as it snapped its maw shut. The sling wound around its mouth successfully and Jen’ari was quick to leap on the creatures back. The ikran must have been watching the events and actions of the other warriors before Jen’ari because no sooner did he hop on, the ikran bucked violently and Jen’ari’s eyes grew big as he felt the muscular neck slam into his groin. His eyes bulged for a moment and grew watery but somehow the young Na’vi was able to lock his ankles together under the beasts and reach down to grip tight with all he had to keep from being thrown off. A moment later he was able to blink away the tears and throw his weight to the side effectively bringing the ikran with him. The pair struggled for several long moment. The ikran thrashing wildly as it whipped its head around as it tried to toss free the Na’vi who had attached its self.
To the chorus of woots, cheers, jeers, and cries of excitement coming from her peers and the older tribesmen who led them here Jen’ari hung in, neither ikran or Na’vi willing to submit. It quickly became a contest of endurance, but all Jen’ari had to do was hold on until the ikran tired itself out. However again, being smaller and more nimble than the others also granted it greater endurance. Jen’ari was slammed against the stone floor up against the cliff back down to the floor on his other side, on his back and nearly pitched over the edge of the cliff down into the misty abyss before the ikran tired enough to where it had to slump. Jen’ari to was panting, his own breath labored his body was riddled with minor cuts and scrapes, small abrasions here and there all over his body. Before the beast got its second wind Jen’ari reached back and gripped his own queue and made the bond. There was a shocked instant when both Na’vi and Ikran became still, their minds becoming one. After a moment both of them blinked their eyes in unison and the ikran righted itself. Jen’ari reached forward and loosened the sling from around its mouth. The ikran stretched its jaws and gave a clawing bellow in relief that made Jen’ari grin once more.*
Tswayon! Tswayon tsmukan tswayon! [Fly! Fly brother fly!]
*And with that the ikran took a bounding step then leaped off the edge of the mountain and down along its face gathering speed before spreading its wing and soaring up into the failing light of the sun cementing their tsahaylu.*
Age: Twenty-nine
Secret Word: PM'ed it.
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Race: Na'vi
Tribe: Rokure
Mount:
Jen’ari has made the tsahaylu with a make ikran he has named Timaron. The ikran is smaller than most, yet this enables him to be quicker and more agile than his larger counter-parts. Timaron, like all other ikran’s bodies are covered in multiple colors, his ventral side is primarily a vibrant sky blue color with gray tones blended into the color running in thin stripes parallel to his body. Timaron’s dorsal side is a mixture of green with blue specks threw out his body. Around the ikran’s eyes there are oval shapes of a crimson color that match a streak of crimson on his chin, both lending to an ferocious appearance at a distance. Timaron, like his rider are cocky and rather flamboyant when in bonded and in flight, often daring to push their own limits. Like any pair they argue occasionally, but eventually make up when Jen’ari (who most often starts the argument) brings the ikran a tasty treat. The pair’s tsahaylu is deep and they transcend merely being a Rider and Mount, they are tsmukans.
Physical Description:
Standing at just over three meters tall, Jen’ari is taller than average for Na’vi males, however what he gained in height he lost in weight. Jen’ari was leaner than other males, his taunt, defined muscles tan in long sinuous strands under his flesh this had the added benefit of enhancing the maneuverability when he and Timaron are in flight by cutting down on the weight to lift ratio. It was not a big difference but when riding a smaller mount every little bit helped. As a youth, Jen’ari was the last among the other youths of the clan to being and complete the physical transformation from child into mature adulthood.
During his adolescences Jen’ari’s friends and peers often mocked him as they grew tall and his own body was striving to catch up. Though it was only in jest and playful he understood that it was no fault of his own, his body was just as Ewya deemed it to be. Yet his under standing of this did not make it any easier for a young na’vi, not one to back down. He used those comments as motivation, it inspired a fierce drive in the young Jen’ari to prove he was the best or at least on par with his peers. This attitude would help shape and define his body and mind as he grew into a young adult by forcing him to apply himself more than the others. The Na’vi in general were a people who’s agility and physicality were natural for them to survive the harsh life on Pandora, if it was not for these natural talents they as a people would not have attained such a harmony with Eywa.
Many times Jen’ari would force himself to run, climb, hang more so than any of his other friends. Always constantly racing or challenging them to feats of endurance, agility or strength, however due to his body’s in ability to compete on a level of his other peers he wouldn’t always win, but that did not stop him from trying with all that he was. After many summers, Jen’ari was finally ready to accept that his body was just as Eywa destined him to be, it may not be what he would have found to be ideal but who was he to question Eywa. Then one summer, when maturity was all but upon him, his body hit a growth spurt, as if Eywa was waiting for him to accept and understand that not all that they may wish for is granted, and that the balance of life is always upheld. Jen’ari’s body soon caught up to those of his peers, quickly passing most of them.
This of course did little quell his competitive streak continued and his constant drive to excel in all he did now produced gratifying results. Being that Jen’ari was now able to compete on a physical level equal to that of others he found that his drive led him to win those contests he so often lost, most notably contests in flight.
Like all other Na’vi his skin was of the blue-ish cyan hue, bioluminescent markings dotted his high cheekbones and areas around the eyes, like human fingerprints, his markings were unique to him and brightened and dimmed with his moods. Jen’ari kept his head shaved close to his blue skull, except for three long strips of hair that ran symmetrically on either side of the top of his head and down the middle. The center ran like a main of dark hair that flowed naturally into the long braid of his queue, the other two strips also flowed along the top of his skull and hung down his back in braids to mimic the center one, albeit not as long.
Personality:
Having since grown into his body and could now compete at a higher level with his peers, Jen’ari feels the constant need to prove himself better, faster, more daring than anyone else. This lends him an air of arrogance and a fiery temperament, it is something that translates into his flying style when he and Timaron are joined and in flight. Being a Na’vi, his natural instincts is to be a communal member of the tribe, but often he feels alienated out of place. Often times his thoughts are consumed by conflict and not knowing his place in the tribe. Once he thought he had known, he had even selected a woman to be mated with and she in turn accepted him as well yet Ewya deemed that their union was not to be they were both meant for something else, what that was Jen’ari did not know but who was he to question the great spirit?
Having been harassed in his younger years, Jen’ari fought to cope with his developing feelings and emotions, he had fait in Ewya and trusted that the great mother knew what was best, still a young man could only take so much. Jen’ari was quick to snap or get defensive over the smallest things, an absent comment about his height or how well the others were progressing in one aspect of Tribal life or another, but as he grew older he came to understand that he needed to calm himself. Once whatever was troubling him had passed or when he had a moment to regain his composure, to calm himself he realized his error and sincerely felt guilt for his sharp tongue. This was something that Jen’ari has been working to try and resolve, often he communes with Eywa looking for ways to help control his fiery temperament.
Often when he feels discombobulated, or out of sorts Jen’ari goes out with Timaron for a long flight. Its his place where he goes to center himself, to clear his mind of all that is troubled. It is often joked that Jen’ari shouldn’t even greet someone in the morning before he has had his morning ride. At first the comment annoyed him, but then after he noticed how much more at ease he was after his outing with Timaron did he get the humor of it. One of the other ways Jen’ari has tried to resolve this was by going out of his way help the tribe in which ever way he can, applying the same drive that once drove him to compete and win to helping his fellow Na’vi, especially the younger of the tribe. He can often be found playing games with the children. Eywa recognizes his genuine efforts to attain a balance with himself, and Jen’ari hopes that his tribal leaders understand that he comes from a place of good-heartedness but he is often left wondering what his destiny truly is.
Jen’ari trusts the great spirit will guide him to a path of balance, he is a fiercely loyal member of the tribe who also enjoys the solidarity provided by his flying with his brother Timaron. Jen’ari has no great ambitions other than being the best member of the Tribe he possibly could be, an example to the younger members, and Eywa permitting a good mate and father to children of his own one day.
Talents:
The Na’vi are well adapted to survive their habitat which by its very nature is harsh and unforgiving. Instinctive to all the people are the traits of hunter-gathers, from stealthily stalking prey threw the undergrowth, to speed and agility for traversing the jungle easily. There are also a host of singular traits unique to each individual. Jen’ari for example is most proficient at:
- Flying: Jen’ari is a natural at flying, being of clan Rokure there is a predisposition to being able to master their mounts and the skies. He along with his undersized ikran have formed a bond that surpasses that of a rider using his queue to bond with his mount. This union allows them to perform daring, risky and sometimes stupid maneuvers with success.
- Marksmanship: Flying brings its own unique challenges to firing a bow and arrow. From having a moving platform, to compensating for increased wind resistance, leading your target, there are a host of new problems to account for. Having spent so much time flying, it was only natural that Jen’ari developed these skills.
- Rock climbing: Often Jen’ari scales the cliff face, hanging on the side of a mountain as does his ikran.
- Artisanship: Jen’ari takes pride in crafting his own arrows, he gives thanks to Ewya for each component that makes one single arrow. He thanks the Great Mother for the volcanic glass and the grass shoots used to make the arrowheads and shafts, and to the wings plucked from the small insects to make the fletchings, for the bones taken from those animals who had given their life so that the people can eat, Jen’ari crafted a bow. This was an essential part of everyday life that most tribe members were accustomed to in one way or the other, but Jen’ari finds it rather enjoyable to take the time in creating each of these, and teaching those younger than he the finer art of weapon making.
History:
Jen’ari was the only child born to parents who raised the young Na’vi to respect the world around him, to thank Ewya for the smallest sacrifices made to ensure that the people could live on. No action was without consequence and he was to live in harmony with Ewya. These early lessons from his parents would prove to help Jen’ari the most threw his troubled adolescence where he was late to grow into physical maturity.
As he grew into adulthood Jen’ari became close to a young female warrior of the tribe. The two often spent much time together either learning to hunt track prey threw the jungle. Often they would hunt in pairs and became increasingly successful and when the time came to bond with their ikran and complete the ceremony to take his place as an adult member of the tribe it was she who he had selected for his mate. After the night of their union they both awoke knowing that though they were close their pairing was not meant to be, Ewya in her great wisdom deemed it not to be. The pair had no feelings of animosity toward each other or Ewya, they simply accepted their fate.
It was the next spring when a time for trade with the other clans came did she find another. It seemed Ewya destined her to leave Clan Rokure to be paired with another. Jen’ari was happy that she was able to find her place, that Ewya had something destined for her. Yet Jen’ari still struggles to find his own place among the people. That first night when she was not present for any of the tribal activities, Jen’ari ventured off into the jungle to commune with Ewya, to ask for guidance, for the strength to find his place among the tribe. It was how he came to become a master craftsmen, learning the trade of making arrows, tempering the glass heads, assembling them.
Though he had yet to have any children of his own, Jen’ari took to the youth’s of the tribe teaching them how to expertly craft first the bow, then the arrow. He became a teacher, of the tribe sharing the knowledge he earned so that they could teach the generation after them. Working with the younger members of the tribe, it forced Jen’ari to exercise patience, a virtue he was always left found wanting. Yet it was Ewya’s way of helping him attain harmony with himself and the world around him for each shard of glass that was taken for an arrowhead, each shoot of the thick, hard grass used to make the shaft of the bow and each pair of wings plucked for the fletchings was a gift from the Great Mother. Taken and to be used to provide. It was these lessons that Jen’ari impressed upon his students.
Yet, this did not fully extinguish the fire of his temper, he still needed to take to the sky and fly and test his own mettle. Jen’ari could only hope that Ewya would see that he was trying to attain a balance with himself so that one day he would understand what his destine could be.
RP Sample:
*The sun began to wane in the sky, bathing the clouds in rich hues of burning orange and fiery reds that expanded in all directions and overhead as far as the eye could see, or at least as far as was visible from the mouth of the cave where he now stood. Nearby the sound of rushing water echoed off the dark, damp cavernous expanse at which he found himself standing at the mouth of. “This is it, this is my time…” Jen’ari thought to himself as he stole a glance down into the abyss. The water fell and disappeared into the clouds. Though he couldn’t see it, Jen’ari knew that it dissipated to mist and eventually vapor before finding its way down to the jungle’s canopy. Lifting his head he nodded to the elder warrior who escorted him and four others up the long trail. Ascending into the sky slowly by climbing rocks and vines. It was a slow and demanding task that taxed both the mind and body but the end more than justified the efforts it took upon one to reach this place.
Over the sound of rushing water came the cawing sound of the irkan who nested on the rocky outcropping. For longer than his story tellers could remember young Na’vi would make the ascent up into the sky for the very ritual in which he was to take part in. It was an important ritual, it signified that he had satisfied all that there was to his people and that he would pass into adulthood. He had heard of others, older members of the tribe recant their own stories in detail of how they too came by their mounts, it was by no means an easy task but enough of his own people had completed it that it was not impossible to be done.*
Jen’ari za’u…. [Jen’ari come….]
*Came the voice of the elder warrior as he turned to look at the young Jen’ari. Steeling his resolve, Jen’ari nodded to him and approached the edge of the cave to where a thin ledge was. Stepping out, he felt the misty water made for slick footing along the slight ledge but he did not fret. Growing up in the high mountains it was nearly second nature to scale rock faces. Jen’ari did not fear the height, nor even the prospect of plummeting to his death, in fact he didn’t even fear being bested by a ikran no what the young Na’vi feared most was failure. Drawing another breath he held it in his lungs and took another step onto the ledge and followed up with a third. Jen’ari rushed out, planted his right hand and vaulted over the large bolder at the edge of the outcropping to land amidst dozens upon dozens of sunning ikran with a growl of excitement.
There was a cawing roar of surprise by several of the closest flying creatures who promptly fluttered their wings and flew away looking more annoyed than anything else. Carefully Jen’ari stalked out among the creatures looking at them all, attempting to let his eyes meet there’s however none seemed to show any interest in him so he allowed his eyes to wander to the second shelf then up the cliff face to a ledge that looked over the area. Almost immediately his eyes met an ikran that looked, at least at this distance to be somewhat smaller than the others surrounding it.
The ikran pushed its self up and hunched on its hind legs, its head and eyes swiveling to center on Jen’ari. The young Na’vi too replied by inflating his chest and lifting his own head. There was a clarion shriek and the ikran leaped off the cliff’s edge and swooped down at Jen’ari who was forced to dive forward to avoid the snapping mall of the beast. It seemed that even though it was smaller that the others it had just as big a temper when challenged. If anyone could appreciate that it was Jen’ari who found himself grinning from ear to ear as he turned to allow his eyes track the ikran as it soared up and circled before gliding and landing not 20 yards from Jen’ari scattering the ikran already settled in the immediate area.*
Tsakern muiä… Za’u, za’u tsmukan. [That’s right… come, come brother.]
*He called too the ikran who slowly began to advance on Jen’ari. The pair began to circle each other as they drew closer until they had reversed sides. The runt ikran gave out an agitated his and gave a idle snapping of his jaws in Jen’ari’s direction. He could tell, even by the modest gesture that the creatures mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth, Jen’ari had heard horror stories of Na’vi unfortunate to have survived a bite. The lucky ones all died.
Reaching down, he uncoiled sling from around his waist and took the slack in his hands and began twirling the weighted end around with his right hand. Then feinting a lung to provoke the beast, Jen’ari took a small leap back just as the ikran dodged what it expected to be an attack then too lunged in retaliation at the Na’vi. Its maw gapped and there was a flash of teeth as Jen’ari twisted his hips counter clockwise and pivoted on the ball of his right foot. The creature was fast, given that it was smaller than the others it made it far more agile than a larger ikran would have been, Jen’ari didn’t have much time.
With his own quick reflexes he swung the sling down giving enough slack so that it would loop around the beak of the creature just as it snapped its maw shut. The sling wound around its mouth successfully and Jen’ari was quick to leap on the creatures back. The ikran must have been watching the events and actions of the other warriors before Jen’ari because no sooner did he hop on, the ikran bucked violently and Jen’ari’s eyes grew big as he felt the muscular neck slam into his groin. His eyes bulged for a moment and grew watery but somehow the young Na’vi was able to lock his ankles together under the beasts and reach down to grip tight with all he had to keep from being thrown off. A moment later he was able to blink away the tears and throw his weight to the side effectively bringing the ikran with him. The pair struggled for several long moment. The ikran thrashing wildly as it whipped its head around as it tried to toss free the Na’vi who had attached its self.
To the chorus of woots, cheers, jeers, and cries of excitement coming from her peers and the older tribesmen who led them here Jen’ari hung in, neither ikran or Na’vi willing to submit. It quickly became a contest of endurance, but all Jen’ari had to do was hold on until the ikran tired itself out. However again, being smaller and more nimble than the others also granted it greater endurance. Jen’ari was slammed against the stone floor up against the cliff back down to the floor on his other side, on his back and nearly pitched over the edge of the cliff down into the misty abyss before the ikran tired enough to where it had to slump. Jen’ari to was panting, his own breath labored his body was riddled with minor cuts and scrapes, small abrasions here and there all over his body. Before the beast got its second wind Jen’ari reached back and gripped his own queue and made the bond. There was a shocked instant when both Na’vi and Ikran became still, their minds becoming one. After a moment both of them blinked their eyes in unison and the ikran righted itself. Jen’ari reached forward and loosened the sling from around its mouth. The ikran stretched its jaws and gave a clawing bellow in relief that made Jen’ari grin once more.*
Tswayon! Tswayon tsmukan tswayon! [Fly! Fly brother fly!]
*And with that the ikran took a bounding step then leaped off the edge of the mountain and down along its face gathering speed before spreading its wing and soaring up into the failing light of the sun cementing their tsahaylu.*
