Brokenpromiseland (Vex/Dire)

[Talau]

((For Vex and Dire --he thinks the name delta is cool xP -- we know who you really are!))

This.

Was.

Perfect.

It couldn’t have worked out better if she’d planned it. Her long awaited third foray into the jungles of Pandora was finally here, and to add a bonus, she was being accompanied not only by one of the team members she’d not yet gotten a chance to speak to, but ALSO the one who’d had recent contact with a Na’vi of Aylukana and had marked the first coordinate on the map of where their borders started! To say she was thrilled would have been a gross understatement. Fortunately for the rather stoic seeming security officer and soldier, Layla managed to reign in her excitement.

Mostly.

Of course, nothing was perfect about her so that energy managed to bubble out in other ways. As she’d waited at the gates of the compound for her companion she’d talked excitedly into her voice recorder in Persian as she had paced about, tail flicking and ears moving to catch all the sounds she could. In the field she would need to have her wits about her and so it wouldn’t do to have her chattering on and on and having all of this fidgety energy. She didn’t want to make the poor man accompanying her work harder than he had to in keeping her safe after all. That blue-black hair and queue trailed about her face and down her back, the loose strands that sought to get into her eyes braided and tied to keep them out of the way. The short, dark green, halter top would do nicely with blending into the plants of the jungles, her typical knee length khaki cargo pants holding what few supplies she might need and that didn’t fit into the pouches of her utility belt. The belt had been a recent acquirement, and a rather handy one, actually…keeping her from needing to carry a heavy pack for the most part. A small kit with some elementary medical supplies, her ID badge, a palm computer, a pouch for her recording device, a flashlight, a switchblade, some spare batteries and an extra memory card for her recorder. Her pants held the small digital photo holder in one pocket and a few spare energy bars in the other, her canteen hanging about her shoulders. Once again she’d found herself harassed by one of the staff about her choice of foot gear and…once again…she had waved them off. No way was she wearing thick soled, drag-through-the-muck, weigh-me-down boots, and that was final.

It was amazing how swiftly a good mood could sour...

Layla knew she was being stubborn, and she knew they were only concerned for the safety of her avatar, but she just couldn’t move right in boots like those while operating in this body. If they really wanted her avatar to stay safe, they needed to trust her that wearing these “flimsy tie-up dance slippers” (as they called them) was the best thing for her. If she had her way, she’d have been working to build up calluses on her feet, then start going out barefoot. She’d tried the boots thing before and nearly stumbled all over herself in them. No, the tie-up shoes were staying…they helped her get a feel for what she was walking over so she didn’t hurt herself if she had to make a dash for safety. Besides, the brown little things were thicker than they thought…she’d covered her bases while on Earth. She didn’t want to get her avatar hurt either. It was in the midst of this debate and explanation that Sev had arrived…poor man. Quite an impression she’d made, she was sure…having an argument over shoes of all things! Those coppery-yellow eyes had rolled slightly at the absurdity of it all and she’d muttered a few…choice…words under her breath about the situation before giving a taunting “Good-bye mother” to the scientist with whom she’d been speaking before turning to the burly soldier and apologizing, then motioning for him to lead the way. He knew better than she did where they were headed, after all. It may have been her outing, but she only got to work (outwardly anyway) if they found any Na’vi. Certainly the borders of Aylukana would be the best place to find one…and hopefully not a grouchy one.

As they’d passed through the short expanse of grasses and into the forest itself, she’d easily kept up with her partner, those green flecked eyes darting about the forest around them as they picked their way through. Certainly she wasn’t silent in her steps, but Layla had learned the value of quiet in a forest like this one. Finally, after a few furtive glances at her companion and the sneaking suspicion that he wasn’t quite thrilled at her company, Layla sighed a bit and hopped lightly over a root as if she were hopping a low fence, coming up beside him.

Mr. Eckhardt, I wanted to apologize again for earlier…at the camp…that was a rather poor display. I'm just glad you could accompany me to Aylukana today…with things on the line with Itami and Alehuai…

She’d trailed off at the end, not really wanting to go further down that line of thought and keeping her voice down, padding along quietly otherwise. Needless to say the upcoming peace talks with the two tribes was weighing heavily on her mind. Sure, it wasn’t the best opening to a conversation…hell, it wasn’t even a good one…but it was about the best thing she could come up with considering their location and the fact that he seemed all ears and eyes on the forest. Not that she blamed him...at least he did his job well…but that didn’t help her in the least as far as her job(s). Any of them.

[Vex]

Severin wasn't exactly thrilled. He'd been laid up for two weeks with those gashes to his arm. He’d also gotten an earful from the doctors about being more careful. Sure, one couldn’t die while riding in their Avatar, but the bodies were expensive, time-intensive investments to create. They couldn’t go too far with it, though, because the Avatar had been wounded while doing his duty and their reason for following that particular trail rested solely on the shoulders of his escortee. The man had surprised Severin a bit, actually taking responsibility for them taking the trail through Black Claw’s territory and overriding Severin’s decision. That garnered him a few points of respect in the guard’s mind.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t much comfort while he was stuck on the compound while his Avatar healed. Once he’d given his report and been debriefed, there hadn’t been much for him to do. He’d worked out. He’d studied more about the Na’vi culture. He’d worked upon his language comprehension (with only very limited success). He hated being cooped up, without something to do or accomplish. It wasn’t in his nature to lack a defined purpose. He’d gone so far as to volunteer himself for extra perimeter shifts just to fill his time. Sitting at a databank with view screens watching cameras and the readouts from motion detectors was better than nothing.

Strangely enough, however, now that his Avatar had been given a clean bill of health and he was put back on active status, he wasn’t psyched about the upcoming mission either. He was babysitting again. Of course he was. That was the entire reason he was on this planet, after all. He just had a feeling that things were going to work out similarly to his last excursion. These doctors tended to have a “holier than thou” attitude about things because they were the ones in charge. He hoped this Dr. Roshanara wasn’t going to be the same way. He’d already decided that if she tried to pull rank over common sense, he was going to butt stroke her upside the head and carry her stubborn arse back out of the forest safely. He had no problem putting his Avatar’s well-being on the line if the situation calls for it, but he wasn’t exactly looking to be heroic because of someone else’s stupidity.

Regardless, however, he went over his weapon’s layout and equipment one last time. Survival gear, flares, medical kit, antivenin for the local fauna, emergency radio, spare clothing, flint and striker, flashlight, flash grenades, and spare food and water rations for himself and the doc.

He’d swapped out the M30 machine gun for a modified CARB Shotgun. It was more or less something like a sidearm for his Avatar, but it had the power to do more damage at close range with the mixture of HE rounds and armor-piercing that he’d loaded it with. If he happened to run into any other angry thanators, he was going to give them second thoughts about his ability to be an easy meal. If nothing else…at least he’d get to go out with a big bang.

Everything was packed up carefully in the ruck he wore…ammunition and emergency items on the outside pockets while the less necessary or critical items were on the inside. He still wore the camouflage pants and those jungle style boots, but he’d opted for a just a utility vest to carry extra ammunition along with his belt. The lack of sleeves showed off those pale bluish gray lines that crossed his shoulder and upper arm…the mementos of his time with Black Claw. They’d healed well enough, though the scars were still pretty fresh and tender. Shouldering that pack, he tightened down the straps and buckled the waist belt, getting it comfortable on his frame. Pick up his shotgun, he put an arm and shoulder through the sling and then went out to meet his newest charge.

It was thus that he came up upon her and a staff member in the midst of an argument about foot gear. Those green-flecked eyes rolled a bit and he would wait silently while they finished. He’d found himself slightly amused, having caught some of the imprecations she’d muttered under her breath and her final retort to the staffer. Well…at least she had a bit of fire to her, even if was only concerning shoes. At her attempt to apologize, he simply waved it off. Her philosophical and podiatric differences with the staff weren’t any of his concern. Her well-being on this mission was. Sooner they got it started, the sooner they could get it finished. At her gesture, he’d set out, leading her along the path that they’d taken two weeks ago. He double-checked the GPS coordinate in his computer system, satisfied that they were following the correct path.

He could feel her eyes on him as she kept glancing over to him. It caused the hairs on the back of his neck bristle a bit. It was just a point of habit…an instinct from someone who spent too much time worrying about who was trying to kill them this time. He ignored her for the most part, focusing on the jungle around them and trying to discern any potential threat to her well-being. When he caught her hop over that root, he let out a low, expectant sigh. He figured it would happen sooner or later. He let an ear swivel back to listen to what she was saying. There certainly were bonuses to having this body.

He spoke low and levelly, not trying to make too much noise, but not wanting to seem dismissive either. He needed her to trust and to listen to him, after all. He didn’t want her going against any potential orders he had to give her…It was for her own good and safety after all. “Call me Sev, Doctor Roshanara. Mr. Eckhardt was my father. As for what I walked in on…not my concern. Everyone’s got their own preferences and beliefs and I’ve got no opinion on the matter unless it endangers the mission or our personal safety. As for the Itami and the Alehuai, I was still laid up when the detail was chosen to escort them. I’ll admit it would have been interesting, but I’m just glad to be out and doing my job. So long as we are clear and kosher on who calls the shots if there’s a chance for physical harm, then I’m certain we’ll have a pleasant experience. I know the area better now, so that makes my job easier…and you safer. If something does happen and we’re endanger, just do what I tell you and don’t question it. I won’t question you on your scientific method or the societal minutae of Na’vi culture, so please extend me the same courtesy when it comes to keeping us safe. Bad things happen when people don’t listen to me.” He glanced down toward his shoulder, emphasizing the scars tattooing his arm.

He’d laid it out for her. It was as blunt and respectfully direct as he could be. A brow was quirked at her and he gave a small smile. He tried to make it clear that he really wasn’t a bad guy or a hard ass… but he’d gotten tore up a bit because someone with a ten-pound brain thought that a high IQ trumped almost two decades of battlefield survival experience. He wasn’t going to repeat the experience.

Glancing down to the GPS again, he checked their heading.

“We’re about ten minutes out from border.”

[Talau]

Oh thank God for small mercies…this man DID have as much a head on his shoulders as she’d thought. The more he spoke the more she smiled, right up until it was likely the biggest grin her face could actually create. Oh yes, she liked this one very much. Those white teeth glinted a bit in the dim light, those tiny lights speckling her body a bright and pleased green.

Layla, please, my last name would be such a hassle to try and shout should something go wrong. Besides, Doctor Roshanara is my father.

She winked at him a bit, teasing him slightly.

I can assure you that you’ll have no arguments from me as far as your duties, Sev. I may know a lot of things, but combat is not among them…at least…not like this. I’d rather not end up as someone’s supper today, and I’d much prefer it if you didn’t either. So…with that said, you leave the talking to me and I’ll leave the protecting to you. You are the soldier and resident macho man around here, after all. Even have the scars to prove it.

She was teasing again, her good mood returning fairly easily. His comment on their distance from the borders of Aylukana had her pausing and glancing about, however, becoming more serious. An ear tilted slightly, following a sound behind them as green flecked eyes darted about the area while she swiftly weighed the pros and cons of venturing further. She didn’t want to press their luck by going right up to the borders if she could help it…a cranking Na’vi was never a good thing after all…and chances were someone already knew they were here, but would anyone really show themselves if she called out to them?

Let’s stop here a moment. I don’t want to press them if I don’t have to. Unhappy Na’vi are another thing I would like to try and avoid…so heading all the way to the border might not be the best idea.

She paused a moment, turning in her place and gazing intently up at the branches above before scanning the undergrowth. They were being followed and she knew it, certainly Sev must have known it also, so there was no point in continuing further if she could get them to come out in the open of their own desires.

Let’s see if we can’t get the border patrol to come out and talk to us…

The murmured comment was more to herself than Sev, but she’d said it aloud so he would at least be prepared for if whoever was following them DID decide to appear.

<<Na’vi warrior, I believe you are following us…please show yourself. I am an interpreter and studier of cultures and wish to talk to you. We know where your borders are, but we don’t wish to offend or threaten you, so we would prefer to speak here.>>

The rolling language flowed from her fairly easily…she’d studied years to use it. Of course…it was a bit stiff and formal, but that’s typically what happened when you learned a language in a classroom and not by using it in daily life. Turning to her companion, she shrugged her shoulders a bit.

We’ll see if anyone answers…

[Vex]

a

Oh, he was aware that they weren't alone. It was one of the reasons he'd ignored her staring at him for so long. He was trying to figure out just what else was watching them and whether he needed to be worried. He couldn't figure out what it was, however, though it had been itching at the back of his mind for the past ten minutes. More than likely, your average predator would have made some sort of move by now....he'd taken paths to channel potential stalkers like the viper wolves...and a thanator wouldn't even have spent that much time hunting. They had very little to fear and didn't seem to be the most patient creatures, from his experience.

The fact that he couldn't pinpoint what was following them or get them to at least show a glimpse of themselves during the channeling portions of their route showed intelligence. Intelligence made it more than likely that their followers were Na'vi.

At her response, he relaxed slightly and gave her a more genuine smile. Well...the girl might have the energy of a five year old hopped up on pixie stix, but she was smart enough to understand the limitations of her intelligence. That was goin to make things easier. He was feeling a bit better about this operation already. When she recommended they stop, he nodded, adding a few more points of respect into her corner. Given his previous greeting with Liyani, he'd been about to suggest something similar.

Maybe today wouldn't go as badly as he'd feared.

"Roger that, Layla...and I'm glad you see reason. Much easier having a warm and fuzzy about the situation that way. Not a macho man or one of those cowboy hoo hahs either. Just tryin to do the job right."

He nodded his head at her words, stationing himself nearby in order to be able to defend her if need be. He caught a few of the words she spoke in Na'vi...study was paying off...if slowly. When she spoke to him again, he shrugged.

"They're listening. Can't tell where they are, but we haven't been alone for a while. Have had the feeling I'm in someone's crosshairs for a good minute."

Idly, he wondered who they might come across this day. In the past two weeks, he'd wondered off and on how the Na'vi huntress he'd met was doing. Given her penchant for pissing off big, dangerous creatures, he was somewhat worried...but she had a good head on her shoulders. The two of them seemed to think alike. He'd have to admit that it wouldn't be terrible to cross paths with her again. She could hold her own in a fight and kept the common in common sense. He held no illusions, however....the chance of them meeting again, so close to the same area as before...just wasn't likely.

[Delta]

Indeed, the scientist and the warrior had been followed for longer than they realized. Raiko was a hunter before he was a warrior... though he was more than certainly capable of being the latter as well. His skill at stalking such loud and ignorant prey was such that he could stand on their feet, and if he didn't will them to know that he was there... by Eywa's grace, they'd ask why their feet hurt so terribly. His purpose for stalking these babies was not to kill them, nor to eat them, oh no. His purpose was simply to patrol the border, and to his surprise... he found a pair of scientists.

His tail flicked from his position far away, but still more than close enough for his aim to be true and his arrow fly straight, should the situation call for it. Raiko doubted that it would, as the sky people tended to enjoy the fondness that his Olo'eyktan had for their ilk... though, on average, Rai did not. The few scientists that he'd met treated him with an obviously pretend sense of respect, which was horribly surprising, considering the delicate layer of patience that even the Aylukana had for them.

Those giant yellow eyes seemed to glaze over as the keen mind behind them wandered about in its own playland of recent memories, and even a few old ones... and a fantasy. The fantasy? It was meeting his parents. He'd only barely known them, seeing as he was little more than an ankle biter when Toruk'makto called them to a battle that they didn't return to. The massive example of a na'vi idolized them to a certain extent, almost to the point of romanticization. His life, his childhood (if it could be called that), would have been so much better if the original sky people didn't find his world, and simply moved on to the next one. Instead, they found the moon and attempted to take it from the Na'vi... costing many lives on both sides.

A brief flare of anger flashed through the man's heart, and the (very) brief temptation to draw his bow and snuff out the guard's life with a massive arrow tried to lure his mind into executing its will. His tail swished about while he squatted down on a massive tree branch high above the forest floor, and that small part seemed to want nothing more than to grow into his whole being. But he was not his brother. His brother hated every single sky person with a burning passion, one that could only be quelled by seeing the blood drain from there body. So he locked away his temper, his anger, behind a thick wall... and didn't allow it to rear its ugly head.

"I am here, Tutee tawtute," he said, knowing full well that their uniltìranyu ears would hear his voice and his words. "You were expected at the borders, but I suspected that you'd be afraid of that much," he slowly descended the tree, still speaking in his mother tongue, "what I have not been able to gather from watching however, is your purpose here. Be quick." After completing his descent of the tree, he casually strolled over to their position, giving the pair a wide berth. His ears, and his eyes, were almost constantly scanning and sweeping the area around them... aware of any and every possible threat. He didn't live 34 seasons by being careless.

[Talau]

She’d simply nodded in return to Sev’s words and shifted slightly, those keen ears flicking as her eyes scanned the area. Right about now she wished she had a thermocam…they might be able to get an idea of where their company was. Then again, with this much life around them it could just be a muddled view of color, nothing you could make heads or tails of (all joking aside). After several long, fairly quiet (it was a jungle after all), moments she sighed a little. Maybe he or she just wasn’t interested in…Those ears flicked forward at the voice that sounded from the trees above and in front of them.

“I am here, Tutee tawtute. You were expected at the borders, but I suspected that you’d be afraid of that much. What I have not been able to gather from watching, however, is your purpose here. Be quick.”

She raised one eyebrow at his words. Expected? Afraid? A minute shake of her head as she watched him appear from the foliage and walk toward them a few paces had her dismissing her own perturbed emotions.

He said we were expected to be at the borders and is asking our purpose.

<<You misunderstood, then. We were not afraid, but do not want to intrude where we are not wanted and we know your borders are a sensitive issue. We didn’t wish to cause strife. You said we were expected at the borders? Why? I didn’t realize we would be expected at all…>>

Layla had purposefully left out the Na’vi’s jab about them being afraid in her translation to Sev. Much as she trusted him to keep her safe, as much as she doubted he would be rankled so easily…she wasn’t about to take chances yet. Shaking her head, she continued on.

<<You asked our purpose. Our purpose is exactly what I said earlier. I wished to speak to one or more of Aylukana. I study cultures, how they work and became what they are. I am curious, but the only way for me to understand about Na’vi is to speak to you, to learn from you. There is much our peoples, both of them, don’t know about each other. Part of my job is to try and change that, to learn and to teach…preferably in that order. Another part of my job is to help make sure that our peoples can remain on…I would say good standing usually, but I doubt you see much “good” in us at the moment so…peaceful…standing with each other. I am called Layla, and this is Sev…he is my protector here in the jungles today.>>

In a nutshell, I told him we are here because I study cultures and want to learn about the Na’vi by speaking with them and that I'm also here to make sure we remain on peaceful standing with Aylukana, then introduced us both.

That was about the sum of things. Now, what came NEXT….well that was a good question. Even she didn’t have a plan formed completely after this, and she typically had a plan for just about everything.

[Vex]

He turned in the direction of the voice. True, he didn't understand much of what was said, but he didn't really have to. Tone of voice was universal and crossed species and galaxies. Disdain was easily discerned, despite the language barrier. Instinct had him about to pull that weapon up and train it on the newcomer, but common sense had him stalling it so it remained at the undergrowth. No sense causing a ruckus unnecessarily.

As the Na'vi male neared Layla, Sev moved around carefully. Much like the male, he kept his ears open, listening to the jungle around him. He had gotten a first-hand experience on just how dangerous this planet could be if you weren't careful and he wasn't looking at allowing there to be a repeat encounter if he could help it. He positioned himself just in front and to the side of Layla so that he did not block her ability to interact, but was in good position to protect her. She was the non-combatant here and he was to protect her from any threat. That included the male if it came to it. He truly hoped that it wouldn't, but one could never be too careful. These people could be mercurial in nature and you never quite knew what might set them off.

He wished that they'd run into Liyani. At least she was a neutral, if not friendly, face. They had managed a sort of understanding between them during their encounter with each other and Black Claw. Certainly, she had a bit of a temper and liked to be in control. However, he'd feel much more copascetic if it was her there now to greet them. Things never tended to go the way one wished, however, so he'd simply deal with what was at hand.

At her explanation of the male's words, he simply nodded and continued to keep track of all that he could in the wilds around them while he kept the Na'vi in his peripheral vision. He wouldn't be reacting any quicker to him if he was looking at him directly and he bet it wasn't exactly good manners to stare at their warriors directly in the eye.

When she spoke again, he shrugged, looking back at her. "Tell him I have met one known as 'Liyani'..." He paused for a moment, wracking his brain. He had a pretty good memory for things that he might deem important. Gathering information on a battlefield was crucial, after all. Knowledge was power, after all, and more often than not the proper application of it was the only thing that kept one alive. "Unil'tirea'taliyani is her proper name, I think. A proper association may help vet your intent."

He turned back to look at the male standing there before them, inclining his head slightly in respect. From one warrior to another.

[Delta]

Rai couldn't help but chuckle softly at the female's question, though his reasons for doing so escaped him. It wasn't amusing, or even meant to be amusing, and the chuckle wasn't one designed to taunt or insult. The large man was far better than that, but his chuckle... it just was. "One expects a Prolemuris to climb a tree, yes? Sky people are expected to explore the Forest, and aren't expected to be content with just their little part of the forest." No sooner did the last word leave his lips than he regretted them, and decided that he would probably end up eating those words some day. He should strive to be more like his sister, who seemed to view the sky people with a pair of neutral eyes, rather than his brother who seemed to view them all with a certain kind of loathing in his heart. He nodded once at her explanation, paying more attention to his foolishness than her words.

The large blue na'vi had barely drew in his breath in preparation to speak before he heard his sister's name come from the big one with the metal dart launcher. Sev. He needed no translation to reckognize his sister's name, nor glean the intent from his words: this man had met his sister, and wanted to know that he's met her. A glare narrowed the big cat's eyes in the direction of the male for a brief second, and his face held the calm yet threatening contenance of an overprotective brother. A small leap was made within the man's mind, one that connected the almost dissapointed look on Sev's face from before with the man's mentioning of his sister. "Forgive me, Lay-luh. I seem to forget that your people's previous visit was thirty summers ago, and you are not them. And yes, I've met her. She is more valuable to me than the forest itself, why?"

It wasn't entirely a lie. Liyani, being his only sister and twin, was the one person on all of Pandora that he truly valued. He saw to her needs before his own, and would do anything and everything to protect her. Those big yellow eyes broke contact with Lay-luh's once more at the sharp snap of a twig breaking in the distance. They proceeded to dart about the forest, and his ears darted back and forth along his skull, until he determined that it was nothing. Rai slowly calmed himself and shifted his eyes back to hers once more. "I am Tsko'tirea'raiko, you may call me Raiko. You're allowed to travel through our lands, provided that you allow me to guide you."

Inwardly, the man cursed himself for offering his skills up to the pair of dream walkers. He was supposed to be hunting, not wasting his skills on those who could not understand the life he and his people lead! Even if they wanted to. If the female wasn't there, he surely wouldn't have offered himself up as a wilderness guide. Though everyone in the Aylukana knew that he had a weakness for females, and a few of those blue beauties even exploited it. He sighed, hoping that she wouldn't exploit his weakness.

[Talau]

Slender tail curled around her gently and those tiny lights along her skin turned a mixture of subtle pinks and yellows in embarrassment and mild annoyance at his chuckling. What had she said that had been so funny? Was it a mispronunciation? Had she accidentally said something she hadn’t intended to? Was he just laughing at her because of what she was? Was there something she was supposed to have been informed of but hadn’t been? Had a message been sent from the Aylukana to the compound about meeting someone and she was mistaken for the person they sent for and so her questioning seemed foolish? A plethora of possibilities flew through her mind…and then he spoke. Those bioluminescent lights swiftly flickered to a more agitated orange. Well that was rather rude of him to say! Keeping her cool, however, she took a calming breath and sighed it out.

<<I suppose that is one way to see it, yes. We are a very curious people and wish to understand just about everything we possibly can. Unfortunately it leads to not only knowledge, but also trouble.>>

That was about the time that Sev spoke up and she looked up at him, blinking. Oh yes! The one he’d met before…of course…how stupid of her to have forgotten already. That had been one reason why she’d been so interested in speaking to Severin in the first place, and twice as glad that he’d been her guardian out here. Yes, perhaps he was right and it would help to show that both of them were on at least diplomatic terms with another one of his clan.

You may just be ri…

"Forgive me, Lay-luh. I seem to forget that your people's previous visit was thirty summers ago, and you are not them. And yes, I've met her. She is more valuable to me than the forest itself, why?"

The narrowing of the Na’vi’s eyes and the way he bore himself made her voice trail off, beginning to think that maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea after all. He seemed a bit protective of the woman in question. Then he had spoken and made it obvious he didn’t need a translation for what Sev had said. She blinked at his question and looked over to Sev once again.

He um…he said that “she is more valuable to me than the forest itself” and wants to know why you might choose to mention…

The group paused, each one seeming to take note of the loud cracking of wood in the distance. Her ears flattened back against her head and she sidestepped slightly closer to Sev, putting more of her back to him and keeping her eyes out in the direction of the sound. A sidelong glance at the Na’vi showed him calming slightly once more and she eased slightly, shifting ever so slightly once more to see how Sev was reacting more easily as she listened to the rest of what the Na’vi hunter had to say. Once Sev seemed to think there was no immediate danger, she finally let herself relax.

…ah….oh yes…why you might choose to mention her. He also says his name is Raiko and is willing to act as our guide if we wish to enter their land. The report you gave said you had one point of their borders, yes? Maybe now would be a good time to find the rest of them? Two birds with one stone, and all that?

------

A look of mild annoyance and a shake of her head masked her slight amusement at her ikran partner, though the light green lights along her skin did nothing to help her hide it. The snapping of that branch under his considerable weight had been loud enough for half the moon to hear! So much for him working on being more silent…she mused with a smirk as she padded along the branches. Tìrol wasn’t built for stealth, especially not in the forest, so it didn’t surprise her really. As she crept through the thick leaves and various plant growths of the branches, she slowly began hearing voices. Wonderful, more skypeople…oh well, time to act as tsamsiyu nantang ((warrior viperwolf = equiv. guard dog)).

Stalking silently closer, she caught the familiar voice of her brother and blinked at what he was saying. Who was more valuable to him than the forest? Had he actually met someone?! Good for him! A wide grin spread its way along her features, angling them in an almost mischievous way. Dropping down a branch, she landed softly and padded along until she was directly behind him. From her hidden position in the trees she watched the movement below, the forms of those there partially obscured from view by the leaves and fern she peered through, debating exactly how to taunt her brother without causing problems with potentially jumpy dreamwalkers. Shrugging slightly she lowered herself and dropped to a crouch behind her brother, creeping up behind him before standing and tapping him on the shoulder, grinning wickedly.

<<What’s all this about someone meaning more to you than the whole forest?>>

She planted her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look as if to ask how he dared find someone and not divulge the juicy secrets about who she was…if only so she could return the favor he’d given her with every potential mate. Just to make her point she stepped back and pulled out her dagger and felt along the edge of it. Only then did she deign to look at the others there. Since her brother had been there she’d not deemed them much of an immediate threat to their clan as a whole…between the two of them they could deal with the tsamsiyu and toktor. Most of these ‘cowboys’ weren’t exactly a match for two Na’vi warriors…especially not with Tìrol around. What she saw had her eyes widening slightly and those lights glowing a bright and surprised yellow.

Sev?!

She had to fight the urge to grin at the sight of him. Raiko was around and that posed more than one problem. The swift shifting of her bioluminescence clearly showed her fluctuating emotions and thoughts on the situation. Greens and yellows of a multitude of shades and hues chased each other along their trails and patterns before settling in a mixture of dusky yellow and grey-green. Giving him a polite (and highly restrained) smile, she looked to the female and nodded slightly, smiling a bit more to her. She was safe to smile at, at least. Turning golden eyes back to Sev she allowed a bit more genuine smile to show.

I am glad you are better Sev. Your…

She searched a moment for the proper word in their language for the body part.

…shoulder…it is well now?

Her eyes turned to her brother and she grinned a bit.

<<Sev is a good warrior, Rai…he took a blow from Black Claw to protect his charge and subdue her with one of my sleep-tip arrows.>>

[Vex]

Great...just great. He'd been hoping to help placate things a bit, put some common ground down there between them and smooth things over. Apparently, this particular attempt at name dropping had wound up having the opposite effect, however. Once again, you didn't have to speak a language to know when you had made a misstep. The narrowing of the male's eyes and the way that he'd bristled had made it clear that hisidea hadn't had the desired effect. Layla confirmed that, which had him curious about just what the relationship was between this male and the one he'd met, Liyani. Last thing he needed was some jealous Na'vi trying to take his head off out of some territorial possessiveness. He wasn't trying to steal anyone's life mate or whatever... even if he had found her attractive in an exotic sort of way.

He didn't attempt to answer her right away. He'd heard that sound as well, head turning, eyes narrowing as his ears flicked forward to focus on that direction. Pretty handy little ability. He might not have as many scars if he'd been able to do that back on earth. Made focusing in on sounds a whole lot easier. Eventually, he relaxed, in part because the male did. He wasn't foolish enough to think he knew this forest better than those who had lived it, survived it, thrived in it all of their life. He respected expert opinion.

"I was hoping it would help establish some common ground and credibility. Apparently, I chose the wrong Na'vi to attempt that with. My apologies, Layla. I am glad, at least, that it has not caused too much problem and that he is willing to work with us. I do believe marking more of the border would be most beneficial." He turned from her then, just in time to see the blue shape drop down from the trees behind their new "acquaintance". His grip tightened on his weapon a bit, but he knew well enough that it was another Na'vi.

His eyes would widen, however, when he saw just who that Na'vi was. Apparently, this jungle was a lot smaller than it seemed, or you could summon a Na'vi simply by calling their name. She didn't seem to realize it was him at first, but her surprise once she had proved priceless. He couldn't help but smirk a bit, especially seeing her restrained smile. He'd incline his head in her direction, returning the smile. He'd remembered her earlier reaction to anything like affection and felt it best to reign in any sort of familiarity, especially given Raiko's reaction.

At her question, he'd pull his hand from under the barrel of his weapon, reaching up and turning his shoulder as he pulled back the cut sleeve so Liyani would be able to better see the paler scar lines along his shoulder. They had healed well and swiftly. "Indeed. I feel better now. Not right without scars. Almost...naked."

He turned back to look at Laya. "I am sorry. That is Liyani...the one I met. Layla, this is Liyani." He turned back to Liyani and gestured to the doctor. "Liyani, this is Layla. The new doctor I get to protect. She is smarter than the last."

[Delta]

Raiko couldn't help but let out an amused sigh when, out of the blue, his sister swooped in out of nowhere with, presumably, the hope of teasing him over a potential love interest. Oh, if only she knew. The hard expression that his face had previously worn quickly melted away into nothing, and was replaced by a big smile almost as fast as the previous look disappeared. "Ahh, dear tsmuke. We were simply talking," without even taking a breath he shot his gaze over to the translator, "Don't speak that last sentence to him, please. You will have my gratitude."

A devilish grin flashed across his lips as he moved in to hug Liyani, "I was talking about you, of course." He glanced at Lay-luh once more, then Sev. The age old look of a big brother was apparent in his eyes, though to an outsider it may look like a jealous lover. After pulling away from the hug, it seemed that Sev had spoken of his intent. Liyani also vouched for the man's bravery, and capability as a protector.

This cultured a certain amount of respect for the tawtute within the big blue cat's heart. though it wasn't enough for the man to deserve the recognition of a name. Lay-luh was a female, so she commanded that respect outright... but Sev certainly was not female. Though, in his eyes, both of the dream walkers were still little more than children in adult bodies, and fumbled about Eywa's forest in ignorance. Because of this, Sev would have to actually try to earn his place, though Rai doubted he cared. Raiko certainly didn't care if the male tawtute respected him or not. "I apologize for my actions, tawtute."

With that said, he turned back to his sister and spoke only loud enough for her to hear. Hopefully. "Liyani, he is no warrior. He may have martial skill, but a pair of children stand before us. I've offered myself as their guide because of this," he left out the part about his weakness for females of any race, "I doubt I'll be able to clean anything I kill in time for dinner because of this. Have you found anything?"

[Talau]

Ní féidir liom creidim seo... Tá mé ag déileáil le cat éad gorm.

Her words were calm, even, and didn’t belie the disbelief and mild frustration at how the situation was unfolding, the lilting cadence and tone of the Gaelic language seeming to suit the situation far better than Persian…she didn’t know why, but it just felt…better. This was just brilliant…having to deal with a jealous Na’vi.

It’s okay Sev, you don’t need to apologize…there’s no way you could have known.

Turning back to Raiko, she was about to suggest going along and marking the boundaries of Aylukana when another Na’vi dropped down behind him. Instinct had her backing toward her guardian even as the woman spoke to the almost jealous male. Standing silently, she watched the two, listening to their words, and tilting her head at Raiko’s request. Blinking, she carefully scratched the back of her head and shrugged slightly. Why shouldn’t she tell Sev that this woman was his sister? The woman’s words and actions only had her curiosity growing. She and Sev seemed to know each…wait…was she the one he’d…

“I am sorry. That is Liyani…the one I met. Layla, this is Liyani. Liyani, this is Layla. The new doctor I get to protect. She is smarter than the last.”

Layla smiled and greeted the woman kindly with the appropriate motion and words before chuckling and shaking her head at Sev.

Well at least it’s good to hear that I'm more intelligent than someone in the compound.

She grinned at the bit of fun she poked at herself and translated it for the two Na’vi as the woman studied the scars that Sev showed her. It seemed she had taken to Sev in some manner, the friendly concern obvious to her…though she seemed considerably reserved in the presence of her brother. Perhaps he disliked humans and their Avatars more than most of the Aylukana seemed to? Perhaps he was just over protective of his sister and she didn’t want to cause a problem by acting overly friendly with them? Layla snapped out of her thoughts at Raiko’s words and looked over at Sev.

He apologizes for his actions earlier. << If you both wouldn’t mind…We would like to mark the borders of Aylukana so that our people don’t accidentally cross them. I believe Sev and Liyani plotted the first point when they met…we could start there? It will keep you from feeling the need to show us your lands and help show us a clear boundary. Is that acceptable?>>

--------------

Liyani had hugged her brother back, huffing at his words. Rai ‘simply talking’ to sky people? That would be the day. His request to the woman had her pulling back and furrowing her brows at him. Why the hell wouldn’t he want her to tell Sev who she was to….oh he couldn’t seriously think Sev might try to court her?! A roll of her eyes and she tapped the center of his forehead lightly with the pads of her fingers…something she’d done since they were children to let him know when he was being an idiot and to cut it out.

<<I'm sure you were.>>

She stated, seeming nonplussed by the idea. His look directed to Sev only made her want to stand on his foot with her heel. Idiot brother. This dreamwalker may not translate what he had said to Sev, but she would. She watched him pull back the cloth and show the pale scars lining it, nodding approvingly and chuckling slightly at his reply.

It is bad you had to get them from her…not a good start to life here.

She nodded to the toktor as they were introduced and replied to the greeting with a reserved smile. Her pronunciation wasn’t perfect, but at least it was much better than Sev’s and she knew how to speak more fluently, and say much more.

It is good. Another skxawng toktor and I may hurt him, not animal like Black Claw.

Listening to the woman’s suggestion, Liyani nodded her approval before turning an ear in the direction of her brother. His words made her bristle angrily, those lights along her skin shading a bright orange that contrasted against her skin considerably. Those ears flattened and she hissed quietly at him, her eyes narrowing.

<<You are so narrow minded, tsmukan. He fought off Black Claw! Even our Warriors do not like to trifle with her and he did so willingly to protect his toktor! They may not know all we know but that does NOT make them less. The come from another place…maybe it is just very different here and so they cannot work as well. Yes, they are children in some ways. I agree, but there must be a reason. Children will grow up to still act like children if they have no parent or guide to teach them.>>

She huffed loudly then and started walking in the direction she had first met Sev, her tail flicking behind her in her agitation. Why had she gotten so defensive over what Rai had said about them? It didn’t make sense to her.

<<I hunt early, Rai, you know this…I have already brought in food. You are lucky I hunt extra and have enough for both of us.>> Come…I will take you back to Aylukana border and we go from there.

[Vex]

"Doc, I'll take an ounce of common sense and the ability to listen to instructions over a ten-pound brain and a laundry list of academic qualifications any day. If there were more people here like you, I'd have a far less stressful job to deal with." Sure, he was stroking her ego a bit, but it was true. It was better dealing with someone that you could depend on to follow instructions when you were trying to make sure that the both of you made it through a situation in one piece and breathing.

Turning back to Liyani and her words, he'd shrug. "Maybe, maybe not. Anything you live from, learn from...is good. Maybe not then, but when you look back." That was his philosophy. Bad things happened. You either learned from them or you let them define you. He'd chosen to be there...chosen to put himself between the creature and them. He didn't regret it or the consequences that came from it. He'd learned from it...and he'd use that knowledge in the future while here on Pandora to help keep himself and his charges alive.

He nodded a bit at Layla's translation, shrugging a bit. He hadn't really needed an apology, though it was appreciated. He watched the rapid-fire Na'vi going back and forth between Liyani and the male. There were some emotions there that he couldn't read but, if those lights were any sort of indication...it couldn't have been good. He was glad when, at last, Liyani agreed to take them along the border and let them map it out. He got the distinct impression that the male didn't like him. Whether or not that was out of a familiar sense of protection, a lover's territorial instinct, or a simple Na'vi distrust of outsiders, he couldn't tell. He'd have to have Layla go over the conversation the two natives had had later. It wouldn't be very polite of him to have her tell him now. He knew Liyani knew a fair amount of human speak and that it seemed apparent the male did too. He really hated politics. That's why he'd been a grunt, just a gun...told where to go and what to shoot at. Life was a lot easier that way. Now he was here, having to deal with pissy, self-important doctors and understandably wary, territorial natives. He'd just stuck himself into the middle of that which he hated so much.

When Liyani agreed to show them the borders, he all but sighed in relief, gesturing for Layla to follow on ahead of him. With Liyani there in front of them, he wasn't worried about a potential danger in that direction. He could focus on the back, making sure nothing crept up behind him. It also allowed him to keep more of an eye on this Raiko cat so that he could better determine what his angle was.

[Delta]

Raiko cast a sideways glare at Liyani as she tapped his head, and proceeded that little rant at him. Did she not listen to a word that he said? Without hesitation, he tapped her forehead lightly with the pad of his own finger. He spoke quietly to her, and his tone was one that would be expected to be used on a child who didn't listen to her father. Did I not just get done saying that being a warrior was not how good one was with a spear or a bow? He may be a great soldier, but he is no warrior. A soldier can kill, a warrior is beyond that. A true warrior displays compassion to those who deserve none, intellect, temperance, he has showed none of these to me. I admit, I am not the greatest warrior at times... but I have been named as such, and strive to be one.

"You should know this, tsmuke, they are ignorant children. But they strive to learn, at least in my experience, and that is precisely why I wish to help them. Guide them. You confuse me with Jai, I hold no contempt towards them. Use your ears, dear tsmuke. He paid little heed to what the others said, save the female dream walker. A little smile created a slight curve on his lips, and his eyes brightened a little. He turned his head back to Liyani and nodded as if his mini-rant never took place. "It never hurts to ask, Taliyani."

At the female sky person's question he only turned his massive skull back to her and smiled. His weakness for females of any species took hold of him again, and without thinking he let out a quick, "More than acceptable. If you'd like, I could teach you to walk through the forest unseen and unheard as well. If you'd prefer it, of course. If there is any other way I could help you, just ask."

[Talau]

Liyani was furious as she paused and slowly turned back to face her brother, the lights along her skin adding a mixture of reds to those previous oranges that contrasted dangerously with the oceanic blue of her skin. His tone earned him another narrowing of those golden eyes, her posture straightening and stiffening as those ears pressed backward and her tail flicked behind her. She was done playing his little game of ‘fight silently.’

Yes, tsmukan…I heard clearly what you said…shall I repeat it for you? “Liyani, he is no warrior. He may have martial skill, but a pair of children stand before us. I've offered myself as their guide because of this. I doubt I'll be able to clean anything I kill in time for dinner because of this. Have you found anything?" That IS what you said, isn’t it?

…You are being thick as angtsìk, tsmukan…I hear you well enough but you do not hear me. I know some of our warriors who would have shaken in their skins because of Black Claw and been no help to me. You say he is not warrior but rather 'soldier'...I say he is warrior because he put himself BETWEEN me and Black Claw and did not stand idle or be off with his toktor while I gave him the chance. If putting himself between me and black claw is not compassion and proof of being warrior than you are not warrior either. For intellect, he would rather have listened to my warning to not go through her territory in the first place. Temperance…he did not shoot me when I appeared before him and his charge suddenly, but instead waited to see if I were going to try to harm him…it seems he did the same for you since neither of you are injured…and unlike you, he has not insulted anyone here or made accusations of what you are or are not based on the obviously VAST knowledge you two have of each other.

But you are being deaf to my words…just like Jai is deaf to anything but his own opinions. I am beginning to wonder if it is because I am your tsmuke or if it is simply because you are male.

She had caught the glint in his eyes as he looked at the female dreamwalker…knew his weakness for women…and huffed. There were other things she could have said…other more embarrassing things directed toward, and about, the dreamwalker that would have gotten his attention, but Liyani wasn’t about to stoop that low. Her words had been calm, said no more loudly than her normal speech, though the tense tone of them and the color of those bioluminescent lights made her emotions perfectly clear. How…HOW…had her twin ended up being so ignorant and deaf? Liyani didn’t pretend to know everything about the sky people, but she knew more than Raiko and had interacted with Sev before…therefore she had more knowledge on the subject than her brother. But…obviously…she was going to be in the wrong on this.

…or perhaps it is because he is male?

Wide eyed, Layla watched and listened to the argument, her mouth slightly agape at everything that had just been said and the body language from both. Sev’s compliment had been all but forgotten by this point…though at the time it had been said she’d greatly appreciated it…but right now there seemed to be a family feud going on. The quiet conversation between the two was going to have been ignored by her…it had been meant to be private…but this just threw everything out the window, so to speak. Golden green eyes flicked between the three others around her trying to gauge just how she should react now that the verbal bomb had been dropped by this ‘Liyani’. Timidly she looked up at Sev, almost as if she were about to ask for help, before she translated the entire backlash from the tall Na’vi woman in a hushed voice.

This…this had to be a nightmare of some kind. It sure as hell felt like one. Looking back to Raiko, she shifted anxiously, her tail stiff and ears pressed back. Did she really dare say something now and risk making things worse, or should she just stay silent and risk things getting worse on their own? Turning her eyes back to the female, then up to Sev, she sighed and allowed her shoulders to droop slightly, the nervous yellows of the tiny stars along her skin seeming to vanish in places where they’d turned to the same color of her skin.

Maybe…now isn’t a good time for this, Sev? I don’t want us to be the cause of trouble between these two…though…it might be a bit late for that now.

Liyani gave a short huff and turned her eyes from her brother to the two dreamwalkers, Raiko’s words to the woman ringing in her ears still. She swore he thought with his ‘soup-drinker’ far too often (( /off-color humor)).

No…no more trouble. I know what the trouble is now…I should go. Eywa ngahu Sev, Lai’lah…tsmukan is very happy to take you along Aylukana kllpxìltu, sevin tutee toktor.

((side note: "Aylukana kllpxìltu, sevin tutee toktor" = Aylukana territory, pretty female doctor))