Avatar: What if you were there?

6: Atokirina

Pandora was different at night, no less beautiful but a whole lot more dangerous. "I'm going to make a fire," said Jake. You gasped when you heard laughing, like a hyenas.

"That's not a good idea," you said. "You'll attract too many creatures. He ignored you and you were too tired to argue. "You're so loud."

"Just pass me the matches." you did. He lighted the match, revealing viper wolves. He defensively stuck out the fire, trying to back them off. However, you were the ones backing up. You were surrounded.

You watched them carefully. Interesting creatures they were. You wanted to draw it desperately although now was not the right moment. "I don't have all goddamn night," said Jake.

"They obviously do," you replied. And then one jumped on you. You tried to get it off and successfully threw it. Jake attacked them with his knife when you noticed an arrow. A Na'vi jumped out and started fighting the viper wolves as well. She used her bow and successfully scared them away, hissing at them.

You got up, one had bitten your arm. You took the fire and doused it. Jake complained. "I told you not to light that," you said. "You attracted the viperwolves."

The Na'vi was female and she was muttering words. She walked over to a whimpering viperwolf. She finished it off.

You looked around at all the bioluminescent plants in awe. You looked around for your pack and sketchbook, which had yet to dry. Jake walked over to the woman and said, "Look, I know you probably don't understand this," she ignored him and he crouched. "But thank you... thank you."

"Don't say that," you told him.

He looked at you and then back at her. "We would have been screwed if you hadn't come along. It was..." she started walking away. He followed her and you followed Jake. "Hey, wait a second." she didn't stop. "Hey, where you going? Wait up, I just wanted to say thank you-"

She turned around and hit him with her bow. "Don't thank," she said. "You don't thank for this. This is sad. Very sad only."

"Okay. okay. I'm sorry," said Jake. "Whatever I did," you scoffed and he looked at you. "I'm sorry."

"All this is your fault," continued the woman. "They did not need to die."

"My fault?" asked Jake. "They attacked me. How am I-"

"It's your fault, Jake," you said. He looked at you, confused. "How could you blame an animal you killed?"

"You're like a baby," explained the woman. "Making noise, don't know what to do."

"Fine," he said, standing up. "Fine. If you love your little forest friends, when not let them kill my ass? What's the thinking?"

She hesitates. "Why save you?"

"Yeah. yeah, why save me?"

She was quiet for a moment, looking for words, and then said softly, "You have a strong heart. No fear." she walked up to him. "But stupid! Ignorant like a child. She," she motioned to you. "Think. She is wise. But you do not listen." She started walking away.

Jake smiled and scoffed quietly. You started to follow the woman once more. Jake began again, "Well, if I'm like a child, then.... Look, maybe you should teach me."

"Sky people cannot learn. You do not see," she replied.

"Well, then teach me how to see," he said.

"You can't be taught to see," you said. He frowned at you.

"Look, come on, can we talk?" insisted Jake."Say, where'd you learn to speak English? Dr Augustine's school?" Jake nearly fell and the woman caught him.

"You're like a baby," she said. "These sky people."

"We need your help," said Jake.

"You should not be here," replied the woman.

"Okay, take me with you." Jake obviously couldn't listen.

"No," she said. "Go back." Jake refused and she pushed him back. "No, go back. Go back." You looked up to see hundreds of woodsprites. Jake slapped one away and the woman stopped him. "Stop that." He did it again.

"Jake, stop," you said, each of you holding one of his hands.

"Seeds of the great tree!" the woman said sharply. You translated. The woodsprites landed softly on your skin and on Jake's. You smiled as they tickled a little. Jake, however, looked nervous.

"What are they, again?" he said.

"Woodsprites," you answered. "That's what we call them."

"Seeds of the Sacred Tree," added the woman. "Very pure spirits." She watched curiously until the woodsprited departed. She then said quietly, "A sign." She looked at us sternly. "Come." we didn't move so she took your arm. "Come!"

Off you went.