I See You (N. Sully)

Chapter 1

Ahurewa's home had been in the Kekunan Tribe, forest dwellers that reside higher up than many of the other clans. They were proud people, courageous and daring, known for their mastery of the ikran. Her older brother, Kauri was known to be one of the best ikran riders the tribe had ever seen, compared even to Toruk Makto - though he had never seen real battle. Her grandmother was Tsahik, but it was her aunt who was to take the place of Tsahik. So Ahurewa and Kauri had to earn their places alongside the people, something that was easier for the eldest. Ahurewa, on the other hand, was not as bold as everyone else. Despite her beautiful dancing being a sacred act that she had been praised on, it was something she preferred to do alone.

"It is a great honour, to perform a sacred dance for Eywa." Tsahik's hair was in two long braids that reached her tail, bound by a thick string of leather, intricately woven throughout her braids with large wooden beads. Her face was scared with lines of ageing, and the mark of a battle wound ran down the left side of her neck - it was not something easily noticed, for the attention was always drawn to her extravagant headpieces or brightly coloured bindings. Unlike her grandmother, Ahurewa's hair was always loose, cascading down her back, floating with the wind as she danced, a choice made out of quiet rebellion.

"I do not wish to dance." It was what they argued over the most, second only to the topic of her mother.

The glare from her grandmother was firm, harsh lines driving between her eyes, "it is the will of Eywa."

Ahurewa's head lowered , staring at her tightened fingers clasped beneath her grandmother's hands. "For mother it was the will of Eywa. Not for me." She snatched her hands away, holding them protectively against her chest; against the cold sting of her metal chest-piece that had been adorned with flowers by her younger cousins.

"Her will was for your mother to lead us into battle against the sky people, and she fulfilled that. She left you with the gift of dance to praise Eywa for saving our people."

It was difficult to argue with a Tsahik, usually they were right. Sighing, she looked back up at her then, "I will ride tonight." Her grandmother nodded, lips tightly shut as her granddaughter walked away once again.

It had been over a decade since her mother had died. She and the other warriors of the tribe fought against the sky people until the majority of their group were dead and the sky people had retreated. The Kekunan had suffered a great loss that day, clan members had halved in numbers and years later, they were still recovering.

She called for her ikran atop the highest mountain. "Masir," Hushing him, as he glided onto the level stretch of land before her, she wrapped a singular strap of leather around her wrist. The highest of the mountains was also the first spring - the source of their water and the source of the sacred tree within the mountainous cave system. Glowing green leaves fell in front of the entrance, shielding an ecosystem full of peaceful, balanced creatures of the forest that sought sanctuary from the sky people. The Kekunan cared for them as a way to honour Eywa and her gift of life after the last battle. Masir, her ikran, was always found up by the spirit tree, his similarly shaded skin meant that the mountain was the best camouflage - a strange characteristic of a member of the Kekunan tribe, but his temperament was similar to her own. "Mawey Masir, Mawey." They rode bareback, unlike other tribes, the most natural and spiritual way to live alongside ikran. This way they could feel the bond more strongly, living as close to being ikran themselves as possible.

Soaring through the floating mountains was one of the best feelings Ahurewa had experienced, it offered a space to clear her mind and really feel Eywa outside of the suffocation of her clan. She could feel her in the warm breeze running through her hair - see her in the roots of the spirit tree giving life to the illuminating purple flowers and red berries that grew near the springs; she could hear her in the sound of the thanator's cries as it stalked at night. Dancing was sacred, yes - but in flying, Ahurewa could truly understand the mother.