Avatar: The Way of the Chaos

Chapter 5

You thought you would start the day off with some weaving, a basket or two. Or maybe sorting or crushing herbs. You even went as far as to consider the possibility of going into the forest to savage food or plants. However, you have not mentally nor physically prepared yourself for what you were going to do that morning.

"My children will teach you how to climb properly."

You froze, and you felt Genevieve tense next to you.

"The Na'vi have learned how to climb since they were babies, so unless you master it, you will forever be useless."

You slumped, and Jake didn't miss this.

"It's either you climb or you head to the forest."

The thought of dangling hundreds of feet above ground made your knees weak. You weren't terribly afraid of heights, for example, in theme parks you were able to ride most of the roller coasters without chickening out, but those had harnesses and protection. You're going to be frolicing around the tops of trees hundreds of feet above ground with no harnesses, nothing to break your fall.

Already quivering, you could only nod numbly.

"Wait here. Do not move."

Staring at Jake's retreating back, you turned to share a look with Genevieve.

"Are you seriously okay with this?"

All the blood had drained from her face, and she looked oddly pale as she blinked at you, "no."

With a shaky laugh, you tried to reason, "I mean, it's not too bad right? Just...don't fall..."

She scoffed, although there was no real bite in her tone, "I think falling to your death is more depressing than getting stabbed in the heart or getting mauled by wild animals."

A beat of silence.

"More embarrassing too."

You shivered, panic rapidly rising, "okay then, what do we do?"

"I don't know, I don't wanna do this, Y/n. I know I'm going to fall."

"Same here."

The Na'vi made it look so easy, jumping from vine to vine, but you weren't Tarzan. You've only ever balanced on those road curbs, and you often fell.

You locked eyes with her and some sort of understanding passed over. You sighed, seeing the desperation in her eyes.

"You're crazy. We might get thrown in the forest or killed."

She laughed dryly, "we're gonna die if we climb anyway."

Footsteps approached, and you tuned in to the jostling movement a few metres away. Genevive stared at you in panic, and you had no doubt your eyes mirrored hers.

Jake emerged first, followed by Neteyam and Lo'ak.

You made eye contact with Jake, blinked, and then bolted.