Ma Tsawke

Chapter Ten

Mo'at cleanses him with the aromatic smoke of smoldering herbs, her voice resonating in a hushed, rhythmic chant. Jake gracefully lowers himself, enveloping his form in the swirling essence with gentle sweeps of his palms. Mo'at delicately unveils a piece of wood.

With precision, she seizes the end of a radiant purple worm, extracting it from the perforated wood.

"Oh, wise worm, eater of the sacred tree, bestow your blessings upon this worthy hunter, grant him a true vision." She places the luminescent worm on Jake's outstretched tongue. It coils upon itself, casting a soft radiance within his mouth before he seals it shut. Mo'at gestures for him to chew, a silent communion with the sacred.

An earthly jar is unsealed, revealing Eytukan holding a squirming, obsidian arachnoid. Placed against the nape of Jake's neck, the insect is gently pressed. The arachnoid thrusts its stinger into Jake's skin, eliciting a wince from him. Mo'at and Eytukan retreat, leaving Jake isolated within the ceremonial circle.

Tanhì observes with unwavering focus alongside her sister and the venerable elders in the chamber, adding her voice to the primal chant. An otherworldly sensation envelops Jake as his eyes gradually open. Surveying the faces around him, they appear to undergo a subtle metamorphosis, taking on an ominous aspect.

Jake gazes downward at the palms of his hands and an inexplicable transformation unfolds. His hands, his entire form, the earth beneath him-all recede abruptly, creating an expansive distance within the Na'vi circle that appears to stretch to a remote horizon. Spatial dimensions warp and the accompanying sounds reverberate, resonating with a loud, thunderous quality.

His pupils dilate, absorbing complete darkness without a trace of yellow as he surveys the altered landscape. The spectators vanish, replaced by a radiant ring of towering trees that seem to extend for miles. The entire scene is bathed in an ethereal glow.

Looking down once more, Jake witnesses a change overtaking his body and hands. Fingers elongate into tendrils, while his legs morph into roots spreading outward across the ground, thousands of luminescent dendrites intertwining with the roots of the majestic trees.

Tanhì observes with deep concern as Jake, on his hands and knees, tightly grips the earth. He appears on the verge of retching, contorting in agony while his muscles convulse. She hesitates to reach out a comforting hand, recoiling and shutting her eyes at the distressing sounds escaping him.

In the realm of his vision, Jake stands serenely on the precipice of a floating mountain cliff. A profound sense of fear envelops him as a colossal black shadow, unmistakably forming the X silhouette of a diving leonopteryx, looms over him. Despite his desperate attempt to flee, an immobilizing force pins him to the ground, rendering him helpless as the creature hurtles towards him.

While the elders observe him convulsing in the dust, his back arches dramatically, muscles seizing in agonizing contractions. He froths and thrashes uncontrollably, his eyes rolling back into his head. The elders share glances of concern, desperately hoping for his survival. In their eyes, he has proven himself. Tanhì tightly clutches her sister's hand, anxiety etched across her face as he gasps for breath, clawing at the earth with a vacant stare.

Within the depths of his consciousness, he soars above the Pandora landscape, only to witness a desolate forest below. Fires flicker amidst trees charred black and lifeless, shrouded in a smoky twilight. A colossal winged shadow casts its imprint over the ravaged terrain.

His gaze descends to the shadow, the revelation striking him, realizing that he, in his majestic flight, is the one casting it over the land, lordly and potent as if embodying the creature itself.

A deafening, primal scream pierces the air, echoing for what feels like an eternity as it hurtles towards the ground. Side by side with a galloping palulukan emitting a thunderous roar, the two create a symphony of chaos.