Avatar: Feathers and Flowers

In the Healer's Den

Alejandro looked down the shaft of Hometree, perched on one of its massive branches. He had to be at least eight meters off the ground if not more, because the villagers, the ones he could see anyway, looked like ants. He reminisced about the first Avatar mission when he was still clasped in military gear and was looking up at the towering trees of Pandora, wondering what the ground would look like if he were to climb them.

"Keep up," Swaylu snapped, breaking him out of his thoughts. In the feather-woven Na'vi's fist was a slab of meat and Swaylu kept a firm grip on it as he leaped onto the core trunk. On his eyes, he wore an ionar, he told Alejandro it was a rider's mask. Alejandro was required to wear it as well, but unlike Swaylu, he wasn't accustomed to the rough material mounted on his ears. Alejandro watched as he scaled the bark, using his hands to grip the small gaps and his feet to balance on the small ledges marked into the ancient tree.

Alejandro puffed out a branch, shouting, "Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming. Slow down!"

By the time Swaylu heaved himself up on the upper tree branch, the one directly above the ikran nests, Alejandro was still climbing. He waited patiently, looking down at the spot he last saw Alejandro. He jumped a bit as Alejandro's arm popped up, his hand gripping the mossy timber. The colonel pulled himself with a strained groan and as he climbed up, Alejandro sunk into the moss's embrace. His hand gripped the ferns, the side of his face pressed against the surface, and his back rose and fell rapidly. Swaylu figured it was better to wait for Alejandro to get up on his accord.

As Alejandro got enough strength and courage to stand, Swaylu walked to the end of the branch, the colonel following him obediently. Instead of the relaxed energy Swaylu possessed in his stride, Alejandro's were stiffer and his eyes were focused on the ground down.

Down, down, down.

Swaylu's eyes scanned the scenery around him before his right hand funneled around his mouth, amplifying the loud wordless yell he let out.

There was a crack louder than a gunshot when a winged creature emerged, Alejandro's ears ringing from their entry. The dragon-like beast had two primary eyes and aft of them were smaller secondary eyes. The unknown creature had four limbs modified into wings with a hooked claw at the end of them. They were striking aqua and sky blue with myrtle green highlights and mint markings etched on their leathery skin. In front of Swaylu, they alighted, faintly clicking as the beast cocked its head.

"Oel ngati Kameie, tireatsmukan, (I See you, my spirit brother,)" Swaylu greeted, tossing the meat in the air. The winged beast caught it in their power jaws, tilting their head back, and swallowing the meat without even a chew.

"Whoa, what is that?" Swaylu couldn't help but chuckle at Alejandro's face. It was lit up, astonishment on his features. It reminded him of Sya'iit and Awtawin's faces when he showed them an ikran for the first time.

"This is an ikran, your kind calls them the mountain banshees," Swaylu informed, reaching a hand to stroke the creature's crusted head. Alejandro watched his nimble hand graze over forests of scales. "The ikran is a unique animal. Once tsaheylu, the bond, is made, the ikran will be bonded to the taronyu, the hunter, for life. The Omatikaya Clan regards the ikran we have bonded with as our spiritual brothers and sisters. 'Tirea tsmukan' for male and 'tirea tsmuke' for female. With our ikran, we celebrate our traditions, the birth of new children, and the loss of life."

"Does it have a name?" Alejandro asked, keeping a reasonable distance between himself and the ikran.

"Yes, his name is Rowpami. His name means 'Sea Boy,' named after a distant relative. It is not a regular Omatikayan name from what I am told. The name Rowpami comes from the Metkayina, the Sea Clan. I have not met him, but my father promises I will soon."