A New Mission: Ash to Fire

Connection

As the war planning discussion meeting came to a close in the late morning, one of the clan leaders said, "It is settled. And we will at once make our journeys to Tìomumutral'ram to take wisdom from Ziye on this war's eve."

The other clan leaders, Ta'zem, Ka'uwe, and Zu all gave affirmative agreeing expressions.

Miles' eyebrows raised, intrigued. These folks would be making a stop at the Knowledge Tree Mountain. He had not been there since his first night of love with Zu. He couldn't help but develop a soft little, imperceptible smile upon recalling the memory. It was there on that night that his entire life on Pandora changed. Mostly.

A lot of Miles' life changed at Tìomumutral'ram. He had himself connected to Ziye there, where he got a light glimpse into the way these spirit trees work for the Na'vi. He felt support, and encouragement, as well as knowledge, thoughts, and ideas that were not his own. Aspects that Zu said differed from other Na'vi spirit trees that channeled Eywa. There was also the day when he first went to this mountain when it wasn't allowed—the day he first kissed Zu. When he first truly confronted the feelings that he developed for her. It all felt so long ago.

Miles looked over left to Zu sitting on her stool past Ta'zem and Ka'uwe. She looked regal, intelligent, dignified, and beautiful and he couldn't imagine a life in which he did not have her.

In snapping his mind back to Tìomumutral'ram, it made sense though that these people would visit such a place of religious and cultural importance on the eve of war. And apparently, Miles was going as well, because Zu was looking at him with warmed excitement at the prospect, her orange eyes large and conveying an endearing passion and interest.

Ka'uwe then rose, all the clan leaders looking up to their Tsahìk with reverence and focus. Ka'uwe looked around at them, to Ta'zem, to her daughter, then to Miles, lingering her gaze on him just a little bit longer than for the others.

"Tonight, we will also have a ceremony for Ta'zem's ascension to Olo'eyktan. His garb has been completed by our best craftsmen," Ka'uwe said, placing her right hand on the seated Ta'zem's left shoulder.

Ta'zem leaned up erect, stoic, firm, a look of pride and deep care on his face. Nods and excited expressions emerged on the faces of the clan leaders.

After the war meeting ended, the clan leaders returned to the war camp at the plateau clearing where they alerted their respective warriors of the departure and warpath plans, Ta'zem's evening ceremony, and to commence their own pilgrimages to Tìomumutral'ram.

Zu took Miles' hands and said, "Come My-ulls. We must go to Tìomumutral'ram. Before it is too crowded. Ly-ull and Devin. You must come too," looking at them with eager impatience.

Neither Lyle nor Mansk was familiar with the place, having only heard of it in passing, referenced by their Colonel's reports, and spoken amongst the villagers. They had not seen it for themselves and they were interested in experiencing such a critical cultural aspect for these people they were slowly becoming engrossed in.

The four Na'vi quickly headed for the ledge above their huts to their Ikrans. Mansk looked around for Teza as they made their way, wondering if she could come, but Zu explained to him that today was specifically about the warriors' communion and she gently placed her hand on his chest and kindly said, "Do not worry, you shall see Teza later, Devin."

Lyle then gave Mansk a teasing repeated raised eyebrows look which Mansk glared at. He was really laying it on thick, wasn't he?

Miles, Zu, Lyle, and Mansk set off on their Ikrans, Cupcake, Za, Rocket, and Sundae, to the northernmost part of the big island where Tìomumutral'ram was. Miles was excited for Lyle and Mansk to experience this place for the first time, and they would be arriving by the start of eclipse which would make the ornamented interior of the volcanic dome particularly beautiful under the glow of the tree.