Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

014, Iknimaya.

♯┆calm before the storm .ᐟ
━━━━━━━━━━

     Hallelujah Mountains. A mountain high in the air. A place where Jake had to complete his Iknimaya, and he thanked God he didn't have a fear of extreme heights. Denahi landed Riti on the rocks, Jake smiling proud as she flew down with such ease. "Calm, Riti," Denahi whispered to Riti, stroking her thick skin the calm the Ikran down.

Jake walked towards them, Denahi moving her hands to allow him space to stroke Riti. "Betrayal..." Denahi spoke to Riti. How dare she calm under someone elses touch? That was when Denahi heard Jake's heavy breathing, noticing climbing all the way up here had left him breathless. "Breathe slower, Jake," Denahi told him, he needed to calm himself down before fighting his Ikran.

Tsu'tey and Otanu smiled to one another. "Jake Sully will go first!" Tsu'tey announced. Denahi snapped her head towards him and glared, he knew Jake was under no circumstances to fight his Ikran. However, that is what they wanted. For him to fail.

But, Jake knew better. He wanted to prove them wrong and prove himself right. Their bodies moved along a thin wall, behind the loud waterfall. "Do not forget to bound his mouth, Jake..." Denahi reminded him, "And do it quick. Ikran are smart."

She watched from a distance as Jake walked through the crowd of Ikran's. Denahi was more nervous than she was. She wanted Jake to do this. To pass this passage.

That was when an Ikran turned around and chose to fight with Jake. He laughed and then spoke with so much confidence, "Let's dance." The scene unfolded between them. Denahi held her breath the entire time. Watching as Jake struggled to fight with the strong and fierce Ikran. "Make the bond!" Denahi shouted at him after he had managed to capture the Ikran's mouth between rope.

But, Denahi screamed when Jake's body was flung off the edge of the cliff. "Jake!" Denahi shouted, wanting to run to Riti to capture him within the air but Otanu held her back.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Denahi shouted at the man. Who did he think he was? Otanu hissed at Denahi which caused her ears to pin down. "If he dies, I will never forgive you, Otanu!" Denahi shouted as she continued to struggle under his tight arm.

But, when Otanu's grasp loosened and she heard Jake shout, Denahi felt instant relief. Her heart raced millions a minute. Knowing that Jake could have died and she couldn't stop it caused her heart to beat too fast. "Jake! Make the bond!" Denahi exclaimed as her palm landed on her heartbeat.

Jake fell down to the ground and wrapped his legs around the banshee, pulling his queue around and attaching it with the Ikran.
"You did it! Jake, you did it!" Denahi laughed in disbelief before running to him.

Her hands landed on his legs, feeling around to make sure he was alive. "You have to fly. The first flight seals the bond..." Jake nodded, remembering what she had taught.

He moved the Ikran to the edge and flew off without a second thought. It took him a couple of seconds to figure out his banshee, but when he did, he felt unstoppable. Denahi rushed to Riti and immediately flew set off in the air besides Jake. "I am so proud, Jake Sully," Denahi shouted over the loud wind.

"Yeah, baby, I got this!" He wasn't meant to ride a Direhorse. But this, he was born to do.

He looked so natural riding the Ikran. Finding it easy to get a hang of compared to almost everything else. He was meant for this. After a while of flying throughout the sky, they landed on a secluded mountain.

"You must name him..." Denahi mentioned before Riti and Jake's banshee rested besides one another. "Bob," Bob? Denahi's facial expression showed one of confused, "What an unusual name."

"I remember my first flight. I was terrified," More scared than Jake had been. "You caught onto it quicker than I did," Denahi told Jake before he smiled at her. "I will make a windbreaker for you. The wind is strong, no?" Denahi said to him before Jake looked down at her relaxed figure.

Acts of service. A small service with so much meaning. Denahi handed Jake her windbreaker she had crafted, admiring all the small, intricate details. "What's next?" He questioned her, sitting down next to her and placing the windbreaker on her head.

"Uniltaron..." And what was that?