Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

014, Iknimaya.

"Let's go, Riti!" Denahi exclaimed before feeling the wind attack her flesh.

She headed towards the Hallelujah Mountains, the same place Jake was to complete his Iknimaya.

Denahi was happy it was a nice day.

When she had completed her Iknimaya, it had been raining all week.

Making it extremely dangerous and slippery, but she pulled through for Riti and herself.

As she landed onto the rocks, Jake stared at her with a bright smile— proud of coming this far.

It wasn't Denahi didn't believe in him, she did.

But, no Sky-person has ever gotten this far into caring for the Na'vi ways.

And, here Jake was.

Ready with the banshee catcher in his hands.

"Calm, Riti," Denahi whispered after Riti tried to push her head into her shoulder.

Jake stroked Riti once as Denahi watched him do so. She noticed how Riti was calming under his gentle touch.

"Betrayal," Denahi whispered to Riti.

Denahi noticed that Jake was struggling to catch his breath after the long climb.

She placed a palm against his stomach, "You have to breathe slower."

Tsu'tey noticed this and smirked to himself, "Jake Sully will go first."

Denahi snapped her head up to Tsu'tey before rolling her eyes. Of course, he would do this to him— wanting him to fail.

Jake scoffed at Tsu'tey before handing him his bow, Denahi following his steps.

They walked along the thin piece of wall hidden behind a beautiful waterfall.

"Do not forget to bound its mouth," Denahi reminded Jake before taking his hand, making him turn to her so he would listen.

"And do it quickly. Ikran are smart," Denahi said before Jake nodded, sliding his thumb up and down her smooth skin.

She could tell he was nervous.

Who wouldn't be?

She knew Ikran antics and was still scared herself during her Iknimaya.

Jake unraveled the banshee capture and began to walk through the crowd of Ikrans.

Denahi stayed back, watching from afar.

"Let's dance," Jake said to the Ikran that had chose him.

Denahi smiled at that, but the struggle that Jake showed wiped it away.

"Jake!" Denahi yelled to him, frightened he was going to do it, "Make the bond."

Suddenly, Jake's body flew off the edge of the cliff. Denahi watched in full fear.

She was about to run back to Riti but relief washed over her body once seeing Jake pull himself up again, "Thank you, Eywa."

Her heart was racing millions a minute.

Seeing Jake had nearly died, caused it.

She gripped tightly onto her chest, "Bond, Jake. You have to make the bond!"

He fell to the ground, wrapping his legs around the banshees snout and pulling his queue.

Denahi smiled as she watched their pink tendrils connect together.

"He did it.. Jake, you did it!" Denahi laughed in disbelief before running towards him.

She patted his thighs, "You have to fly. The first flight seals the bond."

Jake nodded before remembering what Denahi had taught him.

Do it like she did.

He moved to the edge, "Fly!"

And so, he did.

Jake exclaimed his terror once falling off the cliff, the sounds of his banshee screeching in the air.

Denahi rushed to Riti, instantly connecting her queue and climbing atop her.

She sawed through the sky, noticing Jake had mastered flying his banshee.

Her face softened, teasing Jake as she flew Riti into his banshee, "I am so proud, Jake."

Jake looked at her in shock.

Never had he imagined those words.

"Yeah, baby, I got this!" Jake said. He wasn't meant to ride a direhorse, but this, this he was born to do.

After a while, they landed back onto a secluded part of the mountain.

"You must name him," Denahi said before allowing Riti and Jake's banshee to rest next to each other.

Jake nodded before announcing, "Bob."

Denahi furrowed her prints, "What an unusual name."

Jake chuckled at that before they both sat on the rocks, knee-to-knee.

"I remember my first flight. I was.. terrified. You caught onto it quicker than I did," Denahi said before Jake smiled at that.

He watched as Bob and Riti snuggled against each other before looking back at Denahi.

"The wind is strong, no?" Asked Denahi.

"Yeah. It's not as easy when you're actually directing the Ikran," Jake said, referring back to when he rode on Riti with Denahi.

"I will make windbreaker for you," Denahi said before pulling her windbreaker from her face.

Jake admired the small creation.

Noticing all the intricate details.

"Yeah, okay," Jake said before Denahi placed the windbreaker back onto her face.

"So, what's next?" Jake questioned before Denahi widened her eyes.

The most dangerous part of any 'becoming one of them' is.

"Uniltaron."