Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{14}

The skyperson, "Asim", did have some sense of humor.

At least that was something that Layontsin admired from the small alien. Even if she didn't understand him quite clearly, the anthro thanator was kind of impressed that he had a calmer side. Unlike the other skypeople that were bent on destroying everything that laid in front of them and having a grumpy demeanor. This one didn't seem to have any notorious will hidden behind him as he spoke with those that knew some of the skypeople tongue. Still, Layontsin didn't quite trust him fully with what she had seen before. Able to go head to head with a na'vi and an apex predator when it's life was threatened...had Layontsin concerned. Were there more like him, waiting out there to come and attack them? Was Asim a hunter that would soon give away where the clans were to prepare for a hidden attack? Layontsin had no idea. Only time would tell if what Asim had said to them is true or not.

Right now everyone was calm as they continued their journey to the village of the skypeople, moving closer and closer to the mountains. While they walked and climbed obstacles, Layontsin paid just some attention to what the hunters were speaking to Asim in his alien tongue. From what she could tell, the na'vi were asking things about Asim, to which he did his best to answer. Even if he didn't understand na'vi, Layontsin was impressed that Asim did get the message of others and what they meant with the help of gestures. At one point, Asim taught them some of his words that were related to the na'vi language. Like the regular word for "moron" and another one that Asim slightly understood to be one that meant "Screw it!", to which he said it in his language. This caused Asim and the rest of the hunters to laugh and enjoy each other's amusement. Layontsin too somewhat enjoyed the conversation, though she continued to keep an eye out for anything uninvited.

And soon that uninvited anything came.

From the bushes, Layontsin could sense something hiding in the foliage, watching them and waiting to strike. The anthro thanator snarled a bit, making the hunters look up and notice her alert position. They immediately stood on guard, Asim noticing that they have gone alert and doing the same as he looked around. Layontsin's quills trembled as she tried to determine the position of the intruder, slowly climbing down the tree she was currently in to take out her spear and jump over. But as soon as she was over it, the creature just wizzed out from the bushes and retreated quicker than her. It revealed itself to be a txumre, a medium but quick predator that had a paralyzing venom at its disposal. It opened its armored fangs and snarled at them, intending to engage them in a fight. The na'vi on their thanators moved so that could try and pin the creature down, but the small predator was faster than them. It came to a point that it bit the thanators on the legs, injecting them with its venom as some of them were slow to react. With the thanators down, the na'vi hunters disconnected and joined the rest of their partners as they faced off the agile creature. The txumre hissed at them and then swiped its claws at them, provoking the hunters to at least lash out and attack them. Layontsin circled the small predator and readied her spear, growling while showing her teeth and her quills along with her armor plates in intimidation.

The txumre snarled in response, and Layontsin lunged to attack by thrusting her spear at the creature. The small predator was quicken in its feet as it dodged the anthro thanator's spear, moving to the sides as it snarled. Then it got its chance to lunge at her and rake its claws at Layontsin. The claws managed to give her a scar, but thankfully not too gravely. She hissed in pain as the claw wound made her flinch, making her clutch the injury with one of her four hands. The txumre was going to pounce on her when some of the na'vi went to aid defending her, gaining the attention of the small predator. The txumre's attention was grabbed and it went to attack them. The na'vi did the best they could to defend themselves against the creature, using their spears to keep them away and from biting them. One of them wasn't so lucky as a fang got to their legs and gave a cut. Although it didn't inject the venom fully, it did paralyze the leg and made the hunter cry out in pain. Layontsin recovered quickly and moved in to try and pierce the creature on the back, but she hesitated as if the creature dodged she would mistakenly impale the na'vi.

And then something unexpected happened.

Asim the skyperson ran through the na' vi that were surrounding him, snatched one their bone knives, and engaged the txumre. The creature lunged at the skyperson, thinking it would make a quick and easy meal to take down, but soon it was mistaken. Asim charged at the predator...and in the last second he slid down flat on the ground and let it pass over him. As this happened, Layontsin saw with amazement how Asim quick moved and used the bone knife to give the txumre a cut on its underbelly. Not too deep but enough to inflict a painful wound. The creature yelped as it landed and rolled, in pain as it tried to get up. Asim also got up quick and expertly held the knife in his hand, glaring at the creature with a near emotionless yet fierce expression as he faced them. The txumre snarled in frustration and charged at Asim again, who in turn did the same at full speed.

Again Layontsin witnessed how at the last second Asim dodged the lunge and tackle of the predator, this time jumping up and expertly making a flip before it swung the knife and gave a cut on the creature's back. He landed and turned quickly to face the creature that now had enough from the taunting. It unhinged its jaws, exposing its venom-injecting fangs before lunging at the skyperson again one more time. Now the creature was in it for the kill and not playing with the opponents as it went directly. However, Asim anticipated it's movement as it stood here he was as the creature lunged at him...and then twisted around to dodge while at the same time swinging the knife around. Instead of stabbing it straight into its skull to kill it, Asim angled the weapon to slice off one of the fangs that extended outwards from the side of the txumre. The fang was torn off from the creature's jaw, making it howl in pain as it lost its fang. It now limped away from Asim and the na'vi as it cast a somewhat vengeful look for its humiliation. Asim glared back and held the knife, giving out a threatening growl that made the txumre give up and leave them alone.

After the small predator has left for good, Asim desisted and turned around as he flipped the bone knife around his hand before going over to a na'vi hunter and offering the knife back to them. He spoke something in his alien tongue, which the na'vi somewhat understood, and made an apologetic bow to him. The na'vi took their knife back and placed a hand on Asim's shoulder, saying something encouraging as they sounded quite impressed by what they have witnessed. Layontsin had to admit that she too was impressed as she saw how the skyperson fought and decided to stay instead of attack or run away. Maybe she didn't have to dislike the skyperson at all.

When all the group recovered and healed each other from the paralysis, they resumed their journey.