Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{23}

The forest was calm and soothing in the late morning.

Layontsin slowly opened her eyes as she woke up, having slept well throughout the night as she was laying on a tree branch. She started to get up slowly and yawn, exposing her sharp teeth and stretching all her limbs. Now fully awake she started to slowly make her way down from her perch and to the base of the tree, reaching the ground. Then she started to head to the village to see how the na'vi were fairing. When she got there, Layontsin saw that most of them were already awake and going about their daily lives. She was relieved that they were alright and that nothing has happened while she was asleep. Sure, if something did happen she would have sensed it and awakened to come down and aid them. Yet she still had doubts that one day she might come to late. Especially when it came to enemies like skypeople and rival na'vi clans. Thankfully, the village seemed like nothing has happened during the night. Layontsin breathed in relief and went to the village.

As usual, she was greeted by the people and by the young ones, happy to have her again in their midsts as she walked over to where the clan leader and the tsahik were. The two leaders were in their usual hut, having eaten their meal and saving some for Layontsin as they knew she would come in the morning. She set her spear aside to enter through the hut entrance and move inside, greeting each of them before sitting down. "Hello, dear. How did you sleep?" The tsahik asked as she smiled and moved a bowl of food to her. "I rested well, mother. What about you two and the rest of the clan? Did something happen while I was asleep?" Layontsin asked as she took the bowl and began to eat. "Not a thing happened. Everyone in the clan rested well and safe, knowing that you are guarding the land both in day and night." The clan leader said with a reassuring smile. "Oh. That's...good to hear..." Layontsin said, swallowing the food she had in her mouth before taking another bite. The tsahik seemed to notice her discomfort as she moved and placed a hand on one of Layontsin's arms. "Is something troubling you, our child?" She asked her. Layontsin gave a sigh and slightly nodded, knowing that the tsahik had noticed her. "I'm just worried. That some day something bad might happen to the clan." Layontsin confessed to them. The clan leader and the tsahik looked at each other before turning back to her. "We understand your worry. But you shouldn't be worried. We trust you that you will protect us, and that we will fight to protect you in return. You shouldn't be worried. You are doing great. Just like the greatest warriors" the clan leader said to her. "Eywa will always be with us, as well as you my child. Never forget that" the tsahik said to her, moving a hand to caress the snout of Layontsin. She smiled a bit and closed her eyes, comforted by the words of them. "Thank you, sempul, sa'nok" Layontsin said to them. They smiled in return and then later everyone continued to eat.

After a while, a thought crossed Layontsin's mind. One that it's subject she didn't want to discuss about, but the feeling of leaving it unattended wining over. "It's been almost two days since we let the skyperson go. Do you think he is keeping his promise? Or could he have run away?" Layontsin asked them. The tsahik looked at her and then down in thought. "It is possible that he must have gone away. But from what I have seen in his face...I sense that he is firm on the guarantee made. He didn't seem to be in a rush to escape afterwards, nor did he try to flee even when you and the hunters were returning him to the metal village. Furthermore, you told me that you and the hunters were at one point attacked by a txumre. Is that right?" The tsahik said to Layontsin, to which she nodded. "Yes. I did say it, because it happened and I told you about it." Layontsin said to them.

"Tell me...how did this AsimAngus fight the creature? Did it fight like it was showing he was a powerful hunter? Or did it truly fight it off to protect everyone?" The tsahik asked Layontsin in a specific manner. Layontsin closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to recollect the moment when that happened. She remembered Asim taking the knife from a hunter and going off to fight the small but dangerous predator in a way she had never seen before. What most impressed her was the way he handed the borrowed knife back to its owner, in a respectful manner. "He...fought bravely. In a way that scared me. But that fear turned into small interest when he returned the knife to the hunter." Layontsin explained as she opened her eyes again and looked back at them. The tsahik looked at Layontsin and gave her a warm smile, stroking one of the anthro thanator's four arms with a hand. "It shows how honorable that skyperson is. Perhaps more honorable than the skypeople that have come to our world. We should definitely trust this young one, as Eywa has given us a sign and is never wrong, that will fulfill his promise" the tsahik said, both to Layontsin and to the clan leader. The words impressed Layontsin, more than she would have expected. And there was some logic behind it that, even if she was hesitant to believe, Layontsin agreed with. Besides, it was the duty of the tsahik to interpret the will of Eywa. And all tsahiks from each clan were never wrong when it came to interpretations.

Seeing that the conviction of the tsahik was not blind, and that her words were reasonable, Layontsin agreed. "Right now, it's difficult for me to accept this as it is too sudden. How will I be able to show honor back when I feel wariness to aliens like him?" Layontsin asked, feeling like this was one of the moments when she felt that she should be honest with them. "That will be up to you. All of us make different choices. What you choose to do, it's is your choice alone. Just make sure that you will be proud to have made those choices" the clan leader said to her. Layontsin heard those words, and chose to keep them like always. The clan leader and the tsahik knew how to guide their people, and they have guided Layontsin too her whole life. So she trusted them, and agreed to them. "In any case, if they do return, I will be the one to bring them. Just this time not with hunting them down." Layontsin promised them, making both of the leaders laugh. Afterwards they continued to eat until they finished, and Layontsin was getting ready to leave the village and head towards the forest. Everything was going calmly when there was a shout of alarm that got the attention of nearly every na'vi. One of the hunters that rode a banshee came flying down and got off from the mount, going directly towards the hut where the clan leader, the tsahik, and Layontsin were. They seemed out of breath as they ran and stopped at the front, looking frightened. "Tell us, what is happening?" The clan leader asked as he got up immediately from here he was sitting. The hunter recovered his breath before saying these words.

"The skypeople...they are headed this way!"