Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{33}

Asim walked thought the forest, more calmly than ever.

He still kept his guard up in case a random predator popped up and attacked, but in this moment he felt calmer than before. And that calm was just what he needed to think of how he was going to present his problem to the tsahik. "Okay, Asim, let's go over again.....'Greetings. I see you. Please, I am in need of help. There is something bothering me'...Nah, that's not going to work. How about 'Oh, great tsahik. I humbly request your help to free me from these nightmares that torment my mind'...No, that type of speech won't work either. Come on...think...." Asim was muttering too himself, thinking of how he was going to introduce what was bothering him pertaining his dreams. He hoped at least it was something that won't have a serious insanity problem like he once heard the na'vi speak about. What mattered was how he would say his dream was about, and the answer that the wise tsahik will give to him. All this thought about how he would say things distracted him a bit.

Enough to distract him from something large that was taring through the forest and towards him.

Something came out of the bushes and nearly swatted Asim with its tail, nearly bringing him down and pulling the air out of his lungs. Asim recovered and immediately aimed the rifle that he carried with him, and then stopped. It was Layontsin, he recognized her, and stopped himself from shooting as he lowered his weapon. The thanator anthro looked back at him and stopped, realizing that it was him and approaching him. "Next time, warn me that you are going to knock me down" Asim said in a displeased manner as he put his weapon away. Layontsin gave a grunt and and exhale, calming herself as she looked as if she had been running nonstop. "Asim...listen to me..." the anthro thanator said, Asim understanding what she was saying now that he learned the na'vi language. "Yes? What is it?" he said, ready to hear what she had to say. "(Something about an Ash clan)...they are not pleased that Anurai clan has you all skypeople. They kxap si Anurai clan. You...need to hide. They kill you and others." Layontsin said, with noticeable worry in her voice. This got Asim's attention as he heard about the intentions of this other clan, and also about the word that mean 'threaten' in the native tongue. "What? They did?....oh damn...Um...I...I help? We help?" Asim asked as he realized the gravity of the situation, doing his best to understand Layontsin. The anthro thanator shook her head and pointed to with one of her four hands to the mountains, in the direction where his home was. "No. You and family must go hide. Everyone must hide." Layontsin said to Asim, looking down back at him with the same worried face she was wearing. Asim realized that she was being serious about going all the way to him with the warning, so he nodded. "Alright. I will go. Be safe." Asim said to her as he backed away and turned around to leave. One clawed hand grab his, and he turned back to see Layontsin having grabbed his arm with two of her four hands. "You be safe." Layontsin said, in what Asim could make out of the na'vi language. He stared at her holding his arm and then up at her, seeing her face still with worry. Then he moved his free arm and patted her hand with his own. "I...Promise." Asim said in assurance to the anthro thanator.

After a moment, she let go of him. And then Asim turned around to head back to the outpost as soon as he could.

***

"I TOLD you it was a bad idea to get involved into this!!!" Kentaro said in a loud voice after hearing what Asim had said about the current situation. He was back in the outpost, all of his friends having gathered around to listen to what problem the Anurai clan was facing. The group was worried about the news, and rightfully so because of the implications that it will mean for the Anurai clan that has given them hospitality. The majority of the group was now at the expectancy, but Kentaro was somewhat outraged because of this. "What exactly did you expect to happen? This? How do you know for sure?" Asim asked Kentaro, a bit annoyed by the overreactive displeasure that his friend was exhibiting. "Getting involved further into this will bring us more trouble than we have faced before! Problems that we did not ask for!" Kentaro said while he paced around furiously. "Again, what did you exactly expect? That we won't have problems like this in our new life here? This was bound to happen. But this time it's from our part, not some anonymous high organization that forces us to make a predetermined choice." Asim said to him. "That is exactly what we are trying to avoid. I warned everyone about this. And now we will get involved into something far large enough for us to handle!" Kentaro retorted, stopping to stand in front of him. "Well, what do you suggest? Sit around and do nothing? We need to help them! Otherwise they will be attacked by the other na'vi clan!" Asim said, raising his tone a bit as he stood up. Kentaro frowned and glared at his leading friend, stepping forwards. "If we go help them, there will be no stopping to this. And everyone here knows it." Kentaro said with bitterness. Asim sighed and shook his head in disapproval. "We can't leave them. They treated us so kindly. As we have done the same in just a fraction. Now it's our turn to return the favor." Asim explained to him. Kentaro was about to speak when Mikhail interrupted.

"He's right. Our code of honor will not be cast aside just for our safety. It's for the safety of those that have the same honor as us." Mikhail said, stepping forwards. "I am in the same boat. We all are. There are no exceptions." Emeralda said in support. "We owe it to them. The na'vi clan must have defended us in some sort of dialogue with the other hostile clan. We cannot let their defense be in vain." Shaka said as he too came to them. Seeing that he was outmatched, Kentaro sighed in defeat and in worry. "If we go though this, I fear that it won't end. It will be the death of us." Kentaro said. "True. But, then again...when has certain death situations stopped us before?" Asim asked his friend, smiling as he patted Kentaro's shoulder. Kentaro rolled his eyes and grumbled something in his breath. "Fine. I'm the only voice of reason that gets regularly ignored. But don't say I didn't warn you" he said.

***

Moments later, everyone was starting to suit and gear up. They brought anything they might need, even some that would seem unnecessary. Each of them knew that they had to be prepared for any type of situation, including the one situation they did not want to be involved into anymore.

Which was battle.

Yet, now they knew that sooner or later they would have to do so, in order to keep each other safe. That was the only way that they knew ever since they have escaped. Everyone knew that, even if some felt like it would be contradictory to the purpose they have chosen for themselves. Asim was so deep in thought while he checked his equipment and weapons when he heard his little sister speak to him. "Big brother! Where are you and the others going now?" Lily asked as she tugged on his hand. "Oh. Lily. We...we are going somewhere important. Unfortunately, you cannot come with us this time." Asim said as he turned around and knelt down to her level. "Aww...why not? Why can't I come?" Lily asked, saddened by the response he gave her. "Because...it's something that we can handle. Things...will get dangerous. And we don't want you to get hurt. We'll be back before you know it. Meanwhile, you stay right here." Asim said, placing a hand on her chest. Lily looked at him and then nodded in approval, moving to go to her room. "I'll be back. I promise." Asim called out to her as he stood back up before heading to the exit room. There, his friends were all lined up, with everything they were bringing at the ready.

"Okay everyone. Let's move out!" Asim said. "Roger!" his team said in unison before everyone began to leave the outpost, towards the hangar where they would go into the chopper that would carry them across the forest.