Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{38}

The tsahik planned on giving Asim a part of the rituals used to reveal secrets.

Or, to be precise, something that will confirm that what he saw was either symbolic from his part or a vision of the future. At least, that's what he assumed when Rai'uk explained to him what the ritual was meant to accomplish. In all honesty, Asim didn't believe that such things like visions of future events even existed. Nor had the impression that they were even possible. Because if they were, humanity would have obtained that ability way before and saved themselves the trouble of plunging their home world into waste. The only thing that he would believe was scientific explanations, like some others would which included doctors and scientists. However, if these things did exist in this world, Pandora, and Asim was the first one to witness it, then it would mean that his constant waking nightmares weren't a coincidence. And that somehow they were connected to how he was able to come back alive and have this strange ability to breathe the deadly atmosphere of Pandora. So, Asim accepted that he were to undergo these kinds of rituals. Which...we're kind of simple when he saw the tsahik start.

This first ritual consisted of him kneeling down near a fireplace, which was on low flame and emitted a smoke that spread around and smelled like something sweet. It filled his nose and gave him comfort in part, while the tsahik walked around him and shook what looked like a bunch of feathers coated in a red dye. The tsahik murmured something in the native tongue, as if chanting something so that what Asim was experiencing will take effect. Unil'tingai continued to circle around him as she chanted softly, before crouching and stopping right in front of him. Then she shook the feather cluster firmly in front of him, causing the red dust dye to shake of and plaster over his face. Asim closed his eyes quickly as the red dust coated his face, some of it unexpectedly entering his nostrils and making his nose twitch. The tsahik then began to chant louder, as the scent of the fire smoke was interrupted for Asim because of the dust entering his lungs. At first nothing seemed to happen, before he felt something sting his lungs and make his nerves be paralyzed momentarily. Adding to that, his mind began to cloud a bit as he started to feel dizzy and his head tilt back. All he could hear was the tsahik chanting and those with him have their eyes on him all the time. Realizing that the climax was arriving soon and that he couldn't do anything to stop it, Asim let it happen...

Before he gave out a loud sneeze.

The sneeze made him expel the red dust that got into his lungs, making them spread outwards and down to the ground because of the strong sneeze. It spread everywhere, making those near them cough and sneeze. Asim recovered and sniffed, rubbing his nose with his hands to ease the unpleasant twitching that was the aftermath of the sneeze. His lungs still sting a bit, but he didn't feel himself anything different than before. "That's it? Was that supposed to happen?" Asim asked Rai'uk. The clan leader shook his head and looked at his mate. "You were meant to say things from your heart, but it seems your body rejected the red 'umtsa." He explained to him. Asim sighed and rubbed his eyes in frustration, a bit disappointed that the ritual didn't turn out like expected for all of them. "Is there anything else that will help?" Asim asked as he recovered fully and looked at the two clan leaders. Rai'uk and Unil'tingai looked at the campfire before the clan leader spoke again. "There is the Unil'taron, which is called "dream hunt", but it is too dangerous even for a skyperson." Rai'uk explained to Asim. He sighed and looked down in disappointment, knowing this type of ritual to be extremely dangerous thanks to Shaka explaining it to him one time. The venom of the scorpion would be too much for Asim or anyone to handle, even if in the best health. "Are there any other rituals? Because if that is the only one, I am willing to risk it." Asim asked the two clan leaders, determined to take this risk even if he knew it would cost him.

A moment passed before Unil'tingai looked up and spoke to Asim. "There are other ones. Iknimaya and Ikranä Maktoyu. Mostly reserved for the young na'vi after hunting successfully, but it can work." Rai'uk translated what his mate had said. "What has to be done in this rite of passage?" Asim asked, also recognizing these two types of passage rites. Layontsin now seemed a bit concerned when she heard what Unil'tingai had said, Asim assuming that she was saying that he couldn't do it because it was dangerous because of her worried face. Unil'tingai held Layontsin's hands as best she could and said something that eased the thanator a bit, but Layontsin still looked worried. "It is impossible for you to achieve it as you cannot form tsaheylu with the ikrans. And it will also put your life in danger. However, my mate insists that you should take this path." The clan leader said to him. "Okay then. I accept. But...what is your mate trying to find out?" Asim said, then asking as he noticed that they were sending him to the place of the banshees with no confirmation that it would have successful results. "My mate says she herself has to confirm the results. Wether you succeed or fail, the result will let her know the answer." Rai'uk translated as Unil'tingai spoke to him when he let her know what Asim was asking. Asim looked at each of them, seeing that they knew what they were doing even if they also knew the dangers, and then nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I'll go and complete the rites of passage" he said to them. They accepted the decision that Asim had taken and went to another place while he and Layontsin sat there to wait. The anthro thanator moved closer to him and started to speak to him in a more worried tone, a few of the words that he understood being "dangerous", "death" and "difficult". "It's okay. I know what I've signed up for, and I am not backing down. If it's the only way I have for answers from the tsahik, I will gladly take it." Asim told Layontsin, reaching out to place a hand on one of her clawed hands. Layontsin looked at him straight in the eyes, not understanding completely his words, but realizing his resolve and nodded slightly. Then she looked down and noticed him having his hands on her's, and she immediately retracted her hands. Asim also noticed this and pulled them away from her, also being surprised when he did that when he really didn't mean to. "Oh...sorry" he apologized to the anthro thanator as he looked down and away, face heating up a small percentage. Some time later the two clan leaders came back to the two, Rai'uk moving to Asim and handing him what looked like a rolled-up vine. Asim took it in his hands and examined the vine with curiosity as the clan leader explained. "This is for the passage. For you to tame your ikran. Layontsin shall show you the way." Rai'uk said, turning to the anthro thanator to explain what she needed to do. Layontsin seemed hesitant, but then she nodded and exhaled from her four breathing holes in her neck as a sign that she would do it. The anthro thanator then got up and stepped out of the hut, gesturing for Asim to follow her. He immediately got up and went to follow right behind, realizing that they were now going to the place where they should go.

"Good luck!" Rai'uk called out as the two left the village.