ꎇ꒒ꌩꀤꈤꁅ ꅏꀤ꓄ꃅ ꓄ꃅꍟ ꂦꂵꍏ꓄ꀤꀘꍏꌩꍏ (ꍏꃴꍏ꓄ꍏꋪ ꊼ ꂦꉓꌗ)

\\ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟟//

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Just then, Nate walked in, hair frizzed from tossing and turning in his link. He wasn't going to tell the others he and Ke'Kaya had run into a Toruk as well. It wasn't relevant at the moment, he just wanted sleep, and something to eat. He was, however, drawn in when he heard the others talking about the Tree of Souls. 

Grace was scanning through images and Jake stopped her on one, a 3D aerial shot of the strange arched formation.

"That's it." He calls. 

"Vitraya Ramunong..." Nate announced, leaning against the wall. 

The others turned to look at him and Grace nodded. 

"The Well of Souls." She translated, turning back to the monitor as Nate walked up and placed his hands on her chair, leaning over her shoulder to see. 

"It's their most sacred place." She moves the virtual camera, and we seem to fly around the Well of Souls, catching only a glimpse of the interior.

"Something big is going on in there, biologically." She sighs, leaning back and folding her arms. 

"I'd die to get samples..." She mused. 

"But outsiders are strictly forbidden." She adds, looking jealously over at Jake and Nate. 

The next morning Nate and Jake had off from learning the Na'vi ways. Ke'Kaya and Neytiri were with their mother, learning the way of being a great leader so Jake said he'd wanted to sleep in, be human for a day. Nate decided he too, was going to sleep in, focus on his human body for the day instead of his Avatar. When the ex-seal opened his eyes he was met with bright sun rays and the cool blow of the ac. He sighed, closing his eyes and running his hand over his face before his gaze focused on the ceiling above his bunk. Nate huffed and stood, grabbing a fresh pair of slacks and heading for the shower.

Nate's fingers raked through his hair as suds of shampoo ran down his body. The steam masked his tanned skin as he dragged his luffa over his arms and chest. Ke'Kaya's laugh rumbled in his head, the blinking of her golden eyes blinded him. He could still feel the warmth of her grayish-blue skin as she touched him. Nate panted as the blood heated in his body, his eyes closing as he leaned his head on the shower door.

~𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘺,~ His name dripped like honey out her mouth.

Nate clenched his hands on the wall slowly lowering them.

BANG BANG BANG

"Hey! Leave some hot water for the rest of us!" Grace's voice teased as she walked away.

Nate blinked rapidly before turning the water off, stepping out, and drying himself off. Nate slipped on his gray slacks and headed back toward the bunk exit. Grabbing an exo-pack, Nate exited the makeshift camp and jumped onto the rocky floor.

He stood there with closed eyes basking in the sunlight for a minute before taking a deep breath and beginning to run laps around the bunk.

"1, 2, 3, 4," Nate panted as he finished lap after lap, sweat dripping down his shirtless torso.

Nate paused, placing his hands on his knees to breathe as he turned to watch Grace and Norm exit the bunk with their equipment. They squatted down beside a plant and began to work, poking and prodding at the specimen. Nate kicked away some dirt and rocks by a patch of grass and lowered to his hands, taking a deep breath before kicking off and going into a handstand. Nate clenched his jaw and blew air out his pursed lips as he began to slowly lower himself on his arms, pausing just before his nose touched the floor and pushed back up. Calisthenics were one of Nate's favorite exercises, they push the body like no other. He wasn't a fan of cardio, but it was necessary. Nate did a few more hand-stand push-ups before falling back to his feet and breathing hard, he had to admit, at times like this he wished he could take the mask off and just breathe the outside air, but he knew Pandora wouldn't allow him the rest bite he was searching for should he remove his breathing apparatuses. She'd kill him where he stood. Returning inside for water, Nate heard Jake and Trudy whispering, and the curious cat he was, Nate headed back into the main bunk room to see what they were talking about.

Trudy was in her own headstand while Jake sat at the computer looking over pictures and readings of Hometree and The Tree of Souls. Nate crept round the corner, staying out of sight, pressing his back to the wall as he listened.

"That thing done downloading yet?" Trudy asked.

Jake said nothing and Trudy lowered herself to the floor. Nate listened as she walked a few paces, pausing before speaking again.

"They're coming back,"

Nate then heard the bunk door open and the oxygen filter kick in. Norm and Grace must have finished their readings.

"If we don't give him something, he's going to shut us down," Trudy's voice lowered to a whisper, and Nate had to strain his ears to hear over Grace and Norm.

A click sounded, and Trudy spoke again.

"We're buying time, Jake." She spoke.

Nate furrowed his brows. Who were they buying time from? Who were Jake and Trudy reporting to? Nate lowered his eyes to his feet as the second door opened and the beep of the computer switching off rang. Grace and Norm trotted in talking about the atmosphere and other plant readings as Trudy walked up to them.

"Hey, you guys want anything from Town?" Trudy asked.

"Uhhh, sure, Peanut butter, Cocoa, Agar gel," Grace answered.

Trudy then turned her eyes to Norm.

"No, I'm good." He smiled.

Trudy then looked at Nate, who she hadn't realized was listening.

"As many protein bars as you can," Nate answered with a stern voice and Grace paused to look at him while Trudy just stared.

She nodded, exiting the bunk. Jake then turned to look at Nate and the ex-seal just glared at him before turning and walking away. The following afternoon Nate stood on the upper level on Hometree, tending to his Ikran as Ke'Kaya trotted up the spiral into the upper level, dressed in her flight gear and smiling widely. Nate turned away from his Ikran and looked at his mentor with a head tilt.

"And now? Why are you so cheerful?" He asked, his own small smile painted on his lips.

"It is the Hunt! How can I be unhappy?" Ke'Kaya beamed skipping up to Nate and grabbing his bicep gently.

"You and Jake are to join us in the hunt! Isn't that good?" She asked, her smile growing wider by the minute.

Nate paused for a second. The hunt... as in the hunt to feed all the Clan at the celebration Festival of the Hunt... that hunt...

"Natey?" Ke'Kaya tilted her head down, blinking her large eyes as she looked into him.

"Are you serious?" Nate blinked, refocusing his eyes on the woman before him.

Ke'Kaya nodded, releasing Nate's arm and calling her own Ikran.

"We must go, Tsu'Tey waits at the pass," Ke'Kaya mounted her Ikran and turned her eyes to Nate.

Nate nodded, mounting his Ikran and both of them took to the skies, heading for the ravine.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───