Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{72}

Layontsin proudly walked back towards the Anurai clan village, while holding the skyperson in her grasp.

In three arms she carried Asim, while the other she carried the 'offering' that he gave her. It was strange that Asim had given her such gift to her, something related to the memory that he had before. Layontsin was kind of confused as normally such thing could bring bad memories to one self. Yet, Asim had given her this kind of offering to her instead of food, a necklace or another strange skyperson gift. The food was more of a favorite to her, as she enjoyed some specific meats that thanators liked and were present for all to see. But it would have been boring as it most definitely took out the thrill of hunting that her predatory instincts demanded when it came to food. More importantly, Layontsin was taken back in surprise when she saw Asim offer her the gift and then kneel down as some form of respect. The only time she had seen this gesture in na'vi culture was when one was named a hunter, part of the clan, or leader of the clan. This confused Layontsin as she didn't know what this similar gesture would mean in the human culture. So she decided to ask about the subject to one of Asim's friends to figure out its meaning. As usual, when Layontsin arrived at the clan village, she was greeted by her fellow na'vi. Later she finally set Asim down on the ground, the skyperson thanking her before moving to where his friends were gathered.

Layontsin watched him walk off before going further into the village to meet up with the clan leaders.

***

What they explained to her about the storytelling that she would take part in made her feel more at ease. What didn't put her at ease was the part where she was needed to reenact meeting Asim for the first time, and she explained that to the clan leaders. "I am not sure if the whole clan will like me seeing trying to kill him, even if it is just storytelling. What if it scares the children?" Layontsin asked them, her flat tail twitching behind her. "There is nothing to worry about. You have participated in storytelling about you protecting us from danger. Now it is the same thing with them, about how we came to know him and his family." Unil'tingai explained, placing a hand on one of the anthro thanator's arms to comfort her. "But...what if I do it wrong? Or I actually harm Asim? I already hissed at him when he came to see me while eating my prey." Latontsin explained to them. "Did he run away scared or back off? Or did he remain where he was?" Rai'uk asked Layontsin. "He didn't run off. Instead, he remained until I calmed down." She said to them, smiling a bit. "Brave one. Still a warrior with courage and no fear." Rai'uk said, smiling as he seemed impressed. "On top of that, it shows that he does truly care about you. He went to search for you despite our warnings." Unil'tingai said, also looking happy and proud. Layontsin nodded, thankful for clearing her doubts once more.

Then her quills perked up when she remembered about Asim giving her the offering. "Oh. And furthermore from not escaping, he gave me these flowers." Layontsin said, twisting around to pick up the flowers that Asim gifted her. The clan leaders inspected the flowers that were held inside an object that contained part of the ground. "He gave them to me while...kneeling down. What might this gesture symbolize?" Layontsin asked them. The clan leader and tsahik watched the flowers and began to think thoroughly. "It is definitely a gift to you. The gesture...it's not something we know exactly." Rai'uk said in honesty. "Try asking Shaka about it. He knows more than me. We can learn more about the skypeople that way. It's the reason we let them here." Unil'tingai said to Layontsin, gesturing with a hand to where the skypeople were gathered. "Alright" she said and began to walk over to them. "Oh. I forgot to ask something." Layontsin said, stopping in her tracks and turning to face the clan leaders again. "Yes?" Rai'uk asked her, stopping from reaching out for the flowers to examine them more closely. "Did they already tell you about the new storytelling that will take place after retelling our history? And the part you two will take?" Layontsin asked them. "Oh, sure. There is nothing for you to worry, dear. They already informed us about it. We will practice later during the day." Unil'tingai said to Layontsin. The anthro thanator gave a sigh of relief and nodded, now more calm that the clan leaders were aware of it.

Later, Layontsin went to the skypeople group, who was busy with some na'vi kids, and spotted Shaka currently busy with them. She spoke to one of them to call Layontsin, Kentaro being said one, and watched how he went to Shaka. Both spoke to each other before Shaka turned to the kids again, telling them that he will be busy for a moment and would return soon. The na'vi children protested a bit because of Shaka leaving, but Layontsin stepped in to help him and calm the kids down. They obeyed and returned to their parents for the moment, freeing Shaka for a moment while the rest of the group dealt with conversations among other na'vi. "Yes? You wanted to ask me something?" Shaka said as he sat down with the anthro thanator. Layontsin looked over at Asim, who was currently speaking with a na'vi hunter, and then back at Shaka. "I want to know what the flowers and the kneeling gesture that Asim gave me means in your culture." Layontsin said to him. Shaka rubbed his chin for a moment, careful in thought, before answering. "It means a formal way to express interest and affection to someone. Especially to some that they consider would be a good mate for them. A gesture of love." Shaka said to the anthro thanator.

Hearing this, and remembering the talk with the tsahik not long ago, made Layontsin tense up and her crest plates and quills pin down.

"R-really? Asim...is truly in love with me?" Layontsin stuttered, making Shaka raise up his hands and wave them to try calm her down. "Not as in very much. He...is just beginning to show it. Right now...it is very difficult for him to express it, but it's there." Shaka said to her. Now hearing this sparked some curiosity as she slowly started to calm down. "Difficult? How?" Layontsin asked, her tail curling around herself as she prepared to listen. Shaka moved closer to the anthro thanator before starting to explain. "Asim is like us, having been taught to be soldiers(?), or fierce and unwavering warriors meant for war. All emotions like compassion, guilt, questioning, and even affection and love, were taught to us to be suppressed, so that those won't distract us from the fighting. Thankfully, they haven't been completely suppressed, and each of us has grown to feel them again. Just that...Asim is still struggling to feel that emotion again. It can't be understood by him, but I am certain, with no doubt, that he will soon find a way to express his feelings and gratitude to you." Shaka explained to Layontsin. She imagined the thing that Asim went through when she saw his memories, being taught how to fight in that nightmarish place devoid of anything natural. Yet she felt relieved when Shaka went to the part that let her know that Asim wasn't lost or with no hope. Now, she knew, as she watched Asim now smiling more than ever, that what Shaka told her was true. "Thank you. For making me understand him better." Layontsin said to Shaka with a smile. "Gladly. Make sure that you also don't give up on him. So that I will stop having to encourage him when he acts like a helpless moron." Shaka said with a smirk, making the anthro thanator bark a small laugh.

Shaka then went to return with the kids, who were overjoyed to see him walk back to them. Layontsin smiled and also headed over to where the skyperson group was. She made sure to sit next to Asim, to which he looked surprised that the anthro thanator was suddenly there. Layontsin looked down at him and gave a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a nuzzle. "Thank you for the flowers." Layontsin said to him. Asim looked up at her and nodded, giving her a smile of his own. "You are welcome" he said, looking back at the na'vi kids that were playing with his family. They spent almost the rest of the day together, sharing meals, telling stories, and exchanging knowledge to both kinds. Later the group practiced the storytelling with the clan leaders, and Layontsin also played a part of her role one time without any more doubt. Until the skypeople deemed it was time to go back to their small metal village once the sun started to set. Layontsin waited until they all said their goodbyes before following them to their flying metal beast. "Take care. All of you." Layontsin said, to Asim and then to the rest of his family as they prepared to leave. "We will be in time for the celebration" Shaka assured as everyone boarded the metal beast. Asim nodded and gave Layontsin a warm smile, the first Layontsin has ever seen, before the wind began to pick up.

Layontsin smiled and stood where she was as she saw them leave to their home, feeling more joy in her heart than before.