Wish You Were Dead

Chapter Six

Alyara

Two years before the humans return/Four years before the incident
Twelve and thirteen years old

She starts today early. The sun has yet to come up and the plants of the forest are still illuminating in the dark shadows. She hops among the trees, swinging between the branches like a syaksyuk(prolemuris). Every time a thought comes to her mind, she runs faster and jumps farther; she is determined to let go of everything for today, so that her mind will be sharp and focused.

Because today is the day she tames her ikran.

She won't be alone, of course, Neteyam and his parents will tag along. Though Maru had promised, she won't make it. It saddens Alyara's heart every time she remembers. Her grandfather won't be attending either, which Alyara is thankful for. To him, it doesn't matter how she does it, Alyara just has to get it done.

For this morning, though, Alyara wouldn't think about anything like that. She'll run as far as she can, see as many sights as she can, and enjoy the forest a little while longer. Just before she takes flight. She runs and runs until her legs get too tired of jumping and her lungs can't catch a breath. She runs until her forehead is coated in sweat, and then she keeps running.

It is such an awful feeling, but that's what makes it so freeing. Without restrictions to what she does or how she acts. Alyara is convinced nothing is better than running.

She takes a moment to catch a breath and study the world around her. The lights of the forest are dimming and the rays of sun strike through the breaks in the leaves. The world shimmers as the light reflects through the misty droplets in the air hanging above the forest floor.

She takes a seat on the large branch that she had stopped on. Alyara huffs a breath and closes her eyes. This is all she needs.

Jake leads both Neteyam and Alyara up the vines connecting the floating rocks. After having trekked through the forest that morning and rushing to the mountains on a pa'li(direhorse), Alyara was nearly spent. Still, she kept a smile as she worked her muscles to pull herself farther up the vines. Neteyam was as quick as ever, keeping just behind his father.

The sun beats down on their glistening skin, and there is no wind this high up to cool them. They leap up the vine, using every muscle in their body to propel themselves even higher. Finally, the levitating rock comes into view making the herculean task slightly more bearable. Jake is the first to reach the top, and Neteyam is a close second. When Alyara stands on the somewhat even rock, she relishes in the feel. She takes in a breath of air as Jake waits for the mountain to turn and provide them with more vines.

"Alright, get ready." He says to them. He takes a step back before jumping off the ledge of the rock and catching hold of the vine. He leaves Neteyam and Alyara to wait for their own vines. Alyara readies herself to jump next.

"Don't tell me you're tired already." Neteyam laughs.

She glowers at him, "You're literally so funny I might just throw you off this rock."

His smile widens as he watches the vines come into view, "Guess you missed your chance, hope you don't fall yourself." He leaps and grabs a vine, not wasting a second to scale up to the cave burrowed in the mountain above.

Alyara scoffs as she sees the next vine. It's just barely long enough for Alyara to grab, and there isn't another one anywhere near. Rather than worrying, she steals a moment to jump, praying that Eywa will give her the strength to hold on. Her heart doesn't have the time to skip a beat as she stretches out her arms and grips with vine with all her might. Alyara sighs in relief and moves to pull herself up to the mountain.