Avatar: Nova Blanchard's Story

Chapter 17

Iknimaya.

Roughly translated into English as the stairway to heaven. It was the last test I as younger hunter, have to pass to become an accepted toronyu. To become one of the people.

For many months I have trained for this test. But in this moment it meant so much more than it ever had. I had to become toranyu if not for the sake of the Avatar Program then for the sake of the man I loved.

I refused to watch another women whisk him away. Not without him knowing how I felt. Not without giving what we could have a shot.

When Grace and Norm found out Jake and I both would be going for Iknimaya they had been ecstatic. We all agreed to celebrate after we returned back to base. Quarich was making us come back from our moutain getaway. Not that I really minded. I was looking forward to seeing Hilary and the others.

Everyone in the Avatar Program plus Hilary showed up to congratulate us. It seemed the news had spread like wildfire across base. To them this could be the start of a new age. Once we completed out test we would have a say in the tribe. We could help make decisions. We could possibly get the Avatar Program full access to the village agian.

After partying with the others Jake and I slipped away to talk privately about the last test. We walking to his room when we saw Norm and Trudy up against the wall with there tongues down each others throat.

I stared gaping mouthed at them. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Jake snickered and stirred me away from them. I guess that was one way of celebrating.

"Tom would be so proud of you." I beamed at the marine.

Jake's lips twitched. "I hope so. If not for him this wouldn't be possible. I wish he could see this place."

I nodded sadly.

Letting my mind drift through the memories I had of him. From the day I met him. Through Various Na'vi days. To the day I showed him my powers, the day I got his letter. To the day of our last goodbye. I sat there and thought sbout all the things I knew. An then a thought popped up in my mind.

"His favorite pandorian animal was the Moutain Banshee. He loved there various array of colors. An he loved that once bonded there loyalty was for life. Loyalty was everything to him."

Jake stared at me with an expression I couldn't place. "You were loyal to my brother. Even to the very end. I will always have the upmost respect for you because of that. Thank you."

I reached out and squeezed his hand. "He was my Big Brother. My family. Just as you are now my family. You don't need to thank me."

Jake smiled and squeezed my hand back.

After a long talk with Jake I went to my room to rest. The second my eyes closed. I felt my self drifting away. For a moment all there was to see was a white nothing. Then color seeped in and I found myself by a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the forest.

I reached out to touch what looked like a beautiful flower, but the second I did it lifted and started spinning in the air. It was then I realized it was a creature in disguise.

I smiled and poked some more before hearing an amused chuckle behind me. I turned to see the Na'vi women from my  vision. I stopped instantly.

She shook her head and watched me.

"You used to love doing that as a child?"

I frowned. "I think you have the wrong person. Im human, not Na'vi."

Her lips twitched in amusement. "I am never wrong child. I think I would know the daughter of my own creation."

I sighed. "Seriously. I think you got it wrong. My name is Nova. Not Ey'lue."