Finally alive (Book 1)

IX

I didn't get a chance to speak to Grace, because she was in a very unusually bad mood. Well, I didn't want to engage her, because she had that look on her face. She stomped around the lab all morning, shouting at an assistant at random.

It was weird that instead of going to the pods, we had to pack what little we had and come to the lab. Now all three of us stood there in silence when she put a microscope on the table harder than necessary

'We are getting out of dodge.' she looked pointedly at Jake. 'I'm not about to let Selfridge snoop around my department.' to which, Jake just straightened his shoulders. Norm busied around the lab, as I stared at the marine's neck. 'There is a pod at site 11, where we can work without interruptions, way up in the mountains.' she packed the device.

No way. Does she mean the Hallelujah mountains? Norm voices the question out loud.

'That's right.'

Damn. I would be more than happy to see that place, but I hate heights.

Norm looks like a child that just got a bag of candy. Of all people in the room, Jake looked utterly confused. Norm looked at him like he was the most uneducated being on the galaxy.

'The legendary mountains of Hallelujah? Ever heard of those?' I didn't like Norm's tone but stayed quiet. I just want to get back to my avatar, back to nature.

This anxious feeling kicked in as soon as we lifted off. I couldn't shake it, but I brushed it off to approaching the vortex field. The rational part of my brain said that it's not true.

I thought nothing was as surreal and mesmerizing as this place. I have seen pictures but nothing can portray what we were seeing now. Once the fog cleared, the floating rocks appeared making my jaw drop.

'If you could only see your faces.' Trudy laughed.

Once we settled down in the encampment, Jake and I almost immediately went to the pods. But not before Grace made us eat some quickly made food.

Later that day I find myself back at the area where the Na'vi trains for shooting a bow. There were targets, and after inspecting one closer, I knew that it was made of an animal's skin and painted in bright yellow dye, serving as a bullseye.

'Tawtute.' [Sky person.] I turn to Tsu'tey, not meaning to respond to that name. Scowling slightly, I say as nicely as possible.

'My name is Sena, Tsu'tey. It won't bite you to use my actual name, you know?'

His tail twitches, just as mine, was showing slight annoyance. 'Let's see if you can shoot as good as you speak.' he extends his hand towards the target, and I swallow harder thinking on how badly I will screw this up. I mean, I am excited to learn, but the way he acts with me being in the near vicinity might have some influence.

'Fa niprrte'.'[With pleasure] I say walking to the correct spot. I pray to the skies that I won't mess up too bad.

I fumble while putting the arrow to the bow. The only thing I used to use to shoot things out of, was a slingshot. This is way harder.

'You need to put the back of the arrow here.' Tsu'tey states, showing on his bow. I looked intently at how he expertly put the arrow into the bow. He used two of his fingers two pull the arrow towards himself and he let go, making a perfect bullseye.

It was amazing to have a live example, but he did it so fast I immediately forget how it needs to be done. I mean, I'm not stupid, I have seen how people do this, but when I need to do this; all knowledge runs for the hills.

He looks down to me, expecting me to do the same. Hell, if I hit the target at least once I would count this as a victory.

I try to repeat his steps, together ignoring his intense gaze. Do all natives stare at each other like this? Is it okay if I ask to not stare at me like that?

I put the arrow in its place, and draw it towards myself. My hands start to shake slightly, as I try to keep steady.

'Your grip is to tight. And you need to have steady breathing.' he says walking to my right, as I loosen my grip slightly, releasing a long breath. I don't even know when I stopped breathing.

'Good. Now aim and shoot.' he says absently, his hands on his hips. I focus on the target in front of me, breathing out and letting the arrow to fly.

It seemed that the time slowed, as the arrow approached the stretched skin piece. But only for a second.

The arrow hits the target just a bit shy off the second ring. I stare at it, trying to remain calm, while Tsu'tey scoffs beside me.

'Not nearly enough. To pass the test, you need to have excellent aim.'

I nearly roll my eyes at him. He sounded like one of my college professors, talking about my anatomy exam.

'Well, isn't that why I'm here?' I joke, not caring that he might not understand me. He could stuff his attitude. To that thought, I chuckle to myself and turn to the target again.

I will rock this.