The gift of Eywa

chapeter 4: uh oh

Rapidly moving my legs as he turns his head around facing me. "Nova..." Jake mutters weakly. Getting to him I hook his arm around my shoulder as I start to swim to shore. Laying on the trunk Gasping for air Jake turns to me as I open my mouth to say... "that was fun." Jake looked at me like I was crazy, but I could tell that he expected that.

Crouching under a screen of giant leaves Jake hacks manically at the end of a cut sappling with knife, forming a crude, sharp tip. Jake lead the way walking through the forest like it's a minefield with white knuckles gripping the spear. All I feel is helpless that there is nothing I can do to reassure him that we are alright when we are lost in a pandorian forest full of danger.

Sighing I hold Jakes hand as we maneuver through the trees, feeling the need to protect and comfort him. Looking at his I see his cheeks a little bit purple. 'He might be getting sick.' our poor naive Nova, so oblivious.

Jake and I see a shape moving in liquid grace in the night as shadows loom behind us, however it's present is unknown to the both of us. Tight on Jake's hand he nots his t-shirt on the butt end of the spear. Thick sap trickles down the tree as Jake jams the makeshift torch into the tree, soaking the t-shirt in it.

Giving him a waterproof match from my kit a pool of light is shown, revealing a pulsing shadow leaping as me and Jake look around warily before moving along the trail. On the edge of panic Jake grabs my hand and runs along the trunk once hearing the hideous sound of a hyenas psychotic laugh.

Soon we stop dead in our tracks when the torch illuminated green eyes cutting ahead of us across the trail as the animals circled around us. 'Viperwolves, and they hunt in packs' "Uh oh" one of the viperwolves broke from the pack before lunging at Jake who swung the spear around as half of the pack slowly walked toward me and... circled around me in a protective manner. You always had a way with animals.

Crouching down to the ground I started to pet them but was soon brought out of my trance when I heard Jakes scream."I don't have all Godamn night! Come on!" 'Idiot' Looking back I see Jake taunting the viperwolves. With a snarl and a blur of motion they attack. Jake cracks yhe spear down and spin as another leaps at him and he plants the spear in it but it's momentum is wrenched from his hands and the torch goes flying, leaving us in semi-darkness. All the while this is happening the other half of the pack is still surrounding me in a circle in a form of protection.

"JAKE!" one of the viperwolves launches and sinks its teeth into his arm as Jake yells in pain. He trys to escape but one grabs him by the ankle, getting up I was ready to help him as three viperwolves launched at him when a arrow suddenly appears in its chest. 'Who-' the wolf lands on Jake as I race over to him. Pushing it off him we see a blue amazon emerge from the trees, they drew another arrow as an unearthly sound came out of one they shot at whe a viperwolf charged. 'Did he protect us?'

He leaps right over us and cracks his bow over the skull of the injured wolf. Suddenly another springs up at her and her drops under the weight but soon emerged onto with knife in hand as she sinks it into the poor wolfs gut. In the corner of my eyes u see Jake once again getting attacked so I grab the viperwolf by its scruffs and threw them off.

The unknown na'vi hisses at the viperwolves to scare them off but they seem hesitant, looking at me with an unknown glint in their eyes. Kind of understanding what they were trying to say I nod my head, signaling they could go and I would be fine as they take off running back into the woods.

Suddenly the stranger turns to us before picking up the torch. "Wait don't" Jake says but its useless as she had already through it in the river. Blinking around the darkness I realise we can still see. And to be honest without the light the forest has transformed beautifully.

The jungle looks as if it has come to life, with boiluminescence, spit patterns, ghost and galaxies of blue and green light. Jake scrambles to get the spear while I stay in place, curiously watching the na'vi kneel down beside the injured viperwolve as it cries, pawing the air. I can't help but feel my heart breaking at the pitiful sight of a hurt animal.

"Forgive me, my brother" he whispers in na'vi before pulling out the knife and slitting its throat because I presume she wants to put it out of its misery. He wipes the knife before returning it into his sheath on his waist before she goes to another slain wolf and pull the arrow out. "Look, I know you probably won't understand this but thanks, we-i owe you."

I couldn't help but deadpan at what my best friend was saying, he was thanking him for killing them when we were in the wrong by stepping into their territory. The na'vi ignores us and assumes a praying poster over the slain animals. "Forgive me, may your spirt run with the great mother."

"We would have been screwed if you didn't come along-" the unknown man rises and walks away bit I can't help but follow, feeling a connection to not only her but something that I must follow. "Hey, wait up." I say chasing after him as Jake follows with protective look.

We crash through some plants as Jake is trying to thank her for saving us I make the mistake of trying to stop him by grabbing her shoulder. 'Ouch' I feel a harsh blow deliverd to my head as Jake rushes forward and protectively stand infront of me with a angered look as I slowly rise to my feet. "Don't thank! You don't thank for this! This is sad. Very sad only." He says speaking perfect English.

"This is all your fault, they did not need to die." Gesturing to the viperwolves bodies. "They attacked us, how are we the bad guy here-" Jake stops talking as the tip of his bow is angles at his throat as I get into a defensive position.

"Your fault. You are like a baby making noise, don't know what to do. You should of not came here, all of you. You only come to make problems. Only." I couldn't help but let out a silent chuckle at the first part of what she said, I mean, he is kinda right. "Ok fine, you love your forest. So why not let them kill us? What's the thinking?" I say confused as I step in between them.

He turns away before reluctantly letting the golden orbs meet mine as they soften. "Why save you?" "Yes, why save us?" I say to her, "You have strong heart, no fear." The na'vi man says before his eyes turn to stone as he looks at us, well more like Jake. "But stupid! Ignorant like a child!"

He turns away, stalking off as I continue to follow her as Jake follows me. He climbs nimbly along the huge root as the na'vi trots woth perfect balance which forms a elevated walkway.