Once upon a lie- Neteyam Sully

Chapter Twenty Two

I think I might die. 

No, scratch that, I know that I am going to die. 

Neteyam did not prepare me for this. In fact he might just be the worst teacher I've ever had. I stand on the side of a cliff with four other kids my age, getting ready to complete the final portion of the rites. I watch as a boy named Elan fights with an Ikran, nearly getting thrown off the side of a cliff as he does so.

If I die I swear to god I will haunt Neteyam so fucking hard. Thanks to him I'm tired as hell, running on maybe an hour or two of sleep and also distracted. So very distracted. He's invaded every part of my life and I'm going insane. What am I thinking? Fucking around with the clan leaders son? That's practically suicide.

"Amelia you're up." My eyes widen as Ayunu signals for me to get out there. Elan is long gone, flying around with his stupid Ikran. He stops me before I go out, holding me in place with my wrist. "Remember it's going to try and kill you- not friendly." He says, his accent thick as he gives me last minute advice. 

At his instruction I creep out through the vines, eying the giant monsters in front of me. There's nearly fifty of them sun bathing peacefully, all of them different colors with unique designs. Here goes nothing I guess. 

Just like that I'm stepping into the clearing, accessing each and everyone one of them before moving forward. Most of them don't even spare me a glance, others growl at me but still don't approach. Every once in a while I'll get closer to one that seems particularly violent but they simply fly away not wanting anything to do with me. 

I make my way to the far side of the clearing, still having no luck at all. Fuck this. I did not go through all of this shit just to not pass this. 

That's when I see it. 

I see the giant brooding monster walk right in front of me, baring its teeth and growling like it's about to rip head off. This time when I approach it doesn't fly away instead it gets more hostile, sizing me up immediately. The banshee itself is the largest and most beautiful on the entire clearing, also the most fucking intimidating. Holy hell. I'm definitely going to die.   

I don't waste time, going straight into action as I wrestle with the purple and green Ikran. I use the leather rope to attempt to bound it's mouth but end up miserably failing as it slams my body to the ground, it's face nearly touching my own. I try again with the rope but it only makes it angrier, now taking bites at me head- I only narrowly dodge them rolling to the side as it claws at the space I was just at. 

My eyes widen as I look at the spot next to me. His claws managed to scrape a fucking hole in the rock where my head once was. I guess Neteyam wasn't as useless as I had thought. Thank Eywa we went over blocking last week.

Fuck this and fuck the stupid rope that isn't doing anything to help. I throw it away, baring my teeth to the banshee with a loud hiss. It's eyes are level to my own, angry and unforgiving. Lets see about that.

I  jump into action without a second though, flipping the banshee to it's stomach and holding onto it's que and attempting to bring it down to my own. The Ikran thrashes and bucks beneath my hips but I hold it in place as I make the bond. 

It's a feeling like no other. Euphoria dances over my skin and warmth fills my entire body. The banshee stops moving, relaxing against the stone. I will him to stand up, the two of us rising together as one. 

"Fly! Now!" I hear Ayunu yell from the side. Just like that the two of us are jumping off the cliff like the mad men we are- soaring through the air, wind whipping in my face.