Women of Pandora

I watched Rey'ka take off on Talisi to head to the Upper Plains. Nesim, the Zeswa Olo'eyktan, told Rey'ka to find her sister at the Celebration Arches. I sighed softly as I looked down to the creek, I dipped my toes into the cool water. I had wanted Rey'ka to take a few more days to rest, before going back out on missions.

I know stopping the RDA is a common goal for everyone, it is the biggest fire for my Burning Passion for Pandora. But no one is useful if we don't take care of ourselves. I'm just a few days healed from my injury on my right side, from the attack on the Research Station, but Rey'ka has been moving non-stop since she was released from cryo.

It scared me when Rey'ka radio me during her panic attack, I couldn't do much other then talk her through the breathing technique. I am extremely worried for the next time she may have one. I took a breath turning from the creek. I hope she takes care of herself when she is in the Upper Plains.

When I fully turned from the creek. I saw So'lek, watching me, he was waiting for me by the HQ entrance. I walked over to him, I have been expecting a mission any day now, now that I am healed.

“Go pack what's essential,” he began, once I was in front of him, “you will be going to the Upper Plains as well.”

“Is this wise?” I asked as I heard a hiss taking it as my mask. “Ka'nat didn't take kindly to the time you took me to the Aranahe hometree unannounced.”

“The decision was not mine.” So'lek said he kept his emotions hidden. I looked at him confused, he had never held his impinion before. I was going to ask him what he thought, but I nearly jumped at the sudden voice behind me.

“Are you ready, tsamsiyu?” I turned around and I quickly looked up when I saw blue. Nesim was looking down at me with a slight smirk. I felt my cheeks flush.

“Um… no, sorry I will be right back.” I excused myself and quickly made my way to my area outside HQ.

With a pack of essentials and my tablet, I was walking back to So’lek and Nesim. As I was getting closer to them, I started to hear some of their conversation. “...she can be trusted.” I heard from So'lek. His behavior has been confusing me. I’m not used to hearing So’lek praising me as I am used to him being distant with me, but I do feel proud to know that my efforts have been noticed.

“Yours perhaps, but not from my sister and I.” I heard Nesim say. As I walked around the corner, Nesim was already looking at me. “You have to earn ours.” I met her gaze as she spoke. “I never thought I would be trusted so easily.” I held her gaze. “I know I must earn it.” I said as I made it beside her and So’lek. Nesim hummed softly in approval. I looked back as I heard an ikran cry from behind me. I watched Nesim's ikran take off from their perch over the HQ entrance, and fly over to the creek.

“If you are ready, we best get going.” Nesim said, as she walked over to where her ikran was landing. As she was connecting with her ikran. I looked up to where Anqa’s samson sits and noticed that it was not ready for take off. I went to look at So’lek in confusion, only to see he was nowhere in sight. I looked back to Nesim to find that she was looking at me, waiting.

“I'm flying with you?” I asked, she smirked at me.

“Unless you wish to walk to the Upper Plains.” Nesim said with a laugh. “Is that a problem?” She asked as she mounted her ikran, I felt my cheeks flush. I walked over slowly, her ikran looked at me as I approached, I avoided making eye contact with them.

“No, I just wasn't expecting it.” I said as I looked at her, she hummed tilting her head. Her ikran lowered just slightly, Nesim offered me her hand.

“Come, we must go.” I took her hand as I lifted my foot onto the foot hold. As I was going to seat myself behind her but Nesim yanked me infront of her. “It is better for your size to be seated in front of me.” She said as she rested her hand on my right side. I nodded my head as I was fixing the way I was seated in front of her. When I was comfortably seated, that foreign warmth filled my chest again, as her hand flexed on my side. I took a deep breath, that made my mask slip some, I reached up to fix it.

As I was fixing my mask, Nesim took off unexpectedly. I shrieked as the sudden speed of the almost vertical ascend startled me, I leaned back into Nesim for balance, she laughed as she held me in place. I felt my face warm up as I was quickly finished tightening my mask in place. “You never flew on an ikran?” She asked. I grabbed onto the saddle out of habit when I was done fixing my mask. “N-not awake!” I was shocked that I was able to speak, as my heart was pounding fast, as adrenaline was coursing through my veins, this giddiness feeling was builded in my chest, as a smile was forming on my face. I have never felt like this when I have flown with Anqa in her samson, always safely in the aircraft structure. Flying with no structure was exhilarating. I fully understand what Rey’ka meant, when she said that it was freeing.

When we reached the desired altitude we leveled out, and slowed down some. I removed my left hand from the saddle letting my hand dance in the wind. I smiled as I looked out in front of me. To experience it in the most natural way I was met with the most breathtaking version of a sight I have seen once before. I could see the Celebration Arches standing tall, the gorgeous cliffs, and grasslands for as far as I could see. I smiled as we got closer and closer, something about the plains owns my heart. It was where I was first stationed, and there is so much unfinished business for me to personally take care of.

As we were flying closer to the Upper Plains I took interest in Nesim’s ikran. “What is your ikran’s name?” I asked as I tilted my head studying the marking on the ikran’s body. It always amazes me how different all ikran’s colors and markings are. Nesim’s ikran was no different, they were an interesting blend of coral and light purple with black and grey markings.

“His name is Zawko.” She said as she patted the side of his neck, I smiled as Zawko gave a soft rumble. Then Nesim leaned to the right, Zawko followed seamlessly. I leaned with them, it felt like a natural act, too me. It reminded me of the times I rode on my motorbike. “You fly naturally,” she said as we leveled out. “And you have never flown on an ikran before?”

“Not awake.” I repeated from earlier, I looked back at her, she looked at me. “Back on earth, I have ridden on things nowhere similar to an ikran, but the act of leaning is similar.” I explained, Nesim hummed as she took in my words. Her hand slightly moved on my side, as she began to ascend, again, at least at a slight angle this time. I looked forward and I could see that we were approaching the rock face that divided the Upper Plains from the Kinglor Forest.

“Why were you not awake?” I was taken aback by her question, I looked back at her. She was watching me, waiting for a reply. “There was an attack on one of our research outposts. I was injured as Rey’ka and I were defending the outpost from the RDA.” I said as I realized she had her hand on the same side of the injury. “I passed out from my injury during the fight,” I paused, before chuckling when I recalled how Priya told me. “My friend, Priya, told me of how I was returned to HQ with such liveliness, once I woke up.” I smiled as I thought of how Priya was trying to lighten the mood.

“Are you healed from it?” Nesim asked, focused on me.

“Yes, I am a few days fully healed.” I said honestly, she hummed, before she started to fly downwards at a steady pace and angle.

I looked forward, “woah” I breathed. I was awestruck by the sheer size of the Celebration Arches. I knew full well that they were larger than anything I have ever seen. But this was the first time I have ever seen them this close.

As we got lower I could see aypa’li running freely, below the arches. My eyes then landed on the colorful kites, as they swayed in the powerful gale winds. It amazes me that the kites don’t even reach how high the arches are.

As we were landing my eyes landed on a na’vi woman who was showing Rey’ka how to soothe a pa’li. I watched Rey’ka as she was trying to sooth one of the pa’li around them. I climbed off Zawko, one we were on solid ground, as Rey’ka was smiling as she laughed softly as the pa’li ran around and away from her, I bit back a laugh as I watched. Nesim made a small chirp sound as she dismounted from Zawko, drawing the attention of Rey’ka and the na'vi woman.

Both of them laid their eyes on me. While Rey’ka was confused when she saw me, I could see that she was happy to see that I was there. The other na’vi woman looked at me with a guard stare. I could not pick up on any emotion. Nesim jumped down the, for them, short ledge. I walked down the path, as Nesim started to talk with the na’vi woman and Rey’ka.

“Minang!” Nesim’s voice carried on the wind, my eyes widened as to what she said reached me. This was Nesim’s sister. I looked back to Minang, she was still watching me. I paused my movements, as I respectfully brought my fingers to my forehead as I gestured I See You to her. She returned the gesture, with just the smallest of approval in her eyes. “The Sarentu tread the grass again! Like our elders told us your clan once had.” Nesim’s voice knocked me back to what was going on around me. I quickly noticed the way Rey’ka’s tail curled around her arm, at the mention of her clan. Nesim continued talking to Minang, as Rey’ka looked at me and I watched how the storm brewed in her eyes. I closed the gap between us, and I laid my hand on her wrist. She wrapped her hand around my wrist, along with her tail curled around my arm.

“Breathe, Rey’ka.” I traced a circle on her wrist, we held eye contact as she took a deep breath. I watched the storm slowly calm as she continued to take deep breaths. It worried me that she was experiencing triggers. What did the RDA do to her, all of them?

“Sister!” Minang’s voice drew both of our attention. We both looked over, she was looking at her sister. “You must give Rey’ka time to adjust.” She looked over to Rey’ka. “To breathe our air, feel the earth beneath her feet.” Her face began to soften, “Meet the Zakru.”

“Who is this Zakru?” Rey’ka asked as she let go of my wrist.

“Our wards and our guardians.” Nesim had a fire between her words.

“Our home and heart.” Minang spoke with so much fondness. My heart tightens, as I remember the name Zakru, along with photos with magnificent creatures, they reminded me of elephants and the legends of mammoths. I remembered being disguised by the soldiers who wanted to hunt one while it was still alive, as there was no thrill in just robbing from their already decayed skeletones. My hand clenched, as I took a deep breath.

“So you always know how to get home.” I could hear the wonder in Rey’ka’s voice.

“Ha! You already think like a Zeswa.” Nesim said as she grinded at Rey’ka.

“Now we will teach you to ride like one.” Minang said as she held her head high, approving glint in her eyes as she looked at Rey’ka. Rey’ka looked over to the aypa’li, as Minang looked down at me. I can see that she meant me as well. I nod my head to her understanding.

Na'vi Word Bank: Olo'eyktan - Gender-Nutrual for Chief Tsamsiyu - Warrior Ay- is a plural prefix (four or more) Pa'li - direhorse

Please let me know if you like to be added to the series Tags List. Tags List: @tallulah477 @eywaite @minnory

< Previous Chapter Next Chapter >