#imon

“<Only for those wanting to learn more in depth. I will certainly need a companion for mine for teaching.>” Alma said with a soft nod but turned her focus back to the rest of the students. “<Not only is Morse code used on the ears, but they can use light in the same patterns as the sound for visual patterns. Short bursts of light or a long pause of light can signal characters similar to that of click length. Where radio cannot work, but they have access to their light sticks, they can use that to communicate to other ships that have their eyes on them.>”

“<Wait, I’ve seen that before.>” one of her students straightened up. “<We were scouting weeks back. Two groups of sky people were opposite the ravine. They had those light sticks and they kept turning them on and off often. I noticed they were patterned but did not realise the purpose.>”

“<They either have had either no radio signal or were bored enough.>” Alma allowed, pleased to see that this was functional knowledge and good to know the RDA were in fact using Morse code out here.

-

By the end of her lesson, Alma was glad to see five of her Kame’tire students opt up for extended lessons on Morse code, even Imon. The rest opted to learn from her students while they focused on other areas of work or duties.

Alma though opted to linger to clean up once she dismissed the class, clicking hew new clicker idly as she collected up the wax tablets and set them on the shelves since she didn’t need to reset these ones, after which, she padded out.

“‘Six feet under’. <It… possibly translates to a known depth under the soil, so that is the clue.>” Nasyì said, frustrated as her voice echoed in the main hall. “<It is an expression for this, I just… do not remember it,>”

“<Six feet. Human measurements of length.>” Tseke’s voice echoed, not one of her students but they were learning from her other students. “<Or is that a measurement of depth?>”

“<What is the letter length?>” Another voice asked, Hayngwìk.

“<Four.>”

“Bury? B U R Y?” Tseke offered.

Alma watched as Nasyì look down to check, looking a little hopeful but then shake her head. “<It ends with the letter D.>”

It was fascinating, watching the four of them mull on this quandary for a few minutes.

“<What use is the use of describing a depth for it to be commonly known to sky people?>” Hayngwìk asked, his brow pulling in.

“<A threat, perhaps?>” Tseke offered. “<They are a dangerous people, it’s not unknown to that they get into squabbles with each other.>”

Hayngwìk hummed loudly, his hand coming to lay flat about his waist. “<How tall are humans?>”

“<Ul’ma mentions, on average about five foot, nine. Which on us would be about where your hand is. Ul’ma had La’ak create a long ‘ruler’ that donates to sky people measurements>” Tseke offered, “<She has that in her classroom.>”

“<They’ve been like that for ten minutes debating sky people words in that game your sky person relative created.>”

Alma spared a glance to Tsu’lo who was also watching. “<It’s good that they’re discussing it. Helps flex their memories and be more creative.>”

“<You know the answer?>”

“<Yes. I’m curious to see how they get there. They’re on the right track. I mentioned this idiom last week when covering an array of verbal short language.>”

“<Give them five more minutes, but they do need to return to their duties here soon.>” Tsu’lo chuckled, but went on his way to talk to Nentuk.

“<I do not think that’s right, Tseke. It’s an act of burying.>” Hayngwìk argued lightly. “<I see no other explanation.>”

Alma moved from her observation to join them and to speed it along. “<Having fun?>”

Nasyì, Tseke and Hayngwìk all looked to her, Tseke looked a little more bashful.

“<Have you considered the outcome of burying?>” she offered, as a clue. “<Why bury anything?>”

“<To dispose of it?>” Tseke offered.

“<Returning something to Eywa?>” Nasyì offered.

“<To hide something.>” Hayngwìk suggested.

“<Tseke is right that the phrase is often used as a threat. Typically from human to human given their shared height. Why is that a threat?>” Alma pressed, hoping to push them to think.

“<To… bury them?>” Tseke suggested, “<A threat to kill?>”

“<Yes, but in reference this the clue, it’s not the threat that’s the answer.>”

“<You want us to think of the outcome. Death?>” Hayngwìk looked to Nasyì

“Dead. D E A D.” Tseke translated into English.

Nasyì looked down, a grin coming to cross her face as she wrote that in and flipped the tablet, revealing a full wax tablet of text. It had been their last word on the crossword.

“<It’s done!>” Nasyì looked genteelly pleased it. “<Now I can concentrate.>” She handed the tablet straight back to Alma. “<I hope Tabitha will make a new one. I enjoyed it so much.>”

“<I’ll ask her.>” Alma promised. The Meitayo warrior nodded briskly then swooped out with Hayngwìk with mention of sparring.

Tseke stared after them for a moment then turned their attention back. “<How have your lessons been in claiming a bonded, Ul’ma?>”

“<Held back,>” Alma patted her braced leg. “<I can’t continue my lessons until La’ak’s perfected a durable brace for me.>”

Tseke nodded once. “<I suppose that will make things difficult. In the meantime, I was hoping to ask if you’d want to come out gathering with me. We’ll need supplies for your Ikran harness and amour. With the sky people still here, no Ikran is without protection. It will take weeks to build and weave, which I do wish for you to be a part of.>”

“<Don’t the Ikran’s need to be fitted afterwards?>”

“<Most Ikrans have an average build and size, but we’ll leave them almost complete, so when you have your bonded, we can size the harness appropriately.>”

“<Okay, but I do need to be back before evening. I have an outing planned.>” Alma couldn’t help it, her fingers coming to touch the beads in her hair.

Tseke nodded. “<The amount we’ll need will take time to collect with the sky people around that disrupts our gathering grounds. Since you cannot collect some of the items, like the hide and sinews without a bow, I can do that independently but you’ll need to be more involved after that.>”

“<What will we need?>”

“<For the head piece, the main supplies are pekavol bone, sap from the Sunrise Lantern and raindrop opal. The harness, Narluk hide, the sap and Raindrop opal and for the tail streamers, Mimikyun hide, sap and opal.>”

“<I can talk to Mäzan so we can fish for pekavol.>”

Tseke’s eyes lit up a little. “<For the best quality of pekavol, I’d recommend you going to The Lonely Lake, south west of sheltering falls. If you fish until either dusk or night, I’d recommend you have him help you collect the Sunrise lantern Sap upon your return as it’s only a slight retoured flight. At night, the sap filled pod loosened up without the warmth of the sun and the quality of the sap is greatly improved. You’ll need to collect three pods in total. Mäzan may need to shoot the top leaves to bring them with you freely, do not worry if the sap hardens, it can be melted for when we need them, the both of us can collect the Raindrop opal today, there’s a cave system that houses the best quality opal that will much protection and strength for the gear.>”

Alma nodded. “<I’ll get us baskets.>”

They departed swiftly, Alma returned to her room, grabbing her pouches that housed her smoke bombs, her knife and spear, because going into a wild cave unarmed seemed like a bad idea. She picked up a basket from the gatherers, which she set on her shoulders, almost like a bagpack, allowing her arms to be free. She made sure Fayfa, who she passed, know where she was going.

Tseke helped her onto the back of their Ikran outside before they took off.

Alma watched the beautiful sights around her, though her attention turned more to her right, seeing the developing RDA sites past the Torn Threaded River. Three large sited the clan had yet to take down. Well-fortified, but she no doubt knew Imon had her plans in development of taking it down.

“<Oh no.>”

Alma turned, peeking over Tseke’s shoulder to see why. A small group of RDA were stationed in front of the cave. Four people. Three SecOps, one SciOps. No AMP Suits.

Alma could just about see the group were running scans of the cave. A few tablets on a desk, large crates of supplies.

“<Land. I think we can take them.>”

Tseke’s breathe paused, offering her a panicked look. “<I can’t. I’m… not trained.>”

Alma stared, the nodded downwards. “<I can try.>”

Tseke moved, landing their Ikran before Alma slid off, shrugging off the basket and carefully made her way through the bushes, trying to step softly.

“Look, the cave is almost entirely scanned. Once the hub is established, we can get up automated survey sites. Every time a blue hits the site, we’ll just bring it right back.” The SecOps lead guy said, looking pleased. “They’ll get the hint.”

Alma’s eyes wash about, noting the bored look the humans had, looking about not really paying attention. The three had rifles, but their grips were slack.

She had an element of surprise.

Quietly, she pulled out three bombs from her pouch. Smoke, and acrid. She slipped from the treeline, staying low though that put more weight against her brace, reminding her about her inability to run. Her hand gripped her spear.

Now or never, time to tempt fate.

Alma tossed the first and second smoke bomb into quick succession, adrenaline kicking into action at the sounds of surprise the group made. Her spear went straight into the first guy’s back, but she yanked the blunt end straight into the mask of the second guy, shattering before tossing the third smoke bomb to the third and fourth as they span around, disorientated. Her size alone accounted easily the space to grab one of the second soldier and used him first as a shield, intercepting the few flurry of bullets from the weapons before tossing the corpse into the lead guy that had him crumpling from the sudden weight, before ramming the end of her spear into the third guy’s mask until it shattered and sunk deep. The lead guy took only a few more seconds to  dispatch with her knife, quicker to pull that out than her spear.

Alma panted fast, a little surprised at herself before she straightened up.

“<Are you okay?>” Tseke appeared from the treeline, wide-eyed and taking in this view.

“<… not sure yet.>” Alma said, because honestly she wasn’t expecting this to work so well. Were humans always this weak? Her eyes lingered on her hands. The blood. Her stomach churning before she grabbed one of the water canisters, ripping off the top before hurriedly pouring it into her palms, scrubbing the red away quickly, tossing more to cleans that had spurted onto her body. Most of it easily washed away. Her now-clean knife, she slipped away again.

Alma let out a shaky breath, then shook her head, gathering the datapads and memory drives, she shoved them into the bottom of the gathering basket that Tseke was holding, for when they were back. “<Let’s just gather some opals, Tseke.>”

The cave was relatively untouched, aside from the scanning drone and senor arrays, Tseke helped her destroy them, and she stole the memory cards from inside to be sure the data wasn’t going to end up in RDA hands once they discover their dead folk. They found their way into the deeper caves before they noticed the first one.

“<Since it’s still daytime, they’ll be a little sticker to pull from the heart of the opal, so not nearly as good as they could be.>” Tseke said, moving to pull one at an angle which released the opal.

Alma nodded, her fingers brushing the first one, feeling the cool surface of the crystal and carefully began to prize it up from the rest, curling her wrist as she has seen Tseke do and it came apart smoother. Tseke tossed hers into the basket and carried on.

Together, they harvested about seven each, Tseke wanting more for a few different projects. Alma also took the opportunity to gather some of the mushrooms and Tseke added in one of the growing roots hanging down from the ceiling for wanted. By the time they left, there was a good weight on her back. But nothing was said as they returned back, detouring to drop off the stolen data at the cave.

Alma let Tseke take it all, since they’d set her stuff aside for later once they had the rest of the goods, and so she wandered back to her room and set her spear aside, knife away and sank straight into her hammock, pulling off her brace and found herself staring at the ceiling, trying not to think too much.

-

“<Ul’ma?>”

“<In here.>” Her voice sounded dull to her own ears, not rolling her head as Mäzan entered their living space.

His expression and energy was light and excited, but she could see in the corner of her eye how his expression changed, dimming down in alarm.

“<Is everything okay?>” He was by her side, kneeling down to not be so imposing above her.

Alma rolled her head to face him, shrugging a little. “<I… don’t know. Went got some supplies with Tseke, killed some sky people in our way and… that’s made me feel off ever since.>” She admitted, because… she felt he could understand she wasn’t sure what to feel.

She didn’t feel guilty about it, they were exploiting a new location for their unwanted business but… it felt weird.

Mäzan reached forwards slowly, touching her forearm in a warm, comforting touch. “<Ever taken a life before?>”

“<Do the Sarentu count?>” Her tone dried up a little.

Mäzan gave her a soft look. “<I do not mean that. Have you ever personally killed, by blade or weapon?>”

Alma nodded. “<Yes. I killed two sky people soldiers… I distantly remember that if I didn’t, they’d kill the Sarentu kids.>” It was hazy. She remembered the dread and panic, the relief and touch of metal of finding a weapon. “<Then… no doubt skirmishes the last year.>”

Mäzan nodded slowly. “<Do you want to talk about it? Deeply?>”

“<If I don’t, I’ll be mulling on it for a while.>” It felt better to talk about it. She could trust Mäzan to help, if he was so willing.

Mäzan offered a hand. “<Let me take you out to the river. We still have our time planned together, even if we don’t get around to fishing, I do think it’ll be best to feel Eywa’s breeze and fill our lungs with her breath.>”

Alma chuckled softly. Colourful phrasing. “<The lonely Lake?>”

“<If that’s where you want to go.>”

Alma accepted the hand out, bracing herself and let Mäzan lead the way, taking his bow and her spear.

They didn’t speak much but she appreciated his silence on the travel, resting her forehead on his back, enjoying the afternoon warmth on the burned side of her face.

“You smell nice.”

Mäzan chuckled softly, the sound rumbling though his chest.

The Meitayo warrior slowed them to a stop, helping her down, handing her the weapons while he took a folded pack off and mat off the harness and lead her towards the water’s edge.  The pack was mostly contained a blanket, but there were tools for a fire and small tools for processing the fish and leafs for post-butchering for the meat. Even seasoning in little pouches. He wanted to do a lot before they returned back, it seemed.

Yet, he stabbed the spear tip into the softer soil and set the mat down.

“<Let’s talk first, then maybe I’ll fish if you’re not up for it. Sometimes there’s enjoyment in simply observation. We’re still together, after all.>”

Alma seated herself down slowly, her tail swishing to settle between them as he joined her, their knees close enough to touch. For a moment, the silence stretched, yet it wasn’t awkward like an Elephant in the room, then Mäzan broke it.

“<In Meitayo culture, we are decided of a clan that suffered loss in great quantity. Our people learned that even in war that death has its weight, held in a circle. The people of the reef are connected to the Tulkuns, who have their Tulkun Way that forbids them fighting as they believe death brings more death, even in self-defence.>” Mäzan started, “<We accepted many people from the reef that came in the following years that sympathised with our clan. They were the foundations that helpd renew the people and fresh blood and in turn, we learned much from them in turn to try and heal as a clan.”

Alma didn’t interrupt, but watched him as he stared out across the water, the aquafers that burst up through the lake every so often.

“<Our clan weren’t war seekers, but after the murder of our scouts, the attack on our Heartlands camp, which at the time was believed to be unprovoked, they became vengeful. It became a… circle of attack and vengeance for that attack.>” Mäzan’s ears pinned a little. “<The war could have stopped sooner, if one side or the other had chosen to not act vengeful. I will admit that a few Zakru were killed in the crossover in the war. That, we believe caused the Zeswa to launch the last and brutal attack that crippled our Ikran rookery.>”

Alma swallowed thickly. “<Why are you telling me that?>”

Mäzan sighed out deeply. “<Because our people know the weight and cost of death. We are taught to honour life, and if life must be taken, there has to be a good reason for it.>” He tilted his frame towards her. “<You are feeling a burden of taking the lives of those sky people.>”

Alma shrugged, “<I think so? I don’t… feel guilty about it.>”

“<Killing them had purpose, Ul’ma. It is not senseless.>”

“<But I didn’t have to. Tseke wanted to go, they probably knew other locations of raindrop Opal but… the best ones were in that cave. I chose to kill them, and not just because they were going to exploit the cave but because… they were in my way.>” It felt odd to say it out loud.

Mäzan watched her with a soft expression. “<And that confuses you?>”

Alma nodded. “<Yes. But, it’s the first time in months that I’ve taken life so bluntly. Blood… still make me feel iffy, maybe that’s some of it.>”

“<As my father said, death bears its weight. Not always in the most obvious ways. Killing must have purpose, otherwise you get hollowed out. You’re not guilty because there is reason for it. You killed them, not just to get to where you needed to go, but these sky people would find recourses to extract and harm Eywa. The Ke’awa have gatherers that could have been killed by these small groups of sky people. Needless death, because the gatherers wandered where they were entitled to go that had these people.>”

Alma’s head tilted. She hadn’t considered that. She could have had Tseke fly them away and some poor man or woman could have been killed if they didn’t sort it out or tell Imon in time. RDA did target local wildlife if they got too close or too bored; a stray bullet could go far. She exhled deeply, closing her eyes as she did so but his words seemed to lift the weirdness in her gut.

“<I suppose you’re right.>” She offered him a smile, leaning her head against his shoulder. “<In all honesty, I was surprised I even killed them all so quickly.>”

“<Do you want to tell me?>”

Alma shook her head, “<No, but do you think it’s wrong to use one of their own people as a meat shield? I knew they had amour on and I wasn’t able to run so…>”

Mäzan stared but there was a quiver of his lip before he actually chuckled, clearly trying to visualise it. “<I didn’t consider that as an option, but I wouldn’t frown upon it. You improvised means of defence.>” He gave another laugh. “<I’d love for you to suggest that to Imon, if Tseke hasn’t already told her. I am glad that you did if it meant you did not get hurt or killed.>”

His arm slipped around her waist, a touch she was very aware of but she remained relaxed, her tail curling a little. “<Thank you>”

Mäzan smiled softly and for a moment, there was little to add. “<Why this lake?>”

“<Tseke said there were good quality pekavol here. I need their bones.>”

“<Well then, Lets go get some.>” He shifted a little, so she leant away and accepted the help up once he was on his feet. “<Let’s swim to one of the lake mounds. Pekavol prefer deeper waters.>”

“<You’ll need to take the weapons, I can’t swim fast.>” Her leg brace would float, but kicking her leg would be harder. Not to mention, she hadn’t tried swimming since the lightening strike, so Eywa only really knew how good she was.

Mäzan slipped his bow around one shoulder and retrieved her spear.

His form was fluid when he swam off, his paddled tail moving also really swayed his hips that Alma found herself starting a little. Despite holding a spear, that barely held him back as his hands cut through the water.

Alma tried to follow suit with the same dignity, but while she was right that the brace floated, it made it significantly harder to kick through the water as she reached the deeper part of the swim so she paused, holding her breath to watch under the surface to remove the brace from her leg. But she had to raise her head to catch her breath quickly. Long fingers touched over her own, looking down to see Mäzan under the surface, his eyes looking at the brace as he gently removed it before he looked up, and winked.

“<You’re teasing me.>” And very well. Must have learned that from Tab.

Mäzan rose up, treading water with ease as he took the brace from her fingers. “<I can teach you how to hold your breath, if you want?>”

Alma’s leg flailed a bit, but she tried to push her leg to try to keep the repetitive notion before leaning forwards to keep on swimming. She could see where Mäzan had left the weapons so it was a straight forwards path.

Mäzan swam beside her, watching her form. Her weak arm did struggle a little, but she could still cut through the water. He clambered out first, offering her a hand up to the mossy bounder and handed her back the brace to slip on.

“<Thank you.>” Alma flexed her leg, letting it settled.

“<Do you want to learn?>”

Alma sighed deeply. She was still in the process of learning the Meitayo sign language. With the lessons and training for an Ikran… “<I do think it’s wise to learn. It’s part of your people’s way that I should learn. But… I’m not sure there’s a lot of free time.>”

Mäzan hummed, helping her up onto her feet. “<It’s something we can practise before bed. Meditational breathing can happen on land that are the foundations of our abilities. We channel our minds to control our bodies. Heartrate and breath.>”

“<I’ve got a lot to learn about your people’s ways.>” Alma plucked her spear up, surveying the water’s surface. She could see the small fish higher up, small sliver bodies darting away from her shadow.

“<Would you like to try my bow first?>”

“<My arm isn’t the strongest….>”

Mäzan offered it out anyway. “<Let’s see.>” he swapped her spear with his bow, her fingers wrapping around the handle, eyeing the arrows before pulling it from the stack and notched it. It was pleasantly familiar as she pulled back the string, but she could feel the tremor in her arm start. Mäzan’s hands was gentle, shifting her elbow straighter and a touch to her belly, reminding her to tighten her core. She released it slowly, not to fire the arrow but to restart and let her wrist still before drawing back again.

The arrow aimed, waiting for the dark swimming shadow of a fish to swim in her pathway. But the arrow didn’t remain still, her weak arm shook as she tried to keep it steady.

“<Can I?>”

“<Sure?>” She almost released the arrow again to let him take the bow but his long arm instead came to grip the bow under hers, relieving the strain and shake. His body pressed more behind her, his breath tickling her neck as he lined hi to her aim. He shifted the direction a fraction to the right. Her fingers wavered on the string… but the fish swam into their path, so she let go.

The arrow broke the surface of the water, but the pekavol darted just before it struck but it still shot through its tail. Mäzan dove straight in after it.

After a minute, he resurfaces. Holding up in his hand the arrow, the fish flopping about at the end, attempting to free itself.

“<Victory!>”

Alma reached forwards as he clambered up, grinning at him as she caught his face, pulling him into a soft kiss.

She hobbled out of the ring, accepting the help up to her feet but without her brace, she needed her crutch. Thankfully, she had brought it and a warrior handed it to her.

“<Thank you,>” she addressed to them but quickly crutched her way back inside.

The lead woodshaper in the Spires was La'ak, Uniluk’s uncle who kept the traditions alive in the spires with his apprentices, despite the talent being near lost at the Hollows. La’ak had been the one to construct her first leg brace which had been passed to her.

Entering the woodshaper’s den, she noticed Mäzan occupied with caving and shaping wood in the corner, no doubt for his mounted crossbow but he didn’t notice her arrival which made her smile a little because he clearly was in his element here.

La’ak noticed her arrival, his brow denting before he took the brace from her hand. “<What happened?>” he began to look it over, feeling the worn areas first.

“<Ikran training. Knee hinge damage.>” She summarised.

La’ak’s thumb ran over the crack, letting how a low considering hum in his chest. “<Not a bad break. Good.>” He seemed pleased. “<No more training with this brace>”

“<I know, but I need a brace when I claim an Ikran.>” Alma said. “<I cannot do that without it.>”

La’ak looked down at her weak leg, pursing his lips as he considered her for a moment. “<The demands for that are not easy.>”

“<I know, but you are the expert.>”

La’ak gestured for her to sit down so she did and set her leg out to his request. He took fresh measurements and began muttering to himself.

“<Your main weakness is your knee, yes?>” he bent her knee, getting a feel for how her leg moved and allowed her to move it herself and he could tell where she was lacking.

“<Yes. The hip and ankle is almost back to normal but the knee is the weakest part in walking. However, I don’t have a lot of strength to maintain. My foot has a minor drag to it.>”

“<That’s good. You’re brace will be easier with those accounted for.>” La’ak looked pleased. “<I’ll get some practise types together first but it will take a few days. For that, and the repairs to the old one.>”

Alma nodded, she thought as much. No matter. “<Okay.>”

-

It took two days for her old brace to be repaired and given back to her, but four days for her to return to La’ak and get presented with a few different sets of braces and a very excited wood shaper.

While there was still an element of beauty to them, La’ak clearly prioritised function over aesthetics as he fitting the first one to her leg. A simple design, a flexible root form the Canyon lift vines, shapes thin to sit comfortable at the knee which was then wrapped against her though and leg.

“<This is… too small>” Alma admitted after trying it with a few steps and bends. While the lift vines offered support and flexibility, the root covered the outside of her leg. “<I need support on the inside leg too. My heel keeps twisting to compensate against the resistance of the lift-vine root.>”

La’ak peered at how she walked, her tail lashing to stay balanced before he unbound it from her leg and reached for the second brace. “<I did consider those problems. That one is what we use for a simple pulled tendons.>”

The second one strapped in at the inside of the leg, akin to a flight legging and strapped in four places, one at her though, one above the knee, one below the knee and the last just at her calf. Another lift-vine root at the hinge but the pressure was… constant across the brace and bending down, there was significant support that her balance was unaffected as she bent down with it on. There was resistance, but the root did not break but it wasn’t comfortable to go lower to a seated crouch.

“<Is that as low as you can go?>” La’ak asked, fingers pressing against the side.

“<Yes>”

“<You still need flexibility. I had hoped the Canon lift vine was flexible enough to not only bent, but also maintain a bent position without snapping.>”

La’ak took it off her leg, nimbly setting it down then began to pull it to pieces. Alma reached for her crutch, but to her surprise, it was being held out to her.

“<Thank you>” She smiled at Mäzan warmly, accepting it to settle comfortably beside him.

Mäzan nodded, though he was watching La’ak curiously. “<Trouble with the brace?>”

“<Trying to find a solution for flexibly, durability and can return to previous shape and maintain a locked position at the knee for support.>” Alma summarised, scratching her chin.

Mäzan hummed softly. “<Wood is out of the question?>”

“<As a support, yes.>” La’ak said, “<Breaks far too easily, even if we do soak it in sap and resin to harden, the wood turns too brittle for the requirements. This brace needs to withstand Ikran and riding posture.>”

Mäzan hummed again, the curious sound resonating deeper in his chest. “<Why not use two parts? You need only one to be durable for the claiming of an Ikran? You won’t be walking about, you’ll be jumping and keeping your leg from becoming unwrapped if you tackle the creatures.>”

“<Our Ikrans are not as rough as the Zeswa rookery. They’re… gentler but by no means easy.>” La’ak said. “<Your suggestion does have merit. The second one looks good enough to use to ride with, so the adjustments on that will be minimal. More base support along the legs seems to be the better option.>”

Alma watched as Mäzan really got into the discussion with La’ak, who clearly didn’t mind and seemed equally invested with Mäzan’s suggestions.

“<Sinus as a more elasticated cord?>”

“<I see where that thought has merit but I don’t see how it can sustain itself or remain taunt. As we all take the string from our bows to avoid long-term damage to the string or Bow when it is not in use or to store it. For small and delicate parts… it will not work in that sort of manner. Perhaps we should examine how Ul’ma or another warrior can tackle a resisting Ikran? See how the leg moves and what Ul’ma is physically capable of.>”

“<I struggling pulling my leg around and bending it with any strength.>” Alma added in. “<I cannot pull my leg easily. Pushing my leg is fine, but my knee isn’t ready to bare so much weight unsupported.>”

Both looked at her, curious and minds churning with ideas. It looked far more appealing on Mäzan’s face. She could see he wanted to solve this problem for her and he liked the puzzle.

The matter was simple that her major weakness was the fact she couldn’t hook her left leg about to lock position, it was simply too weak to sustain even if she did succeed once. Even with her training and physical therapy, her leg still wasn’t going to be ready by the time she went to the Ke’awa rookery.

La’ak looked at her scarred leg for a moment, mulling in deep thought. “<Will you allow a demonstration? Can you hook your ankle around my hand and put effort into it? It may be helpful to know how much you can physically exert.>” he held his hand up,  about a foot away from his body, palm inwards; probably to exert tension the opposite way.

Alma nodded, adjusting her crutch but held her hand out to Mäzan to help her remained balanced. He hovered at her elbow. She shifted her weight and hooked her ankle as instructed to the palm that faced La’ak, and tried to pull her leg back against his palm. He was unmoved by her efforts, but she tried to push past the fact she wasn’t trying to misbalance him.

But, she could already see and feel the soft tremors start with more effort she pushed into it and maintaining it. Her Balance wavered, her other hand grabbed Mäzan’s arm for stability, then her leg gave and she almost fell over if Mäzan didn’t catch her. His massive hands warm around her.

“<Ten seconds before the tremors started and a further five before strength fails at full exertion.>” La’ak straightened up. “<You’ll need ankle supports and possibly a locking mechanism to maintain what you cannot do yourself.>”

Mäzan’s arms remained around her but she didn’t step out of his touch as she straightened up and regained her footing. “<An interesting challenge?>”

La’ak rose to his feet, humming with a considerable level of excitement. “<Yes, and I need to go over my materials and possibly forage for new>”

Alma patted Mäzan’s chest fondly. “<Well, enjoy the challenge. I need to go check on the fungal samples.>” She drifted from the two and crutched her way out of the woodshaper’s den towards the set up in the more distant part of Sheltering Falls. 

Fayfa was sitting close, as usual, but looked to be crafting something with dried plant fond and bones.

“<No brace?>” Fayfa asked, looking up from his work.

“<My walking one is in my hammock. Didn’t feel like carrying it about while I tried the practise ones.> The Prototypes.” She added in English.

“Prooo-to types.” Fayfa tried in English, trying it again but more correctly. “<I do like how that felt in saying it. What does it mean?”

“Prototypes <are a early, practise of an item or machine. Crafted not as a finish, useable product but as means to see if the initial design is functional. Something can be stunning in our minds, but the reality of it is not possible, or, if there necessary changes. Practise items, as Na’vi call> Prototypes< are the same thing, but I’ve noticed that… Na’vi make less versions of the same products.>”

Fayfa hummed softly, “<I suppose we’re focused less on wasting recourses once the first design fails. Artists are the ones that will often expend more for their visions and arts.>”

“<And the woodshapers>”

“<Especially the woodshapers,>” Fayfa grinned.

Alma chuckled before gently opening the incubator and sighed deeply. Pleased to see the fungal mould was growing very well and, Boy, it looked kinda fucked up. The inside of the petri dish was… near black and Alma was glad she had taped the sides down to keep the risks inside. Looking into it, she could see it resembled a lot like black mould, but it was more threaded out across the medium’s surface. Two others were the same, but the fourth looked like the colony had failed as it’s size had not increased much since last week.

“<I do not like how that looks.>” Fayfa remarked, eyeing the petri dish with a nervous look and rightfully so. This mould killed a Zakru, at minimum, 80 tons of flesh and bone and a creature that should have had a top-notch immune system against fungi given it was their main source of food. It may have taken a while to kill the Zakru, but if it infected a Na’vi? Probably days, or hours if exposed. She had to be careful now. Keep it all contained.

“<I agree.>” Alma set them back into the incubator, reaching for her hand sanitizer that she had taken from an RDA site and washed her hands. Fayfa hesitated when she offered it but then held his hand out and she gave him some and set the bottle back beside it, wiping down the outside and handle before tossing the rag into the nearest fire.

Fayfa was still rubbing his hands together, amused as the sanitizer dried quickly and leaving his hands clean and dry. “<Fascinating.>”

“<I’m glad you accepted. I’d rather be paranoid but keep you safe.>”

“<I’m not messing about with something that looks scary yet mundane. Even in a sky people device.>”

“<Good.>” He was smart and they all knew the fate of what would happen if they got infected with this, if it could pass to Na’vi. “<I do wish to run more experiments with one of the other spare fungi dishes. How to neutralise it without harm to the host, will it burn away, will it survive submerged in water, or alcohol… but I cannot do that here.>”

Fayfa hummed, nodding softly. “<That’s be risky.>”

“<I will not risk anyone.>” Alma assured, “<I’m just… wondering what we can do once we show your Tsahìk and Olo’eyktan.>”

Fayfa looked more deep in thought, “<They will want to test it to be sure that the fungi is what make the Zakru mother and baby sick.>”

“<But they cannot touch it or the infected. I’m thinking… that with Tabitha and her breathing mask, she’ll be the safest option to keep free of the fungi infection. She cannot breathe it in or ingest it. If the fungi dies in alcohol or other means, we just ensure Tabitha is fully decontaminated once done.>” Alma pointed out, “<I’ve been thinking about options that is safe but it will need to be in an isolated area.>”

Fayfa looked interested. “<Meitayo have been known to craft false land for plant growth in times of need. Floating gardens among the swamp have provided many fruits and vegetables where our previous foraging grounds were heavily damaged or burned in the war. The Olo’eyktan decides, but I don’t doubt that a small area can be constructed to isolate an infected host from the clan.>”

“<The island would need to be burned before dismantlement, if the water doesn’t cleans it away.>”

“<The Tsahìk is wise and I am certain you will learn of how to destroy such a fungus before we return it home. How it will be done will be of their discretion.>” Fayfa said, moving back to resume his work.

Alma checked over the rest of the setup, changing the battery over and set a new one into the charger and bid her farewell out to Tabitha’s cave.

It was no surprise now to see her seated on a mat outside, masked up and looking like she was being taught Meitayo Sign language with Nasyì but their previous work of basket making around them looked more abandoned and half-finished.

Alma remained in the entry way, watching as Nasyì talked her though each hand gesture and Tab trying to mimic her but she could see her cousin was struggling to keep up but was doing quite well. Tab’s eyes eventually slid to her before she waved.

“<Ul’ma!>” she waved her over. “Sign language is hard.” She complained.

Nasyì tisked softly, amused. “<It is not that hard.>”

“<It’s a lot of exercise for little me. I’m slow with my ribs hurting.” Tabitha replied back, patting her sides.

Nasyì paused, then looked a little apologetic. “<I am sorry, I forgot you have limits.>”

“<I know, but I can handle it.>” Tabitha assured, “My core strength is still fucked. I was hoping, once we leave here I could be taught to use a bow? If I come with you, I want to be useful and I want to pull my weight.”

“That’s still about a month, your ribs should be healed well enough that we can get you onto more adventurous tasks but it will take a further two months to be fully healed. Engaging your core and twisting will take time.>” Alma said, “<Perhaps light bows would be a good place to start for building that muscle.>” She proposed to Nasyì.

“<Have you began bow training?>”

“<Not yet, but I can do. I’ve got a few lessons planned this week.>” Alma spared a look to her weak arm. She really did need to get that arm back into more intense workouts than just the daily physical therapy. When trying before, the pull back and strain on her arm was hard to maintain. But perhaps she needed to put that effort back in, even if she wasn’t going to be a hunter. If she stayed… she’d need a job and she probably best to learn from the Meitayo her options. She did like gathering. Providing.

“<Will you ask Mäzan to show you?>” Nasyì asked, her lips pulling up into a slight smirk.

Alma rolled her eyes a little. The last week, since they spotted the beads in their hair, the two Meitayo had been very excited about it, more so than her and Mäzan, for that matter. The two were younger and had yet to venture to finds mates outside their own clan. Alma did feel a little responsible for that; they felt the need to stay here and protect the growing fungus more than their cultural rites to their people.

Maybe they were going to try again once they had sorted the situation out with the Zeswa and Meitayo? Alma hoped so, at the very least.

“<I can do. Have you seen the mounted crossbow he completed?>”

Nasyì nodded, lightening up. “<It is beautiful.>”

“… what sort of crossbow?” Tabitha echoed, looking confused, “You’re speaking very fast still.”

“Mounted crossbow.” Alma translated. “The Ke’awa use mounted crossbows in their aerial assaults. Very strong weapons and powerful.”

Tabitha looked impressed. “I bet they’re stunning.”

“But heavy in one area. Ikran need adapted harnesses to spread the weight of the mounted crossbow and flexible for the rider to take it off the Ikran’s mount support and onto their back.” Nasyì said in slow English.

“Not something I’ll dabble in myself when I get my Ikran.” Alma added in.

“Yes, your leg will make that difficult.” Nasyì added in, “Are you considering an adaption to the harness for your leg?”

“<Not yet. I just tried some of La’ak practise types. Him and Mäzan are having a lot of fun.”

Nasyì snorted softly, “<That does not surprise me. Mäzan enjoys a good puzzle.>”

“What puzzles does the Meitayo do?” Tabitha asked curiously, “Humans, we have word games, drawn puzzles and toy puzzles… Rubix cube is my favourite. I don’t know what the Ke’awa do.”

Nasyì pondered for a moment, “<I… don’t know how to translate the games into sky people language.>”

“<Complicated?>” Alma asked.

“<It is easier to show. Beads are important part of our culture, from announcements, history and trinkets. We factor those into our games as well.>” Nasyì explained, “<I remember a puzzle box that my father made me. Made from carved wood, you had to guide a bead through it’s centre to open it from the inside where he laid a reward on the inside.>” She looked distant, but fondly as she explained. “<He of course had a short-cut to open it if I used the wrong bead size but then I didn’t get the reward.>”

“How is your reading and word understanding?” Tabitha asked.

“I am quiet adept.”

Tabitha spared a look to Alma to make sure. “She can read small text now, but why?”

“I want to do a Crossword game. I can use a wax tablet.”

“Crossword?”

“A word game.” Alma summarised.

“A grid is drawn with designated numbers in the corner. The grid is determined by letter length and they cross paths with other words that can share the same letters. Beside the grid, there’s a numbered list, the number is connected to the number grid, so we know which grid is linked for the next part of it. The list provides phrases or context clues for the grid. For example, the clue could say ‘a sharp tipped weapon’ with a box tied to five letters. You could put ‘Sword’ or you could put ‘Spear’. Answers build off each other, if one is incorrect, you have to go back over the old answers to see what other options fit the box and the clue.” Tabitha explained.

Nasyì looked generally intrigues. “I… would like to try that. It sounds interesting.”

“<You have learned a lot of English spelling, but not a massive variation.>” Alma said, not to dampen her spirits, but it was a fact here.

“Then it will help me learn. I will make you a wax tablet.” Nasyì added to Tabitha, shifting to her knees and began to collect up the supplies and set them aside.

“Oh, goody.” Tabitha looked pleased.

Alma helped clean up and Tabitha just watched since the items were placed upon a shelving unit set just out of reach, especially the tools. Not that Tab was a concern but Imon might just blow a fuse if she thought there was a risk. Nasyì went on her way after that, humming to herself to get onto task.

“So, my dear cousin, how’s you and Mäzan?” Tab asked, a sly look. “[Slept with him yet.]”

Alma tisked, giving her a look. “[That’s not your business.]” She replied sharply. “[And no, we’re taking it slow.]”

Well, she was at the least. In the last week, not much had changed too much between them and their roles here but he did move his hammock into her room the other day at his request. She hadn’t been too sure and it felt very forwards but… the last few nights had been pleasant despite her initial nervousness. They talked before they’d go to sleep and things felt easier between them now than before. They hadn’t kissed yet, nor was she ready to just yet but things would take time to feel right or ready. She definitely should talk to getting him to reteach her the bow. A more innocent touch and gentle without an intimate edge. Still, while Alma knew that if she slept with him, she’d mate with him. She was uncertain if she was ready for that right now, even if she could easily get herself needy. What sex meant for a Meitayo was very different for her. Cultural differences that she had yet to understand.

She had to learn first before she could bind herself to a whole new culture.

Tabitha gave her an innocent look, holding her hands up. “[Okay, but how slow are you gonna take it? He could make you happy. He looks like he could bend the knee at any moment.]”

“[I can be happy, just not in a rush.]” Alma seriously doubted he was, because they were still so new.

“[You’re living together. More so than before.]”

“[It is the Meitayo way to encourage personal connections in times of rest, downtime and to get used to each other’s routines. We’re across the room, not side-by-side.]” Alma deflected, which would have been a bit too much. Side-by-side felt very intimate and too close. What they had now felt about right.

“[Got another date set up?]”

Alma rolled her eyes a little. “[Thursday. He’s taking me to the western side to fish in the lower rivers.]”

“[How romantic.]”

[It is for him. He enjoys fishing and he wants to show me more effective techniques.]” It’d certainly make him happy to do what he enjoyed, even if it wasn’t a personal choice for her but relationships were about compromise. Romantic dates included. Who was she to dampen Mäzan’s interest? He wanted to show her. Excited to, even. How could she possibly say no to that? “What do you think we’d do? Pandora doesn’t have a movie theatre or an ice rink or a restaurant.”

Tabitha hummed, considering that for a moment. “You have a point. Didn’t think about that.”

Alma snorted, “Clearly.” She spared a look away. “I’m going to go and check in on Mìlay.”

“Oh, have you considered Morse code for your lessons?”

Alma froze up, her eyes widening. “I forgot about that entirely.” It felt so… obvious. Something so mundane and old school, but the RDA still had it active in the event of loss-of verbal contact. Morse code was simple and effective. She almost risked an entirely chain of communication. She’d need Imon in on those lessons too; she needed to know.

“Well, now you have new lesson plans. The RDA will certainly resort to that if they have to.”

“Yeah, I gotta go.” A lot to sort out now. But she was glad she knew that now, not before they were leaving.