Chapter 23

"Give me your hand." Taking the young hunter's blue hand, Harry pushed it up against the scanner.

Beep!

"Now your other hand." Repeating the same process and then using a small needle to take a blood sample.

"Ouch!" Ra'sar yelped. "Why do you scratch, Harri?"

Rubbing the blood onto the slide and placing it in the machine, Harry tried to explain the purpose of all these tests. "I'm putting you into my computer so to give you access to my home and facilities. You've seen how I have to put my hand on the screen to get in?" At his nod, Harry continued. "Well now so can you."

"You mean I can train on that machine whenever I wish?" Ra'sar eyes were wide. Now that he was a fully-fledged hunter, with his own Ikran, he could easily travel to Harry's island at his leisure.

"Yes but also everything else. I've set things up to produce food crops, cultivate medical plants and process them all for long-term storage automatically. If you ever need any of the supplies, you can use the interface I showed you before."

Ra'sar was starting to look a little confused. Harry had done a whirlwind tour of how to use the equipment in his home but he wasn't sure why. He had tried to explain how to use the defensive system but gave up in the end. Knowing that Ra'sar's ikran would accompany him, he had turned off the automatic turrets so as not to harass or kill innocent wildlife.

"I don't like those things Harri. I will just ask you instead. Much easier."

"About that…" Harry turned to look at his first Navi friend. "I'm not sticking around."

"What do you mean Harri? This is your home."

"Yes, but Sukal's home is far away. As much as I love it here, I love her more. Do you understand?"

"You have found your mate. It is natural to be together. If you want, I can give you some advice…"

Harry leapt at his friend, trying to catch him to teach him some manners. Could they get through one interaction without Ra'sar trying to embarrass him! Unfortunately for Harry, Ra'sar was very nimble and dodged his friend's grasp every time.

Choosing a different tactic, Harry tried to embarrass Ra'sar. "I don't seem to recall you taking a mate after your hunter trial. Need some advice… ?"

"I have plenty of time Harri. Many females want Ra'sar to choose them, the difficulty is selecting only one." Harry could feel a twitch in his jaw. Each word another blow to his self-esteem as the elder.

Putting his hand out, Harry and Ra'sar embraced in the traditional manner of the Navi. As friends. As brothers.

"I leave my home in your hands. Look after it. Now there is one more friend I promised to say goodbye to."

Shaking his head at his friend's strange habits, he tried to give some more helpful advice. "You know Ikran much better than ilu. Ilu only goes in the water while Ikran flies high in the sky. Silly reef people always getting it wrong."

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The journey to meet up with Sukal was long, however every second brought him closer to returning to the serenity he had found among the tribe. Harry only hoped that with the tribe moving, he would still have his place among them.

The final matter that plagued his mind was the spirit tree growing near his island home. With a spirit tree, even if it was just a baby, could he convince the tribe to move to his island? Should he?

The Metkayina clan was renowned for their strength as they have a long and rich history among the reef people. They also were blessed by Eywa to have connections with a Tulkun pod that was the envy of many, including his lover Sukal. That wasn't even mentioning the Cove of Souls, a natural wonder that was among the greatest spirit trees he had heard of. Was it fair to try and rip away that security and privilege to join him on a nameless island with a spirit tree smaller than his hand?

Beep!

The navigation equipment pulled his mind away, reminding him he was near his destination. Looking out at the rapidly approaching island, his face split into a grin. The familiar shone brilliantly while the tribe members came out of their huts and waved to Harry's return.

As soon as Harry's toes touched the warm sand, three blue missiles attached themselves to him. Laughing and squeezing the children, including Turo, into a hug. "I've missed you rascals."

"Harri where were you?"

"I was helping…" Not able to finish, the others all chipped in. Some asking him questions and others telling him their stories.

"Did you see any…"

"…and then Turo tried to go beyond the reef…"

"Sister said you went back to the skypeople…"

"…Doeung caught him and dragged him back…"

"Did you see any Tulkun, I heard you…"

"…So what do the skypeople look like…"

"… he was in so much trouble he got banned from riding his ilu!"

Laughing again, he smiled wider than he ever remembered and he pulled the group back into a hug. He had missed this. Family. His family.

A Tsurak (Skimwing) flew into the bay as the rider, a muscular Navi with several tribal tattoos decorating his bare chest. It was a sign of his position in the tribe, judging by the ink, he was a celebrated hunter and warrior.

"Who is that?" Harry asked suspiciously. Over the weeks with the tribe, he had learnt every name and face of the surviving members. He had never seen this Navi before.

"He is Jurowari." Turo stated, a wrinkled nose showing his dislike for the man. "Hunter from Metkayina. Son of Olo'eyktan." Harry nodded and relaxed. He must have been sent to help escort the tribe safely to their new home.

"Cough."

Both the children, nudged Turo volunteering him to break the news. "Harri… Jurowari, he wants…"

"Wants what?"

"He is very interested in my sister." Harry felt his heart stop. Sukal was beautiful, Harry always knew others had expressed interest but this wasn't any other Navi. It was the prince of the Metkayina tribe that could grant her every wish, including to bond with a Tulkun. Feeling his heart finally beating again, this time rapidly as if trying to cool his boiling blood.

Sukal and her mount followed into the bay, stopping next to Jurowari and walking up the sandy beach together. Harry saw her hand touch the other hunter's arm and felt a stab of pain shot through his heart.

Sukal's head swivelled, saw the familiar plane that her lover used and quickly spotted him with a crowd of children. Taking off into a run, she barrelled into him, her arms going wide around him and her lips pressing urgently on his.

Harry's hand moved his over Sukals lower back, using the feel of her soft skin, her scent and the sensation of their tongues battling to calm the raging storm in his heart. Pulling his head back for a moment, he looked into her eyes and saw it. Love. She still loved him. Letting his smile return, he resumed the kiss not wanting it to ever stop.

"Cough." Turo interrupted the pair's reunion as Jurowari approached.

"You must be the Harri I have heard so much about. The demon in a Navi's body."

Rising to his feet, he gently pulled Sukal behind him. Harry could see a similar desire and jealousy rage in the hunters' eyes.

"Oel ngati kameie" (I see you) Harry tried to be civil with him, he was after all providing sanctuary to the tribe.

The hunter sneered and didn't return the courtesy. "You should return to the sky-people, demon. My clan will protect this tribe. You are not needed here any longer."

"Harri is a member of our tribe Jurowari." Sukal researched up and touched to shell band on his arm. "All people are born twice. Harry has earned his place amongst the people."

Jurowari sneered again and returned to the bay where he untied his latest hunt.

Sukal brought her hand to Harry's face. "Oel ngati kameie" (I see you)

"Oel ngati kameie yawne" (I see you beloved).

Harry glanced around at the tribe. All the work to repair and rebuild, now reversed. The structures that had been installed were now being folded down and stored. Food parcels were being made to last their long journey while Ilu's were being harnessed. The whole tribe was in action, preparing to travel to the Metkayina tribe.

"How long until…" Harry didn't want to say it, knowing that any tribe's disbandment was a tremendous sorrow for the Navi.

"You arrived just in time; we leave at morning light."

"Then I best get started then, we have lots to do before then."

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Harry lay with Sukal's naked form sleeping draped over his. They had spent much of the day finalising preparations to leave, including packing all the spare space on his rotorcraft with supplies.

That evening, as the stars started to shine in the sky, the couple was finally able to sneak away to refresh their understanding of each other's bodies. The coupling being so energetic, they had drifted off to sleep after many rounds of making love, their bodies still intertwined.

In the morning, Harry looked around at the beach. His memories of Sukal, the children, his training and so many more flashed through his mind. This would be the last time he set foot here. Soon the tribe would wake and they would leave their ancestral home.

Sukal came at joined him, sitting next to him, her head resting on his shoulders.

"To say goodbye to a home is like rocks in your heart." She mumbled.

Thinking of their future, Harry recalled what happened on his island. "Sukal, there is something you need to know. Another option…" Harry explained all about his island, trying to paint a picture with his words about the location and access to resources nearby. Harry also described how had witnessed a spirit tree being planted underwater.

"Great mother be praised! Harri such a blessing from Eywa, to witness the birth of a spirit tree. Not in five generations of Navi has this been recorded."

"Then would the tribe move there, to live on the island? It has, or will once it grows, a spirit tree. Access the Eywa."

Sukal thought for a moment but eventually shook her head. "It is too late for that. Many see the Metkayina offer of sanctuary to be a great blessing. To give up such an opportunity would only invite the tribe to splinter and divide."

Harry nodded, he hadn't expected them to accept his offer. The Metkayina offered far more.

"Then we go to this new tribe, this new clan. Together."

"Together." Sukal echoed.

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Harry guided the plane low over the water, gliding over the procession of ilu carrying their riders and lifelong possessions through the waves.

The young children which Harry was transporting, them being too young to travel far by ilu, giggled and waved at their tribe below. Harry could see the Skimwings boxing the tribe in, a deterrent to any predators.

They had been travelling for several days. The speed of the convoy was severely limited by the ilu's. Every few hours, they had to find an island to rest on, to feed and water the tribe and their mounts.

Taking another look at his navigation equipment, it shouldn't be too much further.

Crash!

Harry ignored the sound of destruction behind him. Days of trying to keep nearly a dozen young Navi children occupied for a long time between rest stops was no easy task. Yesterday, on the island stop, some of the children found coloured chalk. When they next stopped, Harry could hardly recognise the inside of his rotorcraft. He only hoped the mischief they were up to this time wouldn't take as long to clean as the chalk.

Beep!

Harry peered down and saw it. They had finally arrived.

The Metkayina tribe.

Let's hope for a better reception this time around, Harry silently wished.