Chapter 26

It's grown so quickly, Harry thought in awe as he ran his hand through the spirit trees tendrils. Sukal was beside him, looking at the gift from Eywa with equal wonderment. Swimming back up the surface, the now bonded, or in human terms – married, pair laughed at the sheer brilliance and majesty of the sacred seed.

"You should bond with it, my Harri."

"But it's still young. Surely we should let it grow some more…"

"I sometimes forgot how young you are."

Pulling Sukal into his embrace. "You know I'm older than you right. I was 36 on Earth before coming to Pandora." Sukal patted his head, as you would a small child or animal to appease them.

"More years do not make one wiser." She looked back at the spirit tree. "The first bond formed with Eywa is important. It will echo down through the generations."

Harry managed to get Sukal to try and explain, but even her knowledge was incomplete. Spirit tree births were rare and so the tales of them were only passed down through the occasional song or story.

Harry knew that Navi could access their ancestral wisdom through the spirit trees, he had experienced it when he made the bond with Ra'sar's tribe. To be the first to bond to a spirit tree was essentially establishing himself as the founder of a Navi clan. All the following Navi who connected to Eywa through the tree, all of his descendants, would be able to access his knowledge and wisdom. He would become a spiritual guardian, living eternally with Eywa.

Seeing his wife's unwavering gaze, he swam back down, reached for his braid and made the bond with the single tendril.

Harry was quickly immersed in that blanket of light and love that constituted Eywa. He felt like a bird looking down on Pandora, able to see beyond this cave to his small community making a home on the island. The struggles of making a whole new home balanced with the joys of coming together, as a family.

Even further beyond, Harry could start to see the signs of the great balance the Navi preached so much on. The delicate life of a newborn Thanator, the killing of a Hexapede to feed a clan and the death of a Navi being buried in the roots of a great tree. All connected. All in balance. Harry marvelled at the scenes before him, trying to understand the message from Eywa. It was death but it fuelled life in endless cycles of destruction and rebirth.

The images of Pandora faded. Harry looked around, his feet submerged in the gentle lapping water. Mist clung to the water obstructing his vision. Across the water, shadows moved. Harry waded out, trying to find the mystery concealed from him.

Further he went into the water. Alone in the darkness. Moving away from the light of Pandora.

Suddenly a single beam of light hit his eyes. Soon, more started to pierce the mist until Harry recognised them.

Stars.

Harry was looking at the distant night sky, beyond Pandora. Where he had come from.

"I understand great mother." Harry whispered reverently. He had been shown the path, now it was up to him to walk it.

Pulling himself from the dream-like state and returning to the ledge where had only recently pledged his undying loyalty to Sukal, he tried to process all the wild thoughts running through his head.

Turning to stare deeply into his wife's eyes, Harry tried to explain his encounter but no words came out. He settled with something simple. Simple, but Harry could feel the currents of history gathering. Eywa had guided him to find a name for his new family. For his clan.

"I know my purpose now, my love."

Sukal swam towards her mate and pulled herself up beside him.

"From this day, we are refugees no longer. We will be the bridge that connects our two worlds. The Tawsemka Clan (Sky Bridge) is born today."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ouch!" Sukal ignored her husband's pain as she continued to repeatedly stab him with a large needle-like thorn.

The lovers had returned from their coupling and had decided on the new name for their clan for their home. It was barely an hour later when Sukal had sourced the thorn, ink and a special tool that looked like a hooked chisel.

"Stop wriggling. Ilu infants stay stiller than you."

"Well, maybe you shou... Ow!"

Harry was unsure about the whole procedure, however it seemed Sukal was determined. Her mate had named and there founded a new clan. That made Harry the Olo'eyktan (Leader) and so he had to have the traditional markings of the reef people to show his position.

Sukal had traced the tribal pattern in charcoal along his left arm and over his shoulder. As Sukal worked, using the tools to force the ink harvested from sea creatures under his skin, she explained about the Tattoos. The great swirls represented the way of water, that connects all things, they were mixed with triangles to represent the strength of the earth and his heritage from the forest. Sukal used thick black lines to encase the symbols that were symbolic of Eywa's eternal love for all life. Finally, Sukal had drawn eleven small stars, one for each of the Navi willing to follow Harry away from the Metkayina tribe to an unknown future.

Sukal had planned on using dots as is more traditional, however Harry had made his one demand of the whole process to make them stars.

A reminder of where he came from.

A reminder of his task given by Eywa.

They would be the Tawsemka Clan, the very bridge between Pandora and the stars above.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After many hours of work, Sukal had wrapped his arm and chest with a blue seaweed that would help his body heal and make the ink permanent. As Harry left their home to go to their regular communal meal, Harry noticed a different atmosphere.

Where he walked, the others, who he had grown to know as family, all offered him signs of respect. They gently bowed their heads and murmured honorifics.

"Oel ngati kameie Olo'eyktan." (I see you, leader)

"Eywa ngahu Olo'eyktan." (May Eywa be with you, leader)

The Navi didn't seem sad at the change but rather he saw a new spirit in their eyes. Hope.

To a Navi, being without a tribe was to be cut off from all family and Eywa. They were no longer wanders eking out a living on an alien's island.

They had an Olo'eyktan.

They had a clan.

Taking his seat at the head of the table, the last few Navi shuffled in. Harry picked up his bowl of broth and barbecued fish, ready to start eating as was their custom, when Sukal kicked him under the table. Locking eyes, she silently indicated to the rest of the group, even the children, that were sitting waiting for him to speak in stony silence.

Clearing his throat, and wishing he had time to prepare something better, Harry tried to make his voice sound as inspirational as he could.

"As you know, when we stood abandoned on that island, Eywa has blessed us with the birth of a spirit tree. I have performed the first Tsaheylu and Eywa has given us a glorious purpose." Harry's gaze swept the room, meeting everyone's eyes.

"I have long stood astride two worlds, never fitting perfectly in either. As we sit here, Sky people and Navi shed blood in a conflict that could engulf this whole world. Unless we can bridge that gap. Unless we can find a way to bring two worlds into harmony."

"I stand before you, asking, no pleading. Join me. Join the Tawsemka Clan."

One after the after, Navi stood up, they each held a wooden cup in their hands raised high. Harry could finally let out a breath, he had at least their support.

"Our task is not easy. Although we are few and it will take many years, maybe even generations of effort to see our dreams realised, our strength is our bond. Together we will be unbreakable!"

"Together! Unbreakable!" They cheered back. Tears of happiness welled in their eyes.

It was the rousing sort of speech that Harry had never thought he would need to deliver in his life. What came after was fuzzier. He briefly recalled that the Navi had found his liquor stash and broken it open. The celebration that followed, Harry was certain it was magnificent, it being one of the extremely rare events of the founding of a clan. However as Harry lay on the floor, a broken chair under his back and a bowl resting proudly on his head, he couldn't quite remember the details.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whack!

The spear in Harry's hand shot out as he launched a fierce attack against Doeung. It had become part of his daily ritual to have a combat lesson from the two most experienced fighters, Doeung and Zewyan. Both had served as hunters and warriors for their clan for many years until the great storm crippled them.

Doeung, despite only having one arm, batted Harry's assault away with a single swing of his spear. Turning to attack, Doeung used his spear to slash in great arcs forcing his opponent to the defensive.

Harry rolled back. Then back again. He finally used his spear to block the attack by embedding the rubber tip into the soil and using the shaft as a pillar to deflect the blow. Harry had specially made some training spears to be non-lethal so that his instructors would finally advance him beyond the staff.

Seeing an opening, Harry charged.

At Harry's next stab, Deoung dropped his own spear before reaching out and grabbing the shaft of Harry's. Not expecting the move, Deoung's one good arm yanked it free from Harry's grasp. A leg knocked Harry down while the tip of his spear rested victoriously over his throat.

Seeing the familiar position, Harry half expected to hear the droid's emotionless voice declare him 'dead.'

Zewyan, his other mentor, walked over after witnessing the bout. Unlike Deoung, Zewyan had accepted Harry's offer to make him an artificial limb. He couldn't create the advanced sort that was available to the wealthy back on Earth, but it allowed Zewyan to move around mostly as he did before. The one area it was insufficient in was riding as it could not provide enough pressure to hold him to an ilu's back while riding underwater.

Using his spear shaft to smack Harry on the head, he continued trying to teach the ways of combat. "You attack, attack, attack. Skxawng (Moron)!"

"Well, that is how I win, isn't it?" The spear whipped out again, a violent reprimand.

"You must observe your opponent. Understand what they are going to do. See how they move. Only then can you know went to attack or when to defend."

"Observe. Look. I've got this." Picking up his spear, he turned to Deoung ready for another round.

Harry watched Deoung and when he saw his thrust, he dodged to the side. As he took a step back, to try and further observe his opponent further, Deoung had already accelerated into close quarters.

Harry wielded his spear around and tried to use the tip to slash. The spear was long and before he could bring it into position, he felt a wooden spear end slam into his chest. The blow was so strong that Harry felt himself being lifted off the ground before falling flat on his face.

Defeated once more.

"You have eyes but don't see." Deoung helpfully contributed.

"Then how do I see!" He was starting to get annoyed. Harry had specially requested that they teach him how to fight however every day it was more vague statements.

Zeywan tried to comfort him. "Navi children spent years hunting, training. You are yet young to our ways."

"Remember Harri. You are the Olo'eyktan. That is a position that only the strong and respected can hold. Should a clan member wish, they could challenge your position through our ancient traditions." Deoung tried to remind his young leader. They were a small clan for now, however their numbers would grow. If Harry wasn't prepared to defend his position, it would be taken by a more worthy member.

Harry nodded solemnly. He had founded the tribe and had no intention of surrendering it to anyone.

"Again!" He commanded as he prepared for yet another beating.

No pain. No gain.