Vendetta.

[tm20]

She took him into the river with the water just below his knees.
“Look for a fish, once you do hold tukru like this. Do not move your feet or they will go away. Breath strong, concentrate and throw.”
She left him with her bow and arrows to go fishing in another spot. Tak stood there looking in the water for fish. There weren’t too many, just a few small ones. He went deeper and after a while found a decent sized fish. As told, he kept his eye on the prey, not moving his feet and drawing the spear back. He took a breath and while slowly exhaling he threw it. It missed and the fish got away. This was allotting harder than it seemed. He grabbed his spear and went looking for another. Attempt after attempt failed as he continued to misjudge the distance, the water played tricks on him as it bent the light that entered. Just when he was about to ditch the spear and use his hands, a fish appeared so he gave it one last go. He readied himself and threw it. The spear pierced the water and sunk. Tak picked it up and pulled it out of the water to reveal a fish speared on the end. He smiled as he bathed in the glory of his first catch. Feeling good about himself he went looking for Zetey, but that died when he saw her backing up from the river, dragging a huge fish onto the bank which dwarfed his catch. She pulled the arrow out of the gill and lifted it up onto her shoulder. When she turned around to see Tak holding the spear with a poor excuse of a catch on the end she let out a small laugh.
“I got this, but it’s nothing compared to what you got there....”
“Well done. We can go back.”
They returned to hometree and Tak picked up his shoes and singlet on the way. They went up the spiral and dropped off their catches.
“You did good today, irayo.”
“It’s ok, it was a good experience..... guess I better go. Kiyevame”
“Kiyevame.”
He began to make his way back down but Zetey called for him.
“Tak. Do not be sad, tomorrow is a new day.”

That night the Takahayo sat around the fire as their dinner cooked. The clan members chatted amongst each other as usual. The animals that had been caught and cooked were being shared but Zetey who was with her friends decided not to.
“Why is that one so small? And where did you get it? Hahahahaha!” said one of her friends. Others joined in on the joke.
“You can’t even share it because it’s so small!”
“Maybe next time Eywa will bless you with more luck hahahaha!”
Zetey decided to snap back.
“See that big fish over there? I caught that, and that’s what you’re eating right now..... morons”
It shut them up for a few seconds.
“...So who caught that?”
“Why does it matter?!”
Back at the shacks Tak was having his usual alone time. He thought about his day outside. It was refreshing and fun. It also took his mind of other things. He wanted to go back but he still felt some kind of guilt, like he wasn’t worthy enough to be taught by such a wise and pure species. While in bed he thought about it. Those last few words before he left still remained in his mind. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Tak got stuck into some solid work the next day and it was afternoon before he knew it. He made his way with Dr. Eileen and Dr. Dale. Before hometree the two split from Tak as they decided to go count the local Yeriks as part of the FEBA conservation program, a side project she decided to start up. Dr. Eileen liked this, it was a sign that he was taking the initiative to visit the Na’vi more. Tak searched around for Zetey but she was nowhere to be found so he sat down on his favourite log. When she appeared he got up and walked over to her.
“Hey.”
“Tak, Kaltxi eylan.”
“Is it ok if we go somewhere else to talk?”
They went to the back of hometree and sat down by the water.
“Last night I thought about the past month or so of my life and I just completely forgot about how much of a bumpy ride it’s been. Seemed like I got off to a good start, then ****ed it up, and just when it was getting better I ****ed it up again. Didn’t really know what was next, but I remembered what you told me. Today is a new day, I’ve put all the bull**** from my past behind me and..... I’m ready to learn again... So teach me, please. Whatever it is, whatever you throw at me, I’m ready.”
Zetey looked at him. He was serious, and she could see it. Her serous face turned into a small smile.
“Yes, I know.”
They went out to the forest and Zetey took off, running as fast as she could to see if Tak could keep up. As she zoomed threw the natural obstacle course, Tak was keeping up but it wasn’t easy. She ran up a tree and jumped onto another and began running along the network of branches that were suspended above ground like a complex highway. Tak was getting tired but he went for the jump with full speed and just landed it. He was falling behind but kept going. Zetey continued until she noticed Tak wasn’t following behind her. She stopped and waited for him. Tak was soon in sight. He was jogging, obviously out of breath, and didn’t see the small bump in the way which he tripped over and crashed to the floor then rolled off the tree and fell to the ground below. He tried to grab onto vines on the way down but he only got tangled in them and they spun him out of control. Tucking his head into his chest, he hoped for the best. He hit the ground, landing flat on his back and gasping for air from being winded. Zetey hopped down, breaking her fall by utilizing her surroundings and landed next to him. She looked at him and giggled. Tak got back onto his feet.
“Try not to do that.” she said.

The next few days Tak would be taken on long runs through the forest, really pushing his Avatar’s athleticism to the limits. They would run along the ground and eventually make their way onto the trees above. Wherever there was a path they would follow it. Tak would trip over or run into things but he would get back and keep going. It was tough but it was also very fun. Getting lost in the forest made him forgot why he was really sent to Pandora and for that period of time in the day his mind would be taken off from all the work and fighting. Tough on the body but rejuvenating for the mind. When he returned his muscles would ache. Lying back down on his bed had never felt so damn good but he knew it was worth it, no pain no gain. Not only was it a great way to get fit, but it was also a great way to get to know the area and familiarise himself with it. The FEBA was a very disorganised place with all the river systems, changes in elevation and abundance of plants but there were things that he would recognise which began to give him a sense of direction.

One morning Dr. Eileen noticed Tak quietly doing his work. The others had gone off in their Avatars and it was just her, Tak and Alan. By now it was obvious that these were the two people that Tak had got to know the most. She sat down next to him and turned on the camera that was on his desk.
“You’ve been going out these past few days so I assume you’ve got some interesting stuff to share. Tell us all about it.”
“Well it’s nothing to do with my work, so I don’t think people are going to care.”
“Video logs aren’t just about the work you do, it does help if you keep a record of it but it’s not the only thing. It’s like..... a way to express yourself. You don’t even have to think, you just speak what’s on your mind. So, just give it a go.” she said as she got the camera ready to record then got up and left him. Tak sat infront of his monitor, looking at himself from an angle on the screen. For minutes he sat in silence with his face resting on his hand, not feeling like saying anything. How were you supposed to “express yourself” when you didn’t feel like saying anything? Dr. Eileen watched from her desk and decided to give him a bit of a push.
“We’re all waiting for you to say something.”
“This is stupid.”
“Maybe, but it is a good idea...... Any time today Tak.”
And that’s when it struck him.