4 Taming an Ikran.

Floating nearby was a floating rock stem. The rocks rose higher into the sky, giving access to even higher islands, this was what excited Aleyx. Iknimaya, the stairway to heaven.

Aleyx managed to get his father's approval to claim his Ikran, which was why he had climbed along with fellow Na'Vi who were also performing their rite of passage to the Hallelujah Mountains, and it wasn't when they reached what seemed like the top, that they were met with a supposed dead end drifting out into the middle of nowhere.

"What now?" asked Aleyx, even knowing the answer to that question.

"On my count... "said a hunter from the tribe, who was in charge of guiding the youngsters to the Ikran nest.

Aleyx stared at the vines hanging from the mountain nearby, with a thundering waterfall releasing water and watering the ground below-"Now!" Aleyx heard the command beside him and without thinking jumped onto one of the vines and began to climb to the top, with the rest of the group doing the same.

Aleyx ran across giant bridges of moss and vines, traveling from mountain to mountain. The huge gaseous planet, Polyphemus, could be seen in the sky through a light blue haze, it was less noticeable during the day, but it was impressive nonetheless. Aleyx looked at it several times as he trotted along.

Before long, they all climbed into a grotto. With footsteps echoing in the rocky chamber. Just as Aleyx was looking for the end of the grotto, he could see the mouth of the cave, and at the same time he swallowed saliva, the place where they arrived was perfectly level with the floating mountains, and in it sat the home of hundreds of roaring banshees, flying from all directions, their vibrant green, blue and purple fur reflecting the sun like jewels. It was a wonderful sight.

Ateyo, the hunter and leader of the initiation, approached the group of youngsters, who were now ready to begin their initiation ritual. "Aleyx go first, show them how the son of the Olo'eyktan does it," Ateyo announced.

Aleyx let out a heavy sigh and handed him his bow, and armed with nothing more than a bolo, which was just a dead snake, he walked towards the waterfall, with the other youths and Ateyo following in step.

Aleyx was crossing the moss-covered ledge, quite possibly seconds before a potential death, just around the bend was a nest of banshees, unsuspecting that the group of hunters were about to join them.

"Now choose your Ikran," Ateyo said to Aleyx as he held his shoulder from behind, then moved his hand to his chest, pressing and feeling soft drumming against his fingers. "This you must feel inside."

Aleyx however, was nervous, but he disguised it well, what was this compared to fighting a Thanator?

Aleyx knew his archery was phenomenal, hitting the target every time, not to mention that with Fang's company, he made his hunts always successful. But none of that mattered if he couldn't pass this test, since he couldn't officially become a hunter, or worse, he might end up dead.

"If he chooses you too, move quickly as I showed you," Ateyo said, his tone quiet and serious. "You will have only one chance, Aleyx."

"How will I know if he chooses me?"

"He will try to kill you."

Aleyx only glanced sideways briefly at Ateyo, eyebrows raised.

"Don't look at me like that, just do it."

Aleyx came to a clearing, it was an open-air rocky cliff overlooking the rest of Pandora. The forests below were but a patch of green that stretched for endless miles. No other predator could reach so high, making it the perfect nest.

Green, blue, and violet banshees sat on rocks and boulders.

The others watched Aleyx intently, and he simultaneously shooed away some Ikran that came too close to the group, but they were all spectators; for now, Aleyx was alone.

"Warrior! Don't be afraid!" Ateyo shouted from atop a rock. "Show us what you've got!"

The banshees shrieked at Aleyx, some hissing and barking as he approached them, after a flick of his snake, they flew off, one after another, scaring them away.

The suspense was killing him, sure to bring him to the brink if somehow he didn't fall first, but sure enough, he finally found what he was looking for; a new friend or his untimely death.

Perched on a rock in front of Aleyx was a brown Ikran with black spots, instead of moving away, it turned towards Aleyx, roaring at him, receiving a hiss back from Aleyx, the Ikran returned the favor, baring its sharp hooked teeth in an even louder hiss.

"Well, I guess that'll be you."

The Ikran lunged at it, snapping its jaws to kill it, with Aleyx swinging his body to the side to avoid its sharp teeth. The creature shrieked and fluttered, desperate to take a bite. 

But Aleyx's agility was superior to that of the angry animal. 

One of the onlooking hunters raised his fist, shouting in support, something Aleyx would need as he came to a standstill, torn between approaching the banshee and avoiding its blows. 

"Come on, keep it up!" Ateyo's voice could be heard in the background. He reached a point where the banshee managed to lunge towards Aleyx, giving Aleyx a chance to evade its head and climb onto its neck, while he clenched the creature's jaw with the help of his belt. 

But as the creature flapped with instinctive madness, rising several feet into the air, all he could do was grit his teeth, hold on, and hope not to be thrown over the edge, unable to watch it struggle any longer, Ateyo began to shout; "Combine the link Aleyx, what are you waiting for!". 

Aleyx heard her voice above all else and did not hesitate and, pushing his intentions towards the banshee, began to feel his emotions, his fervor at not letting the bond form, the acceptance of knowing if it would happen, along with the anger at healing a Na'Vi on his back. 

It all came as a rush of information to Aleyx's brain, causing his pupils to dilate, causing him to lose control of his motor movements, causing him to release his grip on the banshee and fall off his back, straight off the cliff. 

"Aleyx!" Ateyo shouted, running to the edge of the cliff, just in time to see the banshee Aleyx was trying to bond with take flight and plummet into the abyss. 

In midair, Aleyx fell, his hands and legs flailing, trying to grab hold of the ropes and vines of the mountains, but to no avail. 

Just then, a shadow fell over him, and looking over his head, he caught a glimpse of the brown Ikran with black spots, who quickly approached Aleyx, coming within inches of him. 

Understanding the signal, Aleyx reached out his arm and, managing to grab one of the animal's neuronal tails, Aleyx made Tsaheylu with the banshee, once they were connected, Aleyx maneuvered and made the banshee level at a 70-degree angle, giving Aleyx cover so that he managed to get on its back, and seeing that they were still falling, Aleyx quickly ordered; "Stop!" And with a final flick of his wings, the Ikran spread his wings, catching the wind in his wings and stopping his fall, hovering in midair.

"That's it, buddy," Aleyx said enthusiastically, stroking the brown neck of the animal, which responded to his affection with sounds of its own. Wasting no time, Aleyx made his way back to where the others were, arriving at the top where he had been before, watching as everyone smiled and cheered him on. Ateyo is the proudest.