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During his training to be a Na'vi warrior, Neytiri took Jake to a wide branch high in the canopy of the forest.
Neytiri called out three times. Suddenly, a banshee swooped down and land just in front of them. Thinking that they were being attacked, Jake took a step back in alarm.
"Seze. Seze." Smiling, Neytiri caressed the head of the banshee and gave it a snack. The banshee eagerly took the snack from Neytiri's hand with its mouth and gulped it down.
"Outstanding!" Smiled Jake when he saw that the creature was friendly with Neytiri.
"Ikran is not horse." Said Neytiri turning to Jake. Jake nodded respectfully.
"Also, Ikran is not Palulukan, nor Na'vi nor Toruk, nor atorkina..." Said Neytiri. Jake nodded again politely. He had got the message.
"And Ikran is not a spider, nor a tree, nor a flower,..." Continued Neytiri. "...nor the sun, nor the sky, nor a mountain, nor a rock.."
Jake sighed as Neytiri continued listing items that an Ikran was not "...nor is it a beetle, nor a wasp, nor branch, nor a wolf..."
Getting bored and tired Jake had to sit down as Neytiri continued reeling of more items which were not an Ikran.
"...nor a bow, nor a knife, nor an arrow, nor a pot, nor a necklace, nor a stick..."
Some time later, it was getting dark and Jake was almost half asleep when Neytiri finally came to the end of her list.
"...nor a sky person, nor a gun, nor a spoon, nor a hat, nor a helicopter."
Relieved she had finally finished her list, Jake got up. Neytiri looked at Jake with a beautiful shy smile on her face, as she continued caressing Seze. She seemed pleased with her explanation. Jake wanted to please and impress her by showing interest in her people, so he decided to make conversation.
"So what does the word Ikran actually mean?" Asked Jake. "Does it mean 'winged lizard' or 'flying beast' or something like that?"
"No" replied Neytiri. "The word Ikran does not mean that."
"What does it mean?" Said Jake sincerely. "Please tell me. I wish to learn the ways and the language of the Na'vi."
"Very well." Said Neytiri. "An Ikran is a creature that is..."
"Yes...?" Said Jake expectantly.
"...not a horse..."
Jake looked at Neytiri wide-eyed. He didn't like how this had started.
"...nor a Palulukan, nor Na'vi nor Toruk, nor atorkina..."
"Er...Right." Said Jake, beginning to experience a feeling of déjà vu.
"...nor a spider, nor a tree, nor a flower, nor the sun, nor the sky, nor a mountain, nor a rock.."
Jake groaned, shook his head and face-palmed himself.
"...nor a beetle, nor a wasp, nor a branch, nor a wolf..."
Jake sat down on the branch and leaned back against the trunk with his head in his hands. He had better get comfortable. It was going to be a very...very...very long night.
"...nor a bow, nor a knife, nor an arrow, nor a pot, nor a necklace, nor a stick..."
END