After a few weeks, I had learned enough to be ready for an Ikran. He and I rode off to the Hallelujah Mountains. Ney'tar led me all the way up, and to the nesting lands for Ikran. Ney'tar explained that the Ikran that chooses me will try to kill me. Three girls from his tribe followed, probably because they didn't want me getting close to Ney'tar. I kept up with him the entire way. He gave me this plant-based rope to get around Ikran's mouth. We reached just past the water, and Ikran were everywhere. I held the rope in my hand to get ready to get my Ikran.
"Here goes nothing," I said, and made my way out.
"Be careful, Ruby," Ney'tar called after me as I went out. I made my way out, and Ikran hissed at me and then flew off. I kept going, careful everywhere I went. Then one came up, A bright blood red Ikran came into view, a little bigger than the rest, shrieking at me. "Ruby!"
The Ikran came charging at me, and I heard Ney'tar rushing over. The Ikran went to take a bite out of me, and I flipped over its head and slapped the vine rope around its mouth, keeping it shut. It swung its head around, trying to throw me off. I grabbed onto one of the neutral queues and swung back on. The other queue almost hit me in the face as the Ikran was thrashing around. I took hold of it in my teeth. The Ikran made a muffled shriek, still trying to get me off, then I took my braid and made the bond. It stopped thrashing and settled. I let go of the Queues.
"There we go, no more of that," I said, a little out of breath. I looked at Ney'tar, and he looked stunned. "What?"
"How did you- this Ikran is Toruk's rival in the balance of life," Ney'tar told me.
"Who's Toruk?" I asked, not quite sure who it was.
"The Ikran that brings clans together at a time of Pandora's greatest need," Ney'tar told me, as I took the rope off my Ikran's mouth. It looked at me with bright white eyes. It wasn't infuriating. I could feel how it feels right now; it's just curious. "This one was named Mewsia. It means honour."
"Mewsia," I said, looking into her eyes. She shook her head and let out a call, like she confirmed what I said. "Let's fly,"
With that, Mewsia took off into the sky. I held on, and she flew all over. I heard Ney'tar call his Ikran and flew with me.
"Let's race them, Mewsia!" I told her, and she roared.
"Gladly," I heard a second voice in my head. I looked at her, surprised.
"You can talk?" I asked her as we flew.
"You can hear my thoughts?" Mewsia turned her head as we flew in open space.