Rick stepped away a bit at that, wanting to give mother and daughter their little bit of privacy after such an intense and tender moment. They'd be back to business soon enough.
"Sa'nok?" Enya asked eventually from somewhere over 'Iheyu's shoulder.
"Hmm...?" the healer said from somewhere over Enya's.
"What be symbol-maker?"
"Oh, my..." 'Iheyu stepped back. "I suppose that was a bit rash of me to say you were going to be something when you don't really know what it is," she chided herself gently.
"Is okay," Enya responded to her mother's sheepish smile. "'Rash' is same-same as 'all-sudden', yes? I do lotsa all-sudden stuff...like get-on-Pa'li stunt, 'member?"
"How could I forget? If I ever forget any of your stunts, it will only be because you've pulled so many of them that I lose track!"
They shared a hearty laugh; then 'Iheyu addressed the question. "A symbol-maker is someone who speaks in ways other than words. There are many kinds of symbol-makers. Some make bead-strings that mean something--a highly skilled one might even make story-strings for the Lorekeepers. Others, such as those in Tsanten's lands, paint on rock-walls or carve things into them. Others carve certain objects from wood or stone, such as story-stones or objects used in rituals that stand for the Clan. The Olo'eyktan has such an object. It is made of a black stone dotted with white crystal growths. We are the Tompa'tanhi, the Rain Star Clan, and this bowl symbolises the rain of stars that marked our founding."
"Rain of stars...?" Enya had no idea what that might mean, but she knew one thing. "Ooo, Brenda gonna like that story!" she said, bouncing a little bit. "Stone sound like one called 'snowflake obsidian'..."
Now it was 'Iheyu's turn to look puzzled; but then, it could be hoped that no Na'vi would ever have to learn what a 'snowflake' was.
"Umm...so I be somebody who says by making?" Enya asked, returning to the subject.
"I think so," said 'Iheyu. "You make things for a Lorekeeper, and before you even came to us you'd found a story-stone. I believe Eywa let you find that stone for a reason... And I think you are going to show us new ways of making."
Enya thought about this--thought about her code-band, the beads that meant pats that meant marks; about Tsanten's speech of hands, which only she could read with any skill; about the teaching she would do for those without words; and about the stories in old-animal rocks, which only she could tell.