Hunters of the Night
A/N: I have no ownership in Avatar whatsoever. Reviews and feedback are always welcome. I hope you enjoy!
Edited and expanded this chapter.
After the war was over, there really was much for the people to do except try to get on with their lives as normally as they could. Kelutral of the Omaticaya was still felled and the forrest around it was still burned and covered in a layer of ash, there was no changing that. Jake had always felt guilty about what he and his kind had done but Neytiri would always tell him to put those thoughts in the past where they belonged. The forest was always changing, he had to accept that fact.
Within a few months time Jake had finally been accepted by the Omaticaya clan as one of their own even though he had already gone through the official ceremonies twice. They called him their child leader, not because he was so young, but because he still had a lot to learn. But the clan to it in stride, each of them offering their own skills to teach Jake everything he should know.
After his lessons about the daily lives of some of the other clan members Jake walked to the common grounds exhausted. He wanted nothing more to curl up with his mate for the night but the darkening of the sky brought someone Jake had never seen in his clan before.
The male na'vi talking to Mo'at was about the same height as Jake. Though smaller frame than Jake's, but there was an air about him that smelled of a warrior. But the way he stood, moved and talked was different than any na'vi he had ever seen before. He had a long blade sheathed on his lower back. He carried no bow or any other weapon that Jake could see. Loose hairs stuck out from his braids and dirt covered most of his skin, he looked to have been in the wild for long amounts of time.
Jake moved forward and was about to introduce himself but the warrior ignored his greeting.
"What is this thing?" asked a na'vi warrior as he walked towards the newcomer.
"This is Jakesully," Neytiri. "He is one of the people."
The na'vi warrior snarled at Jake that sounded more like a tiger or lion than the sound that Neytiri or the others have made. He circled around Jake sizing him up, disliking him more and more with every pass.
"This thing doesn't belong here," replied the warrior. "It is not one of us. It reeks like the Sky People do." He stopped and glared at Neytiri. "And so do you."
"I don't like your attitude," replied Jake who was loosing his patience with this na'vi. "If you've got something to say. Say it to me."
The warrior roared like a lion at Jake and put his hand on the hilt of his knife strapped to on his lower back. Jake still didn't know a lot about the na'vi culture but he knew a challenge when he saw one. Though this warrior probably hated his guts, he wouldn't draw his weapon on an unarmed opponent.
"Enough," shouted Mo'at which made the warrior ease up but continued to stare into Jake's eyes.
Jake took the opportunity to size him up. Although the thought of an easy win over this smaller built opponent had crossed his mind. Never underestimate your opponent, Jake reminded himself.
"You are not to touch him. He is under the protection of Eywa. He is also the Toruk Makto," defended the Tsahik.
The warrior laughed was icy and cold, it sent chills down everyone's spine. "What is that suppose to mean to me?"
Even Mo'at was at a loss for words. She suddenly realized that she had revealed too much information far to early in the game.
"Neytiri, what's happening?" asked Jake as he didn't quite understand the situation. He was surprised to see even Neytiri's face drop.
"He is Kearal," replied Neytiri as she tried best as she could to explain it to Jake. "He doesn't follow Toruk Makto."
"So this Kearal guy is more powerful?" asked Jake.
"Kearal is title," said Neytiri who took a minute to find the right words. "It is 'No Meaning.'"
"He has no meaning, he has no name," said Mo'at. "He will listen to Eywa. But he does not follow any of the people."
Kearal didn't like the fact that they were talking in English in front of him but he did not interrupt them and kept his eyes on Jake. He then watched as an Atokirina (woodsprite) lazily hover around Jake. This made Kearal even angrier as he couldn't touch Jake so long as Eywa forbade it. Frustrated he pushed past Jake almost knocking him over in the process.
Jake whipped around but Neytiri held him back.
"You cannot fight him," said Neytiri.
"Why not?" asked Jake. "You are just going to let him do what he wants?"
"Yes," replied Mo'at. "He became Kearal for na'vi. He protects Omaticaya."
"If he protects Omaticaya where was he when the Sky People attacked?" asked Jake. "I didn't see him protecting the people."
"Jake that is enough," pleaded Neytiri. "You do not understand."
"I think I understand it perfectly," said Jake. "This guy becomes Kearal and does whatever he pleases and gets away with it."
"Is not that what you did?" asked Mo'at.
"What I did was for the benefit of the people," replied Jake who was now getting frustrated with everyone around him. He pulled his arm free from Neytiri's grasp.
"Jake," begged Neytiri.
"Let him go," said Mo'at. "He needs time to calm."
Neytiri did as she was told and watched Jake go off towards the tree line to where his ikran (banshee) swooped down from hanging on the cliff face and landed close to him. Neytiri watched Jake stroke the muzzle of the beast affectionately before mounting it and taking to the sky. She wanted to follow him but her mother's wisdom was sound. She wanted to tell Jake that she understood how he felt. But if human anger was like that of na'vi anger, there would be no reasoning with him.
-
Although it had been several days since Kearal had come to the Omaticaya clan his mood lightened very little. Kearal and Jake avoided each other as much as possible to avoid conflict. But when ever they did bump into one another the tension was thick. So Jake decided that he needed to spend time away from his clan and visit the people he had once called his own.
"Where are you going?" asked Neytiri as she watched him check his ikran who faithfully stood waiting.
"I am going back to the colony for a bit," replied Jake who was finally satisfied with the condition of the ikran and saddle. He hoisted himself up and made the bond with one of the antenna.
"I'm coming with you," said Neytiri. Before Jake could protest she climbed on behind Jake. He hesitated for a moment considering if he should argue with her, but she was stubborn.
"Heeyaaahh!" called out Jake to his ikran.
It obediently stroked its powerful wings and in seconds they were high above the ground and easily gliding through the mountains. They could still see the wreckage from the battle that had just happened not but a few days ago. The fighting still fresh in their minds.
Jake felt Neytiri leaning in against Jake and felt her hands move from his waist to his chest. He looked down to see her gentle fingers cup his muscles. He unwrapped one hand from the ikran's antenna and rested it on her hand. She leaned in even further, feeling her breasts pressed against his bare back.
"I need to find an ikran to bond with. Will you join me?" she asked.
Jake nodded in reply. Though I don't see what the hurry is, thought Jake as his smirk turned into a smile. Something he hadn't done in a while.
Regrettably their flight had ended much too soon for Jake's liking. Though there was the ride back to which he had to look forward to. They landed in the middle of the human colony which looked more like a ghost town than a human settlement.
"It is quite," said Neytiri who felt anxious and kept her father's bow in her hands.
"I wonder where the others are," said Jake looking over the many abandoned vehicles and buildings.
"Jake!" called out Norm who was waving his arm wildly in the air and a huge grin on his face. Neytiri relaxed a little though the human machinery still made her uncomfortable.
"Hey Norm," said Jake sheepishly back.
"What brings you around these parts?" asked Norm as the couple walked towards him.
"Just wanted to check up on you guys," answered Jake.
"Things have been going pretty well," replied Norm as he walked towards them. "I guess this is how everyone looked when you were in your wheel chair."
Jake and Neytiri followed Norm as best as they could as he continued to rattle on and on about their scientific discoveries and how they were just beginning to understand the biology of some of the fauna and flora on the planet.
They were also met up with the other Avatar program members. Where they were still exploring the forest around them. A few of them were trying to adjust to their Avatar host bodies and improve their reflexes and coordination through games of pickup basketball and runs through the obstacle course. Jake and the others tried to teach Neytiri how to play the game which she found exciting but never really understood how to dribble the ball.
Its been a while since Jake played basketball so he and Neytiri often got beat in two-on-two pickup games. But everyone got a good laugh when Jake missed a dunk and fell flat on his back with a loud thud.
For a moment Jake forgot all about Kearal, he forgot about the war, and everything else. So it was hard to say their goodbyes and return to their home. Neytiri noticed something in Jake's eyes that told her he wanted to stay.
"Jake?" asked Neytiri as they were now back in the air returning home.
"Yeah," he replied.
"Do you miss your home?" asked Neytiri.
"We are almost there," answered Jake trying to avoid giving her an answer he himself didn't know for certain.
"That is not what I meant," said Neytiri.
Jake thought about it for a moment. He had often questioned himself about his own identity. Was he really a na'vi or just a human stuck inside of a na'vi body? He really couldn't find an definitive answer for.
"Sometimes," said Jake truthfully. "But this is my home now. Because you make it my home."
Neytiri leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him across his chest. She began to cry as she stared out at the sky and watched the sunset go down across the horizon.