Hey everyone! I know, I've been posting stories like crazy, but I have a feeling that this one will get more attention than the others. Why, you ask?

BECAUSE IT'S A SEQUEL!

If you're reading this and are thinking "wait, what?" then I suggest you go read the first one. Because this isnt a story that you can just pick up, you wont understand what the heck's going on unless you READ THE FIRST ONE! So go check it out, it's called Avatar Chronicles:: To Truly See.

Anyway, to those who HAVE read the first one, I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY! I wasnt planning on writing a sequel, but then i read the end of To Truly See and I'm like "okay, i HAVE to write more!"

This prologue is a snippet, a flash-back, so to speak. The real story takes place fifteen years in the future, which starts next chapter. Also, i got the Avatar Activist Guide for Christmas (I KNOW, IT'S NERDY, BUT I LOVE IT!). So, as a result, I'll be using a lot more technical stuff. For language stuff...I really dont want to list all the meanings (it shouldnt be neccesary, I give enough context to allow the readers to have a pretty accurate stab at what the word means) so for the translations just go to:

http : / / www . learnnavi . org / navi - vocabulary /

(be sure to do delete the unnecessary spaces between the words)

oh, and i dont own anything Avatar-related EXCEPT for my OCs: Sara Mason, Kinak, O'tak, Lielu, Sara and Jake's children...and others that will come into the story later on.

So enjoy this, and (as always) PLEASE REVIEW!


Avatar Chronicles:: Eyes That Linger

By: Sapphire-Raindrop


"Sa'nu, Sa'nu!" Neytiri's ears swiveled around at the familiar voice of her son, Tìrol, and she turned to watch him run towards her, weaving through other women who were sitting nearby, his thick queue braid bouncing around endearingly as his legs pumped furiously. Tìrol, now two years old and scampering around, was more comparable to an ever-evasive beetle than to a child. He was just like his father in the sense that one never quite knew what he was going to do next. Jake said that it was a good thing, but Neytiri wasn't always so sure. It worried her, to know that she didn't really know what her baby was going to do at any time, having only a rough estimate.

Neytiri's hands paused in her work – she was busy sewing a new belt for Jake – as she focused her attention on her son, her love swelling up as his adorable tail whipped around in excitement. She waited for him to catch his breath, licking her thumb and swiftly wiping away some dirt that was smeared on his cheek. The boy pouted, impatiently pushing her hand away before speaking.

"Sempu said that you need to go to Sara, he said that she's going into…um…" Tìrol concentrated as he tried to remember the phrase, but Neytiri put away the half-finished belt and swept him up before he had time to recall exactly what Jake had said. He giggled as she rubbed her nose against hers, and let his head rest on her shoulder as she quickly walked to the back of the Tipani living area, into a place that was blocked off by several walls of leather and wood. Neytiri smiled at the two figures standing outside, both of their shoulders tight and strained as they stared at the ground.

Kinak's hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were paler than the rest of his rich blue skin. His brow was furrowed deeply, and his lips were tight as he waited nervously outside the area where his mate was currently struggling to give birth to their first child. Jake was similar, though he hid it more successfully than Kinak.

Neytiri knew that she ought to feel a little irked that Jake had insisted on being outside when Sara began the birthing, but she knew that it wasn't anything remotely romantic. Sara was the only friend Jake had left from before he transferred his soul to his Na'vi body, and Neytiri knew better than to let her petty emotions get in the way of their friendship. And it near impossible to see Sara as a threat – sure, Neytiri loved Sara like a sister, but even she couldn't deny that Sara was just…not someone Jake would be romantically attracted to…it just wasn't possible.

Both of them flinched horribly when a strangled scream came from inside the structure, and Neytiri quickly nodded to the two of them, kissing Tìrol's forehead before letting him down. Kinak made to move forward with Neytiri, but Jake put a hand on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't. Just let her do this, Kinak."

Kinak was livid, but Neytiri nodded sagely, staring up into Kinak's large golden eyes. "Yes, Kinak, it is for the best. I will be sure to call you in when it's all over."

Tìrol nodded cheerfully to her before she moved the leather covering aside, and she smiled warmly at her son before moving into the birthing area. There were several leather walls, and finally she reached the very last room, where Sara was gasping and groaning, sweat shining brightly on her striped skin. Her long braids were held back by her friend, Lielu. Sara was struggling to contain her screams, but Neytiri saw a particularly strong contraction ripple through her form, and another scream filled the room. Lielu murmured encouragement, stroking her friend's face encouragingly.

"Be brave, Sara…"

Sara's eyes closed in pain, sweat running down her face in rivulets, and for the first time in the years Neytiri had known her, she seemed close to tears. "I can't…it hurts…I can't do it…"

Neytiri knelt beside Sänume, who was crouched in front of Sara's spread legs, and peered into the crevice. The Omaticaya woman could see the baby's head, Sara was so close.

At the sound of Sara's words, Sänume's eyes flashed. "Sara, you skxawng!" Neytiri's eyes widened, as well as Sara's and Lielu's, but Sänume ignored their expressions of shock as she snarled, leaning forward to stare at Sara with her fierce glare.

"You can't be brave? You, the woman who ran away on her own to bond with her ikran, even though the rest of us had given up hope? The woman who singlehandedly braved those who doubted my decision in accepting her into the Tipani clan? The woman who adopted a palulukan and showed us all that even in the things that seem most evil, there is good? The Tipani warrior who risked her life to save our lives from the Skypeople poison? You were brave when you did all of those things, Sara, and yet you're telling me that you can't be brave now, in bringing life into the world? No! Hundreds of women before you have suffered this same pain, and a good portion of them don't have the bravery you posses. So take a deep breath and push!"

Sara's beautiful face darkened in angry concentration, and she took a deep breath, squeezing Lielu's hand tightly. Neytiri grabbed the soft birthing blanket, and held it ready for when Sänume caught the newborn and needed to clean the infant off. Sara pushed as hard as she could, and a final scream filled the air as the baby noisily came into the world. Its body was slender and perfect, and Neytiri saw a glimpse of the pale pink neural strands that were not yet braided before Sänume caught the infant.

Neytiri immediately began cleaning it off as Sänume cut the cord connecting mother and child, and reached over to cup the seed of the Live-Giving Tree in her hands, moving it so it rested gently on the infant's forehead. The baby, shocked by the sudden mental contact, opened its eyes – Neytiri noticed with a jolt that one eye was a deep gold, while the other was a pale, vibrant green – and stared dazedly at the creature. The spirit lingered for a moment, and then gave a glow of contentment, floating away towards the open air outside. The baby's eyes closed once more, and there was a brief moment in which the group of women – and most likely the two anxious men outside – waited worriedly for a sign of breathing.

Then, like the water breaking through a weak dam, a strong howl came forth from the child's lungs, and Neytiri sighed in relief, turning the baby over and patting its back to make sure no liquid remained in its chest. This caused the baby to cry even louder, and all sign of fatigue faded from Sara's face at the sound, her lower lip trembling as she sat up hurriedly. Neytiri grinned, handing the baby to Sara, who was ignoring the fact that Sänume was cleaning the area between her legs. Her fingers pulled open the wrapping, and her breath pushed out in a rush as she whispered.

"It's a girl…oh…she's so tiny!"

Lielu smiled, and gently spoke. "Sara, the braid."

"Oh yeah, thanks Lielu." Sara smiled in thanks, and gently moved her baby so she was lying on her back. Moving swiftly, and with surprising dexterity, the new mother gathered the neural strands in her hands. After making sure the dark hair was evenly surrounding them, she braided the child's hair in the special way that was taught to all young pregnant women before the birth of their child. It was shaped in a way that protected and surrounded the strands, and it ended with the tips of the strands barely peeking out of the bottom of the braid, in preparation for the tsahaylu the child would be experiencing when bonding with ikran, pa'li, and their future – hopefully at least twenty years into the future – mate.

Neytiri moved to observe the infant more closely, and smiled at the way her crying ceased when she was pulled close to Sara's chest, soothed by the sound of her mother's familiar heartbeat. Sara was enamored, her golden eyes wide and filled with emotion as she let her long finger trace down her daughter's cheek.

Neytiri smiled, and Sara seemed to realize that she was there.

"Oh, Neytiri! I didn't even notice you there!" Sara smiled sheepishly, and Neytiri patted her hand before leaning in to smile at the child, Lielu doing the same on the other side.

"Do not worry. She's a beautiful child, Sara. I'm sure he will be very proud."

Sara grinned tiredly. "He better be…cuz I did not just go through ten hours of agony for nothing! He better be as proud as a rutting bull on steroids, dammit!" The last four words were said in English, the first three leaving the Omaticaya woman extremely confused. Neytiri had heard Jake use the last enough to understand that it was some sort of expletive.

Neytiri glanced at Lielu, who was smirking. Sara was so strange at times, and Lielu seemed to be used to it, because she just smiled at her friend and nodded. Sara asked Neytiri to get Kinak, and with a small smile of affirmation Neytiri moved to do so.

Kinak's head snapped up at the sound of Neytiri exiting the tent, and didn't even wait for the woman to speak before brushing past her and into the sectioned off area. She heard Sara greeting him, and heard him kneeling beside her bedside. The strange silence that followed made Neytiri smile – she had heard that silence enough to know that it meant that they were kissing – and she moved to pull Jake into the room as well as Tìrol. The boy was bouncing around in excitement, and Jake laughed as he swung the boy onto his shoulders.

Luckily, Sänume had finished cleaning Sara up before Jake entered the room, and she was out of the room in a second, intent to bury the mass of tissue that had been expelled along with the infant. Now, Sara's lower half was covered by a soft leather blanket, and her chest coverings were back in place. Jake gaped at the sight of his friend and her mate staring in awe at the tiny baby girl, and Sara heard his approach, because her golden eyes snapped up to where he and Neytiri were standing.

"Jake! Hey, come over here and meet Kinäe."

Jake moved forward, and Lielu moved back to give him room as he knelt beside his friend. "Sara…are you alright?"

Sara smiled. "Oh, it was nothing! I could do that five more times, no problem!"

Lielu and Neytiri glanced at each other, hiding smirks as they watched Sara gush to Jake about her daughter. New mothers often felt that way after holding their child – the painful process that was giving birth seemed so unimportant compared to the reward for the effort – and so they remained silent, not wishing to make Sara self-conscious about how suddenly her feelings about the birthing had changed.

Kinak was staring at his daughter with such wonder and adoration that Neytiri sighed contentedly. She smiled at the way his hand rested lightly on the swaddling that surrounded his baby girl. Already protective, it seemed.

Kinak and Sara's relationship had always been a mystery to Neytiri. Sara and Kinak were so different in temperament, and it had always seemed like Norm and Sara were involved, even before Neytiri really got to know them. But now, looking at them, Neytiri knew that they were perfect for each other.

Tìrol was peering down at Kinäe, and his golden eyes were wide as they watched her sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms. He looked up to meet Kinak's eyes, and carefully moved to touch her warm cheek. Sara giggled at the wonder that filled the boy's face as Kinäe instinctively moved towards the touch, her mouth searching somewhat even in slumber. Jake chuckled, looping an arm around the boy's torso as his son looked at Sara inquisitively.

"Why is she so small?" The boy asked, his brows moving together in confusion. Kinak smiled, and Sara snorted loudly, tucking her damp braids behind her ear as she explained.

"Because, Tìrol, she's just a baby! Don't worry, she'll be bigger soon."

Tìrol didn't look convinced and frowned as he reached out to touch her cheek. "How long?"

"Not long at all." It was Kinak who answered this time, and the boy beamed.

"Oh!" Tìrol looked much happier, and he draped himself over Sara's legs, crawling up to peer into the baby's face even more closely. Jake covered his face with his hand, but Neytiri only smiled. It was natural for the boy to be interested, he hadn't had much knowledge about babies before this.

Sara was surprisingly patient with the boy as she answered all of his questions, only wincing when the boy accidently kneed her in the abdomen, but covering it up with a smile when the boy looked up at her. Kinak's eyes watched his mate with frightening intensity, and his hand never left the infant in her arms.

"Where did the baby come from?"

"From my stomach, little guy. Right…here!" Sara tickled the boy on his round belly, and he giggled madly, squirming away from her. When she ceased her tickling, he moved forward again, still grinning.

"How did it get there?" Sara flushed, and Kinak blinked rather stupidly at the sudden question. Tìrol, unperturbed, went on, "Did you and Kinak ask the stork to come? Sempu says that when two mates want a baby, they ask the stork to come, and he gives them one!"

Neytiri rose an eyebrow, looking over at a guilty Jake, who shrugged his shoulders.

"I couldn't very well tell him the truth, could I?"

Sara laughed loudly at that one, and patted the boy's head, ignoring Lielu and Kinak's confused looks. "Of course Kinak and I asked the stork, we couldn't very well do anything else, could we? He's a very nice bird, but you better not be asking him for a baby until you're older, understand? Much older."

Tìrol nodded solemnly, and continued pestering her, much to Kinak's amusement. Lielu said goodbye to the new parents, and then quickly exited to meet up with her own mate, O'tak, who was probably wondering what the outcome had been.

Jake moved so he was beside his mate, and tucked an arm around her waist, kissing her neck. Neytiri smiled, and leaned into him, watching their son laugh and giggle at Sara's bubbly responses, and nod seriously at Kinak's more realistic ones. He was already proving to be a good father, and it was plain that Sara was going to be a wonderful mother, if not a bit enthusiastic in her oddities.

Neytiri smiled in relief that everything had turned out fine, and was about to say something when Jake's voice was soft against her ear.

"How would you feel about giving Tìrol a sibling?"

Neytiri's eyes widened, and she turned to look at her mate fully in the face. He was looking seriously at her, and after a moment she beamed widely.

"I think it would be perfect."

Jake's face brightened – she loved it when he was so obviously happy – and he leaned down to kiss her.

It had been two years since Norm's death, and since the evacuation of the Sky-People. The Na'vi clans were recovering, and it seemed that things were finally shaping up to what it was supposed to be. The Tipani and Omaticaya were on such good terms that it was no longer strange for members of the clans to frequently visit the other, which allowed for Jake and Sara to visit on a regular basis.

Tanhì was fully grown, and had been so protective of Sara during her pregnancy that the palulukan had barely left the Tipani Kelutral. It seemed that the palulukan wouldn't be finding a mate for quite some time, seeing as the Tipani children kept the creature thoroughly occupied, and the arrival of Sara's baby would only increase Tanhì's protectiveness. Sara and Jake were no longer mourning the death of their best friend – not forgetting, just setting aside their sorrow – Neytiri and her mate had been blessed with a wonderful son, and now Sara and Kinak had a child of their own, a beautiful baby girl. Soon, Tìrol would have a brother or a sister, and Jake and Neytiri would spend the years raising their children until they became warriors. It was such a happy future, filled with so much warmth and love.

Neytiri smiled against her mate's lips, and closed her eyes in order to let the feeling of utter satisfaction sink in. Each day, each season, and each moon-cycle would be an adventure, and Neytiri intended to enjoy every moment of it.

Because there was no point in dwelling in the shadows of the past when the future shined so brightly in front of them.