A/N: Hello, reader! I'm so sorry it has been so long. I hate it when writers do that but dammit, I need inspiration!
You might begin to wonder where I'm going with this and to be honest, I have no idea. Thanks for sticking by anyway. =)
Overview: Picks up right where we last left Jake and Neytiri.
Find Me, Find You (2)
The massive moon hovered low in the cloudless sky. Patches of blue light scattered the darkness on the forest floor. Every so often, quiet voices interrupted the peaceful rhythm of the night. In the small chamber hidden beneath the mountains, Jake Sully sat within his prison and focused on the woman sitting on the opposite side.
"Ikran is not like other creature. The soul is very old."
"They are," she paused searching for words. "Strong dragons guarding the sky. Very big. Very powerful."
Her voice trailed off and Jake followed her downward gaze to the floor. He watched her finger trace small intricate patterns in the dirt. The sudden softness in her eyes caused him to tense in anticipation. This fierce warrior did not scare easily. Jake heard the weak exhale and looked back to find her staring at him.
"Ikran is the first challenge," she said in regret. "Tonight, warriors will take her child and leave your blood."
"That is our way."
"At sunrise, if you bleed." Jake leaned in as her voice dropped to a low whisper. "She will hunt your scent."
She eased away. "And you will die."
Jake swallowed involuntarily. The ramification of her words hung heavy in the air.
"Do not look in her eyes. You must be quick like I showed and keep her confuse," she said with a sudden urgency. "Ikran attack from the sky. They do not like hunting on ground."
"Stay low." Her shoulders dropped in emphasis. "You are easy prey if you get too high. She is smart but hurting for her child. It will make her blind. Ikran is big and cannot go where you can."
"There is safety deep in the forest."
"You cannot stop running, Jake."
Jake peered into her serious face and rubbed his bleary vision allowing her words a moment to settle.
"Let me see if I got this right," he slowly enunciated. "Some giant dinosaur out there thinks I killed its baby."
"And you're telling me that as soon as I start bleeding," Jake emphasized. "This…this dragon is going to zero in on my ass and I'm as good as dead."
"Tell me," his eyes bored into hers. "How the hell am I supposed to outrun this thing, huh?"
"It huge and has wings, for crying out loud. The whole damn forest is its own little backyard. But this," Jake threw his arms out, "This is all a maze to me."
"I'll be dead as soon as I hit the ground."
She opened her mouth to deny but he quickly cut her off.
"But even if I did manage to survive," he relented sending her an angry look. "What's stopping the rest of forest from killing me?"
"Trust me, your giant bird isn't the only thing out there with teeth!" Jake shouted.
He had no weapons, no training and absolutely no idea what was about to unfold. The mission was to infiltrate the clan, earn their trust and convince them to relocate. He did not sign up for this shit! Jake clenched his fists; he needed to hit something and her calm perusal was only making the situation worse.
"You," she quietly replied, "are stupid."
Jake frowned.
Reaching back, she slid the repugnant smelling jar across the floor and into his prison until the clay pot was pressing against the side of his leg. The content was warm despite the cold chill. She folded her arms and patiently blinked at him.
Jake held his breath and stared blankly down at the yellow fluid. Slowly, his mind churned and rolled until it came up with only one possible conclusion. He snapped his eyes to her, horrified.
Calmly, as though sharing some trivial detail, she confirmed his suspicions. "You will put that on your body."
Jake flinched.
But she continued without hesitation, "Toruk is the most feared creature in the sky. His name means 'Last Shadow.' He cannot be caught and cannot be ruled."
Her eyes burned through the darkness. The husky whisper circulated down his spine. "Toruks' scent will protect you from danger. Even Ikran will not attack so quickly."
"But," she reminded him. "You have her child. For that, Ikran will still kill if you allow her too close."
Carefully, Jake cradled the jar in the center of his hand. He examined the strange markings on the side. "How did you get this?"
Instantly, he felt her withdrawal. The walls came back up shielding the emotions he glimpsed just a moment before. Like the flip of a switch, the sense of intimacy shattered.
She donned her princess armor and he remained shackled to the floor.
Neat trick.
"Alright," Jake chuckled. So that was the way it was going to be. He lowered the jar and looked into her eyes choosing his next words carefully. "I thought you said the sky belonged to the Ikran."
"No." She shook her head. "Ikran is only guardian. Toruk is king."
Jake looked at her without humor. His lips twisted into an empty grin. "Lucky me," he replied without confidence.
Placing the liquid a safe distance away, Jake massaged the kink in his neck. "So I dump all this shit on me and run through the forest."
"Then what?"
She frowned. It seemed his savior was at a loss of words because for a long while she remained silent. Jake shifted uneasily on the floor. Depressing thoughts circled his mind. Maybe that was the extent of her plan…perhaps the rest was up to him.
Jake sighed heavily.
If that was true, then all this information only delayed the evitable; he was dead.
Jake drummed his fingers along the cage. What would happen to him if this avatar body died? Would the sudden lost of connection kill him, leave him crazy? Jake couldn't remember reading about that part. Actually, he couldn't remember reading the manual at all to be honest. Shoot first. Ask questions later. That goddamn motto was going to get him killed. If onl-
"You wait."
The quiet answer broke his reverie. Jake snapped to attention. "What?"
Her eyes lingered on his face. Her lips parted as though there was more to say but she suddenly stood up. Jake stared in confusion and watched like an idiot as she calmly turned and walked away.
Walked. Away.
"Wha-"
He scrambled to his feet. "Whoa, hang on a minute. That's..that's it? Where are you going?" He demanded. Jake ran after her alongside his prison. "What do you mean wait?"
"Wa..wait for you?"
"For how long?"
"And..and," he stammered. "Wait for what..hey!"
Jake bashed his fist into the steel bars. A nasty crack erupted through the air.
"HEY!" He shouted.
But her steady footsteps never slowed until she stood only inches away from the door, her hand resting on the latch. Only then did he see a moment of hesitation. The tension drained from her rigid shoulders and she slanted him a look.
"Remember, tsahaylu Jake. It is over when you make the bond."
"If Ikran dies," she added softly. "You follow."
Quickly, she turned away and pushed down turning the heavy handle. The ancient apparatus creaked and slowly pulled the stone wall away revealing a lighted stairway on the other side. Jake had to think fast. Reaching down, he grabbed the largest rock he could find and threw it dead center at her back. The pebble sailed through the air and landed near her feet with a weak thud.
Such an impressive display of masculine strength did little to distract her. The handled continued to turn until warm firelight from the opening ignited half the dark chamber. Jake gripped the metal and helplessly watched her slender figure in the distance.
She was really leaving.
His stomach hit the ground. For some foolish reason, he thought she was going to stay with him til' morning. Realizing that she wasn't was like waking from a nightmare only to find out every horrible thing you dreamt about was true.
Jake followed the elegant length of her neck, the firm stance of her shoulders, the curve of her waist and the lean graceful legs. In such a short amount of time, she became as familiar to him as his own heartbeat, yet so much about this woman remained a mystery. Too bad-
"I'm going to die tomorrow."
Jake surprised himself by saying that thought out loud. He was even more surprised to find her frozen in place. The wall abruptly stopped and he watched her arm muscles twitched as she fought to keep the handle from winding backwards.
He had a million things to say to her but now words seemed so inadequate. Jake cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. It felt as though she was waiting for something important and was listening to him with her whole body.
Well…shit.
"Look, I-"
Jake was speechless.
He took a breath and tried again. "I know…you'll probably get into a lot of trouble for this," he said fumbling for words. "But I..I mean I wouldn't have a chance without you."
He laughed a brittle sound licking his dry lips. "There's so much I want to say but-"
His lips moved soundlessly. He stepped forward pressing against the prison drinking her in with every breath. There in the last few moments, Jake offered her -his savior, his enemy- the only promise he had left to give.
"I'll try not to let you down."
The distance and the silence stretched between them like an angry ocean. Waves pushed him across the abyss only to quickly snatch her away. Jake stared helplessly, caught in the eye of the storm.
She raised her face to the ceiling and slowly uncurled her fingers, muscle by muscle. The doorway gradually slid closed as she relaxed her arms.
Jake couldn't believe it. She-
Suddenly, faster than the eye could see, she caught the handle. With a massive push, she turned the crank full circle until it locked into place. Fresh air and a blast of warmth exploded through the room. Jake watched her quickly stepped over the barrier and into the light. She practically ran out the door, tripping over her own feet.
The chamber rumbled as the stone wall began to slide back into place. Just before it fully closed, she abruptly turned to face him. Jake caught a glimpse of her eyes through the rectangular opening.
They glistened.
Tears?
For him?
Jake frowned searching her face until…
"Heywait! What's your name?" He shouted.
It was hard to tell given the diminishing amount of light but Jake could've sworn her eyes twinkled as she gave him one of her familiar looks. The one that either meant he was idiot.
Or that he amazed her.
"Stay alive, Jake."
The massive stone thundered loudly and came to a complete stop sealing off the light and pulling all the warmth from the chamber. Jake stared at the empty space long after she disappeared. He had a hard time accepting the fact that she was really gone.
But he couldn't stand here all night.
Jake padded softly over to the small window and sat down leaning against the wall. Dawn was only a few hours away. He could feel it in the air. Jake stared out into the night until his eyes drooped and the thoughts quieted in his head. He forced his body to relax and slipped into a restless slumber.
He had a promise to keep.
A/N: I know! Finally an update and NOTHING even really happened. I'm struggling here... =(