I made it! I would like to say: It is Zachary's fault this update is so late at night. Zachary and his cursed chess games I'm not even good at. Thanks to those of you who reviewed! Each one brings me great joy no matter how difficult my week.
WE'RE ROUGHLY HALFWAY TO MY FAVORITE CHAPTER!
I hope you enjoy the chapter today. I enjoyed writing it!
"What has happened?" I cried again and again until I was hoarse, but the warriors were silent. Their eyes were dull as they looked at me, perhaps at the horrors they had seen, but I could know none of them if they would not speak.
Though the morning was before dawn, many of the children had come. I could see Tsu'tey, and Peyral, but I would not look for Neytiri.
"Please, Ateyo," I called, seeing Tsu'tey's father among the adults. "Why do you bring the song of death back to Kelutral?" He looked at me for a long moment, and I wondered if he too would leave me unanswered. But he took a great breath and began to speak.
"Ninat, our losses are small, but yours are great," he began. His words were heavy with strange emotions I could not understand, would not understand. "Txilte alone lost her body tonight. She no longer walks with the people." A roar filled my ears, and Ateyo stepped forward as if to comfort me. I stumbled back, numb with horror, and turned, running towards the forest. I did not look back.
I was slow, but this was as fast as I had ever run from anything. This could not be. My mother, Txilte, promised me she would return. I would go to hellsgate and search for her. She would be there, perhaps captured, but of course alive. My thoughts were not rational, but I ran with certainty in my heart towards hellsgate.
The run was far, and I reached the clearing as the pink light of dawn was creeping across the grey morning sky. It was important to remain hidden, in case the tawtutes saw me and tried to capture me, as they had surely done to Txilte. I could not free her if I was captive with her!
But even as I thought to creep in unnoticed, I saw the tawtutes standing close together around the settlement with their deathsticks shining and at the ready. Perhaps they feared the Omaticaya would return for them. I would have to go to them and speak with them, tell them I must have my mother back. She was not dead. She promised me.
I stepped out of the forest to the fringes of the clearing, waiting for some word to be called. But they did not seem so see me, so I would have to call to them myself.
"Rutxe tivìng mikyun, ma frapo," I called in Na'vi, asking for their attention with peaceful words of truce. Surely Grace had taught them at least this much of our language. I saw the men turn to look at me, and suddenly heard their shouting tear through the air. I could not understand their words, but they screamed with rage, and perhaps terror-the next think I knew was the sound of their death sticks, just as I was thrown violently to the ground.
I looked up from the ground, and saw Tsu'tey's face. He was breathing raggedly and heavily but shouted to me.
"Ninat! We must run! Away from here!" He snatched my hand and pulled me. At first I would have resisted, I had to save my mother. But I heard the clicking of the guns as they tried to kill us again, and I knew. She was dead. We ran back into the forest amidst a torrent of fire and sound.
Tsu'tey would not allow me to stop running, even after I thought for sure we were safe. When we finally ceased, he fell to the ground, and I realized he had run far faster, far longer than I. When he regained his breath, he spoke.
"Ninat, my foolish, foolish Ninat! They would have killed you! You would have let them kill you! The Omaticaya will care for you! Why would you go to them?" He was full of anger, I realized. I held up my hands.
"Tsu'tey, I went to them thinking they captured my mother. I was not right in my thoughts. I could not believe," the reality struck me with a force that took my breath and I crumpled to the ground beside him. I could not finish my sentence. "Was it like the yerik?" I asked, my voice high and trembling. "Did her flesh bleed, Tsu'tey? Did the guns roar their sounds of death? Did she have time to make any sound before her body was turned to meat?" I was morbid, horror struck with truth.
"Ninat," he murmured, sadness in his voice. "Many animals that were freed by the Omaticaya were destroyed by the tawtutes' deathsticks. But your mother was freeing the palulukan, the thanators in captivity. She loosed the gates containing them, but one placed its rage on her, and took her as its prey before she could be saved or save herself. She was not taken by the tawtutes, but by Eywa's own creation." I sucked in a ragged breath, distracted by the loud sounds I became aware of. The sounds were from my own mouth, my chattering teeth. My body was shaking all over, though my mind was still. I could not form any words.
Tsu'tey did not wait for words. Instead he moved closer to where I sat on the ground and wrapped his arms across my shoulders. I stiffened, but collapsed, leaning into his shoulder as the sound of my shaking was replaced with the sound of my sobs. I could feel my face wet with tears but did not care. Tsu'tey did not speak, just kept me tight and safe in his arms. I cried and did not realize as I fell into sleep.
The sun was nearly setting by the time I awoke, still in Tsu'tey's arms. He was awake, watching me. There were tears on my face when I awoke. I had been crying in my sleep. Tsu'tey regarded me until I broke the silence.
"She was not taken by tawtutes. She was taken as my father was taken, and that is some comfort. I know she rests with Eywa. But… she was what I had left of family. I do not know where to go from here," I murmured into his shoulder, not looking up at him.
"Ninat, I will be your family. You are already my sister in speech, why not in title as well? The Omaticaya are still in Kelutral, nothing has truly changed. We will be here for you now and whenever you are in need, as you have been for us." Tsu'tey spoke simply, as though he was speaking of common thought and knowledge. I closed my eyes and gave a sigh, nodding softly. I felt his lips press against my forehead, my brother that was always there for me.
There was still warmth on my forehead when a voice tore through the clearing.
"What are you doing?" Neytiri cried out, disbelief and fury in her voice. "Tsu'tey! You are to be Olo'eyktan! Ninat, he is promised! To my sister! To the Tsahik! To the future of the Omaticaya! How could you ever even… this is despicable!"
Tsu'tey sprang away from me, turning dark, then pale, then dark again. I was unable to even explain around Neytiri's voice. Finally, I was forced to speak over her.
"Daughter of Tsahik, you misunderstand," I said, cold formality creeping into my voice. "Tsu'tey was simply comforting me after the death of my mother. He is my brother, and you judged too hastily." I was unable to keep the edge from my tone. It was Neytiri's turn to flush. Before she could say anything, Tsu'tey stood.
"I'm… going to… go. Back to Kelutral," He muttered, and vanished with the blink of an eye into the forest. Neytiri was unsure of what to say, and I regarded her with contempt. Finally she fell to her knees.
"Ninat, I beg forgiveness. I came in search to find you and apologize, and yet I seem to have worsened the situation by wronging you yet again. Please allow me to right the wrong I have done you," she asked me, head bowed and with humility. I sighed.
"I forgive you Neytiri. After all, I need you now more than ever. And just through your words, I see you do understand my bonds in the situation given me at the time. I was bound by my word to keep the secret of hellsgate and my word was kept. The wrong is righted. Please, forgive me for treating you coldly and please, I beg, stop speaking so formally!" Neytiri looked up, flashing her characteristic smile.
"Alright, Ninat. I missed you!" I laughed, because I had missed her too, but Neytiri was solemn. "I am sorry for Txilte. She died an honorable death." I agreed, sitting next to her cross-legged on the ground.
"She did. That takes much pain from her leaving. But she is with my father now, and has passed through the eye of Eywa. I know that I will see her again. But now the Omaticaya is my only family. Tsu'tey, my brother, and you, my sister," I murmured softly. Neytiri was quiet, seeming to know I did not want to dwell on my mother. She switched her somber face to a joking tone of voice.
"Can you believe I suspected such things between you and Tsu'tey?" She looked faintly nauseated and severely embarrassed, and I laughed.
"You certainly caused an interesting scene. Tsu'tey is my brother, we comfort one another in times of trouble and get along well. But that is all he is," I said, embarrassed even at the thought of feeling for Tsu'tey in that way.
"Besides," Neytiri pointed out, "He is promised to the next Tsahik. So that is who he will love, not you!"
"Neytiri!" I cried, blushing at the implication. "Tsu'tey is the farthest thing from love in my heart!
So let that squelch your rumors. Yes, I know you're all expecting things, but as you can see, it's basically illegal for this relationship to be anything but platonic. Don't worry, I've got a plot. You'll get a romance eventually.
I really enjoyed writing that awkward situation. It was such a beautiful moment until Neytiri came along. Don't we all have that awkward friend?
Oh yeah. Txilte's dead. :( :( :( Our poor Ninat! However, this wasn't too depressing of a chapter I hope.
Please review! Pleasepleaseplease! (I never thought I'd be one of those desperate types, but your reviews are the most amazing things in the world. I understand now.)