Long time since I last posted. I am so sorry about the long distance between the chapters. I was going to post Christmas, but my mom had a stroke and so I had to help take care of her. And then I was going to post on my birthday, but I got super sick. Then I was going to post Valentines, and that just didn't happen. So I am doing it now. I hope you enjoy.
I sat up in bed and looked around the room. Today was the day. Today I was going to be a member of the clan. This is what I had been wanting for most of my life. I swung my legs over and saw Grace sitting at the table smoking and eating some food. I walked over to her and grabbed the cigarette and putting it out on her plate. "Smoking is bad for your health." I said stepping behind her and opening the fridge.
"When I care, I'll let you know." She replied giving me a look. I gave a small chuckle as I grabbed a bag of food and pulling it out. I handed her the bag so she could open it for me. When it was opened, I put it on a plate that was already out. "How excited are you?" She asked as I put the food in the microwave.
"On a scale of 1 to 10. I'm like a 50." She laughed at me.
"I am so proud of you." She stood up and walked over to me. She brought me into a hug. "You have always been like a daughter to me. If you were my daughter, you would have been spoiled."
"Oh please, I hate being spoiled." I said as she let me go because my food finished cooking. "But thank you. You have been like my mother." I gave her a smile before she kissed my head and walked into the lab. I sat down at the table and heard wheels coming towards me. "Hey Jake." I said not even looking up.
"Hey stranger." He grabbed one of the fruits on the table and bit into it. "You're so grown up."
"Haha, so funny. I'm only being reborn." I said taking a bite of my food. I looked at the clock on the counter and my eyes widened when I saw what time it was. I quickly stuffed all the food in my mouth and stood up putting it on the counter. I ran to the link room chewing my food. I started typing in the sequence to start the machine. Norm came over and tapped my shoulder. I looked at him and saw a smile on his face.
"Let me do that for you." He said. I got up on my toes and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks. I owe you." I got into the bed and put the pieces over me and closed my eyes as Norm shut the door.
I woke up and saw the branches of the Home Tree. Today was the last day I would be waking up in the hammock. Tomorrow, I would be waking up in my own alcove. Until I get mated. But I really shouldn't mate with anyone, since I may not be here the rest of my life. I was human, and so there was a chance I would be going back to Earth. Even though I really didn't want to. But that was something I didn't have control over.
Shaking my head getting rid of the negative thoughts, I walked to my alcove with my clothing. Since I would go through the process today, I would wear something plain. Until the gathering afterward when they have a big party and lots of food. I decided on a plain loin cloth and a fabric top. The top had a couple feathers on it, bit just on the sleeve so they fell down my arm. I looked down at my sword, soon I would be able to keep it with me at all times. I suddenly saw a glimpse of red making me look up. I realized the red I saw just happened to be my bangs. I still don't understand how the red came about with the growing process. I've never had red hair or even dyed my hair red. I moved the bangs out of my face and walked out of the room.
I got down to the ground and saw everyone there. Even Grace was there, to see me become one of the people. Tsa'hik was standing at the bottom. I walked up to her and she took my hand walking me to a different part of the tree I had never gone to. When I got in there, I saw Neytiri standing next to a little hole in the tree. Mo'at left the room then as I walked up to Neytiri. "Are you ready to become one of us?" She asked. I nodded my head before she grabbed a little creature. "Hold out your tongue." I did as she said and she put the creature just on my tongue. I felt a sudden stinging sensation and then dizziness.
"Wake my child." I heard above me. I opened my eyes and saw a bright light making me close my eyes again. I waited a minute before opening my eyes again. When I did, my eyes had focused on the being above me.
"Who are you?" I asked as I stood up.
"Who I am is not important. But I need to warn you. There are dangerous times coming. Many will be killed. Your mate will be injured. You will have a very important role when the times come."
"How will I know when they are coming?"
"You will know. Just as you will know what you need to do. And keep track of your brother, he also plays a mandatory part in the times." I gave a nod as the light started fading. "Goodbye my child." Was the last thing I remember hearing as the light completely disappeared.
I opened my eyes and saw the tree again. I sat up and saw Neytiri looking at me. "What did you see?" She asked. 'My child.' Did I see?
I looked up at her. "I think I saw Eywa." Neytiri's eyes widened and then she smiled. She helped me stand up.
"Follow me." She started walking and I followed. She went to another place in the tree that was different. She told me to stop and so I did. She put her hand in a hole in the tree and took out a bowl with white stuff in it. She then walked over to me with the bowl in her hand. She dipped two fingers in the bowl and then started drawing on me.
When she was done, I had lines and swirls all over my body. She stood back and motioned towards a doorway. I walked through it and saw everyone once again. I walked over to Mo'at and Olo'eyktan. Olo'eyktan put his hands on my shoulders. "You have been reborn as one of the people." After those words left his mouth, I felt many hands on me. I looked to me left and saw Mo'at. I looked to the right and saw Tsu'tey. When I looked at him, there was something different. When everyone cleared, I saw Grace walk towards me.
She grabbed my hands because of the paint sap still on me. "I am so proud of you." She said with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you Grace. I am happy too. This has always been one of my dreams. So become one of the people." She gave me a nod then I saw her eyes look behind me. I resisted the urge to turn around.
"I will let you go." She said with one more smile before walking away.
"Charley." I heard behind me. I turned and saw Tsu'tey standing behind me. "Go wash up and then find me. I have one more thing to show you before the celebration." I gave a nod and walked out of the tree. I walked to one of the rivers so I could wash up. I stood on the edge of the water and looked down at my reflection. I was one of the people now. A smile appeared on my face before I closed my eyes and jumped into the water. I scrubbed the sap off and decided to go under for a little bit. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I dunked under the water and just listened to the sound of the water rushing past me.
Running out of breath, I emerged from the water. I wiped some of the water off my face so I could open my eyes. When I did open my eyes, I saw someone standing on the edge of the river. As I looked closer I realized I knew the person. I swam over to the edge and got up out of it. I stood up and looked at the person. "Tsu'rish. What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk to you."
"Okay. What would you like to talk about?" He stepped towards me and grabbed one of my hands.
"When you were first let into the tree and sent to train. I knew I would take you as my mate when you finished the passage." He said. I resisted the urge to drop my mouth. I thought of him just as my friend. I couldn't see myself mated to him.
"I'm sorry Tsu'rish. But I will not be your mate. You are just my friend." A fire seemed to go through his eyes before he grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him. My hands were trapped between us and I was really close to him.
"You will be my mate. Even if I have to force it." He crashed his lips on mine. I needed to get out of his grip. There was only one thing I could think of to get him to loosen his grip so I could break free. So that's what I did, I kissed him back. Immediately I felt his grip loosen letting me push against him and start running away. I didn't get that far because I felt his arms wrap around my waist pulling me back to him. "That's not very nice." He said into my ear before starting to kiss my neck. I slowly put my head down and then snapped it back ramming my head into his nose. He let go off my waist and held his nose. I took the opportunity I had and ran back to the tree.
When I got into the tree, I saw Mo'at talking with Tsu'tey. I ran over to her. She must have heard my footsteps because she turned to look at me. I must have had a scared look on my face because her face became concerned. "What is it?" She asked.
I stopped in front of her and caught my breath for a moment before speaking. "Tsu'rish...tried to mate me….by force." I said through breath's.
"Where is he?" Tsu'tey asked with a venom in his voice. I looked up at him and saw a look of death on his face.
"I think I broke his nose trying to escape. He should be coming in a moment." Not even a minute after I said that, he came running into the tree. He saw me and walked over to me, with blood slowly falling from his nose. My eyes widened as I saw him walk towards me. I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me back. I stepped back and saw Mo'at stepping in front of me as Tsu'tey walked up to him. I didn't hear what they were saying. But I didn't need to, because Tsu'tey punched Tsu'rish making him fall down. A group of people started gathering, I even saw Tsu'rish's mother in the crowd. She looked scared and confused.
"You know what the penalty is for forcing a mating process. And add to the fact that it is the newest member to our clan." Everyone gasped in the crowd. His mother stepped forward.
"Is this true?" She asked Tsu'rish. He shook his head. Tsu'tey held out his hand to me and I stepped forward grabbing it. Tsu'rish's mother looked at me and saw the scared look evident on my face. "Is it true?" She asked again with an authoritative voice. I gave a nod before she looked back at her son. "You are a shame to this clan." Normally this process would be given by one of the leaders. But Tsu'tey and Mo'at stayed back and let the woman do it. She grabbed the knife from her holder and stepped to Tsu'rish. He was shaking his head as she stepped forward. Having this done by a leader was embarrassing, but having it done by your own mother must be devastating. She grabbed his queue and pulled it up, then cutting through it. He was now banished from the clan and would not be seen as a Nav'i by any clan. They would see that he did something worthy of punishment. He quickly stood up and ran out of the tree. Everyone watched him and then looked at me. Some came up and gave me a hug while others just patted my shoulder. They then all went back to what they were doing.
"Come. I need to show you something." Tsu'tey said. I turned and followed him. We ended up going to the tree of souls. I connected with the tree and felt and heard all before our time. When I watched Tsu'tey as he connected with the tree as well, I felt a stronger connection to him. But I knew I wouldn't be able to act on it. He was to be mated to Neytiri.
When we got back to the celebration. I danced and let myself become part of the tree. I wasn't going to let what happened earlier affect me now. So I became free from it. I didn't realize that there was one specific set of eyes on me the entire night. Or when I went to my alcove. Those same eyes watched me leave and watched me go into my alcove.
Here's the chapter. Let me know what you all think. Thank you everyone who commented on the last chapter. I really appreciate it. That's one of the things that gets me to want to write. Even when I have writers block.