Author notes: Sorry life is crazy! But here's chapter ten. And yes I decided to be evil and not cut to the chase again. Hehe! But Chapter 11 is in the works right now and it gets FUN! And if you knew me you would be hearing an evil laugh in the background. So read it. Tell me what you think. And hang tight. The fun is about to begin.
Disclaimer: I own Se'la, Hataak, Jarris, and Rayne. Everything else belongs to James Cameron. Don't sue.
Chapter 10 "She's your daughter."
Jake blinked rapidly taking in that statement. "Come again?" His empty hands clenched. This could not be good. Something was missing, like he didn't know something that he really needed to, and he didn't like the feeling that he was missing something. That someone else knew more about what was going on than he did. "What are you talking about?"
"Mates." One of Jarris' older brothers laughed menacingly. The few females that were still around heard this and scattered, sending dirty looks in the Tipani's direction.
"Fnu!" The Tipani Olo'eyktan snapped at his son, cuffing him on the side of his head.
Jake's blood began pounding in his veins, a feeling he was well familiar with. It was adrenaline that began surging through his veins in the well known paths of fight and flight. The reactions and instincts that went along with them, were old friends of the soldier that still resided within the confines of his unconscious mind. His fingers curled tighter into his palms even as his posture belied his inner turmoil. Slowly his brow raised in question.
Jarris looked around trying to see all the angles as he had once been taught. Every threat danced before his eyes. These were his brothers and friends, now each a danger to the life that he just found and was determined to keep. Even if it meant turning against the ones who taught him to be the man be was. They weren't monsters to be fought and conquered though. To tell the truth, he was scared. But that didn't make him any less sure. He found something worth fighting for in a a girl who landed a punch that felt like a sledge hammer. And if that meant taking a stand against his father and brothers and what few friends he had, then he was prepared to do just that. Jake would have his backing until the last leaf fell from the Tree of Souls.
Jake's face clouded when no one bothered to explain that comment. "Explain Tipani."He snarled, stepping closer to the older clan leader. "Before I loose my temper." The males behind the leader shifted, waiting for any signal. "Trust me, you don't want that to happen."
The Tipani leader saw how dangerous and volatile the situation was becoming. He hadn't come with the intention to spill more blood but to rebuild. This was not going according to plan. "We answered your call to fight the sky people. We answered your call to battle."
"I know." Jake said softly, remembering old friends and new that were lost in those three days.
The clan leader of the Tipani looked down in grief for those lost. He wasn't heartless. His clan had suffered great losses in the final battle and the dozens of skirmishes that occurred before. "No one regrets the decision to fight. But of each clan involved the Tipani took the greatest losses. Most of the females in my clan are dead. The RDA decided the easiest way to destroy us and our will to fight was to kill as many of our females as they could. Ninety percent of them are now dead. Without replenishing our number, the Tipani will die out. And in the battle you lost many males. We simply suggest that an equalizing take place."
"An equalizing?" Jake questioned. "Meaning what?"
"We take some of your females as mates." The leader said as easy as a soft summer breeze. "Half of them should do. But we would like a few more."
Jake saw red. But if being a Na'vi had taught him anything it was that sometimes you had to be patient. The murmurs of the hunters and warriors behind him, told Jake that Tsu'tey had been summonsed. Within moments the fierce warrior was by his side and glaring. Apparently he had heard the demand from whomever ran to collect him. He was to angry to even speak. But his eyes spoke volumes.
"Olo'eyktan you can't possibly. . ." Tsu'tey began in stilted English when he could think straight enough to speak.
Jake held up a hand stilling the words in his second's mouth. "There are the laws of Eywa, aren't there?" He asked hoping against all hope, that there was a way out somewhere. "What do they say?"
Mo'at broke the silence. She ambled out of Hometree, shoving males that she had delivered into their mother's arms aside as she passed through the line. "Jakesu'lly. Perhaps this should wait until tomorrow. The new one's must be present when Eywa makes her decision." Jake bowed his head. He might not agree. But he knew better than to mess with Eywa's will by now.
Tsu'tey was silenced with a look, even though he wanted nothing more than to tear the Tipani riders to shreds. They would only take one look at Rayne and demand she be one of the ones to return with them. Someone who he was positive looked like Eywa herself, would be a prize of highest worth to any male. But he stayed silent, knowing he had a lot of praying to do.
The Tipani Olo'eyktan grew impatient at the words that no one bothered translating for him. His weathered face taking on a livid expression as the seconds ticked by. "Do you agree to my terms or not?" He snapped, sounding to Mo'at like a petulant child who was just told he couldn't eat utu mauti until his teylu was finished. And for all intents and purposes, he was, at least to Mo'at who was several years older and had been a leader in her own right for much longer than he had.
"Silence!" Mo'at yelled, and once again Jake was glad she was on his side. Her infamous knife came out and slashed a thin slice across the invading Olo'eyktan's cheekbone. Blood spilled freely as he didn't even bother staunching it's flow. Instead he launched himself at her, only to be shoved back by Tsu'tey and a swift left hook from Jake that sent him to the ground before he knew what happened. While Mo'at simply tasted the small dribble of fluid on her blade. She spat it out in disgust. "Tomorrow we finish this discussion. Tonight you and your men stay outside the tree. Food will be brought to you."
Without another word Mo'at returned to the tree as a smile crept over her lips. It was time. Time for so many things. She counted off sixteen seconds on her fingers and the yelling began again. This time a new word tore through the air like a birthing mother's scream split the air. But alarm didn't accompany this word. Joy and promise did.
"Anurai!" The cry ripped through the tense situation test outside. And it was a lucky thing it did. The thirty odd men women and little ones melted out of the surrounding forest like ghosts appearing from the mist. No fan fair, no pointless intimidation tactics. They came quietly and made their way to Jake with only a passing glance to the Tipani.
It wasn't just the way they acted that was different from the Tipani upon arriving. But everything. Where the Tipani seemed to have the corner massive amounts of armor that looked rather hard to move in and uncomfortable, the Anurai favored a spartan approach. Their armor consisted mainly of what was considered clothes and arm guards to protect the inside of their arm from the snap of the bow string. Only Rai'uk wore more than what was necessary. His abdomen was hidden from view behind a leather guard that encircled it but still allowed him to move.
But it was the markings that littered their skins that really set them apart. Most Na'vi wore piercings or earrings but none of the Anurai did. They favored tattoos. Rai'uk had pale streaks that wrapped his arms and came together to look like a star-burst on his chest, and he also had a slash of the light color across his nose that made his eyes look unearthly as he stared at Jake. Beneath the pale, almost sky blue streaks was the normal blue color only darker, showing he spent a great deal of time in the sun. The dark streaks that all Na'vi had were there too, wrapping in the opposite direction of the pale blue, crossing underneath and intersecting over and over looking like a woven basket against his dermis.
"You summoned the Anurai, Turok Macto?" Rai'uk asked, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "We are here. Now what?"Jake nearly took a step backward for the raw untamed power of this man radiated off him. And he saw also what Grace had seen. Why she chose to give her life and love to this male. Finally understanding what everyone meant when they talked about a persons spirit.
Jake didn't know where to start. How do you tell a man he has a fully grown daughter? How do you tell him the woman he loves is dead? How do you tell him this? How do you find the right words? Never being much of a word guy, he was having a hard time finding the beginning words. "Please come inside. We have much to discuss." He sighed. Tsu'tey wasn't any help. He was all but gawking at this living legend. Maybe this would be easier if he had both Mo'at and Neytiri at his side. They had no problem telling him where to get off, maybe they knew how to say what needed to be said.
Tsu'tey was stunned but not because this male was a legend among the Na'vi. This was Rayne's father. He was worried he would say something to offend this man. Granted it probably wouldn't make any difference to the woman he loved but he wasn't willing to chance it. He turned to Jake trying to find something to say so he didn't look completely useless as a second in command.
Jake thought it was funny even if he did understand and sympathize. Eytukan had the same effect. "I'm worried about the Uniltaron. Go and check how they are doing. Then see to it that space is made for our guests. Mo'at is already seeing to food. Then I believe that you and Rai'uk have things to discuss." Tsu'tey glared eye daggers at Jake, which gave Jake a evil thrill.
Tsu'tey walked off leaving Jake to deal with the visitors. Both clans of them. He groaned inwardly. Suddenly this whole being alone thing didn't sound like such a good idea. Great. . .Now what?
Rayne curled in a ball clutching her stomach. The venom was doing it's job. She felt horrible. She opened her eyes warily and looked at the world around her. It looked fuzzy and in weird rainbow colors. Colors that she knew didn't belong to what they were currently attached to. Maybe this was all a wicked dream. She felt light and airy when she tried to move her arms, pushing at the furs to sit up.
As swiftly as the nauseous feeling came it left, leaving only the airy feeling and the sizzle in her blood that came as she moved. She had to admit the sizzle felt nice. The room's barriers faded away as she carefully stood, sending the tingling sensation singing through her body just under the skin. One foot in front of the other, step by step she made her way to the cooking fires outside. The fires heat felt electric on her skin.
Even though she couldn't see him, Tsu'tey tried to stop her progress. She headed straight for the fire around which the Tipani circled. This was his worst nightmare. Her blue eyes, although unable to focus on anyone, had caught the attentions of everyone around her. The males who had arrived behind the Tipani Olo'eyktan sat up and took notice much too quickly for his taste. He knew what they were seeing. They were seeing what he saw, the moment she fell out of her cryogenic pod. Eywa in Na'vi form. Or at least what they thought she might look like.
Rayne sat in a spot they quickly vacated before the blazing flames and began humming a song to herself, drawling them in.
The Anurai had followed her out of Hometree, each being drawn by an invisible thread. Now they all ringed the Tipani fighters waiting to see what happened next. Thirty strong stood and waited for what was about to happen. It made them feel edgy and nervous. Her low humming steadily grew louder as she began swaying first one way then back again.
She began the song, her voice rising and falling in the soft breeze that tried to toss her tiny braids. "Beyond the night, a rising sun." Even the stars seemed to answer her call. Somewhere drums took up their beat."Beyond the night the battle's won." It seemed as if she sang of the darkness and pain of the battle they just fought and won. "The battle's won." The words tugged at their hearts until tears welled in her listeners eyes.
"Fear and shame now in the past." She spoke of the past, Rai'uk realized. The tribe of the blue flute began living up to it's name as they accompanied her words."Pain and sorrow gone at last." Kyuna reached for Rai'uk's hand. They were witnessing something that would change their lives and both knew it. "Gone at last."
The Omaticaya began singing behind her. One by one their voices lifted praying in song to Eywa. Praying that she might let it be so.
Could what they were seeing be what they thought they were seeing? "Circle renewed." No, she wasn't the second coming of a savior this world already had. "Peace will be found." No she wasn't Eywa in Na'vi form. "Beyond the night." But she was a building block. And Rai'uk could see Grace when Rayne smiled. "On sacred ground."
"River flows, led by the wind." Promise of the future was in her voice, leading the song in a full circle. "First new breath." An atokirina floated down, landing on her head."Our journey begins." Followed by others, until her shoulders and hair were covered. Her face framed by the little woodsprites, showing Eywa's blessing. "Our journey begins." The song ended and Rayne stood without another word.
She walked back into Hometree and climbed, exhausted into her hammock. Se'la and Hataak curled against her and soon were snoring peacefully. And for once they slept peacefully. Unafraid of the terrors of the night that neither one wished to admit they still had.
For a time Rai'uk had nothing to say. Or more precisely the words in his head didn't form coherent thoughts let alone sentences. She was Grace. But she wasn't. How? Grace was gone. He knew that. He had felt her death through Eywa. He had gone through the pain and grief of that loss. He still carried it, even as it lessened with time. He imagined he always would. But now. Now he needed answers. And this young Olo'eyktan had them. He had to. Why else call for them?
Kyuna placed a hand on his shoulder as he sat and stared at the three that lay in the hammock, peacefully rocking back and forth gently. She knew her brother well enough to guess at his thoughts. She had seen the stunned look as Jake showed them where the clan could sleep. He could barely concentrate since she sang. Normally he loved the antics of the Uniltaron. Tonight he followed the female and hadn't moved since.
She had stayed, watching, listening, waiting. Just the way she always had when he needed time alone. Ever watchful she had heard rumors, whispers about this young female. Some she had to laugh at. But then there were the other hushed words she had heard around the campfire outside. Dark words. The young Tipani males had dark thoughts. Thoughts about when she would be coming back to their Hometree. About who she would mate. About how much of a fight she would put up, if any at all. It was the way things were done in times of crisis after all.
"Rai'uk." Kyuna began pulling his attention away from his internal maze of a mind. "If you want your answers, now is the time to get them."
Rai'uk smiled, patting his sister's hand. "Always have my best interest at heart. Don't you?"
"There is a reason you keep me around." She gave a lopsided grin and held out her hand to pull him up. "Now lets go get these questions answered." She groaned hauling him up. It had been a long long journey here and all she really wanted was to sleep. "I have a few of my own." But sometimes you had to take one for the team. Or in this case the clan. Same difference. "And someone had better start answering." Her eyes narrowed as a feral grin tugged at her lips. "Before I get really annoyed."
Rai'uk grinned at his sister. She still had the leap first ask questions later attitude of a young one. Even if it had nearly gotten her killed one day. The day she had lost her queue to a human's knife. The day she had begged for death. The day he refused to let her.
"Please control yourself."Rai'uk begged following her lead and finding Jake. He seemed oddly staged when he was found. Neytiri was at his side, laughing as they argued about names for their children. Mo'at sat with them, smiling happily as any grandmother should.
Kyuna turned back to him. "I'll do one better." She waved him on ahead. "I'll let you do all the talking. As long as you ask the right questions."
Jake looked up from his smiling mate with a very happy grin on his face and noticed them. Idly he wondered if Rayne would get more tattoos to match Kyuna or Rai'uk's. But he doubted it. While she wore some more tribal designs she also wore dates on her shoulder. Dates that she wanted to remember. She just added a new one a few weeks ago. "Rai'uk! Kyuna! Sit please." He waved them toward the steps they sat at. And he saw where Rayne got her slightly more than natural grace.
Rai'uk and Kyuna took their seats quietly. "You probably have questions."Jake began. "But I have a few of my own first." He caught Rai'uk's gaze. "Grace Augustine." Rai'uk's face paled. "You do know her."
Rai'uk nodded. "She is my mate." He said softly, grief still coursing him. He wasn't overcome by it any more. No longer rendered catatonic by it, he still felt it. "Was my mate." He corrected. Kyuna placed a steadying hand on his arm. He drew in a deep breath. "I understand she fought with you in the last battle."
Jake nodded. "She fought very bravely." Rai'uk nodded, wiping his eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He hadn't expected anything less. "Did you know she had a child?"
"The singing female smiles too much like Grace." Rai'uk answered when he could trust his voice to hold. "I guessed."
"Did you know she's your daughter?" The shock on the older males face was answer enough. "Her name is Rayne."
Kyuna spoke up when her brother could not. "That's impossible." She looked up at her brother for confirmation. "You haven't seen Grace in nearly fifteen years." He stared blankly at her. Having no answers to give her. "Have you?"
He shook his head. "How is it possible?"
Jake had those answers and they both knew it. They looked up at the group before them. All three faces smiled back at them. "Do either of you know what a cryogenic chamber is?" Rai'uk thought it sounded familiar but wasn't quite sure. And Jake proceeded to tell them a story. A story he that himself had to put together from bits and pieces. It took them back fifteen years and forward until this very day. Each word stabbed, some like a knife wound, some like the soothing hands of a healer who first removes infection then begins closing a persons wounds.
Tsu'tey watched from his perch near Rayne and the children he already considered his own. The looks on the two Anurai's faces went from shock and panic, to anger and hate. And then joy and amazement flooded their countenances. She would go with them, with her family. So would Se'la and Hataak. The only one left was him. Would he leave the Omaticaya? Be with her? He certainly thought about it. Jake waved him down, pulling him from his not so pleasant thoughts.
"This is the man who wishes to mate your daughter." Jake smiled. If this had been earth, he had the distinct impression Rai'uk would be one of those fathers who met his daughter's boyfriend with a shotgun at the front door. Scaring the living daylights out of the boyfriend while he preformed a modern version of the Spanish Inquisition.
Rai'uk stood and walked slowly around Tsu'tey. Eying him like a starving thanator looking at it's next meal. Only more violent and less hungry. Tsu'tey held his ground though, which earned him a grin from Kyuna. Rai'uk passed around him twice before coming to a stop before the young man. "I'll wait to talk to my daughter before I pass judgment." As he turned away, Rai'uk smiled. Most cringed when he looked at them like that. He approved of this one. But he wasn't about to say it.
Kyuna walked toward him and clapped him on the shoulder. "You passed." She laughed and turned toward where they were assigned to sleep. "We'll talk to her in the morning." She tossed over her shoulder before swinging into the hammock she was assigned.
Mo'at watched the proceedings with a twinkle of knowing in her eyes. "Jake. It would be wise if you have Rai'uk and Kyuna involved with the discussion you will have with the Tipani tomorrow." She said rising to her feet with a groan. Her old bones didn't like sitting that long.
Jake was slowly becoming used to the odd requests she occasionally doled out. And the other odd quirks that presented themselves. Who really thought the name Kjinkins was an acceptable name for his kid? And the other name? Don't even get him started on that one. "What's the thinking?"
She all but winked. "I think they may have a way out." She paused and then added. "And make sure Rayne and Tsu'tey are there as well."
Author Notes: Haha I'm evil. I stopped again. Guess what happens next! Come on guess!
Oh my goodness. I forgot to give credit for the song. Oops! Thank you to the writers of Stargate Atlantis season 2 episode 13 I think. Titled Critical Mass for the beautiful and amazing song. Performed on the show by the lovely character Teyla Emmagan. No I have no clue what her real name is.