As promised, the epilogue....but please see the A/N at that the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: i own nothing.

8 years later

There are moments, though few and far between, when I stop to wonder what would have happened if my sister hadn't died all those years ago. I wonder what her and Tsteu's children would have been like, what their names would have been. I wonder sometimes if my Hometree would have been destroyed, or Grace killed over it. And of course, it leads me to wonder about Jake. I would have chosen him, even if my heart weren't sill mending, even if my anger toward the dream walkers was cool. He would have still been hopelessly lost; he would have still tripped over his strange feet. He would have still smiled and spoke in that voice that haunts my dreams even now. There are a thousand different paths my life could have taken, but I realize, especially when I look at my daughter and my Jake, that every path no matter how different, every single one leads to Jake.

But as I said before, these moments don't hang about for very long. There is always Sreu to consider, to watch and to catch. She's small for her age, like I was, and full of the same silly courage her father has. She is so very much like him; from her five fingered hands and darker pigmentation, to her competitive streak "a mile wide" Jake says with a laugh. Her favorite question is "Why?" just as Jake's brother's Thomas' was and she vexes No-men and his Amanda to no end. Sa'nok says Sreu is like me too, but I haven't seen it.
"Where's Tsu'Tey?" Ninhat asks me as we walk down from the top of Hometree. "And Sreu?" She glances around. They were supposed to meet us at the bottom by now, but the pair of them are nowhere to be seen.

I groan. Not again. "Why Sreu..?" I ask myself as we reach the bottom and start looking for them. "Why today? Of all days? Jake will be back soon …why today?"

Ninhat smiles. "Sounds like someone else I know."

I throw her a look. "I swear that girl is going to be the death of me."

"She is yours and Jake's daughter," Ninhat shoots back. "I would expect nothing less."

I didn't either, not really. Sreu and Tsu'Tey are always off having adventures, enjoying the childhood that will come to an end before they know it.

"They can't have gone far," I reason as she goes to ask a few of the women in charge of the children today. When she doesn't get any clues, I go to Sa'nok and the other remaining elders.

"I see you, Sa'nok." I greet her.

Sa'nok smiles and looks older than I have ever seen her look. "I see you, my Neytiri."

"Have you seen Sreu?" I ask her. "She and Tsu'Tey were supposed to meet us now but we can't find them anywhere."

Sa'nok laughs. "That girl…."

"Yes, I know. But have you seen them?"

She nods. "About an hour or so ago. They ran off with a few of the older children but I haven't seen them since."

Meanwhile, Ninhat goes to No-men and his Amanda. Both shake their heads but immediately begin looking. Sreu can't be far; she loves No-men and Amanda like an aunt and uncle. They are the only mated pair of dream walkers in our world, perhaps even in history.

My Jake told me I was lucky when we, and many of the Omaticaya, witnessed the two of them pledging their fidelity in a sky people ceremony a few years ago; Sreu was a year old and slept through it. I always wondered why the sky people made such a fuss about choosing a mate, was it not simple? I asked my Jake.

"Sometimes not." He replied with a grin.

"Was it simple with me?" I wondered.

He smiled and stroked Sreu's sleeping forehead. "Of course. Easiest choice I ever made."

Since then, No-men and his Amanda use their dream walker bodies to continue Grace's work; teaching English and learning more about our world. They spend three days in their dream walker bodies with us and a few off in their sky people bodies. But the children have grown used to them and love their lessons.

Suddenly the air is filled with the sound of approaching Pa'li. My heart flips over itself; my Jake has returned! Ninhat and I go to greet the party of six riders: my Jake, Er'el, War Leader of the riders of the plains, his mate Pidal, our old friend, and three of their best warriors.

Instantly, my Jake is there before me. He gathers me up in his arms without a word, his forehead pressed to mine. I cup the back of his neck, letting my fingers run through his hair. There are a thousand memories at my fingertips, a thousand kisses, touches. He breathes out a huge sigh as if he's been holding it in for a long long while. "I see you, my Neytiri…"

"I see you, my Jake."

"Step aside, dream walker!" Pidal growls playfully beside him. "Let me see my friends!"

Ninhat and I both leap at Pidal and hold her close. Sometimes it's hard believing my solemn friend lives so far from us now. After the terrible battle, Pidal lost both her ikran and father. But unlike me, she could not find it in her heart to choose a new ikran nor a mate among the Omaticaya to share her sorrows with. She did not trust the dream walkers, she never had. She could not look past the false body to See my Jake or No-men the way the others could. So, she traveled west to the plain to shed her grief. It was sudden, though and un-expected, when she Saw Er'el and became his mate.

Through all the greetings, my Jake keeps looking for something…or someone. With his arm still around me, he asks: "Neytiri, where is Sreu?"

"Yes," Pidal choruses and looks around too. "I want to see the little creature that the dream walker will not shut up about."

Ninhat laughs. "She and Tsu'Tey are always off on adventures. I bet-"

But Ninhat doesn't finish. Suddenly a few of the children come running at us. "Tshaik!" They shout. "Come quick!"

"What is it?"

"It's Sreu!" A girl a year younger than my daughter shouts. "She found a palulukan!"

My heart drops into my stomach. Oh Eywa…I glance at my Jake, who's already reaching for his bow. "Show me!" I hiss and follow the girl.

We run quickly but silently to a hollow quite a ways from Hometree. It's much farther than Sreu is allowed to go without someone with her. The closer we get, the more I smell the palulukan. And there, where little sunlight penetrates the canopy and there in the presence of a massive, but not full grown, palulukan is my Sreu, who stands calmly regarding the creature before her the way a huntress does before taking down her prey. As always, Tsu'Tey is close by, but not next to her. Instead he half-hides behind the closest tree until Ninhat pries him away.

My Jake and I step carefully closer and closer to our daughter. The palulukan does not look up until I'm standing in front of Sreu and Jake behind, his arms ready to grab her out of the way. Sreu doesn't even blink as Jake puts his hand on her shoulder.

The palulukan growls and I growl right back. She shifts on her feet a little, her red-gold eyes watching every move I make. For a moment, I swear I am back with my sister as we watched a Palulukan pass us by all those years ago.

Sreu peers around my leg and hisses right back, her ears flat against her skull and her fingers curled into fists. Perhaps it is surprise that makes the palulukan shift back a little more; to hear such a fierce sound from such a small creature.

"I see you mighty Palulukan…" I say in a clear, calm voice. "I see your strength and your spirit. I see you are a huntress too. But I ask you to go now…in peace."

The palulukan looks from Sreu and I to Jake, behind us, to the other warriors that have gathered in the trees around us. All have their bows drawn, arrows at the ready. Wisely, she senses that it will be a useless fight and turns and retreats back into the jungle.

There is a murmur of relief as parents collect their children and they scold and rejoice over the lack of injuries. I look down at Sreu who won't meet my eyes. Instead she turns to greet Jake; she's missed him a great deal in the past few days. Sreu looks up at Jake with an innocent grin as he checks her over. "Hi, Sempu."

"Hi," is all Jake says. Sreu knows that when she can't charm Sempu, she's in big trouble.

"Sreu…" I growl. Almost everyone is gone now, except for a few hunters keeping an eye out in case the Palulukan decides to return.

"Yes, Mama?" She uses English.

"Sreu, what in Eywa's name were you thinking?" I growl, suddenly remembering how my sister asked me the same thing once and I'm sure the fury on my face is close to the fury that was on hers.

"I'm fine, Sempu…" She sighs, looking only at Jake. "I am, I promise."

"Sreu!" I hiss.

Sreu finally looks up at me, twisting her fingers together in uncertainty. She sighs and tries to steel herself for what's about to come. "I wanted to see if I could do it." She huffs out.

"Do what?" Jake wonders, brushing a few loose strands of hair out of her face.

"Become Palulukan Makto, too," is the serious answer directed at me.

I look at Jake who looks back at me. There is a shadow of a smile that threatens to overtake his mouth. Don't you dare laugh! I warn him with a severe look.

"Ist'Tey's been telling that story again," He says to Sreu, regaining his composure and strict, blank face. "Hasn't he?"

Sreu nods.

"Sreu, you have to understand…it was strange circumstances." I try to explain gently. I don't want her to try this again but…

Her little face falls. "So, I'll never be a Palulukan Makto?"

"Oh my Sreu," is the usual frustrated sigh that falls from my lips.

"I think it's time to head back," Jake lifts Sreu up and let her climb up on his back, as always. "Norm and Amanda are here."

Sreu starts to cheer but then looks to me, waiting for punishment. She's been held back from lessons before.

"Only if you promise never to scare me like that again." I insist.

"I promise," She says solemnly.

Later, after we've welcomed Er'el and Pidal, we sit discussing the real reason they've come to meet with No-men and Amanda, who play with the children. Er'el, Pidal and their warriors watch curiously for a while as we tell them about how No-men wants to send more dream walkers among the Na'vi, the tribes of the plains, the tribes of the Eastern seas. At least at first.

Sreu and her constant companion, Tsu'Tey are side by side once again. Suddenly, Norm pretends to be a palulukan and the other children look to Sreu to send him scurrying for the jungle. I am never going to hear the end of this.

"…I like this dream walker No-men…." Er'el approves. "He rode well and he has a strong heart. His Amanda, too."

Pidal agrees, but her eyes don't hold the same warmth. She may know that they mean us no harm, but she will never trust them. "They understand the ways of Eywa."

Er'el puts his hand atop Pidal's, sensing her displeasure. "But you are sure the tawtute are returning?"

My Jake nods. "Norm doesn't think it's as…vicious as before. He says its more scientists. To learn, study."

"More dream walkers?" Pidal wonders.

"Probably."

Suddenly, Sreu crashes into my lap. She seems to have forgiven me for the reprimand I gave earlier. I squeeze her tight against me for a moment, feeling her warm liveliness. She's so big…I remember when she was just a baby and Jake held her up and marveled at how tiny she was. Now her limbs are long and she barely fits in my lap.

Sreu turns a little into me when she notices Er'el and Pidal sitting across from us, suddenly painfully child shy. "Will you say hello to our guests?" I urge her.

She turns back slightly. "I see you Er'el of the Plains. I see you, Mighty Pidal." She manages.

They laugh. "So brave facing a palulukan….and now?" Er'el chuckles. "I see you young Palulukan Makto."

"I see you, Small Sreu." Pidal gazes fondly at my daughter. I can almost see the memories Pidal is re-playing.

"That's what my Grandma calls me," Sreu intones curiously. "How did you know?"

Pidal frowns at the unfamiliar word and I explain that it means "Grandmother" in English. "She has Sreu's eyes." Pidal replies matter-of-factly.

"I am Sreu!" My daughter interjects. She glances over at Jake and then up to me. "Mama, what is she talking about? I am Sreu…aren't I?"

"Go play," I whisper in her ear. "We're talking about boring grown-up things."

"But…" She tries to protest as she gets up anyway. "Mama?"

I cup her small face in my hands and kiss her forehead. "It is a long story. I will tell you tomorrow."

"Promise?" She demands.

"I promise."

Later, when Sreu's fallen fast asleep in Jake's lap, he scoops her up and we take her to bed. He cradles her in his arms, as he did when she was a tiny baby. My Jake always smiles when he carries her like this, knowing that these days, however sweet, are numbered too. Soon, she will be too big to carry, to comfort with a simple kiss. Soon, Sreu will cease to be a child. She will be trained as a huntress. One day she will not be ours only.

We lay her in her hammock and watch her sleep. She curls up to one side and her tail twitches as she dreams…about what, only Eywa knows. I can't help but lean down and whisper in her perfect little ear: "Be strong, be well, bring only joy." Sreu doesn't move or even seem to have noticed that I've whispered to her.

Jake leads me to our hammock and we curl up together as we have for the last ten years. Above us, the night sky is filled with stars, too many to count or name. One of them, perhaps, is the star around which Jake's old home revolves.

"Are you going to tell her the story?" Jake wonders, running his hand up and down my arm.

"I promised." I reply evenly. "She'll have to know the truth sometime. I'll take her to the Tree of Souls…it'll be easier."

I can hear the smile in Jake's voice. "As long as you're sure."

"I am." I breathe deep, settling myself for sleep. " Stories are good for children. One day, her daughter will ask her to tell the story of the Toruk Makto and the Palulukan Makto and the woman she was named for."

"A very good story, if I say so myself," Jake grins.

"Very good." I agree.

"You know it's funny…."

I grin. "What is?"

My Jake turns to look at me. "You're always saying Sreu is just like me…today, she was like you."

I frown in confusion. "Staring down a palulukan?"

"No," my Jake shakes his head. "When she hissed at it. She looked exactly like you."

I laugh, loud and long. It feels good, I realize. To laugh and to know that my daughter has a bit of me that she can carry with her.

I can feel that my Jake has dropped off to sleep not long after that, and just as I am about to join him, a thought crosses my mind.

My sister's story ties to mine and so will mine to my daughter's. Each story blends into the next, an unbroken chain of stories that tie us all together. Not only is it in Eywa that we are one, but in the stories we tell. My daughter will use these stories to know what to do. No-men is right; sky people will return and it will be up to Sreu how that future will procede. With the stories I will tell her, I know she will do us proud.

I send out two small prayers; one to Eywa, thanking her for all that I have, and to my sister, asking for the strength to tell the story again: "Her name was Sreu and she was my sister…."

A/N:

WHEW!

Another story ended....sad...but I want to thank all my reviewers! All of you! You guys are the reason i keep crawlling back to FF every few months with new stories to test out on you! Your feedback and praise lift my sprits! THANK YOU!

Secondly, I will not be doing a sequel...Sorry for all those hoping for it. I have new ideas for new one shots; two starring Grace and even one with Jake's POV. If you guys are interested, put me on author alert.

C ya on the other side :)

as always, the key:

Yerik-deer creatures the Na'vi hunt

Ikran- flying dragons (banshees)

Pa'li- direhorse

Palulukan- thanator (big scary panther thing with venom that Neytiri rides in the one of the last scenes of the movie)

Nantang-viperwolves

Sempu-Daddy/Papa

Sempul-father

Sa'nu-Momma/Mama

Sa'nok-Mother

Uniltiranyu- Dream walker

Skxawng- moron…but you all probably knew that one.

Atokirina- the seeds of the Tree of Souls, pure spirits

hi'l'aw- small one (or at least my approximation of it)