A/N:Alright, we've hit that ground after the long fall. Time to take stock of the injuries and dust ourselves off. Once more, here we go.
-Outreach117
Chapter 10
Norm rolled out of the lone cot inside the solitary structure that he occupied after another night of fitful sleep and nightmares. It had been almost a week since the incident at Hell's Gate, now what many of the Na'vi were calling the "Night of Lightning" due to the extremely bright flash and bang from the explosion.
Tensions in Hometree mercifully had not materialized. Rather than try and explain the nature of the accident, many of the Na'vi took it as a sign from Ewya that the last remnants of the time of great sorrow was forcibly cleaned, cauterized from the surface of Pandora by Ewya herself. Jake had reluctantly been willing to allow the Omaticaya to think what they will, Norm disagreed. Max deserved a better legacy than to be remembered by the Omaticaya as some kind of mistake that had been wiped away in a mere instant. Still, the peace in the village came first, they could not endure internal struggles. Somewhat reluctantly Norm felt that would have been what Max would have wanted his sacrifice to accomplish, peace. Now, without divided attention between Hometree and Hell's Gate, the Omaticaya could focus entirely on recovery.
Somewhat absent-mindedly Norm stood up and looked out window at the Pandoran wilderness, the clouds just starting to clear over the tops of the floating Hallelujah Mountains. Norm smelled, he hadn't showered in days and had barely eaten. Almost absent-mindedly he ran a hand across his face, no longer scruffy he had an outright beard. He had clearly been in the throes of a depressive episode and had never felt so alone, and was only now starting to come back out of the deep mental pit he crawled into.
He had even considered upon occasion just venting the entire cabin atmosphere and snuffing it. Looking back on it, the night after the incident he was standing by the airlock, hand hovering over the red release valve, shaving violently. Ultimately he just didn't have the courage and had succumbed to another fit of emotions.
Today, he swore, he would try and make things different. Ninat had been both openly and quietly unconditionally supportive of Norm, while he did what he could to be there for her. In comparison it was certainly a one-sided arrangement. Stripping off the reeking clothes he stepped into the far too compact shower and took his time meticulously cleaning himself, letting the hot water bring some life back into him.
Stepping out of the shower he picked up a razor and began to shave. Several weeks worth of beard did not come off easily and it took him nearly twenty minutes to be shaved to his satisfaction. Donning clean clothes and an Exo-pack, Norm stepped outside and for the first time since meeting Ninat, he felt the cool Pandoran breeze run over him. Sitting down cross-legged, Norm closed his eyes and focused his mind to find his emotional and mental center. Yes, today is a new day, and I will make it right.
Ninat rolled over in her sleep, feeling a slight pain in her arm as she did so. The pain had noticeably diminished in the past several days, a fact that Ninat was infinitely grateful for. Na'vi typically needed about two to three weeks versus a month or more before a cast could be removed, the added resilience of their bodies lending to a much higher regenerative ability. The burns on her back and arms and legs and all but disappeared as well. Her skin itched and peeled where she had been burned, but nothing too severe fortunately.
Ninat's main concern was still that of her potential mate, Noruhmann. She rolled over in her hammock in their shared alcove, seeing the Dreamwalker sleep in the sleep that they could never be woken from. Deep down, she ached for him and also worried for him. It had been just as apparent to her as well as the rest of the village that he was in a deep state of grief over the loss of Max. The Na'vi had more or less gone back to normal around the village, their grieving period being shorter than that of humans since they could still touch the memories of the deceased with Ewya. When Sky-people die, she mused, where do they go if they are not with Ewya? Will they ever be seen again? She looked over at the sleeping form, perhaps this is why Norm grieves like he does.
Ninat also knew that Norm felt a great amount of personal responsibility over what happened in the week prior. It was a burden that he carried inside and that no one could see, except potentially her. She sat down next to his sleeping form, placing a hand on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath, the heat of his body.
She had been so intent on listening to Norm's body that she failed to notice his arm come up and pull her into a hug. Ninat squealed in surprise then let out a giggle as the Dreamwalker waked.
"I see you," Norm spoke, his eyes peering into hers.
Ninat was quiet for a moment longer before she replied, "and I see you." She reached down and gently stroked his face, noticing the edge that he had been missing for the past week start to come back. She never realized just how much she missed seeing that side of Norm until now. Norm looked down after a moment suddenly feeling very ashamed and selfish, Ninat felt her heart flutter.
"Ninat...I have been absent from you." She could tell what he was trying to explain, Norm was trying to tell her that he felt sorry for not being an encouraging partner during a very difficult time for both of them and that he felt guilty for it.
"Sssshhhh, Noruhmann. It is alright," she gently cooed to him.
Norm merely shook his head, "no Ninat, everything is not all right. But, I think it is time that we make it all right." A grin starting to spread across his face.
She looked at him, puzzled for a moment, then realization dawned on her face as her eyes went wide and her jaw slack.
"Yes, Ninat. I have been blessed by Ewya to be given a new chance at life, an opportunity to start again. I have no desire to squander that opportunity." Norm huffed, as if a bad taste was in his mouth. "I'm tired of all this doom and gloom around here, I think it's time we had something to celebrate about."
Ninat merely giggled in response, although a tear started to form on her cheek as she realized that everything would be ok. As one the couple ran to find Jake. It was time that Norm took his place among the Na'vi.
A/N: Short chapter, I know. Don't worry, more goodness will be upcoming and someone as perky as Norm, always hyper and happy I couldn't see him being depressed forever. We are now back on our feet, admittedly a bit dusty from that fall, but life goes on. Keep tuning in!
-Outreach117