The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 4 - Part 9--- NewHome
The storm, the likes of which Pandora had not seen in more than a century, raged for a day and a half. During that time more rain fell on the three subcontinents than was normal for a month. Monsoon force winds uprooted trees, while ripping limbs from others. Lightning strikes too numerous to count destroyed trees that had been growing for more than a thousand years. The rampages of flash flooding washed both fauna and flora alike down to the ocean in rivers turned into chutes of raging white water.
On the morning after a second night of torrential rain and howling winds the sun was shining brightly in the eastern sky. Fluffy white clouds were sprinkled across the sky while Polyphemus filled a large portion of the northern sky.
The first thing that entered Jake's mind as he began to wake was the silence. Opening his eyes he peered out of their make-do shelter to see sunshine beginning to filter its way through the trees and arches that surrounded the Well of Souls. The second thing to enter Jake's mind was hunger. He was starving. He had passed hunger the day before. No wonder he had been dreaming about eating Ralu's home-made mud pies and loving every bite.
Neytiri was curled up with her head in his lap. She had the skin they were 'sharing' wrapped tightly around her. Blanket hog, he thought as he smiled to himself. Tucking the braids that had fallen across her face behind her neck Jake watched a side of her that was rarely visible. Relaxed and peaceful, two things that normally weren't part of her day to day world. Having Neytiri as a constant part of his life made Jake realize just how lonely life had become before she was part of it. Now she was the most important part of it.
"Well, maybe half of the most important part," Jake said to himself as Ralu began to stir.
"Did you say something?" Neytiri asked sleepily as she stretched out and sat up next to him.
"I did, but it's not half as important as the fact that the storm is over. Look," Jake said as he gestured to the daylight making its way under the arch.
"I told you it would end today."
"Yes you did. From now on you're the clan's official weather girl. Well expect updates morning, noon and night with bulletins in between."
"You're just teasing me."
"Would I do that?"
"Every chance you get."
"Jake, do you feel all right?" Neytiri asked when she placed her hand against his chest. "You're cold again."
"That might have something to do with that nefarious 'skin hog' that visited us during the night."
"Oh. I'm sorry about that," Neytiri answered sheepishly when she looked down to see that she had the skin all to herself.
"Don't worry about it. I'll warm up quick enough once I start moving around."
"Ell'a'u, look the storm is over." Tey'bar said as he got quickly to his feet. Before he reached the edge of their shelter Ell'a'u was beside him, placing her hand in his.
"How old does a couple have to be before they can become life mates?" Jake asked as he watched the young warriors walk out into the daylight.
"They are old enough," Neytiri answered, knowing who he was referring to. "It has everything to do with when they feel they are ready."
"May I go outside?" Ralu asked; bringing Jake and Neytiri's attention back inside the shelter.
"Of course, but don't wander far," Neytiri began. "We need to check on the others and make preparations for finding food. Everyone is going to be hungry."
"You got that right," Jake added as his stomach rumbled.
"Neytiri, help you aging mother get to her feet. I'm a bit stiff from sitting so long."
"Here, let me help too," Jake added as he jumped to his feet so that both of them could help Mo'at stand.
"I don't know when I got to be so old, but I do not like it at all."
"You're not old mother."
"Tell that to my bones, and my muscles while you're at it."
"The air smells clear," Neytiri commented once they had walked out into the open.
"How could it smell anything but after being washed for a day and a half straight?" Jake asked. Looking at the mostly clear sky overhead Jake tried to loosen the kinks from his body.
"We had better go and see who's up and about," Neytiri suggested after she was sure her mother was able to walk on her own.
"You run ahead. I'll be right behind you."
"We're not in that much of a hurry," Jake replied as he adjusted the sheath for his knife after slinging his hunting bow across his chest.
Neytiri was slinging her bow as Ralu ran back to where they were standing. "Ell'a'u and Tey'bar said you should come quickly."
"Go, I'll be alright," Mo'at demanded as she motioned for Jake and Neytiri to hurry off.
"I'll stay with grandmother," Ralu offered as she walked over to take Mo'at's hand in hers.
"Where are they?" Jake asked Ralu.
"By what's left of the cooking fire in the gathering area."
"It will only take mother a few minutes to get there," Neytiri told Jake as they set off at a fast trot. "It worries me that she gets this way so often anymore."
"How old is your mother?"
"She is close to fifty, I think."
When Jake and Neytiri reached the gathering area they saw Tey'bar and Ell'a'u talking with several members of the clan. From the exaggerated gestures they both new something was definitely wrong.
"What is it?" Neytiri and Jake asked simultaneously.
"The Well of Souls is flooded," Tey'bar began. "The Mother Tree is partially covered as well."
"Can you tell how deep the water is around the base of the tree?" Jake asked. He was more worried that they would find one or more of their people drown in the water, but he didn't mention it.
"About our height," Ell'a'u answered. "Some of the tree's tendrils are touching the water, but not all."
"Has this ever happened before?" Jake asked. This was one time he could really use Norm's help. His knowledge of Pandora's botany was second only to Grace's.
"Not that I have ever heard of," replied an old Na'vi hunter.
"There is nothing to be gained by hurrying," Neytiri began. "We should wait for mother. This sort of thing is for her to decide what we must do next."
"How many of our people have you seen?" Jake asked. There were several milling about the gathering area, but the number was pitifully small.
"Only those that are here in the gathering area," Tey'bar answered. "More will come as soon as they can make their way here."
Neytiri dreaded tell her mother what had happened. If the Mother Tree died she was afraid that her mother might just do the same. Everyone in the clan was connected to the tree, but her mother was connected more than most. This was part of what it meant to be Tsahik.
When Mo'at entered the gathering area with Ralu she waked directly to where Jake and Neytiri were standing. She didn't have to be told that something was gravely wrong.
"There is no easy way to tell you," Neytiri began. "The Well of Souls is flooded. The Mother Tree is partially under water as well."
Because Mo'at was good at hiding her emotions, Ralu was the only one who felt the sharp pain slice into her. Joined hand in hand, Ralu tried to provide what comfort she could.
"Let us go and see what can be done." Mo'at stated simply before she headed down the path towards the Well of Souls, Ralu's hand still gripped firmly in her own.
"I am worried about mother," Neytiri said quietly to Jake as the group made its way to the Well of Souls.
"She didn't seem terrible disturbed by the news. Maybe she was expecting this might happen. Possibly it's happened before."
"When you can't read mother's feelings, she is really upset or she is just trying to keep you guessing. I'm afraid the first is true in this case."
"Let's not panic unless we have to. It's possible this won't be a problem if the water drains away fast enough."
"Yes, that is good plan," Neytiri answered as she placed her hand in Jakes.
Even if their hands hadn't been joined Jake would have felt Neytiri's distress when they topped a rise and stood overlooking a small lake with the Mother Tree rising out of the middle.
For several seconds no one uttered a single word. The natural bowl that held the Mother Tree was filled to overflowing. The quiet serenity they were looking at was almost as devastating as the hellacious destruction of Hometree.
Moving beside Mo'at, Jake placed his hand gently on her back. "Has this ever happened before?" He asked sympathetically.
"Not in my lifetime of or that of my ancestors," Mo'at answered. "I'm sure a calamity such as this would have been passed down between the generations."
"We need to get the water drained as quickly as possible or the tree roots will begin to rot," Jake began. "The longer they are covered with water the greater the damage."
"But how can we empty this much water?" Neytiri cried, her feelings plainly visible in the look of despair on her face. "We cannot possibly remove the water in drinking bladders."
"There is only one way we are going to get this much water out of the Well of Souls. Mo'at," Jake began as he turned her to face him. "We need to ask the Sky People to help us. They have a machine that can remove all of the water much faster than we can do it. I know they will come if we ask. Do you want me to go and ask for their help?"
For almost a minute Mo'at stood silent, looking out over the water that would most certainly kill the Mother Tree if nothing was done about it. The tree was her people's most sacred place, the place they came in times of great sorrow, and great joy. They would survive without it but it would be a real hardship. If Jake was right and the Sky People were able to save Mother Tree, perhaps it would help to ease the anger that threatened to split the clan. Seeing no other option open to her she asked Jake to help her people, and now his, once again.
"If you feel the remaining Sky People could remove the water without damaging Mother Tree then I want you to ask them to help us."
"Does anyone not wish to ask the Sky People for help," Mo'at added as she looked at those gathered at the rim of the Well of Souls.
"Mother, the Sky People who remained here want to help us in any way that they can," Neytiri replied. "Jake should go and call to them now. The longer we delay the more damage the water will cause."
"I will go to the station where the Sky People installed the comm link," Jake stated when no one voiced any opposition. "If my ikran is roosting nearby I will fly there, otherwise I will go on foot."
"We will go with you," Tey'bar added as he looked at Ell'a'u and she nodded her ascent.
"I was counting on it," Jake answered before he turned to Neytiri. "Stay with your mother. She needs you here with here. We will return just as quickly as we can."
"Be careful, all of you," Neytiri answered. Stepping next to Jake she leaned her forehead against his for several seconds before she bushed her lips lightly against his.
"Any idea where our ikran's might be roosting?" Jake asked as he looked around for a likely spot.
"No. they could be almost anywhere," Ell'a'u answered.
"Looks like we're on foot then. See you when we get back."
Author's Note:
Enjoy.