DISCLAIMER: I do not own "James Cameron's Avatar"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, it has been a long time. This story has refused to be written for so long, I just had to sit myself down and start writing. I thank you guys so much for continuing to read and support this story, even though I have been so negligent. Seriously, this story would not exist without you. Thank you, and enjoy!
CHAPTER 25
(Kana's POV)
War was something that I hoped I would never have to face. I had spent my entire life hearing stories from Na'vi who had survived many wars, and I knew instantly that I wanted nothing to do with it. But war was here. There was no escaping it.
It had been two days since the Txep Menari siblings came and took Atraiu, extending a declaration of war, and since then, things had been moving and showed no sign of slowing down.
"We should send word out to the other clans. Warn them." said Lock'tu to my father as the family and Nkti and Lock'tu all sat around the mreki u'lito discussing the next move. There had been no news from anyone, but that didn't mean trouble wasn't out there.
"I have a feeling that most will already know." responded Sempu, his voice grave. "The news of the destruction of the Eastern Sea 'Olo would have spread fast. Now it is just a matter of staying strong. Nkti, send maktos out to the Plains 'Olo, and the clans in the south. Taka, send out flyers. Tell them that the Alliance is being called."
Taka and Nkti nodded in respect, accepting their orders without a word. Nkti was naturally quiet, but Taka had taken on a completely shut down persona. She felt and saw nothing but war. Not even Lock'tu could reach into her.
My father then turned to Lock'tu.
"Lock'tu, gather the warriors, and make sure they're all ready for battle at a moment's notice. Take Kana with you."
Lock'tu turned his head towards me, but I didn't meet his gaze. The tension left over from the huge blowout still hung in the air. I could barely speak to him without shutting down.
"And Sayla..." My father turned to face my younger sister, and stopped short when he saw the emptiness in her eyes. Ever since the declaration. Whenever I looked into her eyes, I would see the blankness of Paytah's eyes that would never see again.
"Sayla." sempu started again, "If there is guidance from Eywa..."
"I will alert you first, of course." she answered, her voice utterly monotone. I had seen Sayla go through depressions before, but this wasn't a depression, it was just all around emptiness. I never knew that Paytah meant that much to her.
Sempu smiled kindly, not truly knowing how to breach through Sayla's wall. Mo'at was always there for that.
"Thank you, Sayla. And I will go to the Uniltiranyu 'Olo, and speak with Norm. If they can get the RDA weapons up and running, they will serve as great allies."
Sempu turned to look at my mother, who stood with her back turned, rigid and stiff, staring out over the 'Olo. She hadn't said a word during the entire briefing. It was beyond odd for my mother, of all Na'vi, to be silent.
"Neytiri, do you have anything else to add?"
Mother for a moment didn't seem to hear my father, until she turned around, finally facing her us.
"No. Nothing more." Without another word, she turned her head back to face out. Sempu let out a small sigh, but did not push her anymore.
"Alright. Irayo, all of you."
We all gave the olo'eyktan and eyktan bows of respect before turning and leaving the area.
I didn't get far before I felt Lock'tu's hand on my shoulder. I had been avoiding speaking to him for two days, and I had avoided him for longer periods of time. Why we had to talk now agitated me to no end. Heaving a sigh of reluctance, and turned to face him.
His face was solemn, a face that I rarely saw him wear. At least not when he spoke to me.
"We should do as your father suggests, and assemble the warriors. Taka will join us later."
All I could do was nod. He looked down at me from his tall height, just staring. I wanted more than anything to say something, anything, but I couldn't. Finally, Lock'tu let out a deep sigh and walked away. My body let out an involuntary shudder at the feeling of his obvious anger and frustration...and just lack of care. This was the first time since the declaration by the Txep Menari that I really missed Atraiu.
-888-
(third person POV)
Ama didn't remember ever running so hard in her life. Fire burned everywhere, and warriors on direhorses thundered by her, almost running her over. The attackers continued to dive, killing, laughing with those maniacal voices that had filled the air ever since sun down. She pulled on the Naledl's na'hla buk'ne, urging the spasing animal towards her family's home. The sky was raining blood, and Na'vi she had known all her life died around her in droves, but she struggled to stay focused. She was the only hope for them now.
After what felt like an eternity of running through the battle ground that was her 'olo, she reached her family's tent. She ducked inside quickly, praying that no one had noticed her running. Just as she expected, her little cousin sat huddled on the floor beside a dim fire, her face still tear streaked.
When the younger Na'vi looked up and saw her cousin standing there, she near burst into tears again.
"Oh, Ama, I was so scared you weren't coming back!"
Ama collapsed on her knees beside her cousin, the exhaustion truly starting to hit her.
"I told you I would return, didn't I, Gimbya? I brought the direhorse. Are you ready?"
Gimbya quickly shook her head as the tears continued to come.
"I can't do it, tsmuke. If I get caught, they will kill me."
"Gimbya, you are our only hope! They will be so busy fighting, that no one will notice you."
"How can you be so certain? Please, Ama, come with me! I will not leave you here!"
Ama sighed, and lovingly caressed her cousin's face. Her baby cousin who was already so beautiful, so kind, so good. Gimbya was the pride of the 'Olo of the Horse Plains. And she was the disgrace.
"I can't leave now, Gimbya. They need me to fight. My mate is out there, and I will not leave him behind. You are the 'ite of the olo'eyktan. You must be brave."
Ama kept her eyes locked on Gimbya's, refusing to break contact. Ama had always been there to give Gimbya strength and courage. Now more than ever, her aunt's child needed her big cousin.
Finally, Gimbya exhaled a shaky breath, and nodded her head.
"Alright. You're right. I can do it."
Ama gave her warmest smile, and placed a light kiss on Gimbya's head.
"Very good, hi'i cousin. Now, go straight to the Omaticaya, don't stop for anything. Ride Naledl to death, if you must, but get to the Omaticaya. Immediately go to our grandfather, Nkti, and explain to him what is happening. Tell him that we are being invaded, and it is vital for the Alliance to come to our aid. It will probably take you three days to get into the thick of the na'ring, but the Omaticaya will find you before you find them. Do you have enough nikt'cheys to last you the journey?"
Gimbya nodded, and lightly patted the pack that hung from her hip.
"More than enough, hopefully."
Ama nodded, not quite sure what else to say. As soon as she saw the horizon go black under she shadow of the hundreds of foreign ikrans that filled the sky, Ama began planning Gimbya's escape. Ever since the death of Gimbya's mother, the olo'eyktan of the clan, it became Ama's responsibility to look after the little princess. Ama's mother was too ill to care for Gimbya, so it was Ama's responsibility. Her mate would often joke that they would never have a need for children, for they cared for Gimbya like one. Ama knew that her mate wanted children of their own, but until Gimbya came of age, she was all she had.
The sounds of battle shocked Ama back into the terrible present, and back into Gimbya's big, sad eyes.
"You should go, before it's too late." Ama rose to her feet, bringing Gimbya up with her.
Gimbya nodded, willing her tears to slow.
"I will do as you say, cousin. Straight to the Omaticaya, stop for nothing."
"Right. You will be fine."
The cousins stood in silence for a moment longer before Gimbya pulled her big cousin into a tight hug. Ama hesitated for a moment before she wrapped her arms tightly around Gimbya's neck. She knew that this would probably be the last time she saw her cousin. The last time she saw anyone.
Finally, Ama pulled away, struggling to hold her tears back.
"Alright. You need to go, now. Remember, stop for nothing!"
Gimbya nodded, and approached the exit to the tent before stopping short. She turned around, locking eyes with her sister in all but blood.
"Oel ngati kameie." she said, her voice surprisingly soft. Ama gave a slight smile.
"Oel ngati kameie."
With that, Gimbya exited the tent, and vanished into the night.
-8-8-
Gimbya was already pushing Naledl to her limits, but the were closing in all around her, she could feel them.
"Faster, Naledl." she whispered in the direhorse's ear. Naledl groaned in response, but still pushed harder. The strength of a direhorse could not be matched, but at this rate, Naledl would collapse within minutes.
The sound of an arrow splitting the air caught Gimbya's ears, and she had to dodge to the side to avoid the speeding weapon that was aimed at her head.
She looked behind her, staring up into the dark sky, but still could not see anything. But she knew they were up there. She could hear the beat of their ikrans' wings.
If she couldn't outrun them, then the 'olo would be lost.
The whiz of another arrow split the air, but this time, it wasn't aimed for her.
Naldel went down, her right hind leg being pierced through with an arrow. The landing was rough, causing Gimbya to his the ground on her side, and roll a distance away from her fallen mount.
Her body ached, and she wanted desperately to just curl up and sleep, but she knew that wasn't possible. If she didn't rise soon, she would be dead.
The ground shook at the sound of multiple ikrans landing.
Too late.
She could see slightly in the darkness the outline of multiple male Na'vi dismounting. There was three of them from what she could tell. They spoke quickly and quietly to each other, too softly for Gimbya to hear.
Get up, get up, get up.
She tried again to rise, but everything hurt so badly. If she could just get on her feet, she would outrun them.
One of the Na'vi made a motion towards Naldel, who was struggling to rise even with a destroyed hind leg. The other two nodded, and they both drew long, deadly looking weapons from sheaths on their hips. Gimbya instantly knew what they meant to do.
The one that appeared to be the leader approached Gimbya slowly, while the other two rose their weapons above their heads, and brought them down into Naldel's thick neck. Gimbya gasped in horror as she watched the loyal direhorse bleed to death. Any Na'vi who would give such a proud creature that type of death was no Na'vi at all.
"Well, what have we here?"
Gimbya hesitantly drew her eyes from the haunting scene before her, and stared up into the grinning face of the foreign Na'vi. From this distance, she could see the glowing marks on his skin clearly. She could also see that the male's skin was green. Never before had she even heard of a Na'vi with green skin. As her eyes scanned up his body, arriving at his face, she saw that his eyes were not yellow or gold...but bright red, the color of blood.
"No taste for battle, hugh little horse princess?"
The mocking look in the male's eyes set Gimbya's soul a flame. She was no warrior, but she was still a member of the Horse Plains 'Olo, and she would not be mocked.
Forcefully, she spit at the feet of the male Na'vi, the greatest insult that could be given.
"You and all of your kind will die the horrid deaths that you all deserve. You are monsters and kewongs not worthy of life!"
The male maintained his chilling smile, but Gimbya could see his eye twitch.
"You mainlanders do have some fire in you. Maybe I should have asked the question differently."
In a flash of metal and light, the Na'vi drew one of those weapons from a sheath on his back, and grasped Gimbya by her long hair. Holding her face even with his, the Na'vi held the edge of the blade against her skin.
"Now, tell me horse princess. Where were you going in such a hurry? Not for help, I hope. For there is no help for you."
Gimbya looked into those eerie red eyes, and for a moment, she believed it. She believed that there would be no help for them if this invasion continued. There would be no help anywhere.
But, only for a moment.
Building up all of the strength and anger she held within her, she spat out, "Terkup, vrrtep."
The male's eyes hardened, and filled with a darkness that only a lust for battle could conjure. He smirked - more like snarled - and shook his head.
"Wrong answer, horse princess."
Then, Gimbya's world plunged into darkness.
-888-
(still third person POV)
Atraiu woke with a start.
He had only grabbed maybe a few hours of sleep, but it felt like five minutes. He could not sleep peacefully, and he feared that he never would again. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the look on Kana's face when she denied him. The hurt in her eyes when his identity was revealed to her. It tore at his heart, seeing her that way.
He had no memory of being the olo'eyktan of anything, especially not of the Txep Menari. Now the enemies of not only the Omaticaya, but all of the mainland, the chance of seeing Kana again was not high.
They arrived on the island that they called Atxkxe Ean Ikran two days before to a fanfare. Apparently, his return has been expected and anticipated. Na'vi lined the streets, cheering for him, calling for their "olo'eyktan". It was overwhelming. Atraiu wished now more than ever that he had never remembered anything at all. That he could just start a new life with the Omaticaya. With Kana.
There was a slight knocking on the clay wall that blocked off his quarters from the outside world.
"Leave me, please." he managed to breathe out, rolling over onto his side in the wide hammock. He wished for nothing but sleep and possibly death.
"Atraiu, you have been in this room for two days. You must get up eventually." said the female name Dhanya who claimed to be Atraiu's sister. He could only slightly remember her, however.
"Please, just go away. I need to figure this all out."
In all honesty, he just wanted to go back to sleep.
"Little brother, you cannot stay in there forever. You are the olo'eyktan of the Txep Menari! Besides, mother wishes to see you."
That caught Atraiu's attention.
The idea that Atraiu had never crossed his mind. He only knew bits and pieces of visions from his sessions with Sayla, and he only saw glimpses of who he guessed to be his mother. He wanted to see her. To talk to her, to get answers to all of these questions he had. But more than anything, he feared not recognizing her when she stood before him.
"Atraiu, you are not alone here. You are among family."
The Omaticaya were my family.
Finally, with a deep sigh, Atraiu ran his hands through his disheveled hair, and stood. He would have to face his past sooner or later.
Atraiu drew back the thin curtain that served as a door, and was instantly face to face with the beautiful, white-haired Na'vi female who was apparently his sister. She was beautiful, eerily so, but there was something in her cat like eyes that made Atraiu uncomfortably wary.
Dhanya scanned her eyes quickly over his form, and her brow creased in disappointment.
"By the gods. You look an absolute mess."
"The gods?"
To Atraiu, the only "god" that existed was Eywa. Apparently, he was raised under a different religion.
"Yes, the gods. There is the god of the sea, the god of the air, the god of the mountains, the god of war...I don't have time to explain all of this to you again Atraiu. You have to look manageable before coming before the court."
"I thought it was my mother who wanted to see me."
"Well, yes, she does, but mother is the regent. The court has no purpose but to follow her around."
After being thrust into a sea of females who scrubbed and washed him, and combed his long hair until his scalp burned, Atraiu was deemed fit to present before his mother. A circlet made from what looked like golden vines was placed on his head. Atraiu sensed something artificial in all of the ceremony. Nothing like the pure connection to nature that the Omaticaya had. The Txep Menari seemed like a people who were trying very hard to be something they were not.
Atraiu was lead through the winding, open hallways of the large structure that seemed to go on forever. How anyone could live in such a closed space, he could never imagine.
The room he was lead to was large - much large than any other room he had seen - and filled with Na'vi. As soon as he entered the space, all eyes turned on him. They were eyes filled with expectations and judgement and curiosity. The court, he assumed.
Yet, there was one face in the crowd that looked on him with love. He instantly knew this to be his mother.
The crowd split, allowing Abhishri, Queen Regent, to step through. Atraiu could not conjure instant memories, but he knew that this female was his mother. There was just a presence about her that made him feel secure, and loved. He actually smiled when he saw her.
Abhishri closed the distance between them, and, for a moment, just stared at him. Her eyes focused on his face, and Atraiu wondered for a moment if she would cry. Slowly, she brought her three fingered hands up and grasped his face.
"'Itan." she said in a voice that was full of warmth and love. "You are finally home." Atraiu rested his hand over his mother's.
"Sa'nok."
"Do you remember anything?" she asked, speaking as if they were the only two in the room.
"Not much. Not much at all." Abhishri nodded, even though he could see in her eyes that she was nervous.
"That is alright. We will help you." Abhishri's eyes suddenly went hard, and moved to stare behind Atraiu, at Dhanya. "Now you can stop this ridiculous war with the mainland. Enough damage has been caused with the destruction Eastern Sea 'Olo. You will bring the whole of the mainland clans down on us."
"Why should we quit while we are so far ahead?" said Dhayna from behind Atraiu. "We have already begun our assault on the Plains 'Olos. Soon, we will have the strength of the mainland in our grasp. Then, even the fkeu Omaticaya won't be able to stand in out way."
"Mother is right, Dhanya." said Atraiu, turning to face his sister. "You have me back now. There is no reason to continue with this war."
Dhanya smiled, but Atraiu could see clear malice and insanity in it.
"I am sorry about what you have been through, Atraiu, and I thank the gods everyday for bringing you back to us. But this is not entirely about you. This is about settling a score."
Dhanya then passed by Atraiu and Abhishri, moving into the thick of the crowd, capturing the attention of the People.
"This is about proving to the mainlanders that we are a force to be feared. Our ancestors were exiled and denied because they were different. The mainlanders have continued to abuse us. This invasion is our chance to take back what has always been ours by right."
"You have brought your vengeance upon the Eastern Sea 'Olo." said Atraiu, stepping forward. "The Omaticaya have done nothing to deserve war, and neither have the other clans."
"Atraiu," Dhanya spoke slowly, as if she was speaking to a child. "You are out olo'eyktan, but you are in no honest condition to declare or refuse war. Dhawal and I will handle this, you need not worry, only to rest."
"I appreciate your concern, Dhanya." snapped Atraiu, cutting her off. "But if I am olo'eyktan, than I will have my say. The Omaticaya cared for me while I was lost. They taught me, and helped me regain what little bit of my memory that I have. They should be left alone."
Dhanya sighed, showing no sign of backing down.
"Atraiu..."
"Dhanya, that is enough." snapped Abhishri, her voice stiff, cold, and edged with authority. "Your olo'eyktan has spoken, and you shall heed his words. You will relent, and bring our warriors home."
Dhanya stood stiff, and back straight. Her face was stone. She didn't even seem to breath to Atraiu's eyes. Finally, she gave a stiff from the waist bow, and cast her mother a cold grin.
"Of course, sa'nok. It shall be as you say."
With that, Dhanya exited the room, leaving Atraiy in the midst of the world he had left behind.
-8-8-
(still third person POV)
Dhawal leaned his back against the wall of the throne room, sharpening his tanhi tukru. He sharpened it constantly, even though it was constantly sharpened to perfection. It was more of a therapy with him. It helped him focus him mind, clear it. When he was sharpening his tanhi tukru, there was no politics or war, or anything outside of his weapon. He often wished that all life could be that simple. Just a Na'vi and his weapon.
Dhanya burst through the thin curtain, leaving a trail of smoke in her midst. It was obvious that things had once again not gone well.
Instead of speaking, Dhawal simply waited. Waited for orders.
"I will not stand it anymore." said Dhanya slowly, her voice full of anger. "If sa'nok insists on being difficult, then it is time for her to retire."
She turned her gleaming eyes towards Dhawal, her face screaming death.
"I hope your tanhi tukru is sharp enough."
-888-
(Kana's POV)
Something was wrong.
The tense quality to the air proved that enough to me. I waited with my family at the edge of Hometree, beyond nervous. Our messengers had been sent out five days ago, and were yet to return. Usually, our messengers would cross the land and back in two days. This was beyond bad.
"I'm sure it's nothing." said Lock'tu, who was standing next to me. I was almost shocked by actually hearing his voice. He rarely talked to me anymore.
"Yeah, I'm sure." I responded. We stood in silence still, waiting for out scouts to return with news. It was an uncomfortable silence, like the whole of Pandora was waiting for the fire to burn.
"I am sorry that I have been...distant lately." said Lock'tu suddenly. "Everything, this talk of war, has me tense. I know that I am called a warrior, but, I have never fought in a true war before. I know that now, more than ever, I should not stray from my closest friend."
Well. That was unexpected.
I was truly anticipating more of a "you broke my heart, I will never speak to you again". I mean, that was what I deserved.
"It's alright, Lock'tu." I said, itching to touch him, but knowing that it was better to keep my hands to myself. "We are all tense. No one expected this." Then, going against my better judgement, I rested a hand on Lock'tu's arm. "And know that I will always be here for you. And that I am sorry."
Lock'tu turned to me, and for the first time in seven days, he smiled at me. He grasped my hand in his, and gave it a tight squeeze.
"I know."
Our small moment was broken when a loud shrill pierced the air, signaling that the scouts were back. I knew that whatever news they brought back wouldn't be good, but I never expected what they brought with them.
Bursting through the thick brush, the few scouts we sent out walked, leading their direhorse's, who were otherwise occupied carrying corpses. The mangled corpses of the messengers that we had sent out.
"Fpi Eywa." gasped Sayla.
"What is this?" asked Taka even though she was speaking mostly to herself.
"This is how they make war." responded my father in a voice that was so harsh that it sent a chill up my spine. "They have quarantined us. They know that we will call the Alliance together to drive them back, and they know that that is a force that they cannot best. So they are blocking us off. They are blocking us off from the other clans, the bastards."
"They intend to beat upon us like water on rock." said my mother, who also had been oddly quiet as of late. "That is their plan, to ware us down until we are forced to meet them in open air."
"But, this is nonsense!" exclaimed Taka. "Messengers are not treated as warriors, they have freedom to pass. Those are the rules of war!"
Sempu looked upon the corpses of the Na'vi who he had unknowingly sent to their deaths. Na'vi who were his friends. I could see on his face that for once in my entire life...he was lost.
"These vrrteps have no rules."
AN: Seriously, I have been writing this since 11:00 p.m., and it is now 2:49 a.m. Goodness, when that writer's block breaks, it breaks. So guys, there you go, and thank you all for reading! Only a few more chapters! Review, please!
mreki u'lito: fire pit
irayo: thank you
Ama: an African name that means "water"
Naledl: an African name that means "star"
na'hla buk'ne: literal translation "face pull" used to guide direhorses
Gimbya: an African name that means "princess"
tsmuke: sister
'ite: daughter
hi'i: little or small
na'ring: forest
nikt'chey: food item good for eating on the run, like a snack
Oel ngati kameie: I see you
kewong: alien
terkup, vrrtep: die, demon
Atxkxe Ean Ikran: Land of the Blue Ikran
'Itan: son
Sa'nok: mother
fkeu: mighty
tanhi tukru: literal translation: "star spear". For first time readers, it is like a short sword.
