"But where was sempu? Sa'nu and sempu must stay together" a soft voice pleaded somberly because the story didn't end with the two reuniting like she'd hoped. Why had they remained separate? The pretty animals delighted her heart to no end, her young mind imagining the plump tapiri foraging for food and the happy pa'li drinking nectar in her young creative mind. She loved playing with Aci and Peke, they were the nicest animals she'd met and always brought them goodies. Her little ears dipped as the entertaining tale came to a completely different end, her flexible tail slapping the sand in protest as she murmured dejectedly with a crestfallen expression, "They can't be separated."
A gentle chuckle caused her little ears to flatten against her loose hair and an older female voice assured her concern, "Stories come in many numbers and not all end happily, especially when concerning the strong bonds of love. This one continues and you will see that while sa'nu finished her rite, sempu was finding his way back to her one day at a time because his journey was not over."
Of course, she'd. . .uh. . .keep the tidbits that weren't children friendly out of the tale and heavily tone them down for their delicate ears.
"But it's prettier when it starts and ends happy" the little voice replied with optimism and small hands outstretched towards the main speaker, requesting to be enveloped in their comforting warmth. The woman embraced the young na'vi child in their arms to soothe away her emotional upset and the little girl's upbeat voice piped up, "It started with adventure against the bad people but sempu is so sad. I don't like hearing him sad. . .he's sempu."
"We still have sempu, you're stalling the story" a young boy's voice interjected with a feisty hiss and playfully pulled on her left toe to quiet her little ramblings. She wriggled her foot to wrench free of his grasp and hissed sharply to being warned, the boy's voice ordering hastily, "Let sanok continue, Tanhí."
Small golden eyes narrowed in defiance to her sibling's insistence to hear the next part of the tale but their mother hushed them gently to halt their small spat. Tanhí squeezed her mother to show her compliance, little ears dipping as she apologized for fighting with her brother while Kanei batted her foot with his to bring a smile to both their lips. Their mother approved of their respectful behavior and smiled warmly at both of her endeared children to continue gently, "Your brother is right but only because sempu makes his return and shows us just how a boy born into a humble family without high rank can become one of the most admired throughout this land."
This appeased the young children of Joanna and Tsu'tey, their bright eyes holding the same optimism as their parents.
VOLUME II
A New Path In Life
"This is a fine catch if I don't say so myself" Anaya grinned proudly to the fat teal fish she'd caught alongside Joanna as it had led them on a good fight far out into the ocean on their ikran. It had tried to bring down Taka with its strength by using the net it had been caught in against the huntress but Joanna had released another when he'd begun to descend towards the water to keep her sister safe. The extra net balanced Taka's altitude as the weight of her own Xeki was added in to overpower the fighting fish until it had given up the fight. Joanna commended the brave fish as it fought valiantly against its restraints and granted it a sudden death to prevent any further pain or distress since no living creature deserved it when facing their demise. Since they were close to shore already on their return trip, Anaya quickly shot an arrow into the fish's heart to give it a humane instantaneous death and would remember the feisty fish.
Joanna had joined Arat's hunting group at Anaya's request and she couldn't turn her down after becoming fast friends, enjoying her time with the huntress as she'd found her equal in adventuring. The two were currently inseparable as they happily dubbed each other sister and explored the Atykwe lands for adventure, catching sights of migrating whale-like creatures that traveled south during the season or racing against the towering white cliffs. Being in a family of all boys, Anaya had been eager for the chance to partake in female conversations and other activities that she couldn't share with her brothers or other women in the clan. Of course, with the two carrying wanderlust in their bloodstream, they explored together more than they chatted inside Kelutral while Arat accompanied the two for protection or stayed at home when they became too much to bear (he drew the line at testing urine bombs to ward away predators).
Taka and Xeki released the fish onto the ground where the catch of the day was being prepared, surprising the nearby hunters when the fat fish plopped down right out of the sky. Their startled expressions led Arat to excuse the women's unexpected drop by stating it was their first sizable catch together, turning swiftly to glare at the two ikran that landed a few feet away to prevent sand from falling into the prepared meat. The two huntresses happily joined in to help prepare the fish for storage, patting the teal skin of the dead fish with pride as they quickly apologized to their flustered brethren for the sudden incoming drop (especially with Arat's rare glare aimed at them). Their two ikran headed off to the rock hill to clean themselves in the loose white sand since the gritty particles smoothed their scaly skin to the velvety perfection that rivaled a newborn's and all ikran plopped down to relax after a recent hunt, especially when they hauled a good catch. Joanna chuckled softly with amusement as she watched Taka playfully chase Xeki towards the hill, his smaller form appearing comical in comparison to her ikran as Xeki scattered off hastily to play the game.
Anaya patted her catch on the side with a gentle hand, appreciating the fight between her and the defiant fish, to smile softly with pride, "You tried your best but my, you are a plump one."
"I've caught larger" Arat tried to rile with a nonchalant voice as he grabbed one of his sharp deboning knives to clean a small fish that ran the length of his forearm and she batted his shoulder with her hand to avoid disrupting him. His tail batted in her direction as she sat next to him to begin working, diving his knife into its belly to begin cutting it.
"Maybe but this is my catch" Anaya chided gently with a cheeky grin and grasped the polished hilt of her knife to slide it behind the teal-lilac gills of the large fish in one careful swipe. Joanna helped her by using the net around its large body to hoist it onto the nearest wooden pole, embedded deeply into the portions of flat earth gathered only at the hunters fields, that helped to bleed out their catch by using gravity. Children didn't gather in this particular area since seeing food bleed out into bowls gathered underneath the animal could frighten them but at this particular moment, the fish remained stubborn in death as well. She found it humorous as she balanced the large teal fish against her back, its size similar to the large extinct tuna of Earth, while hoping the bleeding wouldn't pool around her feet rather than the bowl to cause an accidental slip. Anaya muffled a laugh behind her lips when Joanna grunted to wrap the netting over the hook, bearing the weight of the fish on her back while hunching over, and offered kindly, "Here, let me help you."
"Next time, let's make sure we can carry it here without our ikran's help" she panted heavily with tremendous relief when Anaya stood up to help her push the opens holes of the netting through the hook. She could see how the fish had managed to bring Taka towards the water with its weight alone and rubbed her lower back since she hadn't used her legs to lift. Anaya's taller height helped tremendously since Joanna was a little shorter than the average na'vi, smiling gratefully that she wasn't flattened under the heavy fish because Xeki would've been a lonely ikran for the rest of her days. Her partner was quite protective, continuously sniffing her friends and their ikran to make sure they wouldn't try anything funny but Joanna assured her that they were all family. Xeki rebutted through their bond that the matriarch's ikran did that to everyone and she was simply trying to remain sharp as well for the protection of their clan. Joann quickly learned her ikran was not one to argue with because it was her way or the highway; Xeki reminded her exactly of her old smart-alecky self but she was a terrifically dear ikran she adored.
The women proceeded to help the other hunters slice their catch of the day into separate pieces for storage while they waited for the fish to be void of blood since the end of the heavy storm season brought back their old routine. The turbulent storms drove the hunters inland for extra sustenance when the storage alcoves were depleted since the sea was too dangerous to venture into, especially when rain storms could arrive within minutes. Joanna hadn't caught anything during her first trips into the forest since she was a new huntress, merely observing Arat's techniques to incorporate into her own style when the next year came to pass. The sea, however, was fair game and she was happy to return to the calm ocean since the raging storms had brought nervousness into her heart whenever she heard the tide crashing ferociously upon the rocks (not to mention the raging lighting).
Anaya and Joanna quickly passed the time by discussing the symbolism used in the last historical tale they heard from Laara's lore circle since Nitari had asked Joanna to continuously study their history since arriving. As an ex-anthropologist, her researching mind itched to satiate the endless knowledge awaiting her and Anaya made a great study partner since she never missed a meeting- whether for the children, adults, or elderly lore circles. When the two finally finished cutting their prized fish into neat filet portions and dropped them off in neat leaf package to the cooks, the two headed to the shore where their living huts were.
For the past two months, the two had been working on creating the first na'vi surf board that was both safe and environmentally friendly to enjoy the rolling waves of the sea. Joanna had first mused on the idea during one of her swims with Anaya and explained the sport of surfing while they played with a ball made from the same hexapede bladders used for the glowing lanterns, using a piece of brown string to keep the exhaled air trapped inside. The children of the Atykwe loved playing with them all over the place and almost each child owned their own, kicking or hurling one everywhere with a joyous laugh. As for the women, they used it as a beach ball in the water to have their own fun as the sea provided endless possibilities. With Anaya's natural knack for seeking adventure, she was hooked to the idea of creating a new type of water craft for fun and the two had begun working on the foundation of the first Pandoran surf board.
Their hard work would hopefully work this time since their last prototype sunk when it came time to board and they had searched for different materials that would be buoyant yet sturdy. It had brought the women despair to see their creation sink to the bottom within minutes but stirred laughter from Arat as he watched their woeful exclamations, leaving the women to their strange creation as he'd headed off to canoe around their borders. Joanna tugged the front of the vessel while Anaya pushed it from behind until it touched the shoreline, the lapping water painting the brown reeds a sepia tone. They had created the nose of the board to be pointier than the tip of their fishing canoes to part the waves quicker but took a tip from ancient Peruvian boards that matched the available materials needed for its creation. They had used sealants (from glazes used on tools) to create the waterproof vessel they desired and had created a comfy scoop at the end of the board- although some could say it resembled an eccentric alien kayak- to hold the feet for directional guidance. After all, not everyone could stand on a flat board and ride the waves with natural finesse that wasn't acquired by learning so the two would have to learn one step at a time. When it came to research and results, patience was one area Joanna dominated as each step was crucial in the scientific method and she'd learned that Anaya was a great partner as her endless questions brought excellent valid points to consider.
Arat found the two women with their strange flotation device in the water as the gentle waves lapped at their waists while they held onto the reed boat. He really didn't know what to call it; the design appeared as a cross between a canoe and a vessel of some sort. He'd come to the shore to whittle a flute out of wood from Kelutral's tree as the storms caused a bit of shedding from the older parts of the tree to allow growth for the new and he'd saved a few pieces for items he wanted to create. Instead, he placed his idea on hold as he approached the two women with a curious glint in his eye because he didn't know whether this was a good or bad plan waiting to happen. He uttered a low whistle to draw their attention and let them know that their little project had caught his eye, tipping his head to Anaya in respect as he caught her gaze and spoke up calmly, "I see you two are being productive already. What are you making there?"
"A board for surfing" Joanna declared giddily with pride as they allowed the thin but long board to float around them to ensure its water resilience and capacity to stay afloat for more than five minutes. Their first prototype sunk in less than two minutes as they desperately tried to scoop out the water and had to call it quits once it sank to the bottom. It had taken a while for Anaya to relinquish any hope that it would magically resurface and she'd brought her back to land to encourage her to keep trying, dragging their prototype to break it down for mulch.
"Sur-fang?" Arat pronounced slowly to the strange word, uncertain to this new idea of theirs. He and Anaya weren't as opposed to tawtute inventions as Tsu'tey had been but Joanna only spoke on those that were completely harmless and brought fun to all age groups of their clan. This would one bring leisured enjoyment to those from age ten to late adulthood- except the elderly- once the two figured out how to use their creation.
"Yes, a flotation board that can be used to run over the waves" Joanna smiled enthusiastically as she pressed the board against the water to test its resistance against sinking, smiling as it pushed back with the same force to stay afloat. Well, that was certainly good news. Anaya treaded back to the shore with hasty footsteps of excitement to grasp his arm to bring him to their finished prototype, his eyes full of uncertainty to their invention. Joanna chuckled softly since he usually expected all of their creations to malfunction or break at the slightest touch but they were optimistic on this one, explaining their carefully constructed plan, "We used dry reeds with strong twine and glue to hold it all together, testing it against the water continually as we build it and none has entered. Similar to a canoe, you step onto it but instead of being in the center- you occupy the back. The front is the directional portion that cuts through the wave while you steer from behind with your balance as you and the ocean share a wonderful bond as one. The structure comes from a land on my old planet, this is similar to the shapes of their first boards and with the available materials. . .this is our board."
The hunter stared oddly at the women as they held their creation in place with smiles fit for new mothers and he sighed morosely with a crestfallen face, "You couldn't just sew a tapestry like the rest of the women, could you?"
Truly, Eywa must've created Anaya and Joanna with kindred souls because only their friendship could result with inventions like that.
"We have very large ideas" Anaya piped up brightly with a witty grin since she was always in search of new hobbies and this one sounded perfect for her wanderlust in knowledge. The concept of 'surfing' intrigued her since their clan respected and admired the formidable sea so a closer relationship would captivate almost any resident, especially if you could practically glide over the water. It would take patience and time to learn the strange tawtute activity but Joanna never steered her wrong in their thirst for knowledge, drawing Arat's reluctant approval on this. He was cautious as any hunter, calculating all risks before daring to attempt anything and perked her ears in an attempt to sway a more liberal agreement from him.
Arat was the only one outside of her family that encouraged her expansion for knowledge since childhood, appreciating the man she held dear for loving her quirks. He could organize a list of reasons for and against an idea but if her heart was set on it, he'd encourage her wholeheartedly (unless it was truly dangerous). Her gaze met his briefly as she observed the reed board for any leaks and called out without breaking her concentration, "The tsahìk encourages unbelievable ideas, they broaden our horizon and bring chance for adventure."
"It's ready for testing so I'll start to make the first ungraceful splash" Joanna grinned excitedly as the next phase of their plan, sustaining weight, was cleared for either success or failure. Their modifications to the board brought them joy as they checked the first stage off their mental list and hoped the next one would pass with flying colors as well. She wanted to show Anaya the old surfer's stance just as she'd drawn it on a wet patch of sand weeks ago to show her the graceful moves she'd seen in vids back on Earth. Her hands guided the boat deeper into the water until it touched her chest to provide room for treading water, allowing her body to float to the surface as she used her arms to grip the end of the board to stay on the surface. Her lips broke into an ecstatic smile as she failed to sink and pedaled out to sea with a happy kick in her feet to begin the next test.
Anaya stayed close to shore as she watched her friend's movements, following her swim out to the incoming waves and tilted her head to the left in curiosity to why she was heading far into the rolling waves. Of course! The force from the waves would propel the board towards shore and allow directional guidance as it would cut through the water in similarity to canoes, except the ocean would be the driving force rather than paddles. Her hands shook with excitement to the incoming arrival as Joanna found a strong wave to ride towards shore, anticipating the moment when she would stand above the water without a paddle for guidance but her own balance alone.
Arat found himself rather curious to the results of their experiment, remaining at his spot in the shallow ends of shore where he wouldn't become soaked by the incoming waves. Joanna was winging all of it from memories on the sport, waiting for the tug of the wave on her board to spring forward to crouch onto it with the finesse all surfers carried. Of course, being completely untrained was the horrible disadvantage and Arat tried not to visibly wince when she jerked forward to mount the board with the dexterity fit for any Atykwe hunter. . .
Only to fall backwards into the rolling waves to disappear under the white surf of the blue sea while the board returned inland without its passenger.
Anaya quickly moved forward to grab their reed board before it decided to float elsewhere and jumped in place to crane her head high enough to search for her friend among the rolling waves. This time, Arat remained silent rather than teasing her since the waves had a forceful pull that could sweep one underneath the water rather than to the surface. She released a breath of relief when Joanna surfaced safely, waving one arm in the air while the other treaded water and called out with a modest chuckle that echoed through the gentle breeze, "It seems we have a bump in our road."
Joanna swam back to land as her first attempt failed but it only encouraged her to keep persevering because either of them would succeed in the end. Anaya was more than giddy to try out the board and she allowed her to have fun since she'd grasped the concept quickly by merely observing her. Joanna couldn't have asked for a better partner. She decided to stay in the water rather than leave to dry herself since they would be doing this for quite a while, maybe weeks, and brushed her wet braids behind her ears to keep them away from her face. Turning to the mildly curious Arat, she smiled sneakily to entice him to join in their fun for Anaya's sake and asked, "Care to join our flailing?"
Arat's gaze turned towards the horizon, pinpointing Anaya's form as she rode the incoming waves to perform the same action as her partner. Just as he declined the invitation with a polite faint smile, Anaya toppled into the water to sink like a rock as it signaled another failure for the two. Joanna quickly moved deeper into the sea to fetch the board to repeat the same process, placing her torso on the end for flotation and headed out to meet the waves. Anaya surfaced seconds later, allowing the tide to pull her inwards rather than swim as she groaned with defeat and added a crestfallen pout to match. The tide left her in front of Arat as if sensing their lifelong connection, gazing at the hunter as she caught a glint of amusement in his eyes and hissed lowly to protect her creation, "Don't you laugh."
The hunter watched the resilient duo repeat the cycle but became weary after the sixth time, sighing under his breath to their resilience against failure when Anaya fell to the left side of the water in another ruined try. Well, the matriarch could rest happy at knowing the two women kept persevering to rectify their failure with this 'surfing' and conquer the waves. Nonetheless, he encouraged his friends since the board was certainly an interesting creation and called out to them in farewell, "Keep trying, you two."
"Will do" Anaya assured confidently as water droplets rained down her smooth face, brushing back stray braids of raven hair behind her ears while treading water in the distance. She looked positively carefree in the endless sea, drawing a soft fond smile from the quiet hunter as he left the shoreline to head for his hut and whittle his musical flute. Anaya's gaze lingered on his departing back as he headed north to his azure hut, already knowing that he'd either whittle something or take a nap until last meal, and smiled privately to his serene temperament. A moment later, a large splash of water struck the left side of Anaya's face as Joanna fell into the water with another failed attempt and she helped her sister surface while grasping the reed board.
Joanna whistled a peppy tune as she strained thick leaves of herbs with their concentrated tea water to create the purest solvent possible. She would mix this with a jade green plant powder held inside a separate bowl later on to create the healing ointment that every resident in the clan used, from the smallest child to the oldest adult. Her fingertips were coated with a light green tint from the pulp of the leaves but she loved every minute of the work, inhaling the fresh aroma the pureed herbs emitted.
A few days after completing her rite, Joanna was invited for a private meeting with Nitari to discuss her path in the clan as any new adult was required to. The matriarch deemed her hunting skills acceptable as she learned every day from her hunting companions but foresaw the greatest improvement in her herbalism. Her meditations had shown Joanna's journey seasons ahead and herbalism would be a rewarding skill in the future that awaited her. She had assigned her to Zika as the two had become acquainted over the months due to their connection with Tsu'tey and Joanna had fallen in love with her youngest child, a one year-old toddler named Leti. Joanna followed her teacher's teachings with a keen eye because healing was an art and she would learn from a master. There were no other skills that Nitari wanted Joanna to pursue diligently since sewing, cooking, music, and jewel crafting would not be as needed as healing and hunting would be. Also, her future mate would contain the skills she lacked to balance those she would master.
"I don't think you'll get anymore drops from that, Joanna" Zika advised with a gentle chuckle to her enthusiasm to conserve every drop, appreciating her passion for preservation. Joanna listened to her instructions and withdrew her hands from the straining cloth with a sheepish smile, moving the green stained brown cloth to an empty bowl to store the excess contents in it. The healer grabbed the clay bowl into her hands to dump the contents in another that held its own similar pile of freshly pulped plants and informed her student with a knowing smile, "We'll leave this to use on the garden to help the fertilizer."
Joanna grabbed a clean cloth that lay in her lap to wipe her hands dry and dropped it back in its spot to continue on with her work. Grasping the bowl with the green liquid, she poured it over the larger bowl containing the green root powder that held the most potent properties of analgesic while the liquid contained the healing portion. Slowly, she used a medium sized clam shell in place of a spoon to mix the two ingredients to create the popular salve that would be neither solid nor liquid- a perfect gel substance. Her eyes carefully calculated the ratio portions since too much liquid could ruin the batch but her endless practice throughout the months had prepared her to titrate the drug perfectly.
There was excess liquid left in this particular portion as the herbs had provided extra but Zika would bottle it in vials, always prepared to handle any leftovers. The healing properties of the water were extremely gentle for children with fevers or inflammation so she could use it for all of her patients that required such medicine without concern for side effects. Joanna watched her retrieve clean vials from a closed basket on one of the bottom shelves of the alcoves where all of their supplies were stored for preparing medicine. Zika's mastered knowledge already dictated how many stone vials she would need and pulled out three to fill them slowly, measuring each with her eye until they satisfied her judgment. Pushing three polished wooden corks (glazed to prevent any absorption) into each vial, she handed the bowl to her student as Joanna grabbed their used materials to either wash or properly discard.
Water had already been boiled after their first batches of the herb tea had been made so their workload was finished at a faster rate. Joanna quickly filled a large container with cool water from the large urns they kept inside the handmade hut, using handmade soap to clean the bowls and other items with a yellow sea sponge. While Joanna cleaned, Zika prepared the finished salve by carefully spooning the concoction into sterilized clams since they neither absorbed nor left residue in medicine like wood (which is what some clans used). She was still trying to create another source for bottling but elongated cone shells or crafted stone made it quite convenient for their clan. Joanna darted a quick glance to her teacher's work since filling the clams was the best part, kneeling down with her washed bowls to carefully place each into the boiling water for sterilization. The na'vi might not be medically advanced like humankind with their gadgets but their naturalistic ways worked just the same to maintain sanitation and good patient care.
"You may spend the rest of your day as you like, Joanna" Zika informed kindly as she finished the last clam and closed it gently, placing it within one of the new leaf packets to finish the healing bundles. The popular packets would be placed in the most accessible middle shelves that spanned the entire east wall of their hut since each single resident and family was required to have one in their alcove at all times. Tomorrow, they would have their most influx of patients as check-ups for the new babies of the clan were due and mothers were eager to make sure their little ones were healthy. Joanna enjoyed working with children and the elderly the most since one group craved mental stimulation and the other chatted away to leave her satiated with delight. Zika turned around with a wide smile as she finished her day with a new bundle of medicine and clapped her hands to declare with delight, "I have no more patients for today and have to help Avi finish the family quilt she wants to give Nara before the baby arrives. I've still no idea on my design; Avi outdid herself by sewing Nara's portrait as a child from memory. I'll be fetching the children so if you see them by the shore, tell them I'll be there soon."
Tsu'tey's middle aunt out of the three was due to have her second child in a few weeks and the entire family was ecstatic, hoping for the best. Nara had trouble conceiving since bonding to her mate twelve years ago and the two had been trying their best to have a second child to grant their first of seven years a sibling (the first pregnancy had also been difficult). With her being a huntress, pregnancies became riskier as statistics for a miscarriage rose and Zika had ordered her to stay on the beach without rigorous exercise for the last months of her pregnancy. Avi was the second oldest of all the children and their unofficial leader of the family tree since their own parents were with Eywa, along with their eldest brother, taking care of her siblings however she could. There were traits in each of the women that gave Joanna a perfect picture of Tsu'tey because although she hadn't known his parents, his aunts held the same mirroring qualities. Avi held the same protective nature as she lectured her younger sisters while Nara's determined (sometimes headstrong) personality reflected Tsu'tey's attitude with his clan while Zika's helpful and compassionate characteristics matched the hidden personality that had been buried underneath all of his anger. She really hoped Tsu'tey would visit them one day, just so he could see the wonderful family he held miles away from the forest.
"Of course" Joanna agreed with a perky smile since she was always happy to meet with her children, their curious nature filling her heart with warm laughter. Leti was the youngest out of three and the baby of the entire family, her outgoing personality drawing attention as she followed just about anyone around the beach. Keron was the middle child at four years old and the polar opposite of his sister as he was shy around others but was always found alongside the pa'li, feeding them flowers he found at random. Sifu was the oldest at seven, watching over his siblings while his parents attended to their tasks by wandering around Kelutral but kept a good eye on them like any good future hunter would. Joanna rarely spent time with the children of the Atykwe as she had with the Omaticaya's due to her new duties but Zika's children were the only ones she encountered on a daily basis, enjoying their lively company.
Joanna exited the hut to return back to shore where the crashing waves brought her endless calm after a long day, the cool water welcoming her as it lapped at her ankles. Whenever she wasn't exhausted from training in her specialty areas, she wandered the wet sand to forage for shells to decorate her alcove or Anaya's. If she found particular shells to use in the healing alcoves, she sterilized them at the hut so they wouldn't run out of supplies. The rainy season had left and wouldn't return for two more seasons but sometimes, a light drizzling would occur from lingering clouds and spray the land to cool the warm earth. She had had the most fun building her hut after her rite as her friends helped teach her the entire process from gathering materials to tying the last layers of cloth on the hut. . .with the exception Xuret after she accidentally bonked him on the head with a piece of wood. Her chosen color of cloth was sapphire to match Xeki's skin and she'd begun to slowly weave artwork of the willow trees in light pink to complement the blue hue. A portrait of Peke already occupied the brown leather cloths of the entrance, his sparkling baby blue eyes being the most prominent of the image because her journey wouldn't have been complete without him (he'd pawed proudly at the sand when she revealed it to him on one of their strolls). She couldn't sew decently but the seamstresses were more than happy to help, especially Avi, since she worked in that specialty as Joanna supplied all of the materials with grateful appreciation.
The beach was gently calm today, the low tides lightly rolling onto the sand without force to envelop the white earth with its eternal embrace. She caught sight of Zika's children playing alongside the border of the shore, just as their mother predicted, as her two boys played with a ball while keeping watch of little Leti as she splashed her hands in the water. Children were endlessly curious of the world around them, ready to learn, and Joanna smiled broadly when Leti's cheerful voice called out with beckoning, "Na-Na!"
Leti had dubbed her that short moniker since she was still learning her vocabulary and had shortened Joanna's name down to its last letters for easier recognition. The little toddler was dressed in a violet loincloth, a necklace of bright yellow feathers covering her chest as she frolicked on the shore with a wide carefree smile. Her unbraided short black hair stuck to her round cheeks in places that had been struck by water, drawing a grin from the amused Joanna as she approached the splashing toddler. Leti's little white teeth shined as she smiled perkily to the welcome company and Joanna kneeled down to greet warmly, "I See you, little Leti. What have you found?"
Hopefully, it wasn't a small shell since children put just about anything in their mouth and Joanna did a quick scan with her eyes to make sure nothing suspicious was inside those tiny hands. Leti simply shook her head with a shy smile and splashed the incoming surge of water with open hands to laugh gleefully, "Water!"
"Are you soaking your little toes?" Joanna cooed sweetly and gently tickled the ends of her toes, stirring giddy laughter from her lips. Leti was soaked from the stomach downwards as she played along the shore, keeping her mother's rules in mind as her round face gazed at the glittering blue sea. Her brothers threw their inflated ball between the sandy beach and the water, switching between both playing fields as they frolicked with boisterous laughter.
"Where's sa'nu?" Leti asked hopefully with expectant eyes since she usually visited in Zika's company, water dripping down her pudgy wrists as she halted her splashing. The small toddler constantly yearned for her parents company when they were away tending to their duties, never far behind from either when they were in sight. She loved watching the sun set over the azure horizon because it meant that the rest of the day would be spent alongside them until it was time for sleep.
"At the alcoves, she'll be here soon" she assured gently and patted the top of her head, smoothing out the frizzes in her dry hair as damp locks obscured her vision. Leti smiled widely with appreciation to the gentle grooming, her peppy demeanor bringing Joanna delight and she tucked her short hair behind her pointy ears to keep it in place. Zika always tied her hair with a band early in the morning to keep her straight hair in place but by last meal, Leti's hair was loose and disheveled from her daily adventuring.
"Na-Na, sweets?" Leti piped up hopefully since she knew Joanna carried sweets in her satchel to keep her energy running throughout the day. Her golden eyes glittered against the sunlight, her dark lashes batting rapidly to the thought that the woman carried goodies that she could munch on. Her little hands clapped with anticipation but Joanna had to inform her gently that she didn't have any on hand since Zika didn't want the toddler eating before last meal or she'd never fall asleep at night. Her lips fell into a disappointed frown as her tongue expected to taste a sweet pastry or a soft chewy candy, small shoulders slumping as she slapped the water lethargically to the unfortunate answer.
Leti's delicate facial expressions always stirred Joanna's maternal side as she'd grown to adore her teacher's child and gently stroked her back with a sympathetic smile. It was best to have a mildly disappointed toddler than a hyperactive one that Zika couldn't put into bed to sleep. A new but familiar feminine voice entered their conversation about the upcoming last meal as the two sat by the shoreline, "Last meal will be soon, you don't want to spoil your appetite with sweets. Our hunters caught very yummy fish for us today and we must thank the sea dwellers for giving their lives so we could eat."
Joanna bowed her head politely with a warm smile as the matriarch had approached the two, her graceful steps silent in the sand as they lightly indented the sand. Her maroon clothing contrasted beautifully against the white earth, her knee-length skirt billowing against the incoming breeze of the late afternoon. Her long hair was tightly bound in braids and wrapped around the crown of her head as blunt thorns with tiny glued seashells, which served as decorating hair pins, were randomly tucked within her hair to heighten her natural beauty. Joanna had never seen the matriarch with her hair loose, her shiny raven hair was always braided in an intricate style and found it curious since the other women of the clan always gave their hair a breather from the braiding. Joanna's own hair had been cropped to shoulder-length since it made easier maintenance now that she was hunting while allowing her queue braid to roam free in its own Dutch braid, not wanting to hassle with hairstyles her fingers couldn't comprehend. Leti paused her splashing as the matriarch always brought her delight, smiling broadly to her regal appearance as she asked enthusiastically, "Fishies?"
Nitari chuckled softly to agree with Leti's eagerness, sitting down gracefully on the dry sand to watch over the little girl to allow her brothers playtime without babysitting. The boys were able to let loose as they watched both women care over their small sister, leading them to play freely with their ball across the beach. Joanna watched quietly as her leader drew on the wet sand with a dexterous finger, using her other hand to grab Leti's tiny one to entice her to follow her example by helping her sketch. Leti's ears perked immediately with interest to the eye pleasing creation that her own little hands were making, leading her to beckon the matriarch for help in finishing that outline of an atokirina she'd begun to draw. Joanna could only chuckle to her giddy enthusiasm as she gave up splashing in the water to draw in the wet sand, enthralled with the new activity as Nitari kept her occupied until Zika arrived.
It wasn't long before the healer arrived at the shore since the first places to look for her children were either the cooks' area where their father worked on the delicious food served at all meals or the shoreline. After her mate informed her that the children decided to walk around the shore where adult supervision was ample, Zika had headed in their direction to retrieve their little ones. Leti had become completely engrossed to her little bundles of drawings, ranging from everyday objects to her own parents (in stick-form figures) but Nitari announced her arrival to the child and Leti was nothing short but ecstatic. She wiggled in her seat happily to the sight of her mother as she'd caught her familiar face in the distance, waving her arms to beckon her and didn't hesitate to call out to her. There was nothing she wouldn't do to be in her mother's arms that spelled endless safety and Zika smiled caringly as she called out dotingly, "There you are, my little one, and what good company you keep."
"Sa'nu, sa'nu" she cooed affectionately with bright golden eyes, giggling happily when her mother leaned down to pick her up in one easy scoop and hugged her close. To Joanna, Leti reminded her of a delicate little porcelain doll as her eyes glittered like pools of molten gold with joy to her mother's presence. She'd never seen the mother-daughter bond look as beautiful as Leti clung to Zika with a content smile, her small tail gently swishing through the air while her eyes closed for a brief moment.
Zika smiled in welcome to everyone as she tickled her daughter's bare stomach, eliciting a giggle of protest from Leti and gazed at the two women to say warmly, "Thank you for keeping her occupied, the boys need to keep a better eye on her."
At this, her oldest son waved his arms to prove his mother wrong and pointed out, "We are. . .we're just playing at the same time."
"It is no trouble when she is such a delight" Nitari cooed softly with affection as she patted the top of Leti's head, stirring an instant smile from her little lips. Her bright eyes were pinned on the matriarch since Leti felt at ease with just about anyone but adored those that spent time with her, always finding her way to visit them when she wandered the beach with her brothers. In this case, Nitari had found her first and chuckled with amusement when Leti's fingers tentatively touched the shell bracelets decorating her wrists with natural curiosity. She watched the child's study of her jewelry with kind eyes as she never tired of the adorable sight, smiling at Zika to state fondly, "She really is a sweet child."
"Thank you, matriarch" the healer chuckled modestly since her youngest child was the glittering stone of their family as she was cooed over and Leti didn't hesitate to bring a smile to people's faces. Zika attributed that trait to both herself and her mate, who were never anything but kind and cheerful towards others as their own parents had taught them to be. Soon, her little one would have a new playmate once her sister's upcoming baby was old enough to crawl around safely. She tickled Leti's sides to draw an instant giggle from her daughter, smiling widely when she batted her hands and chuckled softly, "And what do we say when our tsahìk compliments you, my dear Leti?"
"Tha-a-a-nk you" she drawled slowly to enunciate the first letter in a near replica to her mother's, smiling broadly at the matriarch to show that she was trying her best. Nitari could only chuckle amusingly to her attempt and tickled her chin to encourage her to keep learning new words to expand her growing mind.
"Well, we must dry these little limbs and dress her warmly for last meal because sempu wants his dear Leti to stay healthy" Zika chuckled affectionately as she hugged her daughter, Leti's lips pouting because she wanted to keep splashing in the cool water and searching for little crabs hidden beneath the sand. Nitari smiled warmly to her crestfallen expression, caressing her right cheek with the palm of her hand to fade that little pout. Leti smiled brightly with renewed vigor at the matriarch, loving the attention from her leader, and Zika excused herself politely to finish her tasks for the day, "May Eywa watch over you two."
Joanna cooed her farewell to Leti as she peeked over her mother's shoulder with a perky smile, the two leaving the shore with the boys running behind them and Nitari mused with a calm voice, "You grow much attached to children. Mo'at told me of your caretaking experience with them. Have you given any thought of seeking a mate? You've been with us for more than a season now."
"I. . .," Joanna hesitated because she did imagine a future where she could have a little one rolling around in the sand as they called her name but the one she loved lived elsewhere, apart from her clan. Despite the passage of time, she held their memories dear and couldn't imagine a day where she wouldn't think of him. They hadn't seen each other in months, more than a season, and she could only wonder if she'd be forced to move on towards a future where another would fill his spot in her heart. The idea nauseated her and her ears flattened somberly as she admitted softly, "My heart still belongs to another from the Omaticaya. I truly found myself falling in love with him, part of me even hoped to. . .well, build a family with him."
Her continuous meetings with the matriarch had pieced together portions from her past and personality that Nitari couldn't access through her meditations with Eywa. There was no question whether she trusted the matriarch and saw her as a motherly figure due to her caring demeanor, a stark difference to her own biological parent. Nitari saw a piece of herself in the young huntress as she'd had her precious family but yearned to be included in the activities of the clan that only high classes were privileged to, feeling ostracized in her own home, while Joanna had yearned for a true sense of home and family. In the end, they both achieved their goals and currently gazed into the glittering sea before them with content as it spelled home. Nitari smiled sympathetically to her woe of the heart since she wanted all of her children to find their destined life partners and sincerely stated, "I did regret pulling you from Tsu'tey but it was for your best interest and I know he wanted the same for you, child."
Joanna blushed deeply for having her secret known without admitting it by the matriarch since she and Tsu'tey had tried to keep themselves distant in public. Her words and facial expressions, however, tended to be her undoing since she spoke highly of the hunter in a way that reminded the matriarch of her own youth when she'd courted her mate. The same glowing cheeks, bright eyes full of admiration, and broad smile had been on her face decades ago just as they were on Joanna's when she'd reunited with her at the Omaticaya. Nitari merely chuckled to her flustered expression as the secret turned her cheeks lilac and teased gently, "Oh, Joanna, I am a matriarch and have been through your stage in life myself. I know these things naturally."
Joanna chuckled with relief that she wasn't chastised for her heart's desire but apologized with true honesty, "I didn't want you to be disappointed in me for seeking his affection despite my lack of rank and it is why I underwent Iknimaya without approval. My heart wanted to stay with his so we could build a future but you and Eywa had different plans for me, better ones than what my stubbornly brash mind wanted. You inspire me to be better than what I am."
"All will come with good timing, young one" Nitari assured with encouragement because the young woman was still flourishing under the clan's guidance, whether by Anaya's hunting tips or Zika's medicinal teachings. Joanna had definitely been a short-tempered spitfire when she arrived on their world, especially against Tsu'tey, but he'd helped to clear away the first layer of self-destructive traits just as she'd diminished his. The young huntress appreciated all of the help, never hesitating to return the same kindness, and Nitari asked warmly for clarification, "So I can assume that you do not want me to assign possible suitors for you?"
"With all respect, tsahìk, I don't see myself finding a mate very quickly" Joanna admitted modestly with respect for her leader as she watched the gentle waves strike the shore, darkening the white sand with the liquid of life. The soft breeze swayed the small green seashells dangling on the earrings in her ears and she smiled fondly in regards to the tireless hunter, "I loved Tsu'tey dearly and I've yet to meet anyone who can capture my eye like he did. I actually never thought anybody would feel that way about me and he was a person at a much higher rank than me. . .but he did and I felt such honor for that. My heart is a very deep cup to fill," she paused and finished meekly, "I hope that doesn't make me sound picky."
Nitari offered a sympathetic gaze because everyone was entitled to love who they chose and soothed gently, "No, it is completely understandable. I was expected to find a mate quickly after performing my dream hunt but I refused to do so until I deemed myself ready."
Joanna's eyes shone with captivation to her words for sagely advice and Nitari continued, "I was adamant that I find myself, my passion, before I was ready to share a life with another who understood me as well as I could myself. I didn't have a specific class in mind but I was certain the artisan ranks would suit me. . .oh, how wrong I was."
Nitari chuckled bashfully, youthful femininity lighting her angular face as she smiled modestly to tell her tale, "The clan heir had befriended me a short time before my rite after my mother designed an item for him and we met for the first time despite living on the same beach for years. He fascinated me like no other man, not because of his rank, but what lay in his heart. He held such kindness and camaraderie that reminded me of my own family, he encouraged me to find my true passion and not to settle with what everyone else deemed fit for me. It was no secret between us that we held each other with great affection but traditions were different then."
Joanna often heard about the leadership of the older generation but her friends didn't comment much because they were still their elders and had to be respected, regardless of their opinions. Nitari slowly shed light on the past through the conversations and this one added another piece to their history, "The previous clan leaders wanted highly ranked individuals for future clan leadership to keep lineages elegant and charismatic- it is one reason why some tsahìk's are weaker or stronger than others. It is why I was endeared with young Mo'at when I saw a healer's child in an uprising position that would keep a clan strong with good guidance and she is marvelous. Others, I am sad to say are concerned about other matters rather than interpreting the will of Eywa; again, they might prefer hunting or history to be their focus point. Back to this little story, my Akon managed to charm a yes from me to court but not everyone was happy to the possibility of an artisan's daughter as a future tsahìk."
Joanna gaped in shock to the revelation since Nitari was always so beautifully graceful and kind to everyone she met, a diplomatic but sympathetic soul. She'd never really known much about the origins of Nitari and Akon, simply that one had belonged to a rank that wasn't fit to fall under tutelage for future leadership. The matriarch always appeared immaculate and respectful, a confident aura that had caused Joanna to believe that her parents had been the previous leaders of the Atykwe. Apparently, it had been the opposite but it was hard to fathom such a thing could be thought about Nitari's abilities and Joanna remarked with disbelief, "But you're such an adored matriarch. You are my role model, I do not understand how you could be questioned or seen in such a way when you interpreted my path before even meeting me."
"Again, these were different times and I changed that slowly when I rose to my new rank" she stated softly with a fond smile towards the peaceful sea but in her mind, the image of her mate lay within the diamond glitter of the blue water. Eywa had been kind in his passing and Nitari had laid his body to rest in a solitary place that overlooked their entire land so he would never be far from their home. She hadn't the heart to carry him to the Tree of Souls, far inland where he would be away from his beloved people, choosing their clan's Tree of Voices as his final resting place. Her voice lowered as she ruminated privately about her past, "The person I am now was carefully molded over the years but I kept firm to my virtues. I was a frightened girl for daring to question our strict traditions, afraid I would be exiled for doing so, but my Akon would not take no for an answer. There was such love in his eyes that I couldn't crush that same love I harbored for him."
They had shared so many conversations about their union. . .
"Your parents have sought mine to question them about our courtship" Nitari informed anxiously as her fingers shook while brushing back her neatly braided hair behind flattened ears full of worry. Ever since they'd admitted their plan to mate, she had not slept easy at night knowing many disagreed and looked down upon her for agreeing. She was a humble woman that didn't want to cause such conflict within her dear clan and her brow furrowed as she admitted somberly, "My parents are simple artisans, Akon, they don't know how much I treasure you but I cannot have them frowned upon or ridiculed for my decision-"
"Nobody will change my mind about my decision, I love you too much to lose you" Akon interjected swiftly as he'd been hearing nonstop lectures about it from his parents since they'd gone public with their courtship. She captivated him like no other woman, drawing him with the beautiful hypnotism of a glow fly, and knew the qualities the clan needed to function properly existed within her. There were traditions he questioned as he grew older and when his own dreams from Eywa contradicted his mother's, he had to follow his heart. The ancient ways had been recorded through time for a reason and Akon believed Eywa was at the heart of it all for knowing what was best for their clan and more importantly, their world.
However, seeing his beloved grieved over her own family seized his heart in a painful grip and he assured gently, "I will make sure they aren't questioned anymore. I will speak with all parties involved today and answer the concerns of the residents by holding a meeting at the hearth. . .but the artisans seem quite happy for us."
Her features softened considerably to his lighthearted joke and he embraced her tightly, kissing her temple to show his devotion to her. She didn't doubt his love for a second but her heart worried deeply for him, knowing that his family's disagreement hurt him as well. He was their child, taught to love his family and clan members, and to know his parents refused to accept their love. . .it wasn't easy for him. She sighed faintly against the side of his neck, wrapping her arms over his shoulders to provide him with endless support and whispered softly, "I worry for all of us, Akon. My parents don't deserve to be in the clan's attention for this and you are a great man that is only trying to shift our clan to newer ways to make us stronger. They judge you before you even have a chance to prove whether you're right or wrong, that is not how a clan behaves."
"I'm not the only one that senses it then? That we are spiraling away from our days of splendor" Akon spoke carefully as he dared to speak on a topic that would've had others questioning his loyalty as heir but only a true leader would care about the welfare of its people rather than its reputation. The last two generations had been focused on creating a highly ranked ruling family that centered only on healing and hunting, keeping the top hierarchy within the same families of those classes. The hunters were highly overvalued in his opinion because Akon never saw them venture into the deep or evade a predator like the valiant heroes of legend! Even he'd ventured into the forests that bordered the Omaticayan lands to hunt rather than feed on trade goods he could've simply used an arrow for to catch. He couldn't remember the last time he heard the lorekeepers reciting old tales or eating food that didn't contain half of what his own people prepared in the alcoves. It was a reason why he spent time with each field of expertise to show that there was no division but the gap was growing wider with time. All the women he'd met were either high-ranked people he'd known since youth and to him, it was like mating into his own family! Nitari had been a fresh face of potential that contained the core values that Eywa had taught them since the creation of the First Songs and he'd been smitten.
Nitari wasn't one to speak against the clan she'd been born into but slowly, his beloved answered with a downcast gaze, "I. . .I could never speak ill of our clan but. . .it is hard not to feel a distinction between ranks here. The last clan that visited, the Zakali, they were very united as all ranks were treated kindly and their leaders are chosen differently- by what the clan decides under the guidance of Eywa. We sat at morning and last meal as a divided people as hunters, healers, and the advisors sat at the front while the Omaticaya, their people varied between all as they spoke together without bias. Our people are losing the valor that once made us a great clan, one of the oldest, we recited songs of old and were masters of the sky with our ikran rather than counting the names of the dead more dearly than those of our children."
Her ears flattened with shame for openly stating her opinions about the condition of their clan, hoping Eywa wouldn't strike her down for daring it, but she did it out of worry for their people. She could never be vindictive or manipulative, her parents had raised her to protect their home first and she murmured solemnly, "Eywa Sees the slow shift and she is undoing our clan slowly until only trade, the elite, and our simple hunting is left to us. We will not hear Her voice, the caverns no longer hold atokirina and unless something changes . . . we will diminish into the shadows."
He cupped her face in his hands because she was the kind soul he needed at his side as his pillar of strong support and his next words shocked her, "You will be my tsahìk and we must stand together to reverse everything because my clan, our clan, must regain its former strength. Our ceremony will take place when the tide is highest-"
"That's in two solar rotations" she gasped in disbelief to what he proposed, the tips of her ears darkening to the short amount of time to prepare. People were already talking about them and if they bonded quickly, they could add further fuel to the fire at their own disadvantage since ceremonies were carefully planned. She'd even begun to prepare her own speeches by reciting them at empty caves to begin speaking to the clan to help their cause. Her fingertips grasped his shoulders as she felt weak in the knees to a sudden union and asked worriedly, "Akon, what if our people disagree to our union? What we will do. . .a union like ours hasn't occurred in generations."
"Then we will make a new clan, start anew" he proposed softly because their people deserved better and she felt faint at the notion of breaking away from the Atykwe. He meant it mostly as a joke but if their clan couldn't accept a union that held nothing but love, it would become their last resort in order to be together and redeem the last hope for their people. He never thought he'd find himself questioning his own culture and shuffled his feet in the warm soft sand with his own nervousness, stating encouragingly, "We can only hope that we aren't the only ones who feel this way. If so, we will have to make our own decision concerning our future. I will be sharing my life with you, my dear songbird, and I will bond with you wherever we are- on this beach, in a shallow pool, in a muddy ditch, or in the middle of a storm."
Nitari chuckled fondly to his kind optimism, pressing her forehead against his as her fingers caressed his jaw line and she whispered with unyielding loyalty, "You are the kind of leader we need and I will follow you anywhere, even if we must defy our elders by sweeping in change. I can only hope that I will make you proud as a mate-"
"You are a kind and considerate woman, I love you too much to ever think ill of you" he stated tenderly as she'd taught him arts that he'd never have imagined grasping with his ranking and felt a natural sense of belonging when he worked alongside the artisans. She'd shown him how to sew, craft jewelry, bake, and even mix his own colors to paint just about anything! She smiled appreciatively to the man she loved, a light blush painting her cyan cheeks because she felt honored to receive his affection. Never had she imagined that she'd grow enamored with the clan heir, clutching him close to soothe both the worries in their hearts.
"My heart is yours, always" Nitari pledged her devotion, chastely touching her lips to his in an affectionate kiss that brought a caring smile to both their faces. She tugged him by the hand to lead him towards the northern sand dunes where the lorekeepers gathered to keep their minds sharp by reciting stories aloud but children were the main visitors. Her fingers intertwined with his for their private walk north of the shore, glad to have a peaceful moment for themselves and stated firmly, "Let us learn and use that to shape our plans because the people will demand answers from us. They deserve each so we cannot fail them."
"You will be a strong tsahìk, my dear one, whether here or at a new land" Akon promised kindly since neither wanted to leave their beloved land but would do so to prevent witnessing the ruin of it.
Nitari sighed with solemn remembrance to the days when she believed her clan would exile both her and Akon due to their beliefs of a better Atykwe by reforming the clan. Joanna stayed silent with enthralled attention to their inspiring tale of bravery because she'd never heard of an upheaval in a clan (her anthropological research hadn't yielded much information on clan dynamics) and the matriarch smiled softly to her awed expression, "It was not easy convincing them their ways were not working but Akon and I began our change slowly to return to the ancient traditions. I was petrified since the day he asked me to be his mate, second-guessing his choice because I was a simple girl. . .but how could I reject or fail him? I loved and respected him too highly but he believed in me like nobody else. The clan leaders were cold towards me since the day we met and there were days I wished I could curl up against my kind mother's bosom for comfort as years' worth of training were taught to me to match my age. What neither of us expected, however, was that my innate abilities to understanding Eywa far exceeded Akon's mother and soon. . .I created my own teachings as the Tree of Voices was all I needed."
Joanna's lips tried to hold back the proud grin at hearing she'd exceeded all of their expectations, proving Akon's beliefs that not all matriarchs needed to be born into high status families. Nitari's heart warmed to seeing her happiness for an old tale since she never really considered her experiences special but appeased Joanna's curiosity by finishing modestly, "He was so proud of me as I filled the evening with songs and tales from the lorekeepers that hadn't been heard in quite a time, changed the site of Uteho'awkx to strengthen our hunters as they'd grown accustomed to fishing near shore, and made sure I memorized all of the residents names."
The thin lines around her almond shaped eyes crinkled as she smiled with kindness that failed to leave her since childhood and admitted sincerely, "Not everyone agreed with my first changes or our progression but most of them understood we did it for them, from the highest ranked advisor to the youngest babe in its mother's arms. The Atykwe has been my pride since the day I learned to utter that word and my people fueled my resolve to make true on all of my promises."
"Not many would have such courage, it speaks highly of your character so I can see why Olo'eyktan Akon chose you to begin with- you gave him hope" Joanna complimented kindly to the touching history of the two leaders and wished she could've met the olo'eyktan because he sounded as respectful as Nitari. She was truly one of the kindest na'vi she'd met and if humanity hadn't destroyed all hope for peaceful negotiations with her people, she would've voted for her leader to represent every good aspect of their species; good leaders were those that never asked to wield power and used it with great responsibility to protect the innocent.
"I was a frightened girl then, blind to what awaited me in the future but we persevered to bring our dream to fruition" she chuckled softly with true honesty to her thoughts during that time as she'd fought the nerves running through her body to the realization that she would lead an entire clan. Not many young women held that dream in their minds because she would've been just as happy crafting jewelry for the rest of her days, sorting through colorful beads and preparing twine in similarity to her mother. She rested both of her hands on Joanna's right shoulder to show her motherly compassion and Nitari promised with a cheerful smile full of hope, "And you, your time to reunite with Tsu'tey will come soon."
Joanna couldn't wait for that day to come but what did the future hold in store for them?
"He's brooding out there, I think he's made enough arrows to last his team an entire season" Jake mused aloud as he watched his advisor add green feathers to newly crafted arrows as he sat by himself on a log bench inside the base of Kelutral. He didn't know if Tsu'tey knew this or not but he tended to subconsciously pick colors that conveyed his mood of the day and the current cherry red told Jake that he wasn't a peppy dandelion smiling at the sun . . . he was on edge. His friend occupied himself with any and all possible chores but to Jake, it spelled a man eager to forget the past and move forward in any way that he could. It wasn't a bad mindset but things that were forcefully rushed when they weren't meant to could backfire horribly to one's overall state. His intentions helped the clan, yes, but not himself; Jake needed to change that. From his spot on the first level of the residence level, Jake tapped his chin thoughtfully as he decided to stick his mind into this and informed his mate, "I have to do something for him, Neytiri."
The two had gathered at the first level where most residents spent their leisure time when the outskirts or base didn't suffice, the constant shade and scenic view of the Kelutral's outskirts tempted wanderers to sit at one of the log benches around the three areas reserved specifically for that. Otherwise, the first level residents would be flooded with never-ending guests in their private homes. Neytiri sewed an old pair of brown leggings on one of those logs, letting the waistband out of a few inches as her lower belly had begun to make her clothing snug. Jake liked seeing the small swell as it told him their baby was happily growing within its mother and would keep them both safe. She looked to him from her spot, pausing her skillful sewing and suggested helpfully with a smile, "You could send him on an errand, I think it's time our friend travels abroad. Even if it's for a few days."
"To where?" he asked curiously since he didn't want to send Tsu'tey to the middle of nowhere just to bring a little excitement back into his life. He tapped his fingers over a small branch overhead that he held onto as he watched his clan carry on with daily life since the morning had become free for him and Neytiri. They had no need to hunt as they had ample food for the next two days and there were no worries to ponder over as their clan worked efficiently with everyone's contributions.
Where could he send his brother that wouldn't have him hissing and fighting him the whole way? Oh, and of course, stay safe. Neytiri was one step ahead of her mate's planning, her fingers resuming the meticulous stitching to prevent any tears and chuckled softly as she grinned sneakily, "Well, I have been having a craving for a type of fish that only dwells in the Eastern Sea. I believe it is a common fish for the Atykwe, we could trade fabric or dried meat?"
He grinned to her ingenuity because where he acted directly to fix a problem, his mate chose the subtler attempts to accomplish her goal. She balanced his faults or the areas he was iffy on, given his previous profession, and leaned down to kiss her forehead to compliment warmly, "You are a brilliant and crafty woman, Neytiri," gazing down at her bare stomach, he added in, "This is how I want you to be, smart and beautiful, little one."
She shooed him away with a bashful smile since they were still in a public area where their affection could be caught and shared her idea to bring happiness to Tsu'tey, "I think it's time to reunite them. He hasn't seen her in more than a season but he misses her greatly, I can't bear to see him that way", pausing her sewing again, she gazed at her mate to insist, "However, Tsu'tey is a proud man and won't go unless it's for the utmost need of the clan so make it seem that I really want this fish delivered."
"Mood swings are really beneficial for us right now" he joked playfully since she'd only shown lethargy as a symptom and hadn't become mad unless she was truly exhausted. She'd flung a few clothes at him whenever she didn't agree to his ideas but he didn't dare to rile her when she was angry, fearing he'd be in the figurative dog house for quite a while. Their baby was bringing them both joy so he wouldn't meddle with his mate's state of mind, doing all that he could to keep her happy, and smiled widely to boast, "This pregnancy is wonderful."
"For you" his mate chuckled amusingly since she was bearing the physiological load all on her own but he helped her tremendously. She didn't know how tawtute parents behaved with the arrival of a child but her mate's parents had taught him well as he catered to her every need and she appreciated it immensely. Their child couldn't ask for a better father as Jake had already begun to recite stories to her stomach and planned future activities for family bonding, all while she happily indulged on banana fruit chips. The delivery, however, jabbed her mind with worry that knocked aside all of the blissful comforts of her mate and her anticipation with motherhood. Poking the sharp end of the needle through the waistband of her leggings, she pulled it out with her other hand and pointed it in the direction of her mate while feigning a serious expression to state, "Next time, you carry the baby."
His eyes widened into saucers since wasn't a scientist or doctor on the biology of avatars, blurting uneasily with the first thought that came to mind, "I . . . I can do that?"
"Of course not, you are too easy to unsettle sometimes" Neytiri chuckled fondly as his baffled expression amused her, watching the tips of his ears darken at falling into that gullible trap. If Eywa had created all individuals to carry children, she would've put her mate to do the job first to spare herself future pain when they wanted other children. Her mate was constantly learning about their world and she couldn't help but add in a joke once in a while to put his tail in a knot and smiled widely to state mischievously, "If you could, I would've transferred this child into you the second I realized I wanted one."
"You are crafty, beautiful matriarch, and I will return to you soon with my results" he beamed with pride to the sneakily delightful jokes of his mate and leaned down to kiss the top of her forehead, already knowing that small modest smile was on her lips. He would bring her the news before heading off to meet with Mo'at to learn all that he could about caring for a child, enjoying the bonding time with his mother-in-law as he learned a lesson every day. Of course, that didn't mean his mistakes on placing a diaper on backwards didn't warrant a decent scolding from the soon-to-be grandmother. Mo'at's greatest pride through the entire teaching process would be to see him correctly pin a loincloth diaper onto the round vegetable that played the part of a baby.
Jake found his friend sparring with Norm, who was still trying to prove himself worthy of courting Tarazi, and decided that practicing his skills against the top hunter would help his chances. Unfortunately, Tsu'tey didn't get the 'friendly practice' memo from his friend and pretty much demolished the poor hunter in the field with his agility alone. By the end, Norm lay flat on his back while wondering what the hell had just happened since he'd only executed four offensive moves before being rendered immobile by the other man. Max and Cheryl had joined them to watch the sparring as she separated herbs she'd gathered for the healers and he would take them to healing alcoves afterwards for preparation. However, their work ceased immediately when they saw their poor pummeled friend and winced with pity for the pain since the seasoned hunter was not one to fight lightly. Not even Max would try that. Tsu'tey simply glanced down at Norm's sprawled and twitching form, his tall height imposing over his losing friend as he stated matter-of-factly with tips for the future, "You need to work on your reaction time and dodging. I didn't even need to catch my breath."
"You have countless seasons of training, of course you wouldn't" Norm pointed out hastily as he picked himself up to wipe off the dust covering his backside, embarrassed to the quick match that brought him defeat. He'd at least hoped to last a few minutes against the hunter. Tsu'tey was merciless during practice as he kept his mind clear on the objective without bias, especially now that Joanna had left. Usually, the two had depleted each other's energy by sparring every day or exploring the wilderness but now that she left, a huge reserve of energy was left that needed to be purged. Norm didn't want to be that helping hand because Tsu'tey was continuously wiping the floor with him, ruining his chances at courting Tarazi. Even now, he couldn't help but slump his shoulders at the awful show of his skills that did absolutely nothing to boost his chances.
The huntress approached him with a small smile since she'd watched the sparring match between the two, not surprised in the slightest that Tsu'tey had won because only the olo'eyktan himself could best him. Still, Tarazi admired Norm's determination because she wasn't comfortable with her skills to even try because she'd seen how his previous student appeared after a fight. She handed him his bow back (crafted by her dear father, of course) and he thanked her for holding it for him, her words bringing a little comfort, "I don't think any of us have a chance at defeating him, he is claimed to be the best for a reason so . . . we need to train better."
"Thanks but if I can manage to last a few minutes without falling on my back, I will consider that a feasible accomplishment" he smiled amicably for her sympathy since he wanted to gain the same skills that his friends held. . .well, except for Max's because healing was not in his future. Hunting would be his life, to provide for his people, and he wanted to do that to the best of abilities as he bettered himself continuously. Otherwise, he could risk becoming a hindrance for the other hunters in his team and he wouldn't dare cause that because the consequences could be grave.
Nonetheless, Cheryl clapped loudly with encouragement for her battered friend and called out with a hopeful smile, "You'll get him next time, Norm."
Norm's spirit lifted somewhat to the friendly reinforcement, rubbing the back of his shoulders since Tsu'tey had twisted his right arm in a tight hold that had immobilized him in seconds. The man was faster on his feet than he originally anticipated and despite his slim form, carried unyielding strength that had definitely knocked the air out of his lungs. He caught sight of a familiar ornate necklace and maroon feathers fluttering in the air like butterfly wings as Jake entered the sparring fields with a charismatic smile for his friends. This could not get any better for Jake's crafty schemes of subtly sending his advisor on a quick vacation trip and Norm greeted casually, "Afternoon, Jake."
Tarazi shot him an affronted glare for not using the proper custom with their leader of all people and he restated correctly with haste, "I mean, I See you, olo'eyktan."
"I See you, my friends" he chuckled amicably since he'd repeatedly told his friends to call him by his name when small numbers of residents were about. He didn't worry about honorific titles unless important people were around and had to follow their culture etiquette to prevent any embarrassing snafus. He strode past the two hunters as they bickered over rightful greetings, wondering how in all of Pandora those two would ever end up courting, and nodded to his advisor with an innocent smile to request calmly, "Tsu'tey, might I have a word with you?"
The simple question snapped Tsu'tey into full blown advisor/hunter mode as he eyed every inch of the clearing for imminent danger with narrowed eyes as his posture stiffened, dismaying Jake. Ever since Neytiri's pregnancy had become public Omaticayan news, Tsu'tey took it upon himself to protect the clan's head family to the death by any means necessary. Naturally, this had humbled the ruling couple since he'd become their unofficial older brother but Tsu'tey had the unfortunate tendency to become viciously overprotective. Obviously, this could be problematic for Neytiri and Jake as he criticized everything that could become a hazard to them or their child. Neytiri had no idea how her pretty handmade necklaces could be dangerous objects and had shooed her friend out of her alcove before he decided to discard them for her protection. Jake almost lost a few hunting knives since leaving them in their protective sheaths could somehow send them flying through air and out of their sheaths at just the right force and angle to strike flesh. That one still boggled his mind. He was ready to pity the woman who would bear that hunter's child one day because he would undoubtedly tie everything to the walls and sanitize their alcove at every hour to ensure their safety. It was rather humorous to witness, given Tsu'tey's natural uneasiness around children since he shooed them away rather than drew them near to recite a story.
"That plant fell from its hanging spot didn't it? I repeatedly told Neytiri not to keep items around the entrance-" Tsu'tey chastised immediately with a disapproving scowl as he changed into protective uncle mode, ready to rant about the accursed plant that he deemed bothersome but Neytiri was adamant to keep it for aesthetic purpose. Jake cut him off with a sharp whistle because anything else would fail since Tsu'tey could raise his voice to a surprisingly loud volume that rendered even the chirping birds to become silent. He discovered that on one early morning when he'd found a bucket of unused water on the first residential level and had dumped it over the nearby bushes below to feed them, inadvertently dropping the cold water on the recently woken hunter as he strolled by. It was safe to say that Tsu'tey never used that route to reach the clan hearth for first meal ever again.
"Everything is fine, Neytiri simply has a request for you" Jake spoke slowly yet firmly to reassure him that nothing was wrong and the future heir was perfectly fine. He maintained eye contact to ensure his honesty since Tsu'tey held one's gaze to verify claims and if not, would break the norm to grasp their wrist to check their radial pulse for any suspicious changes. There was a reason he was trained as a future olo'eyktan as he observed everything with a keen calculating eye but Jake was a trained soldier that kept calm under pressure so he could elude his advisor when he needed to. Case in point, the current objective of his upcoming trip.
Tsu'tey's shoulders squared to show his clear attention to the task at hand and Jake deliberated easily with a friendly smile, "She requires a certain fish from the Atykwe and would like it delivered by your hand alone so it should about a day, you don't need to hurry. Apparently, our child has given her a craving for roasted fish and I will not deny my little Jaktiri anything."
Everyone in the clearing winced visibly to the dubbed nickname, their lips turning into an immediate frown to give an invisible thumb's down to it.
"You're really, uh, going to name your kid Jaktiri?" Norm asked awkwardly to the horrible blend and Tarazi thinned her lips as she held back her own cringe since he was her leader, she couldn't really judge his opinion. Max and Cheryl hid their amused grins behind the stems of herbs they were wrapping in bundles, saying nothing but eager to hear how this would end.
Jake blinked innocently since he'd chosen the best blend of their names during one of his perimeter sweeps around the forest with his ikran and answered truthfully, "I thought it was rather cute and it'll give us time to find the right name for them."
The entire group hoped that Neytiri would have the majority sway in the vote because human names would sound strangely out of place and a cool name could embarrass the child when they realized it wasn't as cool as their father originally thought. Tsu'tey held the most comical expression out of all his friends as he appeared to have swallowed a sour lemon unwillingly, his sharp features crinkling heavily with displeasure.
Jake waved his hands the next second to wash his mind free of any second or negative thoughts because nobody would change the adorable moniker and dissuaded all of them, "It doesn't matter, it's my baby and they are Jaktiri. . .Jak-tiri. . .," his face contorted into uncertainly as he faltered and sighed hopelessly, "Oh, look what you've done, it's in my head now. Maybe I should try Neyke or Ja'ney-"
Tarazi grimaced visibly to the horrible names, wondering if adding strange names to unborn children was a tawtute trait. Affectionate names were used when a child was safely brought into the world, in case the child didn't make it. She'd lost a sibling due to a miscarriage and the painful loss it dealt the family forced her not to use heartwarming monikers until her younger brother was born without complications. Norm quickly intervened to protect all of their sanities from more illogical nicknames and clasped Jake's shoulder to reassure, "Forget it, man. Stay with Jaktiri, definitely Jaktiri. We love Jaktiri, don't we?"
Everyone agree rapidly in unison but Tsu'tey burst that blind optimistic bubble with his direct attitude by disagreeing bluntly, "That is the most horrendous name I've heard in my entire life and I've heard quite a few. My child wouldn't be caught dead with that."
"Tsu'tey!" Norm groaned with disappointment since he was trying to keep Jake from perusing through more horrible couple monikers to pass onto his child. He often forgot that the hunter could be cruelly straightforward in order to make someone see common sense but Tsu'tey quickly mumbled out an apology (those were a rare occurrence) when everyone aimed a strict glare in his direction. His posture straightened defensively since he'd only uttered the truth to help his friend and crossed his lean arms to deflect any blame from that after offering the apology.
"Well, it's not your child this time" Jake rebuffed airily since he wanted to give his first child the world and jabbed a finger in his direction, leading Tsu'tey to snort dismissively. The hunter had yet to admit to anyone, except the tsahìk, about the slow acceptance of possibly having a child in the future that he could call his own. Not all bonded couples were expected to produce children, some might not be able to or others simply didn't see one in their future, but the idea was growing on him. There was no danger from the tawtute anymore to plague his heart and the chances of leaving his child orphaned were extremely low now. Unfortunately, the only one he wanted to share that future with lived miles away and only visited in dreams that he couldn't make a reality. Jake clapped his hands for attention, snapping him out of his thoughts on children, and handed out his set of orders for the day with a broad smile, "So I need you to head to the Atykwe clan for Neytiri's list. You'll leave tomorrow morning-"
"Why must I go?" he asked incredulously since he was the advisor and the task was more suited for someone like Norm or anyone with access to an ikran that could follow directions. Trading for food was an easy job for one that could maneuver an ikran out of any dangerous bind and the Atykwe lands lacked airborne predators due to their open space and lack of mountains to held toruk homes. The muscles of his biceps tightened as the task was beneath a man of his ranking, raising his chin defiantly to decline the mission with a justifiable excuse, "I have important responsibilities here."
"Actually, you're caught up for more than ten solar rotations here so you have plenty of time before we actually need you" Jake explained wittily with a smug tone since his friend was quite the stickler for staying on top of everything, making sure their hunting gear was in top shape days before a hunt or that the clan hearth was hearthy (if that was even possible). He wanted to reunite his two friends since time and distance had dealt a blow to each of their heart's, observing Tsu'tey's isolated demeanor as he threw himself into work and sought to find his path. It didn't take a genius to realize he was lonely, even with friends, and had shifted his loss of Joanna to the upcoming baby since it would bring nothing but joy to everyone. He deserved to be happy and if Jake could grant that, even for a day, he would gladly do so and used his authoritative voice to state firmly, "Your visit will also be the first for this clan in many years so I want my most dedicated to meet with matriarch Nitari to ensure a strong alliance between our clans."
"But what if something happens while I'm gone?" he asked worriedly to the thought of an accident occurring while he was away since he hadn't ventured out of the forest in years and almost felt apprehensive to leave his beloved home. When he was younger, he didn't hesitate since Eytukan protected their home from any dangers and he wasn't the capable warrior he was now so he did the best he could by creating trade alliances. Now, he didn't want to miss an occurrence that would have the clan asking where he was because he was always there for them in their time of need. His tail lashed at the ground with irritation to the task at hand because he was an advisor, which did demand that he ensure stability within the alliances with other clans but the Atykwe were their closest friend. He rubbed the center of his forehead as he mulled over the thought, his ears flicking at the air to show his reluctance and he spoke stiffly with a low voice, "I don't want to return and find that something horrible happened and all I will be able to say about my absence is that I was fetching insignificant fish for a few days when we have our own fish at a close distance."
"But these are saltwater fish" Max corrected smartly with a humorous wag of his brow to help Jake with his scheme and the hunter bared his teeth in a hiss for being wrong. Fish were fish, no matter what type of water they lived in! The healer merely returned to his work with a small cocky grin on his lips since he was there to prepare herbs for the healers' stocks and not poke holes at Tsu'tey's reasoning.
Jake didn't want to lose the battle with Tsu'tey since he really needed him to go and release his stress at a relaxing place away from home. Man, he needed to find some nearby hot springs and declare them the new na'vi spa treatment rather than creating false missions. He looked to Norm in the hopes that he would understand the dilemma and the ex-anthropologist quickly stepped forward with sly grin to offer helpfully, "If Tsu'tey doesn't want to go, I don't mind. It'll be great to see the Atykwe and Joanna again, I'm sure she'll be happy to see an old friendly face."
Tsu'tey's original stance changed in one swift second because he wanted to see Joanna more than Norm could possibly imagine. He'd been trying to push away everything that reminded him of her to forget all of the inflicted pain from leave and had almost forgotten she lived there! How could he forget the most important woman to him was in the Atykwe? Sometimes, he really should accept his responsibilities rather than grumble about them. Yes, the task seemed menial to a man of his standing but it was better that he go in Norm's stead to achieve his leader's task. If it was a chance to see Joanna, even at a faraway glimpse, he would jump on it with a vice grip fit for a thanator. Her Atykwe teacher had sent him a message on a leaf via a trader that had brought goods months ago and he'd learned of her initiation into the clan, proud of his student but it wasn't the same as being there to congratulate her. He would be a happy man if he could hear the soft timbre of her voice, see that furrow on her brow when she was irritated, her silly little jigs, and a single touch of her hand against his.
He pushed Norm aside like a feeble insect with one swing of his right arm, almost knocking his friend to the floor from the force alone, and took his newly open spot to interject fiercely, "No, I will go. After quick deliberation, I see that an advisor is needed to greet the matriarch on our first trip to their lands rather than a young hunter."
Tarazi raised her brow with curiosity to the two hunters as they struggled for the traveling spot, Tsu'tey keeping Norm out of the way without a problem by simply pushing him back. Poor Norm couldn't budge the strong hunter aside as both Tsu'tey's strength and height bested his, leaving him to grasp at the air as the taller hunter merely pushed him aside like a piece of paper. Max and Cheryl struggled not to burst out laughing at the hilarious scene as Tsu'tey played keep-away with the standing spot. Their quarreling bordered brotherly immaturity as they both fought for the top spot and Tarazi's mind crafted an idea that would grant that coveted trip, seizing a travel opportunity herself when she suggested calmly, "Norm and I will supervise, we can take care of the food while advisor Tsu'tey counsels with matriarch Nitari."
"Wonderful, I will tell Neytiri right away" Jake approved chirpily about the three journeying together and clapped his hands, knowing he didn't have to worry over his advisor with the two hot on his heels. His plan went off without a hitch and by tomorrow afternoon, Tsu'tey would be enjoying his reunion with Joanna and he would have fresh saltwater fish to nibble on within a day. He would be returning to Neytiri with positive news since Tsu'tey was fiercely reluctant to leave his home, glad he didn't have to pull him off one of Kelutral's branches by his tail to get him moving. He left the three hunters to ponder on their new trip but quickly strolled by Max to request the healer's presence later on, "Max, if you would kindly prepare another batch of the nausea stuff you give Neytiri, I'd be very happy. She hasn't been able to sleep at night for two days straight and I want to sneak it into her food because she is one stubborn ikran."
Max raised his brow with mild curiosity to what he asked of him and drawled slowly with skepticism, "Wait, you want me to help you drug your mate? That goes against every healer oath!"
Cheryl shook her head beside him as she wrapped dark twine around a bundle of long-stemmed herbs with short leaves, scolding lightly, "Jake, you've done some crazy things but this-"
"No, I want her to feel better but she wants to experience every sensation of the pregnancy- even the bad ones that make her puke" he sighed morosely since seeing his mate twist and turn, not to mention gag, was an unfortunate side effect of a pregnancy. He didn't want her to suffer through the entire pregnancy, even if she wanted the bonding experience, because her well-being (and the baby's) came first. He clasped his hands together in the old begging routine and pleaded with a bowed head that was completely unbecoming of a man of his clan stature, "C'mon, Max, I wouldn't be asking otherwise. I promise she won't trail it back to you at all, I'll take the fall. . .and the screeching lecture she'll most likely give."
"This isn't helping your cause" Max pointed out flatly with a 'tsk' of disapproval to his begging since Neytiri was the one carrying the child and her opinion overweighed Jake's. On the other hand, his friend wanted to relieve his mate's symptoms to give her a better quality of life since their child decided to hit her with a full force of morning sickness. Both sides were fair in their arguments but Max was the one wielding control to make sure the situation didn't get out of hand, especially when a baby was concerned. Hopefully, his decision wouldn't come back to bite him in the butt and he stated carefully with a firm tone, "Only one dose, no more. I will not compromise my position because although you're my olo'eyktan, the mother tsahìk frightens me far more than you ever could because that's her child."
"No problem, I'll keep trying to convince her to drink the draughts" Jake smiled with appreciation for the single dose, pleased that his mate would sleep soundly tonight without issues. She would be a hard one to tame when it came to relieving those bothersome pregnancy effects but he'd try his best to ensure her health was fine. Besides, all of that acid reflux in the gagging or vomiting couldn't be good for his mate's esophagus. With that matter settled, he thanked his friend and headed back to recount his success to Neytiri since she needed to let out the waist of her leggings on more than one pair. Their child had decided to settle low in her belly during impregnation so her hips would be bearing most of the weight for now.
Norm glanced at both of his companions since they had their own matter to settle in regards to the upcoming trip and asked slowly, "So, can I pick myself as leader-"
"I am older and neither of you know the paths" Tsu'tey intervened swiftly to ensure his dominant spot as their leader, both in hunting and travel, since he'd journeyed to the land of the Atykwe in the past. He hadn't visited in years but a quick explanation from Mo'at would lead him there because old paths that weren't used continuously could leave one's mind. However, he wasn't going to tell the young hunters that he didn't know the entire route like the back of his hand because he was still their elder and wanted to maintain that mysterious air of superiority. He would write down all routes possible in case of sudden detours because toruks were dangerous predators that could appear out of nowhere, earning their name as the last shadow, and would wake early to prepare. His companions would be on their best behavior or he would lecture them until only his voice lingered in their minds, dismissing them with a mere wave of the hand but a firm tone, "Prepare your packs, we might be there for a day."
He left the two hunters to chatter by themselves since they were ecstatic to travel to another land for the first time in their lives, laughter echoing in the clearings as they joined Max and Cheryl. Before the tawtute, traveling was a normal occurrence as the na'vi traded goods and kept good relations between clans so it brought him warmth to his heart as the old ways were returning back to his world one day at a time. Tsu'tey headed for his private alcove to prepare his belongings, barely containing the grin that wanted to appear on his face at the prospect of seeing Joanna again. For a brief moment, he pondered about his appearance like a man ready to court but chuckled at knowing Joanna wasn't attracted by appearances (not that his didn't help lure her romantically). It would be shocking surprise for her but he hoped a welcome one that brought delight because he'd missed her intensely as a wingless bird that yearned for the sky.
Inspired By: Two Steps From Hell- "Clair Voyant" and Immediate- "The Waltz"
A/N: Yowza, this chapter came out longer than I originally expected and the warm summer doesn't want to make it easy on my poor joints. My inspiration for the old turbulence within the Atykwe come from the Egyptian rule of Tutankhamen, whose father rejected the old religion to put forth a new god of his own, but the son reinforced the ancient ways of their people when he rose to power and brought relief to the stressed kingdom. That, and the fictional kingdom of Gondor from the Lord of the Rings; who doesn't love JRR Tolkien? Akon was pretty much doing the same to the class distinction his parents have enforced to bring back the strength they held but of course, not everyone is in agreement with what he wants to do. Apart from that, like I promised, the two will reunite in the next chapter! Get ready for some family bonding and Joanna/Tsu'tey fluff!
IdeaGirl123: Yes, they will finally reunite in the next chapter.
Crystal: There's a lot more humor in the beginning of the story since there was a lot of tension between Tsu'tey and Joanna but the humor's lightened a bit in this part of the tale.
Arwenia: You're right, this tale is about love and its obstacles as each couple carries its own: Tsu'tey and Joanna, Jake and Neytiri, Norm and Tarazi, so on. Hmm, maybe I should change my story summary. Originally, I had decided on an ikran but with the path I'm taking with Joanna, atokirina are a match and they are creatures of Pandora as Nitari explained. I'm really glad you love this story and love reading your reviews for each chapter, I truly appreciate your input. Yes, Anaya and Arat have their own path as the story continues since it ties to the old ways Nitari abolished but some people would rather stick to them- ahem, his parents.
Claycarole: Ouch, I have a natural fear of spiders so I swat them instantly- except for daddy long leg spiders, I grab them in a cup and take them outside or leave them where they are. Thankfully, I've never been bitten but black widows frighten me, I'm glad you were only sick and not anything worse than that.
Dracoessa: I'm sure this answered your thoughts about children between Joanna and Tsu'tey. :D
ZabuzasGirl: Thanks!
MarkDr: Well, the two have to figure out their tricky love life to test whether love or duty comes first.
Luv4Uncas: Creating a triangle always garners that spicy drama and knowing Tsu'tey, he'd bare his teeth at anyone who dared to approach Joanna. I hadn't thought about it but another reviewer voted for the same so I might just add that to give meaning to Tsu'tey's path in life.
CrissYami: This is the only place I know since DeviantArt is kinda difficult with its encoding. I don't know of other sites but would be glad to.
MiuHatake: Thanks, I sure will.
SheWolfMedjaiUndertaker: Will do.
The-Jade-Tigress: I clap to your dedication to have read it in four days because stories in this length would take me a week or so without normal sleep. Lol. I've been addicted to Mass Effect fanfiction this past month so I haven't had time to read Avatar stories but Broken People is a good one. Take your time outlining your story because I find it incredibly helpful because there's some things I'm bound to forget but notes remind you like a best friend would. I actually hadn't intended to give Joanna attention from another male, I was trying to keep any Sue-ness away from her, but I might just do that to get Tsu'tey's neurons working on the journey this volume will take him on. I did see a few clips on YouTube, it just made me incredibly sad when Jake gave him an honorable death- I wanted him to live.
Black Jack: No problem, I didn't think my story would qualify for a book report. Lol. We'll be flipping between both clans so none is forgotten since Tsu'tey is still one of the main characters of the story; mostly, it'll deal with his journey this time.
Emmalime: Anaya and Arat are a contrasting match since he only talks when he needs to say something while she rambles endlessly so they make quite an adorable pair. We'll be seeing more of them later on.
Lonerwolf1015: Thank you so much for the three reviews, I'm so glad you like the story. I didn't like seeing him die either because his character had a heroic air to it and tragically, Cameron killed him off but I couldn't do that. The story is still chiseling out his past as he reunites with his family in the next chapter and although Joanna's found her sense of home, Tsu'tey is still searching for his that will complete that family life he wants.
Next Time: A Reunion For The Ages
The children grew interested in the goodies he'd brought, scampering inside as they left their game and leaned over their parents' shoulders with curious eyes to what their cousin had brought. Sifu grabbed one of the handcrafted clay pots, admiring the delicate red artwork that traced the roundest part and piped up to his father that he could cook them extra cereal. His two siblings quickly joined in lively agreement, causing Zika and Rafil to chuckle at their enthused youngsters. Tsu'tey was amused by their ecstatic faces, curious to whom the little ones were since his aunt mentioned she had more than one child and asked courteously, "And who are all of my new cousins? I met little Keron earlier today."
Keron smiled shyly as he grasped his mother's left knee in modesty and Tsu'tey kneeled down to open his satchel, smiling at his young kin to ensure he could trust him. He'd brought the colorful polished stones for Joanna due to her old jewel-crafting but seeing as her skills had dramatically changed, the two chose to hand them out to the children. He retrieved a small brown leather bag from within that contained colorful polished stones and handed it to his little cousin to make true on his word, "And here are the stones I promised . . . but I am giving them to you. They're pretty as sweets but don't try to eat them and make sure your mother keeps them for you."
"Thank you!" he exclaimed joyfully with a beaming smile and opened the pouch to see his gift, appreciating the kind gesture since he'd never expected it. The smooth stones glinted in the light as sapphire, garnet, aquamarine, and other tones delighted his vision, showing them to his mother with pride. The other children scampered over to catch a glimpse, leading Tsu'tey to inquire about them since they weren't small in number. Keron pointed to the oldest boy, his unbraided hair tied back in a high ponytail that reminded Tsu'tey of his own youth, and the smallest child in the group that had decided to use the clay pot as a hat. Zika quickly took it off her small head before it fell off and broke into pieces as he introduced, "This is my brother, Sifu, and sister, Leti."
"They're young, I feel very old now" Tsu'tey chuckled since being the child of the oldest sibling meant he would be an example for his younger kin and they were all quite young. His mother had been an only child so he had absolutely no living family in the Omaticaya while his father came from one that branched quite well over the years. It took away some of the loneliness of being the last of his family, gazing at faces that held lingering physical traits similar to his own. He smiled at the little toddler as she watched him with a bright smile, unafraid to his presence, and complimented, "Aren't you a brave girl to stand in front of a man with this height?"
She giggled enthusiastically when he touched her nose with his index finger and grabbed Sifu's hand before she fell over from her excitement. He dug into his satchel, the weight disappearing as he handed out his gifts and smiled politely to state, "I brought them a few Omaticayan treats, the gardens have sprouted a good batch of fruits and I made a few things for them."
His eyes widened when all six children grabbed the bundle from his hands to open it with excited hands to reveal the pastries and candies he'd packed for them. Well, at least he knew that they approved. Although heavily pregnant, Nara stood up to shoo the children before they mobbed the hunter for more treats and chuckled softly, "Anything sweet gets these children riled up. Thank you for the treats and what do we say when we receive gifts, children?"
"Thank you!" they piped up in unison with big smiles as all of them sat in a circle to sort through the goodies, jabbering to each other about the intricate design on the pastries and the rich colors of the fruit candies. The soil of the beach allowed for fruits to grow only during one season, two at the most, while the Omaticaya's fertile soil allowed for fruit year-round so pastries were definitely a treat.
Nara sighed under her breath to their growing volume of chatter and smiled at her nephew, "Sìlpey is my son, the one devouring that braided pastry."
The six year-old smiled sheepishly as he swallowed his bite in one gulp, his ears tinting purple and contrasting against his shaved head. Tsu'tey merely chuckled as the boy proceeded to nibble slowly on the pastry to take his time to savor it, muffling a laugh when Avi's twin daughters fought for the largest candy piece.
Avi shushed the adolescent girls that caused the two to cease their quarrel and motioned for them to stand up for an introduction. The two girls obeyed her quickly without argument, standing on either side of the seamstress and she smiled agreeably to their behavior to introduce, "These are my twin daughters, Leena and Rila. They've yet to undergo their rite but Leena is already a novice seamstress while Rila enjoys crafting everyday items," the left side of her lips frowned and she added in, "My oldest, Wätu, promised to be here but as usual, he's running late. If I hear that boy played one more game of Eight Waves-"
Rila smiled cheekily from the left side, idly playing with the end of the side braid draping over her right shoulder and reminded casually, "He did win me all of those seashells to craft with and I still have a full bag!"
Avi wasn't amused to her daughter's reasoning, shifting her weight to the left side of her hips in classic 'questioning mother' mode and she questioned firmly, "I do hope that necklace you made me wasn't from those particular shells?"
Rila decided to retreat to her father's side on the bench to avoid being interrogated, causing her twin to muffle laughter behind her hands.
"You have wonderful children, it is an honor to see and meet you all" Tsu'tey complimented to intervene before the girls got in trouble by their mother since this game was apparently a no-no in her book. This shifted the humorous mood back to its heartwarming reunion state as his cousins smiled sheepishly but their parents beamed proudly. Breeze from outside the hut stroked his backside and he remembered that he still required a sleeping area for the night so he couldn't linger all day alongside his family, although he really wanted to. His ears dipped to the realization that he had to say goodbye for now and excused himself with a disappointed tone, "I wish I could stay longer and talk into the night but I've yet to find a sleeping spot-"
Zika stood up instantly from her log bench to keep their reunion ongoing and offered her hospitality with a warm smile, "Oh no, we have enough space to accommodate you so you don't need to waste time and I'm sure our tsahìk would be honored if you stayed here. We recently added extra space to our home to give the children their own space so I'm certain they'll enjoy spending the night with you."
The two boys nodded excitedly, mobbing him with questions about stories and his trip to their land. Had he seen other animals? What time did he leave? Had he taken other trips? Tsu'tey almost lost track of all of their hyper questions as they tugged at his forearms with giddy fingers. Leti whimpered in protest from her spot on the floor because she wanted to share in that quality time too, her little hands stretching out towards Tsu'tey so he wouldn't leave her behind and whimpered, "Tsu-Tsu."
He wasn't comfortable holding children since they either cried or vomited on him but Leti was his family and an adorable toddler as well, her upbeat demeanor preventing him from running off for adult company. Tentatively, he leaned down to scoop her into his arms to hold her securely in both and found himself smiling to the giddy girl in his arms. Well, she was the first not to cry as she smiled cheerfully to being included in the male bonding. Her round cheeks and glittering eyes caused one of the locked doors of his heart to slam wide open as he decided to spend his time with this particular toddler than any other in the land (until Jake's child emerged into the world). She smiled widely when he tapped the rosy part of her nose gently and cheered her up instantly by promising, "I will tell you a tale before sleep time about the pa'li."
Leti wrapped her arms around his neck to squeeze him affectionately and agreed with her newest nickname that would last decades, "Tsu-Tsu!"
The reflecting light at the front of the entrance was blocked by a newcomer and Avi rushed forward to scold the young man in hunter's garb that entered with a hasty stride since they arrived later than anticipated. His braided hair was tied back neatly in a low ponytail, his features similar to Tsu'tey's but softer with the lack of stress, and he smiled at everyone in greeting but Avi unleashed her reprimand, "How dare you arrive late when your dear mother requests you?"
The young man smiled suavely to avert another lecture in the middle of their family gathering, displaying the small wooden box in his hands, and reasoned his lateness, "I was putting together a game set of Eight Waves-"
"You hunt as much as you play that game, we'll never bond you off at this rate" his mother lectured but was pacified that he'd arrived and ushered him inside with a wave of her hands. Her son replied that he'd find his bonded after tiring of the popular game but Avi wasn't going to hold her breath; he'd been playing it since he was seven. Nonetheless, she was happy that he was there to share in their reunion and pushed her son forward to introduce, "This is my oldest, second in age to you by twenty winter seasons and our little hunter of the family."
"I See you, cousin, I am Wätu" he smiled politely in greeting since he'd yet to meet the relative that his mother spoke about and could see why he drew respect from others. Wätu already felt small in his presence and that wasn't only from the height difference, seeing the proud hunter within the man in the way he spoke and carried himself. He was still a young hunter in his own right but to have a relative in such a high ranking gave him hope that he could achieve a good status if he kept working hard. Tsu'tey blinked with confusion when he handed him the wooden box and his younger cousin explained with a friendly smile, "This is our popular game of Eight Waves, courtesy of our clan."
Thank you for continuing to read my tale and please, drop a review. ^_^