By His Side

A warm and gentle breeze filtered through the haven where Jake was being cared for. He was lying on soft bedding in an upper level of the Kelutrel, still but for the gentle and steady lifting and lowering of his rib cage as he breathed.

It was quiet except for Neytiri, who was sitting next to him and singing softly with her eyes closed. Every so often she would take his hand and rub it against her cheek. He didn't stir. When she wasn't singing, she would simply stare at him, outlining his features, burning them into her brain. She longed to see his eyes again. But they did not open. Instead, she would lay her head down on his chest and listen to the beating of his heart. It was the next best thing.

Quite distressed, she had been lingering by his side for several days now, foregoing food and rest. As soon as Mo'at and Neytiri made it back to Hometree, they brought Jake to the Tree of Souls. He had been unconscious since drinking the nectar. They were hoping that direct contact with Eywa would rid his body of whatever was left of the virus as well as heal any of the damage he may have suffered from both the sickness and his arduous trek through the sea vents.

Externally, his bruises and abrasions healed almost magically within a few hours. But he had not awakened right away. Neytiri was devastated. Tending to the sick and infirm was not something the Na'vi had much experience with. They didn't get ill. And when Na'vi are injured, they typically heal very quickly due to their bone structure being reinforced with naturally occurring carbon fiber.

Many of Neytiri's closest friends would come by to talk, or help, or offer something to her. But Neytiri wasn't interested. A gentle lilt of her hand would command anyone in the room to leave.

Mo'at wanted her to eat more, walk more, rest more. "You must not neglect yourself, daughter," she told her.

"I will not leave his side," Neytiri said, her gaze unmoving, fixed on her mate.

Mo'at placed her hands on Neytiri's shoulders. "Jake would want you to care for yourself, and your child. His child."

With her mother's mention of her unborn baby, Neytiri closed her eyes. She turned to face Mo'at and when she opened them, they were filled with tears.

"I don't understand any of this," she said, burying her face in her mother's abdomen.

Once before Neytiri saved Jake's life. That experience was tangible. Sinking two arrows into Quaritch, saving Jake's uniltirantokx, his dreamwalker body. Then retrieving the Sky People mask, and saving his human form. But the illness that struck Jake was something she couldn't see. Nothing she was doing was helping him. There was nothing she could do.

"I beg Eywa to let him live," Neytiri said with a look of utter helplessness. "Why would she let him pass through her and become one of us if only to allow him to be stricken later, like this? Oh, my Jake." Neytiri laid her head upon his chest again.

Mo'at stroked her daughters hair. "We must have faith in Eywa. She has always guided us through great sorrows. The Sky People are complicated. Too many have the insanity. But we have seen that many do have her spirit. We know this. Because of Jakesully. And now, Nora."

A small Na'vi child who snuck up to see Jake nervously peered inside the shelter. It was the boy who had beckoned Jake to play a game with him and the other children at the union feast. The mother of the child stepped in after him. Embarrassed, she tried to steer him back outside. When the child refused, Mo'at motioned for him to stay, reassuring the mother that it was alright.

The child timidly walked toward Jake, carrying a small ball they had used in the game. Neytiri saw how nervous he was and reached out to him. He fell into her arms. They hugged. It seemed to comfort Neytiri a little.

The child showed her the ball, made of Yerik - or Hexapede - skin. Jake had taught the children how to make them and showed them different games to play using them. Neytiri nodded and watched him place it under Jake's hand. He took a second to look more closely at Jake, then overcome with emotion, ran to his mother. Neytiri watched them leave.

It had alluded her until that moment. The uncertainty of Jake's welfare was also taking its toll on her people. Sadness was gripping the entire clan, young and old. They needed to see strength and leadership from her, their Tsahik.

She turned to look at Jake again and sighed. Instinctively, she rubbed her hand across her stomach, caressing her unborn child. There was just a hint of a baby bump. After a moment, she told Mo'at, "I will eat."