"And that, my children, is how I met and became the mate of our best warrior" Joanna finished with awe in her voice to the dramatic conclusion of her union and smiled cheerfully at her adult children. Only her daughter portrayed her glee by raising her hands in the air to whoop but faltered when noticing her three siblings weren't moving. Tanhì blinked awkwardly with her large eyes to being the only one that never tired of the tale just as her mother finished brightly, "I was quite lucky."

"Sa'nok, you have told us this story many times" her eldest pointed out with a faint smile of amusement, crossing his arms to show he was ready to call it a night. Joanna had gathered her children in front of their sturdy family hut to dry a collection of seashells that Avi had handed her for cleaning. All hands were on deck for the seamstress' project but Kila was the major player by turning the shells into jewelry for the upcoming bonding union.

A hand ruffled the hunter's long braided hair for the criticism and Tsu'tey lectured them all from behind, "Don't deter your mother's love for storytelling."

A reluctant rabble of agreement echoed from the four and he rejoined the family, sitting beside his mate on the thin yellow blanket spread over the white sand. He placed an empty round basket in the center to deposit the next load of seashells but not before plopping down a damp bucket of new shells. Anník, their youngest son, who matched Joanna's softer features rather than his father's sharp feline face, turned to his siblings to blurt with skepticism, "Are we emptying the sea? Eywa will kill us!"

"This should be the last" Tsu'tey assured with a smile of amusement to his apparent bewilderment, flicking beads of water at him with his fingers. His son laughed softly to the jest, taking after his parents with a witty sense of humor. Being the youngest child at thirteen seasons, he was a bundle of curious energy that took after his mother. Tsu'tey had expected the twins to give him the most work but his youngest had somehow managed to transform both of their energies into himself. How he had survived raising multiple children baffled him.

Joanna dried the grooves of a white clamshell before dramatically pouting at her children for pity, "I am only retelling it because my baby is leaving."

Many seasons ago, Joanna had worried she and Tsu'tey would never share a future together. After numerous setbacks and trials, Eywa had granted them a union and a bountiful family that was almost grown. Anník was their last child that remained at home with Tanhì sleeping in their hut during cool seasons rather than building her own. Their daughter had started out fiercely independent against the world around her before blooming into a peaceful flower that matched Nitari's temperament more than her parents. For her parents, that was a blessing. Being their only daughter, she was precious to both of them but her brothers failed to treat her like glass to keep her strong. Kanei, her twin, was the moon to her sun as he matched his father's sharp and stoic nature to let her take the outgoing personality of the two. Joanna called him a miniature Tsu'tey without the brash nature that his father held seasons ago and it was of no surprise to her that he was a hit with the ladies despite his level-headed reservation. Her last child, Xexuit, was the guardian of his siblings and although he had already moved on to start his family, he always kept an eye on them. All of them but her youngest had grown into capable hunters and they weren't far from Sìlpey, Sifu, and Hiri when it came to their sea hunts.

"To my new home" Kanei corrected hastily to end any assumptions that he was flying off into the sunset, never to return. Is this how his brother felt when he left? Turning to him for sympathy, his brother simply whistled away to feign innocence and continued cleaning the shells. Throwing his hands in the air, he pointed out that he wasn't disappearing into another continent, "I am not leaving forever, mother!"

"We know, your mother simply worries over everything" his father assured with an amused smile because his son had chased after his mother during childhood to avoid separation. Their little one had grown rather fast and although he would not be as vocal as his mate, he would miss his son. He missed the days when their four children would gather in their beds for their stories or scramble between him and Joanna for shelter during storms. Their time as parents was slowly coming to an end but he was optimistic about the future for both, "You are taking the next step of your life and I am happy for you."

Tanhì was not onboard to losing another brother, especially her twin, and muttered, "I agree with sa'nok, he's leaving us."

"We will always share a bond, silly girl" Kanei chided his little sister and flicked her left ear to remind her of his not-so-stellar traits, earning a defiant hiss. She had always wished for a sister but her mother comforted by saying Eywa had graced her with the next best thing- a twin. Now, her best friend was leaving her and she would be left with her little brother. She loved Anník, there was no question about that, but she would lose her closest ally in the home!

"True, you kept kicking my insides together like viperwolves" their mother stated flatly to not missing the days when they pushed on her bladder. Two feet were bad enough but four? Embarrassing was an understatement when she had to run out of her hut numerous times during the night to relieve herself. Her mate snickered behind his hand to muffle a laugh but Xexuit joined him. The other hunter remembered the days of screeching cries and kicking legs from the duo. Kanei and Tanhì mirrored offended frowns at the family but Joanna smiled widely to remind them, "Twins are unique so never feel that you will lose your link to each other."

"What about us?" Anník questioned skeptically to remind the others that he and Xexuit were just as special. They might not have a blood bond in the womb like Kanei and Tanhi but they were still brothers. Pretending to brush a tear from his left eye, he propositioned his remaining brother, "We should go live elsewhere, Xexuit."

Seeing that he already had a place to call home, the older hunter pointed out easily, "I already do but you're welcome to spend the night."

"You're not leaving your mother anytime soon" Joanna chastised her youngest son but reached over to pull the offended two into a hug. Her older son was unfazed to the display of affection, much like his father, while the youngest tried to wriggle free to avoid becoming a child all over again. Tsu'tey let her carry on with nonchalance on his face but a knowing look to the twins told them they were next if they uttered a peep.

Their daughter decided to slowly sidestep away out of the conversation but she cried out when two arms hugged her from behind. The surprise soon turned to delight when she spotted the elderly matriarch and she quickly stood on her feet to hug her tightly. Nitari smiled serenely to the never-ending happy children while Tanhì clung on with glee, "Grandmother!"

"I was on my way to drop this off and saw everyone hugging" she commented with interest since her daughter had become rather affectionate in recent seasons. It was the human aspect of her that soared during those days but the maternal instincts of a na'vi were eternal, transforming her into a diligent caretaker. Even she couldn't escape her care nowadays, particularly during winter.

The children dipped their heads in respectful acknowledgement before their parents mimicked the same. Tsu'tey managed to pry off his affectionate mate from their embarrassed sons to pull her onto her feet. His mate hissed indignantly to being shuffled away like a barnacle but he ignored it, addressing the matriarch, "Joanna has the habit of becoming carried away recently."

"Ignore my fretting" she chuckled softly, her ears flattening for the slip in character, but she would miss her child. Each of their little hands had tugged at hers for love and shelter but now, they were spreading their wings to fly. She respected her children and trusted their judgment, sighing with lament, "We should be excited rather than solemn. Kanei will only be a short distance away and I trust my new daughter to care for him."

"You've been friends with her parents before any of us were born" Annik stated matter-of-factly to welcome his new sister into the family, picking up the full wicker basket and standing up. Delivering the shells to Kila was likely his best option to escape his mother's hugs and he excused himself with a polite tone, "I will return after my new mission. My great sa'nok tsahìk, sa'nu tsahìk, and sempul olo'eyktan."

With that said, he ran off with the speed of a hexapede on the lookout for his aunt Avi's burgundy hut. Kanei and Xexuit shared a silent gaze before bolting after the young boy with the same haste, leaving their little sister behind. Tanhì, however, was more than happy to cling onto Nitari's arm to spent time with her only grandmother.


VOLUME III


The Omaticayan Heir


Tsu'tey yawned lazily while opening the fabric flaps of his emerald hut, tying each side against the two sturdy wooden vertical frames with leather ties. The morning sun greeted his vision to begin the new day and after an invigorating shower, he was ready to start his daily chores. Joanna could be heard whistling happily from within as she finished folding their bedding after airing them out. His new life beside his mate was a joy unlike any other and he counted himself lucky for waking up next to her every morning. Leti and the boys would often sleep over to spend time with them and although he had created a partitioned room for them, they would bundle up beside them for warmth and protection at night. After being alone for most of their lives, Joanna and Tsu'tey were finally happy with a family of their own.

Today, it was simply them in their hut and he grabbed a small wooden box from one of their shelves. He smiled faintly at seeing the tiny ikran toys that resembled their loyal steeds at the topmost level. Joanna had already found softwood for his uncle Akhil to whittle their pa'li to complete the collection. Returning to the center of their main room, he kneeled to set the box on the ground and opened it. Inside, their hairbrushes, ties, clasps, and beads were stored inside to keep them in one place and away from little hands.

Joanna's hands rested on his shoulders with a vigorous rub before kneeling beside him with a bright smile. Both their hair flowed free after cleaning up in the bathing areas and they preferred to have it half-dry to braid their hair easily. She enjoyed running her fingers through his long hair since he had begun to grow it out after their union. A new life meant a new Tsu'tey, apparently. Her mate was adjusting to his new life one day at a time but her friends had quickly accepted him without hesitation to show him the ropes of the sea.

Despite his old life within the forest, he had overcome his apprehension to the endless horizon of the ocean. Nitari's counseling during their weekly walks helped appease any worries that he wasn't living up to her standards. The matriarch was quick to end that idea with a hearty laugh and informed him he was ready to lead his own hunting team if he wished it. Tsu'tey, however, did not mind taking a passive position this time to enjoy his time with his mate. They had never hunted together on equal ground and it brought them closer together. His aunt Nara had propositioned that they be in a hunting team similar to herself and his uncle Kovi but he didn't have the heart to remove her from her friends. That would be the quickest way to get kicked out of their hut.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when she brushed a comb through the left side of his free-flowing hair and suggested innocently, "Should I cut your hair? You're due for a trim."

"Can I decline?" he spoke cautiously with a disarming smile to sway her tempted fingers away from the nearest sharp object. It wasn't uncommon for mates to cut each other's hair but he had grown meticulous about his hair that he only trusted himself. He had stopped her eager fingers more than once to avoid whatever idea she had about altering his style.

"Tsu'tey!" she chastised indignantly to being denied the basic grooming of her mate and jabbed the end of the comb against his shoulder. He wrestled the wooden comb from her nimble fingers to play keep-away with her, earning a hiss in return. She reminded him of a baby Titanothere trying to headbutt his shoulder when her forehead struck it and she groaned miserably, "You trust me with your life but not your hair?"

"Everyone sees my hair" he justified easily to save his hair to his own hands and received a defensive glare in return. Despite the numerous times he refused wielding vanity, his hair was precious to him and he had been picky as a child to not let anyone near it. Not to mention, it held the connection to his world and Eywa. He leaned against his mate when she continued jabbing his shoulder with her own this time and he grinned confidently, "I'm quite fickle that way."

She flicked his left ear with her fingers before stating sarcastically about the worst-case scenario, "I'm not going to chop off your queue, you baby."

His rebuttal only incensed her humorous temperament when he shot back, "I would hope not because you'd lose a fantastically gifted mate."

"Skxawng!"

"Koakte!"

Immediately, Joanna narrowed her eyes to the clever comeback and threatened with an impish smirk, "I'll teach you to call me old!"

He yelped when she reached behind him to yank his tail, instinctively forcing him to kneel to regain balance. The more Joanna immersed herself in their world, the more she knew how to make him leave his stoic shell. Shooing her away with one hand, she released his appendage but not before latching onto his shoulders to resemble a crab by wrapping her legs around his sides. The uneven weight distribution and gravity forced his upper body towards the ground and his ears turned warm when she declared peppily, "Onward, my pa'li."

Only in their hut would he ever allow her to pretend she was a rider and he was a steed. Never in his life did he think he would allow his future mate to do such a thing but here he was. His life with Joanna, however, brought adventure and much-needed laughter. Her tail flicked across his lower back with glee, her laughter echoing through the hut, and he raised his head in objection to state dryly, "Aci would kill you for riding me like a pa'li."

"I think she'd find it comical" she disagreed slyly before leaning down to wrap her arms around him. She heard an offended snort from him and nuzzled the curve between his neck and shoulder to pacify her cranky hunter. If she did not fear that he would break her back, she would let him do the same. A sigh of reluctance told her that she had won the battle but before she could claim it, he flipped her off in one move by twisting to the side.

She fell onto the green fabric that lay over the wooden planks that served as their hut's foundation. Her golden eyes narrowed at him for clinching the true win but laughter left her lips to the short-lived ride. Nobody else would be able to claim the rare feat against the great warrior. Tsu'tey let her ride out the laughing bout, sitting down next to her prone form until she calmed down. Sometimes, she could resemble a child more than a woman, but he found it endearing. Once her volume decreased and her eyes opened again, he questioned flatly, "Finished?"

Joanna decided that the moment had passed and sat upright to meeting his gaze, asking curiously, "Can I braid your hair at least?"

That was one activity that he didn't mind sharing with her and agreed with a faint smile, "Yes, I enjoy your choices. . . but no sharp objects."

"Such a vain man" she sighed dramatically to her finicky mate but he did have physical attractiveness on his side. Otherwise, he wouldn't have turned her ears purple with every glance back at the Omaticaya. That, and lured half the single women to fancy him. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to his lips and smiled happily to its reciprocation.

"You knew that when you chose to be bound to me" he replied with his trademark grin and she scoffed to his sassy response. As if she would dare to have any other man in her life. They had started repelling each other from their strong personalities but in the end, resembled two peas in a pod. She could not imagine living her life with anyone but him. His fingers reached up to grasp the ends of her hair and he teased, "Can I cut your hair?"

"No" she denied swiftly with a cocky grin and told him sarcastically, "You'll likely leave me bald."

His golden eyes glinted with amusement to her accusation and he chuckled, "Look at who is fickle now."

She flicked the flat of his nose, earning a low hiss for the slight, and watched it twitch to the bothersome sensation. What was her fascination with his nose? That, and his tail. Laughter echoed in the hut when he returned the same flick to her forehead and she shoved his hand away. The other couples in the clan would likely deem them children if they saw their behavior but she loved being able to express herself, no matter how silly it appeared. It also gave him an outlet to not keep his emotions internalized and she always embraced his dry humor.

Returning to the task at hand, she grabbed a piece of his hair from the topmost middle section on the left side. She liked braiding his hair loosely at the top and tighter in the lower layers to create contrast. He had a tendency to braid all of his hair which took immense patience with his hair length while she preferred random braids throughout their hair. Besides, they would not be hunting today so he could sport it. On their hunting days, however, she clasped rolled sections of his hair in shells and stone clasps to bring out the sea in her hunter.

Once she was pleased with one side being complete, she continued towards the right by continuing the back. However, Tsu'tey had noticed her fingers would run more along his scalp and linger against his back when tying the ends. She was sneaky in her affection and kept on finding a way to show her sentiments in subtle touches. Of course, he was prone to doing the same when she was in close quarters to him in their home but he wasn't at her adept range.

"You're supposed to be braiding my hair" he spoke up with a playful tone when her fingers brushed behind his ear, sending a gentle cascade of delight down his spine. She was aware of his sensitive spots and had not missed any along her route. He was right when he originally named her a little viperwolf and had earned an amorous bite to the end of his ear when he last used it.

"I can do both" she replied slyly with a cheeky grin, tying the end of his braid before dropping it against his back. She had noticed early in her immersion into their culture that na'vi hair fibers were thicker with more moisture that prevented frizzing and tangling which could irritate the sensitive queue strands. They were able to use a natural version of styling products from crushing succulent plants and odorless animal fat. Nowadays, Joanna used a little seawater with plant gel and she was good to go. The queue braid was the one that required the most care so it was hardly touched once braiding until it was time for a bath.

Unlike her queue that began at the base of her skull, his started from the center crown to the base. She found it amusing that he wouldn't let her cut his hair but braiding his queue was perfectly fine. Honestly, he made her head spin sometimes. Her fingers neatly grasped the loose hair at the center section of his head to braid straight down from the crown. She was careful to intertwine the pink strands of the neural queue with the raven strands to avoid too much sensitivity. Quietly finishing the thick braid, she added a sturdy leather tie to keep it from budging. She found his hair beautiful and with great reluctance, conceded that she would be protective of it too if anyone neared it with a blade. Her fingers combed through his hair to find another strand at a different place to continue the smaller braids but his ears perked when her lips touched the nape of his neck. She still considered herself a newlywed but doubted the heavy attraction to her mate would dull anytime soon. He was a powerful na'vi in mind, body, and soul- one she was lucky to have.

"Joanna" he warned but his tone mellowed when her fingers trailed down the back of his neck. She was trying to lure him into their bed before morning meal and he was horrible for caving in more than half the time. Was he crazy for wanting his hair braided before mating?

She stopped her tantalizing touches against his backside to huff with disappointment, "Fine, I'll finish your pretty hairstyle before enjoying tsaheylu with myself."

That perked his ears on end because tsaheylu was for bonding with their world and their mate, not one's self. He tried to turn around to declare her mad but she ducked behind his back with a laugh while he declared, "That's impossible!"

The fingers of her left hand proceeded to walk along his shoulder and she purred silkily, "Tell that to my very agile fingers over the sweet spots normally dedicated to you."

Her enticingly charming reply froze his mind momentarily and he tried not to think about that tempting image. He was the only one meant to touch her, not . . . well, she had a right to her own body but. . . confound her! A hiss of frustration left his lips, stirring a perky grin of triumph over hers, when he exclaimed, "You . . . stop twisting my mind!"

He could be so endearingly silly sometimes and she tried not to laugh to maintain her allure. Silence and soft feathery touches melted him like wax. Still, she couldn't help but chide him with a feathery graze of her lips over his ear and whispered sweetly, "You're the master of your mental domain, don't blame me for your vivid imagination."

A long sigh left his lips at losing his self-control against her feminine wiles and felt gentle pokes upon his back. They were humorous in nature but his mate knew how to lure him without trying. Joanna simply enjoyed herself by tapping each cluster of bioluminescent dots that lined his upper back. After all, he was officially her mate now and she had the freedom to run her fingers across his skin to memorize every curve of his form. Gone were the days when she would shoot him covert shy glances and hoped nobody saw her, mainly him. She smiled with delight when he turned around, leaning forward to kiss her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to restrain him. Tsu'tey grasped her by the waist when her weight shifted against him and crossed his arms behind her back, angling his head to strengthen their kiss. Joanna's tail flicked back and forth with glee while her hands cupped the back of her mate's head to nip at his upper lip.

She was succeeding in luring her mate out for some private fun time before starting their morning. His lips sought hers fervently while one hand snuck underneath the ties of her top. Not eager to walk around half-naked in her inviting home, she broke off their kiss to lean back and remind him, "Silly man, you left our hut open."

"Woman, get in our bed and stop teasing me" he ordered swiftly to end her amorous shenanigans and pointed in the direction of their sleeping quarter. Joanna obeyed her frustrated lover with a mischievous laugh but not before leaning down to kiss his forehead. He was silly but she loved him like nobody else. Her bright eager gaze met his, but he shooed her onwards with his hands with the promise, "I will seal our home."


"Breathe, Neytiri. Breathe!"

The Omaticayan woman exhaled heavily through her nostrils before shooting her mate a scathing glare to snap, "I am breathing, you skxawng!"

The day that the ruling couple had been waiting on had arrived and while Jake was an expected nervous mess, Neytiri was becoming less happy by the hour. Her water bag had broken during her stroll to forage for herbs with Cheryl, which led the herbalist to act accordingly by assisting her to the healing alcoves. Her mother had been innocently lingering by the healing area in recent weeks, attuned to her grandchild's impending arrival. Together with Max, they moved her to the private alcove they set aside for the new mothers-to-be of the clan. Jake had arrived soon enough after Cheryl found him and everything had gone well . . . until the baby decided to take their time in arriving.

Max had assured her that the baby was safe with a steady heart but night would soon be upon them. Neytiri assumed that the rupture of the water bag meant a baby would be in her arms soon after but reality set in when Mo'at reminded her that Sylwanin took an entire day to be born. She was not an idle woman and laying in the soft bedding was not her style but Jake was more than happy to cater to her needs. Their friends had stopped at the alcove to drop off snacks and trinkets to encourage her efforts. While Max was ready for children, Peyral had run off once Neytiri's contractions began increasing in rate.

The healer was stationed in the classic position of anyone delivering a baby, keeping a modesty blanket over her lower half, and advised carefully, "Not too much, you'll get lightheaded."

Neytiri's feet kicked out from under his arms as she shot back matter-of-factly, "I am pushing a child out of my body, I can breathe all I want!"

He managed to pin down her feet against the bedding and peered over the modesty blanket to pin her with a brotherly look of warning. Neytiri's gaze darted away to look at the ceiling to feign innocence. Jake tried not to laugh at his mate's sudden streak of defiance while Mo'at had been through this many times with the women of the clan. Max wagged a finger to dissuade her from further antics and instructed evenly, "When you feel the next wave of pain in your belly – push."

"I have been pushing since early morning!" she sighed with exhaustion to laboring for hours but Max and Mo'at were not concerned with the baby's size or position. Each labor was different and being the first child, it was normal for it to last more than a second or third child.

"Labor can last over a day" Mo'at told her daughter with a fond smile to her own childbirth experiences. She had been a mess of nerves, fear, anger, and finally, joy, for each of her daughters. Although her Sylwanin had returned to Eywa, she still had Neytiri to watch over. Brushing a damp cloth over her daughter's forehead, she smiled tenderly, "Why, you took-"

"Not today, sa'nok!" she groaned miserably to hearing about long births because she felt her insides were being prodded with fire. Why was her child not listening to her pleas? Did they find their birth funny? Did na'vi babies bring this much pain or was her husband's human side to blame? Not eager to test how long a na'vi could labor for, she began pushing.

Max was quick to end such foolish action and she was surprised to hear him growl swiftly, "I said push with the contraction, not before! You'll tear!"

Mo'at shot her tenacious daughter a look that told her to listen and Neytiri sighed with defeat, relaxing against the bedding. She wanted to fling all her covers away but that would likely lead to a lecture. It reminded her of the days when she would be sick as a child, eager to follow her parents until she was placed back inside their alcove to sleep. Grasping the soft fabric of the blanket over her midsection, she growled under her breath, "Tell me the baby's crowning!"

Jake decided to play the observant storyteller for his mate on her labor progress and tried to peek over the blanket, "Can I see-"

"I will end you if you peek over that blanket!" she refused with furious embarrassment to being seen in a less than stellar condition. Birth was meant to be a beautiful moment but she did not feel that way at all. Jake raised his hands instantly to show he was compliant and she sat up slightly on her elbows to pin him with a stern glare. He brushed his hands over her braided hair before leaning over to kiss her forehead. Her ears flattened immediately to his endless support but she was not enjoying the labor portion.

Max was more than happy to reassure them of the baby's progress because babies simply didn't shoot out upon the first contraction. Otherwise, the mother would tear and be at heavy risk for bleeding. Flashing the couple a smile, he gave his expert opinion to relax his friends, "They have! You're just a little too eager to deliver."

Her hands reached for the nearest available projectile but Jake grabbed them to dissuade her with amused laughter, "Neytiri, you can't kill Max! Think of the baby!"

"You two are lousy distractions" she muttered flatly, relaxing her shoulders, and squeezing her mate's hands in return.

"Neytiri, respect your mate and healer" Mo'at lectured her daughter because labor did not excuse her insulting her loved ones. Neytiri's ears flattened for the admonishment, stirring laughter from the men, and it quickly turned into a half-hearted hiss. Her mother kneeled to reposition the pillows under Neytiri's back to keep her comfortable.

"Did you not feel the urge to kill everyone in the room?" Neytiri asked her quietly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion to the other two.

Mo'at chuckled softly with understanding before admitting with a warm smile, "Only during contractions but your father gave me sticks to fling toward the entrance. They all became kindling on the night of your birth and a mighty fire was held."

Neytiri's furrowed brow relaxed to hearing a rare joke from her mother and Mo'at pulled her into a hug of reassurance. It helped to decrease the nervous flutter in her heart until another jolt of pain shot through her back. Jake presented her with a pillow for throwing and her eyes dulled to his shoddy alternative, leading her to mutter, "Your soft choice will only earn you double the chores."

"As long as I may live" he quipped cheekily to escaping without bodily harm and placed the pillow beside her. Holding out his hands, he met her gaze to focus her attention and told her, "Focus on me, breathe and grab my hand- ow! My hand, I said my hand!"

Max and Mo'at turned a blind eye to the screaming woman that held her mate's hair in her hands. He had picked the worst time to offer his support services when a strong contraction swept over her body. With a scream that echoed through the alcove, she pushed with all her might to bring her child into the world. She had finished exhaling before the contraction ended but it didn't deter her efforts.

"All right, the head is out so this next part will be your finish line" Max informed her to the effective pushing and she sighed with relief that it was almost over. Each contraction was stronger and quicker than the last, urging her to keep pushing.

"Really?" Jake asked brightly to the good news, gently untangling his hair from her hands. Mo'at grasped her by the shoulders to lean her back against the bed and away from her poor mate.

"Oh, thank Eywa" Neytiri prayed to the heavens and managed a weak laugh to the finish line. Fighting the tawtute in the last battle wasn't this hard. Fine, she might be exaggerating on that part but the rage was there on both accounts.

"With this next contraction, push with all your might and follow my instructions carefully" Max advised firmly to avoid any last second funny business from the huntress and Neytiri agreed quietly. The shoulders were the next tough hurdle in the delivery and he kept his hands under the newborn's head to protect them. Meeting Neytiri's gaze, he nodded once before beginning his set of orders, "Deep breath, my friend."

Mo'at and Jake assisted her in sitting up as she took one deep breath and felt another contraction strike. Seeing her furrowed brow of pain and gritted teeth, Max ordered quickly, "Push!"

With another scream, Neytiri held onto the hands of her loved ones to push against the bedding with her feet. She kept pushing as he instructed, following each of his words through the haze of pain, "Good, keeping going! Good, good- shoulders are free! Quick little breaths and decrease your strength."

Max and Mo'at mimicked the quick but controlled breathing to assist with the last step and Neytiri copied them perfectly. Her teeth were gritted tightly, cheeks lilac from the pushing effort, and tears trailed down her cheeks but she gave it her best. The pain in her lower back was easing but her pelvis hurt terribly, hoping for a compress once everything was finished. Max's voice broke into her thoughts to control her ongoing pushing, "Keep going . . . go . . . stop! No more."

Neytiri fell back against the bedding to breathe deeply, smiling with gratitude when her mate brushed away her tears. Was she still crying? She didn't think labor contractions could hurt so much but hardly noticed anything past the pain and Max's orders. She held onto her mother's hand tightly and smiled weakly when Jake kissed her temple, hearing him whisper, "You did great."

A high-pitched cry echoed in the room, alerting the three family members, as Max focused on clearing fluid from the baby's mouth. They were strong in their wriggling, batting his hands with little clenched fists and a sturdy tail. Mo'at squeezed her daughter's hand once more before joining Max's side to assist with the baby. The matriarch grabbed a maroon blanket to dry the baby vigorously on the bedding, earning more defiant cries from her grandchild. Despite her stoicism, Mo'at couldn't help but smile widely at the baby and gently dried their black tuft of hair.

Max turned his focus on assessing his patient, grabbing a wooden basin filled with previously boiled water, to uncover it. Infections were always a concern for him but soap, boiled water, strong alcoholic alternatives derived from nature, and a little determination kept his patients safe. Peeking at the new parents, he congratulated them by revealing, "You have a baby-"

"A baby!" Jake cheered ecstatically with a relieved smile that matched Neytiri's tired one. The new mother was trying not to doze off after wasting all her energy and turned to the right to pick up sliced banana fruit. Now that the hard part was over, she could nibble on some food. Their child would need her attention now that they had entered the world and she tried peeking over her bent legs to see the baby. Her mate grabbed her free hand to intertwine their fingers and declared happily, "We have a baby!"

"Specifically, a son" Max corrected dryly to finish his sentence to let them know the gender. Jake had been overly cheerful to his impending baby while Neytiri kept eyeing the entrance to monitor the shift of the sun's angle. He had assisted in the birth of the first na'vi-avatar baby which had been unheard of up until the two decided to bond. If xeno-anthropologists ever returned, he knew their clan would be the first to have questions asked.

"Who cares? It's my baby" Jake retorted matter-of-factly about their newborn and smiled widely when Mo'at brought their cooing baby over to them. First-time fathers were always the most nervous but she handed the baby to him to quell that surge of anxiety. Jake placed his son's head in the crook of his right elbow and used his left hand to cup the underside of his little body. Large golden eyes that reminded him of his mate peeked out at him and he looked to her with pride, "I mean, our baby."

"You silly man" she chuckled softly and touched the warm blanket to lower it to see his little face. Jake lowered their baby to give her the best angle to his face and she smiled fondly at his little round face, noticing the intricate bioluminescent pattern over his cheeks. He was beautiful, even with his furrowed brow and misshapen head from her long hours of pushing. His fingers batted at the air to adjust to his new world and she dropped her finger into his grasp to let him know he would never be alone. A smile was shared between the couple when they noticed his hands carried four fingers like his mother.

"Name him" Jake told her with a gentle tone because she had earned to name their firstborn more than anyone else. They had bounced a few names around during their evenings before sleep time but he left the choice in her hands. She had given him a gift in finding new meaning in his life and he would be forever grateful for the second chance. Life had never been particularly kind to him until landing on Pandora and his son was a seed in a world teeming with life. He knew she would provide him with a worthy name and stated earnestly, "You did all the hard work."

Her ears flattened against her head for her hasty actions during labor and she apologized, "I also tore out a chunk of your hair."

He didn't bat an eye to the lost strands, shrugging nonchalantly, and justified with a warm smile, "I needed a trim."

Neytiri appreciated his compassion during the entire birth because he never raised his voice or uttered a complaint. He had been respectful and kind of her, even during his silly moments, and she hoped those traits passed onto their son. Rubbing her thumb over his tiny digits, she smiled proudly to name their child, "Txe'lan te Anar Jakeitan. He's our heart."

The name was a fitting one for a child of two worlds but their love would never waver for him. Clutching him close, Jake leaned down to whisper to his little miniature to welcome him home, "Oel ngati kameie, Txe'lan."

Mo'at gently cleared her throat to remind him of their traditional practice and Jake's eyes widened with surprise to his forgetfulness. The birth of their baby had thrown everything out the window and he yelped with alarm, "Oh! The bond."

Neytiri chuckled softly at seeing her mate fiddle for the end of his queue but hissed a moment later to the afterbirth cleanup. Max found it interesting from a medical perspective that the na'vi lacked the last portion of labor due to not having a placenta. It made an easier cleanup with fewer maternal complications in his book. The healer didn't hesitate to remind her about the bright side of the baby's arrival, "I did tell you the hard part was over."

Jake managed to grasp the end of his queue while shifting his son closer to his chest. Mo'at assisted him by gently nudging Txe'lan's chin to the right to display the back of his head. Unlike human children, a na'vi newborn had a head full of thick hair that cascaded down their shoulders. Her fingers gently ran down his damp unkempt hair to show Jake the tiny pale pink tendrils that formed the neural queue. After the baby's first wash, it would be braided into the thick queue braid to be left untouched until the roots were soiled. The end of his queue found the smaller tendrils, overlapping over the thinner strands to bind to encase them protectively, and he smiled widely to the annoyance and curiosity in his son.

Txe'lan missed the warm and fluid environment of his mother, kicking his legs and hands in the vain hope that he would find her abdominal wall. Jake conveyed love and a sense of safety for his child which turned into sharp curiosity to the new sensation. His eyes opened to their fullest to search for the fuzzy outline of his father and his ears perked to the sounds of his mother and grandmother. Where was he? The emotions of happiness soothed Txe'lan instantly and his wriggling limbs relaxed instantly, the corners of his smooth relaxing to the bond. It was a rare gift for any species to connect to the mental realm of their newborn and he sighed softly with disbelief, "Na'vi babies get the point for evolution."

His son was pacified quickly under his thoughts of affection and the warmth of the new dry material interested him. Disconnecting his queue, he left his son with the words of being his father and passed him to Neytiri. His mate had quietly observed them with amusement to their new milestone, cherishing the rare moment. She clutched their son with joy, placing him onto her chest on his bare belly to initiate the skin contact that would keep her child warm. Her mother helped her untangle the queue braid from under the pillows to place it over her shoulder. Just like her mate, she connected her queue to Txe'lan's free tendrils to greet her child for the first time.

Jake had calmed his fretting heart after the birth and she hummed gently in their connection to soothe him. Her mother told her that gentle singing often relaxed newborns during their first bond and her child was no different. Her free hand ran over his covered back, watching his tail flick underneath the blanket, and she whispered tearfully, "My beautiful son. I can hear his little heart."

The long hours of painful labor were worth that small moment between them. She wouldn't have believed it earlier with the heart-wrenching pain but he had arrived safely. Jake laughed with delight when Txe'lan attempted to gnaw on his mother's skin. He was sharper by the minute already! Proud of his newborn son, he boasted with confidence, "He's already trying to find food."

"Actually, he's trying to latch for sustenance" Max informed the new father with a smile, whose ears perked to seeing his first feeding, but the healer had tasks for everyone gathered. A new baby was a joyous occasion but the mother and baby were the focus of everyone involved. Running the show like a drill sergeant, he fired off orders to each person like he did in every birth, "Neytiri, you may feed your child. Mother Tsahik, if you would kindly bring her clean attire after assisting her latching. Jake, get Neytiri some food."

"What about me?" Jake pouted humorously to missing out on the family bonding. That, and food for himself.

"You can have your congratulatory drink tonight" Max laughed amicably to his request for food because he was free to bring whatever he wanted. Knowing Jake, he would bring Neytiri a feast. She had already finished the fresh bowls of food from earlier and licked them clean. After the long hours with little interest to eat or drink, he did not blame her. She deserved a good meal to replenish her strength and instructed his exuberant friend, "For now, feed your exhausted mate- preferably with protein."

"I'll be back but you will tell me about every cute little thing he does" Jake promised his mate with a happy smile that reflected over her own lips. She would not be moving anywhere and her sole attention was on her baby, who was trying to find a place to feed with growing frustration. Jake rubbed the back of his round head, earning a small hiss for interrupting his quest for food, and he chuckled, "My little Txe'lan."

Jake left his new family to bond, his heart thudding wildly to greeting his first child, and left the alcove with a perky step. He had entered that alcove as an expectant father and could now leave as the proud one of his son. Max looked to Mo'at, who was helping her daughter latch Txe'lan for his first feeding, and remarked with approval, "He did a lot better than I imagined."

Outside the alcove, they heard a sharp thud hit the ground with no following sound. Being the only one available to move, Mo'at stood up to investigate the origin of the noise . . . only to find Jake sprawled over the wood onto his stomach. The clan leader made no movement except for the faint exhale of breath from his lips and fluttering closed eyes.

"The emotion overwhelmed him" she sighed softly with empathy to her children, kneeling to turn her poor son over onto his back. He had done better than her Eytukan, who fled during Sylwanin's birth when she threatened to ram sticks into his eyes, but eventually returned once the baby arrived. Jake, however, had been different by wanting to see the actual birth which amused her. He mumbled incoherently under his breath and she called over her shoulder, "It appears you will have two patients, Max."

"Now he reached my expectation" Max sighed softly to adding another patient onto his roster of the day.


Today was a special day for Tsu'tey and the ikran as he undertook the rite of Uteho'awkx while the ikran couple bid farewell to their brood. Joanna had tagged along for the moral support of her mate and the ikran, whose three hatchlings followed obediently. They had grown rapidly under Joanna's eyes and remembered the tiny ikran, who had now grown to match the beautiful blue colors of their parents. Reaching past her knee, the ikran were bundles of energy waiting to be released and Xeki let them fly around Kelutral to encourage their adeptness at flying. Trips over the sea had been common among the family of five to prepare the hatchlings for their eventual leave and the na'vi couple would always accompany them to see the young ikran. The day had approached faster than expected but Xeki knew it was time when she had to chase each of them down to return to the nest.

All had developed equally in health and fortitude, especially the ikran from the malformed egg, and they were as wild as Joanna had been informed. Xeki and Swizav would allow the couple to see them but not touch to avoid desensitizing them to the na'vi. They needed to retain their wild features to survive life at sea but the na'vi had no doubt they would survive well into adulthood. It was their best hope and being the sentimental type, Joanna promised to visit the rite site that would house Xeki's children. Her ikran, however, was more nonchalant about it since her job as a mother was over and she would return to her life in the hunt. While pa'li kept in close circles as a herd and forged tight bonds, similar to the na'vi, the ikran were solitary in nature unless they found a mate. For Xeki and Swizav, they were each other's priority along with their riders.

Only Joanna had accompanied the ikran by air, not initiating tsaheylu to allow Xeki's innate nature to guide her back to her old home. An ikran's life began in Hometree before moving to their new home where they would dwell until both an adult na'vi and ikran could bond, only then returning to where they both began. It was a circle of balance between nature and a pivotal milestone in both species. For Swizav, he was as lost as his children and followed his mate to memorize the new route into his mind. His rider was not with him and despite being surrounded by his mate and hatchlings, he felt out of his element.

Tsu'tey had started out the rite from the shore to familiarize himself with the entire rite of passage with Xuret as his guide. With him being the most accomplished teacher of the clan, Tsu'tey sought the best to become the same. He hoped to teach rite students just as he had back at the Omaticaya and Nitari had agreed with delight. Tsu'tey had to commend Joanna because she had attempted both Iknimaya and Uteho'awkx. Although she had finished the entire trek to the Thundering Rocks, she had not claimed her ikran but it counted. After facing a harsh barrage of waves from the winter currents, Tsu'tey longed for the warm and humid terrain of the forest.

His damp hair clung to the back of his neck and shoulders while he ascended the rocky terrain that spiraled upwards to the top of the rock stack. He had not been keen about a potential watery entombment but Xuret promised him that there was only one path into the stack. Despite the raging waves slamming against the cliff, it had yet to erode a new path underwater. Unlike the Omaticaya that prized their nimble dexterity in the forest, the Atykwe were about stamina underwater and hunting in the sky. It was a new change that he was adjusting to gradually but Joanna took him swimming every day to increase that underwater longevity. His mate was his biggest supporter and knowing she was at the top of the cliff waiting for him pushed him onward. Just like she had traversed the dimly-lit path seasons ago, he would follow her same footsteps.

He leaped over a broken piece of the path, the eroded rock crumbling behind his feet after he landed on the opposite side, and quickly corrected his footing. Luckily, he always gripped anything within reach and knew how to maneuver his body to shift his weight onto safer ground. From up ahead, he heard Xuret's voice call out, "We're almost there!"

"That's what you said when we surfaced inside the cliff" Tsu'tey shot back sarcastically to his deception, aware that it was a common saying to students undertaking the rite. Xuret had been more than happy to return to the shattering cliff to show the newest teacher their entire rite. The training season would begin soon and with Kor tending to his newest child, Xuret needed another hand at sea to keep the students safe. The seasoned warrior would be easy to teach in comparison to the rookies but he took the lead to ensure the path was safe.

"I like keeping hope alive" he reasoned optimistically with a short laugh because Joanna had been quiet during her rite. Unlike the huntress, Tsu'tey didn't hesitate to speak his mind when bothered. There was admiration from Xuret and the two found it easier to joke with each other than their other male friends. Arat would usually utter an underwhelmed sigh under his breath while Wätu would dramatically wail. Tsu'tey, however, fell in between that with his spirited nature and the other hunter promised, "Besides, I'm serious this time!"

Tsu'tey was ready to scoff but he followed Xuret's hand when he motioned upwards to where a round circle of light emanated into the cliff. The experienced teacher informed him carefully, "Tackle this path with care but that light is the start of the ikran nest. We end our childhood in this darkness and emerge into the light to become adults. For the ikran, the life they began at the Omaticaya can now renew as they enter maturity. Everything is connected."

From the topside of the cliff, Joanna arrived with the family of ikran and she watched in awe as the numerous ikran inhabiting the nooks of the cliff cleared away for their incoming. Several left the cliff to fly over the sea in circles, screeching in curiosity, and she smiled when Xeki overpowered their chatter with one of her own. Her aerial partner had never been a weak ikran and her size alone made her formidable, stirring pride in Joanna. Xeki had not set foot in the home she grew up in and for Swizav, this was his first time seeing it.

Joanna clung onto her harness to let Xeki lead the landing but her heart began to beat at leaving the hatchlings behind. Nitari had counseled her that this was part of an ikran's life and they were letting them roam wildly to grow until it was time for them to return home. For Joanna, she could only wonder if they would be safe at sea and whether she really would see them again. Mainly, it was for Xeki after seeing her diligent care over her eggs. Her sapphire ikran decreased her speed, angling the underside of her wings towards the ikran nest to slow her descent. Her taloned feet dug into the earth to stop her momentum and she flattened her wings until she stopped entirely. Joanna buckled against her form but hopped off Xeki once the coast was clear to let the family of ikran begin severing their bonds. The three hatchlings landed close to their mother with curious squawks as their golden eyes observed the new terrain. Swizav landed behind the quartet to observe the rookery, finding it similar to the one he hailed from.

They had returned to where they had started with Xeki bringing her family and Joanna reuniting with hers. She had opted to stand at the opening that led to the nest, briefly remembering her rite seasons ago. So much had occurred in her life but she smiled widely when her mate emerged from the opening. Had he found the rite as rigorous as she had? Or had he flown through it like the wind? Happy to see he was safe, she beckoned him with his name, "Tsu'tey."

His sharp vigilant features faded into relaxed smoothness at her presence and she approached him to flick his left shoulder. He hissed to the shoddy welcome but she laughed softly, brushing back stray braids that snuck forward. Her playful gaze met his to melt his frown and she squeezed his hand with her free one to convey her sentiment. Xuret found a nice flat rock to sit on for the time being and informed his adopted cousin, "Your mate has accomplished Uteho'awkx."

"He never ceases to amaze me" she smiled brightly with pride to compliment his recent accomplishment. If she had conquered it, he could probably do a few more laps. He was an admirable specimen in strength and adaptability which was why she respected him despite their initial rocky start as student-teacher. Now that he was her mate, she would assist him in immersing himself in their clan. She could see the hints of wariness at home, even when he did not voice them, in his low tone, tense shoulders, and withdrawal. Those moments had decreased to a few since she would not relent in bridging his old life to his new. Just like he had persisted with her to face her fears, she would do the same. Shooting him an impressed grin, she spoke with admiration, "I can't believe you tackled two rites."

"So did you" he pointed out to her sneaky attempt at Iknimaya to stay with him. Their intertwined roads would never split again and their journey ended with joy. Well, he wouldn't say that it had ended because he was learning new things every day.

"All right, my young lovebirds, let us check on your ikran" Xuret interrupted the two with a snap of his fingers to avoid disrupting the ikran around them. Joanna squeezed Tsu'tey's shoulders to release the tension gained during the swim and he smiled to the gesture. She was always by his side with dedication and he grasped her hand to keep her close.

The trio crossed the rocky terrain, using their bows to usher curious ikran away to avoid familiarizing them to na'vi. Tsu'tey saw the color and size differences in the sea ikran in comparison to those of the mountain ikran, admiring the tenacity of nature to survive. Xuret directed Joanna to take the lead since she was Xeki's rider and motioned for Tsu'tey to stay with her. Keeping to the outskirts of the nest, the older hunter spotted his faithful Yatzi circling the cliff.

The couple watched their ikran as Xeki and Swizav gently nudged their blue ikran towards the rocky alcoves of the cliff. Joanna's heart sunk when the three chirped with unknown curiosity, following their parent's guidance. Xeki moved her antennae queue toward her hatchlings and the closest one initiated tsaheylu with her. Joanna had yet to see this among the creatures of Pandora but was aware that na'vi mothers did this with their newborns to seal their bond. Mothers would also connect the babies to the Tree of Voices to begin their connection to Eywa and their world. She could only compare it to that as the nest represented the new open world of the hatchlings and watched Xeki connect to each of her children. When she finished her turn, Swizav initiated tsaheylu with them to bid them farewell.

"She's releasing them to the rookery" Xuret explained to her since there were pieces of their culture that she had yet to know. For an ikran, this was a normal part of life while Joanna's saddened expression betrayed her internal conflict. Tsu'tey clasped her right shoulder to hearten her resolve, understanding her emotions ran on a higher scale than even his own.

Turning to Xuret, Joanna tried to gulp down the lump forming in her throat to ask, "Will they be safe?"

"That will be up to them based on their flying and hunting skills" Xuret answered frankly because ikran were tenacious creatures but they were highly observant of each other. The youngest ikran were always a curiosity to them while the oldest were ready to depart for their next phase in life. The younger generations learned from the older ones but the ikran breeders would continually observe the nest to ensure they were healthy.

Before Joanna could disagree to leaving them defenseless, he reassured her, "The rite teachers and ikran breeders visit the rookery to make sure they're alive. We're not casting them out heartlessly, Joanna."

"I know but . . ." she sighed softly to no longer hearing their little guttural sounds when she wandered Kelutral. They were miniature copies of their parents and although she wished to keep them longer, tradition dictated it was time. Well, that and the ikran parents' internal clock.

The couple was lost to the hisses, trills, and chirps from the family as they finalized their journey. Xeki was the first to turn away from the three ikran and they chirped to Swizav. The azure ikran lowered his neck to gently tap the flat of his reptilian head against theirs one last time. Following his mate, the two moved towards their riders to return to their old life. Tsu'tey swept his hands over Swizav's head with a sympathetic smile, initiating tsaheylu to convey his respect to the ikran.

Xeki turned around when she heard weak chirps from her hatchlings as they remained clustered between the rocks and eyed her with wonder. The sapphire ikran returned a screech this time that scrambled the trio further into the crevices of the protective rookery. Their bonds were severed and Joanna stepped forward to calm her tense ikran with a hand to her muscular chest. The two females watched the larger group of ikran swoop in to sniff the newcomers, earning uncertain warbles from the hatchlings, and Joanna worried about territorialism. Instead, the ikran beckoned the little ones with a short bark to show them around the rookery. The small trio followed their older members by climbing onto the walls with their talons, glancing back at their parents one last time before departing over the rock wall.

Joanna grabbed her partner's queue to initiate tsaheylu and asked quietly, Are you all right, Xeki?

Her ikran, however, was undaunted by the swift change in life and replied earnestly, Yes, my children will grow strong and we will meet again.

She was struck with curiosity to her rider's sadness at leaving the hatchlings and it was Xeki's turn to be the voice of reason. Their species handled milestones very differently but Xeki was driven by instinct and innate nature in comparison to Joanna. The huntress was taken aback when her flying partner informed, Besides, I will hatch eggs every mating season. Na'vi and ikran are very different in rearing.

How many Xeki-Swizav babies would the Atykwe end up with? Joanna couldn't help but laugh to her comment because na'vi were the opposite in lower numbers. She would have a hard time simply letting her child undergo the rite of passage while Xeki easily waved goodbye to her children with her tail. Her ikan had become more mature than she was and she chuckled, Tell me about it, I'll be good with one baby.

This time, her ikran was perplexed to such a low number of offspring and chided, One?! How little. I just sent off my first three. Yet, your heart is suffering more than mine . . . thank you.

You're a part of me, your pain is mine, she pointed out but Xeki was right for becoming flustered by emotion. Xeki, however, came to an understanding at realizing how one child throughout one's lifespan could be more precious than twenty. Maybe one day, one of her children would be matched to her rider's child.

Swizav, on the other hand, was propositioning his rider with haste for a reward, My hatchlings have left. I have earned all the fish I can eat, haven't I?

It figures you would think with your stomach, he shot back sarcastically but held restraint on his humor to respect his ikran. Seasons ago, he had expected his ikran to produce offspring of mountain banshee but he had created a combination of the sky and sea. Both parents were strong in their own right and he agreed, You can eat whatever you want in honor of your hatchlings. I am certain they are fine and we will visit them.

Joanna will complain that she wasn't brought along, he pointed out but appreciated the sneaky attempt to see to the wellbeing of the hatchlings.

We did the same for the Iknimaya ikran and I am one of the new rite teachers now, he stated matter-of-factly to having more than enough reason to fly out to the rookery. Hopping onto his loyal partner, Swizav headed to the edge of the cliff to open his wings and jump out towards the sea.

Xeki was quick to follow her mate, to which her rider mounted her harness quickly, and Joanna motioned for Xuret to catch up to them. With Swizav in the air and Xeki picking up speed to leave, Yatzi could land to pick up her rider. The sapphire ikran dug her talons into the rocky earth before launching into the air to latch onto an air current to steer away from the nest. Her large wings beat against the sky to pick up altitude until she was able to see the topside of the nest.

Her three hatchlings were making their way around their new home, wings fluttering in acknowledgement to their mother. Xeki screeched to them in farewell, a call that was echoed by Swizav as the mountain banshee circled the cliff. Joanna was happy to see that the hatchlings were adapting well and she smiled at hearing faint calls from them. Their parents taught them well by staying put on the rock stack as the couple took off in the opposite direction.

Neither ikran glanced back at their children but they flew in close formation for the return home. Tsu'tey chuckled under his breath at seeing Joanna rubbing the back of her ikran's neck for comfort. Xeki, however, interpreted it more as a good job gesture. Joanna's caring attention was seized by the incoming Yatzi, her sky-blue form camouflaging against the sky, while Xuret allowed her to fly at her leisure.

"All of you did very well today" Xuret commented amicably since each couple had a part to play at the cliff. Joanna raised her hands to wave them in compliment to the ikran and her mate with pride. Tsu'tey tried not to groan to her sweet but silly expression and quietly accepted it.

Together, the trio of hunters headed west to the Atykwe shore and continue their daily chores. Traveling to the immense rock stack by water, the shoreline was lost easily and the sense of home was lost. In the sky, however, one could see into the horizon of the forest and never felt alone in the air. The only ikran between the shoreline and Uteho'awkx were ikran from the nest or those of the clan. Tsu'tey had originally assumed that the endless sky meant incredible distance until he spotted his uncle Kovi and aunt Nara during one of his leisure flights. The expression on his face had been priceless and the couple still laughed about it.

"Anaya and Arat should be further ahead" Joanna spoke up halfway through their path and tried to find the two ikran against the sky. Saza was easier to find against the blue sky with her grayish-blue speckled coloring and kept vigilant for the two.

Tsu'tey's ears perked on end because he had not been informed of a detour and called out, "Are we hunting today?"

"No, your mate wishes to show you a new skill" Xuret answered with a chuckle to her impromptu planning that morning when they gathered at first meal. While her mate had been corralling his eager cousins, she had slipped away to alter the plans. Joanna wanted her mate to achieve his dreams of being the best and with Xuret in tow, her old teacher would keep an eye on them.

Tsu'tey burst her happy bubble when he questioned with sarcasm, "It's not dangling upside down from an ikran, is it?"

All three ikran squawked in question to such a thing, the other two steering away from the sapphire ikran instantly, and Joanna hissed swiftly, "That's still being developed in my head!"

Xeki screeched indignantly to being singled out for her rider's crazy ideas, which she would likely go along with. After all, Joanna had climbed the walls of the rock stack to claim her and both had shed blood before that battle ended. Yatzi and Swizav, however, were not entertaining that idea and kept their distance for any sudden leaps from said na'vi.

"Oel ngati kameie!"

The trio were interrupted by the arrival of their friends as Xaza and Taka screeched in welcome to their ikran brethren. The pale blue Taka matched his rider's enthusiasm by circling the trio while Anaya greeted her friends individually with a friendly nod. Xaza kept her pace to join the trio in their line to the approaching coastline while Arat fiddled with the satchel attached to the front of his riding harness.

"Oel ngati kameie!" Xuret, Joanna, and Tsu'tey returned the warm greeting to their safe arrival.

"Ready to swim, Tsu'tey?" Anaya piped up cheekily to their newest member and imitated a swimmer with her hands. Joanna laughed aloud to her imaginary swimming but Tsu'tey was entirely confused. What exactly were they planning for him?

He hoped to Eywa that they weren't about to dive from their ikran into the water from their current height. With his mate, anything was possible. She had sent him into the most interesting of adventures during their time at the Omaticaya and he assumed it was only time before it reoccurred. His golden eyes narrowed towards his mate and he asked flatly, "What is she talking about?"

Arat raised a finger to his lips to warn Anaya not to spill the news and reminded, "Don't ruin the surprise!"

"Hush, before I have Yatzi eat you both" Xuret silenced the two because it was already discovered at this point. The mention of water had been the largest giveaway and he shook his fist at them like the older brother that he was. His ikran joined her rider by snapping her jaws playfully towards Xaza, who flew by her right side.

Joanna would never keep secrets from her mate and smiled earnestly to reveal, "I want to show you a hunting technique before we leave the deep."

"We're just here to hunt quickly with that technique" Arat stated innocently to avoid any deception of trying to rope him into something crazy. Like Tsu'tey, Arat enjoyed living a life that was not shrouded in unwarranted risk but unlike Tsu'tey, he could not handle that amount of danger. Xuret and Tsu'tey were the formidable risk-takers while Joanna and Anaya happened to accidentally fall into sticky situations and he took care in avoiding it. Together, they made a pretty balanced team. Motioning to Joanna, who was gripping the center of her harness, he suggested, "This looks good enough."

Joanna grinned giddily to showing her mate one of her favorite tricks to cool off and catch fish for both herself and Xeki. Breaking formation from the group, Xeki hissed at her baffled ikran mate to watch and learn before diving straight down into the water. She tucked her wings closely against her sides for a clean impact in the water and Joanna pressed her body against her ikran's to avoid being thrown back from the velocity and rush of the waves. The two broke the surface to enter the cold water and Xeki held her breath underwater, allowing her momentum to carry her into the sea before using her powerful legs to kick upwards.

An Atykwe ikran and its rider entered the water in similarity to terran birds like the gannet and cormorant to hunt for fish in a powerful burst of speed. The ikran would breathe in deeply before entering the water and with their spiracles being a one-way outlet, their mouth would stay sealed until resurfacing to seal out water. Joanna allowed Xeki to lead in that approach, keeping her eyes open for anything suspicious to remain vigilant. Tsu'tey watched in amazement when Xeki's sapphire head finally peeked out of the water, almost disappearing among its dark color. Even her creamy white underside was camouflaged by the glittering water.

Once her shoulders and backside emerged from the water to float, she opened her powerful wings to splash water away and take flight. Joanna laughed with glee to the early bath and raised the protective shielding over her eyes to wipe away water. Although they were soaked to the bone, they enjoyed the ride to cool down or stay clean after a hunt. Xeki did not intend to catch anything and allowed the school of fishes to frolic for their day. Returning to the sky, she called out to her mate and heard curious warbles over her action.

Joann shook her head free of droplets, wiping her face as she returned to rejoin her mate's side. Tsu'tey had not seen any ikran delve into the water and she explained with a bright smile, "When schools of fish gather together, we hunt like this to maximize our catches. Our ikran carry nets on their feet for a load of smaller fish or we will dive with our nets for the heavier catches."

"Allow us to demonstrate, my friend" Arat announced with a friendly smile before removing a large net from his satchel. He tossed one end of the long net to Anaya to hold it loosely between them. Tsu'tey had enjoyed his leisure time fishing at the rivers by the Omaticayan Kelutral but the Atykwe surpassed that into dedicated work. Anaya whistled to Arat that she was ready on her end and together, the two led their ikran to enter the water in synchrony while holding onto the net with one arm.

Between them, the net would catch as many fish as it could or depending how much the two could hold. Once they entered the sea, the caught fishes would tighten the net and the combined heaviness would alert the two when they had enough. Underwater, they were weightless against the sea but every hunter learned the way of the water to read its signs when it was time to enter, linger, and depart. Joanna whistled for Tsu'tey to follow when she and Xuret began to guide their ikran into the water for a joyride once more.

Xuret darted off ahead of her while she lingered behind to support her mate. Xeki hissed at her reluctant mate to get a move on while Tsu'tey glanced at the sea suspiciously. What if there was a predator lurking ready to eat them? That thought bubble burst when Arat and Anaya emerged from the water with a decent fill of medium silver fish wriggling in their net, keeping a tight grip on its ends as they headed straight for the coastline.

Swizav followed Xeki on her descent towards the water but the rolling currents and unknown depth broke his sudden bravado. Being a mountain banshee, he was taught that the sky meant safety and anything else was dangerous. The treetops and mountains would shield his kind but the water was an elusive entity that he didn't dare tangle with. In his mind, it was almost as dangerous as a toruk!

Swizav decided to abort from the group diving underwater entirely, opening his wings to gracefully ascend, and Tsu'tey laughed to his lapse in confidence, "We'll learn together."

No!, he shot back with burning humiliation to being left out of the ikran bonding because of his own natural instinct.

Tsu'tey was amused by his aversion to water and tried to subtly guide him back to the rolling waves, We'll start slowly, with your feet.

You will kill me and orphan my hatchlings, Tsu'tey!, Swizav refused with the rage of a wild ikran that was refusing treatment and the hunter clung on with a sigh when he swirled into the sky. He had not spent numerous seasons to not know his aerial partner and Swizav hissed with annoyance when his ploy failed to wiggle his rider free. Why had he gotten the most fearless na'vi in creation?! Oh right, because he was the most talented in creation.

Don't be dramatic, Tsu'tey ordered swiftly to knock away his bravado and straightened his flying pattern to a smooth horizontal line. Joanna and Xeki watched their mates with embarrassed amusement since they opted not to enter the water when Swizav veered away sharply. The open sea was an anomaly to both of the males but they would do their best to unite them.

Tsu'tey ordered his ikran to match Joanna's lower level against the water and Swizav obeyed with the greatest regret. Even though they shared tsaheylu, an ikran could break the bond if they felt their life was in jeopardy and not synchronized to their rider. Tsu'tey, however, was not one to let him fall prey to danger and Swizav released some of his initial reluctance. He would not dive into the water, making it very clear in their connection, which led Tsu'tey to simply gliding over the water.

Their mates followed closely behind to bolster Swizav's courage and Xeki dipped her legs into the water to show him it was safe. Her deafening screech led the ikran to finally lower his legs into the water and although he imagined being pulled into the jaws of a water version of a toruk, the sea simply lapped at his limbs. Tsu'tey managed to keep his laughter completely internalized and encouraged with a compliment, Look! Your feet are fine.

Mountain ikran are not meant to swim!, Swizav hissed angrily to going against his natural instinct and decided this was long enough for the talon dip. Angling his wings, he gained altitude against the wind current to return him to an altitude he was content with. Tsu'tey would have his hands full with the reluctant ikran and conveyed to him that a strong ikran would master all the natural elements of Eywa. Their new life was a test and until they gained enough experience, there would be hesitation which Tsu'tey did not approve of.

"We'll attempt it on our own" he called over to his mate, who was quietly resting against Xeki's neck. Out at sea, Joanna often let Xeki take the lead in their flight and both were enjoying themselves today. Despite bidding farewell to her hatchlings, Xeki still had her stubborn ikran of a mate to contend with.

"Not without me" Joanna stated evenly because this was one technique that she would not let him tackle alone. The waves could become turbulent in one moment, an ikran could require aid in being pulled out of the water if their lungs had not stored enough air, or a predator approached during their dive. It was always a partner or team effort to avoid dangerous situations. Tsu'tey felt like a student for once, pleasantly surprised by the authority from his mate, and she informed firmly, "Ikran must have a partner if they get into a bind."

"Let's go home and prepare the fish!" Xuret called out to the couple from up ahead since he was already on the tail of the other two hunters. He wasn't going to split their group into two with one carrying food for their clan and the other two attempting to train. The sapphire and azure ikran picked up speed to rejoin their brethren and soon enough, the five ikran dotted the skyline.

I am still getting all the fish I wanted, right?, Swizav asked innocently because his rider had promised him that before his snafu. He didn't trust the tumultuous sea completely but the fish that dwelled there were delicious.

Tsu'tey almost threw his hands in the air to his nonchalance after refusing to partake in a new skill. He figured the fear of the ocean was greater than his hunger and he chided, What happened to being deathly afraid of the ocean?

Swizav hesitated on the swift mood change before admitting shamefully, It stirred my appetite.


Within the forest of Pandora, the remnants of the RDA remained steadily at work to reach their mission objective. Unlike their boisterous colleagues that had been ousted, their forces worked in the shadows of the dangerous moon. While the others lacked patience in attaining unobtanium, their team utilized time and persisted in their efforts to collect the ore. Although Hell's Gate had been destroyed, their own hanger for a one-way departure was concealed if they ever needed to evacuate. They had outlasted every group that had journeyed to Pandora and although their unconventional tactics were to surgically integrate into the hostile environment, it was paying off.

Three human figures stood before a wall of panels overlooking different sectors of Pandora. The majority were focused around the dense forest but the sea and plains of the eastern continent were also in range. The camera footage was always monitored for anomalies and the top officers in command debriefed on their next move.

A low-tone male voice led the conversation as the surveillance room shrouded them in shadow, "It's storm season which means unobtanium will be breaking through from floods. That will make it easier for us to seize the ore without being discovered."

"Travel will also decrease between clans as well," a female stated simply to the patterns of movement across the monitors.

"The company's departure did not help" another male voice spoke up with distaste to being left behind to pick up the pieces. Tapping his booted foot with urgency, he pointed out coldly, "It's only encouraged the blue people to mingle more which doesn't bode well for us."

"We have to act faster" the woman reasoned to keep level-headed about their mission and continued, "Our oxygen storage will last for a year but that's it. The dehydrated rations will only appease our appetites for so long."

"The winter season would allow us to work better" the first voice corralled his subordinates to avoid disagreement on their plans. Lack of planning and brute force did not help the previous RDA group and as the failsafe, they would do their best to leave with the remaining ore. Their intel would assist future endeavors from the company and they could leave the god-forsaken moon. The passing year had allowed them to finally enmesh with the world around them and he explained carefully, "The coastal clans should be easy targets by the air but their terrain will halt ground forces. I need eyes on their rock barrier to blow it sky high or we focus on an aerial assault alone. The forest dwellers are similar but they have predators in the area which makes it tricky. We are not bulldozing the place like the last idiots so I need scouts in the trees. The plain clans, however, live in the open fields and would be the easiest to eradicate by either ground or air."

"It has been slower to kill off the forest clans" the woman muttered with disappointment to their failure on penetrating the forest and sighed, "Despite they have the most unobtanium deposits."

"Our biggest threat is the defector Sully's clan, we'll leave his last" their leader informed grimly because the enemy had traitors in their midst. The Avatar program had only lent the na'vi extra hands to turn against their own kind. He would not underestimate their numbers, which were heavily contained within the Omaticaya clan, and ordered, "Initiate Phase 2, we've gathered enough intel on our enemies. It's time to eradicate this side of the continent and stay on task."

"Do we let them discover us or do we initiate contact?" his other subordinate asked to begin drafting assignments to their own teams. It would be a delicate mission with slow steps for the progression of each stage to avoid detection.

"Initiate contact under the premise of trading" he answered quietly because allowing them to approach first could catch them off-guard. He needed the enemy to believe they were friendly emissaries to infiltrate their clans and extinguish them. It would be a gradual job to avoid startling the other nearby clans of their presence and he finalized, "Start with the prairie clans and move to the Eastern Sea. No survivors."


A/N: And we have arrived at Volume 3! And a happy late New Year! As we can see from this chapter, it's mainly children-centered but we have Neytiri's and Jake's baby. I have not worked in labor and delivery in a long time so I drew from memories, historical birthing practices, and tied it into the na'vi culture. The ikran babies are off on their own to grow while Tsu'tey and Joanna are working towards a family. Although, their future babies made the intro to show off their sense of humor and parental attachment. In the next chapter, we will introduce the other coastal clans as Tsu'tey and Joanna travel on behalf of Nitari.

Thank you as always for reading, liking, subscribing, and reviewing my story!

neytirisdad: I completely agree with you, especially at seeing that the movie came out in 2009. I am hoping to finish this story before the second film comes out though. I'm tinkering between 15-20 chapters for this final volume. Definitely take your time reading the story because even I had to stare at the huge chapters from the first volume.

theoakleafbearer: Thank you for always reading my story!

TenebrisSaggitarius: Haha, part of me felt it should have ended there too but since I involved the humans back in volume I, I gotta tie up that end. I'm finicky about loose ends in anything. It also allows me to express more world building though so I'm excited for that part.

Alexandra Rylie: Thank you for loving volume II, it was the lengthiest out of all the three. Haha. I want to create a story that people can enjoy reading when they're tired or just looking to escape from life, one that can make them laugh and go 'aw' at the same time.

BlueWitch15: Thank you, I find myself re-reading the chapters as well when I have to go back and reference something. You'll get to meet new clans next time and the Atykwe couple's immersion into leadership.

Guest1st: I'm glad I could make it a cheerful Christmas! Tsu'tey's ready for step 2 in the family tree while Joanna knocks him back down to reality for getting ahead of himself. Jake's reaction to his baby was based loosely on first-time father reactions and although fainting is rare, it does happen. I'm playing around with Xuret's love life now in subtle tones since he's not actively looking for a mate and focusing on his job. I can see someone going up to him to declare their love and him replying "are you sure?" while Tsu'tey is more of "who doesn't?" type and Watu will just run away but Arat would reply "thank you but no".

danelleprae: Well, we have one baby out and a new pregnancy is on the horizon so it will be a little bit of baby fever in this last volume. This chapter was all about babies of all species, haha. The next generation of the na'vi will be born and who can say no to a little cute baby?

gossamermouse101: Thank you for the kind words and for reading my story!

FunnyGirlB: Thank you so much, especially for the characters. I try to make them as believable as possible while writing out scenes that can be imagined easily by readers. I've tried my best to develop my writing skills over the years and I am amazed by how many people read and enjoy this little fanfic of mine. I'm very glad you've enjoyed this story!