Music Inspiration: Two Steps from Hell- "After the Fall"
A Seed of Love
The return trip to the Atykwe was swift since Tsu'tey wasted no time and there were no stops to be made. He had refused to allow Joanna to ride Xeki out of concern that her nauseous spells could disorient her in midair and lead to an accident. Although initially fussy, Joanna relented to his reasoning and took the forefront seat on Swizav. It reminded her of their days together at the Omaticaya and their sunset rides at home. She didn't mind having her mate's arms around her waist to soothe his worries and he was happy having her safe within reach.
Upon returning to the Atykwe, Xeki and Swizav landed in the canopies to have the gifted packages from the sea clans unloaded by Tsu'tey. Joanna tried to loosen the rope ties from Xeki to lend a hand but her mate was quick to order her to stay put. He didn't want to trigger another vomiting spell and have her lose more fluids to avoid worsening her condition. The ikran were left to preen themselves for a quick clean before finding their shared nest to nap and regain their energy. The long hours straight to the Atykwe lands pushed their stamina but the sturdy ikran succeeded.
The couple made their way to the meditative alcove of the tsahìk located by the healer alcoves. Nitari tended to linger close by the alcoves after seasons of routine during the conflicting times against the tawtute. Now, they were filled with treating temporary illnesses, pregnancies, and hunting injuries. Tsu'tey hoped to catch the matriarch by the late morning when she was finished with overseeing the cooks, artisans, and hunters before heading to the healers. He had woken Joanna early to bid farewell to the Metkinaya and they had set off before the sun had broken the horizon. His plan paid off when he spotted the matriarch making bundles of gathered herbs in her open alcove. She hummed behind closed lips as she tied a string around the green herbs to add another cluster to the bundle in a wicker basket.
"Tsahìk" Tsu'tey greeted her instantly, kneeling before her to dip his head respectfully. The matriarch was surprised to their unexpected arrival, almost dropping the herb stalks in her hands. She had mistaken them for the residents and wondered what had brought the couple back. Joanna tried not to sigh to her mate's overprotection, hiding an amused smile, and he added in, "Oel ngati kameie."
"Oel ngati kameie" Joanna piped in with her own respectful dip of the head before kneeling. Well, tried, because her mate grasped her arm to steady her the whole way down. Not that she needed the extra help but appreciated it. He could be such a worrywart sometimes. She had only seen him with such resolve after her fall from the Omaticayan Kelutral and cherished his dedication.
Nitari was still taken aback by their return, hoping that the couple would linger longer to spend more time alone and make new friends. What had happened? She hoped nothing ill had come of the trip, particularly soured ally relations, but the two appeared in good health. Joanna's dipped ears, however, were a tell-tale sign that something was amiss and she remarked, "You weren't expected back until a few days."
"Joanna has not been well" he explained quietly with a concerned glance towards his mate. Joanna sighed softly to his worry, placing a hand on his right shoulder to let him know she felt fine. Her nausea had subsided that morning to provide relief and she hoped that it would be a good day. Still, she felt better throwing up in the safety of her home rather than a different clan. She had not left with the best of impressions after emptying her stomach twice.
Nitari's eyes scrutinized Joanna's appearance and her voice took on a motherly edge when she asked, "What happened?"
"I threw up repeatedly" the huntress admitted shamefully to her weak stomach during her first trip. It had been her first attempt as a diplomatic delegate of her clan and she failed. Betrayed by her own stomach! Her own expectations to prove herself had crashed abruptly like a wingless ikran with the first hurling session. She would more than likely be remembered as the Atykwe woman who threw up. At least her mate had made a dazzling impression. She was disappointed to return in such a sad condition after leaving with energetic optimism and apologized earnestly, "I'm sorry, tsahìk. I tried my best-"
The matriarch wasn't playing around with the health of one of her residents and promptly stood up to hold her hand out. Joanna accepted it with flattened ears, standing upright, and the elder woman drew her in close to soothe, "Let us find Zika, she should be nearby."
She guided her towards the adjacent alcoves but Tsu'tey pointed to the packages on the floor. He didn't want the food to spoil, depending on the length of the assessment, and mentioned awkwardly, "What about the fish?"
"They will be fine for the next hour, dear" Nitari chuckled softly to the care packages because her people's health came first. The ikran would not dare to squeeze through the spiral staircase for wrapped packages of fish, especially with the open sea and the hunter's area to provide endless sources of food. She assumed Tsu'tey was trying to cover every issue in one fell swoop but she tended to attack each separately by priority. The trio walked around the thick trunk of Kelutral to the largest alcove that stored the herbs, poultices, and salves for healers to refill their personal stock.
Zika hummed to herself happily as she sniffed different urns, lifting the wooden lids to determine whether the herbs smelled potently fresh. It was her turn that day to check their current inventory and the healer was more than happy to check each heavy urn before moving to the shelves stocked with baskets, smaller urns, and ikei bottles. She flinched with surprise at spotting the trio waiting for her and a hand flew to her chest to exclaim, "Oh my, is something wrong?"
"Might I have you assess Joanna?" the matriarch requested politely with perfect calm while Tsu'tey's tail was practically swaying fervently behind his back. Zika peeked at the huntress, who appeared more tired than perky, and took her nephew's silent body language as a cue. Motioning for them to follow, she darted forward to the closest empty hut across the walkway.
Aside from the natural alcoves set up along the trunk of Kelutral, there were simple huts made of a wooden skeletal foundation with bright white cloth draped along the four sides. The entrance was split down the middle to allow entrance while keeping privacy intact for the patients. Before the end of the conflict with the tawtute, many na'vi clans had to enact a larger healing force to deal with the injury cases from physical altercations. Now, they were used for wellness checks and Joanna felt like a child being escorted inside.
She sighed softly with nervousness to her recent shift in health and Zika motioned for her to lie down on the wicker mat. After being a student of both Zika and Nitari, Joanna's stomach knotted at disappointing her mentors. What if she was suffering from some random bout of indigestion and worried them needlessly? Having her mate beside her for such a result would also deal burning embarrassment. Zika rubbed her upper back gently at seeing her withdrawn expression as her ears flattened entirely against her skull, golden eyes wide, and her entire frame was tense up until she touched her. Tilting her head to the side, she reassured the young woman, "It will be all right. If you are not comfortable at any point, let me know."
"I trust you, it's me that I don't understand" she murmured weakly to her random symptoms and rubbed her midsection to her conundrum. Answers would either settle or unsettle her but at least she was back among her loved ones. She had treasured having her mate beside her so far from home but not having her clan left her lonely during her queasy nights. Her heart was happier now that she returned to her people and silently thanked her mate for making her right call against her complaints.
Zika chuckled warmly to disarm Joanna's uncertainty and she asked carefully, "Are you all right with Tsu'tey staying for the exam?"
"Of course, we hide no secrets" she smiled fondly to her beloved mate and met his gaze as he stood behind the women. He felt helpless in that instance since healing was not his strength and his mate needed that more than physical protection. She noticed his swaying tail despite his perfectly calm façade and outstretched her arm to beckon him to her side. Leaving him off to the side was not possible after everything they had been through and he kneeled on the opposite side of her to grasp her opposite hand.
"Now, tell me what the problem is" Zika requested to begin targeting the body area that would be her focus. Her new patient was alert and aware of her surroundings, dismissing any head injuries. There were no odd scrapes or bruises, nor jutting bones to indicate limb injuries.
Joanna rubbed the back of her neck as she breathed in deeply to explain sullenly, "I haven't been feeling very well lately."
Nitari placed a hand on her forehead to check for a temperature but found nothing unusual, asking for clarification, "What do you mean?"
Joanna pinched the start of her nose to block the aromatic scent of the herbs inside the hut. She loved the unique smells of the herbs and oils stored inside but her stomach fluttered uncertainly. Why was it behaving in such an odd manner? Dreading another nausea episode, she answered quickly, "I've been feeling nauseous recently, especially in the mornings. More often than not, my stomach empties. Strong smells have been triggering them throughout the day."
"How long?" Zika asked carefully to determine whether it was a lingering bug or something else. Glancing down at her abdomen, she noticed Joanna's lower section was more pronounced than the top portion. If she were experiencing digestion issues, her upper abdomen would appear more bloated. Now, the question in her mind was whether her lower abdomen would be soft or swollen to touch.
"Since the large continent on Polyphemus was visible?" she supplied innocently since the concept of time was different among the na'vi than it was for humans. They took their calendar days from the movements of Polyphemus since their sun was always present and unchanging.
"That's well over a month!" Nitari chastised her child with a motherly wag of the finger and the huntress shrunk against her firm gaze. Had she been ill this whole time and not said a word? She knew her little huntress tried to keep a tough front like most warriors but not to the point where she was unwell. Joanna's shoulders slumped even further when her mate added another glare into the mix for being kept in the dark.
"I assumed it would improve but it hasn't" she sighed softly with apology and grabbed her hand to squeeze it. Now, both her hands were busy. She silently scolded her stomach to stay put for the exam or she would feed it food that she wasn't fond of in protest. Her insides gurgled in rebuttal but conceded to her brain's order.
"Any hunger pangs?" Zika asked carefully while running her fingers down Joanna's ribs to determine her nutritional status. She was healthy and fit like all huntresses of her age group with this being her first visit for a complaint. She wasn't underweight or overweight and ate almost everything that left the cook's alcoves for mealtime. The huntress had yet to refuse to eat a particular food, unlike her picky children.
"No, but I am tired a lot" she replied earnestly to her recent fatigue despite maintaining her usual habits. Her exercise routine had not changed but her recent training with Nitari did leave her tired. She expected that to be a reason for her exhaustion but the nausea didn't fit. Glancing down at her hips, she muttered sheepishly to her recent physical change, "I have gained some weight."
"You have?" Tsu'tey asked with confusion to the revelation from his mate, causing her to grin. He had not noticed any significant changes in her at all and felt slightly embarrassed about it.
Zika patted the mat with a kind smile to continue the exam and asked, "Joanna, may I examine your abdomen?"
Obeying quietly, she laid down on her back and felt vulnerable for the first time. Squeezing her mate's hand, he returned it and she shifted her gaze to his for security. Zika's hands gently pressed against her abdomen, starting from her stomach downwards. The examination was rather gentle, reminding her of old doctor visits on Earth. The na'vi did not have technology or advanced medicine but for the most part, the species was healthy. Whether that was part of their neural connection to Eywa, she was unsure. She noticed her aunt's hands lingering over her lower abdomen, pressing lightly over certain areas below her belly button, and she asked cautiously, "What is it?"
"Your womb is higher than normal" she revealed thoughtfully with a furrowed brow, focusing on her target area. The nausea should have correlated to her upper abdomen when she examined it but Joanna had been entirely calm. When stomach maladies were ongoing, it would be sensitive to touch but she didn't guard any area. Tapping over her abdomen with two fingers, it was soft with percussion and she explained carefully, "Your belly is not swollen which means there is no current illness. Any pain when I press down here?"
Joanna did not flinch to any of her touches at all and she wondered if that was a good or bad thing. Her mind began alarming that only three organs lingered in that area: the bladder, large intestine, and her reproductive organs. Zika looked to Nitari with a knowing look as her hands lingered over her bladder/uterine area and Nitari braved the question, "Have your heating cycles ended?"
The huntress sighed morosely to prove her positive, her ears flattening against her head. Her voice was soft in the silent hut as she admitted modestly, "Yes. I assumed the constant training ended them with the stress of a new life. . .but it didn't, did it?"
"Any burning when urinating?" Zika asked quickly to rule out the last possibility because prevention of ailments was key to healthy living. Joanna shook her head because she was keeping hydrated like a fish to avoid dehydration from her hurling. Her bathroom business had not changed at all, feeling sheepish for a moment to discuss that with her mate.
Zika glanced at the matriarch with a small smile and dipped her head. Joanna was trying to piece together a diagnosis but having alien anatomy was not helpful. She knew that losing her heating cycles could mean a pregnancy but strenuous exercise or stress could decrease or make them irregular. Tsu'tey had very little knowledge of female health and usually resorted to his aunts for answers. Nitari touched Joanna's left cheek with a proud smile to reveal with motherly warmth, "You are expecting your first child, my dear Joanna. Congratulations, Tsu'tey."
What?
"You should begin feeling their kicks after another month" Zika explained with an amused smile to the couple's stunned faces when they froze in place. That was the last news they had been expecting from her recent vomiting. Tsu'tey had not moved from the moment Nitari revealed the truth, staring at the matriarch as if expecting her to laugh it off as a joke, while Joanna appeared more anxious than anything. The healer had been through these moments many times with couples and rested a hand on Joanna's head to reassure her, "I will give you different draughts to drink for the unwelcome nausea and for your baby's health as the pregnancy progresses. The spells should subside by the time your baby begins kicking."
"We're having a baby?" she whispered meekly to growing a living being inside her the whole time. There was a little baby developing with her features and Tsu'tey's? A little mini Joanna or mini Tsu'tey's like Leka and Leti had playfully teased them? Her worry shifted from concern about her health to her baby's for being unaware of their existence. Was she really carrying a baby? Thinking of the slight chance that it wasn't a pregnancy, she asked uncertainly, "It's not something malignant?"
"We will track your progress to rule out anything else" Zika answered confidently because if her lower abdomen appeared in the same fashion with pain and swelling, her concern would elevate. Joanna's only symptoms were relevant to a new pregnancy and her body would begin developing now that her baby bump was visible. She didn't dare laugh at the couple for thinking it was extra weight. Quite frankly, she and her sisters had noticed Joanna's recent appearance but said nothing out of respect. It had only been a matter of time before it was confirmed and she was a proud aunt to do so. Joanna sat up to take a deep breath to absorb the news of a little baby thriving inside her and the healer explained, "You have been a healthy woman so far and your symptoms match most women who carry a child. It is a natural occurrence for a mated woman."
Anxiety settled into that new surreal concept since she had missed her last two cycles and the third was already late, cementing in the fact. Her first cycle had been of little concern, especially when she didn't feel the regular pregnancy symptoms. Then again, she expected symptoms to match a human pregnancy but she felt fine the first month. It had left her mind quickly with her busy schedule around the clan and her romantic entangles with her mate weren't guided by her heat cycles. She blamed both of their amorous appetites for their current predicament but it was a gift to conceive a child. Her past life averted her to such an idea but meeting Tsu'tey had changed her mind drastically after falling in love with him. Her vision blurred to the future awaiting them, hoping she could be a good mother, and she met his modest gaze to whisper, "We're having a baby. I can't believe this is happening."
She clutched her mate tightly with tears stinging her eyes, holding him tightly by the chest. A baby had been the last possibility in her mind and she had lumped her thoughts into something worse. Her mate's desire for a child had now come true and they could celebrate that milestone. Tsu'tey was slowly absorbing the new addition to their family and she doted fondly, "You're going to be a father."
He had not expected anything like that from his aunt but connecting the dots, he trusted her judgment. The image of a wriggling newborn flashed in his mind and the initial apprehension gave way to pride and joy. He had often joked with Joanna about starting a family once they mated but they needed their time as a couple before adding a baby into the mix. Now, that jest had come true and his mate was carrying his child. He was going to be a father! Relief flooded him at hearing his mate was well and their little one was the root cause of her upset stomach.
His fingers combed through her braided hair to settle her emotional state and he hoped it was from happiness rather than dread. He would be nothing but supportive to his pregnant mate and hugged her close to reassure her of his support. Joanna, on the other hand, was worried about the biology and physical appearance of her hybrid child. Placing her palms flat on his chest, she admitted with concern, "The baby might hold my features and I don't know how the innate tawtute traits will develop in the child."
"I will love our child, whether they have four or five fingers" he chuckled gently because he would treasure his little one and protect them dearly. If anything, the fifth finger would prove advantageous with gripping. He had initially mocked her strange features during their hostile days but he rarely noticed them nowadays. The matriarch had informed them that Neytiri's pregnancy had yielded a healthy and thriving son so he had no concerns for theirs. Eywa had yet to provide him with nightmares about children but while Joanna dreamt about a daughter, he dreamt of a son. Time would soon provide an answer with the birth of their firstborn.
Running her hand over her lower abdomen, she turned to the matriarch and told her with apprehension, "I . . . I'm scared about this, for us and the baby."
Nitari drew her into a motherly embrace to soothe her worries but Joanna kept her right hand latched onto her mate's. The monumental support of her family lightened her fears to the new role of motherhood awaiting her. She didn't want anything to happen with her baby and resolved to protect their tiny form from all dangers, even her own fears. Nitari clutched her close to convey her promise to protect them, meeting Tsu'tey's concerned gaze, and assured the couple, "We will make sure everything is fine. If you need to visit your healer friend at the Omaticaya, feel free to go to ensure the health of your child. First and foremost, you need a birthing healer."
Joanna didn't have to think twice on that one, looking to her old mentor over Nitari's shoulder, and piped up hopefully, "Zika?"
"Me?" she asked with surprise since the older healers were more adept to delivering children. She had a few under her belt, learning about complications from her own mentors, but it wasn't her specialty. Newborns and children were her forte but Nara had insisted having her as her delivery healer for Sìlpey to dip her feet in the field. Her sister, however, opted for a birth at sea so Zika had asked for a more experienced healer to assist. She had never delivered a baby from a dreamwalker and wondered if Eywa was beginning to test her with more complicated pregnancies.
"You're the healer I trust most" Joanna spoke with respect for the woman who had taken her under her wing during her training as a student. Her kind bedside manner was calming, especially during stressful moments such as labor, and she was gifted in her skill. She didn't want to place her aunt in an uncomfortable position, given that she would assist her in giving birth. Seeing someone's nether regions would either bring you closer together or make life awkward. Her brow furrowed in case she had been too forward and she corrected sheepishly, "I mean, only if you're comfortable delivering children."
Zika paused with humbled surprise to the trust granted to her and looked between her nephew and matriarch. Tsu'tey would feel more comfortable in having his aunt oversee his mate's pregnancy than anyone else. His hopeful expression matched Joanna's at a muted level while Nitari eyed the healer with amusement. Despite her age, Zika was proving herself to be a competent healer in multiple specialties and she would slowly nudge her to tackle new cases. With three votes of approval, she dipped her head to the mated couple and agreed, "I would be honored."
Joanna smiled happily to keeping her trusted confidantes for her pregnancy and told Tsu'tey with curiosity, "Seeing Max wouldn't be such a bad idea. Only because of my peculiarities."
Tsu'tey was amused by her wiggling fingers because he didn't mind her unique features at all. If anything, it made his mate a rarity and he was grateful to have her beside him. He couldn't believe that a baby would be in the future now and he agreed to her wish, "You are perfect the way you are, but we can certainly visit."
Back at the Omaticaya, Jake and Neytiri were gradually adjusting to being new parents as their sleep cycles were finally stabilizing. The two were an efficient team in tackling shifts during the night for changings and feedings while they switched off carrying their son throughout the day. Mo'at was more than happy to babysit to give the couple a break for needed sleep, remembering her own days as a first-time mother. Txe'lan was now approaching five months of age and he was happy to mingle with his clanmates. His parent's important roles within the clan kept the little infant in the spotlight but if either parent or his grandmother was attached to him, he wouldn't bawl his eyes out.
Today, Jake was responsible for his son while Neytiri returned to training her rite students. After being cleared to return to her regular activities, Neytiri didn't hesitate to run off into the forest. The pregnancy had constricted her activities in the last months and although she loved Txe'lan, she missed her old life of exploration. It wasn't long before she asked Peyral to return to teaching students and taking part in hunts. Jake had sneakily joined her first hunts to keep an eye over his mate but Neytiri didn't take long to return to her pre-pregnancy days.
Txe'lan splashed his hands in the wooden bathtub as he took his bath, laughing gleefully. Jake, unfortunately, was the receiver of the sloshing water and he exclaimed to him soaking the ground with water. His feet would undoubtedly be muddy for a while but he could always freshen up when Neytiri returned. The dad and son duo were spending their time in the bathing area of Kelutral as he sat on a log bench while the wooden tub lay on the ground. He slathered soap over his son's shoulders with his left hand while using his dominant right to keep hold of Txe'lan's back. His son was not yet able to sit up on his own but it was far easier bathing him now than during his first month. It took him several tries before he felt comfortable gripping the back of his neck to keep his newborn upright. Now, the little baby had more than doubled in size with features that were being defined by the passing months.
"You are a great son for enjoying your baths" he complimented his little one with a grin and received a handful of water to the face. Allowing the water to trail down his face, he sighed softly. Fatherhood was definitely a change of pace but he enjoyed peaceful moments like this. His son was clearly the same as he babbled nonsense, bright eyes focused on him.
"Jake?"
"Olo'eyktan?"
Keeping a firm grip on Txe'lan, he turned around to see who had called his attention. By the sound of the voices, it was Max and Peyral. The couple had quickly become his second pair of hands at running the clan when he and Neytiri were occupied. He missed Tsu'tey's sassy remarks when he was in over his head but Peyral was filling in his role with sharp precision. The huntress and healer approached their clan leader, smiling down at Txe'lan to greet the infant. The small boy turned from splashing at the water to reaching out for the couple and Peyral took the initiative to grasp his tiny pudgy hand. Txe'lan giggled happily to the greeting, given that many cowered from the stern huntress, but Peyral had developed a sweet spot for the little boy.
"I See you, little one" she greeted softly with a warm gaze and wiggled his hand, earning a happy splash from his free one. Jake kept a firm grip on his back to wash away the soap since he was halfway through the bath. The shampooing took the most time since Txe'lan had a thick head full of hair and he had to work out the knots before the soap touched his eyes.
Max tried to ignore his mate's personality change but a sharp jab from her opposite hand to his ankle kept him quiet. Ever since Txe'lan was born, Peyral had become more accepting of children but she preferred the bright-eyed boy to any other baby. He was not going to push anything further to avoid sleeping outside their shared hammock. Jake had not expected to be found in the bathing area by anyone, except Mo'at, and remarked, "Fancy meeting you here."
Deciding to focus on their leader, who they had been searching for instead of his mate, Max inquired, "What are you doing?"
Jake shrugged noncommittally and returned to running the sponge down his son's back to scrub it clean. Motioning to the tub, which was a big indicator of his intent, he pointed out easily, "Washing my baby, I can't let him be stinky. The amount of diapers lately terrifies me."
"Did you forget about the meeting?" Peyral asked bluntly to the itinerary of his day's work since Neytiri entrusted her to keep her mate punctual. That, and a second set of eyes to stop his shenanigans. Thankfully, Txe'lan's birth had cut them short because he wouldn't jeopardize his safety for pranks or random bouts of adventure.
Their leader blinked awkwardly with confusion because he didn't have anything scheduled until the later afternoon. The herbalists would be planting new seeds for the flowers the pa'li enjoyed and Jake didn't mind lending them a hand. His mind drew a total blank to their questioning glances and he asked, "What meeting?"
"The one about the rite students?" Peyral supplied matter-of-factly, hoping to trigger any memories. Her leader, however, remained oblivious and she sighed under her breath. Oh no, the baby's cuteness was drawing the olo'eyktan's power! He was an adorable baby though so she couldn't blame him for drawing attention.
"Oh!" he exclaimed with recognition to the forgotten meeting and his ears dipped low with embarrassment. He wasn't the forgetful type but when he was on dad duty with the baby, the entire world disappeared. During the night, however, he hoped he wouldn't accidentally step on a toy. Chuckling awkwardly to the snafu, he apologized earnestly, "Sorry, my head was stuck on Txe'lan."
Max earned himself an offended hiss when he commented sarcastically, "It's been slipping lately, are you getting enough sleep?"
"Surprisingly, it's gotten better" Jake admitted to overcoming the sleep deprivation to keep up with the baby's feedings and diaper changes. Any little sound from Txe'lan woke them during the first month but nowadays, they were able to sleep comfortably. Once he learned to crawl, however, their worries would return since Kelutral wasn't exactly a short tree. Their alcove, however, would be baby-proofed with a wooden gate to avoid nightly escapes. Patting the empty log bench, he piped up to offer a suitable alternative, "Come on, we'll have the meeting here."
"While you wash the baby?" Max asked uncertainly to discussing business while in the middle of the baby's bath time. Jake had a pretty relaxed open-door policy with the clan to appear approachable since he enjoyed relating to the residents. He didn't want to lose touch with any of them and Neytiri approved of his close relationship with everyone.
"You've never seen a father bathe his child?" Jake shot back sarcastically because he took his fatherly duties seriously. Otherwise, he would earn a few smacks upside the head from his mate. He could multitask quite easily to stay ahead and when it came to fulfilling the dreams of wide-eyed hunting students, he wouldn't fail them. He brushed his thumb over Txe'lan's plump cheek, earning an instant smile, and he chuckled, "He's not much of a wriggler anymore so talk away."
Peyral sat down on the log with an awkward expression to the relaxed nature of meeting with her leader and murmured, "This is a new one."
Rolling the oval soap bar over Txe'lans' head to begin the shampooing, he pointed out confidently to his skills, "I'm improvising and not too bad if I say so myself!"
"Only you would be impressed" Max sighed under his breath but reluctantly handed him the point for quick-thinking. Following his mate, he sat down beside her with the same mildly bemused expression to holding a meeting in the bathing area. Peyral was almost inclined to hang her head and wondered if Tsu'tey dealt with this stoically to maintain pride or chided his friend endlessly.
"And you're not?" Jake shot back, refusing to admit defeat and falling behind on his tasks. He would bathe his son, figure out the new schedule of training for the students, help the herbalists garden, and find his way to the cooks to give them his daily pep talk. His energy would not fade but glow brightly against all obstacles! Txe'lan's perky face fell with a pout to the shampooing when his father ran a comb through his sudsy hair. Jake scoffed at the idea of failure, careful on combing through the queue area, and stated brightly, "I'm about to bring new meaning to a working sempu."
Peyral tried not to laugh when naked children scampered by to the private bathing stalls, followed by exasperated parents, and commented dryly, "Never had a meeting in the bathing area, that's for sure."
"Our leader likes being a trendsetter" Max replied flatly to his energetic personality and almost missed the grumpy and depressed Jake from his first months at Hell's Gate. Despite his moments of impulsivity, he was surprisingly adept at multitasking and refusing to give up. Maybe it was the human factor that played into it but then again, Max wasn't the type to tackle a toruk in midair.
Peyral dipped a bowl in clean water from a pail and rinsed Txe'lan's hair to help his father along. As a clan, they came together as a family to help each other out. His raven hair stuck to his cyan skin and he sputtered out excess water, his large eyes focusing in on the adults before him. Unaware of the importance of his young life at that age, she joked gently with him, "Remember, when you're older and have seized leadership, your father did agree to such meetings. I will not think any less of you."
"Don't try to encourage embarrassment in my child before he's aware of it" Jake nagged his unofficial aunt and would not be surprised if he turned out more like Neytiri. He was still an infant so he would not know what features he would ultimately carry but he hoped for hers. Travel would eventually fall into Txe'lan's hands once he came of age and he didn't want anyone to ask about his dreamwalker features if he had inherited them. He didn't give a thanator's crap about himself but his child deserved better than to be lumped with a hostile alien species he would know nothing about. Smiling down at his babbling son, he encouraged proudly, "You will be tenacious and fearless like your mother. You already have Peyral as your protector."
"I never agreed to . . ." she began swiftly to being deemed the protector of the Omaticayan heir and trailed off when noticing Txe'lan's curious gaze. Jake grabbed a towel from his handy knapsack to dry off his little one and lifted him out of the wooden tub to swaddle him in the cozy towel. His large eyes didn't leave her gaze, reaching out for her hand, and she grabbed his damp fingers to sigh with defeat, "Your cuteness knows no bounds."
Max snorted to hide his laughter at the situation after hearing his mate decline children at the thought of them being clingy. Now, she had fallen headfirst for the cute baby and didn't mind his attachment. Would her opinion change? Peyral nudged him in the side this time with her free elbow and she muttered, "Call me sanu and I will end you."
Jake was happy to call an end to his unexpected meeting and return to his family alcove to return a happy Txe'lan to his mother for his upcoming feeding. Neytiri had been impressed to her squeaky clean child but milk would be smearing his plump cheeks by the end of his meal. Her mate had been spectacular in keeping up with their shared duties and whenever he was confused by something new, relayed it to Mo'at. Her mother had become their pool of wisdom for childrearing and the matriarch was more than happy to keep Txe'lan when the two needed their own time to replenish their energy. Today, however, was not one of those days.
Neytiri held their baby against her left shoulder after burping him and Txe'lan happily snuggled against his mother. Soon, she would begin introducing soft food into his diet so that would be their next project to tackle as parents. Jake brushed his hand along the back of their son's head and he smiled with pride to their daddy-son day, "We had a good time today, didn't we?"
"He certainly fell asleep quickly during his feeding" Neytiri chuckled fondly to his instant satiety during the feeding, rubbing his back gently. Txe'lan cooed sleepily against her shoulder since the burping woke him up. Gone were the days when he would cry and fuss for that part and simply accepted it as a way of life. She motioned to his neatly combed hair that was braided because Jake usually placed a tie at the nape to call it a day. He was slowly getting used to styling their son's hair due to the sensitive queue and she complimented the pretty style, "You even braided his hair."
"Actually, that was Peyral" he confessed sheepishly because she was better at braiding children's hair compared to himself. Txe'lan had been stubborn to stay still but her hunting skills with wriggling prey helped to clinch a perfect braid. He appreciated the helpful hand instead of returning a frizzy-haired Txe'lan to his mother and he added in sullenly, "Both Max and I failed horribly."
She couldn't fault him for trying his best and appreciate his effort, smiling fondly, "You are a wonderful father."
"Not as much as his beautiful mother" he quipped back with a charismatic smile and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She was a woman that handled being a tsahìk, a huntress, a teacher, and a mother flawlessly. Neytiri felt otherwise because her pregnancy made her feel out of touch with her identity but her mate never stopped believing in her. Her early mornings were dedicated to the baby with timed periods for her activities throughout the clan to return to Txe'lan intermittently for his feedings.
"Charmer" she laughed with amusement to his persuasion but appreciated the image boost. The return to her old physical prowess before the baby had been hard work to reach the cutoff for teaching new students. The hunters and the students were both happy to have the other half of the leadership team return. Still, she wouldn't let her mate take it easy on her when they were in the same hunting team. Flicking her mate's right ear playfully, she informed him of the latest development, "Mother wanted to give you something."
His mind grew instantly curious to what the matriarch sought him for but he wouldn't keep her waiting. He had noticed the elder tsahìk in their alcove upon returning with Txe'lan, giving the peppy baby to her for bonding time. Between the bath with his father and his grandmother's warm hugs, Txe'lan had smoothly settled into his feeding with his mother afterwards without a fuss. Pushing back the privacy curtain that split their sleeping area from the entrance of the alcove, he found Mo'at knitting a yellow blanket for her little grandson. The child grew faster by the weeks that Neytiri was trying to keep up with the growth demands and she didn't mind helping. Now that she was in the role of advisor, the previous matriarch was happy to settle into retirement.
Jake tried not to smile when he caught a happy lullaby being hummed by the usually stoic woman and he called her attention, "You wanted to see me?"
Mo'at paused her knitting to set it aside, picking up another fabric pooled in her lap. Standing up, she held up the orange fabric to unveil the familiar carrying sling for babies that mothers often wore. The seamstresses had weaved one for Neytiri and she had requested one for her son after seeing him improvise with a blanket. The orange hue would complement his energetic personality well and she explained, "With your daily wandering around Kelutral, I wanted to offer a convenient way to carry Txe'lan."
"Neat, a carrier" he spoke with intrigue to his new gift and grasped it to place the thickly woven strap over his right shoulder. Sliding it over his back, he adjusted the baby carrier in the position he saw mothers carry their newborns rather than the larger infants. Being reminded of the na'vi mothers, he spoke up uncertainly to being mistaken for one by Txe'lan, "Wait, I thought only the women used these. Mainly for the feeding."
"They also serve as carriers for fathers" she chuckled with amusement to his naivety since the artisan fathers were more likely to carry their little ones around. Having a bow, quiver, and a baby carrier could become obstructive for the hunters. Mo'at reached out to straighten the carrier in the front to avoid any weight imbalance and informed him, "You can keep him in the front or strap him tightly to your back."
"This is great!" he exclaimed happily to his new accessory and heard Neytiri chuckle behind him. She didn't think he would want more to carry around, given that he carried his bow throughout the day for any sudden danger. He didn't mind ditching it momentarily and adding a few throwing knives instead to have easier maneuverability. He held out his arms towards his mate to have the baby and explained excitedly, "I can carry him everywhere hands-free!"
"This should make it easier for your errands" Mo'at agreed since her son was relentless on finding tasks to keep him occupied and took his son along for the ride. Neytiri would use her sling during her lessons alongside her or teaching her students at Kelutral. Soon, she would try to take him for his first flight on her ikran to show him the beauty of their world.
Wagging a finger to their half-sleepy infant, Jake warned like a diligent father, "You'll be staying in the front until sempu is comfortable."
"I don't mind keeping him for the afternoon" Neytiri stated flatly since napping beside her little one was a good way to bond and renew her energy. With her mother nearby, she could keep an eye on the napping baby. Txe'lan, however, perked his little ears at hearing his father's excited voice. Much like Jake, any enthusiasm in his parent's voice would liven him up and the baby groaned defiantly against his own drowsy state.
"I have to try this out now" Jake declared eagerly but took extra care with their son to slide him into the carrier sling. Neytiri tried not to snicker to his childish delight over a baby accessory but helped him settle Txe'lan into his new carrier. The infant merely flicked his tail to tuck it under his butt and snuggled against his father's chest as his body warmth radiated through the fabric. Jake would let him sleep for a bit to let him digest his meal and assured her, "Enjoy a few hours, I'll bring him back before the new pa'li flowers are planted."
"Don't trigger my motherly sentimentality by keeping the baby for too long" she warned playfully but they tackled parenting efficiently to trade time with Txe'lan. At night, however, they would both be snuggled beside their baby in the alcove to hear the rain cascading through the canopies. Sleep deprivation was soon becoming a habit of the past and she was very glad for it.
"Of course not, the mother thanator will hunt me down" he promised with an impish grin to her motherly fury over their son's safety. They had awaited the birth of Txe'lan for what felt like ages but they wouldn't have changed a thing about their lives. He brought them closer together as a unit and his cheerful disposition made life a dream. His birth signified a new life for Jake, more so than his soul transfer, because he had a little soul depending on him for love and shelter. Clutching him close to his chest, he doted on his son, "Doing all right there, buddy?"
Txe'lan decided to burp instead of coo and his father approved of his pep, "That's the spirit!"
The women tried not to sigh to his fatherly affection while he watched Txe'lan babble. His golden eyes complemented the orange hue of the fabric as they met his and he lightly brushed his nose to chuckle, "You already have your mother's smile."
"I will laugh in a year if he takes after you" Neytiri scoffed to his never-ending compliments that he was matching her completely. She didn't want him to take after her physically because her son was a child of two worlds. He should wear that unique ability on his features to show that were good tawtute among the majority that sought chaos. Hopefully, he would match his father's heart with her features. Making a shooing motion with her hands, she teased, "Go before I retake my child."
"Let's go show our friends" he declared jovially and placed a hand over his son's head. Txe'lan babbled happily before reaching up to grasp his hand with eager fingers. He wasn't about to get into crazy hijinks or ruin his son's cleanliness. Neytiri was not entirely confident about her son returning half-asleep for his next feeding but trusted her mate. He adjusted the strap over his shoulder to keep Txe'lan tucked closely to his chest and informed them, "Mainly because I'm late to meet Norm and he needs all of our help to secure a mate."
Neytiri's brow furrowed to his meddling with their friend's romance life and hoped he wasn't about to wreck it. She still remembered the antics he pulled with both Joanna and Tsu'tey while she stepped on his tail when he tried to meddle with Cheryl and Noren. Thankfully, Peyral had threatened to politely throw him downhill when her romance with Max began. Norm was their last ikran looking for his lifelong mate and she asked, "Can he still not make up his mind?"
"I think he's stuck between old and new love" Jake sighed with disappointment to his friend's inability to make up his mind. For him, it had been rather easy with the headstrong Neytiri. She could beat him down and he would still love her! He categorized Tarazi in similarity to his mate and Peyral but unlike the older two, she failed to make the first move. Norm wasn't helping the situation by stonewalling either. Snapping his fingers at his mate, who eyed him suspiciously, he pointed out for clarification, "Wait, but you picked new love, does that mean Tarazi is out?"
"I didn't love Tsu'tey, you skxawng!" she chastised with embarrassment to that history reminder and smacked his left bicep. Her planned union with her childhood friend had been out of a need to keep their clan strong rather than affection. Her heart had been smitten by the foreign dreamwalker more than any of her own clansmen, even if her family highly disapproved. Eywa had determined better paths for both she and Tsu'tey, leading her to chide, "Don't make the situation worse. Poor Norm might faint."
"I make situations spectacular" he corrected matter-of-factly to his charisma because he already had one couple under his cupid's bow. However, he never expected Norm's journey for romance to be tougher than Tsu'tey, who downright terrified most people. Cheryl, Max, and Joanna had found their mates but Norm was still on a search for his. Now that Jake had Txe'lan, he added in with afterthought, "But not while I'm on sempu duty. Norm is likely to get a nagging from me this time."
"Go on" Neytiri sighed with dismay but rested easier in knowing he wouldn't be doing something crazy with Txe'lan. The baby was quickly becoming a diffuser for her mate's dramatic tendencies for shenanigans. She would expect her little one to return in perfect condition to continue their mother-son time.
Txe'lan babbled at his grandmother with affection and she squeezed his little hand. He had quickly seized her heart like one of her own children and would never fail to return his love. Releasing his hand, she brushed a thumb over his cheek in farewell, "Until last meal, little one."
Joanna stretched her limbs to crack her joints against the doorframe of her hut to relax for the evening. The departing sun bathed the sky in its lilac-pink sunset with twinkling stars that peeked out through the cloud cover. She caught her mate gazing at her lower belly, a daily quirk of his nowadays, and smiled to tease, "Staring at it won't make the baby grow faster."
He chuckled softly, wrapping one arm around her shoulders to bring her close against his chest, and kissed the top of her head. After the news of the pregnancy, he had become more cautious over her and lingered closer when they were in close quarters. Joanna couldn't help but find his overprotective drive endearing and a little funny. She snuggled against him with a content smile, kissing his cheek affectionately, and mused, "A baby. I never thought I would use that word, especially after our separation. Still, I never imagined any other man but you being the father so we're quite lucky."
Despite the initial nerves, she was over the moon with adding a new little face to their family. She had switched out her old leggings for a looser fit for her gradually changing body. Soon, a whole new wardrobe would need to be incorporated but before doing so, they had to let their family in on the news. Avi would undoubtedly have questions if she requested the new clothes all at once. Inhaling deeply, she sighed dreamily to having the best dream of a life and spoke, "We're going to have a living breathing little being depending on us. Are you ready for this new adventure?"
"Joanna, I am always ready for the future" he reminded confidently since he was prepared for anything that came his way. His fondest dreams had come true now that he lived with the woman he loved and they would begin their family. His life was absolutely perfect and he wouldn't have changed a single thing, humbled to have such an idyllic life. She chuckled to his endless persistence at succeeding in every challenge and briefly wondered if that was why she had a little bun in her oven now. He blinked with confusion when she burst into a random bout of laughter and she shook her head to forget her silliness. She dotted fond kisses along his jawline to convey her affection and he spoke fondly, "You have brought me happiness that I never thought I'd experience. You will bear my child and I will keep them safe for as long as I am here."
"They'll have eager cousins to play with" she chuckled softly at imagining their wide-eyed eyed baby meeting their playful cousins. Na'vi babies were almost doll-like with their large eyes and a head full of hair. Joanna remembered her caretaking days back at the Omaticaya and wondered if their baby would take after her mate. It was likely for the best to avoid any self-consciousness over having dreamwalker features. She wanted her baby to appear like a true na'vi and she traced her thumb over the blue stripe over his right cheek to remark, "I hope they have your beautiful eyes, mine are small. I can already see them swaying my choices with their expression."
He laid a hand on her lower stomach, smiling faintly to the rounder outline in comparison to the flatter plane of their first days as a mated couple. After seeing her every day and sleeping beside his mate, he had been oblivious to her condition. He blamed his love for her because her happiness and safety came first. Regardless of whether she gained some weight or not, he found her physically appealing. Joanna let him indulge in his newest fascination, trying not to grin, and he teased gently, "Now that I look at you, your hip area has become plumper."
"Don't call me plump, you can do so when I waddle" she laughed softly as she leaned against him with a sigh. Running her fingers down his jawline, she smiled mischievously, "Hopefully, my waddling will still draw your eye to these hips."
"Always, my mate" he assured with a charming grin and kissed her on the lips. Joanna's tail swayed happily to the affection, falling into his arms as he angled her towards his chest. Her left arm swept over his shoulders to clutch him close and she strengthened their chaste kiss into a passionate one. Hmm, maybe she was the instigator of creating their baby. Tsu'tey enjoyed her amorous kiss, chuckling when she nipped at his upper lip, and he reminded her, "If you feel any discomfort, please tell me right away. I will be taking great care of you, my dearest, and our little child."
She laid a hand in his chest to run her index finger over his sternum in circles and smiled, "Are you ready to be called sempu? We'll have to learn all about parenting until they're here. How to bathe them, change their dirty loincloth-"
"Anything but that one" he groaned miserably to the messy image of exploding poopy loincloths and hysterical crying. They would have to make sure to have enough backup clothes for a soiled newborn. He already imagined their tiny tail wrapping around his wrist in protest to his impeccable cleanliness, much like his mate's that kept its innocent flicks. She laughed to his dismayed expression since he was particularly quirky about being spotless in appearance and he pointed out, "We'll have enough time to make enough if they decide to wriggle everywhere."
"You're not helping me with the pooping nightmares" she protested with a whine to a potential mountain of diapers to wash every day. Her life would change with the baby to revolve around the new little person in her life with feedings, bathing, changing nappies, and numerous other tasks. Both of their roles would shift to fit around their son or daughter but her mate would be their loving father. There were bound to be a few hilarious hiccups but what couple didn't have that trial-and-error period. Tapping the flat end of his nose, she smiled with pride, "They're going to love their sempu. Strong and protective, they'll use you for cover and climb you like a tree."
"Well, you did call me a prolemuris so thank you for birthing my offspring" he joked cheekily to her nicknames when enraged and kissed the start of her neck. Now that his mate was pregnant, they could enjoy their nights together without concern. Joanna leaned into his touch with a delighted sigh, tracing her fingers down his ear to trigger one of his spots. She laughed when it flattened against his head to escape her touch, given that they had to keep it tame since company was inbound. Tsu'tey didn't let an opportunity go to waste and asked confidently, "Can this prolemuris show his immense devotion to his voluptuous mate?"
"Yes, but only if he promises to clean those future soiled loincloths" she grinned widely to give early cleaning duty to her mate and kissed him on the lips. His dreamy expression disappeared instantly as his mind flipped from an amorous night to a future covered in stinky baby loincloths. Would his future shift from a great night of lovemaking to folding baby clothes that soon? Joanna didn't help his fantasy improve in the slightest when she added in, "And after your family leaves."
Tsu'tey groaned miserably to being denied temporarily and she shook her head to chide his protest. She would be taking the heavy hit of childbirth so her mate would make a handsome sight by nurturing and loving the baby. That, and diaper changes. She brushed her hand over his braided tresses and complimented his determined nature, "I think the great Tsu'tey can handle a soiled loincloth or two."
"Tsu-Tsu!"
The familiar call of Leti announced the inbound arrival of their family and Joanna grinned with pep to encourage, "I know the perfect way to prepare the father-to-be."
The children were the first to dash into their home with eager feet and Tsu'tey barely had time to stand before they bombarded him with hugs. Joanna covered her mouth to muffle her laughter at seeing Sifu and Sìlpey latch onto his shoulders in greeting. The children loved him dearly and she knew their baby would follow in the same footsteps- once they learned to walk. Leti and Keron improvised by latching onto his protesting hands to overwhelm the hunter on all sides, sitting him back down with flawless efficient teamwork. Sìlpey flashed his elder cousin a toothy smile before declaring jovially, "We're here!"
The twins and Wätu weren't far behind the children, entering the hut with a warm welcome in practiced unison. The hunter bested Joanna's volume in laughter at seeing his cousin overwhelmed by the tiny brigade. He would yank their little tails and flick ears to get them to scram and leave him be. Tsu'tey, however, catered to the little ones and that granted them the power of confidence against him. He couldn't help but chide his older cousin with a mischievous grin, "Did children defeat one of our best warriors?"
"Tìfnu!" Tsu'tey shot back sarcastically to silence his jesting but smiled warmly at the children. Despite their endless amount of energy, he was never worn out by his little cousins. He figured that it was due to his own extensive stamina since Joanna would sometimes fall asleep before the children during their sleepovers. Although, it could have been the work of their little one.
His gaze softened at the children, wondering how his child would look alongside their cousins. Being first cousins, they all shared similar bioluminescent patterns over their arms. Placing a hand over Sifu's and Silpey's heads, who didn't hide their favor for the hunting caste, he complimented them, "If they did, that means they will be even greater warriors."
The boys beamed proudly to the vote of confidence but Wätu flicked their ears as the bothersome riti on the wall. The duo was joined by Keron when they began slapping him away and the young hunter reminded, "We're supposed to be cousins, not fathers."
The twins snorted to the idea of their brother settling down while Joanna tried not to blush at the concealed truth. Tsu'tey hissed playfully because he could be whatever in Pandora he wanted to be. He had transitioned through multiple roles that he felt like an amphibian trying to grow wings. Standing upright, he leaned down to pick up the eager Leti and replied, "I prefer to be an older brother. I never had the opportunity."
Wätu yelped when a hand smacked his head from behind, darting behind his unamused cousin for safe cover. Tsu'tey, however, provided none of that when he stood up with Leti in his arms and sidestepped away from him. He wasn't getting in the middle of dramatics for once and left him out to dry. Wätu scoffed indignantly to being abandoned and cleaved off the family solidarity tree. Avi entered the hut with her laughing mate, triggering laughter from everyone else, and she chastised swiftly, "Do not badmouth your cousin."
"We were joking" he insisted helplessly for a helping hand but Tsu'tey simply deadpanned. The children didn't help their kin by hissing in defiance to his previous joking. Crossing his arms, he sighed dramatically to the betrayal by his bloodline, "Traitors."
"Welcome, everyone" Joanna greeted cheerfully and hoped her home would fit all their relatives. They had yet to test out the maximum capacity of their main room since most family meetings were held at Avi's. With their hut being along the path toward Kelutral, Joanna assumed having a quick stop along the way would make the reveal easier.
Zika managed to convince the cooks to release her mate early before last meal for the family news. Her poor mate was surprised to the early day and almost expected a family emergency until his mate calmed him down. Being aware of the purpose of the meeting, she didn't mind sticking in the rear of the family group. Nara carried her infant over her left shoulder, trying her best to burp Hiri to help her settle into a nap for last meal. Kovi was the lucky recipient of the baby carrier sling since he would keep their daughter to let his mate feast on a well-deserved meal.
"We do fit in here" Tsu'tey remarked with surprise to fitting everyone inside their hut and his relatives chuckled. He had been wary that they would all be pressed for space but the main room managed to hold their large family. Well, if he and Joanna ever decided to have an abundant family, there would be space for rooms.
"I told you my measurements would be precise" Akhil reminded his nephew since he had designed the layout of the hut. Being an artisan of wooden goods, he knew how to make the most out of the size of an area. He had designed his home and helped his brothers-in-law for their own homes so lending a hand to Tsu'tey was a given.
"Before we attend last meal, we wanted to share some news" Joanna explained to their gathered guests, moving to stand beside her mate. She hoped that nobody would think they were adding a baby too quickly into their family. They weren't even a season into their new life and had a little one on the way but amorous appetites had not helped them. Wringing her hands nervously, she concealed her lower abdomen as she said, "Although some might be aware."
Avi glanced around the room to chide her family playfully, "Who dare learned gossip before me?"
"We'll make this quick since last meal is near" Joanna promised to avoid being late to their belly-filling last meal of the night. The children were always eager to break away and congregate on their meal options while the adults found a spot to sit for the night. She looked to her mate since they had decided it would be best for the news to come from him. The happy look on his face whenever he mentioned the baby tickled her pink.
"After learning the truth recently, we wanted to collect our thoughts before revealing it" he began carefully because they had been in a stunned stupor for most of the first day. They had not expected a baby so soon and it was only when they settled into their bed that they gleefully accepted the truth. Running their hands over her small but growing baby bump sealed the reality. Now, they would await their little kicks to signify their growing strength to survive the odds. Taking a deep breath, he unveiled his newest pride as both a man and mate to the awaiting group, "Joanna and I are expecting our first child."
"A baby?!"
The word baby echoed with shocked exclamations and Tsu'tey laughed, wondering if he had appeared the same back then. Joanna blushed heavily when all of their eyes lowered to her pelvis but she was happy to provide her child with a large loving family. Tsu'tey smiled widely to proclaiming his inbound fatherhood and wrapped his free arm around his mate's shoulders to reply, "Yes."
"A baby Tsu-Tsu?" Leti asked curiously with glee, clapping her hands to another little baby. Hiri was already learning to crawl and had lost the sleepiness of her newborn days. Adding another baby would give Leti plenty of little friends to play with.
The couple was bombarded with congratulations and well wishes for their baby. Tsu'tey would be leaning on both his uncles and aunts for advice on childrearing. His little cousins were adorable and respectable children so he would want his own to follow the same example. He still couldn't believe his fortune on welcoming his first child and thanked Eywa for everything she had provided him. It was a dream he never wanted to wake from. Avi clapped her hands with delight to the impending bundle of joy and declared, "We must prepare! Blankets, basket, a carrier!"
"We didn't even begin to think about that" Tsu'tey murmured sheepishly since they had been basking on the baby itself rather than planning for the arrival. No wonder his elders raised great children! He couldn't dawdle for too long on his joy and shifted his focus on providing for his child. Otherwise, he would disappoint both Joanna and their child by not being able to provide for them.
Joanna bit her bottom lip because diapers had been the only thing to surface to mind. Well, that and the childbirth. Grasping his hand on her shoulder, her ears flattened sheepishly before asking her beloved elders, "Does that make us bad parents?"
"No!" the other couples declared with amusement to their parental concerns. The first baby was always a surprise for everyone so Avi and her sisters would help the young couple.
"You have plenty of time to prepare" Akhil assured the couple because he and everyone else would lend a hand of support. Avi enjoyed weaving blankets of beautiful patterns unique to each child while he crafted sturdy bassinets for babies to keep them safe during their first months. The mothers would then use them to store clothing once the baby outgrew it.
"Wait, when is the baby due?" Kovi asked quickly because babies could be a joy but they arrived into the world faster than he could keep up with the milestones. Although he only had two children, Hiri felt like the fastest arrival and the one growing the most. Unlike his energetic Sìlpey, Hiri was the opposite and hoped she would turn out more like himself.
Nara pointed to Joanna's small baby bump that reassured her that the duo would be fine and stated dryly, "Pretty sure we have a season at least."
"Eywa bless you both" Rafil congratulated the two, weaving between the two couples, and looked to his mate for any extra words. Zika kept her secrets and patient information in the deepest trench of the sea, leaving her poor mate in the dark. While everyone was excited, she was trying her best to mimic the same emotion since she had been the original one to reveal the truth.
Zika chuckled awkwardly, fibbing about her mental list of items for the new mother-to-be, and placed a hand over her heart to promise, "We will welcome your little one into our fold with love."
"We can't imagine a better place than here to raise our child" Tsu'tey smiled happily at the beautiful beach their child would grow on and the wonderful clan they would live in. He would not allow anyone to tease their little one if their features matched Joanna's and would shield them from all harm. Returning to his paternal family on the beach had not only opened a new life for himself but a safer one for his child.
Joanna squeezed his hand between both of hers and conveyed her hope in creating a better generation, "I hope they take after their sempu."
The ilu pod was continuously tracked by Joanna to formulate her plan for tsaheylu. They had entered the safe waters of the Atykwe to spend their season in warmer temperature so time was officially ticking away. She would not attempt to bond with them soon to avoid scaring them away from their temporary home but would provide an environment inviting enough to entice them first. Bringing the ilu pod to the Atykwe as a new steed for transport would not only be advantageous but raise the worth of her and Tsu'tey as future leaders.
With Zika's help, the unwelcome nausea was gradually decreasing in the estimated time frame and Joanna was happy to bid it farewell. The draughts helped but not being in tiptop shape to help her clan had placed her in a slump but Nitari helped by providing her with their training lessons. Once the unwelcome symptoms of her early pregnancy left, Joanna and Tsu'tey had headed out on their ikran to return to the Metkinaya to inquire more about the ilu. She refused to leave the clan with the image of her puking her guts out and returned as the diplomat that Nitari expected her to be. The children of the Metkinaya were happy for the new daggers that the couple presented to them in gratitude for their previous help. Together, the quartet explored the beautiful reef to swim alongside the happy ilu to learn their movements in the water. If they felt formidable on land, they were even stronger in their own terrain of the sea with speed and the power of their propulsion.
"Do you have this plant by your shore?" Tsireya inquired as she raised blue-green algae with long leaves, reminding Joanna of the old seaweed of Earth. The faint luminescent dots reflected underneath sunlight and glowed faintly when her hand covered an area over it.
"Yes, by our caves" she agreed because the ground was littered with it during low tide and the na'vi would use pieces of it in soups for flavor. Children were not a fan of it, like most vegetables, but she liked the flavor for soup stock. Rafil would often lecture the children that it would make them strong but they didn't buy it. Once Tsu'tey chastised them about being healthy protectors of the clan, the boys quickly gobbled the soup down.
The younger huntress grinned at the answer that would aid her efforts and explained, "Lure them to your shore like you would an ally. They enjoy these as snacks so leaving a lump of these will go a long way to show them your shore is a good place to live."
"I'm not great at enticing people" Joanna commented flatly to her tendencies to ruin a moment unknowingly. She had shot Tsu'tey in the butt with an arrow, pissed off a thanator, fallen in a river, and thrown up in front of multiple clans. Her talented mate, on the other hand, could shoot a target from afar, outrun a thanator, jumped into a flying Valkyrie, ruled an entire clan, and survived being shot multiple times by a human army. Yeah, she would put the eggs in his basket when it came to bonding with a new creature.
"You managed to win the heart of the most popular Omaticayan warrior" Tsireya teased gently to lifting her spirit on persuasion since her mate was known to many clans. He was an honorable warrior that nobody dared to cross and the cheerful personality of his mate contrasted against his quiet nature.
Joanna wasn't entirely convinced with that because they had a tumultuous origin that somehow drew them closer together. Although they had been separated briefly, neither of their affection withered. She loved him more than anyone and it did make her feel special for being the one to draw his attention. Trying not to blush at her little feat of love, she wrung her hands absentmindedly to say, "It was not an easy fight."
"Joanna" her mate's voice warned from behind, his ears on alert for any shenanigans while he fed treats to the ilu calves. Aonung had picked up the plants littering the coastline by their homes to bring them to the ilu as a treat. When the plants flowed rapidly during the strong currents out at sea, the ilu would make a chasing game of it. Tsu'tey fed a small cluster of the sea algae to the smallest calve, smiling faintly to their cautious sniffing before little teeth dove in for the food. Being young, their teeth were more blunt but maturity would turn them sharper to sustain their larger size with fish.
"I have the thanator scar to prove it" she piped up with protest because their early adventures through Pandora were a little crazy. They were both mentally and emotionally exhausted from the RDA's actions and it took a joint effort to heal from that trauma. She didn't help by falling into sticky situations but it taught her lessons in humility and when to shut up.
"Are you sure you don't want us to assist you in finding ilu here for your clan?" Aonung asked to offer their services after seasons of caring for the ilu. Mating season was never a good time to bond with an ilu when competing with hormonally driven ilu males. Migration time was ideally the best for transient pods to find a new home or join the existing residential pod. The Metkinaya ilu pod grew from the reproducing ilu females so their stock would not run short.
Joanna declined the helping hand because she wanted to prove to the clan that they could handle being ilu riders and avoid overwhelming the wandering ilu. The pod had migrated to her shore and she was planning to cater the new real estate to the mammals. She didn't want to scare off the first chance with the species, wanting to earn her right to be their rider, and answered modestly, "No, they should be in my shores and willing to be part of our clan."
The offer was tempting but the couple were hard workers to provide for their clan. They would not want to remove ilu that enjoyed the waters of the Metkinaya and would rather choose those willing to be in their sea. Tsu'tey would follow his mate's judgement for tackling the ilu pod but respect was key, pointing out, "We will show them that our home can be theirs."
"How many are there?" Tsireya asked curiously, hoping that there would a decent number for a team of hunters. Having two or three adults would work well for small bodies of water but the open sea required an ample team to fish. If there were more calves than adults, time would be critical to growing them into efficient hunters.
"Seven adults and four calves" Joanna replied truthfully, rubbing her left arm nervously that it was enough for a good team. The ilu knowledge eluded her and Nitari had tried her best with her own memories of seeing them from afar, ushering the two to visit the lorekeeper. With Lara being older than both of them, the elderly woman had witnessed the ilu as a child during their time at the Atykwe but her knowledge provided only the feeding times of the ilu at dusk.
"A good number to start" Aonung spoke with approval to the sizable number of the pod and emptied a pail of algae on the rocky exterior of the sunbathing islet. Just like they enjoyed basking on the largest islet, the hunters would provide them with a treat to show their respect. The calves ate their share before the adults since the little ones were still not hunting like their mothers. Letting the small ones enjoy their feast, he reached into his travel knapsack to withdraw palm-sized orange fishes. The adults perked up immediately with happy squeals and the Atykwe couple watched in amusement as they lined up for the aromatic treat. Handing out a fish to each of the adults, who happily gobbled it up, he explained over to the couple, "You will need riders for the adults when you attempt the bond. The calves follow their elders."
"We will have to choose five of our hunters" Joanna whispered to Tsu'tey to the next step of hatching their plan. They would have to reveal the plan in order to succeed but the rest of the pod would require riders. It would be impossible for her and Tsu'tey to tackle tsaheylu with seven adults while also trying not to tread closely to the calves, who would stick by their mothers.
Tsu'tey began formulating names in mind for the task because their initial attempt had to succeed. There was no room for error but extreme caution would be required for flawless execution. Their time among the Metkinaya would prove critical to their success and their team had to be efficient. Looking to his mate, who was delighted in watching one of the adults offer half of their fish to their sleepy calf, he stated, "Those with impeccable teamwork."
She agreed with a quick nod and counted herself lucky in building camaraderie with the Metkinaya children. They had been nothing but helpful on this journey and Joanna had invited them to stay at the Atykwe whenever they wished. Dipping her head politely to the two, she vocalized her appreciation for their insight into the beautiful species, "Thank you for entertaining our ilu acquisition plan."
"We are glad you are in better health now than before" Tsireya stated warmly to her happier disposition after seeing no dizzy spells on the huntress. For the first time, she had been able to interact with the true Joanna rather than the cautious diplomatic one holding back her stomach. They both shared a fondness for the sea and had gone snorkeling along the reefs to see the variety of colorful fish, swimming out to see a gargantuan but gentle giant fish of a pearly white. Being a backseat rider on the ilu had given Joanna a taste of the power behind the mammal that matched the speed of an ikran in flight. They were beautiful flexible creatures in the water as their long necks and extra pairs of eyes gave them incredible vigilance for threats.
Tsu'tey smiled at his mate now that she was back to her normal self under Zika's care. His aunt's plan for the pregnancy had worked wonderfully in controlling her symptoms and she was able to wander comfortably around the beach. Placing a palm between her shoulder blades, he commented proudly, "She's eating more now that the nausea spells are gone."
"The baby's growing rather fast with a big appetite" she chuckled modestly and ran a hand down her visible lower abdomen. Her flat midsection was gone to make way for her growing bundle. She had yet to feel the baby kick but the nausea spells were subsiding which meant the time would be soon. Tsu'tey was patiently awaiting that moment but occupied his fatherly doting by touching her baby bump at night. Pressing her palm against their growing child, she confessed with a bright smile, "It is why I want to bond with the ilu before the baby engulfs my middle."
"You will do fine and we are simply down the coast for assistance" Aonung assured with a vote of confidence for the pair, given their backgrounds. They were planning carefully, learning all that they could, and preparing a team rather than heading straight for the pod. The ilu would bond both clans in camaraderie and he patted the neck of the alpha female, grinning impishly when she sniffed him for more treats.
A/N: And we have a Tsu'Jo baby on the way! The two have been through quite an adventure since meeting and now, they will prepare to bring a new little face into their family. For the couple, it's a dream come true. This was definitely a baby galore chapter with Txe'lan and his parents as they adjust to parenthood, unknowingly luring in Peyral and Max to help out. Even the ilu mothers with their little calves were in on the cuteness. In the next chapter, Joanna and Tsu'tey will visit the Omaticaya for Max's medical knowledge so the old gang will be back together again. That, and finalizing poor Norm's romantic woes, haha.
Thank you to my readers worldwide and to my reviewers (still can't believe this story has over 1,000 reviews!):
Stranger45: For some reason, I imagine na'vi babies as a cuter tinier version of the parents. Given that they live in a tightly knit community-oriented society, little Txe'lan will thrive well even when his parents hit a parenting snag. Being first-time parents will bring joy and confusion, regardless of species, haha.
gossamermouse101: Same here! I was just reading about Quaritch's character returning for all of the films as a antagonist. I'm also curious if they would utilize a na'vi antagonist, given the dreamwalkers inclusion to the Omaticaya that might not be shared by all clans. So far, Joanna and Jake have made allies but both are never far from thinking their features or their children's could trigger antagonism from other clans.
danelleprae: Yes, if you happen to get hyperemesis gravidarum, it basically translates to being nauseated and puking more than normal to the point that you might need hospitalization for intravenous hydration. For Joanna, it is simply a regular side effect from the pregnancy hormones and being a na'vi now, she's still learning about her body. Tsu'tey, bless his heart, tries his best but he'll nudge her to his aunts instead.
Guest1st: She really does try to be the good adoptive daughter to have the maternal love she craves. I hope this chapter quenched your eagerness about the baby theory, haha. Jake and Neytiri are adorable parents and efficient so we'll be seeing Tsu'tey and Joanna once their baby arrives. For some reason, I see Tsu'tey freaking out more over the baby than Jake over his. He'd more likely give his kid a thumbs up for hanging upside down on a tree branch while Tsu'tey would run forward to make sure they don't fall.
TenebrisSagittarius: Haha, I burst out laughing for a good while on the 15 years of fanfiction knowledge. You really do pick up a thing or two when reading stories! For Joanna, being in a new alien body with different biology and the stress of being Nitari's student clouded the warning signs. Tsu'tey is an innocent man trying to survive by never commenting on his mate's waistline but the other characters are already having their lightbulb moments. The ilu are definitely similar to old Nessie and those flexible but strong flippers allow them to jump out of the water like whales or dolphins. I don't blame you for wanting one because I would want one too, haha.
neytirisdad: Yes, you're all caught up! It's no easy feat so I always commend readers since it's close to being a million words. Thank you, I try my best to bring forth a realistic world based from Cameron's work but after leaving the Omaticaya clan for the sea, it's all been off the top of my head (aside from the canon sea clans and the ilu).
Retro629: Thank you for enjoying the story, I love hearing from new readers! I'm hoping to keep this story flowing seamlessly to its end which is both exciting but bittersweet.
Thank you for reading!