Music Inspiration: Hans Zimmer- "Cornfield Chase"
That's Amore!
As a young ikran to a huntress, Xeki expected a quiet life by the sea and catching a delicious feast to appease her hunger. Maybe a hunt or two in the forest but most at sea. The sunbathing hill and a nest of her own in Kelutral had been a privilege. Now, the sapphire ikran had become a mother and traveled to numerous sea clans. While Swizav had grown accustomed to this due to the high status of his rider, Xeki felt like a beautiful pearl that had left its clam for a new world. She had never met other ikran or na'vi outside the Atykwe and now, she was heading onwards to meet to the Omaticaya clan. Her mate was eager to return to his native land and had happily escaped their nest to await his punctual rider at sunrise. Aci and Peke were not keen on being left behind on the adventure but the na'vi couple promised to return for a ride down the coast. Despite their stout determination, the ikran speed bested theirs for traveling. Tsu'tey and Joanna had left an array of flowers for a sweetly delicious apology snack for the pa'li before they left.
The sapphire ikran had never seen the interior of the lush green forest on the horizon and was amazed at the dramatic shift in terrain. The Hallelujah Mountains enticed her when their trip passed by the popular landmark and she spotted numerous ikran that matched Swizav's azure hue. Flying under one of the floating mountains had been surreal and a new experience. Joanna tried her best not to chuckle at her endearing delight at the new adventure but she had been the same when arriving at the Eastern Sea. The trees were dense enough that Xeki couldn't peer between the canopies but when the familiar form of a Kelutral towered in the horizon, she knew her journey was close to the end. Swizav was proud to take the lead in the trip, rejoicing at his return after leaving as an expectant father and returning after bidding his hatchlings farewell. Despite the severed bond, he and Tsu'tey visited the towering cliff sporadically to see their progress and they were growing fast. It was a good thing he bid them farewell before their nest ran out of space.
Their arrival raised a ruckus in the emerald Omaticayan canopies but a sharp screech from Swizav was recognizable enough to silence most offended squawks. Xeki was impressed by his prowess when he failed to be intimidated by the larger group and reared back on his legs to flare his speckled wings menacingly. The sapphire ikran growled deep within her throat to show her size wasn't for aesthetics only to back up her mate. Before their na'vi riders could chastise the two for their bravado, laughter erupted in front of them.
The defensive ikran calmed at noticing the Omaticayan leader walk through their physical boundary to intercept both at the center. There was no fear or hostility emanating from the clan leader and Jake placed a hand on the head of his azure ikran, who stood in the center of the Omaticayan ikran line. The younger Atan refused to submit to any other ikran, being the partner of the olo'eyktan, and he would defend his canopies fiercely. However, being familiar with Swizav and Jake's passive stance, he obeyed with a dip of his head but not before hissing lightly at the newcomers with warning. He was vigilant against all visitors and folded his wings neatly against his speckled sides, hissing to the other ikran to disperse. Quickly, the ikran scattered to carry on with their business but Atan stayed rooted next to his leader. Jake shook his head to the little show of bravado against the reptilians but opened his arms to greet jovially, "And I thought I was the one for flashy entrances."
Joanna's progressing pregnancy and the trip to the Omaticaya made her modest for the first time. Her hair was pulled into one thick braid while a vibrant aquamarine shawl was draped over her huntress garb. She appeared like an avatar to Jake by not wearing any jewelry, aside from the white necklace that belonged to Tsu'tey's mother, since Joanna feared losing any small belongings during travel. Forgetfulness from her hormones had gradually leaked into daily life which kept Tsu'tey sharp on his toes. Her mate was impeccable as always with his braided long hair, the ikran claw necklace from Nitari, and the darker Atykwe garb that replaced his old earth-toned Omaticayan attire. While Joanna was akin to violet, he had gone with a darker navy to complement his own features.
"I am glad to see you, my friend" Joanna replied warmly to their reunion because she didn't expect to visit so soon. Then again, a baby had not been part of her short-term plans. Inhaling deeply, the familiar humid air with the woodsy scent brought a sense of nostalgia to her first days as a na'vi. The Atykwe Kelutral had a different scent, like any other, as the salty air overpowered the woodsy aroma due to stronger winds. Her old friend remained the same with his feather-decorated braided hair in white, his palulukan claw necklace which now sported sturdy black feathers that were resembling Eytukan's old style, and the classic hunting garb she remembered. He appeared in great health and a happy glow that failed to leave him while her pregnancy slowly drained her energy throughout the day. Her mate, on the other hand, beamed on his impending fatherhood without fail.
Jake handed the couple the dark rope bark necklaces to place over their ikran to let them roam free as one of the Omaticaya flock. Swizav resisted initially since he had lived there for numerous seasons but Tsu'tey wasn't having it. Lightly yanking on the ikran's queue, he slipped the necklace over his head while the other hissed stubbornly. Joanna had an easier time with Xeki since she wanted to sniff around Kelutral before flying over the forest to explore.
The Omaticayan leader whistled at his watchful ikran, pointing to the canopies above to let him know he was free to leave. With a dejected hiss, Atan slowly crept away but the Atykwe couple saw his sharp gaze following their forms when he ascended one of the branches. Jake paid his ikran no mind, aware of his protective nature, and flew into an excited note, "I spotted you two after handing over Txe'lan to Neytiri. Figured I would do the greeting."
"There was no greeting" Tsu'tey stated bluntly because he had taught his previous leader better than that. He didn't mind so much, given their tight friendship, but other visitors could be slighted by his nonchalance. Had his lessons gone in one ear and out the other?
Jake placed his right hand over his heart, flattening his ears for comedic effect, and asked, "Do we really need one with our great friendship?"
"Would've been nice" the other man retorted dryly with a proud tilt of his chin, crossing his arms for added emphasis. Joanna shot her mate a knowing look because the two in close quarters would unleash mayhem if left unchecked. She still remembered the fishing reel incident that left Jake soaked like a wet cat while Tsu'tey resembled a muddy thanator with no fish as their reward.
Pointing at the taller na'vi, Jake exhaled with joy to their reunion and declared, "I missed his sardonic sass!"
She tried not to laugh at their happy reunion because she didn't want Neytiri chastising the two. Despite Tsu'tey's firm expression, it didn't take long before he was joining Jake's crazy plans for adventure. He would always insist that it was as the voice of reason but Joanna knew he secretly enjoyed it. Much like herself, they liked a little excitement from time to time. Her lips cracked into a cheeky smirk to play along and she told her friend sarcastically, "You're welcome to keep him for a season."
"Joanna" Tsu'tey hissed lightly with feigned offense to being discarded by his mate. She was in the most delicate condition of her lifespan and she was willing to cast him away. How dare she?
"I'm kidding" she chuckled sweetly to his offended expression and slipped her hand into his to squeeze it. With their baby on the way, she could never go a day without him unless it was pivotal for their clan. He could go into overdrive easily to cater to the baby's benefit with delicious food, calming massages, and adorable newborn clothing. It was a softer side to him and she knew their baby would love his fatherly care when they were born. Intertwining their fingers, she leaned against his taller frame with a fond smile and doted, "I can't bear being apart from my other half."
"I meant keeping me away from my child" he corrected sardonically to fire back his own rebuttal to being brushed aside. He hid an amused grin when she hissed with protest at tasting her own medicine. Her emotions fluctuated more now with the pregnancy but he had not faced the thanator strength fury from her early days as a dreamwalker. Frankly, he hoped not to because his own rage fizzled against his beloved mate.
"You are terrible" she chastised with a dejected frown but her narrowed eyes told him a different story. He wasn't in trouble by the look of it but he wasn't willing to poke his pregnant mate into kicking him out of their guest alcove that night. Testing the pregnancy waters to land a joke was not his goal that day, especially away from home. Her golden gaze swept over his form from head to toe, stirring curiosity in his own gaze, and she accused, "I swear you grow in sass power when Jake is nearby."
Jake's ears, on the other hand, burned to hearing the most interesting word in their verbal sparring. Were they expecting a little bundle? Pointing between the couple, he grinned excitedly to know their secret and asked, "What's this about a baby?"
Joanna used her hands to outline her midsection over the cozy aquamarine shawl to reveal her pregnant belly. She had not expected her waistline to expand so quickly which led to the aunts surmising that a baby girl was inbound. Gender guessing had become the favorite pastime whenever a baby was on the way but Joanna hoped the size of her belly wouldn't match the size of her child. Resting her hands over the center of her plump bump, she smiled bashfully, "I'm keeping this on for secrecy's sake for now but it's getting horribly humid here."
Tsu'tey stiffened instantly when Jake clapped him on the back with approval, unaccustomed to the dreamwalker nonverbal behavior. Smacks to the head, a friendly clasp of the shoulder, or an encouraging push of the upper back were the only transcending actions between species. Joanna concealed a laugh by clearing her throat at his startled eyes but Jake paid his friend no mind, complimenting him, "I didn't think you had it in you to be a father this quick. Congratulations!"
"It is a reason why we visited" Joanna revealed sheepishly, blushing faintly because she didn't want their friend to think that was the only reason. They had taken time away from their strategizing with the ilu to handle their questions about the baby. Jake and Neytiri were their examples for parenthood and settle any nerves they had as new parents to a hybrid child. She wrung her hands nervously over her chest but Jake waved her frantic movements with his right hand. He would always help the two without question and she smiled warmly, "We were hoping to gather advice from you, Max, and Neytiri. I heard your son arrived strong and healthy."
"You have to meet him! He's great!" Jake blurted proudly to his peppy infant since Neytiri was currently on mother duty with him. Txe'lan was adorable enough to draw attention but he was also a social butterfly beside his parents. The love of a father was fierce and he understood why his friend would seek them to inquire about the pregnancy. He had been worried over Txe'lan's physical features or any genetic abnormalities but Max reassured him it would be fine and it was. Eager to help the two dispel their worries, he wiggled his fingers to emphasize them and grinned, "Came out looking like his mother."
He motioned for them to follow him to get them settled in and Joanna met her ikran's sharp gaze to instruct gently, "Xeki, be good."
Her hands swept over her muscular neck to rub it in circles before releasing her to enjoy the new place. Xeki trilled contently to her rider's departure, fluttering her wings to show she was ready to fly out of Kelutral. Swizav wasn't far from his mate, slowly sidestepping towards her, but Tsu'tey ordered his ikran, "Swizav, do not disappoint me."
An offended hiss was his rebuttal before the two ikran scuttled off to the nearest branch. Within seconds, the two jumped off from separate areas to accommodate their wingspan as they soared into the sky. Joanna sighed with affection to the two stubborn but loyal ikran while Jake laughed at the soon-to-be parents, "I can already see different parenting styles reflecting off you two."
"I mean, he did terrify me during my first season here" Joanna agreed with a cheeky smile to their origins because they fought more than they agreed. He was a dangerously ferocious man that unnerved her as a human but as an avatar, drove her bonkers with his relentless nature. Now, she couldn't live without her fussy protective mate.
Tsu'tey narrowed his gaze at the two, aware that they could join forces as a sarcastic duo, and warned them, "Don't make me parent two children."
Jake clenched his right hand into a fist, tapping it over his heart, and declared with a jovial tone of defiance, "Only because I have the golden heart of a child!"
She reached up to flick Tsu'tey's right ear over the little circular indentation, earning an instant frown for the heckling. He would not be parenting over her- he was her mate and best friend. Intertwining her fingers with his right hand, her thumb brushed over his wrist and she smiled contently, "Let's go back to where we began."
Neytiri had finished her little one's next feeding and in appreciation, Txe'lan had unleashed a heavy diaper. Not the kind of gift a mother would enjoy but Neytiri changed her little son without a fuss, despite his flicking tail. She still remembered trying to pin down the little appendage to avoid it becoming soiled and giving him a bath. Txe'lan was none the wiser to his tail's trajectory and his mother's fretting, simply happy to being clean in his own garments again.
Her ears perked at hearing footsteps outside of her private alcove and wondered if it was her mate or mother. She had sent him ahead after spotting a dark ikran alongside one from the forest but the canopies of the ikran had gone into a hissing frenzy. Protective of their home, Jake had gone off to meet the incoming guests while Neytiri returned to their alcove. They had been surveying the expansion of the pa'li stables when they noticed their new guests.
Jake entered the alcove with a happy perk in his step, his lips widening into a smile at seeing his mate holding their baby. Txe'lan was draped over her right shoulder with a drowsy expression, curling up against her. Tsu'tey and Joanna followed diligently behind their friend, although Tsu'tey was scrutinizing every change throughout Kelutral. Neytiri's expression shifted from confusion, surprise, and delight within seconds at their presence. Were they the visitors? Jake pointed to the other couple as he bounded up to his mate to pipe up, "Look who I found wandering about!"
"My friends!" Neytiri greeted cheerfully, juggling her infant against her shoulder before approaching the two. What a welcome surprise! She did not expect to see them so soon after their ceremony but they had promised to make the journey there, given the baby. Joanna was ready to fire off her own eager reply to their reunion but her mate beat her.
"Are we all ignoring respectful greetings today?" Tsu'tey questioned sarcastically at ignoring tradition for casual ambiance. Jake deadpanned to the parenting lecture while Neytiri cleared her throat, pretending to take notice of Txe'lan's braided hair, but Joanna hissed at her mate in defiance. What happened to the propriety his childhood friend had been raised with? And the decorum he'd taught the other two? Had it all been cast aside for nothing? His golden eyes narrowed to reflect his disappointment and he chastised, "I've taught all of you better than this."
"He's a little grumpy from the flight" Jake informed with a higher pitch to bounce off his stiff personality. Tsu'tey glared at his old leader for the wisecrack but it shifted to his mate when she nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. Jake tickled the exposed side of his son to earn a giggle that echoed through the wooden alcove and teased his friend, "You're like Txe'lan when he doesn't get his afternoon nap."
Neytiri tried not to laugh because she would often compare her friend to a fussy toddler. She saw the same amused glint reflecting her mate's eye and managed to hold back a snicker as she spoke, "This is a welcome surprise."
"Is this your little baby?" Joanna asked delicately with an excited gleam in her golden eyes, leaning closer to her mate by instinct. Whenever she thought of babies, whether hers or someone else's, her hormones overloaded and they demanded she seek her mate. It was silly to her rational mind but a pregnancy shifted her emotions into interesting actions.
The little infant was dressed in a simple cloth diaper with a skin tone of lighter cyan, almost azure color, and darker stripes than the blue of the na'vi adult. His large golden eyes were the most mesmerizing shade and dark eyelashes added to the cuteness factor, alongside his little feline nose. His small ears flattened against his head in attention to the newcomers and his arms clutched his mother for extra support. Joanna grasped Tsu'tey's right arm in a surprising vice grip that earned her a questionable glance from the hunter while she doted fondly, "Oh, he's beautiful."
She couldn't help but notice his features appeared entirely like Neytiri's by losing the eyebrows, extra digits, and human-like eyes. Could her baby bear more similarities to her mate? Neytiri tickled the underside of his chin to reassure him they were safe and Txe'lan relaxed immediately. She smiled fondly to her little one, earning a happy giggle from him, and introduced proudly, "This is our Txe'lan."
"He's not so little anymore but I love every moment with him" Jake chuckled warmly to their growing son because he was not the delicate newborn anymore. If anything, he was trying his best to start crawling now that he was able to sit up unattended. He was taking more after his mother but Neytiri pegged their son was following him instead based on his peppy nature.
Tsu'tey was happy to see the joy from the new parents, hoping to share a similar future with his own family. He couldn't sass his friends about that and remarked with warm honesty, "He is a handsome boy."
Neytiri surprised the faint smile off his face when she offered with a kind smile, "Would you like to hold him?"
"Yes!" Joanna blurted giddily to holding a baby and clasped her hands over her chest with glee. She would sneak in practice at home with Hiri and Leti to compare an infant to a toddler. Unlike Leti, however, an infant would be stuck to her for bonding, feedings, and survival. Kovi and Nara traded their turns with Hiri to prevent exhaustion which was exactly what she and Tsu'tey planned to do.
Tsu'tey, on the other hand, was still not accustomed to holding children outside of his family. He knew his own child would arrive but he was still uncomfortable holding newborns in his arms. What if he didn't support the head enough or too much? What if the child began screeching at him? Unlike his ecstatic mate, he faltered uncertainly with a furrowed brow and slight grimace, "Uh. . ."
Jake pointed at him immediately with a mischievous grin and declared, "Tsu'tey goes first for hesitating!"
The taller man glared heatedly for being put on the spot while Joanna snorted with amusement to his hesitation. Neytiri aimed a knowing 'don't start' glance at her mate but it only spurred him to laugh further at their friend's uncertainty. The man was brutal and relentless during a hunt or fight to win at all cost but children unnerved him worse than a thanator. Neytiri stepped forward and slipped her curious infant into the arms of her childhood friend. She tried not to grin at his stiff posture and the tension in his arms when handing over Txe'lan.
She stood beside her friend to avoid having her little one cry out to the new strangers. Tsu'tey kept a firm and stiff grip on the small boy, his sharp gaze meeting the innocent one of playfulness from Txe'lan. His initial nerves disappeared when the boy failed to scream his head off and his shoulders relaxed, bringing a happy smile to Txe'lan's face. Did the little boy know of his wariness? Maybe he would be perceptive like his parents.
Joanna wiggled her fingers at him in greeting, leading Txe'lan to bat at her hand with his own. He was an adorable child and she examined his features, noting that he resembled Neytiri's physical traits more than Jake's. The stripes over his face were reminiscent of Jake's but the bioluminescent dots matched hers completely. That wasn't to say he wouldn't resemble his father since he was still growing but she understood what he meant now with him taking after her. She smiled widely to speak gently at him, rubbing her thumb over his little fingers, and cooed, "Oh, he is precious."
Jake and Neytiri shared a look of amusement to the other couple as they bonded with their baby. They had all met during the height of antagonism between their peoples but somehow, managed to build a new life together from the aftermath. Tsu'tey smiled faintly when Txe'lan batted at his dangling braids, curious to the bright yellow beads. At seeing his friend's defense melting away, Jake chuckled to reassure him, "Babies aren't puzzles, Tsu'tey, you'll be fine."
The group was interrupted by Peyral when the huntress ran past them with haste but halted at seeing the ruling couple. Her abrupt stop shifted instantly into a graceful turn to face them with surprise on her face. Not for finding them at ease with their son but the two Atykwe visitors holding the baby. She had been on her way to investigate the canopies after hearing the ikran ruckus but that plan was aborted. The huntress dipped her head respectfully, causing her long loose braids to spill over her shoulders, and greeted, "Olo'eyktan, I-"
"We have guests" Jake interjected to dismiss her concern to track down their visitors. He had beaten her to the spot since they would make a game of it, especially when hunting a target. Unlike Tsu'tey, Peyral would not smack him but she would lecture on avoiding crazy ideas. Or at least, trying them without including her. Pointing to his lead huntress, he complimented with a perky grin, "She is great at tracking me down."
Peyral averted her gaze to the floor to remain modest about her skills because protecting her leaders was part of her responsibilities. Neytiri and Joanna deferred to the more experienced huntress, granting her the title of being the best. The arsenal of weapons she carried on her person also gave her the win, particularly the poison darts. For Tsu'tey, he had expected such qualities from the one replacing him and replied with subdued satisfaction, "Good."
His firm stare was playfully mimicked by Txe'lan who furrowed his brow and puckered his lips into an exaggerated pout. He sighed with dismay at seeing the little miniature of Jake and Neytiri copying him while Joanna laughed behind her hands. He was too cute in her view. Neytiri subdued a smile at seeing one of her friends transfixed with the baby and asked the couple, "How long are you here for?"
"Not long, possibly two days" Tsu'tey explained carefully to not overstep their welcome but Jake groaned to the short visit. What kind of vacation was that? For Tsu'tey, they had pushed back the ilu plan for the safety of the baby and he admitted, "We have a pending matter back home but our olo'eyktan sent us here for advice."
"Advice?" Peyral and Neytiri echoed because their older friend rarely needed it as age and experience finally matured his heart. He had been their mentor growing up and a leader of their hunters, not to mention their clan advisor. If he sought advice from another clan, it had to be important. Both women shared a glance of curiosity about what it could be.
Jake, however, was already privy to the super-duper secret and raised his right hand to wave it in the air. He couldn't help but tease Tsu'tey about his pending fatherhood, enjoying the darkening glare setting into his eyes. It was joyous news to be shared and he was planning on his friend to fall for his child-like ploy. His left palm thumped his chest with burning enthusiasm and he pleaded to do the big reveal, "Can I say it? Please let me say it!"
"No! It's my child!" Tsu'tey barked in rebuttal because he deserved to tell whoever he wanted about his child. The widening grin on the Omaticayan leader's face played a balance beam with his darkening scowl for triggering him to blurt out the truth. Neytiri sighed under her breath to her mate's playfulness while Peyral's eyes widened to their friend becoming a father. Joanna hardly cared at all with her attention focused on Txe'lan, who was now sucking on his fist and blinking his beautiful large eyes at her. Tsu'tey's shoulders sank to the pitiful reveal, closing his eyes with shame to the return of his short fuse, and hissed sternly, "You ruined my surprise!"
He handed the perky Txe'lan over to Joanna, who happily scooped him up to attempt baby babble for the first time. Tsu'tey broke his dignity and the rules of decorum with a clan leader when he smacked the other man over the right shoulder. How dare he make him blurt that out? It was meant to be an enigmatic reveal at last meal! Or at least, that was how he planned it. Jake returned the petty strike on the man's shoulder and the two erupted into a battle of flurried hands as they roughhoused in front of the women. None of them were new to this and Joanna chose to ignore the two for the cute baby that was now laughing and pointing at them with more maturity.
"You two haven't changed at all" Peyral remarked bluntly to their boyish behavior despite being highly respected clan members. Once Tsu'tey had left, Jake's right-hand man for mayhem was gone and she was left to fill the void. She would never resort to childish roughhousing but she wouldn't hesitate to smack him lightly in private. Now, the two old friends were reunited and she hoped that wouldn't entail babysitting duty over them.
Ignoring her mate's plea for help when Tsu'tey managed to nab him into a headlock, Neytiri asked the Atykwe woman with delight, "You're with child?"
"Yes, and I was hoping to ask Max for advice" Joanna explained carefully to find answers on a safe delivery for her little one. She and Tsu'tey could plan endlessly but unless they had a proper foundation of knowledge on delivering avatar and na'vi hybrids, they would be lost. Zika would do her best to prepare the birth as a high complication delivery but Max would have a better view of what she could leave out of their care. Her ears flattened sheepishly since it was a delicate matter on reproductive health rather than the wellbeing of her clan. She didn't expect to become pregnant within the first season of her union and deliberated, "I don't have a birthing healer acquainted with dreamwalker pregnancies and wanted to ask a few questions. I want our baby to be delivered safely."
Peyral snorted with amusement to Txe'lan's birth, glancing at her leader, because Max needed an extra hand to carry their unconscious olo'eyktan to a healing alcove. Neytiri had given him ringing ears from her painful labor while Jake left him assessing to make sure there was no concussion. Neytiri glanced at the floor sheepishly for her behavior during labor and admitted with embarrassment, "I did not give him the easiest delivery."
Jake managed to break free from the taller hunter by jabbing him in the left ribs and declared enthusiastically, "Let's find Max!"
Joanna decided to hand over the adorable baby back to his father to stop her mate from swiping at his head again. Jake happily scooped up his beloved son to flick his ears back and forth to stir laughter from Txe'lan, earning a dejected hiss from Tsu'tey. How was he supposed to stay mad when his friend bonded well with his baby? Joanna nudged his ankle with her foot in a silent jab to stop his boyish roughhousing and she asked, "Isn't he busy?"
"Someone can cover for him" Jake dismissed easily because the healers weren't busy that day. Unless multiple women were expecting babies or a group headed out to hunt, the alcoves were peaceful. It was a blessing to see so he wouldn't complain. Darting forward to the entrance of the alcove, he beckoned their small group onwards and stated, "Interclan business is important."
"It's not, this is simply between friends" Tsu'tey corrected swiftly to avoid their news exposed coast to coast. With Jake, it was never impossible. He would never hesitate to help his friends and Neytiri was the same, especially when it came to their grumpy but loyal friend. Tsu'tey didn't want any preferential treatment by pulling his matriarch's rank into it, stating firmly, "I refuse to have the matriarch chastise me for disguising it as such."
"Proper and prim as always" the other man sighed with disappointment to his nature on tradition and turned to Joanna to pry, "Seriously, how did you get him to-"
"Jake!" she exclaimed quickly to avoid more embarrassment about her private life. Her hands flew to rest on her baby bump in the vain hope to protect her unborn baby's forming ears. It was then that the women saw the roundness of her abdomen and Neytiri calculated she was halfway through the pregnancy based on the size. Either that or her baby liked a lot of wiggle room.
"Fine" he agreed reluctantly to ending his fun, pouting with disillusion, but it faded when Txe'lan patted him on the chest. Whenever he and Neytiri had frowns of any kind, their little one would bat their chest with his hand (sometimes, even his tail) to cheer them up. He was the best little boy and with that in mind, smiled brightly once more to head for the healing alcoves.
The group of five, plus the baby, filled Max's work area to become cramped in the alcove meant to fit three people at most with the stocked shelves. He was surprised to not only seeing his mate, his clan leaders, and their Atykwe friends bound in with happy chatter. Their cheerful disposition meant good news and no shenanigans, leading him to greet them all, "Welcome, what a nice surprise!"
The happy chatter that set him at ease ceased completely, leaving only Jake to grin sneakily, and Max was unsettled. So much for a peaceful day. Raising his right hand, his eyes narrowed suspiciously and he questioned, "Why are you all staring at me?"
Jake stepped forward to begin negotiations, squaring his shoulders while he held Txe'lan, and began, "Max, my wise friend-"
"Wiya, what are you getting me into now?" Max interjected swiftly to nip any crazy plans in the bud before he was physically hurt or painfully embarrassed. He expected his mate to be better at detecting their leader's shenanigans and putting a stop to it before he was pulled into it. Unlike himself, Peyral didn't mind the wild adventures of their friend.
Jake feigned an offended expression, looking to his innocent infant for support, and Txe'lan giggled to his father's scoffing face. Neytiri decided to grab their little one back to stop using him as a bargaining chip with his cuteness but Txe'lan pouted. The two began a mother-son staring match as he clung to his father while Jake shot back at his friend, "Nothing! Must you think the worst of me?"
Turning his attention to the Atykwe couple, Max sighed under his breath to tell the two, "I will say fatherhood toned him down but with both of you here, he might go back to his early days."
"Count me out" Joanna declined to dangling upside down or running from some dangerous wild animal. Sure, the free wandering spirit in her would love the first option but the second was impossible when pregnant. That, and she wanted to live a long life. She would be keeping an eye on her mate to make sure he wasn't inadvertently pulled into a scheme. He had to live long enough to raise their baby and endure the same mountain of diapers. Stepping aside from the group, she approached the healer to request kindly, "We do need your knowledge and expertise for something important."
Tsu'tey glared at Jake, daring him to utter a peep about the pregnancy, but the clan leader simply smiled innocently. He wouldn't blow it for his friend this time, given that it was his first child. He still remembered the joy of revealing his own to his friends. Occupying himself with Txe'lan by tickling his tummy to break his pout against Neytiri, he gave Tsu'tey his chance. The stoic hunter glanced at his mate, who smiled with support, and he admitted to Max with pride, "We're having a baby."
"Say what?" their friend blurted with alarm to the news and Tsu'tey threw up his hands to receiving skepticism. Where was the cheerful laughter and compliments for branching out a family? His announcements of his firstborn were not going to plan, earning his friends an offended glare from the hunter.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Tsu'tey questioned sharply because he was capable of having children just like every other na'vi. Sure, he had been largely averted to them before meeting Joanna but his mate changed his mind about raising a family. If they could protect their clan efficiently, they could do the same with children. Did they not see him as father material? He had kept plenty of people in the clan safe so children would be the same.
Joanna kept a straight face against his blurt and explained to their friend calmly, "We want to make sure our baby will turn out healthy like Jake's and Neytiri's."
Na'vi babies were not a problem for Max after delving into the field before Txe'lan's birth. Hybrid babies were an interesting topic but he took a different route with Jake's son to ensure he was growing appropriately. There was technology involved and it meant returning to their roots on Pandora during their time as humans. Snapping his fingers, he smiled at the couple with a suggestion to their curiosity, "I can tell you everything I know but if you're inclined, we can make a trip."
They had not expected a new road to open to their query and Tsu'tey asked cautiously, "To where?"
He would not allow his mate to travel anywhere dangerous or far from Kelutral to keep her and their baby safe. Where could they possibly travel at this time? Joanna slipped her right hand into his left to offer a supportive squeeze to reassure him it was fine. They were still planning to tackle the ilu so a flight would be nothing. Max pointed south of Kelutral to reveal his planned destination, "Hell's Gate."
That was another surprise of the day but Joanna would venture anywhere to find her answers. She was all for returning to her old workplace but there was one problem, frowning slightly to mutter flatly, "We let our ikran run off."
Jake was quick to alter the plan by snapping his fingers and offered his own help, "Piggyback ride on our ikran?"
"Who said you're invited?" Tsu'tey questioned sarcastically to chide his innocent meddling, causing the other to scoff. He didn't want everyone knowing their private affairs, apart from the impending baby. Still, his friends were helping them so if he had to let them know a tidbit or two, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
"You need two riders and Max and I know the place like the back of our hands" Jake emphasized matter-of-factly to his home away from Earth that was now in shambles. Despite the expulsion of the RDA, they had salvaged technology for the benefit of the na'vi. They had cleaned it up considerably after the move to the new Kelutral and Jake left a scouting unit there if any funny business arose. Raising his right arm toward the canopies, he exclaimed enthusiastically, "Onwards!"
Joanna had not seen Hell's Gate since her spiritual transfer of conscience to her avatar body. Her piggyback ride with Max had been quite interesting, mainly because her mate and Jake bickered like children the whole time there. Tsu'tey was not accustomed to being the backseat rider with anyone but herself and he refused to let her ride with Jake. While the Omaticayan clan leader had been insulted, the healer took the compliment but only because he was trusted with her care in an emergency. She highly doubted that would happen, finding his overprotection humorous, and had enjoyed the trip through the past.
Flying over the Tree of Souls as the waypoint between both locations was humbling, admiring the beautiful pink willow tree. She almost expected a little flurry of atokirina to pass by in a cloud but that was a silly dream. The location held meaning to every na'vi living in that part of the continent and they would never fail in protecting their prime gateway to Eywa and Her children. The gargantuan rock arches that protected the spiritual place also safeguarded her own human body in its burial site. She had been a little human once, shedding that old life, and giving way to a new one- along with another currently growing inside her. The forest had protected her as a new soul wandering Pandora and flying beside her old friends, now turned true na'vi, and her mate was surreal. The Tree of Souls was another location she wished to visit, not only to pay homage to her friends that were no longer present in the living world, but her old life.
Unlike the beautiful sight of the Tree of Souls, returning to Hell's Gate reminded her of visiting an emotional graveyard. While Tsu'tey had opted to run scouting missions during their time at the new Kelutral, she opted to never return. He respected her choice to turn away from that painful past but she never hesitated to answer his questions. While Joanna held trepidation at returning, Tsu'tey felt vindicated by returning to the decrepit place that made his life torture. He and Joanna built a life together and healed from their trauma brought on by her kind so he held no concern in returning to Hell's Gate.
Although the buildings remained, windows had been shattered to prevent human occupation. Plant life such as weeds, bushes, and vines overpowered the structures by entrapping the skeletons like a second skin. As the ikran landed in an open field, Joanna smiled faintly at seeing bright pink and lilac flowers sprouting from the vines wrapped around the rooftops. Pandora found a way to survive and it was a scenic view of success to her after years of needless bloodshed. Tsu'tey didn't wait for Atan to land fully before jumping off and running to meet his mate, who shot him a knowing glance to behave. Unlike her daring mate, she waited for Max's ikran to touch the ground with a fanning of his emerald wings to end the ride. Ikran were great at letting one know when to hop off and when she heard the disembarking hiss, she jumped into her mate's awaiting arms.
"Woman, you will hurt yourself!" he admonished sharply, holding her close to his chest, while she tried not to laugh. Did he expect her to be catered to like a sick patient? She could talk, walk, and breathe fine on her own. Their baby wasn't even capable of kicking yet so her pregnancy would be just fine . . . well, once Max cleared her. She hid a smile to his visual examination to ensure no scratches mysteriously appeared and she tapped the end of his nose to thwart his focus.
Max motioned for them to follow him towards the science sector of Hell's Gate, located in the rear part of the base, and called out, "Follow me, lovebirds."
"Don't tell me Jake's rubbed off on you" Joanna sighed with dismay to having her relationship labeled cute because her mate was anything but that. He could kill people with his bare hands and probably his legs with a well-aimed kick to the skull. Heck, she'd run from him in fear plenty of times in the beginning.
Jake's laugh echoed through the empty base to fill the silence in the air, trying to shed some cheer through the derelict metal remains. Joanna had never seen the base entirely empty, feeling tiny in the large base she had once lived in, and slipped her hand into Tsu'tey's to stick close to her support beam. Pregnancy or not, a creepy base would lead her to her number one protector. They passed by the empty bunkers that yielded either ikran claw marks, bullet holes, or ripped metal from the last battle. Most of the damage was contained by the SecOps administration buildings, armor and weapons bays, and barracks. On the other hand, the Avatar compound area and the surrounding bunkers that belonged to Grace and the xenoanthropology team were largely untouched. They refused to fight against the na'vi by taking arms against their own and earned a few bullet holes in the walls in return.
While Jake helped to find the injured to return them to the Tree of Souls, Max kept control of their own avatar forces before dispersing a team into the forest. It was how Joanna initially found her way to the interior before Tsu'tey inadvertently fell on her and set off their own chain of events. The location of the Avatar Compound in the outskirts and their intact bunkers allowed Max to keep their technology for future use. The change between the tattered SecOps buildings and the science sector was a view of day and night. Joanna smiled brightly when she noticed the old vegetable garden was still thriving, pointing it out to her mate.
"Living in such cramped homes would drive me mad" Tsu'tey muttered with a light shudder because the tawtute homes were tiny for a species that sought territorial expansion. Unlike his kind that craved open spaces within a natural environment, the tawtute destroyed and manipulated theirs to live in tightly sealed spaces. It was baffling to him! He still remembered Joanna trying to show him her living quarter there and he could barely fit through the door. The embarrassment came when her door sensors malfunctioned and kept trying to close on him while he was still in the doorway. He swore to never visit the little tawtute and they spent their time picking fruit and cultivating the garden instead.
"We've come a long way" Jake reminisced about their origins on Pandora to where they stood now. He didn't expect much from the alien planet at first glance but it changed his entire world upside down. Max was living his dream by being part of a new society after realizing that peace was not possible with his own people. Joanna had gone from a dying planet to a thriving one and lived within two clans to find her true home, finding her other half on an alien world. They were no longer the curious avatars but productive and loyal members of their new clans.
Max approached the largest silver bunker that was designed for research on the avatar program, flattening his ears when an annoying squeak emitted from the stairway leading up to it. The weight of a na'vi was not meant to be supported by the metal and he reached forward to open the new makeshift door. The old sleek doors had a keypad with security clearance required to open it with their identification but being avatars threw that possibility out the window. He was no longer Max Patel so he decided that ripping the door off its hinges and retrofitting a new na'vi sized door like one from the 21st Earth century worked just as well. Removing the excess metal to fit his stature had been a pain but he refused to give up on his new na'vi inspired hideout. A dandy new wooden doorknob had been installed by the artisans to make entry easy to the new derelict base under Omaticayan control.
"Let's go inside" he encouraged the uncertain trio when they stared at the creaking stairs and he cleared the human-sized stairs in a single step. Opening the door, he walked inside with ease unlike their first days in Hell's Gate and ushered the trio. Tsu'tey took the plunge first, ignoring the stairs altogether to gracefully jump onto the open doorway. Gripping the cold metal edge of it, he stepped inside to analyze the area for any dangers. Max always carried a hunting knife just in case but nobody had triggered his hidden alarms. Although, he did have to chase out an annoying riti when he first brought Neytiri.
Tsu'tey wrinkled his nose to the stale air in the building but held out his right hand for his mate. Joanna followed her mate's example by jumping instead of testing the rickety stairs, smiling brightly when he caught her with both arms upon landing. She touched her forehead to his with affection before venturing inside her old workplace while Jake brought up the rear. Or at least, he tried to but the group blocked the entrance. Max was not used to having more than two people inside the bunker and pushed back one of the large tables against the nearest wall to make room. He didn't keep much aside from computer consoles, diagnostic machines, and a handmade na'vi table for studying data. Although power did not run through Hell's Gate, the emergency generators allowed him to make use of the outskirt sectors for years with sparing use.
Gazing around the human-sized room, he chuckled awkwardly to the cozy space for adult na'vi, "It will be a tight fit."
Tsu'tey avoided crashing into a large metal cabinet that stored more strange technology, earning a snort from Jake, and tried to weave behind one of the stationary machines. Jake decided to lean against the new table/desk to bide his time, mainly because he worried about breaking one of the machines. He had already shattered the old human desks and was kicked out before he wrecked the technology inside. Crossing his arms over his chest, Tsu'tey glared at the machinery with disapproval to the room and muttered "I forgot how tiny tawtute are."
"It's the only place that can hold a charge for an ultrasound machine" Max explained to the others in English, finding the sound strange after speaking only na'vi, and gave himself a mental thumbs-up for assimilation. He grabbed the portable device that was safely wedged into a corner since he used it the most compared to the heavier internal diagnostics. Wheeling it to the woman in question, he removed the black dust cover from the pentagon-shaped device to tap its side with pride. Flicking a switch on its right side, the familiar rumbling clicks of startup was a good sign and he informed them, "We used it for research but I kept it for ruling out internal illnesses."
Tsu'tey had never seen the odd contraption, wary of the light illuminating from the top while strange button-like objects similar to the other consoles were glued to the center of it. Above that, there was a square shape with a black screen and when seeing their reflection off it, it stirred a warning hiss. Was he being watched? He was unsettled by the tawtute technology, just as he had been during his first season with Joanna, and asked suspiciously, "What is that?"
Max tapped the black screen to activate the touchscreen, providing the only light in the room. Tsu'tey flinched to the sudden cascade of light that bathed them while Joanna barely acknowledged it. He decided he would let her take the lead on this before he accidentally destroyed an important machine. Max noticed his wariness to the ultrasound machine, finding it amusing, and explained its use simply, "This is a machine that uses sound to create an image of the area it hovers over. We can see inside a body to detect abnormalities in the body, check the status of our organs, and see a baby."
He had never seen or heard anything like it and Joanna laid a hand on his shoulder with reassurance. She knew her people's technology best and he didn't have doubt that she would protect their baby from harm. Trusting his friends, he observed the glowing screen with distrust and asked with veiled surprise, "Really?"
"Max used it sporadically with Neytiri due to the nature of our baby and it worked out great" Jake divulged to the couple, mainly to stop Tsu'tey from scrutinizing the machine because it would not disappear magically. When he learned about Txe'lan, he promised to do everything in his power to protect both Neytiri and their son. His mate was initially wary of the technology as well but she trusted in him and Max.
Tsu'tey poked the machine for safe measure and Joanna grinned at his show of dominance. Grasping the offending hand between both of hers, she leaned against him to reassure with a playful smile, "It won't eat me, dearest, or take the baby's soul."
"I hadn't thought of that" he muttered with disappointment at his detection skills of evil intent from tawtute machines. Na'vi and human technology always made an interesting meeting, similar to avatars and the wild forest. Max and Jake tried not to snicker at the hunter's reaction, who refused to calm at his mate's coaxing, and warned the non-sentient machine, "I'm watching you."
"It's not alive, my dearest" she sighed softly, struggling not to laugh, and stepped in between both her mate and the humming machine. It was like finding Kelutral all over again except he wasn't trying to swat her human self aside. Grasping his shoulders with a firm grasp, her golden eyes gleamed with delight and she smiled fondly to compliment, "But I love your effort."
Max grabbed a rolled wicker mat that lay over one of the computer consoles. He kept the consoles covered to prevent dust accumulation, given the lack of housekeeping. Unrolling it, he placed it over the table to create a makeshift patient bed when he wasn't using it as a low desk. Patting the hardwood table, he instructed his pregnant friend with a warm smile, "Hop on and let's hear your baby."
Joanna had barely grasped the edge of the table to turn around when her mate blurted innocently, "The baby can talk?"
By Eywa, she loved her mate. She chuckled softly with an amused smile aimed at him but Tsu'tey was filled with self-consciousness for being unfamiliar with alien technology. How was he supposed to know what the odd contraption was for? Max tried not to laugh and focused solely on setting up the screen for the exam. Jake gave the boggled man a sympathetic pat on the back, being familiar with the scenario, and assured him, "He means the heartbeat."
"You know I hate tawtute gibberish" he hissed under his breath to being out of his element but he trusted Joanna and his friends. She hopped onto the makeshift exam table to lay down on her back and raised the end of her shawl to expose her baby bump. Tucking her hands behind her head for a makeshift pillow, she pretended to sunbathe in a dimly lit room amongst friends and her mate. Max began to whistle a tune as he grabbed a tube of lubricant to place a precise dollop on her lower abdomen. Joanna winced with a dejected pout because she wasn't a fan of having to guzzle water for a full bladder to highlight her insides.
Before her mate decided to translate her humorous expression for actual pain, she explained with a bright smile, "The machine simply shows us the heartbeat and their movements inside. Like a sketch inside my belly."
Like the reveal of the pregnancy, she held out her right hand to have him opposite of her. He weaved carefully between the table and a small human-sized console, trying not to accidentally trip over it. Otherwise, Max might decide to throw him out. Jake decided to sit down on the cold floor to keep watch but highly doubted a wild animal would burst in out of curiosity. Max typed into the keyboard to load a new profile and waited for the all-clear to begin the ultrasound. Grabbing the wireless sensor probe from its charging dock, he placed it above her bladder to spread the jelly to make sure the picture would be clear on the first go. Knowing his wary friend, he would want him to find the baby's heartbeat fast but the sound would likely mellow him out. Neytiri practically glared at the machine throughout the scan until she heard the heartbeat, rejoicing in its rare sound, and forgetting her distrust.
Joanna and Max tried not to laugh when crinkling was heard when Jake unrolled a leaf packet from his satchel. He had grabbed a few sweet treats from the cooks and packed them away to share them with the others. Tsu'tey, however, turned to him with an offended scowl to his sudden appetite and questioned skeptically, "Are you eating during my mate's exam?"
"Yes, I'm a busy man that loves his snacks" he shot back with a cheeky grin because nobody would stop his snacking and bit into the sweet flower-like dessert cake. He wasn't ashamed to say he wrestled a prolemuris for a banana fruit more than once and would gladly do so again. Tsu'tey hissed in rebuttal to his friend's endless hunger but Joanna yanked his hand toward her to snap his attention back to the task at hand. Jake grinned impishly to his snacking and pulled off one of the petal-like dough from the pastry and gleefully enjoyed his break. Without Txe'lan, he had no shame in returning to old regular Jake.
Tsu'tey was poking his mind to create a snappy comeback but that dream was short-lived when Max mumbled thoughtfully, "Hmm."
"Hmm?" Tsu'tey repeated with a sharp edge and narrowed his eyes at the healer, who was focused between the exam and the screen. He had found Txe'lan's heartbeat easily with little searching but Joanna's was showing an abnormality on the three-dimensional scan. The old black-and-white style imaging was gone to make way for muted color with modern technology which made an interesting conversation when seeing one's internal organs in color.
"Sometimes, the maternal heart can be confused for the baby's" Max explained simply because the progressing pregnancy would push the uterus higher against the diaphragm. He didn't want to accidentally scan her heart but he wasn't high enough to detect it. Typing onto the keyboard to zoom closer to the lower part of the uterus, he started from scratch and muttered to himself, "Let me see here."
Joanna smiled happily when Tsu'tey smoothed his free hand over her head and told the healer, "I don't mind hearing either."
"You can be such a dear sometimes" she gushed sheepishly with a fond smile for her mate and he returned it, up until Jake decided to go 'aw' over the bonded couple. Not accustomed to sharing his affection in front of others, he hissed sharply in rebuttal to his friend. When did a simple task of attaining information for their baby end up a clan affair? Joanna knew he meant nothing by the menacing baring of his pearly canines and playfully smacked his left arm. He could still be a little boyish sometimes but only amongst his old friends.
Ignoring their silly friend who was devouring snacks in similarity to his infant with soft foods, Tsu'tey questioned with a charismatic grin, "Only sometimes?"
He was perfect at diffusing a tense situation for her and drawing her focus away from the world around them. The baby brought a new level of concern from her and any thought of harm to their little one brought a wave of sorrow. His jesting worked well to settle her nerves but when Max continued to scan her abdomen without saying anything, she turned to him to say, "Max, you're worrying me."
"I worry all expecting mothers" he pointed out to his new job of delivering babies because childbirth made anyone nervous. Neytiri's delivery had steered him away from the idea of children anytime soon while his mate was slowly reconsidering due to the adorable Txe'lan. His saving grace was reminding her that their child would be a mixture of them, not the clan leaders or Txe'lan himself. When he heard a low-timbre hiss, his gaze shot up from the screen to her face and he asked with disbelief, "Are you hissing?"
"Apologies on her behalf, it's instinctual with the pregnancy" Tsu'tey excused his mate's behavior because emotional spells had gradually become common. More often than not, she became a sad sympathetic crier with anyone in the clan. He had begun steering her away from the caretaker's circle where toddlers and infants were heard to avoid sudden sniffling. Joanna nodded sheepishly with embarrassment to her emotional fluctuations but she frowned when he added in dryly, "You should see her when I question her appetite cravings."
"All right, my friends" Max intervened before the couple went from happy doting to offended hissing at each other. Unlike Jake who submitted to Neytiri's orders, Joanna and Tsu'tey butted heads until one fizzled out of fighting energy. The couple eyed each other suspiciously for any funny business on either end while their friend revealed, "Your pregnancy is progressing well but," he paused to point to the left side of the screen, "do you see this?"
He pointed to two separate flutters in red that contrasted the little blue limbs that wiggled around the screen. Joanna was happy to simply look at the active limbs of her baby, even if the picture wasn't greatly defined. They weren't as bad as the old black and grey blobs that left most people guessing whether a baby had an extra leg or a weird umbilical cord. Still, she wasn't a medical expert of any kind and her mate conveyed their confusion by stating bluntly, "Maxpatel, we are not healers."
"I agree, my medical science didn't go past anatomy and physiology" she chuckled softly because she branched into natural sciences that weren't related to medicine. Anthropology required an understanding of culture, biology, a dash of psychology, and the history of societies. It was safe to say that he and Grace outmatched everyone in their department in intelligence and experience while she, Cheryl, and Norm brought up the next group.
Tsu'tey had absolutely no idea what she said, feeling like they just met all over again, and agreed reluctantly, "Yes, whatever gibberish she just said."
"For once, Tsu'tey and I are in the same boat with the gibberish" Jake supported his annoyed friend because science was not his forte and leaped to his feet to stretch his limbs. Folding the leaf plate in half, he walked up to the doorway to toss it out over the grass to let it become mulch. He loved the recycle motto when wandering outdoors with snacks.
Max pondered on how to simplify it for the couple and pointed to the screen displaying the little wiggling baby to say, "Your baby's heartbeat is beating strongly. . . but there is also another."
"Are you telling me my baby has two hearts?" Joanna questioned fearfully to an internal deformation, given that modern medical science wasn't around. Her greatest fear was carrying her baby to term, only to lose them within the first month. Meeting Txe'lan had relieved her fears at seeing his perfect health but Max's pause unsettled her. She clutched her mate's hand tightly with worry and instantly felt tears prickling at her eyes to bad news.
"No, I'm telling you that there are two children in there" he corrected hastily before the couple flew into a flurry of concern and the room became silent. Even Jake jumped back to the news and slammed against the wall that connected to the open doorway with shock in his eyes. Joanna was stunned by the revelation, unable to form words, while Tsu'tey narrowed his eyes at the screen to distinguish what was on it. Max's finger hovered over the glowing screen that displayed waving limbs and he finalized with a friendly smile, "You're having twins. These are both their little set of hands, not their hands and feet."
"I'm what?!" she exclaimed with alarm to witnessing not one but two babies on that screen. They were preparing to bring one baby into the world, not two! Her mind was finally able to connect to her mouth to vocalize her sentiment because one baby was monumental but two?! How was she going to care over two delicate tiny beings that needed her? She sighed softly with a weak smile when one of those little hands wiggled in a welcoming wave. Even before being born, she was in love with her child- er, children. By Eywa, how was she going to cope with that?
"Twins?" Tsu'tey repeated to verify that he hadn't heard wrong, handling the news better than Joanna. While her eyes resembled an owl's, his were curiously studying the screen displaying their children. His mate was carrying two babies? His heart practically stopped at the news before rejoicing at the rarity, feeling humbled about his firstborn. He couldn't believe the gift they would receive in two children and mused softly, "Just like aunt Avi."
Jake clapped to celebrate the new achievement for the couple on the pregnancy. By the apparent shock on both their faces, mainly Joanna, he tried to lighten their alarm by cheerfully declaring, "Congratulations!"
Joanna planned to labor for one child, not two, and wondered about the delivery. Back on Earth, humans usually had surgery performed for twins but the na'vi managed to birth them safely. Would she be at the same risk or higher due to being a hybrid? She worried about her pelvic accommodation for each of their heads and asked cautiously, "Can I have them safely? I can't bear losing my babies, Max."
Max had not delivered twins but he learned enough from the healers to answer honestly, "Yes, the na'vi make childbirth less complicated without placentas but you'll need closer monitoring."
"A what?" Tsu'tey asked with more confounding confusion and if it wasn't for seeing his thriving children on the machine, he would've quit trying to understand. His children were already helping at keeping his mind still without being born. Joanna and Jake made it much easier for him to grasp certain tawtute topics while Max threw his mind into a frigid lake.
"Human birth biology" the healer dismissed with a quick laugh to the old practice of human medicine and Joanna smiled with reassurance at her mate. They were both lost when it came to medical jargon and she grasped his left hand for a supportive squeeze, both for her own heart and his. Her initial fear was gradually subsiding but carrying two babies concerned her when it came to delivering them. What if the first baby got stuck in the birth canal? Or what if they kicked their sibling into shifting position? Or what if they ran out of room in there? Her mind was off in its own tangent while Max explained to the new father, who was paying scrupulous attention to him, "Babies can be delivered vertex or breech here, we just have to make sure they don't flip into an awkward horizontal position by guiding them down the birth canal. We will find a way that is easiest on your babies."
"We're having twins then?" Joanna squeaked nervously to the future awaiting them and Max nodded to confirm it. So, it wasn't a random dream while conscious? Her first pregnancy had been one surprise after another and hoped that the delivery would be smooth without a problem. She was bound to get in at least one lucky point, right? Placing her hand over the center of her pregnant belly, she ignored the gooey jelly to sniffle, "Didn't expect to say that at all today."
She looked to Tsu'tey, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during that revelation, but her mate was transfixed with the screen. Technology always did bite his curiosity. Before she could ask about his sentiments, he raised both arms into the air while watching their wiggling twins on-screen and exclaimed proudly for the whole forest to hear, "YES!"
He was not one to share unabashed emotion but he couldn't help it! Jake and Max snickered at his exuberant reaction as he became a father to not one but two. He was absolutely elated to the joyous news of greeting two children instead of one. It was a rare gift and he would treasure his firstborn twins with even more love for their rarity. Max chuckled at the shift in personality with Tsu'tey as the perky and cheerful one while Joanna pouted and glanced at him suspiciously.
She wrung her hands nervously into the shawl laying at the start of her belly and murmured weakly, "Double the feedings, cleanings, cuddling . . . but they're safe? Are they both healthy?"
"Happily cooking to full term" he soothed her maternal concerns and she returned a relieved smile, rubbing her eyes free of the lingering tears. Her babies were still floating around in enough fluid that she couldn't feel their kicks but it would be soon. She couldn't wait for that day to know that they were communicating their health through kicking. Her bladder and intestines wouldn't love it but it would only be until they were out in the world with her and Tsu'tey.
"Guess we'll have to tag-team this parenting" she chuckled nervously to caring for two babies instead of one but her mate reached down to squeeze her hand. He had become transfixed with watching their children while she worried for their well-being. Not wanting to leave her alone with that sentiment, he promised her that everything would be fine. He would not let anything happen to her or their children. Children. He couldn't believe that! Joanna brushed aside her worries for the positive medical facts and his endless support. He was her rock through everything and she blinked rapidly to push back another wave of tears but happier ones this time. Smiling faintly at Max, she sighed softly with appreciation for his tremendous help, "Thank you, my friend."
"Anytime" he replied earnestly because he would help his friends however he could. None of them expected to see two babies dwelling inside and he was willing to travel to the couple if they needed him. The random wiggling of blue limbs was heartwarming but they had plenty of time to keep growing inside their mother until delivery time. Patting the handy dandy machine, he reassured the couple, "Don't hesitate for my help if you need another view on the machine."
She nodded silently but her heart warmed to the twins thriving in their own watery world. They were oblivious to the outside world, a beautiful innocence surrounding them, and she smiled with love for them, "Our babies."
The quartet left the remnants of Hell's Gate to return to the safety of Kelutral to share the happy news with the rest of their group. Tsu'tey had been respectfully shoved aside by the giddy women as they congratulated Joanna and he promptly reminded them he was the other half of the parental unit. The men reassured their offended friend that they would celebrate after last meal with drinks while the women would undoubtedly gift clothing to Joanna. Txe'lan had quickly outgrown his own clothes that the blankets were recycled throughout the clan to make room for the new.
Jake took his shift in carrying Txe'lan in his baby carrier and he rallied his troop forward to the base of Kelutral. Why? To complete their group by fetching Cheryl and Norm. The herbalist was not far, finding her on their way down the spiral stairwell while she carried her basket of herbs to the healers. The poor woman had almost dropped it in surprise at seeing her old friend unexpectedly. After a happy reunion between Joanna and Cheryl that left Tsu'tey's ears ringing, the group carried on to find their last member. The hunter was at the base of Kelutral, brushing one of the pa'li with the other hunters to make sure their steeds were in perfect health. With the current rain season, the pa'li became dirty at a faster rate which made hygiene important and the social animals enjoyed the attention.
Norm was happy to rejoin his friends once he finished the pa'li grooming session, returning the tools to the breeders. Unlike Tsu'tey, who was notorious for crafting his own tools for Aci on the specifications of the breeders, Norm borrowed them. It still got the job done and was less to store in his alcove. The quintet from Hell's Gate happily reunited once more with Norm sharing the same excitement for his friend's pregnancy. Before Joanna could happily recount more updates from life at the coast, Tsu'tey crossed his arms to demand a particularly important question, "Did you finally decide who your mate will be?"
The entire group, minus his mate, hushed into incomprehensible mutterings that neither confirmed nor denied his question. Only Txe'lan returned a cute confounded expression that brought a smile to his face. The boy really could be infectious by expressions alone. Joanna shot her mate a small glare for the phrasing of the question because he was not subtle in speech. Unlike her, Max, and Jake that could handle direct questioning, Cheryl and Norm were more subdued in nature. Her mate returned an apologetic expression because he meant nothing ill by it. All his clan had met the dreamwalkers at the same time and while even he found a life beside Joanna, their friend had not. Frankly, he had expected Norm to find a mate before Cheryl but the herbalist bested him. Norm's uncertain wincing didn't help as he tried to form the right words, wringing his hands to offer half-heartedly, "Not exactly?"
"He's still figuring out his ladies" Cheryl answered gently to lighten the verbal blow that she knew was coming. Her Omaticayan friends quietly agreed in unison because no matter how much Jake poked him to make a move, he failed. Whether it was from modesty or uncertainty, she didn't know.
Tsu'tey, on the other hand, was surprised to how long he was dawdling on a decision and snapped at Jake, "You've been letting him drift between both this whole time?"
"No! I've been pinning him with both to help make up his mind" Jake shot back to avoid having Norm's lack of romance on his shoulders alone. He had done his best to put him with the two women and while one was clearly fawning over him, the other wasn't. It did not help at all for poor Norm's heart that he couldn't let Tarazi go and keep a platonic friendship. It was an odd mess and he threw up his hands to sigh with disillusion, "It worked for you and Joanna."
"You can't use the same technique twice!" Tsu'tey chastised swiftly because reusing the same old method would eventually backfire. There were no one-size fits all when it came to love. He and Joanna were proof of that since they attacked each other more than once before finally becoming friends. Hmm, maybe Norm had a better shot at love if he focused more. Pointing to the poor hunter that was trying to slowly disappear behind Max and Peyral, he stated frankly, "Norm is nothing like me."
Jake waved a hand in dismissal to his claim, hissing in playful defense, and grinned when Txe'lan mimicked him. His one tooth on the upper gum was not as intimidating like an adult na'vi's mouth but he gave his son an A for effort. Returning to his grumpy friend, who was clearly not impressed with his tactics, he pointed out, "Tsu'tey, I think I know matchmaking a little more than you."
"Has he been in the same love triangle since my union ceremony?" his friend asked bluntly to the passage of time because he was now expecting children. Between that time span, his Omaticayan friend could have chosen his mate and been on his way to his bonding ceremony. Instead, there was likely coddling going on from his friends rather than being proactive.
"Pretty much" Max muttered flatly, earning a smack from his modest friend, and shrugged with an apologetic glance. He was an observant person by nature with attention to detail so it was hard not to notice. Unlike Jake, he simply counseled Norm to make a choice because he couldn't have both cake pieces.
"He needs to make a decision and stop the heartache" Tsu'tey emphasized to stop the needless runaround that would leave all parties confused. Frankly, he had trouble simply asking Joanna to be with him. He couldn't even imagine if he had thought of approaching other potential women. He liked his life to be streamlined with no surprises because matters of the heart could leave the deepest wounds. Facing the nervous hunter, he gave him the most pivotal of orders to complete with a non-negotiable tone, "Norm, I'm giving you ten minutes and when we return, you will go to your chosen woman."
"Txe'lan needs a feeding before that" Jake interjected with a dejected frown to not miss the party. He pointed to his little infant that kept his eyes trained on everyone's conversation while Neytiri tried not to chuckle. They were indeed a family-oriented unit now instead of a couple without obligations. Patting his son's braided hair, he attempted to buy Norm more time by suggesting, "It's been a family venture for all of us."
"Fine, half an hour. . . an hour?" Tsu'tey hesitated awkwardly with a little fear as he glanced at Neytiri. He had absolutely no idea how long feedings took for infants and hoped he scored somewhere in the right area. By Neytiri's flat gaze aimed at him and his mate's disappointed sigh, he groaned miserably to losing.
Norm, however, blanched at making a monumental choice and blurted fretfully, "Wait, I can't-"
"You've had plenty of time, you'll be fine" Neytiri reassured to boost his confidence and waved her right hand to usher him onwards. Norm's heart hammered away in his chest to the life-altering choice but his friends were all mimicking her hand motion to push him to make that fateful decision. How was he supposed to do that with a time constraint?!
Tsu'tey crossed his arms across his chest and glanced down at Joanna's concealed pregnancy to mutter, "Our child will be born if you continue Jake's plan with no woman to show for it."
Norm's flabbergasted face failed to deter his plan and before he began pacing around like a helpless tapirus, he suggested firmly, "You're wasting time- go."
"But-"
Tsu'tey hissed to get him moving, playing the dominant older brother card, and snapped, "Go!"
Norm walked off hesitantly with lagging steps towards the base of Kelutral to the hearth. Despite there would be residents nearby, he would have peace in the company of his people. Joanna's ears flattened against her head and before she could stop herself, tears blurred her vision. He reminded her of Peke when she left him behind during her trips and the wave of emotion was stronger during her pregnancy. Tsu'tey sighed with disappointment when he noticed that all the others, even Peyral, had their ears flattened with sympathy when Norm looked back over his shoulder. Maybe he could have been softer with his tone but he didn't want Norm being miserable with indecision.
"By Eywa, you are brutal and direct" Jake chastised his rigid nature because scaring off their friend wasn't part of the day's plan. They were meant to happily reunite with all of them and get drunk, minus Neytiri and Joanna. Well, depending on how Norm's decision went, they could still do that with congratulatory or condolence booze. Covering Tex'lan's little ears with his palms, he chided his relentless authoritarian mode, "I'd hate to think about your child's conception."
"Don't you dare imagine that!" Joanna hissed vehemently with embarrassment to having her love life aired like dirty laundry. Her mate was not one for having all his life in the spotlight, just his talented skills. Frankly, she'd give him an award in the bedroom but he would chase her through Kelutral if she said so.
Tsu'tey, however, beat her assumption when he smirked at Jake to shoot back with confidence, "It was fantastic enough that we're having twins."
"Tsu'tey!" she admonished quickly to his loose tongue and flushed with embarrassment immediately. Had he really just said that in front of their friends? Honestly, mixing him and Jake was never a good combination. No wonder they drove Neytiri insane during the first months. Her mate hissed under his breath, crossing his arms to glare at the other man who was trying to hide his amusement. Turning to Cheryl, she told her oldest friend with a friendly smile, "We have to help Norm, he's the last of us."
Cheryl nodded with agreement after everything they had gone through and Joanna darted forward to meet up with Norm. Their friend had disappeared within the shadows of Kelutral's interior and she wanted to give him a quick pep talk to boost his confidence. That, and apologize for her mate's brusque approach. It came from a good place but he had never been the greatest at vocalizing emotion. Neytiri shot her grumpy friend a warning glare to play nice while Jake took initiative by smacking him behind the head. It appeared Norm had more allies when the other hunting couple hissed at him to stop his 'do or die' motto.
The two women found their glum friend sitting on a log in an empty area by the entrance of Kelutral. Joanna beamed happily with glee at seeing the old tapiri herd nibbling on the exterior bushes but Cheryl pulled her by the hand to break her trance. Those little guys still held a sweet spot in her heart. They sat down on either side of him to offer physical support but it only made his shoulders slump in disillusion. What was he supposed to do with the one he rejected? He hated having people upset but he could only choose one person.
"Sorry for my mate snapping at you, he means well" Joanna apologized earnestly for his stern big brother lecture and patted him on the back with a kind smile. She could never bring herself to yell at Norm, mainly because he had large eyes that reminded her of childlike innocence. Neither she nor Cheryl could shield him from the world and his current predicament but they could help. Offering him a sympathetic smile, she added in, "Even the twin reveal didn't dent his hunter mode."
"He's as frightening as I remember" he agreed with reluctance because he didn't want to anger her by talking badly about her mate. Despite his firm nature, he knew Tsu'tey was trying to solve his romantic problem after hearing about it back at the Atykwe land. He had advised him back then that resolving it quickly would avoid needless pain but Norm's heart was apparently a glutton for it. Rubbing his palms over his forehead to relieve nerves, he sighed aloud, "He does have a point though."
Cheryl patted him on the back with solidarity to that agreement and Joanna asked gently, "Have you gotten anywhere with either of them in terms of trust and compatibility?"
He gave a half-hearted shrug because his heart was ensnared by Tarazi but she maintained a distance. On the other hand, Iza paid him attention and she was a very sweet woman. His heart, however, decided to be fickle by not returning the attention that his logical brain was telling it to shift. What if he made the wrong choice? Running his fingers through his braided hair, he chuckled awkwardly, "What if the one I chose ultimately rejects me and I end up insulting the other?"
"It's a risk everyone takes with love" Cheryl pointed out for insight to the complexities of love and heartache was common. It was not a comfortable feeling but maneuvering through it gracefully with kindness offered comfort to the injured party. She had been in a similar boat when she met her mate but it was more towards his perception of her. As an avatar, she was prone to self-consciousness over her appearance and making errors in her new life. Her beloved partner had been a kind breath of fresh air when he revealed his affection and never failed in helping her. She didn't want him to fear the unknown as well and explained, "I was nervous with Noren, given that I wasn't exactly 100% na'vi. That didn't matter in the end. At some point, you have to let go of that fear."
"Every relationship requires dedication from both parties" Joanna agreed with the gamble every individual took when they chose a partner and doubted he would make a horrible choice. He was a kind person that helped anyone that needed it without asking and deserved to be happy with the one he chose. If it happened to be an error, he should keep trying until he succeeded. Confidence was key but it could be shaky under uncertainty and she confessed earnestly, "I lived by the coast wondering if I would ever reunite with the one I loved and when I did, there was always lingering worry whether it was too much for him to bear. It takes a strong heart to fight through every obstacle and although you will have heartache along the way, you'll be stronger for it."
He appreciated the pep talk from his friends who had been by his side since his arrival. There was horrible irony in having more female friends than males but they provided a different perspective to his heart woes. He had two women that deserved their rightful mate who would respect them and each had unique qualities that the other didn't. Iza was sweet and kind in her behavior while Tarazi ran on a quieter deep-thinking spectrum. The interesting part is that both held artisan roots which he admired . . . but it only made the decision more difficult. Would he be a jerk if he chose Iza? Or would Tarazi fit him better? Did he even know what was good for himself?!
Pulling out of his rampant conflicting thoughts, he turned to the pregnant woman to joke, "When did you become a poet?"
"Look, I had a thanator fly at me to realize that I needed to tell Tsu'tey that I loved him" Joanna laughed merrily to the runaround she and Tsu'tey undertook before revealing their shared sentiment. She had been a mess of nerves because of his high ranking and previous view against humankind but he had surprised her. Norm didn't need to endure that problem by juggling his emotions and advised, "Don't become me."
"A thanator?" Norm blurted with skepticism to her claim and she shrugged innocently to that old incident. She and Tsu'tey had agreed to keep it secret after a visit to the healer's alcove but Joanna confessed to Cheryl in their shared alcove back then. Her friend had helped to dab on the healing salve every morning instead of having him fluster her with his dexterous touch. Even now, he made her skin tingle.
Norm gave Joanna the win on a crazy love life and decided to put on his big boy shoes before it spiraled into that. He was more liable to experience it with Tarazi and more than likely, he would be the injured party while she smacked him over the head. Cheryl pouted to being the tame one of the group, patting her knees to vent her own nerves, and mumbled sheepishly, "I just worried whether my dessert cake was bland but . . . I can see why he chose you."
Joanna's bright eyes glazed over with dullness because Tsu'tey claimed not liking surprises but he thrived in suspenseful situations. He had a natural talent for taking initiative which is why she understood his direct orders to Norm. They both wanted him to live a good life and finish rounding out the circle of couples that each of them had formed, which all started from Jake meeting Neytiri. Each of them had interacted tightly enough to form lifelong bonds, becoming more family than friends, and they would never be forgotten. She and Tsu'tey would never forget their first home and she chuckled dryly, "It's not because I bring him great beasts to outsmart."
Her friends laughed at her diffusing joke and she smiled happily to being back beside them. It was a short visit but a meaningful one, just like that last. She missed seeing their familiar faces but Eywa had different plans for her and Tsu'tey that weren't within the Omaticaya. They had been blissfully happy in their innocent love until painful reality struck.
Love should not be petrifying and Cheryl squeezed his shoulder with a supportive smile to encourage, "Go with your heart. Only you know the answer."
"The person you are meant for will treasure you and if this decision doesn't work out, you keep fighting till you find her" Joanna agreed solemnly because only he could answer the question but they would back his decision. Norm hoped that it would bring happiness rather than heartache but his friends shed light on the delicate situation. He couldn't delay it any longer, chastising himself for having Tsu'tey of all people shoo him off to do the right thing, but he would do it out of respect for the women involved. They deserved better. Standing upright, Joanna ushered for Cheryl to follow her back to their group of friends and assured him with a peppy wink, "She'll be quite a catch, I'm sure."
The two women left in happy spirits to their reunion, linking arms to be in each other's company, while Norm sighed to himself. It was all up to him now and he needed to decide in a timely fashion or Tsu'tey would unleash another brotherly lecture. Unlike Jake, who could be coldly firm in tense situations, Tsu'tey was aggressive and he wondered how he ended up with such interesting friends. He appreciated their concern and nodded to himself with determination to claim, "All right, brain and heart, it's just us now."
Norm shuffled awkwardly to his group of friends when they reunited outside by the pa'li fields. Txe'lan was now more drowsy than perky which led Jake to shifting him in the carrier against his chest for a nap. He had gotten more than his fill on that particular feeding that he left another poopy diaper for his mother before he was even finished. After a smooth cleanup, the couple returned to the meetup place to begin anew. Max and Peyral took their break by helping the breeders groom the pa'li, along with cleaning the pen to pass the time. Tsu'tey had been ready to join them when Joanna began chatting with Cheryl to catch up on lost time but the conversation was dreadfully boring to him. Unfortunately, his mate had gained thanator strength with her pregnancy and she kept a grip on his wrist the whole time. He had a small inkling that this was revenge for his mannerisms against Norm and grudgingly accepted his fate.
"Did you decide?" Jake asked with a hopeful smile to end the debacle on who his friend would choose. For him, he didn't mind Tarazi since she gave him extra feathers for his arrows. His friend, on the other hand, was looking for a life partner and not free colorful feathers. Flicking his thumb at Tsu'tey, who was eyeing him shrewdly, he added in, "Otherwise, our thanator friend will go on another tangent."
"Yes?" Norm supplied half-heartedly because he hoped it wouldn't blow up in his face. He had drawn in the dirt to help organize his thoughts for a final decision, creating a small mound of disturbed earth from all his mental sorting.
Tsu'tey appeared pleased to hear this, earning snickers and snorts from the others, and he ordered the next step of the plan, "March on, you will go to her now."
Jake wrapped his arms around his drowsy infant, earning a sleepy whimper, and he chuckled with a bright smile, "Looks like we're going on a trip, buddy."
Txe'lan yawned instead of clapping giddily like he usually did and Neytiri thinned her lips to hold back a laugh against her mate's frown. The two had become an inseparable duo that she almost expected him to take Txe'lan on a hunt soon. Their little one was not interested in them anymore, fidgeting around to choose a comfortable position to nap in. Norm, on the other hand, eyed the entire group with hesitation to bringing all of them to his declaration of love and asked weakly, "All of you?"
Max would do his best to make sure neither Jake nor Tsu'tey meddled to avoid further embarrassment. He didn't need them to attempt pretending they were monsters and have Norm fight them off. With him and the women combined, they would keep them controlled- particularly by their mates. Clapping his friend on the back, he reassured him with a lighthearted laugh, "Why not? You need moral support."
"And we have nothing better to do" Peyral agreed dryly to their lack of errands or meetings because it helped pass the time. Sure, she could have trained for an hour to be productive but she was also curious about her friend's decision in a mate. He was the last of their group not to pair off and they wanted to see him happy rather than lonely.
Joanna's eyes brightened at a hunger pang that struck and her hands flew to her lower abdomen to declare, "I do need a snack for the babies, they're in the mood for pickled teylu with sweet cream."
"How in Eywa's world is that a sane choice?" her mate demanded with veiled disgust to the strange food option because sour tangy teylu and sweetness didn't mix. When had she even enjoyed such a thing? The hunger cravings of Joanna were starting to become strange as time progressed and now, she was eating for three instead of two. All their friends but Neytiri had an appalled look on their face for the request so he wasn't wrong for thinking that. He sighed with dismay for having to make a shortcut along the way after having free time and questioned, "Why did you not tell me this while Neytiri was feeding Txe'lan?"
"I wasn't hungry then" she answered simply with an innocent smile that he didn't buy for a second. He would never deny her anything for the children but the timing was awful. That and the choice in snack. Why couldn't they desire banana fruit bread instead? Joanna would hear nothing against the appetite of their children and stated matter-of-factly, "I am carrying your precious twins and they demand sustenance now!"
"You're going to give them internal indigestion" he shot back dryly to feeding the children whatever they wanted because they didn't know any better. How could a baby think pickled teylu with globs of cream was better than fried teylu or a pastry? If anything, he and Joanna should be feeding them appropriate foods. The firm look in her eyes said otherwise to keep the peace and he threw up his hands to sigh in defeat, "Fine, we'll take the detour but then we're going after Norm's woman."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he kept her close for protection and to stop her from skittering away for more interesting finds. Cheryl and Max dragged Norm along by each arm to get him a snack to boost his courage and avoid last second panic attacks or unfortunate fainting spells. Peyral took the rear to make sure nobody scattered for any funny business, leaving her clan leaders behind. Jake and Neytiri lingered behind to lull Txe'lan into a nap to avoid having a fussy baby that didn't receive his precious sleep. Joanna pouted at her mate for his joke, teasing him for his distaste, and chided playfully, "How dare you question the babies' choice in snacks?"
Peyral flicked the back of her mate's head before matching his pace while he rubbed the sensation away. She knew exactly where to touch to tingle the queue fibers in his hair and he hissed playfully at her. Returning the mock hiss, she brushed her left shoulder against his with affection and pointed at the other couple to chide gently, "And this is what you want?"
"The more I work with pregnancies, the less I want children" Max replied frankly because having Tsu'tey hiss at him more than half the time and Neytiri trying to kick his head was not great. Joanna and Jake were the calmer counterparts during their path to parenthood which he found hilarious given how stubborn they could be. Children were adorable . . . if he didn't have the responsibility to care for them. Like Mo'at, he could babysit and watch over Txe'lan but at the end of the day, he would return to his parents.
"It can't be that bad" Cheryl disagreed gently to their aversion with parenthood because she was onboard for trying to conceive. Having a family was now possible for avatars so she would throw her change into the gambling pool of fertility. Max and Peyral shared a silent look before bursting into laughter because Norm and Cheryl hadn't witnessed or heard Max's stories. Crossing her arms, her brow furrowed with curiosity to his insight and asked warily, "Is it?"
Tsu'tey hissed with disgruntled annoyance when he heard Max call out behind him with jest, "Good luck, you'll need it!"
"Are you seriously going to target Norm the whole time with that bow and arrow?" Max demanded with disbelief to the new tactics being employed for results. Norm had led the group to the adjacent rear side of Kelutral that housed the outdoor artisan alcoves. Once they smelled the woodsy scent of freshly cut bark, Jake and the group knew who he had chosen. The sound of bark being cut, stones being chiseled, and the scent of burning wood chips signified the outdoor artisans. The indoor artisans, like Iza, were clustered around the base of Kelutral where the loom and fabric supplies were stored for the weavers. Their friend was a sweetheart for loyalty and they all hoped that it would reach a joyous conclusion rather than rejection.
The group of friends lingered in the shadows of the forest outskirts, shrouded behind tall bushes and dangling leaves from small trees. They were quiet enough that nobody paid them any attention but Tsu'tey warned Norm that he would have an arrow pointed at him as a deterrent in case he decided to flee. Norm had laughed at what he perceived was a joke until his friend knocked the arrow and told him to get moving. Tsu'tey was comfortable holding a bow for extended periods due to seasons of hunting experience, muttering to his friend, "My determination can outlast his uncertainty."
"He said he was choosing her" Neytiri pointed out with dismay to the extent he would go to ensure Norm succeeded. For once, he was overreacting more than her mate who was holding onto their napping son and pretending not to notice the knocked arrow. Great, no help from that end.
Tsu'tey would not cheat either himself or Norm from his promise, standing confidently behind the bushes. Joanna wanted to smack him for being absolutely silly but accidentally triggering him to release the arrow was too risky. She settled with a stern glare in vain hope to deter him from the ridiculous action but he kept his gaze locked on Norm to retort, "I will not lower this until he returns with the completed mission."
"I'm getting worried that you'll try that with our children one day" Joanna muttered with dismay to the potential future awaiting her as a mother. She had chosen an admirable hunter but he was a warrior that would rip anything and everyone apart to reach his goals. He would make a great father but her little ones would have quite the parent to contend with. Then again, she hoped they matched him in tenacity so he might find himself with stiff competition. She felt silly for thinking so far ahead but the future of being a mother wasn't so farfetched as she believed a season ago.
Tsu'tey had prepared a calculated response to that from the moment he learned he was becoming a father and replied sternly, "Only if they're my daughters and the arrow will be pointed at the suitor."
"Your kids will have to be Eywa Herself to deceive him" Jake laughed to his unyielding defense and hoped Joanna mellowed him out more before their birth. That or let the children wear him out together with endless energy. The man was in casual company and he still managed to wield a bow so he could only wonder what he was doing now at the Atykwe in similar situations. He counted his lucky stars that he hadn't been pinned with him as a teacher and silently prayed for his rite students.
"That's the plan" Tsu'tey grinned cockily to being outsmarted by his children because he would be protecting them until he returned to Eywa. He would learn their nonverbal behavior to catch any little lies and teach them self-defense in various terrain to provide them with mental and physical strength. The emotional strength would be a field of traps to traverse as they aged but he would try his best.
Joanna cradled her abdomen protectively to shield her little ones from any crazy ideas and disagreed indignantly, "I never agreed to such a thing!"
"Shh! You're going to blow our cover" Cheryl hushed the squabbling trio because Norm didn't reach his choice only to have it ruined by his friends. They weren't a small and quiet group either so they had to act like hunters out in the field. If she was in Norm's shoes, she would be blushing madly and trying not to stumble over her words. Talking to the one who held your heart while your friends watched could be sweetly romantic or tragically humiliating.
Neytiri crossed her arms when her infant twitched in his carrier, little ears flattening against the noise, and she glanced dryly at her mate, "Did we have to bring the baby? Mother could have kept him."
Jake wanted their son to experience all that life had to offer under a safe environment and clutched him close. Txe'lan whimpered in complaint to being squeezed and wiggled his legs against his father. Loosening his hold, he smiled proudly to their little one and reasoned with his mate, "He has to have at least one adventure with the old herd back together."
"I prefer flock" Tsu'tey interjected because he preferred the sky like his ikran.
Jake fought the urge to smack him for the wisecrack, leaning against his amused mate to cope, and shot back, "Nobody asked you."
Peyral stepped forward to intercept her previous (but still very stubborn) lead hunter, pointing to the bow, and questioned sharply, "Must you hold that knocked arrow in front of a child?"
Unlike the other hunters, she had never been shy to clash with the older man when she didn't trust a plan or situation. Despite the hunter kept his gaze locked on the artisan field where Norm stood with his destined lady, she narrowed her eyes at him. Most people would cower under her glower power but Tsu'tey barely batted an eyelid before replying coolly, "He should have exposure to it."
"We're meddling with our friend's love life and a bow somehow solves it?" Max proposed with a loss at comprehending how weapons solved matters of the heart. Then again, Tsu'tey often reached for a weapon when his hands alone couldn't do the talking. He hoped to Eywa that Norm wasn't able to hear anything but the two were conversing normally, being none the wiser.
"An arrow can solve many a problem" Tsu'tey justified calmly with a wry smile that caused Joanna to cover her face with embarrassment. Why had her mate decided to become the living na'vi form of Cupid now? Was he secretly trying to become a matchmaker? That's all she needed now and patted her baby bump to silently apologize to their unborn children in advance.
Not wanting to barrel down the road of humiliation any longer, she coughed awkwardly and called their attention to the open field by pointing animatedly in that direction. She wanted the amused and embarrassed expressions to shift away from her determined mate and suggested hastily, "Let's focus on Norm. I don't want him accidentally shot."
Norm prayed to Eywa with endless thanks to the lack of profuse sweating among the na'vi because he would be sweating bullets as a human. He had tried a quiet approach with Tarazi until he realized that she hated being caught off-guard so a friendly greeting avoided a point deduction. His heart hammered away with the speed of an ikran flying from a toruk but he managed to ask for a moment of her time. Curious, the huntress had set aside her whittling at her father's work alcove to venture into the open field. Norm found a secluded spot where neither her father nor anybody else could overhear and it left him within viewing distance of his curious friends. There was shade to buy him time for him to speak without irritating her sight but if she grew cold, there were warm patches where sunlight beamed through the canopies.
The huntress wiped her hands to remove excess wooden debris from her work, eyeing the other hunter with wary intrigue. She had no idea why he needed to speak with her but his lost expression made it hard for her to say no. Time had taught her that the more she pushed him away, the more he was liable to truly fly off and forget about her. In the beginning, she would have paid it no mind but after seasons as friends, she wasn't quite ready for that. She found it a little childish but her heart worked differently than her mind. Norm took the plunge by starting before she questioned his sudden muteness by declaring, "I'm here because I need to come clean."
Her brow furrowed with caution, her golden eyes sweeping over his form, and she drawled awkwardly, "You need to clean?"
His eyes widened immediately with alarm to giving off the wrong impression with the old human saying. What was wrong with him? His na'vi brain wasn't working with his human mind! What must she think of him? He was being foolish already and shook his head vehemently to correct with a nervous smile, "No, I meant to get something off my chest."
Again, her gaze swept down to his chest to find nothing and she stated flatly, "I don't see anything on there."
"I have to tell you the truth!" he exclaimed at accidentally creating a language runaround and nipped it in the bud. He had to speak plainly and direct to avoid miscommunication that could lead to confusion and anger. Walking out with all his limbs intact was the goal because he still had to tell Iza that he would not be seeking any form of relationship aside from friendship. That would be a doozy because he worried she would cry while Tarazi could smack him. He knew that Tarazi valued her time alongside her father and spoke earnestly, "Let me say my piece and I will let you carry on."
She had never seen so many facial expressions cross his face in less than a minute and wondered what was going on. Had something happened? Was it something embarrassing? Happy news usually led him to blurting it out while sad news brought a low-energy version. Great, she knew his nonverbal cues already. She could always pin the blame for that on their work during a hunt to save her pride. Clasping her hands behind her back to pay attention, she acknowledged, "Go on."
Taking a deep breath, he told himself it was all for the best and began with a steady voice, "You've been in my mind this entire season after seizing my heart long before that. I have tried to divert my attention away out of respect but it always moves back to you."
Did she hear correctly? Was he telling her that he saw her as a potential mate? Just to be clear, she glanced over both her shoulders to make sure nobody else was behind her in case of mistaken identity. The dirt clearing was empty with only the artisans working at their stations in the distance and the outskirts of the forest on the opposite side. One of the tall bushes rustled but she paid it no mind since the tapiri roamed everywhere with the rainy season in full bloom. She was buying herself time to absorb what she heard but finally turned back to him with the same firm expression. Otherwise, she was liable to blurt her own feelings and questioned sharply, "What?"
He raised his hands peacefully before she flew into an angry flurry and his ears flattened against his head to explain, "I know I'm not the best hunter in this clan or the smartest or best looking or even anything special . . . but I need you to know what is in my heart. I may not be worthy of you but you deserve the truth as my friend."
Oh no. What could she possibly say to that? He was a sweet man and she had always valued his honesty more than anything else. His sentiments had been kept secret but he was revealing them now. Was there a reason behind that? Wait, was he going to run off with Iza and leave her behind? No, he was too gentle to do such a thing. He could still have chosen Iza from her own hesitation. What if she was too late by hiding her own affection? More frustrated with herself, she projected her troubled thoughts by asking, "Why did it take you this long to say anything?"
Norm interpreted the lack of yelling or hitting as a good sign and shifted weight on his feet to deal with his nerves. He didn't want to appear flustered because she was handling the information like a champ. It was why he admired her focus during tense moments and he wrung his hands to offer truthfully, "Because I didn't think you'd approve of me?"
"Why not?" she snapped with surprise that he thought that because they both held the same rank. Her volume increased with her words which caused him to step back but she moved forward to close that distance. She didn't want him to scatter but to hold his ground against her on equal footing. It was also easier for her to read his behavior for any deceit.
"Look at you!" he pointed out with emphasis to her physical prowess, waving a hand to outline her form. It looked more like a waving vertical line to Tarazi but she made the connection. At least, she hoped she did. Was he complimenting her physique through dance? Norm conceded that she was sharper with pinpointing targets in the field while he took advantage in teamwork leadership but she could break him in a physical fight. Her origins as the child of a bowmaker also allowed her to create weapons when out in the field if they were scouting ahead. It was an admirable feat that kept his interest and he spoke from the heart to her impressive skills, "You're practically a deadly shadow in the forest and can craft a bow with your bare hands within days while I'm . . . not so great."
"Norm, your prowess in a hunt is not the only thing I seek in a man" she admitted quietly because she didn't seek a hunter as a requirement for a mate. The rank was a feat she held for herself only after determining it would allow her to continue working alongside her father. Despite her heart lay in crafting bows, her talent was in the hunt. At least, that's what she believed. She didn't have Norm's certainty when it came to deciding his contribution to the clan which was a trait she admired. There had been hesitation when they first met but his kind nature drew her interest with their developing friendship. His strength came from a different place and she smiled faintly to say, "Otherwise, it would be dreadfully boring."
"To be painfully honest, I don't have much experience with the fairer gender of any species" he confessed modestly about his lack of a dating life as a human because his work within Pandora came first. If he did happen to have a date, it didn't progress far. He had been perceived as a heavy bookworm and tame in personality, which was something he was continuously working to strengthen as a na'vi. His courage was a lot better than back then because he would have walked right back the way he came if it had been over a year ago. Chuckling awkwardly, he admitted quietly, "I can be awkward with sensitive matters and babble trying to say what I feel-"
"Norm" she interjected to let him keep that private aspect to himself as a kindness. It was not surprising to her, given his observant and kind nature, but she liked that about him.
Norm, unfortunately, didn't receive the message in his neurons and he went on, "My brain trails off unlike my hunts-"
"Norm!"
"Sorry!"
His face turned lilac to slipping away in conversation and she thinned her lips to stop a laugh from surfacing. There was another important matter that required action on his part and she crossed her arms to inquire, "What about your seamstress?"
"She's not you" he answered truthfully with a defeated sigh as to why he couldn't continue with Iza. She was a sweet woman but not the one his heart sang for. He had tried investing his heart and time with her with simple outings around Kelutral after last meal. Unfortunately, he couldn't return her sentiment. His hands rose, closing them to resemble two stones clashing together, and he sighed softly, "Unlike a piece of clay, I can't be molded to fit with her. I could never get the courage to tell you the truth and although she is a very nice woman, I shouldn't let her invest more of her heart into me. It's not right. I can't return the depth of affection that I feel for you- what I have always felt for you."
Had he really felt this way from the beginning? Why had he not said anything? It would have saved her from the jealous flickers when seeing him with Iza but then again, she held her tongue. She was thankful for having a loyal friend but he had hidden a very important truth. Maybe he feared that she would leave? Blame would not be shared by either party and she asked carefully, "You were lying to me from the start?"
"I didn't want to jeopardize our friendship by blurting my heart's flutter" he agreed to bare everything he kept concealed since he had been drawn from the moment he saw her sunbathing in the pools. His expectations to garner friendship were incredibly low to impossible but being in the same hunting group brought them together. That little seed of friendship was watered into what it was now and he regretted not saying anything sooner. Her face was void of anger or sadness, just mild concern, but he knew she was a well of emotion on the inside. He shifted on his feet again to refocus, ignoring the ringing in his ears from his heartbeat, and stated earnestly, "It was a simple boyish attraction at first. We became really good friends which only strengthened it into something solid. I felt ashamed for not being able to tell you this season but our friendship always came first. Apart from that, I have always been honest with you out of respect."
He had exposed his heart but he didn't want her to feel uncomfortable with the truth out in the open. She was his friend above all and he would respect her decision and sentiments regarding the matter. Hopefully, he wouldn't be chased away. His ears flattened against his head and he cleared away the lump trying to form in his throat by speaking softly, "You might want to sever our friendship after this and I'll understand. It's time for me to speak the truth and stop hiding."
Her brow rose with curiosity and she teased him to break the tension in the air, "So you're really a dreamwalker and not a na'vi with odd features?"
He hoped he hadn't sunk to the deepest sea trench in her eyes and sighed softly, "Tarazi."
"I don't like being deceived" she stated firmly to having that sensitive information concealed, mainly because she felt the same. If it had been disclosed earlier, they could have solved their dilemma together. Still, would she have felt the same if he revealed it first while she wasn't interested in him? Eywa always had a plan and she took heart in knowing that everything happened for a reason. Norm wasn't the type to lie unless there was a valid reason and love was quite delicate.
Norm interpreted her words to mean that he was out of her circle of trust after shattering it. He understood if that was her choice because love and friendship could get muddy and complicated. Maybe he wasn't meant to match the happy stories of his friends. He dipped his head with respect and excused himself to give her privacy, "I respect that which is why I will leave to grant you space-"
"You're fleeing?" she questioned firmly because they just reached a new plateau in their relationship. Did he think she was mad? Or that she never wanted to see him again? She didn't want to accidentally chase him off and ruin their chance at building a stronger bond.
"No! I'm . . ." he blurted instantly to deflect any kind of cowardice on his part and managed to correct sheepishly, "I don't know, I'm not great at these things. You're the first woman I truly care for."
Her heart thudded happily to being the woman of his affection but she controlled her expression to be neutral. She couldn't let him think he could slide with another lie further down the line. Honesty was very important to her, especially after allowing him to spend time with her father, and she pointed out, "I do appreciate your honesty but you could have told me this much early. It would have spared heartache on all sides."
"I never said I was great with timing" he mumbled pitifully to his lingering hesitation and regretted keeping her in the dark. She was someone he enjoyed seeing every day when they weren't hunting and his time alongside her father helped him learn. His bows and arrows had never looked better from the tips he gained. He was even ready to tackle his first whittling project before Tsu'tey told him to get moving. His brow furrowed in thought to her last words, curious what she meant, and he shot off his own question, "Wait, heartache on all sides?"
Her ears lowered slightly in modesty to her own undeclared feelings and she took the plunge by admitting, "I have not been entirely truthful either."
"Don't tell me you're betrothed to another clan now" he groaned miserably because truth revealing could be great or horrible news. Had he lost his chance at being with her? Was he reduced to the friend status only? Or was he nowhere near the friend zone now?
"No!" she exclaimed with a soft laugh that broke her stoic façade and brushed her braids back. Did he think she was going to break tradition and leave her birth clan? It was a good joke if she ever heard one but she would never depart her home. Her father was all she had left of her family and she sought a mate that would balance their family. Norm was the person that fit that puzzle piece and she confessed quietly, "I found you quite silly when we met but you became a dear friend to me. You understood why I clung to the artisans rather than the hunting circle and encouraged it. I never felt insecure about wanting to craft bows instead of planning hunts and it gave me the strength to continue that passion."
Was a heart capable of catapulting? Norm cheered happily on the inside for the best news since conquering his ikran. She requited his sentiment! He had torn down her cold shields with kindness to befriend her and it worked out. In the beginning, he didn't think he would succeed but time and contact with each other were on his side. Tarazi beat down the flutters erupting in her stomach because it was easier to say her piece now in comparison to starting anew. Respecting him with the same honesty, she spoke with a faint smile, "My father likes you and seeing you two spent time together. . . my heart fluttered for you."
Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms for self-comfort and continued, "But then you started gaining attention from the women and I felt brushed aside. I didn't realize what I had before my eyes until it was threatened to be taken away. I kept to myself out of respect for you but I don't want to lose you either."
It wasn't easy for her to say that but he had become her closest confidante. He had hidden his secret well from being discovered after spending time with her and her father. Apart from their hunts, they enjoyed time at the artisan alcoves, last meal, the pa'li pen, and the training fields. Norm wasn't ready to lose a close friend either and he assured her, "I'll always be your friend, I'm not great at having enemies."
She appreciated the kindness because she would lose someone important in her life. There weren't many people she trusted with her private life and he had managed to capture her heart. Frankly, she expected someone from the artisan circle but his heart was kind to match the gentler members of their clan. He created a calm ambiance whenever they ventured together and she didn't want to lose that. In their journey to be friends, they had kept silent on their affection to prevent straining that treasured friendship. Her eyes brightened when she met his gaze and mused softly about their quirks, "It turns out we can be rather secretive with our hearts."
"Can we start over?" Norm suggested with a friendly smile to grow into something better. He didn't want dark stains clouding their hearts but clear skies to accompany their future. He was going to disappoint Iza in the next hour and he didn't want to ruin his chances with Tarazi. Taking a leap of faith, he reached out to grasp her hands and squeezed them. It was a hit or miss with physical contact with the na'vi but she didn't shove him away. Her eyes reflected warm curiosity and he didn't break his gaze away to proclaim, "I am not seeking anyone else nor do I want their attention. Just yours."
She was satisfied to hear that, quietly enjoying the firm hold of his grasp, but requested firmly, "No more secrets."
"Of course, I will do whatever it takes!" he vowed instantly to maintain trust and loyalty in each other like they always had. There was never anything hidden from her, apart from his silent affection, and he would never lie. Frankly, he was a fantastically horrible liar and learned not to try at all. He couldn't even hide a surprise party for Grace and admitted to Tsu'tey that their trips to the Atykwe were for him to see Joanna. Never again would he lie.
"You are a sensitive man with words, Norm, but I like it very much" she confessed quietly to open her guarded heart and her lips hitched at his happy smile. He was a kind man and although she didn't necessarily agree with his indecision on taking a mate, she was his choice. There was pride in that as a woman and having her secret affection requited. She would shift her view of him in a different light now and stated carefully to prevent mistakes, "We will take it one day at a time."
He dipped his head to concede to her decision because it wasn't a no and he would take that rather than nothing. His goal was that he would unveil everything from his heart and have her listen to it. Pleased that he had accomplished it, the rest was a simple bonus. Tarazi wasn't ready to become a mate but sought to have the one who always protected her back beside her. Her gaze shifted to the ground in hesitation before meeting his gaze and she asked softly, "Did you try the new sweet cream from the cooks? I was going to drop off berries after I finished but I will go now."
Norm barely had an answer formed on his lips before she interjected with a stronger voice, "Would you like to join me?"
Norm's ears perked instantly to her offer and he grinned happily without restraint, earning a faint smile from her. Was he earning his first chance already? He agreed eagerly to spending time with her in a different light than their platonic friendship and would not waste the chance. His heart thundered against his chest with delight rather than nerves and fear, feeling a huge weight lift away. Well, he still had to do the dreaded rejection later on but he would be incredibly gentle with that one. Who knew Tsu'tey would be the one to kickstart him to make the decision. His bravery when it came to matters of the heart was still under construction but he would work on it.
Tarazi released his hands, turning around in the direction of her father's alcove to retrieve her goods for the cooks. Her father would undoubtedly give her spoons to take them like he always did. She ushered him to join her with a friendly wave of the hand and he smiled widely to seeing a modest smile on her lips. Not being one to display emotion openly, she thinned her lips quickly before scuttling off with a nervous step. Norm turned back toward the bushes where his friends were located and gave them a thumbs-up in success. His human friends would understand and he left them behind to follow Tarazi to spend time with her. A new beginning was now on the horizon for them and he was exuberant to the possibilities!
The group of friends were happily smiling and beaming at their friend's success, even little Txe'lan who had woken up. He mimicked his parents by smiling giddily and waving his little fists like his father. Neytiri leaned down to kiss his smooth forehead with a loving smile, doting on her little son. She never tired of their bonding and wished to keep him at that age. Max looked to his old avatar friends with a nod of satisfaction, inhaling deeply with pride to state, "Our boy grew up."
"He's our age, Max" Cheryl laughed softly but Norm was the youngest out of all of them. She had hoped that his moment to find his other half would arrive without drama and heartbreak. He would have to handle declining Iza's attention but she believed in him after seeing him handle this conversation with respect.
Peyral narrowed her eyes at her old superior, who had not lowered the bow in Norm's direction, and wondered if he meant to follow the poor man throughout Kelutral. She could already imagine the odd looks they would earn from the clan. Now that Txe'lan was awake, she refused to have her future leader witness any more foolishness. Neytiri hid her amusement at her little one's unofficial aunt/enforcer when Peyral instructed the hunter, "You can lower the bow now, Tsu'tey."
The hunter, however, did not lower his bow and silence ensued until . . .
"I believe my arms are stuck" he admitted shamefully after stalling for a few seconds to the bind he found himself in. Did he regret it? Maybe. Did he wish Norm had been faster at revealing everything? Yes. Had he let down Norm or anyone who thought he was joking? Absolutely not. Joanna realized it was up to her to knock him out of it without touching him. She still had leftovers from her snack on a leaf plate and opened its bent corners to release the sour and sweet scent that would normally make her recoil. She lifted the pickled teylu with the sweet pink cream dotting the head of the tangy brown grub, making his nose wrinkle in distaste, and she bit into it. Immediately, he lowered the bow as his defenses caved to the awful scent and the arrow shot into the ground, embedding into it. The rest of their friends took a step back to keep away from the smell and he told his mate with gratitude, "Thank you."
Joanna puckered her lips for a kiss to see how far he was on the appreciation train but he shook his head to quickly decline, "Not happening."
Tsu'tey exhaled with delighted relief to the familiarity surrounding him while he lay in one of the guest hammocks. It wasn't the one he shared with his mate or their hut but it would do for the night. The beautiful white weaving failed to shift in color with the passage of time and the intricate lacing was flawless. He left it open to enjoy the beauty of the night within Kelutral like he used to do during his time there. Whistles and chirps could be heard from the forest around them while the green canopies turned a dark green with the shift of color in the purple-blue horizon. Between the branches, he could see a twinkle or two from the stars in the sky bidding him goodnight. For much of his life, he had seen them as creations of Eywa Herself but time shifted the reality that they were celestial beings- ones that held other forms of life. Beings different from himself which could be terrifying but at the same time, ones that could wield similar hearts.
His beloved exhaled softly against his neck before shifting in the hammock to meet his gaze, leaning over to kiss his lips. While he tried to stargaze from the hammock, she had shifted between napping and hearing the wildlife. Today had been a great day to rejoice in the derelict remains of the tawtute base, discover his inbound twins, and help his friend claim a potential mate. All in a good day's work. His arm snaked around her waist to clutch her close, returning the fond kiss, and she whispered, "I love you and you are beyond amazing for taking care of me, of us, like this. I know the snacks make you want to vomit."
"You are my mate and wherever you are, I will follow" he promised to uphold their union vows and she smiled bashfully, cheeks tinting purple. He loved the feminine appearance on her, particularly because it made the bioluminescent dots over her cheeks brighten. She curled against him when a soft breeze flowed through the canopies, clutching the thin yellow blanket draped over them up to her neck. He chuckled softly at her reaction since their hut prevented drafts during cold weather but they had packed it for that reason. His upper lip curled in distaste to her snacking tastes and she laughed when he shook the hammock with a shudder to declare, "I will bring you whatever our children wish to feast on, no matter how much my stomach flips."
At that moment, he did wonder what their babies would be like. He had prepared for one newborn but now, he would be gifted with two precious little lives. Would they take after her? Or him? Maybe both? Either way, he knew his mate would be a good mother after seeing firsthand how protective she was of their wellbeing and her resolve to be like Nitari, to be better than her own parents. As for himself, he wanted to take after his own father- firm but loving. He would whittle their ikran toys and would hope to one day see one or both bring home their own tamed ikran without the worry that the tawtute would hurt them. As twins, he would never worry that their son or daughter would be alone if anything should happen to him or Joanna. They would grow up in a safer world with them, their clan, and even their Omaticayan friends within reach for guidance.
He planted soft kisses along her neckline to take her mind away from the chilly air and a bashful smile graced her lips. She snuggled deeper into the blanket, resembling a withdrawing turtle, and intertwined her legs against his left. They had only slept in their own hammock a few times before the rain bombarded the coast but her mate felt safest in it. She preferred the sturdy ground to avoid broken bones and chuckled softly with remembrance, "Many seasons ago, you bothered me incessantly and I got so mad at you . . . and I still remember the exact spot where my old hammock was. How you and I spent our time there, bickering with a dash of humor."
She pressed her lips to his for another sweet kiss, earning a chuckle from him, and reflected fondly, "We've come a long way, haven't we?"
"Yes, my tanhí, we have" he agreed warmly to their new life because he doubted they had a future seasons prior. Their dreams were a reality and they would protect their future at all cost from any threat. He would keep her safe during her pregnancy until she was back to her old self, especially with her having two growing babies inside. She would more than likely chase him for finding her delicate but their children changed their usual air of bravado for caution. He kissed her on the forehead as he shifted against her for warmth and murmured softly, "Go to sleep."
Her lips pouted for being given a bedtime but she would take the offer, given that Neytiri advised her that the last month would be a kicking festival of her insides. With two floating around, they were likely going to run out of room sooner than expected. She tried not to think about how a twin pregnancy would treat her spine and mumbled sleepily, "Not until I'm wrapped in your arms. The babies like it too."
He chuckled at her charming words and embraced her to his chest, smiling to the fetal position she assumed to settle in for the night. She gave a pleased sigh of content to bring an end to their interesting day, patting her baby bump fondly to bid her little ones goodnight. He squeezed her gently by the shoulders to return the affection, placing his hand over hers on her abdomen, and he whispered slyly, "I like it too."
"Tsu'tey" she giggled sweetly to his adorable flirting but enjoyed the affection. He was subtle with his actions in public with a fond glance, a squeeze of the hand, or a brush of his tail, but he was more physical in conveying it in private. She found it endearing, given the na'vi were more minimal about it, but travel kept him cordial and chaste. However, being back at the Omaticaya had an air of familiar comfort compared to other lands and she was happy to him happy.
His hand rubbed the swell of her belly that contained their beloved children and spoke to them with a playful tone, "Sleep well, you will be rewarded with delicious food tomorrow."
His brow furrowed with a flicker of uncertainty after the recent food cravings and he frowned to correct himself, "At least, I hope that's what you want. Please be kind to your father."
She grinned with amusement, keeping her laughter low to avoid waking any nearby children. Her poor mate was dealing with the odd food cravings and even she couldn't explain why her appetite shifted to the strangest things. At first, she assumed it might be due to the different biology but Tsu'tey assured her that he would never eat her current snacks. Now, the revelation of her twins made sense when it came to her hunger pangs. She stroked the left side of his cheek with her fingertips, sympathizing with him, and sighed softly, "We're going to have two babies, it's a little daunting."
"We will handle everything life throws at us" he assured with a confident smile because they had fought for their lives more than once. Becoming parents would simply be another step in their road but instead of walking alone, they would have two children in their image joining them. He would never disappoint them as both a father and mentor, promising his mate, "Our children will never lack love, shelter, and protection."
"I can't wait to hold them" she smiled happily to greeting their little round faces to bathe them with love. Sure, they would cry, poop, pee, and fuss during bath time but a happy smile would be worth that and more. For now, they would keep growing safely inside her. Tapping his muscular chest with her fingertips like a forest critter, she added in thoughtfully, "I mean, they haven't kicked yet but they will swallow my waist soon."
"You look beautiful and so will they" Tsu'tey complimented because he would never see her as anything but his beautiful mate. Now, she would also be the mother of his children and he would cherish her even more.
She accepted his compliment, soothing the new changes to her old body, and kissed him on the lips to dote lovingly, "My heart."
A/N: This chapter turned out waaay longer than I expected but it appears reunions bring long chapters. Tsu'tey received the best news ever but returned to his old sassy self back amongst friends. Poor Norm finally summoned enough courage to choose his lady but unlike the other couples, they will take their time before tying their queues. Max is now leaning to be childfree while Peyral is switching her old vote, haha. Txe'lan is a miniature of his parents, eager to learn and explore his world from the baby carrier. With the babies growing, Tsu'tey and Joanna will tackle the ilu pod in the next chapter while Jake's team investigates strange fires in the plains.
Thank you for reading and my last chapter reviews:
gossamermouse101: I have not seen Schitt's Creek but it is on my list. I did youtube Moira's bebe and it's hilariously similar to how I say baby when I'm in mood for humor at work (I work with newborn bebe's). I can see Joanna trying to humor Tsu'tey, "But the bebes!", when she needs something for them.
Stranger45: Thank you for loving the last chapter and I'm hoping this one is similar for you with the old gang back together. Despite the distance, they are more of a family than friends. Norm is now starting on his road for a mate with Tarazi while Tsu'tey is over the moon for his twins and Jake is happy being the best dad ever.
Hazel Ashwood: I will try to add more descriptions for future chapters. The Omaticaya have a better-detailed layout since I had more time in the first 20 some chapters of the story (and a decade ago) to write out a lot. I started toning back a bit because I did get reviews that the descriptive writing was distracting from the reading experience so I found an in-between that wasn't information overload for readers. I'm glad to hear that you liked it though! I'm sorry that the cousins weren't a hit but I feel like I haven't chiseled them as well as I'd like in comparison to their parents who have defined roles in the clan. Originally, they were meant to be the cute faces to convince Tsu'tey to move to a new home and now that he is, I need to develop them more. The only one who has character development so far is Keron, who takes part in caring for the pa'li (where Tsu'tey first met him) and we'll see him in the next chapter feeding the ilu since his path is to be a breeder. Sifu and Silpey need more definition as hunters-to-be so I'll definitely work on them as well. Leti is a toddler so all I expect from her is helping her parents with chores to help her motor development and learning language, haha. Regardless, thank you for enjoying the story because it's going on a million words which I've never done before.
Retro629: Haha, Joanna did have a foul mouth back then and her rage has simmered considerably. Thank you for enjoying the story!
Guest1st: We clearly got a look at the overprotective sempu with his bow and arrow, haha. Jake is very much chill with his son and Neytiri is enjoying the co-parenting with him happily carrying the baby around. Tsu'tey and Joanna will definitely have one baby each to occupy them at all times but I can see Tsu'tey bundling them in together to avoid separating them. For the most part, I've noticed twins sleep more comfortably when sharing the same crib space versus separate ones after delivery. It also helps to give parents way more space in hospital rooms, lol. Max is probably imagining a vasectomy with all the babies arriving while Peyral is like 'scratch that' after spending time with Txe'lan.
SunshineIdalia: Can I say just how much I like that username? Thank you for enjoying the last chapters, the babies have been a hit so far! Poor Joanna is still coping with bringing twins into the world instead of one while Tsu'tey practically rejoiced into the forest about it. You'll definitely see the ilu in the next chapter and the pesky humans are gradually making their comeback.
Thank you for reading!