Time went on. We coped. We moved on. I began training Neytiri to take her sister's place. She wasn't as gifted as her sister was but I never voiced this from understanding how hard it can be to live in another's shadow. I worked on her skills, archery, foraging, even her English. Understanding the signs of Eywa and trusting her instincts. Our time in the forest was roughly the same. I wanted nothing to affect her self confidence as I once allowed it to happen to myself.
It was on our journey back to Home Tree did we notice a change. Hundreds of Atokirina hovering around us, gliding through the air like tiny jellyfish. I watched as Neytiri blinked with almost hazy eyes as she raised a hand out to them. I watched on soft breaths as the white spirits glided down landing on her, almost covering her and myself. I couldn't help but close my eyes with a small content smile as EyWa showed favor upon Neytiri. I could feel her gentle message, her silent push to Neytiri. I opened my eyes to watch Neytiri as she too opens her eyes as the spirits float away by a wind only they can feel. Her body turning to watch them glide away, her eyes now clear, a strength in her eyes once again. A light I had not seen in her eyes since that dreadful day we lost her sister.
Once she seemed to regain her sense she began walking towards the village once again. We had just cleared the edge of the forest to see everyone had gathered to welcome us home. Once we got close enough I could see the tears of joy in the eyes of mo'at and Eytukan. Their child has returned home and whole once more. All had seemed right once more. The humans had been quiet for some time, and my instincts were telling me they would be back.
Later that night after the dinner feast I sat down with Eytukan and Mo'at to discuss the issue with the "Sky people".
"We cannot keep sitting here as if what happened never did. The sky people are naturally greedy. They know nothing of EyWa nor do they want to in the majority. I know these creatures…. I cant just sit here and wait for them to approach us again. In the morning I am going to see them, to see if they will leave quietly." My voice held no room for argument. My mind was made up and they could see it, plus I was technically their elder so they didn't have much choice.
"Second-mother," a term they had started calling me as a means of respect and affection. "We ask one thing. Bring Tsu'Tey with you."Eytukan said, Mo'at looking at him with startled eyes.
"My mate, I do not believe he is the best choice….after the…"accident" the boy has never let go of his anger and his pain. Sylwanin and he were to be mated once the time was right. They cared for each other, his pain was almost equal to our own." Mo'at tried to reason, however she let out a sigh seeing he was gonna be as stubborn as Kagome.
"Fine, maybe this will help him learn a few things. But I warn you if he causes me any trouble I will tie him up and drop him off in front of Home Tree. Quite literally if he misbehaves enough. I may still look young but I helped wrestle him out of the mud pools during the wet season. He better behave with respect to my wishes." I Spoke sternly looking into Eytukan's eyes.
I had once dropped off a younger warrior child at the time and had literally tied them up like a flathead ram from a good hunt and dropped him off my Ikran "Ko'ri (co-ree)" only a few feet off the ground, right in front of his parents who merely laughed as the boy bounced once before settling on the floor.
Both flinched at the memory but also settled into an amused expression. With business concluded I said my good nights and returned to my home packing herbs and other things I might need on this short journey. After grabbing my small pack I went up high into the sleeping layer and settled in a pod not far from my Chief and his family.
Morning came quickly as I stretched out and yawned as the first morning light barely peeked over the horizon signaling a new day. Opening the small pod like hammock I skillfully climbed out with practiced ease and joined my small family wrapping an arm around Neytiri's arm who smiled and we shared a chuckle as we went down to find breakfast. I took the time to travel down to explain to Neytiri about my journey. Almost as if expected she expressed herself.
"Grandmother, let me go with you?!" Neytiri looked at me with pleading eyes and I could only sigh.
"I'm afraid I can not allow it this time. The sky people are too…new to the Omatacaya. We need to know more, I would be going alone if your father had not demanded I take another with me." I turned my eyes to him giving him a pointed look, causing him to simply cough and look away leaving the females to chuckle at him.
"Besides young one, someone needs to stay behind to take care of your parents while I am gone. It's not like I am leaving to fight. Merely investigate and see. I shouldn't be gone too long."
Neytiri opens her mouth to argue some more but I simply press a finger against her mouth and smile softly at her. I knew when I smiled this way my true age seemed to be reflected in my eyes and show her I knew what I was getting into. After that she merely turned away and pouted as if she were still only 8 cycles old. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh as I patted her head as I once did when she was that age causing her to smile before blushing and waving my hand off. It was like this, the 4 of us sitting and eating. Laughing and telling stories about dreams or of things that happened the night before. This was how I wanted my family to think of me in case anything happens, here smiling and sharing their joy. Once I knew everyone will have gone their separate ways for the day was when I would fetch Tsu'tey to leave.
Neytiri was the first to leave followed by Mo'at chasing after her to go over any future training or tasks for the remained longer than normal taking his time to eat and enjoy his meal just like we used to when he was a child making his secret visits. With an exchange of smiles and hugs we split ways, him leaving to go check on the people and myself heading up to the nesting area to find Ko'ri and possibly scout for the young warrior.
I was pleasantly surprised however to find Tsu'Tey already in the nesting branches tending to his Ikran making sure the saddle was secured. Upon hearing me approach he looked to me and pressed three fingers to his brow before quickly sweeping them down his nose in greeting.
"Oel ngati kameie (I see you)" Tsu'Tey greeted also giving a nod.
"Oel ngati kameie (I see you)" I responded with a nod. "Now shall we be on our way?" I turned and let out a high pitched sound similar to a pigeon drawing Ko'ri's attention as he follows the sound to land on the oversized branch.
He was a handsome Ikran of teal and purple, he gave a soft snort blowing warm air into my face making me giggle as he nuzzles my face before extending out his tentacle like tendril used as reigns to hold on and form the bond "Tsaheylu". I gave a soft chuckle lightly shaking my head before grabbing the end of my que and holding it out watching as the small tendrils wrap around each other and seem to merge forming the bond causing us both to shiver as the sensations settle over us.
"That never gets old does it old friend?" I ask with a chuckle pulling on my goggles and mount onto his back. Unlike the others I do not use a saddle, just the leather wrapped around his tentacle like appendages on his head. The reason for this is because I use different strategies to fly with ease. "Come along, young warrior. We have some sky people to observe."
I did not bother looking to him as Ko'ri walked to the edge and dove off doing a short free fall before taking flight and speeding up towards the sky and above the canopy waiting for Tsu'Tey to join us in the sky. It was only a matter of moments before he was flying besides me to the right and with a nod we took off towards the RDA facility. Soon enough it became night time and we landed to rest for the night feeding off a berry boosh that was on the edge of our camp. I laid flat on the ground looking up to the stars when Tsu'Tey spoke for the first time since we left.
"I do not like this. The sky people cause nothing but trouble. We have been hurt by them more than we have hurt them!" He was close to shouting near the end. His emotions taking hold.
"It is because of that I am doing this. Lest I remind you I was there that day!" I sat up giving him a harsh glare. "You forget yourself Tsu'Tey! I may look no older than you but I have seen things you could never imagine. Bled more, gave more, LOST more….you are young. Your emotions cloud you and you let them! We must learn the goal of these creatures before we take real action. To do otherwise would be suicide and doom to not only our people but all clans. You are thinking too small!" I stood and walked up to him harshly tapping his head with three fingers causing him to flinch and push away my hand to rub the now sore spot on his head.
"You speak as if you already know what they can do…." he growled out in his irritation.
"Because I do! I know these humans! I know their kind! Only those who wish to harm and take over actas I have seen them do. They want something and won't stop until they are stopped or get what they want. I would rather die than see them win! I know not all of them are after us….it's just finding out who…" I murmured the last part before going back to laying down to rest for the night against Ko'ri. "Now get some rest, we leave at first light."
I heard Tsu'Tey grumble some more before settling down for the night. Ifelt Ko'ri shift under me settling as well his warmth keeping me comfortable as I drifted off into a dreamless sleep. It felt like moments later when I woke up and looking to the sky seeing the sun had yet to peek over the horizon. I yawned, rubbing my eyes as I stood Ko'ri lifting his head standing and shaking himself to help wake up and proceed to go off and quickly hunt for the morning meal for himself and Tsu'Tey's ikran. Taking this time I walked over to the fruit bush and started to harvest enough for 2 using an oversized leaf as a plate and setting it next to Tsu'Tey after taking a handful for myself and sitting against a tree as I ate. After a few minutes the young warrior started to stir showing he was beginning to wake. I remained silent as I watched the horizon change in hue as the sun began to rise. As if on time Ko'ri dropped half of his hunt in front of the other ikran the sound of his sudden arrival and dropping a heavy amount of meat, enough to startle both of the remaining 2 of our group to awaken. I let a soft laugh escape me at the sight as Ko'ri walked over to me as if proud of his accomplishments. I let out another laugh as he plopped onto the ground resting his giant head in my lap for some morning petting before we leave once more.
"I suggest you both eat up quickly. We will be leaving as soon as you are ready." I finished the last of my fruit and used both hands to gently stroke my ikran's head causing him to make a soft purring sound.
It took the 2 roughly 25 minutes to eat and take care of any personal needs before we mounted and took off the ground. It wasn't difficult to locate the RDA's base as the amount of helicopters and other machines they had in case of "emergency" and "defense" filling the area with exhaust and horrible noise polluting the once peaceful and clean land they had taken over. I chose a tight cluster of trees to hide our ikran and leaving them to rest before continuing closer to the compound, atleast close enough to still remain hidden. I hissed at the sight of the "Avatar" district of the compound. We could see the "dream walkers" attending day to day life. Most of them scientists, you could tell by the way they examined and studied everything. They have taken our shape but know nothing of the people. Yes I said "our", I have been reborn too long ago to not consider myself one of the people. I remained pressed to the ground watching them in disgust. Everywhere you looked was a human with a gun or some kind of weapon. It was clear there were more army heads than anything else, people who rather shoot and ask later.
After about an hour of observing I motioned for us to go back for now to the Ikran to leave and speak in a safer place. We had made it half way back when the sound of a gun rang through the air and a searing pain ripped through my leg. A loud cry of pain escaped me as I fell and quickly looked to see a bullet wound oozing blood in my calf. I turned wild eyes to Tsu'Tey as more bullets hit the ground between us as he attempted to run to help me.
"Run you fool! One of us must survive! Return home! Alert the others!" I barked orders at him the extra bullets giving him no other option but to run.
I watched as he escaped, however my relief to his escape turned to horror as Ko'ri also took flight no doubt looking for me. His concerned screech could easily be heard as he flew towards us as a mechanical hand grabbed me firmly around my waist making it so no matter how I wiggled and struggled I couldn't get 'ri released a enraged roar as he dove towards us….time slowed. I could do nothing as I watched helpless as the gunman in the robot suit raised his gun single handedly and pulled the trigger.
"Iiieeeeeee! (NO!)" My body reverting to my original language as the pain in my soul took over at the sight of Ko'ri falling to the ground lifeless, his right wing outstretched as if still trying to reach me. "Yamero! Ika sete! Satsujin-sha-tachi yo! (Stop it! Let me go! You murderers!)" I continued to shout not realizing as the japanese dialogue filtered out of my mouth in my despair.
"Anata wa nihongo o hanashimasi ka? (you speak japanese?)" The gunman questioned as he moved to hold me infront of him as I continued to struggle, tears pouring down my face.
"Ika sete! (let me go!) Kare wa watashi o sukuitakatta dake (he only wanted to save me)...Soshite anata wa watashitachi ga yaban hitoda to omotte imasu.(and you think we are the savages)."After that I couldn't speak at all as I wailed. Wailed because of my injury. Wailed for being caught and having no escape, and most of all wailing for the loss of my oldest and most loyal friend.
Hours later I found myself in a cage in the "Avatar" district. My gun wound treated surprising everyone as I didnt fight them. I merely sniffled as tears still silently flowed from my eyes. It was late at night when 3 people "dream walking" approached one of them a familiar face compared to the other 2.
"Dr. Grace Augestine….its been some time." I spoke in english seeing as it would be easier for all present, my voice hoarse from my earlier screaming and crying.
"Kagome, so it really is you. I haven't seen you since.." she refused to finish her sentence so I did so for her.
"Since you let the RDA murder our children." My eyes as cold as the ice they resemble.
"You know there was nothing I could have done!" Grace countered as she kneeled in front of my cage.
"You didn't even try! I lost a daughter of my heart that day! All because your people choose violence against a people already at a disadvantage! And now today I lost my Ko'ri!" I shouted the last part standing and hitting the bars near her face causing her to flinch but nothing more as understanding filled her eyes and she too shed a tear. "You humans…always so eager to kill first then ask questions!"
"What do you know about humans?" One of the males behind her spoke in obvious irritation, his build was sturdier than the other, clearly meant to be a warrior.
"Pfft, I know more than you think. You are clearly a gun head. You wouldn't do anything that wasn't orders…. Tell me do you listen to Grace or someone else?" I stared him directly in the eye as I asked forcing him to turn away causing me to snort. "As I thought."
"Kagome I know. You told me the truth of this world and have shown it to me, a scientist, and was able to make me believe. Why not show him, show Jake and Norman?" She asked me in a soft voice causing me to scoff.
"Why should I?! I came here to figure out how to save my people from the likes of you!"
"They're not really your people and you know that." Grace tried to reason with me and I almost saw red as I reached through the bars and grabbing her by the neck firmly, her hands instinctively wrapping around my wrist in hopes to lighten the pressure.
"They are my people! I am more like them than you are in this fake skin! Tell me how many years have you seen? Have you felt death? Have you ever truly lived among the people of this world?! I told you my secret years ago in hopes of bringing peace through a different means of communication!" I pushed her back, releasing her neck.
"Are you ok?" The scrawny one came forward, Norman I assumed, to help her up as she coughed lightly.
"What the hell?!" Jake stepped forward as if to intimidate me.
"Try it. I dare you! I have died before and I will gladly do it again if it means I can protect the Na'Vi!" I stood my ground as I growled out the words.
"Jake thats enough! She has seen more war and death than even you. She was reincarnated as a native here." Grace says as she catches her breath causing me to hiss at her but she ignores me and turns to the 2 males. "Kagome was once human, a japanese native to earth. She died on earth and was reincarnated into a body of the Na'Vi. She holds a higher standing than the Tsahik among the Omatacaya clan."
"How is that scientifically possible?!" Norman questioned in shock.
"Its as that. More things can't be explained by science than your small mind can comprehend." I snarled as I started pacing the cage like a trapped tiger. "I want out of here Grace! I done nothing to deserve this treatment! The people want peace and for you to leave!"
Grace sighs pinching the bridge of her nose trying to think also starting to pace.
"Fine! I will figure something out. In the mean time behave, and stay put." Grace responds before walking away causing me to roll my eyes, where else would I go? I was literally in a cage.