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Chapter 12: Neteyam's Warning

Tuk had gone to visit her mother, needing some advice. She was scared. It was still a rough patch between the mother and daughter at the moment. Though it hurt them both, neither of them could give up what they truly believed. So the fact that they were meeting up alone, meant so much to the both of them.

"Oh my sweet girl." Neytiri whispered, pulling her daughter in close the second she was in her vision. They had met up along the coast, away from the Metkayina but close enough to each of their homes and by the water - since it made Tuk feel so calm.

"Hi mom." She whispered, hugging her back.

"I miss you at home, child." Neytiri told her.

"I know you do, I miss you all too but I have found my home now." She said softly. Her mother just clenched her jaw slightly. She did not like this but could not interfere with love.

"Let's just sit…" Neytiri told her as they sat along the beach, their feet in the water. Tuk swallowed hard and sighed softly, causing Neytiri's maternal instincts to kick in. "Tuk? What is wrong?" She asked, sensing it.

Tuk clenched her jaw before looking at her, "I'm with child, mom.." She whispered, her bottom lip quivering as the tears fell. Neytiri's eyes widened and her ears dropped.

"Oh Tuk…" She whispered. "Why so sad?"

"This isn't what I want. I'm not ready…"

"I do not like that this child is born from the shadows…but it is in Eywa's plan, my child. We must trust in her."

"I know, but what if she has made a mistake?"

"The great mother never makes mistakes, Tuk." Neytiri reassured her.

"But what if this time she has?!" Tuk asked.

"This is what you believe?" Neytiri asked, playing with the sand between her fingers.

"I think so…" She whispered back.

"You do not think, only know. In here." Neytiri told her, moving her hand to her heart. "You say these things out of fear or because you know it is true?" she asked her daughter.

Tuk swallowed hard and looked at her, her mother was right. "Becoming a mother is terrifying. No war, no threat to life, nothing will ever be as terrifying as becoming a parent. But it is the greatest gift Eywa can give you…" Neytiri said softly. "And you will be just fine…" She added, moving her hand to her daughter's cheek.

"It's just a lot.." She whispered.

"Come home, Tuk. We can help you."

"You know I can't. Kauri is banished…he is outcast. I cannot leave him." Neytiri clenched his jaw.

"You should have listened to me when I said stay clear of the shadows.." Neytiri chuckled. Tuk just swallowed hard. "Do you know what you need?"

"What?" Tuk asked softly.

"To see your big brother." She whispered, standing up and taking her hand. Tuk took her hand too before the women dived under the water.

They swam to the Cove of Ancestors. Tuk looked at her mother swallowing hard, she hadn't seen Neteyam in so long. Not since she was a child. Receiving a reassuring nod from Neytiri, she attached her queue to the tree and closed her eyes, before she found herself traveling through a white light. There he was…still 15 and looking so peaceful. It was strange for her to think that she was now a grown woman, she was 21 years old and Neteyam who should have been close to 30 now, was still just 15 years old.

"How you have grown, little sister." He said with a smile, seeing her arrive.

"Neteyam." Tuk whispered, softly. A tear fell down her face as she saw her big brother. She missed him so much.

"Come now, don't cry." Neteyam said softly, stepping over to her and wiping her cheek.

"I just miss you, that is all." She whispered.

"I am always with you, Tuk." He said softly.

"I know you are." Tuk smiled, moving her hand to his that remain on his cheek.

"There is nothing for you to fear, okay?" He told her softly. "You will make a great mother. I know it." He reassured her.

"It is not my time, Neteyam." She whispered.

"It is exactly the right time for you." he told her. "This child will show you things. Things that you were unsure of before. Show you what it is you truly desire." He whispered.

"How do you know?"

"Because I do. I'm not just a handsome face you know." He teased, sending her a playful charming smirk. Tuk just giggled and rolled her eyes.

"Skawng." She whispered.

"Be brave, like I know you are." he smiled. Tuk nodded and forced a smile on her face.

"I love you.." She whispered.

"I love you too." He said back before pulling her into a big hug.

That was exactly what she needed, she felt a lot better though the doubts still ran through her mind. After saying goodbye to her mother, she head back to the tree house. Seeing Kauri weaving something together.

"What are you doing?" She asked, with an arched brow bone.

"I am making something for the baby…" he said with a smile, holding it up. A piece of tiny clothing made to cover the child's crotch. Made out of flora, coral and sticks and leaves - to represent her two homes.

"You are happy for this child?" She asked softly, still standing in the doorway.

"Of course I am." he said walking up to her. "I know it is not what you are ready for, but this child is a miracle." He said with a smile.

Tuk just smiled slightly. "I saw Neteyam today…" She whispered.

"You did?" He asked with widened eyes, confused as he had no connection to his lost ones.

"Yes. The Metkayina…they have a Cove where we can see our lost loved ones, our ancestors…only for a moment at a time but it was needed." She said softly.

"That sounds wonderful." He said softly, the cave didn't have anything like that as their connection to Eywa was a lot more sinister than most of the other clans.

"I hope one day, it will allow you a brief reunion with your mother." She said softly.

"It is impossible. I am not allowed back there."

"In time maybe.." She whispered. "Have faith." Tuk said, going over to start the fire.

"And that is what you must also have." He whispered. "Faith. In yourself, in this child, in Eywa…everything will workout." Kauri told her. Tuk just looked at him and smiled softly.

That night whilst they were sleeping, two members of the Kutawato clan had come across the treehouse and had snuck in. "Let's kill them now. Whilst they are sleeping." One whispered.

"No, that is not the plan." The other told him.

"Fine." He said with an eye roll.

"Manaaki and the Tsahik will be pleased to know of their base though." He said to his friend. "Outcasts…that is all they are." They smirked together before turning to leave, when one of them saw something that caught their eye.

"Hey…check this out." He said, holding up the baby loincloth that Kauri had been making earlier.

"Looks like Kauri has been busy." He smirked.

"A crossbreed…Tsahik will not allow it. A child born from a demon." The other whispered.

"Let's get back, we must inform them immediately." He said before they left.

Tuk was dreaming, she was in a deep sleep but her dreams were so vivid.

"Tuk! Tuk! Wake up!" Neteyam's voice told her. Tuk woke up but only in her dream, seeing Kauri still sleeping beside her. She could see her sleeping body too.

"Neteyam?" She asked confusedly as she stood up. "What is going on?" She couldn't see Neteyam, only heard his voice but before he could answer, she heard a noise coming from her living room area and she went to investigate. Seeing the two Kutawato Na'vi her eyes widened and she instantly went to grab her bow.

"No! They cannot see you!" Neteyam told her. Tuk swallowed hard, looking around before watching their every move. Listening to their every word. This was not good. What plan? Tuk's breathing began getting heavier and heavier and she felt like the walls were collapsing in on her.

"Neteyam?!" She called out. Watching as the two males left, she swallowed hard and backed up into a wall.

"Tuk…you must listen. The Kutawato are coming. They're coming and this time with so much hate." He told her. Tuk looked around wanting to see him, but only hearing him. "This is your time, Kauri's time. His time of redemption…You must warn the Metkayina." Neteyam told her.

Tuk shot up from her sleep, she had water dripping down her body as if she was sweating. She was panting, she was confused, she was nervous. Looking at Kauri who had woken up too, moving his hand to her arm to check if she was okay. She instantly ran to the living room to see that the baby's loincloth was no longer in the place it was left and the door was slightly ajar.

"Tuk? What's going on?" Kauri asked, following her as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. Tuk held the loincloth in her hands and turned to face him.

"They've found us." She whispered. "And they're planning something terrible." She told him again.