Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the plots of Avatar!
Chapter 14: The Cluster of Stars.
Once Kauri was fit enough to walk, Tonowari had banished him once more. Thankful for their warning but he could no longer stay there.
"Dad please…please protect the people." Tuk begged her father as she held onto his arm, preparing to say goodbye once more.
"You know I will." He promised her. "But right now my main concern is you." He said moving his hand to the back of her head.
"I will be okay, I always am." She said with a soft smile.
"Yes but you will always be my baby girl…and I will always worry." He said with a soft smile, before pulling her into a tight hug. Neytiri watched on slightly and clenched her jaw, before going over to her daughter.
"The love you share is so strong." She whispered. "So powerful…not even I can be angry at that." She told her again softly. Tuk's ears dropped in relief, it wasn't full acceptance of Kauri but it was a start that was for sure.
"Thank you mom." She whispered, hugging her tightly. Jake nodded to Kauri and Kauri nodded back. This was a hard time for them all. Before it got any harder, Tuk pulled away and climbed onto her Ikran with Kauri, wiping her eyes before flying off with him and heading to a new location. A location where the Kauri would not find them and this time it was back in the mountains where she first began her journey.
They sat in a cave in the mountains, that very evening, in front of the fire. Tuk had her knees to her chest as Kauri laid back and rested. "This feels very wrong." She whispered.
"What does?" He asked.
"Leaving them, knowing what is about to become of them." She said softly, looking at him.
"I do not know what else there is to do." He admitted.
"Fight." She said back firmly.
"Tuk you are carrying a child. It is not safe." He told her firmly.
"That cannot be an excuse to sit back and do nothing whilst my people suffer."
"But it must be a smart choosing. Not risking the life of the unborn."
"Isn't everything about risk?"
"This is different, Tuk." He whispered, not wanting to argue.
"How is it?!" She asked, getting a little frustrated.
"Because this is my child!" He yelled in frustration. "Look I'm sorry this is all happening but I will not risk the life of my own!" He said again, a little softer but with frustration in his tone. Tuk swallowed hard and looked down slightly.
"You may not know what it is like to be a part of something, to love your people but I do and I am going to fight alongside them, with or without you." She said simply, getting up and walking out for some fresh air. Kauri rested back and let out a frustrated sigh, running his hand through his hair.
That night, Tuk struggled to sleep whilst Kauri slept peacefully beside her. Sighing softly she got up and grabbed a blanket like material made from flora and animal skin to keep her warm and went to sit at the edge of the mountain, overlooking the night sky and Pandora's plains. She let out a sigh and saw her breath escape her lips. "Not now Kauri." She whispered, hearing footsteps coming from behind her. When the figure sat next to her she turned to face him and swallowed hard, the glow around him so beautiful. "Neteyam?" She whispered out, unable to believe it.
"Hi baby sis." He whispered.
"I must be dreaming." She said, rubbing her eyes softly.
"Or maybe you're just deeply connected to Eywa that it allows you to visit me even in your conscious state." He said softly. Tuk just looked at him and swallowed hard.
"You've come to warn me haven't you?"
"I wish I came for good things." He said softly, looking out at the night sky. "You know when you were a toddler we used to sit at the top of home tree and count all the stars in the sky." He said with a smile.
"That must have taken a long time." She said softly.
"Not quite, you gave up after 6." He teased. Tuk chuckled softly. "But you did always say that each star was one of us." He whispered. "Mom." He said pointing to one star that was clustered by 5 other stars. "Dad, Me, Lo'ak, Kiri and you." He said softly. Tuk looked up at the stars.
"I remember." She whispered, with a small smile. "And now that brightest one is you." She added.
"Always guiding you." He told her softly.
"They're coming aren't they? Soon?" Tuk asked him. Neteyam just nodded his head.
"Within days…Tuk they have to be stopped," he told her.
"I know…but Kauri, he fears this war."
"He fears losing you, not this war."
"Then be with me…"
"I always am." He told her.
"Tuk? Who are you talking to?" Kauri asked, confused as he walked out of the cave in the mountains.
"No one." She said softly. Kauri nodded and came and sat next to her. "We have to go back, Kauri." She whispered, looking up at the cluster of stars that represented her family. Neteyam's star shining just that little bit brighter. "I know it is risky, I know it is dangerous but you know in your heart that this is right." She told him.
"I know." He said softly. "I just…I can't lose you, Tuk." He whispered.
"You won't. I promise." She told him, holding his hand. Kauri looked down at their hands before nuzzling his lips against the back of her palm.
"We will return in the morning." He told her. "For now, we must rest." He said softly. Tuk nodded her head.
"Okay…" She whispered, looking once more up at the stars and then standing up with him.
The very next morning they had done exactly what they had planned and had left straight back to the Metkayina village. Flying through the stormy weather, the stormy dull weather and in the distance they could see flares of orange smoke, so strong that not even the rain could put it out. "Kauri!" Tuk shouted in panic, seeing it come from the village.
"I see it." He said, clenching onto his spear, as Pele forced her way through the storm. Thunder echoing around them and torrential rain. For the morning it was so dark.
"Faster girl." Tuk called to her Ikran. Pele screeched and swooped down even quicker, before arriving at the village. Tuk let out a gasp as she looked down to see so many huts destroyed. The Metkayina running for their lives and many fighting back as the Kutawato attacked. "We have to do something." She told him.
"I know…" Kauri said. He was angry that they had done this again. Pele could feel Tuk's rage and swooped down, biting and killing some of the Kutawato. "Stay on her! Attack from above." Kauri told her before jumping off and continuing on foot.
"Kauri!" She called out before Pele had swooped up to avoid a spear. Tuk's breathing had intensified but she knew she had to focus, grabbing her bow and arrow she aimed and fired wherever she could. She was completely her mothers daughter.
After what felt like forever, Tuk knew she couldn't stay in the air forever. Jumping down from her Ikran she looked up at her. "Go. Go home. Stay safe." She said before running through the burning village, grabbing anyone she could and helping them, whilst defending off the Kutawato. "Mom!" Tuk yelled, seeing her fighting in the distance.
"Tuk!" Neytiri yelled, looking up, running to her.
"Where is dad? Is everyone safe? Are they okay?" Tuk asked in panic.
"The children are safe, but for how long I do not know." She told her daughter.
"We have to stop them." Tuk said to her simply.
"I know. Together."
"Together." Tuk added, before the woman ran together and fought and defended the best they could.