Losing Grace

We were taken away to the Lab and waited and talked about what to do. Trudy came running in and told us something I had never wanted to hear: they were going to hit the Hometree with the gunships. Grace stormed up to Selfridge and persuaded him to let us have an hour to talk to the Na'vi. We got linked in and I prayed to Eywa that Tsu'Tey and his family were safe.

I woke up in my Avatar body; Tsu'Tey was holding me and looking worried. But relief came over his features when I opened my eyes.

"For a moment, I thought you were with Eywa," he said, as he hugged me.

"Likewise," I said. "Tsu'Tey, you have to listen to me. We've got one hour to get the Na'vi away from Hometree. The Sky People are coming and when they come, they won't hesitate to kill any who are in their way. Did you warn them?"

He nodded. "But they're scared. Some think my mind has been poisoned by you. We must get them to listen. Come!"

I ran with him down to the base of the Hometree where they were gathered.

"Father, Mother!" said Tsu'Tey.

"Eytukan, I have something to say," I said.

"Listen," said Grace.

"Speak, Dawnlight," said Eytukan.

"Your son speaks the truth about the Sky People. A great evil is upon us. Now the Sky People are coming to destroy Hometree!" Everyone gasped in shock. "They're going to be here soon, in less than one hour! You have to leave or you're going to die!"

"Are you certain of this?" Mo'at demanded.

"Yes, I am. I came here to learn your ways, and they also wanted you to hear this message and believe it."

"My mate speaks the truth!" said Tsu'Tey.

"And she also conceals the truth!" said Kintri. "How could she possibly bring us this message unless she knew this would happen?"

"Did you know, Dawnlight?" Eytukan asked.

"Yes, I did know. But that doesn't mean I agreed with what they were planning!" I yelled. "I never wanted this to happen! I tried to get them to listen to me, I told them they should stop and leave you in peace, but they refused! I tried."

"You should've tried harder! You shouldn't have ever come here!" shouted Kintri.

"She did all she could!" shouted Tsu'Tey.

"Please, I tried everything! But because my human body is crippled and dying, they wouldn't hear me out! I tried to warn you before and I'm telling you more now because the minute I came here, I fell in love. I fell in love with Tsu'Tey, with the forest, with the Omaticaya, with everything. I stopped being one of the Sky People the minute I met Tsu'Tey. Please, you trusted me before, so trust me now."

"NEVER!" shouted Kintri. "YOU WILL NEVER BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE!"

"Father, Mother, we cannot listen to Kintri! We have to leave!" said Tsu'Tey.

"No, son. We will not leave!" said Eytukan. "Because your mate has betrayed us, she and her friend will be bound until we can sort this out!"

"NO!" shouted Tsu'Tey.

He struggled against the Na'vi who grabbed me and bound my hands, but he wasn't strong enough for all of them. I couldn't fight them off and I was led away and bound to a totem along with Grace.

Grace and I kept yelling at them to run and hide, telling them to leave before they were killed, but no one would listen. I could see the pain Tsu'Tey's eyes as Eytukan forced him to stay away from me.

Soon, the gunships came and a battle began. Tsu'Tey followed his father's orders to use the ikran for an aerial attack. The gunships began destroying Hometree and gassing out the Na'vi. Arrows were flung, but they just bounced off the gunships. Grace and I struggled against our bonds as the Na'vi finally retreated and Hometree was destroyed by fire. I couldn't stop the tears that ran down my face. All of this, was my fault.

Mo'at walked over to Grace and I with a sharp knife. For a moment, I didn't know if she was going to kill me or not. She looked both angry and grieved. She held the blade at my throat. "If you are one of us," she said. "Help us." She cut me free and then we all fled the area. We struggled to protect each other, for all the good it did. Broken wood, fire and smoke was all around us. Everyone who wasn't dead, ran away from the remains of Hometree. The injured were carried away. Then just when I thought things couldn't get worse, Tsu'Tey found Eytukan dying of impalement.

I watched from afar and wept as Tsu'Tey and Eytukan shared their final words together and then Eytukan was gone. Tsu'Tey began to weep as well. I ran over to him and held him in my arms. He held me tight as I rubbed circles on his back and whispered over and over again how sorry I was. Grief and guilt crashed down on me. I was a warrior who dreamed I could bring peace, sooner or later though; you always have to wake up.

My link was broken and I woke up in my human body again.

Grace, Norm and I were taken to a holding cell.

I couldn't stop the sobs that wracked my weakened body. They had been generous enough to give me my medicine, figuring that I was already dying and it would serve as my execution for "treason."

None of us said anything. Except for my sobs, there was silence between the three of us until Norm broke it. He asked, "How long?"

I looked at him and wiped my eyes. "How long what, Norm?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Dawn, how long have you known that you had leukemia? How long do you have left?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter," I said, softly. "I'm dead anyway."

"Answer him, Dawn," said Grace. "And while you're at it, you can tell us why in heaven's name you lied to us about what was really for."

I sighed. They knew I was dying. I might as well explain the rest of it. "I've known since a week after Rose's death. And I've got a month left, maybe less." As if for proof, I slid off my jacket, revealing the bruises from the leukemia. I was in pain as I hadn't taken my medicine and I was weak and shaky from lack of food. "I lied to you because you weren't supposed to find out. When I came here, I was just fulfilling my promise to my sister and no one even wanted me here at first. I was just a crippled ex-marine. Why bother telling you I have a death sentence?" I took a deep breath. "But everything changed. I gained friends, family, a home, and suddenly I didn't know how to tell the people I cared about that I was going to die when I was trying to move on and accept my fate? Telling Tsu'Tey and knowing that I was going to have to leave him one day was hard enough. But it was harder to do that for you guys."

"I'm sorry I kept picking on you," said Norm. "I never should've let my jealousy get the better of me."

"We are so sorry," said Grace.

I shook my head. "It's okay, guys. It's okay."

"No, it's not okay," said Grace. "You came here with nothing except a death sentence and we only made things harder for you at first because you weren't your sister. We shouldn't have done that. We didn't see that you were meant to be here for a reason."

"A reason? What reason?" I demanded, nearly hysterical. "To betray those I care about and ruin their lives? The Na'vi are condemned to death because of me. Tsu'Tey's got nothing to look forward to in our relationship but grief and I've messed everything up. It's all my fault!"

"Sweetie, none of this is your fault!" said Grace, firmly. "Don't you ever think that! We will make this better, I promise. You are a part of this family. You're the daughter I never had and you've made my life here better. You're a part of this family."

I smiled a little. "Thanks, Grace. You're a second mother to me."

She hugged me and then helped me with my medicine before Trudy came into our sights with a cart. She spoke to the security guard and knocked him out as Max came in and got us out.

Norm pushed my chair so we could escape faster. The others got the ship up and running and got us all Exomasks. I ordered Max to stay behind and be my mole. He agreed and made me promise to be careful. When the flyer was up and running, they hoisted me into it. Unfortunately, we set off intruder alarms and then Quaritch started firing his gun at us.

"Trudy, get us out of here!" I shouted.

We got up and fly off, making some of them cheer in joy.

"Good work, Tru," I said, smiling.

She smiled back. "Hey, nobody messes with my baby sister. No one. Is everyone okay back there?"

"I'm good!" said Norm.

"Me too!"

But Grace didn't sound so happy. "Ah, crap," she said, as she clutched a wound. "This is going to ruin my whole day."

Oh, no. Not this. Not now! "Grace is hit!" I yelled. "Norm, get the trauma kit!" I tried to keep my voice calm and level as I helped Grace when Norm returned with the medical supplies. "Grace, keep the pressure on it. Just hang on, okay?"

She nodded and then Trudy and Norm used grappling hooks to carry one of the shacks off to the place I directed them to. "Just keep going north. Get us deep within the mountains."

"Roger that. At least they can't track us up here. Not this far into the Vortex."

"It's strongest at the Tree of Souls, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good, because that's where we're going."

I turned back to Grace and gave her some pain medicine.

"Ouch."

"You big baby," I teased.

"We're moving?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding as I made sure she was comfortable. "I'm going to get you some help, Grace."

"I'm a scientist, remember? I don't believe in fairytales."

"The People can help you," I insisted. "I know it."

"Why would they help us?" she asked.

"Even if Tsu'Tey didn't make it, Mo'at still considers us friends. They'll help us. I am going to find a way to save you, Grace, I promise. I've lost too much already. I'm not losing you too."

"Shh, shh, Dawn, it's okay," she said, squeezing my shoulder with her free hand. "It's okay . You're not going to lose me. I'll be with you, always, I promise." She reached into her pocket and slipped me a small green crystal necklace. "I want you to have this. It's an old heirloom, passed down from mother to daughter in my family. I'm passing it down to you now. Keep it with you."

"Always…Mom," I promised, trying not to cry. I felt touched that she was giving me this, but it also meant she might not make it.

She just smiled and held my hand comfortingly.

I stayed up with her all night, just talking. She eventually fell asleep, but I didn't. I was too worried to sleep.

We finally arrived at the site and I began to get linked in. The People say Eywa will provide. With no home, no hope, there was only one place they could go. I only left Grace after Trudy promised me she'd watch over her.

Norm helped me get linked in. "What's the plan here, Dawn?"

"There is no plan," I replied.

"Tsu'Tey is Olo'eyktan now. He might not let you near that place!" he protested.

"Tsu'Tey is my mate. He won't let me down and nor will I do the same to him." If he was leader, it meant he was still alive. I was relieved at this information and silently enjoying the look on Norm's face.

Norm's eyes widened. "He's your mate? You've got to be kidding!"

"Nope."

Before he could question me further, I got linked in. I woke up in my Avatar body in a heartbreaking sight. Hometree had stood for countless years and now it was gone. There was nothing left but ashes and broken wood.

Grace told me it wasn't my fault, but I failed to see how it wasn't. Outcast, betrayer, alien. I was in a place the eye does not see. I needed their help and they needed mine. But to face them again, even if I was Tsu'Tey's mate, I was going to have to take it to a whole new level.

I heard a familiar screeching behind me. I turned and smiled to see Emyrs had come for me. Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move. I did have an idea, but it was a long shot.

I soothed Emrys and murmured, "There's something we've got to do. You're not going to like it." I linked us and then we started flying. Eventually, we found what I was looking for.

The way I had it figured, Toruk is the baddest cat in the sky. Nothing attacks him. So why would he ever look up? But that was just a theory. I dove off of Emrys after giving him the order to come when I called him. I landed on Toruk and then the fight began.

He let out a loud roar and struggled against me as I tried to attach my queue. Taming Emrys had been a piece of cake compared to this. He kept trying to get me off of him and take a chunk out of me.

"Come on, stop this!" I shouted. "I need your help!" I finally grabbed it antennae and attatched my queue to it. After a few more moments of shaking, Toruk flew easily without any problems.

It saw my memories and knew that it was needed. He agreed to help me. I was the first female Toruk Macto, and he would follow me until he was needed no longer. I was grateful for this and I directed him to the Tree of Souls.

We landed on some empty ground, scaring some of the villagers. I heard them all gasp and saw their eyes widened when they saw me get off Toruk's back and soothed the winged creature.

"Toruk Macto?" they murmured.

Mo'at looked stunned. Tsu'Tey's face was a mixture of relif, joy, and shock. Slowly, I approached. The villagers allowed me to pass through and they touched me and looked at me in awe. I finally stood in front of Tsu'Tey, who murmured, "I See you."

"I See you," I murmured.

Without another word, he pulled me close.

"I was afraid, Dawn," he said. "We all were, for our people and for you. But we're not anymore."

"I know," I whispered.

He led me up to Mo'at, who was gazing at me with gratitude and amazement.

"Mo'at, Tsu'Tey, I stand before you ready to serve the Omaticaya people. I speak to you as one of you, as an ally, a daughter and a mater," I took a deep breath. "Tsu'Tey, Mo'at, you are Olo'eyktan and Tsahik, and you are a great warrior and healer. I cannot do this without you."

"Toruk Macto," said Mo'at. "We will fly with you."

"Thank you," I said. "I must ask you one favor more. My friend is dying. Grace is dying. I beg the help of Eywa."

"We shall help in whatever way we can," said Mo'at. "Bring both of Grace's bodies here as quickly as possible, Toruk Macto."

I nodded and then I fly off and told Norm what was happening. When we arrived, it was dark and the Na'vi were preparing some kind of ceremony. Norm carried Grace's Avatar and I carried her human body.

"Mom, wake up," I said. "Look where we are."

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled in awe. "I need to take some samples."

I chuckled as Norm and I placed both her bodies down in front of Mo'at. The glowing grass seemed to bond with the two bodies.

"The Great Mother may choose to save all that she is in this body," Mo'at explained.

"Is that possible?" I asked, shocked.

"She must pass through the eye of Eywa and return. But Dawnlight, she is very weak," said Mo'at.

I nodded and tried to be brave. I was wearing Grace's necklace she'd given me and silently praying that this would work. "Hang on, Mom. They're going to fix you up," I whispered.

Mo'at and the Na'vi began dancing hypnotically and singing a song to Eywa.

"Hear us please, All Mother," said Mo'at.

"Help us," said the Na'vi.

"Take this spirit into you and bring her back to us!" said Mo'at. "Let her walk among us as one of the People!"

Soon, the chanting stopped as green tendrils pushed out of the base of the tree and connected with Grace's bodies. Seconds later, Grace's eyes snapped open and she smiled at me. "I'm with her, Dawn," she whispered. "She's real."

She shuddered in pain and then took one last breath before her eyes closed. I couldn't hold back my tears as I held Grace's body close. No! Was I meant to lose everything, I held dear to me? "Why?" I sobbed. "Why didn't it work?"

"Her wounds were too great," said Mo'at sadly. "It was not enough time. She is with Eywa now. I am sorry."

"You did what you could," I said, as I forced myself to stop crying. Tsu'Tey held me like I had held him when Eytukan died, for a few moments before I stood up and felt my grief turn to strength. "Tsu'Tey, with your permission, I will speak now."

"You may speak, MyDawn," he said.

I nodded and turned to the Na'vi as Tsu'Tey held my hand.

"The Sky People have sent us a message, that they can take whatever they want and no one can stop them. Well, we will send them a message. You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you. You tell the other Clans to come!" They all started rising and yelling in agreement. "You tell them that Toruk Macto, calls to them. And you fly now, with me! My brothers! Sisters! And we will show the Sky People, that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this, this is our land!"

Everyone cheered us on and yelled in agreement. They would fight. They would follow me and they would win the war. I grabbed Tsu'Tey's hand and we ran through the crowd and went on Toruk's back and flew into the sky with others on their ikrans and more on Direhores. Tsu'Tey cheered and whooped as we flew into the sky.

We rode out to the Four Winds, to the Horse Clans of the Plains, to the Ikran People of the Eastern Sea. When Toruk Macto called them, they came. We went from a few hundred to several thousand.

Despite all of this, Max did not have good news to report.

"Dawn, it's crazy here. It's full mobilization. They're rigging the shuttle as a bomber. They've got these huge pallets of mine explosives. It's for some kind of shock-and-awe campaign. Quaritch has taken over. He's rolling and there's no stopping him."

I sighed. "When?"

"0600 tomorrow."

There was the sound of someone calling Max's name and then he shut off the transmission.

"We're dead," said Norm.

"And I was hoping for some sort of tactical plan that didn't involve martyrdom," said Trudy. "We're going up against gunships with bows and arrows."

"I have fifteen Clans out there," I said, slowly. "That's over two thousand warriors. Now we know these mountains. We fly them, you fly them, they don't. Their instruments don't work up here. Missile tracking won't work. They'll have to fire a line of sight. If they bring the fight to us, then we have the home-field advantage."

They nodded, but then Trudy said, "You know he's going to commit that bomber straight to the Tree of Souls."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"If they get to the Tree of Souls, it's over," said Norm. "That's their direct line to Eywa, their ancestors, it'll destroy them."

"Then I guess we'd better stop him," I said.