Author note: Winding things up here! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Looks like chapter 9 will be the last part of this arc! I had no idea I'd spend so long on this story! Thanks for everyone's kind words - they mean a great deal.

The shadow of the Samson dipped and rippled as they flew over the rugged canopy. In the distance, dwarfing even the mammoth trees of the forest, was Hometree. Jake saw winged shadows wheeling and flying above the topmost branches – at this distance they looked like birds, but they must have been huge. He tugged Grace's sleeve and pointed.

"Ikran," Grace shouted over he engine and rushing wind. "Banshees, most people call them."

"Banshees?"

"Kind of like big flying lizards!" Grace called. "Think dragon mixed with shark. The Na'vi ride them. Ask Neytiri later, she rides one too."

It was amazing to him now, after all that happened today, that they could casually talk about 'later'. He found himself grinning widely into the wild air. He would move closer to Grace to talk, but Neytiri had hold of his arm, perhaps caught in some fever dream. He was a little embarrassed about being so thrilled by just that contact. Down the rabbit hole, Jake, he thought.

"We've got company," Trudy's voice suddenly crackled over the speakers. "Lean out and look down."

Jake leaned out one door, Norm and Grace out the other. Blow, he wasn't entirely surprised to see a group of hunters on dire horses, pacing them along the forest floor, sliding over and around obstacles, into and out of shadow. The Na'vi were racing them to Hometree.

"They're not gonna shoot at us, are they?" Trudy said.

"They might," Grace said. "Maybe if – Jake, go get into that doorway. If I get in this one, once they see one of us, they'll know not to shoot."

"Yeah, doc, but what if they don't know who we are?" Jake gently disengaged Neytiri's hand and moved.

"Oh, they'll know," Grace said. "See that horse in the lead there? I think that's Tsu'tey."

"Wonderful," Jake muttered, taking his spot in the doorway. "You know, he might shoot me anyway, doc," he called over his shoulder. Grace only laughed at him. Jake realized that she was barely holding in her excitement – she hadn't been this close to Hometree in years. Norm, too, looked like he was ready to jump out of the Samson in his haste to see things from the ground.

Trudy knew better than to approach Hometree too closely. She set down in a clearing some ways away from the colossal, twisting trunk. The Na'vi nearby backed up out of the way, but did not flee. By the time they had landed, the group of dire horse riders had surrounded the Samson with bows drawn and arrows knocked. Grace leaned out and called something down to the hunters in Na'vi.

Whatever it was, it worked. They lowered their bows. Jake saw that even is Tsu'tey wasn't sighting an arrow at them, he still looked ready to fight.

Grace leaned over Neytiri and withdrew the needle from her arm. She grabbed a fresh bag of saline.

"We need to keep these formalities kind of short," she said. "The sooner we get her lying down and comfortable, the better. The Na'vi have some pretty potent medicine of their own, so we probably won't need this -" she jiggled the bag "- but better safe than sorry."

Trudy cut the Samson's engines and looked over her shoulder at them. "All the same to you guys, I'm gonna stay with my plane," she said.

"Thanks, Trudy," Jake said. "We'll try to hurry." He gently lifted Neytiri against his chest and stepped out among The People.

Jake scanned the crowd of silent faces. Predictably, it was Tsu'tey flanked by two warriors who was the first to approach. The imposing trio faced Jake silently, looking from him to the Samson to Neytiri. He faced them as stoically as he could.

Tsu'tey spoke at last. "When she did not return, the Tsahik said Neytiri was in danger, because she went to find you."

"She found me. We found each other," Jake said, trying at once to sound strong but not confrontational.

Tsu'tey stared impassively at him. With Neytiri in his arms they couldn't attack him, but how much of what had happened to their princess would be seen as his fault?

Tsu'tey shifted his stance, made a minute gesture with his arm. "I see you, Jakesully," he said flatly. He looked past Jake, at Grace and Norm standing in front of the Samson, and raised a fist towards them, stony-faced.

"The Tsahik is waiting for you," he said, turning and walking away.

"Wait," Jake said suddenly, taking a step forward. "Tsu'tey."

The Na'vi warrior stopped, but didn't turn around. Jake saw his ears twitch a little.

"I see you," Jake returned.

Tsu'tey stood silently for a moment longer before turning to speak over his shoulder. "Neytiri will not be able to leave Hometree until she is healed," he said. "Tomorrow, I will teach you how to shoot like a warrior." With that he leaped onto his horse again and cantered off towards Hometree.

Tsu'tey's tacit acceptance of Jake seemed to be the signal the other Na'vi were waiting for, because a number of Na'vi women immediately approached Jake, waving him forward, gesturing at Hometree.

"Wait," Jake said, "wait." He turned toward the Samson, where Grace had been mobbed by a group of younger Na'vi, all chattering excitedly, pulling her down onto her knees, patting and hugging her. "You coming, guys?" Jake called. "Come on, don't abandon me now!"

Grace shushed the children and stood, smiling more widely than Jake had ever seen her. Norm followed along behind her, looking up and around in silent awe.

A procession lead them towards the sky-scraping Hometree, which seemed to grow with every step. Neytiri shifted slightly in his arms, and impulsively Jake squeezed her in hug. This place, which had seemed to alien to him two days ago, now seemed as welcoming to him as his own home as a child had been.

Inside Hometree, at the base of the great spiraling walkway, Mo'at and Eytukan greeted them as they had when Jake had first been presented. The other Na'vi feel back respectfully, and Grace and Norm backed up a few steps.

Eytukan stepped forward first and placed a strong, gnarled hand on Neytiri's brow. He smiled down at his daughter.

"Thank you, Jakesully," he said slowly, his accent so heavy Jake had trouble following him.

"I – you're welcome," Jake responded lamely, stopping himself from looking back at Grace for help.

The clan leader put his warm hands on Jake's shoulders and squeezed once. He turned and spoke briefly to Mo'at in Na'vi before addressing Jake again. "Neytiri loves... flowers." He pronounced the word carefully. "I will go and find some, to be with her while she rests." With that he walked back out the way Jake and the others had come in, calling to other nearby warriors, presumably commandeering their services for flower-picking.

Mo'at stepped forward now, looking regal and intimidating. Dragonlady, spiritual leader.

"Jakesully," she began, "you have been with us for only a day, and already you have done this for us. By bringing back our daughter – it is not a debt we can easily repay."

Jake cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, it was my fault she was out looking for me in the first place," he said. "And I didn't do much, it was Norm and Grace who saved her, not me." He gestured back at his two friends.

"Yes, I see your friends," Mo'at said. She made a thoughtful noise and stepped past Jake. Norm looked properly awed as she approached – he was practically gaping.

"What is your name?" Mo'at asked him.

"Norm" the biologist said blankly, eyes wide. "Spellman." Then he seemed to remember himself, bowing his head and gesturing gracefully at Mo'at, speaking in rapid Na'vi.

Mo'at smiled and stepped closer, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Thank you, Normspellman. You are welcome in our village."

Norm swallowed hugely, his throat working, torn between grinning and looking solemn. Mo'at seemed to understand everything he couldn't say, and turned to Grace.

"I see you Grace Augustine," she said, going so far as to bow her head. Grace returned the gesture, inclining her head more deeply.

"I see you, Tsahik," she said.

Mo'at examined the scientist, and Jake suddenly realized this wasn't a first meeting for the two women. Obviously they had to have met when Grace's school was running.

"I have missed you," Mo'at said simply. "As the children have. And there have been so many underfoot without your school." She smiled more genuinely, more like the Na'vi woman she was and less like the title she held. "I am glad Eywa brought you back to us. Thank you, for helping my daughter. We would be happy if you would come to see us more often after today."

"Thank you, Tsahik," Grace said quietly, and Jake saw tears at the corners of her eyes. He hadn't realized until then how much it had cost Grace to be cut off from the Na'vi as she had been.

The women spoke briskly back and forth, and then Grace made another formal bow and stepped back, reaching out and giving Norm a brief one-armed hug.

"Now, Jakesully," Mo'at said, turning back to him, "you may take our friends back to your sam-son. I will take Neytiri to her hammock." She smiled at him. "Would you like to see her when she wakes?"

"Yes," Jake said immediately. "I would like that. Thank you."

Mo'at shook her head. "Thank you, Jakesully." She called a few others over, and Jake carefully relinquished Neytiri into their arms, and they gently began to carry her up Hometree's spiral steps. "I will send someone to find you when she wakes," the priestess said.

Jake tried to mimic the formal bow he'd seen Grace and Norm make, and then they headed back out into the dappled shade outside the trunk.

When they got back to the Samson, Jake wasn't surprised to see Trudy still in the cockpit, looking very nervous. Probably understanding the human's feelings, no Na'vi had yet approached. The pilot let out an explosive sigh when she saw the three Avatars.

"Everything good?" she asked, strapping herself into her seat. "We good to go?"

"Good to go," Grace said. Norm leaped up into the copilot seat.

"Guess we'll see you tonight, marine," Grace said, climbing up.

"Grace, hey, wait," Jake said. "I need a favor."

Grace rolled her eyes, smiling. "Well I guess I owe you one," she said.

"Those pictures, taped to the fridge back at the lab," Jake said. "One of them had Neytiri and her sister in it, right?"

Grace nodded. "Sylwanin. There're a couple pictures with both of them in it."

"There any way you can fly one out to me?" Jake asked. "I know it's kinda far, but - "

Grace had reached behind her and pulled out a leather knapsack. "You're sweeter than you look, kid," she said, putting it into her lap and unzipping it.

"There are a few pictures at the lab with both of them in it," she said, finally prizing something out of the bag. "But this one is the best one I've got." The photo looked small in her hand as she held it out to Jake.

He took it carefully. It was Neytiri and Sylwanin, and seven or eight other Na'vi youths, posing like some kindergarten class. The two girls were smiling widely – Neytiri even had two of her fingers up in an unmistakable "peace" sign.

After a long look at the photo, he raised his head. "Thanks, doc," he said. "I'll see you guys tonight."

"Watch yourself, marine" Grace said.

The Samson left the ground in a roaring of engines, kicking up a huge spray of dirt and leaves. Jake folded his hand over the picture protectively and backed away - soon the plane was just a distant glimmer in the bright sky.

Jake stood there for a few moments, feeling the eyes of the other Na'vi on him. Then, not knowing what else to do with himself, he set off to find Neytiri's hammock. He could wait there with the Tsahik until she woke up.