The Balance of Life

Part One - Discovery

Chapter 4 - Part 22- NewHome

"I hope Ralu didn't chatter the entire way," Neytiri said to Jake as he helped Mo'at out of the Samson. "I'm sure she enjoyed riding up front next to Rocky."

"Since Rocky doesn't understand much Na'vi, I'm sure whatever she said just sailed in one ear and out the other. Besides with his headset in place he wouldn't have heard her anyway."

"I'm not sure I understood what you just said, except the part about the headset being in place."

"Sorry. I try to remember not to use expressions that don't have any meaning for you. Sometimes they just pop out before I think what I'm saying."

When Norm and Ralu walked hand in hand around the front of the Samson to where Neytiri was standing with her mother and Jake, a flicker of concern raced through Neytiri's mind.

"Ralu, why don't you and mother have a look around? See if you can sense anything, separately or together."

"Norm isn't going to run off," she added when Ralu seemed reluctant to let go of his hand.

"Your mother's right," Norm added, looking down at Ralu. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be around here somewhere when you get back. Be a good girl and go with Mo'at."

Ralu's departure with Mo'at was anything but gracious.

"Did I say something wrong?" Norm asked Neytiri after he had noticed the combination of hurt and anger in Ralu's eyes.

"No, and yes. Ralu has become quite possessive of you. Let me ask you this. How do you think of Ralu?"

"I don't know exactly. She is very special to me, almost like a daughter would be," Norm answered looking a little bewildered. "I guess I mostly think of her as my brother's daughter. A special niece would be a close description. Honorary, of course. But that's the best answer I can give you. Why do you ask?"

"That is what I would have guessed." Neytiri paused, wondering how Norm would react to her next statement. "Unless I'm wrong, I think Ralu sees you as much more than an uncle. If she were thirteen or fourteen I would be seriously worried about her instead of mildly concerned."

"No, that's just ridiculous," Norm stammered after the implication of Neytiri's statement penetrated into his brain. "Sure I can feel her love for me, but it's a child's love for an adult, a close family member. Just as I love her as I would if she were my own flesh and blood."

"Neytiri, aren't you reading more into Ralu's feelings for Norm than actually exists?" Jake asked.

"Possibly, but I don't think so."

"So she thinks of me as her…boy…friend," Norm added in English as he choked over the idea and completely forgot his Na'vi.

"Something like that. Right now I think she sees you as someone she respects and loves. She seems to have this great need to nurture, you especially. I would not be surprised if she figures that after she comes of age you will be her life mate."

"I need to sit down," Norm responded, and did so abruptly. "This is too bizarre. I can't be her life mate. She is only six. I'm thirty three." He almost added that the idea was obscene but kept that thought to himself as he didn't want to insult Neytiri or Jake.

"In twelve years, she will be eighteen. Just a year younger than I am now. You will still be a man in his best years. She will see only that, not the difference in years between you."

"I'll be forty five. Half my live will be over. Hers will be just beginning."

"From what Jake has told me your Na'vi body is basically the same age as Ralu's—"

"You're suggesting that this is okay?" Norm interrupted, his question ending in a shocked squeak.

"No I'm not. I just want you to be aware of what might be going on in her head. I'm sure you have noticed that she seems very mature for her age. She acts and thinks more like someone twice her age."

"Yes, I have noticed. I guess I attributed it to her being special because of everything she has had to deal with. Children that deal with horrific trauma at young ages sometimes grow up very quickly. I also figured some of her—advanced wisdom, let's say—came from her gift of sight and her ability to link emotionally with those who are suffering, as I was. There is no denying that she acts older than her age. I guess that could lead her to think differently about me."

"I agree with you that her gift of seeing the future has a lot to do with how she sees the world around her," Neytiri added. "Also there have been times when children who bonded with Eywa at a young age have been changed by the contact. Their young, impressionable minds can easily absorb too much of the wisdom and vast knowledge that Eywa possesses. This is why children under the age of twelve are discouraged from bonding with Eywa here at the Mother Tree."

"Is the effect of bonding with Eywa the strongest at the Mother Tree?" Norm asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, very much so."

"Do you know how many times she has actually bonded with Eywa?"

"No, but the last time was at the ceremony where Jake passed through Eywa's eye and returned."

"Would it be reasonable to assume that bonding with Eywa while everyone was connected to help Jake pass through and return would have the strongest effect on a young child?"

"I see what you are getting at, but I don't think that would be the reason for all of Ralu's wisdom."

"You weren't bonded that night. Neither was I," Norm speculated. "It's possible there was a surge in Eywa's presence when Jake's spirit entered his Na'vi body. A kind of bust of consciousness. If Ralu already had her gift of empathy she could have been greatly affected by any pain Jake was experiencing from the passage he was undertaking."

"I can tell you that I did go through several periods of acute mental stress that seemed to be physically real," Jake added. "As I told you before, it's not something anyone would want to experience a second time."

"You believe that because Ralu was bonded when Jake was passing through the Eye of Eywa her mind was affected much more that it should have been?"

"Neytiri, it's a possibility," Norm answered. "Does anyone know what she was like before the ceremony?"

"I will ask her aunt and uncle. She was only with them a short time so they may not have noticed any changes in her behavior."

"Jake, do you remember seeing Ralu in your mind while you were passing through Eywa?" Norm asked.

"Not that I remember. The first time I saw her—in the flesh—was later that same evening. Mostly what I remember about our first meeting was how right it felt for her to be sitting in my lap. As if she had always belonged there."

"It would seem that she was quickly drawn to both of us," Norm added. "It's possible there is something about our avatar brains that allowed her to make a fast and strong bond with us. Normally a child, or any person for that matter, would be withdrawn, cautious with their feeling after losing both of their parents. Bonding with a stranger, two in this case, would be out of character. We may never know exactly what triggered this change in her. For all we really know, she could have always been advanced beyond her years. If it's okay with the both of you, I would like to talk with her about this. If you would rather I wouldn't, then one of you needs to talk with her."

"Mother may sense something when she and Ralu are together. If not, I don't have a problem with you talking with her. I plan to talk with her when we get a quiet moment to be alone."

"I'll leave it to you," Norm said as he got to his feet. "It's probably the best way to start."

Author's Note:

This is a very short post. But everyone has been wondering about Ralu. Embedded with Norm and Neytiri's speculation is the seed of truth about Ralu's abilities and maturity.

For those of you who have reviewed, Thanks. As always I enjoy hearing from you, so please review when you can.

Enjoy.