Hello everyone and welcome back! This chapter should be long and I hope it's up to your expectations. In this chapter we start seeing more of Eywa's daughter! OMG! I want to thank those who wished me a happy birthday and reviewed the chapter. So, THANK YOU! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
~oOo~
"What are you talking about Celene?" Jake asked as soon as the question came out of my mouth.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about! You've been giving the RDA information about the Home Tree! They're going to destroy this place Jake! By doing that you're setting every one of these Na'vi people up for death row! This is their home Jake! How would you feel if someone knew how to blow up the earth and yet have no knowledge of it?" I shouted at him.
"Celene, you don't understand. This is none of your business, it's mine. Now back off." Jake turned to walk away but I wouldn't let him. I moved one of the plants to trap his legs from moving. He's not walking off that easy. "Celene let me go."
"No. We're not done talking." I hissed at him.
"Celene. Let. Me. Go." Jake warned but I didn't pay any attention to his threat.
"What did they offer Jake, the same usual money or power? Was it easy for them for you to except the offer or did you actually think about it?" I paused for a moment, looking down at his blue legs, of course. "They offered to get your legs back didn't they?"
"It's none of your business Celene. You wouldn't understand even if I told you. All your life you've had a perfect life while people like me had to struggle and life with what we got." Jake said. "This isn't real Celene! This isn't you or me! We're living in barrowed bodies that were grown from test tubes for God's sake! You're the one that doesn't understand what's really going on here!"
"You think I don't know that? I've never had a perfect life Jake. But that doesn't mean I'll go and destroy someone's home! You have this one chance to walk again Jake but in a different body with a different perspective but you're ruining it! If you continue this…do you really think that jar head of an asshole will give you your legs back?" I asked him. Jake was silent for a moment, thinking on me words before he looked up at me. His eyes were different now. They didn't hold the fire I had seen when he's training or trying to learn something new. His eyes were that of sadness and regret.
"Why do you care so much Celene? You seem to take everyone's problems and add them to your own. Why?" Jake asked me. I stepped closer towards him until we were only a few feet apart.
"I really don't have an answer for that Jake. To me, it feels like I have a responsibility to these people, to protect them. There something here for us Jake. We just have to look for it." I told him. "And the answer for your first question is that I care because you're like an older brother to me. I was an only child whose mother was never there. I was picked on because of my genetic mutation. I didn't have people stand up for me until I met your brother and Norm. They accepted me for whom and what I was." I said and placed a hand on his cheek. "When I met your brother and Norm I finally felt wanted. I had two brothers I could rely on and be there for me when I need them. They didn't care what I was or what I looked like, they were there for me. When Tommy passed, I knew that he would want me to continue on and stay strong. The one thing you two share is that your hearts are bigger than your brains. "We both chuckled."I know your starting to care about this place Jake. I can see it with my own two white eyes. At first you thought this was just another planet but now…you've found something that you've never experienced in your life and you want to be a part of it. So, you have two options Jake Sully. One, you can continue with the RDA and be their lap dog or two, you can stay with us. For that reason, you need to come up with that yourself. There are times where I don't have all the answers." Jake suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, which I returned. I felt him shutter against my neck as I felt something wet touch my skin. I released his legs and fell to the ground holding him while he cried softly, the big baby.
"I miss him so much Celene. I feel like I'm letting him down somehow and yet, this is me, not him. My choices but this is his Avatar body." Jake said to me quietly,
"It feels wrong but you're the one living it. I'm not telling you what choices to make Jake. I just want you to see this picture from a different side. The RDA isn't all butterflies and gumdrops. Please understand this Jake." I whispered to him. "I miss Tommy too Jake." The two of us stayed like that for a little while until Jake composed himself before standing up. He said that he needed to think things over before deciding on anything. I nodded my head and said that I needed to do something before dinner. Jake said good-bye then took off. As for me, I headed towards the forest where a certain cat is.
~oOo~
"Vergi, come out, I know you're watching me!" I called out into the forest when I arrived at the place where I first met the Masters. I have a few questions for the overgrown kitty cat.
"Please do not call me that." I turned around to see Vergi cleaning his paws on a large rock.
"I'll say it again if you don't explain to me what happened back at Home Tree. I know for a fact that I turned into a Prolemuris but the Na'vi people didn't say anything about it. Start talking cat, this hidden riddles and metaphors are getting old." I crossed my arms and glared at the cat.
"I may have forgotten to mention a few things in the beginning, that's all." Vergi said.
"Such as?"
"Until you finish all the trials or tests, as you call them, no one can see you transform into your animal self. What they actually see is your enhanced abilities to run, jump, climb and so on. There are six tests, two you've already completed, but since time is running out I suggest you move it along and spend less time with lover boy and more time with your teachers." Vergi said giving me a cat like smirk.
"Anything else?" I asked him.
"Two things actually, no, make that three things." Vergi's voice turned serious. "First, once you've completed all of your tests there will be one final one that is very important. It will show us and Eywa what you've learned while in our presence. Second, there will be a time when you must make difficult choices so pick very carefully. Not only will it affect you but those around you as well. I suggest spending more time with your teachers while dreaming. Sleep is overrated anyway. And third," Vergi jumped down and sat directly in front of me. "You might want to brush up on the past few days. Something happened too soon so I suggest you figure it out before the bulldozers arrive. Time, Celene, is the one thing that is not on your side. All fun and games must come to an end if you want to save lives. Not everyone can be saved if you don't start looking!" Vergi's voice made my blood run cold and fear to form in the pit of my stomach.
"But how do I start looking? No one, so far, as told me where to look for her! How can I find someone if I don't know where to start? She could be dead for all we know! Why me?" I asked.
"She's not dead, she's very much alive. She's very close Celene. Close your eyes and look from the forest's point of view. They have no eyes and yet they see all. You gift is no accident! Use it." Vergi said then drifted his eyes to behind me. "It seems your new teacher has arrived." I turned around to see Jan'a, the viper wolf master, sitting on one of the other rocks.
"Vergi, Eywa would like a word with you." Jan'a said with no emotion in her voice.
"I will go right away. Keep up the work Celene. Don't stop." Vergi bowed then left. I stared a little while longer where Vergi vanished into the forest. His words echoed long within my mind, creating questions with unsolved answers. Things have gotten complicated.
"Tomorrow we will start your next lesson. We'll be going deep into the forest so be ready. Do not bring anything for you will only be able to rely on your animal instinct to help you." Jan'a said.
"I will meet you back here tomorrow then." I said and bowed to her. Jan'a bowed back then left. Once she was gone I sat down in the clearing and thought on Vergi's words. Close your eyes and look from the forest's point of view. What does he mean? What can the forest see that I can't?
Then I got an idea.
I sat up straight, closed my eyes and concentrated my breathing. Little by little I felt something shift or move around me. The air took on a different smell and pressure around me and the ground felt…different. It felt like the area took a step back. When I opened my eyes the forest appeared to be different. I stood up and looked – "Oh, my God! My body!" my body was still sitting on the ground in the same position. I looked down at my hands to see that they were transparent! I looked like a ghost! "This so reminds me of that old TV show I used to watch. I think it was called Avatar: The Last Air bender. This is so cool!"
"Celene! Celene, wake up!" That was Tsu'tey voice! I looked back at my body and decided that I would be fine so long as I didn't take too much time. I turned back around and ran with remarkable speed towards Tsu'tey voice. I was led back to the cave where Tsu'tey took care of me during my first transformation. I watched as I gasped for air, shaking. Tsu'tey grabbed me, holding me against his rock hard body that, I really have to admit, is pretty hot to look at. His worry grew when I didn't wake. I watched as he brought his queue and…no…no that can't be! That idiot! What was he thinking! He…he can't…oh Eywa…what am I gonna do?
I watched as the scene unfolded. Tsu'tey held me against him with such a sweet and caring embrace that I felt the need to cry. He patted my hair down and smile when I opened my eyes. In my chest I felt this…warm feeling. I didn't hurt but it felt oddly good. I reached over and stroked Tsu'tey cheek, even though my hand went right through it.
"Mommy! Where are you mommy?" A child's voice echoed from outside the cave. I turned away from the scene in front of me and left the cave. I followed the child's voice until I almost ran into her. She is a small little thing with white hair. I couldn't see her eyes because she ran ahead of me. "Hey! Wait!" I called out then went after her. The Na'vi child continued to run ahead of me, always out of reach but within my eye sight. I wonder if she had white eyes like mine. The little girl giggled then disappeared from view. I picked up pace, an invisible string pulling me forward. I had to catch her. I have to.
When I managed to catch up to her the girl wasn't running anymore. We were in a large green field that you see in dreams of movies that has a large shady tree with a reflecting pool under it. But this tree is a Tree of Souls, a sacred tree that looked over the pool. A gentle breeze blew passed me, a sweet scent in the air. My white hair blowing past me in the wind, the child was leaning over the pond whose water almost looked like a mirror because the water was so still, reflecting the image of the girl. The color was a shade of silver with a tint of blue. When I got closer I noticed that there were two reflections instead of one.
"Mommy I played with Neytiri and Tsu'tey again today. They were very happy to see me again." The girl spoke out loud to the other reflection. The reflection was that of an older woman with the same white hair as the girl. The woman was beautiful and slender than other Na'vi women I've seen. The woman whispered into the little girls' ear, making her giggle. "Yes, Tsu'tey is very handsome but he's promised to another mommy. Vergi was making fun of me on the way back."
"That is because you could not stop talking about the boy." I turned around to see a younger version of Vergi walking towards the girl. The girl picked up her head and smiled. Vergi sat behind the girl, purring when she started to pet his head. "Another beautiful day, My Lady. Your daughter grows more like you every day." My Lady? Wait a minute…is that reflection…Eywa?
"Before I forget, I wanted to tell mommy that I had a dream last night." Both the reflection and Vergi stopped to look at the girl. I approached, sitting only a few feet away from them, so I could hear then better. The woman's lips moved but I couldn't hear a word she said. "These strange…things came here. Some were nice while some others were mean. They carried…strange things that were loud and powerful. It scared me but I saw myself. I was older and braver. You weren't there mommy but I knew you were. Vergi was there too and so were Neytiri and Tsu'tey and Mo'at and everyone else. It…was strange." I froze…what was this girl talking about? Has she been watching me? Has she been closer to me than I think?
All of a sudden the wind started to pick up and the once clear sky turned dark and gray. The girl's face turned scared and stood along with Vergi and Eywa. Something was in the sky and it started to scare me too. The woman shouted something to the girl and she shook her head.
"NO! I won't leave you!" The girl shouted. The woman looked at Vergi who nodded, taking hold of the girl's hand with his tail, pulling her along. "No! Mommy needs my help!" The woman then was gone. The wind picked up, the ground shook, and everything turned into a nightmare. Vergi moved with the girl but she fell, screaming. From where I stood it looked like something grabbed a hold of her foot, dragging her upon the ground. I felt something deep within my chest, almost like a panic feeling, and then I started to run towards the girl. I took a hold of her hand to stop her moving, and then pulled her behind me. Whatever had he leg let go then the sound of gun fire broke through the loud wind. There were shouts of soldiers, screams of Na'vi, and things sounded like hell. The girl gripped my hand and I looked down.
She looked like me.
In this girls' eyes were the same fear I had when I was her age, the feeling of being unsecure, afraid, and not important. She clung to my hand, tightening her grip on my hand. "Don't leave me Celene. I don't want to be alone." The girl said to me.
"I won't. I promise. Just keep holding my hand." I told her. I pushed the girl in front of me and looked forward, unafraid. "YOU WON'T GET HER! YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME!" I said a line from a bunch of movies but at this time it seemed appropriate. The wind blew harder and the sounds did too. The ground shook and it started to crumble from underneath me.
"CELENE!" The girl shouted as I fell deeper into the darkness.
~oOo~
There you guys have it, another chapter with some interesting things happening. I hope you all enjoyed it so please review and tell me what you think. Thank you for reading!