1
Two Months Later
Blah, blah, blah, Evelyn thought as she made her way through the dense jungle with Graces' Avatar. She's always going on about the connection to the people. Sometimes I wish she'd just shut her damn cake hole. "Major?", Graces' voice snapped Evelyns attention forward and she sighed as the Doctor leant forward to examine some moss on the side of a large tree. "So are we good to stop?", she asked, turning to face Evelyn with those orange eyes. Evelyn smiled thinly, Oh sure Doc. I mean, you're in that giant ass Avatar and nothing will go near you. Me on the other hand.
"You have five", Evelyn hissed, turning around so she could scope out their surroundings.
She hated the fact that Miles had agreed to Graces' request for her to be her personal guard on research trips. "So now I'm a babysitter!", she had yelled angrily as Miles conveyed his orders. "Would you like me to wipe her butt and burp her too?!". Miles had sighed and offered her a warm smile, those blue eyes instantly melting away the annoyance that Evelyn had felt.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Evelyn", he said, walking behind her and wrapping his strong arms around Evelyns waist. "Let her think it's all ok and then, when she least expects it, we'll hit that dried up old prune where it hurts", Miles squeezed Evelyn tightly and she sighed.
"Fine, but when I kick her scrawny ass for ticking me off, you can't do anything about it".
And now, here she was yet again, in the humid and sticky jungle, researching the link between the Na'vi and their worlds spirit Eywa. Evelyn knew that these little trips were just an excuse for her to try and re-connect with the Na'vi, you had to be blind not to see that. "You have two minutes Augustine", Evelyn hissed, tightening the grip on her sword as she saw several bushes begin to move. "Look alive Doc", she said in a hushed voice as she pulled her sword from its sheath. Evelyn moved back towards Grace, the long blade in her hand raised over her head.
"What is it?", Grace asked nervously, trying to peer into the thick foliage. "And why don't you have a gun?!". Evelyn looked over her shoulder giving Grace a stern look, "How the hell do I know what it is". She spun the long blade in her hand and gave Grace a wry grin, "Swords are cool". A small squeal snapped Evelyns attention back towards the bushes and she listened intently, trying to make out what was making the noise. Once again that quiet squealing noise came from in front of her and, for reasons she was never able to explain, Evelyn lowered her sword and strode confidently over to where it was coming from. "Evelyn", Grace gasped, "What the hell are you doing?".
Evelyn raised her hand, her usual signal for Grace to be quiet and she continued to move forward. Once again that noise rang out, this time its pitch slightly higher. Evelyn slid her sword back into its sheath and pushed through the bushes, those green eyes looking down at the ground as she searched for the origin of the sound. She saw something small move just in front of her and for a moment Evelyn was unsure exactly what the creature was. As a small ray of sun hit the animal, exposing that dark black and purple skin, she released a small gasp.
Thanator, Evelyn thought, instantly raising her sword upwards as she gazed around. If there was an infant, the chances were there was an adult and Evelyn was certain it would not be impressed at how close she was to its baby. Evelyn inhaled deeply, trying to see if she could pick up the all too familiar scent of a fully grown Thanator. Another smell filled her senses, that sickly sweet odour of rotting flesh making her gag and turn away as she desperately tried to gasp in fresh air. "Evelyn", Graces voice rang out of her communicator and Evelyn hissed in annoyance as she saw that tall figure standing several metres away from where she had left her.
"What?", Evelyn hissed, turning her gaze back towards the squirming infant Thanator. "There's a dead Thanator here. Looks like some Na'vi have taken it down".
"Well that explains this wee thing", she sighed, bending down to pick up the small life in front of her. Evelyn carefully ran her fingers over its smooth skin, "Funny to think you're going to be a killer one day". The infant wriggled in her hands and Evelyn instinctively scratched its belly, making those tiny legs wave around in ecstasy.
"Well look at that", Grace sighed as she knelt beside Evelyn, "He's about the size of an adult cat so that would make him a few weeks old". She rose up and shook her head, "It's a pity the mother is dead, the poor thing doesn't stand a chance".
Evelyn stared down at the small Thanator, those eyes flickering open as it yawned and looked up at her. "Maybe it does", she said softly, pulling her pack from her back and placing it gently inside.
"Woah there Major! Are you insane?", Grace placed her large hand on Evelyns shoulder and gently squeezed it. "That things is going to grow up to be a predator. The Na'vi fear them", she paused and gave Evelyn a concerned look, "And look at what one did to Colonel Quaritch".
Evelyn picked the bag up and carefully placed it on her back as she turned around. "Grace", she said coolly, striding through the thick undergrowth, "For once in your life, shut the hell up".
2
Miles stood at the massive door that led from the Avatars quarters to the jungle, his cool blue gaze set firmly on Evelyn. He knew she was aware of his presence, but was clearly doing all she could not to look at him, knowing full well what was to come. He gazed through the thick mask and sighed, "A Thanator? I know you wanted a pet, but surely there are better creatures here than some man-eating freak?".
Evelyn stopped, placing her hand on the massive wooden post she had placed into the ground. "The first sign of trouble, I will take care of him", she sighed, turning slowly to face Miles.
"So what, you gonna train him like a dog or something? Get him to do tricks?", Miles narrowed his gaze and walked down the stairs towards her and the enclosure she had been working on. He looked at the Thanators new home and shook his head, I'll give her this, she's bloody determined.
Evelyn leaned against the post and fixed those brilliant eyes onto Miles, "No. The most I will do is teach him a few things in sign language. That's it. No leaping through a hoop, or games of fetch. Once he's big enough Stonewall can come and go as he pleases". Evelyn cringed as she finished her sentence, regretting her slip of the tongue.
"You've named it?!", Miles asked, trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to come forward. "You named a Thanator? And not just any name, but after one of the greatest Generals in American history?".
Evelyn lowered her eyes as she gently kicked several stones away, "Yes", she replied softly. Miles stopped before her and released a raucous laugh, "Damn you woman", he said, lifting her face up towards his, "You are mad".
3
The Na'vi warrior watched the two Sky People as they worked on the enclosure set next to Hells Gate. They had grown incredibly cautious of these humans, the distrust towards this invading species growing as time went by. They were not to be trusted and the Na'vi thought of them as some form of parasite, an infestation upon their world. But the female before them, the one named Evelyn, was different. Several of the Na'vi had witnessed the day she had removed her mask, surviving the toxic atmosphere of the world around her.
They had watched her during training sessions with new human arrivals, her prowess and elegance in hand-to-hand combat drawing many a curious Na'vi to the all too close proximity of Hells Gate. She moved unlike any other Sky People and now, the one named Evelyn, had shown just how different to her people she was. The Na'vi saw Thanators as a dangerous predator, one of the few land dwelling creatures they were incredibly wary of. So when word spread through the tribe that she had rescued an infant one, her name became eternally linked to that ferocious creature.
The warrior hissed in disgust as the tall man scooped Evelyn up, embracing her tightly. While many of his people saw this woman as a beacon of light, a possible bringer of peace between them and the Sky People, there were some who feared and hated her. She had encroached on their world, showing little to no regard for those who dwelt here or their beliefs. Their hatred towards her was growing more with each passing day. Her adoption of that fierce predator had enraged them even more and some had spoken of taking her life, putting an end to the obsession so many Na'vi seemed to have with her.
Those who are blind may call you Eywa te´, he thought bitterly. But those of us who truly see you for what you are know the pain you will bring to our world. Soon Dark-heart, you will be dead.