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Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or Pandora. It's all Jim Cameron's.
My eyes looked up widely at Gar'han as if he would have the answer but he was looking down at me intently like he was watching my reaction. I felt a finger lift up my chin and turned to see the Tsahik studying me, and I studied her face back.
It was weird looking at her. It was like looking at me, well an older me. She had to be at least twenty years older than me. I wasn't an exact copy of her; her lips were slightly fuller then mine, her eyes were a bit more hooded and her chin wasn't as pointed as mine. But she could most definitely pass as my...mother. But the shock of seeing her face was beginning to wear off and reasons for my uncanny resemblance to her were flying through my mind.
She could have been the DNA donor. The DNA had to come from somewhere right? But if she was my donor, we would have to be identical. Although our ages made us non identical it was still clear even if we weren't the same age that we would not be twins. Close, but not identical. Well, then she could be related to my DNA donor. The one thing I was positive of was that this woman, this matriarch, she was not my mother.
I didn't have a mother and I never would.
She circled around me, eyeing me up and down and I fidgeted nervously. She slowed to a stop in front of me and my eyes returned to Gar'han. He was still watching me. He was so helpful.
I heard a choking sound and turned my eyes back to see the Na'vi woman holding back a sob. Oh no. Without warning she threw her arms around me in an embrace.
"My 'eveng has returned to me." I heard her whisper into my hair. In her arms was the last place I wanted to be.
I felt conflicted. The strongest emotion I was feeling right now was oddly guilt. It was weird that I was feeling guilty because I had done nothing wrong. But still, I felt guilty. I wasn't her child; I was no body's child. Whoever her child was, I wasn't her. And to have her hugging me as though I was the greatest thing that had happened to her, it made me feel guilty. But strangely, some deep sick part of me, liked her hugging me like this. It liked having her call me her child. I tried to shake off the feeling.
She finally released me and placed a large kiss on each of my cheeks. I felt mean for wanting to wipe it off, but I wasn't her daughter and so that kiss didn't belong to me. She turned away from me and faced the Na'vi that filled the gigantic room.
"Children of Eywa!" Her voice boomed. The room of Na'vi instantly quieted and all eyes were on their matriarch. "Fifteen years, ago the demons came and stole what was rightfully ours. A 'ite and tsmuke of The People. But today Eywa has given her back to us!" She placed a firm hand on my shoulder and urged me to her side. "My 'ite has returned!" At this, the room erupted into hoots and yells of cheer and the guilty seed in my stomach grew. She turned to Gar'han and took his hand in her own. "I give my thanks to you Gar'han for protecting my daughter."
He nodded his head respectfully.
"Miss, mam, I mean your highness, I'm not your-" I tried to say over the loud roar of the room but she grabbed my hand. She leaned in closer so I could hear her.
"Come child, there are so many questions I have and I'm sure you have even more," she said, then lead (no, dragged) me away from the stage and to another tunnel. I craned my neck in search of Gar'han but he had already joined the large crowd of Na'vi. I wasn't sure I wanted to be alone with this woman who thought I she was my mother, but it looked like I didn't have a choice.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked as she continued to lead me down the dimly lit tunnel. The sounds of the crowd were starting to fade away and the only sounds to be heard were our steady foot steps against the earth.
"Somewhere quiet," she said cryptically. She took a left down another tunnel, equally dim because it was only lit by the blue glowing bags lining the ceiling. Finally we reached a small room that seemed to be a natural alcove. The door wasn't really a door at all but long strings of beads. She pushed the beads away and stepped inside. I reluctantly followed.
Inside the alcove it was slightly brighter. It was about the size of my closet back home, not very big, and had the natural smell like Hometree. On the walls were a few random weapons and trinkets. On the wall in front of me was a bow, of course handcrafted. On another wall was a dagger, and also hand crafted. Both were carefully mounted.
The Queen was sitting on a woven pillow and she patted the pillow next her. "Please, sit down," she said, and I did.
"What is this place?" I asked, as I picked up a small beaded necklace that was hanging from the wall. It was pretty, with dark green beads and a long black feather as the center. I liked it.
"For me, it's a sanctuary," the queen said watching me play with the small necklace. "I come here when I feel overwhelmed, or if I need to be alone and speak to Eywa."
I looked up at here. She had the sincerest voice I'd ever heard. I looked down at the necklace in my hand. Why was I touching her stuff?
"I'm, I'm not your daughter," I said staring down at the pretty necklace in my hand, unable to meet her eyes. I felt like I was letting her down.
For a moment she was silent. I braced myself for the anger I was sure would come. "Do you like that necklace?" she asked, as though I had not said a word.
I sighed, slightly irritated because she had ignored me. "Yes, it's beautiful;" I said rubbing the soft feather between my fingers.
"It was yours as a baby," she whispered. My eyes snapped up to her almost pleadingly. Although my eyes pleaded her to stop, she continued. "Your father made it for me and when I gave birth to you, it was handed down." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "You were raised by humans," it was a statement but I still nodded. "What did they tell you about your heritage?"
I instantly became guarded. Was I supposed to tell her that I was constructed by Na'vi DNA? She would be disgusted and consider me just as revolting as she did humans.
"You can trust me," she said quietly, staring into my eyes.
"I-I know that I don't have a mother. Or a father for that matter." I don't know what made me say it. The sincerity of her voice or her trustworthy face, but whatever it was made me feel as though I could tell her anything.
"Everyone is born with parents," the female Na'vi said, not understanding.
"I wasn't born, I was created," I said. Even to my own ears, my voice sounded slightly bitter.
She remained bewildered by my words.
"You would be surprised what human technologies can do." I muttered. I wondered if I was being too cryptic or if she had a clue of what I was talking about. The Na'vi knew very little about human technologies so I couldn't expect her to understand.
I looked up to see her glaring at the wall behind me. "They lied to you."
Instantly I looked away from her. I didn't want to hear this.
"Listen," she said and my eyes locked on hers. "I don't expect for you to think of me as your sa'nok." her eyes grew sad as she said that part but she continued. "I know you don't remember me. I just want you to hear my words." I nodded reluctantly, feeling sorry for her. "For fifteen years I waited for this day to come, I wasn't sure what I would say, how I would explain. Because of those demons my own daughter is a stranger to me," she whispered.
"You're saying the humans took your daughter?" I asked leaning in.
"Yes they took you when you were only 2 years old. I don't know why, but they took you," she said. What reasons would the RDA have for taking a Na'vi infant?
"But how do you know I'm your daughter?" I asked. Of course there was our uncanny resemblance but that could just be random.
She smiled but it was a sad smile. "You have your father's eyes."
I couldn't stay here in this place. I couldn't stay here and have her thinking I was her long lost daughter returned. It made me feel... deceitful? I stood up. "I'm sorry but I can't stay," I said.
"But where would you go?" she asked, alarmed and also stood up.
That was a good question. Again the problem of me not being able to survive out there in the jungle alone arose.
"I'll make you a deal," she said suddenly ignoring my silence. "You stay here, with me at least three months. We will teach you all the skills you need to know to survive. If by the end of the last month, you still don't believe you're my daughter, you can leave," she said quickly.
I thought about it. Technically the plan was flawless. Sometime during this grandly ridiculous adventure, I'd given up on the thought of Ray rescuing me. By the end of the three months, I could go find base on my own. But then there was extra baggage involved.
This woman thought I was her daughter. Having me stay would only get her hopes up. And then she would have to see me leave. It made me feel sick inside. But then an idea popped into my head. What if I used the three months not only to learn survival skills, but also to convince her I wasn't her daughter? I looked up and the begging look in her eyes made my decision. "Ok, three months then I will make my decision." She looked elated and I felt even guiltier. "But you have to stop calling me your daughter," I said.
She nodded her head. She took the necklace that was still in my hands and leaned in. I thought she was going to hug me again so I immediately tensed but instead she tied the necklace around my neck. "If I am not to call you my daughter, what do I call you?" she asked.
"Jessy will be fine," I said.
"Okay, you can call me Tali," she said. Tali was a pretty name. She took my hand unexpectedly and led me out of the room. "Come we must celebrate!"
We returned to the huge Hall full of dancing, laughing, chatting Na'vi. She led me through the crowd and introduced me to a young Na'vi around my age, with a piercing going through her nose.
"This is Fara, Fara this is Jessy." Tali introduced us.
"Hi" I said.
"Kaltxì," she said in greeting. She gave me a huge grin and she instantly reminded me of Anya.
"Fara will you settle Jessy in and help her become accustomed to our traditions and cultures? She has been separated from The People a long time now," Tali asked.
Fara nodded her head respectfully. " It would be my honor, Tsahik."
" Thank you Fara, may Eywa bless you. I have other things I must do now but you two enjoy yourselves." She smiled then looked at me. "I will see you tomorrow Jessy." She leaned in to place a kiss on my cheek then disappeared into the crowd.
I turned to Fara to see her with a strange expression on her face. Other Na'vi around us were watching us. "What?" I asked.
She shook her head as if she was embarrassed. "Oh nothing it's just, well it's just, no one expected you to ever come back. It's weird seeing the long lost daughter of Tsahik returned." I hoped she wasn't going to keep calling me a Princess. "Let's sit down," she said and grabbed my hand and led me to some pillows where some other Na'vi were sitting and chatting around a firepit. She sat down with a thump and I sat down, folding my legs under me. She picked a gourd of some type of drink and took a gulp. "Well I guess this changes everything," she said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" I asked as she passed the gourd to me for a drink. I didn't.
"Well Tsahἱk Tali never gave up hope that you would come back but still it's her duty to make sure there was a heir for the throne. But you were the only child she had before the Olo'eyktan died." I listened interestedly as she took the gourd from my hands and took another swig. " So she chose Ja'ki."
"Oh, he's so scary!" A female Na'vi said from behind me. I didn't know we had an audience.
"No! I think he's handsome!" Another said.
"I'm twice the warrior he is," A male Na'vi said bitterly, who passing around a wooden pipe.
"Ha! Kako, you couldn't even fight off a Nantang!" Another male barked out with laughter.
"I was a child when that happened."
I turned my attention back to Fara. "Who is Jacky?"
"No not Jacky, Ja'ki." A female said next to me with the wooden pipe in her hand and smoke coming from her mouth.
"Who is he?" I repeated. Jacky, Ja'ki. Whatever.
"Our clan's greatest warrior," Fara replied.
"I heard he once fought an Angtsìk with his bare hands," the female with pipe said then erupted into a laugh that sounded like a cackle. Just what was inside of that pipe?
"I suppose since your back, you will be first in line now if anything happens to our Tsahἱk," Fara continued, again becoming thoughtful. She reached over me and took the pipe from the Na'vi that was sitting beside me. She inhaled deeply through the pipe then released a line of smoke through her mouth.
"No, that's wrong," a male Na'vi. "They will become life mates, if Eywa wills it." Whoa. I wasn't becoming life mates with nobody.
Suddenly Gar'han popped into my head. "Have you seen my friend?"
"The one you came in with?" Fara asked, as she took another deep swig from the wooden pipe.
"Yes," I said.
"Now, he is handsome," The female next to me said then cackled again. I decidedly didn't like her.
"Have you seen him?" I repeated.
"No, but I'm sure he's around here somewhere. Would you like some?" Fara asked, offering me the pipe.
"What is it?" I asked as I took the pipe from her hands and examined it. It had a strange smell. Not nasty, just strange.
"Just try it. It's harmless." she said.
I shrugged. Ray had dared me to eat dirt before and I did. This couldn't be much worse. Bringing the tip of the pipe to my mouth, I inhaled through the tiny hole. I instantly exploded into a fit of coughs and the Na'vi around me erupted into laughter. It left a dark smoky taste in my mouth and I blew out a ring of smoke. Wow. I took another inhale, this time without the coughs and blew out the smoke.
"You like it?" Fara asked.
I grinned and took one more puff before passing it to her as I blew smoke from my mouth. "It's nice..." I said as I felt a funny feeling in my head. It was very nice...
An hour and fifteen puffs later I was in complete bliss. About a dozen Na'vi, including Fara and I had formed a sitting circle. Everyone in the circle had some form of an instrument. Fara had some flute looking thing that for some odd reason I thought was hilarious and couldn't stop laughing every time I looked at it. I, having no musical background, had settled on a small drum the male Na'vi next to me had given me. With all the Na'vi playing their instruments and a few singing, it sounded beautiful. I remembered Helen telling me singing was a large part of the Na'vi culture but I never imagined it would sound this good.
I glanced at the flute Fara was playing and burst out laughing again. She erupted into laughter also. That flute thing was hilarious! Feeling dizzy, I threw my head back and collapsed against the cushiony pillows closing my eyes in the odd happiness I was feeling. When I opened my eyes again a tall male was standing over me.
"Ray?" I thought.
"Who's Ray?" Fara asked. Oh, well I guess I'd said it out loud. I sat up feeling dizzy.
"Whoa," I muttered rubbing my head then looked behind me to see Gar'han who had his arms crossed. "Gar'han! Have a seat!" I exclaimed. "Listen to these guys! They should be in a-" What was the Na'vi term for a band? While I was deep in thought contemplating the complexity of English versus the Na'vi language my eyes settled on the flute in Fara's hand and I erupted into laughter again.
"How much Yukah has she had?" Gar'han asked Fara as he took a seat beside me.
Fara turned her eyes, which were slightly glossy, to me and rubbed her chin. "About the same as me. It must be her first time."
"Yukah?" I exclaimed suddenly getting what they were saying. "This stuff?" I asked holding up the wooden pipe. "Oh, Gar'han! It's great, you should try it!" As soon as the words were out of my mouth I took another puff. Gar'han, being a party-pooper, snatched it out of my hands and passed it to Fara.
"I think you've had enough," he said, eyeing me warily. I blew a ring of smoke in his face and grinned. He glared. I took my eyes off of his glaring face and landed on a huge male Na'vi. He had to be the largest Na'vi I'd ever seen. It wasn't so much that he was tall, although he was; it was just that he was huge. Most Na'vi were built tall and lean. Even the male, although muscled, were thin. This Na'vi was an exception. It wasn't that he was fat, quite the contrary, he had the biggest muscles I'd ever seen. It looked like he could crush a man's skull like a peanut.
"Who's that?" I asked to no one in particular.
"Who?" Fara asked on the other side of Gar'han. Gar'han followed my gaze to the huge man.
"That is the future Olo'eyktan," Gar'han answered for me.
"Jacky?" I asked my eyes getting bigger. He was scary looking. The Tsahἱk stepped to his side and began to speak to him. Immediately his eyes locked on me. What were they talking about? I couldn't help but to burst into high pitch giggles. That was Jacky! I'm not sure why I found it so funny, but I did.
"No, not Jacky, Ja'ki," someone said but I was to out of it to care who'd said it. I lied back on the ground giggling to myself for no reason and closed my eyes.
"She should probably go to sleep," Fara said her voice full of amusement.
"I'll take her," Gar'han said and then I felt him lifting me up. I opened my eyes.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You're going to bed," Gar'han said as he hauled me towards a tunnel. I was feeling dizzy and if it weren't for Gar'han supporting half my weight I probably would have toppled over. I leaned my head against his shoulder as he practically carried me.
The last thing I remember saying was "You smell good," Before I passed out.
When I woke up my head was pounding.
I sat up slowly trying to ward off the dizzy feeling that instantly came. Where was I? I was lying in a net like bed that looked just like the one I'd slept in at Hometree. I gazed around me at my unfamiliar settings. Was I in Hometree?
"Your awake!" a voice yelped excitedly in my ear, hurting my head. I blinked up into the excited eyes of Fara and instantly I remembered last night. Being reunited with my mother, meeting Fara, and sitting in the music circle. Oh and the Yukah. And to think Fara had referred to it as harmless. Harmless my ass. It felt like the energizer bunny was beating my head with its drumsticks.
"Ugh, I don't feel so good," I groaned.
"It will go away. Here drink this," she said handing me a gourd of liquid.
I eyed it warily. "And I suppose this is also, harmless?" I asked skeptically eyeing the dark liquid in my hands.
"I did not know you had never had Yukah before. Drink it, I promise it will make you feel better," she promised. So I reluctantly took a deep swig, handed it back to her and then stretched my muscles.
"So what are the plans for today?" I asked climbing out of the net.
"I'm so glad you asked! Today the Tsahἱk wants you to learn how to ride a direhorse! And you will never believe who she chose to teach you!" she exclaimed climbing from net to net with me following, less gracefully.
"Who?" I asked, just a bit warily.
" Ja'ki!"
"Oh no." I thought, my stomach twisting to add to my pains. Jacky, as in the giant that looked like he ate humans for breakfast?
"Oh yes! My Eywa, you are so lucky! What I would give to have him teach me..." She sighed dreamily as she hopped into a tunnel. Was she crazy? She wanted the big scary Goliath to teach her? I'm all for the whole "Don't judge a book by its cover" thing but honestly the guy was scary.
"But why would she choose him?" I asked bewildered and a bit scared.
Fara slowed her pace so I could catch up. "Why not? Ja'ki is the best warrior in our clan and who better to teach the futre Tsahik-" I rolled my eyes at this part," then him. And because he is more likely than not going to end up your life mate, the Tsahἱk probably wants you to become friends with him." Fara obviously didn't understand that my stay was temporary.
"Why can't Gar'han teach me?" I asked, my voice taking on a whiny edge. Suddenly I began to hear the soft bubbling of water and the temperature around us had risen considerably.
"You're going to the springs to take a bath and I'm going to go prepare with the other Na'vi for a hunt. Come find me when you're finished so I can take you to Ja'ki," she said then handed me some clothes and something else.
"What's this?" I asked, looking down at the round light-brown bar in my hand.
"Soap. Keep straight until you reach the hot springs. Come get me when you're finished," She said then pauses as if on second thought. "Oh and be careful where you walk, the water isn't too deep but the rocks are a bit slippery. Trust me, I would know."
"What if someone walks in while I'm bathing?"
She rolled her eyes as if I was a child. "If you're the shy type then bathe with your clothes on." With that, she turned and slipped away.
Oh I most definitely would be bathing with my clothes on, I thought as I walked in the direction she had pointed me in.
End of Chapter 4.
Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. I'll get chapter 5 out as soon as I can but I have finals coming up that require much studying :/
Thanks for reading this far.