IX: Called it Macaroni
That night Jake and Neytiri lay together in their hammock; Jake with one arm behind his head and the other draped around Neytiri who cuddled up to him. Jake was deep in thought about the past days events, just barely being able to absorb it all due to the rapidity of scope. As far as Jake knew, he could wake up the next day and Txanhuf would drop a fish on his face, Yawne wouldn't be escaping the horror of torture by drowning in the horror of leaving his loved ones behind, and Jake would never have to worry about the Burning Rock clan again. Of course, he knew what had happened was real even if a part of him still couldn't believe it…. he wondered if it was the human part of him? "You were very Brave, my Jake." Neytiri said softly after watching him for a time.
"What do you mean?" Jake asked distantly. "I did what any of the Omaticaya would do." He added turning his head to look at her.
"Some clans consider it a taboo to bond with another male, especially if they are bound already." Neytiri looked into his eyes carefully.
"I'm one of the people, and so is Yawne even if he hasn't had the ceremony. I wasn't going to let him wither away in whatever nightmare storm takes him… not if I could do something." Jake said firmly, "Besides, it's just like a Vulcan mind meld." Jake shrugged his free shoulder openly.
"What is this?" Neytiri looked interested; Jake smiled.
"Well basically, in our stories there is this race of aliens who can bond with people just by the touch of a hand and concentrating, it made two people 'one' regardless of age, gender, or race. I guess it kinda spoke on how every being, no matter how alien, has similar minds, but I never watched all of the stories. I do remember it was a very important thing, just like to the Na'vi, but with the Vulcan mind meld, a piece of the person from each stayed with the other for the rest of their lives and because of this they did it very sparingly. The Na'vi use the bond in everyday life. Why should I be ashamed for bonding with my brother, to bring him back from hell, when I'll gladly bond with a horse or Ikran?" Jake smiled.
Neytiri looked slightly lost, "Jake, the Na'vi hold the bond between two people very sacred, but the bond itself is the greatest gift from Eywa; there is no shame to use it." she reaffirmed. "But I am… a little glad, that there is not a part of Yawne in you." she smiled a small smile. Jake raised his eyebrow.
"There is enough of him in just one." she giggled slightly. Jake looked at her opened mouthed.
"Did you just make a joke about Yawne?" he asked with a huge grin.
"He is my friend too, I can make of fun if I want." Neytiri sniffed.
"Make fun of." Jake corrected, then shook his head. "Wow, Neytiri making fun of Yawne. Maybe I'm still in Yawne's head, you're not going to stand up and start dancing a jig about babies or something are you?"
"My Jake, what are you talking about." She answered flatly. Jake just laughed in return, much to Neytiri's suspicious glare. But then, slowly, Jake fell back into deep thought, which Neytiri noticed all to well. She pushed him gently, getting his attention. He looked to her again, and he couldn't hide the light lines of worry around his temples.
"Do you think we'll ever have trouble with the Nekxtskxe again?" he said finally.
Neytiri cuddled down against him, "If it is the will of Eywa; who else can say what shall happen tomorrow or the next?"
"Well I just hope they don't come back any time soon, it was hard enough just fighting a hunting party, I'd hate to see a raiding party or an army." He mused.
"My Jake, a Kunship is far worse than any of them."
"Yeah, but you don't have to fight a gunship in hand to hand combat." He nodded. "Even an AMP can't compare to Na'vi dexterity, like trying to hit water."
Neytiri sighed into his chest, "The people have fought off the Sky People, the Burning Rock, and many other dangers before, because we have stayed together. Unity against everything else; do not worry, the people will react together if every they should return." Jake remained quite for a long while after this, again thinking deeply, which Neytiri allowed, because she too was deep in thought. High above and below, the soft light blue glow of bladder lamps soothed the tired minds of many Na'vi who thought much the same after hearing the story. It was an unsettling reminder of sad times, and some perceived it as an Omen with terrible portents.
"Hey, let's go get Yawne and Peyral to sleep in the pile." Jake said suddenly. Neytiri raised her head in slight surprise;
"My Jake?"
"Well, you we're talking about unity; the Na'vi all sleep in a communal or family group, right? And it's seen as a sign of distress when someone sleeps away from the group too long, though it's accepted for mated pairs to leave for a while, right?" Jake furrowed his brow.
"Yes, my Jake, but it is different for you because… well, you are not use to all of Na'vi culture." She said softly.
"Yeah, and I'll bet Yawne never did because of his storms, even back with the Eastern Sea clan. We don't' have any family here aside from me, you and he, Peyral. Peryal herself isn't Omaticaya yet either, and she has no family here. Lawtaw has decided she should bug Ean'taw for the rest of his life and little Quar's been following his sister. I think Yawne and Peyral both deserve to sleep in a communal pile, and we're the only family they've got." Neytiri looked at Jake with open surprise, and then admiration. "I don't think Mo'at would mind." Jake added with a sly grin. Neytiri pushed him, but didn't hide her smile anyway.
…
That night Yawne and Peyral lay together in their large hammock; Yawne with one arm behind his head and the other draped around Peyral who cuddled up to him. Yawne was deep in thought about the past days events, just barely being able to absorb it all due to the rapidity of scope. "Do you think these past days events make me look fat?" Yawne asked; Peyral scrunched her bow.
"What do you mean my Yawne?"
"Well… usually I'm the biggest, but then along comes an entire clan that's about my size; I couldn't hold my own against two of them, and for that, Txanhuf-" Peyral placed a single finger on his lips.
"That was not your fault; you fought three, driving Txanhuf, Lawtaw, and Quar away even when they would have stayed to help you. You sent Lawtaw to help us and without her I am not sure I would have lived, if Txanhuf had not brought Neytiri to us I am not sure she would have lived. And still the only reason they captured you was because of their strange rock which burns. The color of their mountains is not the only reason they are named the Burning Rock; it is a special weapon to them, sacred, and they used all of it to capture you. One." She said firmly, Yawne of course, instinctively had already gently nipped her finger in his mouth and now stared at her.
"Buf I cull'hff dom'ore."
"No you could not, my love." she laughed, "We all do what we can, and you have done more than enough. Txanhuf was old… very old, it was her time, by the will of Eywa; she now rests in Eywa's arms. This is a sad thing, but not to be grieved forever and not to taken blame for- you dishonor her sacrifice by blaming yourself."
Yawne considered thoughtfully, now sucking on Peyral's finger equally as thoughtfully, much to Peyral's repressed giggling. "bu'wuf'if'ty'com'bk?"
"If they return, then the people shall rise up against them as they did before. This time they will have a very strong defender on their side." Peyral sighed, dipping into the curve of Yawne's body, on top of him, and listing to his heart through his great chest. She also took her finger back.
"Na'vi using some kind of gun powder… wonders never cease." Yawne said distantly. Peyral mumbled against him questioningly. "It's an earth expression; it means things that are considered wonderful never stop appearing. I have seen many things with the Na'vi; done many things for Pandora, Eywa, and both peoples. When the sky people come back, I worried I wouldn't be ready… wouldn't be strong enough." Peyral tilted her head so she was looking up at him. "I've spent my whole life testing limits, finding patterns, adapting quickly… and now I worried if I may not be able to do that anymore. Is it really survival? Or is it luck? I don't know… and it hurts to think about it. I feel like I'm loosing some of myself though… a little… emptier…"
Peyral dug her face into his chest, pulling him as close to herself as possible. "There are many things that trouble you my love, a heart as big as yours cares too much for everything; yet you worry it will not be big enough. You are too kind when you should figh to stay alive, you try hard to spare your foes when they wouldn't show you a hint of mercy, and you love everything around you equally- the deadly and monstrous. I have seen things, in you, through you, I would never have dreamed." She looked up then, "And I do not mean when you became the Avatar of Eywa, or held the world upon your back~ I have seen you cry at the sunset, and laugh when you fail terribly; I have watched you teach the old and learn from the young… to me, my love, you are a wonder which will not end."
Yawne looked at her with open surprise, his mouth opened slack. "But I wouldn't be anything without you!" he said as if it was the most obvious thing. Peyral laughed into him.
"and you simply can't take credit or a compliment no matter how hard anybody tries!" Peyral laughed. "When will you let others do things for you for a change?"
Yawne looked perplexed, as if he really didn't know what she meant, then shrugged. "I guess I'll… try… harder to… not… try so… hard?" he chanced, screwing his face up as he did so. Peyral burst out laughing, cupping both hands over her mouth futilely Yawne smiled, still lost –but in a good way- as she gently bit him on the chest.
She smiled, "I guess wonders can not stop being wonders."
Suddenly they heard a rush of Na'vi feet padding to their location, both of them lifted their heads in time to see Jake kneeling down with a huge smile on his face. "Hey, follow me." He said simply. Peyral and Yawne looked to each other and equally stood to follow Jake. "Now, this is a little bigger then what I thought, but hey, how would I know Neytiri had cousins and aunts?" Jake explained over his shoulder. Peyral and Yawne looked at each other questioningly, but followed in silence all the same. They moved swiftly, and quietly, down a long line of branches; a bridge across the chasm of Hometree. Several Na'vi slept below them, turning slightly at their passing in the night. Finally Jake, Peyral and Yawne rounded a large curve and came face to face with Neytiri, Mo'at, and about ten other Na'vi.
…
There were men, women, children, some old and some considered teens. All of them had varying looks on their faces, but most were excited and whispering quietly until Jake showed p. In which they all stopped dead and snapping many pairs of golden eyes to them at once. "Whoa! You have this much family?" Jake said, stopping in his tracks.
Neytiri smiled lightly, "Some have… invited friends." she said sheepishly. A few Na'vi bowed and whispered in greeting, some softly calling 'Toruk Makto' and others 'Eywa Uniltìranyu'. There was a rustling chatter of greeting, and light talk for a few moments, which quieted as soon as it began with no real discernable direction. Yawne looked perplexed for a few moments, then a light bulb went off in his head.
"Sleep over!" he said in English. Peyral hushed him, covering her laugh with a cupped hand. Jake smiled too, thought the idea was starting to look a little… daunting. Jake took a deep breath and turned to Neytiri.
"Well okay, how do we…?" but before he could even finish, several Na'vi –mostly young teens and children- rushed around them in a great ring, pushing them forward toward the center of a large sleeping mat. Yawne, Peyral, and Jake were ushered into the very heart of the group by many gentle hands and smiling faces. Neytiri easily slipped between until she was beside Jake then led him to lay down in a comfortable position. Peyral, also familiar with such things, pulled Yawne down as well. Then like a great blue puzzle of legs and elbows, the ten or so Na'vi all sort of… melded together in a well fitting interlocking mesh. They formed a large circle, with everybody resting their head on somebody else's belly, or chest, and tails all moved just to the side. Yawne and Jake had the strange opportunity to be able to look at each other and move their heads freely as three or four Na'vi curled up as close to them as if they were pillows.
"Well…" Jake said in a very small voice. There was a slight wave of giggles and chuckles. Then came the odd part, people shifted, as one, squirming and writhing just slightly like a school of fish until suddenly everybody was on everybody else. It was all on big great blue mattress; and it was pretty darn comfortable. Jake was amazed that he didn't feel the need to move or shift his weight anywhere; he was supported and supporting several people, male and female, closer then most married couples on earth would sleep. Neytri was practically wrapped around him. The only discernable body in the mass of intimate muscle was Yawne' whose lighter skin and silver hair stood him out among the bodies like a beacon. Jake was amazed at the tangle of his limbs, even though he should have been able to feel the same of his own limbs, but honestly it was hard to tell where one Na'vi began and the others ended.
Yawne at least, was just as overwhelmed and out of place as Jake was though, and his faced showed it with the largest, stupidest grin Jake had ever seen. He didn't even use the opportunity to say 'Jake, get your toe out of my eye' or something. But then, Jake noticed there were near tears on the edges of his face… Yawne was really touched. Apparently in more ways then one, Jake noted, with a slight grin, there were several blue hands breaking up the light grey of his skin. He wondered if the one a bit to close was Peyral's. Jake then came to the sudden realization that he didn't' know where his own hands where. Did he dare try and wiggle them to check? Jake considered it for a moment, then felt a gentle squeeze on his thigh. Neytir's eyes looked up at him, and she breathed the word 'relax' at him. Jake took another breath, making the carpet of Na'vi ripple in breath with him and tried to get himself to calm down.
The instant he did, he felt like he was being absorbed into a blue ameba. The whole of Na'vi bodies all breathing, with hearts beating in different rhythms, and the subtle twitching of fingers or ears… it was indescribable. Jake found himself smiling though he couldn't totally rid himself of the discomfort at the new situation; he was physically comfortable at least. Suddenly, again, Jake felt a squeeze on his left hand, and moved only his eyes to note it was Peyral. She smiled at him in thanks, her own torso blocking out the most of Yawne's body. He smiled back and took a moment to take in the whole of their body lights, shining here and there – each one unique- like a bed of stars on the ocean. It was the most intimate thing Jake had ever experienced; well… second most. Jake felt the smile lighten his face again as he thought it, and he slightly turned his head to kiss Neytiri's forehead. She smiled in reply, not even opening her eyes. This was… pretty nice actually.
"Hey Jake…" Yawne whispered genuinely.
"Yeah?" Jake whispered back.
"Thanks…" he said just as softly. Jake smiled, feeling a warm, fuzzy stomach kind of thing.
"You're welcome." he answered, quietly.
"Also, you got your toe in my eye."
"Go to sleep!" Mo'at's voice said from somewhere, a touch sternly. A gentle wave of giggles flowed across the Na'vi again, in which Jake joined in. The collective vibrations were just as soothing as everything else, and blissfully Jake found it hard to keep his eyes open. He didn't even get the chance to wonder what would happen is someone had to use the bathroom… After a short while, soft snores and gentle breathing filled the section of Hometree. Even Yawne, notorious for his inability to sleep and perhaps considered the most distressed of all of the Omaticaya, was set into peaceful dreams. His face a calm mask, eyebrows upturned; who knows what dreams lay beyond his eased brow, or if the Na'vi collectively dreamed as one; melded together in body, and in spirit, filling the emptiness with their closeness.