Epilogue: So it Begins
The pack was heavy on her shoulders, digging painfully into the curves of her neck, but she welcomed the pain. Her dream was in tatters, all was lost. The resonance technology, much like the dispersion fields, were all but useless now without replacement parts from earth. Her own personal repulsion field for emergencies had to be charged for hours and the filaments were a mess… her rations and portable shelter gear were all hasty selections as well. She didn't know how long her new found freedom would last. Would the Omaticaya and the Nekxtskxe really honor their words? She didn't know if she could trust Yawne nor Neytiri, but Jake perhaps would make sure she wasn't slaughtered. Maybe he understood her dream more than he let on? No, if anyone understood anything it was that brute; love? What did she know about it? Why had she tried so hard to make a paradise for herself, where she would dwell immortal, with him at her side? Him. That day, how many years ago, when she finished her set and took his present home. She still remembered dropping it into the street, only realized after she picked it up that the colors had run… it had been a painting; hand panted. She had thought it was a photo.
None the less, it was ruined, and from then on she tried her best to find him again… but he never came back. It was only after she finally got out of college she was approached by the resistance and there her contacts were able to locate him. But, she never utilized the chance, by then she had become wrapped up in the science… science that could change the world. Again he slipped through her fingers… It all seemed so far now. She would never touch him again. Her boots slipped, hand reaching out for purchase and found none. Exhausted from walking all night she remained in the mud. She contemplated remaining there. Her fingers sank into the cool muck, her nose filled with the smell of rain water and the far cry of birds. A hell wasp buzzed over her head. Life went on. She had come this close to destroying all of it, but it was as if the world didn't even notice. Such were the mighty works of man.
A drop of rain water struck her on the temple, startling her from its cold. She was still alive and now completely unburdened by any future. What she did now was all that counted. Slowly, she pushed herself up. Standing, stained in mud, she pulled herself up onto the log which had tripped her. She had the will, a whole life-time before her, and if she tried… a way. She turned looking back at the dense foliage which showed no sign of her passing through. Her failure remained behind her, but ahead… Jen gripped her fists and turned resolutely to the morning light. It had been a foolish dream, it was their world now, they were its custodians and keepers. She pushed into places unknown, where the map remained blank and where anyone could find a future. Yes, she was still alive, and she could still dream.
…
Somewhere in the vast forests of Pandora, great trees of dark bark and jade leaves bent forward, tips touching long grass laid flat and damp. A stream bed over swollen from run off by massive flooding, a Thanator laps at the waters. It had been troublesome to escape the rushing torrents, but now the cool relief quenched it's thirst. The great black skin shone in the morning light, it's great claws dug into the bank as it's chin dipped. Slowly it came to a halt, lifting it's quills. Something was wrong in this place. Rattling gently the beast crossed the bank, head pointed in one direction, stalking stealthily with interest toward a certain spot. The silhouette of an orb, cracked and shattered. Breath shallow, nostrils flared beneath its chest, the beast paused in curiosity… then its frills wilted, head jerking backward. This was unfamiliar, and dangerous! As if stung by a terrible scent, the monstrous animal backed away, hissing low, to turn and finally flee to the opposite side of the river bank.
Gentle waters lapped upon the edge, where an orange ooze flowed from the large orb into the waters, spreading in intricate spirals. The trail led up the river bank, through the grass to a parting of trees, bowed by the heavy waters as if to peer at the object below in reverence. Slowly, the mound the Thanator had been investigating, moved; a figure lifted itself from the damp grass, shaking arms wearily propping it up to lift it's head. It was a Na'vi, swept away by the flood waters to unknown lands, but unlike any Na'vi ever known on Pandora; indigo skin yet slightly darker than normal, liquid muscles with a broad chest, delicate fiver fingered hands, a tail which seemed slightly longer then it should have been, with long hair loosely flowing from the top of it's head that was not quite raven in color… and a short beard on the tip of his chin. Golden brown eyes opened to the new day.