20. Chapter 20

**FIREFLY**

_**000**_

**MULTIPLE UPDATES!**

**CHAPTERS EIGHTEEN AND NINETEEN HAVE BEEN POSTED EARLIER TODAY.**

He was exhausted, mentally, emotionally and physically. But he wasn't the only one. Everyone was.

Tired and heartsick and hurt. This was the worst thing to have ever happened to the Omaticaya Clan. To the Na'vi as a whole. So they got on with their lives. They cleaned up, saw to the wounded, sang dirges for the dead, and prayed to Eywa.

"_Utralä a Nawm_ _ayrina'lu ayoeng,_ _A peyä tìtxur mì hinam awngeyä_ _Na aysangek afkeu,_ _Mì pun_ _Na ayvul ahusawnu,_ _Mì aynar_ _Na seze_ _A 'ong ne tsawke._ _Utralä a Nawm_ _ayrina' lu ayoeng_ _A peyä tìrol mì awnga._"

'We are all seeds Of the Great Tree, Whose strength is in our legs Like the mighty trunks, In our arms As sheltering branches, In our eyes The blue-flower Which unfolds to the sun. We are all seeds Of the Great Tree Whose song is within us.'

Neytiri was sat between Peyral and Ninat, her best female friends, her eyes dry but her resolve firm as she drew strength from the two girls she had grown up with, shared almost everything with. Mo'at stood before them all, facing the Tree of souls, leading them. Harry sat beside Tsu'tey, half hidden behind him, Na'ring held tightly to his chest, the infant awake, squirming and wide eyed at the world. Though, thankfully, quiet. She had been shaken by the attack and knocked unconscious. Given time, she awoke by herself.

Harry though had refused to allow anyone to take her. He had _promised_ Kirina he would care for her sister. He _promised her_.

He just wanted to sleep, he decided ducking his head and pressing it against Tsu'tey's arm. The Olo'eyktan glanced down at him but didn't move, he too would love nothing more than to curl up in a ball and sleep, praying that this was all just a very bad dream. That he would wake up and Neytiri hadn't mated to Jakesully, that Hometree was still standing, that Eytukan was still alive and strong, that Hari did not have that look in his eyes again.

The singing tapered off and Harry opened his eyes, shifting in confusion as a shadow passed over them and cries of alarm went up, almost immediately they were on their feet as the scarlet and orange patterned hide of a Toruk glided towards them. Harry's eyes widened, someone was riding that – he squinted, that was _Jake!_

The great beast landed, the updrafts from his wings causing people to stagger backwards with cries of alarm as his heavy wing joints hit the ground with fleshy thuds that sounded all the more ominous in the hushed silence of the Na'vi, staring with wide entranced eyes at the blue figure perched upon it's back.

Harry frowned, that frown fast morphing into a scowl as he dismounted and made a show of his control over the great beast. Knowing full well the mythology behind a Toruk Makto. He was manipulating their beliefs in order to get back into their good books after everything he'd done! Anger burned uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach as he shifted his grip of Na'ring, shielding her as much as possible without turning around. What was utterly reprehensible about the whole ting was... they would take him back without second thought. They would accept him as a near-enough deified figure. The one who would save them from this sorry mess. Unite the clans. Save the People.

Even Tsu'tey.

He watched with growing disgust as the People began to murmur in almost religious reverence, reaching out to touch him but fluttering, as if afraid to do so and sully something so wonderful with their touch. And Jake just breezed on through them, as if they meant nothing, his eyes fixed solely on Neytiri who equally had eyes only for him.

He swallowed and turned his attention to Na'ring as she fussed, grabbing one of his fingers and chewing on it with her kitten teeth – just as sharp and pointy.

"_I See you,_" Neytiri greeted breathlessly, her eyes half lidding with desire.

Jake twitched a smile, "_I see you_," he returned, voice softening as he stared at her. Harry's temper soothed a touch as he watched the two reunite. As much as he may hate Jake, their feelings were genuine. And he didn't want Neytiri to be alone for the rest of her life. The two spoke, exchanging soft words in the hushed silence before Jake relaxed in relief and turned his attention to them for the first time.

He swallowed and stepped forward.

"Tsu'tey, son of Ateyo... I stand before you... ready to serve the Omaticaya People," he vowed solemnly as he approached, stepping up the cragged rocks to reach their level as Neytiri skipped up to her mother's arm. "_You are olo'eyktan, and you are a great warrior. I can't do this without you,_" he explained softly, humbly.

Tsu'tey shifted, gathering his thoughts, clearly uncertain of how to handle this, almost frightened but... He settled quickly enough, sighing softly. "Toruk Makto," he murmured, reaching forward and placing a hand on the other warrior's chest, over his heart, "_I will fly with you_," he pledged softly. This was no place for his personal grudges, he had to give those up when he took this mantle, he had to look to his people, protect his people, and do what was best for them. And even if Jake was the Rider of Last Shadow, he was still the Rider of Last Shadow and the one who would lead them through the darkness as all the legends spoke of.

Something seemed to break within Jake, his expression and posture ceased being that of the Toruk Makto, and became that of a defeated man begging for help. "_My friend is dying,_" he breathed before looking to Mo'at and Neytiri, "_Grace is dying. I beg the help of Eywa..._"

From the corner of his eye, he saw N'deh stand straight, his face stricken.

"_Take me to her,_" Harry commanded, stepping forward, his face set. He handed Na'ring to Tsu'tey without looking at him and stepped off the dais before looking back at Jake, "_Hurry up. Depending on her injury Eywa may not be able to help her. I know some Healing. Every little helps. Tsahik will prepare everything here._"

Jake nodded, hesitantly as he followed after the diminutive male, noting that the very top of his head was only just about level with his collar bone.

"N'deh, why are you standing around?" Harry barked, looking at the old Warrior with an impatient scowl. "Come, hurry," he ordered before whistling for Zeus as Jake climbed back upon Toruk.

N'deh froze briefly, until a shove from behind sent him scuttling forward, he glanced over his shoulder, blinking in wide eyed surprise. Xios, the woman Eywa rejected as his mate, smiled sadly at him as she ushered him forward. "Go, you love her, do you not?" she questioned him softly before pushing him forward again.

N'deh went.

_**000**_

Jake stared at the Magi as he gently saw to Grace, cleaning her of blood, dressing her in vines of ivy, all the while, N'deh held her hand and whispered softly to her. Bringing a painfilled, but so happy smile to the doctor's face. Jake felt his heart go out to them as he realised what he was seeing.

"_I thought you hated us,_" he admitted, watching Harry.

"_I hate you. There is a difference,_" he stated flatly and without remorse or hesitation. "_Grace is family._"

Jake winced a little in surprise. He had hoped that the whole Toruk Makto thing would garner him forgiveness from everyone, but, he supposed Harry would always be different in that regard. "_How so?_" he asked delicately, trying to make conversation. He was antsy, uncertain, nervous, he didn't know what the People were going to do, just that they required both Grace and her Avatar to do it.

"_She is my cousin's great granddaughter,_" Harry explained rather bluntly as he smoothed the woman's hair away from her face mask, bringing her attention away from N'deh. "_It's time, Grace._"

She nodded, and hoped.

Death by stomach wounding was a long and painful way of dying. She had been bleeding out for the last two days, it was only the continuous medical attentions from Jake, Norm and Trudy that prevented her from dying within the first four hours. She had been expecting to die, kind of hoping for it to be honest. Dying trying to do the right thing was more than anyone in her family had done so far and she would be the first, it was a thing of honour in her mind. But then Harry and N'deh came to her and she had so many reasons to live. The most of which gently scooped her up with such infinite care, she may as well have been made from frozen water or crystal.

N'deh smiled down at her, limping purposefully back to the Tree of Souls, carrying his mate even as her companions carried her new body along with them. He stared down at his precious, precious burden, taking in her aged face, her chalk white skin, the dusky fire of her hair. The jade green of her eyes. Her skin was flawless white like Atokirina and he couldn't find it in himself to find any fault with her. She was perfect. No matter that she was older than him. Her body was small and weak. That she was soft and round and cool in his arms.

All around them, the Omaticaya were linked Tsaheylu with Eywa, breathing in tune with the world around them, eyes shut as they sank deep into their being and their world, uniting their purpose and their hearts for their prayer as both bodies were set on the dais, head to head, beneath Mo'at's watchful eye.

Harry crouched on their otherside, pressing his hands into the glowing earth, watching as those same roots he recalled having to free himself of reaching up from the ground and linking with them, piercing into the back of Grace's neck and burrowing beneath her skin. Forming a Tsawin in order to join her with the Na'vi, with Eywa and eventually, her new body.

"_The Great Mother may choose to save all that she is,_" Mo'at explained, hands circling Grace's ginger head, "_In this body,_" she finished, sweeping her fingers over the Avatar.

"_Is

that possible?_" Jake asked, worry and awe lilting his voice.

Mo'at's expression was doubtful and yet hopeful, "_She must pass through the eye of Eywa, and return. But Jakesully, she is very weak._"

Jake bit his lip and touched the woman's arm, "_Hang in there Grace, they're gunna fix you up real good,_" he promised her, stepping back as N'deh took his place, clutching at her limp, cold fingers.

Mo'at stepped over them and turned to her people, her robes glowing under the light of Eywa as she evoked their ancestors, the spirits and the Mother herself.

"Hear us please, All Mother!" she called into the night.

"Eywa, help her," the Omaticaya intoned a chorus of chanting as they linked, arm and arm, united and purposeful, swaying to a beat only they could hear.

"Take this spirit into you..." Mo'at begged as her people repeated their chant, requesting the Mother aid Grace. "And breathe her back to us! Let her walk among us... As one of the People!"

Mo'at's conscious mind left her body as she began to writhe and gyrate, her people's will filling her as she evoked the Goddess. She felt the passing of Grace's mind, she felt the struggling life of the amazing, wonderful woman she had come to know over the years. A woman who thirsted to know and to understand, who loved their world and all it had, who loved the People and loved N'deh. She felt that butterfly's heart stutter.

And she felt Eywa accept her, even as the life within her tiny form began to fade.

She came to herself and grief weighed her heart down.

"It is done," she declared, lifting an arm, silencing the cries of her people. Watching with a heavy heart and soft eyes as Grace's people clamoured to her side.

Both Jake and N'deh grasped her hands, unable to even feel the weak grip her tiny fingers exerted on them. "_I'm with her, Jake_," Grace breathed, her face full of wonder, "_She's real. I never knew..._" she breathed her eyes sliding from Jake to N'deh as she tried to grip his hand. "_I'm sorry,_" she whispered as the light grew in her eyes and she felt the mother's embrace.

"_What's happening? Grace!_" Jake called, rubbing at her fingers as the glow that surrounded the plant life around her began to fade, dying down into darkness. Like black ink that spread from her body, the basin turned dark and only the light from the slowly rising sun highlighted them.

Mo'at pursed her lips sadly, "_Her wounds were too great,_" she explained tragically, "_It was not enough time... She is with Eywa now._"

Neytiri closed her eyes, gently reaching forward and removing the mask that protected Grace from the toxicity of the air, gently laying a hand on her face, memorising every line that she could while blinking back tears of pain. Jake took a breath, slowly rising to his feet as he forced his grief back, he held it, oh he gripped it tightly. And his grief gave way to anger and burning, unwavering resolve. Grace had been shown more kindness, more respect and love here, than even by her own people. He would repay Quaritch with blood.

If he wanted a war, he was going to have one.

He reached out for Neytiri, the young woman who had stolen his heart and shown him a better way reached to him without hesitation and the two of them turned to face their Olo'eyktan together.

"_With your permission, I will speak now. You would honour me by translating,_" Jake requested earnestly, not for the first time, understanding exactly how Tsu'tey felt about the Sky People and respecting him all the more for controlling his temper, his anger and his hurt as the younger man nodded and stepped aside.

"_The Sky People have sent us a message.._." Jake began, pausing to allow Tsu'tey to translate. "_That they can take whatever they want... And no one can stop them..._

"_Well, we will send them a message._

"_You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you,_" he commanded, stepping forward as he gripped that anger, that resolve tightly in both hands. Tsu'tey looked at him, translating faithfully as more and more of his people began to climb to their feet.

"_You tell the other clans to come._" A smirk of understanding curled on the side of Tsu'tey's mouth as he spoke, voices amidst the people chirping and calling in agreement.

"_You tell them Toruk Makto calls to them!_

"_And you fly now! With me!_

"_My Brothers!_

"_Sisters!_

"_And we will show the Sky People – that they cannot take whatever they want!_

"_And that this?_

"_THIS IS OUR LAND!"_

Harry watched as the Omaticaya screamed, cried and hollared their agreement as Jake and Neytiri led the charge to the Ikran, mounting Toruk and launching themselves into the sky. Tsu'tey glanced back at them, at Grace's body, at Mo'at who nodded proudly, at Harry who still knelt above Grace's body, watching him with wide green eyes, at N'deh who could not even move as he clutched at the woman's hand. And he turned, racing for Kelren.

Mo'at turned to Harry, she could feel Eywa stirring.

"It didn't fail," Hari spoke softly. Mo'at jerked and stared at him while N'deh almost physically launched himself at the smaller male. "She lives still, within Eywa yes, but she is lost. She cannot find her way." Harry explained as he moved, gently breaking and pushing aside dull and dark roots from her Tsawin, revealing a single glowing root, burrowed into her queue.

"This... it isn't possible," Mo'at breathed in confusion.

Harry shook his head, gently running a hand down Grace's hair, "This body still yet lives, even without her mind and soul," he reminded her, "It will continue to live, until starvation claims it." He looked firmly at N'deh, "She needs someone to call her back and show her the way to her new body.

"She needs her mate. She needs you."

N'deh stared, his expression tormented, "I... I cannot, she is not awake, I cannot... not when she cannot refuse!" he exclaimed, horrified and confused. Tormented and anguished. To save the woman he loved, he had to violate her in the most incomprehensible and horrific way possible. A way that he just... _how_, how could he do such a thing when she couldn't even...

Harry shook his head, "You two chose each other. You are the only reason she did not die sooner!" he barked, seizing the Warrior's shoulders. "Would you allow her death, just to salve your ideal of right or wrong? She is of my family, had I _ANY_ idea of another way, I would have done so before now!" he snarled before stepping back, pursing his lips, aware of the eyes that watched them.

He turned to the people who remained and scowled at them, "Leave. Ready the surroundings for the other clans! Take the children, injured and elderly to a safe location," he ordered. And they listened.

N'deh watched as the Omaticaya obeyed their Brother without hesitation or question, the able bodied men and women moving to prepare for their cousins and visitors while the elderly led the children and the injured away.

Hari turned to him again, "It is your choice, N'deh. Will you guide her back to your side? Or will you leave her to drift?" he demanded before climbing to his feet and stalking to Ninat's side, collecting Na'ring from her arms and going in search of food for the little one. He knew these forests better than anyone, it would not take long. He would discover N'deh's answer when he returned.

_**000**_

Gathering food soon became a massive undertaking as Clans from as far as the western plains and the eastern sea began to move in. Ikran, Pa'li and Na'vi alike clustering around the Tree of Souls, their voices mingling and rising and falling. Greetings, arguments, laughter and good natured taunting filling the air as warriors met again for the second time, this time as allies.

Tsu'tey huffed a little, dismounting as Kelren settled in beside Zeus and Hera, the larger Ikran nosing him briefly in greeting as the Na'vi stalked up to his quarry.

"I thought I would find you here," he stated, crouching beside the Wizard as he sat, perched on the stone arches that protected the Tree of Souls and amplified the Mother's voice throughout the valley.

Hari glanced up at him, smiling slightly as he spotted him.

Tsu'tey frowned, reaching out and brushing his cheek, "What is wrong?"

The Wizard chuckled slightly, but it wasn't a happy sound. "They know a Magic user is here," he explained, "They won't wait until we're ready to strike at them. They won't wait longer than they already have," he explained, blinking rapidly, staring down at the people below, drawing his knees up to his chest and hugging them. "They'll try to kill every Na'vi they find. They don't know if it was anyone from the Clan or not." He shook his head. "'_Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live_'," he intoned from memory.

The Warrior sighed and shifted closer, tucking his Brother tightly against his chest and wrapping his arms around him, "We will stop them here and drive them off our world. Fear not, Hari," he soothed the green eyed figure, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling the bumps and hairs and holes at the base of his skull, gently stroking to calm him down. He felt Hari shudder and lean into him, going boneless and huffing softly.

"That's not fair," he murmured softly. It was a trick he often employed on the children if one was getting entirely too hyperactive or aggressive, stroking the base of their Tswin was like rubbing a cat under the chin, it made them relax, becoming boneless and compliant.

Tsu'tey grinned, "All is fair in war," he pointed out, making the Wizard laugh shakily.

"Not every battle will be as easy as this," he pointed out, arching his neck slightly, pushing it a little more firmly against the Na'vi's fingers. "Most Sky People react badly to people touching their necks," he explained, almost purring as his friend complied and dug his fingers in slightly.

"I doubt we will win any conflict if we resort to head-rubs," Tsu'tey admitted as he rested his chin atop

his friend's head. "How is N'deh?" he questioned softly.

"Upset with me," Harry admitted still boneless and fast approaching sleepy. "Grace hadn't died, but, she was lost and needed help getting back to her new body. I asked rather a lot of N'deh and he's furious with me, and disgusted with himself," he admitted sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"The only way to bring Grace back was to guide her into her body, by pulling her into it with you. He had to join with her empty body in Tsaheylu to find her and bring her back. It was that, or leave her to drift in the eye of Eywa and lose herself," he explained tiredly.

"N'deh... mated with Grace in order to bring her back?" Tsu'tey asked in confusion.

"Yes. She has accepted it fully, she's overjoyed actually. She claimed she didn't have to forgive him because he had done no wrong but... N'deh has not forgiven me, or himself. I am making myself scarce for now, so he can calm down and they can spend some time alone together to work this out," he explained. "I just wish N'deh didn't have to join the fight. Not the day after he finally found his mate, it isn't fair," he whispered miserably. Tsu'tey sighed, equally upset as he thought of the many young men and woman he would be leading to their deaths tomorrow, rubbing the back of Hari's neck once more. What if their plan didn't work? What if the Sky people managed to destroy the Tree of Souls? He had come up here to tell Hari of what Jake and his people had learned, but he didn't think he could.

His troubles must have shown on his face because Hari turned and cupped his cheek, "What worries you?" he asked, frowning.

"The Sky People aim to destroy the Tree of Souls," he explained, watching as shock, horror, anger and fear painted themselves on the smaller male's face. These monsters planned on destroying Eywa? _Another_ planet?

"Then we won't let them get any further than Iknimaya," he declared, steel threading his voice, green eyes darkening with determination. He would not allow Eywa to die as Gaia had done. "How long until the Sky people come?" he demanded, climbing to his feet.

"Tomorrow, with first light," Tsu'tey answered, following after him.

Hari nodded, "We need to make more arrows. Find good ambush points for Ikran and the easiest space of ground for Pa'li to traverse at speed. The ground fighters will suffer the greatest loss of life, we need to flank them, or get them in a pincer attack," he spoke as he turned to face Tsu'tey. "Has strategy been discussed yet?" he asked.

Tsu'tey shook his head, hiding a smile. He had forgotten that Hari was a warrior, an Olo'eyktan of his people, the Tsahik of his people. Watching the older male think out loud, come to conclusions was amazing to watch. Like the shadow of Toruk becoming red and yellow death and fury before you realised it.

Hari nodded, "Get the clan leaders together, you'll need to. And Tsu'tey," he added, stepping closer. "Don't you dare die tomorrow," he growled.

"I do not plan to," he assured the smaller male.

Harry continued to glare up at him, searching his face before nodding, his expression softening. "If... something were to happen to me... will you care for Na'ring? I promised her sister I would. And I want to be certain she will be taken good care of... should the worst happen."

Tsu'tey's smile fell. "It will not happen. You will survive. That is my only order to you."

Harry shook his head, "I will not allow another world to die. If I can save Eywa at the cost of my life... I will."

Tsu'tey hissed angrily, making a cutting motion with his hand. "Then you will not join the battle," he growled.

Harry bared his teeth, "_Oh I bloody well will!_" he snarled, squaring up to the Olo'eyktan. "You need every fighter you can get out there! I will not sit with the children and let you fight my enemy!"

Tsu'tey let rip with several words Harry had never heard, but he was quite certain they were particularly foul swears as the Warrior squared up to him as well, ears folding back unhappily.

"You cannot even use a bow. What use would you be?" he growled, snapping a hand out and gripping the side of Harry's neck, fingers digging into the back of his neck, making the Wizard wince – his knees going weak briefly.

"Zeus is the biggest Ikran out there. We can take out the Flying Beasts more easily than most," he retorted jutting his head up.

Tsu'tey growled, the two of them refusing to back down as they glared eye to eye.

Neither was how, but the atmosphere changed, it became something else, but no less intense.

Eyes ceased to glare and instead drank in every line of one another's faces, fear for the morning growing, fear for one another stilling their tongues and cooling their tempers. Tsu'tey pressed their foreheads together, breath mingling as he closed his eyes.

"Stay safe," he pleaded, knowing that even if he tried to force the Wizard to remain he wouldn't.

Harry nodded silently, "You too. Don't die," he pleaded.

_**000**_

**And that's Chapter Twenty done. Tomorrow MAY see Chapter 21 and the Epilogue. MAY.**

**Because I was rather unwell the few days before hand it is rather sketchy. Yes I churned out three chapters today, but I have an event tomorrow so I can't spend all day on the PC writing. And I start University again on Monday. So will I definitely plan on getting everything finished... **

**Sunday or Monday may see the final chapter, the Epilogue, being posted. **