The Way of the Forest

by Winged Lady Colette

The Metkayina find themselves in the forest seeking the aid of Toruk Makto after their home was destroyed by the Sky People invasion of the moon of Pandora. Where once upon a time the Sully's must learn the way of water, here, the Metkayina must learn the way of the forest. Come to love it, and all the people that call it home.

13. It takes a village

Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait! Thank you for all of your sweet words! They help push me along. I hope you continue to enjoy!

"As everyone no doubt can see," Jake says, smiling over at a flushing Neteyam, who was sinking into Arvok's side as much as he can without being blatantly obvious about it, "Neteyam was so eager to see everyone that he had to join us for breakfast. Mo'at is confident that he is on the road to recovery." Jake barely gets the words out by the time the space is filled with whoops and hollers of joy. Some of the clan leaping onto their feet and throwing their hands in the air while jumping up and down, all eyes turning to the flustered prince of the Omatikaya.

Neteyam waves his hand a bit, ignoring Lo'ak and Kiri's wolfish grins at the corner of his peripheral vision. He rests his temple against Arvok's shoulder, offering a little smile from behind his mask which deepens his blush when the clan cheers louder. Jake's smile is proud but sad, the weight of the near loss still heavy on his shoulders, and Neteyam wishes that he had the strength to go up to his dad and hug him tight.

But he can't. His side hurts too much for him to even think about moving.

Neteyam watches as Jake raises his hands to get the clan back under control. They obey, lowering back down where they were sitting before and quieting. Once the clan is quiet enough for him aside from some low murmuring, Jake lowers his hands to his side, gaze dropping to the ground as he gathers his thoughts. He looks over at the two Tsahik, who both nod to him, then locks eyes with Tarsem, who also nods. Then he looks between his mates, both of which nod back to him.

Olo'eyktan and his advisors are all in agreement.

"Alright everyone," Jake finally says. "I know that we are still healing from the sting of betrayal." The silence is... deafening. Everyone waiting for him to continue. "I know that I promised to not bring anyone else into the clan, and I intended on keeping the promise when I made it. What happened with Nim," his eyes flicker over to Mo'at's hut, where the girl in question remained inside, tending to her wounds in privacy and solitude. "Well, you were all so understanding in why I couldn't leave her out there, and why she had to remain with us. So, thank you."

The clan murmurs softly amongst themselves, but no one disagrees. They all wait patiently for him to continue.

Jake looks down at his hands, contemplatively before scanning the crowd once more. "There is a phrase that the Sky People use that so aptly describes our situation. Mine, particularly. It takes a village to raise a child. What that means is, that my mates and I, we couldn't have raised our beautiful children without all of you. You made them brave and compassionate and strong. They learned wisdom and courage and grace from all of you. Yes, Tsu'tey, Neytiri and I, we held them and nurtured them, but all of you helped us raise them. You helped make them the beautiful people they are today."

The clan makes yips and hoots of approval, agreeing with the sentiment.

Jake smiles at that, pleased that they felt the same. "My boy..." he hesitates, then steels himself, eyes scanning the crowd again. "Neteyam, out in the field, sick with a cold and exhausted from his travels, begged us to hear the Metkayina out. To help them. Not only to get them out of the rain, out of the forest for a minor reprieve. No, he wanted us to welcome them, help them. Train them to be one of us. Let them become one of us."

The clan starts to murmur again, shifting amongst themselves. Some glance over at Neteyam to see if this was true. Neteyam just nods his head, adjusting himself slightly to try and take pressure off of his aching side. Arvok accepts his weight, wrapping an arm around Neteyam's shoulders.

Turning their attention back to Jake, he continues, "And when I left to fetch Mo'at to make him medicine while he was in pain the other night, he again, so sick he could barely breathe, so pale from blood loss, and near tears from the pain, he still begged Tsu'tey to try. To find it in his heart for compassion and love. To choose to see people as they are, rather than how they can hurt us. To remember that we are all peoples being hurt by the horror around us. That the problems we had with Talsheeze and his ilk have no bearing on how we should view each other. Had we lost our love and compassion for each other since the beginning of this war; Nim wouldn't be here. But also, the Tipani clan wouldn't be here with us."

Everyone looks between each other, trying to remember a time in which the two clans had not been merged as one. Respectfully, the Tipani was dissolved when it was absorbed into the Omatikaya, but Jake by his own choice, allows parts of the Tipani to survive. A lot of their cultures and practices is still seen around the camp. Jake doesn't dissuade them from practicing the parts of them that make them unique, which is very different from when clans are usually absorbed. Perhaps one or two things are kept to make the clan stronger, but most is forgotten. Not Jake, though, he even kept their Tsahik in power, putting her under Mo'at as the official clan Tsahik, but they work together to interpret the will of Eywa.

Jake would like to hope that he was making all their lives better and saw no need to not incorporate the freedom of choice for the clans. Just because Tipani was absorbed, doesn't mean that it never existed. Or that they should be forgotten for trying to do what was best for themselves, for their own survival. He gave his people the freedom of choice. What they choose to incorporate into their own lives is their choice. As the absorbing clan, all traditions, within reason, are honored by all members of the clan but everything else is based on choice.

Jake wanted the transition to be as easy as possible. The Tipani weren't bested in battle or attacked them and the retaliation ended in their victory. No, their clan was nearly wiped out at the hands of the Sky People and they came to the Omatikaya in an attempt to survive. And, well, it didn't settle well with Jake to wipe out every part of the other clan just because they needed help. They seem thankful, and the clan was agreeable to it, so he didn't see much of a problem with it. With letting parts of the Tipani survive. They didn't need to be a memory of a clan that once was. In a few generations, perhaps the distinctions between the Omatikaya and the Tipani will all be gone and it will just be Omatikaya - with traditions remembered only by the Tsahik and the written into song about who the Tipani were, separate from the Omatikaya.

But Jake didn't think for a second that it was his place to be the one to make that decision. Only time could do something like that. Jake would simply rather the best parts of all absorbed clans be remembered and strengthen the Omatikaya, but not be forgotten for which it hailed from. At least not in his lifetime.

"I think all of us," Jake finally says, pulling himself and everyone else out of their thoughts as he gestures to the group gathered with him, the Tsahik, Tarsem, and both his mates, "have come to an agreement on what we want to do, but... I want you all to listen closely."

Everyone leans in, enraptured, as Jake takes a knee, as if to get closer to everyone, even while up on an elevated position. He looks around at everyone, making eye contact with as many people as he can. And once more he is no longer Jake Sully, or even Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya, but Toruk Makto. The great being that united the clans in a time of great sorrow and turmoil. A beacon of light and hope for the people. Someone to strive towards and to follow to the ends of the world. A great bastion of safety and unity.

Finally, he says, "I want us all to make this decision. I promised all of you that I was done bringing strangers into the clan. I promised my mates. My children. All of you. This is our home, I am raising your children, protecting your mates, looking after your families, just as much as all of you are doing for me. I promised no more and only you all can absolve me of that promise."

A lot of eyes seek out Jake's side. The distinct raised scar between the ribs on his right side. Where a knife almost put an end to Toruk Makto. But with the way that he's hunched over, that side is obscured by his knee. Jake rarely walks around now without his cummerbund, as it was noticeably absent that day as well, giving Talsheeze the perfect opportunity to strike without worrying about not being able to stab through the material, but today is an exception. Maybe it's to make a point, maybe he simply forgot or decided not to wear it.

No one knows, and no one asked.

There are a few moments of silence, as everyone considers to themselves. Some lean close to one another and whisper between them. Jake gives them time to talk amongst themselves, while looking around. After a few minutes of quiet discussion, some of the clan starts to yip their approval, turning fierce protective, but trusting eyes toward their Olo'eyktan. More and more join until it's a blanket of noise in the wide-open space.

Jake smiles at his people, which makes them yip louder in joy as he moves to straighten up, hands tucked behind his back. Their powerful, prideful Olo'eyktan. Now all eyes can see the raised scar between his ribs, the one that almost took his life. But he doesn't shy away from their eyes. He wears it like a badge of honor, living in spite of his enemies. He isn't afraid to open his arms to people who need him, when he was the one that was severely bitten for it. He has chosen to forgo fear and uncertainty. In his heart, Jake Sully has always been a protector. And when people need his help, he comes to their aid, no matter what.

The pride the Omatikaya have for their Olo'eyktan swells as they watch Jake patiently listen to their yips and cheers for a few moments longer before he holds his hands out and the space falls to silence.

"Thank you, everyone," Jake says, offering a little smile, which earns him a few more yips as the clan settles down once more. "We will welcome the Metkayina here. Honor uturu as the Omatikaya have done since the Pact was made during the time the First Songs were sung. We will honor our vow and teach them our ways. As Omatikaya and Tipani, united, so too will the Metkayina be welcomed." The clan murmurs amongst themselves, reservations still evident despite giving their permission. Jake continues with a ghost of a smile, "We will watch them, carefully, as we will all strangers in our midst. But we will teach them our ways, show them what it means to be one of us. And maybe, they will take these teachings and go elsewhere, make the Metkayina stronger here in the forest. Or, they will find their place here, amongst us. As one of us. That has yet to be seen."

The clan yips in agreement, some of them pumping their fists into the air, or pounding their hands to their chests as the Tipani were known for.

Jake smiles more, a weight lifting more and more from his shoulders, offering another little nod. "Alright, everyone, thank you again for everything and all of your hard work. My children and I will take over in helping the Metkayina in learning our ways so that they will be able to contribute to the clan. From today onwards, they will join us here at the meal fire and we will welcome them." More hesitant yips in agreement. Jake sucks in a slow breath, knowingly. He looks over at Tarsem, his mates, both the Tsahik. "Get some grub, everyone. I'll go let our guests know that they are welcome to join us."

"I'll go with you," Tarsem says, immediately.

Two more hunters jump up to join, skin around their mouths tensing. Jake looks between them, Tarsem, then over at his mates, Neytiri of which, has her forehead creased in a way that if she had eyebrows, they'd be up to her hairline.

"It's them or us," Tsu'tey says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That's very lenient of you, Tsu'tey," Neytiri says, cocking her head to the side. "I was about to suggest all of us go."

Jake rolls his eyes. "Everyone go eat, we have a long day ahead of us. I'll go."

"I have something to speak with you about anyway," Tarsem insists, folding his hands in front of himself, keeping a steady gaze on Jake. Toruk Makto sucks in a breath, looking between all of them when his eyes meet with Mo'at, who harrumphs at him with a meaningful look. Jake rolls his eyes again, waving for Tarsem to follow him before looking at everyone else, especially his mates. "Go eat. Save me some."

"Look after him," Neytiri says to Tarsem, who nods like he was given the most important secret mission that would alter the course of their lives.

Jake holds out his hands. "Guys, we are in camp, I am in the safest place I can be. Now everyone go eat." Another wave for Tarsem and they head out, making their way towards where the Metkayina are held up.

Neteyam watches as Neytiri says something to Tsu'tey, but he shakes his head, nodding back over to the kids and his brother before heading over to the pit to get food, probably for himself and Jake. Speaking of, Neteyam grabs onto his food, bringing it back up to his lips, pulls the mask away and sips a bit more of his broth, eating the small bits of meat floating inside. He's trying not to smile, but he's relieved that it turned out this way. Neteyam knew that the clan was going to find compassion in their hearts.

Neteyam is so proud of them.

Arvok pulls him closer, nuzzling the side of his head in affection, as if able to read his mind. Neteyam shifts a bit more, trying to get comfortable. He takes a few more bites of the meat and a sip of the broth before coughing loud and hard enough to hurt. He winces, shifting more into Arvok's side. Neytiri, who lowers down in her spot looks at him with worry on her face. Neteyam shakes his head at her concerned look before placing the mask back over his mouth and nose.

"Do you need more medicine?" Neytiri asks. Lo'ak, who was holding her food, passes it back over to her. She smiles, pressing a kiss into his braids, murmuring her thanks into his forehead, which makes him smile.

Tsu'tey appears, holding food for himself and Jake, lowering down next to Neytiri. He casts a look at Neteyam, ears pressing back a bit. "Are you okay, Neteyam?"

"I'm okay," Neteyam says softly, shifting more. He lightly rubs at the area around the moss and goop covering the wound on his side, not wanting to touch it directly and face his grandmother's wrath. "But I... I would like some more medicine when we're done... if that's okay." He coughs lightly, bringing the hand circling his wound is brought up to his chest.

Neytiri smiles warmly, reaching out to touch his knee. "Of course it is, sweet boy."

Jake and Tarsem make it back to them after a few minutes, the Metkayina not too far behind, grabbing themselves food, while trying not to stare at the clan - but the clan has no such problem. They watch the Metkayina like birds of prey. The former Olo'eyktan's son, catches his eye. His shoulders are pulled together and his eyes are on the stone floor, sitting close to his sister and keeping to himself. Neteyam feels bad for him - for all of them. These last few - what? Days? Weeks? - hadn't been easy for them, and it wasn't going to get easier just yet. But it would, in time. He just knows it. Neteyam smiles sympathetically from behind his mask as he sinks into his uncle's side, letting Tuk, who was still sitting on Arvok's lap pick from his meal as he's not able to eat any more at the moment.

"My Tuk," Neytiri chides, looking away from her conversation with Kiri and Tsu'tey, frowning at her pulling from Neteyam's bowl. "You shouldn't eat your brother's food."

Tuk pouts but Neteyam smiles. "It's okay, mom. I can't eat anymore."

Neytiri glances down at his food before looking back over at him, studying his expression. "Does your stomach hurt?"

Neteyam's immediate silence is enough for Neytiri, who frowns more while Kiri puts a hand on his shoulder. "I'm okay," he finally says. "I think I'm going to need to lay down again. I'm tired."

"Do you want me to take you back to grandmother's hut?" Lo'ak asks, already scooting onto his hunches. Jake, who was on Neytiri's other side, opposite of Tsu'tey, hesitates before taking the bowl offered to him.

Neteyam shrugs his shoulders a bit. "Yeah, I guess..."

"You don't want to go back yet?" Jake asks, Tarsem kneeling next to him, looking between them. "You can hang out with us until we're all done eating if you want?"

Neteyam nods, glancing over at the Metkayina that all find a little corner to eat, watching the rest of the clan wearily, as they just blatantly stare back, quietly leaning into one another, no doubt making the Metkayina self-conscious. Neteyam frowns, feeling bad for the Metkayina but also wanting to give them space. It's a big thing to be invited to another clan's fire, and Neteyam knows that it's both a big honor but also kind of embarrassing. It's been a few years now, but the Tipani were much the same. They huddled around one another, grossly outnumbered by the Metkayina and felt like outsiders even though they were welcomed by Jake.

Kiri squeezes his shoulder before standing up with her bowl. "I'm going to speak with grandmother and Ghresa. I'll ask her to show me how to make the medicine," she says, looking at Neteyam.

The eldest Sully son frowns a bit. "You don't have to do that, Kiri. I don't want to - "

"-bother me, I know." Kiri rolls her eyes and waves her hand around, dismissive. "You aren't bothering me, Neteyam. I offered, now be quiet. I'll be back." Neteyam opens his mouth in protest, but she holds out a finger towards him and a look that makes his jaw snap shut.

Arvok rumbles with a little laugh while Jake smiles sympathetically. Kiri makes her way passed her dad and Tarsem, who leans out of the way for her, before making for her grandmother and the healers gathered around talking amongst themselves. Neteyam pulls his tail closer to himself and waves for Tarsem to sit next to him. The warrior hesitates for a second, eyes flickering to Arvok before nodding, scooting into the space and lowering into a sit.

Tuk takes a bite more out of Neteyam's food before popping up to a stand and maneuvering her way to follow Kiri, accidentally smacking Lo'ak's forehead with her tail. Lo'ak gives it a flick to which makes her glare at him from over her shoulder.

Neteyam looks to his parents, opening his mouth to ask for their permission to let him help train the Metkayina. He feels responsible for them. His dad did say that he and his children - which obviously included Neteyam - would help them, but he also knew how his papa was. Now that he was hurt and sick, it was going to be hard to convince him of anything. Especially not until he's all healed up and feeling better. He knows that he's getting there, but it'll still be a bit more time until he's back to the way that he was before.

If such a thing is truly possible after getting shot. He's not sure, but he's happy enough to be alive to figure it out.

"Okay, I'm going to get more food," Arvok says immediately, making Neteyam glance over at him curiously, closing his mouth in favor of letting his uncle talk. He can speak to his parents later. He gently helps Neteyam lean back against the log behind him, picking up both his bowl, Neteyam's bowl, and Tuk's abandoned one, and nodding toward the fire. "Anyone else want more? Tarsem? Do you want any?"

Tarsem blinks at the call out, ears perking as he glances up at Arvok, tilting his head a bit. "Yes, please..."

"Good," Arvok says, voice even. "Anyone else?"

"Me," Lo'ak says, but moves from his hunched position to his feet, bringing his bowl with him. "But I'll come with."

"Anyone else? Jake? Tsu'tey?" Arvok says, pointedly ignoring the wolfish smile on Neytiri's face.

"I would like a little more," Neytiri says playfully, ignoring the side glance Tsu'tey sends her.

Oblivious to his two mates, Jake shakes his head, still working on his helping. "No, I'm okay. Thanks, though."

Neytiri grins at Arvok who promptly walks away without sparing her another glance as Lo'ak takes her bowl for her. Tsu'tey quietly says that he'll be okay without more, seeing as Arvok didn't remain long enough to hear it while Jake just contently ate at his food. Neteyam sends his mother a chastising look, which she returns in an evil grin. Neteyam's lips curve but he quickly suppresses it when Neytiri smiled sweetly at Tsu'tey.

"Are you teasing him?" Tsu'tey asks.

"Yes," Neytiri replies easily.

"Why?"

Neytiri pushes some of her braids over her shoulder, eyes still gleaming in mischievous joy. "Because he's a skxawng, like his brother."

Jake chokes on a laugh as Tsu'tey, blank-faced, says, "I don't think I deserved that."

Neytiri reaches over to pet his arm, smiling still. "You did, once upon a time."

"Why?"

"I assume it's because Arvok hasn't made up his mind about whether he wants to be with me or not," Tarsem offers frankly.

Everyone's head snaps to the normally quiet man between Jake and Neteyam, the former humming around a mouthful of broth and meat. Even Neytiri looks shocked by those words.

She blinks a few times, perplexed. "You knew he was thinking about courting you?"

Tarsem tilts his head slightly, golden eyes rise up to look at the cooks, serving Lo'ak and Arvok more servings, laughing along with something that the youngest of them said. A small, tentative smile crosses his usually strict and impassive face.

"I don't know about any of that, but I have been courting him for months, or trying to. Unfortunately, he's so convinced that he can't be loved that he doesn't believe in my actions," Tarsem says, that stoney expression falling onto his face once more. The corners of his lips tighten a bit as his eyes flicker across the gathered Omatikaya to one in particular; Artsut. He clocks her as the point of his anger.

And Neteyam is incredibly saddened by it.

He knows. He knows that his grandmother isn't a very nice person, especially to his siblings and his uncle. But she's so kind to him and he loves her and he's always holding onto this hope that one day she'll open her eyes and see how mean she has been and apologize and they can all just be together and be happy. A fool's dream, no doubt, but he keeps hoping with all his might.

"I will prove to him, in my own way, that we are meant to be," Tarsem says firmly, eyes pulling from mother to son, softening once more. "That I can be worthy of him."

Tsu'tey stares at the younger male, quietly, considering, but he doesn't speak out. Tsu'tey and Arvok only grew close after Neteyam was born, no doubt he figures that his opinion as a brother matters little to Arvok, seeing as there was so much time in which they were barely acquaintances. And in a way, Tsu'tey feels he failed his brother, Neteyam knows, he's heard his papa say it before. Failed to protect his little brother because he was so focused on becoming Olo'eyktan, thinking it would make everything better for all of them, that by the time he realized how foolish and naive it was, his brother no longer needed him.

And that made Neteyam even more sad.

"You have my support," Jake says, and by the look on Tarsem's face - no matter how muted it may appear to others, Neteyam knew the other male well enough to see it for what it is - Jake's words meant a lot to him. Especially in a form of permission as Arvok's brother-in-law, and as Olo'eyktan. Jake continues, carefully, "Arvok is gentle and kind. He deserves someone who will look out for him and treat him right."

Tarsem nods, expression set as if he couldn't agree more.

No one speaks up again as Arvok and Lo'ak make their way back over. Arvok handing a bowl to Tarsem while Lo'ak hands one to Neytiri before taking their spots again. Neteyam holds back a sigh of relief as Arvok lets him lean into the older male again to relieve some pressure from his side. Both Neytiri and Tarsem thank the two and start to eat.

"I'm telling you, it's possible," Lo'ak says, as a way of picking up whatever him and Arvok were previously speaking about. He takes a bite of some meat in the broth. "Everything can be afraid of something."

"True," Arvok says, staring pointedly at Lo'ak. "Everything can be afraid of something, but I'm telling you, I've seen my fair share of palulukan and I have never seen one run away once engaged in a fight."

"Thanator are just like any other beast," Lo'ak says, wiping a bit of broth that slide from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "I think if we learn ways of over-whelming them, we might not have to kill them if there isn't an easy way to escape."

"What are we talking about?" Jake asks, looking between the two as Neteyam tenses up at Arvok's side, eyes flickering around. He immediately wonders if he can hobble back to his grandmother's hut before this inevitably blows up in his face. Lo'ak's eyes find his and for a moment, Neteyam feared he was just going to spit it out, but then there was a glean of understand between them. He wasn't going to say anything. Neteyam felt his shoulders relax a bit at that.

In the corner of his eye, just over his papa's head, he can see Tuk making her way back over to them as Lo'ak says, "I was just telling Uncle Arvok that thanator are just like any other beast, just because they're smarter than most others and are apex predators, doesn't mean that they can't be frightened into fleeing. We just have to find ways of doing it."

"And I told Lo'ak that I've run into an unfortunate amount of palulukan in my life, and if I couldn't outrun or outclimb it, the only thing that could be done was to kill it," Arvok says. "I have never seen one just run away. They don't do that. They would never do that."

Neteyam had heard, during his uncle's hunting trip that their party had run into a thanator, that had thankfully just caught itself a meal and was content to live and let live so long as they left it alone. One of the best times to run into one. Usually - but unfortunately not always - thanator hunt for fun, only food, so once they've caught their food, they are usually content to let something accidently stumbles upon them to just leave it in peace. It's not always the case, but it's usually the best chance that they have of making it out of there without having to pick a fight.

A part of Neteyam had to wonder if it was the same thanator, but had no idea how he would ever know.

Lo'ak opens his mouth and Neteyam tenses up again. Something on his face must have alerted his brother, because Lo'ak hesitates, studying his expression before snapping his mouth shut, thinking better of his immediate response. Neteyam rubs at his chest, heart pounding underneath as his eyes beg his brother to just let this go for right now until he can find a way to talk to their parents. Explain just what all happened out in the forest while they were trying to get back home.

Lo'ak nods in understanding, lips parting again to either acquiesce to their uncle's words or to just change the subject, but Tuk cuts in, hand now resting on Neytiri's shoulder as she says, innocently, "They do, though."

Neytiri glances over at her baby, swallowing whatever food was in her mouth to ask, "What does, Tuk Tuk?"

"Thanator, they can run away," she says, easily moving to sit on her mother's lap. Neytiri welcomes the gesture but tilts her head in confusion. "How do you know this?"

"Shut up, Tuk," Lo'ak hisses, softly enough that only Arvok and Tarsem seem to notice, both glancing at him. Wishing he had taking Lo'ak up on his initial offer to go back to Mo'at's hut, Neteyam turns his eyes up to the ceiling of the cave, thanking the Great Mother for all she's done for him. Helping him live just long enough for his baby sister to get him killed at the hands of his parents. He thinks that he's accomplished enough in his life to be remembered fondly when he's gone.

He can see Lo'ak sending Neteyam a regretful look in the corner of his eye as Tuk, innocently says, "Because Neteyam scared one off. That's how we know."