I neither own nor claim any rights to Avatar...

AVATAR
LIFE GOES ON
(Part Two)

Tuc was minding her own business, going about the reef village doing tasks pertaining to taking care of her ilu. She had officially completed her training with Tsireya the day before, having demonstrated full understanding of riding form and technique. From now on, the ilu she had been working with was truly hers, and she was responsible for all aspects of its care. from feeding to grooming. She didn't mind in the slightest. She loved the creature whole-heartedly, and through the bond, she felt its affection returned. Ilu did not bond with only one rider like an ikran, but they did develop strong preferences towards those who treated them kindly. And Tuc made it a point to always be kind to her Ilu.

She checked her pack to make sure that she hadn't forgotten anything that she would be needing. She had her own tether strap to keep her secured to her ilu while swimming at high speeds. She had her own scalebrush, which was used to scrub the buildup of scale and algae off an ilu's skin. And she had a carefully folded sack that would hold a variety of things she would find under water to bring back to the village. having one's own ilu meant being able to be a productive member of Metcayina society. And that was what she wanted to be.

All she needed to do now was take her ilu out and see what she could find. And to let the creature eat fish.

Humming a tune that Ronal had taught her, she cheerfully made her way towards the pier.

Today, the sky was totally clear, and the sun was hot, so Tuc was looking forward to diving into the cool water. As she approached the pier, however, she started to feel tired and a little dizzy. The feeling got worse as she pressed on, and suddenly, the ground seemed to jump up and hit her in the face, and she blacked out.

Tsireya, who had been on the way to the pier, had watched Tuc stumble erratically forward and then fall. She ran to the younger girl with concern. She checked her for injuries, but aside from a busted lip from the fall, there didn't seem to be any other sign of injury.

"Aonung!" she called out to her brother as he was climbing out of the water. "I need help here!"

Aonung ran over and knelt next to his sister. "Whst has happened?"

"I don't know," Tsireya replied. She seemed to be having trouble walking straight and then she just fainted."

Aonung effortlessly picked Tuc up and held her limp form in his arms. "I'll take her to Mother. You go find her parents."

Tsireya nodded and ran off along the closest path leading to the Sully hut.

Aonung carried Tuc along the main path leading to the village center where his family's hut was. Both of his parents were home, reclining on the floor while eating a bowl of fish stew.

Tonowari quickly stood and helped Ronal to her feet. "What happened?" he asked and listened as Aonung repeated what his sister had told him, and confirmed that she was looking for Jake and Neytiri.

"Lay her down flat on her back," Ronal said, and Aonung complied. She knelt down and began examinging Tuc's unconscious form. She reached into her pouch and produced a small wrapping containing a fine powder, which she sprinkled on the girl's injured lip.

Tuc moaned in pain and opened her eyes, but she seemed to have trouble focusing?

"It is alright, child," Ronal said, soothingly. "That will help your lip heal faster. It stings at first, but it will start feeling cool in a moment, and then numb."

Tuc relaxed. She felt so cold, and she realized that her teeth were chattering. And there was this wierd, sour taste in her mouth which made her frown.

"What are you feeling, child. Tell me everything," said Ronal.

"I-I'm c-c-cold," Tuc managed. "Dizzy. and there's a f-funny taste in my m-m-mouth,"

At that moment, Jake and Neytiri entered the hut, also kneeling down next to their daughter.

"Get back," Ronal said. "She has the reefblight."

Jake and Neytiri looked at each other in confusion, which Ronal noticed.

"It's a common ailment here. typically coming in childhood, though some adults catch it if they never had it before. It can be fatal, but only in the most rare cases. As long as she has lots of water and can keep food down, she'll be fine, though the itching she'll start experiencing soon will be very unpleasant."

Jake chuckled, and Neytiri fixed him witha stern look. "Our daughter is sick and you find it funny?"

Jake shook his head. "I'm relieved. It sounds like she has the Na'vi version of the chicken pox. Human kids often get it, and it sounds like it has the same effects. I still remember when I had it."

Ronal shook her head. "Your human body had it. But I doubt your Na'vi body has been exposed. And this illness is not so common in the forests. Both of you need to limit your exposure. The older you are when you catch it, the worse it makes you feel and the longer it takes to get rid of it."

"All of us have had it already," said Tonawari. We will keep her here until she recovers. It should only be a few days. Maybe a week at most."

Neytiri looked down at Tuc, expecting her to complain about having to be apart from her family, but she managed to smile weakly. "I'll be okay, amam," she said. "I don't want to make you and the others sick."

Neytiri remembered what Neteyam had said in the Spirit Tree experience. About Tuc finding her place with a kindred spirit. And she had notoced that Tuc had been spending more time with Ronal, helping her with things as she came closer to her delivery time. She had also noticed that Ronal had become far more open with her and the rest of the family, even more so than she had after the battle. It made her feel more at ease, and now she began to suspect that Tuc might have had something to do with it.

"Do not worry," Ronal said. "She can have visitors, so long as they keep back. It will do her good, because getting over reefblight can be frustratingly boring.

"Why did she faint?" Jake had asked that question.

"Reefblight's first symptom is a sudden onset of severe fatigue and dizziness," Ronal informed him. "And combined with a sour taste in the mouth, these things make it easy to identify."

Jake nodded as he and Neytiri moved bact towards the entrance.

"Thank you," said Neytiri, bowing her head respectfully to the Tsahik.

Tsireya was standing to the side while Jake and Neytiri got their answers. Now she knelt next to Tuc, and took the younger girl's hand in hers. "Don't worry," she said. I'll look out for your ilu while you get better.

O O O

A few days had passed since Tuc had come down with the Reefblight. She had a steady stream of visitors, but having to stay inside when she wanted more and more to go out swimming with her ilu was becoming increasingly frustrating. But she did a good job of keeping her complaints to a minimum. Tonowari and Ronal were fully aware of how the girl felt, having not forgotten their own experience with the illness from their childhood.

This day was overcast, and on the horizon, dark storm clouds were gathering. Tonowari had gone to find Jake and give him instructions on how best to secure his family's hut in the event that the storm wouldn't swing wide of the reef. He found him at the pier, dripping wet from the sea, with a pack of seafruit and other edible flora and fauna sling over his shoulder. "I see you, Jakesully," he said.

"I see you, Tonowari," Jake replied respectfully.

"I shall walk with you back to the village center," Tonowarri said, and fell in step next to jake as he took the path to the center, where he would deposit his catch. As they walked, he spoke about the things he would need to properly secure the hut.

"It rains a lot in the forest. We never needed to take these kinds of steps." Jake said with confusion showing clearly on his face.

Tonowari laughed. "You've never experienced a storm at sea."

Jake's eyes widened. "Actually, I have. We flew through one on the way here. At night."

"Great Mother," Tonowari said as he took hold of Jake's shoulders. "That you survived it is a sign of Eywa's favor. Clearly you and your family were meant to come to us."

"I assume that you are suggesting that that sort of weather is common, and not just a freak storm? I was thinking Eywa had been frowning on us."

Tonowari shook his head. "When the horizon is veiled in darkness as it is today, it is a sign that the weather could get that bad. We must watch the sky and pray. If the shadows leave, we will be okay. If they draw closer, we will be in for a rough time. But we have faced many storms, and we have learned to survive. It took many generations and many lives lost to get to the point where we can say that."

Jake nodded. "Thank you for warning me. I'll be sure to gather everything we need and be ready to use if it needed."

Tonowari nodded back in response. "Go deposit your catch, and then we must speek in private about another kind of storm on our horizon."

Jake was intrigued, so he went about his business quickly and then rejoined Tonowari, who led them to a small covered shelter. It clearly was meant to provide cover from the sun at its high point, and also to allow for somewhat private discussion if its curtain was drawn closed, which Tonowari did after they had entered.

"Where to begin," Tonowari said. "I have seen the way your son looks at my daughter."

Tonowari's expression was unreadable, so Jake wasn't sure how to take that statement. But knowing Lo'ak's reputation for being reckless, it couldn't be good.

Tonawari saw the unease on Jake's face, and he held up his hand before he could say anything. "And I have seen the way my daughter looks at him."

Jake relaxed a bit. "I can see how that could be considered a storm on the horizon."

Tonowari nodded solemnly. "It is a good storm. When the winds blow hardest and the seas are roughest, families join together. And Jakesully, you and I both know that the sky people will not let matters rest as they are."

"No, sir, they won't," Jake agreed.

"Therefore, I have decided that our families should join as one. And I can think of no better way for that, than to see my daughter and your son mated before Eywa."

Jake smiled, "It would be a good thing," he said. "But I had thought Lo'ak was not your favorite Sully, after he spoke to you the way he did."

Tonowari shook his head. "He was right. I refused to listen." He then told Jake about bonding with Payakan and seeing the truth, and then sharing what he had seen with his own tulkun spirit brother. "The outcast is no longer outcast, thanks to your son. He stood up to me out of confidence worthy of a leader. Tsireya will be Tsahik one day, and if she and Lo'ak are mated, he will be the next Olo'eyktan."

Jake realized now what the spirit of Neteyam had said about another seeing Lo'ak's worth, and how he would be proud about it. He was... Very proud indeed. "I am honored by your words," he said.

"I have already given Lo'ak permission to court Tsireya. And while it will still be a few years before they are ready, I see no reason to make them wait to be recognized as a couple."

Jake nodded. "A few years will give them bot time to practice having each other's back."

Tonowari nodded. "I shall take my leave now. Fair wind and good sun to you, Jakesully." He left the shaderoom and headed for home, leaving Jake to reflect on what had just happened.

"A good storm indeed," he said. A moment later, he left the shaderoom to go find Neytiri and tell her the news.

O O O

Ronal was tired. She was getting closer to her time to deliver her baby, and it was becoming more and more clear that she needed rest. Tuc was getting better, and would probably be able to leave quarantine in a couple more days. She had been an easy patient, but Ronal could tell she was long past ready to get outside. And Ronal was ready for the girl to leave. Not that she was tired of Tuc's presence. The girl was good company, and she listened. But having a guest for a prolonged period did not allow her to feel fully relaxed, even when she wasn't close to giving birth.

She was thankful to the Great Mother that the darkness on the horizon had passed further westward, reducing the stress she knew she would have endured had it brought a storm. She prayed for the safety of any village it would come to, of course. She was not blind to her fortune potentially being someone else's misfortune. The Way of Water connected all things.

Ronal looked up as the light from the entryway darkened, and she saw Neytiri standing respectfully. "I see you, Neytiri," she said, preparing to stand.

"I see you, Ronal," Neytiri said quickly. "Please, stay at ease. I know what your body is feeling at this point."

Normally, the Tsahik would have insisted on following the custom of greeting a guest, but as Neytiri had already birthed three children of her own, she was the more experienced in this matter. She eased back down, wincing as the baby kicked. Hard. She motioned for Neytiri to sit across from her.

"How is Tuc today," Neytiri asked as she eased down.

"She is much better. Sleeping," Ronal said, gesturing with her head towards the sleeping area of the hut "The itching eased off yesterday, and she only has a slight fever today. I want to keep her here tomorrow to be sure. Sometimes, Reefblight can be tricky. She's been doing what she is supposed to, so I don't think it will get bad again. But it has been known to happen."

Neytiri nodded. "Ronal, I thank you for all you're doing for her."

Ronal smiled. "You don't need to thank me. I am happy to do it."

Neytiri shook her head. "As I said, I know what your body is feeling now. Having one's routine disrupted at such a time is about as needed as a hole in the head."

Ronal frowned. "Why would anyone need a hole in the head at all?"

Neytiri laughed. "I'm sorry. My Jake has many sky people sayings. That's one of them. Nobody needs a hole in the head."

Ronal chuckled. "He is peculiar, but clever."

Neytiri nodded in agreement. "I wanted to kill him when I first saw him. But Eywa stopped me. So I actually watched him. He was stupid like a child, not knowing what to do, or even how to move. But he held no fear. He was ready to face his fate, but not surrender to it. He had a strong heart. Like a hunter."

Ronal was intrigued. Part of her original aversion to welcoming the Sully family was the blood of the sky people flowing through the veins of all but one. How one of The People could love such a creature was unknown to her. "Go on. Please tell me the rest."

"Many seeds of the Sacred Tree touched him at once," Neytiri continued. "I had never seen anything like it. The Great Mother was clearly telling me that he was different from the others of his kind. That somehow, he would make a difference."

Ronal's eyes widened. The seeds of the Sacred Tree did not swim through the air here, but she knew of them, and that they were very pure spirits. That they would be drawn to an alien more strongly than to any other being of the forest surprised her.

"He learned our ways and embraced them. It was just duty at first, but it became real to him. He became one of The People, and we chose each other and were mated before Eywa." Neytiri took a deep breath. "And then he betrayed us. His true purpose was to learn our ways and use his position to talk us away from our Hometree. My village was attacked. Hometree was destroyed, and we were forced into exile."

Ronal's eyes held anger. "And yet you remained with him?"

"No," Replied Neytiri, with sadness in her eyes. "I banished him. I wanted nothing more to do with him." The sadness turned to wonder. "And then he came to us again, riding on the back of Toruk. And when he spoke to the people, it was with such conviction. He may have been of the Sky People, but he was not loyal to them. He called to all the clans and they came. He knew how we needed to fight the Sky People, and Eywa heard his plea for help, and we had victory."

Ronal had heard the stories carried by traders from other clans. But this was the first time she heard it from someone who actually took part in it. "But the Sky People are back, so the victory did not last."

"We knew they would return," Neytiri said. "Their desire to take what is not theirs knows no bounds. Eywa had changed the creatures, so if the Sky People came close to the Tree of Souls, they would meet the same level of resistance as they did before."

"Then why did you come to find sanctuary with us," Ronal asked. She never understood why Toruk Makto would need to flee from an enemy who had already been defeated.

"The Sky People broke the rules. The spirit of the one who sought our death was placed in a dreamwalker body. That was the demon we fought and who killed my son." Rage flashed in Neytiri's eyes. "He had come for only one reason. Revenge. And the creatures of Eywa did not attack, as to them, he was of The People." She looked pointedly at Ronal. "You have heard what he did to other reef villages before he found us. Had we remained in the Forest, the people would have been killed because they welcomed us. We had to leave so they would remain safe. The Demon would not have found us were it not for what happened to Kiri at the Spirit Tree."

Ronal nodded. "He followed your dreamwalker friend and the human who came here to help."

Naetiri bowed her head in shame. "Ronal, I promise you that we never meant to bring our trouble to you. And no apology will ever be enouggh for what happened to your Spirit Sister. That it was because of us is like stones in my heart."

Ronal stiffened at the mention of her Spirit Sister. Had this conversation taken place before the battle, she would have been inclined to place blame. But the Sullys had fought for her children as much as they had their own. And in the end, nobody could really be blamed except for the demon called Quaritch. Her Spirit Sister could have just as easily been killed by the sky people while on migration, as the open sea was where the hunting of Tulkun had been going on for some time. It was Quaritch who brought it close to village waters. And Neytiri had lost her son. Even if she had still blamed the Sullys for the troubles, she never would have wished that on her "We have both lost much, Neytiri. This horror from the Sky People threatens us all. We need not stand alone."

Neytiri nodded. "Jake told me what Tonowari said about our children. I look forward to the day when our families are one."

Ronal was greatful for the opportunity to change the subject. The prospect of the union of Lo'ak to Tsireya was a happy one. She hadn't liked the boy at first, thinking him disrespectful, but after Tonowari had explained what he had seen through the bond with Payakan, she also saw things differently. She also had not been blind to her daughter's interest in the boy. And with things as they had gone recently, she would not stand in their way. "As do I."

O O O

Lo'ak had an idea. With the matter of Payakan's acceptance back in the herd resolved, there was no longer a mandate in effect requiring the Metkayina to avoid him. And so he figured, what would be a better way to score some points with Tsireya than inviting her out to sea with the tulkun who helped save their lives so recently.

He found her at the pier feeding Tuc's ilu. That gave him a brief pang of regret, as he had not visited his little sister yet, today. He always tried to make it a point to do so each morning, but today he had Tsireya on his mind, and had been thinking of ways to make sure that their outing, if she would even go with him, go off without any problems. He'd make it up to Tuc later.

"Hey," he said to her in the same awkward tone he used when he first spoke to her the day he arrived. Way to go, skxawng, he chided himself.

She turned around, mildly startled. She smiled, chuckling to herself, also just like she had done that day. "I see you," she said, still smiling.

Lo'ak cleared his throat. "I see you," he replied, sounding less awkward. "Nice day." Nice day? Com on man...

Tsireya glanced around at the environment and nodded. "It is," she said.

Lo'ak opened his mouth as if to say something, and then closed it again. What's wrong with me, he thought. I've been fine around her since she started teaching us. Why am I clamming up now?

"Are you alright," Tsireya asked. "You seem nervous."

"No... Uh... Yes..." He stammered. "I mean, No, I'm not nervous and yes, I'm alright."

She rolled her eyes. "You are nervous," she said and then nodded. "Does this have something to do with my father giving you permission to court me?"

Lo'ak turned a deeper shade of blue. "He told you already?"

She chuckled. "Yes.. After he returned from visiting Payakan with you, he just told me that he gave you permission to court me, and if I was interested, that he and mother would not stand in our way."

Lo'ak exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had held. "And are you interested?" His confidence was coming back now that she had been the one to break the ice on the subject.

"Tsireya met his eyes. "I've been interested since the day I first saw you." Then her expression turned serious. "But among my people, courtship is a very serious matter. We cannot be mated before Eywa for a few years. We are both too young and have much to learn. And you must establish yourself as a provider. The people must see that if you are to become Olo'eyktan."

Lo'ak didn't know what to say. "I'm going to be expected to lead the village?" That's what Tonowari had meant when he said he showed the sign of a leader. "But I thought Aonung was to be Olo'eyktan."

Tsireya seemed confused for a moment, and then she nodded in realization. "Some customs are different between the Metkayina and the Ometikaya. Not many, but some. Here, if the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik have children, the firstborn son will become Olo'eyktan unless they also have a daughter. The firstborn daughter always becomes the next Tsahik, but she cannot have union with her brother. Nevertheless, just as with the Ometikaya, the next Tsahik and the next Olo'eyktan must become united."

"So the day you were born," Lo'ak ventured, "Aonung was disqualified from being an Olo'eyktan?"

"No," Tsireya said. "He has two options if he wishes to achieve that position. He can choose a woman from this clan and declare right of sovereignty. He will then travel with her to another reef and start a new village there, but only after his chosen mate has been trained to become a Tsahik. While the villages exist apart, they are still allied. This option is more adventurous, because it actually means expansion for our people."

Lo'ak nodded. "It sounds exciting."

Tsireya chuckled. "It's probably what Aunung will do. His other option is to unite with the Tsahik of another village. One that is not on the friendliest of terms with ours. Such a union will resolve any hostilities. If he proves himself worthy, the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik of that village will accept him, and his union with their daughter will forge an unbreakable alliance so long as they both live."

"I can see how important either choice would be," Said Lo'ak.

"On the other hand," said Tsireya, "Aonung may choose to remain here as First Warrior. He will be well respected, and his voice will carry weight in our council. You will be expected to hear his advice in public and take it to heart. But at the end of the day, our decision will be what matters most."

Lo'ak had no problem with that. It was like what his father had told him about how a good general listens to his or her best officers and used their knowledge and experience to help him formulate a good strategy. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about him challenging me," he said.

"He will challenge you every day, Lo'ak," she said. "He has long since accepted that he will not be Olo'eyktan of this village. But he will use whatever he can think of to make sure that you prove your worthiness every step of the way between now until the day that Father becomes one with Eywa. And he will fight you many times to help you find and hold onto the strength you will need to lead. And to prove to you that he is a worthy First Warrior."

Lo'ak didn't really want to fight Aonug. And he didn't really look forward to having to deal with constant challenge from him. But he could see the wisdom in this way of doing things. Both he and Aonung would benefit from the process. In a way it would establish a form of mutual accountability, ultimately resulting in them having each other's back if things turned serious. And that he could get behind one hundred percent.

Lo'ak helped Tsireya finish up with taking care of the ilu. Then he did what he had come down here to do. Tsireya accepted his invitation to go out and see Payakan. They spent the rest of the day in each other's company. All three of them. And just before nightfall, Tsireya's spirit sister joined them. There was an exchange of vocalizations between the two tulkun, which caused both Lo'ak and Tsireya to smile. "Well," said Lo'ak. "We aren't the only ones interested in each other."

O O O

Aonung was troubled. For years, he had been debating what role he would play after his second birth. Would he seek to form his own village? Would he unite this village with another through union? Would he just be content with being First Warrior? He had finally come to his decision, and then the Sylly family showed up and changed everything. And now his father had told him what he already had suspected. His sister and Lo'ak would be in courtship. After recent events, he had no problem with Lo'ak. The forest boy had proven himself to be honorable and capable. It would actually bring him pleasure to keep him challenged so that when he took over, there would be no doubt in his mind, Lo'ak's mind or the people's mind that their future was secure.

What troubled Aonung was Lo'ak's sister. Kiri. Such a strange girl she was. And glorious. He found himself looking at her with longing. That had started the day of the battle, when he saw her connect to an anemone and direct it to attack the sky people. He had never seen anything like that. Ever. And he had also seen her controling other sea life in as well. Eywa was clearly working through the girl mightily. It scared him and excited him at the same time. What she was capable of was beyond the skills of any Tsahik. And whomever she would have union with would become oh so much more than an Olo'eyktan. Great mother, he thoughgt. let that be me.

And here's part two. I had the idea to make Tuc get sick, because I wanted a reason to delay the inevitable family meeting that will have to happen when Spider comes clean about having saved Quarich. and having something contagious that her whole family would be vilnerable to gives a reason to keep her apart from them. I wanted to have a meaningful interaction between Jake and Tonowari and between Ronal and Neytiri.

Regarding the customs Tsireya tells Lo'ak about, it's all just speculation on my part. The only thing we know officially regarding the Na'vi and marriag is that the Stahik and Olo'eyktan become a mated pair. But there was nothing to suggest that such a relationship exists between siblings, so what to do with Aonung needed some plausible scenarios.

I had originally thought to end this part with a little bit of interaction between Spider and Kiri, but the Aonung issue led to the idea that he would take an interest in her, especially after what he had witnessed her doing during the battle.

Please review. I look forward to reading your thoughts. Like last time, I am not sure when part three will be ready. Suffice to say it is forthcoming.