Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twelve of 'Gone in the Dark.' Payakan will likely be introduced in the next chapter or so. I have been waiting to do that since I started this fic. Stay tuned for chapter thirteen.
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Chapter 12: Waking Up
The early morning sun beamed its rays on Awa'atlu the next day. Two dorado verdes flew not far above the beach. They headed for the village and landed on the windowsill of the mauri Kuai was staying in. They looked inside, seeing Mo'at run her hand over the sleeping young woman's forehead as she sat next to her. Mo'at whispered inaudible words.
Mo'at pressed her lips together as she stroked Kuai's head with the back of her hand. Suddenly, Kuai stirred in her sleep while letting out a loud groan. She opened her eyes as Mo'at pulled her hand away. She saw blurry vision. She blinked three times to clear it. She took three deep breaths. Mo'at formed a small smile on her face.
"It is good to see you awake, Kuai," Mo'at greeted in much warmth. "How do you feel?"
"I am in a lot of pain," Kuai admitted and pushed herself into a sitting position with her uninjured arm. She looked down at a staff laying on the floor. The staff twisted around its entire frame. It came to a point at the top. The tip was decorated with feathers. "That staff came in handy when I had to take a leak in the middle of the night."
"Jake made a number of staffs for Omaticaya who couldn't walk properly during his time as olo'eytkan," Mo'at said as the young hunter turned back to her. "I was surprised when he told me he made wood carvings in art class at elementary school."
"That's what he told me," Kuai pointed out.
Mo'at breathed deeply as she reached down to pick up a small wooden cup. It was filled with a green liquid. She placed it in Kuai's hands. Kuai stared at it in a bit of uncertainty.
"What is this?" Kuai wondered while tilting her head a bit.
"It is medicine from a rare flower in the rainforest," Mo'at said, a small smiling crossing her lips. "It will help relieve your pain for a while."
"I am sure it does not have a pleasant taste," Kuai said and cleared her throat. "Ronal's medicines do not have that for the most part."
"It is not the most pleasant-tasting, but it is great at easing pain," Mo'at pointed out warmly. "My clan has been using it for thousands of years."
Kuai took a deep breath. "Okay."
Mo'at gestured with her head. "Go on. Drink it."
Kuai drank the entirety of the liquid. She cringed somewhat and smacked her lips multiple times. She shook her head before handing the cup back to Mo'at, who laid it on the floor. Mo'at clasped her hands together while swallowing hard. She emitted a soft snort.
"That wasn't too bad," Kuai admitted. "I can feel my pain easing up a little bit already."
"That is good," Mo'at replied.
"It sure is," Kuai agreed with a small smile. She ran her hand over her hair before pressing her lips together. "I can't deny humans have incredible medicine themselves. That penicillin did wonders for Lauchi."
"Jake said his parents would make him drink bitter-tasting medicine whenever he got sick with a cold or the flu. He would cringe every time he drank it," Mo'at explained while giving a shrug.
"I do not blame him," Kuai whispered, her ears and tail twitching twice. She rubbed the back of her neck gingerly. "Sometimes, bad-tasting medicine can be the best kind to ease pain and heal wounds."
"Mm-hmm," Mo'at said.
"I will not be walking normally for a while," Kuai said, hissing in anger. "It is all thanks to Nekx. I do not trust him or the other Green Spears. His presence may bolden them enough to plan a revolt."
"I do not think that will happen. Tonowari and Ronal will keep a very close eye on them," Mo'at assured.
"I don't know," Kuai whispered in some uncertainty. "Revolts have happened, even when Na'vi kept a close eye on their enemies. The same goes for humans."
"It is understandable you feel uncertain," Mo'at said while laying her hand on the young woman's wrist. "We must keep the faith that nothing will happen with the Green Spears here."
"Did the Red Arrows the Omaticaya gave medical treatment to try to plan a revolt during their civil war?" Kuai wondered.
"No, they did not. Neither did the Omaticaya who were being treated by the Red Arrows for injuries," Mo'at answered in a calm yet firm manner. "They were watched very closely. Olo'eytkans do not even take kindly to revolts within their own clans. They punish traitors by exiling them from their territories and warning them they will be killed if they ever return. Jake never had to deal with during his time as olo'eytkan of the Omaticaya. Tarsem has not either. He was a close friend to Jake for a long time. That is why Jake chose him to lead."
"I imagine it was hard for you to leave your clan," Kuai said and sniffled.
"It was," Mo'at murmured, frowning somewhat. "I had been the tsahik for many years. I chose Athena to take my place because she had the potential to be a great one. She was nervous about her training at first, but she proceeded faster than most tsakarems do."
"You have adapted well to this clan's customs," Kuai pointed out in great warmth. "You have even helped Ronal with tsahik duties a few times."
"Ronal and Neytiri are alike in more ways than one. They are fierce and feisty. They are dedicated to their families. They are willing to die to protect them, especially their children," Mo'at commented.
Kuai moved her injured arm forward very slowly. She moved it backward at the same pace. She laid her hand in her lap before blinking three times. She emitted a soft sigh.
"I can never forget seeing Tuk run to you and hug you when Norm brought you here," Kuai said, smiling lightly. "She looked so sweet."
"We've been very close since she was a baby," Mo'at whispered. "She was too young to complete tasks required of Na'vi, so she hung around Kiri and me a lot."
"In a few years, she will be able to go hunting with the other kids," Kuai commented.
"She is looking forward to that," Mo'at admitted with a small chuckle. "She has undergone some training, but it has been put on hold. She wants to be a playmate for the kids right now."
Kuai clasped her hands together. "You once told me Sylwanin had a habit of daring Neytiri to do stuff."
"Sylwanin did that a lot. Neteyam rarely did that to Lo'ak, Kiri, and Tuk. He was more concerned about keeping his siblings safe than making dares for them to carry out. He did play pranks on them, though. He was really good at that," Mo'at said in much sweetness.
"Did his parents fall for his pranks?" Kuai wondered.
Mo'at nodded at her. "A few times. Jake and Neytiri fell for other kids' pranks too. They actually enjoy being pranked. Lo'ak put Norm's whoopie cushion underneath Jake's sitting spot in their mauri just before the tensions started. Jake heard the familiar deflating sound and was embarrassed because he thought he passed gas. Then he heard whistling and realized Lo'ak was the culprit. He playfully chased him all over the place."
Kuai looked toward the window along with the former tsahik. They observed the dorado verdes spreading their wings and taking off into the sky. They turned to each other.
"I enjoy peaceful moments like this," Kuai said as she swiveled her ears. A tear fell down her cheek. She wiped another one from her eye. "I wish the search party could have found the rest of my hunting party. We have no idea if they are dead or alive."
"I believe they are alive and are being treated for injuries at Kia," Mo'at assured softly. "I have no doubt they are being watched closely by Uzukay and Nessa. They do not want to risk them planning a revolt themselves."
Kuai slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. "Metkayina who were being treated for injuries by the Green Spears in the previous civil war never planned a revolt. That's not to say the ones in Kia will not do such a thing. Both sides have attacked each other unprovoked."
"I know," Mo'at agreed. "Omaticaya and Red Arrows attacked each other unprovoked during their civil war as well. Neither side was innocent. Many innocents suffered."
"The suffering will continue until the war is over. Who knows when that will be?" Kuai said, shrugging.
"I have no idea," Mo'at admitted and sighed sadly. "One thing is clear. I am more than willing to help the injured and dying on both sides. No one deserves to be turned away for medical treatment."
"You are so right. Nekx may have injured me, but he needed to be treated for his injuries," Kuai commented while perking up her ears.
Mo'at placed her hand over the young hunter's chest. "You have a good heart, Kuai. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise."
Kuai brought her hand up to Mo'at's wrist. She gave it a very gentle squeeze as they looked out the window.