Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter thirty-five of 'Gone in the Dark.' I want to mention blood testing technology has progressed to the point that it can detect how far along a pregnancy is and how many children a woman is carrying. This is regardless of species. Ultrasounds are still used for detection organ malformations. Stay tuned for chapter thirty-six.
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Chapter 35: Up and Down
Mo'at and Tuktiery were walking along the beach an hour later. The latter had a small sack across her shoulder. They looked toward the shoreline. They observed waves slithering through the sand and retreating out to sea. More waves came in, these being a little higher than the last ones were. The former tsahik and her granddaughter shifted their attention back to the beach.
Tuktiery spotted a shell sticking out of the sand. She squealed excitedly and ran to it rather quickly. She picked it up to look it over. It was light purple above and dark purple below. It twisted around from top to bottom. It contained an opening in the front. She showed it to Mo'at, who came to her side. Mo'at touched it very gently.
"This is a pretty shell, isn't it, Grandma?" Tuktiery asked with a giggle.
"It sure is, Tuk. That is the tenth one you have found," Mo'at said as her granddaughter slipped it into her sack.
"I did not notice during our walk down the beach. Then I did on the way back to the village," Tuktiery said, an eye ridge raising. "It feels a little weird."
"Sometimes, we do not notice things until they catch our eye. Then we wonder how we never noticed. It's happened to me more times than I can even count, especially when I was young," Mo'at pointed out and formed a small smile on her face.
"Really?" Tuktiery said, her ears perking up.
"Yes," Mo'at said while folding her hands and placing them on her stomach. "Even when you are completely aware of your surroundings, you do not always see things."
"I was always under the impression you noticed everything due to being a tsahik," Tuktiery commented.
"No," Mo'at said, shaking her head. "Even when I have visions, they are not always clear."
"Do you think I will have visions someday?" Tuktiery wondered, curiosity filling her voice.
"It is quite possible," Mo'at admitted. "Aonung has told me he has had a few visions himself. He even spoke of the bad feeling he had when he, Rotxo, and Riri came upon the island they were about to hunt at. He is Ronal's son after all."
"It proved right when they found Keye'txon sick due to an infected wound," Tuktiery murmured.
"Exactly," Mo'at said, nodding in a slow manner. "You should never ignore feelings you have. You should investigate them. You may be right or wrong about them."
Tuktiery nodded in agreement before grabbing the strap of her sack. She and Mo'at resumed walking. They glanced toward the ocean. They spotted two ilus leaping upward. The ilus twisted in midair before reentering the water. Mo'at and Tuktiery turned back to the beach.
"It's been nice having this walk with you, Grandma," Tuktiery said, her voice showing much sweetness.
"Yes, it has," Mo'at agreed. She ran her hand over the girl's braids before cupping her chin in her hand. "Rishi's death was hard on you. It was best you get away from the village for a while."
"You once talked about how some Omaticaya and Red Arrows became overzealous in their desire to defeat each other in their civil war. I did not think it would happen here because the reef clans practiced a more peaceful way of life," Tuktiery whispered, her ears swiveling.
"I find the tulkun way odd. I have never heard of a species forbidding all killing, even in self-defense. The only exception was hunting for food," Mo'at said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Tuktiery moved her hand up the strap. "I am glad Payakan's willingness to fight to protect tulkuns made them reconsider killing in self-defense. They knew complete pacifism would not save them anymore."
"There are no clans that practice complete pacifism. Being reluctant to fight due to fear of killing would leave them helpless. Some clans are more aggressive than others are," Mo'at pointed out truthfully.
"Do you think we will ever meet an aggressive clan?" Tuktiery wondered.
Mo'at sighed. "I have no idea. One thing is clear. You must always exercise caution, even if someone appears to have very good intentions."
Tuktiery gave her grandmother a nod. They could see Awa'atlu coming into view. She couldn't help but smile. She reached into her sack to touch a shell eagerly as Mo'at looked at her.
"We are almost home. I can't wait to show my parents and siblings the shells I found," Tuktiery said excitedly.
"I am sure they will love them," Mo'at said and smiled warmly. She shifted her attention to the beach. She spotted Norm coming toward them quickly. She stopped smiling. "That's Norm."
Tuktiery gasped softly. "Why is he walking toward us so fast?"
Mo'at swallowed hard. "Something is wrong. I can feel it."
Norm stopped before the duo as they halted themselves. His breathing came out fast. He managed to get it under control. He grabbed a fistful of hair, his body shaking a bit.
"Mo'at, thank Eywa you and Tuk are finally home," Norm whispered in relief. "I've got some really bad news."
"What is it?" Mo'at asked in concern.
"Tell us," Tuktiery begged. "Please."
Norm breathed deeply. He wasn't sure if he could tell the former tsahik and her granddaughter about what happened to Neytiri. He knew they would be horrified. He decided it wasn't worth the trouble to wait. He put his hands on his sides.
"Mo'at, your daughter has become a victim of the war. She was brutally attacked by a Green Spear while she, Ronal, and their search party were looking for Dila," Norm said gravely.
"No," Mo'at gasped shockingly as she put hand over her mouth. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. "No."
"Not Mom!" Tuktiery yelled, sobs rising in her throat. She shook her head so fast that it appeared to be a blur. "Not her!"
Norm sniffled. "Ronal was injured while fighting off your mother's attacker, but two Metkayina were nearby and stopped him from injuring her further. He was brought in for medical treatment."
"Why did this have to happen to Mom?" Tuktiery yelled frustratingly. "She has done nothing wrong."
"She happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, Tuk. That is all I can say," Norm admitted, lowering his ears in sadness.
"Is she going to be okay?" Tuktiery wondered.
"I hate to tell you this, but she may not survive. Her attacker wounded her severely. She has slipped into a coma. A blood test revealed she is five weeks pregnant with twins," Norm explained.
Tuktiery bit her lip. "Oh, jeez."
Tuktiery closed her eyes and started crying. Mo'at pulled her into her arms and gave her a hug. Tuktiery wrapped hers around her waist. She buried her face into her lower chest. Her cries became muffled. Mo'at felt her chest become wet with tears. She made shushing sounds while rubbing the back of her head in a very light way. The tears finally fell from her eyes. Some merged with each other.
Norm looked down at the sand. He felt so bad for the duo, especially Tuktiery. He wished she hadn't been exposed to so much carnage. He knew she would likely suffer from nightmares of what she had seen, even if she was not directly involved. He recalled having them after the first war for Pandora. He could never forget the destruction the RDA wrought on the forest during the battle. He had no doubt he'd have them after the Metkayina/Green Spears war. He pressed his lips together as he and Tuktiery looked at each other.
"Can we go see Mom?" Tuktiery asked.
"You can, but I must warn you. It is not a pretty sight," Norm pointed out.
Mo'at nodded at him. "All right. Come on."
Norm, Mo'at, and Tuktiery began making their way toward the village. He began talking about when Neytiri was brought in.
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Max made an adjustment to the IV bag in the marui Neytiri was staying in. He turned to her. He frowned at the sight of her covered with a blanket from the chest down, her wounds bandaged, her having her arms at her sides, and her containing a breathing tube in her nose. He never thought he would see her like this. He believed she was very scared as her attacker was stabbing her. He was glad Norm and Maureen decided to move him to another marui. He felt Neytiri needed one to herself for an easier recovery. That was if she did not get worse.
Jake pressed his lips together as he sat in a chair next to his mate. He was leaned forward a bit. He had his hands folded in which they propped up his head with his elbows on his knees. He laid his arms on his legs and looked down at the floor. He would never forget seeing her body riddled with stab wounds. He never believed he would see her looking so helpless. He even thought he would throw up at one point. He had no doubt she would be left with many scars.
"I can't believe this happened, Max," Jake whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. He choked back a sob. "My mate became a victim of this horrible war. I wasn't there to protect her this time."
"I never thought she would be brutally attacked by a Na'vi myself, Jake. I always believed it would happen at the hands of humans," Max said, coming to the former marine's side.
"I should've gone with her, Ronal, and their search party. Maybe this would not have happened," Jake said, looking up at him as he opened his eyes.
"This would have happened, regardless if you or someone else went with them. You can't protect everyone," Max commented.
"I know, but I still feel—" Jake started, sobs rising in his throat.
"I understand," Max interrupted in a gentle way. "We do everything we can to protect our loved ones. There will always be a chance of them getting hurt or worse."
Jake turned to Neytiri. He moved his ears back at the sound of the heart monitor's steady beeping. Nekx came into the marui from the pier. He went to Jake's side, his tail swinging from side to side.
"Neytiri, I wish this didn't happen to you," Jake whispered while wiping a tear away from his eye. He took her hand into his. "I'd give anything to put myself in your place. You did not deserve this. I am so sorry."
Jake looked down at the floor as tears fell down his cheeks in sheets. He cried quietly as he wiped them away, only for more to come. He shifted his attention to Nekx, who gave him a sympathetic look.
"You were right, Nekx. I should've taken my family away from here," Jake muttered, his voice expressing guilt.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Nekx responded. "No one is immune to them, not even seasoned warriors."
Jake gazed at Neytiri. "My decision to remain here may have killed not just my mate. It may have killed the twins as well."
"We cannot dwell on the what-ifs. We have to focus on helping Neytiri to stay alive," Max commented seriously.
"I know. I just—" Jake started.
Nekx touched the former marine's shoulder. "We know. It's okay."
Just then, Norm came into the marui. Mo'at and Tuktiery were close behind him. They gasped horrifyingly at the sight of Neytiri. They placed their hands over their mouths, tears filling their eyes. Jake looked at them. He released his hold on Neytiri and stood up. He went to them. He wrapped his arm around the former, followed by the latter. He listened to their crying as they hugged him somewhat tightly.
"I am so glad you two are finally home," Jake whispered in relief. "I am so sorry this happened."
Mo'at gazed at her daughter with a soft sniffle. "I never thought I'd see Neytiri like this. She looks a lot worse than Sylwanin did at the time of her death."
"She was very lucky her attacker's dagger never went near her womb," Jake said, seriousness lining his voice.
"If she were to learn she had miscarried the twins, it would devastate her," Mo'at commented, swallowing hard.
Tuktiery eyed her father. "I thought Mom was done having children. Grandma said she couldn't—"
"I know what your grandmother said. It seems Eywa decided your mother was not done having children," Jake interrupted softly and caught a tear with his thumb as it fell from her eye.
"My grandmother gave birth to her final child when she was fifty-four, Tuk," Mo'at said while running her hand over the girl's braids. "With Eywa, many things are possible."
Jake cupped his daughter's chin in his hand. "Remember there can be no good without evil, no love without hate, no heaven without hell, and no light without dark. When one overtakes the other, the balance is thrown out of whack."
Tuktiery nodded at her father. They and Mo'at let go of each other, their breathing becoming shudders. They went to Neytiri's side. Their hearts skipped a beat or two.
"Hi, Mom," Tuktiery whispered sadly. "I collected many shells during my walk on the beach with Grandma. I hope to show them to you when you wake up."
Tuktiery started crying and wrapped her arms around her grandmother's waist. Tears fell from her eyes, some merging with each other. Mo'at hugged her as she buried her face into her side.
"It is so hard seeing her like this," Tuktiery said, looking away.
"I know, darling," Mo'at agreed. "We are used to seeing her strong and helpful. Now, she is weak and helpless."
"She can't die, Grandma. She just can't," Tuktiery pleaded and choked back a sob.
"We have to hope and pray that she will make it," Mo'at whispered, a tear falling down her cheek. "That is all we can do."
Mo'at released her hold on Tuktiery, who headed over to her father. He laid his hands on the girl's shoulders. They observed the former tsahik taking Neytiri's hand into hers and gripping it tightly.
"Keep fighting to stay alive, Neytiri," Mo'at whispered in determination. "You must. Your family is counting on you, especially your unborn twins. Don't give up."
Mo'at kissed her daughter's forehead. She rubbed it with the back of her hand so lightly that it seemed she was not even touching it. Norm cleared his throat, causing everyone to look at him.
"We need to start preparing for the funerals of the Na'vi who died today," Norm commented softly.
"I know," Jake agreed. "I was thinking Mo'at, Lo'ak, and I could handle Rishi's burial."
Mo'at emitted a soft sniffle. "I would like that very much, Jake."
"Would it be okay if I attended the funerals?" Nekx wondered.
"I am sure it would be fine with Tonowari and Ronal. They have allowed Green Spears to attend them," Jake said.
Nekx exhaled softly. "That's good."
Tuktiery wiped more tears from her eyes. Jake proceeded to talk about who might accompany him, Mo'at, and Lo'ak to Rishi's burial.