DISCLAIMER: Cameron has thrown many plotlines and characters into this franchise; characters I WANT to care about, yet see them play out very thin stories. (I have read the comics and wish THOSE were explored on the big screen.)
I digress. My favorite of the Na'vi culture though is definitely the songcords. Neteyam's songcord was buried with him at his funeral. *SOB* The rest of the family still have theirs... what would they add?
Feedback welcome and have fun reading.
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Why are you crying?
Jake lifted his head from the memory, needing his focus ahead. Where eyes upon him waited. Watched, judged, and spited. He accepted all of that, their glances making him feel two inches tall. So many councilors urgently pulled from their homes- were hearing his fault for the first time. Jake continued to need more practice in the way of honesty. "I was wrong- to run. It wasn't the path of a warrior, a leader-"
Or a father. Jake thought of Lo'ak, Kiri, Tuktirey... Neteyam.
"I've neglected what is owed to you," Jake went on, holding his chin up. "Assurance of the Na'vi way of life. Give me the chance... to set my actions right."
"For how long?" a voice yelled out. "What, I ask you, has changed?!"
Jake's chest caved.
"You left us to fight, alone." another rang out.
"Your fight does not rest in me alone!" Jake dissuaded this thinking. They were only spoken in anger. He held responsibilities and may as well have dropped them into a communal fire. "I see!"
Jake pressed his fingers to his forehead, only to spread his five fingers out, extended to all the tribunals. "I see... fortitude the Sky People have sought to destroy. Only to fail at every turn."
A hiss came from his left. "Yet, their village remains. Scarring, shaming Ewya."
"You have favored the Sky People all along!" a voice agreed.
"I favor peace between our people!" Jake cried out. He didn't need to gaze beyond, to where Norm, Max, and the others stood... for 16 years in and out of their avatar forms, they had embraced the Na-vi way as best they could. They- not to mention Spider- were proof it was possible! If I lose my voice for them...
"Tifun!"
Voices hushed under the boom that came from Mo'at. She rose up from the ring of seats they had taken... where the Na'ring forest delved into the Valley of Mo'ara; deep and peaceful depths, the gathering place of the shamans. Day and night, the flora and fauna glowed, pulsed...no other terrain like it existed on Pandora, even with all the soul trees that connected the tribes to Ewya. No other spot had become more sacred since the First Songs. Thus, when a tsahik spoke, all became silent.
"Mistakes were made," Mo'at raised a fist; her songcord hung delicately from her fingers. "And admitted." She gestured to Jake with her other hand, showing him the eyes of a mother-in-law before facing the council again. "We must take pride in this, for then we move forward to correct them. Depend upon the loyalty Toruk Makto demonstrates."
Mo'at pulled her fist in, holding it over her chest, eyes up to the branches that encircled them. The roots did the same and the feeling of being consumed in love and comfort was inescapable. Jake relied on that to lend the people's hearts toward his forgiveness. "And the will of Eywa, who wastes no action."
With a tilt of her head, Tonowari, the proud, towering chieftain of the Metkayina, arose from his spot. He nodded, to Mo'at, then Jake, then the rest of the gathered. "You have been fighting the Sky People for some time. A fight, I now realize is just beginning. A fight, I have hidden my people from."
He hung his head, but only for a moment. "My wife and I understand Turok Makto's actions. In the name of protection, we isolated our people. We rejected the very... natural pain of life. The energy entrusted to us is not always pleasant."
To this, wise nods passed between everyone.
"Yet, had Toruk Makto and his family not approached us," Tonowari lifted his enormous spear of gleaming sand crystal. "We would not be here, offering our spears to the battles ahead."
The crowd considered this, until the wrinkled and weathered Anurai chieftain called above the soft murmurs. "What is it you ask, Jake Su-lly?"
"Allow me, once more, to fight alongside you." Jake humbled his position. "I hold no special power to make them leave. I wish I did. It pains me that we ever brought our burdens here."
In truth, that was a lie. Without his initial trip to Pandora, he wouldn't have Neytiri, his children... but Jake didn't have time for those brittle considerations. "May I make amends, by fighting... helping to regain Eywa's ground."
There were hesitant whispers. They hurt more than a resounding 'no'. Jake's heart was becoming overwhelmed when Mo'at caught his wrist. "Never forget Eywa's aid when Jake Sully first banded us together. As many vines interlaid, we could not be broken-" she raised their hands. "And the Sky People were defeated!"
Cries went up in remembrance of the battle so many had raged across the Halluejah Mountains. A moment, where Jake recalled Tsu'tey... and Trudy. He saw the same reflection on Norm's face. And determination rose within him, fierce against the fear and timidity hounding him all day. "Such a time falls to us again! To remind the Sky People whose home this is!"
With his proclamation, the sights and sounds of Pandora seemed magnified. A breeze had picked up from behind Jake and Mo'at, stirring the deep-lavender leaves off the branches. All else stilled. Only the breeze spoke as these loosed leaves laid themselves over the gathered Na'vi. A few stared in wonder, others picked them up like fragile butterfly wings. Mo'at whispered a solitary prayer and Jake caught Tonowari's spear rising over their heads. His wide, aquatic eyes pierced Jake in their ferocity. "The spears of the Metkayina are yours!"
Another heartbeat, then more voices arose.
"The bows of the Tayrangi are yours!"
"The blades of the Tipani will join you!
"The bones of the Anurai are yours, Toruk Makto!"
He needed to lower his head; he hoped the gesture showed his gratitude. Jake clenched his fists, opened them and forced his head back up. It will not be in vain, Neteyam. Matain, I will carry you the rest of my life. But especially now-
As the pledges died down, Jake spoke again. "I- could not ask for stronger weapons. You know the Sky People carry many. They believe these weapons give them the right to take what they want." He lifted his tomahawk from his belt. "We will show them it does not!"
The Na'vi stood with their cries now, passion alighting their faces. Jake motioned toward Max and the others, quieting the rest. "We've been working on a way to hack- see inside- Bridgehead. When the time is right, we will strike it down. In the meantime, every attack needs to be coordinated to dwindle their resources. The Sky People will expect a reaction after the Battle of Three Brothers." Jake gave the weight of that mention time to sink in. "Once they realize our organized front, they're gonna hit us from all sides. So- we need to be ready on all sides."
From this, long into the night, everyone contributed how the clans would move forward. There was no written Na'vi language and Jake knew this was an advantage. No symbols or legends to give them away or leave a trail. And there was another angle he'd thought of. We'll surprise 'em... right back to Earth!
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A full day passed before they flew out of Mo'ara, but Mo'at's heart was heavy when they did. War laid ahead and this saddened her, but the unity of the clans once again renewed hope. She dipped off her ikran into High Camp, where only a few of the morning rays reached within. Everyone was up, dutifully prepping meals, cleaning weapons, chatting... uniltirantokxolo. Mo'at lingered with her saddle, her ikran stretching in the freedom from its weight. She raised her head to Jake Sully, dismounting beside her. "You do us proud."
His chin dipped in embarrassment. "I did nothing. That's why I needed their forgiveness."
Mo'at clucked at him, saddle down and a hand under his chin. "You were not eyktan when you came to us, Jake. I was not always tsahik. Becoming one does not mean we leave the rest of ourselves behind. And finding balance within, is often the harder task."
The first years with her daughters, Mo'at could barely see the lines between family and community; where did her true duties lie? Only with practice- and yes, mistakes- did she begin to see them clearly. She moved a hand over his chest, smiling sadly. "You bear no blame, for doing what you felt was right."
"As always, you're too kind." Jake's hand lifted hers to kiss the back of it. An Earth custom Mo'at had become fond of, translating respect and devotion. Perhaps they are not complete savages.
"I'll take care of this." Jake motioned to the ikran, moving past the moment. His movement however, was overshadowed by the sight of Neytiri, landing a few yards away. Jake stopped and even with his back to her, Mo'at felt his emotions run stiff. Their eyes found each other, but no greeting passed between the spouses. Mo'at sighed and headed off Neytiri from entering her mauri. "You have returned well."
Neytiri gave a curt nod, kneeling with her bow and arrows. Every one of them bloodied. Mo'at retrieved a cloth; if they were to be dipped in poison, it was vital to not touch the ends after cleaning. "Jake will be eager to hear your report-"
"Tsane will do so." Neytiri did not look up, braids and visor blocking the sight of her eyes. Mo'at sighed tenderly. "Will you not even meet my eyes, daughter?"
Neytiri paused, reluctant to interrupt her task. Did she fear the stop of all motion? Was that why she had clearly been sleeping less and less? Mo'at kneeled in the entrance with a loving hand to Neytiri's arm. "When were you last with your mate? Have you sat with your children?"
"There is too much to be done." Neytiri shook her head, hands going delicate over her weapons. She accepted the cloth from Mo-at. "Time- what we do with it- cannot be lost. They understand this."
Mo'at looked in on the mauri where months ago her grandchildren would gather; giving smiles and laughter where it was most needed. "Our children are having to face many truths in this upsetting time. Is it not best to ensure their safety of heart and mind? Lo'ak and Kiri still have much to learn and Tuktirey-
"They understand plenty, Mother! Their brother is-" Neytiri's voice gasped, as though frightened of the word. She drew her gaze back onto the arrows. "Is with Ewya."
"And you?" Mo'at tightened her grip, commanding Neytiri's attention. "Where are you?"
She had asked this question many times, to many within her clan. Asking beyond the physical and into the heart, which so often struggled. Neytiri's chin set forward, dismissing the question. "I am here; fighting. As I should have always been."
A quick answer. A shallow one. Mo'at reached inside the mouth of their mauri, easily finding the covered bowl of poison. She held it out, catching her daughter's hand. "The people are made to fight in many ways, ma'ite. I see you; your mind returns to the pain of Sylwanin... you father. You're fighting the ghosts of feelings-"
"While you feel nothing." Neytiri accused, eyes hardened. Mo'at's heart hurt, yet she easily took the blow. "The most dangerous part of pain is allowing it to stay. It is only one piece; a part of life. Where we are part of something greater-"
Neytiri laid the bowl curtly between them. "We are part of the balance, Mother, as entrusted to us under Ewya. It is only too clear of the way to restore that balance."
Mo'at stopped her probe, observing with the same heavy heart... for all the battles ahead.