Chapter 24,sorry I lost this chapter last week and had to hunt for it. Enjoy!
(Sophia's POV)
The low groan of pain echoing through my mind was enough to wake me. I had been feeling nervous the entire night. Unable to sleep, I snuck into the link room, leaving Max a video message, and slid into link five. It was a little past four, giving me two hours before my actions would be noticed.
My head turned in the bed, noting Manova's sleeping frame. I sat up carefully, sliding out of bed and lifting my scarred hand. The tingles were coming from the left. I grabbed my headpiece from the table, tying it atop my braids and stepped out.
Home-tree was quiet. Everyone was sleeping.
I lifted my hand again, shutting my eyes and searching for it—this feeling of pain sliding across my stomach. My feet moved on their own, trusting my body. When my eyes fluttered open, I was standing at the opening of home-tree.
"What are you doing?"
I jumped at the familiar voice. "Tsu'tey."
He eyed me curiously, rubbing his eyes. "You are never up this early."
"Something's wrong."
His head spun around us, body becoming alert. "Where?"
"I don't know." I lifted my hand again, trying to find the source of that feeling.
"Then how do you know there's a problem?"
"Because I have a feeling!" I hissed, annoyed, spinning my hands again.
"A feeling?"
"If you're not going to help, then shut up." I snapped back, stepping out of home-tree. He grabbed a spare bow and a few arrows.
"Why are you awake? You're not on patrol."
He looked to the left. "I couldn't sleep…"
"Are you stalking me again?"
"Stalking you?"
"Following me, watching where I go."
I gasped as my foot slipped on the mossy log, feeling a strong hand grab my arm. I was pulled against him, those challenging eyes holding mine.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Probably not."
A hint of a smirk tugged at his lips before he dropped my arm. I rolled my eyes, stepping over a log and wandering a little further out. My eyes scanned the forest, and I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Where are you…?" I whispered, lifting my hands.
"Sophia?"
"Shut up, Tsu'tey."
"What are you doing?"
"I said shut up!" I spun my hand. "I just need to find the source of the call," I rubbed my hands together, lifting them again.
"The call?"
I dropped my hands, turning to face him. "The call of Eywa, okay?! Or whoever is trying to talk to me?! God… It's something I'm supposed to do, but someone keeps distracting me."
"You look ridiculous," he stated, lifting two hands in a mocking manner. "Like a blind man wandering in the dark."
"All a blind man sees is darkness." I shoved him into a tree and lifted my hands, trying to imagine my walls falling, but I still felt nothing. "God, this is so frustrating!" I grabbed my head. "I feel like I can do this, but it's like it's on the tip of my tongue, and I can't access it!"
"Then use this," Tsu'tey said, his arrogance gone.
I felt it before I even turned—the soft pulses of power. I spun, eyeing the arrowhead. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to rip it out of his hands.
"The last time I had this, things didn't end well…" I whispered.
He looked to the left. "Well, now we know better." A light blush dusted his ears. "Are you going to take it or not?"
I lifted a hand nervously. The urge to feel that wave of power was clouding my head.
(Tsu'tey's POV)
"Are you going to take it or not?"
I had been expecting joy, amusement, or even a sassy comment from her, but everything changed when her face shifted. The fear in her eyes was clear. Her hand closed, moving closer to her chest with gentle shakes.
"I… I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?"
She turned away, hands rubbing each other gently. "Because it's… bad…" She shook her head, smacking her cheeks a few times. "I just… have to do it alone."
We walked further. My eyes flickered back to home-tree. This situation was odd. She was being odd. I was being odd. I should have gathered more men, formed a hunting party, brought supplies, yet every time I tried, the words fell silent. Worse still, I simply followed her out of home-tree with little protection. I was going against everything I knew, but my feet kept walking.
She lifted her scarred hand. The dark purple flesh was clearly visible against the blue, the white line from the scratch even clearer. A sense of guilt hit me, only deepening as the frustration grew on her face.
"Eywa, please…" she whispered. "I know I can do this… I just need some help…"
"Hey…" I tried.
"Shut up, Tsu'tey."
"Hey!" I tried again.
"SHUT UP, TSU'TEY!"
"Just use the talisman!"
"I CAN'T!"
"WHY?!"
"BECAUSE IF I ALLOW MYSELF TO FALL INTO THAT DARKNESS AGAIN, I WON'T COME BACK!" Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I AM ALONE, TSU'TEY! I HAVE NO ONE ON MY SIDE, SURE AS HELL NOT YOU!" She held my gaze. "I went somewhere I wasn't supposed to, Tsu'tey, and it calls me. IT CALLS ME." She held her head. "I'm tired, Tsu'tey… I'm tired of messing everything up and being in that darkness. I was done. I was free from all of this, and every time I open my eyes, I wish I was back there…"
I looked down, eyeing the carvings on the arrowhead. That pain was still there… That wound would never truly heal. I could hear Eytukan's voice in my mind.
"We cannot change the past, my son," he had said, his hand resting on my shoulder and then on my face. I looked at him, more tears falling, and he had spoken again. "We can only work for a better future."
"But how can we have a future with the sky-people?"
He looked out, seeing Sophia, the pure relief in her face. "By standing beside them."
"Sophia…" I lifted a hand, turning her to face me, and lifted my other hand. "I see you." Her eyes widened slowly. "I see you, Sophia… you can do this. I know it."
She swallowed softly and turned away with a sigh. "Okay…" She lifted a hand, grabbing mine, and moved her queue, the moving soul strings dancing around. "But I need you to keep me grounded."
I extended my fingers, feeling the almost liquid tendons, and gasped. I had to force my feet to freeze. The overwhelming sense of emotions filled my mind as her eyes shut. I swore I could feel her heartbeat.
"Don't let go," she whispered.
I had to focus, steadying my body. We both gasped when the stone hit her palm. Colors, a tsunami of colors, flooded my vision. My body filled with a tingling sensation. It was like I was flying on my Ikran. I wiggled my toes, trying to ground myself.
"Feel the earth around you, Sophia. Feel your legs, the power in them." I swore I felt them twitch in my mind. "Feel your arms, your steady hands. Feel the movement of your lungs, each breath." My hand rested against her chest. "Feel your heartbeat, here, on Pandora. On solid ground. Feel the heat of my hand, my strength." Her hand lifted, resting over my heart, and a sense of calm filled her, the overwhelming colors fading until there was only white. "Clear your mind… and find what our goddess wants to show you."
The tingles returned, filling my body. But this time, it was calm, organized. I saw flickers of images, felt my stomach tighten painfully before releasing, and sensed worry, fear, and sadness.
"Where? Where are you?" she whispered, her hand moving from my chest. I felt it lock in, like notching an arrow. This pull to the west. When I turned, her eyes were holding mine.
(Mo'at's POV)
We had awoken a few minutes ago, the villagers slowly starting their day. I smiled at a child and took a cup of warmed water, placing a small kiss on her head as everyone filed in for the first meal.
Eytukan was meeting with the night-shift when a worried female ran down the stairs.
"My Tsihik! My Tsihik!" The woman was younger, about sixteen moons.
"Tamara, calm yourself, child," I said, setting down my cup to take her hands. "What is it? Has Kiri'ta started labor?"
"What?" Futani, a hunter just returning from watch, asked. "Is it time? Has my mate blossomed?"
"No! She's gone."
"What?" I asked.
"I went to check on her when I awoke, and she's gone. I didn't hear her awaken last night. I fear she went for a walk and did not return."
All heads turned to my mate. "Alright! Let us summon a search party. All available hunters, men and women, we will search the forest for—" Eytukan says
A loud bird cry echoed from outside. All heads turned to the rising sun and the two blurry figures walking up the roots.
"Men!" Tsu'tey's voice echoed through the air. "Gather the chieftain!"
"Someone wake Mo'at!" Sophia's voice called next. "Clear out the medical bay, grab my supplies! We need warm water, clothes, and a clean bed!"
The picture cleared, and I saw Sophia and Tsu'tey, with a clearly distressed Kiri'ta in his arms.
"Oh, Tsu'tey! Sophia! Bless Eywa!"
Rounds of "Bless Eywa" and "Thank you, Great Mother" echoed around us.
"Futani!" the woman cried out, her mate already rushing to take her in his arms.
"What were you doing out there?"
"I felt the pains last night. Our Tsihik says walking helps, but I fell down."
"Do not blame her," Sophia said gently, already grabbing supplies. "The downpour made the ground soft; it was unavoidable."
The woman screamed. "My Tsihik, the little one is coming!"
"Alright, everyone clear a path. Move her upstairs now."
Another scream followed quickly, and Sophia looked under her knee length dress. "Mo'at, we don't have time. This baby is coming now."
"Alright, Futani, sit behind your mate." Sophia dunked her hands in our soap, washing them quickly but thoroughly. "Your child will be here soon…"
..
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Sophia's POV
I didn't have time to think. I quickly moved around the room, grabbing supplies and making sure everything was in place. The woman's screams echoed in my ears, urging me to hurry. There was no room for mistakes now.
"Futani, sit her down," I said, my voice steady even though my heart was racing. The woman, her face pale with pain, was already being carefully lowered onto the bed by her mate.
I moved quickly, lifting her skirts and checking her condition. The baby was coming fast. My hands worked without hesitation, focusing on the task at hand. I could feel the energy in the air—everything felt alive, charged with the raw power of the moment.
"Tsu'tey," I called without turning. "Help me stabilize her. Hold her legs, keep her steady."
I could hear his footsteps approaching behind me, and the next moment, his strong hands were on the woman's legs, keeping them in place as I worked. His presence was comforting, even if I wouldn't admit it aloud.
"Deep breaths," I said to the woman, trying to calm her down. "Focus. Breathe with me. In, out… good, just like that."
The woman's breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with fear, but she nodded and followed my instructions. I could see the sweat on her forehead, her body trembling with the effort.
"Mo'at!"I whispered, my voice laced with urgency. "She's losing blood."
"That's normal, it will slow. Just watch it." she sooths.
I turned, my focus shifting to the elder, whose face was etched with concern. The tension in the room was thick, and I could feel the weight of the responsibility I carried. I wiped the sweat off my brow, moving with practiced urgency, but I couldn't ignore the fluttering in my chest.
"Sophia, focus!" Tsu'tey's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. His face was taut with concentration, his posture braced, ready for whatever came next.
I nodded, forcing myself to focus on the woman in front of me. She was shaking, trembling with exhaustion, and I could see her grip tightening on Futani's hand. Her eyes were wide with panic, but I knew we couldn't afford for her to lose control.
"Keep breathing," I murmured to her, my voice soft but firm. "In and out. Breathe with me. You're strong. I'm here."
I could see her body tensing, the sweat beading on her forehead. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, but she was still struggling to keep her focus. This wasn't the first birth I had attended, but each one carried its own weight. Every life that came into this world was a blessing, and I would do whatever it took to protect it.
Mo'at moved in beside me, her presence like a calming balm. She had been working with me since the beginning, her hands deftly preparing the ancient tools and medicine we would need.
"We must act quickly," she murmured, her sharp eyes scanning the situation. "The child is coming, but we need to keep her calm."
I nodded and turned back to the woman. "You're doing great, just a little longer," I reassured her, placing my hand on her forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat that clung to her skin.
Tsu'tey looked at me, his expression unreadable, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. "Are we ready?" he asked, his voice low.
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I lifted my hands, closing my eyes for a moment, feeling for the energy that would guide me. The moment I focused, I could feel the connection to the earth, to Eywa. The energy flowed through me, and I steadied my breath, finding the calm in the storm of urgency around us.
The woman's breathing was labored now, her body beginning to push, and I knew the time was near.
Mo'at placed a steady hand on my shoulder, her grip firm. "You have her, Sophia. Trust yourself."
I nodded, and with one last, deep breath, I moved into position. "Push," I said gently. "Push for us. You're almost there."
The woman cried out again, her body heaving with the effort. Futani held her hand tightly, whispering words of encouragement in her native tongue. The room was quiet except for her strained breaths, the soft rustle of the blankets, and the sound of Mo'at's low hum of concentration as she prepared the tools.
"Focus on the child's head," Mo'at instructed softly, placing her hand beside mine. "We must ensure the path is clear."
I could feel the baby shifting, its tiny head crowning. The pressure was intense, but I focused on the energy, guiding the woman through the pain. The bond of mother and child was strong, and I could feel the rhythm of their connection.
"Good, good," I encouraged, glancing up at Tsu'tey briefly. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, and there was something there, something unspoken. I didn't have the time to process it now. The baby was coming, and I had to be fully present.
With one final push, the baby was out, her tiny body slipping into my hands. A wave of relief flooded through me, and I quickly moved to clear her airways, feeling the fragile heartbeat beneath my fingers.
"She's here," I whispered, the words filling the space around us. The baby let out a tiny, sharp cry, and the woman's face softened with relief, her eyes brimming with tears.
Mo'at moved quickly, taking the baby from my hands and wrapping her gently in a piece of cloth. "Well done, Sophia," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and pride. "You were steady."
The woman, exhausted but smiling, reached for her daughter, her hands trembling as she took her baby into her arms. Futani leaned down to kiss her forehead, murmuring words of love and gratitude.
I stepped back, my hands shaking from the intensity of the moment. The relief of a successful birth was palpable, but there was a lingering tension in my chest that I couldn't ignore.
"Sophia," Mo'at's voice cut through my thoughts. She was looking at me with a knowing expression, her gaze sharp. "There is something else, isn't there?"
I met her eyes, a flicker of uncertainty passing through me. "I don't know," I admitted softly. "There's something in the air. Something I can't quite grasp."
She nodded, her expression softening. "We will face it when it comes. For now, rest. You have done well."
Tsu'tey moved closer to me, his presence like a quiet force. His eyes met mine again, and there was an unspoken understanding between us. I could feel the weight of the moment settling between us, but before either of us could speak, the baby's cry broke through the silence.
"She's beautiful," I whispered, my heart full. "She's going to be okay."
Tsu'tey gave a small nod, his gaze shifting to the woman and her newborn daughter. "Thank you, Sophia," he said, his voice quieter now, a hint of something softer in it. "You saved them."
I didn't respond right away. Instead, I glanced at the small family before us. The woman was smiling, holding her daughter close, and the relief in her eyes was enough to make my heart swell.
"We saved them," I said softly, my voice steady. "Together."
(Tsu'tey's POV)
Watching Sophia in her element was nothing short of mesmerizing. Her focus was complete, her hands moving with the kind of skill and certainty I had come to expect from someone so deeply connected to Eywa. She wasn't just a healer. She was a protector, guiding the woman through the most sacred process in the world.
I had stood at the edges of many battles, but this... this was different. The strength Sophia showed today was beyond what I had seen in any warrior. There was power in her—quiet, yet undeniable.
I glanced down at the tiny newborn, now resting in her mother's arms, and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. This child, this life, was part of something greater than us all. And somehow, I knew that Sophia was going to play a significant role in whatever came next.
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