Chapter 5, enjoy.

(Sophia's POV)

I walked with Jake a little deeper into the forest, seeing the way his eyes wander from tree to tree. Watching the way he clumsily tramples over plants and debate over my next choices.

I move, turning off my radio. Jake stops, clearly confused by my actions.

"What are you doing?"

"Turn it off."

"What?"

"Your radio, turn it off."

He looks at me slowly but does what I wanted. I pause, turning back to the plants and grace a few feet away from us. I couldn't help but smile at Norm's excited cries before turning.

"Come with me."

We wander deeper into the forest, just the two of us. My feet careful where I step and after five minutes of walking I find it, sitting in the clearing.

(Jake's POV)

I pause, taking in the small shack before us. This was definitely human. Sophia turns, sending me a sad glance back and motions me to follow. She steps into the shack. I look down at the smooth wood, the dust and leaves that littered the ground and finally the bullet holes in the door.

I follow Sophia inside, taking in the small desks, the matts and the chalk board. She turns, scooping up a small doll from the floor and sits, facing me head on.

"Where are we?"

"In the heart of my mothers work." she smiles sadly "Look around Jake, tell me what you see."

I turn, walking through the small shack. My feet step on scattered papers. See the outlines of letters printed in ink and the shaky lines of others drawn by hand. I see dusty pictures of drawings, green trees, blue skies, tall lanky blue bodies clearly meant to be families. I saw math problems and small cups littering the floor and a chalk board with small doodles surrounding words. Finally my eyes fall on pictures tapped to the wall. I see a few faces of children holding completed letters and others of Grace with various children surrounding her.

"This used to be a school." she whispers softly "this place used to filled with laughter, learning. Children." she looks down at the doll, hand brushing the soft material "I know my father approached you." she lifts a hand quickly "Don't bother denying it. Dad has been looking for a way into the science department for years, when you arrived the opportunity to good to pass up."

I turn, leaning against the counter "So what? Are you going to tell Augustine?"

"I don't have too, she probably knows already. At least to some extent." she sets down the doll "You don't strike me as a bad person Jake, a little naïve but good. And I'm sure whatever he promised you my dad will come through but I need you to understand something." she walks over to me "This planet, these people, the Na'vi. They aren't hostiles Jake. They are people, just like us. They feel pain just like us. They love just like us."

I look away, trying not to sigh "Come on Sophia, do you really think you can stop this? I mean look at everything we have, the fire power. You know as well as I do that in war-"

"Jake, they trusted us. We came from another planet and they welcomed us with open arms. They welcomed Grace, embraced our language, tried to understand our culture when we did nothing but cast aside there's." she grabs the photos of Grace and the kids from the walls "These kids were here Jake, they were here when they open fired on the school. Children, babies watched as friends and family were gunned down in front of them." I see her tear up "In war?" she laughs tearfully, head shaking softly "They didn't get hostile with us until we gave them not choice." she gently touches hanging artwork filled with bullet holes "There not savages Jake. Everything you report back to my father will be used against them, so please be careful." she puts a small stack of photos in my hand "Because this is more then just a mission Jake."

(Sophia's POV)

We slowly made our way back to the group, my eyes moving from tree to tree. Jake had yet to say anything, most likely thinking over my words and the pictures tucked in his pocket. I knew this was probably pointless. Parker and dad were dead set on getting home-tree, trying to turn Jake on our side would probably do little good but I wanted to at least try. I still remember the way my mother was, the pure grief as everything she had worked for, everything she was trying to build was destroyed in seconds by a group of soldiers following orders.

As we continue walking I could feel it. This weird tugging sensation in the back of my mind. The further we went the stronger it got and suddenly I stop. Glancing around the clearing.

"Jake?" I spin, realizing I was completely alone. When the hell had I wandered off "Jake?!"

I move, swerving around a few trees. The forest was eerily quiet, like the world was holding its breath.

'Mew'

I blink, trying to find the source of the noise.

'Mew'

It was soft, high pitched like a baby kitten, yet it seemed like it was dancing on the wind itself.

"Hello?"

'Mew'

I spin again, the sound now coming from behind me and look up. My eyes widen as a small white creature floats down to me. Its thin tentacles and rounder head reminded me of a jelly-fish.

'Mew'

I lift my hands, gently cupping the small creature. It doesn't exactly land on my hands, simply hovering above them with small bursts of air.

"Oh my gosh..." I lift the creature closer to my face "If only Grace could see you..."

In my hands was a sacred creature. A seedling from the tree of life. Suddenly it moves, pushing forwards gently before turning.

'Mew'

I wasn't sure why but I had a feeling it wanted me to follow. It floats forward, small noises coming from its form and after a minute of walking it lands gently on the root of a tree. It stays there for three seconds then moves, floating away. I watch the seed disappear behind some leaves and walk up to the tree. I kneel down beside the roots, hands touching the rich dirt and try to figure out what it was telling me. When I look up, examining the dark bark my heart stops.

Four large claw marks were ripped into the bark. Claw marks I'd spent the last nine years looking at. On the face of my father.

"Oh god."

Suddenly all the noises in the forest come back, hitting me like a truck and I stumble, trying to find my footing when the sounds of an angry animal rip through the forest. I scramble for my radio, clicking on the gadget as I run.

"Guys!" I try.

Grace's voice echoes through the coms "Don't Shoot! Don't Shoot you'll piss him off."

"He's already pissed off." Jake laughs in fear

I drop down onto a fallen log, taking in the scene before me

"That armor is too thick. Trust me Jake."

"So what do I do? Dance with it?"

..

..

Everything had gone wrong so quickly. Jake I scrambled over the forest, the screams of the Thanator on our asses. I had tackled Jake to the ground when the Thanator jumped. Trying to get out of her cross hairs and shove him forwards. I scramble up the hill, pushing him with me. We dive under a tree trunk, Jake firing as I scramble to the left.

We tumble deeper into the forest and I move, my body being smacked to the left by her hand and into the open field. Jake jumps forwards, stabbing the creature with his hunting knife and I roll to a stop, hand lingering on my gun, yet I couldn't pull it. Jake's quickly over powered, biting into his backpack, his body being flung left and right and it happened again.

The world slowed down, the forest growing quiet.

'Mew.'

I glance up, seeing a sacred seed just floating there. I pause, staring at its flickering frame. Like it was here but it wasn't really here.

'Mew'

"What?"

'Mew.'

"What? I don't understand!"

The seed drops as my hand lifts, its body pulsing a strange warmth and my body tingles. The second we touch reality crashes back to me, a single thought echoes through my mind.

JUMP.

I run, jumping on her back and grab her long black queue. I grab mine and link the two as she thrashed around. We both scream as the link burns, white hot and then its gone.

"Stop!"

She falls still. I could feel her, all of her under me. Her strong legs, her muscled frame, her pounding heart, fast and confident from the chase. I could feel the dew sticking to her black flesh and the tendons wiggling with each breath. Could feel the aching of the knife Jake had sunk into her side, the small blade wasn't near anything vital.

I breathe, feeling a shiver as her body syncs with mine.

"Get off Jake." I feel her move, my own feet tingling in phantom movement. Feel the shifting of her spine "sit down."

"Sophia?" Jake questions, the marines death grip on his knife was obvious yet he didn't dare move, I lift my hand breathlessly and feel her twitch.

"I'm fine Jake." I force my legs to move off her back and turn to her face. We were still connected, meaning I could feel her immense frustration and rage as id taken all of her power and her life in that second. I lower myself down to one knee, watching the connection and bow my head "I'm sorry."

I wasn't sure if she could feel my guilt or genuine apology but I was sure if I could feel her pain and anger it went both ways. I kept my head down. Slowly her anger shifts to confusion and suspicion.

"Sophia?"

I ignore Jake "I'm sorry for doing this, but I didn't want you or Jake to kill each other. He may be an idiot but I do enjoy his company."

I feel her large eyes on me, my heart jumps when a smooth voice echoes through my mind in Navi

'You're not like the other monsters here.'

I turn, staring at her in utter fascination, barely suppressing my giddy chuckle 'I've been raised in both worlds, have seen the beauty and destruction of both.'

The suspicion was back 'Why would you care about my life?'

'Because I believe everyone is important. Just because you're different doesn't mean your bad."

She looks at me, eyes judging my soul and after a moment that smooth voice is back 'What is your name young one?"

'My name's Sophia. Sophia Elisabeth Augustine Quaritch.' I feel her eyes on me again 'Do you have a name?'

'Manovarota but you may call me Manova.'

I lift my eyes slowly 'its nice to meet you Manova.'

'So what happens now?'

'Well I wont let you and Jake kill each other but you're free to leave, if you want.'

She eyes Jake, the male was staring at us in confusion 'I'm not sure that moron would survive the night. We are getting close to the outlanders.'

When she inhales my senses are flooded.
The dew on leaves.
The grass under my toes
The dirt.
Jakes blood on her claws.
The fish in the river.

'Wow... you're unbelievable. All these scents with a simple breath. You are fantastic Manova.' I was genuinely surprised when she leans forward, touching her forehead to mine. It was cool and scaly like a lizard yet pulsing with heat 'I know I made you but thank you Manova, thank you for sharing this with me..."

"Sophia...?" Jakes voice was hesitant. I smile softly

"I'm okay Jake." I take in the man below me "Now, apologize to Manova."

"Who the hell is Manova?"

My hand lifts "This is Manova, you stabbed her so apologize."

Jakes face was glorious "Are you serious?! She tried to kill me! Why would I apologize-"

Manova's loud growl stops his rant.

"Well considering she could jump over there and rip your throat out is a start..."

His eyes widened "You're serious... oh my god..." he turns, hand dragging down his face awkwardly. Moments later he turns hands falling by his sides "I'm sorry for trying to kill you."

"Manova."

He glares at me "I'm sorry for trying to kill you Manova."

Manova growls again and I smile "She says stop glaring or she may just rip your arm off."

Jake's eyes finally flicker to me "... How do you hear her?"

I lift up my queue "To explain this is lament terms this is like a headset, when you connect it with an iPod you hear the music. But this goes both ways, so I can hear her thoughts and feel her emotions and vise versa."

"Woah."

"This is Tsaheylu, the bond." I lift my antennae "this allows us to make a neural connection with other creatures that poses queue."

"So if I connected with her I could hear her thoughts too?"

"No, you'd kill her." Jakes smile falls quickly "Most animals only connect with one rider their entire lives. Having two brains inside your head doesn't work. What I did was basically rape. She will be bound to me till she dies." I shake my head softly "Honestly if you two weren't trying to kill each other I wouldn't have made Tsaheylu."

'That's not entirely true. Tsaheylu is a bond yes but some creatures with lower intelligence can have multiple riders over a life time.'

I see a memory of a six legged horse flash across my mind.

I glance at her oddly 'They don't bond back?'

I swear Manova snorts in amusement 'I don't think they know they can. Igclare are… empty headed as your kind say.' Her eyes rise toward the sky, taking in the sky 'We should head back soon, the night-walkers will start their rounds.'

"Okay, we should head back." I nod, glancing around the forest. "We just need to figure out were exactly here is." It was pretty obvious we were lost.

"Yeah..." Jake looks around the forest "So what do we do now? Start yelling?"

'No, they will hear us.'

"No, the Navi will hear us." I turn to her "can you find them?"

I could try but they wont let me get close to them.

'Its fine.'

"Grab your stuff Jake, we'll head back to the others."

We turn, heading back the way we came with a loud scream echoes behind me. I spin around, seeing an empty forest.

"Jake!" I shout, running to where he used to be and feel the earth give away at my feet. I scream, gravity pulling me down and feel strong jaws grab my back pack.

I hang, the steep bank was a sheet drop off and I glance up at Manova struggling to keep her footing. She pulls us back, sliding forwards a few times and finally gets solid ground. I sigh, rolling onto my side and smile softly, putting a hand on the side of her face.

"Thank you Manova..."

She nods once, slowly moving closer to the bank again "Do you see him?" She turns back, shaking her head.

I link with her when she gets close 'This bank leads to a river, it is possible that he is alive, but I will have a hard time finding him when it gets dark.'

I pause, thinking over my options. Grace and Norm wouldn't have left yet, I could go back with them to find Jake, but if we didn't find him we'd have to go back. There was no way dad or Parker would let us run a night op, on the same note there was no way Jake would survive the night. If the creatures of Pandora didn't kill him the Na'vi would. We were most likely pushing the limits already.

I sigh, climbing onto her back "Let's go find Jake."

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