OMG I can't believe we are at Chapter 20 already, thanks for the follows and the comments and love, as always enjoy!
(Sophia's POV)
"Welcome back," Jake whispers, pulling me into a soft hug.
I bury my face in his shoulder, simply letting the male hold me. He had returned to home tree after a day of training with Neytiri.
"Did anything happen while I was out?"
"Well I kicked Tsu'tey's ass," he grins as I pull back "But not much after that."
"Do I want to know?"
"Nah, just guy stuff." he grins, wrapping an arm around my waist to pet Manova's head "Thanks for staying with her."
Manova mewls softly, her tail smacking his leg as he laughs
A softer set of foot-steps comes from the left "Sophia Sooley?"
I turn, seeing the smaller boy I'd saved "Sonuk, how are you?"
"Better," he blushed "Thanks to you."
"I'm happy we could help." my hand pets Manova's head affectionately
"Would you join my family for dinner?"
My eyes flicker to Jake, noting his shrug of confusion and nod "Of course."
We wander through home tree, my eyes catching the looks of everyone around me, the smiles and nods of approval were surprising.
We come around the corner and I freeze. The hunting party was standing in the middle of the room, the entire clan around them. Jake stops by my side, hand holding mine, a smile on his lips.
"Jake?" I whisper.
He kisses my forehead "Congratulations kid, you earned it."
"It's alright." Sunok says, lifting a hand to me "Come."
I release Jake's hand, my brother moving to Norm's side and glance around the group. It seemed everyone was here but one, Tsu'tey. Sunok takes my hands with a smile, leading me towards the hunters. They line up as drums gently sounds around us, each one holding a piece of cloth in their hands.
An older male walks down the middle, stopping before me. Sunok places my hand in his with a smile before he moves to the back of the line with a man and woman.
"Sophia, my name is Takun. I am the oldest Hunter in this group, which gives me the honor of leading this ceremony."
"Ceremony?"
He grins, both hands holding mine "All life is sacred Sophia, when you protect a life it is honored. You saved many lives." he turns to the left, revealing what looked like two detailed grey arm covers, made from animal hide "You performed an act of bravery that no one has dared, and you won. By right of conquest, you have earned your title as a warrior."
He gently slid the braces over my arms, the smooth yet firm leather tying around my forearms, my eyes take in the fur padding underneath and the carvings in the leather.
We walk down the line, the warriors unfolding their cloth and I see different coloured bracelets, they slide them on my wrists, careful of my injured shoulder.
"Thank you," they'd say and I nod, their hands resting on my arms before we pass. My eyes flicker to Manova, noticing the head-piece she now had was different, more extravagant and the piles of food by her feet.
I glance at my hands noticing the twelve bracelets and stop when we get to the end of the line. Sunok steps forwards with an older woman and man, another pillow in his hands
"My name is Tawali, mother of Sonuk. This is my mate Otok, we can not thank you enough." she smiles tearfully, pulling me into a hug.
The male holds his mates arm "Your bravery saved my son, we will forever be grateful." He lifts the cloth and my mouth drops a little "Our family spent all night crafting this for you." I glance at the three part necklace, taking in the shining stones, seashells and smaller feathers.
His father moves behind me, carefully wrapping it around my neck and my hand lifts, holding the arrowhead. I turn back to the crowd as the second family steps up. To my surprise a boy I hadn't met was with them.
"I am Artsut, mother of Tsu'tey. This is my mate Ateyo and our youngest son Arvok." she steps forwards, pulling me into a hug before whispering "I am truly sorry we could not convince Tsu'tey to participate, he shames us with his absence today."
Before I can reply the father steps up "We cannot offer you enough thanks, you have saved our son and the future of the Omatikaya clan, so in honor of your bravery, we present you with this."
He turns, revealing what looked like a feathered headpiece of sticks, leather and shining stones in its center. My eyes take in the familiar blue, purple and yellow feathers along its outsides.
He lifts the headpiece high in the air "This headpiece holds the feathers of your first kill, the Angtsìk." He ties it around my head, weaving it under my braids for security before turning back to me "May it bless you with protection and abundance in your future."
At this point I couldn't stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks and smile, turning to the group of hunters and nod in thanks.
Neytiri comes through the crowd, putting my arm back in the thinner strap around my shoulder and takes my good hand "Come, come. No more tears, we celebrate now."
Sophia's gifts can been seen on my other AO3 site, TheJonesStories. Story has the same name as this one*
..
..
The drums banged around us, the village of people danced around the large fire, dressed in festive outfits and large costumes shaped like the Angtsìk. I think they were showing the hunt to the rest of the clan.
I could help but laugh as they chased each other around the fire, the figure in blue was on top of another dressed in black, I think it was supposed to be me riding Manova. The children laughed and cheered as others joined in, the villagers dancing around us.
I smile, leaning on Manova more and try to calm this storm in my heart.
Manova hits my arm lightly.
"What is wrong my child?"
"I can't get what that man said out of my head."
"In what way?"
"In everyway..." I run a hand over the loose strands of my braid "I feel like I'm missing the bigger picture here."
"Your people said they would tell you what they find right?"
"Yes."
"Then don't worry. Tonight you are here. Tonight you are safe." her forehead brushes against mine. I sigh, feeling that heavy coat of stress fall from my shoulders.
"Thank you, mother."
..
..
(Quaritch's pov)
I stood outside the med bay watching them. When Sophia hadn't shown up for bed I went looking for her. My eyes flicker to her and Lyle, the two of them sleeping peacefully on the twin sized bed. The bruises on Lyle's skin were turning a sickly dark red and purple, the ugly stages of healing and feel my fingers twitch lightly when she curls into his chest more.
They had been like this for years. After Lyle was almost killed in that attack, Sophia had spent most nights in the med bay sleeping right beside him, in her own bed of course as Lyle had to wear a halo for months and even more months of Physical therapy but Sophia was by his side every step of the way.
That bond only grew when Sophia took a DNA test at thirteen and found out she was half Italian, seeing as Lyle's parents were both Italian she was on the male like glue, my second in command teaching her the complicated language. I didn't have a problem with it at first but I've noticed they switch to it every time they want to keep secrets from me.
My eyes flicker to the other bed, captain Trudy Chacon, a wicked pilot and Sophia's pseudo sister. After three days of grueling interrogations and a two week suspension Chacon was allowed to return to active duty. During the debate she spent every moment with Sophia, quietly talking the child through every bad nightmare or wayward thought. She even spent time with Lyle during P.T. when Sophia couldn't. I thanked all the gods in heaven that she was there that day… had they hurt Sophia like they did with Grace… I would have thrown myself from the roof of the communications tower.
My eyes widen slightly, a grunt of disapproval leaving my lips when I notice her bed-mate. The lanky Avatar driver… Norm I think? Was sleeping beside her, arm draped over her chest. That was a relationship I'd be keeping an eye on -and possibly destroying if necessary.
The last thing I needed was another tree hugger on my belt…
I was not going to allow something else to harm Sophia, and as much as they 'tried to do things the right way.' and 'the peaceful way.' That was a big fucking joke. I knew there was only one option in the end. Everyone knew this would end in blood and fire and I would do whatever I had to do to keep her safe.
I would do whatever I needed to stay here with her on Pandora. Even if that meant burning this world to the ground with everything in it.
"Oh Colonel," Tyler grins, stopping beside me "Can you give this to Sophia when she wakes up?"
I glance at the yellow envelope "Uh, sure. Thanks."
He grins "It took me a few days to get it sorted out, but its all in there for her. Everything she asked about."
(Sophia's POV)
I had left the med bay, wanting to grab a shower and new clothes when Dad's voice echoed behind me.
"Hold it young lady."
Despite the ease of his tone the dangerous military energy poured around me and I found my feet freezing on the spot, no matter how much I wanted to ignore him
"Spin."
I do, watching dad's muscled biceps bulge as he crosses his arms, papers tucked in his hands, that eyebrow raise told me just how angry he was
"Now, I'm wonderin' if you can help me out here cause I'm a little confused," he rocks back and forth slowly, another sign he was angry.
"About what?"
"About why I got papers from Tyler last night?" my eyes flicker to the paper
"Did he?"
"Oh yeah…" he lifts the papers out of my reach "He said he had answers on those questions you asked him," he takes a subtle step towards me and I suddenly realise just how trapped I am in this hallway "And I thanked the man of course, but heres where you come in." those eyes narrowed on me "I never cleared you to enter the forensic lab…" I swallowed softly "Yet according to these records I entered the lab saturday morning. Impressive, seeing as I was in meetings all day." I look down, the papers lightly smacking me on the head "You have exactly thirty seconds to come clean young lady or I'm gonna give you an old school ass-whooping like you've never seen, you hear me kid?"
"I took your spare pass from your room." I sigh, placing it in his hand when it lifts
"Why?"
"I had to see him…"
"What did you ask Tyler for?"
"I asked him to look over a scrap of paper I found in his pocket." I curled my hands "I need answers dad."
"That's nothing you need to worry about kid, I will handle this."
I smack his hand away when he tries to hold my cheek "Like you handled it the first time!?" I side step, putting a bit of distance between us "I trusted you to handle this the first time this happened and look what happened?!"
"Sophia, we had no way of knowing these events were connected until now."
"Do you remember how terrified I was after that attack?" I look at him, clear sadness lingering in his gaze "Do you remember how many months I had to sleep in Lyle's bed, your bed because I was to scared to close my eyes! Do you remember what you told me! The night of the thunderstorm, do you remember what you said?"
He looks down "I said he was dead. He was gone and he would never hurt you again."
"WELL YOU LIED! He did come back! And now we are doing this shit all over again!"
"Sophia."
"I'm not a child Dad! I can't just bury my head under the blanket and hope you fix things! I need to help! I need to solve this thing for my own peace of mind or I am never going to trust anyone ever again!"
"Sophia-"
"Dad please!" my eyes rim with tears "Please! You can't shield me from this any longer. It's here, in the open and weather we like it or not, I'm stuck in the middle of it." he holds my gaze, emotions clearly warring in those brown eyes "Please…"
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose "Fine," the papers flip towards me but lift before I can grab them "But everything you have comes through me, you hear me? THROUGH ME."
I watch those strong fingers tap his chest twice and nod "Okay, no more secrets."
Read and review, peace.