New purposes
One by one over several days the leaders of the Metkayina and the Ta'unui began to gather for the council. Mostly it was either the Olo'eyktan or the Tsahik of each village, the other staying to lead their people. In cases where neither was available a trusted elder chosen by the village was sent instead. Of the survivors who had fled to other villages, some sent their own representatives, while others trusted to their hosts to speak on their behalf. This did lead to some confusion, as there were many groups of survivors scattered across several villages, largely ignorant of each other. Too many envoys were sent in some cases. Ronal, Thanwaru and Irini worked to straighten things out, sending excess representatives back where they came from while ensuring each village had a voice.
They mostly arrived alone or with one or two warriors for escort. Still, they were an extra strain on the village of only a few hundred, everyone having to put in extra work to ensure all had enough to eat. Ronal's family and the Sully children did their part to gather and hunt this food.
The village was among the most remote on the islands, so quite some time was allowed for people to gather. After about a week had passed it was concluded that everyone who were going to come were here. If someone was going to show up late they would just have to be filled in later.
The talks, once they started in the morning, lasted for the entire day. As the Tsahik of this village, Thanwaru mediated the gathering, while Irini represented their village in the talks. All the leaders were gathered around a great fire built to the center of the village. The villagers present were allowed to listen in, lining the edges of the gathering. A few warriors were present too with weapons in hand, to make sure order was maintained. Ronal's children and the Sully kids were present, listening to the proceedings. Little Ro'a had for the moment been left in the care of a few other villagers from Awa'atlu, leaving Ronal free to speak.
At first things were rather civil. Thanwaru granted each leader a chance to speak in turn, to voice their opinion. As expected, opinions were dividing into two rough groups. One, supported by Ronal, were arguing they should continue the war. Another alarmingly large group wanted the exact opposite. As the discussion went on and the two groups continued to fail to find common ground, tones began to get more heated, the same arguments repeating over and over.
"It has always been the way of the Na'vi to seek a peaceful resolution after conflict. The message of the Sky People was blunt to be certain, and lacking in good manners. And no one denies the barbarism of their attacks against us. But nevertheless they've now offered us peace, without demanding territory or anything else. They simply ask for an end. I truly believe we are better off taking that peace and getting back to our lives." Argued Rakhollo, one of the more prominent voices calling for peace.
"Get back to them? You hardly ever left! When we were fighting and dying, where were you? Hiding at home. You sent no warriors to aid anyone. Did nothing to help repel this invasion." Ronal accused.
"And my village stands. Not a single one of ours lost to this fighting. Nor of those who wisely fled to take shelter with us. That life was my contribution. I am hardly alone in this. Many leaders chose to do the same. Many of them are now here. Unlike many of those who decided to fight. I refuse to feel shame for lives preserved. And I refuse to waste those lives for the sake of revenge. If they are gone then let's count our blessings and call it done." He countered.
"You may not like that he held back. Perhaps I do not either. Others had to bleed instead. But I fought. First to defend my village, then rallying where we tried to gather to fight. And both times we bled. So have all of us, Metkayina and Ta'unui alike. Now half our villages are gone, as are countless of us. Even Eywa is silent. This war has brought us nothing but misery. It will not do for us to pursue more of it. That will only serve to endanger what remains." Spoke another, Valani, whose people had been hit especially hard during the invasion.
"The Sky People will not stay gone. They go to gather even more strength. And then they'll return when it suits them." Lo'ak said as he stood up, surprising everyone. Thanwaru was about to voice a reprimand. But Valani beat him to it:
"And who is this? A raw-boned boy, without a single tattoo marking his skin? Sit back down, whelp. You are neither Tsahik or Olo'eyktan. You do not speak here. You are not even of Sea People. You are from the forest. You have the least business of all to speak at a gathering like this."
"That is where you are wrong!" Tsireya said, now on her feet as well. "He is a brother of Tulkun. I witnessed it. And I have seen him take the lives of Sky People as well, on the day their invasion began. He is a proven warrior. His parents – they know this enemy. And they've passed that knowledge to him. You should be listening to him instead of trying to condemn him for speaking out of turn!"
"And where is Toruk Makto and his wife, hm? Well? Lost to this madness, as your father was. A madness you'd perpetuate." Rakhollo replied.
Tsireya scrunched her face and looked away, while Lo'ak looked about ready to launch himself at Rakhollo.
"Be silent, both of you young fools. You know nothing of this matter." Rakhollo continued, ignoring Lo'ak's angry expression.
"So quick to silence them? So afraid of what they have to say?" Ronal countered contemptuously. "The Sky People sent their message for a simple reason. They want us to cower and not strike back at them. And this is how you respond? With fear and inaction? So quick to give the Sky People everything they demand? You cravens!"
Valani, incensed, jumped to her feet. "Do you know how many of people from my village remain other than me!? Five! My whole family is dead because of what you did! Your damned village!"
"What? Us!? What kind of preposterous…!?" Ronal began to argue rising up as well, many others starting to follow suite.
"You granted uturu to the Toruk Makto and his family! Even though you knew they would be hunted!" Valani shouted back, Lo'ak, Kiri and Tuk flinching as she pointed a finger at them.
"Worse still, you attacked the Sky People ship! You all but invited this attack! And now that it's finally over after so many deaths you'd whip us to war again!?" Valani continued on.
"Brothers and sisters, silence this madwoman! She will destroy us all!" She shouted. Angry voices erupted both for and against. Thanwaru tried to call for calm, but could not get his voice heard over the noise. The guards tried to get order restored without greater success, only adding to the cacophony. Everyone was on their feet now, shouting at each other. Thanwaru ended up snatching a conch from one of the guards and blowing a long, loud note. That finally brought silence.
"That is enough! This meeting will not descend to this chaos! Not by us who are deciding. And certainly not by those who were only afforded the courtesy to listen. You will control your emotions or you will depart from this gathering." He thundered firmly. One by one everyone else began to sit down, until only he remained standing.
"We have debated this long enough. Now it's time to put this to a vote." He declared.
"Those in favor of continuing the war against the Sky People?" He asked. Ronal immediately raised her hand, as did a sizeable number of others.
"Those who are in opposition?" Thanwaru asked. At first a few hands followed the question. But then more… and more. Seeing the number of hands in the air the hearts of Kiri, Lo'ak and Tsireya sank. Ronal snarled in disappointment and even Tuk looked sullen.
Thanwaru observed the raised hands, then nodded. "So be it. An offer of peace has been made by the Sky People. And that offer has been accepted. The matter is settled. All clans here gathered are now bound to this decision."
"Have you lost all sense!?" Kiri said, being the next to stand up. "Do you not see what is going to happen? I know you've suffered, but you have to strike back! While you still can! Lo'ak told you the truth! The longer you ignore this enemy the stronger they become. If you don't stop them now you won't get a second chance! One day they will return. And you will be powerless to stop them!"
"Our decision has been made, young one! It binds you as much as it does the rest of us. And your family was invited to this gathering to observe, not challenge the ruling. Do not shame yourselves by arguing." Thanwaru said.
Kiri stared in disbelief, then gave an angry huff and stormed off. Lo'ak gave a deep sigh and walked away as well, holding Tuk's hand as they left. The meeting now concluded, the people began to slowly drift away, dispersing to various parts of the village, many of them continuing their own discussions.
"Mother, you must do something about this." Tsireya said as the two of them were leaving the meeting.
"It is decided. It is not for you or me to go against that." Ronal replied, sounding tired. "I know you're frustrated. And angry…"
"Yes! Yes, I am angry!" Tsireya shouted, so suddenly and loudly even Ronal was taken aback.
"The Sky People come into our islands, tear apart our homes and kill us, because they have decided they wish for us to die. And just as quickly they choose to go away, because they've apparently decided they'll allow us to live. *They* decide. They. As if either is their choice. If we kneel to them now we won't be getting up again. We'll stay there in the dirt, groveling at their feet, always afraid of provoking their wrath. I refuse to live like that. I won't beg for the right to be alive!" She explained in a tirade.
"And do you for a moment think I'm not just as angry as you are? That my heart doesn't cry out for vengeance after Tonowari's death? But what would you have me do? Lead the survivors of our village into a hopeless battle? And risk everything we have left in the process? Our other leaders have already decided. And without them we have nothing." Ronal said.
"And there is truly nothing else you can do to change their minds?" Tsireya asked.
"That is not something I can do at a time like this. Not once a decision has been reached. The time to change mind was at the meeting. And it's a debate we sadly lost. Now… if a Tsahik acts against a Council of Elders, it could bring a permanent fracture between Metkayina at a time we can't afford to have one." Ronal explained.
A look of disappointment from Tsireya, and a lengthy pause from Ronal. "I cannot act because of my role. But… who knows. Maybe there are those who will. There were certainly enough angry voices at the meeting. Perhaps some will choose to act where I cannot. I… would accept that they have to follow their heart. Though perhaps reluctantly." Ronal then said.
"But if so then I hope they have the good sense to take the fight away from here. We have been wounded, terribly so. Come what may, the Sky People cannot be lured back here to finish what they started. In that much the others were right. That must not happen." She added.
Tsireya sighed and walked away. After going some distance she stopped and turned to look behind herself, frowning. There was something about how her mother had talked about others possibly taking action. It was more than just idle musings. It was… food for thought, certainly.
She stopped at the dwelling where the Sully kids were staying to ask where Lo'ak might be. After a long and exhausting day Tuk had already fallen asleep. But Kiri was still up, sulking at the corner. Fortunately she was still feeling cooperative enough to give directions.
Tsireya was about to leave, but stopped in the doorway to listen. She could hear Tuk whimper quietly in her sleep. She had had her share of bad dreams. Both when they had been travelling from village to village, and now here. She missed her parents so much. The other two did too, but… she was still the youngest.
Still, Tsireya suspected all of them had had their own nightmares lately. She had certainly had hers. And they were hardly alone in bearing burdens like this. There were far too many families torn apart out there. Many would never be mended. Against that backdrop it was no surprise that the words of Rakhollo and Valini had swayed so many. If only they had not been built on false assumptions about their foe…
She resumed her journey, going outside the village. She found herself an Ilu and rode to the opposite end of the island. The glow of a spirit tree illuminated the depths beneath her. She swam to the shore and sat down to wait, listening to the sound of the waves.
After a while Lo'ak's head breached the surface, and he swam to the shore.
"Anything?" Tsireya asked as he walked out of the ocean.
Lo'ak shook his head. "No. Not from Eywa. Just a damned silence."
He plopped down on the sand next to her. "I did catch a glimpse of Neteyam. But it was all a blur. We couldn't talk to each other."
"So many people I'd need to be here right now. So many I would want to speak with, to get their advice. So many I'd want to turn to for help. And so few who are actually able to be here to give it." He said, then gave Tsireya a look of gratitude.
He bowed his head, sighing. "Those fools at the council meeting. The blasted skxawng!"
"I wish I could disagree. I don't." Tsireya said. "They all want to believe this is over, but we both know it's not. Far from it."
"And the by the time they figure it out it will be too late. They're too afraid to do a damn thing. And now because of this we have to just sit and watch too." He complained.
Tsireya took a moment to gather her thoughts, taking a deep breath. "Then perhaps we shouldn't wait for them to see what we already do. And perhaps we shouldn't ask for their permission to take action." She then suggested.
"What?" Lo'ak asked.
"I had a talk with mother just now. And she… well she did not so much say as implied that we ought to. She can't act directly because of her role. But I got the impression she wants us to do something in her stead."
"Or… maybe she meant that she wants us to find someone who can do what she can't." She added hesitantly. "But in that case I'm going to interpret her words in my own way. I don't wish to leave this to others."
"There were others who supported war. I've no doubt some are as unhappy with this decision as we are. I say we find them, give them someone to rally around. And then take the fight to the Sky People ourselves." She explained. "It's… ambitious, for sure. Perhaps too much so. But I don't see anyone else willing to try anything."
"But… the others in the council. They…" He began.
"They'll condemn us. Perhaps even mother will be forced to do so in public. It will mean leaving the islands. And there is a good chance they will exile us and any who follow us." She said.
"And you're willing to risk that?" Lo'ak asked.
"I've thought about it… and yes. I'm rather sure mother expects something like it too. She wants this fight to happen far away from these islands, so the Sky People won't come back to destroy us. Which probably will mean we will need to be patient and careful, and make sure we aren't connected to my people."
"I've no illusions about this. It'll mean walking away from a lot of things. But it will mean we are doing something. And if we actually do well, maybe our so called leaders will be embarrassed by their inaction and will join us in time. Then we will have a real chance." She concluded.
He considered her words.
"I'd like to… but are we remotely ready? At our age? To fight a war? To lead?" Lo'ak asked.
Tsireya paused, faltering a little. "Perhaps not quite yet. But that does not mean we cannot begin getting ourselves ready. We can start finding those who agree with us on these islands. I'm certain there are many more. We only need a few to start with. We can start small, and build. We can find them and train hard with them, and in time… we might be ready. If we are working towards it, that would be enough for me. At least I'd have a clear goal then."
"Maybe. If anyone is willing to listen to us. I don't know. I'm no Toruk Makto." He said.
He sighed. "This should be mom and dad. They would know what to do. They would know how to rally people to fight. They did it before. Or if not them at least it should have been be Neteyam. He was the one everyone expected to be a leader one day. The one being prepared to it. And he would have been good at it, I know it. Me? I'm no leader. I'm just an idiotic knucklehead who happens to have famous parents. The only thing I know how to do is drift from one mess to another."
Tsireya was quiet for a moment, studying him.
"You know, my father wasn't originally meant to become Olo'eyktan." She said then.
"What? He wasn't?" Lo'ak asked in surprise.
She shook her head. "He had an older brother also. Aranho. He was meant to become our next Olo'eyktan. He was being trained for it, and I hear he had many skills. When father spoke of him, he… there was this strange mix of admiration and jealousy. I don't think I need to explain to you what that is about."
Lo'ak shook his head. He understood completely. The only thing that surprised him was that a man like Tonowari could have ever been in the same boat as he.
"According to him Aranho was always better than him at everything. Hunting, riding, fighting… leading." She continued.
"He even claimed Aranho was the more handsome of the two. Though mother is always quick to dispute that." She then quipped, giving him a wink. They had a short laughter over it.
"So what happened? Why wasn't he made an Olo'eyktan?" He then asked.
"I wasn't even born when all this happened, but… he might have made for a good leader according to my parents. But in the end his heart just wasn't in it. He was said to be a dreamer. A storyteller. A traveler. A clan's leaders should stay with the clan, so they can guide their people. But he loved to see new places, see new things and new people. To hear their stories and carry them back to new places. The people in the village said he struggled for a long time, between his duty and what he truly wanted. Until one day he walked to the then Olo'eyktan and announced he would renounce the role reserved for him. He passed the honor to his younger brother and left for unknown lands, somewhere beyond the horizon. That's the last any of us have ever heard of him." She continued her story.
"I'd like to think he is still out there somewhere, traveling the world. Seeing sights we can't even imagine. Meeting with clans we've never even heard about. It would make me very glad to know that was the case." She said, a slight smile on her face.
"As for father… he might never admit it, but I imagine he must have been very nervous about suddenly being put into a role he hadn't been prepared for. But you know what he was able to become by the time you came into our lives. Even when we end up with a different destiny than expected, we can choose to rise to the occasion. As you can." She added.
She bowed her head. "Oh, father. I miss him so much. He would be absolutely fussing over Ro'a you know. His sweet baby girl."
"Mother would probably have to snap at him at some point to get him to be the tough Olo'eyktan again." She added. Again they had a few chuckles.
She sighed sadly. "It's feels good to speak of him, at least a little."
Tsireya turned serious again. "And he would have been needed. You said your parents could have rallied the people. Father could have done that too. If he had argued for war alongside mother… there would have been no dissent. But with just one of our parents here… it looks like it just wasn't enough."
"But… I do think my family is why I want to do this. I need to avenge my father. And I need to make sure the rest of my family stays safe, without having to rely on the good graces of the Sky People. Mom, Aonung, Ro'a… I won't have them be taken away the way dad was."
"And I think you… you need to find out what happened to your parents." She guessed.
Lo'ak nodded. That was certainly true. He had to know whether they could still be saved… or if he should begin to mourn them. He also needed to find out what had happened to the People at High Camp. Grandmother. Norm. Max. The others of their clan. The camp was close to the Tree of Souls. Enough to make him concerned. Particularly as nothing had been heard in the weeks since. But it did not have to mean anything. If they had any warning at all they could have made it out. And the reason nothing had been heard could be just because none of them had radios here. For all they knew Mo'at had Norm and the others were coming to search for them right at this moment. Either way he had to know for sure. He had to find out how much of his family was left.
"You're right. About everything." He concluded.
"Still… if you don't mind me saying… I'm a little bit surprised to hear this kind of talk from you." He added.
"Because I'm not a fighter at heart? Because I'm a kind soul that wouldn't want to hurt anyone?" She asked.
"I suppose you're right. That is very much me most days." She added before Lo'ak could apologize. "The way of the Tulkun has always been… enticing to today… today I understand Payakan and his actions. This peace the Sky People have offered… it's a poison, meant to weaken us and in the end destroy us. Like it or not war is our only option now."
She chuckled dryly. "It's funny… I listen to myself talking and… I don't really recognize myself to be honest. I suppose in your head you're asking *who is this person that has replaced Tsireya*? And what I'm suggesting… I'll admit from where I'm standing it sounds quite insane."
"But I believe this fight needs to happen. And if I have to play the rebellious daughter to get started… then I've made my peace with that. Even if it's completely mad I'd rather try something, since no one else will. But I can't do it alone. I need help. Your help. That of your family. And anyone else out there who would join us."
He was quiet for a long time, thinking.
"Then it'll start with us." He finally said.
Realizing he had agreed, she smiled softly at him.
He returned her smile. "It'll probably be a very modest beginning. Could be years before we get to do anything real."
She nodded. "It's good enough."
The rest of the night they remained there, hand in hand, listening to the waves, letting them soothe their nerves, eventually falling asleep on that stretch of sand.