chapter forty-four
Chapter Forty-Four
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Neytiri didn’t like swimming—she didn’t take to it like Jake did. She seemed profoundly, and deeply uncomfortable in Awa’altu, and a part of you ached for her. She was a stranger here, and you knew what that felt like.
She picked up on sign quick, certainly faster than Jake did. Most days, she acted as tsakarem when Tsireya was busy teaching Neytiri’s own children—but sometimes, she would spend the day with you.
Which meant diving.
You remained at the bottom of the sea, carefully pruning the coral like plant. In another life, you would have killed to look at it under a microscope, to cultivate it and watch it grow. In this life, you knew it was good for aches and pains if ground to a paste and mixed with the right amount of water. Ronal needed more, and you were happy to assist her in this matter.
Neytiri swam to the surface for air. Your hair floated around you like a halo, and the second time Neytiri went up for a breath, you followed her.
Her face was twisted in frustration, and you offered her a wry smile. It gets easier, you promised. It had for you, at least. It had been over fifteen years since you first began to dive though, and a part of you thought Neytiri wasn’t interested in staying that long.
You didn’t get the forest. Even on earth, the forest had seemed so far from you. Most of the trees were gone, and the only jungle that really existed there was a concrete one. The ocean was easier. You understood the water on a more intrinsic level. All life needed water, after all.
“Are you okay?” you asked her, careful to vocalize as you signed. Neytiri was good, but you weren’t sure she’d understand you absolutely unless you spoke too. A few more weeks, you wouldn’t have to speak at all.
Her ears flicked, and she turned her head, a fearful expression crossing her face. She said, “Kiri!”
You followed her, Neytiri swimming quickly to the netted paths to meet the children. Tsireya ran to you quickly, her eyes wide with fear. You pulled her close to you, looking at her instead of the building chaos.
Sometimes, you felt useless.
“What is it?” you asked, speaking when your daughter turned to look at the Sully family. You weren’t sure when Jake had approached, but he’d taken Kiri from Neteyam’s arms. “Tsireya, what happened?”
Tsireya shrugged helplessly, explaining, “She was shaking, she started drowning.”
You pulled her into a hug, your sweet, sensitive girl. You pet her hair, and hope things will get sorted out quickly.
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The sound of the Samson blades whirling are loud enough for even you to hear, Rulì’s hands cover his ears, and he watches with wide eyes as the humans land on the beaches of Awa’altu.
Nobody was pleased that Jake had called them. You understood—you’d called for help once yourself. There was a part of you now though, that felt something vicious curling in your gut as Jake embraced a fellow avatar. The Sully family were the center of a greater war.
The first time, the Metkayina had not been able to avoid getting involved. Now, selfishly, you wanted your children to grow up without the looming threat of war surrounding them. Tsireya, Ko’oä, Ao’nung, Rulì, and the baby in Ronal’s stomach were all people you needed to protect.
Kiri still hadn’t woken up.
The sight of Ava is a welcomed one. You see her first, your face splitting into a wide grin as you actually process the pilot.
It had been years. You hadn’t seen her since Ko’oä was Rulì’s age. The distance wasn’t intentional, you still loved Ava the same as you had those days with her and Felix and Ame on a little boat in the middle of the ocean.
You grab Rulì’s hand and run forward to greet her, unable to stop the giggle from bursting out of you.
Ava sees you too, and you embrace. She’s so small, smaller than even your child. You hug her anyway.
“I am so happy to see you,” you tell her in English. Rulì stares at you, eyes wide as he hears you speak. He’s heard English before—but unlike the Omaticaya, who lived with humans and had schools at one point, you were the main source of Earth knowledge here.
Even Spider hadn’t spoken much English around your children. There wasn’t any need. Rulì hardly ever heard the alien tongue, and you had no reason to speak it.
You sit with her, skeptically watching as they unpack items to check out Kiri. You doubt they’ll be able to help much, Na’vi biology—Na’vi brains—aren’t something that’s been studied too much. Norm likely means well, Jake too, but you would put your cards with Ronal in this.
What’s happened to Kiri isn’t the same as a bullet. This was Eywa.
Neytiri seems to agree. You look up at the sight of Ronal, your eyes connecting with hers as she passes by. You watch her move, the sway of her hips and the way her hair flutters around her face in the breeze. Her face is pinched in a serious expression, and tonight, you think you’ll find her a special treat.
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Ronal wakes Kiri up. The humans don’t.
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“Come quickly!” Tsireya’s voice came loudly, carrying in the wind. You watch as Ronal’s ears flicked a little, and you turned your head to see what he was listening too. Tsireya sits on an ilu a little ways away, in the water, her smile large. “The voyagers have returned to us!”
You dropped the basket, bright smile crossing your face as Ronal grabbed your hand. Her smile was stunning, and your heart skipped a beat. She tugged you forward. You let her lead the way, matching her pace. Exhilarated, you caught up with Ao’nung, who’s face was the brightest you’d seen it in days.
The voyagers meant Ko’oä. They also meant the tulkun were close. They never strayed far from each other, especially in the rise of human activity in the waters.
It was not hard to find her. Ao’nung saw her first, his face brightening. He darted forward, and you were half aware of the bemusement of the Sullys who were following the crowd.
Ko’oä’s face was as beautiful as ever, and Ronal let out a little cry at the sight of her, grabbing your arm for support. Ao’nung twirled her around in a hug, and you ran forward.
“My Ko’oä,” you sobbed, embracing her. Ronal was there too, wrapping her arms around you both.
Carefully, she pulled back, searching your child for any signs of harm. “You are well, child?” she asked, voice firm but gently.
“Yes, sa’nok,” she said sweetly. Tsireya joined you, having broken away from Lo’ak, who was standing off to the side a little awkwardly.
“Sister!” she called, Rulì was hot on her heels. Tsireya envelops her sister in a tight hug.
“Where is Tonowari?” you asked. Ronal glances to the side, her brow furrowed. You knew he’d want to see Ko’oä, to see the voyagers and hear whatever news they would bring.
“Come, come,” you told Ko’oä, grabbing her hand. Your family started the walk to your marui, and as you passed by, your heart swelled with affection as the people greeted Ko’oä warmly, happy to see her.
Your daughter had come home to you. Your chest feels warm, full.
When Ame returns, you’ll have a lot to tell her.