Chapter Text
The forest was quiet, more or less as the eclipse drew over the planet; the plant life blooming into bioluminescent light that beat with the heart of the Great Mother as the four Na’vi sat underneath the tendrils of the Utral Aymokriyä in peace.
Mo’at sat close to the roots with her mate beside her. Neytiri and Tsu’tey were in front in quiet meditation as they trained to listen for the words and wishes of the Great Mother.
Her mind was not quite as one with Eywa to listen so freely but the lessons she was teaching were of importance nonetheless. She has to keep trying.
The soft thap of a tail hitting flesh was soft but echoed, more so the soft chuckle from her daughter’s lips.
“<Patience, Tsu’tey, You and Neytiri must both learn this,>” Eytukan spoke, breaking the quiet between them.
“<But today is a training day. Our hunters need me>” Tsu’tey spoke.
Though the sounds of those waiting breaths weren’t missed. Mo’at opened her eyes, though didn’t give the five waiting much of a glance; patience must be learned after all.
“<I can hear them breathing, but a hunter must be patient.>”
“<My apologies, Olo'eyktan. They are young and impatient.>”
“<They?>” Eytukan cracked open one eye, the soft curl of wit was not missed in his tone, as if Tsu’tey did not share the same sentiment with those still awaiting.
“<…I am learning.>” Tsu’tey decided to respond with. Neytiri suppressed a fond smile.
“<A good leader learns to wait and to hear the wishes of Eywa,>” Eytukan spoke before silence relapsed over the group.
Mo’at closed her eyes to settle, once again trying to get her mind to settle yet she felt...a tenseness in her gut that felt different than before and…growing with each part of her heart.
“<Hm, I do not feel anything today.>” Eytukan spoke after a moment.
“<I do.>” Mo’at opened her eyes, gaining the three's attention, “<Unease if anything. The Great Mother is worried.>”
“<How can you tell, mother?>” Neytiri asked.
“<An instinct. Unease rests upon the gut. You can feel it here. Listen.>” Mo’at asked, motioning to her midsection.
Neytiri paused, taking the moment to before her ears flattened back with gentle recognition. “<I do.>”
“<Should we run a sweep of the forests?>” Eytukan spoke. “Make sure everyone is home and accounted for? That the forest is unharmed>”
“<Tsu’tey can do that.>” Mo’at spoke, “<I…need you here.>” She was not certain but she felt the unease start to be with her heart; a message waiting but she couldn’t hear the whispers clearly
“<Go check with Hometree. Your training will wait.>” Eytukan spoke to Tsu’tey this time and she was glad he didn’t see to that himself just yet.
“<Yes, Olo'eyktan.>”
Mo’at rose to her feet, feeling her mate and daughter’s concern for her but she felt the need to rise; her hand coming to her tswin and wondered if for a movement this bond was necessary. Before she took a cleansing breath and reached for the tendril, a few Atokirina seemed to float down and around which felt like an indication.
“<Must Tsaheylu be necessary, Mother?>”
“<The wishes of the Great Mother are something to be listened to, but not easily deciphered by ears alone. I will connect with Eywa to see her wishes more clearly.>” Mo’at spoke, feeling more confident with her decision before she closed her eyes and made the bond.
Within a moment she felt the coolness of metal under her feet and the environment seemed to be that of the sky people room but not like the lab, as she was accustomed to when visiting Grace’s soul. The space wasn’t as big, but it was circular in shape with a centre of devices but at the outer rim looked like long silver cases were around. About as long as a sky person, and clearly advanced technology but the open one was an easily see the form of Grace lying back in one.
Forced to crouch more to move in this small space of this recreation, Mo’at was swift to get to her side.
Grace was clearly in great pain, her hands gripping her orange hair but the blood from her nose was a surprise. Was the woman experiencing her second death? Have those terrible memories been unlocked? Mo’at had certainly seen her first but the second looked hardly swift as was told. Spirits didn’t bleed within Eywa without reason? Typically, it wasn’t the blood of the injury but a metaphor for a soul being hurt or bled from the Great Mother. She couldn’t tell which one it was.
“Grace?”
Grace’s eyes flickered open, hazy and unfocused but she recognised her with her. Good.
“I didn’t know.” Her voice cracked, her eyes shutting tightly again, “Why didn’t I know… the signs were there…” She spoke as if the context was in the air but perhaps Eywa was more present with her; providing something for her.
“<Grace, let the Great Mother aid you. Take a breath.” Mo’at placed her hand on her shoulder, vividly aware of how…small Grace truly was in her native body. Small as a child. But she didn’t let that distract her to try and get Grace grounded back to Eywa.
Grace let go of her hair, pulling her hand away from her ear with a shaking breath though there was no mistake the other flow of blood from her ear but something seemed to flick in Grace’s face. “The…the girl.” Grace grabbed a hold of her wrist desperately, the stickiness of blood lingering upon her flesh between. “The girl…they’re gonna hurt my girl…”
Mo’at frowned in confusion, not sure what was meant. What did Grace mean? Who was going to hurt this girl? Was the girl Na’vi or Sky-person? Many questions bubbled up but she found herself unable to ask, feeling now as the great mother’s influence grew around—encircling her in warmth but it seemed to pull her away from Grace.
Words were stolen from her lips before she felt herself slam back into her body.
Mo’at’s body stiffened up if for a movement before she began to seize on the spot, gasping for air as quakes rocked through her body, falling to the rooted ground despite the callings of alarm from her mate and daughter and the bioluminescent lights of the trees and plants and along her own body began to flicker on and off rapidly with the disturbing variance until Neytiri pulled her tswin free before the seizure waned off, turning limp as the darkness flooded through her mind.
“<Mother!?>”
Eytukan watched, feeling somewhat helpless as Neytiri tried another round of needle and breath techniques to draw out any negative air from Mo’at’s body to revive her but… nothing was working.
Mo’at lay pale and motionless on her mat while breathing easily; there was no other response. No sound twitched her ears or even his touch would rouse her from this unnatural sleep. He knew Neytiri would need support but even he could see this was more than just a physical ailment. Mo’at herself would know how to treat such a condition if it was spiritual as well. The Omatikaya were renowned for spiritual healing, much as the Tawkami were for physical illnesses. The reef clans were more knowledgeable about the lungs given they were well-practised in controlling their breath for their lifestyle and culture.
“<Should we risk taking her back to the tree? Reconnect her with Eywa?>” Eytukan spoke, interrupting the silence.
“<Is that not what caused this?>” Tsu’tey spoke carefully, standing back for Neytiri to be unhindered but keeping too many from getting closer.
The concern the people had over the Tsahìk was not missed; they needed her and some had been injured since their return but most superficial and tended to but some would eventually require Mo’at’s more skilled hands to tend to. But now was no time for all hands to care when they knew little of what had transpired.
The connection between Tsahìk and Eywa was a close one and… one that Neytiri had yet to complete. Eytukan worried Neytiri did not know how to treat this and so…he had to make a decision.
“It is possible but… we do not know enough. A cure could be worth the risk but… I cannot be sure.” Neytiri spoke, her hands coming to turn her mother’s body onto her side. Eytukan dropped down to assist. “I…I need a Tsahìk’s hands to guide me.”
Eytukan’s fingers stroked down his mate’s warm cheek, assured only by her soft breath.
“Tsu’tey, take your Ikran with a few warriors and go to the Tipani Clan and ask if they have a remedy for this condition that they can pass on to you.” He did not want to rob another clan of their Tsahìk. “If not, then go straight to the Tawkami Clan. They are our closest clans that may be of willing assistance.”
“<Of course, Olo'eyktan. It will take a few days to cover such distances quickly.>”
Eytukan nodded. The Ikran would do their best but they would need time to recover from the trips for their personal needs. Pa’li were more enduring but would take longer in transit and he did not want Mo’at’s health to hang in the balance and waste in such a time.
With a call for his warriors, Tsu’tey left before Eytukan turned his focus back to Mo’at. Gently shifting Mo’at to her back and upright, as Neytiri lifted a ceramic cup in one hand and gently tilted her head back to a light angle that could not trigger Mo’at to choke on the fluid. He gently wiped her mouth though Neytiri set the ceramic cup down shakily.
“<I’m sorry, Father. I…I wish I knew more.>”
“<You are still a tsakarem. There is much to be learned and this will serve as a lesson. I have faith in Eywa and the other Tsahìk’s that they will know how to cure this condition>” Eytukan spoke. “<We must be prepared to move her if they cannot pass on a cure to Tsu’tey. I will need to go with her so you and Tsu’tey must stay in our absence.”
He may be Olo'eyktan but he had lost one of his daughters; he would not lose his mate to this and certainly not alone if the Great Mother was insistent on claiming her. Whatever this was. He would be there as her mate. Tsu’tey was still learning but he had faith in Tsu’tey that he would be well for taking up his position for a small part of a few days.
There had been little luck, in the following days for a cure to return from the Tipani clan. A warrior had returned to pass on such news while Tsu’tey rode west for the Tawkami. A word had returned of aid but they had to make the trip to them for it.
Eytukan didn’t hesitate to take his leave. He left Tsu’tey to tend to Hometree with Neytiri. Eytukan rode upon his Ikran, Mo’at was tucked into his arms and secured with a net to ensure she could not slip.
The change in the forest scenery was relieving, directing his beast down closer despite the Ikran’s distaste of the flowery smell originating from that area and soon enough, they broke through the treeline and descended down.
The few Tawkami pulled their attention and Eytukan followed their order to land in a more open field of yellow blooms. Their Tsahìk hurridly appeared to meet them.
He disconnected his bond and unbound his mate from his chest and lifted her carefully into his arms.
“<This way,” the Tsahìk, Mireya led them through the flowers towards their Hometree and two others joined them, discussing between them options before Mireya led them to the fight-lit healing den where a mat was set up and he gently set Mo’at down at Mireya’s instruction.
Mo’at’s traditional red beaded cover was once again removed to allow the medicine woman to examine her, sitting back himself to allow them space to work.
“<How long as this sleep kept her?>,” Mireya asked, gently untangling Mo’at’s thorn holder from her hair and separating them and placing it neatly on top of her beaded cover.
“<Four nights, five sunrises. No appearance of awakening but little response in favour of fluid intake so she does not be at risk of choking.>” He informed. “<She’s been sustained on nutrient broths since then. Neytiri performed a few exercises with her body to retain her strength in her body’s disuse.>”
Mireya’s ears flattened back though her lips remained pursed before checking over Mo’at’s tswin for any lingering harm, pulling back the braid’s hairs to the flowing tendrils, taking note of how they moved freely.
“<I can see no damage but…the motion is lethargic.>” Mireya spoke, “<The effect is not much in the way of physical as it is more spiritual. Tsu’tey did inform me she seized when connected with Eywa?>”
“<Yes. However, we did not want to impose more risk by reconnecting the bond blindly. Neytiri felt it was unsafe and even the Tipani’s Tsahìk advised against it but could not offer much guidance.>” Eytukan spoke, “<Mo’at is weak right now, and the Great Mother is strong. There was fear the bond would overwhelm her.>”
Mireya nodded with approval, setting down the tswin. “<You’re not wrong.>” She called for the other women for herbs and flowers so Eytukan remained standing back but waiting. The Tsahìk went over what Neytiri already had, a few new techniques as Lunapey arrived with a tray, setting up an extractor and pulled some burning embers into the ceramic’s fuel holder and tipped a splash water into the cup above and set it to the side to heat.
Dried herbs were lit in ceramic cups and placed around her, filling the air with a potent smell, ticking the back of his throat, soft prayer in hush whispers as a thorn were prepped for new needle techniques, this time small and in great number.
From the extraction cup, Lunapey added many of the small herbs he recognised, some already powered and mixed it in and gently stirred but the smell from the cup was surprisingly robust over the scent of the rest of the burning herbs in the den.
“<Strain out the dregs and cool the liquid.>” Mireya instructed Lunapey who went to do so but Eytukan watched as she gently began to settle the thorns into specific points of Mo’at’s body. Fourteen trailed down from her forehead to her belly before Lunapey arrived back with the strained liquid that was now charcoal in colour. With each thorn removed, a drop was put in its place over the puncture until her skin was clear. A last herb was added to the remaining liquid and diluted with water before Eytukan took the hint to help sit Mo’at up, supporting her head.
Her jaw was lightly held before only a splash was delivered. Mo’at body tensed a little but swallowed with relative ease before she was laid down.
“<What is that?>” Eytukan asked, keen to share this with his daughter.
“<The solution is made of herbs that grow close to our Tree of Voices, potent to connect with her spirit but it must enter the blood first at her where her spiritual energy flows through the most.>” She explained, gesturing to the needlework she had performed. “<To drink is to spread to the rest of her body secondary but it’s safer diluted. It will bind her back slower as anything too harsh may be more damaging. Now we must wait.>”
Eytukan nodded. “<I understand.>”
“<This is advanced, the Tipani do not have as a clear spiritual guide as either myself or Mo’at. If Mo’at herself had not been ill, she may have been able to solve such a condition quickly. I am surprised your daughter did not already know the technique.>”
“<She is still training. Behind as many but she took up the burden after our eldest death many years ago. Neytiri learns fast but Mo’at has simply not gotten to such teachings yet.>” Eytukan defended lightly.
“<I meant no offence, but—>”
Their conversation cut off as Mo’at twitched. He dropped to her side, her tail flickering but it was no wake-up. Her body stiffened up again before she began to shudder again, her tanhì seemed to pulse into life in the dark den.
“<Hold her gently!>” Mireya called, her hands keeping to Mo’at’s shoulders to keep the woman from rolling. Eytukan held out to keep her legs close, her tail from any flame but thankfully, the seizure did not last more than a few longer seconds before she went limp, her skin flushed with sweat.
“<Mo’at?>” Mireya touched her face.
A nose bubbled up in her throat, unable to do anything but a gaggle noise through her rapid breath.
He stayed at her side, though his mate didn’t seem to be overly aware but responded to touch now.
“<Speak, ma mate.>” He encouraged, hoping to pull her out of the darkness, “<You’re safe.>”
Mo’at’s hummed “<…ace…>” her voice slurred. “<g..race…..>” though it seemed all the energy was sapped out but nonetheless, Mo’at curled towards him as she fell into slumber.
“<Grace? As is the Dreamwalker she brought years ago?>” Lunapey looked worried. “<is she asking for her?>”
Mireya frowned, “<That Dreamwalker is not welcome to the clan.>” That said, there was…concern.
“<What if she could help her?>” Lunapey asked, “<as distrustful as I am…the mention of her is not without warrant. Ewya must have shown her—”
“<Graceaugustine is dead.>” Eytukan spoke, drawing the attention of both women to him in his interruption. “<Graceaugustine was killed by the Sky people moments after my eldest. Mo’at was there for her passing and her spirit is with the Great Mother. She makes it no secret that she does pay a visit to her spirit every few months.>”
Lunapey struggled for a moment, “<They…killed her?>”
“<But she is a sky person herself?>” Mireya asked, equally confused but her wariness was justified at this alien concept. “<They would…hurt or kill their own kind? I thought Dreamwalkers had two lives. Unless I am mistaken about the concept?>”
“<Sky people will kill their own people if their actions go against the orders of their leaders.>” He spoke, “<As for Graceaugustine, she taught many children at the time at the school. Her Dreamwalker death caused her brain to bleed, I believe, after a seizure in what technology they used to pour her spirit into the Dreamwalker. I do not know much beyond that.>”
The two looked uneasy. “<Then the sky people are a danger to themselves, not just to the people.>”
“<Indeed.>” He agreed, “<but Mo’at?>” His finger came to stroke his beloved’s cheek.
“<She’ll need to drink this diluted form in four hours’ time. Her healing has started but until she talks with sense, she is not ready to leave for your Hometree.>”
Eytukan nodded, coming to sit down properly to stay with her. “<I shall wait with her>” He took his mate’s hand, her fingers twitching which was a relief to feel.
She was coming back to him.
“Pins and needles.” Grace groaned as she rolled out of bed, her hand coming to the base of her tail. “Oh, I hate that!”
“You’re the one that sat on your tail for ages.” Jake pointed out, barely looking up from his tablet.
Grace rolled her eyes, waddling uncomfortably around though sidestepped the scientists who were new linking up for a new day. She had gotten back into bed earlier, listened to some music and finished up the final touches to her songcord now that today was the day she was finally fully released to start work.
She already had an idea of where she wanted to go for her first expedition and in some part, she was to both work and scope out a possible location for her ashes. Two birds with one stone, but mostly to work. She had high expectations for her ashes. She deserved a beautiful spot after all, she didn’t expect to bury them today anyway.
The white noise of sensation died a little the more she worked her tail before they were gone.
“Finally,” she sighed, reaching for her tablet to check that their ride was on schedule. It was. “Let’s get ready, we hit the flight line in ten minutes.”
Jake took his leave to get his gear into order and Grace did the same, checking her waist packs to make sure they had everything; Na’vi clothes, yep, songcord—she just added that in—she had her red beaded headband on because she put a lot of fucking work on that and was worth showing off to everyone than to just be a disguise. Her ashes…
Grace paused, her eyes flickering about and followed as Dr Madaki left the longhouse to the craft table and hurried to her bed. She pulled out her box carefully retrieving the small bag from inside and gently set it into her back pocket; the bag fitted very snuggly inside but carried a little weight to it. She was about to tuck it back under her bed when there was a soft thunk from inside when she picked it up quickly.
Grace curiously peeled up the top, though she blinked at the data pad at the bottom before it suddenly clicked; she had forgotten to read this! The last two days had gone by too fast. She had promised… Shit. That explained a little of Max’s looks; he probably figured she hadn’t read what he wanted her to know.
Damn.
She added that to her pile—she could read it on the way—then quickly changed into sturdier boots and clipped everything on.
Norm was fretting a little, checking over his bag when she got to the ship. Jake was already on the ship, clipped in and ready beside Wainfleet who blatantly stared at her a little as soon as he noticed her. She ignored him.
“Grace?”
Her head turned down to see Trudy leaning up against the door, her eyes were wide behind her mask but she looked relieved to see her.
“Hey, Trudy.” Grace lent down a little, “All good?”
Trudy nodded, her eyes running up and down her a moment. “Glad to have you back, Doc.” She said, “Sorry about…what happened to you. It sucks.”
Grace’s ears pinned back for a moment but she nodded at the woman’s condolences. “Thank you. It did, even if I don’t have the memory of it yet. I’m just glad I can get back to work. I want to stop off at the school I’ve been told it’s now used for storage for our equipment so, might as well collect that.”
Trudy’s head cocked. “Are you…ready for that, Grace?”
“I don’t have my memory of what happened there. I’ll be fine.” She waved off the woman’s concern with a smile as she got in.
The trip down was…good. The sweeping endless forest was like a beautiful tapestry of colour; she had memories of these…but this was the first time she had truly seen it with these eyes. The smell of the forest was just as insightful by the time Trudy had set down. Of course, she figured Trudy had given them the scenic route.
But soon, the trees and foliage began to rustle as they descended down through the trees, animals flitting off in alarm before they touched down. Jake jumped off first before she unclipped her seat belt.
“Shut it down, we’re gonna stay a while,” Grace called through her coms. Trudy nodded, reaching up to shut off the engines. Grace kept her head down, her hands checking to make sure her belt of supplies was on her, reminding Norm to get his bag.
“My pack!” he echoed, turning to the Samson again
“Stay with the ship.” She called to Wainfleet, waving a hand back to him as he made to follow. “One guy with a gun is enough.” Plus, Trudy would need the protection. Per standard rules for expeditions. This was the first time in a while anyone would have come this far into Omatikaya territory.
They needed to restart with the Omatikaya.
“You’re the man, doc.” Wainfleet returned back towards the Samson
Grace almost took the lead, though Jake’s gun was her main focus. His ears twitched around at the sounds of nature as they pressed on through the wilderness. His finger was far too close to the trigger….
She hissed a little as he spun around as a tribe of Syaksyuk bounded through the trees. “Prolemuris, They’re non-aggressive.” She forced herself to remain calm, her tail curling uneasily as she stepped around him. Pushing the muzzle of his gun towards the ground. “Relax, marine. You’re making me nervous.”
Grace could feel the familiar thumping through her mind, her fingers touching lightly over a few plants to ease herself but her steps didn’t come to a halt until she saw the familiar building nestled into the trees and grass.
The once bright, open building that had been filled with life looked…withered with age and damp. A rotting ruin. The roof was missing parts of its structure, the blinds were half torn out and…there was a sadness that clung to its decaying walls.
It felt like a week ago now since she had been here. She remembered…echoes of being here, the school with so much life to it and joy. Happiness.
Teaching.
Their talks and giggles, story time and reading.
All gone.
“<You okay? I can get the equipment.>” Norm offered, catching up behind her.
Grace swallowed thickly, taking a moment to compose herself from the sadness.“<I...I can do it.>”
“What’s going on?” Jake asked quietly, blunt as ever but Grace began to move ahead to get everything and just…go. She didn’t want to stay at this ghost house.
Norm’s ears flattened back a little. “Max told me that…this was where her first avatar was shot and shortly bled out from...”
“Oh.” Jake paused before his eyes widened. “Oh. Fuck…”
“Just…weapons down when we’re in, Jake.” Norm patted Jake’s arm awkwardly “This is gonna be stressful for her as it is.”
“I get it.” Jake’s expression mixed somewhat genuine.
“Come on, guys. We got a lot to do.”
Grace’s heart thundered as she collected the Hp monitors, spoil probe and field microscope from the building, though neither of her companions spoke or asked too many questions, she could feel they had them. Her hands shook as she checked through the last box, her ear twitching towards the door. For a second, she thought she heard a metallic clang—
“You’re okay, Dr Augustine. It’s just us three.” Jake’s voice pulled her attention away, the warmth of his hand touching her arm but no direct contact. “We’ve been here long enough. We have everything.”
She didn’t argue with him on that; she couldn’t find the words to speak but followed after him with the box, not meeting Norm's eye either as they left.
She took them along further through the trees, forking off to the left than one that would lead towards the more forbidden zones. She knew they were to tread a fine line; enough to be noticed but not enough to worry the Omatikaya.
Further from the school, Grace found herself a moment to breathe. Her fingers pulled out her songcord from her belt pouch to gently thumb over the beads to soothe herself as she walked, idly humming its tune until she found herself at a good spot by some tree that looked to have good roots to study. A little basic but that was what they needed to start off with,
“We’re here” not that she needed to call too far as she set down her box of monitors. Norm immediately knelt down beside her and opened up his bag for sample collection. Jake stood at the ready a few meters away.
Tucking her cord back away and sitting down, Grace got to work getting her tools ready, idly talking about what they were going to be sampling as Norm cleared the roots carefully. She had more of a motive than just sampling and trying to catch the Na’vi’s attention. This was Norm’s first outing in the forest; she had to see how well he did first if and when he’d have to do this himself or separately. He so far seemed very capable and hopefully, would do well with the Na’vi.
He could appreciate what he was seeing. She liked that in her scientists.
“Okay, here I go.” She gently pierced the root with the probe’s needle, watching in the corner of her eye as Norm touched the screen as it lit up with life.
“Scanning…” his ears perked up, “Woah, it’s that fast!”
Grace chuckled, “Amazing, isn’t it?” Her finger ran down the root, “this is called signal transduction between the root of this tree and the root of the tree next to it so…we should take a sample.” She urged.
Norm nodded, adjusting his cap as he reached for the kit, absently minded putting the sample container in his mouth as he reached for the rest. “It’s probably electrical based on the speed of the reaction…” Norm carried on, putting down the kit.
“Norm, you’ve just contaminated the container with your saliva.” Grace input softly.
Norm paused, “Right…sorry.” He hastily swapped the container out with a fresh one.
“Let’s go again.”
Unfortunately, the bubble of peace they had popped as a distant, enraged roar of a titanothere echoed too close for comfort. Her eyes shot up and noted Jake’s absence immediately before she sprung up and ran towards the sound—a sound that promised death—she couldn’t lose someone else, let alone to stupidity.
Her fingers slammed onto her throat comm. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! You’ll piss him off!” her eyes laid on the beat, smaller than usual so it was clearly a juvenile but that didn’t make much of a difference; it’d still crush Sully if it came down to it.
Jake stood, gun still raised and clearly just as surprised as the titanothere. “It’s already pissed off!”
“It’s hide is too thick, trust me. It’s a territorial threat display. Don’t run, or he’ll charge.”
“What do I do? Dance with it?”
Grace gave him a look but held her hand up to calm him, despite her heart pounding in worry. That was still a bad way to lose an avatar. “Just hold your ground.”
Jake begrudgingly turned the muzzle of the gun away, relieving only five per cent of her anxiety before the titanothere bucked and charged. Jake charged forward as well, Grace stepping out of her spot in fear but the titanothere screeched to a stop.
Jake continued to talk, but Grace felt a shiver up her spine before she noticed a flicker of trills…. Then her heart sunk in her chest. She waved Norm back; he hadn’t been spotted but…there were two. An adult—or near adult given it wasn’t the biggest thanator she had seen, but it was also compiled by a kit—hunting training most likely. While half the size, it would be just as deadly. The kit was looking at her.
Fuck.
The adult jumped out first, startling Jake who raised his weapon. “What about this one? Run? Don’t run?”
“Run! Definitely run!” She took her own words as the adult jumped after Jake, the kit responding and took after her as she charged through towards the titanothere that had disappeared off to—in the opposite direction to Jake—a worry for later.
Grace could hear it screech after her but her body was smaller and more nimble to weave through the trees, her shoes slipping a little but she had enough traction to go. Branches and leaves bashed at her skin but she could see ahead her path, the kit snapped far too close for comfort, its breath catching on her tail.
Her lungs heaved for breath but the adrenaline kept her going despite impending doom chasing after her. She was not die on her first outing! She didn’t deserve this to happen to her. One—or twice was enough. Not a third time. She was sure if she was her 10ft self, she’d have longer legs to get better speed against a damn kit.
Fuck!
Up ahead, she could see a gorge, a few trees curling over it with long vines. So she went straight for it; taking her chances with a vine integrity was probable death over certain death with this monster behind her
A gasp as a dash of white-hot pain flashed down the back of her leg; almost hindering her but last second, she dove forward off the edge; her heart frozen in her chest as the ground disappeared under her feet, her hands clamping around the vines, burning instantly as she slipped but the motion had pushed her to swing so she let go, falling right onto the edge of the gorge.
Not seeing how the kit hadn’t anticipated the sudden drop, too focused on the prey to realise the environment before it could stop.
Pain flared through her knees, her stomach lurching, her hands grasping at the grass despite her palms burning before she caught her knee over the edge and scrambled up onto the grass and crawled off from the edge.
Blood pumped through her veins her body shook but she was allowed the moment to breathe and she heaved for it, laying down despite the throbbing pains and relished in the peace—the pitiful whines of the thanator kit echoing from the bottom of the valley but…it wasn’t getting any closer so…she rested.
Grace waited till she had breath back and her heart stopped feeling like it was trying to beat out of her ribs before she moved.
Her palms still stung and it was by no surprise the vine had burned with friction; thankfully not nearly as bad as rope burn but the skin was sore. Her knees were bloody with lots of little cuts and a few deeper ones but her left leg was the worst; a claw had still struck but it seemed the blood had clotted but it hurt to move.
Her only way to cross was impossible to get back the same way. The Samson would certainly start looking for them once Norm got back to them—her earcom was gone, it seemed. Making her throat-com useless. They only worked as a pair. They’d probably priories looking for Jake, assuming he was still alive given his lack of life skills in the jungle. Human training wasn’t gonna save him here.
“Fuck…” She pulled, her hands found her pouches at her belt, checking over each one and gladly found her ashes were still with her. Relief settled into her gut. Good. Then, she realised she still had that tablet. She could still get help.
Grace carefully sat up properly, hissing as it pulled her leg then retrieved it and opened it up but…instead of the basic UI, she was met with an open folder. The picture of a foetal scan most prominent but…she tapped into it out of curiosity first—why did Max want to show her this?
Her eyes flickered across the screen before she felt a soft dawning….
Oh. Fuck
She didn’t know how long she sat there as her mind churned over the information the tablet provided. Her eyes stared aimlessly at the tablet. Her heart ached in her chest and the pain in her legs numbed mostly with the occasion stab to remind her of its presence.
Grace didn’t move until…she heard the Samson.
She didn’t move out into the edge to be seen; to be rescued. She moved deeper into the treeline to hide. How was this okay? How…could Max just think she was okay with this? How could he do this to her? How the fuck could she look at him in the eye?
His guilt made more sense. He had helped them kill a child and poured her mind into the living corpse. Her own…kid’s body. Her own daughter. Grace still…stalled a little on the fact she had had a baby. In her avatar. At least… mostly. She hadn’t carried to term. Hadn’t…even known. They cut her baby out of her and kept her in a jar. A jar that got mixed up.
Fucking hell, what did that make her now?
It explained her differences. This…body had inherited her father’s Na’vi traits over her avatars, yet she looked very alike to her avatar in her facial features. Children could look like their parents, so people didn’t bat an eye about her looks. Her nose, more from the father; it was not sharp like her old Avatar face but again, an assumption on facial developments seemed to differ from one new avatar generation to the next.
Was she Grace or was she her…daughter? Was she both? Grace couldn’t fathom the truth but… she knew she had to get moving. Away. She couldn’t be found by the RDA. Not yet. Not after what they did.
Who knows what would happen if they found out her body wasn’t an avatar? The science wasn’t good if the memories they poured into her relied on her having an avatar body. A driver has to match their avatar; that no doubt had to reflect. A mother could not control their daughter’s avatar; they only shared half of her DNA sequences. Would she retain her sense of Grace or would she fail, somehow and become someone else once the brain realised something was off? Was it possible for…her to be rejected in this body like an organ from a poor transplant?
What would happen if she lost herself? The Na’vi… might be more understanding; this body looked like them. They’d think she was some experiment that would either need to be looked after or to be killed. One sounded far better than the other but she felt she had a better chance.
When the sounds of the Samson disappeared entirely, she began to peel off the fabric from her small frame and deposited them in the roots of the nearest tree so that they’d rot sooner or later. But soon enough, feeling very naked but still covering her important parts, Grace was otherwise dressed for the part. Her loincloth fit well, though her chest piece was the worse as she felt nude and bare even if her body was young and not fully developed.
Her blood-soaked socks and boots went into the pit as well, but Grace wrinkled her nose at the sensation of grass and dirt pressing into the balls of her soft feet. She found and put on her little hide, twist pouch. A Na’vi equivalent to a bag that would sit across her chest. Madaki had given it to her as a gift yesterday as a ‘welcome back’ present from him. It was empty, for the matter of keeping it wedged into the pouch of her other. She carefully slipped her bag of ashes into this pouch; she fucking hell wasn’t gonna leave that behind now.
From her last pouch, she put on the last of her belongings to complete the look; the few beaded bracelets that Dr Greene had given her—one that even Jake had cobbled together with his developing beading skills. Her incomplete song cord was tucked into her waistband but hesitated as she fingered the knife. A metal blade.
A give-away.
“Fuck…” She tossed it into the pile, right on top of the data pad and carefully pulled the dirt over to cover her artefacts of origins before she clambered up onto her feet again with a hiss
She twisted carefully—ignoring how irritated her wounds were now—the grass tickling her bare feet as she looked down at herself but… she was sure she was good. She looked good. She looked Na’vi. At least…some part of the story she and Jake had cooked up in case they all were separated was true. She wouldn’t be lying.
Technically.