Chapter Text
It didn’t take long to explain her idea to Tsyeyk. Once Neytiri had dragged him far enough away that they no longer risked being overheard, the words came spilling out of her mouth, urgency making her rambling a hurried, jilted mess.
Her mind flashed to the evening when Tsyeyk had shown her the skeleton of the toruk that had been displayed in Hometree. It was probably ash, now, along with so many other objects of importance to the clan.
The memory had forced its way to the forefront of Neytiri’s mind as soon as Mo’at had pulled Grace’s hand out of hers. Now, another memory was taking the spotlight. Though she’d spent her Uniltaron in unimaginable pain, she’d tried to dissect the vision afterwards in the safety of her bunk at the shack.
The dream was supposed to represent the future. Neytiri hadn’t been mistaken in what she’d seen, even if she’d withheld the information from Eytukan and Mo’at. She’d seen toruk in her vision. Had become the beast, even. Merged with its soul. Surely, Eywa wouldn’t have granted her the vision if someone couldn’t bond with the creature in this time of need?
When she finished her explanation, her chest heaved with the force of the words. Tsyeyk’s expression was unreadable, but his mouth was pinched unhappily.
Neytiri hurried to bridge the gap that his lack of response had created. “I think you should -”
“No, Neytiri. I will not do it.”
Neytiri gaped at him, her ears pressed flat to her head in shock. “What do you mean?”
“I know what you’re going to propose. I will not attempt to bond with toruk.”
Her mouth moved, but no sounds came out. She probably looked like a fish out of water. Her mate waited patiently for her to gather her wits. Finally, she was able to force out, “why? ”
Tsyeyk’s shoulders slumped. “I understand you feel guilty, believe me, I do. But we - I - can’t go chasing after a legend to try and make up for what I feel responsible for.”
“You said it can be done! You’re a descendant of Toruk Makto -”
“My father is dead, Neytiri!”
Neytiri’s mouth snapped shut with an audible clunk of her teeth as the fight left her body. Tsyeyk looked so utterly defeated.
“If you had asked me before he died, then I probably would have agreed to try. But he is dead, and he didn’t get to have a burial, and everyone is looking to me! They’re looking to me to be strong, to protect them, to lead them. What sort of Olo’eyktan would I be, if I left them to chase death? I have no desire to join my father in Eywa’s embrace, and I could hardly call myself his son if I risked it!”
Now it was Tsyeyk’s chest heaving with the strain of the words. Neytiri averted her gaze, full of shame. He was right. She’d let her guilt be her main motivator, and in her desperation to do something, to no longer be sat waiting for the worst to happen, she’d tried to get Tsyeyk to pick up a mantle he clearly had no desire for.
Strong hands cupped her face, gentle and loving. Unable to look away, Neytiri got a full view of Tsyeyk’s concerned gaze. “None of this is your fault, ma’yawnetu. Grace wouldn’t blame you. The clan doesn’t blame you. Please don’t try to force the vision granted to you by Eywa onto me.”
He tilted her chin and dropped a comforting kiss to her lips. Neytiri wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, mumbling apologies into his mouth. Tsyeyk continued to press kisses to her mouth, her cheeks, her forehead. He kept telling her it was okay, that they would be fine, that Eywa had given her the dream for a reason.
Neytiri closed her eyes and let his words wash over her, soothing the fire of her grief ever so slightly. She knew that as soon as she opened them again, she would be overwhelmed once more. Still, the brief reprieve was precious.
Finally, Tsyeyk stepped back. He didn’t move far enough to dislodge her arms, so Neytiri kept them wrapped around his neck, unwilling to let him go too far.
Tsyeyk moved his own hands to sit at her waist. His thumb began to stroke soothing circles on her skin.
“If I were destined to become Toruk Makto, Eywa would have given me the vision instead of you.” He stared pointedly down at her, though it wasn’t necessary. Neytiri had accepted the truth of the vision as soon as Tsyeyk reminded her of the difficulty of his position.
“I know what I need to do.”
Tsyeyk smiled wryly at her. “Yes. I think you do.”
“Come with me?”
He snorted, his smile growing. The worry in his eyes was impossible to conceal, though. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”
***
Tsyeyk had agreed to follow her, but he made sure to stay out of the way, hanging far enough back from Neytiri as they flew that she couldn’t make out his expression.
Unfortunately, toruk was a mystery - to the humans, at least. Neytiri was sure that the Omatikaya had their own pockets of knowledge regarding the beast, but all the information she’d been able to gather over the years accumulated to a single page of research.
That page contained research about its colour, wingspan, one uncertain paragraph about its mating and hunting habits, and one downright guess of a line about its possible weakness.
Not enough to be certain, far from it, but enough that Neytiri could convince herself that ambushing it from above could work. If she thought about it too hard, she’d turn around. Her fear mingled with Seze’s enough already. The ikran seemed one uncertain thought away from bolting.
It hadn’t taken them long to find toruk. They’d found the beast feasting on an alive ikran, though the poor thing sounded as if it had been gurgling through its final breaths.
Judging by the other corpses littered about the clearing, toruk was satisfied with the feast. Neytiri watched in morbid fascination as the apex predator of Pandora licked its chops, satiated and full, before it took to the sky.
Seze had left the safety of hiding after a gentle call, and they’d waited a few moments before shooting off into the sky in silent pursuit. If there was one thing Nr did know about toruk, from their previous interaction, it was that its hearing was deadly.
No doubt its guard was down after such a large meal, though.
We can do this, Neytiri called to Seze in her mind. Be as quiet as you can.
Seze’s worried rumbling halted, and though her terror was mingling with Neytiri’s own through the bond, her resolve shone through. Neytiri leaned forward and stroked her friend’s neck as they approached toruk.
Ready?
They were right above the beast, now. It’s head was craned down, scanning the empty sky. It couldn’t possibly still be hungry. There was no concern, no need to look up and assess the possible danger; what could possibly pose a threat to the creature that dominated the food chain?
Neytiri’s hands shook. She almost chanced a look over her shoulder, wanting to catch one last look at Tsyeyk in case this went horribly wrong. The RDA wouldn’t be in a hurry to build her a new avatar any time soon. She stopped herself. He’d be waiting for her when she succeeded.
Neytiri stroked Seze’s neck a final time, a rush of love for her soul sister, and dove towards toruk.
The distance between them closed too quickly. It felt like Neytiri had no time at all to prepare before she’d smacked directly between toruk’s wings with an oof.
Immediately, toruk began to buck in the air. It flung its head back at a distorted angle, trying to grab Neytiri in its teeth. Either to throw her off or eat her, Neytiri didn’t care to find out. It was instinct that shot her up to her feet, and it was instinct again that sent her back down to her stomach and holding on for life as toruk barreled through one of the floating mountain’s waterfalls in an attempt to throw her off.
Neytiri screamed, clinging on with all the strength she had. She could hear Tsyeyk shouting, but both her and toruk were too busy dealing with each other to pay much attention to his voice.
Toruk stopped spinning once it realised Neytiri wasn’t going anywhere, and had latched herself onto its neck like a parasite. She screamed again when its head flung backwards, and only just managed to avoid what would surely be fatal contact with its head.
The razor sharp crest on its head managed to snag her on the shoulder as she dodged, though. Neytiri cried out in pain as blood began to spill out of the wound. Toruk seemed to screech in victory as the smell of it permeated the air. It once again flung its head, no doubt attempting to copy the same technique that yielded results the first time.
Neytiri, through the throbbing that resonated down her arm, and the blood making her hand lose all its grip, barely managed to dodge. Toruk tried again and again, aiming for the same spot repeatedly and shrieking in frustration every time she avoided its crest.
Holy shit, I was right. Neytiri thought, a crazed sense of glee to her thoughts. It really can’t see directly above itself.
Neytiri let the rest of her plan fall firmly into place, waiting until toruk flung its head back once more. Once it was distracted in its own vexation, she grabbed its kuru and let herself slide down its massive body.
Toruk realised what she was doing and began to buck widely in the air, but it was effectively blind. All it had was the sensation of Neytiri moving on its back. By the time she’d moved far enough down its back that it could look over its shoulder at her, she was too far away for it to hit.
Before it could catch its bearings once more, Neytiri grabbed her own kuru and made the bond. Instantly, she was assaulted with a barrage of pure emotion. If she’d thought her bond with Seze could prepare her for this, she’d been wrong.
It was almost too much. It was too much.
Neytiri was drowning under it all - the power, the rage. Toruk was so angry. Every day, she flew over destruction, fire, and pollution. Every day, she tore down the metal birds, yet there were always more.
Toruk's home was being destroyed, and she wasn’t powerful enough to stop it. The aliens just kept coming in waves. She’d never encountered such a problem before, and it was disconcerting. She’d always been at the top of the food chain, and now, slowly, that was changing.
The anger settled inside Neytiri, made itself at home in her bones. She let it wash over her, tried to parse through the fury and the desperation to make herself known in their new, tentative bond.
Seze was her sister, part of her soul. This was something else entirely. Something temporary, no doubt, but no less meaningful.
She wished Grace could’ve seen this. A shot of grief hit her so hard, she choked, and then the floodgates opened.
The raw emotion that coursed through Toruk's soul reminded Neytiri so keenly of Sylwanin, of her mom, of Grace. It even reminded her of Earth. Their two souls resonated in a way that took her breath away. It hurt. Neytiri hated it and basked in it in equal measure. She felt oddly at home, atop this great beast, whispering her plea to join together as one.
“Not forever,” Neytiri whispered, knowing Toruk could hear her, could understand her perfectly.
Their flight path settled, now that Toruk was no longer trying to dislodge her. Neytiri could feel her caution tilt towards ready acceptance.
Partners, she vowed. We’ll make them pay.
Toruk’s hearty agreement rolled around in her soul. Neytiri whooped, throwing her uninjured arm in the air. The sound of it caused Seze to swoop down to join them, shrieking as she circled around Toruk’s giant wings.
The beast paid Seze no mind, no doubt feeling Neytiri’s love for the ikran.
Suddenly, Neytiri heard a loud cheer. She laughed, gleefully, and looked up to see Tsyeyk flying right above them. He copied her stance, throwing his fist in the air and letting out another cry. He looked so proud, a wide smile lighting up his face.
“I knew you could do it!” Tsyeyk cried. “Toruk Makto!”
Neytiri could only laugh in response. The sound of it pitched upwards hysterically as the adrenaline began to wear off. Her hands began to shake around the same time. The realisation of what she’d just done hit her, but still, she laughed, throwing her head back and cackling.
Toruk roared. Neytiri remembered a time, not long ago, when they’d been chased by her. Toruk had nearly killed her, then. The sound of her shriek had filled Neytiri with a terror that left her hands twitching for hours afterwards. Now, oddly, it comforted her. Toruk had very quickly made herself at home in Neytiri’s soul.
A temporary alliance, but a lifelong connection. Neytiri looked forward to what they were about to do together.
***
Neytiri didn’t stop until she’d reached the clan once more. Tsyeyk flew next to her the whole time, shooting her wide-eyed glances at the fact that Toruk was letting him so close.
Once, about halfway through the journey, Toruk snapped at Ra’lu, swinging her head and giving a half-hearted chomp in his direction. Tsyeyk’s ikran flung himself backwards with a shriek while Tsyeyk struggled to correct his course.
Neytiri could only gape as a vague sense of amusement settled in the bond she now shared with Toruk.
“She’s doing it on purpose,” she called to Tsyeyk in amazement. “She’s teasing you!”
Tsyeyk did not look as impressed. Well, he’d been the one staring down the teeth. Neytiri laughed breathlessly at the disgruntled look on his face.
Once the Tree of Souls came into view, though, the events of the day pushed their way back into Neytiri’s mind, and she felt all of the joy of bonding with Toruk drain away. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tsyeyk’s posture change, becoming Olo’eyktan once more.
She saw the grief make its way back onto his face at the fresh reminder of his father’s death before he hid it away.
Neytiri could only spare him a reassuring smile before they were noticed and cries of alarm began to fill the air, interrupting the prayer song that Mo’at was guiding the clan through. Members of the Omatikaya stumbled and fled as Toruk landed with a great thud.
As her talons crunched into the ground, Toruk lifted her wings and let out a screech that made Neytiri’s bones rattle. She could feel Toruk’s satisfaction at the reaction the sound garnered, and let it bolster her confidence as she detached the bond and jumped down.
Tsyeyk had already landed. He was staring at Neytiri, and Toruk, with awe in his eyes. Then, he reached for her, grabbing Neytiri’s hand and leading her to his mother. Neytiri glanced around, but she couldn’t see Norm.
Everyone fell silent, but some members of the clan brushed a hand against her as they passed. Finally, when the two of them reached Mo’at, Tsyeyk turned around. He lifted their hands, still locked together, into the sky.
“Toruk Makto!” He shouted, a promise of justice bleeding into the words.
The clan exploded, the shock giving way to determination as they shouted back. Neytiri watched them transform, watched the belief that they could win return to their eyes.
Tsyeyk had told her that Toruk Makto united the Na’vi in times of great sorrow. She’d believed him, then, but it was a different thing to see it. Before she could think twice, Neytiri turned to Tsu’tey, who was still watching Toruk with wide eyes.
“I have something to say. You would honour me by translating.” She’d gotten a lot better at speaking na’vi in her three months with the clan, but something in her urged her to turn to him for help. Neytiri felt Tsyeyk press a supportive hand on her arm as she spoke. Tsu’tey’s eyes landed on the gesture before he nodded.
Before she could begin speaking, however, Tsu’tey stepped forward and braced a steady hand on her shoulder.
“Toruk Makto,” he muttered with a small, disbelieving smile. “I will translate for you, and I will fly with you.”
Neytiri tilted her head at him, and he nodded back, his smile quirking into something solemn. When she addressed the clan, he was right behind her, effortlessly translating her words.
“The Sky People have sent us a message! They think they can take your home, and that nobody will stop them!” Neytiri began, pausing briefly to let Tsu’tey translate.
“Now, we will send them a message. This is your home!”
Neytiri’s voice rose in volume as the idea came to her. She looked at Tsyeyk, who looked as if he’d already thought of it, if the look of resolve on his face was anything to go by.
“We’ll gather the clans, tell them Toruk Makto calls to them!” Tsu’tey’s voice also rose to a shout as their words began to blend together.
Tsyeyk took over, calling for the attention of the clan. “Fly out, my brothers and sisters! Fly with Toruk Makto, as fast as the wind can carry you! We will show the Sky People that they cannot take whatever they want!”
The clan let out cries of agreement, some already taking off in sprints towards their ikran as Tsyeyk shouted, “this is our land!”
Neytiri and Tsu’tey joined in the cheer. The energy was electric, with warriors of the clan rushing for their ikran while the others sent them off with well wishes and cries of encouragement.
As the two of them made to leave, Tsyeyk’s hands on both of their shoulders made them pause. Tsyeyk’s expression was firm as he said, “I will not be going with you. My duty is to them.” He gestured at the remaining clan members - those who weren’t warriors, the injured, and the children.
The two of them nodded. Tsyeyk had already been away from the clan for too long when he’d agreed to accompany Neytiri on her mission for Toruk.
“I’ll be by her side the whole time,” Tsu’tey promised.
Tsyeyk nodded. Tsu’tey stepped away to give them a semblance of privacy as he pressed a frantic kiss to Neytiri’s lips. Before Tsyeyk could pull back, though, Neytiri cupped his face and brought him back for one more. He groaned as he stepped away, a mournful expression on his face. She ached at the distance already.
“Be safe,” Tsyeyk pleaded.
Neytiri smiled. “Always.” She snorted as her mate turned a dubious look in the direction of Toruk. Point taken.
“Be fast,” he amended. Neytiri gave him one last kiss before she and Tsu’tey ran to join the other warriors.
Rather than call his ikran, Tsu’tey joined her on the back of Toruk. From the look of astonishment on his face, Neytiri imagined his reasoning was more than him being practical with the fact that Toruk could fly faster than his ikran could.
Toruk was a little disgruntled over the addition of a passenger, but got over it quickly once Neytiri explained, over tsaheylu, what the plan was. A vicious sense of excitement lit up the bond as Toruk shot into the air with no further hesitation.
Tsu’tey looked out over the remaining members of the clan, to where Tsyeyk stood with Ta’ron and Mo’at. He nodded at Ta’ron, who closed his eyes and held up a hand in return.
“Let us see how fast you can fly, Toruk Makto.” Tsu’tey’s voice rumbled over her shoulder once his attention was back on the sky. When Neytiri turned her gaze away from Tsyeyk, Tsu’tey was looking just as gleeful as the beast herself.
Neytiri grinned. “You are going to regret saying that, my friend.”