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Chapter Text

The sully family had struggled to get back to normal life after losing Neteyam. Tuk, Kiri and Lo'ak lost their big brother, their protection, the person they turned to when they were afraid or worried. Spider lost a friend, someone who saw past his high and species, someone who didn't care who his father was, someone he could trust. Jake lost his eldest son, his partner in the hunt, his pair of helping hands. They all felt each others pain and grief. They understood the loss that each one of them experienced whilst understanding the difference between them all. They could console one another. However no one could comfort Neytiri, no one could tell her that everything would be okay and that things will get easier because their is nothing in the world that can prepare a mother for the loss of her child. It's a cruel and unnatural thing, when a mother out lives her child. Neytiri lost her eldest child, her rock that she trusted would always be there, her comforting smile when her younger children would do something stupid, her baby boy.

Everyone stayed out her way, her tribe, her children, her husband. No one dared interrupt a grieving mother for more than a quick condolences and to bring her food. But she still seen them, she still seen the reef na'vi she now knew as her tribe, she still seen her children even if they tried to remain as silent and calm as possible, she still seen her husband as he sat bowls of food and water beside her and kissed her forehead reassuringly.

She did not however see the human boy. 'Spider'. After the funeral it was as though he'd disappeared of the face of Pandora. She'd heard her eldest daughter asking their friends if they'd seen them but they all abruptly stopped talking as she walked past. Neytiri did not care for the boy, everyone knew this. But she had no desire to bring the boy harm, everything she did she did to protect her family. She didn't WANT to kill the boy, but she didn't care if he lived. He was like an insect. Nettie I didn't hate insects but if she had to chose between an insect and her daughter, that insect would find himself at the end of her spear.

She walked calmly along the beach, the past few weeks she'd been walking as far as she could before she had to head back to her family and sleep. She missed the Forrest, the trees the vines, the noise. But the reef was nice, not as beautiful and breathtaking as her home, but it was nice. She walked further tonight, further than she'd been before, only a few more miles and she would reach the next village if she kept walking but she froze. She could hear the calm even breathes that she knew so well as they'd spent almost 16 years sleeping in tree outside her home back in the Forrest. She slowly climbed the near by trees to find a clearing in the middle with a small fire. She dropped down behind the much shorter boy.

"Socorro boy." She addressed the small blonde child in front of her who spun round and jump back almost landing the fire. "Neytiri? I'm sorry... I... why as you here. Not that you can't be here! Of course you can go anywhere I just meant-" a blue hand the size of his face landed on top of his mask which filled with steam as he let out a shakey breath. "Kiri has been looking for you, why are you over here and not running around causing the usual amount of havoc and misfortune?" She scowled at the shorter boy who finially met her eyes. His eyes looked like glass as water built in them.

Only now did she take in a good look of the boy, he was pale... paler than usual, and skinny compared to the usually muscular broad shouldered boy she remembered climbing trees and mountains with her children. Right now he didn't look fit to scale a small boulder never mind a mountain. He must be ill.

"S...sorry I didn't mean to upset kiri I just... well... everyone was upset and... I'm... we'll I'm... sky people." The boy said sheilding himself in with his arms as tho he was ashamed. Neytiri could her the distaste in his voice as he uttered 'sky people'. She couldn't blame him, if she where him she'd hate herself too. "Hmm... you look weak" the tall blue woman spoke strongly as she looked down on him. The boy only gave a small laugh, "yea I guess I do" with that Neytiri knew something was wrong, 'Spider' was many things; weak, useless, small, fragile, demon blooded, annoying and so much more.

But he did not give up. Neytiri learned that when she watched him fall of a Ikran for the first time and get right back up. Then again when he fell of straight away again, and kept trying. It took near 200 tries over the span of 3 years to convince a young Spider that he'd never fly. And when he finally excepted it, he tried to ride a direhorse.

"Come." Neytiri stated simply before walking away but she knew he was following without having to look back. He always had been a rather obedient child. He was reckless and foolishly confident but he understood the rules and customs of the Omatikaya clan better than most Na'vi children did and he never disobeyed a direct order from Neytiri.

She walked briskly back to the village, knowing that Jake had to see spider and figure out whatever human weakness was effecting the usually resilient blonde boy. They walked two miles in silence before Neytiri stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of the human boys breathing and heart rate pick up. She looked back just in time to see the boy fall to his knees clutching him chest.

"Get up? Why have you stopped?" Neytiri frowned confused by the boy's actions. "I can't... I can't do it" he wheezed out. "What's wrong with you?" She asked sounding much more hostile in spiders ears than she intended. "I'm human! I'm sky people!...I can't keep up." He shouted slightly before giving up and choosing to sit with his head resting on his knees.

Neytiri wasn't sure what to do or say. She didn't care about the boy, he was the enemies son. But she also couldn't leave someone who was a part of her clan to die. Whilst she didn't like to acknowledge it, spider was apart of the Omatikaya clan. He was a part of her clan. He knew the na'vi way of life, he knew the importance of connecting to Eywa, he knew the significance of song beads. She sighed and sat down across from the boy who she now believed to be crying.

"No. I know you're human, I know you're weak I don't mean that. I mean what is wrong with you. The weak human boy I knew in the Forrest could climb for miles in the worst of weather, he ran with the fasted na'vi children and fought with the strongest." Spider looked up, tears streaming down his face. "No I didn't, I TRIED to climb for miles without stopping, I TRIED to run as fast as Lo'ak and I tried to be as strong as N-..." he stopped himself wide eyed as he realised his mistake.

Neytiri just nodded. "My children are fond of you, all four of them... I don't understand it, your human, your small, weak, slow, defenceless, powerless. But they talk about you as if you're one of pandoras most might warriors... what is it they see that I don't?" The two sat in silence.

"I knew how to survive on my own in the Forrest, I knew what creatures to trust, what foods to eat, what na'vi to stay away from if I valued my life... here is not the same as Omatikaya. Here I'm useless, I need to rely on people for help... yous were busy honouring Neteyam ... how was I supposed to interrupt your grieving to tell yous I was running low on batteries for my mask or that the food here is poisonous to me?" Spider had given up on trying to sheild himself away and instead sobbed out the words he said "it's weird, if he were here Neteyam would have been the person I would have went too. I love kiri, Lo'ak and Tuk but whenever Lo'ak was to heavy handed and nearly killed me thinking we were just being rough or whenever Tuk made me dinner that would stop my heart it was Neteyam that was there, I didn't even need to ask him to be... he just was" spider was now on his feet again sobbing and hiccuping in a similar fashion to Tuk.

Neytiri knew that humans were different. Small, weak, slow. But those where all physical traits. She'd always thought that was all that separated spider from the rest of them. The fact he had the blood and bones of the enemy... but humans brains and customs where different too. Na'vi boys at 16 didn't sob, Na'vi boys didn't cower in fear of her. She finally realised that spider was not the same as all the 16 year old boys she seen walking around the village, already looking like soilders.

Jake had told her before that whilst she was 16 and shooting bows and learning to lead her tribe he had been playing childrens games and worrying more about looking cool than what he'd do with his life. Only now did she see it. Neteyam and Spider were the same age, but a Na'vi 16 year old is a man... a human 16 year old is a child.

Without a second thought she picked up the human boy, he was much lighter than he had been when she had picked him up just a few months ago on the RDA ship. She felt the boy tense in her arms. "You are small and weak, not because you are sky people, but because you try to do everything by yourself. Children need parents" and with that she walked to the village carrying the child of her greatest enemy.

Chapter Text

Neytiri made her way to the chief's pod as fast as she could, without shaking spider around too much. As she rushed into the pod she was greeted by her husband and the cheif, Tonowari laughing about the things there children did. Tuk lay sleepily on Jake's knee and Ronal was organising all of the different remedies she use to heal her people.

"I found the human boy" Neytiri stated dryly as she sat the pale shaking boy down, it wasn't cold outside, in fact there was a nice warm breeze but the human boys skin was freezing to touch and he shook uncontrollably, his teeth could be heard chittering under his mask, which was steamed up from the erratic breathing and coughing fits he'd developed on the way back to the village.

Spider sat with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and Tuk clinging to his side. She had to be reminded multiple times not to squeeze to hard incase she made his breathing worse than it already was. "Spider, What happened you disappeared! I thought you were lost! But Lo'ak said you never got lost, but you got lost before when the sky people came and I thought they had stolen you again! Are you okay?" Tuk spoke without stopping for a breath, tears building in her eyes. "Don't worry, Tuk. I wasn't lost I just... I was just sick and I didn't want you to catch it" spider smiled softly at the girl.

All four grown up knew this was a lie, spider had once had the flu and still stuck to the sully children, not that they could catch anything off him due to the mask he wore. When Kiri had fallen sick with the Na'vi equivalent of chicken pokes Spider was the one in charge of taking her food and keeping her company as he was unable to catch airborn illnesses. However this lie seemed to bring Tuk some comfort "stupid Spider, you can't get us sick, you have a mask" the younger girl giggled at her friends 'stupidity'. "Oh I guess your right" spider laughed along with the little girl who was now climbing all over him.

"Alright Tuk why don't you go find Lo'ak and Kiri I'm sure they'd be glad to know the human is back" Neytiri shooed her daughter off. Jake took that as his que to finally get a good look at Spider. He kneeled down infront of the frail boy. His bones stabbed through his pale clammy skin and the gash along his chest where Neytiri cut him was dark and swollen. He ran his hand over the scar and the skinny mud covered boy jumped back and let out a yelp. "It's infected, I'll call Norm."

Ronal walked over and pushed Jake out the way mumbling something about stupid humans and pretend healers. "I can fix it." She stated before laying Spider down and kneeling beside him. She took a bowl and tipped what looked like green mud into it before taking a handful and spreading it across his chest. Spider tried hard not to react to the burning sensation in his chest that caused him to tense and squirm. "Still, boy!" Ronal shouted before drawing lines of blue paint across his shoulders, similar to the ones Kiri used to draw for him.

It was decided that Spider would stay in Tonowari's pod for the night to assure Ronal was there if anything went wrong. Neytiri looked at Jake the way she would when he'd talk about his life before he was Na'vi but this time he wasn't talking. He just lay staring at the roof. "What's wrong? You look... like you know something that we don't" she questioned her husband, gently stroking his hair. "Don't worry just... human things" he sighed turning to face his wife and giving her a reassuring smile. "So you know what's wrong with him?" She asked now sitting up. Jake only groaned pushing himself into a sitting position to match her. "I don't think he's sick, I think he's malnourished..., neglected. Everything that's wrong with him could have been avoid if I'd just paid a bit more attention to him. I know what it's like to be weird and different compared to the people here... and it's worse for spider than it ever was for me."

Neytiri thought on Jakes words until the sun rised. Spider wasn't sick... he was forgotten. He was a child that had no one to feed him and cloth him and tuck him in on cold nights. Suddenly she couldn't remember what it was like to hate Spider, because how can you hate a child for who his father is, how can a father leave his child to fend for himself. Quaritch has done many, many horrible inhumane things but abandoning his own son, leaving him to grow up different and alone, well that's probably one of the most vile things he's ever done.

Chapter Text

When Spider woke up with Ronal and Tonowani no where in sight he seen it as his chance to leave, not that he wasn't very grateful for there help, but they were busy people. He couldn't expect them to sit around waiting for him to get better all day. He knew that if he made a break for it or tried to argue that he was healthy enough to get out of their hair they'd simply stop him so since he could leave he decided to make himself as useful as possible.

He started by tidying the pod but they weren't the same as the huts back in the forest, reef people were minimalists. They only had what they needed and a few very small possessions, almost everything here was shared; food was made for everyone in the village and they all got together to eat, spare blankets and sleeping mats could be found in a big pod in the middle of the village that also had extra weapons, clothes, storage boxes and bandages. So it took him all of 10 minutes to finish tidying.

As he was about to leave the pod to find work to do around the village he was stopped by Tuk running and wrapping her arms around him with kiri hugging him from the other side. "Spider! Your awake!" Tuk shouted as she squeezed the older boy, lifting him off his feet slightly. "Tuk, be careful! He's injured!" Lo'ak shouted from the entrance, pulling his sister away. Spider laughed "nah I'm not injured I'm practically better all ready". Lo'ak slung an arm around his waist loosely "alright bro where are you trying to go, are you not supposed to be resting?" Lo'ak asked trying to guide the shorter boy back to a seat. "Cmon bro, I gotta get out of here I've rested enough" Spider pleaded knowing his best friend understood how hard it was to do as he was told.

"... I suppose a little walk would be healthy for you?" Lo'ak smiled. Kiri sighed but agreed to it anyway "I guess... since your up anyway we can show you around the village properly!" Kiri smiled grabbing one of spiders arms and dragging him off to all her favourite places. Kiri loved her sister and brothers ..., brother. She loved her new found friends from Metkayina but Spider was different, spider seen everything the same way she did, he seen the beauty in every little plant and bug. Her friends and family were understanding, or they tried to be but they just couldn't see things the way she did.

When they arrived at the edge of the water and Kiri told them all to jump they were a little confused. "The place I want to show you is down there" she explained pointing out into the ocean. "Kiri, Spiders still sick" Lo'ak tried to reason but the boy in question wedged himself into the conversation before the others could decide it was a bad idea. "Relax Bro, a nice calm swim is exactly what I need". Not wanting to give his friends a chance to drag him back to the pod he grabbed Kiri's hand and jumped off the small ledge into the water. Realistically Spider wasn't strong enough to drag Kiri or Lo'ak anywhere but when he grabbed onto them the usually just complied and followed him.

Neteyam used to humour him and pretend Spider was strong enough to drag him. They both know he was lying but Neteyam never admitted to it, instead arguing spider was incredibly strong. Spider tried not to think about Neteyam to much, he didn't deserve to mourn him, Neteyam died saving spider, and anyway he's not even really family, he's not a sully. "Spider? We can go back if you want you look lost" Kiri panicked signing the language they'd learned at the reef, Spider wasn't as fluent but he understood what was being said as long as it was said slowly. "Hmm? What no! I don't want to go back this is incredible!"

It was incredible, tall neon plants curved around their ankles, rocks that had falled into perfect rings that he races Lo'ak through, spider won but he's pretty sure that's only because Lo'ak was swimming behind him telling him to be careful and not to get hurt. The blonde boy sighed. He loved his friend, and he and Lo'ak did everything together but sometimes he felt like a child compared to the younger boy. Lo'ak was taller, stronger, faster but he never went easy on spider, never slowed down for him. Spider liked that. He liked that his friend believed he was every bit as capable even if he wasn't a blue giant with amazing agility and the strength of ten men.

"Lo'ak, stop" he said looking up at the younger boy. "Stop what? Do you need me to slow down more?" The boy asked, voice filled with concern and sympathy which annoyed Spider more. "No I need you to stop treating me like a child! You don't even treat Tuk like this!" He sighed climbing to sit on top of one of the massive ring shaped rock formations. Lo'ak looked down letting out a sigh before swimming up, Kiri, Tuk and Spider following quickly behind. Lo'ak took a deep breath before turning to Spider. "I'm not treating you like a child I just... I don't want you to get hurt" spider could feel his face turn red as all three sully children turned to face him with pitiful faces.

He couldn't take this, "I grew up the same way as yous, I've always done all the same things as yous, and now because I'm a little sick your treating me like a..." Spider stopped himself before he could say it, not that it mattered, they all knew what he was thinking. 'Human', 'sky person', 'alien' didn't really matter what word they thought off, everyone knew what he meant. "Spider, I don't think-" "it's fine. I don't feel well, I'm going back".

Lo'ak didn't think that, he did mean to think that. Spider is just as Na'vi as anyone else on Pandora on a good day, but then he's hurt or sick Lo'ak can't help but see the difference, he can't pretend he doesn't notice how his friend is slower than usual, how he lacks the agility and accuracy it takes to race through the water or even walk without holding onto someone. He thought of Spider like a brother, but not the same as how he thought of Neteyam. He thought Neteyam was indestructible, his big brother, his protection.

Spider was... different. Lo'ak loved, respected and trusted him the same as he did Neteyam. However spider didn't feel like a 'big' brother. He was the same age as Neteyam but spider always acted more like Lo'ak. He is reckless and doesn't care about danger or consequences, and he is unbelievably loyal, which made him a great friend because he was always up for Lo'ak crazy adventures and he never grassed him in if they got caught. But as they got older Lo'ak noticed the difference between them more and more. Mainly, he noticed that Spider seemed strong and fast and capable, but he always fell short.

"I'm going to go make sure he gets back to the pod alright" He sighed taking off after his shorter friend before Kiri could protest. He hadn't meant to upset Spider, but they both had to face the facts and the fact was Spider couldn't do everything they could. He wasn't saying that Spider shouldn't go with them, he just wants Spider to let him help.

Spider hadn't meant to snap at Lo'ak like that, they were best friends, he just wished that Lo'ak understood that he was capable of doing everything they could do. He was the oldest, he didn't need a boy 2 years younger than him to protect him. He wanted to prove that he could take care of himself, that he could take care of them. He would prove it.

Chapter Text

Neytiri watched as the human child stomped away from the ocean only for her children to go chasing after him. Even from a distance she could tell that spider was not in his usual positive mood. She made her way inbetween him and her own children, stopping them from following him. "What happened?" She asked the group of children but they all looked to Kiri.

"Spider is upset, he thinks we think of him as a child" she sighed. "Why would he think that?" Their mother asked folding her arms. "Well because... we tried to protect him... but not because we think he's a child! Just because..." Kiri falls short on an answer as to why they all thought spider needed protection. Tuk seen him as her big brother, he was Kiri and Lo'ak's best friend, he was never seen as anything less than what he is. But what he is, is smaller and weaker and more fragile.

Neytiri understood her children's need to protect him. To them he was family. She had watched him grow up along side her own children and whilst not particularly liking him she was impressed. He climbed the same way they did, ran, jumped, swam. Anything her children done so did he. He was a little slower, definitely less agile, and the fact he wasn't na'vi meant he couldn't rely on nature the way the others could. However she also knew that he was willing to go the extra mile to keep up with them.

"Spider has lived here his entire life, same as you. He's older, he's lived here longer. If he says he doesn't need your protection then trust him" Neytiri spoke the same way she always did, as if what she had to say was obvious. The group of children infront of her looked at one another before nodding. Their mother may not like Spider but she was right.

“Now go off and get cleaned up” She demanded and her children headed back to their pod. She looked back at where the human boy had walked off to and seen him in the distance walking as far as he could. She followed after him, slowly not wanting to startle the boy or force him to come back to the village, instead she simply wondered what he was going to do.

Spider sat on the outskirts of the Village far from everyone. Neytiri watched from a distance as the boy stared into the water he reached his hands in a few times and she sat down letting herself relax as she pondered the boy’s actions. He rushed forward a few times, walked up and down the shore line, Finally after a while she watched as he lunged forward with a knife stabbing a small fish.

She walked forward to where the boy was kneeling on the ground. She heard the familiar language of her people whispered. “I see you, brother.” The blonde boy said with his head hung low. “And I thank you. Your spirit will swim with Eywa.” He pulled his knife out of the creature putting it away. “- while your body will remain and become a part of the people.” Finally he stood with the fish in hand and turned to face Neytiri. Letting out a slight breath and taking a step back at seeing the tall woman who had such up behind him.

“Neytiri.” He nodded, acknowledging the woman. “Socorro boy. Where do you plan to eat?” She asks, the boy only looking at her with a confused frown. “I uh… I have a fire, round here” he waved her with him as he headed towards the trees. He had built a small shelter in the leaves where he sat to gut his catch. “Hmm… may I eat with you?” Neytiri asked looking around his set up. He nodded letting out a small sound of agreement as he focused on what he was doing.

She sat and watched as he cooked, She had always seen him as sky people, as human, as Quaritch. Now however she struggled to see him that way. She struggled to remember how she had ever seen him that way. He spoke like Na’vi. He hunted and cooked like Na’vi. He followed the customs and culture as if they were his own… they were his own. He was Na’vi.

“Your mask, you still do not have batteries” she stated and the boy nodded. Now cutting up his food, setting more than half in front of Neytiri. “How do you breathe?” She asked and the boy looked a little embarrassed to answer. “It kinda hurts. My oxygen is running low so to keep it going longer it’s giving me less. Makes my chest hurt” Neytiri nodded. “How do you eat?” She asked and the boy only sighed. He took a few seconds to steady his breathing before taking a deep breath and taking the mask off. She watched as he quickly took a few bites and the sealed his mask back on.

“That seems dangerous” she stated and the boy only laughed. “So is not eating” he shrugged. Neytiri nodded before the two ate in silence. Neytiri watching as the boy struggled to eat and breathe, having to take multiple breaks from eating to just sit and focus on getting more air.

As she finished her food she stood and went to walk off without another word before stopping herself. “Spider… thank you for the food” the boy smiled widely and nodded. “How much longer do you think you can go without batteries?” She asked and his face dropped slightly. “I uhh, probably can make it last another couple days if I really focus on slowing my breathing down” he smiled. Neytiri left without another word.

“Neytiri, we-” Ronal began to talk as Neytiri entered her pod to find her children, her husband, her friends and their children in her house. “MaJake we must talk” Neytiri spoke quickly. The rushed and worried voice gaining everyone’s attention.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asked leaning in to comfort his wife who only pushed him back. “I told you about Spiders illness last night, he is human, he cannot breathe. Why aren’t your scientists here yet?” She asked and Jake frowned. “They are on their way but it takes time for them to get here” he reassured her pulling her into a hug.

“Is Spider going to be okay?” Tuk asked with a panic stricken face. When neither of their parents answered her Lo’ak smiled “of course he will be, Spider can handle himself” at this the younger girl nodded and smiled.

The rest were not as easily convinced of his safety. They had to help him, but they couldn’t fix him. They had to protect him, but they couldn’t baby him. They had to accept him, but he wasn’t one of them.

Chapter Text

Norm had arrived late that night with equipment to test which foods were save and a mass supply of batteries, masks and incase air purifiers fail, oxygen tanks. He had also brought a bag of the few personal belongings spider owned as well as a med kit with bandages and human medicines incase Spider were to fall sick and they weren't there to help.

Neytiri led her husband and the Avatars of the scientists to the clearing in the trees that Spider had claimed as his home. "Spider, you home?" Norm laughed out as he climbed through the trees. Silence. Neytiri, Jake, Norm, Alex and the hoard of Sully kids who followed all shared worried glances before splitting up to look for their lost friend. "Bro? You out here?" Lo'ak called as he climbed higher in the trees in the hopes of finding their boy. "Monkey boy!?" Kiri shouted through thick leaves.

Finally Tuk called out "Mom! Dad! I've found him!" The small worried voice of their youngest daughter had everyone rushing to her side. When they got to her she was holding the human boys hand. His mask was steamed up from his erratic breathing and he curled into himself as he shook. Norm was quick to grab the small boy whilst Alex quickly changed over his mask. His breathing slowed as he got use to breathing comfortably again. He let out a weak groan before completely passing out in Norms arms.

When Spider woke up his head was pounding. Familiar voices screamed and shouted over the top of one another whilst he waited for his eyes to focus. "He was under your care Jake, you shouldn't have let it get this bad!" Spider knew that familiar scolding tone, Norm. "Is Spider going to die?" A soft, caring voice filled with worry, his little sister, Tuk. "The human will be fine" Cold, Stern, Neytiri.

When Spider finally pried his eyes open he realised he was in Ronal's Pod again. This time with Norm and Alex who had set up oxygen machine and vital readers in the corner, The Sully family with Lo'ak perched protectively at his feet whilst Tuk and Kiri lay close by running soft warm hands over his cold skin, Ronal and her family were grinding up different herbs and perfecting different remedies.

"When will he wake up?" His favourite voice, pure comfort, spoken with all the emotion in the world, Kiri. He smiled weakly at the sound of her voice before reaching his hand over to rest on her knee. "M'rning" he wheezed out followed by a fit of coughing. Lo'ak was quickly at his side helping him sit up. He hated the look of worry and pity on everyone's faces, he hated how weak he must look, but for now he let his head rest against his friend's side and enjoyed the warmth.

Spider would later be forced to spend endless days in Ronal's pod, hooked up the machines to help him breathe whilst he got to know Ronal better. She didn't like him at first, he was sky people. However in the months he had spent in her village he was starting to grow on her. He was quiet, that was to be expected considering the loss the Sully's were facing. He was polite and caring though she had noticed that he seemed almost afraid to mess up. Whilst her own children ran around causing trouble with the Sully kids he would often tag along quietly or make himself busy with chores around the village.

"Spider, is that a common human name?" Ronal asked whilst she rocked the baby in her arms. Spider over from the hole he'd been staring into the ceiling. "Oh, no I chose Spider myself, my name use to be Miles" he had an unsureness in his voice but Ronal only hummed in acknowledgement. "Miles... it's a nice name" She reassured but Spider quickly corrected her "it's my father's name. I was named after him, so I go by Spider" Ronal looked up from the sleeping baby in her arms to fully take in Spider. In the days he had spent in her home he had gained back some of his colour and was looking less fragile.

“I must ask, you live with the Sully’s yet you do not seem comfortable? Why is this?” Her voice was kind and understanding but Spiders heart sunk at the question. “Oh the Sully’s are great! Lo’ak my bro and me and Kiri have always been best friends! Tuk is like a little sister to me I’d do anything for her! And it was really nice of Jake and Neytiri to take me in, you know with everything that’s happened and-” Ronal held up a hand and the boys words died on his tongue.

“The Sully’s are a very nice family, but I didn’t ask you if they were nice, I asked if you felt comfortable” Ronal’s voice was still soft but it was stricter as if she wouldn’t tolerate lying so instead Spider said nothing. He was healthier and was finally fit to go home back to the Sully’s, though Ronal had a quiet word with Tonowari that she wanted him to keep a close eye on the boy.

Spider stumbled out of Ronal’s pod, not used to using his feet after being in bed rest for days when Lo’ak and Kiri were quickly at either side of him. “Bro! You’re alive! Thought you were a goner” Lo’ak smiled leaning slightly on the shorter boy making it hard to stand. Kiri smiled softly before shooting a glare at her brother and shoving him away “he’s injured, idiot. Don’t lean on him” She scolded but couldn’t hide the smile growing on her face at having her best friend back.

Spider had hoped this meant everything would be back to normal, he had hoped this meant everything was fine. He felt his heart skip a beat when he seen the anxious and furious faces shake and Neytiri wore. “Mum? What’s wrong?” Kiri asked only for Jake to turn a message from Norm to face them all “Quaritch was spotted not far from back home, he’s alive”

Now he just had to hope Neytiri never found out how Quaritch was alive.