Music Inspiration: Sam Hulick- "A Future for the Krogan"


Sanctuary


The joy of the ilu's arrival to the Atykwe shores was gradually overshadowed when Nitari word reached her ears about suspicious fires noted in the north. The Omaticaya had been first to send the message while the Metkinaya received word from the Kekunan in the north that bordered the plains and forest. Despite the vast physical distance between them, the neural network that connected them to Eywa bypassed that border. Being in good standing with the Omaticaya, Tsu'tey requested to meet Jake face-to-face for more insight to their strange findings in the plains. With his mate pregnant with their children, he would not allow for anyone to breach their shore with ominous intent or anyone else's for that matter.

Tsu'tey was not particularly overjoyed to leave his pregnant mate behind but finding the cause of the recent disturbances outweighed his concerns. The risk of the tawtute returning was too dangerous to go unchecked and Nitari allowed his leave, promising to care over his mate. He knew she would be in safe hands but leaving was not easy, even if it meant seeing old familiar faces. Arat was able to accompany him, mainly because he knew Xuret carried the strength to subdue Joanna if she tried anything crazy like chase after him. His mate, however, prepared his travel pack dutifully but not before mating him to oblivion in cruel reminder of what he would be missing. The trip to the Omaticaya was cautious, keeping low to the forest in case of unseen enemies, and they arrived safely. For a few hours.

He and Arat were preparing for a meeting with Jake and his team when Peyral arrived from Hell's Gate with information about suspicious activity. Not wanting to miss the fiends, Jake chose Max to accompany him with Tsu'tey and Arat to keep a small team covert. Peyral was disappointed in missing out on the mission but she didn't want to relive the memories of the first site. She would remain behind to lead the hunters if any emergencies arose while Neytiri was not overly happy to stay behind too. With Txe'lan requiring numerous feedings, she was bound to Kelutral. Neither she nor her mate could change that and she took comfort that he was heading out to find the truth.

The attack pattern was not localized to any specific area but Jake noticed they were treading into the interior of the continent. In particular to where old maps back at Hell's Gate detailed rich unobtanium sites. They weren't being brash in their attacks but calculating and devastating by leaving no survivors. The southern plains clan had been wiped clean and the second attack occurred in the western border of the desert clans. Now, the forest itself had been targeted north of the Omaticaya. They were getting closer and Jake wasn't comfortable with that, which was why he messaged his other allies.

The new active site was no different from the last with scorched earth and gaping craters littering the land. This time, the small clan, Vadara, had been subjected to the attack but there was a key difference from the other two. Their Kelutral had been spared. Tsu'tey noticed the stature was petite compared to the towering trees of the Atykwe and Omaticaya, its canopies barely overpassing the trees of the forest. Even the Kelutral of the plains towered highly despite their sleek and thinner diameter. This one was a young one that was still growing and his heart was relieved immensely that it had not been destroyed. Why?

"There was no ore for them to mine around it" Jake explained grimly because it spared the life of the tree at the expense of its inhabitants. The fauna surrounding the Kelutral had been ripped to shreds, leaving piles of tattered green leaves, thick bushes pulled out by the roots, vibrant flower petals strewn across the earth, and even the emerald grass had been tossed across the fields. He didn't want to see this happen to another clan, hating the feeling of helplessness that accompanied every site they visited. This was the third and he was tired of being steps behind them.

Max grasped the man's shoulder to snap him out of the tension forming in his stance. He understood his friend's concern about finding the culprits and reactivating the camera systems through the forest was their best action so far. One of the cameras had detected movement of a small group through the forest in the area but it had been passed off as a hunting group until Peyral studied their movements closer. Her judgment landed correctly when a warning smoke cloud of white emitted into the blue sky not soon after she arrived back at the Omaticaya. Unlike the others, it dissipated quickly into the horizon with two small puffs being the only signal given off. For Tsu'tey and Arat, that meant that the clan likely tried to warn other nearby clans before being overwhelmed.

An empty Kelutral was not a sight that Tsu'tey was familiar with, aside from the one that the Omaticaya now called home. There was no laughter, only silence in the forest, and the air lacked the sound of active wildlife. It was an eerie sensation to walk through the disturbed earth and not hear a single sound. His toes sank into the disrupted earth as clumped pieces jutted out of the ground while loose dirt and rocks lay scattered over the walking trails around Kelutral. The wooden beams for the pa'li pen lay strewn in a heap over the dark earth, splintered outwards from brute force. The pa'li had likely scattered into the distance by now and he approached the destroyed pen to notice hoof tracks embedded in the earth only. They had likely run away from fear without their riders after witnessing the terror and he asked with restrained calm, "Is this how all the other sites looked?"

Jake's grim expression gave him the answer and Arat lowered his head with respect to contemplate solemnly, "Eywa guide their souls to Her embrace."

Unlike Jake and Tsu'tey, Arat had never seen the destruction caused by the tawtute firsthand. He heard the stories that floated about the Omaticayan Kelutral but he never asked Tsu'tey about it out of respect. Reminiscing on such horrible memories would be cruel and he was one to observe, rather than inquire. He had been present in the aerial attack with his previous olo'eyktan, Taho, and witnessed the carnage their flying machine could cause. Despite his ikran's swiftness, it had taken his Xaza, Xuret's Yatzi, and Anaya's Taka to deviate one of the machines from their leader. The grievous damage had been dealt with his leader and his ikran, leaving them to hold back the flying machine while Ikeyni distracted another. Nara had been the one to dive after their dying olo'eyktan, directing Vali to pull Taho off his dead ikran before he hit the treetops. Following and protecting his mate's bravery by shielding her backside is how Kovi wound up on the injured list.

Each clan held their painful memories and Arat always hoped it was a swift merciful end. The taller hunter motioned with his right hand for him to follow and he obeyed, approaching Kelutral. The lack of sound disturbed both hunters due to their social culture and Tsu'tey called out in that direction, "Does anyone need help?"

The Omaticayans followed silently behind the seafaring hunters since they knew Tsu'tey would turn over every leaf to find clues. The two friends had seen the man prowl their Kelutral like a thanator when he was separated from Joanna to keep occupied. Now, his people were at risk and it jabbed at his old antagonism to destroy the evil foreigners. Max spared his leader a quick glance as they caught up to the other two and asked, "Should we search the forest for any sign of our unwelcome friends?"

"No, staying together is best" he declined because he wanted to pursue any tracks they left behind for clues. However, splitting off never went well in rescue efforts with an enemy lurking nearby. They would perform a sweep faster as a team and could head out afterward to continue their investigation. Knowing Tsu'tey and his dedication to leave no stone unturned, it would extend into the night. Regardless of how much he wanted to chase after them, the innocent that lingered behind took priority. He would not risk their lives to add more needless pain, hoping they could find a few stragglers, and stated quietly, "The civilians come first."

Max hoped it would be different this time after lacking any hope from the last sites. Jake had spent the recent weeks pouring over hours of surveillance data back at Hell's Gate until Peyral kicked him out of the security room. Now, they were taking daytime shifts to peruse through the footage and brought the other avatars to help with the task. Max and Peyral were willing to clean up and divert power from the generators for a nightly stay in the avatar compound to keep up with cataloging the hours of footage. Jake, however, preferred to keep the clan together during nighttime until they found their unseen enemy.

The quartet was about to enter the base of Kelutral when they heard soft shuffling from the pa'li clearing. Tsu'tey turned sharply with his precise footing to peer right towards the field of loose earth, narrowing his eyes at the surrounding forest behind it. Were they being watched? Was the enemy nearby? Jake grabbed him by the left arm when he tried to break away in that direction. He wasn't going to risk being divided if they were being spied on or have Joanna yell at him and go into labor for having her mate shot again. Their ikran, who were quietly trailing behind them for extra protection, didn't make a peep. Any strange scent would send them into a frenzy to find the perpetrator but they were relaxed, trilling and hissing to each other in unknown ikran chatter.

Raising his left hand to order his friend to order him to stay, Tsu'tey thinned his lips in displeasure but obeyed. He didn't really have to, given his different clan affiliation now, but he trusted his old friend. Jake took the lead in their entourage, approaching the pa'li fields carefully, and called out, "Who goes there?"

He prepared for rustling through the foliage from a hidden spy or no response but what he received was entirely different. From the pa'li field, the group saw a small mound rise from the earth and Jake wondered if there was a large Pandoran worm dwelling under there. That, or the enemy decided to hide in the field and lie in wait for them. Not desiring to risk the life of his friends, he pushed the three men into the base of Kelutral and heard a rabble of rebuttals in return.

Tsu'tey was not one for hiding but Max and Arat grabbed him by each arm when Jake pushed him back. If anybody was staying in the forefront, it was himself. Tsu'tey's strength was resilient enough to require both men to restrain him while Jake kept his eye on the pa'li field. He would not hesitate to make himself a target to spare his clan and friends, leaving the safe confines of Kelutral. Following the curve of a thick root, he kept a hand on its smooth and artfully chiseled bark that detailed the clan's history. It was a small sense of comfort to him while he peeked out at the pulsating earth. He had never seen anything like it, watching the earth shift irregularly but it was only in that specific area at the end of the field.

When small cyan digits protruded from the base of the mound, he yelped with alarm and darted forward before the group could stop him. The other three weren't about to let him run off and they took chase behind the Omaticayan leader. Tsu'tey and Arat could escape Neytiri's wrath but Max would get a glare and an earful if her mate accidentally got shot or kidnapped. For Jake, he ran into the field on instinct to head straight for that strange mound of earth without concern for his safety. His life on Earth had not shed the most pleasingly memorable times while in active duty but the vulnerable always struck a chord in his heart. It was also how he managed to get severely injured in the line of duty and never walked again in thanks to shoddy medical coverage for his heroism. The men were unsure of the reason for his sudden tenacity until Jake kneeled onto the earth, sinking on all fours to dig into that plump hill, and grasped small cyan hands that were weakly reaching out for him.

It was a child!

Tsu'tey practically shoved his friend out of the way when he began scooping the earth away to uncover the na'vi underneath. There was a survivor! The earth was not as deep as it appeared and the three men were able to remove most of it within a minute to reveal a small boy that was covered in muddy earth from head to toe. His large golden eyes were the only colorful note against the dark brown mud plastered all over his form. Like all children, he wore a loincloth for clothing while a soiled red feather necklace clung to his chest like a second skin. His black hair was matted in dry mud, caked flecks of dirt, and stuck to his lower back in a messy ponytail.

His fearful eyes filled with tears when the hunters created a symphony of reassurance that he was safe. Neither of the four would let him fall into enemy hands or risk more danger than a child deserved to face. Max tried to assess him for injuries by holding out his right hand but the young boy flinched instantly, jumping out of his hole in the earth to scramble backward. He stumbled back sloppily, his legs weak from the locked position underground, and a small hiss left his lips. Tsu'tey took initiative by raising his hand, aware of how frightening facing the tawtute could be, and spoke quietly, "I am Tsu'tey from the Atykwe clan and looking for survivors. What is your name, little one?"

The young boy calmed at the sound of his low voice, little ears lowering with caution, and he replied weakly, "Xexuit."

"Do you know if there are others of your clan nearby?" Jake asked slowly to avoid scaring him or causing more injury after what he experienced. He needed to know if anyone else had run off to hide in preset emergency areas to protect the vulnerable of the clan. For his clan, the Tree of Souls was the emergency shelter but the thick clearings a short distance west of Kelutral was their rendezvous site when separated. The confused look on the small boy's face told him there was no such rule among the small clan. Given the dense location of the forest and the shorter Kelutral, the clan could have gone undetected if it weren't for the unobtanium contained under the earth.

"I don't know" he answered truthfully, his eyes burning from his earlier crying fits and bothersome dust flecks. He didn't have any answers for the adults and felt insignificant during an important event of his clan. What would his parents say to his lack of information? He had run away on orders and instinct to find shelter, hiding in the vain hope that his parents would find him. Being forced to hear the screams ringing through the air and bangs led him to bite his lower lip, making it bleed in an effort to keep himself quiet. All he saw were desperate forms running across the clearing, forms that stood deathly still, and sudden fog. Hugging himself for comfort, his shoulders slumped dejectedly and he answered sadly, "They took them all. I don't know where my parents are."

"Who took them?" Arat asked gently, offering a warm smile to coax the child with his story. It was a painful one to retell and he wouldn't wish it on anyone but it was vital information. Any clues that he held could aid the search. His position in the rear of the Kelutral kept him safe but may also have hindered visibility. He didn't want these people to continue terrorizing residents, especially innocent children. They deserved to live a life free of fear and he spoke earnestly, "We may be able to catch them. Tsu'tey and I are from the Atykwe clan while Jakesully is the Omaticayan olo'eyktan. Max is an Omaticayan healer here to help."

"They looked like na'vi" he began warily to catching wind of the arrival while he helped to create columns of leaf plates. He loved to stack them neatly for the cooks to keep their clan strong and the sweet gentle scent of the leaves always filled him with content. That day, however, turned out much different. His brow furrowed with repressed memories and he bent his legs to hug his knees, continuing quietly, "They said they were here to trade, I was helping with stacking leaf plates when the attack happened. There was a mist, screaming, and sharp cracks in the air. I was told to run and left for the pa'li fields when they broke free . . . I fell into the mud and dug into the earth to hide. Mother did say I was good at hiding . . ."

Wiping tears away from his dusty cheeks, Xexuit smeared the dry mud to reveal striped cyan skin and he sniffled, "I stayed here the whole time to make sure nobody found me."

"You were very brave" Tsu'tey commended kindly with a solemn smile, empathizing with the little boy. He knew that fear firsthand and it left a negative imprint, along with nightmares, for seasons. They would have to be careful in their investigation through the area to avoid exposing him to more traumatizing views. Xexuit glanced down at his knees because he felt anything but brave through the event. He couldn't help anyone throughout the attack, his heart weeping for his lack of initiative. Tears welled in his large eyes again but he snapped at attention when the older man asked, "Did you see what direction they left?"

"No, they were gone by the time the strange fog disappeared" he answered feebly with disappointment, hanging his head to his inability to help. Why couldn't he be stronger or smarter to lend a hand? His ears flattened against his head with shame for not providing answers. Grasping the earth that had sheltered him from harm, he explained softly, "I dug further into the earth to make sure it didn't reach me."

"You did the best you could and it was smart thinking to hide here" Jake assured to convince the young boy that he did everything right. He couldn't have been older than five or six years old and if it was Txe'lan, he would expect his son to hide as well. As a father, his heart broke for the boy who peeked over their shoulders – likely looking for his parents. The news was not as optimistic as he had hoped but saving just one person would suffice. He wouldn't look at the negative aspect after facing defeat after defeat by falling behind on finding answers. Xexuit was the first to grant them insight into who the attackers were and had to be protected.

Regardless of the information he held, they had a responsibility to the little boy. He had been in hiding for long hours after Peyral flew to Kelutral to inform them, then preparing the team to head northeast. Aside from bruises and scrapes that were likely from his frantic running, there was no active bleeding or visible fractures. Xexuit, however, was still rattled enough to eye everything warily and Jake motioned to Max with his left hand to ask gingerly, "Will you allow our healer to clean up your scrapes?"

Xexuit curled up to protect himself from more pain and his voice shook uncertainly, "W-will it hurt?"

"Not more than what you've endured" Max assured with sympathy to his trauma and held out his hand to let Xexuit make the first move. Children were resilient beings but witnessing violence would not be easy to erase from their minds. After all, they had Tsu'tey as a constant reminder of what a traumatic childhood could unleash and the man was ready to leap into the forest to find the enemy. The only reason he didn't run off was out of respect for Jake's order and keeping the boy safe.

"Did you come to save us?" Xexuit asked quietly, hoping that the men would recover his people and find the bad people. He wanted to know what became of his parents, missing them dearly after never being apart from them for a few hours. Despite his wanderings through Kelutral, he was never far from either of his artisan parents or one of the children caretakers. He didn't want to spend a day without them, sniffling softly to the thought of bearing the night alone. Why had they been attacked? His clan never hurt anyone or sought to.

The men glanced at each other on how to answer that question because they did come to help. Unfortunately, it seemed that they arrived too late to make a difference. They didn't want to dash the hope in Xexuit and Arat took the honest route by answering calmly, "Yes . . . but our efforts have not gone well."

"However, saving you makes up for that" Tsu'tey interjected because one survivor sufficed for those that couldn't be saved. Xexuit needed to hold onto hope that his people could return, especially when sitting in the aftermath of the attack. The gaping holes in the earth and the destroyed clearing surrounding Kelutral did not convey security or a clan that would return right away. With a child in tow, they had to split up to continue the search for the attackers while keeping him safe. If the enemy knew he was alive, they could return to kill him.

Xexuit managed a faint smile and held out his right hand towards Max, who grabbed it gently to help him stand. He stood up on wobbly legs after laying immobile for long hours and Max supported his unsteady steps by locking his arms underneath his. The emotional trauma took its toll on his physical wellbeing and he guided the young boy to the nearest patch of firm ground. So far, nothing appeared broken or fractured with his strengthening movements but he held a few scrapes under the dry mud. He would need to clean them to avoid infection which might not go smoothly, given his wary expression at the possibility of pain.

Tsu'tey stood up to stretch his limbs, keeping a close eye on their surroundings for any sudden shifts, and he spoke grimly, "We have to keep him safe."

"The farther he is away from this danger, the less he can hear of it" Arat agreed quietly because it was pivotal to keep the sole survivor out of the enemy's hands. He had already faced enough for a lifetime and the fact that he eyed them uncertainly told him that the attack had shattered his trust in his own people. He knew the dreamwalkers could impersonate their people but the only ones he had met were trusted friends. Their abilities to blend in seamlessly and deceive innocent clans would allow them to kill at will if they weren't stopped.

"I'm already a target for them, there's no need to add more infamy to the Omaticaya" Jake sighed under his breath, not wishing to add more risk to the clan. They had already endured pain from the loss of the original Kelutral and their loved ones from numerous attacks by the RDA. He didn't want to leave the young boy unattended in a different nearby clan, feeling responsible for him. Xexuit needed safety and security until they found answers, which might not be possible with the attacks growing closer inland. He was already RDA enemy number one and having Xexuit on the same land would not be ideal, stating grimly, "He needs a place away from any danger."

"I would take him but Peyral might kill me for making a life-altering decision without her" Max chuckled awkwardly to adding in a temporary member to the family, given his mate's uncertainty with children. A lecture was likely to happen for his intervention to help but she held her soft spot for hurt and lost children. Xexuit glanced between the talking men, wondering why he had to leave his native land. The little boy had eyes large enough to melt the coldest heart and Max smiled to ponder, "I'm sure she'd understand though."

Being an only child and not bonded, Arat had absolutely no idea how to care for a child but would shelter the boy. Tsu'tey made the ultimate decision that might lead to his mate yelling at him later that day but he felt a kinship to the little boy after bearing similar pain. He kneeled to meet the wary reddened eyes of Xexuit and offered a sympathetic smile, earning a shaky one in return. He had been much older when he experienced his first attack from the tawtute and it never left his memory, alongside the scar in his right ear. Xexuit was still young enough that he needed his parents throughout the day but they were not here to provide for him. It was a tragic reality and he spoke honestly about what awaited his near future, "You have been through a lot, little one, but very brave in surviving. It is dangerous to stay here, however."

"I don't have anywhere to go" he sniffled sadly because he was bound to Kelutral since birth. It was all he had ever known and never traveled past the borders of his clan. He was too little to venture alone and his father would take him for pa'li rides within the safe confines of their land. Where was he supposed to go? The wild forest beyond? He couldn't imagine sleeping alone in the dark without his parents, wiping at his tearful eyes instantly. His arms and face had been cleaned by Max to make him more comfortable, which pleased the young boy until the conversation shifted to leaving the clan.

"Eywa will provide for you, child" Max soothed with a friendly smile to keep any more fear from his heart but Xexuit wasn't entirely convinced. He understood the suspicion because he didn't know any of them and after facing impostors that pretended to be na'vi, it was reasonable. His entire life had been shattered in a matter of hours and for a child who was dependent on his parents, it was heartbreaking. He wiped a damp cloth over his lean shoulders and neck to clear away the grime, revealing the bright cyan skin and unique bioluminescent dots underneath.

Tsu'tey knew the sense of loss better than anyone and he was eternally grateful that Mo'at had taken him in after the loss of his parents. Now, he saw the same situation reflected on a new generation and he would not leave him to suffer. Offering Xexuit a kind smile, he tapped the bands of brown twine and speckled cone-shaped seashells that decorated his upper arms. Being a child of the forest, he knew the unknown wide spaces could be scary and suggested, "Would you like to come away to the seacoast? It is a vast change from the forest but there is plenty of open space to roam and hide. You will be safe and looked after while we find answers."

"There is nobody I know" he whispered meekly to being far away from his homeland and what if his parents returned? They would find him gone! Still, he didn't want to stay in the desecrated land and abandoned Kelutral by himself. He could forage for berries and fruits from their crops but he was too little to venture past the borders for meat. Only hunters were capable of that and he wasn't one of them. He was still too little that his parents only let him drop in vegetables into soups on their command. All he could do was add seasoning to his meals. Had nobody else survived?

"You know me and Arat" Tsu'tey pointed out with a pleasant smile, flicking his thumb towards the shorter hunter. Arat foraged through his fabric satchel to retrieve a wrapped sweet made from a purple starchy vegetable that they sprinkled berries into to form semi-soft bars. He offered the treat to Xexuit to fill his stomach and the boy accepted it with a cautious sniff that quickly turned into a happy smile. His fingers ripped apart the neatly folded leaf to reveal the violet bar and he sunk his teeth into it to devour it. Tsu'tey was relieved to see him eat, meeting Max's gaze, and he continued the momentum of trust to say, "I can introduce you to everyone, from the matriarch to the children. You will be safe there for the time being."

Xexuit bit his bottom lip at deciding to leave home, swallowing his bite, and he murmured softly, "I miss my parents."

"I know and we will do our best to search for them" Jake promised firmly because their investigation would continue once they were certain he was stable. He wouldn't leave the boy alone to head out for the enemy, choosing his battles carefully. They would not have the lead they hoped for but finding Xexuit was a victory after discovering nothing but destroyed homes, damaged Kelutral, and ashes.

Hoping to earn his trust from the chaos surrounding them, Tsu'tey coaxed gently, "If you come with me, we can reunite you with them in the realm of Eywa through memories for comfort in the meantime. I do not wish to remove you from home but it is not safe anymore, Xexuit."

"Everyone's gone?" Xexuit squeaked weakly, ears flattening against his head to hear that he really was the only one. His heart hoped that they had not finished searching but the attack was so swift that he was not surprised that very little clan members escaped. Maybe there were some wandering the forest? Maybe they didn't know it was safe now? The hunters could find them and reunite his people!

"I am sorry but it does appear that way" Max answered gingerly, finding no easy way to reveal that dire news. They would continue scouring the land until they found another na'vi but silence always ensued at the clans attacked for their unobtanium. Discouraging the boy's hope would not help him heal from the tragedy and he wished to bubble him away from the cruelties of the world.

"But it doesn't mean we're giving up" Jake piped up because they would continue moving in the direction of disturbed earth. The path into the clan detailed a northern entrance but the tracks moved northwest which meant that was either their final destination or a decoy path. Their ikran would help in determining the foreign scents but they couldn't linger too long or the leads would fade. It was why he hurried his team and considered himself lucky in having Tsu'tey and Arat. The two had barely arrived for what was meant to be a collaborative meeting on theories but the enemy attacked. Pointing in the direction of their ikran, who were sniffing curiously at the holes in the ground, he told the others, "We should go now before we lose them."

If the hunters left, what would become of him? Xexuit froze instantly to the horrible possibility, his eyes widening with fear, and he blurted helplessly, "Don't leave me behind!"

"We won't" Tsu'tey promised because protecting him was a priority, even if he had to split the group. Placing a hand on top of his head, he smiled with reassurance that he would not be left to fend for himself. With Max being more of a healer, he was the perfect one to watch over Xexuit to keep him safe and calm. If they were going to head out and possibly engage any hostile beings, it was best to have hunters on that offense. The healer was more level-headed than himself and trusted the young boy to his charge, ordering quickly, "Max, stay here with him while we search ahead."

Jake nodded to grant him leave, patting his friend on the back, and Max turned to Xexuit with a friendly smile to suggest, "Why don't you show me your alcove and we will prepare a travel pack?"

His little hands wrung together nervously and he peered over the healer's shoulder to whisper uncertainly, "And if the evil ones come back?"

"We'll fly off with my ikran" Max answered confidently to be his rock for the time being and hearten his spirit. He wouldn't let him fall into enemy hands and scooped the young boy into his arms, clinching a success when he latched on. It was normal to be frightened but they would gather his things and transfer him to a temporary sanctuary. In hours, they would know whether the clan would be found or they would be left without clues of their whereabouts once again.

Breaking off from his friends, he whistled for his ikran to follow and the sepia male skittered across the field to protect his rider. At seeing Taru's formidable size, Xexuit felt safe for the first time in many hours. Remembering another fact from the attack, he wiped his bleary left eye and called out for Jake, "Olo'eyktan?"

He would help them however he could to have his people return and Jake smiled solemnly at the small boy when he revealed, "They called themselves the Azatu clan."


The search for the RDA remnants, which is what Jake was 100% sure they were, was another fruitless venture. They had not used large machinery to remove the unobtanium, leaving fewer tracks than they did with the initial dig sites before the last battle. Still, Tsu'tey managed to find tracks within the forest after Swizav's nose guided him to a trail leading westward. The leaves in the area were disturbed with damaged stems and some were crushed under a hasty escape, which likely meant they were becoming sloppy. Turning this theory to Jake, the clan leader agreed because the first attack could be seen in the distance but they left no trails. With the latest attack, they left a survivor and a trail that yielded clues to narrow their search. The question was whether they were preparing for something on a larger scale, intentionally trying to draw attention, or no longer cared about being sneaky? Neither of those answers sat well with the group.

The tracks in the moist dirt allowed them to determine that there were four-toed feet, akin to a na'vi. This puzzled the trio because the dreamwalkers held five digits like their tawtute counterparts. That only added more questions to the mystery but tracks were all they found. Eventually, the dirt became firm and the grassy terrain became drier as the trail led northward again. The dense emerald forest disappeared for the open clearings with shorter dry grass, concealing the enemy's steps again. The use of their ikran overhead to peer down into the fields failed to add more clues and they were forced to call an end to their search. Tsu'tey traveled westward with Swizav in one last attempt to find the smallest of clues that would lead them to their base of operations. However, the forest concealed the enemy's secrets but he would not back down easily after seeing Xexuit's distress. He refused to let more children suffer at the hands of the tawtute.

Jake promised him that they would continue their efforts with the camera surveillance in the forest. There were still a few cameras in storage, ready for setup, and he would head out with Norm to set them up with a focus in the western interior. He had mentally mapped out the attacks and they were following a pattern that would yield potential clan sites to warn to prevent unforeseen ambushes. This would require a meeting of the clans in that vicinity but movements across the forest could be tracked by the enemy. It happened before with the last battle and he would play smarter to elude them. Unlike the na'vi that revered the neural connection to Eywa, the RDA saw no interest in it and sought the ore underneath the willow trees. This is what he would use to their advantage and with that in mind, he sent Tsu'tey and Arat back to the Atykwe with Xexuit while he and Max returned to the Omaticaya. Their clans would reconvene in the realm of Eywa to discuss the rising threat and stop the destruction.

Xexuit cried himself to sleep during the trip to the Atykwe, riding with Tsu'tey the whole way there. It was a silent and tense trip with the hunters keeping a lookout and riding lower to the forest canopies to conceal their return. There was absolutely no way that they would allow the enemy to surprise them and harm the little child. Jake and Max lingered to study the remnants of the clan but they wanted Xexuit to be safe, breaking their group apart for the time being. There was no question they would meet again physically to tackle the matter.

The return to the Atykwe Kelutral brought relief to both men but there was a shared concern that they didn't inadvertently make themselves beacons open to attack. Arat had hopped off Xaza immediately, aware his blue ikran would skitter away to the upper canopies, and he ran down the spiral stairway to find the nearest healer. Thankfully, the healer specializing in children, Shala, was free and he informed her of the inbound patient. The mat for the new patient was covered with clean linens and she grabbed her tools, along with salves and poultices used with battered children. It was not a case that healers wanted to see but they were always prepared, ever since the arrival of the tawtute. With the healer aware of the situation, Arat headed off again to find the matriarch while Tsu'tey brought in the drowsy Xexuit.

The new environment frightened the young boy but after seeing the familiar face of Tsu'tey, he calmed down to allow Shala to assess him. The hunter was ready to head to the base of Kelutral for a bucket of water but Xexuit latched tightly onto his right arm. After being ripped away from his home, the older man was the last semblance of normalcy that he had. It was hard not to pry him off and the older Shala assured him she had water to clean away the gunk for a proper physical assessment. She would not add more emotional turmoil, chatting softly with him to earn his trust and commenting on his bravery. With her long braids entwined with seashells, she let him grasp a few to satisfy his innocent curiosity about the sea. By the time she cleared him of physical trauma, aside from scrapes and bruises, Xexuit had fallen asleep on the plush and cozy mat.

Outside, the matriarch and her family awaited Tsu'tey by the supply alcoves with Arat in tow. As always, Nitari was graceful in her steps with a lilac poncho that concealed most of her form, apart from her painted forearms, and the purple leggings to ward against the cool marine air. Joanna stepped away to enter one of the empty alcoves to pour a hydration draught and diluted it with water into two wooden cups. Returning to the small group of her mother and cousin, she handed over one of the cups to Arat and smiled gently, "Before you keel over from exhaustion."

"Irayo" he thanked her profusely while he caught his breath, wondering if he broke his running record. Sprinting from the top of Kelutral to the bottom and back up was not an easy feat, leaning back against the thick trunk to relax. He did his best to help Tsu'tey and Xexuit, running the errands required to keep the child stable and update his matriarch on the situation. His lungs had been kind enough to comply and not leave him stranded on the spiral staircase to be poked at by curious children.

"We might need to do some stamina training" Xuret commented flatly since he was not far behind his aunt, standing in front of the matriarch as her shield. Unlike the women, he kept his torso bare to brave the wind until sundown. However, his usual rolled sections of hair that were pulled into a ponytail now cascaded freely over his wide shoulders for added warmth. Arat offered a halfhearted hiss with his lungs resisting and demanding gas exchange rather than petty behavior. His friend, however, might be right about the workouts because the ilu had made it far too easy not to swim underwater nowadays. Their strength to push back against the currents and dive into the deep was astounding in comparison to using his own body.

Nitari turned towards the three, the small clamshells dangling from her bun clicking in song, and she motioned for them to sit on the log benches around the trunk. Arat fought his beating heart for a few more seconds but its protesting thumps caused him to slink into the nearest one. Joanna smiled sympathetically and joined him to not let him be left out, patting her swollen belly to quiet her babies down. The walk upwards had stirred their kicking festival and she smoothed the aquamarine poncho over her abdomen to keep warm against the cool breeze of the late afternoon. Most women had switched from cozy shawls to ponchos now that the wind became turbulent with the nightly rain.

She groaned with regret when her mate lifted the white curtain of the alcove to exit, not wanting to sit idly by. Arat had the same mindset, jumping back to his feet after that short reprieve and he held out a hand towards her. She grabbed it with a grateful smile for the help and he lifted her back onto her feet while she held onto her wooden cup. Being the dutiful mate that she was, she strode forward to offer the cup to Tsu'tey with a happy smile for his safe return. She didn't expect him back within the day but after seeing her exhausted friend, she knew her mate would be twice as tired. The two held wooden and leaf debris entangled in their hair, along with muddy dirt all the way to their calves. Had they been digging or rolling around in the dirt? Had they found the enemy?

He smiled in welcome to his mate, appreciating the action, and sipped the sweet orange drink. His ikei canteen had gone dry after his search in the forest and sharing it with Xexuit on the way home. His parched throat revitalized instantly to the liquid and he heard the matriarch ask politely, "What news do you bring?"

The two hunters shared an uneasy glance at the investigation progress because they had left under the impression of a meeting, not an actual mission. Tsu'tey, being the assigned leader out of their duo, stepped forward to explain evenly, "We arrived late in the morning and we were shortly alerted about suspicious activity in the northeast forest border. Traveling to the site, we were unable to find their location but the clues we did find give us a glimpse to a western origin. Jakesully stayed behind to continue the investigation with his team."

That was more than expected and given their disheveled appearance, it made sense. Nitari did not like to hear that these attacks were drawing closer inland and assumed it was only a matter of time that the sea clans would be targeted. She would have to begin preparing to keep her people safe and would begin by diverting them away from the beach. Given the heavy winds and rain, most were already settled into their alcoves. The huts had their intricate outer fabrics removed for storage in case the wind swept or knocked down parts of the huts, which were left with a white fabric overlay over the skeletal foundation. With the investigation still ongoing, she asked carefully about the missing link, "And the clan?"

"All but one are gone" Arat answered quietly with lament to arriving late and having their search fail. Nitari's optimism that someone was saved was crushed by that and she hoped their deaths were mercifully swift rather than torturous or worse, being kidnapped. Her heart wept for the loss of a thriving clan and she smiled faintly when Joanna grasped her left arm for support.

"One?" Xuret asked with surprise that someone escaped such a massacre after the reports received from the Omaticaya. Emptiness and destruction of the earth were all that was left behind, not the lives that once lived on the land. Even the Kelutral were treated worse than an enemy.

Tsu'tey glanced directly at his mate because he had acted without her input or the matriarch. He did not want to add more attention to the Omaticaya but Xexuit would be safer in their land, away from the forest. Joanna furrowed her brow for the serious gaze directed at her, wondering what it was for, and he spoke carefully, "Don't kill me but I brought back the only survivor."

Joanna raised her hands with bafflement because she would not harm him for protecting a na'vi. He could be so silly sometimes, especially with her pregnancy. Arat did not want his friend to take the blame solely because it was agreed upon as a group. Sighing softly, he met the calm sympathetic gaze of his leader and elaborated further, "It could not be helped. The Omaticaya will draw enough attention as the strongest fighting force against the tawtute and harboring the only witness of the attack could lead to a preemptive strike."

"How much risk does that bring us?" Xuret questioned, wondering how dangerous this one survivor could be. Did he know who the enemy was? Had they fought and escaped them? Was there a chance that they knew the Atykwe were shielding them now?

"It will be unlikely that they are aware we have him" Arat answered confidently because his small size was easily hidden on the ikran. Tsu'tey kept Xexuit between himself and his travel pack to make it hard to discern him on Swizav. The tawtute would have to have a powerful magnifier to spot the little boy from such a distance and altitude. A small child would likely not concern the enemy when Jake was likely a higher target on their list. Nitari was not the type to cast aside a child in need, or even an adult, and he assured, "Tsu'tey kept him well-concealed."

Tsu'tey briefly glanced over his shoulder to make sure Xexuit had not woken up, seeing no movement when he parted the curtain, and spoke quietly with a grim tone, "He is a young child . . . his parents are unlikely to have survived."

Nitari stiffened at having a child witness a traumatic attack, approaching the alcove to stop outside the curtain, touching the closed fabric with her right hand. Children were meant to be protected and she mourned for others that suffered worse than the little one inside with the healer. The innocent and vulnerable struck a chord in her heart and she asked with worry, "Is he hurt?"

"Physically, no, but today's wounds will run deeper" Tsu'tey replied solemnly to the mental scars that would linger, especially during sleep. He had woken during the night repeatedly after his exposure to the tawtute and clung to his mother for a month. Xexuit had neither of his parents present for that physical comfort and that would be a painful thing when night fell. All children slept beside their parents for bonding and his own would be nestled between himself and Joanna one day. It was a somber reality that Xexuit would have to bear until answers could be found.

Joanna was quick to join the matriarch outside the alcove, wishing to go inside and hug the little boy. Unfortunately, she could worsen his trauma and stayed rooted beside Nitari. They both shared concern for his wellbeing and hoped he would not repress into silence or self-imposed isolation. She wrung her hands over her belly, her mind wandering to her little unborn babies. If anything ever happened to her and Tsu'tey, she hoped that someone would find and care for their little ones. His parents might not be present but she would do her best to care for him in their stead, asking quickly, "Has he eaten?"

"Not much, he fell asleep inside the healer's alcove" Tsu'tey answered somberly to the light snacking that Xexuit managed to eat before their trip. The shock and loss of his home ran too deeply with grieving taking hold to overcome physical needs. He would have to bathe and eat at some point, which he would oversee to avoid traumatizing him further. His past reflected on the small child and he peered into the half-empty cup to tell the group, "I promised to stay close."

Joanna smiled tenderly to his gentleness when children underwent painful events, especially now with their growing family. His own losses and experiences were likely being relived which was a door that would hurt her mate. They didn't talk about those painful chapters unless he began the conversation. Nonetheless, he was a strong person and it was done in order to help the little soul inside the alcove. Placing a hand on his right arm, she squeezed his bicep with support to his decision. Arat cut the tension surrounding the injured child by piping in softly, "He's gotten rather attached to Tsu'tey."

She was not surprised by his soft spot for children in need, which kept growing with their upcoming parenthood. The old Tsu'tey was nothing like the current man in her life and he was an admirable one. The little boy could have no better protector and she shot him an amused gaze to remark, "How sweet."

"It's no use breaking him from sleep" Xuret stated simply, looking to his aunt with an apologetic gaze. He knew she wanted to help the little boy but it was best that he rested to regain his strength. It was a momentary solace of peace in Eywa's embrace to pull him away from the stark reality of life. Xuret had been lucky to have his parents pass from natural causes but his older brother had not been as lucky. His own regret at failing to reach him in time still lingered in his heart because it devastated not only their small family but the clan. Each head of clan was accompanied by tragedy after interaction with the tawtute and all of them sympathized with the young child. They would wait patiently until he was ready to leave the healing alcove and he promised her, "When he wakes, we will get him a warm bath and food."

"Where will he stay, tsahìk?" Arat inquired to where they would house the small boy, given that he needed adult supervision. An adult could be given an alcove to recover but Xexuit would require someone to help him in his daily life. He was too little to reach certain places, was still developing his motor skills, and memorizing the new landscape. Trust would be a delicate process after leaving his home abruptly but hopefully, the sight of a friendly clan would usher a familiar comfort.

"He needs a quiet space for a sense of security" Nitari advised her trusted team to tend to his little broken heart and would inform the clan at last meal. A child had to be integrated carefully and after the trauma of losing everyone and everything close to him, it was no easy feat. She would offer him a blanket of comfort among her people before focusing her efforts on finding those guilty of harming him. Her private alcove was a shelter for those in need of all ages and she would cradle the little one like she had done to numerous others. Placing her hands over her painted white chest, she spoke wisely, "A matriarch provides for all her children."

"If I may offer a solution?" Tsu'tey spoke up slowly because his leader already ran a clan wielded two different roles. She was constantly on the move to visit her people at every level in Kelutral and the beach while surveying the land through guidance from Eywa. Adding a small child to her numerous daily tasks could wear her thin and he would not let that burden fall on her. His time among the Atykwe taught him how tightly woven Nitari was with her clan and she was their heart, similarly to how Mo'at had stepped into Eytukan's role after the destruction of the Omaticayan Kelutral. His exposure to Xexuit and their growing bond led him to suggest an alternative, "Could we shelter him until we solve this mystery?"

Once again, he realized his mistake in deciding without his mate and quickly turned to her with an apologetic expression. His experience with Xexuit was not shared by her and she was already dealing with her own daily tasks, not to mention handling the last leg of her pregnancy. Not wanting to earn her ire, he spoke swiftly, "Joanna, I apologize for jumping without your input-"

"I agree with that idea, we can set up bedding in our alcove" she agreed with a fond smile because they would shelter him together. If he was already attached to her mate, it made sense to keep the two in close quarters to prevent emotional distress. She was also curious to meet the little boy that ensnared her mate's protectiveness. No child deserved to be alone through a tragedy and they would provide a safety net for him.

Nitari met her gaze to confirm that she could handle it, given her pregnancy, and Joanna smiled with confidence. If she could dive into the ocean to bond with an ilu while pregnant, a child in her home would be fine. It would be more dedicated care on a mental health aspect but they would provide his physiologic needs. A comfy bed, fresh hot food, a warm bath, and a quiet alcove would give him a sense of security for the night. With the matter settled, Tsu'tey directed his attention to the matriarch and dipped his head to pass on a message, "Tsahìk, olo'eyktan Jakesully wishes to inform you that matriarch Mo'at and tsahìk Neytiri will be present after sunset for a meeting with the nearby clans through Eywa's connection. They request your presence."

"Joanna and I will attend" she acknowledged as the clans fell to using the neural pathways for communication. She and Mo'at sent messages through their connection with Eywa to discuss the rising conflict with the tawtute. It appeared that they would regrettably return to old habits. She had hoped their leave would be the end of their troubles with the species but Joanna warned her they were tenacious with obtaining ore. Smiling at the young man who was quickly rising in prestige among her people, she informed, "So will you."

"We will?" Joanna yelped nervously, having never met the other clans in such a setting, and looked to her mate for support. Tsu'tey returned a comforting gaze to strengthen her resolve because he believed her input would be valuable. She and the dreamwalkers were their best assets to grant insight to their hidden enemy. Her ability to maintain a bond in the world of Eywa kept increasing with the passing season and Nitari's training. Regardless of whether they felt ready to meet the others, they were both humbled by her request and would not disappoint her. Xuret tried not to laugh at her girlish pep, earning a punch to his right arm for the escaping snort, while Arat tried to ignore their banter. Drowning himself in the sugary energy drink helped dramatically with that.

Eywa had guided Nitari to the dreamwalker for a reason and in return, opened their world to Joanna. Unlike most of the dreamwalkers that lived in the Omaticaya, she held one in her midst for insight. Her lost child had grown, alongside her mate, and she smiled serenely to their interconnection, "You are as much a part of this as I am."


Tsu'tey managed to convince Xexuit for a bath before last meal after leaving Eywa's realm while his mate meditated for the upcoming meeting. He had been running around all day and needed to bathe before bedtime or he would be a very disgruntled hunter come morning. The small boy was nervous about the unfamiliar but a tour around the Atykwe calmed his jitters until the ilu began their songs at sunset. The strange melodies surprised him but once he explained the wildlife of the sea was different than the forest, Xexuit found a semblance of peace within their sweet symphony. He always kept close to Tsu'tey by holding onto his hand and only allowed separation during their cleansing routine, separated by the wooden stalls for privacy. Still, the two hollered back at each other that everyone in their vicinity heard the conversation. If it made Xexuit feel safe, he would do it. Seasons ago, parenthood both frightened and annoyed him, finding it easier to be a big brother figure. Now, he found the role comforting as he grew into it in preparation for his own children.

The couple accompanied the matriarch to the Tree of Voices to join Eywa's world and meet the others. Arat managed to occupy Xexuit's time and take away his hesitance to be alone by having him mingle with the clan children to cheer him up. The rabble of children, from toddlers to pre-adolescents, were more than happy to pull him into their large group while the caretaker of the day set out bright paints for the children to decorate the exterior of wooden soup bowls. Xexuit managed to mingle shyly with Arat and Anaya overseeing him out of respect for Tsu'tey to keep him safe and occupied while he attended the meeting. The two fell in naturally with the children by partaking in the decorating themselves, particularly Arat, who had amassed enough energy for three children.

While Joanna was accustomed to wandering through the layers of Eywa's inner world, Tsu'tey was still becoming familiar himself. His connection to the All-Mother was often to either meditate or seek old memories of his past or his ancestors. Mo'at had once shown him how to find his way to a peaceful landscape, whether it was the interior of the forest or an endless field, but he rarely practiced that ability. In hindsight, he really should have. Why? Because the back of his mind tugged at him while he stood in one of those endless green fields. There was no end to the blue-lilac horizon in sight, the colors of dusk calming his mind, and the pink willow trees around them luminesced at certain angles. It would have been a perfect site for meditation but he was surrounded by his clan leader and mate.

He and Joanna stood behind the matriarch with her trying her best to appear confident despite the nervous flutter in her mind. For once, it was not her babies kicking her organs around. She tried not to peek at her mate, already aware he was in clan mode to where his mind became tunnel-shaped in focus. Nitari always left her in awe as both a clan leader and spiritual leader, choosing to be at the forefront and keeping her residents safely behind her. Joanna was amused to both her and Mo'at wearing heavy shawls for the meeting, white for her matriarch and emerald for the Omaticayan matriarch. While Mo'at preferred keeping her queue braid forward over her chest, Nitari's dangled below her large braided bun like a pendulum. The women knew how to complement each other based on their clans, an enviable ability. Mo'at was accompanied by both Neytiri and Jake with the olo'eyktan standing behind the women. After meeting little Txe'lan, it was strange for Joanna to see them without him. The spiritual leaders formed a circle to grant respect and attention to everyone present with their chosen clanmate at their side. For Joanna, this was a rare moment because she had never seen so many tsahìk gathered in one place- whether in reality or a merged consciousness.

Ikeyni was almost as bright as the older tsahìk with her vibrant red paint, which was now outlined by gold, and she stood next to the tsahìk of the Tayrangi clan. Her short hair had grown long enough to keep it in a topknot above her queue, a red headband with small white bones holding it back. Meira was her younger sister and the one chosen by the head family to inherit the role, rather than keeping tradition to the oldest female child of the clan family. Unlike her paint-splattered sister, Meira wore her long hair in thin braids that resembled swaying vines at her lower back. A healer's sash in silver was draped diagonally over her right shoulder while a light scarf covered her lean shoulders, tied behind her back for a delicate appearance. With the Atykwe and the Tayrangi being the largest clans in the east, their voices would carry weight against those from forest, plain, and desert clans.

Alongside the two largest sea clans, the Metkinaya and the Kekunan were present to support their neighbors. Tonowari was present as the Metkinaya olo'eyktan, an older man that wore an impressive necklace of polished natsula bones that were sanded down to match the contour of his shoulders. His dark hair was pulled into thick braids that were held in a long ponytail, adding severity to his lined face. He and Akon had been great friends, which maintained a great alliance between them and the Atykwe, and like Mo'at, he trusted Nitari's judgment. Aonung was the representative spiritual leader, allowing his sister to lead the hunters of their clan (to one day become olo'eyktan), while he focused on the balance with Eywa and their world. Unlike the spiritual leaders and his father, who were dressed more elaborately, he wore his hunting attire and a simple braid. For him, simplicity was best to bond with one's natural surroundings and he preferred to explore Eywa's world to learn more than dress intricately.

The Kekunan were new to the larger clans present but their swiftness in the air led them to detect the fires and sending messengers south of the coastline. For Nitari, they were the northern coastal defense while her clan was the southern border. The spiritual leader, Yazorah, was older than Meira and Aonung but younger than the Atykwe tsahìk, with short braids held back by a wooden headband entwined with shells, and a canary yellow shawl draped over her torso and tied at the center of her chest. Beside her, the leader of the hunters, Valris, was her choice, given that his teams were the ones risking their lives for clues to relay to their allies. The young man reminded Joanna and Nitari of their mates, given that head hunters held a little overconfidence in youth, that would mellow with wisdom. His height was close to matching Tsu'tey's with a similar leaner physique than the Atykwe and Metkinaya that held broader swimmer builds. His long hair was shaved at the sides of the head while the rest of it was pulled into one long braid that connected to his queue. His attire matched the Tayrangi by leaning more towards less clothing to ride in the air with a dark brown hue.

Jake was surprised to the variety among the sea clans with women as either leader, spiritual advisors by vote, and Nitari holding the dual roles. From the plains, Akwe held the greatest power among the scattered clans and villages. His mate, Anira, was the spiritual leader, and similar to Ikeyni, she was decorated in a pale yellow paint in wispy upstrokes that danced along her limbs to resemble the swaying high grass. Like Mo'at, she pulled all her hair forward to create one large braid to have an instant connection to Eywa's realm. Alongside the couple, two smaller clans were requested by Akwey due to six clans surrounding his own over the spacious plains. With the attacks being in their southern borders, he invited the closest leaders, Yezoh and Rakanin, of the Zorah and Sizan clans, who were closer in age range to Jake and Tsu'tey. Jake had met both leaders before the fight against the RDA and they had joined Akwey on their trip to the Omaticaya to celebrate Eywa and their new friendship. Both were young leaders on the rise and like their strongest leader, sought safety on their land due to its large open expanse. To Tsu'tey, the two reminded him of brothers by the similar angular features, neutral earth-toned attire, and shaved heads.

For the forest clans, Mo'at invited the largest three that had assisted them in the last fight. Their ground forces had mixed with the plains clans while the aerial forces joined the sea clans to disperse their strengths equally. The Tawkami, Eka, and the Nian'we were present to listen to the Omaticayans present the ominous situations arising in their forest. The Tawkami lived closer to the cliffs overseeing the Hallelujah Mountains, using the same rite site as the Omaticaya, and were longstanding allies. Zolana was the current tsahìk, draped with a green shawl that held the texture of fresh moss, while a yellow woven headband held thorns embedded for easy withdrawal. Similar in age to Mo'at, the two were greatly amicable and her clan had been the first to aid them in their fight against the RDA. Rehal was her mate and olo'eyktan, who wore a black feathered headdress in respect to the myriad of birds on their cliffs and a wooden necklace in small interconnected branches that outlined his shoulders.

The Eka was the second largest by living deep in the center of the forest to commune with the flora and fauna, focusing largely on herbalism to heal. Lunali was their tsahìk, closer in age to Nitari, with an intricate top that resembled woven leaves in teal and a long pink skirt that resembled willow vines with every movement. The olo'eyktan, Faruk, was her son and wore similar attire with a pale brown poncho that resembled delicate vines embracing his shoulders and the brown attire of the hunter caste. Both wore their hair short to the ears to keep easy access to their queue for their connection. The Nian'we was the smallest of the three to the west but formidable in strength, similar to the Omaticayans, by hunting close to palulukan grounds to maximize their food supplies. Their tsahìk was the only one present, given the clan's tasks for the evening, but she would explain all the information to her leader and clan members. Zati was closer to Neytiri's age than Meira, currently mated to their olo'eyktan, and wore camouflaging forest green attire to keep to her clan's affinity to fade into the tree lines. Her beaded emerald necklace embedded into her top, covering her entire midsection, and a looped vine belt with pouches hung from her waist. Her green loincloth was longer than most by ending at the knee while her hands and feet were void of accessories.

The desert clans were only two in presence, given the harshness of the terrain, and their borders between the plains and the forest drew them closer to those natural resources. Like the plains clans, they relied heavily on the pa'li and bred a broader build for long travel while regular pa'li were used for speed in hunts. Their connection to Eywa was held more revered by these clans due to the sparsity of Kelutral in the desert and were traditionalists in passing the tsahìk role only to the female head of the family. The olo'eyktans left the meeting in their hands since they would rather protect their borders with their own judgment. The Onang and Za'hirr matriarchs held a lilac tint against their cyan skin like the Atykwe due the harsher sun coverage over their terrain. Kokki, living deeper in the desert than the other tsahìk, wore a brown headscarf to protect her young face, keeping her long queue braid over her right shoulder. Her slim shoulders were covered by a thin brown cape that was left open in the front now that the sun had set. O'kala, on the other hand, was older than the other matriarch and wore attire similar to the Olangi clan since the Za'hirr were bordered by the forest rather than endless desert. Her skin was a darker purple than Kokki with a crisscrossed maroon top, a brown loincloth, and leather coverings over her calves and forearms.

The clans that Joanna had not met were the interior forest and the desert clans, given her leave before more mingling festivals arrived. Tsu'tey had heard of all of them, interacted with their trade parties, but was familiar with the forest and sea clans. The desert clans were closer in trade and terrain to the plains clans rather than the Omaticaya. Joanna felt a little underdressed for the occasion when compared to her mate and mother, quietly clasping her hands over her shawl. The opening talks had gone well until the conversation steered into the growing threat and the three missing clans – one in the forest, one in the desert, and one in the plains. With three territories hit, the sea clans were the last left. The presence of Joanna and Jake was also not being tolerated well by some of the clans in attendance, given their previous association with the tawtute. Mo'at took to the role of moderator, given her experience with them, and it went smoothly until she motioned for Jake to explain the situation. Unlike the forest, plains, and sea clans, the desert clans were not trusting of anything related to the tawtute and that meant the dreamwalkers. Hearing that the enemy still lingered, the conversation quickly began spiraling downwards.

Jake and Joanna knew they would hit bumps because of who they were but expected the most resistance from their chosen clans. They had both lived as outsiders among the humans and the tougher outer shell developed from that didn't phase them much. Now, with families of their own to protect, they didn't want that antagonism to pass onto their mates and children. They knew their mates could hold their own in a verbal or physical fight but peace needed to be erected and maintained on both sides. Fighting was not a solution, given their current situation, and they would be stronger together rather than apart. Joanna empathized with her friend when he earned the heated glares from the desert clans and questioning glances from the Nian'we and Tayrangi.

"They're still here?" Zati asked grimly to the threat wandering the jungle, crossing her arms to the unwelcome news. Her clan was not large in comparison to the Omaticaya but they could conceal themselves and set up traps to lure out enemies. Her mate was in command of the hunters and their safety was pivotal for the clan's survival. The tawtute had seized their hunting grounds and they were fighting every season to restore those lands for the wildlife to return.

"They were banished" Ikeyni stated crossly because she expected the species to stay off their world or risk death. She would not hesitate to capture and kill the tawtute after losing people in the last fight. The Omaticaya and Olangi were put in charge of exiling them on their flying machines to never return. How were some able to escape? Or were these new tawtute that escaped their surveillance by arriving from the stars? Meira raised her dainty right hand to calm her incensed sister and earned a small hiss but her olo'eyktan listened.

Akwey released a small sigh because they had done everything right to clear them out but admitted bitterly, "Not all of them, apparently."

O'kala narrowed her large eyes at the plains leader, given that clans within both their lands had been attacked. She didn't expect much from the dreamwalkers, still skeptical that they had nothing to do with it. In her view, as long as they lived on the planet, their people would be at risk. The plains clans had the largest force of pa'li which gave them numbers to cover the land and find the culprit. She would not be sitting around to let more of her desert kin be attacked and demanded, "Why have you not found them?"

Anira's lips thinned at having her mate questioned because he was the only one, apart from Nitari and Mo'at, that were fully investigating from the beginning. Her mate had approached the desert clans after their attack in the western sector and after they banished Jake under threat of death, they allowed only his team to survey the damage. Akwey suggested they join their efforts but the Za'hirr preferred to keep to themselves and the team didn't want to risk a squabble by reaching out to other desert clans. The young Onang matriarch was quiet but there was distrust in her eyes as well. Raising her right hand before her mate disregarded the elder in kind, Anira stated knowingly with calm, "It is a lot of territory to cover. It is why we are all here."

Jake was extremely thankful for the allies he gained through continued contact and he swept his gaze around the large circle to present what they knew, "We have narrowed it to a western area of the forest but we cannot determine where-"

"That is not good enough, people are dying" Kokki snapped tightly because dawdling in the dark would not provide answers. Her clan had not been attacked but she had traveled to see the destruction alongside the Za'hirr, disheartened to the jagged holes in the earth and fallen Kelutral. People had been lost to these creatures and they deserved answers to their whereabouts. Their lands did not have many Kelutral and losing one was devastating to the environment and future generations, its sanctuary and wisdom lost forever. Unlike the forest Kelutral, theirs did not grow as easily in the harsh deserts.

"The enemy will keep advancing unless we intervene" Tsu'tey pointed out easily to remind them that they were all within reach of communication to put a stop to this. Jake managed to bring together several clans in a short amount of time to fight the RDA and now, they had to seek a larger force to tackle this new problem. Their numbers had to be strong to have an advantage but placing blame and hesitation would collapse their alliance faster than the enemy's bullets. He understood the hesitance from other na'vi because he had been in their shoes once but he learned to See the world differently.

The Kekunan was already aware of the situation through Nitari's communication and Valris crossed his arms before stepping forward. He was not the type to waste his time on squabbling, being more proactive on finding answers, and looked to Jake before speaking aloud, "I am open to suggestions on finding them. My team of scouts has been surveying the western perimeter for any activity."

"This is why we requested this meeting" Neytiri spoke up firmly to convey authority like her mother, opening her arms towards the other leaders. They had accomplished a great feat by being here as one and deserved acknowledgement. Her mate was trying his best to put an end to this threat but he was only one man and they were only one clan against an entire species. She had witnessed the destruction of the tawtute from a young age and she didn't want her son to continue that cycle. It needed to be broken for permanent peace and she peered at the group to continue, "This is a rare but pivotal moment for all our clans. You all need to be aware of the situation and if you can offer scouts to help with the search, please do. We cannot do this alone."

Neytiri had been by his side from the beginning and despite the bumps in their road, they held unwavering loyalty to one another. She believed in him and Jake would always heed her judgment, aware that she held a deeper connection and insight to Pandora. Without her, he would have one hell of a time trying to convince the other na'vi. Time was of the essence to prevent more casualties and he agreed, "The faster we act, the faster we can end it."

O'Kala was not easily convinced like the others and Jake saw the intense distrust in her older eyes. If she were capable of laser vision, he would probably be dust scattering in the wind. He did not mean to offend anyone with his existence, only find peace between everyone, and really hoped that Txe'lan wouldn't meet the same resentment one day. Neytiri grasped his right elbow with support to stand strong against the waterfall of negativity. The older desert clan matriarch swept her gaze across his form, shrewdly checking him for any suspicious behavior, and questioned, "Where was this concern from the dreamwalkers when the tawtute first began attacking? Why now?"

Joanna couldn't let her friend take the full weight of their ire and cleared her throat to speak evenly with calm, "We always tried to prevent such attacks but we were always under supervision with tawtute holding weapons or chased off by clans when we managed to run off. We were never truly free and any peace brokering was thwarted by the others."

Being scientists, their orders were to continue studying the planet but Grace always knew the company was searching for more resources to extract. When she caught wind of scientists turning into the RDA's goals or attempting to alter the natural world, she would promptly lock them out of their sector and fire them. It was with Grace that Joanna was able to explore the wild but dangerous world and even though they were strictly guarded, there was joy in seeing an alien world. What human being could say the same? To leave their homeworld behind, traveling through space without guaranteed safety, and land on a foreign world that could kill you for breathing its atmosphere? There was good in humankind but the na'vi had only been privy to the horrors of the RDA.

"If they are not stopped, it will continue" Jake spoke firmly to be direct and transparent without sugarcoating. They would not likely approve of his words but they needed to be said. While Joanna chose a diplomatic road of understanding, he carved one with action. He didn't need to convince the horse clans because they were in constant communication but he didn't know the other sea clans and desert clans. The forest clans respected Mo'at and would confer with her on the best route on handling the problem. They were the most familiar with the tawtute and the best fighters for handling a frontal attack. It was their cohesion and Eywa reacting through Pandora's wildlife that turned the tide, reminding them, "We were granted peace because we both fought back but there are remnants left that must be ousted."

"How do we know their forces aren't stronger this time?" Rehal inquired curiously because they didn't have knowledge on their numbers. Their old enemy had flying machines over the sky and loud false pa'li that they rode into the jungle to knock down the lush trees. Despite vanishing their surviving forces after the last battle, who was to say a new group had not arrived? If the aliens had the ability to visit worlds, they had the advantage against theirs.

Tsu'tey turned to the Tawkami olo'eyktan after knowing the leader from years of trade. He enjoyed spending time at the edge of their cliff to peer out into the scenic forest and the floating mountains. It was the best sight of his homeland and one he missed from time to time. Like Jake, rallying the most allies would yield them not only a fighting force but support in healing and weapons. Together, he, Jake, and Akwey had to convince the others to join the fight or more would fall. He didn't want to go to sleep that night and tell Xexuit there was nothing he could do. The tawtute were behaving differently this time, whether out of hesitation or a weak number, and he stated matter-of-factly, "Their behavior is too sneaky, it speaks of calculation and vulnerability. We can use that against them."

"And if we're wrong?" Tonowari posed the alternative possibility, agreeing with Rehal that they were grasping at grass strands. He wasn't going to risk his clan against an unknown number and doubted the others would as well. His alliance with Nitari was strong out of respect to Akon and he looked to his old friend for her response. The gentle matriarch offered a reassuring smile, unwilling to risk lives in unnecessary fights. This, however, was a fight for their future.

Mo'at broke the circle's formation by stepping forward with her hands raised, beckoning their attention to prevent bickering, and stated serenely, "That is why we are here to share our ideas on how to handle this problem."

She knew the dangers of the tawtute better than anyone after losing her eldest but her son was not like their warmongering kind. He was trying to make the best of his situation and stop the fire from spreading, if only they could find it. They didn't want to do it alone because more helping hands would track them faster but they would continue with what they had if they needed to. Forcing others into a fight was not their way but she hoped this meeting would be one of many to rally a formidable war effort to banish the enemy.

Still, they would face opposition from those that believed dreamwalkers were a plague more insidious than the tawtute. Their ability to connect with Eywa could be seen as a desecration and the two dreamwalkers were earning their share of glares from the desert clans. While her son barely batted an eye at their scowls, Joanna avoided their eyes out of guilt for their words. The next barrage was not gentle when her pleas for cohesion were cast to the wind by Okki, "Only true na'vi should be privy to this. For all we know, you are secretly feeding them information."

"We are all one and the same" Nitari spoke sternly, her voice becoming colder for the insult against the two that were only trying to help. They had both proven themselves to their respective clans and she would not have her daughter insulted. Her origins were not part of why they were there and she would not stand idly to scathing words. Fear drove many to lash out at the unknown but she was not one of those, choosing to tread carefully with an open mind. It was how Eywa granted her visions of the future and her clan thrived for it while others clung to the name of Eywa with restricted senses. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the other tsahìk, unafraid of the younger leader, and warned quietly, "I will not tolerate otherwise."

Joanna's heart flooded with love and pride to her words, wishing she could convey the same resolve and strength in her words. The days when she would let every cuss word under the sun float out of her mouth were long gone, replaced with restraint. Still, she had to choose her words carefully to defend herself while not making new enemies. The Atykwe did not trade with the desert clans, keeping to their coastline or the forest, but Nitari held a greater network of friends through the neural connection with Eywa. Her conflicted heart relaxed at the sensation of Tsu'tey's energy reaching out to her through their own connection. She didn't know how Jake treaded through it like nothing but his military background likely assisted him with handling such verbal conflict.

Akwey was not keen on wasting more time standing around because his clan was readying their last meal. His mate would be overseeing the cooks to assist, given her affinity for cooking, and he spoke aloud with haste, "We can stand and argue all night but we need a plan. At some point, we'll also need food."

Faruk directed a questioning glance to his mother and Lelani dipped her head in reply. The tsahìk would follow his lead, aware her child was no fool when assessing dangerous threats. They were more invested in the bond to the natural wilderness, seeking meditation and healing practices rather than attaining the art of hunting. They left that to their brethren in the north and at hearing what they faced, Faruk made his decision with that in mind, "Our clan will assist. We are not the best fighters but we are adept to healing swiftly in active battles."

"We also craft very good poisons" Lelani added in with an innocent smile that stirred one onto Mo'at's lips. The older woman did not shy away from poisonous fumes, plants, or liquids and she would not be surprised if she gained immunity against them. Her Omaticayan hunters had visited the Eka more than once to learn their craft and there were a few poisons that even Tsu'tey wouldn't touch out of fear of contamination.

Valris could not speak on behalf of his entire clan, only his hunters, and looked to his tsahìk for her input. Yazorah had already been advised by their olo'eyktan that their judgment would be trusted, given the hunters being their first line of defense. Standing alone against a great threat would not bode well for their clan and the attendance of the others meant they considered the same. Bordering the other three territories, it was only a matter of time before the coastline was struck and Yazorah cast her vote, "We've already seen their trail of destruction and need no further convincing, we will help."

"We didn't shrink away last time and we will not bend today" Ikeyni agreed confidently to joining the battle once more and would begin training her people immediately. Their fighters were the first to lead the attack in the air against any flying machines and if the enemy was hiding more, they needed to be found and destroyed before they could take flight. She knew losses would be incurred once more but as always, she would be leading her people to show fearlessness on the field. Meira dipped her head to concede to her elder sister and while Ikeyni prepared their warriors, she would gather the healers and other non-combatants for assistance in the battle to come.

Nitari knew she couldn't keep away Tsu'tey and Joanna from joining the fight with their friend. Her people were exposed on the beachside, just as the other coastal clans were, and she would protect her clan. They had assisted in the last fight and although they bore great losses, including her nephew and his leadership, she would not flee. She was not a fighter by nature but she would strategize and meditate with Eywa to find the best solutions. Dipping her head towards Jake and the Omaticayans, she addressed him with a respectful smile, "The Atykwe are at your side, olo'eyktan."

With the other sea clans joining the fight to find the tawtute, Tonowari threw in his vote to stand stronger as one. It was best to fight an enemy together than searching blindly and alone for answers. Eywa would guide their clan in the coming fight and the olo'eyktan crossed his arms to speak aloud, "All of the Eastern Sea is with you."

"Our clans have been with you from the start" Akwey grinned with amusement since they had been investigating from the start and it wouldn't change now. This meeting was to gather more forces to their cause and he was glad to hear the coastline would join their efforts. With their ikran forces, they would have more surveillance over the forest. Their ilu forces would also thwart monitoring efforts from the enemy by using the water to travel and messages could be sent in those trade routes.

The only ones with uncertainty were the Nain'we and the desert clans but Jake was relieved to have the sea clans on their side. He understood the hesitation from the Nain'we, given that they were preferred their isolation in the deep forest but they held a history of conflict with the RDA as well. Their numbers were greater before the company began digging in unobtanium areas that altered their hunting grounds dramatically. Zati was a new tsahìk, similar to his mate, and he knew she was trying her best to protect what was left of her people. Before he could address her personally, O'Kala casted her vote on behalf of the desert clans by deferring coldly, "We can find our own way to deal with them."

Joanna already envisioned their clans being attacked instantly if they were left out of the information loop and alone. Their open expanse of land left little defense to the desert dwellers with only the geographical areas with canyons and ravines holding adequate shelter. Even then, they could be cornered by the enemy and slaughtered. She didn't want their history with the RDA to be their undoing and attempted to convince the older woman, "If we work together, we will be stronger-"

"Our world burns because of your kind!" the Za'hirr matriarch hissed with venom to what their species had brought upon their lands. They spread nothing but destruction and even when a few attempted to help, they would still lose people. She didn't trust anyone that wasn't born a true na'vi and saw the impostors as monsters for trying to live lives that were taken away from their own. None of them asked for their presence in their world and only chaos followed them.

"We are not them" Jake insisted to bypass the old sentiments towards the avatars and work towards a brighter future. He didn't want his son to go through the same footsteps of himself and Neytiri but live in a new peaceful world. Txe'lan was their hope for a better future that would expand generations to voice a message of peace and understanding. The human and na'vi couldn't continue fighting forever because it would only leave devastation and a dead world in its place. He wanted to remove the shackles to those negative thoughts that pushed away the other na'vi and sympathized with her, "I understand you may be afraid but-"

"You have brought nothing but death here" Kokki interjected quietly, her voice lower but more convicting than O'Kala's louder tone. She was distrustful of their kind, hearing of the destruction that fell upon the Omaticayan Kelutral that led to their exodus from their homeland. Why would they continue to follow the same man that brought the plague of the tawtute to them? Not only that but make him their leader? What made him different? Unlike O'Kala that was more vocal, she was shrewder with observation and wondered what spurred the other na'vi to follow and listen to him.

Her large eyes narrowed under the scarf covering her forehead when Joanna raised her hands into the air. She was tired of the avatars being the sole reason for rejecting aid when compromises could be made to benefit everyone involved. Like Jake, she refused to lose more people and she had an entire clan to protect by the shore. Not only her people but their ikran, pa'li, and ilu. Setting aside her modesty, she summoned that old flame of fury from her heart to speak confidently, "Enough!"

Tsu'tey stood still by her side, more amused than anything that his mate hit a breaking point on their peace talks. He had not seen her frustrated in a very long time and let her unleash some of that restrained fury, lightly brushing his hand across her lower backside in approval. It was the spark she needed to strike deep in their hearts and she returned the same stern glare at the desert clan matriarchs to state matter-of-factly, "You can continue bickering and let these old wounds fester or you can fight a relentless enemy to retake this planet and secure a future for our children."

"Says the demon in our brethren's skin" O'Kala spat with an annoyed hiss to her audacity to question their loyalty to the safety of their clans. Kokki remained silent, tilting her head slightly in acknowledgment of the headstrong female that had been quiet in tone. Their clans were not as strong in numbers like the plains clans but they had expanse terrain to hide from enemies. Still, how long could they hide and launch attacks? O'Kala broke her away from that rumination by pointing to the dreamalker's midsection to insult coldly, "Robbing us of our own for breeding."

Joanna did not react to the jab but Tsu'tey hissed defensively at the matriarch, uncaring if it was disrespectful, and he snapped tightly, "Do not insult my mate."

Instead of Nitari or Mo'at raising their voices to call for order, it was the Tawkami matriarch that clapped her hands to silence everyone. Like Akwey and Nitari, Zolana convinced Rehal to accept dreamwalkers when they attended the festival at the Omaticaya. So far, they had been swift in assimilating their way of life (particularly in caring for the ikran) and condemned their old kind. Everyone was capable of change in her view and she glanced at the other matriarch, shooting her a knowing glare that she should know better behavior than this. They were meant to be graceful and observant, interpreting Eywa's will, not their own biased sentiments. Her voice was neutral but there was a firm force behind it when she instructed, "You will maintain respect for everyone present. We are in Eywa's land."

O'Kala thinned her lips but listened to the other woman, not wishing to doom her clan's trade alliances to the others or anger the All-Mother. Joanna inhaled deeply through her nose, gazing at the beautiful lilac-blue sky with timeless stars twinkling in the distance, and she returned her line of sight to the gathered group. They were the best hope to put an end to the RDA and she motioned to the bioluminescent willow trees around them to state with resolve, "I choose to fight for this world- for my family, my friends, and The People. We either join forces and do whatever it takes to survive against them or all our voices will go silent. Join this fight, don't think about the past with the dreamwalkers, but the future for coming generations."

Aonung knew all the sea clans and he trusted the dreamwalker that lived with the Atykwe. She and her mate learned from him and his sister, falling in love with the beauty of their coral reefs, and left them with presents. He did not perceive any deception or evil lurking within her heart at all and trusted her. There was tenacity in the dreamwalkers but a willingness to learn and protect their loved ones. They were not so very different at all, even with the physical imperfections, and he lent his support by agreeing, "We can do this. Together."

"Your clans will be under siege and without guidance if you leave" Jake told the last group standing with uncertainty to join them. They had four from the Eastern Sea, two from the forest clans, and the five that heeded the Olangi's leadership. Mo'at hoped that by reaching consensus with the three clans closest to them, they could branch out to other smaller clans to spread the word of the rising threat. They were only one continent on an entire planet and they had yet to visit other clans that lived in different environments. Grace had told him there were alpine, volcanic, wetlands, savannahs, and others spread around Pandora. If they couldn't come together for this, what hope did other clans have?

Holding the gazes of the three women left standing, he reiterated once more with determination, "Don't doom your people by holding onto pride and old grudges. We are not them. They are the aggressors but please don't paint us all equally."

Zati wrung her hands over her abdomen, contemplating the risk of leaving her people exposed. The Omaticaya had always been kind to her people, trading food for their farming tools. She had been a child when her clan left their original homeland to venture deeper into the forest to dwell closer to dangerous creatures. They were cultivating the remnants of their desecrated origins to return there one day. Fear of losing her people was great but the fear of losing them and the chance to reclaim their homeland was even greater. Her voice sounded weak against her lips but she managed to say, "We will join you."

"Thank you" Joanna spoke gratefully for the extra support and dipped her head to the young tsahìk. Alliances could be tricky business but they had a mutual enemy to fight, not each other. Otherwise, the RDA would pick them apart by using their insecurities against them.

Kokki was not willing to lose alliances and although the other clans were trusting enough to follow the dreamwalker, she wasn't certain. O'Kala was greatly against working with the dreamwalkers but chose to follow a different path to work with them. When she proposed her idea quietly to her fellow matriarch, Kokki agreed to the alternative. They wouldn't say no but they wouldn't fall completely in line to his whims. Deferring to the older matriarch, Kokki let O'Kala finalize their mutual choice, "But we will speak through the tsahìk only."

"I will address the concerns" Neytiri accepted with a polite smile because her mother was more of an advisor now. Mo'at never stopped keeping a sharp connection to Eywa but was now able to meditate more often without adding more tasks to her day. Now, all clan business related to the spiritual aspect was in her hands. There were no secrets between her and Jake, especially with a problem as big as this. She would listen to the wary women and ease their discontent and clarify any misconceptions.

Jake would take any form of cohesion at this point if it meant saving the na'vi because their wellbeing came first. He wasn't going to let his clan fall prey to attack for petty squabbles and would let his mate and mother handle the other spiritual leaders. If that's how they wanted it, fine. He knew when to compromise and when to throw in the towel. Always the optimist, he withheld a sigh of relief at ending the arguments and plastered a smile on his face to pipe up, "As long as we're talking."

"This is the first time so many of us have gathered here and we are facing a great enemy" Mo'at stated with pride to their rally in the most sacred of places and knew Eywa was listening to them. It was their last place to seek sanctuary from danger and where they would rest for eternity one day. For now, they still had a fight on their hands and countless people to protect. Their fight would be to preserve a future for the coming generations and she encouraged them all, "Our people deserve our best efforts and so do other clans that might be experiencing the same in other parts of our world."

Nitari followed her friend's mindset of a unified front against the enemy to bring in as many numbers as they could. The fight simply wasn't about them but the entire world at large. The tawtute were adaptable creatures with daunting technology yet they were defeated once. They had to keep that fact burning brightly in their hearts to win. Raising her hands outwards to the group, she instilled with a firm tone to inspire them, "Every living being on this planet is counting on us. What we do here today can save women, men, children, families, unborn children, even the animals of this world. . . but only if we are united."


The conclusion of the meeting set the trio at ease to their consensus of a plan and setting aside fears to maintain focus on finding the enemy. Joanna sent Nitari and Tsu'tey ahead of her after needing a solitary moment in Eywa's realm for a peace of mind. Her mate reminded her that she had nothing to do with the tawtute anymore but she couldn't shake that feeling. He wasn't entirely convinced about leaving her alone but there had never been a moment that shook her belief on safety in either Eywa's realm or the beach. She trusted the world of Pandora far more than humankind because so far, they were a continuing threat to a peaceful existence.

"Why so glum?"

The amused voice of Grace interrupted her solemn thoughts on the future and she stopped smoothing the soft blades of emerald grass under her fingers. The sensations in the world of Eywa were astounding with timeless serenity to enjoy its beauty. Unfolding her legs from her cross-legged sitting form, she glanced around to find the familiar voice of her mentor. The previous redhead stood a short distance in front of her, her long raven hair loose and glossy under the bioluminescence of the eternal world. The work clothes from their first interactions in that world were shed for na'vi clothes that integrated Grace into the world she had desperately wanted to enter. Despite not having a physical body anymore, her friend had earned acceptance and existence in Eywa's embrace. She was no longer depicting herself as a human as she once did but a na'vi- a true one with four fingers, large feline eyes, and her familiar friendly smile.

It was a delicate and complex network that bonded conscience and eternity into the natural world that continued thriving. Unfortunately, nobody but scientists at heart desired to learn more in a symbiotic exchange. Grace kneeled on the ground to place her right hand over her ex-student's head to breach the origin of her pouting. Joanna managed a half-hearted smile to her inviting smile to share her woes and she sighed despondently, "This is the first time I met the other tsahiks and I don't think I made the greatest impression."

Grace scoffed dismissively to her flicker of vulnerability against the other spiritual leaders. Joanna managed to earn the chance at leadership and she couldn't show weakness in the face of conflict. Her student was better than that and their friends, along with her family, believed the same. It was not an easy transition to step into leadership without concerns for the future and what others thought of them. She found it humorous, given how direct she could be when insulted, but her mentee had grown. The neural activity from numerous spiritual leaders visiting the realm stirred curiosities from the other spirits, leading her to chuckle, "Really? The ruckus echoing through the realm says otherwise."

"I am trying my best to be maneuver through this new problem, but I don't know if I'm doing it right" Joanna admitted sheepishly to tackling verbal pitfalls and managing to weave her way out of a conflict. She didn't want to anger anyone with her presence and demand respect by having them conform to her ideas because that was not progress. It was a good thing that Mo'at and Nitari handled the problems with ease but it left both her and Jake wondering how they would face future backlash. Would their leadership ostracize their beloved clans for having them as leaders? Would they lash out at their dear mates as well? She ran her fingers through her hair to soothe her nerves and murmured, "I used to be brash and vocal but that part of me left a while back. Now, I'm trying to play the part of a diplomat and I need to master this. I can't have Nitari handle all of this."

"No, you are a diplomat" Grace corrected firmly to convey that she could handle the insults hurled at her. Dreamwalkers would not have fans everywhere, given their genetic manipulation and requirement of a consciousness. The dark spots of negativity left by the RDA would haunt their steps and no avatar could truly escape it. They had to set aside that pain of rejection for the greater good, to show that there was a brighter and benevolent side to their species. Offering her a kind smile, she complimented her efforts to get everyone on the same page, "You offered them insight to what the RDA is, what humankind is capable of, and what the response should be. You're doing everything right."

Her brow furrowed with disappointment because all she felt was defeat. Tsu'tey tried his best to encourage her beforehand that she was ready and Nitari's protection was appreciated but she couldn't depend on them. She had to stand securely on her own footing with her own inner strength and support them. Otherwise, she would be their downfall. Not wanting to be weak card in the deck, she blinked rapidly to ask uncertainly, "Then why does it feel like I failed?"

"You faced some criticism, it happens, but you brush it off and keep trying" her friend replied easily with an encouraging smile to draw her withdrawn friend out of her shell. Holding out her right hand, Joanna reached out with shaky fingers and Grace squeezed her hand firmly to offer her support. There were some thoughts that Joanna couldn't vocalize to her mate and mother, finding refuge with the wandering spirits of Eywa's realm. Like a na'vi finding an atokirina in the forest, Joanna saw the spirits there for guidance.

To Grace, her wandering and meditation to the realm granted her insight that no other dreamwalker had. Her abilities were developing well in comparison to their first meeting with Eywa after Joanna's transformation. The scientist had barely been a student learning about the way of na'vi life and now, she was an experienced huntress with healing abilities. Her connection to the realm was also stronger than a third of the spiritual leaders present and she was still learning alongside the strongest tsahìk that Grace had felt. Her own interactions with Mo'at yielded information on the older woman's strength and with her training Joanna, her friend would eventually emulate her. For now, however, she struggled with wariness about her experience, "Am I presenting myself properly?"

"Each clan is different but they all respect Eywa" Grace assured with a kind smile because each held their own traditions and traits they valued. While the Omaticaya valued their artisan wares, especially their weaving, the Atykwe were about nutrition with their food supply. Despite no longer having a body, her secret voyaging through the beach depicted shellfish with moist meat, fried fish, pickled vegetables, and even a giant clam that amazed her. Compared to the simple fruits and vegetables at the compound, they were a feast. The na'vi were a different species than humans and she reminded her carefully, "Our existence as avatars would not be tolerated through all clans, given the spirituality of their world. We are pretenders, disguisers, usurpers of empty bodies that infiltrate their society. We look, talk, and move similarly to them- it would be frightening if the shoe were on the other foot. It is unfortunate but you will face people like this."

"Any chance we can create human avatars and invade Earth?" Joanna attempted to land a joke on how to get true revenge on their old species. That plan already had huge barriers, mainly because the na'vi didn't have space flight. They would also need a large space fleet to overtake Earth or at least, blast away the major hardware networks that sustained life in the polluted planet. People couldn't breathe without masks and even life inside a home required the constant use of integrated air filters. Their people were one malfunction away from extinction.

Grace's nose wrinkled instantly to that because they would be putting the species out of their misery in her view. As a young scientist, she believed there was a chance for coexistence and for Earth to rebuild its world into what it once was. The years quickly passed to her giving up on that idea and teaching her new employees how to protect Pandora from exploitation became her venture. There was too much bloodshed on both sides for peace and she muttered dryly, "What would we get out of it except for a dead planet?"

"Good point" Joanna stated flatly to getting the bad end of that deal but wondered whether there was a peaceful solution. She didn't want to kill anyone and remembered the heart-pounding anxiety from avoiding bullets. The casualties and injuries on the na'vi side were another thing to consider but clans had already fallen to the RDA's clutches. Hesitating and abandoning them was not acceptable, not when children like Xexuit yearned for his lost parents. Her people deserved to live a life free of fear and give a safe world to their descendants. Her children needed that world. A shaky sigh left her lips, her worried gaze meeting Grace's, and she pointed out, "We lost people in the last attacks against them. You, Trudy, the Omaticayan and Atykwe leaders, and I almost lost my own mate. I can't lose the father of my children, Grace."

"You will lose people, there's no doubt about it" she stated grimly to the consequences of war but protecting their world from parasites was required. Eywa was not pleased with the desecration of the earth and the burning of the plains Kelutral had transferred her awareness into a herd of wild pa'li and a flock of birds to survey the land for the trespassers. She held neutrality when it came to the thriving world of the living but when her children were slaughtered needlessly and the ancient trees were destroyed, it garnered her discontent.

"It is fear that springs anger but you must not let it discourage you against the true enemy" a new voice interrupted the two women and they turned to find Akon to their right side. The wandering of spirits was silent in the serene and timeless void, a trait that was slowly being incorporated into Joanna's mind.

Joanna grinned instantly with delight at his presence, extending her arms in his direction to summon him closer. Grace was reminded of an eager child awaiting their parent and her friend had indeed found her adoptive parents in Pandora. There was pride that her team was able to find peace and a place in the world to call their own. She might not be able to be with them physically but she was always looking over them. Joanna patted the grass on her right side with enthusiasm while she beckoned, "Father!"

After her initial shyness to call Nitari and Akon her parents in private, she became fond of using the names. She was still wary of what the clan would think of her addressing the matriarch as such but Nitari simply responded that it wasn't every day a dreamwalker was adopted and she'd have a word with anyone who chided her. They had even brought her mate into the fold, turning her normally stoic Tsu'tey into a happy chatting man. For him, it was a growing family and a gift to have both his paternal line present and his mate's. Even Xuret, who had never liked being the last member of Nitari's line, was relieved and happy to have new relatives to share his thoughts with. Of course, that sometimes went downhill and led Joanna to roughhouse with her new cousin (before the pregnancy) while Tsu'tey shook his head.

Akon kneeled on the grass with a graceful step, making no sound as he sat beside his daughter. He was more accustomed to floating around in his atokirina form but he smiled proudly at not missing a step with his footing. Unlike Grace who was still freshly new to the realm, her steps were more instinctual from memory while his were pulled from decades past of memories. Joanna smiled fondly at her paternal figure, his image of youth a timeless painting of perfection. His leadership attire never changed, along with the white feathers and spotted spiral shells embedded in his long braids. She did, however, sometimes catch her parents regressing to their youth to frolic like a young couple to relive old memories. There was a great affinity to love from both and she cherished that they opened their hearts to her.

Grace dipped her head in respectful acknowledgment, earning a friendly greeting from the older man. Any friend of Joanna's had passed through his daily wanderings at some point with his long existence. Placing his right hand over his daughter's head, he advised her gently, "Your focus must be in minimizing as many casualties as you can."

"Time for the ruthless calculus of war" Grace muttered with regret to the sacrifices that would occur on the road to victory. Joanna had a right to be worried and she didn't envy her position at that moment. Jake would likely be providing the most insight with his constant tracking but the other clans had to prepare to defend their own territories. Without the location of their whereabouts, anyone could be attacked. After sensing a pattern of destruction, little souls entering their realm (from natural causes), and Eywa's growing discontent, Grace began exploring the forests for answers. The RDA learned to be smarter and conceal themselves within Pandora but nothing stayed hidden forever.

While Akon had absolutely no idea what calculus was, he did agree that the upcoming conflict would seize lives on both sides. The tawtute would not stop until they reaped what they desired and his people would be the ones suffering from their greed. The road for peace was no longer clear, ridden with gnarled needle-ridden vines and logs to block the path. Many had tried but none succeeded. His daughter was trying to create a unified front with a plan but a death toll was impossible to avoid, telling her, "We will lose people, there's no question about it. It is a sombering fact every leader has to accept."

"Depending on their forces, you have to prepare for a small or large scale assault" Grace agreed softly and hoped the numbers on the opposite side were small, given their mystery. The last assault on the RDA had taken out a large chunk of their numbers and kicking off the remainder couldn't leave much of them behind. The fact that humans couldn't breathe for very long on Pandora without dying also dented their numbers.

"I have to coordinate with the others on finding their base location" Joanna asserted because finding them would solve the where, who, why, and how. They were the key to where the missing na'vi were and she didn't want to lose more people. What if her clan was next? Or the Omaticaya? Or the Olangi? Innocent families like Xexuit's were caught in the crossfire and that was unacceptable. The atrocities had to end and she sighed under her breath with frustration, "We can't keep searching blindly and waiting for the next attack. Otherwise, we lose the advantage and innocent lives."

Grace leaned over to tap the center of her forehead and advised carefully, "Find them first, plan later."

"Not you specifically, you have children on the way" Akon pointed out quickly, keenly aware of her hastiness to step into action to help others. There was a time for initiative and a time to let others organize on her behalf. She was expecting her first child, more than one, and the trial of labor was never easy for a woman. Tsu'tey would lose his mind and burn the tawtute hideout to ashes if anything happened to her. Joanna pouted with disillusion to losing ground in planning due to her pregnancy and he reminded slyly, "I know your temptation to jump headfirst into uncertain situations."

"The ilu were a once in a lifetime chance" she insisted innocently to the majestic nature of the marine reptiles that enamored the clan. The female pod was assimilating well to the seashore and the entire clan was learning more about them, particularly the hunters. The children were now partaking in the food-making process for all their steeds and Joanna had brought Peke, Aci, Swizav, and Xeki to mingle with the ilu. Seeing the earthbound Peke, the airborne Xeki, and the seafaring S'livi attempt communication through neighs, hisses, and clicks were quite the sight. Aci and Swizav, on the other hand, pretended to disappear out of existence to the off-key musical. Not only that, but their clan was now privy to their symphonies and she added in, "Besides, mother loves hearing their sunset songs."

Grace turned a blind eye when the clan leader turned into a parent to corral her friend with a fatherly tone, "You have an entire clan to look after. Return to your mate and get some much-needed sleep."

Joanna's ears flattened at being told to relax but he was right in her returning to Kelutral. She didn't want to be far from her people at a time like this and her family needed her. Running low on energy and questioning herself would do nobody any good so it was best to rest and fight another day. Her mate was likely with Xexuit once more and would require her help to handle his first night in their Kelutral. She had caught a glimpse of him after Tsu'tey handed him off to Arat and the little boy was closer in height to Keron, putting them in similar age. He still had a bit of growing to do but she saw the fear of the unfamiliar in his beautiful large eyes, vowing to protect him. With their new little visitor wary of the sea, she would help him adjust and told the two with a fond smile, "Tsu'tey promised to help Xexuit fall asleep so we'll be setting up his new room. It won't be his old home but it will be safe."

Grasping each of their shoulders with gratitude, she appreciated their advice for the night and spoke earnestly, "Thank you for your endless support and advice."


Tsu'tey was relieved to be reunited with his mate after her private meditation with Eywa. The growing unease with the tawtute and her pregnancy as an avatar increased his worries. Still, she was back safe with them. Nitari requested himself and Joanna by her side at last meal to explain the situation to the clan, the two keeping the little boy in between them for protection. Before the attack on his clan, Xexuit was a shy but playful child, and having all the Atykwe's attention on him caused him to duck behind Tsu'tey. He and Joanna managed to coax him with the delicious aroma of seared crispy fish and hot soup, jumpstarting his appetite after the long hours without food. Never having tasted food from the sea, he was delighted to the flaky, creamy, and crunchy flavors and textures.

Nitari had been ready to shelter the boy for the night after the busy day of her children but when she saw him nestled between the young couple, they were a far better fit. Xexuit had no idea how he would fit into this temporary life but he was grateful that he wasn't eyed suspiciously for being the lone survivor. After washing away all the muck and filling his belly with hot food, he was ready to join Eywa in dreamland again. Joanna and Tsu'tey always stored bedding for sleepovers from his cousins which made that arrangement rather easy. With Tsu'tey traveling for hours that day and her twins due to arrive soon, the pair would retire early in comparison to a season prior. Avi informed the couple that she would bring clothing for him in the morning after a nightly emergency gathering of the seamstresses to fetch suitable attire. Together, the clan came together to provide for the little boy lost from his home.

Joanna prepped his new bedding with a peppy smile in close distance to their own in case he became frightened during the night. Whenever Tsu'tey tried to help, she reminded him to get both himself and Xexuit ready for sleep. The small boy managed a true smile when Joanna combed her mate's loose hair to work out the knots, earning complaints, while he did the same to Xexuit's loose tresses. Joanna kissed her mate's left cheek as she finished the nightly routine and wagged the wooden brush at him to chide, "You did worse than Xexuit, you big baby."

"You have the hands of a palulukan" he shot back snippily because he had forgotten to add a conditioning oil to his hair after the bath. In his haste to make sure Xexuit cleaned off all the muck and knew what to use, he forgot about his own hair care. Without it, his sleek and lush hair became easily tangled and at the mercy of her wild hands. Hissing playfully at his mate while she stood up to seal the white fabric flap over the notches of the alcove, he braided Xexuit's hair into a single braid to bring an end to their hair styling.

He worried for his mate's wellbeing as she continued hunting in lighter catches, her studies with Nitari, her herbalism work, and now, she was involved with finding the tawtute. Frankly, he would prefer she stay out of it but Joanna felt responsible for any retaliation from humanity. For him, she was a na'vi and that part of her past was cut away like a festered limb but deep wounds were hard to heal. His own tainted history with the tawtute didn't help matters, only urging her to take more action on his behalf.

Joanna sealed the entrance to their alcove to avoid accidental wanderings from their new guest and keep out the cold. She would often leave the alcove open for the fresh air and bioluminescence from the lanterns but tonight was different. The sounds of the buzzing insects floating around Kelutral and the crashing waves on the horizon didn't bring her the usual comfort that soothed her heart. Returning to the two, she kneeled on the wooden floor and smiled warmly at the little boy that needed their help. His large expressive eyes over his innocent round face beckoned the maternal flame in her heart and she informed kindly, "It can be scary being in a new place but don't be nervous about seeking us. We'll be right beside you within a hand's reach."

She placed his brown bedding on his child-size mat close to their own large emerald bedding to give him a sense of security. They had given him a little tour of their alcove to familiarize him to the grooves in the dim lighting and wash away the modesty. It was larger than her own alcove as a huntress with a cavity large enough for several children, fitting all cozily in its rear. The front of their alcove was similar to their hut by holding shelves for their trinkets and small items that could be flattened while walking. His ears dipped against his head, glancing downcast at the hardwood floor, and he hugged himself to whisper sheepishly, "I don't want to be any trouble."

They were all being so kind to him and he was grateful for the attention, wishing more of his people were here with him. Why was he the only one to escape? It was a question that kept plaguing him. His eyes closed with regret to being alone without his parents, his clan, even his Kelutral. Tsu'tey saw the self-blame instantly, experiencing it himself, and he scooted closer to remind him firmly, "You're not, little one."

He couldn't help feeling like a burden to the nice couple, struck with guilt when they were expecting a child of their own. Taking the attention away from the incoming baby was not his intent. There was immense gratitude for having a safe place to sleep and their kind presence but he didn't want to add more work into their lives. Not wishing to be resented, his voice cracked with an apology, "I'm sorry for intruding in your home."

Joanna's expression softened immediately because he was the last person to cause a disturbance in their life. Humankind took the number one spot on that list. He was all alone without anyone to shelter him, easily finding empathy after her own troubles on Earth, and could not deny his little heart anything. He was precious by appearance alone, ensnaring her heart, and she took a gamble by placing her hands on his slim shoulders. Xexuit flinched for a brief moment to the physical touch but the warmth comforted his heavy heart. He wished they were his mother's but he didn't know when he would see her again. The woman with the pretty seashell headband lulled him with her soft voice when she soothed, "Let that thought fade from your mind. We have company over quite a bit and you're our newest special guest."

His shoulders relaxed to her comforting tone and the supportive grasp on his shoulders, managing a shaky smile. Eywa had blessed him after the tragedy of his clan. He would pray that nothing happened to the kind sea clan in retaliation for housing him. Tsu'tey was relieved to see that Joanna's action calmed his worries and he raised his voice in a lighter happier note to agree with her point, "That's right, it's not every day that we have a Vadaran visitor. Think of the Atykwe as your home away from home. When it is safe, you can return."

"Will my clan be there?" he asked weakly, blindly hoping that he would see them all again. He didn't want to believe that they were all gone with only himself left. How would he carry on by himself? His Kelutral deserved to have its people return and thrive on its land, not leave it abandoned.

"We will do our best to find them" Tsu'tey vowed firmly because finding the missing people from the attack sites was a priority. Guilt and failure filled him when he left the grasslands and outskirts of the forest, wishing he could have spent hours picking through the forest floor. Time was critical in reaching living survivors but without a location of their secret lodging, they were blind. Xexuit was depending on the adults to help find his people and he could not disappoint him.

"But it might not happen?" he asked quietly to the uncertainty of tomorrow, especially after overhearing the matriarch speak to the clan. The attacks weren't a rare occurrence and clans were being targeted by those na'vi-looking people. It made him question who to trust but Tsu'tey held a strong personality like the heroes from the old clan tales he would hear from the lorekeeper. There was an aura of honesty and determination that kept him rooted by the older hunter. He was too little to hold a weapon, apart from a small knife, and could deal no true damage against an enemy. Wringing his fingers nervously, he looked to the couple with sorrow and whispered, "What will I do if I'm the only one?"

"Live for them and claim a home of your own anywhere" Tsu'tey answered easily to hearten his battered spirit with optimism for the future. Grieving would not be easy and the scars would always linger but sinking into hopelessness would not do any good. He knew firsthand how pain and rage could consume one's heart which is why he placed priority on finding balance. For him, helping the clan and venting to Joanna soothed his old pain away into dull reminders.

"I'm little" he mumbled sheepishly to his size and youth, being nowhere near in the strength category of the couple. They were grown adults capable of defending themselves while he ran off to hide from danger. How could he find a home to call his own? He expected to live in his Kelutral, not be chased off it.

"Home is where you feel safest, and sometimes, who that person is" Joanna explained tenderly since her heart designated Tsu'tey as her home after falling in love with him. It was not an easy transition for her from the Omaticaya to the Atykwe, sympathizing with Xexuit. Unlike him, however, her beloved Omaticayan friends had not been attacked or kidnapped. She wanted to instill courage and hope rather than the painful sense of defeat and loneliness to lend him strength for his transition period. The future was uncertain and they had to prepare for a positive and negative outcome. He was too young to be exposed to the harsh realities of life but she encouraged him onwards, "You will also grow up strong and find a new sense of home."

"I miss my home" he murmured sadly but he couldn't help it, not expecting to find himself that night in a new land among strangers. He wanted to sleep between his parents' arms in their hammock or in his little layer of blankets in the alcove he'd known since birth. This place was unfamiliar, lacking the scents of home, the comforting presence of his parents, and the Kelutral that overlooked the dense forest- not the sea. Wiping his tired and red-rimmed eyes, he couldn't complain about his safe sanctuary when his clan was missing. Was his father or mother in pain? Did they wonder where he was? Were they fed and warm for the night? Missing them terribly, his entire frame deflated to being alone and he whispered, "Mother always told me a story or a song before sleep."

"You're in for a treat, Tsu'tey has both Atykwe and Omaticayan stories" Joanna piped up cheerfully to grant him a similar experience and patted the top of her thighs with excitement. Despite his complaints seasons ago when he terrified children, her mate had become proficient in storytelling to leave the audience wanting more. A story for the night might lull him easily to sleep, which he sorely needed after the long day. A twinkle flashed in his eyes, likely to new untold stories, and she latched onto that hidden curiosity by proposing sweetly, "Should we have one about pa'li? Ikran? Ilu?"

Their consideration to tell him a story was greatly appreciated and he wondered what tales the older hunter held. He appeared formidable enough to have tangled with dangerous creatures but he wasn't sure if he was ready for scary tales. The terrain of the Atykwe was beautiful and he had only heard about the Omaticaya through the chatter of his clan. The last animal mentioned was a new creature for him and he answered shyly, "I heard the ilu but I didn't see them."

Joanna smiled kindly to bolster his disclosure rather than being withdrawn to make him comfortable. She and Tsu'tey did not mind hearing what he needed to earn more of his trust and settle his jittery nerves. From what he witnessed, he was coping well but they would take each day slowly to help him withdraw from his figurative shell. Patting his bedding with her left hand, she spoke enthusiastically to begin a new bedtime routine, "Oh, let's tell you all about them and if you feel strong enough, you can meet one tomorrow."

His ears flattened low against his head, the tuft of his tail curling around his left ankle, and he stepped forward towards the couple. He was used to this image but with his parents in their stead but they couldn't be there for him. Now, at least for the time being, he had them. Daring to believe that they would fight and keep away all the horrors from that day, he smiled bashfully, "Thank you, Tsu'tey and Joanna."

Tsu'tey was pleased to see a little bit of his true personality lurking underneath the pain and wariness. He and Joanna would be there to catch him and defend him from harm, just like they would with any child. There was strength in his tenacity to survive, even if he didn't feel that brave, and he would nurture the orphaned boy. It would prepare him to handle his twins once they reached his age and he could take a young soul under his wing to impart direction. He aimed a gentle smile at his approach, thankful that they weren't scaring him away, and promised, "Always, little Xexuit."

Joanna opened her arms widely to offer a peppy hug while Tsu'tey tried to hide an amused smile at her gesture. His people were not the type to convey physical affection with strangers but children always reacted differently with her. She had the Omaticaya children following her within a short time after arriving and the Atykwe children enjoyed her ilu stories. It was rare for him to not see her without a child at her feet and one day, their children would walk with them. For Joanna, physical touch conveyed comfort and bonding to soothe a troubled heart or weary mind. Xexuit glanced down at her large belly with a cautious expression, not wanting to hurt the pregnant woman, and she chuckled softly, "They love hugs. You might even feel them return it."

After surviving an ordeal that left his entire clan missing, he yearned for a consoling hug. He knew it wouldn't bring his parents back but it would soothe his grieving heart temporarily. Joanna pulled him close when he accepted the offer with a small whimper, sinking to the floor to slide next to her on the left side, and hugged her below the swell of her belly. His arms would be too short to go around the center but Joanna cradled his small form into her arms with a motherly smile. She didn't dare sweep him onto her lap out of respect for na'vi culture but kept him tightly wedged at her left side like a stubborn barnacle. His tense form relaxed instantly to the warmth and strength in her arms, finally feeling safe for the night. Maybe . . . maybe life would return to normal soon.

Closing his eyes, he rested quietly next to her and curled up his legs against her thighs to cloister himself. He was a sweet little child and she smiled affectionately to his fetal position beside her, stroking the top of his head with her right hand. His crinkled eyebrows smoothed to let his delicate features shine, continuing the light strokes to lull him to sleep. Her golden gaze met her mate's while he folded back the blankets of the little bed to prepare them for their first night. Releasing a soft sigh, she whispered tenderly, "I won't let anything happen to you, little one."

Within minutes, the boy fell asleep against her frame and Tsu'tey draped a navy blanket over him to keep warm. The warm shower and hot food had done wonders to bring down his tension while the quiet alcove brought peace from all the strange noises outside. The seashore would be a dramatic shift for the forest dweller, just like it had been for him, but he would immerse him day-by-day. He would spearhead the process to let his mate and Nitari carry with their daily tasks, especially with Xexuit's attachment. No na'vi was afraid of a little hard work, especially now with the tawtute roaming the forest, and he murmured softly, "May Eywa watch over him."

"We have to find them" Joanna stated quietly because nobody would be safe until they found the troublemakers. Whether it was the RDA or other strange beings (highly doubtful), answers were required. Xexuit would not rest easy until he was reunited with his parents or received news about their whereabouts. No child deserved to be robbed of their family and she thinned her lips to finish grimly, "The tawtute and his people."

Finding one would lead them to the other but he feared what the answer would be on the clan. Jake had yet to find any survivors from the first attack but he wouldn't crush Xexuit's hope with cold logic. No, he was a better man than that now. Regardless, they had to prepare for both outcomes but the loss of an entire clan was no easy conversation to share with a child. He didn't want to upset his mate, given her optimistic nature, but proposed the sensitive topic, "What happens if we find the tawtute but not the Vadara?"

Joanna didn't want to believe the RDA were carelessly killing the na'vi but that had been proven in the last battle. It was one thing to kill adults but children . . . how were people on Earth not reacting to these atrocities? Where was the enforcement of rules or government bodies when a company like this was allowed to run rampant like a tyrant? Despite not having a hand in it, she felt responsible for the destruction they left among the na'vi. The others were right that her species of origin was a plague burning their world and the only answer was extinction. They were parasitic, taking resources and life that wasn't theirs. The actions of the RDA were only severing any hope of peace between two worlds but she would protect as many na'vi as she could. A solemn expression swept over her face on how to handle the problem, blinking away tears, and she spoke earnestly, "He deserves the truth . . . and we will be his home if it goes south. I refuse to let them win."

"We have our twins arriving" Tsu'tey reminded casually because two mouths to feed would be a handful for new parents. One child was already enough but Eywa graced them with twins, putting his dexterity to the test. They would be granted some time before they learned to walk and try to escape his watch. With him and Joanna enjoying the exploration of the landscape of their world, their children would likely follow. Still, he was impressed to hear that she wasn't shying away from caring for three children if Xexuit's parents could not be found. They weren't quitters by nature. An intrigued grin spread across his lips to her ambition on family life and he questioned, "Three children at once?"

Joanna thought nothing of it, deciding to face what came their way head-on, and commented with amusement, "I think a large family suits us."


A/N: Boy, my chapters are getting longer again, aren't they? This chapter also introduced an even larger cast than what the first volume started with so it took time to develop the new characters. Each has its own unique traits so they don't appear like a blob of bland and cheap copies, haha. A clan that lives high in the clouds, one that dwells by thanators, one that communes with nature, and the desert clans that revere Eywa. We'll be seeing them in the coming conflict and chapters as well so don't worry about remembering them all at once. Xexuit is the lone survivor and although he didn't see much, he guided the team in the right direction. I also wanted Joanna and Jake to hit that old bump of antagonism because even though their clans accepted them, others might not be so kind. With Joanna's new connection in Eywa's realm, I also had to bring back Grace for her and Akon to be her mentors. In the next chapter, Jake will finally track down the fake clan and begin the snowball effect.

Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers! I think we're finally getting to the last ten chapters of this long tale!

Stranger45: Aw, thank you! I appreciate the compliment for this story, every time I look at the daily statistics, it reminds me that this story must be finished. The humans and na'vi are like oil and water but they need a marshmallow to turn them into chocolate and a graham cracker for a s'more.

gossamermouse101: They're like cute Lockness monsters that are sharp, lol. When I wrote out the babies, I was reminded of dolphins and other porpoises that are friendly. We'll be meeting the RDA in the next episode or should I say, their new faces.

neytirisdad: Thank you so much! I appreciate seeing your reviews for my chapters.

Guest1st: Cameron filmed a tragic but dramatic scene with the fall of Kelutral and I can only imagine it took more than a day for that smoke to clear, which undoubtedly alerted the other clans. The Kelutral from the horse clans appeared thinner and taller than the jungle so it's burning and destruction was similar to the Omaticaya's. Xexuit's home, on the other hand, was thankfully spared for a future return.

inabellclo: Thank you, chiseling characters and their development is something that I aim for. I'm glad that you can connect to the emotions from the written words, I love it!