Chapter Text
I got startled by fast approaching footsteps. I opened my eyes, looking around. Obviously, it was already nighttime, judging by the fireplace, which was just a few pieces of wood just smoldering. Next to me was Neytiri, fast asleep, and on the other side of the fireplace were all the kids. All cuddled up together, snoring lightly. I got up from my sitting position without a sound.. Straightening up, my damn back just had to crack. Shit, I looked at all the kids and fortunately, it did not wake them, only Tuk gave a little sigh.
Stepping out of our home, I looked at the person that just came into the clearing.
"Jake!" he shouted urgently. Norm was in his Avatar form, in his sleeping clothes and his expression was dark. I put my finger to my lips, silencing him.
"Norm, what's going on? This is not like you to come here running" I said softly, shortening the distance between us.
"There has been a sighting of enemy Avatars going through the forest near the fallen Hometree."
"Shit…" was all I could say. And shit was also the best description of our situation right now. The RDA, those fuckers, have started doing night operations. Now, that is a bold move, as the Pandoran fauna was even less friendly at night than during the day. But still. Why would they start doing them now? Was this strategy or was it desperation? Was this so we would have to have more people patrol at night and then have less people to patrol during the day? Well, no use thinking about it now. We had to move. And quickly.
"Norm, I want all the people on our side informed of this. I'll wake up a few people and will go check it out from the sky. Who's the one that reported it?"
"It was Tarsem, he's alone. He reported it 15 minutes ago Jake" he said, clearly worried. Good god, that is a long time. Now I get why Norm was rushing so much.
I spun around on my heel, going to pick up my gun and my vest, in case it would be needed. Better be safe than sorry.
When I set my foot back inside our home, Neytiri startled awake.
"M'Jake, what is happening?" I tried to shush her, but I caught four more pairs of eyes already on me. Ah man, so much for letting them sleep.
"There have been enemy Avatars spotted, I need to go check it out. Let's all talk after I get back in the morning." Just as I finished my sentence I turned around and walked right out. I can just about imagine Neytiri's expression right now. She did mention shortly after the Sky people returned, that she did not like me going on missions without her. But, it's not like I can help it, being the leader and all. She worries, I know she does, but who else will do it if not me?
I motioned for Norm to get going, and went to get some of my most reliable warriors with me. Five Na'vi will have to be enough.
…………………….
We found Tarsem soon, he was still flying in the sky, high enough that he wouldn't be spotted too easily but still be able to monitor the situation on the ground. I said to everyone through the comm"Brothers, go down near where the intruders are, but don't engage until we surround them, do you copy?"
"Copy" "Yes, brother" came the answers and they all immediately flew down. I looked over to Tarsem.
"Tarsem, are you fine?" I asked just as he was about to fly down.
"Yes, I am unharmed." he said calmly, smiling a little. This boy sure has grown to be very brave, hasn't he? Still, being brave doesn't compensate for knowledge and wisdom. And this, from his side, was a recipe for a disaster. What if they attacked him and he had no backup? This boy combined with Spider and my two boys are sure to give me gray hair soon.
"Good, but next time you find an enemy and are alone, report it but don't stay this near to them, do you understand boy? You are very lucky they have not noticed you" I did have to put my serious and scolding voice to use, more often than when he wasn't a tsamsiyu, a warrior yet. And now, he was surely to become a great one without a doubt, but that could only happen if he lived long enough. Which is what worries me, especially as he gets to come to more missions and battles.
I have always been very fond of everyone in the clan and everytime one of them was in danger, it made my heart hurt. Everytime Tarsem did stunts and got involved in dangerous situations like this one, I would imagine Neteyam or Lo'ak in his place. Even if he was a few years older than them, it just didn't sit well with me. How could it?
"I am sorry, I have made a mistake…" he replied, smile disappearing, ears going back as he let his head hang down.
Ah, Eywa help me. How can I even stay mad at this kid, after all, he did nothing wrong. Fucking hell, if it was me when I was his age, I would've gone to take them down myself.
"It is fine, just do not do this again. I'll stay up here if you need some backup, down you go!"
……………….
Well, to sum up how this impromptu night mission went, it was shit. Utter disaster, with all of us injured along the way. One of the warriors was critically injured, but the rest of us managed just fine. I got multiple cuts, where bullets grazed me as I was coming down with Bob to help. They were not that deep, and would heal just fine. A few new scars to my collection that has been growing a bit too quickly these past few weeks as Neytiri mentioned not that long ago.
The soldiers from the RDA were not prepared for us. They didn't expect us, but that doesn't mean they were unarmed. Of course, going into enemy territory without guns and some explosives would be suicide. We did have a moment of surprise, plus we knew the forest better than them, but they still got us good.
Coming back to the High Camp was nice. It is nice to have your clan waiting for your return. It was moments like these, people cheering and whooping upon seeing you, that made this all worth it.
I saw Neytiri and the kids along with Spider running all to our main clearing, where meetings with the warriors and scientists were held. I landed last. Everyone was quiet, waiting for me to say something. Jumping off Bob, I let him go hang out with the other ikran. Eyes were on me, read to listen.
"Okay," I said, turning to my injured brothers, "you should all get your wounds treated. Thank you brothers, go and rest now. I will come later and inform you on any strategy changes." I nodded at them, waiting until they all went to the infirmary. I took a deep breath and continued "Norm and I will now discuss our next step, but let just one thing be known. No one is to go on a patrol alone, no matter day or night. Kids are not allowed near the Fallen Hometree area without an adult present. Get this order to everyone, let them know. This could be the difference between life and death and I will NOT allow more Na'vi to die at the hands of our enemies."
There, my resolution has been heard, loud and clear. It only words were enough.
…………………….
That day was spent with me, Norm, Neytiri and Mo'at discussing our next plan, where we would attack and what we would do in case of an emergency. It wasn't nice to think that we could lose yet another home, but war is war. You never know what's gonna come at you, when the enemy will bomb your shelter and if you will be alive to see the next sunrise.
After some arguments going back and forth, we finally agreed on the most safe plan. It was time to go back to our home with Neytiri. We still had that family meeting I promised to have with them when I left during the night.
The kids were all sitting around, chatting away about some prey that Net and Lo'ak got today. Tuk was the first to notice us. She excitedly shouted "Mom! Dad! You're back finally!" Then she got up and ran to me. She was about to tackle me when Neytiri caught her by the arm and slowed her down.
"Your father is injured, you shouldn't run into him, Tuk."
Neytiri has always been overly cautious when I was injured, still somehow convinced that my body is not as dense being a hybrid and all. Funny, if you think about it, when she had me throw myself off of a tree and try to practice landing smoothly, had me rife a direhorse until I got it right and made me do all kinds of things, but then she was worried my children bumping and jumping on me would injure me. Seriously, how ironic.
Tuk looked at me then, her lip turned upside down. She looked me up and down, eyes landing on where the bandages were. I told Norm I didn't need them, it wasn't that serious. The cuts have stopped bleeding anyway, so no use in them being on anymore. I could see Tuks' eyes beginning to water. Ah, we can't have that.
"Come on baby girl, dad can take it!" I said, smiling at her. She didn't look convinced, looking back at Neytiri. Nope, knowing Neytiri, she won't allow it if I don't say something."Actually, a hug from a daughter could help the pain." I said, a bit sheepishly.
And there it was. A smile from Tuk, coming to me, slowly, but surely. Kneeling down and opening my arms, she hugged and settled her head into the crook of my neck. I looked at Neytiri, who only shook her head at me, muttering a soft "skxawng". She knew how to make me smile, even if it was with insults pointed at me.
I stood up with Tuk in my arms, and walked back into our home. I set Tuk down and she jumped into Lo'aks lap.
"You little pipsqueak!Why me? We're gonna eat dinner soon and I don't want to hold you!" Lo'aks tone gave him away. He didn't actually mean what he said just now, but as a teenager, he had to complain anyway. Tuk didn't pay him any attention and just settled down, with her back to his belly. What a sight they were, with Kiri and Neteyam just laughing at them as well.
"Children, your father is now going to speak, listen to him." Neytiri had this air around her. Those times, when she was serious and in her parent mode, she was pretty scary. I love her, ever since she began calling me skxawng.
All the kids looked at me, expectantly. They weren't going to like this, especially Lo'ak. I know I would hate it as well if I were in his shoes.
"Starting today, none of you are allowed to go out without an adult supervising you. I don't care who the adult will be, me, your mother, Norm or even just one of our scientists. I do not care. But, they must be with you at all times when you're out of High Camp. I don't expect you to halt your time outside, but please, be careful. I mean it. Also, don't forget to always bring your weapons with you, sky people are not merciful if you ever meet them." I hope you will never have to meet them, but I didn't say this out loud. As it was inevitable, especially for Neteyam and Lo'ak.
I finished my talk and looked at them. Lo'ak had his ears back, tail flicking from side to side. Neteyam managed to hold his frustration a bit better, but not as well as I knew him. Kiri openly rolled her eyes at me, she really was going through puberty as a human. It was typical human behavior, even if she's never seen human girls her age. It was so interesting. Tuk didn't really react that much, as she was the only one who wasn't allowed to go outside by herself anyway.
Neteyam was the first to speak and try to reason with me, as expected.
"But sir, we have to go hunt, even if we go together with Lo'ak, we have to have an adult with us? There will be two of us, that is enough, no?"
"No Neteyam, it is not enough. You see, what would happen if someone attacked you while you are not prepared? Who would get you out or at least inform one of us?" I gestured to me and Neytiri. I continued without missing a beat "There is no discussion to be had about this. Always an adult by your side until I say it is fine, do you kids understand?"
Lo'ak wanted to say something, but Neteyam slapped him on the shoulder while muttering "Don't even try, its gonna be useless anyway brother."
I looked over at Neytiri and she took my hint. She got up and handed them all a bowl with soup in it. I got up and sat a bit further away from the fireplace, taking my bandages off. I heard someone come to me from behind. I turned around and it was Kiri. Yea, it doesn't take a genius that she would come when there were wounds and wound care concerned. She has always been very curious and as she grew older, she did learn a lot from Mo'at, even her scary look when patients were not listening to her advice. It was scary, a 14-year old having the air of this much power around her. But, it only made sense, being Grace's daughter and everything.
"Dad, I don't think you should take these off, the wounds seem to be quite deep" She said loudly, so that everyone would hear. And one person in particular. I bowed down my head, slumping my shoulders. Before she would come, I narrowed my eyes and whispered to Kiri "Did you have to call me out like that? I won't live another day" She rolled her eyes on me, her tone as sassy as Graces always was "Oops, sorry dad." This little lady is going to get me killed one day.
"Ma Jake, you are a skxawng, as always." Neytiri said, calm as if she was just stating the facts. Kiri started laughing first and then one by one, they all started laughing. And what more? They kids didn't even bother to help me out. I will definitely get back at them next time they need to get away from their mother or hide something.
"Daddy, what happened today? Why are you hurt this much?" My sweet little Tuk asked.
Right, the kids had no idea what actually happened and they did deserve to know. But, no need for the full version, that should be kept only between me and Neytiri.
And with that, I began explaining what actually happened, leaving out the part when they were shooting at me, as Tuk didn't take that well last time I talked about something similar. Same with my stories from being a marine, the girls really hated it when I talked about it, including Neytiri. Sure, she asked me multiple times, to tell her about my life before, because she wanted to know me, from the inside out, but human concepts are difficult to explain. Particularly as the Na'vi did not have the same concept of hatred, before humans came. They did not even know the words like jealousy, lie, domestic violence, money and suicide. It was unfortunate that they had to learn them. And my time in the military was just full violence, be it me or the enemy inflicting it. It was rough, so I usually did not talk about it explicitly, only when either Neteyam or Lo'ak asked for details.
A year ago, all the stories about violence were just stories. Now, it was reality.
Before, Lo'ak usually asked me the most, being the curious and reckless child he is. Neteyam, on the other hand, asked Neytiri more about things in general.
This is one of the things that changed the most since we began fighting with the Sky people again. Neteyam now was always coming to me, asking about weapons, how to disarm them, how to work them, how to win over an enemy. He was most definitely suffering as the oldest kid. I know he is, even if he tries to act all fine. He is like Tommy, when we were kids. It is incredible that my kids would remind me so much of my own childhood. He is wise, intelligent and he can keep his calm when needed. He also doesn't try to break the rules just for the sake of it.
Lo'ak on the other hand, good god. That kid is me, just a few feet shorter until he grows fully. He is reckless, hot-headed and a dumbass most of the time. Finding trouble everywhere he goes, even if he doesn't mean it. He has a strong sense of responsibility for sure, he takes care of his siblings, but right now is in the worst stage of puberty, where everything parents say is wrong and unrelatable. That's why I have to be so hard on him, to get him to understand, but it seems like this approach has not worked at all. I only want the best for him, for all of them, but he thinks I'm not being fair, that I don't like him for some reason. It is hard work.
I think his reasoning is justified, because I don't usually have time to explain to him calmly why I reprimand him the way I do. But, time has not been our friend. And my relationship with him has become really strained. I feel like the gap gets bigger everyday and even when I try to make it better, I manage to make it worse.
Godammit. Jake, you idiot, you have to make it up to him when you have the time.