Chapter Text
Neteyam: Part II
Life calmly continued on with nothing especially exciting happening which they were completely fine with it. The last few months had held enough drama to last a lifetime, and so uneventful, perhaps even somewhat boring times were a welcome comfort. But things weren’t completely uneventful, however. Much was happening, and the winds of change were blowing in full force around their home.
The time of great sorrow really had ended, and gradually the makeshift village had really began to look like a true village as the constructions of the last maruis were finished. One by one they were installed and imprinted into the surrounding trees of the forest valley where the Omatikaya had resettled, and somehow, the oh so recent pain was slowly becoming dim and hazy, and while it would always be a imprinted scar upon them all, it was still healing nonetheless.
During the weeks that had passed, Neytiri’s belly had eventually started to grow, much to Jake’s delight. It was fascinating to see the flat and toned surface starting to become round; fascinating to realize that it was because of their love that the flat surface became a gently rising hill as their baby grew bigger inside the warm and protective shell that was Neytiri’s womb.
In quiet moments, such as in the early mornings when they woke up together, or in the evenings after dinner, when all other duties and obligations of the day had been finished and taken care of, Jake would often find himself laying down between Neytiri’s legs; his arms wrapped loosely around her waist, and with his face pressed up against her growing belly while she sat up with her back pressed up against the wall of their marui. She would stroke and caress the back of his head, and run her fingers through his braids, and together they would both purr in content. Jake would speak softly to the baby within while stroking small patterns across the bioluminescence freckled stripes around her middle, and she would laugh softly at his antics when he told their story; about who he and Neytiri was, how they had met, and that the kid had heart and courage to choose them of all people as parents.
“Skxawng,” she would mutter quietly, voice carrying a false tone of defiance and annoyance to which he only huffed and laughed amusedly in response. “Love you too babe.”
This morning was much like the others.
It had become a comfortable routine for them; a time that was so purely personal, so private and intimate. The rest of the world was far away, and they were completely oblivious to it.
While he continued on with his indulgent antics, her thoughts shifted to other matters. The hammock they shared was theirs, and comfortably cozy, but with two babies on the way, they would soon outgrow it. Snonivi to swaynivi. It was a inevitable change; a change that Neytiri had known would have to happen sooner rather than later. Much sooner than she had expected though. However, it was a project that excited her. The making of a swaynivi wasn’t just a matter between two mates. It was a matter for the whole clan; a process that everyone, in their own way, contributed to. It was something that generated much enthusiasm and joy between the clan members as well. The construction of a swaynivi take place for a longer period of months. It begins with a carefully chosen selection of the correct materials, and this is not something that is done in a rush. Afterwards, the construction is started, and together the clan members will collaborate and help each other in the creation; and while the construction in itself is a fairly straightforward and informal affair, it is during this time that a lot of the family bonding occurs. She supposed a good synonym for it was the word nesting, which in all honesty, it was. The thought of it warmed her on the inside. Oh yes, she really looked forward to the time when she would be granted so much time and privacy with her mate.
She looked down at Jake who had nuzzled his nose against her belly, occasionally pressing soft kisses against the skin while doing so.
“You’re gonna be so lucky to have her as your mom,” Jake said silently, his tail swinging back and forth contentedly behind him.
“She’s strong, and brave, and so, so beautiful. Really, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen actually, I have to tell you kid.”
A light blush came over Neytiri’s cheeks at his words. They might bee maddeningly in love with each other, but sometimes it became very apparent that it wasn’t an especially long time that had actually passed since they had first confessing their feelings or each other. Perhaps it might seem like quite a silly notion, since they were already expecting a baby and everything, but their shared was only still in its infancy, and sometimes that was more apparent than at other times.
“Is that so, yawntu,” Neytiri countered, smirking widely.
“Oh yes!” Jake said.” I can personally confirm that that statement is indeed very much true. And believe me, I’ve personally seen proof of it. It’s confirmed. Non negotiable.”
“So you have,” She muttered in reply.
In a teasing tone he continued, “She can also be a bit mean.”
And there he ruined it. Again.
Her mate really had to turn any sort of serious situation into a joke, didn’t he? Answer: yes.
But then again… Wasn’t that— his unseriousness and ability to find the bright side of life in most situations— why she had fallen for him in the first place? Compared to Tsu’tey’s sense of duty, strictness and self discipline— something that had increased significantly after Sylwanin’s death— Jake’s carefree nature had been a fresh change for her. A fresh restart of life, even.
From his position down by her lap, Jake took a cheeky peak up at her, and met the somewhat astonished look that had taken over her features with his own playful gaze.
“Umm hmm… Can I now.”
She pressed her ear back slightly, trying hard to look more annoyed than she actually was.
“Uhh huh. And a bit scary, if she puts her mind to it.”
She hissed tamely at him, but he only blew a kiss back in return. Neytiri rolled her eyes at him and said, “You are being so charming right now, ma Jake. I really hope our son inherits some manners from me since apparently you lack such things muntxatan, because otherwise, I do feel bad for the poor thing.”
“Hey! I—“ Jake began before the meaning of his mate’s words finally caught up to his still morning sleepy brain.
“Wait… Our son?” He sat up a bit straighter so they sat face to face. He took hold of Neytiri’s smaller hands into his own and said, “We’re having a son?”
His voice held a tone of emotion that Neytiri had never heard before, and apparently it was contagious, because it didn’t take many seconds until she felt similar emotions well up inside of her as well. Perhaps it was because of her pregnancy, and the hormonal changes— no it definitely was because of those things!— but however it was, it was a beautiful, intimate moment that Neytiri would come to cherish for a long time.
Nodding her head, she said, “Yes. He is a boy.”
“Huh,” he only said while a crooked smile took over his face. “Your totally sure about it? Or is it just a hunch?”
“A hunch?” She asked with a raised brow. It was yet another ìnglìsì word she was unfamiliar with.
“Oh, uhh, having a hunch is when you have a strong feeling about something… like, a notion, a belief, a suspicion… Something your mind or heart is telling you.”
Jake finished with a small shrug, and she nodded in affirmative.
“Ahh. I see,” she replied. “And yes. I am sure. A mother knows, because the first tsaheylu is the one between a child and it’s mother, even before it is born.”
“Really?!” He asked, one eyebrow raised up in a duet together with his usual crooked smile that showed of the tips of his fangs; a smile that always warmed her heart and insides, and a smile that she would do anything to be able to wake up to each morning.
“Srane ma Jake.”
“Well I’ll be damned. That was some new information beyond the level of my knowledge. But then again, I suppose there’s a lot about the Na’vi that I don’t know about yet.”
Jake paused in contemplation and looked away from his wife, as if lost in important musings.
“Which…” he began with a somewhat cynical huff.
“Which what?” Neytiri asked him, raising a brow inquiringly at the pleased look on Jake’s face.
“Which, in all honesty doesn’t sound very good for the continuation of this clan,” he finished dryly, which in return earned him a good and resounding smack on the head (all while Neytiri gasped in mock infuriation… something that was betrayed by the smile of amusement that played on the corners of her mouth).
Afterwards Jake rubbed his forehead while shrugging sheepishly, flashing his mate that crooked smile off his that usually got her going (in more ways than one). Much like he had expected, it cracked Neytiri’s attempted play at seriousness, and very soon her adorable bubbled out of her mouth, much to Jake’s joy.
He stretched forward and gave her a quick, affectionate kiss on her mouth, causing Neytiri to first sigh softly, and then whine lightly in mild annoyance when he pulled away.
Taking hold of his wife’s hands once more, Jake settled back down on the floor; his upper body lying over Neytiri’s lap. It wasn’t very long until his gaze settled back on her stomach.
“So a boy huh.”
Neytiri nodded and looked down as well. A peculiar look coming over her face as she did she so.
“Srane,” she repeated. “And right now, your son is kicking me like crazy. Why don’t you try and teach him some manners? You know… If you have any, as you try to claim.”
If possible, Jake’s eyes widened even more, and Neytiri only laughed.
She took a firmer hold of his right hand— his bigger than hers, not just because of their gender difference, but also because of his additional digit— and placed it on top of her belly, right where their son was kicking her fervently.
“Here. Right here,” she told him, and Jake eagerly headed his mate’s words, pressing the palm of his hand right over the place she had showed him.
“Huh. You weren’t kidding babe. The little guy’s doing a full gym workout routine in there!”
Neytiri gave him another raised brow of confusion.
“Another ‘Rrta thing?” She asked him.
“You got it!” Jake answered her with a affirmative nod of his head.
“On ‘Rrta,” Jake elaborated, “we humans sometimes have places called gyms where people go to train and exercise.”
“Okay,” Neytiri said, still looking a bit confused.
She supposed she understood the gist of what he was saying, but for some reason she had a hard time visualizing it.
He rubbed his chin while tilting his head left and right a couple times, his mind deep in thought.
“Umm, you remember how you made me run laps around the forest, and how you taught me to swing and jump from trees. Before I became one of the people?”
“Oh yes I do,” she answered then.
“How could I forget. You were hopeless at it. During the first two weeks, I kept wondering when you were going to fall and break your neck.”
Jake huffed at his mate’s words. “Well, damn. Thanks for the undoubted love and support! Your eternal vote of confidence!”
He melodramatically threw an arm over his face, feigning a look of disbelief, hurt, and dismay before he interrupted his own charade by grinning from ear to ear.
Neytiri snorted at his display, but she couldn’t help but giggle at his antics as well.
“Yeah, well,” Jake eventually went on. “These gyms. At those places humans do a lot of training, much like the kind of training you made me do baby. Sort of.”
“Ahh. I see.”
“You know,” he went on once more, struck by deep nostalgia. “When I was a marine soldier, hard training was an essential part of my life. And I can tell you, it ain’t an easy process to become a marine soldier. Like, sorry yawne, but your training of me probably pales in comparison compared to the military education you get at Boot Camp.”
“Bo-ot-kam-p?” She asked him.
There was just something so deeply interesting, even attractive, to watch someone talk about things they were passionate about. Watching the fire that lit up in Jake’s eyes as he talked about life as marine— one if the only aspects he had really enjoyed in his old life back on ‘Rrta, he had told her a while back— warmed Neytiri’s heart (even if she held little enthusiasm for anything that had to do with tawtute to begin with).
The time of great sorrow had been hard on all of them, and seeing proof that the struggles they had persevered hadn’t broken them gladdened her, even if no situation of their lives where ideal in any way.
And then there was also the fact that (hate for the sky people and their world aside) Neytiri was maddeningly curious about her mate’s past— about who he had been before he became hers— and any time when he began talking about it, Neytiri would listen to him with great interest.
“Boot Camp?” He asked her in surprise. “You really want me to tell you about that?”
“Yes. Play do ma Jake. What is this bo-ot-kam-p?”
He gave her a look she couldn’t really tell at first— Surprise? Confusion? Bewilderment?— but it wasn’t long until he gave in to her honest request.
With a tilt of his head he told her, “Well, okay then. Get comfortable baby, because there’s a lot of info coming. This… Hmm… Let’s just say you’re in for a whole ass ride, and frankly, you asked for all of it.”
“Try me,” was all she replied with, gesturing for him to get on with it.
•••
“I mean, yes it is a great adjustment, and it happened a lot sooner than perhaps expected, but really…” She paused, her gaze moving down to her lap, coming to rest upon the sling shawl in her hands that she was weaving— one of the many new things that was being crafted in preparation for the baby’s very eventually arrival— and a small smile of completeness came over her face as she, almost shyly, looked away from the expectant eyes of the girls that sat around her. Girls she called her friend. Girls that she had grown up with. Clan sisters.
“I would not have it in any other way. I neither would Jake.”
“Hmm, I understand those feelings fully,” Nìtsisyì— one of Neytiri’s oldest childhood friends, a girl who was born exactly between Sylwanin and Neytiri, causing her to be close in age with both of the te Tskaha sisters— said while she held onto a broidery cloth in one hand, and kept a firm hold onto her squirming son Iante with the other one as he tried to cling and climb her neck and shoulders with grabby hands. Occasionally the toddler managing to get a good tug at braid or two of his mothers hair, causing her to wince slightly while attempting to pry the braids from his strong hands.
“When I and Lenrra learned we were expecting this little guy,” Nìtsisyì said— poking her sons tummy, tickling him much his own joy, his little laughter ringing around the valley like a ringing bell— “We didn’t know what to think at first, because much like you and Jake, we hadn’t been mated for very long either. But now?”
She turned her head towards Iante and pressed a affectionate kiss upon the boy’s little cheek.
“Just look at this little cutie. Who wouldn’t be his sa’nu!”
“Sa’nu!” Iante repeated happily before he started patting his mother again.
The sickeningly sweet response caused all the girls to laughed together, and the squeals little Iante let out in attempts of imitation did not make the grown women any less sappy.
Women and babies… Women and babies…
Neytiri had always known that she would like to have children one day, and seeing her friends slowly starting to have families of their own had definitely been a good motivation for someday fulfilling those dreams.
She had been thinking about it for quite a while, but it hadn’t been up until the last few months that she had started contemplating about it for real. Or, to be even more cliché: she had started thinking about it for real shortly after she had met Jake… Like, ‘shortly after she had stopped hating him’ met him. Something like that…
Those sort of idealistic musings, those… fantasies… Neytiri supposed, had begun to mildly take form when she had first noticed how the children of the clan really seemed to be genuinely interested by the strange dreamwalker that had come to the clan. Those feelings of hers did not get better as time passed on and Jake struck up friendships with the lot of them, those little rascals. The day— not very long before his uniltaron— that she had found him playing one of their childish games together with them (hearing them laugh and scream in utter delight), Neytiri knew she was done for.
After seeing him, day after day, being so good with kids— lowering himself to their hight, sharing their enthusiasm, being playful, and just so Jake… — she knew that when when— if… he ever had children, he would be a great father. And she would envy whoever got to share that with him.
That had been a time when perhaps it hadn’t been such a secret anymore… the fact there was something that was undeniable between the two if them. It had been a time light caresses, of touching fingers when they passed each other food or other items necessary of the life of a hunter.
It had been time of stolen hours when they would hop on their ikrans and sail away upon the winds, and soar through the trees.
And foremost, it had been a time when they had pretended to not see, as the people who lived life beside them; everyone trusting that the one step that was to far wouldn’t be crossed.
But Eywa had thought otherwise, and frankly… Neytiri didn’t mind that at all.
Before she knew it, they had done the forbidden deed—had crossed the final hurdle— and she and Jake became one.
Best decision she ever made. Or, as Jake would say: “Dam right it was!”
“Episoth seeds?” A voice said, the somewhat muffled words snapping Neytiri out of her thoughts. First then did she realize just how much she had actually zoned out.
“Episoth seeds?” The voice— that she first then registered to belong to Ìpxa, another close childhood friend— repeated. Ìpxa was holding a small woven wicker basket filled to the brim with the delicious seeds out towards her, and the moment her pregnancy brain caught up with her body, Neytiri graciously accepted the basket with a reply of “Irayo tsmuke.”
“Oh, I’ve been craving these like crazy ever since I got pregnant,” Neytiri snickered right before mouthing a handful of delicious treats.
“So it’s true? That a pregnant woman have cravings?” Sätare asked, her light voice picked in quietly and curiously, perhaps even a bit nervously, from the side of Peyral— her older sister— who she was sitting closely beside.
Peyral turned to look at her sister with a cheeky grin on her face.
“Is that a blush I see on your cheeks?” She asked, her voice filled with great amusement.
Sätare turned her gaze away, and shyly lowered her face towards her lap. “What, no!” She replied, with cheeks that were in fact very hot, and a very deep shade of purple.
“I’m not blushing… Why would I blush Peyral.”
The defensive reply did not spare the abashed girl from amused, but well-meaning giggles from the others.
Behind her the tufted tip of her tail was twitching restlessly, and her ears had lowered backwards in embarrassment.
The girl was a few years younger than the rest of the girl precent at the small gathering. She had completed her iknimaya a while back— and just recently— her uniltaron as well. Suddenly the baby wasn’t such a baby anymore, and it was to even her own surprise— the day that Peyral had first asked her if Sätare wanted to come with her to the little gathering— to finally be able to socialize with those that was older than herself.
The Omatikaya did not in anyway refrain people from different ages to socialize together. Far from it! If anything, broadening your horizons— and not limiting yourself to narrow idealizations of what was expected or not— was highly encouraged among the Na’vi. There was much that one could learn from one’s elders that could not be taught by those of similar age as oneself. Such experiences of life were something that those simply couldn’t possess (in the same manner) compared to those with a lengthier, and fuller experience of life.
The simple reason as to why Sätare, and other youngsters (up until a certain age) normally didn’t socialize much with the girls a few years older than themselves was because of one reason: the teenage years (a time when people got all sorts of crazy ideas of what ‘was’ or ‘wasn’t’ allowed to do).
Not that such ideas had much merit, though. But then again, who can honestly say there has ever lived a teenager that actually had brain cells.
Jake had told Neytiri that the phenomenon (as she supposed one could call it) occurred in similar ways among the tawtute on ‘Rrta as well.
“Well Sätare,” Nìtsisyì cut in, trying to save the younger girl some embarrassment by sharing some words of advice and encouragement. “You are still young tsmuke. Very young. And you are not a mated woman yet. You might be a skilled huntress, much like your sister,” she said, referring to Peyral with a small wave of her hand, “but there is still much for you to learn about life. When you find a mate of your own, you will soon realize that the confidence you possess when it comes to your personal talents— in your case hunting— might not run as far to be able to cover the ways of love. It sure didn’t for me, I can tell you..”
Sätare shrugged her shoulders.
“Yes, I suppose you are right Nìtsisyì— no, you are right! I just… Feel like I have stepped into a whole new world… that I do not know way around. I don’t see how I could possibly be good at any of it! And I… don’t even care that much about it?”
She shrugged her shoulders again made a uncertain face.
“I don’t think I’ve really… Like, felt attracted to someone before. Is that weird?”
“Oh, tell me about it!” Neytiri interjected then.
“I have to admit that up until recently, I didn’t give much thought to such matters either. Sometimes I fee really clueless about things. Even nowadays! I’m not saying I’ve never been attracted to others before— because I definitely have— but I guess have not really been that interested in love until… umm… well…”
She paused to rub the back of her neck shyly.
“Until I met Jake.”
As she uttered those last few words, Neytiri could feel her own cheeks start to heat.
Great, now I’m the one who is blushing!
“Really?” Sätare asked her wide eyed.
“Yeah,” Neytiri responded shortly.
“Not even with Tsu’tey?” Peyral asked her with raised brow.
Now that question made her pause for a moment. It was a complex subject. What did she event hink about that?
“It-it’s a complex question,” she spit out.
“I—“
“Not really,” young Sätare interrupted her.
“Did you love Tsu’tey? Yes, or no.”
Neytiri wasn’t the only one to frown at those words. So did Peyral, Ìpxa and Nìtsisyì. All of them turned look at the younger girl.
“Sätare!” Peyral bit out calmly, scolding her little sister. “You are well aware of what happened inside the schoolhouse!”
The younger sister raised her shoulders up to her ears, and a half guilty look came over her face.
“Yes, Peyral, I know. But—“
“No, no! I-it’s fine,” Neytiri interrupted right then.
“You can say her name. Sylwanin would not have wanted us to speak in tongues about her.”
And she really wouldn’t have. And Neytiri would honor the memory of her sister as such.
“Neytiri is right,” Nìtsisyì interjected. “Sylwanin would not have like that.”
Once more Neytiri fell to pondering. She bit her lower lip as all sorts of thoughts welled up in her mind— like sprouting seeds in fertile ground.
She had loved Tsu’tey. She had… But perhaps not as she should have— at least when they were still betrothed to one another.
“I did love Tsu’tey,” she eventually spoke up, which caused the others to frown at first.
“But not as a partner.”
Those words lifted the frowns of her friends faces, any prior confusion evaporating into the air like invisible mist. Instead understanding replaced them.
“His love for Sylwanin made that impossible,” Neytiri said with a small smile. “And so did mine for Jake.”
“Ee-pee-sooo,” a tiny voice spoke up from somewhere.
“Ee-pee-sooo,” it repeated again in the unmistakable clang of a drowsy child.
Of to the side of the small group sat little Iante beside the now empty basket that had only a short while before been filled to the brim with episoth seeds.
The little boy was splattered from head to toe with juice from the seeds— however he had managed to make that possible in the few moments where the adults had all been distracted— and he was seconds from keeling over from post-eating sleepyness (that spared no one, it seemed) and his little belly was bloated from all the overeating.
“Ee-pee-sooo yummy sa’nu—“ Iante mumbled sleepily before a loud hiccup racked his little body.
The whole group of women burst out laughing, and a snickering Nìtsisyì leaned forward to pluck up her sticky son from the ground where he sat beside the basket.
“Crazy parultsyìp,” she mumbled while peppering kisses all over the boys sticky cheeks.
•••
It was one of those few days where they had little to none obligation to undertake, and so, they had naturally chosen to spend the day hunting together. It was alone time, and self-recreational activities in in one. What more could they honestly have asked for?
She followed the yerik with her sharp gaze, and on light, almost inaudible feet, she stealthily followed it across the forest floor as its continued on its path.
The dance between a hunter and it’s prey was something that had always excited her. The wait, and the anticipation. A win and a loss.
Hunting was her passion; a skill she had finessed throughout years of practice and training. She killed to feed her clan, but never without a meaningless reason. Life was a gift, and any slain animal would be respectably thanked for its existence, and sacrifice.
When the moment was perfect she raised her bow up into position and got ready to shoot the yerik (who had stopped to lean its head down to the ground to take a few bites of grass into its mouth)… but was interrupted by her own growing middle as the intricate wooden bow bumped into it. She looked down and huffed in annoyance before adjusting her stance. Being pregnant was for sure something to get used to, and to be honest, she wasn’t sure if she ever would. The shift in her center of gravity… the slight loss of mobility… changing, raging hormones… Ugh.
It didn’t mean that she didn’t like being pregnant however, because for reasons she couldn’t name, she did like it. That the body was able to change so drastically… that it had the ability and and power to create and carry life… well, it was miraculous.
Had someone told her when she was a young girl that she would one day become mated with a tawtute uniltìranyu, and have children with said uniltìranyu, Neytiri wouldn’t have believed a single word of it. Not until the day when the Palulukan learns how to fly… That would indeed be the day…
Except things had changed, and while Neytiri did not like changes, struggled with such things even, she had to admit that for her, things had changed drastically, and ultimately for the better (even if it came with a few painful prices to pay) in the end. The thought of a reality where she would never have met Jake became something so incomprehensible, and something so horrifying to her. In such a short time, it had become the two of them against the world; their first meeting a thing of fate and legend. Call it the will of Eywa, if you will.
With Jake, she lived. With Jake she grew strong. With Jake thrived. When she stood by his she felt invincible and fierce. Quite simply he was the rock she leaned on, her light in the darkness.
She looked over at Jake who was walking a couple a few footsteps away from where she stood; looked on as he was tracking, before turning back to what she had begun.
You can be distracted by your mate in a few moments, Neytiri, she thought wryly to herself, and shook her head slightly.
Neytiri inhaled deeply for a moment, and felt the fletching brush lightly against her cheek as she waited in between breaths; before then firing the arrow. The string twanged sharply as she released it from her strong grip, and with a strained huff, Neytiri watched as the arrow impaled the creature in the back of the neck, just below the base of the head, killing it instantly.
A clean kill, she thought with satisfaction.
And nothing else was acceptable. Avoid prolonged, unnecessary suffering at any cost. Show respect by being merciful.
She carefully crept towards the slain animal and slowly sank down onto her knees in front of it (although with some additional effort which she was unused to), between its spread bow and hind legs. With a strong grip she grabbed the arrow and pulled it out of the head and placed it down on the ground beside her.
Neytiri then placed one hand above the lethal, bleeding wound, and one hand over the back and calmly said, “Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmukan, ulte ngaru seiyi irayo.”
As she finished the first part of the prayer, she felt a small kick against the lower left side of her belly. A minimal smile etched onto the corners of her mouth at the sensation. It almost was as if the baby boy wanted to pay his respects to the slain animal as well. Ohh, she really couldn’t wait until he was born.
She continued, “Ngari hu Eywa salew tirea, tokx 'ì'awn slu Na'viyä hapxì.”
“Nice kill,” a dearly familiar said from behind her.
She looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with her mate. A smile raised the corners of her mouth.
“Umm, I know,” she hummed out, her voice filled with cheekiness. “How do you think you got so good at it, ma muntxatan?”
“Pheff!” Jake huffed out. “Well, that’s one way to humbly put it.”
Neytiri giggled at his comment to which he only rolled his eyes before continuing, “But then again, I did have a good teacher. I Can’t deny that!”
He was walked over to her and reached out a hand towards her before saying, “Here, let me help you with this.”
Now, Neytiri wasn’t one to usually accept help from others, and especially not when it came to getting help to get up from the ground. She was strong. She was independent. She was fierce. To need help with such a minor thing…
But then again, she had never been pregnant before. She had never experienced the loss of usually easy mobility, had never had to deal with the change in the center of gravity that occurred when a woman carried a child with her deepest, most sacred, most powerful biological places.
Jake, with his strong right hand hand reached out towards her, was looking down at her with a look filled with so much pride and joy, and so much love; and Neytiri felt her heart beating warmly within her chest because of it.
While a younger version of herself would never had accepted such a trivial display of help, the current and present Neytiri was no longer that girl. While sharing the same face, the same name, and the same soul, Neytiri had in recent times changed a lot, and for the better she would like to say. Trauma that had happened aside, meeting Jake was something she would never regret. Somehow the man had managed to soothe the pain she held deep within herself, had melted her anger sadness, had helped her see… had helped her see that nothing everything out there was evil. Jake had made her happy, had made her mind and body soar and thrive, just like a Ikran gliding through the air as it rode on the winds. Meeting Jake had made her a better man person, and for the first time in many years, she didn’t feel immediate distrust towards others.
It was nice to not be on constant edge for once.
Two pairs of feline eyes looked at each other, gazes locked in an intense game of trust and mischievousness.
Neytiri raised her hand up to his, and allowed him to help her up from the ground.
•••
“Mo’at— uhh, I mean Sa’nok,” he quickly corrected himself, knowing just what his mother-in-law thought of his tawtute titles.
“Have you seen Neytiri anywhere? I’m going to Hell’s Gate for a check up on Grace’s baby, and I was gonna see if Neytiri wanted to come with me… It’s just that I have no idea where the hell she is. Hmm. For being heavily pregnant, she’s sure good at evading me right now... which doesn’t even make sense considering how tired she gets nowadays.”
With an amused expression on her weathered face, Mo’at turn slowly towards her son-in-law who stood at the entrance of her marui, his head peaking inside while the rest of his body stayed outside. When their gazes met Jake brought his hand up to his forehead in greeting, a gesture Mo’at returned silently.
She eyed him up and down and—
Wait did she snort at him? Jake thought in astonishment. Well, well… Dragonlady keeps surprising me more and more every day!
“Why, yes I have,” she eventually replied shortly, before turning back to the seeds she was crushing.
Jake sighed at the vague answer. “Okay, that’s great. But do you know where she is?”
“I do,” Mo’at answered him, perhaps enjoying keeping him at bay a bit too much than what was necessary.
“Tam ke tam,” she then added over her shoulder.
“More or less?” Jake asked in confusion.
In the little more than a year that had passed since Jake had first arrived on Pandora, his Na’vi had certainly gotten a lot better compared to back then. That didn’t mean he understood everything to a 100% yet, though. There was a lot of small nuances and variations with the language that still sounded the same in his ears… and a lot of other things he got mixed up as well. But to be completely fair, Americans weren’t exactly known for being good at learning other languages, so Jake personally found it completely reasonable to not get stuck on such trivial topics.
As long as he understood things he was happy. The rest would certainly come on its own eventually.
“What do you mean you more or less know where my mate is?”
Mo’at hummed amusedly and turned towards him again.
“Jake, Neytiri’s pregnancy is far gone, and my daughter is tired. Srane. But tired or not, she is not one to sit idle and do nothing. I expected you to know this by now ma itan.”
Mo’at threw Jake another sly smile, her eyes glinting mischievously, and in reply Jake gave her a equally half amused and unamused look in return. He knew the older lady was enjoying this way to much.
“Believe me, I know,” Jake then replied. “That didn’t take very long to figure out.”
“How good for you Olo’eyktan.”
And being called that made him wince.
Jake had been Olo’eyktan for just about a whole year, and he wasn’t going to get used to it anytime soon. Back when he was a marine soldier, he had always been following orders. Had always served under other figures of authority. And he was happy with that. Was happy with being a team player, and not the main character.
He wasn’t a leader, and he had told Neytiri so early on. If you asked Jake, he was just a dum grunt, and not much more.
Therefore, him then becoming the Olo’eyktan after coming to Pandora… That was something so very foreign, and so freaking scary. He literally was Bambi on ice personified, and Jake wasn’t sure if he would ever get used to it.
But the worst thing was that he just had to suck it up and keep going, because wether he liked it or not, he was Olo’eyktan and— unless anything unforeseen happened— would most likely be so until the day he took his last breath.
“Umm, yes,” Jake muttered out. “One would have to be blind to not figure it out. Neytiri is a a wild spirit, through-and-through.”
Mo’at nodded affirmatively at his words.
“That she is. That she is.”
A thick silence laid between them for a moment; a moment where Jake curiously waited to see if Mo’at would elaborate on Neytiri’s whereabouts on her own, her if he would need to coax his mother-in-law some more first.
The silence continued, and that was enough of an answer to Jake.
“Sooooooo… Any hint of where my mate might be?”
“Hmm, well Jake, I admit I have not my daughter for a while, so where she is exactly in this very moment I do not know. But I do know that what Neytiri does like to do in her spare time is to either go hunting, or take a ride on her ikran— something that she doesn’t possess at the moment. The two of you went hunting not long ago, so if I can advice you in in anyway, I would recommend you to go to the pa’li paddock.”
“The pa’li paddock?” Jake asked, his eyebrows scrunching up into a frown.
“Would she even be able to get on a pa’li right now?
He made a round gesture at his own very toned stomach, insinuating towards Neytiri’s not as flat stomach.
“Oh, that,” Mo’at said with a dismissive wave of her slender hands.
“Believe me when I say that that is of no issue. If that girl has her mind set on something, there is little that can stop her.”
With a fond, somewhat wistful smile Mo’at added,” She has been like that practically since even before she could walk, that stubborn little girl.”
The image of Neytiri as a little child— a little beauty… stubborn and wild, and borderline unhinged— crossed Jake’s mind, and he couldn’t help but smile as well. He wondered if… no… he hoped their child(ren?) would be just like that. Beautiful, and stubborn, and crazy, and unhinged. Just like the both of them.
“Well then,” Jake went on with a tilt of his head. “I better get going if I want to find her around here anytime soon, I suppose.”
As he began climbing down from her marui, Jake could hear Mo’at shouting “Etrìpa swayvi ma itan!” after him in a lilting, cheery voice. Jake only snorted, and with a shake of his head he muttered under his breath, “Mother-in-laws. Different species have no matter. They’re always the same, aren’t they?”
He continued on in search of his mate, walking through the village with his usual confident strides. Every once in a while a few villagers—that happened to notice him— would stop what they were doing to greet him with a polite “Oel ngati kameie, Olo’eyktan!” While simultaneously bringing their hands to their foreheads, and Jake would nod and return the gesture before continuing on.
Yeahhh… He wasn’t going to get used to any of it anytime soon.
But on to different matters!
Now where could his mate be? His tall, gorgeous… and currently very pregnant mate…
Seriously. Jake was— if anything—quite impressed.
He really fid have to admit that.
Eventually he reached the Pa’li paddock— as he had been advised to do— and just as he was about to start calling out Neytiri’s name, Jake stopped fully in his tracks; all words getting stuck in his throat. A smile of amusement started spreading across his face, and in response Jake placed his right hand in front his mouth too hide it; although without much success. Smoothness— or rather subtlety— wasn’t always his best forte.
A few meters away down the valley Neytiri was sitting atop a Pa’li just walking round aimlessly together with her large mount. With one hand holding onto the reins, and the other atop her large, protruding belly, she was humming quiet contentedly.
It was a sight that warmed his heart. Filled him with so much comfort and happiness.
Little had he known— back when he and Neytiri had first met a little more than a year ago— that they one year later were mere weeks away from welcoming their first child.
Yeah… Pre-consciousness transfer Jake would have laughed (and loudly) if someone back then had told him what would happen. Going to Pandora. Getting a Avatar. Falling in love. Becoming one of the Na’vi. Becoming a father.
People were overwhelmed by less!
He turned his direct attention back to his mate, and took in the serene, and at ease expression that she plainly wore in her face while her thoughts were far, far away. Probably lost in some distant memory, or perhaps daydream. There had been plenty of those lately— for the both of them.
Up until recently, Neytiri’s pregnancy had been quiet a easy, and unproblematic affair. But as her pregnancy had progressed further and further, she had started tiring a lot easier and much more often. And not to mention the swollen feet, and aching lower back that had been bothering her so badly in the last few weeks!
With all these things in mind, Jake knew this solution was a silver lining for her.
Too tired to run around like she would like to do, but to tired to just lay down doing nothing all day. The Pa’li was a smart idea— a way for her to remain busy in some way, while not tiring herself out to total exhaustion.
It was a smart plan.
Jake just had no idea how she had actually managed to get up onto the enormous horselike creature— that made even the tall and graceful Na’vi seem small in comparison.
While letting out a muffled cough— to disguise his not so subtle snickering laughter— Jake calmly walked up towards the pair—so as to not startle them— and then said, “Hi babe. I’ve been looking for you all morning.”
Upon hearing her mate’s dearly familiar voice, Neytiri slowed down to a standstill before slowly turning around towards Jake.
“Hi ma Jake,” she answered him, almost shyly. “You have been looking for me? I am sorry I didn’t tell you were going.”
He shook his head at her.
“Nah. It’s fine! You don’t need to apologize for such a thing. I just wondered where you were.”
Jake shrugged his shoulders and said, ”Really. That’s all.”
“Umm hmm,” Neytiri hummed in reply.
“Umm,” he echoed his mate while he stroked his chin.
Based on the look on his face, and the gesture, Neytiri knew that there was something that he wanted to say.
“Jake?” She asked him.
“Neytiri.”
“Yes, ma Jake?”
She blinked encouragingly at him, batting her long eyelashes at him as a sly smile played on her lips, and her tail swung playfully behind her back.
“How…” he began, before pausing again, and closed his mouth shut. The lip corners twitched upwards minimally. To hide subtle movements, he bit his bottom lip, lightly sinking his canine’s into the pinkish blue flesh— without puncturing any skin.
Slowly he had been creeping up to her, till Jake eventually reached her, and placed a hand upon her thigh, will the other one stroked the snorting pa’li’s flank.
“How did you actually get up on the pa’li?” He finally asked her then, the previously concealed smile finally breaking through the barriers.
Neytiri raised a brow at him.
“That’s what you wanted to know?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” he answered her with a play pretend look of seriousness aimed at her.
“Well then,” she answered him.
“I walked Rangal here over to that tree,” she said, first patting the pa’li she sat atop on affectionately, and then pointed to a big nearby tree with low branches.
He nodded affirmatively, making his understanding of her words clear.
Clever girl.
“And then I attempted to climb up the tree first. I have to admit, it took me a few tries to get up, with this in the way,” she said patting her large belly, “But eventually I managed.”
She smiled proudly at herself and her accomplishment, and Jake couldn’t help but smile as well.
“I was just so bored!” She continued. “Ma oeyä Eywa! Bored out of my mind!”
Jake tilted his head compassionately. “I know baby. I know you’re tired and uncomfortable. But soon…”
The hand that she had previously patted her belly with hovered loosely by the waistband of her green loincloth. Jake released his hand from where had had placed it upon Neytiri’s thigh, and clasped her hand— entwining the three slim fingers of her hand, between his four own larger ones— and placed them both back onto her belly. Placed the hands right above their son.
Soon. Very, very soon.
“There’s actually one more thing I came to ask you about,” Jake eventually piqued up, interrupting the calm reprieve they had momentarily landed in.
She looked up at him— or down, since she was sitting atop the tall pa’li— and gave him a curiously inquiring look, silently urging him to go on.
“I was planning to go down to Hell’s Gate just now. Max and Norm are doing another check up on Grace’s avatar.”
Neytiri tensed and cringed minimally at his last few words. It was a topic that still hurt. Hurt to talk about. Hurt to think about. And it would probably always do.
“Alright,” she said shortly, lips drawn straight and wide.
Jake knew the idea of the dormant avatar— floating aimlessly in the amnio tank— unnerved his mate, but he also had no doubt that she would tell him no.
“And I was gonna ask if you would like to come with me?”
“I would like to,” she told him shortly, but assuredly.
And even if she looked like coming with him to Hell’s Gate was the last thing she wanted to do, Neytiri did in fact very much want to go.
Ever since Grace’s unexpected pregnancy had been revealed, Neytiri had been firm about her desire to be there to witness as much of the progress as she could. Even if it did creep her out like nothing else.
The thought that she would be pregnant at the same time as the tawtute woman— who she had looked up to her whole life, a woman that had just as well been a mother to her— was a bizarre one. Grace was quite a few years older than her, and even when Neytiri had only been a small child— toddling after Sylwanin anywhere she went— Grace had altered then seemed old. But then again, in the eyes of a child, just about anyone that wasn’t the same age would seem to be very old and mature.
And then there was the fact that Grace had made the personal choice to not start a family of her own. It was why she had begged, and begged to start the school for the Omatikaya younglings; because she adored them, as if they were her own, the children she by choice refrained from having. Her lifework.
All of it only made the fate of a miracle conception so much more cruel. Her biggest desire was one she had been granted, only to never have a chance of experiencing it.
It was bizarre, and yet the reality they had found themselves in. And by Eywa, Neytiri wouldn’t want to miss any of it for the world.
Much like with herself, Grace wasn’t far away from her due date either. The girl that Grace carried would be very close in age with the son that she herself carried.
“Almost like twins,” Jake had said once— voice wistful and melancholic— thinking very much of himself and his dead brother.
Neytiri stomach would grown, and shortly after, Grace’s would follow in line and grow to a similar size. It was a synchronized rhythm in a great sense. A feminine marvel. And the evermore way of life that gave way to new generations.
The maternal feelings, and the biological change of her hormones and instincts affected Neytiri greatly. The growing longing for motherhood that she experienced more and more by each day that passed transcended bloodlines. The desire to meet Grace’s daughter, and to raise her as her own, was becoming equally as great as the desire she felt for the arrival of her son.
There was do doubt about the love she already held in her heart for the poor girl. If there was one thing Neytiri was sure of, it was that she would do anything in her definite power to honor the great woman that Grace Augustine had been. And if that meant raising her orphaned daughter, then she would do it in a heartbeat. Eywa’eveng already had enough orphans as was.
Determination. It empowered her. Burned through her veins. And it carried her onwards, like the flapping wings of a Ikran soaring through the skies, carrying its rider to greater heights, and uncharted horizons.
Delighted, Jake kissed her wrist affectionately, and said “Great,” in warm voice, his yellow, greenish tinted golden eyes full of happiness. "We'll go together." He gave her wrist a tender squeeze. “Always, and forever,” he added, voice full of innuendo.
Before setting of for Hell’s Gate, Jake gracefully leaped up onto the pa’li’s broad back, and sank down into place behind Neytiri— who spared no time, and quickly, almost instinctively, leaned back against her mate’s chest, and nestled cozily into the secure embrace that he so willingly offered her— and then they spurred the pa’li on towards the designated destination.
After a while of serene silence, Jake spoke up and said, “So we still have no name for the girl? Unless you spent all of last night awake, pondering away at it, and without telling me, that is.”
“No, I did in fact not stay up all of last night thinking about baby names,” Neytiri answered him.
“I think I feel asleep just about immediately after we went to bed. So yes, I do suppose she still goes unnamed, as of yet, ma yawne. Did you think about it? Baby names I mean?”
Jake shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m always thinking about baby names ma Tiri. Ever since you told me about Neteyam.”
The hand already cradling her middle spread out over it, caressing it so softly that it almost felt ticklish.
“But I have to say, naming this kid is kind of hard. With Neteyam, his name just came to us like a epiphany. But with the girl it’s harder. She’s a enigma. I think I need so see her, and to meet her. Get a grasp on her first. Otherwise it’s to abstract.”
Neytiri nodded carefully at his words, and she did agree with him.
“I think me carrying Neteyam is what made naming him much easier. He and I are essentially the same person right now. I feel him, just as much as he can feel me. It’s like he was the one telling me just who he was.”
“I guess that actually makes a lot of sense—,” Jake began saying, before a hard kick against his hand distracted him. They both look down curiously.
Was that a… affirmation?
Neytiri let out a snicker and replied, “I think he just agreed with us yawntu!
And at that, Jake could only smile in amazement. The kid wasn’t even born yet, and still, he was already so smart! He really couldn’t wait for the day he would very soon be born,
Upon arriving at Hell's Gate, they jumped of the pa’li— Jake first, and then Neytiri, although with great assistance— before leaving it to graze contentedly by the fences. Like most Pandoran creatures— animalistic or humanoid— it preferred to stay as far away from the unnatural concrete and metal environment as it could, and Jake and Neytiri would gladly respect those sentiments. It was feelings they themselves shared, after all.
After dealing with the pa’li, they then entered the grounds, donned breathing masks, and made their way deeper into the complex towards the Avatar lab compound. There, they found Max and Norm, who— like always— greeted them warmly.
With great gusto, Norm immediately jumped up from his desk and asked Neytiri how she and the baby were doing, and with big show, Neytiri—before replying to the man’s question— placed a comforting hand on her big stomach, feeling the baby's movements. Jake stood beside her, gently stroking her back and smiling affectionately at her.
"We are doing good," Neytiri eventually said, her eyes on Jake as she spoke; her love for him evident in her gaze.
Usually she wasn’t one to blatantly show so much emotion in public, but once again— and wasn’t this getting kind of old by now— she blamed the pregnancy hormones that recently ruled her more than she did herself.
“But I am very much ready for this little one to come out of my body,” Neytiri then added, her voice laced with a mildly exaggerated tone of sarcastic zest.
“Because I am exhausted, and tired, and ready for this pregnancy to finally be over. Whenever he wants to, he’s got my full support and permission to be born as soon as he can.”
Her reply caused the other men in the room to snicker, and Neytiri couldn’t help but join in as well.
After the initial exchange of pleasantries and the regular inquiries were made, the collective attention of the group then shifted towards Grace's Avatar.
Within the confines of the tank it hung suspended, floating aimlessly through the translucently blue liquid. All while the dull and grey colors of the room surrounded them all; enveloping them and the whole room within what seemed like the arms of a metal cage.
Neytiri eyed it all somewhat wearily.
Although looking both peaceful and undeniably ethereal in beauty, it would never not be a utterly sad sight to witness. The gentle glow of the tank illuminated both Grace's serene figure— and especially the bioluminescent dots, those gorgeously glowing patterns that painted her whole body, which only made her seem to be so alive— and the rest of the the room and everyone else with it (that was close enough to the tank) as well.
The softly humming machinery in the room filled the room as a quiet backdrop; and as the examination check-up began— and as Max performed his assessments— Neytiri looked on nervously.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Max and Norm. Because she did. Out of all the humans left at Hell’s Gate, the two men were some of the only Sky People that were left at the base that Neytiri had allowed herself— or, perhaps rather— had gotten to know well enough to actually grown comfortable with them and their nowadays only half foreign presences and alien appearances.
Them she trusted. But their metal instruments… Not so much.
Since the beginning of both the pregnancies, when all of these “check ups” had first started taking place at Hell’s Gate, she had been muttering and grumbling a lot, to say the least. And every time she had done so, Jake had assured her time and time again that she had nothing to worry about.
He had often said things like: “The guys know what they’re doing, because to be able to come to Pandora as a scientist to even begin with, one would need a insanely long, and a incredibly complicated Rrta education to be even remotely qualified for a job like the ones they have. Trust me babe, they know what they’re doing. And no, letting me take Tommy place was both a stupid, and brave of them. I’m just a dumb, extremely unqualified Jarhead! But in the end things did work out well anyway. I met you because of it, after all!”
He always did know just how to comfort her and make her happy, and as they stood there beside the tank, Jake seemed to sense her once more present unease, because it didn’t take many seconds for him to turn to her, give her hand a short, comforting squeeze, and lean forward to kiss her forehead reassuringly.
In reply Neytiri said nothing but instead just smiled back fondly and thankfully at him. Sometimes silence said much more than words ever could.
"Thank you, Great Mother," Neytiri prayed silently. “For giving me Jake.”
•••
Neteyam was born during eclipse. It was a coincidence that would haunt them horribly fifteen short years later. Like a cold knife to the heart.
Neytiri went into labor about a month too early, and that had initially terrified Jake.
As twins usually are, he and his own brother Tom had been born a few weeks prematurely, and they had therefore been forced to spend a few additional weeks in the NICU. They had both been fine, because although born early they hadn’t been born too early, so it hadn’t been as dramatic as it would have seemed to be at first. He and Tom had simply just needed a little extra attention and TLC, and afterwards things had been as good as normal. None of that background knowledge had calmed or helped him however, when his own firstborn son had been about to be born. Giving birth on earth was a risky thing despite the extensive health care and artificial knowledge of the medical profession that humans across the planet relied on. Such things or ideologies didn’t exist on Pandora. The Na’vi gave birth like one was supposed to; like the humans themselves had before modernization had bewitched them all. The Na’vi personified the combination of a holistic and naturopathic approach to life. Natural was the keyword; natural medicine, natural techniques, natural behavior. Jake had integrated well into his new Na’vi life, but everything that had happened during the last (crazy) year, every new milestone and achievement… had all been new and uncharted territory for him. And this? So far this had topped the cake. He had very well moved on from his old, miserable life, but old habits die hard apparently, because the knowledge that they didn’t have any of the earth technologies to depend on almost scared him to death. His mother-in-law was a skilled healer, and his wife a strong woman, and he did have full faith in both their abilities. But if something went wrong, it would go wrong. He didn’t care that the statistics for mortality in childbirth among mothers Na’vi were reassuringly low, he didn’t care about how many times Neytiri had told him that; Jake was still terrified, because he couldn’t lose her. Not after all they had gone through to have each other in the first place.
The moment the water had broken, and the seriousness of the situation had hit him, he had gone unnaturally calm, much to his own surprise. He had expected to panic, or to faint, like all the guys did in movies and shows back on earth. It was just that quickly after the labor had begun, he had realized that all of those things he had expected to do himself, had all been stereotypical myths. This was the situation for him anyway. Jake wasn’t one to put labels on other expecting fathers and their own experiences.
Neytiri needed him especially much in that moment, and he wouldn’t do either of them any favors if he ran around in panic, projecting negative energy and emotions. And so, Jake became her steadfast rock to cling and lean on for support; a calm lighthouse glowing warm and reassuring amidst a dark and violent storm at sea.
The labor had went on for a few long hours, probably a result of it being the first time for the body to give birth, but otherwise it prolonged fine, and it wasn’t particularly difficult or dramatic after all, much to his relief. It was exhausting however, and painful. He had been sitting up against the wall of their marui, Neytiri half squatting precisely in front of him, half laying atop and leaning against his chest and torso, head resting on his shoulder. The left arm was tied to a leather rope hanging from the ceiling, both supporting her upright and allowing her to pull at something to try and distract herself from the intense and searing pain of the contractions. In front of them both was Mo’at (in that moment a skilled and steadfast midwife through and through) who assisted her daughter and son-in-law during the birth of her first grandchild; their firstborn.
Every time Neytiri had let out a painful scream, a sob, tears falling down her cheeks because the crying, or when she pushed herself back against his chest in agony as she gave another push, clutching his fingers so hard it felt like she would snap them in half (despite the carbon fiber enforced bones of his Avatar-turned-Na’vi) it tore at his heart, and occasionally he had banned himself for putting her through such things; all while muttering words of encouragement and comforting in her ear, just like Mo’at, who sat down by her legs.
After what felt like an eternity to them all, the sky had gone from the rosé golden of dawn, to light blue, and eventually to the dark shade of night, the high pitched before the screams of a newborn was finally heard; a sound that had extinguished any feelings of pain that she had just experienced. A sound that made her feel complete.
Jake had hugged her. Kissed her. Murmured words of praise in her ear. In that moment she felt weightless and dizzy. She felt euphoric.
Right then and there, it was as if the whole world had stopped and gone quiet; the only existing people being the ones inside the marui.
She payed no mind to the murmurs and and cheers that had started spreading across the village the moment her cries of pain had stopped, and been replaced by a lighter set of lungs. She was oblivious to the faint buzz of it as the sounds danced outside her audible periphery. Unimportant.
One long year of impatient waiting and longing for this little life had passed, one long year of curiosity about who their new little family member was, what he looked like, who he would be, and what parenthood would really be like… it was over now, and suddenly, finally, he was here; and there was no merit to Jake’s previous worries. Neytiri had been safely delivered and was fine; and Neteyam was strong and healthy.
“A boy! A beautiful boy,” the proud grandmother exclaimed.
Lie si oe Neteyamur. The first bead on the songcord.
“Well done Ma ite. Well done,” Mo’at said in a choked up voice as her gaze flickered between the crying baby in her arms as she checks him over, and her daughter and son-in-law who looked on in emotional expectancy, longing to finally lay their eyes upon the new little life.
Besides her was a small bassinet filled with water, and she quickly took a few cleaning wipes with a wet cloth over the baby, before handing him over, laying him atop Neytiri’s chest; and as soon as Neteyam was placed in his mother’s arms, his screams quieted down somewhat, turning into soft whimpering instead. She cradled him gently against her chest, letting out small sobs of joy.
“Neteyam,” she sighed warmly as she took all of him in.
She wore a large grin on her face as she turned towards Jake who had moved to sit beside her (after carefully propping her up against the wall where he himself just had sat). He looked down at the baby, with misty eyes, and a tender, emotional expression; that soon grew into a soft smile as his and Neytiri’s gazes met. They didn’t say anything at that moment. They were both way too overwhelmed to form coherent words; were too enamored.
Instead, (seeing as his mate had her hands full), Jake took action by taking hold of her braid, and bringing it towards the baby’s minuscule one to help her form tsaheylu with the little baby, (as Na’vi women immediately do after giving birth to their offspring, allowing them to form a strong emotional and familial bond together). Upon the formation of the bond, both mother and son let out small happy exhales.
While this took place, Mo’at quietly sneaked out with a few calm words of goodby, before leaving them alone for some privacy time with their newborn. It was about then that they decided to move off the floor.
Jake helped Neytiri up into the hammock before then going across the room to get the bassinet, and a small light blanket. He brought the items over to his exhausted mate, and carefully he then lied down into the hammock with her, cradling them both in his arms.
Dipping the rag into the water, she wiped him of some more, which caused him to mewl adorably in slight discomfort at the cool, unfamiliar sensation upon his skin.
“I know baby. I know,” Neytiri murmured softly at him. “But It’s for your own good.”
As Jake watched his wife silently (which is unusual for him!) as she held their son in her arms, talking to him, cooing, giggling, taking care of him; and he thinks that she has never looked anymore beautiful than in that tender moments. If only he could have frozen the time and make this moment last forever, he thinks fondly to himself.
When she deemed Neteyam clean enough, Neytiri threw the small woven blanket over him, and it wasn’t long before he started nurse vigorously from her milk swollen breast; on his own, without much help. All the while Neytiri gently stroked his soft head, humming softly in tune with the swaying rhythm of the hammock as it was rocked by the soft breeze.
For a long while they just lied there in silence, awake; just looking lovingly upon their son (who by then had finished nursing). Little Neteyam was looking up at his parents, already so familiar to him, with eyes that looked far too wise and deep for a newborn to have. This was a thought that struck Jake with astonishment. Another thought that also struck him was that little Neteyam was darn stinking cute! Sure, newborns are seldomly actually cute (it amused him that humans and Na’vi were quite alike in that manner), but this one was! And Jake really didn’t care if he was biased because it was his own child. It was true! With round chubby cheeks, a few black strands of hair atop his little head, and arm and leg rolls that reminded him of cherub statues he had seen at a museum on earth once, one couldn’t help but absolutely melt at the sight. It was clear that he was fighting sleep with all his might; blinking heavily up at them, not wanting to lose sight of the two protective figures that he could feel was radiating pure love and joy towards him. And if that didn’t make Jake weep, then he didn’t know what would.
And then there was yet another thing that made his heart feel full; the boy looked just like his beautiful mother, the woman Jake in such a short time had come to adore with his whole being.
“He looks like you,” he murmured softly over Neytiri’s shoulder.
She hummed serenely in reply at first, before coherently answering, “Umm, yes. I suppose he does.”
She traced her finger over Neteyam’s forehead, across the tiny bioluminescent freckles, and the dark blue stripes, trying to memorize the appearance of the markings that looked remarkably similar to the emblem of a Ikran. The baby cooed happily up at her and she smiled back.
The little boy did indeed look like her; and not just appearance wise. He had not inherited eyebrows from Jake, and on each little hand he had three fingers and one thumb, and on each foot three toes and one big toe, just like his mother; true Na’vi limbs.
It was late at night, the bioluminescence of the forest awake in its full glory outside their little home, but inside they were all tired. Sleep came easily, and with little struggle.
•••
A few days later, when Neytiri was strong enough they presented him to the people.
Neytiri watched proudly as Jake, dressed in his Olo’eyktan garbs— worn by Tsu’tey, her father, and the many other Olo’eyktan’s that had come before them—held Neteyam up in the air, golden lighting streaming down through the tree canopies upon them all. With tears in her eyes, she couldn’t help the ecstatic grin that took over her whole face. She brought her hand up to her mouth while she scrunched her nose up in utter, ridiculous, delight.
In a proud, emotional voice, Jake called out, “Neteyam!” and in unison the whole clan loudly (that was standing in a circle around them, holding hands and singing songs of joy and celebration) replied, “Neteyam!”
As if Neytiri wasn’t already grinning; the happy little chirping sounds her son let’s out, and the happy twitches of his little tail upon hearing his own name being called makes her feel even more lovesick, and even more content and sappy.
In that moment Neytiri felt like she was on top of the world; was completely oblivious and happily unaware of the oncoming chaos and despair that would eventually strike their family a couple of years later.
Damn the Sky People.
Na’vi translations:
Skxawng: Idiot, moron
Snonivi: The Hammocks
Swaynivi: Family hammock
Yawntu: Loved one
Muntxatan: Husband, Male Spouse
Tsaheylu: The bond, neural connection
Srane: Yes
‘Rrta: Earth
Irayo: Thank you
Tsmuke: Sister
Parultsyìp: Term of affection for children
Yerik: (Hexapede) a land herbivore that resides in various biomes of Pandora, including rainforests, savanna, subarctic tundra, and mountainous regions. The hexapede is a food source for the Na'vi, and is one of the prime targets for Na’vi hunters.
Oel ngati kameie: I see you
Tsmukan: Brother
Ulte ngaru seiyi irayo: And I thank you
Ngari hu Eywa salew tirea: Your spirit will run with Eywa
Tokx 'ì'awn slu Na'viyä hapxì: While your body will remain and become part of the People.
Tawtute: Human, Sky Person
Uniltìranyu: Dreamwalker
Palulukan: Thanator
Tam ke tam: So-so, more or less
Ma itan: My son
Pa’li: Direhorse
Etrìpa swayvi!: Good luck!
Ma oeyä Eywa!: My god! / My Eywa!
Ma yawne: My beloved
Lie si oe Neteyamur: I experience Neteyam
Ma ite: My daughter
Kuru: Neural queue
Olo’eyktan: Clan Leader
Nìtsisyì: By whispering, in a whisper
Iante: Wander
Lenrra: Proud
Ìpxa: Fern
Sätare: Connection, Relationship
Rangal: Wish