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Sahuna had been terrified after reading that first email from Jaal. Her son always saw the best in everyone from the moment he'd been born. But to trust these new aliens. To go willingly onto their ship and choose to live among them. She was afraid she'd never receive another email from him ever again. She'd already lost so much to the Kett. She didn't want to lose her beloved son to this so called Pathfinder.
When a second email appeared in her inbox the next day, she breathed a sigh of relief. He had survived the night. Hopefully, he kept surviving. If this Pathfinder caused her to lose her son, it would be the last thing he ever did.
Jaal had told her he had to email Evfra once a week but she insisted on a daily email. That way she knew he was still alright. Knew she hadn't lost someone else.
She had never envisioned that instead of losing a family member, she'd actually gain one.
She had, at first, missed the change in Jaal's emails. How he went from referring to him as the Pathfinder to Ryder. When it switched from Ryder to Scott, she finally took notice. His emails were filled with stories of the crew of the Tempest more than the battles they had fought. Her son wasn't just surviving anymore. He was thriving.
He'd been heartbroken for so long. Moping around Havaral with no direction. No purpose. It's why she encouraged him to take the promotion that moved him to Aya. Though she had hated to see him go. And it hadn't worked as completely as she had hoped it would. He had still been wandering without purpose. But now, scary as it was for her, maybe he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He seemed happier in his emails and the short calls home he sometimes managed to make. Full of plans of making gifts for the aliens and helping them learn Angaran culture. And her worry slowly decreased day by day as this Pathfinder, this human called Scott Ryder, kept his word.
He protected her son and worked tirelessly to help not only his fellow milky way species but the Angara as well. The Moshae had been snatched from certain death. Havaral's vault had been reactivated. Their planet would now thrive. Thanks to him.
The Tempest was on Voeld, trying to find the vault there, when she received the email from Jaal that alerted her that her boy had opened his heart again. Though he was completely clueless, of course. In the email, he mentioned working in the tech lab with Scott, upgrading weapons and building new mods. But he barely said anything about the weapons, like he would've before. Most of the email was about Scott. His skill at tech. How his fingers were slightly more dexterous than theirs. His pale, pattern less skin. His laugh. His smile. Her boy was in love. She didn't know what to think of that.
She didn't have long to figure it out though. Because almost immediately after closing the email, the news that three of their children had joined Aksuul. Panic. Fear. And the realization only one person was in position to save them in time. Luckily, Scott didn't even hesitate when Jaal told him. They left Voeld immediately and flew to Havaral, rescuing them before their terrible mistake ended up killing them. When they were reunited with them, she decided to ask Jaal to invite Scott to their home. So they could thank him in person. And she could see what her son could possibly see in him.
His hug had been perfect. Exactly the right Angaran way when meeting what would become family. And the way he looked at her boy. His smile as she embarrassed Jaal as was her right as his mother. They were completely smitten with each other. And though she was still scared, she was also happy for them.
The road ahead would be a tough one. She had heard the distrust that was still present about their new neighbours. But she trusted Jaal. If he said trust in Scott, she would. Especially because he had put the sparkle back in her boy's eyes. Anyone tried to take that away again, do anything to ruin the beginning of what would hopefully fully develop, they would answer to her. And it would be the last thing they ever did.