Chapter Text
The Great Plains were a force to be reckoned with. With windswept trees and looming arches, as if carved by the great Eywa herself, it was not a place to tread lightly. With grass so long it hid every predator, to winds so strong that it could cut through mountains, it was vast, yet held so much in the weight of its palm.
This was uncharted territory in Jake’s eyes, especially so far from the water where the Metkayina clan called home. It wasn’t his first option, having to leave so quick, but with word that the RDA had gone along to the western frontier, destroying the land and the Na’vi with it, he had no choice but to go, using the mantel as Toruk Makto to bring the clans together to fight against the RDA and universal asshole, Quarritch. He looked across to his right, his eyes focusing on his woman, Neytiri, her own eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as she flew on the back of Sa’ata, a calm aura holding deep anger underneath. Kiri, with Spider of course, Tuk and Lo’ak flanked the two parents on both sides on their own bonded, a sombre silence falling between the group.
It had been a few years since the fight against the RDA and Varang, the scars still weighing heavy with the hanging thought of Neteyam, who lost his life years prior. Lo’ak had finally reached the age of 18, body lean and strong from swimming in the waters daily, muscles rippling down his body, showing the changes he had undergone. Kiri, and Tuk had each grown as well, the innocence of youth dissipating quickly like sea foam after a stormy night.
‘Ma Jake,’ Neytiri’s voice cut through on the comms, catching his attention once more, ‘we should land, set up camp.’. He nodded, and without another word, led the group to a small clearing, a rocky formation providing a small break from the biting wind. They all dismounted quickly with relief, thankful to finally rest.
‘We stay here, keep quiet. Do not leave the area.’ Jake instructed the group quietly, ears flicking about and listening for any noise.
The group nodded, not wanting to utter a word and be disciplined for it. Lo’ak sighed, untacking his Ikran as he looked across the sky, the sun setting low and casting a warm orange glow across the way. He wanted to return home to the reef, to Payakan, his spirit brother. There was little to no water up here though, save for rocky rivers and the great lake, none of which were suitable for a Tulkun to live.
‘Only temporary.’ He would remind himself as he laid the ikran gear on the flat of the rock, letting his bonded rest after a long flight. Kiri and Tuk settled down under the overhang of the rock, huddling up next to Spider as Neytiri kept a watchful gaze. Lo’ak reluctantly joined, settling down just on the edge.
‘We’ll rest here tonight, and leave first thing in the morning.’ Jake spoke, leaving no room for arguments, only agreements. Lo’ak and the others nodded, too tired to even utter a single word back. One by one, they all eventually laid down on the soft moss covered rock, eyes becoming heavy with sleep, too weak to fight off.
The night fell quiet, too quiet to be comfortable. It felt like every rustle of a grass blade went completely still, as if making any noise would set off a bomb. It was the dead of night by the time it happened. Lo’ak awoke first, eyes fluttering open as a heavy sense of dread settled on his shoulders, heavy like guilt, foreboding like something unfathomable. He sat up quietly, eyes looking into the dark, hearing the slight crunch of something under foot. He shook his fathers leg, waking him with a small groan.
‘There’s something there,’ was all Lo’ak had to say for his father to become fully alert, grabbing his assault rifle that was laid by his side for protection. The others had slowly begun to wake up, half dazed, half aware something was about to go down.
Lo’ak looked around, something moving in the corner of his eye, making him start to pray to Eywa for the sun to appear, revealing what was hiding in the shadows. With a practised move, the group moved as one, slowly out of the rock refuge being careful not to stir anything. A guttural roar sounded just a few meters away, deep in the underbrush of the Plains, cloaked and moving constantly.
Jake raised his gun, aiming into the grass. Another roar sound, this time from the top of the rock that they had previously slept under. From the darkness of night, stood a Thanator, great in size, terrifying in appearance.
Everyone froze, in fear and alarm as the Thanator jumped down from the rock, roaring loudly in their faces, showing off the alarmingly sharp teeth it had lining its jaw. The animal fanned out its quills, its predatory gaze fixed on the group. More emerged, surrounding the group, stalking forward, growling, waiting for the next move. However, it wasn’t just the sheer amount of Thanators surrounding the group, but what alarmed the group was the figures sat atop their backs, weapons drawn and aiming towards the family.
‘Lower your weapons!’ A woman’s voice commanded from the back of the Thanator that had jumped down from the rock.
‘Okay! Okay! Don’t attack!’ Jake replied, placing the gun on the ground and holding his arms up in surrender. Neytiri reluctantly followed suit, placing her bow gently on the ground, beady eyes watching the Thanator approach. Lo’ak, Kiri, Tuk and Spider held their arms up as well, not wanting to choose death over rebellion.
The figure dismounted, separating the Tsaheylu from her Thanator, her features darkened by the night, Her bioluminescence markings glowed in the night, mapped out like stars in the night sky. The glowing of the ground began to slightly illuminate the place, revealing the woman. She looked to be no older than Lo’ak, with dark hair framing her face as half of it was braided back, entwining with other plaits and braids, adorned with feathers and reeds from the plains. Her eyes glowed a vibrant green, like the forest where the Omaticaya resides. Filled with curiosity, but also alert with unease.
Her outfit consisted of a feather chest piece woven with fabrics and a simple blue loincloth, paired with brown leg wraps, a dagger holstered to her thigh, glinting in the moonlight.
She walked up to Jake, who in turn was standing at the front of the group, his gaze continuously switching from her to the Thanator that stood waiting, saliva dripping from its obsidian teeth. Even Neytiri knew not to make any sudden moves, considering that Thanators were violent and powerful creatures, capable of killing you with one bite from its powerful jaw, or suffering many broken bones from a hit of its armoured tail.
‘Why are you here?’ The woman broke the silence, asking the question that probably was at the forefront of her mind.
‘I’m here to talk to the clan leaders, to help.’ He explained, voice shaky from the overwhelming amount of Thanators currently surrounding the family. One wrong move and they could all be erased from existence, without a single arrow fired.
‘Are you Tsahik?’ Kiri asked, the watchful gaze of the woman in front of him switching from Jake to the one at the back. She moved her head, peering around him as she looked at Kiri, an unreadable expression on her face.
‘No, my mother is Tsahik.’ The woman answered, unsure of what to make of the situation they were in. One other na’vi chirped, pulling their bow tight as the Thanators grew restless, growling in impatience.
‘We need to speak to her.’ Jake spoke up once more, certainty etched into his tone.
‘Why?’ The woman tilted her head, ears perking up slightly.
‘Because, I bring words that should not be carried by hunters alone. I’m here because the Sky People are moving again.’
’And yet, you bring a sky person with you.’ She replied, pointing her longbow that she had in her grip at Spider. He froze, noticing how the attention shifted to him.
The na’vi froze, noticing the absence of the mask.
‘How.. Do you breathe our air?’ She asked, tilting her head. Her tail flicked wildly, ears pricking forward.
’It was Eywa. She saved me.’ Spider replied nervously, swallowing.
She paused, standing upright again and looking at Jake once more.
‘We will let the Tsahik decide,’ was all the na’vi replied with, returning to her Thanator and reconnecting her kuru.
‘You will not kill us, yes?’ She asked the group as she mounted it, the Thanators roar sending a shockwave through the Sully family.
‘We won’t. We promise.’ Jake replied, noticing the beasts begin to stir.
‘Call your Ikrans. You will follow.’ She instructed, holstering her longbow on the saddle.
‘And if we don’t?’ Neytiri asked, side eyeing the woman slightly.
‘We will track you down. And kill you.’ The na’vi woman replied honestly, looking straight at her.’
The family’s ikrans landed against the rock, as if knowing they were needed. After saddling them up, they took off into the air, hovering above the group.
’Count yourselves lucky we allow you to fly. Try to keep up!’ She shouted, most of the Thanator riders yipping and calling out, launching into a gallop, disappearing into the long grass.