Chapter Text
The Sarentu stands rigidly amidst Pandora’s forest, her breathing shallow as she analyzes the horror in front of her.
“So'lek” she rasps, steadily touching her collar as her voice runs through “you have to come see this. Now”
The lad merely replies a ‘yes’ but Tamtey can hear the shift of winds happening, confirming his ikran changed directions.
“Eywa…”
Tamtey heaves. She gapes the beauty of a mess before her. An abandoned RDA base completely frozen in time. The whole place that was built in grey now coated in an icy blue. It reminds her the resemblance of the glaciers on earth, the colour gleaming as it reciprocates the lights harsh glare.
Stepping closer, Tamtey cautiously slides her hand over a broken contraption on the ground that’s affected by the ice. Deeming it safe to pick up, she keenly observes her reflection and another thing.
“Maybe one of their weapons had a combustion…”
How would one even build such things?
She twirls the object carefully, noticing. “An incredibly intricate pattern…hexagonal shapes?”
Her eyes lit up with recognition.
“Snowflakes!”
“Is that so?”
“Ugh!” Tamtey shrieks as she drops the contraption.
She brashly elbows the Na’vi beside her, a reflex someone knows all too well. But he didn’t dodge despite it, enjoying the charade.
His voice resonates in a low laugh. “Who is acting like a chicken now hm?”
His mate only huffs, crossing her arms.
“Very funny”
So'lek relishes her unsatisfied face, his head belatedly leaning down for an attempting kiss. No creature here to interrupt so why not? Not as if Eywa hasn’t seen them mated anyway.
A frosty mist suddenly pools at their feet, the cold biting fiercely. The pair instinctively retreat whilst the haze of ice keeps moving forward.
“What’s happening?”
So'lek grunts as his nerves arises, his muscles taut and leading Tamtey further from imminent danger.
A small helpless wail echoes.
Tamtey’s ears flattens as her heart is flaring. She whips her head towards So’lek. “You heard that too right?”
Her husband delivers a gruff, his hands firm and his eyes resolute. So'lek does not need more information to know the cruel intentions and tactics of the RDA utilizes.
Three possibilities arises as he sets them out.
“It may harbor a trap” he insists, “a pre-recorded tape or a real child in hostage to lure us”
The painful cries increases, a desperate plea for a sliver of hope. Tamtey hesitates at his words. She taught him a lot about human technologies and their functions, yet despite being more experienced he lays out the risks faster.
“Then what?”
“Or…abandoned”
The call softens gradually, resurfacing as broken pitiful sobs.
The Sarentu grunts and exhales. “I don’t care. I’m going in, back me up!”
“Wait you’re going to— !”
Barely two steps in Tamtey inevitably loses her footing and faceplants against the ice.
“Fall, ma yawntu” So'lek laughs and Tamtey grumbles, drowning with embarrassment.
*
The corridors are hollow and dim. Chunks of frozen debris breaking in two occasionally. Electrical wires dangling by the ceilings buzz with tensity. Rosters that contain confidential data of the RDA either torn to shreds or encased in ice.
“Wow” Tamtey snorts, hands raking over almost everything she can. “We should recruit the guy who did this”
The taller Na’vi beside her raises his nonexistent brow momentarily and continue to clear the path ahead.
“It is quiet”
“Too quiet yeah”
So'lek halts, signaling to Tamtey. “…over there”
His mate became high alert by the language of her body. So'lek grips his rifle, the light composure dissipating.
Tamtey’s eyes squint excessively comprehending that the only room with functioning light seem to be shrouded by eywa’s scared creations.
Atokirina'.
Not one, countless of them boarding the entrance of the room.
“Perhaps a sign…from the Great Mother” So'lek tries to make sense, surprisingly Tamtey made no follow-up comment.
The woodsprites drift alike, dispersing lazily as the figures strides became bigger.
”Oh”
By the furthest corner is you, tucked comfortably in a woven basket. A singular Atokirina' hovering nearby in circular motions like it’s assuring you stay asleep and distracted from profound emotions.
The warriors of Eywa are rendered speechless.
Tamtey inches closer, her steps emitting no sound in fear of awaking you. So'lek imitates with similar intentions.
The Atokirina' leaves deliberately the second Tamtey is in your range it prefers.
It sways pass her and So'lek languidly, playfully shoving itself into his face and eventually exits the place. So'lek grins, his eyes crinkle with mirth.
“Muntxatan, look”
Tamtey cradles you against her chest like its innate. Her solid arms turning into a cushion for you to lean onto.
“She’s gorgeous isn’t she?”
For some unknown reason Eywa’s voice reverberates inside their soul, persuading and fluctuating.
*
*
*
Guide her well, protect her as your own. For she will return to my embrace once the ashes of war has settled.
•
(7 YEARS LATER)
Your parents never assume you would be a peculiar child. As a miracle from Eywa herself, they did not put any expectations either. Just that you are a precious treasure in the family jewelry box.
Throughout their journey in raising you is memorable and…undeniably hectic.
Sure the two were reluctant at first. To take care of a baby in the middle of war, where metal can taint one’s innocence for eternity. But listening to your incoherent rambles permeate the air, your bright and lovely eyes dilating at them their heartstrings couldn’t resist getting tugged and tangled around your small pinky.
The RDA ordeal suddenly came easier after that.
The animals, the trees and even the elements plays in the resistance’s favor. The thriving habitants of Eywa indubitably uniting to shoulder the burdens.
Tamtey doesn’t forget the great mother’s reminder.
She worries.
Worries that having you bundle in her arms everyday or attached to her hip like its your second home, So'lek unable to utter the tempting word ‘no’ and hasn’t accomplished it yet and relentless training sessions to adhere Eywa’s order and, and—
Tamtey simply cannot bear to even imagine the promised day where Eywa calls you back home.
“Little sevin, where are you?”
Your mother purses her lips, eyes skeptical of her surroundings that exposes any signs of you.
Then her foot knocks over something. She glances down, noticing that its the basket So'lek gifted you specifically for stashing fruits. And it’s filled to the brim.
You must be nearby, hopefully.
Tamtey picks up the basket and organizes the fruits, humming your favourite tune as her feet moves again.
Time seems to be prolonging and her concerns are now palpable. Why did you venture so deep into the forest? Perhaps you got distracted by an animal? Maybe you potentially got kidnapped by the sky people and that’s why your basket is tossed away?!
No, no. She made sure to conceal your existence completely from the RDA. Her child is off limits from crossing that line.
Thankfully Tamtey’s inward crisis is cut short. Her head dips under a canopy of leaves and up ahead the small clearing before her stands you.
Tamtey’s breath hitches.
At the ripe age of 7 your powers unveil like an imminent revelation. Miracles are ubiquitous, that Tamtey knows well…because you are one yourself.
The basket full of fruits makes contact with the ground, the Sarentu’s heart lurching seeing you in a daze as swirls of snowflakes shoot out of your palms.
You seem unaware that you’re freezing life around you with every little step. Your magic spreads wider, flowering and irrevocable. The ice a glistening blue and biting the lushes of Eywa.
Your gaze draws blank, stare digging holes onto your crystalline coated fingertips.
Tamtey shivers at the cold, you welcome it.