Chapter Text
It has only been a day since the war of 2154 ended, August 24th. Jake was to have his consciousness fully transferred into his avatar tonight. But for now, it is day. He has to wait for the hours to pass so that it can happen. He was trying to kill time right now, though, so that it could come “faster.” He so desperately wanted to truly become a part of the people, not just Toruk Makto or the Olo'eyktan.
Jake was walking around in his avatar at the area where the Omatikaya clan had buried Grace's human body, as he was still grieving his mentor. I mean, how couldn't he? It had only been merely three days. Barely even three days, one could say. It was also a way to do something as well, not just sitting his butt around. He had brought some flowers he found around the forest to put in her grave. It was a small gesture, but something he thought she'd like—If she were alive, of course.
But.. he saw a young Na'vi girl by Grace's gravesite, knelt down on her knees while looking at her body. Four fingers and a thumb.. that's odd. She clearly wasn't a dreamwalker. She couldn't be, it was impossible for her to be one. She's way too young for that, and even if she was, he'd never seen or heard her at Hell's Gate.
She couldn't be any older than seven-years old, and no younger than five-years old.
He walked over next to her, slowly so as to not startle the young girl, and knelt down beside her, then reaching over to the grave and dropping the flowers in Grace's grave as he was originally going to. They fell like light feathers, as he expected them to. He then turned his head over to face the little girl, who was still looking down at Grace's grave.
“Hey, little one. What are you doing over here? Shouldn't you be with your parents?” He asked her, genuinely wondering why her parents weren't even looking for her, as he hasn't heard of anyone missing a child. There wasn't any worry in the clan, only grief.
“I-I.. uh.."
She clearly was either taught not to speak to dreamwalkers or was too afraid to speak. Probably both, because of the whole war thing. She was definitely here when the schoolhouse was shot up, too, so her parents' had likely taught her not to speak to them, even if Grace was still allowed in the clan, which he didn't understand why if they hated the sky people so much.
"It's alright, you don't have to tell me. But let's at least go back to the clan, okay?"
But instead of nodding or anything else, she shook her head.
"N-no.. n-not yet.." She told Jake, her voice shaky.
"What do you mean not yet? Don't you want to find your parents'? Your parents are gonna get worried about where you went off."
"..I don't want to leave her.."
"Why not?"
"...She's my Sa'nu. My Mommy.."
Jake froze, his eyes widening. It suddenly made sense. Why Grace hadn't been kicked out even after her schoolhouse shut down, and why this kid was away from the clan at Grace's grave.. why the kid had five digits on her hands instead of four.
"..You're Grace's kid..?" He asked her, his voice now suddenly more quiet.
"..Y-yeah.. I-I'm her 'ite.. her daughter.." she told him, her voice still shaky.
..Her daughter? When did she even have time to care for her or teach her things? To spend time with her? She seemed to always be with someone else.
..She'll grow up as an orphan, likely. Like me and Thomas. Grace didn't seem to have an romance with anyone.. Jake thought to himself, realizing that she would grow up without a mother. Like he and his brother, Thomas, did. Although, they had been a little older than she is now
Jake then put a hand over hers, his hand enclosing hers in his. She looked up at him with a tired yet scared look that's also full of confusion.
"Come on, kid. I don't think your mother would want you to be out here too long. And assuming by how you look, you've been out here a while."
"..Vìtra. Not kid, Vìtra.."
"Alright.. Vìtra. Vìtra, let's go now."
"..But I don't wanna."
"Come on, I can get you something if you do."
"..Teylu?"
Jake chuckled at that. It was simple, yet the glimmer in her eyes looked like it was a great delicacy that was a rare thing. Maybe it's one of her favorites.
"Sure, teylu it is. Now get up, we'll go to the clan and I'll get you some teylu. Maybe on the way if we find some."
"..Okay." She said before she let go of Jake's hand, then reluctantly stood up, even with the offer of Teylu.
"..No hands, though. Please." She pleaded, clearly not wanting to hold his hand.
"Alright, we don't have to. Just follow me, alright?" Jake told her in a soft and gentle tone, trying to get her to feel comfortable with him.
Vìtra nodded, liking that answer, even if she looked away for a moment before she started to follow him as they walked. She did try her best to keep up with him, as he is quite taller than her. 8' 11 versus 5' 4.
..Okay, maybe he wasn't not too much taller than her, but he's still pretty tall. Three feet and seven inches taller than her. But she is also a pretty tall kid, too, though. Taller than most kids he's seen.. which actually isn't too many. He's spent his time training, learning the customs and learning the language, afterall. Oel ngati kameie and all.