Invisible String - Jake Sully

21

"Call for me and I will silence it, please," he implored, "saving their lives, saving your family," he said dejectedly, his eyes locked with Tawn's indignant ones, "that's all that matters, right?" his voice cracked.

Tawn sighed. She could feel her anger lessen at her mate. She knew he was to be trusted since he was once a sky people. She knew if anyone knew how to handle the demons, it was him. He understood how they think.

"Sa'nok, Dad knows what he's doing," Kiri assured, tugging at Tawn's hand.

Tawn sighed, lowering her head, "I know Kiri."

Tonowari and Ronal seemed to talk silently before telling their warriors to tell the tulkun to go.

Jake nodded, pleased at their decision.

The clan dispersed, each having their own tasks to do. "Please don't go beyond the reef, Kiri," Tawn warned her.

Kiri nodded, "Don't worry, Tuk and I are going ilu feeding." She smiled reassuringly.

Tawn nodded, watching her go with worry in her eyes. 'Eywa please protect them from any harm,' she thought.

"Tawn!" Jake called. She turned to him, noticing the distress in his eyes.

Tawn frowned, "what's the matter?"

Jake didn't say anything. He went to grab her hand and led her to a quieter place. During their walk, Tawn noticed him being on edge, the look of guilt was present on his face. It made her nervous at what was going on.

"Jake? What happened? Are you okay?" she asked once they were alone.

Tawn watched Jake pacing the steps, his eyebrows scrunched and his hand occasionally running through his locks, showing his frustration.

"Jake, you're scaring me," Tawn said, trying to place her hand on his shoulder.

Jake stopped, letting out a quick huff before turning towards her. His bright yellow eyes stared directly at her light blue ones, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, my love, please forgive me," he pleaded, begging her with his eyes.

"For what?"

Jake swallowed the lump in his throat. It was now or never, "for all of this. I have no excuse on why I didn't tell you this from the very beginning. They are coming for me," he finished frantically.

Tawn took a step back. She didn't understand a thing he said, "what?"

"They are hunting me. I betrayed the sky people, so they sent a group of mercenaries to hunt me," he sighed, "Roa and her calf were collateral damage. They weren't hunting tulkuns, they were hunting our kids and me."

The words haunted her. The way he referred to poor Roa and her calf terrified her so much. She needed a couple of minutes to digest what he had just told her, "why didn't you say it sooner, Jake?"

Jake sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders, "It was to spare me, spare me from that look in your eyes," he pleaded, "I was a coward. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to bring harm upon your people, ma Tawn," he begged, pulling her into his embrace.

Tawn's mind was reeling so fast, and her thoughts were all over the place. On the one hand, she was frustrated and angry at Jake for keeping this to himself, choosing not to trust her after months of being together. On the other, Tawn knew he was scared of ruining this. His fear of losing the newfound family he just got prevailed over everything else. She couldn't hate him for this, and she couldn't leave him. Not with the baby they were expecting.

Tawn sighed, leaning on his chest, her arms wrapped around his broad back, "I forgive you, but you have to promise me to never do this again," she warned him.