~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

For a while.

Neytiri had taken Ronal to show her the tree of souls. I hadn't seen them since. 

As I was begging to show the avatar longhouse to Tonowari, Norm came jogging up to me from behind. He was holding his medical kit, and I'd begun to dislike that thing to a sizable degree. Then I realized he was coming from the direction of our mauri, which never meant a good thing. My heart beating faster by the minute, I opened my mouth before he had the chance. "What's wrong? Who's hurt this time?" 

Norm only smiled at me, like nothing was really wrong. "Nothing serious. Neteyam's just got vertigo." he tapped his cranium, "You know, head trauma."

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I'd had vertigo before, and it wasn't fun at all. I was in the bed for weeks. "You say nothing is wrong, but I'm starting to think you just don't care anymore." 

Norm scoffs and chuckles. "What? Of course not. I've just been here longer, and I've seen everything. Vertigo is normal, Jake." He gives a small wave to Tonowari, "But 'vertigo' doesn't translate in Na'vi sign language, unfortunately. I couldn't explain it to him." 

I couldn't wait to deal with Neteyam's attitude towards not being able to hear. Since he couldn't, I knew he's going to miss out on a lot, which isn't going to be good for him. Not to mention his stubbornness, his inability to accept help. He's just like me when I was younger, after I was hit with that bullet. I refused advice, assistance, and that wheelchair for a long time. I was prideful--and according to Neytiri, I still am. 

"It's fine, Norm. We'll...we'll do our best to communicate. He's not gonna like it, though." 

Norm nods and pats my shoulder before disappearing into the longhouse. Tonowari steps up to me, "What has happened to your son? He's not still injured, is he?" 

"No--well, yes. In various ways. He got involved in some explosion during the fight, knocked his head about and lost his hearing. Not permanently, were hoping. It should come back." I look back over in the direction of our home, "I should probably go check on them. You can come, if you like." 

We set off in the path to our mauri. I remember building it a year ago, staying up after dark to decorate it. It was huge, so it took almost four hours to finish it. I remember Lo'ak climbing atop it as soon as we were done to 'see how it holds up'. Neytiri and I chided him to get down, he didn't listen, and ended up slipping off it and snapping his ankle with a sickening crack that made Spider throw up. 

It was a distinct memory, one that I'd never forget. Even though it wasn't the worst of his injuries, like him failing at taming his ikran, it was still nauseating to think about. As soon as he toppled off the roof, the sound echoed through the camp. Spider was standing as an onlooker, playing fight club with Neteyam, and he immediately bent over and vomited onto the ground. Neteyam had teared up, Tuk hid behind him, and Kiri put a hand over her mouth. 

Lo'ak, when he saw his foot, crooked and a bone sticking out, blood dripping down his leg, had looked up at me with terrified, wide eyes. He didn't say anything at first as Neytiri ran to fetch Mo'at and the doctors, but when I kneeled next to him, he cried and screamed through his teeth, clutching his injured joint and diving into my chest, looking for anything to hold onto. I never realized he was so clingy and reliant on us until that moment. 

In the end, he was okay after some numbing medicine and a small surgery, and Spider was okay after he had some water. But every time now when Lo'ak climbs a tree, my mind flashes to that scene. 

Inside the mauri, Fe'ya, Lo'ak, Spider, Tuk, Kiri and Neteyam were sitting against the wall, a green, fabric net stretched across all their laps. Each of them weaved a part of it, all quiet and concentrated on the task at hand. It was long and carefully knitted together, like a spider's web. Then it clicked--they were making a hammock for Spider. 

My heart swelled with pride at my kids. Neteyam kept reaching over to Fe'ya and correcting her tangly entwining; they were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, no space between them. At once, all their heads popped up to see Tonowari and I, Neteyam a little delayed compared to the others. He looked tired and dazed, to say the least, but otherwise he appeared to be feeling okay. 

"What're you guys doing?" I asked, even though I knew. "Looks confusing." 

Kiri rolled her eyes. "Dad, don't act dumb." she smiled a little, "it's mind-numbing."

I walked over to the cluster of kids and examined their work. It was impressive--each string was woven over the other, tying with each loom and stretching over until it reached the end, where a loop was ready to be strung up on the walls. Tonowari studied the net, too, a content expression on his tattooed face. 

"This is different from the Metkiyana weave-work," he observed, "but good. Very good." 

I looked at Neteyam and discreetly signed, "You alright?"

He nodded vigorously, clearly wanting me to lay off the attention. I backed away and took it upon myself to sharpen the dull spears we had lying around, while Tonowari assisted the kids on their sewing job. He was a funny guy to me, because he'd rather wish to hand out with the teenagers than make weapons, but it was enjoyable to watch. 

It was quiet and relaxed for a couple hours after that, until Neytiri came bursting into the mauri, eyes wide and panting. I heard groaning outside the entrance. "Tonowari," she breathed urgently, winded, "Ronal is in labor."

                                                                                           ~~~~

AN: Ha, this was a fun chapter to write, and I took my time enjoying it. Sorry it was so late, but I am under no schedule other than school. 

Thank you!

2 Kings 20:5--I have seen your prayers and seen your tears; I will heal you.