*My POV*
Jake was officially given a warrior head piece an once everyone had their banshees we flew together in formation. Jake one the end, Neytiri next to him, me next to her, and Tsu'tey next to me, and Ryan and Skylar were beside Tsu'tey, with the other two beside them.
Ryan and Skylar scowled nearly the whole time at Jake and I, and we definitely noticed. Jake and I looked at Ryan and Skylar, seeing them eye Neytiri and Tsu'tey, and allowed smirks to cross our faces.
Jake and I made his banshee and Mahina towards Seze and Kash and we flashed our wings at them. They gasped, fakely offended and pursed their lips. Jake and I smirked at them and they couldn't help but let loose the smiles that they tried so hard to hold back. They moved Seze and Kash towards us doing the same back, making us all laugh.
"Knock it off!" Ryan demanded. Neytiri and Tsu'tey couldn't help but laugh even harder.
(The next day)
The next morning we woke up and went to the Banshees resting place.
"I've been thinking about a name." Jake said, knocking into my side. I smiled and looked up at him. "And what is it?" I asked.
"Aharnish..." He stated and shrugged slightly. "Means Day and Night, right? He's blue and black and reminds me of the sky."
"I think it's lovely." Neytiri placed her hand gently on his arm.
Tsu'tey and I were nudging each other playfully.
We called to our Ikran's and they came to our call. We raced to board them and left Home Tree. Flying around was peaceful and so much fun. We circled one another and raced each other. Neytiri and I smiled at each other as we fly side by side. During my time at Home Tree, Neytiri and I had grown close, almost like sisters. Jake and Tsu'tey had grown close to each other almost like brothers.
Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I knew Jake's ceremony was going to be in the next few days and we likely wouldn't get to spend much alone time together. I've been having bad dreams, plaguing me as of recently. Neytiri and Tsu'tey was wanting to take Jake and I someplace close to their hearts along with mine. Because they needed to tell us something.
We flew through the air and hovered over the Tree of Souls. I felt my mother's presence much heavier and present than I had in a while, not having the ability to come here as freely. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, allowing her presence to fill me up. Neytiri and Tsu'tey smiled at me.
When I opened my eyes I smiled over at them, Jake was watching me in question. I leaned my hand down and showed him in sign that this was the Tree of Souls that we spoke so much about. Jake nodded in understanding.
*3rd POV*
"The Tree of Souls. Or Vitraya Ramunong." Grace explained to Jake, viewing the video footage had taken earlier during our flight. "It's their most sacred place. See the Flux Vortex in these false color images?"
"Yeah, that's what messes up my instruments." Trudy chuckled.
"There is something really interesting going on in there biologically." Grace relayed in amazement. "I would die to get samples. Outsider's are strictly forbidden. You lucky swine."
Jake sat at the computer the next morning uploading his latest video log, with Trudy behind him. He had a change of heart and was beginning to regret his decision to engage with Selfridge and Quaritch, and he was also scared to see Izzy's reaction when she found out.
"Is that thing done downloading yet?" Trudy asked. She looked out the window to see Grace and Norm coming back inside from their excursion. "They're coming back...If we don't give them something. He's gonna shut us down." Trudy told Jake grimy. The download completed and Jake reluctantly pulled out the drive and handed it to Trudy. "We're buying time, Jake." She sighed, after seeing his reaction.
"I was a stone-cold aerial hunter. Death from above. Only problem is, you're not the only one."
*My POV*
Jake, Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I are flying again as we had been for the past few days. This time going on hunts while riding our banshees. Jake was doing extremely well. We were honestly having the time of our lives together. Up until Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I noticed the Last Shadow occur over us. We knew instantly it was Toruk and we yelped over at Jake in warning.
"Dive!" Jake yelled quickly after looking up into the sky and seeing The Great Leonopetryx coming right at him.
It's sharp clawed feet were aimed right for Aharnish, who screeched as he dived downward. The Toruk cried out and leaned forward attempting to take a bite out of Jake's Banshee, narrowly missing. Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I dived down circling Jake, desperate to stay safe with each other and our Ikran's. But it appeared as though the Toruk was quite interested in Jake.
We dove downward, until we hit the trees of the forest, evening out our flights and began swerving back and forth to avoid the oncoming trees and branches.
No matter which way we banked too, the Toruk stayed hot on our tails.
"Go, go!" Jake and Tsu'tey shouted. We separated for a moment and came back together still unable to lose the giant creature. "Follow us!" Jake and Tsu'tey shouted to Neytiri and I.
We nodded at them and we all dive sideways through some thick vines in the forest. Our Ikrans making it through safely. The Toruk couldn't fit and it landed in the vines, stopping quickly to make sure it didn't become stuck.
It roared in anger and took off in the opposite direction, leaving us safe. We quickly told our Ikran's to perch, they flew to the nearest tree, grabbing ahold with their claws. We breathed heavily as Jake and Tsu'tey landed next to us.
We calmed our Ikran and we all looked at each other before we started laughing at our predicament.
When we made it back to the Village at Home Tree, it was a festival going on. Drums played and bells rang. The villagers were happy. We had joined in for a little while, before Neytiri and Tsu'tey led Jake and I down into the circle we had first been brought into.
In the center stood a large pole we had placed up, many moons ago, with the skull of Toruk tied to the top. They showed us the skull and Jake and I approached it carefully, Jake running his hands along the bone and it's sharp teeth. "Our guys call it Great Leonopetryx." Jake explained.
"It is Toruk." I explained back to him. "Last Shadow."
"Yeah, right. It's the last one you ever see." Jake nodded in agreement. Neytiri quickly climbed up next to him, Tsu'tey helped me up by them.
"You know, my Grandfather's-Grandfather was Toruk Macto. Rider of Last Shadow." Neytiri pointed out and Jake quickly looked at her.
"He rode this?" Jake asked amazed.
"Mhm. Toruk chose him. It has only happened five times since the time of the first songs." Tsu'tey nodded.
"That's a long time." Jake muttered.
"Yes." I agreed. "Toruk Macto was mighty. He brought the clans together in great time of sorrow. All Na'vi people know the story." I said as we all smiled at each other.
But suddenly they noticed that I was distracted as we sat down together. "Izzy, what is wrong?" Jake asked. I stayed quiet and Tsu'tey, Jake and Neytiri placed their hands on my thigh. "You're never this quiet, what's wrong?" They asked.
I looked up at them. "I'm having these terrible dreams. That the time we're here for is coming. I see fire and destruction. Every time we can feel it in my very bones and it's hot and hurts, Tsu'tey, Jake, Neytiri. There's so much pain and sadness." I shook my head. "Do you think something bad is coming?"
"No, no. Of course not." Tsu'tey, Jake, and Neytiri shushed me gently and pulled me in for a hug. Jake held my hand gently. "I won't let anything bad happen to you or your people. I promise."
"Our people, Jake." Neytiri and I said. I smiled happily at Tsu'tey, Jake and Neytiri's words and comfort, hugging them back. I was unable to see the worried expression written of Jake's face as Tsu'tey and Neytiri rested their heads on mine.
*3rd POV*
Jake awoke back in his human body after Neytiri, Tsu'tey, Izzy and him went back to Home Tree and gone to our hammock beds. His eye's flickered open and he let out a deep breathe.
"Everything is backwards now. Like out there is the true world and in here is the dream."
Jake climbed out of the pod, moving his body into his wheelchair and then next his legs. He looked down at them and sighed, knowing he has made up his mind.
"It's hard to believe it's only been three months. Man, a wrench has been thrown into my life and I'm not sure I want to fix it. I can barely remember my old life. I don't know who I am anymore without Neytiri, Tsu'tey and Izzy."
Jake chuckles. "Izzy the daughter of Eywa. I can't believe it and yet, I know it's true. I can feel it. I feel connected with Neytiri, Izzy and Tsu'tey."
Jake and Grace had to take a trip back to Hell's Gate. Jake knew he need to do something about the deal he had made. After arriving on a misty day, they saw Parker outside, practicing his golf swing.
"Nice of you to drop by." Parker sarcastically remarked as they approached him. "So how's it going out there? Our blue friends all packed up yet?" He swung his golf club and knocked the ball away.
"You see, I-I keep hooking it. The damn pack. The low gravity and the high air density cancel out which doesn't affect the distance, but it..."
"You called us back to report." Jake interrupted him, making Parker turn to look. "Do you wanna hear it or not?"
Grace looked amazed at Jake's bluntness and smirked at Selfridge.
"Go ahead." Parker answered.
"Jake has made incredible progress. Years worth in just a few months. But...we need more time." Grace explained reluctantly.
"That is not what I was hoping to hear." Parker sighed.
"Parker." Grace moved closer to him. "This is their ancestral home. I mean they have lived there since before human history even began. You can spare them a few more weeks." Grace told him passionately on behalf of the Na'vi people.
"The thing is inevitable." Parker shrugged. "What does it matter when it happens? I'm sorry dr. Augustine, we're out of time. Excuse me." He said and began to walk away.
"It matters how it happens! It matters to me and it shout matter to you! Can't we talk about this?" Grace's voice slowly faded out to Jake as she followed Parker away.
"Haven't gotten lost in the woods, have you?" Colonel Quaritch asked, approaching Jake in the cafeteria. "You're last report was more than two weeks ago. I'm starting to doubt your resolve. The way I see it, it's time to terminate the mission."
"No, I can do this." Jake spoke sternly.
"You already have." Quaritch smirked at him. "You've given me good, useable intel. This Tree of Souls place. Yeah, I got them by the balls with that when this turns into a shit fight, which it will. Now, it's time to come in. By the way, you gonna get your legs back." Jake looked up at him quickly.
"Yeah. I got you corporate approval. It's a done deal. Gonna have you on a shuttle tonight. I'm a man of my word."
"I-I gotta finish this." Jake replied back to him shakily. "There's one more thing. Ceremony. It's the final stage of becoming a man. If I do it. I'm one of them. And they'll trust me." Jake said putting his best game face on. "And I can negotiate the terms of their relocation."
Quaritch stood up from his chair and walked away, before quickly turning around and facing Jake with a stern look.
"Well, then, you better get it done, Corporal."
That was his last effort to try and convince the people to leave Home Tree. Jake was struggling playing both fields of the game when he had finally decided who's team he really wanted to be on. The one thing he didn't realize was that even if he hadn't been sending his logs directly to Quaritch and Selfridge, they were still viewing them. Taking any and all useful information down. The most recent one was the most intriguing to them and they had big plans coming. One's that Jake knew nothing about.
A storm raged outside the containers that resided in the Hallelujah Mountains after Jake and Grace returned.
Tonight, was Jake's ceremony. His final test and then he would officially be considered one of The People. He watched the rain pelt down outside the window, along with the thunder and lightening. Grace paced back and forth behind him.
"I can't allow it." Grace sighed. "You're just not strong enough."
"It's the last door. I'm gonna go through it." Jake replied to her stubbornly. "You can help me or just get out of the way."
"Will you listen to me?" Grace scoffed. "Sometimes the Na'vi themselves die in these vision quests!" Grace walked after Jake as he rolled away, unwilling to listen to her.
"The venom takes you to the edge of death! And the psychoactive output in the worm we have no idea what that will even do in an Avatar brain." Grace said.
"Link ready?" Jake asked.
"Initializing." Norm stated.
"You always told me that science is about not knowing!"
"Jake, no matter what you prove out there. You are still in here." Grace bent down to his level as he preparted to get onto the pod bed. "You're right here." She said softly.
"I need to do this." Jake held her hand that was on his shoulder tightly. "Just become one of them."
"Damn it, Jake!" Grace exclaimed. "You can never be one of them! Our life out there takes millions of dollars of machinery to sustain. You visit and you leave. You can never be truly with Neytiri. Not like Izzy can be with them." She told him sympathetically and sternly.
"Calibrating. 30 seconds." Norm sighed, seeing Jake's face fall at her words.
"You know why I'm here." Jake whispered. He took a deep breathe and looked between his two colleagues. "Quaritch sent me."
"What?!" Norm gasped.
"He wanted me to imbed with the Omatikaya people. Find out how to screw them out of their home." Jake relayed disappointedly.
"Oh, my god." Norm whispered.
"By deceit or by force, it didn't matter. If it was by force, then I was best to do it."
"And what about now, Jake?" Grace asked him disappointed.
"I'm not that guy anymore." Jake shook his head.
"I know." Grace whispered, shaking her own head. She had really grown to appreciate Jake over these past few months.
"If I tell Quaritch the truth. He yanks me out. And I never see them again. If I tell them the truth, then the clan throws me out." Jake choked on his own words in sadness. "That's if they don't cut my heart out and show it to me first." Tears fell from his eyes.
"There's no happy ending here, Jake." Grace told him.
"They won't even understand what you've done." Norm sighed.
"You know they don't even have a word for lie?" Jake scoffed. "They had to learn it from us."
"I taught it to them." Grace sighed.
"They're waiting. I gotta go." Jake whispered. "I gotta go." He quickly adjusted himself and laid down in the link pod.
"Link is ready." Norm told them.
"Grace..."
"Jake, you can't carry this burden much longer." She held his shoulder as she spoke.
"Ah, I'll be okay. Mo'at says an alien mind probably won't survive anyway." He winked at her and closed himself into the pod.
*My POV*
Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I dipped our fingers into the paint and reached up to Jake's face, drawing lines all over his body and his face, in preparation of his ceremony. We'd grown closer and closer everyday. Neytiri and Tsu'tey cared about us and we loved that. I finally felt like I truly belonged somewhere and that somewhere was with Tsu'tey, Jake and Neytiri. The only problem I had was we had no idea if Jake, Neytiri and Tsu'tey saw me as more than a best friend.
"The Na'vi say that every person is born twice. The second time is when you earn your place among The People Forever."
A small group of the Clan leaders waited for Jake. A flute played it's soft sweet music and we approached them. A drum beating slowly. Mo'at, Eytukan, Stitch, Jasiri watched as Jake, Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I came down the spiral towards them. Neytiri and Tsu'tey moved to sit next to their mother and brother and sister, while Jake sat in the center of the circle and I sat with him, with me being the daughter of Eywa.
Mo'at stood up and blew air into Jake's face and the ritual began. "Oh wise worm, eater of the sacred tree. Bless this worthy hunter with a true vision." Mo'at raised the worm from the piece of wood and held it out in front of her, blessing Jake and placed it into his mouth.
"Bless this worth hunter with a true vision." I chanted alongside the family.
Eytukan stood to his feet after grabbing the scorpion and bringing it to Jake. Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I held our breathes nervously as he grabbed it by it's tail and made it sting Jake in the shoulder. He immediately cried out in pain while we continued to chant. What felt like hours of agony for Jake was mere minutes for us.
He writhed on the floor, crying out as he went through his vision. One that showed fire and destruction. Allowing him to see himself riding on Toruk, beside Neytiri, Tsu'tey and me and saving the people.
When Jake came too, Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I immediately helped him up, grateful that he pulled through. Everyone gathered at the base of the tree spiral, while Jake walked down to us. Everybody rose to their feet. Even Grace was allowed to be present for this part of Jake's ceremony.
Eytukan, Mo'at, Jasiri, Stitch, Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I stood in the center with him, while he was blessed.
"You are now a son of the Omatikaya. You are part of The People." Eytukan stated proudly.
Eytukan placed his hands on Jake first, Neytiri's hands fall on his arms and chest, mine and Tsu'tey's hands end up below Neytiri's. Jake looked at Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I proudly. Neytiri, Tsu'tey and I couldn't contain the smile on our faces as we felt the all too familiar zing of electricity between us.
Mo'at came next, then Jasiri and Stitch, Ryan and Skylar and every other Omatikaya joined in. Joining our hands on each others bodies in ritual to welcome him as one of us. Grace stood behind with tears falling from her eyes. She and Jake might have started off on the wrong foot, but man, was she proud of him now.
As soon as his ceremony was finished and the moon was high in the sky, the four of us went running through the forest, past the lkae in which we always swam at. The moss illuminated under every step we took.
This was our last solo journey. They were to take us to the Tree of Voices to seal our bond into the people. Introducing us to our Ancestors and Eywa. Neytiri and I suddenly felt hands on our tails and we turned to look and see Jake and Tsu'tey smirking. We laughed and grabbed their mischievous hands in ours. Kenten floated all around us, croaking as their bodies spun.
"Come. Come." Tsu'tey and Neytiri called to us as we admired the creatures.
They chuckled and pulled us into the trees, touching the willow like vines that floated down around us from the branches. I sighed in content, hearing the voices in my ears.
"This is a place for prayers to be heard." Neytiri and Tsu'tey grabbed three of the vines and pressed them to their faces. I did the same and smiled. "And sometimes answered." I held them together and pulled out my braid, attacking my Queue to them. Letting the voices become louder and clearer.
"We call these trees Utraya Mokri. The Tree of Voices. The voices of our ancestors. Even a connection with Eywa." Tsu'tey said.
"I can hear them." Jake and I said gently, as Jake attached his braid to three of his own vines.
"They live, Jake, within Eywa." Neytiri said.
"Hello, Mother." I said inside my brain, through prayer.
"My Child. You've done a wondrous thing for our planet, for our people. I am so proud of you." Her sweet voice echoed inside my brain. "I can sense your distress my darling, Isabella. Have faith and all will become clear."
"But what of my obligation to The People? When my heart calls out for something else?" I sighed.
"It is the will of your fate, darling. You're heart knows what is right. Stronger together. Always remember that."
"You're Omatikaya now." Neytiri an Tsu'tey stated gently as I opened my eyes. I detached from the trees, and we all looked at each other. Neytiri placed her hands on Jake's chest. Jake detached himself from the tree and looked down at her, one hand lifting to cover hers. "You may make your bow from the Wood of Home Tree." Neytiri said softly and her eyes wavered nervously. Neytiri and I stepped away from him and Tsu'tey and walked a few steps away, back turned along with me. "And you may choose a woman."
"And Izzy must choose a man." Tsu'tey said as he went with Neytiri.
A Seedling spirit came down from the sky's and landed in the palm of their hands and they took a deep breathe. Hoping this was her sign to say they were about to make the right choice. Her presence calmed them.
"We have many fine women. Ninat is the best singer." Neytiri suggested, still unable to make eye contact.
"We also have Johnny, the fighter." Tsu'tey suggested.
"But I don't want Ninat." Jake replied softly. "I don't want Johnny." I replied softly.
Neytiri and Tsu'tey smiled quickly to themselves and blew on the spirit, pushing her away, knowing they could handle this on their own.
"Beyral is a good hunter." Neytiri suggested.
"There's Alex a good warrior." Tsu'tey suggested.
"Yeah, Beyral is a good hunter." Jake nodded. "Alex is a good warrior." I said. Neytiri and Tsu'tey quickly turned to look at us, stunned at our words. They felt their hearts quake in their chests, preparing for the heartbreak to come.
Jake and I slowly walked towards Neytiri and Tsu'tey. Neytiri and Tsu'tey were frozen in their spots as our chests nearly touched theirs. "We've already chosen." We whispered and lifted our hands to touch their cheeks, slowly brushing stray of hair behind their ears. "But these woman and man must also choose us."
"They already have." Neytiri and Tsu'tey spoke softly as they looked at us.
Jake, Tsu'tey, Neytiri and I smiled at each other.
We all mated.
"I am with you now, Tsu'tey, Jake." Neytiri and I whispered in their ears, lightly kissing the lobe, and down behind it. Their heads tilted and they moaned in pleasure. "We are all mated for life."
After all the passion and love making, Tsu'tey, Jake, Neytiri and I laid on the forest floor, curled up in each others arms. My arm rested on Tsu'tey, Jake and Neytiri's chest, alongside my head and we all sighed in content. I felt their lips brush my forehead one last time before my eyes closed and I allowed the darkness to take me.
*3rd POV*
Jake, Tsu'tey, Izzy and Neytiri laid together and they all fell asleep.
"What the hell are you doing, Jake?" He thought to himself as he opened his eyes inside the pod.