#okni

“<Jakesully, I thought you’d go straight to the boneshapers.>”

“<Mo’at, I need to speak to you privately.>” It was taking all his energy not to burst and sprout it to the Sarentu that there were more of them and it was almost physically hurting. A Sarentu was right there, one who didn’t know. Who couldn’t possibly know…

And he did.

Mo’at nodded, clearly sensing his quiet stress nodded and with a polite nod, departed from Rasi who headed immediately away.

“<What is wrong? Is your Dreamwalker unwell?>” Mo’at asked the moment he passed into her den.

“<There are more Sarentu alive and in the Western Frontier with a human camp that also escaped.>” He blurted out. “Eight teenagers now. The RDA must have taken them when they targeted the Sarentu and now they’re free and I’ve spoken to the humans living with them and they also know about this group that arrived to today because they thought they were the only Sarentu survivors.” He carried on.

Whatever Mo’at thought he was going to say, this wasn’t it but the Tsahìk’s ears rose the more he spoke and she looked very startled but the expression faded into a modelled frown, not of anger or frustration but consideration.

“<I don’t know all the details, but with the radio set up at Ruby’s camp, they no doubt want to speak to more of their people.>”

Mo’at held up her hand to stop him from talking so his jaw snapped shut as he waited for her response. “<The Sky people took their children.>”

Jake nodded. “<I suppose that’s why they killed the adults. Unfortunately, humans have done that to their own kind before.>”

Mo’at eyes stared at him for a long moment, lips pursing. “<Why>”

“<Cultural extinction and indoctrination. Humans, or specially, White colonisers took land from indigenous humans that lived there for thousands of years. Because both sides have different cultures, there was conflict and so these colonisers won the land and to make sure the… descendants of the ingenious fell in line with the coloniser’s beliefs and culture, had residential schools built and forced those children to attend.>” Jake’s mouth was dry as he spoke. “<Not all survived. It was cruel, brutal and wrong. I am ashamed that it’s part of our history and more so that… they tried it here.>”

Honestly, it was a horrible realisation in his gut that killed his excitement of telling them. He hadn’t, up until now clocked that was why the children were targeted, but it was the only reason why he could think of that the RDA would have these Na’vi children. It made his disgust grow towards the RDA rise.

Mo’at expression turned grim, ears flicking back and forth. “<We agreed to a school with Grace.>”

“<No, what that school is and what the RDA did to those kids are not the same thing.>” Jake defended, because as much as he disliked Augustine, this school and what it meant for both her and the Omatikaya were so different. “<The school was built into the forest, for your children to come and go freely and to learn as much as your children desired. No force applies, no cruelty or punishment or harm before the sky people aimed their weapons. Your children wore their clothes and were unhindered.>”

Mo’at nodded, letting out a relived sigh. “<Those poor children. Torn away from their families and the forest…>”

Jake swallowed the lump in his throat. “<We need to Tell Rasi and Nan’atí. Their people. The other Sarentu deserve to know who of their people lives after such monstrous actions. I told them we’d meet them today. They’re probably going to be waiting for us to radio back.>”

Mo’at hummed softly. “<Allow me a few hours to sit on this news. Go to work and say nothing to the Sarentu. I will collect you and the other Sarentu to tell them when the time is right.>”

Jake recently nodded and left the Tsahìk to her thoughts and padded down the spiral.

His eyes flickered about the new faces, unable to help the smile grace his lips despite the pit in his stomach as one of the babies ogled up at him with large eyes that he had to stop and say hello.

“Who’s this little one?” Jake cooed, kneeling down as the baby babbled at him.

“My name is Cai Almazan, this little potato is Ava.” The woman introduced, a thin but athletic Asian woman with some grey threads in her black hair and trying to adjust the baby on her hip, which didn’t look easy given the small baby bump she had. “She’s eleven months old.”

Jake reached forwards and hand a finger out. Ava cooed, reaching out and grabbed the end of his Dreamwalker finger in her tiny hands and…. Oh, her hand was so small. She was so small.

“I have to keep a sturdy grip on her, she’s gotten into a habit for diving off my hip if is she sees something she likes or is dangly or beaded. She loves beads.” Cai hummed fondly.

“Best keep her away from Mo’at then.”

“Oh, she already took a dive her for beaded shawl.”

Jake cackled a little, gently tugging his finger free. “It’s the things they can’t have that they suddenly gain super human strength to keep onto it.”

Cai nodded swiftly, eyes distant. “I was so scared she was going to break it.”

“Sa….sann” Ava babbled then shoved her fingers into her mouth.

“<Sa’nu.>” Cai coaxed in Na’vi at her daughter. “<You can say it! Sa’nu.>”

“<Are they bilingual?>” Jake asked curiously.

“<Yes, but we’re trying to teach them Na’vi before English since they’re going to grow up interacting with Na’vi more.>” Cai shrugged. “<I’m teaching them Tagalog too. One for the world we’re living in, one for the humans we will encounter and one to retain my families history.>” She smiled sadly. “<It’s a shame it’ll get lost one day. In a few generations, the children will only be speaking Na’vi.>”

“<Doesn’t have to be. Bree here knows about seventeen languages and she’s only sixteen, I bet she could help in finding ways to retain your language and history. Heck, she’s even making paper.>”

“<There’s a sixteen year old human on Pandora?>” Cai’s eyes widened. “Why? That’s not legal.”

“<You have a baby.>” Jake pointed out, pointing down to the infant who cooed.

Cai gave him a soft look. “<I meant sent via cryopod from Earth. That’s barley scraping the safe-zone.>”

“<Would you leave your children behind if they were in the safe-margin?>” Jake pointed out.

Cai went to answer then paused, looking down at Ava as the baby reached for a lock of her hair with a quiet babble and drool. “<Okay, maybe not.>” She considers. “<Hope will be thrilled to learn there’s someone close in age that’s also human. She’s at an awkward age where all the humans on Pandora are way too old for her and flat out illegal, or are babies or siblings.>”

“<Ah, Fair enough.>” he rose to his feet. “<I’ve got places to be so…>” Jake saluted and went on his way towards the weaving circle.

-

Jake’s eyes followed Castro as she made her way through Hometree as the afternoon drew in, looking very sour but that wasn’t why he was staring before he set his loom down to greet her with a suppressed smile.

“I take it Bree got to you?” He asked.

Castro gave him a deeper sour look which looked weird as the familiar orderly shape of eyebrows were now completely gone. Shaved off.

Castro nodded once, folding her arms. “I was connected with Eywa in the caves and she shaved the just under first half on the left side and the last half on the other. Purposely uneven and impossible to wait out.”

Jake snorted a little. “So you had to shave the rest to balance it out.”

“She made me shave my own eyebrows!” Castrol hissed. “I almost didn’t come.”

“At least she didn’t skillet you.”

“Honestly, would have preferred a beating. That would give me plausible reason not to show up.” Castro shook her head. “Ugh. my my face is bald.”

“<Jakesully>”

Jake’s attention turned and his expression fell as he noticed Mo’at looking to him from a distance. Behind her, Nan’atí and Rasi were already climbing up the spiral. Eytukan was assisting with Txusim in helping Kenam up as well.

Right.

Jake nodded, abandoning Castro and headed directly their way and followed up.

“<Is Anita not joining us?>” Kenam asked as he settled onto his mat and pillows.

“<No, she’s still at the Third sister with her husband. We’re only just starting to pack for the afternoon move and the others plan to trickle out. We should be there before the eclipse.>” Rasi said, sitting comfortably. “<Elliot’s already taken the Nantang.>”

“<I see.>”

Mo’at swept in behind them, drawing the curtain closed and drew a serious tone as they settled. Her yellow eyes remained on Jake for a moment before turning towards the Sarentu.

“<Is there a problem, Tsahìk?>”

“<No, but there has been news shared that… is relevant for your clan to know about.>” Mo’at started, her eyes turning more to the elder two. “<Jakesully and a few of the humans of the group have establish contact with another group that have also escaped the sky people but in another area of our world. This group has not named a clan or region but I have spoken with a few other humans that know where the Sky people have set up their other stone villages and it leads me to the believe this other group lives close or near the territory of the Aranahe clan..>”

Rasi’s ear twitched. “<I know that clan, they are beautiful artisans with gorgeous silks.>”

“<Indeed.>” Mo’at agreed. “<Jakesully has since opened contact with the group but discovered something of great importance.>”

Jake’s heart thudded, watching Mo’at speak and well aware of the eyes flickering to him.

“<The group that escaped also contained Na’vi in their numbers. They fled as one and live as one with these humans and no doubt, rekindling a relation with the clan.>”

Rasi’s face has lost a lot of colour, her yellow eyes narrow and sharp. “<Why is this of interest to us?>”

“<It mentioned that following the death of your people, some of the bodies of the children were unaccounted for and never put to rest. They were not killed, but stolen by those sky people.>”

The temperature seemed to drop in the den. Rasi’s ears pinned down and her eyes welled up a little. Kenam looked a little ill, clutching his son’s hand tightly. A reminder to Jake that Txusim could have been a stolen child too, if Kenam hadn’t bolted when he did.

“<They stole the children… after killing our people.>”

“<I’m am so sorry, but yes.>” Mo’at spoke with gentle honesty, genuine in sharing this heavy topic. Nan’atí reached and took Rasi’s hand. “<Now, they are out of the sky people hands. They are free but… they do not know the full truth of what happened. Jakesully has passed on word of your survival to these children.>”

Rasi sucked in a heavy breath, her hand coming to her heart. “<How many?>”

“<Eight.>”

Nan’atí’s eyes closed, looking pained by this news. “<Do you have their names?>”

“<Not yet.>” Jake interjected softly following a nod from Mo’at. “<It was first contact between our groups, no one wanted to use real names or locations until trust was formed, though we heard them use their real names. We only learned they were Sarentu one after an accident with an avatar of theirs needed help after her link glitched and she fell down the steps. One of them said to get one of the Sarentu to help them, no doubt for the size difference.”

Nan’atí nodded slowly. “<Is it possible to get them to come to us? Some truths must come from our mouths, not a human device.>”

“<Would it not be more prudent to go to them?>” Eytukan asked.

“<No, not with the babies. The humans of our camp may not be Sarentu, but they are still part of our home and our way. I do not think it’s wise to leave the company of Anita and the others.>” her eyes slid to Rasi as she said that bit, with intent and meaning in her tone that went just above Jake’s head.

Mo’at’s head tilted, a quizzical and calculated look passing over her face for only a moment before her face resumed her concerned and passive gaze.

“<They’ve since been informed and Priya, one of the western humans, said she’d tell them and see if they want to open a dialogue. Perhaps meeting is something you can arrange?>” Jake allowed.

“<Yes.>” Kenam said tightly, “<I wish to speak to them.>”

Rasi and Nan’atí spared him a look. “<How soon?>”

“<The radio we have is set up at another camp, Ruby’s home. With most of the humans here, the camp itself is near empty.>” Jake explained.

“<Not yet.>” Nan’atí said before anyone could say anything “<We first must move our camp to the third sister tree and establish a place that place as our home for now. We have a lot of work to do and if they come, I want them to see us settled and strong. If we’re stull unloading baskets when they get here, that is not a strong image or foundation. We can set up a tent for them and make sure that they are welcome and gift them with new items. Let’s not rush it.>”

Rasi’s eye twitched but she listened to her words intently. “<Then we must make headway sooner than later. Kenam and I will open the dialogue between us today.>” Rasi decided. “<Anita will join us as she was there for the aftermath. I will need her strength>”

Mo’at nodded once. “<Jakesully will make the arrangements with Ruby to ensure it’s it private.>”

Jake bobbed his head. Right. That made a lot more sense they assumed him to be the radio guy. That was fine, he supposed. He was the messenger who started this enlightenment here.

“<I’ll take Bob and get things ready that end.>” Jake said.

“<Very well.>”

-

Tamtey’s heart thudded in her chest as they all sat around the radio hub inside the Refuge. Ri’nela had pulled them all together for this. Telisi and Okni even came from Hometree to sit in once they had gotten word from Priya of a brief message of a time. Ri’nela was spinning fibres with absent eyes, working her hands as her mind spun. Nor was just curled up, fiddling with the canister of his Co2 air supply.

Telisi was letting Okni crush through her hair, which had grown three inches and long enough to start having some beads put in, which was a real positive step in both her integration with the people, and her trauma that came with that the RDA did in shaving her head. Teylan sat with Yuayt playing a game of Uno together with a card pack, since Yuayt was avoiding using tech. Yefti was just weaving together a piece of jewellery with stone beads from his trip out to The Braided River.

It was a nice sight to see them connect with the Aranahe and staying with them. By no surprise; Asahe was helping Okni through building her immune system so she wasn’t getting nearly as sick any more. Yefti wanted to just live away from humans entirely, and stuck with weaving and he had become quite skilled under Nefika’s guidance.

Telisi was learning a lot from Relun, who normally was quite abrasive and strict but with her he had a softer side and never seemed to spark an outburst for perfection with her in his group of apprentices. Tamtey had a hunch he was holding back his true thoughts and reactions due to their history of abuse and her deep seated fear of being shouted at but she didn’t say anything; Telisi was finally thriving with someone who she might see as a father figure.

Yuayt did his best to avoid even the Refuge and humans, but Tamtey last heard that Kayì was pulling him into medicines but she didn’t pry since Yuayt liked his privacy and barely saw much of them. It had taken her a while to track him through Hometree to get him back.

She did wish Nor was doing more with the Aranahe like the other four, but he just… hung around and avoided going but still complained about the metal they had in their home, about humans here and was shouldering a lot of his insecurities without even trying to talk to Asahe like both Ri’nela had her had suggested. Repeatedly. With the news of Priya and Anqa being Dhampyrs, they made him uneasy but still he stayed and avoided them when possible. Tamtey wished he’d get out more and lighten his pain but he just seemed to want to stew in it but she felt anything she’d say would just go in one ear and out the other. She didn’t know how to help him.

They were just waiting now. But Tamtey’s mind still reeled with Priya’s words yesterday. The Dhampyr had pretty much ran like her fluffy tail was on fire out and yapped off very quickly which they hadn’t quite understood until they got her to calm down and speak as a normal speed.

They were also dealing with a considerable time zone differences, where Priya calculated that the East group were in Omatikaya territory, with how cautious the humans were with being so close to the RDA. So that set the Western Frontier about six-hours behind Australis, where the Omatikaya lived with many clans around it. So the Eastern group were set to open at three in the afternoon, so it was coming up nine in the morning here.

Tamtey’s tail rose, wrapping a little around her arm before she exhaled out as she tried to think or what to expect. Honestly, she had no idea. There were more of their people. They weren’t alone. They had people that could show them the way and what it meant to be Sarentu. They lost a lot, but they had the potential to restore so much more now. They had a future ahead and it all started with this call.

So they were all here, waiting.

Priya had left them alone and had a bigger portion of people go to the Aranahe to learn which meant less people walking through. She knew Alma was upstairs with Alex and Hajir, finding ways to help get her walking again now she could move her limbs and tail. Their teacher was far from being able to walk independently given how unstable she was on her feet but Tamtey had seen Alma walk with a frame for a few minutes before she had to sit. It would take time for her legs to rebuild the muscle.

They almost all jumped when the radio beeped.

Tamtey moved first, snatching up the radio and opening the line immediately. “Hello!”

‘Gah, fuck…’ the voice on the other side sounded very startled but the line remained open and a chew chuckles seemed to echo. ‘Err… hey, guys. My name’s Jake and I’m here with Rasi and Kenam of the Sarentu and their close friend and Ally, Anita Lee.’ There was a… slight tone in his voice at the last name, as if he wasn’t fond of the woman but Tamtey didn’t give that another thought.

Rasi. Kenam. Two of the five Sarentu.

“<Is it true, there are five of you?>” Tamtey switched to Na’vi this time, “<What are the other’s names? Is everyone alright?>”

There was a brief pause and she could hear two voices talking more quietly before a woman’s voice echoed; a Na’vi woman’s voice by the accent.

‘<We are well. I am Rasi, Nan’atí is not here but she’s working to secure a home for us the next few months with the clan we’re staying with.>’ the voice continued, ‘<There is Tsu’zu, my adopted son and Kenam’s son, Txusim is assisting with our camps move from the Hometree to the Third Sister.>’

Tamtey licked her lips, shifting in her seat but she gave their names out to the other side as well, so they had something to remember. But Teylan was the next person to ask a question.

“<And you live with humans?>”

‘<Yes. We live with many humans. We’ve come across many that were left to die by the sky people and took them in.>’

“<Why keep them?>” Nor asked, scowling a little. “<Why bother with the humans?>”

‘<Because it was the right thing to do.>” this was another voice, a Male Na’vi who Tamtey assumed was Kenam. ‘<It was also a kindness despite all the horror we endured at the hands of their kind. Some people do not represent a whole species.>”

Tamtey could feel Nor’s scowl deepen but she was surprised at the man’s words. That he would defend humans like that.

“<Do you know what happened?” Ri’nela asked. “<We were told that we were left and abandoned by our people… but we have since concluded we were stolen by the sky people.>’

There was a sharp intake of breath and a few muffled murmurs.

‘<Some of this story… I think is best spoken face to face. Its truth is a heavy burden.’ Rasi spoke with a weight to her tone. ‘<We cannot come to you with the babies born and due. We come and go as one, we cannot leave them>’

Tamtey said nothing but it made her mind churn a little. The other Sarentu were clearly reliant on these humans, possibly their numbers aiding their journey or… there was a level of comfort found in their presence. How both sides here ended up with humans… it was a little mind-boggling but it was too early to tell on why.

“Then we come to you. We have a ship and a pilot we can use.>” Ri’nela said, more thoughtfully. “<It’ll be a long ten hour flight but I’m willing to make that effort.>”

“<I don’t.>” Telisi said nervously. “<As much as I want to meet more of our people, I can’t—I don’t want to go into a Samson or leave the Aranahe. I’m finally comfortable. I can’t leave that.>”

“<Me too, but I’m happy to speak over the radio about It.>” Okni declined softly as well, as did Yuayt and Yefti.  Teylan seemed to want to come. Her, Teylan, Ri’nela and Nor; a group of four would make it easier.

“<I want to know what happened.>” Nor said impatiently. “<The RDA lied to us. Alma lied to us too, don’t forget, she was our teacher. Maybe she knows something as well>”

“<Her memory hasn’t been the best, Nor. It comes and goes.>” Teylan pointed out quietly. Which wasn’t incorrect. Most time, Alma seemed herself but she had moments where she was…different. Like when she had first woken up and spoke in that southern accent and with eyes that did not see them as familiar. Tamtey tried not to think about it.

'<Alma?>' Kenam’s voice echoed. '<That name… is familiar.>'

Tamtey’s eyes turned back from Nor to the radio in the heartbeat. “<What?>”

There was a brief pause, looked of the other kids being thrown about cautiously.

'<There was a Dreamwalker that came with them that night. I saw her face and heard her name but I did not linger with my son to know this strange woman.>' Kenam said tightly.

Nor leant right forwards, his yellow eyes glowering down. “<Did she have a braided bun at the top of her head?>”

“Nor…” Tamtey said warningly. Her heart picked up at the insinuation but… it wasn’t wrong per say but she disliked how his… attitude suddenly shifted, or how close his hand was to his new blade. Her mind spun at the thought; that Alma had anything to do with TAP in how they were stolen. She was their teacher… just their teacher. She looked after them. She was the kindest person there… and got them out.

“<… Yes.>”

“That bitch led them to us!” Nor jumped to his feet, twirling in an instant and charged from the room.

“NOR!” Tamtey ran after him, barely keeping up as he jumped up the steps with his blade at the ready. “Nor, don’t hurt her!”

She saw Alma’s bruised back, holding onto two waist-high walking bar with Nalin and Alex watching her progress, Jax off to the side repairing her walking frame but Nor didn’t even seemed to notice them as he went straight for the avatar, raising his blade as he swiftly cut the distance between and—

The next thing Tamtey saw was Nor was flat on his back and Jax was crouched in front of Alma who yelped and dropped onto the bar floor in surprise to this sudden commotion. Jax’s eyes had turned a black, long claws replaced flat blunt and his teeth were four elongated fangs, a humming growl echoed in the air that went straight up her spine and made her want to back off from his protective crouch in front of the avatar.

Tamtey was used to Dhampyrs being more playful and she knew Priya and Anqa wouldn’t hurt her but she had never been on the end on such an intimating display. He was small, but he was growing but there was no doubt in her mind that he was considerably stronger then the Na’vi. Jax was dangerous.

Nor, winded still rolled up and caught his breath, hissing at Jax and the Dhampyr did not hesitate to return the hiss. She heard some of the others catch up behind her, gasping quietly. Ri’nela’s hand at her elbow in concern.

Tamtey’s eyes looked past him, Watching as the startled, confused expression on Alma’s bruised face turn complexly blank, the tanhì flickered and faded before returning with a new pattern, her eyes turning sharp and calculated as she pushed herself to sit cross-legged, unafraid of Nor. Like someone else was sitting in that skin.

“What the hell is goin’ on?” her voice rang out with a southern drawl.

Jax didn’t move.

“You sold us out to Mercer! You were there when our people died. You were there when we were stolen!” Nor thundered, pointing a finger at her. “You did this to us!”

“Nor,” Ri’nela moved kicking away the blade Nor lent towards that had flown through his hand. “Do not use that weapon. Do not become what you hate!”

“You don’t understand, Ri’nela!” Nor hissed towards.

“I was stolen too, Nor.” Ri’nela hissed, “We all were but you’re the only one wanting to resort to violence without hearing the whole story. You're making assumptions. We don't know that! She’s unarmed. It’s not the Na’vi way to kill in cold blood.”

Tamtey moved as well, reluctantly turning her back to Jax to step between Nor and him. “Killing her will do nothing. By all accounts, She’s already dead. She killed Mercer and got two bullets in the back for it.”

“She doesn’t deserve that skin she wears! It needs to die.” Nor growled.

“I can’t allow that.” Jax said, eyes glaring and firm with a confidence to clearly back it up. “I will break your legs if I have to. You cannot touch this avatar.”

Nor hissed.

Alma hissed back with bared teeth.

Tamtey reached for Nor. “Back off, Nor. Let’s finish our talk with our people. Think on how this sounds to them. If you attack her, they may not wish you to come to them if they think you’re too dangerous. We need to reconnect with our roots. Our people. Would you compromise that for us just to sate your rage?” Her hands set onto his shoulder, stepping into his line of sight. “<Please, Nor.>” she finished in Na’vi, hoping he’d listen.

Nor glared but his jaw remained tight as he straightened up with a hiss and stalked back down the stairs. Tamtey waiting until he disappeared from sight to exhaled heavily. Ri’nela stared at Alma for the longest of moments, then vanished down after Nor. The others clearing away as well.

There were a few quiet clicks before Jax straightened up, nails resuming their pre-sharp state and colour return to his irises and teeth blunted.

“Hajir, I need you to find Anqa and Priya. We need to set up a protection detail with the avatar until further notice. We can’t leave her unattended.” Jax said swiftly. “Also need to re-secure Alma’s human body, that’s already hidden but Nor may already know where she rests.”

Tamtey looked past him back to Alma who then looked at her with those sharp, unfamiliar eyes but the avatar said nothing before her eyes fluttered shut and she slumped an little onto her elbow with a groan, the tanhì returned back before her eyes opened and… the familiar teacher was back with them, confused and startled, looking around the room with a quizzical expression.

“What happened?” Alma asked quietly, her voice and accent back to normal. “Why is Nor angry?”

Hajir looked down at his tablet, uneasy but opted to move her wheelchair close and nodded her towards it. Tamtey still said nothing, watching her clamber into her chair, frowning a little at the tense looks being thrown at her. What was wrong with her? Her legs pushed her away, not wanting to linger and stay confused, the room with the radio was near empty, aside from Ri’nela quickly talking with their people.

“<…e’ll try and make way towards you tomorrow with Nor so he doesn’t do anything stupid… to anyone>” Tamtey met her eyes, seeing how worried she was, not just on what Nor might do but what it meant now.

-

Elena exhaled heavily, alone in the shack as she finished her sketches that decorated the floor around her. A decision made final. A plan in motion. A new face that was oh so unfamiliar.

A name now too, not just her face.

Tabitha Rambeau.

A woman stared up from her paper, a black woman with braided brown hair that reached just above her shoulders and glittering eyes. She had many drawn now, but this one was different, her face was subtly different and she had drawn colour into where it mattered. The woman’s expression was grinning, revealing the dual fang set up at her top jaw and the two tips of her lower jaw were also fanged as well. Red eyes that stood out easily. This face was younger than the human face before it. A mirage set in place.

20th October, Elena had scribbled in the margin.

There was no changing her fate.

Her eyes roamed the image, setting it down and pulled the sheets into a pile of her recent flickers and visions that… were giving her a headache to contain.

Drawings of two figures, big and small in a pool, linked by the tree between, eyes white over with a pearlescent tint.

Another of Rasi, falling side-first towards the low-burning embers from a push of a Na’vi hand; no face seen but the hands.

A funeral around a Tarsyu, the figures all but shadow. Elena couldn’t see who they were burying.

More pictures of that woman too, some showed her restrained in a pod. One she was lying freely… blood pooling and staining the white dress she was wearing. Clouded figures around her.

Then lastly, a Na’vi face and a wide smirk and with a tablet in her hands with images of a brain scan. A name. Theophania  

Her eyes lingered on that name. Properly reading it now since she had wrote it, not always fully processing what she put on the page until after the drawing frenzy had started. Theophania was a well-known telepathic Dhampyr, first generation and a respected elder who had been near the end of her life span.

They had accomplished updating the avatars it seemed, not only to resemble Na’vi but to allow for Dhampyrs to have alternative forms. In this case, Theophania gets to extend her life near eight-centuries again. If her gifts transferred body as well… there was no battling against her. No way to get that woman out if they tried.

Brute force was one thing, but with Telepaths, against an unguarded or unprotected mind, she was far deadlier than anything. A gun only works then the person with it can control themselves. Otherwise they’d become a puppet. Or maybe be as simple as making someone not want to rescue her or want to come close. Desire was easy to control and Theophania was an expert.

The fact she was here at all, this was serious business and not one Elena wanted Anita or their camps to get involved in. Leave those Dhampyrs to their business and hope they remain uninterested. There was too much to do on this side of the world that mattered more than a human captive in dhampyr control.

Elena shoved the paperwork into the folder. She could show Anita tomorrow once they were done talking with those Sarentu kids. Had to let her know of what were in their shadows.

A stunning Ikran, who had been well known to swoop on riders to chase them off, to keep them out of his territory - the Aranahe knowing him as Fe'tawng, Fear Diver, for his fast dives and the fear new warriors felt upon meeting him. Blue-black with cream-yellow, purple, and light blue markings along his back, a cream belly with soft purple streaks along his inner wings, with vibrant yellow kuru's and crest, all of it reminded her of one of the fiercest predators she'd learned about at T.A.P..

The Echo Stalker. A fierce pack hunter that lived in the dense Clouded Forest Region, a deadly predator even blind, capable of taking on Na'vi because of its pack mentality.

And the Na'vi name reminded her of the strange game Alma had spoken of once, showing tattered cards of odd animals that had never actually existed on Earth, created only for entertainment. Ka'ani specifically remembered the card with the strange creature hidden in a costume designed after a different creature - Mimikyu - so she named the fierce Ikran, after spending several hours climbing up the Rookery and chasing after him, before finally wrestling him to attach their Kuru.

Eetu had honestly expected her to die when he saw the way Mimikyu had focused upon her with killer intent, which he had admitted with abandon before shoving her off the rookery so her Ikran was forced to dive after and catch her. He later stated it was tradition within the Kinglor Forest, a way to strengthen a young bond and see just how powerful it would grow to be.

She hadn't believed him. He had looked far too happy to shove her off the cliff.

The feeling of flying had never gotten old, but none of it compared to that first time. That feeling of freedom, Mimikyu's memories and the glee he felt at having a rider, the way the wind felt whipping through her hair. It was everything to Ka'ani, to have someone, even an Ikran, that could see her for who she is and not judge her for her anger.

Mimikyu saw her anger - her anger at the death of her people, for the death of her sister, her mother, Zomey - and he saw it as justified when she went after the RDA. For an Ikran, revenge wasn't really a concept. If another hurt you, or your mate, or your flockmates, it was a call to battle. Ikran's were prideful and did not take slights well after all.

But none of the mattered right now. Not after what Alma had told her.

The others were alive, hidden away in a T.A.P. Facility in corner of the Spires, all pried from Alma's lips after Priya picked up on an odd signal. Not freely given. Never freely given.

Little Yefti - so sweet and shy, with so much curioisty when it came to the chemicals of Earth, to chemistry and so afraid of the Forest, just like Teylan.

Fierce and wild Telisí - always quick to back up Aha'ri, sharing that same spark of a flame that was waiting to be coaxed into a raging bonfire, and little interest in the ways of people but protective of Okni.

Sickly Okni - always stuck in the infirmary with a weak constitution that left her susceptable to human sickness, but so kind and eager, with a soft voice and even sweeter singing voice.

Yuayt, Hardings favorite. And how Ka'ani should have seen that happening, should have tried to keep Yuayt closer. But he had told on them - as if they had taken too much food, not been trying to escape. After Aha'ri's death, Yuayt had shyed away, Nor never allowing him to apologize even when the boy had tried. Mayhaps she should have told Nor to back off, to hear his apology, but how could she have known that they would be taken away? At the time, hearing an apology from him would have done nothing but made her angry.

Mimikyu, kuru connected, hissed, head shaking. Apologies didn't seem to be a thing in Ikran culture, rather submission or death were the closest things Ka'ani could find to it so she allowed him to search for more on the subject.

'Forgive too much. Fight more.' Ka'ani couldn't help but snort, easily recognizing what memories he had found.

"Teylan has apologized and has since done his best to earn our forgiveness, and Alma . . . She is the leader of the Restance. I cannot allow anger to cloud that. Without her we would be dead, Mimikyu."

The Ikran huffed, 'Owed life?'

"In a way, yes. Without her the humans would have slaughtered us, before we even had a chance to realize what was happening."

Mimikyu shook his head, flexing his teeth - an Ikran's way of changing the subject.

The memories of the Kinglor Forest, the Plain, and the Clouded Forest flashed behind Ka'ani's eyes, a question in the sights.

"We are returning to the Spires, the Tangled Peaks Region."

That earned a feeling of excitement. Mimikyu had adored the Spires, with criss-crossing wind currents and floating mountains to cling to, the new Ikran Treats were just a bonus. Smiling, Ka'ani hopped up into his back, patting the side of his neck.

"Let's get going, Mimikyu. Unfortunately this is not a pleasant visit."

Hissing - seeing everything Ka'ani did and had - he was quick to take off, understanding the urgency to retrieve her lost Flock Members.

From the Resting Tree Lab - the closest Resistence Field Lab to the edge of the Spires - to the first campsite in the Spires (), to (), before continuing on to the closest camp to T.A.P. Con-2 to rest for the night. From there Ka'ani traveled only a short distance with Mimikyu - unwilling to risk her bondeds safety if Alma and Priya's projected RDA numbers were correct.

Approaching on foot, the building, built into the cliffs itself like the Recon Site, looked abandoned with heavy vines covering the front but the smell of oil, gunpowder, and metal was too strong and fresh. The look was probably to keep the Keawa from noticing, especially since they preffered to stay on the backs of their Ikran than to be on foot.

Searching she eventually found a vent - overrun with mushrooms and moss - that allowed her to slip inside without anyone the wiser. The further into the vent she moved, the cleaner it became, heavy with the sickly clean smell of the RDA Cleaning Bleach, making Ka'ani wrinkle her nose in disgust having long grown used to the scents of Pandora, of herself and the others she met.

Approaching the end, the quiet steps of human soldiers made it to her sensitive ears, but no chatter. And once she made it to the edge, she could see why.

The vent led to a massive hangar - 12 Helicoptors, and at least 15 cars of some kind - so the people patrolling were seperated by multiple vehicles with no way to talk without yelling or pausing their patrols.

Pulling her bow from her shoulder, Ka'ani easily slotted an arrow into place, aiming for the closest soldier - and releasing the arrow so it sank through his throat. In her near 3 years on Pandora, fighting against the RDA, she had realized that Humans were resiliant in that sometimes shooting them in the heart didn't kill them immediatley. And what a surprise that had been, hearing the soldier she had shit call out intruder after her arrow had found its mark in his chest.

So now, she aimed for the throat - for the face if she wasn't using stealth, since the glass shattering could be an obvious mark of a Na'vi having made it inside.

Slipping out the rest of the way, Ka'ani made her way through the hangar leaving behind bloody bodies after retrieving her arrows - all marked with the bone white fletching and singular purple streak to mark her as Sarentu - until she found another vent to climb through.

Well over two hours were spent making her way through the Facility, hiding away the dead bodies she left as she moved on, trying to find the rooms or maybe even a classroom, but this place wasn't like T.A.P. Con-1 or T.A.P., no obvious area for the Na'vi children.

Until the cold nitrous smell of the Cryochambers seeped into her nose. Cryosleep. Maybe the four had been put in Cryosleep when the RDA were forced away the first time - not by a savior, but by their captor - and maybe they hadn't been released yet. Mercer might have wanted to wait until she and the others were killed so no one got the idea to rescue them.

Following the hall signs she finally came upon the room, and shot the singular scientist before he even had a second to register she was there. And there were four Na'vi sized Cryochambers, frosted over.

Laughin in relief, Ka'ani wiped away the gathered frost from the first tank but her expression fell. It was Telisì, but . . .

She hardly looked to even be 13 in the chamber, face frozen in time. Ka'ani was horrified and quickly wiped the frost from all four of them to see if the same was true for the other three and it was.

Reaching up she pressed the comms, "Teylan, Ri'nela? Are you there?"

"We are here," Ri'nela said, calm as ever.

"Did you find them? Are they alright? Oh, I hope they're alright."

"It's . . . They're still children."

"What?"

"What do you mean 'still children'? How is that possible?"

"They must've been put in Cryosleep as soon as they were moved here, because none of them look any older than the day they left," Ka'ani answered, clamping down on the anger curling along her spine.

"How are you going to get them out?" Ri'nela asked.

"I do not know. Are either of you near the Spires?"

"I am. I will speak to Tsu'lo, have him send some warriors to you so you can escape without putting them in danger."

"Thank you, Ri'nela. Do hurry, I do not wish to be here longer than I must, not with them in danger."

The comms clicked off and Ka'ani went about freeing the four from sleep, starting with Telisí.

The girl woke with a gasp, immediately banging a fist on the glass when she realized she was stuck. With a hiss the door slid open, allowing the young girl to sit up . . . And finally catch sight of Ka'ani.

"Who are you? Where are we? What is happening?" Telisí demanded, climbing from the cryochamber on unsteady feet, tail whipping in anger.

"Do I not look familiar, Telisí? I was unaware I had changed so much since we last saw each other," Ka'ani answered, tilting her face so her mark was obvious. Telisí faltered, blue eyes going wide with shock.

"Ka'ani? Is that you? You look . . . Older. How?"

"You've been in Cryosleep, Telisí, and based on the records it's been 23 years since you were all put in."

Telisí was horrified, head snapping to the side to see the other three Cryochambers, "23? No, no, no. That's-that can't . . . Why would Mercer do that?"

"I don't know. And we never will. Telisí, Mercer and Harding are dead."

"Really? Please say you are not pulling my tail, it would be a dick move, Ka'ani."

"I would never lie about this, Telisí."

"The others, you have to free them—" Telisí stared her down "—you have to free all of them, even Yuayt. He didn't know."

"I am going to free him. I would not leave him behind."

"You don't understand, he cried, Ka'ani, he tried to attack Harding when we got here. They almost– They almost killed him for it."

Ka'ani contiued working on releasing the next chamber, Yefti, then Okni's and finally Yuayt's.

All three had similiar reactions to seeing Ka'ani grown up, with Yuayt throwing himself into her to hug her, apologizing over and over even as Ka'ani held his shoulders.

"I know, Yuayt, I know. But we have to be ready to flee. The Keawa Kame'tire are coming to help us make it out, but I need you to do exactly as I say. If I tell you to hide, do it, run, do it. Anything, everything I say, do it."

The four nodded, quickly understanding what was happening, especially with the array of weapons adorning Ka'ani - from her shortbow, to the shotgun, to the knives at her hips. If they wanted to be free, they had to trust her to get them out.

Hardly a half hour passed before Ri'nela was reaching back out.

"Ka'ani, Tsu'lo has sent Emeray, Tseke, and Ku'malo with So'lek and I. Get ready to run, we will be arriving soon."

"We await your arrival," Ka'ani stated, cutting off the comms as the four watched her. "Help is on the way. Get ready to run, and run quickly. I will lead, Telisí, will be last. Okni if you begin to fall behind say something, I will pause if I can but you have to let me know. If you see one another begin to fall behind, speak. We have to work together to get out."

"We understand," Yefti murmured, holding her tail in her hands as Okni clung to her arm.

"We'll stay close," Yuayt confirmed, holding himself tall even with dried tears along his skin.

"Let's go."

Ka'ani was quick to move forward, retracing the path she had took to get inside, luckily no one was there, none having seen the hidden bodies stuffed in the shadows. Okni could not hide the startled whine when she saw the bodies, quickly pushed forward by Telisí.

"Did you—?" Okni began, eyes wide with shock.

"I did. A lot has changed Okni. If I hadn't then they would have lived on to kill other Na'vi."

Telisí spoke up, "I'm glad you did. It means we're safe, right?"

"As long as the RDA are here, no, but in this scenario, yes you are safe."

Ka'ani paused at a intersection, holding out a hand to keep them fron moving forward. The grating chatter of soldiers was coming from the other direction and she reached for her shortbow, knocking it.

"Ka'ani?" Yefti questioned, anxious.

"Stay here."

In one motion, Ka'ani moved into the hall, firing an arrow right into the throat of a soldier, charging forward to bash the second soldiers head in, snapping his spine. There was no point in hiding the bodies so she called them to follow her.

"Ka'ani! We're here!" Ri'nela called into the comms, shots echoing in the background. "Run!"

Alarms began blaring as the four instinctively huddled closer.

"Run!" Ka'ani ordered, picking up the pace. Any RDA they came across, she shot, leaving their bodies to rot. The four stumbled but she got them to the vent, and pushed them through firdt. "Ri'nela, they're coming out through a grate on the east side, outside the hangar area."

"We'll be there."

"Hurry!" Ka'ani ordered, slipping behind them and ushering them out into the world of Pandora. Yuayt, who had been first, stared out into the area with awe and glee, the others having sinilar looks. "I know this is a shock, but we need to go."

Shrieks announced the arrival of the Ikrans, with Mimikyu following.

"Ri'nela?" Telisí asked, amazed to see her on a stunning yellow and green Ikran. "Is that you?"

"Telisì? Oh, Telisí-"

Explosions rocked the facility, cutting her off, "We need to leave, now!" So'lek called.

"Okni, with Ri'nela, Telisì with me, Yuayt with So'lek, Yefti with Tseke," Ka'ani commanded, pointing out the strangers to the kids. Telisí scrambled to follow Ka'ani towards Mimikyu, who lowered his wing to allow Telisí a foothold, before he pudhed off.

Ka'ani had Telisí pressed to her chest, urging Mimikyu to flee towards the floating islands so he could dodge the pursuing helicopters until Emeray and Ku'malo were able to shoot them down with their mounted crossbows.

"Thank you, Ka'ani," Telisí whispered, leaning back against her as they glided through the skies.