I Have Crossed the Stars to Find You - BOOK ONE

Chapter 4 - Numeyu

Numeyu - Student

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Rose

After the meeting with the leaders, I follow Jake to the nearby 'New Hometree' as he had told me it was nicknamed. He lead me up the central spiral staircase-type-structure with him in front for the first multiple levels before they started getting steeper and steeper until we had to climb, then he stopped and gently pulled me up to climb in front of him. As we began to climb he would occasionally adjust my footing or help me find a better branch to grab onto, and when my foot slipped and I began to fall he was quick to catch me by my waist, holding on tight until I was able to grab back onto the tree and regain my proper footing. Even then, for the last few levels that we climbed he kept one of his hands pressed flat against my lower back to keep me steady as we went, then when we finally got to the right level he signaled for me to stop, climbing above me onto the level before reaching down and gently grabbing one of my arms, pulling me up onto the level right next to him and setting me on my feet.

I looked at the little homes created in the larger branches around us, catching sight of some children watching us from not too far away. I waved at them and smiled softly, earning a smile and wave back as I looked up at Jake. That smile quickly disappeared as I saw him watching me with an emotionless expression, though as my face dropped I caught sight of his ear twitching slightly for just a moment before he turned on his heel and began walking off down the branch we were standing on, causing me to scurry to keep up. I continued to take in the sights around us as we walked, Jake occasionally stopping long enough for me to catch up to him before he continued on through the Hometree.

We eventually stop outside of a home pod a bit more secluded from the others, Jake holding the larger vine curtain out of the way so I could walk inside before following me in and stepping around me to rummage through some containers against the one wall of the pod. After a few moments he walks back over to me and hands me some things that seem to be similar to the clothing I'd seen the other Na'vi women wearing earlier. "I'll let you get changed, be right outside if you need me. I know they're a bit.. breezy, but you gotta dress like us if you wanna be like us." Jake says before going back outside the pod. Sighing quietly, I take another look at the clothing and set them down carefully on the hammock hanging from the pod walls before removing my clothing from the lab, putting on the new clothing then folding up the old garments, carrying them outside the pod with me after fixing my hair to cover my chest a bit better.

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Jake smiles softly when he sees me, once again holding the vine curtain at the front of the pod open for me as I walk out. He gently takes the lab clothing from me before tucking a stray hair behind one of my ears, then he begins leading me down a few levels, leaving my old clothing with one of the Na'vi women before we go down to the ground floor level and he leads me carefully through the crowd of Omaticaya people seated around the central fire, eating their dinners. We take a seat in an empty space next to the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk, Jake passing me a plate of meat before getting his own, showing me the proper way to eat it before he begins discussing something with the leaders in Na'vi and occasionally looking to check on me.

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3rd Person

After meal time, Jake leads Rose back up the Hometree, taking her up to the level right below the one where his home pod is. She follows him through the level like she had done earlier, pulling the black shawl that he had given her closer around herself as she catches sight of more people watching her, tail beginning to lash around anxiously behind her. Rose doesn't even notice the excessive movement of her tail until it smacks into the back of one of Jake's thighs, causing him to spin around suddenly and she runs right into him.

Her hands come up to rest against his torso as she regains her balance, blinking a few times as her ears twitch, tail still lashing around, then as she looks up at him to ask why he stopped he just hisses down at her and turns back around, walking forward again and not waiting for her to catch up. They finally stop at an empty home pod and she has to lean slightly against a branch as she catches her breath, glaring up at Jake when he starts laughing quietly at her.

"Don't be mad at me, hì'i yayo. Here is where you'll be staying here at Hometree. Village life starts at sunrise, so be up early, srane? (yes?)" He questions her as he holds the vine curtain at the front of the pod open for her to walk in before following her in. The two of them work together to hang up her hammock and shortly after they finish that, Neytiri walks in holding a small pile of clothing and handing it to Rose, "For you, Rose Augustine. Lesar si trray. (Be useful tomorrow.)" She states before nodding shortly to both Jake and Rose, then she turns and leaves the pod just as quick as she showed up.

Jake chuckles quietly at the confused look on Rose's face before gently patting the top of her head on his way towards the pod opening. "See you at sunrise, hì'i yayo."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

A/N
Sorry for the delay on this update, between being busy with family and being sick over the holidays I haven't had much time. Hope you guys enjoyed it!