alien; lo'ak

⥤ Chapter Four : Acceptance ⥢

⥤ Chapter Four : Acceptance ⥢

The teens and youngest listen to their parents argue in their hut.

"I cannot leave my people," Neytiri insists.

"They're hunting us," Jake retaliates. "He's targeting our family." He tries to emphasize the importance of keeping his family safe.

Neytiri turns to her husband. "You cannot ask this. The children, everything they've ever known, the forest! This is our home!"

"He had our children," Jake fires back. "He had them under his knife!" He uses the motion of his hand across his throat.

Neytiri silences. She goes to the bow her dying father passed to her. "My father gave me this bow as he lay dying!" Her voice cracks as she holds back tears. "He said to protect the people. You're Toruk Makto!"

"This will protect the people!" Jake notices how loud his voice is getting. He takes a deep breath. "Quaritch has Spider, that kid knows everything."

Their children outside share sad expressions. Neteyam looks to his younger siblings with his father's mindset: it would be safer for the clan, and for the family, to disappear.

Kiri's eyes want to tear up. Losing Spider was enough, but to run and never see him or (Y/N) ever again? Her heart shatters.

Lo'ak grows angry, not liking the idea of running from (Y/N) either. He storms off. Neteyam allows his brother to go blow off steam, and feels more relieved when Kiri limply follows — safety in numbers.

-

Lo'ak and Kiri fly off together on his irkan — Kiri never bonded with one of her own — both wanting an escape from the situation.

Kiri sits against a tree, sighing as her numb expression watches Lo'ak hit a tree over and over again with a branch, eventually breaking it. He breathes heavily with rage.

"Feel better?" Kiri asks in monotone. He rolls his eyes at his adoptive sister.

He looks for another branch to use. Instead, his body falls to sit against another tree facing Kiri. He sighs.

"This is bullshit."

Kirk laughs at his choice of words. "Yeah, bullshit." The two share a small giggle. She looks to him, knowingly.

"You don't want to leave her, do you?" She smirks.

His eyes give it away. He tries to look away, but Kiri knows. She feels the same for Spider.

"I miss Monkey Boy." She frowns.

A momentary silence falls, before the brother and sister hear footsteps nearby. They both quickly get up, Lo'ak motioning for Kiri to be still. He goes to investigate.

Kiri sits for a moment, watching Lo'ak disappear into the forest. Tired of waiting, she decides to investigate on her own.

-

(Y/N) quietly makes her way through Pandora's vegetation. She's grown up with the Sullys, gaining enough knowledge to know how to act. But she stumbles, her tail's movements knocking into things often. She's not used to her new body.

She hears noises around her, telling her she's not alone. She tries to take cover, being more nervous that the sheet is having problems covering her.

The sounds fall silent as she does. She cannot wait forever, she needs to find Jake's family.

-

Kiri hears movement around her. She takes cover, hoping either Lo'ak will retrieve her or that he's the one making the noise.

She tries to hide, the movement silencing with her. She can't wait forever. If it's danger, she'll need to run for it.

(Y/N) and Kiri both jump out, scaring each other. Their screams alert Lo'ak.

(Y/N) is relieved to see Kiri. She remains still, though, unsure if Kiri will accept her new body.

Kiri, on the other hand, takes a moment to recognize her friend. Similar features in the face give it away. She is shocked to see (Y/N) in an Avatar body, but is too overjoyed.

The two embrace, both feeling a little emotional.

Lo'ak finally runs into view, his knife ready to defend his sister. Instead, he sees an Avatar who closely resembles his human friend.

(Y/N)'s heart races. Kiri's supportive hand rests on her back, giving it a light tap to urge her forward.

"....Lo'ak?" (Y/N) speaks.

His ears perk at her voice. His eyes almost widen too. He steps closer. "(Y/N)...?" The two are now almost the same height. He hugs her tightly.

(Y/N) takes in his strong embrace, as he's never fully hugged her human body. Though he was rough with Spider when goofing off, he was always afraid he'd hurt (Y/N) in an embrace.

His heart races. He takes in everything, her smell and how she feels in his arms. He sees Kiri smirk at them.

The two pull away, (Y/N) apologizing to them both. "I'm sorry." She brings a hand to her face, as she wants to sob. Her throat aches as she tries to not let her voice crack. "I'm so sorry." She shakes her head.

Lo'ak and Kiri gather in close, asking what she has to be sorry for.

"Norm was growing our Avatars, we wanted to surprise you guys and Jake. B-But the bodies, they weren't ready." She turns to Kiri. "They needed more time so they didn't depend on our consciousness. A-And our bodies were growing together a-and-"

Kiri grabs (Y/N) by the shoulder. Lo'ak has a hand on her back, his touch calming her instantly. Tears fall from her eyes.

"Who's body?" Kiri asks, almost knowing the answer.

"Spider's. Our Avatars were growing togefher. But because they weren't ready, his Avatar .. can't be used now." (Y/N) sees Kiri struggle to handle this information. But in the end, Kiri is grateful that Spider himself — his human self — is alive. She brings (Y/N)  in for a hug. Lo'ak hugs them both in his embrace, sneaking his head into the crook of (Y/N)'s neck.

"My friends were quick to forgive me. They accepted my Avatar, and were happy."

(Y/N) clings to Lo'ak tightly, Kiri sitting behind her. He flies them all back home, the two siblings ready to defend (Y/N) as she prepares herself.

"But I was going to need Neytiri's approval, if I wanted to help my friends."

Tuk excitedly announces the arrival of her brother and sister. "They're back!"

Jake tries shushing her, as the late nightfall is supposed to be silent for slumber. Worried parents, Jake and Neytiri, have been awake awaiting their children's arrival.

Neteyam comes out too, noticing a third figure on his brother's ikran.