The Power of Three- Lo'ak x OC x Neteyam

Chapter 1

Long before the sky people killed their planet, their children were taught that the planets in their solar system had many wondrous qualities, that each planet had its own number of moons and other space rocks floating around in the vast emptiness that made up the universe. Unfortunately, those children and their children and even their children's children took Earth for granted, and as their land lay dying around them they reached out for a new one to destroy, one certain moon in particular.

Pandora. One hundred and fifty years later, everyone grew up hearing about her. Few would be chosen to visit, only the most intelligent scientists and the hardiest militia; or those elected to mine the valuable materials hidden under the surface of the lush green forests. One thing the humans never accounted for would be the intelligent life that roamed the moon's many biospheres. The very grass itself beat with the heart of connections, every plant and floating mountain and animal were connected in some way. As were the natives that called the moon home; tall blue-skinned "hostiles" that defended their way of life with bow and arrow to the death.

The war that was waged between the natives and the humans was brutal and involved many losses. Eventually the scientists behind the operations released computerized Avatars, human-made creatures that were grown from a combination of human and native DNA in an effort to encourage the Na'vi to lower their guard and allow the miners to move in with their operation. For a short time the two races lived in an uneasy truce, but that all came to a head when a human by the name of Jake Sully-

"Hey that's my dad!" a young Na'vi boy jumps into view, successfully resisting his older brother's attempts to keep him at bay. He takes a hurried puff of human air from the mask dangling around his neck, his excitement causing a stir in the group of children gathered in the bio lab. The human reading from the large leather-bound novel looks up at the child, a bright smile breaking over his face.

"That's right Lo'ak, it is your dad," Norm speaks in textbook perfect Na'vi, preferring to speak to the young kids in their native language since they were still a bit too young to understand his home tongue yet. The young half-breed dashes around, skillfully dancing around those who reached for him. After a few moments the other young natives join him, the room erupting into joyful chaos. Lo'ak's older brother, Neteyam, weaves his way through to Norm, the braided beads in his hair swinging gently with his movements. The man places a friendly hand on his shoulder, drawing the blue-skinned child close to his side.

The excitable atmosphere is split by the appearance of two adult Na'vi males, both bloodied and breathing heavily.

"Norm, we've got a situation over here," another human scientist rushes into the room behind them, worry clouding his features. The humans quietly but efficiently usher the children out, so busy with their task that Lo'ak and Neteyam escape their notice, slipping into the next room. The two boys gasp at the sight in front of them. Two warriors lay on operating tables, a team of humans and Avatars alike rushing around trying to save their lives. A small girl clings to the prone female on the table, the tears streaming down her face turning the light skin a sad blue.

"Boys, what do you think you're doing in here," the brothers whip around to stare up at their father, the bright warpaint on his face streaking due to sweat and tears.

"You two geniuses aren't supposed to be in here!" The boys drop their heads, muttering a small apology.

" Toruk Makto, they are failing! Quickly, we must bring them before Eywa!" Jake spares one last look at his children before moving to assist in the bearing of the bodies to the spirit tree. The small girl is left behind, staring at the empty space where her parents used to be. Lo'ak notices her and gently nudges his brother, flicking ears a bit too big for his head at her. Neteyam nods and the two head in her direction, careful not to startle her.

"Hello, what's your name?" the boys kneel down to the girl's level, tails swishing gently through the air as they settle on the bio-lab floor.

"Ava'ritey," she mutters quietly, ears pinned back against her head as she looks away from them at the ground.

"Mmm, I'm gonna call you Ava," Lo'ak announces confidently, earning an elbow from Neteyam and a soft giggle from the girl. Two pairs of ears swivel forward at that, and the brothers spend the next hour and a half making the girl laugh as much as possible.

"Neteyam, Lo'ak, its time for dinner," a beautiful Na'vi native ducks through the door, a smile on her face at the sight of her two sons.

"Hey Mom, can Ava come with us?" Three sets of eyes look to her hopefully, two of them the feline-yellow of her own, the third a nearly orange shade blending into yellow, much like the Earthen sunsets her husband told her so much about. She nods, breaking into a bigger smile at the cheers from the children. They run off ahead of her, the brothers tugging their new friend along. Neytiri watches after them, the smile fading from her face as she remembers the two great warriors that had been lost that day.

Returning to her tent, she watches her four children, no, now five, tumble around the family campfire, the four older children being careful to include but not injure the youngest in their group. A presence at her side has the female turning to look at her mate, nestling into his strong arms as they wrap around her.

"She has no home anymore," Jake's voice carries through the noise of the happy children softly. Neytiri nods, deep sadness taking over her features.

"She is happy here though, MaJake, she could stay with us." The two mates smile at one another, happy with their decision to adopt another child. A small figure brushes by their legs into the tent, the human boy tucking his breathing unit behind his back before leaping on top of the pile of children. Neytiri's ears tilt back in annoyance, but a soft nudge from Jake has her ducking into the tent to join her family.

After a few minutes, the children are settled down, munching happily on fruit and skillfully prepared meats from one of the herbivorous creatures in the forests far below them. Ava relaxes at her spot in between Neteyam and Lo'ak, the brothers refusing to let her far away for long. Never having siblings herself, she enjoyed the homey feel of having so many people around her. She jumps, startled as a soft tail brushes against her own. She glances over, making a face at Lo'ak as he smirks in her direction, obviously getting the reaction he'd been hoping for. An arm reaches behind her, drawing a squeak from the boy as Neteyam smacks him upside the back of the head. Lo'ak pins his ears back and hisses, dropping his plate to leap at his older brother. Ava laughs at the two, shifting towards Kiri and Neytiri to get out of the way of the tussle.

"Hey, hey! This is dinner time not fighting time. Boys!" Jake's voice separates them with a snap.

"Sorry sir," Neteyam drops his head in apology, Lo'ak muttering the same sentiment beside him.

The rest of the meal goes by without a hitch, Ava getting to know each Sully more and more. After the meal is over the Sully children venture back outside, Ava staying behind at the request of Neytiri and Jake.

"Ava'ritey, we want to talk to you about something," Jake's use of her full name causes the young girl to tilt her ears back in an anxious manner, but the male's smile throws her off.

"My mate and I were talking, and we were wondering if you would like to stay with us? We know we're not your real parents, but we'd love to make you ours, if you'll have us."

"Really? You're gonna let me stay here with you guys?" Ava couldn't believe her ears, her tail swishing back and forth excitedly.

"Of course, you're a Sully now Ava." The two parents open their arms, folding their new daughter in a loving hug.