Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

017, One Of Them.

♯┆calm before the storm  .ᐟ
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He had done it. Jake had completed all the Rites of Passages. He was about to truly become one of them. Denahi held a bright face as she washed the white paint from off of Jake's body with fresh water. He was still exhausted from the Uniltaron. "You have to be clean for the new paint..." Denahi reminded him as she continued to wash him.

He nodded his weak head. Denahi finished washing him and picked up the fresh bowl of paint for him. "I barely passed my Uniltaron. I do not know how he did it," Mukata mentioned as he walked onto the hammock. "He is strong. Had a motive to help his pass it, Kata..." Denahi told him. He knew who his motive was. Both knew that.

Jake wanted to admit he did it for himself. Some part of him wanted to do it all for himself. But, when he looked up at Denahi, he knew who he really did it for.

"Does this mean I can drink at his celebration?" Asked Mukata before Denahi hissed at him. And then she thought for a moment. He would be surrounded by trusted people, and he was an experimenting teenager. "Fine. But! Only if you are responsible," Mukata cheered at the approval from Denahi in which she laughed at.

"Thank you, Jake!" Mukata said knowing Jake was the only reason Denahi was allowed to have a taste of alcohol. He then ran from the hammock and found his friends.

"Watcha say to him?" Jake asked, confused at Mukata's sudden cheer of excitement. Denahi laughed at her brothers respons, "I told him he could drink at your celebration."

After having a few more conversations, Denahi went back to painting Jake's face.

The white paint went in a straight line down his face. She had such a gentle touch. Denahi's focus was on her painting, but Jake could only focus his eyes on her.

He would follow her every movement. Smiling to himself when he noticed the pure concentration across her face. Only she could make him smile like this. "It is done..." Denahi announced after tracing her paint-covered fingers down his lips and chin.

Denahi stood and held her hand out to help Jake stand with her. Her body lead him down to the base of Hometree where everyone stood to welcome him into their people.

Eytukan placed his palms onto Jake's shoulders, "You are now son of the Omatikaya. You are part of The People!" Denahi placed her hand onto his body, the People following her exact move.

"You did it, Jake. You are one of us now..." This meant the celebration could begin.

And as much as Denahi wanted to celebrate. Her mind was stuck on one thing. Jake's mating. He was Omatikaya. Jake could carve a bow from Hometree wood and now choose a woman to spend the rest of his life with.

When the two of them walked into the celebration, Mukata walked towards them with cups of drinks in his hands. "Yes, Jake Sully!" Mukata shouted as Jake downed the drink Mukata had poured for him.

"I said to be responsible!" Denahi told her clearly intoxicated brother. Mukata smiled down at her before taking another sip of the alcohol, "But it tastes so good!"

She could only laugh at him. Her brother being so free. Something she hadn't seen since their parents had died. Besides, what else could she do in this situation? It was like listening to your children swear. It is wrong and serious but pure comedy. "I am so happy you are my brother!" Mukata exclaimed before rubbing Jake's hair.

"Yeah... I can still kick your ass," Jake told Mukata after he playfully abused him. Mukata hugged Jake before running off to join Tsu'tey and Otanu in the celebration.

Otanu seemed to have a longing glare. His face twisted in disgust as he watched Denahi and Jake interact with one another. Annoyed at how Mukata had welcomed him with open arms. Denahi ignored his stares and turned her attention back to Jake, "Kata seems to like you. Which is good."

"He's a good kid," Jake responded. "Yeah. He is," Denani smiled in return.