Recombinant Bridgehead

Vrrtepeyktan

The pungent scent of boiled herbs filled Neytiri's nose as steam began to permeate her tent space and wrap around her weary head. Mo'at completed her concoction and poured it into a dry gourd for her daughter.

"Irayo." Neytiri nodded as she took the offered bowl. She sniffed it first, dwelling on troublesome thoughts before downing the tea.

|"My concoctions improve health, but they do not guarantee a child."|

|"I will still try."|

|"You do not know if your womb is injured."|

|"Yes, it is barren. A woman feels when her body closes off. It is not Jake's fault. It is mine. Something has happened to me, Mother. It is like the Tree of Voices. Yesterday, I travelled there, and it is a dead valley, still. Nothing new takes root—not since the Skypeople cursed it."|

Mo'at pondered her words. |"It is strange you make that connection. You and Zayksuli were present when our ancestors were silenced all at once."|

Neytiri shut her eyes, dwelling on the memory. |"I used to talk with Sylwanin there. When I watched the Skypeople's machines uproot her before my eyes, they uprooted my heart."|

Mo'at rested her head on her knuckles. |"Perhaps there is more to your metaphor. In the years following the Skypeople's departure, we have suffered the aftermath of their presence. A Mother that doesn't speak. A land that doesn't regrow. A womb that doesn't conceive. A daughter that has no voice."|

"Kiri?" Neytiri hummed. |"What does she have to do with this?"|

|"What, indeed."|

Kiri breached through the High Camp entrance in a fit of terror. She leapt off Palm-Palm before he fully landed and bolted for her parents' tent. Neytiri rose upon seeing her frightened daughter and tried to clutch her, but Kiri pushed away, flashing a series of signs that the mother couldn't decipher fast enough.

"Kiri," Neytiri entreated. "Mawey. Mawey..."

She held her daughter's face and beseeched her through a gaze to steady herself and sign her words clearly.

Kiri exhaled and, wiping her eyes dry, signed, "Father. Brother. Danger."

Mo'at came to her feet as Neytiri petitioned her daughter to elaborate.

|"How? Where?"|

"We all at Sosul Syanan. Brother flew off. Later, we hear a shot. Father leaves me to find brother. I come back here."

Neytiri was worried but kept a steady composure and patted her daughter's head. |"Did you see who attacked? Did you see how many there were?"|

Kiri looked down with guilt before continuing. "There was at least one—one of the bad Dreamwalkers."

|"The demons who use our skin,"| Neytiri remarked to her mother. She snatched her bow and exited the tent, whooping a warbled cry. All her kinsmen abandoned their activities and circled around.

|"Hear me, my clan! Rider of Last Shadow and Neteyam have encountered danger at Sosul Syanan. We must fly there now!"|

Norman was not in his avatar form as he pushed through the throng. "Neytiri! What happened to Jake? What's going on?"

"Kiri heard shots. She thinks it's the ayvrrtep."

Norman turned white. "Give me a moment to ready my Samson—you'll need the firepower."

"As the wind, Norman."

Back inside the orange tent, the grandmother was busy comforting her shaken granddaughter. "Kiri..." she gently whispered. |"It will be okay, child."|