Absence

idea 35

Saiya finally took her space in front of the Tsahìk, laying flat on her side with her legs stretched.

Ronal had given birth not too long ago. It was a beautiful birth, their daughter being born with ease. Saiya chuckled asking the Tsahìk to teach her how to have such an easy birth.

"Each one to their own Tsakarem." She hummed back pressing a cold wooden needle to Saiyas back.
She drummed the needle in a rhythmic pattern against her lower spine, concentrating especially hard.

Her warm hand spread to the back of Saiyas neck, pushing her hair away to expose the slender body part. Saiya relaxed into her touch, her hand resting against her stomach. Her eyes closed before opening sharply to the cold splash of water.

"Tsahìk!" She shuddered as she tried to sit up, cold droplets running down her skin.

"It's only water."
"Extremely cold water, splash on me unexpectedly."

Just then Tonowari had walked in clearly looking for his wife. Saiyas eyes landed on his face however his eyes had already found his wife's.

The worry and stress was evident on his face, as clear as day. "Ronal, I'll wait for you to be finished." He said as he realised she was not alone.

"I'll be done soon."

Confused Saiya bit the inside of her lip, unsure what was the reason for his sudden entrance and panicked expression, and what was it that he couldn't say in front of her?

The thoughts ran rampant in her mind which Ronal unfortunately could tell.
"Stress on yourself is stress on the child." She hummed pressed the wooden needle again against Saiyas lower back.

Saiyas heart beat faster at her words, she wanted nothing more than to protect their baby, not putting it in anymore harms way. Slowly she took in deep breaths to calm herself, she was sure that whatever Tonowari wanted to talk to her about was probably another one of their son's ridiculous antics.

In their family mauri Jake paced back and forth, re-explaining everything to Neytiri.

"But he's supposed to be dead. You killed him ma'Jake!" Neytiri stressed, running her fingers through her braids.

"Please Neytiri quieter, the kids." Jake tried to remind her but it was of no use.

"Our kids that we are supposed to protect from him. I thought we did, I thought he was dead!"

"So did I! I watched his body float away in the water!" Jake said back his voice getting louder before dimming.

"I- I watched him." He huffed in disbelief, the air slowly peeling away from him as he reached for bark stool to sit on. His heart beat faster as the world around him spun a million times faster than he was used to.

Norm had called in that morning. Quaritch was alive. The man who killed his son was alive, and he had no idea how. Tears brimmed his waterline as he felt his wife's warm embrace wrap around him.

"I'm scared Jake. What if he does it again?" Neytiri asked, voice cracking. Neytiri had grown brave and undeniably strong over her life, but not being able to protect her children was a fear that ate away at her strength. Already digging its sinister jaws into her.

Jake refused to let the words render in his mind, not wanting the thought of losing another child ruin him.
"Don't say tha- don't." he huffed, wrapping his arms around his mate.

On the other side of the village Lo'ak, Kiri, Tsireya, Tuk, Aounung and Rotxo all sat quietly, mostly listening to the stories Rotxo himself would conjure up to impress Kiri.