Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

055, Mangkwan.

♯┆calm before the storm .ᐟ
━━━━━━━━━━

     The Tlalim were kind people. A beautiful clan. Bringing resources and treasures to parts of Pandora. It is where she had received her first necklace from them. "Tam tam, Riti," Denahi whispered to her fellow friend. One she had missed riding on too much. Riti's head pushed into her palm as the Tlalim sailed their caravan into the air above. "We shall fly," Denahi announced to Jake before mounting on Riti.

He couldn't detest before she soared into the sky surrounding them. The Eclipse soon came and Denahi couldn't settle. She watched as Spider and her children dance and have fun onboard. But, her face wouldn't allow her to crack a smile.

Her heart still yearning for her eldest son to be dancing with them. And when the Tlalim's caravan rested for another day, Denahi landed on the ground. Jake had been stood there, waiting for her. His arms folded across his chest, "You didn't sleep?" Denahi's head turned to face him as she fed Riti some fruits within her pouch. "I could not," She announced. Sleeping was difficult. For sleeping meant she must wake another day without Neteyam being next to her.

"You have to sleep, baby," Jake walked closer to her but Denahi shook her head. Denahi knew she had to sleep. To rest. Her pregnancy was soon nearing the end and she needed all the rest she could gather.

Denahi then mounted Riti once more. The Ikran growled as she felt the pain Denahi felt for losing her son. But, something else covered that pain when Denahi realised the caravan had entered horrific territory.

The Na'vi knew of Mangkwan. The clan whom turned their back on Eywa for horrific circumstances— something she couldn't control. It was once a clan that once lived like Omatikaya. But, after a volcanic eruption, Mangkwan turned their backs. Turned hostile and violent. Cutting off kuru's of the Na'vi whom they had found. The Mangkwan were dangerous, shunned and avoided.

And the fear began to rise when Denahi noticed shadows. Ikran shadows. "Ma'Jake!" She exclaimed into her comms, readying her bow within her hands, "Mangkwan!"

Their attack was planned. Vengeful. Mangkwan being a danger to the Tlalim clan. Denahi arrows flew within the air, landing into multiple Mangkwan. As much as she could without suffering running out of arrows. She hissed and grunted. However, there were too many of them.

Denahi looked back at her arrow supply, realising that she was running short. "Jake... I do not have many arrows," Denahi explained within her comms. Turning around to collect more from the caravan.

But, what Denahi hadn't expected to see was her son hanging from the caravan. Watching as his Ikran fell to the ground. "Lo'ak!" Denahi shouted out to her son. He looked up at his mother soaring down to him.

However, before Denahi could reach Lo'ak, she felt a piercing pain within her shoulder. Denahi screamed out in pain, turning her head to notice the sharp arrow sticking out of her flesh. "Ah!" Denahi shouted out, watching as the woman flying a nightwraith surrounded her in a circle. 

Denahi ordered Riti to soar towards the nightwraith, opening her jaw and attacking the creature most Na'vi are too afraid to tame. But when the Nightwraith hit Denahi a little too hard, she felt herself fall.

And she kept falling. Deep into the Mangkwan forest. Deep into unknown space. Her cries of pain echoed throughout the empty forest, Denahi gripping onto the trees and leaves she fallen atop. Until that unknown moment fell into deep darkness.

That darkness consumed Denahi. Keeping her mind occupied as the Omatikaya's cleaned at her wounds, patching up the cut of the arrow weeping blood. The metallic sensation beneath Denahi allowed her to come back to life. Releasing that darkness and bringing the bright light. "Get these off of me!" Denahi shouted into the room.

Tarsem was the first to reach for her. His comforting touch bringing Denahi back onto the chair once again. "The children!" Exclaimed Denahi as she pulled at the multiple drips. "Calm. Calm," Mo'at repeated. Denahi looked up at the woman and then around the sterile room. She was back home. How did she get home? Denahi's hand landed on her stomach.

Her stomach. She felt around. Tears whelming within her eyes as she realised her bump was no longer there. "No, no," Denahi cried out. Norm jumped up and shook his head, "Denahi. Nahi!" Her head snapped around to him. Noticing the woman standing behind him, holding a small child.

Neytiri walked towards Denahi. "He is strong. Healthy," Neytiri announced before Denahi sighed in relief. She wanted to reach her arms out to her son, but realised one was trapped behind bandages. She was deprived of birthing her son. Denahi was also deprived of the touch from her eldest. He soothed her, brought her calmness. Something she desperately craved. But when she heard the cries of her born child, Denahi's ears twitched at the sound. She wanted to reach her arms out, but couldn't.

Denahi then felt the sewed cut beneath her stomach. Oh. "The children..." Denahi repeated once again before standing. Neytiri walked in front of her, "You are not strong enough, Nahi. You cannot go."

Denahi tilted her head at the words, "I will ride!" There was no stopping a mother attempting to get her children back. Denahi knew her son would be safe with Neytiri.

Despite the pain and soreness Denahi felt, she mounted Riti. Her Omatikaya people following behind as she reached the forbidden Mangkwan forest once again. She felt the chills across her flesh. Being back into unknown territories once again. Back to the place she had been the most vulnerable.

"Momma!" Malhua shouted as she ran towards Denahi. Denahi fell onto the ground, picking herself up again and bringing her children into her arm. "You are all okay," Denahi reminded herself. All four of them were here, safe within her arms.

"Denahi, baby," Jake whispered as he reached them. Denahi sighed in relief before smashing her flesh against his. Jake huffed at the sudden slam, wrapping his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him.

"Come. Let us go home. We have someone we have to meet..." Denahi announced to them, reaching her hand out to Tuk. Not noticing that Spider breathed without a mask.