Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

056, What Is Best.

♯┆calm before the storm .ᐟ
━━━━━━━━━━

     Three fingers. Three toes. Jake held their final son within his arms. Small and protected. Denahi watched from the mat on the ground— a pure smile burning her cheeks. Kìlan Te Suli Tsyeyk'itan. A beautiful and strong little one. Born too early into Pandora, but born with strength and a fight. "He looks like him..." Denahi whispered, standing up from the mat.

Jake looked behind him as she peered over his shoulder, strapping Kìlan into the prrsmung around her chest. "Yeah. He does," Holding some features that matched Neteyam. But, Kìlan was his own person and he wouldn't be compared to that.

Denahi smiled at the similarities. The same amount of fingers and toes, matching Tuk. Now, she didn't have to feel left out. Neytiri watched from afar with a bright smile.

She knew something had happened because of the grief paint across Denahi's face and chest. The family had lost someone. Overhearing the two talk about Neteyam, she caught on quickly as to who they mourned.

"I have brought water," Neytiri announced. Holding out the bowl of clean water. Denahi accepted it with a smile, holding a trembling hand to her lips and sipping. "And yalnabark," Neytiri smiled. Denahi sighed before Jake took Kìlan into his arms. Neytiri began to spread the paste across Denahi's shoulder and lower stomach. Feeling the soothe of the paste almost immediately.

The room fell into a comforting silence. Denahi watched as Jake rocked Kìlan as he started to whine within his arms.

Neytiri nodded her head once cleaning Denahi's wounds, exiting the marui and then leaving them in peace. "Is he fine?" She questioned, noticing that Kìlan's whining had gone quiet. Jake nodded his head, "Yeah. Sleeping. He's asleep." Denahi smiled at him. Once again, a real smile full on her face. Innocence showing in her eyes once again.

"Where are the other children?" Denahi asked him before eating some fruit. "Mal and Tuk are together. Lo'ak is bonding with another Ikran. Kiri is with Mo'at." Spider with Norm, figuring out how he can breathe without a mask. Or the fact Spider was beginning to grow a kuru.

Denahi and Jake stood, Kìlan protected within the prrsmung strapped onto Denahi. Kiri sat with Norm and Mo'at, "Eywa never came to me. I told you. I don't know how I did it." Mo'at handed a liquid she had mixed to Kiri, telling her to drink.

Denahi looked down at her daughter, sitting close and holding her arm. Jake and Denahi shared a look— the two knew about Kiri. Nothing about Grace's pregnancy was normal. It was unusual, unheard. "There is something you are hiding!" Kiri exclaimed to them all. Denahi knew about the frustration Kiri would start to feel.

Not knowing who she was. Where she came from, "I have felt it my whole life. Just tell me the truth! Please..." Mo'at leaned forward, looking toward Jake. Denahi sighed as she stroked Kiri's arm in comfort. "Your mother. Grace's Avatar. And, when she was pregnant. Norm ran some tests. And there was a—" Jake attempted to pronounce the complicated scientific word. Norm then spoke for him, "A parthenogenic birth. You're genetical identical to the Avatar."

"I'm a clone?" Kiri asked, Denahi's ears fell down her cheeks. Mo'at touched Kiri's back, "It was the will of Eywa! When the dreamwalker body lay here, in the Great Mother's hands, a seed was planted." The explanation was the best way to come across. Denahi smiled and thanked Mo'at, unsurprisingly not sure how to handle this.

Kiri shook her head, "That really sucks. That makes me even more of a freak."

Denahi shook her head and held her forehead against Kiri's, "Kiri, you are Eywa's child. There was a reason for you. A great reason." Kiri was upset— shocked. Something she had felt her whole life had been explained.

But, she needed more answers. Some time later, Denahi stood behind a window. Watching as Spider laughed with the scientists. Her smile was small, but still showed great empathy for the young man. He was born into this life with nothing. All Spider knew was the Sully family, the Na'vi way. And now, he had that chance.

"He can't stay here..." Jake whispered as he walked from behind her. Denahi looked up at him, resting her cheek on his chest. "If the RDA get him. We'll never stop them."

Denahi stroked her son's cheek from her chest, "I know that. But, there is something else we need to discuss as well."

Tears whelmed within her eyes as she looked down at Kìlan. He was small. Too small. Kìlan was an innocent child. One that hadn't known of the war. One that shouldn't be involved in the war. "Kìlan has to stay here..." The words cut her throat, broke her heart. Chokes of despair and desperation.

Jake widened his eyes as he looked down at Denahi, shaking his head. He couldn't lose another son. "No, no, baby. He's gotta come with us. He's our son," Jake denied.

Denahi knew what was best for their son. "He is a baby, Jake! Neytiri can protect him. He should not have to know war. Kìlan should not have to grow up in the war..." What would a life be if the first thing Kìlan understood was his family were under attack? That his life would start with a war.

"I have asked Neytiri. She will protect him, Ma'Jake. He cannot come with us," Denahi explained to him. She wanted what was best for their son. For their family.

Jake looked down at Kìlan strapped to her chest, sleeping soundly against his mothers warm flesh. A chocked breath escaped his mouth before he rubbed his eyes. "He should not have to start a life in war," Denahi continued to talk. But, the point had already been made in Jake's head.

"You're right. You're right, baby. He will stay here... Neytiri will look after him," Jake spoke with mere softness. Denahi nodded her head before stroking Kìlan's soft hair. A strong son would know the Omatikaya way until his parents come to collect him again. Bring him home with them. Neytiri would not let Kìlan forget his parents— forget who his siblings are, who Neteyam is. Denahi and Jake had the upmost trust in Neytiri that she will protect him. Train him well.

As much as it would kill them both.