I was a warrior who dreamed he could bring peace...

Jake stumbled as he walked through the ash filled remains of Hometree his mind in a daze as he looked around at the damage done by Quaritch.

Sooner or later, though...you always have to wake up.

As Jake was pulled from his avatar and back into his human body he just remained limp, guilt was coursing through his veins preventing him from moving. Jake, who had just been welcomed into the Omatikaya, had gotten the Olo'eyktan killed and countless other innocent Navis that were supposed to be his brothers and sisters.

He heard Grace yelling but it all remained muffled to him as his eyes stared straight up unmoving. It remained like that for what felt like hours until they were eventually put into a cell.

He eventually started talking the shock of the event wearing off as he held his head down. The entire cell was enveloped in silence with the occasional sniffle from Grace.

He could hear the sound of a cart rolling, but he didn't turn his head to it until he heard Trudy's voice, "What's going on, brother? Long time no see" she had said the a guard that was stationed by their cell.

The guard looked towards her, "hey" he acknowledged as he went to inspect the cart he was rolling, "Personally, I don't fell these tree-hugging traitors deserve steak".

The guard scoffed as he bended over to look at the steak, "they get steak? That's bullshit" his comment was met with a pistol to the back of his head before she slammed it down knocking the guy out.

Everyone in the cell had jumped forward and watched the interaction, Norm watched her with a smile on his face. She returned it slightly before turning to the door, "Max!" She yelled causing the scientist to enter the room in a rush.

Max moved towards the door as he unlocked it, freeing them from the cell. The group ran down a hallway towards the helicopters, with Trudy armed and leading the way.

"Trudy, fire up the ship!" Jake said motioning his head to Norm to catch up with her.

The pair ran into a room that led directly to the pad, they made sure to put there air masks on before rushing out hoping to start the helicopter early saving them from unwanted confrontation.

Jake alongside Max and Grace followed taking a little bit longer. Max opened the door to the room before Jake turned to him stoping him from entering, "Max, stay here. I need someone on the inside I can trust" he said to which Max nodded hesitantly.

Trudy had fired up her helicopter which unknowingly sent an alert to the control room stationed above the pad. Jake and Grace had made it to the ship.

Grace and norm lifted Jake into the helicopter moments after gunshots were fired at the helicopter.

"I'm taking fire let's go!" Trudy yelled urgently as glass shards broke off in her direction.

Grace lifted Jake's Wheelchair into the ship before being flung back by the Helicopter rising. Fortunately norm was there to grab her hand and haul her into the Ship.

Shots were still being fired at the ship but it broke through nevertheless. As the ship gained velocity Hells gate became a distant memory.

Jake cheered as hells gate became more distant in his view but his cheers were quickly silenced as Grace muttered a curse out. His head turned to Grace as she held her hand up, it was soaked with blood.

"This is gonna ruin my whole day" she whispered as she looked at Jake with a pained sigh. He rushed towards her holding his hand on her wound, "Grace is hit! Norm get the trauma kit" he said turning to norm urgently who rushed to grab it.

"Grace I'm gonna keep the pressure here, we need to keep pressure" Jake said looking at her to which she shook her head, "doesn't matter it's fine" she whispered with a shakey breath.

The group had made it to where the shack was, Norm who was in his avatar body hooked it to the helicopter before motioning to Trudy to rise.

The shack rose as Trudy began to guide it, Jake who was watching from inside the shack spoke in the radio to Trudy, "Just keep going north. Get us deep in the mountains".

He wheeled over to a pod that Norms human body resided in before speaking over the radio, "Norm you good here?" Norm acknowledged him by responding over the radio that he was in fact still here.

Trudy's voice rang through the radio again, "Well, at least they can't track us up here. Not this far into the Vortex" she commented.

Jake brought the walkie talkie up to his mouth, "it strongest at the tree of souls right?" Which earned an agreement from her, "Good cause that's where we're going".

His attention turned to where Grace laid, they had made a makeshift bed in one of the pods for her. He wheeled over injecting antibiotics in hopes to slow the inevitable end result. They needed the help of the Navi.

Grace opened her eyes from the poke of the shot muttering an ow as she glared at Jake, "you big baby" he teased but his gaze did not hold amusement but more concerned as he checked her wound.

"We're moving?" She commented to which Jake nodded his head, "I'm gonna get you some help Grace"

she let out a weak scoff as her eyes narrowed towards him, "I'm a scientist remember? I don't believe in fairy tales." Jake looked down at her sadly before he spoke with a determined tone, "The people can help you, I know it"

She shook her head slightly, "why would they help us?"

Jake couldn't answer her as he looked down to trapped in his thoughts.

The people say, eywa will provide. With no hope, there was only one place they could go.

🦋

They had landed the shack in a secluded area close to the spirit tree as Jake eyed the open pod shakily. He was pulled from his avatar quickly so he had no idea if the avatar was even still alive, he could only hold on to the hope that it was.

It started up thanks to Norm as Jake eagerly began lifting himself into the pod, "what's the plan?" Norm had asked watching Jake lift himself up.

Jake shook his head not looking at Norm, "There's no plan" he admitted causing Norm to shake his head, "Tsu'tey is Olo'eyktan now. He's not gonna let you near that place" Norm spoke trying to reason with Jake.

Jake still not looking at him shook his head, "I gotta try" he said before laying in the link pulling everything down as he closed his eye the familiar feeling of being transferred to his avatar filling his head.

Jake awoke in his avatar, he was covered in ash as he let out shakey coughs. He slowly rose taking in his surroundings, from the looks of it the fire that had engulfed Hometree had died down leaving only ash in its surroundings.

He walked around mindlessly looking at the destruction that was brought on by his actions.

Outcast

Betrayer

Alien

I was in the place the eye does not see

He had made his way to a clearing to which he saw the huge gap that hometree once stood at with a sigh he continued walking

I needed there help and they needed mine. But to ever face them again, I was gonna have to take it to a whole new level.

His head turned as he heard the familiar screech of his Ikran, he gave a weak smile as he walked towards the creature.

Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move.

In his head he recalled Ri'lanis' story of Toruk Makto, how he was a beacon of hope for the people and in his mind he viewed it as a way to get back in and get help for Grace.

He rubbed the snout of his ikran before whispering, "there's something we gotta do. You're not gonna like it" with that he slid his braid over his shoulder and connected his queue with his ikrans. They took flight soaring through the sky.

It wasn't hard finding Toruk, he was the big dog of pandoras skies where else would he be but soaring high up?

The way I had it figured, Toruk is the baddest cat in the sky. Nothing attacks him

Jake hovered with his ikran over Toruks figure. His ikran shifted nervously as Jake rubbed its neck comfortingly

So why would he ever look up?

But that was just a theory

With that Jake dived his ikran down before launching himself on the back of Toruk. Toruk let out a loud roar as Jake connected the bond. He let out loud victorious hoots before directing the animal towards the spirit tree.

🦋

Ri'lani, despite losing her role as Tsarkem stood at the center with her mother as she and her led the clan in a prayer song. Her connection to eywa was needed and eased the minds of the grief stricken clan.

She sung quietly her eyes closed as she faced the clan with outstretched hands, her mother behind her as she faced the spirit tree.

The singing was brought to a halt as a large shadow overcasted the clan, her eyes fluttered opened as they widened in shock as Toruk moved to land on the rocks that surrounded the tree.

She walked forward slightly as she saw someone on the back of Toruk, others yelled but she studied the person until a flash of recognition flashed in her eyes.

Toruk landed his wings sending gusts of winds pushing the people back. He stood on his hind legs letting out a mighty rawr before lowering himself to the ground allowing his rider to touch the ground.

Jake walked forward and rubbed the snout of Toruk his eyes held firmly on the figure of Ri'lani as she stared back at him her mouth slightly agape.

Her mother behind her whispered as Neytiri and Tsu'tey stood to the sides of her, "Toruk Macto?"

Jake began making his way through the crowd as the people began touching him their eyes filled with disbelief. Ri'lani began moving forward as well ignoring her head and following her heart this time.

The pair made way to each other as Jake tilted his head at her. She let out a breath before whispering, "I see you" Jake smirked before firmly stating, "I see you"

With that he brought his hands to her forearm, Ri'lani returned the gesture moving her hand to his in response. There hands moved up before Jake was now caressing her cheek, "I'm sorry...I was confused...I'm not anymore..." she whispered at her response he let out a relieved smile before his attention turned to Tsu'tey who still watched him with wonder.

He slowly began walking towards him with his arms held out in surrender, "Tsu'tey, son of Ateyo...I stand before you...ready to serve the omatikaya people" Ri'lani rejoined her mother and sister as she watched the interaction shakily.

"You are Olo'eyktan and you are a great warrior. I can't do this without you" he spoke as he brought his arm down. Tsu'tey eyebrows furrowed as he eyed the man cautiously, his attention turned to roar that came from Toruk, who was stretching his wings in the back. He cleared his thought before walking towards Jake.

"Toruk Macto.." he said before walking forward and placing his hand on his chest, "I will fly with you.."

Jake smiled in gratitude before his expression turned back into one of seriousness, "my friend is dying..." he said before turning to Mo'at, Ri'lani and Neytiri, "Grace is dying... I beg the help of Eywa" he whispered.

Ri'lani stepped forward her eyebrows furrowed in concern as she turned to her mother. With one nod her mother's decision was finale, not even Tsu'tey could change her mind....not that he had any objections to begin with.

AUTHORS NOTE
Long time no see gang,

published: 07/08/2024
Word count:2044
Edited: ❌