#Naline

[eteroutsider]

various sketchez 1) KDP and Varya with small Kika 2) T (he/him butch) 3) JJ (they/he butch) 4) KDP, Ani and Nalin

[guarmommy]

The Summerset Flame

[immren]

modern au immren being evil and twisted just like his bg3 counterpart. his twitch streaming adventures lasts for like 5 months. he gets banned for the last time and gets too bored to try again.

also including the doodles of him i made for the crush meme bc i think he turned out cutesie

[chocolatmieux]

thank goodness - i was almost worried

repaint/study from that one scene from northanger abbey >_>

[pandorafallz]

Lest We Rest Upon Our Graves | C17

“Alma.”

The sound was soft and pleasant and was echoed by a tiny, little disgruntled gurgle of a baby.

Alma jolted awake with a racing heart, her mind was fuzzy and confused before the familiar residential pain in her head made itself known within a few breaths.

“Michael?” Her voice was groggy before she reached swiftly to feel for his side of their bed—only to crack her hand against the wall before pain erupted down to the bone. “Fuck!” She sat up, pulling the splinted arm to her chest as her head spun with fresh white-hot stabbing pain. Alma took shaky breaths as she tried to count to five, then seven before she felt any sort of ground.

So stupid.

She looked around through the beads of tears clouding her vision to see she was… alone still in the module. A shack. Not her bedroom. Bottom bunk bed, not her double bed. Not the pleasant sheets and she was very much alone.

Michael wasn’t there.

Michel was dead.

Alma sucked in a shaky breath. The lingering seconds of what she had heard echoed. A dream lingering in her waking world. Over thirty years…how could she have forgotten? She hadn’t endured these wake-ups until after she had buried him. Them.

Why was his voice back?

The pain simmered down her arm for a while, lingering painfully in four spots along the bone the most. The splint felt tight too. Carefully, Alma tugged the splint off, staring down at the bruise that looked fresh still and she could already see the slight swelling. Damn it. No doubt undone the last week of healing in that stupid…

“Shit….”

She settled her arm to rest against her chest, hobbling out from her bed towards the meds Nalin had set aside for her, left on the desk. For later, really but she needed this now. She downed two pills and drank heavily a cup of water until it ran empty and she slumped back into the desk chair.

Alma’s eyes returned towards her bed and the makeshift nightstand where the box remained. Untouched and unmoved, although she realised the charging cable for her head monitor had become detached.

With her other hand, she quickly checked her head, relaxing to feel the probes hadn’t moved or had been dislodged. She could feel the monitor’s wires between her shoulder blades. Everything was still in place.

Good.

Alma took her time in getting ready for the day, getting dressed, bypassing the shower since she couldn’t get this headset wet and had no one to help put them back on but she soothed her arm with a fresh ice-pack in a sling and spent some time making herself a cup of tea and breakfast which was another ration back of some sort of rice and chewy meat she hoped was chicken or pork.

Her nose wrinkled.

She missed Na’vi food, now that she was thinking about it.

For decades, she had all but choked down ration packs but her memory of food had always been the dishes she had eaten in her avatar. A body that could eat Pandoran foodstuff. She had forgotten how much she missed the simple flavours of hexapede and stuffed mushrooms.

Yesterday, she thought it was nice.

This wasn’t nice.

Bland, boring and preserved.

Not fresh and lacked flavour.

Alma eyed her plate sadly but did her best to swallow it down with a grimace and toss the wrappers into the bin. Of course, she probably would have to have an early dinner and hydrate a lot. No food or fluids after six tonight…or meds. She glowered down at her arm distastefully at that but she could make it work….hopefully.

Soon enough, Alma masked up and made her way out of the module to the lab, the air crisp and cool with fog that made her wish she could breathe it in and relish in it. Instead, it chilled through her clothes a little sadly by the time she got into the open lab and turned on the power and monitor.

The lab kicked back into life and the monitor beeped softly. Alma tapped lightly, sighing in relief to see it was from both the base and from Norm.

She opened up the one from Norm first, dated an hour ago and redirected from base to the monitor.

Alma,

As we informed So’lek, we’ll be at your new base of operations by tomorrow morning. I’ve disclosed our operation plans based on your scans and will expect a medical room to be set up in advance. We’ll need an hour to set up once we’ve arrived to make sure everyone is ready to go, knows what they’re doing and that you’re properly prepped for surgery…

Norm went on quite a bit and she mostly skim-read most of it, mostly about his concerns that the procedure was risky and could lead to her death; she already knew the risks. She could die in surgery. But she knew she’d take her chances; possible death over certain death.

The operation they decided on was the clipping, as they believed that her repetitive and concerning amount of nosebleeds indicated her veins could be too weak to allow a proper and sustained entry into her artery, and the fact the aneurysm wall was far thinner which posed a higher risk of rupture if they attempted to fill it with coils. Norm also noted a concern on how the Pandoran magnetic fields might move the platinum coils as well and they had a titanium clip which wouldn’t be affected by magnetic fields so it was safer long-term.

Which meant she was gonna be out for the count, if she survived, for a while. Still… she had to prepare for that.

Norm also sent an operation plan for her review, but she set that aside for now and turned her attention to her monitor. Best to keep a video log, just in case the surgery fails. Alma didn’t know what she could say but… she had to say something. Anything.

-

“Move it, I’ll need to space ready for tomorrow,” Nalin complained getting the hung-over Jason off the floor and to actually sleep on a bed. The last three hours, since taking up with a mild hang-over had been between getting her own head clear and getting people up and about.

But, work still called for her from the recent message from Norm to get a site prepped in advance to their arrival tomorrow morning. Which she should have seen coming really. Showed how underprepared she truly was. He probably knew she was to even ask in advance too. Still, she had all day to prepare before she met up with Cortez for the funeral.

“If you don’t move, I’ll start banging pots together.” She doily threatened, not certain she’d follow through with her own headache.

“Alright, I’mma going.” Jason rolled sluggishly to his feet and out. It had been the space she and Teylan had been putting together for the medical bay; far more efficient than the loop side they currently had. It was a cave tunnel that finished abruptly and was airtight. The metal panels were put down on the new-level floor now and new writing that Teylan had installed for the lights made for a good enclosed area. Perfect for a private spot.

Still, she’d need to get plastic sheets along the walls and floor for the surgery with an extra level of disinfectant. If Cortez survived the surgery, she’d rather she not die from preventable infections. A cave in the mountains was hardly a sanitary place but they’d make do.

They had to.

“I need more hands to clear out this section. Anyone sober enough to help?”

There were very few to no calls for that, so Nalin huffed and went to get a glass of water to hydrate herself before she could get too frustrated.

The kitchen wasn’t empty, so she stepped over a few people and grabbed a bottle of water though noted Kìoetey was nursing a strong-smelling bowl of soup by the counter, sitting on the floor with it and inhaling the vapours coming off it mostly.

“Have a good night?” Nalin asked, “Got your first hang-over?”

Kìoetey chuckled. “No, but Ri’nela is. I’m just tired. Stayed up late.”

“Well, today is gonna be a quiet day before the party starts up again.”

“Yes, I think Nesim and Minang are going to make an appearance tonight. Anufi, if we’re lucky. They’ve got a lot to talk about.” Kìoetey said, “Etuwa had fun talking with Ri’nela and the Kame’tire elders.”

“That’s great.” It was wonderful to hear about that. The clans are working together…learning. The Sarentu as a whole needed to learn from the Na’vi around them now.

“Are you busy today?” Kìoetey asked, “Or have you got time? It’ll be nice to spend more time together.”

Nalin sighed but nodded. “I wish I could but I’ve got a ton of work to sort out. With Norm and his team coming from the east, I need to set up space for them and get that cave me and Teylan were working on turned into a surgical suite. I…should have done that a while ago but… didn’t.”

“Surgical suite?”

“Yes. Not going to be easy. I need sheets up, disinfectant and I need to recheck inventory and move it into the medical storage bay now.” She had cornered off an off-shoot cave as storage and needed the shelves up for the supplies. That could happen later once some of the guys had taken care of their headache enough to handle a drill.

“Wait, I also need to run a check with the link beds, and make sure they’re working.” Nalin knew they had two link beds installed, one was Cortez’s but now was redundant. Spare now. She didn’t know if there was going to be more than one avatar being put here but it would be wise to have both operational. “Ugh, so much to do…”

Kìoetey took a heavy sip from her bowl. “Can I help? What do you need me to do?”

Nalin paused for a moment. “I need the link beds checked, the SID can probably see if they’re working. If there’s a fault, note it down. I don’t know if the death of Cortez’s avatar could damage the machine but I don’t want to risk anyone else if it did. I’ve got to get the medical storage sorted but I need to inventory that to make sure we have everything ready for tomorrow. I can do that bit. I’ll need you to help put up some plastic sheets along the walls given you’re a little taller than me.”

“That sounds simple. I’ll eat then help.”

“Thank you.” Nalin gave her a grateful look. “Tonight, I want to close off the entire area so no party-goers should go into the suite tonight.”

“You’ll have your hands full, a lot of humans paired off in celebration for a quiet space”

“I wish I could be here to keep it clear.”

Kìoetey cocked her head to the side. “You’re not?”

“No,” Nalin shook her head. “I’m… Cortez asked me to help bury her fiancé and daughter tonight. She’s probably found a spot to bury them out in the woods. I’ll be at the field lab and sleeping over but we’ll be back to meet the eastern resistance in the morning once we’re done.”

“She…asked you to help her?” There was a… strange undertone to her voice, Kìoetey’s eyes inquisitive and careful.

“Cortez has no one else. She refuses to bury them here, which…is fair given the circumstances.” Nalin scratched the back of her head. “Plus, she knows she’s not going out into the woods alone. She’s not that stupid and I… I can work with her. Respect her decision on the matter and… I think she needs someone.”

She couldn’t imagine burying her own child alone, let alone her partner and child. It was going to be hard but Cortez was going about this right away which was more than what she had initially expected from the former leader, even now and this far along. She…honestly expected Cortez to be self-destructive, possibly suicidal and pulling the completely woe-is-me card at any available moment. She hadn’t and long since hadn’t tried. Even now, after what the Sarentu had said to her yesterday.

“Circumstances?” Kìoetey echoed.

Nalin grimaced a little. “Er… A few…humans may have been… using the avatar’s grave as a toilet as petty revenge against Cortez.” In all honesty, Nalin hadn’t actually believed anyone in the resistance would have stooped that low when Cortez first told her. But she had set up a battery-operated camera after that which…had given her all she needed to know that the woman hadn’t lied.

The confusion on the Sarentu’s face morphed into outrage. “What?!”

Nalin winced.

Kìoetey rose to her feet, setting her bowl down on the side. “That’s disgusting!”

“I know.” Nalin agreed, “I’ve already told the guys to stop and leave the grave be.”

“Have they stopped?”

“I… I don’t know. I haven’t checked the cameras I set up in a while.” She had hoped but life had pulled her attention away.

Kìoetey’s jaw tensed a little. “Excuse me.”

Nalin watched as the Sarentu turned and more or less stormed from the kitchen and out. Great. She shouldn’t have mentioned it. Nalin took a few heavy glugs of water and finished the bottle, disposing of it and headed back towards the suite-to-be to get back to work.

The peace didn’t last long, as Kìoetey swiftly returned, dragging the upper arm of Jason, whose’ pants were mid-thigh, dick out and masked up. His other hand trying to both cover his junk and to keep his pants from slipping further and verbally complaining to her to stop and let him pull his pants up. Nalin stared as they passed, a little dumbfounded but decided not to get involved further as Kìoetey was no doubt dragging the guy to Alex to be appropriately punished. The indecent humiliation was clearly not something that seemed too intended but probably just proof to everyone what the guy had been caught doing. She’d probably call that poetic justice for desecrating a grave.

-

Alma was glad that the afternoon was closing in, mostly reading now while she waited for Nalin but she had everything ready on her end to be picked up quickly tomorrow. Work with the smog was done, as much as she could, she’d check in on her work on that tree when she buried her family so she’d probably leave Nalin or Alex a note or two if it needed more help when she was in recovery.

Movement outside the lab pulled her attention from idly reading but… she heard no engines. Her gut tenses before she tensely turns to see… Kìoetey’s Ikran, Amay settled on the grass and the Na’vi herself petted her head as she jumped from her back

Alma’s jaw tensed up, her heart picking up in pace anxiously, her wrist monitor beeping a little with the change of activity. Her arm almost seemed to ache, as a reminder. Why was she here now? After yesterday, she didn’t think the young Sarentu would want to seek her out.

Alma spared a look around, debating that her odds of escaping into the shack were not in her favour… she’d be spotted easily. She was so alone out here. No one else to act as a buffer if she needed it. No one else to help if shit hit the fan again. No one to protect her. She could get hurt again and be alone to handle the aftermath. She had never been alone this small with Kìoetey…or any of the Sarentu.

“Cortez?”

Alma almost flinched, turning back to face the wall. Her uninjured arm tightly grasped the rim of the table to ground herself. It’s fine, she tried to tell herself.

The shift in light, the louder steps echoed and got closer but thankfully, the sounds stopped meters away. In the reflection of the monitor, she could make out Kìoetey’s form coming to a distant crouch.

“Cortez?”

Alma turned her head a fraction around, indicating an acknowledgement of her presence. “I’m... I’m not due back to base till later.”

“I know. I came to see you.” Kìoetey said as matter-of-factly.

Alma frowned, turning to glance at her. “Why?”

Kìoetey sighed deeply. “I found out what’s been happening to your avatar’s grave site. I’m… sorry that people have been doing that to you.”

Alma stared at the Sarentu for a moment before she shook her head, coming to rise out of her chair with a wince. “It’s dead. It doesn’t matter.”

“A grave matters. Doesn’t matter if holds an avatar or not, the principle of the acts does matter.” Kìoetey said, “We’ve dealt with those who are responsible for the sacrilege. No one else will be doing disgusting stuff like that again.”

Alma nodded, swallowing her unease. “Thank you.”

“You can still bury your family with the avatar now, I suppose?” Kìoetey sounded a little hopeful. “Easier to visit them?”

“No.” She shook her head quickly, stopping short as her head spun a sharp pain. She leaned back against her desk, steadying herself with her hand against the desk and closed her eyes, taking a second to clear her head and for the throbbing to return to its background static. “Thank you for telling me but… I’ll stick to what I’ve already arranged.”

Kìoetey stared for a moment but nodded. “Nalin...says that she’ll be here soon. I saw her packing up the Samson when I left. But… I was hoping we could talk?”

Alma’s jaw clenched, fingers tapping across the desk surface. “What is there to talk about, Kìoetey? You’ve already made your stance on me very clear yesterday. I’ve apologised, I don’t know what else I can say or do at this point. I’m damned if I do something or damned if I don’t.”

Kìoetey’s expression turned into a delicate frown. “Ri’nela has made her stance clear and she doesn't speak for me.” Her tone was softly spoken. “She has a lot of anger.”

Alma could already feel the headache start to resurface again as she felt the ebbs of frustration arise. “C-Can we not do this now, please?”

“Cortez…”

“I’m a few hours away from a funeral, Kìoetey. Let me be tonight.” Alma couldn’t help the sharpness in her tone before she felt the flicker of remorse. “Look, I promise we can talk but…later. Tomorrow morning before the Eastern crew get here.”

Kìoetey’s posture tensed up but her jaw clenched in anger. “Stop making promises, Cortez. We’re passed any sort ‘promises’ from you.” She rose to her feet. “You never keep your promises.” Kìoetey turned and strolled back to her Ikran, connecting up with her before she jumped lightly onto her back.

Alma turned away, closing her eyes to breathe away the discomfort in her chest as she heard them take off. Leaving her alone.

-

Alma tried not to think more about Kìoetey but the sound of the Samson’s engines brought a new sense of relief by the time she left the module’s toilet and padded out to see Nalin clambering from the ship, picking up the familiar case and two bags. She leant against the window, offering a wave to Anqa as the pilot began to ascend away.

“Everything okay?” Nalin asked, setting the box down carefully but tossing her bags onto the top bunk.

“Huh, oh.” She looked at her arm. “Banged my arm this morning, I’ll be fine..”

Nalin sighed deeply, “We’ll give it a proper scan tomorrow. How’s the pain level?” Nalin’s hand tugged at the sling, peeking her head into the fabric to examine. “Any swelling?”

“Took the meds this morning. Wearing off but I can’t have any more. I’ve been using ice packs. It’s otherwise back to normal, aside from the pain.”

“Good. You should put the splint back on. The sling isn’t good enough.”

“Later.” She was in no particular mood to dig around for it. Is was… somewhere. “How’s…everything at the base?” Alma asked, “New party and all?”

“Much more reserved and less alcohol but it’s got the vibes as last night.” Nalin chuckled fondly, “The clan leaders were about. I think the Sarentu were getting more involved with them.”

“That’s good.”

Nalin hummed in agreement but straightened up, getting down to business. “Now, I know you’re eager to get to it but… have you read through tomorrow’s schedule?”

“Most of it.”

From her second bag, Nalin pulled out a small black fabric case. “I borrowed this from Jax. I’ve read through their operation plan and they’re planning on accessing through the back of your skull but… I was thinking we cut your hair tonight.” From the case, she pulled out a black and silver hair clipper.

Alma’s eyes widened in alarm. “What? You want to shave my head?!”

“Not your whole head. But you cannot have hair cross the operating areas. We can just shave the hair underneath like an undercut and you’d still have the rest” Nalin said very bluntly, but her tone had some patience to it. “You know this, Alma.”

Alma sucked in a deep breath. Of course, she…knew that but she had forgotten about that detail. It was the last thing on her mind. The idea of…shaving any part of her head was stomach turning but even if they didn’t do it now, the docs would tomorrow. Sure, hair would grow but… still.

It was an uncomfortable notion.

“Later.” Alma decided. “Once we’re back.”

Nalin nodded. “Of course.” She set the clippers onto the module’s desk and pardoned herself to go to the loo.

Alma took that time to prepare for their trip; they were a few hours away before dark, more than enough time but she’d rather not risk them being nocturnal animal prey on their way back. She took her spare, small rucksack, emptying the clothes onto her bed for now and carefully placed her fiancé and daughter's remains into the bag. She also grabbed a mask and filter but opted for a traditional hip filter rather than the back one the resistance typically used. She’d rather not hamper the filter with the bag’s weight on top.

Nalin exited the loo, drying her hands. “So, where are we going?”

-

It was a pleasant walk, despite crossing into the yavä but Alma led the way through, pointing out a few landmarks of what they could study later like the blue-clouded moss on some boulders but she felt both a mixture of the excitement of showing Nalin of where they were going to… the reservation of… saying goodbye.

It made her heart flutter, and her mouth a bit dry when she finally caught sight of the cave’s small crack

“There,” Alma nodded towards it.

Nalin’s head tilted. “It’s a cave?”

“Just wait till you’re inside. It’s…beautiful.” Alma gushed a little. “I… I’ve been down here a few times.”

It was a little hard crawling but Alma made it with a few new scrapes and bruises. Nalin offered her bag first before the doctor squeezed in after her with a wrinkled nose in the tight space.

“Did you choose this because it’s hard to get into?” Nalin sounded a little suspicious.

“Not entirely, but it’s a bonus.” Alma shrugged, making the first steps down to the main cavern. “I.. you know, this is where I was planning to die.” It shouldn’t have sounded so causal as it did, as if she had commented on the weather.

Nalin’s arm abruptly grasped her hand. “Alma!” her tone aghast.

“Relax.” Alma gave her a soft look. “I..I thought that if my condition wasn’t treatable, I’d come here. I’d…never let anyone get my body, not after what they did to my avatar’s grave. I’d rather take my mask off and die on my terms, not my condition.”

Nalin’s face was a little pale. “You’d kill yourself?”

Alma paused a little. “If I had no other options… yes.”

“Alma…” Nalin gave her a reproachful look.

“You don’t need to be worried about me, Nalin. I’ll be fine tomorrow.” Alma assured me, “I think I’m lucky. I’ve got a chance to make things right and the time to do so.” She patted the doctor’s arm,  pulling free to lead her down and into the chamber.

It was… just about as she remembered it.

The sapling at the far side, surrounded by the dais of bark, roots, weaving, the moss and stone, the swirling pool of little fish and the content, warm atmosphere of woodsprites. Walls still decorated with vines, lichen and glowing foliage.

The sapling looked…healthier now, Alma noted with relief. The yellow in the tendrils and on the bark was all but gone, even its glow looked…vigorous. It made her smile fondly as she carried on.

Nalin gasped in surprise then sighed in amazement. “Oh…” as she realised what she was seeing. “Beautiful.”

“You see, I have a hypothesis that one day when the sapling gets bigger, the cave may open up and the rocks above will start to float,” Alma explained excitedly to the doctor. “It’s too small right now to cause a change with the magnetic fields but sites like this grow in intensity as they grow and expand. Tree of Souls, in the Omatikaya territory, must have started similar to be in such a low-level of ground with so many roots.”

“How…did you find it?” Nalin followed her up to the dais, careful with the bag again as she crawled up but remained on her knees staring up to the tree in wonder.

“A…” Alma hesitated, “I kinda followed a woodsprite. Led me to the cave. You see, the yellow remnants on it,” She gestured up to the spots to guide the doctor’s gaze. “I think the tree was sick. I gave it a compost solution last week to give it much-needed minerals to get it’s strength to fight against the infections it has. It…probably needs more but…I’m actually pleased to see it worked so far.”

Nalin stared up at it for a moment, her shoulders relaxing and she let out a heavy sigh. “You know.. this is amazing.”

“A perfect place for Michael and Amanda.” Alma’s excitement fizzled softly out with a new weight returning to her chest. The reminder of why they were here.

Nalin’s face fell softly before she swallowed thickly.

Alma set her bag down properly on the roots, taking a moment to just…bath in the soothing calm the tree seemed to emanate before she pulled out the wooden box and the trowel. Gently, she excavated a hole of soil between some roots, then a second bigger one on the other side to not damage the roots itself. Lest she want to hinder the tree’s struggling growth.

“Avatar first.”

From Nalin’s bag, the doc pulled out the long tube, containing the last little avatar just...floating in her little pod inside. Alma held her hands out for it first, glad that Nalin handed it over without a word.

“Thank you.”

Carefully, Alma switched off the main life support from the tube, opened it up and carefully began to pour the liquid from the tube directly into the grave, the little one sliding straight in woot a fuss as she tilted the tube close to the slight overflow of nutritious water. Within moments, there was no mistake as the tendrils of roots, like light grass-like blades seemed to grow into the water and one strand just about connecting to the pod, no doubt to start absorbing the avatar. She didn’t watch to see but scooped some layers of dirt back over the top, the water being absorbed quickly and the grass seemed to grow over the disturbed surface quickly.

Desperate tree, it seemed.

“<Sorry, little one>” She breathed quietly in Na’vi.

No more avatars.

No more dreaming up a future with something she could never have. It… felt a little bitter on her tongue but… had to be done. No point looking back on it with regret. It was dead now, but serving a better purpose. More than what her other avatar could provide.

Nalin patted her elbow, a small sigh of support.

“When I brought these back from TAP Con-1, I saw the avatars as a sign of hope. Familiarity. Something to reclaim when the time was right. A…new future. I…I think I was just fooling myself. No one would ever let me grow another avatar.” Her mouth felt dry as she spoke. “Someone else would have killed it. I probably would follow.”

“Alma…”

“Everyone has their limits. I’d rather kill it than let anyone else do it to me again. Having hope and getting it snatched away is worse than not having hope.” She touched the grassy top fondly. “Now, it’s on my terms. My way. I can live with that.”

Nalin sighed. “I’m sorry it came to this, Alma.”

“I know I don’t deserve them. Nor… wasn’t wrong to take it away but… I just wish he hadn’t killed me to do it.” Alma shook her head, grunting with the sharp pain the motion brought, her eyes singing in the torchlight a little as she lent for her box but… she found herself just…holding it.

This was it.

Alma stared down but… thankfully Nalin’s hands came into her view, coming to lift it and guided it to the edge of the second grave.

“In the box or out?” Nalin’s voice was soft.

Alma blinked. “O-Out…please.”

The string holding the box together was unknotted and pushed to the lid edge before she dug her nails into the wax and pulled the lid open relatively easily. Alma found herself watching for a moment but found the strength to hold the lid back and gently pour them away into their final resting place.

Her heart ached as she watched the last few dregs of bone and ash left and joined the rest. Not so fast but there was some growth of the grassy tendrils began to grow a little over the top. She swept the soil over the top of the grey mass and let out a shuddering breath.

For a while, she stared at the upturned soil again of her family’s grave, her heart still panging but she felt…more at ease now with seeing them both in a decent place. Even a woodsprite seemed to land briefly onto the soil. A few were more about, dancing on top of the soil.

It was odd to think of her daughter as…bones now. In all honesty, her…memory of holding her daughter’s body was fragmented. It…was all hazy behind fever, sweat and blood amongst the grief that came with it.

The cavern seemed to seep away as distant, painful memory seemed to surface…

Alma’s hand clutched at her pregnant belly, her legs shaking with each step as she stepped through the base toward the medical, using the wall to keep her supported as she went but it was all quiet. Her heart thundered in her chest, her body slick with sweat as she felt the hot and cold chills come and go. Pains echoed through her abdomen, her oesophagus was burning a little with each breath and worst of all, she hadn’t felt more movement since her daughter rolled transverse which was already uncomfortable.

Her daughter hadn’t moved for a while. Then the pains had started, stirring her from her uneasy sleep. There was blood too down there which got her moving. Something was wrong. She couldn’t ignore this. She couldn’t lose her too. Not lose what little Michael had left behind. Not his child too.

Her jaw was tight as she struggled onward.

“Dr Cortez?!” the concerned voice of her fellow scientist was a relief as he seemed to appear from a late-night shift.

“G- Get me to medical!” Alma demanded, groaning as another sharp pain radiated through her abdomen.

“H-have you gone into labour?” His hand was large, grasping her arm and pulling her away from the wall to start walking faster.

“N-no. Something’s wrong. Hurts…” She gasped out between clenching teeth.

“Shit….” He didn’t ask but leaned down and picked her up bridal style, the pace picking up fast…

Next thing she knew, she was being set down on a medical bed, a few nurses coming around her with the night doctor, her nightshirt pulled up and gel being administered to the bump as another took her temperature and checked her other vitals.

Alma groaned again, feeling the probe press the icy gel into her skin.

“I’m… I’m not picking up a heartbeat.” The doctor said, her softly and empathetically.

“…what?” Alma croaked, her head turning to face her. “No… no, try again.”

The doctor ran the scanner back, tilting the screen to better look at the ultrasound but there was no sound playing but a distant thumping but…not the loud, fast fetal beat she wanted to hear.

“Alma, I’m so sorry but there’s no heartbeat or movement.”

Alma felt the heat prickle at her eyes. “No… no.”

“The baby’s turned transverse, she’s not head down. We need to try and roll her before we can induce labour for the DNC.” The doctor said, more clinically to the nurses.

“What about the umbilical cord?”

The doctor turned back to the screen, shifting the probe. “Checki—oh no. The fetus’s feet is wrapped up close to the placenta… if we shift the baby too much, we risk tearing at the placenta.”

“What about a C-section?”

“I’d rather use that as a last resort...but it looks like she’s showing signs of labour already. We can’t let it progress like this or the internal bleeding will be catastrophic if the placenta detaches.”

“No… she’s fine.” Alma shook her head, shivering but groaned again as a wash of pain tightened around her belly. “Fuck!”

Words of concern seemed to wash away as one of the nurses gave her a shot.

“Alma?” Nalin’s voice was softly spoken in the vast cave, pulling her from the depth of her memory. One of the vivid ones she had.

Alma realised she was crying, the tears hot down her cheeks but she couldn’t do anything about it just yet. Nalin’s hand was warm. Solid. She concentrated on that.

“I didn’t want to believe that she was dead.” Alma whispered, “Didn’t want them to remove her…I knew something was wrong and I couldn’t stop it but… I thought I could keep her safe still if she stayed inside.”

Nalin’s fingers tightened. “That’s a normal reaction, Alma.”

“Two more weeks and she could have been with me. Alive.” Her throat felt too thick. “Despite Michael’s death…I tried to be so good to not lose her too. Couldn’t even do that.”

“Her death is not your fault, Alma.”

Rationally, Alma knew that. It wasn’t but… the guilt never did go away. “One day, I’ll properly believe that.” Not today. Not now.

Nalin said nothing, but Alma didn’t expect her to say anything as she craned her head to look up at the sapling and the few woodsprites and let out a shaky breath. She blinked as one touched the font of her mask, twirling in a soothing pattern… then it seemed to almost double...like there were two.

“We… we should head back soon before it gets dark.” Nalin sounded a little apologetic to mention it.

“...yeah.”

-

Nalin watched as Cortez stared a little listless at the tree.  The woodsprites seemed to float about more, twirling a little but she knew to give her some time. Nalin collected up the empty tube and set it into her bag again.

She debated about the wooden box for a moment but opted to leave it for now; the wood would decompose. Jin probably expected them to have buried it after all. She let Alma have a few more minutes before she touched the doctor’s shoulder.

“Come, let's go home.” She encouraged softly to the former resistance leader. They had time to make up.

Sluggishly, she rose to her feet but Nalin frowned at the odd look suddenly crossing Cortez’s face.

“Nalin…” her voice seemed to slur as she spoke, “I… I don’t feel so good…” It was like a switch flipping as suddenly, one side of Alma’s face seemed to droop “…head..hurttss…” Then she abruptly slumped forward and Nalin tried to catch her.

“Alma?!”

Masterlist

[nofatclips]

Memory Rental Store, a short film by Kim Jaeyeong, Surya Kalyan, Kyung-In Kim, Shruti Lal, Jiaxin Li

[strawberry-nia]

and this is lupe's future husband, even if she doesn't know it yet. meet nalin

[philoursmars]

Marseille, le MuCEM et sa nouvelle collection permanente (à mes yeux, bien plus intéressante et mieux présentée que la précédente...)

Il y aura un nombre important de billets !!!

socques "nalin" ou "qabqab" en nacre, cuir, fils d'or - Algérie ottomane, XIXe s.

sonnette de table en nacre, noix de coco,… - France, fin XIX, début XXe s.

fibules "tabzimt", bracelet, collier, en corail, argent - Kabylie, 1900

les 3 dernières : sonnettes de table en nacre, noix de coco,… - France, fin XIXe s., début XXe s.

[paper-cup-phone]

thinking I will really lean into the Jin Wim couple for about half of the next chapter.

Also considered doing more with Tee/Nalin TBNW barely mentions they are a couple but I love my GL pairs.

[senig-fandom]

Como aquí va todo lo relacionado al fandom, lo publicare aquí XD

Cualquier cosa que sea mínimamente relacionado a un fandom, de todos modos lo reblogeare en mi otra cuenta XD

Pues si, mi época de pokemon tuvo mucha influencia en mi que me hizo crear mi propia region pokemon. 

Historia algo larga XD

Les presento mas o menos a Pokemon Madera y Metal, en la historia se relacionaba algo a un pokemon que fuera el pasado y el futuro de los humanos, aunque ambos lados del pokemon era el mismo ser, su apariencia cambiaba corrompiéndolo tanto su pasado el como su futuro el, ya que la humanidad y los propios pokemon, ya no buscaban la paz entre ambos bandos, dejando al guardián de estos dos corromperse.

En esta historia nos ponemos en los zapatos de Evanz o Evely, dos jóvenes de 17 años que fueron aceptados por la profesora lilyana para su investigación, junto a otros tres estudiantes de tu misma edad, Jonathan el frio, Max el amable y Horolay la tímida.

La profesora le hace entrega a los 4 un pokemon de su elección, y al ser tu el primero en llegar la profesora te da la oportunidad de ser tu el que elija primero. Elegirás a 4 pokemon, un pokemon de planta, un pokemon fuego, un pokemon agua y un pokemon tierra, quien será tu primer compañero.

Cuando elijes, tu y tus nuevos compañeros se retan para una batalla pokemon, en el que te enfrentaras a la astucia de cada uno, y tras terminar, la profesora les enseña la pokedex y el como atrapar un pokemon. Tras terminar regresa a casa y te despides de tu madre quien te da tu nuevo guardarropa para tu salida.

Ya cuando vas de salida del pueblo, la profesora te detiene y te cuenta el trabajo que quiere que hagamos, el cual es la extracción de unos minerales que están en ciertos lugares de la region de cascada, lo cual por eso da un pokemon, porque se dice que cerca de esos minerales extraños los protegen ciertos pokemons que están corrompidos y que anhelan su poder, eso y que se escucha en los alrededores que existe una organización que ha echo de las suyas extrayendo y a convertido a sus pokemons en criaturas horribles usando las piedras.

Y en tu trascurso, intentando llegar al segundo pueblo, te encuentras con tu padre, el campeón de la region, quien quería verte antes de que partieras pero que no logro llegar, por lo cual te busco de ida al siguiente pueblo, el cual te cuenta que si deseas participar en la recolecta de medallas de la region, el cual le daría pase a ti en enfrentarte al alto mando y a el, lo cual aceptas, y tu padre te advierte que los lideres no son una broma, no cualquier puede llegar al ultimo nivel, y que por eso el sigue siendo un campeón, que si el deseara ya le hubiera dado el puesto a alguien mas, con eso se despide y te vas a con la idea de enfrentarte a los lideres de gimnasio.

los lideres son los siguientes,

Nuriel- Líder de gimnasio tipo fuego, con la medalla Termal.

Thomas- Líder de gimnasio tipo eléctrico, con la medalla Energía.

Iclyn- Líder de gimnasio tipo hielo, con la medalla Montaña.

Nalin- Líder de gimnasio tipo planta, con la medalla Nacimiento.

Atma- Líder de gimnasio tipo alma, con la medalla Espíritu.

Keres- Líder de gimnasio tipo Fantasma, con la medalla Cambio.

Mafalda- Líder de gimnasio tipo Acero, con la medalla Joya.

Jingyi y Kazue-  Líderes de gimnasio tipo dragón, con la medalla Equipo. 

____________________________

Hasta aqui lo dejo, porque tengo muchas ideas y es mas bien como para hacerlo historia XD pero es mucho y ya tengo muchas cosas en la cabeza XD

Espero y les guste VwV o por lo menos les llame la atención 

[eteroutsider]

the question still stands: can kitty boys, kitty girls and doggy girls hold hands together?

[guarmommy]

Caged Bird

[immren]

i’m so obsessed with this durge modern au that i’m telling ppl abt my friends ocs as if they’re canon characters

[chocolatmieux]

no one loved her thats why she has to eat people

[pandorafallz]

Lest We Rest Upon Our Graves | C18

Nalin caught Alma, guiding her swiftly down to the root floor, her heart hammering in her chest as adjusted her to lie on her back. She pulled away Alma’s turquoise neck scarf that pulled tight from being caught in the tubes as she began to convulse—an arm almost tanging in her mask wires— her eyes rolling back into her skull.

“Alma? Alma? Can you hear me?!” Nalin tried, trying to support Alma’s head through the seizure and also trying to hold the mask in place but the seizure didn’t last more than a few seconds before her ridges form loosened up and fell flaccid against the roots.

“Alma.”

There was no response, Alma’s breath was rasped and shallow and she could see no signs of her being conscious, even as she tried to pat the side of her face the best she could with the mask but there was no response to her touch. It wasn’t uncommon for strokes to cause unconsciousness, not just facial paralysis but her gut told her this was not just a stroke.

A stroke was a side effect if the aneurysm had ruptured.

Nalin didn’t have her tablet with her to check or be sure. A tablet she could have used to call for help. She didn’t even have her medical kit or anything. Nothing to help, even with Alma’s DNR, she would have tried something.

Instead, she was helpless. Utterly helpless to stop this from progressing further into the haemorrhage with where they were too. There was no way she could drag her away back, Alma was too heavy and too delicate, nor could she run back to the shack and get her tools…or help; she didn’t have the time. Alma would be long dead. All Nalin could do was make sure she didn’t leave alone to die. No one deserved to die alone, not even Cortez.

Alma’s face was pale with a sheen of sweat, rolled off to the side, eyes closed behind her mouth, mouth slightly ajar through her breaths. Her left arm was resting over her stomach, her right bent up towards her head but… it seemed the tree wasn’t going to wait for her to pass to start growing more grassy tendrils around Alma’s struggling form.

“Leave her alone…” Nalin whispered, watching as the green, grassy tendrils began to grow around Alma’s frame, curling over her arms and legs, like a tight shroud. The grass weaved around her neck, into her hair. A few Woodsprites seemed to dance happily, swirling and dropping down onto her form.

But the sounds of Alma’s rasped breath came to an abrupt end within a few minutes after the seizure ended, leaving a dead silence in her wake.

And a pit in her stomach.

“Alma…” Nalin’s hands shook as she moved her hand from supporting Alma’s head, pressing her fingertips into her throat, trying to feel past the grass but… she didn’t feel any pulse of life on the clammy skin.  “No… no, we had a plan, Alma.” She knew it was stupid to keep talking and that it was futile but she wasn’t wrong. “We had a plan,” Nalin whispered.

One more night, then she would have been fine. One more night. Twelve hours, even, if that. She wasn’t supposed to suddenly drop dead. They had a plan. She shouldn’t have just…died. Not like this.

Nalin’s head span as she tried to take deep breaths, not quite sure herself as she reached forward and pulled off Alma’s mask; a part of her expecting the woman to jolt and choke for breath but there was no response, even to that.

“No…”

The green seemed to continue with enveloping Alma’s body, tight enough to show the imprints of her clothes… the shape of her hands…even the sleeping expression on her face. She couldn’t try and drag her body out, even if she tried.

Her legs were weak, not letting go of the mask as she rose to her feet. She felt a sick sense of nausea at the sudden turn of events…the unexpected turn of events. Her heart thumped too fast in her chest, her hands shook as the reality of the body in front of her began to really sink in.

Alma was dead.

No one else knew that.

“I’m…I’m sorry, Alma…” her voice barely a whisper “I…I have to go.” The cave felt too much. Like it was going to close in on her too. Nalin turned and almost ran from the cave, just about grabbing the bag she had on the way; she couldn’t stay there.

-

Nalin wanted to think it was goddamn luck she had made it back to the shacks in one piece and alive but she had no idea how to retrace her steps back to the cave if her life depended on it. Her memory was gapped and she didn’t even try to recall what she passed; her mind on the matter that Alma was fucking dead.

A loop going on in her head because it had happened so suddenly. Unexpectedly.

Nalin threw herself into the airlock, wrenching off her mask and dove straight to the toilets, in good time to vomit straight into it.

Her breath became ragged, her eyes pricking with tears at the motion it gave. “Fuck.” Nalin didn’t swear if she could help it. But she had no other words to describe… this evening. The funeral wasn’t meant for Alma… only her fiancé and daughter. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. She couldn’t even do the decent thing and bury the goddamn woman’s body; that tree was certainly going to absorb her instead, she was no botanist but if the tree had been sick and desperate for minerals, a human body was a fantastic fertiliser.

How was she going to tell someone? Anyone?

“Shit….” Norm Spellman and this team…. They were expecting her alive tomorrow for the surgery.

Nalin grabbed some tissue, cleaned her mouth and flushed the toilet. Her stomach turned again as she realised she was still holding onto Alma’s mask. By the tubing, nonetheless and the filter box was scraping along the floor.

Alma didn’t need a mask anymore.

Nalin stumbled from the toilets, numbly setting the redundant mask onto the desk by the shears, her stomach tensing as she remembered why they had it. They didn’t need it anymore either.

Everything was set up around her, ready for their return. Nalin hadn’t even unpacked herself. She was only supposed to be here one night and she had prepared for that. Everything else was at the base.

But she had to let someone know.

Nalin took a few deep breaths to pull herself together. Yes, she was alone but someone at the base could come down and—wait, she withdrew a moment. Tonight, the party was still on. The moment she told someone, the news would spread like wildfire. Either it’d kill the vibe or… some would celebrate.

Nalin sunk down to the monitor slowly as she felt the weight of mental gymnastics of what she had to do. Could the news wait until morning? Was it right to wait or to raise the alarms about it?

‘I’d never let anyone get my body.’

Alma’s words echoed in her mind. It held a lot to unpack. She never wanted people to find her, meaning, if she had believed her death was immediate and untreatable, she was going to disappear without telling anyone.

The matter of today was a little grim on the matter that… she wasn’t expecting to die today. Well, no one was really about their deaths. Alma thought she was going to be fine. She thought that she would have a future.

She only had twelve hours to go to be fine.

Perhaps Alma wasn’t… or wouldn’t be upset if she didn’t call up the base about it? Norm, however, she felt obliged to. They were only on their way here to help Alma first, then the resistance.

Her fingers tapped along the keyboard, bypassing the base and hit the emergency line for Norm’s people.

It beeped seven times before a groggy face of Max appeared on the screen, leaning over from what looked like a tablet. She couldn’t see much of the background but assumed it was a sealed tent of sorts they picked up on some quiet patch of land.

“Dr Laine?” Max sounded confused, pushing his glasses up his nose. “What’s happened?”

Nalin gaped for a moment, her mind flat-out stalling for a moment. “I….” she found her breath shaking, her eyes stinging with hot tears.

Max leaned forward in concern. “Nalin, are you okay?”

Nalin shook her head. “She…. Alma… Alma’s dead.”  She got out, the words sounding very broken up. It made it all too real again. “I… I couldn’t help her. We didn’t… I couldn’t…”

“Shit…” Max’s eyes closed but nodded once in acknowledgement. “Are you… able to tell me what happened? Or would you rather wait until we get there?”

Nalin just stared for a moment. “I think the aneurysm ruptured… she was fine one second, got to her feet to come back to the station with me but then… half her face dropped like she had a stroke and-and collapsed. Sh-she stopped breathing about… five minutes after the seizure stopped.” She honestly couldn’t think where the monitor tablet was right now.

“She’s not at the station?”

Nalin shook her head. “No. We… we went to bury her late fiancé and daughter in this…cave in the wilderness. I didn’t… I didn’t bring anything. I couldn’t…bring her back either. I had to leave her behind. I think that the cave had is tree eating her.”

Max looked a little perplexed at the last bit but decided not to poke that topic. “Will you be able to lead us to her tomorrow?”

“No… I freaked out. I don’t remember how I got back. Alma knew the way. I just followed.”

“Okay.” Max ran his hand down his greying beard. “Are you safe, Nalin? Do you need someone to pick you up?”

“Everyone is partying right now…. I don’t think Alma would have wanted me to raise the alarm so publically. Can… can you pick me up tomorrow? I don’t think I can face everyone tomorrow on my own.”

“Of course.  We’re not too far away now but it’s unsafe to fly at night. We’re an hour away from the upper plains and three from the clouded forest. We’ll make headway early. Let the pilot due to pick you up know in advance, okay?”

“Okay.” Nalin had forgotten about that. She knew Anqa was expecting Alma as well and probably would have asked a lot of questions. More than she was willing to tell at the moment.

“I’ll let the rest of my people know. After we hang up, go make yourself a warm drink and drink it. Try to sleep if you can.”

Nalin nodded, reaching forward to close the line but before she could, Max spoke again.

“Nalin, you couldn’t have possibly known what would have happened. It wasn’t your fault.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t even try as hard as I could have. I had nothing.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Max” Nalin closed the line, letting out a shaky breath.

-

Kìoetey sat quietly as the party continued on, settled out in the Na’vi side of things with a cool glass of squashed Pandoran fruits mixed with Kava. She had more fruit than alcohol but it seemed that Teylan had no idea how strong Na’vi booze was until he was passed out and lying in a quiet corner to sleep it off. Alex, being the first to notice had wedged a pillow behind the young man’s neck and kept it at an odd angle that didn’t look comfortable. When asked, Alex simply stated it was to stop him from choking if he was to vomit. Ri’nela had since draped a blanket over his form since.

It seemed Ri’nela was also drinking far lighter tonight as well. Understandable given the hang-over she had this morning. As it turned out, when actively drinking, Na’vi didn’t metabolise human alcohol as fast as humans did and it got them drunk faster. However, they’d recover quicker once they were either asleep or drinking water. Ri’nela was most likely only drinking fruit juice.

Her attention turned from her quiet observation to see Nesim finally arrive, her eye watching over the faces. Kìoetey gave her a welcoming wave when she was spotted so the Olo’eyktan made her way over.

“<I see you, Sarentu>” Nesim greeted, “<not much of a party.>” Her tone was a little put-down as she eyed the place.

Kìoetey chuckled softly, “<Most of us are still recovering from last night’s party. They’re taking tonight a little lighter but it’s leading to a good bonding between the clans.>” She noted, nodding to an Aranahe and Zeswa who looked to be comparing weaving patterns. “<There is a cave sectioned off for Dance-fighting for anyone interested. I’ve seen a few Kame’tire come out with a few bumps and scrapes.>”

Nesim let out a bounteous laugh. “<I am pleased to hear it.>”

“<I’m happy to see you here.  I wasn’t sure you’d come again.>”

Nesim nodded once. “<I’ve come with more to discuss with the clans, now that we’re allies. We’re hopefully years away from another path with the sky people but that is not a conversation for now. Now is the time for celebration and communion>”

Kìoetey led the way through the cave and stepped over Teylan to find Ka’nat talking with Anufi over a bowl of fruits, the scent Kava strong in the air and it seemed Anufi looked a little tipsy with how her tail swayed but holding her conversation well with their fellow clan leader. Both still have cups of Kava in their hands.

Nesim did notice as well from the soft pull of a smirk but didn’t make a comment as she strode forwards, offering each their respective greeting.

“<Anufi, Ka’nat, now that you’re here, I would like to propose we think about the next steps of our future together.>” Nesim started, going straight to business “<With our victory in battle, the return of the Sarentu and the welcoming of the Kame’tire, we should renew our Great Games of old.>”

Anufi’s head tilted curiously. “<The Games.>”

“<Splendid idea.>” Ka’nat noted, “<I have heard my people reminisce on such a possibility when your people joined the fight against the Sky people.>”

“<It will take time to organise but my clan will be open for new connections. We need to nurture and grow them again.>” Anufi said, pausing to take a sip of her kava.

“<We can start with the planning but for now I am pleased to hear your agreements. The Zarku are growing restless. I suspect we’ll be migrating soon so the games will have to wait until they have found fresh soil.>” Nesim continued.

“<Then we shall prepare and await. Our clans will need their practice, won’t they?>” Anufi added, her eyes flicking mostly to Ka’nat in a quiet offer of jest.

Ka’nat covered his amusement by taking a heavy gulp of Kava.

“<I’d love for the Sarentu to participate, despite our low numbers.>” Kìoetey spoke, “< I’d like to see and experience the event>”

“<You are of course welcome,>,” Nesim said, “<It is not about numbers but about skill, Sarentu.>”

“<What sort of games are part of it? I’ve only ever heard bits and pieces from passing conversations.>” She inquired, eager to know.

Nesim was very knowledgeable on the matter, of course and happily went on about the games; strength, archery, Direhorse riding, Ikran riding and more. Kìoetey did realise this was the Na’vi version of the Olympics, but she didn’t mention it but the concept was the same but on a smaller scale. It was more about the fun and the competition, not strictly on the outcome or winners. Since their clan’s death and the withdrawal of the Kame’tire, the game has apparently stopped; it wasn’t as fun with just two clans. The spirit of the games had gone.

It was pleasing to hear the revival for it. Kìoetey couldn’t deny, she was looking forwards to partaking when they were able to. They had time and they still had to think about her own clan’s growth and revival.

Kìoetey left the leaders in search of some food, her stomach grumbling so she went to the fire where one of the elders tending it offered her a Niktsyey.

“<Thank you,>” She offered back and took a seat a little further away to eat but she wasn’t alone. Minang seemed to appear from nowhere with a Niktsyey but also…

“<Who gave you chocolate?>” Kìoetey couldn’t help but chuckle.

“<A human, pale with no hair on his head and ink upon his skin.” Minang looked a little sceptical about it.

“<Ah, Louis>” she recognised the description with ease. It made her smile a little. “<it is not unpleasant, it tastes better than its appearance and smell. It’s a rare delicacy in their world as the plants used for the ingredients are nearly gone.>”

“<This was once a plant?” Minang held up the bar, again, very sceptically. “<It feels like a light stone block.>”

“<It’s a bean and milk-based sweet treat.>” Kìoetey explained, “<I was taught about it in the school we were raised in. Has he been handing them out to a lot of Na’vi?>” She frowned softly.

“<I do not know.>” Minang set the packet down and began to eat her Niktsyey.

“<Only have three blocks at a time. It isn’t poison to Na’vi but too much can cause drunken behaviour, a dry mouth and an irritable bowel. The bean element in the chocolate reacts to our gut like fermenting fruits>” Kìoetey explained, making a note to find Louis quickly once she was done eating. She’d rather not have him hand it out and be accused of harm where the intent was clearly not.

Minang eyed the packet again then put the bar into the shelving unit behind them and turned back without another word or a glance.

Kìoetey grinned and got back to eating in relative peace. Shortly joined by Ri’nela who offered them both a bowl of juice and joined them.

“<So’lek is having fun putting the Zeswa on their back.>” Ri’nela grinned. “<I think he’s partaken in a lot of Kava and Zangke. I don’t think they mix well>”

“<He is winning?>”

“<So it seems.>” Ri’nela chuckled, “<it is nice to see him in enjoyable combat than brooding in the corner.>”

“<I’m glad.>” Kìoetey really was. She’d have to seek him out and watch him so free, even if it was a for a single evening. Yesterday, he had been far more tense and worried. Worried they’d no doubt be attacked in their celebration. Tonight was a good night.

“<How has your clan healed since the end of the battle?>” Ri’nela asked, turning her attention to the present Tsahìk with interest.

“<Much better since we put down the butcherer. The child Harding attempted to maim has also seen recovery from the surprise and has taken a warrior’s path with new vigour. He does not wish anyone to be taken surprised by sky people.>” Minang explained though her expression changed, as if remembering something. Her eyes flickered around, a little more curiously. “<There is a matter I do need to discuss with you. I was waiting for a better time but since today is about our celebrations and new allies, now is an option?>”

“<We’re open to your discussion.>” Ri’nela stated politely.

Minang finished her food quickly, so Kìoetey took the time to finish as well to allow the Tsahìk to think about what she wanted to say. It was clearly important to her and the fact she felt the need to say something sooner as opposed to later indicated some level of importance, perhaps urgency.

“<Since the return of your people, it has given fresh hope along the Zeswa for new stories and adventure. A few Zeswa were born from Sarentu who joined us and became part of our clan. A few of their descendants are…considering coming to you and ask a place among your clan. To honour their ancestor and wish to aid the Sarentu clan.>” Minang started, “<it is not uncommon for Sarentu or Na’vi to leave their clan and join others, nor the other way around but feel no pressure from my statement.>”

“<Zeswa people would…like to join our clan?>” Ri’nela blinked in surprise.

“<I don’t think it is just Zeswa. Sarentu came and went from all clans, Aranahe and Kame’tire also have ancestors of Sarentu from visits before their last. I do not see a reason to wait to inform you of the possibilities.>”

Which sounded very on-brand for the Zeswa. So’lek always said they don’t like waiting for others. This wasn’t any different really.

“<How many of your clan are interested?>” Ri’nela asked, more seriously now.

“<So far, only two have come to me about the possibility. Niwin and Noka'pe. I feel they wanted assurance that they would not be judged for desiring to leave. If they do, there may be a possibility others will follow. You must be prepared to know.”

Kìoetey shared a glance with Ri’nela and nodded softly. “<We will need time to discuss this together and with Teylan once he’s both awake and sober. I considered the idea of people joining our clan but didn’t think much more as of the moment.” Two new people would certainly help. They still have a lot to learn and reclaim from the Tarsyu plants and no doubt new people would need to study their ways as well. But what options did they have right now? They desperately needed people just as much as tradition.

Minang nodded, pleased. “<Do not rush to accept or decline but listen to both your hearts and to Eywa.>”

-

Minang left soon after to find her sister which left herself and Ri’nela alone to mull on the possibilities this news presented.  Kìoetey knew they had to think on it entirely, medicate and connect to Eywa to settle the decision. She knew people wanting to join was very different to wanting to stay Sarentu, so it had to be a careful process that didn’t wash Na’vi out or change their hearts when they needed them the most.

They weren’t yet ready to travel independently, that was certain, but the closeness of all the clans now, with the resistance made it easier for connections to not need to yet travel between clans or to return the tradition of a Sarentu moot. It would take years before then and Kìoetey knew Moots would resurface but not in her generation; they didn’t need the fear of being abused and their children stolen again.

The idea of a Sarentu moot almost made her skin crawl, as much as it shouldn’t. Maybe one day. When her children were grown and had babies on their hips, laughter in their eyes, and backup options to escape any future possibilities of the massacre happening again. Sarentu were peaceful and reluctant fighters. Perhaps they needed that again but they had to always have options now.

They were almost extinct once.

Not again.

Never again.

“Anqa, I thought you weren’t drinking tonight?” Priya’s voice asked, distantly.

“I got good news. Nalin radioed and said the East group are picking them up tomorrow instead, They’ll be bright and early, and so, I can drink and sleep in in the morning.” Anqa said happily, passing them by with a large glass bottle of amber liquid, most likely whisky.

“Where’d you get that?” Priya sounded excited.

“Some guy really wanted some porn vids I found and I wanted his whiskey. Easy trade.” The pilot’s voice faded out as they got further away.

Kìoetey snorted softly though she found herself scowling a little. “Great.”

“What?”

Kìoetey sighed deeply, coming to sit down rather than crouch and leant on her back arm. “Cortez said she was gonna come talk to me before the east crew arrived.”

“You still can.” Ri’nela sounded a little confused at her attitude so Kìoetey took a deep breath.

“I…went to talk to her earlier. After I found out what people were doing to the avatar’s grave.” Kìoetey explained, noting the curl of disgust on Ri’nela’s face at the reminder, “It… She didn’t want to talk to me then. She was going to be burying her family’s ashes which I understood but… I did overreact.”

“On what?”

“She said she ‘promised to talk to me’ tomorrow,” Kìoetey explained, scratching a soft itch behind her ear. “That phrase just...made me angry. I didn’t expect to be annoyed by her ‘promise’ but… I was. I told her to stop making promises to us and that she never keeps them.”

Ri’nela nodded in soft understanding. “If she had said that to me, I would have been far harsher in my response. Her promises have always been made of ash. Worthless.”

Kìoetey sighed deeply. “I do want to move on and I feel good enough to start talking to her about it. I’m not ready to forgive but…I need new foundations with her. We still have to work with her. We can only start that by talking to her.”

Ri’nela sighed, a little less interested. “She has to prove herself with an effort to keep her promises. If she fails then I will be happy to no longer welcome any further attempts by her. We do not need her to build our clan. I will not allow her words and failures to hurt you or Teylan.”

“I appreciate your concern. I guess tomorrow we’ll have to see.”

After all, tomorrow was going to be a quiet but busy day. With the East resistance coming, it’ll be interesting to see how their resistance here was going to adapt. She heard from So’lek that they were bringing and leaving behind a Dreamwalker and driver here to help which was certainly going to be interesting.

Masterlist

[nofatclips]

Childeric, les nerfs de la guerre, a short film by Lou Dhelens, Emma Guyot Dlh, Céline Korno, Juliette A. Laurent, Louise Petit, Lucie Tantot