Breathing new life, flying high

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𝔸𝕊 the day waned in Pandora, Neytan and Arya found themselves in the home tree, surrounded by their fellow Na'vi. Meanwhile, Jake was engrossed in lessons with his tutor. Arya's gaze fixed upon a skull display of a Toruk, and she delicately touched its sharp teeth. "Our guys call it a Great Leonopteryx," she remarked, withdrawing her hand.

Neytan, standing behind her, corrected her, "It is Toruk. Last Shadow." Arya countered with a smirk, "Yeah, right. It's the last one you ever see." Walking to the side of the skull, she looked up at it. Neytan joined her, sitting beside her. "My grandfather's grandfather was Toruk Makto," Neytan revealed, capturing Arya's attention. "Rider of Last Shadow." Arya stared at him in disbelief, "He rode this?" Neytan nodded, explaining, "Toruk chose him. It has only happened five times since the time of the First Song."

"That's a long time," Arya remarked, to which Neytan agreed, "Yes. Toruk Makto was mighty. He brought the clans together in a time of great sorrow. All Na'vi people know the story." Arya looked at the Toruk skull in awe, absorbing the weight of the ancient tale.

Arya woke up, opening her eyes as she lay in the unit.

Everything is backwards now. Like out there is the true world and in here is the dream.

Arya got out of the unit and attached her prosthetic leg. She glanced at her stump, sighing, before making her way to the video log. Turning it on, she began speaking, "It's hard to believe it's been three months. I can barely remember my old life. I don't know who I am anymore." She rubbed her eyes and sniffed, tears welling up as she expressed her emotions.

As Grace entered the lab, Arya spotted Jake putting shaving cream on to shave in the mirror. She couldn't help but smile, "It's about time, you were starting to look like a caveman." Jake rolled his eyes in response and proceeded to shave. Arya took a seat next to Grace at the table, joining the moment with a hint of playful banter.

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Arya and Jake found themselves back at HQ, seated on a bench as the sole occupants eagerly awaiting the Colonel's arrival. The passing time since their last report about the ongoing task had heightened Arya's uncertainty in trusting him. Despite her growing attachment to Pandora and its inhabitants, she realized the importance of reporting for Jake to regain his legs. The weight of her responsibility to continue the avatar drive compelled her to exhaustively keep the Colonel informed.

"Haven't gotten lost in the woods, have you?" the Colonel queried upon entering, pulling out a chair and sitting down, facing the duo. Arya shook her head, prompting the Colonel to remark, "Your last report was more than two weeks ago. I'm starting to doubt your resolve! The way I see it, it's time to terminate the mission."

The sudden proposal caught both Jake's and Arya's attention. "No, we can do this," Jake asserted before the Colonel continued, "You two already have. You give me good, usable intel. This tree of Souls." Arya exchanged a glance with Jake, her unease evident. "Yeah, I got them by the balls with that when this turns into a shit fight, which it will. Yeah," the Colonel commented before Arya spoke up, "This doesn't have to be a shit fight." Jake, sensing her distress, reached out and held her hand to offer comfort. "When things go south, there will be, little lady. Now it's time to come in. By the way, you two are gonna get your legs back," the Colonel declared, surprising both Jake and Arya. "Yeah. I got your corporate approval. It's a done deal. Gonna have you two on a shuttle tonight. I'm a man of my word," he added, instigating a surprised reaction from the duo.

"We gotta finish this. There's one more thing. Ceremony. It's the final stage of becoming a woman. If I do it, I'm one of them. And they'll trust me. And I can negotiate the terms of their relocation. And I am a woman of my word, sir," Arya declared as she stood up and left, Jake following closely behind her.

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Arya took a seat before Neytan, anticipation evident in her eyes as he dipped his fingers into the white body paint. With deliberate and gentle strokes, Neytan traced intricate patterns on Arya's face. The cool sensation of the paint on her skin sent a shiver down her spine. As he delicately outlined her lips, Arya's breath hitched, her gaze fixated on Neytan's every movement.

In the quiet exchange, Arya found herself captured by the intensity in Neytan's eyes. She couldn't help but meet his gaze, a silent connection forming between them. His touch on her face became a dance, a delicate interplay that transcended the simple act of applying paint. As the patterns unfolded, Arya's attention shifted between Neytan's lips and his eyes, a subtle tension lingering in the air.

The Na'vi say that every person is born twice. The second time is when your earn your place among The People forever.

Arya and Neytan, with him positioned just behind her, entered the gathering of the Omaticaya people. As Arya approached Eytukan, Mo'at walked beside her, with Neytan standing proudly by her other side. The Na'vi people formed a circle around Arya, their eyes reflecting anticipation and respect.

"You are now a daughter of the Omaticaya. You are part of The People," Eytukan declared with a solemnity that resonated through the gathered crowd. He placed his hands on Arya's shoulders, symbolizing the acceptance of a new member into their tribe. Neytan mirrored the gesture, his hand resting gently on her chest where her heart beat, and the other on her shoulder. Arya's gaze met Neytan's, finding pride and warmth in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of her journey. Mo'at, too, placed her hands on Arya, a blessing that transcended words. The Na'vi people, with unwavering unity, surrounded Arya in a symbolic embrace, a visual representation of her newfound belonging. Among the onlookers, Jake and Grace observed with tears of pride and happiness. Jake held Grace close, sharing in the joy for their friend who had found acceptance and a place among the Na'vi. The air was filled with a sense of unity and celebration as Arya became an integral part of the Omaticaya, embraced by the tribe as one of their own.

As night fell in Pandora, Neytan and Arya raced across the root bridge over the water, their laughter blending with the sounds of the vibrant ecosystem. As they reached the Tree of Voices, Arya playfully tugged on Neytan's tail, eliciting a laugh from him. Fan lizards sprung their fans open, dancing around the couple. Neytan grabbed Arya's hand, urging her to follow him deeper into the heart of the magnificent tree.

"Come. Come," he smiled, leading her through the enchanting surroundings. Neytan spread his arms, allowing the vines to glide across them. Arya mimicked his movements in awe. "This is a place for prayers to be heard. And sometimes answered," Neytan explained, hugging a few of the vines. He took out his queue, and as it glowed, he shared the significance of the tree, calling it Utraya Mokri – the Tree of Voices. Arya brought her braid to her and touched the vines, feeling a connection. "The voices of our ancestors," Neytan revealed. As they placed their queues on the vines, Arya heard the laughter of children and the sweet melodies of people singing. "I can hear them," she exclaimed, and Neytan smiled, explaining that their ancestors lived within Eywa.

Woodsprites danced above them as Neytan placed his hands on Arya's heart. "You are Omaticaya now. You may make your bow from wood of the Hometree." He gazed into her eyes and lips before turning away, "And you may choose a man. We have many fine men. Moyit is the best singer." mentioning the tradition of choosing a mate. Arya spoke of her choice, "But I don't want Moyit." Neytan smiled, mentioning other potential suitor, "So'lek is a good hunter." Arya spoke having Neytan turn and look at her, "Yeah, he is a good hunter." He looked down with disappointment.

"I've already chosen," Arya declared, holding Neytan's hand. "But this man must also choose me." Neytan's eyes lit up with hope. "He already has," he said, looking at Arya with deep affection. Closing the gap between them, Neytan's lips met Arya's in a slow and passionate kiss. They sat down, intertwining their queues and feeling each other's hearts, breath, everything. As Neytan brought her back to the passionate kiss with full of hunger and love, Neytan whispered, "I am with you now, Arya. We are mated for life," sealing their love in the sacred embrace of Pandora.

Arya stirred awake in the unit, a gasp escaping her lips as consciousness returned. "Shit," she thought, the events of the previous moments flooding her mind. Disoriented, she opened the lid of the unit and sat, her fingers instinctively brushing against her lips. A warm blush coloured her cheeks as she relived the intimate moments that had transpired, leaving her with a mix of emotions and a lingering sense of connection.

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As morning unfolded in Pandora, Neytan and Arya's avatars lay entwined, his strong frame cocooning her delicate form. The serenity of their slumber was abruptly shattered by the distant sounds of the RDA, disrupting the tranquillity of the vibrant moon.

Neytan's eyes shot open as he sensed the impending danger. Startled, he untangled himself from Arya and sprang to his feet. The once-peaceful surroundings now echoed with the ominous noise of falling trees, a testament to the relentless force of the RDA's destructive machines.

His heart pounding, Neytan hurriedly bent down to Arya, who remained unconscious. "Ma Arya!" he urgently called out, shaking her gently in an attempt to rouse her. The urgency in his voice mirrored the imminent threat approaching, as the RDA machine drew nearer, threatening to alter the delicate balance of Pandora's beauty.

"Don't forget your phase integration," Norm reminded as he sat in Jake's wheelchair. Meanwhile, Jake was in the kitchen, engrossed in his meal. Grace entered the scene with food and coffee, her attention turning to Arya. "Arya, you gotta eat something," Grace insisted, her voice laced with a mix of care and urgency. The importance of maintaining strength and health.

The RDA mercilessly advanced, leaving destruction in its wake as trees crumbled under its relentless force. Neytan, sensing the impending danger, urgently shook Arya, desperately trying to awaken her from her unconscious state.

"Arya! Arya, wake up! Arya, please!" he screamed, holding her face in his hands with a mixture of fear and desperation. The chaotic destruction unfolded around them, but Neytan's focus remained solely on the safety of Arya. "Not now! Please wake up!" he pleaded, his voice filled with a deep sense of urgency as the threat of the RDA encroached, demanding Arya's immediate awakening.

"Don't make me force-feed a cripple," Grace quipped with a playful tone, eliciting laughter from Arya. "Grace, I can eat later... Hey!" Arya protested, only to have Grace take charge. With a mischievous grin, Grace turned off the unit and positioned herself in front of Arya, prompting laughter from Norm as he observed the light-hearted exchange.

Neytan's eyes scanned the destruction surrounding them, the devastation echoing the relentless advance of the RDA. Acting swiftly, he grabbed Arya's arm, pulling her away from the impending danger. "Arya!" he urgently called out; the urgency evident in his voice. They barely escaped as a massive tree crashed down precisely where they had been moments before. Neytan hurriedly moved Arya to a safer distance, his heart pounding with fear in the face of the unfolding destruction.

Arya hastily devoured her food, a sense of urgency in her movements. Grace watched with amusement, chuckling at Arya's hurried eating.

Neytan forcefully pulled Arya's body to safety, dragging her over a fallen log as they sought cover from the destructive path of the RDA. With a sense of urgency, he maneuverer through the chaos, staying low to avoid the falling trees that succumbed to the destructive force around them. The gravity of the situation pressed on, Neytan's focus solely on ensuring Arya's safety amid the imminent danger.

Arya swiftly finished her meal and handed the empty plate to Grace. "Here. I'm done. Let's go!" she declared with a sense of urgency. Arya then reclined back down as Grace moved to the monitor to turn it on, preparing for whatever awaited them next.

Neytan, witnessing the encroaching destruction, looked down at Arya with a sense of urgency. "Arya!" he screamed, his voice cutting through the chaos as he tried to alert her to the imminent danger. The urgency in his tone mirrored the gravity of the situation unfolding around them.

Arya closed her eyes as the linking process began, and upon reopening them, her vision was slightly blurred. Amidst the haze, she heard Neytan's desperate screams, "Arya! Wake up! Arya! Wake up!" As her consciousness fully returned, she stood up and confronted the unfolding destruction. "Hey! Stop!" she screamed, attempting to capture the attention of those within the massive machine causing devastation. Neytan, with deep concern etched on his face, continued to call out her name as the machine drew closer.

Undeterred, Arya raised her voice once again, pleading for them to halt their destructive path. "Go back, stop!" she shouted, but the machine persisted. Arya rushed to Neytan, urging him to retreat. "Go! Go!" she implored before seizing a rock and mounting the machine, relentlessly hitting its cameras.

Gunshots rang out as Arya continued her assault, but she deftly avoided the shots and made a daring leap, landing safely as she sprinted away. "Arya!" Neytan screamed, searching for her in the chaos. She called out his name, and they clasped hands, running from the destruction, reaching the safety of the forest. Neytan, overwhelmed, looked back at the devastation and held Arya close, tears streaming down his face. Arya's gaze, fuelled by anger, fixated on the RDA individuals who walked by callously. Together, they stood in the refuge of the forest, united against the destruction wrought by those who sought to exploit Pandora.

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By: SilverMist707

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