xliviii. home is where the heart is
╰ avatar: the way of water

THE three girls, Kiri, Tuk and Inkire sat outside of the Everett home, heads tilted as they listened into the conversation between the two sets of parents. Neteyam, Inkire and Lo'ak approached, feet softly pattering against the soil underneath them.

"What's going on?" Lo'ak questioned, kneeling down beside the three, his fingers fiddling with the bottom of the material. He peaked, eying his mother who was heavily crying. His heart ached, knowing she was crying for her lost son.

"They are talking about what will happen next, now shush, Lo'ak." Kiri turned, a somewhat soft glare resting on her features as she turned towards her cousin.

Odessa shook her head, long locks of braided hair whipping side to side. Her brother stood to the side, his arms crossed over his chest to prevent him from making big hand gestures — a human trait he still carried. "Jake, my brother —"

Jake stopped, stopping and looking at his chosen sister. He saw the pain in her eyes, but oh how he could only see her figured outlined in red. "No, Odessa! You don't get to say anything, because you let him take your place."

Niave looked towards the woman, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as more sobs escaped from between her lips. "You let it happen?"

"I-I tried, Niave. I was ready to go instead, but he said he would go, and then I'm pushed away and they're out of reach." Odessa suddenly feels nauseous; her throat burns and she can't help but feel like everything is coming up from her stomach. "I promise, I tried."

"Obviously not hard enough —" Jake snapped, anger for his lost son fuelling every single word he spoke.

"JakeSully!" Neytiri growled, her hands going to push the man. He was treating her mate so poorly, when she knew that he could have done more to help save Spider too. "You were there, you could have done more too." Her breathing was heavy as she clutched her mates hand in her own. "You can not ask us to leave our home. Our people, JakeSully."

"He's hunting us," He stated, his eyes never leaving Neytiri, "he's targeting mine and your family."

Odessa shook her head, she would and could try her hardest to chance the stubborn mind of Jake Sully. "You can not ask this! The children, everything they've ever known, the forest. This is mine and your home! This is our paradise, Jake!"

Jake shook his head quickly and sternly. He had his mind set; the only way his family was going to be safe was for them all to leave, "Odessa, he had your children, my children under his knife. He had you under his knife, dess."

His voice wasn't quiet, no one's voice was quiet. All the children huddled outside could hear each and every word an adult spoke. They knew that if they listened, and continued to pry, than the heart ache wouldn't be so bad when they were told — because they already knew of what would happen.

Odessa breathed slowly, her vision clouding with tears as she felt her mate pull her hand away from her. Neytiri didn't say anything as she grabbed the bow off its pedestal and held it in front of Jakes face, "My father gave me this bow as he lay dying," Jake let his eyes focus on the bow, feeling guilt run threw his body. "And he said 'protect the people'. You're Toruk Makto! People died for you — grace, trudy, tsu'tey, warriors!"

Jake paused at the names Neytiri had so quickly spoke. They caused his heart to ache, knowing that they all died beside him, helping him in the war against the sky people. "This will protect the people." Jake spoke much more softly, his hands trembling as he looked between the three others in the tent. "Quaritch has Spider, and that kid knows everything. He knows our whole operation. He can lead them right in here. If the people harbour us, they will die. Do you understand?" Jake waved his arms around, lips quirked downwards. "Look, I got nothing. I got no plan. But I can protect this family that I can do."

Niave peered up at Jake, tears streaming down her blue cheeks as she stepped towards him, letting him wrap his arms around her. As she cries into his shoulder, Odessa reaches out for her own mate, pulling her towards her gently.

"Wherever we go, we go together. Family sticks together, family is within the heart."