【 CHAPTER FOUR 】

SITE 26 was isolated. Rightfully so, considering it was in the 'nosebleed' equivalent portion of the Hallelujah mountains that was distanced just far enough from anything man-made that Ruth felt like she could immerse herself into Pandora, at least, when she wasn't inside the modular buildings they were living in.

What was there was there and any variety of food that they'd had on base was left behind. No contact from anyone back home, luckily, except a few calls from the bio-lab for Grace's guidance. Ruth's ability to work over the initial days of their arrival had been hard, particularly after her confrontation with Miles. She tried her best to carry on with her work but the lingering frustration and displeasure of not royally fucking up the marine while she could didn't help.

Getting away from the hive-like business of Hell's Gate had at least helped with the anger that had taken root since her encounter with the colonel. The one thing that was giving her hope was the request she'd made to Jake: for him to speak with Neytiri and in turn, Mo'at, to allow her and Grace to visit again. They agreed that Norm's new presence for the time being might not help mend the tension that still remained, therefore Jake was sent with the request that was waiting to be heard. The Tsahik had known her well, been kind, and willing to teach her things she wished to know.

Day in and day out, she was either analyzing samples and documenting them or navigating the cliffs and rocky inclines of the mountain they resided on with Norm in tow to continue even more work. While he would be collecting data and annotating information, she'd be near the edge of the cliff, yellow eyes straining to see the very small dots higher in the mountains that were ikran.

She would daydream about getting up there somehow, but she would never try to take a banshee without the blessing of the Na'vi as it was their right of passage, after all. As well as dangerous. She remained hopeful and patient for a visit, a skill of hers that had been worn down heavily since arriving to Pandora.

All until her prayers were answered, and the patience paid off. With the permission to visit the Omaticaya again by Mo'at's leave, Ruth's animosity toward Jake all but disappeared.

Upon arriving at the basin of Hometree via a long helicopter ride, Ruth relished being in the presence of the Na'vi again. They came to her and Grace as the two avatars wandered further into the dwelling, reaching to touch them and offering smiles at their long-awaited presence. Ruth felt her heart swelling at their genuine pleasure to see her again, many remembering her in particular despite so much time passing.

The sounds and smells of the place had her ears and nose peaking with interest. Neytiri soon showed herself, weaving her way through the crowd to see Ruth, face bright. They met in an embrace, before pulling apart. Neytiri smelled of rainwater and the forest, mingling with her natural scent.

"Oel ngati kameie," Ruth greeted her friend in Na'v, the warmest of smiles on her face as she looked at her.

The woman returned the smile brightly, a blessing to the doctor after having missed her presence for so long. "I see you, Ruth."

"It has been too long," Ruth exclaimed to her. She wouldn't acknowledge why. "I've missed you and the people dearly."

Neytiri smirked. "I have been here, teaching Jake now," she looked to where he stood nearby. "The people have missed you, as have I."

Ruth didn't want to bring up why they'd been apart so long. That would be best for a different conversation.

"Jake wishes to speak with you," Neytiri went on. "We will speak more later. It is long past due for you to become one of us." Promising to visit more with her later, Neytiri peeled away to greet Grace, a similar interaction as when she'd found Ruth. Jake made his way over to Ruth, offering a smirk as the scientist remained utterly confused.

"You look different already," she replied, looking him up and down as she stopped in front of her. As expected, his avatar clothes had been replaced by a loin cloth and a bare chest. His formerly lanky muscles had already begun to fill out, along with strands of his hair becoming wilder. "The last time I saw you in this body a Thanator was chasing your ass."

"Yet here I am," he jabbed. "Neytiri doesn't give me a break."

"Good," Ruth smirked. Simply being in Hometree was calming to her. She was able to ignore the thing that had been haunting her since arriving to site 26, able to soak in what she'd missed so much.

"I figured I would tell you while you're here to make it better," Jake broke the momentary silence. Ruth looked up with a narrowed brown

"Tell me what?" Ruth's head titled, ears back as she was worried it was something of a negative nature. "Something you couldn't have told me before we linked?"

Jake chuckled. "Call it a flare for effect; I wanted to make it special. I spoke with Neytiri. Well, more that she spoke with her mother. They've agreed that since I'm here to learn from them, you should be allowed to as well. Considering they've known you far longer." Ruth's ears perked up entirely, eyes wide as she stared at him. He must have found her expression amusing as he chuckled. This is what Neytiri must have meant. "I may have mentioned how much you wanted to return. How much the people meant to you, and you to them. After a little bit of convincing, they were about it."

"Who's going to be teaching me?" She asked, still in disbelief, eyes on her boots as she was still trying to process the opportunity she was being given. Just the night before, before Jake had returned from his link session, she'd been complaining about him again and everything under the sun that was making her upset. The news of being allowed to visit the clan again had been entirely all she'd expected, nothing more.

"Originally, Neytiri had offered to," Jake told her, shrugging as he looked in the direction the woman was speaking with Grace. "But teaching two of us at once didn't seem like a good idea. So Tsu'tey offered, after being present for the conversation with Eytukan and Mo'at. Unlike me, Tsu'tey doesn't seem to mind you. He said he knows you."

Ruth nodded, recalling the time she'd been around him at the schoolhouse. He'd been one of the most excellent students alongside Neytiri and her sister. The way he'd been so devoted to Sylwanin had been a wonder to watch in itself, making the scientist yearn earnestly for a similar opportunity with a partner someday. Beyond English lessons, she hadn't much contact with him. She was having a hard time imagining what he'd be like as a mentor to her.

"Yes, he does. So, when does this all start, then?" Ruth asked him. She was going to live among the Na'vi, to become one of them. At least as much as she could living a double life. It was as if every unspoken prayer was being answered.

"You're here now," Jake told her. "Or at least your avatar is. We're both still stuck up at site 26 unfortunately."

Ruth grinned. "Thank you," she said to him sincerely, looking at him in the eyes. "This means more to me than you realize."

Jake returned the gesture. "You were one of the first ones to help me out when I got into this new body. You may have given me shit about replacing my brother. . ." Ruth's ears pinned back in embarrassment, but seeing him smile let her know he was merely joking. "But I'm grateful to have you there to help me."

"Perhaps you weren't a waste of five billion dollars," she smirked. She was impressed with how he'd changed already, his demeanor and attitude toward seemingly everything. It was as if he were growing as a person, no longer the sad, drunk veteran he was before.

"And perhaps you weren't actually a bitch like I previously thought," he replied. The two share a hearty laugh, Ruth giving Jake a friendly punch to the arm. Jake was looking to be a good friend if anything, the initial thoughts of attraction seeming to fade into appreciation.

•••

SITTING between Grace and Neytiri with her legs crossed, Ruth gazed around the common hollow of Hometree that served as the place of dining. Much of the clan sat in a large circle around an active fire pit, where a few designated clan members stoked the embers and prepared food.

Only a handful of times had Ruth been given the opportunity to try Na'vi food— she had never come close to the dinner prepared tonight. An assortment of meats, Pandoran vegetables, fruits, and nuts likely harvested in the forest surrounding the clan's home.

The massive larvae that had been fried in a sort of oil and served on a large leaf would be a dish that the scientist would need time to become accustomed to, the thought of eating bugs not so appetizing as the dish was handed to her. Though she did enjoy the juice she sipped from a wooden cup.

Being among the clan wholly solidified her desire to leave her human life behind. She didn't care that she didn't know every small detail about their way of life, the traditions and rituals and customs they practiced that only those of the clan would be raised to know. She would learn and be like a child if need be. Before, she had been an outsider looking in, only able to visit a few hours at a time. Now, she would be living among. She prayed it would be permanent, that she would never see Hell's Gate or the narcissistic colonel that plagued her. The chances of that being reality were slim, she knew.

Finding the opportunity that Grace was not occupied, Ruth decided it was time to tell her of the arrangement that had been made. That she would be returning to site 26 on her own. Though as a subordinate to her, Ruth was not going to be leaving home tree whether Grace gave her blessing for her to stay or not. She had been unable to find reasons her superior argued against.

"Grace, there's something I need to let you know," Ruth said to the older woman, leaning her head close until her forehead almost brushed Grace's ear. The dining area was humming with activity as well as chatter.

"Jake and Neytiri spoke with the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik," Ruth told her. The truth was still hard for her to believe. "Our jarhead expressed my desire to be with the clan more, to learn more. They've decided they will allow me to learn in the same way he is." The two of them looked to the left of Ruth, where Neytiri and Jake were enjoying conversation.

"They've given you that opportunity?" Grace asked her with the beginnings of a grin on her face and Ruth nodded. "Look at you. Taking initiative. Who will teach you?"

"Tsu'tey has volunteered. He was present for the conversation from what I gathered and since he knows me, he was willing. Neytiri didn't need to be lugging around two of us anyway."

Grace hummed in agreement. "Between you and Jake, we may be able to gather some valuable information. Two different test groups, different results." She seemed to be teeming with the idea of seeing different outcomes. She smiled before saying, "Between a jarhead marine and a xenofaunist, I think we could see some interesting outcomes."

Ruth laughed. "We may be scientists, but not for social science."

Grace shrugged. "It's only one of many things we could learn. I trust you can figure out the rest on your own. Don't worry about gathering samples or other things regarding work. Take your time to immerse yourself with the clan, listen to Tsu'tey, and soak up everything you can."

As dinner came to an end and Ruth bid Grace goodnight before she left to catch her ride back to the site, Tsu'tey found her near the spiral climb that led up and down Hometree. She paused as he neared her, stoic and quiet as ever, but he still greeted her with the common gesture of respect. Having not seen him in quite some time, she would need to learn him again. Deeper than before.

"You chose to teach me," she stated by way of greeting, looking at him. "Why?"

He nodded. "You and Grace were always kind," he said, voice heavy with the Omaticaya accent that all of the clan possessed. "To the clan. To Sylwanin. For that, you are a friend to the people."

Ruth offered him a smile despite feeling slightly nervous. She couldn't quite pinpoint why he made her feel that way, but she ignored it the best she could. "I'm honored that you are willing to teach me. I will try my best to learn quickly."

He offered his own smirk this time before looking her up and down. "We need to change you." He referred to the avatar clothes she was wearing, which screamed human. He gestured for her to follow, and she did.

Following him up the many levels of the honeycombed structure of Hometree that served as the living spaces and areas alike, Ruth was almost struggling to keep up. It may have been the boots that had her balance thrown off or perhaps her physical conditions she had originally thought were peak. Nonetheless, she kept up.

She was fighting for breath by the time Tsu'tey brought her to a particular alcove where a few women were likely leaving for the night, an array of supplies available in neat piles and baskets.

Ruth watched as Tsu'tey rummaged through the textiles until he produced a lilac-colored loincloth as well as a basic ornamental chest cover of some beads and feathers for her to wear. Her ears grew hot at the thought of being so exposed at the chest and her rear end, but she tried to tell herself that everyone in the clan was half naked. Nudity was not even close to a priority for the Na'vi, she knew.

Accepting the items gratefully, he left her to change herself. Figuring out how the loin cloth fit in between her legs had been quite challenging and uncomfortable at first, from the way it covered her delicate parts and wrapped around the base of her tail. Leaving her avatar clothes there, she soon emerged from the alcove to find him waiting.

He looked her up and down, a nod of approval now that she looked like a Na'vi. "Better," he stated simply, before waving for her to follow. She followed quickly, bare feet finding more stability among the moss than before as her tail twitched with excitement.

Another few levels of climbing the spiraling column before they reached the botanical, pod-like hammocks she'd read about but had never seen. Tsu'tey found two empty ones, slipping into one and making himself comfortable. Ruth followed suit until she was lying within the silky, fibrous cocoon that flashed with bioluminescence anytime it was pulled or touched.

For a moment, she simply stared up at the cocoon, feeling surreal. As much as she wished she could have stayed up all night exploring Hometree, exhaustion was starting to hit her. If she knew anything about how hard the Na'vi trained, she would need every ounce of her energy the next day. For whatever it held. Turning to her side, she pulled her knees toward her chest, tail curling over her thigh as she closed her eyes and embraced the darkness.

Soon enough, she was waking in her link chamber at site 26.

authors note:
Alright I know y'all wanted this to be a Jake fic, but it's gonna be a Tsu'tey one😶 don't come for me plz
either way I'm thinking about doing a Jake one for a different plot, so y'all might get that anyway, we'll see🤷🏼‍♀️ but I'm Lowkey feeling like Tsu'tey will have good chemistry with Ruth tbh (who am I kidding he will, I'm writing this lol)