Chapter Eleven

Ngay'swizav looked to the sun as it rose over the Hallelujah Mountains. He had been meditating for the past three weeks trying to clear his mind of all negative and ugly thoughts. When he met with Anna again it would be with a clear conscience and only love in his soul. Tsyal squawked as he was forced to endure another day of doing nothing but clinging to the side of the mountain.

"Quiet Tsyal, can you not see I am concentrating." Ngay'swizav whispered between clenched lips.

Tsyal gave another squawk grudgingly settling into obedient silence. Ngay'swizav closed his eyes again and began to chant, allowing the soothing words to wash away every ill feeling. His child was close to birth and he would not allow his previous stubbornness to keep away. He had made a promise that he would never let Anna out of his sight but had broken it with his own bullheadedness.

"You are stupid and I refuse to speak to stupid people." His mother had said and she hadn't spoken to him in the months Anna had been gone.

Tsu'tey had been worse, rejecting all of Ngay'swizav's offers of hunting. Instead Tsu'tey would fly to the tawtute camp bearing Anna gifts. Whether or not Tsu'tey knew it aggravated Ngay'swizav, he continued to do it. Close to her labour both Tsu'tey and Mo'at had gone to Hell's Gate and Ngay'swizav had been the one to look like an idiot as word circulated of Anna's pregnancy.

"Though I dislike her I feel sorry for her. Who would want a mate like you?" Beyral had snarled. If Beyral was snapping at him that meant he had done something truly wrong. So he had flown to Iknimaya seeking self discovery and salvation.

Ngay'swizav's eyes snapped open. Calling to Tsyal he made tsahaylu and dropped off the edge of the mountain diving faster and faster the forest canopy rushing towards them. At the last moment Ngay'swizav pulled up sharply the tree giving way to clear waters. Dipping, Tsyal trailed his feet in the water and rose leaving crystal droplets behind him.

"Come on Tsyal, it is almost time."

...

Anna tried to walk through the garden her gait a demure waddle as she concentrated on not knocking anything over. Last time she had been in the garden she had ruined half the tomatoes they had been cultivating in protective domes. Anna found that the further into her pregnancy she got, the less control she had over her tail.

"Wow." Her father dove out of the way as Anna turned full circle spotting the man flattened on the ground.

"Don't exaggerate daddy." She laughed offering him her hand. Quaritch batted it away getting up on his own. Anna bit her tongue as laughter bubbled in her throat. Her father had gotten immensely overprotective of her even though she was almost twice his height.

"You will always be my little girl." He had said when she questioned him. Reaching down she felt his hand on hers and she wrapped her hand in his, wondering what kind of picture the two of them made.

"Ooh I love these." Anna said bending to pick a blue fruit from a bush. As she rose with her fair there was a twinge in her back and she cried out as a sharp pain lanced up her spine.

"Anna!" Quaritch yelled, grunting as she leant against him.

"Mo'at, Norm, I need you guys asap." Quaritch cursed as liquid began to trickle down Anna's legs. She was in labour.

...

Mo'at hummed dabbing Anna's forehead with a damp towel. All the lights had been dimmed and the only light to be seen where the dots on the Na'vi. Anna's shone the brightest as she moaned though another contraction.

"We need to make the tsahaylu." Mo'at said wincing as Anna's nails bit into her hand.

It was the duty of the male to create tsahaylu as his mate was giving birth. It bonded the child with its father and eased childbirth, to create tsahaylu with a male that wasn't a females mate meant that the child would be unable to find comfort with his biological father. If she had to choose Mo'at would have Norman make the link because of their close relationship. But Hell's Gate was soon shutting down and psionic linking could no longer run on the rationed energy.

"I will go find Ngay'swizav, despite his stubbornness he should understand his role here." Tsu'tey said. Anna cried out and held into his arm shaking her head feverishly.

"No, stay." She panted, her whole body arching at the pain. Mo'at fell sorry for the girl. Anna's contractions had started in the morning and had continued well into the night. Na'vi labour was not unusually that long but since there was no tsahaylu there was no shared burden.

The door to the bunker opened and shut firmly behind the newcomer. Mo'at turned with exasperation thinking it was another curious scientist who wanted to witness a Na'vi birth. Instead she found herself gently nudged as Ngay'swizav took Anna's queue and made tsahaylu. Instantly Anna's pants subsided into low moans and the light from her dots began to diminish somewhat into a normal glow. Now that her son was there Mo'at ushered out the bystanders. This was an intimate moment between father, mother and child. Mo'at closed the door firmly behind the well wishers noting the anger in Quaritch and Norman's eyes, even Tsu'tey looked irritated. Ngay'swizav was going to get it and Mo'at smiled giddily at the thought.

"What are you doing here?" Anna asked.

Her lips dry and her mouth parched. She gratefully sat up and lapped the water Ngay'swizav offered, expending all her energy she collapsed into the bed. Through the tsahaylu Anna felt wave upon wave of love and reassurance, it was comforting and she hardly felt the pain anymore just tell tale signs when to push.

"I will always be here Anna. I was proud but you were proud too." Ngay'swizav said ignoring his mothers warning hiss. Anyone else would be angered by his words but he knew his Anna, she read further than words.

"Yes but I'm carrying your baby I think I have every right to be proud." She pouted trying to keep a smile at bay. She no longer cared about who was wrong or right, all she wanted was Ngay'swizav. Sensing her thoughts he kissed her gently on the forehead then pressed his head against hers.

"Oel ngati kameie." Anna's eyes welled at his gentle words and for the first time in months Anna was able to move her tail and wrap it around his.

"One more push Anna." Mo'at said. Anna braced herself as the pain grew, feeling the soothing effect of Ngay'swizav sharing it between them. Taking a deep breath she pushed feeling the pressure in her stomach ease. Wails filled the air and Anna laughed with exhaustion as Mo'at cleaned the crying baby.

"A little girl." Mo'at whispered counting five finger and four toes.

Anna laughed at the small oddity knowing that her differences would not make her any less Na'vi. Her skin was pale blue with darker stripes and Mo'at reassured her that they would darken over time. She turned to Ngay'swizav whose eyes were filled with tears as his mother passed him the baby. Realising that it was her father carrying her she quickly fell silent. Her eyes were not yet open but her queue and tail both moved silkily. Her bioluminescent dots shone brightly as she mewled.

"Now Anna make tsahaylu with the baby and feed her." Anna noted how reluctant Ngay'swizav's was to pull their queues apart but he did nonetheless. Anna's eyes widened as she held her baby carefully making tsahaylu. The baby's eyes blinked open and were blue-green in colour her pupils wide and dilated. Gently Anna faced the baby to her chest and giggled as she began to suckle. Anna made sure to send comforting thoughts through the link.

"The name of the child?" Mo'at asked finally looking at her son. Ngay'swizav's ears sloped as he saw the anger sparking in her eyes.

"Grace." Ngay'swizav said starling both women.

"That is not Na'vi." Anna said.

"But she meant so much to you. If not for Grace we would never have met." He explained clutching Anna's hand. Anna looked at their joined hands then at him uncertainty shining in her eyes.

"Do you regret that?" Ngay'swizav scoffed at her question then kissed her hand.

"Humans say I love you?…I love you Anna." Anna's lips twitched and the baby became restless at her projected thoughts.

"Look at what you have done!" Mo'at hissed hitting Ngay'swizav on the back of his head. Ngay'swizav cursed rubbing the saw spot.

"Sa'nok." He whined. Anna laughed and Grace became quiet.

"Happy tears I promise." Mo'at looked doubtful but made no attempt to hit Ngay'swizav again.

Ngay'swizav looked relieved settling on the bed beside Anna, his fingers stroking Grace's cheek gently. Anna sighed with content as she was reunited with her mate. She had never dreamed of following her father and settling in Pandora. Now she couldn't imagine any other place as home.

Epilogue

"I am almost done sa'nu." The young girl said in a mixture of English and Na'vi.

Anna watched over her daughters shoulder as she put the finishing touches on the su'shiri t'acto sa, a toy Ikran made of sticks and twigs. She worked with diligence her wide eyes inherited from her mother shining with determination, a trait from her father. With care Grace took a bead from her hair and wove it into the toy.

"I am done, I am done!" Grace cheered with a bout of spontaneity quickly calming and solemnly handing the Ikran to her mother. Anna beamed and pulled Grace into her arms. The child protested briefly before returning her mother's hug.

"It is beautiful, your little brother or sister will be pleased." Anna said into Grace's hair holding onto her for a few extra minutes before reluctantly letting her go. Anna rubbed the swell of her stomach as the baby appeared to sense the commotion outside of the safety of her womb.

"Sempu is taking me hunting today, he said my training will begin soon." Grace said excitably.

At thirteen most young Na'vi began training for their rite of passage. Anna knew that her daughter would do well. Already she had mastered the bow and arrow and moved about the forest like a ghost. Anna had no qualms about Grace's training.

The sudden hoof beats of several pa'li shook the base of Hometree. Anna smiled as she saw Ngay'swizav at the head of the hunting party. He and Tsu'tey were laughing about something but as soon as he felt her gaze he quickly dismounted having eyes only for her.

"Sempu!" Grace yelled running towards her father. Ngay'swizav braced himself as his daughter barrelled into him. With ease he swung her in his arms listening as she told him about her day.

"…and then Ley'tey took my favourite necklace threatening to drop it in the bog."

"Then what did you say." Winking when Anna began to laugh obviously having heard the story before.

"I reminded her that when I was as big as her I could get my revenge. It is best to treat people how you wish to be treated." Grace said proudly. Ngay'swizav laughed and ruffled her hair much to her annoyance.

"Grace do you want to help me?" Grace instantly stilled as one of the younger men called for her assistance.

Blushing, her ears flattened against her head. Grace turned to Anna who nodded. Dodging her father's outreached hands she ran towards To'itan. Ngay'swizav growled debating on whether or not he should drag his daughter back and warn all the young men to stay away from her.

"Mawey." Anna whispered.

Ngay'swizav rubbed her neck as she walked into his arms. There was a prenatal glow about her that had him hardening and wanting her. Anna understood the suggestive glint in his eye and laughed. If saving her daughter from her overprotective husband meant making love in the woods for hours Anna was ready and willing to comply. As Ngay'swizav picked her up and dashed towards their secluded clearing Anna beamed.

Na'vi translation

Sempu- Daddy

Sa'nu- Mommy

Sa'nok- Mother

su'shiri t'acto sa- Toy mountain banshee

Iknimaya- Halleluiah Mountains

Mawey- Calm

So this is the end of the Anna and Ngay'swizav's story...however, little Grace wont remain little forever... okay so that was my lame attempt at suspense. So without much flourish this is a sneakpeak of the sequel, artistically named 'Pandora: Another Time'

...

Excruciating pain speared through her leg and fear jumped in the pit of her stomach as she heard the Na'vi growing increasingly closer. Grace dragged herself towards a thicket of bushes the sound of the river drawing near.

"I can smell her blood." One of the hunters sneered.

Grace didn't bother to wait for them to find the trail she had left. With calculated movements Grace stood up. Her teeth sank into the inside of her cheek as she tested her weight on her injured leg. Clamping down on her knuckles she began to run again. More arrows followed her but now she was right by the river. She dove into the murky water. A fierce undercurrent swept her against the jagged riverbed. Her legs kicked out in attempt to create drag but it was impossible.

Breaking to the surface Grace wiped the water from her eyes. A foam wall crashed ahead, the hollers of the Na'vi reaching her ears. There was a grim look of satisfaction in their eyes as if they knew what lay ahead. A loud thundering burst her eardrums and Grace's eyes widened with fear. Know she knew why the Na'vi hadn't bothered to continue pursuing her. The river led to a waterfall. Grace stifled a scream as she was thrown several feet into the air. She had no time to streamline. Her arms and legs flailed as she plummeted into the body of water.

The first chapter will be published by the end of the week.

xxx

Happy Reading