Chapter Seventeen

Jake woke up to the sensation of something moving against his hand. Quickly adjusting to his Na'vi body, Jake pushed himself up on his elbows. Grace was lying beside him watching his face intently. Again, he felt the soft movement against his palm and when he looked down he realised that Grace had placed his hand on her pregnancy bump.

"This is the first time I have felt him moving." Grace whispered, smiling sleepily at him. Jake gulped down his emotions, feeling tears forming at the back of his eyes. Grace gave a surprised squeak as Jake pulled her into his arms his hand never leaving her stomach.

"Do not die on me, do you understand!" Jake said fiercely. Grace gave a timid nod then stroked his cheek, kissing Jake on the chin.

"I will not lose you either Jhake. I realise I have not been happy until you came into my life. I have a mate and I am having his child. I will not die Jhake but neither should you." Jake grazed her lips with his.

He trailed his hand from her stomach to the apex at her thighs. Grace whimpered when his fingers separated the lips of her sex. It was slick and ready for him but he wanted to cherish this moment. Rolling her beneath him, Jake sidled down her body leaving kisses on her skin. Grace arched against his caress grabbing his hair in her hands as bolts of ecstasy shot though her.

Jake ran his teeth against her thigh catching droplets of perspiration. He savoured the sweet tang of the liquid continuing along to her winking petal-like lips. Jake pulled them apart and inhaled her flavoursome musk before stroking his tongue against her engorged clit.

"Jhake, I know this moment may be our last…oh." Grace moaned as he wormed his tongue into her. He held her legs apart revelling in her natural nectar, his body uncontrollably trying to taste more of her. He felt Grace take hold of his queue and attach it to hers. The zing of pleasure was overwhelming and Jake shuddered from the onslaught. Beneath him Grace writhed, her hips bucking against his mouth as he quickened the stroke of his tongue.

"Jhake." Grace moaned her orgasm shuddered through the tsahaylu causing Jhake to roar with unbridled arousal.

The glade was filled with their heavy breathing. Grace lay motionless, only her fingers continued to move through his braided hair. Jhake found the energy to look up at her and the love shining from her eyes scorched him. He didn't think he could live without her. What had started out as a mission to help the Na'vi had been whittled down to saving his wife and child.

Jake pulled Grace along his body surging into her hot opening with one smooth thrust. He remained still, savouring the moment. Through the tsahaylu he could feel her love and fears. She too was worried for their future but she trusted Jake, there was no denying that. Just as he began to move within her, Jake felt a gentle pulse travelling through their bond. Jake paused as another ripple of energy passed from Grace to him.

"It is our son, Jhake." Grace whispered caressing his cheek. Jake lowered his head and kissed her, his tongue mimicking the thrust of his hips. The presence of his child soothed the chaos in his mind, their connection building as he made love to Grace.

Grace could barely breathe at the tender look Jake gave her before reaching her release. Though she fought against it, her eyes closed as the orgasm ripped through her. The cry from her lips could not be muted as he joined her, their climax multiplying as pleasure volleyed between them.

Wisps of hair was plastered to Jake's brow and she brushed them away wanting to see every part of his face. She memorized the dark bisected lines on his face, the decorative smattering of glowing dots. His eyes were small compared to the Na'vi but that was what she loved about him. The amber orbs glowed with intelligence and mirth but now they shone with joy. Grace pressed her cheek against his, her breath becoming steadier with the continued contact. If she could, she would trap this moment in time. There would be no war, or greedy olo'eyktan's. No matter the outcome, she would remember this day forever.

Jake ran a hand along Grace's stomach, smiling as the baby kicked out again. With one smooth motion, he lifted Grace into his arms and hurried back to the tree of souls. It was the early hours of the morning and the sun had yet to caste them in its glow. They had only a few hours to get into their positions and adrenalin began to pulse through his veins.

"I am going to talk with my mother." Grace said as Jake released her. Though his body screamed as Grace left him, he too needed some space to think.

The tree of souls glowed like a beacon and Jake found himself settling before one of the many hanging tendrils. Taking a few in his hand Jake pressed his queue against them.

"I know I'm probably talking to a tree, but if you can hear me then I have to warn you. My planet isn't like yours, there's no green there. They killed their Mother, and they're gonna do the same thing here." Jake sighed closing his eyes. Only now did it truly sink in, their mission could end up as a suicide one.

Grace found Jake sitting at the tree of souls, as she approached him she could make out the words spilling from him lips. With a sad smile she moved through the hanging vines, silently as not to disturb him.

"Look, you chose me for something. I'll stand and fight, you know I will. But I could use a little help here." Grace placed her hand on his shoulder as he broke his bond with the tree. Without getting up, he turned to her, his eyes searching hers like a forlorn child.

"Our great mother does not choose sides Jhake, she protects only the balance of life." She said softly. Jake wrapped his arms around her waist urging her closer.

"Well it was worth a try." He mumbled, placing his head against her swollen stomach. Grace smoothed his hair as he massaged the small of her back.

"Why don't we prepare you for battle?" She suggested, trying to ease the mood. With one last sigh Jake got up and took her hand. Grace squeezed it reassuringly then led him to where the other Na'vi were preparing themselves.

Pushing Jake to the ground, Grace took a sharp knife and began shaving the sides of his hair into a Mohawk. Seeing the black tresses falling to the ground saddened her somewhat as she enjoyed playing with the long locks. But this was not about her, she needed to preoccupy her mates thoughts with something else.

"I spoke to my mother and Mo'at, they tell me the baby is healthy." She said. Having finished with cutting, she began to plait the remaining hair adding feathers and beads to the braids.

"That is good." Jake said numbly, still wrapped in thought. Grace laced her fingers around his chest and leant forward, resting her head atop his. The thudding of his heart was erratic and it annoyed her that war was distracting him from the wonders of parenthood.

"Have you thought of any names?" She asked, kissing the tip of his ear gently. It twitched in response and Jake placed his hand upon hers.

"No." He answered in a clipped tone. Grace rolled her eyes and decided that talking was not easing him, so instead she just continued to lend him her strength.

...

"We are ready." Ngay'swizav said. Anna nodded then gave Fko'itan one last hug. She promised herself she wouldn't cry in front of him but that didn't stop Fko'itan from crying out.

"Please stay." He cried holding on tightly to her. Anna looked pleadingly at Mo'at who began pulling the little boy away. Ngay'swizav held Anna, turning her away from their distraught son.

"Be careful." He said into her ear before releasing her.

Anna nodded then ran to join the other riders a rifle strapped to her back. Ngay'swizav blinked back tears praying that he would see his wife and son again. From the corner of his eye he saw Grace and Jake embrace, the man's hand straying to her stomach where he cupped it gently. Ngay'swizav still did not trust the dreamwalker, but he knew that his daughter was meant to be with him. When he had found out about her pregnancy he had not been overjoyed about her joining the group but when Grace was adamant about something there was no way of talking her out of it. With a sigh Ngay'swizav signalled to the other Na'vi, slinging his arrow across his back.

"Fly close to me." Jake instructed reluctantly letting Grace's hand go. She gave a swift nod before calling Seze. With the lithe movements of a palulukan, she mounted her ikran and gave a shrill cry before bursting into the sky. Sam and Harry approached him, yellow paint smeared on their face and arms.

"Take care Jarhead." Sam said giving him a brief manly hug. Harry tapped his fist against Jake's, his eyes shining. Jake gave a snort ruffling Harry's streaked hair.

"Hey." Harry grumbled good-naturedly. The men went off to join the olo'pa'li, since they had no ikran. The Toruk gave a screech and Jake quickly patted its ridged head before attaching his queue to its antennae.

"Ok Lehrrap, we're about to get into some deep shit. Think you can handle it?" In answer to Jake's question the Toruk beat its mighty wings, giving a loud cry before weaving through the stone arches that surrounded the tree of souls.

To his left flew To'itan who saluted him, on his right was Grace. She smiled at him, making the hand motions of 'I see you'. Jake nodded grimly then pulled down his visor urging the army of ikran fliers towards Iknimaya.

When they reached the large floating vistas Jake manoeuvred his Toruk to find purchase on the rock face, the other fliers followed suit. The direction in which Stevenson would be coming from would mean he would not know they were there until the last minute.

"Steady." Jake said through the comm.-link around his throat. Grace gave a thumbs up turning her attention to Seze, speaking soothing words to the ikran. Jake tapped his foot against Lehrrap repeatedly as the Toruk shuffled restlessly. Soon buddy, soon.

Stevenson stood at the helm of the large bomb carrier his eyes squinting in a bid to see through the endless fog. A few minutes ago one of the pilots had informed him that none of their navigation systems were working.

"They are out there somewhere." Stevenson said. Back at Hell's Gate reports had come in about a horde of Na'vi, surrounding the tree of souls. Stevenson knew warfare like the back of his hand and having seen the images, he knew that they were not just getting together for a round of drinks.

"Sully." Stevenson growled. The marine had double crossed him, he knew he shouldn't have put so much trust in the man. But Stevenson had a plan and it was simple. He would return to the mobile and kill him.

"Sir, we're picking something up on the infra red." One of the foot soldiers said through the radio. Stevenson smiled at least something was going right.

"Then go get trigger happy." He replied.

...

Grace steadied Seze trying to stamp down on her anxiety. The baby within her rolled and she winced as a twinge ran up her spine. Feeling eyes upon her, she looked up to see Jake watching her worriedly. Grace shook her head in an attempt to ease his mind. Jake opened his mouth to say something when they heard the undeniable sound of rotors.

"This is it." He said into the comm.-link, giving Grace one final look.

Grace gave a subtle nod, urging Seze into a dive as Jake led his Toruk to the Tawtute. There were hundreds of aircraft and they instantly began shooting at them. Grace swerved dodging the oncoming bullets. Cocking her gun, she aimed and fired at an approaching tricopter. The pilot didn't have the chance to manoeuvre out of Grace's range and was shot down. Pulling back from the blazing Samson, Seze dove, coming up behind another pilot.

"This is for Eywa." Grace gritted, firing at the tricopter blades. The blast of the engine being torn to pieces sent Grace and Seze spiralling through the air. Trying to regain control Seze dropped to the ground below, her feet scrambling on the ground. The sound of an approaching Samson grew stronger and Grace was forced into the surrounding forests.

Seze wove through the trees coming to a stop, atop a thick tree branch. Grace panted, her eyes wide in fear. Looking through the branches she could see dreamwalkers scrambling through the undergrowth, as well as large machinery being driven by humans. Above her the Samson veered off rejoining the aerial fray.

"Go Seze." The ikran turned her head as if considering Grace's words. With a roll of her eyes Grace ended tsahaylu and patted Seze on the neck. "I will cover the ground, I cannot shoot well in the sky." She admitted chuckling when Seze butted her shoulder. The ikran gave a soft cry before setting off. Grace hitched the rifle up in her arms and clambered down the tree.

The forest was eerily quite. Smoke filled the air, burning her eyes and nostrils but yet there was nothing save for her breathing. Pulling the weapon closer to her Grace dropped into a crouch, moving swiftly though the undergrowth. Then it came. The pain filled whinny of a pa'li. Grace caught sight of something blazing in the near distance. The creature ran crazed its mane of fire. Grace bit back a scream turning from the horrifying sight. Her stomach refused to settle and Grace was forced to pull herself up with the help of a tree. She caught movement up ahead and stilled. Bodies of Na'vi littered the ground and creatures in metal suits were torching the forest.

"Grace goddamn it answer me!" Grace hid herself behind the bulk of the tree praying to Eywa. She couldn't hide when she had an opportunity to take at least one of them down.

"Jhake I am here."

"Good. Pete's told me what's happening down there. I want you out." He said. Grace swept the underside of her stomach and a pained smile bloomed across her face.

"I love you Jhake."

She heard his cursing but ignored it, resting the butt of the gun against her heavily bruised shoulder. A few deep breathes, that's all she needed before her nerves calmed. The ground vibrated softly that if she hadn't been trying to centre herself she may not have felt it. Instead she set her feet on the ground firmly. The vibrations grew stronger until the whole forest was alive. A heard of talioang bypassed her and crashed into the unprepared army.

"Grace what the fu…"

"Eywa has heard you Jhake! Eywa has heard you!"

"I can see that. God Grace the ikran are ripping into them! The carrier is down. Stevenson is trying to destroy the mobile I'm g…" Jake's laughing chatter was cut off by loud feedback, then nothing. Grace fumbled with the comm.-link but to no avail. Grace shook her head, moving away from Eywa's revenge with only her mate in mind.

Na'vi Translation

Talioang- Sturmbeest

Olo'eyktan- chief

Tsaheylu- Neural bond

Tawtute- Sky people