Heritage

This is the continuation of my first story. There is hurt and comfort in this chaper, since I plan on making this a multi-chaptered story. There was no real place for sex in this part. But stick with it and I hope you like how it will come out.

Darkness crept closer as I felt my life drift away. My body, which was once so cold, now felt like nothing; a sack of flesh, muscle, an bone. The wound in my chest had indeed been too great and there was nothing Mo’at could do to heal me. I weakly looked up at the glowing tendrils of the Sacred Tree, and I heard his voice. I heard him calling me, calling me to be with him. I knew that only a few inches away lay my prone Avatar, netted in luminescent roots. Eywa tried to make the transfer a success, tried to save me in the body of a doll. My breaths came slower now, relaxing under the blanket of the native chanting. To my side, I felt someone grasp my limp hand and hold it to a warm cheek. I smiled as my beloved son’s face leaned over me. The night sky was bright above him, splattered with glittering stars and moonlight.
His gentile hazel eyes welled with tears and he tried his hardest to keep from crying. I cupped his stripped cheek and caressed my thumb across a deep cyan stripe. My son’s pointed ears flattened sadly and I felt a sting in my heart. I would never see him again. Not in the flesh. I had brought him up to be as great of a Na’vi warrior as his father, Tsu’tey. I saw the caramel hue of his skin fade into red as tears began to fall.
“Mother, please! Stay with me! Eywa can heal you,” He whispered fervently, his bottom lip quivering.
The nostrils of his feline nose flared and his brows furrowed. I smiled as his large hand grazed my cool forehead, only to become numb. My eyes saw blackness. My breathing halted and my arm fell from my son’s lively face, his heart wrenching sobs faded away. Then, suddenly, I was overcome by a rush of blinding white light; pinks and yellows swirled around me. I heard, felt nothing but euphoric lightness and freedom. My long hair wisped about my face as if I was underwater. I noticed that my skin had taken on a healthy glow, and my wound on my chest was gone. A light tickling wrapped around my ankles as my celestial robes encircled me. Pure white they were, wrapping around my hips and breasts. Long cloth flowed behind me in slow hypnotic waves. My nose inhaled the scent of purity and freshness and I flew higher and higher. Then I heard my name. As quite as a wind, the voice came again. I knew that voice and I soared upwards towards a dark figure in the distance. His long arms were outstretched, beckoning me into his embrace. Smiling once I saw who it was, I flew right into his blue skinned hold.

~ Two Years Later~

I swung my arms harder to catch up to the group. My heart pounded within my chest as I inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, pushing me forward-urging me to my limit. I had fallen behind in my day-dreaming and I was paying the price by over exerting myself. I did not mind it though, in fact I enjoy a good run now and again. Picking my knees up close to my chest I propelled my lithe body swiftly until I passed my youth group. Dirt and dust flew up behind my heels when I gave full chase to the clearing. I was the fastest in the whole Omaticaya clan, and I won against other clan leaders effortlessly. Despite my half-blood, they treated me as an equal and a part of the tribe. At first, many of the other children mocked me because of my skin. It shone under a sheet of sweat like hot caramel, a candy my mother often gave me. My native’s blue stripes covered my body and I inherited my father’s height- so said my mother and Uncle Jake. Once I reached the clearing, I jumped to a stop and let the fast gusts of wind cooled me off. Today was the day I was to become a member of the tribe, I was to go from boy to man. I twitched my tail in excitement.
“Toruk! Toruk, since you are so eager to clam an Ikran, you may go first. Climb up to the mountain above us and wait there. I said WAIT!”
I didn’t wait and I climbed the vines up to the flying mountain. I was to determined to wait for my group. My muscles flexed and bulged as I hoisted myself up. My tail curled around the vine below me and help to push me up. The wind blew through my long black hair, making it stick to my damp face. Licking my lips I carefully watched where I placed my hands on the tick vine. I smirked and laughed in triumph when I looked down at Grace. She was Uncle Jake’s and Aunt Neytiri’s daughter, and princess of the Omaticaya. Apparently she was named after an old friend of Uncle Jake’s. being a year older, I got special rights to pester her and tease her. She would try to use the fact that she was princess, but I paid no heed and tortured her anyway. Sometimes she was so annoying, whining at everything from playing music to climbing these vines. I think it’s from the pseudo-human in her. Grace would have been half-human too…like me. But unlike me, her father was transferred into an Avatar. I suddenly felt myself become angered, and I resented Eywa for letting my mother die. I shook my head and continued my ascent. That was two years ago. I reached the top first and did end up waiting…but a few paces away.
“Very good Toruk, now follow me and stay away from the edge. If something happened to you, your uncle would have my head.” I rolled my hazel eyes at my superior. This Na’vi was sent to watch over me and Grace. He tried to give us preferential treatment, which I refused. I wanted to be seen as a Na’vi, not half-human. And the thought that I was the only true half-blood on Pandora put a lot of pressure on my shoulders. Grace fixed her black braids and brushed dirt from her hands. I looked at her four fingers and unknowingly clenched my five. My hands were my mothers, five fingered and slender. Yet they were large and strong like my father’s. I spread them out and looked up. Grace was staring at me. Meeting my gaze, I saw a slight pinkish glow darken her cheeks and she bowed her head.
“What?” I asked her. She mumbled something but I couldn’t make it out. I raised my eyebrow at her and sighed frustrated. She was so weird!
“Toruk! Leave Grace alone and hurry. But don’t run!”
I gave another look to Grace and walked past her. I couldn’t think about her strange expressions, my fame lay ahead and waiting.

“Now make the bond Toruk!” I heard beyond my struggling. The red Ikran had bucked me off twice but I got back on. Reaching for my long braid I grabbed the dragon’s extension and claimed it.

~ The celebration to becoming a man was better then I thought. All night, I was surrounded by swooning girls and strong warriors.
“Soon Toruk will conquer his own Toruk!”
I laughed at the warriors remarks and agreed, flexing my arms and smirking. I puffed out my chest as girls giggled and winked at me. Now they saw me as a Na’vi, not a half-blood. Grace as usual was circled by men asking to be her mate. She coquettishly turned them down and kept staring at me! I smiled at her and noticed that she blushed again. Quickly she exited her hoard of admirers and went in the opposite direction. Tilting my head, I was struck with a rare thought. ‘I never knew how cute her tail was.’
I blinked rapidly and shuddered at the intrusion. No she was Grace! Grace, the whiner and my nemeses in the clan. Uncle Jake and Aunt Neytiri congratulated their daughter by the roaring bone fire. I saw their happy faces and warm hugs and kisses. For the first time all night my heart sank. I did not have that. My father was not here to clap me on the back and say how proud he was. My mother could not give me a kiss on the cheek and embrace me. I saw my groups families and frowned at my singularity. My throat tightened and my nose stung. I had to get away from the camp, to be alone. Quietly, so I was not noticed, I slipped away into the darkness. The moon lit my way in the forest, the bio-luminescent flora high-lighting my stripes. The white paint that decorated my skin had no meaning at that moment. Deep inside, I did not feel like a man. I still was a child, lonely and sad. I jumped over twigs and roots, slapped glowing petals and leaves as I went by.
My legs dangled as I sat on the monstrous root that acted as a moss covered bridge. I had a wonderful view of Pandora and the moon to keep me company. My tail moved slowly, contemplatively beside my right thigh. Resting my chin on my left knee I sighed deeply. I studied my caramel and blue skin, my hands and arms. I followed the white lines of dried paint and blinked back hot tears. Burying my head into the crook of my arm, I finally let myself cry.

~Original POV~

Pushing the huge ferns away, she carefully emerged from the forest to see him sitting there alone. Her heart sank for him. She had known that he left the ceremony earlier and had decided to follow him. At first she was about to turn to go back but the sounds of his tears caused her to jump down from the nearby tree and go over to him. The sight of his broad back caused her to blush again. Recently, she was blushing around him like a naive little girl! He teased her and left her behind numerous times in the past. They had grown up together, like siblings. Only now, he was different. He was no longer the bothersome boy with foreign skin and unusual hands and feet. He was a Na’vi warrior now- a man. And he had no one to congratulate him this night. Sure her father and mother gave him praise and regards but it was not the same. Slowly and deftly, she tip-toed out of the bushes and over to his slouched form. But as always, he knew she was there.
“You walk like a elephant,” came a raspy voice, muffled by flesh.
“I do not know of these Earthen creatures you speak of Toruk but I don’t walk like one.”
“Yes you do,” he chuckled. She sighed and lightly smacked his back. Sitting down next to him.
Grace kicked her long legs back and forth, trying to not look at him. “They are looking for you back at camp,” she said.
“I wouldn’t deny it,” he replied. His eyes red and puffy.
“Are you coming back?” Grace asked quietly. Toruk shrugged his shoulders and Grace felt the heat on her face at the simple gesture.
“Toruk, you know that now you are a man---- you may choose a woman,” Grace began, staring down at her lap, “I’m sure you have many women wanting to be your mate.”
Toruk clicked his tongue and shot her an incredulous look. “Yes I know that. What are you getting at?” he eyed her profile. The moons light lit up her soft features, her smooth feline nose and lips. She resembled his Aunt Neytiri very much. She had her big bright eyes and fiery attitude when pushed. Over the years he had observed her body grow from a stick to that of a woman. Her breasts were a little on the small side, but her legs were shapely and long. The tiny luminescent dots adorning her face only enhanced her youthful beauty. Toruk swallowed and really saw her that night.
“Well, what about you? I see your admirers asking for your hand all of the time,” he said putting his leg down.
“Yes but- I don’t want any of them. They are childish and ignorant,” she said flipper her hair back over her shoulder. Toruk chuckled.
“You think I’m childish!” He laughed. She flushed brighter and snapped her head nimbly towards him.
“I do think that you are, and stupid too! As my mother says to my father ‘you’re stupid and ignorant like a child!’” She retorted puffing out her cheeks a bit.
Toruk looked aghast at her. Bring a hand up to his chest, he grabbed his heart and bent over, “Ow! Such a nasty insult coming from a princess.”
Grace smacked his arms, “I’m not nasty! How dare you!”
Toruk playfully fought off her assaults and laughed as her face became redder and redder. His laugh made her heart soar, and his scent of the earth and air filled her nostrils. She noticed all too well how close the two of them were.
“Let’s go back before my father sends out the search party,” she said breathing a bit labored. She rose gracefully from the root and went to walk away. Toruk watched her go to leave and snapped out to grab her hand. Grace immediately stopped and bit her lip, “What?” She asked shortly.
The half-blood rose next to her and gently turned her to face him. Her throat clenched as she met the piercing gaze of the half-blood. His eyes often did that to her, they immobilized her. His sharp jaw and high cheek bones accentuated those eyes.
“W…What is it Toruk?” Grace meekly asked, trying to keep a certain iota of dignity.
Toruk stared into her golden eyes and brought a hand to her face. She marvels at the contrast between their skin color. His slight bronze, hers a lovely cobalt. Grace saw the human in him beyond his flesh and eyes, and wondered what his mother had been like. She must have been beautiful and wise. Enough to have captured the heart of the famed Tsu’tey. And while Toruk was a moron at some things, like gathering food and learning to wield a knife he was adept at the bow and at riding. He was a sound leader and negotiator.
“I have chosen a woman, but I cannot ask her.” He whispered close to Grace.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his forehead, “I understand. This woman’s father must be notified first,” she said nuzzling him.
Toruk nodded and whispered into a pointed ear, “ Now, I’m no longer alone.”


To Be Continued...