A New Beginning (WIP Fan Fic)

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

is the next chapter ready yet?

[NaviWalker]

im sorry guys, I have been having trouble writing recently... freakin writers block. I have the next chapter started, im trying to make the chapters longer as well.

[Txur Niftxavang]

Oh yea! I get plenty writers block on my college papers! Take your time.  It is good that your making the chapters longer.

[NaviWalker]

Chapter 8 (The Night)


Neytiri had returned from a very successful hunt with enough food to feed the entire clan.  She made sure that everything thing was ready for tonight's feast to welcome Julie to the clan.

"I wonder how Julie is doing," Neytiri thought "she seemed a bit shaken when I left her."

She quickly had made sure everything was in order for the meal that night and began to look around for Julie, asking people if they had seen her.  Many members of the tribe had said that they had met her, but didn't know where she was.  Neytiri went to look for Jake.

Julie continued to follow Wintxu down through the canopy of Hometree, but she was having trouble keeping up with the young Na'vi as they descended.  Wintxu was gracefully leaping from limb to limb with ease while Julie navigated around each limb trying to keep up.  Julie continued following Wintxu as she watched him swing through the branches. She watched him disappear from view as she found an alternate route to try to keep up with him.  When Julie emerged from her detour, Wintxu had vanished.  Julie walked out to where she thought Wintxu would have been waiting for her, but he was no where to be found.

"Wintxu!" she called out.

No reply.

"Wintxu!" she yelled again.

"Yes?" a voice behind her said.

Julie turned to see Wintxu hanging upside down grinning from ear to ear.  Julie jumped back startled while Wintxu chuckled to himself.

"Not funny." Julie sneered.

"What? Don't you play these kind of games where you come from?" Wintxu inquired as he gracefully dropped to his feet.

"No." Julie responded.

"You Avatar drivers are weird." Wintxu joked.

"Look who's talking." Julie grinned back.

Wintxu laughed as he jumped down to the closet tree limb and continued his decent.  Julie just shook her head smiling to herself.  The two continued to play the moving version of hide and seek, taking turns seeing who could find the best hiding spot and they continued towards the base of Hometree.  Wintxu found Julie with ease almost every time, while Julie had some trouble trying to getting to the higher spots where Wintxu often hid.  Eventually, they both arrived at the base of Hometree out of breath and laughing at each other.

Almost immediately Neytiri appeared and saw the two standing next to each other.

"Looks like she is fitting in just fine." Neytiri thought as she waved to them.

Julie and Wintxu smiled and waved back.

"Look like you two where having a good time." said Neytiri.

"Yea." Julie responded, still winded, as she glanced at Wintxu.

"Wintxu, go make sure the meal for tonight is being properly prepared." Neytiri said.

Wintxu nodded and headed off to where the food was being prepared.

"See you later Julie." he yelled as he waved.

Julie waved back, she turned to Neytiri and smiled.

"Well it seems you have made a friend." Neytiri said.

"Yea, Wintxu was kind enough to show me around and introduce me." replied Julie.

Neytiri motioned to Julie to follow her, Julie followed without hesitation.  They found the closest rock and both of them sat down to relax.  It had been a long day for both of them in many ways.

"So do you think you will stay?" Neytiri asked.

"I didn't know leaving was an option." Julie said, puzzled.

"It was an option, however we felt it best not to let you know that," Neytiri teased "we wanted you to see how you would fit in first."

Julie smirked.  "My mother asked for you to do that, didn't she?" she asked.

"Yes." Neytiri stated simply as she grinned at Julie.

There was a moment of silence, them both of them started to giggle at the situation.

"That's my mom for you, always looking out for me, but I love her for it." Julie said as she regained her composure.

They both sighed as they regained control over their breathing.  Julie looked up to see that the sun had finally set on the planet of Pandora and the night had begun.  A low tone bellowed around them, Neytiri slowly stood.

"Time to eat." she smiled.

Julie stood alongside her followed her to the dining area.  She could smell the cooked food and her mouth started to water.  Julie had had so much fun that day that she had forgotten how hungry she was.  As Julie entered the area she was taken back at the size of the dinning area.

It was massive, three large fire pits with raised seating surrounding them so that all could see the center, where  entertainment was provided.  Five large roots from Hometree encircled them while the opening above allowed for viewing of the sky during the night.

Julie continued to follow Neytiri to where she and Jake sat, Julie found a place right next to them to sit  and saw that everyone had started to take their seats as the food was starting to be passed around.  As Julie got her share of the meal she looked at it, the meal consisted of some strange blue meat along with large, white, steaming grubs.  Suddenly Julie was no longer as hungry as she was before.

"Umm...what is this?" she asked as she looked up at Neytiri, who was busy biting into one of the white grubs.

"Try it, I'm sure you will love it, it tastes just like...um..."  she turned to Jake and whispered something in his ear.  Jake grinned as she did so, and whispered back.

"Chicken, it tastes just like...chicken." Neytiri said turning back to Julie.

"It actually does." Jake chimed in with a grin from ear to ear.

Julie slowly picked up one of the grubs and bit into, chewing it slowing, her eyes began to light up.  Turning back to Jake and Neytiri.

"It does!" she exclaimed with a mouth full of grub.

Julie continued to eat, savoring all the new smells and tastes that she had in front of her.  She was so  entranced by the food that she hadn't noticed that the entertainment for that night begun.  The sound of thundering drums filled the air as a number of dancers entered the center of the ring.  Julie was so startled by the sound of the drums that she nearly choked on a grub she was eating.  Julie finally managed to swallow the grub, she took a sigh of relief as she turned her attention to the song and dance that was in front of her.

As Julie sat back and enjoyed the music, she looked around at everyone who was their.  Many of them Wintxu had introduced her to, Julie smiled as she thought of Wintxu and his generosity to help her feel welcome.  Moments later, she spotted him in the crowd, he was talking and laughing with a number of other male na'vi.  Julie suddenly felt a rush a warmth flow over her as she gazed at Wintxu.

"Julie? You ok?" Neytiri asked.

Shook her head and quickly averted her glace to avoid being caught staring.

"Yea...I'm just a bit tired, its been a long day." she said facing Neytiri.

"I guess it's time to get some rest then." Neytiri said as she rose from her seat.

Julie watched as Neytiri turned to Jake and whispered something in his ear and gently gave him a kiss on the cheek.  They both grinned at each other and Neytiri motioned for Julie to follow her.

Julie followed Neytiri towards the upper part of Home Tree, she was drained from everything that had happened that day.  As climbed, Julie could see a number of hammocks swinging gently as clan members curled up inside of them.

"It's going to be nice to get some rest." she thought staring upward.

Julie continued to follow Neytiri upward until the hammocks Julie was once glancing up at, were far below.  They finally arrived at an area where there were a number of open hammocks.

"You may choose any of these to sleep in." Neytiri said, turning to Julie, as she gestured across the open area.

Julie nodded in response, she started to walk down the tree limbs that allowed access to the hammocks on that level.  Julie followed the winding limbs of the tree until she found herself at the edge of the canopy, she looked around and found an empty hammock that had a clear view over the forest below.

"It's just like home." she thought, turing to Neytiri. "Here...I think this will be fine." she said with a smile.

Neytiri smiled, "We will see you in the morning," she said as she helped Julie into her hammock, "Have a good night."

"You too...and...thanks for everything." Julie said.

Neytiri smiled and disappeared behind the think brush of the canopy.

Julie turned rolled onto her side as she tried to make herself comfortable, her mind was still buzzing with all that had happened that day, but her body was tired.  She stared out over the landscape in front of her.  The pitch black night speckled with stars was only made more stunning by the faint glow of the forest below.  Julie smiled as she closed her eyes for the night.

"I can't wait to tell mother about..." a rustling above cut her thoughts short.

Opening her eyes, she glanced around seeing if anyone was there.

"Probably just the wind." she whispered to herself.

She laid back down and shut her eyes again, moments later the rustling started again, Julie opened her eyes again to come face to face with Wintxu.

Julie's heart raced as she felt a scream forming in her throat, but Wintux was quick to react, placing his hand over her mouth to muffle the sound.  Placing one finger to his lips, he silently told Julie to stay quite.  Julie shook her head slowly understanding what he meant as he leaned in closer to her.

"Follow me." He whispered into her ear.

Julie's ears perked up at what he said.  Wintxu helped Julie out of her hammock, and motioned for her to follow as he began to quietly move along the tree limbs so not to disturb any one from sleeping.  As Julie followed Wintxu, the feeling of being exhausted melted away.  Quietly the two made their way down Home Tree and soon Julie found herself at the entrance still tailing Wintxu. 

Wintxu had stopped right before the entrance of Home Tree, as he waited for Julie to catch up.

"So there is one more thing I wanted to show you." Wintxu said with a grin, as Julie caught up.

Julie looked at him puzzled, "What? I though you showed me everything?" she asked, "What else could there be?"

"That..." Wintxu said as he gazed into the thick forest. "This place, Home Tree, is only part of our world, of who we are.  But its not the whole picture... it's the world around us and to truly understand that, you need to see it for yourself."

Julie could feel herself staring at Wintxu, she had no idea why, but she could not look away.  Only when Wintxu turned to look at her did she break her stare.  She brushed her hair aside trying to cover the fact that she was blushing again.  Wintxu grinned, took off running toward the forest.  Julie was still embarrassed that she had been caught staring.

"Come on!" Wintxu yelled, as he disappeared into the forest.

Julie stood at the base of Home Tree for what felt like ages, trying to decide what to do.  After building up enough courage she slowly made her way toward the forest.

"What's going on?" she thought, "What am I doing?"

Her slow walk started to quicken in pace until she was in a full sprint towards the forest.

"Here goes nothing!" she thought.

She ran right into the thick of the forest, pushing branches and vines out of her way, trying to get to an opening.  She continued to struggle as she burst through the thick brush and arrived at a clearing, glowing a vibrant green.

"I wondered when you would show," Wintxu joked, "Think you can keep up this time?"

He didn't even give Julie a chance to respond before he was running along a fallen tree trunk.  Julie desperately wanted to take in her surroundings, the clearing she was in was just beautiful, but she had to keep up with Wintxu in order not to get lost.  Julie sprinted after Wintxu with all her might, trying to catch him.  He was gracefully bounding over fallen tree limbs and nimbly darted though the thick brush.

Julie was having trouble keeping up with him, every time she seemed to be closing the gap between them, it started to grow again.  As Julie started to close the gap once again, she caught a glimpse Wintxu face.  He was smiling and laughing to himself.

"Oh, he's playing a game with me."  she thought as she smirked.

She watched as Wintxu leaped over another fallen tree and disappear from view.  Julie found a gap under the fallen tree that she exploited.  As she emerged from under the tree, she was ready for another all out sprint but instead she found Wintxu sitting next to a stream, his feet dangling in the water, staring up into the night sky.

"Is this what you wanted to show me?" Julie asked.

"Yep." Wintxu simply replied.

Julie sat down next to Wintxu and joined him by putting her feet in the water as well.

"Everything...it's, too wonderful for words." Julie said.

"I know, that's why I brought you here." Wintxu said with a friendly smile.

Both of them sat for awhile as they enjoyed the scenery around them.  Julie watched the many creatures that were flying around her as well as swimming around in the water below.

"Beautiful night." Julie said, trying to break the silence.

"Yea." Wintxu replied.

"So...I have this question has been bugging me..." Julie said.

Wintxu looked at Julie puzzled.

"Why...why did you decide to help me?" Julie asked awkwardly.

Wintxu laughed to himself.

"When I saw you curled up on that rock, you looked so helpless and alone, and I know how that feels, I was alone at one point as well.  I just didn't want you to feel that way when you live here, we are a family and no one should be left out," he said.  "and it was nice to get to know you as well, I really didn't know what to expect from an Avatar driver to be honest, but looks like everything turned out ok."

Julie could feel herself blushing again, she turned and grinned to herself.

Wintxu took noticed her strange movements.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yea...I guess...I...I" Julie stuttered.  She took a deep breath and continued.  "I really don't know how to say this any other way.  I really liked spending time with you today..."

"So did I." Wintxu interrupted.

"No...no I mean, I felt that it meant more than two people getting to know each other, I felt this sort of connection...I don't know." Julie said, distraught that she could not articulate her thoughts and feelings into words, "My head has been a mess of thoughts and feelings all day, I just don't know what to do." she said as she looked up in Wintxu's eyes.

There was a moment of silence between them, both staring at each other.  It only lasted a moment but to Julie, it felt like a life time.

"I know and it's ok." Wintxu said with a smile, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way."

Julie felt the weight lifted off her shoulders as she a sigh of relief washed over her.

"I have only been here a day, this can't be normal..." Julie trailed off.

"If it's Eywa's will, there is not stopping it." Wintxu said still gazing at her.

Julie looked up and smiled, she moved closer to Wintxu and rested her head on his shoulder.  She could feel Wintxu tail move against hers, she smiled as their tails entwined.  She looked up at Wintxu and noticed that he was blushing.  They sat their for what felt like ages, talking, enjoying the scenery around them and each others company, but soon Julie felt the exhaustion from the day start to catch up with her.

"Its getting late...well...later." Wintxu said.

"Yea." Julie yawned.

"Think we should get going?"

Julie nodded.

They both got up and headed back toward Home Tree.  The walk through the glowing forest was beautiful, Wintxu and Julie continued to talk and joke around as they headed back.  As they neared the edge of the forest where they had entered.

"Thanks again for everything, I really don't know what I would have done without you." Julie said.

Wintxu smiled, "You..."

He couldn't get the words out of his mouth, before Julie kissed him softly on the cheek just as she saw Neytiri kiss Jake.

Wintxu stood there, trying to pick his jaw up off the floor, his hand where her lips had been.

"I'm glad we had this night together, but I think we may need to keep this a secret for the time being.  I have no idea how the clan would react...or my parents for that matter."  Julie said, her thoughts turning negative.

"Yea.." Wintxu sighed.

"But I had a great time." Julie grinned as she headed back toward the entrance of Home Tree.

Wintxu followed Julie back through the entrance, they met once again, at the base of where their separate sleeping areas where.  Julie looked into Wintxu eyes and hugged him.

"Irayo." she whispered into his ear.

They parted and headed to bed, with thought of that night fresh in their minds.  As Julie managed to climb into her hammock by herself, she tried to think of what might happen next.

"I really hope I have not screwed this up already." she thought.

Julie closed her eyes and once again felt the familiar tug and the blinding white light as she slipped back to her real body.

[Muzer]

Mmm... chicken... you've made me hungry now, DAMN YOU

[Tsamsiyu92]

Great work, keep it up:)

Can't wait for the next one.

[NaviWalker]

Thanks guys, sorry it took so long.

[Duma Vadamee {Aungia Tsawkeyä}]

jesus its the longest ive seen you do!

[NaviWalker]

Yea, im going to try to make them longer, that way I can get more of the story done and can elaborate a bit instead of the short 1000 word ones I have been doing.