Akima's POV

Aries has woken, but is still recovering. We sit with the pride in Na'vi form. Praying with the rest of the tribe as Mo'at leads the prayer on the dias. Tsu'tey watching over everyone in his chief attire, near Mo'at.

Shafts of dawn light reach to the bottom of the grotto, lighting a single willow the mother tree. Ancient and gnarled, it grows in the center of the rock. Its root spread down to the grotto floor, where they merge with the roots of the willows ringing the Well forming a braided mat resembling the surface of a brain.

"Wise ancestors who live within Eywa, guide us. Give us a sign" Mo'at says.

"Eywa, guide us" we chant. As we all link to the mother tree. We all start to sing the ancient songs. As we await a sign from Eywa.

I soon feel something. I open my eyes and look up. "Is something wrong?" Aries asks through our mate bond.

"Something big approaches from the sky" I tell him.

"Sky people?" he asks.

"I don't think so" I state. From what I feel from the forest around us. It is the Last Shadow. But why would it be flying this way? Is it hunting? Around us the tribe continue to lift their voices in a song filled with tragic loss and yearning for deliverance. Only the pride has noticed our silence and look at us in confusion.

I continue to look up at the sky. Aries doing the same. The pride do so in confusion. When a shadow falls over the entire tribe. A terrible cry echoes, turning all eyes skyward. Toruk comes out of the sun, beating its huge wings to slow its descent. Its crimson and black wings, backlit by the sun, seem to glow from within. As it lands.

The People cry out in alarm and scatter as the dreaded beast alights in their midst. The pride prepare to attack. And that's when I see Jake, riding high on Toruk's shoulders, they had bonded. Others notice this also as Toruck folds its wings and stands calmly amid the paralyzed Na'vi. Toruk lowers its body. They stare in awe as Jake dismounts and strokes the magnificent animal's flank.

"Alpha, what do we do?" Cato and Mimi ask.

"Await Tsu'tey's order" I tell the pride. They all agree. Mo'at, Neytiri, and Tsu'tey watch in stunned amazement as the legendary Rider of Last Shadow (Jake) walks toward them. Neytiri greets him first.

"I see you" she says.

"I see you" he says in a hoarse voice. Neytiri's eyes brim with tears. Jake cups her cheek and she places her hand on his.

"I was afraid Jake for my people. I'm not any more" she tells him. They hold hands and Jake leads them over to the Dias. To speak to Tsu'tey.

"Tsu'tey of the Rongloa, son of Ateyo. I stand before you, ready to serve the People" Jake states in Na'vi for all to hear. "You are Olo'eyctan, and you are a great warrior. I can't do this without you" he says in English. Tsu'tey struggles with his emotions as he looks up at Toruck, then back as Jake.

"Toruk Macto" he states. "I will fly with you, brother" he says placing a hand on Jake's shoulder. Jake smiles. Then turns to Mo'at and says Grace is dying. He brings Grace's human body forward to perform the Consciousness Transfer. But Grace was to weak from her wounds to survive. She is with Eywa now.

Jake turns to Tsu'tey. "With your permission, I will speak now. You would honor me by translating" he tells him. Tsu'tey nods his head. They turn to address the tribe together. "The Sky People have sent us a message... that they can take whatever they want. That no one can stop them. Well, we will send them a message. You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you. You tell the other clans to come. Tell them Toruk Macto calls to them! You fly now, with me! My brothers! Sisters! And we will show the Sky People... that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this... this is our land!" Jake declares.

Tsu'tey translated every word. He finishes with a bloodcurdling war-cry, and the entire tribe responds, their shouts echoing across the forest. Jake takes Neytiri's hand and runs to the Toruk. He vaults onto its back and pulls her up behind him.

The hunters run to their banshees, mounting quickly. Toruk rises on mighty wings into the night sky. With a thunder of wings, the banshees take off after it. The pride and I shift and we go to patrol the perimeter. We will protect the tribe. While the hunters spread Toruk Macto's call to all the tribes. We will defeat the sky people and send them back to their dying world.

We went from two hundred to over two thousand in only a day. And more are coming, answering Toruk's call. But it won't be enough. If we are going to win with minimal looses. We'll need all of Pandora to help. Jake had the same idea. I see him bonded to the mother tree one night before the battle.

"If Grace is there with you look in her memories she can show you the world we come from. There's no green there. They killed their Mother, and they're gonna do the same thing here" he states. I notice the spirits flying around him. "More Sky People are gonna come. They're gonna come like a rain that never ends. Until they've covered the world. Unless we stop them" he explains. "Look, you chose me for somethin'. And I'll stand and fight, you know I will. But I could use a little help here" he admits.

Neytiri joins him and places her hands on his shoulders. "Our Great Mother does not take sides. She protects only the balance of life" she tells him. As he disconnects from the mother tree.

"It was worth a try" he tells her. They then leave to go get some sleep. I take their place and link with the mother tree.

"Eywa, I do not know if you can hear me. But the pride and I will fight until our last breath to protect not only the tribe. But all of Pandora. However, we and the Na'vi can't do it alone. I hate to ask this, but we need more allies. Please alert the creatures to the threat and allow them to help. And I promise you we will win this fight & send the sky people back to their dying world" I tell her.

"Akima" Aries says as he joins me. I disconnect from the mother tree. "What are you doing?" he asks.

"Praying to Eywa" I tell him and he kisses my forehead wrapping his arms around me. "Aries, I am ordering you to stay here tomorrow" I state.

"What?!" he exclaims.

"You're still wounded and I will not let you risk your life" I tell him.

"Yet you can risk yours and that of our unborn child?!" he demands. "No, if you and the pride are fighting. So am I" he states.

"But..." I try to protest and he kisses me passionately.

"I will honour Toruk Macto's call and protect Pandora & the people. I am prepared to give my life for them, for you" he tells me. "I promise to stay close, but I will not stay here" he states.

"Ok" I say.

"Alphas!" the pride says as they appear.

"Good, you're all here" I state. "I have the plan for tomorrow" I tell them. "Cato and Mimi you will remain to protect the women and children. And the mother tree" I state. They go to argue and I give them a pointed look. The remain silent. "The rest of us will join the ground team and attack the sky people on the ground. While Tsu'tey, Jake and Neytiri lead the aerial assault" I state. "Now go rest" I order. They nod and we all go to our sleeping areas. Where we all tried to get as much sleep as possible before the attack.

A/N

Picture above of Jake on the Last Shadow.