literature

Laylat - Arrival

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I stretched. The baby was getting too heavy for me to stand up for a long time, and I was glad that he was going to be born soon. I haven't seen Masu for a few weeks. I hoped she was all right, but I didn't call her – she'd want me to fly on her and I didn't want this. I was much less agile and I feared that I wouldn't manage.

This day wasn't anyhow different from the other, but I knew that this was meant to happen just this day, and not any other. I looked around and saw the temporary shelters that the Omaticaya built around the fallen Hometree, hammocks hung on roots and the Omaticaya living their own lives. I smiled as I felt impatient moves of the baby. He couldn't wait to see these all… I hushed him a little and went to see Tsu'tey. He was discussing some Hometree-related issues with Neytiri (who was now obviously expecting) and Jakesully. I playfully hugged my mate.

'It's today!' I announced, then I burst into laughter. Tsu'tey patted me and then hugged.

'Now?' he asked. I shook my head.

'About evening' I said. Tsu'tey nodded.

'I'll be there, by your side. I want to see him… I'm so excited…'

'Me too.'

I couldn't sit in one place. Other Omaticaya women gave me gifts for the baby, like a baby carrier (this way I'd take my son for Masu rides!) or some candy. Tsu'tey was making a toy ikran in secret. I mean, he tried to keep it in secret from me, but failed. Hope he didn't spot me.

The evening came and Tsu'tey joined me. The baby wasn't born yet, but I could feel he turned upside down already. He kicked as Tsu'tey put his hand on my stomach.

'Is this his tail?' Tsu'tey asked. I nodded. The baby kicked again.

'He's coming out…' I whispered and I felt him making his way out. I moaned in pain. I knew that Neytiri was within reach, and probably one of my helpers too, but I felt that I would manage on my own… or rather, with Tsu'tey. I took a deep breath and moaned again.

'Laylat, keep going' Tsu'tey said. 'Sìltsan (good), sìltsan, the head is out…'

I took another deep breath. I pushed, feeling that the baby is really coming out…

'Yes, yes, very good, very good… I can hold his arms…' Tsu'tey said. He pulled the baby slightly. I pushed, gasping heavily.

'Mawey (calm), Laylat… sìltsan (good), almost done… just one push more…'

One more push and Tsyu'tey took his knife to cut the birth cord off. The baby cried, it was his first cry in his whole life. I hugged him and raised him to my breast. He started sucking almost immediately. Tsu'tey kissed me.

'Good job, Laylat' he whispered. 'He's beautiful.'

The next day, everyone wanted to see our baby. We named our 'itan (son) Tsku'pey. It was a good name.

'Tsku'pay' Jakesully said, pronouncing it wrong 'You are the cutest baby I've ever seen…'

'His name is Tsku'pey' I corrected, 'and I think that in a few months you'll change your mind.'

'Maybe… he's the cutest boy I've ever seen. This opinion won't change this easily.'

I laughed. Neytiri was expecting an 'ite (daughter), so our Tsku'pey could stay cutest boy in the tribe.

Days passed and I still didn't see Masu. I was, however, too busy to fly or hunt, but I was worried about her. For most of time, I cooked or gathered fruit… when I wasn't busy feeding or changing nappies for Tsku'pey. I carried him around almost all the time, as I didn't want him to cry while Tsu'tey discussed important issues. I know he was worried that the tawtute (sky people) could come back, and Jakesully shared this worry.

In the evening Tsu'tey tickled Tsku'pey.

'Goodnight, my little one!' he giggled. 'Who is sempu's 'itan (daddy's son)? Aynga (you)!'

'Stop it, Tsu'tey. It's late for him' I said. Tsu'tey hugged our son and lay down. They fell asleep in close embrace.
In the morning Masu came. She squealed as she saw me and landed gently next to me. Then she pulled my hair and lowered her back.

'You want to take me somewhere?' I asked and she nodded. She smelled Tsku'pey and licked him.

'You want me to take him as well?' I asked again, quite worried. Masu snorted impatiently, so I climbed on her back and made tsahaylu (neural connection). She carried me to the Iknimaya (stairway to heaven). Through tsahaylu I felt her excitement.

'Oh my Eywa' I thought, frightened, 'is she carrying us to her nest?'

Masu gently landed and put me down. Then she gave a loud and high shriek. Another ikran – a bit bigger than Masu, I had a feeling it was a male – came to us. First, he suspiciously looked at us, but Masu shrieked at him and didn't let him hurt us. The male leaded us somewhere and Masu went at the end, so we were just between two ikrans, two carnivorous beasts…

Suddenly the male ikran moved aside so that I could see a nest. For a while it seemed that it was empty – but why would these ikrans lead us here? But then, something in the nest moved. I stepped back, and then I saw a baby ikran's head. And then… another one.

'They are your children?' I asked and Masu nodded with pride.

'They are beautiful' I said and kneeled to stroke one of them and then Tsku'pey reached his hand to stroke another one.

'Semms you have already chosen your ikran' I smiled to my son.
Last chapter!

[link] - chapter 1 (Laylat - Rescue)
[link] - chapter 2 (Laylat - Mating)
[link] - chapter 3 (Laylat - Memories)
[link] - chapter 4 (Tsu’tey – Memories)
[link] - chapter 5 (Laylat – Hometree)
[link] - chapter 6 (Tsu’tey – Hometree)
[link] - chapter 7 (Laylat – Gone)
[link] - chapter 8 (Tsu’tey – Gone)
[link] - chapter 9 (Laylat – Songs)
[link] - chapter 10 (Tsu’tey – News)
[link] - chapter 11 (Laylat – Burden)
[link] - chapter 12 (Tsu’tey – Worries)
[link] - chapter 13 (Laylat – Cure)
[link] - chapter 14 (Tsu’tey – Back to Hometree)
© 2010 - 2024 Batysia
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Dungeon-Spirit's avatar
You know, just several days ago I've read one fantasy book... About people and dragons, something like "Eragon", but different a bit... Close emotional connection made people have mating right in time when their dragons made it. Well, not exactly with giving birth, but something like this...