Hey everybody! So, it's been awhile since I've posted anything, and I've never posted anything for Avatar before! So get excited for some reading ;) Okay, so the whole story plot takes place outside the usual Avatar movie plot, so there aren't any recurring characters or events, and everything is pretty much other character :) A few warnings before you read, there are two male characters that are paired up (if you don't like that kind of thing, don't read it! duh), although there isn't anything particularly offensive that goes on...

In an already successful clan (completely separate from that in the movie, in a location far away from the movie location...) a newcomer, forced out of his own clan by their pre-existing prejudices, washes up one day. He lies to them, trying to make a new start and blend in, but can he stop himself from forming an "unusual" relationship with one of the warriors? How will everyone, including himself, respond?

Atan`ko's POV:

The sound of the raging water overwhelmed my senses. The rain pounded down on my back, tearing away clothing, washing away blood and tears. I clung tighter to the log, my only lifeline in the raging waters, and prayed to Eywa for safe deliverance from this deluge. I shut my eyes tight against the darkness of the storm, the thunder ringing in my ears...

Taronyu's POV:

I returned to Hometree as a hero, surrounded by the cheering of my comrades loaded with the spoils of a successful hunt. But we were not met with the usual clamor of activity, and the tree seemed all but deserted. I put down my bundle of meat and stopped a little one asking what was going on. The excited child filled me in, "When they went out to the river to gather the fishes from the nets there was someone from another tribe! They was all alone, asleeping in the water! He was almost naked and all by hisself!" Before I could even thank the little one he was off, running up the inner spiral of the tree. I carried my bundle to the women cleaning the catch and hurried upward towards the crowd surrounding an occupied sleeping leaf...

Atan`ko's POV:

I could hear the hushed voices of many people echoing, as if in a large cavern. I tried to feign sleep, but couldn't help shivering in the cool air that surrounded me. I opened my eyes at the rough shaking of cool hands and looked up at the spiritual leader of some clan. But she was not familiar... I wasn't home. My memories of the village, the storm, and my desperate escape came crashing back into my head and I curled against myself again to stop my tears...

Taronyu's POV:

It was night now, and the craze from this afternoon had calmed down. But, as everyone was returning to their sleeping leaves, our leader had requested to speak with me about the strange newcomer.

"He is a little strange, but he claims to be a hunter from his clan." he said. Shocked, I replied, "How can he ever have been a hunter? He is small and delicate as a woman! It would take no effort to break him as easily as a small branch! What do you think-"

"I know that he is odd, and his culture is strange to us, but perhaps he could fit in here. With the help of one of our skilled warriors. With your help." I stared at him dumbfounded, trying to let this new information sink in. "He says that his entire clan was scattered or killed by a group of rogue Thanators, and he has been through much over the past few days. You are one of our most skilled hunters, and perhaps you could show him the ways of our clan and help him to recover from the stress of his struggles." I simply nodded once and he turned, gesturing to the newcomer who was warming himself by the dying embers of a small fire wrapped in a hide. We walked over together toward the shivering newcomer. He stared up at us with obvious nervousness before getting up quickly and dropping the hide. As the wrap fell, it revealed delicate features on smooth skin unblemished by scars or cuts. Each curve and turn of his body was more graceful and elegant than any woman's, and his braid gleamed with healthy shine. The chief began to walk off with him, leaving me to follow. As he turned he revealed a deep mark marring his skin. I could see the anger of the creature who had inflicted it, but it seemed strange somehow... as if there had been no Thanator at all but rather something else... something like a... I looked away as the newcomer glanced back at me, and followed them up into hometree. We stopped by my leaf and the chief turned to me and said,

"Oh, Taronyu... There are no free sleeping leaves, so you'll just have to share with Atan`ko for now. I'm sure that you'll be fine. Goodnight you two!" And then he wandered off before I could argue. I glared at his retreating form, but hopped into my leaf with a sigh. I turned to Atan`ko and gestured for him to follow me in. He hesitated a second, then tried to follow in the same way I had but fell from the swaying of the leaf. He tumbled, with a muffled squeak, right onto my chest, and I held him there before he could tip the whole leaf.

"Geez, haven't you ever slept in a leaf before?" He shook his head, still nervous, and clung to my arm. I sighed and said, "Well it's easy. All you have to do is close your eyes and sleep." I tugged on the edge of the leaf and he watched it close around us with interest. We lay there, trying to sleep, listening to the sounds of everyone resting after a long day. Just as I was drifting off he whispered,

"Thank you, by the way... I'm Atan`ko."

"Oh, no problem. I'm Taronyu. Goodnight." He nodded and lay down again, snuggling a bit closer. I sighed and laid my arm over his delicate shoulders and finally fell asleep, totally at ease with this new stranger...

Atan`ko's POV:

I woke up feeling strangely at ease, warm in someone's strong arms... Completely comfortable. A mere second later and I realized the strangeness of the situation. My eyes flew open and I took a delicate gasp of breath. I was cuddled up with the man who was going to help me make a new start. The big, strong man who was going to help me... I gave myself a mental smack and whispered to myself,

"Come on, come on! This is the kind of thing that got you into trouble before..." I froze as I felt Taronyu stirring underneath me. I closed my eyes, feigning sleep again, and let him wake as covertly as possible... I felt him stir, and stretch. I felt him breath in and sigh. I felt his hands slide along my hips. And then I felt him flinch away and delicately shift me away from him before tapping me "awake". I rolled over and smiled at him.

"Good morning Taronyu." I said, smiling.

"Oh, yeah, good morning Atan..." I giggled as he forgot my name, but ended his mental flailing,

"It's okay, you can call me 'Atan' if you like." He smiled groggily before opening up the leaf and hopping nimbly out. I felt myself frown at being left, but smiled hugely when he turned to help me out.

"Come on," He said, "We start early here. You're not expected to hunt yet, but we may as well get into the spirit of it." He smirked a bit before starting quickly down the tree. And, after a good night's sleep, I kept up pretty well...