It was cool just before dawn. Na'dia was waiting for the sun to rise, by the river where she had first encountered her sensei. She started some stretching exercises to warm up. There was no point in getting injured through sloth or carelessness, by letting the cool of the morning air set in her muscles.

It would have been pleasant to have mirrors and a barre, though her acquisition of a tail, and the new awareness of the life energy around her made both unnecessary. She was totally aware of what her body was doing, and her balance and form were perfect.

She cocked her head to one side to consider what she would dance this morning. Ballet seemed unsatisfying somehow – at least dancing by herself. She needed a dance partner, soon. Na'dia grinned ferally to herself. Today she would advance her campaign to attract Txep'ean to her side. It would be fun to tease him.

So katas it was.

As she danced across the cool grass, Na'dia became aware that she was being watched. Two faint little pinpricks of life energy were trying very hard to be invisible and remain hidden...over there. She moved gracefully over to the bush that concealed the sparks from view and stopped.

"I See you," she said.

The bush rattled its branches as though it was embarrassed to have been noticed, and two children reluctantly stepped out from its concealment, one boy and one girl, and mumbled the Na'vi greeting. They looked like brother and sister.

Na'dia frowned slightly. What should she do next? That's right - names were important. She should ask them their names.

"What are you called?"

The boy, who was the elder, was Ralu, while his sister was Tanhi.

Na'dia sheathed her blades and squatted, so she could look them in the face. She said, "If you wished to watch dance, hiding was not needful."

Tanhi said, "We are not supposed to be here."

Ralu added, "Sempu says you are evil, like all tawtute, and not to be trusted. But you do not look like tawtute."

"I was tawtute once," said Na'dia. "I am not tawtute now."

"What are you?" asked Tanhi in her childish, piping voice.

She was struck by the question, the same question that Mo'at had asked her last night. The answer that she gave to the Tsahik did not seem right for these questioners, so she gave the best answer she could to the young girl. "I don't know." She smiled, adding, "I hope to know soon. Would you like to help me find out?"

"Yes," they chorused together.

"Come," she beckoned, leading them into the middle of the open space. "Come, and do as I do." Na'dia showed the siblings the very first pattern she had learnt from her father. "Now, slowly." She faced them as they moved through the figure. "Again."

"Ralu, good," she said, the boy looking pleased at the compliment. "Tanhi, feel from here." Na'dia pressed her hand against her abdomen, but the young girl looked confused. She reflected that it was hard the first time, so she knelt by Tanhi, and looked into her eyes. "Feel from your centre, Tanhi."

Na'dia took Tanhi's hand and placed it below her diaphragm. "Breathe. Know where you are." The girl took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"I feel it," said Tanhi, her pretty face serious.

"Good. Again," she ordered, standing up.

She showed the two children some more basic patterns, and led them through the motions, gradually speeding them up as they gained more confidence.

"Weave the patterns together, and we will dance," she said calmly.

Na'dia drifted across the green sward, followed by the two children, dancing the simple patterns of her childhood. She felt a sense of rightness, a sense of completion in what she was doing – at least until she felt two Na'vi run up to the river clearing and stop dead.

She brought the dance to a close, and turned around. An adult female was watching, her hand anxiously covering her mouth, while her mate glared angrily at Na'dia. She gestured to the children, who turned about to see their parents.

"Sa'nu! Sempu!" they cried out, and ran towards the anxious adults. Tanhi threw herself at her father, whose face magically softened as he swept her up in a tight embrace. Her brother was more reserved, as befitting a future man of the Omaticaya, and merely took his mother's hand.

"What were you doing? You know you aren't supposed to wander from the camp," scolded their mother. "There is much danger. It is not like Hometree."

Tanhi said proudly, "We were helping Na'dia find out who she is."

"Don't be silly, Tanhi," said her father. "What have I said about making up stories?"

Na'dia had walked quietly towards the family, almost unnoticed. "Tanhi tells the truth," she said. "Ralu and Tanhi were helping discover what I am."

"I apologise," said her father stiffly. "Our children should not have disturbed you. They will not do so again."

"But Sempu," they both complained. "We were having fun."

"Shhh," said Na'dia. "Do as your parents tell you."

Both children looked crestfallen, and Tanhi began to sniffle, tears welling in her eyes. Their mother looked at her mate with an anguished expression. It was clear that she was not proof against the tears of her daughter. She said, speaking to her mate, "Perhaps, if it is no trouble, they could come and help Na'diakhudoshin look for herself again, tomorrow."

He was no more armoured against his daughter than his mate. "If it is no trouble," he said finally.

Making a gesture of assent, Na'dia said, "You are welcome to watch us search."

Their father nodded. "Come, offspring," he said. "It is time to eat."

Na'dia watched the family walk back to the camp. She had spoken truth to the adults. The two children had helped her discover something about herself. Na'dia smiled, drew her swords, and resumed her interrupted katas.