Hi! Shorter chapter than I meant to have but hospitals are becoming my new best friend. Gr. I'm not in them for me. Long story. But here's the ending, not of the saga but of this episode. Um well. I don't know if I can even continue the saga. It's just there's too much going on. I'll try but I make no promises. There's still several stories left to be told. Thank you to all my readers and supporters. I love you much. Be safe and read well.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Yipee! Oh wait. Crap...

Chapter 14 Endings and Beginnings

Breathing hurt. Movement was nearly impossible. And she didn't even want to thing about opening her eyes. Rayne's side felt as if someone stabbed her with red hot metal, and she bit back the groan of pain. Her mouth bled from the effort to control the screams that threatened to shred the silence around her. Those would cause her ears to hurt. And at this point only her ears and toes were excluded from the ball of pain that threatened to consume her.

Five more seconds and I'll see where I am. She told herself. If she was still in Tsu'tey's arms at Hometree then she just slipped under the blanket of unconsciousness for a few moments and no one would be the wiser. But if she was anywhere else then she would have someone watching her like a hawk through the entire rainy season. Honestly everyone who led an active life like hers would eventually have a few bumps and bruises but you would think the world was coming to an end with the way people fussed when she got a cut or scratch.

She though back with a tinge of amusement to the palulukan that got a piece of her. Mo'at had fussed for ages about the new scar. And still no one knew she had bonded with it. She couldn't wait to come into the village one day riding its broad back just to see everyone's faces. That didn't hurt nearly this badly. So what injury did she have this time?

She carefully opened her eyes against the dying daylight, blinking as it stung. She wriggled her toes carefully assessing the damage, seeing what was actually hurt and what just felt that way. Legs just hurt but weren't damaged she figured, slowly raising them a few inches off the platform she was on then lowering them not feeling anything other than the strain that came after a fight, and not much of that. Must be from laying for so long. She tried to raise her arms but only one was free. No real pain just, ache.

Moving her neck to see what her hand was caught in, sent a spasm of hurt lancing through her vertebra and the tissue that surrounded it. She stifled the gasp that broke from her mouth till all that was heard was a squeak. But that was enough to wake Tsu'tey who sat vigil, holding her hand that was no longer ensnared by the bioluminesant roots that had cocooned her only hours before. She hurt for him seeing the weary look in his beryl colored eyes. He hadn't gotten any sleep apart from the moments that she had pulled him from.

"You're awake." He said, his voice rough from the lack of sleep. "You scared me."

Rayne smiled weakly. "What happened? Where am I?" Her own voice sounded like sandpaper.

"You broke several bones. Lurak is surprisingly strong. The bones tore into some organs and through the skin." Tsu'tey looked grim. "Other than set the bones, there was nothing that could be done." He reached down beside him into the bowl Kyuna had filled with water to wash away the dried blood and took the cloth that was soaking within it. "We got you to the Tree of Souls. Eywa's in control now." Wringing liquid from the cloth he turned back to her to dab at the blood that still dripped from her side.

"She always is." She tried to smile but even the muscles of her face hurt. So in the end it looked more like a pained grimace, and she knew without question the worst was not over , this was only a small reprieve."If I don't," Rayne's bottom lip quivered slightly, "get well, promise me, you'll take care of Hataak and Se'la. Don't let Hataak blame himself. He keeps trying to be an adult. He needs to be a child for a while longer. And don't let Se'la push Jarris away. He's a good man."

"Don't talk like that. You aren't going anywhere."Tsu'tey protested in a growl, his smile barely concealing the worry that swept through him. Eywa may have revealed the future to him, but that didn't stop the worry. Anything could happen between now and that point, even after that. One glimpse of a happy future did not equal a happy forever. Oh good Eywa, what little hellions their children would be. He thought back to all the problems he gave his own loving parents. Yes, any child of his, let alone his and Rayne's, would be terrors. And he couldn't wait.

"Get some sleep." She replied, leaving his statement held her hand out for his and pulled it to her lips, pressing a kiss into his skin before letting the fever that she didn't even know coursed through her veins pulled her back under. "Love you." She murmured as the last glints of her consciousness faded away.

Tsu'tey clenched his teeth before relaxing slightly as he realized this was a healing sleep she was in now. "I love you too, mate." He said crawling over her to stretch out at her side, careful not to jar her side as he molded himself to her. She couldn't hear his words, he knew that, but it ached, the thought that if she didn't wake up, she would never hear him say those words. They used to be so unimportant to him before, but now it warmed him to know she felt that way. "I'm a stubborn man. And I'm not about to let you go so don't even think it. You're mine and you're stuck. Get used to it women."

Tsu'tey chuckled softly. "We'll worry about everything tomorrow. Tonight we sleep." He carefully attached his queue to hers so that he could be with her again in her dreams.

~~~ Hours later ~~~

Tsu'tey still slept on, Rayne tucked carefully under his protective arms. Kyuna chuckled softly looking from her perch on the rocks at the edge of the clearing. How long had it been since she slept that peacefully? With or without someone to hold her? Too long she decided, jumping silently from her hiding place among the rocks without stirring a stone from its resting place. The dry stones bit into the pads of her feet as she listened. Some habits you didn't loose after nearly a lifetime of being hunted. Habits like walking more silent than the coming breeze. Habits like being a light sleeper, so that the slightest noise woke you from your slumber. And as useful as these habits were, she prayed that Rayne would never need them.

A whistle broke from high above sounding like a bird call in the evening air. All's clear, Rai'uk's call said. Kyuna trilled back, her own call meaning it was clear there as well and she was moving on to the next spot in the perimeter.

The ground felt warm under her feet, even as the air turned cold, signaling the coming rains were near at hand. She was concerned, Rayne couldn't be moved again this soon unless Eywa worked miracles. Granted the gaping hole which was her wound had closed quite a bit with Ewya's help. But she was still weak from the blood loss. Kyuna place a hand on her brothers shoulder when he hit the ground and turned to his daughter. "Wait. If she takes after you or I, she'll be up soon. Although if I had that," she said calling attention to Tsu'tey, "in my bed. I doubt I would wake up for a long, long time."

"Kyuna!" Rai'uk gasped in mock outrage. "I don't need to have the picture of my little sister doing that in my head!"

"Big baby." She smacked the back of his head as Rayne pulled herself into a sitting position and looked down at the hole in her side. "Saved by the daughter."

"Thank Eywa!"

"Eywa, I need to get laid." Kyuna looked on with envy as Tsu'tey tried to pull Rayne back down to sleep more of the day away.

"Kyuna!"

~~~ Sitting up. Oh the pain. ~~~

Pain erupted like a dying star's last breath, within her bones as Rayne pulled herself to sit upright. She hissed as the consuming ache forced air from her lungs. She dug her toes into the earth at her feet, grateful that it stayed where it was supposed to at her feet. Her stomach rolled as she fought the nausea down from where it pushed it's way up her throat. The sun burned in her eyes as it fell, making her head throb and swim. The crackling of a fire sounded from somewhere off to the side but she didn't feel like turning to the side to find it, knowing that would send a wave of fire like pain along her back.

Tsu'tey growled softly in his sleep and pulled at her hips where his arm now lay, unwilling to relinquish his hold.

Rayne smirked. What ever had happened to the big bad warrior who hold one conversation without it coming to blows? How had he turned into the protective man who would always have her back? How had he turned into the man who she wanted to hold at night? Into the one who she couldn't wait to hold his child. To look in it's eyes and see their father's eyes shining without the hate and hardness that experiences had hidden in his, seeing only hope and promise. It was in his eyes she saw the future. It was in his arms, she found the strength to face those coming years with courage. It was his smile that held hope. With laughter, hope, courage and love, the coming years would be something to be reckoned with.

Rai'uk crept to her side and crouched low enough to see Rayne's injury was now almost a memory. "Well?" He smiled softly. "Ready to face a new day?"

Rayne grinned wolfishly. "I feel ready to kick some ass and forget taking names."

"That's my girl." He laughed heartily until the rocks and trees shook with his pride. "And you are spending way too much time with Jake, Tsahik."

Rayne cringed. "I was afraid of that." She sighed and tried again to stand. "We'll I guess I better start acting like it."

"When we get back to the clan, worry about mating the new Olo'eyktan for real this time." Rai'uk laughed as his daughter's face twisted like she tasted something horribly sour. "Hey I am a fully functioning male who understands the mating urge. And your mate is going crazy without. . ."He sputtered to a halt realizing what he was about to say. "Oh Eywa. I need to wash out my mouth."

"Please do." Tsu'tey growled shoving Rai'uk backward onto his butt. "In the mean time, leave me and my mate alone."

Kyuna smiled. He was going to be a good Olo'eyktan.

"Mate." Rayne growled. "Let's get back to Hometree then you and I are hiding for a month until I'm pregnant."She slammed her head into her palms. "I just said that out loud didn't I?"

Tsu'tey nodded and craned around her to kiss her stomach. "Yes you did. But I like the plan."

"That's the next adventure." Eywa laughed softly, looking down at the scene below. "And that is another story." And if you could see her smile you would have seen the loving indulgence of a mother, proud of her children and anxious for their next escapade to begin.

A/N Hey. Sorry to end things so quickly. But my mind isn't here at the moment. Family members in hospitals, loss of friends, Jonah year I swear!

Love you much. I have other stories in the works but Avatar isn't where my heart is right now.