Chapter Twenty: Let It Begin

When morning came, I was so exhausted that I could hardly stand on my feet. As soon as I had returned to the camp, Tsanten and I fought about me not being responsible, risking myself by staying away from the camp for so long. We didn't know when the Skypeople were going to strike. They could have soldiers lurking in the jungle simply waiting for one of us to wander off. It didn't matter that I had a giant thanator with me at all times. It didn't matter that Trudy was a trained soldier. Nothing would make him see that I was perfectly safe. It went on far longer than any argument we've ever had and they were very few and far between. To top it off he had the audacity to confront me about what he was feeling in front of all the clans. I tried pulling him away and he accused me of avoiding him. I didn't know where it was coming from. By the end of it I was so hurt and confused that I refused to go to bed with him, let alone stand in the same vicinity as him. I spent the entire night triple checking every plan we had ever talked about. Went over every weapon with a microscope just to make sure that there were no surprises. No one could convince me to turn in or to slow down. My emotions were heightened and I couldn't do anything until I worked through what the hell was going on.

"You look like shit." Jake said coming up to me as I stood staring at the map.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

"To try and convince you to crash for a bit." He replied.

"Well, it's not going to work." I replied coldly.

"Have you talked to him?"

"Nope."

"Has he talked to you?"

"Nope."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing."

"Sara!" He yelled grabbing my shoulders and making me straighten up.

"What?!" I yelled back, shoving his hands from my arms. "This isn't your problem." I shot at him. "Just stay out of it."

"I can't. You're my sister and he's my brother-in-law, which makes it my business."

"Jake, stop." I said turning and walking away from him.

"No, you stop, Sara." He said gripping my arm. "Has it occurred to you that he is terrified to lose you? That this whole thing is affecting him more than he can say? Or maybe he wants to make you angry to make the fight easier for you. If you're mad at him you won't be worrying about him."

"I'll always worry about him." I replied yanking my arm back. "And yes, I have thought of all of that. But he should know that this isn't the way to do it. He knows me better than anyone and yet he thinks arguing will make this better? The only thing that will make this better is if we didn't have to do it. When the fight comes, and it will soon, I will still have to look at him, happy or mad, and know that I may never see him again. I know this. He should too."

"I know." He replied.

"Then don't defend him." I frowned.

"I'm not defending him. I'm just helping you." He stated.

"Help by staying out of it." I retorted and stormed away from him.

Practically running to my ikran, I jumped onto Tirea's back, quickly taking to the sky. This was only going to cause more trouble, but I needed a little me time. It was rare these days and if the battle did happen soon, then it was important that I got it. I needed time to think and to mentally prepare myself for what was to come. More importantly, I didn't want to be mad at my mate anymore. I knew that this was hard. But it was something that we needed to do together. Separate was a good way to get ourselves killed. I wanted to be able to celebrate our victory with my mate after it was over. I couldn't handle burying him. Feeling what I was feeling, Tirea let out a mournful sound as he looked back at me. Patting his neck, he looked for a place to land, picking a small outcropping on the side of one of the floating mountains. It slowly shifted with the wind as we sat side by side. The longer I sat and thought, the calmer I became and the more I wanted Tsanten. Even if I still felt like he was the one who needed to apologize, I was no longer angry at him. I didn't even care if he apologized or not. In the end I would only ever want him. It didn't matter how I got him, as long as he was mine, the thought making a small smile move across my face as I took in the sunrise.

That's when it happened. There was a slight whistling sound, making me look up, and then a gouge was blown out of the mountain above us. Another hitting just below, making the ground give way from under my feet. I was airborne, free falling from the high perch I had just been on. I heard Tirea's screeching but he was nowhere is site. Keeping my eyes below me, I needed to concentrate on catching my fall if my ikran didn't appear soon. At the last moment, he flew underneath me, catching me before I hit the trees. Linking quickly, we scooped back up into the sky. We darted around two more missile attacks before we managed to get behind the scorpion. Darting forward, Tirea grabbed the neck of the tail, attempting to spin it into the cliff side. He was unsuccessful, the scorpion zipping around behind us again. Now bullets were whizzing past us, looking behind me, I tried to dodge them but pain erupted in my left arm and my right side. I felt pain coming from Tirea, knowing both of us were hit. Scooping again, we managed to get behind him. We both knew that this was the last shot we had before we either escaped or were killed. Gripping the tail with his talons again, he mustered all the energy he could, attempting to hurl it into the cliffs. His grip was faltering as we neared the rock face, our goal nearly complete, and for a moment I thought we were going to fail. With one final outpour of energy, my ikran managed to swing it, letting it go, it's tail hitting the rock, causing the whole thing to slam against the surface. The propellers exploded, the rest of it just after, causing a shock wave to hit us. Both of us went tumbling backward with its force. I fell free from Tirea, the blast disorienting, the trees coming ever closer. Several small branches scrapped against me as I fell through the flora. Gripping the giant leaves to slow my fall, I still hit the ground with such force the wind was knocked out of my lungs, leaving me gasping on the jungle floor. I had yet to catch my breath as I got to my feet, my eyes searching for Tirea. Calling his name, he soon came into site, shaking himself from the fall.

"Sìltsan, Tirea." I told him, my hands moving over every part of him. "Are you okay?" He let out an encouraging noise, letting me know that he was. "Okay, good boy." I said patting his neck. "We need to get out of here. Can you fly?" I asked him.

He flapped his wings until he was airborne. Smiling, I climbed up the nearby tree before dropping onto his back. He quickly made his way to the open sky, our eyes searching for any other scorpions that might be in the area. We were lucky. We were alone. It must have just been a scout. It would be a few hours before they realized that he wasn't coming back. Then they would be coming for us. Our time was officially up. They would be here by morning. Flying as fast as we could, we landed next to the dais, the sound of it echoing in the basin.

"What happened?" Jake asked immediately running forward.

"A scout." I replied as I slipped from Tirea's back.

"Are you shot?" He frowned as he took me in.

"Yes, so it Tirea." I replied.

"I will tend to him." Yerik told me as if appearing out of nowhere.

"Thank you, Yerik." I said quickly. "Tirea, be nice and let him help you." I told my ikran with my hand on his side. He made a chattering noise before he stepped off to the side with Yerik. Ateyo was already rushing over with supplies, nodding at me with a small smile. "Thank you." I told him as Jake pulled on my arm.

"Sit down." He ordered. "You looked more like shit then you did before."

"I've been shot and I fell through the canopy after Tirea and I destroyed the scorpion."

"You destroyed it?" Jake asked, pausing.

"Sara." Neytiri said rushing to my side.

"I'm okay." I smiled at her.

"You do not fool me." She frowned.

"Where is Tsanten?" I asked as Jake started to clean my wounds.

"Looking for you." He shot at me. "He's pissed as hell."

"Why? Because I once again left by myself?" I retorted.

"And apparently he has a right to fear." He said with an angry tone.

"Jake." Neytiri said gently.

"What?" He frowned at her. "I'm just saying that she proved his point."

"I know! Okay?! I know." I told him. "And I'm sorry. I just needed to be alone for a little while. Maybe it was a good thing. Now we know they were scouting us as well. And I did destroy it."

"Which is gonna piss Quaritch off." Jake stated.

"It bought us some time. They'd be here faster if I hadn't destroyed it. It'll take at least a few hours for Miles to figure out that his man isn't coming back." I stated. "We have till morning, then we can expect them to be here."

"Sara?!" I heard Tsanten yell.

"Tsanten!" I called standing, my eyes searching for him.

He pushed through the crowd, rushing toward me, doing the same I threw my arms around his neck. "Kaltxì, yawne." He smiled.

"I am so sorry." I told him quickly.

"It doesn't even matter." He replied, kissing me sweetly. "What happened?"

"A scout." I replied, his brows furrowing with worry. "But I destroyed them."

"Are you shot?" He frowned, looking at blood on his hands.

"Yeah." I told him with a worried expression, looking at the two wounds.

He didn't say anything; he simply looked at Jake, holding out his hand for the water and cloth, requesting leaves from a paywll.

"Baby?" I asked gently. "Does this mean you're not still mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you." He replied putting his hand on my face. "I never was. I was just worried about you. I'm allowed to worry."

"Yes you are." I smiled at him, my hand on his chest. "I'm still sorry."

"It's me who should be sorry. You wouldn't have gone if I hadn't started that fight yesterday." He replied.

"True." I told him with a raised brow.

"I know. I'm sorry." He said with a soft tone.

"Thank you." I replied as he cleaned and applied gel to my wounds.

Once my wounds had been wrapped, I made sure to tend to Tirea only to find that Yerik and Ateyo had done a beautiful job mending him. Making him lay down, needing the rest, I sat with him gently stroking his neck, feeling my own fatigue start to set in.

"You need to rest." Tsanten said placing a kiss against my temple as he squatted next to me. I made a soft noise. "I mean it. Lay with him and unlink for a while."

"But they're coming." I frowned at him.

"You'll be useless unless you get some sleep." He stated.

Nodding at him, I kissed him deeply, knowing he was right. Kissing him once more, letting my lips linger for a moment against his, I laid next to my ikran, his wing being moved over me. The last thing I remembered before my consciousness shifted was Tsanten's fingers running down my face. Pushing open the link, I looked at Trudy and smiled before I rolled over and fell asleep. As I did I felt a blanket start to be draped over me.

When I woke up, I couldn't have felt better. But when I looked around the trailer, no one was there. Standing up, I found both Jake and Norm linked up. Trudy was nowhere to be seen. Looking on the desk, I found a note from Trudy. Reading it, panic started to set in and I quickly ran to my link, ripping off the blankets and lying down. Quickly linking, I woke to the sound of everyone rustling around. Tirea was still with me, but instead of lying with me, he was hovering over me.

"Tsanten!" I called as I got to my feet. Loki was immediately at my side. His family was just behind us. "What's going on?" I asked my thanator friend.

"Sara." Kyuna said coming up to me.

"What is going on?" I asked her, gripping each other's forearms.

"They are less than a half day away." She told me. "Everyone is starting to panic."

"They will be safe here." I told her.

"You just woke up and you are already trying to make everything better." She smiled at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"I am fine." She said gently. "Come, Tsanten has been waiting for you."

"Okay." I nodded following her.

As we walked I could see the Na'vi unhinging. The thought of the Skypeople coming to destroy them was causing a panic. But we had a plan and we were going to be okay. I told this to every Na'vi that confronted me. Jake and the others hadn't told the clans anything. Nothing other than that they were coming. Soon frustration started to set in. Going to back to the dais, I climbed up onto Tirea's back, standing so I could look over the clans.

"Mawey!" I yelled over the roar of the clans. "Rutxe lu mawey!" They all stopped and turned to me. "I know you're scared. You know why the Skypeople are coming and what they plan to do. But you must believe me when I tell you that we will not allow them to destroy us. We have a plan to fight them. You will be safe here. This place is protected. Eywa protects us. She will not allow us to be destroyed. All you need to do is dig in and wait it out. Our warriors are going to go out there to meet them head on. We will push them back and destroy them. Our only priority is protecting our way of life. We will be victorious and we will once again be able to live unafraid. If this has taught us anything it is that we are stronger together. When this is over we will live as one, more connected than we have ever been before. They brought us together. What they don't realize is that they empowered us. We are stronger together and we will show them the meaning of fear! They think they can take us on. What they don't understand is that we are what they should fear! We are the strongest force they will ever see!" I told them before pausing. "I need you to believe this. I need you to trust us and know what we will keep you safe. They may be coming for us but we're also coming for them. You are safe here. You are safe. We will not let them get this far. Eywa will not allow it. You all need to stay calm and help each other. Get everyone in this basin. Sing. Pray. But know that nothing will happen to you while I'm still breathing."

"Many of us are going to die!" A Na'vi yelled from the crowd.

"Yes, they are." I replied calmly. "But all our warriors know what they are going into. They know what they're doing and what to expect. We've given them everything they need to be prepared. It's war. There are always casualties. I know I make it sound so…casual. But, sometimes, we must sacrifice the few to protect the many. Our warriors know this and they accept it." I paused again, seeing sadness in the faces surrounding me. But they were silent. "The Skypeople are coming and we must make sure everything is ready. Please do me the honor of helping each other through this. Gather everyone around Vitraya Ramunong. Stay calm. We will keep you informed of what is happening from here on out. We are prepared for this. We've been waiting for it. So now is not the time to fall apart."

When no one said anything, I lowered myself, straddling Tirea. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm the nerves that my little speech had brought out. I never liked public speaking. But I had to admit I was getting quite good at it. Soon my mate and the other priority Na'vi were coming up to me.

"Way to steal my thunder." Jake smirked at me.

"Well, it didn't seem like any of you were telling them anything." I replied as I slid from Tirea's back.

"Hello, love." My mate smiled as I wrapped my arm around his waist, his around my shoulders.

"You are my favorite person." I smiled at him.

"And you are mine." He said and kissed me deeply.

"You look fit for battle." Tsu'tey told me with a small smile.

"Thank you. I slept long enough." I smiled at him.

"You needed it." Tsanten replied.

"I know." I nodded.

"How are your wounds?" Tsu'tey asked.

"Let's find out." I said looking up at my mate.

"Come on." He smiled and led me to Loki.

Lifting me up onto his back, he gathered supplies before climbing up behind me. Bonding with Loki, we ran from the basin, finding a quiet spot to sit, the sound of the basin still within hearing distance. Sliding from Loki's back, Tsanten did the same, motioning for me to sit on a nearby rock.

"You look much better." He said as he unwrapped my wounds.

"And you look worse." I told him with a small smile.

"Do I?" He said frowning at me.

"You haven't slept much have you?"

"I've had a lot on my mind." He stated.

"I'm not supposed to be a burden." I told him frowning.

"It's not your fault." He frowned back. "We're going to war. Yes, I worry about you but I know you can take care of yourself. I pushed you away and I wanted to mend that. I might have gotten angry at the same time but nothing is your fault."

"Except this whole thing." I replied. "Me and Jake. Whether you believe it or not we are to blame for this."

"No you're not. Mo'at and Eytukan are for not listening to you."

"He's dead. You can't talk about him like that." I retorted with a slightly angry tone.

"It's his own fault." He shot at me.

"I know." I said stopping him as his cleaning of my wounds became painful. "I've been meaning to thank you for something." I told him gently.

"For what?" He asked curiously.

"For trying to move the clan." I replied. A look of recognition crossing his face. "Neytiri told me that even when I wasn't around, you tried to convince Mo'at and Eytukan to move the clan. You tried so hard to convince the warriors when our leaders wouldn't listen."

"I had to try." He replied with a sigh.

"Why didn't you tell me that?" I asked.

"Because I knew it was all in vain." He said taking my hands in his. "I loved you since the moment you opened that pretty little mouth of yours." He said making me smile. "And I didn't want to let you down."

"You could never let me down." I replied moving to sit in his lap, putting my arms around his neck. "The only time I ever felt let down was when I thought you wanted Ney'ite. And that was my fault."

"Yes it was." He replied with a raised brow. "There's only ever been you."

"You too." I smiled and kissed him deeply. "I love you so much."

"I love you more." He replied sweetly.

Kissing passionately, we stayed in the jungle until after the sun was set, taking in each other's pleasures, knowing that come morning we would be fighting for our lives. But it couldn't last. It was reassuring to know that by this time tomorrow everything would hopefully be over and we could have the rest of our lives to be with each other.

Returning to the basin, we found Jake and the others, going through everything for one final time. We'd already been over everything but now that it was time it was natural to want to go over everything once more. There was no time for mistakes. Soon we were leading the warriors to the top of the basin. The direhorse clans of the plains were a top their steeds as we gave them a final pep talk before sending them to their posts. They were to stop any RDA ground troops. They would do whatever they had to, to succeed. I had my utmost faith in them.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" I asked Norm, worry coating my words.

"I am." He replied with a smile.

"You say goodbye to Trudy?"

"We've said what we need to." He replied sadly.

"You're gonna be okay." I said as tears filled my eyes, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I love you, Norm Spellman."

"I love you too." He said squeezing me tightly.

"Please be safe." I said releasing him.

"You too." He said kissing my forehead.

Smiling at him, he mounted his direhorse, slowly moving off into the jungle after the other warriors. Standing there for several minutes, my arms wrapped around myself, I stared into the jungle. It had grown quiet, an almost ominous sign. The night was magical. Only tonight it seemed that everything knew what was happening and was staying low until it passed. I didn't like the feel of it, a chill running through my body. Finally turning back to the basin, I made my way down into it, my eyes looking at every Na'vi I passed. Most were resting, prayers softly leaving their lips as they willed their loved ones to be safe and for sleep to ease their agony. I knew that no sleep would come to me tonight. Camp had grown quiet when I returned to the dais.

"Hey, baby." Tsanten smiled up to me as he leaned against Tanhì. "How are you doing?"

"It's quiet." I told him, my eyes moving over the camp, my arms still wrapped around myself. "Nothing but whispers and soft crying."

"They'll be okay." He said standing next to me, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

"Will they?" I asked leaning against him. "It's gonna be bad."

"Everything will work out." He told me, placing a gentle kiss against my cheek. "Eywa hasn't let us down yet."

"Yes. But even she has her limits." I replied.

"We'll make up for what she can't provide. We have hope on our side. And no one knows this place like we do. We can win this." He told me reassuringly.

"Okay." I smiled, turning my head so I could kiss him.

Settling down with our family, I was surprised when Tsanten fell asleep quickly. It seemed that everyone was asleep. Jake and Neytiri had been the last to return and it seemed that even Jake was getting some sleep. Though it turned out that I was wrong. He was resting, yes, but no sleep would come to him either.

"You're staring." Jake told me before smirking, cracking open his eye.

"Sorry." I smiled at him, looking at my hands.

"You should really try and get some sleep." He said gently, his fingers trailing down Neytiri's arm as she slept in his lap.

"I know. You too." I replied.

"I know." He nodded. "It's hard." He frowned. "I don't want to lead these people into battle."

"Me neither." I nodded. "I just hope we all make it out alive."

"We will." He smiled. There was a small moment of silence before he met my eyes again, a sadness in them. "Can you do something for me?"

"Of course." I told him.

"Will you watch over Neytiri for me?" He asked.

"Jake." I frowned at him.

"I'm not saying anything is going to happen to me. I just want someone looking out for her. Tsanten has already asked her to watch over you." He replied.

"He has?" I replied with furrowed brows.

"Yeah." He nodded. "We both know that we're more than likely going to be separated during the battle."

"Yeah." I nodded back, lowering my eyes again.

"If we all just look out for each other we'll make it home." He continued. "I can't do this if I'm worried about her." He said caressing his mate. "Or if I'm worried about you or Tsanten, he's family now. Hell, I'm gonna worry about Tsu'tey. But I'll worry less if you are looking out for her."

"Of course I will." I told him. "She's my sister. I won't let anything bad happen to her. Not if I can help it. Will you watch over Tsanten for me?" I asked.

"You don't even have to ask." He smiled.

"Thank you." I replied putting my hand on Tsanten's shoulder as he slept soundly next to me.

"Now sleep." Jake demanded.

"As you wish, Toruk Macto." I grinned at him.

"I mean it." He told me but smiled. "I won't be far behind you."

"Okay." I told him before lying down.

Facing Tsanten, I put my hand on his face, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss against his forehead. I was happy he was getting some sleep. He needed it. We all did. Closing my eyes, it took several minutes before my consciousness finally shifted back to my body. Pushing open the link, I saw Norm and Trudy cuddled up in his link bed, happily asleep. Smiling, I took my blanket from its spot on the chair next to me, draping it over my body before closing my eyes again. Drifting asleep as I tried to clear my mind. I was up only a few hours later. Deciding that if this was the last day of my life I wanted to look good in both my bodies. Getting up, I showered, shaved, and put on combat ready clothes just in case I had to fight in my human body. When I returned to the link room Trudy and Norm were awake, sitting quietly with each other.

"How is everyone holding up?" I asked gently.

"As good as can be expected." Trudy smiled at me.

Sighing, I pulled a chair up in front of them. "This is the hardest thing any of us is going to ever do." I told them, getting sad looks in response. "But it's also going to be the most worthwhile. If we succeed today than we'll have saved a race from extinction by our hands. We will have righted a wrong that should never have happened to begin with." I said before pausing. "It sucks and we shouldn't have to do it but we're here. We are a part of this and we are going to make it through this. We are fighters and there is nothing we wouldn't do to make sure we see each other again. Nothing. So hold your heads high and be proud of what we've accomplished so far. We are going to make it through this and we are all going to be all right."

"You can't promise that." Trudy smiled at me, her hand gripping Norm's.

"I can't." I replied subtly shaking my head. "I know I can't. But I believe in what we're doing. I believe in our cause. The Omaticaya are my people. I will not let them be destroyed. But I would understand if you want to back out. You don't have to do this."

"We know." Norm told me. I was surprised to hear the words coming from him.

"But they're our family too now." Trudy added. "I might not have an Avatar but I know as much about them as you do. I don't want to see them destroyed because of some rock. No one deserves that."

"So you're still with us?" I asked looking at both of them.

"Of course." Trudy smiled, getting up to hug me.

Wrapping my arms around her, I couldn't help but feel tears start to come to my eyes. "Thank you." I whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too." She replied.

"Me too." Norm said putting his arms around both of us.

"Thank you." I said releasing Trudy and embracing him next.

"Don't thank us." He replied. "Just stay alive out there."

"You too." I smiled. "Both of you."

Night was still upon us when I linked again. Opening my eyes in my avatar, Tsanten was holding me gently, his forehead resting against the side of my head. I smiled briefly before my ears picked up the sound of sadness. Frowning, I shifted so he knew I was awake and he quickly turned his head away from me, taking deep breaths as he ran his hand down his face.

"Peu fì'u?" I asked gently as I moved his hand so I could look at his face in the firelight. "What is wrong, yawne?"

"I am fine." He told me, a smile now on his face.

"No you're not." I replied sitting up, turning myself to face him better. It was clear that he was crying. I didn't like it. "Tsanten?" I said putting my hand on his face, turning it so he met my eyes. "What is it?"

"You were supposed to be sleeping." He smiled, taking my head in his hands, placing a long kiss against my forehead.

"Tsanten, you're not fooling me." I frowned at him, meeting his eyes again. "Tell me what's wrong. Where is this coming from?"

He continued to smile at me before it disappeared and it seemed his eyes had grown glassy again. "I am just afraid of what might happen tomorrow. What if we fail? What if something happens to you? What if I'm not there? What if something happens to me again? What if the ones we love are killed? What if…there are too many possibilities. But the one that I can't get past is what if this is the last time I hold you and the last time I kiss you?" He replied before kissing me deeply. "I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you. If I lose you…" He said but trailed off, shaking his head as he frowned, averting his eyes from mine.

Smiling, I put my hand on his face, gently lifting it so I could look into his beautiful golden eyes. "I am afraid of all that you are. I've felt that loss already. I know what it's like. I am tempted to tie you to vitraya ramunong to keep you out of the fight. But I know that I can't. We will go into battle together and we will fight side by side and that's how we will return. You are my gravity. I'll follow you anywhere."

"And I you." He smiled, kissing me again.

"Nga yawne lu oer." I told him.

"And I love you." He smiled wider, pulling me against his chest.

"It's time. Ready to be painted?" Neytiri said coming up to us.

Nodding, we stood and followed her to our circle of friends. Paint bowls were already placed in the center of it. Norm was the only exception. He was probably sitting around a fire like this one, preparing for the battle to come. Yet, there was a calm that had settled over us. Small smiles graced our lips as we painted our skin with the array of colors. Trudy had landed her Samson near the basin, wanting to partake in the traditional paints of battle.

"Do you think he's okay?" She asked me as we painted the Samson.

"I do." I smiled at her. "He knows what he's doing."

"He's book smart. He doesn't have the skills that you and Jake do." She stated.

She wasn't wrong. He was far more book smart. "Jake gave him gun training." I stated, attempting to reassure her. "He'll be okay. Besides, if it gets to hairy he'll get out of there. He's smart like that."

We continued to paint for a while before she stopped. I could feel her eyes on me. "Sara?" She asked hesitantly.

"Hmm?" I smiled at her.

"I think I love him." She said and started to fidget. From her tone, I couldn't figure out if it was a good or bad thing. "I really think I do."

"That's good." I told her. "I know he loves you."

"He told me." She stated quickly.

"That's good." I repeated with a smile. She shook her head at me, wrapping her arms around herself. "It's not?" I asked cautiously.

"I didn't say it back." She told me.

Sighing, I understood why she had seemed quiet. Stepping up to her, I pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly. "He knows." I told her. "Don't worry, sweetie. He knows."

"You think so?" She asked.

"I know so." I smiled, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

She nodded, hugging me again before we finished the Samson, moving to her. Once both looked fit for battle, I watched her take to the sky, going to scout the area before the rest of us moved into position at first light. The sound of the Samson had been gone for a while but I stayed and watched the jungle. Just as with Norm I felt the need to stay. Just in case they changed their mind or if something happened. I wanted to be there. I was still staring when hands gently gripped my sides before moving around my waist. Leaning against my mate, I heaved a heavy sigh.

"It's time." He said gently in my ear.

"I know." I replied, turning in his arms, folding my arms as I pressed myself against his chest. "Can we just stay like this for just a little while?"

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, as he held me tighter. I knew he was just as scared as I was. We had a lot to lose.

"Sara." Rai'uk said from behind us.

"Hi." I smiled, putting my arm around Tsanten as I moved to face him.

"We're about to leave to join the others." He replied.

Smiling, I released my mate and stepped up to the tutean in front of me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I squeezed him tightly. He squeezed me tighter. I could feel his tension. I didn't want this to be the last time I saw him. But I knew that that was what he was thinking. Neither of us wanted to say goodbye. He had become a good friend and I didn't want to lose any of them today, though I knew that it was inevitable. A few moments later there was a hand on both our shoulders as Kyuna appeared. Letting her brother go, I turned and embraced her. It was a sweet moment, broken only when their thanators appeared behind them, soft purring sounds coming from them. Letting her go, she simply smiled at me before mounting her companion. Rai'uk stepped in front of me, putting his hand on my arm for a brief moment before he too mounted and they both were off.

Turning back to Tsanten, it felt more real than it had a few minutes ago. "All right, let's go."