One Of The People

by Mystic Blade

What would happen if Tsu'tey lived? What would Jake's status be then? What life would Tsu'tey lead among his people? Will he accept the new faces in his clan? What changes would he endure? The story accounts post-film as the remaining humans assimilate into Na'vi culture to live new lives and healing begins as the Omaticaya find their new home. Tsu'teyxOC centered,JakeXNey,NormXOC

21. An Idyllic Afternoon For A Hunt

CHAPTER 17:

An Idyllic Afternoon. . .For A Hunt

---

I brushed the clinging dirt off a plump violet colored berry with my fingertips as one would polish delicate porcelain and gently blew away the rest of the particles. The cool wind brushed over my skin with a gentle caress as the sun provided warmth with its decent cloud cover while I comfortably sat in one of the clan's fruit gardens to pick the bushes for ripe berries for last meal later on tonight. I'd have brought the children with me to help but with all the excitement of having extra playmates, they were frolicking around Hometree together to enjoy their new friends and learn new games. The morning meal had been bright and cheerful with conversations throughout Hometree as the Atykwe and Omaticaya clans continued to mingle to catch up- if anything, the two chattiest partners were the Tsahìks Mo'at and Nitari since they were old friends. On Pandora, there were certain clans that didn't get along due to past histories or different leadership tactics but the Atykwe behaved very amicably with the Omaticaya and it showed how much both clans appreciated each other. Other clans from the east (mostly Ikran clans) and from the west would be arriving throughout the day which made me wonder how we'd house so many but Tsu'tey reminded me during first meal that the Horse clans preferred sleeping on the ground due to life on the plains while the others could find spaces in the abundant branches.

Dropping the ripe berry into my basket (handcrafted from river reeds), I resisted from biting into it to please my taste buds as I'd seen other children do and assured myself I'd eat them soon enough. This appeased my inner child for the moment but she nagged at my mind to remember my promise as I eyed the tantalizing fruit.

"I remember when I eyed berries in that manner" the Atykwe matriarch mused beside me as she'd met me on the path towards the garden on my morning stroll and requested my company. Knowing that a refusal was downright rude, I accepted graciously because I truly enjoyed her calm and sweet company but part of me wondered if she held foresight in order to find me so easily. Kelutral was a large area to explore for a new visitor and how she managed to bump into me more often than I did to her was rather puzzling. . .but endearingly humorous in its own way. Or maybe it was all pure coincidence. Regardless, we had found a plump green bush full of ripe violet fruit that was ready for the picking and conversation was not lacking as we sat in the shade to make a daily harvest. A dainty smile lit her mature face, the sun highlighting the apple of her cheeks with renewed youth, and I couldn't help but return it wholeheartedly when she spoke cheerfully, "I do believe it was yesterday morning."

Nitari gently plucked another berry near the bottom of the bush and cupped it between both hands delicately as she admitted fondly in remembrance, "My Akan adored eating from the first crop of the season so I always gathered a few from the first harvests to make him a pastry to enjoy for last meal. Sometimes, I baked a few more for morning meal to delight him," her smile widened with affection as she sighed, "Oh, how his face lit up when he saw them. A Tsahìk isn't expected to cook very much once she becomes matriarch, only healing poultices and meals for the ill. . .but my mate deserved each pastry I baked. For him, I would do anything asked of me, not as a matriarch but as the woman who loved him."

Her hands placed the small berry in the basket with tender care as I was deeply moved by her sentimental words and the fact she admitted such private information to me of all people. Me! A little non-hunting dreamwalker. It was an honor to be in her presence, nonetheless to hear such personal recounts of a highly esteemed woman and I could picture the gentle matriarch before me as a younger woman (not that she didn't appeared old in the present- far from it) who dreamed of a peaceful future without the invading human race. A carefree adult that wouldn't have had to lose a child, a mate, and a leader to her clan and forced to undertake all leadership responsibilities on her shoulders alone as she aged into what should've been her retirement. Nitari always held a regal ambiance around her when she spoke to people of all ages, even now during our fruit picking her posture remained immaculately straight and her fingers applied the perfect pinch to snap the berries free from their stems without impairing further growth for another crop.

Her fingers touched the underside of my chin to lift it as I turned away from my basket and she met my gaze to advise kindly, "When you find your mate, cherish him like the world because he will give it to you in a heartbeat if you ask it of him. You are a young soul, Joanna, but as you travel on your path of life, treasure those that reach out to you just as you do now. You will make lifelong friendships with kind grace and humility. . .and with one, you will find your other half to complement who you are."

"I thank Eywa for each person I've befriended, especially for being able to speak with such a respected matriarch like you" I replied softly with unrestrained honesty because she reached out to me during uncertain moments when I wondered what my future held on a moon where my species was hated by the entire population. She embraced me with kindness and assured me that one day I would join her clan to be under her guidance despite what my people had done. I furrowed my brow as I tried to keep my emotions neutral but she stirred something within me that rendered me vulnerable and earnest in my tone, "You were my first Na'vi acquaintance on this world and I cherish that immensely due to all of the conflict that accompanied my people but you approached me. You didn't cast me aside, I-"

A sudden noise entered my hearing and I halted my voice due to the hastiness of the incoming steps. My ears tried to stamp a name to the noise because they weren't short in stride like a child's or loud like an inexperienced hunter, meaning it was an adult. I was on guard in case there were any predators that had breached our boundaries yet Nitari seemed calm about the noise, permissive even, which puzzled me since I expected a tsahìk to be on full alert. However, when Tsu'tey burst into our shady spot the next second like a bat out of hell, I yelped in surprise since hunters exploding out of bushes was not an everyday occurrence for me.

My mouth opened to gape at him in shock and embarrassment (oh, how I hated my frightened girlish squeal too) as the matriarch sat next to me, completely unperturbed to what just happened around us. The woman definitely had nerves of steel. A little tilt of the head in acknowledgement was all she gave before returning to pick the berries on the bushes once more. I could only admire her strength and resilience to situations that would scare the living daylights out of me and could only shoot a heated glare at my adored hunter for pointing that out to her.

But he could be in trouble!, romantic Joanna squeaked worriedly as she held a self-made portrait of a proud smirking Tsu'tey and frowned sadly, her comically large golden eyes watering at the idea. . .ugh, I wanted to punch myself.

He's Tsu'tey, it's practically impossible, logical Joanna argued stiffly with her impartial attitude to keep me balanced but it seemed that even the icy queen side of me was softening. Romantic Joanna beamed happily at this with squeaky cheers but she was pushed aside as the other added in offhandedly, Not that I have calculated or anything.

"Are we alone?" he panted hastily with a rough whisper as his eyes surveyed the path we were sitting on and I raised my brow to his hostile but fleeing disposition. Either: A) the children were around, B) the women were flocking him, C) Jake was on the loose, or D) all of the above. If the man had any fur, it would've been standing on end with the stiff posture clenching his shoulder and back muscles as he looked south to the dirt path. My fingers subconsciously tingled at knowing this was the type of situation I usually calmed him down from by stroking his hair and assuring that everyone, but he, was wrong (it was better to have his ego teetering on the edge rather than flailing into ice water).

"Tsu'tey, I keep telling you the children aren't going to eat you alive" I chastised sharply to his evasive nature towards them, poor things were treated like a plague while I adored them. Oh, how I wanted to see him squirm with one of his own in the future. . .hmm, did that mean I had a possibility of being in that picture? My brain came close to having a crisis but I averted meltdown because I didn't want my child's father to run from them starting at birth. Wait, why was I thinking about bringing Tsu'tey's spawn into the world in the first place?

"It's not the children I'm running from, it's a female that doesn't seem to understand I have no interest" he snapped back with an irritated hiss to another one of his dislikes and I sighed depressingly under my breath, automatically giving myself a point for getting the answer right. Part of me wanted to be snarky and tease him that he loved the endless attention he was receiving nowadays (really, he's like a peacock strutting around the females) but I kept silent due to present important company. Also, the man was chased around like he was the prince of Pandora and I was the pauper, which would bring an outcry from the women to our private behind the doors (well, hammock) liaison. He stepped back with subtle surprise as he took notice of my fellow companion, a hint of embarrassment flickering over his sharp features, and instantly greeted her with respect, "Tsahìk Nitari."

"I See you, Tsu'tey" she spoke up amicably with a kind smile to the polite hunter and dropped another berry into her basket with a delicate touch. I saw the tuft of his tail lift at the sight of the plump berries and smiled to myself at his affinity for them, remembering his childhood tales of stuffing his face full of his grandmother's batch. He caught my smile and my cheeks darkened when I saw the left corner of his lips lift in a charming smile, thanking Eywa that Nitari had been focused on arranging her berry basket. Our private moment was short-lived when Nitari glanced up to point a motherly finger at him and lectured lightheartedly about his bachelorhood, "At your age young man, you should be happily mated already and expecting your first little one. I thought that your new single status would've brought many eager courting invitations. Do none of the women catch your interest?"

Like a pesky imp, I raised my head from cleaning my berries and placed the task aside to grin widely to await his answer. I didn't expect him to admit our last night secret rendezvous (he better not) but I loved seeing him squirm a little as he was knocked off his stoic pedestal to answer the revered matriarch. I watched the expression on his face falter as he struggled to regain his calm demeanor (I think the escape run ruined that for him in the first place) but it didn't seem to work this time and he sighed dismally to admit, "No, I am very finicky when choosing and I enjoy my unattached status. My main concern is keeping the Omaticaya clan safe from all threats."

"Spoken like a true warrior. . .but you deserve to care and be cared for by another" Nitari chucked softly with a proud smile toward the quiet hunter and patted the bare ground next to her on the right to beckon, "Come, sit next to us."

His expression turned glum to her friendly request, his posture slumping from its confident position, and he informed tentatively with a sheepish disappointed face, "It is with regret on my behalf but I must respectfully decline, Jakesully has asked my presence and I am on my way to meet with him. I must also train Joanna afterwards, could we perhaps speak later on?"

"Always polite in all settings, just like your parents" she complimented fondly in remembrance and his feet shuffled over the loose dirt in modesty to his deceased family as the topic was very private to him. I would never know them but with my past glimpses at the Tree of Souls, his childhood tales, and other personal encounters told me that they were very well respected people in the clan during their time among the living. They both came from humble beginnings and were not in association to the monarch-like clan family of the Omaticaya but proved their worth to the clan by hunting and healing to the best of their abilities. When baby Tsu'tey came into the picture, his attention-grabbing personality brought them into the spotlight as prominent members as the child showed skill in his early age. Now, Tsu'tey was the only reminder of their existence, a living memento of who they were and the strength they instilled into their only child to keep their clan thriving.

I fetched a few berries from my basket as the topic lowered his defenses among individuals his parents (and he himself) knew and wrapped them inside a brown cloth to keep them safe for the time being. I didn't want to see him ruminating about his past and knew a few sweet berries would do the trick to cheer him up. Although he was now an adult, he still ate berries in the same manner by pinching the stem between his fingers and eating the berry from the bottom up like a chipmunk as he tried to savor every bite. He may not stuff his face until it was stained completely anymore but I'd been hit by flying stem projectiles on my head more than once by his forgetful fingers. Holding the small package out to him with a smile, I presented amicably, "Here, you can wash them at Hometree to eat before we leave for training. I know you like these best due to their sweeter taste and holding the stem won't stain your fingers like other berries do."

"My thanks, Joanna" he replied graciously as he took the tiny bundle to place it inside his satchel and I forced my smile not to falter when his fingers brushed against mine since Nitari was watching our every move. My own eyes were fixated on his movements with small inconspicuous peeks through my lashes, taking in the details of his face and the dexterous movement of his fingers. He took care of me when I needed help and I wouldn't hesitate to return the same aid, especially now that I'd admitted my true sentiments for him. Inwardly, I beamed with appreciation when he met my gaze and playfully stated with a witty smile that hid affection, "I never go hungry with you by my side."

Nitari's brow rose at the end of his words and I tried to hide the fact that I'd lingered my gaze longer than normal for one that is supposed to be in the 'friend' category. I expected her to ask us about our true relationship like a parent would of their blossoming teenager but instead, she cocked her head to the side and spoke with a low voice to advise, "I can see you two hold each other in high regard, I am very proud of how well you improved your rocky beginning. Keep true to each other with the passage of time, friendship is a very delicate bond that must be tended to with the utmost care."

"I will oblige gladly to your words, Tsahìk" Tsu'tey stated respectfully with a small incline of his head, unyieldingly obedient to his elder's words but we would have no problem fulfilling her request. I could see the same thought floating in his mind as his eyes glimmered in the sunlight with a happy glint and he nodded towards me in farewell, "Joanna, I will see you soon."

"Take care" I smiled sincerely to signify my enthusiasm to see him for both training and to spend time with him. With our new dynamics, today brought a multitude of options on what to do as either friends or more. I almost had to stuff romantic Joanna into a vault from the gutter ideas my mind conjured up with the words 'free time' and knew that in order to make this work, I would have to keep physical affection to a minimum or risk having him run off into the forest to preserve his innocent mind. Hah, just knowing that fact brought a sly smirk to my face.

"Nothing can happen, I'm home" he replied matter-of-factly with a bewildered expression to my parting words and I groaned miserably to his misunderstanding of my Earth quotes. I could've written a book from all of the phrases he'd interpreted wrong but decided against correcting him like always. It was better to lose the battle than hear twenty minutes worth of why Earth phrases should be banned from Na'vi speech.

"It's a figure of speech" I shot back between clenched teeth because I wasn't about to blow my fuse with the matriarch in front of us as she watched our interaction with a curious gleam in her eyes. In any other circumstance, I would've dragged out the conversation to gain the upper hand in our playful competition of dominance but that would appear rude to the wise matriarch. I shooed him away with a dainty wave of the hand and sighed reluctantly to get him moving, "Run along now."

He glared at me with annoyance riddling his face for being told the same words mothers used on their rambunctious little ones and I smiled amusingly when he turned away swiftly, his tail elevated to show he was hostile towards anyone that came near. Oh, how that man both infuriated and endeared me to care for him like no other. I heard a noise from Nitari's side and gazed at her to see that she was hiding a soft chuckle behind her hand, her feline eyes shining with hidden knowledge as she watched Tsu'tey disappear into the foliage. Her expression was anything but stoic as she reminisced warmly, "He has always been very independent since childhood with the freedom his parents granted him. He would chatter endlessly to whoever would listen to him and followed everyone to learn a skill. Without siblings to share time with, he ran around helping whoever had need of him, whizzing by on his feet as he ran back and forth to find a new adventures to keep him busy. He wasn't particularly fond of his parents' rules with his stubborn nature and yet, he now follows his clan's principles without falter. His heart is strong, beating sturdier with each obstacle that he conquers but at the same time, he freezes his emotions for the benefit of the clan."

Her reflections brought on a question but the wise matriarch had already read my mind, satiating my brain when she answered simply, "He visited my clan many times with his family but with the growing danger of the sky people, many clans stopped visiting for safety reasons. The last time I saw him with them, he was barely past my hip and missing two of his front teeth. . .and now, he towers over most Na'vi."

Her hand patted mine with a kind maternal touch as she spoke gingerly to request, "Take care of Tsu'tey, Joanna, he needs a friend like you. Eywa brought me to you for many reasons and one of them was for you to help him become that levelheaded and wise person I mentioned back at the Tree of Souls. I can see that your company changed you both for the better as a team and I want it to continue because both your paths haven't finished."

"I will try my best" I vowed with a polite nod because I planned to develop whatever Tsu'tey and I had to its full potential. I didn't know what the future held in store for us but I wanted him in my life for as long as I could have him. He may bring out the worst in me at times with his stubborn arrogant attitude but he also brought out the best in me as a student and a woman.

"I expect no less from you, young one" she smiled agreeably with a soft chuckle and motioned to the berries in our baskets with a flick of her wrist to declare enthusiastically, "Now then, I will teach you how to preserve these delicious berries for later seasons. . .that is, if you will oblige this old woman?"

"Tsahìk, there is nothing but vibrant life inside you" I objected to her self-portrayal with a wide smile since she did not have any of the physical characteristics of the elderly. She was certainly wise in knowledge and serene in emotions but her cheerful nature depicted anything but frailty. It was my turn to wave a lecturing finger because she was more of a motherly figure than a grandmotherly type and gently chastised with a fond smile, "I enjoy any stories, advice, or ideas you will entrust me with as a guide in life. You are Tsahìk and I am. . .an unranked child that is eager for tales."

"Your gentle humor warms my heart, Joanna" she laughed with a melodious voice that brought a pleased grin to my face and despite matriarchs had you behaving like they were a queen, she had me completely at ease in her company. Hell, even if she would've been a queen, I would've been a happy loyal subject just to spend time with her; she was just that approachable which made me wonder if she'd been her clan heiress by blood or by marriage.

---

My tail had a mind of its own as it swayed with evil delight behind me as I left the pa'li clearings with a playful Peke at my side and Tsu'tey with his own intimidating mare. We were leaving Kelutral to journey to a secluded area inhabited by hexapede and the rocky terrain made our pa'li perfect for the ride and boy, were they happy to explore as they trotted by our sides. Even Aci seemed peppier with her proud posture. Our trek started from the western main path that led away from Kelutral into the awaiting forest teeming with wild life and it would branch out into smaller trails which we would take to find Tsu'tey's target area. He had agreed that I needed to have one kill down (I had stressed the topic by using other student statistics until he relented) and we would use today since hunting, including training hunts, would cease during the celebration in respect to Eywa. Both Tsu'tey and I had nagged about it to each other yesterday night in my hammock to appease our disappointment but quieted down when he gave my bruised elbows a small massage. I had taught him the basics well and purred like a kitten in his arms for the kind gesture, learning just how affectionate he could be in private in comparison to his aloof persona in public.

The reason I was grinning from ear-to-ear like the Cheshire cat behind Tsu'tey, who wore an expressionless face, was due to the fact he'd been struck by a green eyed monster moment back at Kelutral. The occurrence happened when I'd been mindlessly cleaning Peke's pelt to prepare him for the ride and while he happily swiped at buzzing insects with his tongue for entertainment, I was approached by one of the new guests. The hunter belonged to one of the Horse Clans in the west and there was a reason they were named that way because their pa'li were the envy of all clans in the area. They were obedient, bred well, groomed beautifully- everything about them was flawless. So when the man offered me advice on how to make my Peke's skin shine, I jumped on it. . .especially when seeing his mare that gleamed like a pristine diamond. I'm sure Peke's jaw hit the floor when he saw the pretty mare strutting around the field.

By the end of my learning experience, I was exuberant for the new knowledge but didn't realize Tsu'tey had overheard a lot of it with his silent ninja entrance. Of course, he intervened by calling attention to our upcoming training session just as I was learning about different brush types and he remained aloof with politeness to our guest until they left to explore Kelutral. I was tempted to follow the man just to get more tips to make my Peke look like a million bucks but Tsu'tey's glare pinned me in place. Honestly, I didn't know whether he had been struck jealous as a teacher or as a man but I didn't get to ask because a sharp whistle from his end unnerved me and brought Aci galloping into the clearing with an awaiting neigh. A few of the nearby hunters murmured impressively to his skill (when did they not?) while I performed the crappier version and complimented my Peke for just being there with an affectionate pat to his neck. Yeah, I've yet to train him like that and sulked in my spot when a mere flick of his fingers is all Aci required to follow obediently.

I waited patiently until we were on an isolated path away from both the main trail and people to pipe up with a slow cocky drawl, "You were jealous."

"Absolutely not, I was merely being watchful over my student as guests finished arriving" he disagreed snippily with a cold tone that would've scared away any normal person but not me. With his head held high, he took the lead with Aci following behind dutifully but his tail was a dead giveaway to his emotions as it rose to knee level. Oh yeah, he was in denial, big time.

Was he hardheaded to admit defeat to anyone or what? I shook my head with amusement to his rebuff (and prideful nature), kicking tiny rocks with my toes as Peke trotted behind me with a happy sway of his tail. I wanted to kick the man square in the butt to knock sense into him to be fair and admit the truth but my crazy beloved was as stubborn as a mule. . .hmm, he might even be more stubborn than a mule! Sighing aloud to his uncaring attitude, I kept a calm and innocent voice as I tried to negotiate with him, "Tsu'tey, just admit it. It won't make you any less of a man."

He stopped dead in his tracks at once and turned around to hiss defensively with a demanding scowl on his face, "And what are you implying?"

Oh my. . .really?

"That you don't like other people giving me attention" I answered easily as I fought back a smug grin to his souring mood that would've had others quaking in fear by now. His forehead creased to my words as if they'd bitten him and I slowly walked towards him, hoping the sway of my hips would change his mind with my womanly wiles as I suggested innocently to coax the words from him, "I'll admit it if you do."

I should've stuffed my foot in my mouth for saying that and for lacking the female charisma needed to convince him. I realized my error at the last second when his ears perked like a damn raccoon's during a meal spree and he walked towards me to close the gap between us within four simple steps, each one dwindling my confidence down to nothing. He grinned mischievously with hidden glee in his eyes and preened with a sickly sweet tone, "Do you now?"

Being pinned in the spotlight didn't feel all that great and I narrowed my eyes at being trapped by my own request, disliking that toothy grin he was aiming at me. Eywa, it looked like the type of grin a thanator would give its meal before devouring it! I wasn't about to let him get to me and didn't really have a problem admitting the truth; it was the gloating that irked me. I decided to point out that little quirk of his without sounding critical as I calmly admitted, "You know very well that my confidence wanes with all the female attention you get, mine is a rare occurrence- like a solar eclipse compared to your daily sunlight of 'let me bear your child' choruses," furrowing my brow, I warned firmly with a hiss, "With that said, if you dare to gloat like you took down a toruk with your bare hands, I'll stuff your tail down your throat and your queue will make tsaheylu with your butt."

My teeth clenched as I saw the tiniest smirk twisting at the corner of his lips and I was unloading the second round of verbal ammunition from the brain to my lips when he spoke with silky delight, "You're very attractive when you're angry, Joanna."

I jabbed a wild accusatory finger since I expected anything but that from his mouth and gaped like a fish as my mind tried to grasp a decent rebuttal. My cheeks puffed out like a hamster's as I collected my thoughts, prodding his chest with my fingertip in silence as he stared at me with amusement flickering in his eyes. He probably thought I'd gone mute until I finally retorted with an exclamation of surprise, "How does anger turn you on? Sometimes, I think you are a little off in the head with those tastes."

His head tilted to the side with confusion to my outburst and he asked slowly with uncertainty, "'Turn me on'? What does that mean?"

"I- You- well. . .," I sputtered out with a sheepish fade of my voice because I wasn't about to teach him human phrases and meanings that would have him lecturing me for hours on end about my indecent mind. . .that and turning him amorous this early in the day was not my intention. I simmered down when I noticed both Aci and Peke were staring at me with curiosity in their pretty blue eyes and if the pa'li thought I was crazy, then I had to be acting crazy. I wasn't about to blow my top off since I hadn't been bitten by the jealously bug in the first place and stomped my foot in frustration for being led astray, reminding him with a wagging finger aiming for the truth, "I admitted it, now uphold your promise."

"I never promised such" was his smug rebuttal and he turned around to keep walking with that cocky gait of his without a single concern to my agape mouth and stunned expression. Seriously? I didn't care about the possibility of bugs trying to make a nest there as I watched him strut away like he owned the place and a defiant growl settled in my throat to being denied an honest answer. The same rage I'd felt yesterday in the forest during the hexapede hunt washed over me and without a sound in my quickening steps, I ran at the man with full speed. Aci issued a call to alert her rider of impending danger (I was honored that she deemed me worthy of it rather than be marked as 'pest') and I thought she'd knock him aside to protect him from me but I managed to latch onto his back before she could do so. My legs wrapped around his waist from behind to latch on tightly as my arms encircled his neck and I hung on for a forced piggyback ride while he tried to wiggle me off, his voice demanding sharply, "Joanna, what are you-"

"Tell me or I'll hang on until you do!" I interjected furiously and clutched onto him like a bloodsucking leech to make my stand that I was there to stay. This wasn't our first physical standoff so he really should've come to expect this of me, I was liable to do anything crazy and impulsive to gain his attention during arguing.

Unfortunately, my idea went down the drain horribly when he stopped thrashing wildly and his intrigued voice pondered aloud, "You know, I really wouldn't mind carrying you. Your smooth skin feels wonderful against mine-"

"Tsu'tey!" I shrieked to his flirtatious words as my cheeks darkened and batted his hands with my tail in protest when he tried to place them under my thighs to secure my position. I didn't even want to think of how his strong grip felt against my limbs as his calloused fingers created sweet friction against my skin and shoved it into the back of my mind where it belonged. I was never more mortified about having an innocent piggyback ride than now; I would've preferred it if he threw me off like he used to. I leaned down to bite him on his left shoulder to see if it would change his attitude from the amorous corner of the mind to the realistic side, smiling impishly when he flinched to my unexpected attack.

"Ow! Joanna!" he yelled painfully to my small (and petty) attack and placed his palm on my forehead to push me off his person. I decided to release him from my toothy grip when he rotated his shoulder joint in an attempt to dislodge me with quick jerky movements. My teeth left his sore shoulder (leaving a salivary trail on my imprinted teeth mark that I found myself proud of) since I wasn't about to injure him intentionally and giggled deviously to myself as I watched the deep scowl on his face, his eyes pinning me with offended irritation in a side-glance. However, my smirk fell flat when I noticed a trio of residents walking up to us with puzzled glances aimed in my direction as they took full view of our squabbling.

Tsu'tey was about to release what I would assume to be curse words but I patted the center of his chest with my palm, whispering in his ear to alert him of their presence and stop him before he blurted out something vulgar. The only reason we were acting this crazy was because we thought the path was going to be void of people but apparently, that wasn't the case. They already thought I was crazy but I wasn't about to let them think the same about him.

He froze immediately when he came face-to-face with them, clearing his throat roughly to swallow the unsaid words on his tongue, and I felt him secure my piggyback position with locked wrists under my butt (I shoved the dirty thoughts into romantic Joanna's vault where she remained entombed and left them both to rot there). This time, I said nothing smart-alecky since entering another gossip chat was not on my to-do list and we were still circulating the chatter with our morning meal fiasco today when I accidentally sneezed on him due to a few hot spices in my meal. I knew we couldn't take away the spectacle they'd just witnessed and slapped on an amicable smile on my face as Tsu'tey spoke politely as if nothing had happened, "Morning."

The residents returned the greeting with a confused blink of the eyes and an unsure drawl but he seemed to win them over with a charismatic smile. Hmm, he could've been a suave politician with his ability to sway the masses to look the other way. With that said, he whistled for the pa'li to follow obediently and walked down the path with hasty steps to leave the poor people behind to decipher what they'd just seen and I muffled a chuckle full of embarrassment against his warm neck at getting caught. Settling my chin on the crook between his shoulder and neck, I grinned wittily to bring our previous conversation to an end and pointed out innocently, "See, this is what happens when you don't listen to me."

"I'm not the one biting people, I told you those children would teach you bad conduct" he snapped sourly to maintain his dignity about being correct and I smacked the center of his chest for insulting the children of our clan. Would he ever compliment the little wonders? I was ready to nag him that they were special and admired him in their eyes but his tone silenced me as it changed from dryly sarcastic to grimly honest, "But yes, I become jealous when any man stares at you. Is that what you want to hear? My petty emotion for worrying that another can swipe your feelings away-"

I kissed his cheek firmly, lingering the kiss with a few pecks to the area I'd previously bitten as I cut in to wash away his insecurities, "My eyes are on you, nobody else. . .and I think you should put me down, we did bring our pa'li for a reason."

I nuzzled his neck to show my appreciation, delighted when I caught the glimpse of a smile on his lips and scored myself a point for reinforcing my affection for him. There was no need for him to question it; as crazy as we each were, our imperfections completed us and I wasn't going to have him second guessing me. Otherwise, I'd have to pull out the sultry side of romantic Joanna and show him things that would leave him purple in the face for a week.

"No, I think they enjoy seeing me play their role and I want to lessen their burden of carrying us" he spoke calmly with a happier hitch in his voice as our argument was settled and I nodded with a content smile to this sweet turn of events. I wrapped my arms snugly around his neck for added security and rested my head against it as he decided to play chauffeur for me, delighted by his display of generous care toward our steeds.

"Also, I wasn't lying about the skin contact."

"Tsu'tey!"

---

There was no interference as the flimsy bushes and sharp boulders littering the rocky terrain provided decent, not great, camouflage as my arrow aimed at the vulnerable area of a hexapede's chest where it met the neck. The frontal area was softer in comparison to the dorsal counterpart due to the vertebral column that ran along the back and striking the arteries that supplied rich blood was necessary for a clean and quick kill.

Tsu'tey crouched behind me like a phantom, blending in seamlessly with the rocks, and would wordlessly reposition my arms to make sure my archer's pose was correct. I'd only had him do so once but that was due to a gust of wind that I had no control over as the higher elevation cooled the mountainous area. The adult grazer was innocently oblivious to my presence and I was stricken with guilt for having to end its life like the grim reaper, my index finger quivering for a second to the brief flicker of uncertainty just as I had during my first attempt.

No, I had to do this in order to keep my clan fed and to achieve adulthood in their eyes for full acceptance. All of the hexapede I killed could gang up on me in the afterlife one day and take turns punching in my kidneys but for now, I had to serve a greater purpose. Hesitation would hand me the loser's trophy automatically and with the upcoming cessation of both hunting and training, this was my last shot since I was already behind. Sentimentality had no room in hunting despite my undying respect for nature and with a hopeful prayer for success, I released the arrow between my fingers and held my breath to see my actions play out.

The fingers that had been holding the arrow fell on Tsu'tey's shoulder as I instinctively grasped him for support since he was my rock through all of this and I followed his guidance without question. Never in my life was I expectant for an animal to die and although I felt guilty and a little sick to my stomach for thinking it, I wanted to hear the silent strike and the resounding call of fatality. Thankfully, all my careful planning paid off this time and I watched the arrow pierce the targeted area of the chest with a clean puncture as the poor animal immediately flailed its limbs to the unexpected (and painful) attack. I forced myself to watch everything because this was done by my hand alone and the hexapede deserved that full attention for giving its life to me.

I didn't want to prolong their suffering in any way and sprinted out of my hiding spot as the hexapede collapsed on its side from the internal hemorrhage to weakly call out to any of its brethren nearby. My fingers reached for the knife tied at my waist and I kneeled down to the wailing animal, rubbing its flank in an effort to ease its passing and relieve my guilty conscience for what I'd done. With the sharp knife securely in my hand, my fingers tightened over the leather hilt as I quickly uttered the traditional words breathlessly with a shaky breath, "I See you, uh. . ."

Perfect, just fan-freakin' perfect! The animal is bleeding out on me and I don't know whether it's a boy or girl! Hexapede are tricky creatures for figuring out their gender because they appear exactly the same in anatomy from the elaborate head fan down to their delicate hoof, even their heights aligned perfectly unlike other Pandoran animals. I wasn't about to lift the poor thing's hind leg to check whether it was Mr. or Ms. Hexapede but Tsu'tey saved me from a mental crisis by hastily informing with a sharp hiss to speed things along, "It's a male."

"Brother, it is!" I exclaimed shrilly from the tense moment as I fought my hands from visibly shaking due to the hurt animal wailing for help. My free hand stroked its flank and I cleared my throat to continue quickly, "Your spirit goes with Eywa, your body stays behind to become part of the People. I thank you, brother."

I breathed in disbelief as I whispered the last words of prayer to the dying hexapede and drove my knife into the skin above its heart to make their death instant and painless. It was the least the animal deserved as my blade pierced that strong but fragile cardiac muscle to sever their lifeline to this world. I could only hope they fulfilled the best of their hexapede life and clenched my teeth when I felt warm liquid blood trickling onto my hands, their rich blood staining my knife in reminder that I'd done this to them. Their dying gasp didn't make it better for me as they wheezed out their last breath, big brown eyes becoming dull and glassy as they departed from the world of the living, and I closed its eyes with bloody fingertips to finish my kill. My pride as a student was gone as I felt numb throughout my body instead of excited for this and barely heard Tsu'tey's approving voice, "Very good."

It certainly didn't feel 'good' and that wouldn't have been my own choice of words on how to describe this moment as my hands were covered in blood. To me, it was a melancholy victory but the Na'vi saw it as balance. My brow furrowed with sorrow as I ran my fingers over the soft navy hide of its back and quietly, I looked to Tsu'tey to confess my recent uncertainties with hunting to seek guidance from him, "Do you ever feel. . .is it okay- I mean, normal, to keep doing this and feel guilty?"

He gave me a confused stare which didn't surprise me since he was taught differently from childhood and despite I felt inadequate- and a little ashamed- for admitting it, I only trusted him because he was both my friend and teacher. However, my emotional shortcomings kept me from meeting his gaze directly as I feared he'd either laugh or scold me for my attitude and I focused on the dead animal to admit faintly, "I know we have to eat but. . .it hurts me to have to kill something that couldn't fight me back, it probably had little hexapede friends, neighbors, or maybe a family. I've been taught to protect and conserve, never end a life-"

"We hunt because we have to and we do not cause them more pain than necessary, their sacrifice is not in vain" he stated firmly to instill that ideal in me and grasped my hands into his as they trembled lightly, my fingertips coating his with crimson blood and I broke away to wipe them on the grass. I didn't want to smear anyone else with the sacred fluid of life I'd taken from an unwilling animal but he brushed a thumb over my cheek to continue, "I have seen sky people do worse to our wildlife, we only take what we must and never disturb the balance. It is with Eywa, it no longer suffers and neither should you, Joanna."

"But it suffered when I killed it" I pointed out weakly and he sighed to my sentimentality, huddling next to me and placed my hands over its head. My fingertips felt its smooth dark hide growing colder as the minutes ticked away but Tsu'tey kept my hands steady.

"Its hide will be used in textiles," he informed with a softer tone than before and moved them toward its plump belly as I kept my eyes locked on each area. He smiled brightly in an attempt to lure one from my own lips as he continued to explain, "Its stomach to create lanterns," lowering our hands to the haunches, "The meat will feed our clan, mainly for the children who like this meat in little pieces, remember?"

I managed a weak nod to the good taste of hexapede since I'd done many meals with it for the children and the man next to me, who was undoubtedly one of the biggest carnivores I'd met. All of the uses on his list seemed to help my mood somewhat as the number increased and he held my hands over its bottom leg to add in, "Bones will be carved into hunting weapons and used in attire or jewelry," and back again to the head where we began, "Leftover organs that aren't needed will feed our ikran. Nothing will go to waste. Everything is balanced, Joanna, as each life is precious."

My fingers curled around his to hold them for support as he soothed away my worries with his calm voice and appreciated that he took my opinions into consideration rather than lecture me about what was right. I met his gaze as he peered down at me with an approachable stare and I asked softly for one last tidbit of help, "Will the feeling go away with time?"

"I will help you with it- just remember how much this one being will benefit many and with our care over the forest, many will continue to thrive" he promised with a warm smile that quelled my fears of possibly failing the rest of my kills and he gave my hands a tender squeeze before letting go. His eyes sought mine as I stroked the animal's head with gratitude and the relaxed expression on his features grabbed my attention as he admitted quietly, "I was scared during my first hunts also so you are not alone. I didn't like hearing the wails of an animal that would unfortunately die because it naively stumbled into my hunting field and tried to make up an excuse that it was either too young or old but I could only prolong it for so long. It took many tries to overcome that feeling but death is an endless cycle that every living being will endure, even us, Joanna."

I nodded silently to his reasoning but appreciated his own private account of his training days and patted his cheek in thanks for his kind words. I didn't regret bringing it into the open since it was to improve my skills in the long run and managed a meek smile as I opened my satchel to grab binding twine to tie up my catch but it widened when he tucked stray strands of hair behind my ear. Hmm, he was getting good at this. Leaning into his touch for his never-ending support of my inner conflicts, he assured wholeheartedly with a low voice, "You are a good and strong soul, Joanna."

His lips closed the gap between us and I savored the feel of his mouth against mine as he gave me an innocent peck that was both sweet and satisfying with its feathery touch. Inside, my girlish side went 'squee' for the public gesture as romantic Joanna twirled like a happy ballerina. . .but we were alone in the middle of a forest so it probably didn't count as openly sentimental. Either way, I couldn't help the big sappy smile lighting my face as I stared up at him with nothing but raw affection radiating from my eyes and the warm sentimentality of our small moment replaced the melancholy of my kill. He smiled in return, no hints of smugness or amusement, just a simple honest smile that lightened his features considerably with energetic youth and it pleased me to see him carefree (still, the wild areas of Pandora were not where one lets down their guard for the tiniest of seconds).

"I like this better than your old 'get up or I'll kick you up' attitude" I murmured softly with a light joke to his old taskmaster attitude and met his lips with mine to deliver a few chaste kisses, smiling as he leaned forward to deepen them eagerly. I was about to remind him we were practically in the middle of the forest with a dead hexapede next to us (not the most idealistic romantic scene) but he cut off my words along with my air supply when his tongue met mine to begin that delicious tango of passion. His arms enveloped my waist tightly and tugged me forward to meet him chest-to-chest, prompting me to drop the hunting items in my hands as I buried them into his thick braided hair to bathe myself in his warmth. The feel of his supple smooth skin against mine shot tingles of electricity down my spine while my mind reeled to his dominating kiss but I tried to remain alert to the area around us because this was practically the premise of an alien horror film scene where the stupid lovebirds got mauled to death. I wasn't planning on becoming animal chow anytime soon but the man was indeed very hard to resist when his body was pressed against mine in an intimate manner.

I managed to escape from his tantalizing touch as his lips repeatedly sought mine by nabbing an air pocket at the side of his mouth and romantic Joanna thrashed wildly with fury for being denied his alluring invitation. I wasn't having any of that because I valued life greater than I did having my hormones pleased and placed my thumbs under his chin to create distance between us. You know how I've constantly mentioned he never gives up his target? Yeah, apparently, I was it. His cheek touched mine affectionately in which I smiled to his gesture because I knew he was trying to aim for my lips once more but when butterfly kisses trailed down my neck, I reminded softly, "There could be danger nearby-"

"I am keeping my ears open to our surroundings and this field lacks predators due to the rocky terrain, only grazers of the trees wander here" he pointed out easily with a confident voice as I tried not to look embarrassed for questioning his seasoned skills but I did have the right to care over our well-being. Blush crept onto my cheeks as his raven colored hair tickled them, my fingertips reaching to caress the tips of his ears since they turned out to be one of his erogenous spots (he'd sheepishly admitted it to me yesterday night as I nipped at them in my hammock) as he nibbled on the side of my neck with gentle love bites that turned my limbs into gooey jello.

Out of natural instinct, I remained wary of our surroundings as the tiniest noise put me on instant alert and whispered, "But Tsu'tey-"

His eyes pierced mine as he brushed back a few of my stray braids behind my flattened ear, his lips curling in an amused smile as he saw my skeptical expression and he planted a chaste kiss on my lips to reassure, "Trust me, tanhí. I will protect you from any dangers."

"But who'll protect you?" I blurted out my worries but my voice came out sounding more comical than concerning causing me to frown disappointedly at myself, mainly my vocal chords. He laughed gently at my words, tapping the underside of my chin with his index finger and I melted against his lips when he assaulted them once again with his inviting warmth. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as I yearned to keep him close, especially after that doting nickname . . . nickname! I remembered Eywa herself revealed to me that my future mate would call me by that, did that mean . . .? No, I'm pretty sure Na'vi men used that name all the time, right? Right?

"I can handle myself just fine" he murmured against my jaw in a faint whisper as my fingers weaved through his long braids and nudged my nose against his cheek as I dotted his cheekbone with kisses. I wanted to believe him but I doubted his seasoned skills could bring down a thanator without careful planning or I'd be inclined to believe he held supernatural powers at that point. His head tilted to the side, golden eyes observing every inch of my face with an intense stare that caused me to blush until he asked quietly, "Are you truly worried, Joanna?"

With a light blush on my cheeks, I nodded like a shy girl afraid of those imaginary monsters under the bed (except now, they were real razor-sharp toothed predators that could rip the flesh from bones) and admitted easily, "Yes, I feel safer with you at Kelutral."

I expected him to brush off my concern with justifiable facts about his vast knowledge on this area but with a small kiss to my temple, he ordered gently to appease my fear, "Let us return home and you will see firsthand how much your catch will help our clan."

"Really? No complaints or ravaging me in the field?," I dared to ask without a hint of shame for my boldness and bit my bottom lip in amusement when he burst into boisterous laughter, coughing to hold back his uncharacteristic behavior. His laugh was contagious enough to tempt me to join him but increasing the noise in the previously silent area wouldn't help to maintain our stealth.

His thumb flicked across my chin and he smiled sincerely to answer, "I wouldn't dare risk your wrath, Joanna. If you don't feel safe, I will not force you to stay in a place you're uncomfortable in."

"Hmm, my teacher would say to stand tough" I chuckled softly and grabbed my hunting weapons off the grass to place them safely in my satchel, slinging my bow over my neck to secure it. The sound of rope falling onto the grass had me glancing down to see my correct guess thrown there by Tsu'tey and the direction of his gaze brought me to the dead hexapede. I felt bad for the poor thing having to witness our small smooching fest even in death and promised myself never to let others see that (both for their respect and my safety). My face fell flat at what he was silently implying with the rope and I muttered dryly with distaste, "I'm going to take a leap of a guess here and say that I'm going to carry that all the way to Peke."

His smirk didn't make it any less frustrating and I grabbed the rope off the floor with a sharp yank, twirling the string around my wrist to secure it from becoming lost or tangled on its own. Standing up, I scuttled over to the animal to get this over with and kneeled down to get started on the third pair of legs since tying them to the second anterior pair would make it easier because the front legs would be left alone for carrying purposes.

My fingers grabbed their delicate hoofed feet to carefully wrap the rope around its dark legs, looping the rope twice before tying a secure knot on top. I could feel Tsu'tey's eyes watching me from behind the whole time as he evaluated my handiwork and I brought the first pair of hind legs backwards to meet at a center point with the second pair to finish tying their little hooves together. With that task finished, I drummed my fingers over my knees as I tried to figure out how to lift this animal without injuring both of us, piping up to Tsu'tey for much needed help, "I've only carried an unconscious tapirus and wriggling infants. Instruct me, oh great teacher."

"Hoist it one shoulder at a time, do not try to lift the entire animal onto your shoulders- I've had a few students strain their backs due to it so please listen" he informed carefully as he used his sternest face on me to have my undivided attention and I nodded with a determined smile because I wasn't about to screw up again. I was on a good streak today and wasn't about to ruin it so with a determined face, I used the old 'lift with your legs' rule to hoist the hexapede onto my shoulders as I kneeled beside it. My right hand took hold of its front legs while the left took on the heavier portion of the other two pairs and I won't lie by saying the animal was light. The damn thing weighed like a sack of bricks against my shoulders which instantly betrayed their delicate frame that gave the illusion of being lightweight. The heavier weight was new to me since I never lifted anything that size, nor trained for it, and it took a while to find a decent balance and adjusting to handling it before lifting it into the air as I stood upright under my own strength. I beamed with pride at my teacher because many months ago, I couldn't lift a bowl to feed myself after that dangerous fall and yet, here I was lifting this adult animal that was fifty times heavier than a wooden soup bowl!

"I- oomph- whoa!," I called out with alarm as the heavy weight swayed me to the sides and my eyes widened fearfully since I didn't want to accidentally fall and have the creature crush me. Tsu'tey came to my aid immediately to steady me by pressing his hand against my upper back and using the other on my shoulder to expertly maneuver my body into the correct posture. Panting heavily as it bordered between wary hyperventilation, I sighed with relief when my face didn't meet the ground and looked to him to state gratefully, "Thank you. . .can I have you do this the whole hike down to Peke?"

"No, but I will be next to you in case of anything" he answered simply as he gave away no freebies, disappointing my hopes of a helping hand but I began to walk slowly with baby steps. I'd managed to prevent falling but that didn't mean fracturing a leg or spraining an ankle with a misstep was unavoidable as I carried my catch and dug my fingers fiercely into my catch's legs to keep him from loosening up on the hike down to our pa'li. With my current speed, I practically mimicked the waddling of a grazing tapirus and hoped Tsu'tey wasn't privately laughing at me from behind.

Despite the heavy weight sitting uncomfortably on my shoulders, I managed to brighten up my own mood by suggesting lightly with a joke, "When I pass Iknimaya, can I have you carry my catches then?"

A split second later, I suddenly found myself in the lonely silence of the mountainous rugged terrain and without the sound of his 'loyal' footsteps, causing me to exclaim indignantly to his abrupt leave, "Traitor!"

---

"Tsu'tey, this isn't filling me with joy and confidence-"

"No complaints. Keep going-"

"But look at all the blood- no, no, you're going to have to give me a minute" I declared instantly with revulsion as crimson blood from the hexapede dripped all the way down to my elbows. Yeah, I was that messy at cutting the creature open and the ruby red rivulets didn't make the situation any easier for a newbie like me. Tsu'tey was trying to teach me my first lesson at harvesting the meat of caught prey but I was sure my portion was being ruined with my cautious and inexperienced hands. I didn't want the animal to be spoiled by hands like mine but Tsu'tey refused to touch the animal because I had to learn it on my own. He cut his animals starting from the base of spinal cord and working the knife down towards the center of the body in order to prevent piercing the internal organs while I'd been led to believe that gutting it by the torso was the way to start. A reprimanding whack to my shoulder had quickly modified my wrong belief and my ears were listening for every instruction like a sponge.

"I'm not the one that tore out the arrow from its jugular and caused an external hemorrhage" he shot back sarcastically to what I'd done when we first arrived and I hissed defiantly, tempted to playfully bite him on the nose to shut him up but other hunters were around us. He caught my last second dodge of a social faux pas, golden eyes alight with silent mischief, and blush tinted my cheeks when he dared to lean closer to close the gap between us but I moved to the side to avert a crisis. The cocky little smile he aimed in my direction caused me to playfully smack his leg with my tail since my hands were bloodied enough.

"This won't be useful to anyone- can't I watch you?" I tried to appeal to his nice guy side since he was smiling like a regular Romeo who'd just won the lottery but I received no such luck.

He smacked the top of my bloody hand with his own, wiping off my charming little smile, and barked out his order, "It is not difficult once you master it, Joanna. All you need to do is separate the skin from the fatty tissue and then remove that fat from the muscles themselves, which you've already done," I smiled pleasantly at this because the animal had been full of it, "Now, you see all the separate routes each superficial and deep muscle takes, I want you cut through each carefully at their point of origin without damaging anymore arteries or veins-"

I shot him a glare because as a rookie, it was a miracle I hadn't accidentally stabbed it in the heart with my knife when I began. He directed his own frown to dominate mine into submission as I rebelled to protect my amateur skills and wrinkled my feline nose to show I meant business, which ironically, seemed to amuse him when he smirked with intrigue. His hand hovered over the open back of the animal as he backed down from his macho man attitude and stated calmly with a satisfied smile, "Take all the time you need."

"It'd go faster if you helped" I piped up cheekily with a humorous wiggle of my brow as I focused on the back muscles, following each different path with the blunt end of my knife until I found the start of the muscle. Hoping I wouldn't screw up the entire muscle itself, I began cutting one of the back muscles at the tough white tendon to pull it apart from the glistening white bone. The cooks would have to wash my cut pieces well because I was all over the place with bloody hands, a sharp knife, and slippery wet muscles that didn't want to budge under my fingertips. Every once in a while, I snuck a peek at my teacher through my lashes to gauge his reaction and it calmed my hammering heart to see no hints of disappointment or wincing as I stabbed at the dead animal to keep working. When I finished separating the first back muscle which was huge in comparison to our largest superficial one, I had to motion for him to help me remove it due to pesky connective tissue that clung on. Nonetheless, with yellow fatty tissue and blood on my hands, I was still proud of myself for not ruining the consumable meat.

"Whenever you finish cutting a clean muscle, place it on the large leaf here and cover it with another to make sure no insects land on it" he informed carefully as he took the meat into both his hands and I quickly picked up one of the large green leaves that reminded me of Earth's banana leafs since Grace had a sweet tooth for tamales. I snatched the meat back from his hands and set it down carefully on the leaf, smiling to myself at completing one percent of the task, and grabbed another from the big pile next to us to use as a protective shield against pesky bugs looking for food. Wiping my hands on a brown cloth I'd set down on my lap, I got rid of some of the slippery and caking blood as I wiped the hilt of my blade clean as well to continue. Tsu'tey saw my readiness and carried on with his next set of helpful instructions, "For the legs and feet, don't bother separating each because they will be far thinner and longer than those around the abdomen."

"Gotcha" I grinned to get this underway and traced the next muscle to begin the cutting process all over again. I decided to hum to myself to pass the time while Tsu'tey decided to do of all things, eat next to me. At first, I had dismissed the faint rustling of leaf plates from behind as random wildlife noise but when I heard quiet chewing, I turned around to find him sitting on a log with a content expression. He was leisurely enjoying the berries I'd picked this morning and my face deadpanned to the neat little bread roll stuffed with meat and colorful veggies in a clean little leaf plate. I was covered elbow deep in blood and he was as fresh as a daisy eating back there without a care? I'm certain I caught everyone's attention when my shoulders squared in confrontation mode and I demanded incredulously, "Are you kidding me? How can you possibly have an appetite when there's a carcass no more than a foot away from you?"

I felt a little guilty when I almost made him choke to my sudden outburst but thankfully, he managed to gulp down his bite before twisting his alarmed features into raw irritability to my boldness for questioning him. Our lax attitudes toward each other caused me to forget that we were still in a learning relationship and he was my superior in public, not the man I'd been locking lips with eagerly only an hour prior. His chin tilted upwards in that haughty stance of his that irked my own pride and he snapped back defensively, "Because I can. What is your tawtute phrase?. . .oh, 'nerves of steel'."

His cocky smirk didn't lessen my sulky mood as I was covered elbow deep in blood and other bodily fluids, grumbling miserably under my breath to return to my task. Where was my little sandwich for performing a good job? My inner child was tempted to rob his sliced meat pieces and run off into the forest to indulge like a sneaky scavenger but I quieted her down. . .mostly because there was no way I was stealing food with bloodstained hands.

Tsu'tey wasn't kidding when he said harvesting the meat was anything but a quick job. I lasted more than an hour on the damn animal and my poor arm joints were crying for a cease of movement by the end of it. My fingers gingerly massaged the wrist joint of my right hand to release some of the tension gathered there and reminded myself to request some analgesic salve from the healers because I was certainly going to be sore tomorrow. Tsu'tey, however, decided to prolong my pain- probably because of his near choking incident- and proceeded to instruct me with my next task without granting a break.

"Excellent, now we can begin removing each of the organs and you can watch the other hunters for help" he explained with a satisfied nod to my gloomy pout (which only increased his resolve) and motioned with his fingers toward the other hunters who were already at that step. . .and they'd just arrived a short while ago! I felt exactly like a child for being so slow (they were probably faster too) and frowned grumpily to my beginner skills, aiming an evil eye of irritation at Tsu'tey for his smug grin as he waited for me to start.

I bit my bottom lip anxiously since perforating an organ was not in the 'excellent' work category nor would it look good and he leaned over to tease with an intimate whisper next to my ear, "The sooner you finish, the sooner I can taste your lips and be alone with you."

I nudged his side with my elbow for his boldness to say such a thing with people around us and just knew danger excited this crazy man. Nonetheless, he still made me grin like a naughty schoolgirl as he moved aside as if nothing transpired between us and I scolded lightly to quiet him, "I should take all day just to teach you a lesson for leaving me back there with the hexapede on my shoulders."

He grumbled inaudibly under his breath and I chuckled for hitting my mark on his pride but skimmed the side of my tail against the outside of his thigh as he sat next to me, a concealed act that hid my affection and dismissed any threat to my words. Competition was fun as friends but as a romantic companion, I was there to understand and appreciate him and vice versa- never to undermine or make him feel inferior. His crinkled features disappeared instantly like magic to my handiwork and I hid my own cocky grin at my success, glancing over to see what the men were doing with their catches. When I spotted clear and pinkish bodily fluids dripping out from all of the carcasses, my mouth became dry within milliseconds and the smell of death didn't help from causing my turbulent stomach to pump food up my esophagus. Dropping my tools, I ran like the wind as I bolted from the area for a hurling spot while yelling frantically, "First meal's making a reappearance!"

---

(Third person POV)

After losing her morning meal to an unfortunate nearby bush, Joanna eventually returned to finish the task of separating the organ systems from the body until nothing but bones were left. Tsu'tey chastised her for a few minutes about abandoning food (mostly because he had to stop his snack short to continue her work before the animal started decomposing) and instructed her on what to do as he enforced his taskmaster role without fault. This time, she listened like a meek mouse as he taught her about the functions each would perform for their society because suffering his wrath in public was not a good way to begin loving the man. By the end of it all, she'd scampered off for a long thorough shower but not before he'd pulled her into a private alcove to deliver an ardent kiss as he'd asked if her spirit suffered through the lesson. After assuring him she'd adjust, she'd smacked him clear on his bare derrière in comeuppance to his flirty whisperings in the field. Joanna could still remember the surprised widening of his eyes to her bold move as his entire body had stiffened but she'd caught the fascinated smirk forming on his lips as she exited to find the showers.

For the next hours, she managed to mingle with just about everyone from the Atykwe clan as her new friend, Anaya, cheerfully introduced her and told many stories about their clan. Several members already knew of the matriarch's interest in the young dreamwalker and as they interacted with the friendly Joanna, they found her nothing short but helpful which settled any worries that she wouldn't be approachable. The Na'vi outside of the Omaticaya clan still held lingering worries about the dreamwalkers but with the charming personality of Jake and the ever helpful Max, the gnawing anxiety lessened as they assured they weren't going to impose any kind of cultural changes as other previous visitors had attempted.

She'd walked away with uplifted spirits afterwards to have a little time to herself since she didn't do so well in large crowds over long periods and with so many people wandering the vicinity of Hometree, it was safer to travel. Her small trek would be around the outskirts of Hometree where danger was very rare as only Na'vi and harmless tapiri traveled the small concealed paths. She'd been running out of materials to build crafts with the children and had decided this was a good time as any to forage for items in case her schedule filled up with socializing. Plus, gathering a few herbs always cheered up Mo'at since the rainy season would be arriving soon and food preservation would start in the coming weeks. She'd never been around for that and wanted to learn the precise techniques for storage, especially for the delicious berries she adored.

A small rock decorated with white mottles caught her attention as it laid between two thorny roots attached to a flower bush and she picked it up with eager fingers, holding it above her head with a triumphant smile, "Aha! Today is my lucky day."

Her foraging had been very successful as pretty rocks of all colors and lost beads from somebody's hair found their way to Joanna's meticulous eye and into her satchel. She knew her youngsters would be excited to glue the collected materials onto their toys, especially the boys who liked to use speckled rocks on their fake bows while the girls plastered gemstones all over their necklaces. Sometimes, even vice versa; gender roles were nonexistent with the children and they could decorate to their heart's content because she never instilled restrictions on them.

The sound of a rustling bush caused Joanna's ears to stand and she pressed herself against the trunk of the tree in case danger suddenly decided to rear its ugly head near Kelutral. However, the sound of footsteps accompanied by the crunch of dead leaves told her it was a bipedal being and the only ones that matched the criteria were the Na'vi. Peeking over the side of the tree with hesitance, she wondered if Eywa was playing the role of a trickster with her today by having Tsu'tey burst out of every corner within a fifty foot radius.

She walked out of her hiding spot with a determined kick in her footsteps and placed her hands on her hips, shoulders arching forward in demand as she questioned sharply, "Tsu'tey te Rongloa Ateyitan, are you follo-"

An arm around the waist cut her off in midword as he pushed her behind the tree, obscuring them both from sight as he pressed her against the trunk with his body. Her eyes widened to his recent flighty behavior (the man was nothing but confrontational) as she was pinned between two objects and watched him survey the area around them, ears twitching to the smallest sounds as his eyes narrowed into slits. She didn't know what had gotten into him this time since she wasn't keen on having the rough bark of the tree scratching her back and pressed her palms against his chest, noticing the faster heartbeat pulsating under her fingers. Her concern for him won over her discomfort and with gentle fingertips running down the center of his chest, she asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"It is becoming frustrating to run from women who want to bear my child" he muttered grumpily with a distasteful frown and released her slender form since striking fear into Joanna was not what he intended. At first, he'd assumed his pursuer had somehow managed to outrun him with a shortcut (as if anyone could) but was pleasantly surprised to see Joanna in the area; a very welcome sight to his eyes. Her hands held her small satchel against her chest in a classic defensive position and he squeezed her shoulders gently, whispering quietly to stop his voice from being overheard, "Did I startle you?"

"Having you appear out of nowhere like a thanator's chasing you can frighten anyone" she hissed back in response to the short scare he'd given her and avoided his gaze, glancing to to the side as her demeanor shifted to play the victim. With words that were laced in both humor and honesty, she motioned to her chest with one hand and murmured weakly with an airy breath, "You need to keep your popularity away from my faint heart."

"Your heart is anything but weak" he argued with an amused smile to her feigned woe and kissed her cheek firmly, drawn to her meek disposition immediately. Whether she was happy, furious, or upset, she twisted his emotions like a master seamstress plucking the strings on a loom and he bent to her will with every touch. He'd no idea if she knew this by now but for her, he'd do anything asked of him without hesitation. His nose ran along her smooth skin as he cupped her face in both hands and Joanna smiled warmly to the delicate touch, his breath tickling her skin as he murmured faintly, "Regardless, I apologize, dear one."

Joanna was about to reply that it was nothing but footsteps entered the area from the south, ceasing any words on her lips. The noise was not too far to be undetected but not too close for making sudden contact which didn't sit well with Joanna at all. She stared at Tsu'tey with an expression that distinctly transcended all language barriers as it read 'look at what you get me into' but he grinned boyishly like he'd done no wrong, charmingly bumping his nose against hers with a light touch. Hmm, he was suave, she'd give him that. Her thumb grazed over his chin affectionately as he appeared nonchalant to the messes he brought her into (a difference in comparison to her face of coy denial or true sympathy when she was the culprit) and Joanna hoped they weren't discovered because fighting off one of his admirers was not appealing. Drama was not was she wanted to face on this idyllic afternoon.

The close proximity of shuffling feet turned Joanna's day worse when Tsu'tey pressed her tighter between himself and the tree, constricting her airflow as she was smothered against her will. She wriggled defiantly to find freedom against his brick wall of a body, nudging his legs with her knees and her palms pushed against his chest as she hissed lowly with the anger of a wet cat, "I'm not a marshmallow, you-!"

His warm lips covered hers to silence the sound and she was tempted to stomp on his foot deliberately to make his presence known to every animal in the entire western side of the forest but thought better of it. Her romantic side had been in deep cryogenic hibernation for years since she stepped foot on the ship headed for Pandora and she wanted to indulge to make up for lost time. That, and she preferred kissing to arguing due to its ability to doom a couple if it became the norm, but began to wonder if Tsu'tey fancied dangerous situations for romantic appeal since both a hunting area and hiding from people struck that atmosphere.

If so, I better get used to it because he's definitely addicting, she thought with pleasant resignation since he was anything but the average Na'vi guy with his short fuse and stoic indifference. Hunters were naturally curious and amicable to people as they carried themselves proudly but Tsu'tey was like a gift basket, he had all the best qualities but the annoying ones they packed inside for filler purposes only drew Joanna closer rather than repelling her away. Her fingers cupped his face due to his taller height to keep him close but when the movement picked up again, she stopped their passionate kiss abruptly and berated herself for behaving in such an unrestricted manner where she could be seen. She wanted her personal life to be privately tucked away from prying eyes and knew he'd agree due to his reclusive nature. . .or she'd nag and force him to.

She eyed him with a firm expression that clearly depicted her disapproval of having to hide and Tsu'tey leaned over, brushing his soft lips against the edge of her ear that delivered a ticklish sensation when he whispered faintly, "It will be over very soon."

Her eyes narrowed with a bright gleam of skepticism within her orbs to his assumption but she was taken aback when the footsteps faded away into nothing but a simple shake of a nearby bush in goodbye. Joanna tried not to appear affected by his precise guess but the arrogant smirk on his face told her he knew exactly what she was thinking and discreetly trying to hide. His fingers trailed down her cheeks as he outlined her face by following the stripes and delivered a soft kiss to her left temple, whispering with fond amusement, "You are a feisty little being, Joanna. It is rather. . .intoxicating."

His lips found hers with a hungry kiss as her temper attracted him like a tapirus to a fallen fruit and she tasted as sweet as any when his lips touched hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck to keep hold on his passionate kiss since being pinned between a rough tree and a tall warrior was a tough spot to maintaining a decent balance. . .and a scratch free back. As her tail tried to maintain stability, it kept smacking him on the legs and to be rid of the bothersome (and ticklish) batting, he lifted her smaller form with one arm around the waist and the other underneath her thighs for leverage between their heights. He wasn't about to insinuate anything sexual as her lean legs wrapped around his waist and raised her a bit higher, allowing Joanna to appreciate his traditional mannerisms. Oh, how she would enjoy teaching him things that would make reserved crowds gasp. Her index finger outlined his full lips as she grinned with mirth filling her voice, "For the first time, I'm taller."

With that said, her lips descended on his for a firm kiss that brought reserved passion and grace to her ardent companion to quell the fire coursing through his bloodstream. She wouldn't hesitate to return an unbridled searing kiss but they were in the open and what they shared, she wanted it to be in a place of both safety and privacy. Letting go of her handsome warrior, who was now staring at her with confusion riddling his angular features, she tapped his lips with her fingers and stated sneakily with a mischievous smile, "The rest will await you at home."

"You offer no option for negotiation, do you?" he chuckled softly as he listened with an eager grin to her slyness, gently placing her back on the ground but lingered his touch on the curve of her lower back. A sneaky smile broke on her lips to his tone as she could clearly see an opening for taking advantage on any topic she desired as long as kissing was involved. As a woman, she wasn't about to objectify herself by using such measures but laughed when he joked playfully, "I will kneel at your feet just as you once sarcastically offered to me and admire you from an inferior spot."

"I'm not one who prefers admirers- your newest one, however, is really fixated on you as of late" Joanna stated softly with dry amusement lighting her face and relaxed against the trunk of the tree as the silence bathed them both in peace. Tilting her head to the side as she watched him hiss under his breath, she shot him a flat stare for the grumpy Gus expression on his face and stated sarcastically, "I'm sure the attention is killing you."

Tsu'tey wanted to point out that he didn't find all the female attention that self-satisfying nowadays and knew it was a test of vanity on her part. His forehead touched the rough bark, the hand around her waist slacking as his shoulders slumped to being the victim in an unrequited romance (his eyes were focused on one woman alone and she stood before him) and automatically being in trouble with Joanna. Didn't she know that the only woman he wanted to stare at and follow loyally was her? He angled his head to glance down at her, privately enjoying the feathery strokes she was leaving on his forearms as she drew random shapes with her fingertips and he held her close to sigh regretfully with a low voice, "I try not to encourage anyone so I blame myself for helping her fish that day, I was only being generous," she rolled her eyes with humor to what she'd witnessed that particular day on the strutting peacock and laughed when he grinned attractively, "I should've just watched you wash clothes- at least you enticed me."

"Oh, the irony" she teased playfully to his whine about being Mr. Popular but smiled with delight when his lips pressed against her temple (he was rather fond of it as an easy access kissing point). She did indeed feel lucky for gaining his affection compared to all the women who tried- and still attempted it- and wrapped her arms around his lean waist, embracing him to reciprocate his affection. Her eyes gazed up at him with a doe-like expression that he found instantly endearing, compelling him to immediately draw her closer but heard her murmur faintly, "I should return to the children-"

"I want to spend time with you, we rarely have any after training and cutting a hexapede open doesn't count" he cut in matter-of-factly as his fingers traced over the braid on the side of her head, enjoying the light tint to her cheeks as she held the satchel of her foraging to her chest. Lately, Joanna had a tendency to be coy whenever they weren't in private and Tsu'tey didn't want her to give away their true feelings in public which was why he needed her to express them freely elsewhere rather than contain them. When he'd had her training, her mind was occupied completely with each task he assigned but walking with her around Kelutral had him noticing a closer distance between them which put him on alert. They needed to dedicate a few hours to themselves, away from the public's eyes and everybody's expectations, and he suggested pleasantly with a small smile, "I never showed you the mountain I'd like to climb. We can walk the bottom and it's only a short flying distance."

She bit her bottom lip nervously since the Atykwe enjoyed spending time with her now that hunting was on hiatus and their time among the Omaticaya was short. Also, she didn't want Nitari to see her as ungrateful or pretentious if she heard she'd run off to spend time with a man that was always going to be at Kelutral. Out of nervousness, her fingers brushed through tendrils of free hair on her shoulder since turning down Tsu'tey or keeping others waiting wasn't a good choice for either party. Hesitantly, she avoided his gaze by glancing at her satchel and began, "But the clans-"

"Will be there when we return and if we were needed, Jakesully would have told me beforehand" he pointed out to cut off her verbal escape routes and hoped she could understand how much he truly wanted to spend time with her, the only woman who interested him to no end. Her lips moved to reply to his words but his own pecked her nose lightly, cutting off the voice forming in her throat as he stated quietly with resolve, "I won't take no for an answer."

She chuckled softly at his insistence to sway her decision and delivered a light kiss to his lips in agreement, causing him to grin with satisfaction to her choice. Joanna decided to blindly hope that nobody would miss her and anybody that thought of her would find somebody else to talk with; as for the children, their attention span was occupied easily. It was time that she indulged in herself after how hard she worked and that was how she would justify her brief disappearance if anyone asked. As for Tsu'tey, a single glare would send anyone skittering away in fear as they abandoned their curiosity. His hands rose to cup her face as she smiled to his gentle touch, his fingertips tilting it upwards to observe every stripe and bioluminescent dot that Eywa graced her with to etch it into his memory. His lack of words and the deep stare rushed blood down her stomach in a warm soothing wave and her fingers touched his, her pouty lips parting to whisper sheepishly, "Tsu'tey?"

"You've ensnared me, Joanna" he accused fondly to how she'd intertwined herself into his life and her cheeks darkened to his soft-spoken admission. His lips grazed her left cheek in light pecks to emphasize the profound effect she had on him, golden eyes closing in appreciation to the bashful dreamwalker as his nose touched her skin. His warm breath tickled her cheek as she leaned into him to be enveloped in his arms, smiling happily like the hopeless romantic she was at heart when he spoke softly, "May I ask if I'd done the same?"

Her breath hitched lightly as her entire being warmed to his words, caught in the delightful updraft of sentimentality she'd felt yesterday night and faintly returned a breathless answer of, "Yes."

A wide sincere smile stretched over his lips at her admission as she embraced him tightly, pressing her cheek to his chest with closed eyes and he stroked her smooth hair with a gentle hand. Of course, he'd assumed as such by her ardent kisses in the hammock yesterday night but to hear it from her firsthand sealed his belief into fact. If someone would've told him that the same dreamwalker he'd abhorred since day one would be the same he'd become endeared with in the future, he would've stabbed himself in the jugular to save himself the trouble. Now, he couldn't hold himself back from pressing his lips against hers to show his unyielding affection for the vivacious woman.

She returned the chaste kiss and glanced at the floor afterwards with a shy expression, something Tsu'tey wasn't too keen on as he noticed that growing tendency after her displays of affection. He knew Joanna was a passionate being, probably more so than himself, in private and wanted to unravel the cause of her meek demeanor before it worsened. He'd rather have her stare at him with a deep sultry look after a passionate kiss session rather than seeing the top of her forehead as she dodged eye contact. His fingers tilted her chin up to initiate it, watching her golden eyes blinking at him from underneath full dark lashes, and he leaned closer to question playfully with a comforting smile, "Why do you shy away from me? There's nothing intimidating about me- well, there is but not towards you."

His thumb passed over her bottom lip as her cheeks darkened into a lilac hue and before she could imitate the color of a banana fruit, he asked gently with a low voice, "Don't you want to be with me?"

Her ears flattened to the soft pitch in his voice and remembered it from last night when he'd admitted the fear of losing her to another. She wanted more than anything to be with him but there were factors against them to think about, mainly that she wasn't of courting status. Her own perceived conflict was their different upbringings, she could appear too dominant with her Terran origins and he may not appreciate it- even more, dislike it. What if she pushed him away unknowingly? He wasn't a delicate flower to be tended to with tender hands but she didn't want to become overbearing and suffocate him with emotion either.

"I have no rank, remember? I'm not available to be courted" she reminded with a hushed whisper and a knowing smile to what they'd entwined themselves into, her fingers trailing over his chest in walking motions. Round tipped fingernails outlined the contour of his sternum as she realized what he would hide from their clan just to be with her. He was never one to lie as he maintained his honor and despite she cared deeply for him, she wasn't selfish enough to get him into trouble by having him risk all that he loved. Her own moral principles would automatically correct any misdeeds and found it split between 50/50 on pushing him away. A soft sigh left her lips as she tried one last time to give him a way out before they delved too deeply into their affection and pointed out firmly, "You're breaking tradition by being secretive, especially for a man of your rank, Tsu'tey."

"Not if I plan to carry out my wooing to the final result" he replied slyly with a determined smile to show her that he had no doubt on what he was doing (he was a capable adult, after all) and gazed into her uncertain eyes to request gently, "You must allow yourself to be emotionally vulnerable with me so we can See each other as only two people can, Joanna. Don't hide what you feel or think, I won't judge you in any way."

"Even with all the crazy stuff I do?" she asked meekly since past experiences of doing so only ended in heartbreak with people she'd loved and she wanted to keep Tsu'tey out of that list. He was the one constant she relied on for never-ending support but she was afraid of venturing too emotionally into something that could end badly. Their arguments over her screw ups or unfortunate misadventures were easily remedied with a talk and a time out but if either heart was broken with a serious matter, how would it be fixed? Or would it even be possible? On the other hand, she was sure this chance wouldn't come up again and she wanted to share the trust that only life partners could. True, her body was of an early adult's but her mindset was still engaged at twenty eight and she was ready to define her permanent future on Pandora. Tsu'tey was highly intelligent, especially when compared to humans his age, and knew from their interactions as friends that he sought the other soul whom he would share his life with. She didn't know if they would truly be compatible in the long run but it was worth trying.

He grinned to her soft-spoken question as her hands clasped over her chest nervously as he'd become accustomed to seeing that every time she put him in an unpleasant situation. There weren't many people that would retain a friendship after being shot in the butt, kicked in the back by a pa'li, hit on the head with multiple vines during a climb, chased by a thanator, losing a day's catch of fish, and receiving a face full of porridge but Joanna had him coming back for more of her quirkiness. Men would probably call him crazy for surviving all of that and still wanting to spend time with the woman but he was a sturdy man and she challenged him like nobody else which allured him. His boyish grin turned into a witty smirk as he happily admitted with a hint of charm in his voice, "It keeps life interesting and I've found myself without boredom since your arrival, a problem I am glad to have remedied with you in my life. Otherwise, you wouldn't catch my eye every time you walk by with those swaying hips."

"So. . .I mean- oh, I don't-" she stammered nervously as she tried to find the words to ask him if they were truly an exclusive couple rather than two people sneaking off to kiss each other breathless. Tsu'tey took the matter into his own hands and kissed her gaping lips before the poor woman had a breakdown and resisted from laughing in their kiss when he heard the tiniest 'hmm' of delight from her parted mouth. Joanna would never bore him with her personality and as he tasted her soft lips, he hoped she wouldn't tire of him either.

Joanna knew she had a dopey grin splattered on her face when he let her go, still caught in the whirlwind of emotions he stirred within her, and sighed blissfully with an enthusiastic voice, "Okay, we're definitely exploring this area now."

"Indeed we are" he chuckled to the joyful smile on her face and knew there would be no other to rival Joanna for his heart and frankly, doubted anyone could. She brought out the best and worst of him (he'd yet to meet a man that would beat down his loved one in order to protect them) but she was always there, loyal and determined to be by his side regardless of his say. Grabbing her smaller hands into his, he pulled her forward to lead her to their next adventure and grinned excitedly to declare, "Let us be off and we can watch the sunset."

Her lips matched his grin as she followed his footsteps, their hands loosely intertwined but her eyes glittered curiously and she asked, "Is that your way of being romantic?"

Not being the romantic type, his mind had been on something entirely different: food. To him, the more time he spent with Joanna cut away excess socializing and would bring forth the delicious feast to his awaiting hands. Joanna's expectant face had him swallowing the truth as her sweet face rendered him weak and he supplied slowly, "Um, yes?"

Joanna deadpanned to his inability to lie decently and for the fact that he was already trying within one minute of officially making themselves a couple. She could read those large golden eyes like a book and raising her brow in question, flatly asked, "You were thinking about last meal, weren't you?"

. . . "Yes."

Tsu'tey shared more similarities with human men than he gave himself credit for and Joanna squeezed his cheek lightly with affection to let him know it was all right. With a bright smile, she spoke gently as she sympathized with her own appetite, "I know, baby. By the time we finish the hike, food will be in both our minds."

The two continued walking hand in hand but Tsu'tey tilted his head to the side as confusion nibbled at his mind, his steps slowing down as he turned to ask Joanna curiously, "Why did you call me a child?"

The question alone brought the hunter more knowledge than he cared for as his significant other explained the common human courting custom of doting nicknames. He learned something new about himself: he hated being called anything relating to children or food but he took pleasure in showering Joanna with that affection. She was his tanhí, after all.

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A/N: I edited this chapter more than four times, two in May and three in June so I ended up at the point where I split the large chapter into two and decided that I'll extend the story chapter numbers that I first outlined to cut them into shorter ones. Alone, the chapter would've been 40+ pages but I think this works better. The crazy things Joanna and Tsu'tey can do can fill a vault but the two truly care for each other, crazy pa'li kicks and all. I'd write more but after playing nonstop on my game console for a week straight, my fingers feel like glass ready to shatter.

Thank you for the continuing alerts and fav's from my readers, I appreciate each one I see in my inbox. And my reviewers, thanks so much for your feedback and nudges to keep me writing this whopper of a long story!

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Next time:

The lack of doing anything tired me easily and exhausting myself with an unscheduled second hike had me walking with the brain of a zombie. Without training, adventuring was all I had for now but even so, there was a time limit due to the celebration and the shortening daylight as the new season approached. I found the Atykwe people a conversational bunch that I felt instantly at home with while the other clans had me remaining polite and courteous as etiquette requested. I'd already made two friends named Anaya and Arat, both were hunters for the sea clan and had the friendliest of personalities which attracted me like a happy bee to a hive. Of course, I had the two meet Cheryl to merge my small group of friends and the three hit it off splendidly as I listened to them chat on with a content smile; there was no need for words on my part. Tsu'tey, however, seemed to be cautious of every man that neared my vicinity but I assured him in private that he was the one I cared for and that he would blow our cover with every hiss he shot towards people. I wanted him to stay as the honorable composed warrior that he was, not a territorial lion that was trying to defend what was his.

I found myself relaxing in my hammock as the mingling had exhausted my smiling muscles from laughing any further and told the clans I'd be napping quickly to regain my energy. The day had been truly exhausting since my morning forage with Nitari all the way to the recent hike I'd done with Tsu'tey; any more activity would've had me snoring next to my friends. My body lay within the white hammock like a lazy lioness, my feet sprawled in one direction while my arms followed in a parallel fashion as I tried to doze off. Even my tail batted my side sluggishly. After the windy ride with a speed loving Swizav and the incoming early wind of the afternoon (meaning it would be cold tonight), I had tucked a brown blanket around my shoulders for comfort but it was a tad short which left my legs bare. To remedy this problem, I rubbed my toes against the hammock to create warm friction but gave up soon to save energy. . .that and a continually rocking hammock might give passerby's the wrong idea.

"What're you doing in there?"

I shrieked in surprise to the blue form that suddenly popped out from the branch overhead and pressed a hand to my heart when I realized it was Tsu'tey. Honestly, my unofficial boyfriend was more liable to kill me with fear than a thanator with his ninja skills. I clenched my fists to being frightened so easily within my home and frowned at him to retort shrilly, "Stop doing that! It scares me."

He tilted his head to the side with a puzzled blink, his orange beads clinking against each other in the air like a bell chime and he remarked casually with an innocent voice, "I thought you were used to it."

My face fell into a deadpan expression for his misconception and I pointed out matter-of-factly with sarcasm lacing my voice, "You make no sound. How can I expect to hear you if the wind is practically louder than you?"

Having my say on his undetectable stealth, I slumped in my sleeping spot because seeing him pop out from another direction would probably have me faint. He was like that pesky whack-a-mole game in family restaurants that I couldn't figure out and I'd already seen Tsu'tey pop out of bushes, trees, the air itself, and that was enough to last me a lifetime. The hammock swayed as I felt his feet indent the material in announcement to his presence and I automatically groaned to protest weakly, "No, I don't want to mingle anymore. My face is tired from smiling, I didn't think it was possible but it is. I just need to relax for a bit, please."

"Oh" was his soft reply and I cracked one tired eye open when I heard a disappointed note in that rich voice of his, "I will see you for last meal then."

Did he think I included him in the category of socializing?

Outstretching a hand, I waved it hastily for his undivided attention because I didn't want him to feel rejected at all and beckoned, "Not you. You can always stay. . .just close the hammock so nobody else finds me."

He shot me a warning glare from his spot at the end of the hammock, kneeling back down on the fabric as he abided to my request, and I pointed out smartly with a smirk, "You found me, didn't you? I need to feign the look of sleep until I'm back into energized Joanna."

"You actually run out of energy?" he joked lightly to my endless peppy energy as he pulled the hammock closed with two easy tugs from the material to conceal us completely from sight. I nudged his lower back with my toes for the wisecrack as I watched his toned muscles shift under his beautiful cyan skin with a curious eye and his fast reflexes seized my ankle (I should've stopped the prodding but he was too enticing as a view) which led me to give up the fight. This time, I didn't mind losing. He turned around with my captured foot in hand and his fingers gave my ankle a gentle squeeze before lifting it to his lips, touching them against my ankle bone in a light kiss.

My eyes to widened when he traced more along my inner leg and my cheeks burned shyly to the romantic display as he continued. His lips were soft and feathery on my skin, delivering light pecks in the style of an invisible route until he reached my knee and my mind pulled off an alarm at the thought of him traveling further north. Thankfully, he stopped there, releasing my pampered leg back to its counterpart (who had now grown a little jealous for being left out) and I tucked them close to my body as I tried not to blush. What had happened to my innocent virgin hunter and who was this suave charmer?

He laid down next to me in close distance, a different change in comparison to when he laid down wherever there was ample space. There had always been space between us or one was either lying down or sitting up but I rather liked this new position as we ventured forth into new territory with eagerness to learn.

"The Atykwe like you already" he commented proudly with a laidback smile and I smiled in return as my hands rearranged the blanket to wrap it around both of us instead. I wasn't about to be selfish with my small blanket that couldn't cover anything past the knee and wanted to keep him comfortable as well since he kept me safe and sound like a mother bear on this world. His amber eyes were half-lidded with intrigue as he watched me and I knew that particular facial change meant he was all ears in attention and appreciative toward the speaker. How did I know this? He only gave that specific glance to his adored Aci and Swizav, nobody else, which humbled me.

"I've always liked them since we met after the battle, that's where Nitari told me to give a certain tenacious warrior a chance at friendship" I reminisced fondly to how insistent the matriarch had been despite my growing dislike towards the irritatingly gruff man and privately laughed at the irony of it all. I remember not being able to stand his arrogant voice as I helped him eat during my nursemaid days and his second guessing of my actions during the search for a new Kelutral drove me insane. All of it seemed like a surreal dream lived out by different characters with our bodies and voices- but not our souls. My thumb gently outlined the bottom of his lower lip and I leaned forward to peck his lips with mine, silently accepting the Na'vi man for everything he'd been, was, and would be one day. He pushed me, tested me, taught me, guarded me, cared over me, befriended me- the layers of his onion heart were peeling away to reveal the last translucent and delicate layers as I learned something new about him every day. Today had been his adolescent guilt over killing prey and each daily tidbit would be locked away safely in my mind for future reference.

Releasing his lips from mine, I smiled affectionately at him so he could read every single emotion written across my face as I whispered, "I'm very glad I listened to her because I would be regretting it at this very moment if I hadn't."