Neytiri was fondly watching her ikran splashing in the river water. Her friend was one of a number of the flying creatures that enjoyed eating fish, and it was funny to watch the great winged beast trying to catch them. She turned when she heard a voice call her name.

"Neytiri!" Sir'tey was trotting in her direction. "Oel ngati kameie, are you busy this morning?"

She greeted the clan's senior hunter, "Oel ngati kameie, not this morning, why?"

Concern showed plainly on the man's blue-striped face. "Je'ran's riding harness slipped when he tried to mount his ikran, it had worked loose without him realizing it. He's injured his leg badly. He'll be all right, but he won't be able to hunt for a while. We have a lot of young hunters out today, and I'm concerned that a number of them will come home empty-handed. There aren't any other experienced hunters still around that I can send to replace him, would you mind?"

"Of course," the tsahik stood up immediately, "I'd be glad to help."

"Irayo, that's a relief. Je'ran was going to hunt Seventh Area today; a large yerik herd was reported just south of the large eastward bend in the river," Sir'tey instructed.

Neytiri nodded in acknowledgement. I wasn't expecting to hunt today, better go empty myself first, she thought. It was one of the first hunting lessons – you couldn't focus on hunting when your bladder was full. She left her happily splashing ikran and trotted off to the squatting-grounds.

She considered how best to approach the herd while she was doing her business. I'll have to make a very wide circle around, a lot of the river is exposed in that area and any moving flashes reflected off of the water will spook them. I have that blessing for a new journeyman's loom to do this afternoon, and I don't want to have to wait for a spooked herd to settle down.

Neytiri stepped back and absently looked down to resettle her loincloth properly – and saw that the patch of grass in the spot she had just vacated had assumed a color that it had not been a couple of minutes before.

Her mind went completely blank for a few seconds as she stared. Then incredibly intense joy made her heart start racing like a runaway pa'li. She gasped for air – and then heard others approaching the area.

I want this private! was her instant reaction. She took a few swift steps away from the telltale color and took a moment to compose her expression. Then Neytiri strode directly towards the approaching clansmen. The two young women saw her step on to the path and hailed her. "Oel ngati kameie!"

She returned the greeting and made a request. "Oel ngati kameie. Could I ask a favor?"

The younger of the two replied, "Of course, tsahik, how can I help you?"

Neytiri tried with all her might to keep her expression under control as she asked, "Would you go to the Olo'eyctan and tell him that it is important for him to meet me at the fan lizard place as soon as he can? I must fly there right now or I would tell him myself."

"Gladly," the woman replied, "I will tell him right away."

"Irayo," the tsahik said gratefully. That was about as far as she could trust her composure and she ran back to the river. She mounted her ikran as soon as she arrived – fortunately her friend had eaten enough fish not to protest the departure.

She flew to their trysting-spot, all thoughts of hunting forgotten. She ignored the usual explosion of fan lizards and almost yelled Guard! mentally at her friend. The ikran was content to go perch in a nearby tree, and Neytiri ran into the little clearing. The tsahik dropped to her knees and let go of what little control she had left, crying and rocking back and forth while she waited for her mate to arrive.

Jake was surprised by the message, to say the least. That's odd, she wasn't acting amorous at the hunter's meeting. Maybe I missed something. Well, he certainly wasn't opposed to the idea.

He excused himself as soon as possible and headed out on his ikran. He flew to their spot, stepped into the corridor between the tree trunks – and saw Neytiri kneeling on the ground rocking back and forth, apparently in great pain. His blood ran cold and he sprinted forward, yelling "NEYTIRI!" He thumped down on his knees next to her.

She looked up, and he was horrified to see tears streaking her face. She gasped, "Tsahaylu, Jake."

He didn't question it, just grabbed for the end of his queue and jammed it against hers. The now-familiar sensations of their nervous systems connecting swamped his awareness, to be followed by something totally unexpected.

Joy?

He was stunned, unable to comprehend what was going on. With tears still flowing down her face, Neytiri told him, "Eywa has said 'yes,' Jake. I carry our child."

She'd expected Jake to be stunned – how many men weren't, when first told they were going to become a father? She expected disbelief, after the confession he'd made to her on their honeymoon. Neytiri expected surprise, elation, shock, triumph, any number of the normal reactions of a man come face to face with the reality of his first child. She felt all those things and more; as he struggled to come to grips with her news, one emotion swiftly overtook the rest. Her tears dried as she reacted in confusion to the emotion that was swiftly overpowering her mate.

Terror.