Inspired By: "Hans Zimmer & John Powell- Peach Tree of Wisdom" and "Two Steps From Hell- I Love You Forever"
A Reunion for the Ages, Pt. I
Tsu'tey was in mystified awe when his eyes gazed at the coastal land surrounding the Atykwe Kelutral (he'd forgotten its strangely fortifying location), surprised that they felt so safe to be in the open. Living his entire life among the Omaticaya, he couldn't imagine not being surrounded by the concealing forest that kept them secure and wondered how Joanna must've felt during her first day among the sea clan. He would've undoubtedly felt vulnerable and exposed if he had to live there for more than a few days. It had been years that he'd seen the beautiful glittering sea but the view was spectacular as the endless rolling waves crashed against the sandy shore. Ikran screeched from the sky, enjoying their flight under the sun but they kept a watchful eye on the newcomers as the color of the Omaticaya banshees contrasted greatly against the sandy white coast.
"Look at all of them!" Norm called out with awe to the multitude of colors that varied from their clan, pointing to those of a navy hue since he'd never seen such dark ikran. The darkest color he'd seen within their lands was dark brown to match the color of the trees for perfect camouflage and had the prime example himself with Telas. His ikran didn't hesitate to voice that he felt out of place among the different colors, comfortable among the two ikran alongside him and asked when they could go home. Norm promised he'd be just fine and to make friends because an exotic ikran just might catch an eye or two from females in heat; Telas brightened up considerably to that idea.
Tsu'tey didn't know where to land safely since the canopies were off-limits without permission because he wasn't going to risk having their ikran attacked on sight by the Atykwe banshees and he'd no idea how to enter the cave. So, he decided to land in a clear area on the white beach at a safe distance from the colorful residential huts and his ikran dove down, landing on the soft sand as the other two followed suit. Swizav immediately observed the new environment with a suspicious hiss, dipping his head warily to sniff the strange earth and his legs tested the softness of the terrain. This was completely unknown to him; he didn't trust it!
Tsu'tey calmed him through their bond to assure it was perfectly fine for his weight and dismounted onto the warm sand with a graceful jump, his toes wiggling in the new ground to show Swizav that he wouldn't sink. His ikran snorted skeptically as he held onto his previous assumption and quickly scattered over to a sizable boulder to stand on it for extra security. Rocks were known to him and they provided better safety than loose dirt like that. The other two ikran merely stayed in place since there were no more rocks for their sizes and their partners assured that they'd be fine while Tsu'tey called Swizav a child for clinging onto it.
His ikran hissed defiantly as he refused to budge from his spot and Tsu'tey warned with a firm stance, "If you don't follow, I will leave you behind and let the ikran peck you out of the clan."
They were the only outsiders and their different colored ikran caught the notice of most residents wandering the area as they carried on their daily tasks. The trio observed the Atykwe walking around their land, Tsu'tey introducing himself to any passerby to maintain his polite decorum. He didn't expect to find so many wandering the beach and realized that this clan was almost double the size of the Omaticaya. He wondered if Joanna happened to be nearby along the beach, idly walking without knowing he was in her home- just minutes away. The thought of seeing the woman who haunted his dreams brought anxiety because he didn't know what kind of life she was living now. Had she changed since leaving his clan? He wasn't ashamed to admit that his first thought was whether she'd found another man to love but as long as she was happy, it would suffice . . . after he sparred and pummeled them into the ground.
"I've never seen such open space" Tarazi admitted with awe to the open land that resembled nothing of her home, watching curiously as her toes melted into the white sand. Unlike her ikran, the new landscape captured her undivided interest as it contrasted her home greatly and couldn't help but feel a pinch of longing for it. The tiny particles of sand tickled her skin as she walked, wondering how the sea water differed from the freshwater pools of the Omaticaya because the scent varied greatly. She'd never smelled the sea but its distinct aroma beckoned her to swim in its depths; she'd return later.
It didn't take long for them to be met with one of Nitari's representatives as they wandered deeper into the clan and Tsu'tey found himself facing Arat. The Omaticaya bowed his head politely, being the guest in their lands, and his old lessons of clan etiquette surfaced in his mind despite the years of inactivity. Norm and Tarazi followed his lead as they looked to him for guidance, standing behind their advisor loyally. Tsu'tey felt comfortable meeting with Arat rather than a stranger since the two met often during the festival and liked his serene demeanor, speaking courteously, "I See you, Arat of the Atykwe, it is welcoming to find a familiar face. I have come on behalf of the Omaticayan olo'eyktan for trading purposes, a small order of fish, but the mother tsahìk requested of me to seek audience with your olo'eyktan."
"Always a pleasure to see you, advisor, and Nitari is expecting you" the advisor's son replied calmly with a friendly smile to their new guests and motioned to the ikran that watched him with a curious eye, "As for your ikran, I will need you to place this on each of their necks for temporary recognition among ours."
Arat opened a brown cloth sack that he carried in one hand to retrieve a necklace made of beige plant fibers, handing it to Tsu'tey who detected the hint of seawater as he held it between his hands. His sense of smell was sharp but there were pheromones from ikran that he could never imagine grasping and assumed some of that was at work with the necklaces. It was what they'd done during the festival; the ikran breeders prepared necklaces for visiting banshees that held scents similar to their ikran and other scents that Tsu'tey had absolutely no idea on. The Atykwe hunter further explained the purpose to the other two young hunters, "It holds the scent of our ikran and will feign that they are one of us. Otherwise, they will attack and we wouldn't want that. Simply make sure they are wearing it at all times."
Tsu'tey grabbed the necklace to place it over his ikran's head but Swizav sniffed it suspiciously, uttering a small hiss of complaint to the strange smell. He liked his forest scent, thank you very much, rather than the salty taste of the ocean air that licked at his taste receptors. He shook his head to prevent the necklace from sliding down his neck but his rider quickly lectured sternly to cut out any shenanigans, "You will wear this so do not chew it or you will be chased out of the Atykwe clan by dozens of ikran. I will not be very happy if you do so nor will I chase you down."
Swizav uttered a weak warble of obedience, his head slumping as the necklace settled at the base of his neck and Arat instructed with an amicable smile, "He may fly throughout the area to explore and can sleep at the canopies since the hatching season hasn't arrived so there's ample space."
His ikran hissed at the idea of leaving his rider in a new unexplored land but his little yellow eye caught sight of the attractive sunbathing hill of rocks, prompting him to fly towards the area to explore and forget his rider completely. Tsu'tey didn't even have time to untie his pack of belongings from the ikran and sighed under his breath as he watched him scuttle off with the fat brown pack strapped to his lower back. He fought an amused smile when his ikran plopped himself down at the edge, spreading his wings lazily to relax under the sun as he greeted other ikran. The Atykwe ikran sniffed him to verify his acceptance into the clan and after a few seconds, replied cheerfully with trills as he became one of them for the time being. Norm and Tarazi followed in their advisor's steps, placing the necklaces around their ikran and ushering them off to explore after removing their belongings from them (they weren't about to repeat Tsu'tey's mistake). Of course, their ikran also decided to visit the most popular spot for the Atykwe ikran too.
Motioning for Arat to guide him, the four hunters wandered along the beach shore to meet with the tsahìk and Tsu'tey began his old routine of friendly conversation, "I have not been here since I was a child, it will be nice to explore my old playgrounds. I have family here that I would like to visit as well."
"The evacuation of the tawtute really has renewed our peace, hasn't it?" Arat remarked agreeably as clans initiated in travel once more to forge new bonds and renew the old. It was wonderful to explore their own world without fear that the tawtute would be watching each of their movements once they left the safety of their Kelutral. He might even travel himself if Nitari wished it but he had years before traveling would take place with his rank, along with the extra responsibilities. Tsu'tey was one of the youngest advisors he'd heard of, probably the youngest in his own history, but Arat didn't doubt his skills for a second.
"It is a freedom that didn't come without sacrifices" Tsu'tey agreed solemnly as unity and Eywa's favor turned the tide of their battle but this was their world to begin with. They weren't selfish in sharing it but the tawtute forced their hand when they wanted to reap their resources for personal profit and destroy them in the process. The na'vi now knew that life existed among the stars but so far, none was benign in their intentions.
Arat led them to the northern edge of the beach where an elaborate hut of violet cloth faded into pastel lavender at the entrance as intricate landscapes were sewn around the entire hut in a stunning tapestry. He'd been to this hut continuously throughout his life, always surprised to the stunning colors the matriarch used as she changed them each season to correspond with the change in the earth. Tsu'tey had never seen a hut so lovely as the others he passed held contrasting colors of pastel, neutral, or bright shades, but this one held one distinct tone that faded into the rising dawn. Stories of the Atykwe were sewn onto each landscape, his eyes drawn towards the front as silky large feathers of yellow and brown had been tied to the wooden foundation and billowed in the gentle breeze. At the front of the closed entrance, the matriarch sat with a calm expression on her smooth face as she watched the incoming tides; it was her form of inner peace.
"Our guests have arrived" she spoke softly without glancing at the trio and Arat confirmed it as he stepped aside to allow for introduction, excusing himself to tend to other clan matters. Norm had become transfixed on a portrait that held sewn pa'li figures running across a green plain while a dark violet horizon enclosed the tapestry but quickly corrected his gaze towards the matriarch. She stood up elegantly in one movement, observing each with her golden gaze as they dipped their heads respectfully and greeted kindly with warmth, "I See you, children of the Omaticaya. It has been far too long without visitors and I welcome you to my lands. To what do I owe the pleasure, advisor?"
"This will probably humor you but my olo'eyktan requests a small order of si'an fish and I have brought trading goods in return" Tsu'tey stated calmly in regards to the purpose of their visit, motioning to Norm and Tarazi who held the bundle of goods Jake sent in their care. At least the two had managed to unload their belongings off their ikran since his had flown off without a care. The tsahìk motioned for the two to place their wrapped packages inside the hut to keep them safe, thanking the trio for the items, and Tsu'tey continued, "Our tsahìk is with child," this brought a wide smile to Nitari's face, "and I was dispatched to take care of the order. Aside from that, my olo'eyktan requested I speak with you on clan matters when you have time available. We have no issues that need attending but if you or your clan ever needs anything, you've nothing but ask."
"I am certain if I did, matriarch Mo'at would've approached you by now" Nitari smiled pleasantly with her air of mystery because messengers came every month or so to deliver messages from loved ones. Tsu'tey, however, wouldn't question the powers of a tsahìk and merely agreed with her comment. The topaz colored stones dangling from her twine bracelet clinked together as she beckoned for the hunters to follow and headed for the shoreline with a smile. Her guests couldn't match the gracefulness of her steps over the sand as the terrain was new to each, too soft in comparison to the solid earth of the forest and Tsu'tey yearned for the familiar terrain. His tail swayed for balance for the first time outside of a hunt or training setting, calculating his footing with every step to maintain his perfect posture without betraying the true difficulty. Tarazi refrained from scratching her itchy toes while Norm tried not to sink into the sand as they traveled over the dunes, their uneasy footing displayed visibly unlike Tsu'tey's. Their ears perked to hear everything Nitari said as her left hand motioned to the huts around them and inquired kindly, "I welcome you to the Atykwe, I do hope you will be staying for a few days?"
Tsu'tey bounded up to her side as elegantly as he could, his tail flicking like a child's to maintain perfect balance and answered regretfully, "I told my olo'eyktan that a day would suffice but-"
"But you've just arrived and I know your family would love to spend a few days with you" Nitari negotiated with the caring maternal side of her personality and motioned to the two hunters behind her with a charismatic smile, "And I'm certain the young ones would love to explore this new land, the sea and caves await adventurers. Not to mention the food, we have very delicious saltwater fish and other delicacies."
Tsu'tey spared a glance behind him as his companions practically beamed with eagerness and although he'd visited here in his youth, they hadn't. They were new to this land and everything it offered, leading him to reconsider hesitantly, "I might allow for two days but we will see, I don't want to risk decomposition of the fish."
Nitari chuckled softly as she dipped her toes in the wet sand as the rolling waves lapped at the white shore, "We hunt our fish on the day we eat it so don't you worry, it will be fresh and ready to be cooked at the Omaticaya. You can even partake in the fishing if you wish, our hunters can teach you the basics and with your rankings, it shouldn't be too hard. Mo'at tells me you fancy fishing as much as hunting in the forest, Tsu'tey."
His ears flattened modestly since he did find it therapeutic and answered truthfully, "Yes, mostly during the mornings to catch them off-guard but I've never fished in the sea. I'm accustomed to nets only, I've never used the fishing rods that Arat speaks of."
"He's the best fisherman too, actually" Norm piped up helpfully since he helped everyone that wanted to learn, taking a small group once a week to the nearest river to show teach them a lesson. Jake stuck to the handmade fishing rod he'd made since he liked his battle against one fish rather than swinging a net to allow a bunch to become caught. He was at peace with the single fish since his forte was hunting and diplomacy, leaving Tsu'tey the entire river to use as therapy for purging any ill emotions running through him.
Tsu'tey shot him a small glare since he didn't like boasting his accomplishments in front of leaders but Nitari saw him as a long-distance child since his roots originated among her clan. Norm merely smiled cheekily and soaked his warm feet in the cold water, wiggling his toes with joy that he was actually at the sea for the first time in his life. How many humans could say they visited a pure ocean and soaked their feet inside it without needing decontamination? There were so many views of Pandora and experiences he wanted to share with his family back home but he knew in order to become free of Earth, sacrifices had to be made. He knew they'd be proud of him for following his heart, their calls never failed to say it, but it didn't stop the brief melancholy of missing them. The trio followed the matriarch as she traveled along the beach, curious to where she was leading them since they assumed Kelutral would be their first stop but Nitari continued on, "I am glad to know the clan is thriving well, I remember just yesterday that these two were students in that archery competition and here they stand now as hunters. Keep making your clan proud, young ones, you will lead the coming generation."
Tarazi and Norm thanked her for the kind words, their footsteps splashing as they walked through the water since the sand didn't scratch their toes once wet. Seeing their footprints indent in the wet earth, Norm felt the need to create a sandcastle to test the cohesion of Pandora's damp sand and strived to make that a reality while here. The dunes of dry sand melted away as the minutes passed, melting into smooth flat clearings that held powder white dust rather than the gritty sand at the shore. Tsu'tey glanced at the strange color of the earth as his damp feet darkened the pale land with droplets of water, leaving tracks as Nitari headed for the hunters preparing their catches. By the fifth step, his feet were no longer his vibrant blue but powdery white resembling flour and his gaze snapped towards the matriarch when she explained the area around them, "This is where our hunters gather to train and prepare catches, similar to your clearings back home. The texture of the earth is different here than it is for the rest of the beach and prevents any spoilage of food while being prepared. You are free to explore wherever you like and Tsu'tey, I will meet with you after you reunite with your family."
"It will be an honor" he replied politely since the matriarch was diplomatic and entertaining company; quite frankly, she was the olo'eyktan he preferred to speak to out of all he'd met so far. Apart from Mo'at and Eytukan, Nitari and Akon had been the only other leaders he spent time with when he traveled since his visits to other clans during his adolescence didn't lead him to the Atykwe due to their strong alliance. He hoped to fix the lack of visits now that there were no enemies to fear from and the distance was worth it just to see his family.
"With that said, I hope you enjoy your stay" Nitari finished with a cheerful smile as she gazed at each of them, her eyes shining brightly to the new company. She saw Tsu'tey's arrival as an accomplishment since she hadn't seen him set foot in her lands since he was six years old and hoped future visits would follow. She smiled at the clan's hunters as they sat underneath a shady tree in a circle cutting their caught fish, drawing the gazes of the Omaticayan visitors, and Tsu'tey greeted each politely. Norm lingered behind to see the types of fishes they'd caught, smiling amicably to the hunters at work but Tarazi pulled him along with a quick yank of the arm. Nitari headed further past the training students as archery stands stood in a line, void of any hunters training, and informed the trio with a pleasant tone, "I will have accommodations prepared for the night and while you are here, I think a familiar face should show you around our clan for a fresh air of familiarity. Joanna?"
A head rose to the tsahìk's beckon across the white sandy field and Nitari smiled warmly to see the huntress ahead of them as she wrapped her prepared catch of the day. She would send this particular bundle of wrapped leaves to the cooks for salting and drying since the particular fish tasted wonderful when made into meat filled dough balls in fish stew. Tsu'tey's face brightened instantaneously as did hers when he saw his previous student was now a full-fledged huntress, noticing the bowstring across her chest and the knife at the side of her waist. Her long hair had been cut to shoulder length and entwined with small shells and he found it endearing when he noticed a blue ribbon in her queue braid, remembering her hesitance to brush it (he'd brushed it himself a few times). Her garb was similar to every huntress of the Atykwe, a difference to the Omaticaya's loincloth and chest cover which made the three feel out of place.
Joanna halted her work immediately as her gaze caught his, disbelieving to the sight before her and it took Anaya's shoulder tap to snap her out of the frozen reverie. She handed her bundle of packaged fish to her friend with an apologetic ramble, her ears flat against her head as her cheeks abashedly tinted lilac to her lapse in attention. Anaya merely chuckled as she placed it on top of hers, greeting their new guests as she left to drop off the food to keep it safe for consumption. Joanna's familiar voice had not changed as she reminded Anaya about the dough balls and approached them with a brisk stride, rather than the old perky jog that chased after Tsu'tey following a scuffle. Had it been that long ago that they'd sparred verbally and physically? She smiled broadly with delight to seeing their faces after four months and greeted them with honest warmth, "I See you, old friends, and you are very welcome faces here."
Tsu'tey wanted to reply to the first words he'd heard from her in a season, his hands itching to grasp hers for a reunion, but she turned to Nitari with undivided attention to ask politely, "You called for me, tsahìk?"
"Yes, I'd like for you to escort our new guests around our land" Nitari assigned warmly as she motioned to the three visitors and Joanna smiled amicably at her old Omaticayan acquaintances. She'd always wondered when she'd see him again, outside of her dreams, and it seemed that day had finally arrived. He was standing there in front of her in the flesh, his appearance polite and almost modest, reminding her of their final weeks together as they'd lain about in her hammock. Well, she might smell like fish today but at least she'd dressed presentable to ward off the smell because Tsu'tey was immaculate in his appearance.
There were so many questions running through her mind as her gaze lingered on the hunter but her matriarch continued with her errand of the day, "They will be spending the night here, maybe two," she smiled sweetly like a doting mother towards the three on this, "but I'm certain you will make them feel at home by pointing out our popular spots and safest areas. While you are here, I will treat you as my own to make sure you return to Mo'at safely so Joanna, I entrust this to you."
"I will happily oblige, matriarch" she agreed wholeheartedly to focus on the job to the best of her abilities and ushered the three forward to travel along the shore, excusing herself politely. Nitari simply smiled joyfully to the new company since many of her children would be happy today and headed off towards Kelutral to inform the matriarch of Tsu'tey's family that he'd arrived. Both parties would be in a celebratory mood after their time apart and Nitari's gait carried a youthful kick since she enjoyed reuniting families. Oh, and subtly reuniting youngsters in love without them being none the wiser by playing the innocent matriarch. Truly, Nitari could feel the marvelous wave of change that had swept across the land in the last year and knew that more was to come.
Joanna glimpsed at her matriarch's retreating back, ready to undertake the task because disappointment would not be an option. She worked her hardest to show Nitari that her choice in adopting her into the clan was not a mistake, always happy to lend a hand. By the end of her first tour, she hoped her old Omaticayan friends would look forward for a return visit to their shore. She presented their sandy clearing for training or as Xuret fondly dubbed it 'The Clearing of Focus' to smile brightly, "I will show you the popular sights and you are free to explore afterwards."
She pointed out that they didn't keep their pa'li there, their main pen located next to the cave underneath a shady tree as the area provided ample room for running with none of the stand. Their sleeping pen, of course, was always inside the cave to keep them safe from any dangers. Tsu'tey found this rather strange since pa'li were outdoors creatures but assumed a pa'li could accidentally wander off into the sea at night and drown under the strength of the current. Norm was the first to speak through her guided tour as she headed for the colorful asymmetrical huts around the shore and he asked curiously, "Is it safe to say you're a huntress now?"
"Yes, Norm, my Xeki is usually at the rock hill or in the canopies" she answered cheerfully with a proud smile on her face as she paused to answer the question, pointing out a few sewn landscapes that portrayed their varying ikran. Tsu'tey didn't hesitate to steal a spot next to her during the quick stop, smiling softly to hear about the ikran he'd trained her to catch and to walk alongside her like old times. Her gaze lingered on his angular face for a few seconds to acknowledge that subtle action but she continued without a change in voice, "I spend my days out at sea, either hunting or flying for fun since airborne predators are lacking here so you three can fly carefree. Otherwise, exploring with Xeki or my friends and honing my herbalism takes up the rest of the time. You can take your ikran east to the deeper ocean, there's a lot of migrating animals this season and I assure you that you'll see a few."
"Are any dangerous?" Tarazi asked warily since she didn't want one to bite her ikran if she decided to venture close for a second look. She'd never seen the sea, much less its marine inhabitants, and itched to catch sight of large passive creatures. This was her first trip outside of the safe comforts of her Kelutral and she wanted to fill her mind with memorable moments to return so she could share them with her family.
Joanna smiled empathetically to her natural worry since she'd been wary of the open space during her first days and answered truthfully, "Not this season. The next, however, will bring predators closer to our shores so we set up boundaries to protect our people and fish only with our ikran."
"You don't watch over the children anymore?" Tsu'tey asked curiously to change the topic since he'd seen his share of marine wildlife during youth and could catch a glimpse later on in the day if he wished. He was more than certain that the other two were going to head out for adventure since they wouldn't stay long and hoped nobody sprained a foot or wing. Joanna's smile widened at the sound of his smooth voice, remembering each pitch and the way he accented his vowels. . .oh, it brought back so many memories. She'd always worried that she'd lose the mental image of his face and each unique marking with the passage of time but no, he was as perfect as she'd remembered.
She shook her head quickly before leaning down to collect a few tiny shells from the sand, plucking them quickly as she chuckled that they were used them in a popular game. Pocketing her find, she resumed their walk through the adorned huts as she headed south to the caverns and replied earnestly, "I'm afraid not. I couldn't find the same connection with the children from the Omaticaya but I still love the little ones. The only children I spend time with are those of my healing teacher. My time is spent mostly with Arat and Anaya, or my herbalism teacher since I'm still learning my path among the clan."
"Max is a full-time healer now, Peyral does the hunting and he fixes her right up" Norm informed her with the few changes over the months back at their clan and Joanna's mind prickled for news since she'd heard the rumors of the matriarch poking him to become fully dedicated to that field. Max had a natural gift for medicine, even among humans, and she was certain Peyral would bring in enough food from hunting (predators probably feared her). He tapped his chin for any more tidbits relating to their home, especially old friends, and smiled widely, "Oh, and Cheryl's begun working with the healers too. Given her old profession, the matriarch guided her to study all of the plants Pandora has available. There's a few unknown out there and she's heading to Hell's Gate to use the machines to figure out the properties for cataloging. It'll be a big help to the healers if she finds anything good."
"I'm proud of that woman and if she does find something, my matriarch would be happy to trade" Joanna chuckled fondly with regard to her dear friend and was glad to hear she'd found her calling over there. She missed seeing her friendly bashful face and interacting with her after years of living together, remembering their daily conversations at night. How were she and Noren doing? Were they closer to making that little family they wanted one day? Whenever the matriarch deemed her ready to venture out for travel, the Omaticaya would be her first stop to renew her old friendships by playing catch-up (especially with each passing month). Despite her family on the beach, the Omaticaya had helped groom her into the woman she was now and wouldn't forget that. Her face softened as she glanced over her shoulder at the two before gazing at Tsu'tey, lacing the private truth with the broad as she admitted, "I'm really glad to see you again, more than you can imagine. So, what else has happened since I left?"
All three answered with the popular news in unison, "Neytiri's pregnant."
Joanna's lower jaw popped open in surprise since she hadn't expected that but the revelation was welcoming because the two hadn't made it private that they were ready for a family. There were iffy times when she and Cheryl wondered about their fertility as alien hybrids but hearing about Jake's upcoming baby squashed every doubt stashed within her mind. If Jake could hold a healthy newborn in his arms in the coming months, then there was hope for her to have a little one frolicking around in the sand dunes with glee on their face. It was great to know the clan was thriving well under his leadership and Norm explained the relevant reason for their trip, "That's why we're here, actually. Jake sent Tsu'tey to bring Neytiri a particular fish she's craving and we came to supervise."
Right, she thought with amusement because three people for a couple of fish only needed one person. On the other hand, if he wanted enough for the clan, it would need another ikran for the load but she didn't know the specifics. Jake was always very crafty with his plans, sometimes bordering on being obvious with his schemes, but she'd leave his matchmaking conspiracies alone because he'd allowed Tsu'tey to come to her home. She'd gladly fetch any fish her friend wanted since she'd missed talking to the love of her life and couldn't wait to speak with him privately. Oh, and it was her job was to make sure the clan's guests were happy and safe so she couldn't just, um, ignore the matriarch's orders. She might fetch a big fish for her too because her predictions in the past weeks sent her inner love-struck Joanna jumping over the moon.
"How are the Omaticayan leaders and the mother tsahìk?" she asked kindly but knew all three were happy with anticipation for the little baby that would join their family. Who wouldn't be? She was miles away from the clan and she was excited for all of them, wishing them nothing but good fortune with their child.
"Quite well, the upcoming baby is keeping them joyful and busy" Tsu'tey answered with a pleasant smile that held nothing but warmth for his friends as they were learning the basics of newborn care during their free time. Max was teaching Neytiri all he could in deciphering every pregnancy sensation that would lead to the birth while also explaining baby care once the little one was at home. Jake was learning from Mo'at about caretaking as well to bond with his mother-in-law but if Tsu'tey caught him trying to put a bib on him one more time, he'd tie him by his tail. He was the unofficial uncle of the child so while Jake made sure Neytiri was fine, Tsu'tey watched over the two as any older brother would. He chuckled softly to the loincloth diapers Jake had placed at the bottom of water canteens as he practiced his skills and honestly stated, "I've never seen them more excited."
"Can you see the swell of the baby?" Joanna asked eagerly, smiling widely to the image of a glowing mother-to-be Neytiri as she went about her day. After almost a year, the populations of clans were stabilizing after the mortal losses sustained against the RDA and she was glad to see each child that renewed the hope that had been lost. Tsu'tey motioned the current size of the small swell over his own lower stomach since Neytiri was trying to conceal the growing bump during the first few months and she sighed fondly with content, "Oh, she must be so happy. It will undoubtedly increase once they're out in the world and cooing with their tiny hands."
He chuckled softly to her caring words, his ears flattening for a moment as they'd shared the hope of a family of their own during their last conversation but it was unachievable now. Well, not impossible but . . . it wasn't an easy road. Joanna caught the tender look in his gaze as their eyes met for a brief second and smiled sympathetically, changing the topic by announcing chirpily, "Well, let me start with our ocean here to the left. Feel free to venture there, we have reeds by the hunters area for underwater exploration but don't wander past the rock border since it's for our safety. The tides tend to grow stronger further out so swim close and don't worry, nothing here bites. Well, maybe the crabs but they're further along where the caverns are located. . .which we're heading to!"
"I will conclude the tour here so you can enjoy your time at the beach or inside the caves, the entire beach is your oyster" Joanna finished with an encouraging smile as she hoped they'd like their time spent with her clan, their tour ending in front of the clan cave's mouth. Her mind had been in awe to the open landscape upon arrival due to the geographical change and could see the same in their wary eyes since they'd become accustomed to the sheltering cozy forest. She had shown them each popular area around their land, from the caverns to the south to their ancient towering Kelutral within the large cave in the west that had drawn curious eyes to its distinct carvings. Norm's anthropological mind yearned to stay to read the painted carvings that had been preserved throughout the ages by artisans but the other two had hauled him away to continue. Tarazi previously experienced the same at the southern caves, curious to the small fishes that brushed by her feet as the water lapped at her knees as they ventured around the area. Tsu'tey, however, had been more interested in catching glimpses of his family around the beach rather than revisiting old sites.
If they wanted a guide to direct them far out into the ocean, she'd fetch Xeki in a second since her partner enjoyed the boundless freedom of the sky. She couldn't let the two wander too far out without supervision or her appointed task would fail horribly. Norm didn't hesitate to voice his first pick for sightseeing and suggested to Tarazi with an eager grin, "Let's visit the coastal caverns."
The huntress uttered no complaint and the two scampered off without a second to spare, running down the sand dunes as fast as they could run to follow the path Joanna had shown them. Tsu'tey's look of utter disbelief stirred laughter from Joanna because he'd expected the two to stay put like the obedient hunters that listened to their elders but apparently, they weren't. How could they just leave without offering a farewell or telling him whether they could run off? Honestly, the boldness in youngsters nowadays. Joanna chuckled to their enthusiasm as the two faded quickly over the dunes in their haste to seize the day for all it was worth and reasoned compassionately, "They've never seen the sea, Tsu'tey, let them enjoy it. . .in second thought. . ."
Quickly, she ran forward to shout out to them with concerned precaution, "Be careful with the tides! Don't," she paused and sighed softly in defeat, "I don't think they heard me."
He agreed with a halfhearted grunt since the two had run off like youngsters as Joanna's funneled hands failed to cause the echo required to carry her voice. She wasn't the type to raise her voice anymore, not unless it was needed and bit the inside of her left cheek as she hoped the two would tread safely. There were no dangerous tides in the caverns at that hour but slippery rocks were always a concern, especially for children. Thankfully, they came during the calmest of seasons so the chance of injury was low for adults if one headed out for adventure and the buddy system helped tremendously.
Tsu'tey observed her appearance from behind as she gazed into the cloudless horizon, her tail swaying to the sides with concern for their friends, and his gaze lingered on her short braided hair. He'd enjoyed weaving his fingers through her hair, the silkiness reminding him of an arachnid's spun web, and absentmindedly brushed back his own since her long locks were gone. Nonetheless, she was still the same woman he'd known for two seasons and complimented her new youthful look, "You carry yourself confidently now and are beautiful as ever, if I may add."
"You may" she smiled sincerely, glancing away sheepishly to the latter part since it was now just the two of them wandering around the beach as they caught up on lost time. He made no mention of traveling elsewhere to see the sights and she said nothing of it, continuing their walk with a grateful little smile as she decided to stroll to the outdoor pa'li pen. Tsu'tey had always been subtle and kind in his compliments to show affection, a trait she'd found endearing since their first courting days. His modest appearance failed to change, the green color of the beads in his hair being the only difference and the same neck-hugging brown necklace she'd teased him about was still there as a sweet reminder. He was the most welcome sight since leaving the Omaticaya and the one her heart treasured, admitting fondly with a soft tone, "And the same goes for you, dear advisor."
The coy smile on her face told him that she might just be eligible to court because a woman certainly wouldn't state that while courting another, it would be downright disrespectful. She still held the only spot in his heart reserved for a loved one and wondered if he'd remained wedged in hers since it was obvious they weren't leading their old lives anymore. The agonizing pain over her leave had slowly healed as he'd submerged himself in his responsibilities to grieve in his own way but her presence brought him the old sweet memories they'd shared. Well, mostly the tender loving moments because they'd certainly had their share of enraging and frightening incidents. He'd never forget being shot in the buttocks by her stray arrow.
"Although, I can see a wrinkle on-" Joanna joked playfully to show her humorous quips weren't lost to the wind and laughed gleefully when he glared in her direction, uttering a small hiss for the jab. Oh, how she'd missed each of his facial expressions; the man of a thousand faces, she'd called him. Even if he did happen to gain a wrinkle or two over the years, she'd blame it on the happy times they shared laughing or how he brightened the days of others. Her fingertips gently brushed against his as she took a few steps forward to keep going, his lips widening into a satisfied smile since she'd often graze her fingers or tail against his to show subtle affection. Well, his day had brightened considerably with that alone. Her voice mixed into the sweet tweets of nearby birds as they foraged for crawling insects on branches and she stated kindly without glancing back, "Never change, Tsu'tey."
Well, at least he was making progress on his theory to her courting status and paused that particular objective to focus on the next one. He licked his lips nervously to ask about information on the whereabouts of his family, his ears flicking anxiously to know whether they were eager to see him as well, and asked hesitantly, "I wanted to ask if you could direct me to healer Zika, I. . .I never told you but-"
"You have family here?" she asked dryly with a knowing look since he kept that fact covered and he tried to evade the guilt by offering a charismatic smile. She chuckled softly to his swaying tactics since that pearly smile disarmed her defenses but she wasn't looking to argue with him about the secrets. Each person was prone to a private fact they weren't ready to disclose with others, even the closest of friends, and allowed him that respect. She tapped the bottom of his feline nose with her index finger in the affectionate but irksome action to show it was all right, a smile playing on both their lips as she deliberated further about his kin, "You made me believe you were an orphan in this entire world but I met your aunts, they're wonderful and your little cousins- I adore them. They like stories so make sure to tell them one before you leave, preferably about the forest."
"I will" he promised with a low chuckle, delighted that she'd met his family since they both shared the same beach. Of course, the horrible irony wasn't lost on Joanna since he lived so close and yet so far from people who cared for him just the same. His whole family was proud of what he'd achieved in his life; even if he wasn't olo'eyktan, they were humbled to know a child from simple beginnings could go so far with his natural abilities. She was certain he would love the reunion as well, smiling privately as he followed her towards the pa'li pen where trotting could be heard from the mares exercising in the large area. Tsu'tey had become accustomed to their walks being the opposite, her eager footsteps following his, but she was growing in all aspects. His gaze strayed to the left side of her face as they walked, inclined to explain his actions to the one that never hesitated to share her past and spoke truthfully, "I didn't tell you because my clan has been family since I was born-"
"But you have family here" she pointed out gently with a perceptive gleam in her eye but it softened as she continued, "I assumed you were all alone as the last of your family. Why didn't you move here if the majority of your family was here?"
"I grew up with the Omaticaya, all of my seasons were lived among them so they were all I had and I was to be mated to Neytiri" he answered sheepishly about his past and she smiled kindly because she could never imagine the turmoil he endured during his young age. The Omaticaya were all that he'd ever known since his birth and bonds had been forged that could never be broken, keeping him rooted to the forest with unyielding loyalty. His life was bound to the Omaticaya clan and they were his rightful kin, even if he no longer shared any blood relations, and stated softly, "My maternal grandmother was there and although I loved my father's side of the family . . . my heart belonged elsewhere."
Her hand tingled to offer a sympathetic squeeze of the shoulder but instead, nodded in understanding and kept an eye out for the sisterly trio or their bundle of youngsters. Avi was always at the seamstresses' area due to her ranking until last meal since all of her children were old enough to care for themselves and enjoyed her time during the day. Nara was most likely alongside the cooks where Zika's mate worked since they hadn't encountered her at the beach so she'd either be helping the cooks prepare food or sleeping in her home. As for Zika, she was always at the healing alcoves until it was time to fetch her young children to care for them. Tsu'tey's faint words, however, ended her search when he whispered solemnly with a downcast gaze, "And now you're here among them."
"But within reach on ikran travel" she reminded optimistically to the short distance by air, her bright peppy smile bringing a laugh to surface. He missed her upbeat outlook, especially when it helped to balance his logical and direct persona on topics that poked his mind tediously. She found one of Tsu'tey's little cousins feeding one of the pa'li in the outside pen, the birds tweeting above them as they liked to dive down to feed on leftover nectar in the flowers when bugs weren't around to crunch on. Nitari told her that they'd become used to the food since they scavenged anything that could fill their stomachs and the pa'li didn't mind sharing. Apparently, the small violet birds were very good groomers for spots the pa'li couldn't reach with their tongues. Joanna smiled with delight to finding Zika's youngest son in his usual spot when he wasn't tagging along with his siblings and greeted, "I See you, gentle Keron."
The young boy of five turned with bright eyes to smile at Joanna, tucking the pink wildflower he'd brought into one of the empty carved holes in the pen that held numerous flowers for the pa'li. When the flowers were empty of nectar, the clan would use them for aromatic oils or water to pamper their skin against any dryness or minor sunburns. Keron's loose hair had been neatly tucked into a low ponytail by his mother, stopping at his shoulders and brushing against them as he gazed at the two newcomers with a curious eye. He wore a brown loincloth and a handmade necklace of blue feathers like all the children since those older than six could wear leggings that the younger ones didn't want- they found them constricting. He hopped off the wooden beam that boosted his short size up to the top of the pen to peer into the large area and ran to her happily as he cheered in welcome, "Joanna!"
Tsu'tey smiled faintly as the little boy was easily snatched into Joanna's arms as she balanced him on one hip and fixed any frizzes in his tied hair since Zika did her best to keep the children neat in appearance. Sifu had no trouble with that since he was quite the organized child, taking after his mother, with Keron coming in second while Leti. . .well, the little one was curious about her world and tumbled into anything she liked. One time, Joanna had been preparing herbs at Zika's healing alcove and Leti had bounded in covered in mud from head to toe- needless to say, little Leti learned to clean herself at the beach first. His small nose wrinkled slightly as he detected a familiar smell on the huntress that he'd yet to become accustomed to and Keron grimaced with a frown, "You were fishing again, weren't you?"
"Every hunter relishes the smell of success and you love to eat the fishes too" she justified with an amused chuckle as she gently pinched his right cheek, causing him to kick his legs to the fishy smell on her fingertips. His parents weren't hunters so the smell always held a different scent than the herbs and spices they used in their work but would grow adjusted to it with prolonged exposure. She turned to Tsu'tey, who had been watching the entertaining interaction, to introduce with an excited voice that matched the pride on her face, "I have someone I'd like you to meet, his name is Tsu'tey. He's the advisor to the Omaticaya and a very dear friend of mine."
Keron shied away naturally as he realized the man was one of high stature in his clan, or any clan, and Joanna reassured gently with a playful tone, "Trust me, he's not as fearsome as he looks."
Tsu'tey hissed playfully to her little jab but gently patted the top of Keron's head to reassure he came with friendly means as the boy glanced at him with shy awe. So this was one of his little cousins? Of course, they shared no physical similarities in facial structure but Keron held the same deposit of bioluminescent dots in the center of his nose as Tsu'tey and his father's family. It wasn't uncommon for families to share similar positions with their dots and it brought him a sense of belonging as he touched that spot on Keron's nose, doing the same to himself to show him the connection in lineage. Keron's shy expression softened into open curiosity when the man's tone wasn't direct or harsh and he greeted meekly, "Kaltxí."
"Keron, it is a pleasure to meet you" Tsu'tey spoke politely with amusement as he found himself curious over his fraternal family, wondering how much it had changed. He'd been a child when he last saw them and could only remember Avi's oldest son since they'd been the only two that had been born before he was chosen to be the next olo'eyktan and could no longer travel. He smiled warmly as the young boy observed him quietly, his round arms hugging Joanna as a natural precaution and Tsu'tey explained their relation with a soft tone, "I am your cousin from your mother's side and I'd very much like to see the whole family again. Do you happen to know where she is?"
He smiled immediately because family was the most important, or so his parents told him, and pointed towards Kelutral to answer cheerfully, "At the alcoves. I thought Wätu was the oldest and he's old."
"He's twenty years of age, Keron" Joanna pointed out amusingly since everyone that passed the rite was automatically 'old' in the young children's eyes. Even she was called old by the youngsters as they continuously prodded her when she'd have a little toddler they could play with; they were always eager for extra company to make it merrier. It was hard not to fall in love with them since they were constantly together and never apart for long, protective of each other as all family should be. They admired their older relatives and she was sure they'd be trailing Tsu'tey soon enough with eager questions, wondering if he'd either run or indulge them due to his natural unease around children.
His golden eyes blinked innocently as he stood by his previous comment and uttered matter-of-factly, "He's still old."
Well, if you can't be 'em, join 'em. All Joanna could do was humor the five year-old because he wasn't budging from his stance. Keron turned his gaze towards Tsu'tey as he wrung his hands together with a hunt of nervousness and asked curiously, "Have you ever lived here before?"
"I've lived with the Omaticaya all my life and am on a trip for the olo'eyktan, this is my first time being here in many years" he answered with an amused chuckle to his response as Keron hung onto every word, his little ears flicking back and forth in attention. The young boy had never met an advisor, figuring them to be very old since theirs was around Nitari's age- probably older. It was an honor to meet one but to know a cousin of his was one of them. . .he wanted to hear stories now to relay to his siblings.
"Is it true you have different color stones? We only have shells and beads" he asked tentatively with the first question that came to mind about the Omaticaya and pointed to his necklace where little shells were sewn in between the blue feathers. Their clan didn't hold as much variety in materials for use in clothing and accessories, utilizing what the land provided and Keron always heard about the beautiful stones from the Omaticaya. His aunt Avi always gushed about the beautiful fabrics the Omaticaya crafted on their looms and the rich soil of the forest provided many materials for use unlike the Atykwe.
Tsu'tey was intrigued by his curiosity, not expecting a question relating to crafting since most boys asked about hunting and the wild animals of the forest. Keron, however, was a child of non-hunters so he loved the natural environment around him that matched his parents' rankings. To him, the pa'li and the beach were his heart and Tsu'tey lightly tapped Keron's nose with affection to answer kindly, "Yes, I will show you a few while I'm here and can keep whichever you like. I'm sorry to say that my ikran still carries my belongings somewhere around this beach which is why I don't have them with me at the moment."
Keron smiled widely with excitement, chuckling behind cupped hands at hearing the ikran part and Joanna placed him back on the ground to keep feeding the pa'li. The little boy quickly clambered back up to his previous position with ease and watched the pa'li with a cheerful smile, never tiring of the daily sight. Tsu'tey leaned against the topmost beam of the wooden pen with crossed arms as he noticed a familiar face trotting around and called out in greeting, "Well, Peke, you keep growing, don't you?"
The pa'li had been feeding at the northern area of the pen but curiosity drew him to the familiar voice, his antennae lifting immediately in recognition to the most popular hunter of the Omaticaya. His blue-beige head followed suit as he finished drinking his snack of nectar and approached his rider with a happy gallop, his blue eyes glittering with joy. Joanna reached out immediately to hug her pa'li around the neck with affectionate words to return his love for her and Peke nuzzled her head with his. He turned to Tsu'tey with a wary glance since the hunter had always been strict with him since his days as a colt but Tsu'tey threw that aside since the pa'li had grown on him despite his overly doting behavior. He could already see that his original cyan color was changing into the aquamarine blue of an adult stallion, his body slowly ridding itself of its fat from youth to make way for extensive muscle growth, the armored plates around his body hardening with age for protection, and the white markings at the end of his legs were becoming prominent. His Aci had given birth to a formidable stallion in the making with a temperament that didn't match hers at all.
He'd actually missed the wet sloppy licks of affection from the upbeat pa'li when he'd left with Joanna, especially at knowing how his sudden leave affected Aci. Even now, he'd catch her wandering his old areas around Kelutral to relive old memories like any mother that longed to see their child. Laying a hand on his snout, he used the other to pat the top of his head in welcoming friendliness and greeted kindly with a small smile, "How are you, Peke? Have you been keeping Joanna out of trouble?"
Peke neighed happily in agreement and gently butted his head with Tsu'tey's, the action reminding him of Aci. He'd told the mare he'd be visiting the sea clan that very morning and although she demanded to take Swizav's place, the journey would be too much for her body with the single day they were staying. Hopefully, the good news of his good health would mellow out any resentment for being left at home. His right fingertips rubbed the blue plates over his snout in similarity to the pa'li when they showed loyalty towards each other since Peke was borne of his clan and relayed a message, "Your mother has missed you but she is in perfect health back home, she wants you to know she's saving those red flowers for you when you visit one day. She'll be glad to know you're well and growing each season."
The pa'li was pleased to hear the news and licked the hunter's forehead in playful reminder to older times, leading Keron to giggle from his spot, "He's a funny pa'li."
Joanna smiled widely since his calm temperament fit right in with the benevolent pa'li of the Atykwe but his darker hue and bright blue eyes added to his appeal. Their pa'li were of a powder blue that melted gently into the beige of their bellies while the Omaticayan steeds contrasted the cool and neutral hues. During her anthropologic research, she'd never realized that there were breeds of different pa'li across the continent of Pyrrha but the dense forests hadn't allowed for good views of wild herds. Unlike ikran that held contrasting colors that spanned the entire spectrum, the pa'li held subtle changes that varied between the dominant blue hues to show what terrestrial biomes they hailed from. Peke neighed once more to show his approval of the remark because he held his mother dear since birth (despite her stoic nature) and Joanna commented playfully, "His mother on the other hand, not so funny."
"You only say that because she tried to bite you once or thrice" Tsu'tey shot back with his own witty joke since Aci chased Joanna around a few times when she wandered to close to him, leading him to point out they were courting. She chuckled softly to the mare with icy blue eyes that had chased her down a path or two during her stay at their clan, glad to hear the tenacious Aci was still kicking strongly.
"I'll be back later to take you on your stroll" Joanna informed warmly with a kiss to the space between his eyes and allowed him to return to his feeding, watching her partner trot off with his short tail moving happily. Her Peke had taken a shining to swimming in the portion of the beach that was exclusively for the pa'li, the water helping to increase stamina during gallops or healing any muscle injuries like horses on Earth. Of course, she kept a keen eye on him throughout the whole thing because he was curious to explore and tried to head out into the open sea whenever they wandered around the sand dunes.
Excusing themselves from Keron, who was eagerly trying to bring a mare close with his flowers, they left the pa'li pen to head to the alcoves and he called out, "I'll be waiting."
Tsu'tey would try not to keep him waiting for too long, already feeling at ease after speaking with the young child.
"Zika's children are truly adorable, you'll melt into a doting puddle when you meet Leti" she chuckled fondly to the bubbly girl that had stolen her heart in one swipe as she led him towards Kelutral itself. She'd shown all three their beloved Kelutral, Norm completely enthralled to the geographical structure of their sanctuary as his scientific mind had pleaded to study it from the roots to the canopies. Tsu'tey and Tarazi had been drawn to the handmade carvings over the thick roots that portrayed their clan's long history to preserve each shred of the old ways as it guided their future. The beach gave their clan boundless freedom to branch from with their families but Kelutral enveloped them in a secure embrace as it shielded them from any dangers.
The gigantic cavern looked exactly as it had in Tsu'tey's old memory, remembering when he'd run through the area to head for the canopies as he hoped to climb Kelutral until he reached the top to peer over the cavern itself. Of course, that never happened with his watchful parents but maybe he could accomplish it one day since he was a perfectly capable adult now. The base structure was different than his clan, with workshops being set outside the cavern where people could work outdoors rather than inside at the ground floor or the rocky alcoves. He attributed the change due to the difference in light filtration as the base was darker with the cavern blocking out more light than his forest did.
Joanna allowed him to explore the area since he was on his own time now, watching him mingle with the residents as he asked about particular items from foods to pottery. He was quite an admirable sight as always, polite in his questions and smoothly articulating what he desired while complementing the work on display or being made. Apparently, he was searching for a glazed wooden box with seashells for his matriarch due to her endless fondness for them.
She hoped he would never change that kind nature of his, always thinking about others and never himself; it defined who he was.
"Aunt Zika?" Tsu'tey asked politely but nervousness betrayed his usual steady voice as Joanna gently nudged him inside the alcove, encouraging his faltering courage. Hmm, her muscles had indeed become stronger with continuous training and swimming. The healer was currently refilling cleaned phial shells with antiseptic for the healing packs, her kind gaze turning immediately when Tsu'tey's voice carried into the alcove. She placed a wooden stopper in the phial to seal it and closed the ceramic pot that held the potent liquid to maintain its purity as she stopped her work immediately.
She wiped her hands on a nearby cloth, remembering the brave injured man that she'd seen at the Tree of Souls, and couldn't believe he was standing there in front of her. With all of his important tasks, she assumed he'd visit their family rarely but there he was. He wasn't furious anymore at their long gone enemies nor injured severely but sheepishly shuffling his feet while his posture remained immaculately straight. Zika was proud of her brother's son, regardless if he was olo'eyktan or advisor, and pushed back any blurriness in her eyes as he reminded her of Ateyo in his younger days. She opened her arms in warm welcome to her oldest nephew and smiled widely to greet with infinite joy, "Oh, you came to visit. How wonderful!"
Zika practically bounced with lively delight as she grasped the sides of his face with happiness, gushing fondly, "Oh, look at you. You remind me so much of your father but your height . . . your mother fed you very well."
Tsu'tey chuckled bashfully and for the first time, felt peace with the memories of his family as he held a piece of it right in front of him. It was a precious piece of fragile glass deep in his heart that nobody could take away anymore, not without bringing his fury. He remembered running over the sandy dunes with Zika as a child and watching the strange wildlife, digging for burrowing crabs in the sand while she made certain he didn't eat them. Although he was born and bred as an Omaticayan, he still held Atykwe roots that couldn't be removed.
"Joanna told us quite a bit of your adventures, the children like hearing your tales- apparently, they admire you as their hero now" Zika informed proudly with a warm chuckle and released her nephew with a kind smile as the surprise was quite welcome indeed. Nara had quickly dropped by to tell her the wonderful news as the matriarch had disclosed the information to Avi first, sending the seamstress into happy fumbles as she prepared to meet their young relative. Zika was certain she was in one of their huts, tidying every area for a presentable reunion and assigning chores to her twin daughters. She flushed slightly at her current state of appearance since she expected him to drop by the huts first and admitted modestly, "Oh my, I don't have anything to offer you in welcome since my hut is-"
"I will bring you something to drink" Joanna offered with an amicable smile and headed down to the base before either could say anything. Rafil would be kind enough to provide two fruit drinks since his mate was in a jovial mood and Joanna saw the same in Tsu'tey's eyes as she left hurriedly. Otherwise, Zika would try to do it herself and she deserved time to catch up on years' worth of lost time. It had brought such comfort to Joanna's heart when she learned of his maternal family, hopeful that they would reunite one day because Tsu'tey deserved the love that had been ripped away from him throughout life. She loved seeing the warm glowing spark in his golden eyes, a rarity from the narrowed calculative gaze he usually wore on his stoic face.
Tsu'tey sighed softly since he was never the best at socializing but he'd gotten better over the months while Zika felt embarrassed as a hostess but her student always lent a helping hand. The young woman was her second student since attaining her master rank, deciding to dip her toes in the water to test her teaching abilities and it was going splendidly as Joanna soaked the knowledge like a sea sponge. An extra perk in the process was hearing tales about her nephew and having a caretaker when her children wanted to wander without either parent in tow. Her eyes flicked to the open doorway where the young huntress had skittered through and she mentioned warmly, "You have a very good friend there, Tsu'tey. Eywa works in mysterious ways, she is my student now and quite the diligent learner."
He was surprised to hear that fact since his original expectations of hunting and caring over children were cast to the wind. It seemed that Joanna was finding her own path with the guidance of the clan and hoped she hadn't changed drastically since her new change in life. So far, she was still the same friendly face that held that doe-eyed expression that sent his heart in an irregular rhythm but attitudes could change in the blink of an eye. He decided to drop the subject for now since he was anxious to reunite with the rest of his paternal family and grasped his aunt's hands as he spoke eagerly, "She is a dutiful student, from my experience. How have you been these past seasons, Aunt Zika? Where is the family? I have so many questions."
"Oh, dear child, we will visit them as soon as I finish folding these bandaging cloths" Zika chuckled amusingly to his eagerness to reunite with the family since she'd been in the middle of arranging sterilized bandages for storage. Joanna's day of study with her wasn't until tomorrow so she was on her own to assemble the pieces but was delighted that she'd brought Tsu'tey to her alcove. She continued folding the white bandages (weaved by the seamstresses) after washing her hands once more and explained cheerfully to each question his little heart desired, "Your aunt Avi knows you're here, I'm certain she's cleaning one of the huts to welcome you and bundling up a few snacks. We've fared well, thriving as always under Nitari's watch and we've nothing to fear anymore- except nature herself, of course. I am happily mated to a cook and the proud mother of three youngsters running around somewhere on this beach, not to mention that this little alcove is my own. Your uncle Akhil helped design it, actually."
She pressed her dainty fingers to her full lips before delving further and chuckled softly with light hints of embarrassment, "Look at me, I'm rambling on and not letting you talk. After all, you're visiting us, child, and I can imagine you woke up very early to arrive at this time."
"I prefer that you speak, actually, I've never been very good at long conversations" he chuckled politely to his weakness in social interactions since he was better at listening and truly wanted to catch up to what he'd missed out on during the years. He wanted to tread lightly with respect towards his family since his usual way of speaking was direct and straightforward due to his constant work while they were humble people. They didn't know the inner workings of a clan and his rank at the Omaticaya originally caused him to keep himself stoic but seasons of work on his socializing helped to bridge casual and heartfelt conversations that he'd failed at years ago. His family deserved all of the love he contained within himself as rank dictated of any honorable warrior, releasing small amounts as he wandered around Kelutral to help its residents or his friends. The only time he'd been able to show his suppressed emotions were with Joanna, showering the one he loved with everything his heart hid from the public but here was another chance to share that with the last remnants of his family. He would be there for his little cousins, reinforcing old and new bonds throughout the day and hopefully, renew what had been lost.
Zika merely smiled since touching her nephew could cause contamination to the small strips of cloth in her hands but her voice carried her emotion as she stated fondly, "We are most happy to your return, Tsu'tey."
A/N: I had to split this chapter into two parts because after reaching forty pages, I couldn't unload such a large chapter on you guys. Joanna and Tsu'tey weren't overly fluffy in this portion since the two are still in public eyes but we'll see their lingering affection in the following chapters. Tsu'tey's always wary of kids but they'll be dangling off his arms with the giddy cousins he'll be introduced to as we reunite him with his family next.
Thank you for the new alerts and fav's, I noticed quite a few this week so thank you because it keeps me writing this tale. Of course, the combo of that and the potent reviews have kept this story as number one for over a year now so I'm definitely proud of all of us! If you use the guest system (I get lazy to log in too), just leave your penname in the review so I know who to reply to. ^_^
Mrs Capt Jack Sparrows: Yeah, I was trying to think of an eco friendly approach to archaic writing but I think I'll stick to your messenger idea and the back-up system using the willow trees that I'll implement in the coming chapters.
1Timberwolf: Tsu'tey has always been portrayed as protective and defensive against anyone or anything that could endanger those he loves so I can only imagine how he'd be with a child of his own or his family's- in this case, Neytiri's and Jake's. He's so direct with his answers that it's comical to the readers because his manner is just a plain 'deal with it'. Lol
CrissYami: I'm glad you love each chapter and hoped this reunion was worth the wait.
compa16: Thanks for loving the awesomeness, I feel the same way when I find a fic I love.
Dracoessa: He's a stubborn man stuck to his job, I think he'd either be a cop or military man if he were human since duty comes first. Of course, when the chance to see the one he loves for a day comes up, poor Norm doesn't stand a chance. ^_^
NaviOfPandora74: Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy reading it till the end with all of us.
Decepticon-silverstreak: Yeah, it took me a little longer this time due to the heat over here (had an earthquake too) and my joints were acting up due to the temperature.
Claycarole: I hope you've been enjoying the music, I'm addicted to orchestral pieces whenever I'm writing or preparing for a test. I hadn't thought of drawing fashion for the Atykwe na'vi but I'd need to find those pretty postures used for modeling. I'd probably do it months from now since I'm preparing to take my entrance exam into nursing in October.
Black Jack: I know, I'm proud and happy to have reached such a number in reviews because I was originally tentative to post it but glad I did. Thanks for being my 700th! I see Tsu'tey and Jake as the older brothers that respect and joke with each other while Norm is the little one that always gets into sticky situations and left behind.
Lemons246: Since I'm creating a society apart from the Omaticaya while developing theirs as well, it can become a little confusing since you can't see what my brain imagines (unfortunately). My cast has grown larger than I originally expected but you don't need to memorize anything, the behavior of the characters usually speaks for them and I'll always add a little reminder or summary for any recurring character or custom. I will do the triangle idea, in a subtle way that is beneficial for Tsu'tey's character development than anybody else's.
WMM: I miss the banter and exploration the most with these two as well so we'll have to keep bringing the two together. I've never been one to write short chapter stories, I've no idea why, but at the same time, it slows down the update time.
Crystal: Thank you so much, I'm throwing a smiley face of happiness back at ya. ^_^
taokiomi93: I'm honored by that, it's a joy to have a story considered a favorite above all on a site.
Eragon The Dragon Rider: Thanks! I love you avatar picture.
Lonerwolf1015: I'll be creating an extensive background for Tsu'tey since he is one of the major characters of the story and in this volume, it's his time to shine whereas Joanna's journey has reached a plateau. I don't mind hearing about my readers so don't worry; I always loved reading since childhood, my mom always brought me books (my dad still does) and I spent most of my elementary and junior high school years in libraries. I've always loved nature and respect the heck out of it, my mother came from a rural village so I love vacationing there just to hike the hills and watch the wildlife (there's quite a few things in my story inspired from it) as Cameron's movie drew me into its wonderful world. Yeah, the heat's been messing with my joints and my right arm is in quite a bit of pain this week. As the oldest of my siblings, I've always been watching over my brothers and understand you completely. My trips to my mother's village is what will inspire Tsu'tey's upcoming interactions with his little cousins as they cling to his every word and track him down like happy bloodhounds just to be with him (I had three, he'll have four). I love your comments and drabbles so don't hold back!
CrazyRach19: I'm glad you loved the story to read it well into the night, I wish I could make this into a movie but we'll have to use our imaginations on this one. You're quite lucky that you finished reading it just in time to get the newest chapter so enjoy!
Next Time:
He'd learned about his aunt's three children as she tied with her oldest sister for the most but the healer happily stated she and her mate weren't finished creating a family whereas Avi was. Tsu'tey had only met Avi's mate, his uncle Akhil, during his trips since he was the only other man he could tag along besides his father while Zika had only been an adolescent. They chatted a while longer over drinks but Zika had to unwillingly force the two hunters outside as her jubilance had caused her to lag behind in her work, promising their talk would continue afterwards. For the meantime, she allowed the two to spend time together before the family reunion came and assured Tsu'tey he'd fit right in like he'd never left. Joanna dutifully obeyed and pulled the hunter by the left hand to allow the healer to finish because Zika was dedicated to her quality of care, heading elsewhere to occupy his time. There was one thing he wanted most from Joanna since his arrival and she'd brought him to the canopies with a proud smile to show him the ikran he'd trained her to catch.
"I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to talk privately" she spoke softly as she'd released his hand from hers the first moment they passed another resident and it was hard for her not to embrace him in public. She'd withheld her deepest emotions since gazing at him, keeping strict to clan decorum but smiled faintly when his hand reached over to squeeze hers once before releasing it. The entire surprise of his arrival had left her speechless and although she was teeming with joy just like Zika, she explained privately, "It's a bit hard on the open beach but when you're not busy, I'd really like to meet with you so we can talk. I've really missed you . . . there hasn't been a day I don't think of you."
"So have I" he whispered solemnly to the time they'd lost, the distance separating them agonizing as he'd felt the dual loss of a love and best friend. Time always brought him one hardship over another and he couldn't help but wonder when it would end so he could have a happy life without it. Yes, Eywa tested a strong heart to allow for further inner strength to flourish but Tsu'tey didn't know what else She expected of him.
Joanna's ears flattened to his sullen expression, his stoic mask cast aside for a brief moment and she grasped his left hand to lift it in one swipe. Their pathway to the specific canopy Xeki lived at was void of people and she took advantage of it, placing a kiss to the top of his hand between the first and second knuckle. She wasn't hesitant to prove her feelings, especially when the one she cared for was enduring emotional woes and smiled supportively. Tsu'tey returned the fond smile because he was relieved to know he wasn't the only one who'd spent nights looking at the stars while wondering if she was doing the same, thinking of him. She released his hand when she heard the shaking of foliage around her as the ikran played around their home with their friends and Joanna beckoned him to follow her deeper to where the trunk was located.
He'd heard the ikran's name briefly through their walk around the Atykwe beach but he wanted to see the ikran with his own eyes to see the results of their hard work. Joanna smiled widely as she called her ikran with a series of chirps Xeki had approved on during their first days as partners and moments later, a dark blur shot down from the thick trunk of the tree to land gracefully on the ground. His eyes widened slightly to the large size of the sapphire female that unfolded her wings, avoiding a direct gaze, but he complimented with approval, "She is a formidable ikran by appearance alone. It's a good thing that you had two teachers for the rite of passage."
"Oh, now you make me sound like a bad student" she chuckled playfully with a fond pat to his right forearm as she initiated the bond with her ikran, greeting her with a perky smile. The sapphire female fluttered her wings lazily as Joanna explained who he was, smiling faintly when he caught the whisper of 'love' between her words, and waited for her to approach him. She allowed for Xeki to sniff him in the same meticulous manner Swizav had done almost a year ago, the ikran trailing her head around his hair and neck where na'vi held their unique scent. With the breathing spiracles located on the chest, ikran smell receptors were located on the roof of her mouth for acute detection. His scent reminded Xeki of a downpour of rain but he carried no pheromones depicting ill will, simply protectiveness and care over her partner.
It would suffice.
She twisted her head to the left side to peer into his eyes one last time and shifted her weight onto her legs to hobble away, allowing Joanna to speak fondly from behind, "She is my Xeki, I could not ask for a better partner. Oddly enough, she likes to eat the same flower nectar Peke does. You should see the two sharing flowers, it's quite a sight."
He laughed to the humorous image, relieved when Xeki finished her meticulous sniffing to deem him worthy of approaching her as she stood next to Joanna with a relaxed stance. Her eyes, however, followed his every move to ensure the woman's protection and he greeted courteously by dipping his head, "It is an honor to meet you, Xeki, and thank you for keeping her safe. She. . .she means a lot to me."
Xeki approved of his comment and purred softly, leaning down to gently bump Joanna's head against hers to show affection. Tsu'tey could only remember to the times when she'd been afraid to climb Kelutral's canopies, playing with her ikran toy as she repressed all of her fears and halted her training completely due to injuries. Yet, here she was, sharing affectionate gestures with the partner she'd longed to have at her side. She scratched the underside of Xeki's jaw, a spot that brought never-ending content to her and gazed at the canopies to ask curiously, "Where's Swizav? I've missed that gorgeous blue ikran."
The sapphire ikran snorted hot air against her back at the mention of the particular ikran because the two hunters were yet to realize Xeki and Swizav had already met. Joanna mistook it for her natural mistrust of others or preference for another ikran, smirking playfully to chide, "Oh, don't get jealous. You're the prettiest female in these parts . . . to me."
Xeki blew hot air from her spiracles for the innocent jab, causing her to laugh aloud as she struck the little spot of vanity that came with every mating season at the Atykwe. Tsu'tey beckoned his partner with a short but sharp call that echoed through the canopies, the sound easily discernible with the ikran's acute hearing. Rustling erupted overhead and seconds later, a familiar azure ikran burst onto the scene with an expectant face for its rider as stray leaves rained down upon his mottled back. Tsu'tey motioned to Joanna with his right hand to show he had a guest and she smiled warmly with friendliness, "Hello there, Swizav. I hope you remember me despite time, I've never forgotten you."
Thank you for the endless support and reviews for this story because Tsu'tey is happily snacking on treats for each one. ^_^