I do not own James Cameron's Avatar all rights go to its creators!

Edited.

We were lead to a small alcove a few levels above the base the area filled with baskets of cloth and clothing. Our new teacher pulled some plain brown items, a loincloth for the both of us and a minimalistic chest wrap for me, out of a basket throwing one at Jake and the others at me. Jake and I briefly shared an uncomfortable look with one another before the expectant gaze of our teacher prompted us to start stripping.

I put the chest wrap on first while Jake turned the loincloth around in his hands puzzled at how he was supposed to get it on his body. I rolled my eyes at him with a smirk eying my own garment for a moment before beginning to slip it on. It took a moment but soon enough I was stripped of my human clothes, the more traditional clothing of the Na'vi now firmly secured to my body.

My pack had somehow been allowed to stay on my person and I pulled it off my back to rifle through its contents. With Jake still struggling I figured it wouldn't do any harm to see if there was anything worth keeping, but I already knew the only thing I would take would be my sketchbook. If it was allowed of course.

I pulled the large book out of its protective sleeve, thanking Eywa I had enough sense to purchase one of the larger sizes so I could still use it comfortably in my avatar body. The pencils would be a little small but it was something I was willing to compromise on, sketching was an outlet I could already tell I was going to need. Neytiri was eyeing me carefully as she waited for Jakes struggle to end and I flipped open the pages to show her its purpose, "this is where I do most of my art, it calms my mind and helps me retain my knowledge." She stared at the page with interest, a helicoradian and a cluster of bladder polyps stared back at her the next page showcasing a rough sketch of a forest banshee in flight. "I would very much like to keep it, if possible."

I chewed on my lip anxiously as I awaited her decision, clutching both the book and the small stash of pencils tightly to my chest. A soft nod from her was the only approval I needed as she directed us up towards the canopies, Jake having finally managed to half-decently work his loincloth onto his body an embarrassed blush tinting his cheeks.

We were lead from the alcove towards another, this one filled with herbs and pastes and soft piles of leaves and woven mesh evenly spaced on the ground. A healing alcove, I assumed eying Neytiri as she pulled a jar and multiple leaves off of a shelf. My theory was proved correct when she yanked Jake down ushering him into a seated position so she could smear the contents of the jar on his wounds before wrapping them in some sort of broad leaf as a dressing. I looked on in curiosity moving forward to take his place when he was released.

The pale green salve was cold and slimy when it was applied but instantly soothed the light sting the I had failed to notice originating from the wound on my shoulder. Neytiri was decidedly gentler with me, laying the leaf bandage carefully across to wounded skin and helping me off the ground when she was finished. Off to the side, Jake pouted at me dumbfounded by the obvious difference in our treatment, I just shook my head at him.

Our teacher lead us higher up into the tree, a central spiral acting as both a pillar for support and a stairway that lead all the way up into the canopy. There were rows of hammocks suspended precariously above the forest floor as we rose higher in the tree. I refused to look down as we climbed, heights had never exactly been a problem for me but I wasn't keen on losing my balance and falling either. Neytiri stopped us about five levels up, leaving the staircase to walk across one of the large branches. She lead us about halfway along pausing to gesture at the hammocks beside her, "this is where you will sleep, for now, you may leave your art here until we return from evening meal."

Her tone was indifferent, but her voice took on a distinctly lighter edge when speaking to me as compared to the impatient tone she had adopted when speaking to Jake. "Thank you," I murmured, climbing up onto the overhanging branch and dangling off of it to reach the woven material, placing my things down gently. Jake stood on the branch in discomfort, picking at the fabric of his loincloth to try and adjust its position. I batted at his arm with a soft reprimand, "stop playing with it, you'll end up flashing someone. It'll get more comfortable the longer you wear it." He snorted at me with his reply, "if I wanted to wear a thong I would have borrowed one of yours."

I couldn't decide whether I was amused or disgusted so I settled with neither batting his arm a little harder this time as I retorted, "the day I let you touch my underwear is the day hell freezes over." His playful grin dropped when we heard a yell from ahead. Both of us had unknowingly fell behind as we bantered and our teacher scowled at us as we jogged towards her a curt "keep up!" falling from her lips.

Neytiri lead us back down to the second level, the sound of chatter and singing growing louder and louder the closer we got to our destination. Our teacher navigated the branches with ease bringing us onto a large open platform with a small fire lit in the middle. The entire clan was there sitting in rings around the fire as they ate and sang with one another, it had a distinctly homey feeling that caused my lips to tilt up at the edges.

The minute the clan noted our presence all conversation died down and the singing slowly dimmed until it was quiet, every person staring at us in apprehension and mistrust. My shoulders drooped slightly at the negativity rolling off them in waves. Jake of course chose that moment to open his mouth a bright smile on his face, "good evening. Please don't get up." I dropped my head already feeling embarrassed for him as every eye focused in on the pair of us.

Jake made his way less than gracefully after Neytiri, even stepping on a few peoples tails as he moved. I mumbled soft apologies in Na'vi under my breath as I passed my steps lighter and much more careful as I followed behind. Neytiri shoved him down when he reached her and I settled on her other side as she left to get us some food.

There was a small child sitting just behind me and she reached out to touch my tail in curiosity. I peered over at the little girl with a gentle expression on my face, moving my tail just out of reach when she reached for it again. A giggle escaped her face at the game as she continued to try and snatch the evasive limb and I chuckled along with her before noticing the hesitant look on what I assumed to be her mothers face. Instantly I stopped pulling my tail close to my body to wrap it around my leg, murmuring a soft apology to both the mother and the child who was now upset that the game had ended.

Neytiri returned with three bundles of food each wrapped carefully in a large leaf to serve as a plate for our meal. I unravelled the parcel carefully, the inside revealing pieces of various cooked vegetables, some small bits of fruit and some sort of white shrimp-like grubs that I assumed was the protein for the meal. I warily picked up one of the strange white things and put it in my mouth chewing hesitantly at first before beginning to eat normally. I was sure they weren't shrimp but the texture was pretty similar, maybe a little softer but not unpleasant, and they tasted slightly sweet. It was something I could definitely get used to.

Jake was happily munching away on the grubs, likely completely oblivious to what they were before he seemed to think of something turning around to face our teacher. "You know, you never told me your name," he said curiously as he stared at her. I glanced at him but continued to eat my food in silence, the talking had slowly started to pick back up and I was more than content to soak in the warm atmosphere of the feast.

"Neytiri te Ckaha Mo'at'ite," she replied quickly never once turning her eyes away from the fire in the centre of the circle, I smirked slightly behind my hand as I took another bite of the food. "Again? A whole lot slower," Jake huffed out softly, and I smiled lightly at him in reassurance. As funny as it was to watch Neytiri brush him off over and over again I could tell he was trying. "Neytiri. Nay-Tee-ree," she replied exaggeratedly but not mockingly, it appeared that she could see how hard he was trying as well. He smiled lightly to himself before stuffing another shrimp thing in his mouth.

"These are great, what are they?" He asked holding up another one in his hands. "Teylu. Your people call them beetle larvae." He blanched slightly at the response his eyes snapping over to look at me in alarm. I picked another one up putting it into my mouth with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, he narrowed his eyes at my challenging stare popping the grub in his mouth chewing pointedly. "That's some damn fine Teylu. Just like grandmas' Teylu."

I rolled my eyes at his over-exaggeration and chuckled as Neytiri piled more onto his plate in a silent challenge. He looked over at both of us as we stared expectantly at him before picking up a handful and beginning to much enthusiastically. I shook my head in fond exasperation continuing to eat my own meal.

The little girl from before leant forward in between Neytiri and I to peer down at our plates. Our teacher barely acknowledged the small child but I looked down at her discreetly as she eyed a piece of ruby red fruit on the edge of my plate. I leant down to pick it up turning my body slightly towards her and holding the piece out the little girl staring up at me with alarm before taking it gingerly. With her prize in hand, she happily scampered back to her mothers' side with a high pitched giggle, nibbling on the fruit when she arrived.

I watched her go with a soft smile on my face before noticing my teacher looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I turned to her with an attentive expression wondering if I had done something wrong by giving the child some of my food but she just motioned to my plate gently. "Eat, we train early tomorrow."

I nodded easily picking up some fruit for myself and casting my eyes around the fire absently, savouring the sweetness of the fruit as I chewed. My wandering eyes lead me back to the warrior from the forest, Tsu'tey, and the lingering ball of warmth made itself known as it rolled around in my chest. I watched, curious, as the warrior lifted his hand to his chest with a puzzled expression rubbing against the same spot where the energy was concentrated in my own chest. I furrowed my eyebrows turning my eyes down to my plate as he began to look around and lightly touched my chest where the strange feeling originated, wondering if maybe he felt it too.

I risked a glance back up at him only to find his eyes already trained on me, or more specifically the hand lightly hovering over my sternum. I dropped my hand quickly not wanting to draw attention to myself so early on in our stay, my gaze following suit as his eyes snapped up to lock with mine. His stare bore into the side of my head as I struggled not to fidget under its weight.

Thankfully the feast appeared to be ending, people slowly beginning to trickle away from the platform towards their respective sleeping areas. Neytiri silently ushered us up, leading us towards the fire to discard our now empty plates before we were moving back towards the canopies.

Many of the hammocks we had passed earlier were now filled, many of the Omaticaya already sleeping peacefully. Neytiri guided us back to the area we had been shown before, deftly swinging down into her hammock with the ease and grace only a lifetime of experience could provide. Jake tried his hand next, huffing noisily as he manoeuvred down, the hammock shaking violently as he tried to find his balance. My movements were a little more agile, as I swung down onto my own, but I too was a little shaky as I settled for the night.

Neytiri reached over to tug at the side of her hammock the fabric glowing a light blue before following her movement wrapping her up securely for the night. Jake rolled over from where he was facing her, his hammock being in between hers and mine, to smile lightly at me, "wild day huh."

I chuckled softly at him conscious of the other sleeping soundly around us. "Goodnight Jake," I whispered back, "see you on the flip side." I faintly heard him murmur his own goodnight as I lifted the edges of the hammock to cocoon around my body. Just like my first night in my avatar, I lay there for a moment basking in the quiet ambience of the jungle at night. This time was a little different as the soft swaying of the planets energy whirled around my form, hushed and mellow like the sleeping world it drew on. A small contented smile painted its way onto my face as I let my eyes fall closed and breath even out.

When I awoke there was a harsh ringing in my ears, my vision whited out for a few moments before I realised it was just the glare of an overhanging light dancing in my vision. "Kida. Kida! Kida!" It was Max, I could vaguely make out his curly mop of black hair and the glasses framing his face as my vision slowly came back into focus. He patted me lightly on the cheek a few times as I looked around in confusion, my brain struggling to process what was going on.

"Welcome back Kida. How are you feeling?" I just groaned in reply as he wrapped his arm around my back to set me upright. "Like I was hit by a bus," I replied hauling my legs over the side of the link machine only to lean forward and rest my head again my knees, a dizzy spell washing over me. "You two were dug in pretty deep," he said an edge of concern in his voice and I looked up at him tiredly.

"Is Jake back yet?" He nodded gently taking my arm and pulling me to my feet only to lead me a few steps away to Jakes link bed where Grace was waiting for us. My butt had barely grazed the edge of the link bed when Grace was already hounding us with questions but the most important one came first. Jake who was much more awake than I was smirked at her, almost in triumph and replied, "yeah doc; and you're not going to believe where we are."

They all looked at us in confusion for a few moments and I watched as realisation seemed to dawn on Grace's face. "No way," she said suspiciously eyeing the both of us for any sign that this was all some elaborate prank. My reply was amused but warm as the giddy realisation of where Jake and I had miraculously ended up finally set in. "Yeah, doc. We're at Hometree."

Everyone sat in shocked silence for a moment as they processed my words before three pairs of eyes blew open wide in some form of shocked disbelief. I couldn't tell whether Norm or Grace was more stunned by my announcement but I could definitely see the difference in their reactions. Both Max and Grace were excited, Grace even more so when we told her we had been accepted as students of sorts to train and eventually become Omaticayan warriors. Norm, on the other hand, withdrew, his face clouding over in what appeared to be some sort of jealous indifference, staring at Jake with a glare that expressed his dissatisfaction at not having met the Omaticaya.

Jake appeared to have noticed it too, the immediate withdrawal from the conversation and his lack of excitement that both of us would have expected him to express. An uneasy look crossed his features for a moment and I leant over from my perch beside him to rest my head on his shoulder. "Feel like bunking with me tonight?" I murmured exhaustedly and I smiled as I felt a little relieved droop on his shoulders. "Sounds good," he mumbled back tilting his head to rest against mine.

"Alright you two, let's get you guys something to eat and then off to bed! You have an early start tomorrow," Grace said warmly, whatever prejudice she had against Jake slowly easing with her happiness. I stood up shakily my muscles lethargic after spending so long in the link chamber but leaning over to grab Jake's wheelchair regardless. I could already see the disappointed stare he was aiming at his damaged legs a small, sad smile adorning my features; I'd been so caught up in my own exhaustion and relief that I failed to think about how coming back into our real bodies would affect Jake. He caught my expression for just a second as understanding rippled through me before I forced it off, he knew I didn't pity him but he was feeling downtrodden enough without me adding to it.

Grace ushered us out of the lab and into the dining hall for a quick meal, it was later than expected and most of the staff had already retired for the evening so it was MREs for us. She continued to bombard us with questions as I lazily picked at my meal, after eating such a hearty dinner in my avatar the food tasted like cardboard and my stomach was convinced it was full. Jake wasn't much better as his food was pushed around the plate, his head dropping tiredly every few minutes until Grace deemed we had eaten enough and pushed us off to bed, an act both of us welcomed gratefully.

We slothed along the hallway, my brain already beginning to shut down in its exhaustion when a harsh stomping started behind us. I didn't pay much attention to it, instead, focusing on making it back to my room before I collapsed in the hallway but I was forced to take notice when a jarring knock on my shoulder almost sent me sprawling. I stared in surprise at Norm's retreating form, the scientist still stomping childishly down the hallway, but by that point, my brain was far too tired to unpack his complex reaction so I stored it away for later.

I only just had enough energy to change and brush my teeth before I was shuffling back to my room. Jake was already passed out when I arrived, and I hauled myself over him to settle between his body and the wall. I was out like a light, my sleep plagued with visions of racing through the jungle and soaring through the sky and a pair of bright golden eyes gazing back into mine.