Neytiri hovers over me, handing me cups of water and clucking like a mother hen while Mo'at bandages my arm before pulling it into a sling. I wince when she tightens the strap and Neytiri pushes my hair back, wiping mud and blood from my face. My body aches something fierce and my arm throbs from the broken bone but none of that compares to the worry pulsating through me. I need to find Tsu'tey and make sure he's alright. I push away from Mo'at and smile through the pain. Neytiri growls at me and tries to push me down. I brush aside her hands and she hisses softly at me.
"I'm fine sister. I need to find Tsu'tey and make sure he's alright." Neytiri stills before nodding. She wraps her arm around my waist and I lean against her, grateful for the support. Mo'at shakes her head but doesn't stop me. Eytukan steps in front of us, clasping my uninjured shoulder and cupping Neytiri's jaw. She leans into his touch, her face relaxing slightly.
"Thank you for saving our people Jake Sully. I want you to know you have my blessing." He smiles briefly at Neytiri and her brow furrows in confusion.
"I will speak with Mo'at and start preparations immediately for your mating with Neytiri." I share a horrified look with Neytiri and start to correct him when I spot Tsu'tey. He stands frozen a few yards away, a look of utter devastation on his handsome face. I push away from Neytiri and bow to Eytukan. I look back at Tsu'tey but he's gone. My heart thunders against my rib cage and I look helplessly at Neytiri. She bows her head in reverence and grips my arm.
"Thank you father but Jake and I will not be mated." Eytukan looks between us, surprise slackening his jaw.
"His true mate destined by Eywa awaits him." Mo'at links her arm through Eytukan's and looks at him pointedly, urging him to accept our words.
"Ah, of course my daughter. I will wait for the news of your impending mating then Jake Sully." Though he doesn't seem to understand the decision he allows Mo'at to pull him away, mumbling something about needing his help with bandaging injured Na'vi. I sag against Neytiri, my strength fading.
"You must tell Tsu'tey before it is to late Jake. Eywa has destined you to one another and she will not wait." I scrub a hand down my face and wince, cuts and scrapes pulling with my skin.
"I know Neytiri. Did you see the look on his face? Fuck he probably hates me." When I first arrived on this planet I was astounded by the grace and beauty of the people of Pandora but none more so than Tsu'tey. He glared at me with such fiery hatred and my blood sang in my veins. I thought at first it was just attraction but over the course of the past months those feeling of lust and longing morphed into something deeper, something powerful. When I spoke with Eywa, pleading for her help against the humans, she spoke to me. Showed me brief visions of the life I will lead with Tsu'tey by my side as my destined mate. It felt like everything finally clicked into place. Tsu'tey is destined to lead the Omaticaya clan and I am destined to be by his side. Let's just hope I can convince him of that before he decides to go back to hating my guts. Neytiri pulls me along beside her, shouldering more of my weight. She pushes aside the thick vegetation and we find Tsu'tey sitting before the tree of souls, his back hunched and his shoulders trembling. I push away from Neytiri and stumble, my legs shaky with exhaustion. Tsu'tey spins around, a knife gripped in his hand and a snarl on his plump lips.
"It's just me, Tsu'tey." I hold up my hand in what I hope is as non threatening as possible given my current situation. Tsu'tey relaxes his stance and sheathes his knife. His eyes flit to Neytiri, regarding her coldly before settling on me once more.
"Congratulations on your upcoming mating. I need to find Mo'at and have her tend to my wounds." He goes to shove past me but I hold out my arm, blocking the exit. Neytiri leans against a tree, her arms crossed over her chest and watches us with faint amusement.
"There is no mating Tsu'tey. Jake Sully is not my destined mate." Tsu'tey sneers at Neytiri and his tail flicks with irritation.
"I heard your father Neytiri. Do not try to make a fool of me." He shoves past my arm, his tail lashing my leg. He looks at me briefly in passing, his golden eyes clouded with hurt and anger. He hisses quietly at me and rushes past the dangling strips of vines and leaves us behind. I want to chase after him and explain to him that he is my destined mate but my legs decide at that moment to buckle, nearly sending me crashing to the roots beneath us. Neytiri catches me and I lean against her.
"You are weak from the battle Jake. You must rest." I want to protest but my vision swims, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders.
"I need to talk to Tsu'tey. I can't have imagined all those moments between us." Neytiri clucks her tongue and pulls me through the vines.
"You will have your moment to talk to him later Jake. For now we have to make sure there will be a later for you." I allow her to drag me alongside her, my conscious slipping. I close my eyes and play through the images Eywa showed me. My heart is light with love for Tsu'tey.