A/N: Sorry it has been a longer delay in updating than expected; my trip was amazing and thank you all for the well wishes. Also HUGE thanks for all the reviews, you guys are too awesome. I might be writing this story because I couldn't find one that was playing out how I wanted (though there have been some awesome HP/Avatar crosses popping up), but I still love and thrive on reviews. So please feed the monster. Lastly OtomeLuver asked if I could draw my idea of Harry. Fortunately I do consider myself an artist and would love to take up that challenge, how good of an artist I am will be for you to decide if I ever get it done. :P
Thanks and hope you enjoy! Sorry it's a bit shorter than usual but got to the end point and it refused to go any farther. Plus you've all waited long enough.
Warnings: None that I can think of.
.:To Infinity:.
Chapter IV
For two days Harry traveled far around Pandora, this time taking some time to observe the other Na'vi cultures that had formed in the different climates. On the dawn of the third day Harry found that he was itching to go back to the jungles. What surprised him though was that it was not Jake that he was eager to see, it was Tsu'tey.
It was just past mid-day when he arrived back in Omaticayan territory. After having personally touched the essence of Tsu'tey with his magic, it was easy for Harry to locate him.
Harry crawled across a massive branch to see Jake and Neytiri in a clearing practicing Jake's skill with a bow. Tsu'tey was quite a ways off, scowling at the two before heading away from HomeTree, his own bow in hand.
Silently Harry followed behind the warrior, his mischievous side wanting to tickle or poke the warrior before vanishing, but it was more likely Tsu'tey would notice and attack instinctively before Harry got to have any fun.
It wasn't long before the warrior had caught sign of and tracked down his prey for the day. The antelope like creature with six legs that hadn't even been aware of the danger before an arrow was buried deep in its side. Evan watched, fascinated, as Tsu'tey quickly moved to the animal, murmuring to it before giving it a quick clean death.
Harry moved silently to sit upon a fallen tree that was behind the warrior, relaxing and giving the appearance that he had been sitting there all along.
"Nice kill…"
Tsu'tey moved fast, the knife he had just used on the animal was whistling through the air while he pulled up his bow and notched an arrow. Fortunately Harry's quick reflexes, and the fact that he was expecting the attack, allowed him to pull up his magic, stilling the blade mid-air less than a foot from his chest.
"…might need to work on your greetings though."
Tsu'tey scowled but lowered his bow and then looked uncertainly at his knife hanging in the air.
Harry snatched it down and walked close to the warrior before handing it back. "You seem upset; I hope the new Na'vi living among you isn't the cause.
"That man is a skound and he is not Na'vi, and not one of The People." Tsu'tey snarled, turning back to ready his kill for transport.
Harry laughed, but it came out more like a bark as the werewolf came to the surface. He pushed it back down before any bones could begin to snap and change, not even bothered by the feel of organs that had started to shift.
"I think the human will surprise you, Tsu'tey." Harry murmured mysteriously, feeling the anticipation coming from Eywa as well. Neither knew what was coming, but they both recognized Jake for the catalyst that he was, and Harry had faith that his friend would succeed in whatever was before him.
Tsu'tey gave a scornful grunt that showed how much he doubted that, causing Harry to laugh again.
Lifting the dead creature to rest over his shoulders Tsu'tey turned to Harry with a more serious look. "Mo'at gives his thanks for your protection and healing of our children."
"I was glad I could help, and will be happy to do so again." Harry replied evenly while admiring the form before him. Harry wasn't quite sure why, but he felt almost hypnotized watching Tsu'tey, muscles strained slightly under the weight of his prey.
Tsu'tey remained there, staring at the odd being in front of him, trying to understand him.
"Will I see you tonight?"
"If you can find me." Harry told him with a smirk, eyes beginning to glow slightly.
Tsu'tey responded with a feral grin, excited for the challenge that night. For now he had some food to take care of.
Harry found himself truly smiling as he watched Tsu'tey head back towards HomeTree. Once more he was amazed that throughout the entire conversations Tsu'tey never once showed fear, disgust or that he was at all uncomfortable with Harry in his true appearance.
Tsu'tey truly was unique.
-0.0-
Almost a month had passed and Harry was seeing Tsu'tey almost every night. They wandered all around the Omaticaya territory, Tsu'tey eventually showing Harry some of his favorite and unknown locations. They talked much about their lives as well as the problems Pandora was now facing. Harry tried to explain some of the tactics that the humans would use and possible ways to counter them, but even Tsu'tey was beginning to realize that they were disadvantaged by the machines and technology of the sky-people. Things were only getting worse and the tension between the two groups was palpable.
Often Tsu'tey would bring a Na'vi weapon to teach Harry to use. He soon realized that Harry was a warrior among his own people and before long they were sparring with each other, testing the other's limits. The size difference between the two compensated by the speed and strength that being made of magic gave Harry.
On other nights Tsu'tey worked on teaching Harry the Na'vi language. His slow progress earning himself the 'skound' title more than once, naturally Harry had to retaliate, causing the night to devolve into another sparing match.
More and more often Harry found himself stopping to gaze at Tsu'tey or even unable to get his mind off of the warrior when away from him. He had caught the other man watching him at times as well, seemingly pondering something that he wouldn't share. Frustrated with his confusion, Harry asked Eywa for an explanation, but only received amusement and mischief from her as she refused to help once more.
Determined to annoy her in return and have some vengeance, Harry set out to ignore her completely. At first she was amused and left him alone, too pleased with herself and her knowledge. After two days she began poking at him, wanting to talk and play, but he pushed away any probes and continued with whatever he was doing. Another two days and she was more physical in her approach, tangling him in vines or calling up sudden winds. Typically he apparated away calmly, as if he had been intending to all along, but both beings were incessantly stubborn and wouldn't give up so easily.
It was within seconds of visiting Tsu'tey that night that the warrior sensed some odd tension in the air around his friend. Unnerved by it, and the odd behavior of the flora around them, the visit was cut short which only fueled to annoy Harry further.
Finally after a week had passed Eywa decided to show her frustration with the situation, and reached out with a surge of energy grabbing onto Harry to hold him still for a moment. Unintentionally the surge pushed the werewolf essence that had been lurking in him to the fore, causing him to shift entirely. Both were startled by the sudden change and froze for a moment, before Harry pulled up his façade of indifference and began the shift back. Annoyed Eywa reached forth and pulled him back into full wolf form, enjoying this shift in dynamics.
Harry apparated away and began shifting again but she was right there to pull him back. For the rest of the day she hounded him, punishing him in turn. Quickly she began experimenting, pulling forth the other essences she sensed inside him. Changing him to a Hippogriff, a Basilisk, a Pixie, a Merman while he was on a mountain, even a Niffler for an hour!
Feeling truelyexhausted for the first time in longer than he could remember, Harry collapsed beside a river and surrendered.
"Alright! You win, no more. Just please stop shifting me." He shamelessly begged.
He could feel her satisfaction at winning, as well as a near bursting amount of amusement at how she had spent the day, tinged with some lasting annoyance at having been ignored.
"You're right, I'm sorry I ignored you. I shouldn't have." Harry conceded and finally relaxed as she embraced him, not invading or influencing him, but relishing in the symbiotic sharing they had formed between them the first night they were together.
That night Tsu'tey was pleased to find things were back to normal, even if his friend offered no explanation for the past few days or his odd exhaustion.
-0.0-
"JakeSully will perform the trial to find his Ikran tomorrow." Tsu'tey commented a few nights later, as he continued to sharpen his blade, a light scowl on his face. Harry had informed the tall warrior of his close friendship with Jake, and Tsu'tey had eventually conceded that there must be something worthy in JakeSully if Harry considered him a friend and a brother.
Harry smiled from where he was sitting across from his new friend, eyes focused on the sky he could barely see through the foliage. Even after experiencing this planet for weeks he was still amazed at how bright and clear the night sky was. "I'm sure he'll succeed…" Harry paused looking over at Tsu'tey and seeing that his strokes had become unnecessarily forceful.
"What about this bothers you?" Harry asked curiously. Oddly enough his little feud with Eywa had helped focus his awareness to potential things that would annoy his friends. He had no intention of being punished for some action anytime soon; he was quite enjoying having control over his body.
Tsu'tey remained silent for another second before beginning to explain. "When one has travelled to the nest of the Ikrans and found and bonded with their own; they become an adult in the eyes of The People."
Harry moved closer to his friend, until he was sitting on his knees beside him, finding himself upset because Tsu'tey was and wanting to fix it.
"And?"
"Once he is an adult, he can take a mate…"
"…and you think he will choose Neytiri." Harry finished for him, understanding now.
"Do you begrudge them this choice?"
"Neytiri is promised to me!" Tsu'tey snarled, leaping up and beginning to pace. "One day I will be Olo'eyktan and she will be Tsahìk, we are to be mated."
"Are Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk always a mated pair?"
"No, but…"
"Tsu'tey." Harry said softly before his friend was taken by another rant. "Do you want Neytiri because she is to be Tsahìk, because she was promised to you, or because you desire her?"
Tsu'tey's scowl faded and he looked into Harry's face with surprise and confusion. "I…" Tsu'tey paused, his eyes search Harry's for answers before glancing away and sitting heavily on the ground.
Harry remained silent, giving Tsu'tey the time to work through his thoughts. He knew it was hard to grow up your entire life, expecting things to be a certain way, spending your time anticipating and dreaming of it. Only to be shoved in a completely different direction at the last minute and forced to adapt suddenly.
"I do not desire Neytiri, but she is…"
"Safe? Expected?" Harry supplied. Tsu'tey finally glanced up and meeting Harry's eyes that were currently a burning gold.
Harry could still feel the swirling emotions from his friend and pulled his senses in closer to avoid them. He could try to offer advice to his friend, but the range and power of emotions that built up in Tsu'tey unnerved him. It was easy for Harry. Without the emotions plaguing him it was a simple logical decision. If there were no romantic feelings for the female then what was the point of worrying about her pairing? Things would be as it was willed to be, why did the humans and Na'vi complicate everything?
"Harry?"
Harry glanced up, startled to find he had been lost in thoughts himself and the tall Na'vi was kneeling in front of him.
"Sorry, I was thinking."
Tsu'tey gave a small smile and it was only then Harry realized how close he was. He didn't mind the invasion of space from Tsu'tey like he did with all others but Jake, and thought nothing of it. Instead he took a moment to admire the warriors appearance, Tsu'tey truly was an exceedingly beautiful Na'vi in his opinion. He would never tire of admiring the aesthetic beauty of the warrior.
"May I try something?"
Harry gave a nod of assent but jerked back slightly when a large hand cupped the back of his head and Tsu'tey moved closer. For a moment he felt all his teeth shift to needle sharp, claws beginning to form before he pulled it all back and relaxed in the hold. Tsu'tey wasn't a threat.
Feeling the gentle press of lips against his wasn't what he expected. The size difference between the two of them caused it to be more than slightly awkward, but as Tsu'tey pulled back he seemed pleased with himself.
"You are correct Harry. It is not Neytiri that I desire."
Without saying anything else, Tsu'tey gathered his weapon and tools and disappeared into the jungle towards HomeTree, leaving a very stunned and confused Harry behind.
{/Ava - }