Quaritch slammed his fist into the plastic as Spellman walked away. Above him fire suppression novels flicked on showering a mixture of disinfectants, antivirus drugs, and a dozen or so other chemicals. Growling Quaritch made a mental note to punch Spellman the next chance he got. Putting his back to the barrier Quaritch slid down until he was sitting in the ground. He was pissed he had been out sifting through blown up junk for 5 hours he had come back and he and his squad had been shoved into this decontamination dome. Closing his eyes Quaritch lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. Only one thing stopped him from pulling out his sidearm and shooting people. In 24 hours raven company would be landing and he would be able to make Jake pay for trying to leave.

CHAPTER 9

TSU'TYE'S POV

Tsu'Tey slunk along the ground following his prey. He had been following the hexapede for the past 3 hours. Earlier this morning he and a dozen or so other na'vi had gone hunting, and while most had caught they prey and had taken it back to the home tree Tsu'Tey was determined to catch this specific hexapede. This one was different. As he stalked it through the trees, Tsu'Tey smiled at the memory of how he and the hexapede had 'met'. As the hunting party had begun their attack all the other hexapedes had run in every direction running on mad instinct and not really looking where any of there were going. But this hexapede had been different. it had easily dodged several arrows and had taken off bounding through the forest. Every time he had tried to hit it with an arrow it would dodge or in one case actually hit the arrow out of the air. So now he stalked the hexapede, slowly and silently moving from branch to branch Tsu'Tey came to stop of his prey slowed and then finally stopped. Drawing out his bow Tsu'Tey close his left eye and prepared to take make his kill.

Tsu'Tey let the arrow fly from his bow. The arrow flew through the air, hit the hexapede and buried itself in the creature's neck. A perfect clean kill. As Tsu'Tey collected his prize he admired the creature. It's skin was smooth and a healthy blue, hit's 'horns' were good sized and judging from how heavy it was it was well fed. Trudging through the forest Tsu'Tey continued to think self flattering thoughts until he arrive back at the home tree. Laying his prize down Tsu'Tey began the very lengthy process of skinning, and cutting up the dead animal. He had just cut off the horny when several other na'vi walked into the room and went over to a small corner. Looking up Tsu'Tey smiled. The group looked to be all females, and judging from how they were standing they were trying not to be heard. However years of training to be a warrior and hunter had given Tsu'Tey extremely good hearing. So even with their whispers he could hear them as easily as if they had been standing next to him.

(We all know what a group of gossiping girls look like so just picture that.)

"Do you think he'll like the gifts we've made?" Tsu'Tey smiled again. So this group of females was trying to win the heart of some male. "Of course he'll like them." "But what if he's offended by them?" "Why would he be offended?" Tsu'Tey chuckled at that. Males were rarely ever offended when they were given a gift from a female seeking courtship. "You forget pidal he's not from our world. What if their courtship rituals are different? What if they'll like the viperwolves and they battle each other to prove that they are worthy to mate? Or what if they're like the banshee's and try to outdo Each other in some kind of contest? Or what if he's not allowed to take one of us as a mate? What if it's against some sky person law? Or…….." the females voice tapered off as the group leaned in. Tsu'Tey had to strain his ears so that he could hear what she was saying. "I've heard rumors……. That some sky males don't take females as mates but instead take other males. What if jakesully is like that? What he desires not a female but a male, for a mate?" the group fell silent at that. Tsu'Tey's mind was reeling. A male take another male as mate! Was that even possible?! Tsu'Tey interest was sparked now so when the females started talking again he made sure he was able to hear everything they were saying.

"Is that even possible?" "They're not like us Anol." "I know but……. For him to take a male as a mate. Who do you think he'd take?" the group went silent and Tsu'Tey got the very real feeling that they were looking at him. Sweat popped out over Tsu'Tey's skin as he busied himself with his work, trying to make it look as though he was unaware of their looks. After a moment the group began to speak again. "But he's made no advances towards anyone. Not yet anyways. What if he's thinking the same things we're thinking right now? Is it possible the vixen Neytiri hasn't taught him about how we choose our mates?" "It's possible……" "But why would she do that? It would go against her mother's will to teach him our ways." "But remember Neytiri can be very sly. Perhaps she wishes to have him for herself. After all he's cute, smart, and very skilled. Who's to say she's not seducing when she's supposed to be teaching him." "But she's to be mated with Tsu'Tey why would she try to catch Jake's attention?" "She's always been sly. Perhaps she intends to leave Tsu'Tey for Jake." Tsu'Tey felt his heart begin to beat faster at that. Was it possible, was Neytiri planned to leave him for Jake?

Tsu'Tey's thought began to race as his mind went into overdrive. It was true that Jake and Neytiri spent a lot of time together. And it was true Neytiri seemed to be very fond of Jake. Tsu'Tey shook his head, trying to rid himself of these thoughts. No they had to spend a lot of time together, Neytiri was teaching Jake how to be one of them. But unbidden in the back of his mind a little voice spoke. 'What if he's seducing her? What if he's doing so well because he's trying to make you look bad?' Tsu'Tey felt the grip on his knife tighten at that thought. Again the voice spoke. 'What if he's plotting to take Neytiri away from you? What if he wants her for himself?' again Tsu'Tey shook his head doing his best to try and push these thoughts back. But try as he might they kept fighting back, forcing images and ideas into his mind, until he couldn't take it anymore. Standing up sharply Tsu'Tey left the area leaving his dead hexapede. He had the simple makings of a plan. And while he was unsure of if it would work he was sure of one thing. He was going to be keeping a closer eye on things between Jake and Neytiri from now on.

Making his way through the village Tsu'Tey soon found himself walking into a large gap in the roots of the hometree. As he walked on sunlight left him at the threshold, the only light coming from streaks of glowing plants and fungus that lined the walls, bathing the corridor in blue and green light. Leaving the corridor Tsu'Tey found himself inside the hometree. All around him luminous plants grew up and around covering the cavern, and bathing it in light. Making his way along the small path that wound through the plants Tsu'Tey soon found himself in front of a large curtain of glowing vines. He had been about to call out when a voice from the other side of the curtain spoke. "Come in Tsu'Tey." Shivering slightly Tsu'Tey parted the vines and smiled giving his traditional greeting to Mo'at, who smiles back at him. "Come sit Tsu'Tey. It's been a long time since you've come and visited me." Tsu'Tey smiled and sat down on a small cushion woven out of grasses and moss. Across from him Mo'at sat down on a similar cushion and smiled again. "Now what brings my future family member to me?"

Tsu'Tey took in a deep breath. He had to be sure and word what he wanted to say correctly. He didn't want to offend or make accusations he only wanted to hint at his suspicions. "Well, I've come to see you about my arranged mating with Neytiri." Mo'at's ears went up a little at that, a sign of interest. Taking another deep breath Tsu'Tey continued. "I have…….. Concerns. About how much time she is spending with jakesully." Mo'at nodded, and Tsu'Tey continued. "I worry that perhaps sully, may be housing……….. Inappropriate ideas about his relationship with Neytiri." Mo'at nodded. "And what do you think these ideas are?" Tsu'Tey shook his head. "I don't know. It's just a feeling. He spends much of his time with her, and she with him. They go off alone for many hours and they sleep so close together. I'm just wondering if perhaps it is possible that sully is under some……… illusion as to what their relationship has become. That is to say more than student and teacher." Mo'at nodded again, and spoke. "I will admit for some time I have been watching them. I have seen the way he looks at her. I cannot describe how he looks at her but I know it is with more than just friendship."

Tsu'Tey took in a sharp breath of air. Were his suspicions true? Mo'at continued to speak. "Perhaps Neytiri has forgotten of her vow to you. Certainly Jake's arrival has forced her into a roll she is unaccustomed to perhaps she needs to be reminded of what her roll is. Thank you for bringing this to my attention Tsu'Tey. When they return I shall call my daughter aside and talk with her, and remind her of her vow." Tsu'Tey nodded. "Thank you. Perhaps I am wrong. But I could not keep my suspicions from you any longer." Mo'at nodded and gestured towards the curtain of vines, a signal for him to leave. As Tsu'Tey parted the vines however she spoke. "Tsu'Tey. This event of Jakesully being a marok. Have you discussed it with anyone since you found out?" Tsu'Tey shook his head. "Good. Be sure that it remains that way." Tsu'Tey nodded and left Mo'at to her work.

JAKE'S/NEYTIRI'S POV

Sunrise in the cave was a particularly interesting event. As sunlight filtered into the cavern it hit the same crystal that the moonlight had hit the night before. However where as the moonlight had been soft and gentle the sun light was piercing and blinding. So much so that both Jake and Neytiri had to shield their eyes as they made their way from the cave. As they left the cave they both set out at a fast run, racing each other back to the hometree. As the tree came into sight Neytiri saw her mother sitting on the ground in front of the entrance obviously waiting for her. Coming to a stop in front of her Neytiri spoke. "greetings mother." Her mother looked up at her and smiled. "Greeting Neytiri. How are you this morning?" Neytiri smiled and shrugged a human gesture she had learned from Jake some time ago. "I'm well." Mo'at smiled and turned her attention to Jake who stood back slightly. "And greetings to you jakesully. I trust you to fair well this morning. Jake nodded and Mo'at smiled again. "I believe my mate Eytukan is looking forward to seeing you." Mo'at watched Jake's reaction closely and noted that he tensed slightly at her words. "do you know why he is looking for me?" Mo'at nodded. "He wishes to discuss your living space. You will soon be one of us. Surely you don't expect to sleep in same place as you have been now."

Jake shrugged. "I don't mind it. It's got a nice view, and I have someone close by to talk with." Mo'at noted Neytiri's face darkened slightly at Jake's words. "Be that as it may jakesully my mate still wishes to speak with you. Be sure to see him soon lest he hunt for you." Jake nodded and passed Mo'at and Neytiri making his way up the hometree and out of sight.

MO'AT/NEYTIRI'S POV

Turning to her daughter Mo'at smiled and put her hand on Neytiri's shoulder. Using her hand to lead her daughter Mo'at guided Neytiri into the center of the home tree where Tsu'Tey had come to her with his concerns. Gesturing for Neytiri to sit, Mo'at watched her daughter sit down. She could remember a time when Neytiri would have simply dropped down onto the ground. But gone was that girl. Replaced by a women who didn't drop herself down but lowered herself with grace and dignity. Her daughter had grown up. Replaced the childish and young girl, with a women of sophistication and honor. Sitting down across from Neytiri Mo'at spoke. "hello daughter. How are you?" Neytiri looked uneasy and shifted from one side to the other. "I'm…….. well mother. Why?" Mo'at shifted so she was sitting cross legged and looking directly at her daughter. "hì'itu(little one) is there anything you wish to tell me?" Neytiri felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "well……." Neytiri shifted again. "mother…….. I do have…….. it's……." Mo'at watched her daughter shift and try to figure out what to say. Finally after several moments Neytiri found the words she was looking for.

"mother….. what if I don't love Tsu'Tey. Do I have to mate with him?" Mo'at took a deep breath. "and why would you ask such a question?" Neytiri looked at the ground and spoke. "I feel nothing for him. He doesn't stir my heart the way………………..someone else does." Mo'at nodded. "jakesully." It was more a statement than a question. Of course if there had been any doubt in her mind it was easily wiped away from the reaction she got from Neytiri. Who's face darkened. Sighing deeply Mo'at spoke. "the arrival of Jake has thrown us all off our normal paths and into the unknown. You seem to be getting along better with him. When I first told you to teach him you seemed unhappy to say the least." Neytiri nodded. "I was…… not unhappy but…. More angry. I thought Jake would be another lost cause like most all of the sky people. But I was……. Wrong. He is different, he is kind, caring, gentle and lo-" Neytiri stopped herself. She had been about to say loving. But this didn't go unnoted by her mother who looked at her with a cross between a smirk and a smile.

"Neytiri….. how do you feel about Jake?" she was done being 'gentle'. Neytiri looked at her and Mo'at was started to see fear in her daughter's eyes. For a long moment Mo'at felt the desire to touch her daughter and reassure her. But Neytiri spoke before Mo'at could do so. "mother….. I hope you don't think I'm being rude but why are you asking me these questions?" Mo'at sighed again and closed her eyes. "Tsu'Tey came to me today. He expressed……. Concern that Jake might be…………… unaware of your situation with Tsu'Tey. And if that is the case, I wish to know so we can stop Jake from becoming, to 'attached' to you." Neytiri felt her heart beat faster at those words. Would her parents try to separate her and Jake? "mother……. What happens if I don't love Tsu'Tey?" mo'at sighed deeply and stood up. Pacing in a straight line she gathered her thoughts for several moments before speaking. "you're father and I were arranged to be mated. I'll admit many of the thoughts you have just voiced were my thoughts as well. So I went to my mother and spoke. I cannot say that she calmed my mind but she gave me focus. She made me understand the roll I had to play."

Neytiri watched her mother pacing but did not interrupt her. "I cannot lie and say I loved your father. I liked him, and I trusted him. But I didn't love him but in time I came to love him and when we had you. I couldn't be happier that he was your father." Neytiri stood up. She was irritated now. And when she spot it was in a sharp tone. "mother! I do not love Tsu'Tey! And I will not mate with him. Not when there is someone I love more! Especially when that person loves me as well!" Mo'at opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. She could see the determination in her daughter's eyes. Sighing deeply Mo'at noted how old she felt at that moment. "I cannot force you to mate with Tsu'Tey. But I can only ask that if you do not want him as a mate then as a friend, go to him and tell him of your choice." Neytiri nodded and hugged her mother. "I love you mother. Thank you for your advice." With that Neytiri took off running out of the tree hollow and out to find Tsu'Tey. As her daughter left Mo'at looked around her. 'I'm getting to old to keep deal with young like her. She's rebellious and full of her own ideas.' Smiling Mo'at sat back down. Neytiri certainly was her daughter.

JAKE/EYTUKAN'S POV

Leaping from branch to branch it Jake only a little while to find Eytukan who looked up and then smiled as he saw Jake. "Jake. Come, walk with me. We must discus your living space now for when you become one of us." Jake smiled and followed next to Eytukan as he slowly walked along the paths of the tree branches. As they walked Eytukan spoke. "Jake. I must admit when you first came here I was doubtful. I didn't think you would care to learn our ways. I'm happy to see that in this case I was wrong. You've become a fine, warrior and hunter. And if I do say so you've stirred up a lot of interest amongst the different clans. But we'll talk about that later. Now, we must discus your living arrangements. No doubt you are interested in more than just a simple hammock. Where would you like to sleep from now on? Perhaps the higher bows of the hometree would suit you better? The stars above you lighting the night. Or perhaps you would like to be closer to the ground? Neytiri has told me how you sometimes fear falling."

Jake smiled at that. Yes he had had that fear when he had first arrived but now he didn't fear the ground anymore. "well Eytukan. I've found my current spot suits me well. Not to high but not too low. Plus I have someone to talk to." Eytukan smiled and looked at him. "you've grown very close to my daughter haven't you?" Jake nodded, and Eytukan paused to put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll let you in on a secret jakesully. I've been asked by dozens of females to set you up in a place near them. It seems you've become very popular with the females, as of late." Jake nodded and blushed slightly. "I must admit I'm a little surprised at that." Eytukan looked at him and Jake continued. "on earth, I'm not overly attractive. I'm not ugly but I'm not the best looking person. Plus I'm a warrior so I'm away from home for long periods of time." Eytukan nodded. "my sympathies Jake. I know being away from home all this time must be…… difficult for you." Jake shrugged. "Not as much as you might think. Mom and dad weren't very happy when I told them I wanted to be a soldier. I guess dad always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and be a shipbuilder."

Eytukan chuckled. "for sure, crafting things is a worthy job. But for what it is worth I'm glad you came here and I'm glad it as Neytiri who found you. I shudder to think of what would have happened if anyone else had found you." Jake nodded. "yeah I'd be a blue puddle on the ground." Eytukan and Jake shared a chuckle at that and stopped. In front of them air crossed the distance to a dozen small homes being built into hollowed out sections of the larger tree branches. "many females here find you attractive Jake. Have you thought about when you will pick a mate?" Jake inhaled slightly at that. So they had come to that subject. Jake smiled and looked to Eytukan. "well… sir. I have thought about it. And I think I've found the one I like the most. She's tough, smart, beautiful, and above all she loves me as much as I love her." Eytukan smiled and clapped him on the shoulder again. "sooo the boys found someone he likes. Well that'll disappoint many of the other females, who fawn over you, but come tell me who this girl is."

Jake took another deep breath. In his head he was mentally thinking about how to run away if Eytukan freaked out. "well sir……it…………..that is to say……….I like……….ummm………it's Neytiri." As Jake finished he made a mental not to step slightly away from Eytukan who had stopped and was looking at him with a mixture of concern and amazement. After a long pause Eytukan spoke. "my daughter?" Jake nodded. "yeah." Eytukan nodded and put his hand on Jake's shoulder. "you do know she's arranged to be Tsu'Tey's?" Jake nodded again. Eytukan smiled. "and you say she returns your feelings?" Jake smiled. "yes. She does." Eytukan nodded and smiled even wider. "well then I can hardly stop you from being with her can I." it wasn't a question. "you're ok with it?" Eytukan nodded. 'yes I'm ok with it. But-" Eytukan pulled Jake until their faces were inches away from each other. "if you make her cry or, hurt her in anyway. I'll drag you to the banshee caves and feed you to them one bit at a time." Jake shuddered but a moment later Eytukan smiled again. "you'll need a gift for her, if you wish to be her mate. My consent or not you must have an offering of courtship." Jake nodded. "I have something already. I've been working on it for a while." Eytukan let go of his shoulders and pushed him away in a gentle and encouraging manner.

"then go my boy. Get your gift and give it to Neytiri. Declare your love so all know of it. I'll speak with Tsu'Tey and explain things to him." Jake nodded, turned around, and began running and leaping from branch to branch making his way to his hammock. Behind he could he Eytukan calling to him. "and hurry boy. Mo'at and I want grandchildren before our time comes."

AN:)WELL FOLK CHAPTER 9 IS DONE. I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED IT.

THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS WILL COME SLOWLY. I JUST STRATED DRIVERS TRAINING AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A HUGE CHUNK OF TIME OUT OF MY WRITING TIME.

OH. I'M GOING TO BEGIN USING MORE NA'VI WORKD IN MY FICS. I FOUND A WIKI ENTRY THAT TRANSLATES SEVERAL HUNDRED HUMA WORDS INTO NA'VI. DON'T WORRY I'LL PROVIDE THE TRANSLATIONS, IN PARENTESES, NEXT TO THE NA'VI WORDS.

AS ALWAYS REVIEWS ARE WELLCOME AND NEEDED.

UNTIL NEXT TIME MY READERS.

My Eywa watch over you.