+The Na'vi+

Mia's P.O.V

We were led through the jungle up to a large, okay VERY BIG tree. It would have brought all the Red Wood Forest to a deep agonizing shame. As we jog up the path to the entrance I craned my neck to look up smiling in amazement at such a wonderful occurrence that had happened in nature to form this.

However we soon were led through a tunnel, or more so big giant roots that made a sort of cave inside. As we did we found the place was swarming with Na'vi as they came to see what their best hunters had brought back, and when they found us they stopped and stared, some children even getting curious enough to come up closer and look and try to touch us, but the hunters simply directed them away as they pushed us through the crowd and to the center of the tunnel, where the fire was burning bright, and what looked like their chief was standing. The woman that had saved us earlier began to speak to him.

"Father," she said, "…I see you." My only guess was that's how they said hello here. Coming down to where she was he looked over at us, the people whom she had brought here. His face twinged in a sort of smile at us for a moment, but then it was gone, as he circled around. Jake and I had given him a nod, but we weren't sure he had seen it.

"These creatures…why do you bring them here?"

The woman whose name was Neytiri I guessed from the rumors circling behind me, replied, "I was going to kill them…but there was a sign from Eywa."

Now sternly her father spit back, "I have said no dreamwalker will come here. Their alien smell fills my nose." That earned him a laugh from his people. I tried not to glare, which would show I understood, but still it came, and the man Tsu'tey seemed to notice. His eyes had been on me the whole time.

"What's he saying," my brother asked me, but Neytiri seemed to think he was asking her, and thank god she answered for me, "My father is deciding whether to kill you." It was sort of the truth, but at the moment that's not really what he was talking about. This concept though did not seem to sink into Jake though as he said, "Father," while walking up the chief holding his hand, "It's nice to meet you sir." The warriors lunged at him to restrain him and pull him back. I was immediately doing the same as I hissed and growled at the hunters to take their hands off of him.

Suddenly a voice rang out from above us in Na'vi, "Step back." Looking up I found what could be consider a witch back home as this new Na'vi woman made her way down the spiral roots and came towards us replying, "I will look at these aliens."

"That is mother, she is Tsahik, the one who interprets the will of Eywa," Neytiri explained to us calmly, but almost within a whisper.

"Who's Eywa," my brother asked as Tsahik walked up to him. I gave him a glare as if he was the stupidest man on earth, while watching as Tsahik touch grabbed his braided hair, his tail, and then doing the same to me, eyes widening only for a moment at the differences I had from their normal features. Then coming around to stand in front of us, her eyes caught mine, and they widen even slightly more at the color of them, however she pushed her shock aside and asked, "What are you called."

"Jake Sully, and this is Mia Sully," Jake replied pointing to me as the woman walked up to us while pulling out a sharp bone from her headdress. Without a moment to spare she immediately pricked Jake with it, and ran it across her tongue, then doing the same to me. I barely cringed from the pain. I was used to sharp needles, I had used them a lot in my past.

"Why did you come to us," she asked loudly for everyone to hear.

"We came to learn," I mutter from beside him now as she looked at me.

"We have tried to teach all the Sky People. It is hard to fill a cup which is already full," Tsahik answered for us looking between Jake and I.

"Well my cup is empty. Trust me. Just ask Mia here, or Dr. Augustine. I'm no scientist," Jake chuckled looking between the Na'vi woman and me.

"Trust me, he needs to learn more than anyone," I told her truthfully crossing my arms as my pop-star attitude began to show.

"What are you," she asked looking at Jake.

"I was a Marine. A, uh, warrior, of the Jarhead clan," my brother answered dumbly, as he tried showing off.

"A warrior. I could kill him easily," Tsu'tey said aloud in Na'vi as he came toward my brother. It took all of my power then to pretend I didn't understand what he just said and restrain myself from jumping into action. Thankfully though the chief stopped him even as the some of the other warriors cheered him on, "No, This is the first warrior dreamwalker we have seen. We need to learn more about him."

"And you, what are you," Tsahik suddenly asked me as I turned my attention away from Tsu'tey.

"An entertainer. A singer, writer, but a diplomat mostly. I go between two nations and try to teach others, and learn from them also while doing so. I'm far from a scientist," I explained only partially as Tsahik looked me over and smiled, "We could use a warrior and a diplomat. You know our language."

"Bits, and pieces," I lied only partially as well. "Good," and with that she turned to Neytiri, "My daughter you will teach them our way…" Neytiri scoffed annoyed as her mother continued, "…to speak and walk as we do."

"Why me? That's not fair…" but Tsahik wouldn't hear of it as she held up her hand to silence Neytiri earning a frustrated growl from her daughter.

"It is decided. My daughter will teach you are ways. Learn well JakeSully and MiaSully. Then we will see if your insanity can be cured," Tsahik finished as we both gave nervous nods in understanding. Then Neytiri came over and took us by the hands as she led us away to go change.

Jake's P.O.V

Later after I changed I was waiting for Neytiri to finish with Mia. The only thing she gave me was a loincloth almost like a thong. It started driving me crazy at first, but now that I was getting used to it, it wasn't so bad. She had also given me an armband for my right arm, to help cover the wound from the earlier viperwolf attack. It was placed high near my pecks. I didn't look so bad, and ever few minutes I would catch some of the woman Na'vi looking in my direction as they giggled and spoke in their language, discussing only god knows what.

Suddenly my ears perked up at the sound of footsteps. Looking up I found Neytiri in all her gorgeousness walking out with an exotic beauty. She was wearing a loincloth with a longer trail much different than Neytiri's, but a top that was much similar to hers which wasn't really of anything. This woman's hair floated free, not in braids un-like Neytiri's, but there was two pieces from the front tied back, with a flower, and it's stem holding them together.

Just then I realized that this exotic beauty was my sister, "Uh-uh, oh no she doesn't. My sister is not wearing that." At this Neytiri's head shot up to look at me with some shock, and irritation.

"It's what all female Omaticaya people where. Your sister looks beautiful, you should be proud of her and not shame her by making her covering herself," Neytiri said sticking up for Mia who smiled brightly at her. Neytiri noticed this too and gave her a just a tiny grin back.

"Okay, but if one man puts a hand on her, they're dealing with me," I warned her sternly. With that Neytiri nodded and then motioned for us to follow her to where everyone was eating and discussing their days events.

Walking in the loincloth was different than standing in it however, now as I walked I found myself having problems with it as it was beginning to bother me. As we walked into the crowd the singing, and talking suddenly stopped as everyone's eyes turned on us. I saw different emotions in each of their eyes, irritation, anger, curiosity, admiration, and lust from several men towards my sister, which made me a little angry. I knew her dressing like that was a bad idea.

"G-good evening," I said to them all trying to be polite, "Please don't get up." Yeah that joke didn't really work as I caught my sister's, Oh-shut-up glare. Making my way over to where Neytiri was I tried not to step on anybody, but I still wasn't used to this body. I stepped on a tail or two, and I'm sure I whipped some people in the face with my tail. Mia was a little bit more gracefully, and almost successfully succeeded in not doing what I had done until when she turned and whipped someone in the face with her tail. She immediately turned and apologized, before taking a seat beside me.

"Hey, how you doing," I said looking at the man beside me. He just sort of ignored me and went on talking to the person next to him. Looking back at Mia I noticed her eyes trained on someone. Following her eyes I realized it was Mr. High-and-mighty himself, Tsu'tey. His eyes followed her every movements, and when he caught site of her looking he quickly looked away from her and glared at me. I threw a nasty look in his direction as well before turning to Mia, "Stop looking you're embarrassing yourself. You can do much better than that blue monkey."

"I know I can, but he's interesting, and it's not that I like him Jake. He just seems…I don't know really, but he's interesting," she said as Neytiri walked up to us and placed a bowel of fruit at our feet. Mia eagerly grabbed the same fruit Doctor Augustine had given us before back at the base, and chowed down. She was hungry that much was for sure. Smiling at her I turned my eyes to the bowel and grabbed a similar fruit to try.

Tsu'tey's P.O.V

I watched as the three of them entered. Neytiri, my promised, JakeSully, the so-called warrior, and then came her. She was dressed in Omaticaya wardrobe, and everything about her made the parts below my waist ache. She was beautiful, and if it weren't disgracing the All-mother, I would call her Eywa herself. She looked like a goddess with her sky blue eyes, and lightly colored hair.

I watched as her mate glared down the men that looked at her, and my eyes narrowed. You wouldn't challenge me if I tried for her. I'd have you on the dirt pleading for your life within moments.

They made their way over to were Neytiri had found a spot for them, a little clumsily, however she showed much more grace than her mate. As she sat down I looked her over much more closely and then suddenly I met her eyes. How long had she been looking? I turned my eyes away and glared at her mate next to her as he simply just gave me one right back. Then he turned to her and spoke a few words, which earned him a smile I would kill to see on her face, created by me. She said something back to him before Neytiri returned and placed a bowel of fruit in front of them. The girl immediately grabbed for one she must have recognized and bit into it hungrily. There was nothing delicate about her eating habits though. She was just like one of the boys when it came to that. Then again, maybe she was just hungry. Suddenly my attention was turned to look at my father beside me, as he spoke, "I've never seen such strange beauty within all my life. Any suitor here would probably fight to the death for her." It was then that I realized he knew I had been looking at her.

"Yes, but I am promised to Neytiri. Besides she's a dreamwalker with a mate," I told him as he simply nodded and said, "I was simply telling you what I thought." I smiled at him and nodded as I turned back to eat my own dinner.

Jake's P.O.V

Later after dinner, Neytiri led us to where we were going to sleep. Walking across a large limb she suddenly jumped down into a leaf like net. Looking at Mia, she gave a nod as we followed Neytiri's example. I took the net next to Neytiri, while Mia got the one next to me.

It was difficult to getting situated, but when I did I turned on my side to look at Neytiri. She gave me a cold glare before grabbing the side of the leaf and pulling only slightly, before letting go as it did the rest from there. Soon she was encased in the net and lying on her other side away from me.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and let my mind go blank. Suddenly I was hurtling through bright neon lights, before hitting the special white light, where my surroundings started to become clear as the blurriness slowly slipped away.

However there was still a blinding light as Dr. Augustine hovered over me with a flashlight, calling my name. "Jake! Come on back kid," she said slapping my cheeks trying to wake me up better. "Come on, that's it," she said shaking my head as I blinked my eyes and let my mind slip back into my on head slowly. "There you go," she said as I began to cough, all the while chuckling, with the help up from her, Max, and Norm, I was able to sit up straight.

"Damn you were dug in like a tick," she laughed shaking her head, before turning serious, "Is the avatar safe." Nodding slowly the smile carefully crept up onto my face, "Yeah doc, and you are not gonna believe where I am." Laughing she let what I said sink into her, and suddenly she broke out into a smile.

"You're with the Na'vi," she laughed.

"Yes," I sputtered.

"And Mia," she asked fearfully.

"Mia, too," I replied suddenly looking around the room, "Where is Mia?"

"What do you mean," Norm asked suddenly fearful.

"She fell asleep right beside me. She should be awake by now," with those words Norm hurriedly ran over to her link machine and checked the monitors, but turning back to look at me he shook his head, "She's still connected." My frown returned as Max reassured me, "Don't worry. I'm sure she's fine. Maybe a little overloaded with information right now to the point where she can't clear her head though." Nodding I allowed them to for once help me into my chair before rolling myself over to Mia's Link machine. Despite their protests I refused to leave.

Mia's P.O.V

Despite the even breathing of Jake's avatar I couldn't find enough clearness to travel back to my human body. Today had been filled with so many new and exciting things and they were all running through my head at once.

Careful, as to not wake Neytiri, and not worrying about Jake because I knew better, I pulled back my net and used my old gymnastic skills to haul myself back up onto the branch as I traveled down the path listening and watching the Na'vi in their nightly routines. Passing two warriors on lookout I smiled at them, and with surprise, they did as well, even saying in my language, "…have a good night." Nodding I said the same thing back to them, as I turned my head not seeing the boyish tilt of their heads as they watched me walk away.

I kept my arms crossed at all times as the nervousness set in. This place was strange, but not frightening. The only thing it did was put my nerves on end at wondering what was going to happen next.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the one called, Tsu'tey. I couldn't tell if he was looking, but I did know it was him just from a single glance. If he wasn't looking, then it was perfectly fine by me. All throughout dinner, I had caught him looking at me, and at one point he wouldn't back down from one of my glares. At first he had looked at me with shock and admiration, but then after awhile at dinner it had become annoyance, and irritation that clouded his eyes.

"Is your mind troubling you, MiaSully," came a voice from in front of me. Turning my head away from looking at the night sky, I found Tsahik smiling kindly toward me. Acting as if I was having a hard time interpreting her words I slowly answered, "Yes, and I do not feel sleep." I intentionally messed up the sentence for my own good even if it about killed me speaking awful grammar even in this other language. I knew she was testing me, just by the look in her eyes.

"I see you have done a lot of looking at Tsu'tey. Is there something that troubles you about him," she asked making her question bigger this time. I squinted my eyes and looked down as I mouthed the words, trying to make it seem like I was trying to figure out what she had meant, finally I smiled as if I had understood and said, "No, he's only interesting."

"Interesting, how," she questioned walking beside me now as she too stared at the stars.

"I don't know, but he is interesting. I never see a male like he," I said once more intentionally messing up the words. That time it did get to me, as I showed annoyance in my eyes, she caught this and her grin widen. Finally she switched to English, "Sorry, I was just testing to see how much you know. You're a very smart one MiaSully. Not that far behind as you think you are." Nodding enthusiastically like I actually hadn't known I was that good she continued on, "Tsu'tey, seems just as interested. I see him many times look at you tonight. We all wonder how you're differences came to be."

"Eywa, I assume. I guess she wanted me to be different. She's always made me feel different inside from my people," I answered truthfully. I had never admit out loud to anyone my feelings of my detachment from my race, and the fact that it was a strange Na'vi woman, made it seem even more unusual.

"Different is not always bad MiaSully. Different is what makes us who we are. Describes us in ways that can change our whole lives. Be proud of who you are. Not of your race, but of yourself," she told me in a motherly manner as she turned to look away from the stars finally and toward me.

"Thank you. No one's ever sad something like that to me." Well other than Tommy, but no one who wasn't family or who wasn't close to me. She nodded her head and then replied, "You should get some rest. I'm sure my daughter will want you up early in the morning to teach you our ways. Maybe now that you have talked you'll find your way to sleep." With some more nods and some 'Goodnights,' in Na'vi I began to make my way back down to where Neytiri and my brother slept, however someone stopped me along the way.

With my head down, arms crossed, and my hair hanging in my face I did not see the person until I collided into them. If it weren't for their strong arms catching me by the waist I would have fallen off the large limb and to my death.

"Watch where you're going dreamwalker," came an irritated voice. Looking up I found Tsu-tey. His eyes bore into mine, and clearly seeing the annoyance, my eyes turned to slits as I jerked out of his arms and bit back, "You clearly saw me. Why didn't you move?" Walking past him I made sure to bump shoulders roughly with his. He growled underneath his breath as I sashayed away with pride at upping him.

When I made it back to my cot I found both my new teacher, and my brother undisturbed. Closing my eyes as I laid there in my cocoon I finally was able to clear my head, and slip back into my human body.

I felt the claustrophobia I had of in-closed spaces begin to bubble up inside me as I reached out a hand to the hatch and shoved it open roughly. Flinging the next part upward I sat up and breathed as my mind finally settled back into its right brain. Looking beside my link bed I found my brother sound asleep in his wheelchair.

"He stayed awake as long as he could," came a voice from a desk nearby. Looking over I found Dr. Augustine typing away on her computer with two coffee mugs steaming hot beside her, and a dinner plate wrapped in plastic wrap.

Standing up I walked over and she handed them to me. Hot tea, and a Texas style salad, filled with chicken, meat, tons of peppers, and other varieties making it seem less like a salad.

"I thought you'd be hungry when you came out, so I had one of the lab people grab you something and bring it down. I didn't know when you'd wake so I kept your tea as heated as I could," Grace said finally leaning back from the computer and looking up at me. Then eventually she asked, "What happened to keep you so long?"

"I couldn't find a clear head. I went to talk to Tsahik. She helped me, by talking with me. Don't worry she thinks I barely know the language, or the culture so she's still getting Neytiri to teach me," I explained to her knowing she already knew who they were if my brother had been out for a while.

"Good, I could use you too keep him in line while you all are there. I can trust in you can't I? To do that," she asked as I nodded while sipping on my hot tea.

"Thanks," she smiled at me before returning to her computer. Taking that as you can go now I walked over to my brother and gently shook him away.

Upon waking it took him a few moments to realize where he was, but when he saw me he broke out into a grin. "You're awake," he exclaimed. Nodding I replied, "Yeah, now come on. We need to get to bed." I knew it bothered him; my coldness. Yet it was still hard to forgive him, or myself for that matter. Especially myself. I don't know if I'd ever be able to let go of my past, but if I ever did, I would hope that me and my brother would have a better relationship other than a few choice words to one another.

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