+Discovered Secrets+
Mia's P.O.V
I had gotten up early to avoid the crowded hallways of all the early morning risers. I wanted to be able to do my video log without anyone around, so when I entered I wasn't surprised to find the lab desolate of people, including Dr. Augustine. Going straight over to the camera and computer, I took a seat. Switching on the monitor and camera in front of me I wiped the sleep out from my eyes, and straightened my hair a little narcissistically before turning the camera to look at me.
"Last night Jake and I were invited into the Omaticaya's village, in a place they call Hometree. Normally a diplomat would have been the first one to reach out to them and speak…I didn't though…instead my brother was the one who reached out. I stood on the sidelines incase something got ugly and at a few points it almost did. There are many there who don't want us, and then some who are curious of us.
"The Omaticaya love the life around them. They don't like harming or killing anything for just the sport of it. I have more in common with them than I do my own race I guess. (chuckles). All this is crazy. If you had told me 13 years ago I would be sitting in front of this monitor right now telling you about the Na'vi and my experience with them, I probably wouldn't have believed you. My brother thinks he knows me, but if he knew the truth, and the things Tommy did to make sure I was the person I am today, I'm sure he'd be disappointed in us both. I'm sure he'd be angry.
"Despite everyone's beliefs I'm not perfect, and I have some skeletons in my closet. There's some things I'd like to get off my chest. I might as well now. Because this log is private and I'm sure no one will ever see this, and I really need to speak it out loud before it drives me to the point of insanity. I've been keeping these secrets for years, and maybe if someone does see this they'll understand why I am the way I am. Maybe they'll understand why I'm not so happy, even though I should be because, (chuckles sarcastically) I should be, because I'm just so perfect, and I get everything I want. Because I'm a genius, but here's the truth I'm…."
Jake's P.O.V
Walking into the lab I found Mia just turning off her monitor. She must have had the same idea I had about coming to make our logs early in the morning so no one would be listening in. As she turned, she startled at finding me there. There was a sort of great fright in her eyes as if she was 5 again and I was mom catching her with her hand half-way into the cookie jar right before dinner.
"H-how long have you been here," she sputtered nervously.
"I just walked in. Are you alright," I questioned her as she seemed to calm considerably. Nodding she replied, "I'm fine, you just startled me is all. Um, the camera's still on, so if you want you can go ahead and do your video log. I'm heading up to the mess hall to grab some breakfast."
"Alright," I smiled at her as she walked out of the room quickly.
Wheeling myself over to the monitor I switched it on. Accidentally mixing the record button with the play button, Mia's last log came to life on the screen. Looking quickly for the stop button, I found myself hovering over it as I heard something that caught my attention.
Leaning back away from the stop button I looked around the room before focusing my eyes on the video.
"….My brother thinks he knows me, but if he knew the truth, and the things Tommy did to make sure I was the person I am today, I'm sure he'd be disappointed in us both. I'm sure he'd be angry.
"Despite everyone's beliefs I'm not perfect, and I have some skeletons in my closet. There are some things I'd like to get off my chest. I might as well now. Because this log is private and I'm sure no one will ever see this, and I really need to speak it out loud before it drives me to the point of insanity. I've been keeping these secrets for years, and maybe if someone does see this they'll understand why I am the way I am. Maybe they'll understand why I'm not so happy, even though I should be because, (chuckles sarcastically) I should be, because I'm just so perfect, and I get everything I want. Because I'm a genius, but here's the truth I'm…. I'm a downright failure. Hell I wouldn't have passed high school if Tommy hadn't done most of my homework. I cheated on the tests, and on the serious tests I just memorized the last ones. I wouldn't have ever made it into the college I did if Tommy hadn't have been friends with most of its directors. Tommy was the smart one, not me. I don't even have a degree in Diplomacy. I never finished, because I had a nervous breakdown right before finals. I lied to my family and everyone else I ever told I did. Sure I took the classes, but I never really understood some of it. Me being a gymnast was true. I wasn't the best on of my team, and I was probably the worst, but I was a gymnast. I just grew into it after a while. Most of the books that are supposedly written by me, well I just told the story while another person wrote them down for me. Probably the only real thing I'm a genius at is languages. I'm good at learning cultures, and languages. I'm good at singing, but that's probably the only thing good about me.
"I have nervous breakdowns and that's why I never could finish any of my work I'd start. I get pressured easily. Hell I can't even choose what color shirt I'm going to wear from one day to the next without thinking it over for about an hour or so. The reason I had been drinking that night of the accident, which killed the woman in the other car…well I was upset because all my nervous break-downs had made me have a miscarriage. I killed what little life I really could create. That's why I went to rehab and therapy. Not because of the drinking and the drugs. Tommy was always right there covering my ass up, and making me seem like a saint, but I'm not perfect. I'm a liar and a fake. I shouldn't be here; Tommy should be…hell even Jake has more right to be here more than me.
"I never fit into my world, because I was never perfect like everyone else. When I mean perfect I mean average. I don't mean a saint in human form. The other thing that I feel guilty for and makes me unable to look Jake in the eyes is the way I treat him for Sage's death. I know it wasn't his fault, but at the time I needed someone to blame. Sage asked me to marry him, and then we started having problems right before the wedding date. He shipped out, and told me when he came back we'd work it out, but he never came back. I guess the way I saw it for a long time was that if it wasn't for Jake he would have came back, and we would have fixed things, and I would have been happy. The only reason why Sage and I even fought was because I couldn't have kids, and I didn't want to adopt like he did. I didn't trust myself enough to even take care of a kid. I can barely take care of myself. Think whatever you want of me. Pity me if you want, or hate me, because in my opinion you have a right to. I've been an awful person, and being here with the recent death of the one person who managed to keep my life in order… it just seems so wrong. I don't know, maybe I should go back on the next plane out of here. Being here I'm not honoring my late brother's death, but disgracing it."
I watched as she just sat there for a moment with the camera still locked on her face as she wiped tears away from her cheeks and eyes. I watched as the sobs raked through her, and the only emotion I felt was not anger, and not pity, but disappointment. No wonder she was the way she was. She had been living a lie most of her life, and my brother had let her.
"You making your video log," came a voice from behind me. Shutting off Mia's log I quickly saved it to her file and made sure no one would accidentally be able to hear it again. Then I turned and looked at Dr. Augustine and replied, "My sister forgot to save hers, but yeah I'm getting ready to. Did you just walk in?"
"Yeah, sorry if I startled you marine. Well go ahead, you need to keep up with your log," she said before taking a sip of her coffee. Nodding I turned on my video log and made it quickly. When I was done I left the lab vowing that I'd never tell Mia what I heard or saw. That I'd just forget it ever existed, and push it to the back of my mind until she felt like telling me the truth herself. Besides I had skeletons in my closet just like her. I had no room to be criticizing her for it. Look at what I was doing for Colonel Quaritch. I was helping him do something that was so completely unthinkable that I'm sure that God would strike me down at any moment.
With that thought I headed on into the cafeteria to get my breakfast and come to sit at Mia's and my table, which at the minute was now overrun by people. For once, in a long time, I saw Mia being a social butterfly as she told everyone what had happened to her and I. Rolling my chair to the end beside Mia I listened as she laughed, watched as she smiled, and cackled whenever she explained how she felt with what happened to us. She even talked to me, in a non-cold like manner. For just a few minutes it felt like she was my sister again.
Eventually Dr. Augustine sat with us and told her story of how she had seen things, which made Mia brighten even more as Augustine, made fun of me the most.
"The last thing we see is this Marine's ass disappearing into the brush while dragging Mia by her arm as this angry thanator is coming after them," Dr. Augustine explained laughing as she used her hands to explain the story.
"Hey, it's not something you can teach," I told them with a grin stretching from both my ears, while eating my bowel of cereal.
"That is awesome," I heard Max say slapping my sisters shoulder as she shook her head at me with a giggle.
"You know, for reasons I cannot fathom, the Omaticaya have chosen you…God help us all," Grace said shaking her head earning another laugh, from all except Norm who was pouting unhappily further down the table. I noticed his rude glares, but I ignored them. His wasn't as bad as the ones Tsu'tey was giving me last night when I had caught him staring at my sister.
After breakfast my sister headed off with Norm to talk to him about his silence at the table this morning while I headed over to the central control room to speak to Quaritch, and Selfridge, and update them on what happened.
"Jarhead clan?" Quaritch laughed, "And it worked."
"Yeah, Mia, and I are practically family. They're gonna study us. We have to learn to be one of them," I explained leaning onto the grid in front of me.
"That's called taking the initiative, son. I wish I had ten more like you," Quaritch replied as he leaned up off of the grid, as Selfridge spoke up, "Look, Sully. Sully just find out what the blue monkeys want. You know, I mean, w-w-we try to give them medicine, education, uh…uh…roads. But no, no, no they like mud…a-a-and that wouldn't bother me, it's just that they're uh…they're…" he sputtered as he tried to mess with the grid to find something up. Finally giving up he snapped his fingers at somebody behind him and replied, "Hey, can you… can somebody just…Sector 12." The guy behind him suddenly took the controls, as the grid hurled toward some other part of hologram jungle. "Okay, go, go, go, stop. Stop! Rich, stop! That's…Jesus," Selfridge complained as the hologram grid brought up Home-Tree. Below I could see different colors of light, and somehow in my mind I knew he was about to explain why he wanted the Na'vi's cooperation.
"Their damn village happens to be resting on the richest unobtanium deposit within 200 klicks in any direction. I mean, look at all that cheddar," Selfridge replied waving his hand at the grid while laughing like an evil Chucky doll.
"Well, who gets them to move," I replied forcing a smile as my nerves were slowly being tested.
"Guess," Quartich replied as I scoffed.
"What if they won't go," I asked keeping my eyes on Home-Tree, and where probably Mia's and my avatar were resting right now.
"Oh, I'm betting that they will," Quartich said coming close to making it sound like a pure out threat.
"Okay, okay, kay, kay, hey. Look, look," Selfridge said coming around to where I was standing. Leaning against the grid in front of me, he brought his voice down to almost a whisper, "Killing the indigenous looks bad, but there's one thing that shareholders hate more than bad press, and that's a bad quarterly statement. I didn't make up the rules. So just find me a carrot that'll get them to move, otherwise something might happen to your sister and it'll be all stick from there, Okay?" My eyes shot up at him as my glare intensified.
"You wouldn't dare touch my sister," I seethed.
"We wouldn't have to. We've dug up enough dirt on her, to get her shipped back to Earth and put her in jail for a long time, son," Quartich replied with a thin frown. Still glaring down Quartich, he continued, "You got three months. That's when the 'dozers get there." Taking a minute to think it over I let my mind run over what they could possible know about my sister. Had any of them heard her earlier? Had they seen her video log? All I know is that she didn't need this right now, and that because I was her brother, her only brother now, it was my job to protect her.
"Well, we're wasting time," I finally answered looking up at Selfridge with a deadly gaze that would have made any child tremble in their shoes.
"I like this guy," Selfridge exclaimed loudly as if I had just agreed to it on my own accord. Shaking my head I told them a quick goodbye and wheeled myself on out of the room.
Mia's P.O.V
"So what's been knawing at you Norm? Did my brother and I say or do anything to piss you off," I questioned him as we sat in the garden part of the science sector. The green house was a nice place to be at, even if the sign said, 'Be Cautious, Some Dangerous Plants.'
"No, nothing's bothering me," Norm said trying to brush the subject off, but I wasn't that persuadable.
"Bullshit Norm. You've been acting like a sore loser all morning. Now tell the truth, what's bothering you, and don't lie to me, cause I'll shove you into that man-eating plant over there," I warned him with narrowed eyes, while his widened in surprise at my forcefulness. Then slowly he stood up and began pacing before coming to a halt.
"It's not fair," he said suddenly.
"What's not," I asked confused.
"That they picked him and not me…."
"Norm, they found us. I'm sure that they…"
"No they wouldn't have and you know it. I don't see why they picked him. He knows absolutely nothing. I'm the one who's studied for years in all of this, and now I'm being kicked to the curb like I know nothing," Norm ranted.
Giving him a few minutes to calm himself and get his breath I replied, "See, this is how Jake felt the first day we met Grace. You know the day when she only concentrated on you, while ignoring him. That's not even adding the fact in that she flat out told him she didn't want him in her program at the very beginning. Norm I understand you want to do so many things, I know you can, but give Jake a little bit of glory. He's had it rough for a long while, and he deserves some of the attention, some of the good attention." I knew he was about to mention the wheelchair thing, but I halted him before he even could. Taking a deep breath Norm took a seat beside me.
"I don't hate you guys. Especially not you Mia. You have more right to be here than he does," at that I wanted to scoff, but I kept my mouth shut and continued listening, "but it's just I worked so hard and it feels like I did all of it for nothing." Shaking my head I took his hand in mine and looked him in the eyes as I replied, "Nothing is ever a waste, Norm. There's always a reason why we learn it, and eventually everything we learn will come to be useful. Give it some time. I'm sure you'll find the truth in that. There's this saying my mother and Gran would always tell me and my brothers when I was younger, 'Don't ever let fear take over you. Always try even if it's something you know you're going to fail at, because that's the way God wants you to live your life. To keep trying even when there's barely a single light in the darkness.'" With that he smiled and then began to giggle. "What is it," I laughed.
"Nothing, it's just I've read that quote in one of your books before. I always thought you came up with it and not someone else," he grinned as I shook my head as the negative thoughts came to rest in the front of my mind, "Yeah, well, I'm not that creative." With that I looked up at him with a smile, not noticing he had been staring for a long time. Then suddenly he leaned forward, and I knew what he was thinking. Putting my hand up in front of my face, he ended up meeting his lips to my hand. Realizing he had done so he pulled away.
"I'm sorry Norm, I…I just don't see you like… there's been a horrible mist…" but Norm cut me off with a flustered look and a shrug of the shoulders as he replied, "It's alright. I understand. I've gotten that from many girls." Feeling pity for him I touched his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. You'll find somebody. Probably prettier, and smarter than me, and she'll return your feelings I promise." With that I kissed his cheek and stood up as I motioned for him to follow me to the lab so I could make the link with my avatar again.
Meeting Dr. Augustine at the lab, with Jake not far behind us we made our way to the link room as she once again went over the people we had seen last night, with computer like flashcards, with their photos showing up as a hologram.
"Okay, let's run through them again," Grace replied as we walked into the link room. Holding up the photo of Tsahik, both Jake and I replied, "Mo'at." My brother however followed it up with, "Dragon lady." Rolling my eyes Grace pulled up the next photo.
"Eytucan." –Jake "Eytukan." –Mia.
"Eytukan. He's the clan leader," Grace explained as she narrowed her eyes on Jake for his mispronunciation, "But she's the spiritual leader. Like a shaman."
"Got it," Jake said as he pulled up next to his link bed. I stayed by his side, deciding I'd wait until he was in to get inside my own. Plus we still needed to run over names. Norm was standing by the hatch watching closely with still irritated eyes trained upon Jake. Grace pulled up the next photo and I felt an odd feeling in my stomach arise as Jake I replied.
"T'su'tey." –Jake "Tsu'tey." – Mia
"Tsu'tey," Grace corrected Jake once again as he looked at me now knowing how I had gotten it right, and plus annoyed that I had as well.
"Tsu'tey," Jake mumbled getting it right this time, as he hopped into the link bed and got himself situated.
"He'll be the next clan leader," Grace told us as she held up the next photo while Jake took a hold of it to look much closer this time. I saw Jake's eyes soften, and his voice drop the irritation as he mumbled, "Neytiri."
"She'll be the next Tsahik," Grace said as I nodded, and Jake continued looking at her photo, "They'll become a mated pair." Both our heads shot up and I felt that weird feeling in my stomach begin to burn, and for what reason I had no clue.
"So who's this Eywa," Jake asked as I leaned over and smacked him on the head, now glad that I could do it, and not embarrass myself in front of the Na'vi for doing so. With a sound of displeasure he looked up and glared at me, before turning his head to Norm who was now flustered green in jealous envy, "Who's Eywa? Only their deity. Their goddess, made up of all living things. Everything they know. You'd know this if you had any training whatsoever!" Giving Norm a look as to tell him to shut up as well, I turned to look back at Jake. Pompously, Jake held up Neytiri's photo and replied, "Who's got a date with the chief's daughter?" Smacking Jake harder across the head this time I replied, "Not really going to be much of a date with me there, bucko." Jake smiled evilly and replied, "We could always hand you off to Tsu'tey to spend a little alone time together." I was about to rear back and hit him across the head again, when Grace caught my arm and lowered it while saying, "All right, knock it off, you three. Let's go. Village life starts early."
With that I made my way over to my link bed, and went ahead and got my machine ready for Grace to finish up. However I overheard her words to Jake as she warned him, "Don't do anything unusually stupid." With that she shut the hatch, as she came around to me. Leaning in to me she spoke, "And you keep him from doing anything unusually stupid."
"Yes, ma'am. Anything else," I asked with a happy little smirk.
"Yeah, duck your head," and with that she shut the hatch on me. Closing my eyes and letting my mind go blank I found myself hurling through the neon lights, before hitting the bright light. Slowly as the blurriness faded away I found myself lying in the exact same position I had fallen asleep at in the leaf hammock.
Stretching I let the numbness and tiny prickles fade away before pushing back the leaf, to open my cocoon. Stretching and yawning as if I had just really woken up I wasn't prepared for a sudden splash of water in the face. Sputtering angrily I looked up at my attacker and glared at Jake.
"Wakey wakey, sunshine," he laughed as I jumped up at him. He took off down the large tree limb almost knocking off a few warriors. Carefully avoiding them I yelled out, "When I get my hands on you Jake, you're gonna wish you hadn't of done that."
Finally when he was in hand's reach I sprang at him and ended up tackling him to the limb laughing and screaming, as he begged me to stop tickling him, and that's exactly how Neytiri found us; acting like a true sister and brother. At first she seemed a little stunned before giggling. Then after it subsided she walked up to us and said, "Come, it's time to teach you to ride direhorse." Nodding my brother stood up and held out his hand to me. Taking it I let him haul me up. Then Neytiri led us down the tree.
As we left the entrance I found Tsu'tey talking to some of his friends as they brought their direhorses out and fed them. He looked my way and glared. I just simply rolled my eyes as I turned to look at Jake. With an evil smirk I threw myself on to his back. He immediately startled, but all the same got a hold of me so that neither of us would fall.
"And you jumped onto my back why," he asked with a smirk.
"Cause, I'm bored and I could. I think I might have had too much sugar this morning," I laughed as Neytiri looked back at us and shook her head with a simple smile.
"Well, I'm not a direhorse, so get off," he chuckled leaning forward as I began to slide. However I managed to get my footing and use his back to jump off sending him flying into the ground from the jolt. As he looked up from the dirt that he had done a face plant into, I giggled evilly quickly catching up to Neytiri. Sticking out my tongue at him, he rolled his eyes with a smile, and stood up as he hurried over to us. Watching as he did so I sneaked a peek at Tsu'tey and found his face had formed a small evil smirk as well at my brother's earlier predicament. Then looking up at me he shook his head, which caught the attention of the warriors standing around him. They too looked up and shook their heads, but not in the same way he had.
Making our way to a clearing, Neytiri told us to wait, as she ran off to go grab a direhorse. As we waited Jake turned to me and asked, "What was that all about back there."
"What," I asked innocently.
"The whole playfully sister bit. That's not you, what have you got up your sleeve," Jake asked with a curious grin.
"Nothing, I just actually feel great today Jake," I told him a little truthfully. Rolling his eyes he shook his head right as Neytiri appeared with her direhorse. Bringing the animal up to us she began to talk as Jake and I came closer to the creature. It startled for a moment, as Jake walked around it, and he calmly murmured, "Easy boy."
"Pale is female," Neytiri spoke up with a narrowing of her eyes. Must be her direhorse.
"Oh, okay, easy, girl," Jake said as Neytiri whispered calming words to Pale in Na'vi. Neytiri motioned her head as if to say go ahead and get on. With that Jake found his bearings and very ungracefully climbed onto the direhorse.
The creature cried out at the new weight upon her and Neytiri went back to calming her with Na'vi words. Jake noticed Pale's antenna and ever so slowly took a hold of it and brought it closer to him to be able to see. Remembering how Tsu'tey had done it last night he slowly reached over his shoulder and grabbed his braid. Bringing it forward carefully he let his squid like tendrils mix with Pale's.
Pale whined almost suddenly as she began rearing back scaring me, Neytiri, and Jake. Both Neytiri and I now calmed her the best we could as Jake held on for dear life. Once we had her calm she looked between Jake and me and explained, "That is tsaheylu. The bond. Feel her. Feel her heartbeat. Her breath. Feel her strong legs. You may tell her what to do….inside." Neytiri pointed to her temple as Jake continued smiling brightly but all the same finally opened his eyes, "For now, say where to go."
Getting more comfortable Jake pointed ahead of him and cried, "Forward!" That was the wrong move.
Pale took off with a strong jolt knocking Jake right off of her. Laughing, Neytiri and I both ran over; Neytiri to grab the horse, and me to grab my brother.
"Not such a hot shot are you now, Jake," I giggled as he growled while hauling himself up. Bringing the direhorse back Neytiri motioned for me to try. Climbing onto the horse was easier for me as I found my bearings pretty quick. I even seemed a little bit more graceful than Jake as I swung my lungs over her side. Taking a seat and getting comfortable I leaned behind me and grabbed my braid and brought it forward to make the tsaheylu. The moment the bond was made it was like a jolt of lighting and been thrown through both me and Pale. Knowing what to do I told her to calm down in my mind and then I turned toward Neytiri.
"Wow, this is so cool," I replied, as she nodded and answered, "Yes, now you try."
"Forward," I told the horse, but then added quickly, "Slowly, and carefully," and just like that she began to walk over to the small creek with me laughing all the way. She felt just like a horse did back on my planet while riding bareback; unusual, but so natural and much more real.
"Good," Neytiri called to me, as Jake yelled out, "SHOWOFF."
"NOT MY FAULT! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT DIDN'T SAY SLOWLY," I yelled back at him. Shaking his head I told the horse, "Turn around and head back with a little faster speed." Just like that she was moving once more, but faster. It was so much fun I was thinking how much fun it would be if she went faster and she did, and not catching my words before they entered my mind I was immediately flung off the horse myself. Jake stood on the sidelines laughing now.
"Now who didn't say slowly," he asked walking over to me and helping me up. This continued back and forth for a while until it was Jake's turn once more. Falling off the horse and landing face first in the mud, Neytiri ran over to get the horse, and I went to help my brother up once again for the 8th time that day.
While helping him up I heard the hoof beats of the other direhorses as they came clamoring out onto the shore with their riders; one being Tsu'tey. My brother and I rolled our eyes as I helped him up. Coming round to us he stopped behind Jake and called out, "You should go away."
"No, you'd miss me. I knew you could speak English," Jake said pointedly as he pointed his hand at him, turning to me he replied once more, "See Mia, he can speak English. He's not as dumb as you thought." Without realizing it I giggled ignoring Neytiri as she walked up beside us with the direhorse. Scoffing at Jake Tsu'tey turned to Neytiri and spoke in Na'vi while Jake tried to wipe the mud off himself, "This alien will learn nothing, a rock sees more. Look at him." Gesturing his hand toward my brother who was currently trying to get mud out of his mouth, while using an already muddy hand, Neytiri just rolled her eyes as if in an I-know sort of manner. Speaking to him in Na'vi she told him to go, as she patted his horse. With that they rode into the jungle. Feeling the anger boiling up in me I walked over to Pale, and jumped on gracefully. Making the tsaheylu quickly I told the horse, forward, fast, and carefully all at once within my mind. I heard my brother and Neytiri yell after me as I rode in the direction Tsu'tey had.
It wasn't hard catching up to him and his warrior friend, and I was a little surprised they didn't hear me, however they were surprised as I rode up in front of them and then turned Pale around to block their path. Looking Tsu'tey dead set in the eyes I lost all my ability to act like I didn't know Na'vi and said coldly, "If you have a problem with my brother than get over it. You can mess with me, but leave him out of this, or I'll personally show you what a female dreamwalker can do to your precious package down below." His warrior friend behind Tsu'tey gasped as he just stood stricken at not only my Na'vi, but my fierceness. Not giving any of them time to say a word I ordered Pale to go back to where we had come from. Obeying she ran off leaving the warriors in her dust.
Tsu'tey P.O.V
"Are you just going to let that woman talk to you like that," my friend asked suddenly still stunned. However I just sat there as her words rang over in my head, one in particular. "If you have a problem with my brother….with my brother….my brother…brother." So the male was not her mate after all, but her brother. Now this was interesting.
"No I don't think I will," I chuckled back at him as an evil smirk took form upon my lips. Urging my direhorse forward I headed back to home tree to have a talk with Mo'at.
Mia's P.O.V
Returning from training I felt every bone in my body aching. That was simple just too much falling, and riding for me. I could only take so much bareback on a direhorse, before I wanted to just collapse in my leaf hammock. Walking toward the bonfire, where most of the villagers sat eating dinner, I took the seat I had sat in the night before. Groaning as I straightened my back and it popped, I turned to look at Jake who was doing the same.
"Too much direhorse training for you as well," I questioned as he simply nodded rolling his shoulders.
"I don't know how you're hurting. You only fell three times. I fell almost every time," Jake groaned as we both heard a pop as he leaned his shoulders back.
"No, but my butt hurts from riding it bareback," I complained right as Neytiri showed up beside us.
"You get use to pain," she mumbled before handing us a plate of fruit, and I guess some kind of meat. Not caring if I spit it out or not I shoved the meat in my mouth and about curled my toes at the taste. It tasted like chicken and beef mixed. It was juicy, and warm, and oh so delicious.
"What is this," I asked looking over at her as she answered, "Hexapede meat. You'll learn to hunt them soon." Nodding I didn't go into asking what exactly a hexapede was but I think I remember my old professor explaining to my class once that it was sort of like a deer.
"Mo'at is coming this way," Neytiri spoke suddenly as I looked up to find Mo'at walking toward me with Tsu'tey at her heels. Uh-oh this wasn't good. He must have told her of what I said earlier today. She's going to either kill me or banish me.
"MiaSully, may I speak to you for a moment," Mo'at questioned as I gulped, but slowly nodded. Standing up she led me away from the rest of the group and towards a secluded spot with Tsu'tey. Stopping once she realized we were alone she turned to look at me and replied, "Tsu'tey came to me earlier. He has said that there may be a problem with the arrangement I have made…." Oh great here it comes, "…he said that maybe I have given my daughter too much work to handle all on her own. So as of now, Tsu'tey is your teacher. Learn well from him, but if there is a problem with this you can speak now." What the…? Looking between her and Tsu'tey it was now that I realized the triumphant gleam in his eyes. Narrowing mine at him only slightly and keeping them locked on his I explained, "No, there's no problem at all." Nodding she turned and left us to one another.
"I don't know what you're up to, but stop it. You're acting like a child," I told him viciously.
"See now I knew you could speak our language fluently, but how," he asked stepping closer to me as I took a step back.
"From teachers before Neytiri and you, teachers from my home, who learned from others. So yes I might have told a slight lie, but all the same it was to stick with my brother who you need to stop treating so horribly. He and I have done nothing to you. So, leave us alone, and stop acting like an ass," I said pointing a finger into his chest not caring if I was rude, or if he could probably hurt me at that very moment. Turning I began to leave when he called out to me, "I will keep your secret, MiaSully. However, I am your teacher and I want you up early in the morning tomorrow to train." Turning back to him I nodded knowing full well I wouldn't follow his orders, but all the same I replied, "Thank you, and it's Mia, not MiaSully." With those words I walked off leaving him to his own thoughts. Skipping the rest of dinner that night I immediately headed for my leaf hammock and jumped in. Making it into a cocoon I got myself into a comfortable spot before letting my mind go blank.
Upon opening my eyes in the lab I found someone already opening the lid for me. Thinking it may be Jake, I was sad to find it was not. There standing before me was Grace.
"You're back early," she replied.
"Yeah, well my avatar needed its rest. We had direhorse training today and it was killer. Anyway, secrets out to Tsu'tey. He knows I can speak fluent Na'vi, and he's using it against me, so as to force me to be his student. I don't know what he has up his sleeve, but it's really pissing me off," I ranted as she helped me out. Handing me her pack of cigarettes and lighter I swiftly pulled one out and lit it. Taking in a deep puff she smiled as she replied, "Maybe he's just curious Mia. I mean he is a boy, and the way you and Jake explained it early seemed to me like Tsu'tey might have developed a slight liking to you. Maybe even a crush." My eyes widen at this and my heart sped up, but I kept calm as I said to her, "No, it must be something else." With all knowing eyes she replied, "Yes, it must be something else." With that she walked away as I went and took a seat by Jake's link bed to wait for him.
Thank you everyone for reviewing. I enjoyed hearing all of your comments, even the ones that were a little mean (you know who you are.) I'd like to thank the reviewers for sticking up for me in that whole mess though. Anyway, I promise things from here on out will be a bit different. I'm adding a lot more flaws to my character as you can see in this chapter. It just took time to build up to it. Every story starts out seeming personally fine, until the middle.
Either way I hope you liked the interaction between Mia and Tsu'tey, because I know I did. There will be more between them soon that much I can promise. Well I hoped you enjoyed the chapter.
PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW AGAIN!