Disclaimer: I do not own "Avatar", that honor belongs to James Cameron. This story is from my own imagination and I have made every attempt to be true to the "Avatar" characters, world and culture. Comments are appreciated and to those who have/are going to review, you have my thanks! -Fallon.

Ma'tirea rose as the sun began to appear in the distance. Eager to begin her training with Tsu'tey, Ma'tirea dug her nails into the bark and pulled herself from her hammock. Not bothering to take the carved path down the trunk of the great tree, she jumped off the edge and swung from branch to massive leaf until she reached the bottom. Landing on her feet she looked upwards to see the sun force it's beams through the thick covering of leaves. Ewya's creations were beautiful.

Turning to run towards the clearing she spotted Neytiri leaning against a huge root that jutted from the earth. Ma'tirea grinned and walked over to her friend.

"I hear Tsu'tey is training you sister?"

Ma'tirea laughed softly. "If I ever want to be worthy of the clan then I had better listen well to him."

"A difficult task indeed as the warrior has no patience. But he is very skilled and could teach you much." Neytiri spoke as she walked with Ma'tirea to the clearing. Nearby they spotted a few males crafting arrows as they leaned against a tree enjoying the morning. Ma'tirea had always enjoyed speaking to Neytiri. As long as she had known Rina'rey, Neytiri was very calm and knowledgeable, much easier to converse with than the loud and excitable Rina'rey. The clearing emerged before them and both females spotted Tsu'tey near the pen.

"I'm sure I've already done something to anger him." Ma'tirea joked, inwardly hoping she had not angered her teacher already.

"Do not take it personally sister." Neytiri spoke as she touched the younger female on the shoulder as a show of support. "I know you will make Eywa proud."

Ma'tirea thanked her friend and ran forward to join the male near the pen, hoping she would not make a fool of herself. Approaching the fenced pasture which held the pa'li who trained with the young students, Ma'tirea smiled to her teacher and greeted him happily.

"Needed Neytiri's help finding the pasture female?"

Ma'tirea looked at the pa'li who were grazing in the long grass. "She greeted me this morning and chose to walk with me, she has always been very kind to me."

"Do not expect that kindness from everyone else female, now let us see if you can manage a direhorse." Tsu'tey opened the gate and selected a mid sized female, bringing her out for Ma'tirea. The creature was very calm and Ma'tirea suspected she had trained many before her. Tsu'tey said nothing and only stood back to watch her interact with the creature. Ma'tirea ignored his glare and approached the creature, touching her side lightly.

She ran her hand over the pa'li's strong shoulder blades and up her neck. She looked into the creature's eyes and smiled warmly, wanting to show kindness to the female pa'li. "Good...mawey sister, mawey." Moving quickly, she tried to pull herself onto the direhorse and ended up flat on her bottom in the dirt after flipping right over the horse. Tsu'tey smiled and chuckled coldly but she again tried to ignore her teacher, pulling herself up for the second time and managing to stay on. Ma'tirea grabbed her queue, making the bond with the pa'li. Her mind created a link tothe pa'li and she immediately had a greater sense of her breathing and the stomping of her hooves. Ma'tirea closed her eyes tightly and relaxed into the bond.

"Open your eyes female and voice your command to your mount." He stepped to the other side of her and watched her movements. Ma'tirea felt tense, like she was being watched by everyone but of course it was only her and Tsu'tey in the field. She felt the pa'li tense with her and she fought to calm down to relax the creature.

"Forward." She spoke as calmly as she could and the pa'li trotted forward. Overjoyed she was still on her mount she told the creature to turn and she did. Tsu'tey watched as the girl brought the pa'li back around towards him. "Not bad, stay relaxed with her...if you tense she will feel it as intensely as you do." He had her do a few twists around the nearby trees before telling her to make the pa'li go as fast as she can around the clearing before bringing the direhorse back to the pen.

Bonded with the creature, Ma'tirea could feel everything it did. From the tiniest change in heart beat to the sensation of the wind passing over the pa'li's mane, everything her mount felt she was instantly aware of. "Go forward."

The pa'li took off, bolting forward towards the open field before her. Ma'tirea tried to maintain her command over the direhorse but the speed was new to her and she panicked which confused the pa'li. Stopping abrupting, as she sensed Ma'tirea's desire to stop, the na'vi flew over the creatures' shoulders. Ma'tirea grunted as she rolled twice in the rough dirt before coming to a stop. Her chest heaved as she tried to calm herself, the sudden halt to her bond sending a strange sensation over her that thankfully passed by the time Tsu'tey approached her.

Ma'tirea forced herself up but was hit by a wave of nausea and would have fallen back down if Tsu'tey hadn't grabbed her arm roughly. His grip was tight and the pain in her arm was screaming at her to make him stop.

"Tsu'tey you're hurting me..."

He realized how tight his grip was on her arm and released her abruptly. Avoiding looking at Ma'tirea, he slipped the lead onto the pa'li and silently led her to the pen. She followed him to the pen, wondering if he was angry with her. After he had agreed to train her she had promised herself that she would not make him regret his choice. She swallowed hard and waited for him to speak. Leaning on the fence she watched him lead the pa'li into the pen. She tried to read his face, gauge his anger, but couldn't. Shutting the gate he turned to face her. "It was not my intention to hurt you." It was not quite an apology but she nodded, knowing he spoke the truth.

By the time night had descended on the forest, Ma'tirea's entire body ached from the hours of training she had endured with Tsu'tey. She fell into the warm embrace of her hammock, allowing herself the rest she craved. Tsu'tey lay in his hammock but sleep was evading him. The female had done well enough for her first day and he was sure she would progress with time. From childhood he was intended to mate with Neytiri but she had chosen another. Many na'vi of his age were already mated and had children...and yet he remained alone.

"Eywa..." He whispered into the night. "What do you have planned for me..."