Disclaimer: "Avatar" is not mine. Every attempt has been made to remain true to the world Cameron created. An update took longer than expected because this chapter and the next were written as one chapter. I thought it made more sense to break up the two events even though that was risking another cliff hanger because the next chapter is very important. I hope you find this chapter worth the wait, an update will likely happen very soon (if things go as planned lol) as the next chapter is 90% done : ) -Fallon.

Chapter Eleven

Ma'tirea sprinted towards Tsu'tey and silently prayed to Eywa for the strength for what she was going to do. The Great Mother had brought him to her for a reason, of that she was sure, and she wasn't going to let some amber eyed male with an rejection problem and an inflated ego take him away from her.

She knew it could end with Keye'txon's blade buried in her flesh sapping the life from her, but at the moment she did not care. What mattered was getting between the two males. Ma'tirea leapt for Keye'txon as he brought his blade down towards a vulnerable Tsu'tey, blocking the swing with her dagger. A grunt was forced from her as the weight behind his attack pushed her back. Her arm muscles screamed for her to stop but she ignored them and held her ground, forcing every bit of strength from her body. Her heels dug into the soil as she managed to push back against the larger male. Keye'txon eased back and lowered his dagger, furious at her for interrupting. Anger flared in his eyes like the wild flame from a bonfire. He under-estimated her and she saw it as clearly as the sun above her.

"I have given you my answer Keye'txon and it won't change; it will never change!" She growled at the attacking male. This didn't have to end in violence, if Keye'txon had any sense he'd stop while he was ahead and leave Tsu'tey alone. She begged Eywa that he would stop before someone was needlessly hurt.

He snorted like a furious animal about to pounce on its prey;his chest puffed out. "You would consider Tsu'tey as a mate but not me!" He nodded towards Tsu'tey who was slowly pulling himself from the ground, his eyes never once leaving the threat before him. Ma'tirea kept her blade raised and stayed between the two males.

"Yes Keye'txon, I would." Ma'tirea said in a soft, unshakable but strong voice. Tsu'tey glanced from Keye'txon to the determined female that had saved him. She would consider him...

Her calm tone flared new anger in Keye'txon's eyes, igniting new fury. Urged on by rage, he disarmed her and roughly pushed her out of his way; renewing his terrifying and violent attack on Tsu'tey. Ma'tirea turned to Jake as she steadied herself and pleaded for him to do something. Jake had raised his bow but shook his head in frustration at the situation before them. "I could hit Tsu'tey."

Panicked, she turned back to the fighting males. Terrified and furious, she knew Keye'txon just wanted to prove to himself he was better than Tsu'tey and was spurred on by a moronic desire to be the best no matter who he hurt in the process. Trying to keep Tsu'tey far from her was just a new way to try to out best him and cause more pain.

Blades swung through the air with lethal intent as the fight raged on. Keye'txon swung low and kicked Tsu'tey's legs out from under him. He recovered and slashed through the band of leather covering Keye'txon's chest, cutting through it like a leaf. Startled but not completely shaken, he kneed Tsu'tey in the stomach and made a swift grab for Tsu'tey's queue. A sharp pain tore through his head and rippled down his entire body as the amber eyed male tugged hard and brought him to his knees. Panting as he tried to push past the pain he felt Keye'txon behind him; a cold blade pressed flat against his queue.

Keye'txon smirked and forced Tsu'tey's head back as he squeezed the sensitive queue harder between his fingers. Tsy'tey felt nauseous, like the entire planet was moving around him with no intention of stopping. Ma'tirea screamed in horror as she saw what Keye'txon was planning to do and tried to run to Tsu'tey's aid only to be held back by Norm. Jake let his arrow fly and it cut through the air with a fast, sharp sound that was audible for a split second.

Keye'txon dropped the dagger and released his hold on Tsu'tey as a sudden, blinding pain flowed over his chest like the ripples in water. He could not fill his chest with air and panicked as warm blood oozed down his chest. His vision blurred and standing was becoming more and more difficult.

Jake's arrow had hit him hard just below his sternum, punching through bone and flesh to burst through his back. He grabbed the end that stuck out from his chest and fought the urge to pull it out. Ma'tirea stopped her pleading and screaming, the air stuck in her chest as the fighting stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Her eyes opened wide as Tsu'tey hit the ground hard. Keye'txon looked into the trees as the world came to a screeching halt. The mortally injured warrior fell to the ground sending dust into the air. Ma'tirea pulled free from Norm's grasp and ran straight to Tsu'tey as he tried to stand.

Disoriented from the spinning pain that tore through his head, Tsu'tey struggled to find his footing as he tried to stand upon the twirling ground. A gentle hand touched his arm and he turned, trying to focus his eyes as the pain in his head bloomed. "Tsu'tey..."

The voiced echoed slightly in his head as it forced itself through the twirling world. He closed his eyes to block out the dizzying sights. "Ma'tirea?" He asked weakly.

"It's alright..." She held his arms and tried to help him remain upright. Neytiri arrived led by Norm and was filled in by Jake on what had happened. Ma'tirea watched over Tsu'tey's shoulder as Keye'txon's body was carried away by a few of the clan's hunters. She was not sure how she should feel. A brother had passed to Eywa and she would pray for him but she was also relieved that her troubles with the amber eyed male were at an end. Ma'tirea looked at Jake as he stood with Mo'at. The clan leader nodded to her and she nodded back. She decided that those feelings would work themselves out with time and turned her full attention back to Tsu'tey.

"Come, you have to go to the healing-" She spoke quietly, trying to urge him towards the healing pools.

He held onto her arms desperately, making sure he was not gripping the bruised area from before. "I don't need it..." He muttered under his breath to her.

After everything that had just happened, the last thing she wanted to do was argue with the stubborn male. Tsu'tey let go of her arms and tried to step around Ma'tirea only to feel her lightly touch his chest. "Tsu'tey..."

He grabbed her hand. "Do not touch me, I'm covered in blood." Tsu'tey walked past her, head still spinning, as he headed for the bathing pools. Ma'tirea watched him for a moment before running after the stumbling male. She walked beside him, resisting the urge to grab onto him when he tripped or stumbled.

They finally reached a secluded bathing pool and she followed him as he parted the leaves. Tsu'tey fell to his knees as his stomach tied itself into a knot from the waves of nausea and vertigo that still hit him. Ma'tirea knelt beside him and tentatively touched an abrasion on his shoulder blade. She saturated a cloth in the water and began to clean his wounds to prevent infection. As she gently scrubbed the dirt and blood away, the sickening smell of blood filled the pool and filled her nose. Under the blood and dirt that coated his back, she was surprised to find that all were minor and would be fine once cleaned thoroughly.

"Your wounds are minor, but you should still visit the healers." She re-soaked the fabric and began to clean his arms. He groaned and said nothing. Ma'tirea lightly brushed his hair from his face and smiled when he weakly opened his eyes. His eyes never failed to pull her in or make her heart beat quicken.

"I'll be fine once my head stops pounding." He spoke slowly, smirking at her from behind his mane of hair that had fallen over his shoulder. Oh how she loved that smirk; loved his thin lips...

Ma'tirea was pulled away from pleasing thoughts about the curve of his lips. She remembered watching in horror, helpless as Keye'txon jerked on Tsu'tey's queue violently and her heart sank. "You could have died and you're making jokes..." Ma'tirea muttered as she continued her work.

"You're right...I'm sorry for making light of it." He spoke softly, trying to lighten her mood and bring the light back into her eyes.

Tsu'tey could see the sadness fill her face and watched her curiously. Ma'tirea traced the muscles on his back, careful to avoid touching a wound but wanting badly to touch him. She gently rubbed the muscles near his spine and smiled when she felt him relax to her touch. Taking a nervous, sharp breath in, she ran her fingers over his queue. Tsu'tey's eyes opened wide as he watched her. Ma'tirea lightly petted his queue like a timid child before she noticed that he was watching her. She pulled her hand back swiftly and backed away from him slightly. "I'm sorry."

Tsu'tey swallowed hard. Ma'tirea rose in a single, fluid movement and twisted the cloth nervously in her hands. "I'll let you bathe now teacher...would it be alright if I spoke to you after you've had time to rest?"

The gentle caresses she had laid on his back and queue had left his body tingling and he could only nod to her in agreement. Ma'tirea smiled slightly and left the bathing pool. She was so gentle, so...dare he think it, loving. As he lowered his battered body into the clear water, he knew that he had to say something to her. Water pulled the grime from his body and it's cool, pure scent cleared the fog in his head. The image of Ma'tirea leaving the pool was playing back in his mind like a pleasant, reoccurring dream. The curve of her lower back was so touchable and her tail swaying seductively in time with her hips making his heart beat with excitement. Tsu'tey sank lower into the water. He had to say something to her soon because the emotions that had been flooding him couldn't be held back any longer.