Disclaimer: I own no part of the "Avatar" universe. Any characters you do not recognize I have created for this story. Thank you for the hits and reviews :) I'm glad so many have been enjoying this story as I have really enjoyed writing it! Apologies on taking so long to update, I hope you find it worth the wait as I wanted to make sure it was the best it could be before publishing it. - Fallon.

Chapter Thirteen

Morning light hit the waterfall and filtered dimly through the cave. Tsu'tey groaned as the light hit his face and stretched his limbs over the moss covered ground. He smiled when he felt himself still bonded to Ma'tirea and her warm body pressed against his. Tsu'tey kissed her neck lightly and rubbed her stomach. Eywa had blessed him with happy dreams the night before; he was truly meant to be with Ma'tirea.

She squirmed in her spot beside him, rubbing her head against his chest. Tsu'tey tried not to wake her up but pulled her closer to him, kissing her forehead lightly. Her sweat was sweet on his lips. Ma'tirea's eyes fluttered open and she looked up, smiling when she saw him looking down at her.

"Promise to wake me like this every morning..." She muttered, still half asleep.

Tsu'tey grinned and nodded. "I promise."

Ma'tirea sighed lightly, her breath tickling Tsu'tey's chest like a feather. "I could stay here forever; with you."

He chuckled. "And never feel the sun on your skin? No, I could not deprive you that warmth. Besides, the sun would surely miss you."

Ma'tirea kissed his chest and rolled on top of him. "You are the only warmth I require my love." She leaned down so her lips hovered over his.

Tsu'tey rubbed her hips lovingly. He didn't want to leave either...

"We should return to hometree Ma'tirea." He spoke in a whisper, not wanting the moment to end.

She pouted but nodded and kissed him lightly, gently separating their queues. Even though the queues had come apart, he still felt the deep emotional bond they had formed the night before. He watched her as she gathered her clothing from the ground. Ma'tirea slipped into her loincloth and was working on strapping her shirt on when Tsu'tey stood and joined her. He kissed her shoulder and helped her tie the lacing. She ran her fingers over the darker stripes on his chest, tickling him as she went and fetched his loincloth from the ground behind him. Slowly, she slipped the fabric around him, not really wanting to cover him up.

He smiled as she tied the laces, seductively rubbing his hip as she finished. She kissed his shoulder, resting her forehead against his muscular body. Tsu'tey's entire being tingled having her so close to him. He breathed in her scent and took her hand in his. Everything in his life felt right now, like having Ma'tirea as his mate had pulled the fragments of his being together.

Tsu'tey led her under the waterfall trail and into the sunlight of a new morning.

They stepped into the clearing surrounding hometree and Ma'tirea squeezed his hand. A group of hunters was assembling near the base of hometree and Jake looked up as they neared. She wondered momentarily if Tsu'tey would release her hand but smiled when his grip remained firm. Neytiri welcomed them into the group and smiled warmly when she saw their fingers laced together. Rina'rey peeked around Neytiri and jumped forward to embrace her sister. Ma'tirea looked at Tsu'tey and felt warmth rush to her cheeks. Thankfully Jake saved her.

"Come now Rina'rey, that is Tsu'tey's job now." He teased joyfully, nodding to Tsu'tey to congratulate him. Rina'rey released her and stood near Neytiri as Jake addressed the group.

"The healers have informed us that we are in dire need of talioang meat. We're traveling to their feeding grounds now; and watch each others backs." Jake stepped through the group and mounted his direhorse. Neytiri followed after him and soon the entire group was off. Ma'tirea knew as well as any other that talioang was essential to the clan. Not only did it provide food and bone for weapons but it's skin was used to create the carrier, iveh k'nivi s'dir, that kept na'vi infants bound to their parents' chest. The creature was a great gift from Ewya and was highly respected.

Ma'tirea bid farewell to Rina'rey and rode near Neytiri, glancing occasionally to Tsu'tey, who brought up the rear of the group. She tried to be descrete but he noticed and smiled to himself each time he saw her search for him in the group. The hunters softly sang the hunt song, joyously preparing for the hunt to come.

The closer they got to the feeding grounds the more nervous he became. This was his first hunt with Ma'tirea; his mate just as close to danger as he was and it brought a strange feeling to him. A feeling that he was not accustomed too.

They dismounted their pali and took to the trees that surrounded the strumbeests' grounds. Tsu'tey peered out over the clearing and the small group that had wandered in from the opposite side of the field. Ma'tirea climbed upwards to his side. It was her first real hunt and he could feel her nerves just as if they were his own.

He touched her hand slowly, so as not to startle her and squeezed gently to reassure her. She visibly relaxed beside him and he smiled, waiting for Jake to give the signal for the attack. He drew his bow and took aim, noticing Ma'tirea do the same from the corner of his eye. Tsu'tey heard the familiar sound of an arrow soaring through the air and saw Jake's arrow pierce a creature nearest them. Having seen the signal, the other hunters let their arrows fly.

Ma'tirea released her hold on her arrow and smiled in pride as she saw it bury itself in the side of a large talioang. Hunters descended from the trees and swarmed the stumbling beasts. She remained in the trees to provide cover with the others; while Tsu'tey joined Jake and Neytiri on the ground. The small herd had scattered to evade them and left two large talioang behind for the hunters.

Ma'tirea noticed a large creature hurdling from the trees and turned to see a large bull storming towards the other two who were surrounded by na'vi at an alarming speed. She brought her bow around and fired a shot, hollering down to Jake to get their attention. Jake looked to her and then to the charging creature, his eyes wide.

Before the bull got too close to the hunters on the ground, Ma'tirea jumped from the tree and landed on its' back. She heard Tsu'tey's cries in the chaos but tried to focus on her precarious hold on the talioang. She wrapped her arm around the strong horn between the bulls' eyes and tried to reach the blade on her hip with her free hand. The bull stopped suddenly and sent her flying forwards. She gasped as the air was forced from her lungs. Neytiri screamed to her friend to hold on as she tried to get to her.

She dug her fingers into the bulls' armor plated face and climbed back to its' back. Blade in hand, she gripped its' shoulder and buried her blade in the soft spot between its' shoulder blades. The bull reared and its' scream echoed in the forest. Furious, the bull charged another talioang and tackled it to the ground.

Tsu'tey stood in awe as the bull impaled the other with its' horn, leaving only the one standing and Ma'tirea no where to be seen. He left Jake the other hunters to take down the last beast and ran into the fog of dirt to find his mate. Neytiri ran up to him and they began to climb over the dead talioang to find Ma'tirea.

"Ma'tirea! Answer me!" Neytiri yelled, hoping her friend was alive to hear her. Tsu'tey pushed at one of the bodies and tried to remain calm. He knew if she was dead he would feel...something, but everything told him she was alive. His head shot up when he heard Neytiri call to him from the nearby brush and he leapt over to join her.

Neytiri struggled to pull Ma'tirea to her feet from the bush she had found her in. Tsu'tey sighed in relief when he saw her and helped Neytiri bring her to her feet. Ma'tirea's eyes fluttered as she tried to see who was holding her, she was clearly quite shacken but was visibly alright.

Sure that Ma'tirea was fine and in good hands, Neytiri left herwith Tsu'tey to go and help harvest the meat and load up the arriving ikran. Tsu'tey cupped her face and begged her to look at him.

"I'm fine." She insisted and tried to take a step only to trip and nearly fall down again. She recovered herself and looked back to her mate, who was not convinced.

Tsu'tey eased her arm over his shoulder and gently touched her hip. "Let me help you."

She tried to get away from his touch. "I don't want Jake to think I'm weak, I can do this..."

Tsu'tey lightly kissed her temple and shook his head. "You jumped on a talioang Ma'tirea and brought it down. Believe me, no one doubts your strength."

Ma'tirea sat on the pa'li, her arms wrapped weakly around Tsu'tey as they returned to hometree. It had taken a long time to skin the three talioang as Jake hadn't expected their hunt to produce so much meat. Jake had flown ahead with most of the group to bring the meat back and planned to return later to fetch the bones.

Neytiri brought her pa'li up beside Tsu'tey's. "Are you alright sister?"

She nodded. "I'll be fine."

They approached hometree and Tsu'tey helped her off the pa'li as the healers approached. Despite her protests, she was led off by the panicked healers to the pools. Tsu'tey smiled as she tried to assure the healers she was fine and ultimately failed.

"You've done well Tsu'tey." A motherly voice spoke from behind him.

He turned to see Mo'at had emerged from the tree to meet them. "Tsahik?" He asked, not sure exactly what she meant.

Mo'at chuckled warmly. "With Ma'tirea. I'm glad you've chosen to listen to Eywa and are now happy with the one she chose for you."

"Eywa truly has blessed me." He smiled wide to the spiritual leader before leaving to find his beloved mate.