Author's Note: Have had a little bit of trouble lately with writing, as work is piling up and I can hardly even find time to SLEEP these days, so that's why this is short, sorry. Next chapter will be my usual length. Hope you can stick with me. oh, and note Chrollianne, sweety? Your link didn't show up because doesn't allow them, so could you please email me at samantha . evans 89 [at] yahoo . com (remove spaces and put the 'at' sign) so I can chat with you and say how awesome you are? *smile* And anyone else that wants to talk to me about anything, feel free to hit me up as well! :D i don't bite, honestly...

Story Note: a little bit of a vague explanation of Jake's issue(s) in here. Sorry for the people that don't like reading the Na'vi language or whatever, I'd suggest reading the translations at the bottom first if it bugs you enough.

Tsu'tey watches the gold eyes roll back and manages to catch his arm before the other male slumps listlessly. Hauling him up, he takes a moment to look Jake over. No wounds or visible signs of damage, he looks the same as always and his abdomen is free of any clear signs of bruising or wounds.

Brow furrowing, Tsu'tey leans down to grab him into his arms and lift him, his heart still beating fast in fear.

Straightening, he stumbles back a step; since Jake had become Na'vi again, the previously lost muscle mass had returned from the re-training of hunting and foraging, making him considerably heavier.

His ears prick up as something tinkles above him, something in the trees. He's heard the noise before, when Jake was changing, that innocent, almost laughing sound.

But there's no time to try and figure out what it is, he has to get Jake back to the clan and to the olo'toktor before this illness—whatever it is—gets any worse. So, ignoring the burning in his arms and back, he begins walking back the way they came.

Tsu'tey strides into the Omaticaya's cave just as night falls. By that time the body in his arms is pure dead weight and his muscles are numb from exertion. Asuy'ri, who is standing near the entrance, turns to look at him and then a shocked expression comes over her face, "Eywa, again? What is it this time?"

Why she insists on speaking English, Tsu'tey does not know. He sighs in relief as the olo'toktor takes Jake from his arms. The other Na'vi looks at him questioningly and Tsu'tey just waves his hand, not knowing what to say.

"Tsu'tey!" Asuy'ri yells at him.

"What?" He nearly hisses, moving to sit down against the rocky wall, already in the process of removing his waist guard and another apparel. His aggressiveness has increases ten-fold because of the stress that tìprrte'txepvi puts on a Na'vi's body, not to mention the questions that won't stop darting through his mind; most of them having to do with Jake.

"What is wrong with Jake?" She asks softly, his voice having subdued her. In the years she's known him, his anger has always had a place, had a reason, and she can understand this one as well as any other, can sense his worried thoughts.

Tsu'tey's tail flicks idly as he stalls her by occupying himself with removing his bowstrap and dagger sheath.

Asuy'ri sighs and waits patiently, watching as the olo'toktor sets Jake down by the fire, her wise and wrinkled hands gently gliding over his skin as she tries to find the source of his apparent illness, randomly poking and prodding his body and murmuring under her breath.

Asuy'ri's ears prick up when she hears Tsu'tey sigh next to her, then start talking in defeated English, "I do not know. We were speaking—"

"You mean arguing," the female Na'vi corrects, knowing the way his voice fluctuates that he's not telling the whole truth as she sends a small knowing smile at him.

"...Yes." Another sigh. "Then he just...looked tired. Started yelling in pain. Fell down, then went...to sleep," he finishes, not knowing the English word. He takes off his necklace of Thanator teeth and sets it down, leaning back against the wall.

"I believe the humans call it un-con-...scus...?" Her brow raises as she tries to remember the teachings of the language, but then shakes her head; it doesn't matter. "I wonder why..."

Tsu'tey's eyes wander from her face over to Jake's body, aware that she's still talking but her voice is drowned out. Even from this distance he can see the fire dancing over the Dreamwalker's face, the shadow of his eyelashes are black streaks on his cheeks. His alien eyebrows are furrowed, making the otherwise smooth skin of his forehead crease slightly in a frown.

His chest rises and falls slowly in rest, his eyelids twitching as he dreams, ears neutral and tail still. It is strange to see, as Jake is usually so active, so...bright and animated.

His mind reaches out to Eywa, to ask Her what is wrong. But the space where Her mind would be is nothing but a void, filled with the sound of rushing water, which means She has nothing to tell him. He sighs deeply and suddenly Asuy'ri's voice comes back.

"Tsu'tey? Are you listening?" A poke to his shoulder. He flinches, trying to push down the urge to hiss at her as irritation swamps his mind at the primal thought of anyone other than his mate touching him at this time.

"Eywa, your skin is hot." She examines her finger as if it were actually burned. "Are you ill as well?"

"Kehe," he responds with hostility and is about to tell her to leave him alone when the olo'toktor comes over, her various decorative beads and jewels clinking. Tsu'tey stands at her arrival.

"Oel ngati kameie," the old Na'vi says, her head bowing slightly, which makes her long semi-braided hair fall over her shoulders, the twin streams of flowers flowing down to her ribs.

Tsu'tey feels a thread of nervousness in his stomach as he automatically says it back; is Jake all right? When is he going to wake up? These questions and more trill around is head like buzzing ayhì'ang, and it takes effort not to have his voice stutter as he asks, "Pefya lu Jakesully?"

"Poan lu lefpomtokx, slä..." Her wrinkled skin furrows and her lips thin as she looks between Tsu'tey and Asuy'ri for a moment, and it's obvious she doesn't want to say her diagnosis in anyone's company other than the clan leader.

A soft growl of disappointment escapes Asuy'ri's lips, "Tslolam," she says with a slight bite to her voice, her tail slicing the air, before she tactfully joins three conversing Na'vi by the fire, but not without a look back that tells Tsu'tey to tell her everything later.

The olo'toktor folds her hands delicately, her large sage eyes looking into Tsu'tey's own, before she asks softly, "Lu ngenga tì'efu tìprrte'txepvi srak?"

The question is asked in such a voice that it makes it seem as if she's inquiring about the weather. Tsu'tey snorts softly, taken aback; it is rude and taboo to ask such a personal thing. "Lumpe si nga newomum?"

The olo'toktor's tail swishes behind her, her gaze hardening, "Taweyk, oe zene omum fte oe tsun srung ngenga sì poan."

Tsu'tey sighs; he has no choice but to tell her. "Sran..." A flush creeps onto his face against his will even as he tries to avert it. One does not usually discuss such intimate matters with anyone except a mate.

"Hu Jakesully srak?" She looks like he's just told her the most absurd thing she's ever heard, her eyes widening as her suspicions are confirmed. "Hu tsatu uniltìranyu?"

Tsu'tey doesn't bother to hide his glare at her, "Sran," he says firmly, indicating he's had enough of her prying questions as his tail strikes through the air.

The olo'toktor is more than smart enough to notice the threatening display and holds up her hands. "Mawey, Tsu'tey. Mawey," she says, even as she rapidly blinks in shock.

"Tse peng oe peu lu keyawr mìfa poan," Tsu'tey says, tired of this conversation. "Pxiset!"

She starts at his loud voice, then her next sentence comes out in a jumble, "Tìprrte'txepvi fmetok poan tokx keteng tup peu oe tse'a."

"Oe rä'ä tslam," he states, the fierce set of his jaw commanding her to explain, "Lumpe lu poan tì'efu tìsraw?"

Her slim hands rub together, and her tone of voice drops in defeat, "Oe rä'ä omum," she says softly, looking back at Jake with a curious look in her eyes.

"Wiya," he mutters under his breath, and then walks towards the unconscious form of the Dreamwalker, ignoring the olo'toktor's protests and her grab for his arm. He leans down over Jake and shakes his shoulders, his thumbs digging into his collarbones. "Wake up, Jake."

The other male's heart beats in a steady rhythm against his fingertips, but Tsu'tey doesn't understand why he remains asleep. "Wake up, Jake! Now! Piak nga menari!"

But somehow Jake remains unaware, his eyebrows still lowered, but his face shows no sign of waking any time soon. Growling softly in defeat, Tsu'tey lets go of his shoulders to sit back, his eyes remaining on Jake as he asks, "Krrpe lu poan lu txen?"

There is a silence between his question and the olo'toktor's answer, which he fills with staring at Jake's face and mentally willing him to wake up, which of course doesn't work.

"Ye'rìn," the female Na'vi says, perhaps thankful to finally give him a positive answer as she joins him and puts her hand to Jake's forehead, her eyes closing in prayer.

Tsu'tey gets up, not surprised to find Asuy'ri immediately stand as well and come over, her eyes full of questions. "Well?"

"Why do you speak in this language?" Tsu'tey asks, diverting her obvious question, in part because he's genuinely curious and because he doesn't feel like being embarrassed again.

"It is practice," she says, tilting her head at him. "If I spoke Na'vi all the time, I would never get better at English."

"Is demon's language, Asuy'ri. You not need to get better," Tsu'tey scowls at her even as his English breaks, incredulous as he picks up his bow from the ground, wanting to get into the fresh air to do some hunting before it is time for the clan to sleep, wants to clear his thoughts.

"Jake speaks it," she says softly, her imploring amber eyes trying to meet his as he hurries to grab some arrows from the section of the wall dedicated to weaponry and hunting gear.

Tsu'tey stills and turns his head fully to look at her, his ears flattening as he realizes what he's just said. "Jake is not a demon."

And with that, he exits the cave.

Glossary:

olo'toktor - clan doctor

Kehe - no

Oel ngati kameie - I see you

ayhì'ang - insects

Pefya lu Jakesully? - how is Jakesully?

Poan lu lefpomtokx, slä... - He is healthy, but...

Tslolam - I understand

Lu ngenga tì'efu tìprrte'txepvi srak - are you feeling "pleasure spark?"

Lumpe si nga newomum? - why do you want to know?

Taweyk, oe zene omum fte oe tsun srung ngenga sì poan - because, I must know so that I can help you and him.

Sran - yes

Hu Jakesully srak? - with Jakesully?

Hu tsatu uniltìranyu - with that Dreamwalker?

Mawey - be calm

Tse peng oe peu lu keyawr mìfa poan - well tell me what is wrong inside him

Pxiset! - right now!

Tìprrte'txepvi fmetok poan tokx keteng tup peu oe tse'a - "Pleasure spark" tests his body differently than what I have seen.

Oe rä'ä tslam - I don't understand

Lumpe lu poan tì'efu tìsraw? - why is he feeling pain?

Oe ke omum - I don't know

Wiya - damn it

Piak nga menari - open your eyes!

Krrpe lu poan lu txen? - when is he going to awake?

Ye'rìn - soon