Trying to keep busy, Jake was fumbling her way through the delicate process of weaving a basket. It was hard enough having the tenfold strength of the People, but now she had the strange slender fingers to get used to as she attempted to manipulate the will of the fragile dried leaves. She didn't need to hear the snap of the piece, or see the evidence of the broken and barely started basket, to know she had failed.

With a frustrated sigh and an angry whip of her tail, she tossed the useless piece away and glared angrily ahead, legs swinging from her perch as she vented in silent exhalation.

"Not taking the change too well, I presume Toruk Makto?" An unwelcome voice emerged from deep in the brush.

Jake started.

She had ventured to the outskirts of town for a reason. But apparently the leader of the Horse Clan of the Plains was not to be avoided so easily. Shame.

"I see you, Olo'eyctan of the Olo' Pa'li, our Horse Clan brothers." Jake greeted respectfully. Though what she really wanted to tell him was to scram. She already had one leader breathing down her back. She most certainly did not need two.

"I see you as well Toruk Makto. But please, call me Akwey." He returned politely, taking broad strides to reach her perch.

Jake stood hurriedly, "Olo'eyctan is fine. Besides, I must go."

"Oh?" He sprung up to her solitary ledge and effectively stood in her path, "To where?"

"To practice shooting." She said shortly, "Never know when there's something lurking in the brush that needs to be shot."

The undercurrent in her tone of warning, something she knew was dangerous waters to tread against the leader of the rival Clan, was merely laughed off by Akwey. Her subtle threat was met with a smirked response.

"Ah, then I will go with you."

Her surprise delayed her response, "No, I don't think-"

"You never know when there is something lurking." He stole her words, smiling, "Please. I insist."

Jake stifled her sigh of disapproval, shrugging as she said, "If you insist."

-o-o-o-

"You ride your mighty Ikran when shooting. We ride our mighty Pa'li, across the Great Plains." Akwey conversed as he stood next to her, throwing her concentration as she aimed at a designated target, a few clicks away.

"Never been good at riding those." Jake muttered, envisioning Akwey's smug face at the trunk she aimed for.

"Ah, I can teach you this." Akwey offered.

Trying to tone down the glare she shot sideways at him, Jake muttered, "No thanks."

The leader was undeterred, stepping closer as he suggested, "I can help master the skills of the bow."

"I got this." She declined again, eyes still glancing at him as she let the arrow fly. She didn't need to hear the thud or see the appreciation in the Leader's eyes to know she had hit her mark.

"You are *very* skilled." Akwey commented, impressed. Hand on her bow, to draw it down and to the side, he said smoothly, "Yet there remain to be many skills to be learned. I can teach you these things."

Jake flashed an overly sweet smile, tugging to get the bow back, but to no avail, "Thanks, but no thanks. I teach myself. And for other things, I already have a teacher."

The Olo'eyctan used his hold on the bow to pull them closer, curious, "Oh yes? Who?"

Jake drew the first name that came to mind, "Tsu'tey. He is *very* skilled."

"Ah..." Akwey trailed, his ears drooping slightly, eyes gazing to the side. But then they returned just as fast, ears suddenly perked. Just as focused, "Then you must be quite a catch. For both leaders to be competing for your attention."

Realizing her plan backfired, Jake cursed inwardly.

She tried to back peddle as she stammered, "I-it's really no competition. Really. Tsu'tey. Yupp. He's the one. Heh heh..."

"Yes, one of his stock is very desirable for one such as yourself." Akwey mused aloud, delighting in the slight flush that arose on Jake's cheeks, the impact of her own words bringing it on more than Akwey's compliment. But he continued, "Tell me, what has he done to convince you this?"

"A girl doesn't kiss and tell. The heart wants what it wants." Jake forced a grin, chuckling nervously once more.

"Ah..." The taller warrior remained unperturbed, leaning closer as he purred, "Then I shall have to get more creative. There is a saying about the desires of the heart. Sometimes it is... confused."

Jake's wide eyes blinked in disbelief. Was he actually leaning in for a-?

"And sometimes, it knows *exactly* what it wants." A third voice growled, Tsu'tey dropping in from the tree tops above, looking more ruffled than normal. As Jake quickly, and gratefully, extracted herself by surrendering her hold on her bow, Tsu'tey fixed her with a softened gaze, voice less harsh as he added, "Sometimes... more so than the owner themselves."

Jake's relieved greeting died on her lips, his words and presence penetrating what Akwey's could not. She felt like she had been caught red handed. She had never meant for Tsu'tey to actually *hear* those things-

Her voice having failed her, she merely took a large step away from Akwey to be safe, and fixed a wavering grin on her face. These feelings, they were most certainly unexpected. And confused her to no end. But was definitely better than facing whatever it was Akwey had planned. Tsu'tey's gaze was heavy and layered too thickly for Jake to decipher. His braided Mohawk trailed listlessly over his broad shoulder as he stood solid, yet head tilted as he took her in, almost as though still digesting her words from earlier. He knew she could not have meant it. She was saying it to throw off Akwey. Everyone but the leader of the Clan of the Horses could see it.

But part of him hoped-

"Tsu'tey!" Akwey greeted as though they were childhood friends. If you counted sparring and competing since you were born *friends*. Rivals was a more apt description, "I see you, my old friend."

"And I you." Tsu'tey motioned automatically, looking as though he was barely able to come across as civil. His smile was strained, at best.

But Akwey acted as though he didn't notice, laughing jovially as he placed an overly friendly hand on Jake's shoulder, "You should have told me you had a claim on this [Txon'Ong], this beautiful flower of the night."

Before he could reply, Jake laughed and brushed the hand off her shoulder, taking another step away, "That's because he doesn't."

Tsu'tey raised an amused brow at that.

"Oh?" Akwey replied, amused as well, "But you just said-"

"I know what I said. And really, right now, I am not in the mood to be seeing *anyone*." Jake huffed.

Akwey cast a surprised glance at the other Olo'eyctan. But Tsu'tey merely shrugged, face impassive. But Jake could see a smirk in that cat-like gaze. Jake had really dug herself in a hell of a hole. And Tsu'tey wanted to see how exactly she would get herself out.

Trying to get a grasp of the slippery vixen he had in his sights, Akwey smiled, "So there is no competition."

And that was where the imaginary line was broken through. It was all fun and games, to see that adorably flustered look on Jake's face. But to have the other Olo'eyctan think he had all rights and unrestricted access to the vulnerable Toruk Makto.

No.

Tsu'tey would not let such a notion stand.

Tsu'tey uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, "She did not say that."

Akwey's brows shot up, his streamlined ears flaring. He had thought the female was playing with him when she mentioned Tsu'tey as a possible contender. Thought she meant to throw him off her trail like he were merely an unruly Thanator. He had not thought there was actually truth to her poorly crafted tales.

Looking at the approaching Omaticayan leader, he realized he was truly in for a challenge. Each powerful stride resonated with the blood and strength of Ateyo te Rongloa Ateyitan. The fierce warrior who died in the heat of battle. Against immeasurable odds. Just like how his son almost had, were it not for Jake and his mighty Toruk.

Tsu'tey te Rongloa Ateyitan was not a rival to be easily dismissed. And as Akwey turned to observe the mesmerized Toruk Makto, he knew he could not afford such a mistake.

Tsu'tey had started his approach in anger, fierce gaze pointed in the other Olo'eyctan's direction. But he nearly faltered when he glanced over at Jake. Her innocent eyes were watching him, amber gaze noticing the finest details from rippling thighs, to flexing biceps and trim abs cut to perfection. She swallowed slow as her mouth suddenly went dry, her eyes traveling slowly up his powerful form as he approached. When her doe eyes caught his, watching her just as intently, she blushed fiercely at being caught ogling him. Her eyes widened a fraction before she glared down and beside her, ears flattened in furious embarrassment, tail whipping sharply.

"I see." Akwey replied, breaking the moment, both Omaticayans blinking as though just surfacing for air.

Before either of the two hot blooded males could speak, Akwey found a finger pointing before his face, while Tsu'tey found himself strangely being dragged away a small distance, a slender arm hooked around his. "One moment," Jake sang song behind her at the blinking Akwey, thankful Tsu'tey wasn't being more resistant.

When they were far enough away, Jake released Tsu'tey's arm, pulling with just enough pressure on his warrior braid to pull him sideways down to her level. He hissed at the jerked movement, scalp probably stinging. But still managed to fix her with a curious, playful gaze.

"*What* are you doing?" Jake hissed, wide eyes currently narrowed in suspicion.

"Perhaps you should tell me, JakeSully. I did not make you call out my name. Tell my rival just how *skilled* a teacher I am." Tsu'tey shot back, though his look was most definitely laced with something more than irritation or anger.

"And I don't make it a habit to eavesdrop on people's conversations!" Jake hissed, tail flicking in irritation as he released the braid.

Tsu'tey straightened, looking slightly disgruntled.

"[Oe tsap'alute] My apologies, Toruk Makto. Had I known my duties of patrolling the border must come second to your private conversations-"

"Stop. Stop right there." Jake hushed the other with a hand to the other's smart mouth, "If I wanted sarcasm, I woulda' asked for it."

"Would you like me to resend my place as a suitor? Allow Akwey to court you?" Tsu'tey asked, lips brushing against the palm covering his mouth. There was still mirth in his eyes, but a touch of seriousness now, as well.

"I would prefer neither of you-" Jake started to say, trying to ignore the tingle of his breath pressed against her hand. But at his cocked brow she stopped herself and admitted with a sigh, "No. I don't want you to... resend."

Jake gave a wary glance off to the side, where Akwey watched intently.

She missed the smile that widened Tsu'tey's features. But she was definitely aware when suddenly her hand was brushed aside and she was pulled forward into a kiss. Eyes wide, Jake was surprised to find the strength and heat of Tsu'tey surrounding her, firm lips encasing her own.

Though it was brief, Jake found herself breathless when he withdrew, mind spinning to catch up. She was struggling to get the ire up to slap him, and he could clearly see the play of emotions across her face. Tsu'tey gave a throaty chuckle as he brushed a knuckle gently across her cheekbone, "[La'awn Mawey], remain calm. You are not [alaksi]. Not ready. But if you do not want to go with that skxawng, you must let me help you."

Jake bit her lip. Going over her options. With a reluctant sigh, she put her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling the other closer. With a warning hiss, she whispered, "All right. But if you try anything, I will break your arm."

Tsu'tey smirked at the threat, his voice quiet as he replied, "[Tslolum], I understand."

Then he met her halfway into her kiss. So different since it was the first time she initiated it, but definitely not the last, if Tsu'tey had any say in the matter.