A/N: My apologies for the lack of updates, it's not for any excuse you won't have read on FFN a million times before so I'll just leave it at that. Also, this chapter is much shorter than my recent set purely because I've just written it tonight and want to get it out to you guys (and gals) as soon as possible. Finally, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who's reviewed, especially Xerxes who's been very helpful. Without further ado, here is Chapter 7.

----

The shack felt as alien as the jungles beyond the toughened glass windows. The heavy drone of the generator, the clicks and whirs of various pieces of equipment, even the quiet ministrations of Norm as he checked the link statuses as the two drivers woke from their physical comas combined to form a symphony that could still not drown out the sounds from their environment.

The two links chairs glowed brightly in the dim lighting, the cyan iridescence of the forest shining through the panoramic windows to provide a soft backlight to the harsh digital brightness of a dozen different holographic displays.

Each chair was designed to gently mold to it wearers form over a long enough period of use, but even still the simple act of sitting relatively motionless for hours on end would cause the same kind of pressure sores as a coma patient eventually. As Josh pulled off the head gear he could feel a wave of nausea rush through him, a lightheadedness that would fade once he started moving again.

Rubbing at tired eyes with the palms of his hands, Josh pushed the weariness away as he tried to orientate himself. Sixteen hours, the red line for remote operations. He could see now why the limit had been put in place, any longer and he doubted a body would have the energy left to rise from its slumber, let alone consume the food necessary to undergo another stint in the chair. He unceremoniously heaved himself from one chair to another, his trusty wheelchair ever present beside the link console.

"Gawd!! What a day."

Josh turned in his chair to watch Shipley rise unsteadily from her own seat, stretching out her long arms and rubbing at her numbed arse to work the blood flow back into it. She cracked her neck, as if limbering up for a race.

"I need to get some rack. I recommend you do the same. Village life starts early."

Brushing past Josh she crashed down onto her bunk with a mighty groan, not even removing her clothes as she sank into the standard issue mattress. Josh sat quietly in his chair, thinking she'd already drifted off before she spoke to him once more, eyes still closed as she approached the precipice of sleep.

"You did good today, Josh. Really good. I'm proud of you."

Before he could reply she had shifted position, her breathing settling into a steady rhythm and was finally consumed by sleep. Josh couldn't even begin to comprehend the day he'd just had, all that he had been through. More worrying though was the dawning gap between his duties as a soldier, even if he was retired, and the new people he had found himself amongst.

This wasn't supposed to be an easy assignment. He'd known that coming out here. The RDA executives had said as much, detailing all the training his brother had had to endure in the years since he was hand-picked to be a part of the Avatar Program. He was going not in place of his deceased sibling but rather as an escort, an extra jarhead escort detail to the science crews. Carry a few boxes, press a few buttons, shoot a few bugs. A standard op for someone of his calibre.

Pulling himself out of his wheelchair and onto the bottom bunk he couldn't help but feel his muscles already atrophying. The lower gravity, lack of exercise or nutritional intake, they all conspired to rob him of his once athletic build. That and one piece of shrapnel he thought bitterly. Always a marine at heart. This wouldn't stop him from his duties. It couldn't.

Lying back on the rough bedding Josh stared up at the lattice work of metal braces above him. There wasn't any smoke curling up around him, no warmth from a dozen fires nor the company of others singing softly to their loved ones. Just him and a few others, stuck a billion miles away from home, lying in a cold metal room on an uncomfortable rack.

Grace snored particularly loudly at that moment, pulling Josh back from his reverie and making him aware of just how tired his body was.

"Night Tom," he whispered quietly.

----

"You knew this was going to happen eventually."

Josh rolled his head to the side, looking through sleepy eyes at the morning sunlight streaming into the shack. Beyond he could see the faint shadows of several banshees, enjoying the early dawn as they circled amongst the thermals rising from the forest far beneath.

"I don't care Brantley, he can't keep on threatening to shut us down like this. Selfridge will stop him."

Turning his gaze closer Josh saw Shipley sat before one of the holographic terminals, Doctor Giese's face staring back at her from the screen. He wore his typical pinched expression, as if he had been up all night singlehandedly waging a political war and deserved the respect of every scientist on the planet for saving their jobs.

"This comes from Selfridge himself."

Grace sat back from the terminal, clenching her hands into fists.

"He won't," she said flatly, in denial.

"He has. He's cut off your work for good. The official reason being bandied about is that they can't spare another bird to run the sorties every day. And then Quaritch is pissed off about losing yet another man."

"That was his own damn fault!" Shipley interjected angrily.

"Regardless," Giese said, waving a hand dismissively in front of the camera, "the axe has come down. You're being called back to base on the next flight out."

"Listen Brantley, you can tell Selfridge to forget about the samples from the mountains, we're on to something bigger here. We've made it into the Tsumongwi village, you of all people know what that means. Josh has even made friends with the daughter of the village Patriarch, it's a breakthrough the likes of which we haven't seen in years."

"Unless you can put a price tag on the side Selfridge isn't going to care one iota about another bunch of natives Grace, you know it as well as I do."

"Fine, tell him to keep his Samsons. We can hike it, if that is the official reason he'll either have to show his hand or find another excuse."

"Have it your way," Giese said, already typing up an internal message to send to Selfridge. "I'll deal with management and Sec Force, you just keep your people safe out there."

Grace closed the comm channel and swivelled on the small chair to catch Josh's eyes on her before he had time to close them. Grabbing a nearly-fresh coffee she rolled over and handed it to him, eyes neither worried nor angry at the conversation and his eavesdropping. He was wrapped up in this as much as she was, more so in fact she felt.

"Let's go amigo. Time to take flesh and walk the earth."

Within moments Josh found himself waking up once more, only this time the shafts of light filtering down on his rested form illuminated the cathedral like interior of the Na'vi peoples Hometree. High above the many hammocks, stingbats twinkled between the various shafts of light like diamonds in the early morning rays.

Grace stood waiting on the thick branch beside him, enjoying the sweet smells permeating the air already. She snapped her fingers impatiently as Josh dislodged himself from the hammock and clambered onto the thick branch ungainly.

They walked together through the hustle and bustle of everyday, descending from the upper branches to join the main throng clustered around the various centres of activity. Young children played several various games, some Josh recognised of a human origin and wondered just how much of a mark they had made on the people. Many Na'vi were already sat around cooking areas, preparing the days meals before the warriors left for their requisite hunts. Still others attended to a myriad other tasks, cleaning fish, washing what little clothing the typical Na'vi wore. It was a picturesque sight, as if a snapshot from Earth's history had been filtered through a cyan and purple lens.

They found Mo'at amongst one of the smaller groups, her back to them as she treated a young child who had managed to cut his arm deeply from shoulder to elbow. He didn't cry as the Tsahik applied a gloopy paste against the skin, her soothing words doing as much as the anaesthetic to put the boys mind at rest. He looked up sharply as the two dreamwalkers approached, his gaze one of childlike curiosity and wonderment.

"You are seeking Zuleika," Mo'at said as she finished tending to the boy, wiping her hands on a large leaf, her back still to them but her words carried loudly enough for them both to hear.

Josh caught himself before he said anything stupid, he knew from experience it was better to keep his mouth shut. The elder Na'vi set down a bowl she had been using and stood before Grace and Josh. She seemed to gaze through him before finally pointing a long finger towards the distant sound of rushing water.

"You will find her amongst the stones of the river."

Josh and Grace turned to leave quickly, thanking the tsahik for her help. Before they could even begin to move however the older woman's hand shot out and curled around Grace's arm.

"I would like to speak with you Graceshipley, we have much to discuss."

Josh gave Grace a quick look to say he was okay with proceeding on his own, backing away from them both with hands outstretched.

"What's the worst that could happen," he joked before stepping on the tail of a young Na'vi woman who had been sitting quietly. The disturbed female angrily turned and smacked his shin with the flat of a knife, causing Josh to yelp in pain. She snorted in derision before returning to her task, leaving Josh to hobble towards the riverbank.

"I wonder how it is he can even walk amongst his own clan without causing such commotion," Mo'at said as Josh moved deeper into the bush. Her eyes followed the way he walked with a spring to each step, his raw feet becoming more accustomed to their lack of protection that all Sky People seemed to require in their fragile forms.

"He can't walk," Grace said quietly to the tsahik when Josh was out of ear shot.

"I fear I misunderstood your words," Mo'at said, her left ear ticking slightly to emphasise her point.

Grace sat beside the older Na'vi as she returned to her bowl, using a pestle to grind a magenta flower into a fine paste. Grace found herself watching always, never participating, never truly accepted into the clan. Not like Josh had the opportunity to be now.

"Josh's human body was injured in a war back on our home planet. His spine was damaged, he can't move his legs."

Mo'at sat motionless for a long while, obviously trying to rationalise such information in her mind. A warrior who could not fight?

"Then how does he survive? If a warrior is injured, Eywa will reclaim them so that others may be strong."

"Humans have a different mentality. We take care of our own regardless, it doesn't matter if they're hurt and can't actively contribute to society anymore."

"You must have many to care for on your world Graceshipley."

"We do. Too many sometimes."

----

Zuleika stood like a statue, her body poised atop a large black rock. Behind her the thundering crash of water from a large fall created a pool in which all manner of creatures swam idly, their patterns seemingly chaotic and without purpose. She waited with infinite patience, only her eyes moving to track the tiniest motions in the water beneath her.

Josh emerged from the nearby trees to her back, freezing as he saw the sight of the young Na'vi holding a spear above the waters surface. He watched her, studying every detail in the early morning light now he didn't have to worry about saving his ass from god knows what.

The river wasn't deep, maybe a metre or two at most with a steady flow. A chain of rocks provided a perfect vantage point from which to hunt, the surfaces wet and glistening in the dawn light. Josh moved closer quietly, the purple grass caressing his thighs as he approached the huntress. Zuleika stood motionless, as if she were made of the same stone on which she stood. Josh found he couldn't help but admire the athletic form, the body that wasn't proportioned quite the same as a human but seemed perfect even so.

With a silent thrust the spear shot into the water, the tip driving straight. Zuleika followed it in a moment later, clutching the shaft to retrieve its catch. Holding up a good sized fish she turned and grinned at Josh, his noisy entrance almost having cost her the catch despite her experience. She would have to change that.

She waded through the waist-deep water, the droplets clinging to her form as if a swimsuit model back on Earth. She placed the fish on a leaf spread on the ground, carefully pulling out the spear before handing it to Josh.

"You try."

Josh took the long shaft and looked at her, head cocked to one side. Zuleika flicked her hair, shaking the last droplets of water loose. She wore only a loose loincloth around her waist, a decorative necklace covering her upper chest. Josh found his gaze wandering and quickly flicked his eyes away. Zuleika laughed playfully, tugging at the khaki attire that all avatars wore.

"Sky People always wear too much, afraid to let Eywa's beauty touch their skin. This too will change but first, you must learn to hunt."

Pointing a stern finger out towards the rock, Josh took the hint and waded into the stream, clambering up onto the platform Zuleika had vacated. Holding the spear tip just above the waters surface, he watched the small fish dart in and around the river bed. Every time he twisted to track one it would dart away from the motion, causing him to become more and more irritated.

Soon he became impatient and struck down with the spear at a particularly large fish but only served to lose his balance and splash clumsily into the water. Rising quickly he snatched at the spear before it could float off, angrily wiping beads of water from face. Zuleika, enjoying the show from the river bank, had to turn away from the display, eyes watering from laughter. Josh turned to stare angrily at her, not used to failing so badly at what had at first sight appeared to be such an easy task.

Rising from the soft grass Zuleika slipped through the water to stand beside Josh, gently gripping his wrist in her hand to guide him. Josh felt her breath against him, the cool water only serving to heighten the contact between them. She stood behind him, their bodies becoming a motionless stone so that the fish began to venture closer and closer.

"You must See your prey," Zuleika whispered, her calmness flowing through the pair.

"Now."

Josh drove the spear down with all the force he could muster, the over-developed musculature of the avatar body plunging the spear through the water to skewer the fish beneath. He raised the spear, joyfully showing off his catch; a fish about four inches long squirmed on the end of the tip before finally going limp. Zuleika moved back towards shore quickly, leaving Josh to enjoy the delight of his first catch.

"Anybody can hit the big ones," she laughed playfully.

Josh shook himself dry as he followed the young woman, still grinning from his small victory. As they basked in the early morning rays of sunlight, the bansheerays circling high overhead, Josh heard the peace disturbed by the arrival of two direhorses, their riders sitting proudly.

They guided the animals smoothly, with no reins or bridles as would be expected. Only a woven grass surcingle encircled the animal's chests. The two riders dismounted quickly, approaching Josh and Zuleika.

"This is Tsu Te," Zuleika announced as the pair drew closer, motioning at the nearer of the two warriors. "And Tri Coochyestewa."

"Gezundheit. Pleased to meet ya," Josh said, holding out a hand from his relaxed position on the ground.

"When are you going away?" Tsu Te demanded.

"Direct. I like that. It's fresh," Josh said, rising beside Zuleika so he stood eye to eye with the newcomers.

"Actually, I hoped to stay awhile. Pick up a few hunting tips from Zuleika."

Tsu Te stepped forwards quickly, hand slipping down towards the ceremonial dagger that hung against his hip. Zuleika moved faster, placing herself between the pair of males and placing a calming hand against Tsu Te's chest.

"Calm," she spoke in their own language, looking into Tsu Te's eyes. "Mother has asked that I teach the alien the ways of Eywa, to see if his kind can be made to See."

Josh watched Tsu Te snort in derision, unable to follow the conversation but catching the gist of it well enough.

"A rock Sees more," he said to Zuleika quickly, turning to stare into Josh's eyes. "You will never be one of us."

With a flip of his head Tsu Te caught the end of his queue in one hand, returning to his direhorse. Josh watched amazed as he then brought one of the moth-like antennae of the direhorse towards the nerves protruding from the end of his own queue, the two ends inching towards each other. The hair suddenly came to life, each feather-life fibre entwining and wrapping around one from the opposing link. Tsu Te placed a bare foot into the bottom of the surcingle and vaulted up onto the back of his direhorse with ease. Treating the animal as an extension of himself the young rider turned and headed back into the deep forest, his companion following quickly.

"What? How?" Josh stammered, watching the two riders depart. They could control the horses using their hair, it was insane, like nothing he had ever seen before yet it made perfect sense at an instinctual level.

"It is tsahaylu," Zuleika said, pulling her own queue over her shoulder so the nerve fibres could move freely in the air. "It is when two bodies become one mind."

Josh could only stare in wonder at the sight, wondering what it must be like to feel such a link between his own body and another creatures.

"Come, you still have much to learn," Zuleika said, walking back towards Kelutrel.

----

The arrow flew true. For the first few feet. The wooden shaft fell harmlessly to the ground amongst a scattered pile of others that had come up short.

Josh sighed exasperated as he bent down to pick up another one of the finely crafted arrows. The fletchings were made from the hardened petals of a particular flower, their metallic shimmer lending the arrow an almost human projectile appearance. If only he could shoot one like a rifle Josh thought.

Spreading his feet wider, Josh tensioned his shoulders once more. Notching another arrow against the bow string he sighted down the wooden shaft towards the awaiting target in the distance. Josh couldn't help but smile; a crude outline of a person had been daubed against a tree's trunk, the diminutive height clearly supposed to represent a human.

Zuleika swatted at him impetuously as he pulled back his arm, forcing it to the correct angle lest he send another arrow towards the ground. She had persevered with him for the entire morning since they had left the river bank, explaining that learning to hunt was one of the first things any Na'vi had to master and as such he would have to learn as well. The suns had passed their zenith in the sky and already the shadows were beginning to lengthen. Crowds had come and gone to watch the dreamwalker practice, some merely curious, others jeering at each failure until Zuleika would force them to move on.

Josh tried again to change his posture to how Zuleika had shown him but still the weapon felt alien in his hands, so used he was to the familiar cold metal of an M60. The large bow was made of a springy wood and weighed less than an empty assault rifle, the simple design lacking the ornamental flourishes seasoned hunters typically applied to their own bows. Having held it taught for hours on end Josh could feel his shoulder muscles beginning to burn from the continued effort, the toll on his body almost as frustrating as his continued lack of accuracy.

Releasing the thin arrow, Josh watched it sail haphazardly through the air before coming to an abrupt halt, the tip digging into the soft ground. It was the furthest distance he'd made yet, a small victory.

Without pausing Josh slipped another arrow between his fingers, held the bow just as Zuleika had shown him. She made a small snarl behind him, her patience wearing thin after so many failed attempts. She had hoped the dreamwalker would improve with practice and guidance but he seemed his people were just reliant on their own technology.

"You must be strong, here," she said, moving closer and patting his stomach. Breathing in she demonstrated the necessary actions, Josh trying to mimic her as closely as he could. Seeing the dreamwalker once more struggle to comprehend even the most basic instruction Zuleika moved closer still.

"No no, like this," she said, taking control of his wrists to show him the correct posture as she had done earlier in the river. Josh could feel her breath against the nape of his neck, like a soft summer breeze. He turned slowly to watch her face, studying her features as she studied his posture in turn. She glanced sharply, catching his gaze.

He didn't look away, even as she stepped back from him having positioned him as best she could. Keeping the pose he had been set in Josh released his arrow, watching it whistle through the air to bury itself in the bark of the tree, barely a foot away from the head of the target.

Josh whooped in delight, punching the air in celebration. Many of the small children who were watching nearby began to giggle in surprise at the alien action. For her part Zuleika merely closed her eyes in a familiar gesture, glad her charge had finally mastered at least one challenge. It would take much more time for him to be able to effectively wield the bow, but he had taken the first steps and shown he could at least follow instructions if taught forcefully enough.

"Did you see that?" Josh said happily, now bow-less as he followed Zuleika into the inner sanctum of Hometree.

"You learn well."

"Helps when you have a good teacher."

Zuleika turned mid-stride to smile at Josh, her tail playfully twirling behind her. She led him past the firepits where the evening meals were being prepared and Josh looked longingly after them, his stomach grumbling not for the first time.

"Where are we going?" he finally asked as Zuleika passed between stacks of woven baskets.

"You are to be one of the People."

"That was supposed to be the idea," he said, a note of worry creeping into his voice.

"You must look like one."

They had entered the main weavers den, reams of cloth looped between trees. It was used for a myriad of tasks, but right now Zuleika needed only a short length.

"Strip," she commanded, much to Josh's amusement.

"Excuse me?"

"If you with to eat tonight you will wear what all Na'vi wear."

"That?" Josh exclaimed, pointing at the strip of cloth Zuleika held ready. He knew everyone in the village was used to wearing simple garments, but he had just assumed he could continue wearing the regulation uniform provided by the RDA.

"Do you wish to eat with us tonight?" Zuleika asked.

"Yes, but..."

"But nothing Joshsully, you will wear this or you will go hungry."

Josh stood resolutely for the longest time, debating whether he could afford to discard his normal human decencies until his stomach grumbled once more, the sound carrying clearly in the quiet area. Zuleika smiled and held out the cloth.