It was nearly nightfall by the time the party approached the Olangi territory. This time, unlike the Tipani, there was no escorting party that stopped to confront them and guide them to the clan. This was not to mean, however, that they were not acutely aware of pa'li mounted warriors surrounding them from afar, the openness of the plains failing to hide their presence as the cover of the jungle might have.

They crested a small hill to reveal the winding, hollowed expanse of the Olangi's temporary Hometree stretching high across the horizon, cutting through the flatness of the plains and Jake felt his breath rush from his lungs.

The closer their party got to their destination the closer the warriors surrounding them became. They were closing in on them on all sides and growing in noise with every foot of distance they closed until they were whooping and hollering as they ran circles around the Omaticaya.

Jake had the, almost amusing, mental image of Earth's old, half-forgotten cowboys wrangling their cattle, but was struggling to find humor in it at the moment seeing as he was currently part of that cattle.

He might've been frightened by the whole display, but he thought back and remembered very clearly almost the exact same thing happening when a young Tsu'tey had come there many years ago. Tsu'tey had spent the entire visit muttering in Neytiri's ear about how loud and annoying he found the Olangi, and Jake had laughed in his dream the whole night through.

The differences between the Olangi and the Tipani continued to grow as their party was all but corralled towards the boarder of the Olangi's common area, where the unmistakable form of their tribe's Olo'eyktan stood waiting on a low platform.

The man stood, staring unblinking, unwavering at their approaching group, his broad shoulders squared to them, a sharp bone pierced through the bridge of his nose—only adding to his intimidating aura.

As opposed to how when they had entered the Tipani's common area there was a deliberate lack of any signs of life, the Olangi seemed to have made a point to pack their commons with every available tribe member possible. The air crackled with noise as the crowd chattered, not particularly paying their guests much mind at all.

If they had any illusion, however, that their time there that evening would go smoothly, it was quickly dashed away. For, as they dismounted their pa'lis and began closing the short distance between themselves and the Olangi's Olo'eyktan, Jake suddenly found his arm being jerked back and pinned behind him, his knees kicked out from under him, forcing him to the dirt below.

Any sounds of protest he may have made were drowned out by the deafening curses and profanities, both English and Na'vi, Tsu'tey and Neytiri let out before they too were subdued in their efforts to liberate Jake from his captors.

"Akwey," Eytukan snapped, speaking over the muffled voices of the trio, now gagged from their places on the ground, his eyes blazing, though his posture remained calm, "what is the meaning of this?"

"I could ask you the same, Eytukan," Akwey scowled, stepping off his platform to walk past the two Omaticaya leaders to circle slowly around Jake, before gripping his jaw in his long, calloused fingers, "what is this creature you have brought into my lands? He is not Na'vi, he has too many fingers and toes, his eyes too small, his body too broad. Everything about him is wrong, surely the mighty Omaticaya tribe must see that, surely you have not been deceived by this cheap trick," the hand slipped from Jake's jaw down to his throat and he heard Tsu'tey struggle wildly against the Olangi holding him, "perhaps I shall do you a favor and kill him for you."

"If you kill that man, you will make an enemy of the Omaticaya tribe until the end of your days," Eytukan growled, startlingAkwey enough that his fingers faltered against Jake's neck as he turned to look at the other leader.

"You would threaten your standing with my tribe over this imposter?" Akwey's voice was dangerous as he spoke, apparently recovering from his shock as he tightened his grip on Jake, causing him to choke through his cloth gag, "you threaten me when it is you who have come to me for assistance?"

"That man YOU are threatening, whose neck YOUR hand is wrapped around, is set to be the next Olo'eyktan should Tsu'tey die. You are lucky the Omaticaya clan does not declare war on that simple fact alone, I am certain that is what Tsu'tey would prefer at the moment."

Akwey's head snapped away from Eytukan to Tsu'tey, who Jake could still hear struggling and growling through his gag, then down to him, and Jake could see through his careful facade of strength, a flash of horror.

After a moment, Jake felt the fingers digging into his neck loosen, until the hand was removed entirely.

"You still have not answered my question," Akwey turned back to Eytukan, no longer openly threatening Jake, but not allowing the trio to be released either, apparently still trying to save some face, "no matter what he is to your clan, I demand to know what this creature is."

It was all Eytukan could do not to sigh, "you have been removed from the conflict that has been waging on in the jungle, Akwey."

"We know of it, of the Skypeople," Akwey bristled, offended at the accusation that he was ignorant to events of the past.

"Yes, but, many cycles ago, the Omaticaya tribe and the Tipani tribe were approached by beings who looked like Na'vi, but claimed to be Skypeople, taken the form of our people. We call them Dreamwalkers."

Akwey stared down at Jake out of the corner of his eye, his mouth set in a scowl, but stayed silent as Eytukan continued.

"We allowed them to stay in our territory, learn from us, as well as teach us about the Skypeople. This continued for several cycles until one day, a Tipani hunting party observed a large number of Skypeople, not Dreamwalkers, in large metal suits, destroying the ground and everything around them.

We confronted the Dreamwalkers and they admitted that they were only allowed into our territory while the other Skypeople plundered our land for resources. We banned the Dreamwalkers and declared the Skypeople our enemies that day."

"Am I to assume," Akwey began in a deceptively even voice, "that this creature you are so attached to is one of these... Dreamwalkers?"

"Yes."

"Then why," and Akwey, to his credit, seemed genuinely confused as he asked, his fist clenched at his side, "is he here? Why is he second in line to be the next Olo'eyktan?"

Eytukan looked like he almost wanted to laugh, and Jake had the fleeting thought that they were all a bit too tired, running thin and their emotions pulled just a bit too tight because of it, "His name is Jake-Sully, you will do well to remember it. He came to us nearly a season ago, and do not misunderstand and believe that we were not ready to kill him on sight, however... he came under the company of Neytiri and Tsu'tey, who would not let anyone get within reach of him. Tsu'tey stepped forward and declared Jake-Sully his intended bondmate and Jake-Sully threw himself at my feet and confessed that he has had visions of Tsu'tey every night since he was a small child."

Jake wasn't quite sure if the whole epic tale, including the bit about him throwing himself at Eytukan's feet, was completely necessary, but it seemed to have the desired effect as Akwey turned back to Jake with wide eyes.

"tì'i'avay krrä yawntu," Akwey breathed out, his eyes softening for the first time since they'd arrived. His gaze shifted over to Tsu'tey, who had never stopped struggling, before waving his arm, and suddenly the hands that held them were released. Jake had only a moment to enjoy his freedom before Tsu'tey was crashing into him, his hands grazing over his arms and legs and neck, assessing for damage.

Jake tried to brush him off, reassure him he was perfectly fine, but any protest was silenced with Tsu'tey's lips capturing his own, the other man paying no mind to their audience. If there was some whooping from the crowd, they didn't hear it.

"Yes, well," Eytukan gave a short cough, covering up any amusement he found in the display, "obviously we could not keep them apart, as it is the will of Eywa for them to be together, so we allowed Jake-Sully into our land to earn his place as an Omaticaya Warrior."

"I see," Akwey said, something in his voice making it clear he knew their decision had next to nothing to do with the will of Eywa and everything to do with the fact that there was nothing Eytukan or Mo'at could have done to keep them apart.

"Jake-Sully, in the short time he has been with us, has more than proven himself to be an excellent warrior who is more than loyal to our tribe."

Akwey turned back to Eytukan, the softness gone from his eyes, his shoulders squared and serious once more, "I assume that has something to do with why you have come here."

Eytukan nodded, relieved they were finally on the same page, "Jake-Sully and a number of his companions have brought to us the Skypeople's plan to attack the Omaticaya territory, they intend to chase us from our lands or kill us in the process. They will not stop with us. Once they have gathered all the resources they can from our territory, they will move to other tribes.

We are not confident that we alone can drive the Skypeople from the planet."

"So, you are asking my people to aid you in the upcoming battle?" Akwey looked thoughtfully at Eytukan, then out at the crowd, who had mostly grown silent.

"Yes," Eytukan nodded, "we believe the more we grow in numbers, the less blood that must be spilled, on either side."

Akwey was silent for a stretch, still looking out into the many faces in the crowd, "we are a nomadic people, we have no set territory for the Skypeople to threaten us with."

"The Skypeople will destroy our planet until there is nothing left, until there is nowhere for you to roam, Akwey."

"You have presented a convincing argument, Eytukan, and the story of your Jake-Sully is an interesting one. But I am not one to lead my people into a fight they do not wish for, I will not force them to die for a cause they do not support," Akwey's mouth set in a line before taking in a deep breath and projecting his voice out over the sea of Olangi, every word seeming to shake the ground beneath them, "brothers and sisters, you have heard the Omaticaya's plea for help. Should you agree, I cannot promise we will all return, as is the nature of battle. I will not force you to fight a war that is not yet yours, so I must ask you, how will we answer their call?"

There was a long, sickening moment where the air was perfectly still. Jake felt Tsu'tey's hands tighten against his shoulders as they still sat, crouched together in the dirt, Neytiri catching their eyes from where she knelt just a few feet away. Fear gripped at their hearts, fear that they had come all this way for nothing, that they had just lost their chance with an ally.

Their fear was washed away, like topsoil along a riverbed, when a deafening cheer erupted from the crowd. The trio watched as the Olangi raised their arms and bellowed out their affirmations, rising in volume until it was the only noise they thought they would ever hear again.

They watched as Akwey raised his arm and cheered along with the crowd, throwing his head back with the effort of it.

Eventually, the noise died down, not entirely, but as much as Jake had come to expect from the rowdy clan.

"Thank god," Jake breathed out, allowing his head to fall onto Tsu'tey's shoulder. No sooner had he permitted some small amount of relief to flood his body, did he suddenly felt Tsu'tey's body go rigid beneath him, a low growl tearing from his chest.

Dread gripped at Jake's throat, wondering what possible threat they could be experiencing now, as he looked up to see Akwey, having had turned back to them, now looming over them, staring down with a strange expression.

"Jake-Sully," Akwey said, his voice even, his eyes searching between the two men, "I must apologize for my actions before."

"No apologies are necessary," Jake frowned up at the Olo'eyktan, "I'm pretty used to it by now."

"No," Tsu'tey growled, his teeth bared, "apologies are indeed necessary, he threatened you, out his hand around your throat."

"Tsu'tey, I don't want to cause trouble," Jake muttered, casting his eyes away from Akwey.

"Your mate is correct, Jake-Sully," Akwey said, his mouth drawn in a line, "I acted out of fear. You should allow me to apologize."

"Do not tell my mate what he should do," Tsu'tey snapped, gripping Jake's shoulders tighter, pulling him closer to his chest.

Akwey was silent for a moment, and Jake feared they had angered him, until he threw his head back and laughed. Tsu'tey drew Jake in even closer, as though he didn't know how to process what was happening, when Akwey's laughter calmed and he suddenly dropped to a crouch in front of them—and out of everything Jake had seen and experienced since he'd arrived on Pandora, he couldn't help but think that that might be the strangest.

"Well now I do not know what he wants," Akwey chuckled, "even still, I do apologize, I hope you both will consider me an ally in the future, not an enemy."

Akwey fell silent at that, his eyes scanning over Jake and Tsu'tey, who were still regarding him with some trepidation and anger, respectively. He let out a small sigh before looking up into the night sky, "I was tì'i'avay krrä yawntu once," the words were said so quietly, they weren't sure for a moment that they'd heard correctly, "I lost her many cycles ago to sickness. It was such a joy in my life, to know someone so completely, to have someone know me. To lose her, it was like losing a part of my mind."

"I'm sorry," Jake found himself saying, grief burning hot in his chest. He didn't like this man, this man who'd been throttling him only moments ago, but that didn't stop him from empathizing.

"She reminds me of you," Akwey gave a small smile, indicating his head towards Jake, "perhaps it is better she was not here to see me make such a poor lapse in judgement. She may have killed me. She was so passionate.

She was from the Tayrangi clan, she had never ridden a pa'li in her life. But still, she sought me out, rode her íkran into the middle of our commons and would not hear of going home. She became our best hunter and stayed as such until her death. I miss her every day."

"Jake travelled galaxies to be with me," Tsu'tey sniffed, obviously making an effort not to allow himself to feel endeared towards the Olo'eyktan.

Akwey chuckled again, taking no offense in Tsu'tey's abrasive behavior, "yes, this is the nature of tì'i'avay krrä yawntu. You cannot rest until you are together, at least, that is my experience. It seems it is yours as well."

Akwey rose to his feet at that, his body turning as though to walk away, but then he stopped, looking out into the night sky once more, speaking, not to Jake and Tsu'tey, but only for them to hear, "I still dream of her, you know," he said, his voice quiet, "I dream of her every night. That is how I know she is not truly gone; she is simply waiting for me... waiting for me to come chasing after her as she once came chasing after me."

He stood there only a moment longer, as though collecting himself, before turning away, and leaving his words hanging over the two men, still crouched together in the dirt.