Just as Eytukan predicted, the party arrived at mid-day, the sun bright in the sky, reflecting over the ocean stretched along the horizon. Shortly after breaching the limits of the Tayrangi territory, they found themselves surrounded by Na'vi clad íkran, much as they had during their journey to the Tipani.
Unlike the Tipani, however, these warriors said nothing, only flying with them long enough for Eytukan to shout a greeting to them over the wind, before dipping away to shoot ahead of them, quickly falling out of sight.
"They're fast," Jake said, looking at Tsu'tey out of the corner of his eye, "I hope they're not going to make me race anyone."
It was meant as a joke, but the closer they got to the other clan's Hometree, the deeper their dread set in, until it saturated their skin and scraped at their bones. They had encountered no problems, not during their trip there and not during their night in the forest, which left only the meeting and the journey home as the source of foretold danger—they didn't like those odds.
"Whatever is fated to happen," Tsu'tey reached between them to hold Jake's hands in his own as their destination came into view, "we will face it together. Together we can overcome any obstacle."
Jake wanted to say something, to offer some similar reassurance, but all he could muster was a small nod.
Tsu'tey pulled him into a kiss, Jake allowing himself to get lost in it, but then Tsu'tey was pulling away to offer him a small, slightly forced smile.
"All will be well, my Jake," Tsu'tey stood then, edging towards the gap between the Toruk's neck and outstretched wing, "I love you."
"I love you," Jake managed to say before Tsu'tey gave a high whistle and leapt from the great creature. Despite his trust in the other man's íkran, Jake still scrambled to the edge, looking down to ensure Tsu'tey had landed safely.
He was met with the sight of Tsu'tey, flying just below him, their eyes met for just a moment, and Tsu'tey flashed him a smile, sharp teeth flashing in the sunlight, before turning forward to focus on flying straight.
-x-
Jake allowed the rest of the party to land first, as he circled above the Tayrangi Hometree, scoping out a place to land where he would cause the least disturbance.
He watched as the Omaticaya dismounted from their steeds, the íkrans hesitating only a moment before flying off to the rookery Jake could see just along a nearby cliff side.
It seemed they had managed to communicate the space required to land the Toruk, as a wide birth was now being given among the emptier area of the commons.
The Toruk seemed to recognize the opportunity the moment it registered in Jake's mind, because no sooner had he noticed the now open clearing, than he found himself dipping into a controlled fall.
Landing in such confined spaces with the creature was still new to both himself, and apparently, the Toruk, who had lived his life, until a few days ago, in nothing but the wide-open landscape of Pandora. Despite the newness, they managed to land with a semblance of grace, if not with a bit of dramatics in the form of the Toruk's large wings stirring up the loose soil as they touched the ground.
Jake broke their connection as he dismounted, Tsu'tey and Neytiri falling in beside him the moment his feet hit the dirt.
"He sure knows how to make an entrance," Neytiri whispered, a smile on her face that came out just a bit forced.
"Yeah, I'll say," Jake tried to smile back as he reached behind him to brush his hand against the Toruk's broad chest, a silent indication to head off in search of a place to rest.
The Toruk, however, did not move. Instead, he lowered his great head until it was nearly level with Jake and gave a deep keening noise.
He tried again, pressing his palm flat against the creature as though to push him off.
When he still would not move, Jake's blood ran cold.
"Come on," he whispered, "you have to go. You can come back if there's trouble."
The Toruk gave another low noise, and Jake turned to look at Eytukan, who looked back with eyes that told Jake that he too understood the implications of the creature's actions. Even still, even with that knowledge, the Omaticaya leader gave a small shake of his head. Jake knew what that meant—he had to get the Toruk to leave, to let him stay would be a sign of aggression, would be the same as keeping a loaded weapon pointed straight at the other clan.
"Go," he said, more forcefully, this time actually giving the large íkran a shove, not that he was actually strong enough to push the beast away, but the message was clear.
"Jake..." Tsu'tey said, his brow drawn in concern. He was cut off by another whine from the Toruk as it finally relented, giving Jake one last hesitant look with its dark eyes, before turning away and beating its large wings, stirring up the soil once more before taking off.
They watched as its impressive form disappeared above the tree line. Only once it was out of sight did Jake allow himself to regret giving up the protection of its presence.
His body felt like lead as he turned back to face Eytukan, who he now noticed was standing beside a Na'vi woman who Jake vaguely recognized as the Tayrangi's Olo'eyktan. Though she had not been the Olo'eyktan years ago when Tsu'tey had last visited this clan as an adolescent, he recognized her as the one who, at the time, had been named next in line for the title.
The Tayrangi leader, not much older than the trio, was staring at Jake with intense singularity, as though there was no one else standing there but the two of them.
"Now that that is settled," Eytukan said, breaking through the deafening silence that had overtaken the commons, "Ikeyni, shall we proceed to discuss what we came here for?"
Ikeyni continued to stare at Jake, and for a moment, it seemed as though she hadn't heard the words that had just come from Eytukan's lips.
She had, though, which was made clear when she opened her mouth and let out a single word, "no."
"No?" Eytukan repeated, hoping against all hope that he had misheard her.
"No," she confirmed, her eyes never leaving Jake.
"I do not understand," Eytukan's voice was forcefully even, though the Omaticaya could see the beginnings of irritation, perhaps even rage, boiling just beneath his thin veneer of polite democracy. Jake was frozen to the spot, take by dread and piercing eyes, but he could feel Tsu'tey and Neytiri close in beside him. They didn't stand in front of him, they didn't block him from her view, they just pressed in closer, enough for him to feel their body heat, enough to know that they were there.
"No, Eytukan," Ikeyni said, and it almost sounded like an apology, "it is I who do not understand. Why have you brought this false Na'vi into my territory, riding on the back of the Toruk as though he is worthy of that honor, standing beside your child and your future successor as though he is one of you?"
"If you would allow me to explain, Ikeyni," Eytukan's mouth was set in a hard line, ready to argue his piece, but Ikeyni cut him off with a raised hand.
"You need explain nothing," she said, finally breaking her eye contact with Jake, looking over at Eytukan with hard, cold eyes, "this insult that stands before me is explanation enough. The Omaticaya are weak of mind if they have allowed themselves to be swayed by one of these creatures," she gestured out, indicating Jake, as though there was any confusion as to whom she was referring, as though the Omaticaya might have been so blinded they did not see him for what he truly was, "to infiltrate your clan. You have allowed this thing to cloud your eyes and your judgement. You will thank me after I have rid you of his trickery."
At that, before any of them had a chance to reply, Ikeyni raised her fist and it was as though the entire Tayrangi clan descended upon them.
Jake heard a deep growl and the snap of teeth beside him. He twisted, his ribs aching at the movement, to see Tsu'tey prone on the ground, his cheek pressed against the dirt, as three enormous Na'vi held him down.
If he had had time to turn to his other side, he would have seen Neytiri, as well as the accompanying guards, in much the same position, but he wasn't given the chance as his knees were kicked out from under him.
He would have fallen face first into the ground if it weren't for a hand reaching out and catching his hair, large fingers gripping his braids right against his scalp, keeping him locked in place. Another body he could not see knelt behind him, catching his hands as they tried to fight off the hold on his hair, and tying them behind his back.
Through the panic and frustration and no small amount of fear coursing through Jake's veins, he managed to focus his eyes on Eytukan.
Weeks ago, during the Olangi meeting, which had found them in a similar position, Jake had, subconsciously, drawn some comfort in the fact that they had not restrained Eytukan or Mo'at. Leaving the Omaticaya leaders free, even as his own life was threatened, indicated in some way that there was a possibility of getting out of the situation.
This was not the case now.
Though he had not been brought to the ground like the rest of them, there was a large Na'vi standing at his back, holding his arms behind him. He did not thrash about or fight the hold as the rest of his party was, there was no string of curses, both Na'vi and English, falling from his lips as they were from Tsu'tey's. Jake would bet no small sum of money, despite all that, that there was any among them who looked as angry as Eytukan did in that moment.
"Ikeyni, I demand you release me and my people at once," Eytukan ground out, his eyes sharp as they stared at the other leader.
"You are in no position to make demands, Eytukan," Ikeyni said in a hard voice, "like I said, you will thank me once I have rid your clan of this parasite," she paused then, her eyes moving back to Jake, seeming to contemplate something before, returning her gaze to Eytukan, "I have changed my mind about something though. I would like to know to what extent this creature has wrapped his hands around you and your people. Who is he within your clan?"
Jake thought for a moment that Eytukan might lie, might downplay Jake's place within their tribe in hopes of appeasing her. The thought seemed to cross Eytukan's mind, until his eyes swept out, taking in the sight of his people pressed against the dirt like criminals, focusing in on Jake, his eyes narrowing with resolve at the sight.
"His name is Jake-Sully, he is an Omaticaya Warrior."
This answer did not please Ikeyni, her mouth drawing in a tight line as she processed his words, "you have allowed him to penetrate your ranks? Has he been allowed to choose a mate?"
This time there was no hesitation, "Jake-Sully did not choose a mate," Jake watched as Ikeyni's posture relaxed slightly at the words, but Eytukan quickly stripped her of what small relief she found in that statement, "he did not need to. Because Jake-Sully has always had a mate within my clan. He is tì'i'avay krrä yawntu with Tsu'tey."
The words seemed to take a moment to register in her mind, as her gaze shifted between Eytukan, Jake, and Tsu'tey, who was still struggling, snarling, and spitting insults at the men holding him down.
"You allowed this Skyperson in a false body to stand among you, to mate with your future Olo'eyktan, because of some ancient bedtime story about visions and love?" Ikeyni's rage rose until it seemed to transcend into confusion and disbelief.
"It is more than a bedtime story," Eytukan snapped, "you should be more than aware of that seeing as how Akwey of the Olangi's late bondmate was of your tribe, they were also tì'i'avay krrä yawntu."
"Do not recite my own clan's history to me," Ikeyni snapped back.
"Your clan rejects the will of Eywa, you ignore the gifts she bestows upon you, you do not even have a Tsahìk to guide you."
"Why would we?" Ikeyni's eyes were ablaze as she stepped closer to Eytukan, putting them almost chest to chest, "look at what following these fantasies has earned you—nothing but a Dreamwalker in a position of leadership and a war with the Skypeople you cannot win."
Eytukan seemed taken aback by her words, though he recovered a moment later, "how are you aware of the upcoming battle?"
Ikeyni had the audacity to smile at that, "you are not the only one who can travel to other clans, Eytukan. I sent a party out to the Olangi after your meeting with them to see what it was you wanted all of us for. Akwey was very forthcoming with your plans, he even informed us of the presence of your Dreamwalker parasite. Though, he seemed to believe his words were simply a friendly warning, and he failed to mention the bond between this... Jake-Sully," she spat the name out like poison, "and Tsu'tey. He definitely failed to mention your belief that this creature is worthy of holding the title of Toruk Makto, though I suspect this to be a recent development."
"Eywa chose him to hold that title, the Toruk chose him when it attempted to take his life. Even if you do not believe in the will of Eywa, you cannot deny the nature of íkran. If the Toruk chose him, it is his title to hold."
"And perhaps the Toruk may have chosen someone more worthy should you not have allowed this Dreamwalker to pose as a legitimate Na'vi warrior!" Ikeyni all but screamed in Eytukan's face.
In that moment, it struck Jake how very young the Tayrangi leader was. Standing next to Eytukan, who, despite the rage Jake knew was pumping through him like blood, was staying calm, never allowing his voice to rise much higher than a normal speaking volume, Ikeyni seemed almost like a petulant child.
"We are done talking," she said, turning on her heels away from Eytukan, now facing Jake once more, "it is clear you cannot be made to see reason."
At that, she stepped away from the Omaticaya leader all together, only stopping when she stood in front of Jake.
"Have you anything to say, Dreamwalker?" Ikeyni scowled down at him.
"What difference will it make if I do?" Jake stared up at her, his neck straining from the odd way the Na'vi holding him in place had jerked his head back, exposing his neck, "you have already made your decision."
Ikeyni seemed almost pleased with that answer, "at least you have some dignity."
"If you kill him, Ikeyni," Eytukan's voice cracked through the air like thunder, "you will be declaring war between our clans. Know this before you act."
"You would declare war over him?" She looked down at Jake as though searching for something, trying to see what could possibly be worth all this grief.
"If you touch him," Tsu'tey's voice was muffled slightly from the way his cheek was pressed against the ground, "I will rip your head from your body and leave you dead and bleeding in the dirt."
Instead of being intimidated by the words, Ikeyni appeared amused, "why are you two being so dramatic?" She asked with a barely controlled chuckle as she reached down and retrieved a small dagger of sharpened bone that was strapped to her thigh, "you are not so foolish as to believe in this ugly body he wears, are you? I am not threatening this man's life," at those words, she took the final step that brought her inches away from Jake, the dagger glinting in her hand, "he will simply return to his real body, and gone will be any illusion as to what he truly is—a demon wearing our skin."
Jake's eyes widened as understanding washed over him—she didn't know that this was now the only body he had, how could she? She didn't think she was threatening him, in her mind, the only foreseeable result of her actions would be to render him incapable of returning to his Dreamwalker form.
He opened his mouth, intending to correct her, raw panic spiking beneath his skin, sending his heart hammering against his chest, the reality of what was about to happen finally clicking in his mind. He didn't have the chance, however, as Ikeyni reached with her free hand to a piece of leathered hide tucked into the waistband of her loincloth, "this will be over soon, Dreamwalker," she almost cooed as she took the strip of fabric and stuffed it into his mouth, "you do not want your mate to hear you scream."
"Ikeyni!" Eytukan, for the first time in Jake's entire life, allowed desperation and panic to flood his voice, "you are wrong! Jake-Sully has no other body to return to, his Skyperson form is buried in our cemetery."
The words were enough to give Ikeyni pause.
"Jake-Sully is a traitor of the Skypeople, he is not one of them! He underwent a ritual, Eywa transferred his soul into this body, he is only Na'vi! You slit his throat and you will be a murderer, no better than the Skypeople."
Jake thought, for the space of a moment, that the words had hit home, that it had been enough to change her mind. Then, however, Jake watched anger seep into her features, her mouth pulling into a tight smile as she leaned in closer to Jake, until he could feel her breath puff hot against his face.
"It is almost impressive how you have managed to fool them into thinking you could ever be anything other than what you truly are."
Jake barely had time to process her words before Ikeyni lifted her hand to press the dagger against his throat.
As he felt the blade begin to sink into skin, blood trickling down to pool against his collar bone, Jake did not grieve for his life that was about to be taken from him. He wasn't filled with regret over what he had and hadn't done. No, his only thought as he stared into Ikeyni's cold eyes, was that he wished he could see Tsu'tey one last time.
So occupied was Jake in his own thoughts, he barely even registered the sudden roar that filled the air around him. Then, suddenly, his vision was filled with the sight of Tsu'tey tackling Ikeyni to the ground.
This was apparently enough of a distraction that the Tayrangi guards loosened their holds on the Omaticaya, because just as Jake felt the grip on his hair lessen, the commons were filled with the sound of struggle.
Jake, not one to waste an opportunity, wrenched his head away, spitting out the cloth gag as he did, ignoring his protesting ribs and ankle as he stood and spun around in one fluid movement. He didn't give the Na'vi who'd been holding him time to recover before he bent forward, smashing their heads together hard enough that he saw stars. Still, it had the desired effect as the other man stumbled backwards, leaving him unsteady enough that Jake could rush forward, ramming his shoulder against the guard's stomach.
Jake watched with some satisfaction as the man crumpled to his knees, clutching at his gut, a splatter of blood hitting the dirt as he coughed.
A hand fell on his shoulder and he was about to treat his new attacker to a repeat performance, when he recognized the body attached to the appendage.
"Well," Neytiri said with a roll of her eyes as she turned Jake around to begin undoing the tie still binding his hands, "at least we do not have to wonder what the threat is any longer."
Once the tie had fallen away from his wrists, he took a moment to roll his shoulders as he took in the scene around them. It seemed all of the Omaticaya had managed to break away from the Tayrangi's hold, as they were all now either engaged in or dealing with the aftermath of hand to hand combat.
Jake tore his eyes away from the scuffle, finding focus on Eytukan, who was busy exchanging blows with his own captor.
"I will assist my father," Neytiri said, stepping up beside him, "you go get Tsu'tey before he does something we can't take back."
Jake only had a moment to feel confusion at Neytiri's words before he followed her line of sight.
He wasn't sure what he felt when his eyes fell on Tsu'tey, who was kneeling in the dirt, Ikeyni's long braids wrapped around his hand as he smashed her face repeatedly into the ground.
They were a few yards away from Jake, but he could hear Tsu'tey's roar as clearly as if he was standing right beside him. Even from this distance, he could tell, something in the tightness of the muscles along his back, that Tsu'tey was blind with rage in that moment, that he would not stop until Ikeyni was a dead, bloody mass in his hands.
Jake wasted no more time before he set off in a dead sprint, his ankle screaming as he forced past the pain.
"Tsu'tey," Jake yelled, but the other man didn't seem capable of hearing him through the rage. So, Jake, knowing how much his injuries would protest the action, dipped forward, and caught Tsu'tey beneath his arms, wrapping his arms around Tsu'tey's chest and pulling him away.
For a moment, Tsu'tey struggled against him, refusing to release his grip on Ikeyni's hair, dragging her with him as Jake pulled him to his feet.
"Tsu'tey, you have to let her go," he pressed a flat palm against wear he could feel Tsu'tey's heart hammering against his chest, "I'm fine, it's okay, just let her go."
Tsu'tey seemed as though he was going to try and shake off Jake's hold on him, to continue his assault of the Olo'eyktan. Jake pressed tighter against the other man's back, grounding him, and Tsu'tey finally let go.
Ikeyni crumpled to the ground looking dazed as she spit blood and dirt and what Jake suspected might be a tooth into the ground beneath her.
With Tsu'tey now calmed enough that Jake felt confident he could release him, he pulled an arm away, bringing it to his lips and letting out a sharp whistle.
Not a second after, a piercing screech filled the air above them as the Toruk emerged from the tree line.
It fell into a deep dive, a line of íkrans following just behind, until it unfurled its large wings and landed, with more of a crash than anything graceful, just beside where Jake stood.
Jake watched as the Toruk snapped at a few Tayrangi warriors as they tried to close in on Jake and Tsu'tey, still standing over the bloodied leader.
He looked around and saw that a large majority of the Tayrangi had been incapacitated, while the Omaticaya all remained standing to some degree, even if it was only accomplished by leaning against another warrior.
Jake's eyes swept over the carnage until they fell into Eytukan, who, along with Neytiri, seemed to have disposed of the threats surrounding them. Jake locked eyes with Eytukan, who gave him a small nod before turning to speak, his voice booming clear across the commons, "Omaticaya, mount your íkrans, we are leaving, there are no allies to be found here."
The reaction to his words was immediate, as they all moved toward their own íkrans, waiting to take off into the air until they were certain Eytukan and the trio were also safely mounted.
Jake moved to pull Tsu'tey with him towards the Toruk, who was still snapping and beating his wings at any Tayrangi who dared try to approach them, but Tsu'tey resisted, his eyes focused on the crumpled form of Ikeyni.
Before Jake could react, Tsu'tey was leaning down, gripping at her hair again to pull her head up to speak directly in her ear, "you will live to regret your actions today," Tsu'tey ground out, just loud enough that Jake had to strain to hear the words, "you will live, only because my mate, my Jake, who you insulted so grievously, whose life you attempted to take, stopped me from killing you. Because he is a better and kinder man than I. I pray to Eywa that you see that, that you realize what he did for you and what you now owe to him, before we meet again."
At that, Tsu'tey released his grip on her hair, allowing her head to drop, before permitting himself to be pulled away.
Jake didn't loosen his hold on Tsu'tey's arm even after they had mounted on the back of the Toruk.
Jake watched as Tayrangi warriors descended upon Ikeyni, who was still coughing blood into the dirt, before connecting his queue with the Toruk.
As they flew away, leaving the scene of the commons far below them, Jake almost laughed at the feeling pushing through their connection, something that felt oddly like 'I told you so.'