Author's Note: Hello, my loves! I'm sorry about the wait! Thank you all so much for your support and love for this story! I am having so much fun with it so I'm glad that you're enjoying it. Thank you for reaching out and being so sweet, all of you! I'm sorry if it seems like it's going too fast! I've got some big plans for the future of this story and I'm so excited for it! This is going to be a long one, so I hope you all are willing to stick around for it! I hope that you enjoyed!

The fabric is so warm that Tsyeyk has to kick it off at some point, but Tsu'tey pulls it close to keep it draped over his lap, carefully trying to explain... something.

Tsyeyk doesn't understand but it's important to Tsu'tey so he tries to listen. He just quietly stares at Tsu'tey's mouth, wondering if he's ever going to learn the words that he's saying, and if he'll be able to say them as clearly. It sounds like music coming from Tsu'tey, for Tsyeyk, it kind of sounds like baby babble. Tsyeyk knows, intuitively, that he and Tsu'tey are around the same age. He feels this connection to him, this instinctual desire to be close to him. It honestly started that first day that they met.

Tsyeyk knew that he had to fear him, so he ran, but the moment he stopped forcing himself to react the way he thought he should, he reached out and touched him. Was mesmerized by him. Even now, just sitting here, listening to him talk about something Tsyeyk doesn't even know how to begin to understand - hand gestures and all - Tsyeyk feels connected to him.

Like they were meant to be something more. Like Mother brought them together for a reason. He just isn't sure what that reason is yet. Maybe Tsu'tey knows, he just has to teach Tsyeyk to understand first, so that they can communicate. Seems reasonable enough for him.

Finally, reaching back into the sack, Tsu'tey pulls put another strip of cloth, far smaller than the other currently across Tsyeyk's lap and holds it up for the confused Na'vi to see.

"Tewng," Tsu'tey says softly.

After a few tries, Tsyeyk finally says it right, which makes Tsu'tey smile. He lowers the cloth and points to his waist.

Tsyeyk pulls the larger cloth away from his legs to look at what Tsu'tey is pointing at, before his eyes widen at the cloth resting between the other male's legs. He reaches for it when Tsu'tey quickly grabs the flap up for him to touch, clearing his throat a bit. Once Tsyeyk has taken it, Tsu'tey reaches over again, grabbing onto the thick discarded cloth and bringing it back over Tsyeyk's waist to cover him up, but made sure to keep it mostly off of his calves so that he would feel compelled to kick it off again.

Tsyeyk rubs the cloth between his fingers, not at all recognizing the flush that was trying to work its way across Tsu'tey's face at his sudden movements. It's soft and sturdy but not as thick as the larger cloth draped across his own waist. But it's a beautiful dark green color, whereas the one Tsu'tey is holding is a pretty purple, reminding Tsyeyk of the light that his mother shines with. And his ears perk at the realization.

His eyes flicker up to the one Tsu'tey is holding, reaching out eagerly for it. Tsu'tey doesn't stop him from taking it, eyeing it in wonderment. He brings it to his chest, purring happily, like a piece of Mother's light is with him.

Tsu'tey clears his throat again, reaching up to scratch at the spot just below the beaded choker.

Tsyeyk reaches back with one hand to touch Tsu'tey's hip, running the tips of his fingers across the soft skin and bone there, tracing the straps of his own cloth there. There are two interconnected straps, one that's thick and flush to his skin, which is smooth to the touch while the other is more like twine and is looser. Both are foreign and unique feeling that Tsyeyk doesn't recognize.

Tsu'tey's skin twitches under Tsyeyk's fingers, little bumps appearing slightly along the flesh covering his hips and waist. Tsu'tey clears his throat again to gently take Tsyeyk's hand and giving it a little squeeze.

Tsyeyk looks up at Tsu'tey as the other man says, "Tewng." And he says it over and over again until Tsyeyk can finally say it, stumbling through the word a few times before it's clear.

And the pretty smile from Tsu'tey when Tsyeyk finally says it right, is so beautiful that he has to grin back, flashing his fangs. This serves to only make Tsu'tey smile more.

Tsyeyk pulls the cloth back from his chest to look at the color, the intricate little patterns woven into it, fascinated. He babbles nonsense to Tsu'tey, running his fingers carefully along it, pulling the strings and twisting it around, not sure how it is supposed to look.

His sensitive nose picks up another hint of Tsu'tey's scent but before he can bring the cloth closer, Tsu'tey grabs it from him.

"Kehe," he says, his cheeks darkening. "Kehe." He says something else that Tsyeyk doesn't know but he's more interested in the darkening if Tsu'tey's cheeks. He reaches out and pokes his cheek bones. Tsu'tey laughs softly, embarrassed, and Tsyeyk just laughs. He doesn't really understand but Tsu'tey's expression is funny to him.

"No," Tsyeyk mimics, eyes brightening at Tsu'tey's surprised bark of laughter. "No, Tu'tey."

Tsu'tey huffs, shaking his head, mumbling something before reaching for the cloth in Tsyeyk's hand. Tsyeyk deflates, leaning away a bit with it, frowning a bit. His ears flatten against his skull as he shakes his head, making good use of his brand-new word. "No, Tsu'tey. No."

Tsu'tey says something softly, gesturing to the tewng around his own waist. Tsyeyk hesitates, not wanting to give up the purple cloth, tail curling around his waist a bit as he whines, ears pulling back tighter.

Tsu'tey smiles softly, reaching forward to grab onto Tsyeyk's arms, pulling him back towards him. Tsyeyk hesitates, resisting a bit before letting himself be pulled back, staring through long dark lashes at the braided Na'vi in front of him. Tsu'tey gently takes the cloth from him, adjusting and fixing it until it's the easiest it could possibly be to be put on before swallowing nervously.

He glances at Tsyeyk, cautiously, before taking a few deep breaths, steeling himself, and then he moves to his feet, gesturing for Tsyeyk to do the same. He does, leaving the cloth behind and tilting his head, reaching for the purple loincloth. Tsu'tey takes a breath, trying to keep his eyes in respectful places and not breathe in Tsyeyk's intoxicating scent so close to a very, very strong scent point on his body, leaning down to help Tsyeyk put a leg into the cloth. He tips and teeters, grabbing onto Tsu'tey's shoulder in confusion.

Once he pulls that one side all the way up his thigh, he secures it on that hip before carefully showing Tsyeyk how to wrap it around his tail and then his other hip, tightening it far more than he would have liked. Plent of loose fabric to tie because of it. His fingers brush against the base of his tail and Tsyeyk twists, letting out a little whine. He grabs hold of Tsu'tey's face, not sure what else to do with this feeling zipping through him. He leans down, staring into his eyes, tail twirling anxiously behind him.

"No, Tu'tey, no."

Tsu'tey bows his head, pressing his forehead to Tsyeyk's stomach, saying something softly over and over again. It sounds like an apology, so Tsyeyk stops chastising him and settles for gently touching his braids, still fascinated by the feeling. Tsu'tey takes a deep breath and looks up at Tsyeyk, his thumbs gently pressing into his protruding hip bones. He unwraps it again and ties it. Over and over and over again, making sure that Tsyeyk is paying attention. Until he can do it himself.

Tsyeyk's fingers fumble with the tie. He understands what he has to do, but his fingers don't know how to do it. Tsu'tey leans back a bit, giving himself some space to breathe while staring at Tsyeyk's fumbling fingers, while his hands are settled on trim hips. He gently shows him again whenever his fingers pause, trying to remember what to do next.

Not at all dissuaded by the difficulty of learning how to tie a knot, Tsyeyk just sings to himself, some of it babbled nonsense, and others are words that Tsu'tey taught him, making it a garbled, disjointed mess, but Tsu'tey smiles anyway. His tail is swaying happily behind him, and he gets distracted, touching the things around him, the flap of cloth hanging off the front, the thick bands that secure it to his hips, the string that he's untied a few times, Tsu'tey's braids, the beads hanging off of them.

Tsu'tey sweetly tries to keep him on track until he can finally get it down. Again and again until Tsu'tey's reassured that he'll remember it. It takes a bit of moving around and messing with the loincloth before Tsu'tey convinces Tsyeyk to leave it alone.

Then, they play. They run around the field, and into the forest. They climb up rock formations, but not trees, Tsyeyk not knowing how. Tsu'tey promises to teach him. And then they keep going. They stop so that Tsyeyk could look at all of the strange and beautiful things that his mother created. He enjoyed the beauty and majesty of all of the things around him. And Tsu'tey told him all their names. From flowers to bugs to beasts that roam about.

Tsyeyk learns his new favorite phrase whenever they find literally anything new. Watching a bunch of bugs crawling across a stump, Tsyeyk says, "It's pretty. It's pretty." Over and over again, golden eyes wide.

Tsu'tey presses his cheek into Tsyeyk's shoulder, watching the line of bugs as Tsyeyk does, blinking his doe eyes. He reaches his hand forward so that they can crawl across his fingers, making his boyish smile spread further. He turns to the boy, whose resting on his shoulder, smiling wider still when those gold eyes meet his own. "Tu'tey, it's pretty. It's pretty."

Tsyeyk flashes pretty white fangs into Tsu'tey's face, which makes him smile. "Beautiful," Tsu'tey agrees.

His eyes trail to the long loose black strands of hair flowing down past Tsyeyk's shoulder blades, messy and knotted. The queue along his spine is tangled in a mess of matted black hair that looks like it was a braid at one point but no longer is able to hold its shape. But despite all of this, there is a feral beauty to him. Long thin face - too thin because of obvious weight loss - with big eyes framed in long black lashes, long lithe frame with just a hint of muscles along his limbs from running through the forest and no obvious signs of neglect. His skin smooth and unblemished, despite his bones poking at them, and his smile - with two sets of fangs - is bright and full of joy.

He is utterly beautiful.

Tsu'tey takes Tsyeyk's hand, the one that keeps moving to mess with his loincloth, still trying to get used to it. He holds that hand gently, giving it a squeeze whenever Tsyeyk looks at him with a furrowed brow, fascinated by the small patches of hair there.

Tsyeyk leans in close, bringing the hand that has the bugs crawling on it close so Tsu'tey could see it. "It's pretty," he says, flashing his fangs, moving his mouth but keeping his teeth clenched together.

"I see that," Tsu'tey says kindly, looking at the bugs with a gentle smile on his face. He knows that their world is beautiful, he has seen it all around him every single day. But Tsyeyk, in just these last few hours, has shown him that the world is just so much more beautiful than even he saw it. Everything is beautiful. Everything is special. He thinks that it all shines. Tsyeyk loves it all. And he makes Tsu'tey love it all too.

Everything is beautiful. Every moment is special.

Tsu'tey finds some fruits for them to eat after the fourth time hearing Tsyeyk's stomach growling and the other boy doing nothing to try and fix that. Almost like he was scared to eat anything. But Tsu'tey assured him, taking a bite of his own first before offering the few he had left to the other boy and Tsyeyk devours at least four of them before being unable to eat any more. It was sweet with a hard seed in the middle that Tsyeyk took great care in finding a suitable place to bury it. Tsu'tey seemed pleased with how much Tsyeyk ate, but they didn't stay long, there was so much for them to see.

Tsyeyk is having the best day ever, running around and looking at everything there is to see. He shows Tsu'tey whatever he can with the limited amount of time that they have knowing that soon he'll have to return to the cave and get a bit of sleep before Father is up and ready for the day - or night. Tsu'tey teaches him so many new words and as they make their way between places, Tsyeyk makes sure to keep repeating them to ensure that he remembers them. The cloth around his waist - tewng - was hard to get used to at first, but before long, he forgot that he was even wearing it, too busy trying to take in all that was around them.

But all good things come to an end and Jake was sad that he had to go. Tsu'tey seemed to understand as Tsyeyk became quieter and quieter, steering them back the way they first came from and they went back to the field that would take Tsyeyk back home to Father. Once they get to the field, the sun above them begins its descent toward the horizon, Tsu'tey gives the big cloth to Tsyeyk, who purrs, hugging it to his chest and breathing in Tsu'tey's scent. Gathering it up in his arms, Tsyeyk waves his hand to Tsu'tey before making his way back to Father, hugging his blanket to himself, smiling happily.

It took Tsyeyk some time, but he managed to figure out how to hold onto his blanket - Tsu'tey called it - which he ended up having to tie around his neck and let it flow behind him as he climbed. it was a little strange and definitely tested his balance, but he was successful getting to the top without any sort of problem.

Once he makes it to the cave and into the shadows, the drop in temperature hits Tsyeyk's skin, making it prickle, but Tsyeyk grins, wrapping the heavy blanket around himself and happily bounces over to Father, dropping down next to his back and curls up into a ball. He snuggles close, purring once more at the warmth as exhaustion finally washes over him and Tsyeyk finally falls asleep without an ounce of discomfort, smiling in his dreams.


Tsu'tey barely makes it Hometree as the sun dips below the horizon before Sylwanin and Neytiri both close in on him.

"Okay," Neytiri says, placing hands on slim hips. "Where do you go, Tsu'tey? Dad was calling for you, but no one had seen you."

"You have been running out of here quite early, mostly before everyone awakens," Sylwanin points out, placing her hands behind her back as she walks alongside her sister, both staring up at the taller warrior. Tsu'tey sighs, greeting them with a wave from his forehead, before heading toward the spiral that will take him further up into Hometree to look for the Olo'eyktan.

He knew, at some point, someone would ask him why he was always running out so early these last few months. But he had just found him. He wanted to have just a little bit more time with him before everyone else tried to get involved. They had their very first day together - really together. And it was... perfect. He doesn't know anything about Tsyeyk other than that he sees the world so... beautifully.

"Where have you been going?" Neytiri asks. "You've been doing your chores early and vanishing. You don't volunteer to lead hunting parties anymore."

"I was looking for something in the forest," Tsu'tey admits, but doesn't elaborate further.

Sylwanin and Neytiri both look at one another, communicating with their eyes, as they follow Tsu'tey off the spiral and onto one of the many platforms that will take them to the space their father uses for business. He spends much of his time there speaking with their mother about the goings on of the clan, trying to keep himself somewhere centralized so that their clanmates can usually find him easily in case of an emergency. He's there more often than not, and it's a little out of the way so that they can have privacy.

Tsu'tey heads to the hut, pulling back the draping blankets covering the entrance and heading inside. Sylwanin and Neytiri following him.

As he figured, Eytukan is there, shaking his head with a faint smile at whatever Mo'at had said to him, as she cleans the space around them, straightening up the things resting on the walls, adjusting it with a keen eye.

Tsu'tey tips his head respectfully to their chief and spiritual leader, the girls flanking him do the same. "I see you, Eytukan and Mo'at, Olo'eyktan and Tsahik."

"We see you, mother and father," Neytiri and Sylwanin say a moment later.

Eytukan and Mo'at both wave back to them in greeting before the clan chief turns his eyes toward Tsu'tey, blatantly asking, "Where have you gone, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey takes a breath, mentally preparing himself and Mo'at takes that as her cue to sit down next to Eytukan, getting ready for whatever it is that Tsu'tey has to talk himself into saying. Tsu'tey opens his mouth, hesitates, then makes a gesture toward the space before Eytukan. He nods, giving it a little wave himself and Tsu'tey lowers down to sit on his knees in front of the clan leaders. Neytiri and Sylwanin move off to the side, out of the way, sitting down on their own knees.

"For..." Tsu'tey starts slowly, considering, then just sighing. It was going to come out anyway. He just wished he'd had more time. He wasn't ready to share. He just got Tsyeyk. He wished he was able to find him sooner. Then he would have had more time.

"For..?" Eytukan prompts, stern set expression watching his successor carefully.

Tsu'tey raises his eyes to the clan leaders and just lets it out, "For the last few months, I have been having dreams of someone in the forest. I have been chasing them because... at first, I thought that they were my memories as a child, and I was trying to remember something. But... the more they occurred, the more I realized it was of someone else. Someone who was acting child-like but wasn't. I was... enraptured by them. This person that I could only see in hazy dreams that laughed with pure joy and saw every bit of the forest around them as stunning and beautiful."

Neytiri glances over at her sister, Tsu'tey's betrothed, to see not anger or hurt, but honest curiosity and intrigue. Tsu'tey looks over at her too, frowning a bit as he studies her expression before his own softens.

"I think..." he says quietly. "I think that the Great Mother was showing me my mate." His eyes tell of the apology that his lips did not. No sadness or pain passes Sylwanin's face. Instead, she smiles, golden eyes sparkling with joy.

"How do you know?" she asks, not an ounce of anything but wonderment in her voice.

Tsu'tey hesitates, eyes set on Sylwanin, not ready to see the anger on Eytukan's face for admitting that he was looking elsewhere for a mate while being betrothed to the chief's daughter.

"I felt this pull I couldn't ignore. Every morning when I woke, I had to fight just to do the bare minimum of what was expected of me before I could go searching for him. Months of endless searching without being able to find him, I... I thought that I had somehow lost my chance. That something got to him before I could. It was only the dreams and the soul crushing desire to find him that kept me going," Tsu'tey admits. "Despite my fears, I... knew. I knew he was out there. Like the Great Mother was instilling it into every fiber of my being."

"The Great Mother rarely chooses mate for us," Neytiri says slowly, looking over at Mo'at, "but she has done it before, right? Sometimes the Great Mother will bring two together that must be."

Mo'at considers as Eytukan, face pinched, turns to look at her as well, as this question was beyond him.

After a moment, she says, "The Great Mother has reached out and touched the lives of some of the people, turning them toward one another in absolution. Meant to be, I suppose." She stares at Tsu'tey with bright, golden eyes, wise and intense. "Tell me what happened next."

"I found him," Tsu'tey says slowly. "A few days ago, I mean. I found him out in a field, sleeping amongst nantang. They were curled up with him as if he were part of their pack. He woke up not too long later, extracted himself from them and left, going back to wherever it is that he calls home."

"Sleeping with nantang around him?" Sylwanin asks, eyes wide. "Why did they not hurt him?"

Tsu'tey shakes his head. "I don't know. It's not just them. I've mostly seen it with bugs, but other small animals will get close to him. They don't seem to be afraid of him."

Neytiri and Sylwanin both look at each other with wide eyes, trying to make sense of that.

"I found him again, the next day, by a pond, playing in the water. He was alone but... it was almost like the fish were playing with him," Tsu'tey says quietly, as all eyes turn back to him. "He was laying out on a rock when one of Eywa's seeds descended to him. He just... gently held it to his chest, smiling. He pressed his face close and it almost looked like the tendrils were reaching out for him before it floated away."

"The seeds are pure spirits," Sylwanin says, like reciting a tale as old as time. "We can't touch beyond the aura or the spirit dies." She refers to a thin layer of light that acts like a little bubble around the spirit, to keep the taint of life from touching it directly.

"No one has ever actually touched one, have they?" Neytiri asks their mother, golden eyes wide.

"Perhaps," Mo'at says. "Some are foolish that do not realize what they are doing. But I have never seen it and there is no recorded history of such a thing here in the Omatikaya."

"Because Omatikaya do not disgrace the Great Mother," Eytukan says firmly, frowning.

Tsu'tey nods in agreement as Mo'at nods for him to continue. "He saw me, got scared and ran." He hesitates for a split second before saying, "I managed to get ahead of him and while hissing and trying to hide from me, he didn't stop me from getting close. He was scared but... I don't think he's ever seen one of the people before. He seemed both scared, and fascinated."

"How can that be? What about his parents?" Sylwanin asks, eyes wide.

"Someone is looking out for him. He's been methodical thus far, returning somewhere a few hours before dusk. But he doesn't... he doesn't know things. How to speak. How to tie a knot. He doesn't know things that I learned as a very young child." Tsu'tey looks at Mo'at and Eytukan, like they would know why that was.

"Yet..." Eytukan says slowly, "you think someone is looking out for him?"

"Yes, just, not one of the people. He seemed like he had never seen someone like me before, but that's not all..." Tsu'tey hesitates again. He closes his eyes, sighs, before opening them again and saying, "He looks like he could be a Dreamwalker."

Neytiri and Sylwanin both gasp in surprise while Mo'at and Eytukan both look at one another.

"Then, we ask Grace about him," Mo'at says easily. "He probably lives with the other Sky People."

"But he doesn't," Tsu'tey says, scooting a bit closer, looking between the clan's leaders. "I spoke in Na'vi and English to him. He didn't know either. He acts childish despite probably being almost my age. He... he... I can't explain it. He's not like them. Grace said that when they sleep the Na'vi body they wear goes dormant but... it's not like that with him. He moved; he shifted in his sleep. It's not the same. He's not the same. He looks like a Dreamwalker, but he isn't one. I know it."

"You might be being tricked, Tsu'tey," Eytukan says, frowning. "The Sky People are very crafty. You are to be Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya someday. They could be trying to trick you."

Mo'at doesn't disagree out loud, but she does look at her mate with a frown.

Tsu'tey's ears flatten a bit, disbelief written all over his face. "I found him again, yesterday. He was beneath the Tree of Voices. He was crying and sick. He had eaten raw meat and was throwing it up."

"Why would he do that?" Neytiri asks, scrunching up her face. "Of course, it would make him sick."

Tsu'tey pins her in place with a flat, almost angry look that makes the youngest in the room blink in surprise. "My guess? It's as I said, he doesn't know. He doesn't understand why food being fed to him isn't helping him." A look of sadness crosses his face. "I made him a remedy my mother used to make for me when I was young and had an upset stomach, and he... he let me stay with him..." Tsu'tey smiles now, fondly. "Despite being scared and confused, he didn't turn me away. He had me put my hand on his stomach as a way to sooth him, as if someone does that for him when he's unwell. And if he's eating raw meat, I assume that's often."

A pause, as if lost in the memory. Mo'at, quietly, says, "Go on."

Tsu'tey blinks a few times, pulling back into himself before continuing, "I told him my name, and after a while he was able to say it. And he told me his name. But that was only after he spent a long time just... trying to remember sounds. He kept trying to..." he waves his hands around trying to find the words, "I don't know. It's like he knew what it was but didn't know how to say it. I taught him all sorts of words in the short time that we had before he left, a few hours before dusk, returning to where home is for him once more."

Tsu'tey rubs at his forehead a bit, embarrassed before admitting, "He's been naked this whole time." Before he can see the surprised looks fully register on the faces of the chief and his family around him, Tsu'tey pushes on, "So today, I brought him a blanket and loincloth to take with him, as I don't think he has any of those things." A pause, then a look of worry as he turns his eyes to Mo'at's almost pleading. "I'm worried about him. He's so thin. He has no meat to him. Whoever he is with isn't caring for him well, or doesn't realize what's making him sick. But I'm worried that he will die at this rate. He's scared to eat food. He won't listen to his body when it tells him to eat. He only ate today because I found fruit for him, and even then he wouldn't eat until I did to make sure it wouldn't make him sick."

Mo'at frowns at that, the natural caregiver in her acting up at the sound of that. She can't imagine what it was that couldn't figure out it was hurting this... person to Tsu'tey. Have they not seen him get sick? Seen him lose weight?

Mo'at has seen the Dreamwalkers, knows that they are built pretty similar to the true Na'vi, but they will always be just a little bit bigger. Wider hips and shoulders. The muscles on their arms and legs denser and broader than an average Na'vi. Naturally just a little bit bigger. But maybe Mo'at noticed these things easier than other because of the nature of her life's path. As a healer it is her job to know the body inside and out. And when the Dreamers came, it was just another thing to learn.

Still, in its own way, it sounds like this... dreamwalker is in some form of danger. If they aren't eating, then they will surely shrivel up and die soon enough. Or grow too weak that whatever is holding back the beasts like nantang from attacking probably won't any longer and he'll became one of the many children of the forest's meal. A harsh reality in what Grace once referred to as survival of the fittest.

Apted and not entirely untrue.

"I think," Tsu'tey says slowly, swallowing as his eyes lower to his hands on his lap, "that the Great Mother made him for me. When I laid my eyes on him that first day out in the field, even if only for a few moments... I couldn't breathe. Despite his messy hair, unwoven tswin, and dirty skin... something about him was just so..." he looks up into Eytukan's eyes, silently pleading for him to understand, "beautiful. He doesn't know how to take care of himself yet, but he's so breathtaking beautiful. He doesn't know many words or understand a lot of things, but he's so smart. So curious. So funny. He's learned so many words in just two days. And he's always smiling. He has such a beautiful smile." Tsu'tey reaches up, touching his chest as if his beating heart would punch right through his breastplate.

Eytukan's expression softens slightly, feeling Mo'at's hand touch his own. Tsu'tey was never interested in anyone before. He agreed to the betrothal with Sylwanin because they were friends and he saw it as his duty. He never complained, never questioned it. He always did what he was told and went far and beyond what was ever asked of him. He took pride in his clan and the role that he would one day have within it. Only an act of Eywa would distract him so much these last few months.

Eytukan is unhappy about all of this. Tsu'tey should have come to speak with them the moment the dreams started, so that he would be able to look into this together, so that Mo'at could glean some insight into it. Or maybe when he realized that he wasn't seeing himself in these dreams but seeking a mate while promised to another. There were plenty of right times to say something and yet he didn't. And Eytukan is not happy about it one bit. But just by looking at Sylwanin, she seems at peace, happy that Tsu'tey seems to be happy.

They were never in love with one another, Eytukan knew this, so if Sylwanin has found no offense in his action - and he knows that his gentle hearted daughter would never - then Eytukan knows that he will, at some point, make peace with his anger. And if this truly was an act by the Great Mother, then Tsu'tey was no more in control of his actions than anyone else was.

"One day," Tsu'tey says softly, looking down at his lap again, ears drooping a bit and it takes a moment for Eytukan to remember that the boy in front of him is almost eighteen years old. Not yet ready to be a leader but showing all the qualities of an excellent one. These last few months notwithstanding.

"One day," he says again, looking between Eytukan and Mo'at, "is not enough. I only had one day with him. To see him. To be with him. To see our beautiful home through his eyes. Everything, from plants to bugs to the number of fingers on my hands, to him, everything is beautiful. Everything is fresh and new. I just... I need more time with him. I need to know him. I need... I need..." Tsu'tey sighs, not able to find the words. "I need more time. I won't neglect my duties anymore. I will find the time to do it all, I just... I'm not ready to say goodbye to him. I need a little more time."

Mo'at blinks, perplexed by that. "Say goodbye?"

Tsu'tey glances over at her, frowning. "I am promised to Sylwanin. I will perform my duties as I must. I will make my peace with Tsyeyk once I know he can survive without me. I will teach him everything I can so that he will never need another."

"You..." Eytukan says slowly, "You would not bring him into the clan? You would not even ask me to consider it?"

Tsu'tey shakes his head, looking down at his lap, swallowing thickly and blinking rapidly. "No. I am promised to Sylwanin and if he was here, if I could reach out and touch him, I would never..." he closes his eyes. "I could never honor that promise to her. I could never honor our bond or see her the way that she deserves. If I can be sure that he's safe, I can make peace with saying goodbye."

Despite his strong words, he doesn't appear as though he honestly believes them. He probably hopes that he can. That he can do as he's always done and put the clan before himself - even his own family. But there is a sadness, a devastation to his face. Feelings this strong aren't born of one day together. Just the thought of turning away from him forever makes Tsu'tey's hands tremble - so he closes them into fists - and his lower lip shake. So, he presses them together tightly.

Mo'at stares at the young man that she's watched grow up. That her husband has been grooming to take his place ever since Mo'at saw him standing at the helm of the Omatikaya when he was just a young boy, catapulting him into his destiny as Eywa has foretold. Tsu'tey will make an excellent Olo'eyktan, Mo'at has seen it. She feels it in every fiber of her being.

But now she sees something else in her mind's eye.

This person, this Tsyeyk, could break Tsu'tey. Break him of everything that he has built for himself over all these years. Undo what Eywa has shown Mo'at over a decade prior. If this boy joins them, and Tsu'tey is bonded to another... Yes. Mo'at can see it now, like threads connecting them. The thing that Tsu'tey would never put into words but was nestled deep in his heart.

For this boy, for this Tsyeyk, Tsu'tey would break their sacred oath. He would break a bond formed with Sylwanin to have him. He would risk the wrath of Eywa, of the clan that he was born into and raised up to lead, of all the peoples to know that he was a Bond Breaker. He would never find peace amongst any clan. He would never find love or companionship in anyone but Tsyeyk. And Mo'at can see that kernel of truth deep inside, Tsu'tey knows it too. He won't ask for Tsyeyk to join, or even consider it. Not while he's bound to Sylwanin, or anyone else.

Tsu'tey with a will of steal, unwavering, unbroken, who Mo'at has seen stare down many foes - some with twice his age and experience, and others with gnashing teeth and splitting claws - without a flinch, without a moment of hesitation. Yet he can't bear the fight in his instincts. If Tsyeyk is here, if he shows an inkling of that connection that Tsu'tey feels and reciprocates... it's too late. Tsu'tey will break. And he's trying not to. He's trying to divide the things in his life that could tear him apart. It's the only way he can try to keep the life he imagined for himself - and was imagined for him - and what is starting to grow inside of him.

Tsu'tey is fighting that storm, weathering it in his heart. He will honor his duties. He will honor his promises. He will do what he has said he will because he's a good man. A good leader. But even with his ferocious love for his clan, for his entire life up until now being dedicated for this lifestyle, he fights this battle in his heart.

Because one day with this person wasn't enough. Despite the ruination this person brings into Tsu'tey's life, he needs more time. He is compelled by the desire in his heart to be with Tsyeyk. He will do anything for it, even set fire to everything he's ever known and turn his back on the only people he has ever loved up until this point.

How could this be anything but Eywa's will? How could she have shown Mo'at that he was going to lead the Omatikaya, only to put him into a position that he would never survive it. Because Mo'at doesn't believe for a second that Tsu'tey will be able to let Tsyeyk go. If this is how strongly he feels after just a day? More time would only make it harder.

Eywa has shown Mo'at nothing disputing the fact that Tsu'tey will be an excellent leader for their people. She still believes that this is his path in life. And if that's true, then she needs to understand this element. This unknown at play. Eytukan could be right, this could be the machinations of the Sky People. But Tsu'tey could also be right, and this could be another act of Eywa's will. Mo'at won't know until she looks deeper. Until she communes with Eywa and she sees this... Tsyeyk.

"When next you go for him," Mo'at says, dragging Tsu'tey's sad, but resigned eyes to her, "I will accompany you."

He frowns in confusion, tail flicking behind him a bit. "What? Why?"

"I will see the Tsyeyk for myself," Mo'at says, assuredly, gripping her mate's hand tight in her own. He stares at the side of her face but doesn't question her decision. "I will see if he is as you say, or if my mate's fears have come to pass. When next you go to see your Tsyeyk, I will be with you."