Author's Note: Hello, my loves! I know that it's been a while and I'm sorry about that! Thank you all so much for being so kind with all of your sweet words! We are beginning the transition into the next phase of the story, the actual reason any of you are here! I hope that I don't disappoint you! I like the part with Neytiri making the parallel between herself and Lo'ak. I'm loving it! I do hope that you all enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Neteyam woke up, curled up on Tsu'tey's chest, feeling the low rumble of his papa talking. He feels Neytiri's lips press into his shoulder, knowing it's her by her braids running along his back, while her nails scrape small circles out of the way of his wound.

"...asked me to hear you out, Ma Jake," Tsu'tey says, softly. "He really wants us to consider letting them stay."

Neytiri sighs. "You make little versions of you, Ma Jake."

Jake laughs softly somewhere behind Neteyam, next to Neytiri, probably. "You both realize that this isn't me, right?" A pause, then, in a more serious tone, "Had Talsheeze not got me and got one of you instead? We would be in this same predicament but I would be where the two of you are."

"I doubt that," Tsu'tey rumbles, pressing his lips onto Neteyam's forehead. "Had I been the one to be stabbed, I wouldn't trust anyone I didn't recognize. No exceptions. You handled betrayal with more grace than I ever would have."

"Had it been me?" Neytiri joins in. "I would never trust anyone. Probably ever."

"Okay, stop," Jake sighs. "I don't want to think of either of you getting stabbed, I'm sorry I put that out there. I'm just saying that I know I promised and I shouldn't have put you on the spot out there, Neytiri, I'm sorry. That was not right."

Neteyam can practically see the smile on his mother's face, gentle and slightly teasing, even with his back to her and his eyes closed. "Ma Jake, I know you meant no harm. Your heart is too kind."

Jake is quiet for a long moment before saying, softly, "I don't think that's true. I think that I'm no different than anyone else. Say what you want, but I know the two of you, and when it really comes down to it, you would both do the right thing."

Neteyam dozes off again. He's not sure how long he dozed before coming back to Neytiri's soft voice saying, "You are very hard on him."

Jake lets out a little breath, not really a sigh, more pained. "I know. I know. He asked Tsu'tey and I if we hated him. How could that mean anything other than that I'm a bad father?"

Neteyam could hear the build up of a growl in Tsu'tey's chest, but his voice is even as he says, "You are not a bad father, Ma Jake. These are tense times and Lo'ak deliberately disobeyed. I agree that something is definitely wrong with our parenting if he thought that we could ever hate him, but he deserved punishment. They all do. Kiri avoids it now because she was preoccupied with her grandmother, but we all know she would have been there too had she not. But they are children, this is to be expected."

"I know. I just... I don't get what I'm doing wrong," Jake says, a distinct sound of him rubbing his face. "I mean, aside from the obvious."

Tsu'tey tuts, a touch of anger at that, but Neytiri says, quietly, "You both will never understand fully. You were both the oldest sons. Take it from the only second born in this room, it isn't easy."

"What do you mean? You think we treat Neteyam and Lo'ak different?" Tsu'tey asks, all anger leaving his voice. It's an honest question. A bit of worry leaking into the words at the thought that maybe she was telling the truth and Lo'ak wasn't being treated the way that he should have been treated for favor of his older brother. Neteyam may be Tsu'tey's only biological child, but that didn't mean he loved any of the other children any less.

Neteyam's heart hurts at that question. He wouldn't want that. He would never want anyone to suffer because of him - especially Lo'ak. His little brother is probably his favorite person in all of the world.

"Yes," Neytiri says simply. "But that's a good thing, because our sons are two different people. They should be treated as if they are. Because they are both special."

"Okay..." Jake says slowly, "then what do you mean?"

"Most younger siblings learn from the punishment dealt to the older sibling. They help fall in line because of it. But take it from me, as the younger sibling, that it isn't easy to have a great older sibling that can seemingly do no wrong." Neytiri leans forward, pressing another loving kiss to Neteyam's shoulder. "For how much we spoiled Neteyam as a baby, he should be rotten to the core now. We gave him everything he ever asked for - because he rarely ever asked for anything! He should be rotten, yet he is so sweet, so compassionate, so kind. He is an absolute joy. Never disobeyed, never misbehaved. Lo'ak never got to see his older brother be disciplined for his own actions."

"And that's bad?" Jake asks, perplexed.

"No," Neytiri laughs lightly. "It was the same with Sylwanin." Neteyam could feel the tenseness in the air. No one really talked about his mom's sister. Not unless his mom brought it up. She was Tsakarem before his mom and she used to be his papa's betrothed before she died.

"My sister was just like Neteyam. She never did wrong, was my parent's golden child. She was perfect in every way. Always listened, always did right by me, took care of everyone around her, myself included. Does that sound familiar?"

"Yeah," Jake says softly. "She sounds wonderful. I'm sorry I never got to meet her."

"Knowing Sylwanin was a privilege," Tsu'tey says firmly, like an indisputable fact. "Our world is lesser without her here."

"Everyone is born twice," Neytiri says softly. "I see so much of my sister in our Neteyam. Sometimes, I think she came back as him. Something about his laugh. Something about his smile. Something about how gentle he is. I don't know how to explain it."

"I understand," Tsu'tey says softly, pressing another kiss to Neteyam's forehead. The youngest in the room stretches his legs a bit, hearing and feeling the bones down his legs pop. He shifts his hips a bit to release some tension there. His side aches but not enough to really bother him as he settles back against Tsu'tey.

Jake carefully pulls the blanket that was on his legs up to his hips, gently smoothing it down.

Neteyam drifts a bit as Neytiri says, "I was the wild child, just like Lo'ak. Only I never did anything right. I was always in trouble and Sylwanin had to fight to keep me in line. But she was so perfect. She was mom and dad's favorite, who never made a fuss, never got in trouble, and never did anything wrong. I figured that they loved her more than me because I was always in trouble. I always did wrong."

She sighs, running her fingers through Neteyam's braids, messing with one of them for a moment before smoothing it down. "Sylwanin never did anything wrong, so she never got into trouble. Until the one time that she did do something that she really shouldn't have. And the punishment for that action cost my wonderfully, yet slightly infuriatingly perfect older sister her life."

There is a long silence, as Neteyam's parents soak in the pain of the loss of his aunt. The one he never got to meet. Who wasn't much older than he is now when she died. Killed by Sky People.

Tsu'tey presses his lips to Neteyam's forehead, giving him a few short kisses before nuzzling his braids. The hand on his side gives a tiny squeeze as if to reassure himself that Neteyam was there. That he was alive and as well as he could be given the circumstances. That the pain of loss in his heart is a reflection of the past and not their present. Neteyam is alive. He's there with them. Even if his lovely aunt is not.

"I settled after that," Neytiri says softly, grief evident in her voice. "This may be a wakeup call to Lo'ak too. But if it isn't I will speak to him. Try to help him understand."

Silence. Neteyam, despite the pain in his heart, settles down enough to start drifting once more.

Finally, before falling completely asleep, Mo'at, who had been silent the entire time that Neteyam didn't even know she was there, says, quietly, "I will defer to you, Jake, as Olo'eyktan, but the other Tsahik and I were speaking, and we think that the Metkayina should stay. They have much to offer the clan, whether we know it or not. This is a time of great sorrow. We should not be adding to it by compromising our principals. By forgetting who we are as people. As Omatikaya."

"Your opinions matter, Mo'at," Jake says. "Thank you for sharing."

"We have always honored ancient tradition," Tsu'tey says, carefully.

"You agreed to stop because of us, Ma Jake. If you really want to help the Metkayina, then I support you," Neytiri agrees.

"But that's the point, I promised. I've already broken enough to last a lifetime. I won't break my promises anymore."

Tsu'tey and Neytiri both sigh. Neteyam dreamily feels his papa's hand gently run up and down his back as he says, "Ma Jake, you made that promise because of our distress. We thought that we were going to lose you. You made that promise because we were upset."

"A promise is a promise. I still made it, and my word has to mean something. I can't keep pretending like it doesn't. How am I supposed to teach our kids that our word matters if I don't intend to keep it myself," Jake asks, voice sharp. "I may not be a good father, but I am not that bad."

"You are not a bad father, Jake," Neytiri snaps, vehemently. Her sharp voice making Neteyam jump. Tsu'tey wraps his arms around him, purring softly in comfort to the oldest Sully child until his tense body relaxes. Neytiri kissing apologies into the back of his head. "I'm sorry, ma Neteyam. Go back to sleep."

"Dad..." Neteyam rasps, peeling his cheek away from Tsu'tey chest, turning slightly to look groggily at his mom and dad. He slowly, carefully turns from his papa, until his back is to Tsu'tey's chest. Through tired, bleary eyes, he tries to study Jake's face, but his vision is blurry. "Don't... say that. You are a great dad."

Jake, ears pressed flat, lets out a little sigh, pained and small. He leans forward to take Neteyam's hand, giving it a little squeeze as his other hand adjusts the mask on his eldest son's face. "Thank you for saying that, Neteyam," Jake says, but his voice sounds more miserable than thankful.

Neteyam reaches out slightly for Jake, who hesitates for only a second before moving closer. Neytiri scooting to the other side, rubbing Jake's shoulders as he goes, offering some level of comfort to him. He takes Neteyam's hand, giving it another, slightly stronger squeeze before resting while still holding it on Neteyam's thigh. The eldest Sully child sinks into Tsu'tey's chest, eyes drooping as he softly says, "I love you, dad."

A long moment of hesitation before Jake softly whispers back, "I love you too, baby boy."

"Chief, the Metkayina are asking for you."

Jake, holding Neteyam's hand as he wheezes softly, glances over his shoulder to see Tarsem standing at the doorway to Mo'at's hut, not wanting to intrude. Arvok is beside him, glancing down at Neteyam's sleeping face.

Jake lets out a little sigh, looking between both his mates and Mo'at, who nods before he even says anything, as if able to read his mind. "Go," she says. "I will remain here and look after him."

"I will too," Arvok offers, giving a little nod to Tarsem, who nods back, smiling lightly. Arvok clears his throat, before quickly walking over to Tsu'tey, helping him move Neteyam into Arvok's arms without waking him. "Go on. You three can't hold out on making a decision forever. Go. Mo'at and I will be with him. I'll let you know if we need you."

Tsu'tey pets down Neteyam's braids as he curls up into his uncle's side before pressing a heavy hand to his brother's shoulder. "We'll be back soon."

"Take your time, brother."

Jake stands with Tsu'tey, holding his hand out for Neytiri to take, which she does, and he pulls her up to his side. Then, the three mates follow after Tarsem as he leads them to the huts that he placed the Metkayina in during the time Jake was too distressed to worry about them. A part of him feels bad. He knows that he should have at least tried to be a good host, but he's been so out of sorts since coming back to First Base that he's not doing anything that he feels he should.

Then again, he's never had one of his children shot before. There are no clear guidelines on how to deal with that. Thankfully everyone has been so incredibly wonderful, especially Tarsem, for everything he's done. He's been holding the clan together while Jake has been trying to hold his family together. Jake has been so thankful for him and everything he does for the clan. He'll be sure to show the young man how much he appreciates him.

Jake stops outside of the hut, knocking on the wood before peering inside to see the entirety of the Metkayina are all gathered together, talking quietly amongst themselves. Tonowari perks up at the sight of him.

"I see you, Jake Sully, Olo'eyktan of Omatikaya." He waves his hand from his forehead, bending at the waist a bit, even as he's sitting. His family and fellow clansmen follow suit. His eyes flicker to Neytiri, nodding, then to Tsu'tey. "I see you, Neytiri and Tsu'tey."

Jake and his mates both return the gesture as Jake says, "We see you, Metkayina." He straightens up, walking into the hut and sitting down in front of Tonowari and his mate, Ronal who is sitting at his side. Tsu'tey and Neytiri flank him, as he knew they would, while Tarsem waits by the door. Also, as he knew that his friend would.

And he also knows that quite a few hunters saw them make their way to the storage huts, and he doesn't have to turn around and look back out the opening to know that they are gathering around nearby, just in case he needs them. Neytiri and Tsu'tey weren't the only ones that were affected by Talsheeze and his attack on the clan. Jake almost feels bad, like it's his fault that they are acting this way - which it definitely is.

Everything that happened with Talsheeze can all be traced back to Jake and his actions - and his blind faith in people.

"Okay," Jake says, looking between the Metkayina Tsahik and Olo'eyktan, "real talk. What is the reason that you're here. No pleasantries, not what you think I want to hear. Just the truth. Why are you here? Why not another clan on the water?"

He looks between Tonowari, Ronal, and the other adults. Two women, one of which is still mending a broken leg while the other is obviously a warrior. Two men, one elderly and the other just a few short years older than Neteyam. And four kids, Neteyam's age and younger. Three boys, and a girl. Ao'nung, Jake vaguely remembers, is Tonowari and Ronal's son.

"Many of the clans... were facing the Sky People as we were," Tonowari says, tentatively. "Some may still be holding out, but before we were attacked, many of the neighboring clans have been wiped out. Clans of people that I've known my whole life... my own clan..." Tonowari looks down at his hands, shamefully. He closes his hands into tight fists, creases forming between his eyes.

"If you've come to seek reprieve from the danger the Sky People possess," Tsu'tey says flatly, "then you have come to the wrong place. There are certainly clans here in the forest that can take you that only peripherally participate in the war when it is dire enough." His words are flat, even, but there is a rage burning in his eyes. They should all be fighting. They should all be defending their home. It's not enough for a few clans to stand. They all need to be. It is ridiculous to Tsu'tey that there are some clans out there that refuse to acknowledge the very real danger that they are all in.

And it sounds like the Metkayina was one such clan. And look what happened to them.

Everyone glances around at one another. There is a moment that something passes through them that Jake doesn't recognize. Where it's like they all have come to the same conclusion, or perhaps it was something that they agreed to long ago. And even though they already agreed, they nod again, in affirmation to a choice already made. They haven't changed their minds. Whatever it was.

"We sat back with our heads in the sand," Tonowari says, shame shining in his eyes as he raises them to meet Jake's. "We pretended that the war in the forest ended with the forest. And when the Sky People came for us, no one was willing to help one another until it was too late."

Jake's heart aches for them. They weren't given the same advantage that the Omatikaya were. Their interaction with the Sky People has always been extremely limited, or not at all. They didn't have someone like Jake. Someone that knew with a certainty that was beyond bone deep, that the Sky People would come back one day - worse than when they left. They didn't have Jake going to every Olo'eyktan meeting, preaching about the return and how all the clans have to prepare.

They were more or less caught off guard. And Jake's heart bleeds for them.

Had Jake been able to make the decision himself, the Sky People never would have come back. They would have stayed gone forever. But that's not the case. This wasn't a fairytale where dreams come true. The harsh reality stands sit before him.

These people before him lost everything to the Sky People. Friends, family, their home, even their very way of life is possibly lost to them forever. And while their ignorance is only partly their fault, they pay the full price for the greed of peoples that have nothing to do with them. And for that - for all of that - Jake feels great pity, and sorrow, for these people. He recognizes how easily it could be him sitting on the other side of this, seeking sanctuary for his children during a time of war.

It's why, even after Talsheeze, Jake can't do it. He can't turn away people who need him. It's as Mo'at said, so many people are already suffering. If he has the power to help someone, he should. Helping Nim? That didn't cost him anything, but the time it took to stabilize her the best he could and bring her to Mo'at. It was only time, and not a lot of it, if anyone asked him.

But that time, changed the course of Nim's entire life.

Jake has no delusions. Had he left her out there, Nim wouldn't have ever had a chance to survive. But here? With him and the Omatikaya? Here, she has a real chance at a life. Just like the Metkayina. Because like he's sure with Nim, if he does nothing, they'll die.

And that was what Neteyam was trying to say. He could see it as Jake does. And maybe he's looking at it through the lenses of a child - because he is a child - but maybe so is Jake. Maybe this is just going to be another one of his mistakes.

But doesn't he owe it to himself, and his kids, to know for sure? This is the world that they will inherit. And one day, when Jake is gone, he needs to know that he did everything that he could to make it a better place than when he got here - both literally got here and was born again here. He needs to do whatever he can. His children are worth the struggle.

"I'm sorry," Jake says, nodding his head towards the other man, holding his eyes and hopefully conveying how much he truly means that, and understands where the other is coming from. "Tsu'tey is right, though. We are not a clan at peace. While the invading demons still vie for our home, we will be at war with them. If you join us, become one of us, then that's what you sign up for. This isn't a decision made lightly. You could be walking into your own deaths, or..." Jake swallows, a flurry of emotion building up inside of him. There is a look passing through most of the Metkayina - perhaps all but the very young boy dozing in his mother's arms - of an understanding before he even finishes saying, "Or... you could be potentially putting the lives of your own children at risk."

"Is he okay?" Tonowari's son, Ao'nung asks quietly, blue eyes focused on Jake's face, searching for the answer as if it were written on his forehead. "No one is saying anything about him. No one will answer if he's okay."

"You are strangers in our home, asking about our prince," Tarsem says, voice low but even. "It is because of all of you that his life was in danger in the first place. That boy has gone out into the forest hundreds of times without ever having incident. Then he goes out to save all of you, and..." he hesitates, swallowing. "I have never seen him so weak, so vulnerable. All because of you."

Tsu'tey lowers his gaze, squeezing his hands into fists on his thighs while Neytiri glances over at him, looking like she wanted to reach out and comfort him.

Ao'nung, though, looks like he was struck. His pale face becoming even paler as his eyes lower to his palms, facing up from his own thighs. "I... I..."

"Tarsem, that's enough," Jake says, keeping his voice even. He glances over at his friend in understanding. He's thankful. He really is. Those cruel, cutting words come from a place of kindness. Neteyam is one day going to rule the Omatikaya. He is well respected, and well beloved.

Tarsem submits without question, bowing his head. "Yes, Olo'eyktan."

Jake nods to Tarsem, who nods back, before he turns to look at Ao'nung, sighing. "Look at me, kid." A moment of hesitation, in which his sister places her hand on his shoulder, and he finally looks over at Jake, dark circles under his eyes and a sadness there. Haunted, terrified. Jake remembers when his children used to look like that. When every small bit of the war that surrounds them used to be brought home with them. They used to carry it around with them, haunted by it. Jake remembers the nights of endless screaming and terror.

Those nights don't happen as often, but they never really stop. Neytiri told Tsu'tey and Jake just this morning about Lo'ak waking up out of a dead sleep, screaming and crying for Neteyam. How she had to hold him and coo him until he finally felt safe enough to cry himself back to sleep.

Jake still remembers those dreams himself. Waking up in paralyzing fear, locked in place. His own body unable to move. How it was like every breath was like sandpaper. How his blood felt like molasses pushing lethargically through his veins. How every limb tingled, like a ghost feeling. A phantom pain that even after over fifteen years he still remembers clear as day.

Sometimes he would lay there is frozen terror for hours until he finally unlocks his muscles, his brain, and is able to move again. And other times, he'll just be pulled from it after varying amounts of time by a mate awakened by his sobbing. Sobbing that his clogged ears couldn't hear and tears sliding down a numb face he can't feel. Like Tommy's body is finally rejecting him. A war fought every night to see who gets to be in control in the morning.

Yes, he knows that horror.

"Neteyam is okay," Jake says, swallowing the hollow feeling building up in his throat. Neytiri glances at him, sensing something from his words. Her big, beautiful eyes scan his face, reading him like an open book. "You don't have to worry," he pushes on. "Neteyam just needs some more time, but I think he's going to be okay."

The Metkayina collectively let out a breath, that Jake couldn't tell they were holding. He's not sure for the reasoning behind it, but he would like to believe that their worry for him was genuine. Neteyam just... brought that out in people. So, Jake would like to hope that this was one of those cases.

"Good," Ronal says, voice quiet as Rhalwari says, hand on her chest, "Amazing. I was so worried about him."

They both glance at each other as Tonowari nods, releasing the tension in his fists before turning back to lock eyes with Jake and saying, "To answer your question, or I suppose address your statement, we aren't looking for safety. I mean, we are, but not just that. We are looking for the people who are going to put an end to all of this." His pretty blue eyes lock with Jake's almost pinning him in place. Jake won't soon forget that the man in front of him is also an Olo'eyktan, just as proud and as strong as Jake is. "We didn't come here to hide. We came here to fight."

Neteyam wakes up a few hours later with more energy than he's had since the storm. He sits up slowly, gritting his teeth at the pain in his side, and drinks the medicine that Mo'at has prepared for him. Then she holds out another bowl, this one with simple brother - and it smells heavenly. Neteyam had to force himself not to throw it back and chug it all down. Mo'at wanted him to be careful and eat slowly as he's now gone a few days without eating much of anything aside from medicine and he needs to get used to food again.

Neteyam managed to finish most of the bowl before going back to sleep, this time Neytiri sat with him for a long time, stroking his hair and telling him bedtime stories he hasn't heard since he was a kid, while Tsu'tey and Jake cared for his siblings and saw to the needs of the clan. Neteyam listened to his mother talk for a while, as he lay in her arms, eyes growing heavier and heavier until he slips back into slumber once more, surprised by how tired he was despite spending so much time sleeping.

The following day, three days since being brought back to the clan - well, closer to two and a half - Neteyam is finally energized enough to move on to the next steps in his recovery. He wakes up early nestled safely between his father and papa, just lying there and listening to them breathe until he can't resist his biological needs and has to go to the bathroom, with Jake and Tsu'tey's help. He returns to Mo'at's hut for more medicine before she, tentatively, gives him permission to eat out with the clan. Jake changes out his breathing mask, which he appreciates, before they head out.

With a few stops and a lot of blushing while staring at his feet as his clan cheers him on, Neteyam takes an unfortunate amount of time to get to the fire pit. He rests against a log with Jake and Tsu'tey flanking him as the clan cycle through, welcoming him back and expressing their happiness about him being okay. Flushed, but happy to be able to do something other than sleep and stare at the walls within Mo'at's hut, Neteyam tentatively accepts all of the attention. Neteyam settles a bit with Arvok dropping down at his side, placing a gentle arm around his shoulders while Neytiri, Lo'ak and Tuk go to get food for everyone.

Kiri lowers onto Neteyam's other side.

"How are you feeling?" His sister asks, nudging his shoulder a bit with her own.

"I'm okay," he says from behind the mist of his mask. He pulls it away a bit to rub at his reddening cheeks from where the plastic of the mask and the elastic of the bands are digging into his skin. "I'm feeling better each day.

"That's good," Kiri says, resting her leg against his own. "Everyone has been pretty dreary around here, waiting for you to get up. You should see the pile of gifts that are stacked up outside our home every morning. Everyone just wants you to get well soon."

"Gifts?" Neteyam echoes. He rubs his face, or as much as he can with the mask in the way. "No, please don't tell me that everyone is wasting their time on me. They should be focusing on other things, not just me."

Arvok nudges his other shoulder, drawing his gaze over to his uncle. Arvok leans close, saying quietly, "Don't let anyone hear you say that. You'll break their hearts, little prince."

Neteyam's ears flatten at that, as he glares lightly at his uncle, rolling his eyes at his uncle's laugh. "Please don't call me that."

"Aww, don't be like that, Neteyam," Arvok says, laughing. Neteyam rolls his eyes again, but leans into his uncle's side, smiling a bit when Arvok squeezes his shoulder and with a single finger, twirls one of Kiri's braids. She hisses at him, playfully.

Neytiri, Tuk and Lo'ak all come back, each carrying bowls of food. Passing them out, Neytiri hands Neteyam a broth that he happily takes. Kiri takes a bowl and so does Arvok, who pulls Tuk down into his lap and nuzzles lovingly into the side of her head. Neytiri smiles at Tuk's happy giggle, as she lowers herself in front of Neteyam.

"Is Spider gone?" Neteyam asks, realizing he hasn't seen his brother since right before getting shot. Everything that followed is kind of a blur.

"Yeah, he's back with the scientists. He needed to decompress with everything that happened," Kiri says easily, pushing her food around her bowl. "I was just with him yesterday, he's probably going to come see you soon. He was worried about crowding you."

Neteyam smiles, shaking his head at that. "He's too sweet," he says softly, pausing to cough. He rubs at his chest and shakes his head at the worried look Neytiri sends his way. "I'm okay, mom. I'm just still fighting that cold."

"You sound like it," Kiri admits. "Raspier and breathier than usual. And you can't seem to catch your breath."

"Thanks," Neteyam mumbles, sipping his meal before bringing the mask that was hanging around his throat up to take a deep breath, his lungs hurting. He puts down his bowl for now and places the mask back on his face, needing it to help him breathe for a few minutes. He waves off the worried look that Neytiri sends again. "I'm okay. I do really need to catch my breath."

"If it's not helping..." Neytiri starts worried.

"It is," Neteyam says soothingly, reaching out as far as he can to touch her knee with the tips of his fingers, not able to lean forward any more with how sore his side is.

Neytiri hesitates, studying his face for a moment before nodding, reluctantly. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Where's dad and papa?" Neteyam asks, changing the subject as he glances around. They brought him here and now they're gone. Neytiri rolls her eyes at his pathetic attempt to get her to stop worrying about him.

"They stepped aside to talk to Tarsem and the Tsahik," Neytiri says, picking out some food from her bowl and eating it.

"Tarsem is doing a great job helping out with the clan for your dad, it's expected that he gets to be in on this stuff," Arvok says easily, not bothering to look up at anyone. He was just looking down at his bowl.

Arvok lifts Tuk up a bit so that she's more on his leg, having her lean into the curve of his arm. He carefully crosses his legs under Tuk and takes a bite of his own food, chewing thoughtfully. He blinks for a second, feeling eyes on him, and he glances over at Kiri, Neteyam and Neytiri, all staring at him. He looks between them, ears flicking a bit.

"What?" He asks, easily.

Kiri raises an eyebrow at her uncle. "You know, an outsider hearing that would think that perhaps you are jealous of how close Tarsem is to dad and papa." Arvok blinks big, surprised eyes at her, his lips parting to protest before she grins, playfully, "But because I know you, I know that you're jealous of papa and dad being close to Tarsem."

Arvok gapes at her, ears flicking back as he looks between her and a grinning Neytiri. Neteyam looks down at his broth, forehead creased like if he had eyebrows, they'd be raised toward his hairline.

"I," Arvok says both carefully and sternly, "am not jealous of anyone."

"Wow," Kiri says, grinning down at her bowl. "If I was anyone else, I might just believe that."

"Kiri," Arvok gasps, eyes wide. "Mind yourself, little girl, or you and I are going to have problems."

Kiri grins, playfully, over at her uncle, Neytiri and Neteyam sharing amused looks at Kiri, quietly whispers, in English, "Arvok and Tarsem sitting in Hometree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

Neteyam nearly knocks his mask off of his face with how fast he reaches up to cover his mouth to try to hide his smile. Neytiri tries no such thing, she laughs at Arvok's expense, eyes sparkling. Tuk laughs, grinning up at her uncle who is flushed with embarrassment. He sets down his bowl and reaches up to cover Tuk's ears, which makes Neytiri laugh harder.

"You know, for a self-proclaimed pacifist, you sure know how to sharpen your claws against my feelings," he says, and despite his words, there is a tentative, almost playful smile crossing his lips. "Me? Your favorite uncle. All I ever do is love you, Kiri, and you only hurt me. Remember the ice cream? That came from the heart, and now you've hurt me so."

"You say these things," Neteyam says softly, trying not to draw any more attention to them than they already had. "But do you think that there might be a chance that Tarsem could be interested back? I mean, the two of you have been getting close recently."

Arvok rolls his eyes, releasing Tuk. "Tarsem was supposed to be Olo'eyktan of the Tipani clan. He's been an invaluable part of our clan since the merger. He's been putting his years of training to good use. He's an incredible hunter and leader, I just admire that. No big deal. A lot of people do. Many men and women from both clans are vying for his attention, and his affections."

Neytiri shakes her head. "You are just like your brother. You know, he made a lot of excuses too for why he and Jake could never be, all while making the same moony eyes that you're making."

Arvok, scandalized, opens his mouth to protest when the clan starts making loud whoops and hollers. Neytiri twists around from where she's seated to see Jake and Tsu'tey, as well as Tarsem, Mo'at and Ghresa, making their way through the crowd, heading towards the firepit. Jake's eyes find Neytiri, and she nods. She turns, sparing a glance at Arvok and her children before dismissing herself and heading over to stand at Jake's other side, the three mates standing united while Tarsem and the two Tsahik stand off to the side, but still present before the clan.

Jake smiles faintly at the clan's jubilance. He raises his hands, waving them a bit until the clan settles down. He takes a moment to look out over all of them, making eye contact with as many of them as possible. They settle into silence, waiting for their Olo'eyktan to speak, quietly munching on their breakfast while they wait.

Once he knows that he has their attention, he clears his voice and speaks up, "Good morning, everyone. I would like to start off by thanking you all for being so patient with me these last few days. It's been pretty hectic, and I would like to thank all of you for your diligence and your hard work. I know I've been pretty absent with everything going on with Neteyam but I wanted to touch base with everyone about what our future is going to start looking like. In regard to an update on Neteyam, as well as what exactly we are going to do with the Metkayina."