Author's Note: Another one down!

Tsyeyk, completely oblivious to the silence in the room, happily laughs and claps his hands. He turns grabs onto Tsu'tey's arm, stammering out in his excitement, "Do this! Tsyeyk, yes, Father to-to Hometree! To Hometree, with-with Tsyeyk. And Tsu'tey! And...and Mo'at and Eytukan! And, um, Sylly and Neytiri! Oh! And Uvay! And and Umrr! And Eeki too! With Father, be Hometree here!"

Tsu'tey carefully looks between Tsyeyk to Father, bringing his hand to his forehead and waving it respectfully in greeting to the massive palulukan, remembering his manners. Father watches the action before offering a shallow tip of his head in return. Then again to Mo'at and Eytukan as they approach to greet him, tentatively but definitely not frightened like the rest of the inhabitants of Hometree are. Father's blue eyes scan the Omatikaya as they stare back at him, and his eyes narrows his eyes in challenge.

"Peace, Father," Mo'at says in understanding. She gestures to the clan. "The Omatikaya wishes only for peace and to welcome you to Hometree. We are simply not used to guests such as yourself. They mean no disrespect."

Father looks around at all the pale faces of the Omatikaya staring, stunned, back at him. He seems to acknowledge that what Mo'at is saying is true. He pointedly stares at a hunter, though, as he stalks silently further into Hometree toward Mo'at and Eytukan. Feeling the weight of the massive beast's stare, he lowers the hand that had instinctually moved over to his knife.

He bows his head, tail lashing anxiously as he splays his hands out to his side in a show of submission.

"Welcome to Hometree, Father," Eytukan says, keeping his posture sure and his face even, despite the flick of his tail in unease. Like Tsu'tey, even knowing that Father won't attack without reason doesn't make it easy to fight the innate fear that comes with facing off against an apex predator like Father.

Father's face fans flutter a bit as he looks over at a giddy Tsyeyk, head tipping just a bit.

"Yes," Mo'at says easily, like he had spoken aloud. "Tsyeyk has been trying to get you to come and visit our home. We are happy to have you. Would you join us by the fire?" She gestures past herself toward the communal fire. An honor to be invited for strangers, but Father was a special exception. Just as Tsyeyk had been.

While Tsu'tey was staring, Tsyeyk slings that first blanket that was ever given to him over Tsu'tey's neck so that his scent can cover it once more. Tsu'tey had been so distracted by Father he hadn't even realized Tsyeyk was holding it. Without thinking too hard, Tsu'tey removes his choker and slides it into one of the pouches on his side, knowing Tsyeyk would appreciate as much of his scent sticking to the blanket as possible. And Tsu'tey was happy to do it.

"Food, Father!" Tsyeyk yells, pulling from Tsu'tey and bounding over to the large palulukan. Some of the Omatikaya jump, startled by his voice. He stops by Mo'at on his way to Father, hugging her tight and nuzzling her cheek, lovingly. She nuzzles him back, smiling before he moves to Eytukan, hugging him tightly. He giggles when Eytukan runs a hand over the back of his head, pressing it towards him a bit. The closest to a hug Tsyeyk's gotten from the more stoic, strict male.

Tsyeyk smiles up at the Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya, giggling when the older man pats the back of his head before he's pulling back and moving to Father. He holds his hands up, pulling Father's head down to Tsyeyk's chest so that he can hug Father tightly to him purring happily. Father leans into him, making Tsyeyk laugh more, struggling to keep upright with Father's weight pressed against him.

He presses back, hugging Father's head. "To food, Father? To food?"

Father rumbles, running a long, barbed tongue from Tsyeyk's neck up to his temple. Tsyeyk recoils, baring his teeth at Father and letting out a playful hiss. Father rumbles, amused his pup would even pretend to bite back. He nudges Tsyeyk with his muzzle. Tsyeyk laughs, grabbing Father's face and pressing his own tightly against the large palulukan, purring. He rubs his soft cheek against Father's rougher one before pulling back and waving for Father to follow him. He does, casting a long look at the surrounding Omatikaya as he makes his way toward Tsu'tey. Slow, measured steps, silent, even in this large space with only the crackling of the fire, and yet, Father moves like a shadow.

The Omatikaya in between Mo'at and Eytukan, and Tsu'tey move back, giving Father a wide berth, watching him with large golden eyes. Not a single soul even daring to reach out to touch Tsyeyk like they usually would with Father stalking behind him, blue eyes scanning the room over and over again. Tsu'tey, finally in control of himself again after his shock, reaches out to gently caress Tsyeyk's cheek.

"Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something?"

Tsyeyk nods, grinning broadly as he reaches out to touch Tsu'tey's chest. "To eat, Tsu'tey. Yes. To food, with Tsu'tey. With Father. Be eat at here. With Hometree."

Tsu'tey smiles softly, placing his hand over the one on his chest. "Yes. You did it. You got Father to join us here." Tsyeyk bounces a bit, laughing sweetly. He presses his nose up into Tsu'tey's jaw. Father moves around them to lower onto the ground by the fire, the Omatikaya watching him but not daring to get closer. Neytiri and Sylwanin are slowly relaxing from where they were seated just a few feet from where Father lowered down.

"Yes! Hometree, here. With Father, yes."

Tsu'tey leans into the hand on his chest and the nose on his chin. "You are too cute, Ma'Tsyeyk," he murmurs softly to him.

Tsyeyk giggles, nodding. "Yes! Yes! Tsu'tey is pretty!"

Tsu'tey shakes his head in disbelief, cheeks warming a bit at that. He doesn't know what Tsyeyk saw in him but to be reflected in those beautiful eyes feels so powerful, like staring into the heart of the Great Mother herself. Well, he is blessed by her, so in some ways - many ways - it is like staring into her heart. Her heart that walks and talks, interacting with all of her children.

More than just being blessed by her, he is a piece of her heart given a living form. Tsu'tey firmly believes that. He doesn't care what others think, Tsyeyk is special beyond just being special. He's not blessed by the Great Mother, he is loved by her. Adored by her. Tsu'tey can just feel it.

Tsu'tey kisses Tsyeyk's cheek, before pulling back. "Would you like meat or fruit, Tsyeyk?"

"Um..." Tsyeyk draws out, looking around as if the answer was floating around his head. "Um... fruit! Pease, okay? Okay, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey smiles, lowering his forehead to Tsyeyk's. "Please...? Like this, Tsyeyk. Please..."

Tsyeyk grins back, his hands cupping Tsu'tey's cheeks, tail swinging excitedly behind him. "Pease, okay? Pease, okay, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey laughs, nodding. "Close enough. We'll keep working on it." He climbs to his feet to grab some food, but Tsyeyk takes his hand and follows him. "Oh, you want to come with me?" He grins down at the shorter teen, who smiles back at him. Tsyeyk carefully laces their fingers together before skipping towards the food line, pulling a chuckling Tsu'tey along with him.

While Tsu'tey is grabbing an assortment of fruit, Tsyeyk's eyeing the bits of meat and organs that the Omatikaya don't have a use for, that he knows Father likes to eat. He points at the pile, eyeing the cook with an innocent look on his face that makes Tsu'tey smile lovingly at. "Tsyeyk yes? Pease?"

The older, elderly man nods, waving for Tsyeyk to follow him. "Bringing some to the palulukan, Tsyeyk?"

Tsyeyk nods, bouncing beyond the invisible line where only cooks and their aids are allowed back there to see to feeding the clan. He accepts a large piece of cloth by the cook to lay out and grab all the pieces that he knows Father will like and gather them up into the cloth and straightens up. Happy with his horde of gore he bounces back over the invisible line, waving at the cook and heading back to Father with Tsu'tey. Tsu'tey grabs some water for Tsyeyk, not yet sure he wants to introduce sugary juices to the hyper boy just yet.

"To eat, Father!" Tsyeyk exclaims excitedly as the Omatikaya have begun lowering themselves down near the fire, watching Father carefully, murmuring amongst themselves while stealing looks at them. He lowers down the cloth, opening it up and offering the contents to him. "To Father eat, okay?"

Father rumbles, eyes scanning the leftovers, nosing his way through it before picking out the pieces he wants and starting there. Tsyeyk sits right up against Tsu'tey, resting his cheek on Tsu'tey shoulder. He twirls his tail around Tsu'tey's, which makes the other male lean into him.

"Welcome back, Tsyeyk," Sylwanin says, smiling faintly. She waves her hand from the boy to Father. "Welcome, Father."

He dips his chin a bit, licking blood off of his muzzle as Mo'at and Eytukan sit down next to their daughters.

"Did you and Father spend the day out and about, Tsyeyk, or is this basically morning for you?" Neytiri asks, taking a bit of some of the worms in the bowl in front of her dropping them into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully.

"Play?" Tsyeyk says, looping an arm through Tsu'tey's. "Play, then Hometree."

Tsyeyk takes a big bite of one of his fruits, purring and pressing more into Tsu'tey's side. He picked the ones that Tsyeyk liked best. The sour taste made his cheeks burn, but he loved it. Tsu'tey's fingers slide under his shawl and dance up his ribs, not able to slot into them as easily as he used to, which seems to please Tsu'tey. Tsyeyk's stomach hasn't hurt in the way that he's used to in a long time - and he's thankful for that. He loves food. Especially when it loves him back.

"So, out all day, then," Neytiri says.

"Sounds like it," Sylwanin says, smiling. "Did you just want to stop in for food before going back to the cave?"

Tsyeyk tilts his head, taking another bite. He looks toward the main entrance, where the little cubby hole is and points with the hand that the fruit is in. "There, Sylly. Tsyeyk and Father and Tsu'tey."

Tsu'tey tenses up. "You're going to stay? Tonight? With Father?" Mo'at and Eytukan share a look, the former looking excited at the prospect.

Tsyeyk nods, turning back around. "Yes. Take Father with Hometree and then sleep." He takes another bite. "Mm!"

Tsu'tey frowns at the amused look on Neytiri's face, and Sylwanin's pitying smile. His tail curls tighter around Tsyeyk's, the younger male not seeming to mind as he just presses closer.

"Tsyeyk..."

"Tsu'tey?"

"Don't you want to relax in your nest with Father...? I don't want to make you uncomfortable..."

Tsyeyk tilts his head, frowning as he peers up at Tsu'tey. His ears press back as creases appear between his eyes, thin brows pulling together. "No, Tsu'tey. Be at here with Tsyeyk, okay? Okay, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey shifts, anxiously, glancing over at Father, to see him staring back, eyes half-lidded. Tsu'tey's lips press together at the look that Father is sending him, able to read between the lines of what is making the older teen anxious. Father huffs, turning to look into the fire, making Tsu'tey blush in embarrassment. Mo'at smiles at him, amused, while Eytukan is unsurprisingly the more compassionate of the two of them for the position that he's in.

"I don't want to impose on your time with Father..." Tsu'tey says weakly. Neytiri and Mo'at flash identical looks of amusement and pity.

Tsyeyk finishes his fruit and grabs out another one, munching happily. Remembering the manners Mo'at worked hard to instill into him, he finishes chewing before saying, "Yes. Okay. Okay, Tsu'tey." Then he goes back to eating.

Tsu'tey frowns at Tsyeyk as he leans back into his side. Tsu'tey lets out a little sigh, resigning himself to his fate. Tsyeyk... doesn't appear as though he understands. While Father, of course, seems like he does, and he's amused by Tsu'tey's weak attempt at trying to avoid this awkward situation. Father just goes back to eating, letting out another amused huff. Tsu'tey flinches and Tsyeyk glances at him innocently but says nothing.

Once they are finished eating and the Omatikaya begin dispersing for the night, Father lowers to lay on his side, closing his eyes. Tsu'tey suspects that, despite his eyes being closed, he was still awake and alert. But he yawns over and over again, which means Tsyeyk's probably had him up and about all day running around. Tsu'tey knows that feeling. Even while he was weakened from being unable to eat properly, Tsyeyk had boundless energy, more than someone in his position should. Now he spends hours a day racing around Hometree whenever he's here chasing and being chased by the children. Tsu'tey can't even begin to understand where all his energy comes from. Absolute insanity.

Neytiri and Sylwanin occupy Tsyeyk, talking to him. He happy keeps bouncing up onto his knees in excitement at their stories - the hunts that Neytiri went on, or the cool places that Sylwanin visited - then back down onto his bottom. Up onto his knees and down again. On and on. He keeps getting closer to Tsu'tey until he's sitting on his lap. Tsu'tey just laughed, resigned to his fate, wrapping his arms around Tsyeyk's waist.

Tsu'tey gently runs his fingers up and down Tsyeyk's sides from under his shawl. Tsyeyk's wide eyes stay locked on the sisters, wiggling excitedly at each new story. He leans forward as Tsu'tey moves his hands to Tsyeyk's back, running up and down the length of his spine. Where once the knobs of his spine would be poking out alarmingly far just a few short weeks ago, now his bones seem to fit nicely in his skin. He's still too skinny, still needing to get more weight, but each day he fills out more and more, getting back to a healthy weight. Mo'at is pleased, saying that he should be sure to be allowed to eat whenever he wants.

His favored shawl easily covers up the progress he's making, so Tsu'tey will take any chance he can get to make sure that Tsyeyk is still well on his way - and, well, because Tsyeyk doesn't mind Tsu'tey lovingly caressing him. His tail twirling around Tsu'tey's thigh to keep them connected together.

"Tsyeyk's back, pease. Okay, Tsu'tey?" Tsyeyk asks, glancing over his shoulder at the other male. "Pease, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey smiles, running his hands up and down Tsyeyk's back. Tsyeyk purrs softly, leaning forward to offer more of his back to Tsu'tey as he looks over at Eytukan so that he can finish explaining to Tsyeyk about the duties of the Omatikaya.

"Each member of the Omatikaya must learn their place, Tsyeyk," Eytukan says easily. "We have to find out what it is that you want to do. So be sure to keep observing those around you, see if there is something specific that catches your attention."

Tsyeyk nods, skin dancing under Tsu'tey's fingers, pimpling out at the sensation. "Be with Tsu'tey, Omatikaya, here."

Eytukan crosses his arms over his chest. "Do you plan on staying well into tomorrow, Tsyeyk?"

Tsyeyk looks over at Father, blinking big golden eyes before looking back over at Eytukan and nodding once more. "Be here." He leans back into Tsu'tey's arm. "Be Tsu'tey here, Ey...tu...kan." He brings his hands up over his shoulders to touch at the back of Tsu'tey's head, threading through his braids lightly, even brushing the fabric of his blanket that Tsu'tey was scenting for him. The other male kisses the pulse point at his inner wrist as Tsyeyk smiles at the action.

"How about we start working on the bow starting tomorrow?" Eytukan offers. Mo'at smiles at him, leaning into his side as Tsyeyk giggles, excited. "I'll show you how to find a good piece of wood to utilize and how to start carving it."

"Forest! With bow! Tsyeyk and Ey! Um, um, Eytu...kan!" He presses into Tsu'tey, bringing his hands down to Tsu'tey's knees. "We go? We go? Yes?" He looks over his shoulder, past Tsu'tey to the entrance of Hometree. He points, looking at the clan chief. "Yes, okay? We go, Eytu...kan! Yes?"

Mo'at laughs, pressing a hand onto Eytukan's thigh. "Now look at what you've done."

"Tomorrow," Eytukan says firmly. "We will start in the morning after I have finished with what I need to do."

"And Tsu'tey?"

"I have lessons I need to attend," Tsu'tey says, wrapping his arms around Tsyeyk's waist, hugging him close. "I will come join you in the afternoon. But you must listen to the clan chief until then."

Tsyeyk pouts, but nods. "Okay."

"After lessons with dad, would you like to come with me, Tsyeyk?" Sylwanin asks. "We can go gather some things for the clan."

Tsyeyk perks up at that, tail curling and tapping against Tsu'tey's thigh. "Play? We play? Tsyeyk and Sylly?"

Sylwanin smiles, laughing sweetly behind her hand. "Yes. We can play tomorrow while we're gathering supplies for the clan." Tsyeyk squeals in excitement, bouncing a bit. His fingers drum against Tsu'tey's knees.

"We play! We play!"

Not too long later, Tsyeyk, Tsu'tey and Father say their goodbyes. Father lethargically crawling to his feet, yawning. He stretches out large and languidly before looking at Tsyeyk with half-lidded eyes, ready to actually go to bed. Tsyeyk hugs everyone before heading off, yawning too, despite himself. Tsu'tey tips his head in farewell, while Father blinks sleepily, following after Tsyeyk.

Tsyeyk purrs happily, Tsu'tey's blanket wrapped around his shoulders as he skips towards the little alcove by the main entrance. He squeals happily, running inside to see his nest is as he left it. He adjusts their musings from the one and only night that he and Tsu'tey had slept in it, clapping happily as he pulls Tsu'tey's two blankets together so that he could sleep with those close to him.

Father squeezes into the small place, grunting as he had to lower his head and with feline grace, fold himself a bit to fit before walking around the nest, eyeing it carefully. He huffs the air, taking in Tsyeyk and Tsu'tey's faint scent from days prior. He waits for Tsyeyk to giddily pat at the blankets for him to enter the nest before walking in, closest to the entrance to guard Tsyeyk while he sleeps and lowers down with a grunt.

Tsu'tey carefully moves to Tsyeyk's other side but stays off the blankets. Tsyeyk rolls around on the blankets, wrapping up in the two that smell like Tsu'tey, laughing happily as he digs in. He yawns again, waving for Tsu'tey to join him as Father closes his eyes to rest, letting out another huff as he carefully rolls onto his side. His heavy tail's muffled thumps against the blankets a few times before falling still.

Tsu'tey eyes Father wearily before removing his adornments and cummerbund and knife, setting them off to the side. He crawls over to Tsyeyk who opens his arms for him. Despite his anxiety about sleeping near to the apex predator, Father, Tsyeyk's sweet smile and laugh makes him forget all about those petty worries.

"We have to remove your knife, my love," Tsu'tey says softly. Tsyeyk reaches down, carefully detaching it from his tewng and handing it to the Omatikaya heir. Tsu'tey puts it aside, next to his own, before looking back down at the forest boy, anxiously. Tsyeyk pulls Tsu'tey down onto his chest, purring.

They wrap around one another and Tsu'tey wonders, briefly, if Tsyeyk would like to be cuddled, as he usually seems to love it. But Tsyeyk pulled Tsu'tey into his arms, cradling him onto his chest so maybe it's okay. Tsu'tey loved this feeling, being wrapped up in Tsyeyk's arms for a change. As much as he adored holding Tsyeyk close to him, there was always something so comforting about it being the other way around.

As if sensing all the unease leeching from his body, Tsyeyk hugs him tighter, nuzzling his braids before falling still, chest humming softly with the purr softly dying out.

Tsu'tey wakes up to Tsyeyk pushing on him, huffing in the darkness. Tsu'tey rubs at the back of his neck, smiling in amusement as Tsyeyk sits up and rips his red and purple shawl off of his head, tossing it away. He stretches then waves his hands at his chest, trying to cool down a bit. He turns onto his side, back to Tsu'tey and maneuvers one of Tsu'tey's blankets down to his waist so that his back is exposed to the night air, and then brings the other one up to his face, balling it up and laying his head down on it, breathing in Tsu'tey's scent.

Tsu'tey peaks at Father, seeing him still sleeping - or at least, his eyes are still closed - before he lays down against Tsyeyk's back, pressing his nose into the junction of Tsyeyk's neck and shoulder, breathing him in. Tsu'tey draws his hand up Tsyeyk's chest, not minding the sweat built up against his soft skin. He's still skinny - too small in Tsu'tey's arms, but there is more meat on his ribs and chest and his stomach isn't nearly as sunken in anymore. He's getting better. He's getting stronger more and more each day and Tsu'tey is so proud of him.

Tsu'tey smiles as Tsyeyk's tail squeezes between his legs to curl around one of his thighs to keep him close.

Tsyeyk wakes up sometime after Tsu'tey leaves the following morning. But he did have what he thought was a very nice dream of his Tsu'tey kissing and nuzzling him gently. It made him giggle at the soft feeling against his neck and shoulder. His tail gets tugged and he whines then realized that he was holding Tsu'tey to him. Tsu'tey gently unwinds his tail, kissing the back of his head, then neck, then shoulder before pulling away.

Tsyeyk opens blurry eyes, seeing Father leaned up, looking at them at the sound of Tsyeyk's whine, before tipping his head at the Omatikaya's heir proper and respectful good morning. As Tsu'tey puts his adornments, cummerbund and knife back onto himself, he disappears out into the brightening light of Hometree behind Father. Tsyeyk drifts back to sleep with Father settling his head into the curve of Tsyeyk's waist.

Tsyeyk wakes up a little bit later to the sounds of the Omatikaya gathering for the morning meal. Tsyeyk yawns, sitting up. Father grumbles but gets up to join him. Tsyeyk puts his shawl and knife back on before heading out, looking for Tsu'tey as he heads for the communal fire. He gets about halfway there when he remembers that Tsu'tey was supposed to be doing some lessons this morning. He wanted to go with Tsu'tey. He wants to go to this school and meet this Grace. He wanted to so bad, yet he wasn't allowed to go.

Why wasn't he allowed to have fun with them? It wasn't fair. Neytiri, Tsu'tey, Arvok and Sylwanin got to go. It's not fair that he's not allowed to.

Tsyeyk's shoulders droop as he trudges on to see Eeki, Umrr and a few other hunters gathered. Tsyeyk's eyes brighten at the sight of them, but he gasps, tail lashing excitedly as he makes his way over to Uvay pressing into her father's side.

"Uvay!" Tsyeyk cheers, rushing for her.

She blinks, looking over at him, her own eyes brightening. She runs to meet him, skidding to a halt, her eyes widening in terror as Father peers down at her from over his shoulder. But Tsyeyk doesn't seem to notice, he just grabs hold of her and pulls her up into his arms, cuddling her close. Shaken, she hugs Tsyeyk tightly, looking up at Father, her tail wrapping around herself and her ears pressing back in fear.

Tsyeyk purrs, hugging her tightly before heading for the hunters, Father stalking closely behind him, ice blue eyes peering down at the trembling little girl.

Tsyeyk looks at her, tilting his head, finally noticing. He follows her eyes to Father, blinking a few times confused. He looks back at her, cuddling her close. "No, Uvay, Father not be hurting, okay? Father nice. Father and baby Uvay."

"Scary, Tsyeyk. Daddy says that Father is a friend, but... but..." her little voice squeaks, glancing at Father. He adjusts her onto his hip, her arms wrapping around his neck as he looks over at Father.

"Father," he says, chastising. He steps closer, even though Uvay was afraid, and placing a hand on Father's muzzle. "Okay, Uvay, Father not be hurting, okay? Father good. No bad. No hurt."

Tsyeyk presses his face to Father's, nuzzling him lovingly. Father rumbles, returning the favor. Uvay blinks in surprise, watching them. Quietly, she asks, "Tsyeyk's... daddy?"

He grins at her, rubbing his cheek against Father's face fan. "Tsyeyk's father. Father is Tsyeyk's." Father rumbles, running a barbed tongue against his neck and cheek. "No fear, okay?"

She nods slowly, eyeing Father wearily. Tsyeyk makes his way over to the hunters, sitting with them and keeping Uvay on his lap. Father yawns, lowering behind him and resting his head on his frontmost paws. The hunters wave their hands in greeting to both Tsyeyk and Father, which Tsyeyk excitedly returns and Father slow blinks in acknowledgement.

"Did you want to get your ears pierced today?" Eeki asks, offering some mushrooms and roots. Tsyeyk grabs a handful, holding them out for Uvay to take some. She accepts, flushing sweetly.

"Thank you..." she says softly. Umrr smiles at her for remembering her manners.

"Yes!" Tsyeyk says, eating some roots before touching his soft lobes.

"One or both?" Eeki asks.

Tsyeyk's tail twirls excitedly. "Um! Um! Tsyeyk get two okay? Eeki, okay?"

She nods, smiling. "Okay, Tsyeyk. How about we do it now, that way by the time the chief is ready for you, you'll have some time for the ache to go away." Tsyeyk nods. "Remember, it's going to sting a bit. Is that still okay?"

Tsyeyk nods, excitedly. "Yes! Pretty!" He giggles.

"You're going to pierce your ears?" Uvay asks, blinking up at him.

Tsyeyk cuddles her closely, nuzzling her cheek. "Yes! Tsyeyk ears! Um, Eeki do this." He points to the lobe. "Here, okay? Yes, Eeki, okay?"

She nods, smiling. "Eat up. I'll be back." With her hands on her knees, she pushes up onto her feet.

Father slow blinks, watching her go. He turns his eyes to one of the male hunters that cautiously asks if he wants something to eat as well but Father shakes his head in favor of yawning. Tsyeyk bounces excitedly, yammering away in Uvay's ear his senseless babble. Certain words in the long stream of them making their skin prickle. Emotions of joy and excitement crawling across their skin.

Once Eeki returns, she gets right to work, reminding Tsyeyk that it was going to hurt and that he had to be strong. Tsyeyk nods in understanding, forcing himself to focus on eating and not feeling whatever she was about to do to his ear. Well, pierce it, like her own. He tries hard to keep still even when it felt like she was gouging his ears out. He cuddles Uvay being sure to keep her from seeing the tears welling up in his eyes. But within only a few minutes, they are both done, and she tenderly leans his throbbing lobes while explaining how to care for them.

"No playing around in the mud, okay, Tsyeyk?"

Sniffling and blinking tears from his eyes, he nods. Eeki wraps an arm around his shoulders, hugging him sweetly. Father stares at them, as if judging whether or not this was an attack on Tsyeyk, but seems content to assume that it was what he wanted.

"You were so brave," she says kindly. Umrr nods, smiling just as kindly. He looks between Tsyeyk and Uvay, happily.

"Yeah," Tsyeyk says with his voice shaking, nodding his head slowly. She laughs, giving him a loving squeeze before fathering up her supplies and packing it away into her bag. "Owie, but Tsyeyk brave." He sniffles.

Eeki laughs. "You are very brave. We are all very proud of you."

Tsyeyk sniffles again, nodding. "Yeah, Tsyeyk brave. Proud of Tsyeyk."

"Yeah," Uvay says, inspecting his throbbing earlobes. "We are very proud!"

Despite how stoic and strict the Omatikaya Olo'eyktan is, Tsyeyk loves spending time with him. He nodded pleasantly as Tsyeyk showed off his newly pierced earlobes. The black rings expanding the holes only a little bit, not as large as Eeki's or Neytiri's, but enough that when he looks at his reflection he can see through the tiny holes. He's happy, he didn't want them as big as Neytiri's. He liked them as they were and Eeki promised that when his ears were healed, she would have something that she was working on ready for him.

The idea of getting a present made him squeal in joy. But he had to wait for it, which he begrudgingly accepted.

A few hunters and Father join Tsyeyk and Eytukan in the forest. Father wanders off, stopping by every once and while but Tsyeyk makes sure to stay with Eytukan and the rest of the hunters, trying to follow the lessons that he's teaching. Thankfully, Eytukan doesn't seem to mind him asking questions or drawing him back when he gets distracted by something around him. He tries to listen, and he holds to Eytukan's elbow to keep with him.

One of the hunters had to keep reminding him not to touch his ears or he was going to get them infected. He may have been told once or twice. Or ten times before he finally stopped.

Eventually, he lets Tsyeyk find a stick that he'll use to carve into a training bow for him to use. He would find one and bring it to Eytukan, and the Olo'eyktan would show him what was wrong with his choices. Tsyeyk had been so fascinated by all the things he had to remember in order to just find a sick that could be made into a bow. It can't be too thin. It has to be strong. There has to be some give to it. It's best if it comes from certain trees as opposed to others. It can't be too short. it can't have knots in it. All sorts of things to remember.

It took a few hours of wandering through the forest, and a lot of trial and error, but eventually Tsyeyk found one that Eytukan approved of.

That earned Tsyeyk a faint smile and a pat on the head, which made Tsyeyk glow with pride. Everyone is so proud of him today!

Even Father came back as they were making their way to Hometree, but when Tsyeyk showed him the stick, saying, "Look! Father! A stick!" Father took it in his mouth and ran off with it, making Tsyeyk yelp in horror and race after him. The hunters follow to keep an eye on things. Father kept to the path leading to Hometree, playfully encouraging Tysyek to follow along, waving the stick a bit in his mouth as Tsyeyk chased him, yelling, "No! No, Father! Tsyeyk's stick! Okay, Father? Okay?"

By the time they made it back to Hometree, the pa'li are screaming in terror and running to the other side while Father is quietly standing in front of Tsyeyk while the feral boy chastises him in his blathering nonsense while some Omatikaya watch on with eyes wide in worry. Father, though, only looks on amused at his pup. His hands are on his hips and a pouty frown on his lips. His eyebrows pull together while Father carefully sits, spitting out the stick into the dirt and staring down his long muzzle at him. Tsyeyk leans down to pick it up, face crinkling at the saliva all over his palm.

"Ew, Father, ew."

Father's chest rumbles, amused. Tsyeyk throws another pout at him before going to rejoin Eytukan, who takes his place on one of the large rocks outside of Hometree. He saddles up with the older male and the hunters and gets to work, leaning back into Father, as he lays down behind him, any dispute between them already forgotten. Eytukan waits for Tsyeyk to offer him his full attention before proceeding with his first lesson in crafting his very first training bow.