I am excited for an upcoming chapter I have loads of exciting ideas for. But we have to get there first, and I don't want to rush it.

-~-

Hazel would think about that afternoon she spent with Tsu'tey in the clearing for years to come. If she didn't already know what magic was, she would've called it so. Or maybe it was magic, just in a form she hadn't seen before.

Hazel bonded with her direhorse within thirty minutes of them arriving, but they stayed the whole afternoon, and missed the evening meal.

The reason for Tsu'tey's shy question that morning became immediately clear at the breathtaking nature of the clearing. It was stunning, a meadow of beauty only seen in untouchable dreams. The floor a blanket of life and flowers of all colours, with a fresh water stream trickling gently through. There were bundles of flowers that released a sparkling nectar that flew with the slight breeze that ruffled them. The sun shone through them like fireflies dancing to an unheard song in the air. The trees surrounding the meadow seemed stunned as well by the beauty, creating a boundary they dared not cross.

All afternoon they spoke, they played and they learned. Learned of one another's lives, their dreams, and their fears. Hazel had shown Tsu'tey her magic, enjoying his face light up in awe and interest. Tsu'tey had shown her his beads. Hazel learned that each bead of different material and colour held a meaning to the tribe.

They spoke of their darker times, times filled with bullet holes in schools, of loved ones long gone. They spoke of happier times, the first time Tsu'tey had gained his warrior bead, the first time Hazel had flew on her broom.

Never before had Hazel connected to someone like she had to Tsu'tey. It felt like greeting a loved one after years apart.

Often, in the past, Hazel had wondered why she was like the way she was. There was a time at her most loneliest, shortly after Hermione had passed, that she had broken down into pieces, begging and pleading to lady magic to help her not be lonely anymore. All she had ever got in return was a feeling of 'wait'. But Hazel had done waiting, and it seemed that her pleas of long ago had finally been answered in the form of Tsu'tey.

Tsu'tey seemed to feel what she felt. His normally firm exterior always fell into a smile and contentment around her. As for Hazel, there's no other word for it than she crumbled. It was as if Tsu'tey had snapped a twin in her heart and it happened to be the load bearer for her whole existence.

When Hazel had to return to her human body that evening, she told him goodbye like she would never see him again. She knew in her heart that it was already too late for her to try not to care. With Tsu'tey, she hadn't stood a chance.

-~-

"Hey Hazel, you're late back today." Max stated from his position at Jake's link chamber.

"Hi Max, yes I was learning archery and riding direhorses today." Hazel climbed out of her link, shaking herself at the feeling of her body. "Is Jake still under?"

"No, I was just finishing a routine check on this link. Someone just came to collect him to see Quaritch."

Suddenly focused, Hazel looked towards Max. "When was this?"

"Not more than five minutes ago." Hazel's mind whirled and she made a decision.

"Thanks Max." With that she walked to the door, running when out of view of Max. She needed to catch up to Jake. Hazel ran to a room with several exits that did not have cameras leading in all directions. This would mean anyone checking the cameras now or in the future would not be suspicious if they didn't see her leave. After confirming the room was empty she disillusioned herself, adding silencing charms and a notice-me-not just to make sure.

Running again, Hazel headed towards the command room. She knew Jake met up with both Quaritch and Selfridge for these meetings and they would most likely be happening there. After waiting several seconds, she snuck into an open door after an attendee.

"You've got outer columns, then a secondary ring here, and an inner ring." That was Jake's voice. And the imbecile was describing the structure of the Hometree. "Then there's a core structure, it's like spiral, that's how they move up and down." Hazel wanted to knock some sense into his brain. Couldn't he see that he was being used? Couldn't he see that he had just given away the information they needed to attempt to crumble Hometree to the ground? For his sake, she hoped he didn't. She hoped that he was just being stupid and didn't know the consequences of his actions for the Na'vi. Or for himself, she thought darkly. If this was as bad as it looked she would be the first one in like to dish out the consequences.

"I'm going to need accurate scans of all these columns." The man himself, Quaritch, ordered. Over her dead body, which was extremely unlikely if history was concerned.

"Roger that." Idiot. Hazel thought again. Growling to herself, Hazel headed for the door, spotting Max entering discretely. At least she wouldn't have to be the one to break the news to Grace.

-~-

"I am not about to let Quaritch and Selfridge micro-manage this department!" Grace looks pointedly at Jake. "We're going into the mountains."

Grace was completely furious after hearing what Jake had done. They all were. Unfortunately, they couldn't just up and demand him not to speak to the Colonel and the head of the Pandora unfortunately, so they were doing the closest thing too it.

"There's a mobile link up at Site 26 that we can work out off." Grace continued.

"They Hallelujah mountains!?" Norm asked, excited.

Grace confirmed his question. "That's right."

"Yes!" At Jake's confused look, Norm goes into lecture mode again. "The legendary floating mountains of Pandora? Heard of them?"

-~-

"Hazel! I see you. Where have you been? I have worried for you." As soon as Hazel had made her way down to the base of Hometree Tsu'try had stepped towards her. He reached out to hold her hand, examining her from arm's length to make sure she was well.

"I see you! I missed you too" Hazel said in pleased delight, not having expected to see him so soon after waking. "We have moved to a small base in the mountains."

"That is very good! You will be much safer away from them." Hazel had told him how uncomfortable she felt leaving her main body with the humans. Tsu'tey was grateful she would have less to worry for now.

"Yes I feel better for it. But we moved for a reason, Tsu'tey. I would like to consult with Eytukan and Mo'at. Do you know where they are?"

"I do, they are with the mothers of the young children teaching." Tsu'tey led her deeper into Hometree. "What has you so worried?" He asked her, concerned for her and his people.

"I will explain to you with Eytukan and Mo'at, if they have ears for me." Hazel explained, worried that the clan leader would not listen to her.

Nodding, Tsu'tey continued to lead her through the other side of Hometree where the small school has held for young mothers by the elders. "Of course they will have ears for you. After you healed young Fh'ain last eclipse they have completely welcomed you. It is only that you have not yet passed Iknimaya that they have not made their welcome more public. Just last day meal when you were dreaming, Eytukan came to me and thought you ready."

Hazle looked to him in awe at this. For Eytukan to suggest Iknimaya was an extremely huge deal. She felt much more confident that she worries would be heeded by the tribe now.

Reaching Eytukan and Mo'at, they greeted them.

"I see you, Eytukan, Mo'at. I wish to speak to if you would hear me." Mo'at noticed the serious nature of her request.

"Come child, speak. We will listen." Mo'at demanded, although softly as she always did when speaking to Hazel.

"We have moved into the mountains. Grace feared the sky-comers were infesting us and trying to find important information about your people and home. I agree with her. The day before last I followed them to their meeting room. They were discussing Hometree and their plans." For the time being, although furious at him, Hazel would keep Jake's name out of the conversation. Until she knew his intentions she would not blame him. Hazel knew what it had felt like to feel useless and then suddenly needed. Jake may just be a victim of this feeling. "Although not said, it is my worry that they are planning to destroy Hometree if they need to."

Hazel was not surprised when Mo'at gasped, Tsu'tey hissed and Eytukan looked like he wanted to rip out a throat. She had probably looked just like that while overhearing their plans.

Clenching his teeth and putting a fist to his chest he looked at her. "You were right to come to me with this. I and my people thank you for this warning."

Mo'at, recovering from her shock spoke. "We must prepare if this is certain. We must be vigilant and have faith in Eywa."

"I hope that I am wrong in this, but I do not think that I am."

-~-

The Na'vi began preparing slowly for a potential attack. Training lasted longer each day, young Na'vi were told to prepare for their Iknimaya, and already piercing blades were sharpened.

Without direct influence from base Hazel was less worried about what Jake was doing, but she still pulled him aside after her talk with Mo'at and Eytukan.

"Jake." She looked at him, considering what to say. "You do know that Na'vi mate for life."

"What?" Jake looked completely surprised and uncomfortable at where this conversation was heading.

"Yes. So when a Na'vi has picked their mate, they have told them that they would love them, be there for them, be there for the people." Hazel had seen how close Jake was becoming with Neytiti and hoped this approach would work. Jake would soon be ready for Iknimaya and would then choose a mate if he wanted to. She needed him to know that he couldn't continue to pick and choose which side he was on. "I thought you should know."

Disappearing as quick as she appeared to him, Hazel left him to his thoughts.

Hazel wanted him to make the right decision, but it wouldn't stop her from killing him if he didn't. She had found a place to call home, and this time she would not fail to protect it.