Chapter 22, enjoy.

(Sophia's POV)

I was now in home-tree, trying -and failing- to connect with Ewya. No matter how I looked at it the whole situation was just pissing me off more.

"You're not focusing Sophia." Mo'at's voice slices through my thoughts.

"Sorry." I sigh

"What has you so distracted child?"

"family stuff." I sigh again

"Would you like to talk about it?" her eyes bore into me again "I find clearing ones thoughts starts with the soul." her hands move to my shoulder "What is on your mind?"

..

..

After unburdening myself, switching up current problems with 'old memories' I did feel lighter. It felt good to get it off my chest.

"Sometimes parents keep secrets because we are scared how they may react." her soft eyes hold mine "But even your father deserved someone to care about him, yes?" A stray tear rolls down my cheek, Mo'at carefully brushing it away "The greatest test a child learns is sharing who they care about most."

"It still burns…" I whisper, feeling her hand over my chest

"Some wounds only time can heal… others will always linger…" her hand lifts, playing with three beads, Sylwanin's beads "Come, dry your tears. Let's listen for Eywa's word."

I shutter out a breath, focusing on my mental shields, that bubbly texture and lower it, feeling for the call. I could feel it, those tingles lingering on the outer layers of my mind and try to fall.

..

..

I could hear the sounds of yelling, the snorts of horses. I hear rushing water and spin, the bodies of warriors floating around me with animals in tow. And gasp, my mind snapping back painfully.

"Shit!" I hiss, standing up and fall again, my mind not fully in my body

"Sophia?" Moat tries but I run.

I jump down the stairs, swinging over a few people and hit the ground in a roll.

"Where's Tsu'tey!"

"What?"

"Where's Tsu'tey! Has the hunting party left?!

"Uh, no? I think…."

I hiss in frustration and run, grabbing one of the bows off the wall. I see Tsu'tey and his hunters riding to the gate and aim an solid green hunting mixed colours were poisoned.

Using my tail as my only source of leverage I pull back. I was on an angle, had little practice with a bow and truly had terrible aim.

"Please my goddess…"

I see them move, strong legs kicking dirt back and pull back, the entire forest seemed to slow down around me. I aim ahead of them, lifting my arm higher at the last second and fire.

The arrow moves, flying past my eyes in slow motion, hitting the end of the bow to start spinning and bursts forwards. The world snaps back, the arrow shoots through the air, between two riders and grazed Tsu'tey's arm. He jolts, Páli tosses up her legs as the riders all slide to a grinding halt.

I sigh, my body going slack and scream in shock as my tail lets go. I fall forwards, bow spiraling down the open air, knocking over a few branches and land in a random man's arms, his look of shock matches mine as my bow clatters to the ground.

"Uh, thank you." I nod, removing myself from his arms and run to the entrance.

Tsu'tey rides back to home tree, fury in his gaze "Who fired that arrow?!"

"I did!" his look of annoyance wasn't missed "You can't go out."

"You do not tell me what to do! You are not the leader of the hunting party! You are not Tsahìk! You are not in charge of me."

"I know! If I was Tsahìk we wouldn't be arguing about this!"

"You expect me to listen to you?!"

"What is going on here!" Eytukan's voice cuts through the crowd

"I was taking the hunters out, when this one!" He moves, gripping my arm "shot me with an arrow!"

I see his eyes flicker to Tsu'tey bleeding arm, Mo'at's already examining the thin cut.

"I grazed you you big baby! And considering how terrible I am with a bow you're lucky I didn't kill any of you!" My hand snaps to all the hunters.

"Sophia explain yourself."

I sigh "I had a vision of tonight. The hunting party was in danger, Tsu'tey was in danger."

"Show me." Mo'at says.

I move, grabbing my queue and hold it to her extended hand. I watch the small tendrils wrap around her hand and Mo'at's eyes shut. Mine closed, trying to transmit the vision as best I could.

Moat is silent, going over the vision a few times before her eyes open.

"It is true, the hunting party would be in danger."

"Then why Sophia did you not just say something?" Eytukan asks

"Because Tsu'tey won't listen to me." I turn, staring at him, my voice soft "God why do you have to be so stubborn headed!?"

He glares at me, old pain lingering in his eyes "because I trusted the sky people once," I see his eyes harden "now I know better."

He storms past me, anger cutting me deep and despite all common sense I find myself following him.

"Sophia-" Eytukan tries

"DON'T!" I snap back, storming up the stairs.

"What the hell is your problem?!" I snap

"My problem?!"

"I have been here Tsu'tey! I have proven myself over and over and you still can't take your head out of your ass!"

"I'm not the problem here demon!"

"What do you want from me Tsu'tey?! What can I possibly do to change your mind huh? Do I have to carve out my own heart and show to it to you?!"

"Yes!"

I cross my arms at the doorway as Tsu'tey clumsily wraps his arm "Is your pride worth more then the safety of our village?"

"MY VILLAGE! IT'S MINE!" he storms up to me "YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF THE OMATIKAYA CLAN."

My fist cracks across his cheek before he can grab me.

"And yet your the one putting it in danger!" I grab my head in frustration "YOU WOULD HAVE DIED TSU'TEY! ALL OF YOU!" his eyes find mine from the floor, blood leaking from his split lip "The river floods and you drown trying to cross it!"

He snaps up, towering over me again "Lies!"

"Your pride would cost you the lives of your brothers! Mo'at said it herself yet you still fight me!" I shove him back, hard. I wasn't sure what part of that statement works but he stops, staring at me and turns, grabbing the roll of vine "Why can't you just say thank you and move on."

His head snaps to me "You want me to thank you? For shooting me?!"

I roll my eyes "I did it to SAVE YOUR LIFE YOU BIG BABY!"

"Baby? I'm the one bleeding here."

"I was just trying to help."

"You seem to do that a lot lately." He snaps back.

I move, trying to grab the wrap and see him flinch. He glares at me, pulling his arm away and I reach again.

"I dont need your help."

"If you don't wrap it properly it will become infected! And you can't lead the hunting party if your sick!" I snap back.

"I wouldn't be hurt if you hadn't shot me!"

"Well you wouldn't have listened if I asked!"

We stand there, glaring at each other.

I sigh, biting my cheek and turn away from him. Tsu'tey seemed to bring out the worst in me. Our competitive natures clashing.

I grab the glue off the table and the roll from his hand, leveling the male with a glare "Now hold still, this might burn..."

His face shifts as I spread some foul smelling sap on the wound, from anger or pain I wasn't sure. My fingers move with practised ease, doing what Mo'at was teaching me.

"Why do you care?" I pause at the soft tone

"What?" I hold the thin cut together

"Why do you care what happens to me?"

"Because I don't know what I'm doing…" I say honestly, looking at the small jar in my hands "but you seem to be paying for my mistakes." I look at him "I'm sorry Tsu'tey. For all the problems my people have caused, for the loss of your love and for the mess of our… arrangement." I smile softly "I know I was the last person you wanted as a mate..."

I finished the wrap, my fingers gently holding the vines and chance a glance at him. All of the anger had vanished, an unknown emotion in those orbs. His soft eyes flicker around my face, like he was searching for something. I lift a damp cloth to his lip, inspecting the small cut as his hand wraps around mine.

This low hum of electricity dances between our fingers. His eyes move from my eyes to lips and back as I swallow, my heart beating faster.

He drops my hand, pausing by the door.

"… Thank you, Sophia."

I put the lid on the jar with a smile, that was the first time he'd called me by my name.

..

..

I turn, hearing the giggles of children behind me. I take in the curious faces and kneel down before them.

"Hello." I smile

Their smiles grow "you speak Navi?!"

"Of course, my mother taught me." I chuckle, feeling curious hands inspecting my hair, my limbs and my tail.

"Why do you look so different?" One girl asks

"Because this isn't the body I was born in." I lift my hand, spreading all five of my fingers "I got this body as a gift, to help me find my way here, to you."

Her head tilts "why?"

"Because I don't want anyone else to get hurt…" I smile softly, my hand resting on her head "though I must say I haven't a very good job."

A boys head pops up "did you really shoot Tsu'tey?!"

"Yeah!" They laugh.

I blush, tipping my head forwards "I wasn't trying to shoot anyone!" I laugh "but yes, I did, by accident."

"But Tsu'tey's going to be the next Clan leader!"

I smile softly "Yes, he will be."

"Are you going to be the next Tsahìk?"

"My mommy says that they get Married!" Another adds quickly "Will you and Tsu'tey get married!"

"Will you have babies!?" A third giggles and suddenly all the children are giggling.

I feel my heart drop slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I… I don't know little one."

"Why not?"

"Because Relationships are complicated little one."

"Do you want babies with Tsu'tey?" a shy voice asks, I turn to look at her.

"I…" I sigh softly, brushing her head "Maybe one day…"

"Children!" Mo'at's voice echoed behind us "Come. It's time for class."

..

..

I sighed, looking up at the forest, seeing the heavy down pour that had started about an hour after I shot Tsu'tey. I turn, seeing Moat standing beside me, her lips in a small smile as she wraps a cloth around my shoulders. I smile back, nodding in thanks and look out once more. I couldn't help but smile, I used to love the rain, watching the way the sky darkened and the water hit the windows. Now, here I could stand and enjoy it. I felt my feet moving, walking slowly till I was just at the edge of home tree.

I pause, watching the rain fall and slowly lift a hand. The water was cold, hitting my open palm and running to the ground. I feel the tears slowly fill my eyes as I take another step, each one pulling me further into the rain and stand there. A wave of peace filling my body.

(Tsu'tey's POV)

I watched her walk outside, standing under the rain, a look of pure relief as her hands lifted. That relief turns to joy and she smiles, spinning around in the rain slowly.

"She was right."

I turn, seeing Eytukan beside me. He was watching Sophia with a smile.

"Had you gone out this afternoon you would not have been able cross the river." I look out, watching the rain continue to fall and Sophia's hands lifting to the sky above "She has a good heart Tsu'tey, I hope one day you will see that."

I feel myself tear up "She reminds me of her." curling my hands "Sylwanin."

Eytukan smiles sadly "Yes. She loved the rain as well. Would spend hours in the rain if we let her."

his hand lifts to my shoulder "Sylwanin was never one for violence, she believed that one day we could get along."

I look up towards the sky "And how has that been working Eytukan. Peace is an allusion if only one side wants it."

"You know she wouldn't want you to be angry."

"What she wanted was to be here Eytukan. With us. With Neytiri..." I look away, the tears slowly falling down my face

"We can not change the past my son," he holds my shoulder firmly, hand resting on my face and I look at him, more tears falling, "We can only work for a better future."

"But how can we have a future with the sky-people?"

He looks out, seeing Sophia, the pure relief in her face "By standing beside them."

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