Zukika's POV

"I still don't see why he has to use my direhorse" I grumble.

"Pale is the best behaved around strangers" Neytiri reminds me. "She's also easy to ride for beginners" she adds.

"Fine, but I'm not happy about this" I tell her. We reach the stables and go over to our direhorses. I mount mine and make our bond. 'Do not go to easy on the newbie today' I think. Before we leave and head to the paddock where Jake is waiting. Pale maybe getting old, but she's still strong and fast.

Neytiri and I dismount, she lets her horse roam about the area. While I hold Pale's reins. "Easy boy" Jake says as he walks around Pale.

"Pale is female" I correct him as she whacks him with an antennae.

"Sìltsan" Neytiri tells her gently.

"Ok, easy girl" Jake says stroking her side.

I hold Pale as Neytiri tells Jake how to mount her properly. He does so clumsily while I keep Pale come. "Sìltsan Pale, Sìltsan" I tell her as I stroke her nose.

Jake bends one of its antennae down to the tip of his queue. He hesitantly touches them together and both their eyes dilate. It was a little weird to watch him form a bond with my horse. But as she was used a lot for other  beginners, it was less weird. I calmly stroke Pale with one hand while pointing to the neural interface with my free one.

"That is shahaylu, the bond. Feel her. Feel her heartbeat, her breath. Feel her strong legs" I explain. I see Tsu'tey arrive with some young hunters down stream and allowing their direhorse to have a drink.

"You may tell her what to do inside" Neytiri tells Jake pointing to her head. "For now, say where to go" she states as we back away from Pale.

"Forward" Jake says pointing. Pale launches into a gallop. Jake flops around, with no idea how to slow her down or calm her down, and is promptly thrown off. He lands painfully face first into the mud. Neytiri and I laugh hard whole I go retrieve Pale. Jake gets up, brushing mud off knees and ass, as I lead Pale back over to them. Praising her for knocking him off into the mud.

Tsu'tey and the young hunters come thundering across the shallow river on their direhorses. Jake stands there, covered in mud, as Tsu'tey stops his direhorse next to him, looking down with disdain. "You should go away" he tells him.

"Nah, you'd miss me. I knew you could speak English" Jake states. Tsu'tey turns to Neytiri and I.

"Fìketuwong ke nayume ke'u" he tells us. (Translation: This alien will learn nothing). I had to agree with him, but I would never dare go against mother. "Nì'ul kame tskxe. Poru tìng nari" he states. (Translation: A rock sees more. Look at him). Neytiri sighs in agreement as Jake takes mud out of his mouth and I slap Tsu'tey's direhorse's butt gently.

"Ka" I tell him and he leaves with the young hunters. (Translation: go).

"Again" Neytiri tells Jake and he mounts Pale. He still had trouble controlling her and kept falling into the mud. "Zukika, tell her to behave" Neytiri tells me when he falls for a fourth time. I sigh nodding my head as I go collect Pale.

"Ok, kä ftue on the Skxawng" I tell her. (Translation: ok, go easy on the moron). Just as Jake mounts her again a little girl runs over. I recognize her as Kyla. "What is it Kyla?" I ask her as Neytiri continues on with Jake's lesson.

"Tsahiktìkin aynga Zukika" she states. I thank her and tell Neytiri I was leaving. She said her and Jake would return Pale to the stables. I then run back home through the trees.

When I got back to home-tree mother were there waiting. "Walk with me" she says leading me to the tree of voices. "We must speak my daughter" she states sitting down and I sit down in front of her.

"What is it?" I ask her.

"It's nearly your birthday" she tells me.

"Mother, I don't want a boyfriend. Much less mate, I'm not ready" I tell her.

"Darling it is our way, a few warriors and hunters have come your father asking to mate with you" she tells me.

"But you know I only love one person that way and he is taken" I remind her.

"You have to forget Tsu'tey, he is going to be your brother in-law and clan leader.  Now your father has said no to all suitors, saying it's your decision to make and not his. But there has been one offer he is having trouble saying no to" she explains.

"What offer?" I ask her trying not to be annoyed.

"The Metkayina clan  needs a Tsahik for their future clan leader. He's a year older then you and is an amazing airiel hunter. But also a master Ilu rider" she explains. "You remember Kaname?" she asks me. Thinking an image of a handsome young Na'vi male comes to mind and I nod my head. (Kaname: https://78.media.tumblr.com/59ca5fd62a8a1f3e036eb9a9fed1b4e0/tumblr_p161be1hS21ts3b89o1_1280.jpg). He spent some time with us and taught me how to be an airiel hunter. "He told he's father about you and how amazing you are. So they both came to your father for your hand. They wish to strengthen the treaty between our clans through you and Kaname bonding. But he truly does care for you" she assures me.

"I shall think about it" I tell her.

"Think hard, Kaname will be here for your birthday wanting a decision" she says kissing my forehead before leaving. I sigh looking up to the sky. Then look at the tree around me and decide I needed some guidance. I connect with the tree and hear the voices of the Na'vi ancestors.

"I don't know if you can hear me Eywa, but I need your guidance. My parents wish for me to ignore my heart. To mate with someone I do not love or am in love with. Should I follow my heart and continue to love a man who will never love me. Or should I mate with Kaname. Who will give me a great life?" I ask her.

"Listen with your heart child, let the spirit of Pandora guide you" a voice tells me. I smile knowing it was Eywa. I disconnect from the tree of voices and go back to home-tree.

A/N

Picture above of Neytiri, Pale and Jake. Picture on the external link of Kyla.