Woke
Tìtxen sami
•—————•—————•—————•—————•

Hia was adding beads to her songcord as the hunt festival's festivities continued below Tsu'tey and Hia.

She added a purple bead for Srriri. Her Iknimaya. Joyful colors and ones of determination. The three beads of thanks. And then she added a green bead. For Tsu'tey. Warm feelings, tender and uncertain love. Thanks to Eywa and then a bead for Uniltaron. A bead for every animal she saw. Deep ashy blue for the Ikran shadow, blue for Apxa, black for the nantangs, a little fang for the palulukan, blue for the plesiosaur creatures, orange for the winged fish, a striped bead for the whales. And then real for the last one. It was like Toruk with its crest but everything else was different.

She thanked Eywa and then tied off the cord, she tied it to her loincloth before Mo'at approached the two.

"Quickly, children. Into your ceremonial clothes, the dance is about to begin!" She handed the pair their clothes and rushed down the spiral.

Tsu'tey rolled his eyes with a smile. Hia's eyes flicked up as she began to slide on the arm bands.

"What? You don't dance?" She smiled.

"I do, it's just not very fun to me." He grumbled.

The pair descended into the the fire glowing party. Neytiri wore a feathery wing-like piece. It was almost identical to Hia's whose were light blue rather than red and blue.

Neytiri practically snatched Hia away from Tsu'tey. The pair went to the dance floor after Mo'at had began the dance.

"We are Ikrans!" Neytiri cheered to Hia, the pair smiled at each other as they flapped their "wings" and soared out in circles together. Everyone who was dancing, was wearing something to represent an animal.

The music picked up in intensity as Neytiri and Hia surrounded the Sturmbeest dancer. It was supposed to be the hunters who shot down the Sturmbeest to feed them. Neytiri caught Jake's eye, and she flirted subtly with her gaze and motion, trying to entice the marine. Obviously she was successful.

Tsu'tey came to Jake with alcohol in hand, like a peace offering.

"To the hunt." Tsu'tey toasted.

"To the Omatikaya." Jake seconded. It devolved into a drinking game which Hia needed to be a part of or so she claimed.

Eventually the group split off and it was Jake, Tsu'tey, and Hia'ino all together. Couples began to file into the dancing space when the animal themed dancers had left.

"I thought, enough drink, you would not be so ugly!" Tsu'tey chuckled and tapped Jake's arm.

Jake chuckled drunkly, "I'm sorry." He smiled.

Tsu'tey was suddenly serious, lost in thought.

"Your warriors, they hide inside machines and fight from far away." He said slowly, contemptuously, "before you, and Hia, I did not think a skyperson could be brave." He said genuinely. It caught Jake off guard.

"I told you he was a big softy." Hia laughed, leaning back, finally relaxed, at peace.

Neytiri ran over and grabbed Jake.

"Come! You must dance, it is the way!" She pulled him up and Jake shrugged at Tsu'tey.

Jake grabbed Hia's wrist pulling him with him.

"Oh- wait! I don't-" Jake spun Hia with a smile.

"She said it's the way!" Jake laughed and Hia couldn't not join. Hia stood and pulled Grace onto the floor.

"Let's show that marine what for." Hia smiled at Grace. Grace was apprehensive, shaking her head with a smile.

"I'm a scientist-"

"So am I!" The pair danced silly earth dances and some children joined in. It wasn't long before the children had tired Hia out, so she sought refuge by Tsu'tey who was waiting with a cup of water.

"You are adorable." Tsu'tey teased while handing her the water.

"Those kids-" she chugged the water, "they just steal energy."

"I hope you have energy to spare, we're joining the dance." Tsu'tey smiled and took her hands, leading her to the dance floor.

Their hands met briefly before stepping apart, rolling their bodies with the music, coming together once and then again before hopping twice, their arms in a readied stance as if they'd strike one another. Their hands methodically moved as they came together, the backs of their hands grazing before repeating the cycle. Their bodies and hips rolled with the ending part, hands moving in tandem. Swooping down and scooping back up with methodical rolls in their bodies.

Tsu'tey's eyes lingered on her, her eyes, her waist and hips when they'd step apart. Hia chuckled at his glances, feeling open to him like a book. He took her hands and gave them a brief squeeze as they danced.

They did eventually leave the party.

•—————•—————•—————•—————•

Tsu'tey and Hia shed their ceremonial clothes and ventured out into the night. To their little cove in the mountains.

In the night, the cave was alive with light from the plants around the space. Tsu'tey took her hands and looked into her ocean blue eyes and squeezed her hands.

"Tomorrow, we tell the clan about us." He stated, "if that's what you want, I mean." He said.

"Tsu'tey, I feel like I've known you for my whole life. And in a way I have now that I have a new life with the clan." She started, "I want nothing more than to be with you. I am ready to give myself to you. Atleast I will be after we tell the clan." Hia smiled she wrapped her arms around his thin waist and took in his warmth, his scent. Tsu'tey held her head against his chest as he held her.

"I am already yours." Tsu'tey admitted. He rubbed her back soothingly as they prepared to return. This place... it was their little sanctuary.

•—————•—————•—————•—————•

The pair awoke in the morning in Tsu'tey's hammock. Both were sober and ready to start the day. First before all personal matters were Tsu'tey's duty to the clan. So, he and Hia saddled up for their morning patrol.

Apxa was happy to be useful again. Happy to be away from his children who were both pestering him for his attention.

But all was not well, there was a rumbling in the distance.

Hia had known of the tree of voices. It was unavoidable. It was a place of remembrance, love, life and death. Machinery and smoke was in the area.

"Oh no." She whispered under her breath.

Apxa and Hia rushed forward past the patrol, her bow in hand. She met a terrifying sight. Two dozers, two marine squads each one had an amp suit driver. The trees were being cut down by the dozers blades. The space was clean of life.

"No!" She exclaimed in English, in shock. She readied her bow to fire.

"No!" Tsu'tey charged in front of her, stopping her fire.

"Why? Don't you see what they're doing? They have to die." Hia hissed, anger starting to permeate her bones.

"We do not have enough warriors." Tsu'tey stated, his eyes looked out at the destruction a bitter feeling crawling through him.

"We will return." Tsu'tey said, before turning around and forcing us all back to Hometree.