A/N: For the sake of the story and the relative size of the Na'vi I have made the gestation period 12 months instead of 9-10 months like a human. Also, I like the idea of the Metkayina having piercings.

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For whatever reason, you were tasked with working with Ronal today. Her belly has grown and she is about 6 months pregnant now. Still, a long way to go. She was going to collect some plants and herbs in the forest that she needed help with now that she is a little bigger. 

"I also made a promise to my mate that I wouldn't climb trees so I thought to bring you." She could have easily told Neytiri to come with you but, the little selfish side of you thought this was her way of trying to bond with you. You were very thankful and proud of her, her resilience as a Tsahik and as a person was admirable. You also just made a startling realization you had a crush on her. Damn. 

"I do enjoy being around you so thank you for bringing me." You were formal with her out of sheer respect and admiration for her position. She simply glanced at you with a small reserved smile. Now you understood why Tonowari would turn into a golden retriever whenever she was happy and smiled. It was a beautiful sight. The two of you continued to walk in comfortable silence going deeper and deeper into the mangrove forests. You had a great idea then that she may be interested in. "Ronal?" She turned to you with a hum "Would you like to see my Ikran? They're in these forests, I can hear her with Jake's and Neytiri's." It was painfully silent as she regarded you with a pensive stare. She was slightly hesitant you can tell but, eventually, she nodded. You gave her a large smile making an array of clicks and a hiss listening to your Ikran shriek with happiness breaking through the branches and landing directly in front of you.

"She is big." You turned slightly to see Ronal had moved a few feet back in apprehension. You were not upset because an Ikran was scary to look at especially if you're not used to seeing any like Ronal. Your Ikran was extremely sweet though, when you did your Iknimiya she didn't even fight you the way the others did. She just was biting playfully and scurrying back and forth with you before letting you get on her. 

"She is also very sweet, she didn't try to kill me the way the others did...she is also smaller than the others as well." It matched your stature as well. You scratched under her chin as she purred and leaned more into you. Freeing one hand from her you reached a hand back towards Ronal "Come. She will not bite just don't look her in the eyes." You waited patiently giving her an encouraging smile. With a deep breath she slowly walked her way to you, one hand out and one hand on her belly. She kept eye contact with you the whole time until she reached the Ikran. "A little closer, I won't let her hurt you." Ronal doesn't know why but, that little bit of reassurance from you gave her the extra courage to press up against you as you guided her hand to the Ikran's chin. 

"Pet or scratch." You nodded for both and Ronal did as told smiling a bit at the way the Ikran purred and seemed to melt into her touch.

"See? She likes you." The two of you stood there arms intertwined as you pat and scratched your Ikran. You fed her some fruit and sent her on her way. You turned to Ronal aiming to pull away but, she tightened her hold on you dragging you along. You were unaware of her ears turning purple from blushing because you were too busy fighting your own. It was about a hundred feet when the two of you stopped and Ronal pointed straight up. 

"The berries and flowers I need are all the way up there." You nodded as she handed you a basket stepping back and observing you. This was your element and maybe because you wanted to impress her you scurried up those trees finding the berries and flowers being careful to pick them and place as many as you can fit in the basket. You hopped from branch to branch getting the hang of it unaware of Ronal watching you in suppressed awe. She realized that if she was to go to your home it would be hard to adapt. She knows nothing of the forest you are from. 

"I'm done." You whispered to yourself because you doubt there were any predators nearby but, you rather be safe than sorry. Plus you were too far from Ronal to pull her up to safety. You don't think she would appreciate being manhandled by you anyway. You gracefully touched the forest floor showing the large basket as she put last-minute stuff in her own basket. She got up with a grunt, looking over your stuff with a critical eye.

"You did great." Those three words almost had you careening with glee but, you had much more self-control than that not wanting to embarrass yourself like that in front of her. You'll save the stupidity for when you and Jake were together. The two of you shared a brain cell when together. "Let's go back so we can put the stuff away." To your utter surprise, she linked your arms together again as the two of you made the long trek back to the beach. Once you saw another Metkayina you thought she would let you go. You must have stalled because she looked over at you "Is there a problem?" Your ears folded back as you gave her a sheepish grin shaking your head. "Then come here." She pulled you back in closer to her the same way the two of you were in the forest. "I am Tsahik, they cannot do anything." That had your tail wagging as the two of you made your way to her Marui. You felt the stares but, heard no whispers.

"Your Marui or the hut?" She hummed guiding you to the hut, ushering you in first and following closely behind you. She pointed to where the berries and plants go as she got to work sorting out her finds. You took the time to observe her quietly without drawing attention to yourself. Her tribal tattoos were beautiful and her pierced ears were just as pretty. She was just a beautiful woman. You tried to not let the guilt get to you because they offered refuge to you first and then your family only for you to have a massive crush on both her and her mate. Then it was your feelings you had for Neytiri and Jake. 

"What is distracting you?" You jumped almost crushing the berries in your hand but, you quickly put them in the right spot turning to her to see she was staring at you awfully hard. "You can tell me." Your tail flickered nervously as you turned back to the work to distract your hands as your mind raced. How were you going to tell her? "Is it someone you like?" Your ears and tail perked to attention. "Who is it?" You wanted to crawl into an Akula's mouth and have it swallow you whole 

"...It's more than one." You were determined to finish the sorting and you were almost done when you heard a voice whisper in your ear.

"Mated pairs can always take a third." Your head shot up and you almost regretted it. Ronal was inches away from your face, a playful smirk on her face. She reached a hand up to take a piece of your hair and twirled it around her finger. "You'll be surprised who just might want you." She dropped the hair and gently ran her fingers down the side of your face to cup your chin. "Get Tonowari and then you're free to go." She smirked harder, her fang peeking out as you got up slowly and walked out of the hut feeling her gaze burning into your backside. Once out of the hut, you went to their Marui first to see if he was there, and thank God he was. 

"Olo'eyktan?" You opened the flap to see his ears and gaze already aimed toward you. 

"Y/N? I thought you were with Ronal?" You stepped a little bit more in the Marui to keep from yelling. 

"I was and I have finished but, she told me to get you first and then leave. She is in the hut." You waited for him to get up raking your eyes up and down really quick and turning around praying that he didn't see. Unfortunately, for you, he did see but, pretended he didn't. The two of you made it to the hut and you excused yourself from them. Tonowari turned to look at his wife who had a contemplative smile on her face

"We have much to discuss with Toruk Makto and his mate." 

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What do you guys think so far?