Paths of the fated
Ayfya'o te Syayu
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Tsu'tey awoke that morning in his hammock. Blissfully unaware of anything that was bad. Gently pulled from sleep early in the morning. The hammock over was empty. It was Kìralu's hammock. His Kìra.

He reminded himself to eat as he made his way down to the floor of hometree. In the night they'd bathed off the alcohol, paint and whatever else to have a clean start in the morning, even still, he felt groggy until he ate. A sour fruit in the morning was always a good wake-up call. He kept an eye out for Ka'un just in case while he looked for Kìra.

When he did find Kìra, she had just left her parent's space in hometree with a bright smile on her face.

"What has you smiling so early in the morning?" He grinned.

"I asked! I asked!" Kìra practically danced around with joy, bouncing on her toes while grinning ear to ear.

"What did they say?" He asked seriously.

"What do you think!" She laughed, "they said yes! But the arrangement is complicated. Mo'at has years to pass on her knowledge and doesn't need Neytiri to be Tsahik. But passing it onto me would mean a lot of time away from us." Kìra said, her excitement nulled.

"With you at my side, we'll lead the clan into a new age of peace, and we'll take whatever we're given." He said with a widening smile.

"Eytukan plans to announce this to Neytiri and then the clan tonight. My training will begin as soon as tonight." Kìra stated excitedly.

"Before that, let's go on patrol. I still have duties to fulfill." He said, grabbing his bow and hers from his belongings rack.

They saddled up in the morning and rode out for the outer reaches of the Omatikaya's territory. Peyanu was well behaved as they took their time, until they smelled the smoke. Heard the machines. Right at the tree of voices. It was horrific.

The trees were crushed and torn down like someone trampled over it. It looked like a chair thrown in a fit of rage. One of the machines was smoking from some sort of damage.

Kìra let out a strangled sound, muffled in her throat.

Tsu'tey took in the destruction. Her breathed it in and let us burn him inside out. And then he opened his eyes and began to turn away with that fire ignited within him. He stopped at Kìra's side as she looked on in horror. Her face was mournful, but it quickly turned vengeful.

She easily, swiftly armed herself with her bow and drew back the string, arrow between her fingers.

"No." Tsu'tey put a hand over hers.

"Come." He ordered.

She took a deep breath and let her anger sit in her mind. She unarmed herself and sat silently.

"Come with me." Tsu'tey repeated, a little more desperate.

Kìra glanced at him and blinked, letting those tears out. Peyanu turned and followed Tsu'tey home.

The ride was silent for a while before they returned to hometree where the cleanup from the night before continued.

Tsu'tey used what little social power he had to raise the alarm.

"Olo'eyktan, the sky people attacked the tree of voices! They attack us, destroy us! We must fight them!" He announced with a snarl.

Eytukan looked to his daughter, tear-tracks ran down her cheeks. She looked like a smoldering fire. Sudden anger flared up and he paced back and forth as he listened to his mate.

"We must injure their machines. They cannot hurt us more than this. Prove their arrogance wrong." She said. A Tsahik has one's ears open to Eywa at all times, it was a calculated decision.

At this point the clan was riled up.

"Tsu'tey will lead the war party!" Eytukan announced.

Tsu'tey ululated his war cry as a display of strength.

"Stop! Please! This will only make things worse." Dr. Augustine said.

"You do not speak here!" Tsu'tey barked at her.

"We will strike them in the heart!" He roared.

The crowd cheered their cries and declarations of war.

Kìra was silent. War was coming. Coming right back to her.

"Tsu'tey, don't do this!" Jake shouted from across the crowd. He was holding hands with Neytiri. It was surprising, and neither of them wore shame on their faces.

Tsu'tey pushed Jake back.

"Tsu'tey! Don't!" Neytiri cried.

Anyone could see the signs.

"You mated with this woman?!" Tsu'tey fumed.

Mo'at stepped between the two, pushing Neytiri back with just her presence.

"Is this true, my daughter?" She inquired.

Even if it had already been decided, even if it were to turn back to her favor, Neytiri would never get a second chance at a proper pairing. No ritual, no ceremony. Not unless Jake died.

"We are mated before Eywa. It is done." Neytiri said with confidence.

Mo'at lifted her hand for her to be silent. She was disappointed, hurt for her daughter. She forfeited all rites before even knowing she no longer had to hide her feelings for Jake. It was already too late.

"It is not right! One of the Tskaha tribe deserves better." Tsu'tey cursed.

"It is finished, Tsu'tey. Neytiri has chosen her path. Even if it is not traditional, I am happy for my sister." Kìra cling to that little shred of light in the darkness.

She smiled at Neytiri. Neytiri exchanged a hopeful glance.

Tsu'tey shook his head, the anger still bubbling in him.

"These demons kill everything they touch! Like poison!" Tsu'tey hissed, unknowingly chipping away at Kìra's light.

"Now that you have mated to someone else, Neytiri, you cannot be Tsahik. I name Kìralu as my successor, the one to be mated with Tsu'tey." Mo'at said above a whisper.

Kìra felt a weight being set on her chest like she was being sat on. It was so heavy, the expectations. She looked lost in a crowd of turmoil. She felt a slick bile forming in her throat, crawling from her stomach and lungs.

"She is sky people! Like poison!" Someone in the crowd shouted. It was Saeyla, the ever jealous.

"You challenge Tsahik's decision?!" Maru grit at her.

"Just look at her! She doesn't have what it takes to lead." Saeyla smirked cockily.

Their argument echoed over the surrounding voices as Kìra zeroed in on where Saeyla was. It all came to a halt when Kìra opened her mouth.

"Do you want it?" Kìra asked directly.

Saeyla chuckled for a moment before turning at her, "what?" She said dumbly.

"Do you want my title?" Kìra ordered an answer from her.

"Why not?" Saeyla snided.

"Try and take it." Kìra stated her down. Saeyla was paralyzed under her predatory gaze.

And it was silent.

"That's what I thought."

On the outside, Kìra was everywhere. And she was. She was in two places at once, or three. Human, happy sister, vengeful na'vi. She couldn't channel it all.

"War party!" Tsu'tey called for warriors. Not his Tsakaremnay, mate to be.

Kìra gripped her bow tightly and began to follow. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

"Stay." Tsu'tey commanded gruffly.

"I'm more useful in battle." Kìra disregarded and pushed past him.

"No. You will stay. Where it is safe. Please." Tsu'tey pleaded. That soft desperation was back. Kìra wanted to throw up all that brewing anger, but she caved and returned to her mother's side.