●The forest had lost its most beautiful flower and tensions within the clan rose over the discussions of who would lead the people. It came down to an arranged mating between two people who wanted nothing to do with each other. Not anymore.

Tsu'tey and Neytiri had been at odds ever since Nixie had been taken. The headstrong man blamed Neytiri for a while and it caused a rift to form between them. It only got worse when they were declared to mate even without their beloved girl uniting them. But there was one thing they agreed on.

Their hatred for the sky people.

Which is why Tsu'tey was beyond confused when he saw Neytiri leading a demon back to their home. His group of hunters surrounded Neytiri and the unknown man while he hopped off his mount with a clenched jaw.

Neytiri approached him defensively, "What are you doing here Tsu'tey?" She kept her eyes on him daring him to try anything but he wasn't focused on her. He was too busy itching to kill the false Na'vi behind her.

"These demons are forbidden here. Have you forgotten what they've taken from us?" He knew bringing it up would hurt her but at the moment he was too angry to care.

Neytiri bared her fangs and snapped her jaws in his direction. The mere suggestion that she had forgotten about what happened cut her deeply.

"There has been a sign. This is a matter for the Tsahìk." Her voice was stern and left no room for argument.

It was enough to make Tsu'tey reluctantly turn around and say, "Bring him."

Whatever this sign was, it better be worth it. Otherwise he would gladly kill this outsider immediately.

♡

"Nixie, it's time for dinner."

The young adult groaned and rolled over to her side in what she knew as her bed. She was already in a bad mood from having a nightmare of the day she was taken. The day she would no longer feel the wind in her hair or see the Sun rise high above the trees.

It had been a month, maybe two since she had been captured. There was no clear way for her to tell time other than her body's natural schedule and the annoying voice that woke her up every morning.

Her routine had been set for her since then. Starting with being taken for vitals each morning then she would be allowed to eat whatever they felt like giving her. She hated the food and would refuse to eat some days causing her to lose weight rapidly. Her already small body became tinier but she did not care in the slightest. Why would she when she had been trapped for so long now?

The next part of her day would be being weighed and measured all over again. During the evening, she had freetime in her unwanted room where she spent time doing the same boring activities. And when night came she would be given dinner then told to sleep.

But there were certain days that she dreaded the most. Her captors would take her blood and put her through a series of painful testing. She would often try to escape and break free but the shock collar around her neck quickly made her think twice. Afterwards she would be exhausted and could sleep for an entire day. Today was one of those days and unfortunately she was being forced to wake up from her nap.

"Nixie. Get up or we will have to make you."

She hissed at the speaker and glared at the mirror where she knew she was being watched even though she couldn't see them. Sleeping was her only way of escaping and she always tried to get as much sleep as possible. In her dreams she could see them again and pretend she was with them until she was woken up where hell awaited her.

Even though her body was beginning to fail her, she had hope that her people would find her. For now all she had to do was hold on a little bit longer.

♡

The night was still very young when Neytiri decided she couldn't sleep. She had been tasked with teaching the man she had saved and parts of her mind felt regretful.

Nixie was somewhere out there and now the time she spent searching for her was nearly gone. It made her sick to her stomach and she couldn't get her eyes to stay closed.

Above her was the dream walker, and once she was sure he had fallen asleep, she slowly got up. Her movements were practiced and smooth as she made her way to the forest floor.

Her body moved on autopilot and before she knew she was sitting high above the ground on top of a thick branch. She wrapped her arms around her legs and gazed at the enchanted night sky.

A few minutes passed when she felt the branch shake slightly from the added weight of someone joining her. Tsu'tey sat next to her, letting his legs dangle from the tree. He didn't turn to face her at all and the two sat in silence for a while.

"I apologize for my words earlier." He was learning to let go of the grudge he held against the younger female.

Neytiri shook her head with tired eyes."I understand why you harbor anger in your heart towards me but you must know that I lost her too. Everyday I am faced with the fact that she was taken under my watch."

Tsu'tey reached over to grip her forearm tightly yet reassuringly, "We will find her and bring her home." Their eyes connected and the broken bond of their friendship began to mend itself.

"Mother believes he may know where they are hiding her." Now this made Tsu'tey sit up straight instantly. They had been searching every base they came across for any signs of Nixie but it was as if she had completely vanished. They ran into so many dead ends and lost many leads but refused to give up.

"If he does then you must earn his trust and get him to tell you."

"And if he refuses?" She turned away from his intense and unwavering stare.

"He will die." There was absolutely no way Tsu'tey would allow him to continue to live.

"My mother will not agree with this. She thinks he wil-"

Tsu'tey snorted sarcastically and released her arm. "Do you honestly believe he could ever become one of the people? We have faced too much destruction and losses by simply trusting these outsiders."

"She is Tsahìk. We will do as she has asked but if he does know anything about Nixie, you and my father will handle it." She allowed their eyes to meet once more and in return he nodded at her. Their brief conversation was over in minutes

And with that Tsu'tey began to descend from their shared tree branch leaving Neytiri to her own thoughts.

She stayed there a few minutes alone and the more she thought about it the more she knew that killing Jake wasn't an option. She didn't know why just yet but her gut feeling told her it was absolutely forbidden.●