Chapter Text
Tamtey held onto Telisi’s side for a moment as the world twisted when she slid off of her bonded. She grumbled a small angry rant about Jin as she pressed her hand against her mouth. So’lek chuckled as he slid off of Iley. “You choose to try Jin’s attempts at Na’vi food despite it going poorly every time.”
Tamtey shook her head, the motion worsening the dizziness. “I feel bad,” she answered back. Telisi huffed, her disapproval sharp in Tamtey’s mind.
So’lek only chuckled again as he stepped behind her, his hand pressed against her back. His hand felt warm against her clammy skin and she nearly sank into it. Jin had given her food to take with her on their hunt. She had spent the better portion of the last hour battling its effects. “You do not need to suffer to be kind to him.”
“Mhm.” Tamtey closed her eyes as the dizziness made her even more nauseous. “He just…looked really proud of it.”
“You could be sick here. I will not tell anyone.” She could hear So’lek’s grin widening. “Well. Maybe Ri’nela. And Teylan.”
“Tell the whole base why don’t you,” she grumbled. The nausea passed - finally - and she breathed a sigh of relief. “I hate throwing up. Makes me feel weird.”
“Then perhaps you will think twice before you try another one of his cooking attempts.”
“I will think three times.” Tamtey agreed as she stood up, whispering a thank you to her Ikran for holding her steady. Telisi bobbed her head a few times. Tamtey took a piece of meat from the makeshift leaf sack at the saddle and tossed it into the air for Telisi. Her Ikran snapped it out of the air and shrieked in delight. Tamtey went to undo the sack. But So’lek’s hand landed on hers.
“In case the dizziness has not worn off,” his yellow eyes sparked with warm amusement.
Tamtey huffed and put her hands on her hips. “I’m not incapable because I’m dizzy.”
“Incapable is not a word I would use to describe you,” So’lek assured her. He took the package of meat regardless. His grin did not leave his face. “Incapacitated?”
Tamtey groaned. “I get it. I won’t try it again.”
“Good. We can not have the humans’ attempts to make food for us ruining your stomach.” He nudged her gently with his free elbow as they made their way up to the Resistance hideout. “I can make us something, if your stomach is settled enough.”
“That sounds fantastic.”
She and So’lek had been out hunting all day with the goal to feed the Na’vi back at the base. The Sarentu and So’lek had moved back with the humans for a short period of time to help the Kame’tire take out the RDA near them. In return, the Kame’tire frequented the base to share intel and herbs. Their visits had, however, made a significant dent in their food supply. So’lek’s free arm brushed against Tamtey’s as they stepped into the cave. She glanced up at him, her heart skipping at the contact of hard muscle. He had always been taller than the other Na’vi. But their time fighting the RDA had toned his muscles more. Tamtey did her best to not stare.
But she couldn’t help herself sometimes.
“Sit,” he motioned to some soft stools the humans had brought into the cave. “Let me give some of this to the Kame’tire to take back to their clan and I will cook for us.” She nodded and sat, waving to one of the nearby humans. The human, a mechanic named Aisha, waved back.
“Good to see you made it back in one piece after Jin’s food!”
Tamtey raised her brow, “How did you know about that?”
Aisha laughed. “Teylan tried some. He was sick for an hour.”
Tamtey pressed her lips together to stifle her laugh. “That makes two of us then.” So’lek returned and tilted his head. She explained quickly.
He sighed. “The two of you live to please others.”
“I wouldn’t call that a bad trait,” Tamtey defended herself and Teylan.
“No,” So’lek agreed. “But…it clearly puts you at risk when there are questionable dishes around.”
As he started cooking, Priya’s voice crackled in their ears. “Hey! Are you guys back yet? The Zeswa tsahik…no…olo’eyktan? Nesim. She’s here! At Resistance! She said something about the zakru.”
Tamtey saw So’lek stop moving the same moment her heart stopped. “Is something wrong?”
“No! No, no. Something is wonderful! They’re moving! Migrating! Come back when you can, okay? Nesim is asking for you specifically!”
Tamtey frowned as Priya hung up. “Me?”
So’lek’s tail flicked. “A zakru migration is a sign of change for the Zeswa. I would imagine Nesim would want you to witness it as a leader of your clan.”
Tamtey’s stomach growled at the smell from the fire pit. “Please don’t let Teylan eat my portion.”
So’lek huffed another small laugh at that. “I promise I will save you some. Do not keep the olo’eykte waiting.”
Nesim’s eye sparkled as Tamtey met her on the cliffside. “Tsamsiyu!” She grasped Tamtey’s arms with hers. “I am glad you have come!”
“What news do you have?” Tamtey asked.
Nesim seemed to be bursting with excitement. “The zakru move again across the Plains, seeking new life and new soil. It is a sight I have witnessed a handful of times and am blessed to see again.” She leaned closer to Tamtey. “They move now into the Heart of the Plains - our ancestral homeland. This is a sign, warrior. The time has come for the Zeswa to hold the Great Games again.”
Tamtey’s tail flicked at that. “The Great Games?”
Nesim pounded a fist against her hand. “Where alliances are forged and friendships are nourished. Other clans have agreed to participate. And now, I hope, the Sarentu as well? Eywa calls on us to honor the way of our ancestors. Join us. We will celebrate our victories and rekindle our traditions.”
Tamtey grinned. “Count us in, Nesim.”
“Excellent! We shall ride the winds together! Join us at the Plains soon, tsamsiyu, with your clan.”
Ri’nela’s eyes shone as Tamtey explained the Great Games to her and Teylan. “This sounds like a great chance to be with the other Na’vi. To learn the ways of the other clans and perhaps learn some of our clan’s traditions from their stories.”
“What will we have to do?” Teylan asked.
So’lek took his seat next to Tamtey. “From what I have heard, it is feats such as shooting arrows from the backs of direhorses or on foot. Races up mountain sides without calling for your ikran.” Tamtey felt her own excitement grow alongside his. “It would be an honor to go.”
“You must come with us,” Ri’nela urged him.
“I plan to.”
“I’m not really good at any of those things,” Teylan mumbled.
Tamtey nudged him gently with her shoulder. “Come on…your shot has definitely been getting better. And I can almost guarantee you can beat Itu up a mountainside.”
“You think so?”
“I do.” Tamtey patted his arm. “We should head out tomorrow then. Nesim also invited some of the Resistance humans to watch from a distance.”
“Kind of her,” Teylan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I wonder who they will send.”
“That is for them to decide, not us.” Ri’nela spoke with authority and Tamtey grinned at the sound of it. Her friend was stepping into the role of tsakarem well. “We can join the Aranahe tomorrow to travel to the Plains. Tamtey - you should fly ahead of us to inform Zeswa that we are joining.”
“Absolutely.”
Telisi sped across the Plains, shrieking as she leveled out before diving under a rock formation. Tamtey laughed at her movement and looked down at the zakru. All of them were moving. Ambling onwards towards their new home. Telisi banked around each zakru and two of them gave gentle rumbles as they passed by. Different Na’vi yelled their greetings from the ground and Tamtey waved as she sped past them until she reached the kite that Nesim had told her about. She grinned at the sight of a familiar face. “Kin! Over here!”
His booming laugh warmed her entire soul. “Look who has come! The zakru will be glad to have their friend walk among them!” He extended his hand in the traditional greeting and she did the same.
“The migration…it’s incredible!”
He nodded. “And as the zakru move, so do we. It is a good sign for our Great Games indeed. You will compete, yes?”
“So’lek told us a little about the Games…but I don’t know much else.”
He waved his hand. “Many your age do not. It has been some time since the last Games were held. Before the Sky People first spoiled these parts. But now? Peace has returned to the Plains. So why not joy as well? And a little friendly competition between clans?”
He laughed when Tamtey shrugged. “Little competition never hurt anyone!”
“Come, Tamtey. It is Zeswa tradition to ride alongside the zakru by direhorse. Join them. See the mighty beasts up close. Feel the earth tremor as they move with such heavy grace. Trust me, you will not want to miss this.” Tamtey glanced back at Telisi, who seemed to be frowning at the idea of Tamtey riding a pali. “Your ikran is clever. She will find her own way to our camp as you ride.”
Telisi shook her head out at that and gave Tamtey a look. One that seemed very proud of Kin’s belief in her.
“You gonna do some exploring, ma Telisi?” Tamtey pet her nose.
Telisi chuttered in agreement, her eyes closing at Tamtey’s touch. She nuzzled Tamtey once and then took the skies.
“Come, my friend!” Kin had grabbed two pali for them. “The zakru await!”
She and Kin rode side by side as they followed alongside the zakru. One of the Zeswa cheered. “The Sarentu ride with us!”
Tamtey waved at him. “I am glad to join you!”
“Where is the rest of your clan?”
“They may have beaten me to the camp! We ran into some Sky People.”
Kin chuckled. “Ah. And I assume you saw them off, yes?” Tamtey shrugged. “So modest for someone so young. Tell me of your adventures, my young friend. I have heard of them from afar but the story is never as well told as it is by the person who lived it.” Tamtey smiled at one of the zakru that ambled next to them. Its kind eyes found her and they rumbled, shaking the earth gently.
She did not wish to ruin the mood of those around her. But part of Tamtey grieved that P’asuk was not here to experience this. She had still looked for him, even though she knew he was not to be found. Minang had warned her that a bond, even one as young as hers and P’asuk’s, could leave a deep wound when broken.
She had not expected it to hit her so hard yet again.
So she spoke instead. “I have been helping push the RDA out of their bases in the Kinglor Forest and the Clouded Forest. Your warriors have done excellent work clearing out the bases here.”
“Ah. We Zeswa love a good brawl and any excuse for one. The Sky People do not know what rage they open themselves to when they make their homes here on our land. But that is not a story, my friend.”
Tamtey told him about the base she had taken down with Etuwa, Ri’nela and Vefilu. She told him about the base that she and So’lek had taken down in the Clouded Forest. As she spoke, she heard two females talking ahead of them. “Do you think So’lek will join in on the games?”
“What? Why would you think that? He is so serious, these games are probably silly to him. Why do you ask?”
The first female sighed. “Because. It would be nice to watch him compete. I guess I will have to settle for making myself noticeable to him.”
Tamtey raised a brow at that. The second female scoffed. “Good luck with that.”
Kin’s gaze followed Tamtey’s and he chuckled. “Fear not, my friend. I believe the Tr’rong warrior’s heart might already be in safe hands in the Sarentu.”
“He is family.” Tamtey agreed.
Kin raised a brow.
She groaned. “Not you too!”
He laughed heartily again but, mercifully, switched the topic. “You should compete in the games. Eywa has blessed us with a migration to the homelands and the Sarentu’s return. It will be a time of celebration. And if I know you, you will want to add to the stories told, not just sit and tell them.”
Tamtey patted her pali gently when it spooked at something in the grass. “I do like to get into trouble, if you ask the Aranahe.”
“Ah.” Kin waved his hand and leaned towards her to whisper. “The Aranahe know so little of adventure. Here in the plains? The world is open to us - open for exploration and dance fighting. We all could use a little trouble now and then to keep us young. Ah. Look!” They came up to the edge of a valley.
Down below floated multiple kites. The camp site. “Is that it?” Kin nodded.
“Sarentu!” One of the zakru tenders waved to her. “Minang is waiting for you at the Games camp. You are close now!”
“Go,” Kin urged her forward. “I will see you at the camp. And cheer for you when you compete!”
“See you there!” Tamtey leaned forward and urged her pali forward. He jumped at the chance to run, flying across the plains all the way to the camp.