Chapter 1

Jake Sully always had a knack for getting himself into trouble and once again he was in trouble. He was wrestling with a large six legged wolf like creature and grunted with effort as he tried to stop the wolf from tearing his throat out. Suddenly the wolf stiffened and Jake threw it aside and raised his knife before noticing an arrow sticking out of its side. He looked up just as a blue shape leapt into the clearing, shooting another Viperwolf in midair. The Na'vi landed and quickly dispatched several of Jake's attackers before scaring off the rest with a ferocious hiss. The Viperwolves fled into the trees leaving Jake alone with his mysterious rescuer.

Jake focussed on the Na'vi and saw that it was a young woman, who appeared slightly older than his Avatar body but younger than his Human body. She was slender and mostly naked with black hair that was tied in braids. She looked at him and Jake saw that she had golden eyes and a very beautiful face, even though she was clearly angry about something. Then the Na'vi stalked over to his torch, grabbed it and hurled it into a nearby stream before Jake could stop her.

"Great," Jake muttered spreading his arms. The girl ignored him and hurried over to a dying Viperwolf. Jake went to retrieve his torch even though he knew he couldn't get it lit again. He climbed out of the stream and looked at his rescuer. He felt he should thank her for saving his skin so he did, "Look I know you probably don't understand this," he said, "But thank you." The Na'vi ignored him and murmured a prayer over the corpse of a Viperwolf. Jake was unsure if she was listening or not so he repeated the words. The Na'vi pulled her arrow out of the Viperwolf and glanced at him as he said, "That was pretty impressive. I would have been screwed if you hadn't come along." The girl turned and strode away into the forest. Surprised Jake hurried after her, "Wait up!" he called, "Slow down. I just wanted to say thanks for killing those things." The next thing Jake knew the girl had wacked him in the face with her bow knocking him off his feet. She glared at him as she pointed her bow at him.

"Don't thank," she growled. Jake was slightly surprised to hear her speak english, "You don't thank for this. This is sad. Very sad only."

"Okay I'm sorry," Jake said confused, "Whatever I did I'm sorry." The girl straightened and gestured back towards the clearing where they'd left the Viperwolves.

"All this is your fault," she said, "They did not need to die."

"My fault?" Jake said, "They attacked me. How am I the bad guy?"

"Your fault!" snapped the girl jabbing him with her bow, "Your fault. You're like a baby, making noise don't know what to do."

"Easy," Jake said gently pushing her bow away and getting to his feet, "Fine, fine. If you love you're little forest friends why not just let them kill my ass. What's the thinking?" The girl's anger diminished slightly.

"Why save you?" she said and Jake nodded.

"Yeah why save me?" he said. The girl hesitated.

"You have a strong heart," she said after a moment, "No fear." Jake felt happy at the compliment. "But stupid!" the girl added, "Ignorant like a child." She turned and stalked away. Jake just grinned before hurrying after her.

"Well If I'm like a child then maybe you should teach me," he said.

"Sky People do not learn," the Na'vi replied without looking round, "You do not See."

"Then teach me to See," Jake said following her across a massive branch.

"No one can teach you to See."

"Hey come on. Can't we talk? Where'd you learn to speak english? Dr Augustines school?" Jake then lost his balance and nearly fell of the branch. The girl spun around and held him steady.

"You're like a baby," she said again. Jake looked at her for a moment.

"I need your help," he said.

"You should not be here," said the girl.

"Take me with you," Jake said.

"No!" snapped the Na'vi, "Go back." She started to move away but Jake followed her. She turned to him and pushed him gently so that he wouldn't fall off the branch, "Go back!" Then she looked up and Jake followed her gaze.

Seeds that looked a bit like deep sea jellyfish were floating towards them. Jake slapped at one but the girl grabbed his arm. He tried to hit another but the girl stopped him again.

"No!" she said, "Atokirina!" the jellyfish like seeds started landing on Jake covering his upper body, "Atokirina," the girl whispered with a look of childlike wonder. Jake just felt confused and a little uncomfortable as they landed all over the top part of his body.

"What are they?" he said.

"Seeds of the sacred tree," said the Na'vi, "Very pure spirits." A moment later the seeds, known as Woodsprites in english, floated away.

"What was that all about?" asked Jake.

The girl didn't answer his question. Instead she simply said "Come. Come," she turned and led him through the forest. Jake tried to keep up with her but the Na'vi knew her way through the forest far better than he did. She turned back to him after crossing a small stream and said again, "Come." Jake caught up with her.

"What's your name?" he said. Suddenly something wrapped around his legs and he lost his balance tumbling over the side of the branch he was on which was fortunately close to the ground. He glanced down and quickly untangled the bola around his legs just as several horse like creatures with six legs, appeared each one with a rider on its back. Jake spun around as several other Na'vi emerged from the bushes each one holding a bow and arrow. He raised his hands and dropped his knife but then his rescuer, whose name was Neytiri, jumped among the Na'vi.

"Calm People, calm," said Neytiri in Na'vi and then turned to the leader of the hunting party, Tsu'tey, "What are you doing Tsu'tey?"

"These demons are forbidden here," growled Tsu'tey speaking in Na'vi. Naturally Jake had no idea what they were saying.

"There has been a sign," Neytiri said, "This is a matter for the Tsahik." Tsu'tey glanced at Jake then at Neytiri.

"Bring him," he said and jumped back onto his horse.

"What's going on?" said Jake. The other Na'vi surrounded him and they ran into the forest. Jake was unsure what was happening but he wasn't stupid enough to try and run away from a group of armed Na'vi warriors so he decided to go with the flow for now. They arrived at an enormous tree which was about the size of a skyscraper back on Earth. Jake stared at it in awe as the Na'vi led him between its massive roots into their village.

Neytiri led the way towards the spiral on the other side of Hometree where her father was waiting. She saw Tsu'tey speaking with her father, Eytukan who looked at her. Neytiri stood in front of him.

"Father," she greeted him in Na'vi, "I See you." Eytukan stepped down and examined the Dreamwalker as he was brought up to him. Then he turned to his daughter.

"This creature," he said, "Why have you brought him here?"

"I was going to kill him," Neytiri said, "But there was a sign from Eywa."

"I have said no Sky Person may come here!" boomed her father, "His alien smell fills my nose."

"What's he saying?" asked Jake. Neytiri ignored him at first but he asked again so she told him.

"My father is deciding whether to kill you," she said calmly.

"Your father?" said Jake, not sounding at all worried about the fact that Eytukan was wondering whether to kill him or not, "Nice to meet you sir," he held out his hand which prompted Tsu'tey to snarl and several other Na'vi held him back.

"Step back," called a voice from the spiral that led up into the tree and Neytiri saw her mother, Mo'at coming towards them. The Na'vi stepped back at her command as Mo'at moved towards Jake.

"That is mother," Neytiri told Jake, "She is Tsahik, the one who interprets the will of Eywa."

"Who's Eywa?" asked Jake. Neytiri shot him an incredulous look and Tsu'tey snorted quietly at the Dreamwalkers ignorance. Mo'at didn't react to Jake's ignorance instead focussing on examining him.

"What are you called?" asked Mo'at speaking english.

"Jake Sully," said Jake. Mo'at drew a small knife and scratched him on the arm. She tasted his blood.

"Why have you come to us?" she asked.

"I came to learn," said Jake. It wasn't the whole truth but it wasn't a lie either. Mo'at put away her knife.

"We have tried to teach other Sky People," she said, "It is hard to fill a cup which is already full."

"Well my cup is empty," Jake said, "Trust me. Just ask Dr Augustine. I'm no scientist."

"What are you?" Mo'at asked.

"I was a marine," Jake said, "A warrior of the...Jarhead clan." His squad had always called each other jarheads so he was only bending the truth rather than lying. Tsu'tey snorted contemptuously.

"A warrior," he snorted, "I could kill him easily!" Eytukan held him back and spoke to the rest of the clan. Jake still had no idea what he was saying.

"This is the first warrior Dreamwalker we have seen. We must learn more about him."

"Daughter," said Mo'at, "You will teach him our ways. To See and walk as we do." Neytiri protested but Mo'at held up a hand. Neytiri glared resentfully at her mother then at Jake, "It is decided," Mo'at said, "My daughter will teach you our ways. Learn well Jakesully and we will see if your insanity can be cured." Jake looked at her; he didn't think he was insane. But then he supposed that few mad people did. He bowed his head to Mo'at and then glanced over at her daughter and grinned.

"Looks like you're stuck with me now," he said. Neytiri was not amused.

"Come on Skxawng," she said resentfully and grabbed his arm, not gently. Jake allowed her to half drag him up the spiral of Hometree to a place where he could get changed.

When Jake and Neytiri rejoined the other Na'vi Jake was wearing a loincloth which was very uncomfortable. He grimaced, his tail flicking in discomfort as he entered the glow of the firelight. The other Na'vi were seated around the fire and looked up as he approached.

"Good evening," Jake said trying to be friendly. When nobody replied he said, "Please don't get up," and went towards his new teacher who looked as though she wanted to push him headfirst into the fire. Jake sat down next to a male Na'vi warrior and another female who smiled at him before the male pushed her away. Jake smiled at the female as his teacher sat beside him and gave him some food. "You know I don't even know your name," he murmured.

"Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite," said the girl so quickly that Jake didn't even catch her first name.

"Again a lot slower?" he said.

"Neytiri," she said.

"Neytili," Jake said. She looked up at him.

"Neytirri," Neytiri said more slowly.

"Neytiri," Jake said, getting it right this time, "Nice to meet you Neytiri." Neytiri sniffed contemptuously and turned back to her food. Jake smiled and decided he was going to like being around this girl.

Neytiri woke in her hammock the next morning and glanced over at Jake. The Dreamwalker was still fast asleep. Neytiri climbed out of her hammock and moved along the branch to the Avatar's hammock. She looked down at him.

"Jakesully!" she said loudly. The Dreamwalker didn't respond, "Jakesully!" she repeated. Again he didn't respond. Neytiri frowned uncertainly. She wondered briefly if he was dead but saw that he was still breathing. She squatted and shook the hammock, gently so that he wouldn't fall out. "Jakesully wake up!" she snapped angered by the Avatar's laziness. At last Jake moved. His ears twitched and his tail flicked as he opened his eyes and saw her on the branch above him. He grinned.

"Morning," he said. Neytiri just glared at him, "Did someone get up on the wrong side of bed?" Neytiri had no idea what that meant and she wasn't going to ask.

"Just get up you lazy Dreamwalker," she snapped.

"How long have you been waiting?" asked Jake as he scrambled out of the hammock. Neytiri shrugged.

"Longer than I would like," she said.

"Well it's not my fault I can't wake up," Jake said, "I live in two bodies." Neytiri looked at him in confusion then shook her head.

"Enough talk," she said, "You come now." She stepped around him and led him down the spiral where they found Eytukan, Mo'at, Tsu'tey and several other Na'vi waiting. Jake smiled at Mo'at and Eytukan who simply stared at him.

"Sheesh you guys sure know how to make a guy feel welcome around here," Jake said sarcastically.

"We do not welcome Sky People," Neytiri said and sat beside her mother. Jake sat on the other side. Neytiri handed him some food just as she had the night before. He hesitated then handed her some, guessing it was a tradition to hand each other food. Neytiri took it and looked at him suspiciously.

"I haven't poisoned it," Jake assured her, "Even if I wanted to I couldn't have done with your father glaring at me like a hawk." Neytiri bit into her food and Jake started to eat alongside her.

On their first day together, Neytiri spent the morning showing him around Hometree, excluding the Banshee nest at the top of the tree because there were many Na'vi already up there preparing for an aerial hunt.

"I could be part of hunt if I did not have to babysit you," she grumbled. Jake smiled.

"How often do you have these hunts?" he asked.

"One of that size?" Neytiri said, "Only when we run out of food in or around Hometree. And I enjoy hunting on my Ikran. But I can't because of you."

"Hey I didn't choose to become your student," Jake said, "Your mother chose for us. We're just gonna have to do the best we can," he smiled. "Besides I'd like to get to know you better."

"I am not interested in getting to know you," Neytiri said coldly, "I am only doing this because mother told me."

"Do you always do what she says?" asked Jake.

"No not always," Neytiri said, "but most of time. Anyway I must show you roles of members of the clan." For the rest of the morning she pointed out members of the clan, telling Jake their role in clan life.

"My father is Olo'eyktan, clan leader" she said, "and my mother is Tsahik, spiritual leader. Tsu'tey, the man who led the hunters when they found you and me in the forest, is the finest hunter and warrior. He is leading the hunt today. Ni'nat is our best singer," She pointed to another female who was arguably as beautiful as Neytiri. Ni'nat looked up and smiled politely at Jake before going back to her weaving, "My mother and father's advisers are usually elders of the clan." Neytiri went on, "but sometimes younger people become advisers if they are wise beyond their years."

"Okay," Jake said, "So those are the important people." Neytiri glared at him, "What?"

"Everyone in clan is important Jakesully," she said.

"Okay sorry," Jake said quickly. "But those are, you know the most notable ones."

"There are other notable members," Neytiri said, "Many of them have gone on Ikran hunt."

After that Neytiri took him on a run through the forest. Jake tired more quickly than Neytiri but forced himself to keep going. Eventually he tripped and fell over landing flat in his face on the thick branch he was running along. Neytiri glanced back at him.

"Clumsy skxawng," she muttered as she strode over to him and nudged him in the side with her toe. Jake got up and looked down at his feet which were scratched and aching. He thought about asking her for a break but his pride wouldn't allow it. Fortunately Neytiri noticed too. "Get used to the pain," she said, "It toughens up your feet. We go a bit further then you can wash in stream."

"Thanks," Jake said and Neytiri started running again with Jake behind her. When they reached the streams his feet were aching rather badly. It was a relief to get them in the cool water. Neytiri, who was still on a branch, went and picked a piece of fruit which she chopped in half with her hunting knife. She tossed one half to him and then sat on the branch with her back against the trunk of tree and started eating her half.

When they returned to Hometree it was getting dark so they had their meal and then went to bed. Neytiri was still in a bad mood about missing her hunt so she ignored Jake when he said goodnight to her and went to sleep. Jake didn't mind that she didn't like or trust him. He knew he wasn't being trustworthy since he was spying on them so he didn't blame her. When he returned to his human body he reported to Colonel Quaritch and Parker Selfridge telling them what he'd learned.

The next day Neytiri led Jake out into the forest towards a stream where a group of Direhorses – Pa'li in Na'vi – were waiting. She chose an old female named Pale and brought her back to Jake.

"You learn to ride a Pa'li," she said, then took her queue out from behind her head. She pointed to the Direhorses antennae, "Put you're queue into Pale's queue to form the bond," she explained, "You cannot ride without forming the bond." Jake nodded and moved towards Pale.

"Easy boy," he said.

"Pale is female," Neytiri said. Jake nodded.

"Okay," he said, "Easy girl." He clambered clumsily onto the Direhorse's back then took his queue, from behind his head as Neytiri had and took hold of Pale's antennae. He placed the queue into the antenna and Pale grunted and flinched. Jake breathed as he felt the Direhorse's feelings entering him through the bond. He was himself but a part of him was the Direhorse at the same time.

"That is Tsaheylu," Neytiri said, "The bond. Feel her," Jake closed his eyes, "Feel her heart beat, her breath. Feel her strong legs. You may tell her what to do inside," she tapped her head, "For now say where to go." Jake hesitated as Neytiri let go of his mount.

"Forward," he said. Pale moved forwards so suddenly that Jake toppled off her back and into the mud. That was the first time he heard Neytiri laughing. She hurried over to Pale, chuckling. Jake smiled, glad that the young Na'vi woman had a sense of humour, but his smile vanished as soon as Tsu'tey and another warrior splashed into the stream. Jake knew that Tsu'tey didn't like him; he'd known from the moment he laid eyes on him. The last thing he needed was for Tsu'tey to see him humiliate himself.

"You should go away!" Tsu'tey growled. Jake pushed down his embarrassment and smiled.

"Nah you'd miss me," he said, "I knew you could speak english." He looked down at his body which was covered in mud. He grimaced and tried to rub it off while Tsu'tey spoke to Neytiri.

"This alien will learn nothing," he said, "A rock Sees more! Look at him!" Neytiri simply smiled and smacked the bottom of his Direhorse which cantered away. The other hunter followed. Neytiri turned back to Jake who was cleaning himself in the stream.

"Again," she said.

"Great." Jake said, "So you can see me make an ass out of myself again." But he got onto Pale again and fell off shortly afterwards. Neytiri covered her mouth chuckling more quietly this time. Jake grinned at her, "Laugh all you want babe," he said, "I don't mind." Neytiri stopped laughing and looked at him with a frown.

"Babe?" she said and Jake grimaced as he thought that she might think he was flirting with her. Then he realised she didn't actually understand what he meant which was a relief. She would probably have punched him if she thought he was flirting with her.

"Yeah babe means...well girl basically," Jake said embarrassed, "It's sort of a nickname." Neytiri frowned again.

"You are not supposed to call me nickname," she said coolly and Jake grimaced again. A moment ago she'd been laughing and happy but she'd returned to a colder demeanour.

"Sorry," he muttered and climbed onto Pale again and for the third time he was thrown off.

After his disastrous attempts at riding a Direhorse, Neytiri, who was clearly still amused by his appalling performance, led him on another run. Once again Jakes feet were aching by the time they finished and once again he made no complaint, focussing all of his energy on keeping up with the female Na'vi. The run wasn't as long as yesterdays and once again Neytiri allowed him to rest and clean his cut and aching feet in a stream. On the way back to Hometree, Neytiri suddenly stopped and knelt down. Jake looked down at her curiously.

"What is it?" he said.

"Shh," Neytiri hissed as she examined a footprint. Then she pointed towards a bush which looked as though something had pushed through it. Neytiri led Jake forwards. Jake had no idea what they were looking for but he followed his teachers lead.

Neytiri kept on finding signs that Jake would miss; a snapped twig; a bush that a creature had fed from; the parting of leaves and branches where a creature had pushed its way through. The only signs he noticed were the footprints.

"What are we after?" Jake hissed. Neytiri shot him a glare and put her finger on her lips telling him to be quiet. Jake grunted in frustration.

Eventually Neytiri stopped and pointed to an animal that looked a bit like a deer but it had retractable, light-coloured fan structures on its head instead of antlers and it was dark blue. Jake looked at the strange creature then at Neytiri.

"What...?" he began but Neytiri waved at him to be quiet before drawing an arrow. Jake knelt but at he did so his elbow caught on a thin branch and snapped it. It was a small sound but it was enough. The creature looked into the bushes, bleated once and then bounded away. Neytiri turned furiously to Jake.

"You skxawng!" she roared and smacked him on the head, not gently; "You're supposed to be quiet!" Jake rubbed his head.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Sorry is no good!" Neytiri snapped, "I would have shot it if you hadn't been so clumsy!"

"Hey come on. You're overreacting," Jake said, "You've got plenty of food back at Hometree. The hunters caught plenty of meat during the Ikran hunt."

"That is not the point," snapped Neytiri glaring at him with her golden eyes.

"So what is?" Jake countered, "Why are you making a big deal out of it?" Neytiri hesitated. The truth was she had no real reason to be angry with him; they had plenty of food back at Hometree. However she wasn't used to failing in a hunt.

"I do not like failure," she growled.

"Oh so you're just being a sore loser huh?" Jake said.

"Don't call me loser!" Neytiri snarled and smacked him again. Jake grimaced.

"You're gonna knock me out one of these days," he complained hoping she'd lighten up at signs of humour. She didn't.

"You think you're funny?" she snarled, "You're a stupid clumsy Sky Person! I wish I was not your teacher!"

"Well maybe I wish I wasn't your student!" Jake retaliated growing angry by Neytiri's unjustifiable rage, "So you missed a deer. Who cares? The truth is you're just upset to be teaching me and you don't like failing. Plus the deer's probably happy that I scared it away; I stopped it from being killed." Neytiri glared at him but had no answer for that. She growled angrily then stood up and stalked away. Jake followed.

When they returned to Hometree they immediately separated as Neytiri went to speak with her parents. Jake just wandered around Hometree admiring it. Then he remembered that Colonel Miles Quaritch wanted a report of the inside structure of the tree so he looked around.

"Are you looking for something?" said a voice and Jake saw a female Na'vi watching him.

"Nah just looking around," Jake said, "This is a very impressive tree you have here."

"It is one of the oldest trees on this part of the planet," said the young woman. Jake thought she was about the same age as Neytiri and she was attractive but not as beautiful as Neytiri.

"What's your name?" Jake said.

"I am Peyral, the best female hunter in the clan," the girl boasted proudly.

"Well it's nice to meet you," Jake said choosing to ignore the rather vain statement, "I'm..."

"Jakesully I know," said Peyral, "I heard you say your name when you got here." She looked at the great roots of Hometree.

"How did those roots grow so big?" asked Jake, "Back on Earth we never had a tree that was even half this size. Or at least not as far as I know."

"We look after our planet," Peyral said, "Trees can grow to a massive size if you wait long enough. However the roots are perhaps the most vulnerable..."

"Peyral!" snapped a voice, "What are you doing?" the voice spoke in Na'vi as an elderly Na'vi stormed towards them. "How many times must I tell you; do not trust Sky People!" snapped her grandfather.

"You never said do not trust Dreamwalkers," Peyral countered.

"Dreamwalkers are Sky People in false bodies!" snarled the elder Na'vi.

"Dreamwalkers are almost identical to the People!" snapped Peyral.

"They have the hearts of demons! Besides they are not identical to us; they have five fingers!" her grandfather fired back.

"So what?" Peyral snapped. "I said they were almost identical."

"Look if you're arguing about me then I can leave," Jake said before the elder Na'vi could respond. He may not understand Na'vi but the glare the old man kept shooting at him caused him to think they were arguing about him.

"It is dinner time," growled the old man, "Come granddaughter."

"Grandfather says it is dinner time," Peyral translated to Jake as she followed her grandfather who was still muttering in Na'vi under his breath.

Jake sat next to Neytiri around the fire who glanced at him briefly. Before she could do or say anything Jake said; "Look I'm sorry I scared away that deer. But you didn't have to get so angry about it."

"It was Yerik," Neytiri said. She was quiet as she handed him some food then added reluctantly, "You were right. I overreacted. I just do not like failing."

"Everyone fails once in a while," Jake told her, "Besides that deer, I mean Yerik, didn't get away because you made a mistake; it got away because I was clumsy. I would say that's my failure not yours." Neytiri looked at him.

"I do need to learn to accept failure," she admitted, "It does not help that my future mate tells me to become better at everything I do."

"You're future mate's gonna be Tsu'tey right?" Jake asked, remembering what Grace Augustine had told him. Neytiri nodded and then bit into a piece of meat and chewed it.

"Tsu'tey always says I should get better at everything," she said once she'd finished her mouthful, "He is the best warrior and hunter in the clan."

"How do you feel about being mated to him?" said Jake.

"That is not your concern Jakesully," she said still eating.

After the meal she led him back up to their hammocks. Neytiri hopped down into hers and Jake joined her. He looked over at her just as he had the last two nights. Neytiri stared back at him expressionlessly then turned and pulled the top of the hammock over herself.

"Night," Jake said. Neytiri didn't answer. Jake shrugged as he pulled the top of the hammock over himself. He knew that Neytiri didn't trust him and he supposed that was a good thing; he was supposed to be spying on her after all. He briefly considered what he'd tell Colonel Quaritch and Parker Selfridge once he got back to his human body. Thanks to Peyral, who was clearly more trusting than Neytiri, if a little vain, he knew bit more about the inside of Hometree, specifically that the roots were vulnerable. Jake closed his eyes and when he opened them he was back in his human body.