The brothers had to keep up with the Na'vis' schedules. They woke up at dawn, and so Optimus and Nemesis had to be in their chambers moments before the sun rose. They hunted, trained, and cared for young during the day, keeping the clan healthy and safe.

Optimus had nanny duty. Nemesis got to hunt with the other young males. Both were not happy.

"Easy now," Optimus said as he watched the children climb the tree branches and swing. One of the younger ones fell and Optimus barely caught him. "You will be the hunter everyone knows will get hurt from what he does, but does not!" He shook the kit mockingly, setting it back onto the tree. "Now be careful! Your mother wants you safe when she comes back from gathering."

Ka'tai was watching him. "You're not too bad with them."

"They are no different than sparklings." Optimus turned to see her, his eyes wide and sincere. "I appreciate what your clan is doing. I know that you do not trust easily, yet here I am, alone with your future generation."

"It was Father's idea." She huffed, looking up at the kits as they played. "Mother would have put you on fishing duty."

Optimus lifted a mock accusing finger. "Your fish are bigger than you. Is she trying to get us killed?"

"She does not trust easily. Father does." She sat down and huffed again, her tail flicking. "He wants me to teach you our tongue."

He sat across from her, letting the children play on his shoulders and in his lap while he struggled to speak their language.

"No!" She hit his hands, growling softly. "You said it wrong."

"How do you say it?"

She muttered something softly in her language and he perked up.

"Ooh, I like that one. What does that one mean?"

"Moron." She giggled.

He stared at her for a couple seconds. "Aye."

ooo

Nemesis came back dirty and bruised. He was mostly purple now, but he was grinning. He held up a little game animal that was barely two feet long. "Look what I caught."

Optimus looked up from feeding a two-week old child. He frowned, looking past him to see the giant catch the other hunters brought in. "Congratulations. We are all going to starve if you were the only hunter."

Nemesis threw the dead animal at Optimus, who caught it. "You're just jealous!"

"I learned to words in the native language, and they apparently discribe me perfectly." After that, he said the two words, and they were perfect.

"What does that mean?"

"Stupid moron."

Nemesis laughed at his brother, holding himself. "Class didn't go well for either of us then, huh?"

"Not even a little bit, brother." Optimus stood up slowly as the gatherers came back to relieve Optimus. They gave him a handful of berries and a large fruit as a thank-you and he smiled at them. "Thank you."

He walked with his brother out of the nursery, sharing the food with him as he walked. He wanted to know about his brother's hunt, since he was next. "Fell off your mount again?"

"Repeatedly. But the guys were nice and helped me up. They told me to go hunting in the bushes and I found the two-footer. They laughed at me, but clapped by back and patted my shoulders. I think I did pretty good."

Optimus nodded slowly. "I am joining the female hunters with Ka'tai."

"Good luck. I hear she's a little demon when it comes to hunting." He patted his shoulder and pretended to bless him.

Jake walked up with Ka'tai a step behind. "What are you doing?"

"I'm blessing him so your little demon daughter won't hurt him, so says the legend. I heard he was going to hunt with you two."

"Yeah. I've got to see who's hunting material and who isn't, and based off your catch," Jake nodded to the little animal in Nemesis' hand, "I don't think you're a hunter. Maybe a flier, but we'll see." He clapped Optimus on the shoulder. "Let's see how your brother holds up."

"Aye," they both muttered, and Optimus was led away. Nemesis walked to join the other hunters in preparing the food for the children and elders, who always ate first.

Optimus climbed onto the mount with no problem. Ta'lore shifted under him, letting his usual rider adjust himself while he bonded with him.

"He likes you," Jake said softly. He patted Optimus' mount on the neck. "Never cared for me." He watched Optimus for a moment, then he led the small hunting party deeper into the woods. Jake was impressed by Optimus, but he still had a lot to learn. At least he didn't fall down, and until he wrapped Ta'lore around a tree, Ka'tai was impressed, too.

While Ta'lore scrambled to his six feet and looked down at Optimus, who was groaning and hugging the tree still, Ka'tai laughed.

"Stupid moron," she laughed in her language. Jake swatted her head playfully.

"Let him learn."

Optimus looked at Ta'lore. "You okay, buddy?" He touched the beast's head and laughed softly when he danced in place, eager to keep going. "Ahh, my ankle hurts." He looked down at it. "This body is fragile."

"What is your real body like?"

"Huge, and metal, and hard to break." He mounted Ta'lore and he looked at Jake who had spoken. "Perhaps one day I will let you see it."

"Perhaps," he said. "If you survive this hunting trip. Remember, trees don't move here."

Optimus watched the two hunters run ahead of him and he laughed softly. "Next time, I will know better."

ooo

Nemesis laid with his brother in their shared hammock, petting his brother's hands. "You make a better hunter than I do."

"You will learn," Optimus murmured tiredly. During the hunt, he hurt his ankle, rubbed his palms raw trying to climb a tree after Ka'tai, and he fell down a ravine. "And I will, too."

"Atleast you caught something worth catching."

He had caught a deer-thing by falling on it. It had been sunbathing at the bottom of the ravine.

"Mm. I fell on it. I would not call it catching." He closed his eyes tiredly, but did not sleep. He was enjoying his brother's fussing.

Nemesis could sense his brother's pain and discomfort, and he targetted areas that seemed to bother him, like his hands and ankle, before he laid his helm down and slept beside his brother.

When they woke in their chambers, they heard good news.

"Arcee's avatar is fully mature now, and I would like her to join you two the next time you wake."

Optimus smiled at Arcee. "You are going to love it."