Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, nor make any profit from it.

-o-o-o-

Jake Sully hates confrontation. He hates it because no matter what goes down, he finds himself unable to think, unable to DO anything, until he airs out the conflict.

And he hates the fact that the other Na'vi hates him, HAS hated him, with a vengeance since they first laid eyes on each other. Granted, the male Na'vi's suspicions were accurate. Then again, looking up at the face of your assailant as he rides in on a direhorse, isn't exactly the best way to meet someone for the first time either.

But more than anything, Jake hates that his initiation into the Omaticaya is forcing him to see the Olo'eyctan, the clan leader, every single day.

He didn't realize his feet had taken him to his destination through the twisting path of the large until a deep voice cut through his thoughts.

"What are you doing here… Jake *Sully*." The clan leader demanded, his native tongue placing emphasis on the last name, as always. His voice rolled over Jake's name as though tasting it every time, and it often came out bitter.

Jake felt his hackles raise at the tone, but beat his defenses down to submission with each forced step he took.

"I…" The former marine took a deep breath, "I came to speak with you, Tsu'tey."

Finally, the other Na'vi turned to face Jake, almost reluctant in his motions. Jake felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise as those eyes, full of distinct pride, met his. Every Na'vi he had seen possessed amber-colored eyes. What distinguished each individual eye from the next was not the color, but rather the shape of the eye itself. Neytiri's was almond-shaped, feminine. Tsu'tey's though… it was distinctly fierce looking, like a tiger who could never stop glaring, his brow always forced in an angry line.

And that anger always intensified when Jake was near.

Hardening his stance, his tail flicking absentmindedly, Jake demanded, "Tsu'tey, I have a right to know. What is your problem with me? I thought we were getting along for a while right before the great battle, but you seem to act as before, as though nothing has changed."

"Things have changed." The Olo'eyctan said slowly, "You are now Toruk Makto. You are truly one of the people, Eywa having deemed you worthy. You have gained the trust of not just Omaticaya, but all the People of Na'vi."

If anything, this answer made Jake more frustrated than before, "That… explains nothing!"

The Olo'eyctan's look hardened, shifting on his feet. The flick of his strong tail alerted Sully to his growing impatience, "I owe no explanations."

Jake's eyes narrowed, tensing.

The air was charged between them, unresolved conflicts darting back and forth, though nothing was said. How could anything be said when nothing was understood?

Tired of the other's presence, Tsu'tey demanded, "Wouldn't your time be better spent seeing Neytiri?"

"What?" Jake's head cocked to the side, confused at the sudden change of subject.

Unbidden, memories from before his great betrayal surfaced. All the Omaticaya had gathered to discuss the destruction of the Tree of Voices, the place where Jake and Neytiri had spent the night.

Tsu'tey had turned to face them, his look of surprise turning to one of outrage. Through the crowd of people, he had stormed straight to them, even as they had tried to make their way to Neytiri's father.

Tsu'tey's accusing finger was aimed at Jake, as though he had wished to stab him with it, "YOU almost MATED with this woman?!"

Jake had been too shocked to reply. Though he had heard the gasp of Neytiri's mother from somewhere behind Tsu'tey.

Jake Sully returned to the present, shaking his head, "What? I don't…"

They had almost escalated it to the next level that night, only for both to realize that those were not the sort of feelings they had for one another. Though both had been a little disappointed, they were not averse to the new relationship they shared now. Almost one of brother and sister.

Tsu'tey's own head tilted, his bundled trail of braids falling across his shoulder. It was almost as if he were interested to hear what the next words would be that came out of the other's lips.

But Jake just shook his head once more. If the Olo'eyctan wished to reveal nothing, then he would get no explanations in return, "You know what? Never mind."

Realizing this whole meeting had been pointless, Jake turned and stalked out.

Tsu'tey made no move to stop him.

-o-o-o-

"Do not mind Tsu'tey," Neytiri said playfully, leaning into the wind, her banshee shrieking with delight at being given free reign, "He is Olo'eyctan now. Many responsibilities. Many worries."

"Oh yeah, and what would those be? Deciding what to wear? How to braid his hair next?" Jake snorted bitterly. He himself rode his own ikran, not wanting the banshee to feel left out after he had bonded with the great, crimson Toruk. Where the red giant was now was a mystery, as it often took off on its own. While the ikran showed extreme dedication and devotion to their respective hunters, the Toruk acted more on its own, showing great favor to Jake while restraining itself from killing the Na'vi and their mounts. It would not be controlled or tamed as the banshees.

"No, Jake!" Neytiri laughed, marveling at the hostility that still existed between the two warriors, "He probably thinks you are after his Olo'eyctan title for the Omaticayans."

"What? You're joking." Jake frowned, steering his ikran to playfully brush against hers.

Neytiri smiled, straightening her own sky mount out before retaliating with a swoop of her own, "That, and the problem of our low population of women, seem to be the two major issues right now. The attacks by the sky people and the great battle took away many of our numbers. May they rest well and find peace with Eywa."

They were silent for a moment in respect.

Hometree would have been the number one issue, except for the fact that there was already a sapling growing to take its place. From the roots of destruction, hope and salvation grew with it. While its growth was extremely rapid, it would still be a while before they could take their place within it. So for now, they bided their time, constructing dwellings around it.

Jake opened his mouth, about to say something else, when the sudden pain twisted inside of him. Crying out instead, he pitched forward, his banshee flying off-kilter as it experienced the same pain through the tsaheylu.

"Jake!" Neytiri shouted.

He had enough sense to break the bond, snatching the end of his braid away from the banshee's connection, but it was too late.

Jake felt the world fly past him as he fell.

Wondering if he would breach the trees before his or Neytiri's ikran could reach him, Jake was surprised to find a great shadow blocking his view of the sun. Powerfully taloned feet snatched him midair, with no difficulty at all.

The red, tough hide and the flying beast's great size made fear pulse into Jake's heart. But then those familiar eyes looked down at him and he realized, this was his Toruk. A sense of calm was sent towards him before another ripple of pain hit him, writhing in the Toruk's grip. But the beast's grip was strong, and Jake knew he would not fall.

Neytiri's eyes had widened in horror as she saw the Last Shadow swoop in from nowhere to grab Jake out of the sky. However, she soon noticed the difference between this Toruk and the others. This one seemed to care about the Na'vi it held in its claws.

It was Jake's.

And it was flying off faster than either her or Jake's ikran could keep up.

She could only hope the Toruk would take care of him.

-o-o-o-

Jake woke with a groan, the soft glowing tendrils of the Tree of Souls greeting him. He felt… better.

His Toruk roared out with pleasure, a few feet away.

Turning his head, Jake smiled, "You knew just where to take me, didn't you…?"

But the former marine's voice trailed off. Something was wrong. It didn't sound right. It sounded… lighter.

Trying not to panic, he shifted to his hands and knees, his hand splashing in a small pool cupped between the roots of the tree. Absentmindedly, he glanced at it, only to freeze in horror.

The face that shimmered, looking back up at him, was not his own. The jaw-line was not as broad, as solid. His eyes were still wide, filled with curiosity, but it seemed softer somehow. And his lips… were… puffier.

Standing slowly, Jake was afraid to look down. But he forced himself to.

"Oh…my…GOD…" She gasped to herself, because looking down at her newly formed breasts, Jake knew that is what she was. A woman.

Jake Sully had done what no man ever could, or ever wanted, to do. She had grown breasts within one day. It was true, Jake had joined the marines, wanting to prove that he could pass any test a man could pass. But this… this was unbelievable.

Her Toruk ambled over, concern clicking from its throat. It could sense her fear.

"I don't even wanna know… I don't even wanna know…" Jake scrunched her eyes closed, her hand drifting towards her loin cloth. She patted it tentatively, the distinct lack of *something* to fill the space made her eyes shoot open. Unabashedly, she lifted her loin cloth and looked, nearly fainting.

Yup, it was gone. Her symbol of manlihood, her constant companion, her… fucking cock… was gone. It was just… gone.

"You gotta be kidding me…" She said weakly.

The crimson Toruk nudged her with the top of its beak, nearly plowing the unsuspecting Na'vi over. Jake steadied herself, hooking her arm around Toruk's neck to keep her balance. She stroked the beast's crest, knowing the other merely wanted to comfort her.

"This is it. I'm dead. I'm so dead. Or at least, I might as well be." Jake babbled incoherently, "There is no fuckin' explanation for whatever the hell just happened to me."

The new sound of her own voice was driving her insane.

Toruk rumbled in disagreement.

When Jake looked at him, the last shadow nodded his beak over at the Tree of Souls. Jake's jaw nearly dropped.

There is no way… NO fuckin' way…

Stepping away from her mount, Jake pointed an accusing finger at the tree, "YOU planned this??? THIS is the reason I'm here, even after I passed your test?! After everything I've done for the Omaticaya? For the Na'vi?!"

A breeze trickled past the drooping vines, and Jake could almost swear she heard Eywa's tinkling laughter.

Feeling crazy, Jake laughed as well, "Oh ho, you think this is funny now… Just you wait. I'll find a way to reverse this. Neytiri will help me. Or even her mom."

With a last glare at the tree, knowing she probably looked completely ridiculous, Jake made her way back to her mount. Self-consciously, she snatched a long stretch of plant and used it to wrap around her breasts, tying it to his back before springing onto Toruk's back.

"Eywa or not, I will find a way to break this curse." Jake muttered to herself, before speaking to her mount, "Take me home, Toruk."

-o-o-o-

For discretion's sake, Jake had Toruk drop her off a mile away from base camp, not wanting to make a scene. The less people that saw her, the better. Hell, maybe no one would even recognize her. If anyone asked, she was from the horse clan of the plains.

Yeah. Right.

Jake used her trained skills to sneak past most everyone in the camp, making a curved bee-line towards Neytiri's hut.

She couldn't believe her luck. She had managed to not get seen by anyone at all. Maybe they could fix this without a single soul knowing.

And then Tsu'tey stepped directly in front of Jake's path.

Jake started, her eyes trailing up from his chiseled torso, to that proud jaw and confident gaze. He looked curious, almost as if he had been studying Jake for a period of time.

"Do I… know you?" The Olo'eyctan inquired, for once his voice not hostile, his gaze curious rather than frigid.

"I… uh… hail from the Horse Clan…" Jake interjected lamely.

Crap.

"Truly?" Tsu'tey asked, "I did not believe your clan was to arrive until tomorrow. Where are my manners? I see you."

Jake couldn't believe the Na'vi was buying it. But she was even more surprised when the hand that Tsu'tey placed on her shoulder in greeting felt as hot as coals. Biting back a yelp, and attempting not to make it look like she completely jerked away from the other's touch, Jake stumbled back, "And I see… you."

The way Jake's hand briefly brushed on the clan leader's shoulder was more like a pat than a pressed greeting. But Jake snatched her hand away as soon as she could do so while remaining respectful.

Tsu'tey's eyes narrowed, his gaze calculating as it settled on Jake's.

Feeling a nervous sweat break out, Jake darted her gaze downward, then away. She could not risk the other figuring out who she really was. The less time she spent with him, the less risk it would be that he would figure it out.

"Well, I gotta go. I need to speak with Neytiri." She said, refusing to meet the Olo'eyctan's questioning gaze as she started to walk around the other.

Before she could make her escape, she felt his strong grip on her wrist, and this time she could not hold back the gasp from his touch. It burned, like fire… but it was not unpleasant.

Tsu'tey seemed to react as well, his lips parting as he looked at her. His breathing was heavy. And with a start, Jake realized hers was as well.

"Who are you…?" Tsu'tey asked, fighting strong against the desire to take her to his hut and rut with her then and there. He had never felt this way before. Not even with Neytiri, before…

He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of this new woman's powerful scent. It had been this heavy, alluring cinnamon scent that had first allowed him to discover the woman sneaking her way past everyone in camp. He had been immediately suspicious, but overwhelmed by the pure innocence in her eyes. So familiar…

"Please, don't ask…" Jake shook her head, feeling her throat getting rapidly drier by the second. She tried to tug her hand from Tsu'tey's grasp, but it was too strong. If she attempted any harder, he would get more suspicious.

"What…?" Tsu'tey frowned, drawing her closer to him, drinking in the sight of her face, the smell of her scent. Those eyes looked at him, worry clearly evident within their depths.

Jake was all too aware of the closeness of their bodies, feelings stirring in her foreign, female body that she could not describe. Instantly, she did not like it. Her gaze flashed with defiant indignation at the Olo'eyctan's presumptuous actions. Just because he was the clan leader did not mean he could manhandle Jake.

The Olo'eyctan wasn't sure what triggered it, whether it was a faint, lingering smell or the soul he found within those flashing amber depths, but his eyes immediately widened with surprise. He could not believe it, "Jake…?"

Jake couldn't help it. The minute she saw the puzzle click together in Tsu'tey's face, she panicked.

Twisting her body in order to twist the Olo'eyctan's arm, Jake then dropped the elbow of her other arm, forcing Tsu'tey to release her or else suffer a broken limb. Turning tail, Jake took off like her whole life depended on it. Though as of now, it was more like her dignity at stake.

-o-o-o-

A/N: Okay, THIS is where I originally meant the first chapter to stop. Thanks for pointing it out, guys.