So'lek x fem!avatar driver reader inspired by Tsumuke written by @lvlypinkesworld
Part 19 > Part 19.2 (18+) > Part 20 > Part 21
(Y/n) woke feeling as though something had crawled inside her skull and was attempting to hammer its way back out.
A miserable sound escaped her.
The movement alone made her regret existing.
Her stomach felt suspicious.
Not quite enough to be sick.
Enough that she was considering it.
The only pleasant thing in the entire world was the pair of arms wrapped securely around her waist.
She remained there for several moments, eyes closed, debating whether death might be preferable.
Unfortunately, So'lek noticed she was awake.
He sat up slightly, still cradling her securely in his arms.
One arm tightening around her.
"Are you feeling alright, yawne?"
Immediately regretted it.
The motion sent another wave of pain through her skull.
His chest rumbled softly against her back.
The woman opened one eye.
A kiss landed against her cheek.
"You had a bit too much to drink."
Memory began returning in scattered fragments.
Slowly she pushed herself upright.
Every muscle in her body complained.
A deep weariness lingered beneath her skin.
The sort that settled into bone.
The familiarity settled in before the memory did. The marks scattered across So'lek's skin were one thing, but the deep ache lingering between her legs—and the pleasant soreness woven through the rest of her body—was unmistakable. She knew exactly what had caused it.
The warrior was absolutely covered in marks.
Others across his shoulders and chest.
bite marks and bruises that she had caused.
Lots of bite marks and bruises.
Far too many bite marks and bruises.
The woman looked genuinely horrified.
The warrior reached up and brushed a loose braid from her face.
A kiss touched her forehead.
"When you are under the influence of zanke..."
The pause was not reassuring.
"You were quite enthusiastic."
The woman made another miserable sound.
One somehow worse than the first.
The denial was immediate.
"(Y/n)," he said gently, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You were whispering such things into my ears."
"How could I not give you what you wanted?"
The woman immediately buried her face in both hands.
A strangled noise escaped her.
The warrior's shoulders shook.
He was absolutely laughing at her.
"You were very persuasive."
"You sat on my lap whispering how much you wanted me to mate with you until dawn."
His chest finally shook with unmistakable laughter.
"I learned a new sky person word."
(Y/n) immediately knew she was not going to like where this was going.
The woman groaned and buried her face against his chest.
The silence that followed had lasted all of three seconds before (Y/n) felt her soul attempting to leave her body.
The protest came immediately.
She buried her face in her hands.
"Please tell me I did not actually say that."
So'lek's expression was far too calm.
The warrior's ears flicked.
Barely concealing his amusement.
"You were very passionate about it."
His smile widened slightly.
"You thought it was an excellent observation."
(Y/n) looked ready to throw herself into the nearest river.
"I cannot believe I said that in front of everyone."
"You said many things in front of everyone."
The warrior leaned closer.
Voice lowering just enough.
"For what it is worth, I was pleased to learn I am apparently sexy and that you wish to fuck with me."
The woman made a strangled noise and immediately hid her face again. "Please stop saying that."
Though if he was being honest, last night had been one of the most bewildering experiences of his life.
His thoughts drifted back.
To the way she had attached herself to his side the moment the zanke truly took hold.
At first he had assumed she was simply unsteady.
Then she had refused to let go of him. Not for a moment.
The memory made his ears flick slightly.
She had been shamelessly affectionate. Bold in ways she never was while sober. Complimenting him at every opportunity. Touching his face. Playing with his braids.
Informing anyone within hearing distance that he was handsome.
Tamtey had nearly injured himself laughing.
So'lek had wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
A small warmth settled in his chest.
Because every word had been sincere. Every lingering touch. Every smile she had directed at him.
His mate had looked at him as though he were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen.
And he had loved every moment of it.
Even when she had become outrageously flirtatious.
The warrior closed his eyes briefly.
She had climbed directly into his lap at one point.
In full view of everyone.
Then, apparently deciding that was not enough, she had marked his neck repeatedly while whispering words of seduction only for his ears to hear.
As though she were the hunter and he the prey.
The memory alone threatened to make him laugh.
He had spent most of the evening trying to maintain some semblance of dignity while his intoxicated mate systematically destroyed it.
The memory of Tamtey nearly falling over from laughter surfaced.
Followed by Minang trying and failing to hide her amusement.
The warrior closed his eyes briefly.
He suspected those stories would survive for many years.
Especially the parts involving her compliments.
And how bold the usually shy and gentle healer had become.
The way she had clung to him without a trace of embarrassment.
And, unfortunately for his dignity, the moment she had bitten his backside in full view of several very entertained clan members.
A faint smile threatened to appear.
(Y/n) eventually lifted her head again.
The movement was considerably slower this time.
Her eyes travelled around their surroundings.
Recognition slowly dawned.
Then she looked at the enormous hollow shelter pod surrounding them.
Realization flickered across her face.
The warrior's ears flicked slightly.
"You insisted that I mate with you."
"You did not wish to wait until we returned home."
His expression remained infuriatingly calm.
"You wanted me right there and then."
The woman looked as though her soul had left her body.
"So I brought you to a bushshelter pod where the branches would hide us from prying eyes and ears."
"You were very insistent."
(Y/n) slowly covered her face.
The warrior reached over and gently pulled her hands away.
A faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.
"And I find it very difficult to say no to you."
He leaned in and pecked her cheek.
The woman made a strangled noise. Somewhere between horror and disbelief.
(Y/n) covered her face again. "Please stop remembering things."
The warrior's shoulders shook slightly.
The woman peeked through her fingers.
Then noticed something else.
The knot in her stomach loosened slightly.
Maybe nobody remembered. She prayed no one would remember.
The healer groaned and collapsed against him again.
The warrior wrapped both arms around her. Holding her close. His chin settled lightly atop her head.
For a while neither spoke. The morning remained quiet around them. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves overhead. Animals called somewhere beyond the shelter.
(Y/n) could have fallen asleep right there.
In fact she was considering it.
Then another pulse of pain reminded her she was still alive. Unfortunately.
The request came quietly. Miserably.
The warrior lowered his head and pressed a kiss into her hair.
"I wish to sleep the entire day away."
That sounded like an excellent idea.
His mate looked exhausted. Hungover. Embarrassed. And entirely done with the world.
The warrior carefully gathered her back into his arms before she could attempt standing on her own.
The woman immediately relaxed against him.
Not even pretending she intended to walk.
The last thing he needed was his mate falling into a bush because she had consumed enough zanke to make a Zakru dizzy.
The memory nearly made him smile again.
(Y/n) lifted her head from his shoulder.
Then immediately regretted it when her headache reminded her it still existed.
"What about our clothes?"
For the first time since she'd woken, he actually looked slightly guilty.
The warrior shifted her more securely in his arms before turning toward a corner of the shelter pod.
"Unfortunately, yawne..."
His voice carried the unmistakable tone of someone who knew he was about to make things worse.
"I got carried away as well."
Their clothing lay in a small pile.
Or what remained of their clothing.
One sleeve that appeared to have completely lost its battle with existence.
The warrior wisely said nothing.
His shoulders shook slightly.
The woman looked down at herself.
The only thing she still wore was the necklace he had given her.
The realization hit her all at once and she immediately wanted to crawl into the ground and remain there forever.
"I am naked and covered in bruises and bite marks. And look at my thighs, So'lek. Those are clearly YOUR fingerprints."
The words came out horrified. Completely horrified.
The warrior stepped closer and pressed a kiss against her forehead.
"There is no need to worry." His hand settled against the back of her head.
"We are heading straight home."
So'lek's hand slid to her waist as he adjusted his hold again.
"I am not ashamed of being seen like this."
His eyes drifted briefly across her face.
The warrior shook his head.
"This is only for my eyes."
(Y/n) narrowed her eyes immediately.
The healer pointed directly at him.
"And other women can look at you like this?"
Her finger remained pointed. Accusatory. Judgemental. Entirely serious despite the fact she looked moments away from falling asleep.
"See those marks, So'lek?"
The warrior glanced down.
An alarming number of marks.
The healer folded her arms. Or attempted to. The effort lasted approximately three seconds before she yawned.
The threat would have been significantly more intimidating if it had not been interrupted by a yawn halfway through.
The warrior decided that was not a conversation he wished to encourage.
"Which is exactly why we are going straight home."
(Y/n) looked entirely pleased with herself. As though she had won something. Perhaps she had.
A few moments later her head dropped against his shoulder again.
The fight left her as quickly as it had arrived.
The hangover was winning.
Her eyes were already closing.
"If Tamtey remembers any of this..."
The warrior began walking.
"I am moving to another planet."
His chest rumbled softly.
Then buried her face against his neck.
And before they had even reached Iley, she was asleep again.
The warrior climbed onto his ikran carefully, keeping one arm securely around her while settling her against his chest.
She made a small sound of protest when he adjusted her.
Then immediately relaxed again.
Content the moment she realised he was still there.
The morning breeze stirred her braids as Iley launched into the air.
Below them, the plains stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
So'lek watched the world pass beneath them.
His free hand drifted absently to one of the marks along his shoulder.
The skin still stung slightly.
"And other women can look at you like this?"
"Because I do not think I like that, So'lek."
The warrior's mouth twitched.
The threat itself had not been particularly intimidating.
Mostly because she had yawned halfway through it.
He found himself smiling.
His mate was normally gentle to a fault. Kind. Patient.
The sort of person who worried more about everyone else's feelings than her own.
Yet beneath all of that there had apparently been a possessive streak all along.
The zanke had made her bolder, loosening the restraint that normally kept such thoughts unspoken. And the mere idea of someone coveting something that was hers had revealed an entirely new side of her.
His fingers brushed another mark.
There were far more than he ever would have expected.
His mate had certainly been enthusiastic.
The warrior shook his head.
And somehow even more difficult to resist than usual.
A sleeping (Y/n) shifted against him.
The warrior adjusted his hold without thinking.
One arm tightening around her.
Her cheek pressed against his chest.
The necklace he had given her caught the morning light.
So'lek looked down at her.
The woman who had saved his life.
The woman who had turned his camp into a home.
The woman currently threatening exile to another planet because she was embarrassed by what she had said and done while drunk.
His thumb brushed lightly across her shoulder.
Just moved a little closer.
The warrior looked away before the smile on his face could grow any larger.
When she remembered more of last night she was going to spend the next week hiding from Tamtey.
And Tamtey was absolutely going to make that impossible.
So'lek had Iley land atop the floating mountain that housed their home.
The fresh mountain air greeted them immediately.
Cool. Fresh. Carried by a steady breeze that moved through the trees and hanging vines.
Exactly what his mate needed.
(Y/n) barely stirred when he climbed down from Iley's saddle. The woman remained tucked securely against his chest, her arms loosely wrapped around him, still half asleep despite the flight.
The warrior adjusted his hold and started toward the entrance of their home.
Near the edge of the top entrance to the cavern, they called home sat a small alcove nestled among the trees and roots that grew across the floating peak.
Thick branches curved overhead, forming a natural shelter. Curtains of vines hung between the the roots, their leaves creating shifting walls of green that filtered the sunlight into soft beams of gold. Blue flowers bloomed among the greenery, their petals swaying gently whenever the breeze passed through.
The ground was covered in soft moss, grasses, and fallen leaves.
Sheltered from the sun while remaining open to the fresh air. A place where the wind whispered through the leaves overhead. A place where someone could sleep for hours without being disturbed.
So'lek carried her inside.
The warrior carefully lowered her into his lap before arranging her comfortably against him.
(Y/n) made a small sound of approval. Half asleep. Barely conscious.
Her head found his chest. One arm draped across his stomach.
The warrior adjusted a few leaves beneath her shoulder. Moved a stray root away from where it might become uncomfortable.
Then pulled her a little closer.
Only once he was certain she was comfortable did he lower his head and press a kiss into her hair.
Already drifting deeper into sleep.
So'lek remained still. Listening to the breeze. Listening to the distant cries of creatures flying between the floating mountains. Listening to the slow rhythm of her breathing.
His eyes drifted across the landscape beyond the alcove.
A few short days. Perhaps a few weeks. He had honestly lost track.
Time seemed different now.
Before her, his days had been measured by patrols. Battles. Training. Plans.
The endless burden of responsibility to aid the resistance in the fight against the RDA.
Avenging his clan. Protecting what remained. Teaching the Sarentu.
Making certain the Sarentu would never suffer the same fate as his own clan.
Those things still mattered.
Yet somewhere along the way another priority had quietly worked its way into his life.
A shy dreamwalker who collected injured animals. A healer who carried enough medicine to fill an entire camp. A woman who somehow managed to make every place she visited feel warmer.
His gaze lowered to her sleeping face.
The grief he carried for his clan had never disappeared.
He doubted it ever would.
Some wounds remained for life. But she had made it easier to bear.
Like a lantern carried through darkness.
Not removing the darkness. Simply giving him enough light to keep walking.
His hand settled against her back.
The warrior could feel her breathing.
He loved her fiercely. More fiercely than he had ever loved before.
His mate. His home. His future. His everything.
The woman shifted slightly in her sleep.
Instinctively moving closer.
Her fingers curled lightly against his chest.
So'lek's arm tightened around her.
The breeze moved through the hanging vines. Blue flowers swayed overhead.
The mountain remained quiet around them.
The warrior rested his head back against the ground and closed his eyes.
His last waking thought was the sound of her breathing.
A sound he suspected he would never grow tired of hearing.
Not for the rest of his life.
The Scorpion touched down just outside the Zeswa main camp.
Before the engines had even fully powered down, Ri'nela was already climbing out.
A journal sat open in her hands.
One of (Y/n)'s. The pages were covered in sketches of bones, muscle groups, handwritten observations and treatment notes gathered over years of caring for Pandora's creatures.
Ri'nela had spent most of the flight reading.
She usually watched (Y/n) tend to injured animals. Usually (Y/n) explained what she was doing. Usually (Y/n) was the one making the decisions and she’d be helping as an assistant.
Today was different. Today she was expected to help without the healer standing beside her.
The thought made her stomach flutter nervously. Worried she might get something wrong.
Ri'nela closed the journal and stepped away from the Scorpion.
Almost immediately she spotted Tamtey jogging toward her.
"Ri'nela." The young man lifted a hand in greeting. Then winced.
Ri'nela narrowed her eyes. "You look terrible."
Tamtey pressed a hand to his forehead. "I may have had too much zanke last night."
Ri'nela looked entirely unsurprised. "Tamtey, if there is an injured direhorse, why not call (Y/n)?"
"(Y/n) already set the legs." He rubbed his temple. "I figured you would know what else to do to help it with the pain."
Another wince. "And mine."
Ri'nela sighed. "Yes, there is a tea recipe that should help your headache."
Then Ri'nela folded her arms.
"That does not answer my question."
The young man suddenly found the ground fascinating.
Tamtey's mouth twitched. Then he snorted. Then he started laughing.
Ri'nela's eyes narrowed further.
"I do not think we shall be seeing (Y/n) at all today."
Tamtey looked delighted. The sort of delighted that only came from possessing information he absolutely should not have.
"Let us just say she is probably recovering from the influence of zanke."
Ri'nela frowned. "Tamtey?"
"She was all over So'lek last night."
Ri'nela blinked. Once. Twice. Her head tilted "(Y/n)?"
"You should have seen it."
Ri'nela continued staring in confusion.
Tamtey smirked "She was whispering things into his ears that made So'lek look like the happiest man on Pandora and the most terrified at the same time."
Ri'nela looked genuinely confused. "Are you sure we are talking about the same (Y/n)?"
The same shy healer who turned red if somebody complimented her? The same woman who occasionally hid behind her hands when flustered? The same woman who struggled to tell So'lek she liked him even though they're mates?
Tamtey pointed at himself. "Ri'nela."
"She even bit his backside."
Ri'nela gave him a look that clearly said you are making this up.
Tamtey immediately shook his head. "I swear by Eywa."
Ri'nela rubbed her face. The image refused to fit with anything she knew about (Y/n).
Meanwhile Tamtey looked like he might start laughing again. "Can you imagine her this morning?"
The young man was practically vibrating with amusement. "She may blush so hard she faints."
Ri'nela sighed. The sigh of someone already regretting the conversation.
"You know if (Y/n) finds out you are gossiping about her, she will poison your tea."
Tamtey considered that. Carefully.
For almost three seconds.
"It is a risk I am willing to take."
Ri'nela shook her head. "One day your confidence will be your downfall."
Another wince crossed his face as his headache reminded him it still existed.
The young man immediately regretted speaking so loudly.
Ri'nela watched him suffer for a moment. Then reached into her satchel. The small pouch hit him squarely in the chest.
Tamtey fumbled it. "What is this?"
"The herbs for your tea."
The Sarentu leader started walking toward the Pa'li grounds. "You can gossip after you help me treat the direhorse."
Tamtey looked down at the pouch.
Then sighed. Long. Tired. Resigned.
The sort of sigh that came from realizing he was about to spend the rest of the day working.
The young man hurried after her.
Though not before adding one final comment. "For the record, So'lek looked very happy."
Ri'nela groaned. "Tamtey."
So'lek woke sometime later.
He did not know how much time had passed.
The breeze had cooled slightly.
The mountain remained quiet around them.
For several moments he simply lay there, listening to the wind moving through the vines overhead.
Then he felt the familiar weight on his chest.
The healer had somehow managed to move even closer while he slept.
At some point she had practically climbed on top of him.
Her face was resting against his chest, her hands sprawled out..
And, unless he was mistaken—
The warrior glanced down.
A small wet patch sat on his chest.
So'lek at her. Then smiled.
The poor woman would be absolutely horrified if she knew.
His hand settled against her shoulder. His thumb rubbed slow circles against her skin.
A kiss found the top of her head.
She did not stir. Not even slightly.
The warrior's smile grew.
A sight he would never tire of.
The mountain could have crumbled around him and he suspected she would still be asleep.
His gaze lingered on her face.
The Great Mother had placed many things in his path throughout his life. Some good. Some terrible. Some painful enough that he still carried them years later.
The warrior lowered his head slightly.
A silent thanks passed through his mind.
For her. For the chance encounter that had brought a nervous dreamwalker into his life. For every argument. Every conversation. Every stolen moment. Every morning he woke to find her curled against him.
His eyes drifted across the alcove.
The problem was that eventually she needed to wake up. His mate needed food. Water. A bath.
He needed those things as well.
Though he suspected she needed them more.
Especially after the amount of zanke she had consumed.
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
He should probably make certain her muscles were not overly sore. Make sure the marks he had left were not bothering her. Check whether the bites were stinging.
The thought brought his hand unconsciously to his neck.
A faint sting greeted him.
The warrior's ears flicked.
His fingers brushed over one of the marks she'd left behind.
A memory surfaced immediately.
"I do not think I like that, So'lek."
The warrior closed his eyes briefly.
He would definitely be more careful around zanke in the future.
The warrior studied her face. Her breathing remained deep and steady. The sort of breathing that came from complete exhaustion.
His hand moved to rest at the back of her head. She leaned into the touch without waking.
The very thought felt cruel.
He thought of her opening those sleepy eyes only for her to realise he had disturbed her for food and bathing.
The warrior almost felt guilty just imagining it.
His stomach could complain all it wanted.
The kind that came after exhaustion finally caught up to someone.
The warrior shifted slightly.
Careful not to disturb her.
His arm tightened around her instead.
The woman immediately moved closer. As though she had sensed the movement even in her sleep.
A small smile appeared on So'lek's face. The warrior settled back against the moss.
The breeze continued to drift through the alcove.
He briefly considered getting up anyway.
The smell alone might be enough to wake her naturally.
His mate rarely ignored food for long when it smelled good.
His eyes drifted down to the sleeping woman sprawled across his chest.
She would absolutely ignore it.
The woman had once fallen asleep while waiting for food.
Another time she had forgotten to eat entirely because she was busy... or someone had ruined her appetite.
The smell of food was no guarantee.
The warrior imagined himself carefully shifting her off his chest.
Immediately he disliked the idea.
Her head would no longer be resting against him. The warm weight of her would disappear. The steady rise and fall of her breathing would no longer be pressed against his chest.
His thoughts wandered toward the distant glimmer of the small lake further along the floating mountain.
A bath would probably do both of them good.
Especially after yesterday.
His fingers absentmindedly brushed another mark on his collarbone.
The sting remained. Not unpleasant. Just noticeable.
The memory that accompanied it was considerably more distracting.
The warrior looked toward the lake again.
Bathing alone sounded remarkably unappealing.
Normally he did not care.
Before (Y/n), he had preferred solitude. Sought it out.
Now the thought of sitting in that lake without her felt strangely hollow.
He imagined the water. The breeze moving through the trees.
Then imagined her beside him.
Laughing. Talking. Leaning into his side.
The second image was considerably better.
His hand settled against her back.
Waiting was the superior option. The most logical option.
Certainly not because he enjoyed having her asleep on top of him. Or because the idea of moving her made him feel guilty. Or because he liked waking up and finding her immediately within reach.
Those things were entirely unrelated.
A small smile appeared before he could stop it.
So'lek's fate was sealed. Food could wait. Bathing could wait.
The entire world could wait.
His mate was comfortable.
And the warrior suspected he would happily remain right where he was until she woke on her own.
Tamtey had left Ri'nela and Minang discussing tea blends beneath the shade of the Zeswa camp and headed back to patrol through the Upper Plains.
The headache from the zanke still lingered.
Not enough to stop him. Enough to remind him every few minutes that drinking competitions against Zeswa warriors were terrible ideas.
The young Sarentu crested a hill and immediately dropped into a crouch.
His hand tightened around his rifle.
Another burst echoed across the plains.
Then came a sound that made his stomach drop.
A Soundblast Colossus screamed.
The cry rolled across the grasslands like thunder.
Tamtey broke into a sprint.
The scene revealed itself as he reached the next rise.
The Soundblast Colossus was trapped inside a massive metal restraint that had been driven into the ground. Heavy steel supports surrounded its body. Thick mechanical arms locked around its torso and neck. Shock cables ran from the machine directly into the creature's hide.
Every movement triggered a violent crack of electricity.
The giant animal thrashed.
The trap answered with another surge.
Its roar shook the ground.
Around it were RDA soldiers and two AMP suits.
One soldier was attempting to secure additional cables while another directed a flatbed truck closer.
Several dead animals littered the area.
Arrow deer. Direhorses. Another Soundblast Colossus.
Tamtey's stomach twisted.
Then the nearest AMP suit turned.
The Sarentu threw himself sideways.
Rounds tore through the grass where he'd been standing moments earlier.
The impact drove him behind a fallen log.
The AMP suit advanced. Heavy metal feet shook the earth with every step.
Tamtey's hand dropped to his belt.
Grenade. He pulled the pin.
The explosion ripped through the clearing.
Fire erupted beneath the advancing AMP.
The blast rocked the machine backward.
Soldiers shouted. Smoke filled the air.
Tamtey was already moving. The young warrior burst from cover. Rifle raised.
The first soldier fell before he even realised Tamtey had changed positions.
The third tried diving behind the truck. A burst of fire dropped him into the grass.
The surviving AMP suit emerged from the smoke.
Its cannon swung toward him.
Tamtey sprinted directly at it.
The rounds chased him across the clearing.
Grass exploded around his feet.
One shot clipped the ground close enough to shower him with dirt.
The Sarentu slid beneath the machine's reach.
His fist crashed through the cockpit glass.
The pilot's eyes widened.
For one brief second both of them stared at each other.
The pilot screamed as he was dragged bodily through the shattered opening.
The young warrior slammed him into the ground.
The fight left the man immediately.
Silence returned. Broken only by the trapped Soundblast's frightened cries.
Tamtey's breathing slowly steadied his racing heart. Catching his breath.
The young Sarentu approached the trapped creature cautiously.
The giant animal's eyes followed him. Terrified.
Another movement triggered the shock system. Electricity crackled through its body.
Tamtey's jaw clenched. He hurried toward the control panel.
The machine hummed beside him.
Lights flickered across its display.
He raised his rifle, he brought the butt of the weapon down with all his strength.
The panel shattered. Sparks erupted. The restraint system groaned. Metal arms collapsed into the dirt.
Immediately the Soundblast sagged.Its enormous body trembling. Exhausted.
Tamtey approached slowly.
Hands visible. Voice low. "Easy." Just like (y/n) had taught him.
The giant creature watched him. Breathing hard. Its body shivered beneath his touch when he finally placed both hands against its neck.
For several moments neither moved.
Eventually the Soundblast gathered itself. Muscles trembled. Legs shook.
Then the creature pushed itself upright.
The giant animal looked at him once.
Then ran. Disappearing across the plains.
The young warrior finally turned.
And truly looked at the site.
The battle suddenly felt insignificant.
Dead Arrow Deer. Dead Direhorses. Dead Soundblasts.
Bodies scattered across the grass.
The flatbed truck sat nearby.
Several shapes lay beneath heavy tarps.
Slowly he walked toward the truck.
One corner of a tarp had come loose.
Enough to reveal hide. Hide. Claws.
Pieces of creatures that should have remained where Eywa intended them.
The young Sarentu looked back toward the shattered trap.
Toward the cables. Toward the containment system powerful enough to hold a Soundblast Colossus alive.
The dead creatures suddenly made sense.
A thousand possibilities ran through his mind.
Trophies. Testing. Experimentation. Collection. And worse...
The trap had been designed to keep something alive.
Tamtey's gaze lingered on it.
A chill crawled up his spine despite the heat of the plains.
"What could you possibly want with living ones?"
Tamtey heard another cry.
Not the deep roar of a Soundblast Colossus.
Smaller. Weaker. Pain-filled.
The young Sarentu turned immediately.
A limping Arrow Deer emerged from the tall grass. One of its hind legs dragged awkwardly behind it.
The animal froze the moment it spotted him. Terrified.
Tamtey lowered his rifle. Slowly. Just as (Y/n) had taught him.
The Arrow Deer bolted. Three limping steps.
Then disappeared into the grasslands.
Another sound reached him. This one closer.
A Direhorse lay on its side near the edge of the clearing. Its breathing was shallow. There was a gash on it’s foreleg that made his stomach twist.
The animal tried to rise when it saw him. Collapsed almost immediately.
"What did they do to you?"
His voice came out quieter than he intended.
His eyes swept across the battlefield again. The dead creatures. The trap. The truck.
The wounded animals still wandering away from the site.
The RDA had not simply attacked these creatures. They had been capturing them.
Whatever it was, Tamtey did not have time to figure it out. Not yet. The living came first.
The young warrior activated his com.
Then Alex's voice answered. "Go ahead."
"Are there any field labs near my position that can provide medical attention for some sick animals?"
Tamtey crouched beside the injured Direhorse. The animal flinched. Then relaxed slightly when he kept his movements slow.
"The Archipelago Field Lab is nearby."
Tamtey nodded. "Thanks Alex."
"If this is for (Y/n), let her know it'll have basic medical equipment but probably won't have anything niche she may need."
A faint smile tugged at Tamtey's mouth. "Ri'nela and I are handling things for now. We should be okay."
The smile widened. "She and So'lek have been... preoccupied."
"Wait." Alex sounded suspicious.
Tamtey immediately regretted opening his mouth. "Just... busy."
Alex sounded very interested now. "What does that mean?"
Tamtey didn't answer him.
Alex sighed. "Well if you see them, tell them Priya and Alma have been looking for them."
"Give them a break." He rolled his eyes. "They're newly mated."
"WAIT." Alex practically shouted. "So'lek and (Y/n) got married?"
"Did (Y/n) not tell you?"
"No one has seen (Y/n) in weeks."
"Alex, did I hear you right?" A second voice appeared in the background. Priya.
Priya joined the channel. "Sorry, not sorry for eavesdropping, but did you just say (Y/n) married So'lek?"
"So, nobody has seen her in base for days," Priya continued. "Did she move into one of the field labs or something?"
"Uhh..." Tamtey suddenly realised just how little communication had occurred. "She transferred to live in her avatar."
"Wait." Priya sounded completely lost. "So you're telling me that (Y/n) married So'lek, permanently transferred into her avatar body and has just been living with him this entire time?"
The answer sounded perfectly reasonable to Tamtey.
The young warrior immediately ended the call.
Then he opened another channel.
She answered quickly. "Tamtey."
"Could you meet me at the Archipelago Field Lab?"
"I found a handful of injured animals."
Ri'nela immediately became serious. "How badly injured?"
His gaze shifted toward the Direhorse. Then toward another limping shape moving through the grass."Most of them can still move. Think you can help?"
"I should be able to." She sounded thoughtful. "But if there are severe injuries, I am not confident handling them without (Y/n)."
Tamtey understood exactly what she meant. Neither of them was. "Hopefully it will not come to that."
"I will gather supplies."
Tamtey rested a hand against the Direhorse's neck.
The animal's breathing remained uneven. Its entire body trembled.
The plains suddenly felt very quiet. Tamtey looked across the battlefield one final time. The dead creatures. The shattered trap. The blood-soaked grass.
Then his gaze drifted back to the wounded animals still scattered throughout the area.
Whatever the RDA had been doing here...
He had a feeling this was only the beginning.
Not because she wanted to.
Because her stomach had finally decided enough was enough. Hunger dragged her back to consciousness one miserable sensation at a time.
Her limbs felt heavy. Not injured. Not truly painful. Just exhausted. The sort of exhaustion that settled deep into muscle and bone and made even the thought of moving seem like an unreasonable request.
Her thighs especially protested when she shifted.
A quiet groan escaped her.
For several moments she simply lay there, eyes closed, enjoying the absence of the headache that had plagued her earlier.
Then she became aware of a familiar heartbeat beneath her ear. A familiar scent. A familiar warmth.
She was still sprawled across So'lek.
The warrior was already awake. Golden eyes watched her from above.
There was always a particular look in his eyes when he looked at her. A look reserved only for her.
One that never failed to make her stomach flutter.
His hand slid through her hair. A kiss found her forehead. "Good afternoon."
The movement stretched muscles that immediately informed her they had opinions about yesterday. "How long did I sleep?"
"So long that I briefly considered leaving you here until tomorrow."
Then her stomach growled loud enough for both of them to hear.
The warrior chuckled. "I think you should get something to eat."
(Y/n) nodded . "I think you are right."
The healer pushed herself upright.
Immediately regretted it. Her legs wobbled the moment she put weight on them.
Before she could even begin falling, strong arms caught her.
So'lek's heart lurched. The warrior's grip tightened around her automatically. His eyes moved quickly over her face. Searching. Checking. Making certain she was alright.
Only when he realised she was simply exhausted did the tension ease.
Then his gaze dropped lower.
The faint bruises along her thighs caught his attention.
The marks stood out against her skin.
The warrior's jaw tightened slightly. His hand lingered at her waist.
A flicker of guilt followed.
(Y/n) noticed the direction of his gaze.
Immediately understanding. Her fingers found his chin and guided his face back toward hers.
"Remind me to never drink again." The complaint came with all the energy of a dying woman.
The warrior scooped her into his arms before her legs could betray her a second time. "That would be a very wise idea."
He started toward the lake.
After several quiet steps he spoke again.
Much softer this time. Almost hesitant. "Are you harmed?"
The question made her tilt her head in confusion.
(Y/n)'s hands rose to cup his face. "No." Her thumbs brushed his cheeks. "No, I am not harmed."
The warrior held her gaze. Making certain. Searching her face for even the slightest hesitation.
The woman leaned forward and pressed kisses across his face. His cheek. His jaw. The corner of his mouth.
"I have many regrets about last night."
"...are not one of them."
The tension finally left his shoulders.
The expression in her eyes immediately made him suspicious.
"I just wish I had the stamina to keep going."
So'lek froze. The warrior stared at her. Horrified.
The look made (Y/n) burst out laughing.
The warrior shook his head. "My terrible mate."
The woman looked entirely pleased with herself. "I mean what I said."
The statement did absolutely nothing to improve his situation.
(Y/n) rested her head against his shoulder. "My limbs may be sore."
"I may be covered head to toe in hickeys."
"But I do not regret how I got them."
The warrior looked toward the sky. Toward Eywa. Toward anywhere that might offer assistance.
Only laughter. Soft and delighted against his shoulder.
The sort of sigh that came from loving someone so completely that even when they were tormenting him, he could not stop smiling.
This woman was absolutely going to be the death of him.
And somehow he suspected he would not mind.
By late afternoon, the Archipelago Field Lab looked less like a research station and more like one of (Y/n)'s emergency shelters.
Animals occupied nearly every available space.
An Arrow Deer lay near one wall while its fawn refused to leave its side.
The Tetrapteron hung from a padded perch Ri'nela had improvised using straps and scrap.
The creature's injured wing remained folded awkwardly against its body.
Tamtey watched Ri'nela move between them.
She carried herself differently these days. More confidence.More certainty.
Though whenever she opened one of (Y/n)'s journals, he could still see the nervousness. The feeling that she was stepping into shoes far too large for her.
Ri'nela sat cross-legged beside a table.
One of (Y/n)'s journals rested open in her lap. Several pages were marked with folded corners. Sketches of bones. Treatment notes. Medicine recipes. Observations written in hurried handwriting.
Ri'nela traced one line with her finger. Reading carefully. Then reading it again.
Finally she nodded. "It looks like the worst injury is a sprain."
Tamtey relaxed slightly. The last few hours had been filled with enough uncertainty already.
Ri'nela flipped another page.
"We should be able to treat most of the wounds with the medicines from (Y/n)'s sanctuary."
The Arrow Deer lifted its head.
Its fawn remained pressed against its side.
The sight made Tamtey think of (Y/n) immediately.
"I'll fly back and get them."
Tamtey started toward the door.
"Wait." Ri'nela's voice stopped him.
The young warrior turned.
Something serious had settled across her expression. "Keep your eyes open."
Tamtey frowned. "For what?"
Ri'nela rested one hand on the cover of the journal.
"Minang warned me about something before I left."
Ri'nela rarely sounded uncertain. Now she did."The RDA have been setting traps for Na'vi."
Tamtey's expression hardened immediately."What kind of traps?"
"They steal weapons."She thought back to the conversation. "Personal belongings."
Her grip tightened slightly on the journal. "And some people have simply disappeared."
Even the hum of the field lab suddenly seemed louder.
Tamtey remembered the trap. The Soundblast Colossus. The dead creatures. The wounded animals.
A knot formed in his stomach. "They are hunting people." The words felt wrong. Wrong and dangerous.
Ri'nela nodded."We do not know why."The uncertainty bothered her.
The young warrior looked the distant plains beyond.
How many traps had he walked past without seeing?
How many more were waiting?
Ri'nela gave him a look. "A normal person’s definition of careful."
Tamtey almost laughed. "I will."
The young warrior grabbed his rifle and headed toward the exit.
Behind him Ri'nela reopened the journal. Immediately returning to the notes.
As Tamtey stepped outside, the afternoon wind rolled across the grasses.
The young Sarentu walked toward his ikran. His gaze lingered on the horizon.
The RDA had been capturing creatures. Setting traps. People were disappearing.
The thought stayed with him as he climbed into the saddle.
Moments later his ikran launched into the sky. The field lab disappeared beneath him.
And for the first time since finding that trap, Tamtey found himself looking much more carefully at the world below.
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