Yes, he had survived, and it was all thanks to (Y/N) Sully of the Jarhead clan and as of now, Tsu'tey could not seem to take his eyes off of her. That also rang true for others as well, because the clan as a whole have been interested in the Sulli siblings. However, with this new victory, there seems to be a new scent in the water, and Tsu’tey does not like it one bit. Right now (Y/N) was in the arms and speaking very animatedly with her brother, using herself as a makeshift crutch to help keep her brother upright, and Jake, who is now the Olo’eyktan at Tsu’tey's request looks as though he is the luckiest man on Pandora. Especially with the approach of his newly mated and newly expecting mate, Netyiri, who gives (Y/N) a warm smile and a comforting squeeze on her shoulder, ultimately relieving (Y/N) of support duty. As she walks away from her siblings new and old she sweeps her hair from her face already out of breath by the energy and excitement of the celebration. Her hair was done simply but beautifully with two braids along the sides of her head that turn into a giant loose, big, and bountiful braid going down her spine covering her back until the edges of her shoulder blades. Her ceremonial make-up from being rebirthed a third time is still present on her face albeit becoming a little moist with movement. 

Her eyes meet the Warrior Tsu'tey, her former mentor and she smiles as she makes her way over with a shaking head. 

“Ma Tsu'tey are you not supposed to be resting?” She places her hands on her hips as if to scold.

“You worry too much if you think a fall could kill me.” He says downplaying the event his tone playfully boastful, but soft as his ribs are still recovering.

(Y/N) sighs knowing that his injuries are a sensitive topic before she moves to stand beside him and gently rocking into him. This causes Tsu'tey to stumble and almost fall if it wasn't for (Y/N) catching his bicep and steadying him again. He looks at her incredulously only for his face to soften as he sees her best attempt at hiding a laugh behind a smirk. 

“And you say I worry too much?” She says breathing through a laugh.

Tsu'tey chuckles and shakes his head because she was right. He had almost died that day and if not him, then his connection to Eywa, but he is trying so incessantly to pretend that it didn’t happen. While lost in thought (Y/N) shifts her weight to her left leg effectively leaning and staying close, almost touching. HIs ears flick in her direction slightly as he feels her warmth radiating at his side. He feels his heart stutter, but he closes his eyes and sighs as a feeling of guilt wells inside him. He has been avoiding this longer than he would like to admit, but he realizes that it is more important to get this taken care of sooner rather than later due to the unbearable weight on his heart.

“Why don't you enjoy the par.. part-” Tsu'tey is interrupted by the women beside him.

“Party?” She finishes as she gives a side glance, her eyebrow raised.

“Yes. Party… Do not correct your teacher. It's disrespectful.” He says rolling his eyes while sending over a playful glare.

(Y/N) sighs because she could hear the lecture at the tip of his tongue so as she straightens out and turns to him she flicks his ear, making his eyes snap to her with a slight fury.

“You hit your head in that ‘just a fall’” she says using quotation marks.

She stretches before walking forward with a small groan. “And if your brain is permanently damaged I should remind you I finished my Iknamaya. Your teaching days are over.” 

She turns and waves to him and he almost missed it because he was so lost in thought. His ears were flat against his head and his eyes looked far away, but he waves anyway before slowly shrinking into the crowd. He slowly comes out of the back of the masses that were celebrating, before he looks amongst them to see (Y/N) dancing with Neytri joyfully as the young adults they were.

Tsu'tey turned away as he walked up the path to Spirit Tree. He took a deep breath despite how painful it felt because he wanted to make sure this was not a dream, that his feelings were true, and not some illusion conjured up by his damaged tswin. He sat ever so slowly before taking his injured tswin wincing as he maneuvered it gingerly to one of the beautiful glowing vines. He sighs as his consciousness travels through a bright light where it seemed his mind was no longer plagued by thoughts of the present world.

His eyes adjust to the soft afternoon light of the day. His gaze drew to the old school steps which were gently illuminated by soft sun rays. They were not riddled with bullet holes and bodies of fallen children that he remembers so clearly, it was simply, where children played and begrudged young warriors learned. There was a creaking sound and his eyes looked up to see her. His Sylwanin. Though now his heart tugs as if his heart no longer sees that as a fact.

“Yawne… You have come to see me.” Her voice was light, gentle, and came with a tone that somehow portrayed why he was here and that she understood.

“Sylwanin…” his chest tightens as he approaches the steps only to feel cowardice and instead sit on the first step with his head in his hands.

“Sylwanin… I-” there is a soft hand on his shoulder which pauses his words for a moment.

“I know Ma’ Tsu'tey…” she says a soft smile gracing her lips.

“Tell me it is wrong and I will lock it away Ma' Yawne! I will no-” Tsu'tey begins to plead, but is silenced by a raise of her hand.

Sylwanin presses her forehead against his, slowing her breathing as they have done many times before as he matches her tempo.

“Your loyalty has always been something I admire about you Tsu’teyI. This is not a betrayal for you were never mine. And if you were and Eywa allowed it I would not blame you if you moved on.” She says her voice remains even and grounding.

Tsu'tey opens his eyes when he feels that she no longer has her head pressed to his, but is now several feet away and looking out into the forest. Tsu'tey’s chest felt heavy as he looked at the women he used to love, however, it no longer felt heavy with guilt and betrayal, it felt heavy with the blessing he had received. He stands fully at the bottom step as she turns to face him.

“You must go get your Woman Tsu'tey, someone as quick witted, beautiful, and humorous will not last long amongst the clan.” Sylwanin says with a smirk as his consciousness begins to fade from this realm. “Come and tell me how it goes…” she says before he returns to where he is meant to be.

Tsu'tey's eyes adjusted to the night and soft glow of the tree of souls. His chest no longer tight, his face was not dried with the feeling of tear tracks that would normally remain after a visit with Sylwanin and the feeling of guilt seems to have morphed into one of acceptance. He closes his eyes to simply pray and give thanks to his ancestors as well as loved ones for the courage to move on, but that did not last long as the sound of loud footsteps that carried an air of human clumsiness and confidence could be heard.

“Thought I would find you here, cripple.” the voice of the ever arrogant Jake Sully echoes in his ears.

“Funny to hear that coming from you demon.” Tsu'tey says, opening one eye with a sideways glance.

Jake huffs out a laugh as he walks over to stand next to Tsu'tey who is still sitting down. There is a brief silence before Tsu'tey's tail flicks agitatedly and looks up.

“Wh-”

“Guys are getting pretty handsy out there…” Jake says as he sucks his teeth briefly as he nods his head slowly.

“That would be a problem for Neyt-” Tsu'tey is cut off once again by Jake.

“A lot want the Olo’ketan's blessing for his sister's hand in marriage." Jake says as he rocks back and forth from heel to toe. Jake knows exactly what he is doing.

Tsu'tey's ears fall flat to his head as his head jerks to look up at Jake both eyes fully open. His breath heaves for a moment as his eyes sharpen, but he knows he lays no claim to the woman they speak of, so to ease his mind and recenter himself rolls out his shoulders while evening his breath.

“Is that so? She is a woman in The People's standards… What did you say?” Tsu'tey tries his best to seem uninterested and calm, but he can’t help but feel the special bite of jealousy stink its teeth into his heart..

“I said I'll think about it.” Jake says with a smirk as Tsu'tey quickly responds.

“What?!” His voice echoes throughout the tree of souls. His calm demeanor he tried to put up has all but washed away as a few people turn to see the commotion briefly before turning minding their business.

Jake raises his hands in self defense before reaching a hand down to help the still healing warrior to his feet. Tsu'tey took his hand, jaw clenched as he withheld a painful groan at the movement, but also to hide the direct look of irritation. Tsu'tey looked like he was about to say something snarky, but didn’t get the chance before Jake spoke once again.

“Look man, I said I’d think about it, but it is ultimately up to her and I am telling you this ‘cause your a fucking hard ass and too stubborn to see what's in front of you.” Jake says placing his hands on his hips in a familiar scolding fashion.

“I see where she gets it from.” Tsu'tey thinks his face is almost softening before he glares at Jake trying to remove his thoughts of her from his mind. Even so, he says nothing for a moment as he stares back toward the celebration longingly. He wishes to rush back quickly to ensure her safety, but what does she need to be safe from when she has the freedom to choose? In any case he must get all the information as a good hunter and warrior should.

“And why tell me something that is blatantly obvious?” Tsu'tey asks, but there is also a hint of almost childlike sadness.

Jake sighs, his ears flattening sympathetically as he turns to stare out toward the party as well. He crosses his arms and leans his weight on his right leg to shift closer to Tsu'tey in hopes that the proximity could bring comfort before he says what he is about to say.

“Because I am hoping that being reborn in this body did not ruin my vision…” he hums, pausing for a moment before placing a supportive hand on Tsu'tey's shoulder. “...and because I couldn't think of anyone better suited for my baby sister other than you.”

Tsu'tey's face drops slightly as a wave of emotion washes over his face as he comes to the realization of how truly blind and full of fear he had been. He places a hand over Jake's and squeezes it in understanding as he gives a nod of thanks before he does a wobbly running gallop -that Jake would probably never let him live down- back toward the celebration.

Once he has returned he sees them. The fellow young and old warriors circled her like a pack of viper wolves after a fresh kill, but he could understand, she looks beautiful. Her shadowy figure casts over him as she dances in the fire light. Letting her body move freely, her stance was just as sturdy as the shelters and traps she had helped lay during and after the battle. She moves with such confidence and grace that he cannot help but thank Eywa for putting her in his path. However, almost ironically her beauty and grace were disrupted as another eligible bachelor found his way in his path. 

(Y/N) was in her own world as she stepped and twirled around Neytiri, enjoying laughter and music with her newly founded sister. That is when Neytiri glances behind her, a knowing smirk present on her face. (Y/N) looks back to meet the eyes of Tsu’tey. Her ears twitch as her face flushes a twinge of purple, she begins to dance, her body rolling to the music as her hand reaches out to him. Her wrist rolling inward slowly beckoning him to join her on the dance floor. Yet, it seemed that her silent call attracted another instead.

Her hand was suddenly grasped tightly by another as she was twirled into his arms, forcing her to face away from Tsu’tey. Äzantu, a man who fits his name well for his domineering and pushy personality. He has had his eyes on her since the beginning, and she wasn’t looking to keep his company any time soon.

“Excuse m-“ She begins calmly and politely, but is interrupted by Äzantu.

“I feel that you have avoided me enough my dear pink skinned demon” His tone comes off as flirtatious, but the underlying message was clear and it was that she did not have room to speak  because she was nothing but flesh in his eyes.

“Absolutely no-“ she goes to shove him, but his grip is firm. “Release me!” She demands.

(Y/N)’s lips curl back as she hisses in hopes he knows she is serious. However, Äzantu greets her with an even more visceral hiss as he grips her upper arms in a bruising grip seemingly to try and force submission. Even so, his intimidation does not last as his hiss turns into a yelp as he releases his grip, his breath hitches and he is pulled backwards slowly. Behind him was the injured, but still kicking Tsu’tey with a look of absolute fury, and everyone was looking to watch.

Tsu’tey’s nostrils flared as his pupils turned pinpoint on his approach. He had dealt with this man far too many times, and tonight he would officially put a stop to his harassment. Tsu’tey has Äzantu by the base of his tswin where it meets the base of his skull. 

Now Äzantu was slightly taller than Tsu’tey which makes this even more painful for him as Tsu’tey slowly pulls the man’s back into his chest. Äzantu’s head is forced slightly upwards in hopes that by tilting his head it would alleviate his pain.

“Listen now because I do not feel like repeating myself…” He hisses into this man's ear. “…listening?”

Tsu’tey asks to which his only response was a mixture of a hiss and a squeak before Tsu’tey twists Äzantu’s tswin sharply upwards causing Äzantu to tilt his head so far forward that he had to kneel to the floor in front of (Y/N) with his head bowed.

“I have come very close to knowing what it is like to lose this.” Tsu’tey says tightening his grip to give emphasis on how Äzantu is only feeling a fraction of the pain that Tsu’tey is still healing from.

“So if you would like to keep yours, I suggest you leave her alone…” He then shoves Äzantu to the ground as he lets out a pathetic yelp. “…And keep your hands to yourself…” 

There was no longer a hiss in Tsu’tey’s voice, but a rumble that came from deep in his chest that seemed to resonate throughout the entire crowd and stunning them into silence. The now humiliated man crawls a few moments before getting to his feet and getting lost in the crowd. In which things begin once again, but in a low murmur. In the Corner Neytiri turns to jake and murmurs “Now why did you not do that for me?” Her voice teasing. Jake looks over at her with a look of disbelief. “I literally united billions of clans and went to war for you!” Neytiri only laughs meanwhile (Y/N) is stunned by the whole interaction, but she can't help the tip of her ears flushing  a deep purple at how fiercely he protected her. Though she didn’t have time to dwell as Tsu’tey took her hand in his and began leading her away from the party towards a small body of water that glowed in the light of the planet above. She tries to gather herself and remain calm as she feels him come to a stop.

“N-Now what happened to a warrior taking care of herself?” She asks, quoting a previous teaching he once echoed to her.

Tsu’tey’s ears twitch as he turns to face her, his hand still intertwined with hers. His once violently swishing tail has come to a gentle sway as his eyes meet hers. He knows what he had once said, and he does not have a clue of when his feelings started to change, but all he knew is that he never wanted her to defend herself alone ever again. He wanted to stand beside her when she faced any threat or danger, and when that wasn’t possible, he would be her shield. He wanted to say so many things, curse any other man who had ever had the idea that she could ever be theirs. All of these words flew across his face before he took a breath.

“That was the words of a mentor… and I do not wish to be just that in regards to you…” he says as he loosens his grip on her hands as if giving her a way out in case she does not reciprocate his feelings, but the selfish part of him prays to Eywa that she feels the same.

“If you will have me…” he murmurs as he looks away.

He feels her hand grip his as she draws closer to him before her hand places itself on his cheek in order for him to look at her. She searches his facial features for a moment as she places his hand gingerly on her waist. Wanting to feel the closeness and in turn he would feel her intent. She leans forward and places her forehead against his and Tsu’tey felt all of his anxieties and worries melt away.