When Tsu'tey te Rongloa Ateyitan first laid eyes upon the alien called "Jakesully", he had been sure that Neytiri had somehow misinterpreted Eywa's will. How else could this have come to be? Eywa would not ask that a demon like Jakesully be spared. She knew as well as the Na'vi that Sky People were treacherous at best, and a poison to the people at worst. He claimed to be a warrior, but that only cemented Tsu'tey's mistrust; what purpose did a warrior have among the Omiticaya? He would betray them.
At Tsahik Mo'at's will, Tsu'tey had stilled his bow. He did not trust this creature, but he would not stray from the Tsahik's command. Neither would he allow the threat to wander unchecked; Neytiri was skilled, but she believed him to be of Eywa. She would be blinded by this. He would not allow any oversights when it came to this creature- he would never again allow their people to be harmed by them when mere diligence could prevent it.
He watched Jakesully, finding reasons to intrude upon his lessons. The demon was clumsy; he seemed to have difficulty managing anything. Eywa's eyes, the alien can't ride a pa'li without making a mess of himself!
But the more Tsu'tey watched Jakesully, the more intrigued he grew. The sky person was extraordinarily ungifted, but tenacious beyond Tsu'tey's expectations. Most of his kind seemed detached- with the People, but only while it was convenient. Jakesully...seemed to revel in his time with the People. He had no skill, but at no point did he throw up his hands- at no time did Tsu'tey find himself doubting Jakesully's resolve.
As much as he wanted only to hate the man called Jakesully, he found a begrudging respect budding within him for the alien.
As time passed, Jakesully seemed to become more and more a part of the Omiticaya. He heard the tales at night- Jakesully had made his first clean kill, he was nearing readiness for his ascent of iknimaya. Would an ikran choose him at all? Or would his alien scent warn them off? Tsu'tey couldn't help but smile as he imagined the tanacious man making an attempt to chase one down- to try and force a pairing. The idiot would surely die.
***
Tsu'tey and Neytiri began their ascent of the mountains. Jakesully moved with an odd sort of grace, stepping in front of Neytiri as she gestured for him to begin the climb. Tsu'tey motioned for his own fledgling hunters, and watched with no small amount of pride as they scaled the sky mountains.
Tsu'tey followed behind his wards, but his eyes sought out Jakesully. He squinted as the man stumbled, nearly missing a vine. His heart gave a strange twist, but he quashed it with bitter thoughts.
Fall, sky-demon. Eywa did not choose you, she would not favor an alien like you over her own People.
As Jakesully slipped further, Tsu'tey caught himself from lunging forward to help the shorter na'vi-
He isn't na'vi.
Tsu'tey growled softly at his own fumble, eyes following Jakesully as he righted himself and continued upwards.
If he succeeds, Tsu'tey wondered to himself as they neared the top. Will he truly be welcomed into our clan?
With any other person it wouldn't have been a question at all. But Jakesully wasn't a person, he was a vessel; he was not born in that body he wore, and he did not really live in it. Could a person like that be welcomed into their clan?
If any sky person is able, it's him.
Tsu'tey surprised himself with the thought. He blinked, and nearly stumbled as he tried to comprehend what he'd thought. Then he let out an annoyed huff and dismissed it as empty kindness.
He was finding it increasingly hard to parse his feelings around the shorter, five-fingered alien.
A part of him mistrusted the man and wished for nothing more than his demise, certain that Jakesully could bring nothing but darkness to their People.
But another part- a slowly growing part of him- wished to praise man for his improvement. Wished to hunt with him, to see and be seen by him. Tsu'tey quieted these thoughts, instead focusing on his own hunters, pride welling within him as they moved confidently towards their place in the clan.
