With warm tears flowing down her face, smudging the pretty lines , she practically flew out of the ceremonial room, up the stairs and into the forest. Her heart was racing and her whole body was trembling with thinly veiled excitement. She, Alva Emem, was the first human to complete the iknimaya and the uniltaron, and becoming one of the people. All while constantly under criticism from her peers and fellow humans. All who believed in her could be found with the Na'vi.

She felt Eywa sing her praise to the young girl. Alva felt it in the way the sun beamed down on her, in the way the grass and plants curled around her feet as if hugging her, the way the trees groaned and danced in the wind, in the way the docile animals by the kelutral had stopped to look at her and in the way she felt Eywa's warm arms stretch around her. Alva smiled at the sensation, it had the same comforting feeling that he family's hugs used to give her, before they were torn away from her.

Alva ignored all of the Na'vi that shouted their congratulations to the running woman, even Jake who protested loudly when she just blew past him. He was waiting for her and she had never been one for making people wait. Her strong warrior was her priority above all else, had been since the moment she saw him and would be until the day her last adventure.

The open plains that surrounded the hometree turned into a green forest. Alva was panting as she kept rushing towards that tree where she knew he waited for her, not knowing if she was alive or dead. Tsu'tey was waiting by the same tree where she first gave him his nickname, the place where he vowed to always catch her, their tree.

For once the dreamwalker didn't bother with climbing up one of the many trees. This time she would run and run and run until she saw him again. Alva didn't have the patience to wait anymore, not in the mood to enjoy the forest. She longed to tell him she did it, that her spirit animal was a prolemuris and that she was one of them now. She couldn't wait to see the look of pride and happiness on the face, and she even imagined him throwing his arms around her in a weak moment of affection. The last bit was a bit of a stretch and more so what she wanted to happen rather than what would happen.

The time it took to get to the tall tree felt like years to Alva and every step felt like it weighed a ton. She scaled the tree faster than she had ever done before and leaped over to the branch that snaked up towards the next levels of branches that would take her to the crown of the tree. That was where her prize was. The wind slapped her face as she pulled herself up by sheer strength and determination alone. Like a ferocious animal she dragged, pulled and jumped her way up to the green, bright crown of the tallest and largest tree, only second to all of the kelutrals in the area.

Her body came to a sharp stop when she saw him. The sun was gently shining on him, caressing his face and the shadows defining his already defined features. He stood with a ramrod straight back and his arms were limp by his sides though the hands were balled into tight fists that shook. Tsu'tey's large, feline like eyes stared into the distance and she doubted he had even realised she was there. Her eyes snapped down to the green and purple bracelet he had on his wrist. The familiar carving of her mother's name and the pattern of the twisted vines made her smile softly. Alva held her breath when he absentmindedly spun the bracelet around his wrist with his other hand.

She took a step forward, the same gentle smile still on her painted lips. The tip of his tail touched the branch and moved softly when a particularly harsh pust of wind swept it away. Alva's jaw dropped when she noticed that his hair was out of its usual braids and fell down his back like a waterfall of black, silky curls. Her fingers twitched with the urge to touch it but she didn't want to give up her hiding spot yet. It wasn't often that she saw him unguarded like this and though she felt a little bad for letting him wait even longer to know she survived, she still wanted to take in as much details as possible. He wore a different rib protector, this one darker in color, as if in mourning and it dawned on her that he had prepared for the worst, that she wouldn't make it back to him. A few tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of her strong warrior standing in that spot all the while having his head filled with thoughts of her death.

Alva took another step forward and mentally prayed to her ancestors for strength. He had a necklace on and among the dull colors of brown and grey feathers a glint of dark green, purple and neon pink. Her favorite ring! More tears formed in her eyes, he knew how much she adored wearing her jewelry and now he wore her favorite pieces.

Tsu'tey closed his eyes and tilted his head down. Alva's hand stretched out as if to tilt it back up again. He looked so beautiful with the wind flowing through his hair and the sun shining down at his face. It was a sad beauty and she never wanted to see that look on his face again.

"'Sey." She whispered and the wind carried her soft words over to him.

His head snapped to her and relief colored his face. "Alva." Tsu'tey sighed and took a tentative step towards her, very unlike the strong, stoic warrior she was used to. ""

Alva giggled and spun around once. "!"

Her strong warrior let a grin grow on his lips and crossed his arms over his strong chest. "" He asked.

"." She told him with shining eyes. Alva wiggled her toes and fingers. ""

He took a step closer to her and nodded his head. " Tsu'tey teased her with amusement dancing in his bright eyes. ""

She danced away from his hand when he tried to pull her closer. "Aren't you proud of me?"

Tsu'tey scoffed. "You know I am." He replied simply and chased after her.

Alva laughed and dropped down to a branch below them. "Are you proud of me or proud of yourself for beating Neytiri?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "You got the best demon." She smiled and blew him a kiss before jumping off the branch and falling down towards the ground.

She grabbed a vine that hung from one of the branches on the other tree and swung herself up on a thick, secure branch. Alva looked over at where he stood still, winking before disappearing from view. "Catch me!" She shouted over to him, wind brushing through her wild curls.

And then she was off with him on her heels. Her laughter filled the air around them and the soft pitter-patter of their feet mixed together with the beat of her heart. It had been too long since they played together and she lived for the chase. A prize to be held but never kept, a prize that you had to win over and over again.

Her feet carried her and she danced across branches, climbing up vines, jumping and leaping, pulling and dragging her way across the large forest. Her skilled ears could hear him behind her. Tsu'tey never slowed down or hesitated, he followed her wherever she went and it wouldn't be long until the warrior caught the leaf. A branch up, two branches down, next tree, back to the previous tree, down to the lowest branch, climb up the almost ladder-like braided vines to one of the more fragile trees.

Once or twice she could feel his warm fingers graze her skin but he never got close enough to catch her, and so their game continued until one would give up.

Alva jumped down to the forest floor and with a loud, laugh that came straight from her belly she sprinted away from her warrior that was stalking her in the trees. Oh, how the roles had turned. Her chest and stomach ached with laughter and her cheeks felt like they were splitting her face in half as a wide smile lit up her face.

She passed one Na'vi that was gathering firewood for the evening meal and he gave her a stunned look as she flew past him. Alva barely had time to throw back a 'sorry' before she came face to face with her stalker.

"C'mon, 'Sey, let me pass. Pretty please." Alva whined with a pout and tried to move past him but he moved with her.

His face held a predatory smile on it that made shivers travel down her spine. Good shivers. "I don't think so, demon." Tsu'tey whispered to her and made the first move that started their game all over again.

Alva turned on her heels and faster than lightning scaled the nearest tree, desperate to get away from him.

"That's not nice!" She exclaimed when he yanked her tail. Once he let go she smacked him in the face with said tail twice before once again making a run for it.

The game was coming to an end and they both knew it.

The bark of the tree was rough on her already sore feet but she pushed through the mild pain. She wouldn't lose to him, she couldn't. Alva begged Eywa to let her win this one but all she felt in return was a rumbling laughter from the deity. She sighed and turned around to face him, knowing the odds were not in her favor. Oddly enough they had circled all the way back to the tree they started at and now she stood in the same stop he had. Ironic.

Alva felt his presence before he made himself known.

"You lose, dreamwalker." He panted at her with a victorious look on his face and a smug grin pulling on his lips. Tsu'tey looked as perfect as he did before, not a hair out of place or even a hint of purple in his face, nor did he show any signs of being tired from all the running and climbing they just did.

"So it would seem." Alva drawled out smoothly, opening up her arms in surrender. "And what is your prize for winning?" She asked him curiously, taking a few steps towards him.

"Nothing." He breathed out. "I already have what I need."

Her heart skipped a beat at that. Then her eyes lit up at the memory of what happened last time they were in the tree. With a shy smile she took one more step towards him before 'tripping' over the edge. Alva closed her eyes and waited for the feeling of being airborne. But it never came.

Time seemed to slow down when he grabbed her. His warm fingers curled around her waist and settled there, holding her firmly to his body though she was still hanging over the edge, completely at his mercy. They both stared at each other, panting softly. Alva moved her hands from where they were clutching his forearms and placed them on his chest.

A soft chuckle escaped her. "You caught me."

"I will always catch you." He repeated what he had told her once before, his eyes almost pleading with her. "Always." Tsu'tey leaned forward and placed his forehead on hers.

Alva's whole body warmed at his words and one of her hands snaked up from his chest and to the back of his head, burrowing the fingers in his soft hair. She smiled softly and angled her face closer to his hesitantly on how much she could push him this time.

He didn't protest.

"I know you will." Alva whispered back, looking down. "My strong, strong warrior."

For the first time since she got there he gave her a genuine, heartfelt smile. Alva arched an eyebrow and sent a mental praise to Eywa for bringing her to this man.

Their noses touched and she closed her eyes again, letting the sounds of the forest fill her every sense. His fingers tightened on her waist and he pulled her even closer to his body. She gasped but didn't open her eyes.

Their lips were as close as possible without touching and Alva longed, no, ached to close the distance. She was so close, so close that she almost felt like crying. At this moment all the pain of her past melted away, all the disappointment and all negativity floated away until only this moment mattered, until only the feeling of him close to her mattered.

Her second hand came up to meet her other as they locked together at his neck, pulling his head down to her. Alva gathered all her strength and slowly pressed her lips against his. There were no fireworks once she finally kissed the man of her dreams, no, it was a burning warmth that spread through her whole body and a thousand butterflies in her stomach. It was the feeling of him returning her affections that made her knees turn weak, that made her heart skip a beat, that made a big smile grow on her face. It was the feeling of being complete that soured through her.

Tsu'tey pulled her as close as he could and grew more demanding, pressing his lips harder against hers like a starved man. Alva sighed and returned the passion. This was what she had longed for. It was like all the missing pieces of her puzzle finally fell into place and she never wanted to lose them ever again. He tilted his head to get better access to her swollen lips and she happily obliged. All she could think of was how his lips felt against hers and how perfect it all was. The kiss consumed her and she let herself be consumed.

Eventually they had to breathe and so they stopped kissing while catching their breaths. Alva was smiling like a fool and her chest heaved as her whole body tingled from the kiss. He was smiling softly at her, lips swollen and eyes still closed but she imagined the soft and gentle look that without a doubt was there. Her strong warrior had been pushed to the edge and had let himself fall along with the leaf. Eywa applauded them and cheered them on as her favorite pair finally got together. Fireworks had nothing on them, she thought when she grinned at him before connecting their lips once more.