setting: awa’atlu, reef clan.
love interest/character(s): neteyam, ao’nung, kiri, tsireya, & lo’ak
warnings: graphic flashbacks, platonic fluff, & hints at budding romances.
synopsis: the teens set aside a day to escape the harsh aftermath of war and come together after times of sorrow.
❝do you think they’ll return?❞
After endless weeks filled with mourning and clearing of the wreckage, finally, it was a beautiful day in the village of awa’atlu. Today, the whole group had finally come together, now that everyone’s priorities were in order. Most of them had thrown themselves into their duties, burying the terrible memories of the war they’d faced. It often kept they’re minds busy, the scent of blood, smoke, and tarnished metal still fresh in their minds.
Now that they were all together, they’d realized how much they’d all missed each others company. The group was spread out within the warm sun, their feet embracing the beige sand beneath them. Neteyam was a month ‘post surgery’ according to the sky people, who’d jake brought to the village— norm and max. He still wasn’t able to participate in much of the daily duties, or allowing the water go above his chest, it was a workout for him just by walking to the side of the village ao’nung sought out for them but he still thanked the great mother for blessing him with another day in his life.
Neteyam needed the new scenery, he’d often found himself trapped to a cot that lay within the mauri, back propped against a pole to allow him to see the distant shore as na’vi passed. Though he’d never get to watch sun set or rise in the distance, most of his days were devoted to sleeping due to his restless nights. He’d experience reoccurring nightmares, waking up in a pool of sweat against the heated cot below him. A skyrocketing heart rate that reflected on the screen of the machines max and norm brought to keep tabs on him, and pain surging through his chest as he tightened his grip on the bandages protecting his wound.
his screams sent spine-shivering chills throughout his families bodies, his cheeks stained with tears as he reoccurred the day he faced a bullet with death engraved on it. The group seemed to all be connected like a hive mind because those same screams were heard from the royal families mauri, the nightmares almost contagious and occurring simultaneously. only they were haunted by different visions. Tsireya— dreamt of his limp legs, pressing against them as he started to lose consciousness. Lo’ak— dreamt of his hands covered in blood once he’d released his chest for Ronal to examine. Kiri and Tuk— haunted by the echoing voice of Quaritch stating that ‘your boy didn’t have to die’. Ao’nung and Rotxo— were haunted by his toe curling screams as they plunged to find the bullet fragments and the left over cot that was drenched in his blood, sweat, and tears.
They all needed time alone, time to think, and time to heal. Until they’d found themselves sprawled out on the shore, blessing the sea with their presence as they splashed each other with water. With each other life felt less crushing, and they’d all found themselves smiling for a change.
“let’s go for a swim.” Kiri blurted, rising to her feet with a grin as Tuk built a sandcastle in the sand beside her. Neteyam stretched his sore muscles wincing at the slight pain within his chest earning a concerning palm against his chest from Ao’nung. Neteyam says nothing, only giving him reassuring eyes as they communicate amongst themselves without alarming the rest of the group. The two stand to their feet, Ao’nung placing out a helping hand as he pulls the omatikaya up to his feet carefully. The group enters the warm water, already occupied by lo’ak and tsireya’s cringy flirting.
“oh now you all want to join us?” Lo’ak rolls his eyes playfully, slightly annoyed by the intrusion of his conversation with his love.
“don’t worry brother.” Neteyam places a teasing hand against lo’ak’s neck, shaking gently. “you’ll have all evening to pine after tsireya with your cheesy lines.”
“yea whatever.” Lo’ak swats his hand away, mumbling before excitement slips off his tongue. “I have some fun planned for us today.”
“you? fun?” Tsireya teased with airy gigglies. “we must prepare ourselves from a scolding from my baba.”
Lo’ak only laughs, not taking it to heart knowing he’d been quite reckless with his life in the time he’d spent in their village. He grown out of his insecurities since the war, speaking up much more about his feelings and difficulties he faced by his avatar like features.
“i’d like you all to meet payakan...” Lo’ak states, slowly, not sure of their reactions. “you know during peaceful—”
“of course lo’ak.” Tsireya grins, taking his hand in hers. “payakan saved us.”
“turning the tide so the war was in our favor.”
“i’m down.” Rotxo shrugged.
“long as he shows us a good time forest boy.” Ao’nung snorts, chuckling before calling for his ilu.
“yay! I hope he’s as sweet as the ilu.” Tuk giggles mounting onto the ilu behind kiri.
The other ride behind Lo’ak, racing toward the seawall terrace. They group stays above water though, Neteyam not yet allowed to fully submerged the healing wound. Tonowari still hasn’t granted many na’vi of the village permission to go past the reef, so they settled outside the terrace. Lo’ak calls out for his friends as his ilu pats it’s fins playfully against the current, sending it vibrations through the water in hopes that it’ll reach the tulkun.
The tulkun emerges from the depth, releasing a surprised coo as he examines the other na’vi with his spirit brother. His clicks pulsing through the water as he questions Lo’ak of the others behind him.
“I thought you should meet my friends buddy.” Lo’ak chuckles placing a hand against the rubbery smooth skin. Still figuring out how to properly communicate with his brother. “show.. our thanks to you.”
High pitched calls echo through their ears as payakan happily circles around the group, happy that his brother didn’t feel alone anymore and found happiness within others. ‘i’m excited to meet you all!’
So the teens spent most of their day with payakan, getting to know him, playing, and exploring the sea. Lo’ak, Ao’nung, and Rotxo flipped off of his tail, multiple cannonballs as they entered the water with excited whoops and cries. Neteyam spent his time on payakan’s fin, holding his weightless body from plummeting to deep within the water as the tulkun taught him to correctly speak with him. Until he was dragged atop of the tulkun by Tsireya, Kiri and Tuk, to run through the blow hole as water trickled down their faces and bodies.
Though he couldn’t do much, he still enjoyed his time. He’d spend most of it with Tuk, carefully throwing her into the water below as he light giggles were drowned out by the water. Overall he was happy to not be a burden anymore, depending on other people to help him around. Lo’ak was finally happy to have all the teens meet payakan, a bright smile on his face now that they’d understood payakan wasn’t the spirit they thought he was. Kiri and Tuk always enjoyed the reef clan, wide eyed at the wonder before them. Tsireya, Ao’nung, and Rotxo got along with Payakan well, hanging onto his fins as he raced through the water grinning from ear to ear as the water embraced their skin.
After a long day of venturing the water, the group settled atop of payakan. Watching the twinkling stars that filled the pandoran sky. They were all stretched out along his back with their hands comfortably cupping the back of their heads, the blue hues of night gracing their bodies as their bioluminescent freckles glowed in the night.
“hey, didn’t your father come from a star?” Ao’nung questioned stretching his stiffing lumps before settling against the tulkun once more.
“yeah, he did.” neteyam nods, gazing up at the constellations. “before becoming one of the people.”
“from that one.” Lo’ak point up toward the lingering star, “right there.”
“do you think their world is anything like ours?” kiri questions, soothingly rubbing the back of her sleeping sister.
“no.” neteyam snorts, a small chuckle rumbling in his chest. “not from what dad told me.”
“d-do..” Ao’nung started, the words heaving on his tongue not sure if wanted to speak them into existence. “do you think they’ll return?”
Tsireya only sighed heavily, grabbing ahold of her brothers hand squeezing gently while Rotxo places a warm palm against his shoulder to ground him from the memories that haunted them many nights. The lingering tension between them was heavy, and after a day of fun it was time to face it.
“the sky people have been here a long time..” neteyam spoke up, wincing at the quick shift of his body. “since before i was blessed to my parents by eywa.”
“but one day, they’ll understand.” He spoke confidently. “that the great mother’s home is not their to take.”
“we’ll show them, cause sully’s stick together.”
“not just the sully’s.” Ao’nung chimes in, grabbing ahold of the others forearm reassuringly, before placing his hand softly against the wound on his chest. “you fought bravely beside and for our people., you are one of us now.”
“our sea guided you from darkness to light, we’ll face them together.”
Tsireya and Rotxo shared a knowingly look, nodding as they placed their hands against the other omatikaya, who quickly followed suit. where eventually warm hand’s turned into a comforting group hug, one they’d needed and didn’t want to release from whispering amongst each other.
gummygunk
ellievsbear
romaincrisis
izzy806
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
areudirty
stormborns
