Ghoul ☠️

When Jake woke up, he didn't find you. He assumed that you had gone out to hunt or get some food for them like normal. Except he saw that your things were missing. The things that you had left behind was the breads and dull colored clothing. Jake grew worried. Before the kids could wake up, he went out to find you.

He looked everywhere for you. He got on Bob and searched everywhere, as well as he searched for you around the forest, even asked some people about your whereabouts, but nothing. No sign of you anywhere. He searched for you for hours. The last person he went to was Mo'at.

Mo'at was already busy with her duties, she had a lot to do that day. Jake had entered her hut in a hurry, the older woman looked over at him. "Jake, you seemed troubled." She said unbothered going on about her business. "Mo'at, have you seen her?" he asked, with a worried sounding voice. "Seen who?" she asked, knowing full well who she was talking about. "Neytiri! Have you seen her." His words made Mo'at stop in her tracks. Then she turned to him, looking at him back at his worried looking eyes. "Neytiri? Don't you mean y/n?" She corrected him.

Jake groaned, mentally scolding himself for saying his late wife's name instead of yours. "Yes! Sorry! Have you seen her?" he asked, worriedly. "No, she probably already left." Mo'at said, calmly. This felt like a bucket of cold water had fallen on him. "Left? What do you mean left?" he asked the older woman. She sighed, standing up from the floor. "She left. I told her to leave." She stated. Jake took a deep breathing, trying to understand. "With all due respect Tsahik, but why?" he asked her, wanting to know why his mother in law had told you to leave.

"Because she was unhappy, she was not being herself. She was playing a role of someone who is no longer here." Mo'at explained. Jake only stood there, confused. "No she wasn't!" Jake protested. She woman only scoffed. "Jakesully, you are a fool. You were blind to see her suffering." She groaned at him, getting irritated. "She was not herself. She was playing that role of my late daughter!" She hissed at him. Jake only stood there, in silence. "She was not a new mate of yours! You weren't looking for a new mate, but a replacement, a replacement of my daughter!" She told him. "So that's why I told her to leave, to find her true self. You and her home were harming her." She explained. Jake couldn't help but realize now. You didn't leave because you no longer wanted him. You left because he was harming you, he had made you play a role of Neytiri.

He didn't want a new mate. He was only looking for a replacement. Someone who he could morph into his late wife. He felt horrible now. "Oh what have a done." Jake had said to himself. "This was your doing, now you have to pay the consequences of your actions. I hope you learn from this, because if you do that again, then you will never find that kind of happiness." Mo'at stated sharply. As much as she saw him as her son, she was very disappointed in him, but she hoped that he learns from this.

You had been in the sky for hours, you had stopped to rest with your Ikran and got back in the sky. It was tiring, you hopped that you'd be near the reef people's village. A few hours later, you had finally arrived at the village. You saw the na'vi below, stopping what they were doing and jumping into the water. You rode your ikran around, searching for a place to land. This caught people's attention that a horn was blown, possibly warning of your arrival. You spotted an empty little island with a few people and landed on the sand.

You mounted off your ikran, softly calming her down. People began to approach you. You took a breath and headed towards them, walking slowly. The sand got between your feet and stuck under your foot as you walked, slowly holding your arms up showing you meant no harm. The people were much taller and bigger then you, you saw how their skin was a minty green and their stripes were much wavier. They also had much thicker and long looking hair. Some had tight braids. They also held spears and some had pulled their children behind them. As a way to protect them from you.

Everyone began to turn their heads back and make way, now before slightly bowing their heads. You noticed a very tall man, he too had long thick hair with tight braids to his scalp. He had tattoos on his face, that took up most space on his face. He was pretty handsome. He also had a spear in hand, he wore a kind of vest with with yellow and orange tassels and feathers. Along with a thick necklace. Looking down, he was being followed by two small children, a boy who was a bit older and a girl who was holding onto the boy's hand as they followed.

As soon as the man approached, you did the greeting gesture out of respect. He did it as well, sending you a kind smile. "What bring a na'vi like you here?" he asked. Now this caught the crowds attention. "I seek Uturu." You asked, making everyone mutter amongst each other. "Uturu? Why is that? Are you running away from something?" he asked again. "I don't know how to put it, but. I'm running from... someone. Someone that has been haunting me now." You said. Tonowari hummed by you response, but he also thought of it for a movement. "I know you're reef people and I'm from the forest, but I'll learn your ways. If you don't wish for me to stay, then I'll best be on my way." You stated, but he had an answer. "Uturu has been asked. So you may stay with us." He said, making you sigh in relief.

Tonowari then turned to his people. "Treat her a one of our sisters. Teach her ours way so that she does not suffer the same in being useless." He stated to the people. You couldn't help but feel thankful that he had allowed you to stay. He turned back to face you. "Thank you" You had said with a small happy smile on your lips.

You would be staying in Tonowari's hut with him and his kids. You learned their names were Ao'nung and Tsireya. Ao'nung was his first born and Tsireya was second, they seemed like nice children, specially Tsireya, since she tried in helping you bring your bag back to her home. Ao'nung didn't approach you just yet, he seemed a bit skeptical about you.

While you were sitting on the floor of the marui, you looked around, seen the many things in the small home like space. It was almost similar to the hut you once lived in. "I hope you don't mind staying here." Tonowari said, taking a seat in front of you. "I don't! I'm pretty thankful that you're allowing me to stay." You responded, sending him a smile. "I'll be your personal teacher. I'll be the one showing you around the reef and teaching you our ways." He said, you only nodded as a form of response. Meanwhile, his kids were right behind you. Looking at your tail and on how it moved around. Unlike their. Tsireya attempted to grab onto it, but she was too short to grab it. Ao'nung could only watch, seen how you small and thin your tail was.

When you were fully rested and fed. You began your lessons. You had to learn how to breathe underwater, you knew how to swim but not breathe for a long period of time. You weren't goof right away, but you were slowly learning. Then came the ilus. They were similar to dire horse. The first time you had fallen off, but you got back up right away. If you could bond a dire horse, then you'd be able to bond with the ilu. You didn't forget about your ikran, you'd often be spotted flying the creature around the islands.

Along the lines, you also got to know about Tonowari a bit. Turns out that he too had lost his mate, Ronal who was Tsahik at the time. It was during a battle between the humans and na'vi. She had left behind her husband and two children. You saw the look of Tonowari's eyes, he really missed his late wife, but he didn't allow the pain to take over him. He was the Olo'eytan and a father, his people and children needed him. Tonowari knew that his wife would of wanted for him to move on, for himself and those who needed him. He had accepted her death right away, since it was the doing of Eywa, the deity knew why she did what she did.

Both Ao'nung and Tsireya were two wonderful kids, Tsireya had liked you right away, while Ao'nung took time to get used to you living in the marui with them. You could tell that they missed their mother, but they knew to stay strong, despite their age. At times, you'd wake up to crying of both kids, wanting their mom. Tonowari would wake up to comfort his kids, also staying up late to watch over them. You too would be up to help him in anything. This brought you back, when you'd wake up to Neteyam and Lo'ak waking up late, crying for their mother. Jake was a very heavy sleeper, so he didn't hear them. You'd stay up hours and hours, trying to comfort them. You barely got rest since you worried more about them. This made you wonder how things were back home, how the family was doing.

More time had passed, you got used to the sun hitting at you and the sand getting almost everywhere. At first it bothered you a bit, but you had to get used to it at some point if you wanted to keep being in the reef. You were taught by Tonowari how to hunt with a spear and an underwater crossbow. At times you'd use your Ikran to go fishing like before, but you had to learn how to ride an Ilu to be able to go deeper underwater. As much as you loved to fly, you had to learn how to dive.

That morning Tonowari kept on teaching you how to use an ilu, but you kept on falling off the creature more than enough times. This time was the fourth time you've fallen off. Tonowari had been watching the whole thing happening. He himself was on mounted on his skimswim instead of an ilu. "You keep trying to fly." He commented, as you swam towards the ilu that had thrown you off his back. "I know, I'm not used to all this." You answered honestly, mounting the ilu again. "It's alright. We can keep on trying." He said, as you got on, he couldn't help but stare at you. He was studying your features.

How your dark blue skin glassine due to it being damp from the water. He looked at the even darker stripes that formed many shapes onto your skin. But what he couldn't help but look at the most was your face. He's never met someone as beautiful as you, besides his loving wife. The way that your markings were adorned on your face, almost like some kind of crown. Your big yellow eyes, your thick long hair that reached between your collarbones and your ears. He almost felt a pull towards you. He's heard of the forest people, but he's never meet them in person until you came. He also couldn't help but look at your style of attire. You wore very bright colored materials. But they were a bit too lose. Almost that they'd probably fall off your body and sink to the bottom of the ocean.

"Tonowari?" You called out to him, causing him to snap out of his thoughts. "Are you alright?" You asked him, even your voice made this pull stronger. "Yes, of course. Let's continue." He said, almost embarrassed that you caught him looking at you. His cheeks turned a small tint of a lilac purple. He cleared his throat. "Like a said before, good position, that's very important." He explained, again. You latched your queue onto the Ilu and held onto the handle of the saddle, again the ilu took off fast. Your whole body was pulled up, your legs were no longer sitting on the creature and now were up like before. You held on as hard as you could, but it was the speed of the ilu was too strong that you ended up letting go again. As you tried to get yourself straight. Tonowari couldn't help but let out a small giggle but covered his mouth as an attempt to hide his laughter.

From days to weeks and months passed. You've improved a lot on your skills. You were getting used to this new lifestyle of yours. The people had also seemed to be more accepting of you now that they've seen your hard work and effort into being adapting like them. Specially Tonowari, he seemed the proudest you the most. He admired how despite you kept on falling, you always managed to get up. Soon enough, you began to notice his new behavior. He would spend a lot more time with you, well you and the kids. Sometimes you'd babysit both Aonung and Tsireya when they're father was out late. You didn't have to, but you did. You knew a thing or two about children, especially kids their ages. Tonowari couldn't help but admire you for it. His kids are the most important thing in his life ever since they were born.

You noticed his change in behavior, when he began to bring you flowers. With the excuse that he saw it and he couldn't' help but bring it to you. What was kind of funny, was that the flowers he'd bring to you were the flowers that often you'd look at when out around the beach. Another thing, was how he'd weave anklets, giving them to you. He'd excuse it that he was practicing a new hobby. The thing was that they were made out of your favorite kinds of materials that you had grown to like during your time here and colors. He'd insist you'd keep them, so that you should keep them and wear them. Very different from Jake. He'd bring you the flowers his wife liked and even gave you small gifts, again, something his wife liked. He never seemed interested in what you liked. He's never asked you about what you liked. He never even knew your favorite color. He never took time to ask about it. That should have been a red flag from the beginning.

At first you didn't want to see it. He was simply being nice, that was all. Until one of the women who you had become friends with, had told you that Tonowari was actually courting you. That was what you were afraid of, being courted by a yet another widowed man. You didn't want to go through the same thing that you went through with Jake. You didn't want to become a replacement again. You didn't want to be morphed into Tonowari's late wife. Those thoughts were eating you up. You have grown scared, very scared. What if you began to dress like his wife? What if his kids say that you look like their mother? What if he begins to call you Ronal? You just kept thinking of 'What if this' or 'What if that'. Your worries began to take notice by Tonowari.

That day, you and Tonowari were making fishing nets, except, you were too distracted that you've messed up the sewing. "Y/n, you're doing the stitching wrong." He commented, making you snap out of your thoughts and saw what you were doing. "Oh... sorry." You said, unmaking your previous mistakes to start again. Tonowari noticed your look, not only that, but the slight tension in the marui. "Let's go somewhere." He said, while getting up from off the ground, helping you up. Once getting a hold of his hands, you got up, then processed to follow him out the marui. You couldn't help but ask. "Where?" You asked, while you followed him through the bouncy path. "Somewhere, A place I've been meaning to show you." He only explained.

You and Tonowari walked into a further part of an island, pretty far from the village. But not too far. As you walked, you couldn't help but feel as if you were back in the forest. Your surroundings looked just like the forest back home. The sounds of this place made you feel calm in some way. So did the sound of the waves, but these sounds were the more affective. Eventually you both stopped, in an area that was hidden in some bushes. It was a pretty nice place. It had a waterfall and a huge riverbank. As well as some plants that surrounded the river, it was almost similar back home, you were glad that Tonowari has brought you here.

Once Tonowari saw how calm you were, as much as he didn't want to ruin your mood, he just had to ask. "What's wrong? I've noticed how your mind has been filled with thought recently, would you like to talk about them?" He asked. So, he had caught on. You sighed, while thinking of something to say. "I've heard that... you've been courting me." You admitted, making his face turn a lilac purple. Embarrassed that you had learned of him trying to court you. "Oh, I see." He simply said, chuckling a bit, but he saw how your face didn't change. That felt as if someone had dumped cold water on him.

"I'm sorry, have I offended you?" he asked, now growing worried. "Oh! No no no, you haven't... it's just that." You tried saying, but you felt a lump growing in your throat. You proceeded to rubbing your face as a form to try and tell him what was going through your head. "I'm scared." You admitted. Tonowari's eyes widened. "Scared? How so?" He asked, scotting closer to you. "Scared that... I might become... a replacement of your wife." You admitted to him, finally. His eyes frowned. "Replacement? What do you mean by that?" He asked, now curious about this claim. You had to tell him everything, the reason why you're here in the first place.

"Part of that is that. The reason why arrived here in the first place. Was because." You paused, taking a breather. "A while back, I was in a relationship with a man. This man, he... he was a widow, he has four children." You explained, as Tonowari paid close attention. "We met and after a long time, me and him began a relationship. But this relationship... wasn't a very healthy one." You said, while fidgeting your tail a bit, as way to keep calm. "He... he began telling me how I'd look before if I did things, the way his wife would do. Such as cooking, hunting, even changing my hair. I didn't think anything of it, until I've completely changed, I no longer was myself. I was her. I could no longer see myself, I saw her face instead of mine." You finished. Now he completely understood why you left your home. Someone wouldn't just leave their home for no reason. "She's the one who's been haunting you?" He asked, referring back to the first time you arrived, explained how you were on the run from somebody. Now he saw the whole picture.

"You're afraid that what you've experience, would happen again?" He asked. You nodded. "Yes, that had become my biggest fear, to become another's replacement. Don't get me wrong, I've been actually... growing feelings for you, it's just... my fear is preventing me to find someone to love." You admitted. Tonowari could only nod in understanding. He did notice how the past few days you've been keeping your distance and almost avoided him. Now he understood the reason why, it didn't upset him. He just wanted to learn why you've suddenly change.

It was silent, only the sounds of the waterfall were heard, but finally after a long minute, Tonowari had spoken up. "I understand now." He simply said, this gained your attention. Hoping your listen to what he had to say. "I don't know about him, but. I'd never do what he did." He explained, now you payed close attention to what he had to say. "As much as I loved my wife, I'd never try to find her a replacement. She's already gone, therefor, she could brought back or replaced. There's a reason why the Great Mother does what she does." He explained and you listened to everything he had to say. "Just know that, I'd never do that. It wouldn't be good for either of us. Me because, that means I'm not over her death and you, because you've already experienced that. I know for a fact that you'd be hurt even more, because you gave me your trust and... I took that trust and just crushed it." He said. He was right, everything he said was right.

Tonowari turned to you, looking at you directly in your eyes. Making your face turn a dark purple. You couldn't help but feel your heart beating fast and your stomach flattering around like crazy. You've never felt that way, ever. Not even with him. You then saw how he brought his hand, placing it on your warm cheek. This made you even more flattered. "I would love to start a new life with you, but I understand if you're not ready to be in a relationship. I'll give you your space and time, I won't pressure you into anything. I'll wait for as long as I have to, I wish for you to love me the way that I've fallen in love with you these past few months you were here." He said, in the most low and soft voice, as if he only wanted you to hear his words. "What if... I don't want you to wait? What if, I told you that I've also fallen for you these last couple of months?" You asked him, this made you slightly chuckle by your confession, making his face turning a lila purple. "Then, I won't keep you waiting." He said, whispering.

You didn't even notice how close you and him, your faces nearly touching one another. Then out of nowhere, you wrapped your arms around his strong torso, pulling him into a hug. Tonowari didn't hesitate to hug you back. He's been wanting to be close to you for some time. Even more ever since you've distance yourself from him. This loving hug was something you haven't had in a long time. Your heart beat speed up, the feeling of his lips morphing in with yours. Also, your body had began to heat up, your tail was swaying side to side, almost curling to your thigh. You wished that you and him would remain like this forever.

Ao’nung noticed the commotion that was emerging at the shores of his village, the sounds of horns blaring as the hunters started to come in from the sea. His curiosity bested him as his body moved unconsciously to investigate. Only to be met with the Toruk Makto and his family begging for refuge.

Their skin was a darker blue, figures lean and tails small and weak. What would they bring here that would benefit the clan at all? He thought to himself, they were weak, useless.

He focused on the intense conversation between the pairs of parents. Tension so strong it could have been pierced with a spear. But a spear didn’t break the tension surrounding Ao’nung. No. It was him catching sight of you.

It was like his body went into shock, a current running through him from head to toe. His brain felt as if it was buzzing, the only thought was of you. His father told him once about this feeling he got when he first saw his mother. Was this the feeling? Was the feeling meant to be towards a forest freak?

You were so different. Different to his people, different to your people. You were truly a sight to behold. Like a beautiful pearl, that was hiding amongst the depths of blue coral. He felt his world shatter as he saw you, your beauty was truly memorizing. It didn’t matter if your arms and tail were weak, he needed to get to know you.

You had been at the village for a month or so now. It was nothing like home, the sand felt weird on your feet, the water was never the same temperature, and the people never stopped staring. Something you missed so dearly from home is even if you were different, you were still Omaticaya. Here you weren’t Metkayina, you barely looked Na’vi to them. So all it ended in was occasion ridicule from the teenage boys when your younger brothers weren’t around to protect you.

Though in the time you had been here. You had grown closer to the chief’s son, Ao’nung. He made it a commitment to talk to you every day, whether it was small talk, or a late night walk. You couldn’t tell when you started to develop feelings for him. You assumed you only did because he was the first person who ever showed you the courtesy of manners, even if he was hostile to your brothers. He became someone who you could be with, to protect yourself from the teenage ridicule.  

In your month, you had found yourself a favourite spot to sit and look at the waves. Resting yourself against a tall tree, bark itchy against your soft back as you dig your toes into the sand below you. Still trying to get used to the odd texture. It was somewhat peaceful, the sound of the waves. Not as calming as the sounds of rain in the forest, pitter pattering on the leaves. But it was still peaceful.

However, it was short-lived. The sounds of waves being crushed by the sounds of quiet mutterings behind you.

“Is she sick? She isn’t even the same as her family of freaks?”

“She reflects in the sun dude! That’s so fucked up.”

“She’s barely Na’vi she’s basically a vvrtep” The statements were followed with a couple of quiet chuckles. You wondered if they knew you could hear them. They probably relished in it honestly.

Though you tried to not let the comments get to you, they pained you to hear. It hurt to hear such degradation. Pushing the tears back until the suffocated you, is what it felt like to act tough in front of them.

But the quiet mutters and chuckles suddenly turned into loud thumps and yells as commotion started to brew behind you.

“Y’know what’s fucked up? Your face after I beat you shitless.” Scurrying from your spot you watched the fight in front of you. There was Ao’nung, riled up and furious, beating his friends face in after he mocked you.

“Brother what is wrong with you?!” His friend hysterically questioned as he fought off Ao’nung’s fists, getting one punch straight to the Ao’nung’s nose.

“You do not speak of her like that.” Ao’nung was seething, his words coming out as a hiss spitting in his friend’s face. As he was now being held back by his other friend, fists drenched in the blood of his ‘friend.’

“Oh, fuck me! Bit hypocritical you skxwang! Did her skin blind you and make you go insane?!” Ao’nung hissed in his face, spitting blood at him.

You were watching in horror. The bloody mess of these men was almost nauseating to look at as you realised this was because of you. The feeling of dread overcame you as your clouded mind drowned out their boisterous yelling. You held onto the fabric of your shirt, fiddling with the beads as you stared towards the men, not focused on anything but a overwhelming feeling of guilt.

“If you like that freak so much, why don’t you go and talk to her. She must be so charmed by you beating the shit out of me Ao’nung.” Leaving Ao’nung in a huff his friends bashed shoulders as they walked past him back to the village to get help.

Ao’nung was now only focused on the way your body awkwardly swayed as you stared towards him. Truthfully, he came over to talk to you. He wanted to gift you this bracelet he had hand woven with a small pearl intertwined in the rope, so he could say it was beautiful and reminded him of you. Yet he feels as if he had messed up any chance he had of being flirtatious with you, after he is covered in the blood of a friend.

“Ao’nung.” It was a meek whisper, it scratched as it came out of your throat. Not able to create eye-contact with him. His stare still being too intimidating, the way it made your heart flutter.

“Yes.” He breathed it out, as if he had just exhaled a breath after being under water for hours. His voice begging for you to look up at him.

“Are you alright?” Gaining the courage to look up at his bruised face you wince. His nose was bleeding as his lip was slightly split. His friend can obviously punch.

“I’m fine Y/N.” He smiled down at you, looking at the way your eyes poured out concern the more you assessed his injuries.

“You are stupid. Let them talk. You talk just like them.” Tone harsh as if you were scolding a child. In response, he sulked like a child pouting his lips.

“They were being rude. I can’t let people talk about the one I admire like that. It’s not what a good mate would do.” As he let out his last sentence he fiddled with the bracelet he knotted around his loincloth, so he didn’t lose it.

You were puzzled. Good mate? Was he interested in you? Were his efforts romantic not just the obscure kindness?

“What do mean by that Ao’nung?” Your eyes followed his hand as he placed the bracelet in your hands. His fingertips were rough, they felt as if they were burning, setting your heart ablaze as he gazed at you.

“I’ve always thought pearls were beautiful, just like you.” He was never this nervous, the cocky smirk he usually adorned was wiped off his face as he nervously awaited your response.

“I’m not beautiful Ao’nung we both know that.” He shook his head as he continued to tie the bracelet around your wrist, making sure to linger his fingers on your skin as often as he could.

“You are the most beautiful woman I think I’ve ever seen, you are more gorgeous than any woman in this village.” He was holding onto your hands as if you’d fly away if he let go.

“No one’s ever said that to me before.” Ao’nung was bewildered, it was shocking to him. But he tried to not let his shock ruin the intense stare he was giving you, trying to convey the most sincerity as possible.

“Then I’ll happily be the first. And I’ll be the one calling you beautiful forever, if you accept my courting gift.” He waited eagerly for your response, it felt as if time was dragging along. His heart constricting the longer you were silent.

“Of course, I do. The bracelet is as stunning as you, how could I reject the man who stood up to be against his friends.”

“Yeah you’d have to be pretty stupid.” You scowled and gave him a playful pinch. “Ow! Y/N!”

“You ruined the moment!”

“I’ll ruin the moment more by kissing you with my bloody face!” You squealed in disgust as you shook your head.

“Absolutely not. Come with me, I’ll clean you up.” He followed you swiftly, making sure to intertwine his fingers in with yours.

“Yes ma’am.”