Pairing: AgedUp! Neteyam x FemaleTayrangi! Reader
Summary: The forest has ears of its own, nothing ever truly staying as a secret as the wind carries voices away, but amidst feelings, Eywa provides unwanted help.
Disclaimer: English is not my first language, so there could be some errors in this. Neteyam and Kiri are 19. Reader and Loāak are 18. Tukās age is still the same as in the films. No mention of y/n or ___.
Warnings: Curses, a bit of verbal violence(?)
Note: I struggled with this chapter a lot. I hope that you guys like it, weāre finally nearing the competition! I also want to mention that once Iām done with the series, I will rename it as āCourageā :)
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tƬtstew - brave, courage
tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul - mating competition (i made this up)
vonvƤ - asshole, dickhead
oloāeyktan/oloāeykte - leader
oloāeyktenay - oloāeykte apprentice
A few moons later, the dreaded tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul arrived.
The clan was gathered near the shore, where the competition will be held, consisting of many challenges the hunters must go through in order to win.
Your friends and you have tried to sabotage the competition before it was held. Many attempts consisting on secretly damaging their weapons, trying to organize training and hunting shifts just at the time of the tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul, and even make a couple of hunters hurt themselves or get sick (not too much) so they couldnāt participate.
They were extreme measures, yes, but you were desperate.
And even with all your attempts, you havenāt succeeded to sabotage it.
Having no other plan, nor time to think about one, you decided to use your last resource.
You slipped away from the shore, sneaking between trees and bushes through the forest. Steps quiet yet steady as you made your way to the sacred place of your people.
Stopping at the tree of souls, you kneeled down. A sigh escaped your lips, admiring the bioluminescent tree before taking your kuru to connect with it.
āMa'Eywa, please hear my prayersā¦ā
You sat there for a while, praying for something, anything, to happen to postpone that absurd competition or even better, to cancel it.
A sound then came. Your ears twitched. Eyes shot open. Cautiously, you disconnected from the tree, taking your dagger from the side of your hip.
Shifting your position, your gaze scanned the area. Paying close attention to every sound, every little shift in your surroundings.
A bush moved. Your gaze shot to it. Grip tightening over your dagger, ready to attack if necessary.
But what came out of it made you sigh. It was Swiātaw.
Your shoulders relaxed visibility. Dagger going back to its sheath as you stood up.
āYou scared me, skxawngā you huffed, now taking into his exalted form.
Swiātaw panted softly, taking a moment to recover before speaking. āIt was postponedā he stated.
Blinking a couple of times, you took a couple of steps towards him. Ears twitching subtly in interest. āIt was postponed?ā a hint of disbelief adorned your voice. It was too good to be true.
But Swiātaw nodded, straightening as he exhaled. āYes, it was postponed. Toruk Makto arrived with a group of omatikayas.ā
With mouth slightly agape, you turned to look at the tree of souls. A little breathy laugh of disbelief leaving your lips, growing slowly but hopeful.
āIrayo, Great Mother!ā you shouted. Ululating in excitement. āIrayo!ā
Eywa heard your prayers extremely quick. That was efficiency.
Turning back to your friend, you asked āHow long was it postponed?ā
āI am not sure, maybe a couple of hours, maybe until tomorrowā a shrug accompanied his words.
Yet even the uncertainty filled your body with hope. It didnāt mattered that it was a few minutes, you still had time.
āThen we must act quick. Think of another planā you stated determined.
Swi'taw sighed. āIs it worth it? All of our plans have failed, at this point the only way to success is to get sick half of the clanāā he paused, realizing his words as he saw your smile grow. āNo. We are not going to do thatā he stated, narrowing his eyes.
Huffing, your shoulders slumped a bit. āFine. We need to think of something else, we have no time to waste.ā
āDo you really want to? I do not think any plan we have will workā he shifted from feet to feet, his tail twitching behind him while he rubbed his arm.
āYes, I do! Since when you are so pessimistic? Come!ā giving him no time, you quickly made you way back home, leaving the young man standing there.
With a sigh, Swi'taw reluctantly followed you.
Trees passed by. Blurry patches barely making into your vision as you skipped over branches, wind plastering your face. While your friend hurried to keep your pace.
Once reaching the reef, you rushed through everyone to look for Zin'ara. Every second counted, so you had no time to care that now everyone was looking at you oddly.
After a while, you finally spotted her. Making your way between the people, you muttered a few āsorryā and āexcuse meā here and there.
But as soon as you were about to reach your friend, a body stopped in front of you, making you halt to a stop abruptly. Swiātaw ended up bumping against your back, making you stumble and finally look up.
āWhere were you?ā she questioned. Eyes narrowed while scanning your figure.
āI was at the tree of souls, you know, praying for the hunters that will go through that stupid competitionā you sassed, your sarcasm not lost to her.
Sighing, Ikeyni took a moment to take a deep breath, her gaze shifting to Swi'taw, searching. He nodded a bit too quick, but she finally accepted that at least you were indeed praying to Eywa.
āWell, I think you will be happy to know the tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul was delayed until tomorrow. Toruk Makto came to continue with our talksā she announced to you.
Hearing it officially from her broke a grin on your lips, too satisfied and happy with the situation.
āWhich means you have to be there too, 'iteā your mother added a second later.
Gone was the grin on your face.
Clicking your tongue, you frowned at her. āBut why do Iāā
āYou are oloāeyktenay. It is your dutyā the woman stated, giving you a pointed glare.
Huffing, your shoulders tensed. Your mother was right, despite how much you hated it right now.
āā¦Fineā you agreed reluctantly.
Ikeyni looked at you for a moment, then her gaze softened a bit. āWe will be waiting for you at the blue tower.ā
Nodding, you saw her walk away. Once she was out of sight, you tried to spot Zināara again, hissing lowly in frustration when you realized she was gone.
Turning to Swiātaw, you gripped at his shoulders, looking at him seriously. āOkay, this changes plans. Go find Zināara, make a distraction so I can slip away from the reunion to reunite with you, then we will think what to do.ā
Sighing, he nodded, albeit not completely sure about it. āAlright, I will go find her.ā
āI count with youā you gave him a little smile before rushing away to meet with your mother and the council.
Swiātaw saw as you disappeared into the sea of people, shoulders slumping as he looked around, looking for their friend.
āI donāt have a good feeling about thisā¦ā he muttered to himself.
At first, you didnāt noticed the siblings. You rushed to greet the group of both clans. āOel ngati kameieā words noticiable less mean as the last time you have seen the omatikayasā or anyone really, but still born of duty.
You didnāt even payed attention to what they were talking about. Something about the pulley system, you concluded. It was quite obvious, but still, you found yourself not caring enough about it at the moment.
Neteyam quickly noticed this, giving you one glance at your way. Your tail was swinging behind you, not in anger, but waiting. Your gaze was not with the elders either, it was searching around, trying to be subtle but failing at it.
Not that you cared about it though.
After a moment, you felt a gaze on you, so you turned your head, gaze meeting his. Your face fell to mirror his. One of practiced neutrality, that betrayed nothing past it. But after he didnāt looked away, you eyes narrowed. Ears twitching lightly in irritation.
But your little gaze battle was interrupted when a commotion was heard not so far from the tower.
Everyone turned around to see what it was about. Looking past Neteyam, there it lay a hut that had fallen down. The elders along your parents quickly noticed it was the one the weavers used to do their tasks. And this, trapping a couple of them under it before they could have escape.
āI am sorry, Jakesuli, we have to take care of thisā your father quickly excused the sudden commotion.
Jake shook his head. āNo, donāt worry, if we can, we would like to helpā offered instead.
After a quick nod, both omatikayas and tayrangis rushed to the fallen hut. The brothers were quickly to follow their father, while you stayed a second longer on your place, looking around for your friends.
Neteyam, of course, noticed this, he slowed down, pausing for a moment to look back at you, narrowing eyes in suspicion.
But you looked past his frame, ignoring him. Then your eyes flicked up, finally noticing your friends hiding behind a bush. They gave you a quick wave before they ventured deeper into the forest, not wanting to get caught.
It was then that you finally moved, quickly walking past Neteyam as you approached the fallen hut. You helped to move a few of the fallen hut woven pieces, setting them aside.
You were worried for the people that got caught, but this was the distraction you needed to slip away. Giving a last glance to the people that were now getting out thanks to your parents and the omatikayas, you turned to the forest, silent but quick making your way into it, not noticing someone looking at you from the corner of their eye.
When you were far enough, you straightened, letting out a sigh as you looked around, seeing your friends waving at you and calling your name.
With shoulders slightly tense and tail swinging behind, you quickly approached them. āWhen I told you to do a distraction, I did not think it would have been thatā a little frown appeared in your face.
āIt was her, not meā Swiātaw hissed lowly, turning to point Zināara accusingly, as tenseā if not more than you.
āSorry, I know I went a bit too far, but we had no better idea for a distractionā she admitted, ears flattening at the sides of her head with a guilty look.
āStill, someone could have gotten really hurt!ā it was now your turn to hiss at her. āI appreciate that you did gave me time to escape butāā
āIt was your doingā a voice cut you off.
The three of you turned quickly, seeing Neteyam standing a few steps away from you. His sudden appearance made your frown deepen.
With his tail swinging behind him, his sharp gaze cut through all three of you, finally landing on you before narrowing it. Hands bailing into fists in an attempt to restrain his emotions from overflow him.
āThat was dangerous, the people inside the could have been seriously injuredā he reprimanded. If there was something Neteyam didnāt appreciated was to put other people at risk for selfish reasons. āFrom all the things, you needed to put others at risk. Was that worth it?ā he took a step closer.
You hissed, frown deepening even moreā if that was even possible. āI did not tell them to do that, if you are going to blame me, do it for the right reasonā you spat.
Neteyam opened his mouth to talk, but you beat him to it. āWe will take responsibility for it later, now we have other things to take care ofā with a final hiss, you turned back to your friends.
āWait, weā?ā Swiātaw looked at you with a frown, narrowing his eyes.
āMoveā you hissed, cutting him off before pushing both of your friends ahead.
They walked ahead of you, leaving Neteyam standing alone with a final glance from Swiātaw.
The omatikaya took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
In, and out. Count to seven.
After he calmed down, he looked back to the way he came from. Jaw tightening as he debated with himself between going back or to follow you and your friends.
Finally, he sighed, making his decision and turning back instead of following. There would be time to figure out what you were up to later, now he had to help with the fallen hut.
Just as his figure disappeared between trees, a new frame emerged from them. Similar. Four fingers instead of three. Cautiously looking back briefly to be sure that nobody saw him.
Loāak, unlike his brother, has been always the one to follow his curiosity, even if it often gets him in trouble.
But someone had to figure out what will you plan next. He have heard just as much of your conversation as his brother did, and though he too have been surprised and a maybe a bit too annoyed at what happened, he was not the one to jump into conclusions.
There was something else, he felt. There had to be. He had noticed the irritation in your voice when talking to your friend and the way you had reassured Neteyam you will be taking blame on what happened at the shore too quickly.
Even knowing it was wrong. He shouldnāt be listening into someone elseās conversation, even less following them.
But if he didnāt, who else would do it?
āWe have to think a plan quick and an excuse before the omatikaya accuses usā you stopped when you were far enough.
Both of your friends turned to look at you, Swiātaw sighing while pinching his nose bridge, while Zināara crossed her arms.
āAny ideas?ā you give the girl a pointed look, tone a bit sassy.
Huffing softly, her tail swung behind her, but she remained quiet.
The three of you tried to think about an idea, but you have tried pretty much everything to this point, you had little options to try.
Swiātaw then spoke a bit hesitant. āWhat if you disappear for a little while?ā
āThat will only delay the completion, not stop itā you sighed.
āChallenge your mother?ā
āI tried, she just brushes me off.ā
āAnd the elders?ā Zināara proposed.
You thought about it for a bit, but shook your head after considering it. āNo, it can compromise my position as oloāeyktenay, is not secure just because my parents are leaders to our clan.ā
Swiātaw and Zināara looked at each other. You had a point, they couldnāt deny it, but with no ideas left, there was only one thing you could do.
āThen⦠why we donāt let the competition happen? I mean, is not like you have to actually choose the winner, your mother chose your father and he did not participatedā Swiātaw spoke, words careful, knowing they will get a raise from you. Unaware of a pairs of golden eyes watching not so far from a behind a bush.
A frown etched your face, tail now swinging wildly behind you. āBut my father was already courting my mother before the competition and it is why she got away with it!ā you exclaimed. āI have no one courting me, I do not even like someone like that!ā
It was frustrating. No matter what you do. No matter which path you take, it all seems to lead you in the same direction.
Was it really the path Eywa had planned for you? But then, why hear your prayers earlier?
Maybe she was just playing with you, laughing at how fool you were to even hope you could change things.
āBut you can still refuseā Zināara uncrossed her arms, reaching a hand to your arm, but you stepped back.
A bitter, humorless chuckle slipped from your lips. Breaths coming uneven unconsciously. āDo you think I have choice to refuse?ā
A silence settled. Heavy. Tense. Thick of emotions that laid in the deepest of your heart.
āI mean⦠is not like our people is known for following rulesā Swiātaw tried to lighten up the atmosphere.
āYou do not understand!ā you hissed, voice lacking patience. āThe elders have the last word, no matter what I say, no matter what my father says, is not my choice.ā
āAnd for all I know, I could end with a vonvƤ like Ka'yil, so please,ā you looked at both of them, eyes searching, full with desperation.
āPlease help me plan something, Iāā
You took a sharp, deep breath, ears flattening against the sides of your head, letting your vulnerable side to come out. A side only them and your father get to see from you.
To let them see how scared you were at the situation too, not only your frustration and anger at the whole ordeal.
āI am not readyā¦ā your voice lowered, tail falling limp behind.
āSisterā¦ā their expressions softened a bit.
Zināara reached for your arm again, slowly, a bit hesitant, but this time you didnāt backed away from her touch. She took a step closer, hand moving down to take yours in her hold, while Swiātaw stepped closer as well, looking conflicted.
You never spoke openly about your fears, always putting a tough facade, to show your people you were strong. But this was the one thing you couldnāt pretend to be tough for.
Looking at each other, your friends tried to figure out what to do. Your distress was not something they brushed off easily.
With a sigh, Swiātaw place a hand on your shoulder, looking a bit unsure as he tried to find some words to this situation.
āWe⦠maybe we can figure out somethingā¦ā
A pair of golden eyes spied on them through the bushes as they tried to figure out a plan that they have yet not used, brainstorming once more.
Loāak was conflicted. He knew it was bad that he was spying them, but he couldnāt make himself feel all guilty either.
Now he understood you a bit better, seeing a totally vulnerable side of you that was a stark contrast of the mean girl that have been rude to him and his brother on their first visit, but that didnāt mean that your fears and frustrations justified your actions.
He, better than anyone, knew it.
His ears flickered inward, trying to catch every single detail of your conversation with your friends.
That was a little mistake, as he didnāt paid attention enough to his surroundings to hear quiet steps behind him. A hand quickly startling, making him turn by his shoulders and great the scowl of his older brother.
āWhat are you doing?ā he whisper-yelled at him.
Neteyam havenāt took long to notice Loāak was gone when he returned to keep helping with the fallen hut. His gaze darted along the shore, shoulders tensing further when his father asked for his little brother whereabouts. Bitting the inside of his cheek, he quickly returned to the forest, tail lashing behind him in quiet frustration.
āā¦Observingā the youngest whispered quietly, gaze darting back to the little group.
Following his gaze, the oldest narrowing his eyes before focusing back on Loāak.
āSkxawng,ā he hissed quietly. āThis is wrong, you should not be here.ā
Loāak bite the inside of his cheek at the scolding. He already knew that, if that wasnāt obvious.
āI know, but they are planning somethingāā
āYes, I am aware. It still does not make this right eitherā words cut a bit too firm.
Neteyam then took a deep breath, taking a second to get a grip of his emotions. āWe have to goā taking the right arm of his brother, he began to tug him quietly away from there.
āBro, wait- I need to tell you something.ā
āYou can tell me back at the shoreā he didnāt stop tugging him by the arm, but a voice make them freeze into place.
āWho is there?ā your voice carried through the air in a clipped tone.
The brothers havenāt been as quiet as they thought. The wind carried their voices, quietly, but they were still there, and your instincts sharp as ever, have caught them, even if barely.
A silence filled the air, too tense as your friends sharpened their gazes, looking around to find the person they havenāt been aware was listening to them.
Neteyam cursed mentally, eyes sharpening too as his crouched form lowered a bit more towards the ground, pulling Loāak to do the same.
āā¦Are you sure you heard something?ā Zināara questioned, not brushing away the possibility, but after a moment of silence, she began to doubt.
āYes, I heard voices.ā
Swiātaw looked past some trees, finally getting a glimpse of two blue figures crouching behind some bushes.
He frowned, eyes narrowing as he finally recognized who they were.
Annoyance seeped through his chest first, followed by a sense of disbelief, as he havenāt thought they would be capable to follow them an eavesdrop into their conversation.
He wouldnāt have mind too much if it the conversation was them just brainstorming ideas to stop the competition, but he didnāt appreciate that they have listened into you being openly vulnerable, knowing how much you struggled to talk about your feelings.
Feeling conflicted, he wasnāt sure if he should call them out or cover for them, knowing that you would be furious if you saw them of all people spying into you.
But then his gaze meet Neteyamās, both sharp, but through the bushes he could notice a glint of guilt, despite him not being really the one to eavesdrop into your conversation.
Taking a little breath, he bite the inside of his cheek, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking.
āā¦Maybe it was just an animalā looking back at you, he tried to hide his own guilt from showing into his eyes, which he wasnāt really good at.
You looked at your friend, gaze narrowing as you saw the little hint of guilt that pulled into his lips, pushing them together in a way you perfectly knew he only did when hiding something.
āAnimals grunt, they do not speak our words.ā
Swiātaw tried to not look away, but your intently gaze was unnerving him. He knew you probably caught that he was hiding something.
His nerves finally betrayed him, ears pulling back ever so slightly as he looked away.
āYou saw somethingā it was not a question, and for the way his shoulders tensed, your friend knew as well.
The silence that followed your words was all you needed as an answer. Hissing lowly, your gaze strayed from his, sharp eyes taking a moment to carefully look around again.
It was then that you spot something suspicious past some trees, hiding in the bushes.
Taking a step back from your friends, your tail moved carefully behind you, gaze focusing on two blurs of blue.
āShow yourselves, I know you are watching usā you hissed, steps growing closer to the figures hiding.
Feeling pressured by her steps coming closer, Loāak slowly stood up, brushing the grip of his brother and revealing himself.
Neteyam clenched his jaw, nostrils flaring quietly in frustration before he followed him, ears twitching slightly as his gaze met yours.
A hiss left your lips, loud, angry and filed with many emotions at the moment. Of course it had to be them, who else if not them?
āYou followed us and brought your skxawng of a brother with you!ā you accused the older brother, scowl making an appearance in your face as your tail lashed behind you.
Shaking his head, Neteyam brought his hands up, as if trying to calm you while he tried to explain. āNo, I did not follow, I know this looks wrong but I justāā
Not wanting to hear his excuses, you cut him sharply. āDo not lie to me, kurkung.ā Then you turned to Swiātaw, who flinched ever so slightly as your gaze fell on him, quietly bracing himself for your wrath. āWhy did you cover for them!?ā he was not getting off the hook either, his previous actions only upsetting you further.
āI- they looked guilty andāā you cut him too with a hiss, ears flattening at the sides of your head.
āGuilty? Do you think they feel guilty for spying us!?ā
Turning back to the brothers, you analysed his expressions for just a second, noticing how the older was clearly frustrated that you didnāt let him explain himself and barely seeing the way the ears of the younger flattened a bit.
āI see no guilt in their facesā you spat.
Neteyam took a deep breath, counting to seven before he dared to speak again. āLook, it was not our intention toāā
āNot your intention?ā A humourless laugh cut him once more. āYou think I am a fool whoāā
āMy brother is not at fault,ā this time Loāak cut you off, making you redirect your heated gaze to him. āI am.ā
Your gaze narrowed, thinking for a moment that he was just trying to cover for his brother. āExplain.ā
With a sigh, his shoulders slumped a bit. āI noticed when you snuck away back the shore, it looked suspicious, so I followed before my brother did, I heard everything, how it was your friend who planned the fall of the hut-ā he looked briefly to Zināara behind you. āAnd when my brother accused you instead.ā
Neteyam looked at him intently, tail flicking down at the admission, feeling a little bad that he had blame the wrong person.
āHe truly went back to the shore after you guys left, I was the one who followed you, he only came looking for me because I was goneā he insisted, taking a step forward. āI know it was wrong of me to spy on you, I am sorry.ā
With a sigh, the eldest apologized too. āI am sorry too, I should have not accused you based on what I barely heard.ā
āAn apology does nothingā you hissed, gaze hardening when it landed once more at Neteyam.
āShut upā you cut Swiātaw without second thought, making Zināara snort softly. āIt is not funny tsmuke.ā
āIt is not, sorryā she gave a half-hearted apology.
āā¦I know apologizing is not enough for spying on you,ā Loāak caught you attention once more. āSo let me make it up to you.ā
āLoāakā Neteyam called his name, a clear warning as he took his shoulder, a silent plea for him to stop before he did something he will regret later.
But of course, Loāak being Loāak, he ignored his brother. āYou need help about that competition, right? Let me help.ā
āNoā the rejection was immediate, not even stopping to think about it for a second. āYou know nothing about tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul, you will be no help.ā
It was the truth. He knew nothing about the competition, the only thing he knew was the elders had the last decision if you were to deny the winner, but that was only because he eavesdropped.
Unfortunately, Swiātaw always being the sweet soul, he intervened. āMaybe there is a way he can help, he run out of ideasāā
āNoā you repeated, hissing at him as you turned. āHow can he help? He knows nothing about the competition nor our ways, he is an outsider and a child.ā
Loāak narrowed his gaze. āI am not a child, I am one of the people, a hunter.ā
āYou do not act like it, and I see no vestā you bite out.
āFnu Swiātaw, I do not want to hear more of you siding with them.ā
Loāak bite the inside of his cheek, swallowing back the words that threatened to spill out. He knew better than to reply back in a rude way that you were acting like a child too.
āBut maybe he can actually help, he looks at things in a different way we do, maybe that is what we needā your friend tried again. āSee it this way, what we have no tried yet?ā
The suggestion was clear, there was only one thing you havenāt tried yet, and that was because it would have look too obvious if one of your friends did it.
But it wouldnāt be if someone you have publicly called a child did it instead.
āSwiātawā you warned.
āMaybe you can participate at tƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul for usā he ignored your warning, looking at the young brother.
That, of course, made Neteyam frown. āWhat?ā
āHe is a child, that is stupidā you came closer to your friend, swatting his arm without restrain. āOur hunters train for many moons for the competition, he would not even pass the first duelāā
All gazes fell on Loāak, yours unimpressed while Neteyam seemed like he was about to strangle his little brother.
āWhat are you doing?ā taking his arm, Neteyam reprimanded him with a look, voice lowering into a hiss.
āWhy would you even want to participate? You are an unprepared child, that will only embarrass you in front our clanā you huffed.
āI am a capable hunter and you need help, let this be my way to make up for my actions.ā
Turning your body, you took a couple of steps towards him.
āTƬmuntxa tƬwƤsul is not a gameā you firmly stated.
Loāak smirked. āGood, I am not planning to play.ā
Neteyam groaned at his brother, thinking it was too reckless to play into a competition just to try to make up for his actions, knowing very well he could have found another way to help and make up for spying.
But tired of being in the constant shadow of his father and brother, Loāak found a way to prove everyone he was not a child anymore.
Loāak, what did you get yourself into?
Neteyam was sure the vein on his forehead was going to explode.
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