#anufi

My Tamtey 100% considers Anufi, Kin, Ka'nat, and Nefika as her parents. They treat her so kindly and are always so happy to see her, she knows they watch after her in their own way and even worry about her but she doesn't know to what extent. She introduces them to Ri'nela, Nor and Teylan in hopes that they'll maybe consider them a littld as parent figure or at least as mentors.

Synopsis: Just everyone knowing Tamtey is the Sarentu Olo’eykta except for Tamtey. Featuring some So’lek x Tamtey moments.

Words: 1,443

I’ve never written anything for Avatar OR Frontiers of Pandora so if it’s bad….dude idk. 🥲

Traveling from the Western Frontier to the Eastern Frontier by request of Toruk Makto was an experience none of the Sarentu had expected. Jake Sully had not specifically requested them, but Nesim, Ka’nat, Etuwa, and Anufi had insisted the Sarentu join them on their journey to destroy Bridgehead – explaining that ‘Death on Wings’ and the ‘Dog Tag Warrior’ would be needed in the destruction of the Sky People stronghold.

What followed was two weeks of constant, exhausting travel via direhorse and ikran. Days ended with Ri’nela, the newest on an ikran, and even Tamtey, slipping off the saddles, wobbling like newborns - all of the Sarentu were glad So'lek had traveled ahead with envoys of the Kame'tire and Aranahe.

He was pacing, waiting impatiently for their arrival at the beach of Awa'atlu - already there when the Metkayina warrior sounded the horn of approaching Ikran. The four young Sarentu looked down at the gathering crowd of known and unknown allies - each sounding their own yips in response to So'lek's calling yelp. None of the Western Frontier clan leaders were surprised at the drop of his shoulders, the tension fading away the second his clan came into view.

He never hid his softness towards the Sarentu as well as he had hoped he did.

He had strode forward and stopped in front of them before the four even dismounted their ikran - “Oel ngati kameie” muttered quietly in greeting to Teylan and Nor. He repeated the sentiment to Ri’nela before stepping forward and meeting the warm eyes of Tamtey, proudly wearing her body paint.

“Oel ngati kameie, Ma’Solek.”

“Oel ngati kameie, Sarentu.”

“I thought we were past ‘Sarentu’ and onto using my name.” Her nose wrinkled at the title.

He chuckled low at her words and stepped closer, enough that his brow almost met hers. “Would you rather I call you ‘tsamsiyutsyìp’ in front of Toruk Makto and the other clan leaders? Brave war leader?”

Tamtey’s nose wrinkled as she stepped past him, letting her tail swipe low across his chin. He responded in kind by tugging softly on a lose braid, smug when her ears flattened against her head and lavender stained her cheeks.

Tamtey stepped into the empty space between Ri’nela and Teylan, Nor on Ri’nela’s other side while So’lek stepped to stand solidly behind the two females of his clan.

Teylan’s hands fiddled nervously with something on his belt, Tamtey reaching over to squeeze his side gently as greetings were exchanged.

“You already know So’lek. I am Ri’nela (rest of her name), Tsahìk of the Sarentu. These are Nor (rest of his name) and Teylan (rest of his name). Lastly this is Tamtey te (family name) Kataru’ite, Olo’eykta.”

So’lek, along with the others of the clan noticed Tamtey’s ears flattened against the side of her head and her tail still as her eyes cut across to Ri’nela, confusion in her face. It took So’lek softly tugging on her tail for her to snap out of that shock, bringing her hand to her forehead for the formal Na’vi greeting as other clan leaders were introduced.

Tonowari te Tsika'u Arvak'itan and Ronal te Natsira Tan’ite, Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk of the Metkayina.

Tarsem te Kumon Arun'itan, Olo’eyktan of the Omaticaya.

Mo'at te Pohatsua Oma'ite, Tsahìk of the Omaticaya.

Toruk Makto, Jake Sully. His mate Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite, Tsakarem. All 5 of their children.

Jake Sully walked forward, close enough Tamtey had to lift her chin to maintain eye contact.

“This is Tìterkup sìn tsyäl? Death on wings. Your reputation has made it all the way here, to the East. There's footage floating around of you tearing apart a base.” He was either disbelieving or impressed, it was hard for her to tell.

The Na’vi around them had begun to murmur amongst themselves, “death on wings” easily caught to the Sarentu’s ears.

Tamtey shrugged, a very human move, “I’m just doing my part…sometimes the RDA made it easy.”

There was a beat of silence before Jake Sully guffawed in surprised laughter.

“No need to be humble, you've got a reputation to the RDA. Own that shit - use it."

Tamtey looked back to So'lek who just smirked at her and nodded.

"Yeah, okay. Own that shit."

Toruk Makto grinned, pulling her forward as he stepped to the side, patting her on the shoulder once between letting go.

Tonowari stepped forward and gestured past him.

“Come. For now, welcome to Awa’atlu. We will eat together and you can tell us the stories of the Sarentu. Tomorrow the war council will begin. For tonight, we feast.”

————————————————————————-

Hours passed. The eclipse had set long before the Sarentu retired to the marui they were provided. Stories had been passed amongst the clans, many of the Sarentu - their lives in TAP and adjust to Na’vi life after freedom.

The sweet drink had left their minds a little cloudy but the stiff hold of their limbs had melted away, enough that Teylan and Nor had been giggling and stumbling as they led the beach. Ri’nela,the worrier, stuck close behind them just in case either dove into the sea beneath the walkway.

So’lek, who had partaken himself but could tolerate the sweet wine far better than the younger clan members, watched from behind. He matched pace with Tamtey, their tails unconsciously entwining and uncurling. She had all his attention even if she didn’t mean to.

Since leaving the communal meal, she had gone quiet, There was a tension in her shoulders he had only seen before the battles that mattered. Her eyes, while warm, were narrowed in on her brothers and sister as if she was considering a strategy.

They had begun laying out their sleeping mats and stripping off armor and jewelry before words were spoken.

“Tsmuke,” Nor stared hard at the side of Tamtey’s face, “you’ve been quiet. Speak your mind.”

She paused unlacing her leggings.

“Since when have I been Olo’eykta?”

All movement stopped, all eyes rising to meet each other’s before settling on Tamtey’s.

Teylan laughed a little. “What do you mean?”

So’lek tilted his head.

“I mean, since when have I been Olo’eykta? When was that decided?”

“Wait,” So’lek placed his rifle down before slinking over towards Tamtey, low to the ground. “You truly did not know?”

Tamtey huffed, throwing her hands in the are before standing up and beginning to pace.

“No?”

Her brothers and sisters also crept forward, Ri’nela taking her hands and pulling her down to sit in the middle of their small family. Her tail swished back and forth, ears pressed tight to the side of her head - more distressed than any of them had expected.

“Tsmuke,” Ri’nela leaned forward, laying her hands across her sister’s shoulders. “Why wouldn’t you be our Olo’eyktan? You have guided us since we left TAP. Protected us. Provided for us.”

“You’ve been patient with me even when I didn’t want to let go of our life at TAP. You’ve been teaching me to be Na’vi.” Teylan was leaning against her arm, pointing out the scabs on his fingers from hours of practices with a bow.

Nor ran a finger along a scar that wrapped around her shoulder.

"Even before we were free, you took any of the punishments from Mercer or Harding that you could, protecting us. You have always protected us. That hasn't changed. And now, outside, you have adjusted to the Na'vi life faster than any of us - becoming a warrior our clan hasn't seen in generations."

Tamtey shook her head, meeting the eyes of those around her.

"If a warrior is who leads, it should be So'lek."

The dogtag warrior shook his head before she had finished speaking his name.

"No Ma'Tamtey, I - I may be a warrior, but I am not a warrior fit to lead, you cannot end every squabble with a gun or arrow. Diplomacy is needed - I am no diplomat. You are. YOU brought the Aranahe, Zeswa, and Kame'tire together to fight the RDA. You are a leader. Our leader." So'lek had pressed himself against her back, hands embracing her arms as his chin sat atop her shoulder.

Tamtey's eyes dropped to the floor.

"It should be A'hari, not me. She would be better." Nor, Ri'nela, and Teylan all stilled. Their eyes had clouded over, lost in memory. Just for a second.

"A'hari was my closest friend." Nor's voice was heavy. "I think - no, I know she would've been a great leader. But she is in the arms of Eywa. At peace with our parents and ancestors. She would be so proud of what you have done. The warrior you are."

I mean all of the people we meet we could have grown up around. Eetu, Okul, So'lek, Nesim, Minang, Nefika, Eetua. All of those people we could have grown up with, could have learnt from and been shaped by, or hell we could have shaped those people

Anufi and Mokasa would have been much younger, same with Kat'nat

All of these people could have still been in their life in such a different way if the Sarentu hadn't been wiped out and their children taken to TAP.

English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes.

⟾ Be Like You

Synopsis 𓄼 Much more than just kneading things.

Words 𓄼 812

Warning 𓄼 free, cute, mentor/apprentice relationship (almost a mother/daughter?), quick sadness.

Dictionary 𓄼 hiyìk - little one》tsahìk - spiritual leader》pskalintsyìp - small sweet berry》 tsakarem - tsahìk apprentice

You were left alone in this world far too soon.

Your mother was an expert hunter among the few hunters the Kame'tire clan possessed, and your father was a great craftsman, one of the makers of the most beautiful totems scattered throughout their territory.

You were only three years old when your mother died, during a hunt that went terribly wrong. Even the best hunters were not exempt from the savagery of the "planet."

Then your father passed away when you turned five.

He and a small group of craftsmen had traveled a little beyond the Kame'tire territory; something went wrong, something about people from the sky, but no one wanted to tell you what.

You remember not reacting at first when the clan leader gently placed her hand on your small head. The touch, somehow, brought a certain comfort amidst the feeling of emptiness that your young consciousness carried.

– Come, hiyìk.

And you followed her.

You didn't argue.

Because even at a young age you were aware that you had no one else.

You quickly got used to Anufi's residence and her presence, but it took a while to feel comfortable speaking again. When you were around six and a half years old, you belatedly began your curious phase, wanting to know about everything around you.

– What's that?

You asked the older woman once, when you saw her crouching near several funny objects and strange plants. She turned her head to look at you, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

– Crushing some pods.

Your head tilted to the side.

– What's it for?

– It's to make people strong and healthy again, to heal them, over time. To help them recover.

You watched her reach out to pick up a strange plant and throw it into the mixture she was making, and you didn't ask anything else. You just sat there nearby and watched.

Anufi admired the company inwardly.

Once, when Anufi was away dealing with matters with Mokasa, she left you in Okul's care.

You liked him and had seen him a few times, visiting Anufi or walking with Siul and, occasionally, a young woman named Sa'ney.

– What are you doing?

The young herbalist jumped slightly from his seat, unprepared for a high-pitched voice coming from behind him, almost dropping the wooden bowl in his hands, before looking at you and relaxing.

– Crushing strong roots to make a good medicine.

A small pout formed on his lips, his head turning slightly to the side, curious.

– Anufi also crushes things like that.

Okul smiled, his gentle manner expressed in his movements.

– She does it because she is Tsahìk. And she is very good at it.

Tsahìk. Your mind repeated that term considerably. You remember having seen some clan members refer to Anufi that way.

– Are you also Tsahìk?

The young man’s movements paused for a moment, before his sister stepped back and a laugh burst between you.

You didn’t understand what was so funny.

When he seemed to recover, between giggles here and there, he replied:

– No, no, child. I learn from Anufi. I am an apprentice.

Apprentice. Your curiosity piqued. That was a new word.

– What is an apprentice?

– It’s someone who is learning something, either out of desire or to become the best at what they do.

Then you fell into a comfortable silence.

Okul continued to knead those strange roots, while you remained standing, looking at him, introspective. Your mind was already beginning to formulate thoughts.

Twilight had barely begun when Anufi caught you sitting near the entrance of the residence, surrounded by small, makeshift vessels made from tree bark and large seeds, with moss and plants scattered everywhere. Your legs and hands were covered in dirt, and there was some on your face as well.

– What are you doing, child?

– Crushing things.

She could tell this well, seeing you pick up an old root and begin to break it up inside one of the vessels.

– Why?

– To learn. I am an apprentice.

– And what are you apprentices for?

– To heal people. To be Tsahìk, like you.

Then she shook her head amusedly when she saw you mix a moss of dubious appearance, still full of dirt, into the same container and begin to crush it. She was almost certain you didn't even know what those things were.

– You don't learn to be Tsahìk just by kneading things, paskalintsyìp, it's much more than that.

Anufi approached.

– Come.

The woman crouched down and took you by the armpits.

– If you want to be Tsahìk, you'll have to learn from Tsahìk herself.

She lifted you, supporting your weight on her hips as you laughed. The earth now soiling you both made her sigh with amusement.

– But first, a bath.

And then that day you learned a new word. Tsakarem. And it seemed to sound very good to you.

A short story for those who asked for Anufi! Until the next one on the list - Tonowari - ☆

Please feel free to request fics for any of the below characters. If you have any requests of characters not on the list please feel free to let me know and I will add them!